shall I trust proceede from vs such vnmeasurable aboundance of corrupt fruite as hath done from those that are the best the most pure and perfits on theyr side euen in those who they saye cannot erre that are the most holye vicars of Christe vpon earth namelye the holye fathers Popes bishops of Rome Whose notorious villanyes from time to time swelled to the full and perfite measure of iniquitye and so farre runne beyond our haynous sinnes that supposing they dyed as they liued I may bouldly warrant them this preferment that if an hundreth of the rankest helhounds that euer raigned vpon the earth might be mustred out of hell fourescore and nineteene of them should be Popes perhaps for the last hundred place eyther VVolsey or some other Cardinall would scuffle in among them Whereof that thou mayest the better iudge gentle Reader I do here giue thee in this booke a little taste of theyr vnsauorye liues I haue set them all forth here in one Pageante in such order as they played theyr Papall partes both Tragicall and Comicall for these Thousand yeares vpon this worldly stage wherein I haue chosen rather to translate them as they were gathered in Latin by maister Bale most faithfullye then to follow the parcial and flattering storye of Platina In some places also I haue added diuers thinges out of sondrye authors not as thoughe I desired to make perfite in all pointes that which maister Bale omitted but because in conferringe his alleaging of storyes I found manye thinges that without anye combraunce might be added and were worth the mentioning especiallye in the sixt booke of this historye out of one Theodoricus of Nyem Secretarye to Pope Vrban the sixt and wrote that which he sawe of that myserable and longe sciesme that set all the world together by the cares the space of xxxix yeares betweene Vrban the sixte Clement the seuenth Boniface the ix Benedict the xiii otherwyse called Iohn Moone and other which booke I am sure maister Bale neuer saw for he would neuer haue omitted such notable and straunge matters as are contayned in it and are here partlye touched by mee Also for so much as these prelates do falsely colour al their praÌ„cks vnder the authoritye of S. Peters name therfore I haue somwhat at large in the beginning shewed how that thoughe they would haue him to play the first part in this Pageant yet he is none of their coÌ„pany But because of the sodaine finishing of this worke in the printers hande I am forced in this Preface to leaue out many matters which I thought to haue vttered which I could neuer finde conueniente leasure to be setled in one certaine place in suche wyse as I might apply my selfe to write that which I purposed since this was finished and came to the hande of the Printer At this time therefore this onelye I haue to request of thee gentle Reader till God shal giue me better oportunitye to finishe that order which I purposed in publishing this booke to marke as thou readest how the manner of these Prelates do agree to the description of Antichrist in the Reuelation as I once purposed to haue noted vnto thee Marke whether we that at this daye do professe the Gospel and are so much noted of their freinds to transgresse haynouslye in our conuersation are to be compared with these holye Popes in anye kinde of enormitye For what villanye is it whereof thou shalt not finde such monstrous examples among them as the earth neuer els bread the like It were tedious for mee here to drawe into tables the examples of their vnsaciable couetousnes their bribery polling pilfringe robbing and ryfling vntollerable pride equal with the ambition of Lucifer their vaine and vnspeakable pompe theyr whoredome and rauishinge of diuers their incest with their owne sisters doughters their Sodomityes treasoÌ„s practised against all Princes on the earth the rebellions seditions bloudshed warres conspiracyes murtherings factions sciesmes braules contentions amonge them selues poysoninge Princes themselues one another euen in mynistring the Sacramentes theyr sorcerye charmes coniurings familiaritye with deuils and honouring of euill spirites their abusing of Princes most slauishlye theyr geuing transporting selling setting vp and deposinge of all estates Empyres and kingdomes theyr licensing of all villanye as murthering incest Sodomitrye periurye blasphemye and an hundred such like moste detestable enormityes whereof thou shalt haue plenty eueÌ„ to the loathing of thy stomacke Which when thou seest then iudge betweene oure fruites and theirs then learne to discerne who is that whore of Babilon the woman arayed in Purple and rose colour and decked wyth gould precious stones and pearles hauing the cup of gould in her hand full of abhomination and filthines Note what Citye is like to be that BabiloÌ„ built on seuen hilles bearing rule ouer the Nations of the earth What Citye is like to be that Babilon that is become the habitacion of deuils the hole of all foule spirites and a cage of all vncleane and hatefull byrdes Note wyth whom the kinges of the earth haue coÌ„mitted fornication and with the aboundance of whose pleasures the marchauntes of the earth are become riche Note who it is that hath bin dronken wyth the bloude of saintes if by these thou finde that these tokens of Antichrist be in these bishops of Rome then surelye saye thoughe wee wretched sinners be as euill as they make vs in deede which they speake so much of yet their holy fathers are farre worse which the Papist wyll not confesse Then saye that surelye Rome is Babilon and the Pope Antichriste and blame not mee for detectinge anye his loathsome villanyes but obeye the voyce of the Lord against thâ—s Babilon saying Come avvaye from her my people that yee be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues c. but revvard her as she hath revvarded you And giue her double according to her vvorkes Finallye let vs all saye Alleluya Saluation Glorye Honour and povver be ascribed vnto the Lorde oure GOD for true and righteous are his Iudgements for he hath iudged the great vvhore vvhich did corrupt the earth vvith her fornication c. Alleluya Farewell TO THE MOST VVORthie and learned men maister Simond Sulcer Henry Bullenger Iohn Caluin Philip Melancthon â–ª most faithful ministers of Christe Iohn Bale wisheth grace and euerlastinge peace in Christe IESVS ALthoughe I sawe that my former edition of the liues of the Romaine bishops ioyned to my booke called the Regester of Englishe writers were safely planted vnder the protection of the most noble Electour Lorde Henry Otho Countie Palatine Yet notwithstandinge I perceiued that this Edition being taken and seperated froÌ„ the greater being drawne into an abridgemente and enriched wyth such additions as are not to be misliked seing it is not able sufficientlye to beare oute it selfe neither by his owne force nor the credite of the wryter it should neede be succoured
he might binde all the bishops and clergye to be more subiecte to Rome who now depended more on their Princes because of the bestowīg of the lyuings wherby the Popes strength encreased the tēporal Princes were weakened and neglected of their clergye And the better to atchieue his purpose because Henry the Emperour was chiefe of temporall Princes he attempted it first againste him for this matter he sommoned a councell at Rome wherto the Emperour could haue no regarde because of his warlike affayres then presente And yet this matter so delighted the Pope that for compassing it he spared neyther treason nor murther but in manye places he procured ciuill warre sedition with al kinde of mischiefe that might be For first seekinge the Emperours death he attēpted it diuers wayes as thus amonge other euen in the Church The Emperour saith Benno vsed to go to prayers to S. Maryes Church in Auentine hill Hildebrand therefore hauinge his false espyes caused the place to be wel noted where the Emperour vsed to kneele or sit in the Church all seruice time hyred one to go and laye certaine great stones secretelye in the roofe of the Church righte ouer the same place in such sort as he might throwe them downe vppon the Emperours head and so slaye him which as this fellowe went aboute and was busye wyth a great stone the waighte thereof ouerwhelmed him so as he fell downe to the pauement and the stone vppon him which brused him so as he dyed of that which hee had prouided to slaye the Emperour withall This thinge being knowen the Romaynes bound his heeles to a roape and drewe the dead carkasse through Rome streats three dayes together for an example Againe saith Benno Iohn bishoppe of Portua who was of Hildebrands priuye councell said in his preachinge before the people clergye in S. Peters Church what meaned Hildebrand and we to do this thīg wherby we should be burned aliue meaninge that violence which they had vsed towarde the Sacrament of Christes bodye Because Hildebrand demaunding of it as the heathen vsed to do of their idols what successe he shoulde haue against the Emperour because the Sacrament spake not and gaue him no aunsweare he threw it into the fyre maugre all the Cardinals that were about him and said to the Sacrament most blasphemouslye Could the idoll Gods of the heathens giue them aunswere of theyr successe and can not thou tell mee He excommunicated the Emperour being a cōformable Prince withoute lawfull accusation without canonicall citacion or iudicial order and caused his peeres to reuolt frō him and soughte by secrete traytors to murther him Also hee caused the bishops to sweare them selues vtter ennemies against him wresting wringinge places of the Scripture to make a shew to maintaine his purpose But sayth Benno as sone as he roose vp from his chayre being newly framed of wood by Gods workinge it claue in peeces was rente terriblye into diuers partes When he sawe that his secrete treasons toke not effect he brast out into open outrage and enmitye he excommunicated the Emperour and discharged all his subiectes of theyr allegeaūce gaue his crowne vnto Rodolpho duke of Sueuia which he sent to him with this poesye Petra dedit Petro Petrus diadema Rodolpho This moued the Emperour very sore in so much that hee stripped himselfe out of his royall roabes and puttinge on wollen apparell came with his wyfe and his sonne a litle child in the depth of winter a cruel and perillous iourneye to Canusius and stoode barefooted at the gates of the Citie fasting from morning to night suing humblye for pardō at Hildebrands hand and for three dayes suffered with lamētable miserye to be laughed at and flowted by Hildebrand amonge his paragons and monkes He desired often to be let in to come to the Pope but hee was still aunswered for three dayes together that the Pope was not yet at leasure to speake with him The good and gentle Emperour toke it paciently to be thus delayed and because he could not be let into the Citye he abode in the suburbes w t his great inconuenience for the frost was verye extreame more then ordinarye and yet he endured it continuallye 3. dayes least by taking his ease he should haue offended my Lorde bishops grace and still he sued to be pardoned At the length the fourth daye by the intercession of the Countesse Mathilda who for loue not for honesty was in fauour with the Pope the abbot of Cluny and Adelaus Earle of Sauoy he was admitted to come in And thoughe hee craued pardon on his knees offered vp his Crowne yet would the Pope neither pardon him nor absolue him vnlesse hee woulde promise that accordinge to the Popes appointment he would purge him of his fault in the councel with other vnlawfull conditions All which he promised and confirmed with hand seale and yet was not restored to his estate This being knowen the Princes Lordes of Italye were highlye offended that the Emperour Henry in such maner with so great dishonour and so shamefullye had submitted himselfe to recouer the fauoure of this Hildebrand who by treachery purloyned the Popedome and defiled all thinges with slaughter and harlotrye But the Pope and his Cardinals beinge puffed vp with this that they had brought the Emperour to this seruile yoake began to attempt further matters but Henry reuēged this dishonour sone after by the sworde and after sharpe battelles he ouercame Rodolpho who hauinge his hand cutte of commaunded to bring vnto him the bishops and auctors of his rebellion before whom he sayde thus hauing his hand layde before them I am quoth he iustye plagued lo this is the hand wherewith I pleighted my allegeaunce to my soueraigne Lord Henry and by your enticements I haue often time fought against him to my losse and falsifyed my fayth and therefore haue receyued the rewarde due to my periurye Consider therefore whether ye haue guided me righte or no Go ye therefore and stand to your first fayth vowed to your king for I must go to my father this being said he dyed After his death at the Popes commaundement they set vp another to be Emperour one Harman a Saxō County of Lucelburg who while he was assaulting a certaine Castell in Germanye was slaine by a certaine great stone which a woman hurled downe vpon him And yet the Popes malyce ceased not but he raysed vp a thirde traytour againste the Emperour euē his kinsmā Egbertus a Marquesse who also being taken in a Mill by the Emperours frends was miserably slaine In the meane time the Pope did solace himselfe with the companye of Mathilda who forsaking her husbande Azon Marquesse of Esta kept continually by the Popes deare side whereby she was called S. Peters doughter and so of one ieast another sprāg for as Lambert Hirswaldēsis saith the talke was how S. Peters doughter liued in secret incest w t S Peters heyre
barbarous Pyrates then this churlishe Boniface He hated the Gibelines with such rancour that in persecuting them he heard saye that some of them were fled to the Genewaies therupon he poasted thether to destroy them vtterly to roote out the very name of them vpon earth And when vpon Ash wednesdaye he should according to the superstitious vse crosse al commeâ—s on the forheade with ashes and saye vnto them thus Remember man that thou art ashes and to ashes thou shalte returne Upon the same day for the same cause the archbishop of Porchet who was a Gibeline came vnto him kneelinge downe vnto the Pope put of his cappe to haue the ashes put on his head whoÌ„ when Boniface had espyed beinge neither ashamed for the time nor the place nor the people present vttered his rancour towarde the bishoppe most shamefullye For takinge vp an handfull of ashes he threwe them spitefullye in the eyes of the bishop sayinge reprochfullye wyth malicious chaunge of woordes Remember man thou arte a Gibeline and to the Gibelines thou shalt returne And beside this depriued him of his archbishopricke though in the ende he restored it In his time were great and cruell warres betwene the Sicilians and Robert duke of Calabria which wroughte much mischiefe to all Italye and yet the Pope being ofteÌ„times requested thereunto would neuer with his auctoritye steppe in betwene them to pacifye the matter But by the prouidence of God they that before fled out of Italye with the rouers arriued in Italye againe and gathering together a fewe who fled and lurked here there for feare of the rage of Boniface came to Anagnia ere the Pope mistrusted any such matter they brast open the gates vpoÌ„ him apprehended him and brought him to Rome where frettinge and raginge in a great agonye most desperatlye for the space of xxx dayes throughe the extremitye of his malady he dyed myserablye Anno 1304. This Pope sent a commaundement to the king of England charging him not to molest Scotland as he did then anye longer because the Scottes were a priuiledged people belonging to his Chappell but the kinge stoode stoutlye in the defence of his righte and quarrell and claymed it as his right not the Popes After this the Pope moued kinge Edwarde to warre vppon the Frenche kinge because he had offended the Pope but the kinge would not be so abused by him After this when the kinge had bestowed the bishopricke of Canterbury vpon Robert Burnel bishop of Bathe the Pope in spite of his teeth did not onlye place another called Iohn Peccam but also sent downe his Bull to the spirituall men of England for their discharge not to paye one penye tribute to the kinge in any case to his no small trouble for vpon this the most of them were at defiaunce with the kinge and his Parliamente especiallye the bishop of Canterburye This is that Pope of whom it was coÌ„monlye said He entred like a foxe he raigned like a Lion he died like a dogge He thinking that kingdomes and Empires were all in his owne hande did vsurpe the aucthority of both swordes woulde be counted the Lord of all the world He gaue sentence the vnlesse kinges woulde receiue their kingdomes at his hand they should be accursed and oughte to be deposed He excommunicated Philip kinge of Fraunce because he would not suffer the treasure of his Realme to be transported oute to Rome he cursed both him and his to the fourth generation Also he would not confirme Albertus to be Emperour whom before he had three or foure times reiected vntill he woulde inuade Fraunce and depose king Philip. He maintayned the discorde that was in Italye and purposed to nourishe them continuallye He forbad that the clergye should paye anye tribute to their Princes without his commaundement He boasted that he bare the keyes of heaueÌ„ and published this Canon that he oughte to be iudged of none althoughe hee shoulde drawe thousandes of soules to hell with him He was the first that deuised the Iubelye according to the Iewishe tradition He gaue full remission of sinnes and pardons to all that shoulde come on pilgrimage to Rome At the first daye of Iubelei hee prancked himselfe gorgeouslye in his pontificalibus The seconde daye he being arrayed most royallye with Emperiall insignes commaunded a naked sword to be caryed before him and said with a loude voice Ecce potestatem vtriusque gladij Lo here is the power of both swordes Finallye he being as is said apprehended and offeringe rather his head to be cut of then he would yelde vp his Papacye those conditions beinge put to him his house was first spoyled of so much treasure that as it is reported all the kinges of the earth together were not able to make so much oute of theyr treasurye as was caryed oute of his Pallaice and from three Cardinals and a Marquesse that were with him Then afterward he was set vpon an vnbroken coult with his face to the horse tayle and so caused to ride a gallop iaunted til he were breathlesse and then was he imprisoned and there almost pined by kinge Philips souldiours of Fraunce till the people of the towne of Aragon where he was did releue him and yet neuerthelesse for thought of this misery and losse he dyed He bestowed on S. Peters Pallaice a chayme of belles making a sweete and pleasaunt noyse and encreased the reuennues therof he yet encreased very much that priuiledges of the begginge fryers He doubled the idolatrous honour of the Apostles the 4 Euangelistes and the foure doctours of the Church He gaue auctoritye to the Ecclesiastical parsons generally in England to excommunicate the people twise in the yeare He caused one Hermanus of Ferraria to be taken oute of his graue and burned xxx yeares after he had beene buryed He said that to be subiect to the Church of Rome is of the necessitye to saluatioÌ„ He deposed diuers Cardinals he deuested diuers kinges of their estate he fostered harlots â—e begat diuers bastardes beside sondrye other lâ—ude pranckes He sommoned kinge Edwarde the first to Rome vpon the coÌ„plaint of Robarte VVinchelsey bishop of Canterbury after the death of Iohn Peccam both which Archbishops troubled the kinge as almost all their auncetours from the time of Hildebrand had done to the Princes in their time for so VVilliam Rufus and Henry the first were troubled wyth Anselmus Archbishop of Canterbury Henry the second also with Thomas Becket King Richard and all England with VVilliam bishop of Elye the Popes Legate King Iohn with Steuen LangtoÌ„ bishop of Canterburye Henry the thirde with Edmonde Archbishop and now this kinge Edwarde wyth these two The kinge beinge cited to Rome was there suspended till he had purchased full dearely his absolution but of the said Peccam this one thing is to be noted that he caused to be ordayned that no spirituall mynister should haue any more benefices theÌ„ one which was also
sommoned a councell into his Pallaice in Viciana sylua where the whole assemblye subscribed against the Popes heresye and therefore the kinge sent to Pope Iohn willinge him both to reforme his heresye and also to deliuer the prysoner so the said Thomas was set at libertye This Pope reformed and transposed the orders decrees of the Church at his owne pleasure made Colledges of Scribes according to the nomber of the Apostles who receyuing their fee should write such letters as he should appoint He cōdemned Iohn Poliacus a deuine because he taught that mē should not trust the begging fryers He cōpelled certaine Nonnes called Biginae to marrye and detested pictures He helde it for a grounded article that Christ gaue none other rule of godlinesse to his Apostles then to other Christians and that the Apostles neuer vowed pouertye Iohn Mandeuil in his first booke and seuenth Chapter sheweth that this Pope wrote at large to the Greekes that there is but onely one Christian Church and that he was head thereof and vicar of Christ to whō the Greekes aunswered briefely VVee do assuredlye acknowledge your highe power ouer your subiectes but wee cannot abide your high pride wee cannot stanch your greedye couetousnes the deuill is with you but God is with vs. Thus briefely in a worde they reuealed the Popes estate This Pope condemned Lewis Bauare a noble Emperour to be a rebell to the Church a scismaticke and hereticke because he toke vpon him by the Electours choyse the gouernment of the Empyre not vowing anye fealtye to the Pope Thus wryteth Iohn Marius of this Emperour Lewis Pope Iohn sayth he hated vnto death Lewis Bauare partly because he beinge chosen by the estates of Germanye kinge of the Romaynes did disdaine to receyue at the Popes hand according to the Canon of Pope Clement the fifte the name and title Emperiall partly againe because he defended from the Popes power certaine monkes whom he had condemned for heretickes therefore Pope Iohn auouched Lewis to be an hereticke Lewis comminge into Italye appointed his deputies in euery Cittye and came to Millen and because he desired to qualifye the Popes displeasure he sent Embassadours to him kepinge his courte then at Auenio in Fraunce to require of him the ornamentes belonging to the estate imperiall with freindlye affection as his auncestours had done the Pope did not onelye denye the sute but sent awaye the Embassadours with great reproche and cited the Emperour him selfe peremptory wyse as they terme it to come to Auenio submit himselfe to the Canons of the Church The Emperour knowinge the Popes tyrannye vsed in his Church vnderstanding that he had his estate giuen him from God desired to keepe and defende the same holye and vndefiled and therefore woulde not submit himselfe like a slaue vnto Popes and so denyed to come to Auenio And yet being desirous of peace he besought the Pope by Embassadours once againe to bestowe on him with curtesye the ornamentes of the Empyre the Pope stoode peuishlye in his wilfulnes vaunting and boasting in his wrytings that he had power to playe make marre w t Princes and that at his pleasure he might set vp and depose whom he listed and that the Empyre being voyde the Pope is ful Emperour And for malice against Lewis he excōmunicated the Uicounts whom the Emperour had appointed to gouerne Millen The Emperour perceyuinge the Popes obstinate minde taking with him many Princes of Italye came to Rome and was honourablye receyued of al the people and required according to the custome to receiue the solemnityes of the Empyre The Romaine peeres and all the people sent Embassadours to Pope Iohn in Fraunce and humbly besought him to come to visit his City Rome to bestowe vpon the king of the Romaynes the imperiall rites which if he would not do they said plainly that they them selues would keepe the ould law priuiledge of the Romaynes Iohn hauing heard the Embassadours vsing great threates and terrours draue them away with foule rebuke frō him The Romaynes seing this decreed to yeld to the noble Lewis his lawfull request and so by the commaundement of the clergy and people both he and his wyfe together were crowned by Steuē Nicolas being Senatours in the meane time the nobilitye shouted oute saying God saue Lewis Augustus Emperour of the Romaynes The Pope hearing this though the Emperour did nothing but that was lawful and godly did accuse him for a traytour and an heretick he published sore processe against him put him frō his estate imperial depriued him of his kingdome condemned him by vile and cruel curse of excōmunication as a rebell and Captaine heretick againste the Church of Rome by meanes whereof he enflamed all Christendome with such discord deadly warres as could not afterward be quenched in thirty yeres Thus farre wryteth Marius Thus the Pope had nothing to defende his forged supremacye and auctoritye but the dreadfull boultes of his excommunication But there were certaine at this time as well deuines as lawyers which preached that Christe and his Apostles did possesse nothinge properlye and that the Emperour in temporall cases was not subiect to the Pope Amonge these men were Michael Coesenus VVilliam Occam minorites Marsilius of Padua Iohn of Iandane lawyers with diuers other Lewis the Emperour was so comforted by these that he did stoutly withstand the Popes ententes and published this his appellation about the coastes of his Empyre ¶ The Emperours letters WE Lewis kinge of the Romaynes doe pronounce against Iohn who saith that hee is Pope that he doth naughtelye execute the testament and will of Christe cōcerning peace troubling the cōmon tranquility of Christendome neither is he mindfull that what honour soeuer he nowe doth enioye was first giuen by the holye Emperour Constantine to Syluester euen when he forfeare lurked in forrestes Thus doth he shewe himselfe vnthankful to the Romaine Empire from whence hee reaped all the roialty which now he abuseth c. Thus when Lewis and the peeres of Rome perceyued well the iniquitye of Pope Iohn and the people of Rome from the hyest to the lowest did take it in euill part that the Embassadours whō they had sent were so mocked of him they all agreed together that the ould custome of chosing the Pope should be brought into the Church that is that he being chosen by the people of Rome should be admitted and allowed by the Emperour Therefore one Peter of Corbaria a minorite was made Pope and was called Nicolas the fifte and as for Iohn they cōcluded of him that he was an heretick and a tyrant of the Church not a pastour but a breaker of the common peace of Christians In the meane time Pope Iohn Anno 1335. in the fourscore x. yeres of his age dyed at Auenio About the yeare of our Lord 1326. in the time of this Pope Iohn the prelats of Englād played a stout prancke for the bishop of Hertford
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
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
being put to death at Valerianus cōmaundement 255. 22. Stephen STephen a Romaine borne a man in al pointes iuste and good and one that was counted worthy to haue the ecclesiasticall function Whereupon as VVicelius saithe the churche gaue vs many worthy examples of Prelates so longe as they were called but bishops of the citie of Rome While Galienus a wicked Emperor raged Steuen Anno 257. after he had cōuerted many of the Gētiles to the faith of Christe loosing his head was with many other sacrificed to God receiuing the crowne of iustice 23. Sixtus the seconde SIxtus the seconde was a Grecian borne in Athens he being of a worldly Philosopher become Christe his disciple and of an earthly man made an heauenly stewarde did shine like an ornament of the churche as an example worthy to be folowed This man also enstructing the people in Gods holy woorde was slayne with many thousands of martyrs in the persecution of Decius and Valerius An. 267. S. Laurence claue vnto this holy byshop vnseperably euen to the last tormentes of his life of whiche twoo the one was slayne with swearde the other burnt to death Whereof Mantuan in the 8. of his Fast. saith These men whose vertues florished by Decius dire decree VVere bid with other lockt in chaynes and dungeon darke to bee In time of this bishop about the yeare of our lorde 260. one Paule being terrified with the vnmercifull persecutiō of tyrantes gat him into wyldernesse and solitary places and so became the firste Eremite For at that time as Eusebius saith many Christians for feare of death denied their faythe Upon this Monkery had his beginning as Hierome shewes in the life of the same Paule the Eremite 24. Dionysius DIonysius was a Grecian whome Pope Damasus calleth a Monke He was a worthy man in preaching the faithe and a notable encreacer of the Christian churche vnder Claudius the seconde Neither did he want other churches whiche with the doctrine of truthe did reforme heresies that sprange in those dayes As appeareth by the churche of Antioche which calling a counsell in the yeare of our Lorde 273. did conuince of errour Paulus Samosatenus notwithstanding he him selfe coulde not be there present because he was olde Dionysius conuerted to Christianitie the daughter of the Emperour Decius and Triphonia her mother with 46. thousand other And at the length was martyred with them many other at Salarie gate Anno. 277. 25. Foelix Foelix a Romain being a good man and of perfect conuersation florished in preaching the Gospell at suche time as Aurelianus did persecute his brethren While this accursed manslear exercised his tyranny Foelix among other martyrs departed moste happely vnto Christe that is to saye from death to life But to saye that this martyrdome working their glory caused temples to be made yearely sacrifices to be done therein in their names it is to open blasphemy Who will beleue that these holy fathers of the primatiue churche would so charely haue suche regarde to kepe stockes and stones or dead mens bones in time of so many persecutions and heresies as if they had nothing els to doe But such forgeries vse our Romanistes to maintayne their idolatry 26. Eutychianus Eutychianus borne in Thuscia being geuen wholy to Godlynes and commended to the churche for his learning and vertue saued many people by preaching the Gospell This man by report did bury with his own handes 342. martyrs and appointed an order for the burying of martyrs and in the ende he him selfe was made a martyr Anno. 283. It appeareth that this man did nothing to establishe the fantasticall toyes of our age but the Papistes foarge of him that he blessed vpon the altar grapes and beanes and that he buried the dead in purple vestimentes a deede mete for a Christian martyr 27. Gaius or Caius GAius borne in Dalmatia cosen to Dioclesian the Emperour succeded Eutychianus in preaching the comfortable Gospell and was a moste worthy president in the churche of God Carsulanus and Platina the Popes claw-backes reporte of this man that he encreased the dignitie of the Clergie marueilously by making difference of degrees among them so that from one degree to an other they should arise to the estate of a bishop Furthermore thei prattell that he commaunded that a man in holy orders should not be sewed of prophane men Pagans or Heretikes But who is so fonde to beleue that the bishops power was so great at Rome at that time when Pagans them selues bare all the sway executed the ciuill lawe Gaius was in the time of the raigne of the foresayde Dioclesian vnder whome cruell persecution continued so that for a great time he lurked in caues and hoales vnder the groūd and had no pontificall pallaice or stately temple And in the ende being plucked out with his brother Gabinius a maried priest he was slayne with a swoard 28. Marcellinus MArcellinus was a Romaine who in the tenth persecution after Nero was cruelly vexed of the tormentours vnder Dioclesian and Maximinian being terrified with feare of the paynes he offered vnto the Idols a graine of frankinsens In those dayes as Gildas writeth the scripture where soeuer it was founde was burnt in the streate and the chosen shepeheardes of Christes flocke were slaine with their innocent shepe But Marcellinus immediatly after his dede remembring him selfe reproued Dioclesian to his face and offred him selfe willingly to death for the truthe of Christe and striuing valiauntly he preuayled receiuing the crowne of martyrdome Anno 303. Hereunto agreeth Mantuan in the life of the sayde Basill 29. Marcellus MArcellus a Romaine was pastour of the churche feading it with wisedome and doctrine And as I maye saye with the Prophete a man according to Gods harte full of Christian woorkes This man admonished Maximianus the Emperour endeuoured to remoue him from persecuting the sainctes But the Emperoure being more hardened commaunded him to be beaten with cogiels and to be driuen out of the citie wherefore he entred into the house of one Lucina a widowe and there he kept the Congregation secretly whiche the tyrant hearing made a stable for cattell of the same house and cōmitted the kepinge of it to the byshop Marcellus After that he gouerned the churche by wryting Epistles without any other kynde of teaching ▪ being condemned to suche a vile seruice And being thus dayly tormented with stinke and noysomenesse at length gaue vp the ghost Anno 308. 30. Eusebius EVsebius a Grecian being a very Godly man a doctour and teacher among the Christiās gouerned the church in the great storme of persecution He trauayled stoutly in the worde of the Lorde as well at Rome as els wheare through his countrey in the time of Maxentius that horrible tyrant vntill he were destroyed by martyrdome as Massaeus writeth Anno 309. whereupō as Mantuan writeth an Aungell sayde to Basill Of thinges that are reueald to me I le make the vnderstād The ioyful dayes of
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
the ennemy of Christe whiche neuerthelesse should speake like a Dragon like an euill spirite and should rage as vnmercifully as the firste beast did whiche destroyed Peter and Paule and great companies of fainctes whiche with her charmes should so bewitche the worlde and with monstrous workes should growe into suche admiration that none might by or sell but such as had the seale or the name of the beaste in his forehead But as touching the name of the beaste he shewes it mistically by these letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ch X St reciteth it to be discussed This saith Iohn is wysedome let him that hath vnderstanding accompt the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his nuÌ„ber is this 666. Apocal. 13. What meane thefe markes but that wee should searche the time wherein this beaste should arise from the earth and the bottomlesse pitte and should destroye the Christian common wealth But howe shall a man apply it if he haue not the certaine time when Pompeie toke the scepter from the Iewes according to the notable prophecie of Iacob entring the temple prophaned the Sanctum sanctorum But that was done as Iosephus wryteth in the time of Tullius consulship the 60. yeare before Christe was borne To these three score yeares adde six hundred vntill after the death of the sayd Gregorie the great who prophecied that he should be Antechriste whiche would be compted vniuersall bishop or head of all churches Therefore marke well what kinde of times happened in the 666. yeare after Hierusalem was taken by the Romaines Pompeie being their general and you shall se straunge matters fal out at the time that this Phocas was Emperour of whome VVilliam Stantphurdius wryteth as foloweth The Empier Phocas chokes and doth the Popedome first aduaunce By wicked writts about his Empier sent for to enhaunce And to confirme moste sure foray vnto the after age The premacy of Rome and of the dragon that doth rage Against Gods power Furthermore applie this misticall number of 666. containing highe wisedom in iâ— froÌ„ the time of Christes birth or from the tyme of his passion or from the xv yere of Domician at whiche time the reuelation was written and stil ye shal finde some moÌ„sterous thing wrought in the church But to returne to the matter of Englande In the yeare of Christe 593. Colman Harding and Fabian saye that the raigne of the seuen kinges at one time began whereby 173â— yeares after Brutus their first king the royall estate of the Brytishe king ceased For as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his fourth booke the Britaines founde tâ—at the Saxons were in steade of succourers suppressours and cruell ennemies vntrusty warring rigorously vpon them who had entertained them for ayde Anno 596. the foresaid Augustine sent from Gregorie came into Englande who at his comming did not reproue but maintaine and vpholde the wicked treasons the horrible robberies the slaughters more cruell then were Neroes whiche the Saxons coÌ„mitted Anno â–ª 600. Gregorie gaue to Augustine his byshops pall Thereby as was sayde London was spoyled of her right without all order to the destruction bothe of the commonwealth and of religion and finally the vndoing of the Brytishe kingdome and thereupon are sumptuous teÌ„ples builded Before that time the Britains had their churches dedicated to eternall God the father and to our sauiour his sonne Iesus Christe But afterwarde the SaxoÌ„s did coÌ„secrate their temples to Images and dead sainctes â–ª Anno. 604. the ChristiaÌ„ Emperour Maurice being slaine Phocas an adulterer and a murtherer obtayned the seate imperiall and in him the maiestie of the Caesars and the moste noble Empire of the Grekes decayed together As for the Romaine Empire that was weakened and empaired yea and at length brought to nothing by meanes of the Popedome whiche he had graunted and established Anno 606. in Nouember and December as Paulus Diaconus writeth in his 18. booke euen at the rising and beginning of the Popedome there appeared a wonderfull great blasing starre There were straunge sightes and monsters of the Sea shewed them selues to the terrour of many Thus in the time of this Phocas murderer of the Emperour whiche is to be noted as a misterie concerning the Popes Papistrie and Mahumets religion began bothe together at one time which corrupted darkened and weakened the doctrine of the sonne of God in many regions For in another yeare of the same Phocas as Bibliander writeth Mahumet recited the Alcoran so that saieth hee the Egles three heades awaked all at ones according to the heauenly vision in the fourth booke of Esdras that is to saye Phocas him selfe Pope Boniface Mahumet the Arabian now followeth the thirde troupe of Romishe Popes whiche is deuided into fiue partes The firste parte of this thirde troupes of the Popes or Romaine Antechristes prophecied of by the names of Sodome or Egypt Apocal. 11. vntill the time of Pope Iohn the eight 1. Boniface the thirde ABout this time the bishoppers of Constantinople endeuoured to obstaine the title of vniuersall bishop and to haue their Church called the head of all Churches vsing these fonde reasons that because the Emperour beinge chiefe of all Princes kepte at Constantinople therefore that shoulde be the chiefest Church and there the chiefe bishop This ambitioÌ„ enflamed many to speake and wryte against it but especiallye the late Gregorye who in this wyse reproued Iohn bishop of Constantinople for the same Sayinge None of my predecessors although the Emperours began first in Rome and were wont to byde there onelye and yet do keepe the title thereof durste take vppon them this title of vniuersall bishop And againe Gregorye sayd plainlye that such a one was the forerunner of Antichrist Yet notwithstanding that the Church of Constantinople with great infamye preuailed not herein because that Antichrist or the whore of Babilon according to the 13. of the Reuelation should be in the Citty builded on seuen hilles that is Rome it selfe For so diuers auctors testifye that onelye Rome is knowen to be builded on vii hils and certaine it is that when this Reuelation was written Rome was then the greatest Cittye being built on seuen hils as Mantuan testifyeth in the life of Syluester speaking of S. Blaze at the ende of the first booke And the fulnesse of that time prophecied of now drawing nighe this Boniface the thirde Anno 607. by the meanes of Phocas the Emperour an adulterer traytour and murtherer of his Lorde and soueraine Maurice the Emperour with his wife and children was aduaunced to be bishop of Rome with much hurley burley and greate tumulte and in despite of manye bishops and Churches standinge against it he is extolled confirmed and worshipped as Lorde and Prince of all bishoppes By great sute but greater bribery he obtayned of the sayde bloudye Emperour that Rome should be called the head of all Churches partlye by the same reasons that Constantinople vsed as Platina sayth that where the heade
an anchoresse in S. Albons abbey had this terrible visiion she heard an old man of graue countenaunce crye thre times VVo wo to all that dwel on the earth and then faded away againe Anno 1258. Richard Earle of Cornewall sonne to king Iohn of Englād was chosē king of Almany for his great treasure and the Pope procured that he was chosen Emperour but he did that closely because he had likewyse for the same matter taken a bribe of Alphonsus kinge of Spaine Whereupon a certaine Poet made this Verse Nummus ait pro me nubet Comubia Rome Thus money sayth for loue of me Cornewal with Rome shal lincked be Beside these shiftes made for money this Pope Alexāder vsed another notorious knacke he abusing deluding the simplicitye of the king of England made him beleeue that he would make his sonne Edmond king of Apulia if hee woulde sustaine the charges thereof to maintaine the warres appertayning to it wherupon the king caused his sonne forthwith to be proclaymed king of Apulia and sent to the Pope all the treasure and riches that he could make in his Realme And thus was the king and his sonne deluded and the Realme wonderfullye impouerished by the Popes craft It were to long to discouer all the superstitious wicked deuises of this Pope who at length going to Viterbium Anno 1262. to make peace betweene the Genewaies Venetians according to his owne fansye and because he coulde not haue his will therein he dyed there for anger 125. Vrban the fourth VRban the fourth borne in Fraunce and as some saye was first called Pantaleon being patriarch of Hierusalem As sone as he was Pope by and by he commaūded souldiours out of Fraunce to subdue Manfred the ennemy of the Church for the furtherance therof hee requested Lewes kinge of Fraunce to send his brother Charles the Earle of Anteganor w t an oast into Italye and made him king of both Sicils After many conflictes the said Charles ouercame and slue Manfred at Beneuent and receyued of the Pope against all lawe and right the kingdome of Sicill w t the dukedome of Calabrie and Apulia whereuppon arose many great slaughters While this Pope was frō Rome at Pruse the Romaynes coueting their olde libertyes made a newe kinde of officers callinge them Branderesies who had power of life and death in their handes they chose one Brācaleo a priuate parsō of Bononia to be Senatour whō banished late before they restored But touching Vrban it was not much more then this that he did sauinge that hee ordayned an holye daye namelye Corpus Christi daye the fifte day after Trinitye sonday vpon this occasion as some and most likely do write namelye Arnold Bostro Petrus Praemonstratensis Anno 1264. as they saye a certaine woman called Eue in a Religious house in Leodia with whom the Pope in time past had beene well acquainted had a reuelation which she signifyed by wryting to the Pope beseeching him that the sayd day might be kept holye in the honour of the Sacrament of the altar to whom the Pope according to her desire returned his aunsweare with this Bull to confirme the holy daye The Bull of Pope Vrban to Eue the Anchoresse for the establishing of the holy day called Corpus Christi daye BIshop Vrban seruaunt to the seruauntes of God sendeth greeting and apostolicall bleshing to Eue our beloued daughter in Christe VVe know O daughter that thy soule hath longed with greate desire that a solemne feast day might be appointed for the bodye of oure Lord Iesus Christ in Gods Church to be celebrate of all faithfull Christians for euer And therfore for thy ioye we signifie vnto thee that we haue thought it good for the establishing of the catholicke faith that beside the dailye remembraunce which the Church maketh of so wonderfull a Sacrament there should be more special and solemne recorde appointing a certaine daye for it namelye the fifte daye after Whitsontyde next ensuinge that on the said daye the faithfull flocke do gather together to the Churches deuoutlye and effectuallye and let that daye be to all Christiās ioyfull with new holines and holye with much ioye as is more set out in our apostolicall letters sente for this cause through the world And know ye that we haue caused this feast daye to be solemnized with all oure brethren Cardinals bishops and archbishops and other prelats then being at Rome to giue example of celebratinge the same to all that shal see or vnderstand the same Therfore let thy soule magnifye the Lorde and thy spirite reioyce in God thy sauiour for thine eyes haue seene his saluation which we haue prepared before the face of al people Moreouer reioyce because almighty God hath giuen the thy hartes desire and the fulnes of the heauenly grace hath not disapointed the of the will of thy Iippes c. This Vrhan sate more then three yeares betweene the Guelphes Gibelines and prouoked their quarrels to be tryed by the edge of the sworde to the confusion of manye through Italye He being on a time vpbrayed that he was of base linage aunsweared that no mā was noble by byrth but that to be made noble by vertue is true nobility finallye beinge at Pruse because in great attemptes he had not his desired successe he dyed for griefe Masseus sayth that a blazing starre appeared three nights before the death of this Pope and ceased the same night that he dyed 126 Clemens the fourth CLemens the fourth called before Gui Fulcodius borne in Narbonie ere he came to be Pope was a maryed man and had 3. children by his wyfe a sonne two doughters He as his predecessour began continued in sheddinge of bloud he sent for Charles Earle of Angeow to bringe an armye into Italye where he slew Manfred and was made kinge of Sicill and Hierusalem but vppon this condition that he should paye yearelye to the Pope fortye thousande Crownes This bargaine beinge made betweene them great slaughter bloudshed was committed in diuers places for the said Pope betrayed Conradinus sonne to Conradus kinge of Sicill and inheritour of the kingdomes to the former Charles so that as he passed through the fieldes of Viterbie with an oast of Germaynes wher his abode was at that time the Pope by report sayd that the sayd Conradinus was as a lambe brought to the slaughter shewing therby that he was of councell to the treason Afterward when he foughte with Charles about Naples at the first conflict had sufficient victorye yet then the treason reuealing it selfe Conradinus Frederick duke of Austria were taken being myserablye vsed in their captiuitye mocked and flouted were in the ende beheaded by the Popes commaundement because Conradinus claymed the kingdome which his auncetours possessed Thus the kingdome of Naples came into the hand of the Frenchmen and the dukedome of Sweuia decayed and came to nought by the wickednes of the Pope In the time of
decreed by Octo and Octogonus the Popes Legates in England at that time An Epistle of Peter Cassiodorus to the Englishmen reprouinge the extreame robbery filching and slauerye vvhereby the Popes spoyled this lande about the yeare of our Lord 1302. to moue them to shake of the bondage of the Popes tyrannye taken out of an ould booke in S. Albons Church TO the noble Church of Englande seruing in claye and bricke as the Ievves did in times past vnder the tyrannie of the EgiptiaÌ„s Peter the sonne of Cassiodore a catholike Souldiour and deuoute champion of Christe sendeth greeting and vvishinge to caste of the yoke of bondage and to receiue the revvard of libertie To whom shall I compare thee or to whom shal I liken thee O daughter Hierusalem to whom shall I matche thee O daughter of Sion Great is thy perturbation like vnto the Sea Thou sittest alone without comfort all the daye long thou art confounded and coÌ„â—umed with heauines Thou art giuen vp into the handes of him from whence thou canst not ryse without helpe of one to lift thee vp for the Scribes and Pharisies sittting vpon the chayre of Moyses thy enemyes the Romaynes are as thy heades and rulers enlarging their garded philacteries seeking to be enryched wyth the marowe of thy bones laying heauie burdens and not able to be borne vpon thy shoulders and of thy mynisters and they set thee vnder tribute which of old time hast beene free beyonde all honestye or measure But maruell not therat for thy mother which is the ladie of people lyke a wydowe hauinge maryed and coupled her selfe to her subiect hath appointed him to be thy father that is to saye the byshoppe of Rome who sheweth no point of any fatherlye loue towards thee He magnifyeth and extendeth to the vttermost his authoritye ouer thee And by experience declareth himselfe to be the husband of thy mother He remembreth oft wyth himselfe the prophetical saying of the Prophet and well disgesteth the same in the inward parte of his breste Take to thee a great booke and write therein quicklye with the pen of a man take the spoyle robbe quickly But is this it which the Apostles sayth that he was appointed for where he wryteth thus Euerye bishop taken from amonge men is appointed for men in those thinges that belonge to the Lorde not to spoyle not to laye on them yearelye taxes not to kill men but to offer giftes sacrifices for sinnes and to sorowe wyth them that be ignoraunt and do erre And so we read of Peter the fisher whose successor he boasteth himselfe to be that after the resurrection of Christ he turned with other Apostles to the office of fishinge who when he could take nothing of the left syde of the ship at the bidding of Christ turned to the right side and drewe to the lande a net full of fishes Wherefore the profitable mynisterye of the Church is to be exercised on the right syde by the which the deuill is ouercome and plentye of soules be lucrifyed and wonne to Christe But certainlye the labourer on the left side of the ship is farre otherwyse for in it the fayth stumbleth heauines beareth rule whan that thing that is desired by seekinge is not founde For who is so foolishe to thinke that hee can both at one time serue God and man and to satisfye his owne will or to sticke to the reuelations of flesh and bloud and to offer worthy giftes to Christ And doubtles that shepeheard that watcheth not for the edifyinge of the flocke prepareth an other way to the roringe Lyon and seeking whoÌ„ he maye deuoure And nowe behold I say O daughter the deedes of him that is called thy father such as haue not beene hearde of before he dryueth away the good shepeheard from the sheepefold and placeth in their steade bishops to rule but not to profyte his nephewes cosins and parentes some that knewe no letters and other some domme and deafe which vnderstand not the plaine voyce of the sheepe nor curing their wounds that be hurt of the wolues but like hyrelinges pluckinge of the fleeses a pase and reaping that which other men haue sowen whose handes moreouer be alwayes readye in theyr baskets and pouches but theyr backes are turned from theyr burdens By which thinge it is manifest that the priesthoode is cleane chaunged at these dayes the seruice of God decayed almes diminished and broughte to noughte the whole deuotion of princes and kinges is banished Maye not this be thought wonderful in the eyes of all men that where as Christ commauÌ„ded tribute to be payd to kinges for him for Peter he nowe goeth about dominion of his stile to subdue to him both realmes and princes of realmes against his will whose Uicar he sayth he is and who refused the realmes iudgements of this world which this bishop contrarywyse chalengeth clayming al that which he in his stile wryteth to be his Alacke O daughter what doth he yet more against thee marke he draweth from thee what so euer pleaseth him and yet he thinketh not himselfe content to haue the tenth part onely of thy goodes from thee except he haue also the first fruites of the benefices of the Ministers wherby he may get a newe patrimony aswell for himselfe as for his kynred contrary to the godly wyls of the first founders Ouer and besides all this he inferreth other execrable taxes and stipends for his Legates and messengers whom he sendeth into England which not onely take awaye the feeding and clothing of thee and thine but also teare in peeces like dogges your fleshe and skinnes Maye not this prince be compared to kinge Nabugodonoser which destroyed the temple of the Lorde and robbed awaye the siluer and goldeÌ„ vessels thereof The very same doth this man also he robbed the mynisters of Gods house and left destitute of due helpe In like maner doth he Truly they be better that are killed wyth the sword then they which be pined with hunger for they are dead straight but these are wasted with the barrennes of the earth O daughter all they that passe by the waye let them haue pitye and compassion on thee for there is no sorrowe like thy sorrowe For nowe thy face is blacker then coales through much sorrow and weepinge and thou art no more knowen in the streates thy foresayd ruler hath placed thee in darcknes and hath giuen thee wormewood and gall to drincke O Lord heare the sorrowe and sighinges of thy people behold Lord and descende for the hart of this foresaid man is more indurate then the hart of Pharao For hee wil not suffer thy people to departe excepte in the fortitude onelye of thy hande For he scourgeth them not onely myserablye vppon the earth but also after theyr death he intendeth to incroche the goodes of Christians vnder the name and title to dye intestate or making no will Therefore let the chiualrye of Englande well remember howe the
weary of his mockery his market decayed A thousande other practises were put in vre by him and his clergye as appeareth at large in Theodoricus and yet because the Pope did it is was no sinne for so they sayd generallye He sent abroad his collectours into diuers couÌ„tryes with pardons who thereby purloyned great treasures from the simple people so that they brought oute of some one prouince an hundred thousand Florences but the Pope calling these his officers to accompte and findinge that some of them defrauded him he put them in pryson some he put to death some murthered themselues some were he wed in peeces by the people for their cruell exactions When these and the former shiftes waxed stale then the Pope and his complices deuised newe They made newe grauntes of benefices which did disanull all the olde but they were very deare for they were sould for fifty dukates a peece and they to whom the Pope graunted them sould them with condicion that the sellar should haue porcion of the commoditye And if one man had a benefice graunted him the graunte were written and sealed yet if another came in the deede doinge ere it were deliuered and woulde giue more the former seale was broken the wrytinge cancelled and the graunte voyde and so as often as the price was enhaunsed the gift was chaunged yea they that made the former offers were rayled on and rebuked bitterly by Boniface charging them that they went about to beguile him in bargayning offering not so much as the benefice was worth At this time a contagious plague raigned in Rome wher of men dyed so fast that sayth Theodoricus I haue seene one benefice sould to many men in one weeke euery one paying the price for it and dying immediatly another came by and by and gaue money for it and so he dying the third did likewise Then might a doult get a lyuinge better cheape then a learned man for the Pope beinge ignorant loued those best that were likest to himselfe WheÌ„ money wanted yet rather then Boniface woulde leese his market he was contente to take other stuffe as hogges horses graine wheat neate sheepe or any thing els Thus were al the Popes courtiers become bargainers brokers vsurers and simonistes and he that could deuise the most crafty shiftes was counted wysest most esteemed Some hauing then a graunt to take for himselfe perhaps ii iii. or iiii of the benefices that he could espye next voyde woulde by meanes of this commission cease vpon xx and keepe the commoditye of them in his handes they that vsed these shiftes were the Popes auditours by this meanes they disapointed other men that had the like grauÌ„tes and thus they might do with pretence of law because they had prerogatiues being chaplaines and officers vnto Pope Boniface Hereupon a rose manye suetes and controuersyes in law so that the clients being woÌ„derfully encreased in nomber the proctours and lawyers would not plead but haue vnreasonable fees The Pope also for euery seale that hee graunted had his â—ee of al men except his Cardinals thus was Rome on all sides fleeced filched and fleaed And yet in all this simony and briberye euerye one that receiued a benefice had an oath ministred to him that he came by it wtout any vnlawfull conditions of bying or sellinge Afterward the said Boniface decreed that euerye archbishop bishop abbot or such like if within a yeare after the receyuing of his lyuing he had not fully satisfyed the Popes treaâ—urye the lyuing to be voyde immediatly and in this snare many prelates of all degrees was sodenly trapped so that of archbishops bishops and abbots they became my Lords quondam of rich men beggers Many fugitiue friers hedge priestes roages rascals verlets and pezaunts seing this ranne thicke to the Popes court offering themselues to serue him as his slaues on whoÌ„ he bestowed the lyuinges whereof other were depriued so that some that to daye were ruffians beggers lackeyes as to morrowe were become bishops archbishops abbots and priors thus on all sides the miser Boniface made a miserable clergy for greedines of money Beside this many monkes and fryers did purchase licence of him to dwel aloofe oute of their religious houses and cloisters priestes boughte lycences to haue as many benefices and dignities as they could get to sel their olde and to buye newe and to be nonresident at their pleasure Neither sayth Theodoricus could any thing be demaunded so vniust and absurde but for money it might be gotten And as Boniface did so his couetous mother and two of his brethren beinge in his court with him obtained grauntes of him at their pleasure and sould them for double the price If any noble men came to the court with fayre horses then the mother and her sonnes woulde be sure to haue them or the most part of them for no man durst deny them any thing that they craued This Boniface had also a sister whom he gaue in mariage to the Earle of S. FlauiaÌ„ and made him duke of Adria geuinge him w t his sister 17. Thousand Florences but at length the said duke in a fraye slue her with a knife for the which that duke was afterwarde trayterouslye murthered Manye tumults were made procured by this Boniface in diuers places and especially one bloudye sedition which lasted longe in Peruse Also he entertayned very curteously a certaine abbot who to gratifye him had murthered Beordus gouernour of Peruse in his bedde chamber suffering him vpon especial good will and amitye to come into him In the xi yere of this Boniface one Nicolas de Columna made a conspiracye to haue come in the nighte vpon the saide Pope to haue depriued him of his temporall iurisdiction but hee geuinge the attempt and coÌ„minge with his men in armour to the Popes gate was yet disapointed and fled but the next daye xxxi of his seruauntes that by commaundemente wayted vpon him were apprehended and though one word of the Popes mouth mighe haue saued their liues yet they were all haÌ„ged but one who being but a striplin for waÌ„t of an hangmaÌ„ was promised pardon if he would hang the rest who pausing there at a while because his owne father and brother were of the same companye did yet at the last for sauinge of his owne life do the execution both on his father brother and the rest weeping tenderlye at this hard hap And yet he also should afterwarde haue beene hanged but at the people moued with compassion sued for his life This Boniface receyued to fauour maister Adam an Englishe Cardinal being skilfull in the Hebrew tongue He banished vtterlye the Earle of Fundus who at the first procured the discord He raigned ouer the Romaynes not like a bishop but like a saluage tyrant Nero or Caligula He suspectinge diuers Romaynes of treason against him did cause them to be put to death He repayred and fortifyed the Pallaice Vatican the Capitol Angell Castel There was neuer
fault vvherof he vvas mistrusted De Clemente quod est coÌ„scriptum carmine crimen Id verum aut fallum protinus esse scio Si verum est verenam possum dicere mundi Vrna breuis vitium claudit omne scelus Si falsum est vere iam possum scribere mundi Dux pax lux paruo contegitur tumulo Et falsum esse reor Quis enim coÌ„mittere summum Pontificem Rome talia monstra putet Iohn Tillius sayth in his Chronicle that this Pope beinge taken prysoner by the Emperours armye as shal be at large declared was redeemed for fourtye Thousande FloreÌ„ces Also of this Clement it is reported in a certaine Commentarye vpon the articles of the maisters of Paris that he was one that practised poysoninges a murderer a baude an vncleane liuer and that in such sort as for offending of chast eares is not to be named Also he is charged there with simonye adulterye rauishing of women periurye coniuring and to be a Church robber fraught with al kinde of villâ—uye and therfore a certaine Poet wrote thus of him Clementi nomen dedit inclementia fati Bellorum hic fomes cunctorum Lerna malorum Valerius Anselmus wryting of this ClemeÌ„t sayth thus ClemeÌ„t being of a dissembling wit in the last yeare of his Papacye repayred to the French king at Massilia where they two agreed so together that the king toke Katherine nice vnto this Pope Clement at his motion with a great dowrye of Ecclesiasticall dignityes and maryed her vnto his second sonne Henry duke of Orleans This the Pope wrought to arme him selfe the stroÌ„ger against the Lutheranes whose bloud he hunted after But in SepteÌ„ber he and other of his Cardinals and familiaritye were preuented by the straunge poyson of a charmed Taper c. Clement in making this mariage would first haue had the saide Katherine bestowed on the Frenche kinges eldest sonne if it could haue bin But it came to the same effecte in the ende for soone after the eldest sonne dyed and then her husbande Henry duke of Orleans was nexte heire and kinge of Fraunce and by this meanes the Popes nyce according to the desire of her vncle became Queene of FrauÌ„ce being the same woman that yet lyueth in Fraunce in these bloudye dayes being mother to Charles that now is king For this her aduauncement she hath shewed herselfe verye thanckfull vnto Italye and vnto the Court of Rome both in plantinge Italians in diuers greate offices in the Realme of Fraunce and also fortifyinge the Popes auctoritye to the vttermost of her power with greater beneuolence to her owne countrye Italye then is thoughte profitable to the countrye of Fraunce Iohannes Baptista Folengius in his CoÌ„mentarye vpon the 105. Psalme hath these woords For it is reported that in our dayes Pope Clement the seuenth dyed of that most lothsome and filthye disease called morbus pedicularis that is to be eaten wyth lyce some say that he was poysoned He was a mortall creature and therefore subiect to infinite miseryes and diseases as other men are c. Clement being dead this Epitaphe was made on him whereby it appeareth how the world iudged of his life Clementem eripuit nobis clementia fati Humanum toto gaudeat orbe genus Hic est qui fuerat iam dedecus vrbis orbis Et fuit aetatis magna ruina suae Hic est si nescis qui iam tibi Roma parauit Excidium pestem funera bella famem Hic est per quem tot prostrant in vrbe puellae Per quem pulsus honos virgineumque decus Hic est qui molles euexit ad astra cinaedos Formosum à tergo munere iuuet Hylam Hic est qui fuerat viuens infamia mundi Imperij labes spurcitiesque sui Contemptor diuûm scelerum vir publicus hostis Perfidus ingratus raptor iniquus atrox Exosus vitam morbo tenuatus amaro Stabat Paeonia non reuocandus ope Mortem implorabat nec mortem fata sinebant Gaudebant longa sed cruciare mora Hic vidit mortis centum tormenta futurae Poena tamen mortis non fuit aequa suae Ex ista tandem migrauit luce tyrannus Quo nullus toto peior in orbe fuit ¶ Pasquil to Rome Roma vale vide satis est vidisse reuertar Quum leno aut meretrix scurra cinaedus ero Under this Clement Nicolas Machiauel Secretarye of Florence and a famous Historiographer did flourishe who in the first booke of his historye of Florence sayth that for the most part the mischiefes that happeÌ„ amonge the Christians proceede of the ambition of the Popes And that before the time of Theodoricus kinge of Lombardes that is till about the yeare of our Lorde 500 they were euer subiecte to kinges in ciuill matters But sayth he they encroached by little and little the ciuil iurisdiction and finallye do vsurpe Lordship euen aboue the verye Emperours They haue growen to this height as he sheweth by three meanes by excommunicating by geuing pardoÌ„s by the sword Furthermore in his discourses vpon the fift decade of Liue Cap. xii he sheweth the contempte of Religion is cause of the ouerthrow of al common wealthes namelye that the occasion both of discorde and euill successe in Christendome is because that Religion is contemned whereof there can be no greater coniecture saith he then that those people which are nearest to the Church of Rome the heade of our Religion haue least Religion And he that by experience would know the truth of this matter if he were of sufficient power and auctoritye to transport the Court of Rome into Zwitzerland where onelye at this daye the people do liue both according to Religion warlicke sort of antiquitye he should perceiue that the detestable demeanour of the Popes Courte would cause more disorder in the countrey then any chaunce els that mighte happen at anye time c. 166. Paule the thirde PAule the third borne in Rome was first called Alexander Farnesius He bâ—inge a Cardinall and bisshop of Hostia and a man almost spent in yeeres was chosen to succede Clement and yet he raigned fiftene yeeres Valerius writing of him saith This holy man did his endeuour accordinge to the custome of his auncestours to aduaunce his children and to suppresse Luther and his adherentes He was very conning in astrologie southsaying and coniuring by meanes wherof being a young man he did manye strange feates He caused his owne sister to yelde her selfe concubine vnto Pope Alexander the sixte that hee might therby obtaine the red hatte But in his Papacie beinge an aged man he deuised a newe profession of religious men He purposing to reforme the estate of the church of Rome sommoned a generall councell at Mantua but to no purpose and likewise in the later Tridentine councell he could not preuaile Valerius Anselmus Paulus Vergerius Iohn Sleidan and other late writers do report these thinges that follow of him It were to long to
desperation and so continued a most myserable man to his death tormented in conscience Paulus Vergerius did also hardlye escape the rigorous hand of this Iohn Casa But to be short it were a tedious thinge to declare at large all the demeanour of this Pope Iulye the thirde in the time of his Iubelie and in the Tridentine councell in establishing the idoll of Lauret and in his quarell braule with the bishop of Armin comptrollour of his house for one peacocke other such like trifles For he delighted much in the eating of peacocks and swynes fleshe but when his Phisitian had giuen him warning that he should forbeare swines fleshe because it was hurtfull for the goute his disease yet Iulius would not forbeare The Phisition therefore gaue councell to the Popes Steward to take order that the Pope should haue no such meate serued at the table Whereuppon the Pope wantinge his dish asked What is become of our bacon The Steward aunswered that the Phisition willed him that hee shoulde not set it on The Pope forthwith violently brast into these wordes sayinge Fetche me my meate hether Al di spetto di Dio as he might say in English In spite of Gods hart This blasphemous outrage is a common phrase amonge ruffians and varlets of Italye in their rage and as coÌ„mon with Pope Iulius as to other beside other lasciuious and vnciuill speach On a time he had at his table a peacocke which was vntouched and therefore he commaunded that it should be kept for him til Supper for I wil quoth he haue certaine of my freindes with me at supper in my garden When supper time came the Pope was serued with hot peacocks but his cold peacocke came not in according to his commaundemeÌ„t And therefore he began according to his custome to blaster out his blasphemyes raginge and raylinge One of the Cardinals that sat at the table sayd I beseeche your holines not to be so highlye offended for so small a matter No quoth Iulius If God were so offended for one apple that he threw our first parentes out of Paradise why shoulde not I that am his Uicar be angrye for my peacocke seing a peacocke is of greater valew then an apple This Iulius caused this sentence to be printed on his coyne Gens regnum peribit quod mihi non inseruit That nacion and kingdome shall perishe which doth not serue me When he shoulde create one Peter Betauus Cardinall certaine of the Cardinals stoode against it vrginge especiallye that the sayd bishop was infected with Luthers heresye What then quoth the Pope were it not better for vs by putting on him the Cardinals hat to purge him of that vncleanes and by that bonde to knit him vnto vs rather then to suffer him by escaping from vs to ioyne wyth oure ennemyes in Germanye as Vergerius hath done After sixe yeares raigne this Pope Iulius died Anno 1555. the xxiii daye of May. Upon whom these verses were made Quò ventum est superi quò vis progessa Diones Quò gula quò luxus quò genus omne mali Ambrosie foetent epulae mareotica sordent Vina nisi Iliacus porrigat illa puer Caetera mens horret meminisse ea discat ab vno Crimine me quisquis legerit atque gemat Among diuers other Epitaphs this was written of him and sent from place to place as followeth Iohannes Maria â— Monte. c. Iohn Maria of the mount by haphazard obteining the papacie in the time that the Cardinalles were at a great braule which he durst neuer presume to hope for In 6. yeres he did shed more Christian bloud then any other Antechrist hath done at any tyme. Fex sacrificulorum grex Episcoporum armentum Cardinalium gratitudinis ergo monimentuÌ„ aeternum posuit Ciuill eares perhap will be offended that a man shoulde â—ere set down the sluttishe behauiour vsed in three pointes by this Pope Iuly euen at open table otherwise then any person of meane modestie would do in priuate chamber As Beza sheweth in this EpigraÌ„ made of this Pope Iuly Ebrius ad mensam quum Iulius ille sederet Impia quem potuit Roma nec ipsa pati Tres pariter fertur pelues habuisse paratas Vt triplici triplex vase leuaret onus Vna alui pondus vomitum altera peluis habebat Tertia uesicae concipiebat onus I nunc pontifices Germania dira negato Omnia clausa suo iura tenere sinu And yet this Pope was he whose auctoritie and supremacie was with all humilitie and deuoute reuerence restored here in England in the yere of our Lorde 1554. by queene Mary From this man Cardinal Poole who before was outlawed and vanished for high treason against king Henry the viij came into England and brought with him this Popes blessinge pardon and absolution For the whiche Cardinal Poole was made Primat of England and Archbyshop of Canterbury Thus the Popes blessing and pardon was receiued by the estate of Englande And Pontacus in his cronicle published Anno. 1572. printed in Louany by Iohn Fowler an Englishman that blotteth much paper to publishe grosse vntruthes for the defamynge of his countrey by him forsaken is not ashamed Folio 179. to reporte but boastingly writeth it that kinge Phillip and Queene Mary with the whole Parliament house did humbly kneele vpon theyr knees to receiue the Cardinals blessinge and absolution from the Popes holynesse But it is well known and the knowledge therof dearely bought by Englande how that noble Queene being otherwise of great wisedome and godly minde yet ouermuche deceyued by ignorance in scripture and putting too great a confidence in the Popes autoritie the antiquitie of her religion and the professours therof did euen of simple zeale yeld the disposition and orderinge of her affayres ouermuch to the crafty clergie who with fyre and faggot followed in England the rygorous example of Iuly practized in Italy against those that dissented from the Popes doctrine But this is both at large set forth in the actes and monuments of the Church and further is not pertinent to this purpose and therefore not here to be mentioned at large Onely this is that whiche I note â–ª to what kinde of person of lyfe and conuersation England in these later dayes submitted it selfe as to his generall Pastour and the vicar of Christ. Of what maner of man we receyued blessinge and absolution so deuoutly whom we did so highly commend honour and reuerence aboue our natural prince with heauenly title of our moste holy father the Pope To whom and to whose seruile yoke our prynce dyd yelde her selfe to be at his commaundement whose curse we feared whose loue and fauour we sought to purchase with infinite treasure whose displeasure caused bothe prynce and people to quake as it were at hel fyer If the person that thus bleared vs be considered I doubte not but we shall firste be ashamed of him secondely ashamed of our selues that we haue thus fallen downe and
saith that there wer fiue thousand Christians martyred euery daye in the yeare sauing the first daye of Ianuary For they were persecuted by Nero his commaundement in all places with diuerse straunge kinde of tormeÌ„tes and reprochefull villanies not to be mencioned The seconde persecution was moued by the Emperoure Domician Anno. 96. who was a man so much delighted in killing murthering that as the prouerbe went of him he would not haue a flye aliue with him for being as he coueted moste solitary by him selfe in his pallaice he vsed to catche and kill all the flies that came in his waye Againe he was so hawty aboue measure that he woulde nedes be counted a God and therefore it may easely be iudged what rest the Christians had in his time The thirde persecution was raysed by Traianus Anno 100. so bloudely that euen the Heathen Pliny moued with pitie bewayled it vnto the Emperoure The fourth persecution was styrred Anno. 167. by the Emperour Marcus Antonius lasting long vnder sondrie Emperours vnmercifully The fift persecution was caused by Seuerus the Emperour with all seueritie forbidding that any more should be baptized purposing so to roote out the name of ChristiaÌ„s Anno. 205. The sixth persecutioÌ„ was enkindled by Maximinê° 237. The seuenth was enflamed by Decius the Emperoure Anno. 250. as terrible as the rest The eight was broched by diuerse parsones in diuerse places As by Galerius Maximus and Paternus proconsuls in Aphrica by Emilianus Liuetenaunt in Egypt beside diuers other great magistrates in Rome els where Anno. 259. The ninth by the Emperour Aurelianus Anno. 278. The tenth and last as the last acte of a tragedy was brought vpon the churche with all kinde of saueige cruelty without pity or compassion by the bloudy tyrant Dioclesian and continued by other till the comming of the noble Constantine And this was the state of the churche vnder the Emperours of Rome for these yeares Nowe let the reader iudge of what maiestie and countenaunce the prelates in this time were like to be of what wealth abilitie to maintaine a poÌ„pous estate Or what it was that might moue them to make any suche ambicious decrees as haue bene falsely forged on them And hereby discerne the after age in the Romaine churche to this daye howe farre they differ from this as shall appeare THE FIRST COMPANIE OF ROMAINE BISHOPS being in nomber to Syluester the first xxxij all whiche were godly and faithfull pastours farre from all wordly pompe and glory either in pride of attier as miter and pall or of hawty and ambicious title of Christes generall vicar but paynfull preachers of the Gospell with all humilitie and constant martyrs in the ende 1. Linus the first bishop of Rome as some thinke THe first bishop was one Linus a Thuscane borne a man of pure and godly life according to the example of the Apostles who for preaching the Gospell suffered martyrdome vnder Saturninus the Consull while Vespasian raigned Diuerse fansies are fathered vpon this man as that he decreed by the commaundement of Peter being dead that no woman should enter into the temple bareheaded whiche cannot be for there were no temples in Rome til the time of Constantine the Emperour for Christian Congregations And Manâ—uan Fastor 1. testifieth that they were fayne for feare of the tyrantes to forsake towne and City and to lyue in these dayes in desertes woodes and mountaynes whiche maye bewraye the dotage of Platina and other who charge these first godly martyrs with diuerse supersticions diuised by other long after 2. Anacletus the first ANacletus borne at Athens by Irenaeus is placed next after Linus He was of an excellent and feruent spirite and of great learning planted the churche of God with daily labour He was put to death by DomitiaÌ„ Anno. 94. Certaine epistles and decrees stuffed full of falsehoode and vntruthes ioyned with ambicion touching the ordering primacie of bishops are counterfaited in his name But Flaccus Illyricus in the first Centurie doth so rip the seames of them that euery man may perceiue what botched stuffe it is Beside Mantuan saith that he liued long not in any suche estate to haue occasion to wryte of suche matters but in caues and dennes among woodes 3. Clement the first THe next was Clement a Romaine who aduaunced the Gospell by continuall preaching and good dedes They forge of him that he did deuide Rome into parishe churches who had scant a lodging in it Againe they slaunder him that he made orders in Rome for confirmation of children for masses apparell vestures and popishe ceremonies and yet he sylly man was of so smale power and authoritie to establishe these thinges in Rome that he was a long tyme banished by the Emperour to hewe marble stones and at the length with an anchour about his necke was cast into the sea Anno. 102. so writeth Mantuan Fasto 11. 4. Euaristus the first EVaristus a Grecian was especially endewed with the grace of God whereby in the time of persecutioÌ„ he ceased not to encrease the churche of Christe by his diligent preaching till he was martyred vnder Traian An. 110. 5. Alexander the first ALexander a Romaine did trauayle painfully both to preache and baptize He suffered great tormentes till he died thereof vnder one Aurelianus president to the Emperoure Anno. 121. 6. Sixtus the first SIxtus a Romaine did both preache diligently and did many good workes He beautified the churche with godly deedes being euer vigilant and carefull for his flocke and died for it Anno. 129. These three good byshops are slaundered with certaine popishe decrees as touching consecrating of the Clergy holy water and holy vessels but olde verses made of these times do testifie that they were not at suche leasure to furnishe or rather disguise the churche with these supersticious ceremonies Thus do some wryte of these tymes Vrbibus antiqui patres fugiere relictis c. The tyrantes did our auncetours compell To flye to woodes and not in townes to dwell 7. Telesphorus the first TElesphorus a Grecian was a worthy man for learning and godly life He bare witnesse of Christe moste faythfully both by his wordes and death vnder the Emperoure Antoninus who executed him Anno. 140. He is slaundered to haue decreed that thre masses should be sayde on Christmas daye And yet at this time the masse was vnhatched yea the dame thereof except Sathan the bell sier was as a man maye saye not yet an egge in the neaste of that vncleane byrde Neyther was the superstitioÌ„ of making difference of dayes yet crepte into the churche being contrary to the doctrine of Paule Galath 4. But suche supersticious fasting as afterward choked the churches was not diuised by this bishop but rather by Montanus the heretike who beside this made it lawfull to breake wedlocke and to dissolue the band of matrimony 8. Higinus the first HIginus borne in Athens being of a Christian philosopher made a byshop discharged the dutie of
a good pastour and painfull labourer in the Lordes haruest and at length was put to death cruelly Anno. 144. It is reported that he wrote out of a caue where he hid him selfe an Epistle touching God and the incarnation of the sonne of God 9. Pius of Aquilia PIus borne in Aquilia is reported to haue done many godly dedes in the church vnder Antonius Verus And in the end watered the churche of Christe with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 159. 10. Anicetus ANicetus a Sirian was a diligent pastour of the churche of Rome till he was martyred Anno. 169. 11. Sother SOther borne in Campania as the valiaunt souldiour of Christe Iesus serued vnder his spirituall banner in the time of Antonius Cōmodus He employed him self moste diligently to bring the soules of the baptized to saluation in Christe both by doctrine and example of life And in the ende confirmed the Gospell whiche he had faithfully preached with his bloud in martyrdome Anno. 177. 12. Eleutherius ELeutherius a Grecian was also a carefull and vigilant pastour in his time the persecution of the tyrants did somewhat decreace many godly writers bestowed great paynes to wryte sondry learned bookes against diuerse heresies and heretikes whiche then enfected the churche And among other this Eleutherius did also defende against Titianus that no vsuall trade of life is to be reiected But not withstanding that the stormes of persecution were somewhat calmed in his time because many of the Romayne nobilitie beleued on Christe yet Masseus saythe he was beheaded Anno. 191. 13. Victor VIctor borne in Aphrica did succeade Eleutherius This man was the first that when the storme of persecution was calmed vsurping authoritie vpon straungers sought to haue an oar in an other mans boate In the former byshops saith Vincelius the spirite abounded but in these that folowe the temptacion of fleshe and bloud preuayled Policrates bishop of Ephesus and Iraeneus bishop of Lions did bouldly reproue this Victor for exempting his bretheren in Asia from the communiō because in keping Easter day they folowed not the vse of the churche of Rome So that the churche was then rent in twayne by meanes of his obstinacy He died Anno. 203. 14. Zepherinus ZEpherinus was a Romaine borne a man as writers do testifie more addicted with all endeuour to the seruice of God then to the cure of any worldly affayres Where as before his time the wine in the celebrating the cōmuniō was ministred in a cup of woode he first did alter that and in steade thereof brought in cuppes or chalices of glasse And yet he did not this vpon any supersticion as thinking woode to be vnlawefull or glasse to be more holy for that vse but because the one is more comly and semely as by experience it appeareth then the other And yet some wooden doultes do dreame that the wooden cuppes were chaunged by him because that part of the wine or as they thought the royall bloud of Christe did soake into the woode and so it can not be in glasse Surely soner may wine soake into any woode then any witte into those winie heads that thus both deceiue them selues and slaunder this Godly martyr Who in the yeare of our lorde 220. suffered martyrdome vnder Aurelius In the time of this Zepherinus the Artemonites were a secte of vaine Philosophicall diuines who as our late scholemen did corrupt the scripture with Aristotle and Theophrastus turning all into curious and subtile questions 15. Calixtus the first CAlixtus borne at Rauenna when persecution began to wexe hotte againe did like a constant Christian hide him selfe with many moe in a certaine place on the farther side of Tiber. In these daies saith Platina al thinges were kept close and hidden because the persecution was so great euery where yea their churches and places of assembly were in corners and caues for the moste parte But Anno 226. this Calixtus was apprehended by the commaundement of Alexander Seuerus and was beaten with coodgiels pent in prison afterwarde hurled headlong out of a wyndowe and then his bodie was drowned in a depe pitte 16. Vrbanus VRbanus a Romaine liued vnder that moste lasciuious wreatche Heliogabalus the Emperoure and with his sinceritie of life and excellencie in learning he drewe many men on all sides to the Gospell He was oftentimes banished the citie for the Christian faithe but being secretlye brought in againe by the faithfull he was martyred by cōmaundement of Seuerus Anno. 233. 17. Pontianus POntianus a Romaine in the time of the sayde Emperour Seuerus being one of Christes ministers and a distributer of Gods misteries suffered both banishement punishement for the Gospell and the churche sake For when they ran thicke to him to heare him preache the worde by the princes commaundement being set on by the Idolatrous priestes he is caried frō Rome to the Isle Sardinia where after many miseries and sore tormētes he was put to death Anno. 239. 18. Antheros ANtheros was borne in Grece a man of God if any wer He preached Christe stoutely euen vnder the tyranny of Maximinus the Emperour This byshop prouided first of all that the actes of martyrs should be diligently writtē by notaries least the remembraunce of Gods hardie souldiours should be lost with their liues This Antheros in the yeare 243. did with his bloude beutifie the churche whiche with his woorde he had fed before 19. Fabian AFter him came Fabius a Romain borne who as Eusebius witnesseth as he was returning home out of the fielde and with his contrimen present to electe a newe byshop there was a pygeon sene standing on his head and sodenly he was created pastour of the churche whiche he loked not for While he liued he him selfe sawe that the recordes of martyrs should be written and that burying places should be prepared for them who afterwarde vnder Decius that afterwarde dealt cruelly with his owne brethren ended his life with most glorious death Anno. 150. 20. Cornelius COrnelius a Romaine being in the time of Decius accounted the seuēth persecutour of Christe his church had a Godly care ouer the safetie of his neighbours He entertayned curteously and restored to the churche as many as hauing denied Christe in tormentes did yet repent thē of their deede afterward O the aboōdant spirite of Christ that was in this byshop O worthy minister of the Gospel for although this mā of God Cornelius was caried away into banishemēt yet he neuer fayled the churche of Christ. But as a valiant champiō in the maintenaūce of the truth did yelde his necke vnto the sworde of Decius 21. Lucius LVcius a Romain being a faithful seruant in the lordes house and driuen into banishment by Gallus Hostilianus the persecutour of Christianitie was comforted of S. Ciprian by his letters And at the lengthe after Gallus death euen by Gods wil retourned to Rome enriched the churche with healthful doctrine and afterward being purified in the lambes bloud he pearced the heauenly paradise
was by the kinges commaundement w t other mo impeached of treason finally arested in the ParliameÌ„t house to aunswere to his endightmeÌ„ts Whereunto after long pauze he aunswered clayming the priuiledge of the Church saying thus I am humble mynister of the holye Church c. and cannot neither ought to aunswere to such matters without the auctoritye of the bishop of Canterbury my directe iudge nexte vnder the Pope c. whereupon the other bishops stept vp and sued to the kinge for this their fellowe But when the king would not yeld the said bishops together w t the archbishops and the clergye comming with theyr crosses toke him away perforce chalenginge him to the Church wtout any other aunswere charging moreouer vnder the censure of terrible excommunication none to presume to laye any further handes vpon him And yet the kinge encouraged herewith commaunded lawe to passe vpon him and he being found gilty his goodes to be confiscate but yet the partye remayned safe vnder protection of the Archbishop of Canterbury This Pope lefte more abundance of treasure then euer any other did namely fiue and twenty thousand thousande Crownes in gould and yet but latelye before he ioyned in warre with Robert kinge of Apulia to defende Genua in which warre sayth Antonius Florentinus eyther syde spente as much treasure as woulde haue boughte a good kingdome 138. Benedict the xij BEnedict the xii borne in Tholos in profession a white fryer sath Paleonidorus called Iacob or Iames of Furne the sixtenth daye after the death of Iohn he was enstalled Pope This man sayth Marius was as vncurteous to the Emperour as euer was Pope Iohn he renued the curses against him he reft him of all regall dignitye by his sentence depriued him of the dukedome of Bauary The noble Emperour wente into Germany and called together behoulde his vertue and wysedome all the Princes electours Dukes Counties bishops and the best learned either in diuinitye or humanitye And in presence of them all with open and solemne proclamatioÌ„ he added and established his late confirmatioÌ„ with ould lawes and very wiselye proued that onelye the Princes electours no man els ought to medle w t the election of the king of the Romaynes so that he that had most voyces amonge them was to be accepted berely be it eyther king or Emperour which in effect are al one though in name they differ Because that he that is Emperour may take vpon him the gouernment beloÌ„ging to his estate without the confirmatioÌ„ of the Sea of Rome and he being lawfullye chosen ought after aduisemente giuen by the Princes to be annointed by the Pope Which if the Pope refused to do he might be proclaymed Emperour by any Catholick prelate as the vse hath long beene for these ceremonyes enioyed by the Pope are but imagined toyes and solemnityes deuised by the prelats of Rome who onely haue but the geuinge of the name not the thinge for a signe of vnitye and mutuall helpe and succoure betwene the Empire and the Church For the Emperour vowed to the Pope not an oath of alleageance and fealtye but of defendinge the Christian fayth for as much as the taking of this oath maketh not greater dignitye in temporall thinges Furthermore the Emperour shewed how that the estate being voide the righte thereof shoulde not belonge vnto the Pope and that to haue it so was against the libertye righte honour and maiestye of the Empire but by longe and allowable custome notwithstandinge the Clementine Canon and by decree vnmoueable hytherto kept bie his aâ—ncetours in the time the Empire is voyd the right of gouerning the Empire the bestowing of fealtyes and ordering of other affayres belongeth to the Palsgraue of Rhene Afterward for his owne defence he made proofe of his vpright and trusty dealing before them all plainlye confessed that he as a ChristiaÌ„ man ought to do did beleeue the Articles of Christian fayth euen as the Church taught and purged himselfe of all those accusatioÌ„s which Pope Iohn the xxiii and Benedict the xii had layed to his charge Thus did the godly Emperour of his owne good motion when as if he had not pitied the shedding ChristiaÌ„ bloude he might haue tryed the matter with the Pope by the dint of the sworde At the length Pope Benedict began to consider of the goodnes of this Emperour for wheÌ„ a certaine grudge happened betweene this Lewis Philip kinge of Fraunce by and by peace was made betwene the Emperour and the Pope And the Pope loued the Emperour so entirelye that he defended him against the Embassadours of the French king which euer spake sharpely against the Emperour stoutlye defended the Emperours innocencye So that it came to passe that the Pope was by them called defeÌ„der of an heretick whose words although Benedict for a while did much feare for they threatned to set vpon him with all their powers if he absolued the Emperour yet in the end he absolued him And commaunded to proclaime throughe Germanye that all the processes of Iohn what soeuer they were should voyde and of no effecte and that it did not become Pope Iohn thus to deale with the Emperour seinge their two functions as diuers testifyed openly that Lewis had in all thinges behaued himselfe as mighte best beseeme so noble Christian an Emperour Yet it is to be noted that the Pope did not this of hartye good will to the Emperour but vpon pollicye for wheÌ„ he perceyued the king of Fraunce within whose precinct he was then abyding dealt vnfreindlye with him he feared that if he should also haue the Emperour his enemye he should haue no succour left if the French kinge should go about to do him displeasure And for this cause Benedict thoughte it stode with his commoditye to haue the fauour of the Emperour hoping it would so fall out that he durst attempt nothing against the Pope Such from time to time hath bene the pollicy of these prelats to maintaine their estate But to returne to the purpose and leaue these words of Marius Pope Benedict auouched the iudgmeÌ„t of his predecessour against Lewis He appointed deputies in those townes of Italye that belong to the Empire and toke to himselfe from the Emperour the Senatourship of Rome He deuised that euery thing did belonge to the Court of Apostolicall peniteÌ„ciary He appointing subsidyes gathered houge sommes of money out of euery nation He first toke vpon him to vsurpe the presentments of all bishopricks prelatships and benefices He abridged vnlearned men of priesthoode He reformed manye sectes of monckes He commaunded that all his chapleins shoulde lye in one dormitorye together and should haue none other reuenues then for their diet and apparell He with a great somme of money bought for his carnall desire the sister of Frauncis Petrarcha a beutifull woman of her brother Gerard he denyed that the Pope had any kindred he published certaine actes as Leander testifyeth against the