cuppe and a stately picture but now in his Popedome he so busied himselfe aboute corne matters as if he had bene borne to feede manye men and yet some saye that his eyes were put out by the Romaynes other say by the priests that hated him In this mans time Lotharius the Emperour appointed magistrates in Italy to gouerne and brydel the Romaynes because they abused their libertye very much which they had vnder Charles which deede as manye thincke hastened the death of Eugenius Michael the Emperour of Constantinople sent Embassadours to Lewes the Emperour desyringe to be resolued concerninge Images whether they should be worshipped or abandoned and Lewes sent them to Pope â—ugenius to be instructed but Eugenius aunsweare was neuer knowne He raigned 4. yeares and then dyed Anno. 827. 36. Valentine the first VAlentine the first being yet but deacon not ful priest was made Pope he was a man of a quicke wit able to perswade and diswade And some write that there was in him such excellent hope that he would haue raigned more happelye and in better order then the rest wherâ—y the fathers aboute feared the decaye of theyr former holynesse for he neuer did any thing that was not liked He dyed the fourth day of his raigne and as some thinke poysoned 37. Gregorie the fourth GRegorie the fourth would not take the Popeship vpon him fearing the sequeale vntill that the Emperour had allowed the election and by this man the Emperours had restored to them theyr right of coÌ„firming the Pope which yet lasted but a while In this Popes time there was a counsaile of bishops held by the commaundement of Lewes at Aquisgran where it was decreed Gregorie being president of the counsaile that euery Church should haue reuenewes of his owne wherby the clergye might be maintayned and not be constrained to forsake their cure and office and giue themselues to occupations of lucre And it was concluded that none of the clergye of what soeuer degree should weare anye precious or purple garmentes neither weare any ringes nor iâ—wels vnlesse it were a ring at saying masse Againe that they should not kepe a great traine and familye neither horses dysing nor vnhonest women and that monkes shoulde not exceede in glottonye and feasting and that the clergye should weare neither golde nor siluer in theyr shoes slippers nor girdles which sayth Platina are far disagreeing with religion and most manifest tokeÌ„s of incoÌ„â—â—nencye Yet such was theyr royat then which continued so that Platina in the lite of this Gregorie cryeth out in these wordes O Emperour Lewes I would thou were liuinge in oure time the Church nowe wanteth thy holye lawes and thy iustice for Ecclesiasticall persons do so wallow in al kind of lust and royat Ye might now see theÌ„ pranked in crymson with bruchies and Iewels and that not men onelye which perhaps might seeme tollerable but also their horses and beastes And while our prelats passe abroade a lustye troupe of youthes go ietting before them a knot of chaplins following behinde and they themselues not ryding on sillye asses as Christ the author of our religioÌ„ and onelye pateâ—ne of good life in earth did but vppon their neyeng and trampling horses al betrapped as if they roode in triumphe after a conquest of an ennemye Touchinge their siluer plate and statelye furniture of houses and delicate fare it booteth not to speake vvhen as their dainty diet excelleth all that euer was in Sicilli their roabes passe all the pompe of Attalus their vessels staine all the plate of Corinth but what wil come of this intemperancye I saye nothing Thus complayneth Platina But to returne to Gregorie he made diuers holy dayes for saincts as Bartholmew Gregorie Sebastian others he was beneficiall to Churches and deadmens bones By the Emperours helpe he draue the Moores out of Italye he procured tenthes to be giueÌ„ to the Churches and deuised solemne erection of Sepulchers He dyed Anno. 843. 38. Sergius the second SErgius the seconde was before called hogs snoute he being made Pope did first bringe vp this vse that the Popes should chaunge theyr names To confirmation of whom that Emperour sente hys sonne with auctoritye Emperiall to Rome and manye nobles to attend on him which kinde of confirmation they were wonte all to attende vppon vntill Hadrian the thirde told the Romaines that they oughte not to loke for the Emperours good will in creatinge the Pope This Sergius was the first that of himselfe renounced his Christian name giuen him in baptisme He appointed that Agnus Dei should be said thrise at masse the oste the while to be deuided into 3. partes He bestowed paines as other did on dead mens tombes He dyed Anno 846. 39. Leo the fourth LEo the fourth toke the Popeship vnder Lotharius the Emperour and bestowed manye ornamentes on Romain cities churches for he builded a tower in Vatican he repayred the wall and towne gates and raysed about them euen from the foundation xv fortresses whereof hee planted two verye well at the ende of the riuer Tiber to beate backe the force of the ennemye He builded a newe S. Maryes Church and gaue an Alter of iiii crownes for martyrs bones he repayred the Castell of S. Angell and made seates of Marble in the porche of Lateran Hitherto he played the bayliffe of husbandrye but after this he became a warrier and captayne of an armye For when the Sarracens made manye a roade into Italye and spoiled the countrye first he promised them heauen that would fight for the defence of his state theÌ„ mustring the Romaine garrison he making the signe of the Crosse encountereth the ennemies and with this prayer as they say O God whose right hand c. at Hostia gate he put them to flight and ouercame them Afterwarde he summoned to a counsayle 47. bishops wherein hee condemned one Marcellus of diuers crymes But afterward he gaue senteÌ„ce that a bishop should not be condemned without 72. wytnesses He first began contrarye to the counsaile of Aquisgran to decke the Popes Crosse with precious stones commaunded it to be caryed before him Hee toke vppon him to profer his feete to be kissed and decreed that none of the laitye should abide in the quier at masse time but onely he which attended on the Alter He appointed sondrye hollyedayes and seueral prayers and solemnityes to them He was accused of many crymes but speciallye that he went about by auctorie of a counsell to translate the Empyre from Fraunce into Germanye but he purged himselfe by his oath He dyed Anno. 854. In this Popes time Anno 847. Ethelwolphus beinge first a monke of single life hauing a dispeÌ„sation from the Pope left his monkery and became kinge of Englande making his dominion tributarye to the Sea of Rome appointing a certaine taxe of money to be leuied yearely of euerye house and payed to Rome And thus all Englande became thrall to Rome to the fulfillinge of
Italy hee began to consider howe he might aduaunce the dignitie of the Popedome whiche before that the Emperour might counte him holy he refused He put downe Iohn Archebishop of Rauenna for maintaining the olde libertie of his byshoprike and brought that churche into perpetuall bondage Among many decrees he concluded that no seculer prince no not the Emperour him selfe should be so hardye as to come in among the Prelates in their counsayle onlesse they were debaiting matters of beliefe then the Emperour should execute those whome the Pope iudged to be heretikes Also he decreed that the layetie should not take vpon them to iudge the life of the Clergie neither to dispute of the Popes auctoritie power Also he decreed that Christian magistrates should haue no auctoritie ouer a prelate because saith he the pope is called God Auton Tit. 16. He coÌ„maunded that the Clergie should not be warriours but study howe to talke and perswade He commaunded agayne that diuine seruice should be sayde in Latin But yet graunted the Sclauonian and Polonians to haue it in their owne tongue by dispensation He added the Sequencias to the masse He added Gloria in excelsis to be songe to the masse on Maundy thursday He added the terme of Apostolicall auctoritie to the Popes decrees He commauÌ„ded mariage to be openly soleÌ„nised he allowed that the sacramentes might be receiued of euill ministers He firste bounde the Clergie to single life But Huldericus bishop of Augusta controlled his wickednesse herein by a sharpe epistle he died Anno. 867. 43 Hadrian the second HAdrian the seconde the sonne of Talaris a bishop was by the people and the Clergie made Pope before the Emperours Embassadours could come thether For then the Romaines did by force take vpon them the election of the Pope whiche when the Embassadours tooke in euill part they were thus aunswered that the wyll of the multitude could not be brideled in such a tumult But yet they had done happely because they had appointed such a good man The Embassadours euen of compulsion seing there was no remedie to abrogate the election did against their willes pronounce him Pope being confirmed he bestowed muche on the poore He sent three Legates bishops all Leopart Syluester and Dominicus that were bredde and brought vp in his kitchin to kepe the Bulgarians and Dalmacians within his dominion whom Nicolas had brought to the yoke before But the Bulgarians hauing had proofe of his tyranny draue out the Italian priestes and receiued the priestes of the Greke churche This enkindled hotte coales betwene the Latins and the Grecians Hadrian died Anno 873. Before whose death it rayned bloud three dayes at Brixia and all Fraunce was miserably troubled with Locusts Alfredus king of England toke his crowne of this Pope and was anoynted whiche neuer any king of Englande did before But afterwarde he was called the Popes adopted sonne 44 Iohn the ninth IOhn the ninth was excellently learned bothe in Latine and in Greke He in his soueraintie crowned three Emperours Charle the baald Charles Balbus and Charles Crassus Carolus Caluus vnderstanding that the Emperour was dead hied him to Rome to Pope Iohn whome with his bribes he allured to satisfie his desire and so was made Emperour by him and receiued the crowne Emperiall But about a yeare after he was poysoned at Mantua by one Sedechias a Iewishe phisition an enchauÌ„ter Iohn hearing of his death beÌ„t al his force to make Charles Balbus to succede his father but the Romaine Lordes withstoode him and made Charles Crassus Emperour The Pope standing obstinatly in his frowarde purpose was taken of the citezens put in prison because he would not relent but being released by his friendes helpe he fled into Fraunce And bestowing the imperiall crowne on Balbus saluteth him Emperour In the meane time Crassus hauing gotten the citie of Rome causeth Iohn with terrour to retourne from Fraunce Who returning to Rome willeth the Emperour to let him returne in safetie maketh him Emperour and setteth the crowne on his head Iohn at his being in Fraunce sommoned a counsell at Treca wherein he condemned certaine contentious persones and made many lawes to the aduauncement of Popery Afterwarde he wrote to Lewis Balbus that the priuiledges of the Church of Rome could not be abrogate without a prescription of an hundreth yeares Also he made it sacrilege to take any holy thing of any vnholy persone or any vnholy thing of an holy persone He excommunicated these that were gilty of sacrilege but in suche sorte that for money they might be dispensed withall Hee gaue to many men sainctes reliques for great iewels He confyrmed the liberties belonging to ecclesiastical persones cloysters church goodes monasteries and clarkes He prepared an army against the Saracenes and droue theÌ„ out of Italy and Sicil. He died Anno. 883. At this time the Empier was translated from the Frenchemen to the Germaines by Carolus Crassus 45 Martin the second MArtin the second was a Frencheman whose father was a Necromancier and coniuring prieste he gate to be Pope not by honest meanes but by crafte ill artes They saye that by this mans subtell enticement the foresayde Iohn was apprehended and layde in pryson and so constrayned by his frendes ayde to flye into Fraunce to saue his life At the electioÌ„ of this Martin the Emperours auctoritie was not loked for nor demaunded to his admission Thus proudly by little and little the Popes shooke of the Emperours power whereby they might the better treade them vnder their feete But he raigned not longe about a yeare and certaine monethes he died Anno. 884. 46 Hadrian the third HAdriaÌ„ the third was of such a proude stomake hawty courage that as sone as he had gotten into the Popedome he made a decree that the Emperours auctoritie should no more take place in creating of Popes but that the voyces of the people and Clergie of Rome should be euer free to do it The Emperour at that time warred against the Normans Thus saith Cranzius these Prelates and the lewdenesse of the Romaines durst contemne their Empier vntill the force and strengthe thereof decayed Whereby this one Pope was now deliuered and brought to bedde of that monster at ones trauelling wherof so many of his auncetours had traueled that is to cut cleane of the Emperours auctoritie For Nicolas the fâ—irst had attempted it but brought it not to effecte Lo here good reader howe by this decree all the Emperours right and title whiche they had ouer the Pope and citie of Rome is wrest from them whereby the Pope with great triumphe hath gotten the victory and vpperhande Thou shalt se him yet creepe hier and attempte greater matters ceasing not vntill he haue aduaunced him selfe aboue all that is called God or that is worshipped 2. Tit. 2. Whereby his flatterers may saye Who is like the beaste or who is able to fight with it Apoc. 13. But after this he lyued not longe he died
had raigned 50 yeare in his life he lacked lyuinge and after death he wanted a graue throughe malice of the Pope Pope Paschal held a councell of Princes and bishoppes about matter of gaynes as homages and fealtyes due vnto him also he spoiled the bishop of Rauenna of his lands and toke them into his owne handes But afterwarde because he refused to confirme certaine bishops appointed by the Emperour Henry the fift the Emperour though laâ—e before he had kissed the Popes feete appreheÌ„ded him and cast him into prison where he continued vntill he had coÌ„firmed them all and should by his Seale restore the priuiledge of ratifying a bishop which was graunted to Charles the great and confirme him to be Emperour While sayth Masseus the Pope sate in his chayre after Masse beholde the souldiours cryed vnto him and his clergye Giue vnto Caesar that which is Caesars and forthwith apprehended both him and all his clergye and caryed them out and stripped them out of their apparell so naked that they lefte them not theyr breeches on and ledde them thus haÌ„dled to Soractis mount wher they put them in prison c. This broyle being ceased and Henry being crowned Emperour Paschal renued vnto him the auctoritye of appointing bishops and pronounced openlye in the Church that they were all held accursed who soeuer would disanul the preuiledge which he had graunted Then thy sange Gloria in excelsis because of this peace betwene the Emperour and the Pope But as sone as the Emperour this being done was departed into Germanye the Pope brake al his oathes and went from his word in euerye thinge saying that hee did it not freelye and of his owne accorde but that for feare hee yelded to the Emperours desire Then was the priuiledge condemned and the Emperour excommunicated and terrible tragedyes sturred which were all blazed throughe diuers countryes Also hee by a councell diuorsed the clergye of Fraunce from their wyues as Gregorie had done in Germanye and draue diuers bishops froÌ„ their Seas because they would not leaue theyr wyues Againe to encrease the regiment of Rome he reuiued the strife for the bestowiÌ„g of bishoprickes which wrought great slaughter and bloudshed in all countreyes of Europe Anselmê° archbishop of Canterbury wyth sophistrye and cauillinge vphelde this Popes doing as he did Pope Vâ—banus being both their couÌ„celour at Rome their Uicar here in Englande This Anselmus did depriue kinge Henry the first of all auctoritye in Ecclesiastical causes and denyed to do homage to the kinge thinking and auouching it to be vnlawfall because it was due in the clergye vnto the successours of S. Peter Also he condemned in England the mariage of ministers Pope Paschal dyed Anno 1118. Matthaeus Paâ—siensis wryteth in his Chronicle that when Anselmus accused his soueraigne kinge Henry the first of England before the Pope at Rome for medling with the appointing of bishops and ministers VVilliam VVarelwarst the kinges Proctour did aunsweare stoutlye in hys Princes behalfe and amonge other thinges sayd that the kinge would not for the losse of his kingdome lese his auctoritye in appointing of prelates â–ª Whereto the Pope said If as thou sayest thy kinge to hazarde his crowne wil not forgoe his giuing of Ecclesiasticall lyuinges knowe thou preciselye I speake it before God that I will not suffer him without punishmeÌ„t no not for the price of his head Which beinge heard Anselmus besought the Pope to laye hands in despite of the kinge on those whom he had disgraded so sayth Mattheus the holye seate readye to yelde fauour to all restored them to their former dignities by the intercession of White and red But kinge Henry did depriue Anselmus of all his goodes and confiscated his Archbishopricke and defyed the Popes auctoritye Anno 1110. the Moone was darkened as if she had lost her lighte the yeare following it rayned bloud at Rauenna in Italy at Parma in the month of Iulye Anno 1114. in December the Heauen appeared sodenlye of a very fierye and ruddye colour as if it had burned and the Moone suffered an Eclipse The same yeare the riuer of Thames was drye for two dayes Anno 1 â–ª 17. there were thonders hayle great windes horrible dreadful and houge earthquakes that ouerthrewe Churches Towers walles buildinges and destroyed men 102. Gelasius the second GElasius the second called before Iohn Caietanus of a noble house was sometime a monke he succeded Paschal but not without great discention For because he was chosen withoute the consente of the Emperour one Cincius a maÌ„ of great power in Rome would not suffer this iniurye but went with a troupe of souldiours to PalladiaÌ„ minster where the Cardinals were gathered together and breakinge the gates open he rushed in vppon them and stroke at euerye one that he mette And as for the Pope with his necke wrongde awrye he threwe him on the ground stamped on him wyth his feete and cast him into prison and as the Cardinals were ruÌ„ning away he hoysed them of their Mules and horses to the grounde and vsed all the despite he could toward them But the Romaynes would not suffer this and therfore by the ayde of the Normans they deliuered the Pope made his ennemyes to submit themselues and to aske pardon wyth kissinge his feete The Emperour hearing this sent a great arâ—â—ye out of Germanye to Rome which Gelasius fearing fled by shippe wyth his companye to Caieta and there was made a priest for he was made Pope before beinge but a deacon Henry the Emperour comming to Rome in the absence of Gelasius created Maurice Burdinus archbishop of Bracharie Pope and called him Gregorie the eight and theÌ„ he returned froÌ„ Rome Gelasius hearinge thereof returneth priuilye to Rome and takinge harte to him he commeth into Praxis Church to saye masse where he was so hindred by the contrarye syde that he scant saued himselfe by running away From thence he fled into Fraunce where at the length he was entertayned by an abbot in whose house hee dyed of a pleuresye in the seconde yeare of his raigne In his life by a Legat that he sent he held a councell in Collen where he excommunicated the Emperour and decreed that the Popes of Rome should be iudged by none 103. Calixtus the seconde CAlixtus the second being before called Guido of Burgundy came of the kinges of Fraunce and Englande he succeded Gelasius And after he was coÌ„firmed at Rome he sent a messenger to the said Conon in Germanye to coÌ„tinue the excommunication of his predecessour against the Emperour Hereupon the Emperour was coÌ„pelled to summon a councell of Princes and bishops at Tybur to make peace betweene him the Pope and least the Popes part shoulde haue spoyled his dominions he toke peace vppon vnequall conditions He confirmed to his great dishonour the electioÌ„ of this Calixtus who was chosen Pope at Cluny in Fraunce by a fewe Cardinals whom Gelasius had brought wyth him and yet was the other
Pope Gregorie aliue whom the Emperour himselfe had first created And when the Popes Legates demaunded of the Emperour to giue ouer his auctoritye in Ecclesiasticall causes and bestowing spirituall liuinges he desired respit to deliberate thereon with the Princes of Germanye who councelled him to seeke for the fauour of the Pope to such puissancye was the Pope then start vp ouer the mightie Monarches Finallye Embassadours meetinge at VVormes in Germanye for eyther parte to debate the matter after greate controuersyes and sharpe reasoninges on eyther syde the Pope bare awaye the victorye for the Emperours Proctours were the bishop of Spire and the abbot of Fulda by theyr callinge bounde to fauour the Popes part who perswaded the Emperour to yelde ouer his righte for feare of the excomunication which would cause his subiects to reuolt from him And so he obeyed This beinge done the Popes Legates did absolue him and gaue him licence to repayre to seruice in the Church which Gelasius had denyed him These compositions were drawne in wrighting for both sydes and therfore the Popes part euen to triūph of their victorye and shewe how the Emperour was vanquished caused theirs to be read with open Proclamation and hanged them vp at Lateran to be seene openlye Calixtus after he had thus maistred the Emperour persecuted Pope Gregorie his aduersarye that stoode against him for the Popedome by the Emperours meanes Gregorie hearing of this fled from Rome to Sturium where Calixtus caught him and to make him a laughing game euen to the Emperours reproche he caused Gregorie to be set vppon a Camel with his face toward the Camels tayle so to be brought to Rome afterward he caused his heade to be shauen so sente him into a Monasterye Amonge manye Canons that Calixtus made one was that it should be adulterye if a man in his life time shoulde forsake his bishopricke or Church wresting this place of Paule vnto it The wyfe is bound to the lawe of her husbande while he liueth c.. He appointed to fast foure times in the yeare whereas before it was but thrise and said it was not lawfull to fast anye otherwise then accordinge as the Church of Rome did addinge this reason For sayth hee as the sonne came to do the will of his father so muste Christians do the will of their mother the Church of Rome He dyed of a feuer which he toke by the trauell of a greate iorneye Anno 1125. One Simeon an Englishman borne in Duresme in the 2. booke of his historye of the Kinges of Englande wryteth that this Calixtus held a generall councell in Fraunce wherin he forbad priestes deacons or subdeacons to haue wyues and first to leese their benefices secondlye the Communion if they woulde not yeilde herein Wherevppon one in Englande wrote a sharpe Epigram against him thus in effect O bone Calixte nunc omnis clerus odit te Quondam presbyteri poterant vxoribus vti Hoc destruxisti postquam tu Papa fuisti Ergo tuùm meritò nomen habent odiò O good Calixtus now the clergye doth the hate In former tyme the Churchmen might enioy their spousal mate But thou bast takē this away to Popeship since thou came Therefore as thou deserued hast they do detest thy name 104. Honorius the seconde HOnorius the second before called Lambert being but of base byrth was first made bishop of Hostia for his learninge and so came to be Pope But sayth Platina his entraunce into Peters place is not to be commēded because he came in rather by the ambition of a few then the cōsent of good men for he was made Pope with great debate by the pollicy of one Leo Frangepain the chiefest Citizen who perswaded that they should not chose the Pope before they knewe all the Canons concerning the electiō While they stayed about this Leo practised to serue this Popes turne by such fetches as he could deuise but the Cardinals perceyuinge his policye did create one Theobaldus a Cardinall Pope callinge him Celestine but the people stoode earnestlye vrginge for another Cardinall that was a Saxō which Leo seemed to like of onelye to defeate the election of the Cardinals and when by this meanes he had the people somwhat indifferent to be ruled by him he brought to passe by them to make Lambert Pope and called him Honorius This Honorius sayth Mattheus Parisiensis sent out a Legat one Iohn Cremensis a riotous Cardinal to fil the Popes bagges He cōming into England Anno 1125. wyth the kinges fauour passed from one Religious house to another still fillinge his pouches with moneye and hys panche with delicate cheare And when he had euen loaden himselfe meetely wel he held a Synode in London where he cōdemned all the clergye of adultery which had wyues and euen the selfe same daye at night my Lord Legat himselfe euen his owne parson was taken in adultery And yet Pope Honorius wrote in his behalfe to the clergye of Englande thus Wee desire you charge you and commaunde you that ye receyue this Iohn as the Uicar of S. Peter w t reuerence heare him with humilitye and at his commaūdement be assistant at his Synodes c. The like for him wrote Honorius to Dauid kinge of Scottes There is a certaine statute made by the same Iohn in the said Synode helde at London to this effecte Wee by our Apostolicall auctoritye commaunde that priestes deacons subdeacons and canonists shall not come in companye wyth theyr wyues concubines yea or any other women except theyr mother sister or aunte or such womē as may altogether giue no suspition and who so shall breake this shall forfaite his orders Wee commaunde that no mariage shal be made betweene kindred or affinitye to the seuenth degree Honorius dyed Anno 1130. Platina sayth that in the time of this Honorius one Arnulphus an Englishmā and a noble preacher of the Christen Religion was murthered at Rome by the treacherye of the clergye because he did sharpelye reproue theyr royat and wantonnesse and rebuked theyr pompe and greedinesse in gatheringe riches Manye of the nobles of Rome did followe this man as a true disciple Prophete of Christe and onelye preacher of the truth 105. Innocentius the second INnocentius the second after he was made Pope coulde deuise no more charitable deede then to suppresse Roger Duke of Sicilia for sayinge that he was kinge of Italye The Pope broughte oute his armye and marched forward stoutlye and manfullye ouerthrew his ennemye but the dukes sonne comminge vppon his backe with an army toke the Pope and his Cardinals and so Roger obtayned all besyde the title of Sicilia In the meane time the Romaynes created one Peter Leo his sonne Pope and called him Anacletus which being heard Innocentius desired to be set at libertye and obtayned it and purposed to returne to Rome but because he saw al was in an vprore at Rome he turned frō thence trauayling till he came into Fraūce In the meane
time Anacletus sought wyth spendinge and brybinge to winne and confirme all mens good wills towarde him that anye way seemed to fauour him He made Roger kinge of both Sicils to be his freinde Innocentius was busye on the other syde to recouer the Popedome therefore held a councell in Fraunce and condemned Anacletus for an ennemye of the Church Afterward he went to Philip kinge of Fraunce and crowned his sonne Lewes then he wente to Carnotus where he met with Henry the first kinge of Englande perswading with him to send an armye against the Sarracens that kept the holye lande but his purpose was to haue vsed that army for the recouering of his Popedome From him he went to Lotharius kinge of Germanye desyringe him to see him restored Lotharius gyuinge his oath to the Pope prepared an armye to conducte Innocent safe to Rome So Lotharius entred into Italye wyth a puissante armye to restore Innocent to hys place and comminge to Rome deuided his hoast and entred into the Citye ouerthrewe Anacletus with duke Roger and set Innocētius safe in Lateran Innocentius therefore to shew himselfe thanckfull crowned Lotharius Emperour and gaue to Reginold his chiefest Captayne the Dukedome of Apulia that was none of his owne to bestow and all that Roger possessed in Italy ▪ But Reginold dyed soone after and then Roger claymed his right againe and because the Pope withstoode him he toke him againe his Cardinals sodenly ere that they wist would neuer let them depart vntill they had graunted him his whole desire yea to make him kinge of both Sicils and so since that time the kingdome of Sicill is called S. Peters patrimonye But sayth Nauclerus much mischiefe arose vp hereof because the Pope woulde thus take vppon him the bestowinge of Princelye titles robbinge the Emperours of that righte which they had gotten by the sworde Innocentius made a lawe that whosoeuer should strike an annointed priest or shauen clarke shoulde be excommunicated to be absolued onelye by the Pope after this hee dyed Anno 1143. In this Popes time Steuen Kinge of Englande Anno 1136. kept to himselfe and vsed in his owne power the inuesture of prelates And Lotharius the Emperour would haue reclaymed that to himselfe which the Pope toke from Henry the Emperour but that S. Bernard being then of great credite disswaded him About this time was VVilliam bishop of Yorke called S. VVilliam of Yorke who was poysoned in his challice by his Chapleynes 106. Celestine the second CElestine the second a Thuscan succeded Innocent by the commaundement of Conradus his life was so shorte that he could not play the Pope like other At this tyme was a great contagious plague through out al Italy Celestine dyed in the sixt month of his Popeship In his time the bishop of VVinchester in Englande helde a councell where was concluded that if any man abused eyther Church or Churchyard or layde hand on an Ecclesiasticall person he shoulde be excommunicate to be absolued onelye by the Pope 107. Lucius the second LVcius the second borne in Bononia succeded Celestine He was the cause auctor of much discension in Rome for deposing and disanullinge a kinde of office called Patricianship which the Romaynes being weary of the Popes yoke had made in the time of Innocentius because the Popes toke vppon them all swaye within the Citye abroade likewise But this Pope Lucius because he was not able to depose the Patrician alone craued ayde of the Emperour Conradus whoe beinge otherwise busied coulde not assiste him Lucius therefore soughte to attaine his purpose another waye for when the Patrician the Senatours were all gathered together close in the Capitol Lucius toke his oportunitye and came thither with a bande of souldiours in armour meaninge either to destroye the Capitoll or to driue them out The Cityzēs hearing hereof armed them selues forthwith and ranne to succour theyr officer whervppon roose a very bloudye fraye Pope Lucius beinge in the middest of the broyle was so pelted with stones and other lumpes that sone after he dyed therof Anno 1145 ere he had raigned a yeare 108. Eugenius the third EVgenius the thirde sometime an abbot was made Pope by this meanes w t the consente of the Cardinals This Eugenius was scholer to S. Barnard who for his learning was then in great reuerence and cōsidering the time how the Romaynes wrangled to haue auctoritye in the electiō of the Pope they thoughte it safest and surest for the maintenaunce of the Popes auctoritye to chose none of the Colledge of Cardinals but this Eugenius that it mighte be a cause why his scholemaister Barnarde shoulde aduaunce the Sea of Rome in his wrytinges and so it fell out as it appeareth in his 2. booke of Considerations Eugenius at his first creation perceyued the Romaynes woulde be importunate to haue the election of theyr Senatours ratifyed and therefore hee fled wyth his Cardinals from Rome by night to Viterbium where he excommunicated all the Romaynes which caused the Citizens to obeye Iordan chosen Patrician then he ioyned his armye with the hoast of the Tiburtines olde ennemyes to Rome so compelled the Romaynes to sue for peace which he graunted at length vppon condition that they should fullye abolish the principalitye of the Patrician and shoulde restore his deputye to his former place and for hereafter shoulde be contente to take suche Senatours as hee by his Papall auctoritye would assigne them Peace beinge thus concluded he returned into Rome but perceyuing afterwarde that falsehoode was mente towarde him he slipt againe to Tiburie the Romaynes pursued him forthwith with bowes and bils and draue him from Tiburie into Fraunce And at length he returned to Rome and there dyed Anno 1152. 109. Anastasius the fourth ANastasius of a Cardinall became Pope wherein hee did nothinge worthye memorye but that hee bestowed vppon Lateran a riche and massye Chalice and bestowed cost in repayringe S. Maries Churche and so dyed the seconde yeare of his Popeship Anno 1154. This Anastasius after the death of one Henry Mordachus a proud mōke whom Pope Eugenius intruded restored S. Williā archbishop of Yorke which William was afterward poysoned in the Challice comminge to receiue the Communion as Mattheus Parisius sayth In this Popes time y Thames at London was so frozen the cartes and waynes passed ouer the I se and a litle before were two Eclipses one of the Sunne and the other of the Moone after which followed terrible tempestes stormes thonder lightninges raine and winde 110. Hadrian the fourth HAdrian the fourth was an Englishmā borne called Nicolas Breakespeare the sonne of one Dan Robert a mōke of S. Albanes he was first a reguler priest afterwarde a bishop then a Cardinall and finallye Pope of Rome He being chosen by the clergye at Rome would not ascende take the place vntill they had consented vnto him that one Arnold bishop of Brixia whom he counted an hereticke should be banished
by night to Caieta afterward to Beneuent last of all in the 17 yeare of his Popeship he came to Venice disguised in the apparell of one that was his cooke where lurking in an abbey he became a Gardener A while after he was bewrayed and knowne and there vpon calling a councell by the commaundement of duke Sebastian he was receyued with great honour and brought into S. Maryes Church w t pontificall pompe The Emperour hearing that the Pope was at Venice desyred the Venetians to yeld to him his ennemye being likewyse the ennemye of the common wealth The Venetians denyed to do it therefore the Emperour sente his sonne Otho with a nauye of souldiours to demaund Alexander of them but he charged him withall that he should attempt nothing in any case till he himselfe were come vnto him But Otho being a lustye yonge Prince ful of courage and desirous of renowne neglecting his fathers commaundement would needes encounter the Venetians whereby hee was ouercome taken prisoner bounde brought to Venice Herevpon Alexander began to set vp his crest and put out his hornes and woulde not take peace with the Emperour in anye case vnlesse the Emperour would come to Venice take suche conditions of peace as hee woulde offer him Whereuppon the good and carefull father to prouide for the infortunate miserye of his sonne promised hee woulde come at the time appointed and so came where they commoned vppon conditions of peace But the Pope woulde not absolue the Emperour of excōmunication till he came to S. Markes Church where before all the people Pope Alexander commaunded the Emperour to prostrate himselfe on the ground and to craue pardon The Emperour did as hee commaunded him then the Pope trode on the Emperours necke with his foote sayinge it is written Thou shalt walke vppon the serpent and adder and shalt treade downe vnder rhy feete the Lion and dragon The Emperour disdayninge this reproche aunswered It was not sayd to thee but to Peter The Pope then treadinge downe his necke againe sayde Both to mee and to Peter The Emperour then fearing some daunger durst saye no more so the peace was concluded The conditions wherof are these that the Emperour should vphold Alexander to be true Pope that he should restore all that did belonge to the Church of Rome which had beene taken away in the warres Thus the Emperour departed with his sonne The Pope to shew himselfe thankfull to Venice bestowed of his liberality giftes vppon duke Sebastian the Senate First he gaue them a white Taper which onely the Popes vsed to Beare Secondlye he lycensed them to seale theyr letters with leade and he graunted theyr Duke the third seate in the Popes Theatre Fourthly he graunted that on Ascention daye they should haue whole and perfit pardōs for euer at S. Markes Church Fiftly he gaue the Duke viii banners of silke and an attier for the head like an hat Afterward Alexander depriued the bishop of Papia of his Pall exempted him of the dignitye of caryinge the Crosse because he toke the Emperours part He made many Canons in a councel at Lateran as that an archbishop should not receyue his Pall vnlesse he had sworne first to be true and obedient to the Pope And that a man should not marrye his brothers wyfe beinge wydowe that they that toke orders should vowe chastetye that a bastarde should not be made a bishop that the canonizinge of Saincts belonged onlye to the Pope that such sainctes should haue deuine honour Amonge other he made Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury a rancke traytour to his prince but stoutlye vpheld therein by the Pope a sainct He bounde kinge Henry the seconde of Englande excusing himselfe of the death of Thomas that his subiectes should franklye freely appeale frō him to the Court of Rome that afterward none should be king of England vnlesse he were first called king by the Pope This arose vppon the quarel betwene the king and Thomas Becket who so vexed and disquieted his soueraigne prince with all the nobles and prelates of this Realme with cursinges excommunications interditinges threatninges mouing both French kinge Pope to moleste the kinge in his behalfe and finallye as then Pope Alexander played the incarnate deuill against the Emperour so did Becket rage like a subdeuill against the kinge in England till certaine not able to endure his arrogante seditious and trayterous doinges in great despite therof slue him at Canterbury He decreed that a mā shoulde not be deuorced frō his wyfe though she had the Leprosye Also that those that could be proued vsurers shoulde neyther be admitted to the Communion nor buryed in the Church after these other like deedes he dyed Anno 1181. Robert Montēsis Chronicle hath that Lewes king of Fraūce and Henry kinge of Englande wayted on Pope Alexander as his gentlemē vsshers and footemen the one leading his horse by the bridle on the right syde and the other on the left throughe the whole City Taciacū to Legeris In this Popes time the Sunne was Eclipsed and earthquakes were euery where Also there were certaine called VValdenses who defended manye articles against the Pope and his doctrine as transubstantiation Purgatorye c. 112. Lucius the thirde LVcius the thirde borne in Thuscia of an honourable stocke succeded by consente of all the Cardinals But the Romaynes so vexed him that hee was driuen oute of the Citye and manye of his frendes and companye taken by the Romaynes some were set vppon Asses with their faces towardes the tayle and Miters on their heades and so ledde throughe the Citye in mockadge some vsed despitefullye otherwyse Some had their eyes put oute by the Romaynes in a madnes othersome murthered for this cause onelye that he wente about to take away the name of Consuls in the Citye The Pope sufferinge this great shame wente to Verona where in a councell he condemned the Romaynes doinges and euen then when the Christians were persecuted in Asia which pretence of holines wrought the perill of many that they might be succoured because the ennemyes were emboldned to wast the bolye lande vnder their Captaine Saladinus presuminge for that our Princes were at discētion This Pope being mindfull of his coūtrye Thuscia bestowed large giftes vppon it and obtayned of the Emperour that the Hetruriās should haue the selfe same coyne that the Lucēsians amōg them had euen as the Lombards had onelye the money of Papia with the Emperours coyne Valerius Anselmus wryteth that this Pope contrarye to other allowed the Sacraments that were done by whoremaister chapleins he dyed in Verona Anno 1185. In his time were greate earthquakes which did destroye diuers notable Cityes in Sicil were destroyed thereby fiue and twentye thousand parsons The Armenians being at this time at greate debate with the Greeke Church did for hatred thereof become subiect to the Church of Rome 113. Vrbanus the thirde VRbanus who because of his
troublesome dealings was nicknamed Turbanus was borne in Millen He as sone as he was made Pope was carefull at the first to set the Christian Princes at concord least while they were deuided the PagaÌ„s should destroy them but lo how it fel out for sayth Crantzius because the Emperour woulde not in all pointes followe his minde hee purposed forthwith to drawe out his blade of excommunication against the Emperour wherby he made the matter worse but death toke him away in time and preuented him As some thincke he dyed for griefe because he heard dailye encrease of the miserye amonge the Christians how Saladinus triumphed in victorye against them with their great slaughters Hierusalem beinge taken againe and kinge Guido also as he was going to Venice to repayre his armye In this Popes time on MidsoÌ„mer daye at vi of the clocke in the morninge was an Eclipse of the Sunne after which ensued a greate pestilence in Polonia Russia and other countryes By the bolstring vp of this Pope the monkes of Canterbury did in matter of coÌ„trouersye out swaye both the archbishop and king theyr Prince Henry the second who were glad to yeld to the monks their desire for feare of the Popes threatning 114 Gregorie the eight GRegorie the viii borne in Apulia succeded Vrban At this time the Popes seemed very carefull for the recouery of the holy land Iudea and Hierusalem beinge but a vaine and false colour of them to weaken the Princes of ChristeÌ„dome wherby they might the better maister them one by one and by this meanes also being so holy a shewe they so occupied the mindes of Christian Princes that they coulde entende to haue no regarde to the Popes doinges whoe in the meane time while they had no eye vnto him wrought his feates to the great enriching aduauncinge of his owne dignitye For so this Pope Gregorie euen at his first entraunce did send letters to the Princes of Christendome to rayse their armyes to go to recouer Hierusalem and to spend their bloude in a vaine quarel but as he was going to stir vp the Pisans Genuans in this matter he was poysoned and so dyed before hee had raigned two monthes 115. Clemens the third CLemens the third a Romaine sonne of one Iohn Scholar He at his first entraunce sent out commaundement to make warre vppoÌ„ the Sarracens wheruppon the Princes raysed theyr armyes the chiefe wherof are these Frederick the Emperour Philip king of Fraunce Richarde king of Englande and Otho duke of Burgundye and diuers bishops and archbishops with sondry people of Denmarke Fryzeland and Flaunders but yet they did almost nothing at all King Richard of England comming nigh to Rome in his iourneye met with one Octamanus bishop of Hostia to whom he complayned much of the vnsaciable and shamefull simony vsed by the Pope and his courte for taking vii huÌ„dred markes for consecrating the bishop Cenomanensis also fifteene hundred markes of VVilliam byshop of Elye for his office of Legatship beside an houge somme of money of the bishop of Burdeaux for absoluinge him wheÌ„ he should haue bene deposed for a crime vrged against him by his clergye Anno 1188. VVilliam king of Sicil dyed and left no heyre and therefore the Pope by and by would needes claime it to be tributarye to the Church of Rome and belonginge to it But the peeres of the Isle chose Tancred bastard to king VVilliaÌ„ The Pope therefore determined to chalenge and try his right by the dinte of the sword whereby he filled the world full of â—poylings and slaughter and yet he obtayned not his purpose and so left of He made diuers Canons and amoÌ„g other this one that none but the Pope might remoue a bishop from one sea to another or to an hyer dignitye Also he decreed that bishops should be preferred in dignitye aboue Princes He commaunded to celebrate the Masse with vnleuened bread and wyne mingled with water with many other ceremonyes He sent a Cardinal into Poland to reforme the clergy who among other matters in a Synode there held forbad them to haue wyues and because the Danes decreed mariage lawful to their clergye they were excomunicated by the Pope who dyed Anno 1191. 116. Celestine the thirde CElestine the third was borne in Rome he being an old man at Easter time after the death of Clement was made Pope by the bishops and Cardinals the next day he crowned Henry the sixt Emperour This Celestine grudging that Tancred did enioye the kingdome of Sicilia maryed vnto the sayd Emperour a Nonne out of PanormitaÌ„ Nonnery called Constance the doughter of Roger vppon this condition that he shoulde chalenge the kingdome of both Sicils for a dowrye and should driue out Tancred and possesse it himselfe alwayes prouided that the Pope should haue his yearelye tribute oute of it And thus the Sueuian Captaynes became Lordes of Sicill but thereuppon ensued bloudy warres After the death of this Henry through the greate diuision in the Empire there arose such debate through all Germany while the Pope was at defiaunce w t the Sueuians for the soueraignitye of Sicill which he sought ambitiouslye so that one parishe was not at amitye with another whereby the Popes purse was excessiuely fed to appease the sciesme amonge those spirituall men Such were the practises of these holye fathers while they set the Princes of the world on worke to conquer the holye land Of the attonement of this strife Abbas Vspergensis wryteth thus which is worthy to be noted therby to discerne the holines of Rome and how it grew to this riche estate There was scaÌ„t sayth he one bishopricke or Ecclesiasticall dignity or parishe Church which was not at a braul the matter was brought to Rome to be determined but not w t emptye hands Reioyce O mother Rome because the conduites of al treasures on the earth are opened the mouÌ„taines and whole riuers of money might flowe into thy handes Reioyce vpon the iniquitie of the sonnes of men because thou art rewarded for so many mischiefes Reioyce vpon thine assistante companion Ladye Discention who hath burst loose froÌ„ the pit of bottomlesse hell that she might heape vppon thee many gubs of goulde Thou hast that which thou doest thirst after because thou hast daunted the vvorld by the malice of maÌ„kinde not by holy religioÌ„ Men are haled and drawne vnto thee not by deuocion or pure coÌ„science but by treachery and working mischiefes manifolde and the deciding of controuersies gotten with bloud Thus sayth that abbot euen in those times when wher the Popes pride flourished ranckly euen in his ruffe Pope Celestine perceyuing the aduauntage hereof for his estate was still vrgent to sende out the Christian Princes to fighte for the holye lande while he at home with theyr treasures builded for his ease pleasure as Platina mentioneth diuers stately Pallacies and Temples Amonge many decrees he made that an oath made by feare and coÌ„pulsion should be
an anchoresse in S. Albons abbey had this terrible visiion she heard an old man of graue countenaunce crye thre times VVo wo to all that dwel on the earth and then faded away againe Anno 1258. Richard Earle of Cornewall sonne to king Iohn of Englād was chosē king of Almany for his great treasure and the Pope procured that he was chosen Emperour but he did that closely because he had likewyse for the same matter taken a bribe of Alphonsus kinge of Spaine Whereupon a certaine Poet made this Verse Nummus ait pro me nubet Comubia Rome Thus money sayth for loue of me Cornewal with Rome shal lincked be Beside these shiftes made for money this Pope Alexāder vsed another notorious knacke he abusing deluding the simplicitye of the king of England made him beleeue that he would make his sonne Edmond king of Apulia if hee woulde sustaine the charges thereof to maintaine the warres appertayning to it wherupon the king caused his sonne forthwith to be proclaymed king of Apulia and sent to the Pope all the treasure and riches that he could make in his Realme And thus was the king and his sonne deluded and the Realme wonderfullye impouerished by the Popes craft It were to long to discouer all the superstitious wicked deuises of this Pope who at length going to Viterbium Anno 1262. to make peace betweene the Genewaies Venetians according to his owne fansye and because he coulde not haue his will therein he dyed there for anger 125. Vrban the fourth VRban the fourth borne in Fraunce and as some saye was first called Pantaleon being patriarch of Hierusalem As sone as he was Pope by and by he commaūded souldiours out of Fraunce to subdue Manfred the ennemy of the Church for the furtherance therof hee requested Lewes kinge of Fraunce to send his brother Charles the Earle of Anteganor w t an oast into Italye and made him king of both Sicils After many conflictes the said Charles ouercame and slue Manfred at Beneuent and receyued of the Pope against all lawe and right the kingdome of Sicill w t the dukedome of Calabrie and Apulia whereuppon arose many great slaughters While this Pope was frō Rome at Pruse the Romaynes coueting their olde libertyes made a newe kinde of officers callinge them Branderesies who had power of life and death in their handes they chose one Brācaleo a priuate parsō of Bononia to be Senatour whō banished late before they restored But touching Vrban it was not much more then this that he did sauinge that hee ordayned an holye daye namelye Corpus Christi daye the fifte day after Trinitye sonday vpon this occasion as some and most likely do write namelye Arnold Bostro Petrus Praemonstratensis Anno 1264. as they saye a certaine woman called Eue in a Religious house in Leodia with whom the Pope in time past had beene well acquainted had a reuelation which she signifyed by wryting to the Pope beseeching him that the sayd day might be kept holye in the honour of the Sacrament of the altar to whom the Pope according to her desire returned his aunsweare with this Bull to confirme the holy daye The Bull of Pope Vrban to Eue the Anchoresse for the establishing of the holy day called Corpus Christi daye BIshop Vrban seruaunt to the seruauntes of God sendeth greeting and apostolicall bleshing to Eue our beloued daughter in Christe VVe know O daughter that thy soule hath longed with greate desire that a solemne feast day might be appointed for the bodye of oure Lord Iesus Christ in Gods Church to be celebrate of all faithfull Christians for euer And therfore for thy ioye we signifie vnto thee that we haue thought it good for the establishing of the catholicke faith that beside the dailye remembraunce which the Church maketh of so wonderfull a Sacrament there should be more special and solemne recorde appointing a certaine daye for it namelye the fifte daye after Whitsontyde next ensuinge that on the said daye the faithfull flocke do gather together to the Churches deuoutlye and effectuallye and let that daye be to all Christiās ioyfull with new holines and holye with much ioye as is more set out in our apostolicall letters sente for this cause through the world And know ye that we haue caused this feast daye to be solemnized with all oure brethren Cardinals bishops and archbishops and other prelats then being at Rome to giue example of celebratinge the same to all that shal see or vnderstand the same Therfore let thy soule magnifye the Lorde and thy spirite reioyce in God thy sauiour for thine eyes haue seene his saluation which we haue prepared before the face of al people Moreouer reioyce because almighty God hath giuen the thy hartes desire and the fulnes of the heauenly grace hath not disapointed the of the will of thy Iippes c. This Vrhan sate more then three yeares betweene the Guelphes Gibelines and prouoked their quarrels to be tryed by the edge of the sworde to the confusion of manye through Italye He being on a time vpbrayed that he was of base linage aunsweared that no mā was noble by byrth but that to be made noble by vertue is true nobility finallye beinge at Pruse because in great attemptes he had not his desired successe he dyed for griefe Masseus sayth that a blazing starre appeared three nights before the death of this Pope and ceased the same night that he dyed 126 Clemens the fourth CLemens the fourth called before Gui Fulcodius borne in Narbonie ere he came to be Pope was a maryed man and had 3. children by his wyfe a sonne two doughters He as his predecessour began continued in sheddinge of bloud he sent for Charles Earle of Angeow to bringe an armye into Italye where he slew Manfred and was made kinge of Sicill and Hierusalem but vppon this condition that he should paye yearelye to the Pope fortye thousande Crownes This bargaine beinge made betweene them great slaughter bloudshed was committed in diuers places for the said Pope betrayed Conradinus sonne to Conradus kinge of Sicill and inheritour of the kingdomes to the former Charles so that as he passed through the fieldes of Viterbie with an oast of Germaynes wher his abode was at that time the Pope by report sayd that the sayd Conradinus was as a lambe brought to the slaughter shewing therby that he was of councell to the treason Afterward when he foughte with Charles about Naples at the first conflict had sufficient victorye yet then the treason reuealing it selfe Conradinus Frederick duke of Austria were taken being myserablye vsed in their captiuitye mocked and flouted were in the ende beheaded by the Popes commaundement because Conradinus claymed the kingdome which his auncetours possessed Thus the kingdome of Naples came into the hand of the Frenchmen and the dukedome of Sweuia decayed and came to nought by the wickednes of the Pope In the time of
the Readers might the easier be searched out being gathered together into one booke and layde out before all mens eyes the which I rather were performed of any man then of me and I had rather taken in hand my contry matters then foraine busines bicause I haue spent my time in vayne But I would not haue stirred vp this hudge puddel of the Romaine historie the which twoe Hercules were not able to clime But hearken what occasion inforced me therto chiefly the exhortatioÌ„ of my frends did draw me into this matter otherwise I refused it bicause my other worke in the Englishe tongue being proper only to English men knoweÌ„ to very fewe did seeme to do small profite to straungers But this being ioyned to it might be a publike commoditie and profitable to the vse of all men and more prouided for in other matters After this I went to it with a good courage and although I did desire that other men whiche were more fit for this matter and more garnished with eloquence should take this matter in haÌ„d Yet I thought that an accompt should be made of my talent and that I had rather to stumble a little then that so great wickednes of Antichriste so great crueltie and inordinate pleasure more and more breaking out and filling all thinges with the stinke therof being omitted of all men should seeme to be detected to fewe or none And if I should seeme to any maÌ„ to speake to frely let him thinke that it doth not procede of the heat of affectioÌ„ but through the knowledge of my coÌ„scieÌ„ce which do not declare things heard or redde only but things knowen by experience who liued 24. yeares in that secte and was present among theÌ„ being no small souldiour of the Pope where what is it that I haue not seene what that I haue not heard whiche is vnworthy of Christ Christians monkes and also of meÌ„ from whose superstitions at that time I was not free but I vtterly abhorred their filthines and mischiefe Wherefore seing that I perceiued many thinges whiche did offend therefore I am nowe compelled to be more diligent in seeking them out and more sharpe in reprouing them seeing they do not repent But sithe these thinges be done haue biene done of this flocke in Italy Sicil Spayne FrauÌ„ce and Englande who doubteth that sheepe will not followe the shepehearde or rather hogges their swyneheard shall we not knowe the father by the childe or the Lion by his talentes when prysons be full of mischiefe shall we thinke that the Romaine court hath none many things haue bene hidden in darkenesse priuie places the which the Sunne hath not seene but tyme the mother of truthe The monasteries being put down in England hath learned to speake and to bewraye them â–ª As for example the registers of the kinges visitatioÌ„ or as they call it the abbrigemeÌ„t of things knowen by experience in the very congregation colleges of the Papistes the which things I sawe them to my great feare and terrour but nowe I possesse them and kepe them to their great ignominie and shame and haue opened a few of them hereafter in the Epistle to the Reader If Ezechiel now should pearce through the wall and should be brought into their entries halles and darke chambers he shoulde not see the Israelites bewayle Thamnum but gelded meÌ„ vnmaried worthy to be woundred at for the godly profession offring their sacrifice to Baalpeor Bacchus Venus And sithe I knowe these thinges to be certayne and true should I not ouerthrowe them should I not make them manifest and openly knowen to all the worlde Truly they will saye that an Englishe man whiche is separated from all other nations dothe certainly knowe what is done at Rome in the secret chambers of the Pope and his Cardinall Shall not I openlye declare for a truth those thinges whiche are declared in Bookes and seene wyth the eyes of the wryter the whiche thinges not the secrete chambers but the princely court not the priuie corners but the open streetes do euidently shew but they deny it not and yet defende it wyth moste wicked Bookes set foorth in their owne tongue the which Christian shamefastnes forbiddeth me to declare The truth therfore ought to be expressed and not couered with visard and disguising but set foorth in his owne kinde not darkened with cloke or sayle cloth but decked finely in his owne collours for they be grosse thinges and may be groped at with handes But so great is the blindnesse of man that at noone daye he can not see and in the clearest Sunne his eyes be darkened This our miserable Realme of Englande may be vnto vs a familiar example for whose sake more willinglye I toke in hande to write this booke that oure Englishe men may see now at the last what a terrible beast they haue receyued into theyr common wealth what a viper they cherishe in their bosome whose hissinge before they could not wel abide do now suffer themselues to be sâ—ong with their tributes to be bitten with their leuying and takinge vp of money to be entoxicated with their idolatrous poyson Unto whom so many kinges so manye noble men did not once obeye whom VVickliffe the moste godliest of hys time did openlye shewe in writing to be Antichrist Whom K. Henry the eyght banished whom Edward the vi that most godlye king cast forth together with all the reliques and dregs of their religioÌ„ Him Queene Mary receyued being thrust in by Cardinall Poole many men litle regarding it manye winking at it as though they saw it not euery man almost allowinge it or at the least with diuers affections filthily reioysing in it It greeueth mee for my countrey sake because they offend God so greatly in forsaking him and in violatinge the oath which they made before to theyr kinges so that now they are compelled to obey at the becke to the newe monstrous cruell gouernment of most wicked Antichriste vnder whom they haue deserued to be oppressed with an idolatrous yoke to be blinded wyth superstition and deuilish Poperye and with a smal assault of the ennemyes to be shamefullye ouercome The which notwithstanding while Gods Religion flourished and Poperye wythered and was wasted away was neyther aflicted with the hand of God neither assaulted with any external power but if it were assaulted yet at no time coulde they conquere it I speake these things most reuerent fathers to my greate griefe and so much the more because I iudge the contempte of the word of God and the gulfe of Romaine filthines to be the cause of the plagues and that Christ beinge troden downe we had rather that the Pope the witch and Circes of the whole worlde not the seruaunt of all seruauntes but the Lorde of all Lords not the Uicar of Christe but the minister of the deuill should treade and skip vpon our shoulders and neckes then we would embrace kisse the sweete yoke the
sodainly Anno. 886. 47. Steuen the fift STeuen the fift gat to be Pope at such time as Fraunce was inuaded by the Normans England by the Danes Pannonye by the Hunnes and Italy by the Sarracens He liued in much trouble and anguish of the mind all the time of his being Pope because Italy was so vexed with warre and the Romaines were not at his commaundemente enoughe yet he employed himselfe to the most of his endeuour daily to encrease their Babilonical trumperye and that none of his decrees might be defaced for as Gratian writeth Distinct. 6. Enimuero he decreed that all the Cānons of the Church of Rome ought of necessity to be kept The same Pope sayth he forbad anye Christians to condemne any to be put to death with hot iron or scalding water which was thē vsed Cau. 2. quest 4. He caused a lawe to be made howe to order such parents as do either ignorantly smother their children in theyr beddes with thē or els do choake them or murther them He dyed Anno 892. 48. Formosus the first FOrmosus the first being bishoppe of Portua fearing the crueltye of Iohn the ix forsoke Rome because hee was thought to be giltye of Iohns imprisonmente this name Formosus signifying beutifull whiche beinge made Pope he choose and toke vppon him sheweth sayth Cranzius that he was a proude parson This Formosus for those former causes vowed and sware an oath that he would neuer returne to his bishopricke nor to Rome both which he had forsaken so he gaue ouer his orders forsoke priestcraft and became a layeman but the nexte that succeded did absolue him frō the oath which he had sworn to Pope Iohn and for moneye did restore him After the death of Steuen this Formosus so monied the matter that hee purchased Peters chayre but as not with out bribes so not without great brauling by meanes that one Sergius a deacon wrestled for the same place For the appeasing wherof he calling Arnulphus sonne of Carolomannus into Rome made him Emperour who to gratify him for his curtesy stroke of the heades of them that were his chiefest aduersaries He raigned vi yeres did almost nothing he died Anno 896. And at the length for these quarrels cōtinuing amōg his successors his bodye and bones were taken vp by Sergius the third the ninthe Pope after him and throwne into the riuer Tiber. After this Formosus the Popes did so dispatch one another that within nine yeares there were xi Popes 49. Boniface the sixt BOniface the sixte was Pope but a while after Formosus and therefore he could not shew of whether faction he was in such great debate among the Cardinalles the people He liued but 25. dayes Pope as Anselmus saith to be remembred for nothinge but for his quiet election happye in nothing but in raigning but a while 50. Steuen the sixt STeuen the sixt succedinge Boniface was so enflamed against Formosus that at the first hee disanulled his decrees cancelled his actes And althoughe Formosus had beene beneficiall vnto him before in making him bishop of Agnina yet this curtesye could not cause this vnthankful prelate to forbeare his malicious purpose but because that this Formosus had before preuēted him in the Popedome and by getting it disapointed him would not suffer him to keepe concubines he conceyued such deadly rancour against him euen after his death that to reuenge his quarrel vppon the dead bodye he sommoninge a counsaile first toke the karkasse of Formosus out of his graue then put al the Popes pontificall robes and attyre vppon it and plucked it of againe and so as it were spitefullye to disgrade him put on layemans apparell vppon him finallye cutting of those two fingers of the right hande wherwith hee vsed to hold the Sacrament and throwinge them into Tiber he commaunded to burye his bodye againe but not among spiritual mens bodyes but among laye men Thus after one yeares raigne he dyed Anno. 897. 51. Romanus the first ROmanus a Romaine by name and byrth though some thincke he were a Spaniard did nothinge worthye of remembrance but whereas he fauoured Formosus he allowed his doinges and did abrogate the decrees actes of Steuen But because he liued not longe hee coulde not proceede farre in his factious doinges which tainted the Romaine prelates shamefully at this time especiallye He dyed the third month of his Popeship Anno. 898. 52. Theodorus the second THeodorus the second euen at his entraūce followed the examples that Romanus had set to him But there is no notorious thing mentioned of him because he liued but a while sauinge that as Stella Venetus sayth he also walked in the seditious pathes of his forefathers He had no regarde of Gods cause but was a maintayner and vpholder of Formosus quarell and cherished those that were of that faction but his shorte time preuented his farther doinge He dyed the xx daye of his Popeship Anno. 899. 53. Iohn the tenth IOhn the tenth succeded Theodorus as well in manners as in place for wheras these seditions were almost buryed he in his time renued the scab againe and made it sorer then before Iohn sayth Barnus mindinge to restore Formosus doinges whollye he sturred a great tumult because the people did resist and withstande it and when hee sawe that it woulde brast into open warre he gotte him to Rauenna and sommoning thither a conuocation of 74. bishops he restored all Formosus his decrees euen to the vttermost and did openlye condemne the actes made by Steuen because he had done so reprochfullye against the dead carcasse Also he burnt al the writings that were to be gotten of that Synode against Formosus but he proceeded no further in these broyles for wante of breath Hee dyed Anno. 901. 54. Benedict the fourth BEnedict the fourth is reported to haue done no notable thinge in these iarres and braules In this age sayth Stella it happened that as wel through the hedds meaning the Popes set all on sedition as by the bodye addicted to slouth al vertue withered away Likewyse sayth Platina when the Church through her wealth wexed wanton and riotous and none of the head of the clergye cōtrolled vice then forthwith wickednes hauing gotten liberty brought forth and yelded vs these Popes being as it were mōsters and mongrels which encroche Peters place by ambition and briberye Benedict dyed Anno. 904. 55 Leo the fift LEo the fift being made Pope euen in his dignitie was taken by strong hande and cast into prison violently by one Christopher seking to make him selfe Pope being but a prieste and chapleine to Leo one whom he had brought vp in his owne house Whiche thing sayth Platina coulde not be done without great seditiō and the slaughter of many And of what auctoritie the place was now it may wel appeare when as firste harlottes bare sway and ruled the Popes then a priuate persone durst and could thus within so shorte a
and that he that had deuorced other men from theyr wiues and honest matrimonye liued in whoredome with another mans wyfe Also this Gregory iudged to death three men before they were conuict or confessed theyr cryme without the sentence of anye seculer Iudge and caused them to be hanged forthwith Another time he cast Centius the sonne of a Senatour into prison being his especial friend caused him to be tormented rolled in a barrel of sharpe nayles till he was almost dead But Centius escaping apprehended the sayde Hildebrand and mighte haue quitted his quarrel yet the people disappointed him but the Pope ere he were deliuered sware openlye that he would forgeue him and the rest that had apprehended him But being at libertye contrarye to his oath he reuenged it causing Centius and ix of his company to be hanged for it the other he condempned to banishment and among them the sonne of a widow who after the yeare of his vanishment was expyred did returne was led with an halter about his necke by his mother to Gregorie whoÌ„ the mother for full satisfaction desired to take her sonne and deliuer him againe as a new purged maÌ„ But Gregorie had hanged him but that the Iuâ—tices â–ª coÌ„sidering the penaunce that he had done were more iuste and wyse and refused to do it and therefore Gregorie in a rage commauÌ„ded one of his feete to be cut of wherof the yongmaÌ„ dyed wythin fiue dayes to the great griefe of the poore wydowe his mother Abbas Vspergensis other write thus It is manifest say they that this Hildebrand was not chosen by God but intruded himselfe by money guile who tossed the ecclesiastical estate vpside downe and troubled the kingdome of Christen Empier practised to murther the quiet Prince defended oath breakers fostred debate sowed discentioÌ„ raysed offences made deuorcemeÌ„ts and disordered euery thing that seemed to be well among the godlye He was the first that put the ministers of the Church from their wyues by excommunicatioÌ„ He moued broyles through Fraunce Germany and Englande tedious to be tolde This deuorcement of ministers wiues did offende a great nomber of learned men at that time for in Germanye and Fraunce there were yet xxiiii and more bishops who wyth the clergye of theyr Diocesse were then maryed and did stoutly maintayne theyr mariage still beside those that were in England Italye Amonge other things Gregorie commaunded the Saturday to be fasted He canonized Pope Liberius sainte who was an ArriaÌ„ heriticke also he apointed an holye daye in reuerence of him He toke awaye the Crowne from the kinge of Poland He condemned Berengarius opinion againste reall presence was the first that is noted to haue established the doctrine of transubstantiatioÌ„ He condemned a layman of sacrilege that should reape the commoditye of tenthes as of impropriat parsonages but condemned him of heresye that inuested a priest and him of Idolatrye that should take a benefice of a layman These and other like attemptes gaue Hildebrand whereby hee made the Popes leaden blade to hew asonder almost the Emperours iron sworde Many of the clergye as 14. Cardinals beside diuers bishops other did so abhorre the detestable treachery of this coniurer Gregorie that they forsoke him for shame his villanyes were so manye and so monstrous encreasinge dailye In steedâ— of God he serued the deuill of Princes whom he shoulde honour hee made worse then slaues finallye as his name was Hildebrand so in deede he was an helly brande to all Christendome tormoyled by his meanes with rebellions treasons murders c. But at the length Henry the Emperour began to set himselfe against the Popes practises and in the yeare of Christ 1083. in a Synode at Brixia layinge his treacheryes to his charge hee did depriue him of his place and appointed another in his steede whom hee called Clement the thirde He sent his armye to Rome to driue out Gregorie and to establishe this Clement and by his longe siege he brought Rome to so great penurye that they were compelled to sue for peace But Hildebrand because he would not come in the Emperours sighte beinge reiected forsaken of the Romaynes fled to Salerne wher he ended his wretched life in great miserye Anno 1086 Antonius and Vincentius shewe that this Hildebrand euen at the latter gaspe called to him a certaine Cardinal and confessed to him that he had haynouslye offended because at the deuils enticemeÌ„ts he had sturred vp hurlye burlies hatred and warres among many and bad the cardinal go to desire the Emperour to pardon him Diuers meÌ„ wrote against him his vile life as CaÌ„didus a Cardinall VValramus bishop of Niemburg Venericus bishop of Vercellen Rowland priest of Parmen Sigebertus Gemblacensis Also of this Gregorie it is said that he neuer weÌ„t without a booke of coniuring about him 99. Victor the thirde VIctor the third abbot of Cassa was made Pope not by the election of the Romaynes or Cardinals but was thrust in by the ayde of his harlot Mathilda and the Normans that were of his faction He being established began to defende Gregories prankes against the Emperour and Clement appointed by him but the hastines of hys death shortened his mallice who as Hermannus Contractus Carsulanus Praemonstratensis and sondrye other testifye was poysoned by his deacoÌ„ who at masse time put the poyson into the challice against that Pope should receiue it Diuers wonders are reported to haue happened at that time as of tame birds geese cockes hennes pigions pecocks flewe into the mountaynes and became wild houge store of fishe died in the Sea diuers Cityes were so shaken w t earthquakes so as the greater Pallas at Syracuse falling downe did slaye all that were then in the Church sauing a couple 100. Vrban the second VRban the seconde an Hetrurian borne called Otho before was made Pope by the harlot Mathilda and the Norman Lords in Apulia in dispite of the Emperour This is a scholer of Hildebrand whom for followinge his maisters steppes Benno calleth a blind guide a sciesmaticke an heriticke and companion of Liberius the Arrian hereticke He watred those graftes of mischiefe which Gregorie had planted and was therefore called the turmoyler of the world by descantinge of his name and in steede of Vrban calling him Turban He excommunicated Clement the seconde established by the Emperour and also the Emperour for establishinge of him procured manye forsworne rebels both nobles and commoners to conspire againste him and likewyse the same Clement as being Pope did againe excommunicate him as an vsurper wherevppon it moued many reasonings amonge both spirituall temporall who should be right Pope And these controuersyes were tossed both in Germanye and other countryes But when Vrban would absolue none whom Gregorie had excommunicated he was fayne for feare of his life to flie by stealth from Rome He held fiue couÌ„cels in sondrye places and all for the establishing of Gregories
succede Boniface the ix While this InnoceÌ„t was but Cardinal as Plat. sayth he purposed to reproue the dastardlines negligence of the former Popes saying that theyr sâ—oath was the cause that the sciesme of xl yeares in the Church of Rome and the destructioÌ„ of the common wealth was not redressed But he hauing gotten the Popedome and following the fashions of Boniface Vrban in diuers things which beinge but a Cardinall he had reproued he did not onelye that which in other hee had so much condemned but also would be highly offended if anye man should haue mentioned it vnto him He gouerned all thinges so disorderly that when the Romaynes requyred to haue the Capitoll theyr libertye kight bridge and Adrian castel to be restorde vnto them and were verye earnest that he should take awaye this daungerous deuision in the Church pacify the warres and qualify the seditions whereunto the French king promised his ayde Peter Moone denyed not to take peace then the Pope sente the Romaynes to Lewis his nephewe dwelling in the hospital called the holy ghostes hospital as to an hangmaÌ„ for the purpose who forthwith murthered xi of the Citizens which came to procure redresse for theyr countrye which by the maliciousnes and negligence of the Pope was broughte almost to confusion The saide Lewis first stripped them naked then he murthered them and last of all threw them gasping for breath out at a windowe sayinge We cannot cast out sedition by anye other meanes then this Where their bodies lay mangled in the streates till it was night By the which crueltye the Romaynes being much enraged seeking assistance of Ladislaus king of Apulia they range a larum bell and put themselues in armour to reuenge the villany vpon Lewis But the Pope to shonne the furye of the people fledde in all post hast with his nephew the murtherer to Viterbium in the extreame heate of the daye so that he and some Cardinals that fled wyth him being sore heated were almost choaked and dead for wante of drincke but xxx of his companye perished out right Also one of the pezantes killed the abbot of Peruse by the way hard beside the Pope another pezant killed one of the court for greedines of a pot of drincke before the Popes face and all theyr bodies that dyed by that waye were left vnburyed Also after the Pope was come to Viterbium many of his court dyed with drinkinge sodenlye cold wyne Then the people for anger that they could not ease theyr stomackes vpon the woorkers of this treacherye turned their rage vppon the courtiers whose goodes for the most part was spoyled and taken away but some courtiers by report were saued in Cardinals houses Afterwarde they hauinge taken the Capitoll and wonne Right bridge attempting in vaine to assault AdriaÌ„ castel In this broyle Iohn Columna Earle of Troye and other noble Captaynes of great bands wyth Ladislaus his furtheraunce ioyned wyth the Romaynes And hereof arose a bloudy conflict ioyned wyth much villanye sayth Theodoricus betweene the Guelphes and Gibelines these fightinge for the Citye the other ioyned wyth the Vrsines for the Clergye lasted many dayes in the Citye w t murther rauishing of womeÌ„ robbing spoyling wtout coÌ„trolmeÌ„t Many Cardinals were vsed vnreuerently taken led to the Capitoll and there beaten w t coodgels some prelates had their garments torne of their backes and lay long in cruel prison the Popes treasury was robbed and pilfred many of his bulls and pardons with other such wrytinges were rente and torne And sayth Theodoricus who can tell all the vile touches vsed in the Citye The pictures of Pope Innocent were in al places daubed with durt and greater despites doone against him But in the ende all thinges being appeased because it was thought that Innocentius much misliked this murther done by his nephew as he dissembled it the Pope returned to Rome and choose more Cardinals among whom were Angel Corrarius a Venetian Peter Philargus borne in Candy and Otho Columna a noble Romaine He hauing thus fortifyed his Popeship created his bloudye nephewe Lewis Marques of Picene and also appointed him afterward Prince of Firma He commaunding the halfe of Ecclesiastical liuinges both in Fraunce and England toke the foyle in this matter for it was denyed him sayth Gaguinus after the which hee liued not longe but dyed Anno 1407. at Rome Theoricus sheweth how that wheÌ„ these sturres were hot in Rome on a nighte in Auguste such tempestes happened that two Nunnes standinge together were slaine wyth a flashe of lightninge and diuers houses walles and towers were beaten downe Also he reporteth that this Innocentius refusing contrary to his oath at his election to come to agreement with Peter Moone the other Pope that stoode against him was straungelye touched by the hand of God the same time for hauing hyred his freindes to be a meanes that he shoulde neuer be more moued to giue vp his estate he was sodeinly taken wyth a straunge Palsey in the face all men saying it was Gods iudgement for his dissembling But he was recouered of this ere he returned to Rome 148. Gregorie the xij GRegorie the xii a Venetian borne was first called Angel Corrarius he being Patriarke of Constantinople and S. Markes Cardinall was chosen to succeede Innocent But hee was chosen at Rome vpon this condition that if it should be needeful for the behoofe of the Church he should depose himselfe of his Popeship because that Benedict the xiii â–ª called Peter Moone who at Auenio was choseÌ„ to succeede Clement the vii Gregorie beinge enstalled Pope did confirme his promise by wrytinge before notaryes and witnesses vpon condition that the other who also claymed the Popedome should do in like maner and yelde vp his estate But when Benedict woulde not but stoode stiflye to clayme his right and fled from Auenio into Spayne this Gregorie likewise woulde not giue place But in the beginning they notwithstanding exhorting ech other by Legates offeringe on either side to yeld vp their titles appointed to meete in Sauona to make peace But by their conference vsed by Legates they so mocked and disapointed one another which caused many Christians to speake euill of them they sturred a greater strife and therefore a greate councell was helde at Pise Anno 1410. wherein these dalyers and deluders were both broughte before the Cardinals of either faction who with one consente depriued them both of the Popedome In this Sinode were 124. deuines almost 300. Lawyers which deposed them both choose forthwith one Alexander borne in Candy This deede was allowed by al Nations sauing the Spaniards the Scots the Earle of Armenia who whollye claue to Peter Moone neuerthelesse Gregorie Benedict defying this councell toke vpon them stil the estate as they did both before But fearing least they should be appreheÌ„ded the one of them fled to Ariminus with Leonarde Aretine Secretarye the other with his companions fled into Catalony
the saying in the 17. of thapocalips concerninge the x. kinges These haue one counsell and power and shal giue their power vnto the beast THE FOVRTH BOOKE coÌ„tayning the third order of Popes in whoÌ„ Antichrist appeareth to be come toward fulnesse of hys wickednes specifyed in the 17. Chapter of the Reuelation speakinge of Antechrist in the kingdome of the greate whore of Babilon vvhich sitteth vppon the beaste vvith seuen heades and that Prophecye seemeth to maister Baale to containe these 41. Popes following to Siluester the second HYtherto from Phocas the Emperours time for the space of 247. yeares Antichrist like the beast raigned in the Church of Christians without iudgemente or consideration of heauenly spirite Hytherto the Popes euen to the forteth Pope cast theyr eyes on earthly things forgetting Gods euerlasting testament as if they onely regarded but the fleshe and not the soule All theyr delight was in newe traditions ceremonyes buildings pleasures pompe warres treasons and translations of kingdomes as appeareth so that they seemed to liue in the glorye of this worlde and in contempte with Christ so that the Church vnder their gouernment is at length become the strompet of Babilon according to the whole discours of the Apocalips The truth whereof the Lord hath most euidently reueiled in this next Pope that followeth who was a woman and an harlot whereby al men may vnderstand the misterye reuealed by Christ. THE POPES OR ROMAINE ANTICHRISTES 40 Ioan the eight IOan the eight being a woman was made Pope and because of her bringing vp vnder a certeine Englishe maÌ„ a Monke of Fulda whome she loued tenderly her name was altered and she was called Iohn Englishe She sat as Pope in the pontificall seate at Rome two yeares and syxe monethes She was a Germain of kindred and borne in Mens called at the firste Gilberta who the more to enioye her louers company and the better to auoyde suspicioÌ„ dissembled her kinde and put her selfe into mans apparell so trauailed with the Monke her peramour to Athens where after she had profited in all the sciences her louer being dead she came to Rome disguising still her selfe and counterfaiting to be a man For through the promptnesse of her wit and ready tongue shee talked eloquently in publique lectours and disputations And many had her in admiratioÌ„ for her learning She grew into so great credit was so wel liked of al that Leo the Pope being dead they chose her Pope In whiche office as other Popes did shee gaue orders made priests and deacons promoted bishops made abbots sayde masses hallowed altars and churches ministred the Sacramentes and gaue men her feete to kisse and did all other thinges belonging to Popes her doinges stode in force But in the time of her Popeship â–ª Lotharius the Emperour being an olde man became a Monke And Lewis the seconde came to Rome and receiued of â—er the scepter and crowne of the Empier with Peters blessing whereby the whore of Babilon shewed her self so mighty that she made kinges stoupe vnto her Apo. 17. Also as Houedenus saith in her time Ethelwolphus king of Englande gaue the tenth part of his kingdome to the Priestes and Monkes to praye for his soule And his sonne Ethelwaldus maried Iudith a wydow and lately his owne fathers wyfe and his stepmother But as touching Pope Ioan she was gotten with childe by one of her familiar chaplaynes a Cardinall to whome her fleshly appetite caused her to discâ—ose her selfe As she was going on procession solemly to Lateran churche in the middest of the way and in the open streate betwene Colossus Clement church she was deliuered of childe in presence of all the people and died of her trauell in the same place And for this wickednesse she was stripped and spoyled of all pontificall honour and buried without any pompe or solemnitie Whereof Mantuan wryteth describing hell in the thirde booke of Alphonsus thus Here honge the dame that erst disguised would seme a maÌ„ to be VVhose head the Roman miter ware with crest of crownettes three VVho playde a shamelesse strumpettes parte in place of Popes degree Lo this is that seate that can not erre being endued with the holy Ghost by succession or rather an euident argument of the seate of Babilon But the Popes since that time in their procession do shonne that place where she was deliuered as odious for the hap thereof Funcius sayth boldely that this was suffered by Gods especiall prouidence that this woman should be made Pope being also an harlot euen then when she should bring kinges as she did Ethelwolphus and Alphredus in subiection vnto her whereby Antichrist might be knowen for then it was the Lordes pleasure to bewraye the whore of Babilon in a Pope being an whore Whereof the holy Ghost foretold Apoc. 17. that the elect might beware of her But to auoide the like incoÌ„uenience of a woman for the time folowing they deuised that who so euer should be chosen Pope should be serched very narrowely to be tryed a man shamefull to be reported but vsed without shame among suche shamelesse shauelinges But nowe commonly they nede not when they chuse them Popes mistrust them to be women for whyle they are Cardinals they playe suche Carnall partes that they are able to bring forth bastardes of their owne begetting to proue them selues men whereof one Iohn Pannonius wrote a mery Epigram in foure Latin verses testifying the truthe of this their doing of the whiche I omitte the two first verses for ciuilitie sake it may be gathered by these latter two what is ment Cur igitur nostro mos hic iam tempore cessat Ante probat sese quilibet esse marem How hapneth that this groaping them is vsed nowe no more Because eache one doth try him selfe to be a man before 41. Benedict the third BEnedict the thirde being first tried vpon the porphyry stoole to be a man was made Pope Massaeus saith he howled out and cried miserably that he should be promoted to so great dignitie whereof he was vnworthy a rare thing among them But some thinke he did it but of hypocrysie because As Platina saith he offred his feete to be kyssed and suffred him selfe to bee worshipped lyke an earthly Idoll Then came Embassadours from Lewis the Emperour to confirme the election of him done by the Clergie and people Among many supersticious and vaine ceremonies he appointed that Dirige should be sayde for the dead that the Clergy should go soberly honestly He died Anno 859. In this time as Sigebertus and Vincentius testifie in Mens as a certaine Priest was casting holy water a certayne Diuell lurking vnder his Cappe as if he had bene a familiar to him did accuse him that he laye with a Proctours doughter that nighte 42. Nicolas the first NIcolas the firste was made Pope in the presence of Lewis the seconde Emperour after his father Lotharius But as sone as Lewis was departed out of