Spaine for feare he should be compelled to renounce the Popedome and held a Councell at Parpignan and after went to remaine in the Castle of Panisole to be there more assured In this time was a Councell held at Pise to revnite the Vniuersall Church wherevnto Gregorie and Benet were cited but they had no care to appeare but derided it And so thinking to do well they made a double schisme and diuision Before there was two Popes and now three For at the said Councell Gregorie and Benet were deposed and one called Alexander was instituted During the said Councell of Pise Gregorie the 12. fled also into Austrich but fearing not to be there in suretie he returned into Italie and dwelt in the Citie of Arinunum vnder the protection of a Baron called Malateste To the said deposition of the two Popes as it were all Christian Nations consented except a part of Spaine and the Count Arnimake and the kingdome of Scotland which fauoured the said Benet the 11. What shall we say of this schisme of three Popes but that it is a token that that seate of Babilon shall bee diuided in three parts as it is said in the Apocalips and that from thence shall come the ruine of Antichrist and his end The yeare of Christ 1409. Chrisebeles or Calephin the first the fift Emperour of the Turkes obtained victorie against Sigismond This Calephin raigned sixe yeares left two sonnes Orchanes and Mahomet but Orchanes was slaine by his Vncle Moyses who was after slaine by Mahomet the first of that name Alexander Pope fift of that name was elected at the Councell of Pise borne in the I le of Candie of the order of Friars called before Peter Philarge or of Candie First Bishop of Nauarre after Archbishop of Millaine and consequently Cardinall Priest of the title of the Church of the 12. Apostles and succeeded Gregorie in the Popedome After that the two old Popes Gregorie and Benet were deposed at the Councell of Pise as is said this was chosen by the consent of all the Cardinalls vnto which degree and dignitie he being come as Platina saith it was with good right that they called him Alexander Seeing he that before was but a poore begging Friar might be compared to any Prince whatsoeuer in matter of prodigall and superfluous expences and in greatnesse of courage Herehence it comes that that Graspopper in times past of small and base condition did obtaine in the Kingdome of Abaddon a face like a mans and teeth like to them of a Lyon This Pope also vsed commonly to say as hee played that hee had bene a rich Bishop a poore Cardinall and a begging Pope This Alexander was of so great boldnesse that in the Councell of Pise with the consent of the Priests that were there present he tirannously depriued of the right of his father the kingdome Ladislaus then king of Naples and of Pouille who occupied certaine seignories which the Church had ill gotten And vniustly adiudged it to Lewis Duke d' Aniou After that this Councell of Pise was finished this Pope went to Bolongne of which Towne a wicked Sodomite called Balthasar Cosse Cardinall of S. Eustache had the gouernment whom Alexander confirmed in his election because through his subtill deuises that Councell had bene assembled And also for that hee was a man meete encounter at any time with such as would seise vpon any goods of the Church There was in this man as Platina saith more fiercenesse boldnesse and secularitie if I may say so then his estate required His life was esteemed like a man of warres giuen altogether vnto crueltie In such sort that in this holy singlenesse of life he thought that many things were lawfull vnto him which ought not so much as to be named See what Platina saith Amongst other acts worthy of a Pope this Alexander published certain Bulles touching the Stigmates or markes and wounds of S. Francis his Idoll that they might be placed in the ranke of the Articles of the Christian faith and ordained them a solemne Feast that they might be honoured of the faithfull As this good Pope began to be sicke of a poysoned drinke which was giuen him by Marcillus of Parma a Phisitian whom Balthasar had hired to do it for a great summe of money as Panetius reciteth it in his 56. Sermon And knowing that his death was nigh he exhorted the Cardinalls as they came towards him to mutuall concord and to maintaine the libertie of the Church That is to say to make peace amongst the wicked and to maintain the Papall pompe and seate that Iesus Christ may be troden vnder foote Iohn Bauiers Bishop of Liege the Duke of Bauiers his brother Lord of Holland and Count of Hainaut being chased from the Towne demanded helpe against the Liegeior of the Duke of Burgongne that married his sister who fighting against them of Liege hee slew more then fortie thousand of them burnt their Citie Churches and Monasteries The Priests slew and put to death their women and children Fascic Temp. The Vniuersitie of Lipse or Lypizen was set vp by the Maisters of the Vniuersitie of Prage by the aide of Frederic Marquis of Misne and after Duke of Saxonie Sigismond sonne of Charles the fourth King of Hungarie and of Boheme brother of Wencelaus after the death of Albert was chosen Emperour of Rome by the consent of all He performing the dutie of a true Emperour was very renowned in wisedome knowledge and bountie Hee loued vertuous people and such as were learned and raised them vp vnto honour and dignitie yet he was vanquished by Amurathes Emperour of the Turkes and lost a great battaile and his Tents Pauilions He went by the space of three yeares through Europe to set order and to roote out the great schisme so damageable to all Christendome Therfore hauing reiected three Popes schismatikes and vnlegitimate and which held the seate at Barione Oddo Columnius was made Pope by the consent of all Iohn Pope 24. of that name succeeded Alexander and ruled at Bolongne fiue yeares or thereabouts hee was before called Balthasar Cosse or Ihea de Coza after the Sea of Histories Cardinall of Eustache Some there are euen of such as approoue the Popish tyrannie which affirme that he came vnto the Popedome rather by force and violence then by free and Canonicke election For as Stella saith being at Bolongne rather as a Lord and Maister then as a Legate when the Fathers were there assembled to chuse a new Pope he exceedingly threatned them if they elected not such an one as pleased him Therefore many were presented whereof hee would not approoue one Then said the Cardinalls vnto him Name him of whom you can like And he answered Giue me S. Peters Mantle and Pontificall habit and I will giue them vnto him whom I would to bee Pope When hee had the habit hee put it vpon himselfe and saide it is
at large in the booke of Martyrs which I haue set forth At the Iourney of Carignan in Piemont nigh Cirisolles the Emperialists vnder the conduction of Alphonsus Dauall are discomfited by the Prince d' Anguien The Emperour taketh againe Luxembourge by composition he taketh Ligni and the Castle after S. Dedier where Rene Prince of Aurange was stricken with a bullet and died to the great griefe of the Emperour Anthonie Duke of Lorraine died not so much of age as of griefe to see the warre so nigh him yea euen as it were in his Countrey Francis his sonne succeeded him who married the Emperours Neece The King of England laid siege before Bologne and in the end tooke it by composition The Emperor being incamped vpon the Riuer of Marne the Count Guillam de Furstemberge was taken by certaine French horsmen as he sounded the Watch. The Emperor being at Soisson made peace with the king of France the 24. of September In the moneth of March Lewis Palatin Elector deceased and had Frederic his brother his successor Henry de Brunswic a sworne enemie of all vertue making no account of Marie the sister of Vlrich Prince of Wittemberge his wife but giuing himselfe to an whore one of his wiues Damzells by whome hee had seuen children was accused by the Protestants in a full Audience of Estates the fift of Aprill and to the end the thing should be more secret they caused to be made an Image like to an whore by certane Apostate women when this was done they caused her to bee buried with great pompe and magnificences after they had made all the Priests thereabouts say Masses Vigills and all the Seruice accustomed to be done by the Papists at the buriall of their dead To this he had nothing to answere but remained confounded The King of France caused a Fort to be built vpon the sea banke nigh Bullen to hinder the victualling of the Towne holding his Armie thereabouts Charles Duke of Orleance the king of France his sonne who should haue bene sonne in lawe or in other alliance of the Emperour the ninth day of September beeing of the age of 23. yeares was taken away by a malladie which held him but fewe dayes Guillam de Fustemberge prisoner at Paris after he had payed 30000. Skutes for his raunsome was set at libertie in the lowe Countrie with the Emperour who honourably and amiably receiued him The Sorbonists of Paris were assembled at Mèlun by the Kings commaundement to determine of Articles to propose at the Councell After long disputation they thought it best wholy to followe them which they had lately caused to be disputed on at Paris The Theologians at Louaine writ 32. Articles of the same subiect that they of Paris Peter Bridly minister in the Church of the Straungers at Strasbourge was secretly called vnto Tornay by such as were there desirous of the Gospell after hee had some litle while caught there the 19. of Februarie he was cruelly burnt with a litle fire See the booke of Martyrs Francis Duke of Lorraine died leauing a sonne a litle child The Bishop of Mets his Vncle and his mother were appointed his Tutors The daughter of Ferdinand married to the sonne of the king of Poland dyeth also This Pope Paul had assigned the Councell of Trent as is said not to remedie the euills of Christianitie for the tranquilitie of consciences or to place Religion in a good seate and estate to the honor and glory of God but to tread vnder feet his truth and to oppresse the Ministers of his word In which place seeing that he did not all he would the yeare 1546. vnder colour that the ayre was there corrupted he transported himself vnto Boulongne to the end by that meane hee might the better take away all libertie from Christians to say their opinions and to hinder the reformation of the Church This Antichrist raised horrible and straunge warres against the seruants of God pursuing them by fire sword imprisonments and all other sorts of punishments Yea he spared not his Cardinalls namely Fulger and Contarien after they had tasted the sauour of the word of God nor the Bishop of Pontus Iohn Baptist nor his brother Paulus Vergerius Bishop of Iustinopoli The chiefe amongst the tormentors were his Nephewes the Cardinall Farnese and Octaua Duke of Parma his brother which beyond all measure glorying therein the yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ 1546. as they were vpon their departure frō Italie into Almaine to make warre vpon the Protestants they vaunted brauely and fiercely that they would make such an effusion of the Lutherans bloud that their horses should swim therin And the meane while that good holy Father Paul tooke his pleasure with his daughter Constance after the old maner They say also that that old man stinking as a Goate sollicited to whoredome an other his Niece who was a very honest maide and no lesse laudable for her honestie and chastitie then for her excellent beautie This Pope as Baleus saith had in his Tables the number of 45000. whores whereof he exacted euery moneth tribute to the end they might haue libertie to exercise their whoredome and as saith the booke intituled Eusebius Captiue they are greatly esteemed they kisse the Popes feete they talke very familiarly with him they frequent day and night with him But such as trust onely in Iesus Christ and embrace the true doctrine are held by the Pope for heretickes and of him are banished set in prisons and stockes and punished by fire sword and Gallies The Elector Palatin reformed in his Countrey the doctrine and Popish ceremonies and receiued the Gospell The Conference of Reiusbourge is held See Sleidan The 7. of Ianuary the Councell began at Trent Alliance betwixt the Pope and the Emperour concluded the 26. of Iune to reduce the Almaines vnto the obedience of the Pantople The Pope binding himselfe to deliuer 200000. Ducats into the hands of the Venetians Moreouer to furnish ten thousand footemen Italians and fiue hundreth light-horsemen waged for sixe moneths Moreouer permitting the Emperour to sell of the reuenew of the Monasteries of Spaine to the valew of 100000. Crownes and to take the moitie of all Ecclesiasticall liuings In the end a peace was made betwixt the kings of France and England vpon conditiō that Bologne should remaine English vntil the king had payed the siluer by him promised On Satterday the 7. of August of this yeare 1546. the Towne of Maligues was in such sort handled with Thunder and Lightning that of long time there had not bene seene the like The Thunderbolt fell vpon a Tower called Saderpoort that is to say the gate of Canon powder where there was more then 800. Barels of Gunpowder which being on a flame augmented the tempest and first laid on the earth that which was about it after it so embraced the Towne that without abundance of raine mingled with the thunder it was thought
Yet notwithstanding the Churches were redressed and encreased in diuers places maugre the rage deuices of Sathan whilest the king called the Estates to Blois where he made his entry the 18. day of Nouember and all the remainder of the yeare after was imployed vpon diuers conferences amongst the Deputies The affaires of the lowe Country bore themselues as followeth In the moneth of February 1576. the Prince of Orange obtained a Fortresse of great importance called Crimpen in Holland whereby hee warranted Suindree and all other places thereabouts During the siege of Ziriczee the Commander died of the pestilence at Bruxelles the 5. day of March Then the gouernment of the lowe Countries was by the king remitted into the hands of the Councell of the Estate In the moneth of May following Ziriczee being not able to hold out any lōger was yeelded to the Spaniards who straight after began to mutenie vnder colour of paiments due vnto them and determined to haue surprised Bruxelles so to pay themselues The Inhabitants hereof aduertised prouided so well for theyr assurance that the Spaniards found the gates shut wherat they were so despited that without any resistance about the ende of Iuly entring Alost a Towne situate betwixt Gaunt Malines and Bruxelles they vsed there the inhabitants as in a place takē by assault And bicause they continued their disorders by the winking of certaine of the Councell of estate In the beginning of September the Captaine of Bruxelles well accompanied entred into the Pallace and in the name of the Estates of Brabant cōstituted prisoners amongst others the Counties of Mansfield and de Barlaiment Assonuile Councellor Barti Scharemberg Secretaries Soone after the Spaniards were declared Rebels enemies to the King his country by an Edict of the Councell of Estate published the 22. of September For all this the Spaniards left not running hither and thither putting to flight all such as in the field made head against them and by the intelligence they had with the Lansquenets they entered into the towne of Mastricht which they pilled This done they ioyned themselues together marched towards Antwerpe arriuing there they got in at the Citadel or Castle the 4. of Nouember and sodenly assailed the companies of souldiers and all the inhabitants of the Towne with a maruellous fiercenes resolution during many daies pilling sacking spoyling the towne one of richest fullest of marchandise in all Europe they massacred slew many thousands of persons of all ages sexes Estates and of diuers Countries burnt one of the richest quarters of the Towne with the magnificall and most sumptuous house thereof briefly they committed there all maner of wickednes The Estates of the fifteene Prouinces which till then had bene Spanish hauing learned to their cost that they which thus handled them looked for nothing so much as wholly to ruinat and destroy them made a peace with the Princes the States of Holland Zeland the 8. day of Nouember in the Towne of Gaunt During all those tempests God conserued the reformed Church of Antwerpe and certaine others also as sometimes in Babilon he conserued the companions of Daniel in the middest of the burning Fornace and Daniel himselfe in the Lyons den Incontinently after the spoyling of Antwerpe the Almaines would needs remooue their goods to Valenciennes but they were preuented by the Inhabitants and driuen away out of the Towne the 10. day of Nouember They of Groninghe in Friseland maintained themselues in the like sort and arrested prisoner their Gouernour who meant to haue spoyled theyr Towne And at this time all the lowe countries were in armes readie to runne vpon the Spaniards extreamly hated of them all Iosias Sinder an execellent Theologian professor of holy letters at Zurich dyed the second day of Iuly in his age of 45. yeares He left some bookes which were full of solide doctrine and especially exceellently refuting the Antitrinitaries and Vbiquitaries Stephen Bathori Vaiuoda of Transiluania hauing beene crowned King of Polonia the first day of May tooke order for the affaires of his kingdome and prepared himselfe for the war against the Moscouite He left the churches of Poland in peaceable estate The Emperour Maximilian hauing held his last Imperiall Iourney at Ratisbone dyed the 12. day of October beeing about the age of 55. yeares Rodolphus his eldest sonne King of the Romanes of Hungarie and of Boheme succeeded his Father Maximilian in the Imperiall dignitie being the second of that name Assoone as he was proclaimed Emperor he caused the Embassadors of Poland to be released and sent to Amurath to demaund truce which was without any difficultie graunted because that the Turke hauing had aduertisement of the warre which the king of Persia prepared against him could not any way assure himself to make resistance in so many places his Empire elsewhere being sorely weakened by the iust punishment of God with plague and famine Ieronimo Conestagio Frederic Elector Palatine of Rhene a Prince fearing God greatly affectionating true Religion the ornament true Iosias of all Almaine died the 22. of October being 26. years of age His eldest sonne Lewes succeeded him in the dignity of princely Electorship who chaunged the doctrine discipline which his father had happily established in the Countie Palatine In the moneth of Ianuary February and March the Estates of France were at Blois where the last Edict of pacification on was reuoked after infinit practises and the Duke Alenson forsooke the part of Polititians and of them of Religion From thence followed in sommer next a new warre against them of the Religion which lost the Townes de la Charite vpon Loire Issoire in Auuerne Melle and Brouage in Guien with great desolations especially at Issoire The Marshall also Danuile forsooke his confederates and did the worst he could vnto the Churches of Languedoc finally a sixt Edict of pacification was treated of at Bergerac and agreed on at Poitiers in the moneth of September by the meanes whereof the former was abolished and the Churches more troubled then euer they were insomuch that after that they had nothing assured yet notwithstanding God maintained them in many places against the opinion of great and title In old Saxonie which we now call Westphalia Salentinus Bishop of Padeborne and Archbishop of Coloine being the last of the honourable house of Eisenberge voluntarily resigned both his Bishopprickes and tooke to wife Antouia Witelma the daughter of Iohn Counte of Arenberge and sister to Charles Arenberge Whom in the Diocesse of Padeborne Henry Duke of Saxonie Archbishop of Breme succeeded and in the Electoriship Gebardus Truchesses the sonne of William Lord of Walnogh Dauid Chytreus Iohn de Austrich the bastard sonne of the Emperor Charles the fift was sent as Gouernor into the lowe Countries He before hee entered into Brabant confirmed the pacification of Gaunt and made an accord with
of the Lorde and was consumed with vermine and died miserably because hee yeelded no glorie vnto God and so the persecution ceased Heere is a second mirrour of Gods iudgement against such as oppresse the Church Saint Paul after his conuersion returned fiue times to Ierusalem At his last beeing there hee recited the Historie of his Ministerie in the assembly of the Elders of the Church His preachings were greatly spread abroad neither ceased hee to plant the Gospell wheresoeuer he went as it appeareth in the Acts. He preached at Rome by the space of two yeares although he was a prisoner Where before there was an assembly of the faithfull as the Epistle to the Romanes witnesseth Philippe the Apostle preached in Samaria where there was a Church which retired thither after the death of Saint Steuen In Azote the Church assembled from thence it went into the Maritine Townes Peter the Apostle also preached the Gospell in many Townes as is at large seene in the Historie of the Acts. Origine in his Tome vpon Genesis saith it seemeth that Peter preached in Pontus Galatia Asia Bithinia and Cappadocia to the dispearced Iewes There was also a Church in Babilon as he himselfe witnesseth in the fist of his first Epistle In Phinicia and Siria in Tyre Sidon Serentia Silicia Pamphilia Pisidia Attalia Lycaonia Also in Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia Bithinia Misia and Phrigia Vnto these did S. Peter write The seuen Churches of Asia are named in the Apocalips namely Ephesus Smirna Pergamus Thyatirus Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicia Aboue all the Church of Antioche was most famous where the Disciples were first called Christians Some say this was the thirtie and eight yeare after Christ others fortie Paul and Barnabas remained there one whole yeare Acts. 11. and 13. Saint Iohn the Apostle and Euangelist after hee had preached the Gospell through all Asia he finally retired into the Towne of Ephesus where he remained many yeares From thence the Church might easily spread it selfe into Europe which was nigh therevnto Now we see the beginning of the Kingdome of Christ and as it were a renewment of the world About the yeare 42. the vengeance of God fell vpon Pilate For after the Iewes had accused him of too great crueltie Lord Vitellius then Gouernour of Siria commaunded him to goe to Rome to answere the accusations that were to bee laid against him But as hee was in the way hee died Tiberius as Iosephus reciteth in the eighteenth of Antiquities Chapter fiue Eutropius in his seuenth booke saith that Pilate was nipped and pinched with so great anguishes because Caligula troubled him that striking and beating himselfe with his owne hands he sought to destroy himselfe See Eusebius in his 2. booke Chap. 7. This same yeare it is held that Saint Mathew writte his Gospell in Iudea The same yeare the Tetrach ship of Herodes was deliuered to Agrippa and a great discomfiture now the second time was made of the Iewes in Babilon See Iosephus in the last Chapter of his Antiquities Claudius the fift Emperour was chosen to the Imperial dignitie the aforesaid yeare and raigned fourteen yeares and nine moneths Herodes Agrippa the yeare 15. and the third of Claudius held the Kingdome of Iudea of the gift of Caligula and Claudius Beeing departed from Rome to come to Ierusalem hee thought good to make a shew to the Iewes that he loued their Religion and after to gratifie the high Priests he put to death certaine of the faithfull At this time Churches were gouerned by the Apostles which were instructed in the schoole of the sonne of God and therefore there is no gouernment to be compared to this Yet in this time the dwell had his instruments in Churches gouernment that is to say false Apostles and false bretheren Euen alreadie wrought he the secret of Iniquitie by his Antichrist 2. Thessa 2. and 1. Iohn 2. and 4. There were Heretickes Titus 3. Dogges Philip. 3. Wolues and men speaking peruerse things Acts 20. People which were neither hotte nor colde Apoca. 3. If at this time Sathan had such license how bolde thinke we will he be now that they are gone Amongst them which now gouerned the Church some were giuen Apostles to visit Churches Their charge was to sowe the Gospell throughout the world They had no place assigned Besides the twelue Paul and Barnabas are called Apostles Acts 14. Epaphroditus is called the Apostle of the Philippians Philippians 2. Andronicus and Iunia are called notable amongst the Apostle Romanes sixteene Prophets are they which had the gift not onely to Interpret scripture but also to apply it to the true vse S. Paul preferreth Prophecie before all other gifts Euangelistes hadde an office which came nigh vnto the Apostleship The difference was onely in the degree of dignitie Of this estate was Timothie and his like which succoured the Apostles 2. Timoth. 4.5 Philip is called an Euangelist Act. 21. b. 8. Doctors were for the conseruation of the puritie of Religion that the holy doctrine might bee kept and published Saint Luke ioyneth Prophets with Doctors Acts. 13. a. 1. Priest signifieth Auncient not for that they were of an age but because age commonly hath with it more wisedome experience and grauitie Vnder this name are comprehended as well Pastors as such as were ordeined for the Regiment of the Church S. Peter calles himselfe Priest shewing thereby that it was a common name Deacons is a general name of seruice but is taken for such as had the charge to dispence the Almesses Actes 19. a. 22. Ministers or seruants are called Adioints or such as accompanied the Apostles in their viands Timothie and Erastus ministred to S. Paul Act. 19. a. 22. Bishop and Priest was then one same name and office Saint Hierome in his Epistle to Euagoras witnesseth it But afterward whilest Schismes endured one was chosen from amongest the Priests and set in the most principall place and called Bishoppe or Superintendent And therefore the office of Bishoppe was after helde to bee higher then the Priests Saint Paul commaunded Titus to place in euerie Towne Priests or Bishoppes Titus 1. a. 5.6.7 See Acts 20. f. 28. With the good seede which was all ouer as is said dispersed there beganne also heresies to be cast into the Lords field The first and most pernitious were the Simoniaques The originall whereof was Simon Magus borne in a Towne of Samaria which Iustin calleth Triton and Eusebius Gitton a man exercised in Letters who by his Arts enchaunted many in Samaria before Philip had conuerted them As is recited in the Acts. Chap. 8. After S. Peter had discouered his wicked Hipocrisie hee went away in such despite that making a mingle-mangle of the dreames of Philosophers and Painims with the religions of the Iewes and that which he learned of the Gospell he corrupted and transferred to his owne person that which was spoken of Iesus Christ of the holy Ghost and of the saluation of man
one seditious guiltie of treason was giuen in charge to 10. souldiers or rather tormenters to be led to Rome and be put to Lions wherof Ignacius himselfe saith I haue had to fight with beasts from Siria to Rome by sea by land night and day amongst 10. Leopards c. Ireneus in his fift booke speaking of Ignacius beeing condemned to beasts he said saith he I am the wheat of Iesus Christ and shal be grinded with the teeth of beasts to the end I may be made the bread of God Alexander the 7. Bishop of Rome was a Romane and gouerned 10. yeares namely from the 12. yeare of Traian til the third of Adrian Many things are spoken of the integritie of his life wherby many of the Romane Senators were drawne to the Christian faith seeing in him vertues truly Episcopall yet it is attributed vnto him that he should first bring in new ceremonies of the Church as the holy water so keepe in houses and Churches against the diuell and for remission of sinnes Also to mingle wine and water together at the Lords supper Also the Asperges vpon the people Also that Bread should be without Leauen and not commō bread as before They make him the first which by decree excommunicated them who resisted Apostolicke messengers He ordeined that no Clarke should be accused and drawne before a secular Iudge he is said to be the first which added to the Lords supper Caena pridie quà m pateretur made that ouerture to his successors to adde thervnto which haue not since ceased vntill the whole Supper of the Lord was corrupted and chaunged Also he ordeined to celebrate but once a day Note heere generally for the Bishops which were first at Rome that many Epistles haue bene attributed vnto them which mention greater number of Ceremonies then there is in other Churches and such as were vnknowne to them which writ in that time which made them then suspected For the Popes which came after haue made those first Bishops their buckler for authors of their lyes and dreames Alexander receiued the Crowne of Martirdome vnder the Emperour Adrian by the commaund of his Gouernour Aurelian who demaunded of Alexander why hee held his peace when the fire was lightned about him to burne him He answered that he was speaking to God signifying that he prayed and therefore it was not lawfull for him to speake vnto men Honorius and Nauclerus Dion rehearseth of the Emperour Traian that before he died his members were retracted and al his body senslesse His sences also were dulled and after that he became to be full of the dropsie and greatly swelled He finally died in Selinion a Towne of Cicile Some say his body was brought to Rome and deified by the Senate after his death after the maner of the Romanes Although this Prince had great politicke vertues yet is he to be placed in the third ranke of the cruel enemies and persecutors of the Church of God Adrian the 16. Emperour raigned 22. yeares gentle and cunning in all knowledges He persecuted the Christians But when he knew the truth of their life he caused the persecution to cease Quadratus Bishop of Athens the Apostles Disciple presented an Apologeticke booke to the said Adrian in defence of the Christian Faith Aristides a Philosopher of Athens a faithfull man made a like Booke wherevpon Adrian sent to Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia that he should no more persecute the Christians But if they did any thing against lawes he would that he should therein deale according to the qualitie of the crime And if any slaunderoufly accused them he commaunded such should be chastised for their malice Nicomedia and Nice were ruinated by an Earthquake and afterward restored by the liberalitie of Adrian Euseb Chro. All euils which came to men were laide vpon the Christians saying they came all for their cause whether they were Earthquakes warre or other calamities Sixtus or Xistus a Romane 8. Bishop of Rome ruled about 10. yeares He decreed that none should touch the consecrated ornaments Vessels Challices c. vnlesse they were Church-men He added to the Communion of the Eucharist Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth He graunted this priuiledge to Clarkes that they might appeale from their Bishop to the Apostolicke Sea In his Decretalls he is called Arch-bishop of the Romane Church Item vniuersall Bishop of the Apostolicke Church About this time those words Arch-bishop Metropolitane and Clergie beganne to be vsed in Epistles He appointed certaine punishments for Priests or Ministers that were negligent in baptizing Children before their deaths At this time the Supper of the Lord was called Eucharist The words Sacrifice or Masse were not yet brought in And although Ireneus sometimes called the Eucharist Oblation hee declares his meaning therein in his 4. Booke and 34. Chapter We make vnto him an Oblation saith he not as to him which stands in need thereof but as giuing him thankes for the good he hath done vnto vs. And againe he willes also that we giue offerings at the Aultar and often and without ceasing But the Aultar is in heauen saith he and thither must we addresse our prayers and Oblations It may well be that then this word Oblation was in common vse because the custome then was to offer Loaues of bread in great abundance for the vse of the Supper wherewith the Ministers liued and the poore were nourished The Iewes surprised with a new rage beganne againe to take armes against the Romanes Dion saith the occasion thereof was for that Adrian had builded there a Temple to Iupiter and placed there Idols of the Gentiles The Iewes chose for their Captaine Barrochabas who named himselfe the sonne of the Starre This man exercised great crueltie against Christians because they woulde not ioyne with the Iewes But Adrian repressed those seditious people and famished them and tooke away their waters and finally discomfited them nigh to Bethera a little Towne by Ierusalem and in one onely battaile hee slew fiftie eight thousand men After Nicephorus Ancelme speaketh of fiftie thousand Iewes slaine fiftie holdes taken and nine hundred eightie fiue Villages destroyed as well by famine as by fire and bloud and all the rest of the Iewes miserably driuen from Ierusalem into far Countries and sold ouer all the world The Emperour Adrian would not that the Citie of Ierusalem should any more retaine his auncient name but hauing againe made it he called it by his owne name Aelia Capitolina Honorius and Eusebius say that hee made Edicts be published whereby it was not lawfull for the Iewes no not so much as to regard a farre off their Country of Iudea The first so terrible a destruction might haue sufficiently taught them that the kingdome was taken from them as the Prophets had foretold But God would that a second time they should feele a punishment almost as horrible
he liued for a great Priest Montanus was of Phrygia of a Towne called Ardaba Hee called himselfe the Paraclet Hee forbadde marriage and inuented and instituted Fastes Against those Heretickes writte Apollinaris Hierapolitaine and before him Milciades and Apollonius Appelles the Disciple of Marcian whome Theodotius called the great Hereticke put a beginning to God Also that Christ appeared in a fantasticke bodie Tatianus and his followers Encratites and Seuerians in this time These abstained from all kindes of flesh and drunke no wine They blamed Marriage as well as fornication They cast off the Epistles both of S. Paul and S. Peter The Doctrine of Christian libertie beganne at this time to bee greatly obscured and by little and little the errour tooke encrease For although yet there was no forbidding to vse the good thinges or God yet the Historie of Alcibiades recited in Eusebius Booke 5. Chap. 3. sheweth that by little and little men beganne to place a certaine Religion in seruices forged at pleasure This Alcibiades was one of the Martyres which suffered death in Gaul vnder Marcus Antonius Verus the Emperour Hee vsed to liue so austerely as hee did eate onely bread and drunke water In so much that beeing in prison hee would vse no other diet Attalus a Romane a man renowned amongst the Martyrs being also imprisoned shewed Alcibiades a better way and brought him to this point that after hee vsed indifferently the creatures of God without scruple and with thankesgiuing Eleutherius borne in Greece at Nicopolis ruled at Rome 15. yeares and more Hee made a commaundement against the heresie of the Seuerans which then raigned that no Christian for any ceremonie should reiect any sort of meates whereof there is an accustomed vse Also that none should be dismissed of his Office vnlesse first hee be accused and conuinced of crime That Bishops should finish nothing in an accusation intended against a Bishop without knowledge of the Pope but they might determine by Sentences the causes of other Church people That a Clarke may not be drawne into any cause but before his Bishop from whom if there were cause of suspition he might appeale Christian Religion then greatly augmented and came into farre greater suertie then before Lucius King of England and his Countrey receiued the Faith Many Nobles of Rome with their wiues and children were conuerted and Baptized The said Lucius left his Kingdome and went to preach the Faith first in France after in Almaine where hee was martyred Smyrna in Asia whereof Policarpus was Bishop was ouerthrowne by Earthquake and for the repaire of it tributes and tallages were laid Commodus the 18. Emperour raigned 13. yeares cruel luxurious incestuous of his owne Neeses hee held in his Pallaice three hundreth Concubines and three hundreth buggering boyes In a wicked rage he slew Lucilla his sister Being at the hot houses and but pricked with a Flea he cast the maister of the house into the Furnace Ireneus Bishop of Lions flourished The Temple of Serapis burnt in Alexandria The Capitoll at Rome and the Librarie burnt by lightning Apollonius a Senator of Rome accused to be a Christian presented to the Senate a booke conteining a defence of the Christians He was beheaded because the Imperiall lawe had so ordeined it Heereby appeares that Popes or Bishops of Rome were not as at this present they are Apollonius a man of authoritie could not shunne the sentence of death onely because he was a Christian hauing so many friends at Rome The Imperiall Lawe then was that such as were in Iudgement conuicted to be Christians should be punished with death Commodus made die many Noble persons It is recited in the History of the Martyrs of Gaule that the Painims sollicited and by torments constrained the seruants of Christians to confesse of their maisters things impossible once to be imagined Namely that they did eate the flesh of litle children that they committed paldiardizes and whoredomes such as is vnlawfull to name In so much as they which before had vsed some moderation in Christians causes gaue themselues greater licence to exercise crueltie against them This happened at Lions and at Vienne Eusebius reciteth it in his Epistle of the faithfull of Lions and of Vienne in Chap. 1. of the 5. booke At Rome the Pallace and the Temple of Vesta and of Peace and the greatest part of the Towne was consumed by fire Commodus the 13. yeare of his Empire was strangled of the age of 32. yeares by the counsell of Martia his chiefe Concubine who fauoured the Christians and other her friends which he had condemned to death because they shewed him certain his insolencies but they by this meanes preuented him and little there wanted that the bodie of this Tyrant was not drawne into Tyber by the common people Aelius Pertmax the ninteenth Emperour held the Empire by the space of sixe moneths His couetousnesse caused his death for retaining his souldiers wages He was of the age of seuentie yeares Didius Inhanus of Millaine 20. Emperour raigned foure or seuen or two moneths as some say Hauing slaine his predecessor hee was slaine of his Successor of the age of 56. yeares For his auarice he was hated of all Some say he was slaine by a souldier of little estimation within his Pallaice Victor Bishop of Rome borne in Affricke ruled tenne yeares He ordeined that such as would not reconcile themselues should be depriued of the Table of the Lord. Hee instituted that vnlesse it were in cases of necessitie Catholicke Baptisme should be celebrated in the time of the feast of Easter As we may see in the first Decretall Epistle attributed vnto him It were incredible if all Historians did not witnesse it that for the day of celebratiō of the feast of Easter so great a schisme should happen in the Church that of a dissention and question thereof so terrible a warre should come and all by this Victors meanes who would needs haue the feast of Easter celebrated on the Sunday because of the mysterie of the resurrection and would not haue the Fastes broken but on that day Victor writ to Policrates who was a Ruler amongst the Bishops of Asia and gaue commaundement in his Letters whereat all the Bishops of Asia were greatly offended Septimus Seuerus Pertinax borne in Affrica 21. Emperour raigned 18. yeares and dyed of the age of 70. yeares in England Many Sinodes were held in diuers Prouinces touching the Feast of Easter vpon what day it should be celebrated and by common accord it was agreed that the saide Feast of Easter should be celebrated vpon the Lordes day on which was his Resurrection and on no other day But the Bishops of the Countrey of Asia were of a contrary opinion saying that they should keepe the customes of of their Auncestors touching that Which Victor seeing would needs haue depriued generally all the Churches of Asia and
the nigh Prouinces therof of the Churches communion and societie and sent out Letters to declare them excommunicated whereof hee was greatly blamed and reprehended And especially of Ireneus Bishop of Lions by Letters which hee sent vnto him That there was great folly for the difference of a Ceremonie to breake the peace and vnion of Churches and to stirre vp Schisme therein Alleadging to his purpose that the diuersitie of Fastes neuer broke the vnion of Churches and so no more should they in this Eusebius in the Ecclesi Hist Lib. 5. Chap. 5. With this warre the tranquililtie of Churches are troubled and the doctrine of Christian libertie obscured The Romanes ceased not to molest them of Asia to subscribe to their opinion and they became so outragious therein that they which obserued the Feast of Easter the fourteenth of the Moone were called Quatorzian Heretickes condemned as Nicepho reciteth Lib. 4. Chap. 39. This Schisme gaue Montanus and other heretickes occasion and ouerture to lift vp themselues at this time in Phrygia They published certaine lawes touching Fasts Also to breake marriages Affirming that the holy Ghost had not taught all to the Apostles and that he had in himselfe the gift to conferre the graces of the holy Ghost And other such blasphemies whereby hee looked to come vnto some Primacie The Romaine Bishoppes now became more audacious to forge new Ceremonies yea and that to force them vpon other Churches The authoritie to excommunicate conuerted into abuse and so became despised because of not obseruing certaine humaine traditions The dissention touching the obseruation of Easter caused sixe principall Councells to be assembled Euseb Lib. 5. Chap. 23. Victor in his second Decretall calls himselfe Arch-bishop of the Romane and vniuersall Church Tertullian a Priest of Carthage who otherwise did well serue the Christian Church finally reuoulted and drewe him selfe vnto the enraged Prophecie of Montanus Saint Hierome alleadgeth this the occasion That Tertullian beeing ledde with enuie and hatred of the Church of Rome could not at the last endure the arrogancie thereof He held one errour touching the Kingdome of Christ and the voluptuous life of the faithfull in this world before the consummation of all things Hee maintained the superstitious and ridiculous Fastes of Montanus calling him in many places the Comforter He brought in extreame vnction after Baptisme the signe of the Crosse offering for the dead and for feasts of Natiuities and other the like dreames of the Montanists His writings witnesse that he was very desirous of Martyrdome and that a Christian man ought not only to beare it constantly but to purchase and seeke it also Ammonius the Phylosopher Origens Schoole-maister perswaded in the Christian faith euen vntill death Although Porphirius say of him that he reuolted Victor with good cause depriued of the communion of the Church an hereticke called Theodotus who was a blasphemer and prince of the heresie which afterward Antemon followed and Paule Samosathonus reuiued For hee was the first that durst say publikely at Rome that Iesus Christ was but pure man of mans seed procreated as well as others See Nice Lib. 4. chap. 21. An other Schisme or diuersitie of iudgements touching the heresie of Montanus and his companions and also of Prisca and Maximilla Prophitesses which Montanus had filled with his fury Some said they were taken with a Spirit of Prophecy and that that they said were Oracles Others maintained that contrary to the custome of true Prophets they were transported and carried away in their mindes and taken with furie and extasie they were also giuen to couetousnesse and ambition contrary to the scripture which forbids Prophets to take gold or siluer The faithfull of Asia assembled many times to examine those doctrines and so newly forged Prophecies The faithfull of Gaul writ their opinion touching the furious errors of Montanus and sent Ireneus into Asia with Letters See Euseb Lib. 5. Chap. 4. This Schisme as it was to the condemnation of Montanus and his complices so the true Church was aduertised more neerly to trie spirits whether they were of God or no. Whatsoeuer heauie chastisements the Iewes before had the Lord forgat not his mercy but gaue sufficient witnesse that he calleth his enemies to repentance He preserued Doctors and Pastors and a litle number of faithfuls in Ierusalem which honoured the true God From the sacking or destruction that Titus made vntill that of Adrian the Church of Ierusalem had successiuely 15. chiefe or high Bishops Euseb numbreth them Lib. 3. Chap. 5. After the destruction made by Adrian the Emperour there was no more any Church gathered of the Iewes at Ierusalem but onely of the Gentiles and of them were there Bishops ordeined Al the Iewes were driuen away as it is said by Adrian Marcus then issued of Gentiles was chosen the 16. Bishop the 10. yeare of the Emperour Antoninus after Cassianus the 17. Publius the 18. Maximus the 19. Iulian the 20. Gaian the 21. Symmachus the 22. Caius the 23. Iulian 2. the 24. Capita the 25. Thus dooth Eusebius rehearse it Lib. 5 Chap 12. And in this time wherein we now are that is vnder the Emperour Commodus Maximus the 2. was the 26. Antoninus 27. Valens 28. Dolichian 29. Narcissus 30. Elius 31. Garmanian 32. Gordius 33. Narcissus 2.34 or rather Narcissus the first returning from the Desart whither he withdrew himselfe for that his enemies had accused him to liue vnchastely of whom Eusebius saith that he had the gift to worke miracles and that his false accusers were punished according to the Imprecations which euerie one made As for the time of all these Bishops Euseb saith that he could not well discerne namely in what time euery one of them gouerned the Church Seeing then the Church of the Gentiles had already their habitation in this place the Lord would declare that the true Messias was come and so we need looke for no other This numeration here made of the Bishops of Ierusalem sheweth that other Churches may well number their Bishops as that of Rome glorifieth her selfe in the continuation of hers After the fift persecution raised by Seuerus against the Christians came ciuill warres amongst the Romanes Ireneus had liued long inough in the middest of so many persecutions The greatest renowne that he had was vnder the Emperour Commodus As for the contention concerning the feast of Easter the time in the which it was most lighted was the 4. yeare of the Empire of Seuerus He then bore the Office of a Minister 23. yeares The errour of the Chiliastes was attributed vnto him yet it is not expresly seene in his writings we haue at this day The manner of his death is vncertaine They which haue written of the Martyrs say that he and a great multitude of his sheepe were finally slaine for the confession of the name of Christ vnder Seuerus Leonides the father of Origenes martyred for the Faith
Deacons and other Ministers of the Aultar ought to bee chosen such as they can keepe themselues without marrying and that no Clarke should frequent the company of women There is attributed vnto him an Epistle written to the Bishops of Spaine and Fraunce wherein is proposed a kinde of gouernment which seemes not to agree with the time of Lucius Therein is ordeined that in all places there should be two Priests and three Deacons with a Bishop to keepe him company wheresoeuer he went as witnesses of his life As if then there had bene so great tranquilitie as a Bishop might goe take his pleasure or shewe himselfe with great companies The yeare 257. the heresie of Noetus and Sabellius after Theodoret got a passage although before it had beene debated in Affrike by Praxeas and Hermogenes They said that God the Father suffered and therefore S. Augustine saith they were called Patripassians Many Histories make mention of an horrible pestilence in the time of Gallus the infection whereof came into Aethiope and after it had consumed the Southerne people it came into the East and there laid holde on the other parts of the world so that many places were left desolate And this wound endured so long time that scant it finished before the end of tenne yeares Of this so terrible and extraordinary an euill S. Ciprian tooke an argument to make his booke Intituled Of the crueltie Emilian succeeded Gallus and Volusian after he had slaine them Hee was a man of base condition issuing from Mauritaine and was Emperour but three moneths Valerian Licinius Valerianus chosen Emperour a man of noble race excellent in knowledge and honestie an examplarie of a true Censor and Senator in all his life But in him all these vertues were defaced First for that he ioyned with him in the Empire his sonne Galien who was a monster in all abhominarion Item by the persecution that he stirred against the Christians Of all the Emperours there was not one before him which at the beginning hadde beene so soft and milde towards Christians yea familiar in so much as his Court was full of them But after he gaue himselfe to Deuines and Aegyptian Enchaunters hee was perswaded to put to death the seruants of GOD as they which hindered those wicked Enchaunters to kill poore children and to offer vppe the sonnes and daughters of theyr miserable parents A litle after hee had begunne to persecute the Christians hee went to make warre vppon the Persians and in a battaile hee was taken aliue Sapor King of the Persians vsed such crueltie towards Valerian who was of the age of seuentie yeares that when hee mounted on horsebacke hee serued himselfe with Valerians backe to get vp Eutropius Pollio Aurelius Victor Sabellicus and Laetus doo recite this and say hee vsed his age in this miserable seruitude Eusebius in the Oration which hee made heereof to the whole congregation of the faithfull saith that Sapor commaunded that Valerian should bee scorched and salted Gallienus raigned then alone and gaue himself to Idlenesse dissolution and whoordome In his time there was no place in all the Romane Iurisdiction except Italie alone wherein there were not seditions and rebellions Trebellius an Historiographer accounteth thirtie all which at one time were named Emperours some in one Region and some in others Cilicia Cappadocia and Syria were pilled and wasted by the Persians vnder Sapor The Almaines after they had tormented the Gaules entred by force into Italie The Gothes pilled Pontus Asia Macedonia and Greece See the Romane Histories Vnder his rule monstrous things came to passe horrible ouertures and Earthquakes whereof many there were which died of excessiue feare Rome was shaken Libia trembled Aurelius Victor saith that Gallien was slaine with his sonne at Millaine or with his brother Valerian as Eutropius saith They which haue set downe in writing the Romane affaires were of opinion that these mischiefes happening to the Romane Empire came by the wicked gouernment of the Princes But we thinke that the iudgement and vengeance of God prouoked by the former persecutions as well of others as of himselfe fell vpon them S. Ciprian hauing bene sent into exile vnder Valerian and Gallien by Paternus gouernour of Affrike and vnder Maximus who succeeded him in the gouernment was finally beheaded in the time of Lucius after Sabellicus Marianus Scotus saith that Lucius Bishop of Rome was banished for the confession of Christ in the persecution of Valerian and Gallien and that afterward he was permitted to return vnto his Ministerie and that finally he was beheaded and so might he be Bishop the space of three yeares and more Theodorus and Athenodorus Bishops of Pontus in this time Theodorus was after called Gregorie as Eusebius saith Lib. 6. Cap. 30. These two hearing the great renowne of the learning of Origine came to Cesaria where Origine read publikely hauing forsaken Alexandria and were perswaded by Origen to let goe their Philosophie and to apply themselues vnto the holy scriptures Basile the great said that the heresie of Sabellius was extinguished by this Gregorie the great If Nicephorus deserue credit Theodorus or Gregorie liued very long namely vnto the time of Dioclesian Yet Basile in his 62. Epistle which is to the Neocesarians writeth that hee was not very olde when he died Paul called Samosatenus of the Towne of Samosate which is in Mesopotania of Siria vpon the floud Enphrates was ordeined Bishop of Antioch after Demetrius the thirteenth yeare of Galien The Bishops which assisted the Councell of Antioch to refute his wicked doctrine and blasphemies against God and the Lord Iesus haue sufficiently witnessed of him We may not here let passe the Historie of Origines end that is that after the yeare wherein Demetrius ordeined him in the office of Catechist vntil the time he died it seemeth he trauelled fiftie two yeares and more and the most part of that time hee employed in teaching writing busie in the affaires of the Church and refuting of heresies In so much that Athanasius saith of him that hee was admirable of great labour Finally after he had constantly endured many greeuous torments he was led before an Aultar vnto which they had brought a wicked Aethiopian and there was proposed vnto him two things the one either to offer vp sacrifice vnto the Idoll or else abandon his body to the villainous Aethiopian Origen made a signe that hee had rather offer sacrifice Then they thrust a Sensor into his hand For which Impietie he was after excommunicated out of the Church of Alexandria from whence hee retyred into Iudea and being come to Ierusalem the Priests and Elders requested and after constrained him to speake in the congregation of the faithfull because he was a Priest Origen rose vp as if he should make a Sermon but hee only recited his Theame of the 50. Psalme And God said to the Preacher
Wherefore preachest thou my Iustifications And wherefore takest thou my Testament in thy mouth c. And incōtinently shut the booke then sat he downe sheading teares and lamenting with great cry being not able to speake and all that were present wept with him Suidas addeth that hee was buried in the Towne of Tyre Euse Lib. 7. cap. 1. saith it was vnder the Emperour Gallus 255. or thereabouts and then was it betwixt the yeare 50. of his age or 69. after Nicephorus And as it may be thought he dyed in great pouertie and miserie if not in dispaire S. Ierome although he sometimes handled him rudely yet he admireth him and praiseth him because of his great knowledge in the Epistle to Pammathus and Ocean He praiseth his spirit but not his faith This should make vs walke in feare and care in our vocation Stephen borne at Rome was Bishop of Rome and the successor of Lucius The greatest paine that he had in his gouernmēt was that he opposed himselfe forcibly against S. Cyprian and all the Councell of Affricke touching the difference that then was moued to rebaptise heretikes as it is recited by Eusebius Lib. 7. ca. 2. 3. The contents of the two Decretall Epistles attributed vnto him deserue no credite The one to Hilarie Bishop and the other to all the Bishops of the Prouinces touching accusations made against Priests For it seemes not that the Romane Church was in such prosperitie then that Stephen Bishoppe thereof had no other thing to do and ordaine but with what reuerence a man must handle the Chalice and holy garments or as Isidore and Polydore witnesse of him that he was the first Inuentor of the Couerings of the Aultar Damasus attributes vnto him two ordinances in which sixe Priests fiue Deacons and sixe Bishops were ordeined and saith that after he had gouerned seuen yeares and fiue moneths he was martyred But Euseb Lib. 7. cap. 5. sheweth that hee was but two yeares in his office S. Cyprian writ vnto him certaine Epistles which are in his workes Denis Bishop of Alexandria excellent in doctrine although he suffered not martyrdome but watched in the midst of the Church therfore God preserued him from Martyrdom as Niceph. speaketh Li. 15. ca. 28. Notwithstanding he endured terrible afflictions diuers banishments in two violent persecutions vnder Decius and after vnder Valerian He died very olde and it hapned at what time the two Councells were held against Paul Samosaten An. 12. of Gallien and of Christ 288. hauing gouerned the state of Alexandria 16. yeares and the Church 17. About this time many Nations cast themselues vpon the marches of the Romanes The Countrey of Denmarke was taken out of their hands Likewise the Almaines came euē to Rauenna putting all to fire and blood This was the first waining and decreasing of the Romaine Empire For the Countrey was neuer after recouered Egipt reuolted France was lost Macedonia Pontus Asia wasted by the Gothes Pannonia by the Sarmates Zenobia Queene of the Persians ruled in the East To vnderstand all this diminution and fall of this Empire See Trebellio Pollia a Romane Historiographer Phillip Bishop of Alexandria martyred and his daughter Eugenia at Rome The great Temple of Diana in Ephesus was pilled and burnt by the Gothes A second Cerinthus hereticke promised in the kingdome to come great store of meates and women and that after a thousand yeares should bee the resurrection and the kingdome of Christ should be on earth Xistus or Sixtus the second of that name succeeded Stephen he was of Athens He was ordeined Bishop of Rome by the election of the Cleargie comming from Spaine where he was preaching There are attributed vnto him two Decretals the one to Gayus Bishop the other to the brothers of Spaine the which containe nothing but the forme of the common gouernment which they make vs beleeue was thē Item touching the vowes of Priests But we may easily see that all is forged at pleasure Damasus after his maner reciteth that hee made orders twise ordeining Priests Deacons and Bishops Bergomensis Sabellicus recite that Xistus trauelled much to take away the heresies of the Sabellians Cerinthians and Nepotians Finally that he was accused by them before Gallien and vpon his commaundement beheaded and with him 6. Deacons S. Ambrose in his Offices li. 1. cap. 41. reciteth that as he wēt to death it is said that one Laurence a Deacon spoke to him in this sort Father wilt thou goe without thy sonne And Xistus answered him My sonne I shall not leaue thee There are greacombattes for the Faith prepared for thee thou shalt follow me three dayes after In the meane while if thou hast any thing in thy treasure distribute it to the poore This Laurence was the chiefe of the seuen Deacons of the Church of Rome which had the handling of the goods deputed for almes The Gouernour of Rome being hungry of siluer and perswaded that the Church had gold siluer moueables as Candlesticks Chalices and such like things would needs haue forced Laurence to haue tolde him where those treasures were Laurence to do this hauing taken the terme of three dayes distributed it all to the poore whatsoeuer he had Then hauing gathered together on an heape all the poore lame and diseased which were maintained of almes At the day assigned hee prayed the Gouernour to goe with him to that place and shewing him al those poore and diseased people he said Behold the vessels of siluer yea the Talents in order receiue them and thou shalt adorne the Citie of Rome and enrich the Reuenewe of the Emperour and thine owne The Gouernour seeing himselfe mocked commaunded hee should be stretched on an Iron grate red hotte and soone after the tormentors laid him on it who with great courage endured that cruell and long torment and finally prayed and inuocated the Lord and so yeelded his happie soule Prudencius a Christian Poet in his booke of Crownes describeth this martirdome Denis succeeded Xistus and as Damasus saith of a Monke was made Bishop But it appeareth rather by that which Eusebius Lib. 7. Ca. 7. and S. Hierome say that he was a Priest of the Church of Rome the yeare of our Lord 266. and the 10. yeare of Gallien Two Decretall Epistles are attributed vnto him In the first he exhorteth Vrbain to follow the true Religion The second distributeth and makes partitions of Churches into Parishes and Diocesses Item that two seuerall times he held orders But Eusebius saith Lib. 7. Cap. 30. that Denis died without martyrdome hauing gouerned 9. yeares Others say sixe yeares and sixe moneths The Councell of Antioche against Paul Samosetaine was celebrated in his time wherein the said Paul was condemned and cast out of the communion of the vniuersall Church and Donus a man accomplished with vertues was ordeined in his place He was the sonne of Demetrian who had ruled in that Church without
witnesseth Sabellicus Enne 7. lib. 8. Arithimus Bishop of Nichomedia after he had made a confession of his Faith hee was beheaded with a great troupe of Martyrs Serena Dioclesians wife endured constantly martyrdome This persecution was so cruell that none were spared Hermanus Gigas In Europe at Rome aboue all places was there greatest number of Martyrs The Prouost Rictiouarus in Gaul made a great massacre especially at Cullaine at Treuers and towards Moselle Beda writeth that this persecution came euen into England and then that Saint Alban a man very renowned receiued the crowne of Martyrdome From this time they beganne to finde out diuers kindes of torments but how much the more horrible they were so much more exquisite appeared the constancy of Martyrs Eusebius saith he beheld the persecution made at Thebaida and saith that the glaues axes and swordes of Tormentors were blunted and turned againe with so great slaughter and were altogether tyred when the Christians with ioy of hart singing Psalmes presented them selues to death Sulpitius in the holy history li. 2. saith that Christians then more ardently desired martyrdome then the ambition of the Cleargie afterward demaunded Bishopprickes Beda de temptat and Orosius lib. 7. cap. 25. Dioclesian crooked with age after he had assaied all cruelties that could be deuised to extirpate the Christians willingly dismissed himselfe of the charge of the Empire and went to Nichomedia and being tossed with rage and fury led a priuate life Maximian his companion who obeyed him as the lesser the greater deposed himself at the same time in the Towne of Milaine Dioclesian at Solone passed his time as a Gardener This change was made after they had raigned together the space of twentie yeares What deaths they had shal be told hereafter Marcel borne at Rome one Benets sonne was chosen Bishop about the 20. yeare of Dioclesian after the Chronicle of Henry the first He was a true Pastor of the Lords Church In the booke of Councells there is attributed vnto him two Epistles The one to them of Antioch wherein he exhorteth to follow the Romane Church and that without authoritie thereof no Sinode can bee called But any bodie may see it is but a counterfeyt and not agreeing with the time which then was The other written to Maxentius is altogether impertinent wherein after he hath commended Christian charitie hee reciteth things which are as pertinent so the time of that Church as conuenient to haue bene written to a Tyrant who afterward was named Emperour Such Epistles doo sufficiently shewe that they wore forged by them which after thrust themselues into the sheep-folde of the Lord not to feed but to rule He confirmed in the faith Maurice as hee came from Syria to goe into Gaul with the Legion which was called of Thebes Constantius Chlorus and Galerius Maximin or Maximian were made Augustes to goe through with the warres which their predecessors Dioclesian and Maximian Herculeus left Eutropius the Father of Constantius a Romane knight of a noble house was discended from Aeneas The Empire as thus parted that Constantius gouerned Gaul Spaine Italie and Affrike and Galerius which Dioclesian had adopted giuing him his daughter Valeria the rest namely Slauonia Greece and the East Yet Constantius who was neither ambitious nor couetous refused Affrike Italie cōtenting himselfe with Spaine Gaul which he gouerned well and peaceably was well beloued of his subiects and no enemy of the Christian faith He had two wiues the first Helena which was of base condition of whom he had Constantine the great which wife he was constrained to leaue and take Theodora the daughter of the wife of Maximian Herculeus He died of a mallady in England two yeares after Dioclesian had deposed himself from the Empire for long time before had he bene made Caesar and adopted by Dioclesian Some attribute vnto him those two yeares of raigning beginning from the natiuitie of our Lord 505. See Pomp. Laet. During his raigne there was stirres of warre He was called Chlorus for the colour of his bright shining face Ignat. Lib. 1. He had of his wife Theodora Constantius who was father of Gallus and Iulian. Maximian Herculian solicited Dioclesian to take again the Empire Some say Dioclesian answered if he once vnderstood the pleasure of Gardens hee would neuer thinke of raigning The Historiographers write that Dioclesian dyed in a rage and fury feeling an infection in all his members See Nicepho lib. 7. cap. 20. Some say hee poysoned himselfe tenne yeares after he deposed himselfe from the Empire fearing Constantine and Licinius who bitterly reprehended him as a fauourer of Maxentius See Eutrop. lib. 9. and Bapt. Igna. lib. 1. Seuerus was adopted and made Cesar by Galerius when Constantinus had left the administration of Italie and of Affrike and to Seuerus was giuen the charge of the saide Countries But at Rome Maxentius was made Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers and without contradiction of the Senate Seuerus not thinking himselfe strong enough to resist Maxentius thought to retire into Slauonia to Maximin but hee was entrapped and ouercome at Rauenna Pompon Laet. Maxentius sonne of Maximian Herculian being chosen Emperour by the Pretorian souldiers in a tumult and hauing gotten the victory vpon Seuerus waxed proud and gaue himselfe vnto pleasures cruelties Then Maximin or Maximian the sisters sonne of Galerius who also by him was made Cesar with Seuerus and had once the charge of the East adopted Licinius which he left in Slauonia after comming to make warre vpon Maxentius was tolde of the treason of his people and so retyred See Pomp. Laet. in the life of Constantine and Galerius Galerius then hauing made Licinius Cesar as is said a litle time after fell into a terrible disease which fretted his entralles whereof he died This was because of his exceeding great lecherie towards all and horrible crueltie towards Christians For an vlcer he had in his bladder did eate his priuy members and as all that part of his bodie rotted wormes came out and no remedie could be found for it So the Phisitians abandoned him For the stench was so intollerable that neither Phisitian nor other durst approach vnto him Wherefore in the ende hee dyed of a death worthy such a man after hee had raigned two yeares alone and with the Cesars and companions of his Empire the space of 16. yeares In the persecution moued by Maxentius Marcel Pastor of the Church of Rome was apprehēded to sacrifice vnto Idols and to renownce his office but hee despised all threatnings and smiled which the Tyrant Maxentius seeing commaunded he should be beaten and chased out of the Towne He retyred into an house of a widowe named Lucine and there secretly maintained a Church Which the Tyrant hearing made a stable of it for horses and other beastes of the house there locked vp Marcel Being thus condemned he left not to do the office of a true Pastor by Epistles which
he writ to many But finally being tormented by the filthinesse and stench of the place in the end he yeelded his spirit to God the yeare 308. Eusebius a Gretian by Nation a Phisitians sonne after Damasus succeeded in the gouernment of the Romane Church in the great persecutions in the time of Maxentius the horrible Tyrant The Authours of the Ecclesiasticall history make no mention of this Eusebius The booke of Councells attribute to him three Decretall Epistles The first to the Bishoppes of Gaul The second to the Egiptians The third to the Bishoppes of Tuscane and Campania His ordinances contained in those Epistles are these in effect That sheepe shall not draw their Shepheard or Bishop into Lawe vnlesse he denie the Faith That a mayd which shall be espowsed only by words of the present time may enter into Religion That the Sacrifice of the Aultar be consecrated not in cloath of silke but in linnen cloth and such like bables which the infamous fauourers of the seate of Popes haue not beene ashamed to assigne to those good and faithfull Ministers of the Lorde to disfigure and defile with their orders this honest face of the primitiue Church which follow his head Iesus Christ in continuall persecutions to establish their seate of perdition and to pollute the bloud of those holy Martyrs But contrary Eusebius trauailed much in the haruest of the Lords word as well at Rome as other where in the time of persecutions vnder Maxentius vntill that as Christianus Mattoens saith hee finished his life by martyrdome the yeare of the Lord 309. But amongst Histogoriographers there is great diuersitie for the number of yeares Licinius born in Dare was made Augustus companiō of the Empire with Maximin Galari after the death of Seuerus the yeare of our Lord 308. He was a warlike man and Slauonia was first giuen him to gouerne after the East he was noble although he came of a pesant he shewed himselfe cruel towards the children of Galerius his ally He was an enemy vnto letters as hauing no knowledge no not to write his owne name And he called the liberall Arts a publike poyson and pestilence Euseb lib. 4. ca. 13. He deserued praise in that he repressed abuses the boldnesse insolencies of the brauest of his Court which he called the Moathes and Rattes of his Pallace He raigned 14 yeares liued 60. See Pomp. Laet. Constantine the great sonne of the Emperour Constantius and Helena S. Ambrose in his funerall Oration of Theodosius saith that hee was a seruant in a stable and was borne in England Hee was instructed in the Militarie Art vnder Galerius He tamed the Sermates a fearce Nation barbarous brought their Duke captiue to Galerius who cōceiued enuy at the glory of this yong Prince whereof being aduertised he retired from Rome towards his Father into England who dyed soone after By the fauour of Princes he was declared Emperour the yeare 309. The Senate writ vnto him Letters to aduertise him of the euil gouernment Maxentius for the great cruelties hee exercised at Rome wherevpon he marched towards Rome and pursued Maxentius who retiring into the Towne made couer Tyber with Boats nye the bridge Miluius which by subtil deceit as hee thought he made ioyne together to deceiue Constantine and to haue drown'd him whē he followed him But he himself as furious first comming out to flie not remembring his owne stratageme that hee practised for an other entred on horsebacke with a fewe people vpon the bridge where he was drowned in Tyber the 6. yeare of his Empire For this happie deliuerance honors were giuen to Constantius so he acquited Italie and Affrike For his Father had only left him the Gaulois and Spaine and would so haue contented himselfe had it not bene for the warre that Licinius raised making himselfe Cesar and was established in the East Maximian as we haue said with his great griefe had forsakē the Empire being greeued so long to lead a priuate life did his best by the meanes of Maxentius his sonne chosen Emperour to returne to the Empire but because hee succeeded therein not well he retired towards his sonne in lawe Constantine vnto whom he had giuen his daughter Fausta and sought by ambushes to cast him out of the Empire Which Fausta perceiuing well reuealed to her husband preferring him before her father Wherefore the sonne in lawe besieged him at Marcellis tooke him aliue and bad him choose whatsoeuer kind of death he would He strangled himselfe with a cord or girdle And so this wicked and bloudie man which had shead so much Christian bloud vnluckily finished his life of his age sixtie Licinius at the first had some great familiaritie with Constantine and to please him made a shew to loue the Christians in so much that he married Constance the sister of Constantine and by a mutuall consent together caused to publish lawes for the Christians but afterward comming againe to his nature and forgetting the honour that Constantine had done him began to conspire against him because Constantine so fauoured Christians whose enemie he declared himselfe alleadging this cause that in their assemblies they prayed for Constantine and not for him Licinius then beganne the persecution by his owne house after he stretched it farre by Lawes and Edicts into the Prouinces of the East forbidding especially Bishoppes to make assemblies and Sinodes Secondly that men and women to auoyd scandalles and offence not to assemble at prayers Thirdly that such as were appointed prisoners as transgressors of Edicts should not be visited nor succoured in paine to incurre the like condemnation c. He then set himselfe against the Bishops not openly for feare of Constantine but made them die secretly by his Committees Euseb Lib. 10. Chap. 8. In the Towne of Sebasta Losias killed in a poole fortie souldiers whose Martirdome Basile the great described and other Martirs which were cruelly murdered Licinius increased more and more his crueltie but the Lord sent Constantine to represse him who experimented against him the Forces of the Gaules and Italie hauing ouerthrowne him in Hungarie and pursued him into Macedonia where he repaired his forces He was chased into Asia and in the end yeelded himselfe seeing he was vanquished by sea and by land and was sent into Thessalonica to liue priuately yet could he not so escape the true vengeance of his boldnesse crueltie and infidelitie For hee was slaine by Constantines souldiers about the yeare of our Lord three hundred twentie and foure after some writers Melchiades the thirtith Bishop succeeded in the Church of Rome and was of Affrike after Damasus A man of great pietie and a true seruant in the holy Ministerie of the Gospell and in the affaires of the truth of God vntill hee was put to death vnder Maximin Galerius the yeare of the Lord 314. Read herevpon the Ecclesiasticall History of Eusebius where he reciteth diuers cruell kindes of death wherewith the
Saints of that time were persecuted Carsulan Platina Stella and other of the Popes flatterers attribute wrongfully to these holy Martyrs of the Lord Iesu whole Chariots full of lying decrees to the ende the diuellish ordinances of their ceremonies or rather blasphemies might be approued by their authoritie They attribute vnto him the forbidding of Fastes on the Sundayes or Thursdayes because on them the Painims celebrated the solemnities of their God Saturne Item a decretall touching Baptisme and the Confirmation De consecratione distinct 5. cap. Spirit sanct cap. De his c. Note this for the Bishops of the Romaine Church vntill Siluester the first But what man would thinke that poore and simple Ministers of the word and Pastors of the Church such as then were the Bishops of Rome inhabiting in ditches and caues attending nothing vnder those Tyrants from day to day but only death could haue thought vpon this pride arrogancy which after those Popes vsed in buildings and other ordinances seeing they had neither Temples nor houses whether they might retire Peace was not yet giuen to the Church They yet enioyed not that vnprofitable Idlenesse nor the soueraigne delights of this world nor that whoore which by litle and litle rose vp had not yet her bedde ready yet such haue bene the inuentions of false Prophets to set out the whoores body and so is the Popes Sinagogue founded vpon so euident lies as nothing more Assuredly it were great folly to giue faith to such ridiculous dreames of Sathan forged for the gaine and profits of Priests Better therefore it is in this case to prooue the spirits namely whether they be of God or not as it is said 1. Iohn Chapter 4. seeing many false Prophets are come into this world Vntill this time Pastors were as Starres in the Firmament of the Church shining as well in doctrine as in good example they were also garded by the right hand of him that walked in the middest of the seuen Candlestickes Hitherto men esteemed them as Angels preaching the word of the Almightie God without fiction yea that more is hitherto they were figured by the white horse because in the ministerie they carried the victorious Iesus Christ as well in their hearts as in their bodies and as well in mouth as worke Ceremonies in the celebration of the Supper The memorie of the Lords Supper was not performed but in publike assemblies and therefore the Synode of Gangre vnder the Emperour Constans condemned Eustace Bishop of Seluste in Armenia because contrary to the order of the vse of the Church he permitted some which disdained to come into the Church to Communicate in particular houses Socrat. Lib. 2. Cap. 43. Neither was it lawful to celebrate the Supper in a prophane place as appeareth by Athanasius in the Epistle to them of Antioche Hierome against Iouinian reprehendeth the maner of doing in other Christians at Rome which Communicated in houses Wherfore said he entred they not into Churches c. Deacons distributed the Supper of the Lorde Priestes beeing present with one diuiding the Eucharist and this was after the Canon of the Councell of Nice The Priests distributed the Cup of the bloud of the Lord Doctors of this time often call it Cup or Mistike vessell S. Hierome writing of vessells to distribute the Lords Supper in saith of a Bishop of Tholouze called Exuperius There was nothing so rich as that which carried the body of our Lord in an Osier basket and the bloud in a Glasse By the first booke of Euseb of the Euang. 92. Demonst Chap. 10. One may easily knowe that Christians daily celebrated the memorie of the body and bloud of Iesus Christ And S. Ambrose in his fift booke of Sacraments Chapter 4. reprehendeth the Easterne Churches because they communicated but once a yeare In the Churches of Affrike they which should communicate passed the night in watchings prayers As Athanasius reciteth in the Apologie of his flight adding that all mutually ought before to be reconciled together And in the Westerne Churches al communicated except the Catechumenistes and such as did penance as appeareth by Hierome vpon the 7. Chapter of the 2. to the Corinthians About this time water was giuen with wine as appeareth by S. Ambrose first Chapter of his fist booke of Sacraments They put saith he into the Cup wine then water c. which being mingled was consecrated with the wine The maner of the Churches was to giue the Eucharist in the hand of him that tooke it as appeareth by the words of S. Ambrose to the Emperour Theodosius Reachest thou out thy hands which yet are bloudie and which yet distill the bloud by thee shead to take the holy body of the Lord Darest thou apply to thy mouth the precious bloud of the Lord c. The Priest as he distributed the bread said Take the body of the Lord and in distributing the wine Take the bloud of Christ and at both the Communicant answered Amen Ambrose in the 4. booke of Sacraments Chap. 5. To such as were nigh their deaths they brought the Eucharist Horatius a Priest of the Church of Verseil carried it to Ambrose nigh his death Paulinus in the life of S. Ambrose reciteth it May abuses began in this time to arise Such as made any great voyage either by sea or land carried the Eucharist as appeareth in the Oration of Saint Ambrose vpon the death of Satyrius Touching the ceremonies vsed in administring the Sacrament Denis hath left by writing that which followeth The Bishop hauing ended the prayers before the Aultar began to perfume and compasse all the place after returning to the Aultar he began to sing Psalmes and all followed This done the Ministers in order read something of the holy scripture That read they caused the Catechumenistes with the Enenguinians to goe out and such as were admitted to penance One part of the Ministers kept themselues before the portall of the Temple shut the others did such things as belonged to their charge Such as are elected to minister with the Priests presented the bread before the Aultar and the Cup of blessing Whilest all the Churchmen sung praises and Himnes to the Lord the Bishop which said the praiers pronounced peace to all And after euery one had saluted one an other the Priests and the Bishop washed their hands with water After the Bishoppe in the middest of the Aultar enuironed with Priests and Ministers began to praise and magnifie the workes of the world and propose to the people the signes of the Supper and to declare them vnto them and inuite them to the participation thereof which finally ended in thankes-giuing c. The word Messe was not found amongst the writers of this time And as for the two preparatiue prayers of the Priest meaning to say Masse which are shufled into the workes of Ambros Erasmus himselfelfe iudgeth them not to be S. Ambroses They
Persians and receiued a mortall wound and casting a full handfull of bloud into the ayre hee vttered this blasphemie against Iesus Christ Thou hast ouercome ô Gallelean In the end thou art vanquisher and as hee had lost much bloud being in a burning Feuer hee called for water about midnight and dranke it colde and expired the yeare of his age 31. hauing gouerned the Empire the space of a yeare and seuen moneths Of the publike ioy they of Antioche made for his death see the Tripartite historie lib. 6. chap. 48. Iouinian or Iuuian borne in Hungarie was created Emperour with great ioy of the Armie the next morning after the death of Iulian. He was a Prince naturally liberall and who vnder Iulian had shewed well that he loued better to loose all dignities then to obey one wicked commaundement and against Christian religion Beeing importuned by the souldiers to accept the election he said hee was a Christian and that hee would not bee the Emperour of Ethnicks and Idollatrous people Hee accepted not the Empire vntill all with a common voyce had protested they would bee Christians Eutropius Lib. 10. Socrat. Lib. 3. Chap. 22. One called Lucius an Arrian whom George Bishop of Alexandria had promoted accusing Athanasius when he returned from exile Iouinian would not heare him but knowing Athanasius commaunded silence to Lucius Sozomen li. 6. cap. 5. He customably said to flatterers that they rather worshipped purple then God The Church had rest vnder him and he restored whatsoeuer Iulian had taken away There was a Councell held at Antioche vnder him to establish the faith of the Councell of Nice Sozom. lib. 6. chap. 4. He made peace with the Persians to his great dishonour and to their great aduantage yeelding them fiue Prouinces beyond Tigris also he promised to giue no succours vnto the King Arsaces allied with the Romanes He died soone after of an euill of the stomacke as he was in his chamber wherein for cold he caused to be made a great fire of coles all the night He liued 23. yeares and raigned seuen moneths The originall of Monkes and Monasteries The Monastike life began first in Aegypt Antonius and Macarus were the first and most renowned Authors of this maner of life which incontinent was disperced into Palestine Armenia and Paphlagonia Sozomen li. 3. chap. 14. It is greatly to be maruelled at how this world which in it had so many excellent Doctors did straight admit this manner of life which was neuer instituted of God and not onely allowed it but euen themselues instituted it and so made a new seruice of God by their owne traditions It seemeth at the beginning there were two kindes of Monkes some in sollititude and others in Cities and companies Sozom. li. 3. ch 16. Basilius at large writeth the Oeconomie and lawes of this Monkish life namely that a Monke before all things ought to possesse nothing to be peaceable that hee ought to haue an honest habit a moderate voice words well disposed to take his refection peaceably and with silence and that his glorie ought to be patience in tribulation humilitie and simplicitie of heart watchings teares in prayers sobrietie in his speech and eating Ambrose in his 82. Epistle of his booke saith that Monasteries were shops of vertue abstinence fasting patience and labour Out of which they drew Bishops that were accustomed and trained in these vertues Hierome ad Ruffinum Monachum saith that the Monasteries of the Aegyptians receiued none without dooing some labour or worke And this was their rule and as it were their Simbole Hee that trauelleth not ought not to eate The same in his Epistle ad Eutychium speaketh of three sort of Monkes in Egypt The first were called Cenobites Sansos in that countrey language as we might say liuing in common The second Anacharites because they dwelt alone in the Desarts far from mē The third they called Remoboth these dwelt two with two or three with three at the most and liued at their discretion and of that which they laboured for they nourished themselues in common but often had they debates amongst them Before the time of Hierome it is not like there were any Monasteries in Europe but that Ambrose in whose time began persecutions of virgins makes often mention of companies of sacred virgins otherwise there is no Latine Author of this time in whose writings the name of Monke is found Certaine it is that Sozomen lib. 3. chap. 14. affirmeth them of Thrace the Illirians and they of Europe had yet no Monastike assemblies Valentinian borne also in Hungarie was made Emperour by the souldiers in the principall Towne of Bithinia Anno. 366. Hee and Valens were the sonnes of Gratian borne in Hungarie of a meane place and in fauour of him Valentinian was chosen to the Empire which hee refused but after accepted and made his brother Valens pertaker with him who had the Countrey of the East and made his sonne Gratian Augustus In their time Procopius who vsurped the Empire was by them discomfited After Valentinian chased away the Gothes and other barbarous people of Thrace The Saxons were brought to their dutie and obedience accustomed Germanie beeing tossed with continuall troubles was set at rest and quietnesse by the happie successe of Theodosius Valens then being chosen a consort of the Empire was at first of like pietie and will with his brother as hee hadde also shewed vnder Iulian but after hee was infected with the Arrian heresie at the perswasion of his wife and of Eudoxius Bishop of Constantinople an Arrian of whom he was baptised During the life of Valentinian the westerne Church was peaceable and agreeing to the decrees of the Councell of Nice But Valens did what he could to aduāce the Arrianisme against such as were called Homousiastes that is to say the true Catholiques and stirred great horrible persecutions and aboue all in Antioche and Laodicea his brother Valentinian reprehended him and admonished him by Letters to desist as Zonoras writeth but hereby was he stirred so much the more and determined to chase away Basilius Bishop of Cesaria because at his commaundement he would not communicate with Eudoxius but the Lord sent a disease to his onely sonne who knowing it be Gods vengeance turned him from his euill will and certaine dayes he was an auditor of Basiles Sermons Athanasius after he had procured the good of the Church 46. yeares and sustained many persecutions in great constancie and patience died about this time After his death persecution in Egipt and Alexandria was mooued by Valens Hist Trip. lib. 8. chap. 7. Damasus a Spaniard some write him to bee of Rome the sonne of one called Antonius succeeded Liberius his election was turbulent and bloudie because of a competitor hee had called Vrsin a Deacon of the Romane Church Hereby may you see a first fruite of the riches of the Church and of the pretended donation
Pope of Rome gouerned the Romane Church a yeare fiue moneth and 12. dayes Naucler He was by force promoted to his dignitie by Theodatus King of Italie who corrupted by siluer constrained the Cleargie to chuse Syluerius without the consent of the Emperour Theodora the wife of the Emperour Iustinian at the instigation of Vigilius Deacon required Syluerius to call again from exile Anthemius and to restore him to the dignitie from which he had bene cast and depriued for his heresie and so to put out Mennas Syluerius would not do this Bellisarius had commission to depriue him of the Popedome and to appoint vnto it Vigilius who subborned false witnesses which affirmed that Syluerius had intelligence with the Gothes and that he would haue deliuered them the Towne of Rome Wherefore Syluerius was constrained to giue place and goe into exile In the second volume of Councells At this time Italie was greatly afflicted with an extreame famine Maurus a Romane and Faustus an Italian Disciples of Saint Benet were sent into France to teach the Monastike life and at the request of the French men who sent messengers to S. Benet to the Mount Cassim Amator a Bishop sent some siluer to Siluerius to maintaine him in exile Syluerius gaue sentence of excommunication against Vigilius The Feast of Purification was at that time instituted in Constantinople to appease a great pestilence Abb. Vrsp. This is Candlemas which then was called Hypapanthy that is to say an encounter or meeting For then Simeon founde Christ whom hee hadde so long attended Liberius made fiue bookes of the Incarnation of out Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and a booke against the Bishops of Affrike Iustinian compiled the Romane lawes first the Code containing 12. bookes Secondly the Digestes Thirdly the Institutes Fourthly an Epitome of Lawes The warre in Italie against the Ostrogothes by Bellisarius Leonard Attelin Iustinian in his new Constitutions ordained that all Bishops and Priests should celebrate the prayers of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper with an high voyce and with words vnderstood of all Christians to the end that the spirits of the Auditors might be lifted vp with greater deuotion to sing praises vnto the Lord. Vigillius borne at Rome gouerned the Romane Church 14. yeares after Naucier or 8. yeares 6. moneths and 26. dayes after others hee entred wickedly into the papacie It was hee also that ordained that the Masse should be said towards the East Rome was taken and burnt by Totila at this time The first vniuersall Councell was now held at Constantinople of 165. Bishops by the commaundement of Iustinian the Emperour and at the request of Vigilius against Anthemius Seuerus Peter of Antioche Zona and other heretikes who said that the Virgin Marie brought forth Iesus Christ onely Man and not God and man There againe it was agreed that it is well said Marie the mother of God The yeare of Christ 551. Rome was taken the second time of the Gothes by Totila the scourge of God before whom came Vigilius or after Nauclerus Pelagius In this time besides the warre and famine which was in Italie there was also a sore plague in so much that houses were inhabited by sauage beasts Benet the younger was cast into a burning furnace by the commaundement of Totila Herculien Bishop of Peruse had his head sawne off by the same In this time were held the Councels of Orleance the second and third or fourth and fift after some In the 10. Chapter of the second Councell it was ordained that a Christian should not take a Iewe to wife nor that a Christian woman should marry a Iewe and such communication was vnlawfull and if they were ioyned they ought to bee seperated In the third Councell wherein Honoratus Arch-bishoppe was President Chapter 2. it was ordained that no Priest Deacon or Subdeacon should haue the company of his wife otherwise that he should be deposed from his office and remitted into the communion of Lay-people In the 16. Chapter it was ordained that the Deacon before 25. and the Priest before 30 yeares should not be ordained Many in this time were infected with the Priscillian heresie abstaining from eating flesh A Councell held now at Auuerne Vigillius being come to the Popedome by the deceit and subtilties of the Empresse Theodora shee commaunded him to come vnto Constantinople and to restore Athemius as hee had promised but hee refused to doo it saying that iustly he was cast out by Agapetus and Syluerius and that therefore he was not bound to keepe his promise which hee made against all right and reason Theodora very angry hereat sent an Embassage to Rome to drawe Vigillius into Lawe for the iniurie done by him in casting Syluerius into exile Item for the plot by him laid for the death of a young man of the chiefe Nobilitie called Asterius and of one which was his Secretarie Vpon these matters the Embassador arriuing at Rome was aided of the Romanes and they tooke Vigilius and lead him to Constantinople and as hee embarked the people cast stones at him with these Imprecations A famine bee with thee a mortalitie be with thee thou hast done a thousand mischiefes to the Romanes euill enough maiest thou finde where thou goest Doo said hee what you will vnto mee for I haue well deserued it And as he approached nigh vnto Constantinople a great multitude of the Cleargie mette him and conducted him into the Towne Theodora in the meane while ceased not to sollicite Vigillius of his promise and to restore Anthemius To whom Vigilius saide that hee would rather endure all things whatsoeuer then doo it He was grieuously afflicted iniuried and outraged and drawne out of the Temple of S. Sophie or Euphemie whereinto hee was fledde for safetie and refuge One put a rope or corde about his necke and ledde him all ouer the Towne from morning till night This done hee was put in prison fed with bread and water and finally sent into exile with the Cleargie which accompanied him at his entrie After the death of Theodora hee was called againe with all such as went with him at the request of the Captaine Narses but in the way he fell sick and died in Sicile at the Citie of Siracusa Denis Abbot a Romane made the great Pascall Cicle in this time Item a booke of the reason of the Feast of Easter Abb. Trit Arator a Subdeacon at Rome wrote the Acts of the Apostles in Hexamiter Verses Radegonde Queene of Fraunce the wife of Clotharius who was King of France after the death of his brother Hildebert Pelagius a Romane gouerned the seate 12. yeares hee was accused to haue bene the principall cause of all Vigilius his euills But in the presence of the Cleargie and people and in the presence of Narses he mounted the Chaire and publikely swore that he neuer did any euill vnto Vigilius and so escaped and was absolued It is hee who
obserued as the Gospell which is a sacriledge to compare humane ordinances with the eternall word of the liuing God It was there also ordained that no Bigamus should be ordained Priest and that Priestes accused of the people should haue this authoritie that by oath they might purge thēselues and approue their innocencie By this meanes they would be all innocent Monkes were forbidden to carry any to baptise and women that they should not enter into anye Monasterie of Monkes In Italie after a great drought there came an innumerable multitude of Grashoppers which consumed all the graine and fruite whereof came a great famine in Italie which endured two yeares Chro. Euseb The Legends of Saintes were forged at this time of such liues as these Fathers writ Many Relikes were found out by the subtilties of Sathan As Christes Coate vppon which the souldiers cast Lottes is said to be found in a Coffer of Marble in the Towne of Zapha and frō thence carried into the towne of Ierusalem Abb. Vrsperge and Naucler Such foule absurdities merit no recitall but that the greatest of the world haue bene deceiued with these inuentions of Relikes Argentuel nigh Paris made a Banner of this Coat Agilulsphus king of the Lombards was 2. yeares before Rome and the Arrabian Sarrasins entered into Sicilie and by fire wasted it Mauricius otherwise a good Prince who had many victories especially against the Persians in the end became odious to his souldiers because of his infinit couetousnesse which is a very detestable vice in a Prince He by his auarice dissembled rapines and murthers and payed not his souldiers but not them especially which serued vpon the Frontiers of Sarmatia to resist the fiercenesse of the Scithians They remained in barraine places enduring great necessities For this cause the souldiers conspired against him and Phocas was designed Emperour Who caused his M. Maurice his head to be cut off in Chalcedone the heads also of his wife three Children Theodorus Tiberius and Constantine the rehearsall thereof is worthy memorie that Maurice seeing his children murthered by Phocas and that hee himselfe straightway must be put to death he often cryed in this voice which is in 145. Psalme and verse 12. Lord thou art iust and thy iudgements are also And so dyed of the age of 63. yeares and the 20. yeare of his Empire We may learne by the example of the Emperour who was not of the worst in great cruell temptations in such sort to bridle our thoughts that the iustice of God may alwayes haue his praise and be vnto vs a buckler against all temptations Colomban of Scotland a very renowmed Bishop dyed the yeare 598. Abb. Trit The Lombards were conuerted to the Faith by S. Gregorie who writ his Dialogues and presented them to Theodelinde the wife of Agilulphus their King Supplem Chron. Eutropius a Bishop at this time Abb. Trit Phocas 42. in number and the 19. of the Grecian Emperours of Constantinople which ruled in the East from a Gouernour of Scythia after he had wickedly slaine his maister was chosen by the vnlucky Armie whereof he had charge a verie slaue of couetousnesse who handled secret matters with Courtiers after the manner of the Persians and solde the Offices of Magistrates Iudgements and dearly loued such as tormented the people by rapine and extortion This is hee who first ordeined that Rome should first be the chiefe of all Churches yea though it were Constantinople Gregorie the first besides so many ceremonies and superstitions made certaine ordinances and gaue permissions and lycences Amongst others he suffered diuorces for the long disease of a woman which cannot yeeld her dutie to her husband if he cannot conteine vpon condition notwithstanding that he helpe and succour his said wife in her disease This is in the second Epistle to Augustine the English man And in the second volume of Councells But why then did he not rather vse moderation towardes men and women which were cast into Monasteries when they cannot conteine wherefore constraine they them not to marry See the same Epistle Hee made many bookes amongst many others the Dialogues of the miracles of Saints in foure bookes which are full of Fables whereby he pretendeth to prooue that the soules of the dead returne againe and that we must pray for them These Fables inuented to pray for the dead gaue great authoritie to Masses which after came in great credit Sauinian Pope a Tuscane after Gregorie gouerned the Church of Rome two yeares He is accounted the third Pope noted of abhominable infamie an insatiable man and a sworne enemie of his predecessor Gregorie euen to cause his bookes to be burnt He being once admonished to follow the liberallitie of the said Gregorie towards the poore he answered that he dissipated and wasted the goods of the Church to get a good report and the fauour of the people Hee passed not his Popedome without inuenting and ordaining something namely that there should bee burning Lampes kept continually in the Temple and the houres of the day should be distinguished and rung in Churches The sea of Histories Boniface Pope the third of that name a Romane after Naucler ruled in the Church of Rome one yeare fiue moneths In a Sinode at Rome of 72. Bishops 30. Priests and some Deacons it was ordained vnder paine of excommunication that none should be elected Pope or Bishop but three daies after the death of his predecessour and by the consent of the Prince or of the Lord of the place It was also ordained that all such as by gifts fauour came to any Episcopall dignitie should be excommunicated Then it followeth that all their Bishops at this day are excommunicated This Pope ordained that the Aultar should be couered with cleane cloathes That the corporall of the Aultar should be kept cleane This Phocas as is said the murtherer of his M. the Emperour ordeined Boniface Bishop of Rome the soueraigne Bishop of all Chistianitie and the Romane Church chiefe of all the Churches of the world Abb. Vrsp. The primacie then of the Romane Church was established by an homicide and a traytor who died miserably Cosroes King of the Persian vnderstanding his Father in lawe Maurice was put to death by the ambushes of Phocas detested so that treason that he rebelled against the Empire In such sort that he wasted Siria and tooke Ierusalem where there were nintie thousand men slaine And the Chronicles adde that the wood of the holy Crosse was then taken and carried into Persia and the Bishop Zacharie was also prisoner The East Empire beganne to decline The Hans likewise reuolted against the Empire and with their great multitude they ouerranne the Romane Prouinces The Persians occupied Mesopotamia and Assiria and from Ierusalem ranne euen to Cappadocia and Gallatia and succoured all the Country euen to Chalcedone On the other side the Sarrazins wasted Egipt Boniface Pope 4. of that
side from whence bloud came wherwith many maladies were healed This thing being declared to the Bishop of the said place he made that blood to be preciously kept and shewed it and carried it hither and thither And therevpon ordeined each yeare a feast called the Passion of the Lordes Image the eight of Nouember Of this blood there was brought to Mantoua Supp Chron. Who sees not that this Fable was inuented to the end that vnder the shadow of miracles the seruice of Saints and Images might be set forward against the Grecians Emperours Whē men haue no authoritie from the holie scripture they cry Miracle Miracle Note hereby the refuge of Papists There was a Sinode held in France against the Grecians touching Images by the authoritie of King Pippin Abb. Vrsp In this time Saints liues were forged on all sides Verus Biship of Siuil wrote the life of S. Eutropius Bishop Abb. Trit Wibaldus composed the life of S. Boniface his maister Bishop of Magunce Tritem Constantine Pope second of that name a Romane gouerned at Rome one yeare By ambition and force hee occupied the Papacice And from the estate of a Laie-man being made Priest hee was chosen Pope by store of money and Armes but after was taken and cast into a Monasterie and his eyes put out In this time likewise there was an Antepope called Phillippicus or Phillip who also was deposed and Stephen the third constituted Sergius Bishop of Rauenna and Christopher Authours of the former schisme had their eyes put out Stephen Pope third of that name Monke of Sicilie ruled at Rome foure yeares This Pope assembled a Councell at Rome where all that was reuoked which Constantine his predecessor had ordeined euen in disgrading them which by him were consecrated In the said Councell assisted 12. Bishops of France Naucler There was also ordeined that no Laie-man should be made Pope or Bishop but successiuely by order and Ecclesiasticall degrees Naucler Item that euery Sunday the Gloria in excelsis should be sung at Masse There was condemned the Councell of Constantinople 7. wherein the Emperour Constantine the 2. and the Bishops of Greece had ordeined that Images should be laid downe This Councell was declared hereticall and againe Images commanded as worthie of honour and veneration This thus agreed vpon the next morning there was made a great procession where the Pope went on foote in great deuotion and all others Naucler and Supp Chron. A great token of repentance for a Pope Charlemaigne the sonne of Pippin 22. King of France had this surname of great for his prowesses and vertues Hee had maruellous warres The first in Aquitane The second against the Lombards And the third against the Saxons He had also warre in Spaine in Bauiere and in Hungarie against the Hunois which Historiographers declare in their order Adrian Pope a Romane gouerned the Romane Church 24. yeares This Pope shewed himselfe cruell against such as impugned the seruice of Images and made a booke Intituled Of the worshipping of Saints Chron. Sigeb and Abb. Trit Dedier 22. and last king of Lombards desired the loue and friendship of this Pope but he would not consent therevnto Saying that he would not accord with him which so often had broken his promise wherewith Didier being moued practised many euils against the Church of Rome In so much that Adrian was constrained to demaund aide in Fraunce Supplim of Chron. Charlemaigne came into Italie at the request of Adrian against Didier and obtained victorie against him after he had raigned 18. yeares hee sent him prisoner into France with his wife and children And the kingdome of the Lombards finished in Italie which had endured 224. yeares or 213. After hee had ouercome the Lombards hee instituted the Vniuersitie of Pauie and adorned it with learned people Charlemaigne came to Rome and kissed the Popes feete Blundus and P. Emilius He restored to the Romane Church his reuenewes priuiledges and ratified all that which his Father Pippin had giuen to the said Church Wherefore this Adrian caused a Councell to be held of 153. Prelates by which was giuen to Charlemaigne the right of Inuesture placing Bishops in possession of their seates and to elect the Pope of Rome from hence forward Distinct 63. cap. Adrianus This priuiledge endured not long and was but feined hypocriticall And the succeeding Popes obserued it not saying it was but curtesie and a personable priuiledge which could not exceed the person of the Emperour which then was Leon Emperour fourth of that name sonne of Constantine Emperour raigned fiue yeares his wife was of Athens named Hirene otherwise also Theodora a faire woman and of great spirit Naucler He loued precious stones and hauing seene a Crowne full of precious stones in the Treasury of Saint Sophie put it vpon his head but by the coldnesse thereof he fell into a Feuer whereof he dyed Chron. Sigeb Fasc temp Naucler Supp Chro. After his wife Hirene raigned Charlemaigne enterprised warre against the Saxons Infidels and Painims and this endured 33. yeares Naucler For they often reuolted and feined themselues to be Christians abusing Charlemaigne Abb. Vrsp. Finally they were made subiect Adrian builded certaine Towers and walles at Rome and gaue great gates of Brasse to the Church of S. Peter and adorned the Aultar with a couering of Gold Hee ordeined that an hundreth poore people should be nourished in the Court of Lateran He restored S. Anastatius and other ruinated Churches He was puissant and noble of race and none of his predecessours came to like temporal glory and riches Supp Chro. Fasci temp Charlemaigne displeased at the discord of the Church Musicke betwixt the Romanes and the French sent two Clarkes to Rome to learne the Song of the Romane Church which first instructed the Church of Metes in Lorraine and after al France in the same singing Supp Chron. Constantine 6. of that name Emperour 76. of Leon the 4. raigned tenne yeares with his mother Hirene but being come to age he depriued her of the Empire exhorting her rather to deale in domesticall affaires without medling with gouerning the Empire Sigeb Charlemaigne made warre in Spaine against the Sarrasins Naucler Where the Peers of France were betraied Ganelon Hirene had her deuotion towards the virgin Mary and all other Saints And at the request of Pope Adrian and of Therasius Arch-bishop of Constantinople she assembled after Sigeb a Councell at Nice called the seuenth of 350 after some or of 325. Bishops Naucler Wherin it was decreed that not only in Temples should be Images but also that they should be worshipped of right that al gainsaiers should be excommunicated but this decree was after abolished by Constantine Chro. Euseb Here tooke the Vniuersitie of Paris her beginning by the care of Alenin an English man who was Charlemaignes maister Constantine the 11. yeare of his Empire depriued his mother of the
for Monkes that for necessitie they might not be withdrawne from holy things There was also graunted Franches and libertie to Monkes Clarkes and Priests that they should not be subiect vnto temporall Lords c. The body of S. Marke was transported from Alexandria to Venice Naucl. After this Councell there were ambushes laid for the Emperor Lewis euen his owne children angry at the second marriage of their father with one called Iudith an audatious woman He sent them farre from him namely Lotharie into Italie Pippin into Aquitane and Lewis into Bauiere Notwithstanding he was imprisoned in the Monasterie of S. Modard at Soissons Iohn le Maire declareth this Historie as followeth In the time of Gregorie the fourth saith he was held a Councell at Campaigne which was detestable and pernitious by the disordinate Prelates of France who grieued that at the former Councell the Emperour had corrected their pompes and disordered superfluities hauing caused them to leaue their Rings they conspired against him and caused the children to take Armes against their father and to take him and hold him in straight guard at Soissons the Pope Gregorie aiding in this exploit Moreouer at the said Councell or rather conuenticle and monopole the said Bishops and Prelates coniured condemned their soueraigne Prince and Lord to lay away Armes and his militarie Girlde and to dispoile himselfe of his Imperiall dignitie and in the place therof to take the Monkes Coole or Frocke O false wicked and Pharasaicall Priestly hypocrisie saith he This is not the first time that thou hast conspired in great disdaine against such as reprehend and correct thee For thou begannest at the head that is at our Lord Iesus Christ But afterward this said Emperour was againe established into his Kingdome by an other better Councell of Bishops and Prelates of France and by the conduct of certaine good Barrons and loyall Captaines of his kingdome being nigh touched with his troubles and griefes His sonnes which had imprisoned him demanded pardon for their fault and villainous enterprise and obtained it See Iohn le Maire Ebdo Archbishop of Rhemes and many other Prelates which had conspired against the king were deposed from their dignities condemned and banished out of France Chron. Sigeb Gregorie the fourth instituted the Feast of All-saints vpon the first day of Nouember Rabanus first Monke of S. Benet and Abbot of Fulden after Bishop of Magunce flourished at this time He expounded all the Bible as well the olde as the new Testament and made many other bookes Strabus a Monke of Fulden a Disciple of Rabanus was the first which made the ordinarie Close which after was augmented Tritem Bertramus Priest a learned man and well instructed in true pietie made a booke of Predestination and an other of the body and bloud of the Lord wherein he speaketh very properly of the Lords Supper He serued for a light to illuminate others in this darke time Turpin Archbishop of Rhemes wrote two bookes of the actes of Charlemaigne Abb. Trit Lewis Debonaire died of the age of 64. yeares hauing raigned 26. and was buried at Mets in the Sepulchre of his mother Hildegarde After his death rose vp a cruell time for whilst his children Lotharie Charles and Lewis were in debates and warres the Sarrasins on the other side lifted vp themselues as also the Saxons with others At a battle giuen at Fountenay a Towne of Auxerrois Lotharie fled to Aixle Chapelle and and from thence to Vienne Lotharie or Lother obtained the Empire 15. yeares The felicitie of that Kingdome acquired by Charlemaigne soone finished in this man whose Empire was diuided He had such debates with his bretheren that one day at an Easter Feast almost all the Nobilitie of France perished at a combat wherein Charles had the victorie Finally there was meanes found of agreement namely that Charles surnamed Le Chaune should be King of France Lewis King of Germanie and Lotharie who was then the eldest should haue Gaul Belgique Prouince and that portion of the Countrey which of his owne name was called Lotharinge that is to say Lorraine He already possessed Italie Lothaire left three sonnes Lewis Lotharie and Charles vnto which he made a partition to Lewis the Empire with Italie to Lothaire Austrasia and Lorraine and to Charles the youngest the Kingdome of Prouince This partition was during his life in the presence of the greatest of his Kingdome After he tooke him to a Monasterie Sergius Pope the second of that name a Romane ruled three yeares His election was confirmed by Lewis the Emperour Lothaires sonne who sent to Rome for that purpose and the said Lewis was crowned King of Italie by Sergius Nauclerus This Sergius was before called Swines Snowte and therefore chaunged his name and so gaue first occasion to his successors to chaunge their names in their election He then and they which followed esteemed more of the name which they receiue at their cursed vnction then that they receiue at their baptisme wherein there is an apparant marke of Antichrist Some there are which by reason of certaine misteries and secrets which were then reuealed count the number of the Beast from this change of the name vntill the 7. yeare of Iulius the second of that name who casting S. Peters keyes into Tiber tooke Saint Pauls Sword whereof wee shall speake in his place This Pope had a brother called Benet who outragiously vsursped to himselfe the Church goods and there was so great couetousnesse at Rome by the carelesnesse of Sergius that Bishopprickes were publikely solde to him that would giue most and no man in authoritie sought any remedie for such an enormitie which they said came because of the Sarrasins comming into Italie Yet hee was very diligent to adorne and repaire Churches and to place many holy bodies in them Supp Chron. He builded a Monasterie nigh the Church of S. Siluester Supp Chron. He added to the priuate Masse the breaking of bread into three peeces Leo Pope 4. of that name a Romane ruled 8. or 9. yeares Hee was presently chosen euen before his predecessor was buried Hee repaired many Temples which the Sarrasins had destroyed He ordained that no Lay-man should presume to enter into the Quier of the Church nor to come nigh the Priest when he sung Masse vnlesse it were to the offering For that place is ordained for them which doo diuine seruice Chron. Euseb Hee also made many Collects and Orisons as Deus cuius dextra beatuÌ„ PetruÌ„ ambulantem in fluctibus c. Item Deus quibeato Petro collatis c. Item Deus quiab ipso huis mundi principio c. Item Presta quaesumus omnipotens misericors Deus c. against the assaultes of the Sarrasins and Earthquakes He builded the Castle of S. Angelo at Rome repaired the walles and gates and builded fifteene Bulâ—arkes for the defence of the Towne And he himsefle went to warre against the
grace wel to gouerne the Church Sup. Chron. Naucler The Emperours Embassadors came and confirmed his election He visited the diseased nourished the poore cōforted the desolate and defended Widowes and Orphanes Supp Chron. Hee ordained that the Pope by his corporall presence should honour the obsequies of a Bishop Priest and Deacon Boniface Simoneta And commaunded all the Cleargie to assist the Funeralls of a Pope R. Barns He was deposed from his Papacie by the conspiracie of certaine wicked persons and a Cardinall called Annastatius vsurped the seate but after he was reiected and sent to prison and Benet was restored by the Emperours Embassadors Chron. Sigeb The English men came into France about this time and wasted it Chron. Euseb Nicholas Pope the first of that name a Romane ruled at Rome about tenne yeares or after Nauclerus seuen yeares He was esteemed so holy that after S. Gregorie the great there was found none comparable to him He was created Pope in his absence and placed in the Apostolike seate against his will R. Barns He builded the Temple or Church of the Virgin Marie which men call Lanoue The same He made many decrees amongst others he ordained that that Emperours and secular Princes should be reiected from the Counells of the Church vnlesse there were some question of Faith Dist. 91. Cap. Vbinam Item that secular men should not iudge the life of Clarkes Dist 28. Cap. Consulendum Item that it should not bee lawfull for any to preiudice or contradict his iudgment neither to reprehend his sentence and opinion nor to iudge of his iudgement 9. q. 3. Patet Item that the Pope may not be bound nor vnbound by any secular power because he is called God Dist 96. Cap. Satis euidenter Item that Bishops ought not to goe on warrefare but occupie themselues in Prayers and Orisons 23. quest 8. Cap. Reprehensible Item that hone should assist at the Masse of a married Priest Dist 32. Cap. Nullus Item hee commaunded to take the Sacraments euen of such Priests as were of wicked life if they be not reiected of Bishops or excommunicated for some notorious crime 11. quest 8. Cap. Sciscitantib Item hee would that the decrees of his predcessors and their Epistles should obtaine euerie where vertue and authoritie By his authoritie the Sequences were newly added and sung at Masse at the sollicitation of Norgerus Abbot of S. Gall who after was Bishop of Liege Abb. Trit He writ a long and very rude Epistle vnto Michael Emperour of Constantinople in mainteinance of his Apostolike Primacie He ordained that no secular Prince should presume to vsurpe things belonging vnto Priests Hee excommunicated Lotharius brother of the Emperour Lewis because hee kept two wiues Theoberge and Galdrada and sent a writing against him to the Bishoppes of Fraunce Almaine and Italie 2. quest 1. Cap. Scelus Item to Charles le Chauue Vncle of the said Lotharie 2. quest 1. cap. An non Moreouer hee excommunicated and depriued of their dignities the Arch-bishoppe of Treuens Theogaldus and the Arch-bishoppe of Coloigene Gontarius because that consenting to the diuorce they maintained and defended the said Lotharie 9. quest 3. cap. Precipue cap. Thegaldum Wherevppon Lotharie seeing himselfe accused and also that they proceeded against him by excommunication he tooke againe Theberge his wife and reiected Galdrada but straight after hee againe forsooke his wife and called again Galdrada and after could neuer be seperated from her for any correction Naucler Iohn Arch-bishop of Rauenna meaning to maintaine the auncient libertie of Rauenna which Constantine and Iustinian the two Emperors and Leo the second Pope had taken from them was cited to appeare at Rome and because hee appeared not he was depriued of his dignitie The said Arch-bishop went to the Emperour and besought him to entreate the Popes licence to goe to Rome to defend his cause without daunger which the Pope graunted at the Emperours request The Arch-bishop admitted to pleade his cause before many Prelates confessed himselfe giltie of Treason towards the Pope and therefore demaunded mercy and pardon of all them which were present The Pope receiued him into grace vpon certaine conditions namely that in full Sinode he should purge himselfe of heresie That each yeare he should goe to Rome That he should cease consecrating of Bishops although they were Canonically elected vnlesse it were by the authoritie of the Pope graunted by his Letters That he should chaunge nothing of Ecclesiasticall goods without the Popes licence vnder paine of excommunication The Bishop of Strasburge called Ratholdus otherwise Radulphus sent to Rome a Priest of his Diocesse conuicted to haue slaine his mother vnto whom although there was enioyned hard penance yet the Pope permitted him to keepe his wife with him to auoyd the daunger of fornication See 33. quest 2. chap. Latorem and Renamus in the annotations vpon on Tertullian in the ende But this Pope Nicholas made great haste to publish constitutions and decrees touching the singlenes and continencie of Clarkes but he could obtaine nothing therein A Bishop also of Aspurge in Almaigne called Huldric greatly resisted the said decrees and writ an Epistle to Pop Nicholas which is worthie wholy to be here inserted to confound the Popish errour of the singlenes of Priests I haue therefore translated it word by word from his Latin originall as followeth Huldric Bishop only in name as a sonne promiseth and beareth loue and as a seruant feare to Nicholas his Lord Father and vigilant Pastor of the holy Romane Church Father and Lord after I knew thy Decrees made vpon the singlenes of Priests lately brought vnto mee to be farre from discretion a feare vexed me with a sadnesse I say feare because it is commonly said that the sentence of the Pastor be it iust or vniust is to be feared I was also afraid that the weake Auditors of the scripture which sildome obey a iust sentence yea often cast it off as if it were vniust will not binde themselues vpon commaundement vnto an errour or an importable transgression for the pleasure of his Pastor On the other side heauinesse and compassion moued me For I see not by what meanes the members can be guarded when the head is deteined with so greeuous a maladie For what thing is more greeuous or more worthie of compassion towardes all the Church then when the Bishop of the Seate vnto whom appertaineth the examination of all the Church withdraweth himselfe and straieth yea though neuer so little from holy discretion Assuredly thou art not a little out of the way when thou wouldest that Clarkes whom thou shouldest admonish to keepe chastitie of marriage should be compelled by violence and imperious force to keepe themselues continent For is not this violence yea euen after the common iudgement of all that haue knowledge when any is constrained to keepe a particular Decree against the Institution of the Gospell and doctrine of the holy Ghost And seeing
nothing and he should be in suretie but hee would not returne Wherefore he caused a Councell to be held wherein the Pope was condemned and deposed for his euill life And there was substituted in his place Leo a Romane 8 of that name but soone after the Emperours departure the seditious and inconstant Romanes droue away Leo and recalled the aforesaid Iohn receiuing him in great pompe Leo got him to the Emperour who fearing to molest the Church with a greater schisme permitted the said Iohn to hold his seate But finally beeing surprised in adulterie hee was slaine by the womans husband Robert Barns Chron. Sigeb Nauclerus and Iohn Maire Conferre good Reader these Popes with the first and see the difference The yeare of Christ 958. there hapned at Venice a memorable thing The Duke of Venice Peter of Candie was besieged in his Ducall Pallace and the Venetians angrie against him set fire on the Pallace in so much that not onely the Pallace burnt but also the Church of S. Marke nigh vnto it and more then three hundreth houses about it And as the Duke thus pressed retired into a secret place of the Pallace which was not yet touched with fire the people altogether enraged hauing found him holding yet his onely sonne a young Infant betwixt his armes and requiring vpon both his knees and in great pittie the mercie of the people they were not content most cruelly to murther him with his innocent sonne and wife but after their deathes the bodies of the father and sonne were carried vnto the butcherie and hewen in peeces and after cast vnto dogges Iohn le Maire and Sup. Chron. The cause of this massacre was because he had constrained his first wife to make her selfe a Nunne to the ende hee might with colour espouse the sister of Hugo Marquis of Hetruria of whom he had alreadie had one sonne Wherefore hauing married her the Allies and kinsfolkes of his said wife stirred the people vnto sedition and so they perished vnhappily Supp Chron. About this time flourished Windichinne a Monke of Corney in Saxonie Smaragdus Abbot of S. Michael of the order of S. Benet wrote the booke called Diadema monachorum a right Monkish booke Item vpon the rule of S. Benet and vpon the Psalter another two vpon the Euangelists and Epistles Item one of diuers Sermons Trit Abb. Spauher Benet Pope fift of that name a Romane ruled after Nauclerus 6. monethes and 5. dayes or 2. moneths and 5. dayes after Supp Chron. hee was chosen by the Romanes against the Emperours will after Iohn was slaine in adulterie The Emperour vnderstanding these newes returned to Rome besieged the Towne and so afflicted it that they were cōstrained to present Benet vnto him at his pleasure The Emperour restored Leo to the seate and Benet was depriued not onely of the papall dignitie but disgraced also of his Sacerdotall and after banished and sent into Almaine where hee died in the Towne of Mamburge others say he was put in prison and there strangled Leo then eight of that name a Romane was restored into the Popedome and raigned a yeare and foure moneths This Pope minding to shunne the fury of the Romanes which proceeded to the Popes election by corruptions menaces and subtill deuices ordained in a full Sinode that none should be made Pope without the consent of the Emperour vnto whom aboue belonged the right of election from Charlemaine and others Naucler and 63. dist cap. in Sinodo He restored also to Otho all the donations made to the Romane Church And this was it which they say Constantine Iustinian Pippin Charlemaigne Lewis le Debonaire and Arit part had giuen to the Church All this he reuoked and accorded to Otho the first of that name and to his successors to the end to keepe Italie from oppressors R. Barns The Abbey of S. Quintin in Vermandois was in this time founded Chron. Sigeb Richard Duke of Normandie founded and restored many Churches and Abbeys amongst others the Abbey of Fesanan of S. Ouan at Roan and the Abbey of S. Michael nigh the Sea An Aduertisement Note heere Christian by the passed and subsequent Histories how in this time Christian Religion was so annihilated that it was altogether set to gather dead bones to build Churches and Monasteries to reare vp and transport dead bodyes to honour reliques to dreame miracles to make themselues Monkes and Nunnes to dedicate and consecrate Churches to compose Hymnes and praises of Saints to sing and pray for the dead and such like ceremonies About this time also began the fourth pestilence of the Church that is to say the Schoole Diuinitie mingled with Aristotles Philosophie which after engendred Transubstantiation and other new doctrines by the Questionaries as thou shalt vnderstand by this discourse Iohn Pope 14. of that name an Italian a Bishops sonne called Iohn gouerned Rome sixe yeares eleuen monethes and tenne dayes Supp Chron. Hee beeing apprehended by Peter Prouost of Rome was put in prison in the Castle of S. Angelo where he remained a 11. monethes but when they heard say the Emperour Otho came against them with a strong hand they tooke him out and established him Some say he was sent into exile banished into Campania frō whence he came again after 2. monethes For the Emperor tooke vngeance on thē that persecuted him causing many of them to die by diuers kindes of death such as were found culpable of the fact and banished some into Saxe As for Peter Prouost he was deliuered to the Pope to doo with him at his pleasure Who gaue him into the tormenrers hands so hee was vnapparelled and his beard being cut off he was set vpon an Asse his face towards the taile and his hands bound vnder the taile of the said Asse and so was ledde through the Towne and beaten with Roddes After this he was againe brought to prison and finally sent into exile in Almaine Naucler Iohn Pope in recompence of the benefite receiued of Otho called and declared Otho the second sonne of Otho the first Augustus Palin In the time of this Pope Theodorike or Deodorike Bishop of Mets caused infinit holy bodies to be transported from Italy into France with a peece of S. Stephens Chaine and a part of S. Lawrence Grate which the Pope Iohn gaue him Chron. Sigeb These bee the Iewels of this darke time The King of Denmarke and all his Countrey were conuerted to the faith by Popon Clarke Chron. Sigeb Benet Pope sixt of that name a Romane ruled a yeare and sixe moneths He was put in the prison S. Angelo wherein he was strangled by one called Cinthius or Cincius Others say he dyed of hunger for which iniurie he neuer did Iustice nor vengeance Naucler Roger Bishop of Liege founded the Abbey of S. Iohn the Euangelist in the I le of Flaunders Chron. Sigeb The heroicall acts of this Emperour Otho the first do sufficiently shewe him to bee one
a Magitian Philosopher who had a booke none like it in the Art Magicke Gerbert sought often to steale it from him but by reason his maister kept it very carefully hee could not come by it Yet hee perswaded the Philosophers daughter with whom hee had great familiaritie to get the booke and lende it him to reade which shee did Hauing then the saide booke hee retired and fearing to be surprized with it hee vowed himselfe to the Diuell vppon condition hee would bring him to Fraunce Being returned he kept a Schoole and taught the liberall Arts with great admiration of his Auditors After he was Maister vnto Otho the the fourth of Robert sonne of Hugo Capet King of Fraunce and of Lotharie who afterward was Arch-bishop of Sens by whose helpe hee was aduaunced First to be Arch-bishop of of Rheimes as is saide and after of Rauenna and finally Pope During which time hee alwayes dissembled his Art Magicke and the communication hee had with the Diuell Of whom once desiring to knowe how long hee should liue in the Popedome the Diuell answered him that he should liue til he said Masse in Ierusalem Siluester then giuing himselfe altogether vnto his delights hoping to liue long and thinking of nothing lesse then of going to Ierusalem It came to passe that one day in Lent as he celebrated in the Church of the holy Crosse of Ierusalem he was suddenly taken with a great Feuer then did he remember y t the said place was called of y e crosse of Ierusalem so had bin seduced by the ambiguity of the answer Straight heard he great tumults of diuels in his presence being surprised with feare began to lament And although he was a very wicked man yet fel he not into dispair but seeing he must needs die called his Cardinals told vnto them all his life and the art Magicke which he had vsed to come vnto that dignitie exhorting them to liue holily and before all men cōfessed himself miserable ordeined that his body should be hewen cut in peeces but especially such of his members wherby he had worshipped the diuel and then that they all should be put in a cart and in what place soeuer the horses which drew y e cart should stay there he should be buried And it came to passe that the horses without any cōduction of man carried his body into the Church of Laterane where he was laid in a Sepulchre And at this day his Sepulchre is a pronosticke token of a Popes death R. Barnes Suppl Chron. and Nauler An Aduertisement From the time of Iohn the 8. which was the whore vntil the yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ Antichrist raigned at Rome a brazen faced harlot which had despised and troden vnder her feet holy mariage All the Popes which were within this time which conteineth about an 150. yeares were plunged in all voluptuousnes impudency and carnal villanies in arrogancy kissing of feete Sacriledges horrible dissentions homicides vnbrideled impudencies as may easily be perceiued by the discourse of those proceedings In this time now following after the thousand yeare the diuel is wholy vnchained And rightly may this time be called The kingdome of the great Dragons Siluester the second by his Necromancies began to vnloose Sathan hauing couenanted with him to haue the Popedome Benet the 9. did homage to the diuel in woods mountaines In Hildebrand or Gregory the 7. and other Popes thou shalt see what Arts they vsed Otho the 3. the 18. yeare of his Empire was poysoned by a Romane woman which had bin the wife of Crescentius at the houre of his departing from Rome by the gift of a paire of persumed gloues being poysoned And this was in reuenge of her husbands death as saith Crantius Henry second of that name Duke of Banier and Counte of Bamberge surnamed the Lame obteined the Empire by election and raigned 22. yeares Iohn Pope 19. of that name surnamed le Sec as Iohn Blundus by Nation an Italian succeeded Siluester the Magician euen in the same art and studies which he practised Berno saith that there were great cōtentions amongst the Necromancians such as were fauourers of Siluester this Iohn but in the end he carried all away Some say he was poysoned after he had gouerned 5. months This Pope gaue himself altogether to idlenes pleasure as witnesseth Crantius Hydromany was his studie He commanded the Feast of the Commemoration of the dead newly inuented and instituted in the Abbey of Clugny by Odillo as is said which was in the moneth of March to be remitted vntill the second day of Nouember and then obserued also through all Churches R. Barns and Supp Chron. The name of a Cardinall appointed as a dignitie The Historiographers say that at this time the name and appellation of a Cardinall beganne to be in great account as we see at this day Baconthorpius Ro. Barns and Carion Iohn Pope 20. borne at Rome called Fasanus was suspected to haue made away his predecessor These Popes from Siluester vntill Hildebrand gaue themselues to nothing but diabolicall arts This man after he had gouerned foure yeares fiue moneths dyed Naucl. not without some suspition of poyson In this time there was an horrible pestilence yea almost through the whole world Sigeb Fulbert Bishop of Chartres wrote these Respondes to the praise of the Virgin Marie Stirps Iesse c. Et Chorus nouae Hierusalem c. and other prayers Herman a Monke of S. Gall wrote that Salue Regina Alma redemptoris mater Trit Abb. Sergius Pope the fourth of that name a Romane gouerned the Sea two yeares and sixe moneths Suppl Chron. Burchardus first a Monke of Lob the Disciple of Albert aboue mentioned was Bishop of Wormes He compiled the auncient Canons which afterward were abridged by Gratian yea rather corrupted which is easie to iudge in comparing them together Rhenanus in his Annota vpon Tertullian Ierusalem was taken and the Lords Sepulchre destroyed by the Sarrasins and Mahumetists Nancl. and Suppl Chron. Benet Pope 8. of that name a Tusculan gouerned the Romane Church 12. yeares or thereabouts He crowned the Emperour Henry at his comming to Rome and saluted him Augustus Henry the second builded at Bamberge the Church of Saint George and prayed Benet it might be a Cathedrall Church which the Pope agreed vnto vppon condition that the saide Church should paye to the Pope euery yeare an hundreth markes of siluer and a white horse with all his furniture Platina and R. Barnes Conrade 2. of that name obteined the Empire and raigned 15. yeares Naucler He was the sonne of Herman Duke of Franconians and was called Salicus because he came of the Sicambians from whom came the Salicke lawe And the French themselues were called Salickes which vsed that lawe whereof we haue made mention in Pharamond After the death of Henry the 2. Benet was deiected frō his dignitie
as he should be at his prayers The Cardinall Benno rehearseth thus the Historie The Emperour saith he had a custome often to goe make his prayers in the Church of S. Marke in the Mount Auentine As then Hildebrand enquired diligently by certaine spies of all that he did hee gaue charge to marke the place wherein the Emperour prayed oftnest either standing or on his knees and suborned one promising him a great summe of money to lay great stones on the beames or vpper lofts of the Church see the holy councell of this Pope and that he should lay thē so wel that when the Emperour should make his prayers he might let them fall on his head to dash out his braines But as he which had enterprised such a villanie was at hand to accomplish it and went about to handle and remoue a stone the heauie for him the stone by the waight deceiued him and the scaffold which was on the beames being broken the stone and the poore miserable man by a iust iudgement of God fell vpon the pauement of the Temple was all burst with the same stone After the Romanes vnderstood how all things was past they bound the feet of that wicked villaine and by the space of 3. daies trailed him through the streets of the towne But vsing their accustomed humanitie commaunded he should be buried The sonne of Benno saith here yet further that Iohn Bishop of Port who was Hildebrands Secretarie and great familiar comming into the Pulpit which was in S. Peters Church said amongst many other things in the hearing of the people and Cleargie Hildebrand hath done such a thing and we also as deseruers should all bee burned aliue meaning to giue to vnderstand that which hee had done of the Sacrament of the body of our Lord. Whereof Hildebrand demaunding Councell of a certaine thing as of old the Painims did of their Idols cast it into the fire because it gaue him do answere although the Cardinalls which were then present spake against his deed This is a beginning of the fruite of that cursed decree of Transubstantiation applied vnto Charmes and Inchauntments He excommunicated also the said Emperour Henry without lawfull accusation without Canonicall appellation without forme of iustice yea euen for that he was but too obedient vnto him Hee diuided also from him the Princes of the Empire and sought by secret treasons to destroy him but God preserued him O straunge treason proceeding from the sanctuarie or rather frō him who seemed to be the high Priest to gouerne the Church to haue superintendancie ouer Iudges and Elders By menaces also he constrained Bishops to sweare that they should not defend his cause neither should they fauour or helpe him in any thing drawing violently the scripture to make them serue his false dealing Notwithstanding saith Benno so soone as hee arose vp from his seate to excommunicate the Emperour the seate which had lately bene made of new and strong wood by the will of God of it selfe brake in many peeces in a terrible maner In such sort as it gaue to know that he that did sit vpō it would sowe terrible schismes against the Church by so arrogant and presumptuous a maner of excommunication This saith Benno But when he sawe that all his Ambushes could serue him for nothing he beganne to vse open force and emnities and after he had excommunicated Henry declaring all his subiects acquited of their oath of fidelitie which they had deliuered him he sent the Crowne of the Empire vnto Rodolphe Sauoic with this Latine verse such as it is Petra dedit Petro Petrus dià dema Rodolpho That is to say the Rocke hath giuen the Diademe vnto Peter and Peter giueth it vnto Rodolphe Henry then being for this cause sore troubled laid downe his royall apparell and came towards him into the Towne of Canuse with his wife and litle sonne in the time of a strong and sharpe winter through a very daungerous way Being before the gate of the Citie sayth Benno from morning till night without hauing eyther meate or drinke in apparell of cloath and barefooted beeing made a spectacle for Angels and men hee required pardon in all humilitie He endured three whole dayes in a very lamentable affliction In so much that Hildebrand who tooke his pleasure the meane while with his whores and Monkes mocked him He desired sore that he might haue entry into the Citie but it was refused him And as with great instance he demaunded it by the space of three dayes he was answered that the Pope had no leisure to speake with him Henry taking not in euill part that they would not suffer him to come into the Citie remained in the suburbes not without great grieuance For the winter was sharper then of custome Yet to the end he would offend no person he kept 3. whole dayes there without departing Finally the fourth day at the request of the Countesse Matilde who as Histories say loued a litle too much the Pope and of the Abbot of Clugny and of the Earle of Sauoy called Adelrans he was permitted to enter of the Pope But when he demaunded pardon of the Pope setting his Crowne betwixt his hands and in his power he would neither pardon nor absolue him of excommunication vnlesse first he promised to purge himselfe in a ful Sinode of his fault with other vnlawful and vnreasonable conditions All which things he promised and confirmed them by estate yet would they not remit him into his Kingdome Can any body haue haue a more liuely portraite of the Image of Antichrist The Princes of Italy after they knew this were exceedingly offended that the Emperour had so made his agreement with Hildebrand and that so dishonestly and vilely he had submitted himselfe to him who had inuaded the Papacie by wicked practises and who had polluted and defiled all with murders and adulteries c. After this the Pope with his Cardinalls glorying that he had brought the Emperour into seruitude durst now aduenture to enterprise greater things But the Emperour afterward tooke courage and straightway dispatched all that by taking Armes And after many sharp and hard warres he vanquished Rodolphe in battaile Who hauing his right hand cut off made call all the Bishops and Priests on his side Which being come after one had brought him his hand he spake in this sort I confesse that this is worthily come vnto me and wel bestowed vpon me Behold the hand wherewith I haue deliuered the oath of fidelitie to my Lord Henry but at the sollicitation of you I haue so many times vnluckily fought against him and also falsified my faith vnto him and therefore I haue receiued a reward such as my periurie meriteth See if you haue guided mee in a right way So then and now keepe to your Prince the fidelitie which you haue promised vnto him As for me I goe to my Fathers and incontinently after Rodolphe
of a Regular Chanon he was made Bishop Cardinall and after Pope ruled at Rome fiue yeares and sixe monethes He was sent vnto Norway by Eugenius the third Pope to preach the faith and when he had instructed the people of the said Countrey he was chosen Pope Beeing receiued the Romanes prayed him to leaue the administration of the towne free to Consuls and Magistrates after their auncient maner which be refused wherat the Romanes grieued did many euils vnto a Cardinall In so much that Adrian set all the Citie of Rome vnder an Interdict or excommunication After his election he would by no meanes go to the Church of Laterane to be consecrated vntill first Arnold bishop of Brixe were cast out of the Towne who opposed himselfe against the Administration of ciuill things and of the temporall sword which the Cleargie had vsurped And therefore he called him an heretike solliciting the Romane people to maintain their libertie Magistracie and other offices R. Barns Of this same time was Peter de Blois who in his writings touched the wickednesse of the Cleargie-men In a certaine Epistle which he writeth to a Bishops Officiall he admonisheth him to come out of Babilon detesting the tirannie of Bishops and their Officials calling them infernall harpies which do but powle and sheere the Church of Iesus Christ He often calleth the Cleargie Siria Edom Calues of Bethel Idols of Egipt the fatte of Samaria Priests of Baal and Iudges which forge vniust lawes and many such like names he giueth them This saith he of Rome At Rome all is subuerted by gifts Monkes may do all things by siluer and redeeme by annuall pentions all wickednesse of the flesh There filthinesse began to be sung in the Tabernacle of Geth in the streets of Ascalon So was he made the Prince of Sodome and his Disciples after him are set in the chaire of pestilence Such writing should be noted for their excellencie and raritie The yeare of Christ 1155. Frederic went into Italy Adrian met him euen at Sutry hoping by the Emperours meanes to reuenge himselfe vpon his enemies And as hee arriued at the Emperours lodging the Emperour hasted to meete him and as he lighted he held the left stirrope of his horse and taking him by the hand ledde him into his Castle The Pope greatly disdaining held as a mockery that the Emperour at his lighting held his left stirrope and not his right Insomuch that he departed from his Castle much offended discontent The next morning the Emperour dissembling all like a wise man calling the Pope as hee met him againe held his right stirrope at his lighting For hee had not forgotten his lesson of the day before After they went to Rome and there Frederic was crowned by Adrian at S. Peters and returned into Almaigne Ri. Barnes Iohn of Salisbury Bishop of Chartres was in this time who sharply opposed himselfe against the wickednes of Popes and Cleargie He writ a booke Intituled Obiurgatorium Cleri In his booke Intituled Policraticus he saith thus In the Romane Church are set Scribes and Pharisies loading mens shoulders with insupportable burthens The great Bishop is heauy vnto all yea importable His Legates cast themselues so into the fields as if Sathan were come from the Lorde to torment the Church Iudgement amongst them is no other thing but a true marchandise They esteeme of gaine as of pietie it selfe They iustifie the wicked by gold and siluer and reioyce in wickednes They eate the sinnes of the people They are apparelled nourished in all luxurie whilest the true worshippers worship the Lord in spirit He that sticketh not vnto their doctrine either is he iudged an hereticke or a schismaticke c. Often were there such Doctors in the Church but they durst not speake nor write of all that was needfull In a booke Intituled Speculum that is to say the Glasse It is said that that good Bishop Iohn amongst other complaints hath bene sometimes heard say to the Pope Adrian the fourth his very familiar friend these words The Pope indeed is truly the seruant of seruants because he serueth the Romanes seruants of couetousnesse The same Pope Adrian was heard say to the said Bishop Iohn That there were many Popes which rather succeeded Romulus in murders paracides then S. Peter in feeding of sheep Romulus the first founder of the Citte of Rome slewe his owne brother Remus and so the walls were dedicated in that Parricide Adrian excommunicated William the sonne of Rogier king of Sicily and Pouille and absolued his subiects of their oathes towards him but seeing he profited nothing by that meanes he incited Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople Emanuel promised the Pope to deposed the said William Onely he demanded three Maritime or Sea Townes if he came to his purpose These conuentions made in the meane while the Grecians occupied Pouille and wasted it William vnderstanding these practises prayed the Pope to be reconciled vnto him and that hee would onely graunt him the title of king of the two Sicilies and he would restore him whatsoeuer he demanded yea he would giue of his owne The Pope was content but the Cardinalls kept him from it William then went into battaile against the Grecians and obtained the victorie droue the Grecians out of Pouille and recouered it The Captaine prisoners were bound with chaines Afterward he went against Beneuent and besieged it The Pope and his Cardinalls which by chance were there are prisoners and constrained to demaund peace and to agree wiih him The Pope first absolueth him of his excommunication and pronounceth and declareth him King after hauing done him homage to hold his Land Seignory of the holy Father Adrian returned to Rome and straight fel vnto cōtention For the Consuls would maintaine their franchise ancient libertie Wherfore fearing because the Interdict endured yet he got himselfe Anagnia or Arignianum R. Barns Frederic was not content that the Pope without his knowledge had graunted the title and right of Sicilia because he was thereby defrauded of the Inuestures also for that the Popes Legates pilled so the Countries subiect vnto his Empire Because the Pope began secretly through all the Empire to sowe reasons to retire his subiects from his subiection Wherefore he demaunded homage of the Bishops of the Germaine Nation and oath of fidelitie hee forbad that any should appeale vnto the Romane Sea He commaunded the Popes Legates which appealed not to him to get them out of his Countries The Pope very much grieued at all those things as also that the Emperour set his owne name before the Popes in his Letters missiues which he sent writ Letters vnto him rebuking him for those foresaid things admonishing him to amēd The Emperor answered them frō point to point First that iustly by good right he set his name before his seeing the Pope oweth all humilitie to the Emperour as Christ hath taught And if Popes haue
sunne-setting as Masseus witnesseth which endured a long time and shewed what a great fire should after come Moreouer there was great numbers of Grashoppers which after they had destroyed the corne euen all trees were burned As the said Pope was preparing an Armie by sea against the Turkes because the Romanes were in troubles and seditions he was so vexed in his minde that he died with griefe the yeare 1362. and was buried in the said Monasterie of Chartreux without the Towne of Auignon Vrbain fift of Limosin called before Grinnald Grisant the sonne of an English Phisitian called William Monke of S. Benet first Abbot of Auxerre and after of S. Victor nigh to Marseillis being absent in a certaine Embassage was created Pope He was a great Doctor of the Canon Lawe and an exceeding arrogant Maister He straight applied himselfe to defend the libertie of the Papall Church by couetousnesse dissolutions and pompes and chiefly serued himselfe therein with such as affectioned him most in such affaires But aboue all he sent one called Gilles a Spaniard Cardinall of S. Sabin as a Legate into Italie with full power Who as a true Executor of all his bloudie commaundements rode through all Italie and so repressed the Vicounts and other gouernours of Townes bringing vppon them great losses and hurts if they would not submit themselues vnder the obedience of the Romane Church Yues a Brittaine Priest solde his goods and gaue them to the poore and was Canonized after his death Sabell Armacan some call him Richard and qualifie him an Archbishop a learned man published conclusions against Friars teaching that it was a villainous thing for a Christian to begge without constraint Volater Baldus a Lawyer of Peruse was renowned in this time The Monasticke order of Iesuites began by Iohn Colomban and Francis Vincent of Bourgongne Volat. and Sabell They were afterward by the Popes priuiledge called the Apostolike Clarkes Brigide Princesse of Sauabe had foure sonnes and foure daughters a litle before Pope Vrbain died she went to Rome to erect the order which after she instituted Valat lib. 21. She then to accomplish her vow procured that the order of Monkes named with her name as well men as women might be confirmed The Emperour Charles merited great praise by the Bull of gold wherein he gathered many things very necessarie to maintaine publike peace Iohn king of France went into England for the deliuerance of his brother Duke of Orleance and of his sonne Iohn Duke of Berry and of many others which he left in hostage and being there died in London after was carried to S. Denis in France See Emili. lib. 8. 9. Charles fift of that name 51. king of France was surnamed le Sage Hee caused many Latin bookes to be translated into French yea bookes of holy scripture Amurathes the third Emperour of the Turkes raigned 23. yeares and was the first that entred into Europe For hee aided the Emperour of Constantinople and sent him 12. thousand men which passed into Greece This was after cause of the taking of the Couuntrey of Asia the yeare of Christ 1363. Wickliffe beganne as a breake of day the preaching of the Gospell Iohn Wickliffe an English man a man of great spirit flourished in this time and began as from a deepe night to draw out the truth of the doctrine of the sonne of God He studied in the Vniuersitie of Oxford and came to such degree of erudition that hee was thought the most excellenrest amongst the Theologians In his readings with the puritie of the doctrine which hee taught hee also liuely touched the abuses of the Popedome In so much that the Locusts that is to say the begging Monkes lifted themselues vp against him But the Lord gaue him for a Protector the King Edward during whose raigne he had great libertie in his profession Richard the said Edwards successour persecuted and banished him but as a true Champion of the Lord he remained alwaies constant euen to his death His conclusions his bookes and his doctrine shew sufficiently the gifts and graces which God had bestowed vpon him Whosoeuer will more largely know those things let him looke in the booke of Martyrs brought by vs into light since the said Wickliffe Vrbane went to Rome to pacifie Italie where hee builded many things at Viterbe and at Montlacon minding to returne into Italie And as he returned into France in hope to bring againe the Court to Rome he deceased at Marcellis not without great suspition of poysoning Sabel An Vniuersitie founded at Vienna in Austriche by Albert Duke of Austriche Planudes a Greeke Monke liued in this time hee translated Cato and other bookes out of Greeke into Latin Charles King of France often held his seate of Iustice and was altogether a man of peace neither was euer Armed Only walking nigh Paris he made his warres and other his affaires of importance by his brothers and other Committees by whom he recouered as it were all that which the English men had taken from his Father To helpe the charges of the warre he laid a Taxe vpon Salt Wine that men sold He had fiue Armies at once against the English men Gregorie Pope 11. of that name of Limosin ruled in Auignon 7. yeares 5. moneths before he was called Rogier sonne of the Earle of Benfort and Nephew of Pope Clement the sixt hee was the Disciple of Baldus the Legist who then read at Peruse Returne of the Papaltie to Rome Most of the Townes of Italie withdrawing themselues from his obedience as Volateranus saith at the perswasion of Caterine de Siene a Nunne of the order of Iacobins of Baldus his late maister parting frō France with 12. Gallies with 3. ranks of Ores returned to Rome the yeare of the Lord 1376. He pronounced sentence of Interdict against the Florentines which were the first authors of the reuolt and had seized all the Popes Townes which were about them Vpon whom finally he made strong and sharpe warre because they made no account of the thunder of his excommunications which the Legists said were of no validitie because they proceeded of hatred and enmitie Naucler Some set downe certaine causes of his returne into Italie A woman called Brigide saith Masseus returning from Ierusalem writ to Gregorie that the Lord would that the Romane Court should be turned into her house Cranzius addeth that as he reprehended a Bishop that he left his Church and followed the Court he answered him And thou saith he which art Pope of Rome and which ought to giue example to others why goest not thou to thy Bishoppricke Then transported he his seate to Rome at the perswasion of two women and of a Bishop the seuenth yeare after he was departed This Pope demaunded a tenth of all Church goods in Almaigne to gather it sent his Legate But many resisted formed appellations against the Pope saying that they could not pay it
Iohn they proceeded also against Pope Gregorie the 12. who was cyted to appeare in person but he would not come there yet either by faire meanes or force hee sent Malateste Lord of Armenia with an ample procuration and power to resigne the said right hee had in the the Papall dignitie into the hands of the said Councell The which was done and the said Gregorie 12. was created Legate in the Marquesdome of Ancone where he died soone after with mourning in the Towne of Racany which is a Port of the Adriatike Sea Iohn le Maeire There remaineth yet the third Antipope Peter de la Lune Of him it was that Gerson often said We must needs take away this man of the Moone called Benet the 13. who would not obey the Councell but died obstinately in the Kingdome of Arragon and commaunded his Cardinalls on his death-bed that as soone ar he was dead they should elect an other which they did and elected Clement the 8. borne at Barselone wherein they profited litle For the Pope Martin as shall bee saide had the Popedome whole and had the obedience of all the Princes in Christendome yet the saide Clement the eight was after made Bishop of Maiorque See Iohn le Maire That Pope Benet troubled much the Emperour Sigismond For seeing hee would not consent to any agreement the said Emperour was constrained in person first to goe into France vnto the King then to the King of England to make an attonement betwixt those two Kings Item towards the King of Arragon in Spaine with certaine Embassadors deputies of the saide Councell to exhort them to hold the hand to the vnion of the Church and to perswade the said Pope to doo as others did which hee would neuer be brought vnto Then the Princes of Spaine the Arragonians the Cathelains Armignaes and the Kings of Fraunce and England seeing his obstinacie followed the opinion of the Councell and withdrew themselues from the obedience of Pope Benet the thirteenth which Sigismond signified to the said Councell Naucler Sigismond returned after to Constance about Candlemas and the Councell with burning Candles excommunicated and depriued the said Benet of his Popedome after declared him an heretike a schismatike the 18. day of March 1417. Naucl. This Pope Iohn whilest he was placed in the Romane seate amongst other Ieasts of a Pope he did that which followeth in diuers Authors He had stirred maruellous warres against the king Ladislaus and assembled a Councell at Rome to find means to driue him from his kingdome He also commanded to make a procession with the head of S. Iohn Baptist for that subtilly and cautelously he had determined to sell it to the Florentins He approoued the Sect of such as named themselues De la Chemise or Frisonniers which lifted themselues vp in the territorie of Luques and admitted the congregation of that new reformation in the Monasterie of S. Iustine commenced at Padoue by Lewis Barbe As Pope Martin the fift was at Florence this Pope beeing deliuered from prison contrarie to the opinion of all so that all that were present maruelled thereat came thither towards him and after he had kissed his feete acknowledged him as his Pope the successor of S. Peter saluted him as if he had bin some earthly God Martin mooued with affection certain daies after receiued him into the number of Cardinals and hee made him Bishop of Tusculū but after certain moneths he finished his life sad and grieuous the yeare of the Lord 1419. in the same Towne of Florence where he was honourably buried with great pompe in the Temple of S. Iohn Baptist by Cosme de Medicis who euer bore him great loue In the said Councell the Counts of Cleues and Sauoy were erected to Duchez by the Emperour Sigismond Things being effected as is said the Emperours will was that there should now be an handling to correct the maners of Ecclesiasticall persons and to reforme the Church but it was said that this could not well bee done during the vacation of the Apostolike seate wherefore it was concluded to proceed to a new election of a Pope Naucler Martin Pope fift of that name called Otho a Romane Cardinal Deacon of the house of Colonnois of one same accord and will by the consent of all was chosen of 33. Cardinalls at the Councell of Constance and was called Martin because hee was consecrated on S. Martins day hee gouerned fourteene yeares The Emperour Sigismond very ioyfull that the Cardinalls had chosen such a Pope and so necessarie to the Christian common-wealth entred into the Conclaue where without regarding his dignitie falling on his knees before the Pope in great reuerence hee kissed his feete On the other part the Emperour receiued him beningly and heartily thanked him for the diligence and paines which he had taken to establish the vnion of the Church Naucler After that the Emperour had long time trauelled to assemble this Councell of Constance desiring to see the particular reformation of the Church excused it that Rome had bene long without an head and the time would not permit to begin a reformation for the Councell had long endured Wherefore an other Councell should bee assigned at Basil where that should be done and so the Emperour was frustrate of his purpose and hope for seeing a reformation in the Church-people In the said Councell was dispatched Letters and Bulls to Lewis Duke d' Aniou to goe take possession of the kingdome of Pouille for him and his Naucler Martin Pope returning from Constance to Rome remained two yeares at Florence and for recompence of his entertainement he ordained that the Bishop of that place should bee a Metropolitane and subiected there vnto the Church of Volaterre Pistorie and Fesides The Hussites came vp at this time which reiected all humane traditions more purely preaching the doctrine of Iesus Christ which engendred many contentions betwixt Lay-men and Clarkes A pestilence was at Florence where died more then 16. thousand men Chron. Euseb Mahomet Emperour of the Turkes died after he had raigned 14. yeares Wencelaus died taken with feare because of a tumult raised at Prage hee fell into an Apoplexie and from that euill into a palsie which within 18. daies tooke away his life the yeare of his raigne 20. Charles 7. of that name king of France the onely sonne of Charles the 6. succeeded his father Hee was assailed by the English and Bourgonions and hauing lost as it were all the Countrey of the Frontiers tooke his recourse into Bourges and there remained a certaine time and therefore the enemies in mockerie called him king of Bourges Henry sonne of Charles his sister called himself in his titles king of England of France and at Paris was crowned king of France A pucell or maide plaide the part of a man at Armes and gaue succours to Orleance which was besieged constrained the enemies to leaue the siege conducted the king
and that this Tobias did take vp the said childe for that purpose called Simon and hauing offered him in the full assemblie of the Iewes in the house of the saide Samuel they clasped his necke with pinsons to keepe him from crying then stretched his armes on a Crosse cut off his priuities after his right eye-lid then each one pricked him with sharpe Instruments euen to death and lastly cast him into the floud After information made of this execrable murder all they were executed which were attainted about this deed doing in the said Towne of Trent The Common-wealth of Florence Although in the time of the Emperor Henry the seuenth the Florentines receiued Robert King of Naples to bee their Protector to resist the Gibellins or Imperialistes so much hated they the Emperours of Almaine yet about this time Cosme by surname Medices flourished in that Towne in great preheminence prudence and authoritie and was held as a Prince and chiefe of the Towne He led the Senate at his pleasure inriched the poore Citizens builded many places for more and more to maintaine his authoritie But after that Cosme was dead in the yeare 1464. hee left a sonne called Peter who also was mightie in the Towne Vnto whom succeeded in the administration of the Common-wealth Lawrence de Medices his son who with his brother Iulian augmented the Seignorie of Florence And because this greatly displeased certaine Bishops Cardinalls and other Lords they made a conspiracie together and came to Florence the yeare 1478. which with one of the noblest of the Towne called Francisquinus de pactis dissembling their hatred entred into the Tmple and as they lifted vp the Host they slewe Iulian and wounded Lawrence who escaped their hands But the Malefactors thought they had done an act greatly pleasing to the Citizens to recouer libertie but they were deceiued for they were all taken and neither Priest nor Bishop pardoned Frodesque Saluiat Archbishop of Pise who said the Masse was giuen to the slaughter-man and hanged at an high window in his habit for hee had sung Masse in his coate of Male. The Pope being grieued at these dooings excommunicated Lawrence de Medices and stird vp Ferdinand king of Sicilie Alphonsus Duke of Calabria and Frederic Duke of Vrbin against the Florentines to be reuenged of them But Lawrence seeing he was not puissant enough to sustaine such enemies by the consent of the Citizens got him to a shippe and secretly came into Sicilie to the King Ferdinand himselfe and promised him tribute if he and his would leaue that enterprise begunne at the Popes instance Which was done the towne with all the countrie by that meanes was deliuered from the destruction of the enemies The Pope heereat was more inflamed then before but the Venetians gaue aide vnto the Florentines against the Pope after they had made peace with the Turke who during these stirres besieged Rhodes and got it the yeare 5488. In this time began the superstition to toll a Bell at noone as a pardon called the Aue Maria pacis which the King had entreated of the Pope The yeare of Christ 1475. the great Iubile alreadie ordained and commaunded by Paul the second was confirmed by Sixtus and obserued at Rome this yeare Charles the sonne of Phillip Duke of Bourgongne agrreed with King Lewis the 11. Frederic the Emperour refused to erect Bourgongne for a Kingdome whereat Charles was mooued therefore he besieged Nisse which is a Towne placed in the territories of Colongne and held it during a yeare besieged Hee did it to gaine vpon the Empire the Diocesse of Colongne but the Emperour prepared a great power to meete him and to leuie the siege In the ende they accorded so that Maximilian the sonne of Frederic should take in marriage Marie the onely daughter of the saide Duke of Bourgongne After these things the said Charles fought twise against the Swisses vnluckily enough for this cause About the years 1460. Sigismond Duke of Austrich engaged to Charles Duke of Bourgongne his lands which he had as well on this side as beyond Rhene namely Sungaw Brisgaw the blacke Forrest and the Townes scituate vpon Rhene for 7000. Florents Great mischiefes came herevpon For the Duke of Bourgongne appointed ouer those Lands as Gouernor general Peter de Hagenbach who exceedingly tormented them of Mulhuse and Swisses About this time Charles Duke of Lorraine died of the pestilence at Nancy which gaue occasion to Charles Duke of Bourgogne to see if hee could conquer Lorraine by force taking the cause against Rhene the successor of Lorraine that Charles his predecessor was bound vnto him in a certaine sum of money and by the same meanes though also to vsurpe the royall title of Sicilie and Ierusalem Peter de Hagenbach Count of Thiersteine greatly molested the subiects of Sigismond Duke of Austrich who had lately after long warres made peace with the Swisses Wherevnto they of Strasbourge Sicistad Colmar and Basill had sealed And the money due vnto the Duke of Bourgongne was committed into the hands of a Changer or Banquer of Basill and the paiment signified to the Duke of Bourgongne by an Herauld After they proceeded against Peter de Hagembach who being taken prisoner was solemnly disgraded of his order of knighthood and publikely beheaded after he had gouerned the said lands engaged three yeares and an halfe The Duke of Bourgongne hearing hereof determined to reuenge the death of his Gouernour and assembled an Armie being also aided of the Duke of Millaine and the Duchesse of Sauoy and tooke Lansanua a confederate of the Swisses From thence hee besieged the Towne and Castle of Granson solliciting them to yeeld when they had yeelded the Duke caused to hang 80. and to drowne in a lake nigh the Towne 200. Such an act greatly stirred the Swisses and not only them but also whole high Germanie which with the Armie of the Duke of Austrich of which the conducter was Herman d' Extingen chased from Granson the Duke and slew one part of his Armie lost his Artillerie and his furniture for warre which was very magnificall After they tooke downe their companions which the Duke had hung vp and hanged in their places as many Bourguignons Gelatius Maria Duke of Millaine on S. Stephens day in the Church of S. Stephen being at Masse was slaine by a Citizen of Millaine called Andrew de Lupagnano who making a shewe to speake vnto him stabbed him in the stomacke He said the cause was for that the Duke deteined from him vniustly certaine possessions that he kept his wife and further hindred that iustice could not be done him touching an Abbey for which he had paid at Rome during vacation and the Duke would haue had an other to haue had it Sixtus cast the Manfrois Lords of the Towne of Imola namely the father and the sonne out of the Seignorie and gaue it to one of his houshold Likewise he deiected the Gouernours of Forliue and
were now exposed to the spoiles slaughter of all Sigismond Prince of Transiluania repented him of his change of life and that he had giuen vp his gouernment wherfore he came out of Silesia through Poland into Transiluania and desired of his subiects that their oath of alleageance to him might be renewed and perswaded Maximilian Arch-duke whom the Emperour had made Gouernour of Transiluania that hee would lead his forces against the Turkes towards the recouerie of Agnia then against Transiluania Vpon the fourth of August Syr William Cecill knight of the Order Lord Burghley Maister of the Wards and Liueries high Treasurer of England a famous Counsellor to y e Queenes Maiestie all her raigne and likewise had bene to Edward the sixt who for his singular wisedome was renowned throughout all Europe departed this mortall life at his house by the Strand his body was conueyed to Westminster with solemne Funerall and from thence secretly to Stamford in Lincolnshyre and there buried I. Stowe The second of October George Earle of Comberland returned from the Seas hauing made spoile of the strong Towne and Castle of S. Iohn de Portanoico in Spaine This yeare died Phillip the 2. king of Spaine being of the age of 72. yeares Pope Clement the 8. created 13. Cardinals amongst whom was Robert Bellarmine Iesuite Phillip the 3. the sonne of Phillip the 2. succeeded his father in the kingdome of Spaine Hee tooke to wife Margarite of Austria And Albert Arch-duke of Austria married the Infant of Spaine the kings sister Both these marrriages were celebrated by the Pope Clement the 8. at Ferrara The 7. of February the right honourable Charles Blunt Lord Mountioy hauing taken his leaue at the Court departed towards Ireland as Lieftenant there Souldiers out of diuers Shyres were sent before him and also after him in this moneth of February This yeare Richard Lord Bishow of London with two other Commissioners to wit Doctor Perkins Doctor Swale were sent in Embassage to Emden there to treat with the Commissaries from the King of Denmarke and returned the eight of Iuly following On Tuesday the 5. of August Charles Iames king of Scots in Scotland escaped a straunge and strong conspiracie practised by the Earle Gowrye and his brother About the 8. of August arriued at Doner certaine Embassadors and assistants 16. in number sent from the king of Marocco in Barbaria I. Stowe The 18. of September certaine Embassadors came from Moschouie or Russia and the 14. of October the said Embassadors rode to the Court and had audience before her Maiestie FINIS A briefe Discourse of the Churches estate from the death of Iesus Christ vntill this present ALl which hath bene succinctly said in this booke touching the estate of the Church should remember the Reader of three diuers times in the consideration of the gouernment of the house of God the better to marke things as they came and to haue thereof a certaine abridgement in his memorie We take the first time of the Christian Church from the beginning of the Apostles preaching vntil the Empire of Phocas which is ordinarily distinguished into three periodes 1. The first of about 70. yeares from the Lords Ascention vntill the death of the Apostles and of their first Disciples 2. The second began at the Empire of Traian and stretched by the space of 200. yeares vntill Constantine which time also was honoured with the presence of certain of the Apostles Disciples other excellent Pastors of the Church and faithfull Martyrs of Iesus Christ 3. The third frō Cōstantine vntil Phocas which is the last periode of the first time of the Church about 300. years during which the Church had many great Doctors Greeks Latins As for the first periode of the first time it is very certaine that neuer Christian Church was more happie thē during that time whether we consider the doctrine taught by the Apostles and their first successors or wee contemplate all the parts of the Ministerie and of the Ecclesiasticall discipline Now for the doctrine we haue by a singular grace of God the Apostles Epistles whereby it is easie to gather a body and summary of all that which euery Christiā ought to know touching his saluation And that which is more if they which came after the Apostles had continued to build vpon the foundation which they had laid the Church had remained in his first spirituall splendor and brightnesse the simplicitie then being such and so great in doctrine in the maner of teaching and in ceremonies that the sheepheards and sheepe were altogether eliuated vnto the heauenly Father through Iesus Christ liuing moreouer in such charitie concord as truly this world might be well called the golden world For although that in the Apostles time and their next successors there rose vp certaine mutinous persons to trouble the happie rest of the Church this hurt not much the maiestie of the spirit of God discouering it selfe in such sort in the preaching of the Gospell that all the world was constrained to acknowledge in this infirmitie of the seruants of God an admirable efficacie to biing all wisedome and humane power captiue vnder the obedience of Iesus Christ True it is that alreadie Sathan thought vpō his affaires and brought forth his practises with greater force then euer before building his Sinagogue nigh vnto the Church For euen when the Apostles themselues liued certaine Iewes and Gentiles making the same profession of Christianisme fought against Iesus Christ in diuers maners as S. Paul his Epistles doo witnesse And what diligence soeuer the seruants of God vsed to eradicate and root out the tares which the enemie did sowe yet remained there the seedes thereof in the bosome of the Church during the periodes following God meaning to humble his and to shewe them that truly they had and would alwaies haue cause to fight in this life but that the triumph therof was reserued for the other world For as for the strength of the persecutors since the Apostles time it hath alwaies shewed it true that the bloud of the Martyrs is the seede of the Church But let this be said in a word onely to awake the Reader and to prepare him to a diligent meditation of the Ecclesiasticall historie Now something is to be said of the second periode of the first time The Apostolike men armed with the vertue and power of y e Lord maintained constantly the truth amongst all the tempests and stormes of persecution and in despite of Gentilisme of diuers heresies which boldly began to left vp their heads In so much that great maruel it was that so soone after so great light men should see the East in many places couered with so deep darknes many goodly Churches ruinated and the doctrine of saluatiō transported otherwhere Yet the greatest euil was in the bowels of the Church it selfe many Pastors wherof not being so attentiue as of reason they shuld
the Supper Simmachus Bloudshead Hospitalls Hormisda Clouis founder of Temples Iustin the olde The death of Anastatius Hormisda Iustine of a swine-heard became an Emperour Iohn Pope first of that name In the first volume of the Councells The faith put behinde Iustinian He that endures not what he shuld must endure that he would not Eztreame Vnction Dedication The treason of Theodatus Iustinian Vigilius Monkes first in France The ciuil Law of Iustinian 2. Volume of Councels Priscillian heresie Vigilius byeth the Popedome deare Pelagius Punishment of heretikes Canonicall houres Vniuersall Memorie of the dead Lent Each Citie should nourish his poore Iohn the 3 Oppressions of the poore Iustine the younger The kingdome of the Lombards Iustin the younger Benet 1. Exarches in Italie Tiberius 2. Pelagius 2. An heape of superstitions Mauricius Visegothes conuerted Gregorie the first Maurice Combat for the premacie Seruant of Seruants Monkes S. Gaul The Monkes of S. Benet priuiledged Images The ceremonies of the Church S. Gregories Masse The word Messe The stations at Rome Councels Legends Maurice punished for his couetousnesse Phocas Sauinian Boniface 3. Lampes Houres of the day distinguished Election of the Pope Phocas Boniface 4. The Romane Bishop made vniuersall Declination of the Empire The Feast of All-Saints Heraclius Deus dedit Boniface 5. Heraclius Priuiledges of Churches Asia lost Honorius Heraclius Austrasia Neutria Soisons Gaul beganne to be called France Heraclius seduced The Artians yet Their Paradice Reproach to Christians Infamous ceremonies Pilgrimages Their Priests and Religious men Diuers opininions of saluation What they hold of Christ Fasting Friday Two Hornes That Priests might not communicate apart Burialls Theefe of Relikes A Colledge of faire women Iohn Pope 4. First Lent in England Theodorus Le Lendy Theodorus Constantin The straunge death of Heraclius Constance The Searge at Easter Reliques sold to giue to the poore A Councell against the Monothelite heretikes Eugenius The death of Pope Martin Collation of benifices Profession and habits for Nunnes inuented Ierusalē taken Prisons Ecclesiasticall S. Claud. Constantin Vitalian The King of Hungarie slaine in adulterie Rome hitherto was not in the rule of Popes Constantin the fourth Adeonatus Pogonatus Constantin the fourth Agathon Rauenna subiect to the Romane sea by force The beginning if leaden seales Constantin the fourth Adeonatus The approbation of the Masse in Latin Marriage permitted to some and forbidden to others Who ought to carry children to Baptisme Constantin the fourth Agathon One person in Christ Two natures in christ diuine and humane The virgin Marie the mother of God Two wills in Christ Persecution in France Leo the 2. Cōstant 4. The vse of the Mantle Such as forbad eating of flesh are excōmunicated Benet 2. The election of the Pope Iohn 5. An other ceremonie of consecrating the Pope Conon Iustinian or Iustin. 2. A second Herodias Iustinian Sergius Pope Saxons The Frisons conuerted to the faith Iustinian Disloyall and cruell Leontius Absimarus Iohn 6. The deuotion of Popes The first Duke of Venice Iustinian Sarrasins in Graneda Sisinnius Schisme the seuenth Constantine Iustinian kisseth the Popes feete Phillippicus Against Images Anastatius Theodosius the 3. Leo the 3. Hee is the 37. Emperour Gregory 2. Leo 3. The Sarrasins besieged Constantinople Images taken away Sedition at Rauenna for Images The end of the Patriarkeship in Italie Leo. 3. Gregory 2. The great Maister of the Pallace Leo. 3. Gregory 3. Praying and offering for the dead Leo 3. Gregory 3. Zacharie Christians slaues The ambition of Pippin The King of France deposed and made a Monke Lachis King of Lombards deposed Cōstantine the fift Cōstantine the fift Sinode in France vnder Pippin Sinodes each yeare Paganisme Seuen Castles Stephen 2. A Councell at Constantinople against Images To marry Stephen The Exarchate giuen to the Pope Paul Saints bones taken out of their graues and cast into the sea Cōstantin 2. Philippicus an Antepope Stephen 3. One Pope condemneth an other Gloria in excelsis The warres of Chalemaine Cōstant 5. Adrian The ende of the kingdome of the Lombards Kissing the Popes feete Leon. 4. Constantine the 6. Cōstantine the 6. Erectiō of the Vniuersitie of Paris Images prohibited Images forbidden in Spaine Hirene Adrian Councells in the time of Charlemain This was S. Boniface then accounted the Apostle of Almaigne Leo. 3. Constantine the 6. Charlemain Emper. 801. the first name of treschristian the first of Emperours that were Crowned by the Popes Charlemain Hirene Nicephorus Diuision of the Empire Accord of diuision Charlemain The alliance of Scotland with France Bauiere conquired Nicephorus Wherefore God sends great Monarks Lewis surnamed the Debonaire Emperour Stephen 4. A subtill Foxe Lewis The right of choosing and Inuesture of Bishops belonged to the Emperours The Pope purgeth himselfe by oath Eugenius 2. Schisme Michael Emperour of Constantinople Rome then was not yet the Popes Gregorie 4. Rome A Councell at Aix wherin the superfluities of Bishops were cut off Rabanus Strabus The Ordinarie Close Lotharie Lotharie Sergius 2. A marke of the beast Benefices sold to them which would giue most Leo. 4. The people seperated frō Priest in the Church The Castle of S. Angelo S. Peters pence in England Iohn 8. The great whore Lewis 2. Lewis 2. Benet 3. A Pope deposed and after restored Nicholas 1. Lotharie excommunicated One Epistle of Huldric Bishop to Pope Nicholas Math. 19. vers 11. 1. Cor. 7. vers 25. 1. Cor. 7. vers 2. This decree is contrarie to the Bishops and Prelates in Queene Maries dayes More then 6000. heads of Infants found in the Popes Moate through the wicked decree Of the single life of Priests S. Augustine to Donatus What it is to marry in the Lord. What a virgin is after the Apostle Augustine ad Bonifacium The absurd and filchy saying of Papists Gregorius 2. Timo. 3. Adrain 2. Diuision betwixt the Latine Greeke Church Chales 2. This is not Fryer Scotus Iohn 9. Lewis le Begne Charles 3. Charles le Gros. Charles le Grosse Martin 2. Adrian 3. The order of Clugny Berno and Odo Curator The end of the Emperour Charles Stephen 5. The signe of the Crosse Arnulphus Formosus Schisme 9. Benafice 6. Messe denomine Iesu Stephen 6. Romaine Lewis 3. Theodorus 2. Lewis 3. Iohn 10. Benet 4. Leo. 5. Christopher To be a Monk the refuge of the miserable Sergius 3. A Monster represented the estate of that time Conrade 1. Anastasius 3. Laudo 1. Beringer 2. Iohn 11. Henry 1. Henry 1. Duke Coūt or Earle Lantgraues Marqusses Palatins Bourgraues Baron Leo. 6. Stephen 7. Iohn 12. Berenger 3. Otho the great Wencelaus Otho the great Leo. 7. Anthropomorphites Stephen 8. Martin 3. Agapetus 2. Berenger 4. Iohn 13. They were called Cardinalls as chiefe of the Cleargie Leo. 8. Crueltie of the Venetians Benet 5. Otho 1. Leo. 8. The Emperours right to chuse the Pope set vp againe Scholasticall diuinitie Iohn 14. Otho 2. Benet 6. Otho 2. The Duke of Lorraine Vassal of the
of the number of such excellent persons as the Lord giueth to repaire and restore things throwne vnder feete He I say redressed the Romane Empire and pacified Europe By his succours Italie and Germanie were guarded and warranted hauing tamed the Hungarians and French Briefly during his life the Empire tooke again a brightnesse and face of maiestie He founded the siluer Mines in Misua and exercised great munificence towards many Bishoppes which held the chiefe place in the Religion which then was Many Ciuile Lawes were made by him Amongst which that of the succession of Nephues in hereditarie goods in the place of their Fathers is greatly commended After then in this sort hee had delated the Empire being made stoope with great age finally he was surprised with a suddaine maladie and dyed the yeare 973. and of his raigne thirtie seuen of his Empire thirteene and was buried at Magdeberge in Saint Martins Church which he had caused to be builded Otho 2. of that name sonne of Otho the great and of Adetheide Queene of Burgogne during the life of his Father was declared at Aix le chappelle King of the Romanes he appeased the mutinies which were in Lorraine and gaue the Duchy of Lorraine to Charles brother of Lotharie King of France and made him vassall of the Empire but the limits were cut off For one good part was adiudged on the one side to the Church of Colongne and the other to the Church of Liege Hee espowsed the sister of the Emperour of Constantinople Donus Pope second of that name a Romane ruled at Rome a yeare and fiue moneths It was said of him that he was of great modestie and integritie and that no iniurie was done him Supp Chron. Many holy bodies as of Patroclus Priauatus and Gregorie With S. Peters Staffe were transported from Rome to Colongne by Bruno Bishop of the said place and by the Bishop of Canterburie called Odo Fasci temp Aldebert of Bohemia Bishop of Prague went into Pannonia to preach the faith and baptised the King of Hungaria From thence hee came into Brusse where hee was Martyred Boniface Pope 7. of that name gouerned at Rome 7. moneths by vnlawfull meanes he entred the Popedome and by the same meanes fell out thereof The greatest of Rome conspired against him But seeing himselfe in daunger he secretly pilled the most precious treasures of the Church of S. Peter and so fled vnto Constantinople where when he had remained 8. monethes he solde and turned all into siluer and after returned vnto Rome In his absence they lifted vp one of Pauie called Iohn the 15. He ruled 8. moneths Boniface then being returned drew the Citizens vnto him and with siluer corrupted the vilest and wickedest persons of Rome This done hee tooke the Pope Iohn and hauing put out his eies made him die with hunger in the Castle of S. Angelo Againe then he occupied and vsurped the seate but incontinently after he dyed of a sudden death his corpes was drawne with a corde by his feete through the streetes and pierced with pikes by the Romanes but finally the Clarkes buried him Naucler Robert Barns Cor. Abb. Benet Pope 7. of that name gouerned 8. yeares and sixe moneths Suppl Chron. or 10. yeares and 6. monethes after Fasci temp This Pope at the Emperours desire imprisoned many seditious Romanes The Sea of Hist. Otho the 2. enterprised a war against the Greekes which held Calabria and Pouille but he sought to reduce them to the Romane Empire pretending a right by reason of a dowrie for Theophaine his wife who was the Greeke Empresse but his enterprise was vnluckie For he was taken by Pirates and brought vnto Sicilia vnknowne Afterward being ordeined by a Slauonian Marchant which knew him he gathered together the rest of his Armie and returned against the Grecians and Sarrasins and pursued them very vndiscreetly In so much that hee was strooken with an inuenomed arrow so returning vnto Rome he dyed a litle after the tenth yeare of his Empire leauing Otho the third and other his children and amongst them Frederic and Valderic Dukes of Saxonie of whom after discended the Countesse and Princes of Sauoy Otho third of that name after the death of his Father was very young when he was designed the Emperour but of such quicknesse and moderation of spirite that for his excellent gifts he was named The Maruell of the world Lotharie King of France dyed at Rheimes being impoysoned as some say by his adulterous wife leauing his sonne Lewis fift of that name King of France last of the line of Charlemaigne who raigned a yeare and litle more and dyed also of poyson and was buried at Campaigne leauing onely the memorie of his name A third sort of Kings beganne to raigne in France From Pharamond a Painim vnto Hughe Capet are accounted 587. yeares From Clouis the first Christian 487. From Pippin the Father of Charlemaigne 237. yeares Hughe Capet 35. in number and the first King of France raigned nine yeares and began the third sort of Kings which yet endureth in the kingdome of France Dante 's a Florentine Poet in his Purgatorie saith that Hughe Capets Grandfather was a Butcher Of a Counte of Paris by the fauour of souldiers he was first saluted king in the Towne of Noion Raigning then newly in France he caused a Councel of Prelates of the French Church to be assembled at Rheimes in Campaigne And because he feared the posteritie of Charlemaigne vpon which hee had vsurped the kingdome he caused in the said Councell to be deposed the Arch-bishop of Rheimes called Arnulphe or Arnoul bastard brother of the king Lotharie set in his place a Monk a Philosopher and Magician called Gilbert or Gerbert vnto this deposition consented all the Prelates of France except Sergius Arch-bishop of Sens who was sent prisoner vnto Orleans with Arnulphe but three yeares after they were deliuered See Iohn le Maire in the 2. part and others Against the said Councell Pope Benet made an other be held in the same Cittie of Rheimes wherein the said Arnulphe was restored and Sergius or Serinus and Gerbert or Gilbert was deposed who notwithstanding was after Archbishop of Rauenna at last Pope of Rome by diuellish meanes whose end was miserable Iohn le Maire Many holy bodies S. Landoul S. Adrian S. Amand of Hasban were transported into the Towne of Gaunt Chron. Sigeb The Abbey of S. Magloire at Paris was founded by y e king Iohn Pope 16. of that name ruled at Rome 4. moneths his Father was called Leo a Priest He distributed the goods of the Church to his parents friends and Allies Therefore he was hated of all the Cleargie and people and was enclosed in the Castle S. Angelo where he dyed of hunger Supp Chron. and R. Barns This custome was afterward much vsed in the Romane Church Iohn Pope 17. of that name a Romane ruled at Rome 9.