Emperor hearing hereof setteth Italie in order and with a compleat army marcheth towards Lyons there face to face to bandy with this insolent Prelate But thinke you a Pope to be so silly an Asse as to deale with his forewarned enemy no beleeue it His conscience can not assure his heart to look him in the face He must deale altogether vpon aduantage ciuill dissentions alienations of obedience trecheries periuries discontents of neighbour-Princes and subiects At which weapons he now dealeth with the Emperour and hauing his scouts his espialls and Intelligencers in euery corner through the world by their seruices he worketh the banished gentlemen of Parma to returne to their country and there to plot out myriads of rebellions against those Cities which as yet in Italie stood well affected to the Emperors seruice Whereupon before his Maiesty could come to Taurinum in feare that the residue of the Italian people would one follow anothers example he quitteth his Lyons-iourny and by letters directed both vnto the King of France as also to the prelats there assembled in most honest termes he refuteth his enemies obiections discourseth at large vpon the insufficiency and nullity of a Popish curse and withall strongly prepareth by sea to reduce Parma to its former obedience But good Emperour the greater thy learning the more their griefe the greater thy courage the more vigilant is thy diuill-like enemy for thy ruine Thou staiest at Grossetum about the sea coast of Sienna there to refresh thy wearied and ouerwrought spirits with some disports of hauking Thou wilt not get thee into Germanie nor repasse the mountaines Then will thy ghostly father meditate night and day to vndoe thee then will he traiterously inueigle thy principall seruants some by wrested sentences of Scripture and some by corruption of mony to worke thy downfall Thus imitate they Christ in blessing their enemies Thus honor they Kings according to Saint Peter But thanke thy God the conspiracie was detected and the traytors worthely punished Nocentius beeing fallen into a desperate fury for that he had failed in these his most nefarious proiects in seeing the Emperor for this time fully cleered from his diuelish intendments grew yet resolute not to giue ouer vntill hee had really dispossest him of his crowne life Which to effect by threats exhortations promises he aweth the Princes of Germanie to depose Frederick and in his place to set vp Henrie Lantgraue of Thuringe But this gentleman following the seruice of his master at the siege of Vlmes was deadly wounded the same yeere wherin he was nominated King So also his successor William beeing imploied in other wars performed nothing in fauour of his Furiousnesse Whereupon the Pope obseruing his Anathems to be vilified his rebellious hirelings in Italy to be throughly persecuted his aduersary to be resolute and vndaunted after long and manifold trecheries plotted and frustrated at last he procureth him to be poisoned in the two and thirtith yeere of his raigne and the fifty seauenth of his age on the very same day wheron he was declared Emperor Caesar Augustus Thus this most worthy Heros this Frederick the second Emperor of Germany king of both Sicils and Hierusalem Lord of Sardinia and Italie Duke of Sweuia an excellent Prince adorned with all good gifts dained by God vnto man aswell for the furniture of mind as body valiant honorable liberall a great linguist and excellent well learned finished his mortall race who had he not been diuerted from turning his Christian Armes against the Pagans by the rebellions of Italy and the Papall abetments thereto verely he had merited more praise of the Christian world then Alexander in due could haue exacted of his Macedonian subiectes Verely If this our Age miserably shaken with this inueterate Papall tyranny by this president would learne what emolument peace and plenty would accrue both to the Church and common-weale by due ballancing the temporall and Ecclesiasticall Authorities then would I not doubt but to behold the German Empire most great most glorious and the Papall vsurpation once again reduced to its pure and primitiue integrity More in commendation of this good Emperor I can not say but onely wish that the Motto which was once vnderwritten Brutus his statue and now due to him vtinam viueres might at this day be reuiued in the hearts of all Christian Potentates to reuindicate their pristinate prerogatiues But who shall recomfort the Laments of Sion Albeit that this most worthy Generall was gathered in peace to the bed of his fathers yet Death had no priuiledge to giue period either to the extinguishment or satiation of these Popes neuer dying malice For against all humane beliefe and the diuine precepts it raged with so inhumane a feruencie against this Emperors posterity that it neuer gaue ouer vntil it had depriued his issue both of life and Empire For forthwith from the decease of Frederick these three Popish Sultans Innocent the third Alexander and Vrban the fourth following the continual streame of their proud fortunes imployed the vtmost of their meanes to re-inuest the Kingdome of Naples in the Church and to strip thereof the House of Sweuia but in vaine for Manfred maintained and retained it valiantly as yet against all their violences vntill Clement the fifth following the claime of his Predecessor Vrbans Intrusion called Charles Earle of Prouince and Aniow out of France to take possession thereof vpon condition that Manfred being expulsed Hee should yearely pay vnto the Church of Rome in the Name of a Tenure thirtie thousand Duckets And for farther encouragement Not to accept the inuestiture thereof though freelie offered from the Romane Emperour hee caused him to be stiled King of both Sicils Which done in the Lateran Church hee is inaugurated with the Crowne of Sicil and Hierusalem And after manie and various conflicts hee not onely ouerthroweth and slayeth Manfred at Beneuent betrayed by his people but also extinguisheth the sole heire of the noble house of Sweuia the stem of many worthy Emperors Conrade the son of Conrade whō he got vnto his power by treasō neer Naples there by the wicked dispensatorie counsel of the Pope with more then Phalarian cruelty struck off his head for going about to recouer his owne but indeed vpon suggestion that hee persecuted the Church For Clement after he had heard the opinion of manie wise men perswading him that Conrade as being the onely branch of the most noble house of Sweuia was to be preferred and obliged to the Romane sea by fauours and affinitie turned himselfe to Charles and would needes know of him what he also deemed To whom the Traytor made this butcherly Reply Vita Conradini mors Caroli Mors Conradini vita Coroli i. The life of Conrade will be death to Charles The death of Conrade life to Charles By which his brutish opinion hee thus whetted on a minde already prepared for murder by manifest
was demanded lest he should giue an euill president to others the Siluer being taken out from the Fishes mouth he deliuered it vnto the Kings Officers Moreouer when he vnderstood that his Disciples distracted through the ambition of superioritie contended for Primacie hee told them That not they but Temporall Princes were to affect Soueraigntie hereby putting them in minde of their Calling as dis-vnited from worldly Gouernement and humane Policies At last after his glorious resurrection he sent them to Preach the Gospel ouer the whole world but with no other Commission then what he himselfe had receiued from his Father Intimating by this Mandat that they were neuer called nor chosen for Lordship but that through the Preaching of the Gospel and the glad tidings of saluation they were bound to beget a Congregation to the Father in eternitie That Him they should loue feare and inuocate with all their power And being astonished with no torments calumnies nor threates they should not forbeare to confesse his holy Name before all men That in Prayer they should carie themselues zealously faithfully constantly modestly soberly and chastly That vpon cause of offences they should studie mildnesse compassion towards good men oppressed and patience amidst their miseries That by the bond of peace they should retaine vnitie of spirit And finally that casting away the care of earthly easements they should meekly indure pouertie and worldly displeasures that thus by their doctrine and example of life Christ might be glorified the Church increased and their Ministerie admired And surely the Apostles and their successors in all their trauailes ouer the face of the earth thus vndertaken by the commandement of their Master so behaued themselues in all occurrances but especially in this obseruancie of difference betweene politicall Gouernement and Ecclesiasticall orders that by this note onely they were acknowledged to bee the true Disciples and followers of their glorified Master For they not onely Preached with puritie the euerlasting will of God without intermingling of humane fancies but also in all places accustomed to teach That vpon earth Caesars Kings were to bee acknowledged next vnto God and to be reuerenced before all other mortall men They stiled them their Lords payed them tribute made intercession vnto God for their welfare And vnto such as spake euill of the Magistrate they threatned reuenge from aboue From all worldly affaires especially from the abuse of Armes they abhorred Knowing that the twofold sword of the Church was intrusted to saluation and regeneration and not for distruction So farre were they euen from imagination to thinke it lawfull to disenthronize any King or Potentate though a most wicked one either to absolue his people from their Othes of Allegiance or to proue masteries with him about Precedencies But rather they thought it a worke worthy their calling by the space of two hundred and seuentie yeeres to suffer most bitter and terrible persecutions and those too rather to bee indured by stedfast faith in Christ Iesus by zealous calling vpon his Name and by glorious Martyrdome then by rebellious impatiencie and violent Meditation of requitall And all this not without admirable increase and good successe to the Church of Christ For in what Age was the face of the Church more amiable or liker the head thereof euen Christ Iesus then when after his ascension his Disciples striuing to fulfill his Testament and their successors treading in the very same footesteps Preached faithfully and purely the Gospel through Iudaea Samaria and Palestine After that when so glorious and conspicuous as when with their fellow labourers taking their Iournyes towards other Nations but especially towards Rome at that time the chiefe Seate of the Empire and the bordering Regions they imployed their times in dressing in Planting and in watering the Lords vineyard viz. From the time of Linus to Siluester and Caesar Constantine by the space of two hundred and fiftie yeeres vnder most vnsufferable Persecutions euen to the losse of their liues and dearest bloods But assoone as Constantine by the diuine prouidence had giuen peace to the afflicted Churches and that the Bishops being deliuered from their lurking corners from Vaults and from dennes wherein during the time of Persecution they had safe conducted their bodies then I say shamed they not to giue themselues ouer to the delights of the world to vnprofitable idlenesse to liue a pleasurable life to degenerate from the wayes of their predecessors through neglect of Gods word being wholly seduced with carnall affections Then began they to giue coulorable clothing to the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles by Canons Decretals and Ceremonies Then began they to deuise new appellations of Dignitie To preferre one Church before all other and finally blushed not to confound all orders both Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall Whereupon presently followed so vniuersall a confusion of Doctrine Discipline and Order that they no longer seemed to represent the late Pastours of the Lords flocke but rauening Wolues not Priests but blasphemers not Doctors but deiectors of soules from the sweete aspect of the face of God For surely they did not onely obscure in a wonderous maner the sinceritie of the Christian doctrine by their humane traditions gaue it so great a scandall by superstitious impietie and heathenish inuocation of Soules departed and so wickedly polluted it with blasphemous Idolatrie But all honestie and discipline being troden vnderfoote in all seducement and oppression of veritie they spent their whole dayes in Sodomiticall abuses in Wantonnesse in Luxurie in Ribaldrie in Whoring in Sacrilege in Contention in Necromancie in Charmes in Homicide and such like transgressions And that more is being possessed with a diabolical affectation of Gouernment pride cleane contrarie to the Diuine commandement they began to busie themselues in secular affaires to withdrawe their faiths from the subiection of Kings to vsurpe vpon other mens patrimonies to thrust in their crooked Syckles and that at aduenture into another mans Haruest to arrogate both Presences to challenge the iurisdiction of both Swords to tollerate no equall much lesse no Superiour to defraude one of his right an other of his Honour to giue Law to Kings and prescribe them ordinances basely to esteeme of Emperours as if they reigned at will to accurse them and murder them To set Princes together by the eares to sow dissentions to patronize factions to absolue Subiects from their Othes of Allegiance and finally by their nouell and slie Policies to mooue them to vnlawfull Rebellions So farre forth that after they had once pleaded prescription in their incrochments they more defaced the Maiestie of the Romane Empire by their dissimulations slaughters warre and such varieties of wickednesses then any forraine or barbarous enemy could haue done by the Sword or violence For to let passe the Empire of the East ruinated by the cunning and slie cariage of the Romane Bishops the Grecians being first expulsed Italy by the Lombards and presently they againe being oppressed
by the French called in against Astulphus King of the Lombards for calling vpon Steuen the second for his Subsidy money Euery man that is any thing seene in Historie knoweth the Romane Empire being by the prowes of Charles the Great transferred from the Grecians to the Germanes how the Emperours of Germanie haue beene harried by the incredible subtilties and combinations of the Romane Bishops wearied with most lamentable warres and lastly the goodly and most flourishing forces of the Empire by their vngodlinesse disvnited impouerished and wasted Surely the remembrance of these times are so distastfull and lamentable that I had rather wash them out with teares then aggrauate them by speech But fithence our Pen is fallen into repetition thereof I perswade my selfe that it shall proue neither a digression from my proiect neither impertinent from the point of our Argument to Paint out in most liuely colours what hath beene the humilitie obseruancie loyaltie obedience of the Roman Bishops manifested throughout all Ages sithence the dayes of the aforesaid Charles towards the most worthy Germane Emperors their very good Lords and especiall benefactors ⧠Charles the Great TO begin therefore with the Frenchmen who first transferred the Empire from the Grecians to the Germanes who liueth so ignorant that knoweth not with what immunities and honourable indowments they adorned the Romane Clergie First Charles surnamed the Great to his eternall renowne deliuered that Sea being most grieuously laide vnto by Desiderius King of the Lombards to the vtter confusion of his Armie Against Herisigus Duke of Benouent he likewise defended his frontiers And presently after that hee restored Leo the third to his Sea at Baryona being expulsed from Rome by the faction of his aduersaries ⧠Lewes surnamed Pius This man was Emperour in the yeere of Christ eight hundred and fourteene at what time Egbright gouerned the West Saxons and first called our Countrey Anglia LEWES succeeding his father Charles as the Romane Chronicles record with no lesse liberalitie granted vnto the Romane Bishops and his successours the Citie of Rome together with his Dukedome and defended the iurisdiction and dignitie thereof euen to the imputation of superstition Notwithstanding neither the remembrance of the good seruices of the father nor the vertues of the sonne could so farre foorth wey with Gregorie the third as to suppresse much lesse to mitigate his diuelish intendments once conceiued against this Lewes For the Warre being on foote betweene Lewes and his sonnes He as it behoued an Apostolicall Bishop sought not to quench the fire of this vnkindnesse betweene father and child but being sent by Lewes into the Campe of his sonnes to capitulate the Peace with condition to returne againe vnto the Emperour reuolting from Lewes he remained with his sonnes and like a true Apostata abetted and complotted this vnnaturall dissension so farre foorth that the father was taken and being committed to most seuere imprisonment with his yonger sonne was finally thrust into the Monasterie of Suessons Behold here a most strange precedent of ingratitude in children against their dearest Parents and the detestable impietie of a Bishop against a most innocent Emperour both equally gilty of like periurie and disloyaltie From that time although the Royal Diademe continued for some certaine Ages in the posteritie of Lewes neuerthelesse their hellish humors did no more spare the issue then in former time it compassionated the Parent And no maruaile for this was the onely marke that they shotte at that hauing once shaken off the right which the Emperour pretended in the confirmation of Bishops they might with more securitie euer after haue meanes to ouertop them in greatnesse Which their most prouident proiect was long a hatching neither could it bee deliuered to discouerie before the yeere eight hundred ninetie fiue At what time Charles the Grosse departing out of Italy to warre vpon the Normans who at that time miserably infested the Sea coasts of France Hadrian the third layed hold vpon this opportunitie and in the very beginning of his Pontificie made his complaint vnto the Senate and people of Rome That in the Election of Bishops the Imperiall authoritie was not to be stood vpon but that the Suffrages of the Clergie and the people ought alwayes to be free By this Decree he disseysed the Emperours of their whole right which but lately they possessed both vpon the Bishops and the Citie Thereby pointing out to his successors a course how to attempt proiects of higher nature in future ages And surely from those times what vpon the deficiencie of the issue of Charles the Great which had most fortunately Gouerned the Empire for the space of one hundred and odde yeeres and what in regard of that most horrible Schisme proceeding from that Chaire of pestilence managed betweene the Bishops themselues by mutuall Murders Poysenings and all other kind of enormities their continued machinations against the Emperours some-deale ceased vntill they reassumed a new occasion of plotting reiterating their former courses against Otho the first Emperour of Germanie ⧠Otho the Great He was chosen Emperour in the yeere nine hundred thirtie and sixe In England reigned Adelstan FOr at what time in the Reigne of Otho Iohn the thirteenth Noble in trueth by Birth but most base in conuersation Gouerned the Romish Sea and polluted Peters Chaire with ryot gaming pandarisme and Women c. At that very same instant likewise Berengarius Duke of Lombardie amongst many other Cities forbore not to presse hard vpon the Citie of Rome also The Cardinals grew discontented aswell at the Popes Epicurisme as at Berengarius his Tyrannie Two of them more agrieued then the rest whether vpon scruple of conscience or in remembrance of the greatnesse of the Romane name or in hatred of the Pope resolued to pray in aide of Otho a Prince of that time much celebrated for his vertues amongst the Loraners the French the Hungarish the Danes and all the other barbarous people vnder his obedience throughout that part of the world Whereupon calling some others to Councell by letters and messages they solicite Otho that he would vouchsafe to assist the declining estate of the Church and Common-wealth That hee would represse the Tyrannie of Berengarius cruelly raging vpon the Christian people And that he would not let to deliuer the Church from so fell and impure a beast The Bishop comming to the knowledge of these passages first cut off three of his fingers that indited the Letters and then slit his Chancellors nose for giuing approbation thereunto But Otho who thought it not fitte to leaue the Church succourlesse in times of danger hauing amassed all necessaries for warfare marcheth into Italy with fiftie thousand Souldiers Expelleth both Berengarius and his sonne Adelbert then speedeth towards Rome Where arriued although the inhumane cruelties of the Bishoppe were not vnknowne to his Maiestie Yet in reuerence of the Apostolicke Sea at first hee decreed no hard or vnbeseeming censure
the Church What humane spirit can scandalize these the Emperors letters What scruple of equity of piety or vprightnesse can any man say is wanting in them Who can iustifie that hee wrote otherwise then became a true and a Christian Emperor He but retorted the Bishops pride he maintained but the honor of the Empire he sought but reason and that was Christian humility and modesty in Christian Churchmen which in those times as the world then complained was not to be found in that sort of people What followed Peace I warrant you nothing lesse For the Pope not contented that by letters hee had bandied with the Emperor but writing vnto all the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany he punctually noteth downe the cariage of the cause and aggreuateth the indignity of the fact Admonishing them that sithence the action concerned the whole body of the Church for they will make vs beleeue that without their intrusions all Christendom must perish that they should corroborate themselues as a wall of brasse to sustaine the declining estate of the house of God And that they should not only find meanes to reduce the Emperor into the right way but also take open and condigne satisfaction vpon Rainold the Emperors Chancelor and Otto Earle of Wittelspach who forsooth had belched out infinit blasphemies against the Apostolike Legats and the Church of Rome That as the inciuilitie of their speech had offended the eares of manie so their penances might be an example to restore as manie againe into the right path of obedience But for that as certaine of the writers of that age doe testifie the then Bishops were not so eagerly addicted to maintaine the Popes vsurpations as many of them are now they conuocated a Councell and thus wrote backe vnto his fatherhood That they were not onlie wonderfullie agreeued at these abuses but also Arnold of Mogunce and Euerard of Saltzburge by their priuate letters admonished all Roman Priests Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and Massemungers to giue ouer their saucinesse their pride their auarice their perfidie and all other enormities by which they robbed the poore and disturbed the peace of the Empire Finallie they humblie besought them that they would put their helping hands to worke Adrian to obserue peace vndertaking for the Emperor that he should do nothing but what stood with religion reason and equitie Sure these were bitter pills for Hadrians stomach But what remedy Popes as they are cursefull so are they politique and beeing well skild in speculation they know by the Planets when it is high time to hold a candle before the Diuell He that now reigneth is not Henrie the fourth but Frederick the first who is now preparing for Italie and hauing sent his honorable Embassadors Rainold his Chauncellor and Otto of Wittelsbach before to assemble a conuocation of the Princes and Bishops of Italy prepareth his way in potent and Princelike manner and meaneth himselfe in short time to sit in person in Councell amongst them Now is it time to fly vnto the fox his case a necromantique spell hath informed vs that the Lions skin will nothing preuaile vs Humble letters are dispatched towards Augusta to lenifie the Emperours displeasure and Henrie Duke of Saxonie and Bauaria with Otho the Frison made intercessors to reconciliation No long time after Hadrian betakes himselfe againe to his perspectiue where obseruing that the Cities of Italy Crema being hardly besieged by Frederick had interprised a conspiracie to re-uindicate their liberty the Pope hauing vtterly forgotten his yesterdaies reconciliation traiterously adhereth to the faction and animateth the conspiracie vpon these conditions First That neither partie should accept of peace without the good leaue of the other Secondly That if the Bishop chanced to die that none but one of the same faction shoald be created in his stead And then to giue the better countenance to the rebellion for an infinit Masse of mony hee is corrupted to accurse his Maiesty So saith mine Author but in these daies I am of opinion that malice is as powerfull in a Papists breast as corruption in the Papall Court But our best and great God who by the mouth of his seruant Dauid seemeth punctually to cry out against these hired Excommunications of Popes They curse and thou blessest Let those that rise against me be confounded but thy seruant shall reioice This good God I say inuerted this execrable maledict vpon the Popes own head and miraculously confounded the man to the terror of all posterity For being at Anagnia the place where hee had excommunicated Fredericke it chanced that as he walked abroad amongst his familiars to take the aire as hee was drinking at a certaine fountaine a flye flying into his throat stucke so fast therein that no physicall experiment could giue him ease and so he died miserably choked Would it not amase any humane flesh to see so huge a gyant in the middest of his armed and rebellious battalions but euen now scorning the Emperor and all his forces presently to lye dead with the stroke of a flie Or is there any Priest amongst them so irreligious that dare but imagine that this stroke proceeded from casualty and not from the finger of God considering that that throat which had but now belched out so iniust an execration against a most godlie and innocent Emperor was also appointed the instrument to confound his spirits Yea this vnshamed rabble being nothing terrified with so miraculous a president could by no meanes be diuerted from their intended conspiracy For perceiuing that they could not haue their wills vpon his Maiesty by force beeing strōg in soldiery Lord of Italy in diuers ouerthrows putting the Millanois to the worse they made their recourse to villany and by treason laid wait for his life To the execution whereof by great rewards they cunningly corrupt a fellow of a strong body vnder the habit of a foole or iester to goe vnto Landa the place where the Emperor then resided and there vpon oportunity to offer him violence The traitor wholly animated by their large promises resolueth vpon the villany goeth to Landa entreth the Campe and by iests and fooleries maketh his accesse euer into the Emperors pauilion His Tent at that time was pitched vpon the very banke of the riuer Abdua so steep and sliding that if any thing fell thereinto the swift course of the streame would forth with carry it away with violence Which the foole-villaine obseruing to be a fit proiect for his intended treason assaulteth the Emperor according to his custome going alone vnto his prayers by day dawning and by struggling and tugging laboureth to carry him to the foresaid steep place The Emperor plaieth the man so that both parties being intangled with the tackling of the tents fell to ground by which time the Gentlemen of the chamber being awaked by the calling of the Emperour runne to succour and taking the villaine they threw him headlong
Schwatzburge deceased he gaue ten thousand marks to resigne his nomination and then prepared for his iourney towards Rome From whence escaping by an excuse of going on hunting in as dishonorable a manner as neuer any of his predecessors before hee returned to Millan and there created the Visconti a Potent family in that Citie in receit of a wonderfull masse of mony perpetuall Vicars of the Empire throughout Lombardy to the euerlasting dishonor and preiudice of Germanie For a sumptuous banquet in Ville-noue neere Auignion hee re-deliuered to the King of France the Kingdome of Arles acquired to the Empire by Otho the first From Gerlace Archbishop of Mogunce though by his partiality hee gained his election hee wrested the priuiledge of inaugurating the King of Bohemia in right belonging to the Church of Mogunce and by cōfirmation of Clement the sixt inuested it in the Archbishop of Prage He ordained by law that none but Bohemians should be admitted into the Colledge of the Canons regular of Inglehame being of the Dioces of Mogunce And presently after to make quick and profitable returnes of the profits of the Empire hee retailed vnto the adioyning Princes sixteene free Cities of Sweuia all held of the Crowne To Cunon Archbishop of Treuers he pawned Bopardia and Wesel Imperiall Cities by statute Lusatia which time out of minde had beene held in fee of the Imperiall diademe by the Archbishops of Magdeburg by the corruption of the then Incumbent he perpetuated vnto the kingdome of Bohemia Against the fundamentall Lawes of the Country and the custome of Antiquity by nouell and subordinate practise he offered euery Elector a part one hundred thousand Duckets to nominate for his successor his sonne Winceslaus a man giuen ouer to idlenesse cowardize luxurie all wantonnesse and belly-cheere For which when this Phocas had not wherewith to keepe his dayes of payment he morgaged for one hundred thousand duckets to some their Imposts and to the Palatine as memory recordeth Caesarea Luthrea Oppenham Odenham and Ingelham Whereupon I may be bold to say that by these diminutions alienations and mortgages the Honourable entrados of the Crowne were so immeasurably wasted that from that day to this it hath not beene of power to recouer or restore this terrible downefall For by the sale of these Imposts the true and essentiall Patrimonie of the Crowne the glorious Eagle hath beene so deplumed that euer since shee hath beene but a scorne and contemptible to euery other liuing creatures Which being true as true it is what Patriot can but accurse the Romane Bishops as the sole and prime-authors of all these mischiefes the children of desolation and the perpetuall disturbers of all Christian welfare ⧠Wenceslaus the Coward He raigned Anno Christ. 1379. about the second yeare of Richard the second AFter the demise of Charles Wenceslaus his sonne during the schisme betwixt Vrban the sixt and Clement the seuenth then the which a more fatall bestial durable dissention neuer befell the Church gouerned the Empire and tooke part with Vrban To Clement vpon occasion he sendeth his Embassadours and amongst them are remembred certaine honest and indifferent Prelates to haue passed whom by exquisite tortures he slew most barbarously And as for Vrban for that the couetous King had deceiued the more couetous Romanes gaping after the treasure raised vpon ecclesiasticall benefices in not keeping promise with his personall presence after hee had granted his commission for leuying the saide ecclesiasticall tribute through the whole Empire towards the defrayment of his charges for his Romane-iourney he became vtterly alienated from his auncient friendship But what Death preuented by the death of Vrban his successour Boneface the ninth being sure to haue had it if God had giuen life made good in highest measure For he approouing the censure of deiection against Wenceslaus not so much for his euil and degenerate life as for that he had beguiled the Romans of their pence ratified and aduanced the Election of Rupert Earle Palatine preferred vnto the Empire by the Bishops of Mogunce Golen and Treuers ⧠Rupertus Caesar He raigned 1400. AS Boneface the ninth in despight of Wenceslaus with great facility and readinesse approued his deposition so Rupert but now aloft in highest fauour of the Pope at this present is so counterchecked by this wether-cocke Alexander the fift the third from Boneface a most malicious Cretusian that he is very likely to feele the smart of as violent a diuision in the state as doth the Church in a present and terrible schisme For vpon his very installment at Pisa in the Fishers chaire without any regard either of Ruperts right or his present possessiō vpon a iust title he nominateth by his missiues for King of Romanes Wenceslaus the man whom in a frequent assembly with one consent the Electors had heretofore remooued from imperiall gouernement Which Indignity Rupert not being able to disgest hee made his grieuous complaints thereof vnto the Lords of the state and exceedingly interrupted the obedience of the Church throughout the Empire And without doubt he had attempted far greater reformations had not the sparkles of these smoking substances together with the Prelate to the general good of Christendom been at one extincted by the Physick of Marsilius a physitian of Parma And Rupert applying his labours to redresse what had been amisse by the auarice of Charles and the cowardize of Winceslaus in the tenth yeere of his raigne departed this world In whose place succeeded Sigismund a Prince for his wisedom learning and integrity most renowned ⧠Sigismund He raigned 1411. About the twelfth yeere of Henry the fourth SIGISMVND at his entrance vpon the Imperiall Diadem finding the Romane Sea miserably distracted by the wicked schisme of three Antipopes Iohn the foure and twentieth at Bononia Gregory the twelfth at Ariminum and Benedict the 12. in Spaine tooke such infinit paines to restore it vnto its pristinate beauty as few or none of the auncient kings or Emperors euer vndertook the like for the welfare of the Church For albeit of his owne authoritie diuested vpon himselfe and diuolued from his Ancestors he might ought to haue cast out these boute-feaus of diuision yet made he choice in modesty and truenesse of Christian piety rather to redresse these euils by a Generall Councel then by the violent meanes of war and blood-shed Which to effect to his extreame trauaile danger and expences he visited almost all the realmes of Christendome France Spaine and England and there by his godlinesse and good counsell so wrought with the Princes of those kingdomes that they commended his zeale allowed his course and promised their best assistance This done he tooke his iourny towards Italy and dealt with Iohn at Mantua to come vnto the Councel at Constance The Assembly being set such were his feeling perswasiues such his important motiues as the three Antipopes being condemned to deposition hee caused
beene In high proportion meated from That side The Tables to this Booke The first declaring how many Emperors haue beene either Excommunicated or constrained to kisse his Holinesse Feete Emperrours Excommunicated by Otho the fourth Innocent the third Henry the fourth Gregorie the 7. Henry the fift Paschal the second Frederick the first Adrian the fift Philip the sonne of Frederick Alexander the 3. Frederick the secōd Innocent the third thrice by Gre. the 9. Conradus the fourth Innocent the fourth Lodowick the Bauarian Iohn the 22. Benedict the 12. and Clement the VI. Emperours Constrained to kisse the feet of Charles the great Iustian Emperor of Constantinople Luit Prandus king of Lomb. Crescentius Consul c. Otho the first Frederick the first Henry the fift Sigismund Charles the fift Adrian the Pope Stephen the second Iohn the xvij Iohn the xvij Alexander the third agroofe c. Paschal the second Of Martin the fift and Eugenius the fourth Of Clement the seuenth The second deuided into Sections seuerally epitomizing the liues of the Popes with the vices whereunto euery one hath in particular beene addicted viz. who haue beene 1 Atheists 2 Arrians 3 Magitians or Coniurers 4 Blasphemers 5 Forswearers and equiuocators 6 Turkish Pentioners 7 Mad-men and tyrants 8 Warriours and bloud-succours 9 Traytours and mouers of seditions 10 Parricids and impoysoners 11 Whoremasters 12 Adulterers 13 Incestuous persons 14 Sodomites 15 Pandars 16 Bawdes 17 Bastards 18 Drunkards 19 Couetous persons 20 Church-robbers 21 Simonianists 22 Ambitious persons 23 Monsters 24 Vnlearned persons ⧠Liues of the Popes 1. Atheists LEo the tenth who hearing Cardinall Bembo speaking to a point concerning The ioyfull message of our Lord answered most dissolutely It is well knowen to the world through all ages in how great stead that fable of Christ hath profited vs and our associates This man neither beleeued heauen nor hell after our departure out of this life And such were Alexander the tenth Siluester the second Paul the third Benedict the nineteenth Iohn the thirteenth Clement the seuenth Gregory the seuenth 2. Arrians Anastasius the eleuenth Liberius and Felix 3. Magitians and Coniurers ALexander the sixth this man made a league with the diuell vpon promise to procure him the Papacie Paul the 3. obtained the garland in Astrology and in that kind of speculatiō which is assisted by the ministery of diuels He altogether kept familiar acquaintance with Negromancers such like notable impostures and starre-gazers to learne the faults of himselfe and his children Siluester the second as well seene in these diabolical Arts as his Predecessors gaue himselfe wholly to the diuell vpon condition to aduance him to the Papacie Benedict the ninth obtained the same sea by charms spels inchantments Before his instalment in company of his associates in woods and remote places he was accustomed to inuoke euill spirits and by Negromantike toyes to worke women to his filthy lust Iohn the thirteenth at dice would call vpon the diuell and in merriment carouse a cup of wine to his diuelship Of Clement the seuenth we read that he was a Geomantique and Simonianist Gregory the seuenth laboured the Papacie by the same Arts. He was the first that euer presumed to excommunicate an Emperour And that was Henry the fourth vnto the end of whose legend if you please you may with pleasure and to good purpose add these true and vncontrolable records With the forme of his Outlary vpon earth we will not trouble you but with his impudent presumption in banishing his soule from heauen a place wherein I feare such persons haue smallest interest ad perpetuam rei memoriam I will not faile to informe you Then thus Agite igitur Apostolorum sanctissimi Principes quod dixi vestra authoritate interposita confirmate vt omnes nunc demū intelligāt si potestis in caelo ligare soluere in terra quoque imperia regna principatus quicquid habere mortales possunt auferre dare vos posse Ediscant nunc Reges huius exemplo omnes seculi principes quid in coelo possitis quantique apud Deum sitis ac deinceps timeant sanctae Ecclesiae mandata contemnere Hoc autem iudicium cito in Henricum exercete vt intelligant omnes iniquitatis silium non fortuito sed vestra opera è regno cadere Hoc tamen à vobis optauerim vt paenitentia ductus in die iudicij vestro rogatu gratiam à Domino consequatur Actum Romae Nonis Martij indictione tertia Courage then ye most chosen Princes of the Apostles And what I haue thundered by the deputation of your authorities ratifie I beseech you that now at last all people may vnderstand that as ye are of power in heauen to binde and to loose so likewise that you are of no lesse potencie on earth to giue and to take Empires Kingdomes and Honors with whatsoeuer the inhabitants of this world may peculiarly challenge By the example of this man let Kings and Princes of the earth now learn what are your prerogatiues in heauen what your credits with God that henceforth they may feare to contempe the awards of Holy Church Execute I beseech you this sentence with speede vpon Henry that all the world may perceiue that this sonne of iniquity was disinthronized by your operation and not by destinie Yet thus much I request of your clemencies that after repentance in the day of iudgement he may obtaine pardon of our Lord at your intercession Giuen at Rome the Nones of March the third indiction to the rarenesse and nouelty of which president to auoid exception and to confound such quarrelsome spirits let them heare what the wisedome of that vpright Bishop Frisingensis a man for discent zeale and learning most eminent reporteth and the rather for that he was almost an eie-witnesse vnto those times Lego relego saith he Romanorum regum Imperatorum gesta nusquam inuenio quemquam eorum ante hunc a Romano Pontifice Excommunicatum vel regno priuatum I read and read againe the Chronicles of the Roman kings and Emperors and in no age can find that euer a Romane Bishop excommunicated or depriued any one of them from his kingdome before this man meaning Hildebrand And again in his first book of the gests of Frederick Gregorius septimus saith hee qui tunc vrbis Romae Pontificatum tenebat eundem Imperatorem tanquam a suis destitutum anathematis gladio feriendum decernit Cuius rei nouitate eò vehementius indignatione motum suscepit Imperium quò nunquam ante haec tempora huiusmodi sententiam in Principem Romanorum promulgatam cognouerat Gregory the seauenth saith he at that time Pope of Rome resolued to smite with the sword of Excommunication the foresaid Emperor as forsaken of his people At the nouelty whereof the Empire was so much the rather mooued with indignation for that before those times it neuer had known such a sentence to haue been
Pope and sate in Peters Chayre two yeeres and sixe moneths During her Popedome she was gotten with child by a familiar friend her Chapleine and in a solemne Procession betweene the Colosse and Saint Clements Church shee fell in trauaile and in the middest of the City in the streetes and before all the people she brought foorth a Sonne and through paine died in the place Certainlie it can not bee doubted but that God suffered this whore to bee Pope to represent in plaine termes that Babylonian creature spoken of in the 17. of the Apocalips to the end that of her selfe and her inchantments the Elect might beware 16. Bawdes PAul the third surrendred his sister Iulia Fernese vnto Alexander the sixth to be defloured Sixtus the fourth by the testimony of Agrippa amongst the moderne Pandors was the most eminent As the man who excelled all other builders in the edifying of that most stately brothel-house which he dedicated to both sexes 17. Bastards MArtin the eleuenth by a common woman was the sonne of a Negromantique Priest So was Iohn the eleuenth begotten by Pope Lando Item Iohn the twelfth begotten by Sergius the third vpon Marozia Item Iohn the fourteenth then sonne of Iohn the twelfth Item Iohn the sixteenth the sonne of Leo a Priest Item Benedict the eighth the sonne of Bishop Gregorie Item Iohn the seuenteenth another sonne of the same Gregory Item Siluester the third the sonne of the Arch-priest Lawrance Item Adrian the fourth the sonne of Monk Robert Item Eugenius the fourth the sonne of Gregory the twelfth Pope Item Clement the seuenth the son of Leo the tenth Item Gregory the ninth the sonne of Innocent the third Item Adrian the fifth the son of Innocent the fourth Item Gregory the eleuenth the sonne of Clement the sixth 18. Drunkards LEo the tenth and Nicholas the fifth were famous for the loue of their liquor 19. Couetous persons THeodore of Niem did long agoe delineat the Auarice of the Romane Bishops For hee compared the Popes Exchequer to the Ocean whereunto all Riuers paid tribute and yet was it neuer satisfied Histories do affirme that at one gleaning the Popes had out of France ninety hundred thousand crownes Whereupon Lewes the ninth complained that his Kingdome was miserably exhausted by these Harpies The wealthy Kingdome of England to be miserably impouerished partly by tithes partly by procurations of the Apostolique Legats partly by donatiues and partly by the sale of Benefices Mathew Paris in his time did much complaine In those daies sayeth hee Pope Gregory either so permitting or procuring the insatiable auarice of the Romane Clergy grew to be so feruent that without any sparke of modesty confounding all law and equity as a common and brasen-faced-Harlot set all to sale to all sorts of persons and reputed Vsury as a trifle and Simony as a matter of no inconuenience Germany was pillaged after the same fashion By warre and cunning the Pope wrested from the Emperour his lawfull Patrimonies some after some throughout Italy By harlots they make also rich purchases they put out their mony to Interest and account no gaine base or vnlawfull 20. Church-robbers BOniface the seuenth when he saw that it was no longer safe for him to reside at Rome priuily and feloniously he purloyned certaine rich tresurers out of the Church of Saint Peter and fled to Constantinople Clement the seuenth was accused for periurie sacriledge and impoysoning c. 21. Simonianists FRom Gregory the ninth Caesar obtained his absolution for the price of one hundred thousand ounces of gold Benedict the ninth being strucken with feare for one thousand and fiue hundred pounds solde the Papacie to his Chapman Iohn Gratian afterward called Gregory the sixth Hereupon Iohn the Monk complained that Rome was founded by theeues and so continued vntill this day to liue by spoiles And Alan Chartierius saith you haue made the diuine sanctuary a banke of Exchange Alike in conscience were Leo the tenth Innocent the eighth Siluester the third Gregory the sixth Gregorie the twelfth Iohn the eighteenth c. So that Bernhard also complained That the Holy offices of the Church were become meerely questuarie 22. Ambitious persons IOhn the foure and twentieth by ambition onely affected the Papacie For by the testimony of Stella when he liued at Bononia he carried himselfe more like a Lord then a Legat He was gouernour of a great Armie and vnto him the fathers were glad to resort to elect a new Pope he gaue out many vnder hand-threats that vnlesse they would present one to the Papacie whō without exception himselfe should very well like of he should not preuaile Whereupon many were nominated of whom he meant neuer to approue one Whereupon the Fathers beseeched him to name the man whom he best fancied Then giue me Peters cloake quoth he and I will bestow it on him that shall be Pope Which being done he cast the cloake vpon his owne shoulders saying Behold your Pope Which stratagem though it displeased the Fathers yet they thought it fitter to be silent then to aggrauate displeasure Iohn the three twentith was a man most ambitious writing vnto the Greekes That hee onely was head of the Church and Christ his Vicar Vnto whom the Grecians re-answered in as many words We constantly acknowledge thy high authority ouer thy subiects thy high pride we can not indure thy auarice wee are not able to satisfie The diuell be with thee the Lord is with vs. So Iohn the two and twenteth after a long vacation being made Cardinall by the Councel of Naples being intrusted with the election elected himselfe which by the Canons he could not doe So Boniface the third that ambitious beast in the midst of a tumultuous number yet many gainesaying it was heaued into the Papacy confirmed worshipped and saluted Lord and Prince of all Bishops by that adulterous Emperor parricide and tyrant Phocas Afterward by ardent importunity or rather by his immoderate bribery he obtained that Rome should be called the Head of all the christian Churches vppon these idle reasons forsooth That the Empire first took his origen from Rome and so Peter gaue vnto his successors of Rome the Keies c. Read the history of Phocas and this Boniface to be further satisfied of their mutuall knaueries Let Paschal the eleuenth ranke with these fellowes For when William procurator and Clarke to king Henry speaking in his masters right amongst other reasons constantly affirmed That the King had rather loose his kingdome then the Inuestiture of Prelats the Pope made this proud reply If as thou saiest thy master will not suffer the Ecclesiasticall presentations to bee alienated from him for the losse of his kingdome then take thou notice precisely I speake it before God that neither I without the price of his head will suffer him to inioy them quietly Clement the sixt answered the Embassadors of Lewes the Emperor as arrogantly That he would neuer pardon his Maiesty before he had