or yeares But her of is ynough The table of the yeares of the worlde whiche sheweth the tyme poynted by Daniel M De. lvi vntyll the floude C C xciii vntyll Abraham was borne C C C C xxiij vntyll Moses was borne L xxx vntyll the goyng out of Egipt C C C C lxxx vntyll Salomons temple was buylded C C xxxviii vntyll kyng Ioas. C C xci vntil Ieconias was caried into Babylō Xi vntyll the wastyng of Ierusalem by Nabuchodonosor L xx dured the captiuite of Babylon C xci dured the monarchy of the Perses after the captiuitie of Babylon Vii was Alexander after Darius C xlvi dured the rule of the Grekes vntyll Iuhas Machabeus C xxvij dured the kyngdom of the Machabees as wryteth Iosephus XXX Herodes In the thyrtyeth yeare of Herode was Christe borne M. D. xxxii sence Christe our lorde and Sauiour was borne Our of this table is easely gathered the reason and maner of the yeares in Daniels wrytynge But I fynde by the Grekes the tyme after Alexanders death of this wyse In the .cxiiii. Olympias dyed Alexander Clxxxiiii Olympias began the rule of Augustus after the death of Iulius The xlii yeares of Augustus was Christ borne These yeares together sence the death of Alexāder make about cccxx yeares This nomber doth not so greatly disagre wyth the other aboue rehersed and can easely be made to gre of learned men Of Esdras A Certayne space after the cōmaundement publyshed dyd kynge Artaxerxes let Esdras the scribe returne to Ierusalem And duely not without a cause ought mētion to be made of this man in the histories for the bookes of the holy scripture that were now scattered and strowed dyd he gather agayne and set in order For this worke was worthy to be the duety of a true byshop Because that without holy scripture cannot be maynteined the true religion and worshyp of God In the tyme of this Artarerxes Longimanus began the great warre of Peloponnesus whiche the Grekes had amonge themselues in the whiche the citie of Athens at the last was vtterly destroyed This warre lasted neare hande vntyl the ende of the Persian monarchy and therfore I wyl first brefely reherse in their order the Persian kyng s. suche as are yet behynde Of Darius the bastarde DArius the bastarde reigned after Longimanus and of truth he was not the sonne of Lōgimanus but had his sister to wife and was his brother in lawe He had two sonnes At taxerxes whom they cal Mnemon and Cyrus the yonger Artaxerxes succeded his father in the empire Cyrus was made most puissaunt in Ionia Of Artaxerxes Mnemon AS Darius was deade Cyrus began to take falsly to hym the kyngdome for besyde that he ruled in a most puissaunt duchy he was apte also for all manner of thing and delited chefely in warre and therfore armed he hymself with great power against his brother Beside this had his mother more affection to hym than to his brother whiche had a modest and gentle mother wit But God did not prosper this wicked enterprise of Cyrus for in a battaill where he tought against his brother was he slaine Artaxerxes declared hymselfe not without courage in this battaill for he was greueously wonded of Cyrus and lept vpon another horse that he shoulde knowe that the victory came to hym afterwarde by God only Of Ochus OChus the sonne of Artaxerxes was moste gredy of mans bloud for beside the great tyranny that he vsed he slew also his own brothern He buylded the citie Sidon and brought Egypt againe to the Persian monarchy but they kept the loyalte of their yeldyng not very longe At the last was he slayn of one of his gouernours Of Arsames ARsames was the sōne of Ochus the same was made kyng being yet yonge by the capitain of the host which flew his father Ochus But when Arsames began now to wax great the capitain of the hoost fearyng by reason of the wycked dede that he had done he slew by a disceat this Arsames also Afterward makyng a league with Codomanus prince of Armenia he toke to hym the kyngdome also and called hym Darius Thus was the kynred of the noble prince Cyrus quenshed and the kyngdome of the Persians beyng translated from Cyrus posterite came to a foren prince Nether is that onely to be lamented that suche power and honour and so hygh gyftes of God were deleyed and put out of remembraunce within so few yeares but muche rather that Cyrus folowers beyng strayght waye vnlyke hym dyd declare their father to haue no maner of vertue the whiche appeareth in Ochus whose feates of tyranny gaue occasion that the whole kynred of Cyrus was abolyshed Of the last Darius The same was straunge from Cyrus but he was made prince of Armenia by kyng Ochus for his noble actes of chyuairy for the whiche actes also he was chosen kyng by them that had slayne Arsames left he should be reuenged of Ochus that had done hym good But being blynded by this occasion and with the hope of the kyngdome that was offered hym he forgat all the benefites that he had receaued of Ochus and hauyng the kyngdome he called hymselfe Darius that nothyng should be wanting to the royall dignitie But he was greuously punished for his vnkynonesse and disloyaltie For when he was vanquyshed of Alexander losynge all his landes and kyngdome he lost also his lyfe the whole monarchie of Persia But we shall treate more largely hereof in the begynning of the third monarchie and when we shall speake of Alexander The Warres of the cities of Grece WE haue touched before how the Grekes waxed welthy and presumptuous when the Perses were driuen out of their landes for pride and presumption do commonly folow after great prosperitie Wherfore duryng this monarchie they had great and durable warres among themselues by the whiche whole Grece went finally to naught insomuche that after ward it was open for euery man to breake in And also for the most honest gouernaūce lawes which they vsed in their cōmon welth succeded filthinesse and most corrup maner of behaueour And whome would it not greatly pitie to reade that so many great commodities or yuels and so durable and wicked warres are raysed of so lyght causes They be examples herely not onely to be wondered at but also most worthyest to be marked for they may admonyshe men that they take no warre in hand lightely and for euery lyght cause but only constrayned by great necessitie seing the warre raised amonge the Grekes for a small occasion could be in no maner nor meanes be swaged and layed downe tyll finally straunge people fallyng into Grece oppressed both partes It is not my mynde here to describe this whole warre for Theucidides Xenophon and afterward other haue written therof whole bokes But I wil reherse one thyng among all other namely what fall the citie of Athens hath had in this warre and what
departed homeward to his owne syr Ierome Bomegardener a learned maÌ„ y â— feared god being sent to the said couÌ„sail froÌ„ the towne of NurreÌ„ myght haue ouercome subdued all Fraunce with out any notable losse of his men For the warriours of the Frenche kyng were become so faintharted y t they durst in no place resist their enemies To the which act themperour might haue ben greatly aduaunced by the meanes that the kyng of Englande saye also in Fraunce with a great power Howbeit through great intreataunce mediation of y e chiefe lordes of the parliamen at Paris the duke of Orleans the kinges sonne who did specially fauoure y e Emperour the matter was brought to a staye but on what coÌ„dicion I haue no certaintie of knowledge as yet for somuch as some say one thing some another Wherfore I wil rather write nothing theÌ„ I shuld therof affirme any thing vncertaine In this yere chaunced foure horrible Eclpses or darkenings The first of the Moone the .x. daye of Ianuary about .vi. of the clock in y e morning which lasted .iii. houres .xxviii. minutes the Moone was hidden .xii. pointes .xlvi. minutes The second of the SuÌ„ne the .xxiiii. day of Ianuary about ix of the clock before noone lasting .ii. houres .vi. minutes â–ª the SuÌ„ne was darkened about .xi. pointes .xvii. minutes when this darkenes was at the hiest it was so darke euerywhere as it is coÌ„monly at night wheÌ„ the Sunne is newely set insomuch that all fowles cattaile whiche were mery before became still sad as though they had mourned had compassion with the Sunne being darkened The third Eclipse was of the Moone the .xiiii. day of Iuly about half an houre after eight whiche lasted .iii. houres .xlii. minutes the Moone was darkened â–ª xvii â–ª pointes and .xxv. minutes The fourth was of the Moone the .xxix. day of december in the morning about half an houre befor seuen lasted .iii. houres .xxxvi. minutes the mone being depriued of her light by the shadowe of y e earth about .xiiii. pointes and .xviii. minutes But what effecte and operation the sayde Eclipses and darkenynges brought with them maye euery wyse man partely perceyue by the contentes of the Story of the yere next folowyng and partely by the dayly discourse and exercyse bothe of magistrates and of subiectes For without special alteration of earthely creatures suche constellacions are not wont to passe as experience doth sufficiently teache and declare This yere henry the eight king of England sent an armye into Scotlande in the moneth of May whiche landed at Lyth in Scotlande and so went burnyng and destroyeng the countrey about sparyng nether castel towne pyle nor vyllage vntyll they had ouerthrowen and destroyed many of theÌ„ as the borough and towne of Edenborough with the Abbey called Holy Rodehouse and the kynges Palice adioyned to the same The towne of Lyth also with the hauen and peyre The castell and vyllage of Cragmyller the Abbay of Newbottell and parte of Muskelborowe towne the Chappel of our lady of Lawret. Preston towne and the castell Harintowne wyth the Freres and Nunery and castell of Oliuer Sancklers the towne of Dunbar Laurestone wyth the Graunge with many other townes castels vyllages and pyles Also this yere thesayd kynges maiestie prepared an army into Fraunce thither he went his owne person beseged the stroÌ„g towne of Bullen in Fraunce and there wanne the watch toure otherwyse called the olde man the .xxviij. day of Iuly And the .xxix. day of the same moneth Basse Bullyn was wonne the .xiij. day of September the towne of hygh Bullyn was victoriously coÌ„quered by the said kyng of England whiche after the entreaty humble peticion made of the French men gaue them licence to take bag bagage with them so departe the .xiiij. day of SepteÌ„ber at .iii. of the clocke at after none y e towne gate was opened the people began to come out they helde on vntill .vij. of the clocke at night And there were in nombre of men women children iiiâ— M. of them .xv. C. able meÌ„ of warre they had with them as muche as they could cary both men women children that was able to beare any thing and their horses kine were loded with as much stuffe as they could beare away And they had .lxxv. wagens laden with them IN the yere of our lord 1545. was another couÌ„cell kept at Wormes where many thinges were discussed entreated as the breakyng vp of the same publyshed maketh mencion There was also coÌ„cluded as touching matters of religion that a coÌ„munication disputacion shuld be kept at Rainsburgh the next yere whereunto y e estates of the Gospel or Euangelical princes shoulde appointe viiâ— learned men on their partie and likewise the Papistes eyght men on theyr syde whose mutuall agreementes and conclusyons shoulde bee propounded and declared vnto the Emperoure That afterwarde he might coÌ„sulte vpon suche thinges as shuld seme to make for an vnitie concorde Whyle these and suche other matters were debated and determined at Wormes in the presence of the Emperoure and the kyng of the Romaines the ryght high and myghty Prince and lorde Frederike Palatine and Electour Imperiall by the Rene coÌ„sideryng pondring the necessitie of his princely graces poore subiectes wherein they lay miserably captiuated and clogged vnder the yoke of that wicked and detestable Papacy and how many soules might be lost and brought to dampnacion or euer such vnitie as should be made at Raynsburgh could be brought to passe And also howe many consultacions and disputacions had bene kept before this tyme wherein alwaies the papisticall secte had bene conuinced and ouercome â–ª and yet neuertheles had alwayes persisted in their Idolatry and defended it the longer the more violently whereby it myght be easely perceiued and concluded what hope of amendement or agreement there was to be loked for He determined and coÌ„cluded with hymselfe furth with to forsake all popysh abhomination and not to tarye the yssue or ende of the sayde conuocacion and disputacion but in asmuche as thorough the grace and mercy of God he had obtained knowledge of the truthe and lyght of the Gospell to canse the same without delay to be ministred and declared to his poore subiectes Wherefore he ordeyned and constituted in all his iurisdictions that the Popish abhominacion should be put downe and that in stede of the same the Gospell of Christ should be frely preached that his pore coÌ„mons might be taught and brought into the right and true way of saluacion Our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe preserâ—e hym and all the fauourers of his worde to procede and go forwarde in the settyng furth of hys wyll to the glory of his blessed name Amen This yere also died the doughter of kyng Ferdinando whiche was maried to Sigismunde the younge king of Pooles
appurtenaunces belongyng to the Landgraue whiche also kylled certain husbandmen at the takyng of them But the Landgraue and his men were quiete and peaceable vntyll the tewesday the .xx. daye of October within night And then about midnight the watche worde was geuen that euery man shoulde be ready with his weapon and so the hole hoste which after the common sayeng of warriours contained an huÌ„dreth thousand men a great noÌ„bre to be assembled within the space of one moneth marched ouer a certain water called the Rume which the Landgraue had caused to be furnished ouer with brydges accordingly For what Henry of Brunswike had caused to be concluded and determined in the meane season was refused for diuers good causes and early in the mornyng they came to an hill not farre from the Brunswykers Campe by a landmarke whiche the Landgraue caused hastely to be dygged vp and cast downe in many places that he myght brynge thorough his armye without stoppe or let For the Brunswykers intended there to stoppe theÌ„ of their passage whome the Landgraue at the last was fayne to beate away with his ordinaunce Nowe wheÌ„ the armis of y e Landgraue of the other were both brought through y e LaÌ„dmarkes vpoÌ„ the plaine of y e hil ther were also brought through into y e felde thre great slynges certain Canons whiche as sone as the enemies were espied were discharged shot among the thickest of them But as soone as the Brunswykers sawe this they dyd furthe withseke meanes to flee and turned theÌ„ selues towardes an hyll lyeng by a wood whome the horsemen folowed without delay When duke Henry sawe thys that there was suche shuting towardes his hooste and that they were put to flyght â–ª all his bolde courage was done and his proude harte fainted wherfore he sent incontinently to Duke Maurice desyryng to impetrate some grace fauour for hym at y e handes of the Landgraue And although the LaÌ„d graue shewed hymselfe gentyll ready yet would he not trust hym for he suspected y â— Duke Henry hys Sonne sought wayes to escape but marched strayghtwayes wyth his hooste and artyllery towardes hys enemies and shot among them fearcely vntyl suche tyme as Duke Henry and his sunne Charles victor thorough the Counsayll of Duke Maurice yelded and submitted them selues into the handes of the Landgraue At whiche tyme the Landgraue made vnto Duke Henry this sharpe oration Yf thou myghtest haue somuche power ouer me as I haue nowe ouer the surely thou wouldest not saue my lyfe But I wyll vse my selfe better towardes the then thou hast deserued at my hande Why hast thou presumed to disobeythe Emperoures maiestie and to refuse sequesâ—racion For if thou haddest obeyed thou shouldest not haue brought thy selfe into thys trouble neyther should so many poore men haue bene endamaged vndone and destroyed And furth with he committed hym and hys Sonne to the kepynge of certayne of hys chyef geÌ„tylmen which toke them both into their custody Whyle these thynges were a doyng betwene these two prynces the Landgraues company both on horseback and on fote pressed in among the company of Duke Henry in suche sort that but fewe of them should haue bene left on lyue yf Duke Maurice had not the sooner aduertysed the Landgraue thereof who as then rode hastely among them and with much a do stylled and pacifyed hys men and turned them backe from fyghtyng and shutyng Nowe when the people was qualifyed and pacified the Landgraue called Duke Henryes company before hym and required theÌ„ to sweare that within the space of thre moneths next ensuing they should worke nor pretende nothyng agaynst the Euangelicall confederation Whiche some of them promysed without delay but the horsemen departed by heapes with opeÌ„ banners without any othe or promyse made whom the Landgraue pursued in haste and ouertoke the next day wherefore they attempted to make resistaunce but when they sawe that they were ouermached they layed downe their banners and made an othe not to enterpryse ought agaynst the sayde confederacion within the space of syxe monethes When this was done both the father and the sonne of Brunswyke was with a strong garde caried to Cassell and the father from thence into the Castell of Zigenheim After thys dyd the Landgraue take in agayne the lande of the sayde Duke Henry and caused thinhabitauntes of the same to sweare agayne of newe to the confederation of the Gospell and consequeÌ„tly turned hym selfe agaynst the Erles Ihon of Shauenburgh Otto of Rithbergh whiche are both lonemen to the Landgraue and yet had succoured them of Brunswyke with men artillery and other necessaryes insomuche that Iohn Erle of Shauenburgh was deposed from his stronghold BuckeÌ„bourgh which was geuen to his brother and other of the stocke to enioye on this conditioÌ„ that they should not suffre hym to come in agayne oneles he were before sufficiently agreed with the sayde confederation for all hys offences committed against them But Ritbergh was geuen vp to the Landgraue by the possessours thereof When all this was done and by Goddes grace finysshed without greate bloudshedyng the warriours being honestly contented and payde were licensed to departe euery man home to his owne All these actes haue I drawen and extracted out of the Copie of the Land graue therfore described them so muche the more at large while suche writynges whiche are called newes are coÌ„monly soone dilated Neuertheles consideryng that thereby the common sorte of people and our posteritie may haue a shorte and sure information and declaration of these marciall affayres I truste that no wyse man will mislyke this my labour and diligence About Mighâ—lmas dyed Albert Archebyshop of Mentz whiche was Marquis of the Marke brother to the olde Marquis Ioachim In whose rowme was elected by the chapiter sir Sebastiane of Housenstone a Doctor of a notable stock whose dwelling and mansion was betwene Aschaburgh and Franckeforde Also not long after this Albert the sonne of Casimire lorde Marquis of Brandenburgh assaulted Onoldesback which is coÌ„monly called Onesback w t 600. horses in the name of one of knobelsthorp who was the chefe amoÌ„g the rulers of the land which y e lord Marquis George deaceassed a littell before had left to his young sonne whome he had by the daughter of Duke Henry sister to Duke Maurice of Saron and requyred the same to be deliuered vnto hym But the Ruler of Knobelsthorpe beyng warned of thys gate hym out of the way So that thesayd Lord Marquis was fayne to departe not hauing his purpose In Hungary raged the Turke with roauyng spoylyng of the pore subiectes of Ferdinando whoÌ„ he put to muche losse and hynderaunce This yere also dyed the younge Duke of Orleans the Frenche kynges Sonne Of wondres and sygnes happened this yere one in especial to be noted is come to my knowledge whiche chaunced in the lande of Poles and myght be sene of
to be remembred in choysynge of counsuls for it must be pertayned to him that it shoulde be so broughte to passe For if he had returned to Rome wythout there should be a consull hys enemyes were minded to oppresse him and to brynge to passe that he shoulde be exiled from Rome But Cesar brought to passe wyth the ayde of the Tribunes that the dignity of Consulshyp was promysed him the which was done wyth the consent of Pompeius the consul also But whan the tyme came to appoynte the consuls some haue stered the Senate to set themselues agaynst him nother suffre Cesar to be made consul the same alured Pompeius to be of their syde and droue out the Tribunes whyche fled to Iulius Cesar But whan Iulius perceaued that they woulde oppresse and betraye hym he laye sore vpon the promyse that was made hym and demaunded the consulshyppe besyde thys would he haue the Tribunes restored into theyr place Duryng this controuersye there were diuerse consultations Marcus Cicero brought the moost vehementes reason whiche were to be borne of ether parte For he wylled that Cesar and Pompeius should forsake theyr hoostes and that Pompeius should goo into Spayne as he was also determined and Cesar so sone as he had forsaken the hoost shoulde be consul Iulius Cesar agreed to thys but Pompeius refused it Wherfore dyd Cesar come to Rome wyth an army appoynted Pompeius takyng the flyght doth lykewise appoynt an hoost wyth all hys power But Cesar taketh in Italy Spayne and persued Pompeius vntyll Grece And though Iulius refusyd not hetherto the condicions of an appointment of peace but dyd also offre them frelye yet Pompeius ceased not to make aunswer that he would graunt nor admitte no condicions of peace before he sawe the heade of Iulius cut of and brought to hym But whan Cesar heard that he was greatly moued Though Pompeius had a more righteous cause yet oughte he to haue vsed more gentlenesse agaynste so noble a prince that offred condicions of peace and sought onelye that he might haue ben fre and withoute daunger of feare Therfore whan Cesar sawe that he muste vse counsel by constraynt he inuaded Pompeius and ouercame hym Pompeius fled into Egypte where he was slaine by an entray of the yong king whose father he hym selfe had set into the kyngedome Afterward toke Cesar Asia and Aphrica together insomuche that he alone had in all the empyre of Rome wyth great puyssaunce Thys so great alteration and misery in the commune welth of Rome began of a moste lyghte thynge for this warre was dolefull both to hygh and lowe estates of men For histories report that ther were slayne aboue thre hundreth thousand men in thys ciuill warre ⸪ The fourth and laste Monarchy namely of the Romane empyre Iulius Cesar THre thousand yeares eight hundreth and foure score and seuentene were sence the creation of the worlde Seuen hundreth and syxe yeares sence the buyldyng of Rome Seuen and forty yeares before Christ was borne began fyrst the Romane monarchy whan Iulius was made Consul and the warr agaynst Pompeius whereof we haue euen nowe spoken dyd begynne That the warre lasted fyue yeares For whan Pompeius was deade Iulius had yet much busynesse to do in Egypte Asia and Aphrica where Cato had slayne hym selfe and in Spayne where he had also slayne one of Pompeius sonnes But whan all contryes were sett in peace returned Iulius to Rome and that was in the moneth October and after that in the begynnynge of Marche was he stycked through in the Senate of Cassius and Brutus wyth their companyons Wherfore raigned Iulius in peace nomore but fiue monethes and in that season caused he the yeare to be ordered throughout all the Romane empyre according to the course of the sonne He brought also with him out of Egypt a notable and most conning man in sciences which taught by demonstracyons called a Mathematicus ▪ and was the fyrst autor◠cause that those sciences were taughte in Italy And this ordering of the yeare which is handsome and that we vse yet now at this tyme was begon◠fyrst by Iulius But how dishonestly and very cruelly those that kylled Iulius that is playn ynoug◠by theyr dedes For Cassius Brutus wyth they companions fauoured Pompeius But by the mercyfulnes of Cesar were they take in agayne into the citye and restored into their former dignitye possession of goodes For what shall I be prolixe The worlde had neuer a prince so mighty that euer vsed more gentlynesse towarde hys enemies that frely yelded thēselues He neuer shewed anye notable wrath agaynst anye man wythoute it had ben in a battaill where necessitie to fighte dyd requyre where neuerthelesse before him Marius Sylla neuer ceassed of murtheringe euen in tyme of peace But Iulius did no such thinges ye he frely toke to mercy euen the best of the cōmune welth that were Pompeius adherentes nether toke ought from them He brought agayn also the true maner of gouerning the commune welth whiche was decayed by sedition and restored it wyth no lesse wysedome than he kept it vp with authoritie But how great a thinge this is maye be gathered therby that in ciuill commotions wee se iudgementes lawes and all modestie of maners go to wrack and to nought Iulius truely was one of the most doughtyest princes whiche beynge garnished of God with most greatest vertues aboue other men that haue gouerned very great dominions Besyde this was it not possyble to retayne commune peace long after that Iulius was deade for there was noman after Iulius that had ether such authoritie or power that with very force could enterteyn the quyetnesse of the empyre for to retaine the same in great kingdomes is requisite a greate and syngular puyssaunce Moreouer it is reported that he should haue sayde That he feared not for for his lyfe but that his death should be mischeueous and deadly to the commone welth empyre But all this refrained not them from the cursed enterpryse of whom by a cōiuracion he was slaine The first beginner of this wicked dede was Cassius and that only by enuy because for Cesars sake he could not obtayne those prouinces which he coueted Brutus was a man of great wytt and therfore suffred he him lightely to be made a companyon of this wicked dede cloking it with this colour that it were not honest for the Senate of Rome to suffre a lord greater in the empyre then he Item that Cesar also was a tyraunt and that it was lawfully permitted to slaye tyrauntes With such lyke inconuenient argumentes whiche are oft wont to begyle yong and vnlearned men in lyke cases was Brutus inflamed for without his helpe had Cassius brought nothynge to passe This is the summe of this history But God suffred so great a mischeuousnesse not longe vnpunished For as manye as had conspyred to the death of Iulius were also slayne themselues not
and afterwarde coueted the gouernaunce of whole Italy And though other prynces dyd also stryue for the souerayntye of Italye yet dyd Berengaryus excellynge in power kepe Italye tyll the thyrde heyre The same toke vpon hym the tytle of Emperoure and vsed greate crueltye in Italye The Italyans requyred ayde and succoure of Otho agaynste hys tyrannye Wherefore Otho goynge into Italye he inuaded Lombardye and gat it Berengarius wyth yeldynge himselfe frely optained of Otho that grace that he shuld not wholy be dryuen out of Italy but should retayne a duchy to possesse After twelue yeares was Otho called into Italy agayne to defende or clayme the Italians wyth the clergye and byshop of Rome from the tyranny of Berengarius which thynge he also dyd valyauntly For whan he came agayne into Italy he toke Berengarius and hys sonne Alberte and bannished them for theyr disloyaltye the father wyth hys wyfe to Bamberge in Germany wher they spent theyr liues also as outlawes but the sonne sent he to Constantinople Otho entrynge into Rome in thys settynge forth was crowâ—ed of Ioannes the .xii. This Otho was the fyrste Emperour that made an othe to y e bishop of Rome wherof the maner and tenor is in y e canon lawes begynnynge Tibidomino Ioanni .iii. ce After that is Otho come the second tyme to Rome to rebuke Ioannes bish of Rome because he was accused of many fautes Wherfore the bishop knowynge himselfe gyltye fled for feare of Otho And therfore was Leo the .viij. made bishop in his stead But before that Otho went from Rome Ioannes commynge to Rome thrust Leo out agayne Leo fled to the Emperoure But the moost wyse Emperoure vsed greate policy lest he shoulde geue an occasion of debate He suffred Ioannes to vse the bishopryck so longe as he lyued But so sone as he was deade to take Leo as lawfully chosen bishop but the Romanes wolde not alowe it whych refusyage Leo chose another called Benedictus in spete of the Emperoure Otho than returnynge inuaded the possessyons of the Romyshe byshops and dyd much hurte He besyeged also the citye of Rome vntyl the cithesins constrayned by famine necessity opened the gates frely to Otho He than puttynge to death manye Romanes and banny shinge the Consuls restored Leo whan he had apeased al thynges returned into Germany leadynge wyth hym Benedictus who was kept at Hamborowe Otho goynge the thyrde tyme to Rome droue the Saracens and Grekes out of the farther coastes of Italy Than chosynge Otho hys sonne to be partener in the Empyre bringyng hym wyth hym commaunded to crowne hym and caused the Emperour of Constantinoples doughter to be geuen hym in mariage By all these thynges maye it easely be gathered that this Otho was one also of these princes which God hath now and than geuen to repayre the decayed state of the worlde For he set vp agayne the decayed empyre of Rome and set all Europa in quiet by hys succour hath he defended whole Italy and Germany He subdued the Hungarians and Frenchmen To be shorte he hath restored the maiestye of the empyre to hys former bryghtnesse and set it in order afterward dyed he at Quedelnburg in great quyetnesse It is written also that he found fyrst the syluer mines in Misen He gaue also muche good to the churche to maynteine religion and to promote the doctryne of godlynesse to which intent he made also not a fewe byshops as at Magdeburg Misen Brandenburg Mersburg and Ceitz Martinus the .iij. was the .cxxxij. byshop after Stephanus Agapetus the .ii. succeded Martinus Ioannes the .xiii. the C. xxxiiij bishopp was after Agapetus The same crowned Otho the fyrst afterwarde fled he from Rome fearynge leste for hys vnclennesse of lyfe he shulde be caste from the offyce by Otho Leo the .viii. was chosen in Ioannes steade But whan Ioannes was returned to Rome Leo fled to the Emperour but whan IoaÌ„nes was deade was Leo restored agayne Ioannes the .xiiii. and C. xxxvi bishop succeded Leo. Of hym was Otho the seconde crowned Otho the seconde the .xi. Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. lxxiiii raygned Otho y â— .ii. after hys fathers deceasse ten yeares against him was an vprour raysed also For Henry duke of Baier hys cosyn coueted y e empyre This Henry is not the brother of Otho the firste of whome is spoken before which conspiringe rose agaynst his brother Otho and afterward reconciled again to his brother gat the duchy of Baier Thys fyrst duke of Baier that was of the Saxons bloude dyed .xv. yeare before Otho But thys fyrste Henryes sonne is the same whyche set hymselfe agaynste Otho the seconde but Otho had soone tamed this newe enterpryser Afterwarde dyd the Frenchemen fall sodenlye vpon the Emperoure at Aken and he dyd searcely escape theyr intrap But Otho repayring an army went into Fraunce and spoyled euery where vntyl Paris constrained the Frenchmen to demaunde peace whyche dyd than bynd them wyth an othe that they wold neuer claime Lorain any more Whan he had set Germany at quyet he went into Italy There did he fight wyth the Grekes and Saracens in Apulia but hys hoost beyng vanquyshed he was taken by mariners as he fled But because he was vnknowen to the mariners by reason he could the greke language nether was he taken for a Germane prince he redemed himselfe with an easy price and comming to Rome he gouerned the empyre as he dyd before It is sayd that the Italians poisonned hym for his rigoure that he vsed in the gouernaunce Benedictus the .v. the C. xxxvii bysh of Rome was after Ioannes the .xiiii. Donus the .ii. succeded after Benedictus Bonifacius the .vii. the C. xxxix bysh succeded Donus Benedictus the vi succeded Bonifacius In his tyme became Otho the thyrde Emperour Otho the .iii. the .xii. Germane Emperoure THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. lxxxiiij raygned Otho the thyrd after hys fathers deceasse .xix. yeares He was yonge scarcely passed xii yeres whan hys father dyed wherefore Henry duke of Bayer cosyn to thys Otho caused him to be kept at Rome and beganne agayne to vsurpe the Empyre Some Italians counseled to make Crescentyus Emperoure that the emperyall maiestye myghte be broughte agayne to the Italyans But the Germane princes beynge loyall to theyr lorde called the yonge Otho agayne from Henry and made hym Emperoure wyth commune assent whereto Benedictus the byshop of Rome gaue his consent also The fyrste warre that he hadde was wyth the Frenchmen whyche forgettynge theyr othe that they had made inuaded Lorayne agayn takynge in many cityes but Otho dryuyng out the French men kept Lotharyng or Lorayn In the meane tyme a Romane prince called Crescentius takyng vpon hym the name of an Emperoure vsed great crueltye in Italy Wherefore Otho commynge to Rome enuyrouned wyth a greate army and takyng Crescentius cutt of hys nose and eares set hym arswarde vpon an asse caused
oriental corner stretchyng her blasyng tayle towardes the southwest The second day of Nouember was there a great inundacion of water brokē in into Freeseland Holland Seeland and Flaunders which was very damageable to the said countreis and to thinhabiters therof Also Christerne kyng of Norway being retourned into his said kyngdome the yeare before from the parties of lowe Ducheland where he had kept hym selfe by the space of ten yeres was required by the counsayll of Denmarke to come to Copmanhauen otherwyse called Coppenhagen against kyng Fredericke whiche was put in there by the helpe of the towne of Lubeke when the said Christerne fled out of the Realme that he myght there receyue and take in possession the kyngdome of Denmarke but when he suspected no guyle relented and put away hys souldiours and came into Denmarke the Counsayll of the Lande toke hym prisoner not regardinge the promises and saulf conduit by them made vnto hym And so they kept hym in the castel of Sunderborough oute of the whiche he came neuer as yet So that after this kinge Frederick did peaceably enioye his kingdome vntyll he dyed At Lindowe by the sea coaste was in thys yeare borne a dubble calfe wyth two heades foure eares and eighte feete hanginge alltogether In the yere of our Lord M. ccccc xxxiij when y e Emperour namely Charles the fift had stablyshed vnity and concord among the Princes and Cities of Italy and Lumbardy he departed wyth a competent and wel appointed Armada or Nauye from Genua and hauynge a prosperous passage arryued within fewe dayes after in Spayne where he was receyued of hys subiectes wyth great ioye After this by the counsayll and instigation of themperours Maiestye the Shypmaiesters and maryners of Spayne founde oute certayne Indes or Ilandes in the sea beynge vnknowen before whyche do so excedynglye abounde in ryches of golde and syluer that it is vnspeakeable These toke they in by force of armes and subdued them vnder the subiection of the emperours Maiestye In thys yeare the Pope and Frauncys the Frenche kynge helde a solempne communycatyon together at Massylya whyche lyeth in the Prouynce of Fraunce where after manye and dyuers consultacyons it was concluded that Henry Duke of Orleans sonne to the sayde Frenche kynge shuolde marye Pope Clementes cosyne the doughter of Laurence Medyce Duke of Vrbyne wyth whome the Pope hadde promysed a ryche dowrye Thus hath thys Pope Clemente alwayes endeuoured hym selfe to allure and drawe vnto hym the hyghe Potentates and Rulers of the worlde by the helpe of whome he myghte extyrpate and roote oute the pore Chrystyans whome they call Lutheryans and Heretykes But God woulde not suffer it longe as it is wrytten There is no deuice nor counsayll agaynste the Lorde but it shall come to naughte In the same yeare the myghtye bond and confederatyon of the Germayne Natyon which was called the Euangelycall confederacyon or the bonde of the Gospell beynge kepte secrete of manye was at the prouocatyon of the Frenche kynge opened and disclosed There apeared also another Comete or blasynge starre from the ende of the moneth of Iune vnto the begynnynge of Auguste in the Northe and in the sygnes of Gemyny Taurus and Aryes thoroughe the whyche sygnes she made her course in her goynge backewarde hauyng her tayle extended towardes the South And thys was the thyrde Comete or blasynge starre that hadde appered wethyn those two yeres What they portended or sygnyfyed or what alteracyon of Estates and other thynges they broughte wyth them maye a dyscreete reader gather and perceyue by the Storyes herafter folowing For suche wonderfull workes of God althoughe they come by the course of nature yet are they not wythoute theyr specyall workynge It is sayde also that in this yeare of M. CCCCC xxxiii the Deuyl burned a lyttell Toune in Germanye called Shyltagh downe to the grounde by the meanes of a certayne wythche on maundy thursdaie The fyfte daye of October in the nyghte burned at Andwarpe the Churche called our ladye Churche beynge sodaynly sette on fyre At Nurrenboroughe and in manye other places of thempyre lyenge there aboute reygned thys yeare a greate Pestylence in so muche that at Nurrenboroughe onelye from S. Margretes daye vntyll S. Martins day folowinge dyed ten thousande persons The sixtene day of Nouember was a great earthquake and an horryble tempeste of wynde whyche plaged and troubled the Townes in hygh Germany verye sore namely Cu◠Feldechurche S. Gall wyth other townes and vyllages lyenge nyghe vnto them by the Ryuer called the Rhene Thys yeare Henrye the eighte kynge of Englande c. for certayne consyderacyons hym therevnto mouynge was dyuorced from hys wyfe whiche had bene fyrste maryed to hys brother prynce Arthur and maryed another on wytsonday In the yeare of our Lorde M. CCCCC xxxiii in the moneth of Ianuary The Anabaptistes whyche had gathered them selues together out of Hollande and Freselande by preuy subteltyes and conspyracyes whych they had made with certayne burgeouses of the Cytye of Mynster in Westphale inuaded the same Cytye toke possessyon of it and expelled from thence al the Burgeoules and inhabytauntes therof that woulde not take parte wyth them and folowe theyr facultye They chose them also a kynge that was a Taylloure named Ihon of Leyden whyche ordeyned for hym selfe two specyall Counsayllours the one called Knypperdullynge and the other kreghtynge and in conclusyon they made suche a dysorder and confusyon whytin the sayde Cytye that not wythoute a cause all the people of Westephale dyd ryse agaynste them But when the ryghte noble Prynce Philyppe Landgraue of Hessen toke in hande to accorde the matter betwene the sayde Anabaptystes and the Byshoppe whome they had expelled he coulde nothynge preuayle so sore hadde the Deuyll blynded that Anabaptystycall generatyon Wherefore the sayde Byshoppe compassed the sayde Cytye wyth a greate power on euerye syede to thyntent he myghte ouercome and subdue them ether wyth the sworde or elles by famyne And althoughe there was greate scarcyte and lacke of vyctualles wythyn the saide Cyrye in so muche that at the laste they were sayne to eate lether and couerynges of bookes yet dyd they sustayne bearcoute prolonge and holde oute the sayde syege vntyll the next yeare folowynge wherof we shall speake more in place conuement In the meane season dyd Philip Landgraue of Hessen prepare hymselfe after the best maner to restore hys Vncle Duke Hulderyke of Wyrtenbergh agayne to hys Dukedome from whence he was expelled fyftene yeares before durynge the whyche tyme kynge Ferdynando had the gouernaunce and vse therof But fyrste because the sayde prince of Hessen woulde do nothynge presumptuously nor temeraryouslye he sente worde to themperoures Mayestye in Spayne and to the kynge in Austryche desyrynge them to restore hys said Vncle Duke Hulderyke to hys Landes agayn for so muche as he had nowe suffered sufficient punyshemente for hys
Gate of triumphe sett full of goodly sayenges and Latyne verses made for the Emperoures pleasure and to his honoure And aboue vppon the toppe of the Gatether was asplayed Eegell made whiche a man gouerned and when the Emperoures maiestie came to the Gate the Egell plucked in his Whynges and bowed hymselfe to the Emperoure reuerently with his body And dyd lykewise on the other syde when the Emperoure was ridden through the Gate The day folowyng did the Emperour ride to the counsail house There was a royal seate cloth of estate set vp in the streate ouer against the shewing place whereuÌ„to the Emperour was leadde by certen of the Aldermen Thether came the comens of the citie before the councell house whiche after the priueledges liberties of the citie were coÌ„firmed made better did there sweare vnto y e Emperour After that y â— Emperours maiestie toke his iourney to Regensburg where the parliament was appointed Thither came many dukes lordes both spirituall temporall the kyng Ferdinandus And when the most part was come together the Emperours maiestie deliuered vnto the states degrees of thempire a boke wherein y e articles of our christen beleue were contained willing theÌ„ to shewe it to their learned meÌ„ that they might agree in all these Articles but with this condicion that all that was said done on both sydes should againe be deliuered vnto the Emperour in writing And after the states degrees of the Empire had willingli agreed thereuÌ„to werther learned meÌ„ chosen to coÌ„men together to agree therein On oure syde were chosen Phillipe Melanthon Marten Bucer Iohan Baker superintendent of Nidda And on the other syde Doctor Eckius Doctor Iulius pâ—â—ng and Iohan Groepper These after muche and long disputacion agreed concernyng the most part and chefe of the Articles of the Boke as of these folowing The first of the power of the fre wil of man both before and after the regeneration newe birth The second of the byrth synne or Original sinne The thrid of Iustificacion and righteous making before God which is the summe and the chefe and principall pointe The fourth of the new birth and of the working of the holy ghost in them that be newe borne The fyfth of belefe of the grace of God and of the merytes of Christ The syxth of good woorkes and their merites The seuenth of the churche of Christ and of the tookens thereof and also of the falsse membres of the churche The eigth of the Cannonical scripture and their aucthoritie The nyneth of the aucthoritie of the churche and of the counsayls that is to saye that they must alwayes agree with the holy scripture The tenth of the power and vse of the Sacramentes The leuenth of Repentaunce The twelueth of the ministers of the churche their aucthoritie The thirteÌ„neth of the Ceremonies of y â— church The fourtenneth of the commemoracioÌ„ and remembraunce of the Sainctes The fyftenneth of Images The syxtenneth of the Masse The seueÌ„tenneth that the SacrameÌ„t of the supper ought to be deliuered vnder both the kindes to the laye people The eighteÌ„neth of the discipline and Nourtour of the churche both of the spirituail and temporall the .xix. Of the visitacion of the Christen The tweÌ„tyeth that euery nacion should holde a counsayll among them selues euery yeare to the coÌ„seruacton of relligion and condempnacion of Errowers Of all these Articles they agreed on both parties as appeareth by the â—reatie thereof whiche is put out in prynte And when the treatie and consul tacion of both partes was desiuered to the Empetours maiestie he she wed it to Gaspar Contarenus Cardinall S. Apolinaris the byshop of Romes Ambassadour and desyred hym to coÌ„sent therunto But forasmuche as it is not the byshop of Romes incanyng to haue any agrement made accordyng to the scripture the Cardinal wold no nother wyse consent â–ª but so that the Articles should be sent vnto the Byshop of Rome that he myght conclude therein what should please him at the next general Counsaill that should be holden And in as muche as many of the States and de grees of the Empyre were discontent there wyth for they knewe that the Pope woulde neuer be contented wyth that Agreement seyng it woulde do no small barme and dammage too hys kyngdome they desyred the Emperoures Maiestie to geue them leaue that they myght haue those Articles that were agreed of to bee openly taught in their Churches whiche thynge also was graciously graunted them to do as the dissolycyon of thesame Parliament declared Whereupon also the Princes hereafter named caused the sayd Articles to be preached in their landes and dominions Fyrst Duke Otho Henrick of Bayer Countie Palatine on the Rene. Phillip his brother The Citie of Regensburg The Citie of Swyneforth Whom the Cytie of Rottenburg on the Tawber folowed in the yeare of oure lorde a thousande fyue hundreth fourty and foure And there woulde vndoubtedly moa haue folowed if the deuell had not hyndered them thorou hys membre Doctour Eckius For he after he had all the whyle the disputacion lasted done all hys diligence to disanulle the whole booke that the Emperoure gaue theim to agree of as Erroneouse but coulde not brynge his purpose aboute and yet muste bee affraied of the Emperoures Maiestie whiche had caused the Booke to be diligently wrytten thorowe the counsall of hys learned men or muste elles hane bene proued a lyer wyth the playne truthe thoroughe the wytnesse of the disputers of oure syde and of his awne felowes wrote vnto those states and degrees that leyned to the Byshoppe of Rome after this soarte That vnmeete Booke neuer lyked me ner yet dothe nor euer shall wherein I haue founde so many errours and fawtes Wherefore I wyll geue this sentence that it shall not bee receaued of the Catholikes as whiche dispyseth the veyne of the old fathers and smelleth vtterly of Melancthon And I Eccius haue not agreed thereunto nor haue also seene the Booke that was delyuered to the Emperours maiestie but that certer of the Lutherians Articles were read vnto me much lesse haue I agreed vnto the wrytyng that was as I heare saye delyuered to the Emperoures Maiestie with the Booke whiche I neuer sawe This wrote Eccius as is mencioned but howe vntruely his awne companions in a supplication wrytten vnto the Vmpeeres and presidentes of the disputacion wyt nesse wherein they complayne of Eccius and of hy sfalsheede excusyng them selues besydes that the presydentes also as the Lorde Frederick Countie Palatyne Electour on the Rhene and the Lord Granuell one of the Emperoures Maiesties counsayll and the Emperoures Maiestie hym selfe excused Eccius companyons and praysed them that they had done truely and honestly and confessed that Eccius had agreed and consented to that that they dyd as then all these thynges maye suffyciently be sene in the treatye it selfe Nowe the whyle the matter stoode thus as touchyng Rellygion
their lande the flyeng sorte couered that lyght of the Sune in so muche that thinhabiters of the lande were cōmaunded to go furth and to take gather thē that crept on the grounde which they did continually during the space of thre wekes gatheringe euery daye about 2400. quarters in a quarter of a myle for in euery quarter of a myle were appointed thre hundreth persons men and womē and euery hundreth persons gathered euery day 800 quarters during the space of 3. wekes And they came into Isebredge ouer the brydge with such a power as though they had ben an hoste of warriours that woulde haue entred into the towne In so much that the Magestrates commanded the inhabitauntes of the same towne to make resistaunce agaynst them before the gate with besomes and bromes and to swype them into the water as they came whiche they ded in suche sorte as they couered all the water with grasherppers that no water coulde be sene Thus did they resiste them kept them also from the brydge by the space of .iii. wekes after this the said locustes or grashoppers turned into the fieldes and there destroyed and wasted the corne and the grasse vndoynge in a maner all the people of the lande so that after thys the peopel resysted them no moore butt onelye trusted to the mercy of god with instaunt feruēt prayer The sayde Locustes or grashoppers were littell at the begynnyng and krepyng but afterwarde they grewe and began to flye doyng great hurte throughout the sayde lande In the meane season the Emperoures maiestie and the kyng of the Romaynes set furth a commaūdement that noman shuld be founde in dronkenes horedome aduoutery vsury and blasphemy but he should be punyshed by death and forfayte all hys goodes In a littell towne called Albers lyeng besydes Lyndawe in the Dukedome of Zweyburgh was this yere founde two clusters of grapes growynge vpon one braunce hauyng a long read bearde whiche was a wonderfull syght The same yere in flaunders and the countrees there about was a great scacitie of corne so that there was a great dearth in the lande And there dwelled besydes Beke aboue Gand a certayne farmer well prouided and stored with corne vnto whome his neyghbours came lamentyng and intreatyng hym to sel them some of his corne who refused so to do neuertheles he sent none away comfortles that had nede for he lent and delyuered vnto euery man accordyng to their necessite on this condicion that they should rendre and repaye hym agayne at the next haruest on this condicion did he lende corne to dyuers nedy persons After whiche tyme it chaunced that his corned fyelde beyng sowed was by Gods grace so multiplied and increassed that on euery stalke grewe an exceding nombre of eares laden with corne so that thorough the blessyng of God he was well rewarded By this may we see that the sayeng of Salomon is an vndoubted verite namely he that taketh pitie on the pore lendeth vnto the Lorde vpon vsury and loke whatsoeuer he layeth out it shalbe payd hym agayne There was also this yere a wonderfull vision sene and heard of many within the towne of Wittenbourgh in the Lande of Saron the .xviii. daye of September early in the mornyng betwene foure fyue of y ◠clocke For there appeareth in the ayre a figure and lykenes of a dead corse or beere couered ouer with blacke cloth and a read ribband auer the same and there went before the coarse six men with trompettes and a greate multitude of people folowed with croked instrumentes and trompettes blowyng whyche made a greate noyse in the ayre insomuche that many in the towne whiche laye yet in their beddes were thereby awaked out of theyr slepe thynkyng that the sayde trimblyng had bene in the towne After this the black cloth vanyshed awaye from the boere whiche then was couered ouer with awhyte cloth then appeared besydes the beare a man armed in harnas shewyng hym selfe very angry and pullyng the whyte clothe from the beere he rent it in twaine wynding the one half about hys arme and so pressyng it harde to hys body Wyth this the coarse vanyshed away The man armed dyd also apeare a lyttell whyle after so in lyke maner banished away After this were althynges quiet as before God graunte euery Christen man to remembre thys wonderfull sygne with feare for it is to be feared that it is a fearefull warnyng sent vs of God In Englande the nyntene day of Ianuary was the Erle of Surrey beheaded as was mencioned the yere before The seuen and twenty daye of the same moneth Henry the eyght kyng of Englande c. ended hys lyfe and was buried at Windsore Edwarde the syxt kyng of Englande c. succeded his father in the gouernaunce of his royalmes and dominions and was crowned the nintene day of February in the nyneth yere of hys age Vnder the sayde kyng in the tyme of his minorite his vncle Edwarde Duke of Somerset was made lorde Protectour of all hys Royaulmes dominions and subiectes and Gouernour of his maiesties persone who with the residue of his maiesties Counsayll gouerned the realme with great mercy and gentilnesse by whome to the surtheraunce of goddes worde and true religion cōmissioners were sent into al partes of the Realme with commaūdement to cause all Images to be taken out of churches for auoydyng of Idolatry and to wyll men women to leaue the vse of beades hauyng with thē also godly and learned preachers assigned whiche do exorted them to geue them self to true and vnfained worshippyng of God in the hart and minde with due obedience to their prince Richard Smith a doctour of diuinite recāted opēly at Paules crosse within y e citie of Lōdon diuers articles cōtained in two bokes which he had made one for the defence of the sacrifice of the Masse an other to proue vnwritten verities to be beleued vnder payne of damnacion This yere also in Enland commaundement was geuen that processions should be no more vsed This yere also in England the duke of Somerset then Lorde Protectour and the Erle of Warwyke went into Scotlande with a strong army requiring the Scottes to fulfyll their promyse made before to kyng Henry concernyng the mariage of their younge Quene with the younge kynge of Englande but the Scottes stubbournely came agaynst them with great puissaunce And not longe after the two armyes encountred in the fieldes of Muscleborough at a place called Pinker slough The Englyshe part not thynkyng as than to haue battayle at whiche tyme because the front of the Scottyshe armie was so terrybly set wyth pykes the Englyshe horsemen which gaue the fyrst onset were fayne to recule backe with losse of certayn gētylmen whiche reculing much abasshed the English footemen but yet by the great wysedome and dilygence of the Lord Protectours grace and the valiaunt hart and courage of the Earle of Warwike they