he remained a yeare and sixe monethes At this time the Emperour appeased the seditions which were betwixt the Iewes and the Samaritanes The yeare 53. the Emperour Claudius tooke the Kingdome of Chalcide from Agrippa which hee had held foure yeares and gaue him the Tetrarchie of Philip with Traconite Bathane and Abele and constituted Felix Gouernour of the Iewes Iudea was maruellously afflicted about this time by intestine conspiracies and robberies which was committed by the greatest men of Ierusalem Ionathan the high Priest had admonished the Gouernour Felix to acknowledge the true God But Felix was so grieued hereat that he ordeined an other high Priest namely Ioseph who was a familiar friend of the said Ionathan Ioseph assembled together a band of theeues and slew Ionathan These theeues which remained vnpunished for this in an assembly of people fell vpon all they thought good neither carrying reuerence to any persons nor places how holy soeuer And the true cause of all this mischiefe was that some false Prophets and seducers ioyned themselues with these theeues But so soone as they were come vnto them Felix made them die as seditious persons Amongst them was a renowned Egiptian of whom Iosephus makes mentiō in his Antiquities This deceiuer perswaded the common people to ascend with him into the Mount Oliuet saying that from thence he would shewe himselfe to them and that by his commaundement the walles of Ierusalem should fall and promised them that thereby they might enter Felix hereof aduertised made arme certaine people and with a great number of horsemen rushed vpon that disguised band which was of thirtie thousand and slewe about 400. of them and tooke 500. aliue In the meane while this abuser escaped and was neuer after seene Those theeues againe perswaded the people to make warre against the Romanes and no more to yeeld them obedience They burnt and pilled such Villages as resisted them The yeare 56. S. Paul went to Ierusalem where he was taken and ledde to the Gouernour Felix Domitius Nero succeeded in the Empire and raigned fourteene yeares two monethes and certaine dayes Hee was as very cruell man and insatiable in whooredome and Homicide euen in sleying his owne mother his sister his brother his wife Octauia and an other wife called Pompeia whom he slewe with a blowe of his foote Hee killed also his Schoolemaister Seneca and a Romane Consull named Atticus the better to enioy his wife called Statilia The yeare 57. after the death of of Aziarius King of the Emesicians his brother succeeded him See Iosephus And Nero gaue the principallitie of the lesse Armenia to Aristobulus the Sonne of Herode King of Calcyde and the Kingdome of Agrippa the younger was thereby greatly encreased The yeare 58. after Felix was departed from Iudea there was a great sedition in Cesaria which is in Palestine where a great number of Iewes were slaine The same yeare S. Paul was sent prisoner to Rome There was a sedition also in the other Cesaria And Festus succeeded Felix in the gouernment of Iudea The yeare 59. in the Towne of Thoulouze which is in Gaul there was a verie renowned Rethorician called Statius Surculus The same yeare the Towne of Magunce was repaired by the Romaines The yeare 60. In Rome was a great earthquake and an Eclipse of the sunne at the time when Nero exercised his Parracides and whooredomes The yeare 61. a boy of eight yeares of age in Italie in the time of Fonteius and Vispanus Consuls did runne fortie thousand paces from noone till the euening The same yeare there was an Eclipse of the Sunne the last day of Aprill The yeare 62. Albinus was made Gouernour of Iudea The yeare 63. Iames the brother of the Lorde Iesus which was called Iust accounted Bishop of Ierusalem was slaine by the Iewes The high Priest Ananias thinking to recouer libertie caused him to be called into iudgement and accused him as a corrupter of Moyses Lawe Some say hee was cast downe from the toppe of the Temple and as hee prayed for them which put him to death hee was strooken with a Fullers Bowe on the heade whereof hee dyed Then did Albinus gouerne Iudea succeeding Festus The yeare 64. a Thunderbolte fell before Nero his Table The same yeare Saint Marke the Euangelist died which was the eight yeare of the raigne of Nero hee was burnt for the Gospell in Alexandria which is in Aegypt where hee preached At this time Agrippa augmented the Towne of Cesaria Phillippe and called it Neronia The yeare 65. after S. Marke his death Annianus was ordeined the first bishoppe of Alexandria and gouerned the Church 22. yeares The yeare 66. beganne the first persecution which was the tenth yeare of Nero and endured till his death By the commaundement of this tyrant fire was lightned in the Towne of Rome and that none should say it was his act hee laide the fault vppon the Christians and made them die of many kindes of deathes They that called themselues Christians which name was as odious vnto all men as if they had beene enemies of mankinde and they also which were accused by the prisoners besides all other euills done vnto them endured also this opprobry that beeing couered with Beasts skinnes they were with dogges torne in peeces Some were fastened to Crosses and Gallowes Others burnt with fire in so much that of them they made fires to cleare and lighten the night Cor. Tacitus rehearseth this After Festus vnder Nero succeeded in the gouernment of Iudea Albinus and after Florus vnder whom the Iewes beganne to fall into such rebellions and dissentions that neither menaces nor torments exactions nor occasions could represse them In Asia three Townes perished by an Earth-quake namely Laodicea Hierapolis and Colossa All Townes which had receiued the Gospell whilst S. Paul liued who had instructed them partly by writings partly by his Disciples as by Epaphras A mirrour of Gods iudgement who cannot endure the despising of his word The yeare 60. the Church of the Lord Iesus in Ierusalem as it was assembled was diuinely admonished and transferred into the Towne of Pella which is beyond Iordaine This same yeare Vespasian was ordeined by Nero to set an order in the Countrey of Iudea who did many things worthy of memorie The yeare 68. began the warres of the Iewes vnder Florus because of his great crueltie whereof Iosephus makes mention Lib. 2. Chap. 13. Egesippus Lib. 3. Chap. 4. The yeare 70. if we will beleeue the catalogue of the Romaines Linus succeeded S. Peter S. Hierome Nicephorus Euthalius Deacon and others say that S. Peter was crucified the 14. yeare of Nero which was the last of his raigne and the 27. yeare after the conuersion of S. Paul How then could this be that Linus should succeed him in the Apostolicke Sea as they say seeing Linus was Martired a yeare before S. Peter For so is it rehearsed by
Possidonius writ his life Sedulius Possidonius Sozomenus Socrates and Theodoriretus were Authors of the Tripartite Historie which afterward was brought into one by Cassiodorus Valentinian was made Emperour with Theodosius and they raigned together the one in the East the other in the West Clodio a Painim King of France raigned 18 yeares Hee recouered from the Romaines Torney and Cambray where he was buried Superstition was now farre entred into the houses of great men In so much as Eudoxia the wife of Theodosius the yonger went vnto Ierusalem and frō thence brought the chains wherewith S. Peter was bound by Herode which were ioyned with them of Nero wherevpon afterward was instituted the feast of S. Peter in bonds Item the Relikes of S. Steuen S. Hierome in his Epistle to Eustochius counteth them otherwise Sixtus the third of that name a Romaine gouerned the state of Rome 8. yeares Hee was accused by a Priest of great credit called Bassus to haue committed Incest and to haue violated a religious woman named Chrysogonus and so did Bassus vnderstand of a seruant of the said Sixtus called Peter But in a full Sinode of 55. Bishops by Valentinian Augustus libertie was left to Sixtus to iudge himselfe For it is not lawfull saith he to iudge nor giue sentence against the hie and great Bishop He then tooke his oath that he was innocent of the matter and so was absolued by the Sinode and Bassus banished and all his goods confiscate and giuen to the Church The beginning that the Pope should not be iudged Sixtus then instituted the feast of S. Peter in bondes the first day of August in place of an other Feast which was before made for the victorie of Augustus Caesar which he obtained against Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra Suspition or Idolatrie chaunged but not abolished The Vandales which from the outward parts of Almaine vnder Gratian came into France and after into Spaine finally vnder the conduction of Genserich came into Mauritania and after sell vpon Carthage and there occupied Affricke more then 77. yeares Victor Bishop of a Towne in Numidia which is in Affricke called in Latine Cattena made a booke against the Arrians and presented it to Genseric King of the aforesaid Vandales an Arrian Polychronius Bishop of Ierusalem is chased away Hee in the time of a famine sold all his goods and gaue it to the poore For which chatitie and mercy he was after restored againe Sixtus ordeined that none should bee promoted in the Cleargie into anothers Diocesse or Parish He also before his death gaue all his goods to the poore Hillarie Bishop of Arles left all his goods and went into an hermitage where he composed the life of Saint Honorius Abb. Tritem He had done better if hee had preached constantly and opposed himselfe against the peoples vices Arcadius Probus Paschasius and Eutichius were in great estimation and honour with Gensericus but seeing he could not draw them vnto Arrianisme after many euils finally he martyred them with others yea hee cast certaine Bishoppes out of their places and bookes of Religion and the Christian faith were burnt The Councell of Ephesus the second was assembled by Theodosius wherein Eutiches the heretike was restored and Flauianus a true Catholike condemned by a false accusation For there was Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria President who was of the sect of the said Eutiches This Councell was corrected by the Councell following which was assembled vnder Leo the Pope first of that name as followeth The Towne of Rhemes was taken by Attila and put to fire and sword Nicasius Bishop of the saide place a very auncient man was slaine and his sister Eutropia put to death Leo a Tuscan first of that name gouerned the Romaine Church 21. yeares He ordained that whosoeuer vnreuerently should handle the Images of Saints should be seperated and depriued of the communion of the faithfull He added to the Masse Orate pro me fratres c. Also the Deo gratias is attributed vnto him He added to the Canon Sanctum sacrificium immaculatam hostiam Item hanc igitur oblationem c. Attila sacked all Italie At the sacking of Aquilia one of the honourablest women called Digna cast her selfe from an high Tower into the water for feare to be rauished by the Barbarians For the fairest women were reserued from death that they might be forced of those barbarous people Naucler Merouee the third King of France raigned ten yeares He also was a Painim and was not the sonne of Clodio but the maister of his horse-men Yet to him the king Clodio recommended the gouernment of his kingdome of his wife of his three children trusting vnto his loyaltie which hee had sworne and promised vnto him in the presence of his Princes But soone after the death of the said Clodio Merouee chased away his said three children and caused himselfe to be chosen King When the three children came to age they made warre vpon him and tooke from him all the Countrey of Austria Lorraine Brabant Namure and Hainault Leo ordeined that there should be but one God-father or God mother at Baptisme and at confirmation Some attribute vnto him the ordinance that Alleluya and Gloria in excelsis Deo should not be sung from Septuagesima vntill Easter Letanies were first in Constantinople and after in the West by Lupus Bishop of Troy receiued and approued Item by Mamerus Bishop of Vienna for an Earthquake that happened and further to appease it was sung the Sanctus Deus Sanctus Fortis Sanctus immortalis miserere nobis From hence-forward thou shalt see infinit superstitions traditions and heapes of Councells and Relikes He ordeined fasting the three Rogation dayes Attila Captaine of the Hunnes tooke Rome before whom Leo came at the first and obtained of him to touch nothing at Rome And Attila being asked wherefore so easily he agreed therevnto answered that hee sawe the Angell of God with a sword drawne who threatned him if hee graunted not his request Paul Diaconus The general Councel of Calcedon of 630. Bishops against Eutiches Abbot of Constantinople vnder Martian In this Councell 16. Chap. this decree is set downe If any Virgin vowe and dedicate her selfe to God and likewise a Monke it shall bee no more lawfull for them to marry but if they be found to marry then to remaine excommunicated yet we ordaine that the Bishop of the place if he thinke good may shew the same humanitie and fauour The Narration or Fable of the 17. sleepers named Malchus Maximianus Martinianus Dionisius Ioannes Serapion and Constantinus raised again as it were 200. yeares after their death and preaching the resurrection of the bodie against certaine heretikes affirming the contrary is forged about this time Long great persecution was against the Christians in the Country of Persia In so much that Theodosius made peace with them that they would cease the persecution Abb. Vsp. The Tripartite
said Councell it is ordeined that the Apocalips should be accounted Canonicall In the said Councell Priests were reprehended because after the Lordes praier they communicated and blessed the people wherefore in the 17. Chap. they are forbidden to communicate alone but with all the assembly after the ordinance of Iesus Christ It was also ordeined that after the Lords praier the blessing should follow And then only they should receiue the Sacrament of the bodie and blood of Christ in this order that is the Priests and the Deacons should make the Communion before the Aultar the Clarkes in the hearts and the people out of the heart The Masse yet was not as is at this day wherein Priests communicate alone In the Councell of Bracare 1. and 2. held in Spaine it was ordeined that if any did not confesse the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost three persons to be one same substance vertue and power as the Apostolike Catholike Church teacheth should be excommunicated and accursed In the 19. chap. If any beleeue soules and bodies to be subiect to the Starres as the Painims say and the Priscillianists maintaine let them be excommunicated and accursed In the 36. chap. that they should bury no dead bodies in Churches but without The Councell of Bracare 2. in the 14. chap. All they are anathematized which abstaine from eating flesh vpon superstition The same was ordeined in the Councell of Toledo 13. Note by this which is said that the Spaniards more then any other resisted the forbidding of meates and of single life Dagobert King of France raigned 14. yeares and during his raigne he gaue great reuenewes to Churches and caused to be builded the Abbey of S. Denis in France and placed there the three aforesaid bodies of S. Denis Eleutherius and Rusticus in Tombes couered with fine gold and enriched with precious stones And it wold hardly be beleeued the great riches of gold siluer and precious stones the Townes and other goods which he gaue to the said Church and Abbey of S. Denis which they yet possesse at this day He founded also the Abbey of S. Amande nigh Tournay and endowed it with great reuenewes All his study was to gather and wheresoeuer hee went to take Relickes to enrich the Abbey of S. Denis In so much that for that cause hee was called the Theefe of Relikes And as Clouis the first of that name had his trust in S. Martine of Tours so this had in the bodie of S. Hilarie of Poitiers In so much that hauing taken and rased the said Towne destroyed the Temples yea that of S. Hilarie he caused to carry the Coffin with other Relickes to S. Denis in France The cause of this sacking spoile was because the Poitiers had giuen succours of people and siluer to the Gascoignes which rebelled against him Moreouer Dagobert was a man so giuen to women that he Instituted a Colledge whither hee caused to resort the fairest women and apparelled them like Queenes for which thing being reprehended of S. Amand he sent him to exile But Gaguin saith he was after reuoked Seuerin Pope ruled at Rome two yeares His study was to repaire Churches to endowe them with many ornaments and encrease the reuenewes therof Supp Chron. Fasc Temp. His election was ratified by Isacheus exarche For thē the election of Popes was nothing vnlesse it were authorised by the Emperour or his Lieftenant Naucler The treasures of the Church of S. Iohn de Lateran were pilled by Maurice Gouernor of Rome Isacheus exarche of Italie one part of the bootie was sent to Constantinople to Heraclius This was the yeare that the said Heraclius endured that great wound of the Sarrasins Naucler In the time of this Pope dyed Mahumet the yeare 637. and after began to be worshipped of his followers Mahumet signifieth Fury or Indignation Aman Bishop of Traict baptized Sigebert the sonne of Dagobert King of France Chron. Iohn Pope 4. of that name borne in Dalmatia ruled at Rome about two yeares He ordeined that whosoeuer should take away any Church goods should be bound to restore fourfold Naucler The yeare 640. Lent began to be kept in England Chro. Sigeb Rotharis King of Lombards was an Arrian and all his people after his example In so much that there was almost no Citie nor Towne which had not two Bishops the one a Catholicke and the other an Arrian Suppl Chron. Theodorus a Grecian the sonne of Theodorus Bishop of Ierusalem gouerned the Romane Church 6. yeares 5. months and 18. dayes Supp Chron. Dagobert gaue to the Abbey of S. Denis a Faire and Market called Le Lendy betwixt Paris and S. Denis The Emperour Heraclius being aged gaue trust to Diuinations and Enchauntments of diuels This is the first Emperour that ruled in the East since the Empire was transferred thither who hath hadde that infamie to haue lost the Empire of Asia and to haue bene of the heresie of the Monothelites and Eutechians After he had thus polluted himselfe by these arts heresies and incest of his niece he died of a newe and straunge disease namely that the purses of his testicles turned vpside downe with the priuie member alwaies stiffe Insomuch that whensoeuer he vttered his vrine it sprinkled his face if a table had not beene placed about his nauell to driue it backe Egnatius and others recite the same Constantine his sonne of his first wife Eudoxia succeeded in the Empire but his mother in lawe Martine caused him to be poisoned before he had raigned a yeare and so she raigned with her sonne Heracleonas about two yeares Nauclerus rehearseth that the said Martine committed that fact by the Councell of Pirrhus Bishop of Constantinople an heretike who returned from his exile of Affrike after the death of the said Heraclius The Senate of Constantinople made the tongue of the said Empresse to be cut out and the nose of the said Heraclionas and cast them both into exile They also caused Pyrrhus to bee most shamefully put to death whom Paul succeeded as wicked an heretike as his former predecessor The Pope Theodorus in the Church of S. Peter the Cleargie and the Church being present excommunicated and declared the aboue named Paul Patriarke of Constantinople an heretike and his adherents and hauing mingled wine with Inke in a Challice he writ with his owne hand the excommunication to signifie that it was inuiolable as if Iesus Christ had writ it with his owne bloud Consider here how much the Church then although it was wholly giuen to superstitions did abhorre such as confounded the two natures in Christ. This Theodorus instituted the blessing of the Sierge on Easter Saterday Constance Emperour sonne of the said Constantine and of Gregorie his wife called otherwise by some Constantine the 3. raigned 28. yeares He was a tyrant and an heretike and persecuted the Catholiques He fauoured the heresie of Paul
At this time in Italie Calabria and Pouille the Sarrasins did infinit mischiefes Leo 5. of that name gouerned 40. daies Supp Chron. A Cardinall Priest his familiar called Christopher imprisoned him and by violence obtained the Papacie Leo died of griefe seeing himselfe thus handled of him vnto whom hee had done so much good In what authoritie is this Papall seate which is so easily vsurped by a priuate person by force and faction in a moment saith Naucler Christopher Pope ruled at Rome 7. moneths as hee acquired the Papacie so lost he it For he was deposed and imprisoned Some say he was constrained to make himself a Monke which was the onely refuge of the miserable For at this time Church-men being insolent and giuen to wickednesse were not sent to the Iles but for their disorders were deteined and enclosed in strong Monasteries Naucler and Chron. Abb. Sergius then third of that name was Pope and ruled seuen yeares and three moneths after some eight yeares and 15. or 16. dayes This was he who in the election of Formosus was cast off and who returning into France secretly returned into Rome and vsurped the Popedome yet fearing that Christopher should worke some treason he caused him to be drawne out of the Monasterie and put him in a common prison and yet putting him in a straighter prison poorely and miserably he finished his dayes Suppl Chron. The Westerne Empire diuided The Occidentall Empire was at this time diuided For there was one Emperor in Almaine and an other in Lombardie The first in Italie was Beringer who made a great Armie against the Emperour Lewis the third and gaue him battaile in the Plaine of Verone and discomfited him whose eyes afterward he caused to be put out so the Lombards for a time had the Empire by force A Monster was presented to Lewis the third which had a dogges head and all the other members as a man A figure of that time For men were then without an head and as dogges barked one against an other yea both the Popedome and Empire were diuided Fasci temp The Hungarians pilled and destroyed the Countries of Saxe and Turinge Chro. Abb. Vrsp And from thence entred into Italie vsing the like crueltie Thē was there the Duke of Fornil called Berēger who vsurped the title of the Empire in Italie and raigned 4. yeares against whom came the Emperour Lewis the third But he was betrayed by his people who in the night time tooke Berenger into the Towne of Verone In so much that he was taken and had his eyes put out so he dyed soone after Thus the Empire which had endured an hundreth and tenne yeares in France since Charlemaigne was transported vnto the Lombards Chron. Sigeb and Naucler Conrade first of that name Duke of Franconia was made Emperour after Lewis the third who deceased without a sonne so that this Conrade is esteemed the last of the race of Charlemaigne which had the gouernment of the Empire more then an hundreth yeares All the Great men of Germanie did elect without consent Otho Duke of Saxe but Otho feeling himselfe olde excused himself and appointed them this Conrade a magnanimous man sonne of Conrade Earle of Franconia and Hesset And Arnold the wicked sonne of the Emperour Arnulphe was Duke in Bauiers In the succession of Arnulphe aforesaid there are amongst the Historiographers some vncertain things touching their genealogie But we haue here set in order all such as discended of Charlemaigne to shewe the maruellous change in the greatest things of this world Who can read them without being rauished in admiration when we consider the greatest Kingdomes and dominations to flourish for a time and in the end being mingled with turbulent deuotions are in such sort debilitated and weakned as they come to nothing Wherein we must acknowledge the admirable prouidence of God Charlemaigne the sonne of Pippin left his sonne Lewis de Bonaire Emperour who had Lotharie Emperour who had Lewis of Bauiers King of Germanie who brought vnder the Bohemians had Charles le Chauue Emperour Lewis Emper. 1. of that name Lewis the young king of Germanie Franconia and Turinge Lewis Emperour 3. of that name surnamed le Begue which raigned but two yeares had Lothairie King of Austrasia called Lorraine Charles le Grosse Emperour who tooke the Empire frō Lewis le Begne Charles le Simple 30. King of France Charles king of Prouence Carloman Duke of Bauiere and of the kingdome thē called Teutonique had Arnulphe Emperour who was father of Lewis Emperor 3. of that name and of Conrade last Emperour of the race of Charlemaigne The Empire then of Germanie was transported frō the ligne of Charlemaigne to Conrade Duke of Franconia but the kingdome of France remained certaine yeares in the house of Charlemaigne seeing there was yet some remaining of the race of Charles le Simple Anastasius Pope 3. of that name gouerned at Rome two yeares and two moneths Supp Chron. He bare himselfe honestly without committing any act worthy of reprehension Laudo Pope a Romane ruled at Rome fiue or sixe monethes About this time the Venetians obtained a licence and priuiledge of the Emperour to beate money Hubert in Lorraine flourished now was made a Saint The Sarrasins destroyed Calabria Ponuille Beneuent and other Regions of the Romanes The Sea of Hist. Beringer second of that name raigned in Italie 7. or 8. yeares Some say he was chased away the third yeare of his raigne by Rodolphe king of Burgongne and that the same Rodolphe hauing raigned three yeares was after also driuen away by Hugues king of Arles Iohn Pope 11. of that name before Archbishop of Rauenna hauing bene deposed by a popularie tumult ruled after at Rome 13. yeares and two moneths Naucler He was Pope Sergius his sonne and prooued no better then his father sauing hee was a good souldier For he chased the Sarrasins out of Calabria with the helpe of one called Alberic Marquis of Tuscane Finally as the saide Iohn gloried in his victorie attributing all by great insolencie to his owne prowesse hee stirred against himselfe the furie of his owne souldiers who stiffled him to death Iohn le Maire Hee had cast out of Rome the said Marquis Albert who to auenge himselfe of the Pope brought the Hungarians into Italie which pilled and wasted all Finally he was put to death by the Romanes Henry first of that name Duke to Saxe surnamed the Faulconer sonne of Otho Duke of Saxe who had refused the Empire was chosen Emperour by Conrade his predecessor who being sicke in his bedde sent his brother Eberard towards the saide Henry with the Mantle royall the sword the Lance the Diademe and other Imperiall ornaments who found him at his pastime with his Haukes which was cause that hee was called the Faulconer For there he was saluted Emperour Nauclerus He made warre against the Hungarians Slauonians and Bohemians The combat of Tournois
this my terme is not yet accomplished Thou knowest that thy promise was nineteene yeares whereof I haue liued but eleuen and eight moneths Vnto which words the Lackey hardily answered you vnderstood not well the speech but are greatly abused For I said not nineteene yeares as you imagined but I said you should remaine Pope eleuen yeares and eight moneths the which are come and passed and therefore you must needes die But although the Pope was very actiue to require and to pray instantly that he would haue regard to his life and to the terme that hee had graunted him in his Popedome yet it was as to speake to a deafe man and to pleade in vaine For all his alligations remonstrations exceptions and requests profited nothing so that they which were in the chamber and heard this maruellous debate and difference might iudge that Sathan was more expert in the Art of Arithmetike then the Pope was and they might easily conclude that Alexander erred in his account Finally to close vp the matter euen as Sathan went and departed from the place in like manner also with great cries sighes and fearfull sobbes the Popes soule as it were following his steppes dislodged and miserably departed from his body Thus miserably and vngodly died this Pope Alexander leauing to his sonne his Seignory altogether wasted and ruinous and to the Italians their Comonwealth all confused peruerted wasted to the end he might be a publike example to all ages how things euill gotten melt away and are wickedly and vnluckily spent This Pope had with his said sonne a daughter called Lucrece with whom both he and his sonne lay as Pontanus and Samazarius haue left written Phillip Archduke of Austrich the son of Maximilian and of Mary the onely daughter of Charles Duke of Bourgoine tooke to wife Iane the onely daughter of the king of Arragon and by reason of her right going into Spaine passed through France in the yeare 1501. After returning into Flaunders to appeease certaine stirres of warre betwixt them of Gilders and Brabant he tooke many Townes of Gelders with the Duke of Suffolke a young Gentleman which he nourished in his Court with his children The said Phillip yeelded homage vnto king Lewis the 12. for the Counties of Flaunders and Artois before Guy de Rochefort grand-Chauncellor of France and Lewis de Luxembourge Count de Ligni Embassadors sent for the purpose vnto Arras Pius third of that name a Tuscan by Nation borne at Sienna Nephew of Pope Pius the second on his sisters side Laodamie before called Francis Picolhomineus that is a litle man succeeded the said Alexander being elected by the Cardinalls after great strifes and debates Valentin Borgia hauing seized vpon all the treasures of his father Alexander after his death with twelue thousand souldiers occupied Vatican where the Pope should be elected tending to this end to constraine the Cardinalls to choose such an one for Pope as should like him The Cardinalls to shun this danger withdrew themselues first incontinently into the Temple of Minerua where straight they were besieged by him But as a bruite went through the Towne that the Cardinalls were taken and that he committed many murders and sackagements through the towne they were all taken with a great feare After this the shops were shut and each one ranne to Armes The issues and endes of streets were stopped with bankes peeces of wood and chaines of Iron no more nor no lesse then if the enemie had againe bene nigh the walles Borgia then seeing that he had enterprised a thing so hard to execute and also being required by the Cardinalls to cease frō such doings promised that which a litle after he obeyed After Pius was chosen Borgia hauing passed his choller thanked the Cardinalls that they had chosen such an one as he had greatly wished Hee then incontinently as he was made Pope made a cōspiracie against the French which had occupied a part of Italie For he tooke in very euill part that their king had brought Pouille a great part of Italie vnder his subiectiō This Pope hoped that a day would come when he should doo some great damage vnto the French after he had drawne them into Ambushes that he had laid for them and with the helpe of such as had conspired with him he hoped to driue thē cleane out of these Lands But whilest he went about this he died the 27. day after his election they yeare 1503. of an vlcer which he had in his thigh wherwith he had long time bene troubled without doing any thing at al of that which he had enterprised For beside the war he purposed against the Frēch he determined to haue reformed the Church to haue celebrated a Councel and haue gotten an Armie against the Turkes after the example of his Vncle. Aduertisement Note Reader for a conclusion of the precedent Popes that such as were since Siluester the second vntill Innnocent the fourth had the key of the bottomelesse pit giuen them to the end that by the horrible smoake thereof they might send out the Locusts or Grashoppers to deuoure all through all Christian Regions and that they might worke the secret of their Iniquitie As for the last which were after Innocent the fourth vntill Iulius the second of that name they haue bene permitted to nourish and maintaine it to obscure all truth that by their false doctrines and lying myracles they might seduce and deceiue euen the elect of God if it were possible For that great Dragon which is Sathan that is the Angell of the bottomelesse pit and the king of these Locusts that is to say of Mendicant Friars and of the Massing Priesthood called Abaddon which signified as much as destroyer saccager and exterminator or rooter out For these by their infernall doctrine of Popes decrees of Lombardike sentences of ordinarie questions determinations quodlibets summes monasticall predications and other such bables haue drawne into hell an infinite number of people since the said Innocent the fourth by the space of 260. yeares So that those Popes and Doctors are signified by the pale horse vpon which sat death as well of the body as soule after whom followed hell Moreouer these Popes and all other wicked persons vsing the insatiable tirannie leese and destroy euery day the bodies of the true Martyrs of the truth of God by fire sword water halters and all maner of punishments because they would not renounce Iesus Christ to obey theyr Prince Abaddon But from hence forward that is since the yeare of our Lord 1503. vnder Iulius the second and his successors vntill the last iudgement the Papacie dooth and is like to decay For the power that the diuell hath to deceiue by his Antichrist is diminished and from day to day shall decay but not the power that hee hath to exercise his crueltie against the elect of God There haue bene many signes of the ruine and fall of the
all should haue bene consumed by fire The next morning which was Sunday there was found so many dead bodies stinking that in all hast of necessitie a great ditch was made to burie them by Cartfulls Of wounded there were found more then an hundreth and fiftie A woman great with child was found stiffled who being opened the childe receiued baptisme A damzel casting her selfe out of a bed to open a windowe in the streete called Blochstranssem the tempest so cut off her necke that the head hung at the remaining skinne a very sad and horrible spectacle In a corner of a street where is the Pallace Bernard a Tauerner called Croes beeing discended into a Seller to drawe Beere for his ghuests of which one company were playing at Cardes the house in a moment was throwne on the earth and the gamesters ouerwhelmed wth their Cardes in their hands none of that house remained safe but the Host by meanes of the vaulted Caue or Seller into which he was discended Three or foure dayes after this accident there were many found in Caues and Sellers which were dead of hunger others stiffled others lay in traunses and swounds with feare and incredible stench of the thunder There was a man and a woman found that were carried away and hanged betwixt the braunches of a Tree The Towne which before was adorned with exquisite buildings was now altogether disfigured and as it were rent in peeces The Suburbes of Neckerfpful was almost all ruinated The Pallace of Bergues and that of Madame Margarite and the Emperours were cleane ouerthrowne The house of Lombards they are they which lend siluer to vsurie from top to bottome was ruinated The Hosterie of the Postmaister was destroyed and the stable with the horses were all carried away One part of the Monasterie of the Augustines and of the Temples and Churches of the Towne were broosed and broken downe And if the storme had not broken his forces in the ouerthrowe of the house of the Count d'Hostrat there had beene no likelihood that any house in the Towne or thereabouts had remained whole There were found many hewen stones throwne by the Tempest sixe hundreth paces off to the great damage of the places where they fell The glasse windowes through all the streetes were broken The fall of Tyles and the cry of persons was horrible and fearefull Thus the Lord sometimes makes men feele his terrible and fearfull power In Iune the Emperour sent the Cardinall of Trent to Rome to conclude that cōfederacie with the Pope who had now deliuered siluer to the Captaines of warre for the warre in Almaine On the other side the Duke of Saxe and the Lantgraue leuied people in all haste The Emperor being demanded the causes of the warre he answered it was onely meant against rebells culpable of treason He sent Embassadors to the Swisses praying them to remaine stil in their auncient amity And that hee onely determined to chastice certaine mutinous people The Protestants purposed in August to besiege Seiusbourge so meaning to fight against the Emperor but as they passed leisurely ten thousand footmē of Italie came to the Emperors succours the last of August and 500. horsmen whose Captaine was Octauius Farnese the Popes sonne in lawe The Count de Bure who had leuied people in the lowe Countries passed Phine in the moneth of August nigh Mets and in September ioyned himselfe to the Emperour Great troupes of the Popes friends of all estates ranne vnto the Councell of Trent In the number of which amongst others were two notable Archbishops the one of Vspale in the Countrey of the Gothes called Olaus the great and the other of Armacane in Ireland They were poore Archbishops which had litle but winde and smoake of Archbishops and were entertained of the Pope at fifteene crownes a moneth and therefore thought hee good they should be at this Councell vnder those titles and to take place amongst others that the world might beleeue that there were yet found in farre Countries as Gothia and Ireland people which reuerence his name and submit themselues to his obedience Herman Archbishop of Colongne by the counsell and aduice of his Estates and of his meer will surrendred and gaue ouer his estate of a Prince and his Electorship and withall remitted vnto the people the oath of fidelitie wherby they were bound vnto him Adolp Schauembourge is chosen in his place who straight chaunged Religion through all the Countrey of Colongne At Genes a sedition rose vp The Count Fliscan was Captaine of them who fell into the sea and was drowned whereby the furie of the seditious was much lessened Yet the Lord Ioanuin d' Aure was there cut in peeces The Emperour laid the cause vpon the Farneses and amongst others vpon Peter Lewis Duke of Plaisance Henry king of England dyed about the end of Ianuarie hauing instituted Edward his sonne of the age of nine yeares and after him he substituted Mary his daughter by his first wife and after her Elizabeth by his second wife Vnder this young King Edward the doctrine of the Pope was driuen out of England and the Gospell put in the place by the authoritie of the Duke of Sommerset his Tutor and Vncle by the mothers side and of Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie The Councell of Trent diuided some of the venerable Fathers retired to Bolongne because a Phisitian who was in the Popes wages told them that the aire of Trent was not wholesome The other Bishops which were vnder the Emperors obedience remained at Trent A sedition at Naples of the Bourgesses against the Spaniards because that Peter de Tolledo Viceroy sought to bring in the Spanish Inquisition concerning Religion The last of March Francis king of France after hee had raigned 32. yeares died at Ramboillet Henry 2. of that name his son succeeded him in this yeare and the same day he was borne that is to say the last of March. Anne de Montmourancie now hauing bene absent from the Court sixe yearers was againe called Such as before were in honour and credit some were laid in prison others were deposed or lost their credit and honour Peter Martir a Florentine professor of Theologie is called from Strasbourge into England and Bernardin Ochinus a man renowmed in Ilalie for his eloquence Anne the onely daughter of Vladislaus the last king of Hungarie and Boheme the wife of Ferdinand king of the Romanes a fertile mother for children died about this time The 24. of Aprill the Emperor vsing extreame diligence and subtiltie passed the Riuer of Abis and suddenly tooke the Duke of Saxonie who hauing but a weake Armie was discomfited and be himselfe after he had fought all the day wounded in the left cheeke was taken and carried away prisoner The seuenth of May the Emperor condemned him to be beheaded yet at the earnest intercession of the Elector of Brandebourge he yeelded him his life and in the place thereof
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
died when he had raigned 10. yeares Him followed in this way of all flesh Mahomet the seruant of God King of Persia who all his raigne held warre with the Turke with equall fortunes And in Saxonie Fredericke Duke of Saxonie The 20. of October Iames the King of Scots was besieged by his subiects and taken in the Castle of Saint Damian Those Dukedomes and Seignories which many yeares before Iohn Basilides Prince of Moschouites had taken from the Polanders the aforesaid Stephen recouered again and annexed them to the crowne he shewed himselfe of a dauntlesse spirit against the Turke for when according to the auncient custome he demaunded certain Forces to maintaine his warres against the Sophy of Persia hee denied him saying that the white Eagle of Poland which before was vnfeathered and of no force was now become young againe full fledged and had whet and sharpened her bill and talents Anch. Cicar This yeare Maister Thomas Cauendish began his voyage about the world vpon the twentie one of Iuly entering in at the straight of Magellan and returning by the Cape bona Speranza Which voyage hee finished to the space of two yeares and lesse then two moneths arriuing at Plimmouth the ninth of September 1588. Maister Richard Haklnit In the beginning of this yeare Syr William Standley traitorously yeelded vp those Townes of the which he was made Gouernour by the Earle of Leicester After the death of Stephen King of Poland the Polanders were carefull for the election of a new Some thought it best to offer it to the Emperour who had succeeded without any other election his Father Maximilian the chosen King of Poland If hee had come to the possession thereof Some proposed the Duke of Parma because hee was a wise and valiant souldier and for that he was the Nephew of Cardinal Farnese who when he was Protector of this Realme was verie kinde and liberall to the people Many had liking to the Prince of Transiluania and to Cardinall Bathoraeus and the Duke of Ferrrara Nobles likewise were desirous of it amongst whom Samoscius the high Chauncellour whom Stephen had preferred to such height of honor that nothing was thought wanting in him for the perfection thereof but the title of a King was thought most fit But all these were excluded and there were yet two other competitors Sigismond Prince of Suecia and Maximilian Archduke of Austria and brother to the Emperour Maximilian is chosen of the one part Others proclaimed med Sigismond a young Prince of twentie yeares of age or there-about These two were both called to the possession of a kingdome who hearing thereof made speedie haste thereto Maximilian first came with his Armie consisting of sixteen thousand horse and foote and pitched his Tents in a field neare the Citie of Craconia and sent to the Citizens that he might be crowned The Cracouians would by no meanes admit him but sent Letters to the Prince of Suetia that hee would come who with great ioy was receiued and crowned Now the Polanders thought themselues strong enough for the Muschouites whose Duke they called the Dragon of the North and against whom they beare an innated hatred Chytraeus And. Cicarell Gen. The Duke of Guise perceiuing the Army of Rutters to be a body dispearced hauing nothing but the legs and Armes executed vpon them that which he had determined from the first day of their entrie which was vpon the Generalls lodging and so by striking the shepheard diuided the flocke as Caesar did at the battaile of Pharsalia The Pope the King of Spaine and the Duke of Sauoy made fiers of ioy and pronounced the praises of the Duke of Guise The Pope sent him a sword engrauen with burning flames The Duke of Parma had sent him his Armes saying that among all the Princes of Europe it belonged only to Henry of Lorraine to beare Armes and to be a commaunder in the warres After many broiles betweene these two elected Kings of Poland Max was constrained to leaue Poland but hee was pursued by Samoscius the Chauncelor and at Pitscha he besieged him and tooke him prisoner In this yeare 1588. Maria de la Visitatione Prioresse of the Monasterie de Annūciada in Lisbone was held for wonderful holy whose hypocrisie and false myracles were discouered and publikely condemned Her the fond people called the holy Nunne Another Franciscan I should haue said a Dominican a feawe yeares since rose vp in Lisbone who they said had the fiue wounds of Christ as had S. Francess and many other things they say of her One Stephen de Lusignan a Dominican Friar who collecting all he could get to extoll her compiled a booke in French and dedicated the same to the Queene of Fraunce Imprinted at Paris by Iohn Bessant 1586. In the beginning of the booke shee is pictured like a Dominican Nunne with a blacke mantle and a white rolle a coate and white loose habit vpon the Mantle and on her head a crowne of thornes the Crucifix on high set ouer her and falling towards her with rayes from the wounds which reach to the feet and hands of the Nunne that out of the same commeth a heart which she holdeth betwixt the fingers of her right hand a Dragon she hath vnder her feete a Dominican Friar before her kneeling and a secular man and woman and at her left side a paire of Beads hanging The title of the booke is this The great miracles and the most holy wounds which this present yeare haue happened to the right reuerend mother now Prioresse of the Monasterie de la Anunciada in the Citie of Lisbon in the Kingdome of Portugall of the order of preaching Friars approoued by the reuerend Father Friar Lewis de Granada and by other persons of credit M. Cyp. Val. So famous was the holinesse of this Nunne that Cardinall Albertus of Austria sent information to Pope Sixtus the fift To whom the Pope wrote this Letter With great ioy haue wee read that thou hast procured to bee written the vertues of the Prioresse of the Monasterie Anunciada of the most holy Virgin And of the great benefites which God hath shewed her we pray thy diuine goodnesse from day to day to make her more worthy of his grace and to inrich her with his heauenly gifts for the glory of his name and ioy of his faithfull Giuen in S. Maries at Rome with the litle Ring of the fish Fredericke the second king of Denmarke the 30. yeare of his raigne and 54. of his age departed this life at Arderfoa in Zeland whom Christian the fourth of eleuen yeares of age succeeded In the moneth of Aprill 1588. Phillip the second of that name King of Spaine pretending to send his inuincible Fleete for the conquest of England made choyce by the aduice of the Prioresse of the Monasterie of the Anunciada whose name was Mary of the visitation as most worthy for her holinesse to blesse his Standard royall the
were exiled others put in prison virgins imprisoned and the houses of Christians pilled and sacked S. Hilarie was sent into exile At this time for the great persecutions without and heresies within many retired into the Desarts They write of two which were called Amon. The one was the Father and chiefe of three thousand Monkes The other Amon with two hundreth and fiftie Clarkes and Monkes was slaine by the Arrians Eusebius Sarmatha and Amathas Disciples of S. Anthonie were slaine by the Painimes Macarus the Aegyptian an other Macarus of Alexandria Hylarion the Disciple of S. Paul the Hermit Theodorus Entichian Pachomius Moyses Beniamin Helias Serapiō was the father of 2000. Monkes whom hee made worke for the necessitie of their liues and to helpe the needes of other poore Paemen other infinit Martin renounced his military estate Hist trip lib. 8. chap. 1. Iohn Cassian in the Collat of Fathers Naucl A coniuration was made by the Arrians after the Councel of Sardis against two Catholike Bishops Eufrates and Vincentius They caused an whoore in the night time to come into their chamber and by Apostate people which suddenly went after the said strumpet and so profered to accuse them to haue bene surprised in whoordome But the harlot disclosed the coniuration A Councell was held at Millaine in fauour of the Arrians against Athanasius the which resisted Paulinus Bishop of Treners Denis Bishop of Millaine Eusebius Bishop of Verceil and Rhodamus wherevpon they were cast out of the Church and with them Liberius Lucifer Metropolitane of the Iles of Sardine and Osius of Spaine sent into exile Anno Christi 361. The said Osius in his age by many torments beatings and wounds was forced to cōsent to the exposition of the Arrians and thervnto to subscribe in the first volume of Councels Tritenius saith that Osius being rich fearing either banishment or losse of his goods consented to the Arrians and being about to depose a Catholique Bishop called Gregory he fell downe out of his Chaire and so died Hereby are we aduertized that it is nothing to begin wel vnlesse we perseuer vnto the end Vnder Constantius many Councels were held namely in Tyre Sardis and Millaine as is said in Arimine in Syrmion of Pannonie in Nicea which is in Tharse in Seleucia which is in Isauria wherein the faith of the Fathers of Nice was condemned Felix borne at Rome sonne of one named Anastasis hauing bene the Deacon of Liberius was thrust into his place by the Arrians hoping he would consent with them in doctrine but hee became a true Catholique in the confession of the Councell of Nice and gaue no place either to the heretickes or to Constance himselfe declaring him an hereticke and was rebaptized by Eusebius of Nicomedia We finde in the booke of Councels an Epistle of the Bishoppes of Aegypt to Felix and Felix his answere to them with certaine constitutions namely that none might accuse a Bishoppe before a ciuill Magistrate Item to restore a Bishoppe who is cast out by force Item not to admit witnesse of prophane people against religious persons Item that Bishoppes should frequent Sinodes or send thither if they could not goe Som say that Felix gouerned with Liberius a certaine time But Theodoret saith that Felix withdrew himselfe into an other Towne Socrat. lib. 2. chap. 37. saith that Felix was driuen away by the Romane people in a sedition and that the Emperour thereby was constrained to send for Liberius thither Others say that Felix was beheaded with many others for that hee prooued the Emperour Hilary Bishop of Poiters was reuoked from exile and Paul Bishop of Treuers died in exile in the Countrey of Phrygia Anno Christi 363. Lucius Bishop of Adrianople dyed in prison Paulus Bishop of Constantinople sent into exile was strangled by the way Nicomedia by an earthquake was wholly subuerted and the Townes nigh were also afflicted After the death of Constance Constantius againe pursued Athanasius and then was the great persecution against the faithfull Liberius returned from exile the yeare of Christ 363. About this time three Sectes of Arrians rose vp That is to say Macedonians Eunomians and newe Arrians 1. The Arrians held the Sonne to be like vnto the Father but by grace not by nature 2. The Macedonians that the Sonne is altogether like the Father but not the holy Ghost 3. The Eunomians that the Sonne is altogether vnlike the Father Eusebius Bishop of Verceil endured great torments of the Arrians because in councell at Millaine he tore in peeces a scedule wherevnto the westerne Bishops had subscribed to the Arrians in the Councell of Arimine Some say hee was seuen dayes without bread and water in a Caue and afterward was kept in a very straight place But after the death of Constantius he was deliuered and returned to Verceil into his Bishopricke vnder Iouinian Finally after the death of the said Iouinian vnder Valens who was an Arrian he was stoned by the Arrians the yeare of Christ 388. Note Reader that at this time in each Towne there were both Catholike Dostors and Arrians Temples for the one and Temples for the other so the Church was diuided Achatius Bishop of Cesaria in Palestine an Arrian was in great reputation with Constantius Iulian borne at Constantinople the sonne of Constantius brother of Constantine the great he was faire of face subtill and of good spirit giuen both to Letters and Armes he set Fraunce at libertie which the Almaines had wasted hee tooke the King an the first cōflict beyond the hope of all Colleine was taken of him when he was very young of which prize hee got great renowne and reioyced the hearts of the souldiers In so much that they named him Emperour in Paris Whereof his Cousin Constantius being aduertised died in dispite about the age of 45. yeares as he prepared to make warre vpon him Yet when he died he made him his heire Anno Domini 363. Athanasius returned into Alexandria George who ruled in his absence was slaine and his body burnt A Sinode was in Alexandria of good Catholique Bishops wherein they that fel into heresie were permitted not onely to returne into the vnion and communion of the Church but euen into their offices and Bishoppricks There was also concluded and declared that the holy Ghost is of one same substance with the Father and the Sonne and that in the Trinitie there was nothing created or lesse or after an other Item that God hath but one essentiall substance but reall subsistence of three persons This word Substance differeth from the word Subsistence when we speake of the persons of the Trinitie For substance cōcerneth the essentiall nature of a thing after which the three persons of the Trinitie are but one alone substance and nature But this word Subsistence sheweth in one same diuine substance three persons and different proprieties not onely in name as the Sabellians say
was ready to depart from his body had more care of the state of the Church then of the dolours of his death This care for Religion is a singular vertue worthy of a Christian Prince Archadius and Honorius the children of Theodosius and of Placille his wife a vertuous Ladie raigned after their mother the yeare 397. Arcadius was Emperour of the East and Honorius of the West Their father ordained them Tutors before hee died to Arcadius Rufin and to Honorius Stillico and Gildo was also Instituted Gouernour of Affrike Honorius then ruled the Empire at Rome his brother gouerning that of Constantinople Three yeares after this Gildo Gouernor of Affrike carried himselfe as Maister and Lord but afterward he was ouercome by Mascezel his brother whose children he had slaine The Westerne Church about this time receiued the fashion to sing Augustine in his Confessions the 9. booke saith it was by the meanes of Ambrose For in the time of the Arrian fury this holy person being constrained by the people to remaine in the Temple yea euen in the night time fearing it should haue bene deliuered to the Arrians accustomed the people to sing Psalmes and Hymnes to put off griefes and passe away the time The East Church from the beginning receiued singing as appeares by Plinie to the Emperour Traian who was at the time that Iohn the Euangelist liued But Augustine in the same booke confesseth he failed therein in that hee gaue more attention to the Song then to the words that in it are passed and accused that sinne for that the voyce and the Song are made for the word but not the word for the Sōg In that place likewise he reciteth the maner of the Church of Alexandria vnder Athanasius See also Hierome vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians Whensoeuer you assemble as S. Paul saith if each one sing Psalmes or Doctrine or Reuelation or Language or interpretation let all be done to aedification 1. Cor. 14. f. 26. The appellation of the Masse The communion of the Eucharist at this time to be called Missa It is twise found in S. Augustine namely in his Sermon of Time 237 wherein hauing exhorted men to pardon iniuries done to one another saith You must come to the Masse of the Catechumenes There we pray Pardon vs our offences as wee pardon them which wee haue offended c. And in an other Sermon 91. he saith In the historie which is read at Masses c. Many doubt whether these Sermons bee S. Augustines But Peter Martir a Diuine of Zurike saith the stile and sentences seeme to bee S. Augustines I am of opinion saith he that in that time of S. Augustine it beganne onely to bee vsurped For if it had beene vsuall S. Augustine would haue oftner made mention of it seeing hee vsed to applye his Sermons after the common manner of speech Iohn Cassian liued in this time vnder the Emperour Honorius The heretikes chased him from the Church of Ierusalem hee came to Marcellis and liued there a Monastike life The word Masse is found in his writings Lib. 3. Chap. 7. and 8. but in an other signification then for the holy Communion that is for the accomplishment and the ende of the congregation of the faithfull For speaking of the sleepe of Monkes he saith Being contented with the time that is permitted to them to sleepe that is from the Masse of the Vigiles vntill the light of the day c. vnderstanding by these words the time wherein they ended the Vigiles As for the deriuation of the name euen as the Latine Doctors which were before this age vsed the word Remissa for remission Tertullian Lib. 4. against Martion in the leafe 24. and Ciprian in his booke of the good of patience so it seeemeth afterward they said Missa for Missio or Demissio that is sending away when the Catechumenes went out of the Temple For after the holy scripture was read in the assembly and that the Sermon was done the Deacon with a loude voyce pronounced Goe or goe out Cathechumenes After this the Cathechumenes went out with the Euergumenes that is to say they which were handled with euil spirits and thirdly such as did penance Dionisius in his Hierarchie makes mention of these orders and so the Latine Church called the celebration of the Eucharist Messe because it was done after the dimission or sending away of the Catechumenes and such as were not capable to bee admitted therevnto And in this signification Ambrose saith Missas facere for sending or letting goe This is the opinion of Peter Martir in his Commentaries vpon the Iudges Some haue said that the word Missa was deriued of the Hebrew word Mas because the gifts which the faithfull offered were said to be presents and sent And the occasion hereof came of the oblations which the Iewes offered at their feast of Pentecost If it were so the Papists abused the word Masse for they will not name it of the almes and gifts which are giuen there but of the oblation they make of the body and bloud of Christ for the quick and dead P. Martyr Catechumenes signified such as were instructed in the faith and were not yet baptized The word is deriued from the Greeke word which signifieth to teach especially by liuely voyce Tertullian calleth them sometimes Hearers or Auditors Augustine calleth them Competitors For before they were admitted to be baptised at Easter they gaue vp their names 40. dayes before During which time the Pastors not onely got information of their faith and doctrine but also of theyr life P. Martir The Papistes Apes of antiquitie had it in custome to send their children to schoole in Lent Rufin before named French by Nation tempted with pride sent presents and siluer to Alarike King of Gothes and stirred him to raise vp warre against Archadius perswading him that that young Prince affrighted would leaue him the Empire His practise was dicouered and Stilico pursued him The souldiers cut off his head and his right hand and after carried them into Constantinople for a shewe See Pomp. Laet. Deuastation of the fourth Monarchie The yeare of the Lord 405. the Gothes entred into Italie with a great and fearfull company But because there is often mention of them we will briefly touch the history of their originall The appellation of Gothes doth not only comprehend one people but many that is to say Gothes Vandales Rugians Hunnes c but the Gothes properly were they which from the I le of Gothland occupied a great part of Lifsland Procopius an Historiographer saith they were Cymmerians and Greekes Being come into Thrace and Hungarie the Romane Emperours sought to driue them backe but could not The first greatest battaile of the Romanes against them was vnder the Emperour Decius wherein he was slain But after the Vandales and Huns comming from Scithia did driue away the Gothes and placed their seates in Hungaria The
was inuented by him Hugues raigned in Italie tenne yeares whom Lotharie his sonne succeeded King Charles the Simple was by treason taken of Hubert Earle of Vermandois and poysoned in the Castle of Peronne where he died and was buried in the Church of S. Foursi See the Sea of Histories Rodolphe Bourgongne 31. King of France raigned two yeares Before this time there were not so many degrees amongst Gentlemen and Noblemen nor so great diuersitie as there are at this Dukes Marquesses Counts or Clarkes simple Counts and Knights were rather names of offices then hereditarie Seigniories For Dukes Marquesses Earles or Counts were Gouernours of Countries and Lands wherevpon they were committed by Emperours and Kings Duke was a soueraigne chiefe or head of souldiers as may be seene by auncient Letters Count or Earle was a Iudge and Goueruernour ordained in a certaine Towne or Region and so Germanie was full of Countes amongst which some were called Lantgraues that is to say Countes of Regions or Countries Some Maruegraues or Marquis that is Countes of certaine Marshes or Countries Some Countes de Palatin which were Gouernors of some Kingdome subiugated or conquered This may bee seene in the second booke of the Lawes of the Lombards Some were gouernors of Bourgages and so were named Bourgraues The most auncientest name of dignitie after Kings and Princes is the name of Baron which signifieth Lord whose sonnes were called young Lords And this say some was the estate of the Nobilitie before the Othons raigned After their time all things chaunged For then Counts were made hereditarie and were lifted vp aboue Barons Marquesses Lantgraues and Palatins and that more is Bishops haue bene made Princes yea many Counts Abbots Abbesses haue obtained the title of Prince Lewis 4. of that name surnamed Vltramarin 32. King of France the sonne of Charles le Simple after his fathers imprisonment got with his mother Ogine towards his Vncle King of England but as soone as he retutned he was in strife for the Kingdome with Rodulphe of Burgongne who died about eight yeares after at Auxerre Anno. 937. and so Lewis raigned alone Leo Pope sixt of that name ruled at Rome 7. moneths and 15. dayes The Danes at this time were conuerted to the faith Stephen Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 2. yeares and 12. dayes Supp Chron. The Duke of Bohemia Spireneus receiued the Christian faith at the perswasion of the Emperour Henry Suppl Chron. Iohn Pope 12. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 4. yeares 10. moneths and 15. dayes Supp Chron. He did nothing worthy of memorie a coward and is not numbred in the Catalogue of Popes after some Historiographers Lotharie the sonne of Hugues raigned in Italie two yeares The Sarrasins in Italie tooke the towne of Geans and spoiled it Naucler Berenger third the Nephewe of Berenger the first raigned in Italie 11. yeares with his sonne Adelbert In this place Histories are very confused The Emperour Henry the first dyed of the Palsey the yeare of his age 60. and of his Empire seuenteene hauing ordained Otho the great his sonne successor of the Empire by the consent of all the great and Noble men who after was consecrated by the Arch-bishop of Magunce Hildebert Hee had three Competitors which would needs hinder him to bee Emperour that is to say Henry his elder brother Giselbert Duke of Lorraine his brother in lawe and Eberhard Earle of Franconia but he droue them all away and reduced all vnder his obedience Wencelaus Prince of Bohemia was slaine by his brother Boislans vppon ambition to raigne But Otho reuenged the death of the said Wencelaus making warre vpon Boislans which endured fourteene yeares and finally hauing vanquished him he brought the Countrey into his obedience Chron. Sigeb and Supp Chron. Leo Pope 7. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome three yeares 6. monethes and 10. dayes Supp Chron. The heresie of Anthropomorphites which say that God hath a corporall forme was at this time renued Rotherius Bishop of Verone writ against them Stephen Pope eight of that name an Almaine or a Romane after some ruled at Rome three yeares foure moneths and 12. dayes R. Barns Some say he was murthered by certaine Romanes in a sedition In so much as he was neuer publikely seene Chron. Abb. France was afflicted by an horrible pestilence and by inward contentions The faction and puissance of Hugues of Paris troubled King Lewis exceedingly Martin Pope 3. of that name a Romane ruled 3. yeares 6. moneths and 14. dayes He was peaceable and gaue himself to repaire Temples and nourish the poore saith Supp Chron. Agapetus Pope second of that name a Romane a magnanimous man ruled at Rome 9. yeares 7. moneths and 10. daies Supp Chron. He called againe the Emperour Otho to Rome against Berenger Berenger 4. the 7. Emperour of the Lombards raigned 13. yeares The Sea of Histories The Hungarians againe in Italie Chron. Abb. Vrsp Iohn Pope 13. of that name a Romane ruled 9. yeares and three monethes His father called Alberic seeing himselfe one of the greatest power at Rome caused all the noblest and principallest rulers of the Citie of Rome to promise and sweare that after the death of Pope Agapetus they should elect his sonne Octauian Which promise was kept and he was called Iohn This Pope was so excessiuely giuen to lecherie that he maintained a publike stewes for the shame wherof some Cardinals writ to the Emperour Otho that he would remedie the publike scandall and infamie which the Church then suffered and that it was needfull he should in haste come to Rome As soone as the Pope heard of this newes he caused the nose of a Cardinall a Deacon called Iohn to be cut off beeing the principall councellor herein hee commaunded also that the hand of an other Cardinall a Subdeacon called also Iohn to be cut off because hee writ the Letters When the Emperour vnderstood that for no admonition the Pope would amend he caused him to be deposed with note of infamie Otho was crowned by him after he hauing sworne that hee would exalt the Romane Church and the Pope and that in nothing hee would hurt him as more at large is contained Dist 63.100 Tibi domino Otho remained a certain time at Rome after his coronation and admonished this Pope to change and amend his wicked life whereof hee was blamed Otho departing came against Berenger his enemie Albert the sonne of Berenger who with his father retired at Otho his comming seeing Otho departed came to Rome and with the Pope complotted against the Emperour Two Cardinalls aduertised Otho of this conspiracie and of the Popes wickednesse Otho then returned to Rome and the Pope fled after he had reuenged himselfe of the two Cardinalls Otho beeing at Rome caused the Pope to be thrice called commanding him to returne and feare
or 10. yeares 6. or 7. moneths and 8. or 10. dayes after the diuersitie of writers In this time Crescentius Momentanus a Consull of Rome had vsurped rule ouer the Towne of Rome and perswaded the Romanes Italians to take againe the Empire Hee so persecuted this Pope Iohn that hee was constrained to flie out of Rome and to soiourne in Tuscane and Lombardie But when he heard that the said Iohn had now the third time sent for succors of the Emperor Otho he sent messengers towards the said Pope to recall him At whose request the Pope returning Crescentius demaunded pardon of him Otho desiring to haue the Emperial crowne hauing gathered together a great army and before hee entred Rome hee made a peace betwixt the Duke of Beneuent and the Duke of Capuae from thence hee came to Rome and was crowned by Gregorie 5. of that name his cofin before called Bruno son of Duke Otho of Saxonie whō he made Pope in the place of Iohn maugre the Romans and by him was crowned Emperour Certain time after Crescentius Conful of Rome corrupted with auarice procured y t the Bishop of Plaisance who was a Grecian by nation a very pernitious man was constituted Pope was called Iohn 18. and held the seate 10. months Gregorie then retyred towards the Emperour to bee reuenged of the iniurie was done him The Emperour sore mooued at that outrage with great power returned to Rome Crescentius vnderstanding of his cōming not trusting in the Roman people caused the Castle de S. Angelo to be fortified And as these things were in doing the Emperor besieged the towns The Romane people more meet for seditiō then to fight desired pardō of y e Emperor opened the gates vnto the Almains Crescentius Pope Iohn being destitute of Councel retired into the fort of the said Castle Some by treason promised them assurance if they would demand pardon of the Emperor They then came downe as they came were surprised Pope Iohn after his eies were put out his mēbers mutilated he was slain Crescentius was set vpō a Mare his face towards the taile his nose eares being cut off hee was led before the Towne for a spectacle vnto all Some say he was hanged without the towne others say his head was cut off R. Barns Therfore Gregory being restored into his Bishoprick seeing the troubles y t in time past had bin for the electiō of Emperors and the variable issues therof assembled a Councel wherein the first ordinance establishment of Electors was decreed to the end the dignitie Emperial should no more remain in one house family by successiō of line This electiō then was giuē to the Germanike natiō which yet holdeth it at this day Sixe Princes were established three Ecclesiasticall that is to say the Archbishoppe of Magunce of Treuers and of Colongne the three other secular were the Marquesse of Brandeberge the Duke of Saxonie and the Counte of Palatine vnto which was giuen the right and power for euer to elect the Emperour With them was ioyned the Duke of Boheme Boheme then had not obteined the title of a kingdome as the seuenth to accord them if peraduenture they were euen in yeares If it be demaunded wherfore so high a dignitie of election was not rather committed to other Princes which then were puissant namely he of Bauieres Sueuia and Franconia Historiographers make no mention thereof But if it be lawfull to set downe some appearance of cause it is certaine that Boheme was a Country meete to maintaine the right of election as a Countrey inuited by nature Saxonie had that honour because the Emperour descended out of that house as also for that it is a very large and puissant Country The Country of Brandeberge held then also on the house of Saxonie and it is likely the Emperour Otho desired to aduaunce that which was of his owne house The Counte Palatine sued to haue that prerogatiue by reason of the posteritie of Charlemaigne For the Countie of Palatine was then of the line of Charlemaigne After that this election was thus established the Italians stirred many troubles against the Emperour new matter of sedition wanted not therevnto Whilest Iohn 18. ruled at Rome and that Gregorie the fift was absent and deiected as is said one called Odillo a Monke and afterward the Abbot of Clugni instituted in his Monastery the day of All-soules the next day after All-saints which institution was incontinently receiued and approoued by all the Church The occasion hereof was that this ignorant Monke had vnderstood of an Hermite returning from Sicilie that great noyses and lamentations were heard in the Mountaine Aetna who hee thought were the soules of the dead which suffered paine in Purgatorie therefore hee thought they might be helped by Orisons and prayers See Iustine in his booke 3. Chron. Sigeb and Polyd. Verg. lib. 6. cha 9. The house of Sauoye issued from the Dukes of Saxonie as is said is raised into a Counte The Emperor Otho espoused the daughter of the King of Arragon a very intemperate woman who maintained a young man in womans array as one of her Chamber-maides but the thing discouered the adulterer who was burnt aliue and by intercession of friends the Empresse was reconciled but for all this she desisted not from perseuering in her incontinences often requiring men before she were required In the Towne called Modena in Italie she was imbraced with the loue of a Count very faire and of good grace and sought by all meanes to cause him to condiscend to her luxutious desire which he would not fearing the losse of his estate She accused him to the Emperour saying he solicited her of dishonour The Emperour angred hereat in his furie caused him to be beheaded But the truth afterward being knowne she was burnt aliue and foure goodly places were giuen to the wife of the saide Counte in recompence Ammonius a Monke of Fleury in this time wrote a booke of the myracles of S. Benet and Herigerus Abbot of Lob wrote an other of the dissonance of the Church an other booke of the diuine office Also of the bodie and blood of the Lord and others Abb. Trit Robert 36. King of France raigned 34. yeares a learned and very studious man He went to Rome vpon deuotion The Sea of Histories Constance his wife founded the Abbey of Poissi wherin she was buried The same Siluester Pope second of that name of the Countrey of Aquitane called before Gilbert or Gerbert a Magician Nigromancer as hath bene saide came to the saide seate by the art of the diuel vnto whom he had done homage that all his affaires might goe after his wish In his youth he was a Monke of Fleury in the Diocesse of Orleans but for the ardent desire hee had of learning left his Abbey got him to Siuile in Spaine which then the Sarrasins held and gaue himselfe to
at the houre that he yeelded the spirit the fire flamed in the pallace of Auignon which could not be put out vntill the greatest part of it was burnt And after that followed a schisme in the Popedome the greatest of all the others Then saith Masseus the people and Cleargie of Rome assembled towards the Cardinalls and prayed them to chuse some Italian and no French man Vrbain sixt of that name a Nepolitain by Nation called before Bartholemewe Archbishop of Bar being not yet of the order of Cardinalls and absent at the great pursuite of the Romanes was created Pope He was saith Crantzius a cruell man of whom by prayers nothing could be obtained Being come to the Popedome he would not procure that peace might be amongst Christians as his dutie was but sought to reuenge himself of iniuries done him by Cardinals and by Iane Queene of Sicilie Clement Pope 7. of that name was also chosen and ruled in Auignon 15. yeares And thus began the 22. Schisme the cruellest and horriblest which endured long This came to passe for that after the death of Gregorie 11. the Cardinals parted themselues into two bandes the Italian Cardinals by constraint of the Romanes did chuse the said Bartholemewe Archbishop of Bar and called him Vrbane the 6. but because he reprooued and reprehended the Cardinals for their lightnesse they all departed from him and went into the Cittie of Tendes where vpon enuie with the Frenche Cardinals they chose one called Robert borne at Geneua Cardinall of the title of the twelue Apostles and called him Clement the seuenth who came to dwell in Auignon because of the schisme Nauclere saith that this Clement was borne at Catalongne and was chosen 3. moneths after the promotion of Vrbain 6. For the French Cardinals for the heate of the time demaunded lycence of the Pope to goe into Anagnia and from thence were transported into Pouille where they elected the said Clement When Vrbane sawe himselfe thus left of his Cardinalls he created thirtie new vpon one day This schisme endured fortie yeares vntill the Councell of Constance whervpō came great disorder The King of France and all his kingdome Item Spaine and England held the part of Clement the 7. The other Countries that is to say Italie Almaigne Hungarie c. followed Vrbane the 6. and on both sides there was great contradiction The kingdome of France endured great euils about this schisme For Clement had good 35. Cardinals maintained liuing chiefly of the said kingdome and all held the best Prelateships benefices and dignities The kingdome there also was sore greeued with Impositions Annuities Tenths expectiue graces and other inuentions Insomuch that the poore Clarkes Students of the Vniuersitie of Paris could get no Benefices but all were occupied for Cardinals and other Courtiers of Auignon who had euer hired people to enquire of the value of Benefices Vrbane was cautelous seditious and vncurteous memoratiue and reuengefull of iniuries and one that tooke pleasure to sowe dissentions amōgst Christian Princes rather thē appease them Neither could he liue in peace with the king of Hungary and of Naples He would haue depriued Charles king of Sicilie of his kingdom Insomuch that Charles came against him and cōstrained him to flie to Genues by sea and as he passed on the Pope caused 5. or 6. Cardinalls to be drowned because he thought they fauoured Clement the 7. who was at Auignon Two other Cardinalls fled towards the said Clement and were welcommed but Vrbain excommunicated them Clement absolued them and the two Popes one excommunicated an other and their adherents Naucler Vrbain absolued the Florentines of an excommunication to acquire their grace and fauour To shewe himselfe deuout he instituted the Feast of the visitation of the Virgin Mary in the Mountaines He went to Naples to put Ladislaus sonne of Charles king of Naples and Iane his sister from their heritage but it was in vaine Therefore he returned to Rome wherein he was poysoned and died The said Charles at the sollicitation of Pope Vrbain the 6. came from Hungarie to Naples where being he slew the Queen Iane to please the Popes apppetite All the Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Priests which adheared vnto the said Iane were depriued of their Benefices by the Pope and in their places other were instituted See Naucler So Charles remained king of Naples fiue yeares afterward he returned into Hungarie but by the subtiltie of the Queene he was poysoned and died the yeare 1385. So wickedly as hee had caused Queene Iane of Sicilie to be slaine So the Queene of Hungarie slew him But the cause why Vrbane sent for Charles to Naples was in despight of Queene Iane who had receiued his Cardinalls into her kingdome wherfore he depriued her thereof and was crowned King of Sicilie by the Pope the yeare 1381. vnder conditiō that he should leaue to his Nephew certaine Duches Counts in Sicilia But because the said Charles was poore the Pope sold the Churches goods yea and the goods of certaine Monasteries euen amounting to 8000. Florence he aliened also and sold certaine ornaments of Gold and Siluer Crosses and Images with which helpe he obtained the kingdome of Naples as is said Charles the sixt sonne of Charles the fift was sacred King of France very yong He would beare but three Fower deluces in the French Armes His Father left him 1800000. Scutes Gaguin saieth 18. Millions and yet at the beginning of his raigne he had no mony For it was dissipated and dispearsed by diuers Tutors and Gouernours The aforesaid Clement 7. crowned Lewis King of Naples who by armes occupied the Prouince going into Italie against the said Charles and Vrbane hauing in his Campe 30. thousand fighters but hee dyed two yeares after hee was in Italie The Fountaines and waters were impoysoned wherof he dyed and all his Nobilitie Naucler The said Iane Queene of Sicilie Countesse of Prouence the wife of Charles Duke of Calabria sonne of Robert King of Sicilie and Nauarre and the sister of the King of France Philip had made the said Lewis Duke of Aniou her heire For she had now raigned 30. yeares without hauing any line The Sea of Histories Lewis Archbishop of Magdebourge as hee daunced in the Towne of Caluin with Ladies and Damozels vntill night sell vpon the ground and brake his necke and beat out his braines with one of the Ladies which he led The same hist The yeare 1381. Hugo Aubriot born at Bourgongne who before had bene great Gouernour de Finances of France by the meanes of the Duke of Bourgongne was made Prouost of Paris and during his gouernment the policie of Paris was well administred Many buildings were made as the bridge of S. Michael the walles towards the Bastile S. Antonie and the length of the Riuer of Seine the litle Bridge the litle Castle and many other places Hee was accused of many crimes and aboue all
in the Court of Rome and neuer went to his Church Pope Paul sent for Legate the aforesaid Cardinall Farnese towards the Emperour and his brother the king Ferdinand who were then in Flaunders But because he was yet young he gaue him Marcel for his conduction and gouernor in all the affaires of his legation Amongst all other things there was a question for setting out an Army against the Turke which the Emperor and his brother required very instantly But Marcel Ceruin pulished a writing which is yet to be seene wherein he saith it is much better to make war vpon the Lutherans that they are much worse thē the Turkes The Pope Paul made him Cardinal being absent a while after caused him to come againe into the Towne and vsed his counsell in all things of great importance He gaue him the tytle of the holy Crosse of Ierusalem and created him generall Inquisitor against all heretikes therein making him a companion vnto Cardinall Theatin and Cardinall de Bourgues which were the rudest and cruellest that euer were When a Legation was to be sent vnto the Councell of Trent the Pope Paul made him Legate with the Cardinalls Pol and de Monte. Hee created Cardinall de Monte chiefe Legate of the Councel because he had knowledge in the Ciuil lawe Pol or Poole the second as he that seemed to desire that the Church might be reformed although it after appeared that he neuer stirred it in earnest and Ceruin for the third as hee in whom the Pope had most trust And therefore the Pope had giuen him expresse charge that he shuld suffer nothing to be done in the Councell which tended to the detriment of the Romane seat But that he should driue out all such as enterprised any such like thing Therfore as one in the said Councel called Iames Nachiantes Bishop of a place called Fossa Clodia said that he could not allow the Decree where it was written that traditions ought to be receiued and obserued with like reuerence as the Gospell Ceruin caused him to be throwne out of the Councell As also a certaine Iacobin called Guillam de Venice said that the Councell of Constance was aboue the Pope Ceruin calling him reprehended him sharply And after that the Monke had answered that the thing it selfe yeelded witnesse thereof because that Councell deposed the Pope therefore it was aboue him It is not so said Ceruin but that more is the Pope gaue place willingly the which I can well prooue by a Bull sealed with leade and straight commaunded this man to goe out of the Councell About this time Peter Paul Vergerius was come from Mantua to Trent who had many times beene an Embassador in Almaine for the Popes affaires but because men held him suspected in some things to accord with the Almaines although the two other Legates namely Pol and de Monte liked well to consent that he should be one at the Councel Also the Cardinall Paciccus and the Cardinall of Trent yet Ceruin neuer ceased till he saw him deiected Many Bishops vnderstanding this of Vergerius determined to haue written vnto the Pope to admonish him not to suffer this because then many would say that that Councel was not free from which Bishops were put backe Hierome Vida de Cremona Bishop of Alba an excellēt Poet had alreadie indighted Letters as well in his owne name as others Which being come vnto the knowledge of Marcel Ceruin hee very seuerely aduertised Vida wholy to abstaine from sending Letters vnto the Pope for it was a thing of euill example that Bishops assembled at a Councel should write such Letters vnto the Pope as though they would impose a lawe vpon him Which hee said was so great a fault as a man had need take heed he fall not into any suspition thereof Vida being vanquished by his teasons changed his purpose of sending Letters vnto the Pope Vergerius being then willing to withdrawe himselfe from the Councell came towards Ceruin and demaunded of him what the Articles were for which he was deiected from the Councell and company of other Bishops Ceruin answered because I vnderstand thou deniest that the Legends of S. George and of Christopher are true Is it true said Vergerius I haue and doo yet denie it And my opinion is founded vpon Pope Paul the third For he hath cōmanded that both those Legends should be taken out of the Breuiarie And in the Preface at the beginning of the booke he saith that he hath commaunded that all such should be taken out which were not true Ceruin seeing himselfe surprised could answere nothing but that men ought not to hold such for good men as in any maner whatsoeuer seemed to agree with the Lutherans and therefore wee withdrawe thee from our Councell I thought it good to recite this to the ende it might bee knowne that there are alwaies some euill affected towards the true doctrine ignorant of holy Letters and stubborne to maintaine and defend all superstitions Yet as he was a man of singular modestie and of a life and conuersation reasonable honest likewise endowed with good prudence so was he in great estimation In so much that it was verily looked for at his hands that if euer hee came vnto the Popedome he would correct many things in the Romane Court and before all things that he would shunne all dissolutions and superfluities but it fell not out so For after the death of Iulius the third hauing bene chosen Pope as alreadie before he was diseased with the Iaundies it increassed so vpon him that he died the 22. day after his election the night before the first of May. A brute ranne that he was poisoned but it was not so A feawe dayes before his death he would needs be crowned but with small charge very modestly The Cardinall Farnese with them of his part had giuen him his voyce although before there had bene great enmities betwixt them but hee did it because he hoped there was none would be more diligent to bring that to an end which Paul the third had determined to doo Namely that he should do his best to maintaine the house of Farneses to the end they might not bee depriued of the Duchie of Parma and Plaisance For also the Cardinall Farnese so practised with Iulius the third that he made him that promise before hee would fauour him for his comming vnto the Popedome Some said hee did willingly elect the said Ceruin because they sawe him already to be sore worne and weakened with diseases so that there was no hope that hee could liue long The custome is willingly to choose Popes such as they hope will not liue long Hercules de Ferrare and Vbalde Duke of Vrbin arriued at Rome to salute Pope Marcel and to Court him after theyr manner Paul 4. of that name a Neapolitane called before Iohn Peter Caraphe was chosen Pope the same yeare namely 1555. the 23. day of May by
all Ecclesiasticall censures which are read in the holy Canons in the generall and particular constitutions and in the Bull of the Supper of the Lord. This also was determined against all those which were of his counsell or aide or any way had assisted him in the premisses Besides he cited the King himselfe that within the space of 60. dayes which should begin from the day of the notice to the king that hee in his owne proper person or some one especially in his place should come to Rome there to yeeld reason wherefore he caused the Duke of Guise to bee slaine and held in prison the Cardinall and Archbishop and that the rest that were sommoned should come themselues without deputies to this also hee added that none of them nor the king himselfe no not in case of conscience the houre and dayes of death excepted and not then to bee absolued vnlesse hee obeyed and satisfied the Church in all things which hee was enioyned to doo Without this promise hee might not be absolued not in the full Iubily or the holy marke of the Crosse any indulgence power or priviledge whatsoeuer to him or his predecessors before granted notwithstanding Anth. Cicarella The Huguenots in their writings published at that time acknowledged not that action of the thirteenth of December as a clap of thunder that maketh more noise then it doth hurt nor as a disgrace of fortune wherevnto the greatest personages are most subiect but as a worke of God and as one of the most notable workes that he had wrought for them thereby beginning to worke their reuenge for the massacre of S. Bartholomewes day and to relieue them out of the miserable state wherin they stood In the moneth of Ianuary the Embassadors of the Emperour Rodolphe treated with the Polanders about the deliuerie of Max. Arch-duke of Austria in the territories of Silesia Polonia at Beutena Where vpon certaine conditions to bee by him performed he was enlarged without ransome D. Chytreus Vpon Twelfe eue Katherine de Medices the daughter of Laurentius de Medices D. of Vrbin and Magdelen the daughter of the E. of Bononie and Auerina the wife of H. the 2. King of France and mother of the French K. H. 3. in the 70. yeare of her age and fift day of her sicknesse died at Blois Genebrardus This yeare 1589. the holy Nun before spoken of was found to be a counterfeit Wherfore the Lords pronounced sentence against her in the Monastery of the mother of God of the order of S. Francis in the Citie of Lisbone And for that she had not dealt with nor inuocated the diuell they adiudged her to perpetuall imprisonment M. Cyp. Val. The Pope Sixtus 5. excommunicateth the K. of France The K. came vpon Paris and besieged it straightly The Parisians seeing themselues in that estate resolued of no other remedie for deliuerance of their present miserie but to kill the king To him that would kill him they did promise great rewards Amongst all these was a Iacobine Friar called Iaques Clement borne in a Village called Sorbone neare Seins hauing passed through the hands of certain Confessors and conferred with some Iesuites and others was for a kind of dexteritie in him obserued found meete to strike so great a stroake He was vrged and put forward therein and in the end the D. Demaine the sister of Montpensier other had conference with him in diuers places they requested him to perseuer in this good determination which they knew to rise in him by extraordinarie inspirations to performe so renowned a seruice to the holy vnion the Catholick Church and his Countrie They caused the zealous Sorbonists and Iesuits to preach that the people should yet haue patience for 7. or 8. daies and they should see some wonderfull matter come to passe that shuld make wel with the vnion The Preachers of Roan Orleance and Amiens preached the like at the same time and in semblable tearmes The Friar hauing taken order for his complot departed frō Paris went toward S. Clouis He being presented to speake to the K. the 1. of August said that he had Letters from the President of Harlay and credence on hs part the K. caused him to be called into his chamber where there was no other but the L. of Belle-good and the procurer Generall whom he procured to retire a part The Friar perceiuing himselfe alone and opportunitie put into his hand confirming his countenance more more drew out of one sleeue a paper which he presented to the K. and out of the other poisoned knife with which violētly he sheathed a thrust within the kings small ribbes who feeling himselfe wounded plucked the knife out of the wound wherewith hee strooke the Friar aboue the eye thervpon some gentlemen rushing in could not containe but murdered the murderer although the king commanded the contrary This Friar after for his bloudie deed was canonized a Saint In the annagransme of his name Friar Iaques Clement were found these words in so many letters C'est l'enfer quim'a creè which signifieth It is hell that created or brought me forth The K. died y e next morning following but before his departure he named the K. of Nauarre his brother lawfull successor to the Crowne exhorted his subiects to obey him to remaine vnited and to refer the difference of religion to the conuocation of the estates generall of the Realme who would thinke vpon conuenient remedies for the same to haue a care of religion and pietie and pray to God for him vpon these words he gaue vp the ghost Hist of France D. Chytraeus He liued 37 yeares 10 moneths and 11. daies he raigned 15. yeares and two moneths in this Prince failed the Kings of the race of Valois which had raigned in France from the yeare 1515. to the yeare 1589. vnder their dominions almost all the wonders of former ages had bene renewed Whom H. the 4. of the race of Bourbon succeeded Genebrardus This is worthy of speciall note In the moneth of May 4. moneths before he was slaine a certaine learned man beeing asked by his friends what he hoped of this H. the third K. Per sortes Virgilianas inquirens The booke of Virgill being opened and the 7. verse which number he chose in his mind he found Olli dura quies oculis ferreus vrget Soninus in aeternam clauduntur lumina noctem After his death warres began a fresh betwixt the confederate Catholickes and the king of Nauarre many hotte skirmiges were at the length on the tenth of March a battaile was fought at Harens where the king had the victory but not without the losse of many of his Nobles The D. Demaine presently repaired his Hoste but the K. conuerted all his Forces against Paris and besieged it where was so great a famine that a bushel of wheate was sold for one hundred fiftie crownes a mutton for 26. pounds This siege was
the meanes of Constantia hee himselfe then perswaded touching Arrius namely that hee thought no otherwise then the Councell did Constantine then sent Letters to call againe Arrius who came to Constantinople with Euzoius a Deacon who also had bene deposed by Alexander They by the Emperours commaundement gaue in a disguised and couert confession the beginning whereof was We beleeue in God the Father almightie and in our Lord Iesus Christe his sonne begotten of the Father before all worlds God and Word by which all things were created as wel in heauen as in earth who came downe and tooke humane flesh and suffered death was raised againe and ascended into heauen should come againe to iudge the quick the dead c. The rest is in Sozomen lib. 2. chap. 27. After Constantine had seene this confession he asked them if with a good hart they thought as they spake Arrius affirmed yea Constantine mistrusting his owne iudgement sent Arrius with his adherents to an assembly of Bishops which then was at Ierusalem commanding them diligently to examine the cōfession of Arrius that is if he had reuoked his error if Alexander did him wrong or no. The Sinode of Ierusalem aduertised of the Emperors will sent Letters to the Bishops of Egypt Thebaid and Libia exhorting them that according to the witnesse of the Emperour Arrius might be receiued into the Communion The Arrians strengthened with these witnesses came againe into Alexandria and thrusting themselues into company Athanasius who then hadde the charge of Alexandria would not admit them Arrius returned to Constantinople to make his complaints against Athanasius there likewise hee sought to bring himselfe by force into that Church but Alexander who had the gouernment thereof opposed himself against him saying that the author of such an heresie and a perturber of so many Churches ought not to bee receiued This came to a great contention the Eusebians threatning they would cause Alexander to bee banished Certaine dayes following the Arrians concluded to introduce Arrius by force into the Church But Alexander placing his force in the Armour of pietie entred ouer night into the Temple accompanied with two of his household and with teares passed all the night in Orisons and prayers to the Lord that hee would not suffer that rauishing wolfe lately couered with a Lambes skinne to thrust into his flocke Some say that he added these words in his prayer O Lord if it be thy will and that by thy iust iudgement which is inuestigable this wolfe be admitted into thy Church deliuer mee thy poore seruant from this present life The next morning of this determination Arrius enuironed with a great multitude of Eusebians was ledde to be brought into the Temple as in a triumph but when they were come to the place called the Market place of Constantinople Arrius was suddenly taken with a feare and an astonishment within him which caused a paine in his belly so that leauing the company he was constrained to goe into a secret place to purge his belly the company which should accompany him to the Temple attended him in the meane while but seeing him tarry long some went to the easing place and found Arrius dead vpon the siege his entrails being come out at his fundament This was the end of Arrius which greatly feared his companions who to couer so foule and infamous a death said he was suddenly suffocated and choked with a disease of the stomacke Others that he was poisoned Some said that too great ioy had stifled him yet none could say but this was a iust iudgment of God vpon him Athanasius Lib. I. against the Arrians and the Epist to Serapion Sedulius a Christian Poet reciteth it in his Verses Siluester called the dayes otherwise then before for the day of the Sunne le Dimanche the other dayes Feries 2.3.4.5.6 and Samedi for the day of Saturne Antonie being in Egypt in the wildernesse Constantine writ vnto him to pray to God for him and for his children Victorinus of Affrike an Orator was also of this time and Donatus of whom came the Donatist heretickes against which S. Augustine writeth The constitutions attributed to Siluester touching the consecrattion and vse of creame to marke such as were baptized and annoynt such as were nigh death and such other inuentions are in the booke of Councels whereof Luitprandus Platina and Sabellicus make mention in their bookes and speak of them after their owne iudgement Councells in diuers places After the Councell of Nice Siluester at the commaundement of Constantine made assemble a Sinode at Rome of 277. Bishops wherin there was condemned Arrius Photinus Sabellius with one Calixtus as the booke of Councels shewes And againe by a Sinode following the decrees of the Councell of Nice were confirmed and the solemnitie of Easter established to be obserued on the Sunday from the 14. of the Moone vntill the 21. The multitude of Councels and Sinodes multiplied traditions vpon traditions and brought in great errours and the good and holy constitutions of Nice were soone after by such meanes contradicted 1. At Neocesaria in Pontus Polemoniake betwixt Paphlagonia and Armenia was instituted that none should be a priest before the age of 30. yeares 2. At Elebert in Spaine Bishops Priests Deacons and Subdeacons were commaunded to abstaine from theyr wiues and not to haue children otherwise that they should bee deposed That there should be no Images in the Temples of Christians If any broke an Image and were murdered because it is not written in the Gospell neither is there read that it hath bene done by any of the Apostles it pleased the Councell that such a one be not admitted nor receiued into the number of Martyrs 3. At Rome it was ordained for Churchmen that none should accuse them nor draw them into lawe 4. At Arles the first counsell was giuen to young people by no meanes to marry againe if by chance for adulterie they bee seperated from their wiues 5. At Gangia in Paphalagonia they excommunicated and anathematized such as condemned them that eate flesh so that it were not offered vnto Idols c. Item they excommunicated such as iudged a married Priest ought not to excercise his ministerie because of his marriage and likewise such as abstained from their ministerie At this time vnder the shadowe of chastitie and virginitie men began to despise marriage as appeareth by the first ninth tenth fourteenth and fifteenth Chapter of the said Councell where all such as blame marriage and leaue their children or the wife her husband or the husband his wife to liue in continencie are excommunicated 6. At Arles the second was ordained the contrary that none should be admitted into the Ecclesiasticall estate vnlesse he promised to renounce the bonds of marriage The Iberians were conuerted to the faith they are of Asia vnder the climate of Pontus namely the King the Queene the Nobilitie and al the people by the preaching of
a woman a captiue there Paul the Hermit the younger hauing taken his wife in adultry left her and went into the Desart and said to the adulterer keepe her for thy selfe Hist trip Siluester died without martyrdome hauing 7. times made orders at which he created 25. Priests 36. Deacons and 45. Bishops He gouerned the Church 23. yeares or after Marianus 24. Others giue him but 19. Marcus succeeded him gouerned the Romane Church 2. yeares or 8. moneths after Ierome Damasus saith he was a Romane His father was called Priscus Some say he gaue to the Bishop of Ostia that priuiledge aboue all others to consecrate the Bishop of Rome and the right of the Archipiscopall pall called Pallium And would that the Creed which was made at the Councel of Nice should be sung by the Cleargie and people after the reading of the Gospell Platina Bergomensis and Polidorus If he builded Temples and adorned them with diuers gifts and presents let their faith be examined which haue written thereof Sinodes for the cause of Athanasius The Emperour Constantine considering the number of the accusers of Athanasius and the crimes wherewith hee was charged published a Sinode at Cesaria in Palestine whereat Athanasius not appearing there was doubted if was for feare of the Bishop of that place or of the Eusebians and for that cause hee caused a Councell of the Nations to be assembled at Tyre calling Athanasius to it by Letters full of indignation Socrat. li 1. chap. 28. Theodoret. lib. 1. chap. 27. Sozom. lib. 1. chap. 25. and Athanasius himselfe in his second Apologie At the said Sinode were found 60. Bishops the most part Orientalls Athanasius came thither accompanied with Timotheus a Priest The Eusebians to begin their wicked part brought in a woman of dishonest life whom they had suborned who faining to haue vowed chastitie maintained that Athanasius in the night would haue rauished her beeing then pressed to answer to that accusation he spake not a word Timothius perceiuing why Athanasius held his peace turned himselfe towards the woman and said vnto her Had I euer acquaintance with thee Did I euer lodge nigh thee The woman cried more then before And poynting at the said Timothius with her finger shee said It was thou and no other which by force hast violated mee This calumniation beeing thus made knowne to the great confusion of them that inuented it notwithstanding the Iudges which gouerned and sufficiently knew Timothius and Athanasius let the said woman goe sauing the good right of Athanasius who maintained that at the least she should haue named them of whom she was hyred An other impudent accusation was againe attempted against him The aduersaries brought forth the hand of one who was named Arsenius whom they maintained to haue beene murthered by Athanasius Hee demaunded if any amongst them knew Arsenius to which question many answered that they knewe him very well Arsenius was then brought before theyr presence Beeing againe asked if it were that Arsenius whose hand was cut off they confessed all that it was hee Herevpon Athanasius discouering his cloake shewed hee was whole of both hands which God had giuen him This so liuely a refutation made the aduersaries infamous but their refuge was to trouble the Sinode by tumult and sedition Theodoret. li. 1. cap. 29. One of the said aduersaries called Achab or Iohn got from the Iudiciall seate and escaped in this tumult Socrat. lib. 1. chap. 30. Athanasius seeing that the tumult fell to great sedition withdrew himselfe The Sinode in his absence condemned him and deposed him from his Bishopprick Hee then got him to Constantinople and shewed the Emperour the iniuries that this Sinode hadde done vnto him And be sought him that hee himselfe would take the knowledge of the cause The Emperour then by his Letters Patents called againe all the Bishops of the Sinode of Tyre to Constantinople that they might yeeld a reason of the sentence giuen against Athanasius And as Sozomene Lib. 2. Chap. 28. sayth that Eusebius Theognes and other heretickes arriuing at Constantinople did assuredly affirme to the Emperour all that they had deuised against Athanasuis and hyred witnesses which deposed that all that which was brought against Athanasius was true The Emperour mooued rather with a desire to pacifie the Churches thē with the accusation of his aduersaries banished Athanasius into Gaul into the Citie of Herers But the Emperour by certaine Letters written to the people of the Catholique Church of Alexandria witnesseth himself to haue confined him thither only to the end his bloudy enemies should not grieue nor touch the sacred head of such a person these bee his words And in the meane while all things necessary were sent to Athanasius Iulius the first of that name was ordained Bishop after Marc. the 25. yeare of Constantine After the Chronicle of Hierome hee gouerned the Church about 16. yeares Hee was the son of one Rustike who had great combats to maintaine the quarels of Athanasius and of other faithfull Doctors against the Arrians The tripartite history saith that the Councell of Nice was in the time of Iulius And is it possible that he was there as being Bishop of some other place Howsoeuer it is it is plaine inough that the last age of the Emperour Constantine is reported by Ierome to be in the time of this Iulius The ordinance is attributed vnto him that a Priest should plead no where but before a Iudge Ecclesiasticall That hee reprehended the Bishops of the East that they assēbled councels without his authoritie There is an Epistle gratulatory of this Iulius for the restitution of Athanasius Socrates reciteth it Lib. 2. Chap. 23. Sozo lib. 3. cap. 20. The beginning of Pilgrimages Vnder Constantine the land of Palestine being purged of Ethnicke Idolatries began to be in deuotion for the memorie of the great and memorable things done in it Constantine caused an Oratory to be builded in the place where the Sepulchre of the Lord had bin Helena his mother went thither vpon deuotion to worship and hauing found the Crosse caused to bee built two Temples the one where the Lord was borne the other where hee ascended into Heauen Ruffin Lib. 1. Chap. 7. After that Constantine caused to be builded in the place called Cranium a Temple with solemnitie and authoritie of a Sinode assemble at Tyre This gaue the first occasion of Pilgrimages and anuuersatie solemnities And it came to a superstition to haue seene the holy land and the holy places as appeareth by the Epistle of Gregory Nyssene wherein he learnedly refuteth that superstition The Romane and imperiall Eagle tooke the two heads when Constantine after he had established the Townne of Constantinople the new Rome made it the seate of the Empire and the chiefe of al people which acknowledged the Romane Empire and inhabited the parts Orientall Northerne and Southerne and towards the Mediterranean sea Sozomene lib. 2. chap. 3. Nicepho lib. 8. cap. 4.