preached and taught the hipocriticall life of moÌ„kes Also in his time Anno. 542. there was a terrible earthquake ouer all the world as Vspergensis sayth 28. Pelagius PElagius a Romaine aspired to the pontificall dignitie in that time when the tyrant Totila called Gods scourge to the great comfort of the Goathes being their king inuaded Italy as Procopius wryteth This Pelagius to please Totila and his companie made a publique decree that it was nedeful to haue the authoritie of the prince and consent of the people in creation of byshops He in the middest of troubles of that time hauing more regarde to aduaunce the Popedome then Christianitie decreed that the Clergie should momble euery daye seuentimes the canonicall howers Abbots should be chosen by order one magistrate should be sufficient to punishe an hereticke that in Lent priestes might say masse at nine of the clocke and that euery Prouince should contayne twelue or tenne cities at the least This man first auouched that the premacie of the churche of Rome was fette from Christe himselfe and not from men nor geneâ—all councels He buried together the bones of the firste Martyr Stephen and S. Laurences carkasse He allowed solemnities in remeÌ„braunce of the dead and for loue of gaynes he mingled them with the masse And because he sometime him selfe was accused in a libell that he had geuen occasion why Vigilius his predecessour was troubled and depriued therfore he prouided that such libelles should not be harde But it is reported that he purged him selfe from the infamy of that libell by takinge an oathe and kissing the crosse He liued in the extreame tyme when Rome was besieged died a confessour Anno. 566. About the yeare of our Lorde 557. Totila king of Gothes besieged Rome whiche being miserably oppressed with extreame famine was compelled to yelde it self to the slauery of the saluage people vnder whiche it continued tenne yeares In the time of this Pope a Pestilence raigned ouer all Italy beginning in Liguria so contagiously that the contreye was almoste destroyed of the inhabitours thereby Vrspergensis 29. Iohn the third IOhn the thirde a Romaine was an especiall friende to Narsetes the Eunuche gouernour of Italy when the Gothes were ouercome for he recouered his fauour towarde Rome when it was in displeasure and obtayned that hee was made consull for then the bishop had almoste all the swaâ—e in Rome This man decreed contrary to his predecessour that none ought to be called chiefe prieste or vniuersall bishop Distinctione 99. Nullus Furthermore taking away from the bishops chauncelours the laying on of handes graunted it only to bishops as Isidorus writeth Afterwarde turning his minde and taking delight in building he finished Philip and Iacobs churche whiche Vigilius had begonne and restored the Sainctes tombes in the citie Finally being a very olde maÌ„ taking great thought vpon occasion of straunge tempestes he died at Rome Anno 577. In his time the Armenians became Christians 30. Benedict the first BEnedict the first a Romain was bishop when the Lombarde spoyled Italy And wâ—s a good bishop because he did nothing worthy memorie as Barnus and Functius write of him But yet whiche is to be noted for the worthinesse of the dede he forbad that meÌ„ should treade on crosses made of marble stone or woode And when there was great dearth in Rome he or at the least wise Tiberius Augustuâ— in his steade brought corne out of Egypt to succour them withall He died for sorowe to se so many miseries in the citie Anno. 582. 31. Pelagius the second PElagius the seconde while the citie was besieged without the Princes coÌ„maundement coÌ„trary to the custome was made bishop Therefore to pacifie the Emperoure he sent one Gregory a monke to Constantinople afterwarde he made the cloyster of Hermes a martyr and builded vp S. Laurence pallaice from the foundacion He renewed the Canon for saying the howers and commaunded Subdeacons either to forsake their wiues or els their ecclesiasticall functions and appointed nyne prefaces to be song in the masse before the Canon Pestis inguinaria arising of great tempestes and the contagiousnes of the aire tooke awaye this bishop among many other This pestilence was cause of many supersticions for then they firste began to thinke that Gods wrath was to be pleased and the Letany of seuen partes was made by Gregorie The occasion hereof saith Vspergensis was that a great part of Italy was drowned with great flouddes 32. Gregorie the great GRegorie the great a Romaine was made byshop being before but a Monke and a Deacon He was the best maÌ„ of all these Romaine Patriarkes for learning and good life He succeded Pelagius vnwillingly refusing it and in the ende coÌ„pelled thereunto he though otherwyse he was learned and Godly yet because he was a Monke burthened the churche and religion of God aboue all other with more ceremonies then had the Iewes He turned his parentes houses into Monasteries and dedicated the firste of them to S Andrewe the Apostle He made Scholes of quiresters and made certaine songes for the church according to Ambrose maner which we call Anthemes He appointed one to be chaunter for the daye another for the night He gathered together the lawes of the holy fathers He did deuise the order of masses linked the Cannons therof together he caused the masses to be begonne with peces of Psalmes He commaunded to saye Kyriaeleison nine tymes and to chaunt Alleluia after the Graduall hee ioyned the same Alleluia for Easter tyme to the Offertories Hee added three peticions to the Cannons of the masse That is Dies nostros in tua pace c. He coÌ„maunded that the Lordes prayer should be either song or sayde with a loude voyce ouer the communion bread He commauned that masse shoulde be saide ouer the dead carkases of sainctes And added to the Canonicall howers Deus in adiutorium with Gloria patri He deuised Letanies and processions deuided theÌ„ into these seuen orders Clarkes Monkes Nonnes Boyes Laymen Widowes and maried wyues He suffered the Image of the blessed virgin Mary to be caried about withall But not to be worshipped Furthermore this Gregorie as they shamefully imagine compelled an Angeli to put vp his terrible swerde into his sheathe By his indulgences he established certaine stacioâ—s and pilgrimages vnto Images in the citie according to the peoples deuocion He solemnized the feast of the Purification of our Lady with wex candels whereof it is called Candelmas daye and appointed the solemnitie of Palme Sondaye to be kept with processions He added iiii dayes to Lent faste and hallowed the beginning thereof with Ashwednisdaye He forbad those that should faste to eate fleshe milke butter chese or egges because they seme to beare a taste of fleshe and suffered them only to eate fishe excepting also the greater sorte of fishes whereof Mantuan sayth Fastor 2. Yet was it not against the lawe to fede on fishes small For Gregorie forbad the great but time
straight charge that the priestes should be perfitte in the Popes decrees He sent these bishops Germanus into Englande Palladus into Scotlande and Patricke with a certaine Segetian into Irelande to roote out the Pelagian heresie He died Anno. 435. being put in among the number of confessours 12 Sixtus the thirde SIxtus the thirde a Romaine called the enricher of churches he builded the churche of S. Mary the greater after a miracle of snowe and enriched it with great giftes and garnished the pallayces with golde At the persuasion of a woman called Eudoxia he did hallowe Peters chaynes and appointed a yearely feaste daye in honour of them to be kept at Midsommer He died a confessour Anno. 440. and was buried in the citie About the yeare of our Lorde 456. Genesericus came out of Aphrica into Italy with a great armye against Rome and coÌ„ming thether he finding the citie empty inuaded it And for the space of xiiii dayes continually caried out the spoyle of it and toke away many prysoners 13 Leo the first LEo the first a Thuscane borne added to the masse these wordes to name it Sanctum sacrificium ImmaculataÌ„ hostiam hanc oblationem whiche cannot be without blaspheming God haynously â–ª He like an Idolatour builded a pallayce in the honour of Cornelius a byshop and appointed clarkes to kepe the Apostles sepulchres He decreed that men should worship the images of the dead allowed the sacrifice of the masse he died a confessour Anno. 462. 14 Hilarius HIlarius borne in Sardinia a man daily exercised in building and beautifying of churches decked the post of Christe his crosse with golde and precious stones He made decrees by synodes proclayming them to be kept through the whole worlde He made a lawe that euery minister should be put from his calling whiche maried either a widowe or deuorced woman and not a mayde He died a confessour Anno. 469. In his time Mamertus Claudius bishop of Vienna made the Letanies or procession to be saide thrise a weke whereof Mantuan sayth Fast. 4. By Rodanus there standes a towne Vienna men it name Sorenoied while one Mamertus was bishop of the same And suffred many sturdy stormes for oft with firy flake Of thonderclap it burnt while the treÌ„bling soyle did shake The grounde did gape as torne in twayne whereby the daungerous dell VVith yawning mouth stoode open downe to glowing goulphe of hell Among the dungeons depe of Ioue and rauening wolues vvithall VVere driuen to madnes through the haggs of hell that vp did crall The fraÌ„ticke neat begaÌ„ to murther meÌ„ in field tovvne VVherevvith mens hartes amazed vvere that thus the Lord should frovvne And so coÌ„straind they asked aide and succour froÌ„ aboue And vvith their humble prayers sought Gods mercy for to moue And herevppon the Letanye at first deuised vvas And aftervvard it did from thens to other people passe In the time of this Pope about the yeare of Christ 476. Odoacer with an army of HerulaÌ„s Turcihugians came from Panonia and wanne Rome and all Italye and raigned there xiiii yeres About this time Rome was so terriblie shaken wyth earthquakes that manye houses fell downe wythall 15. Simplicius SImplicius a Tiburtinian borne did dedicate Pallaces and deuided the towne into fiue parts for the priestes to serue and appointed the sacrificing priestes their weekes hee shewed that the Church of Rome was the chiefe Church of all He vsurped auctoritie vppon the people of Rauenna like a tyraunte and commaunded that none of the Clergy should acknowledge that he held any Ecclesiasticall benefice of a lay maÌ„ And this maÌ„ dyed a confessor Anno. 484. 16. Foelix the third FOElix the thirde a Romaine the sonne of one Foelix a priest decreed that onelye a bishoppe and no priuate priestes should dedicate the Churches and allowed a feast for the dedication of them Hee hallowed Agapetus hys Pallaice He decreed that the Clergye being accused of anye matter should haue dayes graunted to returne theyr aunswere and dyed in peace a confessor Anno. 494. 17. Gelasius GElasius an Aphrican sonne to Valerius a bishop burned the bookes of the Manichies hee made hymmes prefaces â–ª graduals collects and prayers hee seueâ—ed the Apocrypha from Canonicall Scripture and allowed maryed wydowers after they had maryed their seconde wyfe to be priestes if they toke his dispensation He encreased y Clergye he dedicated Pallaices and decreed that priestes orders should bee geuen foure times in the yeare he added to the Masse the conclusions of the prayers Et te igitur at lengthe auouched that he his successors should be iudged by no bodye And dyed a confessor Anno. 497. 18. Anastasius the second ANastasius the seconde a Romaine leaned to the Eutichians and Nestorians he did coÌ„municate wyth heretikes he excommunicated the Emperour And in the yere of our Lorde 499. on the stoole of easemente his bowels issued out of his bellye He dyed a confessor so writeth Volaterranus 19 Symmachus SYmmachus borne in Sardinia was chosen bishop with much dissention among the Clergye He ordayned that virgins which had once professed chastitye shoulde neuer marrye afterwarde and that none of the Clergye shoulde keepe in house wyth anye woman but such a one as were his kinswoman He builded many Pallacies euen out of the ground He brought the masse into fashion hee commaunded to singe Gloria in excelsis vppon the byrth dayes of saincts And if any maÌ„ may trust Gregoryes Dialogues he coÌ„mitted to Purgatorye the stubborne soule of one Paschasius a deacon after his death And yet this man dyed a confessour Anno. 514. Vspergensis sayth that wheÌ„ this Pope was chosen one Laurence was also chosen by some wherevppon manye slaughters both of the people Clergye were made in Rome during the space of iii. yeres but Symachus preuailed 20. Hormisda HOrmisda borne in Campania did set quietnes among the Clergie he appointed that the Psalmes should be songe by course enterchaungeable He commaunded that the decrees of counsels should be kept and bestowed many thinges to y furniture of churches he lefte a wedge of syluer waying a thousande fourty poundes in saint Peters churche and commauÌ„ded that no aultar should be builded without the consent of the byshop He added ceremonies to publique mariages and excommunicated Anastasius the Emperous because he sayde that it was an office dewe only to the Emperoure to commaunde and not to be at a byshops commaundement suche then was the courage of the spirite of Antichriste Iustinus the Emperoure as Isiodorus wryteth made this Hormisda a Patriarch of Rome being before but an Archebishop who died a confessour Anno. 523. From the time of Syluester the Romaine prelates were Archebishops for the space of twoo hundreth yeares that is from the yeare 320. vntill this yeare 520. at what tyme they were first made Patriarkes by the Emperour Iustinus I declare this more diligently whereby the attentiue reader may knowe by what degrees the Romain bishops crept vp to
Spoke v. Simon Tod one Nicolas VValker ij VVilliam Vause one Robart Dauison vj. Peter Boughe had many and so other had others In the Cathedrall Church at Chichester Iohn Champion Prebendary of VValtam had ij harlots VVilliā Crosse had one vvyfe Thomas Parker ij harlots Richard Busteld one of vvhō he begat a child Barthelmevv Cokisley i. Robart hunt had diuers Tho. Goffe had ij being other mens vvyues Iohn Hill xiij harlots Robart Moore had many Roger Barham many Iohn Bedfild many vvith others amōg that vvhich the forsaid Roger Barham and Iohn Champion vvere gilty of sinne against nature These vvere taken out of the foresaid booke Behold vvhat monsters Popery hath nourished throughout England in abbeyes and colleges Are not these foule birdes most iustlye banished vvith their most filthye Pope the Romishe Idoll In all other places as vvell in congregations as colleges the like thinges are committed and done the vvhich vvere to longe or rather to shameful throughly to declare for they gate vnto them in most places through this Popishe Religion either the French pockes or the Spanishe decease And there vvere in Englande more then xl Abbeyes of diuers kindes of mōkes beside the most vvicked nests of the begging fryers of the vvhich there vvere almost tvvo hundreth Vnto vvhom these verses do aptlye agree It is not sure a misse that monkes should fathers termed bee Sith such swarmes of their bastard brats in euery place they see There is yet a thirde matter vvhich forced mee herevnto and hauing seene and heard these thinges vehemently moued me to vvrite This is the precepte of Christe in the xviij Chapter of the Reuelation of S. Iohn For a voyce came from heauen from the right hand of the father and the euerlasting throne of Christe vvith a great voyce sounded in our eares saying Go from her my people lest ye be made partakers of her vvickednes and ye receiue part of her punishment For her sinnes are gone vp to heauen and God hath remembred her vvickednes And then commaundemēt follovveth vvhich vvas giuen against the beast vvith seuen heades Revvard her euen as she hath revvarded you and giue her double according to her vvorks and poure in double to her in the same cup vvhich she filled vnto you And forasmuch as she glorified her selfe and liued vvantonly so much poure you into her of punishment and sorrovve This is the vvorde of the Lorde declared vnto vs as vvell here as in the fiftye Chap. of Ieremy That this serpent might perish all his doinges brought to nought Yet for al this I do vvel remēber the sayings of S. Paule that al Princes ought to be honoured although they be vvicked and vnprofitable for a common vvealth because they be placed there of God neither to speake euill of them beinge but vvotmes dust and ashes Neither dare I murmur against the prouidence of God vvhich is contrary to his holy vvorde Therefore from the bottome of my hart I beseech our Lorde and Redeemer Iesus Christe that he vvould haue mercye vppon all Kinges Princes and Nations and so prouide that all nations maye be so gouerned as is most tending to his glory For vvhose reueng he hath most stoutly fortifyed mee vp in this my old age Not studying to derogate or take avvaye the honour from anye Christian Kinge but onely to inuey against the Romishe beast the Synagog of Sathan and most vvicked Antichrist vvith the vvritings and testimonye of most learned men If I shal haue said any thing sharper then thou didst loke for most gentle Reader cōsider I pray you the hudge tirāny of this most vvicked Viper of the vvorld vvhose destruction accordinge to Gods promises is at hande Great Babilon shall fall vvhich hath seduced many Nations and shall be destroyed the vvhole vvorlde marueylinge thereat If the vehemencye of my stile shall offende thee beholde the maruelous force of the holye ghoste in the Prophete Dauid and most holy king vvho in the Lordes cause most stoutlye saide I haue hated the congregation of the vvicked Psal. 25. He promiseth also aftervvarde by his Prophetes that he vvoulde destroye the brothell houses and vvicked places Ezechi 16. I vvill shevve fayth the Lord vnto all Nations thy nakednes and to al kingdomes thy shame Nahum 3. Thy dishonour and filthines shall be opened and thy reproche shall be seene I vvill be reuenged and none shall resiste mee Esay ▪ 47. VVoe be vnto those Kinges as manye as haue vvorshipped the beast or haue ayded her or haue receiued helpe of her or haue committed fornication vvith her as many as haue serued her and haue ioyned handes against the Lambe and vvaged battell for her cause because their names are not vvritten in the booke of lyfe from the beginninge of the vvorlde And the Lambe shal ouercome them at the last like a Lorde of Lordes and kinge of kinges and they shall go together vvith the beast to destruction and vtter dampnation Apocalips 17. GOD therefore giue in the hartes of Christians vvhom the x. hornes do shadovve that they maye faithfully execute this his vvill and iudgement that they maye make her desolate and leaue her naked that they maye eate her fleshe and burne her in fire that is let her abide her last punishment for the sheding of the innocent bloud of so manye faithfull Christians Be it done Be it done Amen To the Reader T. R. GENTLEMAN THe worthy wittes of elder yeares haue traueld sea and land To seeke and search the wondrous works of naturs skilful hand And mens delight hath euer bin most vgly things to vewe To looke on creatures out of kinde as monsters olde and newe If therefore thou as other men my friend affected bee And dost desire vgly things and monsters strange to see Then take the payne to seeke and searche within this little booke And here thou shalt vpon so strang a mongrell monster looke As neuer nature bread on earth whose shape is in this wyse As I shall partly portrature the same before thine eyes It is a little beast that hath ten hornes seuen heads crownets seuē Who w t his taile frō clouds to clouds swepes down the stars of heauē Upon whose backe in princely pompe and glistring gold araye And proudly pranckt in precious pearles and clad in purple gaye The stately strompet sittes that is the whore of Babilon And in her hand a golden cuppe of fornication Wherwith the world she poysond hath which dronken with her wine Hath falne downe flat vnto the beast as to a god deuine Which forced kings to leaue their crownes Keiser stoupe for awe Whyle on his royall necke the beast hath sayd his filthy pawe Who hath the mighty monarkes made to holde his stirrope lowe And caused them on humble knees to come to kisse his toe Who forced great estates to stand barefooted in the streate And proudly put the crowne on head of princes with his feete And made the sonne and subiect both against their king
yeare after our redemptiō Peter went not to Rome but cōtinued about Hierusalē sauing once that hee went to Samaria for a season till the conuersion of Paule as appeareth by all the discours of the Actes of the Apostles till ye come to the ninth chapter thereof whiche because it is easie there to finde tedious to be set downe at large and nothing doubted of I leaue it to the diligence of the reader who shall plainely perceaue that Peter was still in Iudea to the conuersion of Paule which was in the seconde yeare after the death of Christe the yeare of thincarnatiō 35. for Niceph. saith that he preached 35. yeares lib. 2. cap. 34. and he died in the last yeare of Nero being the 70. yeare of thincarnacion from whiche take 35. and the remayne is as muche so that in the 35. yeare of Christe Paule was conuerted ¶ Peter not at Rome from the yeare of the incarnation 35. to the yeare 38. ANno Domini 37. Pilate as Eusebius lib. 2. cap. 2. and Vspergensis testifie wrote his letter to Tiberius concerning Christe his doctrine diuine miracles death resurrection whereupon the Emperour commaunded that Christe should be placed among the Gods of Rome If Peter nowe had bene bishop at Rome or a yeare before this had not bene so straunge newes to the Emperour Neither had Pilates letter preuayled so muche with the Emperour touching Christ as the doctrine and miracles whiche Peter would for confirming of the faithe haue done in the name of Iesus The yeare folowing being the 38. was the thirde yeare from the conuersion of Paule in whiche yeare Paule returned to Hierusalē founde Peter there as is testified in the first to the Galathians which comming of Paule is specefied in the ninth of the Actes ¶ From the yeare 38. to the yeare 46. AFter Paule had bene a whyle in Hierusalem he was sent awaye to Tarsus And at that time S. Luke sayth that the churche had peace throughout all Iudea Galilye and Samaria And that Peter did walke ouer all those coūtreies where they proceaded in the feare of God the beleuing multiplied Howe many yeares Peter spent in these countreies it is not euident but immediatly from thence he did ascende to Lydda and ther healed Aeneas who had bene lame eight yeares the fame of whiche miracle drew thether all the inhabitours of Lydda and Sarona who by Peters preaching were all conuerted to the lorde These thinges do argue that Peter made some abode in Lydda also Immediatly from thence he went to Ioppa where he reuiued Tabitha and taried at Ioppa with Simon the Tanner a long season From thence he went forthwith to Cornelius the Centurion at Cesarea where he preached and baptized those that were conuerted and there also he was entreated to tary for a time From thence he came to Hierusalem where he continued till he being imprisoned by Herode was deliuered by Gods Angell and being set at libertie shewed him selfe secretly to the congregacion at the house of Mary and then conueyed hym selfe awaye And thys was done as appeareth by Luke the same yeare that Herode or Agrippa hauing raigned 7. yeares died afterwarde at Cesarea stricken by Gods Angell who being as Iosephus saith released out of pryson and made king there by Caligula raigned in all seuen yeares Caligula would haue restored this Agrippa to his libertie as sone as he him self came to the Empier euen the same daye that the solemnitie was kept for the buriall of his predecessour Tiberius But saith Iosephus Antonia the wyfe of Caligula gaue him counsell that he should noe do so but pause a while longer not because she was loth that Agrippa should be at libertie but because the Emperour by deliuering of him so spedely should be thought that he did it in despite of Tiberius who had committed him to pryson and therefore it was deferred for a season at length he was deliuered then the next yeare Agrippa craued leaue of Caligula to go into Iudaea to his kingdom whiche was graunted him So that by this computation it may easely appeare that whereas Agrippa as Ioseph sayth died in the seuenth yeare of his raigne this seuenth yeare doth arise to the fourth yeare of Claudius who did next succede Caligula Thus it is apparent that Herode or Agrippa as Ioseph calleth him died in the 46. yeare of the incarnation and that the same yeare Peter was prisoner at Hierusalem as is saide before and not byshop at Rome Another reason to proue that it should be this yere may be this S. Luke in the xii chapter of the Actes saith that this Herode had conceiued displeasure against the Tirians and Sidonians whiche was the cause that after the same Easter that Peter was imprisoned he went downe from Hierusalem to Caesarea whether the Tirians and Sidonians came vnto him and by the intercession of Blastus the kinges chamberlaine they sued for peace at his hande because saith Luke in the 20. verse of the 12. chapter of the Actes their contrey was nourished by the kinges contrey signifiyng that the prouision of king Agrippa ayded their necessitie in the time of the famine being then This dearth famin is that wherof Agabus the prophet did prophecy at Antioch which saith Luke Actes the xi came to passe in the raigne of Claudius and as other authours haue noted it was in the fourth yere of Claudius so saith Vsper gensis Thus we se that yet to this fourth yere of Claudius by whiche time at the vttermost Peter should not only be at Rome but begin his regiment ouer the churche he is yet at Hierusalem which is 1600. miles from Rome But because that Luke saith after that he was deliuered by the Angell out of pryson and after that he had signified his deliuery to Mary he conuayed him selfe away from thence I will procede to examine whether he went not now from Hierusalem to Rome and therfore go to the twoo yeares that ensued next ¶ Anno 48 and 49. ANno domini 49. Peter was at Hierusalem for this yeare the counsell was held at Hierusalem mencioned in the xv of the Actes At whiche synode Peter was present and made an oration as is shewed in the vii verse of the said chapter But nowe it remaineth to be proued that this Synode was at this tyme for proofe hereof Saint Paule speaking of his comming to this counsell in the seconde chapiter to the Galathians saythe Then after 14. yeares I came agayne vp to Hierusalem and Barnabas with me c. by the reste that foloweth it is euident that Paule signified his comming to this counsell and not any other time of his repairing to Hierusalem and so also doth S. Hierome vnderstande it which being xiiii yeares after the conuersion of Paule falleth out to be in the yeare of our Lord 49. the seuenth yere of the raigne of Claudius as may appeare by the former table And yet is Peter
thincarnation 60. Paule as is sayde was prisoner at Rome who for the tyme of his abode there so planted the Gospell that at his departing from thence he left great fruite therof and suche in deede as if Peter had succeded Paule within two thre or foure yeres and there supplied the roume of a byshop Cornelius Tacitus speaking of the estate of the Christians in Rome about the yeare 67. being but seuen yeares after Paules departure should not haue had cause so soone to saye as he doth y by that tyme the Christian Religion was repressed For Vspergensis saith that in the 67. yere Nero did set Rome on fier of the whiche Cornelius Tacitus writing lib. 15. Augustae historiae sayth Ergo abolēdo rumori Nero subdidit reos c. Therfore Nero to stop the rumour of his setting the citie on fier suborned giltie persons and executed with strange punishment those whome the vulgar people detesting for their wickednes doth call Christiās That mischeuous superstition being repressed till nowe brake out againe c. Therfore first they were taken that confessed it afterward by their accusatiō an houge multitude not so much for that they were gilty of fyreing the citie as for hatred are condemned and were put to death with great despite some encased in the skinnes of wylde beastes that they might bee torne in peces with dogges some crucified some were burned to giue light in the night time c. These are the woordes of Tacitus notwithstanding as it appeareth he was a blasphemer of the name of Christe By these woordes of his it appeareth that nowe Christianitie began to reuiue and that nowe it was quenched which argueth plaine that from the former time of Paules departure til this time Peter had not supplied in Rome the place of a preaching pastour and diligēt bishop And seing this broyle against the Christians began now to be so hotte not in al places but especially in Rome howe could Peter sit quietly in this citie as bishop thereof and not be fyred out with his flocke but they saye all that he lyued after this tyme about three yeares for this was done in the eleuenth yeare of Nero who raigned almoste xiiii yeares and Peter was martyred in the last yeare of Nero as they saye all If this reuiuing of the Gospel was by Peters meanes why would Nero spare him being the head if Peter escaped by flying then he shewed him selfe to be an hierling and no true shepeherde that forsaketh his flocke when he seeth the wolfe come ¶ From the yeare 67. to the 70. of thincarnation Nowe are we come to the latter tyme of Nero in which yeres if Peter were not bishop of Rome then is it certaine that he was not bishop there at all But to come to the purpose Naucler Volu 2. generat 2. and the moste writers as Eusebius lib. 2 cap. 25 Nicephorus li. 2. cap. 34. Sabellicus Ennead 7. li. 2. agree that Paule died in the yeare of our Lorde 70. the 37. yeare after the death of Christe But it may sone appeare that Peter was not then byshop at Paules last comming to Rome for after Paule was come thether he sent for Timothie to come vnto hym shewing that he had nede of him to come to hym because he was nowe desolate and had none with hym Demas had forsaken hym nowe and embraced the worlde c. so that if this Epistle were not written at the firste imprisonment of Paule but at this latter time then was not Peter yet estalled in his Diocese for if he had bene in Rome in his pontificall dignitie I thinke Paule should not haue bene dryuen to sende to Ephesus 1000. miles frō Rome for Timothie to bryng Marke to come to minister to him In the ende of this secōd Epistle to Timothie Paule sendeth commendations from diuers but none from Peter There are xiiii Epistles whereof Paule and Seneca beare the name the one wryting to the other at this later imprysonnement and yet among them all nothing is saide of Peter and yet by occasion he might easely haue bene mencioned in them if he had bene then in Rome But if by this time Peter were not yet Pope of Rome there is no tyme left for him to come to enioye it during the raigne of Nero till whose death this present persecutiō of the church endured with all crueltie ¶ The death of Peter TOuching the death of Peter all wryters do not agree as it is sufficiently declared in the Actes and monumentes fol. 56. in these wordes They that folow the common opinion and the Popes decrees saye that bothe Peter and Paule suffred both in one daye and one yeare whiche opinion semeth to be taken out of Dionisius byshop of Corinthe Hierome in his booke De viris illustr affirmeth that they suffered both in one daye but hee expresseth not the yeare so doth Isiodorus and Eusebius Prudentius in his Peristephano noteth that they both were put to death vpon the same daye but not in the same yeare saythe that Paule folowed Peter a yeare after Abdias recordeth that Paule suffered twoo yeares after Peter Moreouer if it be true whiche Abdias sayth that after the crucifying of Peter Paule remayned in his free custody at Rome mencioned in the 28. of the Actes of the Apostles whiche was as S. Hierome witnesseth in the thirde or fourth yeare of Nero then must it be tenne yeares betwixt the martyrdome of Peter and of Paule for as muche as it is by all wryters confessed that Paule suffered in the xiiii yeare which was the last yeare of Nero. Vspergensis saithe that they were both executed in one yeare but he noteth not that they died in one daye Sabellicus sayth both in one yeare one daye Some say as Ambrose that they died together both in one place But Dionysius saythe otherwyse that the one bad thother farewel when they were parted asonder goyng to death Againe the moste writers saye that Nero was the cause therof But Linus saith Agrippa cōmaunded that Peter should be slayne because that by his persuasiō foure of the concubines of Agrippa refused to liue any longer in suche vnchast life with the king therefore for anger he cōmaunded that Peter should be crucified Finally S. Hierome and Lyra wryting vpon the 34. verse of the 22. chap. of Mathewe say that Peter was put to death at Hierusalē by the Iewes and that Christe prophecied thereof saying Lo I sende you prophetes c. and some of them ye shall kyll Many thinges might be added to disproue this dotage of Peters being bishop at Rome but because I thinke this to be sufficient I let passe diuers necessary thinges least I should be ouer tedious But if any be desirous to se this matter more suffitiently handled let him reade Vlrichus Velenus wryting purposely of this in a litle booke called Demonstrationes contra Romani Papae primatus figmētum Beside there hath bene of late set forth in Englishe a discours
very learnedly and fully entreating hereof wherin as wel the allegacions of the Papistes for Peters being at Rome substantially confuted as reasons brought to improue the same And therefore had it not bene so necessarely appertinent to the argument of this booke I would rather haue referred the reader to their doynges then haue spoken any thing thereof Nowe it remayneth to leaue Peter and to come to the bishops of Rome The order of this history requirth that euerye byshop should be here placed as eche succeded other But there is suche confusion amonge them that wryte of them that no man can certainly tell whome to place first second thirde nor fourth And least it be thought to be spoken rather of affection then otherwyse I thought good to shewe out of Vspergensis their owne authour what wrangling and disagreement there is for those that succeded Peter which though it be somwhat loÌ„g yet is it necessary to be shewed that it may appeare what certaintie they haue of Peter those to whome he committed this vniuersall Popedome The wordes of VspergeÌ„sis in the life of Claudius be these Touching the succession of the Romaine byshops their order â—and the tymes wherein they raigned from the beginning diuerse men thinke diuersly whose opinions I wil here briefly set downe c. Some wryte whereunto the ecclesiasticall history agreeth that after the death of Peter sitting at Rome chiefe of the Churche xxv yeares Linus did next take the gouernement vpon him And when he had ruled xii yeares in the second yeare of Titus he lefte it to Anacletus who also after other xii yeares gaue it to Clement whiche semeth to be in the xiii yeare of Domician Clement after nine yeares suffered vnder Traian After him in the fourth place came Euaristus the nexte was Alexander and then Sixtus and so forth But other wryte that Linus and Cletus were both vnder Peter as his vicars or curates and that Peter as soone as he had taken the Papacy vpon him did appointe Linus in his steade to gouerne the churche whereby he him selfe might the better folowe his function of preaching and that he departing after twelue yeres Peter did substitute Cletus in his place who also dying after twelue yeres euen the same yere that Peter suffered vnder Nero. Then Peter committed his seate to ClemeÌ„t giuing to him and his successours power to bynde and loose whome Anacletus succeded in the tyme of Domician then folowed Euaristus c. But because these accomptes do not agree let vs consider wherein they differ and so trie whiche semeth more credible Therefore if Linus left Anacletus and he Clemens then is Clement thrust out of the beadroll of Popes whose reuerence is so great among all Churches that he is not only mentioned among martyrs but also in the Canon of the masse and in the Letany or procession is placed betwene Linus and Clemens But if after Linus Cletus be placed and then Clemens then Euaristus then Alexander c there is no place for Anacletus to get in And Beda in his Martyrtologie that Anacletus was the fourthe after Peter and suffered vnder Domician making Linus first Cletus second Clemens thirde and Anacletus fourth But if Anacletus be placed after Clement and as Beda sayeth died vnder Domician then cannot it holde that his predecessour Clemens should suffer vnder Traian because it may euideÌ„tly be proued that he suffered vnder Domician if his successour Anacletus bee not denied to suffer vnder the same Emperoure Furthermore if Linus and Anacletus as some saye or Linus and Cletus as other saye did bothe rule twelue yeares a peece after the death of Peter dyinge the xiiii yeare of Nero then it arysing to 24. yeares it falleth out that the latter of them should suffer in the xii of Domician so Clemens could not receaue power to binde and loose neither the seate of Peter Whiche opinion also is coÌ„firmed of diuerse and to this is added that Dionysius Areopagita hasting from Athens to Rome againste the martyrdome of the Apostles Peter and Paule but comming a little to late and sone after their deathes did there finde Clemens his scholefellowe bishop of Rome c. Who sent the same Dionysius into Fraunce to preache But it is saide that this Dionysius was martyred Anno domini 96 whiche is the xiiii yeare of Domician and before his death he had continued long had done very muche in FrauÌ„ce and yet it is sayde that Clemens who sent him thether was made byshop but the twelfth yeare of Domician Againe the booke of the passion of Pope Alexander saith that Clemens was the first after Peter for so it is there written In the fift place after Peter came Alexander But if it were the second from Peter then it foloweth that Cletus being before Clement and Anacletus after him be pushed out because Alexander must be the fifte Namely Peter first Linus seconde Clement thirde Euariste the fourth and Alexander the fifte For otherwyse Alexander cannot be the fift from Peter because if Linus be the seconde froÌ„ Peter and Cletus after Anacletus be placed before Clement Alexander shal be the sixt But if Cletus be before Clement and Anacletus after him then shall Alexander be the seuenth vnlesse Clement be the second after Peter Thus farre doth Vspergensis wander in this maze and thus it appeareth what certaintie the Churche of Rome hath of her beginning of Peters being there of bequeathing his supremacy to whome neither they nor any other for them can tell But ye se howe many bishops here wrestle for the first place and howe they are tossed from the first to the seconde and an other whyle hoisted to the third and fourth place yea and some time shoued cleane out of place So harde a thing it is to finde a sure man that for the beginning of this history a man may wel doubt with whome to beginne but we must be content in this hurly burly either to cast lottes to finde out the ring leader or els to take and set an order among them though perhap not the same wherein they liued yet as if it were the same And if any of the good byshops lese his place of senioritie we must desire him to take it paciently and to blame the negligence of their parishioners and successours of Rome who because nature vseth not to ascende but to discend so muche regarded them selues and their children with the tyme present that they forgat their forefathers if these were they and the tyme past ¶ The first face of the Romaine churche vnder Heathen Emperours FOr the first sorte of Romayne byshops that is from Linus to Syluester they liued continually vnder persecutions For as Eusebius sheweth from the yeare of our lord 67. till the time of Constantine being about thre hundred yeares were tenne persecutions The first by Nero with al rigour and crueltie that might be wherof Hierome in his epistle to Cramatius and Heliadorus
the Brytaines had receiued more sincerely of Ioseph the churches of Asia But to thrust vpon them the Romain religion patched vp with mans diuices and tradicions The Britaynes had always the preaching of the truthe syncere doctrine and the liuely faith and such seruice as was deliuered to the Apostles by Gods commaundement They had Christian churches whereof Godfrey of Munmuthe in the eight booke and fourth chapiter of the actes of the Britaines sayth thus In the contrey of the Britaines Christianitie florished hetherto which neuer failed among them since the Apostles time But when Augustine came hee founde in their prouince seuen bishoprikes and one Archebishoprike maintained by godly Prelates and many Abbots liuing by their handy labour among whome the Lordes stocke kept true waye It appeareth also that there were shepeherdes among theÌ„ that were diligent to preserue the puritie of doctrine as was Dionotus Anonius and his fellowes who in conteÌ„pt of the Romaines ceremonies stacke stoutly to it euen to the death Augustine entred the lande not with the Gospell of Christian peace but with the banner of his Aposticship with his syluer crosse his Letanie his procession images painted puppettes reliques canticles and bookes of ceremonies But when by the authoritie of the king in the west part of England he sommoned the byshops and doctours that they accepting and communicating the Romaine customes should submitte them selues to him Anno. 602. They going to the synode did firste demaunde of a certaine wise man that liued solitarely whether it was laweful to followe his commaundement and forsake those tradiâ—ions whiche they had receiued of their fathers to whome hee aunswered If he be a maÌ„ of God followe him They further asked howe they should proue that Ye knowe quoth he that the Lord commaunded saying Take my yoke vpoÌ„ you and learne of me because I am gentle and lowlye of harte Therefore if this Augustine be suche an one it is credible that he also beareth Christes burtheÌ„ and offereth it to you to beare but if he be proude and cruell it is euideÌ„t tha he is not of God and ye ought not to regarde his talke And howe shall we knowe that quoth they Let Augustine quoth he and his company goe firste to the Synode And if when ye come he ryse vp to salute you knowe ye that he is Christe his seruaunt and obey ye him But if he disdayne you or make smale accompt of you and shewe no token of curtesie in his countenaunce seing ye are the greater number doe ye likewyse contemne him Therfore when they came to Augustine sitting ambiciously on his stalle and sawe that he gaue them no token of frendship they by and by conceiuing displeasure noting him to be a proude persone did forthwith ouerthwart euery thing that he put forth For he charged them that they did many thinges coÌ„trary to the custome of the catholicke churche especially in keping their Easter in ministring of baptisme and in their preaching and that they regarded not mans tradicioÌ„s and he commaunded that in these and other thinges they should followe the vse of the church of Rome But they aunswered that they would do none of these neither take him for their Archebishop Whereupon he promised them warre should ensewe and threatned them fiercely to reuenge it by death whiche immediatly ensued Reade Beda in his ecclesiasticall history of Englande the seconde booke and the second chapter and likewyse the sayde Godfrey But I wonder muche of this crueltie of Augustine For Gregorie before had so discussed it and wrote vnto him that it was not nedefull in all churches to haue the same order of ceremonies but that euery churche might ordaine the beste for it selfe But suche was wonte to be the tyranny of hypocrites whereof Mantuan saythe The fathers of the Latin churche to taxe they enterprise And make them fondly force the Britains bend vnto the guise Of Romish church against al right with foolish hardines They rashly cause the auncient league of amitie to cease â–ª As touching peace they saye that Rome should rather make then marre To kepemans lawe so that Christes lawe therby do neuer larre And faith with doctrine whiche allowed by the firste Synode was As it from Christe the light of life to all mankinde did passe And to speake in fewe wordes the Romaine bishops were starres euen hetherto yet but falling from Christes right hande to the grounde from whome the heauen departed Apocal. 6. and they are prefigured by the redde horse vnto whose ryder power was geuen to take awaye peace from the earth and to murther to and fro whereupon as in the firste order the Romaine Prelates called bishops by their true ministring the worde of God and constant faith were starres abiding in Christe his right hande so in this second sort vnder the name of Archebishops and Patriarkes by the neglecting of the same woorde and their earthly affections they were starres falling to the earth Apocal. 6. But in the thirde ranke whiche shall followe vnder the name of Popes and Antichristes for their absolute reuolting from Christe and open idolatries they shal be the starres falling from heauen to the earthe Apoc. 9. THE THIRDE Booke ¶ Nowe ensueth the thirde sorte of Romaine bishops coming from euill to worse For as the former company in the seconde booke shewed declining from pure Christianitie and enclining to Antichriste so now appeareth in these that the seede sowed by the forainer is groweÌ„ vp Antichrist as it were appearing aboue the grounde who grewe still forwarde froÌ„ grenenesse to ripenesse as shall appeare by these that followe and so from ripenesse to rottennesse which is to be hoped for in that already he is wexed so mellowe that if he be not plucked from the tree if it please God to sende a smale blaste of winde he will fall of him selfe Note therfore diligently gentil Reader what fruite ensueth and springeth of the former grayne Reade conferre and then iudge whether these men shewe them selues to be the vicars of Christe or deceitful and mischeuous Antechristes for bye their fruites ye shall knowe them whether they are suche as they would be accompted Abadon or the Latin Antichriste IN the yeare of our Lorde sixe hundreth and foure Phocas the tyrant murthered his soueraigne lord Mauricius the Emperoure with his wife his brother his children and many nobles From this yere adding to it two yeres to the beginning of the Popedome established by Phocas are sixe hundred sixty sixe yeares from the coÌ„sulship of M. T. Cicero and Antonius as Bibliander Funccius and other do euidently recken it at whiche time the Iewes while their bishops iarred for supremacie lost their libertie For Christe as Bibliander gathers in his reuelation whiche by his dearely beloued Apostle Iohn he deliuered to the church foare tolde that a certaine tyrannicall Empier should afflicte the true church as Nero and Domician with others did And calleth the beaste hauing two hornes like a lambe
and vniust dealinge which the Popes haue vsed seing that seate of Rome hath sustaind within so fevve yeares so manye leude persons tyrantes theues filchers robbers rebels adulterers and open purloyners of Church goodes And who in Gods name vvill reuerence that as holye which receiueth so many plagues but as yet the nomber of the wicked ones is not fulfilled as shal follow immediatlye c. The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFTE BOOKE contayninge the thirde diuision of the thirde order of Popes or Romaine Antichristes in the kingdome of the greate Dragon which is the deuill and sathan Apocalips 20. vnto the time of Innocentius the fourth FRoÌ„ Ioan the eighte who was an harlot for the space of 146. yeares to this yeare being the thousand yere from Christe his incarnation Antichrist raigned like an harlot in the Churche of Rome pretending chastity in the meanetime Yet we see howe here the prophecye in Daniel 11. concerninge Antichriste was fulfilled contayned in these words And Antichrist shal be in the coÌ„cupiscence of women We see in these former historyes howe these Popes haue liued in wantonesse royat whoredome and worse theÌ„ whoredome incest pride ambition robbinge and riflinge Churches coniuringe treason rebellion discention murders poysoninges such other detestable enormities So that according to the saying of Esaie they deserue rather to be called the Princes of Sodom theÌ„ the elders of the Church Consequentlye after the thousande yeare after Christes byrth it was prophesyed that the deuil should be let loose and this shal be called the kingdome of the great Dragon wherin the actes of the Popes do wonderfully aunsweare vnto it both in Syluester the second who wyth his Necromancye raysed the deuill from hell and hauinge coniured him vp did compounde wyth him for the Popedome And againe in Benedict the ix who made sacrifyce vnto the deuill in woodes and vppon mountayne toppes In Hildebrand or Gregorie the seuenth who toke counsaile of euill spirites and vsed other diuelish charmes beside other 81. Syluester the second SYluester the seconde was a Frenchman in profession a monke and called Gilbert before he was Pope He was of S. Benedicts order in an abbey at Florence where he being a yonge man and addicted whollye to deuilishe artes betoke himselfe to the deuill both bodye and soule Afterward forsaking that abbey he went into Spaine delightiÌ„g much in prophane sciences came to Hispalis vnto a certaine Philosopher being a Sarracen and expert in Magick of whom he learned much both sorcerye and ambitioÌ„ and began to deuise howe he might attaine to greate honour riches and thought in deede that coniuringe and Necromancye were the meetest wayes to come by hys purpose He had espyed before in the house of his host a certaine coÌ„iuring booke and did his endeuour to steale it awaye but the Magician kept it so deuoutlye that Gilbert coulde not come by it therfore he inueigled the MagiciaÌ„s doughter wyth whom beinge in the house he had good acquaintance â—o steale her fathers booke and let him haue a sight thereof the mayde fulfilled his request so he obtayned his purpose He hauing the booke went about to depart by stealth but fearing least this might endaunger his life for stealing the booke he gaue himselfe to the deuill vppon this condition that he should warrant him to passe safelye into FrauÌ„ce and to obtayne great dignityes He came into Fraunce taught the liberal Sciences so as many had him in admiration wherby he had a nomber of scholers and auditors some of great calling that learned the former artes of him as CoÌ„stantine abbot of Maximin Lotharius Archbishop of Seuen Otho the Emperours sonne Roberte kinge of Fraunce wyth sondrye other bishops prelats priestes of Rome By the procurement of these parsons he was made first bishop of Remen afterward by his leude artes he obtayned to be Archbishop of Rauenna Last of all he obtayned to be Pope of Rome by the helpe of the deuill whom he w t coniuration raysed out of hell according to the xx of the Apocalips For Peter Praemonstratensis other wryters saye that he was made Pope in the Thousande yeare of our Lords Incarnation In the which yere sayth Masfeus was a great and terrible earthquake and a blasinge starre horrible to loke vppon the xiiii day of December In his Popedome he concealed his coniuring and dissembled that familiarity which he had with the deuill but yet he kepte in a certaine secrete place a brasen heade of which when he demaunded anye thinge hee receyued aunsweare of an euil spirit At the length in his pontificality he would needes demauÌ„de of the deuil how longe he should be Pope the deuill aunswered doubtfullye and misticallye sayinge he should not dye vntill he sayd Masse in Hierusalem He therfore conceyuing good hope of longe life began to ware carelesse thinking to take heede enoughe of comminge in Hierusalem But the vse was that on a certaine day of stations in the Lent time the Popes should say masse at Rome in the Pallayce of the holy Crosse which was called Hierusalem wherevppon Syluester not fearinge his life nor heedefull enoughe to forecast the deuils despite accordinge to custome said masse in the same Chappel And by by a terrible shyueringe and quakinge came vppon him wyth a great feuer and by the rumbling noyse of deuils as Peter PraemoÌ„stratensis Platina say he perceyued his death was at hand and that he must paye the deuill his fee. And thus bewayling lamenting openly the abuse of his charmes he confessed his fault til he perished miserablye And sayth Benno he commaunded his tongue and his handes to be cut of wherewith he had blasphemed God in sacrifisinge vnto deuils thus he dyed Anno 1003. The reporte is that the tombe of this Syluester doth euer since prognosticate the death of the Pope by the ratlinge of the bones and the gushing out of water that ryseth out of the grouÌ„d about it as also sayth Platina is testifyed by the Epitaphe written on his graue 82. Iohn the 19. IOhn the 19. an Italian did likewise succeede Syluester and gat to be Pope by the deuils ayde for sayth Benno the scholers of the sayde Syluester being coniurers euerye one gaped for the Popedome This Iohn did take from the people the election of the Pope sayinge in behalfe of his doing that the clergye must teache the people but not followe them And againe the lawe which is ruled by Gods spirite is more worthye then that which is mans lawe He allowed commaunded to establishe in all Churches the feast of al soules at the motioÌ„ of one Odiloe abbot of Clunie whoe dreamed that soules were deliuered oute of Purgatorye by vertue of the masse and sayd that he harde the deuils houle and roare while the soules were takeÌ„ froÌ„ them through dirges trentalles After he had raigned 5. monthes he was poysoned by his owne frendes In his time the name of Cardinals began to grow
the conditioÌ„s though the Pope sente thether his stoute champion Peter Vincent to challenge them and his Secretarye with him Also he deposed George Boebracius kinge of Bohemia from his kingdome for fauouring Iohn Husse bestowed it vpon Mathias but because the Emperour Frederick woulde not plant this Mathias therein great warre ensued thereof to the subuersion almost of the said Emperour After this Innocentius being wearyed with warres gaue him selfe to pretensed peace and applyed him selfe whollye to ease and idlenesse which breedeth al wickednesse He following the example of Sixtus did erect a Colledge of sâ—cretaryes for his greater gaine encreasing the nomber of them He beutifyed the Papacye with a newe Pallaice He did openlye lauishe out reâ—hes and treasures vpon his bastards giuing them honours without all shame for he bestowed vpon one FrauÌ„cis his bastard certaine townes adioyning to the Citye gaue a great dowrye w t his bastard daughter Theodorina maryed to an exceeding wealthye Genewaie He made his base begotten children his chamberlaynes his companions Cardinals He sould pardons for the quick and the dead He bestowed great treasures superstitiously on diuers Churches in Italy and on religious houses He grauÌ„ted leue by his bul to those of Norway to say masse wtoute wyne He diuising a new trade to fishe for money because that neither the aduauÌ„tages of his pardoÌ„s nor of his Iubelie nor the taxe against the Turke coulde suffice him he found out the title that was set vp ouer the Crosse of Christe by Pilate written in three tongues Iesus Nazarenus rex Iudeorum which was hidden within a wall also he found out the iron head of the speare where withal the side of our Sauiour was wounded and ere a man mighte see or kisse these Iewels he must paye well for it But after long sicknesse this Pope dyed Anno 1492. Of whom this Epitaph was made Quid quaeris testes sit mas aut foemina Cibo Respice natorum pignora certa gregem Octo recens pueros genuit totidemque puellas Hunc meritò poterit dicere Roma patrem Spurcities gula auaritia atque ignauia deses Hoc Octaue iacent quo tegeris tumulo About the yeare of our Lord 1464. Baptist Mantuan being then xviii yeres old wrote his ix Eglog calling it Post religionis ingressum entreating of the corrupt maners of the court of Rome his tenth Eglog of the controuersye of the fryers Obseruants and not Obseruants Also he wrote a Diolog in prayse of the blessed life In his ix Eglog he painteth out the treacheryes of Rome saying that all kinde of naughtye parsons are had in honour and are promoted at Rome and that none are there aduaunced but such villaines as deserue rather to be imprisoned and driuen out His sayinges are partlye thus Quo magis approprias tanto magis omnia sordent ¶ And after he addeth Fama est Aegyptum coluisse animalia quaedam Et pro numinibus multas habuisse ferarum Ista superstitio minor est quám nostra ferarum Hic aras habet omne genus contraria certè Naturae res atque Deo qui dicitur olim Preposuisse hominem cunctis animaÌ„tibus vnum c. 160. Alexander the sixt ALexander the sixt was a Spaniard borne in Valentia called first Rodericus Borgia succeeded Innocentius his deedes were so opprobrious and wicked as hath beene sildome heard He was a very royotous tyrauÌ„t in league with the deuil to obtaine the Papacye He being long vice-chauncelour in his Cardinalship did search and boult out all the estate and trade of the Court of Rome and all the councelles and secretes of all the Princes and encorporations of Italye And therefore being Pope by the helpe of of his bastarde Valentinus whom of a Cardinall he made captaine calling him Caesarius he did almost destroy them all and rooted out and banished the most mightye and honourable houses of Rome so that afterward he stoode not in awe of anye of them Iuâ—the which bickeringe sayth Valerius the garrison of Frenchmen and Heluetians being murthered both man and woman this proud Captaine Caesarius beinge by meanes of his wyfe duke of Valentia purposing to get a bootye of money gaue to certaine Cardinals a pocioÌ„ of Aconita wherof his father also drancke so that he fell a sleepe with the rest and then the sonne with the stroke of a weapon quenched the vndeserued honour of both This AlexaÌ„der held the Iubelie at Rome Anno 1500. whither infinite multitudes of people resorted but for those that either would not or could not come the Pope by his bull imparted to them the blessing and benefite of the Iubelie if they woulde giue moneye for it He spared no shamefull shifte to make money withall and therefore he did found yet another newe colledge for clarkes of briefes for so were they called that write the abridgements of all matters these were in nomber foure score of the which euery one payd for his place vii huÌ„dred crownes He cited al Princes by auctoritye of his bull to come to the Iubelie and appointed standings in euery countrye in the streates whither the people should resorte to send their money thether By his Legate Iohn Borgia he crowned Alphonsus king of Naples and sayth Platina made him sweare to be true to Rome in paying his yearely tribute faithfullye He bestowed infinite riches in repayringe and garnishing Churches Castels towers hyewayes and houses in Rome Volateranus sayth that he murthered manye vertues by his notorious vices which are not to be named onlye sayth he I will touche those that were knowen in the eyes of the people If he were at anye time at leasure he had no regarde what kinde of recreation he vsed withoute respecte of his estate He flitted often to Adrian castell because he might the better come out openlye to behold such shewes and delightes as maskers mommers daunters harlots and strompets and other worse kinde of people vsing these braueryes vpon hollydayes and other times he delighted much to see the lasciuious coÌ„medyes of Plautus and other like enterludes played At the mariage of one of his doughters he procured extraordinarily to haue it solemnized with running at the tilt and hunting Fensers roisters were neuer so suffered in Rome neither the Citizens so bridled as in his time Beside the Citye was much encombred with vagaboundes so that men coulde neither walke safe in the Citye by night nor without the Citye by daye Now was Rome become a slaughterhouse which hath somtime beene a refuge and defence for men All these sayth Volateran he suffered for his bastards sake to whoÌ„ he graunted all thinges at pleasure c. But as ye haue heard before he dyed in the ende of the same poyson which he caused his sonne to prouide for other farther of his doiÌ„ges and of his sonnes warres by him procured maintayned Volateran wryteth at large Platina sayth howe that when Charles the eight king of Fraunce should passe