Possidonius writ his life Sedulius Possidonius Sozomenus Socrates and Theodoriretus were Authors of the Tripartite Historie which afterward was brought into one by Cassiodorus Valentinian was made Emperour with Theodosius and they raigned together the one in the East the other in the West Clodio a Painim King of France raigned 18 yeares Hee recouered from the Romaines Torney and Cambray where he was buried Superstition was now farre entred into the houses of great men In so much as Eudoxia the wife of Theodosius the yonger went vnto Ierusalem and frō thence brought the chains wherewith S. Peter was bound by Herode which were ioyned with them of Nero wherevpon afterward was instituted the feast of S. Peter in bonds Item the Relikes of S. Steuen S. Hierome in his Epistle to Eustochius counteth them otherwise Sixtus the third of that name a Romaine gouerned the state of Rome 8. yeares Hee was accused by a Priest of great credit called Bassus to haue committed Incest and to haue violated a religious woman named Chrysogonus and so did Bassus vnderstand of a seruant of the said Sixtus called Peter But in a full Sinode of 55. Bishops by Valentinian Augustus libertie was left to Sixtus to iudge himselfe For it is not lawfull saith he to iudge nor giue sentence against the hie and great Bishop He then tooke his oath that he was innocent of the matter and so was absolued by the Sinode and Bassus banished and all his goods confiscate and giuen to the Church The beginning that the Pope should not be iudged Sixtus then instituted the feast of S. Peter in bondes the first day of August in place of an other Feast which was before made for the victorie of Augustus Caesar which he obtained against Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra Suspition or Idolatrie chaunged but not abolished The Vandales which from the outward parts of Almaine vnder Gratian came into France and after into Spaine finally vnder the conduction of Genserich came into Mauritania and after sell vpon Carthage and there occupied Affricke more then 77. yeares Victor Bishop of a Towne in Numidia which is in Affricke called in Latine Cattena made a booke against the Arrians and presented it to Genseric King of the aforesaid Vandales an Arrian Polychronius Bishop of Ierusalem is chased away Hee in the time of a famine sold all his goods and gaue it to the poore For which chatitie and mercy he was after restored againe Sixtus ordeined that none should bee promoted in the Cleargie into anothers Diocesse or Parish He also before his death gaue all his goods to the poore Hillarie Bishop of Arles left all his goods and went into an hermitage where he composed the life of Saint Honorius Abb. Tritem He had done better if hee had preached constantly and opposed himselfe against the peoples vices Arcadius Probus Paschasius and Eutichius were in great estimation and honour with Gensericus but seeing he could not draw them vnto Arrianisme after many euils finally he martyred them with others yea hee cast certaine Bishoppes out of their places and bookes of Religion and the Christian faith were burnt The Councell of Ephesus the second was assembled by Theodosius wherein Eutiches the heretike was restored and Flauianus a true Catholike condemned by a false accusation For there was Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria President who was of the sect of the said Eutiches This Councell was corrected by the Councell following which was assembled vnder Leo the Pope first of that name as followeth The Towne of Rhemes was taken by Attila and put to fire and sword Nicasius Bishop of the saide place a very auncient man was slaine and his sister Eutropia put to death Leo a Tuscan first of that name gouerned the Romaine Church 21. yeares He ordained that whosoeuer vnreuerently should handle the Images of Saints should be seperated and depriued of the communion of the faithfull He added to the Masse Orate pro me fratres c. Also the Deo gratias is attributed vnto him He added to the Canon Sanctum sacrificium immaculatam hostiam Item hanc igitur oblationem c. Attila sacked all Italie At the sacking of Aquilia one of the honourablest women called Digna cast her selfe from an high Tower into the water for feare to be rauished by the Barbarians For the fairest women were reserued from death that they might be forced of those barbarous people Naucler Merouee the third King of France raigned ten yeares He also was a Painim and was not the sonne of Clodio but the maister of his horse-men Yet to him the king Clodio recommended the gouernment of his kingdome of his wife of his three children trusting vnto his loyaltie which hee had sworne and promised vnto him in the presence of his Princes But soone after the death of the said Clodio Merouee chased away his said three children and caused himselfe to be chosen King When the three children came to age they made warre vpon him and tooke from him all the Countrey of Austria Lorraine Brabant Namure and Hainault Leo ordeined that there should be but one God-father or God mother at Baptisme and at confirmation Some attribute vnto him the ordinance that Alleluya and Gloria in excelsis Deo should not be sung from Septuagesima vntill Easter Letanies were first in Constantinople and after in the West by Lupus Bishop of Troy receiued and approued Item by Mamerus Bishop of Vienna for an Earthquake that happened and further to appease it was sung the Sanctus Deus Sanctus Fortis Sanctus immortalis miserere nobis From hence-forward thou shalt see infinit superstitions traditions and heapes of Councells and Relikes He ordeined fasting the three Rogation dayes Attila Captaine of the Hunnes tooke Rome before whom Leo came at the first and obtained of him to touch nothing at Rome And Attila being asked wherefore so easily he agreed therevnto answered that hee sawe the Angell of God with a sword drawne who threatned him if hee graunted not his request Paul Diaconus The general Councel of Calcedon of 630. Bishops against Eutiches Abbot of Constantinople vnder Martian In this Councell 16. Chap. this decree is set downe If any Virgin vowe and dedicate her selfe to God and likewise a Monke it shall bee no more lawfull for them to marry but if they be found to marry then to remaine excommunicated yet we ordaine that the Bishop of the place if he thinke good may shew the same humanitie and fauour The Narration or Fable of the 17. sleepers named Malchus Maximianus Martinianus Dionisius Ioannes Serapion and Constantinus raised again as it were 200. yeares after their death and preaching the resurrection of the bodie against certaine heretikes affirming the contrary is forged about this time Long great persecution was against the Christians in the Country of Persia In so much that Theodosius made peace with them that they would cease the persecution Abb. Vsp. The Tripartite
of the number of such excellent persons as the Lord giueth to repaire and restore things throwne vnder feete He I say redressed the Romane Empire and pacified Europe By his succours Italie and Germanie were guarded and warranted hauing tamed the Hungarians and French Briefly during his life the Empire tooke again a brightnesse and face of maiestie He founded the siluer Mines in Misua and exercised great munificence towards many Bishoppes which held the chiefe place in the Religion which then was Many Ciuile Lawes were made by him Amongst which that of the succession of Nephues in hereditarie goods in the place of their Fathers is greatly commended After then in this sort hee had delated the Empire being made stoope with great age finally he was surprised with a suddaine maladie and dyed the yeare 973. and of his raigne thirtie seuen of his Empire thirteene and was buried at Magdeberge in Saint Martins Church which he had caused to be builded Otho 2. of that name sonne of Otho the great and of Adetheide Queene of Burgogne during the life of his Father was declared at Aix le chappelle King of the Romanes he appeased the mutinies which were in Lorraine and gaue the Duchy of Lorraine to Charles brother of Lotharie King of France and made him vassall of the Empire but the limits were cut off For one good part was adiudged on the one side to the Church of Colongne and the other to the Church of Liege Hee espowsed the sister of the Emperour of Constantinople Donus Pope second of that name a Romane ruled at Rome a yeare and fiue moneths It was said of him that he was of great modestie and integritie and that no iniurie was done him Supp Chron. Many holy bodies as of Patroclus Priauatus and Gregorie With S. Peters Staffe were transported from Rome to Colongne by Bruno Bishop of the said place and by the Bishop of Canterburie called Odo Fasci temp Aldebert of Bohemia Bishop of Prague went into Pannonia to preach the faith and baptised the King of Hungaria From thence hee came into Brusse where hee was Martyred Boniface Pope 7. of that name gouerned at Rome 7. moneths by vnlawfull meanes he entred the Popedome and by the same meanes fell out thereof The greatest of Rome conspired against him But seeing himselfe in daunger he secretly pilled the most precious treasures of the Church of S. Peter and so fled vnto Constantinople where when he had remained 8. monethes he solde and turned all into siluer and after returned vnto Rome In his absence they lifted vp one of Pauie called Iohn the 15. He ruled 8. moneths Boniface then being returned drew the Citizens vnto him and with siluer corrupted the vilest and wickedest persons of Rome This done hee tooke the Pope Iohn and hauing put out his eies made him die with hunger in the Castle of S. Angelo Againe then he occupied and vsurped the seate but incontinently after he dyed of a sudden death his corpes was drawne with a corde by his feete through the streetes and pierced with pikes by the Romanes but finally the Clarkes buried him Naucler Robert Barns Cor. Abb. Benet Pope 7. of that name gouerned 8. yeares and sixe moneths Suppl Chron. or 10. yeares and 6. monethes after Fasci temp This Pope at the Emperours desire imprisoned many seditious Romanes The Sea of Hist. Otho the 2. enterprised a war against the Greekes which held Calabria and Pouille but he sought to reduce them to the Romane Empire pretending a right by reason of a dowrie for Theophaine his wife who was the Greeke Empresse but his enterprise was vnluckie For he was taken by Pirates and brought vnto Sicilia vnknowne Afterward being ordeined by a Slauonian Marchant which knew him he gathered together the rest of his Armie and returned against the Grecians and Sarrasins and pursued them very vndiscreetly In so much that hee was strooken with an inuenomed arrow so returning vnto Rome he dyed a litle after the tenth yeare of his Empire leauing Otho the third and other his children and amongst them Frederic and Valderic Dukes of Saxonie of whom after discended the Countesse and Princes of Sauoy Otho third of that name after the death of his Father was very young when he was designed the Emperour but of such quicknesse and moderation of spirite that for his excellent gifts he was named The Maruell of the world Lotharie King of France dyed at Rheimes being impoysoned as some say by his adulterous wife leauing his sonne Lewis fift of that name King of France last of the line of Charlemaigne who raigned a yeare and litle more and dyed also of poyson and was buried at Campaigne leauing onely the memorie of his name A third sort of Kings beganne to raigne in France From Pharamond a Painim vnto Hughe Capet are accounted 587. yeares From Clouis the first Christian 487. From Pippin the Father of Charlemaigne 237. yeares Hughe Capet 35. in number and the first King of France raigned nine yeares and began the third sort of Kings which yet endureth in the kingdome of France Dante 's a Florentine Poet in his Purgatorie saith that Hughe Capets Grandfather was a Butcher Of a Counte of Paris by the fauour of souldiers he was first saluted king in the Towne of Noion Raigning then newly in France he caused a Councel of Prelates of the French Church to be assembled at Rheimes in Campaigne And because he feared the posteritie of Charlemaigne vpon which hee had vsurped the kingdome he caused in the said Councell to be deposed the Arch-bishop of Rheimes called Arnulphe or Arnoul bastard brother of the king Lotharie set in his place a Monk a Philosopher and Magician called Gilbert or Gerbert vnto this deposition consented all the Prelates of France except Sergius Arch-bishop of Sens who was sent prisoner vnto Orleans with Arnulphe but three yeares after they were deliuered See Iohn le Maire in the 2. part and others Against the said Councell Pope Benet made an other be held in the same Cittie of Rheimes wherein the said Arnulphe was restored and Sergius or Serinus and Gerbert or Gilbert was deposed who notwithstanding was after Archbishop of Rauenna at last Pope of Rome by diuellish meanes whose end was miserable Iohn le Maire Many holy bodies S. Landoul S. Adrian S. Amand of Hasban were transported into the Towne of Gaunt Chron. Sigeb The Abbey of S. Magloire at Paris was founded by y e king Iohn Pope 16. of that name ruled at Rome 4. moneths his Father was called Leo a Priest He distributed the goods of the Church to his parents friends and Allies Therefore he was hated of all the Cleargie and people and was enclosed in the Castle S. Angelo where he dyed of hunger Supp Chron. and R. Barns This custome was afterward much vsed in the Romane Church Iohn Pope 17. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 9.
Spaine for feare he should be compelled to renounce the Popedome and held a Councell at Parpignan and after went to remaine in the Castle of Panisole to be there more assured In this time was a Councell held at Pise to revnite the Vniuersall Church wherevnto Gregorie and Benet were cited but they had no care to appeare but derided it And so thinking to do well they made a double schisme and diuision Before there was two Popes and now three For at the said Councell Gregorie and Benet were deposed and one called Alexander was instituted During the said Councell of Pise Gregorie the 12. fled also into Austrich but fearing not to be there in suretie he returned into Italie and dwelt in the Citie of Arinunum vnder the protection of a Baron called Malateste To the said deposition of the two Popes as it were all Christian Nations consented except a part of Spaine and the Count Arnimake and the kingdome of Scotland which fauoured the said Benet the 11. What shall we say of this schisme of three Popes but that it is a token that that seate of Babilon shall bee diuided in three parts as it is said in the Apocalips and that from thence shall come the ruine of Antichrist and his end The yeare of Christ 1409. Chrisebeles or Calephin the first the fift Emperour of the Turkes obtained victorie against Sigismond This Calephin raigned sixe yeares left two sonnes Orchanes and Mahomet but Orchanes was slaine by his Vncle Moyses who was after slaine by Mahomet the first of that name Alexander Pope fift of that name was elected at the Councell of Pise borne in the I le of Candie of the order of Friars called before Peter Philarge or of Candie First Bishop of Nauarre after Archbishop of Millaine and consequently Cardinall Priest of the title of the Church of the 12. Apostles and succeeded Gregorie in the Popedome After that the two old Popes Gregorie and Benet were deposed at the Councell of Pise as is said this was chosen by the consent of all the Cardinalls vnto which degree and dignitie he being come as Platina saith it was with good right that they called him Alexander Seeing he that before was but a poore begging Friar might be compared to any Prince whatsoeuer in matter of prodigall and superfluous expences and in greatnesse of courage Herehence it comes that that Graspopper in times past of small and base condition did obtaine in the Kingdome of Abaddon a face like a mans and teeth like to them of a Lyon This Pope also vsed commonly to say as hee played that hee had bene a rich Bishop a poore Cardinall and a begging Pope This Alexander was of so great boldnesse that in the Councell of Pise with the consent of the Priests that were there present he tirannously depriued of the right of his father the kingdome Ladislaus then king of Naples and of Pouille who occupied certaine seignories which the Church had ill gotten And vniustly adiudged it to Lewis Duke d' Aniou After that this Councell of Pise was finished this Pope went to Bolongne of which Towne a wicked Sodomite called Balthasar Cosse Cardinall of S. Eustache had the gouernment whom Alexander confirmed in his election because through his subtill deuises that Councell had bene assembled And also for that hee was a man meete encounter at any time with such as would seise vpon any goods of the Church There was in this man as Platina saith more fiercenesse boldnesse and secularitie if I may say so then his estate required His life was esteemed like a man of warres giuen altogether vnto crueltie In such sort that in this holy singlenesse of life he thought that many things were lawfull vnto him which ought not so much as to be named See what Platina saith Amongst other acts worthy of a Pope this Alexander published certain Bulles touching the Stigmates or markes and wounds of S. Francis his Idoll that they might be placed in the ranke of the Articles of the Christian faith and ordained them a solemne Feast that they might be honoured of the faithfull As this good Pope began to be sicke of a poysoned drinke which was giuen him by Marcillus of Parma a Phisitian whom Balthasar had hired to do it for a great summe of money as Panetius reciteth it in his 56. Sermon And knowing that his death was nigh he exhorted the Cardinalls as they came towards him to mutuall concord and to maintaine the libertie of the Church That is to say to make peace amongst the wicked and to maintain the Papall pompe and seate that Iesus Christ may be troden vnder foote Iohn Bauiers Bishop of Liege the Duke of Bauiers his brother Lord of Holland and Count of Hainaut being chased from the Towne demanded helpe against the Liegeior of the Duke of Burgongne that married his sister who fighting against them of Liege hee slew more then fortie thousand of them burnt their Citie Churches and Monasteries The Priests slew and put to death their women and children Fascic Temp. The Vniuersitie of Lipse or Lypizen was set vp by the Maisters of the Vniuersitie of Prage by the aide of Frederic Marquis of Misne and after Duke of Saxonie Sigismond sonne of Charles the fourth King of Hungarie and of Boheme brother of Wencelaus after the death of Albert was chosen Emperour of Rome by the consent of all He performing the dutie of a true Emperour was very renowned in wisedome knowledge and bountie Hee loued vertuous people and such as were learned and raised them vp vnto honour and dignitie yet he was vanquished by Amurathes Emperour of the Turkes and lost a great battaile and his Tents Pauilions He went by the space of three yeares through Europe to set order and to roote out the great schisme so damageable to all Christendome Therfore hauing reiected three Popes schismatikes and vnlegitimate and which held the seate at Barione Oddo Columnius was made Pope by the consent of all Iohn Pope 24. of that name succeeded Alexander and ruled at Bolongne fiue yeares or thereabouts hee was before called Balthasar Cosse or Ihea de Coza after the Sea of Histories Cardinall of Eustache Some there are euen of such as approoue the Popish tyrannie which affirme that he came vnto the Popedome rather by force and violence then by free and Canonicke election For as Stella saith being at Bolongne rather as a Lord and Maister then as a Legate when the Fathers were there assembled to chuse a new Pope he exceedingly threatned them if they elected not such an one as pleased him Therefore many were presented whereof hee would not approoue one Then said the Cardinalls vnto him Name him of whom you can like And he answered Giue me S. Peters Mantle and Pontificall habit and I will giue them vnto him whom I would to bee Pope When hee had the habit hee put it vpon himselfe and saide it is
deeds remained not long vnpunished and it is profitable we should knowe the issue worthie of such a Tyrant Iosephus in the 8. booke of Antiq. Chap. 17. describeth it thus The kings maladie encreased and God shewed openly that he would punish his impietie For he was burned with a slowe heat yet without none could perceiue it only he felt it within because it grated wasted his entralles He was so hungry that he tooke no leisure to chawe his meate but deuoured all that entred into his mouth and so still some must cast meat into his mouth His entralls were wounded and vlcerated and he was tormented with collicke passions His feete were swelled with flegmaticke humours through which you might see the day His shamefaste parts were rotted and full of wormes his breath was stinking that none durst approach vnto him And in the 21. Chap. of the first booke of the Iewes warres the same Historiographer writeth thus All his bodie was taken with a disease and hee was tormented with diuers dolours He had a burning and intollerable heate in him The Chollick tormented him incessantly his feete were swelled betwixt the skinne and the flesh he sought to aduance his owne death and calling for a knife lifted vp his right hand but Archilaus his cosen-germane perceiuing it ranne to him and held his hand hee died 5. dayes after he made his sonne Antipater die hauing enioyed the kingdome the space of 34. yeares after he had caused Antigonus to die and 37. yeares after hee was declared King by the Romanes In all other things he was happie yea if euer King were for a man of so base condition to acquire that Kingdome and keepe it so long a time and at last leaue it to his children But concerning his domesticke affaires none could be more vnluckie c. Hitherto Iosephus This Historie is worthie of memorie that all that read such a vengeance of God may learne to feare his iudgements After the death of this Herod the Iewes not being able to support the ruling of a straunger sought to raise vp seditions but they were repressed by Archilaus But whilest Archilaus and Herod Antipas pleaded one against an other in Rome againe other troubles arose in Iewrie In so much as Augustus diuided Herods kingdome He constituted Archilaus the Tetrarch of Idumea Iudea and Samaria and the reuenew of those Regions amounted yearely to sixe hundreth Talents He diuided the other part into two Tetrarches He gaue also to Herod Antipas Galilie and Perea out of which Regions he had yearely 200. Talents And to Philippes he gaue Bathania Traconite Aucanite Calcide of which places the reuenew came by yeare to an hundreth Talents This Archilaus was chased from Iudea and finally banished to Vienne which is in Gaul nigh to Lions where he dyed At this time the administration of the Kingdome was againe chaunged in Iudea The Romanes placed Gouernours there one after an other as Coponius Marcus Anius Rufus Valerius Gracchus Poncius Pilate Tiberius succeeded Augustus his father in lawe and raigned 33. yeares He gaue himselfe to Idlenesse and drunkennesse so that in mockerie he was called Claudius Biberius Nero in place of Claudius Tiberius Nero. See Suetonius and Cor. Tacitus Historiograph Iohn Baptist began to preach the presence of the Redeemer shewing with his finger the Lord Iesus he reprehended the false seruices inuented by men so that persecutions began to arise The most enraged persecutors were the Pharisies I meane such as were great in the Church of Ierusalem These crimes they laid against him namely that he vsurped the Ministerie to teach without the will of such as had charge in the Church That he brought a new doctrine diuerse from the vse of the Sinagogues That he shewed a Messias who had no appearance of a King but abiect and poore That hee vsed hard and sharpe words and affirmed that the gouernment of Moses was come to an ende and that they must haue a new Religion That he foretold the reiection and ruine of the Iewes and the vocation of the Gentiles Mat. 3. Luk. 3. Iohn 3. But because the people came euery day in great multitudes to him and was held for an excellent Prophet his enemies were brideled But he endured an other persecution of Herodes Antipas the first king Herods sonne the Tetrark of Galilie who tooke Herodias his brother Philip Herods wife and made him die to please the appetite of that Herodias and her daughter Salome after she had daunced at a banquet As it is Mark. 6. There were amongst the Iewes at this time three Sects namely Pharisies Saduces and Esses as appeareth All the Nation of the Iewes had but that onely Temple which was in Ierusalem called the Temple of God Mat. 21. It was 46. yeares in edifying Ioh. 2. Nabuchodonoser pilled and burned the stately Temple of Salomon and rased it by Nabuzardam Generall of his Armie when the rest of the people were carried into Babilon Cyrus the first of that name King of the Persians at the perswasion of Daniel gaue leaue to reedifie it And the second yeare of Cyrus raigne the Iewes began to build it but they had great hinderances The death of Cyrus followed Cambises followed him a man full of impietie and crueltie hee caused the building to cease Darius Hislaspes succeeded after him who made an end of the Temple And this was the cause it was so long in building This Temple was situated in an imminent and high place therein was great magnificence and great gifts were giuen for ornaments thereof as may be gathered in the 24. of S. Math. Mark 14. Luk. 21. See Ioseph in his last chap. of the 15. booke of Antiquit. The Ecclesiasticall gouernment of the Iewes was this They which held the preheminence in the Church of the Iewes were called principall high Priests It was ordained of God that there should be one high Priest who might remaine in that office vntill the end of his life after his death an other was substituted Exod 29. Nomb. 20. When Christ came all was confused all was solde for money or by deceit and stealth As Iohn 11. It is said that Cayphas was chiefe Priest that yeare After the high Priest there was a great troupe of other Priests which were distinct amongst themselues For Dauid distributed the successors of Aaron into 24. orders Therefore it is said Luk. 1. that Zacharie was a Priest of the Family of Abia which had the eight Lot 1. Chro. 24. There were after Leuites whereof is spoken Iohn 1. and 10. Chap. There were also Scribes which were Doctors of the Lawe Luk. 5. There was the Maister of the Sinagogue who was the principall Doctor Mark 5. Luk. 13. There were they which were called Rabbi or Maister which was an estate or office of teaching Iohn 3. Art thou a Maister in Israel and knowest not these things The Elders of the people were they
he remained a yeare and sixe monethes At this time the Emperour appeased the seditions which were betwixt the Iewes and the Samaritanes The yeare 53. the Emperour Claudius tooke the Kingdome of Chalcide from Agrippa which hee had held foure yeares and gaue him the Tetrarchie of Philip with Traconite Bathane and Abele and constituted Felix Gouernour of the Iewes Iudea was maruellously afflicted about this time by intestine conspiracies and robberies which was committed by the greatest men of Ierusalem Ionathan the high Priest had admonished the Gouernour Felix to acknowledge the true God But Felix was so grieued hereat that he ordeined an other high Priest namely Ioseph who was a familiar friend of the said Ionathan Ioseph assembled together a band of theeues and slew Ionathan These theeues which remained vnpunished for this in an assembly of people fell vpon all they thought good neither carrying reuerence to any persons nor places how holy soeuer And the true cause of all this mischiefe was that some false Prophets and seducers ioyned themselues with these theeues But so soone as they were come vnto them Felix made them die as seditious persons Amongst them was a renowned Egiptian of whom Iosephus makes mentiō in his Antiquities This deceiuer perswaded the common people to ascend with him into the Mount Oliuet saying that from thence he would shewe himselfe to them and that by his commaundement the walles of Ierusalem should fall and promised them that thereby they might enter Felix hereof aduertised made arme certaine people and with a great number of horsemen rushed vpon that disguised band which was of thirtie thousand and slewe about 400. of them and tooke 500. aliue In the meane while this abuser escaped and was neuer after seene Those theeues againe perswaded the people to make warre against the Romanes and no more to yeeld them obedience They burnt and pilled such Villages as resisted them The yeare 56. S. Paul went to Ierusalem where he was taken and ledde to the Gouernour Felix Domitius Nero succeeded in the Empire and raigned fourteene yeares two monethes and certaine dayes Hee was as very cruell man and insatiable in whooredome and Homicide euen in sleying his owne mother his sister his brother his wife Octauia and an other wife called Pompeia whom he slewe with a blowe of his foote Hee killed also his Schoolemaister Seneca and a Romane Consull named Atticus the better to enioy his wife called Statilia The yeare 57. after the death of of Aziarius King of the Emesicians his brother succeeded him See Iosephus And Nero gaue the principallitie of the lesse Armenia to Aristobulus the Sonne of Herode King of Calcyde and the Kingdome of Agrippa the younger was thereby greatly encreased The yeare 58. after Felix was departed from Iudea there was a great sedition in Cesaria which is in Palestine where a great number of Iewes were slaine The same yeare S. Paul was sent prisoner to Rome There was a sedition also in the other Cesaria And Festus succeeded Felix in the gouernment of Iudea The yeare 59. in the Towne of Thoulouze which is in Gaul there was a verie renowned Rethorician called Statius Surculus The same yeare the Towne of Magunce was repaired by the Romaines The yeare 60. In Rome was a great earthquake and an Eclipse of the sunne at the time when Nero exercised his Parracides and whooredomes The yeare 61. a boy of eight yeares of age in Italie in the time of Fonteius and Vispanus Consuls did runne fortie thousand paces from noone till the euening The same yeare there was an Eclipse of the Sunne the last day of Aprill The yeare 62. Albinus was made Gouernour of Iudea The yeare 63. Iames the brother of the Lorde Iesus which was called Iust accounted Bishop of Ierusalem was slaine by the Iewes The high Priest Ananias thinking to recouer libertie caused him to be called into iudgement and accused him as a corrupter of Moyses Lawe Some say hee was cast downe from the toppe of the Temple and as hee prayed for them which put him to death hee was strooken with a Fullers Bowe on the heade whereof hee dyed Then did Albinus gouerne Iudea succeeding Festus The yeare 64. a Thunderbolte fell before Nero his Table The same yeare Saint Marke the Euangelist died which was the eight yeare of the raigne of Nero hee was burnt for the Gospell in Alexandria which is in Aegypt where hee preached At this time Agrippa augmented the Towne of Cesaria Phillippe and called it Neronia The yeare 65. after S. Marke his death Annianus was ordeined the first bishoppe of Alexandria and gouerned the Church 22. yeares The yeare 66. beganne the first persecution which was the tenth yeare of Nero and endured till his death By the commaundement of this tyrant fire was lightned in the Towne of Rome and that none should say it was his act hee laide the fault vppon the Christians and made them die of many kindes of deathes They that called themselues Christians which name was as odious vnto all men as if they had beene enemies of mankinde and they also which were accused by the prisoners besides all other euills done vnto them endured also this opprobry that beeing couered with Beasts skinnes they were with dogges torne in peeces Some were fastened to Crosses and Gallowes Others burnt with fire in so much that of them they made fires to cleare and lighten the night Cor. Tacitus rehearseth this After Festus vnder Nero succeeded in the gouernment of Iudea Albinus and after Florus vnder whom the Iewes beganne to fall into such rebellions and dissentions that neither menaces nor torments exactions nor occasions could represse them In Asia three Townes perished by an Earth-quake namely Laodicea Hierapolis and Colossa All Townes which had receiued the Gospell whilst S. Paul liued who had instructed them partly by writings partly by his Disciples as by Epaphras A mirrour of Gods iudgement who cannot endure the despising of his word The yeare 60. the Church of the Lord Iesus in Ierusalem as it was assembled was diuinely admonished and transferred into the Towne of Pella which is beyond Iordaine This same yeare Vespasian was ordeined by Nero to set an order in the Countrey of Iudea who did many things worthy of memorie The yeare 68. began the warres of the Iewes vnder Florus because of his great crueltie whereof Iosephus makes mention Lib. 2. Chap. 13. Egesippus Lib. 3. Chap. 4. The yeare 70. if we will beleeue the catalogue of the Romaines Linus succeeded S. Peter S. Hierome Nicephorus Euthalius Deacon and others say that S. Peter was crucified the 14. yeare of Nero which was the last of his raigne and the 27. yeare after the conuersion of S. Paul How then could this be that Linus should succeed him in the Apostolicke Sea as they say seeing Linus was Martired a yeare before S. Peter For so is it rehearsed by
of Constantine Of the writings of Damasus see Suidas and Hierome in his Epistle ad Eustochium Tome 4. makes mention of Damasus Of Virginitie saith hee read the bookes of that Pope Damasus composed in verse and prose He reuerenced the Sinode of Nice and condemned Auxentius Bishop of Millan an Arrian Theodor. lib. 4. chap. 30. saith that with S. Ambrose hee fought strongly against the Arrian heretikes expresly condemning Sabellius Arrius Eunomius the Macedonians Photin Marcellius and the heresie of Apollinaris Hierome writeth vnto him often and in his Apologie against Iouinian he calleth Damasus a singular man well instructed in the scriptures and Doctor of the Virgin Church Athanasius in his Epistle to the Bishops of Affrike calleth Damasus his deare companion praysing his diligence that hee assembled a Sinode at Rome against the Arrians He was charged to haue committed whoordome whereof beeing accused by two of his Deacons namely Concordius and Calitxtus hee defended his cause in a full assembly of Bishoppes and was absolued and his accusers proscripted Sabelli Enu 7. Lib. 9. There were many vertuous Monkes in this time as Paulus Pior Isidorus Apsius Pierius Enagrius Ammonius c. Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 10. One of the Monkes said that the Monke which laboured with his hands was like a theefe Some were cruelly slaine by Valens because they would not goe to warre Anthonie of the age of an hundreth and fiue yeares died at this time Hee sawe in a Dreame as it were swine which destroyed and plucked downe Aultars with their feete and when he awaked hee said that the Church should bee once dissipated and wasted by whoremongers adulterers and men disguised P. Melancton noteth this Prophesie against the whoordome and voluptuos life of Priests and Monkes Amongst other heretickes at this time there was Photinus Hebionite Ennomius an Arrian and Priscilian a Bishop in Spaine who cōfounded the persons in the Trinitie They which they called Donatists said that Christ is lesse then the Father and the holy Ghost lesse then the Sonne and rebaptized the Catholiques The Luciferians and Apollinaries said that Christ receiued an humane body without a reasonable soule The diuinity supplying the place thereof Athalarike King of the Gothes persecuted greatly the Catholiques against his owne people The Burgonions gathered themselues together in number 80000. towards Rhene which afterward receiued the faith Paul Diac. In the Towne of Arras in the Countie of Artois the 4. yeare of Valentinian fell wooll from Heauen with the rayne Hierome in his Chronicle Paul Diac. and Orosius Lib. 7. Herman Gigas saith that it was in the third yeare of Valentinian For Lana some Historiographers haue set downe Manna wherefore yet at this day they of Arras vnluckily do worship it for the Manna of Heauen The Hungarians cast themselues vpon the West Countrie in great numbers The Arrians made burne and drowne many faithfull and Catholique people Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 2. The Huns cast themselues vpon the westerne parts and draue away the Gothes which were cōstrained to giue place and passe beyond Danubia and came into Thrace and from thence into Pannonie Vulphilas a Bishop of the Gothes in Sarmathia translated the Bible into the Gothike tongue for the vse of his people As Ierome did into the Dalmatike for his people And in Creatia which is in the lower Pannonie the Churches there and the Bishops vsed the scriptures translated into their vulgar tongue Auxentius an Arrian Bishop deceasing at Milan there fell a great sedition betwixt the Arrians the Catholiques for the electiō of their Bishop The Proconsul his deputie then was Ambrose a Citizen of Rome who hearing such a noise by reason of his office went hastily to the Church where the people were assembled and after he had made many reasons to reduce the people to concord suddenly rose there vp a common and an agreeing voyce that Ambrose must needs be baptized who was yet a Catechumene and after be consecrated Bishop whervnto he would not consent but by the commaundement of the Emperour Valentinian who incited him therevnto hee accepted the office And then the Emperour gaue thankes to God that hee had called this person from the gouernment of the body to the gouernment of soules Councells held at this time 1. In Aquilege where S. Ambrose assisted against Palladius and Secondianus Arrians 2. In Valentia in Dalphine wherein it was ordained that Bigami might not be consecrated 3. In Laodicea whereof is before spoken c. 4. At Rome against Apollinaris Hist Trip. lib. 9 chap. 16. Valentinian of the age of 55. yeares died of a flux of bloud of a veyne breaking He raigned 17. yeares 6. with Gratian and 11. after his body was carried to be buried at Constantinople S. Aurel. Vict. and Pomp. Before his death he againe declared his sonne Graiian Emperour Procopius the Tyrant vanquished by Valens was taken and hauing his two feete bound vnto two trees and let goe they tore him in peeces Naucle Valens gaue a blowe vnto the Gouernour of the Towne of Edesse in Mesapotamia because hee had not chased away the Christians which daily assembled in ths Temple of S. Thomas It grieued him to put the Emperours commaundement in execution and to cause such a multitude to die wherefore he secretly sent thē word that they would assemble no more there But leauing his counsell and searing nothing the Emperours Edict the next morning all assembled in the said place as they accustomed to doo So then as the Prouost of the Towne with a great company of souldiers went to the said Temple to put in execution Valens his commaund hee encountred a woman who ranne with a litle childe of hers to the assembly of the faithfull to whom he said Whether runnest thou Thither said she whether all others haste to goe How said hee hast thou not heard that the Prouost goeth thither to sley all he findes there I vnderstand it said she and therfore do I make so much haste to be with them And whither leadest thou that litle childe That he may also receiue the Crowne of Martyrdome quoth she When the said Prouost vnderstood these things and the courage of the Christians which ran thither he returned towards the Emperor Valens shewed him this storie how they were ready to endure death for their faith that he thought it very vnreasonable to sley so great a multitude of people Vpon these words Valens moderated his anger Socrat lib. 1. cap. 18. Theo. lib. 4. cap. 17. Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 18. Affrates a very olde Monke departed from Antioch being sent into exile Valens seeing him from his Pallace said to him whither goest thou I goe said he to pray for thine Empire Thou shouldest haue done that in thy house said Valens Yea answered Affrates if thou wouldest permit it and so did I when Christs sheepe were in peace Valens in the end fought vnluckily against
Cardinall Deacon he wrote Saint Gregories life in foure volumes Lewis the Emperour being in Italie dyed hauing raigned 19. yeares and was buried at Milaine His successour was Charles the second of that name surnamed le Chauue the sonne of Lewis le Debenaire of his second wife Iudith vncle of the dead Lewis the second After he was King 36. yeares he heard say that the Emperour his Nephew was dead and incontinent went to Rome to receiue the Crowne of the Empire hauing ordeined Boso his wiues brother King of Prouince Pope Iohn in a small time crowned three Emperours and after gaue occasion of great contention and warre First hee crowned Charles le Chauue who two yeares after he came into Italie to driue the Sarrasins out of the kingdome of Naples was taken with a Feuer at Mantone where hee dyed being poysoned by his Physitian a Iewe called Zedechias the yeare 878. hauing bene King 36. yeares and Emperour two yeares and was buried at Verseile and after as some say was transported to S. Denis The Pope vnderstanding of his death would that his sonne Lewis le Begne should be chosen Emperour But the Romanes contradicted it and would that Charles the third surnamed le Gros sonne of Lewis king of Germanie it should be chosen The Pope remaining still in his opinion was sent to prison but he escaped by the helpe of his friends and fled into France where he remained a yeare first in Arles and after at Lions Finally some say at Troy in Champaigne where he assembled the Councell of the French Church and there created and crowned Lewis le Begne Emperour and saluted him Augustus In the meane while Charles the third was at Rome kept it He sent for the Pope who returned to Rome and pronounced that the saide Charles might dwell at Rome and crowned him Emperour And so they raigned together two yeares Finally Lewis was poysoned and Charles raigned alone 12. yeares Plat. Florent and Robert Barns This Pope at the same Councell gaue to the Flemings a Bishop in Tornay Lewis le Begne two yeares after he was crowned in France 1. of that name died at Champaigne and left his wife great with childe who after brought foorth Charles le simple Nauclerus Charles called le Gros the sonne of Lewis King of Germaine being at Rome occupied the Empire and raigned alone And by him the Empire or the French men returned to the Almaines Naucler and R. Barns and came not at the wish of the French nor according to the imaginations and subtill deuices of the Pope This Pope Iohn ordeined that such as offended in Sacriledge should be excommunicated amerced at thirtie pound of siluer 22. quest 4. Chap. Quisquis Iohn le Maire saith that this Pope was a cruell man and disgraded Formosus Bishop of Portensis which was an occasion of many mischiefes Fasci temp Some Historiographers say it was for that he was the cause that the said Iohn Pope was imprisoned at Rome Finally he was poisoned or as some say slaine with the blow of a Mallet vpon a conspiracie made against him Chron. Abb. Vrsp R. Barns Pascasius about this time was Abbot in Saxonie he writ a Booke of the Euchariste and most men followed his opinion which pleased the Schoole-men more then the opinion of Iohannes Scotus or of Bertramus which were reiected as shal be told in his place Martin second of that name a French man by euil arts entered into the Popedome Supple Chron. and gouerned a yeare and fiue moneths before he was called Marin Betwixt Martin Pope second of that name and Adrian the third Sigebert and Visperge place Agapetus but other Historiographers make no mention of them Adrian Pope the third of that name ruled at Rome a yeare and three moneths Hee ordeined that from thenceforth the Emperours should not meddle with the election of the Pope And that his aurhoritie therein should be no more any thing requisite but that the election of the Cleargie should be free Dist 62. chap. Nullus chap. Adrianus Hee made this Lawe whilst the Emperour was occupied in the warre against the Normains which then endured not long For Leo the eight Pope did ordaine cleane contrary as shall bee saide afterward Platina saith heere that William Pyon Duke of Aquitane and Counte Auerne founded the first Monasterie of the order of Clugny vnder the rule of Saint Benet and made Berno Abbot there after whome Odo succeeded who hauing bene a Musitian at Tours came to be a Monke at Clugny Chron. Sigeb The Emperour Charles became iealous of his wife for the great familiaritie shee had with Luitwaldus Bishop of Verseil who in a full assembly protested that hee neuer had her company Shee notwithstanding accepted the diuorce and withdrew her selfe vnto the couent d'Aulaui where shee made an end of her dayes Sigeb and P. Phrig 9. At this time the Normains Northerne people did great hurt in France after they had spoyled Artois Cambray Liege Brabant Gelders and Treuers c. Charles being not able to resist them finally agreed with them in giuing in marriage the daughter of Lotharie his cousin germain called Gille to Geffrey or Rotfrid their King and assigned for her dowrie the Countrey of Frise vpon condition he should be baptised Notwithstanding those Normains afterward afflicted France and besieged the Citie of Paris as shall be said The subiects of Charles le Gros greeued at his cowardlinesse because he let France be so outraged by the violence and crueltie of the Normains and that also hee had forsaken his wife a good woman they deposed him as vnworthy and vnprofitable for the gouernment of the Empire and gaue him a Curator named Arnulfe or Arnould who was his brothers sonne Some say that Charles le Gros finished his dayes in great pouertie in the Abbey of the rich Angell called in Alemand Richenna nigh vnto Constans by the Lake without any great honour of Sepulchre Others say he was strangled by his owne people This is a glasse for great Princes of the world and an excellent patterne of the humaine condition Arnulphus thē his Nephew by his brother Carloman Duke of France Orientall which then was called the Teutonique Kingdome comprehending Bauier Sorabe Saxe Turinge Frise and Lorraine was made Emperour Hee was a valiant man and repressed the Moranians and Slauonians after hee made strong warre vpon the Normains nigh the Riuer of Mense Stephen Pope fift of that name ruled 6. yeares ten moneths in the Romane seate It was in his time that the tale of S. Michael in the Mount Bargamus in Pouile is said to bee true There was one of his Decretals to Hubert Arch-bishop of Manyeance 2. G. v. c. Consuluisti ordeined the song of Crosse de consecrat 6. dist v.c. Nunquid Odo 31. King of France raigned nine yeares He was Tutor vnto Charles le Simple and crowned King to resist the Normains which then
yeelded vp the spirit After this man was dead they elected an other by the commandement of the Pope namely Herman of Saxonie Count or Earle of Lucenbourg who not without the Lords will was slaine by a woman who let fall a great stone vpon his head as he assailed a Castle in Almaine And the malice of this cruel tirant could not be repressed but it stirred vp a third Competitor to this good Prince namely one Egbert Earle of Misue his parent but being surprised by the Emperors people he was miserably put to death What man would not bee mooued by such iudgements of God to obey his Magistrate and abhorre all rebellion and sedition yet this Romane seate was neuer stirred therewith but finally wrought the Emperours sonne Henry to rebell against his father The writings of Henry the 4. sent to the King of France by which he complaineth of his sonnes iniuries and of such as drew him on to do them do at large declare this tragedie and at this day are to be seene Matilde Countesse kept ordinarie company with the Pope and neuer departed from him as his harlot despising Aron her husband Marquesse of Est. In so much that shee was commonly called S. Peter his daughter Shee was diuorced by the Romane seate for some affinitie that was pretended to be betwixt them From thence came it as Lambert Hirsueldensis hath left in writing that all people accused them that there was a villainous and dishonest loue betwixt them and euerie one said she lay with the Pope and had vnlawfull company of him which had taken frō Priests holy honest marriage The Abbot of Vrsperge called Conrade de Lihtenaw addeth this in his Chronicle Certaine it is that Hildebrand was not chosen of God but brought in of himselfe by fraud and force of siluer who ouerthrew the Ecclesiasticall order troubled the Kingdome of the Christian Empire procured the death of a peaceable King maintained periuries entertained noyses and dissentions sowed disorders stirred scandalles made diuorces and shooke and ouerthrewe all which seemed well ordained amongst them which liued holily c. First he was a great hypocrite who with force of excommunications depriued Ministers of the Church of their wiues and filled the world with an infinit number of buggeries In such sort that that great Citie which is spiritually called Sodome and Egipt that is to say the Romane Church was made after this time a true Sodome and Egipt his buggeries and Idolatries In the meane time he mooued maruellous tragedies in Italie France Almaine and England which would be too long to rehearse in this place and such dealing displeased many persons and wise men which were in that time For to speake neither of England nor Italie as well in Almaine as in France there was 24. Bishops and more which together with their Cleargie were married and defended and constantly maintained their marriage He commaunded Clarkes to vow singlenes that is to say not to marry briefly the most tiranically that could be he forbad Priests marriages commanding them to leaue theyr wiues or otherwise to be depriued of their offices prebēds He willed that from henceforth none be admitted to Ecclesiasticall orders vnlesse he first promise and vowe chastitie Also he ordained that none should heare Masse of a Priest that had a concubine He forbad Monkes to eate flesh at any time De consec dist 5. c. Carinum He commanded that no Christian should eat flesh on the Saterday De consec dist 5. Carinum 36. Why doo not Monkes obserue that commaundement as well as they pretend to obserue their vow of chastitie For they are for like power He ordained the offering of the Masse He Canonized one named Liberius an Arrian and commaunded his Feast should be celebrated as Benno witnesseth He commanded tenthes should be paid to Priests And tooke from the King of Poloigne his Crowne interdicting his Kingdome Hee condemned the opinion of Berengarius touching the Sacrament was the first they say that preached Transubstantiation He condemned as sacriledge a Lay-man possessing Tithes Him that gaue Inuestures of Benefices as an heretike and he that receiued them of a Lay-man as an Idolater So by this meanes made he the Popes leaden dagger so strong as her power was able to driue backe the Iron force of the Empire The Emperour Henry opposed himselfe against the force and enterprises of the said Hildebrand and the yeare of our Lord 1083. in a Sinode that he caused to assemble at Bresse after all crimes were laid against him before the assēbly by good right he was deposed from his Papall seate and so appointed in his place an other Pope which they named Clement the third He sent straight his Army to Rome driue out Gregorie and to bring in Clement The towne was by him brought vnto such pouertie that the Inhabitants were constrained to purchase peace But Hildebrand not thinking to be in presence of the Emperor being abandoned reiected of the Romanes fled vnto Salerne the yeare of the Lord 1086. where hee finished his life in exile which had caused so many to die by the sworde by famine by poysons and other sorts of deaths Yet the Papists made a brute runne that after his death he wrought many miracles yea euen after a Priest of Saxony as Sigebert witnesseth as he died had seene him tormented in hell Antonine and Vincent rehearse that this Hildebrand being at the article and point of death readie to yeeld vp his soule called to him a Cardinall his familiar vnto whom hee confessed both to God and S. Peter and to all the Church that he had greeuously sinned and had not done his office and dutie in the Apostolicke state and that by the perswasion of the diuel he stirred hatreds enmities and warres amongst many through the world Hee commaunded the said Cardinall to transport him towards the Emperour Henry the fourth and to crie him mercy for the faults he had committed against him and that he should deliuer him from the excommunication and likewise all his as well aliue as dead Anto. and R. Barnes Multiplication of the orders of Munkerie In this time the order of the Templers beganne and the order of Regular Chanons in a difference from secular Chanons Volateran The order of the Monkes of Grandmont of the rule of S. Benet tooke his beginning of one named Stephen of Fraunce which carried haire vpon his flesh Volaterane The order of Charterux began Bruno borne at Coloigne a Schoolemaister and after a Chanon of Rheimes hauing heard the voyce of a Doctor renowmed in his life when he made his obsequies saying I am cōdemned by a iust iudgement of God was afraid and for suertie entered into an Hermitage with certaine Disciples and founded the Charter house in the Country of Dalphine in the Diocesse of Grenople by the meanes help of Hugues Bishop of Grenople who also receiued the habite of Chartreux And so beganne
constituted there a familiar friend of his Charles Duke of Bourgongne returned the second time against the Swisses Before he had taken from the Duke Rene of Lorraine Nancy wherefore the Duke of Lorraine ioyned with the Swisses And when the Duke of Bourgongne was before Morat they of the Towne came out and altogether inuaded the the Armie of the Bourguignons and put them vnto flight In so much that 17. thousand Bourguignons or 20000. after Fasci Temp. or 22000. after the Sea of Hist were there slaine The spoile was there left to the Duke of Lorraine for recompence who also after recouered Nancy See Nauclerus The third time the Duke of Bourgongne being greeued to haue beene vanquished by so weake a Prince as the Duke of Lorraine was returned and againe besieged Nancy Hee had 14000 combattants and still looked for other Bands of souldiers Vpon this the Duke of Lorraine and the Swisses came vpon them parted in two Bandes The Bourguignons were discomfited and put to flight some slaine in the woods and others drowned There was also slaine the Duke of Bourgongne hauing receiued three mortall woundes one on the head an other in the thigh and the last in the fundament See Naucler The Bourguignons would not beleeue he was slaine but that being escaped hee retired into Almaine and hee had vowed to make his penance there seuen yeares There were amongst the Bourguignons which solde precious stones horses and other such like things to be paid at his returne Yea euen in Bruchel in the Diocesse of Spine there was an olde man which men thought to bee the Duke of Bourgongne making there his penance whom euery one desired to see and therby got he good almes Nauclerus saith hee sawe the said poore man in the said place The king of France vnderstanding of the death of the Duke of Bourgongne tooke Monididier Roy Peronne Abbenille Monstraeul Arras an Hesdin See the Hist. of France Maximilian sonne of the Emperour Frederic the third affianced Mary the onely daughter of Charles Duke of Bourgongne with whom he had Bourgongne Brabant Flaunders Luxembourge Hainaut Zeland Artois Guelders with other Sergnories and lands The said Maximilian had of his said wife one sonne called Phillip and a daughter called Margarite They had two other children Francis and George which died in their youth Phillip espowsed Iane Queene of Chastile of whom hee had Charles the fift Emperour and Ferdinand and foure daughters Leonor Isabeal Mary and Katherine The Iacobins Inquisitors deputed against heretikes as they call them in diuers sorts molested certaine Theologians of the order of Carmes in certaine causes of the faith Amongst which they said one was called Iulian de Bresse an excellent Preacher of the word of God and an other Peter de Neuolaite for whom Mantuan writ an Apologie conteining three bookes But all this was pacified by the Pope Sixtus at the pursuite of Christopher Martignon which Sextus as tutor and defender of Monkes as Stella witnesseth in the Popes liues that he might take away all occasion of enuie and riots amongst them ordained that all Mendicant and begging Friars should bee equall in such priuiledges as all Popes had graunted vnto them The Vniuersitie of Tubinge in the Diocesse of Constance by Apostolicke authoritie was instituted at the instance of the Count of Wittemberge Naucler The Swisses beganne now to receiue wages of the king of Fraunce Lewis the 11. casheering the French Archers because they pilled and spoyled and did many other mischiefes Naucler Platina composed the Popes liues in Latin and dedicated them vnto Sixtus the 4. Wessalus of Frise in this time writ against the Pope his doctrine and traditions Mahomet the second died of poison as was suspected Naucler or else of a Collicke passion of the age of 50. yeares after Naucler of 53. Baiazetes his son succeeded him Paul Iou. Margarite the daughter of Maximilian was brought into France and espowsed vnto the Dolphin Charles the 8. in the moneth of Iuly at Ambroise who afterward was sent backe againe Naucler Mary Duchesse of Bourgongne Maximilians wife Madam Margarites mother being on hunting fell from her horse and died Chron. Euseb and Naucler The Pope Sixtus Canonized S. Bonauenture The last of August died Lewis King of France a very superstitious man He pilled the people to inrich Churches Hee worshipped and kissed bones and relickes of Saints to obtaine health For hee maruellously feared death In so much that in the end of his dayes hee gaue excessiue gifts to his Phisitian each moneth if at the least they might but prolong his life Sixtus made many warres wrongfully against Ferdinand King of Pouille because hee gaue ayde vnwillingly to his sonne in lawe Hercules d'st Duke of Ferrara which was besieged of the Venetians against the Venetians which he excommunicated Also against the Florentines as is said although that the matter better vnderstood hee absolued them and restored them to their honour and Lawrence de Medices likewise Sixtus being deteined sicke in his bed of a Feauer vnderstanding that a peace was made betwixt the Venetians and other Potentates suddenly yeelded the spirit Naucler Innocent 8. of that name borne at Genes the sonne of one called Aaron called before Iohn Baptist Cibo of a Cardinall Priest of the title of S. Cicilie was created Pope of Priests and Monkes after of Sixtus Volaterane saith he was once a poore childe yet faire and was nourished amongst the seruants of Ferdinand king of Sicilie where he learned all the fashions of the Court life Comming from thence to Rome he remained long time in the house of Phillip Cardinall of Boulongne After this he was made Bishop of Sauonne and thirdly of Melphe by the Pope Xistus and also Dataire finally Cardinall after Pope as hath bin said He was of a great stature a white man and of faire representation but of an heauie and dull spirit and far from all studie of good Letters In so much that sometimes when he was Idle from publike affaires hee seemed as though he slept Almost frō the beginning of his Popedome he conspired against Ferdinand king of Sicilie with the Princes of the kingdome See how Popes vse to recompence the amitie of such as nourish and educate them Hee called one named Robert d' S. Seuerin to be chiefe and Captaine of the Armie which he sent against Ferdinand This holy man said that for the Churches dignitie and the defence of Saints it was lawful to take Armes that peace might follow of it Yet seeing himself deceiued he was forced to make peace vpon this condition that his yearely tribute should be paid him and that such as rebelled should not be in daunger But the king Ferdinand kept neither the one nor the other condition although hee sent one named Peter de Vincence an hardie and bold man who was Auditor of the Chamber with his Secretarie to sollicite his causes After these things Innocent wearie of
Religion then that of the Protestants Moreouer if they thought good of it hee had a great desire to send Theologians and learned men into Amaigne or else if they woulde they might sende theyr learned Diuines into Fraunce to communicate together of certaine points of Religion The Senate of Auspurge receiued the doctrine of the Gospell The 24. of Iuly the Town of Munster is besieged and by might taken by the Count d'Obersten Captaine of the Armie and by their Bishop About the end of the moneth of Ianuary Iohn de Leiden Head of the Anabaptists Coipperdolin and Chrechring his companions being tyed to postes were slaine at Munster the Head alone confessing his fault and something repenting Henry King of England had by his wife Anne Bullen a faire daughter called Elizabeth The Emperour entred into Prouence with his Armie but wanting victualls for his Campe he was constrained to retyre to Gene. A great number of his souldiers dyed and amongst others his Lieutenant Anthonie de Leue. Francis the King of France his eldest sonne dyed at Tournon vpon Rosne of the age of 18. yeares Sebastian de Moncucul an Italian was drawne with 4. horses For giuing him poyson as it is said Perone besieged by Henry Count de Nassau and by Adrian d'erouy Count de Reux There arose a great sedition in England against the King For that bee had plucked downe and banished the Popes authoritie The Emperour by Sea returned from Genes ouer into Spaine Alexander de Medices Duke of Florence is slaine by Lawrence his kinsman promising him the enioying of a Ladie his neighbour of excellent beautie Iames the fift King of Scotland espowsed Magdaline king Francis his eldest daughter The Emperours Armie in Artois vnder the conduction of Florent de Bure tooke by force S. Paul besieged Terouanne but could not winne it The eleuenth of October was borne Edwarde King Henry his sonne of England of Iane Semer which he tooke to wife after Anne Bullen Anne de Mont-mourancy is created Constabled France which is a soueraigne degree of honour which office had bene vacant 15. yeares since the reuolt of Charles de Bourbon The Emperour and the king Francis assembled Nice where the Pope was to make a peace betwixt them and although they accorded not in the principall yet they concluded a truce betwixt them for tenne yearers Margarite the Emperors bastard-daughter after the death of the aforesaid Alexander is married vnto Octauian the Popes sonne in lawe Henry of England caused the Relickes of S. Thomas of Canterburie to be taken out of his Schrine and made them publikely to be burnt The Emperour and king Francis met at Aignes mortes in Languedoc and entertained one an other Charles d' Egmond Duke de Gueldres deceased very olde and William Duke of Cleues possessed his Countrey as well by the dead mans will as by the Nobilitie of the Countrey Castelubro a Towne of Illyrica in the gulfe of Ambracia is taken from the Turke by the Emperour and the Venetians allied together Touching this Pope Paul amongst a great number of his acts I will recite but this litle following that the world may know how great their sanctitie is which the Papists maintaine with an his voyce to be Peters succors and the Vicars of Iesus Christ This Paul was an Astrologian a Magician and Diuine and amongst his most familiars had one called Denis Seuila a Magician whom therefore afterward hee made a Cardinall with one named Gaurice of Portugall Cecius and Marcell Negromancians and wicked villaines Of these did hee enquire the fortune of himselfe and his bastards He got his red hatte in this maner Hee had a sister called Iulia Farnese which hee deliuered to Pope Alexander that hee might be a Cardinall and Bishop of Hostia and to finde meanes to pay his debts For those good Popes commonly are so inflamed with whoredome that they make no difficultie to promise redde hats and Bishopprickes to such as will bring them their sisters or else that which is more horrible their young bretheren to violate Many by such practises obtaine great riches fatte Benifices And as Agrippa saith there is no shorter way then that to come therevnto This murderer poysoned his mother and a Nephewe to this end that all the succession of the Farneses might fall vpon him Moreouer seeing the other of his sisters whose carnall company he had sometime had followed too openly the maners and conditions of them of the house of Farnese and that shee loued more the company of others then his hee poysoned her also Beeing a Legate in Marke d'Ancone in the time of Iulius the second hee most wickedly abused a maide issued of a noble house of that Towne For hee counterfeited and disguised himselfe feigning to bee one of the Gentlemen of the Legates house so vnder the colour of a promise to marrie her deflowred her Who after shee knew the truth what hee was and that shee was not his legitimate wife but his whore at the least by the Canon lawe shee became almost out of her wittes And of this marriage came that great Porteenseigne and Captaine of all Buggerers and Sodomites Peter Lewis As one Nicholas de Chesme found him one day adulterously abusing his wife Laurea Farnese who was the saide Pauls Neece hee wounded him so well with his dagger that hee carried the marke thereof all his life Hee slewe with poyson Bosuis Sforza the husband of his daughter Constance whom before hee had often vsed as his whore to the ende hee might more at his ease and with greater libertie enioy her This Dotard very tyrannously oppressed them of Peruse and droue from the Seignorie Ascanius Columne a very iust Prince This detestable Robber and Rouer tooke and vsurped for himselfe the Towne of Camer after hee had driuen away the Lady thereof which was a woman endowed with a rare and singular religion and prudence and did so much with his practises with Cardinalls that hee exchaunged the said Citie of Camer which was not his owne with the townes of Parme and Plaisance to the end to make his sonne Lewis Lord maister of them Which act afterward by a iust iudgement of God was cause of the death of the said Peter Lewis He often consulted with his Cardinalls how hee might hinder a Nationall Councell in Almaine and commaunded his Embassadors that they should enflame the hearts all Princes against the King of England Anne de Cleues sister of William Duke of Cleues is accorded in marriage to the king of England In the moneth of Maya Comete appeared in the ayre and almost the same day deceased Elizabeth the Emperours wife In August Castelnouo in Illirica is taken againe vpon the Emperor by Barbarosse the great Turkes Lieftenant almost all the garrison of the Spaniards slaine The Citizens of Gaunt rose vp against Mary Regent in the lowe Contries for the Emperour for which cause it was need-full for him to haste
into Flaunders He passed then through France from Spaine with great receiuing and entertainment of the king and his subiects The Emperor and the King sent their Embassadors to the Venetians to ioyne with them for making warre vpon the Turke but without any thing beeing mooued with that Embassage they incontinently sent towards the Turke to make peace with him Some say they were behinde counselled herevnto by the French Embassador They of Gaunt are punished by the Emperour many are beheaded and otherwise punished and after he had taken their liberties from them he caused a strong Forte to be there builded to bridle them The French king seeing himselfe out of hope to recouer Millaine he began to contract with the Duke of Cleues cōcerning a marriage betwixt him and the Princesse of Nauarre Iohn de Vainoda king of Hungarie died leauing a little child called Stephen borne of Elizabeth daughter of Sigismond king of Polonia Phillip Chabot Admirall of France is condemned at Melnue vpon treason and in seuen hundreth thousand Scutes as a fine and after banished into the wood of Vincenne but a litle after hee was againe restored vnto all his goods and estates The disputation of Remsbourge began in Aprill betwixt the Protestants and them which they called Catholickes Phillip Melancton Bucer Pistorius other Theologians were there on the Protestants side against Eccius Iulles Pffug and Iohn Gropper Caesar Fregosa and Antonie Rincon which the French king sent Embassadors to the Turke as they passed the Pan to drawe towards Venice they were taken by the Imperialists and put to death The Marquesse Alphonsus Daual the Emperours Lieftenant in Lombardie is accused of that murder by the Lord de Langeay The King dispatcheth his Embassadors to the Iourney at Reiusbourge to complaine of that wicked act After hee stayed at Lyons George d'Austriche bastard sonne of the Emperour Maximilian Archbishop Valence as he passed through Fraunce from Spaine vnto the Emperour who was in the lowe Countries Francis sonne of Anthonie Duke of Lorraine espowsed Christierne widowe the daughter of Christierne king of Denmarke which displeased the king of France Ferdinand besieged Bude a Towne in Hungarie where the Queene Dowairie was shut vp with her litle sonne but the Turkes comming downe in great numbers in the moneth of Iuly he was glad to leaue his siege The Turkes arriuing a litle while after tooke the Towne of Pest and discomfited a great part of Ferdinands people After whether the said Dowairie would or no he forced her to appropriate Bude vnto him vnder the colour that shee could not defend it against Ferdinand So the litle King and his mother were banished into Transiluania The Emperour came to Lupues to speake with the Pope And to hinder the Turke of an other side to withdraw him from Hungarie hee embarked himselfe with his Armie in the Porte of de Venere and passing by the Iles of Corseigne Maiorque and Minorque he made saile to Argiere where he tooke land the third of October but there arose a great and horrible tempest of the sea which scattered and dispearsed a great number of his sayles so that hauing lost a good part of his Artillery and almost all his furniture of warre he was constrained to retire into Spaine The French after they vnderstood of this losse tooke occasion to mooue warre The principall Lords of Austriche euen to the number of 24. and with them tenne Cities presented a request vnto the King Ferdinand the third of December at Prague to this end that according to the decree of the last Iourney at Reiusbourge they might reforme their Churches Ferdinand answered that that that Decree onely appertained vnto the Protestants therfore he commaunded them to attend the issue of a generall or Nationall Councell of Almaine promised by the Emperour at the said Reiusbourge The beginning of the Councell of the Trent Paul Pope published the Councell at Trent the first day of Nouember Edicts of extreame rigour were published at Paris against such as they called Lutherans namely to bring vnto certaine deputed Theologians all such as were any thing spotted therewith And that all Stationers and Booke-binders should bring in within a certaine time all suspected bookes Priests also had set downe a certaine forme of Interrogating such as came to confession if they knew any Lutherans A generall Procession on is made and Geneuiefue the Parisians Goddesse trotted through the streetes in great pompe The French king sent the Lord de Longueuil to the Duke of Cleues there with Martin de Rossem to leauie people and to attend occasion to begin their enterprise After in the moneth of Iuly following warre is denounced to the Emperour Longueuil Rossem pilled spoiled in Brabant all the Countrey but they wanted powder and furniture for Artillery They of Rochel in Xantoinge mutined against the king for a Garrison placed there against the custome and for extreame tollages Gernac is sent thither by the king Whilest the king goeth vnto Parpignan Guillame Poyet Chauncellor of Fraunce is by iustice apprehended in the night time in his bed and lead to prison who foreseeing this tempest made himselfe a Priest a litle before to shun the punishments which he knew to be due for his deserts The Papall Priesthood serueth for a good cloake to couer all maner of infection The Scots about the beginning of December fought very vnluckily against the English The cause of the warre was because the king of Scotland came to Yorke as he had promised to end a controuersie which they had together about the limits of their Countries The Emperour made Crowne his sonne Phillip king of Spaine and gaue him in marriage Marie the daughter of Iohn king of Pontugall Sigismond the sonne of Sigismond king of Pologne tooke in marriage Elizabeth the daughter of Ferdinand king of the Romanes Clement Marot retiring to Geneua set out in French verses 20. Psalmes of Dauid He had before published 30. at Paris wherevpon he was persecuted by the Sorbonists The Emperor and Henry of England ioyned themselues to make warre vpon the French king who tooke Landrecy and fortified it The Hauen and Towne of Nice taken and the Castle besieged by the Prince d' Anguien after that Barbarossa conducted by the Captaine Poidin had taken land with his Armie by Sea at Tolon The Duke of Cleues chastised by the Emperor forsooke the alliance of France The Princesse of Nauarre in the way against her will with the Cardinall de Ballay for her conduction vnto Cleues was stopped with great ioy of the marriage broken Trouble in Scotland by such as demanded that their young Queene might be accorded vnto Edward sonne of king Henry The king of France did so much that he pacified the Nobilitie to drawe vnto himselfe that alliance The Vauldois a people in Prouence are put to the spoyle for the Gospell wherefore the Historie is faithfully described and
Trent made great a sonne and two nephewes of his ratified the promises of marriage of the Prince of Nauarre with Margarite of France whereof his predecessor made difficultie and carefully and readily prouided for the good assurance of his temporall greatnesse The ninth day of Iune Iane d' Albert Queene of Nauarre an excellent Princesse amongst all them of her time daughter of Henry d' Albert and of Margarite d' Valois sister of king Francis the first going to Paris to giue order for diuers things requisit for the honor of the Prince her sonnes marriage fell suddenly sicke and died to the great griefe of them of the Religion and of all persons that loued the rest of France which this Princesse had procured by all meanes The 12. of Iune the Duke de Medina Coeli being sent from Spaine into Flaunders to gouerne in the Duke of Alua his place was shamefully ouerthrowne by them of Flushing lost 12. hundreth Spaniards 16. ships and foure of them were burnt in his presence hee sauing himselfe by flight The bootie was very great and almost inestimable On the 15. day an alliance was confirmed at Paris betwixt the King of France and the Queene of England who sent thither the Lord Clinton her Admirall The 16. the Prince of Orange published the causes wherefore hee againe tooke Armes against the Spaniards and their adherents in the lowe Countries The 25. certaine Gentlemen of Frise with good troupes holding the Prince of Orange his part seized vpō Dordrec and other places of Holland which ioyned themselues on that side The exercise of Religion was again set vp to the great despite of the Duke of Alua and the Spaniards Three dayes after the Prince of Orange writ at large vnto the Emperor shewing him the causes of that warre In the mean while certain Almain Lords leuied Reiters to succour the Duke of Alua. Sigismond August king of Polongne died the first of Iuly without heire-males which gaue occasion vnto Katherine de Medices Queene mother and Regent in France to send Embassadors into Polongne to the end to obtaine the Crowne for Henry Duke d' Antou her second sonne then liuing The 19. of Iuly the Emperour put the Prince of Orange to banishment from the Empire and pronounced him acquited from all priuiledges and rights and all his goods confiscated if he continued with strong hand to enter into the lowe Countries This notwithstanding the Prince pursued that which he had begun But in this moneth of Iuly 7. or 8. thousand French men marching to the succours of the besieged at Monts in Hainaut before they came there were defeated their chieftaines taken and they of Monts straighter kept in The Prince passed Rhene tooke Ruremond the 4. of August Louaine yeelded Maligues and certain other Townes were surprised After he drew towards Monts to succor his brother But the news of the pitious estate of Frāce brought such a change that the Prince was constrained to cut off his way to enter his troupes and retier himselfe into Holland whether he was called by the estates of the Countrey being accompanied with a small number of people This retrait so encouraged the Duke of Alua hauing now nothing to hinder him that the 21. of September he made himselfe maister of Monts by composition and kept promise with the Count Lodowick causing him safely to be conducted vnto the lands of the Empire After this Maligues was abandoned by them which the Prince left there and all other places before taken were taken againe into the hands of the Spaniards From Monts the Duke went towards Malines the first day of October Certaine Burgesses and all the Cleargie met him with Crosses and Banners but it serued for nothing for as much as they had receiued the Prince into their Towne he gaue the pillage and spoile of the Towne to the souldiers which tooke their pleasure there three daies slew many men and violated many women and maidens Whilest the lowe Countrie Churches sobbed thus vnder such tempests they of France which were thought should haue enioyed some long rest were rudely beaten and as it were flatly ouerthrowne by a maruellous straunge accident Wee haue before spoken of the death of the Queene of Nauarre as she came to Paris about the marriage of the Prince her son This Prince afterward called the King of Nauarre Henry de Bourbon his Cousin Prince of Conde Gaspar de Coligni great Admiral of France le Count de la Rochefoucand the Marquesse de Reinel many Lords Gentlemen and Captaines which had alwaies borne Armes against the Catholike Romanes came to the Court about that marriage at the kings request This marriage hauing bin solemnized vpon Monday the 18. of August the Friday following the Admirall was grieuously wounded with the blowe of an Hargabush shot out of a certaine window by a man then not sufficiently knowne called Maureuel a waged murderer yea one of the most execrablest manquellers of the world who afterward by the iust iudgement of God lost the same arme with which he gaue that detestable blowe The Sunday following the Admirall was most traitorously slaine in his chamber and cast dead out of the windowes vpon the pauement where he was knowne of Henry Duke of Guise After they rushed vpon the other Lords Gentlemen Captaines which were slaine also some within the Castle de Louuine others without This was done betimes in the morning All that day and morning was employed by such as they call Catholicke Romanes in sleying men and women of the Religion many not sparing women bigge with childe no nor litle children They continued this the dayes following but not in so great number because the murderers found not any more to sley The day of the wounding and the Sunday the King dispatched Letters expresly vnto the Gouernours of the Prouinces whereby he aduertised them that that disorder hapned besides his knowledge and to his great griefe by the practises and enmities of the house of Guise and that he determined to take good order therefore in the meane time hee would that his Edict of pacification should in each point be maintained Briefly he imputed the Admiralls wounding and death whom in the said Letters he called his Cousin to the particular quarels of the houses of Chastillon and Guise But meer contrary on thursday the 28. hee declared and caused to be published that that massacre and horrible murder had beene done by his expresse commaundement and to preuent a conspiration of the Admirall and his partakers wherof notwithstanding neither he nor his Councellors made it appeare nor could produce any profit although it was much prooued and desired of many Whilest great and litle were thus hungring and thirsting after innocent bloud the same Sunday the 24. of August certain Priests by Art made a great Thorn-tree in the church-yard of S. Innocent flourish at noone time of the day and cryed a myracle a myracle This
fell to a peace about the end of this yeare The Cardinall Don Henry brother of King Don Iohn the third grandfather of Don Sebastian was by a generall consent of the Nobles and Gouernours chosen and sworne king of Portugall who like an other Anius was made king of a preist of whom Virgill saith in the 3. of his Aeneiads Rex Anius Rex idem hominum Phaebique Sacerdos Of this Cardinal say the Portugalls that he was borne in the Eclips of the Moone and in the Eclips of the Moone he died M. Cyprian Val. Almaine was troubled by the cries and factions of the Vbiquitaries against whom certain Princes common-weales and learned mē opposed thēselues both with liuely voice writing The faith and obedience of the king of France his subiects began to decline Vpon the 31. of Ianuary Henry Cardinall King of Portugall departed this life he began to die in the Eclips of the Moone and died with the end thereof as if that the celestiall signe had wrought that effect in him being a man of a weake body which it doth not in strength or at the least not so suddenly as Astrologians do write neither is the houre to bee neglected being the same wherein he was borne 68. yeares before This was the last King of Portugall in whom ended the right Masculine line And as the first Lord of Portugall although vnder the title of an Earle was called Henry so doth it seeme the last should be so termed He was Bishop Gouernour of the Realme Inquisitor Maior Legate Apostolicke and King On the sixt of Aprill being wednesday in Easter weeke about sixe of the clocke towards euening a certain Earthquake happening in London and almost generally throughout England so amazed the people as was wonderfull for the time This Earthquake endured in or about London not passing one minute of an houre but in Kent and on the Sea coasts it was felt three times as at Sandwich at sixe of the clocke at Douer at the same houre These and many other places in East Kent the same Earthquake was felt three times to mooue at sixe at nine and eleuen Hollenshead The first of May after 12 of the clocke in the night was an other Earthquake felt in diuers places in East Kent namely at Ashford and great Chard King Phillip performed the funerall obsequies of Sebastian in the Church of S. Ierome at Madrill although it was secretly muttered that the Duke of Alua should say the King should haue performed it in Potugall in our Ladies Church of Belem where the other kings are accustomed to be interred inferring it may bee that Phillippe was successor vnto Sebastian or at the least should assure himselfe by force of the succession after Henry causing himselfe to be sworne Prince Ieronimo Conestaggio In the beginning of Iune the Frislanders passing Rhene returned into their Countrie and meeting the Count Hollocke with 22. Auncients and two thousand horsmen gaue him an ouerthrow in which were slaine of the Counts part one thousand and fiftie and on their owne side but fiftie and fiue by this encounter the siege was raised at the Groine and many Townes Hauens and holdes of Friseland were redeemed Genebrard After K. Henries death whē Katherine Duchesse of Brabant Anthony the bastard sonne of King Lewis and others had promised themselues the next succession at the last Phillip king of Spaine who was for that named of the dying Cardinall was inuested by the consent of the Lords spirituall and temporall Others chiefly they of Lisbone did sweare to Don Antonio but Phillip with a great power both by sea and land of the which he made the Duke of Alua Generall came to Lisbone and expulsed Don Antonio and recouered the Citie Who beeing hotly pursued by Sanches d' Auila was constrained to flie into France and England for succour Chytreus In the moneth of Iuly Stephen king of Poland comming out of Luchem in Moschouie tooke by force two Fortresses Vualisium and Vsuum and after that Vuielukim but hauing lost many of his men at the end of the yeare hee returned Genebrard On the nineteenth day of August the king of Spaines prescription was published against the Prince of Orange at Namours In these monethes of Iuly and August Fera a Citie in Picardie was deliuered to the Huguenots Emanuel Philebert Duke of Sauoy died this moneth a Prince most famous for his courage wisedome and religion leauing his sonne and heire and sucessor Charles The first day of September of this present yeare the Grecians and Muschouites began to recken the yeare from the worlds creation 7089. Certain Spaniards and Italians confederate with the Earle of Desmond and some of the Cleargie of Ireland landed there and tooke certaine holds and Castles but they were soone discomfited and chased away Ferdinand Duke of Alua began to exercise his tyrannie at Aquisgrane a chiefe Citie of the Empire vpon certaine Citizens and others that came from Antwerpe and the lowe Countries such as were of the reformed religion by whose conference and conuersation very many of Aquisgrane when they had embraced their profession desired of the Senate that they might vse a publike exercise of their Religion which when it was denied neuerthelesse they met openly at Sermons and the celebration of the Sacramens Which beeing shewed vnto the Emperour certaine Commissioners were appointed to roote out the religious and onely to establish the doctrine and rites of the Pope The Emperour himselfe wrote also vnto the Senate that they should banish those Preachers forth with and that they should iustly keepe the old lawe which was that none should be admitted of the Senate vnlesse they were altogether Catholicke D. Chytraeus The eight day of October immediately after the new Moone there appeared a blazing Starre in the South bushing towards the East which was nightly seene the aire being cleare more then two moneths In this yeare there was great abundance of corne wine and all maner of fruite and in Autumne in many places Roses did bud againe A great sicknesse did followe spreading it selfe throughout all Europe This is the yeare which the Grecians holde for the seuen thousand yeare from the beginning of the world Genebrardus Iohannes Martianus a Millanois Embassador for Spaine to the Turke hauing obtained a truce for three yeares returned from Constantinople into Spaine but so as neither desired others friendship but that the Turke molested by the Souldan feared the Christians and the Spaniard hauing enough to do at home was constrained by warre to seeke repossession of his owne Idem In Ianuary Proclamation was published at London for the reuocation of sundry the Queenes Maiesties subiects remaining beyond the Seas vnder colour of studie and yet liuing contrary vnto the lawes of God and of the Realme And also against retaining of Iesuites and Massing Priests sowers of sedition and other treasonable attempts I. S. Queene Anne the wife of King Phillip fell sicke
haue bene a continual prisoner then to be deliuered after such maner D. Chytraeus Two things gaue an alarum to he League one the assembly at Mountauban the other the voyage of the D. d'Espernon to the K. of Nauarre which it tooke as brands to kindle her fire and began to send out Commissions in all places in the kings name who disauouched them prohibited the raising of souldiers The first point of their disliking shewed the reason which mooued the Cardinall of Bourbon the Princes Lords Townes and Commons beeing Catholickes to oppose themselues against the heretikes Secondly because they were offended that the Parliament which they would haue had to be holden concerning warres to be made against the Huguenots had beene reuoked Thirdly to breake the Edict of pacification Fourthly because they stood in feare that if the King should die without children there would rise great trouble for the succession of the Crowne whereof the King of Nauarre had great hope since the death of Monsieur the kings brother by the practice of his friends and fauourers of the king Fiftly because of the great preparations of warre made both within and without the Realme that should be readie by the 15. of Aprill then next ensuing to execute that which they said had beene concluded in an assembly at Magdebourge the 15. of December 1584. against y e religion the king and his subiects by the which it was agreed that the Queen of England should furnish 5000. Rutters 4000. Switzers 12000. English Count Palatine Prince Cassamire and the D. Pomeranie each of them 4000 Rutters The Lantgraue of Hesse two thousand 500. The Duke of Wittemberge 2000. The Lords of their League besides the Queene of Englands Forces 5000. Switzers The Kings Protector and Consull of Scotland 2000. Scots The King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde their Associats twentie and fiue thousand Harquebusiers and 4000. horse that had sworne neuer to make peace with the King of France but with all their consents to maintaine the Prince of Orange in the lowe Countries against the King of Spaine and to helpe the Emperour to get the Domaines of the Empire withholden by the Pope and to send their deputies from all places in the moneth of March to Basill and Switzerland there to determine the differences of the Lords Supper Sixtly because those of the religion would not yeeld vp the Townes by them held for the assurance of the execution of the Edict of peace Seuenthly because of the vniuersall abuse suffered in placing of Officers in leauying of monies and by inuention of excessiue oppressions laid vpon the people And lastly against such as at abusing the Kings fauour and authoritie had in a manner seazed vpon his person impeached the ordinary accesse of honest men vnto him consumed the Kings treasures braued the Nobilitie out of the libertie of iustice spoiled the Cleargie of their Tithes and perswaded the King that it was necessary for his seruice to weaken and diminish the authoritie of the Catholicke Princes and Lords Vpon these iust occasions they said they were forced to meete in armes H. of Fr. The League made warre against the Huguenots seazing vpon the best Townes of the Catholickes in all the Realme Religion was preached in Guyenne and they went to driue it out of Picardie the Huguenots were Rochell and the Leagues Army marched straight to Paris they were at Mountpellier and the League set vpon Marsaille which by meanes of the second Consull of the Towne they tooke who afterward was hanged Antwerpe a Citie Brabant the most famous Towne of all Belgia and Europe after Alexander Farnese Duke of Parma had stopped their passage by the Riuer by the space almost of an whole yeare constrained by famine and the daily tumult of the common people who desired peace returned to the obedience of the king of Spaine yeelded to the Duke vpon very meane conditions On the 26. of Iune arriued at London Deputies for the Estates of the Netherlands or lowe Countries and on the 29. of the same they came to Greenwich where by vertue of their commission from the vnited Countries they presented to her Maiestie the soueraigntie of those Countries to wit of Brabant but the commission for the siege of Antwerpe not fully authorised of Gelder of Flaunders Holland Friseland Zeland and Vtrick I. Hooker The Queene of England of her most gracious compassion and mercie tooke into her protection and defence the estate of Poland and Zeland Syr Frances Drake Generall of the English Nauie tooke his voyage to the coasts of Spaine and America that thereby hee might weaken the power of king Phillip hee tooke the greene Promontory where the ships that are to goe to America lie at Roade Then came he to Hispaniola an Iland of S. Domingo in the beginning of Ianuary where he stirred vp the slaues of Affrica and Aethiopia who had there their Colonies and were so cruelly handled that many times in dispaire they offered violence to themselues to fight for their libertie who being armed by thē killed the Spaniards and deliuered vp the I le He tooke all their gold which was ready shipped for Spaine 254. peeces of Ordinance and returned richly laden with gold into England before Autumne with 23. ships D. Chytraeus At this time was the conspiracie of Anth. Babington Salisbury Tytchbourne Abington c. against our most gracious Soueraigne incited thereto by Mary Q. of Scots who for this traiterous attempt were arraigned conuicted condemned executed according to the law made for traitors A great victory hapned to the Queen in Ireland against the E. of Arrane and L. Feruhurst who were banished out of Scotland These practised with the Guise the Spaniards brought with thē 3000. Scots into Ireland and at Conocke they were put to the sword by S. Ri. Bingā gouernor of that prouince Chytraeus Vpon the 8. day of September Robert E. of Leicester accompanied with diuers honorable personages Captaines and souldiers with a traine to the number of 50. sailes of ships and hoyes set forward toward Flushing where he was princely entertained by Graue Maurice second son to the deceased Prince of Orange I. Hooper The Pope excommunicated the King of Nauarre the Prince of Conde declaring him incapable to the succession of the Crowne of France abandoning his person and his Countries for a pray to such as could obtaine it but they sleigthly regarding it opposed themselues against it The K. of Nauarre complained himselfe to all the estates of France in that they had caused the succession of a king being yet aliue to be decided in the Court of Rome made the title of a Prince of the bloud to be iudged by the Pope and suffered the Consistorie to giue that which belonged not vnto them he sent his Letters to the Cleargie the Nobilitie and the Commons The Princes of Germanie that sought to aide such as were of their religion perceiuing France to
touching the Eucharist generally receiued 245 Elutherius Bishop of Lyons and his dreames 78 Eugenia daughter of Phillip king of Alexandria martyred 76 Eutalius Priest cause of the 4. Schisme 137 Euaristus B. 30. Martyred Ibid. Elutherius Pope 43 Eutichian K. of Rome 71 Eutychians and Arrians reiected from Constantinople 79 Exarches in Italy 176 Exarches cease in Italy 211. Is giuen to the Pope 218. asked againe by Constantine Excommunication conuerted into abuse 257 Excommunication written with Inke mingled with wine in the Challice 239. For temporall goods 329 Exorcists 91 Eusebius Bish of R. 18 Euerguacenes 143 F FAbian Bishop and his election miraculous 56 Martyred with his wife Darfosa Ibid. Fable of the Stigmates of S. Frances 389 Fausta maintaineth her husband Costantine in superstition 100 Faelix Bishop and his Decretalls and martyrdome 82 Faelix Bishop of Rauenna hath his eyes put out 202 Faelix and Elephandus condemned for heresie which they repent 226 Faelix 5. renounceth the Popedome 480 Ferrara vsurped by the Venetians 110 Feasts denounced to the people 93 Feasts of all Saints instituted 112 Feasts of the Sacrament called Feste Dieu 121. Confirmed 149 Fastings 139 Feast of the speare and nailes Feast of the transingration Feast of dedication 716 Festus gouerneth Iudea 19 Flagellers or whippers 117 Flaunders made a Countie 290 Flower-delyce of France 426 Forbidding to eate flesh annathenized 235 Florentines buy their libertie Florentines interdicted 440 Absolued by Vrban the 6. 446 Florian brother of Tacitus 70 Vsurped the Empire and is slaine Ibid. Florus mooued the Iewes to war 18 Fraunce followeth the fashion of the Romane Masse 207 France diuided into certain kingdomes 197 France agreeth in their Ecclesiasticall singing with the Romanes 256 Frances Dandalus D. of Venice 425 Frances Curiario Vicar of the Empire taken of the Venetians and slaine in prison 452 S. Frances canonized 383 Frances Petrarke 420 Fratricelli condemned and persecuted 384 Fredegunda sleyeth Chrisperic 203 Fredegunda flaine in the Church Ibid. Frederic Barbarossa goeth into Italy 329 Hee is excommunicated of Alexander the third 344 Felix Bishop of Rome 71 Formosus Pope 258 Ferdinand 1. 554 Frederic Barbarossa is surprised by the Souldan and set at libertie 273 Troden vnder foote by Alexander the third 348 Frederick the 2. declared an enemie to the Church 389 He is constrained to lead an Armie into Siria 390 Frederick the 2. excommunicated and depriued of his Empire by Innocent the 4. 393 Frederick 2. being angred at the Pope made many notable persons die 363 Frederick D. of Austrich beheaded at Naples with others 399 Frederick Count of Misne elected Emperour 441 Frederick D. of Brunswic elected Emp. slaine by the Count de Waldec 317 Frisons receiue the faith 266 Frodesque Saluiat Archbishop of Pise hanged 479 Fulco succeeded Baudwin in the Kingdome of Hierusalem 363 Fuscus ouercome by Derpains 300 Fulbert Bishop of Chartres made Stirps Iesse 322 G GAmma inuented 284 Galeaze Duke of Millaine 456 Galerius Max. eaten with wormes 80 Gallien Emperour 72 Gallus Emp. he and Vclutian are slaine Ibid. Ganclon betrayeth the Peeres of France 257 Gantier Diuelot slaine in the Church 78 Gautlier d' Annoy an adulterer scorched and hanged 430 Geneua and Orleance founded by Aurelian Geneua ordaines a Duke 80 Geneuiefue the Parisians Diana 179 Gregorian Calender 642 Refused 647 Gregory 13. Pope dieth 651 Gregory the 14. 677 Gerard Brazut Hildebrands instruments to kill Popes 537 Gibelins set vp 357 Gnostiques 35 Godfrey of Bullen king of Ierulem 353 Gratian perswades 3. Popes 19. to depose themselues 306 Greekes graunt Purgatory and the Pope to be primate of the Church 427 Gregory one of the foure Doctors of the Church 206 Gregory calleth himselfe the seruant of seruants 79. And will not iudge an vniuersall Bishop Ibid. Gregory celebrateth the Supper in the vulgar tongue Ibid. Gregory the 2. Pope opposeth himselfe against the ordinance to burne Images 190 Gregory the fourth accepted not the Popedome vnlesse the Emperour allowed the election 221 Gregory Alias Hildedrand defended Symonie and single life 345 Gregory the seuēth cast the Host into the fire Ibid. Gregory the 7. a liuely picture of Antichrist Gregory the 7. after his death tormented in hell doth great myracles 340 Guelphes the Popes fautors and Gibelins the Emperours 390 Guilbert Archbishop of Rauenna taken vp againe 16. yeares after buriall 256 Guido Aretine the first inuentor of the Gamma the notes 284 Guillaine Pion Duke of Aquitaine founder of the first Monasterie of the order of Augustine Friars 219 Guillian Orseure shewed that the Pope is Antichrist 227 Guillaine Count de Holland chosen Emperour against Frederick the second 257. Is slaine Ibid. Guiniard Bishop of Nantes martyred 294 Guisards audition 300 Guy de Lusingam last king of Ierusalem 357 Gaule began to be called France 188 Gordian Emperour 56 Grashoppers out of the bottomelesse pit 461 Guns inuented 432 H HAalon K. of the Tartarians ouercommeth the Persians 177 Helchesites heretikes 25 Henry the 8. Emperour inuented the combat of tournies 65 H. the 3. vpon his marriage day draue away all Morris-players and such like 284 H. the 4. Emperour sheweth a deiection of heart vnworthy an Emperour 130 H. 4 poysoned by his sonne vnburied by the space of 5. years 315 H. the 5. resigneth the inuestitures to the Pope 334 H. Lātgraue of Thuring elected Emperour dieth 361 H. the 6. will needs bee crowned at Rome 349 H. the 7 poysoned in an Host. 357 H. the 1. K. of England depriued of his right by an Archbishop 223 Henry Carperell Prouost of Paris a false Iudge condemned 422 Heliogabalus Emp. 51 Hilary 1. Pope 157 Herculian Bishop of Peruse hath his head sawne Heresie of Ebion 29. Nicholaits 29. Menander 29. Basilides 35. Saturnine 35. Cerinthus 40. Valentine 35 Marcian and Montanus 35 Carpocrates Gnastici 35. Cerdin 38. Cataphryges 42. Apalles 42. Talianus 142. Fratricelli 420. Seuerians 43 Theodorus 57. Proclus and Berillus 62. Noetus and Sabellius 64. Of the Manichees 71. Arrius 95. Pelagius 82. Acephales 84. A quaternitie 47. Of many Monkes 22. Of Iohn Bishop of Constantinople 302. Athenians and others 89. Prifallian 30.12 Monothelites 214. Of Constantius 363. Of Paul the successor of Pyrrhus 249. Of Peter the successor of Patriarch 223. Constant by him abiured 229. Of Machoris Bishop of Antioche Monothelite 215 Heresie of a Councell 309 Heresie pernitious of Transubstantiation 359 Herman of Saxe elected Emperour 257 Herod stirreth persecutiō 2. And dieth by a horrible iudgement Ibid. Herod Antipas beheaded Iohn 4 Herod Tetrarch banished to Lyons 6 Herodes Agrippa beheaded Iames. 9. His death 15 Herodias wife of Phillip Herodes 4 Houres Canonicall sung by note 357 Hildebrand causeth eight Popes to die 427 Hildericke king of the Vandales restoreth the Catholickes 461 Hirene assembleth a Councell at Nice 222. Causeth her sonnes eyes to be put out 223 Holland erected into a Countie 259 Homousis and Essence 99 Hungarie and Boheme become one kindome 371 Honorius
King of the Vandales persecuteth the Christians and dieth of vermine 472 Hospitalls 164 Hospitall of the holy Ghost builded at Rome 474 Hospitaliers called the knights of S. Iohn of Porsale 321 H. K. of Nauarre 643 Heluetians 658 Huguenots 667 H. the 3. K. of France 669 H. 4. King of France crowned 686 He is absolued of the Pope 691 Hussites do reiect all humane traditions 221. Are assaulted by Sigismond Emperour and the Pope 691 Hypona besieged by the Vandales 346 I IAcobius founded vpon Pope Honorius his dreame 351 Iacobius of Berne 494 Idolatrie finds the Pope a defender thereof 209 Idolatry of them of Gaunt 228 Idolatrie of Chaplets 362 Iohn Baptist preacheth 4 Iohn Apostle and Euangelist dyeth 27 Iohn of Antioche heretike and a Iew compiled the Alicoran 190 Iohn king of England subiected his Crowne to the Pope 227 Ignatius cast to beasts 31 Innocent the first 146 Iohn the 1. Pope 167.2.169 Iohn surnamed Teutonicus opposeth himself against the Popes demaunding of tenthes in Almaine 421 Iohn Duke of Britaine slain with a wall 262 Iohn 22. an heretike 392 Iohn de Roquetaillade martyred 421 Iohn Colunban and Frances Vincent the first Iesuites 417 Iohn Wickliffe 443 Iohn Gerson 443 Iohn Hus commendeth the doctrine of Wickliffe to the people 426 Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage go to the Councel and are burned 442. Their death Ibid. Iohn 24. saluted of an Owle is much troubled 440. Hee flyeth from the Councell of Constance Iohn Paleoleauge Emp. of Constantinople 400 Iohn Guttenberge inuentor of Printing 455 Iohn Pusters Called Gurman and Peter Sheffert sell their printing Ibid. Iohn Huniades escapes from the battaile 372. Dyeth Ibid. Iohn Iustinian of Geneua beheaded 391 Iohn an English man burnt 479 Iohn Fissers author of the repentants order 364 Iohn Picus Prince of Miradula 297 Iohan of Orleance a maide burnt 448 Ierome died 149 Ierome Sauanaroll burned 229 Iulius Max. Emperor slaine 54 Iust. of faith 147 Iulius Philipp Emperour 57 Ierusalem diuided into 2. Sects 4 Is in sedition 6. Left of the Christians is besieged 22. Horrible famine 23 Ierusalem taken 23 Ierusalem changeth the name 34 Ierusalem taken by Cosroes king of the Persians 121 Ierusalem taken by the Mahometists 282 Ierusalem taken by the Christians 299 Ierusalem raced euē to the foundations 92 Images broken 57. Taken out of Churches 29. Restored Ibid. Taken away and burnt forbidden to honor them vpon paine of death 54. Throwne downe by Sabin K. of Bulgaria Ibid. Images and paintings abolished in Churches 223 Images set vp by Hyren 223. Impugned by Charlemaine Ibid. Imbert Dauphin of Viēna makes himselfe a Iacobin 426 Indians brought to the Romane Church promise to keepe the Sacrament of confirmatiō 439 Indulgences do penetrate euen to such as are in purgatory 498 Inuention to pray for the dead 122 Inuestatures agreed to Henry reuoked 239 Inuestatures resigned to Pope Calixtus 25 Ionathes high Priest slaine by Ioseph 49 Ioseph the Historiographer 26 Iouinian a Christian Emper. 122 Iesuites originall 417 Ireneus is slaine 50 Isaach Exarch ratifieth the election of Stephen 123 Italy and Burgoine subiected to Arnulphe 100 Italy the sea of seditions 224 Italy in great factions 427 Italy gouerned by three Cardinalls hauing the power of Senators 361 Italy afflicted by the Turkes 373 Iubile first 299 Iubile remitted to fiftie yeares 412 Celebrated at Rome Ibid. Iubile of 25. yeares to 25 yeares Iubile celebrated by Alexander the 6. 371 Iohn de Austria 623 Iohannes Basilides 649 Iames king of Scots besieged and taken 660 Innocent 9. 678 His death Ibid. Irish rebellion 630 Iewes and Leonards punished for poysoning waters 406 Iewes crucifie a Christian chude 466 Iulian Medices slaine in hearing Masse 396 Iustin Emperour 166 Iustin the Pelagian dieth out of his wits 225 Iustinian seduced by Antsenius to depart from his error Ibid. Iustinian compileth the Romane lawes 171 Dieth of phrenzie Iustinian Emperor breaketh his faith giuen to the Sarasins 222 Sent inta exile Ibid. Kisseth the Popes feet 230. His head is cut off Iul. an Emp. 100. His death 122 K KIngdome of Cyprus 473. Of Aragon made a pray by the Pope King of Bulgaria dooth receiue the faith 251 King of the Romans Emp. diuers names but of one substance 460 King Phillip 2. 635 King of Nauarre excommunicated 657 King Phillip displeased with the Pope 670 He dieth 708 King of Er◠excōmunicated 668 King of France conuerted 683 L LAntgraues 366 Lambert Bishop of Liege rebuketh Pepin for adultery 274 Lewis 184 Laudo Pope 264 Lansrancus the first author of Transubstantiation 285 Laurence Deacon of Rome suffereth Martyrdome 68 Laurentius Valla 245 Laurence de Medices excommunicated 333 Legends of Saints forged 182 Leger Bishop martyred 320 Leo Emperour burneth Images 257 Leo Emp. of Constantinople slain in his Pallace 343 Leontius and Tiberius Emperors beheaded 376 Letanies the great instituted 154 Leuites 5 Libertie to preach the Gospell in France 215 Liberius the Arrian canonized 256 Lombards raigned in Italy 262 Lombards haue the Empire conuerted to the faith 279 They occupie the Exarchate Linus 20. His death 25 Libraries 95 Licinius Emperour 81 Longin Gracian the first Exarch in Italy 176 Lotharius dieth a Monke 277 Lewis Debonaire giueth power to the Romane Cleargie to elect the Pope 345 Lewis sonne of king Phillip first came to Artois 301 Lewis S. marketh blasphemers with an hotte Iron 299 Lewis Emperour declared heretike by the Pope 297 Crowned by 2. Senators of Rome Ibid. Giueth a reason of his faith 390 Lewis Archbishop brake his neck in a daunce 154 Lewis Duke of Orleance murdered at Paris 453 Leo the 10. Pope 153 Lucian the Apostate 30 Lucius king of England receiued the faith 44 Lucius B. of Rome martired 564 Lucrece daughter wife daughter in law to the Pope 484 Luitprandus king of Lombards besiegeth Rome 297 Leopold D. of Austriche takes the King of England prisoner 322 Lupus Bishop of Troy approueth Letanies 167 Luquois entreateth the libertie of their common-wealth 312 Liuonia or Lisland conuerted to the faith 362 Lēt attributed to Telesephorus 35 First Lent in England 194 Lotharius Emperour 233 Liberius Emperour 113 Luther 106. Excommunicated 504 Lewis Beltram Friar 671 M MAhomet an Arabian a false Prophet 189. Adored after his death 221 Mahomets Alcaron 190 His Paradise lawes and ceremonies Ibid. Mahomet and the Pope conferred together 192 Mahometists take Ierusalem 282 Maister of the Synagogue 52 Mancinellus 486 Manes heretike broiled aliue 99 Manichees books burnt at Ro. 27 Manicheus againe condemned are cast out of Rome 151 Mantell episcopall 253 Marke preacheth in Egypt 15 Marke the Euangelist dyeth 19 Marcelline offereth a graine of incense to Idolls 203 Marcian heretike 40 Marcion heretike 38 Margarite Queene of Nauarre condemned to perpetual prison for fornication 375 Marriage publike 30 Mariage forbidden to Priests 91 Mary the mother of our Lord dyeth 15 Martian Emperor slaine 149 Martine Empresse hath her tongue cut out 216 Marcell Bishop
Subtilties of the Romane Court. Deceits of the Roman court Notable misteries O true Bulls That is of Sathan Marcel 2. The Popes Character is to be an enemie vnto the truth Marcel Inquisitor generall Ierome Vida Cremona The cause wherefore Vergerius was put from the Councel Paul 4. Theatin before hee was Pope confessed the truth A tumult at Geneua Vlpian victualled Mariēbourg The Lucarnois demanded the Gospell Dissention of the Supper renewed by thē of Breme Hambourge The death of Frederick Palatin A wonder in the Country of Aouste Pruse receiueth the confession of Ausbourge Iohn Functius Comete Parracide of three childrē Iourney at Ratisbone The returne of Charles the fift into Spaine The death of Dauid George Ferdinād 1. Of the Spanish Inquisition Martyrs of Spaine Other Marties of Spaine Diethmarsois brought vnder the yoke The death of Paul the 4. Pius the 4. elected Pope The marriage of Phillip King of Spaine with Elizabeth of France The state of France An. 1560. vnder Francis the 2. which died in the moneth of December The estate of Scotland The death of Melancton Warre in Piemont The begining of troubles in France Notable executions at Rome King Charls the ninth sacred Reconciliation of the Prince of Conde and Duke of Guise A conference at Poissy about matters of religion The death of Shuvenckfeld The state of France Frances Maximilian crowned king of the Romans and of Boheme The death of Peter Martyr The Duke of Guise slaine and peace made The estate of Almaine The Kings Maioritie A citation frō Rome against the Queene of Nauarre The Bishop of Wirtzbourge slaine Battaile betweene the Danes The end of the Councel of Trent The death of Musculus The death of Hiperius The death of Caluin A battaile betwixt y e Danes and Snedes Maximilian The death of Ferdinand The estate of the Flemish Churches War at Malte Deluges Warre in Hungary The death of Pope Pius 4. The death of Conrad Gesner An Edict against the Religion in the lowe Countries Pius 5. The violent death of the king of Scotland A league in Flaunders against the Inquisition War in Hungary Selim succeeded Soliman Iohn Functius others beheaded War against Iohn Frederick of Saxonie Images burst in the lowe Countries Troubles in the lowe Countries Continuation of troubles beginning of warre in the lowe Countries The death of the Duke of Brunswick Certaine Bayliwickes yeelded to the Duke of Sauoy The Duke of Alua commeth into the lowe Country and his first exployts The second ciuil warre in France Great deluges in Italie Cassimere bringeth succours to them of the Religion Reisters in France Siluer stayed The death of the Duke of Pruse The Prince of Orange and the Count of Hochstrate iustifie themselues Open warres in the lowe Countries The Counts d' Aigmont and d' Horne beheaded The Count Lodowick ouerthrowne The Prince of Orange taketh Armes The miserable estate of the Churches The death of the Prince of Spaine The king of Snede Three Moones at one instant Treuers besieged Exercise of Religion in Austrich The third ciuill warre in France A conference at Aldebourg Reisters in France The Queene of England tooke three Spanish ships The Duke de Deux Ponts leadeth an Armie into France Confiscations in the lowe Countries The Prince of Conde slaine An Imperiall Iourney The Popes present to the Duke of Alua. The death of the Sieur de Andelot Exercise of Religion in Austriche Great Duke of Thuscane An arrest against the Admirall The battle of Montcōtour Pardon of the Duke of Alua. A coniuration in England A continuation of warre in France Troubles for matters of Religion in Almaine The Turkes denounce war to the Venetians A Sinode in Polongne Exhortation vnto pacification A truce An Imperiall Iourney Executions to death The 3. Edict of pacificatiō The death of Iohn Brencius the father of vbiquitie Deluges in Friseland France and other Countries Nicosia taken Marriage of the King of Spaine Earthquakes Marriage of the King of France Deluges in France An Imperiall Iourney Peace betwixt Denmarke and Snede Vaiuoda of Transiluania A disputation against the Anabaptists A league against the Turke Raining of corne Rodes of the Muscouites Famagoste yeelded A strange Sun A Nauall battaile at Lepante A conference at Dresde The Duke of Nothfolke beheaded Strange wonders in Pruse Fire in Wirtzbourge A sharp winter Exactions of the Duke of Alua and resolutions in Flaunders Appearance of rest in France The death of Pope Pius the 5. and election of Gregory 13. The death of the Queene of Nauarre The ouerthrow of the Duke de Medina Coeli Alliance The Prince of Orange iustified himselfe to the Emperour The death of the King of Polongne War in y e lowe Countrie Horrible murders in Frāce A new starre Exploits of warre in Holland and Zeland Sieges of Rochel and Sancerre The siege and losse of Harlē Warre in Barbary Requescens ouerthrowne and Middlebourg yeelded Henry de Valois king of Polongne Peace betwixt the Venetians the Turke Troubles in France The ouerthrow of the Duke Christopher and of the Count Lodowick The death of Camerarius The death of Cosme de Medices Antwerpe pilled by the Spaniards The second besieging of Leiden A fire at Venice Bruxelles The taking and death of Montgommery The death of Charles 9. Leyden deliuered The death of Selym. The aftaires of France The estate of the lowe Countries The king of Poland lost his kingdome The death of Bullenger Rodolphe crowned king of Hungarie Boheme and of the Romans The estate of France The estate of low Country The death of Sinder A new king of Poland The death of Maximilian Rodolph 2. Rodolph 2. The death of Fr. Palatine of Khene The estate of France Salentinus Iohn de Austrich Mathias Archduke of Austria Sebastian King of Portugall The Parliament at Blois Syr Martin Forbisher Croisada A Comet Warre and other acccidēts in the lowe Countries Cassamire The Prince of Parma created Duke Free exercise of the reformed religion Malcontents The reformed Church at Antwerpe Prince of Parma An heretike burnt at Norwiche The estate of Almaine Irish rebellion Thomas Stukely The 2. voyage of Sebastian with his Army into Affrike The death of Sebastian Molucs death Mulei Mahamet drowned Hamet proclaimed king Monsieurs voyage into Flaunders Institution of the order of y e holy Ghost Maistricht taken The Turkes Almaine The death of Henry King of Protugall An Earthquake K. Phillip The death of the Duke of Sauoy The tyrannie of the Duke Alua. A blazing Star A Proclamation against Iesuites The death of Q. Anne Iesuites D. of Aniou The crueltie of a father Richard Atkins burned for religion The Queene of France discontented with king Phillip D. Alanson Ouids tombe The Prince of Orange shot Cardinall Albert. A Priest died for feare The death of the Duke of Alua. Charles Borgia The new Calender set forth by the Pope D. Saunders Amia banished Scotland The King of Nauarre Albertus Alasoo The death of Fr.
D. of Alanson The Prince of Orange is slaine Syr H. Gilbert S.W. Raleigh S.R. Greenfeeld Bruges recouered The refusall of the new Calender The death of the Duke of Brunswicke Iohannes Basilides The Christian Churches at Constantinople The Patriark of Constantinople Seminaries banished An insurrection about the new Calender The Popes death Sixtus 5. A notable act of the Seignory of Venice The Prince of Saxonie prisoner The League The K. Edict 18. of March 1585. against raising of men Antwerpe yeeldeth to the king of Spaine S.F. Drake The Pope excommunicated the king of Nauarre and y e Prince of Conde The death of Augustus The death of the L. Russel Heluetians The death of the Queene of Scots The Death of S. Ph. Sidney Augusta Bathorus dieth Iames K. of Scots besieged and taken M. Cauēdish voyage about the world Contention about the election of the king of Poland Maximilian Sigismond D. of Guise Max. taken prisoner Maria de la Visitatione K. Phillip asketh counsel of Maria de la Visitatione The Spanish Nauie A tempest diuideth them S. F. Drake A strategem The Prince of Conde poisoned The Duke of Guise slaine The generall troubles and tumults in this yeare Poland Q of Scots England Turkes Italie Guise The Pope angrie with Henry the 3. He threatneth excommunication Huguenots The death of the Queene of France The king of France excōmunicated The K is slain by a Iacobin Friar The Death of the king of France H. the 3. The victory of Harens The siege at Paris Phillip displeased with the Pope A Fleete for Lisbone Friar Lewis de Baltram Priests recanted The Popes great treasure An heretike burned The marriage of the King of Scots The battaile at Yurie The death of Carls Bourbon The death of Sixtus 5. Vrban 7. The death of Pope Vrban Magus Bragadinus D. de Maine Gregorie 14 A Iubily A tumult at Cracouia about religion An act against the Popes buls The death of Gregory 14. A Dearth Innocent 9. The escape of the Duke of Guise The death of Innocent 9. Clement 8. Xeques Mulei his sonne becommeth a Christian The death of the Duke of Parma The end of the yeare 1592. Dissention in Religion The Turkes ouerthrowne D. of Guise The King of Fraunce conuerted A motion for recalling of the Iesuites into Riga Peter Barrier The death of Nemours Sigis K. of Poland H. crowned K. of France Mathias Arch-duke of Austria An expedition against the Turke Note D. Lopes The Turkes ouerthrowne The King of Fraunce wounded The death of Amurath Mahomet Wars proclaimed against Spaine The king of France is absolued by the Pope Arbertus the Cardinall made generall The D. de Maine restored to fauour The Duke of Aumale Arch-duke of Austria He winneth Callais Fere yeeldeth An English Nauie for Spaine The Fleet for India burned The Spaniards seeke reuenge and are crossed The death of Anne Q. of Poland The Church troubled Iacobus Fatricius The death of Amurath 3. An Edict against Iesuits Maximilian commeth to Agria The death of Alphonsus Embassadors from Marocco Embassadors from Moschouie Three times of the Christian Church The first from the preaching of the Apostles vntill Phocas distinguished into three periodes Of the first periode of the first time of y e Church Of the second periode of the first time of the Church Of the third periode of the first time of the Church The second time of the Church frō Phocas vntil Charls 5. The first periode The second periode The third time of the Church from Charles the fift til this present time
of the Lorde and was consumed with vermine and died miserably because hee yeelded no glorie vnto God and so the persecution ceased Heere is a second mirrour of Gods iudgement against such as oppresse the Church Saint Paul after his conuersion returned fiue times to Ierusalem At his last beeing there hee recited the Historie of his Ministerie in the assembly of the Elders of the Church His preachings were greatly spread abroad neither ceased hee to plant the Gospell wheresoeuer he went as it appeareth in the Acts. He preached at Rome by the space of two yeares although he was a prisoner Where before there was an assembly of the faithfull as the Epistle to the Romanes witnesseth Philippe the Apostle preached in Samaria where there was a Church which retired thither after the death of Saint Steuen In Azote the Church assembled from thence it went into the Maritine Townes Peter the Apostle also preached the Gospell in many Townes as is at large seene in the Historie of the Acts. Origine in his Tome vpon Genesis saith it seemeth that Peter preached in Pontus Galatia Asia Bithinia and Cappadocia to the dispearced Iewes There was also a Church in Babilon as he himselfe witnesseth in the fist of his first Epistle In Phinicia and Siria in Tyre Sidon Serentia Silicia Pamphilia Pisidia Attalia Lycaonia Also in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bithinia Misia and Phrigia Vnto these did S. Peter write The seuen Churches of Asia are named in the Apocalips namely Ephesus Smirna Pergamus Thyatirus Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicia Aboue all the Church of Antioche was most famous where the Disciples were first called Christians Some say this was the thirtie and eight yeare after Christ others fortie Paul and Barnabas remained there one whole yeare Acts. 11. and 13. Saint Iohn the Apostle and Euangelist after hee had preached the Gospell through all Asia he finally retired into the Towne of Ephesus where he remained many yeares From thence the Church might easily spread it selfe into Europe which was nigh therevnto Now we see the beginning of the Kingdome of Christ and as it were a renewment of the world About the yeare 42. the vengeance of God fell vpon Pilate For after the Iewes had accused him of too great crueltie Lord Vitellius then Gouernour of Siria commaunded him to goe to Rome to answere the accusations that were to bee laid against him But as hee was in the way hee died Tiberius as Iosephus reciteth in the eighteenth of Antiquities Chapter fiue Eutropius in his seuenth booke saith that Pilate was nipped and pinched with so great anguishes because Caligula troubled him that striking and beating himselfe with his owne hands he sought to destroy himselfe See Eusebius in his 2. booke Chap. 7. This same yeare it is held that Saint Mathew writte his Gospell in Iudea The same yeare the Tetrach ship of Herodes was deliuered to Agrippa and a great discomfiture now the second time was made of the Iewes in Babilon See Iosephus in the last Chapter of his Antiquities Claudius the fift Emperour was chosen to the Imperial dignitie the aforesaid yeare and raigned fourteen yeares and nine moneths Herodes Agrippa the yeare 15. and the third of Claudius held the Kingdome of Iudea of the gift of Caligula and Claudius Beeing departed from Rome to come to Ierusalem hee thought good to make a shew to the Iewes that he loued their Religion and after to gratifie the high Priests he put to death certaine of the faithfull At this time Churches were gouerned by the Apostles which were instructed in the schoole of the sonne of God and therefore there is no gouernment to be compared to this Yet in this time the dwell had his instruments in Churches gouernment that is to say false Apostles and false bretheren Euen alreadie wrought he the secret of Iniquitie by his Antichrist 2. Thessa 2. and 1. Iohn 2. and 4. There were Heretickes Titus 3. Dogges Philip. 3. Wolues and men speaking peruerse things Acts 20. People which were neither hotte nor colde Apoca. 3. If at this time Sathan had such license how bolde thinke we will he be now that they are gone Amongst them which now gouerned the Church some were giuen Apostles to visit Churches Their charge was to sowe the Gospell throughout the world They had no place assigned Besides the twelue Paul and Barnabas are called Apostles Acts 14. Epaphroditus is called the Apostle of the Philippians Philippians 2. Andronicus and Iunia are called notable amongst the Apostle Romanes sixteene Prophets are they which had the gift not onely to Interpret scripture but also to apply it to the true vse S. Paul preferreth Prophecie before all other gifts Euangelistes hadde an office which came nigh vnto the Apostleship The difference was onely in the degree of dignitie Of this estate was Timothie and his like which succoured the Apostles 2. Timoth. 4.5 Philip is called an Euangelist Act. 21. b. 8. Doctors were for the conseruation of the puritie of Religion that the holy doctrine might bee kept and published Saint Luke ioyneth Prophets with Doctors Acts. 13. a. 1. Priest signifieth Auncient not for that they were of an age but because age commonly hath with it more wisedome experience and grauitie Vnder this name are comprehended as well Pastors as such as were ordeined for the Regiment of the Church S. Peter calles himselfe Priest shewing thereby that it was a common name Deacons is a general name of seruice but is taken for such as had the charge to dispence the Almesses Actes 19. a. 22. Ministers or seruants are called Adioints or such as accompanied the Apostles in their viands Timothie and Erastus ministred to S. Paul Act. 19. a. 22. Bishop and Priest was then one same name and office Saint Hierome in his Epistle to Euagoras witnesseth it But afterward whilest Schismes endured one was chosen from amongest the Priests and set in the most principall place and called Bishoppe or Superintendent And therefore the office of Bishoppe was after helde to bee higher then the Priests Saint Paul commaunded Titus to place in euerie Towne Priests or Bishoppes Titus 1. a. 5.6.7 See Acts 20. f. 28. With the good seede which was all ouer as is said dispersed there beganne also heresies to be cast into the Lords field The first and most pernitious were the Simoniaques The originall whereof was Simon Magus borne in a Towne of Samaria which Iustin calleth Triton and Eusebius Gitton a man exercised in Letters who by his Arts enchaunted many in Samaria before Philip had conuerted them As is recited in the Acts. Chap. 8. After S. Peter had discouered his wicked Hipocrisie hee went away in such despite that making a mingle-mangle of the dreames of Philosophers and Painims with the religions of the Iewes and that which he learned of the Gospell he corrupted and transferred to his owne person that which was spoken of Iesus Christ of the holy Ghost and of the saluation of man
one seditious guiltie of treason was giuen in charge to 10. souldiers or rather tormenters to be led to Rome and be put to Lions wherof Ignacius himselfe saith I haue had to fight with beasts from Siria to Rome by sea by land night and day amongst 10. Leopards c. Ireneus in his fift booke speaking of Ignacius beeing condemned to beasts he said saith he I am the wheat of Iesus Christ and shal be grinded with the teeth of beasts to the end I may be made the bread of God Alexander the 7. Bishop of Rome was a Romane and gouerned 10. yeares namely from the 12. yeare of Traian til the third of Adrian Many things are spoken of the integritie of his life wherby many of the Romane Senators were drawne to the Christian faith seeing in him vertues truly Episcopall yet it is attributed vnto him that he should first bring in new ceremonies of the Church as the holy water so keepe in houses and Churches against the diuell and for remission of sinnes Also to mingle wine and water together at the Lords supper Also the Asperges vpon the people Also that Bread should be without Leauen and not commō bread as before They make him the first which by decree excommunicated them who resisted Apostolicke messengers He ordeined that no Clarke should be accused and drawne before a secular Iudge he is said to be the first which added to the Lords supper Caena pridie quà m pateretur made that ouerture to his successors to adde thervnto which haue not since ceased vntill the whole Supper of the Lord was corrupted and chaunged Also he ordeined to celebrate but once a day Note heere generally for the Bishops which were first at Rome that many Epistles haue bene attributed vnto them which mention greater number of Ceremonies then there is in other Churches and such as were vnknowne to them which writ in that time which made them then suspected For the Popes which came after haue made those first Bishops their buckler for authors of their lyes and dreames Alexander receiued the Crowne of Martirdome vnder the Emperour Adrian by the commaund of his Gouernour Aurelian who demaunded of Alexander why hee held his peace when the fire was lightned about him to burne him He answered that he was speaking to God signifying that he prayed and therefore it was not lawfull for him to speake vnto men Honorius and Nauclerus Dion rehearseth of the Emperour Traian that before he died his members were retracted and al his body senslesse His sences also were dulled and after that he became to be full of the dropsie and greatly swelled He finally died in Selinion a Towne of Cicile Some say his body was brought to Rome and deified by the Senate after his death after the maner of the Romanes Although this Prince had great politicke vertues yet is he to be placed in the third ranke of the cruel enemies and persecutors of the Church of God Adrian the 16. Emperour raigned 22. yeares gentle and cunning in all knowledges He persecuted the Christians But when he knew the truth of their life he caused the persecution to cease Quadratus Bishop of Athens the Apostles Disciple presented an Apologeticke booke to the said Adrian in defence of the Christian Faith Aristides a Philosopher of Athens a faithfull man made a like Booke wherevpon Adrian sent to Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia that he should no more persecute the Christians But if they did any thing against lawes he would that he should therein deale according to the qualitie of the crime And if any slaunderoufly accused them he commaunded such should be chastised for their malice Nicomedia and Nice were ruinated by an Earthquake and afterward restored by the liberalitie of Adrian Euseb Chro. All euils which came to men were laide vpon the Christians saying they came all for their cause whether they were Earthquakes warre or other calamities Sixtus or Xistus a Romane 8. Bishop of Rome ruled about 10. yeares He decreed that none should touch the consecrated ornaments Vessels Challices c. vnlesse they were Church-men He added to the Communion of the Eucharist Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth He graunted this priuiledge to Clarkes that they might appeale from their Bishop to the Apostolicke Sea In his Decretalls he is called Arch-bishop of the Romane Church Item vniuersall Bishop of the Apostolicke Church About this time those words Arch-bishop Metropolitane and Clergie beganne to be vsed in Epistles He appointed certaine punishments for Priests or Ministers that were negligent in baptizing Children before their deaths At this time the Supper of the Lord was called Eucharist The words Sacrifice or Masse were not yet brought in And although Ireneus sometimes called the Eucharist Oblation hee declares his meaning therein in his 4. Booke and 34. Chapter We make vnto him an Oblation saith he not as to him which stands in need thereof but as giuing him thankes for the good he hath done vnto vs. And againe he willes also that we giue offerings at the Aultar and often and without ceasing But the Aultar is in heauen saith he and thither must we addresse our prayers and Oblations It may well be that then this word Oblation was in common vse because the custome then was to offer Loaues of bread in great abundance for the vse of the Supper wherewith the Ministers liued and the poore were nourished The Iewes surprised with a new rage beganne againe to take armes against the Romanes Dion saith the occasion thereof was for that Adrian had builded there a Temple to Iupiter and placed there Idols of the Gentiles The Iewes chose for their Captaine Barrochabas who named himselfe the sonne of the Starre This man exercised great crueltie against Christians because they woulde not ioyne with the Iewes But Adrian repressed those seditious people and famished them and tooke away their waters and finally discomfited them nigh to Bethera a little Towne by Ierusalem and in one onely battaile hee slew fiftie eight thousand men After Nicephorus Ancelme speaketh of fiftie thousand Iewes slaine fiftie holdes taken and nine hundred eightie fiue Villages destroyed as well by famine as by fire and bloud and all the rest of the Iewes miserably driuen from Ierusalem into far Countries and sold ouer all the world The Emperour Adrian would not that the Citie of Ierusalem should any more retaine his auncient name but hauing againe made it he called it by his owne name Aelia Capitolina Honorius and Eusebius say that hee made Edicts be published whereby it was not lawfull for the Iewes no not so much as to regard a farre off their Country of Iudea The first so terrible a destruction might haue sufficiently taught them that the kingdome was taken from them as the Prophets had foretold But God would that a second time they should feele a punishment almost as horrible
Deacons and other Ministers of the Aultar ought to bee chosen such as they can keepe themselues without marrying and that no Clarke should frequent the company of women There is attributed vnto him an Epistle written to the Bishops of Spaine and Fraunce wherein is proposed a kinde of gouernment which seemes not to agree with the time of Lucius Therein is ordeined that in all places there should be two Priests and three Deacons with a Bishop to keepe him company wheresoeuer he went as witnesses of his life As if then there had bene so great tranquilitie as a Bishop might goe take his pleasure or shewe himselfe with great companies The yeare 257. the heresie of Noetus and Sabellius after Theodoret got a passage although before it had beene debated in Affrike by Praxeas and Hermogenes They said that God the Father suffered and therefore S. Augustine saith they were called Patripassians Many Histories make mention of an horrible pestilence in the time of Gallus the infection whereof came into Aethiope and after it had consumed the Southerne people it came into the East and there laid holde on the other parts of the world so that many places were left desolate And this wound endured so long time that scant it finished before the end of tenne yeares Of this so terrible and extraordinary an euill S. Ciprian tooke an argument to make his booke Intituled Of the crueltie Emilian succeeded Gallus and Volusian after he had slaine them Hee was a man of base condition issuing from Mauritaine and was Emperour but three moneths Valerian Licinius Valerianus chosen Emperour a man of noble race excellent in knowledge and honestie an examplarie of a true Censor and Senator in all his life But in him all these vertues were defaced First for that he ioyned with him in the Empire his sonne Galien who was a monster in all abhominarion Item by the persecution that he stirred against the Christians Of all the Emperours there was not one before him which at the beginning hadde beene so soft and milde towards Christians yea familiar in so much as his Court was full of them But after he gaue himselfe to Deuines and Aegyptian Enchaunters hee was perswaded to put to death the seruants of GOD as they which hindered those wicked Enchaunters to kill poore children and to offer vppe the sonnes and daughters of theyr miserable parents A litle after hee had begunne to persecute the Christians hee went to make warre vppon the Persians and in a battaile hee was taken aliue Sapor King of the Persians vsed such crueltie towards Valerian who was of the age of seuentie yeares that when hee mounted on horsebacke hee serued himselfe with Valerians backe to get vp Eutropius Pollio Aurelius Victor Sabellicus and Laetus doo recite this and say hee vsed his age in this miserable seruitude Eusebius in the Oration which hee made heereof to the whole congregation of the faithfull saith that Sapor commaunded that Valerian should bee scorched and salted Gallienus raigned then alone and gaue himself to Idlenesse dissolution and whoordome In his time there was no place in all the Romane Iurisdiction except Italie alone wherein there were not seditions and rebellions Trebellius an Historiographer accounteth thirtie all which at one time were named Emperours some in one Region and some in others Cilicia Cappadocia and Syria were pilled and wasted by the Persians vnder Sapor The Almaines after they had tormented the Gaules entred by force into Italie The Gothes pilled Pontus Asia Macedonia and Greece See the Romane Histories Vnder his rule monstrous things came to passe horrible ouertures and Earthquakes whereof many there were which died of excessiue feare Rome was shaken Libia trembled Aurelius Victor saith that Gallien was slaine with his sonne at Millaine or with his brother Valerian as Eutropius saith They which haue set downe in writing the Romane affaires were of opinion that these mischiefes happening to the Romane Empire came by the wicked gouernment of the Princes But we thinke that the iudgement and vengeance of God prouoked by the former persecutions as well of others as of himselfe fell vpon them S. Ciprian hauing bene sent into exile vnder Valerian and Gallien by Paternus gouernour of Affrike and vnder Maximus who succeeded him in the gouernment was finally beheaded in the time of Lucius after Sabellicus Marianus Scotus saith that Lucius Bishop of Rome was banished for the confession of Christ in the persecution of Valerian and Gallien and that afterward he was permitted to return vnto his Ministerie and that finally he was beheaded and so might he be Bishop the space of three yeares and more Theodorus and Athenodorus Bishops of Pontus in this time Theodorus was after called Gregorie as Eusebius saith Lib. 6. Cap. 30. These two hearing the great renowne of the learning of Origine came to Cesaria where Origine read publikely hauing forsaken Alexandria and were perswaded by Origen to let goe their Philosophie and to apply themselues vnto the holy scriptures Basile the great said that the heresie of Sabellius was extinguished by this Gregorie the great If Nicephorus deserue credit Theodorus or Gregorie liued very long namely vnto the time of Dioclesian Yet Basile in his 62. Epistle which is to the Neocesarians writeth that hee was not very olde when he died Paul called Samosatenus of the Towne of Samosate which is in Mesopotania of Siria vpon the floud Enphrates was ordeined Bishop of Antioch after Demetrius the thirteenth yeare of Galien The Bishops which assisted the Councell of Antioch to refute his wicked doctrine and blasphemies against God and the Lord Iesus haue sufficiently witnessed of him We may not here let passe the Historie of Origines end that is that after the yeare wherein Demetrius ordeined him in the office of Catechist vntil the time he died it seemeth he trauelled fiftie two yeares and more and the most part of that time hee employed in teaching writing busie in the affaires of the Church and refuting of heresies In so much that Athanasius saith of him that hee was admirable of great labour Finally after he had constantly endured many greeuous torments he was led before an Aultar vnto which they had brought a wicked Aethiopian and there was proposed vnto him two things the one either to offer vp sacrifice vnto the Idoll or else abandon his body to the villainous Aethiopian Origen made a signe that hee had rather offer sacrifice Then they thrust a Sensor into his hand For which Impietie he was after excommunicated out of the Church of Alexandria from whence hee retyred into Iudea and being come to Ierusalem the Priests and Elders requested and after constrained him to speake in the congregation of the faithfull because he was a Priest Origen rose vp as if he should make a Sermon but hee only recited his Theame of the 50. Psalme And God said to the Preacher
Wherefore preachest thou my Iustifications And wherefore takest thou my Testament in thy mouth c. And incōtinently shut the booke then sat he downe sheading teares and lamenting with great cry being not able to speake and all that were present wept with him Suidas addeth that hee was buried in the Towne of Tyre Euse Lib. 7. cap. 1. saith it was vnder the Emperour Gallus 255. or thereabouts and then was it betwixt the yeare 50. of his age or 69. after Nicephorus And as it may be thought he dyed in great pouertie and miserie if not in dispaire S. Ierome although he sometimes handled him rudely yet he admireth him and praiseth him because of his great knowledge in the Epistle to Pammathus and Ocean He praiseth his spirit but not his faith This should make vs walke in feare and care in our vocation Stephen borne at Rome was Bishop of Rome and the successor of Lucius The greatest paine that he had in his gouernmēt was that he opposed himselfe forcibly against S. Cyprian and all the Councell of Affricke touching the difference that then was moued to rebaptise heretikes as it is recited by Eusebius Lib. 7. ca. 2. 3. The contents of the two Decretall Epistles attributed vnto him deserue no credite The one to Hilarie Bishop and the other to all the Bishops of the Prouinces touching accusations made against Priests For it seemes not that the Romane Church was in such prosperitie then that Stephen Bishoppe thereof had no other thing to do and ordaine but with what reuerence a man must handle the Chalice and holy garments or as Isidore and Polydore witnesse of him that he was the first Inuentor of the Couerings of the Aultar Damasus attributes vnto him two ordinances in which sixe Priests fiue Deacons and sixe Bishops were ordeined and saith that after he had gouerned seuen yeares and fiue moneths he was martyred But Euseb Lib. 7. cap. 5. sheweth that hee was but two yeares in his office S. Cyprian writ vnto him certaine Epistles which are in his workes Denis Bishop of Alexandria excellent in doctrine although he suffered not martyrdome but watched in the midst of the Church therfore God preserued him from Martyrdom as Niceph. speaketh Li. 15. ca. 28. Notwithstanding he endured terrible afflictions diuers banishments in two violent persecutions vnder Decius and after vnder Valerian He died very olde and it hapned at what time the two Councells were held against Paul Samosaten An. 12. of Gallien and of Christ 288. hauing gouerned the state of Alexandria 16. yeares and the Church 17. About this time many Nations cast themselues vpon the marches of the Romanes The Countrey of Denmarke was taken out of their hands Likewise the Almaines came euē to Rauenna putting all to fire and blood This was the first waining and decreasing of the Romaine Empire For the Countrey was neuer after recouered Egipt reuolted France was lost Macedonia Pontus Asia wasted by the Gothes Pannonia by the Sarmates Zenobia Queene of the Persians ruled in the East To vnderstand all this diminution and fall of this Empire See Trebellio Pollia a Romane Historiographer Phillip Bishop of Alexandria martyred and his daughter Eugenia at Rome The great Temple of Diana in Ephesus was pilled and burnt by the Gothes A second Cerinthus hereticke promised in the kingdome to come great store of meates and women and that after a thousand yeares should bee the resurrection and the kingdome of Christ should be on earth Xistus or Sixtus the second of that name succeeded Stephen he was of Athens He was ordeined Bishop of Rome by the election of the Cleargie comming from Spaine where he was preaching There are attributed vnto him two Decretals the one to Gayus Bishop the other to the brothers of Spaine the which containe nothing but the forme of the common gouernment which they make vs beleeue was thē Item touching the vowes of Priests But we may easily see that all is forged at pleasure Damasus after his maner reciteth that hee made orders twise ordeining Priests Deacons and Bishops Bergomensis Sabellicus recite that Xistus trauelled much to take away the heresies of the Sabellians Cerinthians and Nepotians Finally that he was accused by them before Gallien and vpon his commaundement beheaded and with him 6. Deacons S. Ambrose in his Offices li. 1. cap. 41. reciteth that as he wēt to death it is said that one Laurence a Deacon spoke to him in this sort Father wilt thou goe without thy sonne And Xistus answered him My sonne I shall not leaue thee There are greacombattes for the Faith prepared for thee thou shalt follow me three dayes after In the meane while if thou hast any thing in thy treasure distribute it to the poore This Laurence was the chiefe of the seuen Deacons of the Church of Rome which had the handling of the goods deputed for almes The Gouernour of Rome being hungry of siluer and perswaded that the Church had gold siluer moueables as Candlesticks Chalices and such like things would needs haue forced Laurence to haue tolde him where those treasures were Laurence to do this hauing taken the terme of three dayes distributed it all to the poore whatsoeuer he had Then hauing gathered together on an heape all the poore lame and diseased which were maintained of almes At the day assigned hee prayed the Gouernour to goe with him to that place and shewing him al those poore and diseased people he said Behold the vessels of siluer yea the Talents in order receiue them and thou shalt adorne the Citie of Rome and enrich the Reuenewe of the Emperour and thine owne The Gouernour seeing himselfe mocked commaunded hee should be stretched on an Iron grate red hotte and soone after the tormentors laid him on it who with great courage endured that cruell and long torment and finally prayed and inuocated the Lord and so yeelded his happie soule Prudencius a Christian Poet in his booke of Crownes describeth this martirdome Denis succeeded Xistus and as Damasus saith of a Monke was made Bishop But it appeareth rather by that which Eusebius Lib. 7. Ca. 7. and S. Hierome say that he was a Priest of the Church of Rome the yeare of our Lord 266. and the 10. yeare of Gallien Two Decretall Epistles are attributed vnto him In the first he exhorteth Vrbain to follow the true Religion The second distributeth and makes partitions of Churches into Parishes and Diocesses Item that two seuerall times he held orders But Eusebius saith Lib. 7. Cap. 30. that Denis died without martyrdome hauing gouerned 9. yeares Others say sixe yeares and sixe moneths The Councell of Antioche against Paul Samosetaine was celebrated in his time wherein the said Paul was condemned and cast out of the communion of the vniuersall Church and Donus a man accomplished with vertues was ordeined in his place He was the sonne of Demetrian who had ruled in that Church without
witnesseth Sabellicus Enne 7. lib. 8. Arithimus Bishop of Nichomedia after he had made a confession of his Faith hee was beheaded with a great troupe of Martyrs Serena Dioclesians wife endured constantly martyrdome This persecution was so cruell that none were spared Hermanus Gigas In Europe at Rome aboue all places was there greatest number of Martyrs The Prouost Rictiouarus in Gaul made a great massacre especially at Cullaine at Treuers and towards Moselle Beda writeth that this persecution came euen into England and then that Saint Alban a man very renowned receiued the crowne of Martyrdome From this time they beganne to finde out diuers kindes of torments but how much the more horrible they were so much more exquisite appeared the constancy of Martyrs Eusebius saith he beheld the persecution made at Thebaida and saith that the glaues axes and swordes of Tormentors were blunted and turned againe with so great slaughter and were altogether tyred when the Christians with ioy of hart singing Psalmes presented them selues to death Sulpitius in the holy history li. 2. saith that Christians then more ardently desired martyrdome then the ambition of the Cleargie afterward demaunded Bishopprickes Beda de temptat and Orosius lib. 7. cap. 25. Dioclesian crooked with age after he had assaied all cruelties that could be deuised to extirpate the Christians willingly dismissed himselfe of the charge of the Empire and went to Nichomedia and being tossed with rage and fury led a priuate life Maximian his companion who obeyed him as the lesser the greater deposed himself at the same time in the Towne of Milaine Dioclesian at Solone passed his time as a Gardener This change was made after they had raigned together the space of twentie yeares What deaths they had shal be told hereafter Marcel borne at Rome one Benets sonne was chosen Bishop about the 20. yeare of Dioclesian after the Chronicle of Henry the first He was a true Pastor of the Lords Church In the booke of Councells there is attributed vnto him two Epistles The one to them of Antioch wherein he exhorteth to follow the Romane Church and that without authoritie thereof no Sinode can bee called But any bodie may see it is but a counterfeyt and not agreeing with the time which then was The other written to Maxentius is altogether impertinent wherein after he hath commended Christian charitie hee reciteth things which are as pertinent so the time of that Church as conuenient to haue bene written to a Tyrant who afterward was named Emperour Such Epistles doo sufficiently shewe that they wore forged by them which after thrust themselues into the sheep-folde of the Lord not to feed but to rule He confirmed in the faith Maurice as hee came from Syria to goe into Gaul with the Legion which was called of Thebes Constantius Chlorus and Galerius Maximin or Maximian were made Augustes to goe through with the warres which their predecessors Dioclesian and Maximian Herculeus left Eutropius the Father of Constantius a Romane knight of a noble house was discended from Aeneas The Empire as thus parted that Constantius gouerned Gaul Spaine Italie and Affrike and Galerius which Dioclesian had adopted giuing him his daughter Valeria the rest namely Slauonia Greece and the East Yet Constantius who was neither ambitious nor couetous refused Affrike Italie cōtenting himselfe with Spaine Gaul which he gouerned well and peaceably was well beloued of his subiects and no enemy of the Christian faith He had two wiues the first Helena which was of base condition of whom he had Constantine the great which wife he was constrained to leaue and take Theodora the daughter of the wife of Maximian Herculeus He died of a mallady in England two yeares after Dioclesian had deposed himself from the Empire for long time before had he bene made Caesar and adopted by Dioclesian Some attribute vnto him those two yeares of raigning beginning from the natiuitie of our Lord 505. See Pomp. Laet. During his raigne there was stirres of warre He was called Chlorus for the colour of his bright shining face Ignat. Lib. 1. He had of his wife Theodora Constantius who was father of Gallus and Iulian. Maximian Herculian solicited Dioclesian to take again the Empire Some say Dioclesian answered if he once vnderstood the pleasure of Gardens hee would neuer thinke of raigning The Historiographers write that Dioclesian dyed in a rage and fury feeling an infection in all his members See Nicepho lib. 7. cap. 20. Some say hee poysoned himselfe tenne yeares after he deposed himselfe from the Empire fearing Constantine and Licinius who bitterly reprehended him as a fauourer of Maxentius See Eutrop. lib. 9. and Bapt. Igna. lib. 1. Seuerus was adopted and made Cesar by Galerius when Constantinus had left the administration of Italie and of Affrike and to Seuerus was giuen the charge of the saide Countries But at Rome Maxentius was made Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers and without contradiction of the Senate Seuerus not thinking himselfe strong enough to resist Maxentius thought to retire into Slauonia to Maximin but hee was entrapped and ouercome at Rauenna Pompon Laet. Maxentius sonne of Maximian Herculian being chosen Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers in a tumult and hauing gotten the victory vpon Seuerus waxed proud and gaue himselfe vnto pleasures cruelties Then Maximin or Maximian the sisters sonne of Galerius who also by him was made Cesar with Seuerus and had once the charge of the East adopted Licinius which he left in Slauonia after comming to make warre vpon Maxentius was tolde of the treason of his people and so retyred See Pomp. Laet. in the life of Constantine and Galerius Galerius then hauing made Licinius Cesar as is said a litle time after fell into a terrible disease which fretted his entralles whereof he died This was because of his exceeding great lecherie towards all and horrible crueltie towards Christians For an vlcer he had in his bladder did eate his priuy members and as all that part of his bodie rotted wormes came out and no remedie could be found for it So the Phisitians abandoned him For the stench was so intollerable that neither Phisitian nor other durst approach vnto him Wherefore in the ende hee dyed of a death worthy such a man after hee had raigned two yeares alone and with the Cesars and companions of his Empire the space of 16. yeares In the persecution moued by Maxentius Marcel Pastor of the Church of Rome was apprehēded to sacrifice vnto Idols and to renownce his office but hee despised all threatnings and smiled which the Tyrant Maxentius seeing commaunded he should be beaten and chased out of the Towne He retyred into an house of a widowe named Lucine and there secretly maintained a Church Which the Tyrant hearing made a stable of it for horses and other beastes of the house there locked vp Marcel Being thus condemned he left not to do the office of a true Pastor by Epistles which
against Arrius was Macarius Bishop of Hierusalem Eustachius Bishop of Antioche Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spaine Pathuntius of Egipt and Maximus these two had their eyes put out for the Faith and many other persons which had suffered persecution vnder the aforesaid Titants There was also Spiridian Bishop of Tremythe in Cyprus and Nicholas Bishop of Mirme in Licia a very graue man Also Athanasius then a Deacon of the Church of Alexandria Theophilus Bishop of the Gothes and Alexander Bishop of Alexandria c. Spiridian was he that in Lent presented flesh to a Pilgrim as he passed by and did eate himselfe and caused him also to eate saying that to pure Christians all things are pure Hist tripart lib. 1. Chap. 10. After that license was graunted to the two parties Eusebius Bishop of Nichomedia the Patrone of Arrius presented a Libell full of blasphemies conteining briefly that which hath bene before said That God who is for euer was not alwaies the Father And seeing all things were created of God the sonne also must be a worke made and many other blaspemies This Libell was recited and read with great sorrowe of most part of them which were there because of the blasphemies conteined therein and was torne in peeces to the great confusion of the Author There followed a very sharpe contention of both parts which the Emperour harkened vnto with great patience But finally Eusebius and his consorts fearing to be banished made a countenance to renounce their errours and to subscribe to the determination of the Fathers except Secundus and Theon as Athanasius reciteth in the decrees of the Sinode of Nice But the Bishops after they knew their fraude and how they disguised the truth with words began to vse the word Essence and Homousios that is to say of one same substance Then the Eusebians abhorred these words Homousios and Essentiall as straunge vnvsed in the holy scripture The Fathers declared that necessarily they were constrained to vse these words to signifie that the Sonne was engendered of the substance of the Father according to which bee was consubstantiall to the Father that is to say of one same substance and essence A Philosopher who by no Arguments could be surmounted was finally conuerted by a simple Bishop who said vnto him Harken Philosopher there is one God which made all things in the power of his word and by the sanctification of his holy spirite confirmed them This word which we call the Sonne of God hath redeemed mankinde which was in the bottomelesse pit of hell by his death and resurrection Torment nor trouble thy selfe too much with thine owne arguments and demonstrations in this matter which must be apprehended by faith and that Iesus Christ himselfe and his Apostles hath taught vs. Answere mee doost thou beleeue it is so The Philosopher astonished said vnto him I beleeue and confesse to be vanquished after exhorted others of his profession with him to beleeue the doctrine At the said Councell Constantine hauing receiued diffamatorie Libels accusations debates and particular quarells of Bishops one against an other caused them all to be cast into the fire that none might vnderstand their debates or errours God hath ordeined you Bishops saith he and hath giuen you power to iudge of your selues by meanes whereof we yeelde our selues to your iudgement Men may not iudge you but God alone vnto whom we referre the deciding and determination of your controuersies This humilitie of Constantine afterward brought great damage to his Successors The said Councell would haue forbidden Priests and Deacons to dwell with their wiues but Pathuntius whome Constantine had in such reuerence that hee often caused him to come into his Pallace and imbraced yea kissed the place frō whence his eye was plucked out rising vp confessed that marriage was honourable amongst all men and the bed vndefiled and said that the company of the husband with the wife was chastitie and perswaded the Councell not to set out such Lawes which might giue occasion of fornicatiō both to them their wiues The Councell approued his opinion and so dealt nothing vpō that matter but left to euery one liberty to marry or not according as to euery one should seeme expedient wherefore as before so now also was it lawful for Priests to retain their wiues and to marry But after Siritius Gregorie the seuenth forbad such marriage and commaunded continency which notwithstanding the Easterne Priests neuer receiued It is not then true which some write that Calixus who was before this Councell commanded continencie For then there would haue bene some mention of him in the said Councell and of his decree Eusebius Extract out of the Acts of the Councell of Nice We beleeue in God the Father Almightie Creator of all things as well visible as inuisible and in our Lord Iesus Christ the onely sonne of God borne engendered of him that is to say of his proper substance and therefore God of God borne and not made of the same substance of the Father by which sonne all things were made as well in heauen as in earth who also for the loue of vs men and for our saluatiō discended from heauen tooke our humaine flesh was made man He suffered death passion and after rose again the third day then he ascended into heauen and finally must come to iudge the quicke and the dead We also beleeue in the holy Ghost All such as say that there was a time that the sonne was not and that before be was borne in the earth he was not and that he was created of nothing or of other substance then of the father or that he is the sonne of God but cōuertible mutable the holy Catholicke and Apostolicke Church excommunicateth and anematizeth them It was also amongst other things ordeined in this Councell that no Bishop ought to receiue any of them which an other Bishop hath excommunicated or thrust frō his Church were he Clarke or Laie man But if we vniustly for hatred or anger were excommunicated or chased away It was ordained that in each Prouince the Prelates there should assemble euery yeare twise to holde their prouinciall Councell to knowe and iudge of such matters to the end that if any man had done any thing vniustly it might be retracted by others and that if he had done well it might be approued That in Alexandria and Rome the auncient custome should be kept namely that the Bishoppe of Alexandria should haue care of the Churches of Egipt and that of Rome of such Churches as are about Rome That if two or three Bishops striue or do not agree to consecrate one elected for some dissention In this case they must hold themselues to the determinatiō of others of the prouince and especially of the Metropolitane That the prerogatiue which before times hath bene giuen to the Bishop of Ierusalem shal be kept for him without preiudice notwithstanding of
the meanes of Constantia hee himselfe then perswaded touching Arrius namely that hee thought no otherwise then the Councell did Constantine then sent Letters to call againe Arrius who came to Constantinople with Euzoius a Deacon who also had bene deposed by Alexander They by the Emperours commaundement gaue in a disguised and couert confession the beginning whereof was We beleeue in God the Father almightie and in our Lord Iesus Christe his sonne begotten of the Father before all worlds God and Word by which all things were created as wel in heauen as in earth who came downe and tooke humane flesh and suffered death was raised againe and ascended into heauen should come againe to iudge the quick the dead c. The rest is in Sozomen lib. 2. chap. 27. After Constantine had seene this confession he asked them if with a good hart they thought as they spake Arrius affirmed yea Constantine mistrusting his owne iudgement sent Arrius with his adherents to an assembly of Bishops which then was at Ierusalem commanding them diligently to examine the cōfession of Arrius that is if he had reuoked his error if Alexander did him wrong or no. The Sinode of Ierusalem aduertised of the Emperors will sent Letters to the Bishops of Egypt Thebaid and Libia exhorting them that according to the witnesse of the Emperour Arrius might be receiued into the Communion The Arrians strengthened with these witnesses came againe into Alexandria and thrusting themselues into company Athanasius who then hadde the charge of Alexandria would not admit them Arrius returned to Constantinople to make his complaints against Athanasius there likewise hee sought to bring himselfe by force into that Church but Alexander who had the gouernment thereof opposed himself against him saying that the author of such an heresie and a perturber of so many Churches ought not to bee receiued This came to a great contention the Eusebians threatning they would cause Alexander to bee banished Certaine dayes following the Arrians concluded to introduce Arrius by force into the Church But Alexander placing his force in the Armour of pietie entred ouer night into the Temple accompanied with two of his household and with teares passed all the night in Orisons and prayers to the Lord that hee would not suffer that rauishing wolfe lately couered with a Lambes skinne to thrust into his flocke Some say that he added these words in his prayer O Lord if it be thy will and that by thy iust iudgement which is inuestigable this wolfe be admitted into thy Church deliuer mee thy poore seruant from this present life The next morning of this determination Arrius enuironed with a great multitude of Eusebians was ledde to be brought into the Temple as in a triumph but when they were come to the place called the Market place of Constantinople Arrius was suddenly taken with a feare and an astonishment within him which caused a paine in his belly so that leauing the company he was constrained to goe into a secret place to purge his belly the company which should accompany him to the Temple attended him in the meane while but seeing him tarry long some went to the easing place and found Arrius dead vpon the siege his entrails being come out at his fundament This was the end of Arrius which greatly feared his companions who to couer so foule and infamous a death said he was suddenly suffocated and choked with a disease of the stomacke Others that he was poisoned Some said that too great ioy had stifled him yet none could say but this was a iust iudgment of God vpon him Athanasius Lib. I. against the Arrians and the Epist to Serapion Sedulius a Christian Poet reciteth it in his Verses Siluester called the dayes otherwise then before for the day of the Sunne le Dimanche the other dayes Feries 2.3.4.5.6 and Samedi for the day of Saturne Antonie being in Egypt in the wildernesse Constantine writ vnto him to pray to God for him and for his children Victorinus of Affrike an Orator was also of this time and Donatus of whom came the Donatist heretickes against which S. Augustine writeth The constitutions attributed to Siluester touching the consecrattion and vse of creame to marke such as were baptized and annoynt such as were nigh death and such other inuentions are in the booke of Councels whereof Luitprandus Platina and Sabellicus make mention in their bookes and speak of them after their owne iudgement Councells in diuers places After the Councell of Nice Siluester at the commaundement of Constantine made assemble a Sinode at Rome of 277. Bishops wherin there was condemned Arrius Photinus Sabellius with one Calixtus as the booke of Councels shewes And againe by a Sinode following the decrees of the Councell of Nice were confirmed and the solemnitie of Easter established to be obserued on the Sunday from the 14. of the Moone vntill the 21. The multitude of Councels and Sinodes multiplied traditions vpon traditions and brought in great errours and the good and holy constitutions of Nice were soone after by such meanes contradicted 1. At Neocesaria in Pontus Polemoniake betwixt Paphlagonia and Armenia was instituted that none should be a priest before the age of 30. yeares 2. At Elebert in Spaine Bishops Priests Deacons and Subdeacons were commaunded to abstaine from theyr wiues and not to haue children otherwise that they should bee deposed That there should be no Images in the Temples of Christians If any broke an Image and were murdered because it is not written in the Gospell neither is there read that it hath bene done by any of the Apostles it pleased the Councell that such a one be not admitted nor receiued into the number of Martyrs 3. At Rome it was ordained for Churchmen that none should accuse them nor draw them into lawe 4. At Arles the first counsell was giuen to young people by no meanes to marry againe if by chance for adulterie they bee seperated from their wiues 5. At Gangia in Paphalagonia they excommunicated and anathematized such as condemned them that eate flesh so that it were not offered vnto Idols c. Item they excommunicated such as iudged a married Priest ought not to excercise his ministerie because of his marriage and likewise such as abstained from their ministerie At this time vnder the shadowe of chastitie and virginitie men began to despise marriage as appeareth by the first ninth tenth fourteenth and fifteenth Chapter of the said Councell where all such as blame marriage and leaue their children or the wife her husband or the husband his wife to liue in continencie are excommunicated 6. At Arles the second was ordained the contrary that none should be admitted into the Ecclesiasticall estate vnlesse he promised to renounce the bonds of marriage The Iberians were conuerted to the faith they are of Asia vnder the climate of Pontus namely the King the Queene the Nobilitie and al the people by the preaching of
saith that the Towne was dedicated by him the yeare of his Empire 28. and as he had taken the Empire diuided and vnited it in his person so he diuided it againe as a paternall heritage and made a partition thereof amongst his children whom whilest he liued he created Cesars one after an other that is to say Constantine his eldest sonne Anno. 10. Constantius the second Anno. 20. and Constans the youngger Anno. 30. Whose Empires were very turbulent and endured but 24. yeares 5. moneths 12. dayes according to the Chronicle of Hierome Constantine the Father died at Nicomicha after he had liued 66. yeares and raigned 31. yeares Pompon Laet. Licinius the sonne of Constantia sister of Constantine the great and Crispus sonne of the said Constantine the great with his said son Constantine the eldest were created Caesars the yeare of the Lord 316. But the wickednes of Fausta the wife of Constantine the great caused the death of Licinius and Crispus and many other noble personages See Aure. Victor and Pompo Laet. Crispus was instructed by Lactantius Constantine the eldest sonne of Constantine the great was Emperour with his two brethren after the father the yeare of our Lord 338. The Empire was thus parted namely that Constantine should enioy Gaul Spaine and England Constance should haue Italie with Slauonia and Greece And Constantius should holde Constantinople with the East This partition contented not Consantine hee raised warre against his brother Constance being proud of his Army of Gaul but warring more couetously then warily was ouerthrowne by an ambush nigh to Aquilea and being wounded in diuers places dyed there hauing raigned but three whole yeares and liued 25. See Bapt. Egnat and Pomp. Laet. Constance after he had vanquished his elder brother passing the Alpes came to make warre in Gaul and in two yeares with great difficultie conquered the Countrey which his brother had in partition He at the beginning gouerned well but after gaue himselfe to pleasures and at last became odious to all men So that in the end they conspired against him as he was at hunting and was slaine by the deuice and treason of Magnentius who vsurped his Empire yet he had saued this Magnentius his life Constance liued thirtie yeares and raigned fourteene See Pomp. Laet. Constantius had for his part the Empire of Constantinople with the East Hee vanquished Vetranio who made himselfe Emperour in Hungarie after the death of Cōstance Moreouer to reuenge the death of his said brother Constance hee made great warre against Magnentius In the first battaile there were slaine of one part and the other 53000. fighting men Magnentius had the worst And againe making head was ouercome nigh Lions Constantius was suspected vpon enuie and ambition to haue made away Dalmatius his Cousin-germain a vertuous man who better resembled Constantine the great then his owne father and who was appointed for a copartner with the said Constantius when he had his partition But Constantius liued not long after For as he was going the second time against the Persians vnderstanding that Iulian had made himselfe Augustus he tooke a Feuer and dyed the yeare of his age 40. and of his Kingdome 24. See Eutrop. Aurel. Vict. Pompon Laet. and Bapt. Egn. The Sinode of Sardis in her Sinodall Letters calleth Iulius their friend and companion Theodoret. lib. 2. chap. 8. It followeth that the Bishop or Archbishop of Rome had not the pretended superioritie It seemeth that Iulius was dead when Constantius hauing tamed the tyrannie of Magnentius and Syluanus hee was in Italie to appease the discordes of Athanasius his cause Liberius borne in Rome his father being called Augustus succeeded Iulius the yeare of Christ after S. Hierome 352. about the 12. yeare of Constance Empire his confession was agreeing vnto the Catholique faith and writ to Athanasius very Christianly of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost as may be seene in his Epistle which is affixed to the workes of Athanasius Athanasius in the Epistle to them which leade solitary liues rehearseth how Liberius was subuerted The Emperour Constans sent to Rome one named Eusebius an Eunuke with Letters wherby he threatned him exile and on the other side tempted him with presents to induce him to cōsent with Arrius and to subscribe to the condemnation of Athanasius Liberius despised both his menaces and gifts as a sacrifice of blasphemie Whereat the Emperour being exceedingly grieued found meanes to get him out of Rome and being come to him threatned him with death But Liberius manfully answered I am ready to endure all rather then of Christians we should be accounted Arrians Why what art thou said the Emperour that with one wicked man troublest all the world The word of Faith said Liberius dependeth not vpon multitude He was then banished by this Emperour Constans into Berrea which is a Towne in Thrace Where after hee had bene two yeares he was called home as saith Theodoret his restitution after some was accorded by the Emperour at the request of many Romanes and of the Westerne Bishops The same saith Athanasius in the before alleadged Epistle Also that Liberius after his two yeares exile feared with threatnings and apprehension of death sealed to the condemnation of Athanasius Ruffin saith the same and Hierome as Baleus saith writeth that by ambition Liberius fell into the heresie of Arrius being once fallen from the integritie of faith We finde some constitutions of Liberius namely not to make noises in fasting time that times of fasting and Lent bee not polluted by the act of marriage that in time of famine and pestilence men should appease the Lords anger by fasting almes and prayers An aduertisement The principall felicitie and ornament of the Church of this time was the multitude of excellent Doctors which by their doctrine sought so farre as in them lay to conserue multiply the puritie of doctrine But this felicitie was greatly obscured partly by the multitude of heretickes and partly by the rage of seditious people and schismatickes In so much that since the time of the Apostles there was no Church that hath endured more dissentions combats and diuisions within it then that of this world Wherevpon by good right Basile the great in a certaine poeme writing of the iudgement of God complaineth saying I haue liued the age of a man and I haue seene great concord amongst the Arts and Sciences But in the Church of God alone for which Iesus Christ dyed I haue obserued so many dissentions that it is altogether dissipated and wasted And comming to the cause As I searched saith he the cause I remembred the place of the booke of Iudges where it is written That then euery one did whatsoeuer hee thought good in his owne eyes Great persecutions were vnder Constantius after the death of Constans against the Catholike Doctors and Bishops by the Arrians Many were put to death euen within the Temples others
were exiled others put in prison virgins imprisoned and the houses of Christians pilled and sacked S. Hilarie was sent into exile At this time for the great persecutions without and heresies within many retired into the Desarts They write of two which were called Amon. The one was the Father and chiefe of three thousand Monkes The other Amon with two hundreth and fiftie Clarkes and Monkes was slaine by the Arrians Eusebius Sarmatha and Amathas Disciples of S. Anthonie were slaine by the Painimes Macarus the Aegyptian an other Macarus of Alexandria Hylarion the Disciple of S. Paul the Hermit Theodorus Entichian Pachomius Moyses Beniamin Helias Serapiō was the father of 2000. Monkes whom hee made worke for the necessitie of their liues and to helpe the needes of other poore Paemen other infinit Martin renounced his military estate Hist trip lib. 8. chap. 1. Iohn Cassian in the Collat of Fathers Naucl A coniuration was made by the Arrians after the Councel of Sardis against two Catholike Bishops Eufrates and Vincentius They caused an whoore in the night time to come into their chamber and by Apostate people which suddenly went after the said strumpet and so profered to accuse them to haue bene surprised in whoordome But the harlot disclosed the coniuration A Councell was held at Millaine in fauour of the Arrians against Athanasius the which resisted Paulinus Bishop of Treners Denis Bishop of Millaine Eusebius Bishop of Verceil and Rhodamus wherevpon they were cast out of the Church and with them Liberius Lucifer Metropolitane of the Iles of Sardine and Osius of Spaine sent into exile Anno Christi 361. The said Osius in his age by many torments beatings and wounds was forced to cōsent to the exposition of the Arrians and thervnto to subscribe in the first volume of Councels Tritenius saith that Osius being rich fearing either banishment or losse of his goods consented to the Arrians and being about to depose a Catholique Bishop called Gregory he fell downe out of his Chaire and so died Hereby are we aduertized that it is nothing to begin wel vnlesse we perseuer vnto the end Vnder Constantius many Councels were held namely in Tyre Sardis and Millaine as is said in Arimine in Syrmion of Pannonie in Nicea which is in Tharse in Seleucia which is in Isauria wherein the faith of the Fathers of Nice was condemned Felix borne at Rome sonne of one named Anastasis hauing bene the Deacon of Liberius was thrust into his place by the Arrians hoping he would consent with them in doctrine but hee became a true Catholique in the confession of the Councell of Nice and gaue no place either to the heretickes or to Constance himselfe declaring him an hereticke and was rebaptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia We finde in the booke of Councels an Epistle of the Bishoppes of Aegypt to Felix and Felix his answere to them with certaine constitutions namely that none might accuse a Bishoppe before a ciuill Magistrate Item to restore a Bishoppe who is cast out by force Item not to admit witnesse of prophane people against religious persons Item that Bishoppes should frequent Sinodes or send thither if they could not goe Som say that Felix gouerned with Liberius a certaine time But Theodoret saith that Felix withdrew himselfe into an other Towne Socrat. lib. 2. chap. 37. saith that Felix was driuen away by the Romane people in a sedition and that the Emperour thereby was constrained to send for Liberius thither Others say that Felix was beheaded with many others for that hee prooued the Emperour Hilary Bishop of Poiters was reuoked from exile and Paul Bishop of Treuers died in exile in the Countrey of Phrygia Anno Christi 363. Lucius Bishop of Adrianople dyed in prison Paulus Bishop of Constantinople sent into exile was strangled by the way Nicomedia by an earthquake was wholly subuerted and the Townes nigh were also afflicted After the death of Constance Constantius againe pursued Athanasius and then was the great persecution against the faithfull Liberius returned from exile the yeare of Christ 363. About this time three Sectes of Arrians rose vp That is to say Macedonians Eunomians and newe Arrians 1. The Arrians held the Sonne to be like vnto the Father but by grace not by nature 2. The Macedonians that the Sonne is altogether like the Father but not the holy Ghost 3. The Eunomians that the Sonne is altogether vnlike the Father Eusebius Bishop of Verceil endured great torments of the Arrians because in councell at Millaine he tore in peeces a scedule wherevnto the westerne Bishops had subscribed to the Arrians in the Councell of Arimine Some say hee was seuen dayes without bread and water in a Caue and afterward was kept in a very straight place But after the death of Constantius he was deliuered and returned to Verceil into his Bishopricke vnder Iouinian Finally after the death of the said Iouinian vnder Valens who was an Arrian he was stoned by the Arrians the yeare of Christ 388. Note Reader that at this time in each Towne there were both Catholike Dostors and Arrians Temples for the one and Temples for the other so the Church was diuided Achatius Bishop of Cesaria in Palestine an Arrian was in great reputation with Constantius Iulian borne at Constantinople the sonne of Constantius brother of Constantine the great he was faire of face subtill and of good spirit giuen both to Letters and Armes he set Fraunce at libertie which the Almaines had wasted hee tooke the King an the first cōflict beyond the hope of all Colleine was taken of him when he was very young of which prize hee got great renowne and reioyced the hearts of the souldiers In so much that they named him Emperour in Paris Whereof his Cousin Constantius being aduertised died in dispite about the age of 45. yeares as he prepared to make warre vpon him Yet when he died he made him his heire Anno Domini 363. Athanasius returned into Alexandria George who ruled in his absence was slaine and his body burnt A Sinode was in Alexandria of good Catholique Bishops wherein they that fel into heresie were permitted not onely to returne into the vnion and communion of the Church but euen into their offices and Bishoppricks There was also concluded and declared that the holy Ghost is of one same substance with the Father and the Sonne and that in the Trinitie there was nothing created or lesse or after an other Item that God hath but one essentiall substance but reall subsistence of three persons This word Substance differeth from the word Subsistence when we speake of the persons of the Trinitie For substance cōcerneth the essentiall nature of a thing after which the three persons of the Trinitie are but one alone substance and nature But this word Subsistence sheweth in one same diuine substance three persons and different proprieties not onely in name as the Sabellians say
Persians and receiued a mortall wound and casting a full handfull of bloud into the ayre hee vttered this blasphemie against Iesus Christ Thou hast ouercome ô Gallelean In the end thou art vanquisher and as hee had lost much bloud being in a burning Feuer hee called for water about midnight and dranke it colde and expired the yeare of his age 31. hauing gouerned the Empire the space of a yeare and seuen moneths Of the publike ioy they of Antioche made for his death see the Tripartite historie lib. 6. chap. 48. Iouinian or Iuuian borne in Hungarie was created Emperour with great ioy of the Armie the next morning after the death of Iulian. He was a Prince naturally liberall and who vnder Iulian had shewed well that he loued better to loose all dignities then to obey one wicked commaundement and against Christian religion Beeing importuned by the souldiers to accept the election he said hee was a Christian and that hee would not bee the Emperour of Ethnicks and Idollatrous people Hee accepted not the Empire vntill all with a common voyce had protested they would bee Christians Eutropius Lib. 10. Socrat. Lib. 3. Chap. 22. One called Lucius an Arrian whom George Bishop of Alexandria had promoted accusing Athanasius when he returned from exile Iouinian would not heare him but knowing Athanasius commaunded silence to Lucius Sozomen li. 6. cap. 5. He customably said to flatterers that they rather worshipped purple then God The Church had rest vnder him and he restored whatsoeuer Iulian had taken away There was a Councell held at Antioche vnder him to establish the faith of the Councell of Nice Sozom. lib. 6. chap. 4. He made peace with the Persians to his great dishonour and to their great aduantage yeelding them fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris also he promised to giue no succours vnto the King Arsaces allied with the Romanes He died soone after of an euill of the stomacke as he was in his chamber wherein for cold he caused to be made a great fire of coles all the night He liued 23. yeares and raigned seuen moneths The originall of Monkes and Monasteries The Monastike life began first in Aegypt Antonius and Macarus were the first and most renowned Authors of this maner of life which incontinent was disperced into Palestine Armenia and Paphlagonia Sozomen li. 3. chap. 14. It is greatly to be maruelled at how this world which in it had so many excellent Doctors did straight admit this manner of life which was neuer instituted of God and not onely allowed it but euen themselues instituted it and so made a new seruice of God by their owne traditions It seemeth at the beginning there were two kindes of Monkes some in sollititude and others in Cities and companies Sozom. li. 3. ch 16. Basilius at large writeth the Oeconomie and lawes of this Monkish life namely that a Monke before all things ought to possesse nothing to be peaceable that hee ought to haue an honest habit a moderate voice words well disposed to take his refection peaceably and with silence and that his glorie ought to be patience in tribulation humilitie and simplicitie of heart watchings teares in prayers sobrietie in his speech and eating Ambrose in his 82. Epistle of his booke saith that Monasteries were shops of vertue abstinence fasting patience and labour Out of which they drew Bishops that were accustomed and trained in these vertues Hierome ad Ruffinum Monachum saith that the Monasteries of the Aegyptians receiued none without dooing some labour or worke And this was their rule and as it were their Simbole Hee that trauelleth not ought not to eate The same in his Epistle ad Eutychium speaketh of three sort of Monkes in Egypt The first were called Cenobites Sansos in that countrey language as we might say liuing in common The second Anacharites because they dwelt alone in the Desarts far from mē The third they called Remoboth these dwelt two with two or three with three at the most and liued at their discretion and of that which they laboured for they nourished themselues in common but often had they debates amongst them Before the time of Hierome it is not like there were any Monasteries in Europe but that Ambrose in whose time began persecutions of virgins makes often mention of companies of sacred virgins otherwise there is no Latine Author of this time in whose writings the name of Monke is found Certaine it is that Sozomen lib. 3. chap. 14. affirmeth them of Thrace the Illirians and they of Europe had yet no Monastike assemblies Valentinian borne also in Hungarie was made Emperour by the souldiers in the principall Towne of Bithinia Anno. 366. Hee and Valens were the sonnes of Gratian borne in Hungarie of a meane place and in fauour of him Valentinian was chosen to the Empire which hee refused but after accepted and made his brother Valens pertaker with him who had the Countrey of the East and made his sonne Gratian Augustus In their time Procopius who vsurped the Empire was by them discomfited After Valentinian chased away the Gothes and other barbarous people of Thrace The Saxons were brought to their dutie and obedience accustomed Germanie beeing tossed with continuall troubles was set at rest and quietnesse by the happie successe of Theodosius Valens then being chosen a consort of the Empire was at first of like pietie and will with his brother as hee hadde also shewed vnder Iulian but after hee was infected with the Arrian heresie at the perswasion of his wife and of Eudoxius Bishop of Constantinople an Arrian of whom he was baptised During the life of Valentinian the westerne Church was peaceable and agreeing to the decrees of the Councell of Nice But Valens did what he could to aduāce the Arrianisme against such as were called Homousiastes that is to say the true Catholiques and stirred great horrible persecutions and aboue all in Antioche and Laodicea his brother Valentinian reprehended him and admonished him by Letters to desist as Zonoras writeth but hereby was he stirred so much the more and determined to chase away Basilius Bishop of Cesaria because at his commaundement he would not communicate with Eudoxius but the Lord sent a disease to his onely sonne who knowing it be Gods vengeance turned him from his euill will and certaine dayes he was an auditor of Basiles Sermons Athanasius after he had procured the good of the Church 46. yeares and sustained many persecutions in great constancie and patience died about this time After his death persecution in Egipt and Alexandria was mooued by Valens Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 7. Damasus a Spaniard some write him to bee of Rome the sonne of one called Antonius succeeded Liberius his election was turbulent and bloudie because of a competitor hee had called Vrsin a Deacon of the Romane Church Hereby may you see a first fruite of the riches of the Church and of the pretended donation
the Gothes Viscoths Huns and Scyths who hauing passed Danubia ran vpon Hungaria Epire and Thessalia endammaging much the countrey and burning certaine Townes He was ouercome and flying was wounded with a Dart and so fell from his horse and was put in a litle strawe-house to be healed Alanus the Victor pursued him the house whereinto he went was burnt none knowing he was retired thither This was the reward of his tirannie and crueltie against the faithfull And this came to him three yeares after the death of his brother hauing raigned fourteene yeares This battaile was the beginning of great warre that the Romane Empire after sustained Gratian sonne of Valentinian raigned eight yeares with his Vncle Valens three and with Theodosius 4. But his true Kingdome began after the death of Valens the yeare of our Lord 380. Hee reuoked from Exile the Catholique Bishoppes and put backe the Arrians He made Valentinian his litle brother on the fathers side his companion of the Empire Hauing called Theodosius out of Spaine hee gaue him part of the East Empire establishing him as a Ram-part against the Gothes and Huns which occupied Thrace and Daceas as their hereditary countreys Theodosius handled them hardly At his comming he obtained a great victorie against the Almaines But as he cherished too much some of those barbarous Nations which hee caused to come with him hyring them with Gold his owne souldiers bare him euill will insomuch that Maximus was chosen Emperour in England and passing into Fraunce with the Romane Army ouercame Gratian at Paris who fled to Lions where he was taken and killed trayterously by Androgius See Pomp. Laet. Aurel. Vict. Bapt. Egn. lib. 1. Paul Diac. lib. 1. and Oros lib. 7. chap. 33. Theodosius began his true Kingdome after the death of Gratian the yeare 386. He was of the line of Traian who was also sent by the Emperor Nerua to help the Common-wealth Theodosius maintained and amplified the Empire hee put to flight the Huns and Gothes in diuers battailes which came very farre into the Empire hee also graunted peace to the Persians Valentinian the second of that name the brother of the aforesaid Gratian on his fathers side being chased from Italie by Maximus with Iustin his mother Arrian which had wrought great troubles to Ambrose fled into the East towards Theodosius who receiued him and gaue him part of the Empire after hauing shewed him his fault and that because he rebelled against religion and persecuted the Catholiques he fel into this perill Valentinian was strangled seuen yeares at Vienna in Fraunce by his Chamberlaines at the suggestion of Eugenius and of Arbogastes So that it seemed he had strangled himselfe Theodosius tarried not long before hee ouercame Maximus vsurper of the Gaulois and Victor his sonne and Androgius their Coronell which caused Gratian to die Auenging the death of Valentinian he ouercame Eugenius the Tyrant and Arbogastes his companion in a notable victorie For the time the windes the snowe and hayle ranged themselues on his side who had fewe people in respect of the Armie of Eugenius Claudians Latine verses with exclamation witnesse it saying O welbeloued of God who gaue thee a winter armed for thy successors and made come to thy wages the Tempests and the windes c. The said Iustin hauing drawne into her errour Valentinian her sonne sought also to haue deceiued Ambrose but in vaine One day she sent a sort of souldiers to enuiron the Temple to make Ambrose come out who spake to them and said hee would not so easily forsake his place and that to wolues hee would not expose the sheepfolde nor the Temple to blasphemers And that if they determined to sley him let them do it within the temple and so should death please him Theodo li. 5. chap. 13. Reliques The beginning of adoration of Reliques may be reduced to this time Ruffin writeth of Theodosius before hee enterprised warre against Eugenius the tyrant himselfe went with the Priests visiting the Churches and before the Sepulchres of the Apostles made his Orisons and Praiers The contention betwixt Hierome and Vigilantius prest Bishop of Bercolne in Spaine doth sufficiently shewe that superstition was then come forward By the writings of Hierome which are stuffed rather with iniuries outrages then sound reasons out of the holy scriptures we may know that Vigilantius had reason to oppose himselfe to such Idolatry rather then veneration of the Martyrs The words of Hierome writing to Riparius are Thou saist that Vigilantius openeth againe his stinking mouth and spitteth his infection against the reliques of holy Martyrs calling vs which receiue them Cendrier Idolaters which do reuerence vnto dead mens bones And in the booke which he perticularly writ against Vigilantius saith One Vigilantius is risen vp which with an vncleane spirit against the spirit of Christ denieth that we must honour the Sepulchres of Martyrs condemneth Vigils c then addeth And thou sayest in thy booke that as long as we liue we may pray one for an other but after we be dead that the prayers are not heard and yet they pray for the vengeance of their bloud and cannot be heard In which thou proposest vnto me an Apogrypha Booke which thou and the like readest vnder the name of Esdras where it is written that after death none dare pray c. And thou darest out of the gulfe of thy brest vomit so filthy a mockery as to say the soules of Martyrs then loue their owne ashes and flie about them for being absent they cannot heare a poore sinner who by chance resorteth thither c. Briefly he alleadgeth for great meruailes whatsoeuer Vigilantius said but refuteth it not Hee addeth also that Vigilantius heretike saide that Alleluia should not be sung but at Easter That continencie of single life commaunded is heresie and the seede of whoordome It is also reported vnto me saith hee that against the authoritie of Paul vnto whom Peter Iohn and Iames gaue the right hands who commaunds to remember the poore thou forbiddest that any should send any comfort of money to Ierusalem for the vse of the Saints and maintainest that they doo better which vse their owne and which by litle and litle distribute fruites of their possessions then they which hauing solde their possessions giue all at once He saith yet Thou fearest and turnest away viperous tongue Monkes from their application and studie and sayest by way of argument If all men should shut themselues vp or goe into solitude who should celebrate Churches or who should gaine and winne seculer men c. Wee may know by this rehearsall that Vigilantius and other good Doctors of this time maintained that the adoration of Saints was drawne from the Ethnike superstition of the Gods into the Church of the Lord. The abuse came first from the too great praise of Saints It encreased afterward by the false perswasion of the intercession confirmed by signes and lying miracles The
obserued as the Gospell which is a sacriledge to compare humane ordinances with the eternall word of the liuing God It was there also ordained that no Bigamus should be ordained Priest and that Priestes accused of the people should haue this authoritie that by oath they might purge thēselues and approue their innocencie By this meanes they would be all innocent Monkes were forbidden to carry any to baptise and women that they should not enter into anye Monasterie of Monkes In Italie after a great drought there came an innumerable multitude of Grashoppers which consumed all the graine and fruite whereof came a great famine in Italie which endured two yeares Chro. Euseb The Legends of Saintes were forged at this time of such liues as these Fathers writ Many Relikes were found out by the subtilties of Sathan As Christes Coate vppon which the souldiers cast Lottes is said to be found in a Coffer of Marble in the Towne of Zapha and frō thence carried into the towne of Ierusalem Abb. Vrsperge and Naucler Such foule absurdities merit no recitall but that the greatest of the world haue bene deceiued with these inuentions of Relikes Argentuel nigh Paris made a Banner of this Coat Agilulsphus king of the Lombards was 2. yeares before Rome and the Arrabian Sarrasins entered into Sicilie and by fire wasted it Mauricius otherwise a good Prince who had many victories especially against the Persians in the end became odious to his souldiers because of his infinit couetousnesse which is a very detestable vice in a Prince He by his auarice dissembled rapines and murthers and payed not his souldiers but not them especially which serued vpon the Frontiers of Sarmatia to resist the fiercenesse of the Scithians They remained in barraine places enduring great necessities For this cause the souldiers conspired against him and Phocas was designed Emperour Who caused his M. Maurice his head to be cut off in Chalcedone the heads also of his wife three Children Theodorus Tiberius and Constantine the rehearsall thereof is worthy memorie that Maurice seeing his children murthered by Phocas and that hee himselfe straightway must be put to death he often cryed in this voice which is in 145. Psalme and verse 12. Lord thou art iust and thy iudgements are also And so dyed of the age of 63. yeares and the 20. yeare of his Empire We may learne by the example of the Emperour who was not of the worst in great cruell temptations in such sort to bridle our thoughts that the iustice of God may alwayes haue his praise and be vnto vs a buckler against all temptations Colomban of Scotland a very renowmed Bishop dyed the yeare 598. Abb. Trit The Lombards were conuerted to the Faith by S. Gregorie who writ his Dialogues and presented them to Theodelinde the wife of Agilulphus their King Supplem Chron. Eutropius a Bishop at this time Abb. Trit Phocas 42. in number and the 19. of the Grecian Emperours of Constantinople which ruled in the East from a Gouernour of Scythia after he had wickedly slaine his maister was chosen by the vnlucky Armie whereof he had charge a verie slaue of couetousnesse who handled secret matters with Courtiers after the manner of the Persians and solde the Offices of Magistrates Iudgements and dearly loued such as tormented the people by rapine and extortion This is hee who first ordeined that Rome should first be the chiefe of all Churches yea though it were Constantinople Gregorie the first besides so many ceremonies and superstitions made certaine ordinances and gaue permissions and lycences Amongst others he suffered diuorces for the long disease of a woman which cannot yeeld her dutie to her husband if he cannot conteine vpon condition notwithstanding that he helpe and succour his said wife in her disease This is in the second Epistle to Augustine the English man And in the second volume of Councells But why then did he not rather vse moderation towardes men and women which were cast into Monasteries when they cannot conteine wherefore constraine they them not to marry See the same Epistle Hee made many bookes amongst many others the Dialogues of the miracles of Saints in foure bookes which are full of Fables whereby he pretendeth to prooue that the soules of the dead returne againe and that we must pray for them These Fables inuented to pray for the dead gaue great authoritie to Masses which after came in great credit Sauinian Pope a Tuscane after Gregorie gouerned the Church of Rome two yeares He is accounted the third Pope noted of abhominable infamie an insatiable man and a sworne enemie of his predecessor Gregorie euen to cause his bookes to be burnt He being once admonished to follow the liberallitie of the said Gregorie towards the poore he answered that he dissipated and wasted the goods of the Church to get a good report and the fauour of the people Hee passed not his Popedome without inuenting and ordaining something namely that there should bee burning Lampes kept continually in the Temple and the houres of the day should be distinguished and rung in Churches The sea of Histories Boniface Pope the third of that name a Romane after Naucler ruled in the Church of Rome one yeare fiue moneths In a Sinode at Rome of 72. Bishops 30. Priests and some Deacons it was ordained vnder paine of excommunication that none should be elected Pope or Bishop but three daies after the death of his predecessour and by the consent of the Prince or of the Lord of the place It was also ordained that all such as by gifts fauour came to any Episcopall dignitie should be excommunicated Then it followeth that all their Bishops at this day are excommunicated This Pope ordained that the Aultar should be couered with cleane cloathes That the corporall of the Aultar should be kept cleane This Phocas as is said the murtherer of his M. the Emperour ordeined Boniface Bishop of Rome the soueraigne Bishop of all Chistianitie and the Romane Church chiefe of all the Churches of the world Abb. Vrsp. The primacie then of the Romane Church was established by an homicide and a traytor who died miserably Cosroes King of the Persian vnderstanding his Father in lawe Maurice was put to death by the ambushes of Phocas detested so that treason that he rebelled against the Empire In such sort that he wasted Siria and tooke Ierusalem where there were nintie thousand men slaine And the Chronicles adde that the wood of the holy Crosse was then taken and carried into Persia and the Bishop Zacharie was also prisoner The East Empire beganne to decline The Hans likewise reuolted against the Empire and with their great multitude they ouerranne the Romane Prouinces The Persians occupied Mesopotamia and Assiria and from Ierusalem ranne euen to Cappadocia and Gallatia and succoured all the Country euen to Chalcedone On the other side the Sarrazins wasted Egipt Boniface Pope 4. of that
At this time in Italie Calabria and Pouille the Sarrasins did infinit mischiefes Leo 5. of that name gouerned 40. daies Supp Chron. A Cardinall Priest his familiar called Christopher imprisoned him and by violence obtained the Papacie Leo died of griefe seeing himselfe thus handled of him vnto whom hee had done so much good In what authoritie is this Papall seate which is so easily vsurped by a priuate person by force and faction in a moment saith Naucler Christopher Pope ruled at Rome 7. moneths as hee acquired the Papacie so lost he it For he was deposed and imprisoned Some say he was constrained to make himself a Monke which was the onely refuge of the miserable For at this time Church-men being insolent and giuen to wickednesse were not sent to the Iles but for their disorders were deteined and enclosed in strong Monasteries Naucler and Chron. Abb. Sergius then third of that name was Pope and ruled seuen yeares and three moneths after some eight yeares and 15. or 16. dayes This was he who in the election of Formosus was cast off and who returning into France secretly returned into Rome and vsurped the Popedome yet fearing that Christopher should worke some treason he caused him to be drawne out of the Monasterie and put him in a common prison and yet putting him in a straighter prison poorely and miserably he finished his dayes Suppl Chron. The Westerne Empire diuided The Occidentall Empire was at this time diuided For there was one Emperor in Almaine and an other in Lombardie The first in Italie was Beringer who made a great Armie against the Emperour Lewis the third and gaue him battaile in the Plaine of Verone and discomfited him whose eyes afterward he caused to be put out so the Lombards for a time had the Empire by force A Monster was presented to Lewis the third which had a dogges head and all the other members as a man A figure of that time For men were then without an head and as dogges barked one against an other yea both the Popedome and Empire were diuided Fasci temp The Hungarians pilled and destroyed the Countries of Saxe and Turinge Chro. Abb. Vrsp And from thence entred into Italie vsing the like crueltie Thē was there the Duke of Fornil called Berēger who vsurped the title of the Empire in Italie and raigned 4. yeares against whom came the Emperour Lewis the third But he was betrayed by his people who in the night time tooke Berenger into the Towne of Verone In so much that he was taken and had his eyes put out so he dyed soone after Thus the Empire which had endured an hundreth and tenne yeares in France since Charlemaigne was transported vnto the Lombards Chron. Sigeb and Naucler Conrade first of that name Duke of Franconia was made Emperour after Lewis the third who deceased without a sonne so that this Conrade is esteemed the last of the race of Charlemaigne which had the gouernment of the Empire more then an hundreth yeares All the Great men of Germanie did elect without consent Otho Duke of Saxe but Otho feeling himselfe olde excused himself and appointed them this Conrade a magnanimous man sonne of Conrade Earle of Franconia and Hesset And Arnold the wicked sonne of the Emperour Arnulphe was Duke in Bauiers In the succession of Arnulphe aforesaid there are amongst the Historiographers some vncertain things touching their genealogie But we haue here set in order all such as discended of Charlemaigne to shewe the maruellous change in the greatest things of this world Who can read them without being rauished in admiration when we consider the greatest Kingdomes and dominations to flourish for a time and in the end being mingled with turbulent deuotions are in such sort debilitated and weakned as they come to nothing Wherein we must acknowledge the admirable prouidence of God Charlemaigne the sonne of Pippin left his sonne Lewis de Bonaire Emperour who had Lotharie Emperour who had Lewis of Bauiers King of Germanie who brought vnder the Bohemians had Charles le Chauue Emperour Lewis Emper. 1. of that name Lewis the young king of Germanie Franconia and Turinge Lewis Emperour 3. of that name surnamed le Begue which raigned but two yeares had Lothairie King of Austrasia called Lorraine Charles le Grosse Emperour who tooke the Empire frō Lewis le Begne Charles le Simple 30. King of France Charles king of Prouence Carloman Duke of Bauiere and of the kingdome thē called Teutonique had Arnulphe Emperour who was father of Lewis Emperor 3. of that name and of Conrade last Emperour of the race of Charlemaigne The Empire then of Germanie was transported frō the ligne of Charlemaigne to Conrade Duke of Franconia but the kingdome of France remained certaine yeares in the house of Charlemaigne seeing there was yet some remaining of the race of Charles le Simple Anastasius Pope 3. of that name gouerned at Rome two yeares and two moneths Supp Chron. He bare himselfe honestly without committing any act worthy of reprehension Laudo Pope a Romane ruled at Rome fiue or sixe monethes About this time the Venetians obtained a licence and priuiledge of the Emperour to beate money Hubert in Lorraine flourished now was made a Saint The Sarrasins destroyed Calabria Ponuille Beneuent and other Regions of the Romanes The Sea of Hist. Beringer second of that name raigned in Italie 7. or 8. yeares Some say he was chased away the third yeare of his raigne by Rodolphe king of Burgongne and that the same Rodolphe hauing raigned three yeares was after also driuen away by Hugues king of Arles Iohn Pope 11. of that name before Archbishop of Rauenna hauing bene deposed by a popularie tumult ruled after at Rome 13. yeares and two moneths Naucler He was Pope Sergius his sonne and prooued no better then his father sauing hee was a good souldier For he chased the Sarrasins out of Calabria with the helpe of one called Alberic Marquis of Tuscane Finally as the saide Iohn gloried in his victorie attributing all by great insolencie to his owne prowesse hee stirred against himselfe the furie of his owne souldiers who stiffled him to death Iohn le Maire Hee had cast out of Rome the said Marquis Albert who to auenge himselfe of the Pope brought the Hungarians into Italie which pilled and wasted all Finally he was put to death by the Romanes Henry first of that name Duke to Saxe surnamed the Faulconer sonne of Otho Duke of Saxe who had refused the Empire was chosen Emperour by Conrade his predecessor who being sicke in his bedde sent his brother Eberard towards the saide Henry with the Mantle royall the sword the Lance the Diademe and other Imperiall ornaments who found him at his pastime with his Haukes which was cause that hee was called the Faulconer For there he was saluted Emperour Nauclerus He made warre against the Hungarians Slauonians and Bohemians The combat of Tournois
was inuented by him Hugues raigned in Italie tenne yeares whom Lotharie his sonne succeeded King Charles the Simple was by treason taken of Hubert Earle of Vermandois and poysoned in the Castle of Peronne where he died and was buried in the Church of S. Foursi See the Sea of Histories Rodolphe Bourgongne 31. King of France raigned two yeares Before this time there were not so many degrees amongst Gentlemen and Noblemen nor so great diuersitie as there are at this Dukes Marquesses Counts or Clarkes simple Counts and Knights were rather names of offices then hereditarie Seigniories For Dukes Marquesses Earles or Counts were Gouernours of Countries and Lands wherevpon they were committed by Emperours and Kings Duke was a soueraigne chiefe or head of souldiers as may be seene by auncient Letters Count or Earle was a Iudge and Goueruernour ordained in a certaine Towne or Region and so Germanie was full of Countes amongst which some were called Lantgraues that is to say Countes of Regions or Countries Some Maruegraues or Marquis that is Countes of certaine Marshes or Countries Some Countes de Palatin which were Gouernors of some Kingdome subiugated or conquered This may bee seene in the second booke of the Lawes of the Lombards Some were gouernors of Bourgages and so were named Bourgraues The most auncientest name of dignitie after Kings and Princes is the name of Baron which signifieth Lord whose sonnes were called young Lords And this say some was the estate of the Nobilitie before the Othons raigned After their time all things chaunged For then Counts were made hereditarie and were lifted vp aboue Barons Marquesses Lantgraues and Palatins and that more is Bishops haue bene made Princes yea many Counts Abbots Abbesses haue obtained the title of Prince Lewis 4. of that name surnamed Vltramarin 32. King of France the sonne of Charles le Simple after his fathers imprisonment got with his mother Ogine towards his Vncle King of England but as soone as he retutned he was in strife for the Kingdome with Rodulphe of Burgongne who died about eight yeares after at Auxerre Anno. 937. and so Lewis raigned alone Leo Pope sixt of that name ruled at Rome 7. moneths and 15. dayes The Danes at this time were conuerted to the faith Stephen Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 2. yeares and 12. dayes Supp Chron. The Duke of Bohemia Spireneus receiued the Christian faith at the perswasion of the Emperour Henry Suppl Chron. Iohn Pope 12. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 4. yeares 10. moneths and 15. dayes Supp Chron. He did nothing worthy of memorie a coward and is not numbred in the Catalogue of Popes after some Historiographers Lotharie the sonne of Hugues raigned in Italie two yeares The Sarrasins in Italie tooke the towne of Geans and spoiled it Naucler Berenger third the Nephewe of Berenger the first raigned in Italie 11. yeares with his sonne Adelbert In this place Histories are very confused The Emperour Henry the first dyed of the Palsey the yeare of his age 60. and of his Empire seuenteene hauing ordained Otho the great his sonne successor of the Empire by the consent of all the great and Noble men who after was consecrated by the Arch-bishop of Magunce Hildebert Hee had three Competitors which would needs hinder him to bee Emperour that is to say Henry his elder brother Giselbert Duke of Lorraine his brother in lawe and Eberhard Earle of Franconia but he droue them all away and reduced all vnder his obedience Wencelaus Prince of Bohemia was slaine by his brother Boislans vppon ambition to raigne But Otho reuenged the death of the said Wencelaus making warre vpon Boislans which endured fourteene yeares and finally hauing vanquished him he brought the Countrey into his obedience Chron. Sigeb and Supp Chron. Leo Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome three yeares 6. monethes and 10. dayes Supp Chron. The heresie of Anthropomorphites which say that God hath a corporall forme was at this time renued Rotherius Bishop of Verone writ against them Stephen Pope eight of that name an Almaine or a Romane after some ruled at Rome three yeares foure moneths and 12. dayes R. Barns Some say he was murthered by certaine Romanes in a sedition In so much as he was neuer publikely seene Chron. Abb. France was afflicted by an horrible pestilence and by inward contentions The faction and puissance of Hugues of Paris troubled King Lewis exceedingly Martin Pope 3. of that name a Romane ruled 3. yeares 6. moneths and 14. dayes He was peaceable and gaue himself to repaire Temples and nourish the poore saith Supp Chron. Agapetus Pope second of that name a Romane a magnanimous man ruled at Rome 9. yeares 7. moneths and 10. daies Supp Chron. He called againe the Emperour Otho to Rome against Berenger Berenger 4. the 7. Emperour of the Lombards raigned 13. yeares The Sea of Histories The Hungarians againe in Italie Chron. Abb. Vrsp Iohn Pope 13. of that name a Romane ruled 9. yeares and three monethes His father called Alberic seeing himselfe one of the greatest power at Rome caused all the noblest and principallest rulers of the Citie of Rome to promise and sweare that after the death of Pope Agapetus they should elect his sonne Octauian Which promise was kept and he was called Iohn This Pope was so excessiuely giuen to lecherie that he maintained a publike stewes for the shame wherof some Cardinals writ to the Emperour Otho that he would remedie the publike scandall and infamie which the Church then suffered and that it was needfull he should in haste come to Rome As soone as the Pope heard of this newes he caused the nose of a Cardinall a Deacon called Iohn to be cut off beeing the principall councellor herein hee commaunded also that the hand of an other Cardinall a Subdeacon called also Iohn to be cut off because hee writ the Letters When the Emperour vnderstood that for no admonition the Pope would amend he caused him to be deposed with note of infamie Otho was crowned by him after he hauing sworne that hee would exalt the Romane Church and the Pope and that in nothing hee would hurt him as more at large is contained Dist 63.100 Tibi domino Otho remained a certain time at Rome after his coronation and admonished this Pope to change and amend his wicked life whereof hee was blamed Otho departing came against Berenger his enemie Albert the sonne of Berenger who with his father retired at Otho his comming seeing Otho departed came to Rome and with the Pope complotted against the Emperour Two Cardinalls aduertised Otho of this conspiracie and of the Popes wickednesse Otho then returned to Rome and the Pope fled after he had reuenged himselfe of the two Cardinalls Otho beeing at Rome caused the Pope to be thrice called commanding him to returne and feare
nothing and he should be in suretie but hee would not returne Wherefore he caused a Councell to be held wherein the Pope was condemned and deposed for his euill life And there was substituted in his place Leo a Romane 8 of that name but soone after the Emperours departure the seditious and inconstant Romanes droue away Leo and recalled the aforesaid Iohn receiuing him in great pompe Leo got him to the Emperour who fearing to molest the Church with a greater schisme permitted the said Iohn to hold his seate But finally beeing surprised in adulterie hee was slaine by the womans husband Robert Barns Chron. Sigeb Nauclerus and Iohn Maire Conferre good Reader these Popes with the first and see the difference The yeare of Christ 958. there hapned at Venice a memorable thing The Duke of Venice Peter of Candie was besieged in his Ducall Pallace and the Venetians angrie against him set fire on the Pallace in so much that not onely the Pallace burnt but also the Church of S. Marke nigh vnto it and more then three hundreth houses about it And as the Duke thus pressed retired into a secret place of the Pallace which was not yet touched with fire the people altogether enraged hauing found him holding yet his onely sonne a young Infant betwixt his armes and requiring vpon both his knees and in great pittie the mercie of the people they were not content most cruelly to murther him with his innocent sonne and wife but after their deathes the bodies of the father and sonne were carried vnto the butcherie and hewen in peeces and after cast vnto dogges Iohn le Maire and Sup. Chron. The cause of this massacre was because he had constrained his first wife to make her selfe a Nunne to the ende hee might with colour espouse the sister of Hugo Marquis of Hetruria of whom he had alreadie had one sonne Wherefore hauing married her the Allies and kinsfolkes of his said wife stirred the people vnto sedition and so they perished vnhappily Supp Chron. About this time flourished Windichinne a Monke of Corney in Saxonie Smaragdus Abbot of S. Michael of the order of S. Benet wrote the booke called Diadema monachorum a right Monkish booke Item vpon the rule of S. Benet and vpon the Psalter another two vpon the Euangelists and Epistles Item one of diuers Sermons Trit Abb. Spauher Benet Pope fift of that name a Romane ruled after Nauclerus 6. monethes and 5. dayes or 2. moneths and 5. dayes after Supp Chron. hee was chosen by the Romanes against the Emperours will after Iohn was slaine in adulterie The Emperour vnderstanding these newes returned to Rome besieged the Towne and so afflicted it that they were cōstrained to present Benet vnto him at his pleasure The Emperour restored Leo to the seate and Benet was depriued not onely of the papall dignitie but disgraced also of his Sacerdotall and after banished and sent into Almaine where hee died in the Towne of Mamburge others say he was put in prison and there strangled Leo then eight of that name a Romane was restored into the Popedome and raigned a yeare and foure moneths This Pope minding to shunne the fury of the Romanes which proceeded to the Popes election by corruptions menaces and subtill deuices ordained in a full Sinode that none should be made Pope without the consent of the Emperour vnto whom aboue belonged the right of election from Charlemaine and others Naucler and 63. dist cap. in Sinodo He restored also to Otho all the donations made to the Romane Church And this was it which they say Constantine Iustinian Pippin Charlemaigne Lewis le Debonaire and Arit part had giuen to the Church All this he reuoked and accorded to Otho the first of that name and to his successors to the end to keepe Italie from oppressors R. Barns The Abbey of S. Quintin in Vermandois was in this time founded Chron. Sigeb Richard Duke of Normandie founded and restored many Churches and Abbeys amongst others the Abbey of Fesanan of S. Ouan at Roan and the Abbey of S. Michael nigh the Sea An Aduertisement Note heere Christian by the passed and subsequent Histories how in this time Christian Religion was so annihilated that it was altogether set to gather dead bones to build Churches and Monasteries to reare vp and transport dead bodyes to honour reliques to dreame miracles to make themselues Monkes and Nunnes to dedicate and consecrate Churches to compose Hymnes and praises of Saints to sing and pray for the dead and such like ceremonies About this time also began the fourth pestilence of the Church that is to say the Schoole Diuinitie mingled with Aristotles Philosophie which after engendred Transubstantiation and other new doctrines by the Questionaries as thou shalt vnderstand by this discourse Iohn Pope 14. of that name an Italian a Bishops sonne called Iohn gouerned Rome sixe yeares eleuen monethes and tenne dayes Supp Chron. Hee beeing apprehended by Peter Prouost of Rome was put in prison in the Castle of S. Angelo where he remained a 11. monethes but when they heard say the Emperour Otho came against them with a strong hand they tooke him out and established him Some say he was sent into exile banished into Campania frō whence he came again after 2. monethes For the Emperor tooke vngeance on thē that persecuted him causing many of them to die by diuers kindes of death such as were found culpable of the fact and banished some into Saxe As for Peter Prouost he was deliuered to the Pope to doo with him at his pleasure Who gaue him into the tormenrers hands so hee was vnapparelled and his beard being cut off he was set vpon an Asse his face towards the taile and his hands bound vnder the taile of the said Asse and so was ledde through the Towne and beaten with Roddes After this he was againe brought to prison and finally sent into exile in Almaine Naucler Iohn Pope in recompence of the benefite receiued of Otho called and declared Otho the second sonne of Otho the first Augustus Palin In the time of this Pope Theodorike or Deodorike Bishop of Mets caused infinit holy bodies to be transported from Italy into France with a peece of S. Stephens Chaine and a part of S. Lawrence Grate which the Pope Iohn gaue him Chron. Sigeb These bee the Iewels of this darke time The King of Denmarke and all his Countrey were conuerted to the faith by Popon Clarke Chron. Sigeb Benet Pope sixt of that name a Romane ruled a yeare and sixe moneths He was put in the prison S. Angelo wherein he was strangled by one called Cinthius or Cincius Others say he dyed of hunger for which iniurie he neuer did Iustice nor vengeance Naucler Roger Bishop of Liege founded the Abbey of S. Iohn the Euangelist in the I le of Flaunders Chron. Sigeb The heroicall acts of this Emperour Otho the first do sufficiently shewe him to bee one
depriued both of his wife and of his Principalitie and dyed without children Naucler and Corno Abb. Calixtus prepared an Armie against Roger but the Popes death came betwixt and Innocent the second pursued the enterprise One called Iohn a Patriarke of the Indians came vnto Rome and rehearsed to the Pope and Cardinalls in a Councell that by a myracle S. Thomas the Apostle came euery yeare to giue the Eucharist vnto the good and refused the wicked Naucler Miracles and apparitions are on all sides forged The Emperour Henry the fift bearing a long time an hatred vnto the King of France assembled a great Armie to runne vpon him taking occasion that hee was at the Councell which the Pope Calixt held at Rheimes wherein he was excommunicated and vaunted that he would destroy the Citie of Rheims where the said Councell was held but when he perceiued the Kings power which met him with the precious standard called the Auriflame he desisted from his enterprise and returned into his Country Iohn le Maire Pomerania receiued the Christian Faith Nancler Honorius Pope second of that name borne at Imola in Italie a man of base condition yet learned gouerned the Romane Church 5. yeares 2. moneths Before he was called Lambert Bishop of Ostia and was promoted rather by the ambition of some then by the consent of the good Supp Chron. He inuested Roger of the Duchy of Pouille after the said Roger had done vnto him homage who also was King of Sicilie The same Robert author of the order of Premonstre went to Rome vnto the Pope obteined what he desired cōcerning y e order Nauc Arnulphe Arch-bishop of Lion had at this time a singular grace in preaching who after he had preached in Fraunce and Italie came vnto Rome But because in his Sermons he rebuked too sharply the vices the delights and pompes of Church-men he was slaine Honorius feined to be grieued therat yet he made no search for the murderers Plat. and Sabel Bonifa Simo. say that hee did this in fauour both of the Nobilitie and of the common people The yeare of Christ 1125. Henry the 5. died in the Citie of Vtreict without heire male Lothaire in the Almaine tongue Luder the sonne of Count Gebhard who was slaine in the warre by Henry the fourth as hath bene said being created Duke of Saxonie was chosen Emperour a man of great industry and prudence and persecuted the race of the Emperour Henry whereof arose many troubles For Frederic and Conrade Dukes of Souanbie were a long time Rebels vnto him Finally S. Barnard Abbot of Cleruax reconciled these two brethren with Lothaire Hugo a Saxon by Nation and surnamed of Victor a Theologian of Paris was at this time in Paris Amongst his writings are found many complaints against the disordinate life of Clarkes in this time It is he whom some say that at Masse as he lifted vp the body of our Lord there appeared a litle childe which said vnto him Eate me And he abhorring it said hee could not eate him vnlesse he hid himselfe againe vnder the bread and straight it came so to passe and he eate him Who sees not that this is a fable inuented to proue the new doctrine of Pascasius and Lanfrancus And yet this is against their doctrine and especially against that of Thomas Aquine in the third part question 76. Charles Count of Flaunders Nephew of Lewis King of France was traiterously murthered as hee was on his knees in the Church of S. Donatus in Brugis in Flaunders The murtherers were certaine villaines of the Countrey which were grieuously punished in sundry maners Sigeb Baudwin the second who was the third King of Ierusalem died in a Monkes habit whom Fulco succeeded Naucl. Chron. Sigeb Innocent Pope 2. of that name a Roman gouerned 14. yeares After his coronation he attempted mortall warre against Roger the Norman Who first named himselfe King of Naples but in the end Innocent was ouerthrowne in battaile and ledde away prisoner Whilest he was in prison the Romanes elected Peter Leon the sonne of a puissant Romane Citizen But Innocent after he had agreed with the said Roger was constrained to goe into France for succour towards King Lewis le Gros of whom hee was honourably receiued Being come into France he held two Councells one at Auerne and an other at Rhemes in Campaigne From France he retired towards the Countrey of Liege where he found the Emperour Lothaire who also promised all the assistance he could by meanes of which hee returned into Italie Anacletus the Antepope stole away all the treasures and Reliques of the Church to wage them which were of his band he died with griefe and his Cardinals craued pardon In the Councell held at Rheimes Subdeacons were commaunded to liue without marriage vnder paine to loose theyr Benefices There became a contention betwixt the Pope the king of France because that after the death of Alberic Archbishop of Bourges the Pope sent one called Peter by him consecrated Archbishop of the said place to reside and rule there but the King reiected him neither was be receiued into the Towne because he was created without his knowledge Sigeb Innocent agreed set a peace betwixt the towne of Pise and the towne of Genues and raised them vp vnto Archbishops A Sinode at Rome at this time ordained that no Lay-man should presume to lay hand vpon a Clarke vnder paine of excommunication from which none could absolue him but the Pope vnlesse he were at the poynt of death for then his Bishop might absolue him 17. Quest 4. Chap. Si quis suadente diabolo In this time was Richardus de sancto victore and Hugo a Monke of Corbie in Saxonie who wrote the booke de clanstro animae Peter de Balard an hereticke of this time said that the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ was onely giuen vs for an example of patience of vertue and of loue he shewed vnto vs. Wherefore he was condemned with all his writings by the Pope Innocent S. Barnard writ against him Writers say that one called Iohn of Time if it be a thing worthy the credite liued 361. yeares that is to say from the time of Charlemaigne whose Councellor he was and died in this time Naucler and Suppl Chron. The Emperour Lothaire went to Rome to restore Innocnt according to his promise The faction of the Guelphes for the Pope and of the Gibellins for the Emperour began in this time Naucler Lothaire returning from Italie the second time after hee had deiected Roger of Pouille and Calabria died of the pestilence nigh Trent amongst the Mountaines in a poore lodging saith Naucler But Palin saith that he died at Verona the 13. yeare of his Kingdome and the 7. of his Empire leauing one daughter called Gertrude Conrade 3. of that name Duke of Souabe sonne of Frederike of Haulte Staufen and of Agnes daughter of Henry the fourth obtained the Empire
be alwaies ready to suffer to present themselues vnto all perils and dangers for the defence of Christian Religion euen to shead their bloud C. Masseus O craft and childish mockerie He cited the Emperor personally to appeare And because he appeared not he excommunicated him and depriued him of his Empire although he sent thither his Embassadors Immunities of Monkes He gaue great Immunities and priuiledges to Monkes not onely to Mendicants but to all others and made likewise the rule of the sisters of S. Claire After this Councell he sent to the Electors to proceed to a new election Frederic on his side writ Letters to the King of France by which he shewed the wrong that the Pope did him See Naucler The Electors at the Popes commandement elected Henry Lantgraue of Turinge who hauing laid siege before Vlme was strooken with an Arrowe and soone after died of a Flux of the belley Naucler O deiection of Christian Princes that will suffer themselues to be so fondly carried away by a foolish feare of excommunication This Pope hauing not onely absolued from the oath of fidelitie the Emperors subiects but also excommunicated all Lords and Princes which fauoured and obeyed him so mooued and angred the Emperour that he depriued 40. Bishops of their dignities sacked the houses which appertained vnto the Popes parents and caused to be put to death vpon a Gibbet many notable persons which had consented to the Popes conspiration Note how many troubles and mischiefes comes in the world by Popes After the death of Henry Guilliam Count of Holland was chosen but soone after was slaine of the Frisons In the said Councell of Lyon was the Croisado published whereof S. Lewis was made chiefe But yet the holy Land was not recouered For things went alwaies from euill to worse S. Lewis in that voyage beyond the Sea was prisoner Frederic gaue to Manfroy his bastard sonne the Kingdome of Sicilie but the Pope Vrbaine tooke it from him by reason he was contrary vnto him and gaue it to the brother of S. Lewis Charles Count of Aniou In this time raigned Odo Chauncelor of Paris Hugo Cardinalis Iacopin Vincent the Historiographer Alexander de Hales an English man Alexander de Villa dei a Frier who made the doctrine The yeare of Christ 1250. Frederic founded a Towne in Italie and called it Victoria It was after taken by the Popes souldiers and by his Legate and raced vnto the foundations Then Frederic returned into Pouille where soone after he died of sicknesse of the age of 57. yeares Some say he was traiterously slaine by his sonne Manfroy Conrade King of Germanie was crowned in his father Frederic his time vnderstanding then of his death he went into Italie and from thence into Pouille where hee became sicke His bastard brother Manfroy to raigne peaceably gaue the Phisitian a summe of siluer to poyson his medicines whereof he died but first he made his Testament and instituted Corradin his sonne heire of his kingdomes and countries and was honourably buried The Pope assembled souldiers to goe against Manfroy and thinking shortly to obtaine his kingdome died at Naples sooner then he thought and was buried in the Church of Saint Laurence Naucler S. Lewis returned from beyond the Sea The Colledge of Sarbone was now instituted and founded at Paris by Robert brother of S. Lewis Alexander Pope 4. of that name of Campaigne ruled at Rome 7. yeares The Pope canonized S. Claire The Hermittes of the order of Saint Augustine were by this Pope drawne from their Hermitages in woods vnto good Townes commaunding them to preach and heare Confessions and gaue vnto the said order priuiledges exemptions and indulgences He excommunicated Manfroy the bastard and after made warre vpon him but the Pope was ouercome and his Legate imprisoned at Naples The Archbishop of Rauenna was created Legate Apostolike hee preached the Croisado against Ecclinus promising eternall life to such as would goe to warre against the Popes enemies So did Gregorie the 9. against Frederic the 2. The yeare of Christ 1256. William Count of Holland fell into a poole and his horse not being able to get vp was slaine by the Frisons After the death of Henry Lantgraue of Hesse and of William Count of Holland the Electors disagreed Some elected Alphonsus King of Castile Others Richard Count of Cornwall the King of England his brother and that by the Popes Instigation Naucler There was a schisme in the Empire 23. yeares after Naucler or 28. after others and all by the occasion of Popes and this schisme endured from the yeare 1245. vntill the yeare 1273. which was the first yeare of the Empire of Rodolphe The first League of the Switzes The alliance of Leagues and Cantons in the Countrey of Switze beganne now They droue out of their Country many Noble men which were tirants and committed vniust actions vpon them So did they defend the poore the Orphanes and widowes whereby they became renowmed through all the world saith Fasci temp In this time S. Lewis king of France as soone as he was returned made many goodly Lawes and ordinances to hold his people in iustice Bayliffes Prouosts and Sargeants in theyr duties that they might not be raueners or eaters of the people vnder the paine to be put from their offices He droue from his Court Morrisdauncers and Ieasters forbidding Officers to take gaine or to take Benefices for theyr children Hee ordained that the blasphemers should haue the hotte Iron set in their browes He went into Affrike tooke Carthage and besieged Tunes The plague fell in his Campe where he died of a Fluxe of the belley hauing raigned 44. yeares His body was carried to bee buried at S. Denis See Emil Lib. 7. An opposition against the Sects of Mendicants or begging Friars Guilliam de S. Amour Doctor of Paris Chanon of Benuais flourished in this time In his Sermons as himselfe witnesseth he especially enuied against the hipocrisie of Prelates saying that that vice was of all most dangerous wherewith all the Church was infected He opposed himselfe against Monkes and aboue all against Mendicants accusing them that they troubled Churches and brought out the witnesses of the scriptures which make mention of Antichrist and his supporters And applying them to the time present proued by 39. signes that begging Friars were false Prophets He expounded that place of the Gospell If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell all that thou possessest c. Vpon which place the Mendicants founded their order And he gaue to know in full disputation that the place was not meant of actuall pollicie as Sophisters speake but of habituall pouertie that is to say that Iesus Christ demaundeth of vs not that we should forsake and cast off that which we haue but that we be readie when the confession of the name of God and the glory of Iesus Christ requireth it to abandon and forsake not onely that which we possesse
But as once he was taking his ordinarie refection with his Captaines as Casulanus reciteth it the yeare of our Lord 1285. he was taken with a secret malladie of which hee died after hauing said hee endured much griefe although the Phisitians founde not in him any signe of death and was buried at Peruse Some Authors which Thomas Cooper one very learned followeth in his abridgement of Chronicles haue left in writing that the first yeare of his Popedome hee tooke as the Prouerbe is to bread and to potte the concubine of his Predecessor Nicholas But for feare such an accident should happen vnto him as did vnto the other namely that if he had a childe it should be like vnto a Beare he commanded that all the Beares which had bene painted in the Pallace by a Pope of the house of Vrsins should be defaced and cleane taken away because he knew well that the figure of things vpon which women think when they conceiue their children oftentimes is certaine imprinted in them It appeares well that this Pope was herein very expert but he tooke no heed that such a monster shewed to the world what sanctetie there is in Popes singlenesse Giles of Rome Bishop of Bourges disciple of S. Thomas d'Aquin liued in this time Phillip le Bell 45. King of France and of Nauarre raigned after his father Phillip the third the yeare 1225. The Pallace was sumptuously builded in the Ile which Sene maketh Euguerrant de Marigni the Kings Councellor and President des Finances had the charge thereof In this Pallace the Court of Parliament had his seate distributed into chambers The king dwelt there The Colledge of Nauarre was builded by the Queene Ioane at the entry of the raigne of this king Honorius 4. of that name borne at Rome of the house of Sabellius which is a noble race called before Iames and beeing Cardinall Deacon after he had bene chosen by the Cardinals tooke possession of the Popedome and ruled 2. yeares Naucl. He had a brother called Pandulphe which was then Senator of Rome who greatly punished theeues homicides and other such like This Pope dwelt in Mount Auentine where he builded a new house and incited many others to do the like He excommunicated Peter King of Arragon who then occupied the Kingdome of Sicilie against Charles and confirmed the Interdict published against him by his predecessor Martin because hee would not permit that the Popes seate should enioy that Region The Florentines and they of Luke obtained by siluer of Rodolphe the Emperour libertie for their Common-wealthes The Florentines gaue 6000. skutes and the Luquets 12000. skutes The Venetians also obtained licence to forge Ducats of Gold at Venice The Geneuois got themselues franchis and libertie Chro. of the Emp. Tom. 2. This Emperor was noted of couetousnesse A childe called Rodolphe was martired at Berne by the Iewes whereby they of Berne put the Iewes to death And therefore the Emperour Rodolphe assembled thirtie thousand souldiers and besieged Berne but profited nothing as is aboue said The Colledge of Collets at Paris was founded by Iohn Collet Priest Cardinall of S. Cecilie Legate in France borne in Beauoisin saith the Sea of Histories He mooued a maruellous warre against Guy Feltron who occupied the Townes of Flaminia and ouercomming him hee annexed vnto the seignorie of Rome all that Countrey This Pope confirmed the Sect of the Augustines which was not yet receiued at Paris but was by many impugned because it was not well allowed by the Councell of Lateran and graunted them many priuiledges And besides hee would that the Carmes leauing their coloured apparell with barres should take the white habit and ordained they should be named the bretheren of the Virgin Marie After which goodly deeds he liued not long but being dead the yeare 1288. hee was carried from the Church of S. Sabine in the Mount Auentine into the Church of S. Peter where hee was buried with great pompe After the death of Honorius the seate was vacant tenne moneths For the Cardinalls beeing in the Conclaue died vpon sudden malladies euen when great earthquakes terrified them and so the election was deferred vntill an other time Nicholas Pope 4. of that name Minister generall of the Friars called Ierome borne at Marke d'Ancone ruled at Rome foure yeares and one moneth Naucler or 6. yeares 8. moneths and 16. dayes after some He succeeded the foresaid Honorius 10. moneths after his death yet the Cardinalls were not all of one opinion This Pope superstitiously deuout dwelt nigh vnto the Church called S. Marie the greater or ad praesepe because they forged that lie that the Crib where the Virgin Marie laid Iesus Christ after hee was borne into the world is there and adorned it with edifices and rich paintings Hee created Cardinalls of all sorts of Monkes for the profit of the Kingdome of Abaddon to the end they might be light-horses prepared to the battaile and might haue teeth like Lyons tailes like Scorpions wherewith they might hurt men For as Platina sayeth he loued all alike and thought not himselfe any thing more bound to his parents and kinsfolke then vnto others Hee caused the Croisado to be preached and sent at his owne charges many souldiers into Asia to keepe the Towne of Ptolemais Supp Chron. There hapned in his time many ciuill warres murders dissentions and brawles at Rome vppon his occasion giuing more countenance to the one part then to the other And this contention endured the space of two yeares and an halfe Fasci temp Many Hauens of the sea were lost the Christians were rooted out of Ierusalem and Siria by a long and great dissention of the Venetians Geneuois Pisans which then were for Communalties the mightiest by Sea It is said their contention was for an Abbey which each of them said to be theirs and this quarrell endured thirtie yeares In so much that the Popes Alexander the fourth Vrbain the fourth Clement the fourth and the Kings of Fraunce and Sicilie were greatly busied to agree them and yet did no good In the meane while the Empire of Constantinople was vsurped by others and the French and Italians cast out of Greece The Ports of Tyre and Ptolemais were also taken from the aforesaid Contendants The last yeare of the Empire of Rodolphe Charles Prince of Salerne and sonne of Charles King of Sililie was deliuered from the prisons of the King of Arragon and after came to Rome and on the day of Pentecost was crowned King of Sicilie by the Pope Nicholas and absolued from the oathe hee had made to the King of Arragon See the Historie of France The yeare of Christ 1291. three thousande Christians were slaine by the Sarrazens in the Countrey of Syria the rest for feare retired Chron. Euseb Acha according to Naucl. was taken by the Souldan with fifteene other Townes twelue Castles and a great number of Christians slaine and this
from the Sonne as the Father They agreed also to Purgatorie and the Romane Pope to be the primate of the Catholicke Church which they had neuer done before now but euer were of contrarie opinions But as soone as they were come to their Countrey againe at the perswasion of Marcus Bishop of Ephesus they againe denied the two last Articles Plat. Vola and Naucler It is straunge that the Grecians which haue beene so slowe to acknowledge and confesse so true a doctrine of the holy Ghost are now so quick and light to accord so friuolous and false a thing that is to receiue and beleeue against all holy scripture that there is a Purgatorie and Romane Pope to be Primate of the Catholicke and Vniuersall Church wherevnto the first generall Councell had openly resisted in the time of Constantine the great In the said Councell of Florence the Armenians and Indians were also brought into the vnion of the Romane Church and promised to keepe and maintaine the Sacrament of Confirmation Naucler This Pope Eugenius confirmed Annates vpon all Benefices Hee Canonized S. Nicholas Tolentin of the order of the Hermits of S. Augustine Bessarion Cardinall flourished and his house at Rome was open to euery man of knowledge like a Colledge Vadian Sigismond of the age of 70 yeares died and was buried in Hungarie in the citie called Albe His wife Barbara was without all religion and without God insatiable in all paliardize and whoredome Shee mocked her damzels because they fasted and prayed saying they must liue iocondly and merily and take all their pleasures during this life for after death the soule perisheth with the bodie The Councell of Basill continued still and proceeded against Eugenius the fourth who after many times cyting and not appearing was publikely deposed by the authoritie of the Councell the tenth of Iuly Eugenius mooued herewith incited the Dolphin of France who after was called king Lewis the 11. to lead a great Armie in to the Countrey of Ferrara and Alsarce and to come to Basill Wherefore the said Councell brake vp and herevpon came many mischiefes See Naucler Albert the fift of that name Duke of Austrich and second king of the Romanes of that name sonne of Albert the fourth Duke of Austrich was scant 10. yeares olde when his father died of poyson fighting against Iosse Marquesse of Morauia but being yer vnder Tutors which were his vncles there was great strife betwixt them for his tutelage Therefore Vienna and all the Countrey of Austrich endured great calamities till Albert came to age and was dispatched of his tutelage and planted a peace in Austrich which was before full of theeues and of Intestine warres After the yeare 1422. he espowsed Elizabeth the doughter of Sigismond and had with her in marriage the noble Townes of Maruia But after the death of Sigismond he was chosen king of Hungaria by the consent of all the principall of the Countrey and Crowned the yeare of grace 1438. After this he was also made king of Bohemia and that came because there was a great alliance betwixt the Kings of Boheme and the Dukes of Austrich whereby they had ordained betwixt them that whensoeuer one of the houses remained without heire-male of the other they should create a king He was also chosen king of the Romanes by the common accord of all the Princes Electors The yeare 1459. the 17. day of Nouember in the Councell of Basill after the deposition of Eupenius the Cardinalls elected Amedeus of Ayme Duke of Sauoy and called him Felix the fift so came into the Church the 23. schisme and diuision which endured the space of sixteene yeares Some followed Eugenius others Felix some said they were newters and so obeyed neither one nor the other The Kings of France England Spaine Scotland obeyed the Pope Eugenius For although he was deposed yet held he good during his life This Councell of Basill assembled with great authoritie was notwithstanding dissipated and broken by one onely Pope That of Constance deposed three and ordained the fourth This could not bring about to depose one Fasci Temp. In the Councell of Basill it was forbidden that secular Princes Councellors and Communalties vpon paine of excommunication should not bee so hardie to greete and submit the Churchmen with tallies and common collection Fasci temp Augustine of Rome was condemned an heretike in the said Councell and there was confirmed the Conception of the Virgin Marie to bee kept as a solemne Feast But to the contrarie see Epiphanius in his 3 Booke and 12. Tome 68. and 69. heresie See also S. Bernard in the Epist 154. to the Canons of Lions The said Councell then confirmed that the Virgin Marie was conceiued without originall sinne it also confirmed her visitation In this time was a Councell held of the French Church at Bourges in Berry and there was published the pragmatike sanction which is all the marrow and substance of the Canons of the Councell of Basill to bee expresly obserued for euer Iohn le Maire The Duke Aime of Sauoy after the death of his wife Margarite of Bourgongne had left his Ducall estate and withdrew himselfe into an hermitage pleasant and delightfull called Ripaille vpon the Lake of Lansanne which he had caused to bee sumptuously builded and so left the gouernment of his signiories to his eldest sonne Lewis father of Duke Phillebert of Sauoy Beeing then in his said place of Ripaille the said Duke Anne with tenne knights all hermits wearing great beardes and simple cloathing and writhen staues full of knottes in great renowne of sanctetie of life was by the said Councell elected to be Pope as is said the 17. of Nouember the yeare 1439. and the 17. day of December the election was denounced vnto him and he went vnto Basill and was there solemnly crowned in the presence of two of his eldest sonnes Before this ceremonie his Beard was taken from him and in a small time he learned the Romane office He created some Cardinalls of great estimation and vertue Iohn le Maire The Emperour being called to goe into Hungarie sound himselfe greatly tormented in the moneth of August with an intollerable heate which hee thought to haue taken away by colde viands which brought to him a fluxe of the belley euen to bloud whereof he died the yeare 1439. nigh Strigoma after hee had beene Emperour almost two yeares Hee left two daughters and his wife with childe who soone after brought forth Ladislaus Frederic Duke of Austrich after Albert was Emperour of Rome He loued peace and rest restrained and brideled easily them of Austrich which stirred strifes and commotions So extinguished he the warre alreadie commenced by Matthias king of Hungarie by agreement with him Likewise this Frederic making warre against the Flemmings to haue his sonne Maximilian whom they detained prisoner appeased and contented them by the punishment of some and so taking and receiuing his
peasants to be hanged and strangled which mocked and derided these toyes and follies He placed in the Kalender of Saints one Vincent borne at Valence of the Iacobin order Albert of Dropan Carmelite and Edmond of Canterburie English He ordained also that no person should appeale from the Pope to the Councell and yet had done more if he had liued longer He gaue too much licence to his followers and made one Roderic Borgia his Vice-chauncellor who after was Pope called Alexander the sixt He published saith Valerius Letters of pardons which he solde then for fiue Ducats a peece but now they are better cheape by the meanes whereof he left vnto his successor an hundreth and 15. thousand Ducates Iohn Capistran and Robert de la Lice aboue named as is said were sent by the Pope into diuers Countries to preach the yeelding of obedience to the Romane Church to giue some colour and appearance to their filthy fooleries prohibited pastimes and other ciuill exercises as bankets daunces and other like things Briefly they acquired such great brute and fame by their hypocrisie that afterward they were adored as Saints of many although they knew not what the doctrine of Iesus Christ meant The world meriteth to haue such Doctors since they make so small account of the truth This Pope Calixtus died in Iuly the yeare 1458. beeing very olde and left great riches Frauncis Foscarius was Duke of the Venetians about 36. yeares who hauing conquered or rather vsurped many lands and dominions in Italie vnto the profit of the Seignorie of Venice in the end of his dayes for a repentance the Venetians deposed him of his Ducall dignitie without alleadging any other reason but his age and impotencie And constrained him to leaue his Ducall Pallace to see a new successor enter into it whereof incontinently after he died After his death his sonne was banished and after called againe and cruelly tortured and againe sent into perpetuall exile although they found nothing in him of that which they laide to his charge Chron. Euseb Pius the second of that name a Tuscan by Nation borne in the Towne of Sienes whose father was Siluius and his mother Victoria before called Eneas Picolominius although long time he had bene spotted with the vice of ambition yet finally he came vnto the Popedome This poore young boy became so great as all Historiographers say which haue written of the Popes liues that hee was held one of the learnedst Popes and much esteemed for that he had written many things worthily In the Councell of Basill he was the Popes Secretarie and by Orasons and Epistles he purged the authoritie of Eugenius a litle after that he was crowned a Poet Laureate by the Emperour Frederic the third of that name and being called from his Court he came vnto greater estates and was both his Secretarie and Counceller He was sent Embassador hither and thither vnto many Princes and after ordained Bishop of Trieste by Nicholas the fift and consequently Bishop of Siennes and after placed in the number of Cardinalls by Calixt Finally comming vnto the Papaltie following the examples of his predecessors hee published a voyage against the Turkes but being preuented by death he could not put it in execution Some there are as saith Iohn Functius which haue left in writing that he sought to draw to himselfe a great summe of siluer from the Almaines vnder a colour to make warre vpon the Turkes because he knew well the riches of the Almaines as he that had long conuersed with them and that to the end he might dispend them in pompes and papall dissolutions and to inrich his parents and friends Vnder the shadow of warring against the Turkes Popes get store of siluer Lewis 11. sonne of Charles the 7. the 54. king of France being in Bourgongne and hearing newes of his fathers death came straight into France and was crowned The aforesaid Pope though before he was Pope hee had with singular diligence written two bookes of the acts of the the Councell of Basill yet as soone as he was made Pope hee sought to suppresse it For as he was very ambitious in all hee did when he was Pope so he trauelled in nothing to lessen the Maiestie or rather Papall tyrannie but rather to encrease it what he could Which to maintaine saith Stella the Venetian it is found that hee spared neither Kings nor Princes people nor tyrants hee I say which was more cruell then any tyrant He was a great enemie of Lewis king of France the eleuenth of that name because he would not consent to the abolition of the pragmatike sanction in his kingdome because it derogated from the libertie of the Cleargie Hee was angry against Borge de Est Duke de Mutine and made warre vpon him because hee fauoured Sigismond Malateste and the French men against Ferdinand For vpon his owne authoritie and by force of Armes hee put in possession of the Kingdome of Naples Alphonsus Bastard of the King Ferdinand to the great disaduantage of Iohn de Aniou sonne of King Rene. He pursued with cruell and sharpe persecutions Sigismond Duke of Austrich because hee had chastised Nicholas de Cuse a Cardinall for his rapacitie and couetousnesse full of arrogancie He shead out also the venome of his malediction against Gregorie de Hambourge a man very learned in the Ciuill lawe as it had bene a chased viper as Wolfgang de Winsebourge a Diuine of Basill saith and so sharply pursued him with the Letters of his thundring excommunications that he was constrained to remooue into Boheme He furiously cast out of his feat Diether d' Eisenbourge Archbishop of Magunce because as he said he had an euil opinion of the Romane Church and placed an other in his place Besides he depriued the Archbishop of Beneuent of his Archbishoppricke because against his will he tooke in hand new enterprises He caused a day to be giuen to George king of Boheme because he fauoured such as held the doctrine of Iohn Hus that vpon the paine to loose his kingdome He for his particular profit deposed many Bishoppes and added 12. newe Cardinalls to such as were alredie before He celebrated a Councell at Mantua and abbrogated in France the pragmatike sanction as a pernitious practise against the Romane Church Hee was the first that created the Abbreuiators of the Chauncelerie and reducted them into their order He brought vnder his gouernment many Townes of Campania called at this day Terra de lauoro the Land of Labour and maruellously encreased the Churches reuenewes and rents He neuer graunted any thing eyther to kings or to people for any feare hee had as his fierce and arrogant Papists say but he sharply persecuted the enemies of the Cleargie as if they had beene publike enemies As for his friends hee shewed himselfe very gentle towards them and greatly helped them At the sollicitation of Soreth he Canonized one called Angelus borne at Ierusalem and
Conrad Gesner of Zurich a Phisitian learned in the tongues and humane sciences laborious and painfull amongst others and who very diligently writ a perfect and full historie of all beastes foules fishes and creeping things died also in the moneth of December leauing infinite other writings in all sorts of litterature alreadie Imprinted and others to Imprint About the end of this yeare the King Phillip sent from Spaine into the lowe Countries an Edict wherby he ordained that the auncient and new placarts against them of the Religion should be executed that the Inquisition shuld be throughly established and the Inquisitors fauoured in the exercise of their charge that the decrees of the Councell of Trent should be receiued and obserued from point to point These Letters Patents were the cause of all the troubles following and not yet ended The 7. day of Ianuary 1566. Michael Gillier a Monke of Lombardie being come from one degree to an other till he was Cardinall finally was chosen Pope and called himselfe Pius the fift The 21. day of the said moneth the Emperour Maximilian second of that name held his first Imperiall Iourney at Ausbourge where the affaires of Religion was handled Frederick Count Palatin de Rhene and chiefe Elector of the Empire a Christian and magnanimous Prince constantly maintained the pure doctrine and the true reformation established in his Countrey by meanes whereof he made himselfe redoughted of all such is resisted him either openly or secretly and was well beloued of the Emperour and of the greatest in Almaine He was then accompanied with the Prince Cassimere his sonne who kept him good company and a great company of the Nobilitie In the moneth of March and in the other following hapned great troubles in Scotland and finally the King himselfe was strangled in the night and the chamber wherein hee was ouerthrowne with Cannon powder An Earle of that Realme espowsed his widow but being ouerthrowne in battaile by the Nobilitie he fled out of the Realme The Queene thingking to saue her selfe in France was stayed prisoner in England Iames the sixt the sonne of her and her slaine husband at this present King of Scotland of the age of fifteene or sixteene yeares is a Prince of great hope In the same moneth of March at the Imperiall Iourney at Ausbourge the Emperour there assisting it was decreed that the affaires of Religion should remaine in their present estate but for the affaires of the Empire they prouided especially for the warre against the Turkes In the beginning of Aprill certaine great Lords and Gentlemen of the low Countries leagued themselues in good number against the Inquisition pretending the same to be contrary to the liberties of the lowe Countrie The people banded themselues and the Assemblies of them of the Religion began to encrease In so much that the fourth of May there was publike preaching at Antwerpe without the Towne fiue weekes after within the said Towne At the same time such as were leagued against the Inquisition were surnamed les Gueux The cause hereof was for that some of the principalls going to present a request to the Councell of the estate the Sieur de Barlaimont their aduersary said to an other Councellor that sate nigh him Voici mes Gueux Great and litle after that tooke a deuise wearing apparell of gray cloath and peeces of money about their necke hauing on the one side the kings Image and on the other side a beggers dish with this Inscription Faithfull to the king euen to the begers dish In the moneth of Iune Iuly and the other following fell a sharpe warre in Hungary against the Turkes but the end was not very good for the Hungarians and Almaines lost many men in diuers encounters also many strong holdes especially at Zigeth which was besieged by Soliman himselfe who dyed a fewe dayes before the taking thereof Selim the second of that name succeeded his father Soliman was acknowledged and crowned Emperour of the Turkes in the moneth of September and soone after transported himself into Hungarie to prouide for the affaires of that warre and then straight departed towards Constantinople leauing one of his Bâ—ssâ—es called Pertaw to continew who with a puissant Armie of Turkes and Tartarians forraged Hungarie and Transyluania committing very straunge saccagements and cruelties The Vainoda of Transyluania called this Bassa to his succours to recouer certaine places occupied by the Hungarians but perceiuing such succours did wholly ruinate ouerthrow himself he sound means to surprize the Tartarians cut them all in peeces and so dissipated all that Turkish Armie first himselfe beeing well chastifed for drawing such people into his Countrey Iohn Functius a learned Chronographer amongst all them of our time Matthias Horst and Iohn Shnell Ministers of the Gospell at Conigsprucke in Pruse were beheaded the 28. of October for the crime of conspiracie against the Prince Albert who had established the Osiandrisme that is to say the dreames and errors of one Andrew Osiander concerning Christian righteousnesse and other points of Diuinitie which errour these three maintained and would haue reuenged themselues of Albert who had purged his Countrey of that infection The death of Soliman the great whip of Christendome gaue some release vnto Almaine Selim preparing himselfe to make warre vpon Venetians but the Emperour decreed a new warre within Almaine it selfe against Frederick of Saxonie sonne of the dead Elector taken in battaile by Charles the fift The cause heereof was that Iohn Frederick supported and gaue refuge vnto William Grembach and other Gentlemen which were banished out of the Empire because of the murder of Melchior Zobel Bishop of Wirthbourge Augustus Elector Duke of Saxony the Cosin-germaine of Iohn Frederick had the charge of this warre whervnto he prepared himselfe in the moneths of October and Nouember and about the end of the yeare he laid siege before the Towne of Goth where there was a Citadell or Castle one of the strangest in Almaine Iohn Frederick Grombach and others were there which sustained the siege certaine moneths They of the Religion encreased maruellously in Flaunders Brabant and in many other Prouinces of the lowe Countries and their affaires got so forward that the 20. day of August the Images in the Churches of Antwerpe were broken in peeces The Images of other Townes were vsed incontinently after the like handling euen with an incredible swiftnesse by the simple people with such an astonishment of euery one that none of the Magistrates opposed themselues against them William de Nassau Prince of Orange Gouernour of Antwerpe hauing done what he could to hold things in an euennesse and considering that it should be impossible for him to withstand the tempest which he sawe comming gaue place to the time and resolued to retire himselfe into Almaine admonishing other Lords to do the like seeing men made account to think vpon meanes to conserue the priuiledges of the
enclose them abandoned their Forts left their siege and retired away shamefully Selym Emperour of the Turkes dyed about the 15. of December after hee had ended the warre against the Walaques wherin he lost an infinit number of men and tooke peace with the Venetians His sonne and successor Amurath at his comming in caused fiue of his bretheren to be put to death and two wiues of Selym the one of which who was great with childe seeing the death of her children threw her selfe to the ground out of an high windowe Hauing thus prouided for his estate hee prepared to make warre vpon the Polonians some of which called Kosaques had succoured the Vayuoda of Watachia The 12. of Ianuary 1575. they of the Religion found meanes to get Arguesmortes a strong Towne and of great importance in Languedoc especially for Salt that comes from thence and greatly furnisheth the Prouinces The same day the Marshall d' Danuile made a league with them of the Religion and a publike and large declaration containing the causes of his doings The Duke de Montpensier tooke Fontenay in Poictou and Lusignen yeelded vpon composition This notwithstanding the Churches of that Prouince and other nigh vnto it in some sort maintained themselues euen in the middest of Armes The Duke d' Vzes sometimes affectioned vnto Religion tooke Armes against it but hee prospered not much therein The Churches of Languedoc and Dauphine redressed themselues after the King was retyred from Auignon but their vnion with the Politikes or Malcontents destroyed them within by the wicked liues of many of those Politikes badly aduised King Henry the third was sacred at Reimes the fifteenth day of February and espowsed soone after Louyse the daughter of Nicholas Count de Vandemont in Lorraine So that then and after there was nothing in the Court of France but pastimes such as there is lesse euil to conceale then profit to describe In the mean while warre continued in Languedoc well for the aduantage of them of the Religiō being assisted of the Marshall de Danuille their confederate vnto which part many enclined and ioyned themselues daily In the moneth of April a negotiation and parley was made at Paris betwixt the Kings Councell and the Deputies of Churches the Politikes without any conclusion But contrary the warre waxed hot in Dauphine Languedoc with losse on both sides but they of the religion were the stronger And since we are vpon that point we will set downe in this present Article that which was done in France during this yeare 1575. worthy of note in few words About the end of April the Duke d'Vzes besieged Bais a litle Towne vpon Rhosne and got the Towne but they of the Religion which held the two Castles constrained him to forsake it after he had lost many of his people To reuenge himselfe he burnt a part of the Towne and continued after such sackings and destructions that he became very odious In the month of May sell a tumult at Marseillis and in certaine other places of Prouince against gatherers Farmers of the kings demeasnes which were chased away And therevpon arose a band of Politike malcontents which they called les Raises shauen because they caused their beards to be shauen or some part of them to be knowne by that signe and in Prouence they of the Religion held certaine places as Riez Lourmarin Siena and others some of which soone after were taken out of their hands The 17. day of Iune le Sieur de Monbrun a Daulphenois Gentleman a wife and valiant Captaine of warre ouerthrew le Sieur de Gordes Gouernour of Daulphine who saued himselfe by flight within Gap and left 22. companies of Swisses in the field which were broken and nine hundred cut in peeces straight with Frenlich their Colonell and sixteen Captaines with 18. Ensignes carried away by Monbrun and his people which had a great bootie of Armes especially and lost on their part but sixe men Le Sieur de Gordes after that gathered great Forces and againe meeting in the field he ouerthrew Monbrun who meaning to leape a ditch to obtaine a meet passage for his retrait his horse fell and he vnder him whereby his thigh was broken and so remained prisoner hauing only lost twentie two men and thirtie eight were taken prisoners This happened the ninth of Iuly and soone after by decree of a Parliament at Grenople Monbrun had his head cut off On the other side the Duke of Vzes destroyed and burnt all the flat Countrey of Languedoc with the losse of infinite Corne. Le sieur de Lodignieres ordained Chieftain of the troupes of Dauphine in the place of Monbrun gaue order for the affaires at the beginning of August and tooke many places Vpon these actions and the sixteenth day of September Francis Duke d' Alencon and brother vnto the King conueyed himselfe secretly in the night from the Court then at Paris wherevpon came brutes and discourses maruellous straunge and diuers Two dayes after his retraite hee published by writing the causes thereof declaring that hee meant to procure a good peace and reformation in France Hee writ vnto the Princes and Lordes of the Religion to the Churches to the Marshall Danuile and to the Politikes vnto the same end Insomuch that each one assured himselfe soone to see goodly things and there remained but verie fewe which feared any hid euill as discourses after published doo shewe In the meane time the Prince of Conde tooke order Almaine to leuie an Army to enter into Fraunce and by Armes to obtaine some rest for them of the Religion and for the whole estate hee dealt fully with Duke Cassimere of all things requisite for such a good The King the Queene mother and their Councell were greatly troubled as if all had beene lost by the retrait of the Duke d' Alenson writing to all places calling as they say tag and rag they made leuies and brought troupes into the field and yet without any exployt of warre They made flie a report of souldiers from Almaine and Sueuia yet none entred France during that fourth warre to do seruice vnto the King who in the meane while demaunded siluer of his Townes and for the rest hee bore himselfe as if there had beene no appearance of warre His mother in the meane time got her towards the Duke d' Alenson as some said to make peace betwixt the two brethren and for the quiet of the kingdome In the meane while the King forbad all the nobilitie to come nigh the Duke of Alenson hee sent also certaine troupes to hinder not onely that but the comming of certaine Almaines which le Sieurs de Thore and de Cleruant ledde which were ouerthrowne by the Duke of Guise and Cleruant was taken prisoner with certaine others the tenth of October Soone after was there a truce made betwixt the Queene mother and the Duke of Alenson for sixe moneths wherewith each one was miscontented but the
of Brabant In Cyonia a Citie of Muschouie within a pleasant valley the tombe of P. Ouidius Naso was found with this Epitaphe Hic situs est vates quem viui Caesaris ira Augusti Latio cedere iussit humo Saepe miser voluit patrijs succumbere tectis Sed frustra hunc illi fatadedere locum Genebrardus The 18. day of March the Prince of Orange being in Antwerpe quiet and in the greatest fortune that hee was euer was shot in his house as he was rising from the table in the middest of all his seruants with a Pistoll by one Iohn Scarigni a Biscaine mooued therevnto by zeale of Religion as hee pretended the bullet hitting him vnder his right Iawe passed forth through the windowe and although hee was supposed dead yet was he cured and liued and the offender was presently slaine by his guard and all such as were found accessary were executed Cardinall Albert Arch-duke of Austria was made gouernour of Portugall Ieronimo Conestaggio Don Antonio departed for France from the Terceres leauing Emanuel de Sylua in his place with 500. Frenchmen vnder the charge of Baptist Florentine and Charles a French man their Captaine In the moneth of August the Forces of Don Antonio king of Portugall skirmishing with Phillip king of Spaine in a battaile at Sea at S. Michaels Mount were discomfited Heere Strossius the Generall of the Forces of France with the losse almost of all his Army was in the ende discomfited Genebrardus There was one thing worthy of obseruation in the fight at Sea Within the Gallion of S. Mathew a Priest called Iohn de Iaem Chaplaine vnto the Marshall of the field a man which had seene the warres during the fight being vnder lowest deck of the Gallion when hee sawe so much wilde fier cast by the French heauing their shot and seeing the hurt which the Cannon did he died onely of feare and amazement hauing receiued no wound Phillip after the death of Diego his eldest sonne who was sworne Prince of Portugall at Tomar hee would likewise that the same oath should bee made in the person of Phillip his second sonne being then sicke and for the swearing of him hee assembled the estates at Lisbone resolute to accomplish this ceremonie before his departure At that time the Duke of Alua consumed with a continuall feauer died in the Pallace at Lisbone in the Kings owne quarter being of the age of three score and fourteen yeares During his sicknesse hee was greatly fauoured of the king who did visit him a litle before his death but after it the next day the Portugalls obserued that he went publikely to Masse without any shewe of discontentment in him contrary to the custome of their Kings who vpon the death of one of lesse qualitie hauing done many notable seruices to the Crowne relied themselues for a time the which seemed the more straunge for that King Emanuel vpon the death of a noble Pilot withdrew himselfe three dayes Ieronimo Conestaggio He arrogating too much to himselfe caused a statue of brasse to be erected for him in the Citadell of Antwerpe which the king willed afterwards to be beaten downe Charles Borgia Duke of Candia a man of greater vertue then experience succeeded in his place Vpon the 28. of Iune Peregrin Bartu Lord Willougbie was sent Embassador to Frederick the second with the Garter The Prince of Orange hauing recouered his hurt came abroad His wife Carola lineally discended from the right noble house of Montpensier with ouermuch ioy of his recouerie within three daies after died of a plurisie D. Chytreus In this yeare of our Lord 1582. this Pope by anticipating tenne daies in the yeare gaue himselfe to correct the Calender and to eternize his name this Calender he called Gregorianum and by his decree all Christian Princes obeying the Romish Sea gaue commandement to cut of tenne daies in the moneth of October so as for the fift day they should generally write fifteene the which was done to fitte the meanes and principall aspects wherein the heauens were when as our Redeemer Iesus Christ suffered that they might celebrate Easter and the other Feasts vpon their proper dayes The which they had not formerly done for that the true course of the Sunne which makes the yeare being certaine minutes of an houre lesse the time which they vntill then had taken for a yeare It seemed that in the course of so many yeares so small a difference had mounted vnto tenne dayes so as by this equallitie it was made cōformable to the time past Ieron Con. D. Chytreus Phillip caused the bones of Sebastian late king of Portugall to be brought out of Affricke the which with king Henries that were at Almerin he would before his departure see solemnly interred in the Church of Belem neare to the other Kings of Portugall At this time were revnited all the kingdomes of Spaine which from the entrance of the Moores into Spaine 860. and so many yeares fithence haue bene diuided M. Cyprian Valera D. Saunders the Popes Nuntio and Legate who came from Rome with Iames Fitzmoris in Iuly in the yeare 1599. to beare Armes in Ireland against her maiestie after that hee had wandred vp downe three yeares together with the Earle of Desmond and Syr Iohn his brother hee fell sicke of an Irish Ague and a Flixe and lay in the wood Clennetisse which wood is full of withies bryers thornes and through which is no passage where partly through his sicknesse but chiefly through famine and want dyed Hollenshed The Earle of Desmond was taken by one Kollie an Irishman in an old house alone and there slain whose head was sent into England and set vpon London bridge Amias D. of Leneux so created in the yeare 1579. was now in this yeare vpon displeasure banished Scotland and enforced to returne into France in whose exile was performed an olde prophecie That a man of fiue shillings should buy all the Dukes of England Scotland For when this Duke was out of the Scottish kingdome there was neither Duke in that Countrey nor in England Idem Henry King of Nauarre when hee vnderstood that the Archbishop of Cullen was in great distresse and the many traiterous practises of the Pope against him hee sent his Embassador to the Electors Princes of Germanie who professed the true doctrine of the Gospell First for the establishing of a generall concord by a generall Synode of the Churches in Germanie France England and other Countries imbracing the true Religion Then that these Princes of the reformed Church should by oath all ioyne their powers against the Pope his adherents which that hee might the better perswade hee set downe in his Letters the imminent daungers ouer the principall kingdomes in Europe which professed the true Faith As many as in Spaine or Italie were suspected for the truth were put into the Inquisition and so martyred In France
the nigh Prouinces therof of the Churches communion and societie and sent out Letters to declare them excommunicated whereof hee was greatly blamed and reprehended And especially of Ireneus Bishop of Lions by Letters which hee sent vnto him That there was great folly for the difference of a Ceremonie to breake the peace and vnion of Churches and to stirre vp Schisme therein Alleadging to his purpose that the diuersitie of Fastes neuer broke the vnion of Churches and so no more should they in this Eusebius in the Ecclesi Hist Lib. 5. Chap. 5. With this warre the tranquililtie of Churches are troubled and the doctrine of Christian libertie obscured The Romanes ceased not to molest them of Asia to subscribe to their opinion and they became so outragious therein that they which obserued the Feast of Easter the fourteenth of the Moone were called Quatorzian Heretickes condemned as Nicepho reciteth Lib. 4. Chap. 39. This Schisme gaue Montanus and other heretickes occasion and ouerture to lift vp themselues at this time in Phrygia They published certaine lawes touching Fasts Also to breake marriages Affirming that the holy Ghost had not taught all to the Apostles and that he had in himselfe the gift to conferre the graces of the holy Ghost And other such blasphemies whereby hee looked to come vnto some Primacie The Romaine Bishoppes now became more audacious to forge new Ceremonies yea and that to force them vpon other Churches The authoritie to excommunicate conuerted into abuse and so became despised because of not obseruing certaine humaine traditions The dissention touching the obseruation of Easter caused sixe principall Councells to be assembled Euseb Lib. 5. Chap. 23. Victor in his second Decretall calls himselfe Arch-bishop of the Romane and vniuersall Church Tertullian a Priest of Carthage who otherwise did well serue the Christian Church finally reuoulted and drewe him selfe vnto the enraged Prophecie of Montanus Saint Hierome alleadgeth this the occasion That Tertullian beeing ledde with enuie and hatred of the Church of Rome could not at the last endure the arrogancie thereof He held one errour touching the Kingdome of Christ and the voluptuous life of the faithfull in this world before the consummation of all things Hee maintained the superstitious and ridiculous Fastes of Montanus calling him in many places the Comforter He brought in extreame vnction after Baptisme the signe of the Crosse offering for the dead and for feasts of Natiuities and other the like dreames of the Montanists His writings witnesse that he was very desirous of Martyrdome and that a Christian man ought not only to beare it constantly but to purchase and seeke it also Ammonius the Phylosopher Origens Schoole-maister perswaded in the Christian faith euen vntill death Although Porphirius say of him that he reuolted Victor with good cause depriued of the communion of the Church an hereticke called Theodotus who was a blasphemer and prince of the heresie which afterward Antemon followed and Paule Samosathonus reuiued For hee was the first that durst say publikely at Rome that Iesus Christ was but pure man of mans seed procreated as well as others See Nice Lib. 4. chap. 21. An other Schisme or diuersitie of iudgements touching the heresie of Montanus and his companions and also of Prisca and Maximilla Prophitesses which Montanus had filled with his fury Some said they were taken with a Spirit of Prophecy and that that they said were Oracles Others maintained that contrary to the custome of true Prophets they were transported and carried away in their mindes and taken with furie and extasie they were also giuen to couetousnesse and ambition contrary to the scripture which forbids Prophets to take gold or siluer The faithfull of Asia assembled many times to examine those doctrines and so newly forged Prophecies The faithfull of Gaul writ their opinion touching the furious errors of Montanus and sent Ireneus into Asia with Letters See Euseb Lib. 5. Chap. 4. This Schisme as it was to the condemnation of Montanus and his complices so the true Church was aduertised more neerly to trie spirits whether they were of God or no. Whatsoeuer heauie chastisements the Iewes before had the Lord forgat not his mercy but gaue sufficient witnesse that he calleth his enemies to repentance He preserued Doctors and Pastors and a litle number of faithfuls in Ierusalem which honoured the true God From the sacking or destruction that Titus made vntill that of Adrian the Church of Ierusalem had successiuely 15. chiefe or high Bishops Euseb numbreth them Lib. 3. Chap. 5. After the destruction made by Adrian the Emperour there was no more any Church gathered of the Iewes at Ierusalem but onely of the Gentiles and of them were there Bishops ordeined Al the Iewes were driuen away as it is said by Adrian Marcus then issued of Gentiles was chosen the 16. Bishop the 10. yeare of the Emperour Antoninus after Cassianus the 17. Publius the 18. Maximus the 19. Iulian the 20. Gaian the 21. Symmachus the 22. Caius the 23. Iulian 2. the 24. Capita the 25. Thus dooth Eusebius rehearse it Lib. 5 Chap 12. And in this time wherein we now are that is vnder the Emperour Commodus Maximus the 2. was the 26. Antoninus 27. Valens 28. Dolichian 29. Narcissus 30. Elius 31. Garmanian 32. Gordius 33. Narcissus 2.34 or rather Narcissus the first returning from the Desart whither he withdrew himselfe for that his enemies had accused him to liue vnchastely of whom Eusebius saith that he had the gift to worke miracles and that his false accusers were punished according to the Imprecations which euerie one made As for the time of all these Bishops Euseb saith that he could not well discerne namely in what time euery one of them gouerned the Church Seeing then the Church of the Gentiles had already their habitation in this place the Lord would declare that the true Messias was come and so we need looke for no other This numeration here made of the Bishops of Ierusalem sheweth that other Churches may well number their Bishops as that of Rome glorifieth her selfe in the continuation of hers After the fift persecution raised by Seuerus against the Christians came ciuill warres amongst the Romanes Ireneus had liued long inough in the middest of so many persecutions The greatest renowne that he had was vnder the Emperour Commodus As for the contention concerning the feast of Easter the time in the which it was most lighted was the 4. yeare of the Empire of Seuerus He then bore the Office of a Minister 23. yeares The errour of the Chiliastes was attributed vnto him yet it is not expresly seene in his writings we haue at this day The manner of his death is vncertaine They which haue written of the Martyrs say that he and a great multitude of his sheepe were finally slaine for the confession of the name of Christ vnder Seuerus Leonides the father of Origenes martyred for the Faith
vnto whō Origenes his sonne being but of the age of eighteene yeares said O good father take heed that for vs you chaunge not your purpose This Origen after his fathers goods were confiscated for the Faith he nourished his mother and 6. brethren by being a Schoole maister Zephyrim a Romane the 14. Bishop of Rome ruled seuenteene yeares as Eusebius saith In the first Tome of Councells we finde two of his Decretall Epistles one vnto the Bishops of Cicilie the other to them of Egipt which represent vnto vs no other forme of gouernment then that we see described almost in all the Epistles attributed vnto the Bishoppes of Rome In the first hee makes mention of iudgements which ought to be constituted by 12. Iudges in causes of Patriarkes and Primates Not to admit indifferently all such as accuse Priests He sought to establish the Supremacie and that men should appeale vnto the Apostolicke seate of Rome And therefore he called himselfe Arch-bishop In the second hee establisheth certaine ceremonies in Priests orders to elect such as were wise and approued and in the presence of all Damasus attributed vnto him the decree to vse in the Eucharist Cuppes of Glasse or Tinne and not of wood Also to receiue the Eucharist once at the least in the yeare from the age of 12. and aboue It shall afterward be shewed what estimation men ought to make of those things and of the Epistles called Decretalls which are attributed vnto the Romane Bishops He excommunicated Natalius the Confessor for ioyning with Heretickes ouer whom he suffered himselfe to be made Bishop Zephyrim would not receiue him to his repentance vnlesse openly he shewed good tokens thereof Bassianus Antoninus surnamed Caracalla the 22. Emperour of Rome raigned sixe or seuen yeares after some Incestuous and cruell he tooke his mother in lawe to wife called Iulia and slew his brother Geta and his Vncle. Of his Cousin called Saeuis or Seua or Semyamira or Seulasyra he engendered Heliagabalus who was after Emperour He was slaine of the age of 43. yeares by the Ambush of Macrinus his successor as he discended from his horse and drew aside to make water Papinianus a Lawier was slaine by the Emperour because he allowed not the murder commited against his brother Geta. Macrin Optius the 23. Emperour borne at Marusia raigned a yeare and two monethes a man lasciuious shamelesse in words impudent sacralegious and bloudie hee was slaine with Diadumenus his sonne of the age of 50. yeares and more Heliogabalus called Varius Heliogabalus the 24. Emperour raigned foure yeares He was rather a Monster then a Prince as giuen to al vncleannesse filthinesse a contemner of all Religion except he reuerenced the Sunne whose high Priest hee had bene and therefore called himselfe Heliogabalus Hee died of a death worthy his life slaine by a military tumult with his mother and their bodies were drawne through the streets and after cast into Tiber. He raigned two yeares eight moneths and adopted Alexander Seuerus He builded a Citie called Oresta where he commaunded to sacrifice humane Hostes and reasonable creatures Calixtus or after Eusebius Calistus a Romaine the 15. Bishop of Rome ruled sixe or seuen yeares The Epistles attributed vnto him shewe the forme of his gouernment One vnto Benit the Bishop and the other vnto the Bishops of Gaul There is attributed vnto him an Edict common to all Bishops that no accusation should be receiued against Clarkes and commaunded that each one should take heed they made no conspiration against Bishops It is credible in the time wherein persecutions were continually kindled that such an Edict should be commaunded the faithfull which scant durst shewe themselues Item that none might communicate with such as were excommunicated And that marriages of Cousin-germaine should not bee admitted and if they were made to breake them In one of his Epistles there is an euill exposition that the wife of a Bishop is interpreted a Church or a Parish of which it is not lawfull during his life to dispose any thing without his will nor to enioy the company that is to say ordination of an other The first decretall instituteth the Fast of the foure times and seasons of the yeare Damasus saith that he ordeined a Fast of three times because of Corne Wine and Oyle And further That Calixtus made three times orders in December and ordeined sixteene Priests foure Deacons and eight Bishops in diuers places and finally that hee suffered Martirdome vnder Alexander the Emperour It is vncertaine whether it was this Calixt that made the ordinance for the single life of Priests For concerning this the two Decretalls attributed vnto him make no mention thereof neither is it found in the first volume of Councells Againe in the Councell of Nice there is nothing alleadged of the said ordinance yea and that more is there was made there a statute to the contrary at the exhortation of Pathuntius as shall be said after Alexander Seuerus the sonne of Mamea the 25. Emperour was excellent and vertuous he raigned 13. or 14. yeares a friend of the Christians his mother had beene instructed by Origen he was slaine with his mother of the age of 19. yeares by treason by Theeues which in the time of Heliogabalus hauing bene in honour had bene cast out from their dignities and offices He caused to be published this lawe to be inuiolably kept Doo to an other no other thing then thou wouldest should be done vnto thy selfe Porphirius of Cicile a Philosopher left the Faith and was an Apostate in despite of the Christians of whom he said hee had bene iniuried Vlpianus a Lawier in this time Vrban a Romane Bishop of Rome ruled eight or nine yeares Damasus saith he was of an holy life So that he drew certaine Gentlemen as Tiburcius and Valerian S. Cecile her husband to the Christian faith Some attribute vnto him a Decretall Epistle to all Bishops speaking of a common life such as was in the time of the Apostles but he speakes not as it was Some attributes vnto him Edicts to assure the Gods of the Church as they call them And he speakes a litle of the vowe of such as promise to possesse nothing of their owne He Instituted the confirmation after Baptisme by imposition of the Bishops hands to obtaine the holy Ghost and that they are made full Christians c. There is none but he may see herein not onely a Sacriledge but also an execrable blaspemie forged in the shop of this slauish Decretists Damasus attributeth vnto him the ordinance that the Communion Cuppes should be no more of Glasse but either of Siluer or at the least of Pewter Wherevpon Boniface Bishop of Magunce said In old time goldē Priests vsed wodden Chalices but now wodden Priests vse Golden Chalices That Confirmation ought to be with Creame That the foure times Fast ought to be obserued That Churches should haue lands