THE Estate of the Church With the discourse of times from the Apostles vntill this present Also of the liues of all the Emperours Popes of Rome and Turkes As also of the Kings of Fraunce England Scotland Spaine Portugall Denmarke c. With all the memorable accidents of their times Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike Gentleman LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1602. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Syr VVilliam VVray of Glentworth in the Countie of Lincolne Knight THis worke Right Worshipfull called the Estate of the Church from the beginning of the raigne of the Emperour Augustus to the first yeare of Rodolph the second now liuing First written in French by I. Crispinus and lately translated into our mother tongue by a Gentleman of desert at the request of my very friends I haue bene intreated to propagate to this present time For him although some hold that translation is not capable of that elegance as is the original because the one hath full libertie of inuentiō the other is by necessitie tyed to obseruation yet in my opinion the Author hereof for his faithfull significant indeuour therin hath deserued to be ranked with the choisest inuentions For my selfe in the continuation as I haue alwaies in matters of small consequence shewed the mightie perturbation of my mind feare so in this labour of extraordinary moment especially in presuming of protection vnder your worships patronage I am confounded since the shewe of my deuotion is begun with so meane a sacrifice for to this heape I haue onely added an handfull In the whole discourse is set downe at large the originall of Papacie that slaughter-house of consciences the aduancing increasing therof the beginnings of all heresies the persecutions of the faithfull the chaunge of religions the decrees and Councells of Bishops the Canonie and lawes of the Church The iudiciall knowledge wherof is a light illuminating the blindnesse of soules and deliuering them from the more then Cimerian darkenesse of ignorance This rectifieth the iudgement of man and teacheth him rightly to distinguish between true Religion and superstition who both haue one ground which is his soule This prospectiue shewing the spots and errors of the Church of Rome with the darke sullen colours of hypocrisie heresie which two venemous wormes like snakes do poyson and infect the florishing estate of a setled Church will manifest the right Diaphonia and concord thereof But iealous of this ouer-boldnesse I take my leaue humbly dedicating my poore labours to your Worships true-iudicial consideratiō desiring withal your gentle hand of approbation to this essentiall testimony of my most dutious loue Your Worships humbly at commaund IOHN CRISPIN to the Church of Iesus Christ SVch as apply their spirites to collect Histories ought to look vnto this principall marke to propose as in a glasse the power wisedome iustice and admirable bountie of the liuing and eternall God to the ende hee may lesse nothing among men of that which appertaineth vnto him As indeed he proposeth and setteth out nothing in the world be it in the person of kings or of such as be of base condition wherein he meanes not to shew that it is hee which setteth his hands to all things that men may learne to depend vpon him to hope for all good things at his hands and to honour and tremble vnder his iudgements When we see an Historie that some kingdome hath bin established and brought into good estate which before was dissipated diuided or else that some man hath bene deliuered from some great calamity and hath recouered some prosperitie behold heere is a glasse to let them know which reade such things what good and happie issue they may attend at Gods hands after long and troublesome calamities if they trust in him Againe if we encounter such an example that a Common-wealth which otherwise was of no great force to resist many enterprises attempted against it yet it standeth fast only making it selfe strong vpon the succours it looked for at Gods hands behold here a Painter to represent vnto vs liuely with what wisedome God worketh breaking the counsels of the proud which abuse their power to confound and oppresse such in the middest of which he hath established his seate to be honoured Moreouer when such witnesses appeare as the greatnes force magnificence the long spreading stretching of great Monarchies cannot often hinder but all this hath bin ouerthrowne or at the least comen to some decay this is an other portrait which should make vs thinke vpon the admirable iudgements of God raigning who therein shewe euidently has strong and outstretched arme from aboue and would giue men to know that if he can reduce and bring to nothing powers established in so apparant assurance farre more easily can he ouerthrow euery arrogant and proud head to the end there may be no humaine creature of what condition or estate soeuer it be which trembleth not in the consideration of such wonderfull iudgements Moreouer so many chaunges and straunge mutations which the discourse of time bringeth vs do demonstrate vnto vs what may be the assurance and felicitie of all the frame of the world and what may be the common condition of men As indeed there is nothing so well gouerned vnder the Sunne be it neuer so well ordeined and established which is not subiect to diuers chaunges We see the Crownes of kings fall downe to the earth the scepters of Emperours bruised yea broken in pieces the glory of Common-weales fade and decaie but ambitiō proud ingratitude insatiable auarice of such as were ordeined to rule and acknowledged not God are the cause of such ouerthrowes and mutations But since all men seeke to finde some firme estate wherein they may subsist stand the reading of such examples should bring them to behold their God who is the firmitie assurance of all things and without whom nothing can remaine firme one minute of time And as he hath shewed this assurance in the middest of his Church against all tempests and stormes and against all the assaults machinations of Antichrists as is clearly shewed in this present collection so should this bee the refuge of euery one to finde out that hee would seeke for The Church may well be shaken but it can neuer be ouerthrowne for it leaneth vpon the foundation of the truth of God It may be tossed by tempests waues stormes but her ancre ascendeth euen to heauen and is sure held by the hand of him which cannot be remoued out of his place But contrary men perceiue not the stormes and tempests which are to settle and sinke the great kingdomes of the world yet it is so that without being shaken they fall vanish away as of thē selues But the spirituall kingdome of the sonne of God which is his Church ought not to be esteemed after the daungers of this present life for it is
he gently inuited thē to require peace but seeing they would not he caused his platformes to be set vp against the fort called Antonia nie the 3. wal which the Iewes burnt but a new wall was made by y e Romans enuironed all the Towne to hinder the lewes from flying and seeking victualls The first day of Iuly Titus mooued with compassiō for the people which suffered and endured so much by the hard obstinacie of some beganne to beate Antonia and the third wall The sixt day fell one part of the wall of the Fortresse on that side where the Iewes had a conueyance out of the Towne The eight day of the moneth of August the Iewes repressed by great outrages and blowes of arrowes Heraulds were sent by Titus to make them harken vnto peace that the Temple might haue bene spared The temple was taken by force and against the Edict and defence of Titus it was burnt The 20. day he began to batter the high Towne which is called the Citie of Dauid after the Iewes had againe refused peace The seuenth day of September this high Towne was taken whereof the Temple was the Fortresse as Antonia was the defence of the Temple The eight day of the said moneth all the Towne was put to fire and bloud The 24. day of October Titus celebrated the day of his brother Domitian his Natiuitie in a Taritine Towne of Cesaria and there he made pastimes of diuers sorts wherein were brought about three thousand Iewes Captiues Some were dispatched by beasts others were set in order of battaile to sley one an other The like was done in Berith a Towne of Siria the 27. of Nouember Where Titus celebrated the Natiuitie of his Father Vespasian When we heare this Summarie recitall which is not the tenth part of the euils and fearefull calamities that this miserable Nation endured let vs not stray into foolish imaginations but thinke with our selues if God spared not the naturall braunches what shall become of vs. Let vs behold the benignitie and seueritie of God His seueritie vpon them that are fallen his benignitie vpon vs which are planted in the place of the Iewes This same yeare Vespasian caused them to be sought which were of the family of Dauid for that there was a great persecution against the Iewes Cesennius Gouernour of Siria chased Antiochus King of Comageniens out of his kingdome sent him captiue to Rome In this time Lucilius Bassus was sent Embassador into Iudea There happened a sedition in Alexandria wherein many Iewes were slaine Achaia Licia Rhodes Bizantum Samathrachia Cilicia and Comagene which before were free and vnder the iurisdiction of Kings friends and confederates of the Romanes were made seruants and reduced into Prouinces Ascanius Pedianus an Historiographer flourished at this time who in the 73. yeare of his age became blinde and liued yet 12. yeares in great honour An Earth-quake ouerthrew three Townes in Ciprus Titus the eleuenth Emperour Vespasians sonne raigned two yeares and twentie dayes Hee was liberall and gentle eloquent in the Greeke tongue Hee vsed to say that none ought to goe from the presence of a Prince sad or desolate Linus Bishop of Rome by the commaundement of the Consul Saturnine was beheaded vpon false accusation for Art Magicke The 2. yeare of Titus horrible things happened in Campania which is now called Terra Dilauoro the Land of labour The mount Vesnue which lookes toward the Sea on Naples Coast and hath comming out of it as it were great springs of fire burst in sunder at the top and cast out so great flames that it burnt the Townes adiacent with the men therein There came also at Rome a litle time after when all men were ignorant of that which happened in Campania great and horrible calamites in so much that many were of opinion that all things would be ouerthrowne and the Sunne would fall on the earth for the multitude of ashes and smoake which were dispearsed in the ayre The yeare following Titus went to see the calamitie which was come and in the meane while many things were burnt at Rome and the fire came out of the earth For the Bathes of Agrippa the Temple of Serapis and Ifis the Theatre of Balbus the Pantheon the Parkes and many other places were altogether consumed with fire whereby may be coniectured of others which perished by the same fire Dion reciteth all this at large The Amphitheatre was now builded at Rome by Titus These things are recited to the ende that by the knowledge of such iudgements of God we may learne to feare him Cletus a Romane Bishop of Rome gouerned a 11. yeares He approued the visitation of Saint Peter saying that such visitation was much better then a fasting two yeares This was the first Bishop that put in his Letters Salutem Apostolicam benedictionem There are none of the Elders which make mention of this Cletus neither do they sufficiently expound if Cletus and Anacletus were two or both one Onely Damasus speaketh but yet so confusedly that there can be no agreement of the time Titus the Emperour of the age of 42. yeares nigh to his death lamented sore Saying must I die and neuer deserued it He was deified by the authoritie of the Senate after his death There you may see how the Panim Gods came created and forged by the wills of men Iosephus an Historiographer and a Iewe flourished at this time He was Duke of the Hebrewes Hoast and being Titus his prisoner was set at libertie which hee vsed in composing seuen bookes of the Iewdaicall Historie which he presented to Vespasian and Titus who set vp an Image of him at Rome The 72. yeare which was the second yeare of the raigne of Titus Linus hauing gouerned the Church of Rome 12. yeares resigned the office to Anacletus who was the second Bishop of Rome Ireneus and Eusebius doo witnesse this without making any mention of Cletus which some say was the successor of Linus Domitian the 12. Emperour raigned 15. yeares and sixe moneths This man was exceeding wicked cruell adulterous chollericke a coward proud a rauener He committed Incest with his brothers daughter whom he rauished and tooke out of her husbands hands Three Virgin Vestalls were buried aliue for whoordome Domitian hauing by publike Edicts commaunded that he should be called Lord and God caused Images of himselfe of gold and siluer to be erected He cast out of Rome all Philosophers he sent into exile many Senators and Nobles and some he slew He builded the Pantheon at Rome He stirred the second persecution against the Christians and caused all such to be put to death as he found to be of the stocke of Dauid For he feared the comming of Christ Afterward he caused the persecution to cease S. Denis Rusticus and Eleutherus preached the Gospel in Fraunce The yeare 87. Albilius was constituted the second Bishop of Alexandria and
vnto whō Origenes his sonne being but of the age of eighteene yeares said O good father take heed that for vs you chaunge not your purpose This Origen after his fathers goods were confiscated for the Faith he nourished his mother and 6. brethren by being a Schoole maister Zephyrim a Romane the 14. Bishop of Rome ruled seuenteene yeares as Eusebius saith In the first Tome of Councells we finde two of his Decretall Epistles one vnto the Bishops of Cicilie the other to them of Egipt which represent vnto vs no other forme of gouernment then that we see described almost in all the Epistles attributed vnto the Bishoppes of Rome In the first hee makes mention of iudgements which ought to be constituted by 12. Iudges in causes of Patriarkes and Primates Not to admit indifferently all such as accuse Priests He sought to establish the Supremacie and that men should appeale vnto the Apostolicke seate of Rome And therefore he called himselfe Arch-bishop In the second hee establisheth certaine ceremonies in Priests orders to elect such as were wise and approued and in the presence of all Damasus attributed vnto him the decree to vse in the Eucharist Cuppes of Glasse or Tinne and not of wood Also to receiue the Eucharist once at the least in the yeare from the age of 12. and aboue It shall afterward be shewed what estimation men ought to make of those things and of the Epistles called Decretalls which are attributed vnto the Romane Bishops He excommunicated Natalius the Confessor for ioyning with Heretickes ouer whom he suffered himselfe to be made Bishop Zephyrim would not receiue him to his repentance vnlesse openly he shewed good tokens thereof Bassianus Antoninus surnamed Caracalla the 22. Emperour of Rome raigned sixe or seuen yeares after some Incestuous and cruell he tooke his mother in lawe to wife called Iulia and slew his brother Geta and his Vncle. Of his Cousin called Saeuis or Seua or Semyamira or Seulasyra he engendered Heliagabalus who was after Emperour He was slaine of the age of 43. yeares by the Ambush of Macrinus his successor as he discended from his horse and drew aside to make water Papinianus a Lawier was slaine by the Emperour because he allowed not the murder commited against his brother Geta. Macrin Optius the 23. Emperour borne at Marusia raigned a yeare and two monethes a man lasciuious shamelesse in words impudent sacralegious and bloudie hee was slaine with Diadumenus his sonne of the age of 50. yeares and more Heliogabalus called Varius Heliogabalus the 24. Emperour raigned foure yeares He was rather a Monster then a Prince as giuen to al vncleannesse filthinesse a contemner of all Religion except he reuerenced the Sunne whose high Priest hee had bene and therefore called himselfe Heliogabalus Hee died of a death worthy his life slaine by a military tumult with his mother and their bodies were drawne through the streets and after cast into Tiber. He raigned two yeares eight moneths and adopted Alexander Seuerus He builded a Citie called Oresta where he commaunded to sacrifice humane Hostes and reasonable creatures Calixtus or after Eusebius Calistus a Romaine the 15. Bishop of Rome ruled sixe or seuen yeares The Epistles attributed vnto him shewe the forme of his gouernment One vnto Benit the Bishop and the other vnto the Bishops of Gaul There is attributed vnto him an Edict common to all Bishops that no accusation should be receiued against Clarkes and commaunded that each one should take heed they made no conspiration against Bishops It is credible in the time wherein persecutions were continually kindled that such an Edict should be commaunded the faithfull which scant durst shewe themselues Item that none might communicate with such as were excommunicated And that marriages of Cousin-germaine should not bee admitted and if they were made to breake them In one of his Epistles there is an euill exposition that the wife of a Bishop is interpreted a Church or a Parish of which it is not lawfull during his life to dispose any thing without his will nor to enioy the company that is to say ordination of an other The first decretall instituteth the Fast of the foure times and seasons of the yeare Damasus saith that he ordeined a Fast of three times because of Corne Wine and Oyle And further That Calixtus made three times orders in December and ordeined sixteene Priests foure Deacons and eight Bishops in diuers places and finally that hee suffered Martirdome vnder Alexander the Emperour It is vncertaine whether it was this Calixt that made the ordinance for the single life of Priests For concerning this the two Decretalls attributed vnto him make no mention thereof neither is it found in the first volume of Councells Againe in the Councell of Nice there is nothing alleadged of the said ordinance yea and that more is there was made there a statute to the contrary at the exhortation of Pathuntius as shall be said after Alexander Seuerus the sonne of Mamea the 25. Emperour was excellent and vertuous he raigned 13. or 14. yeares a friend of the Christians his mother had beene instructed by Origen he was slaine with his mother of the age of 19. yeares by treason by Theeues which in the time of Heliogabalus hauing bene in honour had bene cast out from their dignities and offices He caused to be published this lawe to be inuiolably kept Doo to an other no other thing then thou wouldest should be done vnto thy selfe Porphirius of Cicile a Philosopher left the Faith and was an Apostate in despite of the Christians of whom he said hee had bene iniuried Vlpianus a Lawier in this time Vrban a Romane Bishop of Rome ruled eight or nine yeares Damasus saith he was of an holy life So that he drew certaine Gentlemen as Tiburcius and Valerian S. Cecile her husband to the Christian faith Some attribute vnto him a Decretall Epistle to all Bishops speaking of a common life such as was in the time of the Apostles but he speakes not as it was Some attributes vnto him Edicts to assure the Gods of the Church as they call them And he speakes a litle of the vowe of such as promise to possesse nothing of their owne He Instituted the confirmation after Baptisme by imposition of the Bishops hands to obtaine the holy Ghost and that they are made full Christians c. There is none but he may see herein not onely a Sacriledge but also an execrable blaspemie forged in the shop of this slauish Decretists Damasus attributeth vnto him the ordinance that the Communion Cuppes should be no more of Glasse but either of Siluer or at the least of Pewter Wherevpon Boniface Bishop of Magunce said In old time goldē Priests vsed wodden Chalices but now wodden Priests vse Golden Chalices That Confirmation ought to be with Creame That the foure times Fast ought to be obserued That Churches should haue lands
Cardinall Deacon he wrote Saint Gregories life in foure volumes Lewis the Emperour being in Italie dyed hauing raigned 19. yeares and was buried at Milaine His successour was Charles the second of that name surnamed le Chauue the sonne of Lewis le Debenaire of his second wife Iudith vncle of the dead Lewis the second After he was King 36. yeares he heard say that the Emperour his Nephew was dead and incontinent went to Rome to receiue the Crowne of the Empire hauing ordeined Boso his wiues brother King of Prouince Pope Iohn in a small time crowned three Emperours and after gaue occasion of great contention and warre First hee crowned Charles le Chauue who two yeares after he came into Italie to driue the Sarrasins out of the kingdome of Naples was taken with a Feuer at Mantone where hee dyed being poysoned by his Physitian a Iewe called Zedechias the yeare 878. hauing bene King 36. yeares and Emperour two yeares and was buried at Verseile and after as some say was transported to S. Denis The Pope vnderstanding of his death would that his sonne Lewis le Begne should be chosen Emperour But the Romanes contradicted it and would that Charles the third surnamed le Gros sonne of Lewis king of Germanie it should be chosen The Pope remaining still in his opinion was sent to prison but he escaped by the helpe of his friends and fled into France where he remained a yeare first in Arles and after at Lions Finally some say at Troy in Champaigne where he assembled the Councell of the French Church and there created and crowned Lewis le Begne Emperour and saluted him Augustus In the meane while Charles the third was at Rome kept it He sent for the Pope who returned to Rome and pronounced that the saide Charles might dwell at Rome and crowned him Emperour And so they raigned together two yeares Finally Lewis was poysoned and Charles raigned alone 12. yeares Plat. Florent and Robert Barns This Pope at the same Councell gaue to the Flemings a Bishop in Tornay Lewis le Begne two yeares after he was crowned in France 1. of that name died at Champaigne and left his wife great with childe who after brought foorth Charles le simple Nauclerus Charles called le Gros the sonne of Lewis King of Germaine being at Rome occupied the Empire and raigned alone And by him the Empire or the French men returned to the Almaines Naucler and R. Barns and came not at the wish of the French nor according to the imaginations and subtill deuices of the Pope This Pope Iohn ordeined that such as offended in Sacriledge should be excommunicated amerced at thirtie pound of siluer 22. quest 4. Chap. Quisquis Iohn le Maire saith that this Pope was a cruell man and disgraded Formosus Bishop of Portensis which was an occasion of many mischiefes Fasci temp Some Historiographers say it was for that he was the cause that the said Iohn Pope was imprisoned at Rome Finally he was poisoned or as some say slaine with the blow of a Mallet vpon a conspiracie made against him Chron. Abb. Vrsp R. Barns Pascasius about this time was Abbot in Saxonie he writ a Booke of the Euchariste and most men followed his opinion which pleased the Schoole-men more then the opinion of Iohannes Scotus or of Bertramus which were reiected as shal be told in his place Martin second of that name a French man by euil arts entered into the Popedome Supple Chron. and gouerned a yeare and fiue moneths before he was called Marin Betwixt Martin Pope second of that name and Adrian the third Sigebert and Visperge place Agapetus but other Historiographers make no mention of them Adrian Pope the third of that name ruled at Rome a yeare and three moneths Hee ordeined that from thenceforth the Emperours should not meddle with the election of the Pope And that his aurhoritie therein should be no more any thing requisite but that the election of the Cleargie should be free Dist 62. chap. Nullus chap. Adrianus Hee made this Lawe whilst the Emperour was occupied in the warre against the Normains which then endured not long For Leo the eight Pope did ordaine cleane contrary as shall bee saide afterward Platina saith heere that William Pyon Duke of Aquitane and Counte Auerne founded the first Monasterie of the order of Clugny vnder the rule of Saint Benet and made Berno Abbot there after whome Odo succeeded who hauing bene a Musitian at Tours came to be a Monke at Clugny Chron. Sigeb The Emperour Charles became iealous of his wife for the great familiaritie shee had with Luitwaldus Bishop of Verseil who in a full assembly protested that hee neuer had her company Shee notwithstanding accepted the diuorce and withdrew her selfe vnto the couent d'Aulaui where shee made an end of her dayes Sigeb and P. Phrig 9. At this time the Normains Northerne people did great hurt in France after they had spoyled Artois Cambray Liege Brabant Gelders and Treuers c. Charles being not able to resist them finally agreed with them in giuing in marriage the daughter of Lotharie his cousin germain called Gille to Geffrey or Rotfrid their King and assigned for her dowrie the Countrey of Frise vpon condition he should be baptised Notwithstanding those Normains afterward afflicted France and besieged the Citie of Paris as shall be said The subiects of Charles le Gros greeued at his cowardlinesse because he let France be so outraged by the violence and crueltie of the Normains and that also hee had forsaken his wife a good woman they deposed him as vnworthy and vnprofitable for the gouernment of the Empire and gaue him a Curator named Arnulfe or Arnould who was his brothers sonne Some say that Charles le Gros finished his dayes in great pouertie in the Abbey of the rich Angell called in Alemand Richenna nigh vnto Constans by the Lake without any great honour of Sepulchre Others say he was strangled by his owne people This is a glasse for great Princes of the world and an excellent patterne of the humaine condition Arnulphus thē his Nephew by his brother Carloman Duke of France Orientall which then was called the Teutonique Kingdome comprehending Bauier Sorabe Saxe Turinge Frise and Lorraine was made Emperour Hee was a valiant man and repressed the Moranians and Slauonians after hee made strong warre vpon the Normains nigh the Riuer of Mense Stephen Pope fift of that name ruled 6. yeares ten moneths in the Romane seate It was in his time that the tale of S. Michael in the Mount Bargamus in Pouile is said to bee true There was one of his Decretals to Hubert Arch-bishop of Manyeance 2. G. v. c. Consuluisti ordeined the song of Crosse de consecrat 6. dist v.c. Nunquid Odo 31. King of France raigned nine yeares He was Tutor vnto Charles le Simple and crowned King to resist the Normains which then
Golfred Count of Pouille and of Calabria died leauing his sonne Bagellard his heire but Robert brother of the said Golfred and vncle of the said Bagellard hauing taken from him all that his father had left him vsurped Beneuent which belonged to the Romane seate Wherefore the Pope excommunicated him Robert then knowing that he had taken the aforesaid Countries from his said Nephew did what he could to returne into the Popes fauour and prayed him to come into Calabria for the good of peace Being come he absolued Robert of the Bond of excommunication After he adiudged him Pouille and Calabria vpon condition he would yeeld him Beneuent and Troy Townes of Pouille and all that which belonged vnto the Romane seate Item that he would giue him helpe in his necessities Robert promised all this and gaue him an Armie by which the Pope recouered many places about Rome and made them subiect to the seate As Prenesta Tusculum Numentum and beyond Tiber certaine Castles euen vnto Sutri Rob. Barns The Pope is content to make his profit to the damage of Orphelius he consented vnto the Rapines of Robert so that he might haue his helpe Ancelmus the disciple of Lanfrancus succeeded his maister in the Priorie of Bec and Lanfrancus was made Archbishop of Canterburie in England Chron. Sigeb Phillip the 38. King of France sonne of Henry raigned 49. yeares Alexander Pope second of that name of Millaine ruled at Rome a yeare and fiue monethes whose Historie is this After the death of Pope Nicholas one Ancelme Bishop of Luques was chosen for the renowne of his vertues without the Emperours knowledge and was chosen being absent from Rome For he resided in his Bishoppricke of Luques After the election the Cardinalls went for him and conducted him to Rome and was named Alexander But some Bishops of Lombardie whom Alexander pleased not because he was not of their band stirred a schisme and vnder shadowe that they said he entred by Simonie they would needs haue an other such as they liked and at the instigation of Gilbert Bishop of Parme a man mightie amongst others they drew towards the Emperour to shewe that the election hath alwaies appertained vnto the Emperors Briefly they obtained of him to chuse an other Pope at theyr pleasure seeing Nicholas the second was chosen without his knowledge As soone as they were returned into Lombardie they assembled a Councell and did chuse one called Cadolus of Parme a rich and maruellous puissant man vnder whom all Italie bowed except the Countesse Martilde or Mehaut Cadolus then beeing so chosen Antepope drew towards Rome with a strong band and the power of the Lombards The Pope Alexander met him accompanied with his Romanes and the batraile was hard and sharpe nigh Neron vnder the golden Mountaine where was a great slaughter but finally the victorie turned on the part of Alexander Yet Cadolus for one euill encounter lost not courage but before a yeare was passed by the meanes of certaine friends which held his part which he had gained by force of siluer entred into Rome The Romanes yet ranne to Armes but Cincius the Prouost his sonne of Rome put Cadolus in the Forte of S. Angilo The war betwixt those two endured the space of 2. yeares Finally Cadolus was constrained to yeeld himselfe and redeeme his life with 600. Markes of siluer After to content the Emperour who fauoured the said Cadolus a Councell was assembled at Mantua where were the Emperor and the Pope Alexander there in the presence of all the Prelates the Pope purged himselfe both of Simony Ambition matters were agreed both of the one partie and the other Iohn le Maire 11. 1 In the said Councell was ordained that none should heare the Masle of a Priest that had concubines 17. dist c. Preterhoc 2. Whosoeuer wittingly should be promoted by a Simoniake he should be reiected and deposed 1. q. 2. c. De caetero 3. That Cloister Monkes should not be admitted to the offices of Clarkes 16. q. 2. c. iuxta calced tenorem 4. That Clarkes should take no Ecclesiasticall Benefice of a secular person 16. q. 1. c. Perlaicos 5. That men should giue Benefices Ecclesiasticall orders to learned people without selling or buying any of them with any contract 1. q. 3. c. Exmultis 6. That he which should be excommunicated cannot excommunicate an other 14. q. 1. c. Audiuimus 7. That Alleluia should be banished out of the Church from Septuagesima vntill Easter Whilest this Councell was held at Mantua Richard the Normane with his sonne William tooke and occupied certaine places of the Romane seate as Capua Beneuent and others Hildebrand was sent against Richard and constrained him to yeeld vp againe such places as he had taken The Pope attending Hildebrand at Pise they returned together from thence vnto Rome R. Barns This Pope Alexander gaue Lanfrancus Archbishop of Canterburie for the victorie obtained against Berengarius touching Transubstantiation two Archiepiscopall Mantles or Palls the one of honour and the other of loue Histories recite at length how the Pope Alexander was handled by Hildebrand who succeeded him and how finally he detained him in great miseries after hee had beene beaten and outraged of him And after this time Hildebrand retained to himselfe all the reuenewes of the Church of Rome assembled great summes of siluer After then that Alexander was dead vnder the miserable seruitude of Hildebrand the yeare of our Lord 1074. the same day at night he was Inthronized in the Papall seate by his souldiers without the consent of the Cleargie or people least if he had tarried too long an other had preuented him In his election none of the Cardinalls had subscribed Wherevnto when the Abbot of Clugny was come Hildebrand said vnto him Thou hast tarried too long brother The Abbot answered And thou Hildebrand hast made too much haste that occupiest the Apostolike seate against the Canons before the Pope thy Lord be buried But how Hildebrand was put in possession in what maner he liued how he drew Cardinalls to him which should be witnesses of his life and doctrine how miserably hee tormented them and with what heresies he infected the world what periuries what great treasons he committed hardly can many describe them Yet the bloud of so many Christians shead whereof he was author and principall cause cryeth yet higher then all that Behold what Benno saith Hanno the second Archbishop of Colongne caused both the eyes to be put out of certaine Iudges which had condemned a poore woman of which one Iudge lost but one eye for that he brought the other vnto triall In memory of this Iudgement were erected Images without eyes Naucler Nauclerus also and others do tell here of a rich and mightie man who was so persecuted with Rats that finally he was consumed yet no man touched that was with him Gregorie Pope 7. of that name before called Hildebrand borne
that whilest the Empire is vacant the right of the Emperour is deuolued vnto the Pope and that this is against the libertie of the holy Empire against the dignitie rights and maiestie thereof but that by a custome approoued and vsed of long time and obserued by his auncestors without that euer was done to the contrarie during the vacation of the Empire it appertaineth vnto the Count Palatin of Rhene to haue the managing of the affaires of the Empire to conferre Feastes and Imposts and ordering of other businesses After all this to excuse himselfe he yeelded in the presence of all clearely and holily a reason of his faith and confessed openly he was a Christian beleeuing wholy the Articles of the Faith as they were taught by the Catholique Church and purged himselfe very well of all things that were obiected against him by Iohn the 23. and Benet 12. Who would not admire the pietie of Lewis thus vexed and tormented by Popes what would this haue come vnto if he had tried it by Armes against them The integritie of this Lewis finally was acknowledged by Pope Benet And the peace was soone after made betweene the Emperour and the Pope Who straight bore the Emperor such an amitie that he defended and maintained him hardily in his innocencie against the Embassadors of the king of France which vsed alwaies rude defamitorie words against the said Emperour in so much that the Pope was called by the said Embassadors the Protector of an heretike And although Benet for a certaine time was not without great feare because of their words for they threatned him with great warres if hee absolued the Emperour yet hee commaunded by a publike decree which was proclaimed through all Almaine that all processes which had bene attempted by Iohn against the Emperor should be nothing and of no valew and that it appertained not to Iohn to attempt such things against him seeing the Emperors and the Popes iurisdiction are distinct and seperate Hee further declared openly that Lewis in all things had borne himselfe like a good valiant Emperour Yet you must vnderstand that the Pope did nothing herein freely of good courage but cautelously to acquire the fauour of Lewis For because he sawe the king of France in the kingdome seignory of whom hee remained had taken some ill conceit against him hee feared that if also hee had the Emperour his enemie there were no person where he might haue succours if the king of France practised any mischiefe against him Therefore Benet iudged that it should be for his profit if he got the beneuolence of the Emperour hoping by that meanes that the other durst attempt nothing against him These be the practises and meanes wherewith Popes haue nourished and do yet nourish their tyrannie in the Church of the Lord. Benet being menaced by the king of France chaunged his opiniō and left the sentences giuen by his predecessors against Lewis He placed Vicars in the Imperiall Townes of Italie and drew vnto the Romane seate the charge and office of a Senator withdrawing it frō the Emperour He inuented all that was needful for the Apostolike penetētiary declaring in order the taxes of Letters and so assembled great riches frō all nations This Pope first vsurped collations of all Prelatures Bishopprikes other benefices as wel for himselfe as for his successours and depriued such as were vnlearned and ignorant from their benefices And ordained that all his Chaplaines should sing by note their Canonicall houres That thay should lie in one Dortoire and that they should haue no other reuenewes but that was necessary for their life and apparell He builded in Auignon a very faire house with Towers and goodly Orchards And this olde Adulterer bought deare the sister of Francis Petrarke which was very faire of her brother called Gerard to abuse her He ordeined 6. Cardinals being absent frō Rome repaired with great charge cost the roofe of S. Peters church published certaine acts against the Iacobins as Leander witnesseth Ockam Dante 's held for heretikes bicause they maintained by liuely reasons out of the scriptures that the Romane Empire depended not vpon the Pope but of God onely Naucler Such as speake against the Pope are heretikes Benet made many Extrauagants and Benedictines for the Monkes of the order of S. Benet wherein is made mention in the sixt and seuenth Chapter how Abbots ought to send their young Monkes such as are fittest to their studie vnto the Vniuersities and offer them pentions to do it He made a Decretall which beginneth Benedictus Deus in donis suis to the ende benefices should not be giuen to such as were vnworthy of them Wherein is confuted and condemned as hereticall the doctrine which his predecessor Iohn had publikely preached touching the happie soules and it was determined declared y t the soules which had nothing to purge incōtinent as they are departed frō the body do see y e face of God He was said to haue bene so rigorous that hee would scant know such as were of his blood and said that the Pope had no parents Fascic temp The yeare of Christ 1339. the Castle of Loppen was besieged by certaine Gentlemen with 30000. footemen and fifteene thousand horsemen but they were valiantly driuen back and chased away by the Swisses which with the number of two or three thousand slew 4000. of the said combatants three Counts Fasc temp and others The Sarrasins in Spaine were discomfited where there were 1000. slaine as many prisoners Chro. Euseb The sea of Histo Benet dyed in Auignon to the great ioy of many for his great rigor and therefore some write of him Hic situs est Nero laicis mors vipera clero Deuius a vero cuppa repleta mero that is Here lyeth death to Laie-men a viper to the Cleargie A straier from the veritie a cup full of Wine He left great summes of gold and siluer whereof he gaue nothing to his parents and friends but to the Church Francis Petrarke flourished in this time and Gregorie de Aremino the Augustine and generall of his order Orchanes second Emperour of the Turkes sonne of Ottoman who raigned 22. yeares Clement Pope sixt of that name Limosin ruled in Auignon 11. yeares before called Peter Roger borne of Limoges First hee was Prior of S. Babille which is a Priorie of the order of S. Benet after Abbot of Fescan after Bishop of Arras then Archbishop of Roane and after by Pope Benet 12. was made Cardinal and finally after his death was made Pope although hee was the youngest of all the Cardinalls H. Marius in his booke Intituled Eusebius Captiue in this maner describeth the Pope Clement 6. saith he a man very desirous of women of honour and power being incited with a diabolicall furie fixed Letters vpō the gates doores of Temples by which he threatned the Emperour vpon
and the Prince vnto the court after stared them prisoners and handled the prince very rigorously On the other side their forces assembled on all sides to ouerrun the realme The king of Spain should enter into Bearne to ruinate destroy the queen of Nauarre and to solemnise the entry of the Estates the prince should haue bene publikely beheaded afterward straigt vpon the conclusion of the Estates the Armies marched to sacke and spoyle such as were suspected and the people were suffered and countenanced to runne vpon all such as were religious to dispatch them with out other Inquisition And to the end to leaue none aliue the King should cause all the Princes Lords and Knights of the order to sweare and seale all the articles of Sorbone sending to the fire without longer proces all such as denied it The Chancelor did the like with such as were of the order d'la longe robe about the court The Parliaments Prelates had charge to do the like with such as belonged to Iustice and to the Cleargie Likewise Ladies honorable womē were not forgotten This being done the Inquisition of Spain entred into France to begin new tragidies But as all things were vpon the point to be executed God cut the strings thereof striking the king Francis with an Apostume in his eare wherewith after he had languished certain dayes he was finally stifled and dyed the fift day of December 1560. hauing only raigned 17. moneths This death ouerthrew the disseines and purposes of the Duke of Guise and constrained the aduersaries of the reformed Church to yeeld some reliefe vnto the faithfull who had that yeare giuen them in mockery the Huguenots because of their night assemblies to muse deuise new subtilties and persecutions whereof we will God willing speake briefly in the years following but yet the Churches in that yeare prospered in all Prouinces with infinite witnesses of God his fauour towards his and of his iudgements vpon his enemies of all estates Some of the Religion were publikely executed in diuers places but for one which died there came a thousand to the doctrine of the Gospell In so much that it was incredible the great number of persons which this yeare and that following forsooke the Romane Religion to come vnto the Christian This yeare Scotland was troubled with a ciuill war by the practises of some which would needs commaund all ouer vnder the colour of maintaining the Romane Religion but they frustrated of their hope and the reformed religion began then to set foote in that kingdome by the fauour and assistance of Elizabeth Queene of England The Queene widowe of Iames the fift died in the moneth of Iune Martin Bucer and Paul Phagius whose bodies had bene buried and burned foure yeares before in England by the sollicitations of Cardinal Poole were established in their first honor and their memorie publikely celebrated the 30. of Iuly The 10. day of Aprill before died that very learned and modest person Phillip Melancton an excellent ornament of all Almaine after whose decease many wicked spirits troubled the Almain Churches which during his life they durst not haue enterprised Ioachim Camerarius a man very learned and his great friend hath described his life The moneth of Ianuary before tooke also from this world Iohn Alasco a Gentleman of Polonia one very affectionate to the aduancement of the kingdome of Chist whose memory is precious in all Churches About the end of the same yeare Emanuel Philebert Duke of Sauoy warred vpon them of the vale of Angrogne and their neighbours professing the doctrine of the Gospell which after assaying all meanes of peace to conserue it offering their Prince all that good subiects should do defended themselues though fewe in number so couragiously and were assisted of God that after many combats they were left in peace which at this present they enioy the fauour of Margarite of France Duchesse of Sauoy amongst other humane meanes seruing them greatly both then and afterwards In the same Countrey of Piemont were seene many prodigious wonders the like in France Austrich Pologne Almain At the begginning and vntill the end of this yeare 1561. the French Churches encreased openly shewed themselues Katherine de Medices Queene mother hauing all affaires in her hand was counselled by the Princes of the house of Bourbon by the Admirall and other great Lords of the Religion by meanes whereof the greatest of the Romane Religion entred into league with them and so made priuie preparation for great troubles and vexations after hapning In the moneth of Ianuary the Princes and great Lords being assembled at S. Germaine in Laye an Edict was made the seuenteenth of the said moneth which on the one side gaue some release and libertie vnto them of the Religion and on an other side curbed and brideled them After the Councell assigned on the ninth day of September following was a conference and disputation at Poissy betwixt the Doctors of the Romane and reformed Churches In that same moneth the Electors and Princes of Almaine being assembled at Neubourge in Turinge to take Councell for maintaining the confession of Ausbourge by them presented vnto the Emperour Charles the 5. Anno 1530. gaue audience about the beginning of February the Popes Embassadors which commaunded them to send their Embassadors vnto the Councel assigned at Trent to effect which they offred for the Pope their M. such safe conduct as was possible to desire The 7. of February the Electors and Princes made answer that they found it strange that the Pope being the cause of all the cōfusions then in the Church should go about to assemble a Councel to assigne it vnto them whom he had nothing to doo to command that they did not neither euer would acknowledge any soueraigntie to belong vnto the Romane seate yea they were assured that it appertained not vnto the Pope to conuocate or call a Councell And after they had shewed the orders and filthinesse of the Romane Church and that it were good to regard and looke vnto the meanes to procure a generall and free Councel they sent away their Embassadors and after they writ vnto the Emperour Ferdinand that they all with a commō aduise agreed vnto the confessiō of Ausbourge afterward they published in an Imprinted writing their causes of reculation against the Councell of Trent These Embassadors went into diuers other places to the same effect but they receiued no good answere o any King Prince or great Lord making profession of the Gospell but especially the Queene of England would not giue leaue to the Abbot Martinengue who was sent by the Pope vnto her to passe the sea to come into England The 5. day of March the Pope caused to bee strangled in the night time in the S. Angelo the Cardinall Charles Caraffe he beheaded also in an other prison the Counte of Palliane and certaine other Cardinalls the next day shewing all their bodies
of Lewis Requescens great commaunder of Castile a man in appearance of soft condition but no lesse fellonious and cruell then his predecessor in that gouernment Iohn de Austriche made warre in Barbarie about the ende of this yeare and got Tunes builded a strong Citadell betwixt Tunes and the Goulette to resist the Turkes after hee withdrew into Sicilie The great Commander meaning to driue away the Prince of Orange incamped before Middelbourge in Zeland armed a puissant Fleete about 80. vessels and the 24. of Ianuary 1574. made saile towards Zeland but his Army encountred the Princes Army In so much that after a long combat where that Commaunder commaunded not but looking ouer the Dikes to iudge of the blowes with more assurance he sawe the Spaniards ouerthrown with his Wallons wherof some were drowned others carried away prisoners and almost all their vessels lost They of Middelbourg wayed with the siege and all hope which they had of succours turned into dispaire they yeelded themselues a moneth after In the beginning of February the warre waxed hotte in Barbary betwixt the Spaniards Moores and Turkes The 18. of the same moneth Henry Duke of Aniou arriuing from France in Polongne made his entrie into Cracouia and was crowned three dayes after with accustomed solemnities About this time the Venetians beeing tyred with warre entred an accord with Selym whereat the Pope and the King of Spaine were not content Fraunce entred into new troubles They tooke them to Arms in Normandie and Poictou The king in great hast retired himselfe from S. Germaines to Paris From that time followed great chaunges in France there then seeming to be no more any question of Religion but of the estate a thing notwithstanding of longer discourse then I need now set down seeing it i◠handled in particular bookes depending vpon the history of this time The warre continued in Holland and the Spaniards encamped before Leyden but they were constrained to leaue their siege the 23. day of March to goe meete the Duke Christopher son of the Elector Palatin the Counties Lodowick and Henry de Nassan brethren which came downe in the strength of winter towards Mastriche with a good number of footmen and horsemen These Lords being aduertised that the Spaniards came to finde them aduanced themselues and encountred in a field of thornes called Morkerheide where the Lansquenets crying after siluer refused the combat insomuch that the Lords were vanquished and slaine all three vpon the fourth day of April Ioachim Camerarius a learned man amongst all the Almaine an inward and familiar friend of Phillip Melancton dyed at Leipsic beeing of the age of 74. yeares the 17. day of Aprill The 21. day died Cosme de Medices Duke of Florence and great Duke of Thuscane leauing a sonne vnto whom the state and tytle of great Duke was confirmed by the Pope The great Commaunder thinking to haue gained all by the ouerthrowe of the Count Lodowick caused a generall pardon to bee published in the Towne of Antwerpe the 23 of Aprill but none came for it so that the war continued Yet three daies after this publication the Spanish souldiers kindling a mutinie for want of their pay entred into the Towne of Antwerpe by the fauour of the Castle constraining the Burgesses to furnish them the summe of foure thousand Florents to bring this to passe they vsed great insolencies They constrained also the Gouernor and the Wallon souldiers to auoyd the towne with intent to gorge themselues the more at their ease They also set farther off the ships which had the guard of the Hauen The Princes Nauie hauing discouered these Ships got quickly hold of them and carried them away in the Commaunders view whilest he and his souldiers tooke their pastime in sacking of Antwerpe The Spaniards prceiuing that during their absence Leiden was not againe victualled returned to besiege it the second day of May and held it closer then before for in diuers places they made Forts to the number of 22. vpon large and deep dikes the most part invnited and strengthned with 2. or 3. Canons The eleuen day of May a great part of S. Markes Pallace at Venice was burned and two daies after a great number of houses at Venice with a notable losse for many Marchants There happened as much at Bruxels in Brabant the 24. of the same month and the fire tooke hold of certaine Gunpowder which was in a Tower which by the ruine thereof greatly endamaged all the Towne and slew 15. persons A great warre was then in France especially in Poictou and in Normandie Gabriel Counte de Montgommeri hauing with a fewe men sustained the siege and diuers assaultes in the Castle of Danfronc yeelded it by composition but he was reserued and carried prisoner vnto Paris where not long after by decree of the Parliament his head was cut off In the meane while the Duke of Alencon the kings yongest brother and the king of Nauarre were as prisoners in the Court and the Churches languished vnder so many confusions The last day of May Charles the ninth King of France dyed of the age of 34. yeares in the wood of Vincennes leauing his kingdome much indebted and maruellously full of broyles Henry of Valois the third sonne of Henry the second born in the yeare 1551. the 21. of September beeing in Pologne when his brother Charles dyed and vnderstanding the newes of his death departed secretly that kingdome and tooke possession of that his mother had kept for him He passed through Venice so into Piedmont where he visited Margarite the Duchesse his Aunt who dyed soone after and arriuing at Lyons in the beginning of September hee caused certaine Edicts to be published against them of the Religion who stood vpon their gard seeing their new Prince threatned them so openly A litle before his comming Henry Montmorency Marshal de Danuile and gouernor of Languedoc entred in cōference with the principals of the Religion least that prouince other nigh therevnto might come to ruine and destruction by ciuill warres and to procure some rest for France The Prince of Conde retired into Almaine The king descended into Languedoc hauing failed to take Liuron a smal Towne of Dauphine About the end of this yeare died Charles Cardinall of Lorraine one of the chiefe instruments of the troubles and confusions of France To come vnto the affaires of the low Countries The siege of Leiden hauing continued all the Sommer with appearance of extreame confusion for the besieged the third day of October following it was refreshed and victualled by the prowesse of a fewe souldiers conducted by Boisot Admirall of Holland beeing helped with the Sea-floud which the Prince by the meanes of pearcing of certaine Dikes and sluces opening had caused it to come farre euen nigh vnto the Towne The Spaniards after they had fought a litle seeing the water began to