in this persecution by the names of Martyrs within the space of 30. days 17. thousand persons beside an other great number and multitude that were condemned to the mettall mines and quaries with like crueltie At Alexandria with Peter the Bishop of whom I haue made mention before were slayne with axes 300. aboue as Sabellicus declareth Gereon was beheaded at Colonia Agrippina with 300. of his fellowes as saith Henricus de Erfordia Mauritius the Captaine of Christian religion with his fellowes 6666. Victor in the citie of Troy now called Xanthus with his fellowes 360. were slayne as sayth Otto Phrinsigensis Lib. 2. cap 45. Reginus reciteth the names of many other Martyrs to the number of 120. And for as much as mention here hath bene made of Mauritius and Victor the perticular description of the same history I thought here to insert taken out of Ado other story writers as insueth Mauritius came out of Syria into Fraunce and Italy beyng Captaine of the bande of the Theban souldiours to the number of 6660. beyng sent for of Maximianus to goe agaynst the rebellious Bangandes but rather as it should seeme by the treason of the â—irant which thought he might better in these quarters vse his tiranny vpon the Christians then in the East part These Thebans with Mauritius the Captaine after that they had entred into Rome who were there of Marcellus the blessed bishop confirmed in the fayth promising by othe that they would rather be slayne of their enemies then forsake that faith which they had receaued who followed the Emperours hoste through the Alpes euen into Fraunce At that tyme the Caesarians were incamped not farre from the towne called Ottodor where Maximianus offred sacrifice to his deuils and called all the souldiours both of the East and West to the same straightly charging them by the aultars of his Gods that they would fight against those rebels the Bangandes and persecute the christian enemies of the Emperors Gods which his commaundement was shewed to the Thebanes hoste which were also incamped about the riuer of Rode and in a place that was named Agawne but to Ottodor they wold in no wise come for that euery man did certainly appointe and perswade with themselues rather in that place to dye then either to sacrifice to the gods or beare armour against the Christians Which thing in deede very stoutly and valiantly they affirmed vpon their othe befor taken to Maximianus when he sent for them Wherwith the tyrant beyng wrathfull and all mooued commaunded euery tenth man of that whole band to be put to the sworde whereto striuingly and with great reioysing they committed theyr neckes To which notable thing and great force of fayth Mauritius himselfe was a great incourager who by by with a most graue Oration exhorted animated his souldiours both to fortitude coÌ„stancie Which beyng again called of the Emperor answered in this wise saying We are O Emperour your souldiours but yet also to speake freely the seruants of god We owe to thee seruice of war to him innoceÌ„cie of thee we receaue for our trauell wages of hym the beginning of lyfe But in this we may in no wayes obey thee O Emperour to deny God our author and Lord and not onely ours but your Lord likewise will ye nill ye If we be not so extreemely enforced that we offend him doubtles as we haue hitherto before we will yet obey you but otherwise we will rather obey hym then you We offer here our handes agaynst any other enemies but to defile our handes with the bloud of innocentes that we may not doe These right hands of ours haue skill to fight agaynst the wicked and true enemies but to spoyle and murder the godly and Citizens they haue no skill at all We haue in remembraunce how we tooke armour in hand for the defence of the Citizens and not agaynst them We fought alwayes for iustice sake pietie and for the health of innocentes These haue bene alwayes the rewardes of our perils and trauell We haue fought in the quarrell of fayth whiche in no wife we can keepe to you if we doe not shewe the same to our God We first sware vpon the Sacramentes of our God then afterward to the king and doe you thinke the second will aduaile vs if we breake the first By vs you would plague the Christians to doe which feate we are onely commaunded by you We are here ready to confesse God the author of all thinges and beleue in hys sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. We see before our eyes our fellowes and partakers of our labours and trauailes to be put to the sword and we sprinkled with their bloud of which our most blessed companions and brethreÌ„ their end and death we haue not bewayled nor mourned but rather haue bene glad and haue reioyced thereat for that they haue bene counted worthy to suffer for the Lord their God The extreeme necessitie of death cannot moue vs agaynst your maiesty neyther yet any despiratioÌ„ O Emperour which is wont in ventrous affayres to do much shal 〈◊〉 vs agaynst you Behold here we cast downe our weapons and resist not for that we had rather to be killed then kill and guiltles to dye then gilty to liue What soeuer more ye will commauÌ„d appoynt and inioyne vs we are here ready to suffer yea both fire sword and whatsoeuer other tormentes We confesse our selues to be Christians we cannot persecute Christians nor will do sacrifice to your deuilish Idols With which their aunswer the kyng beyng altogether incensed and mooued commaunded the second tyme the tenth man of them that were left to be in like case murdered That crueltie also beyng accomplished at length wheÌ„ the christian souldiours would in no wise condescend vnto his mynde he set vpon them with his whole host both footemen and also horsemen and charged them to kil them all Who with all force set vpon them they making no resistance but throwyng downe their armour yelded theyr lyues to the persecutors and offered to them theyr naked bodies Victor at the same tyme was not of that bande nor yet then any souldiour but one beyng an old souldior and dismissed for his age At which tyme he comming sodainly vpon them as they were haketting and making mery with the spoyles of the holy Martyrs was bidden to sit downe with them and first asking the cause of that their so great reioysing and vnderstanding the truth therof detested the guestes and refused to eate with them And then being demaunded of them whether happily he were a Christian or no openly confessed and denied not but that he was â— christian and euer would be And therupon they rushing vpoÌ„ him killed him and made him partner of the like Martyrdome and honour Beda in his history writeth that this persecution beyng vnder Dioclesian endured vnto the seuenth yere of Constantinus and Euseb Lib 8. cap. 6 sayth that is lasted vntill the
miraculous vision to be true for the more credite Eusebius Pamphilus in hys first booke De vita Constantini doeth witnesse moreouer that hee had hearde the sayde Constantinus himselfe oftentimes reporte and also to sweare this to be true and certaine which hee did see with his owne eyes in heauen and also his souldiours about him At the sight wherof when he was greatly astonied and consulting with his men vpon the meaning thereof behold in the night season in his slepe Christ appeared to him with the signe of the same crosse which he had seene before bidding him to make the figuration therof and to carie it in hys warres before him and so shoulde he haue the victorie ¶ Wherin is to be noted good Reader that this signe of the Crosse and these letters added withall In hoc vince was geuen to him of God not to induce any superstitious worship or opynion of the Crosse as though the crosse it self had any such power or strength in it to obtaine victorie but onely to beare the meaning of an other thing that is to be an admonition to him to seeke and aspire to the knowledge and faith of him which was crucified vppon the crosse for the saluation of him and of all the world and so to set forth the glory of his name as afterwarde it came to passe This by the way now to the matter The next day following after this nights vision Constantinus caused a crosse after the same figuratiō to be made of golde and precious stone and to be borne before him in steade of his standard and so with much hope of victory great confidence as one armed from heauen spedeth himselfe towarde his enemie Against whom Maxentius being constrained perforce to issue out of the Citie sendeth al his power to ioyne with him in the fielde beyonde the riuer of Tybur where Maxentius craftely breaking down the bridge called Pons Miluius caused an other deceitfull bridge to be made of boates and whirries being ioyned together and couered ouer with boordes and planckes in maner of a bridge thinking therwith to take Constantine as in a trap But here it came to passe which in the 7. Psalme is writtē He digged a pit and fell therein himselfe Let his working returne vpon his owne head and his vnrighteousnesse vppon hys owne pate which heere in this Maxentius was rightly verified For after the two hostes did meete hee being not able to sustaine the force of Constantine fighting vnder the crosse of Christ against hym was put to such a flight and driuen to suche an exigent that in retyring backe for hast thinking to get the Citie vppon the same bridge which he did lay for Constantine was ouerturned by the fall of hys horse into the bottome of the floude and there with the waight of his armour he with a great part of his beatē men were drowned Representing vnto vs the like example of Pharao his host drowned in the red sea Who not vnaptly seemeth to beare a Propheticall figuration of this Maxentius For as the children of Israel were in long thraldome and persecution in Egypt vnder tyrantes there til the drowning of this Pharao theyr last persecutour so was this Maxentius and Maximinus and Licinius the last persecutours in the Romane Monarchie of the Christians whome thys Constantinus fighting vnder the crosse of Christ did vanquishe and set the Christians at liberty who before had bene persecuted nowe 300. yeares in Rome as hath bene hetherto in this historie declared Wherefore as the Israelites with their Moses at the drowning of their Pharao song gloriously vnto the Lorde who myraculously had cast downe the horse and horsemen into the sea So no lesse reioycing and exceeding gladnesse was heere to see the gloryous hande of the Lorde Christe fighting with his people and vanquishing hys enemyes and persecutours In histories we read of many victories and great conquests gotten yet we neuer read nor euer shal of any victory so wholsom so commodious so opportune to mākind as this was which made an ende of so much bloudshed obtained so much libertye life to the posterity of so many generations For albeit that some persecutiō was yet stirring in the East countreys by Maximinus and Licinius as shall be declared Yet in Rome and in all the West partes no martyr died after this heauēly victory gotten And also in the East partes the said Constantinus with the said crosse borne before him consequently vpon the same so vanquished the tyrants and so established the peace of the church that for the space of a iust M. yeares after that we reade of no set persecution against the Christians vnto the time of Iohn Wickliffe when the bishops of Rome began with fire to persecute the true members of Christ as in further processe of thys historie Christ graunting shall appeare So happie so glorious as I sayde was this victorie of Constantine surnamed the great For the ioy gladnes wherof the Citizens who had sent for him before with exceding triumph brought him into the citie of Rome where he with the crosse was most honourably receiued and celebrated the space of vij dayes together hauing moreouer in the market place his image set vp holding in his right hande the signe of the crosse with this inscription Hoc salutari signo veraci fortitudinis indicio ciuitatem nostram iugo tyranni ereptam liberaui That is with this wholesome signe the true token of fortitude I haue rescued and deliuered our Citie from the yoke of the tyrant Euseb lib. 9. cap 9. By this heauenly victorie of Constantinus and by the death of Maxentius no little tranquillity came to the church of Christ. Although notwithstāding in the East churches the storme of this tenth persecutiō was not yet altogether quieted but that some taile thereof in those partes remained for the space of ij or iij. yeare But of this we minde to speake Christ willing hereafter In the meane season to returne againe to the West partes here in Europe where Constantinus then had most to doe great tranquillitie followed and long cōtinued in the church without any open slaughter for a thousande yeares together to the time of Iohn Wickliffe and Waldenses as is before touched by the meanes of the godly beginning of good Constantinus who with his fellow Licinius being now stablished in their dominion eftsones set foorth their generall proclamation or edict not cōstraining therein any man to any religion but geuing liberty to all men both for the Christians to persist in their profession without any danger and for other men freely to adioyne wyth them whosoeuer pleased Which thing was very wel taken and highly allowed of the Romaines and al wise men The copie of the Edict or constitution here ensueth The copie of the Imperial constitution of Constantinus and Licinius for the establishing of the free worshipping of God after the Christian religion NOt
mortall persecution to whome Constantine and Licinius caused this constitution of theirs to be deliuered at the sight whereof although hee was somewhat appaled and defeated of his purpose yet forasmuch as he saw himselfe too weake to resist the authoritie of Constantinus and Licinius the superiour Princes Hee dissembled his counterfet pietie as though hee himselfe had tendered the quiet of the Christians directing downe a certaine decree in the behalfe of the Christians wherein hee pretendeth to wryte to Sabinus afore mentioned first repeating vnto him the former decree of Dioclesian and Maximinian in few wordes with the commandement therein contained touching the persecution against the Christians After that hee reciteth the Decree which he himselfe made against them when he came first to the imperiall dignitie in the East part ioyned wyth Constantius Then the Countermaund of an other Decree of his agayne for the rescuing of the Christians wyth such fayned and pretensed causes as is in the same to be seene After that declareth howe he comming to Nicomedia at the sute and supplication of the Citizens which he also fained as may appeare before he applying to their sute reuoked that his former Edict and graunted them that no Christian should dwell within their Citie or territories Upon which Sabinus also had geuen foorth his letters rehearsing withall the generall recountermaunde sent forth by him for the persecution againe of the Christians Last of all nowe hee sendeth downe againe an other Surrecountermaund with the causes therein conteyned touching the safetie of the Christians and tranquillitie of them Commaunding Sabinus to publish the same Which edict of his is at large set foorth of Eusebius lib. 9. cap. 9. But this Surrecountermaunde hee then dissimuled as he had done in the other before Howbeit shortly after he making warres and fighting a battaile with Licinius wherein hee lost the victory comming home againe tooke great indignation against the Priestes and Prophetes of his Gods whom before that time he had great regard vnto and honored vpon whose answers he trusting depending vpon their enchantments began hys warre against Licinius But after that he perceaued himselfe to be deceaued by thē as by wicked enchaunters and deceauers and such as had betrayed hys safety and person he kylled and put them to death And hee shortly after oppressed with a certaine disease glorified the God of the Christians and made a most absolute law for the safety and preseruation of them wyth fraunchise and liberty the copy wherof ensueth Imperator Caesar Gaius Valerius Maximinus Germanicus Pius Fortunatus Augustus It is necessary that we alwaies carefully prouide and see vnto the benefite and commoditie of such as be our subiects to exhibit such things vnto them wherby they may best obtaine the same But we suppose that there are none of you so ignorant but knowe and vnderstand what things make best for the profite commoditie of the common weale best please euery mans disposition But it is meete and conuenient that euery man haue recourse to that which they haue sene done before their eyes and that all sortes of men consider the same beare it in their mindes When therfore and that before this time it came vnto our knowledge vpon the occasion that Dioclesianus and Maximinianus our progenitours of famous memorie commaunded the assemblies and meetings of the Christians to be cut of there were many of them spoyled and robbed of our Officials which thing we also perceiue is now put in practise against our subiects that they in like case may be spoyled of their goods and substance which thing chiefly to preuent is our onely indeuour By our letters sent to the gouernours of euery prouince the yere past we ordeined that if any man were disposed to leane vnto the Christian religion that he might without any iniury done vnto him accomplish his desire neither to be of any man either let or molested and that he might without any feare or suspition do whatsoeuer he therein thought good But now also we vnderstand that there be certaine iudges which haue neglected our commandemēt and haue put our subiects in doubt whether that hath ben our pleasure or not which thing they did that such men might be the better aduised how they entred into such religion wherein they followed their owne phantasie To the entent therfore that after this all suspition doubt and feare may be taken away we haue thought good to publish this our edict whereby it may be made manifest to euery man that it shal be lawfull for all such as will follow that religion by the benefit of this our graunt and letters patents to vse what religion they like best And also hereby we graunt vnto them licence to build them Oratories or Temples And furthermore that this our graunt may more amply extende vnto them we vouchsafe to appoynt and ordaine that whatsoeuer landes and substance before belonging and appertaining to the Christians and by the commandement of our predecessors were transposed to our reuenew and exchequer or els be in the possession of any Citie by meanes of the franchises of the same or els otherwise sold or geuen to any man all and euery parcell thereof we commaund shall be restored vnto the proper vse of the Christians againe whereby they may all haue in this matter more experience of our godly deuotion and prouidence Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 10. Maximinus thus being conquered of Licinius and also plagued wyth an incurable disease in the guts sent by the hande of God was compelled by torments and aduersitie to cōfesse the true God whom before he regarded not and to write thys Edicte in the fauour of those Christians whom before he did persecute Thus the Lord doth make many times hys enemyes be they neuer so sterne stout at length to stoupe mauger their harts to confesse him as this Maximinus here did who not long after by the vehemencie of his disease ended his life Whereby no mo tyrauntes nowe were left aliue to trouble the Church but onely Licinius Of which Licinius and of hys persecutions stirred vp in the East partes against the Saints of God now remaineth in order of story to prosecute This Licinius being a Dane borne and made first Caesar by Galerius as is aboue specified was afterward ioyned with Constantinus in gouernement of the Empyre and in setting foorth the Edicts which before we haue described although it seemeth all this to be done of him with a dissembling minde For so is he in all hystories described to be a man passing all other in desire of vnsatiable riches geuen to lechery hasty stubburne and furious To learning hee was such an enemie that he named the same a poyson and a common pestilence and especially the knowledge of the lawes Hee thought no vice worse became a Prince then learning because hee him selfe was vnlearned Eutropius Letus Ignatius Euseb. Lib. 8.
and bridle him withall that peace thereby and loue might dwell vppon the face of the earth But alas the B. of Rome sitting in the chaire of peruerse doctrine or pestilence that Pharisee anoynted wyth the oyle of iniquitie aboue the rest of his consortes in this our time which for his abhominable pride is fallen from heauen indeuoureth with his power to destroy and vndoe all and thinketh I beleeue to stellifie againe himselfe there from whence hee fell Hys purpose is to darken and to shadowe the light of our vnspotted life whilest that altering the veritie into lies his Papall letters stuft with all vntruthes are sent into sondry partes of the world of his owne corrupt humor and vpon no reasonable cause blemishing the sinceritie of our Religion The Lord Pope hath compared vs vnto the beast rising out of the sea full of names of blasphemy and spotted like a Lyberd But we say that he is that mōstrous beast of whom it is sayd and of whome we thus read And there shall come an other red horse out of the sea and hee that shall sit on him shall take peace away out of the earth let them therefore that dwell vpon the earth destroy him For since the tyme of hys promotiō he hath not ben the father of mercy but of discord A dilligent steward of desolation in stead of consolation and hath intised all the worlde to commit offence And to take the wordes in right sense and interpretation he is that great Dragon that dath deceiued the whole worlde hee is that Antichrist of whom he hath called vs the forerunner he is that other Balaam hired for money to curse vs the Prince of darcknes which hath abused the Prophetes This is the Aungel leaping out of the sea hauing his Phials fild with bitternes that he may both hurt the sea and the lande the counterfait Vicar of Christ that setteth forth hys owne imaginations He sayth that we doe not rightly beleue in the Christen fayth and that the world is deceiued with three maner of deceiuers which to name God forbid we should open our mouth seeing that openly we cōfesse onely Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour to be the euerlasting sonne of God coequall with hys father and the holy Ghost begotten before all worldes and in processe of tyme sent downe vpon the earth for the saluation of mankinde Conceaued not by the seede of man but by the holy Ghost which was borne of the glorious virgin Mary after that suffered and dyed as touching the flesh and by hys Godhead the third day he raysed from death that other nature which he assumpted in the wombe of his mother But we haue learned that the body of Machomet hangeth in the ayre and that his soule is buryed in hell whose works are damnable contrary to the law of the most highest We affirme also that Moyses was the faythfull seruant of God and a true teacher of the law and that he talked with God in mount Sinay vnto whō the Lord sayd Rubrum c. By whō also God wrought miracles in Egipt and deliuered the law written to the Israelites that afterwards with the elect he was called to glory In these and other thinges our enemy and enuier of our state causing our mother the church to accuse her sonne hath written agaynst vs venemous and lying sclaunder and sent the same to the whole worlde If hee had rightly vnderstoode the Apostles meaning he woulde not haue preferred his violent will before reason which beareth such sway with him neither would he haue sēt out his Mandates to the suggestion of those which call light darcknes and euill good whiche suspect hony to be gall for the great good opinion they haue cōceaued of that holy place which in deed is both weak infirm cōuerteth al truth into falshood affirmeth that to be that is not Truly my opinion so indifferent on euery side ought not in any case to be infringed and auerted from the fayth to such enemies of so corrupt a conscience Wherefore we greatly are inforced not a little to meruaile which thing also doth much disquyet vs to see that you which be the pillers and assistentes in office of righteous dealing the Senators of Peters Citie and the principal beames in Gods building haue not quallified the perturbation of so fierce a Iudge as doth the planets of heauē in their kynd which to mittigate the passing swift course of the great orbe or sphere of heauen draw a contrary way by theyr opposite mouinges In very deed our Imperial felicitie hath bene almost euen from the beginning spurned agaynst and enueied at of the papall see and dignitie As Simonides being demanded why he had no mo enemies and enuiers of hys state answered and sayd quia nibil falsciter gessi for because sayth he I haue had no good successe in any thing that euer I tooke in hand And so for that we haue had prosperous successe in all our enterprises the Lordes name be blessed therefore especially in the ouerthrow of late of our rebellious enemies the Lombardes to whom in their good quarrell he promised life and absolution and remission of their sinnes is the cause wherefore this Apostolicall bishop mourneth and lamenteth And now not by your councels I suppose he laboureth to impugne this our felicitie but of hys owne power of bynding losing wherof he glorieth so much he impugneth it But presently where power and habilitie wanteth to redresse there doth abuse take place We see in hym which was so mighty a king and the worthiest prince amongst all the Prophetes to desire craue the restitution of Gods holy spirit when he had polluted the dignitie of hys office But the prouerbe is Vti indissolubilia non solnuntur ita inligabilia non ligantur As thinges indissoluble are not to be losed so thinges that cannot be bound are not to be bound Which thing manifestly is proued in him For why the scriptures of God doe instruct men how to liue they mortifie our soules whiche are immortall and quicken the same whiche are dead for want of lyfe And doubtles he is able to humble and bring downe those that are vnworthy of dignitie as much as him pleaseth and when him pleaseth Doubtlesse if the Byshop of Rome were a true Byshop indeed innocent impolute and not associate with wicked liuers and euill men his life should declare him so to be He would not then be an offerer of dissentious sacrifice but a peaceable offerer of loue charity would cense not with the incense of griefe hatred but with the sweet smelling incense of concord and vnity neither yet would alter suum pontificium in maleficium That is make of a sanctified office an execrable abuse If he were such a Byshoppe as he ought to be he would not wrest or abuse the preaching of the word into the fruite and gayne of his owne dissention neither
CaÌ„terbury being vacant but that all things appertayning to that Church ought to be reserued whole to the consecratioÌ„ of the new Archb. therefore for the state both of hym and of hys Church he appealed vp also vnto Rome But to returne to the archbishop agayne The second yeare after Adam Chelindon the foresayde Archb. elect remayning all this while at Rome at last resigned vp hys election to the popes hand beyng Breg 10. who then gaue the same to Rob. Kilwarby Who then coÌ„ming to Douer restored agayn the Prior of that house being before excluded vpon certain causes By these coutentions iudge good reader of the religion of these men and of these tunes And now to returne to our former story About whiche tyme came out the great concordaunces by an Englishe Frier called Iohn Dernington Ex Eulogio It was aboue declared how a generall voyage beyng proclaymed to warre agaynst the Turkes and a subsidie beyng collected in EnglaÌ„d vpon the same prince Edward with other was appoynted to take theyr voyage nowe were onward in theyr iourny Who at Michelmas following with hys company came to Egermorth whiche is from Marsilius 8. leagues westward there taking ship agayne hauing a mery winde and prosperous within x. dayes ariued at Sunes at Tunicium where he was wyth great ioy welcommed entertayned of the Christian princes that there were to this purpose assembled as of Philip the French king whose father Ludouicus died a little before of Carolus the king of Sicilia and the two kinges of Nauarre and AragoÌ„ And as the Lord Edward came thither for hys father the king of England thither came also Henry the sonne of the king of Almaine for his father who at hys returne from the voyage was slayne in a chappell at Uiterbium hearing masse by the Lord SimoÌ„ and Buido the sonnes of the Lord Simon Mountfort Earle of Leicester When Prince Edward demaunded of these kings and Princes what was to be done they answered him agayne and sayd The Prince of this Cittie sayd they and the prouince adioyning to the same hath bene accustomed to pay tribute vnto the king of Sicile euery yeare And nowe for that the same hath bene for the space of vii yeares vnpayed and more therefore we thought good to make inuasion vpon hym But the king knowing the same tribute to be but iustly demaunded hath now according to our owne desires satisfied for the tyme past and also payed his tribute before hand Then sayde he My Lordes what is this to the purpose Are we not here all assembled and haue taken vpon vs the Lordes Character to fight against the Infidels and enemies of Christ what meane you then to conclude a peace with them God forbid we should do so for nowe the land is playne and hard so that we may approch the holy Citty Ierusalem then sayd they nowe haue we made a league with them neither is it lawfull for vs to breake the same But let vs returne agayne to Sicilia and when the wynter is past we may well take shipping to Acra But this counsaile nothing at al liked him neither did he shew himselfe wel pleased therwith But after that he had made them a princely banquet he went into hys closet or priny chamber from amongst them neither woulde be partake â— of any of that wicked mony which they had taken They notwithstanding continuing their purpose at the next mery wynd took shipping and for want of ships left CC. of theyr men a shore crying out piteously lamenting for the perill hazard of death they were in wherewith Prince Edward being somewhat moued with compassion came backe agayne to the land and receiued and stowed them in his own shippes being the last that went aborde within 7. dayes after they arriued in the kingdome of Scicilia ouer agaynst the Citty Trapes casting theyr anchors a league from thence within the sea for that their ships were of great burden throughly fraught And fâ—oÌ„ the hauen of the Cittie they sent out varges and boates to receiue and bring such of the Nobilitie to land as would but for theyr horses for the most part and all their armour they kept stil within bourd At length towardes the euening the sea began to be rough encreased to a great tempest a mighty In so much that their ships were beaten one against an others sides and drowned there was of them at that reÌ„pest lying at anchor more then 120. with all their armour and munition with innumerable soules besides and that wicked mony also which they had taken before likewise perished and was drowned But the tempest hurt not so much as one ship of Prince Edwardes who had in number 13. nor yet had one man lost thereby for that as it may be presupposed he consented not to the wicked counsaile of yâ— rest When in the morning the Princes and kinges came to the sea side and saw al theyr shyps drowned and saw their men and horses in great number cast vpon the land drowned they had full heauy heartes as well they might For of all theyr shyps and mariners whiche were in number a 1500. besides the common souldiours there was no more saued then the Mariners of one onely Shyp and they in this wise There was in that ship a good and wise Matrone a Countesse or an Earles wife perceiuing the tempest to grow and fearing her self called to her the Maister of the ship asked whether in attempting to the shore it were not possible to saue themselues who answered that to saue the ship it was impossible howbeit the men that were therein by Gods help he doubted not Then sayd the Countesse for the ship force no whit saue the soules therein and haue to the double the valure of thy ship who immediately hoysing the sayles with all force ran the ship a groundso neare the shore as possible was Thus with the vehemency of the weather and force he came withall brast the ship and saued all that was within the same as the matter had shewed and sayd before Then the kinges and princes altering theyr purpose after this so great a shypwrack returned home again eueuery one vnto their own lands Onely Edward the kings sonne remayned behinde with his men and ships which yâ— Lord had saued and preserued Then Prince Edward renouating hys purpose tooke shipping agayn and within 15. dayes after Easter arriued he at Acra and went a land taking with hym a thousand of the best souldiours most expert taryed there a whole month refreshing both hys men and horses and that in this space he might learne and know the secretes of the land After this he took with hym 6. or 7. thousand souldiours and marched forward twenty myles from Acra and tooke Nazareth and those he there found he slew and afterward returned again to Acra But their enemies following after them thinking to haue set vpon
reuerences that you will decree most graciously consent that this our petition and supplication may be drawen out againe by your Notarie and reduced into a publicke forme and order After this supplication was read before the deputies of the 4. nations the Patriarche of Antioch answered in the name of them all vnto euery article of the sayd supplication but it was done in few wordes First as touching the protestation of Iohn Hus whether it be true or false it shal be made euident in the processe of his cause Moreouer wheras they say that the aduersaries of Iohn Hus hath peruersly drawen certaine thinges out of his bookes that also the matter it selfe shall declare in the end Where as if it shal be found decreed that Iohn Hus is vniustly vntruly accused that thē it shal come to passe that his aduersaries shall incurre perpetuall ignominy and slaunder But as touching sureties albeit there might be a thousand put in or boūd yet can it not by any meanes be that the deputies of the Councell with a safe conscience may receiue or take them in this mans cause vnto whome there is no faith or credite to be geuē Howbeit thus much they wil do vpon the 5. day of Iune next Iohn Hus shall be brought againe vnto Constance and there haue free libertie to speake his minde before the Councell that they wold louingly and gently heare him but the matter in the ende fell out farre contrary to thys promise The same day the saide Barons and Lordes presented a supplication of thys tenour vnto the Emperor Vnto the most highe and mighty Prince the Lorde Sigismund king of the Romaines alwaies Augustus king of Hungarie Croatia and Dalmatia our most gracious Lord faithful true seruice in al things and at all times Most noble Prince and gracious Lord we signifie vnto your worthinesse that we all together with one minde consent and accord haue deliuered vp vnto the reuerend fathers and Lordes the deputies of the 4 nations and to the whole sacred Councel of Constance this our supplication here vnder wrytten as reasonable iust and worthy of consideration the tenour wherof here followeth word by word and is this ¶ The copie of the supplication which was presented vnto the deputies of the councel is before written whereunto this which followeth was annexed WHerefore we most humbly require and desire your princely maiestie that both for the loue of iustice and also of the fame and renowme of that moste famous kingdome of Boheme whereof wee acknowledge you vndoubtedly the true Lorde and heire successour and also foreseeing vnto the liberty of your safe-conduct that you wil with your fauourable countenance beholding these most reasonable and iust supplications which we haue put vp to the Lordes aforesayd put to your helping hand toward the sayd most reuerend fathers and Lordes that they will effectually heare vs in this our most iust petition which we haue offered vp to them as is aforesaide least that the enemie of the renowme and honour of the famous kingdome of Boheme and such as oure slaunderers also hereafter may detracte and sclaunder vs that wee should make vnreasonable and vnlawfull requests vnto the sayde reuerend fathers and Lordes and therefore we required and desired of them that it would please them to decre by setting to their publicke hand seale to authorise our said supplication Likewise we do most hartily require your highnes that you would vouchsafe in like maner to geue vs your testimonie of the premises But what answere the Emperor made heereunto we could neuer vnderstand or know but by the processe of the matter a man may easily iudge that thys good Emperour was brought and lead euen vnto thys poynt through the obstinate mischiefe of the cardinals and bishops to breake and falsify his promise and faith whych hee had made and promised and this was their reason whereby he was driuenthereunto that no defence coulde or might be geuen either by safe conducte or by any other meane vnto hym whych was suspected or iudged to be an hereticke But by the Epistles and letters of Iohn Hus a man may easily iudge what the kings minde was Now we will procede in the historie The 5. day of Iune the Cardinals Byshops and the rest of the priests al that were almost in Constance assembled to a great number at the Couent of the Franciscanes in Constance and there it was commaunded that before Iohn Hus shoulde be brought foorth in hys absence they should rehearse the witnesses and articles which they had slaunderously gathered out of his bookes the whych articles with Iohn Husses answer we will hereafter repeate By chance there was then present a certaine Notary named Peter Mladoniewitz the whych bare great loue and amity vnto the said Hus who assoone as he perceiued that the Bishops and cardinals were already determined and appoynted to condemne the sayde articles in the absence of Iohn Hus hee went withall speede vnto maister Wencelate de Duba and Iohn of Clum tolde them al the matter who incontinent made report therof to the Emperour Who vnderstanding their intent sent Lewes the Countie Palantine of Heydelberge and the Lord Frederick Burgraue of Nuremberge to signify vnto them whych ruled the councel that nothing should be resolued or done in the case of Iohn Hus before that it wer first heard with equity and that they should send him all such articles as were said against the sayd Hus which were either false or hereticall he would do so much that the said articles shoulde be examined by good and learned men Then according to the Emperors will the iudgement of the principals of the Councell was suspended vntill suche time as Iohn Hus were present In the meane season these gentlemen master of Dube and of Clum did geue vnto the two Princes whych the Emperor had sent certaine smal treatises which the sayde Hus had made out of the which they had drawn certain articles to present vnto them which ruled the councel vnder this condition that they would render them againe when they should demand them The intent meaning of these Barons was that by thys meanes the aduersaries of Iohn Hus might the more easily be reproued the which of a naughty and corrupt conscience had picked out corrupt sentēces out of the said bookes of Iohn Hus. The bookes were deliuered vnto the Cardinals and Byshops and that done Iohn Hus was brought forth and the Princes whiche were sent by the Emperour departed backe agayne After they shewed the bookes vnto Iohn Hus and he cōfessed openly before the whole assembly that hee had made them that he was ready if there were any fault in thē to amend the same Now harken a litle to the holy proceedynges of these reuerēd fathers for here happened a straunge shamefull matter With much a do they had scarsly read one article brought forth a
vnto Rome And as he was about to rehearse his appeale agayne they mocked hym ¶ For so much as mention here is made of the appeale of the sayd Hus it seemeth good here to shewe the manner and forme therof The copy and tenour of the appeale of Iohn Hus. FOrasmuch as the most mighty Lorde one in essence 3. in person is both the chiefe and first c also the last and vttermost refuge of al those which are oppressed and that he is the God which defendeth verety and truth throughout all generations doynge iustice to such as be wronged being ready and at hand to al those whiche call vppon him in veritie and truth and bindyng those that are bond and fulfilleth the desires of all those which honour and feare hym defending and keeping al those that loue him and vtterly destroyeth and bringeth to ruine the stiffnecked and vnpenitent sinner and that the Lorde Iesus Christ very God and man being in great anguish compassed in with the priestes Scribes and Phariseis wicked iudges and witnesses willing by the most bitter and ignominious death to redeme the chosen children of God before the foundation of the world from euerlasting damnation hath left behinde him this godly example for a memory vnto them which should come after hym to the intent they should commit al their causes into the handes of God who can doe all thinges and knoweth and seeth all thinges saying in this maner O Lorde beholde my affliction for my enemy hath prepared hymselfe against me and thou art my protector and defendor O Lorde thou hast geuē me vnderstanding and I haue acknowledged thee thou hast opened vnto me all their enterprises and for mine owne parte I haue bene as a meeke lambe which is led vnto sacrifice and haue not resisted agaynst them They haue wrought their enterprises vpon me saying Let vs put wood in hys bread and let vs banysh him out of the land of the liuing that hys name be no more spokē of nor had in memory But thou O Lord of hostes whiche iudgest lustly and seest the deuises and imaginations of theyr hartes hasten thee to take vengeance vpon them for I haue manifested my cause vnto thee for so much as the number of those which trouble me is great and haue counsayled together saying the Lorde hath forsaken hym pursue hym and catch hym O Lord my God behold their doinges for thou art my pacience deliuer me from myne enemies for thou art my God doe not seperate thy selfe fan from me for so much as tribulation is at hand and there is no mā which will succour me My God my God looke downe vpon me wherefore hast thou forsaken me So many doggs haue compassed me in and the company of the wicked haue besieged me round about for they haue spoken agaynst me with the deceitfull tonges and haue compassed me in with wordes full of despite and haue inforced me without cause In stead of loue towardes me they haue slaundered me and haue recompensed me wyth euill for good and in place of charitie they haue conceaued hatred agaynst me Wherfore behold I staying my selfe vppon this most holy and fruitfull example of my sauiour and redeemer do appeale before God for this my grief and hard oppressiō from thys most wicked sentence and iudgement and the excommunication determined by the Byshop Scribes Phariseis and Iudges which sit in Moyses seate and resigne my cause wholly vnto hym so as the holy Patriarke of Constantinople Iohn Chrisostome appealed twise from the Councell of the Byshops and Clergy And Andrew Byshop of Prage and Robert Byshop of Lincolne appealed vnto the soueraign and most iust iudge the which is not defiled with crueltye neyther canne he be corrupted with gifres and rewardes neyther yet be deceiued by false witnesse Also I desire greatly that all the faythfull seruauntes of Iesus Christ and especially the Princes Barons Knightes Esquires and all other whiche inhabite our Country of Boheme should vnderstand know these things and haue compassion vpon me which am so greeuously oppressed by the excommunication whiche is out agaynst me the whiche was obtayned and gotten by the instigation and procurement of Michaell de Causis my great enemy and by the consent and furtheraunce of the Canons of the Cathedrall Churche of Prage and geuen and graunted out by Peter of Sainct Angelles Deane of the Church of Rome and Cardinall and also ordayned iudge by Pope Iohn the xxiij who hath continued almost these two yeares and would geue no audience vnto my Aduocates and Procurators which they ought not to deny no not to a Iew or Pagan or to any hereticke whatsoeuer he were neyther yet woulde he receiue any reasonable excuse for that I did not appeare personally neyther would he accept the testimonials of the whole Vniuersity of Prage with the seale hāging at it or the witnes of the sworn Notaries and such as were called vnto witnesse By thys all men may euidētly perceiue that I haue not incurred any fault or crym of contumacie or disobedience for somuche as that I did not appeare in the Court of Rome was not for any contempte but for reasonable causes And moreouer for somuch as they had layd embushmentes for me on euery side by wayes where I shoulde passe and also because the perils dangers of others haue made me the more circumspect and aduised and for somuche as my procurours were willing and contented to bind themselues euen to abide the punishment of the fire to answere to all such as would appose or lay any thing agaynst me in the Court of Rome as also because they dyd imprison my lawfull procuratour in the sayd Court without any cause demerite or faulte as I suppose For somuch then as the order and disposition of all auncient lawes as well deuine of the old and new testament as also of the Canon lawes is this that the Iudges should resorte vnto the place where the crime or faulte is committed or done and there to enquire of al such crimes as shal be obiected and layd agaynst hym which is accused or slandered and that of such men as by conuersation haue some knowledge or vnderstanding of the party so accused the whiche may not be the euill willers or enemies of hym which is so accused or slaundered but must be men of an honest conuersation no common quarrell pickers or accusers but feruent louers of the law of God and finally that there shold be a fit and meete place appoynted whether as the accused party might without daunger or perill resorte or come and that the Iudge and witnesses should not be enemies vn to hym that is accused And also forsomuche as it is manifest that all these conditions were wanting and lacking as touching my appearaunce for the safegard of my life I am excused before God from the friuolous pretended obstinacie and excommunication Whereupon I I. Hus do present
Mon. defended Ex proaemio adlestorem Obiection for Martyrs in the Calendare Aunswere Vntruth noted in Ala Copus Copus pag. 130. lin 18. 〈◊〉 dict 〈…〉 li. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Copus pag 861. lin penultimâ— Copus almost called Capus The papistes would thrust downe Gods true saints out of heueÌ„ to hel Beckets bloud set vp to the iniury of Christes bloud Papistes deuout to set vp Christâ— crosse in earthâ— but enemies to Christes crosse in heauen A double vntruth in Copus Copus Momus Copus pag. 820. Vntruth in Cope Copus pag. 810. lin 25. Copus pag. 819. lin 7. Dâ—uble abhomination in the popes Calendare The great Saint maker of Rome and who be his Saintes The great God-maker of Rome No cause why the popes newe saints shuld be put in the Calendare Tho. Becket Aldelmus Anselmus Dunstanus S. Elizabeth The canonisation of S. Gilbert of Sempringham Ex lib. de â—ita S. Gilberti Confessorâ—s The Popes letter the Archb. for the canonisinâ— of saint Gilbert Iâ— this good doctrine M. Cope in the Popes canonisation The blasphemous collect of the Popes making for S. Gilbert Copus pag. 119. lin 7. Cope counsailed to cease hys rayling No good commeth of rayling The zeale of M. Cope â—â—pended The name of Martyrs in the Calendare defended What is a Martyr Holy saintes of Christ. Martyrs in the CaleÌ„dar colou red with red The painter coloureth with redde The pope coloureth with bloud The authour cleareth himselfe of lyes and vntruthes laid against him The lies and fâ—ctions innumerable in the Popes Church Vntruthe in the popishe epistle decretall Wntruth in the popishe Lyturgies Vntruth in bookes counterâ—aite Gregories Dialogues Sermo ad ConuentuÌ„ SaÌ„ctoruÌ„ in fine Eusebii made by ConstaÌ„tine the Emperour Vntruth in the Popes doctrine Vntruth in the popes Legendes and Masâ—e bookes Vntruth in the popes miracles and reliques Vntruth in the popes SacrameÌ„ts A maister lie 3. Pointes 1. Obiection Cope cauilleth without cause Stat. an 1. Hen. 5. cap. 7 2. Obiection Copuâ— pag. 835. lin 6 Obiection The secte of Wickliffe made hereâ—ie and treason by K. HeÌ„ry 5 Polyd. Virg. lib. 22. Tho. Waldâ— in tomo primo Doctrinali ad Mart. papâ— in prologo WaldeÌ„ tomo 1. De doctriâ—ali ecclesia cap. 46. lib. 2 Either Walden writeth true or els the pope erâ—eth Rog. Wallus lib. de gestis HeÌ„ 5 fol. 10. Kâ—llen the 5 called Princeps Sacerdotum Reg. Walllâ—â— ibid. Copus pag. â—35 lin 8. Obiection Aunswere Stat. an 2. HeÌ„ 5. cap. 7 Vid. stat an 13. Iden 4. cap. 7. Vid. stat an 15. Rich. 2. cap. 2. Vid. stat an 5. Rich. 2. cap. Vip stat an 2. Hen. 4. cap 1â—â— Vid. stat an 5. Rich. 2. cap. 5. 3. Obiection Aunswere Reading of Scripture bookâ— contrary to the Romishe faith made heresie Statut an 2. Hen. 4. cap. 14. Vide supta pag. 507. The text of Scripture not to be translated to the vulgare tounge vnder paine of heresie Const. prouinc Tho. Arund Vide supra pag. 506. Children of EmershaÌ„ caused to set fagots to their fathers Copus pag. 833. lin 20. Copus pag. 83â— lin 13. Statutè of the 6. articles in the time of K. Henry 8. Statut. an 5. Rich. 2. cap. 5. Statut. de comburendo an 2. Hen. 4. ca. 15. Vide supra pag. 507. Statut. an 2. Henr. 4. de comburendo proued not sufficient to burne any man The printed statutâ— an 2. Hen. 4. cap. 15. falsely corrupted Ex constitutionibus prouincialibus oxonia celebratis Ioan. Antho. Vid Stat. an 5. Ric. 2. cap. 5 Ex Rotul Parliam The persecutors in burning Gods people haue done against the lawe A necessary admonition to the Commons of England Proposition disiuncâ—iue Lib. Act. Monu 174. Sir Roger Acton contrary to the Bish. of Rome Causes coniecturall why Sir Roger Acton with the rest were put to death for traytours Lollardes Anno. 1414. Diuersitie in aâ—thors An english story beginning thus A table of all the kinges M. Cope gone to Rome The death of Thomas ArunArchb of Cant. Ex hist. S. Alba. Gods workes punishmentes to be noted Tho. Gascohius in Dictionario theologico An example of Gods working hand against the enemies of his word The maruelous hand of God vp on Tho. AruÌ„dell Archb of Cant. It is in vaine to gainstand Gods word Hen. Chichesly Archb. of Cant. Sion BethleeÌ„ builded Vide supra pag. 557. FabiaÌ„ with other A crafty practise of the prelates The king stirred vp to warres by the bishops Vide supra pag. 507 The Bohemians receiuing the Gospell The pope against the BohemiaÌ„s Iohn Hus cited of the Pope Iohn Husse appealeth from the pope to the Pope Pope Iohn 23. Iohn Hus accused to pope Iohn Iohn Hus excoÌ„municate by Cardinall de Collumna â— The Boheâ—â—â—ns aâ—â—â—â—st the Pope his â—â—ings Ex Cochleo 〈…〉 â—usâ—â— lib. 1 Doubtes â—ohn Hus â—â—â—pounded â—â—â—dere in â—â—â—n â—â—edere â—â—o â—â—â—dere 〈◊〉 â—â— Lomb. 〈◊〉 dist â— cap. 11. Against Aâ—â—rice confeâ—sion Councell of the prelates of Prage against the Gospellers Purum bonum Purum malum Medium The Pope maketh warre Iohn Maâ—tine Staâ—con Martyrs Steuen Paletz a great enemy to Iohn Hus. I. Husse banished out of Prage 26. q. 1. Hâ—â— est fides Austen called Pope Pope Ioane aâ— woman Simonie Luxurie Aâ—â—â—ice three causes of dissention in â—he clergie As Charles may be king of Fraunce So also we graunt the pope may be Bish. of Italy and so it is a good consequent He may so be if God had so appointed him but where doth he so appoint Ex Cochleo in hâ—st Husâ—â—t Catholique that is vniuersal If ye go to humaine policie who euer â—awe any priuate case of Englande brought to the Emperours court to be decided If ye goe to Gods policy then shew gods word for it The promise of Christ doctourly applyed O deepe diuinitie of these doctours Vide Eneam Siluâ— Cocleum De Hist. Hussit lib. 1. The priestes of Boheme desplayed and taxed for their yll life The popish doctours and priests ouerthrowen in their owne reason Steuen Paletz Andr. Broda write against Iohn Hus. The letter of Pope Iohn to K. Wenceslaus The story of an Owle appearing at the councell of pope Iohn Ex Nich. Clemangis The councell of CoÌ„â—tance Three popes â—â—â—ether â—â—â—ing for â—â—e Pope-â—ome The prelats assembled in â—â—is councel were numbâ—ed together with their deputies 1940. Philip and Cheyney c. Gregorius in Episâ—olae â—â—aâ—am Duke Fredericke of Austrich proclamed traytor Pope Iohn taken and cast iâ— prison Marke the good qualities of pope Iohn A writing set vp how the holy Ghost had no leysure to come to the councell of Constance The woâ—thy answere of the Emperour touching the order of reformation Note by this example the authoritie of councels preferred before the Pope Anno. 1415. Commissioners appointed to heare I. Hus. Citation grauÌ„ted against Ierome of Prage Sentence geuen for the burning of Wickliffe bones 11. 12. The people of Christ excommunicated from the communion
the lawe I meane must ende and Christ reigne For both these Christ and the lawe grace and malediction can not reigne and gouerne together But Christ the Sonne of God which once dyed can die no more but must reigne for euer Wherefore the lawe with his strēgth styng and curse must needes cease and haue an end And this is it that S. Paule speaking of the tryumph of Christ saieth that he ascendyng vp led away captiuitie captiue hath set man at lyberty not at libertie to liue as flesh listeth neither hath freed him from the vse exercyse of the law but from the dominion and power of the lawe so that there is nowe no condemnation to them that bee in Christ Iesu which walke not after the flesh c. Romaines 8 And in an other place Saint Paule speaking of the same power and dominion of the lawe sayth that Christ hath taken the oblygation written against vs in decrees and hath nayled it vpon the Crosse tryumphing ouer all c. so that as the kyngdome of Christ fyrst began vpon the Crosse euen so vpon the same Crosse and at the same time the kingdome of the lawe expired and the malediction of the lawe was so crucified vpon the Crosse that it shall neuer ryse agayne to haue any power agaynst them that be in Christ Iesu. For lyke as if a woman be discharged from her first husband being dead hath maryed an other man the first husbande hath no more power ouer her euen so we nowe beyng espoused vnto Christ our seconde husbande are discharged vtterly from our first husbād the law as S. Paule in an other place sayth are no more vnder the law that is vnder the dominion malediction of the lawe but vnder grace that is vnder perpetual remission of al sinnes cōmitted not only before our Baptisme but as well also after Baptisme and duryng all our lyfe long For therein properly consisteth the grace of God in not imputyng sinne vnto vs so often as the repenting sinner rising vp by fayth flyeth vnto Christ and apprehendeth Gods mercy and remission promised in him according to the testimonie both of the Psalme Blessed is the man to whome the Lord imputeth no sinne c. also of all the Prophets which as Saint Peter saith giue recorde to him that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receaue remission of their sinnes c. Actes 10. Which being so as it can not be denied then what needeth these priuate and extraordinary remissions to be brought into the Church by eare confession by meritorious deedes and by the Popes pardons for if there be no condemnation but by the law and if this law it selfe be captiued crucified abolished and departed which was the first husbande what condēnation thē can there be to thē that be in Christ Iesu or by whome should it come If there be no condemnation but a free and generall deliueraunce for all men once gotten by the victorie of Christ from the penalty of the lawe what nedeth thē any particular remission of sinnes at sondry tymes to be sought at the Priestes handes or the Popes pardons He that hath a generall pardon needeth no particular If remedy for sinne be generall and perpetuall once gotten for euer to all them that be in Christ Iesu what needeth any other remedy by auricular confession If it be not generall and perpetuall howe then is it true that Saint Paule sayth the lawe is crucified and condemnation abolished or howe standeth redemption perpetuall and generall if remission be not generall For what is redemption els but remission of sinnes or sinnes bought out or what is els to kill the lawe but to discharge vs from condemnation for euer He that deliuereth his friende for a time out of his enimies hande doth him a pleasure but he that killeth the enimie once out of the way giueth perpetuall safety So if remission of sinnes by Christ were for some sinnes and not for all the lawe then must needes liue still But nowe the kylling and crucifying of the law importeth full remission to be absolute and our safety to be perpetuall But here percase will be obiected of some how standeth remission of sinnes certeine and perpetuall seeyng newe offences being daily committed doe daily require newe remission Hereto I aunswere albeit sinnes doe daily growe whereby wee haue neede dailie to desire God to forgiue vs our trespasses c. yet notwithstanding the cause of our remission standeth euer one and perpetuall neither is the same to be repeted any more nor any other cause to be sought besides that alone This cause is the sacrificed body of Christ once vpon the Crosse for all sinnes that either haue or shall be committed Beside this cause there is no other neither confession nor mens pardons that remitteth sinnes Furthermore as the cause is one and euer perpetuall which worketh remission of sinnes vnto vs so is the promise of God euer one once made and standeth perpetuall that offereth the same to the faith of the repenting sinner And because the sayde promise of God is alwayes sure and can not fayle which offereth remission to all them that beleeue in Christ being limited neyther to time nor number therefore we may boldely conclude that what time soeuer a repenting synner beleeueth and by fayth applyeth to him the sacrifice of Christ he hath by Gods owne promise remission of his sinnes whether they were done before or after Baptisme And moreouer for so much as the said promise of God offereth remission to the repentaunt synner by no other meanes nor condition but onely one that is by fayth in Christ therefore excluding all other meanes and conditions of mans working we say that what repenting sinner soeuer beleeueth in Christ hath already in him selfe and needeth not to seeke to any Priest perpetuall assuraunce of remission not for this time or that time onely but for euer and a day For the promise fayth not he that beleeueth in Christ shall be pardoned this tyme so he sinne no more neyther doth it say that the law is stayde or the sentence repriued but sayth playnely that the law with her condemnation and sentence her selfe is condemned and hanged vp and shall neuer ryse agayne to them that be in Christ Iesu and promiseth indeterminatelye without limitation remission of sinnes to all that beleeue in his name c Actes 10. and likewise in an other place the Scripture speaking absolutely saith Sinne shall not preuayle ouer you addeth the reason why saying Because ye are not vnder the law but vnder grace Rom. 6. Adding this lesson withall as it followeth in the same place not that sinners shoulde sinne more therefore because they are vnder grace but onely that weake infirmities myght be releeued broken consciences comforted and repenting sinners holpen from desperation to the prayse of Gods glory For as God forgiueth
wherein they haue made manifest defection from the old faith of Rome as in depriuing the Church of one kinde of the Sacrament in taking from the people the knowledge and reading of Gods word in praying and speaking to the people and administring sacramentes in a tongue vnknowne in mistaking the authoritie of the keyes in their vnwritten verities in making the authority of scripture insufficient in vntrue iudgement of the Churche and the wrong notes of the same in the supremacy of the sea of Rome in their wrong opinion of Antichrist But because these with all other partes of doctryne are more copiously and at large comprehended in other bookes both in Latine and Englishe set foorth in these our dayes I shall not need further herein to trauell especially seeing the contrariety betweene the Popes Church and the Church of Christ betweene the doctrine of the one and doctrine of the other is so euident that he is blind that seeth it not and hath no handes almost that feeleth it not For briefely in one note to comprehende which may suffice for all where as the doctrine of Christ is altogether spirituall consisting wholy in spirite and veritie and requireth no outwarde thing to make a true Christen man but onely Baptisme which is the outwarde profession of fayth and receauing the Lordes supper let vs now examine the whole religion of this latter Church of Rome and we shall finde it wholy from toppe to toe to consist in nothing els but altogether in outwarde and ceremoniall exercises as outward confession absolution at the Priests hand outward sacrifice of the Masse buying of pardons purchasing of obites externe worshipping of Images and reliques pilgrimage of this place or that building of Churches founding of Monasteries outward workes of the law outwarde gestures garments colours choise of meates difference of times and places peculiar rytes and obseruauncies set prayers and number of prayers prescribed fasting of vigiles keeping of holidayes comming to Church hearing of seruice externe succession of Bishops and of Peters sea externe forme and notes of the Church c. so that by this religion to make a true Christian and a good Catholike there is no working of the holy Ghost almost required As by example to make this matter more demonstrable let vs here define a Christen man after the Popes making whereby we may see the better what is to be iudged of the scope of his doctrine A Christen man after the Popes making defined AFter the Popes Catholike Religion a true Christen man is thus defined first to be baptised in the Latine tongue where the Godfathers professe they can not tell what then confirmed by the Byshop the Mother of the childe to be purified After he be growen in yeares then to come to the Church to keepe his fasting dayes to fast the Lent to come vnder benedicite that is to be confessed of the Priest to doe his penance at Easter to take his rites to heare Masse and diuine seruice to set vppe candels before Images to creepe to the Crosse to take holy bread and holy water to go on processiō to cary his palmes candle and to take ashes to fast the Ember daies Rogation daies vigiles to keepe the holy dayes to pay his tithes and offeringe daies to go on pilgrimage to buy pardons to worship his maker ouer the Priestes head to receaue the Pope for his supreame head and to obey his lawes to receaue S. Nicolas Clerks to haue his beades to giue to the high altar to take orders if he will be Priest to saye his Mattens to sing his Masse to lift vp fayre to keepe his vow and not to marry When he is sicke to be anneeld and take the rites of holy Church to be buried in the church yard to be rong for to be song for to be buried in a Fryers coule to finde a soule Priest c. All which pointes being obserued who can denie but this is a deuoute man and a perfecte Christian Catholike and sure to be saued as a true faithfull childe of the holye mother Church Now looke vpon this definition and tell me good reader what faith or spirite or what working of the holye Ghost in all this doctrine is to be required The grace of our Lord Iesus giue the true light of his Gospell to shine in our hartes Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The first booke contayning the 300. yeares next after Christ. THese things before premised hauing thus hitherto prepared the way vnto our story let vs nowe by the grace and speede of Christ our Lord enter into the matter that as we haue heretofore set forth in a generall descriptiō the whole state as wel of the primitiue as of the latter times of this Church of Rome so now consequently to discourse in particular sort the Actes and doings of euery age by it selfe in such order as is afore prefixed First to declare of the suffering time of the Church which conteineth about the time of three hundreth yeares after Christ. Secondly the florishing growing time of the same conteyning other 300. yeares Thirdly the declining time of the Church and of true Religion other 300. yeares Fourthly of the time of Antichrist raigning raging in the Church since the loosing of Sathan Lastly of the reforming time of Christes Church in these latter 300. yeares In the tractation of all which things our chiefe purpose and indenor shal be so neare as the Lord will giue vs grace not so much to intermedle with outward affaires of Princes or matters ciuile except somtime for example of life as specially minding by the helpe of the Lorde to prosecute such thinges which to the Ecclesiasticall state of the Church are appertaining as first to entreat of the stablishing of Christian faith then of the persecutions of tyraunts the constancy and patience of Gods Saintes the first conuersion of Christen Realmes to the faith of Christ namely of this Realme of England Scotland first beginning with king Lucius and so forwarde following the order of our English kings here in this land to declare the maintenaunce of true doctrine the false practise of Prelates the creping in of superstition and hipocrisie the manifold assaultes warres and tumults of the princes of this world against the people of God Wherein may appeare the wonderfull operation of Christes mightie hand euer working in his church neuer ceasing to defend the same against his enimies according to the verity of his owne word promising to be with his Church while the worlde shal stand so as by the proces of this story may welbe proued and be testified in the sequell thereof In the traction of all which things 2. especiall pointes I chiefly commend to the reader as most requisite and nenessary of euery Christen man to obserue to note for his owne experience and profite as first the disposition nature of this worlde secondly the nature
in the gospel His cruel condition or els displeasure was such toward the Romaines that he wished that all the people of Rome had but one necke that hee at hys pleasure might destroy such a multitude By this sayd Caligula Herode the murtherer of Iohn Baptist and condemner of Christ was condemned to perpetuall banishment where he died miserably Cayphas also which wickedly sat vpon Christ was the same tyme remoued from the high Priests roome and Ionathan set in his place The raging fiercenes of this Caligula incensed agaynst the Romaines had not thus ceased had not he bene cut of by the handes of a Tribune and other gentle men which slew him in the 4 yeare of hys raigne After whose death was found in his closet 2. litle libels one called a sword the other the daggar In the whiche libels were contayned the names of those Senatours and noble men of Rome whom he had purposed to put to death Besides this sword and daggar there was sound also a cofer wherein diuers kindes of poyson were kept in glasses and vessels for the purpose to destroy a wonderful number of people Which poysons afterward being thrown into the sea destroied a great number of fish Gotfr Vīterb But that which this Caligula had onely conceaued the same did the other two which came after bring to passe Claudius Nero who raygned xiii yeares with no little cruelty But especially the third of these Neroes called Domitius Nero. Whiche succeeding after Claudius rayned 14. yeares with such fury and tyranny that he slewe the most part of the Senats he destroyd the whole order of knighthoode in Rome So prodigious a monster of nature was he more like a beast yea rather a deuill then a man that he seemed to be borne to the destruction of man Such was his monstrous vncleannes that he abstayned not from hys owne mother his naturall sister nor from any degree of kindred Such was his wretched cruelty that he caused to be put to death his mother his brother in law his sister hys wyse great with childe also his instructor Seneca and Lucane with diuers moe of his owne kindred and consanguinitie Moreouer he commaunded Rome to be set on fire in vii places and so continued it 6. dayes and 7. nights in burning while that he to see the example how Troy burned sang the verses of Homere And to auoide the infamie therof he layd the fault vpon the Christian men caused them to be persecuted And so continued this miserable Emperour in his reigne 14. yeares till at last the Senate proclaiming him a publike enemie of mankind condemned him to be drawn through the citie and to be whipped to death For the feare whereof he flying the hands of his enemies in the night fled to a manor of his seruants in the countrey where he was forced to slay himselfe complayning that he had then neither friend nor enemie left that would do so much for him In the latter end of this Domitius Nero Peter also and Paul were put to death for the testimonie and faith of Christ. an 69. Thus ye see which is worthy to be marked how the iust scourge and heauie indignation of God from tyme to tyme euer followeth there and how all things there go to ruine neither doth any thing well prosper where Christ Iesus the sonne of god is contemned and not receiued as by these examples may appeare both of Romains which not only were thus consumed and plagued by their owne Emperors but also by ciuile warres wherof three were fought in two yeres at Rome after the death of Nero and other casualties as in Sueton is testified so that in the dayes of Tiberius aforesaid 5000. Romains were hurt and slaine at one time by fal of a Theatre And also most especially by the destruction of the Iewes which about this same tyme an 73. and 40. yeres after the passion of Christ and the third yeare after the suffering of S. Peter and Paule were destroied by Titus Vespasian his father who succeeded after Nero in the Empire to the number of xi hundred thousand besides them which Vespasian slue in subduing the country of Galilie ouer and beside them also which were sold and sent into Egypt and other prouinces to vile slauery to the number of 17. thousand 2000. were brought with Titus in his triumph of which part he gaue to be deuoured of the wild beasts part otherwise most cruelly were slaine By whose case al nations and realmes may take exāple what it is to reiect the visitation of Gods veritie being sent and much more to persecute thē which be sent of God for their saluation And as this wrathfull vengeaunce of God thus hath ben shewed vpō this rebellious people both of the Iewes and of the Romains for their contempt of Christ whome God so punished by their own Emperours so neither the Emperors themselues for persecuting Christ in his members escaped without their iust reward For amongest so many Emperours which put so many christian Martyrs to death during the space of these first 300. yeares fewe or none of them scaped either not slaine thēselues or by some miserable end or other worthily reuenged First of the poisoning of Tiberius of the slaughter of the other thre Neroes after him sufficiently is declared before After Nero Domitius Galba within 7. monthes was slaine by Ottho And so did Ottho afterward slay himselfe being ouercome by Vitellus And was not Vitellus shortly after drawen through the citie of Rome and after he was tormēted was thrown into Tiber Titus a good Emperor is thought to be poysoned of Domitian his brother The said Domitian after he had bene a persecutor of the christians was slaine in his chamber not without the consent of his wife Likewise Commodus was murdered of Narcissus The like end was of Pertinax and Iulianus Moreouer after that Seuerus was slayne here in England and lieth at Yorke did not his sonne Bassianus slay his brother Geta and he after slaine of Martialis Macrinus with his sonne Diadumenus were both slayne of their owne souldiours After whom Heliagabolus that mōstrous bellypanch was of his owne people slain drawn through the citie and cast into Tiber. Alexander Seuerus that worthy and learned Emperour which sayd he would not feede his seruants doing nothing with the bowels of the common wealth although in life and vertues was much vnlike other Emperours yet prooued the like ende beyng slayne at Mentz with his godly mother Mammea by Maximinus whom the Emperour before of a Muletor had aduaunced to great dignities The which Maximinus also after three yeres was slaine himselfe of his souldiours What should I speake of Maximus and Balbinus in like sort both slaine in Rome Of Gordian slaine by Philip of Philip the first christened Emperour slaine or rather martired for the same cause of wicked Decius drouned and his sonne slaine the
Tyber which Getulus with Cerealis Amantius and Primitiuus by the commaundement of Adria were condemned to the fire wherein they were Martyred and put to death The names moreour of the seuen sonnes of this Symphorosa I finde to be Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Statteus and Eugenius whom the Chronicle of Ado declareth to be put to death at the commaundement of Hadrian being fastened to vij stakes and so racked vp wyth a pulley and at last were thrust through Crescens in the necke Iulianus in the brest Nemesius in the hart Primitiuus about the nauell Iustinus cut in euery ioynte of his bodye Stateus run through with speares Eugenius cut a sonder frō the brest to the lower partes and then cast into a deepe pyt hauyng the name by the Idolatrous Priestes intituled Ad septem Biothanatos After the martirdome of whō also Symphorosa the mother did likewise suffer as is before declared Under the sayd Antoninus Verus and in the same persecution which raged not in Rome and Asia onely but in other countryes also suffered the glorious most cōstant Martirs of Lyons and Uienna two Cities in Fraunce gyuing to Christ a glorious testimony to all Christian men a spectacle or example of singular constancie and fortitude in Christ our sauiour The history of whom because it is written and set forth by their owne Churches where they did suffer mentioned in Euseb. Lib. 5. cap. 2. I thought here to expresse the same in the forme and effecte of their owne wordes as there is to be seene The title of which their Epistle written to the brethren of Asia and Phrigia thus beginneth * The seruauntes of Christ inhabiting the Cities of Vienna and Lyons to the brethren in Asia and Phrigia hauing the same faith and hope of redemption with vs peace and grace and glory from God the father and from Iesus Christ our Lorde THe greatnes of this our tribulation the furious rage of the Gentiles against vs the tormentes which the blessed martyrs suffered neither can we in wordes nor yet in writing exactly as they deserue set forth For the aduersary with all his force gaue his endeuor to the working of such preparatiues as he himselfe listed against his tyrannous comming in euery place practised he and instructed his ministers how in most spitefull maner to set them against the seruauntes of God so that not onely in our houses shoppes and markets we were restrained but also were vniuersally cōmaunded that none so hardy should be sene in any place But God hath alwaies mercy in store and tooke out of their hands such as were weake amongst them and other some did he set vp as firme and immoueable pillers which by sufferance were able to abide all violent force and valiantly to withstand the enimie induring all their opprobrious punishment they could deuise to cōclude they fought this battell for that intent to come vnto Christ esteming their great troubles but as light therby shewing that al that may be suffered in this present life is not able to counteruayle the great glorye which shall be shewed vpō vs after this life And first they patiently suffered whatsouer the multitude of frantike people running vpon head did vnto them as railings scourgings drawynges and hailings flynging of stones imprisoninges what other thing soeuer the rage of the multitude are wōt to vse and practise against their professed enimies Then afterwarde they being led into the marked place and there iudged of the Captayne and rest of the Potentates of the Citie after their confession made openly before the multitude were commaunded againe to prisō vntil the returne of their chiefe gouernor After this they being brought before him and he vsing all extremity that possibly he might against them One Vetius Epagathus one of the brethren replenished with feruent zeale both towards god and his brethren whose conuersation although he were a young man was counted as perfect as was the life of Zachary the Priest for he walked diligently in al the commaundements and iustifications of the Lord and in all obedience towards his brethren blamles he hauing within him the feruent zeale of loue and spirit of god could not suffer that wicked iudgement which was giuen vpon the Christians but being vehemently displeased desired that the Iudge woulde heare the excuse which he was minded to make in the behalfe of the christians in whom saith he is no impietie founde But the people cryed againe to those that were assistentes with the chiefe Iustice that it might not be so for indede he was a noble man borne neither did the Iustice graunt him his lawfull request but onely asked him whether he himselfe were a Christian or not And he immediatly with a loude and boulde voice aunswered and sayde I am a Christian. And thus was he receiued into the felowship of the martirs and called the aduocate of the Christians And he hauing the spirite of God more plentifully in time then had Zachary the abundaunce thereof he declared in that he gaue his life in the defence of his brethren being a true disciple of Christ following the Lamb whersoeuer he goeth By this mans example the rest of the Martirs were the more animated to martirdome and made more ioious with al courage of mind to accomplish the same Some other there were vnready and not so well prepared and as yet weak not well able to beare the vehemency of so great conflict of whom x. there were in number that faynted ministring to vs much heauines lamentation Who by their example caused the rest which were not yet apprehēded to be lesse willing thereunto Then were we all for the variablenes of confession not a litle astonied not that we feared the punishment intended against vs but rather as hauing respect to the ende and fearing least any shoulde fal Euery day there were apprehended such as were worthy to fulful the number of them which were fallen In so much that of two churches such as were chiefest which were the principall gouernors of our Churches were apprehended With these also certeine of the Ethnicks being our men seruaunts were apprehended for so the gouernour commaunded that all of vs ingenerall without any respect should be taken which seruants being ouercome by Sathan and fearing the torments which they saw the Saintes doe suffer being also compelled thereunto by the meanes of the souldiers fained against vs that we kept the feastinges of Thiestes and incest of Oedipus and many such other crimes which are neither to be remembred nor named of vs nor yet to bee thought that euer any man would commit the like These things being now bruted abroad euery man began to shewe crueltie against vs insomuch that those which before for familiarities sake were more gentle toward vs now vehemently disdained vs and waxed mad against vs. And thus was now fulfilled that which was spoken by Christ saying the time will come
openlye night and daye and spoyle those which doe no harme And it followeth after which if it be done by your commaundement be it so well done For a good Prince wyll neuer commaund but good things And so we wil be contented to sustaine the honor of his death This onely wee most humblye beseech your Maiestie that callyng before you and examining the authors of this tumult and cōtention then your grace would iustly iudge whether we are worthy of cruell death or quiet life And then if it be not your pleasure and that it proceedeth not by your occasion which indeede against your barbarous enimies were to badde the more a great deale we are petitioners to your hyghnes that hereafter you wyll vouchsafe to heare vs thus so vexed and oppressed with these kinde of vylanous robberies And verily our Philosophy doctryne did first among the barbarous take place which doctrine fyrst in the daies of Augustus your predecessor when it did raygne and florish thereby your Empire became most famous fortunate and from that time more and more the state of the Romane Empire increased in honor wherof you most happely were made successour and so shall your sonne to Honor therefore this Philosophie which with your Empire sprang vp and came in with Augustus whiche your progenitors aboue al other honored most esteemed And verily this is no small argumēt of a good beginning that since our doctrine flourished in the Empire no misfortune or losse happened frō Augustus time but contrary alwaies victory good and honorable yeres as euer any mā would wishe Onely among all and of all Nero and Domitian beyng kindled by diuers naughty and spitfull persons cauillingly obiected against our doctrine of whom this Sicophanticall slaundring of vs by naughty custome first came and sprang vp But your godly fathers espying the ignoraunce of these oftentimes by their writing corrected their temerous attemptes in that behalfe Among whom your granfather Adrian with many other is read of to haue wrytten of Fundayne the Proconsul and Lieutenāt of Asia And your father your own father I say with whom you ruled in al things wrote to the Cities vnder his signet as the Laersens Thessalonicenses Athenienses and Grecians rashly to innouate or alter nothing of your highnes therfore who in this case is of that sect as your predecessours were yea of a more benigne Philosophicall minde we are in good hope to obtaine our peticion and request Thus much out of the Apologie of Melito who writing to Onesimus geueth to vs this benefite to knowe the true Catalogue the names of al the autentike bookes of the olde Testament receaued in the auncient time of the prymitiue Church Concerning the number names wherof the said Melito in his letter to Onesimus declareth howe that he returning into the parts where these things were done and preached there hee diligently inquired out the bookes aprooued of the old Testament the names wherof in order he subscribeth sendeth vnto him as followeth The fiue bookes of Moses Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numeri Deuteronomi Iesus Naue The Iudges Ruth Foure bookes of Kings Two bookes Paralipomenon The Psalmes Prouerbes of Salomon The booke of Wisedome The Preacher The song of songs Iob. The Prophets Esay Hieromie twelue Prophetes in one booke Daniel Ezechiel Esdras And thus much of thys matter which I thought here to record for that it is not vnprofitable for these latter times to vnderstande what in the first times was receaued and admitted as autentike and what otherwise But from this little digression to returne to our matter omitted that is to the Apologies of Apolinarius and Melito in the story so it followeth that whether it was by the occasiō of these two Apologies or whether it was through the writing of Athenagoras a Philosopher and a Legate of the Christians it is vncertaine but this is certaine that the persecution the same time was staid Some do thinke which most probably seeme to touch the truthe that the cause of staying this persecution did rise vpon a wonderfull myracle of God shewed in the Emperours campe by the Christians the story wherof is this At what time the two brethren Marcus Antonius and Marcus Aurelius Commodus Emperours ioyning together warred against the Quades Vandales Sarmates and Germaines in the expeditiō against them their army by reason of the imminent assault of their enimies was cooped shut in within the straights and hoate dry places where their souldiours besides other difficulties of battaile being destitute of water fyue dayes were like to haue perished which dread not a little discomfited them did abate their courage Wherin this their so great distresse and ieopardy sodainely wythdrew from the army a legian of the christian souldiours for their succour who falling prostrate vpon the earth by ardent praier by by obtained of God double reliefe by meanes of whom God gaue certaine pleasaunt showers from the element whereby as their souldiors quenched their thirst so were a great number of their enimies discomfited put to flight by the continual lightnings which shooted out of the aire This miracle so pleased won the Emperour that euer after he waxed gentler gentler to the Christians dyrected his letters to diuers of his rulers as Tertullian in his Apologie witnesseth commaūding thē therin to giue thankes to the Christians no lesse for his victory then for the preseruation of him and all his men The copy of which letter hereafter ensueth ¶ Marcus Aurelius Antonius Emperour to the Senate and people of Rome I Giue you hereby to vnderstande what I intend to doe as also what successe I haue had in my warres in Germany and with how much difficultie I haue viteled my campe being compassed about with 74. fierce Dragons whome my Scottes descryed to be within ix miles of vs and Pompeianus our Liefetenaunt hath viewed as he signified vnto vs by hys letters Wherefore I thought no lesse but to be ouerunne and all my bandes of so great multitude as well my vaward mayne warde as reere warde with all my souldiours of Ephrata In whose host there were numbred of fighting men ix hundreth seuenty and fiue thousand But when I saw my selfe not able to encounter with the enemy I craued ayde of our countrey Gods at whose hands I finding no comfort and being driuen of the enemye vnto an exegent I caused to be sent for those men which we call Christians who being mustred were found a good indifferent number with whom I was in farther rage then I had good cause as afterwardes I had experience by their merueilous power who forthwith did their indeuour but without either weapon munition armour or trumpets as men abhorring such preparation and furniture but onely satisfied in trust of their God whome they cary about with them in their consciences It is therefore to be credited although we call them wicked men that they worship God in
saide to be byshop of Alexandria so lykewise vntrue it is that Helenus was bishop of Hierapolis For by Eusebius it appeareth Lib. 7. cap. 5. alleadging the words of Dionysius that he was bishop of Tarus in Cilicia and had there ouersight of that Church from the tyme of our Lorde 254. to the yeare 274. The vj. yeare of Valerianus and Galienus we read in the story of Herfordiensis cited out of Isuardus of Victor and Victorinus who lying in prison the space of three yeares with Claudianus and Bossa his wife are sayde to haue sustayneâ— great tormentes and Martyrdome for the testimony and name of Christ. Ex. luardo Aurelius Prudentius in his booke intituled Peristephanon inferreth mention of Fructuosus Byshop of Tarracona in Spaine who with his two Deacons Augurius and Eulogius suffered also Martyrdome being burned after syxe daies imprisonment vnder the foresaid Emperours in this persecution The cause of their punishment was for the profession of Christs name Their Iudge and condemner was Emilianus Their imprisonment indured sixe dayes The kinde of death ministred vnto them was fire wherin they being altogether cast with their armes bound behind them their bandes as Prudentius writeth were dissolued their hands vntouched with the fire and their bodies remayning whole The charge of this Iudge vnto the Byshop was this that he would worship the Gods whome the Emperour Galienus worshipped To whom Fructuosus the byshop aunswering nay sayde he I worship no dombe God of stockes and blockes whom Galienus doth worship but I worship the Lord and maister of Galienus the Father and creator of all times and his onely Sonne sent downe to vs of whose flock I am here the Pastor and shepeherd At this worde Emilianus aunswering agayne Nay saith he say not thou art but say thou wast And forthwith commaunded them to be committed to the fyre where as is sayd their bandes and manicles being loosed by the fire they lifted vp their hands to heauen praysyng the liuing God to the great admiration of them that stode by praying also that the element which seemed to fle from them might worke his full force vpon them spedely dispatche them which was after their request obtained In the meane space as they were in the fire there was a certayne Souldier in the house of Emilianus who did see the heauens aboue to open and these foresayd Martyrs to enter in the same which souldiour likewise shewed the sight the same time vnto the daughter of Emilianus the president who beholding the same sight with the souldiour was a present witnesse of the blessednesse of them whom her cruell father had condemned As thys godly Byshop was preparyng to his death sayth Prudentius the brethren approching to him brought him drinke desiring him with much weeping to receaue drinke with them but that he refused to do requiring theÌ„ moreouer to refrayne their teares With like readines the brethen also were diligent about him to pluck of his shoes hose as he was addressing himselfe to the fire But neyther would he suffer any seruaunts helpe in that wherein he was no lesse willing as able to helpe himself And thus this blessed and fruitefull byshop Fructuosus with his twoo Deacons Augurius and Eulogius beyng brought to the fire witnessed the constant confession of the name of christ with the shedding of their bloude Aurel. Prudentius Ado. Equilinus And thus farre continued wicked Valerian in his tyranny against the Saintes of Christ. But as all the Tyrauntes before and oppressors of the Christians had theyr deserued reward at the iust hand of God which rendreth to euery man according to his workes so this cruel Valerian after he had reigned with his sonne Galienus the terme of vj. or vij yeares and about two yeares had afflicted the Church of Christ felt the iust stroke of his hande whose indignation before he had prouoked whereof we haue to witnes Eutropius Pollio Sabellicus Volateranus For making hys expedition agaynst the Persians whether by the fraude and treason of some about him or whether by his owne rashnes it is doubtfull But this is certayne that he fell into the handes of hys enemies being about the age of lxx yeares where he led hys wretâ—hed age in a more wretched captiuitie In so much that Sapores the king of the Persians vsed him and well worthy not for his ryding foole but for hys riding blocke For whensouer the king should light vpon hys horse openly in the sight of the people Valerian Emperour quondam was brought forth in steede of a blocke for the king to tread vpon hys backe in goyng to hys horsebacke And so continued this blockishe butcherly Emperour with shame and sport inough vnto his finall end as witnesseth Laetus and Aurelius Victor And albeit Eusebius in a certaine Sermon to the Congregation declareth a more cruell handling of him affirming that he was slaine writing in these wordes Sed tu Valeriane quoniam eandem homicidiorum saeuitiam erga subditos Dei exercuisti iustum Dei iudicium declarasti dum captiuus ac vinctus vna cum ipsa purpura ac reliquo imparatorio ornatu abductus ac tandem a Sapore Persarum Rege excoriari iussus saleque conditus perpetuum infaelicitatis tuae trophaeum erexisti c. That is and thou Valerian for so much as thou hast exercised the same crudelitie in murdering the subiects of God therfore hast proued vnto vs the rightuous iudgement of God in that thy selfe hast bene bound in chaynes and caryed away for a captiue slaue with thy gorgeous purple and thy imperiall attire and at length also beyng commaunded of Sapores king of the Persians to be slayne and poudred with sault hast set vp vnto al men a perpetuall monument of thine owne wretchednes c. Euseb. The like seueritie of God his terrible iudgement is also to be noted in Claudius his PresideÌ„t and minister of his persecutions Of which Claudius Henricus de Erfordia thus writeth that he was possessed and vexed of the deuill in such sort that he byting of his owne tongue in many small peeces so ended hys life Erford Neither did Galienus the sonne of Valerian after the captiuitie of hys father vtterly escape the righteous hand of God For beside the miserable captiuitie of hys father whom he could not rescue such portentes straunge out of the course of nature such Earthquakes did happen also such tumultes commotions and rebellions did followe that Trebellio doth recken vp to the number of 30. together which in sundry places all at one time tooke vpon them to be tyrantes and Emperours ouer the Monarchie of Rome by the meanes whereof he was not able to succour hys father though he would Notwithstanding the sayd Galienus beyng as is thought terrified by the exaÌ„ple of his father did remoue at least did moderate the persecutioÌ„ stirred vp by the Edictes of Valerian hys father directing forth hys
of the Christians to bee spoyled and cast to the earth and the bookes of holy scripture to be burned Thus most violent edictes and proclamations were set foorth for the ouerthrowing as is saide of the Christians temples throughout all the Romane Empire Neyther did there want in the officers any cruell execution of the same proclamations For their temples were defaced euen when they celebrated the feast of Easter Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 2. And this was the first edicte giuen out by Dioclesian the next proclamation that came forth was for the burning of the bookes of the holy scripture which thyng was done in the open market place as before then next vnto that were edictes giuen forth for the displacing of such as were Magistrats and that with a great ignominie al other whatsoeuer bare anye office Imprisoning suche as were of the common sorte if they would not abiure Christianitie and subscribe to the heathen religion Euseb. lib. 8. cap 3. Nicephorus lib. 7. cap 4. Zonoras also in his seconde tome And these were the beginning of the Christians euils It was not long after but that new edictes were sent forth nothing for their cruelty inferiour to the first for the casting of the elders and bishops into prisō and then constraining them with sundry kindes of punishments to offer vnto their Idoles By reason whereof ensued a great persecutiō amongst the gouernors of the church amongst whom many stood manfully passing through many exceeding bitter torments neyther were ouercome therwyth being tormented and examined diuers of them diuerslye some scourged all their bodies ouer with whips scourges some with racks rasinges of the flesh intolerable were cruciated some one way some another way put to death Some againe violently were drawen to the vnpure sacrifice and as though they had sacrificed when indeede they did not were let go Other some neither comming at al to their aultars nor touching anye peece of their sacrifices yet were borne in hand of thē that stoode by that they had sacrificed so suffering that false infamation of their enymies quietly went away Other as dead men were caried and cast away being but halfe dead Some they cast down vpon the pauement and trailing them a great space by the legs made the people beleue that they had sacrificed Furthermore other there were which stoutly withstood them affirming with a loud voice that they had done no such sacrifice Of whom some saide they were Christians gloried in the profession of that name some cryed saying that neither they had nor would euer be pertakers of that idolatry And those being buffeted on the face mouth wyth the handes of the soldiers were made to hold their peace and so thrust out with violence And if the Saintes did seeme neuer so little to doe what the enimies would haue them they were made much of Albeit all this purpose of the aduersary did nothing preuayle against the holye and constaunt seruaunts of Christ. Notwithstanding of the weake sort innumerable there were which for feare infirmity fell and gaue ouer euen at the first brunt At the first comming downe of these edictes into Nicomedia there chanced a dede to be done much worthy of memory of a Christien being a noble man borne whiche moued by the zeale of God after the proclamation made at Nicomedia was set vp by and by ranne and tooke downe the same and openly tare and rent it in peeces not fearing the presence of the two Emperours then being in the citie For which acte he was put to a most bitter death whiche death he with great faith constancie endured euen to the last gaspe Euseb. lib. 8. lib. 3. 5. After this the furious rage of the malignaunt Emperours being let loose against the saintes of Christ proceeded more more making hauock of gods people through out all quarters of the worlde First Dioclesian which had purposed with himselfe to subuert the whole christian religion executed his tyranny in the east and Maximianus in the west But wily Dioclesian began very subtilye for hee put the matter first in practise in his owne campe among whom the marshall of the field as Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 4. affirmeth put the Christian Souldiers to this choise whether they would obey the Emperors commaundement in that maner of sacrifice he cōmaunded and so both to keepe their offices and leade their bands or els to lay away from thē their armor and weapons Whereunto the Christen men couragiously aunswered that they were not only ready to lay away their armour weapons but also to suffer death if it should with tiranny be enforced vnto them rather thē they would obey the wicked decrees and comaundements of the Emperour There might a man haue seene very manye whiche were desirous to liue a simple and poore life and whiche regarded no estimation and honour in comparison of true pietie godlines And this was no more but a subtile and wily flattery in the beginning to offer them to be at theyr owne liberty whether they would willingly abiure their profession or not as also this was an other that in the beginning of the persecution there were but a few tormented with punishment but afterwarde by little and little hee began more manifestlye to braste out into persecution It can hardly be expressed with wordes what number of Martirs and what bloud was shedde through all cities and regions for the name of Christ Eusebius in his 8 booke chap. 7. saith that he himselfe knew the worthy Martirs that were in Palestina But in Tire of Phenicia he declareth in the same a marueilous martyrdome made where certayne christians being geuen to most cruell wild beasts were preserued without hurt of them to the great admiration of the beholders and those Lions Beares and Lybardes kept hungry for that purpose had no desire to deuoure them which notwithstanding most vehementlye raged against those by whome they were brought into the stage and stoode as they thought without daunger of thē such were first deuoured But the Christian Martyrs because they could not be hurt of the beasts being slayne with the sworde were afterwarde throwen into the sea At that time was martyred the Bishop of Sydon But Syluanus the Byshop of Gazensis with 39. other were slayne in the mettall mynes of Phenitia Pamphilus the elder of Cesarea being the glory of that congregation died a most worthy Martyr whose both life and most commendable martyrdome Eusebius oftentimes declareth in his 8. booke and 13. chapter in so much that he hath written the same in a booke by it selfe In Syria all the chiefe teachers of the congregation were first committed to prison as a most heauye cruell spectacle to behold as also the bishops Elders and Deacons which all were esteemed as menquellers and perpetratours of most wicked facts Eusebius Lib. 8. cap. 6 After that we read of an
to saue himselfe beyng promised also of his friendes to bee safely conueyed awaye if he would thereto agree To whome Edwyne said whether shall I flee which haue so long fleene the handes of myne enymies through all prouinces of the Realme And if I must nedes be slayne I had rather that he should doe it then an other vnworthy person Thus he remayning by himselfe alone solitarie sitting in a great study there appeared vnto him sodainely a certaine straunger to hym vnknowne and saide I knowe well the cause of thy thought and heauines What wouldest thou giue him that should deliuer thee out of this feare should recoÌ„cile king Redwald to thee againe I woulde gyue him saide Edwyne al that euer I coulde make And he saide agayne And what if he make thee a mightier king then was anye of thy Progenitours Hee aunswered againe as before Moreouer saith he and what if hee shewe thee a better kind and way of life then euer was shewed to any of thine aunceters before thee wilt thou obey him doe after his counsell yea said Edwyne promising most firmely wyth al his hart so to do TheÌ„ he laying his hand vpon his head when said he this token hapneth vnto thee then remember this time of thy tribulation the promise which thou hast made and the word which now I say vnto thee And with that he uanished out of his sight sodainely After this so done as Edwyne was sitting alone by him selfe pensiue and sad his foresaid friend which moued him before to fle commeth to him bidding him be of good chere for the hart said he of king Redwaldus which had before intended thy destruction was nowe altered through the counsell of the Queene and is fully bent to keepe his promise wyth you whatsoeuer shall fall thereupon To make the story short Redwaldus the King although Fabian following Henry Huntyngton saith it was Edwyne with al conuenient speed assembled an host wherwith he sodainly comming vpon Ethelfride gaue battaile vnto him aboute the borders of Mercia where Ethelfryde king of Northumberlande also with Reyner Redwaldus sonne was slaine in the fielde By reason wherof Edwyne his enimies now being destroyed was quietly placed in the possessioÌ„ of NorthumberlaÌ„d All this while yet Edwyne remained in his old Paganisme albeit his Queene being as is aboue declared king Ethelbertes daughter a Christen woman with Paulinus the byshop ceased not to stirre and perswad the king to christian fayth But he taking counsell with his nobles and counsellers vpon the matter was hard to be wonne Then the Lord who desposeth all things after his purpose to bring al good things to passe sent an other trouble vpon him by meanes therof to cal him For by affliction God vseth coÌ„monly to call them whom he wil saue or by whom he wil worke saluation vnto other So his diuine wisdome thinketh good to make them first to knowe themselues before they come to know him or to teach him to other so it was with Paule who was striken downe before hee was lyfted vp with Constantinus Edwynus and many moe Howe long was Ioseph in prison before he bare rule How hardly escaped this our Queene nowe being Queene Elizabeth by whoÌ„ yet notwithstanding it hath pleased god to restore this his gospel now preached amongst vs In what conflictes and agonies inwardly in his spirite was M. Luther before he came to preach the iustification of Christ openly And so be all they most commonlye which come to anye liuely feeling or sensible working of Christ the Lord. But to returne to Edwyne againe The occasion of hys trouble was this Quicelinus with Kynegilsus his brother Kings of Westsaxons as aboue is mentioned in the table of the Saxon kings conspiring the death of Edwyne now king of Northumberland vpon enuy and malice sent vpon an Easter day a swordman named Emner priuelye to slay the said Edwyne This swordman or cutthrote came to a Citie beside the water of Darwent in Darbishire there to waite his time and lastly founde the king smallye accompanied and inteÌ„ded to haue runne the kiâ—â— through with a sword inuenemed But one Lilla the kinges trustye seruaunt disgarnished of a shield or other weapon to defeÌ„d his maister start betwene the king the sword and was strikeÌ„ through the body and died and the king was wouÌ„ded with the same stroke And after he wounded also the third which was a knight so was taken and confessed by whom he was sent to worke that treason The other knight that was secondly wounded died and the king lay after long sicke or he were healed After this about whitsontide the king being scantlye hole of his wounde assembled his host intending to make against the king of westsaxons promising to Christ to be Christened if he would giue him the victory ouer his enimies And in token therof caused his daughter borne of Edelburge yâ— same Easter day when he was wouÌ„ded named Eufled to be baptised with xij other of his familye of Paulinus Thus Edwyne proceded to the battel against Quicelne and Kynegilsus with his sonne Kenwalcus and other enimies who in the same battell being al vanquished put to flight Edwyn through the power of Christ returneth home victorer But for all this victory other things gyuen to him of God as he was in wealth of the worlde forgat his promise made and had little mind therof saue only that he by the preaching of Paulinus forsoke his maumentry And for his excuse saide that he might not clearly deny his olde lawe which his forefathers had kept so long and sodeinly to be Christened without authority and good aduise of his counsaile About the same season Pope Boniface the 5. sent also to the sayd Edwyne letters exhortatory wyth sundrye presentes from Rome to him and to Edelburge the Queene But neither would that preuaile Then Paulinus seyng the king so hard to be conuerted poured out his praiers vnto God for his coÌ„uersion who the same time had reuealed to him by the holy ghost the oracle aboue mentioned which was shewed to the King when hee was with Redwaldus king of the Eastangles Wherupon Paulinus comming afterward to the king on a certaine day and laying his haÌ„d vpon the kings head asked him if he knew that tokeÌ„ The king hearing this remembring wel the token was ready to fall downe at his feete But Paulinus not sufferyng that did lift vp hym againe saying vnto him behold O king you haue vanquished your enimies you haue obteined your kingdome now performe the third which you haue promised that is to receaue the faith of Christ and to be obedient to him Wherupon the king conferryng with his Counsell his nobles was baptised of the said Paulinus at Yorke with many of his other subiectes with hym Insomuch that Coyfi the chiefe of the Prelates of his olde maumentry armed him selfe wyth hys other Idolatrous Bishops and bestrode
whom Leo the 5. was next Pope who with in 40. daies of his papacie was with strong hand taken cast in prison by one Christopher his own houshold chaplain whoÌ„ he had long norished before in his house Which thing sayeth Platina could not be done without great conspiracie and great slaughter of men Which Christofer being Pope about the space of seuen monthes was likewise himselfe hoisted from his Papall throne by Sergius like as he had done to hys maister before And thus within the space of 9. yeares had bene 9. Popes one after an other Then Sergius after he had thrust downe Pope Christofer and shorne him Monke into a Monasterie occupied the roume 7. yeares This Sergius a rude man and vnlearned very proude and cruell had before bene put backe from the Popedome by Formosus aboue mentioned By reason whereof to reuenge Formosus againe being nowe in his papacie caused the body of Formosus where it was buried to be taken vp and afterwarde set in the Papall sea as in his pontificalibus first disgraded him then commanded his head to be smitten off with the other thre fingers that were left as Sigebertus writeth which done he made his body to be throwne into Tiber deposing likewise all such as by the said Formosus before had bene consecrated and inuested This body of Formosus thus throwne into Tiber was afterward as our writers say found taken vp by certaine fishers and so brought into s. Peters temple At the presence whereof as they say certaine images there standing by bowed downe themselues and reuereÌ„ced the same with lie and all But such deceiueable miracles of stocks and images in monkish and frierly teÌ„ples be to vs no newes especially here in England where we haue bene so inured with the like so many that such wily practises cannot be to vs inuisible though this crown-shorn generation thinke themselues to daunce in a nette But the truthe is while they thinke to deceaue the simple these wily beguily most of all deceiue themselues as they will finde except they repent By this Pope Sergius first came vp to beare about candels on Candelmas day for the purifying of the blessed virgine As though the sacred conception of Iesus the sonne of God were to be purified as a thing vnpure and that with candell light After Sergius entred pope Anastasius in whose time the body of Formosus forenamed is thought to be fouÌ„d of fishermen in the riuer of Tiber so brought as is said into the temple to be saluted of the images which thing may quickly be tainted as a lie For how it is to be thought that the body of Formosus so long dead before and now lying 7. yeares in the riuer could remaine whole all that while that Fishers might take it vp discerne it to be the same After Anasius had sate two yeres folowed Pope Lando the father as some stories think of pope Iohn which Iohn is sayde to be the paramour of Theodora'a famous harlot of Rome set vp of the same harlot eyther against Lando or after Lando his father to succede in hys roume There is a storie writer called Liuthprandus who wryting de Imperatoribus Lib. 2 cap. 13. maketh there mention of this Theodora and Pope Iohn xj and sayeth moreouer that this Theodora had a daughter named Marozia which Marozia had by pope Sergius aboue mentioned a sonne which afterward was Pope Iohn the 12. The same Marozia afterward it chaÌ„ced to marry with Guido Marques of Tuscia through the meanes of which Guido and hys frends at Rome she brought to passe that this pope Iohn the 11. was smothered with a pillow laid to his mouth after he had reigned 13. yeares And so the foresayd Iohn the 12. her sonne to succede next after him But because the clergie and people of Rome did not agre to his election therfore was Pope Leo the 6. in his place set vp Thus Pope Iohn the sonne of Sergius and Marozia being deiected reigned Pope Leo 7. moneths After him Pope Stephen 2 yeares Who being poysoned then was Pope Iohn the 12. aboue rehearsed the sonne of Sergius and Marozia set vp againe in the Papacie where hee reigned neare the space of 5. yeres Of the wickednesse of this strompet Marozia howe she maried two brethren one after the death of the other And howe she gouerned all Rome the whole church at that time I let it passe Although the latin verses wherewith the sayd Liuthprandus doeth inuey against such women as marie two brethren were neither worthy here to be recited and perhappes might be further applied then to that Marozia of Rome but for shortnesse I let them also passe After Ioan. 12. followed Pope Stephen three yeares Pope Leo 3. yeares and 4. monethes Pope Stephen the eight 3. yeres and 4. moneths Pope Martine 3. yeres and 6. monthes After him Pope Agapetus 8. yeres and 6. â—nethes About whose time or a little before began first the order of monkes called Ordo Cluniacensis c. But nowe to leaue of these monstruous matters of Rome and to returne againe to our country of England where we last left before King Edward the elder AFter the reigne of the famous king Alfred hys sonne Edward succeeded surnamed the elder Where first is to be noted that before the Conquest of the Normandes there were in England 3. Edwardes first this Edwarde the elder 2. Edward the martyr 3. Edward the confessor Whereof hereafter by the grace of Christ shall followe in order as place shall geue to be declared This Edwarde began his reigne the yeare of our Lord. 901. and gouerned the land right valiantly and nobly 24. yeares In knowledge of good letters and learning he was not to be compared to his father Otherwise in princely renowne in ciuile gouernment and such like martiall prowesse he was nothing inferior but rather excelled him Through whose valiant actes first the princedome of Wales and kingdom of Scotland with Constantine king thereof were to hym subdued He adioyned moreouer to his dominion the couÌ„trey of Eastanglia that is of Norfolke Suffolke and Essex All Merceland also he recouered and NorthumberlaÌ„d out of the hands of the Danes In all his warres he neuer lightly weÌ„t without victory The subiects of his prouinces and dominions were so inured and hardened in continuall practise and feates of warre that when they hearde of any ennemies comming neuer tarying for any bidding from the king or from his dukes straight wayes they encountred wyth them both in number and in knowledge of the order of warre excelling alwayes their aduersaries Guliel de Regi Ita hostes militibus contemptui Regi risui erant To meane So was the comming and assaulting of theyr ennemyes to the people and common Souldiours but a trifle to the king but a ridicle Among other aduersaries which were busie rather then wise in assailing
it was enacted and decreed that the Canons of diuers Cathedral churches Colleginars Persons Uicars Priests and Deacons with their wiues and childrē either should geue ouer that kind of life or els geue roume to Monkes c. For execution of which decree two principall Uisitors were appointed Athelwold or Ethelwold bishop of Winchester and Oswold bishop of Worcester as is partly before touched Osbernus in vita Dunstani Malmesb. De vit pontif Rog Houed And thus much concerning the history of king Edgar and of such things as in his tyme happened in the church Which Edgar after he had entred into the partes of Britannie to subdue the rebellion of the Welchmen and there had spoiled the coūtrey of Glamorgan wasted the country of Ono within x. dayes after when he had raigned the space of xvj yeares died and was buried at Glastenbury leauing after him two bastards to witte Editha and Edward and one sonne lawfully begottē named Ethelred or otherwise by corruption called Egelred For Edmund the elder sonne died before his father Ye heard before how king Edgar is noted in all stories to be an incontinent liuer in deflouring maydes and virgines Of which virgins iij. notoriously are expressed in authors to witte Wlftrude or Wlfride The second was the dukes maid at Andeuar nie to Winchester The third was Elflede mother of Edward for the which Elflede he was stayd and kept backe from his Coronation by Dunstane Archbishop of Cant. the space of 7. yeares and so the sayd kyng beginning his raigne in the 16. yeare of his age beyng the yeare of the Lord 959. was crowned at his age 31. An. dom 974. as is in the Saxon Chronicle of Worcester church to be prooued For the more euident declaration of which matter concerning the coronation of the kyng restrained and the presumptuous behauiour of Dunstan against the king and his penance by the sayd Dunstane enioyned ye shall heare both Osborne Malmesb. and other authors speake in their owne wordes as followeth Perpetrato itaque in virginem velatam peccato c. After that Dunstane had vnderstanding of the kings offence perpetrated with the professed Nunne and that the same was blased amongst the people with great ire and passion of mynde he came to the king Who seing the Archb. comming eftsones of gentlenes arose from his regall seate towards hym to take him by the hand and to geue him place But Dunstan refusing to take him by the hand and with sterne countenance bending his browes spake after this effect of words as stories import vnto the king You that haue not feared to corrupt a virgine mayde handfast to Christ presume you to touch the consecrated handes of a bishop you haue defiled the spouse of your maker thinke you by flattring seruice to pacifie the friend of the bridegrome No sir his frend will not I be which hath Christ to his enemy c. The king terrified with these thundring wordes of Dunstan and compuncted with inward repentance of his crime perpetrated fel down with weping at the feete of Dunstane Who after he had raysed him vp from the ground againe began to vtter to him the horriblenes of his fact and finding the king redy to receiue whatsoeuer satisfaction he would lay vpon him enioyned him this penance for 7. yeres space as followeth That hee should weare no crowne all that space that he should fast twise in the weeke he should distribute his treasure left to him of his auncesters liberally vnto the poore he should build a Monasterie of Nunnes at Shaftsbury that as he had robbed God of one virgine through his transgression so should he restore to him many again in tymes to come Moreouer he should expell Clerkes of euil life meaning such priests as had wiues and children out of churches and place Couents of Monkes in their rowme c. It followeth then in the story of Osborne that whē the 8. yeres of the kings penance were expired Dunstan calling together all the pieres of the Realme with Bishops Abbots and other ecclesiasticall degrees of the Clergy in the publike sight of all the multitude set the crowne vpon the kings head at Bathe which was the 31. yeare of hys age and the 13. yeare of his raigne so that he raigned only but 3. yeares crowned king All the other yeares besides Dunstan belike ruled the land as he listed Furthermore as touching the sōne of the sayd Elfled thus the story writeth Puerum quoque ex peccatrice quondam progenitum sacro fonte regeneratum lauauit aptato illi nomine Edwardo in filium sibi adoptauit i. The child also which was gotten of the harlot he baptised in the holy fountaine of regeneration and so geuing his name to bee called Edward did adopt him to be his sonne c. Ex Osberno By the which narration of Osberne agreing also with the story of the Saxon booke aboue mentioned is conuinced a double vntruth or error eyther negligently ouerseen or of purpose dissembled in our latter Monkish storywriters as in Malmesbury Math. Paris Math. Westm. other mo Who to conceale the fault of king Edgar or to beare with Dunstans fact in setting vp Edward for the maintenance of their monkish order first doe falsly affirme that Editha the daughter of Ulfride was borne after Edward that for her this penance was enioyned to king Edgar which neither is nor can be so as in processe hereafter the Lorde willing shall appeare Secondly they are deceiued in this that they affirme king Edgar to haue two wiues and that Elfleda the mother of Edward was not a professed Nunne in deede but dissembled so to be to auoid the violēce of the king where as in deede the truth of the story both geueth her to bee a Nunne and her sonne to be base and she her selfe neuer to be maried vnto the king Now forasmuch as we haue hitherto entred mention of Elfleda and Editha also of Wlfrede and Dunstane here would not be let passe to speake something of their lying miracles falsly forged to the great seductiō of christen people by superstitious Monkes who cared not what fables and lyes they brought into the church so they might haue the vantage of poore mens purses and oblations And first here commeth in the fabulous myracles wrought at the tombe of Elfleda the kings concubine which W. Malmesb. in these verses expresseth Nam nonnullis passa annis morborum molestiam Defecatam excoctam Deo dedit animam Functas ergo vitae futo beatas exuuias Infinitis clemens signis illustrauit Deltas Inopes visus auditus si adorant tumulum Sanitati restituti probant sanctae meritum Rectum gressum refert domum qui accessit loripes Mente captus redit sanus boni sensus locuples The English of which verses is needelesse here to bee recited Briefly the effect is this That both the blynde deafe halte
Monuments of bookes were consumed In the time whereof the Danes by fauour of some of the citizens entred the citie and slew more then iii M. of the Normanes But not long after King William chased them out and droue them to the ships tooke suche displeasure with the inhabitauÌ„tes of that countrey that he destroied the land from Yorke to Durham so that 9. yeres after the prouince lay wast and vninaâ—â—red onely except S. Iohns land of Beuerley the people theroft so straitly being kept in penurye by the warre of the king that as our English storie sayeth they eate rats cats and dogs and other vermine Also in the fourth yeare of this king Malcolyn king of Scots entred into Northumberland destroyed the couÌ„trey slew there much of the people both of men women and children after a lamentable sorte and tooke some prisoners But within 2. yeares after king William made such warre vpon the Scottes that he forced Malcolyn theyr king to doe him homage And thus much concerning the outwarde calamities of this Realme vnder this forreine Conquerour Whych is nowe the fifth time that the sayd land with the inhabitaunce thereof hath bene scourged by the hande of God First by the Romaines in the time of Iulius Cesar. Then by the Scottes and Pictes as hath bene shewed afterwarde by the Saxons Againe the Saxons or Englishmen did not enioy the possession of Britain with long quiete but were brought in as much subiection themselues vnder the Danes as they had brought the Britaines before and that muche more in so muche that throughe all England if an Englishe man had mette a Dane vppon a bridge he might not stirre one foote before the Lord Dane otherwise Lurdane were past And then if the Englishe man had not geuen lowe reuerence to the Dane at hys comming by he â—as sure to be sharpely punished wyth more as aboue hath bene declared And this subiection almoste continued from the reigne of Kinge Ethelwolfus 230. yeares till the reigne of king Edwarde And yet the indignation of God thus ceased not but stirred vp the Normandes against them who Conquered and altered the whole Realme after their owne purpose in somuche that besides the innouation of the lawes coignes and possessions there was in no Church of England almoste anye English bishop but only Normands forreiners placed through all their Dioces To suche miserie was this lande then brought vnto that not onely of all the English nobilitie not one house was standing but also it was thought reprochfull to be called an English man This punishmeÌ„t of God against the English nation writers do assigne biuersly to diuers causes as partly before is touched of whoÌ„ some assigne this to be cause as foloweth in the wordes of the storie In primitiua Angliae Ecclesia religio clarissimè splenduit ita vt Reges Reginae Duces Episcopi vel MonachatuÌ„ vel exilium pro Dei amore appeterent processu verò temporis adeo omnis virtus in eis emarcuit vt gentem nullam proditione nequitia sibi parem esse permitterent c. The meanyng whereof is that whereas Kings and Queenes Dukes and Prelates in the primitiue time of the English church were ready for Religion to forsake either liberty or countrey and giue themselues to a solitarie life In processe of time they grew to such dissolutenes that they left no other realme like vnto them in iniquity c. Again some writing of the vision of king Edward a litle before the inuasion of the NormaÌ„ds testify how the king reporting of his owne vision should heare that for the great enormitye and misbehauior of the heade Dukes Bishops and Abbats of the realme the kingdome should be geuen to the hand of their enemies after the decease of him for the space of a C. yeres and one day Which space was also seene by William conquerour to be a hundreth yeres fiftie and that his progenie so long should continue Againe some wryters entreating of this so great wrath of God vpon the Englishe people declare the cause therof as foloweth Nam ficut Angl Britones quds Deus disterminate proposuerat peccatis suis exigentibus humiliuerant a term Angliae minus iniustè fugauerant sic ipsi duplici persecutione c. Like as the Englishmen did subdue the Britons whom God proposed for theyr deseruings to exterminate and them vniustly did dispossesse of their land so they should likewise be subdued and scourged with a double persecution first by the Danes and after by the Normanes c. Moreouer to these iniuries and iniqnities done and wrought by the English men hetherto recited let vs adde also the cruell villanie of this nation in murdering and tything of the innocent Normans before who comming as straungers wyth Alfrede the lawfull heire of the Crowne were despitefully put to death Which seemeth to me no little cause why the Lorde whose doings be alwaies iust right did suffer the Normans so to preuaile By the coÌ„ming in of the which Normans and by their quarel vnto the Realme iii. things we may note learne First to consider and learne the righteous retribution and wrath of God from heauen vpon all iniquitie and vnrighteous dealing of men Secondly we may thereby note what it is for Princes to leaue no issue or sure succession behinde them Thirdly what daungers often do chaunce to Realmes publiquely by foreine mariage with other Princes c. In the same fourth yeare of this king betwene Easter and Whitsontide was holden a solemne councell at Winchester of that clergy of England At the which counsell were present two Cardinals sent from Pope Alexander 2. Peter Iohn In this counsell the king being there himselfe present were deposed diuers bishops Abbots and priors by the meanes of the king wtout any euident cause to the intent his Normans might be preferred to the rule of the Church as he had preferred his knightes before to the rule of the teÌ„poraltie therby to stand in more surety of the land Amongest whoÌ„ also Stigandus Archb. of Cant. was put downe for 3. causes against him pretended The first was for that he had holden wrongfully that byshoprike while Robert the Archbishop aboue meÌ„tioned pag. 156. was liuing The seconde was for that he had receiued the palle of Benedict byshop of Rome the fifth of that name Whyche Benedict for buying his Popedome had bene deposed as is shewed before The thirde cause for that he occupied the said palle wtout license and lawfull autoritie of the court of Rome Then Stigandus wel proued the beneuolence of king William For where before the king seemed in frendly couÌ„tenance to make much of him and did vnto him great reuerence then he chaunged all his mildenes into sternes excused himselfe by the bishops of Romes autority So that in the ende Stigandus was depriued of his dignitie and kept in
honor of the holy Martyr S. Steuen to keepe him from the hands of his enemies that day When the morrow was come beyng Tuesday there came to hym the Bishops Prelates counsailyng and perswadyng hym couertly by insinuation for apertly they durst not that he would submit hymselfe with all hys goodes as also his Archbishoprike to the wyll of the kyng if peraduenture his indignation by that meanes myght swage Adding moreouer that vnlesse he would so do periury would be layd agaynst hym for that he beyng vnder the othe of fidelitie to keepe the kyngs lawes and ordinaunces now would not obserue them To this Becketh the Archbishop answereth again Brethren ye see and perceyue well how the world is set agaynst me and how the enemy riseth and seeketh my confusion And although these things be dolorous and lamētable yet the thing that grieueth me most of all is this the sonnes of mine owne mother be pricks thornes agaynst me And albeit I do holde my peace yet the posteritie to come will know and report how cowardly you haue turned your backs and haue left me your Archbishop Metropolitane alone in this conflict And how you haue sittē in iudgemēt against me although vnguilty of crime now ii dayes together and not that only in the ciuil spirituall court but also in the temporal court ready to doe the same But in generall this I charge and command by the vertue of pure obedience and in peril of your order that ye be present personally in iudgement against me And that yee shal not faile so to do I here appeale to our mother the refuge of all such as be oppressed the church of Rome and if any secular men shall lay hands vpon me as it is rumord they will I straightly enioyne and charge you in the same vertue of obedience that you exercise your cēsure ecclesiastical vpon them as it becommeth you to doe for a father an Archbishop And this I doe you to vnderstande that though the world rage the enemy be fierce and the body trembleth for the flesh is weake yet God so fauoring me I will neither cowardly shrinke nor vily forsake my flock committed to my charge c. But the bishop of London contrary to this commandement of the archbishop did incōtinent appeale frō him And thus the bishops departed from him to the court saue only two Henry Winchester and Ioceline of Salisburie who returned with him secretly to his chamber and comforted him This done the Archbishop which yesterday was so sore sick that he could not stirre out of his bed now addresseth him to his masse of S. Steuen with all solemnity as though it had bene an hie festiual day with his Metropolitane Pall which was not vsed but vpon the holy day to be worne c. The office of his masse began Sederunt principes aduersum me loquebantur that is Princes sate and spake against me c. the kings seruauntes being also there and beholding the matter For this masse Gilbert bishop of London accused Becket afterward both for that it was done per artem magicam in cōtemptum regis as the wordes of Houeden purport that is both by arte magike and in contempt of the king c. The masse being ended the Archbyshop putting of his pall his miter and other robes procedeth to the kings Court but yet not trusting peraduenture so greatly to the strength of his masse to make the matter more sure he taketh also the sacrament priuily about him thinking thereby himselfe sufficiently defenced against al bugs In going to the kings chamber there to attend the kings comming as he was entring the dore he taketh from Alexander his crosier the crosse with the crosse staffe in the sight of al that stoode by and carieth it in himselfe the other Bishops following him saying he did otherwise then became him Amongst other Robert bishop of Hereford offred himselfe to beare his crosse rather then he shoulde so doe for that it was not comely but the Archbish. woulde not suffer him Then sayde the bishop of London to him if the king shall see you come armed into his chamber perchaunce hee will drawe out his sworde against you which is stronger then yours and then what shal this your armour profite you The Archb. aunswereth againe if the kings sworde do cut carually yet my sword cutteth spiritually striketh down to hell But you my lord as you haue plaid the foole in this matter so you will not yet leaue of your folly for any thing I can see and so he came into the chamber The king hearing of his comming and of the maner thereof taryed not long but came where Becket was set in a place by himself with his other Bishops about him First the crier called the prelates and all the lordes of the temporaltie together That being done and euery one placed in his seate according to his degree the king beginneth with a great complaint against the Archb. for his maner of entring into the court not as sayeth he a subiect into a kings court but as a traitor shewing himself in such sort as hath not ben sene before in any christen kings court professing christiā faith To this all there present gaue witnes with the king affirming him alwaies to be a vain a proud man and that the shame of his fact did not only redound against the prince himself but also against his whole realme Moreouer they sayde that this had so happened to the king for that he had done so much for such a beast aduauncing him so highly in such a place and roume next vnder himself And so altogether with one crie called him traitor on euery side as one that refused to geue terrene honour to the king in keeping as he had sworne his lawes and ordinaunces at whose handes also he had receiued such honour and great preferments and therefore was well worthy sayde they to be hādled like a periured traitor and rebell Wherupon great doubt and feare was what should befall vpon hym The Archb. of Yorke comming downe to his men said he could not abide to see what the archb of Cant. was like to suffer Likewise the Tipstaues and other ministers of the assemblie comming downe with an outcrie against him crossed them to see his hauty stubburnnesse and the busines there was about him Certaine there were of his disciples sitting at his feete comforting him softly and bidding him to lay his curse vppon them Other contrary bidding him not to curse but to pray and to forgeue them and if he lost his life in the quarell of the church and the liberty therof he should be happy Afterwarde one of them named Ioannes Stephani desired to speake something in his care but could not be suffred by the kings Marshal who forbade that no man should haue any talke with him Then he because he could not otherwise speake to
able to helpe vs. In saying or singing the houres and Mattens of the day the time to be but lost A man ought to cease from his labour no day but onely vpon the Sonday The feastes and festiuals of saintes ought to be reiceted Item such fastes as be coacted and inioyned by the Church haue no merite in them These assertions of the Ualdenses being thus articled out by Enâ—as Siluius I thought to geue them abroad in English as they are in Latine to the intent that as they are the lesse to be doubted being set out of a popes pen so we may the better know both them hereby what they were and also vnderstand how this doctrine now preached and taught in the Church is no new doctrine which here we see both taught and persecuted almost 400 yeares agoe And as I haue spoken hetherto sufficiently concerning theyr doctrine So now we will briefly somewhat touch of the order of theyr life and conuersation as we finde it registred in a certayne olde written booke of Inquisition ¶ Ex Inquisitorio quodam libello MOdus autem Valdensium talis est c. The whole proces commeth to this effect in English The maner of the Ualdenses is this They kneeling vpon their knees leaning to some banke or stay doe continue in their prayers with silence so long as a maÌ„ may say 30. or 40. times Pater noster And this they doe euery day with great reuerence being amongest theÌ„selues such as be of their owne religion no straungers with theÌ„ both before dinner after likewise before supper and after also what time they go to bed and in the morning when they rise at certain other times also as well in the day as in the night IteÌ„ they vse no other prayer but the prayer of the Lord that without any Aue Maria and the Creed which they affirme not to be put in for any prayer by Christ but only by yâ— church of Rome Albeit they haue and vse yâ— seueÌ„ articles of fayth coÌ„cerning the diuinity and seuen articles concerning the humanity and the x. commaundements and seuen workes of mercy which they haue compiled together in a coÌ„pendious book glorying much in the same therby offer themselues ready to answere any man for theyr fayth Before they go to meate they haue this grace Benedicite Korieeleyson Christe eleyson Kyrieeleyson Pater noster Which being sayd then the elder amongest them beginneth thus in their owne tongue God which blessed the fiue barely loaues and two fishes in the desert before his disciples blesse this table that is set vpon it or shal be set vpon it In the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen And likewise agayne when they rise from meat the seniour geueth thankes saying the words of the Apocalips Blessing and worship and wisedome thankesgeuing honor vertue and strength to God alone for euer and euer Amen And addeth moreouer God reward them in their bosoms and be beneficiall to all them that be beneficial to vs and blesse vs. And the God which hath geuen vs corporall feeding graunt vs his spirituall life and God be with vs and we alwayes with hâ—m To which they answere agayn AmeÌ„ And thus saying grace they hold their hands vpward looking vp to heaueÌ„ Alter their meat and grace sayd they teach and exhort amongest themselues conferring together vpon their doctrine c. In their doctrine and teaching they were so diligent painefull that Reinerius a writer about their time an extreme enemy agaynst them in a long proces wherin he describeth their doctrine and teaching testifieth that he heard of one which did know the party that a certayne heretick sayth he onely to turne a certaine person away from our faith and to bring him to his in the night and in yâ— winter time swamme ouer the riuer called Ibis to come to him and to teach him moreouer so perfect they were then in the Scriptures that the sayd Reinerius sayth he did heare and see a man of the couÌ„try vnlettered which could recite ouer the whole booke of Iob word by word without booke with diuers other which had the whole new testament perfectly by hart And although some of them rather merely then vnskilfully expounded the wordes of 1. Ioan. Sui non receperunt eum Swine did not receiue him yet were they not so ignoraunt and voyd of learning nor yet so few in number but that they did mightely preuayle In somuch that Reinerius hath these wordes Non erat qui eos impedire auderet propter potentiam multitudinem fautorum suorum Inquisitioni examinationi saepe interfui Et computatae sunt 40. Ecclesiae quae haeresi infectae fueruntâ—ac in yna parochia Cammach fueruut decem eorum scholae c. That is There was none durst stoppe them for the power and multitude of their fauourers I haue often bene at their inquisition examination And there were numbred 40. churches infected with their heresie insomuch that in one parish of caÌ„mach were x open scholes of them c. Haec ille And the sayde Reinerius when hee hath sayd all he can in deprauing and impugning them yet is driuen to confesse this of them where he doth distinct their sect froÌ„ other sectes and hath these wordes Haec verò Leonistarum secta magnam habet speciem pietatis eò quòd coram hominibus iustè viuant benè omnia de Deo credant omnes articulos qui in symbolo contineÌ„tur Solam Romanam Ecclesiam blasphemaÌ„t oderuÌ„t That is This sect of Leonistes hath a great shew of holynesse in that both they liue iustly before men and beleue all things well of God and holde all the articles conteined in the Creed Onely they blaspheme yâ— Romish church and hate it c. Now to touch somewhat their persecutioÌ„s After they were driuen out of Lions they were scattered into diuers sundry places the prouidence of God so disposing that the sound of their doctrine might be heard abroad in the world Some as I sayd went to Bohemia Many did fliâ— into their prouinces of Fraunce Some into Lombardy other into other places c. But as the crosse commonly foloweth the verity sincere preaching of Gods word so neither could these be suffered to liue in rest There are yet to be seen the consultations of Lawiers Archbishops and byshops of Fraunce as Narbonensis A relatensis AqueÌ„sis and Albanensis deuised amongst themselues and yet remayne in writing for the abolishing extirping of these Ualdenses written aboue 300. yeres agoe wherby it appeareth there was a great number in Fraunce Besides there was a whole councell kept in Theolouse about 355. yeares to fore and all agaynst these Ualdenses The which also were condemned in an other couÌ„cell at Rome before that What great persecutions were raysed vp agaynst theÌ„ in Fraunce by these 4. Archbishops before
preuailing agaynst hâ—m ouerthrew diuers of his houses in the city For the which he did excommunicate theÌ„ The Romanes then flying to the Emperour desired his ayd succour but he be like to pleasure the Pope gathering an army went rather agaynst the Romanes TheÌ„ the popes army whose Captaynes were the Earle of Tholouse to purchase the Popes fauour and Peter the foresayd Byshop of Winchester whom the Pope for the same had sent for froÌ„ england partly for his treasure partly for his practise and skill in feates of warre and the Emperours host ioyued together and bordering about the Citty of Rome cast downe the castelies or mansions belonging to the citizens round about the Suburbes to the number of 18. and destroyed all theyr vines and vineyardes about the City Wherat the Romanes being not a litle offended brast out of the Cittye with more heat then order to the number of 100000. as the frorye reporteth to destroy Uiterbium the Popes City with sword and fire But the multitude being vnordered and out of battaile ray aud vnprouided for ieoperdies which by the way might happen fell into the handes of theyr enemies who were in wayt for them and of them destroid a great nuÌ„ber so that on both parts were slayne to the vew of 30000 but the most part was of the Citizens And this dissention thus begun was not soone ended but continued long after By these and such other storyes who seeth not how farre the church of Rome hath degenerated from the true Image of the right Church of Christ which by the rule example of the Gospell ought to be a daughter of peace not a mother of debate not a reuenger of her selfe nor seeker of warres but a forgeuer of iniuries humbly and patiently referring all reuenge to the Lord not a raker for riches but a winner of soules not contending for worldly maistership but humbling themselues as seruantes and not Uicars of the Lorde but ioyntly like brethren seruing together Bishops with Bishops Ministers with Ministers Deacons with Deacons and not as Masters separating themselues by superiority one from an other and briefly communicating together in doctrine and couÌ„sell one particular church with an other not as a mother one ouer an other but rather as a sister Church one with an other seking together the glory of Christ and not their owne And such was the Church of Rome first in the olde auncieÌ„t beginning of her primitive state especially while the crosse of persecution yet kept the Bishops and Ministers vnder in humility of hart and feruent calling vpon the Lord for helpe so that happy was that Christian then which with liberty of conscience onely might holde hys life how barely soeuer he liued And as for the pride and pompe of the world striuing for patrimonyes buying of Bishoprickes gaping for benefices so far was this off froÌ„ them that then they had litle leisure and lesse list yea once to thinke vpon them Neither did the Bishoppes then of Rome fight to be Consuls of the City but sought how to bring the Consuls vnto Christ being glad if the Consuls would permit them to dwell by them in the city Neither did they theÌ„ presume so hye to bring the Emperors necks vnder theyr gyrdles but were glad to saue theyr necks in any corner from the sword of Emperors TheÌ„ lacked they outward peace but abounded with inward consolation Gods holy spirit mightely working in their harts Then was one catholicke vnity of truth and doctrine amongest all churches agaynst errors and secres Neither did yâ— east and west nor distance of place deuide the church but both the eastchurch and westchurch the Greekes and Latynes made all one church And albeit there were then 5. Patriarchall Seas appoynted for order sake differing in regions peraduenture also in some rites one from another yet all these consenting together in one vnity of catholicke doctrine hauing one God one Christ one fayth one baptisme one spirit one head and lincked together in one boÌ„d of charity and in one equality of honor they made altogether one body one church one communion called one catholicke vniuersall and Apostolicall church And so long as this knot of charity and equality did ioyne them in one vnity together so long the church of Christ florished and encreased one redy to helpe and harbour another in time of distresse as Agapitus and Uigilius flying to Constantinople were there ayded by the Patriarch c. so that all this while neither forrein enemye neither Saracen nor Souldane nor Sultane nor Calipha nor Corasmine nor Turke had any power greatly to harme it But through the malice of the enemy this Catholicke vnity did not loÌ„g continue and all by reason of the bishop of Rome who not contented to be like his brethren begaÌ„ to extend himselfe to claime superiority aboue the other 4. Patriarchall Seas all other Churches in the world And thus as equality amongst christian byshops was by pride and singularity oppressed so vnity began by little litle to be dissolued and the Lordes coat which the souldiors left whole to be deuided Which coat of christian vnity albeit of long time it had bene now seamcript before by the occasion aforesayd yet notwithstanding in some peece it held together in some meane agrement vnder subiectioÌ„ to the sea of Rome till the tune of this pope Gregory the 9. an 1230. at which tyme thys rupture and schisme of the church brake out into a playn deuisioÌ„ vtterly disseuering the Eastchurch from the westchurch vpon this occasion There was a certayn archbyshop elected to an Archbishoprick among the Grecians who comming to Rome to be coÌ„firmed could not be admitted vules he promised a very great summe of mony Which when he refused to do and detested the exectable simony of the court of Rome he made his repayre home agayn to his country vncoÌ„firmed declaring there to the whole nobility of that land the case how it stood For yâ— more confirmation whereof there were other also which comming lately from Rome there had proued the same or worse came in and gaue testimony to his saying Whereupon all the church of the Grecians the same time hearing this departed vtterly away from the Church of Rome which was in the dayes of this Pope Gregory the 9. In so much that the Archbishop of Constantinople comming afterward to the generall Councell at Lyons there opeÌ„ly declared that where as before time he had vnder him aboue thirty Bishopricks and Suffraganes now he had not three adding moreouer that all yâ— Grecians certayne other with Antioche and the whole Empyre of Romania cueÌ„ to the gates almost of Constantinople were goue from the obedience of the Church of Rome c. Math. Paris fol. 112. c fol. 186. By the occasion of which separation aforesayd of the Grecians from pope Gregory it happened shortly after being the yeare of our
the displeasure you doe to them as our owne and proper iniurie For why it were a great dishonour to our Realme and Kingly estate if we should wincke hereat and ouerpasse the same with silence Wherefore if you wil consider and respect the thing that we haue sayde we doubt not but that you will release the Bishoppe of Penestrum with the other Legates and Prelates of the Churche which you to our preiudice doe detaine In desiring of our aide doubtlesse we gaue vnto them a manifest nay neither could they obtain in our kingdom any thing at all which seemed to be against or preiudiciall to your maiestie Let therefore your imperiall prouideÌ„ce poÌ„der in the ballance of iustice those things which we wryte vnto you neither let our lawfull request vnto you be frustrate or made in vaine For our realme and kingdome of Fraunce is not so debilitate or empouerished that it will be spurned at or troden vnder your feete Fare ye well The rescript of the Emperour to the same letter of the king of Fraunce OVr Imperiall magnificence hath perused your kingly letters wherein if we had not founde manifest contradiction they might peraduenture haue obteined at our handes all that they required But euen as with a little leauen a whole lumpe of dowe is sowred so a manifest vntruth alleaged hath made the whole argument of your letter both faultie and vnsauerie It is apparaunt that you wanted the vertue of mediocritie in the conclusion of the same your graces letter For that they themselues bewray no lesse then we giue you manifestly to vnderstand many moe besides doth know It is notorious also and to al the world reuealed in what sort that Apostolical father hath impugned our innocencie as well with the one sworde as with the other And howe that whilest we at his commaundement tooke our iourney beyonde the seas the same our enemie and hostile aduersarie inuaded our kingdome of Sicilia and the same not in one place or two but in diuers sondry parts therof hath wasted spoiled and destroied After this when with great intreatie at our returne from Asia we had concluded a peace with him which with vs at his owne pleasure he made And had taken and receiued our deuotion for the same which in seruiceable maner we graunted him The sayde Apostolicall father that notwithstanding hath since that time rather aggrauated his displeasure towardes vs then any thing at all qualified the same and further hath to our depriuation and subuersion excogitate and deuised against vs all the mischiefe hee might or hath bene able no cause in all the worlde geuen of vs to prouoke the same And farther hath promulgated to our great defamation and shame as well by his letters as Legates the sentence of excommunication against vs vnto all nations Lastly hee aspiring to our imperiall state and conspiring our supplantation hath made warre against vs as against king Dauid Gods annointed and hath vnto a priuate Councell for that purpose called all the Prelates he caÌ„ get as one that meaneth to set the whole world together by the eares But such is the maruelous wisedom of God by whome we liue and raigne beholding the wicked purpose hee went about confounding the crafty in their craftinesse hath geuen into our hands as well your Prelates of the realme of France as also of other regions and prouinces al which we imprison and detaine as enemies and aduersaries to our Imperiall crowne and person For where there desisted not to be a persecutor there hath not wanted also a sufficient withstander defender Let not therfore your kingly highnesse maruell although Augustus detaineth in prison your French Prelates which haue indeuoured themselues to conspire and so to disturbe our imperiall estate and regiment Fare ye well When Fredericke nowe saw there was none other remedie and that in vaine hee laboured to haue peace wyth the Pope hee prosecuteth his warre to the vttermost and when he had gotten Ludertum and recoÌ„ciled the same he destroyed the towne of Geminum and Naruia and geueth the spoyle of them vnto his souldiors He gently receiued the yelding vp of Siburnum and wasteth all the countrey rounde about Rome The Pope heere with dismaied and troubled with such as otherwise dissuaded and counsailed him and that things not so well prospered with him and against the Emperour as he wished and desired being in dispaire of obtaining his purpose died for very anger and thought What opinion the Prelates of Germanie at that time had of this Gregory is extant and to be sene by the oration of Eberhardus Byshop of Iuuauence that he made to the nobilitie of Boioria in the Parliament at Reginoburgh written by Iohannes Auentinus in his 7. booke Doubtlesse he not onely brought great and ruinous calamities to the whole Christen coÌ„mon weale and also Empire whilest he sought thus to depresse bridle the Emperour aduance hiz papal sea and dignity but also brought into the church of God much horrible impiety blasphemy and wickednes wherof both Blondus Platina Baleus and others make mention And amongst others that most detestable Catilene Salue Regina in the which hee attributeth the honour and worship onely due to Iesus Christe vnto the virgine hys mother This is he in whose name the booke of the Decretals was set out which to omit the opinion of diuers other learned men Iohannes Baleus calleth it the sinke or puddle of foolishnesse and impietie Doubtlesse Charolus Molineus a man both of singular iudgement in that law which in tribunall courtes iudgements is vsed as also in this painteth foorth the decree of this Gregory in his booke of annotations vnto Platina whose woordes thereof are these Certum est multa capita in ijs mutila decurtata esse vt inuidiosum argumentum lateret c. That is Doubtlesse diuers Chapters in the same booke of decretals be mangled vnperfect that many contentious arguments therein myght lurke For when the ambitious desire of raigning lyke kings tooke them they studied nothing els but how to enlarge and aduance their See and dominion with the Empire it selfe and other kingdomes ofte shaken and weakened through coÌ„tention and this purpose and end had they and none other in al their constitutions The profe wherof Molineus declareth in his boke de regibê° Galliae Angliae But many moe examples by the Emperors Princes and Lords Electours of the Empire may be gathered wherof to speake more conuenient place shall serue hereafter In the steade of thys Gregorie was placed Coelestine horne in Mediolanum amongst the Castellians who as Blondus declareth by fained promises offred a league wyth Fredericus and the 18. day after he was created Pope he also died Thus when the author of al this conspiracy was gon Fridericus nowe thinking himselfe free and voyde of that feare which before he had and durst not be absent out of Italy with all
and aboue whereas the mere reuenues of the crowne came not to 30000. Of this Robert Grosted wryteth Cestrensis in his 7. booke of his historie that partly for that it greeued hym to see the intollerable exactions of the Pope in this realme and partly because he refused to admitte a certaine younge nephew of the Pope to be canon of his Church as hath bene before recited He therefore wryting to the Pope and signifying that he could not admit any such persons into hys Church which neither knewe themselues nor the tounge of the people nor the charges committed vnto them was called vp to Rome and there excommunicated who then appealing from the Pope shortly after departed which was An. 1253. It chanced within 2. yeares after his decease the sayde Pope Innocent being a slepe a certaine Bishop apparelled bishop like appeared vnto him and striking him with his staffe on his left side sayde Surge miser veni in iudicium That is Rise wretch and come to thy iudgement The next day after the Pope was found amased as a man stroken on the side with the stroke of a staffe This Robert though he was greatly commended for his sanctimony as Cestrensis sayeth for his myracles yet was he not permitted in the court of Rome to be ascribed in the Cataloge of Saintes And thus much out of Cestrensis concernyng thys matter But Math. Paris and the author of Flores historiarum prosecuting thys storie more at large addeth thys more vnto it sayth That Pope Innocent the next yeare folowing which was An. 1254. being passing angry contrary to the minde of his brethren the Cardinals woulde haue the bones of the foresayd byshop of Lincolne cast out of the Church and purposed to bring him into suche spite and hatred of the people that he shuld be counted an Ethnicke a rebell and disobedient person through the whole worlde And thereuppon caused his letters to be wrytten and sent downe to the king of England knowing that the king would gladly serue him therein to haue the spoyle of the bishop and of his church But the night following the said B. of Linc. appeared vnto him as coÌ„ming in his pontificalibus and with a seuere couÌ„tenance and sterne loke and terrible voyce speaketh vnto him being in his rest smiting him on the side with a vehement stroke with the ende of his crossestaffe thus said O thou scourfie lazie old bald lousie wretched doting Pope Hast thou purposed to cast out my bones out of the Church to the shame and slaunder of me Now commeth this rash wilfulnesse in thy head It were more meete for thee being this aduaunced by God honoured to make much of the zelous seruaunts of God although departed The lord wil not suffer thee heÌ„ceforth to haue any more power ouer me I haue writteÌ„ vnto thee in the spirit of humilitie and loue that thou shouldest correct thy manifolde errors But thou wyth a proud eye and disdainful hart hast despised my wholesome admonitions Woe to thee that despisest shalt not thou also be despised And so the Bishop departing from the Pope stroken as is said on the side leâ—t him for half dead and so lying in sorow lamentation Wherupon his chamberlains being amased hearing these things came ruÌ„ning to the pope to know what him ailed To whome the Pope much troubled and bexed in his spirit sayd that great terrors in his slepe vehemently disturbed and molested him in such sorte that he thought he should neuer recouer it nor be restored to himselfe againe Oh sayeth he howe sore is my side and howe egerly it vexeth me as being runne through with a speare Neither did the Pope eate or drinke all that day but faining himself to be sicke of a burning ague kept in And yet the indignation of the irefull hand of God sayth the story so left him not For after these wholesome admonitions geuen to hym by the seruaunt of God the Pope not regarding them but all set vpon warre suppression of his enemies and secular affaires gaue his minde wholy vnto them And yet all his labors counsailes expences bestowed vpon them could neuer prosper after that day in that he weÌ„t about For the Pope the same time hauing warre with the Apulians all his army fighting vnder the Popes nephew their captaine were slaine confounded the number of many thousands whose lamentable slaughter al the countrey of the Romains did much bewaile The Pope not yet quiet in his minde directeth his iorney towarde Naples although sore vexed in his side like a man sicke of a plurisie or sâ—itten rather with a speare Neither could any phisicke of his Cardinals help him For Robert of Lincolne sayth the story did not spare him And hee that woulde not heare him gently correcting him being aliue his stripes did he feele wheÌ„ he was dead So that hee neuer after that enioyed any luckie or prosperous day till time of his death nor yet any prosperous or quiet night vntill the morning And so continued he vnto his death which shortly after ensued he being at Naples An. 1255. or as N. Triuet recordeth An. 1254. And thus haue ye the whole discourse betweene Robert Grosted Pope Innocent ¶ In the which story is to be noted gentle reader that although in the storie of Cestrensis of Mathewe Paris and of Flor. hist. it is expresly testified and reported that the Pope was smitten with the staffe of Robert the foresaid Byshop of Lincolne yet thou must wisely vnderstand that how so euer Gods hand dealeth heere in this world in punishing his enemies or how so euer the Image of things not sene but phantasied offer themselues to the secrete cogitation of man his senses being a slepe by the operation or permission of God woorking after some spirituall influence in our imaginations certaine it is that no dead man materially can euer rise againe or appeare before the iudgement day to any man with his staffe or without his staffe to woorke any feate after he haue once departed this life After the death of this Robert Grosted bishop of Lincolne great dissention fel betwene the Archb. of Cant. Boniface and the canons of the said church of Lincolne about the right of geuing prebendships and about the reuenues of the said church in time of the bishops see being now vacant Which right power the Archbishop claimed to him selfe but the canons of that Church maintaining the contrary side stood against him and for the same were excommunicated of the Archbishop AmoÌ„g whom one M. Wolf resisting the Archb. to the face in the name of all the other canons made vp his appeale to Rome where much money on both sides was spent At length after this Grosted was elected Henry Lexinton in the see of Lincolne About which time the wicked Iewes at Lincolne had cruelly crucified whipped tormented a certaine child named Hugo of 9. yeres of age An.
the city by the Barons and Citizens for the space of 40. dayes And Octobonus the Legate who for feare was fled into the Tower they narowly layd for that he shoulde not escape At length by the intreaty of the Earle of Gloucester and other Earles that were his friendes both the Barons and Cittizens were pardoned and admitted to the kinges fauour And 4. Byshops and 8. other noble men were chosen such as were at Couentry first nominated that they should order and dispose all matters betweene the King and suche as had lost theyr inheritaunce as also the forme of theyr peace and raunsome And proclamation was made vppon the feast of all Sainctes of perfect peace and record throughout al the Realme The 52. yeare of this king Henries raigue 8. daies after the feast of S. Martin he held a parliament at Marlberge in the yeare of our Lord aboue recited where by the aduise of wise and discrete men with all the consentes of the nobles he ordeined and enacted diuers good and profitable statutes for the reformation and bettering of the state of the realme execution of common iustice which are called the statutes of Marleberge The same yeare vpon S. Gregoryes day Octobonus the Legate called a Councell at London where were fine Archbishops and a great number of Byshops Abbots other Prelates which Councell also within three dayes brake vp agayne The same yeare vpon S. Iohns day the Baptist Edward the kinges sonne diuers other noble men of England took vpon thē the crosse by the legates hands at Northhampton to the reliefe of the holy land and the subuersion of the enemies of the crosse of Christ which done the legate that same yeare wēt out of England not purposing after that to returne agayne This holy Legate sayth mine author whiche might well bee resembled to Lynx the monstrous beast whose quicke sight penetrateth euery thing enrolled to perpetuall memorye the valuation of all the churches in the realme of England so narowly as by any meanes possible be might enquire the certainty thereof The same was he that made all the Cathedral Conuentuall Churches to pay pencions so that those Churches whiche gaue not the vacancie of their benefices to their Clerkes and straungers should pay vnto them a certein yearly pencion during the vacācy of the benefices which they should haue The same yeare died Pope Clement 4. after whose death the Church of Rome was two yeares vacant then was chosen an archdeacon Cardinall whose name was Theardus as hee was taking hys iourny into the holy lande and called hym Gregory the 10. Then also dyd Edmunde Earle of Lancaster and Leicester and seconde sonne of king Henry take to wife the Earle of Albemark his daughter and the Niece of y◠Earle of Gloucester at whiche maryage was the king and the Queene and all the Nobilitie of England The same yeare was the body of S. Edward the king Confessour by Walter Gifford Archbishop of Yorke and other Bishops intombed in a new rich Schrine of golde and siluer beset with precious stones in the presēce of Hēry the king of Englād In which yeare also fel great rayne and inundation of waters suche as hath not lightly bene seene which increased and continued the space of 40. dayes and more The same yeare died Walter de Lawile Bishop of Sarum the third day before the nones of Ianuary After whō succeeded Robert of Northampton the Deane of the same Church And because the see of Cant. was then vacant he was confirmed by the Chapter of Canterbury whiche Chapter had alwayes the iurisdiction in spirituall causes during the vacancy of that see in as ample maner as the Byshop hymselfe had beyng aliue After thys the Byshop elect comming thither thinking to haue had hys consecration was notwithstanding put backe for two causes one was for that there was present then no more but one Byshop the other was for that all the other Bishops had appealed that he might not be consecrated to their preiudice that is by the authoritie of the Chapter of Cant. saying that they would not be vnder the obedience of the monks After this solempne Messengers were for this cause sent to the Cardinals of Rome for that then that see of Rome was vacant who receiued aunswere that during the vacation of that see the confirmation and consecration of the Byshop elect pertayned to the foresayd Chapter of Caunterbury The same yeare also was the Lord Henry the sonne heyre of the Lord Richard king of Almayne and brother to king Henry 2. slayne at Uiterbium in a certayne Chappel hearing Masse by the Lord Simō and Buido the sonnes of the Lord Simon Mountfort Earle of Leister During this kinges raigne there was made a great generall expedition of diuers and sondry Christian princes to Ierusalem taking vpon them the Lords character that is the Crosse among whome was also Edward the kings sonne one to the which expeditiō was graunted him a subsidie throughout al the realme And the month of May the yeare of our Lord. 1270. or as sayth Florilogus an 1269. he set forward on his iourny About the time when Prince Edward was preparing his iourny toward Asia Boniface the Archbishop of Canterbury ended his life in the country of Sebaudia goyng belike to Rome or comming thence After whose death the Monks of Canterbury proceeding to a new election grāted by the king agreed vppon the Prior of their house named Adam Chelendene But the king his sonne Prince Edward consenting and speaking in the behalfe of Robert Burnell theyr Chauncellour did sollicite the matter with the Monkes partly intreating partly threatning them to chuse the said Robert to be Archbishop Notwithstanding the Monkes being stoute woulde neyther relent to their curteous request nor yet bow to theyr boystrous threates but constantly persisting in their former election appealed from the king and prince to the Pope Prince Edward being now on his iourny and seing himselfe thus frustrated of the Monkes writeth backe to the king his father deuoutly praying and beseching in no wise to admit the election of the foresayd Monks And so passing to Douer with Hēry the sonne of Rich. his vncle king of Romanes with their wiues tooke their passage in the month of August After this the Prior thus elected as is foretold but not admitted by the king to be Archbishop went vp to Rome In the meane tyme the Monkes in the absence of their elect ordayned one Geoffrey Pomenall to be theyr Official who seing himself aduaunced to that dignity bearing belike some old grudge agaynst the Prior of Douer caused him to be cited vp to appeare in the Chapter house of Canterbury The Prior of Douer seing this citation to be preiudiciall to him and to the Church of Douer whereas the Monkes of Cant. haue no such iurisdiction the see of
beginning of Hillary terme the king kept a Parliament at Carliel where great coÌ„plaints were brought in by the nobles and auncientes of the Realme concerning the manifolde and intollerable oppressions of churches and Monasteries and exactions of mony by the Popes Legate William Testa otherwise termed Mala Testa lately brought into the realme of England The comming of which William Testa was vpoÌ„ this occasion as followeth Pope Clement who as ye heard before had translated his Court from Rome into Fraunce where he had bene Archbishop before because hee coÌ„teÌ„ned to come remaine at his owne sea the Princes of Rome thought him therfore vnworthy to enioy Peters patrimony And so by that meanes falling in barenes pouertye liued onely of such mony of Bishops as came to him to be confirmed and with such other shiftes and gifts So that by this meanes partly of Bishops other religious men persons partly vnder the name of curtesy and beneuolence partly vnder yâ— pretence of borowing he had within the first yeare 9500. markes of siluer all his other charges and expenses which he largely that yere bestowed clearely borne Besides this he sent moreouer the foresayd Legate William Testa into England with his Bulles in the which he reserued the first fruites of the first yeare of all Churches being vacant at any time or by any man within the realme of England Scotland Wales and IrelaÌ„d and also the fruites of Abbayes and Priories within the sayd â—â—ealmes c. Whereupon the king with his nobles seing the inconuenience and harme thereof ensuing to the whole realme In the foresayd ParliameÌ„t holden at Carliell withstood the sayd Legate charging and commaunding him by the assent of the Earles BaroÌ„s that henceforth he should absteine from al such exactions And as coÌ„cerning his Lord the Pope he would direct certayne hys messeÌ„gers vnto him purposely for the same matter appointed by the which Ambassadours the king wrote vnto the foresayd Pope declaring monishing the Pope as right and reason was that he should not exact the first fruits of Churches and Abbayes by his predecessors noble men of the land founded for the honor maintenance of Gods seruice for almes hospitalitye which otherwise in so doing should all be ouerthrown And so by this meanes the Pope at that time changed his purpose as concerning Abbayes But after that the fruit of English churches was graunted to the king for 2. yeares In which space he obteined the fruits of the foresayd Churches c. During the which Parliament afore specified as men were talking many things of the popes oppressioÌ„s which he began in the English Church in the full of the Parliament sodenly fell downe as sent from heauen among theÌ„ a certaine paper with this superscription An Epistle of Cossiodorus to the Church of England concerning the abuses of the Romish Church TO the noble church of England seruing in clay and bricke as the Iewes did in times past vnder the tyrannye of the Egiptians Peter the sonne of Cassadore a Catholicke souldiour and deuout champion of Christ sendeth greeting and wishing to cast of the yoke of bondage and to receiue the reward of libertie To whom shall I compare thee or to whom shall I liken thee O daughter Ierusalem to whome shall I match thee O daughter of Syon Great is thy perturbatÃon like vnto the sea Thou sittest alone without comfort all the day long thou art confounded consumed with heauinesse Thou art geuen vp into the handes of him from whence thou canst not rise without helpe of one to lift thee vp for the Scribes and Pharisies sitting vpon the chayre of Moyses the enemies of the Romaines are as thy heades and rulers enlarging their garded philecteries and seeking to be enriched with the marow of thy bones laying heauye burdens and not able to be borne vpon thy shoulders and of thy ministers and they set thee vnder tribute which of old time hast bene free beyond all honesty or measure But maruell not thereat for thy mother which is the Lady of people like a widow hauing maried and coupled her selfe to her subiect hath appoynted him to be thy father that is to say the Byshoppe of Rome who sheweth no poynt of any fatherly loue towardes thee He magnifieth and extendeth to the vttermost his authority ouer thee And by experience he declareth himselfe to be the husband of thy mother He remembreth oft with himselfe the Propheticall saying of the Prophet and well digested the same in the inwarde part of his brest Take to thee a great booke and write therein quickely with the penne of a man take the spoyle robbe quickely But is this it which the Apostle sayth that he was appoynted for where he writeth thus Euery Byshop taken from among men is appointed for men in those thinges that belong to the Lord not to spoyle not to lay on them yearely taxes not to kill men but to offer gifts and sacrifices for sinnes and to sorrow with them that be ignoraunt and doe erre And so we read of Peter the Fisher whose successour he boasteth himselfe to be that after the resurrection of Christ he returned with other Apostles to the office of fishing who when he could take nothing of the left side of the shippe at the bidding of Christ turned to the right side and drew to the land a nette full of fishes Wherefore the profitable ministerye of the Church is to be exercised on the right side by the which the Deuill is ouercome and plenty of soules be lucrified and wonne to Christ. But certaynely the Labourer on the left side of the shippe is farre otherwise for in it the fayth stumbleth heauinesse beareth rule when that thing that is desired by seeking is not found For who is so foolish to thinkee that he canne both at one tyme serue God and man and to satisfy his owne will or to stick to the reuelations of flesh and bloud and to offer worthy giftes to Christ And doubtles that shepheard that watcheth not for the edifying of the flocke prepareth an other way to the roaring Lyon and seeking whom he may deuour And now beholde I say O daughter the needes of him that is called thy father such as haue not bene heard of before he driueth away the good shepheardes from the sheepefolde and placeth in theyr stead Byshoppes to rule but not to profite his Nephewes Cosins and Parentes some that know no letters and other some dumme and deafe which vnderstand not the playne voyce of the sheepe nor curing their woundes that be hurt of the Wolues but lyke hirelinges plucking of the flieses a pase and reaping that which other men haue sowen whose handes-moreouer be alwaies ready in their baskets and powches but their backes are turned from their burdens By which things it is manifest that the Priesthood is cleane chaunged at these dayes the seruice of God decayd almes diminished
when he would haue vomitted out and could not took hys horse went to hunâ— the beare whereby through the chasing heat of his body to expell the venim And there the good gentle Emperour wickedly persecuted murdered of the P. fel downe dead whom I may wel recount among the innocent and blessed martyrs of Christ. For if the cause being righteous doth make a Martyr what Papist can iustly disprooue hys cause or fayth if persecution ioyned thereunto causeth martyrdome what martyre coulde be more persecuted theÌ„ he Who hauing 3. popes like 3. baddogs vpoÌ„ him at length was denoured by the same The princes then hearing of his death assembled theÌ„selues to a new election who refusing Charles aforesayd elected an other for Emperor named Gunterus de Monte Nigro Who shortly after falling sicke at Franckford through his phisitions seruaunt was likewise poysoned whome the foresayd Charles had hyred with money to worke that feate Gunterus tasting of the poysoÌ„ although he did partly cast it vp agayn yet so much remained within him as made him vnable afterward to serue that place Wherfore for coÌ„cordes sake being counsailed thereto by the Germaynes gaue ouer his Empire to Charles For els great bloudshed was like to ensue This Charles thus ambiciously aspiring to the Emperiall seat contrary to the mindes of the states and pieres of the Empire as he did wickedly vnlawfully come by it so was he by hys ambitious guiding the first and principall meane of the vtter ruine of that monarchie For that he to haue his sonne set vp Emperour after him conuented and graunted to the Princes electours of Germany all the publicke taxes tributes of the Empire Which couenaunt being once made betwene the Emperour them they afterward held so fast that they caused the Emperour to sweare neuer to reuoke or cal back again the same By reason whereof the tribute of the countryes of Germany which then belonged onely to the Emperor for the sustentation of hys warres euer since to this day is dispersed diuersly into the handes of the Princes and free citties within the sayd monarchie So that both the Empyre beyng disfornished and left desolate the Emperors weakened therby hauing neyther bene able sufficieÌ„tly since to defend themselues nor yet to resist the Turke or other forren enemies Whereof a great part as ye haue heard may be imputed vnto the popes c. Hieronimus Marius This Pope Clement first reduced the yeare of Iubeley to euery 50. yeare which before was kept but on the hundreth yeare And so he being absent at Auinion whiche he then purchased withhys money to the sea of Rome caused it to be celebrated at Rome an 1350. In the whiche yeare were numbred of peregrines goyng in and comming out euery day at Rome to the estimation of fiue thousaÌ„d Praemonstrat The bull of pope Clement geuen out for this present yeare of Iubiley proceedeth in these wordes as followeth What person or persons soeuer for deuotioÌ„ sake shal take their perigrination vnto the holy Citty the same day when he setteth forth out of hys house he may chuse vnto him what coÌ„fessor or coÌ„fessors eyther in the way or where els he listeth vnto the which coÌ„fessors we graunt by our authority plenary power to absolue all cases papal as fully as if we were in our proper person there present Item we graunt that whosoeuer being truely confessed shall chaunce by the way to die hee shall be quite and absolued of all his sinnes Moreouer we commaund the Angels of Paradise to take his soule out of his body being absolued and to cary it into the glory of Paradise c. And in an other Bull wee will sayeth he that no paine of hell shal touche him graunting moreouer to all and singular person persons signed with the holy crosse power and aucthoritie to deliuer and release iij. or iiij soules whome they list themselues out of the paines of purgatorie c. This Clement as mine author affirmeth tooke vpon him so prodigally in his Popedome that hee gaue to hys Cardinals of Rome Byshoprickes and benefices whych then were vacant in England and begaÌ„ to geue them new titles for the same liuinges hee gaue them in Englande Wherewith the king as good cause he had was offended and vndid all the prouisions of the pope within his realme Commanding vnder pain of prisonment and life no man to be so hardy as to induce bring in any such prouisions of the pope any more within his laÌ„d And vnder the same punishment charged the two Cardinals to void that realme An. 1343. In the same yeare all the tenthes as well of the templaries as of other spirituall men were geuen paide to the king through the whole realme An. 1343. And thus much coÌ„cerning good Ludouicke Emperour and martyr Pope Clement yâ— 6. his enemy Wherin because we haue a little exceeded the course of yeares wherat we left let vs returne some what back agayn and take such things in order as belong to the church of the England and Scotland setting forth the reigne of king Edward the 3. and the doinges of the Church which in hys time haue happened as the grace of Christ our Lord will assiste and able vs therunto This foresayd king Edward the second in his time builded 2. houses in Oxford for good letters to wit Oriall colledge and S. Mary Halle Here I omit also by the way the furious outrage and conflict which happened in the time of this king a litle before his death an 1326. betweene the townesmen and the Abbey of Bury wherein the townesmen gathering themselues together in a great multitude for what cause or old grudge betweene them the Register doth not declare inuaded and sackt the monastery And after they had imprisoned the monkes they risted the goodes and treasure of the whole house spoyling and carying away theyr plate mony copes vestimentes senâ—ers crosses chalises basens iewels cups masers bookes with other ornaments and implementes of the house to the value vnestimable In the which conflict certayn also on both sides were slayn Such was the madnes then of that people that when they had gathered vnto them a great concourse of seruaunts light persons of that country to the number of 20. thousand to whom they promised liberty freedome by vertue of such writs whiche they had out of that house first they got into their hands all theyr euidences copies instruments that they could finde then they tooke of the lead that done setting fire to the Abbey gates they brent vp neare the whole house After that they proceeded further to the farmes and granges belonging to the sayd Abbey wherof they wasted spoiled and brent to the nuÌ„ber of 22. manour places in one weeke transporting away the corne horses cartell and other moueables belonging to the same the price wherof is registred to come
as your spirituall pastour we also desire you so to esteeme and thinke of them which also make like report of other that haue bene with your grace beyonde the seas that they haue naughtely falsely serued you wherby you haue lost the towne of Tourney much honor els which you might haue wonne gotten there May it please your grace to call before you the Prelates and Pieres of your Realme in some conuenient place where wee and other moe may safely come and resorte and there also to make search and enquirie in whose hands after the beginning of your warres the money and what thing els so euer which was graunted vnto you in aide of the same your warres vntill thys present day doeth remaine and is not laide out againe as also by whose default you were so enforced to leaue the sayde siege of Tourney and those which shal be founde in any poynt faultie and guiltie therin against you as a good Iusticer your grace wil cause to be punished according to the lawe and in so much as appertaineth vnto vs therein we aske iudgement of our Peeres the state alwayes of holy Church of vs of our order reserued inuiolate according as we haue wrytten vnto you heerein And for Gods sake Syr beleeue not either of vs or any other your true subiectes els more then that you shall vnderstand the veritie of for if men should be punished without making answere to that which is obiected against them there should be then no difference in iudgement betwixt the good doer and the bad And Syr may it please you well to consider of the great enterprise you haue in hande the great good will which you haue neede of for this cause and of your great ennemies the Scots and the great ieoperdie of your realme besides For if your Prelates your nobles al the wisemen of your realme were of one minde and will without any discorde or diuision amongst them to dispose and set in order those things which are needeful in so great affaires and businesse they shoulde haue all inough to beate their heads about for the maintenance of your great enterprise begon the honour of you and sauegarde of your Realme And Syr may it please your grace not to be displeased that so rudely and grosely we declare vnto you the veritie for why the great loue affection which we beare vnto you alwayes haue done the same the preseruation of your honour and sauegard of your realme as also for that we are although vnworthy the primat of the whole realme of England which thing appertaining vnto vs by our office being your spirituall father doth incite vs the rather both to say and coÌ„maund that which may turne to the benefite of your soule and profite of your realme and kingly estate Thus the holy spirite saue you both body and soule and giue your grace both to heare and beleeue good counsaile and further giue you victorie ouer all your enemies Written at Cant. the 1. day of Ianuary By your graces chaplen the Archbishop of the same And thus node the case betweene the king the Archbishop of Caunterbury who comming thus as is said in secret wise into Englande from the siege of Tourney hys army in the meane while by ships was conueyed to little Britaine Of whome a great number through vnseasonable and inconuenient meats and drinks was there consumed To whom also no lesse danger happened by the seas comming out of Britain into England by tempest thunder and lightening stirred vp as is thought by the Necromaucers of the French king About whych season approchyng to the yeare of oure Lorde 1341. were sent from the Pope two other Cardinals to entreat wyth Kyng Edwarde for thre yeres truce to be concluded more wyth the Frenche Kyng beside the former truce taken before for one yere and all by the popes meanes For heere is to be vnderstanded that as it was not for the Popes purpose to haue the Kyng of England to raigne ouer so many couÌ„treis so his priuy supportation lacked not by all meanes possible both by Archbyshops Cardinals and also by the Emperor to maintain the state of the French king and to stablish him in his possession Ex Tho. Walsing ex chron Albanens In the said histories where these things be mentioned it is also noted that the same yeare such plentye there was here in the realme of victuals that a quarter of wheat was solde for ii s a fat oxe for a noble and as some say a sheepe for iiii d. And thus farre endureth the hystorie of Ranulphus Cestrensis called Polychronicon The next yere following which was 1342 Ludouicus Bauarus the Emperor who before had shewed great curtesie to king Edward as in his first viage ouer in so much that he made him his Uicar or Uicegerent general and offered hym also aide against the French king Now â—yther turned by inconstancie or seduced by the pope wryteth to him contrary letters wherein hee reuoketh agayne the Uicegerentship graunted to hym and seeketh all meanes in the fauour of the French king against king Edwarde as by his letters heere vnder written may better appeare The letter of the Emperour vnto the king of England LVdouicus by the grace of God Emperor of the Romaines alwaies Augustus c. To Edward king of England his beloued brother greeting and vnfained loue Although great and vrgent busines of our owne do oppresse vs about the same our waighty affaires are daily incombred yet with the discord variaunce betwene your kingly dignity and the renowmed Phillip the king of Fraunce our cosine for your sake wee are not a little troubled And the rather the great charges which may heereafter growe both to you and to your kingdome thereby considered bothe of men and money vnlesse the same be taken vp doth more earnestly prouoke vs to geue our selfe to the carefull studie of your affaires Wherefore wee geue you to vnderstande that the foresayde Philip at our request hath geuen vnto vs by his letters authoritie and power to intreat and conclude a peace betwene you touching the variance begon which peace al the state diligently coÌ„sidered both of your selfe your kingdome and subiects wee take and beleeue to be right expedient for you moouing there withall your charity and earnestly desiring you that to this also you will geue your consent wherby we may bring you both to concord and vnitie and establish betweene you a firme peace to endure whereunto with willing minde we would apply our selfe and bestow our painfull labour in prosecuting of the same And heerein if you will condescend and agree vnto our counsaile as we trust you wil. It may please you by your letters to geue vnto vs the like autoritie as is aboue sayd to entreat peace or ordering of a truce for one yeare or two at least to continue Neither let it moue you that betwene vs and the sayde
great default at prouisions commyng from Rome wherby straungers were enabled wtin this realme to enioy ecclesiastical dignities shew diuers inconueniences ensuing thereby namely the decay of daily almose the transporting of the treasure to nourish the kings enemies the discouering of the secrets of the realme the disabling and impouerishing of the clerkes within this realme They also shew how the pope had in most couert wyse graunted to two new Cardinalles wythin thys Realme and namely to Cardinall Peragotz aboue ten thousand markes of yerely taxes They therfore required the kyng and nobles to finde some remedy for that they neuer could ne would any longer beare those straunge oppressions or els to helpe them to expell out of thys realme the Popes power by force Hereupon the King Lords and commōs sent for the act made at Carliel in the 35. yere of king Edward y◠first vpon the lyke complaint thereby forbidding that any thyng shoulde be attempted or brought into the Realme whych should tend to the blemishing of the kings prerogatiue or to the preiudice of hys Lords or commons And so at thys time the statute called the acte of prouision was made by common consent whych generally forbiddeth the brynging in of any Bulles or such trinkets from the Court of Rome or the vsing enioying or allowing of any such bil processe instrument or such ware as therby at large doth appeare Whereof sufficiently is touched before pag. 353. The penalty of whych statute afterwarde followed in the next parliament An. Reg. Ed. 18. tit 32. the whych penalty was this the transgressors thereof to lie in perpetuall prison or to be foriured the land And that al iustices of assize gaile deliuery and yer and determiner may determine the same Required withall that the same act of prouision should continue for euer Item that the sayd 18. yeare of the raigne of king Edward tit 34. it was moreouer propoūded that if any archbyshop or any person religious or other doe not present wtin 4. monthes some able clerke to any dignitie where any person hath obtayned from Rome any prouision Bul c. but surcease the same that then the Kyng may present some able clerke Item propounded in the sayd Parliament an 18. Reg. Ed 3. that if any Byshop elect shall refuse to take any suche byshoprikes other then by such Bull that then such elect shal not enter ne enioy hys temporalties without his speciall licence Also that the king shall dispose all such benefices and dignities of such aliens his enemies as remain in the coūtrey of hys enemyes and employ the profites therof to the defence of the realme Moreouer propounded that commissioners be sent to all the kings portes to apprehend all such persons as shal bring in any such instrument frō Rome and to bring them forthwyth before the counsaile to answere thereto Propounded farthermore that the Deanry of Yorke which is to be recouered by iudgemēt in the kyngs court may be bestowed vpon some able man within the realme who will maintaine the same agaynst hym meanyng the Cardinall who holdeth the same by prouision frō Rome being the enemy to the king and to the realm and that the profites may be emploied to the defence of the realme The kynges aunswere To all whych petitions aunswere was made in forme followyng It is agreed by the King Earles Barons Iustices other wise men of the Realme that the petitions aforesayd be made in sufficient forme of law according to the petitions aforesayd ¶ Note in thys answere of the kyng good reader that at the graunt hereof the consent of the byshops is neyther named nor expressed with the other Lords of the Parliament and yet the Parliament standeth in hys full force notwythstanding Notes of the Parliament holden in the 20. yeare of king Edward 3. TO passe farther in the 20. yeare of the kings reigne in the Parliament holden the same yere it was propoūded that all alien Monkes should auoyde the Realme by the day of S. Michael and that theyr liuings shuld be disposed to young English scholers The liuings of these the king tooke to hys handes Item that the king may take the profites of all others strangers liuings as Cardinals and others during their liues The profites of whō were also in the kings hands That such aliens enemies as be aduanced to liuyngs here in England being in their owne countreys shomakers tailers or chamberlaines to Cardinals shuld depart before Michaelmas and theyr liuynges disposed to poore English scholers The lyuings also of these remayned in the kings handes The commons denied to pay any paiment to any cardinals lying in Fraunce to entreat of war or peace which also was graunted of the kings part as reasonable Item propounded and fully agreed that the yearely aduauncement of two thousand markes graunted by the pope to two Cardinals out of the prouinces of Canterb. and Yorke should be restrained and suche as shall pursue therfore to be out of the law Lykewise enacted and agreed that no Englysh man should take any thing in ferme of any Alien religious ne buy any of their goods nor be of theyr counsaile on payne of perpetuall imprysonment Enacted further that no person should bryng into the realme to any Byshop or other any Bul or any other letters from Rome or from any Alien vnlesse he shewe the same to the Chauncelour or warden of the Cinque ports vpon losse of all he hath Finally in the end of the said Parliament the bishops were commaunded before the next conuocation to certify into the Chancery the names of such Aliens of their benefices and the values of the same Notes of the 25. yeare of kyng Edward the third THe Parliament of the 25. yeare was begon the 6. day of February the 25. yeare of king Edwarde 3. In the which parliament beside other matters mo was propoūded that remedy might be had against the popes reseruations by which brocage and meanes the pope receiued the first fruits of all Ecclesiastical dignities A more consumption to the Realme then all the kings warres Also the like remedy myght be had against suche as in the Court of Rome presume to vndoe any iudgement geuen in the kinges courte as if they enforced to vndoe the lawes of the realme Wherunto it was answered that there was sufficient remedy prouided by law Notes of the 38. yeare of king Edward the third IN the Parliament holden at Westminster the 38. yeare of Edward 3. in the vtaues of Hillary Symon Byshop of Ely being Lorde Chauncelour it was required by the kings owne mouth declared to the whole estates How daily citations false suggestions were made to the pope for matters determinable in his courtes wtin the Realme and for procuring prouisions to Ecclesiasticall dignities to the great defacing of the ancient lawes to the spoyling of his crowne to the daily conueying away of the
they shall be declared after my maner and fashion it shal playnely appeare what my opinioÌ„ iudgement is concerning all matters that I am accused of But because I am ignoraunt unlearned I wil get me vnder the mighty defences of the Lord. O Lord I will remeÌ„ber thine onely righteousnes God the father almighty vncreate the maker of heaueÌ„ and earth hath sent his sonne that was euerlastingly begotten into this world that he should be incarnated for the saluation and redemption of mankind who was coÌ„ceiued by the holy ghost euerlastingly proceeding from the father and the sonne and was borne of Mary the virgin to the end that we might be borne a new He suffered Passion vnder PoÌ„tius Pilate for our sinnes laying down his life for vs that we should lay down our life for our brethreÌ„ He was crucified that we should be crucified to the world and the world to vs. He was dead that he might redeeme vs from death by purchasing for vs forgeuenes of sinnes He was buried that we being buried together with him into death by Baptisme and that we dead to sins should liue to righteousnes He desceÌ„ded into hell therby deliuering man froÌ„ thraldom and from the bondage of the Deuill restoring him to his inheritaunce which he lost by sinne The thyrd day he rose from the dead through the glory of his father that we also should walke in newnes of life He ascended vp to the heauens to which no body hath ascended sauing he that descended from heaueÌ„ eueÌ„ the sonne of man which is in heaueÌ„ He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty vntill his enemies be made his footstoole He being in very deed so muche better then the Aungelles as he hath obteyned by inheritaunce a more excellentname then they From thence he shall come to iudge the quick and the dead accordingly to theyr workes because the father hath geuen all iudgemeÌ„t to the sonne In whose terrible iudgement we shall rise agayne and shall all of vs stand before his iudgement seat and receiue ioy as well bodely as spiritually for euer to endure if we be of the sheepe placed at the right hand or els punishment both of bodye and soule if we shall be fouÌ„d amongst goates placed on the left hand c. Iesus Christ the sonne of God very God very man a king for euer by stablishing an euerlasting kingdome breaking to ponder all the kingdoms of the world Dan. 2. a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech wherby also he is able euermore to saue such as by him come vnto god alwayes liueth to intreat for vs. Hebr. 7. He offring one sacrifice for our sins hath made perfect for euer by one oblation those that be sanctified Heb. 10. Being that wisedome that cannot be deceiued the trueth that cannot be vttred he hath in this world taught the will of the godhead of his father which will he hath in worke fulfilled to the intent that he might faithfully instruct vs and hath geueÌ„ the law of charity to be of his faythfull people obserued whiche he hath written in the hartes and mindes of the faythful with the finger of God wher is the spirit of God searching the inward secrets of the Godhead Wherfore his doctrine must be obserued aboue all other doctrines whether they be of Angels or of men because that he could not nor would not erre in his teaching But in mens doctrins there chanceth oftentimes to be error and therfore we must forsake theyr doctrines if clokedly or expresly they be repuguaunt to the doctrine of Christ. Mens doctrins being made for the peoples profit must be allowed and obserued so that they be grounded vpon Christes doctrine or at least be not repuguant to his words If the high bishop of Rome calling himself the seruant of the seruauntes of God and the chiefe vicare of Christ in this world do make maintaine many lawes contrary to the Gospell of Iesu Christ then is he of those that haue come in Christes name saying I am Christ haue seduced many a one by the testimony of our sauiour in Math. cap. 24. and the idoll of desolation sitting in the Temple of God and taking away from him the coÌ„tinuall sacrifice for a time times and halfe a time Which idoll must be reueled to the christian people by the testimony of Daniel Wherof Christ speaketh in the Gospell When you shall see the abhomination of desolation that was tolde of by Daniell the Prophet standing in the holy place let him that readeth vnderstand and he is the pestiferous mountayn infecting the whole vniuersall earth as witnesseth Ieremy chap. 51. not the head of Christes body For the auncient person in yeares honorable in reuerence he is the head the prophet teaching lies is the tayle as Esay alledgeth chap. 9. And he is that wicked and sinnefull Captayne of Israell whose foreappointed day of ininuity is come in time of iniquity who shall take away Cidarim and take awaye the crowne Ezech chap. 21. to whom it was sayd Forasmuch as thy hart was exalted and did it say I am a God sittest in the seat of god in the hart of the sea seing thou art a man and not God and hast geuen thine hart as if it were the hart of God therfore behold I will bring vpoÌ„ thee the most strong and mighty straungers of the nations they shall draw theyr swords vpoÌ„ the beauty of thy wisedom shall defile the commaundements kill thee and pul thee out thou shalt dye in the destruction of the slayne and it foloweth In the multitude of thine iniquities of the iniquities of thy marchandise thou hast defiled thy sanctification I will therfore bring forth a fire from the midst of the whole earth will make thee as ashes vpon earth Thou art become nothing neuer shalt thou be any more Eze. cha 28 Furthermore he is the idle shepheard forsaking his flock hauing a sworde on his arme an other sworde in his right eye Zach. 11. sitting in the temple of God doth aduaunce himselfe aboue all thing that is called God or whatsoeuer is worshipped by the testimony of Paule to Thes 2. epist. 2. chap. And in the defection or falling away shall the man of sinne be reueled whom the Lord Iesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth For euery kingdâ—â—e deuided in it selfe shall be brought to desolation He â—â—â—so besides the beast asceÌ„ding vp out of the earth hauing two hornes like vnto alambe but he speaketh like a dragon as the cruell beast ascending vp out of the sea whose power shall continue 42. monethes He worketh the things that he hath geuen to the image of the beast And he compelled small and great rich and poore freemen and bondslaues to worshyp the beast and to take his marke in theyr forehead or theyr hands Apo.
obserued Christ hath fulfilled the lawes morall of the old testament because that the morals and iudicials were ordained that one person should not do iniury to an other that euery man should haue paid him that is hys Now they that are in charity wil do no iniury to others neither do they take other mens goodes away from them Nay it seeketh not her owne things For charitie seeketh not the things that be her owne Wherfore much lesse by a stronger reason it ought not to seke for other mens goods And wheÌ„ as the iudicials morals were ordained Christ did not by the workes of the law iustifie the beleuers in him but by grace iustified them froÌ„ their sins And so did Christ fulfill that by grace that the lawe could not by iustice Paule to the Romaines declareth in a godly discourse and to the Galath likewise that none shall be iustified by the workes of the lawe but by grace in the faith of Iesu Christ. As for the morals ceremonies of the lawe as circumcision sacrifices for offence and for sinnes first fruites tenthes 〈◊〉 diuers sortes of washings the sprinkling of bloud the sprinkling of ashes abstaining from vnclean meats whych are ordeined for the sanctifying and clensing of the people froÌ„ sinne no nor yet the praiers of the priests neither the preachings of the prophets could clense a man from his sin For death raigned euen from Adam to Moises and sinne from Moises to Christ as Paule declareth to the Romaines in the 5. chapter But Christ willing to haue mercy and not sacrifice being a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech an high Priest of good things to come did neither by the bloud of goats or calues but by his owne bloud enter in once vnto the holy places when as euerlasting redemption was founde neither did Iesus enter into the holy places that were made wyth handes which are the examples of true thynges but into the very heauen that now he may appeare before the countenaunce of God for vs. Nor yet he did so that he should offer vp himselfe oftentimes as the high Byshop entred into the holy place euery yeere with straunge bloud for otherwise he must nedes haue suffred oftentimes sithens the beginning of the world but now in the latter end of the world hath he once appeared by his owne sacrifice for the destruction of sinne And like as it is decreed for men once to die and after that commeth iudgement euen so was Christ once offred vp to coÌ„sume away the sinnes of many The second time shall hee appeare without sinne to the saluation of such as looke for him For the law hauing a shadow of good things to come and not the very image or substaunce it selfe of the things can neuer by those sacrifices which they offer of one selfe same sort continually yere by yere make them perfect that come vnto her Otherwise men would leaue of offring because that those worshyps being once clensed should haue no more prâ—â—â—e of conscience for sinne afterwardes But in them is their remembrance made of sinnes euery yere For it is impossible that by the bloud of goats bulles sinnes should be taken away Wherfore he entring into the world doth say as for sacrifice and offring thou woldst not haue but a body hast thou framed vnto mee And sacrifices for sinne haue not pleased thee then said I behold I come In the head or principall part of the booke it is wrytten of me that I should do thy wil O God Wherfore he said before that sacrifices oblations and burnt offerings and that for sinne thou wouldest not haue neyther were those thyngs pleasaÌ„t to thee whych are offred according to the law then sayd I behold I come that I may do thy wil O God He taketh away the first that he may stablish that that folowed In whych will we are sanctified and made holy by the offering vp of the body of Iesus Christ ones And verely euery Priest is ready euery day ministring oftentimes offring the self same sacrifices which neuer can take away sinnes But this man offering one sacrifice for sinnes doth for euer and euer sit at Gods right haÌ„d looking for the rest to come till that hys enemies be placed to be his footestoole For with one offering hath hee for euer made perfect those that be sanctified By which thinges it plainly appeareth that Christ by one offring hath clensed hys from their sinnes who could not be clensed from the same by all the ceremonies of the law and so did fulfill that which the priesthoode of the law could not Wherfore onely the morals and iudicials he fulfilled by the lawe of charitie and by grace and the ceremonials by one offering vp of hys body in the aultar of the crosse And so it is plaine that Christ fulfilled the whole lawe Wherfore sithens that the holy things of the law were a shadowe of those things that were to come in the time of grace it were meete that all those thynges should vtterly cease amongest Christians which should either be against charity or the grace of Christ. Although in the time of the lawe they were lawfull and not vtterly contrary to it but were figures of perfections in Christes faith yet it were meete that they should cease at the comming of the perfection whych they did prefigurate as circumcision the eating of the paschal lambe and other ceremonial points of the law Wherupon also Paul to the Hebrues the 7. chapter sayeth thus If therfore the making vp of the perfection of all was by the Leuiticall priesthode for the people receiued the law vnder hym why was it necessary besides that an other Priest should rise vp after the order of Melchisedech not be called after the order of Aaronâ— For wheÌ„ the Priesthode is remoued it must needes be that the lawe also be remoued For he in whom these things are spokeÌ„ is of an other tribe of which none stoode present at the aulter Because it is manifest that our Lorde had hys offspring of Iuda in which tribe Moises spake nothing of the Priests And besides this it is manifest if according to the order of Melchisedech there doe rise vp an other Priest which was not made according to the law of the carnal commaundement but according to the power of the life that cannot be losed For thus he beareth witnes that thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech so that the coÌ„mandement that went before is disalowed for the weakenes vnprofitablenesse thereof For the lawe hath brought no body to perfection By which things it appeareth that Christ making an end of the priesthode of Aaron doth also make vp a full end of the law belonging to that Priesthode Wherupon I maruell that your learned men doe say that Christen folkes are bound to this small ceremonie of the paiment of tithes and care nothing at all
that looke for him to their saluation For the lawe hauing a shadowe of good thinges to come can neuer by the Image it selfe of thinges which euery yeare without ceasing they offer by such sacrifices make those perfect that come therunto for otherwise that offering should haue ceased Because that such worshippers being once cleansed from theyr sinnes should haue no more conscience of sinne But in these commemoratioÌ„ is made euery yere of sinne for it is impossible that by the bloud of Goates and Calues sinnes should be purged and taken away Therfore comming into the world he sayd Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldst not haue but a body hast thou geuen me peace offeringes for sinne haue not pleased thee Then sayd I behold I come In the volume of the booke it is written of me that I should doe thy will O God Saying as aboue because thou wouldest haue no sacrifices nor burnt offeringes for sinne neyther doest thou take pleasure in those things that are offered according to the law Then sayd I behold I come that I may doe thy will O God He taketh away the first to stablishe that which followeth In which will we are sanctified by the oblation of the body of Iesus Christ once for all And euery priest is ready dayly ministring and oftentimes affering like sacrifices which can neuer take away sinnes But this Iesus offering one sacrifice for sinne sitteth for euermore on the right hand of God expecting the time tyll his enemies be made his footstoole For by his owne onely oblation hath he consummated for euermore those that are sanctified All these places haue I recited which Paule writeth for the better vnderstanding and declaration of those thinges I meane to speak By all which it appeareth manifestly how the Priesthood of Christ differeth from the legall priesthood of Aaron and by the same also appeareth how the same differeth from all other priesthood Christian that immitateth Christ. For the properties of the priesthood of Christ aboue recited are founde in no other Priest but in Christ alone Of the third priesthood that is the Christian priesthood Christ by expresse wordes speaketh but litle to make any difference betwene the priests and the rest of the people neither yet doth vse this name of Sacerdos or praesbiter in the Gospell But some he calleth disciples some apostels whom he sent to baptise to preach in his name to do miracles He calleth them the salt of the earth in which the name of wisedome is ment and he calleth them the light of the world by which good liuing is signified For he sayth So let your light so shine before meÌ„ that they may see your good workes and glorify your father which is in heauen And Paule speaking of the Priestes to Timothe and Titus seemeth not to mee to make any diuersity betwixt the Priestes and the other people but in that he woulde haue them to surmount other in knowledge and perfection of life But the fourth priesthood is the Romaine priesthood brought in by the Church of Rome which Churche maketh a distinction betwene the clergy and the lay people after that the clergy is deuided into sundry degrees as appeareth in the decretals This distinction of the clergy from the laitye with the consure of clerkes began in the time of * Anacletus as it doth appeare in the Chronicles The degrees of the clergy were afterward inuedted distincted by their offices and there was no ascentioÌ„ to the degree of the priesthood but by inferior orders and degrees But in the primitiue churche it was not so for immediately after tht conuersion of some of theÌ„ to the fayth baptisme receiued they were priests bishops made as appeareth by Ananias whom Marcus made of a taylor or shomaker to be a bishop And of many others it was in like case done according to the traditions of the church of Rome Priests are ordeined to offer sacrifices to make supplication and prayers and to blesse sanctify The oblation of the priesthood onely to Priestes as they say is congruent whose duties are vpon the aultar to offer for the sinnes of the people the Lords body which is coÌ„secrated of bread Of which saying I haue great maruell considering S. Paule his wordes to the Hebrues before recited If Christ offering for our sinnes one oblation for euermore sitteth on the right hand of God and wyth that one oblation hath coÌ„suÌ„mated for euermore those that are sanctified If Christ euermore sitteth on the right hand of God to make intercession for vs what neede he to leaue here any sacrifice for our sinnes of the Priestes to be dayly offered I do not finde in the scriptures of God nor of his Apostles that the body of Christ ought to be made a sacrifice for sinne but onely as a Sacrament and commemoration of the sacrifice passed whiche Christ offered vpon the aultar of the crosse for our sinnes For it is an absurditye to say that Christ is now euery day really offered as a sacrifice vpon the aultar by the Priestes for then the Priestes should really crucify him vpoÌ„ the aultar which is a thing of no Christian to be beleeued But euen as in his supper his body his bloud he deliuered to his Disciples in memorial of his body that should be crucified on the morrow for our sinnes So after his asceÌ„tion did his Apostles vse the same when they brake bread in euery house for a SacrameÌ„t and not for a sacrifice of the body and bloud of our Lord Iesus Christ. And by this meanes were they put in remembraunce of the great loue of Christ who so entirelye loued vs that willinglye he suffered the death for vs for the remission of our sinnes And thus did they offer theÌ„selues to God by loue being ready to suffer death for the confession of his name and for the sauing health of theyr brethren fulfilling the new commaundement of Christ which sayd vnto them A new coÌ„mauÌ„dement do I geue vnto you that you loue one another as I haue loued you But wheÌ„ loue began to waxe cold or rather to be frosen for cold thorow the anguish anxiety of persecution for the name of Christ then Priests did vse the flesh and bloud of Christ in â—â—tad of a sacrifice And because many of them feared death some of them fled into solitarye places not daring to geue themselues a sacrifice by death vnto God through the confession of his name sauing health of theyr brethreÌ„ Some other worshipped Idols fearing death as did also the chiefe Bishop of Rome and many other mo in diuers places of the world And thus it came to passe as that which was ordeined and instituted for a memoriall of the one onely sacrifice was altered for want of loue into the realitye of the sacrifice it selfe ¶ After these thinges thus discussed he inferreth consequently vpon the same an other briefe tractation of women
father and to the sonne Ouer this I beleue that through counsell of this most blessed Trinity in most cōuenient time before ordeined for the saluation of mankinde the second person of this Trinity was ordeined to take the forme of mā that is the kinde of mā And I beleue that this secōd person our Lord Iesu Christ was conceiued through the holy ghost in the wombe of the most blessed virgin Mary without mans seed And I beleue that after 9. monethes Christ was borne of this most blessed virgine without any payne or breaking of the closser of her wombe and without filth of her virginity And I beleue that Christ our Sauiour was Circumcise◠in the eight day after his birth in fulfilling of the law and his name was called Iesus which was so called of the Angel before that he was conceiued in the wombe of Mary his mother And I beleue that Christ as he was about xxx yeare olde was Baptised in the floud of Iordane of Iohn Baptist and in the likenes of a Doue the holy Ghost descēded there vpon him a voyce was heard from heauen saying Thou are my welbeloued sonne in thee I am full pleased And I beleue that Christ was moued then by the holy ghost for to go into desert and there he fasted 40 dayes 40. nightes without bodely meat and drink And I beleue that by and by after his fasting when the manhood of christ hūgred the fiend came to him and tempted him in glottony in vayne glory and in courtise but in all those temptations Christ concluded the fiend and withstood him And then without tarying Iesu began to preach and to say vnto the people do ye penaunce for the Realme of heauen is now at hand I beleue that Christ in all his time here liued most holity and taught the will of his father most truly and I beleue that he suffered therfore most wrongfully greatest repriests and despisinges And after this when Christ woulde make an end here of this rēporal life I beleue that in the day next before that he would suffer passiō in the morne In forme of bread and of wine he ordeined the Sacrament of his flesh and hys bloud that is his owne precious body gaue it to his Apostles for to eat cōmaunding them and by them all their after commers that they should do it in this forme that he shewed to them vse themselues and teach and comō forth to other men and womē this most worshipfull holyest sacrament in mindfulnes of his holyest liuing of his most true preaching of his wilfull and patient suffering of the most paynefull passion And I beleue that thys Christ our Sauiour after that he had ordeined this most worthy Sacrament of his own precious body he wēt forth wilfully agaynst his enemies and he suffered them most paciently to lay their hands most violently vpō him and to binde him and to lead him forth as a theefe to scorne him and buffet him and all to blow or file him with their spittinges Ouer this I beleue that Christ suffered most meekly and paciently his enemies for to ding out with sharp scourges the bloud that was betwene his skinne and his flesh yea without grudging Christ suffered the cruell Iewes to crowne him with most sharpe thornes and to strike him with a reede And after Christ suffered wicked Iewes to draw him out vpon the crosse for to nayle him thereupon hand and foote And so through his pitifull nayling Christ shed out wilfully for mans life the bloud that was in his vaynes And then Christ gaue wilfully his spirit into the hāds or power of his father so as he would whē he would christ died wilfully for mās sake vpon the crosse And notwithstāding that Christ was wilfully paynefully most shamefully put to death as to the world there was left bloud and water in his hart as before ordeined that he would shedd out this bloud this water for mās saluation And therefore he suffred the Iewes to make a blinde knight to thrust him into the hart with a speare and this the bloud and water that was in his hart Christ would shed out formans loue And after this I beleue that Christ was taken downe from the crosse and buried And I beleue that on the third day by power of hys Godhead Christ rose againe from death to life And the xl day therafter I beleue that Christ ascēded vp into heauen and that he there sitteth on the right hand of the father almighty And the fifty day after this vp going he sēt to hys Apostles the holy ghost that he had promised them before And I beleue that Christ shall come iudge all mankind some to euerlasting peace and some to euerlasting paines And as I beleue in the father in the sonne that they are one God almighty so I beleue in the holy Ghost that he is also with them the same God almighty And I beleue an holy church that is all they that haue bene and that now are alwayes to the end of the worlde shal be a people the which shall endeuour them to know to keepe the commaundements of God dreading ouer all thing to offed God and louing and seeking most to please him And I beleeue that all they that haue had yet haue and all they that yet shall haue the foresayd vertues surely standing in the belief of God hoping stedfastly in his mercyfull doinges continuing to theyr end in perfect charitye wilfully paciently and gladly suffering persecutiōs by the example of Christ chieflye and his Apostles all these haue theyr names written in the booke of life Therfore I beleue that the gathering together of this people liuing now here in this life is the holy Church of God fighting here on earth agaynst the fiend the prosperity of the world and theyr fleshly lusts Wherfore seing that all the gathering together of this Church before sayd and euery part therof neither coueteth nor willeth nor loueth nor seketh any thing but to eschew y◠offēce of God to do his pleasing will meekly gladly and wilfully with all mine hart I submit my selfe vnto this holy Church of Christ to be euer buxome obedient to that ordinaūce of it of euery member therof after my knowledge and power by the help of God Therfore I knowledge now and euermore shal if God will that with all my hart and with all my might I wil submit me onely to the rule and gouernaunce of them whō after my knowledge I may perceiue by the hauing and vsing of the before sayd vertues to be members of the holy Church Wherfore these articles of belief and al other both of the olde law and of the new which after the commaundement of God any man ought to beleue I beleeue verely in my soule as a sinful deadly wretch of my cunning and power ought to beleue praying the Lord God for his holy
spread abrode in holy church now adayes among priestes we shul wel wit that they come not all to the folde of Christ by Christes clepping for to profite but by other wayes to get them worldly welth and this is the cause of lesing of soules that Christ bought so deare and of many errours among the people and therefore it is iwrit in the booke of mourning where the prophet speaketh thus to God Tre 1. The enemy hath put his hand to all things desyrable to him for he hath let lawles folke enter into the sanctuary of the which thou hadst commaunded that they should not enter into the church This enemy is Sathanas as his name sowneth that hath put his hande to all that him liketh What sinne I pray you will the fiend haue sow on men that nis now yvsed In what plentie is now pride enuy wrath and couetise Whan were they so great as they be now and so of all other sinnes And why trowest thou But for there be a lawles people entred into thy sanctuarie that neither keepe in hemselfe the law of God ne konne teachen other And to euery such saith God by the prophet Ose 4. For that thou hast put away cunning I shall put thee away that thou shal vse no priesthoode to me Lo that God expresly heere in holy writte forbiddeth men to take the state of pristhoode on them but they haue cunning that needeth them Thou than that canst neither rule thy selfe ne other after the lawe of God beware how thou wilt answer to God at his dreadfull dome when he shall say to thee that which I tooke to my theame Yeld the reckening of thy baily how thou hast entred The second question that euery curate and prelate of holye Chirch shall aunswer to is this How hast thou ruled That is to say the soules of thy suggets and the goods of poore men Geue now thine acounte First how thou hast gouerned gods folke that were take thee to keepe Whether art thou an herde or an hired man that doost all for loue of bodelich hi e As a father or as a Wolfe that eaten his sheepe and keepeth them nought Say whome thou hast turned from his cursed liuing by thy deuout preaching Whome hast thou taught the law of God that was earst vncunning Ther shal ben heard a greuous accusing of fatherles children and a hard aledging that priests haue liueden by their wages and not done away their sins Yelde also rekoning how thou hast ruled and spended the goodes of poore men Harke what S. Bernard saith Dreade clarkes dreade the ministers of the Church the which ben in the place of saintes that they do so wickedly nought holding them apayd with such wages that were sufficient to them That ouerplus that needy men shuld be sustained by they be not ashamed to wast in the house of their pride and leachery and withholden to themselfe wickedly and cursedly that which should be the lifeloode of poore men With double wickednes truly they sinne First for they reeuen other mens goods and faith they misuse holy things in their vanities and in their filthes Euery such Bayly therefore beware for anone to the last far thing he shall recken with Christ. Trowest thou not then that thou ne shalt be disalowed of God of that thou hast mispended in in feeding of fat Palfreys of hounds of Haukes and if it so be that is worst of all on lecherous women Heare what is sayd of suche They had led their dayes in wealths And in a poynt they bene gone down into hell Think therefore I rede thee that thou shalt yelde reckening of thy bayly The third question that this baily shal aunswer to is this How hast thou lyued What light of holynes hast thou shewed in thy liuing to the people or what mirrour hast thou ben of holynes to them Geue now thy reconing how thou hast liued as a priest or as a leude man as a man or as a beast That is to wonder truelye how the lyfe of priestes is chaunged They be clothen as knights they speaken as vnhonestly as carels other of wynnyng as Marchaunts They riden as princes and al that is thus spended is of the goodes of poore men and of Christs heretage Therfore saith an holy doctor The clay of Egypt was tough and stinking and medled with bloud The slates were harde to bee vndoe for they were baked with fire of couetise and with the light of lust In this trauayleth riche men in this they wake a wayting poore men In these trauaileth prelates that ben to much blent with to much shining of riches that make them houses lyke churches in greatnes that with diuers pointries coloren their chambers that with diuers clothinges of colours make images gay but the poore mā for default of clothes beggeth and with an empty wombe cryeth at the doore And if I shall the foth say saith this doctor oft tyme poore men be robbed for to clothe the trees and stones Of such speaketh the Prophet Howe art thou here or as who art thou Here thou art occupying the place of Peter and of Poule or of Thomas or of Martine But how as Iudas among the Apostles as Symon Magus among the disciples as a candle now queinte that stincheth all the house in steede of a light lanterne as a smoke that blindeth mens eyen in place of cleane fire If thou contrarye thus the forme of liuing that Christ and his disciples left to priests Lo what saith the prophet Ieremye They haue entred and they haue had and nought ben obedient They hauen with false title or with their false and corrupt intention had poore mens goodes to their misusing and they haue not bee obedient to the lawe of God in their owen liuing Therefore it is writ that the hardest dome shall fall on such An hard dome for they haue misentred An harder dome for they haue misruled And the hardest dome for they haue so cursedlie liued Thinke therefore I rede how thou wilte giue reckning of thy bayly The second Bayliff that accounteth at this dome for himselfe and also for other is he that keping hath of any communite as kings princes Maiers and Shireues and iustices And these shull also answer to the same three questions The first question how hast thou hentred that is to say into thine office Other for help of the people to destroy falshed and forthren treuth other for desire of winning or worldly worship If thou take such an office more for thine owne worldly profite than for helpe of the comunite thou art a tirant as the pholosopher seith For it is to feare least there bene too many that desiren suche states that they may the rather oppresse thilke that they hateth and take giftes to spare to punish thilke that hauen trespassed and so maketh them parteners of their sinnes And many such when they ben so high they reck nought that they beeth
and bondes for the worde of God ¶ Another letter of Iohn Hus. IOhn Husse in hope the seruant of God to all the faithfull at Boheme which loue the Lord wisheth to stand and die in the grace of God and at last to attaine to eternall life Amen Ye that beare rule ouer other and be rich and ye also that be poore well be loued and faithfull in God I beseeche you and admonish you all that ye will be obedient vnto God make muche of his worde and gladly hearing the same will humbly perfourme that which yee heare I beseeche you sticke fast to the veritie of Gods worde which I haue written and preached vnto you out of his lawe and the Sermons of his Saintes Also I desire you if any man either in publicke Sermon or in priuate talke heard of me any thing or haue read any thing written by me which is againste the verity of God that he do not follow the same Albeit I do not finde my conscience guiltie that I euer haue spoken or wrytten any such thing amongst you I desire you moreouer if any man at any time haue noted any leuitie either in my talke or in my conditions that he doe not follow the same but pray to God for me to pardon me that sinne of lightnes I pray you that ye wil loue your priests and ministers which be of honest behauiour to prefer and honor them before others namely such priests as trauaile in the worde of God I pray you take hede to your selues and beware of malitious and deceitful men and especially of these wicked priests of whom our Sauiour doth speake that they are vnder shepes clothing inwardly are rauening wolues I pray suche as be rulers superiors to behaue them selues gently towardes their poore inferiours and to rule them iustly I beseche the citizens that they will walke euery man in his degree and vocation with an vpright conscience The Artificers also I beseeche that they will exercise their occupations diligently and vse them with the feare of God I beseeche the seruauntes that they wil serue their maisters faithfully And likewise the scholemaisters I beseeche that they liuing honestly will bryng vp their Scholers vertuously and to teach them faythfully First to learne to feare GOD then for the glory of GOD and the publicke vtilitie of the common wealth and their owne health and not for auarice or for worldly honor to employ their myndes to honest Artes. I beseech the Studentes of the Vniuersitie and all Scholes in all honest thynges to obey their Maisters and to follow them and that with all diligence they will study to be profitable both to the settyng foorth of the glory of God and to the soules health as well of themselues as of other men Together I beseech and pray you all that you will yeld most harty thankes to the right honorable Lordes the Lord Wencelaus de Duba Lord Iohn de Clum Lord Henry Lumlouio Lord Vilem Zagecio Lord Nicholas and other Lordes of Boheme of Morauia and Polony that their diligence towardes me may bee gratefull to all good men because that they like valiaunt champions of Gods trueth haue oftentymes set themselues agaynst the whole Councell for my deliueraunce contendyng and standyng agaynst the same to the vttermost of their power but especially Lord Wencelaus de Duba and Lord Iohn de Clum What so euer they shall report vnto you geue credite vnto them for they were in the Councell when I there aunswered many They know who they were of Bohemia and how many false and slaunderous thynges they brought in agaynst me and that Councell cryed out agaynst me and how I also aunswered to all thynges wherof I was demaunded I beseech you also that ye will pray for the kyng of Romaines and for your kyng and for his wife your Queene that God of his mercy would abide with thē and with you both now and henceforth in euerlastyng life Amen This Epistle I haue writtē to you out of prison and in bandes lookyng the next day after the writyng hereof for the sentence of the Councell vpon my death hauyng a full trust that he will not leaue me neither suffer me to deny his truth and to reuoke the errours whiche false witnesses maliciously haue deuised agaynst me How mercyfully the Lord GOD hath dealt with me and was with me in maruailous temptations ye shall know when as hereafter by the helpe of Christ we shall all meete together in the ioye of the world to come As concernyng M. Hierome my dearely beloued brother and fellow I heare no other but that he is remayning in straight bandes lookyng for death as I doe and that for the fayth which he valiauntly mainteyned amongest the Bohemians our cruell enemies of Boheme haue geuen vs into the power and handes of other enemies and into bandes I beseech you pray to God for them Moreouer I beseech you namely you of Prage that we will loue the temple of Bethleem and prouide so long as God shall permit that the word of God may be preached in the same For because of that place the Deuill is angry and agaynst the same place he hath stirred vp Priestes and Canons perceiuyng that in that place his kyngdome should be disturbed and diminished I trust in GOD that he will keepe that holy Church so long as it shall please him and in the same shall geue greater encrease of his worde by other then he hath done by me a weake vessell I beseech you also that ye will loue together and withholdyng no man from the hearyng of Gods word ye will prouide and take care that good men be not oppressed by any force and violence Written at Constance the yeare of our Lord. 1415. ¶ An other right godly letter of Iohn Hus to a certaine priest admonishing him of his office and exhorting him to be faithfull worthy to be red of all Ministers THe peace of our Lorde Iesus Christ. c. My deare brother be diligent in preaching the Gospel and do the worke of a good Euangelist neglect not your vocation labour like a blessed souldiour of Christ. First liue godly and holily Secondly teach faithfully and truely Thirdly be an example to other in well doing that you be not reprehended in your sayings correct vice and set foorth vertue To euill liuers threaten eternall punishmēt but to those that be faithfull and godly set forth the comforts of eternall ioy Preach cōtinually but be short and fruitfull prudētly vnderstanding discretly dispēsing the holy Scriptures Neuer affirme or maintaine those things that be vncertaine and doubtfull least that your aduersaries take holde vpon you which reioyce in deprauing their brethren whereby they may bring the ministers of God into contempt Exhort men to the confession of their faith and to the communion of both kindes both of the body bloud of Christ wherby such as do repent earnestly of their sinnes may the more often come to
one of them as S. Ambrose Hierom Augustin do affirme and likewise others For the teaching hereof by a playne example I described as it were a certayne triangle forme or figure the which I cald the shield of fayth Therfore vtterly to exclude and take away the erroneous and wicked vnderstanding therof the which peraduē tture some men may gather thereby I do say affirme declare that I neuer made the sayd figure neither named it the shield of faith to that intent or purpose that I woulde extoll or preferre the opinion of vniuersalities aboue or before the contrary opinion in such sort as though that were the shield of faith that without the affirmation therof the Catholicke faith coulde not be defended or maintained when as I my selfe would not obstinately sticke thereunto But this I said because I had put example in the description of the Triangle or form that one diuine essence consisted in three subiectes or persons in themselues distinct that is to saye the father the sonne and the holy Ghost The article of the which Trinitie is the chiefe shield of fayth and foundation of the Catholicke truth Furthermore that it may be euident vnto all mē what the causes were for the whiche I was reputed thought to stick to and fauour some time I. Hus. I signifie vnto all men by these presentes that when as I heard him oftentimes both in his sermons and also in the schooles I beleleued that he was a very good man neither that he dyd in any poynt gaynsay the traditions of our holy mother the Church or holy doctors in somuch as when I was lately in this Citty and the articles which I affirmed were shewed vnto me whiche were also condemned by the sacred Councell at the first sight of them I did not beleeue that they were hys at the least not in that forme But when as I had further vnderstood by certayn famous Doctours maysters of Diuinitie that they were hys articles required for my further information and satisfaction to haue the bookes of hys own hand writing shewed vnto me wherin it was sayd those articles were contayned The which books when they were shewed vnto me written with his owne hand which I did know as well as mine owne I found all and euery one of those articles therein written in like forme as they are condemned Wherfore I do worthely iudge and thinke him and his doctrine with his adherents to be condemned and reproued by this sacred coūcell as hereticall and without reason Al which the premisses with a pure minde and conscience I do heare pronounce speake being now fully and sufficiently informed of the foresaid sentences and iudgementes geuen by the sacred councell agaynst the doctrines of the sayd Iohn Wickleffe and Iohn Hus and agaynst their own persons vnto the which iudgement as a deuout Catholike in all thinges I doe most humbly consent and agree Also I the foresayd Hierom which before the reuerend fathers the Lordes Cardinals and reuerend Lordes Prelates and Doctours and other worshipful persons of this sacred Councell in this same place did heretofore frely and willingly declare and expound myne intent and purpose amongest other thinges speaking of the Churche did deuide the same into three partes And as I did perceaue afterward it was vnderstanded by some the I would affirme that in the triumphant Church there was fayth Whereas I do firmly beleue that there is the blessed sight and beholding of God excluding all darke vnderstanding knowledge And now also I do say affirm declare that it was neuer my intent and purpose to proue that there sholde be fayth speaking of fayth as fayth is commonly defined but knowledge farre exceeding fayth And generally whatsoeuer I sayd eyther there or at any time before I do referre and most humbly submit my selfe vnto the determination of this sacred Councell of Constance Moreouer I do sweare both by the holy Trinitie and also by the most holy Gospell that I will for euermore remayne and perseuere without all doubt in the truth of the Catholicke Churche And all such as by their doctrine and teaching shall impugne this fayth I iudge them worthy together with their doctrines of eternall curse And if I my selfe at any time which God forbid I should doe presume to preach or teach contrary thereunto I will submit my self vnto the seueritie of the Canons and be bound vnto eternall payn and punishment Wherupon I do deliuer vp this my cōfession and tenour of my profession willingly before this sacred generall councell and haue subscribed and written all these thinges with myne owne hand AFter all this they caused hym to be caryed agayn vnto the same prison but not so straightly chayned bound as he was before notwithstanding kept euery day wyth souldiors and armed men And when as afterward his enemies which were appoynted agaynst him as Michaell de causis wicked Palletz with other their companions in these affayres vnderstood knew by the words talke of M. Hierome and by other certayn tokens that he made the same abiuration recantation not of a sincere pure minde but onely to the intent thereby to scape their hands they together with certayne Friers of Prage of the order of Carmelites then comming in put vp new accusations agaynst the sayd M. Hierome and drew the same into Articles being very instant and earnest that he shoulde answere thereunto And forsomuch as his iudges certaine Cardinals as the Cardinall of Cambray the Cardinal de Vrsinis the Cardinall of Aquilegia and of Florence considering the malice of the enemies of M. Hierome dyd see the great iniurie that was done vnto him they laboured before the whole Councell for hys deliuery It happened vpon a certayn day as they were labouring in the Councell for the deliuery of the sayd M. Hierome that the Germaynes and Bohemians his enemies with al force and power resisted against it crying out that he should in no case be dismissed Then start vp one called Doctor Naso which said vnto the Cardinalles we maruaile much of you most reuerend fathers that your reuerences will make intercession for such a wicked hereticke for whose sake we in Boheme with the whole clergy haue suffered much trouble mischiefe and peraduenture your fatherhoodes shall suffer and I greatly feare least that you haue receiued some rewardes eyther of the king of Boheme or of these heretickes When as the Cardinalles were thus rebuked they discharged themselues of mayster Hieromes cause and matter Then his enemies aforesaid obtayned to haue other iudges appointed as the Patriarcke of Constantinople a Germayne doctour forsomuch as they did knowe that the Patriarch was a greeuous enemy vnto M. Hierome because he being before appoynted iudge by the Councell had condemned Iohn Hus vnto death But M. Hierome would not aunswere them in prison requiring to haue open audience because he woulde there finally
done they suppressed diuers monasteries pharisaicall temples and idolatrous phanes beginning first with the great monasterie of the blacke Friers eight miles from Prage and driuing away the wicked and vicious Priests Monkes out of them or compelling them vnto a better order And thus their number more and more encreasing vnder the conduict of a certaine noble man named Nicholas they went againe vnto the King requiring to haue more and ampler Churches graunted vnto them The King seemed at the first willingly and gently to giue care vnto the said Nicholas intreating for the people and commaunded them to come againe the next day When the people were departed the kyng turning himselfe to that noble man Nicholas which taried still behynde said Thou hast begun a webbe to put me out of my kingdome but I will make a rope of it wherewithall I will hang thee Whereupon he immediatly departed out of the Kings presence and the King himselfe went into the Castle of Uissegrad within a while after into a new Castle which he himselfe had builded fiue stones cast froÌ„ thence sending Ambassadours to his brother to require aide These Protestants beeing assembled in the Towne of Praâ—e holding their conuentions the king sent forth his Chamberlaine with CCC horsemeÌ„ to runne vpoÌ„ them but he hauing respect vnto his life fled WheÌ„ newes thereof was brought vnto the king all that were about him being amased vtterly detested the fact but the Kings cup-bearer staÌ„ding by said I knew before that these thynges would thus come to passe Whom the king in a rage taking hold of threw him downe before his feete and with hys dagger would haue slaine him but being letted by such as were about him with much ado he pardoned him his life Immediatly the king being taken with a palsey fell sicke and within 18. daies after wheÌ„ he had marked the names of such whom he had appointed to put to death incessantly calling for aide of his brother and other his frends he departed this life before the Princes which he had sente vnto were come with aide wheÌ„ he had raigned 55. yeares and was about the age of 57. yeares The story of Zisca IMmediatly after the death of Wenceslaus there was a certaine noble man named Zisca borne at Trosnouia which from his youth vpwarde was brought vp in the kyngs court and had lost one of his eies in a battel where as he had valiantly borne himselfe This man beeing sore greeued for the death of I. Hus and Hierome of Prage minding to reuenge the iniuries which the Councell had done greatly to the dishonour of the kingdom of Boheme vpon their complices and adhereÌ„ts he gathered together a number of meÌ„ of warre and subuerted the Monasteries and idolatrous temples pulling downe and breaking in peeces the images and idols driuing away the Priestes and Monkes which he saide were kept vp in their Cloysters like swine in their styes to be fatted After this hys army beeing increased hauing gathered together aboute fortie thousande men hee attempted to take the Castle of Uissegrade which was but slenderly warded FroÌ„ thence the said Zisca vnder the conduict of Coranda wente speedely vnto Pelzina whereas he knew he had many frends of his faction and tooke the towne into his power fortifieng the same very strongly and those which tarried behinde tooke the Castle of Uissegrade Then the Queene Sophia beeing very carefull sente letters and messengers vnto the Emperour Sigismund and other nobles adioining vnto her requiring aide and helpe but the Emperour made preparation against the Turke which had then lately wonne certaine Castels of him Whereupon the Queene seeing all ayde so farre off together with Zenko Warrenberge gathered an host with the kings treasure and fortified the Castle of Prage and the lesser Citie which ioineth vnto the Castle making gates and Towers of wood vpon the bridge ouer the Riuer Multane to stoppe that the Protestants shoulde haue no passage that way Then it hapned that at the I le of S. Benedict one Peter Steremberge fought an equall or indifferent battaile with them In the meane time the number of the Protestantes beeing increased in Prage they fought for yâ— bridge In which battaile many were slaine on both parts but at the length the Hussites wanne the bridge and the neather part of lesser Prage the Queenes part fleeing into the vpper parte thereof whereas they turning againe fiersly renued the battaile and fought continually day and night by yâ— space of fiue daies Many were slaine on both parts goodly buildings were rased and the councell house which was in a low place was vtterly defaced and burned During the time of this troublous estate the Ambassadours of the Emperour Sigismund were come whyche taking vpon them the rule and gouernaÌ„ce of the Realme made a truce or league with the Citie of Prage vnder this condition that the Castle of Uissegrad beeing rendred it should be lawful for theÌ„ to send Ambassadours to the Emperour Sigismund to intreat as touching their estate and that Zisca should render Pelzina Piesta with the other forts which he had taken These conditions thus agreed vpon and receiued all the forreine Protestants departed out of the Citie and the Senate of the Citie began to gouerne againe according to their accustomed manner and all things were quieted Howbeit the Papists which were gone out of the Towne durst not returne againe but still looked for the Emperour by whose presence they thought they should haue bene safe But this their hope was frustrate by meanes of certaine letters which were sent from the Emperour wherein it was written that he woulde shortly come and rule the kingdome euen after the same order and maner as his father Charles had done before him Whereby the Protestants vnderstoode that their sect and Religion should be vtterly banished which was not begon during the raigne of the sayd Charles About Christmasse the Emperour Sigismund came to Brunna a Citie of Morauia and there he pardoned the Citizens of Prage vnder condition that they woulde let downe the chaines and barres of the City and receiue his rulers and magistrates Wherunto the whole city obeied and the Magistrates thereof lifting vp their handes vnto heauen reioiced at the comming of the new king But the Emperour turned another way and weÌ„t vnto Uratislauia the head city of Slesia where as a little before the coÌ„munalty of the City had slaine in an insurrection the magistrates which his brother WeÌ„ceslaus had set in authority the principals wherof he beheaded The newes wherof when they were reported at Prage the CitizeÌ„s being seared by the example of the Vratislauians distrusting their pardoÌ„ rebelled out of hand and hauing obteined Cencho on their part which had the gouernaunce of the Castle of Prage they sent letters into all the Realme that no man should suffer the Emperour to enter which was an enemie vnto Boheme and sought nothing else but to destroy
to passe according vnto Zisca his will and minde and that vpon him alone the whole state of Boheme did depend he sought priuie meanes to recōcile and get Zisca into his fauour promising him the gouernance of the whole kingdom the guiding of all his hostes armies and great yearely reuenues if he would proclaime him King and cause the Cities to be sworne vnto him Upō which cōditions whē as Zisca for the performance of the couenants went vnto the Emperour being on his iourney at the Castle of Priscouia he was stricken with sicknesse and died It is reported that when he was demaunded beyng sicke in what place he would be buried he commaunded the skinne to be pulled off from his dead carkase and the flesh to bee cast vnto the foules and beastes and that a drumme should be made of his skinne which they should vse in their battailes affirming that as soone as their enimies should heare the sound of that drumme they would not abide but take their flight The Thaborites despising all other Images yet set vp the Picture of Zisca ouer the gates of the Citie ¶ The Epitaphe of Iohn Zisca the valiant Captaine of the Bohemians I Iohn Zisca not inferiour to any Emperour or Captain in warlike policie a seueare punisher of the pride and auarice of the Clergy and a defender of my countrey do lie heere That which Appius Claudius by geuing good counsell and M. Furius Camillus by valiantnesse did for the Romaines the same I being blinde haue done for my Bohemians I neuer slacked oportunitie of battaile neither did fortune at any time faile me I being blinde did foresee all oportunitie of well ordering or doing my businesse Eleuen times in ioining battaile I went victour out of the field I seemed to haue worthely defended the cause of the miserable and hungry against the delicate fatte and glotonous Priests and for that cause to haue receiued help at the hande of God If their enuy had not let it without doubt I had deserued to be numbred amongst the most famous men Notwithstanding my bones lye heere in this halowed place euen in despite of the Pope 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ Iohn Zisca a Bohemian enemy to all wicked and couetous Priestes but with a godly zeale And thus haue you the actes and doings of this worthy Zisca and other Bohemians which for the more credite we haue drawne out of Aeneas Syluius onely his rayling tearmes excepted which we haue heere suppressed All this while the Emperour with the whole power of the Germaines were not so busie on the one side but Martin the Pope was as much occupied on the other side who about the same time directed downe a terrible Bull full of all poison to all Byshops and Archbyshops agaynst all such as tooke any part or side with Wickleffe Iohn Hus Hierome or with their doctrine and opinions The copie of which Bull which I found in an olde written monument I wish the reader throughly to peruse wherein he shall see the Pope to poure out at once all his poison The Bull of Pope Martine directed foorth against the followers of Iohn Wickliffe of England of Iohn Husse of Boheme and Hierome of Prage MArtine Bishop the seruant of Gods seruants to our reuerend brethren the Archbishops of Salzeburgen Gueznen and Pragē to the Bishops of Dlumcen Luthomuslen Bambergen Misnen Patauiē Uratislauien Ratisponen Cra. ouien Poznamen and Nitrien also to our beloued children the Inquisitours appointed of the Prelates aboue recited or where else soeuer vnto whome these present letters shall come greeting and Apostolicall benediction Amongst all other pastorall cares where with we are oppressed this chefly and specially doth inforce vs that heretikes with their false doctrine and errours being vtterly expulsed from amōgst the cōpany of Christen mē and rooted out so farre forth as God will make vs able to do the right and Catholike faith may remaine sound and vndefiled and that all Christian people immoueable and iuiolate may stande and abide in the sinceritie of the same fayth the whole vayle of obscuritie being remoued But lately in diuers places of the world but especially in Bohemia and the Dukedome of Morauia and in the straights adioining thereunto certaine Archheretickes haue risen and sprong vp not against one only but against diuers sundry documēts of the Catholike faith being landlopers schismatikes and seditious persons fraught with diuelish pride Woluish madnes deceiued by the subtlety of Sathan and frō one euill vanity brought to a worse Who although they rose vp sprang in diuers parts of the world yet agreed they all in one hauing their tailes as it were knit together to wit Iohn Wickliffe of England I. Hus of Bohemia Hierome of Prage of dammable memorie who drew with thē no small nūber to miserable ruine and infidelitie For when as those such like pestiferous persons did in the beginning of their poisoned doctrine obstinately sow and spread abroad peruerse false opinions the prelates who had the regiment execution of the iudiciall power like dumme dogs not able to barke neither yet reuenging speedely with the Apostle all such disobediēce nor regarding corporally to cast out of the lords house as they were enioined by the canons those subtill and pestilēt Archheretickes and their Woluish fury and cruelty with all expedition but suffering their false and pernicious doctrine negligētly by their ouerlong delaies to growe and waxe strōg a great multitude of people in stead of true doctrine receiued those things which they did lōg falsly pernitiously and damnably sow among them and geuing credite vnto them fell from the right faith and are intangled the more pitie in the foule errors of Paganisme In so much that those Archheretickes and suche as spring of them haue infected the Catholicke flock of Christ in diuers climates of the world and parts bordering vpon the same and haue caused them to putrifie in the filthie dunghill of their lies Wherefore the generall Synode of Constance was compelled with Sainct Augustine to exclaime against so great and ruinous a plague of faythfull men and of the sound and true faith it selfe saieng what shall the Soueraigne medicine of the Church do wyth motherly loue seeking the health of hir sheepe chasing as it were amongst a companie of men franticke and hauing the disease of the Lethargie What shall she desist and leaue off hir good purpose No not so But rather let hir if there be no remedie be sharpe to both these sorts which are the greenous enemies of her wombe For the Phisition is sharpe vnto the man bestraught and raging in his frensie and yet is he a father to his owne rude and vnmanerly sonne in binding the one in beating the other by shewing therein his great loue vnto them both But if they be negligent and suffer them to perish sayth Augustine this mansuetude is rather to be supposed
neyther holy neither meritorious Item that reliques as dead mens bones ought not to be worshipped or digged out of theyr graues or set vp in Shrynes Item that prayers made in all places are acceptable vnto God Item that men ought not to pray to any saynt but only to God Item that the vels and ringing in the church was ordeyned for no other purpose then to fill the pristes purses Item that it is no sinne to withstand the ecclesiasticall preceptes Item that the catholick church is onely the congregation of the elect These were the Articles which were generally obiected agaynst them all wherin they did so agree in one vniforme sayth that whatsoeuer one did hold all the other did mayntayne hold the same By the which theyr consent doctrine it appeareth that they all receiued it of some one instructor who was William White which being a scholer and folower of I. Wickliffe resorted afterward into thys country of Norfolke and there instructed these men in the light of the gospell And now as we haue declared the names and Articles of these good men so it remayneth somewhat to speake of theyr troubles how they were handled beginning first with William White ¶ William White Priest THis William White being a folower of Iohn Wickliff and a priest not after the common sort of priests but rather to be reputed amongst the number of them of whom the wise man speaketh He was as the morning starre in the midst of a cloud c. This man was well learned vpright a well spoken priest He gaue ouer his priesthood benefice took vnto him a godly yong woman to his wife named Ioane notwithstanding he did not therefore cease or leaue frō his former office duty but continually labored to the glory and prayse of his spouse Christ by reading writing preaching The principal points of his doctrine were these which he was forced to recant at Canterbury That men should seeke for the forgeuenes of their sins onely at the handes of God That the wicked liuing of the Pope and his holynesse is nothing els but a deuilish estate and heauy yoke of Antichrist and therfore he is an enemy vnto Christes trueth That men ought not to worship Images or other Idolatrous payntings That mē ought not to worship the holy men which are dead That the Romish church is the fig tree which the Lord Christ hath accussed because it hath brought forth no fruit of the true beliefe That such as weare coules or be annointed or shorne are the lanceknightes and souldiors of Lucifer that they all because theyr lamps are not burning shall be shut out when as the Lord Christ shall come Upon which articles he being attached at Cant. vnder the Archb. Henry Chichesley in the yeare of our Lord 1424. there for a certayne space stoutly and manly witnessed the truth whiche he had preached but like as there he lost hys courage and strength so afterward he became again much more stouter and stronger in Iesu Christ and confessed his own error offence For after this he going into Norfolk with his said wife Ioane there occupying himself busily in teaching conuerting the people vnto the true doctrine of Christ at the last by meanes of the kings letters sēt down for that intent and purpose he was apprehended taken brought before Wil. bishop of Norwich by whom he was conuict condemned of 30. articles there was burned in Norwich in the moneth of September an 1424. ¶ The burning of William White This William White and his wife had his most abode with one Tho. Moone of Ludney This mā was of so deuout and holy life that all the people had him in great reuerence and desired him to pray for them in so much that one Margaret Wright confessed that if any sayntes were to be prayd to she would rather pray to him then to any other When he was come vnto the stake thinking to open hys mouth to speak vnto the people to exhort confirme them in the verity one of the bishops seruants stroke hym on the mouth therby to force him to keepe silence And thus thys good man receiuing the crowne of martyrdome ended this mortall life to the great dolor griefe of all the good men of Norfolke Whose sayd wife Ioane folowing her husbāds footsteps according to her power teaching and sowing abroad the same doctrine confirmed many men in Gods truth wherefore the suffered much trouble and punishmēt the same yeare at the handes of the sayd bishop About the same time also was burned father Abraham of Colchester and Iob. Waddō priest for the like articles Concerning them which abiured how by whom they were examined What depositions came in agaynst them and what was the order maner of the penance inioyned them here it might be set out at large but for auoyding of prolixity it shall be sufficient briefly to touch certaine of the principals wherby the better vnderstanding may be geuē to the Reader after what maner order al the other were intreated First amongst them which were arested and caused to abiure in this yeare afore specified 1428. was Thom. Pye and Iohn Mendham of Aldborough who being conuict vpon diuers of the Articles before mentioned were enioined penance to be done in theyr own parish Church as by the bishops letter directed to the Deane of Rhodenhall that parish priest of Aldborough doth more at large appeare the tenour wherof here ensueth The copy of the Bishop of Norwich his letter WIlliam by the sufferance of God Bishop of Norwich to our welbeloued sonnes in Christ the Deane of Rodéhal of our Dioces and to the parishe priest of the parish Churche of Aldborough of the same our dioces health grace and benediction For so much as we according to our office lawefully proceeding to the correction and amendment of the soules of Thomas Pye and Iohn Mendham of Aldborough of the dioces aforesayd because they haue holden beleued and affirmed diuers and many errours and heresyes contrary to the determination of the holy Churche of Rome and the vniuersall church and catholicke fayth haue enioyned the sayd Thomas and Iohn appearing before vs personally and confessing before vs iudicially that they haue holden beleued and affirmed diuers and many errors and heresyes this penaunce hereunder written for theyr offences to be done and fulfilled in maner forme and time hereunder written according as iustice doth require that is to say sixe fustigations or displinges about the parish church of Alborough aforesayd before a solemn procession sixe seuerall sondayes and three displinges about the market place of Herelston of our sayde Dioces three principall market dayes bare necked head legs and feet theyr bodyes being couered onely with theyr shyrtes and breeches either of them carying a taper in his hand of a pound waight as well rounde about the Church as about the market
king and to put him beside his cusshion And although for a time he dissembled his wrathfull mood till he might spye a time conuenient and a world to set forwarde his purpose at last finding occasion somewhat seruing to his mind he breaketh his hart to his two brethren to witte the Marques Mountacute the Archbishop of Yorke conspiring with them how to bring hys purpose about Then thought he also to proue a farre of the mind of the duke of Clarence king Edwards brother likewise obteined him geuing also to him his daughter in Mariage This matter being thus prepared agaynst the kyng the first flame of this cōspiracy began to appeare in the north country Where the Northrenmen in short space gathering thēselues in an open rebellion finding certaines of their wicked purpose came down from Yorke toward London Against whom was appoynted by the king W. lord Harbert Earle of Penbroke with the Lord Stafford and certayne other Captaynes to encounter The Yorkeshyre mē geuing the ouerthrow first to the lord Stafford thē to the Earle of Penbrok and his company of Welchmē at Banbery fielde at last ioyning together with the army of the Earle of Warwicke and Duke of Clarence in the dead of the night secretly stealing one the kinges field at Wolney by Warwick killed the watch and tooke the king prisoner who first being in the castle of Warwicke then was conueyed by night to Midleham Castle in Yorkeshyre vnder the custody of the Archbishop of Yorke where he hauinge loose keeping and liberty to go on hunting meeting wyth syr William Standley syr Thomas of Brough and other his frendes was to good for his keepers and escaped the hands of his enemies and so came to York where he was well receiued from thēce to Lankester where he met with the Lord Hastinges his Chamberlayne well accompanied by whose helpe he came safe to London After this tumult when reconciliation could not come to a perfect peace vnity although much labor was made by the nobility the Earle of Warwick raiseth vp a new war in Lincolnshyre the captaine wherof was Sir Rob. wels knight who shortly after being taken in battell wyth hys father and sir Thomas Dunocke were beheaded the residue casting away their coates ran away and fled geuing the name of the field called Losecoat field The erle of Warwicke after this put out of comfort and hope to preuayle at home fled out of England An. 1470. first to Calice then to Lewes the French king accompanyed with the Duke of Clarence The fame of the Earle of Warwicke and of his famous actes was at that time in great admiration aboue measure and so highly fauoured that both in England Fraunce all men were glad to behold his personage Wherfore the comming of this Earle of the Duke of Clarence was not a litle gratefull to the French king and no lesse oportune to Queene Margaret King Henryes wife and Prince Edward her sonne who also came to the Frenche Courte to meete and conferre together touching their affayres where a league betwene thē was cōcluded moreouer a mariage betwene Edward prince of Wales Anne the secōd daughter of the Erle of Warwick was wrought Thus all things fasting luckely vpō the Erles part beside the large offers and great promises made by the Frenche king on the best maner to set forwarde their purpose the Earle hauing also intelligence by letters that the harts almost of all men went with him and lōged sore for his presence so that there lacked now but onely hast with al speed possible to returne he with the duke of Clarence wel fortified with the French nauy set forward toward England For so was it betwene them before decreed that they two should proue the first venture and then Queen Margaret with Prince Edward her sonne should folow after The ariuall of the Earle was not so soone heard of at Dartmouth in Deuonshyre but great cōcourse of people by thousands went to him from all quarters to receiue welcome hym who immediatly made proclamation in the name of kyng Henry the sixt charging all men able to beare armour to prepare themselues to fight agaynst Edwarde Duke of Yorke vsurper of the Crowne Here lacked no freendes strength of men furniture nor pollicy conuenient for such a matter When king Edwarde who before not passing for the matter nor seking how either to haue stopped his iāding or els straight wayes to haue encountred with him before the gathering of his frendes but passing forth the time in hunting in hauking in all pleasure daliance had knowledge what great resort of multitudes incessantly repaired more and more dayly about the Erle and the Duke began now to prouide for remedy when it was to late Who trusting to much to his friendes and fortune before dyd nowe right well perceiue what a variable and inconstant thyng the people is especially here of Englād whose nature is neuer to be contēt long with the present state but alwayes delighting in newes seketh new variety of chaunges eyther enuying that which stādeth or els pitying that which is fallen Which inconstant mutability of the light people chaunging with the winde and wauering with the reede did well appeare in the course of this kinges story For he through the people when he was down was exalted now being exalted of the same was forsaken Wherby this is to be noted of all princes that as there is nothing in this mutable world firme and stable so is there no trust nor assurance to be made but onely in the fauor of God and in the promises of his word onely in Christ his sonne whose only kingdome shall neuer haue ende nor is subiecte to anye mutation These thinges thus passing in England on the Earles side agaynst king Edward he accompanyed with the Duke of Glocester his brother and the Lord Hastings who had maried the erle of Warwicks sister and yet was neuer vntrue to the king his maister and the Lord Seales brother to the Queene sent abroad to all his trusty frendes for furniture of able souldiors for defence of his person to wtstand his enemies Whē litle rescue few in effect would come the king himselfe so destitute departed to Lincolneshyre where he perceiuing his enemyes dayly to encrease vpon him all the countryes about to be in a tore making fiers singing songs crying king Henry king Henry a Warwicke a Warwicke and hearing moreouer his enemyes the Lancastrians to be within halfe a dayes iourney of him was aduised by his frendes to flie ouer the Sea to the Duke of Burgoyne which not long before had maryed king Edwardes sister ¶ Here might be thought by the common iudgement and pollicy of man peraduētnre that king Edward as he had in his handes the life of king Henry of his Queene and Prince so if hee had dispatched them out of the way
Egipt and was called terror orbis the terror of the world He lefte behinde hym two sonnes who falling in discorde for theyr possessions lost all agayne that their father gotte In the meane time Baiazetes in the second yeare of his captiuitie died leauing behind him diuers sonnes Iesus or Iosua the eldest Mulsumanes Moses Celebinus or Calepinus Iesus the yonger Mustaphas and Hali of whome first Iesus the eldest was ouercome and slaine of Mulsumanes which Mulsumanes afterwarde was deliuered to Moses his brother and by him was slaine likewise which Moses had also the like ende by his brother Calepinus hauing his necke broken with a bowe string which was then the vsuall maner among the Turkes in killing their brethren The same Calepinus sparing onely the life of Mustaphas his other brother condemned him to perpetuall prison Iesus the younger was Baptised shortly after departed at Constantinople In these such disorders and diuisions among the Turkes what occasions were geuen to the Christias to haue recouered agayne of the Turkes that they had lost if they had not bene either negligent or in their own priuate warres otherwise occupied with themselues ¶ Calepinus the 5. after Ottomannus CAlepinus or Celebinus was the sonne of Baiazetes and of foure brethren the eldest who beyng all taken captiues of the Parthians he onely escaped and obteined his fathers kyngdome This Calepinus encouraged by the sloth and negligence of the Princes of Europe and by the discord of the Grecians amongest them selues and other nations neare about them long troubled and vexed the Bulgarians Seruiās and Macedonians euen to the tyme of Sigismundus Which Sigismundus seyng now Baiazetes to be ouercome and taken of Tamerlane and the power of the Turkes weakened in Europe hauing such occasion offered him as it were from heauen to destroy and vtterly to roote out not onely out of Asia but also all Europe that barbarous nation and cruell enemies to the name and Religiō of Christ and also to reuenge the great slaughter and discomfiture of his army fighting before with Baiazetes at Nicopolis a Citie in Mysia with great power made warre agaynst Calepinus at Columbatium a Towne in Seruia as is also before mentioned pag. 719. but as vnluckely and with as little successe as he did before agaynst Baiazetes his father For in that battaile were slayne of the Christiās to the nūber of xx thousand and the rest vtterly discomfited the kyng himselfe escaping so hardly that he entred not agayne into his kingdome for the space of 18. monethes after Some write that this was done vnder Baiazetes other some referre this battaile to Amurathes but howsoeuer it was most pernicious was it to the Christiās He raigned but vi yeares and dyed very young an 1404. ¶ Orchanes and Moses his vncle the sixt after Ottomanus AFter the captiuitie of Baiazetes aboue mentioned histories diuersly doe dissent The Greeke writers making no mention at alof Calepinus onely make mētion of the sonnes of Baiazetes of the contention among them vntill the time of Muhumetes The Latin stories writing of the children of Baiezetes and of their succession doe not therein agree some affirmyng that Baiazetes had two sonnes Orchanes surnamed Calepinus Mahumetes his brother which within two yeares slew the sayd Calepinus and entred his dominion Other attribute to Baiazetes moe sonnes as is aboue rehearsed Some agayne doe geue to Baiazetes onely these two sonnes Celebinus and Mustaphas and hold that Calepinus or Celebinus had two sonnes to wit Orchanes and Mahumetes and adde moreouer that the sayd Orchanes beyng somewhat yoūg was slayne of his vncle Moses who gouerned but ij yeares For Mahumetes to reuenge his brothers death slew Moses and inuaded his dominion The Greeke stories make no mention at all of Orchanes ¶ Mahumetes the 7. after Ottomannus THis Mahumetes whether he was the sonne of Baiazetes or els of Calepinus conuerted to himselfe alone the kingdome or tyrāny rather of the murdering Turks Who afflicted the Christiās with sore warres within Europe especially the countrey called Wallachia lying not farre frō the floud Danubius betwene Hungary Thracia From thence he remoued into Asia where he recouered diuers partes in Galatia Pontus Capadocia Cilicia whiche before Tamerlanes had alienated from the Turkes This Mahumetes planted his chief Imperiall seate in Adrianople not farre from Constātinople within the countrey of Thracia In some writers the conflict betwene Sigismund the great Turke wherein the Christians were so discomfited is referred rather to this Mahumetes then to Calepinus of which conflict mention is aboue made in the story of Sigismundus pag. 719. This Mahumetes reigned as some say 14. yeares dyed in the yeare of our Lord. 1419. Other affirme 17. yeares ¶ Amurathes the second 8. after Ottmannus AMurathes as Philelphus sayth was the son of Celebinus as Laonicus Chalcondiles testifieth of Mahumetes whose son soeuer he was a wretched traunt he was and permitted as a scourge of God to correct the sins of the Christians In the story of Baiazetes mentiō was made before of Mustaphas his sonne who was cōdemned to perpetual prison by Calepinus his brother This Mustaphas escaping out of his brothers prison was conueied to the Grecians where he remained long in custody til at length they vnderstanding the purpose of Amurathes set him vp with sufficient habiliments and furniture of war to fight against the sayde Amurathes his nephew But in cōclusion he being not able to make his partie good came into the hands of his enemie and had his necke broke with a bowstring after the maner of the Turkish execution The Grecians then terrified with this sinister aduersity required truce of the Turke but when that would not be graunted they procured vnto them Mustaphas the other brother to Amurathes being of the age of xiij yeares who likewise being armed of the Grecians got the City of Nice in Bithynia from Amurathes his brother Albeit it was not long but he was circumuented in the same Citie and brought to Amurathes who caused him likewise to taste of the same whip as the other Mustaphas had done before Amurathes being now out of all feare and doubt of brethren kinsfolke to rise against him conuerted all his power against the Grecians and first raunging through out Thracia where diuers Cities yelded vnto him which before belonged to the Emperour of Constantinople frō thence he set forward to the noble and famous City Thessalonica being then vnder the league and protectiō of the Uenetians This Thessalonica is a Citie in Greece bordering vpon Macedonia to the Citizens wherof S. Paule writeth foreshewing vnto them in his 2. Epistle of a defection to come before the comming of the day of the Lord 2. Thess. 2. By the which apostacie or defection what the holy Apostle doth meane this story of the Turkes maye easely declare After Thessalonica was subdued Phocis with all the countrey about
siege After this discomfiture the saying is that Amurathes to keepe his vow made before after his victory at Uarna gaue himselfe into a religious order liuyng a contemplatiue life with certaine other Priestes ioyned vnto him in the forest of Bithynia renouncing the gouernement of his realme to the handes of Haly one of his Princes for thou must vnderstaÌ„d good Reader that the Turkes also be not without their sondry sectes of Religion no more then we Christians are without our Friers and Monkes In the meane tyme while Amurathes this Turkishe tyraÌ„ne was cloystered vp in his Monkish Religion Ioannes Huniades in the kyngdome of Hungary and Castriotus Scanderbeius in Grecia kept great styâ—re against the Turkes By reason wherof Amurathes was takeÌ„ againe from his Monkish vow and profession brought agayne into the field For first Huniades had rescued the whole couÌ„trey of Hungary and had propulsed moreouer all the might of the Turkes farre froÌ„ Seruia And although the peuishe practise of Grgins Prince of Servia had oft tymes disclosed his counsailes vnto the Turkes whereby twise he was brought in daunger yet notwithstandyng through the Lordes gracious protection he was preserued and deliuered by the sayd George vnto the Hungarians agayne after that manfully vaÌ„quished the Turkes so that they had no resting place about those parts of Seruia and Bulgaria so long as he liued On the other side in Grecia Castriotus ScaÌ„derbeius so foyled the Turke in defence of his couÌ„trey Epirus and Macedonia and kept Amurathes so short that not ouely he was not able to wynne any great Towne in all Epyrus but also commyng from Epyrus in the straites was so intaÌ„gled by Castriotus that he was forced to geue battaile In the which battaile he was so vanquished most part of his army slayne that for grief and sorrow conceaued he fallyng into a rauyng sicknesse was traÌ„sported out of his pauillon vnto Adrianople and there in fury madnesse dyed after he had reigned 34. yeares which was about the yeare of our Lord. 1450. This Amurathes first ordained the order of Ianizarites Which were the men children of such Christians as he conquered tooke captiue whom he forced to renounce the faith of Christ wherein they were Baptized brought them vp in Mahumetes law exercised them in the same feates of warre as he did his owne people and after that they came to mens estate he named them Ianizari that is to say souldiours of a straunge countrey and made them to garde his person They weare on their head is stead of an helmet a white attire made of the grossest sort of woll and in so manifolde aboute their head that it can not bee pierced with a sword It haÌ„geth downe on the backe with a taile and before on the forehead it is garnished with golde and siluer They were woont to vse bowes and launces in the fielde but nowe they vse dagges as oure horsemen do At the first institution there were but 8000. in theyr garrison but now they be twise so many This of all bondage and seruitude that the Christians suffer vnder the Turke is most intollerable and greatly to be of all true Christians lamented For what can godly mindes behold more to their griefe then to see their children pulled from the faith of Christ wherein they were baptised and by whose bloud they should eternally be saued and to be instructed and nourished with the blasphemous doctrine of Mahumet and to be professed enemies of Christ and hys Churche to make warre against heauen and to perish euerlastingly And finally what a lamentable thing is it to see and beholde our owne children borne of our owne bodies to become our mortall and cruell enemies and to cut our throtes with their owne hands This seruitude of minde is farre greater then death it selfe which if oure Princes would well consider it would cause them the rather to agree and bende their whole force and power against this cruell enemy ¶ Mahumetes second the ix after Ottomanus AMurathes left behind him three sonnes Mahumete borne of the daughter of Despota Prince of Seruia being twentie yeares of age the second sonne called Turcines the third named Calepinus This Turcines being an infant and but eighteene moneths old was strangled at the commandement of the Turke by his seruant Moses himselfe being there present and beholding the horrible murther And when Moses the executour of the murther had desired him not to pollute his handes with the bloud of his brother he answered that it was the manner of all the Ottoman Turkes that all the other breethren being destroied none should be lefte aliue but one to gonerue the Empire Wherefore Moses was commaunded by the tirant there presently and in his sight to kill the infant This horrible fact when the mother of the childe vnderstoode she crieng out and almost mad for sorrowe cursed the tirant to his face But he to mitigate the rage of his mother at her request being desirous to be reuenged vpon the executour of her sonnes death deliuered the said Moses bound into her hands who then in the presence of the tirant thrust him to the hart with a knife and opening his side tooke out his liuer and threw it to the dogges to be deuoured The third sonne called Calepinus which was but sixe moneths old the foresaid Amurathes his father commended to the custody of Halibassa one of his Nobles who to gratifie and please the tirant betraied the infant brought him vnto him and thereupon he at the tirants commandement was strangled Some affirme that in the stead of Calepinus another child was offered vnto the tirant and that Calepinus was conueied to Constantinople and after the taking of Constantinople was caried to Uenice and then to Rome to Pope Calixt where he was baptised and afterward came into Germany to Fridericke the Emperour and there was honorably enterteined kept in Austrich during his life Where note how the mercifull prouidence of God whom he list to saue can fetch out of the diuels mouth And note moreouer touching the foresayde Halibassa the betraier of the infant how he escaped not vnreueÌ„ged For Mahumet vnderstanding him to be a man of great substance and richesse thorough forging of false crimes with great torments put him to death to haue his richesse for this tirant was geuen to insatiable auarice Thus this bloudy Mahumete began his regiment with horrible murther after the example of other cursed tirants his predecessours Although this Mahumete notwithstandyng that hee came of a Christen mother being the daughter of Despota prince of Seruia and by her was brought vp and instructed from his childhood in the precepts of Christian religioÌ„ and maners yet he soone forgetting all gaue himselfe to Mahumetes religion and yet so that he being addicted to neyther Religion became an Atheist beleeuing and worshipping no God at all but onely the Goddesse of
Constantinus the sonne of Helena was the first Emperour of Constantinople so Constantinus the sonne also of Helena was the last Emperour thereof Not farre from the said Citie of Constantinople there was another little City called Pera once called Gallatia situated by the Sea side who hearing of the miserable destruction of Constantinople and seing the City flaming with fire sent certain of their chiesmeÌ„ with speed to Mahumete declaring vnto him that they neither had sent any helpe to the City of Constantinople neither yet wrought any detrimeÌ„t to any of his army wherefore they desired praied him that as they would gladly yeeld vnto him so he would be fauourable vnto theÌ„ and spare them not to punish the giltles with the gilty Mahumete although he was not ignoraunt that for feare rather then of any good will they submitted themselues and that they would rather resist him if they had ben able yet he receiued for that time the submission of the messengers but sending wyth them his Embassadour into the Citie he commanded also his army to follow withall and to enter with him into the City which although it was greatly suspected mâ—sliked of the Citizens yet they durst no otherwise do but suffer them to enter which beeing done the Embassadour gaue a signe to the souldiours euery man to do whatsoeuer he was bidden of whom some ranne to the walles some to the temples and Churches some to yâ— streetes houses of the City plucking all things downe to the grounde sacking and rauÌ„ging with no lesse fury and abhominable filthines then they had done at CoÌ„stantinople before sauing only that they absteined froÌ„ murther but the same day letters came from Mahumete to the Embassadour that he should spare none but destroy and murther all that euer were in the Citie which message because it seemed to the Embassadour to be too cruell forsomuch as they had yeelded theÌ„selues he staied his hand a little vntill night came In the meane time drunken Mahumete comming something to himselfe whome drunkennes had before ouercome sent his second letters to reuoke the first Where againe is to be noted the mercifull prouidence of God towardes his people in their deserued plagues by staieng the handes and brideling the fury many times of their enemies when otherwise the case seemeth to be past all remedy Mahumete thus beeing in himselfe not a little aduanced and eleuated by the winning of CoÌ„stantinople where he had now made the Imperiall seat of the Turkish dominion the third yeare next folowing to adueÌ„ture more masteries he set out to yâ— siege of Belgradum a City of Hungary lieng neare to the bankes of Danubius thinking to haue the like successe there as he had in the winning of Constantinople albeit through the Lords disposing it sel out much otherwise Within the Citie of Belgradum the same time of the siege thereof was Ioannes Huniades the valiant Captaine of whom in diuers places mentioÌ„ hath bene made before who with a sufficient strength of piked souldiours albeit in number nothing equal to the Turks army valiaÌ„tly defended the City with great courage and no lesse successe In the which siege great diligeÌ„ce was bestowed and many of the Turkes slaine AmoÌ„g whom also Mahumere himselfe being stroken with a pellet vnder the left arme was faine to be caried out of the field for halfe dead and the rest so put to flight that of the Turkes the same time were destroyed to the number or not much vnder the number of 40. thousaÌ„d besides the losse of all their ordinaunce which the Turkes in hast of their flight were forced to leaue behinde them Hieronymus Zieglerus writyng of the siege of this Belgradum addeth moreouer that wheÌ„ Mahumete was at the siege therof seyng the towne to be so small wâ—ake of it selfe that it could not be won with all his great multitude he staryng and faryng like a mad man commaunded all his brasen peeces to be layd to battare downe the walles and Towers of the Towne So that the Christians within the walles were vehemently distressed for the siege continued both night and day without intermission AmoÌ„g the rest of the Christians which defended the towne Hieronymus Zieglerus maketh mentioÌ„ of a certaine Bohemian much worthy of his condigne coÌ„mendation Who beyng vpon the walles and seyng a Turke with a baÌ„ner or ensigne of the Turkes to be gotteÌ„ vp by the sight wher of the whole Towne was in daunger to be coÌ„quered and taken runneth vnto the Turke and claspyng him about the middle speakyng to Iohn Capistranus standyng by low asking him whether it were any daunger of damnation to him if he of his voluntary mynde did cast himselfe with that dogge so he termed him downe headlong from the wall to be slayne with him what should become of his soule and whether he might be saued or not To whoÌ„ when the other had aunswered that hee should be saued without doubt hee estsoones tombleth him selfe with the Turke downe of the wall where by his death he saued the same tyme the lyfe of all the Citie Mahumete beyng so wounded and in dispayre of wynnyng the Citie was caryed as ye heard out of the field Who at length commyng agayne to himselfe partly for feare and partly for shame was ready to kill himselfe And thus was the towne of Belgradum at that tyme rescued through Gods prouidence by the meanes of Ioannes Hunianes and this good Bohemian This siege of BelgraduÌ„ begaÌ„ in the yeare of the Lord. 1456. and endured 46. dayes At the which siege were nuÌ„bred of the Turkes 200. thousand Of whom more then 40. thousand as is aforesayd were slayne where the victory fell to the Christians through the prosperous successe geuen of God to Ioannes Huniades Capistranus Which Huniades not long after the sayd victory through the importune labour and trauaile in defendyng the sayd towne was taken with a sore sickenesse and thereof departed to whose valiaunt prowes and singular courage stories doe geue great land and commendation Mahumetes the Turke after this done in Europe returned into Asia to warre with Vsumcassanes a Persian one of the Turkes stocke with whoÌ„ he had three battailes The first was about the Riuer Euphrates where the Turke lost 10. thousand men and was put to the worse In the second field likewise he was discomsited The third battaile was at ArseÌ„ga where through the terrible noyse of the brasen peeces the Persian horses disturbed the caÌ„pe and so was Vsumcassanues ouercome From thence the Turke reduced agayne his power against the Christians and first subdued vnto him Synope and all Paphlagonia Also the kingdome of Trapezunce which he besiegyng both by land and water wanne from the Christians and sent Dauid the kyng of the same with his two sonnes and Calus his vncle vnto Constantinople where they were miserably and cruelly put to death all the stocke of the
Conneni which were of the kynges stocke by the Turke were destroyed Whiche was about the yeare of our Lord. 1459. at which tyme this mischieuous Mahumete was first saluted Emperour Not long after he got from the Grecians Corinthus and Mitylene not without great slaughter of Christen men in somuch that the whole Citie of Mitylene was vtterly to the grounde almost destroyed The Isles also of Lemnus Lesbos he wanne from the Venetians In the which Ilād of Lesbos is the Citie of Mitylene aforesayd Not farre frō this I le of Lesbos and Mitylene there is a countrey in Asia toward the sea side borderyng next to Europe called Mysia or of some called Moesia wherein stode the Citie of Troye This countrey Mahumete coueting to wynne rather by policie falshode then by doubtfull daunger of warre secretly sent for the Prince therof to come to speake with him for certaine causes as he pretended which should concerne the profite and commoditie of thē both Which when the king of Mysia either for shame would not or for feare durst not denye he came to him as to conferre vpon necessary affaires in commō to them appertaining Mahumete when he had brought that to passe which he would he caused the king to be apprehended and cruelly to be slaine or rather torne in peeces and so inuading the land of Misia exercised the like tyrannie vpō all his kindred and affinitie This Misia by fraude being taken and lost Mahumere flieth againe toward Europe where he assailed the Iland Euboia otherwise called Nigroponte making a bridge of a marueilous frame ouer the sea Euripus to conuey ouer his army out of Grecia and there laide his siege to the Citie Chalcis which at length in thirty dayes he ouercame not without a great slaughter of his army who in the siege thereof is said to haue lost 40. thousand of the Turkes But the slaughter of the Christians was greater for when the City was won the tirant commanded most cruelly none to be spared within the whole citie but to be put to the sword whosoeuer was aboue the age of twenty yeares This cruelty was shewed of the barbarous Tirant for anger and fury because such a number of his Turkes were slaine at the siege therof being reckned as is said to 40. thousand In the fierce siege of this Citie it is memorable that is in stories recorded how that the women of that Citie seeing the men to begin to faint and the Citie to lie in present danger tooke the matter themselues in hand and plaieng the men went to the walles and there defended the Citie with no lesse trouble to the enemie then the men had before done and so for a space continued so long as any mans strength and diligence could do anie good A great cause of the losse of this Citie and Iland is imputed to the cowardly timidity of the Venetians nauy who being there present and hauing prosperous winde yet durst not or would not aduenture vpon the Turkes bridge which if they had done the Iland of Euboia and Chalcis had not so soone bin ouermatched of the Turks Thus all the East partes of Grecia being subdued to the Turkish tiraunt with all Achaia Attica Acarnania Euboia shortly after folowed also Peloponesus brought in like subiection to the Turke Within this Peloponesus were these prouinces conteined Achaia Messenia Laconia Argolica and Archadia c. The Venetiās in this Peloponesus had great possessions and had made vp the wall againe toward the Sea side neare to the streites of Corinth before mentioned where for the more speede of the worke they had 30. thousand workemen to the building thereof which when it came to the knowledge of the Turke he brast into the countrey of Peloponesus wyth an army of 80. thousand and first wasting the regions of the Coroneans and Methoneans and making a greate slaughter of the Venetians in short time he brought the whole dominiō of Peloponesus vnder his yoke tribute Long it is and more lamentable to recite all the victories of this Mahumete gotten against the Christiās both by land sea who after he had ouercome the Ile Lesbos aboue mentioned and had cruelly slaine Nicolaus Catalusius the Prince thereof turning his army towarde the sea of Pontus Euxinus got the countrey of Capha from the Genuans Before was declared how truce was taken betweene Georgius Scanderbeius and the Turke for ten yeares which truce being expired Mahumete leaueth no time vnspēt no diligence vnsought but maketh all his power to Epyrus Albania which he after long fatigation of siege at length ouercame and subdued In y◠which tract also he wanne from the Venetians Scodra Lysson and Dinastrum Notwithstanding when Scanderbeius the valiant Captaine had done against the Turke what in mans strength did lie yet being ouermatched with power and multitude seeing no possibilitie to make his partie good was forced to depart his countrey as an exile and went to Italy there being sent for by y◠Popes letters openly declared not to be possible otherwise to resist the furious rage of the barbarous Turkes by the strength of any one king or prince vnlesse all Europe with one cōsent shuld ioine their power force together And thus Georgius Scanderbeius a man of puissant courage being driuen out of his countrey continued his age in exile Whose courage vehemency is reported to haue bin such that in fighting against y◠barbarous enemie for very egernes of spirit his bloud was seene to burst out of his lippes It is testified also of him that being prouoked he neither denied to fight and in his fighting neuer turned his backe neyther yet was euer wounded but onely once with a lyght shaft in his foote neither euer set against the Turke wyth moe then 6000. horsemen and 3000. footemen who is said with his owne hand to haue slaine aboue 2000. Turkes whome with such violence he did strike that many of thē he did cleane asunder from the head to the middle Neither yet was the vnsatiable greedines of thys Turkish helbound with all this satisfied but still he conceiued greater things in his minde thynking to conquere the whole world and so passing forward towards Europe subdued all Illiria slaieng Stephanus the King of Bosna about the yeare of our Lord 1463. But afterwarde Mathias Coruinus the sonne of Huniades afore mentioned recouered againe the said kingdome of Bosna with many other Cities neare vnto Croacia and Dalmatia and moreouer repulsed Mahumete the Turke in his second siege of Iaiza taking his tents and munitions lefte behinde him Moreouer the sayd Mahumete passing vnto Walachia set vpon Dracula the Prince thereof by which Dracula although he had no great power of souldiours yet he so inclosed enuironed the Turke that he had almost lost his whole army of whom a great part notwithstanding was destroied and many of his ensignes taken Into Dalmatia
the Turke and to deliuer the other parties of Christendome from the feare of the Turke an 1542. Whiche Ioachimus at his first setting foorth appeared so couragious and valiaunt as though he would haue conquered the whole world but this great heate was so slaked in short time by the Turke that before any great ieoperdy was offered vnto him he was glad to to be discharged of the viage and with shame enough returned home againe And would God he had left behynde him in the field no more but his owne shame For the enemies hauing intelligēce before of his cowardly departure thinking to worke some poynt of maistry or victory before his goyng did set vpon the right wing of his army which chiefly consisted of Dutchmen of low Germany out of the which they tooke awaye with them aboue 500. strong and valiaunt souldiours not killing them but carying them away aliue For whome it had bene muche better to haue stand to their weapon and to haue dyed manfully vppon the turkes then by yealding themselues to be disgarnished of weapon and armoure and so to be lefte to the cursed curtesie of the foule Turkes To whome what curtesie was sheweed by the sequele did appeare For after the Turkes had led them out of Hungary into their own dominiō after a most horrible beastly sort they disfigured mangled them so sent them abroad through all Grecia to be witnessrs of the Turkes victory Their kind of punishment was thus First they had their right arme thrust through with an iron red hot whereby they should be vnable and vnmeet to all labour warefare Secondly theyr heades were shauen to the very sculles after the maner of our Friers monks when they are newly shauen Thirdly they had all their priuy members cut of frō their bodies to the intent to make thē vnfruitful for propagation which wound was so grieuous vnto them that the greatest part of them died therupon the few that recouered the torment therof led a life more bitter more miserable then death it selfe And this kinde of cruelty was executed in order vpō them all In much like sort did cruell Pharao exercise hys tyranny agaynst the people of God in Egipt who to destroy the generation of them caused all the male children to be drowned in the riuer Whereby it is the more to be hoped that seing the tiranny of this turkish Pharao is come to such an extremetie the mercifull goodnesse of God will the more shortly send some Moses or other vnto vs for our speedy deliueraunce This was by the cruell Turkes done an 1542. witnessed by Ioannes Ramus which not onely writeth the story but by the testimony also of hys owne eyes recordeth the same to be true beholding with his eies one of the same number in the city of Uienna who hauing wife and children in Bruxelles eyther for shame or sorrow had no minde to returne home to his own house Ex Ioan Ramo But to returne agayne to the city of Buda from whēre we haue digressed here is not to be pretermitted what falshood and what cruelty the turkes vsed toward the Christians there after theyr victory For after that Solyman the Turke vpon the yelding and submission of the men of Buda had geuen to them his promise of safety and life within short time the sayd turke picking a quarrell with them for selling Oxen vnto the Christians and for barganing with them slue all the Magistrates of the sayde Citty of Buda like as in all other Citties where so euer the Christians yelded vnto him he neuer or very rarely kept his promise with them neyther did euer any christians speed better with the turke then they which most constantly did resist him And as hys promise with the Magistrates of Buda was false and wretched so hys cruelty with the souldiors therof was more much notorious abhominable For in the expugnation of Buda among that rest whiche were slayne ij cohortes or bands of Christian souldiors came alyue to his hands To whom when he seemed at the first to graūt pardon of life he commaunded to put on their armour agayn and to dispose themselues in order and battayle array after the warlike maner of the christians whiche when they had accomplished readily according to his commaundement he riding about the ranckes of them had dilligently vewed and be holden them a certain space at length he commaunded thē to put of their armour againe which done certaine of the tallest and strongest of them he pyked out the residue he commanded by his souldiors comming behinde them with swordes to be cut in peeces and slayne Of the other whome he had elected and chosen some he set for markes and buttes to be shot at some he appointed to his two sonnes for them to slash with their swordes try theyr strength which of them could geue the deper woūd and as they termed it the fayrer blowe whereby moste bloud might follow out of their Christian bodies Ex Mart. Stella De successibus Turcarum After the winning of Buda the Turke purposing not so to cease before he had subdued and brought vnder his obedience all Hungary proceeding further with his armye first brought vnder a strong hold of christians named Pestum or Pesta where a great number of Christian souldiours partly were slayne partly were ledde awaye to more cruell affliction Then he came to an other Castle called Walpo situate in the confines of Bosna Croatia and Hungary Whiche forte or castle he besieged three mōthes while no rescue nor ayd was sent vnto them neyther from Ferdinandus king of Hungary nor from any other christian Prince or Princes Whereupon at length the forte was geuen vp to the Turke but more through the false treachery or cowardly hart of the souldiours then of the Captaine Wherein is to be noted an example not vnworthy of memory For when the cowardly souldiours eyther for feare or flattery wold needs surrender themselues the peece vnto the Turke contrarye to the minde of the Captaine whiche in no case would agree to theyr yelding they thinking to find fauour with the turke apprehended theyr captaine and gaue him to Solyman But see howe the iustice of God sometymes by the hands of the enemy disposeth the end of things to the rewarding of vertue punishing of vice For where they thought to saue themselues by the daunger of the faithfull Captain the euent turned cleane contrary so that the Turk was to the captayne bountifull and very liberalll and the souldiours notwithstanding that they had all yelded thēselues yet were all put to death and commaunded pitiously to be slayne Ex Ioan. Martino Stella De Turcarum in Hungaria successibus c. There is in Hungary an other towne bearing the name of fiue Churches called Quiquecclesiensis partly spoyled before as is aboue mentioned pag. 751. but nowe thorough the losse of Walpo by the
Rome Pope Iohn had his eyes put out and so put to death Pope Gregory restored Vii electours of themperors ordayned in Germany and who they be Ex Chronico Martini King Egelred Anno. 979. The life of Egelred Anno. 981. The coronation of Egelred The prophecie of Dunstane as monkishe storyes geue it The Danes recoursed to England Houeden lib. continuationum London coÌ„sumed with fire The king warred against the Byshop of Rochester An. 990. The bloudy flixe and hote feuers reigned in this land The death of Dunstane Ethelgarus Elfricus Siricius Elphegus Archb. of Canterb. An. 995. The Byshops sea of Dyrham London besieged of the Danes The Dane spoyled the land Great tribute leuied of the Englishmen Danegelt The sorrowfull affliction of the English nation What disseÌ„tion and discorde doth amoÌ„g the nobles in a realme The pride and wretchednes of the Danes toward the Englishmen Lord Dane Lurdaine Anno. 1000. Henrie Archidiat lib. 6. The first ioyning betweene the Norm and Englishe men King Egelred marieth Emma the Dukes daughter of Normandy Richard Duke of Normandy The Danes by secret coÌ„mission slayne in euery towne of England Suanus K. of Denmarke ariueth in England Exeter beat down Norwiche spoyled and wasted by the Danes Anno. 1004. A tribute payd to the Danes of xxx M. pound to haue peace The persecution of Turkillus a Dane Euill counsell about a king what hurt it doth The second returne of Suanus into England The persecution of Suanus king of Danes Caunterbury besieged Treason of a false Deacon Caunterbury takeÌ„ and brent The tything of the Monkes of Caunterbury A cruell murther of the Danes Elphegus the Archb. of CauÌ„t stoned to death Anno. 1013. King Egelred driuen 〈…〉 I le of Wigâ—â— from then 〈◊〉 Normandy The vertue of Christen mens prayer The death and end of Suanus The Abbey of S. Edmundelburie builded King Egelred returneth into England Canutus cutteth of the noses and handes of hys pledges Canutus taketh Westsaxon A lessen for all Iudges and Iustices Brybes Euill Iudges worse in a common wealth then bloudy enemies Wicked officers Agaynst wicked Iudges A wicked Iudge deposed and depriued by the king Anno. 1016. Edmund Ironside sunne of Egelred king Canutus sonne of Swanus king The battayles betweene Edmundus and Canutus A witty oration to stay bloud betweene 2. armyes Two 〈◊〉 fight 〈◊〉 to hand The 〈◊〉 murtherd king Edmund Two soâ—ne of Edmund Yâ—onside Flattery 〈◊〉 fidelity 〈◊〉 vntrueth in English Lordes False vnfaythfulnes and vnconstant mobilitie in Englishe Lordes and rewarded Duke Edrike the false traytor and murtherer of 〈◊〉 king worthely rewarded for hys wicked falshode The end of pernicious traytours The brother of Edmund Yronside banished reconciled and lastly slayne Edmund and Edward two sonnes of Edmund Yronside sent out to be slayne Canutus K. of Denmarke Canutus maryeth Emma wife before of Egelred Lawes of K. Edgar Hâ—rold Harefoot K. of EnglaÌ„d a Dane Anno. 1039. Hardecknout king last of the Danes that reigned in England Erle Godwyn The miserable wretchednes of Godwyn agaynst the Normands The Normandes tythed and yet the tenthes retithed agayn Alfredus sonne of Egelred right heyre of the crowne tormented with cruell death The cause expended why God suffered this land to be conquered by the Normandes Example of Gods righteous iudgement The death of K. Hardeknout The sonnes of Erle Godwyn The story of Alfred repeated Taken out of the english story or chronicle compiled of certayne englishe Clerkes Alfred of Alâ—red sonne of K. Egelred Ex historia ignati autoriâ— Gunilda wife to Henricus the Emperour Canutus went to Rome The hospitall builde at Rome for English pâ—â—grimes Rome shote confirmed by Canutus The Cathedral Churche of Wintchest inritched by Canutus S. Benets in Norfolke builded Bury Abbey turned to Monkes Flatterers and clawbackes about Princes Canutus chargeth the sea to stand backe but it would not be A lesson notable for kinges and Princes God onely the king of all kings and Lord of Lordes The kinges crowne put on a roode Kinges of England haue as much right in causes spirituall as temporall Certaine lawes of K. Canutus for the ordering of matters ecclesiasticall Adultresse woman to loose their eares and noses Anno. 104â— King Edward the conâ—ellour England aâ—flicted by the Danes the space of 255. yeares K. Edward crowned Holy king Edward a virgine iâ— maryage Methe iâ— Greeke signifieth drâ—kennes Aceasation of the Archbish. against Emma the kinges mother False accusation purged by hote yron A straunge thing if it were true and without false conueyance Great snow and mortalitie in England Variaunce betweene the king and Godwyn Godwyn with hys v. sonnes outlawed Godwyn reconciled to the king vpon pledges geuen William D. of Normandy came into England to king Edward Marianus Scotus wheÌ„ he liued The end and death of vngodly Godwyn Ex lorna Malmesberiensi Polydor. Fabiano alijs Gods iust punishment vpon Godwyn for the murthering of Alphred Periurie plagued Edward the outlawe sonne of Edmund Yronside sent for to England Anno. 1056. The death of Edward sonne of Edmond Yronside William Duke of Normandy admitted heyre to the crowne The enuy and discorde of brethren Vngracious children of a wicked father A place of Polydorus Virg. examined Harold taken of the Normands Harold promiseth Duke William to marry hys daughter and to keepe the realme for hys behoofe Erle Leofricus euer true and faythfull to hys prince How Couentry was made free Godina wife to Leofricus The Abby of Couentry builded by Leofricus Edward the outlaw Edgar Edeling Margaret Queene of Scottes Matilde Queene of England Dauid King of Scots The death of King Edward Westminster repayred Guliel Malmesber Ex lornalen Ex Historia Richardi 2. iussu composita The lawes of K. Edward Ex Mathaeo pariensi William Conquerour sworne to K. Edwardes lawes yet went from it Ex libro Reg. antiquorum in praetorio Londinensi The office of a king described in the lawes of K. Edward A king the vicare of God in earth The limits of the kingdome of England how farre they doe extend The office of a king farther described 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 king 〈◊〉 to haue 〈…〉 iecâ—ion Anno. 1066. Harold 〈◊〉 K. of Saxons Harold king of Denmarke and Tostius slayne The Pope sendeth a banner to Duke W. vpon bone vâ—age into England Duke William landeth at Hâ—stinges Three causes why Duke William entred England Three conditions offered to Harold by D. William The fight betweene Harold and Duke William K. Harold slayne The consanguinitie betweene K. Edward and William Conquerour Murther iustly recompensed Archbishops of Caunterb Liningus Egelmothus Robertus Stigandus The decay of the Church Pope Siluester 2. Siluester the. 2 a soule sorcerer Ioannes Stella Platina Petrus Praemostratensis Nancleâ—us Antoninus Robertus Barnus Ioannes Baleus Ex Ioan Stella An admonition for sorcerers and wicked coniuâ—ers The feast of all soules brouâ—ht into the church Benedictus the 9. Gregorius the 6. A constitution no pope to be chosen but by the
gathered out of good probable authors But as touching the haynous artes and flagirious verdes which the Pope burdeneth him withall and in his sentence agaynst hym maketh mention of Fredericus not onely purgeth himselfe therof but also diuers historicians as well Germain writers as Italiās affirme the same to be false and of the Popes owne braynes to do him skare teene withall inuēted Of which matter those things which Pandolphus touching the commendation or disprayse of Fredericus writeth I thought good out of Italian to translate whose wordes be these Albeit the Emperor Fredericus was indued with many goodly giftes and vertues yet notwithstanding was he accounted an enemy of the church and a persecutor of the same of which both Innocentius the 4. in his sentence hath pronoūced him guilty the same sentence haue other Popes registred in theyr sixe books of Decretals and stablished the same for a lawe howe that hee ought to be taken for no lesse Therefore peraduenture it should not become me to falsifye or call in question that whiche other haue confirmed or els to dispute and argue much of that matter Yet notwithstanding as much as his actes dedes in writing declare the books of the chiefest authors affirme as also his own Epistles do testify I cannot precisely say whether the bishops of Rome so call him and iudge him therfore Or els for that he was somewhat to bold in speaking and telling them but the truth and reprouing the ecclesiasticall order of their great abuses Or els whether for that he would haue had them gone somewhat more neare the conditions liues of the auncient fathers of the primitiue Church and disciples of Christ Or whether for that he defēded and stood with them for the prerogatiue and dignities belōging to the empire or not Or els whether they stood in feare awe of the great power he was of in Italy which thing in deede Gregory the 9 in a certain Epistle of his confesseth But of these things let them iudge and discerne that shall read the monumēts and histories of Frederick Truely sayth he when I consider with my selfe that Christ whose vicar the Romaine Bishops boast thēselues to be sayd vnto his disciples that they should follow him and also intimate his example as of their maister and teacher and commaunded them farthermore how they should not draw the sword but put vp the same into the skaberd and farther gaue thē in precept that they should not onely forgeue iniuries seuē times but 70. times seuen times to those that offended them And when I now compare the liues of the Bishops of Rome how neare they follow him whose vicar they say they be And consider so manye and greet conspiracies treasons rebellions disloyaltyes lyinges in wayt and treacherous deuises So many Legates of the Popes being Ecclesiasticall persons which will needes be called the shepheardes of Christes flocke to be suche warriours and Captaynes of Souldiours in all the partes of Italy Campania Apulia Calabria being the Emperours dominions in Picenum Aemilia Flamminia and Lumbardy to be sent out against him And also when with my selfe I meditate the destruction of so many great and famous Cities the subuersion of such common weales the slaughter of so many men and the effusion of so much Christian bloud And lastly when I beholde so victorious prosperous and fortunate Emperours to be and so many miserable vnfortunate and vanquished Popes put to flight Am perswaded with my selfe to thinke and beleue that the iudgements of God are secret and maruellous and that to be true which Aeneas Siluius in his history of Austria writeth That there is no great and maruellous slaughter no notorious and special calamity that hath happened either to the publick weale or els to the church of God of the which the Bishops of Rome haue not bene the authors Nicolaus Machiauellus also sayth that all the ruinous calamities and miserable chaunces that the whole christian common weale and also Italy hath suffered hath bene brought in by the Popes and bishops of Rome Many Epistles of Fredericus there be which he wrote vnto the Bishops of Rome to the Cardinals and to diuers other Christian Princes all which I haue read and in them is to be seene nothing contrary vnto Christian doctrine nothing wicked and vngodly nothing iniurious to the Church of God nothing contumelious or arrogantly written of Frederick But in deede I denye not the same to be fraught and full of pitifull complayntes and lamētatiōs touching the auaritious ambitiō of the Ecclesiastical persōs and pertinacy of the Bishops of Rome and that he would receiue and take no satifactiō nor yet excuse in the defence of the right and priuiledge of the Empire which he maintained also of their manifold and infinite cōspiracies which they practised both secretly and openly agaynst him And of the often admonitions which he gaue to the whole multitude and order Ecclesiasticall to attend vpon and discharge their functions and charges And who that farther is desirous to know and vnderstand the trueth and coueteth to search out the renowmed vertues of magnificēt Princes let them read the Epistle of Fredericke dated to all Christian Princes which thus beginneth Collegerunt principes pontifices Pharisaei concilium and an other wherin he perswadeth the Colledge of Cardinalles to take vp the dissention betweene the Emperor and the pope which beginneth In exordio nascentis mundi and also an other which thus beginneth Infallibilis veritatis testem besides yet an other Ad Reges principes orbis Christiani with diuers other moe wherein may well be seene the princely vertues of this so worthy a piere all which Epistles collected together in the Latin tongue the lerned sort I wish to read whereout they may picke no litle benefit and commodity to thēselues In his Epistle last recited these are his wordes Non existimetis id me a vobis ideò contendere ac si ex sententia pontificia priuationis maiestas nostra sit perculsa Cum enim nobis sit rectae voluntatis conscientia cumquedeum nobiscum habeamus eundē testem inuocamus id nos spectasse cum totum ordinem Ecclesiasticum tum praesertim primores neruis potētiae dominationisque eorum succisis extirpatisque tyrannidis radicibus ad primitiue Ecclesie conditionem statum reuocaremus That is Thinke ye not that we so earnestly desire or craue this peace at your hand as though our maiesty were terrified with the Popes sentence of depriuation When as God vpon whom we trust and inuocate is our witnesse and iudge of our conscience that when we went about to reforme the Ecclesiasticall state but especially the ringleaders of the same and should restrayne theyr power and extirpate theyr great tiranny and reduce the same to the state and cōdition of the primatiue Church we looked for no lesse at theyr handes For these causes peraduenture those which had the gouernement
of the Ecclesiasticall dignity decreed and pronounced Fredericke to be an enemy to the Church which as I haue sayd I leaue others to iudge thereof Hitherto Pandolphus Colonutius And doubtles examples to the contrary doth appere that Fredericke was no enemy to the church of Rome for that he both gaue large and great giftes therunto and also franchised the same with great priuiledges imminuities which thinges by his owne constitutions statutes customes may be perceiued and vnderstood But rather contrariwise that the Bishops of Rome most filthely recompeÌ„ced the same his great liberality and princely beneuoleÌ„ce again which he gaue and bestowed vpoÌ„ the same as partly in the discourse of this history you haue heard who not withstanding they so molested and tired him with such so many iniuries as you haue seene he neuertheles forgiuing and pardoning all the same for the great zeale he had to the common Christian wealth whereof he more forced then els of any other thing sought by all the meanes he might for to haue peace although it wer to his own great hinderance Therfore seing he was of necessity by the Bishops of Rome prouoked to that warr if he did them any skath in reuenge of his Imperiall dignity let them thank their owne selues which might otherwise haue remedied the same Notwithstanding vpoÌ„ this occasioÌ„ diuers both Italian and Germany writers which at that time sought for fat benefices and euer since euen vnto these our dayes haue done the like by flattery rather to obtaine that which they hunted for then to beare true and saythfull testimony of things as they were in deed took great occasioÌ„ to write and sclaunder this good Emperour But let vs passe ouer these Parasites and returne to those which although they themselues were of that calling I mean of the Ecclesiasticall order yet notwithstanding for that they rather preferred the study of veritye and to reuerence the trueth before Popish authority flattering seruitude greatly extolled and commended this good Emperor Fredericke So did Nicholaus Cusanus a Cardinall in his writing affirme this Emperor to be an alter Carolus Magnus both for hys wisedome and also diligent regard to the common weal. So also writeth Aegidius Biturigum the Bishop in his books of the institution bringing vp of a prince which he wrot to the French king exhorting him and all others to take a patterne of this most worthy and excellent Prince In coÌ„mendation of whose worthy prayse and vertue these verses are written on his tombe Si probitas sensus virtutem gratia census â—obilitas orti poslent resistere morti Non foret extinctus Fridericus qui iacetintus Wherfore in as much as it appeareth by the approued writers of whom I haue made meÌ„tion who what maner of prince Fredericke this Emperor was And for that he diligently labored as wel in the preseruatioÌ„ of the christen common weale as in the conseruation of the Imperiall dignity procured to himselfe the great hatred and displeasure of the Romain Bishops who haue ben to all the good Emperors for the most part vtter foes and enemies with what wicked slauÌ„ders other iniuries both by theÌ„ by their ministers they coÌ„tinually molested him withal This lesson ought to be ours that hauing the same in our memory we imitate folow his vertues hating detesting the wicked flagitious doings of those holy fathers the will so be called Bishops of Rome desiring God that he will so guid the harts of all kings Princes that they may by his grace aduaunce and set forth his glory and reforme the corrupt vicious maner and order of the Church to a ll sincerity and purity both of life and doctrine These verses which here ensue were sent and written betwene the Emperor Pope Innocentius the 4. which for that to the learned are both coÌ„modious and profitable at the end of this history I thought good to place ¶ Fridericus Imp. Innocent 4. Papae Fata mouent stellaeque docent auiúmque volatus Totius subitò malleus orbis ero Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta Corruet mundi desinet esse caput ¶ Innocent Papa Frederico Imp. Fata silent stellaeque tacent nil predicat ales Solius est proprium nosse futura Dei. Niteris in cassum nauem submergere Petri Fluctuat at nunquam mergitur illa ratis Fama refert Scriptura docet peccata loquuntur Quòd tibi vita breuis poena perennis erit Quod diuina manus potuit sensit Iulianus Tu succedis ei te tenet ira Dei Fre. fremit in mundo de deprimit alta profundo Ri. mala rimatur cus cuspide cuncta minatur ¶ Fredericus Innocentio Fata mouent stellaeque docent auiúmque volatus Lapsurum te mox ad stigis antra nigrae Cymba Petri non est sed Christi quae natat vndis Fluctuat at nusquam mergitur illa ratis Fama refert tua scripta docent peccata nefanda Interitum ostendunt exitiumque tuum Strangulat Adrianum musca annon ira tonantis Cogitat de te sumere supplicium Carcere suspendit sese Benedictus alter In stupro captus saucius ense perit Siluestrum extinguit Sathan sceleratior ipse Ergo tuis factis praemia digna feres Innocuum te voce notas cum sis nociturus Orbi terrarum Christianóque gregi ¶ Fredericus Innocentio de integro Essoâ—â—â—membrum non te caput orbis vrbis â—actates cum sis orbis vrbis onus Nunc membrum non es sed putre cadauer vlcus Ense recidendum ridiculúmque caput A Daniele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nefasque caputque malorum Diceris a Paulo filius exitij Nos solum Christum nostrum caput esse malorum Totius orbis te caput esse facis Et caput est vnum quod Paulus dicit vbique Tu vecors balatro dic mihi quale caput Corporis ergo caput monstrosi monstra parisque Monstra paris monachos scorta nefanda foues Est tua religio stuprum Ira superbia caedes Error deliciae fulmina turpe lucrum Ex his ergó liquet Christum te spernere Christo Hostem esse in uisum dedecorique Deo Rex tandem veniet coelo delapsus ab alto Tunc non defendent te sacra missa cruces Non in sublimi surgentes vertice cristae Non diploma potens non tua sacra cohors Nec diadema triplex nec sedes sanguine parta Nullus honos solij purpura nulla tui Triginta argenteis Christum vendebat Iudas Tu Christi vendis corpora plura tui Corpora tu vendis Christi paruo aere polumque Caelestes genios sidera Iura deos As ye haue heard of the iniquity raging pride of the popish church against their lawfull Emperor Now shall ye heare Christ willing how God beginneth to resist and withstand the corruption of that whorish Church by stirring vp certaine faythfull teachers in
maruell considering that he had slaine his brother Theodosius before at home moreouer liued in incestious matrimony also being inclined to certayne new sects could not abide the coÌ„trary teachers but slew theÌ„ which admonished him thereof The sayd Constans going afterward to Italy was also ouercome of the Lumbardes c. the Saracens after this victory spoyled also Rhodes Although these cursed Saracens in these theyr greate victories conquests were not without domesticall seditions and deuisions among themselues yet the princes of the Saracens being called then Sultans had in theyr possession the gouernment of Syria Egypt Affrike of a great part of Asia about the terme of 400. yeares till at length the Saracen king which ruled in Persia fighting agaynst the Saracene of Babilon sought ayde of the Turkes to fight with him agaynst the Sultane of Babilon The which Turks by litle and litle surprised vpoÌ„ the Sultan of Persia not long after putting him out of place vsurped the king dome of Persia which afterward went further as ye shall heare the Lord willing And this is the first beginning of the Turkes dominion These Turkes after they had thus ouercome great couÌ„tryes and prouinces and made their power large mighty both in Asia and Europa begaÌ„ to deuide theyr kingdoÌ„es countryes amongest themselues But when they coulde not agree but with deadly war contended for the boundes of those kingdomes and dominions in the meane tyme 4. of the principall families conquering and subduing all the rest parted the whole Empyre amongst theÌ„selues And yet they also not so contented fell to such cruell hatred conteÌ„tion warre and slaughter no doubt by the iust iudgement of God against his blasphemous enemies that there was no end thereof vntill the remnant of the auncient Turkes was vtterly rooted out For it is euident that there are fewe nowe remayning which are Turkes in deed by birth and bloud and that the state of that great empyre is not upholdeÌ„ but by the strength anâ— power of souldyors which haue bene Christians and now are turned to Mahumetes Religion so that euen theyr owne naturall language is now out of vse amongest them sauing in certayne families of theyr nobility and geÌ„tlemen These foure familyes aboue mentioned with theyr Captaynes and armyes about the yeare of our Lorde 1330 went raging throughout all Asia and Europa and euery one of them conquered some parte of the countryes where they passed The causes of these great inuasioÌ„s and victoryes were the dissention and discorde falsehoode idlenesse vnconstancy greedy auarice lacke of trueth and fidelity among Christian men of al states and degrees both high and low For by the wilfull defection and backesliding of the Christians the Turkish power did exceedingly encrease in that many â—rsiring the licentious life liberty of war allured with the prosperous successe of thynges forsooke the Churche of God and made themselues bond slaues to Mahumet and his deuilish sect bâ—th because that fleshly liberty is delighting to all men and partly also because as fortune fauoreth so commonly the willes of men enclyne And agayne suche as be prophane and without the feare of God whereof there is an infinite number in the Church in all ages are wont commonlye to iudge of Religion according to the successe of realmes and kingdomes For if any not onelye for the variety of opinions but also for the diuersitye of euentes and fortune amongest men haue inquired and doe inquire whether there be any Churche of God distyncte from other nations what it is and where it is especially for so muche as the greatest part of men bothe in the olde time when as the foure Monarchyes flourished in order was ignoraunt of this doctrine whiche is peculier to the Churche alone and nowe also the barbarity of Mahumet preuayleth raigneth in the moste part of the worlde And how standeth this with mans reason that a small number both miserable and also feebled and broken with manye battayles shoulde be regarded and loued of God and the other flourishing in all wealth prosperity victoryes authority and power should be reiected and despised of God seing there is no power and authoritye but by the ordynaunce of God Albeit therefore the power of the Turkes hath bene for these two hundreth yeares of greater force then any other Monarchy of the world besides yet is there no Imperiall dignity to be estemed in that Turkish tyraÌ„ny but amongest those nations onely where the heauenly doctrine of the Gospell is preached other disciplines necessary for the Churche of God the common life of man mayntayned and regarded where the lawes of God other honest and ciuil ordinaunces agreable to the same doe flourish and reigne where lawful iudgement is exercised where vertue is honoured and rewarded where sinne and wickednes is punished where honest familyes are mayntayned and defended These thinges are not regarded amongest the Turkes the enemies of the sonne of God and all lawfull Empyres because they dissolue and reiect all godly focietyes honest discipline good lawes policyes righteous iudgemeÌ„ts the ordinaunce of matrimony and godly familyes For what hath the Empyre of the Turkes bene hetherto but moste deadly cruell and perpetuall warre to worke all mischief destruction and desolation to subuert good lawes Cityes kingdomes policies and to enlarge theyr cruell power dominion The stay and strength whereof is not loue and fauour proceeding of vertue and iustice as in lawefull and well gouerned Empyres but feare violence oppression swarmes and infinite thousandes of barbarous and most wicked people ministers of Satans malice fury Whiche kinde of dominion and tyranny hath bene condeÌ„ned by the voyce of God many yeares agoe the â—â—stimonyes wherof the Lord would haue to remayne in the Church least the godly being moued with the power successe therof should fall away and forsake the sonne of God Wherefore let vs not seâ—ke for any Imperiall state in that barbarity but let vs be thankefull acknowledge the great benefite of God for that he hath reserued to vs certayne remnaunts of the Romayn Empyre And let vs call vpon him dayly with harty petitions and grones wyth zeale and loue to the house of God that this Turkish power ioined with the malice of Sathan against the sonne of God preuayle not agaynst the poore congregations litle remnant of his Churche as it hath hitherto done agaynste those strong and noble christian kingdoms and churches were now we see the Turkish tyranny to raigne SathaÌ„ to haue taken full possession Whose state was once farre better then ours is now and more like to continue without such horrible ouerthrowes and desolation Oh that we might foresee a litle the great daunger that hangeth ouer our heades For though the Turke semeth to be farre of yet doe we nourishe within our brestes at home that maye soone cause vs to feele his cruell hand and worse if worse may be
to ouerrunne vs to lay our land waste to scatter vs amongest the Infidels the enemies and blasphemers of the sonne of God Nowe although these 4. families aboue mentioned long continued together in bloudy warres and deadly hatred yet one of them passed the rest in all crueltye and tyranny and subduing the other 3. familyes tooke vpon him the gouernement alone and so became the first Monarch or Emperour that reigned amoÌ„g theÌ„ called Ottomannus of whome all that raigned after him were called Ottomanni Who succeeding orderly of his lyne haue occupyed the same dominion and seate of the Turkes from the yeare of our Lord 1300. vnto this present time which haue bene to the number of 12. Of the which 12. in suche order as they liued and raygned I intend Christ so permitting scuerally and compendeously something to entreat briefely abstracting out of prolixe and â—edious writers such specialties as for vs Christians shall be chiefely requisite to be knowne ¶ Ottomannus the first great Emperour or Tyraunt of the Turkes THis Ottomannus was at the first of poore estate and obscure amongest the common sort of men comming of a base progeny and of rusticall parentes but through hys valiantnes and actiuity in warre he got him a great name amongest the Turkes For he being a man of fearce courage refusing no labour and delighting in warre and gathering together by great subtlety and multitude of common souldiours began to make warre and by conquestes and victories to aduaunce himselfe and his family Fyrst he began to robbe and spoyle with a great band of rouers and afterward he attempted to set vpon all men Neither did he vexe and destroy the Christians onely but set vpon his owne nation also and sought al occasion to subdue theÌ„ wholy vnto him For now the Princes and Captaynes of the Turkes inflamed with ambition and desire of rule began to fall out and contend among themselues in so much that they fell to domesticall and inward warre with all the power they could Ottomannus hauing this occasion very fitte meete to accomplishe that whiche he long had sought for gathering vnto him all such as he thought to be geueÌ„ to robbing and spoyling and sette all vpon mischiefe in short time began to grow in authority first set vpon certayn townes as he saw oportunity to serue him Of which towns some he tooke by force some by yelding other some he spoyled ouerthrew to terrify the rest thus laying the first foundation of his rising In the meane time the discorde whiche was among the Christians was no small aduauntage to this Ottomannus by occasion whereof he within x. yeres space subdued Bethinia and al the prouinces about Pontus Also Natolia which comprehendeth all the dominion of the Greekes within Asia Ancyra a City in Phrigia Sinope a Cittye in Galatia and Sabastia a Cittye in Capadocia and thus still preuayling he encreased in short time to a mightye power either through the secret iudgemente of God agaynst that nation or els because God woulde haue them so farre so cruelly to preuayle for the punishmen of the sinnes of other nations like as it was prophecyed before that such a kingdome there shoulde be of Gog and Magog This Ottomannus after he had raigned 28. yeares in the yeare of our Lord 1527. dyed and departed to his Mahumet leauing behind him three sonnes of whom Orchanes being the youngest killed his two brethren whilest they were at variaunce betwene themselues ¶ Orchanes the second Emperour after Ottomannus ORchanes the youngest of the sonnes of Ottomannus after he had slayne his two brethren tooke the regimeÌ„t of the turkes after his father Who after he had drawne to him the hartes of the multitude such as had theyr dispositions set vpon the liceÌ„tious life of warre coÌ„uerted his power further to enlarge his fathers dominion winning subduing Mysia Lydia Lycaonia Phrygia and Caria All whiche countryes being within the compasse of Asia vnto the sea side of Hellespontus and the sea Euxinus he added to the Turkishe Empyre Also he wanne Prusia which was the metropolitane City of Bithynia which theÌ„ he made the chiefe seate of the Turkes Empyre Besides these moreouer he conquered Nicea got Nicomedia all which were before Christian Cities regions And yet all this could not make the Christian Princes in Grecia to cease theyr ciuill warres to ioyne accord among themselues Such debate and variaunce was theÌ„ betwene CaÌ„tacuzenus on the Greeks part Paleologus the Emperor of Constantinople By reason whereof the turkes ayd was sent for out of Asia to helpe our Christians one to kil an other and at length to get all those partes of Europe from them both Who if they had according to theyr profession so well ioyned in brotherly vnity as they did in cruel hostility dissent neither had Orchanes so preuayled in gettynge Prusia from the Grecians neither had the turkes so soone presumed into Europe as afterward they did Orchanes after these victories when he had raigned 22. yeares was strokeÌ„ as some say with a dart in the shoulder at the siege of Prusia The opinioÌ„ of others is that he fighting against the TartariaÌ„s where he lost a great part of his army was there also slayne himselfe an 1349. ¶ Amurathes the 3. after Ottamannus THe Greeke writers doe holde that Orchanes had two sonnes Solimannus and Amurathes Of which two first Solimannus raigned albeit not long After him folowed Amurathes who after that Asia nowe was subdued by his predecessors sought by all meanes and wayes how to proceede further to inuade Europe To whose ambitious purpose the domestical warres of the Christians gaue vnprosperous occasion which occasion is thus declared Certaine discord fell betwene the princes of Greece whose captayne was Cantaguzenus and Paleologus Emperor of Constantinople WherupoÌ„ Paleologus for that he was not able to make his party good with the Grecians moste vnwisely sent for Amurathes to helpe him Who beinge glad to haue such an occasion offered which he so long had sought sent to ayde him 12000. Turkes into Thracia but first vsed all delayes he could of crafty pollicy to the entent that the Greekes first shoulde waste theyr strength and power vpon themselues whereby he might be more able afterward to set vpoÌ„ them and to accomplish his conceiued desire The Turkes thus being called into Europe by the Christians whether they tasting the sweetnesse of the soyle incensed Amurathes theyr Emperor to make inuasion or whether Amurathes of his owne head thought good to vse the time in the yeare of our Lord 1363. he came himselfe ouer into Europe with 60000. Turkes falling vpon the Grecians being wasted and spent with their long warres and battelles before The pretence of the deuilishe Turke was to ayd and to assist the Emperour Peleologus whether he would or no and to subdue such as had