of Charles the Emperor putteth out the flaming eyes of the word of God and maketh the Scriptures to bee as darke as Sibyllaes oracles iumping herein with the heretike Tatianus Hosius the Popes Legat in the Councell c. are wholy against the authoritie of the scriptures Thus the beast and false Prophet with their armies maketh warre against the word of God who hath many crownes on his head and eyes like a flame of fire c. d Can. Trid. ses 25. de reform cap. 20. Vnder this Pope the Councell decreeth that the immunitie of the Popish Church and her iurisdiction was required to be defended by all Princes as the principall things of God for he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God e Geneb 1167. And from hence is that league falsely called holy Anno 1566. Pius the fifth f Geneb 1168. 1169. 1179. a most seuere obseruer of the Councell of Trent he twice proscribed the realme of England and exposed it as a pray to whosoeuer would take it the force of which thunderbolt the godly papists continually do pray to see howsoeuer they doe otherwise dissemble g Buchol Ann. 1566. About 400. nobles of the low-countries make supplication to the Gouernesse the Dutchesse of Parma that the Spanish inquisition might not be brought in amongst them and that she would graunt them libertie in religion a Geneb 1170. In many places images are cast downe and here begin the warres for religion in the low countries b Annales Belgiâ— Oratio Phil. Mornix Then came the tyrant the Duke of Alua into the low countries who was sent to roote out all the Protestants there He there committed most bloudie executions cruell warres and most horrible persecutions of which he insulted when he left the countries c Christopoli Apologia Yet doe the papists blame him and exclaime vpon him for his ouer much clemencie for the scarlet beast is full of names of blasphemie and nothing but death will satisfie them d Specul Tragicunt p. 97. The King of Spaine caused his sonne Charles to be apprehended imprisoned and put to death because he suspected him to fauour the distressed estate of the low countries Gregorius the thirteenth restoreth Papistrie Anno 1572. excommunicateth Queene Elizabeth and changeth the computation of the yeare This e Histo Gallica Buchol yeare after many mercilesse murthers in France at the mariage of the king of Nauar in Paris most horrible bloudie and cruell Councels were assembled and massacres committed vpon the Admirall of France and many other Nobles of the reformed religion which were insâ—sted thither As also vpon others in diuers places to the number of 30,000 were murthered at this time in France So were the French men murthered 290. yeeres before in Sicilia for their abhominable wickednes like death but farre vnlike cause f Buchol Ibid. Arias Montanus finished that excellent worke of the Bible in foure languages After these murthers in France followed g 1574. Annales Belgi a bloudy battaile at sea neere Romerswall in the low-countries where the Spaniards were ouerthrowen that yet they can recouer no strength at sea there and the sea in a manner steyned with the blood of the slaine For thou hast giuen them blood to drinke h 1588. Mer. Gallo bel Meteranus alij The Spaniards and all the confederats of the papists sent into the narrow seas against England c. a nauie which they called inuincible i cap. 13.1 c. For the beast hath the face of a Lyon which by the great and wonderfull mercy of God strangely disposing of the windes and by the valour of the English nauie was scattered and in a manner destroyed k 15â—9 Histo Gallica The next yeere the King of France Henry the third was murthered by a Frier in the same chamber in which the massacre was concluded vpon which was committed 1572. this King being then the principall person in the deliberation and consent For now of long time religious men had learned of the l Genff de Turcorum origine lib. 3. p. 152. Saracenicall Assasines to carrie kniues in their sleeues to murther Princes in their houses as a step to paradise Then did the most sacred Queene of England vnder the leading of the mirrour of true Christian nobilitie and cheualrie Peregrine Lord Willoughby send forces into France to assist Henry the fourth King of France and Nauarra against the Duke de Maine and the league who had driuen the King to an exceeding straight at Diepe By which seruice the King so succeeded against his enemies that a Mercu. Gallo Belg. if he had followed his fortunes he had cleaâ—e ouerthrowen the league for euer b 1598. Specul Trag. Apologia Christopoli historiae de Indi occidentaâ—i c. Fox Mart. At last died Philip the second King of Spaine who made peace with the Turke the better to roote out the Gospell vnder whom in Spaine England the low-countries India c. an infinit number of pore innocents were put to death Whether his death were more strange or miserable is very hard to say For he died all his partes in a manner eaten with lice c Edict of the F. K. The French King published an edict by which the Protestants in France haue libertie to professe the Gospell and to beare offices to the great increase of the Gospell there d 1603. The kingdomes of England and Scotland were most happily vnited the crowne discending to the most godly learned and excellent King Iames by the merciful dispensation of the grace of almighty God King of Scots Who to shew that he acknowledgeth to hold his crownes of Christ hath published this Sonet Basllicon doron GOd a Psal 82.1 giues not Kings the stile of Gods in vaine For b cap. 7.17 on his throne his Scepter doe they sâ—ey And as c cap. 16.17.18 their subiects ought them to obey So d cap. 4.10 5. 8 9.10 11.16 c. Kings should feare and serue their God againe If then you would e cap. 10.1.2 11.15 enioy a happie raigne f cap. 17.16 Obserue the statutes of your heauenly King And g cap. 10.11.12 from his law make all your Lawes to spring Since h cap. 17.17 his Lieutenant here ye should remaine i cap. 11.18 〈…〉 the â—â—st he sâ—â—d fâ—â—st trâ—â— and plaine Eâ—â—resse the proud k cap. 7.17 〈…〉 are the right Walâ—â— l cap. 19.12 alwayes so at euer in his sight Who guards the godly m cap. 15.1 plaguing the prophane And n cap. 1.13 c. so ye shall in Princely vertues shine Resembling right o cap. 4.2.3 c your mightie King Diuine Hallelu-iah for the Lord that God that almightie God hath reigned Amen Hallelu-iah To the Reader THere remaine yet to be powred out the sixth and seauenth Phials The great Hallelu-iahs The waâ—â—â— of Gâ—g
in the manner now they be and d Geneb p. 96 Par. Vrs p. 3 appointed that certaine times in a day a bell should be tolled when the people should say certaine deuotions in the praise of the virgin Mary e Geffre d. truc morib 1. p. 31. as the Turkes at certaine times when their priests doe stand in the towers of their Churches and cry out that the people may heare them f Par. Vrs â— Mat. Paris p. 538. doe fall downe and doe say certaine deuotions vpon this idolatry of the Christians the Tartares doe wast the countries of the Christians Innocentius the fourth g Par. Vrsp p. 329. was chosen after long delaie Ann. 1241. because the Emperour held some of the Cardinals in prison because of discord among the Electors h Mat. Paris p. 585. He presently confirmed the excommunication of Fridericus who therefore stopped the waies of the Popes postes and hanged vp two Minorites that by stealth did carry letters to mooue sedition amongst the Nobles The Templars for hatred of the Emperour besieged and vexed the Teutonici in the holy land not suffering them to burie their dead i 588. Many Princes are alienated from the Emperour and elect the Landgraue of Thuring against him k 589. But the Emperour presently made peace with the Landgraue VVise men laboured to make peace betweene the Pope and the Emperour but the Emperour refused to submit himselfe absolutely to the Popes censure desiring to haue the causes and conditions first known neither would hee resigne the rites of the Empire l 592. The lamentable newes of the Tartars had stirred all Christendome against them had not the grieuous distraction betweene the Pope and Emperour beene the let The friers Preachers and Minorites fall out bitterly betweene themselues m 594. The Pope sendeth an Extortor into England c. with power to suspend excommunicate and punish many waies all such as would not suffer him to leauie what money he pleased For the beast is footed like a Beare a Mat. Paris p. 617. 618. VVhen the Emperour laboured for peace with the Pope in vaine the Pope as it seemed of purpose to bring the Emperour into causelesse hatred fled into Ianua where he had Gallies ready to entertaine him The Emperour smelling the Popes drift said with griefe The wicked flie when none followeth The Popes faction perswadeth the Landgraue to take the dignity of the Empire in hand make warre vpon Fridericus whom they called tyrant persecutor a confederate with Saracens For the beast doth open his mouth to blaspheme them that are called Gods c. But the Landgraues friends aduiseth him not to trust the promises of the Popes partie and the Emperour comming on a suddaine the Landgraue was alienated from that purpose and gaue gifts to the Emperour and so they parted friends b 622. The Pope sendeth abroad as to England by strange and incredible authoritie to rake money for aide against the Emperour c 623. 624. who writeth to England to staie their contribution and rather to exempt themselues from former impositions protesting his innocencie and that the Pope had reiected his submission the manner whereof hee was willing to referre to the censure of the Kings of England and France and their Barones See a Lambe in the throne d 632. The French king vpon recouerie of a desperate sickenesse voweth a voyage into the holy land e 633. After the presages of heauie things as thunders and lightenings f 635. the Pope through France causeth the Emperour to be preached excommunicate which when a Priest should denounce he said to the people I know the Pope and Emperour to be at controuersie the cause I know not but I pronounce the partie excommunicated that doth the wrong and absolue the innocent g 636. The Pope calleth a Councel at Lugdunum where his chamber was burned h 638. as it was thought of purpose to get occasion to extort money of the Prelates comming to the Councell i 642. And partly by moning his wants and partly by large promises of preferments many of the prelates bestowed incredible wealth vpoÌ„ the Pope k VVestmonâ—st whom againe he honoured with titles and dignities l Mat. Paris p. 643. 644. 645. In the Councell the Emperours proctor answered diligently for his Lord made large offers to subiect the Romane Empire to the Church of Rome to fight against the Tartars and for the holy land All which the Pope insolently reiected and refused the kings of France and England to bee sureties for the Emperours promise herein m 658. And n 6. Decr. 66. 2. tit 14. cap. 1. notwithstanding the Proctor confuted all obiections made by the Pope or others yet he proceedeth with the assistance of the prelates with candles put out to excommunicate and n 6. Decr. 66. 2. tit 14. cap. 1. depriue the Emperour forbidding him any more to be named Emperour by any which the Proctor said was the beginning of many euill daies The Pope to further his purposes a Volat. 22. f. 255. Geneb 970.971 aduanced the Cardinals For whereas before they had not that brauerie of retinue and ornaments he granted them for honour to ride on white horses and to weare red hats in token they should spend their liues for the Church of Rome like b Curio 1. p. 28. the Princes that followed Mahomet who drewe their swords and promised by solemne oath to allow of none other law but that which Mahomet should make in defence and setting forth whereof they then and there protested at all times when neede should require to spend their blood and liues c Mat. Paris 655. The Pope with large promises and bribes and supplications requesteth the Electors to choose another But Fridericus preuented him with disswasions d Pag. 658. and putteth a crowne on his own head reuiling the Pope and threatning bloodie warres before he would loose it e Gob. ae 6. c. 64 There passed sharp letters betweene the Pope and the Emperour f 235. the Emperour aduising the Pope to absolue him lest saith he our lyon which faineth himselfe to sleepe doe wake and with his terrible roaring doe driue all fatte bulls out of all lands and planting righteousnesse doe gouerne the Church rooting out the hornes of the proud g Mat. Paris p. 659. 660. And of that argument sent letters abroad which was the meanes hee had lesse regard h 662. The French king commandeth the Pope to conference about the Emperours peace and his owne voyage to the holy land i 664. and the kings brother and diuers Nobles take the crosse k 675. 676. The French king againe importuneth the Pope for the Emperours peace but still in vaine Wherefore he departeth from the Pope angrie because he found not that humilitie which he hoped for in the seruant of the seruants of God
of the comming of Theodosius the true Christian Prince Albeit the rest of the Arians presumed and reported Theodosius to be defeated whence the Papists haue learned to spread presumptuous lying newes Howbeit at last euen for feare they giue glorie to the God of heauen These e Fox in hunc locum things do most aptly agree vnto the times of the preaching and martyrdome of Iohn Hus and Ierom of Prage c. before and at the Councell of Constance and to the effects that followed thereupon The complement Alexander the fifth a Fox Mart. p. 531. 567. was chosen Pope to take away the schisme In his time the Boemians Anno 1409. by the preaching of Iohn Hus c encreased much in the knowledge of the Gospel for before this time by the spreading of Wickliefes bookes they began to tast and sauour of it b Peuce 5. f. 156. 157. The summe of his preaching was a reprehension of the fornication couetousnes and pride of the Priests c and against the magicke consecrations of the oyle water c. He prooued his assertions by the word of God the holy scriptures vnto which alone he would reduce all doctrine Hereupon grew contentions in the Vniuersitie of Prage And when those which did striue for the Pope were not able to resist the founde testimonies of the scripture alleadged by Hus they left the Vniuersitie c Fox Mart. 532 When the Pope heard of these preachings and disputations he sent his bull vnto the Archbishop requiring him to looke that no such things were maintained and cited Iohn Hus to appeare before him Iohn Hus answereth the Bull to be contrary to the doings and examples of Christ and his Apostles and to restreine or fight against the free course of the word of God Wherefore he appealeth from this mandate to the same Pope better aduised But as hee was prosecuting of his appeale the Pope died there died also the Archbishop c d cap. 11.5 by the fire that proceeded out of the mouth of Christs witnesses c. Iohn the twentieth three e Gobel aet 6. cap. 90.94 a diuell incarnate Anno 1410. and a most profound inuentor of all sorts of infamous wickednes most rigorous He receiued of the harlots of one citie viz Bâ—nenia 300. florens euery moneth for tribute of their whoredome c. The King of Sicilia brake into Rome which the Pope not forseeing with many Curtizans was spoyled Vnto f Fox Mart. p. 567. this Pope or rather beast was Hus accused for an heretike because he seemed rather willing to preach the Gospell then the bishops traditions The Pope committeth the matter to the Cardinall of Columna who monished Hus to appeare at Rome Wenceslaus King of Romanes and Boem at the suite of his wife the whole nobilitie citie and Vniuersitie of Prage sent Ambassadors to Rome crauing the Pope to remit the citation of Hus and to determine his cause in Boem Hus also sent proctors to Rome to purge him because he would auoid that dangerous iourney The Cardinall at Rome notwithstanding the Kings petition excoÌ„municateth Hus and emprisoneth some of his proctors so that the rest returne without doing any thing Howbeit Hus notwithstanding his excommunication goeth on in preaching and appealed from the Pope to Christ. Yea a Fox Mart. 569. when the Popes bull came to Prage proclaiming full remission of sinnes to all such as would fight on his side for the Pope had warre with the king of Naples Hus and his followers manifestly spake against the Bull three lay men were beheaded for speaking against these pardons whom Hus and such Priests as fauoured him interred sumptuouslie saying These be the Saints which for the Testament of God did giue their bodies At b Peuce 5. f. 168. this time were three Popes at once euery one fighting against the other with condemnations and execrations But as c Socr. 5. 22. the Arians did not striue for religion but by reason of their ouermuch desire of honour with which their mindes were wholy possessed did fight among themselues for the primacie whereupon many of the Clergie hating the contention sprung of the desire of vaine glory departed from them to the antient faith so these did not striue for the glorie of the sonne of God or for the mending of such corruptions as were in manners and doctrine but for the principalitie Wherefore many departed from them When the Emperor Sigismund did see that these euils would be more duly reformed by a Councel than by armes hee hauing runne ouer Italy Spaine France and England with incredible speede and wonderfull patience in great labours by consent of the kings caused the Counsell of Constance to bee d 1414. deceÌ„ 3. assembled which was frequented with the presence or Legates of the Princes of all the Christian world as also thither came from Bizantium and Trapezuntium a concourse of most diuerse e cap. 11.9 people and kindreds and tongues and gentiles a Geneb p. 1059 so that there were numbred of strangers of all sorts 60,500 After b Gobel 6. c. 94 the Councell assembled the whole affaires of the Councell were committed to the determination of foure Prelates chosen out of foure Nations which much displeased the Pope and his Cardinals In this Councell they proposed to reforme the Church in the head and members c Peut 5. f. 175. Wherefore Petrus de Aliaco very grauely admonished the Councell of the most corrupt conditions of the Popes the court of Rome and of al degrees of the Romane Church for the citie is Sodom He also admonished the Councell of the many superstitions and of the tyrannie then vsed for this citie is also Aegypt d Specul Minor Tract 3. f. 167. c. There were also proposed diuerse complaints against the friers for their Sodomiticall filthie life and for their pride and crueltie who were like ruffians and cutters to kill them that admonished them of their faults e Exod. 2.11.13.14 worse then the Aegyptian that wronged the Israelite or the Israelite that reproched Moses or the Sodomites that railed on Lâ—t The like was done by other that desired reformation In this Councell f Mass 18. p. 255. Gobel 6.94 the Pope g Fox Mart. p. 604. in epist Huss whom the Preachers were wonte to call the God of the earth was conuicted of more than fortie grieuous crimes for which hee was deposed Vnto h Fox in hunc locum Mar. 1575. c. this Councell came Iohn Hus vnder the safe conduct of the Emperour and there continued vnder the warrantie of the Popes promise and thither was Hierom of Prage cited Those two were shut vp in most horrible and filthie prisons farre worse then sackcloth When Hus came to the Councell he desired leaue to answere the obiections brought against him But whereas Christ was not only permitted but also required to answere for himselfe before Pilate
first digested in a booke and commēded to the Church by many deceitfull miracles and reuelations to further the new doctrine which they say is found out of the state of the dead Herein trusting the reports of some which heard the things reported by others that some came from the dead Hereby the Poets fables become good diuinitie it beeing now acknowledged that the riuer Acherou is in hell where also a iudge sitteth like Minos Eachus and Radamanthus purgatorie in Aetna and in bathes c. that the dead might be holpen by masses burials in Churches praiers of Monkes and Priests a Lib. dial 4. cap. 41. The reason which hee rendreth why so many things are now discouered of the soules of dead men which hitherto lay hidde is that the end of the world is at hand and as it were in fight Take b 2. Thes 2.1 ◠Luk. 21.8 Isaiah 47.10 heads and be not deceiued for many will come in my name and say I am and the time draweth neere follow ye not them therefore In this booke is deliuered this doctrine As c Dial. 4. c. 5. the soule is knowne to liue in the bodie by the motion of the members so the life of the soule of the Saints when it is out of the bodie is to be esteemed by the vertue of miracles And d ibid. c. 20. that the merit of the soule sometimes is not shewed when it departeth from the body but is declared more truely after death A ready foundation for such Priests and Monkes which had the keeping of the places of burials to build vp the credit of their impostures about graues as if they were miracles And for them to obtrude vnto the world whom they liked to bee onely reputed as Saints This booke of Dialogues is so contrarie to the Reuelation of Saint Iohn that it may iustly be e 2. Thes 2.6 called the Reuelation of Antichrist This kinde of learning serued so to raise the beast out of the bottomlesse pit that some doe say that Gregory to shew this power of the beast in the bottomlesse pit recalled Traian f Pet. de Natal alij from hell baptised him and sent him to heauen A cup full of abhominations c. He was g Lib. 9. epl 9.71 angrie for breaking of images and called them lay mens bookes which were to be kept because the Gentiles vsed them to reade vpon He h Beda Eccl. hist lib. 1. C. 30. forbad to destroy the Temples of idols or to remoue the manner of the Gentiles worship i Epiph. l. 32. haeres 79. but required to continue the externall mirth to allure the people to serue God He worse then the heretikes called Collyridiani that worship the virgin Mary carried the k Mass 13. p. 180. image of the virgin Mary in procession as the Gentiles did their gods to driue away the plague He instituted the l Geneb p. 660. worship of the crosse barefoote on good friday and remitted canonicall penance and promised m Poly. inuent 8.1 cleane remission of sinnes to such as frequented Churches on set dayes that men might be allured to worship the Dragon He made a daungerous decree n Par. Abb. Vrsp in eplu Hysderi c. 1. p. 414. of this heresie that like the Maniches Electi the Clergie should not haue knowledge of their wiues but when more then sixe thousand childrens heads were brought vnto him out of his fish pond he confessed his owne decree to be the cause of this murther and condemned his owne decree He o Pet. de Nat. miraculously terrified Mauricius the Emperor by one p Otho Frist l. 5. c. 7. Mass Ab. Vrsp c. who in the habite of a Monke stoode with a drawne sworde and shaking it foretolde that he should be slaine with the sworde for persecuting of Pope Gregory from which sentence neither by almes prayers nor teares he was deliuered but was caused to drinke of the wine of the wrath of the whore and she is drunken with blood for both himselfe his wife and children were murthered by Phocas Which a Lib. 11. Epist 1. 36. 43. 44. was no sooner don but Gregory as accessary with the Clergie sung gloria in excelsis latentur cali exultet terra for ioy caried the images of Phocas and Leontia his wife into the Church of Casarius the whole Clergie shouting for ioy and singing Exandi Christe Phoca Augusto Leontia Augusta vita And as the forerunner of Antichrist wrote to Leontia to make especially S. Peter the protector and patrone of the Empire in earth and intercessor in heauen meaning that the Bishop of Rome should be in greatest estimation for the beast riseth out of the earth This Pope like the b Ang. har 46. Maniches which preferre apocrypha writings before the new Testament esteemed the foure generall Councels as the c Dist 15. sicut foure Euangelists and like Montanus the heretike d Regist lib. 12. accursed euery one which brake the least thing which the Pope commaunded and obeyed it not altogether He caused e Volat. lib. 22. f. 251. the auncient monuments in Rome to be cast into Tiber least by their beautie they should distract men from the religion newly instituted In his f Aug. Curie l. 1 Geneb p. 655. time Mahomet doth openly professe himselfe the onely Prophet of God and that whosoeuer durst gainesay his law should be slaine Many of his kinsfolkes allies friends and clients who were throughly perswaded that he was such a one indeede as he professed himselfe and would seeme to be followed him in the yeere 593. So in the West the g Geneb p. 661. Lombards English Spaniards Venetians Ligurians c. receiued the faith of the Church of Rome and followed her This Pope h Beda Eccl. hist l. 1. cap. 25.27 sent Augustine into England to conuert the English men They which were sent like those that built Babel neither vnderstoode the Scriptures nor the language of the people The first point of religion which they shewed was this They spread forth a banner with a painted crucifixe and so came in procession to the King singing the Letanie in a strange tongue and shewing some deceitfull miracles He laboured to reduce the whole land to the example of Rome as Montanus did all Churches to Pepuza and therefore became enemie to the seuen Churches of the Britones who followed the custome of the East Churches and would not submit themselues to his pride but cast him out and measured him not as a man of God because he learned not of Christ to beare his yoke who was humble and meeke He wrote to Augustine a Bed eccl hist l. 2. c. 2. dis 15. 4. denique that the Clergie should in quinquagesima abstaine from flesh milke meates and egges which b August de haeres 46. meates the Manachies electi or priests forbare There were in c Ex regist
of the bitings of fierie serpents And that when the Lord said to e Lib. 4. d. 19. Peter To thee will I giue the keyes of the kingdome of heauen the other Apostles had the same iudiciall power yea all the Church hath it in the Bishops and Ministers c. He f Gorich in M. gram articulis then held and taught many things which the papists afterwards did not hold as that charitie whereby we loue God and man is the holy Ghost because it is said God is charitie c. Such agreement there is among them Petrus Comester wrote the scholasticall historie and Gratian the Rhapsodist digested the decrees and presented his booke to be confirmed by the Pope All g Peucer 4. p. 363. c. deuised of purpose to magnifie the Church of Rome c. The third Thunder FRidericus a Crantz Met. 6.35 the Emperor holding an assemblie of the Princes and roaring as a Lyon caused them to sweare to ioyne with him in an expedition into Italy especially that he might tame Lombardy that rebelled which without question belonged to the Empire b Trith Hirs p. 182. And gat promise that if the Archbishop of Mogunce should die they should chuse no other without his consent c Crant M. 6. 1. For the Emperour thought to recouer the right of the Empire of inuesting Bishops which Henry the fourth and fifth did striue for In d Rob. Barus Italy he subdued many enemies valiantly and seuerely and deriding the insolencie of the Romanes by e Crant M. â— 35. his approach was so terrible to the Pope that the Pope fled But being reconciled by messengers the f Rob. Barnes Pope and Emperor meete the Emperor holding the Popes left stirrop as he lighted For which though it were the first stirrop that euer be held he being reproued mendeth that fault the next time The Pope requireth the kingdome of Apulia for the crowning of the Emperor which being deferred they goe to Rome and g Fris g. Fr. lib. 2. cap. 22. there the Emperor is crowned h Gobel at 6. cap. 60. At which time one saying that the Empire is aboue the Papacie was presented to the Pope and burned and his ashes cast out a Frith p. 183. Crant 6.35 Gobel at 6. cap. 60. At Rome the Emperor saw vpon a wall the picture of Innocent the second in his pontificals giuing Lotharius the Emperor that humbly kneeled before him the crowne of the Empire which much displeased the Emperor When he was gone the Pope wrote to him in a letter that he did not repent for the benefit which he had bestowed viz. the crowne which displeased the Emperor so as that he openly said he acknowledged not any benefit giuen him by the Pope his Empire he had of God and the Electors c. b Rob. Barnâ—c The Lombards rebell againe whom while the Emperor attempted to subdue the Italians by a great summe of mony induced the Pope to excommunicate the Emperor but before he could doe it he died c Peucer p. 440. Vrsp p. 2. Anno 1156. being strangled with a flie as he was drinking Alexander the third d Vrsp p. 290. was chosen by the greater part of the Cardinals but a while refused the seate Wherefore Victor a man very â—â—â—â—gious and approued good humble and curteous who had been chosen by nine Cardinals was inthronised But after Alexander tooke the place This was the cause of a great schisme for which the Emperor taking compassion of the people at Papia called both the elected Popes not to iudge their cause but to satisfie himselfe whom hee should acknowledge e Platina Alexander refused to come and excommunicated Victor and the Emperor who fauored him And finding many enemies at Rome went to France f Geneb p. 931. where the Kings of England and France waited before him as vshers on foote g Trith p. 192. At the request of the French King the Emperor holdeth a Councell for the vnitie of the Church But Alexander would neither come thither nor permit the French King to come h Pag. 193. 194. At this time were three very sharpe disputers Arnoldus Marsilius and Theodoricus which maintained that the prelates of their time were deceiuers of soules and snares of the diuel they were named Cathari but were of the opinion of Tanchelinus eight men and two women of that opinion were burned This doctrine spread in Boem Alsatia and Thuringia and continued long There were also of the same opinion called Cardenses of the place where they liued The Pope in France doth labour to vnite other stations against the Emperor He was frighted from his Masse with fearefull darkenes and thunder returneth into Italy and breedeth new troubles i Pag. 202. While the Emperor intended to pursue the Pope and his adherents rebels in Italy with words writing and armies k Rob. Barnes he is sollicited by his Confessor to diuert his forces against the Turkes where by the Popes treason sending to the Soldan the Emperors picture with letters the Emperor while he went to wash himselfe in a riuer is apprehended and carried to the Soldan The Emperor returning discouereth to the Princes and pursueth in Italy the Popes treason a Penc 4. p. 367 In Italy now by the reading of the ciuill law reuiued by Letharius and canon law c. digested by the followers of the Popes b Geneb p. 931. the people were diuided Some were called Gibellines and stoode for the Emperor other were Guelphes and tooke part with the Pope c Trith p. 192. They of Pisa and Brixia tooke their oth to the Emperor d Berg. 12.1 Volat. 22. c. Peuc 4. p. 442. c. The Pope for feare flieth in the habit of his Cooke to Venice Whom Otho the Emperors sonne pursued to sea where beeing ouer forward to fight he was taken by the Venetians beeing brought in triumph into the citie the Pope taketh a gold ring and casteth it into the sea to espouse the sea vnto him by a rite meerely heathen and did institute that his successors should yearely doe the same which custome is yet kept The Emperour partly wearie of warres and taking compassion of Italie so rent with dissention and of the East that was ouerrunne by Saladiâ—â— and of his sonne inclined to seeke reconciliation At Venice the Pope aâ— Saint Markes trode on the Emperours necke caused the Quire to sing super aspidem basiâ—scuÌ„ ambulabis as Iustinian the tyrant had done before at Constantinople When the Emperour answered Not to thee but to Peter the Pope replied both to me and Peter So was reconciliation made e Geneb p. 932 936. Alexander in whose time all the world of Christians was hurled together by the confusion of warre hauing subdued the Emperour holdeth a Councel In which hee condemneth the Waldenses Publicani Cathari Cardenses f Mat. Paris p. 132.
in his warres which were many because of the Popes excommunication And m Vrsp p. 308. the Princes and Barones taught by the diuell cared not to breake their oath nor violate their faith but confounded all iustice taking part sometimes with Philip sometimes with Otho By n 307. the meanes of this contention the Pope made all Ecclesiasticall dignities litigious and brought them to Rome Whereupon Vrspergensis exclaimeth Reioyce our mother Rome because the sluces of all treasures are opened that whole riuers of money may runne to thee Reioyce for the wickednes of men because for the recompence of so great euils some price is paide to thee Insult for discord thy helper which came from hell to helpe thee to money by great heapes Thou hast that which thou hast thirsted for Sing this song that by wickednesse and not by religion thou hast ouercome the world Men come not to thee for deuotion and conscience but for the committing of villanies and for decision of contentions bought out with money of thee The begging Friers beganne the wicked order of which Ioachim prophecied before The first thing that the Friers did labour for was to magnifie their faction a Ex Mat. Paris p. 910. Gobelaet 6. cap. 63. Fox Mart. p. 326. To which purpose they wrote a very detestable and blasphemous booke containing the most abhominable heresies of these new sprung vp friers Nowe because the Gospel which the scripture calleth b cap. 14.6 Eternall was commonly preached to the hazzard of the papacie these called their booke The eternall Gospell and the Gospell of the holy Ghost This they said excelled that written by the foure Euangelists so much as the kernell passeth the shell and as light excelleth darkenes And therefore taught N.B. that within threescore yeares vz. 1260. the Gospel written by the foure Euangelists should cense and bee abolished and theirs should steppe vp instead thereof and continue for euer c Sibrandus Lâ—b d. Christ â—og 2. cap. 7. This booke the Friers commended to the Pope to bee canonized who esteemed it much For from hence the Popes doe continue many wicked prankes to weaken if not to abolish the authority of the Scriptures This deuice of forging a newe Gospel the Friers borrowed of their fathers the d Epiph. haeres 26. p. 27. Gnosticks It seemeth hitherto that the cup in the supper was not taken quite from the laitie * Trith p. 215. For Innocentius the third enioyning certaine knights and their seruants penance for killing the Bishop of Herbipolis saith thus They shall not presume to take the bodie and blood of the Lord but at the point of death e 215. 216. Philip putting Otho stil to the worst the Princes grew wearie of warre and sought for peace and notwithstanding the Popes excommunications are reconciled to Philip crown him againe and f 219. with the Popes Legates treate of peace and compounding the state of the Empire g Vrsp p. 310. The Pope to whom all is referred consenteth to peace vpon promise that his nephew should marry the Emperor Philips daughter And Otho likewise vpon the like condition h Pag. 309. At the same time one Fulco preached in France and moued many to take the crosse and fight in the holy land Whereupon two Earles came with their armies to the Pope who sent one of them against his owne enemies in Campania the other went as towards Ierusalem in the way the Venetians spoyle a certaine citie called Satira After the armie went to Constantinople beat a part of the citie entred and tooke many spoyles and reliques of Saints He that readeth iudge if it were not theft and if the Pope can excuse that rapine by the Isralites robbing the Egyptians i Trith p. 219. After the capitulations were made for the quiet of the Empire Philip went to pursue some rebels in Saxony and as he rested in his chamber hauing opened a veyne he was murthered by Otho Palatinus because he did not worship the beast And so was ended this fourth Thunder The fifth Thunder Anno 1208. VPon a Trith p. 219. 220. the death of Philip the Emperor was Otho chosen with one consent of all the Princes The Pope hearing thereof and that he had maried his neere kinswoman liked it and by Legates confirmed it Wherefore Otho going into Italy is honorably receiued by the Princes and Pope and is crowned At this time the Franciscan Friers began There were also great heates fearefull thundrings and lightnings And b Crant 7. 35. now while the Pope did chalenge Apulia c. to belong to the Church of Rome and the Emperor thought not there arise dissentions betweene them c Vrsp p. 313. so that the Pope pronounceth him contumacious excommunicated him and so hee was euery where denounced Whereupon the Princes elect Fridericus the sonne of Henricus the sixt Emperor as an euill diuell in Israel which election the Pope confirmeth and Fridericke is garded through Italy by the Princes of Italy In d Mass 17. p. 235. Narbâ—na 140. and at Paris 24. would rather be burned as heretikes then recant their opinions e Amicon d. 5. Sarma c. 1. 2. In 1211. appeared a great comet the yeere following the nation of the Tartarians The fourth Angel about Euphrates came out of their seates into our world f Haiton c. 16. through the Caspian sea which gaue them way miraculously as an Angel had directed them g Trith p. 221. Otho the Emperor succeeded prosperously in his warres of Apulia Calabria Wherefore h Vrsp p. 314. the Pope sent fiue times to him in short space for peace but the Emperor despising the Popes commaundements could not be stirred but that he would roote out Fridericus and be reuenged of the French King for the wrongs he had done to England Hereupon the Pope tooke courage i Pag. 317. and resolued vpon two things to recouer the holy land from the Saracens and to reforme the Church against heretikes and such as impugned the liberties thereof And so required k Trith p. 221. the Archbishop of Mogunce to declare the Emperor excommunicate and deposed The Princes that fauored Otho spoyled the cities religious houses and Churches of the diocesse of Mogunce and Otho returning into Germany subdued many rebels l Geneb pag. 957. 958. The Albingenses in the parts of Tholosa in France maintained many doctrines against the Church of Rome as against prayers to the virgine Mary c. Against whom the French both Clergie and Laytie did contend and fight with doubtfull successe almost for the space of twelue yeeres m Trith p. 221. But now the Pope preacheth the crosse and absolution from all sinnes in Austria Saxony Westphalia Phrisia and all Germany to assist his Captaine against them For the King of Arragon and diuers Earles c. tooke their parts Hereby the Albingenses were put to the worst n
the Emperours humiliation but desired to tread him vnder foote whom hee called the great Dragon that when hee had him vnder hee might with more ease stampe also vpon the Kings of England and France and other princes whom he called Basilisks or little kings and little serpents and might at his pleasure spoile their prelates of their treasure n p. 760. The French king taketh Damiata For o 762. which the Soldan offereth the kingdom of Ierusalem much treasure and peace so that there was hope that he purposed to become a Christian But as the pope formerly commanded all was refused by the popes Legate It seemeth that he that writeth a Annot. in Sonn 107. annotations vpon Petrarchs Sonets speaketh of this storie when he saith that the king of Spaines brother I thinke he should say the king of France his brother proclaimed the pope Soldan of Babylon which he calleth Baladac When they had refused the Soldans offer they could not afterwards intreate but found bloodie warre But b Mat. Paris 762. 763. Fridericke subdued happily many of his rebels The popes souldiers robbed them that were signed with the crosse for the holy land taking their money from them And the armie in the holy land was deuided In c 767. 768. fight the French king is taken who though at first he refused yet at last is constrained to surrender Damiata vpon hard conditions and d 772. 773. sendeth by his two brethren to the pope to relieue his shame and difficulties by the absolution of Fridericke His brethren said to the pope that it were best to absolue him els all would thinke the pope of an obstinate hatred they would remooue him from Lyons and raise all France against him Because they vrged the Pope to make peace with Fridericke as he loued the honour of the vniuersall Church and would auoid to be charged to be the cause of the losse of the holy land by his couetousnesse and marchandise of such souldiers that tooke the crosse for the aide of such souldiers that tooke the crosse for the aide of the holy land the e 777. pope craueth to be at Burdeux and groweth inexorable Then also died Fridericus the wonder of the world and so ended the sixth Thunder The seuenth Thunder COnradus a Caron the sonne of Fridericus the second Anno 1250. b Trith p. 239. who had before been chosen King of Romanes did reigne c Mat. Paris 780. In signe of the wrath of God there were exceeding horrible thunders a heauie prognostication d 781. Conrade maketh sure his prisoners that rebelled against his father and with his brethren and friends doth rise against the Pope who for the insatiable couetousnes of his whole race was hatefull to the Imperials e 783. and feared such ginnes and snares of the Romanes to recouer an inestimable summe of money from him which he caused them to lay out in his warres against Fridericke that he durst not returne to his seate in Rome f 791. Yea the hearts of many departed from the father the Pope who raged as a fierce stepfather and from the mother the Church of Rome who was cruell in persecution as a stepmother The g 792. pope departing from Lugdunum calleth the people together to bid them farwell By his Orator after other speeches concludeth that the city had receiued this benefit and almes by the Popes presence that where at his comming there were onely found three or foure whorehouses in the city he left but one and that reached from the East gate to the west Thus is the Popes courte the mother of fornications and abhominations of the earth a Mat. Prris p. 795. many heardsmen foolishly take the crosse to fight against the Turkes in the holy land The Pope setteth forth new decretals and minding peace b 798. 799. absolueth some nobles from their excommunication Whom he marrieth to his neeces by which holy marriage they which were the children of wrath become forsooth the sonnes of grace and chosen vessels But hee excommunicateth Conrade Whereupon the enemies of the Church are multiplied c Pag. 800. Conrade hauing got the fauour of many of the Princes of the Empire the Pope preacheth the crosse against him with farre larger pardons then were graunted to them that fought against the Turkes in the holy land For the fathers and mothers of such were to be pardoned that sought against Conrade When the Queene and Nobles of France saw the Pope to minde onely his ambition and to neglect their distressed King in the holy laud they tooke into their hands the goods and lands of those that were signed against Conrade bidding them liue of the Pope that fought for him The like was don in other places Hence the Pope through shame began to treate of peace with Conradus d Pag 801. There were more fearefull thunders The Pope to make peace desireth to marry a neece of his e Pag. 805. to the brother of Conradus and strengtheneth himselfe by making of new Cardinals But the Princes of the Empire conceiued much indignation against the presumption of the Pope for seeking to ignoble Princes by the marriage of his neeces William Earle of Holland being sorrowfull for his presumption in accepting the Empire resigned f Pag. 781. and hauing lost his owne Earledome and all detested the mousetrappes and promises of the Pope being constrained to begge g 808. Conrade hauing gained the fauour of all the Italians in a manner had poyson giuen him as was thought by the Popes faction but hee recouered stangely and grew into more fauour Yet would not the Pope be perswaded to crowe him least he should proue like his father h 813. but seeing the daunger of Christendome by the contention the Pope sought to make peace with his foes by giuing them his neeces in marriage Howbeit the poyson which Conrade escaped and imputed to the Pope and the contradiction of the Princes of the Empire to such presumptuous marriages gained Conrade much fauour hindred this kinde of peace and lost the Pope many friends and much credit Whereupon Conradus persecuted the Pope with fire and sworde and spoyled such as went to the court of Rome i 814. And so our father the Pope who rather followed the steps of Constantine then Peter stirred vp many calamities in the world The a Mat. Paris p. 829. Pope considering that Richard the King of Englands brother was very rich baited a hooke sweetely to catch his seruice and wealth For trusting vpon his sophistry and deceit that said All b Mat. 4.9 these things will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me caused him to be elected and called King of Apulia Sicilia and Calabria c Mat. Paris p. 832. At this time such was the couetousnes and rapine of the Pope in England that vpon a computation which the Bishop of Lincolne caused to
be made it appeared that this Pope impouerished the vniuersall Church more then all his predecessors and that in England his gaine was more then the Kings reuenue d 838. The Romanes threaten them of Perusium with sieg and desolation if they held the Pope any longer Wherefore the Pope with feare and trembling goeth to Rome fearing least the mony should be exacted of him which was dispended in the warres against Fridericke But he paliated his sorrow as well as he could and went to Rome For the beast hath a face like a Lyon that taketh scorne to looke vpon the nettes he is intangled with e 843. The Pope wrote to Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne to make a boy a Prehend at Lincolne which the Bishop refused to doe shewing that the sinne of the diuell and Antichrist was to kill the soules of men by defrauding them of ministers able to teach With f 844. which answere the Pope was enraged and sware by Saint Peter and Saint Paul were it not for the gentlenes of his owne nature his slaue the King of England should make the Bishop a fable c. The Cardinals labored much to pacifie the Popes fury partly by preferring the goodnes of the Bishop before the Pope and his Cardinals partly by aduising the Pope to winke at all least there should arise some tumult especially because it is knowen that there must come a departing from the Church of Rome g 846. 847. 848. This Grosthead on his death-bead reproued the preaching Friers and Minorites as heretikes for their negligence and the Pope of heresie for offering to place a boy ouer the soules of men and proueth that the Pope is Antichrist Of the court of Rome he deliuered this censure Eius auaritiae totus non sufficit orbis Aegypte Sodom Eius luxuriae meretrix non sufficit omnis Aegypte Sodom He also prophecied that the Church should not be deliuered from the Aegyptian seruitude in which it was but by a bloudy sword Here is the policy of Rome h cap. 11.8 called Egypt Conrade prospereth in Italy in despite of the Pope i Mat. Paris p. 850. 855. At this time ignorant persons and boyes were aduanced to Church dignities fit builders for Babel The Pope in a most furious rage purposing to auenge himselfe of Grosthead as of an infidel and rebel c. in k Ibid. Et Poly. Chr. lib. 7. cap. 36. the night Grost bead in his Bishops ornaments appeared vnto him and with a sterne countenance and angry speech said arise wretch and come to thy doome c. and smote him on the left side right to the heart with his crosse staffe so that the Pope awaked with feare and paine horribly frighted Neither did the vengance of the indignation of God so rest towards him for in his warres against Conrade he lost 4000. of his army neither had the Pope euer any good night or day afterwards The a Mat. Paris p. 861. dissention grew great betweene the pope and Conrade and the pope sorged falsely many blasphemous accusations against him as of heresie murther c. thereby to stirre vp the King of England against him b 863. 864. There was in England a miraculous thunder-clap When the pope saw that Richard the King of Englands brother would not be taken in his nettes but held his gift of Apulia c. as if he had giuen him the mone for the fetching he solicited the King of Emgland to accept it promising to turne the souldier that were signed with the crosse for the aide of the holy land to assist him This made all the princes and prelates of the holy land deteste the Romane falsehoodes c Fox Marty pag. 3. Arnoldus de noua villa taught that Sathan by popery had deceiued the world Gulielmus de sancto amore applieth all the textes of Scripture that spake against Antichrist to the pope and his Clergie d Mat. Paris p. 864. 865. The King of England with ioy accepted the popes offer of the kingdome of Sicilia c. and fed the pope with mony But vpon the resistance of Conradus the popes army failed Conrade also died e Gobel 6.65 as is reported of poyson f Mat. Paris p. 865. The pope exceedingly reioyced and laughed for the death of his two great enemies Grosthead and Conradus g 868. Shortly after the pope himselfe dying comforted his weeping friends thus do not I leaue you rich enough what would you more when he was dead he was seene by a Cardinall condemned to hell for the hurt he did to the Church Thus h cap. 10.3 c. when the Angel Christ the King by princes had reared for their possessions seuen thunders of the popes execrations vtter their voyces which the writers of the time doe seale vp by a darke kinde of deliuerie i Carian f. 203. Par. Vrs p. 332 After which time the Empire stoode without any certaine Caesar for seauenteene yeeres for feare of the danger that might befall by the popes meanes And the affaires of Asia came into great danger by the popes proceedings Thus also he maketh warre against the Saints and doth ouercome them So here is fulfilled that which is written k cap. 13. 7. 8. And power was giuen him ouer euery kindred and tongue and nation Those thunders lasted 150. yeeres For from the time of Hildebrand which was 1074. to Alexander the fourth which was 1254. is 180. yeeres From whence if we take the time of peace from Honorius the second to Adrian the fourth which was 30. yeeres the remainder will be 150. yeere CHAP. IX The beast doth principally dispose himselfe to make warre with the Saints that worship in the Tabernacle and sheweth Lyons pride and Beares feete for couetousnes tearing the earth by raking mony THus the princely Angel a cap. 10.3 who had roared as a Lyon is cryed downe by the beast whose execrations were fearefull and violent as Thunder Now the beast doth principally set himselfe against the Saints b cap. 13.7 For it is giuen to him to make warre with the Saints and to ouercome them And now he hath authoritie to make lawes as it is said c 15. it is permitted to him to speake His speciall law is now turned vpon the Saints namely d 15. to cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed For now he rageth with the bloudy lawes of the inquisition which henceforth are much increased Anno 1254. Alexander the fourth e Trith p. 246. when the seat had been almost two yeeres voyde to the perill of many soules was elected Pope and at first f Mat. Paris p. 869 seemed a holy man But yet g Pag. 875. though he were frighted by a fearefull vision he h P. 877. continued the warres begun by his predecessors against Manfred in Apulia c. i P. 881. 885. in which he
p. 3â—3 wrote to the French king that himselfe was Lord of all spirituall and temporall estates through the world Thus he exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God And said that because the French king would not take his kingdom of him hee deserued to bee depriued The French king burned his letters and despised his Legates In a Councell at Paris calleth the Pope a schismaticke hereticke and inuader of the state by the pragmatical sanctier diminisheth the Popes authoritie in France c Par. Vrsp 344. The Pope confirmeth the election of Albert vnder condition that he would take vpon him the kingdomes of Romanes and France d Fox Flores hist The king of England also couragiously withstood the Pope in the title of Scotland e Bergo 13. Trith p. 268. The French king caused him to be apprehended in his bedde and carried prisoner to Rome where hee died with sorrow c. In f Geneb p. 1004 1007. 1008. his time Ottoman the first Emperour of the Turkes arose a great plague to the professors of Christ Now the Church of Rome leaueth to reckon from the passion of Christ as before and accounteth from his Natiuitie The Mariners compasse is found out A fit instrument to spread the name of Christ where it was vnknown Clement the fifth g Mass 17. p. 244. was consecrated in France at Lugdunum going to the pallace the people thronged a wall fell Ann. 1305. and hurt many the Popes crowne fell from his head and out of it a Carbuncle esteemed worth 6000. florens An euill presage For h Trith 269. Geneb 1009. he translated the Popes seate from Rome to Auinion to the great damage of Italie Rome and all Christians i Trith 271. The Princes elected Henrie the seauenth Emperour a good man and valiant worthy the imperiall seate He k Par. Vrsp 349. sent his Orators to the Pope for his imperiall crowne And l Bergo 13. in Henr. the Pope confirmed his election vnder condition he would go into Italie to receiue his crowne according to the manner of the Emperors passing through a Par. Vrsp 349. 350. Italie he found and subdued many rebels came to Rome and is crowned and gaue out lawes concerning traitors and rebels which Rome as the head of the world and saieth in her head I sit as Queene adorned and confirmed in these words I the crown of crowns confirme vnto my Prince his power c. doe subiect vnto him cities nations of countries Eagles defend my glorie behold the Gentiles Departing from Rome he had more rebels that opposed themselues against him ouer most of whom he triumphed Then came newes to him to come into Apulia where he should finde Rupertus king of Apulia depriued and deliuered to him The Emperour went towards Apulia The b Clemen 2. tit 9. de iureiurando Pope sendeth to him to make peace with Rupertus vpon his oath of fidelitie and obedience which hee made to the Pope But the Emperour by publike instruments declareth he made no such oath Then c Par. Vrsp 350 came there a d Geneb p. 1011 Dominican Frier vnto the Emperour promising to reconcile vnto him certaine cities that stood out against him desiring to minister the Eucharist to him with which he poysoned the Emperour as e Berg. 13. in Henr. he was hired by the Florentines For that which was execrable in the Saracens f Mat. Paris p. 769. namely to poyson their prisoners is now practised by Friers against Emperours and that like the children of the mother of abhominations euen in the sacrament His death was the safetie of Rupertus and the Florentines For this murther at the place and time of the worship of God according to his word there was euery where a famine after which followed a very great pestilence The Pope in a Councell openly declareth the oath of the Emperour now murthered to bee an oath of fidelitie and obedience and requireth it alwaies so to be vnderstood g Clem. 2 tit 9. in gloss verb. futur Out of which decree is gathered that the Emperour is not Emperour before he be crowned by the Pope He h Clem. 5 tit 3. de haeres c. 1. also prouided that the walles and lockes might bee sure and that the Keepers should bee sworne where heretickes were imprisoned Hee i Clem. 3 tit 16 de vener sanct confirmed Corpus Christi day and gaue large indulgences to them that were present at the solemnitie There were at this time diuers that held many things against the church of Rome as the followers k Mass 17. p. 244. Berg. 13. f. 207. a. of Dulcinus of whom were 6000. and of them were apprehended more than 400. who were of the reliques of those whom Bernard writeth of in the Canticles vz. Petrus Abailardus c. There l Clem. 5. tit 3. c. 3. were also certaine called Begnardes that held against adoration of the Eucharist at the eleuation Moreouer very m Trith 274. 275. many euen to the number of 80,000 were of the opinion of Lolliardus who held against Transubstantiation extreame vnction c. that the Church of Rome was not the Church of Christ but of the infidel Gentiles and despised the prelates authoritie they held also against distinction of meates Of them many were burned by the inquisition The same time was a most extreame famine Buchel Anâ— 1315. Trith p. 273. that the parents restrained not themselues from the most filthie carkasses of their children and after that followed a great pestilence euery where so that in a manner the third part of mankinde was consumed Thus Michael fighteth for the word of God Many wicked things are obiected to these of Dulcinus the Begnardes and Lolliards opinion But because in the time of the heathen Emperours the diuell did accuse the brethren and in this time of Antichrist the beast doth blaspheme them that dwell in heauen their accusation may iustly be suspected to be slanderous Especially seeing they confesse that the Boemians in the time of Hus were of their sect who are very well known to maintaine none of these impieties a Paral. Vrsp 351. Arnoldus de noua villa attempted to prooue by Daniel and Sibyllaes prophecies that Antichrist and the persecution of the Church should bee betweene the yeares 1300. and 1400. b 345. 346. This Pope also put downe the Templars for their horrible wickednesse contempt of Christ and abhominable idolatrie and that they betraied Ludouicus king of France into the hands of the Soldan when he was in the holy land Hee c Berg. 13. f. 207. interdicted Venice for taking Ferrara Wherefore d Sab. En. 9. l. 7 Franciscus Dandalus a Noble man of Venice laie bound in a chaine at the Popes feete to batter his anger against Venice and to procure him to free it from interdiction The Knights of the Rhodes began Anno 1315. Iohn the twentith two
the Archbishop of Mogunce My Lord Archbishop we command you vpon your oath of fidelitie that you reforme your Clergie c. And if they will not be reformed that you command the fruits of their benefices to be taken from them and presented to our Exchequer and we will conuert it to more godly vses Ann. 1367. Gregorie the eleuenth c Geneb p. 1040. 1041. remooued the Popes court from Auinion to Rome Edward king of England laid a grieuous paine vpon those that thenceforth would receiue any benefices of the Bishop of Rome shee is fallen Carolus the French king coÌ„manded â—he Bible to be faithfully traÌ„slated into the French tongue d Fox Mart. p. 415. 416. 417 Militzius sometimes a Canon vrged by the holy Ghost to finde by the scriptures the comming of Antichrist was compelled by the holy Ghost to preach at Rome before the Inquisitor and said publikely that the same great Antichrist prophecied of in the Scripture was already come He conuerted many from their vngodly life and held a congregation Catharina Senensis spake of the reformation of the Church Mathew Paris noteth the Pope to be Antichrist Henricus de Iota Henricus de Hassia who writeth out of a prophecie of Hildegrade that the diuell spake of the Priests of this time daintie bankets and feastes wherein is all voluptuousnesse doe I finde among these men c. Hee saith further that they clime with Lucifer til with him they fall deeper and deeper This Pope very violently persecuted such as were against him as namely Militzius Wickleife c. But e 425. Wickleife continued and interpreted the articles obiected against him and finished his testimonie Vrbanus the sixt Ann. 1378. a Gobel aet 6. cap. 27. in his time were great seditions in all places and there began a most grieuous schisme amongst the Popes as Rupe scissa prophecied For there were then two Popes the other was called Clemens the seauenth and this schisme lasted almost 40. yeare b Fasc Temp. f. 86. From Vrbane the sixth to Martine the fifth I know not who was Pope c Gobel at 6. c. 76.81 This Pope was very rigorous he tormented Cardinals to death buried them in a stable by Carolus the bastard he strangled in prison Ioan the Queene of Sicilia Against the Antipope hee was very violent d Fox Mart. p. 441. For hee proclaimed to all that would fight for him against any of his enemies as large pardons as were granted to them that fight against the Turke And whereas e Caran A. 33. p dist 50. clericus Nicolaus the first maketh the Clergy that fighteth irregular he contrarily f Gob. 6. cap. 70. proclaimed that the Clergie of all sortes that should kill or maime any of the Popes enemies should both bee free from irregularitie and inioy the same priuiledges which are granted to them that warre vpon the infidels g Peucer 5. f. 157. Neither was Clement the Antipope of a more gentle disposition for he spared not the Embassadors of Emperours and Princes which were sent vnto him to perswade him to concord for some he killed in prison and others hee tormented to death vpon the racke h Fox Mart. p. 440. 567. 4â—0 446. Wickleife escapeth the hands of his persecutors his books suddainly spread abroad by such which came from Boemia with the Queene of England c. i 416. 417. Mountzigger Rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme taught against reall presence but was resisted by the monks and friers Nilus Archbishop of Thessalonica chargeth the Pope to be the only cause of the schisme betweene the East and West Churches 36. were burned at Bringa for the opinions of the Waldenses k Geneb 1044. Hus spreadeth Wickleife opinions in Boem This Pope maketh more superstitious feasts vz. the feast of the visitation and reduceth the Iubile to 33. yeares The Iesuites begin The Turke entred Greece and made Constantinople subiect to tribute Anno 1389. Bonifacius the ninth l Gob. aet 6. cap. 84. 85. 86. 87. of an incredible thirst of money monstrous in his deuises to get it He graunted reuersed antedated c. diuers of his graces for money He increased the fees of Archbishops for their Pall c. aboue tenne folde some paide 80,000 florens for it and hee that would giue most had what he would Hee dispensed for money against the Apostles and Euangelists For money he made Iubiles to be held not onely in great cities but also in base places a Geneb p. 1048 The king of England bounded the Popes authoritie at the Ocean sea so that no English man vnder paine of perpetuall imprisonment should deale with the Pope to excommunicate any in England Against this Pope sate Benedict the thirteenth vnto whom b Vincent prog part 1. 2. Saint Vincentius submitted his booke and doctrine of his prognostication of Antichrist and of the ende of the world In which booke though there be many things fabulous and false after the manner of all the Friers in their prophecies yet there be also some things worth the marking as of the ruine of the popish Prelates of Antichrist mixt which must be a Pope of the abhominable life of the Friers and the falshood of Francis prophecie of his order c. In c Fox Mart. p. 446. c. 456. 457. c. the time of this Pope Boniface were many constant confessors of the truth as Swinderbie who was persecuted for beeing earnest against the wicked liues of Friers and Priests of his time refused the popish iudgement appealed to the kings iustice because the Pope was Antichrist And Water Brute who most excellently interpreteth the mysticall numbers in Daniel and prooueth the Pope to bee Antichrist The d Fasc Temp. opinions of Wickleife in England Hus and Ierom of Prage in Boemia doe spread amongst many The heresie of the Adamites sprung vp in Boem but was presently suppressed by the Hussites e Geneb 1048. The Greeke tongue which had exiled seauen hundred yeares is brought into Italie by Chrysoleras c. f Buchol Anno 1399. Yea all good artes and tongues began to spring and to be husbanded and to growe fresh againe whereas for 700. yeares all learning was troden vnder foot and defiled with horrible barbarousnesse c. And here beginneth a happie age of all skilfull learning in Italie which farre and wide did spread abroad the glistering light thereof into other kingdomes A g Mass 8. Pp. 253. 254. Priest came from the Alpes to whom were gathered 70,000 they sharpely reprehended vice c. The Pope apprehended and tormented him Some said that there was no euill found in him others thought that he sought to be Pope that whom the Pope commanded to be burned should not bee said to be burned without cause From h Peâ—e 5. f. 157. c. 168. this time to the Councell of Constance continued the schisme
Lanquet Ferdinandus sent a nauie from Spaine into Italy which chased slew and vanquished the Frenchmen out of Naples Å¿ Geneb pag. 1097. 1098. Lapidanus taught the Hebrew tongue in Paris Renchulinus in Germony Galatinus in Italy and now it began to spread among Christians The Hebrew Bible called the editio complutensis with the Chaldie Greeke and Latin translations was printed by the meanes of the Archbishop of Toletum Thus the word of God rideth forward t Peuce 5. f. 253. The Emperor beginneth his warres in Bauaria in which were very many excellent men imprisoned killed and burned a Nouus Orb. Cadmustus discouereth new countries b Peuce 5. f. 259. The Duke of Gelders afflicteth the Brabanders against his oath the Brabanders suffer great losse and many of them are killed c Lanquet Ann. 1507. There began a long and cruell warre betweene the Emperor and the Venetians in which were fought many bloudy battailes and diuers mutations chanced thereupon Thou hast giuen them bloud to drinke The French King ouercommeth the Venetians d Geneb 1099. There was a Councell held in France either to prouoke the Pope to peace or to appeale to a generall Councell e Mass 20. p. 271. In that Councell were proposed and concluded these propositions First it is not lawfull for the Pope to make warre against any Prince without iust cause Secondly the Prince in defending his right against the Pope may inuade the Pope assayling him and subduce himselfe from his obedience Thirdly the Pragmaticall sanction is to be kept throughout all France Fourthly no care is to be taken for the Popes vniust censures if he happen to thunder * Peuc 5. f. 256 The Pope enraged with the report of the losse of Bononia stirred vp all Europe to armes and excommunicated the French King but the King despised his excommunication and retorted the curse vpon the Pope c. f Peuc 5. f. 257 The French armie ouerthrow the Venetians at the riuer Atlasis slew the garison of the Venetians at Brixia and tooke it fought with the Popes armie at Rauenna where the Popes forces were ouerthrowen and of them 16,000 were lost Henry g Lanquet An. 1512. the eight King of England sent an armie of 13,000 into Spaine and a nauie to sea h Mass 20. p. 271. Of this Pope Massauâ— hath this Epitaph Genna cui patrem genetricem Gracia partum Pontus vnda dedit num bonus esse potest Fallaces ligures mendax Gracia Ponto Nulla fides in te singula solus habes Leo the tenth i Mass 20. p. 271 in his first yeare was a great fight at sea Ann. 1513. betweene the French and the English and many perished on both sides k Peuc 5. f. 255. b. There was also fought a cruell and bloodie battell betweene the Emperour and the Venetians at the riuer Bachilion where the Venetians lost 9000. men some were cast headlong into the riuer that they might haue blood to drinke others were scattered beaten and killed a Peuc 5. f. 261. b. The Polonians ouercame and slue about 40,000 Mosconites at the riuer Boristhenes b 259. b. c. The Cardinall of Strigonium mooueth the people to take the crosse and to warre vpon the Turkes The people following in great multitudes robbed tooke townes and fields and tormented the Nobles and Clergie to the great horror of all these were ouercome at the riuer Temesus c 258. a. A great cruell bloodie and long battell was fought at Millaine where the French ouercame the Heluctians so that of 25,000 not halfe remained d Par. Vrsp p. 446. Ann. 1517. Leo holding the Lateran Councell Picus Earle of Mirandula made an Oration vnto the Pope and Councell that lawes should bee made and kept against lust and couetousnesse for vertue and godlinesse complaining that vice was honoured for vertue and vertue was counted vice He terrified the Pope with the example of Eli whom God most grieuously punished because hee corrected not his sonnes requiring sincere discipline for the carefull studie of both the testaments e 447. Erasmus publisheth the new testament in Greeke and Latine Thus the hostes that are in heauen follow the word of God For contempt whereof is powred out the fourth Phiall The fourth Phiall Now vnto the former three plagues is the fourth added f cap. 16.8 And is that the fourth Angell powred out his Phiall on the Sunne and it was giuen to him to torment men with heate as of fire Hereupon g 9. many times men boyled in great heate by the distemper of the Sunne and aire and fierie meteors Howbeit they stil blasphemed the name of god which hath power ouer these plagues to send them vpon the wicked And they repented not to giue him glorie but continued in their wickednesse to the dishonour of God and magnifying of themselues The Complement h Orig. praefat Ephem This sommer was exceeding much burning and drie in which many riuers were dried vp i Mass 20. p. 274. And fierie hostes were seene throughout Italie to fight in the aire Howbeit these signes wrought no repentance a Mass 20. p. 273. cum Guiec 13. p. 772. For the French king vpon reconciliation betweene the Pope and him receiued a Iubile to be published through France Yea the Pope abused too licentiously the authoritie of the Apostolicke sea to draw money from men For he dispersed throughout the world without distinction of places or times most ample indulgences with power to deliuer soules out of purgatorie Which money was so impudently demanded that the Commissioners perswaded the people that whosoeuer would giue ten shillings should deliuer the soule for which he gaue it out of purgatorie Hereby blaspheming God who teacheth vs * 1. Pet. 1.18 to know that we are not redeemed with corruptible things as siluer gold But if it were lesse than ten shillings it would profit nothing Yet were many of the Popes Ministers detected selling for a small price or set vpon a game at tables in a tauerne the power to redeeme mens soules out of purgatorie The money b Mass ibid. 8. Geneb though the shadow were to make warre vpon the Turke was notoriously knowne not to be paid to the Pope or the Apostolike chamber but was transferred indirectly to satisfie the infinite couetousnes of Magdalen the Popes sister a fraile woman This gaine displeased the holy sonnes of the Church And vnder this occasion Luther that followed the word of God began to preach against indulgences and to reprehend the authoritie of the Pope And thus is fulfilled the scripture c cap. 18.2.3 She is fallen she is fallen for the Marchants of the earth were made rich c. d Buchol ex Suriâ— For hence began that great alteration of religion which followed wihich many amongst the Papists did foresee whereof one Hilteniuâ— is reported to haue assigned the
the throne of the beast his kingdome and absolute commandement waxed obscure For the Princes deferre the cause of Luther to a generall Councell and propose an hundred grieuances which Germany did suffer by the Sea of Rome and their Ecclesiasticall persons requiring to bee eased in these things The h Buchol anno 1523. Pope appointed his Legate freely to confesse before the States of the Empire in this manner i Paral Vrsp 459. We know that in this holy seate now some certaine yeares there haue beene many abominable things abuse in matters diuine superfluities of traditions and that at last all things haue fallen to bee worse Neither is there any maruaile that infirmitie is deriued from the head to the members from the Popes to inferiour prelates We all that is prelates and Ecclesiasticall persons haue declined euery man into his owne waies nor now of long was there any that did any good a Bucholcerus He was also very liberall in promising the Princes that things should be amended The better to bring the Pope to make conscience to reforme with speed b Iouius lib. 21. p. 19. Par. Vrsp p 460. there arose a great plague in Rome in which their died an hundred thousand many corpes were seene in the streetes it seemed the citie would haue beene wasted in fewe daies But they were so farre from repenting to giue God the glorie that by the fauour of the people a Greeke one Demetrius a Magician vndertooke for 4000. ducates to staie the pestilence whereby they blasphemed the God of heauen for their paines For he by inchantment tamed a wilde bull causing the bull to digge a well promising that whosoeuer dranke of that water should be free from the pestilence Then cut he off halfe one of his hornes and with a smal thread tied about the other horne of the bull lead him at his pleasure and to the blasphemie of the name of God sacrificed him at the Amphitheatre to pacifie the God of the pestilence Also c Lanquet Millaine was afflicted with such a pestilence that it consumed 50,000 in fower moneths d Geneb p. 1114. Christiernus king of Denmarke defecteth from the Church of Rome for the kingdomes are the Lords e Fox Mart. 1523. Bucholc The Duke of Saxonie by the aduice of the Students of Wittenberge abrogateth the masse Zuinglius writeth to the whole nation of the Heluetians not to hinder the course of the Gospel f Jouius lib. 21 The Turke taking aduantage of the dissention that was among the Christian Princes which by reason of the second and third Phiall were great and bloodie besiegeth Rhodes with 200,000 souldiers The Pope diuerted those aides which came from Spaine to relieue Rhodes and sent them to Gallia Cisalpina to relieue the Emperour and so was Rhodes lost by the madnesse of our Princes a cap. 18.24 that in her might be found all the blood that was shedde b Fox Mart. The duke of Austriche setteth forth a sharpe proclamation against Luther and such as did not obey the Church of Rome For c cap. 19.19 the beast and kings make warre against the word of God d Par. Vrs p. 460. Buchol Adrian the sixth dieth not without suspition of poyson Amongst his most secret papers were found the bookes of the inchanter which vndertooke to preserue the city from the plague whereby it was suspected that the Pope came in with the mightie working of Sathan c Bâ—cholcer When the Monkes had read Luthers bookes of Vowes they dissolued their vowes and went out of their Monasteries So in many places the monasteries in a short time were left emptie and reduced to a wildernesse and cage of euery vncleane bird and other vses The Nunnes laid aside their latine Psalter and put off their habite began to leaue their cloysters to marrie and keepe house Two Monkes were burned at Bruxels for Luthers opinions Erasmus disliked this kind of proceeding Luther esteemed them as martyrs Ann. 1523. Clement the seauenth f Lanquet ann 1524. sent his Legate Campegius to the Princes assembled at Norimberge requiring them to punish the Lutherans and not to be discontented that the money which was paid out of Germanie was not bestowed against the Turkes as was promised The Princes required answer of their requests made to the Pope which were to ease them of the grieuances which they sustained by the Pope and the Clergie the Legate answered that the Pope esteemed them as hereticall and therefore not to be granted for they repent not The Indians confederate against the Portugals g Fox Mart. alii The Senate at Zurike when the Papists had refused disputations abandoned mens traditions proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to bee purely taught out of the old and newe Testament Against their Bishops minde they pulled downe images and that all fowles might be fedde with their flesh disposed of the lands of the Clergie banished the Masse The like was done in Tigurine h Geneb p. 1123. The Ethiopianâ— offer obedience to the Pope and to follow the beast i Lanquet Sharpe warres betweene England and Scotland The Bishop of Argentine summoneth the Priests before him but the Councel of the citie withstood him not suffering him to exercise iurisdiction ouer them So that the kingdome of the beast is darkened The Emperour goeth in his own person to fight against the French king a Par. Vrsp p. 460. Georgius the Marquesse of Brandenburge great master of Prussia receiueth the word of God b Geneb p. 1110 Guice Par. Vr. p. 460. The French king was taken prisoner by the Emperour whereupon the Emperour resolueth to make himselfe Monarch of Christendome c Gerardus The Turkes preuaile in Hungarie and besiege Vienna but are driuen from thence In d Peuc Par. Vr. Germanie the people affect libertie e Sleid. 6 f. 92 b. The Electors sonne of Saxonie vnto whom was espoused the Emperours youngest sister is married with the daughter of the Duke of Cliâ—ue For the Emperour departed from his promise confirmed by writings because of the change of religion and his Embassadours did openly say that Faith is not to be kept with heretickes f Geneb p. 1116. Millaine Ferrara England Venice all Lombardie g Par. Vrsp p. 472. and the Pope Clement doe make a league against the Emperour Charles the fifth But the next yeare after h Par. Vrsp p. 472. c. Guicc Iouius Rome is taken and sacked by the Emperours armie When the armie was at the siege of the citie and entring the Pope would not beleeue the newes trusting vpon his Apostolicall thunderbolt which he sent forth against the armie in these wordes We doe excommunicate Charles called the Duke of Burbon Generall of the armie with his whole armie consisting partly of Lutheranes and partly of Maranes calling the Germanes Lutheranes and the Spaniards Maranes But the armie entred and vsed
violence and disgrace both to the Cardinals and to all men and women The spoile was infinite and the ransomes of the great men was more The Pope was as a prisoner and him the souldiers derided setting some drunken fellowe to be carried like a Pope c. and among hand crying and terrifying the Pope and Bishops with the name of Luther i Geneb p. 1117. Lanquet Fox Mart c. The same yeare was a disputation at Berne where no Papists would appeare the next yeare the Bernites Geneua and diuers of their neighbours abolished poperie A k Par. Vrsp p. 469. 473. great pestilence was at Genua and a great famine in and about Venice of which many died A great famine is in Germanie for three yeares There was also the sweating sicknesse in England Braband and Germanie a Lanquet Stransbrough laieth away the masse and Basil is reformed b Par. Vrsp p. 471. Geneb p. 1118. At Spires the Princes assembled where a Papist preached that he rather would depart from the Gospel than from the ceremonies of the Church Thus the beast blasphemeth God and maketh warre against his word The Princes and certaine cities protested that they could not agree to certaine things concluded in that Councell because they were contrarie to the doctrine of pietie and Christian faith Anno 1530. thereupon arose the name of Protestants c Fox Mart. Then followed the most Antichristian and horrible persecution of Merindol and Cabriers d Par. Vrsp p. 474 475. The Emperour at Augusta commanded the Princes which were Protestants to bring in their confessions of their faith which they did The papists would answer them but cleane without scripture and so that they might be allowed to load the innocent cause with horrible reproches and blasphemies for the beast openeth his mouth to blaspheme There followed a fearefull inundation of the sea which destroied many in Braband Holland Flaunders and Zealand And at Rome besides most fearefull thundrings and much heate and many fires such a power of water fell from heauen that men thought they should haue perished with a second flood houses and people were carried downe the riuer Tybur In the lower places of the citie the water was 33. or 34. foote high The e Geneb p. 1119. French king erecteth Lectures in Paris for the tongues giuing reward to the Prophets Florence by fire and sword was ouerthrowne by the armies of the pope and Emperour For they killed the Prophets of the Lord Sauanorola c. f Fox Mart. The Heluetians fight one against the other the papists against the protestants but presently after enter league of perfect amitie The Turkes make an irruption into Hungarie and Austria Paulus the third m Morise papa p. 95. had a register of 45,000 harlots Ann. 1534. that paid him weekely tribute for their whoredome As yet the harlots pay euery one a Iuly by the weeke which amounteth for the most part to 45,000 Ducates by the yeere Henry n Geneb 1121. the eighth king of England defecteth from the Pope whereby the kingdome of the beast is obscured in England o Par. Vrsp. p. 478. Diuerse cities in Germany erect stipends for students of diuinitie and good artes In p Lanquet France they cruelly persecuted all such as they called Lutherans a 1535. Lanquet At this time were giuen to the King of England by the consent of the Abots all such religious houses which were vnder 300. Markes for the foules eate the flesh of great and small The Emperour rebuketh the Protestantes for taking away the goods and lands of the Clergie b Bucholcer Pomeranus reformeth the Churches in Denmark The c Par. Vrsp. p. 480. Protestants which heretofore differed in the doctrine of the supper do now accord d 1538. Lanquet Fox c. Abbies were suppressed in England and all Friers Monkes Canons Nunnes and other sorts of religious persons were rooted out of the Realme and the liuings distributed by gifte or sale to Noblemen Gentlemen and all sorts that would buy them e cap. 19.17.18 for al the foules that do flie through the middest of heauen are called to come to eate the flesh of Captaines c. f 1539. Fox But the king declined to Poperie and set forth sixe articles which caused many godly men to loose their liues The g Sleidan Lanquet same time the Emperour obiected to the Princes of Germany that they became Protestants not for religion but for the desire of the spirituall liuings and that they delighted in discord and enclined vnto his enemies Hereby the Protestants feared war and diuerse Princes and Bishops enter into a league in dispite of the Protestants There followed presently a h Lanquet yere of great heate drowght in England many gaue halfe their corne for grinding the other halfe diuerse great Riuers were dried vp many died of burning agues boyling in heate i Orig. Ephemerid In other places also was like heate drought great Riuers might be ridden ouer small Riuers were dried vp diuers woodes were burned with the heate of the Sunne There were in Germany and Boem many fiers so that at Prage the kings principall pallace was consumed with fier k Geneb 1130. The greatest part of Germany leauing the Pope desolate by forsaking his religiō begin to neglect the authoritie of the Emperour that laboured to abolish the Protestants religion l Buchol Ann. 1541. The Emperour intending to conquere Algiers in Affrica is repelled by shipwrack at sea and by stormie weather which the Emperour did iudge to be the wrath of God against him m 543. Ibid. Hermannus Archbishop of Colen attempteth the reformation of religion in his countries The n 545. Geneb p. 1130. Anno 1546. Councell of Trent began against Luther c. This Councell taking all prerogatiue and superioritie from the word of God which the Lord hath crowned a Ses 4. p. 8. 10. a. 130. 131. doth receiue and adore with like affection of piety and reuerence as well the traditions of the Church as the old and new testament and doth holde that none may interpret the Scriptures against that sense which the Church of the time holdeth b Geneb pag. 1132. 1127. Charles the Emperor hauing concluded a peace with the Turke and with the French King the better to roote out the Gospel by the instigation and with the confederacie of Pope Paul the twentie sixth of Iune maketh warre vpon the protestants who defende themselues with their swords Yea c Sleidan 17. pag. 315. b. Fernesius the Generall of those aydes which the Pope sent to the Emperor against the Protestants is reported to say that he would make such a slaughter in Germany that his horse might swim in the blood of the Lutherans d cap. 19.19 Thus the beast and the Kings of the earth and their hosts are gathered together to make battaile against the
l 680. The Clergie of England murmureth and complaineth that they were constrained to finde and paie souldiers to serue at the Popes pleasure which opportunitie the Emperour tooke to draw them to concurrence with him and m 682. by his letters aliened many Princes hearts from the Pope because they feared the pride of the court of Rome if the Emperour were brought vnder The sonne of perdition Wherfore the Pope endeauoureth by setting vp the Landgraue to tread in peeces the Emperour irrecouerably For now the beast doth destroy breake in peeces and stampe the residue vnder foote But the Emperour intercepted the money he sent to the Landgraue Conradus the sonne of Fridericus comming with an armie against the Landgraue by the Popes meanes his souldiers ranne to his enemie and so he was constrained to flie n Paral. Vrsp For much distraction of mindes and many troubles were in Germanie by this occasion And o Mat. Paris p. 684. now there was a new fashion in the court of Rome For when any great persons were at warres they would by absolution or excommunication strengthen or weaken them as might best serue for the profit of the court The Pope raketh money and gathereth aide against the Emperour And contrarily the Emperour sendeth victuals to the holy land See the difference between the monstrous beast and the Lambe a Mat. Paris p. 688. The French king leuieth money for his voyage the Pope for the Landgraue against the Emperour The Emperour by his humilitie getteth much fauour and the Pope for his insolent reiections of his submission exasperateth many There b 690. 691. followed such lightenings and thūders as haue not bin seene the like after which the Pope sent certaine traitors to murther Fridericus but missing their purpose they were stricken with feare as with lightening from heauen c 695. After which it is thought the Pope to crie quittance with the Emperour falsely reported that two ruffians sent by Fridericke should haue killed the Pope Now d 697. grew the Pope detested for rapine who raked money insatiably to maintaine the Landgraue against Fridericus e 703. 704. But when the Landgraue was ready to be crowned Conradus the Emperours sonne came vpon them with a mightie armie and by wisdom and valour after much Christian bloodshed ouerthrewe the Landgraues forces who for sorrow died ignominiously The f Trith p. 241. Landgraue liued fiue yeares with the title of a king but did nothing worth the marking For as long as Fridericus liued neither the Pope nor any prince preuailed against him He contemned the Popes deposition as friuolous and found so strong a faction of the Gibellines that he plagued Italie in such sort that he made the Pope wearie of his life and wish he had neuer deposed him g Mat. Paris p. 704. Vpon this successe the Pope sendeth foure Cardinals into the foure quarters of the world and pettie Legates to speciall places to defame Fridericke and his sonne and to preach pardons to all that would inuade persecute and teare them in peeces if they could and to that purpose by couetous craft and craftie couetousnesse to rake what money could be got But while the beast thus rageth Fridericke inforceth the Apulians c. to sweare homage to his sonne and causeth Hensius his sonne to plague the Popes kinsmen and hang them vp whom the Pope loued best In h Paral. Vrsp p. 330. Sueuia many preachers are countenanced by Conradus the sonne of Fridericus who preached against the vices authoritie and pardons of the Popes and preached pardon by Christ i Mat. Paris p. 704. whereupon the Pope heaped anger vpon anger and hate vpon hate and excommunicated him so terribly that all quaked that heard him l Gesner lib. 5. for k cap. 13.11 he speaketh like the Dragon whose voice did affright the whole armie of Alexander the Great After m Mat. Paris p. 781. the Landgraue was elected the Count of Geldre hee refusing followed in election the Duke of Braband after his refusall was chosen Richard brother to the king of England who also refusing the Pope procureth William Count of Holland to be chosen Emperour who vnaduisedly consented The n Mat. Paris p. 768. Pope thinking to deale more warily sent treasure to William by secret messengers but both his money and prouision were intercepted The Popes a Mat. Paris p. 711. 171. Legate assisted with the Archbishop of Colen make barbarous waste where Fredericke was fauoured raked money by excommunications c. and chased Conrade The Emperour comming to besiege the Pope at Lugdunum was hindered by those of Parma c. and so b Trith p. 244 is William crowned with great solemnitie But c Mat. Paris p. 712. because all the Princes agreed not to the election there sprung vp new contentions Fridericke is enraged against his Italian rebels and straiteth them by siege d 721. 722. But while Fridericke was absent the Parmenses sally out take the Emperors treasure and kil or disperse his forces which made the Pope incredibly ioyfull But Fridericke reunited his forces and there was neuer anger betweene any so great as was betweene the Pope and the Emperour The Emperour vexed the Pope the more and afflicted the Parmenses as before e 724. The French king taking his voyage importuneth the Pope for the peace of Fridericke but in vaine though hee shewed the Pope that els the impediment of the businesses of the holy land would be imputed to the Pope So the king taketh shippe leauing behinde him many choise souldiers which f 725. presently began to mutine but the Pope so charmed them that he got from them their money and armes and victuals and sent them pennilesse away g 736. By the Cardinals inuectiues the reputation of Frediricke did stinke and he was accounted worse than Herod Iudas or Nero and they had preuailed against him had it not beene h 738. for the couetousnesse vsuries simonies and other filthie vices of the Court of Rome i 739. By the Popes meanes it is said the Emperours Physitian should haue poysoned him but it was discouered and k 741. his aides to the Emperours rebels were intercepted l 742. Fridericke now toyled with sicknesse and losse of his sonnes offereth an honest forme of peace The Pope reioycing in his calamities beeing such a one as will neuer be appeased would not accept it Rom. 1. wherefore the Pope was hated by many and they comforted Fridericke and claue to him detesting the pride of the seruant of the seruants of God Hereby m 748. Fridericus so preuailed that in abhomination of the Court of Rome many thrust out William and the Popes Legate and bound themselues by oath to bee faithfull to Fridericus The rebels of Italie were so vexed that the Marchants longing for peace detested the Pope for his rebellion and because hee would not accept