was crowned by some of the Cardinals because Pope Clement the V. hauing left the Citie was remoued into France and kept his Court at Auinion When the Cardinals required the oath of him which they said was to bee giuen to the Pope hee refused it and would not haue any such kind of oath to be thereby bound to the Pope vpon notice hereof the Pope to inlarge his owne power expounded that generall forme of the oath at large and annexed it to the rest of his decrees now extant For he himselfe also preferred many lawes which retaine their name from him and are called the Clementines The knights of the Temple supprest about 1308. Now also those Knights called the Templars being very puissant were by the same violence put to death and made away in diuers places Philip the Faire King of France by the Popes permission seized vpon a great part of their Reuenues Soone after the name and memorie of them was condemned and by the French nationall Synod at Vienna their lands were giuen to those called the Knights of the Rhodes At this time also the Vniuersitie of Orleans was founded by King Philip and Pope Clements authoritie After the Emperour Henries t He was poisoned by a Monk with a cup of Wine in the Communion decease and buriall at Pisa being poisoned as it was strongly suspected there followed most bitter contentions about the election for Fredericke Archduke of Austria the Emperour Alberts sonne Lewis 1314 an 32. m. 11. d. 24. Fredericke of Austria opposeth him and is elected Emperour also and Lewis Duke of Bauaria were competitors for the Empire The Archbishop of Mentz crowned Lewis at Aix and the Archbishop of Cullen Fredericke at Bena and Pope Iohn the XXIII proclaimed them both Emperours but of the two was more inclined to Fredericke which proclamation increased the flame of discord Forces being mustered vpon both sides a sharpe battell was fought at Esling a towne in Sueuia but in a manner with equall fortune and soone after another in Bauaria with stronger forces Fredericke the other Emperour taken prisoner 1323. in which the Archduke Fredericke was taken prisoner losing a good part of his Armie afterwards he was see at libertie and returning home died within a few yeeres after Lewis the Emperour hauing thus compast the Empire marches downe into Italie in despight of the Pope constitutes Gouernors ouer al the Cities free-burroughes and is crowned at Millaine by the Archbishop there from whence hauing sent his Ambassadours to the Pope at Auinion againe and againe about his solemne inauguration and there failing he goes to Rome after he had setled the affaires of Millaine At Rome hee was entertained with exceeding great ioy and crowned by one or two of the Cardinals but the Pope ingeminating his excommunication he by the aduise of his Nobles creates another Pope and after this fashion continued these most deadly flames of hatred betwixt them not without most scandalous criminations cast forth on both sides The French Annall-writers report that Charles the Faire King Philips sonne was the first that granted Pope Iohn Tenths of Ecclesiasticall goods in France and shared the prey betwixt themselues but the Popes chiefe aime in procuring this was to furnish himselfe with money against the Emperour After the Emperour was returned into Germany the Pope dies and his successor Benedict the XII both excommunicated and depriued him of his dignitie Whereupon the Emperour conuening the Princes at Franckeford in a solemne speech complaines of the Popes iniuries explaines the reasons of his allegiance produces and declares the ancient lawes of the Empire withall shewing that the Bishop of Rome had nothing to doe with the Common-wealth of the Empire For he who is elected by the Princes consent is truely Emperour without any assent consent or consecration from the Pope all that being but a ceremonie which by little and little crept vp and now is growne too high to the great dishonour and indammagement of the Empire After this Pope Benedict dying Clement the VI. succeeded one farre more violent then any before him who in vehement manner propounded certaine ignominious conditions vpon refusall whereof hee grew a great deale more furious sharpely admonishing the Princes to choose another Emperour within a certaine time by him limited which if they would not dae hee would take care that the Church should not want a Patrone and Aduocate any longer Whilest the Common-wealth was thus tossed the Emperour Lewis departed this life and Charles King Iohn his sonne Henry the VII his Nephew was elected King of Bohemia A little before this began the occasion of that cruell war betwixt the French and English When Charles the Faire King of France dying without issue male which was in the yeere 1327. Edward king of England of that name the III. being sonne to Isabel King Charles his sister challenged the Kingdome as due to him but the Estates of France which are called the Peeres set the crowne vpon Philip of Valeis cozen germane to the deceased King Charles excluding not onely King Edward the sisters sonne but also King Charles his posthume daughter alledging that the inheritance of that kingdom did in no wise appertaine to daughters hereupon insued that bloody warre scarce yet quenched The beginning of the Emperour Charles the IIII. Charles the IIII. 1346. an 32. m. 7. d. 14. his raigne was troublesome and the Imperiall dignitie was offred to Edward the third King of England but hee as it was reported refused it being hindered by the French wars After the quenching of sundry combustions in Germany the Emperour Charles goes downe into Italie and by consent of Pope Innocent the VI. then being in France is crowned at Rome by some Cardinals vpon condition not to stay any longer either at Rome or in Italie Hee returnes to Millaine and granted the office of perpetuall Vice-Emperour for Lombardie to the house of the Viscounts who then bore great sway in Millaine in respect of which honour they gaue him an huge masse of money and not they onely but others also vpon whom hee had bestowed any thing which act much extenuated the Emperours authority in that Country After his returne out of Italie he summoned a Diet of the Princes and there preferred that decree of the Empire called the t Containing the lawes and rites to be obserued in the election of the Emp as also the dignitie and office of each Elector and other Princes and Nobles Golden bull lastly he assignes his sonne Wenceslaus his successor in the Empire which as it is wriâ—ten he procured with great difficultie though with large rewards and not long after died In his raigne Iohn King of France Philip of Valois his sonne together with his yongest sonne Philip afterwards Duke of Burgundie sirnamed the Stout or the Bold was in pitcht field neere Poictiers taken prisoner by the English who were then in possession of a good part of Aquitaine and the
all matters were caried after this boisterous manner the Sarazens laying hold on this fit opportunity march out of Egypt with an huge Army and againe surprise Africa and Lybia and welnigh all Hispaine Iustinianus hee whom I aboue spoke of Iustinian the II. againe 706. An. 6. expeld and bannisht by Leontius by helpe of Tribellius King of Bulgaria at length takes Constantinople and therein Leontius and Tiberius whom hee put to death c First causing them to be caried vp and downe the city bound in cords then trampling vpon their necks and lastly beheading them Philippius Bardanes 712. an 2. m. 9. d. 7. after which hee raigned sixe yeares cruelly prouing also ingratefull to King Tribellius and at length ioyning battle with Philippicus Bardanes to whom the souldiers had reuolted both he and his sonne Tiberius were there slaine Pope Constantine pronounced this Philippicus for difference in Religion a Schismatick whose eyes being afterwards pluckt out by his owne seruants Anastatius the II. was his successor Anastatius the II. 715. an 1. m. 3. Hee sent a strong Nauie to the Rhodes to make warre with the Sarazens constituting an ecclesiasticall person Generall thereof whom the souldiers refusing to obey a mutinie arose and one Theodosius of obscure parentage was created Emperour Theodosius Adramittenus 716. m. 7. d. 16. who changing the voyage marches to Constantinople takes the City and confines Anastasius whoÌ„ he ouerthrew in battaile to a Monastery but not long after being expulst by Leo Lieutenant of his forces Leo Conon 717. an 24. m. 2. d. 25. hee also betakes himselfe to a Monasticall life About this time which was in the yeare of Grace 717. the Moores with their whole powers breake into Spaine and subdue it Rodericke being then King of the Hispaines whom the Gothes had elected The Sarazens in Leo's raigne hauing ouerrunne Thrace besiege Constantinople both by sea and land for three yeares space but at length being well nigh destroyed by the plague were constrained to retire home This Leo was a mortall aduersary to Gregory the II. Bishop of Rome and charged his Vicar or Exarch in Italy by all meanes to cut him off but the Lombards defended the Pope not for any loue they bare him but to the end that by these dissensions they might enlarge their owne Territories For vpon this occasion they surprised many townes belonging to the Exarchie-Certaine of this Gregories Epistles to the Clergy and Laity of Thuringia d A part of Saxony where the City Erford stands are extant whereby he admonishes them more and more to encrease in the knowledge of God as also to the Saxons sharply deterring them from worshipping of Idolls in which employment hee vsed one e An Englishman borne in Deuonshire Boniface his helpe whom he had sent into Germany The Emperour Leo throwes all statues Images of Saints out of Churches and enioynes the Pope also to doe the like but hee not onely disobeyes but also denounces sharpe punishment against him perseuering in his purpose Constantine the V. 741. an 35. m. 1. d. 27. To Leo his son Constantine of that name the V. succeeded surnamed Copronymos of the same Religion with his father He setting forth with a great Nauie against the Sarazens for recouery of Alexandria in Egypt vnderstanding by a messenger of the insurrections hatched at home and of Artabastus the new elected Emperour retires to Constantinople takes the City by force and puts out Artabastus his eies He also as his father Leo liued in vehement discord with Gregory the III. Bishop of Rome who forthwith sending his Nuntio's excommunicates him and they being cast in prison hee made a decree in the Councell thereupon assembled That whosoeuer should hereafter demolish the Images of Saints or contumeliously abuse them should be vtterly excluded from the Communion of the Church after this with all diligence and endeauour he erected Images in diuers Churches and as farre as he could sumptuously adorned them After Gregory the III. Zacharias succeeded An Epistle of his is extant to one Boniface a Bishop in Germany the same man as it appeares whose helpe Gregory the II. vsed as a little aboue mentioned Zacharias satisfied his requests and permitted Bishopricks at Merburgh Bamberg and Erphord and also gaue him leaue to goe to Charlemaine Charles Martel his sonne who was desirous to haue a Councell held in some City of the French Kingdome and that he might diligently reforme the abuses of the Church but most especially remoue adulterers and those that had many wiues from the order of Priesthood for sithence after the vndertaking of the holy Ministery they ought not to haue or touch so much as one wife much lesse at one and the same time they should haue more for Pauls words that a Bishop should bee the husband of one wife is to bee vnderstood not of the time present but past to wit that hee who desires to be admitted into the ministeriall function should haue no more wiues then one To this Epistle Charlemaines Edict who stiles himselfe Duke of the French is annexed wherein hee ordaines that a Councell should be held euery yeare in his presence and commands that adulterous Priests and whoremongers should be remoued out of their places and likewise prohibits them from hunting and hawking and charges them not to maintaine any whore at home but concerning wiues not a word From this time Aistulphus King of the Lombards required a tribute from the Romans sharply menacing them in case of non-payment Stephen the II. of that name then Bishop of Rome seeing hee could not stop his mouth neither with flatteries nor rewards sues to Constantine the Emperour for ayde but no helpe comming from him hee sollicites Pipin lately as we below shall mention made king of the French to lend him his hand He marching with an Army into Italy besieges Pauie and compells Aistulphus to come to composition but the Enemy after Pipins returne home growne more kene againe takes armes whereupon Pipin againe solicited marches into Italy then at length Aistulphus surrenders the Exarchie to Pipin in which Country those Cities are of chiefe account Rauenna Fauentia Caesena Forli Forlimpopoli Bologna Reggio Parma and Placentia It is written that Pipin deliuered all this Countrey into the Popes hands though the Emperor first required him to restore them to him as belonging to the Empire not to the Church of Rome To Constantine â—â—o the IIII 775. an 4. m. 11. d. 26. his son Leo the IIII. succeeded He vndertooke one only expedition into f Against the Sarazeni Syria where discomfited he retires home and not long after dyed of the same religion with his father leauing behind him his son Constantine the VI. who by reason of his nonage not of ability to raigne his mother Irene gouerned the Common-wealth but he waxen warmer in g 20 yeares of age yeares deposing his mother tooke the Empire vpon himselfe with no lesse insolency
and seat as appeares out of that which we haue before mentioned was by the Emperour Charles redintigrated and as it were a new bodie re-assumed beautie and feature after so many and so great Prouinces were reduced into one mans principalitie Nicephorus the other Emperour in the East was much displeased hereat but Charles by his humanitie and kindenesse appeased him and interchanging presents both of them liued in amitie and the certaine bounds of each Empire were set out Besides other assemblies he had a Councell at Rhemes wherin amongst many others one decree was that Bishops should diligently peruse the holy Scriptures and Preach the Word of God There was a Councell also held at Mentz the yeere before his death and others some yeeres before at Tours Chaalons and Arles about reformation of the Church as they deliuer it that liued in those times Then constituting his sonne Lewis heire of his kingdome and of the Empire died at Aix a towne in Gallia Belgica aged seuenty yeeres in the yeere after Christs birth eight hundred and fourteene after hee had beene Emperour almost fourteene yeeres the first of any Germane aduanced to that dignitie In his time there were onely one and twenty Metropolitane Cities as they call them throughout Italie Germanie and France as Rome Rauenna Millaine Friuly Grado Cullen Mentz Saltzburgh Triers Roane Sens Besanson Lyons Rhemes Orleans Vienna Monstier Iuerdun Burdeaux Tours and Burges in Berry Pipin his Father committed the Exarchat taken from the Lombards into the Bishops of Romes hands as aboue said which indeed is so deliuered to memorie and it is reported that hee directly gaue it to them but that very many call into question Eginardus one very familiar with y Charles him and his sworne Scribe writes that hee more dearely esteemed of that Church which they call S. Peters in Rome then any other and that a great masse of gold siluer and iewels was transported thither and very many gifts sent from him to the Popes for herein he vsed extraordinary diligence that by his meanes and procurement the Citie of Rome might inioy her ancient authoritie and S. Peters Church might not onely remaine safe and secured vnder his patronage but also flourish in wealth aboue other Churches Thus much onely he writes but of the donation of so many and such potent Cities within the bounds of the Empire not a word nay it is written that after his fourth comming into Italie when hee was created Emperour he ordered not onely the publike affaires but also both ecclesiasticall and priuate concerning the Pope the Citie of Rome and all Italie For when he was not yet Emperour but onely King of France hauing vanquished Desiderius King of the Lombards as aboue faid he came to Rome and had a Councell in which as their bookes relate Adrian the first together with the whole Councell granted him the right and power of electing the Pope as also disposing of the sea Apostolique as they tearme it and confirming Bishops Eginardus attributes to this Charles many vertues worthie of a Prince as temperance modestie frugalitie loue to religion learning eloquence and knowledge not onely of the Latine but also of the Greeke tongue withall his exceeding care and diligence in educating and nurturing vp his children to the same course He also as it is written founded the Academie of Paris as well of his owne accord as also by the instigation of z Commonly called Alcoinus an English man so Bede and others Albinus his Tutor for learning of the arts as Eginardus reports He also gaue Germane names to the twelue moneths and to the windes which they now vse whereas before that time as the same writer relates the French vsed partly Latine partly barbarous names And thus farre in Preface-wise touching the Germanes and the Emperour Charles henceforward I le briefly run ouer and shew after what manner this part of the Romane Empire in the West hard and sharpe restored and recollected by Charles againe decaied which being diuided fell into many mens dominions who held the same as their proper right not acknowledging the fountaine from whence they flowed Insomuch as that Maiesticall and so much renowned sublimitie of the Romane Empire is nothing else at this day then a certaine slender shadow of a great bodie after it was shrunk from such an huge masse to Germanie one onely particle of Europe Last of all I le briefly explaine how Daniel foretold this interchangeable course of Monarchies and fall of the Romane Empire Now Lewis Charles his son Lewis l. 814 an 26. m. 14. d. 24. another Germane Emperour renewed amitie with Leo Armenius Emperour of Greece and Pope Leo dying in the third yeere of his raigne his successor Stephen the IIII. comming into France consecrated a Emperour him at Rhemes To this Pope Paschalis succeeded who by reason the Emperour interposed not his authoritie diligently and earnestly excusing the fact alledged that the Papacie was obtruded vpon him altogether against his will The Papall bookes haue it that this Lewis the Emperour confirmed to this Paschalis and to the rest after him both the possession of goods and also permitted a free election that whomsoeuer all the Romans should iudge fit for that dignitie he should be accounted Pope But I see not what credence can be giuen to such kinde of writings as these for they so iarre amongst themselues and are so patcht together without all method that it cannot bee vnderstood what should follow Lewis had three sonnes Lotharius whom hee elected Collegue in the Empire and his Kingdome Charles who succeded his deceased brother b In France Pipin he set ouer Aquitania and Lewis ouer Bauaria Vpon a rebellion raised The Emperour Lewis deposed by his owne sonnes an 833. hee being taken by his sonnes and deposed from his Kingdome was confined to a Monasticall life at Compeigne a towne of the Sâ—issons The French Annall writers report that the ecclesiasticall Prelates whose hautinesse and riot hee desired to restraine conuocating some assemblies at Aix stirred vp those broyles against him and prouokt his sonnes to put in practice this so impious a fact Restored the sixt moneth following But being set at liberty the sixt moneth following to the great contentment of the people hee recouered his Kingdome and all more Because the place serues let vs by the way take a view of the many Nationall Synods held in France for next after that beforementioned at Aix there was another at Troy in Champaigne after that at Rhemes Tours Digion Paris Lyons Vienna Auinion Vierron Orleans and many more in the same places for when the affaires of the Common-wealth so required the Kings themselues conuocated aswell the States Ecclesiasticall as others for reforming of publike enormities In like manner Lewis the twelth at bitter enmity wiâ—h Iulius the second assembled a Councell of his owne people at Tours and Lyons in the yeare of Grace 1510. and 1511. Now to the
purpose Lotharius 840. an 15. m. 3. d. 10. Lewis dying was buried at Metz and Lotharius then vp in Armes against his brothers succeeded which warre at length quenched and a new diuision made Germanie fell to Lewis and part of France from the Riuer Maze to the Rhyne to Charles France from the Brittish Ocean and Pyrene Mountaines to Maze Lotharius besides that he was Emperour held Italy and the Prouince of Narbon To him his sonne Lewis the II. succeeded Lewis II. 855. an 19. m. 10. who repressed the Sarazens breaking into Italy In his raigne amongst others Adrian the II. was Pope created as their bookes haue it contrary to the Emperours assent by the Romane Nobility Citizens and Clergy as they call them For although the Emperours Deputies were in the City yet were they not called to the Election who taking it in ill and discontented part receiued their answer that it was not done in any contempt against the Emperour but in caution for future times lest that custome of expecting the Emperours Deputies at the Popes Creation should grow vp as necessary They report that with this answer they were not onely well pleased but also in reuereÌ„ce humbly saluted the Pope Now here we may see a certaine wonderfull varietie and inconstancy in their writings for if Lewis the I. granted them a free election as they boast and as it is mentioned a little about why did Lewis the II. his grand-child take this for an iniury offered him But howsoeuer the case stands the title of that decree which is in Gratians Centons is euidently false for it is attributed to Gregory the IIII. whereas hee departed his life twenty and two yeares before Adrian the II. was made Pope Did he write a history when hee was dead of those things which happened afterwards Nicholas the I. was the next before Adrian A very long Epistle of his to Michael Emperour of Greece concerning his power ouer all Churches is extant For Ignatius was remoued from his Bishopricke at Constantinople and Photius placed without the Bishop of Romes consent as also the Images were throwne downe He therefore with all the vehemency hee could exclaimes against this Many of his decrees also are extant full of Papall Maiestie Charles King of France as abouesaid notwithstanding his other elder brother Lewis the King of Germanies resistance marches in all hast into Italy and is consecrated by Iohn the eight Pope of Rome In his second expedition into Italy at the Popes request Charles the Bald 875. an 2. m. 2. for repression of the Sarazens who had againe inuaded Campania he dyed at c Poisoned by Zedechias a Iew. Mantua His son Lewis surnamed the Stammerer was his successour Lewis the Stammerer 877. an 2. m. 6. d. 5. Charles the Grosse 879. an 8. m. 7. but he raigned onely two yeares After him the gouernment of the Empire came to Charles the Grosse son of Lewis King of Germany who his two brothers being dead held all Germany Italy and France and chased out the Sarazens who infested Italy The Normans first comming into Normandy in France for a while also making war against the Normans a people of Lower Germanie then annoying Belgia at length granted them that part of France which to this day retaines their name Next after him Arnulphus his brothers sonne was Emperour Arnulphus 887. an 12. m. 1. d. 19. a worthy Prince He marching into Italy to set Pope Formosus at liberty from his aduersaries takes Rome and tooke reuenge vpon the Authors of that sedition In the time of his raigne the Hunnes being chased out of Scythia breake into Pannonia and marching into Germanie Lewis the III. Arnolphus his son being then Emperour got a notable victory not far from the Riuer Laech and then ouerran Bauaria Sueuia d In Germany betwixt Sueuia and Hassia Francia and Saxony with bloodshed robberies and fire Arnolplus Emperor a Councell of two and twenty Germane Bishops was held at Triburia sometimes a towne vpon the banke of the Riuer Maine where amongst many other one decree was That no man should sell a burying place for the dead and that no Layman as they call them should bee buried within the Church About this time a mighty vproare burst-forth throughout Italy For Berengarius and certaine other Nobles of Italy loaden with multiplicity of fauours from Charles the Bald conspired against France at what time Charles the Grosse raigned but their attempts there prouing frustrate they bend their minds for Italy which by long and mutuall conflict as it is common they harraze with mercilesse outrages At length the victorie falling to Berengarius hee got the Kingdome of Italie where after hee had taken Lewis the Emperour he put out his eyes as histories relate About this time also that no parcell of calamity might be wanting the Sarazens Africans and Hungars most outragiously ouerrunne Italy Thus whilst the state of most beautifull Religion vnder the Berengarians Hugo Rudolphus Lotharius Albertus and certaine others was so dolefull and miserable and Lewis the Emperor dying in the time of those broiles the Germanes but more especially the Saxons and Francons proclaime Otho Prince of the Saxons and Thuringes Emperour but hee strucken in yeares perswades them to take Conradus Duke of Franconia Conrade I. 911. an 7. m. 6. who being created Emperour ordered all affaires according to Othoes direction and soone after Othoes death when he himselfe was very dangerously sicke calling together his prime Nobility requested them to acknowledge Othoes son Henry then absent for Emperour This was that Henry vulgarly called Henry the e Because of his great delight in hawâ—ing Falconer Henry the Falconer 919. an 17. Thus wee see after what manner the Imperiall splendor and dignity fell from the French and Charles the Great his lineage to the house of Saxony These two Emperours Conradus and Henry were not consecrated as they call it by the Bishop of Rome and for that cause are left out by many moreouer it is written that this Henry neglected the Popes offered ceremony of consecration and that hee should say that hee was content with the acceptance and suffrages of good men Within a while after this Arnolphus the Euill Duke of Bauaria intended to bring about the sway of gouernment into his owne hands whereupon forces being mustered vp on both parts when both the Armies stood in battell ray at Ratisbon the Emperour calls him out to priuate parley putting him in mind how he was created Emperour by the most part of the people of Germany and dehorting him from ieoparding the liues of so many thousand men most whereof were innocent and ignorant of the cause of the warre changed his intention and so broke off the battell In like manner Burchardas Duke of Suenia rebelled but shaken with the Emperours puissance came to composition The Hungars againe spoile Saxony but after their chieftaine was taken make a nine yeares truce The
subiect most beautifull and altogether necessary for the societie of mankinde yea this gift euen heauenly drawne out and conuaied from the mid-fountaines of Philosophie to it 's former splendor and equitie which their indeauours merit not onely publike commendation but also remuneration After his death there was a vacancie for almost 22. yeeres A vacancie in the Empire for the space of 22. yeers after Fredericke the II. his decease first one then another being elected who notwithstanding held not the sway of gouernement in those troublesome times In the meane time the Kingdome of Naples fell from the Emperour Frederickes house into the hands of the French and afterwards Sicilie also For the Popes relied vpon the French power though soone after most cruell warres insued about those Kingdomes betwixt the house of Arragon and the house of Angiers in France but that appertaines not to this place When the Common-wealth had floated in this state as aforesaid for so many yeers together Rudolphus Habspurgh 1273. an 17. m. 9. d. 16. Rudolphus Habspurgh is created Emperour He in the beginning of his raign appeased those commotions spread throughout Germanie And after some Diets ended marches out against Ottacar King of Bohemia then in rebellion whom he inforced to conditions of peace which he notwithstanding by his wiues instigation not long after breakes and marching the second time into Austria is slaine in battell Ladislaus Cunus King of Hungary aided the Emperour Rudolphus At length a peace being concluded with the Bohemians by r Iutta the Emperous daughter was married to Wencislaus King of Bohemia Ottacars sonne marriage the Emperour gaue Austria which the King of Bohemia had held many yeeres together to Albertus his sonne and being hindred by diuers businesses in Germany went not downe into Italie neither was he inclined much that way howsoeuer for it is reported of him that hee would sometimes merrily tell a tale of the Foxe that would not visit the Lyon lying counterfeitly sicke in a certaine denne because hee was affrighted with the footsteps of other beasts of which none had returned notwithstanding he deputed a Gouernour in Italie in manner of Vice-Emperour and as it is written confirmed the often mentioned Countrey of Flaminiae and the Exarchie to the Church of Rome when hee saw very small commoditie returne to him from those parts For the Emperours wearied with perpetuall dissention and variance with the Popes became more remisse neither would the Popes euer bee at quiet till they had remoued them forth of the Coasts of Italie and therefore in a manner shelrring themselues vnder the wings of the French Kings and fostering their factions by the Bishops of Germany at length effected their owne wished desires But here by the way let vs call to minde the interchangeable course of estates when as they who were secure had their being and held their place and dignitie by fauour of the Emperours were inriched by their goods and liberalities both arrogated dominion ouer them and also defrauded them of their patrimony For they keepe to themselues not onely a good part of Italie but haue also strictly obliged the Kings of Sicilie and Naples to their partie which two kings both pay thē yeerely tribute and also are forbidden to vndertake the imperiall dignitie without their permission and when they receiue possession from them amongst other clauses that is one part of their oath That memorable massacre of the French through out Sicilie happened in Rudolphus the Emperours time For they being in possession of that Country where after soldiers fashion playing many insolent and outragious prankes were by secret conspiracie after a signe giuen all put to the sword when the Bell rung to euening prayers This Massacre is cōmonly called the Sicilian Vespers The Sicilian Vespers 1281. which was committed vpon Easter day in the yeere 1281. Rudolphus vpon a summe of money paid infranchised and set charge-free many Cities in Italie belonging to the Empire as the Bononians Florentines Genowaies Lucans and others After this assembling the Princes at Franckeford he desired but in vaine to haue his sonne Albert assigned his successor Rudolphus dying Adolphus of Nassaw 1292. an 6. m 5. d. 7. Adolphus of the house of Nassaw succeeded who not long after beganne to picke quarrels with Albertus Arch-duke of Austria and moreouer offending the Princes of Germanie by his demeanour as also the Archbishop of Mentz by whose helpe hee was made Emperour is deposed and Albertus Arch-duke of Austria Rudolphus his sonne is elected who vniting his forces hauing the Princes aid makes forward toward Adolphus when giuing him battell in the Bishopricke of Spire Adolphus being grieuously wounded by Albertus was soone after slaine by the rest of the souldiers After this victorie Albertus 1298 an 9. m 9. d. 5. Albertus to confirme his owne title lest any might report that his former election was vniust desired to bee solemnly created Emperour which done Pope Boniface the VIII reclaimed denying to ratifie what the rest of the Princes had done but within a while after when Philip the Faire King of France and hee fell into bitter dissention hee approoued of Albertus and spoke much in praise of his progenitours At length Albertus was slaine by his owne kinsmen as hee was marching into Bohemia hauing all in readinesse to intrude his sonne Fredericke into that kingdome This Pope Boniface added a sixth Booke to Gregory the IX his decretall Epistles which are contained in fiue Bookes Amongst the rest he made a decree that it might be lawfull for the Pope to dispossesse himselfe of the Papacie for is written that he himselfe by sinister meanes perswaded Caelestine the V. thereunto whom hee succeded After Albertus Henry Henry the VII 1308. an 4. m. 9. of that name the VII of the house of Luxemburgh is created Emperour He hauing by marriage made his sonne King of Bohemia goe downe into Italie the estate whereof was at that time most miserable For euer since Fredericke the II. his decease about 57. yeers the Emperour neglected Italie which caused the sundry dilacerations therof from them by the greater Nobles especially by the ſ Two Noble families in Sueuia which afterwards remoued into Italie Guelphs and Gibelines which two factions haue many retainers in those parts He therefore first of all constitutes Gouernours ouer the Cities and free burroughs throughout Lombardie and swore the inhabitants to his subiection then resting a while at Millaine indeauouring but all in vaine to reconcile the before-mentioned factions where when Turianus Gouernour of the Citie had complotted to assaile him vnawares after discouerie of the conspiracie and suppression of his aduersaries hee commits the gouernement of the Citie to a Vicount All the Cities in that Country yeelded into his power and protection onely Brescia rebelled the walles whereof hauing after a long siege taken it hee demolisht Then marching through Genua and so striking ouer to Pisa arriued at Rome and
haue a care of the common good After the affaires were setled in Germany hee goes downe into Italy at what time the Venetians and Florentines were vp in Armes both by sea land against Philip Maria Iohn Galeas his son Duke of Millaine and so forward to Rome being there consecrated by Eugenius the IIII. and returned by Basil where then there was another Councell held Albertus Archduke of Austria Albertus II. 1437. an 1. m. 9. d. 27. King of Hungary and Bohemia was his successour whom the ciuill warres at home and forraigne abroad held backe from Italy About this time those wits were rouzed vp againe which beganne to polish the liberall sciences language and good letters the Italians indeed gaue the onset who were furthered by helpe of the Graecians and then after followed the Germanes French and other Nations and further when the inuention of u Printing wâ—s inuented in Germany in the yeare 1440 So Pollydor Virgill and others affirme Printing came to light so immense was the profit thereof that it is incredible what a happy and ioyfull progresse ensued For now this course of studie hauing beene constantly continued euer since that time It is aduanced so high that this our age may enter into comparison with the most learned ages in time past and in this regard is blessed aboue all the rest in that it hath pleased God to illuminate this knowledge of the best Arts and languages with the true knowledge of Him Whereas those Ancients furnished onely with the helpe of learning though men most eloquent yet they were plunged in depth of darknes and searcht in vaine after that quintessence of goodnesse whereof they writ so much To Albertus Frederick III. 1440. an 53. m. 7. d. 19. Fredericke the III. Archduke of Austria succeeded hee passed quietly to Rome and receiued consecration from Pope Nicholas the V. so returning home without drawing a sword in Italy In the fourth yeare of his raigne Vladislaus Vladislaus his sonne King of Polonia and Hungary hauing by Pope Eugenius the III. his instigation broke the Truce was ouerthrowne in battell and slaine at Varna or Dionysiopolis the XI of Nouember by Amurath the II. Emperour of the Turkes The IX yeare after this Mahomet Amuraths sonne Constantinople taken by Amurath the II. 1453. The Turkish Army at the siege thereof consisted of 400000. men tooke the City of Constantinople by force of Armes which his successors haue now held this * From 1453. when it was taken till 1556. when Sleidan writ this booke Maximilian 1493. an 25 m. 4. d. 25. The Moors chased cut of Granado in Spaine 1487. Charles the V. 1519. an 38. m. 6. d. 27. 103. yeares keeping their Imperiall Court there Casimiâ— Vladislaus his brother succeeded him in the Kingdome of Polonia and Ladislaus the Emperor Albert the II. his posthume sonne in Hungary To Fredericke the Emperor his son Maximilian succeeded A little before the death of this Emperour Fredericke Ferdinando King of Spaine chasing out the Moores annexed Betica commonly called the Kingdome of Granado to his owne Crowne Maximilian as he did many more made warre also vpon the Venetians Him the most puissant Emperor Charles being his grandchild by his son * Archd. of Austria Philip succeeded who now swayes the Scepter Thus out of that which we haue mentioned it clearly appeares after what manner the Romane Empire then which none euer was or will be more potent is now in a manner crusht in peeces For throughout Asia we haue not so much as a foot or a nailes breadth as the prouerbe is The Turkes Scythians and other Enemies of our Religon hold all there Wee haue lost all Africa but what hath beene recouered of late yeares by Charles the V. when hee wonne Tunis from Aenobarbe the Turkish Lieutenant archieuing a glorious victory and made the King there tributary to him as also the fifteenth yeare following besieged and tooke the Town of Aphricke Portugal Spaine France Britaine Denmarke Sarmatia Pannonia Illyricum all Greece with the adiacent Countries are torne away as also the Ilands of Sicilie Sardinia Corsica Maiorique and Minorique and Sauoy which Prouinces haue their peculiar Lords who hold full power in all matters and are not at a penny charge about any affaires of the Empire Now let vs looke vpon Italy the old ancient and first patrimony of the Romane Empire but wherein doth it participate with vs The Kings of Spaine by ancient succession hold Calabria Apulia Campania and Naples The Popes keepe in their hands the City of Rome formerly the Emperours Palace and Court Imperiâ—ll together with Marca de Ancona Romandiola and part of Tuscane who are so farre from acknowledging subiection to the Emperour that they hold the Emperours and their Deputies to bee bound to them Those Cities there of any strength either haue their proper Lords or else are swayed by factions and hauing nothing at all to doe with vs. Now for the Venetians what a company hold they not onely of goodly Cities and freeburrowes but also Prouinces they themselues in the interim being an absolute free-state and quite separated from the Romane Empire As for Insubria commonly called Lombardy that indeed belongs somewhat nearer to vs but it totters too neither receiue wee any certaine profit from thence For after that our Emperours had as abouesaid first constituted Viscounts there as they call them and afterwards Dukes how miserably was it rent to peeces and euer since that time how little did it benefit vs For our Emperours neglecting it in time of the warres there the house of the Sfortia's dispossessing the Vicounts seized vpon it whom afterwards Lewis the XII and Francis the I. Kings of France excluded the latter whereof held it for sixe yeeres till the Emperour Charles the V. recouered it Thus you see no reuenues come from any part of Italie for they neither repaire to our Diets nor contribute any thing at all to any publike vse or necessitie but what they doe voluntarily or in fauour to the Emperour onely Germanie remaines which alwaies repugned the Romane Empire scarce euer free from rebellion as before appears till at length it was gathered together by the Emperour Charles the Great and reduced into one body after which time when the power of electing the Emperours was committed to the seuen Electors as we haue formerly shewed it became the Emperours Court and Mansion place And here too wee must consider with what difficultie this little diminitiue body of the Empire congealed in Germanie could incorporate it self for when were we euer free from iarres and ciuill broiles So now whatsoeuer goes vnder the name of the Empire is incuded within the bounds of Germany for all forraigne places and those without the compasse thereof are fallen away Howbeit we see there are many euen within those small compast limits that flie backe and as much as they can withdraw themselues and their countries forth of the iurisdiction of the