Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	christian_n	crucify_a	great_a	42	3	2.1018	3	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02895	The pageant of popes contayninge the lyues of all the bishops of Rome, from the beginninge of them to the yeare of Grace 1555. Deuided into iii. sortes bishops, archbishops, and popes, vvhereof the two first are contayned in two bookes, and the third sort in fiue. In the vvhich is manifestlye shevved the beginning of Antichriste and increasing to his fulnesse, and also the vvayning of his povver againe, accordinge to the prophecye of Iohn in the Apocalips. ... Written in Latin by Maister Bale, and now Englished with sondrye additions by I.S.; Acta Romanorum pontificum. English	Bale, John, 1495-1563.; Studley, John, 1545?-1590?	1574 (1574)	STC 1304; ESTC S100602	276,183	440

thincarnation 60. Paule as is sayde was prisoner at Rome who for the tyme of his abode there so planted the Gospell that at his departing from thence he left great fruite therof and suche in deede as if Peter had succeded Paule within two thre or foure yeres and there supplied the roume of a byshop Cornelius Tacitus speaking of the estate of the Christians in Rome about the yeare 67. being but seuen yeares after Paules departure should not haue had cause so soone to saye as he doth y by that tyme the Christian Religion was repressed For Vspergensis saith that in the 67. yere Nero did set Rome on fier of the whiche Cornelius Tacitus writing lib. 15. Augustae historiae sayth Ergo aboleÌ„do rumori Nero subdidit reos c. Therfore Nero to stop the rumour of his setting the citie on fier suborned giltie persons and executed with strange punishment those whome the vulgar people detesting for their wickednes doth call ChristiaÌ„s That mischeuous superstition being repressed till nowe brake out againe c. Therfore first they were taken that confessed it afterward by their accusatioÌ„ an houge multitude not so much for that they were gilty of fyreing the citie as for hatred are condemned and were put to death with great despite some encased in the skinnes of wylde beastes that they might bee torne in peces with dogges some crucified some were burned to giue light in the night time c. These are the woordes of Tacitus notwithstanding as it appeareth he was a blasphemer of the name of Christe By these woordes of his it appeareth that nowe Christianitie began to reuiue and that nowe it was quenched which argueth plaine that from the former time of Paules departure til this time Peter had not supplied in Rome the place of a preaching pastour and diligeÌ„t bishop And seing this broyle against the Christians began now to be so hotte not in al places but especially in Rome howe could Peter sit quietly in this citie as bishop thereof and not be fyred out with his flocke but they saye all that he lyued after this tyme about three yeares for this was done in the eleuenth yeare of Nero who raigned almoste xiiii yeares and Peter was martyred in the last yeare of Nero as they saye all If this reuiuing of the Gospel was by Peters meanes why would Nero spare him being the head if Peter escaped by flying then he shewed him selfe to be an hierling and no true shepeherde that forsaketh his flocke when he seeth the wolfe come Â¶ From the yeare 67. to the 70. of thincarnation Nowe are we come to the latter tyme of Nero in which yeres if Peter were not bishop of Rome then is it certaine that he was not bishop there at all But to come to the purpose Naucler Volu 2. generat 2. and the moste writers as Eusebius lib. 2 cap. 25 Nicephorus li. 2. cap. 34. Sabellicus Ennead 7. li. 2. agree that Paule died in the yeare of our Lorde 70. the 37. yeare after the death of Christe But it may sone appeare that Peter was not then byshop at Paules last comming to Rome for after Paule was come thether he sent for Timothie to come vnto hym shewing that he had nede of him to come to hym because he was nowe desolate and had none with hym Demas had forsaken hym nowe and embraced the worlde c. so that if this Epistle were not written at the firste imprisonment of Paule but at this latter time then was not Peter yet estalled in his Diocese for if he had bene in Rome in his pontificall dignitie I thinke Paule should not haue bene dryuen to sende to Ephesus 1000. miles froÌ„ Rome for Timothie to bryng Marke to come to minister to him In the ende of this secoÌ„d Epistle to Timothie Paule sendeth commendations from diuers but none from Peter There are xiiii Epistles whereof Paule and Seneca beare the name the one wryting to the other at this later imprysonnement and yet among them all nothing is saide of Peter and yet by occasion he might easely haue bene mencioned in them if he had bene then in Rome But if by this time Peter were not yet Pope of Rome there is no tyme left for him to come to enioye it during the raigne of Nero till whose death this present persecutioÌ„ of the church endured with all crueltie Â¶ The death of Peter TOuching the death of Peter all wryters do not agree as it is sufficiently declared in the Actes and monumentes fol. 56. in these wordes They that folow the common opinion and the Popes decrees saye that bothe Peter and Paule suffred both in one daye and one yeare whiche opinion semeth to be taken out of Dionisius byshop of Corinthe Hierome in his booke De viris illustr affirmeth that they suffered both in one daye but hee expresseth not the yeare so doth Isiodorus and Eusebius Prudentius in his Peristephano noteth that they both were put to death vpon the same daye but not in the same yeare saythe that Paule folowed Peter a yeare after Abdias recordeth that Paule suffered twoo yeares after Peter Moreouer if it be true whiche Abdias sayth that after the crucifying of Peter Paule remayned in his free custody at Rome mencioned in the 28. of the Actes of the Apostles whiche was as S. Hierome witnesseth in the thirde or fourth yeare of Nero then must it be tenne yeares betwixt the martyrdome of Peter and of Paule for as muche as it is by all wryters confessed that Paule suffered in the xiiii yeare which was the last yeare of Nero. Vspergensis saithe that they were both executed in one yeare but he noteth not that they died in one daye Sabellicus sayth both in one yeare one daye Some say as Ambrose that they died together both in one place But Dionysius saythe otherwyse that the one bad thother farewel when they were parted asonder goyng to death Againe the moste writers saye that Nero was the cause therof But Linus saith Agrippa coÌ„maunded that Peter should be slayne because that by his persuasioÌ„ foure of the concubines of Agrippa refused to liue any longer in suche vnchast life with the king therefore for anger he coÌ„maunded that Peter should be crucified Finally S. Hierome and Lyra wryting vpon the 34. verse of the 22. chap. of Mathewe say that Peter was put to death at HierusaleÌ„ by the Iewes and that Christe prophecied thereof saying Lo I sende you prophetes c. and some of them ye shall kyll Many thinges might be added to disproue this dotage of Peters being bishop at Rome but because I thinke this to be sufficient I let passe diuers necessary thinges least I should be ouer tedious But if any be desirous to se this matter more suffitiently handled let him reade Vlrichus Velenus wryting purposely of this in a litle booke called Demonstrationes contra Romani Papae primatus figmeÌ„tum Beside there hath bene of late set forth in Englishe a discours

sodainly Anno. 886. 47. Steuen the fift STeuen the fift gat to be Pope at such time as Fraunce was inuaded by the Normans England by the Danes Pannonye by the Hunnes and Italy by the Sarracens He liued in much trouble and anguish of the mind all the time of his being Pope because Italy was so vexed with warre and the Romaines were not at his commaundemente enoughe yet he employed himselfe to the most of his endeuour daily to encrease their Babilonical trumperye and that none of his decrees might be defaced for as Gratian writeth Distinct. 6. Enimuero he decreed that all the CaÌ„nons of the Church of Rome ought of necessity to be kept The same Pope sayth he forbad anye Christians to condemne any to be put to death with hot iron or scalding water which was theÌ„ vsed Cau. 2. quest 4. He caused a lawe to be made howe to order such parents as do either ignorantly smother their children in theyr beddes with theÌ„ or els do choake them or murther them He dyed Anno 892. 48. Formosus the first FOrmosus the first being bishoppe of Portua fearing the crueltye of Iohn the ix forsoke Rome because hee was thought to be giltye of Iohns imprisonmente this name Formosus signifying beutifull whiche beinge made Pope he choose and toke vppon him sheweth sayth Cranzius that he was a proude parson This Formosus for those former causes vowed and sware an oath that he would neuer returne to his bishopricke nor to Rome both which he had forsaken so he gaue ouer his orders forsoke priestcraft and became a layeman but the nexte that succeded did absolue him froÌ„ the oath which he had sworn to Pope Iohn and for moneye did restore him After the death of Steuen this Formosus so monied the matter that hee purchased Peters chayre but as not with out bribes so not without great brauling by meanes that one Sergius a deacon wrestled for the same place For the appeasing wherof he calling Arnulphus sonne of Carolomannus into Rome made him Emperour who to gratify him for his curtesy stroke of the heades of them that were his chiefest aduersaries He raigned vi yeres did almost nothing he died Anno 896. And at the length for these quarrels coÌ„tinuing amoÌ„g his successors his bodye and bones were taken vp by Sergius the third the ninthe Pope after him and throwne into the riuer Tiber. After this Formosus the Popes did so dispatch one another that within nine yeares there were xi Popes 49. Boniface the sixt BOniface the sixte was Pope but a while after Formosus and therefore he could not shew of whether faction he was in such great debate among the Cardinalles the people He liued but 25. dayes Pope as Anselmus saith to be remembred for nothinge but for his quiet election happye in nothing but in raigning but a while 50. Steuen the sixt STeuen the sixt succedinge Boniface was so enflamed against Formosus that at the first hee disanulled his decrees cancelled his actes And althoughe Formosus had beene beneficiall vnto him before in making him bishop of Agnina yet this curtesye could not cause this vnthankful prelate to forbeare his malicious purpose but because that this Formosus had before preueÌ„ted him in the Popedome and by getting it disapointed him would not suffer him to keepe concubines he conceyued such deadly rancour against him euen after his death that to reuenge his quarrel vppon the dead bodye he sommoninge a counsaile first toke the karkasse of Formosus out of his graue then put al the Popes pontificall robes and attyre vppon it and plucked it of againe and so as it were spitefullye to disgrade him put on layemans apparell vppon him finallye cutting of those two fingers of the right hande wherwith hee vsed to hold the Sacrament and throwinge them into Tiber he commaunded to burye his bodye againe but not among spiritual mens bodyes but among laye men Thus after one yeares raigne he dyed Anno. 897. 51. Romanus the first ROmanus a Romaine by name and byrth though some thincke he were a Spaniard did nothinge worthye of remembrance but whereas he fauoured Formosus he allowed his doinges and did abrogate the decrees actes of Steuen But because he liued not longe hee coulde not proceede farre in his factious doinges which tainted the Romaine prelates shamefully at this time especiallye He dyed the third month of his Popeship Anno. 898. 52. Theodorus the second THeodorus the second euen at his entrauÌ„ce followed the examples that Romanus had set to him But there is no notorious thing mentioned of him because he liued but a while sauinge that as Stella Venetus sayth he also walked in the seditious pathes of his forefathers He had no regarde of Gods cause but was a maintayner and vpholder of Formosus quarell and cherished those that were of that faction but his shorte time preuented his farther doinge He dyed the xx daye of his Popeship Anno. 899. 53. Iohn the tenth IOhn the tenth succeded Theodorus as well in manners as in place for wheras these seditions were almost buryed he in his time renued the scab againe and made it sorer then before Iohn sayth Barnus mindinge to restore Formosus doinges whollye he sturred a great tumult because the people did resist and withstande it and when hee sawe that it woulde brast into open warre he gotte him to Rauenna and sommoning thither a conuocation of 74. bishops he restored all Formosus his decrees euen to the vttermost and did openlye condemne the actes made by Steuen because he had done so reprochfullye against the dead carcasse Also he burnt al the writings that were to be gotten of that Synode against Formosus but he proceeded no further in these broyles for wante of breath Hee dyed Anno. 901. 54. Benedict the fourth BEnedict the fourth is reported to haue done no notable thinge in these iarres and braules In this age sayth Stella it happened that as wel through the hedds meaning the Popes set all on sedition as by the bodye addicted to slouth al vertue withered away Likewyse sayth Platina when the Church through her wealth wexed wanton and riotous and none of the head of the clergye coÌ„trolled vice then forthwith wickednes hauing gotten liberty brought forth and yelded vs these Popes being as it were moÌ„sters and mongrels which encroche Peters place by ambition and briberye Benedict dyed Anno. 904. 55 Leo the fift LEo the fift being made Pope euen in his dignitie was taken by strong hande and cast into prison violently by one Christopher seking to make him selfe Pope being but a prieste and chapleine to Leo one whom he had brought vp in his owne house Whiche thing sayth Platina coulde not be done without great seditioÌ„ and the slaughter of many And of what auctoritie the place was now it may wel appeare when as firste harlottes bare sway and ruled the Popes then a priuate persone durst and could thus within so shorte a

lighte burden and most pleasant crosse of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe And I require this at your handes most godlye fathers that you will thincke this present calamity to be no small cause which stirred me vp to this matter and I desire for the great mercye of our Sauiour Christe that you go forwarde in that worke that you haue in hand and that you will make your prayers for England that caÌ„not pray for it selfe that this Pope may be exempted out of the minds of all Christians Italians Spaniardes Frenchmen and Englishmen thruste out of all kingdomes and Churches broken in two and vtterlye destroyed Praye that the blind maye see the deafe heare and that those which be in darcknes and in the shadowe of death maye come to the light and knowledge of the truth For your prayers shal be of more effect with God than all the blessinges and cursinges of the detestable Pope By these thinges I trust that you vnderstande what I haue taken in hande and for what cause First the desire of my freindes compelled mee thereunto Secondly my conscience pricked mee forward hasting hereunto that I mighte communicate these thinges which I haue both heard and seene in the whole course of my life Last of all the lamentable state of Englande called mee hereunto that for the loue which I beare to my brethren I would ayde it and that the begiÌ„ning of the Romaine tyraÌ„nye being read knowne and the ofspring of all the Popes they might seeke a newe way and amende their liues Also to restore the dignitye of the common wealth which was lost and to the reforminge of the Church and to the glorye of Iesus Christe the onely gouernour of the earth But not wtout great cause do I dedicate this my booke vnto you which are in this our age the greatest defendours of the Christian fayth which also do beare this greuous odious burden and for that cause do burne with the same fire of enuye which I do For truly I speake as I thincke as I beleiue because I beleiue it I caÌ„not hold my peace If at VViteÌ„berg Luther the vpholder of the Christian fayth at Tigur Zuinglius the inuincible defendour of the pure veritye and a professour therof vnto the death at Basil Occolampadius a lighte and lampe in the house of God had not opened the liuelye springes of the Scripture and being opened had not defeÌ„ded them against the boldnes of the Philistines if others in those dayes in your places had not sustayned this oure Religion if you would not haue put to your ayde and helping hands if God had not left the seede of the truth in those Churches wherin you are PresideÌ„ts there had bin no place for Christe on the earth where hee might put his head ther should haue bin no refuge for exiles to flye vnto Christian pietye shoulde finde no place in which it might be confirmed safelye established And all those things that I haue shewed here were taught me of your pastours and writers Therefore it is meete that I should render some part thereof with gaine from whence I had it neyther do I honour worship onely your Churches as the springes of pure Religion the which with priuye passages doth flow vnto all the corners of the earth euen to vs beyonde the Ocean but all Englishe peregrins are bounde of dutye vnto you for your great benefites bestowed vppon them The which thing I would haue shewed at large in the name of all my freindes if I had not written vnto you to whom we are of dutye bound yet trulye to passe all thinges in silence and declare none of them I cannot Therefore I praye you pardoÌ„ mee and let your modestye and gentlenes giue place and pardon mine affections while that of so many I declare a fewe to the intent that other men may vnderstand if I had not a iust cause to dedicate this my booke to you before al other The which thinge while I shewe briefelye as time and order doth require so I will name euery one of you not respecting your dignitye but doing after the imbecillitye of memorye and the perspicuitye of the matter Therefore that I maye declare from the beginninge ascende from the farthest vnto the nighest whereto much duty owe we to VVitenberg that most fayre marchandize of all artes they euidently declare which go thither either to behold the couÌ„trey or to giue themselues to studye with whose notable prayses many being styrred vppe would go thither in great companies if riches would abouÌ„d as their good will doth to go so longe a iourneye For when they prayse other learned not withoute gratefull testifyinge of many benefites towardes them Than O Philip they do declare thy singuler curtesye maruelous facilitye and thy good wil alwayes ready to deserue wel of al men Neither without a cause For thou prosecutest al meÌ„ at home with all kinde of humanitye and at home with thy preaching louing letters doest ease the sorrowful wauering minds For it is not vnknowen what thou hast done at the councel of VVesalia in the Englishe mens behalfe who when thou sawest to take paynes for Religion sake and to be greatly moued wyth the vniust outcryes of men that helde opinion agaiÌ„st theÌ„ thou thoughtest good that the cause should be heard wythout debate or strife and not to be put oute with crye clapping of hands thou saydst that the men were to be retayned and relieued and not to be vexed and afflicted with any sharpe iudgement To this ende thou didst write to the maiestrates of Franckford so that by thy letters which I chaunced to see I am certified where thou didst thincke it meete that our men purelye thinkinge of the articles of our Christian fayth and in diuers coÌ„trouersyes defending their opinion with feruour of zeale accordinge to their nature to be taughte and not to be oppressed to be warned w t talke not troubled with force sith that doubtfull matters ought to be handled of the aduersaryes parte wyth obscure wordes Neither do I doubte but that the countryes bordring there about Strasburge Basil Arouia TiguruÌ„ Geneua Emdona being moued with such a notable testimonye will receiue vs more into their fauour But leuing VVittenberge I come to Basile where I will be more parciall not bicause I can not prayse him sufficiently inough but bicause I am one of them which haue felt and do daily feele the great beneuolence of the Senate ministers and the whole people least I should not seeme to be so gratefull a prayser as a deceitfull flatterer Therfore I will saye nothing of thee at this tyme moste wyse learned Sulcer nothinge of M. VVoulfangus VVisenburge that moste excellent diuine and worthy gouernour of the vniuersitie nothing of Martin Borrham the notable professor of diuinitie nothing of learned M. Iohn Iunius my faithfull companion nothing of Marcus Bersius Iames Turkenbrot Conradus Lycosthenes his deare friende Huldricus Coccius Thomas

being put to death at Valerianus coÌ„maundement 255. 22. Stephen STephen a Romaine borne a man in al pointes iuste and good and one that was counted worthy to haue the ecclesiasticall function Whereupon as VVicelius saithe the churche gaue vs many worthy examples of Prelates so longe as they were called but bishops of the citie of Rome While Galienus a wicked Emperor raged Steuen Anno 257. after he had coÌ„uerted many of the GeÌ„tiles to the faith of Christe loosing his head was with many other sacrificed to God receiuing the crowne of iustice 23. Sixtus the seconde SIxtus the seconde was a Grecian borne in Athens he being of a worldly Philosopher become Christe his disciple and of an earthly man made an heauenly stewarde did shine like an ornament of the churche as an example worthy to be folowed This man also enstructing the people in Gods holy woorde was slayne with many thousands of martyrs in the persecution of Decius and Valerius An. 267. S. Laurence claue vnto this holy byshop vnseperably euen to the last tormentes of his life of whiche twoo the one was slayne with swearde the other burnt to death Whereof Mantuan in the 8. of his Fast. saith These men whose vertues florished by Decius dire decree VVere bid with other lockt in chaynes and dungeon darke to bee In time of this bishop about the yeare of our lorde 260. one Paule being terrified with the vnmercifull persecutioÌ„ of tyrantes gat him into wyldernesse and solitary places and so became the firste Eremite For at that time as Eusebius saith many Christians for feare of death denied their faythe Upon this Monkery had his beginning as Hierome shewes in the life of the same Paule the Eremite 24. Dionysius DIonysius was a Grecian whome Pope Damasus calleth a Monke He was a worthy man in preaching the faithe and a notable encreacer of the Christian churche vnder Claudius the seconde Neither did he want other churches whiche with the doctrine of truthe did reforme heresies that sprange in those dayes As appeareth by the churche of Antioche which calling a counsell in the yeare of our Lorde 273. did conuince of errour Paulus Samosatenus notwithstanding he him selfe coulde not be there present because he was olde Dionysius conuerted to Christianitie the daughter of the Emperour Decius and Triphonia her mother with 46. thousand other And at the length was martyred with them many other at Salarie gate Anno. 277. 25. Foelix Foelix a Romain being a good man and of perfect conuersation florished in preaching the Gospell at suche time as Aurelianus did persecute his brethren While this accursed manslear exercised his tyranny Foelix among other martyrs departed moste happely vnto Christe that is to saye from death to life But to saye that this martyrdome working their glory caused temples to be made yearely sacrifices to be done therein in their names it is to open blasphemy Who will beleue that these holy fathers of the primatiue churche would so charely haue suche regarde to kepe stockes and stones or dead mens bones in time of so many persecutions and heresies as if they had nothing els to doe But such forgeries vse our Romanistes to maintayne their idolatry 26. Eutychianus Eutychianus borne in Thuscia being geuen wholy to Godlynes and commended to the churche for his learning and vertue saued many people by preaching the Gospell This man by report did bury with his own handes 342. martyrs and appointed an order for the burying of martyrs and in the ende he him selfe was made a martyr Anno. 283. It appeareth that this man did nothing to establishe the fantasticall toyes of our age but the Papistes foarge of him that he blessed vpon the altar grapes and beanes and that he buried the dead in purple vestimentes a deede mete for a Christian martyr 27. Gaius or Caius GAius borne in Dalmatia cosen to Dioclesian the Emperour succeded Eutychianus in preaching the comfortable Gospell and was a moste worthy president in the churche of God Carsulanus and Platina the Popes claw-backes reporte of this man that he encreased the dignitie of the Clergie marueilously by making difference of degrees among them so that from one degree to an other they should arise to the estate of a bishop Furthermore thei prattell that he commaunded that a man in holy orders should not be sewed of prophane men Pagans or Heretikes But who is so fonde to beleue that the bishops power was so great at Rome at that time when Pagans them selues bare all the sway executed the ciuill lawe Gaius was in the time of the raigne of the foresayde Dioclesian vnder whome cruell persecution continued so that for a great time he lurked in caues and hoales vnder the grouÌ„d and had no pontificall pallaice or stately temple And in the ende being plucked out with his brother Gabinius a maried priest he was slayne with a swoard 28. Marcellinus MArcellinus was a Romaine who in the tenth persecution after Nero was cruelly vexed of the tormentours vnder Dioclesian and Maximinian being terrified with feare of the paynes he offered vnto the Idols a graine of frankinsens In those dayes as Gildas writeth the scripture where soeuer it was founde was burnt in the streate and the chosen shepeheardes of Christes flocke were slaine with their innocent shepe But Marcellinus immediatly after his dede remembring him selfe reproued Dioclesian to his face and offred him selfe willingly to death for the truthe of Christe and striuing valiauntly he preuayled receiuing the crowne of martyrdome Anno 303. Hereunto agreeth Mantuan in the life of the sayde Basill 29. Marcellus MArcellus a Romaine was pastour of the churche feading it with wisedome and doctrine And as I maye saye with the Prophete a man according to Gods harte full of Christian woorkes This man admonished Maximianus the Emperour endeuoured to remoue him from persecuting the sainctes But the Emperoure being more hardened commaunded him to be beaten with cogiels and to be driuen out of the citie wherefore he entred into the house of one Lucina a widowe and there he kept the Congregation secretly whiche the tyrant hearing made a stable for cattell of the same house and coÌ„mitted the kepinge of it to the byshop Marcellus After that he gouerned the churche by wryting Epistles without any other kynde of teaching â–ª being condemned to suche a vile seruice And being thus dayly tormented with stinke and noysomenesse at length gaue vp the ghost Anno 308. 30. Eusebius EVsebius a Grecian being a very Godly man a doctour and teacher among the ChristiaÌ„s gouerned the church in the great storme of persecution He trauayled stoutly in the worde of the Lorde as well at Rome as els wheare through his countrey in the time of Maxentius that horrible tyrant vntill he were destroyed by martyrdome as Massaeus writeth Anno 309. whereupoÌ„ as Mantuan writeth an Aungell sayde to Basill Of thinges that are reueald to me I le make the vnderstaÌ„d The ioyful dayes of

peace draw on the time is nie at hand That tyrants rage shal shortned be er many years be roÌ„ne This cruel kind that ioyes in bloud shal wasted be done Rome hath beheld her prelats al eÌ„brewd in their own gore Three cruel ones yet shal she se and then shal be no more The death of next Melchiades shal ende the bloudy age His karkas being buried then peace shal all assuage 31. Melchiades MElchiades an Aphrican being a man very religious and a leader of the ChristiaÌ„ flocke proceaded in preaching the Gospell and in the affaires of the truthe so farre vntill he spent his bloud for it vnder Maximinianus Galerius And in the profession thereof died Anno 314. Reade the Ecclesiasticall history of Eusebius bishop of Caesaria concerning manifolde and vnaccustomed cruell deathes of the sainctes of that time Cursulanus Platina Stella and other the Popes flatterers doe falsely father vpon these martyrs whole loades of decrees and lyes that the lewde inuentions of their ceremonies might be established by the authoritie of these men For they are not afraide for the aduauncement of the Popes trone with these vnclenly dregs to staine the bloud of sainctes and defile this beautiful face of the primatiue churche being through continuall persecution euer agreable to Christe the head therof But what wyse man can thinke that suche simple ministers and pastours of Gods worde as the bishops then were dwelling in holes dennes and corners and looking for nothing but dayly death vnder tyrantes should haue minde of pontificall pompe stately buildinges or Papisticall solemnities when as they had neither churches nor dwelling houses The churche as yet obtained no peace they liued not yet in vnprofitable idlenes neither had they the chiefe pleasures of the worlde But those were the imaginations which false prophetes according to their custome deuised for their bellies sake But Sabellicus speaking of the saluage persecution of the churche vnder Dioclesian saythe alleaging it out of Eusebius that the Christian flocke was plaged at this time by the iudgement of God because sinne began to growe vp in the churche aboue measure and the priestes seemed nowe rather to sauour of tyranny and not humilitie and therefore when this persecutioÌ„ came it was rather a reformation of the churche corrupted by ease and peace then a scattering thereof Whereby it semeth that euen then God geuing but a pauze of persecution and whyle tyranny did but staye to breathe it selfe they began to decline and growe crooked yet is it not to be thought that they were caried so farre away as yet to newe fashioÌ„ and transport with maÌ„glinges addicions the Christian religion as the Papistes dreame they did And thus is the popishe synagoge grouÌ„ded on vntruthe But it were a fond matter to beleue these scoffes toyes contriued for priestes aduauntage as our forefathers haue done we should rather trie of what spirites they be as S. Iohn commauÌ„deth whether they be of God or no. Iohn 4. For many false prophetes haue crept into the worlde Hetherto the pastors were starres shining in the firmament of the churche as well in life and manners as in doctrine and preserued in his right hande who walked in the middest of the seuen candelstickes Apocal. 1. Hetherto they were counted Angels reuealing the euerlasting wyll of almighty God purely without mans diuices 32. Syluester the first AFter that Melchiades was put to death Syluester a Romaine succeded in the ministery of the woorde but because that the tyrant Maximinus continued his bloudy persecution against the Churche Syluester was fayne to hide him selfe and to lyue solitarily in the hille Soracte But at the length it pleased God to laye his terrible hand vpon the persecutour Maximinus forcing the tyrant to reclaime his cruel decrees against the Christians Touching the death of Maximinus who among other tyrantes was a Scorpion to the Christians it is to be noted that Eusebius writeth first in the eight booke and 28. chapter of his ecclesiastical history thus First in the secrete partes of his body arose an impostume then in his bowels grewe a fistulowe within the whiche a great swarme of woormes and magettes gnawed and deuoured his guttes wherof arose a noysome stinke so ranke that no man could by any meanes abide it beside the ougly loathsom sight of the soare it selfe so that some of his phisicions not able for the horror of it to endure to dresse him were put to death by his coÌ„maundement Afterward the disease increasing all his body was swollen and rankled with it so that with extremitie of his panges and fainting through honger he fel down and lay sprawling on the grounde Then all his body by the hande of God was terribly enflamed and burned exceadingly odious to beholde so that the scorched fleshe being by little and little eaten awaye pyned and consumed he was so disfigured and deformed his feauter so vaded that a man could discerne no resemblance of his former shape His gastly and naked carkasse was euen as an image of drye bones And yet the glowing heate boyled more feruently so that the marrowe fried out of his bones and his eyes all moisture being wasted dropped out of his head Thus his limmes and members through scalding heate ranke disease rotting one from an other his body laye miserably as it were a graue to the soule vntil the tormentes thereof wrested out from his cancred harte to acknowledge Christe Iesus and to repent his bloudy persecuting the cause of this his woful ende the last persecutour Eusebius lib. 10. cap. 8. Furthermore it pleased the almighty to woorke so graciously in the hart of the noble Emperour Constantine that by his procurement the churche at the length obtained peace vniuersally so that euery maÌ„ might safely returne to his owne countrey and citie whereupon Syluester returned to Rome and was the firste Romaine byshop that escaped martyrdome There are many some indifferent but moste detestable grosse and fonde decrees falsely fathered vpoÌ„ this Syluester as halowing of Chrismes geuing of orders confirming of children decking of churches couering of altars making masse priestes annoynting and attiring of them and of making the howsell to be God called deifying the host of worshipping and preseruing it Also touching coyfes hoodes corporals albes mitars palles cloathes churching kerchiefes for women rochettes sacrifices ceremonies chappels anoyling of the sicke with a rablement of diuers other Iewishe and Heathen ceremonies Platina Polidor Virgill and other the Popes parasites slaunder this Syluester that he tooke vpon him in steade of a golden crowne to weare a mitar after the Phrygian fashion Touching certaine miracles whiche are also with like credit sayde to be done by this Syluester Mantuan wryteth thus Fast. lib. 12. Men talke of many miracles that Syluester hath wrought But authour yet sufficient hath neuer forth ben brought Nor witnesse good to proue the same therfore I let alone Such things as fables fondly faind for our religion Condemneth toyes

the ennemy of Christe whiche neuerthelesse should speake like a Dragon like an euill spirite and should rage as vnmercifully as the firste beast did whiche destroyed Peter and Paule and great companies of fainctes whiche with her charmes should so bewitche the worlde and with monstrous workes should growe into suche admiration that none might by or sell but such as had the seale or the name of the beaste in his forehead But as touching the name of the beaste he shewes it mistically by these letters ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ Ch X St reciteth it to be discussed This saith Iohn is wysedome let him that hath vnderstanding accompt the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his nuÌ„ber is this 666. Apocal. 13. What meane thefe markes but that wee should searche the time wherein this beaste should arise from the earth and the bottomlesse pitte and should destroye the Christian common wealth But howe shall a man apply it if he haue not the certaine time when Pompeie toke the scepter from the Iewes according to the notable prophecie of Iacob entring the temple prophaned the Sanctum sanctorum But that was done as Iosephus wryteth in the time of Tullius consulship the 60. yeare before Christe was borne To these three score yeares adde six hundred vntill after the death of the sayd Gregorie the great who prophecied that he should be Antechriste whiche would be compted vniuersall bishop or head of all churches Therefore marke well what kinde of times happened in the 666. yeare after Hierusalem was taken by the Romaines Pompeie being their general and you shall se straunge matters fal out at the time that this Phocas was Emperour of whome VVilliam Stantphurdius wryteth as foloweth The Empier Phocas chokes and doth the Popedome first aduaunce By wicked writts about his Empier sent for to enhaunce And to confirme moste sure foray vnto the after age The premacy of Rome and of the dragon that doth rage Against Gods power Furthermore applie this misticall number of 666. containing highe wisedom in iâ— froÌ„ the time of Christes birth or from the tyme of his passion or from the xv yere of Domician at whiche time the reuelation was written and stil ye shal finde some moÌ„sterous thing wrought in the church But to returne to the matter of Englande In the yeare of Christe 593. Colman Harding and Fabian saye that the raigne of the seuen kinges at one time began whereby 173â— yeares after Brutus their first king the royall estate of the Brytishe king ceased For as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his fourth booke the Britaines founde tâ—at the Saxons were in steade of succourers suppressours and cruell ennemies vntrusty warring rigorously vpon them who had entertained them for ayde Anno 596. the foresaid Augustine sent from Gregorie came into Englande who at his comming did not reproue but maintaine and vpholde the wicked treasons the horrible robberies the slaughters more cruell then were Neroes whiche the Saxons coÌ„mitted Anno â–ª 600. Gregorie gaue to Augustine his byshops pall Thereby as was sayde London was spoyled of her right without all order to the destruction bothe of the commonwealth and of religion and finally the vndoing of the Brytishe kingdome and thereupon are sumptuous teÌ„ples builded Before that time the Britains had their churches dedicated to eternall God the father and to our sauiour his sonne Iesus Christe But afterwarde the SaxoÌ„s did coÌ„secrate their temples to Images and dead sainctes â–ª Anno. 604. the ChristiaÌ„ Emperour Maurice being slaine Phocas an adulterer and a murtherer obtayned the seate imperiall and in him the maiestie of the Caesars and the moste noble Empire of the Grekes decayed together As for the Romaine Empire that was weakened and empaired yea and at length brought to nothing by meanes of the Popedome whiche he had graunted and established Anno 606. in Nouember and December as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his 18. booke euen at the rising and beginning of the Popedome there appeared a wonderfull great blasing starre There were straunge sightes and monsters of the Sea shewed them selues to the terrour of many Thus in the time of this Phocas murderer of the Emperour whiche is to be noted as a misterie concerning the Popes Papistrie and Mahumets religion began bothe together at one time which corrupted darkened and weakened the doctrine of the sonne of God in many regions For in another yeare of the same Phocas as Bibliander writeth Mahumet recited the Alcoran so that saieth hee the Egles three heades awaked all at ones according to the heauenly vision in the fourth booke of Esdras that is to saye Phocas him selfe Pope Boniface Mahumet the Arabian now followeth the thirde troupe of Romishe Popes whiche is deuided into fiue partes The firste parte of this thirde troupes of the Popes or Romaine Antechristes prophecied of by the names of Sodome or Egypt Apocal. 11. vntill the time of Pope Iohn the eight 1. Boniface the thirde ABout this time the bishoppers of Constantinople endeuoured to obstaine the title of vniuersall bishop and to haue their Church called the head of all Churches vsing these fonde reasons that because the Emperour beinge chiefe of all Princes kepte at Constantinople therefore that shoulde be the chiefest Church and there the chiefe bishop This ambitioÌ„ enflamed many to speake and wryte against it but especiallye the late Gregorye who in this wyse reproued Iohn bishop of Constantinople for the same Sayinge None of my predecessors although the Emperours began first in Rome and were wont to byde there onelye and yet do keepe the title thereof durste take vppon them this title of vniuersall bishop And againe Gregorye sayd plainlye that such a one was the forerunner of Antichrist Yet notwithstanding that the Church of Constantinople with great infamye preuailed not herein because that Antichrist or the whore of Babilon according to the 13. of the Reuelation should be in the Citty builded on seuen hilles that is Rome it selfe For so diuers auctors testifye that onelye Rome is knowen to be builded on vii hils and certaine it is that when this Reuelation was written Rome was then the greatest Cittye being built on seuen hils as Mantuan testifyeth in the life of Syluester speaking of S. Blaze at the ende of the first booke And the fulnesse of that time prophecied of now drawing nighe this Boniface the thirde Anno 607. by the meanes of Phocas the Emperour an adulterer traytour and murtherer of his Lorde and soueraine Maurice the Emperour with his wife and children was aduaunced to be bishop of Rome with much hurley burley and greate tumulte and in despite of manye bishops and Churches standinge against it he is extolled confirmed and worshipped as Lorde and Prince of all bishoppes By great sute but greater bribery he obtayned of the sayde bloudye Emperour that Rome should be called the head of all Churches partlye by the same reasons that Constantinople vsed as Platina sayth that where the heade

cloth of tissue and cloth of gold and other iewels according to the Iewishe ceremonies and this Pope was the firste that toke vpon him to be called Christes vicar on earth Out of Vesunius hyll in Campania suche aboundaunce of fier spouted that it burnt vp all the countries men and cattell rounde about after whiche it is euident that there ensued Anno 686. bloudshed burning spoyling and the death of Princes and especially of this Benedict a Pope of tenne monethes 17. Iohn the fift IOhn the fifte was borne in Siria he first of all toke consecration of three bishops of the bishop of Hostia Portua Veliterne whiche custome he appointed to be kepte of his successours And his posteritie do kepe this vse euen vnto this daye in our Sauiours church at Lateran In his Popedome he fell sicke in the whiche time he wrote a vayne and vnlearned booke touching the dignitie of the pall of an Archebyshop 18. Conon COnon a Thracian was made Pope after much wrangling betwene the Romaines who would haue elected one Peter an Archebishop and the host preferring one Iohn a priest This Conon being established fell sicke and died Anno 689. He made one Kilianus being before a Scottishe Monke a bishop and sent him with other into Germanie to winne the East part of Fraunce to the church of Rome But this Kilian his company were at the first â—layne of their Auditours and buried at Herbipolis One Paschal an ArchedeacoÌ„ and Treasurer to the said Conon in this Popes life bribed Iohn Platina one of the sixe princes of Italy to make him Pope after the death of Conon Platina tooke the mony but he perfourmed not the couenaunt neyther restored the money 19. Sergius the first AT this time was great hurlie burly about the election of the Pope Some chose Theodorus a prieste some Paschal an Archedeacon And whyle euery one did ambitiouslye maintaine his owne faction either partie with the men of his owne side kept possessioÌ„ in some part of Lateâ—an pallaice But when the chiefe of the clergye the Romaines the army sawe that this sedition would wexe bloudye they agreed to appease this tumult reiecting both the other they chose Sergius an Assyrian borne brought him to Lateran Church and brasting vp the doores they driue oute the seditious electors and compelled Theodor Paschal to salute Sergius as Pope He bestowed great cost in trimming the temples with guilding images golden caÌ„delsticks and curious masons worke riche clothes such stuffe He they say founde a peece of Christ his Crosse in a brasen cofer He repayred the images of the Apostles being worne out with continuance He set a new patche vpoÌ„ the masse commaunding that Agnus Dei should be songe thrise wheÌ„ the priest is breaking the bread And on the day of the annuntiation of the virgin to sing procession He reclaymed the Church of Aquilia which began to decline from Papistrye He also by his monks allured the Saxons Frisians to the same superstition While Aldhelmus an Englishman waited at Rome to be admitted to a bishopricke he hard the Pope accused of adulterye the childe being new borne which was fathered vppon him Aldhelmê° therefore did secretlye admonishe the Pope of this wickednes Sergius dyed Anno. 701. 20. Iohn the sixt IOhn the sixt a Grecian borne beinge much delighted in vanityes as his predecessors were was very curious in decking the temples In the time of famine and warre he nourished a great nomber of poore men with the treasures of the Church being in deede the worthiest of al Popes for such almes deedes also he redeemed diuers prisoners oute of bondage And with threatninge caused Gisulphus captaine of Beneuent who then wasted Campania to returne home This man as it appeareth was because of Sergius adultery elected only Pope and not confirmed Sergius being restorde againe and therfore he is not reckened amoÌ„g the Popes Peter Premonstratensis sayth that Iohn was thrust out againe because of his vnlawful entrance therfore he is not enrolled among the Popes 21. Iohn the seuenth IOhn the seuenth a Grecian was delighted in nothinge but superstitious garnishinge Churches and images of Saincts for which he is muche commended but not one worde spoken of him touching preaching the Gospell Hee dyed Anno. 707. 22. Sisinius the second SIsinius or Sozymus after great conteÌ„tion with Dioscorus about the Popedome at lengthe obtayned it Hee was so sore sicke of the goute that hee liued Pope but xx dayes being neither able to sturre nor to eatâ— any thinge Nauclerus wryteth that he was poisoned by the said Dioscorus in the same yeare that Iohn the seuenth dyed 23 Constantine the first COnstantine the first being sent for by Iustitian the Emperour to come to Constantinople was the first that euer offered his soueraigne to kisse his feete At his returne home he condemned Philip Burdan of impiety because he could not abide the abhominations of Idols and toke the Images out of the Churche Furthermore he commaunded that the picture of the Emperour counting the godly Prince a wicked heretike should not be receiued thoughe it were engrauen in golde or siluer he cursed all the Emperours coyne And holdinge a counsell at Rome he decreed that Images should be had in the Church shoulde be worshipped with great reuerence contrary to al Scripture After this hee moued one Anastasius a mainteyner of images against the said Philippicus who appreheÌ„ding him reft him of his kingdome and put out his eyes when the bishop of Ticinum rebelled against his Metropolitan the Archbishop of Mediolan the Pope would not recoÌ„cile him but falselye made him tributary by stelth to the Sea of Rome whereby that bishopricke hath brought it selfe to perpetual bondage Kinredus and Offa two kings of the Englishe Saxons for their pleasures made a voyage to Rome and when they were there the Pope made theym forsake their kingdomes turned them into monkes hee dyed Anno 715. He was the first that gaue his feete to be kissed of Emperours 24. Gregory the seconde GRegory the second bestowed his time in repayring and building spiritual houses Churches with great coste Hee forbad a nonne a nouesse an abbesse a deaconesse or a spirituall Godmother to marrye He ordained that masse should be said euery friday in Lent and caused prayers often to be said because of strauÌ„g sights in the ayre He would haue masse said no where but in an hallowed place He persecuted euen to death those that woulde not worship images By his authority he compelled Luith Prandus king of Italye at the first withstanding it to ratifye Arithpertus donations beinge vniuste onely to maintaine the roâ—at of the clergye He moued the subiectes of the Emperour Leo to breake into opeÌ„ rebellioÌ„ because their images were taken away He caused Spaine Aemilia Luguria Italye and other countreys to reuolt and defye their obeysance to the Emperour The Emperour would haue no worshipping of images in the Church and therefore the

space as fourty dayes driue out the other and kepe the place him selfe Leo seing him selfe reft of the renowne and thus defaced euen by his owne familiar frend on whome he had heaped so many benefites conceiued so great thought that immediatly he died thereof 56 Christopher the first CHristopher the first was of so base linage that neither his countrie nor his fathers name was knowen Hee hauing shoued out Leo and his concubines ayding him thereto wan the Popeship by strong hande But as he gate it naughtely so was he shamefully thrust out again by one Sergius the peramour of one Marozia a notable harlotte and beawtifull concubine who sought to place him selfe in it So Christopher was put downe the vii moneth of his Popeship And as Platina sayth compelled to be a MoÌ„ke whiche thing was then become the refuge of all caytiffes And afterwarde he was againe pulled out of the Monasterie by the same Sergius and caste into a straight pryson where at length in muche misery and sorowe he died Anno 905. 57 Sergius the third SErgius the thirde when as he was but a Deacon gaue a proude attempt to aspire to the Popedome and was in dede chosen thereto with great tumult among the people when Formosus was chosen But taking the foyle he fled into Fraunce but nowe espying his oportunitie by the aide of Charles Simplex king of Fraunce and Adelbert Marques of Thuscia he returned by stelth into Rome And as it is sayde he deposed Christopher apprehended him and clapte him in pryson inuaded violently the Popes place Being setled and remembring his ranke mallice againste Formosus not withstanding the long time that had since passed and eight Popes betwene Formosus and him yet freshly to reuenge his olde grudge Hee the seconde tyme toke vp the karkasse of the sayd Formosus out of his graue after it had lyen thus long setting it in y Popes chaire did drawe him from thence agayne and as if he had bene a liue strake of his head And where as since his laste mangling he had but three fingers remaining on his right haÌ„d Sergius chopped of those also After all this he caused his body and all these peeces therof to be hurled into the riuer Tiber as if he had not bene worthy to lye amoÌ„g ChristiaÌ„s And yet not satisfied with this reuenge hee defaced condemned and disanulled al his actes so that it was then nedefull to admitte them a newe to their orders whome he being aliue thought mete to make priestes He compelled the Romaines to subscribe to this for feare of the Frenche king This Sergius among other newe ceremonies appointed that the people should beare candels on the daye of the purification of the Uirgin Mary whereupon it is yet called Candelmasse daye to geue their bodies vnnecessary light at noone daye because their soules wanted their necessary light at all times This lasciuious Pope begat a bastarde which was afterwarde Pope Iohn the twelfth whome he had by the moste shamelesse harlotte Marozia So Luthprandus testifieth in the thirde booke and xii chapter De gestis Imperat. This and other like prankes among harlottes and bawdes he practised euen in his Popeship At the time of whose death Anno. 913. there were sene in the element great flakes of fier running to and fro 58 Anastasius the third ANastasius the thirde after Sergius all their vnclenlye ceremonies being obserued was elected Pope But some write of him that he did neither good nor euill in his time and therefore is he more commendable They wryte that in his time the bodye of Pope Formosus was founde by certaine fyshers in the ryuer Tiber and so taken vp and with great worship buried in S Peters pallaice and as some are not a shamed to fayne the Images of the church did salute it whyle it was burying A notorius vntruthe and grosse blasphemie against God although in the tyme of suche blindnesse God might suffer Sathan to moue and sturre the Idols before these idolatours as in times past the diuelâ— hath doone when he spake and gaue oracles and prophecies out of Idols Anastasius died Anno. 915. 59 Laudo the first LAudo the firste being a fruytfull Prelate in begetting children as Petrus Premonstratensis sayth hee begat Pope Iohn the xi in detestable adultrye This Popes life sayth Platina was so obscure that some do not recken him among the Popes especially Vincentius This Laudo as it appeareth spent the more parte of his chast life as chastitie went then among harlottes till at the length he was destroyed among them For one Theodora the Lady that gouerned Rome a shamelesse curtezane could not longer forbeare the company of her louer Iohn Archbishop of Rauenna who was apparent sonne to this Pope Laudo Rauenna sayth Luthprandus was two hundred myles from Rome whereby Theodora could not so often enioye the byshop her louer and therefore she caused him to giue ouer Rauenna and to vsurpe the Popes place in despite of the auncientes of Rome Here sayth Funcius a man might demauÌ„de which of al these Popes did erre from the truth seing they were all called holy fathers and heads of the vniuersall churche Let the Popes partakers aunswere if they can 60 Iohn the eleuenth IOhn the eleuenth borne at Rauenna the bastard and adulterous sonne of his forefather Laudo as saythe Praemontratensis he obtained the Popedome by right of inheritaunce though whoredome were his ayde For thus wryteth Luthprandus in his seconde booke and thirtene chapter of Emperours Theodora an impudent harlot and the Lady of Rome burning in fleshly lust was so enflamed with the comlye countenaunce of this Iohn comming to Rome that she did not only request him but compelle him to satisfie her carnall desire For the whiche afterwarde she made him byshop firste of Bononia secondly Archebishop of Rauenna and thirdly to obtaine her filthy pleasure more conueniently she made him Pope of Rome Thus at this tyme was the holy mother churche subiect to an harlot ruled only by her and is made an whore according to the xvii chapter of the Apocalips This Iohn hauing a warlike courage played rather the warriour then the byshop For when the Sarasins wasted Calabria Apulia and Italy he putting him selfe in armour stew a number of them in these countries draue them cleane out As coÌ„cerning the ende of this man thus wryteth Luthprandus in his thirde booke and xii chapter In the meane time Guido Marques of Thuscia began to conferre earnestly and diuise with his wife Marozia the doughter of the saide Theodora howe he might depose this Iohn Guido had many souldiours gathered together at Rome the which apprehending Pope Iohn in Lateran pallayce Anno. 928 cast him in prison and holding a pillowe to his mouthe did smother him to death very miserably After his death they set vp Iohn the twelth the bastard sonne of this Marozia whome she had by Pope Sergius Thus the young harlot Marozia for the aduauncement of her

misbegotten sonne murthered the louer of the olde harlot her mother Theodora by the helpe of her husbandes seruauntes But because the people of Rome and the Clergie had not agreed vpon the election of this subordined Iohn the xii the selfe same yeare of his election he was deposed againe And thus the same Iohn of whome being set vp by force by and by thrust downe againe Carsulan Platina Stella and others do make mencion because they knew not the true story of him whiche Luthprandus wrote the ignoraunce whereof bredde muche coÌ„fusion for some toke these twoo Iohns to be both one and some the one for the other 61. Leo the sixt LEo the sixt after that Iohn the xii bastarde of Marozia the harlot and Sergius the Pope was deposed obtained to be Pope by the election of the Romaine people and clergye being in great tumult This Pope did nothinge commendable but the establishing of peace in Italye after he had raigned vii monethes he was poysoned by Marozia wherby she might establishe her sonne againe Anno 930. 62. Steuen the seuenth STeuen the seuenth did as Leo had done he medled with nothing for after he had liued Pope ii yeares in peace securitye and liberty of the fleshe at his owne ease hauing the blinde worlde readye to bende at his becke he toke his death in a cup wherewith as they saye he was poysoned For sayth Crantzius it is a straunge thinge that so manye Popes at this time dyed so soone in their dignityes which is a great presumption that they were poysoned as the moste part of them were knowen to be 63. Iohn the xii IOhn the xii the bastard impe of Pope Sergius the third and of the famous concubine Marozia was now againe made Pope after much sedition At this time a fountaine in Genua flowed with bloud very plentifully prognosticatinge the wrath of God that immediatlye followed for the Aphricans Sarracens and Hungarians wasted and spoiled all and slue a houge nomber of people There are some wryters as is said before that make ii Iohns of this one the one going before Leo and Steuen who they said neuer enioyed the Popes Albe or Rochet the other this which nowe was set vp after Steuen of whom they saye the historyes write nothing Againe there are other some that make this beinge borne in Rome the other borne at Rauenna all one amonge whom Platina sayth that either of them was sonne to Pope Sergius but Anselmus deceiued by Platina sayth the one was brother to the other but other writers do make him a seuerall parson from the other two saying he was not knowne of the Cronographers because he did nothing worthie of memorye But Luthprandus in his thirde booke and xii Chapter wryteth thus of the mother of Iohn Marozia a shameles concubine and mother to Pope Iohn after the death of her husbaÌ„d Gui doth send messengers to his brother Hugh king of Italy a Burgundian borne to desire him to come to her and to receiue of her the noble cittye of Rome vvhich she sayd vvithal she could not do vnlesse he would take her to be his vvife For whiche her incestious desire Luthprandus wrote thus against her in Uerse VVhye broyling thus vvvith Venus brand Marozia doest thou raue Thunlavvfull loue and vvilt thou of thy husbandes brother haue Dare bucksom dame Herodia tvvo naturall brethren vved Lo Ladye blinde Iohn Baptists lavve is quite out of thy hed VVho did forbid that brother vvith his brothers vvyfe should meâ—l And Moses Lavve doth not allovve thy doing to be vvell VVho did commaunde the brother rayse vnto his brother seede If that the former by his vvyfe had issue none in deede But that thy husbande children hath by the can be declarde T is so saye you but dronken loue doth nothinge it regarde Kinge Hughe euen as an Oxe to death for thy desire is brought Vvhose mind not for to gaine thy loue but rather Rome hath sought VVhat boteth it thou cursed dame this noble man to spoile For seâ—king thus by sinne to gaine a Queenely place a vvhile Iehouah iudge doth make thee leese both Rome and all the toile Uppon the said message the king leauing his armye aloofe came to Rome who being honourably receiued passed forth vnto the stronge hould S. Angels castell and so into the bedde chamber of Marozia After he was established in vncesteous mariage with her he began to coÌ„temne and despise the Romaines at which time Marozia had a sonne named Albericus brother to Pope Iohn but begotten by Marques Albericus While this Albericus at his mothers bidding gaue water to king Hugh washinge his handes the king because he did it not handsomelye gaue him a blâ—w on the face Herevppon Albericus to reuenge this iniurye callinge the Romaines together spake thus vnto them The honour and dignity of Rome is brought to such doultishnes and follye that it is nowe controlled euen by harlots For what is more abhominable what more shamefull then that Rome should be brought to obeysaunce throughe the incest of one woman and that the Burgundians whilom slaues to the Romaines shoulde now be lordes ouer them If he beinge yet especiallye but a new come gest take vppon him to dashe me on the face being his verye sonne in lavve hovve thincke you vvil he deale vvith you in processe of time Knovve ye not the pride of a Burgundian c This being sayde without any delaye the Romaynes all defyed king Hughe chose the same Albericus to be their Prince King Hughe being driuen into this terrible feare was compelled to forsake Rome and leauinge Marozia fled to his owne companye Then Albericus and his mother Marozia did only enioye the Monarche of Rome and his brother the Popedome who spendinge fiue yeares in Popishe practises dyed Anno 937 while the harlotte his mother ruled as well the estate temporall as spirituall in Rome 64. Leo the seuenth LEo the seuenth succedinge Iohn because hee desired to liue quietlye medled wyth no matters but as a slouthfull parson did nothinge worthye remembraunce In his time sayth Luthprandus the said kinge Hugh forsaking his wyfe Berta loued especiallye three concubines Bezola Roze Stephana and because they were such notorious harlots hee gaue them the names of three Goddesses callinge Bezola Venus Roze Iuno and Stephana Semele by Bezola he had a sonne called Bozones whom hee made bishop of Placentia by Stephana he had Theobaldus made Archdeacon of Millain Churche and by Rosa he had another greate prelate of the Churche and a doughter beside In those dayes many sawe bloude rayne oute of the Sunne as Masseus wryteth and after it followed a great pestilence amonge men Leo dyed An. 941. 65. Steuen the eight STeuen the eight a Germaine obtained y Popes chayre after this Leo yet this seemeth straunge to many how it should be doone because no Emperour out of Germany procured it But Steuen being notwithstandinge Pope was so vexed with ciuill seditions among the

to estimation and many straunge monsters were seene and diuers terrible earthquakes 83. Iohn the 20. IOhn the 20. called Fasanus after that Iohn the 19. was poysoned by magicke coniuringe gat to be Pope For from the foresaid Syluester till Gregorie the seuenth a notorious parson all the Popes were famous enchaunters by theyr charming they sturred vp walking spirits bugs goblins fierye sightes diuers terrible goasts shapes of thinges with howlinges and gro aninges aboute deade mens graues perswadinge the simple people that they were deade mens soules And those spirites beinge coniured vp by priestes deluded men dessemblinge that they were the soules of the dead complayning theyr vntollerable paynes in Purgatorye fyre and craued to be released by the meritorious deedes of theyr frendes kindred bestowinge dirges masses and trentalles on them But to returne to this Pope Iohn hee sayth Platina beinge giuen to idlenesse did nothinge worthye remembraunce He dyed after he had beene Pope .iiii. yeares Anno 1009. 84 Sergius the 4. AFter this Iohn came Sergius to be Pope by the like meanes who also in his Popedome exercised the same sorcerye still by which he obtayned the seate Yet some of the flatterers of Rome do highlye commende him as one that in all his Popedome did no one thinge to be misliked An vnmeete prayse for the prelates of that corrupte time wherein the light of the Gospell was extinct without the which nothinge can be pure and perfite Amonge other praises this is one that he had he was a very pleasaÌ„t meerye and familiar companion In his tyme was great pestilence and famine in Italye and in Loraine a fountaine turned into bloud He dyed Anno 1012. 85 Benedict the eight BEnedict the eight was borne in Thusca the sonne of George bishop of Portua brother to Albericus and Iohn was a layman He had a nephew called Theophilactus which was the scholer of Syluester and by the magical charmes of this Theophilact Benedict gatte to be Pope and obtayned the place so longe as Henry Bauarius liued whose ayde defended him because he had bestowed on Henrie the crowne Emperiall But after his death the Cardinals enuyinge him deposed him and set vp another and herevppon arose a cruel debate Yet afterward he compounded for money with his aduersaries and so the vsurping Pope being put out again Benedict is restored w t great pompe He graunted to the foresaid Henrie as Barus testifyeth to make at Bamberg builded by Henry a cathedral Church but with this condition that the same Church should paye to the Pope yearely vnder the name of tribute an hundred markes in siluer with a white horse furnished with trappings He dyed Anno 1023. Peter Damianus cardinall of Hostia sheweth as it is also written by Platina Carion and others that this Benedict or an euill spirit in his likenes appeared rydinge on a blackehorse and came vnto a bishop of his familiar acquaintaunce who amazed at this sight asked him Art not thou Pope Benedict whom wee know to be dead He aunsweared I am the same vnhappy Benedict And howe do you sayd the bishoppe I am cruellye tormented but I may be eased quoth Benedict And therefore go to my brother Iohn who nowe is Pope and bidde him repayre to such a place naming it and take the treasure that is there hiddeÌ„ and distribute it to the poore And likewise he appeared to Pope Iohn saying I hope to be deliuered and I would to God that Odilo would pray for mee Thus the deuil deluded this age bearing them in hande that the distribution of moneye and not the death of Christe might bringe saluation to soules to the great aduauncement of Purgatorye and masses 86 Iohn the xxi IOhn the xxi brother of the former Benedict and sonne of Gregorie bishop of Portua beinge as yet but a laye man yet likewyse by the enchauntmente of his nephewe Theophilact gat the Popedome as Benno a Cardinall wryteth For the coniuring and charmes of these meÌ„ Theophilact Iohn Gratian Laurence Malsitan Brazutus and other like wrought and ruled all thinges at Rome according to the deuils appointmente the aucthor of theyr artes For sayth Benuo Theophilact vsing to do sacrifice to deuils in woods on mountaynes caused women to runne after him whom he with his enchauntments bewitched to loue him And this appeareth to be true by certaine bookes of his which after his death were founde in his chamber This Pope Iohn crowned Conradus Emperour and was by him defended from the violence of the Romaynes who had longe troubled him the Emperour threatned to destroy the Romaynes vtterly if they should practise ought agaiÌ„st the Pope and by this meanes he continued Pope xi yere The latine Church doth highly commend him but shewe no good workes that deserued it He commaunded Princes to keepe a solemne kinde of geuinge almes he appoynted priestes to say masse and the people to fast In his time began the superstitious fastes of S. Iohn Baptist S. Laurence Of the counsell of Triburia Anno 1030. began in Fraunce a sect of fasters who said that it was reuealed to them from heauen that to fast Saturday with breade and water was sufficiente for remission of all sinnes if so that they had made a vowe to keepe it But the bishop of Camera did ouerthrowe this blasphemye as derogatorye to the passion of Christe Pope Iohn dyed Anno. 1034. 87. Benedict the ix BEnedict the ninth who before was called Theophilact the sonne of Albericus and nephewe as is said to the former Pope Benedict Pope Iohn as he by coniuring and diuelishe artes did first aduaunce his vnkles so nowe by his magicke he brought to passe that he succeded them He beiÌ„g Pope did greatly aduauÌ„ce eueÌ„ next to himselfe as his chiefe and secret counsellers Laurence Iohn GratiaÌ„ for that they were notorious coniurers broughte vp with him vnder Pope Syluester He with these companioÌ„s had vsed before he was Pope accordiÌ„g to the cursed ceremonyes of their sorcery to call vppon theyr euill spirites in woods and forrests and to bewitch by his cunning any woman that liked him to couet his carnall companye But sayth Benno as on a time he wyth these his mates was comming from the woods to the Church a nomber of birds beinge together a sparowe made a merye and pleasaunt kinde of chirping This Laurence being both captaine coniurer also a southsayer curious in the obseruation of byrds was demaunded what it was that the birde prated The byrde quoth hee calleth other birds to the great gate where a countreymans carte is broken and his meale spilte which was caried in it and therefore she wyth her much chattering biddeth them to come thither to eate and fil themselues Which being harde diuers of them that stoode by ranne in all poast hast to the gate to try the matter and wheÌ„ they came there they found it so in deede as Laurence had sayd Theyr cunninge in south saying and coniuringe was such

that they knew what was done both East West South and North in the corners of the world eyther touching warres or the death of Princes And therefore manye had theyr cunninge in greate reuerence and did attempt dilligently to learne of them and gatte theyr skill especiallye one Hildebrand Who forsaking an abbey where he was placed did so follow this trade that he excelled his maysters and was wonderfull busye in pestilent practises by meanes of his magicall artes as the Church by the fruite thereof did afterwarde feele sayth Benno But to returne to Benedict who after the death of Conradus conspired wyth his former counsellers to disherite his sonne Henry the thirde of the Empier and to plant in his steede Peter king of Hungarie and therefore he sent the crowne of the Empier to him with this Uerse Petra dedit Romam Petro tibi Papa coronam The rocke to Peter gaue Rome the towne The Pope to thee Peter giueth the crowne But Henry at the first conflict ouercame Peter and toke him prisoner and purposed to set forward to Rome which beinge heard Benedict being terriblye afraide soulde his Popeship to his companion Iohn Gratian who payed for it fiftene hundred poundes was afterward called Gregorie the sixt But in the meane time the Romaynes deposinge Benedict for his negligence and slouth Anno. 1045. did place in his steede Iohn bishop of Saba calliÌ„g him Syluester the thirde For this sale sayth Platina Benedict was accused of all men and coÌ„demned by deuine sentence and at the length by Gods iuste iudgemente he was strangled to death by a deuill in the woods Anno. 1056. The Historiographers write that this Benedict or Theophilact was seene of a certaine Hermite in a most ouglye and gastlye shape hard by a Mill for his bodye was all rough and hairye like a beare wyth head and tayle like an asse And being asked of the Hermite how he was thus traÌ„sfigured He aunsweared I waÌ„der in this shape because in the time that I was Pope I liued without reason without lawe without God and defiled the sea of Rome with all kind of villanye In his time the Cardinals that began of little grew to be great in dignitye 88. Syluester the thirde SYluester the third a Romaine first called bishop of Saba obtayned to be Pope partly by his owne briberye partlye by the tumult and vprore of his countreymen after the expulsion of Benedict as some say but as it is rather to be thought by the magicall sorcerye of his father Laurence the famous coniurer For thus sayth Benno After Benedict was driuen out and that Popeship sould Iohn Gratian being in the place Iohn bishop of Saba was thrust in vppon him and called Syluester the thirde and thus these iii. Popes beinge at once it rente the Church of Rome a sonder and deuided it into diuers factions thus wyth cruell warres and great bloudshed the Church was torne in peeces foulye mangled with sciesmes choaked with errors while vnder the colour of wine it gulled in poyson Thus wrote Benno of that wretched time But sayth Platina Syluester enioyed the rowme but a while for within xlix dayes the frendes of Benedict with great tumult restored Benedict to that which he had first both lost and soulde The Popeshippe saith Platina was now brought to this passe that he that was of greatest wealth and beste able to giue bribes and most ambitious not most godlye or best learned he onelye good men being oppressed and reiected obtayned that dignitye which trade sayth he I woulde to God they had not continued euen vnto our time but these are but small matters for we are like to see worse vnlesse God amende it Thus muche doth Platina complayne of theyr leude liues who otherwise flattered the Sea of Rome and extolled theyr doctrine But as touching Syluester the Emperour Henry draue him from the Popeshippe caused him to returne to his owne bishopricke wherein he continued as before he was Cardinall and bishop of Saba In the time of the foresaid Benedict the sixte daye of April Anno 1039. there was seene a mighty beame of fire burninge in the Element as Masseus wryteth in his sixte booke Anno Domini 1041. Pope Benedict made one Cazimirus a monke in Clunace abbey and a deacon kinge of Poleland on this coÌ„dition that for euery head in Poleland he should pay yerelye to the Pope and his successors an ordinary summe of money And furthermore that they should not let the heyre of theyr heade to grow longe and that they of Poleland shoulde remember for euer howe that this polling had giuen them a shaueÌ„ king out of an abbey 89. Gregorie the sixt GRegorie the sixt an Italian first called Iohn Gratian learned the magicall sciences of Syluester the seconde He bought the Popeship of his kinseman Benedict the ix and at the length obtayned it He after sciesmes and sedition being made Pope sayth Premonstratensis perceyuinge that certaine filchers purloyned the goodes of the Church that straungers were robbed on all sides began to haue a regard vnto the riches and first admonished them afterward he excommunicated them and last of all he warred on them that contemned his threatnings and thus he did both recouer the Church goodes wyth encrease and also executed and put to death the wasters thereof The Cardinals being moued with this cruelty called him Simnist murtherer and bloud sucker and on a time while he was sicke they saide hee was vnworthye to be buryed in the Church Whereunto among other thinges he aunswered thus I haue warred vppon other that wyth the damage of the laietye I might purchase glorye to the clergye and thus ye recompence mee and sone after he recouered his health The troublesome tragical broyles which these Popes wrought at this time are thus described by Otho Frisgensis Godfri Viterbiensis and other auctors While saye they Benedict the ix was Pope Syluester the thyrd and soone after Gregorie the sixt did inuade the seate And in the 7. yeare of the Emperour Henry the third these 3. Popes made themselues 3. seueral seates in Rome wherby they brought in a detestable sciesme euerye one endeuoured that he might not yelde to other in sedition impietye and villanye Benedict he sate as Pope in Lateran Pallaice the rest the one at S. Peters the other at S. Maries made his pontificall throne While these thre Popes did at once to the perill of the whole estate possesse comber the Citye Iohn Gratian a priest came vnto them perswading them euery one to take a peece of moneye and giue ouer their title of Popeship and so it came to passe and for this cause the Romaynes created Gratian Pope as one that had saued the commoÌ„ wealth Henry the Emperour hearing of these sturres in haste came to Rome helde a Synode wherein those three Benedict Syluester Gregorie were condemned and the fourth Pope created in theyr steede called Clemens the second And thus

he might binde all the bishops and clergye to be more subiecte to Rome who now depended more on their Princes because of the bestowiÌ„g of the lyuings wherby the Popes strength encreased the teÌ„poral Princes were weakened and neglected of their clergye And the better to atchieue his purpose because Henry the Emperour was chiefe of temporall Princes he attempted it first againste him for this matter he sommoned a councell at Rome wherto the Emperour could haue no regarde because of his warlike affayres then presente And yet this matter so delighted the Pope that for compassing it he spared neyther treason nor murther but in manye places he procured ciuill warre sedition with al kinde of mischiefe that might be For first seekinge the Emperours death he atteÌ„pted it diuers wayes as thus amonge other euen in the Church The Emperour saith Benno vsed to go to prayers to S. Maryes Church in Auentine hill Hildebrand therefore hauinge his false espyes caused the place to be wel noted where the Emperour vsed to kneele or sit in the Church all seruice time hyred one to go and laye certaine great stones secretelye in the roofe of the Church righte ouer the same place in such sort as he might throwe them downe vppon the Emperours head and so slaye him which as this fellowe went aboute and was busye wyth a great stone the waighte thereof ouerwhelmed him so as he fell downe to the pauement and the stone vppon him which brused him so as he dyed of that which hee had prouided to slaye the Emperour withall This thinge being knowen the Romaynes bound his heeles to a roape and drewe the dead carkasse through Rome streats three dayes together for an example Againe saith Benno Iohn bishoppe of Portua who was of Hildebrands priuye councell said in his preachinge before the people clergye in S. Peters Church what meaned Hildebrand and we to do this thiÌ„g wherby we should be burned aliue meaninge that violence which they had vsed towarde the Sacrament of Christes bodye Because Hildebrand demaunding of it as the heathen vsed to do of their idols what successe he shoulde haue against the Emperour because the Sacrament spake not and gaue him no aunsweare he threw it into the fyre maugre all the Cardinals that were about him and said to the Sacrament most blasphemouslye Could the idoll Gods of the heathens giue them aunswere of theyr successe and can not thou tell mee He excommunicated the Emperour being a coÌ„formable Prince withoute lawfull accusation without canonicall citacion or iudicial order and caused his peeres to reuolt froÌ„ him and soughte by secrete traytors to murther him Also hee caused the bishops to sweare them selues vtter ennemies against him wresting wringinge places of the Scripture to make a shew to maintaine his purpose But sayth Benno as sone as he roose vp from his chayre being newly framed of wood by Gods workinge it claue in peeces was rente terriblye into diuers partes When he sawe that his secrete treasons toke not effect he brast out into open outrage and enmitye he excommunicated the Emperour and discharged all his subiectes of theyr allegeauÌ„ce gaue his crowne vnto Rodolpho duke of Sueuia which he sent to him with this poesye Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rodolpho This moued the Emperour very sore in so much that hee stripped himselfe out of his royall roabes and puttinge on wollen apparell came with his wyfe and his sonne a litle child in the depth of winter a cruel and perillous iourneye to Canusius and stoode barefooted at the gates of the Citie fasting from morning to night suing humblye for pardoÌ„ at Hildebrands hand and for three dayes suffered with lameÌ„table miserye to be laughed at and flowted by Hildebrand amonge his paragons and monkes He desired often to be let in to come to the Pope but hee was still aunswered for three dayes together that the Pope was not yet at leasure to speake with him The good and gentle Emperour toke it paciently to be thus delayed and because he could not be let into the Citye he abode in the suburbes w t his great inconuenience for the frost was verye extreame more then ordinarye and yet he endured it continuallye 3. dayes least by taking his ease he should haue offended my Lorde bishops grace and still he sued to be pardoned At the length the fourth daye by the intercession of the Countesse Mathilda who for loue not for honesty was in fauour with the Pope the abbot of Cluny and Adelaus Earle of Sauoy he was admitted to come in And thoughe hee craued pardon on his knees offered vp his Crowne yet would the Pope neither pardon him nor absolue him vnlesse hee woulde promise that accordinge to the Popes appointment he would purge him of his fault in the councel with other vnlawfull conditions All which he promised and confirmed with hand seale and yet was not restored to his estate This being knowen the Princes Lordes of Italye were highlye offended that the Emperour Henry in such maner with so great dishonour and so shamefullye had submitted himselfe to recouer the fauoure of this Hildebrand who by treachery purloyned the Popedome and defiled all thinges with slaughter and harlotrye But the Pope and his Cardinals beinge puffed vp with this that they had brought the Emperour to this seruile yoake began to attempt further matters but Henry reueÌ„ged this dishonour sone after by the sworde and after sharpe battelles he ouercame Rodolpho who hauinge his hand cutte of commaunded to bring vnto him the bishops and auctors of his rebellion before whom he sayde thus hauing his hand layde before them I am quoth he iustye plagued lo this is the hand wherewith I pleighted my allegeaunce to my soueraigne Lord Henry and by your enticements I haue often time fought against him to my losse and falsifyed my fayth and therefore haue receyued the rewarde due to my periurye Consider therefore whether ye haue guided me righte or no Go ye therefore and stand to your first fayth vowed to your king for I must go to my father this being said he dyed After his death at the Popes commaundement they set vp another to be Emperour one Harman a SaxoÌ„ County of Lucelburg who while he was assaulting a certaine Castell in Germanye was slaine by a certaine great stone which a woman hurled downe vpon him And yet the Popes malyce ceased not but he raysed vp a thirde traytour againste the Emperour eueÌ„ his kinsmaÌ„ Egbertus a Marquesse who also being taken in a Mill by the Emperours frends was miserably slaine In the meane time the Pope did solace himselfe with the companye of Mathilda who forsaking her husbande Azon Marquesse of Esta kept continually by the Popes deare side whereby she was called S. Peters doughter and so of one ieast another spraÌ„g for as Lambert HirswaldeÌ„sis saith the talke was how S. Peters doughter liued in secret incest w t S Peters heyre

to the Popes letter FRederick by the grace of God Emperour of the Romaynes Augustus euermore to Hadrian Pope of Rome and to al those that are vvilling to cleaue to that vvhich Christ began to do and teach sendeth greetinge The lavve of Iustice restoreth to euerye man his ovvne For vve do not dishonour our auncestours to vvhom vvithin this our kingdome vve yelde due reuerence by vvhom vve haue enherited our Crovvne and regall dignitye Is it knovvne that Syluester bishoppe of Rome in the time of Constantine the Emperour had anye kinglye poart But by his godlye graunte the Church obtayned libertye peace vvas restored and vvhat soeuer your princelye pontificality is knovvne to haue it came by the bountifulnes of Princes VVhereby vvhen soeuer vve vvrite to the Pope by good righte vve set our ovvne name former and accordinge to the rule of Iustice vve allovve it to him vvritinge to vs. Loke ouer the Recordes and if ye marked not in readinge vvhich vve auouche there ye shall finde it But vvhy shoulde vve not require homage and royal oathes tovvarde our parson of them that are Gods by adoption and possesse the royaltye belonging to vs Seing that he vvho taught both vs and you takinge nothing of a Prince but geuinge al goodnes to all men yet payde tribute to Caesar for himselfe and Peter and gaue you an example that ye shoulde do the like And so he teacheth you saying Learne of mee for I am humble and gentle of harte Therefore let them eyther graunte vnto vs that belongeth to our royaltye or els if they vvill challenge this for their more commoditye then let them paye vnto God that is due vnto GOD and vnto Caesar that is due vnto Caesar. The Churches are shut to your Cardinals and the Cityes are not open vnto them and reason good because vvee see that they are not feeders but steâ—â—ers of their flockes not kepers of peace but catchers of pence not those that amend the vvorld but that deuoure it But vvhen vvee shall see them such as the Church requireth bearinge peace giuinge light to their countreye assistinge the cause of the lovvlye in equity vve vvil forthvvith succour them vvith necessarye stipends and sustinaunce But ye do much discredit your humilitye and curtesye beinge the sauegâ—rde of all vertues vvhen ye moue to secular parsons such questions as do not much further religion Let therefore your fatherlye vvisedome prouide least vvhile ye sturre aboute such vnmeete matters yee giue offence vnto those vvhich applye themselues to giue eare to the vvords of your mouth as it vvere to a shovver of raine after Harueste For vve cannot but aunsvveare to those thinges vvhich vve heare vvhen vve see the detestable beast of pride to haue crept euen to Peters seate so long as vve purpose God vvillinge continuallye to prouide for peace and the Church Fare ye vvell Here may you discerne somwhat the dealing and spirite of the Romain bishops which I leaue to euery one 's owne indifferent consideration To returne to the matter hereuppon this Pope Hadrian did excommunicate the Emperour and by his Legates sent from Rome prouoked rebellions against him in Italye and other places and brought it secretly to passe that the conspiracye of the rebels should be made the stronger by these lawes confirmed among them by oath that none of them should take peace with him wtoute the whole consent of all the rest And againe that if this Pope Hadrian should dye they should choose none to be Pope but one of those Cardinals that were of the conspiracye against the Emperour But shortlye after God punished this Hadrian very straungelye for sayth Abbas Vspergensis in Frederico primo it came to passe that this Pope Hadrian the fourth going to Agnania to denounce the excommunication against the Emperour after he had taryed there a fewe dayes walked forth with some of his companye to coole him selfe And when he came to a certaine springe of water he drancke thereof and forthwith a flye did enter into his mouth and did cleaue to his throte in such sort that no art of the PhisitioÌ„s could get it away and so he was choaked therew t and died therof Anno 1159. in the fift yeare of his Popeship But the Italians being thus set on by the Pope deuised continuallye treasons against the Emperour amonge other practised to haue murthered him by a certaine counterfeit foole beinge in deede an excellente Musician who had surelye slaine him but that the Emperour driuen to his shift leaped out at the fifte window downe into a riuer which ranne vnder the place where he was The foole beinge taken was also throwne downe out of the same windowe and so he brake his necke After this they hyred an enchanter of Arabia who poysoned his bridle his spurres his ringes and his stirope and such other thinges that with the onlye touching thereof he should haue beene slaine But he was bewrayed and hanged vp This Pope Hadrian made king Henry the second of Englande Lorde of Irelande Carion in his Chronicle wrytinge of Conradus the thirde Emperour of Germanye sayth that it is found written that this Pope Hadrian the fourth euen a little before his death should say that there is no kind of life vpon earth more wretched theÌ„ to be Pope and to get the Popedome by bloud is not to succeede Peter but Romulus whoe for the kingdome slue his owne brother III. Alexander the thirde ALexander the third was borne in Hetruria called first Rolland Chancelour After Hadrian the fourth had his breath stopped and was choaked with a flye this man succeded him beinge farre worse then the other But because that all partyes coulde not agree to elect him nine of the Cardinals that held on the Emperours part did choose another Pope called Octauianus a citizen of Rome being a priest and Cardinall of S. Clements whom they called Victor the fourth And after the death of this Victor the sciesme and discention beinge continued three Popes succeeded in order Paschalis Calixtus and Innocentius all which withstoode this Pope Alexander and made greate turmoyles in the Church of Rome and al perished he yet lyuinge But when the Emperour sommoned a councell at Papia wherby the strife might be ended and the matter debated that he might be confirmed Pope that had the better right this Alexander defyinge the Emperours Embassadours aunswered proudlye that the Pope as he toke himselfe to be is to be iudged by no man and thus sent awaye the Embassadours with great contempte and sendinge his letters throughe all Christendome he plagued both the Emperour and this Victor with excommunications And because he might assure Rome to himselfe hee sente letters forthwith to Iohn Cardinall of sainct Peters Church who supplyed his roume there who by briberye and flatterye so curried fauor with the people that he allured the most parte of the Citye to fauour Alexander and to make those Consuls that did most leane to his part In the meane

troublesome dealings was nicknamed Turbanus was borne in Millen He as sone as he was made Pope was carefull at the first to set the Christian Princes at concord least while they were deuided the PagaÌ„s should destroy them but lo how it fel out for sayth Crantzius because the Emperour woulde not in all pointes followe his minde hee purposed forthwith to drawe out his blade of excommunication against the Emperour wherby he made the matter worse but death toke him away in time and preuented him As some thincke he dyed for griefe because he heard dailye encrease of the miserye amonge the Christians how Saladinus triumphed in victorye against them with their great slaughters Hierusalem beinge taken againe and kinge Guido also as he was going to Venice to repayre his armye In this Popes time on MidsoÌ„mer daye at vi of the clocke in the morninge was an Eclipse of the Sunne after which ensued a greate pestilence in Polonia Russia and other countryes By the bolstring vp of this Pope the monkes of Canterbury did in matter of coÌ„trouersye out swaye both the archbishop and king theyr Prince Henry the second who were glad to yeld to the monks their desire for feare of the Popes threatning 114 Gregorie the eight GRegorie the viii borne in Apulia succeded Vrban At this time the Popes seemed very carefull for the recouery of the holy land Iudea and Hierusalem beinge but a vaine and false colour of them to weaken the Princes of ChristeÌ„dome wherby they might the better maister them one by one and by this meanes also being so holy a shewe they so occupied the mindes of Christian Princes that they coulde entende to haue no regarde to the Popes doinges whoe in the meane time while they had no eye vnto him wrought his feates to the great enriching aduauncinge of his owne dignitye For so this Pope Gregorie euen at his first entraunce did send letters to the Princes of Christendome to rayse their armyes to go to recouer Hierusalem and to spend their bloude in a vaine quarel but as he was going to stir vp the Pisans Genuans in this matter he was poysoned and so dyed before hee had raigned two monthes 115. Clemens the third CLemens the third a Romaine sonne of one Iohn Scholar He at his first entraunce sent out commaundement to make warre vppoÌ„ the Sarracens wheruppon the Princes raysed theyr armyes the chiefe wherof are these Frederick the Emperour Philip king of Fraunce Richarde king of Englande and Otho duke of Burgundye and diuers bishops and archbishops with sondry people of Denmarke Fryzeland and Flaunders but yet they did almost nothing at all King Richard of England comming nigh to Rome in his iourneye met with one Octamanus bishop of Hostia to whom he complayned much of the vnsaciable and shamefull simony vsed by the Pope and his courte for taking vii huÌ„dred markes for consecrating the bishop Cenomanensis also fifteene hundred markes of VVilliam byshop of Elye for his office of Legatship beside an houge somme of money of the bishop of Burdeaux for absoluinge him wheÌ„ he should haue bene deposed for a crime vrged against him by his clergye Anno 1188. VVilliam king of Sicil dyed and left no heyre and therefore the Pope by and by would needes claime it to be tributarye to the Church of Rome and belonginge to it But the peeres of the Isle chose Tancred bastard to king VVilliaÌ„ The Pope therefore determined to chalenge and try his right by the dinte of the sword whereby he filled the world full of â—poylings and slaughter and yet he obtayned not his purpose and so left of He made diuers Canons and amoÌ„g other this one that none but the Pope might remoue a bishop from one sea to another or to an hyer dignitye Also he decreed that bishops should be preferred in dignitye aboue Princes He commaunded to celebrate the Masse with vnleuened bread and wyne mingled with water with many other ceremonyes He sent a Cardinal into Poland to reforme the clergy who among other matters in a Synode there held forbad them to haue wyues and because the Danes decreed mariage lawful to their clergye they were excomunicated by the Pope who dyed Anno 1191. 116. Celestine the thirde CElestine the third was borne in Rome he being an old man at Easter time after the death of Clement was made Pope by the bishops and Cardinals the next day he crowned Henry the sixt Emperour This Celestine grudging that Tancred did enioye the kingdome of Sicilia maryed vnto the sayd Emperour a Nonne out of PanormitaÌ„ Nonnery called Constance the doughter of Roger vppon this condition that he shoulde chalenge the kingdome of both Sicils for a dowrye and should driue out Tancred and possesse it himselfe alwayes prouided that the Pope should haue his yearelye tribute oute of it And thus the Sueuian Captaynes became Lordes of Sicill but thereuppon ensued bloudy warres After the death of this Henry through the greate diuision in the Empire there arose such debate through all Germany while the Pope was at defiaunce w t the Sueuians for the soueraignitye of Sicill which he sought ambitiouslye so that one parishe was not at amitye with another whereby the Popes purse was excessiuely fed to appease the sciesme amonge those spirituall men Such were the practises of these holye fathers while they set the Princes of the world on worke to conquer the holye land Of the attonement of this strife Abbas Vspergensis wryteth thus which is worthy to be noted therby to discerne the holines of Rome and how it grew to this riche estate There was scaÌ„t sayth he one bishopricke or Ecclesiasticall dignity or parishe Church which was not at a braul the matter was brought to Rome to be determined but not w t emptye hands Reioyce O mother Rome because the conduites of al treasures on the earth are opened the mouÌ„taines and whole riuers of money might flowe into thy handes Reioyce vpon the iniquitie of the sonnes of men because thou art rewarded for so many mischiefes Reioyce vpon thine assistante companion Ladye Discention who hath burst loose froÌ„ the pit of bottomlesse hell that she might heape vppon thee many gubs of goulde Thou hast that which thou doest thirst after because thou hast daunted the vvorld by the malice of maÌ„kinde not by holy religioÌ„ Men are haled and drawne vnto thee not by deuocion or pure coÌ„science but by treachery and working mischiefes manifolde and the deciding of controuersies gotten with bloud Thus sayth that abbot euen in those times when wher the Popes pride flourished ranckly euen in his ruffe Pope Celestine perceyuing the aduauntage hereof for his estate was still vrgent to sende out the Christian Princes to fighte for the holye lande while he at home with theyr treasures builded for his ease pleasure as Platina mentioneth diuers stately Pallacies and Temples Amonge many decrees he made that an oath made by feare and coÌ„pulsion should be

crosses shoulde passe ouer to assist the Emperour but he draue them oute of Apulia Lombardye shewinge himselfe a wicked and mischieuous man by many other meanes in slaying those Germaynes that returned from the Emperour moste cruellye Thus while the good Emperour defended the flocke of Christe with the sworde abroade the Pope deuoured and spoyled them at home After the Emperour had wonne from the SoldaÌ„ Hierusalem Nazereth Ioppa hee toke a truce with him for tenne yeares whereof he certifyed the Pope by his letters looking that the Pope woulde haue shewed himselfe ioyfull therof and all Christians likewyse But the Pope despysing and reiecting the letters commaunded the messengers that broughte them to be put to death leaste they should make report of the Emperours noble successe Also he spreade this rumour that the Emperour was dead to this ende to make such Cityes in Apulia to shrincke for feare as had with stode to submit themselues to him And both to stop the Emperours returne and to obtaine Apulia at his pleasure he wrote to the Soldan desyring him not to yeld the Holy lande to the Emperour as he was about to do But the Emperour finishing his matters with the Soldan returned into Italye whereupon the slaughter of his men done by the Pope as they returned stayed and within a while he draue the Popes power oute of Apulia and by the helpe of God recouered all his owne from him Hereupon the Pope did excoÌ„municate him and curse him a newe and conspired with the Lombards and Thuscans to rebell against him because he had made a league with the Soldan But in the ende many Princes seekinge to set them at vnitye the Emperour had absolution of the Pope paying to him for it ere as Platina saith he could obtaine it an hundred thousande ounces of gould For sayth Vspergensis notwithstanding all these iniuries yet so often as the Pope did excommunicate him he craued and sued for the benefite of absolution humblye with all obedience deuocion yelding of iustice Soone after the Emperour prepared to go into Germanye to redresse certaine disorders doone by his eldest sonne Henry the Pope hearinge thereof wrote to the estates of Germanye commaundinge that they should make none of the Emperours family king of the Romaynes because the kinge of the Romaines is heyre apparent to the Empyre Frederick vnderstanding this treachery and that the Pope had conspired a freshe w t manye Princes of Italy against him did forthwith inuade Italy suppressed the rebellious Lombards wanne diuers townes in Vmbria and Hetruria subdued to the Empyre Lomberdie Viterbie Peruse Fauentia Cremona Vicentia Patauy all which had conspired with the Pope The Pope seinge this cursed him againe The Emperour hearinge of it because the Popes couetousnesse ambition tyrannye and pride grewe so great that it was no longer to be suffered thought good to reueale the same to all Christians to reclayme them from their errour and false Religion and therfore he lying in Patauy commaunded a certaine learned maÌ„ wel studyed in the Scriptures to preach before him concerninge the Popes curse of the Church of Rome After the preacher had disclosed all the abuses of the Pope and his Church the Emperour moued thereby wrote these 2. Uerses to the Pope Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput Rome that hath rulde long and hath in errour farre beene ledde Shal come to nought and cease to be on earth the supreame hedde Â¶ The Popes aunsvveare to the Emperour Niteris incassum nauem submergere Petri Fluctuat at nunquam mergitur illa ratis To drowne S. Peters shippe ye spende your labour all in vaine It tottreth oft but sinks not so but it may floate againe Â¶ The Emperours replye Fata volunt stellaeque docent auiumque volatus Quod Fredericus ego maleus orbis ero â–ª T is destinye the starres of heauen and flight of foules do showe I Frederick shal be the club to strike the deadlye blowe Â¶ The Popes aunsvveare Fata volunt Scriptura docet peccata loquuntur Quod tibi vita breuis paena perennis erit T is destenye the Scripture shewes and thy offences tell Thy life is short thy paine shall last for euermore in hell Thus was the Emperour nowe the thirde time excommunicated by the Pope and pronounced not Emperour but at this time there were manye Cardinals that disalowed the Popes doing so that the Emperour had many frends in Italy because he still sued and sought for the Popes fauour and could not haue it and now therefore he set all at defiance in maner afore shewed Of this Gregorie Mattheus Parisius sayth further callinge him bloud sucker couetous Pope that he held a councell at Rome to depose the Emperour who had maryed Isabel doughter to king Iohn of England and ere the councell began he caused the Apostles heades to be borne aboute the Citye in a solemne procession that the sighte thereof mighte astonishe mens mindes and drawe their hartes from the Emperour Also he gaue free pardon to euery one that would fight against him The Emperour vnderstanding it stopped all passages both by Sea and lande and taking many Cardinals other prelates as they were sayling awaye he put them in prison hee drowned ii Cardinals in the Sea of the rest some bishops abbots and chaplins and amonge them the Popes brother for their notorious and haynous treasons were hanged The first excommunication that was sent out against this Emperour arose of this grouÌ„d because themperour would not at the Popes commaundement daunger himselfe and many Christians with him to go out to fight for the holy land For the Pope as it appeared by his actes coueted to encroch the kingdome of both Sicils Apulia other landes so that he sought meanes how to destroy the Emperour being inheritour thereof which he mighte see come to passe by the chaunce of the warre or els while the Emperour should there haue beene busye against the infidels he in the meane time as chiefe prelate hauing Christendome committed to his credite mighte the more easely disposses the Emperour Furthermore this Gregorie was the cause of sedicion in Rome for banishing one Hannibal oute of the Senate because he sued to recouer the aunciente Romaine libertyes Also he prouoked the PoloniaÌ„s to destroy the Prutenians being his foes He made that cursed deuision in Italy which to the great confusion of ChristiaÌ„ bloud lasteth to this daye betweene the Guelphes and Gibelines for these being two of the most noble and famous houses in Italye whereof the one name whollye that is the Gibelines toke part with the Emperour the Guelphe w t the Pope and this quarrel hath doth last to this day betwene all of the one name against all of the other w t continuall reuenge as oportunitye serueth from time to time Amonge diuers other his superstitious deedes these were some he canonized S. Dominick S FrauÌ„cis

poorest At this time the Venetians spoyled the AnconitaÌ„s because they vsinge trafique into Dalmatia woulde paye them no tribute yet the Pope would not defende them as he ought to do beinge tributaryes to the Church and though in words he were hasty yet in his doinges a slouggarde and dastard The Anconitans therefore being destitute of the Popes ayde gathering themselues together brast out of the Citye vppon the Venetians besieging it draue them awaye with great damage But the Pope vsinge the aduise of Iohn Caietan who theÌ„ ruled all because by his ayde he came to be Pope he sent his Embassadours both to Michael Paleologus the kinges of the West to moue them in his name to make peace amoÌ„ge themselues and to prouide to send their powers against the Sarracens which if Paleologus would not do keepe the vnitye promised he woulde giue his Empyre from him to Charles kinge of Sicill He prophesyed by the course of the starres that he him selfe should liue longe and tould this to euery man in his vanitye as one whose wante of discretion was euident to euery man But behould while he thus vaunted his cunninge in prophecyinge and constellations openlye in a certaine chamber which for his pleasure hee had builded in his Pallaice at Viterbium the fourth day after fell downe sodainlye Anno 1277. After this ruine wherein he perished myserablye he was founde the seuenth day after hauinge raigned viii monthes Valerius called the place which fell downe Gamesters hall and Stella calleth it the precious Chamber for the Pope had builded it so gorgeouslye for his pleasure After his death the seate was voide through great contention vi monthes 129. Nicolas the thirde NIcolas the third a Romaine called first Iohn Caietan after vi monthes with great discention and brauling of the Cardinals obtayned the seate Charles king of Sicil was as Senatour president in their consistorye who was very vrgent to choose some Frenchman Pope and therefore this Nicolas hauing gotten the place purposinge to abate the power of Charles toke from him the Vicarship of Hetruria filled Italye full of broyles And for his owne lucre hee perswaded Peter kinge of Aragon to clayme the kingdome of Sicill sayinge that it belonged to him by the inheritaunce of his wyfe Constance which liked Peter but note the sequeale Peter with a great nauye went to Sardinia and there wayted wheÌ„ some motions should arise in Sicill for the Sicillians making a conspiracy against Charles and the Frenchmen appointed a daye that as soone as at eueninge a bell should be tould the Frenchmen shoulde be forthwith murthered both man woman child wherein they were so cruell that they slue euen women with child But this horrible deede was not doone vnder Pope Nicolas but in the time of his successour Martin the fourth Also this Nicolas toke to himselfe the Senatourship which Clement the fourth had bestowed on Charles and forbad for euer that any Prince or kinge should be so hardy to desire or take vppon him that dignitye By his falsehoode it came to passe that Flaunders Bononia the royaltye of Rauenna which longe time were vnder the Emperour became subiect to the Pope Amonge other buildinges that he made aboute Rome he enclosed a warrante of hares w t hye walles wherein euen in his Popeship he vsed often to hunt He bestowed syluer cases for the Apostles heades he was reproued of many for making his nephewe Berthold Earle of Romundiala for another of his nephewes beinge a Dominican Cardinall because he sente him Embassadour into Hetruria For Platina and Stella and other complaine that he loued his kindred to well so that he bestowed withoute lawe on them that which he had filched froÌ„ other for he toke perforce from some nobles of Rome certaine Castels and bestowed them on his freindes He made the Gibelines being seditious meÌ„ magistrats at his owne lust in Florence and els where to defende and maintaine his tyrannye Also he purposed to make two kinges of the stocke of Vrsines the one in Lombardye the other in Hetrury but while he purposed this he dyed sodenly of an Apoplexye without speakinge any worde Anno 1281. in the fourth yeare of his Popeship and yet it was thoughte by his goed complexion he should haue liued much longer Some saye that one foretolde the death of this Pope by the rysinge of the riuer Tiber which then happened The report is that of a concubine he begat a sonne that had hayre and clawes like a beare it is written in Iohn Noueomagus in illustrationibus Bedae 130. Martin the fourth MArtin the fourth a Frenchman called before Simon was nexte made Pope by the Cardinals of Fraunce who then were the greater nomber He woulde not be Crowned at Viterbium because he thoughte that Citye was excommunicated because they had made a tumult against the Cardinals for the Viterbians entring into the consistorye apprehended the Cardinals and put them in prison dryuinge out and contemninge the house of Vrsins therefore Martin going to an olde towne called Oruietus did there kepte all his solemnitye made viii Cardinals the same daye to strengthen his power Also hee did not onelye entertaine curteouslye kinge Charles comminge to him but also restored to him the dignitye of Senatorship which Pope Nicolas had taken froÌ„ him which thinge displeased many because it should make seditioÌ„ in the Citye the Vrsine being now returned and their ennemyes driueÌ„ out for Charles for the hatred conceyued against Nicolas was sore bente against the Vrsines But Pope Martin meaninge to worke warelye did much set by Matthew de Aquisporta a FranciscaÌ„ of the house of the Vrsines a Cardinal bishop of Portua He excoÌ„municated Peter king of Aragon who went about to inuade the kingdome of Sicil w t his nauy against Charles also he gaue his kingdome for a â—ooty to one that did desire to enioy it He released his subiectes from their allegeaunce callinge him an vsurper of Church goodes But Peter defyinge all this did by the helpe of Paleologus obtaine the kingdome of Sicill the Sicilians also beinge able no longer to sustayne the pride Iust of the FrenchmeÌ„ at the perswasion of Iohn Prochita conspired against Charles and ringinge the belles did at once without anye regarde murther all the Frenchmen Pope Martin amonge other thinges graunted to the Romaynes libertye to chose two Senatours of the nobilitye and excommunicated Paleologus He made warre against the Forolinians He bestowed great pryuiledges vpon the begging fryers and as he was taking his accustomed recreation with his chapleins as Carsulan testifyeth a certaine secrete disease came vppon him which after hee had sayd it panged him extreamlye he dyed Anno 128â— and yet the Phisicions coulde finde no token of death in him Some write that this Pope in the first yeare of his Popeship receyued into his familiarity the concubine of his predecessour Nicolas but to auoyde the like chaunce that

dominicans he left to the Church great store of treasure he kept diuers concubines he dyed of an ague while he was hyring one Zotus a conning painter to porâ—rature the storyes of martyrs in his newe buildinges Anno 1342. Of whom these Uerses were made Iste fuit vero laicis mors vipera clero Deuius a vero turba repleta mero About this time Iohn Stratford beinge bishop of Canterbury did greatly abuse king Edward the thirde both in defraudinge him of his treasure when he needed it most in his warres in Fraunce and refusing obstinatly afterward to come at the kinges commaundement to aunsweare vntill time place serued according to his owne pleasure Benedicts coÌ„mon sayings were these to be noted Be thou such a sonne as thou desirest to haue cosens The euil maâ— dreadeth death but the good man feareth him more Those thinges that thou hast learned keepe by reading and get by learning those thinges that thou wantest It is as great shame to haue no freindes as to chaunge them oft It is more dishonour to a Prince to be ouercome with benefits then by force of armes 139. Clement the sixt CLement the sixt borne in Lemonia by professioÌ„ a Benedictine called before Peter Rogers being abbot of Phisca succeded Benedict at Auenio This maÌ„ with his faction troubled the Romaine Empire aboue measure for he excommunicated sayth Naucler all the Princes lordes and bishops that consented to the doings of Lewis To deface the Emperour he created Uicountes and made them Uicares of the Empyre Lewis on the other side appointed other Uicares to gouerne the Church Ierom Marius in his booke called Eusebius Captiuus doth thus set out the rigour of Pope Clement Clement the sixt sayth he much giuen to women honour and auctoritye prouoked with diuelishe furye set vp bills in wrytinge vpon Church doares wherein he threatned the Emperour to be punished w t more cruell tormentes vnlesse he woulde obey the Popes minde and that within three dayes and would giue vp his right of the estate imperiall Great was the cruelty of this Clement voyde of clemency The Emperour commeth to Frankeforde and preparing with all diligence to do all that was commaunded besought the Pope by his Embassadours to pardon him and to receiue him to fauour But the Pope aunswered the Embassadours that he would neuer pardon Lewis vnlesse he would first confesse all his errours and heresyes and yelde vp the Empire and put into the Popes hand both himselfe his children goodes possessions to dispose them at his pleasure would promise that he would neuer more enioy any part thereof without the fauour of the Pope deliuered a certaine fourme of of these articles in wryting to the Embassadours coÌ„mauÌ„ding them to carye the same to Lewis The good Emperour least if he did not thus submit himselfe it mighte bee cause of slaughter and sedition receiued the order taken by the Pope and looking vpon it was content in such wyfe to saue Christian bloud and therefore he did not onely set his seale to it but gaue his oath to performe all Which when the Pope heard he waxed angrye But note whether hee toke the Emperour to fauoure and whether he shewed anye token of good will by that which followeth Lewis shewed that order to the Princes electours and oratours The Princes detested and abhorred certaine of the articles because they were deuised by the Pope to the confusion of the Empyre and therfore they promised sufficient ayde to the Emperour if as he did before he would maintaine the libertye and honour of the Empyre They sence Embassadours desiringe the Pope not to exact those articles that tended to the vtter subuersion of the Empyre and the oratours crauinge and doing nothing els came awaye againe But Clement blaming Lewis onelye for all did purpose the destruction of him and his children he cursed him cruelly euen at consecrating the Sacrament He renued all the extreame processes which Pope Iohn had giuen out against him he pronounced him to be an heretick and scismatick He charged the Princes electours to choose another Emperour He deposed the Archbishop of Mens both of his bishoprick and auctoritye of electorship because he knowing the Emperours innocencye and vngiltiues woulde not abuse his maiestye But the other electours being brybed with money by Iohn king of Bohemia as the bishop of Colen who toke viii Thousande markes the duke of Saxonye two Thousande markes did appoint his sonne Charles to be king of the Romaynes whoÌ„ this vncurteous Clement did allowe afterward in open consistorye But who is able to report the horrible bloudshed and warre that arose in the Empire by meanes of this mischiefe wroughte by Clement for kinge Edward the thirde of England slue xx Thousande Frenchmen and Iohn king of Bohemia father to Charles was slaine with many nobles But Lewis yet takinge thought because of the Popes processes not medling with the gouernment of the Empyre was by the Popes procurement poysoned in a cuppe whereof he dyed Thus wryteth Marius Lo by these kinde of treacheryes haue the prelates of Rome brought the Empyre to the low ebbe and poore estate that it is at this daye for the sayde Charles whom they against all lawe created to make his sonne to succede him did so corrupt the electours wyth bribes and fayre promises that he morgaged to them the coÌ„mon reuenues of the Empyre which they enioye to this daye and therefore the Romaine Empyre cannot aduauÌ„ce it selfe againe For then the Electours coÌ„pelled Charles to take an oath that these pledges should neuer be reclaymed whereby at length it came to passe that the Empyre being thus decayed the Turke inuaded the Church of Christ destroyed it wonderfullye and it is by the especial grace of God that Mahomets blasphemye doth not wyth fyre and sworde rage ouer all Christendome c. This Pope Clement now at the fiftye yeare renued the Iubelie beinge absent caused it to be celebrated at Rome Anno 1350. for his aduauntage and sayth PremonstrateÌ„sis there were fiue Thousande straungers comming in going out at Rome as might wel be counted dailye within the said yeare He made at seuerall times xii Cardinals whereof some were monkes some his nephewes and kinsemen beside he promoted diuers other to dignityes bestowed cost on diuers buildinges He gaue licence to the bishop of Bamberge to absolue those that toke parte wyth Lewis but vppon these conditions first that they shoulde sweare fealty to him as to the Uicar of Christe secondly that they should beleue that the Emperour hath no power neither to make nor marre the Pope thirdlye that they should acknowledge none to be Emperour whoÌ„ the Pope had not confirmed While his companioÌ„s and seruaunts went to dinner leauing onely his chamberlayne with him he fel downe sodeinly dyed of an impostume Anno 1352. This Clement sayth Marius toke vpoÌ„ him so prodigally in his Popedome that he gaue to his Cardinals in

he yelded soueraignity to the sea of Rome he builded scholes for those that should studye Phisicke and the Decretals Briget a woman of Sweaueland came to him to Rome because of a vowe that she had made and procured that there should be Religious parsons both men women of the order of S. Briget Afterward be returning into Fraunce made one Iohn Hawcuth an EnglishmaÌ„ liefetenaunt of his army in the steade of Giles that was dead that he might still defende the Ecclesiastical iurisdiction vntil he should returne for he purposed not to returne to Italye But while he wente into Fraunce hopinge to returne to his court in Rome Anno 1371. he dyed at Massilia poysoned as it is thought Sabellicus wryteth that he made great warre in Italye yea eueÌ„ with the Princes that his auncetours had set vp against the Emperour he slue manye of them In this Popes time sayth Premonstratensis the archbishop of Collen had a wyfe In his time also the order of the Iesuits Scopetines orders first began as Iohn Palionedorus testifyeth in the third booke and second Chapter of his tripartite historye 142. Gregorie the xi GRegorie the eleuenth borne in Lenomony called before Peter Belfortius was Cardinall of newe S. Maryes and nephewe to Pope Clement he succeded Vrban This Gregorie sayth Platina was made Cardinall when hee was scante xvii yeares old by his vncle Clement and least he should seeme to haue more regard to his kindred then to the Church he sent him to the best learned doctours in Italye to be brought vp in learning especiallye to one Baldus whoe then read the Popes decretals at Peruse where he profited in all kinde of such learninge as Baldus coulde teache him so much that the sayd Baldus for the assurance of his owne affayres being in daunger vsed his auctoritye for his owne safetye Gregorie being Pope sent a Cardinall into Italye to ouersee according to custome the estate of the Church But because as Volaterain sayth almost all the Cityes reuolted froÌ„ him by the councell of Katherine a Nonne of Scene which afterward became a saint of Baldus his scholemaster he returned from Fraunce vnto Rome with xii galleyes Or as Sabellicus saith because that he reprouing a certaine bishop for being nonresident was by the same bishop reproued againe that he being the chiefe bishop did yet lye so farre and so long from the place of his Church Anno 1376. he excommunicated out of the Church the Florentines who were the auctours of the reuolting and had taken to their vse al the Popes townes lying about them and because they despised and defyed the terrour and vaine boults of his excommunication he warred vpon them Some other saye he returned into Italye for other causes Masseus sayth that one Briget a woman returned from Hierusalem to Rome wrote to Pope Gregorie that it was the Lords pleasure that the Popes court should returne to Rome Crantzius saith it was because a certaine bishop did sharpelye rebuke him that he woulde leaue his Church and followe the Courte Of whom the Pope receyued this aunsweare And thou quoth he beinge Pope of Rome that ought to be an example to other doest not returne to this bishopricke And therefore he did againe translate his seate from Fraunce to Rome by the perswasion of two women and one bishop in the 70. yeare after the translation thereof This Gregorie demaunded tenthes throughout the whole Empyre and repayred the walles of the City and old buildings with great pompous cost He added the eue to the holye daye of the byrth of the blessed virgin Mary In the time of this Pope king Edwarde the third of Englande made many profitable lawes abridginge the Popes pilladge vsurpation and ambition within the Realme Also certaine souldiours of this Pope Gregorie lyinge in a Citye called Cesenata did not onelye take thinges as victuals and other necessaryes refusinge to paye for it but also did beate like slaues the Citizens vpon further sturre they murthered them pityfullyâ— sparing neyther man woman nor child though they were sucking babes so that they filled all pittes in the Citye wyth dead karcasses for in a fewe houres vpon one daye they slue in the Citye of all ages viii Thousande and then robbed spoyled the towne and so left it desolate emptye Theodoricus lib. 3. Cap. 2. At the length Anno 1378. he dyed of extreame paine of the bladder Euen at the houre of the Popes death the report is that the Pallaice of Auenio was set on fyer coulde not be quenched till the greater part thereof were burnt Afterwarde ensued the greatest sciesme and deuision that euer happened in the Popedome Then sayth Massaeus the clergye and people of Rome complayning to the Cardinals besought them to choose an Italian not a French man Pope that the Courte mighte not go into Fraunce againe But when they began to make an election sodenlye a controuersy began for the Italians were but foure and the French Cardinals were xiii who mighte easelye haue preuayled but they durst not for the Romaynes stoode readye in armour and made a tumult Therefore on Saturdaye being the ix day of Aprill they choose Vrban the sixt to be Pope who was Crowned on Easter daye being the xviii daye of the sayde moneth Praemonstratensis sayth that in the time of this Vrban the sixte began a newe and straung sect of bedlams both of men and womeÌ„ who vsed to skip and daunce against all modestye who Anno 1375. came sayth he from Aquisgran into Hannonia and so into Fraunce which might prognosticate the returne of Pope Gregorie and his Cardinals to Rome This sect of DauÌ„cers imagined with themselues that they dauÌ„ced in riuers of bloud but they that stoode by could perceiue no such thing The people thought that these dauncers were euill baptized by priestes keepinge harlots and therefore the people thoughte to haue risen against the clergye to slaye them to spoyle them of their goods vnlesse God had withstoode it sayth he by certaine coniurations 143. Vrban the vi VRban the sixt being but a poore man and very obscure borne in Naples called otherwyse Barthelmew and at length archbishop of Bare but neuer Cardinal and absent the Romaynes vrging it very sore was chosen Pope He being chosen Pope Iane Queene of Sicill bestowed great cost in tryumphing for ioye and sente to him for presentes fourty thousand dukates in gould siluer besides wynes victuals and other thinges yelding also to him her kingdome and all that she had to be at his commaundemente Likewise her husband the noble Otto duke of Brunswick and Prince of Tarentum offered him the like curtesy But sayth Theodoricus of Nyem lib. 1. cap. 7. sone after Otto after dinner amonge many great estates and Cardinals drancke to the Pope but Vrban was so proud that he suffered the noble Prince to kneele before him a great while ere he would take the cup out of his hande in so much that

one of the Cardinals moued withall sayd vnto him Most holy father it is time for you to take the cuppe drincke Whereby he fulfilled the ould sayings Asperius misero nihil est qui surgit in altuÌ„ And againe Corde stat inflato pauper honore dato Claw a churle c. But greater vnkindnes hee shewed in the ende both vnto this duke Queene Iane his wyfe for by his meanes Otto was taken and murthered and Iane also committed to prison and therein miserablye strangled to death by one duke Charles who contrarye to his oath by procurement of this Vrban violentlye wrested from them that had broughte him vp y kingdome of Sicill with their liues for furtheraunce whereof Vrban sould the proprieties and lands of Churches and Monasteryes in Rome beside great store of siluer and golden challecies crosses images and such like monuments turned into wyne and giuen to Charles to the summe of fourescore Thousand FloreÌ„ces to maintaine his warre against the foresaid Princes in recompence whereof Charles should bestowe vpon a cowardlye wretch Francis Butillus nephewe to Vrban the dukedomes of Capuan and Amalsitan and manye noble Earledomes in the kingdome of Sicil. Vrban being enstalled warned the clergye of their dutye hee charged all the bishops with periurye because they were not resideÌ„t lying in the Court of Rome and not in their bishoprickes sayth Theodericus of Nyem and seemed that he would purge his Court of idle parsoÌ„s He warned the Cardinals diuers times to take heede of simonye and to contente themselues with their porcions he commaunded them to ryde wyth fewer horses that quoth he we maye euen from our hartes be a paterne to the people and quoth he as touchinge that ye speake of returninge into Fraunce ye knowe that I will continue still in Rome Then viii of them being Frenchmen wente first to Anagnia and afterwarde to Fundum because they feared his seueritye where they conspiring among themselues affirming that he was not true Pope but violently thrust in by the Romaynes they chose to themselues another Pope the xx day of SepteÌ„ber called Clement the seuenth whervpon arose a sciesme which was more perillous and lasted longer then euer did anye for it lasted almost xl yeares Theodoricus sayth lib. 1. cap. 11. that ClemeÌ„t being chosen manye prelats offieials courtiers did on al sides flye to him froÌ„ VrbaÌ„ so that he was left alone almost as for those y taryed w t him or resorted to him in hope of preferment or about any suetes yet they misdoubted the estate therof and murmured dailye still doubting what to do which when Vrban sawe he wept bitterlye repenting his roughe regimente the cause of all and to salue his sore and to allure the fauoure of men for his owne strength hee made xxvi newe Cardinals out of al sort of men and gaue other offices and lyuinges franckly by meanes wherof many begaÌ„ to repayre to him from diuers places hoping to speede wel in being partakers with him in this diuision Theodoricus in the 33. Chapter of his first booke reporteth that Francis Butillus nephewe to this Pope Vrban did rauishe a virgin being a Nunne in Naples keeping her perforce certaine dayes in his lodging but what marueile is it sayth he seinge the filthye will still be filthye for he was euer giuen to glotony leachery slouth and royat And yet the Pope woulde not rebuke his nephewe for this villanye but beinge told thereof and of his licentious life he vsed to aunsweare Tushe he is a yong man And yet saith Theodoricus Butillus was at this time fourty yeres old But vpon this fact there was a great murmuring among the people saying the like prancke was neuer played before in Naples And yet the Pope did not onely defende his nephewe being for it condempned to death by the kinge but also with crackes threates made the king glad to bestow a noble virgin of his owne bloud vpon the sayd Butillus threscore and tenne thousande Florences yearely with the castle of Luceria This Pope Vrban as Stella sayth was a crafty man one that would remember an iniurye and seke to reuenge Crantzius sayth he was a churlishe cruell and vnmerciful man who taking vpon him the Popedome soughte not to make peace as he should haue done amonge Christians but rather bent himselfe to reueÌ„ge the iniuries of his Cardinals and of Iane Queene of Sicill and therefore to make the Florentines to take his part he absolued them from the excommunication of Pope Gregorie and sent Iohn Hawcuth an EnglishmaÌ„ captaine of them against the Queene Furthermore he being of nature giuen to wraÌ„gling strife cruelty creating certaine new Cardinals at Nuceria he cast vii of the old Cardinals into prison because they had coÌ„spired with Clement the seuenth against him and fiue of those vii he layde vpon great stones and in despite of Clement drowned them which kinde of death also one Adam an Englishman being a Cardinal did hardly escape at the same time And of those newe Cardinals being xxix they were all Neapolitans and his cosens sauing three This Pope proclaymed warre against Charles of HuÌ„gary king of Naples because he woulde not make a nephewe of his Prince of Campania he gouerned the Church with all tyrannye that might be and to shewe his rigorous rage more openlye thus wryteth his friende Platina of him Vrban sayth he being deliuered from the terrour of Fraunce gone to Naples desireth the king to make his nephew king of Campania which wheÌ„ he could not obtaine this fellow vnder preteÌ„ce of a iust and honest man being one whom no man neither loued nor liked began forthwith to threat and crake the king whereby he so offended the kinge that for a while he commited him to the charge of certaine parsons and suffered him not to come abroade But the Pope dissembling his malice for the time departing with the kings good will to Nuceria because of the heate of the weather as he fayned and fortifying the Citye sufficientlye he doth both make newe Cardinals and imprysoneth seuen of the olde because as he sayde they had conspired with the king and Pope Clement against him Furthermore he sente out a processe against the king and a citacion accordinge to the custome the kinge aunsweared that he would shortlye come to Nuceria and aunsweare his accusations both by word and by sword So he came to Nuceria with a greate army and besieged the Citye Ramond Balsian being moued with this discurtesye beinge Prince of Tarent presuming of his power and conueying Vrban w t all his Court to the next shoore he put them into three Galleyes of Genewaies prouided for that purpose wherby while the Pope is transported to Genua he drowned fiue Cardinals fastened to rockes of those seuen which he toke at Nuceria Furthermore in the yere after the death of Charles he passed to Ferentine to see Naples as he sayde but in deede of this minde to depriue

not to be feared For these opinions Pope Eugenius caused him to be burned at Rome Anno 1436. This Thomas also thoughte reuerentlye of the mariage of the clergye for he wrote that it was against the safetye of manye soules if they were not suffered to marrye accordinge to the maner of the Greeke Church who haâ— not the gift of coÌ„tinencye Because at that time they were dishonest and blotted with vnlawful coniunction Of this Thomas Mantuan saith thus A certaine Frenchman called Thomas who as yet fostred in harte the zeale of old fayth went into Italye accompanied with a fewe For so it pleased God that the same countreye which in all thinges excelleth other should also enioye this parson being a mirror amonge men But God prouided not onelye for Italye but also for this holy man for he gaue to Italye such an one whose life it mighte follow and to the said man he gaue a crimsen crowne of martyrdome For while he liued well and in godlye order he was accused vnto the Pope of haynous treacherye by certaine spiteful fellowes and after he had suffred prison tormentes vexation at the length when they coulde finde nothinge in him worthye of death they sifted him more narrowlye and armed themselues stoutlye with iniquitye to fulfill that which by equitye they coulde not do And so committed him to the cursed fyre Of this man were manye Uerses and Epitaphes written to his greate prayse bewayling of the tyrannye vsed toward his innocent body Furthermore Eugenius ere he were Pope did repayre S. Agnes Church at Ancon and the gate of the Citye and in his Popedome he Crowned Sigismond Emperour at Rome He also after Boniface confirmed the annuities of all benefices At length he dyed at Rome Anno 1446. and was buryed at S. Peters He caryed the Miter of S. Syluester being brought from Auenion to Rome out of Vatican to Lateran with great worship and a procession He punished certaine priestes that had pilfred certaine precious stones oute of Peters and Paules head One Lewis Cardinall of Aquilegia was the first of his order that began first to maintaine houndes and horses in steede of the poore 153. Foelix the fift Foelix the fifte borne in Fraunce was an heremite called Amadeus before his Popeship He being first Duke of Sauoy hauinge a wyfe and two children Pope Eugenius being deposed was aduaunced to the seate by the voyces of xxvi Electours And notwithstandinge he were chosen by the auctoritye of Basil Synode confirmed in the Papall chayre yet he being hindred by the faction of the said Eugenius could neuer set foote in the Romaine seate which they call Peters chayre A sciesme rose hereupon that lasted â— yeares and many tumultes sprange in the kingdomes of Christendome because some would obeye Eugenius some Foelix and other some would be counted neuters And in this sciesme it made much controuersye because some held opinion that the Pope was vnder the iurisdiction of the general couÌ„cell and othersome maintayned the contrarye And of this arose another waightye and bitter controuersye whether the Pope were head of the Church or no which continueth to this day This Foelix being an aged man ere he came to be Pope liued to see the day that the sonnes of his sonnes matched in mariage with kings doughters And in the end geuing ouer all worldly charge â—e purposed to go into a wildernes to lead an heremites life with 6. knightes But as sone as he vnderstoode that he was chosen Pope by the auctoritye of the general couÌ„cell he shaued himselfe both crowne and chinne and came thether wyth a trayne of noble men and being consecrate Pope toke the function vppon him and did all thinges that belonged to the Pope to do to giue orders minister SacrameÌ„ts excoÌ„municate c. and played the Pope x. yeares He was so bountifull to the poore that being demaunded whether he kept any houndes and to shew them he aunswered that he would shew them another day But when they that asked this question were with him the next day he shewed them a great company of poore needye people that sate downe together at dinner saying these are my houndes which I feede dailye with the which I hope to hunte for the glorye of heauen It liked this maÌ„ at the length for vnitye sake Anno 1447. to vnpope himselfe and giue place to Nicolas the fift whoÌ„ he therefore made Legate of all Germanye and Fraunce and also Cardinall of Sabin but he dyed sone after 154. Nicolas the fift NIcolas the fifte was a Genewaie borne of a base stocke his father was a Chirurgeon called Barthelmew Sarzan and so this Nicolas was first called Thomas Sarzan In this one yeare he gatte to be bishop of Bononia Cardinall Pope of Rome This Nicolas being made Pope after the death of Eugenius did hange vp on the walles of Angell Casteli Steuen Porcarius a Romaine knighte w t other conspiratours raysing a tumult for the libertye of the Citye He celebrated the Iubâ—lie for lucre sake Anno 1450. At the time of this Iubelie while they chaunced once w t the crucifixe to returne from Vatican to the Citye it is very certaine to be true that the preace of people followinge was so great that the Mule of one Peter Bardus a Cardinall could not passe by because of those that came to fro so that the people also were so thronged that there was no passage but in the ende they fell vpon the Mule first one then another til the beast was euen perforce borne downe with the crowde and ere it was ceased two hundred parsons were troden to death and smothered vppon Adrian bridge manye fallinge beside the bridge were drowned which were about 136. men The Pope whose pompous superstitious idolatrous Iubelie had caused this miserye to fall vpon the fonde people did in this maner redresse the case He was sorye sayth Platina for the death of them that were slaine and therfore he remoued certaine cotages that made the waye to be straite and narrowe entringe to the bridge For the enryching of his cofers he spent all that whole yeare in this kinde of solemnitye he himselfe with his troupe of Cardinals did vewe the stages He prouided both by curse and wayters that roages and vagaboundes comminge to the Citye shoulde not misuse straungers and robbe them of their money In this Popes time the Turke wanne Constantinople to the great griefe of all Europe This Pope crowned Frederick the third Emperour and his wife Leonor He builded a sumptuous librarie in Vatican And reuiued with great dilligeÌ„ce learning and knowledge which was then almost drowned with grossenes barbarous sophistrye He appointed stipendes for learned men But amonge these his vertuous doinges and good affection towardes learning he had his vices withall and those notorious namely he was greatly giuen to dronkennes and so muche delighted therein that he soughte for all kinde of wynes from euery

throughe Italye to Naples with an army to challenge it as his enheritaunce this Pope Alexander fearing the puissaÌ„ce of that noble king did for feare of him make a league with Alphonsus king of Naples against the French kinge planted a garison of souldiours in Rome least the king should inuade it For it is ingrafted in the Italians that they enuieng the prosperitye of the FrenchmeÌ„ do alwayes detest euen the very name of FrauÌ„ceâ— so that they swearing and vowing freindship with them are not nothing abasshed in despite of God and iustice to breake their leagues And yet notwithstandinge this the Popes power yet kinge Charles preuayled in his purpose maugre their hartes and came to Rome where for feare least he should by violence breake awaye from himselfe to their greater damage the Pope coÌ„maunded that he should be curteouslye let in and that none of the Romaine souldiours vpon paine of death should make any sturre and so did Charles likewyse commaunde his armye And yet the cowardlye Pope wyth a bande of men fled dastardlye into Angel castell but after he perceyued that quietnesse was kept in the Citye he maketh a league with Charles seÌ„ding home to Alphonsus his souldiours againe But after this when Charles had beene in Apulia and coÌ„quered it he prepared to returne home into FrauÌ„ce but the Pope forgetting or neglecting his league oath thoughte to cut him short of his purpose and to take the aduauntage of Charles while he trustinge to the league shoulde not mistrust anye such falsehoode And therefore the Pope making another league with the Vetenians Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinand king of Aragon and Lewis Sfortia prouidinge an armye laye in wait for Charles his comming at Fornonium not farre from Parma euen in the waye where he should passe But notwtstanding this ambush were fourtye Thousande men and Charles had with him but vii Thousand trayned souldiers wearyed with traueling and want of necessaryes yet the bickering continued sharpe doubtful a long time with great slaughter of the Popes armye and in the ende Charles with little losse of his part gat the victorye Thus reporteth Platina or rather the author that continueth the historye of Platina where he ended it who wrote but to the time of Paule the seconde thoughe yet he heareth the name of the whole worke for those that follow are added by other In the time of this Pope an Angell that was placed aloft in Angel castell was throwne downe by the violente force of thonder and lightninges which as some thincke mighte well prognosticate the fall of the Popes estate Iohn Tisseranus a Minorite founded at Paris an order of harlots as if Christian religioÌ„ were to be edifyed by such orders Â¶ Uerses made vpon Pope Alexanders death Fortasse nescis cuius hic tumulus sict Adsta viator ni piget c. Perhaps whose tombe this is my freinde ye do not know Then pause a while if that ye haue no haste to go Though Alexanders name vpon the stone be grauen T is not that great but he that late was prelate shorne and shauen Who thirsting after bloud deuourde so many a noble towne Who tost turnde the ruthfull states of kingdomes vpsidedowne Who to enrich his sonnes so manye nobles slew And wast the world with fire and sword spoyling to him drew Defying lawes of earth and heauen and God himselfe ere while So that the sinful father did the daughters bed defile And could not from the bandes of wicked wedlock once refraine And yet this pestilent prelate did in Rome tenne yeares remaine Now freind remember Nero or els Caligula his vice Or Heliogabals enoughe the rest ye may surmise For shame I dare not vtter all away my freind wyth this Â¶ Another Epitaph vpon Pope Alexander The Spaniard lyeth heare that did all honestye defye To speake it briefely in this tombe all villany doth lye Â¶ Another Least Alexanders noble name my freind should the beguile Away for heare both treachery doth lurke and mischiefe vile Â¶ Another Though Alexander after death did vomit matter blacke Yet maruel not he drancke the same and could not cause it packe Diuers other like ill fauoured verses accordiÌ„g to his il fauoured maners were made of him which for modesty sake are partlye to be suppressed because it is not to be doubted but that chast eares would be ashamed to heare those thinges which Pope Alexander was not ashamed to do But amonge other Iohn Functius reporteth of him out of Volateraâ— that the Cardinals which chose him did first finde him vnthaÌ„ckfull for he plagued them all with diuers myseryes thrusting some into prison and punishing some with imprysonmente He warred vpon the Vrsins and conqueringe them layed them in irons and fetters His greatest care was as Innocentius did to bestow great honours on his bastards He made one of his yongest sonnes Prince of Sicilia and another called Caesareus a Cardinall and his eldest sonne a duke in Spaine who wtin a while after was murthered in the night tumbled into Tiber. His other sonne the Cardinall after the death of his brother renounced priestcraft ranne into Fraunce with a mightye masse of gould where he maryed a kinsewoman of kinge Lewis hauing with her the towne of Valentia then by the ayde of the kinge beinge at perpetuall league with him he purloyned to himselfe great dominion in Italye being therein much furthered by the Pope his father The daughter of this Pope Alexander called Lucretia with whom the monstrous father had vsed carnall companye was maryed to 3. Princes one after another First to Iohn Sfortia duke of Pisauria then she being deuorced was matched w t Alosius of Aragon bastard of king Alphonsus he beinge slaine she was wedded to AlphoÌ„suâ— duke of Ferraria What her honestye religion and modestye was in the Court of Rome during her fathers estate it maye be gathered sufficientlye by these two Uerses made vppon her death by Iohn Iouianus Pontanus Hic iacet in tumulo Lucretia nomine sed re Thais Alexandri filia sponsa nurus Here lyes Lucretia chast by name but Thais lewd by lyfe Who was to Alexander Pope both doughter and his wyfe Â¶ The Uerses of Actius Sannazarius vpon the yeare of Iubelie kept by Pope Alexander Pollicitus coelum Romanus astra sacerdos Per seelera sedes ad Styga pandit iter The Romaine priest that promised both heauen starres to sell By treacherye and murtheringes hath made a gap to hell Â¶ The Uerses of the same auctour againe Lucretia the daughter of Pope Alexander the 6. reprouing her horrible incest vvith her father Ergo te semper cupiet Lucretia Sâ—xtusâ— O fatum diri numinis hic pater est Ierom Marius in his booke Eusebius Captiuus speaking of this Pope Alexander hath these wordes What should I disclose the detestable treachery of Alexander the 6. wherof the like hath not bin heard He making a league w t the deuils of hell bequeathed

pleased God otherwyse to prouide his owne brother Paulus Vergerius bishoppe of Iustinople had not escaped his rigour â—e sent out his marcials as cruel persecutours on all sides who tormeÌ„ted the Gospellers with fyre sword burning and drowning banishing and imprysoning confiscating their goods pyning their carkases euen to death The â—â—iefe of these tormentours were Alexander Farnesius Cardinall Octauius his brother duke of Parma who were the sonnes of the forsaid Peter Aloysius the sonne of this Pope These two wyth great blustring and threatnings came out of Italye entred into Germanye Anno 1546 vauntinge and boasting verye arrogantlye that they would shed so much bloude of the Dutche Lutherans that their horses should be able to swim in the streame thereof In the meane time the wicked Pope at home was more pleasaunt with his daughter Constantia then the vse is beside this like a sinnefull wretche he prouoked to incest and most detestable whoredome another beinge his nyce a yonge gentlewoman in time past commended as well for womanlye modestye as beautye He had a booke kept of 45. Thousande harlots who for the libâ—rtye of their stewes did paye vnto him a monthlye tribute These dames sayth Eusebius Captiuuâ— are had in great honour wyth the Pope these kisse his feetâ— these haue familiar communicatioÌ„ wyth him these are his companions both by daye and by night In the time of this Pope Anno 1534. the Franciscan monkes played a cruel and bloudye pageant at Orleans in Fraunce in despite of a dead woman beinge the Maiors wyfe of the Citye who in her life desired that she might be buryed without any funerall pompe The woman beinge dead the monkes in whose Church shee was buryed receyued of her husband vi crownes and because the gifte was not greater they grudged much at it And therefore they set a certaine nouice aloft on the roofe of the Church who shoulde in the nighte time counterfaite to be the womans spirite and should crye out and say that she was dampned perpetuallye for Luthers doctrine At the leÌ„gth the matter came before the kinges councel at Paris where in presence of the Chauncellour Antonius Pratensis these two Coleman Steuen Atrebatensis being found giltye conuicted of this villanye were condemned to be put to open shame One Vulteius Remensis wrote these Uerses against this illusion Cum clamat laruas furiosa caterua leonum Infestare suam nocte dieque domum Res vera est falsi laruati denique fratres Quos vestis sanctos prodigiosa facit Sunt lemures â–ª larue furiae vulpesque lupique Qui infestant vitijs seque suamque domum One Pontacus a Popeling in his Chronicle set out the last yeare being the yere of our Lord 1573 printed at Louany by an Englishe fugitiue called Iohn Fowler reporteth in the 153. leafe thereof that this Pope Paule the third did openlye excommunicate curse the most renowmed Prince R. Henry the eyghte donauit regnum primum occupaturo gaue his kingdome to him that woulde first inuade it Nowe followeth it to speake of Peter Aloysius duke of Parma Placentia and bastarde sonne to Pope Paule the thirde who because he was proud cruell and a most lasciuious tyraunte was murthered by his owne nobles Anno 1548. the tenth day of August When this wretched villaine as both Vergerius SleidaÌ„ report out of certaine Italian historyes beinge lieâ—etenaunte generall of the Romaine armye arriued at Fane and founde there Cosmus Cherius bishop of the same Citye being aboue thirtye yeares old a man of great wysedome learning and of godlye lyfe he committed vppon him such an horrible villanye that I thincke since Sodom Gomorra were by the hande of God for the same sinne destroyed wyth showers of fier and brimstone rayninge from heauen the like hath not beene hearde of For euen by force and violence hee caused his vassals and pezauntes to holde the bishoppe while he mauger his hart in the meane time without all shame committed that deede which shame wil suffer no ciuill pen to put in wryting This treacherye infamous filthines strake such a griefe in the harte of the good bishop and was such a corsey to the innocent man that for sorrowe shame together he dyed within three dayes after And as some thincke the same Aloysius perceyuing how greuouslye he toke it gaue him poyson to dispatche him out of the waye least he should haue made complaint thereof to the Emperour For so vnaduisedlye in greate anguishe of minde he had threatned Aloysius Beside this Aloysius beinge priuye to the incest of his father presumed to committe the same deede ofteÌ„ with his sister ConstaÌ„tia And thus while his father was Pope hauing power as he thought of heauen and hell he presumed that he might do any thing lawfullye without feare and thereupon bye licentious luste did oft defile him selfe with eyther kinde He committed manye robberyes and murthers spoylinge of Churches and thondring out his blasphemyes against the maiestye of God And notwithstanding all this the Pope made of his sonne as his deare darlinge and whollye endeuored himselfe to aduaunce him to honour and when any made complaint of his wicked conuersation the Pope would litle or nothing be moued therewith but would saye after a smyling maner that He learned not this of his father Other correction of his sonne he vsed none no not for that notorious crime vpon the bodye of Cosmus O what a miserable estate is this that he who couÌ„teth himselfe to be the vicar of God that is ielous ouer the least sinnes and a seuere reuenger of iniquitye vppon his owne elected people should thus against the maiestye of that God as it were in defiance of his iustice wincke at such an horrible treacherye and suffer it to be vnpunished which Paganes and heatheÌ„ led onely by the light of reason haue loathed Yea euen the brutishe beast taught of nature coÌ„mitteth not and as I maye plainlye say if the deuil himselfe hath any remorse to be touched wyth the hydiousnes of sinne I am sure he would detest abhorre such an acte most of all If anye man be so vaine to repose his Religion vpon man and to measure the truth of doctrine by the conuersation of the person As many misled by Popishe traditions refuse the sinceritye of the Gospell for the corruption of them y professe it If those kinde of parsons loke vppon this one Pope a mightye piller of their Religion I hope they would roote out that affiauÌ„ce in his doctrine which is plaÌ„ted in their breastes or els be taught to measure the power and truth of the Gospell not by the frailtye and weaknes of man But if this waywarde reason be so beaten into their braynes that it cannot be digged oute but that they will still affirme the doctrine is not true and saye I wyll not accept of it because the professours thereof are wicked men Then let them beholde this Pope Paule a mightye

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