and knees made with continual praying valiant also and excellently well seen in martial affairs After the death of Arnulph Patriarch of Jerusalem Guarimond born in France succeeded him About this time the two great orders of Templers and Teutonicks appeared in the World The former under Hugh de Paganis and Ganfred of St. Omer their first Founders They agreed in profession with the Hospitallers and performed it alike vowing poverty chastity and obedience and to defend Pilgrims coming to the Sepulchre It is falsly fathered on St. Bernard that he appointed them their rule who prescribeth not what they should do but only describeth what they did At the same time began the Teutonick Order consisting only of Dutch-men well descended living at Jerusalem in an house which one of that Nation bequeathed to his Country-men that came thither on Pilgrimage King Baldwin was afterwards taken prisoner and Eustace Grenier chosen Vice-Roy while the King was in durance stoutly defended the Countrey Baldwin a little before his death renounced the World and took on him a religious habit He dyed not long after viz. in the thirteenth year of his Reign and was buried with his predecessours in the Temple of the Sepulchre Fulco Earl of Tours Mam and Anjou coming some three years before on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem there married the King 's Daughter he was chosen the fourth King of Jerusalem He was well nigh 60 years old By his first Wife he had a Son Geoffery of Plantagenet Earl of Anjou to whom he left his Lands in France and from whom our Kings of England are descended Fulco having reigned eleven years with much care and industry Tyrius lib. 15. ca. ult was slain as he followed his sport in hunting Thomas Fuller brings him in thus speaking his Epitaph A Hare I hunted and Death hunted me The more my speed was was the worse my speed Fuller's holy War lib. 2. For as well-mounted I away did flee Death caught and kill'd me falling from my Steed Yet this mishap an happy miss I count That fell from Horse that I to Heaven might mount Baldwin the third succeeded his Father He was well learned especially in History liberal witty and facetious His mother Millesent continued a Widow and as for Children's-sake she married once so for her Children's-sake she married no more St. Bernard and she often conversed together by Letters He extolled her single Life This St. Bernard Abbot of Clarevaux or Clareval was famous in that time He often complains of the defection of the Church He sharply rebuked the vitious lives of Bishops and Abbots Yea he did not spare the Popes Bern. Ep. 42. as appeareth partly by what he wrote unto Pope Eugenius and unto Innocent the second And for his liberty in speaking against the errours of his time Epist 178. Apolog ad Willerm Abbat he was reproached so that he was constrained to publish Apologies where he saith that they called him the most miserable of Men one who presumed to judge the World and by the shadow of his baseness insult over the lights of the World And he saith there that he was like to be killed every day and was judged as a sheep for the slaughter yet nevertheless he was not afraid to speak of their vices because said he melius est ut scandalum oriatur quam veritas relinquatur It is better that a scandal should arise than truth should be relinquished Who at the beginning when the order of Monks began saith he could think that Monks would become so naughty Oh how unlike are we to those in the days of Anthony did Macarius live in such a manner did Basil teach so did Anthony ordain so did the Fathers in Egypt carry themselves so how is the light of the World become darkness how is the salt of the Earth become unsavoury I am a Lyar saith he if I have not seen an Abbot having above sixty horses in his train when ye saw them riding ye might say These were not Fathers of Monasteries but Lords of Castles not feeders of Souls bur Princes of Provinces They have carried after them their Table-Cloths Cups Basons Candlesticks and Portmantua's stuffed not with straw but ornaments of Beds scarce will any of them go four miles from his house but he must have all things with him as if he were going into a leaguer or through a Wilderness where necessaries could not be had O vanity of vanities the Walls of Churches are glorious and poor folks are in necessity Yet may it be said that Bernard was a follower of the Popes I answer yes he gave them all the Titles that others gave them but see what blows he gave them as appeareth by what he wrote to Innocentius and Eugenius he lays on them the blame of all the wickedness in the Church In rites he was carried with the sway of the times but his Doctrine was far different from the Tenets of the Church of Rome In one of his Epistles he writes thus Bern. Epist 91. ad Abbates Suess Congreg I would be in that Council where the Traditions of Men are not obstinately defended nor superstitiously observed but where they search diligently and humbly what is the good perfect and acceptable will of God thither am I carried with all my desire and there would I abide devoutly In Tract de praecept Dispens And elsewhere he saith many things were devised and ordained not because they might not be otherwise but because it was so expedient and certainly but for conserving charity therefore so long as the things do serve charity let them stand without change nor can they be changed without offence no not by the Rulers But contrarily if they be contrary unto charity in the judgement of such only unto whom it is granted to oversee is it not clearly most just that what things were devised for charity should also be omitted or intermitted for charity when it is so expedient or at least that they be changed to another thing more expedient as on the other side certainly it were unjust if these things that were ordained for charity be held against charity Let them therefore hold fast that which is immoveable The same Bernard informs us Bern. de consider ad Eugenium li. 3. that then was held a Council at Rhemes wherein the Pope was president And saith he Brethren I tell you of another Synod where the Lord God will sit in Judgement where we must all stand and there will God judge all the World Here on earth unrighteousness is shut up in a bag but in that Judgement God will judge righteously and there we must all appear whether he be a Pope or a Cardinal or an Arch-Bishop or a Bishop or poor or rich or learned or unlearned that every one may receive according to what he hath done in the body whether good or ill Moreover he said unto the Council that the Imposthume was spread through all the body of the
and gave courage to their Commanders Philip seeing his Errour raiseth another Army of 40000 men and puts them under the command of Robert Earl of Artois accompanied with the Constable of France and many other great Personages Century XIV THe Armies forementioned meet near unto the Town of Courtray in a place called Groeming The French were defeated Of this great Army there hardly escaped three hundred not one Commander escaped and very few Noble-men There were taken Robert Earl of Artois General of the Army the Constable of France James of Chastillon Governour of Flanders John King of Majorca Godfrey of Brabant and his Son the Lord of Viezon the Earls of Ewe la March Damartin Aumale Auge Tankerville and many other great Personages Twelve hundred Gentlemen were slain by this enraged Multitude All Flanders now revolted from the French This happened in the Year 1302. on July 11. John of Namour is their Governour in the absence of their imprisoned Earl All the threats of the King of England and the Emperour now vanished away only Pope Boniface had Excommunicated King Philip and interdicted his Realm in the hottest of these Flemmish affairs upon this occasion The Christians Estate was lamentable in the East the Tartarians encreased daily The Pope Anno 1301. sent Boniface Bishop of Apamea unto King Philip requiring him to go into the Holy Land When the Bishop saw no appearance of obedience he threatned the King that the Pope would deprive him of his Kingdom Whereupon the Bishop being charged of Arrogancy and Treason and cast into Prison the Pope sends to him again one Peter a Roman born Arch-Bishop of Narbon commanding him to set the Bishop at liberty and to take a Voyage against the Infidels and not to meddle with the Tenths of the Clergy Philip answered his troubles at home hindred him from going into the East and constrained him to impose a Subsidy upon the Clergy and he was willing to dismiss the Bishop The Arch-Bishop replyed that he was ignorant of the Pope's Authority who was not only the Father of Christian Souls but also Soveraign Lord in Temporal things And therefore by that Authority he did excommunicate him declaring him unworthy to reign and his Realm forfeited to the Pope to invest whom he pleased Moreover he brought another Bull directed to the Prelates and Noblemen of France whereby he acquitted all French-men and dispensed with them as to their Oath of Allegiance to Philip. And cited all the Prelates and Divines of the French Church to appear before him at Rome disanulling all indulgences and priviledges granted to the French by any Popes his predecessours The Earl of Artois disdaining this affront takes the Bull and casts it into the fire Philip was so born out by the Peers of France that when he demanded their advice how he should demean himself and whether he should put up that wrong they answered That they were ready not only to spend their goods which they there wholly offered unto him for that end but also to expose their persons even to death for him not refusing any torments Adding further and that more plainly by word of mouth That if the King which God forbid would suffer it or connive at it yet for their parts they would never endure it Mr. John Tillet Bishop of Paris speaking of this Fact in his French Chronicle The impudence of this man saith he of Boniface was wonderful who durst affirm that the Realm of France was a Benefice of the Papal Majesty But I think them saith he the greater fools who dispute the point whether the Pope hath this power or no he put our France under an Interdict for the time but the Bishops took the King's part King Philip appealed from the usurpations and insolencies of Boniface VIII to the See Apostolick then vacant as he said and to a future Council as Platina saith in his Life Platina in Bonifac 8. The States of France disanulled Boniface's excommunication Boniface by a glosing Letter of his written unto the Bishops endeavoureth to make them approve his unjust proceedings against King Philip where he saith among other things Those who hold that Temporal matters are not subject to spiritual do not they go about to make two Princes He complains also of the Parliament holden at Paris where it was enacted saith he by under-hand and begged voices that none should appear before him upon the summons of the See Apostolick Math. Westm li. 2. sub Ann. 301. He complains also of the Report which was made to that Assembly by Mr. Peter Flotte whom he calleth Belial half blind in body and quite in understanding This was the man who being sent in Embassage to him by King Philip to that saying of his we have both the one power and the other made this reply in behalf of his Master yours is verbal but ours is real This Pope will have it necessary to salvation to believe that all the faithful people of Christ are subject to the Pope of Rome and that he hath both the swords and that he judgeth all men and is judged of none This Boniface was the Authour of the sixth book of the Decretals King Philip sends back the Pope's two Nuncio's to Rome and forbids the Prelates of France to go or send any Money to Rome This being done Philip raiseth new forces to return into Flanders and subdueth the Flemmings but by the instance of John Duke of Brabant he makes peace with them upon strict conditions During this Treaty Guy Earl of Flanders and his Daughter do both dye Robert William and Guy Brethren the Sons of the Earl Guy of Flanders were freed with all the Prisoners Isabel the Daughter of Philip is married to Edward the second King of England This War of Flanders had wasted above three hundred thousand French-men in eleven years during the which it continued Adolph was deposed from the Empire by a Decree of the Electors and Albert of Austria was seated in his place who pursuing him with War slew him with his own hand in an encounter near unto Spire Albert being chosen and installed Emperour Boniface presently seeks to win him against King Philip. He proclaims him Emperour and invests him King of the Realm of France giving him both the Title and Arms and taking occasion to sow division in the heart of the Realm by means of the Clergy who by reason of their Revenues had great power in the State He also wrote Letters to Philip in this manner Boniface Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to Philip King of French-men Fear God and observe his Commandmens We Will thee to understand that thou art subject unto us both in Spiritual things and in Temporal and that it belongeth not to Thee to give any Prebend or Benefice If thou hast the keeping of any of them being vacant thou must reserve the profits of them to the Successours If Thou hast given any we judge thy gift to be void and do revoke
Brother Eudes They caused Charles to quit the Crown discharging him with the name of simple or foolish and declaring him incapable of so great a charge Robert arms boldly against Charles to dispossess him of his Estate Charles flees to Henry the third Emperour and laboureth to calm this storm At the approach of their Armies Robert to have some Title to make a War causeth himself to be Crowned King at Rhemes by Herve the Arch-Bishop who died three days after this unlawful Coronation As the Armies approach near Soissons striving in the view of Paris they joyn the combate is cruel but Robert fighting in the Front is slain leaving for that time the victory to King Charles who seeks a Treaty of Peace out of an unseasonable fear Hebert Earl of Vermandois Son-in-law to Robert beseecheth Charles to come to St. Quintins to confer together Charles cometh thither without Hostages Hebert there takes him Prisoner and conveys him to Soissons where he had assembled the chief of the Realm chosen after his own humour where he makes him to resign the Crown to Raoul his God-son the first Prince of the Blood by his Mother Hermingrade Daughter to Lewes and Wife of Boson King of Burgundy So this poor Prince is led from Prison to Prison for five years and dyeth of a languishing melancholy He had by his Wife Ogin a the Daughter of Edward King of England a Son named Lewes She takes her Son Lewes and flees into England to her Brother Athelstan who then Reigned But the Reign of Raoul was unfortunate who Reigned thirteen years during Charles his imprisonment and after his Death But Raoul after many broils dyeth at Compiegne Anno 936. Now are great confusions in France there is nothing sacred all is violated for Rule all respect is laid aside every one plays the King within himself for one King there are many and where there are many Masters there are none at all In this confusion there were many Kings Dukes and Earls although these Titles were but temporary having no other Title but the Sword There was no Governour of any Province throughout the Realm which held not proper to himself and his Heirs those things which were given to them but as Offices From hence sprang so many Dukedoms Earldoms Baronies and Seignories which for the most part are returned to their beginnings Italy given to an Infant of France was now possessed by divers Princes Germany withdrawn from the Crown was banded into divers factions so as the Empire of the West confirmed in the person of Charlemaigne continued scarce one hundred years in his Race for Lewes the Son of Arnulph was the last Emperour of this Blood In his place the Germans erected Conrade Duke of East Franconia Anno 920. the Empire being then very weak After Conrade was chosen Henry the Fowler Duke of Saxony and after him his Son Otho Princes adorned with singular virtues fit for the time to preserve the West For the Emperours of the East did run headlong to their ruine who were men either of no valour or altogether wicked attending the last blow by the hand of the Mahumetans whose power they strengthned by their vitious lives until they had lodged them upon their own heads In these confusions of State the power of the Pope of Rome encreased daily by the ruines of the Empire The design of the Popes was to erect a Monarchy in the Church by Power and Authority Seignories civil Dissentions Arms Revenues and Treason And soon after they grew to that greatness as they sought to prescribe Laws to Emperours and Kings who refusing it and disputing this primacy many dissentions arose and were dispersed among the people After the Death of Raoul Athelstan King of England having drawn unto him William Duke of Normandy sends an honourable Ambassage to the States of France entreating them to restore his Nephew Lewes to his lawful and Hereditary Dignity The French consent to it So Lewes the Son of Charles is called home by the Estates of France being accompanied with a great Troop of English-men and Normans Lewes hegan to Reign Anno 935 and Reigned 27 years About this time Ambrose Ansbert a French-man wrote Commentaries on the Psalms and Canticles and part of the Revelation In this tenth Century there was little study of liberal Sciences the Schools were few and empty of Languages The Popish Priests and Clergy having forsaken their old Discipline were given to filthy lucre nor were they respected by their flocks only Monks were noted to have some Eloquence And such was the corruption of the times that none durst scarce speak of the Corruptions Idolatries Superstitions and wickednesses of that Age which at that time were so luxuriant Divers Signs were seen in Heaven and great changes happened almost in every Kingdom The Hungarians oppress Italy and Germany besides many other broils in both those Nations France will shortly have another Race of Kings great were the Wars in Spain between the Moors and the old Inhabitants and the Saracens suffered neither Greece nor Asia to rest in peace Bellarmine speaking of this Century saith Behold an unhappy Age Bellarm. in Chronol in which are no famous Writers few or no Councils bad Emperours and no good Popes Baronius on the beginning of this Century saith Baron ad Anno 900. Sect. 1. A new Age beginneth which for rudeness and barrenness of goodness may be called The Iron Age and for deformity of evil abounding The Leaden Age and for want of Writers is called The Dark Age. Under the Reign of Charles the Simple King of France a Council was called at Rhemes for correcting the abuse of Church-rents for Noble-men in Court such as Hugo and his Brother Robert Master of the King 's Horses and Vincmarius with divers others under pretence of sustaining the King 's Honourable Estate and paying wages to Souldiers had converted to their own use a great part of Church-rents especially belonging to Abbeys Fulco Arch-Bishop of Rhemes uttered his mind freely in the Council Vincmarius one of the notable oppressours in the Court defiled the Council with Blood and killed Fulco Bishop of Rhemes The Fathers of the Council returned unto their own Churches with great fear for the like of this was not heard since the second Council of Ephesus in which Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople was slain Du. Haillan in vit Caroli Simpl. A Council also was held in France in which it was permitted Priests to marry Virgins At this time there was a great Famine in France The People had been much given to Gluttony and Drunkenness and God punished them with penury and scarcity of Victuals Lewes dyeth Anno 955. at Rhemes hated of the French leaving to Lothair his Son a Crown near the ruine and to Charles the youngest the favour of his eldest Brother Lothair detested of all men died Anno 964. leaving behind him an execrable memory of his actions and Lewes his Son for a final conclusion of
company with a base Saracen-Jester whom she preferred before a King The Emperour and the French King besiege Damascus but some of the Christians corrupted with Turkish Money perswaded the King of France to remove his Camp to a stronger part of the Walls which they long besieged in vain and returned home at last leaving the City and their honours behind them The French Proverb was verified of this Voyage Much bruit and little fruit Many thousand Christians perished in this adventure The French King coming homeward was taken prisoner by the Fleet of the Grecian Emperour and rescued again by Gregory Admiral to Roger King of Sicily When he was arrived in France his Wife was in open Parliament divorsed from him He gave her back again all the Lands in France which he had received with her in portion Herein he did nobly but not politickly to part with the Dukedoms of Poictou and Aquitain which he enjoyed in her right for hereby he dismembred his own Kingdom and gave a torch into the hands of Henry II. King of England who afterwards married her to set France on fire St. Bernard was condemned among the vulgar sort for the murtherer of those that went this Voyage and it was an heavy affliction for his aged back Bern. de consider li. 2. ca. 1. to bear the reproach of many people In his book of Consideration he maketh a modest defence of himself whither we refer the Reader Upon the departure of the Emperour Conrade and King Lewes Noradine the Turk much prevailed in Palestine Peter de Bruis a priest at Tholouse preached in sundry places against the Popes and the Doctrine of Rome calling the Pope the Prince of Sodom and Rome he called Babylon the mother of Whoredoms and confusion He preached against the corporal presence of Christ in the Sacrament Morn myst Iniqu against the sacrifice of the Mass he condemned the worship of Images prayers to Saints single life of priests pilgrimages multitude of Holy-days c. The fore-named Peter Abbot of Clugny wrote against him This Peter de Bruis began to preach about the year 1126. Guilerm lib. 3. ca. 5. After him his Disciple Henry a Monk continued preaching the same Doctrine Guilerm an Abbot writing the life of St. Bernard saith of this Henry That he denied the grace of Baptism unto Infants he despised the prayers and oblations for the Dead the excommunication of Priests the pilgrimage of Believers the sumptuous buildings of Churches the idleness of Festival-days the consecration of chrism and oyl and all the ordinances of the Church He sheweth them that the people sent for Bernard to come against him but he refused until Albericus Bishop of Ostia was sent Legate against him and he perswadeth Bernard to go with him to Tholouse And then Bernard wrote his 240. Epistle unto Hildefonsus Count of St. Giles against this Henry Certain it is as the proverb is Bernard saw not all things and howbeit he wrote bitterly against him yet he commendeth him as a learned man and he was so reverenced that the people did follow him De Bruis was burnt at Tholouse and Albericus carried Henry into Italy Their Books were burnt In Palestine King Baldwin was poisoned by a Jewish Physician And Almerick Brother to King Baldwin succeeded to the Crown In the Church of Jerusalem one Almerick was Patriarch a French-man born though little fit for the place King Almerick against his promise invadeth Egypt but his perjury was punished with the future ruine of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and himself dies of a bloody-flux Baldwin his Son the fourth of that name succeedeth This Baldwin IV. had excellent Education under William Arch-Bishop of Tyre a pious man and excellent Scholar skilled in all the Oriental Tongues besides the Dutch and the French his Native Language Tho. Fullers Hist Holy War li. 2. ca. 38. a moderate and faithful Writer For in the lattter part of his History of the holy War his eye guided his hand till at last the taking of the City of Jerusalem so shook his hand that he wrote no more Treasurer he was of all the Money 's contributed to the holy War Chancellour of this Kingdom employed in several Embassies in the West present at the Lateran Council the Acts whereof he did record Cardinal he might have been but refused it Lewes the French King caused his Son Philip to be crowned at Rhemes at the Age of 14 years Anno 1179. He betrothed him to Isabel the Daughter of Baldwin Earl of Henault King Lewes having thus disposed of his affairs died Anno 1180. The Title of Augustus was given to Philip his Son and successour In the beginning of his Reign he purged the corruptions that were then prevalent among the people viz. Blasphemies Plays Dicing-houses publick dissoluteness in infamous places Taverns and Tipling-houses He expelled the Jews dispersed throughout his Kingdom and given to griping usury and albeit they obtained a return for Money yet in the end he banished them out of all the Territories of France The Patriarch of Jerusalem being arrived in France Anno 1184. with the Prior of the Hospital of Outremer Rigordus de gestis Philippi Augusti and the Grand Master of the Templars to demand succour of King Philip Augustus against the Saracens he sent out a Mandamus to call a general Council of all the Arch-Bishops Bishops and Princes of the Realm which was holden in the City of Paris Philip also calls a Parliament at Paris they diswade him from the Voyage but he fighteth against all difficulties Great charges were imposed upon such as went not the Voyage to pay the tenth of all their revenues both Temporal and Spiritual called for this occasion the Saladines Tenths Richard I. King of England and King Philip of France laying aside their private dissentions unite their forces against the Turks King Richard was accompanied with Baldwin Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Hubert Bishop of Sarisbury Robert Earl of Leicester Ralph de Glanvil late Chief-Justice of England Richard de Clare Walter de Kime c. His Navy he sent about by Spain and with a competent number took his own Journey through France Roger Hovedon in Ricard 1. At Tours he took his Pilgrim's Staff and Scrip from the Arch-Bishop His Staff at the same time casually brake in pieces which some construed a token of ill success Likewise when He and the French King passed over the Bridge of Lyons on the fall of the Bridge this conceit was built That there would be a falling out betwixt these two Kings which accordingly came to pass At Lyons these two Kings parted their Trains and went several ways into Sicily At Messana in Sicily these two Kings meet again where King Richard beheld his Navy safely arrived Tankred a Bastard born was at this time King of Sicily who secretly applyeth himself to the French which King Richard easily discovered Mean time the Citizens of Messana did the English much wrong wherefore
King Richard took Messana by assault seized on most Forts in the Island Tankred gave to our King what rich conditions soever he demanded to pacifie him Worse discords daily encreased betwixt the Kings of England and France King Richard slighting the King of France his Sister whom he had promised to marry King Philip hasted presently to Ptolemais Richard followed with more leisure and took Cyprus in his way Cursac reigned then in Cyprus who killed the English that landed there But King Richard speedily over-ran the Island bound Cursac with silver fetters The Island he pawned to the Templars for ready money and there took to Wife his beloved Lady Beringaria Daughter to the King of Navarr The City of Ptolemais was taken the Houses which were left with the spoil and Prisoners were equally divided betwixt Philip and Richard Here the English cast down the Ensigns of Leopold Duke of Austria who had fought so long in assaulting this City till his Armour was all over gore-blood save the place covered with his belt But King Richard afterward paid dearly for it King Richard caused seven thousand of his Turkish Prisoners to be put to death and Saladine in revenge put as many of our Captives to death But the French King reserving his Prisoners alive exchanged them to ransom so many Christians Philip the French King Odo Duke of Burgundy Duke Leopold most of the Dutch all the Genoans and Templars side with King Conrade King Richard Henry Count of Champaigne the Hospitallers Venetians and Pisans take part with King Guy But King Conrade's side was much weakned by the departure of the French King About that time Conrade King of Jerusalem was murdered in the Market-place of Tyre Now King Guy exchanged his Kingdom of Jerusalem for the Island of Cyprus which he had redeemed from the Templars to whom he had pawned it Henry of Champaign was chosen King by the procurement of King Richard who after many notable exploits done in Palestine and a peace made with Saladine in his return passing through Germany in a disguise was taken Prisoner in Austria sold and sent by Duke Leopold to Henry the Emperour At last he was ransomed for an hundred and forty thousand marks a sum so vast in that Age that to raise it in England they were forced to sell their Church-plate to their very Chalices After this Money Peter of Blois made an Apostrophe to the Duke or Emperour sending this good prayer Bibe nunc Avaritia Dum puteos argenteos Larga diffundit Anglia Tua tecum pecunia Sit in perditionem And now thou basest Avarice Drink till thy Belly burst Whilst England pours large silver showers To satiate thy Thirst And this we pray Thy Money may And thou be like accurst King Richard after eighteen Months imprisonment returned into England And in Austria the Duke with his Money built the Walls of Vienna But God punished the Dominions of Leopold with fire and water and by famine for the Ears of Wheat turned into Worms A Gangreen seized on the Duke's body who cut off his Leg with his own hand and dyed thereof who by his Will caused some thousand Crowns to be restored again to King Richard Soon after Henry King of Jerusalem as he was walking in his Palace fell down out of a Window and broke his neck Roger Hoveden tells us that near about this time there was in the City of Tholouse a great number of Men and Women whom the Pope's Commissioners viz. Peter Cardinal of St. Chrysogon and the Pope's Legate with the Arch-Bishops of Narbon and Biturium Reginald Bishop of Bathe John Bishop of Pictavia Henry Abbot of Clareval c. did persecute and condemn for Hereticks of whom some were scourged naked some chased away some compelled to abjure Now sprang up the Doctrine and name of them which were then called Pauperes de Lugduno which of one Waldus a chief Senator in Lyons were named Waldenses they were also called Leonistae Insabbatati about the year of our Lord 1170. It happened on a day as divers of the principal men of the City assembled together consulted upon divers matters that one of the company fell down and dyed suddenly the rest of the company looking on This Waldus being terrified at the sight of it was converted and presently reformed his Life He ministred of his Goods large Alms to the Poor he purchased a Bible studied the Scriptures instructed himself and his Family with the true knowledge of God's word He admonished all that resorted to him to repentance and amendment of Life He gave out to them that were ready to learn certain rudiments of the Scripture which himself had translated into the French Tongue for he was both Wealthy and Learned The Popish Prelates threatned to excommunicate him but he neglecting their threatnings said God must be obeyed rather than Man At length they drave both Waldus and all his adherents out of the City The Articles of the Waldenses I find in order and number to be these 1. That only the Holy Scripture is to be believed in matters pertaining to Salvation c. 2. All things to be contained in Holy Scripture necessary to Salvation 3. That there is one only Mediator that other Saints are in no wise to be made Mediators or to be invocated 4. They rejected purgatory asserting that all men either by Christ are justified to Life or without Christ be condemned and besides these two neither any third or fourth place to be 5. That all Masses viz. such as be sung for the dead be wicked and are to be abrogate 6. That all Mens Traditions are to be rejected at least not to be reputed as necessary to Salvation c. That constrained Fasts difference of Meats such variety of degrees and orders of Priests Fryars Monks and Nuns superfluous Holy-days so many sundry benedictions and hallowing of Creatures vows peregrinations with all the Rabblement of Rites and Ceremonies to be abolished 7. The supremacy of the Pope usurping above all Churches and especially above all politick Realms and Governments not to be acknowledged neither that any degree is to be received in the Church but only Bishops Priests and Deacons 8. The Communion under both kinds to be necessary to all people according to the Institution of Christ 9. That the Church of Rome is Babylon spoken of in the Revelation and the Pope is Antichrist 10. They reject the Pope's pardons and indulgences 11. They hold the Marriage of Priests and Ecclesiastical persons to be pious and necessary in the Church 12. That such as hear the Word of God and have a right Faith are the true Church of Christ John Arch-Bishop of Lyons excommunicated Waldus and all his followers They were dispersed into divers places of whom many remained long in Bohemia who writing to their King Vladislaus to purge themselves against the slanderous accusations of one Doctor Austin gave up their confession with an Apology for their Christian profession defending with strong and
feared wherein that sentence was alledged Quòd virtus reddit non copia sussicientem Et non paupertas sed mentis hiatus egentem That great riches stop not the taking of much but a mind contented with a little 6. They added that great riches would cause factions among the Romans and taking of sides and parties so that by great possessions sedition might follow to the ruine of the City 7. That though they would oblige themselves to that contribution yet their Successours would not be so bound nor yet ratifie that bond of theirs 8. They desired the Legat that the zeal of the Universal Church and of the Church of Rome would move him for if this oppression of the Church should be Universal it were to be doubted lest an Universal departing might follow from the Church of Rome which God forbid said they should happen The Legat hereat excused himself that he being in the Court never agreed to this exaction and that the Letters came not to him before he was in France and as for him he would stir no more in the matter before it were proved what other Countries would say and do therein King Lewes passing with a great Host by Bourges and Nevers marched to Lyons and from Lyons to Avignon which for disobedience to the Church of Rome had stood accursed by the Pope for seven years The Citizens of Avignon shut their gates against the King and his Army not suffering them to come within the City Wherefore the King assaulted the City Fabian's chronic and lost there many of his Men among which Guy Earl of St. Paul and the Bishop of Lemerick and others to the number of two and twenty thousand there were slain In the end they submitting to the King's pleasure and the correction of the Pope an agreement was made and the King and his Army were received into the City and the Citizens received absolution from the Pope's Legate King Lewes to avoid the pestilence that was in his Camp went into an Abbey not far off where shortly after he dyed and was carried to Paris where he was interred Anno 1226. Near unto this time Gulielmus de Alta Petra Bishop of Paris wrote a Book de Clero wherein he thus speakerh of the Clergy of his time No godliness or Learning is seen in them but rather all devilish filthiness and monstrous vices they are not the Church but Babylon and Egypt and Sodom the Popish Prelats build not the Church but destroy it they mock God and they and their Priests do prophane the body of Christ they lift up to the Heavens with all manner of Ecclesiastical honour the limbs of the Devil in a word they bring Lucifer into the Church of Christ He taught also that there is no Law belonging to the salvation of man but the Gospel of Christ King Lewes IX called St. Lewes succeedeth his Father in the Kingdom of France being but twelve years old and was Crowned at Rhemes There is extant a constitution of this King Lewes bearing date Anno 1228. sub Tit. de Taliis wherein he regrateth the Avarice of Popes saying that exactions and grievous burthens of Moneys are laid on the Churches of our Kingdoms by the Court of Rome whereby the Kingdom is miserably exhausted We will therefore that these be levied upon no condition nor gathered except only for a reasonable pious and most urgent necessity and by our express and willing consent and with the consent of the Church it self of our Kingdom At that time the Senate of Paris did present unto John Santroman the King's Advocate the Pope's Bull to be read and answered He replyed saying The greatest confusion of all things would arise upon the accepting of that Bull for by authority of such in former times the French people had in great numbers gone out of the Kingdom to Rome of whom some became slaves or clients to the Cardinals and some living more liberally had idly wasted their Patrimony Brut. Fulmen ex Chronic. Britan. Armoric li. 4. and others in the City or by the way had perished with the badness of the Air and frequent pestilence and so France was exhausted of Subjects especially of Learned men He sheweth also how vast sums of Moneys were carried away for vacancies ad Advouzons of Bishopricks and Abbeys and other Titles in the Church so that sometimes ten or twelve Bulls were sold for one Priesthood And if this custom shall continue saith he it shall come to pass that who hath any store of Moneys will send to Rome and buy a Priesthood unto his Son or Cousin The Rector of the University of Paris spake to the same purpose and having protested at length against the Bull he appealeth from the iniquity thereof to the next Council The Pope's Legate having raised an immense sum of Money in France Lewes prohibited that the Money which was yet in France should be delivered to the Pope's Assigns or transported out of the Kingdom King John Bren resigneth the Kingdom of Jerusalem to Frederick the second Emperour There was also a Peace with the Turks concluded for eight years John got now more in a twelve-month than in seven years before P. Aemil. in Phil. 2. going from Country to Country In France besides rich gifts left to himself he had the managing of sixty thousand Crowns the Legacy which Philip Augustus the King on his Death-bed bequeathed to the Templars and the Holy War In England he received many presents from King Henry III. though afterward he proved but unthankful for them Math. Paris p. 627. In Spain he got a rich Wife marrying Beringaria the Daughter of the King of Castile In Italy he tasted largely of the Pope's bounty but at last perfidiously raised rebellions against Frederick his Son-in-Law by the Pope's instigation It is conceived that the Pope provided that match for Frederick to employ him in Palestine whilst he at home might play his game at pleasure Frederick recovereth all Palestine and Jerusalem without expence of time or blood and concluded a ten years truce with the Sultan without the Pope's consent And on Easter-day tryumphantly entring Jerusalem crowned himself King with his own hands For Gerard Patriarch of Jerusalem and Oliver Master of the Templars with all the Clergy absented themselves neither was there any Mass sung in the City so long as the Emperour being excommunicated remained there In the Interim the Christians every where build and repair the Cities of Palestine being now resigned into their hands Joppa and Nazareth they strongly fortified the Walls of Jerusalem were repaired the Churches adorned But short were the smiles of this City which groaning under God's old curse little joyed her self in this her new bravery About the year 1232. the Greeks recover their Empire from the Latines who had made an hard shift to hold Constantinople almost sixty years under five succeeding Emperours 1. Baldwin the first Earl of Flanders 2. Henry his Brother 3. Peter Count
third was that the Pope could not give general licence to hear confessions so but that the Parishoner so confessed was bound to reiterate the same confession made unto his own Curate Which he proved by divers places of the Canon Law The fourth opinion was that the Fryars by the Licence of the Pope and of the Bishops might lawfully hear confessions and the people might be of them confessed and absolved But yet notwithstanding it was just honest and profitable that once in the year they should be confessed to the Curates although confessed before to the Fryars because of the admininistration of the Sacraments especially at Easter of which opinion was William de monte Landuno The fifth opinion was that albeit the Fryars might at all times and at Easter also hear confessions as the Curates did yet it was safer at the time of Easter to confess to the Curates than to the Fryars And of this opinion was Richard of Armagh Arch-Bishop and Primate of Ireland In the time of Pope Clement VI. John King of France invented the Sect and Order of those Monks Sympson Eccles Hist p. 391. which are called Stellati whose manner is always to wear a star upon their Breast signifying thereby that there is nothing in them but the light of perfection and the clear shining of good works yea that they themselves are the light of the World Item That they shall rise again at the last day all shining and glistering as the most clear and pleasant stars according as it is written Dan. 12.3 They that turn many unto Righteousness shall be as the stars for ever and ever After the death of Pope Clement VI. succeeded Innocent VI. before whom the aforesaid Richard of Armagh published nine Articles against the begging Fryars This Pope builded Walls about Avignon and founded an house of Carthusian Monks without the City Pope Vrban V. succeeded him Anno 1364. Nicholas Orem made a Sermon before the Pope and his Cardinals on Christmas-even in which he rebuketh the Prelates and Priests of his time declaring their destruction not to be far off by certain signs taken of their wicked and corrupt life He proveth the Popish Clergy to be so much worse than the old Synagogue of the Jews by how much it is worse to sell the Church and Sacraments than to suffer Doves to be sold in the Church In the year 1370. Peter Belfort of Lemousin who took the name of Gregory XI was created likewise at Avignon who thought good to transfer the Apostolical Chair from Avignon back again to Rome a thing almost incredible for so many French Popes succeeding one another they had so weakned the Italian party that there were scarce any Italian Cardinals among them all and of the French there were more than twenty Several reasons are alledged to have moved Gregory to this resolution but particularly these following The first was that he saw all Italy in Arms not only by the Wars betwixt Venice and Genoa but by a resolution several Cities had taken to shake off the yoke of their servitude and re-establish themselves in a state of Liberty which he believing to be occasioned by the absence of the pilot from the Vessel of Rome he began to think of resettling his pontifical residence in Italy The second was That one day reprehending a certain Bishop his familiar that he left the Bishoprick to follow the Court the Bishop confidently replyed And you who are Pope of Rome why are you in France Hist of Cardin. part 3. lib. 1. Why are you so long from the place where your Church doth lye Others will have it that a Letter from St. Bridget whom the Pope lookt upon as a true Saint contributed much in which she advised him as from God to return to Rome He gave order for twenty Galleys to be ready in the Rhone pretending to go somewhither else with them because he suspected that the French who had so much advantage by the residence of his Court in France would obstruct it if they had the least notice of his removing the See to Rome But indeed they took not the least Alarum at all the preparations which were made as not imagining that a French Pope would put such an affront upon his Nation So that they had no notice of it till the Pope was at Sea being passed as far as Genoa and from Genoa to Cornetto where being weary of his Galleys he made the rest of his Voyage by Land and being arrived at Rome he began to apply fit Medicines and specifical to the maladies of Italy But he dyed Anno 1280. of a great distemper in his Bladder after he had sate six years in France and five in Italy It is reported that at the hour of this Pope's Death the palace of the Pope at Avignon was set on fire and could not be quenched Bale's Pageant of Pope's till the greatest part thereof was burnt Afterwards ensued the greatest schism and division that ever hapned in the Popedom King John dyed Anno 1364. to whom succeeded his Son Charles the fifth of that name King John dyed in England for the French King had an earnest desire to see the King of England again because he had so honourably entertained him whilst he was his prisoner So he went and was entertained very Royally But shortly after he fell sick and dyed at London His Body was conveyed over into France and buried in the Town of St. Denis the King of Cyprus being present at his Funerals Charles V. called the Wise was crowned at Rhemes together with his Wife the Daughter of Peter Duke of Bourbon He made his younger Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy who had been prisoner with his Father in England Many Lords in Gascoign revolted from Prince Edward unto the French King Prince Edward after his great victories had carried himself roughly toward the Noble-men his Subjects But the French King besides his excellent Wisdom was also gentle and courteous insinuating himself into the affections of all men The Duke of Anjou marching with his forces from Tholouse easily recovered all the Towns and holds that were pertaining to the English in those quarters The King of England lost all his whole Seignory of Gascoign the people partly rebelling and partly yielding themselves willingly to his enemy Poictiers also yieldeth to the French The men of Rochel yield also unto the French King Charles dyed of poison taken long before He was a Prince so wise and politick Frossard's chronic in Charl. V. Anno 1380. that fitting in his Gown at Paris in ease and quietness he recovered many things by counsel and policy which his predecessours had lost in the field to their Enemies And among other vexations which hapned to King Edward at his last Voyage that he intended into Britain for the rescue of his men besieged when he was forced back by the extremity of Weather this one thing troubled him above the rest that he must make war
with such an enemy as never bare Arms nor came into the field it is reported that he said he never dealt with any enemy which used so little armour and put him to so much trouble For King Charles after he came to the Crown never put on Armour himself but managing all his affairs by Wisdom and policy committed the execution thereof to his Brothers In the time of Charles V. a Book was written in France called The Vergers Dream Review of the Counc of Trent lib. 6. ca. 6. first in Latin then translated in French by his command In the seventh and eighth Chapter whereof the Clergy-man and the Knight confer together on this wise I call saith the Clerk and account the Decrees and Decretals of the Holy Fathers of Rome to be good Law which oblige every true Christian as a Subject and Son of a Holy Church our Mother To whom the Knight replyeth If the terms of Rome be Decrees or Decretals Ordinals or Constitutions touching the Temporal affairs of Kings Princes or other Secular Lords you Clerks among your selves shall call and account them Law if you please But the truth is That no Man can establish or ordain any thing where he hath no power nor Authority So as the King of France hath no power to make a Law or Ordinance to bind or tye the Empire so neither can the Laws of the Emperour bind the King of France and his Subjects And a little after I hold it therefore a frivolous thing and very ridiculous that the Holy Father should make any Decree Decretal or constitution about Temporal matters In the thirteenth years of the aforesaid Charles V. Charles IV. Emperour of Germany came into France by Cambray to do certain pilgrimages at St. Denis and elsewhere and so was conveyed with honourable men unto St. Quintin and from thence to Paris Mathias a Bohemian abode a long time in Paris and was called Pariensis he wrote a large Treatise of Antichrist in which he proveth that the Pope is the Antichrist He inveigheth against the Clergy for negligence in their callings and calleth them the Locusts mentioned in the Revelation He complains that every City and almost each man had his proper Saint or Saviour besides Christ the Images and Reliques that are set up in Churches to be adored he calleth the Invention of Antichrist He saith the worship of God is not tyed to persons places nor times he rebuketh the Cloysterers for contemning the Lay-men and calling themselves the only Religious he refuteth the merit of works and calleth them the cause of salvation sine quâ non In the end he prophesied Catal. Test Verit That God will once again send Godly preachers who in the zeal of Elias will openly disclose Antichrist unto the eyes of all the world After the death of Pope Gregory the Church began to be miserably torn with new schismes which began to arise betwixt the French and Italian Cardinals each Nation choosing it's own Pope and in it's own manner The French not able to digest the affront they received from Gregory in transporting the See from France into Italy departing privately from Rome they removed to Fondi and being arrived there they used many invectives and Satyrs against Vrban VI. whom they had already with the Italian Cardinals elected in Rome They pretended that they were forced to it by the people of Rome otherwise it was never their intention to make an Italian Pope For these reasons the Chair in their Judgements being vacant by the favour of Joan Queen of Sicily who was their friend Il. Cardinalismo part 3. lib. 1. they chose another Pope one Roberto a Cardinal with the Title of the Holy Apostles He was of Geneva and particularly of the Antient Family of the Conti in that City he took upon him the name of Clement VII From Fondi Clement removed with his Cardinals to Avignon where he was obeyed by the French and Spaniard These disputes lasted long the Legitimate Pope at Rome and and the Anti-Pope at Avignon firing their Bulls upon one another and sending them forth into all parts of the World The adherents of both sides set forth several defamatory Libels calling one another Schismatick Heretick Tyrant Thief Traytor Wicked Sower of Sedition Son of Belial and such like Stuff of which there are two Treatises extant at this day one of them written by Dr. John de Ligni in favour of Vrban against Clement and the other by the Abbot of St. Vast in favour of Clement against Vrban Whilst Clement was contriving which way to remove the Pope who resided in Rome he dyed Anno 1392. and was buried in Avignon He being dead Boniface IX who was Pope at that time in Rome writ a Fatherly Letter to the French Cardinals exhorting them to desist from their Schism and return to their obedience to the Holy Mother the Church of which he was he said the lawful Head But the French laughing as it were at such perswasions chose a successour to Clement which was Pietro della Luna who took the name of Benedict XIII who had argued very much in Clement's justification and that was the principal point upon which he was chosen by the Cardinals who concluded that he who defended another's cause with such ardour would doubtless more vehemently defend his own Whilst this Anti-Pope had his residence in Catalonia in the Castle of Paniscola administring the Sacramentss and conferring of dignities He was condemned together with the Cardinals which elected him by the Authority of a general Council Afterwards he assembled a Council at Perpignan where he created several Cardinals and commanded them after his death to follow his orders which were to choose another Pope without losing of time which they did For this Anti-Pope being dead at Paniscola the Cardinals chose one Giles Mungot a Chanon of Barcelona in his place calling him Clement IX who at the Instance of King Alphonso created Cardinals forthwith and began to Act in every thing as the true Popes use to do But afterwards upon Pope Martin the fifth's accomodation with King Alphonso Giles being commanded renounced the rights of the Papacy and was declared Bishop of Majorca and the Cardinals which he had created were likewise forced to renounce their Cardinalitial dignity Charles VI. succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of France at the Age of 12 years he was crowned in the year 1380. married in 1384. he falls into a Phrensie Anno 1393. and dyes Anno 1422. Charles the Wise left two Sons viz. this Charles VI. and Lewes Duke of Orleans And Charles VI. had three Sons Lewes John and Charles and one Daughter named Katherine These three Sons were Daulphins one after another in their Father's Life And Katherine was married to Henry V. afterwards King of England a mournful gage of an horrible confusion for this Realm Century XV. CHarles VI. having called a Council at Paris to consult about the schism which then was in the Popedom
commanding that one should be celebrated every ten years His opinion was followed by Ludovicus Faber and some others Anno du Bourge did add that many villanies were committed condemned by the Laws for punishment whereof the rope and fire were not sufficient viz. frequent blasphemies against God perjuries Adulteries not only secret but even cherished with impudent license making himself to be plainly understood that he spake not only of the Grandees of the Court but of the King himself also adding that while men lived thus dissolutely divers Torments were prepared against those who were guilty of nothing but of publishing to the World the vices of the Church of Rome and desiring an amendment of them In opposition of all this Egidius Magister the prime President spake against the new Sects concluding that there was no other remedy but that which was formerly used against the Albigenses of whom Philip Augustus put to death six hundred in one day and against the Waldenses who were choaked in the caves whither they retired to hide themselves All the voices being given the King said he had how heard with his own Ears that which before was told him that the contagion of the Kingdom doth hence arise that there are in the Parliament who do despise the Pope's Authority and His that he well knoweth they are but few but the cause of many evils Therefore he exhorted those who are good Subjects to continue in doing their duty and immediately gave order that Faber and du Bourg should be imprisoned and afterwards caused four more to be apprehended in their houses But at the same time as if there had been no danger at all the Ministers of the Reformed for so the Protestants are called in France assembled in Paris in the Suburbs of St. German made a Synod in which Francis Morellus the chief man among them was President ordaining divers constitutions of the manner of holding Councils of removing the domination in the Church of the Election and Offices of Ministers of censures of Marriages of Divorces of degrees of consanguinity and affinity that throughout all France they might not only have an Uniform Faith but Discipline also And their courage did increase because the same of the severity used in France coming into Germany the three Electors and other Protestant Princes sent Ambassadours to the King to disswade him from that rigour against the professours of their Religion But the King though he gave them a courteous Answer yet remitted nothing of the severity but after the Ambassadours were gone he deputed four Judges of the body of the Parliament in the causes of the prisoners with the Bishop of Paris and the Inquisitor Anthony de Mocares commanding them to proceed with all expedition Nicholas Clinet one of the Elders of the Church at Paris and Taurin Gravelle a Lawyer and Advocate in the Court of Paris and elder of the same Church were both burnt at Paris Bartholomew Hector was burnt at Thurin Mistriss Philippa de Luns was strangled at Paris Anno 1558. after she had a little felt the Flame with her Feet and Visage Of the same company was also Nicholas Cene a Physician Brother to Philip Cene above-mentioned and Martyred at Diion and Peter Gabart which two were brought forth to their execution Octob. 2. They were holden long in the Air over a small fire and their lower parts burnt off before that the higher parts were much harmed with the fire Nevertheless these Holy Men ceased not in all these torments to turn up their eyes to Heaven and to shew forth infinite Testimonies of their Faith and constancy In the same fire many Bibles and Testaments were burnt Among divers young Scholars and Students that were in the little Castle with Peter Gabart there were these two viz. Frederick Danville and Francis Rebezies neither of them being past 20 years of Age. How valiantly they behaved themselves in the cause of Christ what conflicts they had disputing with the Doctors of Sorbonne what confessions they made their own Letters left in writing do make Relation these valiantly suffered Martyrdom Crispin li. 6. comment Gallic de Statu Relig. Reipub. Rene Seau and John Almerick were almost wracked to death in prison and afterwards both of them dyed in prison John Bordel Matthew Vermeil Peter Bourdon Andrew de Fou at the Countrey of Bresil were also Martyrs Villegaignon Lieutenant to the French King brought three of them to the top of a Rock and there being half strangled without any Judgement threw them into the Sea The fourth viz. Andrew de Fou he caused by manifold allurements somewhat to incline to his sayings so he escaped the danger not without a great offence taken of a great part of the French-men in that Countrey Benet Romain a Mercer at Draguignan in Provence was wracked and burnt Francis Civaux who had been Secretary to the French Ambassadour here in England in Queen Maries time after being desirous to hear the word of God went to Geneva Also he was placed to be Secretrary to the Senate of Geneva where he continued about the space of a year Having then certain business he came to Diion where he was betrayed by a Priest apprehended and carried to prison and within seven days after was first strangled and then burnt Peter Arondeau of Rochel was burnt quick at the place called St. John in Greve at Paris The Heroick constancy which God gave hâ—m and wherein he endured victorious unto death was a mirrour of patience to Anne du Bourg Counsellour in the Parliament of Paris and to divers other then prisoners and was to them a preparation toward the like death which shortly after they suffered Thomas Moutard was burnt at Valenciennes Divers others also suffered Martyrdom at Paris for the profession of the Gospel Philip the second King of Spain after the death of his Wife Mary Queen of England was married to Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Henry II. Philibert Emmanuel Duke of Savoy married with Marguarite the King 's only Sister and Charles Duke of Lorrain with Claude a younger Daughter of Franoe The King yielded to Philip all that he had taken from him as well on this side as beyond the Mountains To the Savoyard he restored Bresse Savoy and Piedmont to the Genevois the Isle of Corse and about four hundred places more conquered during the late fatal Wars which had made so many Provinces desolate ruined so many Castles Towns and Villages drunk up so much Christian blood and slain so many millions of Men of all qualities retaining nothing but the Territories of Boullen and Calais The prisons were now full of the Protestants the Marriages of the King's Daughters and Sister were solemnized with all the pleasures and sports that could be devised The Court exceeded in sumptuous Plays Masks Dances and Bon-fires the people expressed publick joy by reason of the peace with loud acclamations in these ceremonies But this pleasant Comedy was converted by a sad
Atturneys or their Substitutes sometime in the name of Diocesan or Monastick Attorneys or their Chapters and all this frequently for things utterly false as that they have spoken irreverently of the Sacraments or such like gross impostures for proving of all which they never want suborners and false witnesses And if at any time the Forgery be discovered the Judges seldom punish the Authours or if they inflict any punishment at all it is but such as through the slightness thereof giveth greater liberty and encouragement to such persons whereof there are many notorious Instances A liberty is also granted to Priests and Monks whose nature without encouragement is forward enough to insult over the Hugonots to commit all manner of violence without fear of punishment yea and to execute the conciliary Acts against them as they have done in Poictou where the Priests have in divers places demolished Churches digged up and searched the very lowest stones of the foundation broke open Chests carried away the poors moneys pulled down particular mens houses and the Castles of the Protestant Gentry abusing them with injurious words and most violent actions They also take strange waies to make Proselytes for neglecting instruction and good example which are the only proper and lawful means of gaining souls to God they only use promises threatnings and labour to catch men by divers kinds of snares They also deprive the Hugonots of all means of acquiring a Livelihood and all hopes of preferment there being no admittance of them into any publick Office except those of the Chambers of the Edict no not so much as to the petty Offices of a Notary Attorney or Serjeant nor yet to learn Arts and Trades The Relator concludes thus Unless we be wilfully blind we cannot but see that they design to drive us by despair into some Insurrection But that we shall never do preferring rather to suffer the greatest extremity and our very blood to be shed than in the least to violate the respect which we owe to our Prince And if they cannot overcome our Patience as assuredly they never shall then their Resolution is by continual importunity to prevail with his Majesty to drive us out of the Kingdom But we hope the King is so good and just that he will never gratifie them in such a thing without a Parallel And if we should be called to such a Trial we hope God will give us such strength and courage as without Regret to abandon our native Land that we may serve Him where-ever his Providence shall call us And this in effect is the general resolution of all the PROTESTANTS within the Kingdom Since the writing the precedent Relation which is but an Epitome of some of the Principal matters translated out of French and Printed by A. Maxwell Anno 1668. there lately came to my hands a Pamphlet which containeth a Narrative of the present deplorable estate of the Protestants in France which declareth among divers other things the proceeding of the Parliament at Roven against the Lady Bauroger and her Daughters and Mr. Le Moine Pastor of the Protestant Church at Roven occasioned by the flight of Madamoiselle Darques out of France into England I shall refer the Reader for fuller satisfaction therein to the foresaid Narrative lately Printed at London Here followeth a List of the Protestant Churches that have been demolished Anno 1661. BY a Decree of March 24. St. Bazil in the Diocess of Mompellier was demolished Anno 1662. By a Decree of July 21. Lucque and twenty three Churches by a Decree of August 23. in the County of Gex were demolished viz. Gex Chalez Peron Divone Grilly Crassy Pougny Colonges Farges Cessy Crequi Soverny Coulez Versoy Crosset Chevry Poully Meyrin Vergnier Pregny Saconnay Thoiry St. Gian Anno 1663. Aubisson by a Decree of January 11. In Provence thirteen Churches by a Decree of March 4. viz. Lants La Caste Gignac D' Ongles D' Oppedettes Signarques Roquesin Gordes La Bastide Des Gros. La Breoulli Souliers Montagnac by a Decree of June 15. Eighty nine Churches condemned by six Decrees October 5. in the Diocess ofVsez Nismes and Mande scil Bellegarde in the Diocess of Nismes Marvejols les Gardon Hommiers Puechredon Lougrian St. Nazaire des Gardies Orthou St. Jean de Serres Cezas Cambo Massilargues les Anduze Dourbies Aguzan St. Bresson St. Benezet S. Saviour de Pourcils St. John of Criculon Gatuzieres St. Bonet de Salendrengues Gaujac near Anduze St. John de Baussels Lauvejol Vabres Candiac Massanes Liove Bragassargues Brouzet Rouret St. Julien de la Nef Roquedun Courbes Sendras St. John du Pin. Marvejols in Vaunage Boardie in the Diocess ofVsez Benezet Concoules S. John of Corargues Villefort Combas Youset Mejane St. Hippolite de Caton Castelnau Desplane Mouteils Martinargues Fone on the Lussan St. Bazil of Vsez Brueys Roubiac Serignac Avejan Caunes Ozou S. Martin of Valgalges Gadargues Megrane Arlande Montagnac Versevil Move Poguadoresse St. Victor of Malcap St. Stephen of Forvene Foissac Monmiraille Fese Maugieres La Roviniere In the Diocess of Mande Grisac Castelbove Balme near Barc Monvaillam Mazaribal Timelac Mandenaur of Rousses Fraisinet of Fourgues St. Andiot St. Andre of Lancise St. Michael of Dezee St. Laurence of Trebe St. Julian of Points Pont of Monvert Ribautes St. Casine Geneyras St. Julian of the Neff St. John of Rocques La Rouviere La Brugiere Cincens Bizarre Ardaillors Cros. Talleyrac Salargues Breaw Bouvillargues Gueysargues Marignargues Rodillan S. Cezaire Courvessac Montredon Lecques Salinelles the lesser Galarques Aperes Buzinargues Villatelle Colorges Lascours Cruvieres Gujane Crespien Vio. Sauzet Rochegude Seynes Daumesargues Bovisset St. Martin of Campelade Taraux Fontarzche Anno 1664. Seyne by a Decree of May 12. Landouzy Gercis Sernay Rue des Boheins Leval Septemb. 22. St. Croix de Candele Vehaw Vestrie Malhaw Octob. 3. Alen on Octob. 20. New-Church of Montauban Octob. 29. The Church at Nismes Novemb. 28. Anno 1665. Churches demolished in Bretagne Jan. 19. Syon Croissie La Rochebibnard Dinan Ploer St. Malo In Picardy Jan. 27. Salonel Canesures Lindeboeuf April 23. Le Mesnil Forty Churches demolished in Poictu by a Decree of August 6. Belabre Chavigni Exoudue St. Gelais Courteilles Benay Coube Marcillac Puigni Peselechat Parthenay Le Vigean St. Benoir Puybeliart Lucon La Chaune Belleville Poire St. Hermine Le Boupire Chantaunay St. Giles Survye Talmont Mareville La Jandoviniere Mavilleron St. Fulgent St. Jovin de Milli. Benet La Brassardiere Lachataigneray Faussay La Buardiere Cenay Aubanie Guire La Bouchetiere Lande Blanche La Milliere Boifragon La Chapelle Temet La Moriniere Many Churches have been destroyed since 1666. yet few of their names are come to our hands unless In 1672. St. Andre of Beausse Decemb. 20. In 1673. By a Decree Feb. 3. Vnet. Galapian Favillet Aimmet Ligneux S. Barthelmy de la Perche A Brief account of the later Councils of France celebrated from the time of the Council of Trent O lespun Concil noâ—iss