day wast shall haue lyuery therof out of the hands of the king of the landes tenements aforesayde so of them holden as hath bene vsed in case of attaynder of felonies except the lands and tenements which be holden of the ordinaries or their commissaries before whom anye such empeached of heresye be conuict which landes and tenements shall wholy remaine to the king as forfeit And moreouer that all the goodes and cattels of such conuicted be forfayt to our right soueraigne Lord the king so that no person conuict of heresye left vnto the secular power according to the lawes of holy Church do forfeit his landes before that he be dead And if any such person so conuicted becuse offed whether it be by fine or by deede or without deed in landes and tenements rentes or seruices in fee or otherwise in whatsoeuer maner or haue any other possessions or cattels by gift or graunt of any person or persons to the vse of any other then only to the vse of such conuits That the same landes tenementes rentes nor seruices nor other such possessions nor cattelles shall not be forfeite vnto our soueraigne Lord the king in no maner wise And moreouer that the Iustices or the kinges bench the Iustices of peace Iustices of Assise haue full power to inquire of all such which hold any errors or heresies as Lolards and who be their mayntayners receiuers fautors and susteiners common writers of such bookes as well of their sermons as scholes conuenticles congregations and confederacies that this clause be put in the cōmissions of the Iustices of peace And if any persons be indited of any of the points aboue said that the sayd Iustices haue power to award agaynst them a Capias and that the Shriffe be bound to arest the person or persons so indited as soone as he can finde them either by himselfe or by his officers And for so much as the cognisance of heresies errors or Lolardies appertain to the Iudges of holy church and not vnto the secular Iudges that such persons indited be deliuered vnto the Ordinaries of the places or to theyr Commissaryes by Indentures betwene them to be made within x. dayes after their arest or sooner if it may be done to be therof acquited or conuict by the lawes of holy church in case such persōs be not indited of any other thing the cognisaunce whereof appertayneth to the Iudges secular officers in which case after they shal be acquited or deliuered before the secular iudges of such thinges as apperteineth to the secular Iudges they shal be sent in safe custody vnto the said Ordinaries or their commissaries to thē to be deliuered by Indentures as is aforesayd to be acquited or cōuicted of the same heresyes errors and Lolardies as is aforesaid according to the lawes of holy church that with in the terme abouesayde Prouided that the saide indightments be not taken in euidence but onely for information before the Iudges spirituall agaynst such persons indighted but that the Ordinaries begin their proces against such persōs indited in the same maner as though no such iudgement were hauing no regard to such inditementes And if any be indited of heresy error or Lolardy and takē by the Shiriffe or any other officer of the king he may be let to mayneprise within the sayde x. dayes by good surety for whō the said Shriffes or other officers wil answer so that the person so indighted be readye to be deliuered vnto the sayd Ordinaries or to their Commissaryes before the end of the tenth day aboue recited if he may be any meanes for sicknes And that euery Ordinary haue sufficiēt Commissaries or Commissary abiding in euery Countye in place notable so that if any such person indited be taken that the sayd Commissaryes or Commissary may be warned in the notable place of his abiding by the Shiriffe or any of hys officers to come vnto the Kinges Bayle within the sayd Countye there to receiue the same person so indighted by Indenture as is aforesayd And that in the Inquestes in this case takē the Shiriffes and other officers vnto whom it apperteineth do impanell good and sufficient persōs not suspected nor procured that is to say suche as haue at the least euery one of thē that shal be so impanelled in such inquestes within the Realme a hundred shyllinges by the yere of lands tenements or of rent vpon payne to leese to the kings vse xx poūd And that those which shal be impanelled vpon such enquestes at sessions and gayles haue euery one of them to the value of xi shillings by the yeare And if any such person arested whether it be by the Ordinaries or the officers of the king either escape or break prison before he be therof acquit before the Ordinary that then all his goods and cattelles which he had at the day of such arest shall be forfeite to the king And his landes and tenementes which he had the same day be seised also into the kings handes and that the king haue the profites therof from the same day vntill he render himselfe to the sayde prison from whence he escaped And that the aforesaid Iustices haue full power to enquire of all suche escapes and breaking of prisons and also of the lands tenements goods and cattels of such persons indighted Prouided that if any such person endighted doe not returne vnto the sayde prison and dyeth not being conuict that then it shall bee lawfull for his heyres to enter into the landes and tenements of his or their aūcester without any other sute made vnto the king for this cause And that all those which haue liberties or franchises royall in England as the coūty of Chester the county and liberty of Durham and other like And also al the Lordes which haue iurisdictions and franchises royall in Wales where the kings writs do not run haue like power to execute and put in execution in al pointes these articles by them or by their officers in like maner as doe the Iustices and other the kinges officers aboue declared ¶ Notes touching the statute prefixed Thus hauing recited the wordes of the statute nowe let vs consider the reasons obiections of this aduersary who grounding peraduēture vpon the preface or preamble of this foresaid statute will proue thereby the L. Cobham and Sir Roger Acton with the rest of their abettours to haue bin traitors to their king and their countrey Wherunto I answere first in generall that although the face or preface prefixed before the statute may shew and declare the cause occasion originall why the statute was made yet the making of the statute importeth no necessary probatiō of the preface alwaies to be true that goeth before which being but a colour to induce the making therof geueth no force materiall therunto nor is any necessary part of the body of the said statute But onely adhereth as a declaration
Martin gaue me autority by the aduice of the councel to rote out heresies to pacifie kingdoms to reforme the maners of euery state of christendome yet they wil say that I can not cite them Power is geuen me to iudge to condemne and haue I not also power to cite The law doth say vnto whom any power or iurisdiction is committed all things seme to be committed vnto him without the which he cānot exercise his iurisdiction for howe coulde all the premisses be done if the Prelates or others shuld not come hither Also why is it said in the chapter Ego enim de iure iurando I will come vnto the Sinode if I be called if he can not be called By whome then is it presupposed that he shuld be called but only by the councel or by him which ruleth the councell Also the whole 18. distinction intreateth of no other matter but that the bishops being called vnto the councel if they come not that they may be excommunicate and suspended Let these men read the boke of councels of S. Isidore and they shall finde howe that in many councelles the Prelates haue bene called by the Sinode Nowe it remaineth that we shuld declare whether the dissolutiō be of force or no. Wherin I do againe feare to moue your holines vnto anger But charity forceth me therunto for peraduenture your holines doth thinke the dissolution to be effectual therfore do perseuer in it wherby for somuche as many offences may rise my conscience doeth moue me not to hold my peace First of all the chapter Frequens declareth that it is not of force for if prorogation be forbidden prohibited which is a smal mater much more is dissolutiō which is a greater matter for it is a greater matter to take away then to defer for by proroging a thing is but deferred by dissoluing it is vtterly taken away Also these men say that the said cōstitution in the chapter Frequens may be made void for somuch assone as the councel is begon it may be dissolued without any thing don as it is said that it was done at Senes and nowe they say also that your holines hath ben peruersly informed touching the dissolution They say also that the sayd dissolution doth manifestly tend to the subuersion of faith the ruine of the church and the trouble of the christian people Therfore it can not be done neither obeid They say moreouer that the said dissolutiō could not be made by meanes of a certen decree of the councel of Constance in that behalfe prouided That in such matters as pertaine vnto faith the extirpation of sinne and reformation of the church in the head in the members that all men of what estate or condition so euer they be yea the Pope himself shuld be bound to obey the statutes precepts and ordināces of euery general councell except they did obey to punish them Marke how that these things to haue power to determine vpon any man to commaund him and punish him if he be not obedient are signes of superioritye in those matters which he doth decree command or punish and to be bound to obedience to be subiect and obey the same are signes of inferiority in the said cases Ergo in the foresaid cases seeing that the Pope as they say is vnder the coūcel which also hath ben In that for one of the said 3. cases the councel did depriue Iohn for the other Benedict neither coulde the Pope dissolue the councell in that he is inferior vnto the councel cannot bind or cōpel the superior As in the chapiter Cum inferior otherwise it shoulde containe in it a contradiction that hee is bounde to obey and is not bound to obey because he may dissolue for howe should he be obedient vnto the ordinance and decree of the councell if he may anihilate and take away the same ordinaunce and decree Thys councell is cōgregate for the rooting out of heresies for the making of peace and reformation of maners and in the first Session it did ordeine that their whole intent and respect should be thereunto and that he which should procure to let the coūcell to proroge or alter it should be punished and haue processe against him as against a common disturber of the peace c. If it may be dissolued it is euident that they doe not obey the saide ordinaunce whereby this also must of necessity be graunted that if it may be dissolued the decree of the councell of Constance is of no force This is also proued by an other reason No man doubteth but if any controuersie of heresie shoulde be mooued against any Bishop of Rome that he coulde not dissolue the Councell For if he might dissolue the councell he could not be iudged whych were cōtrary to the cha Si Pa. dist 40. Ergo like as it is inheresy so is it in the two other cases For these three were pacified by the coūcel of Cōstance for thus speaketh the councel As it is in the Chapter Si Papa in illo vno And as I haue before saide the Councell of Constance allowed this decree thorow the which they depriued Peter de Luna for making of a Schisme and Pope Iohn for the deformitie of his life And all be it there be certaine lawes that say the principall seat can not be iudged of any man and againe no man iudgeth the chiefe seate And no man sayth vnto him selfe why doest thou so There are to be vnderstande in these three cases first that there was prouiso made for the faith in the chapter Si Papa and in the other two poynts by the decree of Constance Otherwise it shuld be vnderstande without any exception that the first seate c. and then the chapter Si Papa 40. Distinct. and the sayd decree of Constance shoulde be false If the chapter Si Papa had added causes of heresies no man would haue doubted vpon these two cases touching the sayd sentence so likewise no man ought to doubt of the decree of the councell that it was made by the authoritie of the Pope and representeth the vniuersal church and if any man wold say that in all councels the authoritye of the Pope is excepted I aunswere that it is true when as the persone of the Pope is not specially included But if hee be specially included he can not be excepted because it should sauour of contradiction Most blessed father God is my witnesse that I haue spoken these thinges wyth great anguish and sorowe of minde but I am forced so to speake that your holinesse may cease from the saide dissolution lest there might happen infinite euels in the church of God If your holines did see my pure mind my vpright conscience and entier affection towardes you whereby I am mooued to wryte those thinges euen for very loue you would embrace and kisse me and wythout doubt loue me as your owne sonne I haue often sayde and nowe doe say
not the death of a sinner but is mercifull to the penitent came of their own accorde to the iudgement seate againe that they might bee examined of the Iudge And for that the Emperour had written backe againe to him that all the confessors should be punished and the other let go and that the Sessions or Sises were now begun which for the multitude that had repayre thether out of euery quarter was marueilous great he caused all the holy martirs to be brought thether that the multitude might beholde them once againe examined them and as many of them as he thought had the Romane fredome he beheaded the residue he gaue to the beastes to be deuoured And truely Christ was much glorified by those which a little before had denied him which againe contrary to the expectation of the Infidels confessed him euen to the death For they were examined a part froÌ„ the rest because of their deliuery which being found Confessours were ioined to the company of the martirs had with them their part But there were then abroade which had no saith at all neither yet so much as the feeling of the wedding garment nor any cogitation at all of the feare of God but blasphemed his waies by the lewd conuersatioÌ„ of their life euen such as were the children of damnation Al the residue ioined theÌ„selues to the congregation which wheÌ„ they were examined one Alexander a phrigian borne and a Phisition which had dwelt long in Fraunce and knowen almost of euery man for the loue he had to God boldnes of speaking neither was he voide of the Apostolicall loue this Alexander standing somewhat neare to the barre by signes and beckes perswaded such as were examined to confesse Christ so that by his countenaunce somtime reioising and some other while sorrowing he was descryed of the standers by The people not taking in good part to see those which now recanted by and by againe to sticke to their first confession they cried out against Alexander as one that was the cause of all this matter And when he was inforced by the Iudge and coÌ„maunded what Religion he was of he aunswered I am a Christian. He had no sooner spoken the worde but he was iudged to the beastes of them to be deuoured The next day following Attalus of whome I made mention a litle before and Alexander were brought foorth together for the gouernour graunting Attalus vnto the people was baited againe of the beasts When these men were brought to the scaffold and had taken a tast of all the instruments that there were prepared for their execution and had suffered the greatest agonie they could put theÌ„ to were also at the length slaine Of whome Alexander neuer gaue so much as a sigh nor held his peace but froÌ„ the bottome of his hart praised and praied to the Lorde But Attalus when he was set in the yron chaire and began to frye and the frying sauour of his burning body began to smell he spake to the multitude in the Romane language Behold sayth hee this is to eate mans flesh which you doe for we neither eate men nor yet coÌ„mit any other wickednes And being demaunded what was the name of their God our God saith he hath no such name as men haue Then said they now let vs see whether your God can helpe you and take you out of our handes or not After this being the last day of the spectacle Blandine againe one PoÌ„ticus a child of xv yeare old was brought forth and this was euery day to the intent they seing the punishment of their fellowes might be compelled thereby to sweare by their Idoles But because they constantly abode in their purpose defied their idols the whole multitude was in a rage with them neither sparing the age of the child nor fauoring the sexe of the woman but put them to all the punishment and paine they could deuise often times inforced them to sweare yet were not able to coÌ„pel them therevnto For Ponticus so being animated of his sister as the Heathâ—ikes standing by did see after he had suffered all torments and paynes gaue vp the ghost This blessed Blandina therefore being the last that suffered after she had like a worthy mother giuen exhortations vnto her children and had sent them before as conquerours to their heauenly kâ—ng and had called to her remembrance al their batels conflicts so much reioiced of her childrens death so hastened her owne as though she had bene bidden to a bridall not in case to be throwne to the wilde beastes After this her pittifull whipping her deliuery to the beasts her tormentes vpon the gridiron at the length she was put in a net and throwne to the wild Bull and when she had bene sufficiently gored wounded with the hornes of the same beast felt nothing of all that chaunced to her for the great hope and consolation she had in Christ heauenâ—y thinges was thus slaine insomuch that the verye Heathen men themselues confessed that there was neuer woman put to death of them that suffered so much as this woman did Neither yet was their furious crueltie thus asswaged against the Christians For the cruel barbarous people like wilde beastes when they be moued knew not when the time was to make an ende but inuented new sundry torments euery day against our bodies Neyther yet did it content theÌ„ when they had put the Christians to death for that they wanted the sense of men for which cause both the magistrate people were vexed at the very harts that the scripture might be fulfilled which saith he that is wicked let him be wicked stil and he that is iust let him be more iust For those which in their prisons they strangled they threw after to the dogs setting keepers both day and night to watch them that they shoulde not be buryed and bringing forth the remnaunt of their bones bodies some halfe burnt some left of the wilde beasts some al â—o be mangled also bringing forth heads of other which were cut of and like maner committed by them to the charge of the keepers to see them remaine vnburied The Gentiles grinded gnashed at the Christians with their teeth seeking which way they might amplifie their punishment some other flouted and mocked them extolling their idoles attributing vnto them the cause of thys crueltie and vengeaunce shewed to vs. Such which were of the meeker sort and seemed to be moued with some pyty did hit vs in the teeth saying where is your God that you so much boast of what helpeth this your religion for which you giue your liues These were the sundrye passions and affects of the Gentiles but the Christians in the meane while were in great heauines that they might not burye the bodies and reliques of the holy Martirs Neither could the dark night serue them to that purpose nor any
held his peace as dombe speachles The boy ranne it was then night vnto the minister who at the same time being sicke could not come with the messenger but sayde for somuch as he willed herretofore as he sayde that such as lay a dying if they couet to be receaued reconciled and especially if they required it earnestly should be admitted wherby with the better hope confidence they may depart hence therefore he gaue to the boy a litle of the Eucharist willing him to crumble it into the cup so to drop it into the mouth of the olde man With this the boy returned bringing with him the holy Eucharist As he was now nere at hād before he had entred in Serapiō the old mā speaking againe cōmest thou sayd he my sonne The Priest quoth the messenger is sicke can not come but do as he willeth you let me go And the boy immixed the Eucharist dropt it in softly into the mouth of the old mā Who after he had tasted a litle immediatly gaue vp the Ghost c. Haec Dionys. ex Eus. In the Citie of Troade as the Proconsul was grieuously tormenting one Nicomachus he cried out that he was no Christian and so was let downe againe And when after he had sacrificed he was taken eftsoones with a wicked spirite and so throwen downe vpon the ground where he byting of his toung with his teeth so departed Henr. de Erfordia Dionysius in his Epistles also writyng to Fabius and lamentyng the great terrour of this persecution declareth how that many woorthy and notable Christians for feare and horror of the great tiranny therof did shew themselues feeble and weake men Of whome some for dread some of their owne accord other after great torments suffered yet after reuolted from the constancy of their profession Also S. Cyprian in his treatise De lapsis reciteth with great sorrow and testifieth how that a great number at the first threatnyng of the aduersary neither beyng cōpelled nor thrown downe with any violence of the enemy but of their volūtary weakenes fell downe themselues Neither sayth he tarying while the iudge should put incense in their hands but before any stroke stroken in the fielde turned their backes played the cowards not only commyng to their sacrifices but preuētyng the same and pretending to come without compulsion bringing moreouer theyr infantes children eyther put into their hands or taking them with them of their owne accord and exhortyng moreouer other to do the lyke after their example Of this weaknesse and falling the said author sheweth two causes either loue of their goodes and patrimonie or feare of torments And addeth moreouer examples of the punishmentes of them which so reuolted affirmyng that many of them were taken and vexed with wicked sprites And of one man among other which after his voluntary deniall sodainly was stroken dombe Agayn an other after his abiuration as he should communicate with other in stead of bread receiued ashes in his hād Itē of a certayn mayden who beyng taken vexed with a sprite did teare her owne toung with her teeth and tormented with paine in her bellie and inward partes so deceased Among other of this sort S. Cyprian Lib. 2 cap. 8. maketh also mention of one Euaristus a Bishop in Aphrica who leauing his charge and making a shipwracke of his faith went wandering about in other countreys forsakyng his owne flocke In like maner he maketh also mention of Nicostratus a Deacon who forsakyng his Deaconship and takyng the goods of the Church with him fled away into other countreys c. Albeit Bergomensis geueth that this Nicostratus the Deacon afterward dyed a Martyr Thus then although some did relent yet a very great nūber saith he there was whom neither feare could remoue nor pain could ouerthrow to cause them to betray their confession but that they stoode like glorious Martyrs vnto the ende Cyprian The same Cyprianus also in an other booke De mortalitate reciteth a notable story of one of his owne Colleges and fellow Priest who beyng oppressed with weaknesse and greatly afrayd with death drawyng at hand desired leaue to depart and to be discharged As he was thus entreating and almost now dying there appeared by him a yong man of an honorable and of reuerend maiestie of a tall stature and comely behauior so bright cleare to behold that scarce mans carnall eyes was able to beare the beholding of him but that he was able so to do which was now redy to depart this world To whom this yong man speaking with a certaine indignation of mynd and voyce thus said Pati timetis exire non vultis quid faciam vobis To suffer ye dare not to goe out ye will not what would ye me to do vnto you Upon the occasion of these and such other which were a great number that fell and did renounce as is aforesaid in this persecution of Decius rose vp first the quarell heresie of Nouatus who in these dayes made a great disturbance in the church holding this opinion that they which once renounced the faith and for feare of torments had offred incense to the idols although they repented therefore yet could not afterward be reconciled nor admitted to the Church of Christ. This Nouatus beyng first Priest vnder Cyprian at Carthage afterward by stirring vp discord and factions began to disturbe the Bishopricke of Cyprian to appoint there a Deacon called Felicissimus agaynst the bishops mynd or knowledge also to allure and separate certayne of the brethren from the Bishop all which Cyprian Lib. 2. Epist. 8. doth well declare After this the sayd Nouatus goyng to Rome kept there the like stirre with Cornelius as the same Cornelius in Eusebius Lib. 6. cap. 43. doth testifie settyng himselfe vp as Bishop of Rome against Cornelius which was the lawfull Bishop of Rome before The which to bring to passe he vsed this practise first he had allured to him to be his adherents thre or foure of good men and holy confessours which had suffered before great tormentes for their confession whose names were Maximus Vrbanus Sydonius and Celerinus After this he entised three simple bishops about the coastes of Italy to repayre to Rome vnder pretence to make an end of certain cōtrouersies then in hand This done he caused the same whether by making them dronke or by other craftye counsell to lay theyr handes vpon him and to make him Bishop so did Wherefore the one of those three Byshops hardly was receiued to the communion by the great intercession of his people the other two by discipline of the church were displaced from their Byshoprickes other possessed with their roomes Thus then were there two Byshops together in one church of Rome Nouatus and Cornelius which was vnsemely contrary to the discipline of the Church And hereupon riseth the true cause and meaning of S.
of the Christians to bee spoyled and cast to the earth and the bookes of holy scripture to be burned Thus most violent edictes and proclamations were set foorth for the ouerthrowing as is saide of the Christians temples throughout all the Romane Empire Neyther did there want in the officers any cruell execution of the same proclamations For their temples were defaced euen when they celebrated the feast of Easter Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 2. And this was the first edicte giuen out by Dioclesian the next proclamation that came forth was for the burning of the bookes of the holy scripture which thyng was done in the open market place as before then next vnto that were edictes giuen forth for the displacing of such as were Magistrats and that with a great ignominie al other whatsoeuer bare anye office Imprisoning suche as were of the common sorte if they would not abiure Christianitie and subscribe to the heathen religion Euseb. lib. 8. cap 3. Nicephorus lib. 7. cap 4. Zonoras also in his seconde tome And these were the beginning of the Christians euils It was not long after but that new edictes were sent forth nothing for their cruelty inferiour to the first for the casting of the elders and bishops into prisō and then constraining them with sundry kindes of punishments to offer vnto their Idoles By reason whereof ensued a great persecutiō amongst the gouernors of the church amongst whom many stood manfully passing through many exceeding bitter torments neyther were ouercome therwyth being tormented and examined diuers of them diuerslye some scourged all their bodies ouer with whips scourges some with racks rasinges of the flesh intolerable were cruciated some one way some another way put to death Some againe violently were drawen to the vnpure sacrifice and as though they had sacrificed when indeede they did not were let go Other some neither comming at al to their aultars nor touching anye peece of their sacrifices yet were borne in hand of thē that stoode by that they had sacrificed so suffering that false infamation of their enymies quietly went away Other as dead men were caried and cast away being but halfe dead Some they cast down vpon the pauement and trailing them a great space by the legs made the people beleue that they had sacrificed Furthermore other there were which stoutly withstood them affirming with a loud voice that they had done no such sacrifice Of whom some saide they were Christians gloried in the profession of that name some cryed saying that neither they had nor would euer be pertakers of that idolatry And those being buffeted on the face mouth wyth the handes of the soldiers were made to hold their peace and so thrust out with violence And if the Saintes did seeme neuer so little to doe what the enimies would haue them they were made much of Albeit all this purpose of the aduersary did nothing preuayle against the holye and constaunt seruaunts of Christ. Notwithstanding of the weake sort innumerable there were which for feare infirmity fell and gaue ouer euen at the first brunt At the first comming downe of these edictes into Nicomedia there chanced a dede to be done much worthy of memory of a Christien being a noble man borne whiche moued by the zeale of God after the proclamation made at Nicomedia was set vp by and by ranne and tooke downe the same and openly tare and rent it in peeces not fearing the presence of the two Emperours then being in the citie For which acte he was put to a most bitter death whiche death he with great faith constancie endured euen to the last gaspe Euseb. lib. 8. lib. 3. 5. After this the furious rage of the malignaunt Emperours being let loose against the saintes of Christ proceeded more more making hauock of gods people through out all quarters of the worlde First Dioclesian which had purposed with himselfe to subuert the whole christian religion executed his tyranny in the east and Maximianus in the west But wily Dioclesian began very subtilye for hee put the matter first in practise in his owne campe among whom the marshall of the field as Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 4. affirmeth put the Christian Souldiers to this choise whether they would obey the Emperors commaundement in that maner of sacrifice he cōmaunded and so both to keepe their offices and leade their bands or els to lay away from thē their armor and weapons Whereunto the Christen men couragiously aunswered that they were not only ready to lay away their armour weapons but also to suffer death if it should with tiranny be enforced vnto them rather thē they would obey the wicked decrees and comaundements of the Emperour There might a man haue seene very manye whiche were desirous to liue a simple and poore life and whiche regarded no estimation and honour in comparison of true pietie godlines And this was no more but a subtile and wily flattery in the beginning to offer them to be at theyr owne liberty whether they would willingly abiure their profession or not as also this was an other that in the beginning of the persecution there were but a few tormented with punishment but afterwarde by little and little hee began more manifestlye to braste out into persecution It can hardly be expressed with wordes what number of Martirs and what bloud was shedde through all cities and regions for the name of Christ Eusebius in his 8 booke chap. 7. saith that he himselfe knew the worthy Martirs that were in Palestina But in Tire of Phenicia he declareth in the same a marueilous martyrdome made where certayne christians being geuen to most cruell wild beasts were preserued without hurt of them to the great admiration of the beholders and those Lions Beares and Lybardes kept hungry for that purpose had no desire to deuoure them which notwithstanding most vehementlye raged against those by whome they were brought into the stage and stoode as they thought without daunger of thē such were first deuoured But the Christian Martyrs because they could not be hurt of the beasts being slayne with the sworde were afterwarde throwen into the sea At that time was martyred the Bishop of Sydon But Syluanus the Byshop of Gazensis with 39. other were slayne in the mettall mynes of Phenitia Pamphilus the elder of Cesarea being the glory of that congregation died a most worthy Martyr whose both life and most commendable martyrdome Eusebius oftentimes declareth in his 8. booke and 13. chapter in so much that he hath written the same in a booke by it selfe In Syria all the chiefe teachers of the congregation were first committed to prison as a most heauye cruell spectacle to behold as also the bishops Elders and Deacons which all were esteemed as menquellers and perpetratours of most wicked facts Eusebius Lib. 8. cap. 6 After that we read of an
thinges whether they pleased or displeased God they regarded alyke And not secular men onely did this but also the congregation of the Lorde and their Bishops and teachers without any difference at all Therefore it is not to be marueiled that such people so degenerating and going out of kinde should lose that countrey which they had after this maner defiled And thus much hetherto concerning the history of the Britaines till by the grace of Christ the order of time shal bring vs heereafter to the treatise of Cedwalla and Calwalladrus Nowe remaineth in returning againe to the matter of the Saxons to discourse particularly that which before in the table aboue we haue sommarely comprehended In this order and rase of the Saxon kings aboue specified which had thus thrust out the Britones now deuided their land in seuen kingdomes as there were many noughty and wicked kings whose pernicious examples being all set on warre and bloudshed are greatly to be detested and eschued of all true godly Princes so some there were againe although but fewe very sincere good But none almost from the first to the last which was not either slaine in warre or murdered in peace or els constrained to make him selfe a monke Such was the rage then and tyranny of that time Whether we shuld impute it to the corruption of mans nature or to the iust iudgement of Gods hand so disposing the matter that as they had violently falsely dispossessed the Britons of their right so they most miserably were not onely vexed of the Danes and cōquered at last by the Normās but also more cruelly deuoured them selues one warring still agaynst an other till they were neyther able to helpe themselues nor yet to resist others Of thē which are noted for good among these Saxon kings the first and principal is Ethelbertus or Ethelbrict the first king of Kent aboue specified who by the meanes of Austen and partly through hys wife named Berda firste receiued and preferred the Christian faith in al this land of the English Saxons wherof more foloweth hereafter to be said the Lorde so permitting as place and oportunitie shall require The next place I geue to Oswaldus of Northumberland who not onely did hys endeuour in furthering the faith of Christ amongst his people but also being king disdained not himselfe to stande vp and interprete to his nobles subiectes the preaching of Aidanus preaching Christ to them in his Scottish language In the same cōmendation also like as in the same line commeth hys vncle Edwin king of Northumberlād a good Prince and the first receauer of Christes faith in that land by the meanes of his wife and Paulinus Byshop Adde to these also Sigebert first Christened king of the Eastangles Sebert first Christened king of Essex of whome the one was a great furtherer of Religion setter vp of scholes the other which is Sebert or Sexbrieth was neuew to Ethelbert of Kent vnder whom he ruled in Essex By the which Ethelbert in the time of the sayd Sebert the Church of Paules was builded at London and Christian faith much enlarged c. Of the same name there was also an other Ethelbert King of the Eastangles a good Prince who by the aduise of his counsaile perswaded to mariage though against his wil went peaceably to King Offa for despousage of Athilride hys daughter wher the good king meaning innocētly through the sinister and deuilishe counsaile of king Offa hys wife was secretely beheaded and made away Whereupon Offa through repentance thereof made the first Peter pence to be geuen to S. Peters church in Rome In the Cathologue of these good kinges is also to be numbered Kenelmus king of the Mercians and Edmundus king of the Eastangles of the which ij the first was falsely abhominably circumuented beheaded by the meanes of his cruell sister and hys tutor as he was in his hunting at Corfcastle The other whych is called king Edmund the Martyr was slaine at Bury or as some wryte at the Castle of Halesdon by the Danes vpon what occasion histories do vary The author of Flores Historiarū sayeth it was by reason of one Lothebrocus a Dane who being of the kings bloud being with his Hawke on the sea side in a litle boat was driuen by force of weather into the coast of Northfolke wher he being presented to king Edmūd was retained in his Court with great fauour til at length one Bericke the kings Fawkner enuying and despiting hym for his great dexteritie in that facultie priuily did murder him in a wood This being at last spied as murder lightly will come out Bericke was set in Lothbrockes boate alone without all tackling to be cōmitted vnto the Sea and as it chāced so was driuen into Denmarke who there being seene in Lothbrockes boate was straitly examined of the partie He then to excuse himselfe falsly sayd he was slaine by the cōmandement of the king Upō the occasion wherof Inguar and Hubba sonnes to the sayde Lothebroke gathering an army of Danes inuaded first Northūberland after that bursting into Northfolke on euery side sent thys message to king Edmund after this tenor Signifying that king Inguar the victorious Prince dreade both by sea and lande as he had subiect diuers other landes vnder him so arriuing now to the coasts of Northfolke where he intēdeth to winter chargeth and commaundeth him to deuide with him his olde treasures and his fathers riches and so to rule vnder him which if he would not do but wold cōtemne his power so strōgly furnished wyth such an army he should be iudged as vnworthy both of kingdom life c. The king hearing this message not a little astonyshed therat calling his coūsaile about hym consulted with them especially with one of his Bishops being then his Secretarie what was best to be done who fearing the kinges life exhorted him by wordes diuers examples to agree to the message At this a while the king holding his peace at length thereto made aunswere againe in these wordes saying Go saith he tel your Lord and let him know that Edmundus the Christened King for the loue of this temporal life wil not subiect him selfe to a Pagane Duke vnles before he become a Christiā c. The messenger taking his answere was not so soone out of the gates as Inguar meeting him and bidding him to be short in declaring hys answere caused all the kings garrison to be set round about Some say that the king flying to Thetforde there pitcht a field with the Danes but the Danes preuailing the good king from thence did flie to the Castle of Halesdon aboue mentioned where he beyng pursued of the Danes was there taken and at length being bounde to a stake there of the raging Danes was shot to death And thus much for the good kings Now as concerning those kinges which made them selues Monks which in number be vij or viij
of the Northpart of Englande from the riuer of Tames with Mercia London and Essex disdained that Alfrede shoulde beare any dominion on the other side of Tames southward Whereupon the foresayde three kings with all the force and strength they coulde make marched towarde Chippenham in Westsexe with such a multitude that the king with his people was not able to resist them In so much that the people which inhabited there some fled ouer the sea some remained with the king diuers submitted themselues to the Danes Thus King Alfrede being ouerset with multitude of enemies and forsaken of hys people hauing neither lād to hold nor hope to recouer that which he had lost withdrew himselfe with a fewe of his nobles about him into a certaine wood countrey in Somersetshire called Ethelyng where he had right scant to liue with but suche as he and his people might purchase by hunting and fishing This Edelyng or Ethelying or Ethelyngsey standeth in a great Maresse or Moore so that there is no accesse vnto it without ship or boate and hath in it a great woode called Selewood and in the midle a litle plaine about of two acres of ground In which Ile is veneson and other wilde beastes with soule and fishes great plenty In this wood King Alured at his first comming espied a certaine deserte cotage of a poore Swynarde keeping swine in the woode named Dunwolphus of whome the King then vnknowen was entertained and chearished with such poore fare as he and his wife could make him For the which King Alfrede afterwarde set the poore Swinarde to learning and made him Bishop of Winchester In the meane season while King Alfrede accompanied with a few was thus in the desert wood waiting the euent of these miseries certaine stories recorde of a poore beggar which there came and asked hys almes of the King And the night folowing he appeared to the King in hys sleepe saying his name was Cutbert promising as sent frō God vnto him for his good charitie great victories against the Danes But to let these dreaming fables passe althoughe they be testified by diuers authours both Wilielmus Lib. de Reg. Polychronicon Rog. Houeden Iornalensis and other mo Notwythstanding the king in processe of time was strēgthened and cōforted more through the prouidence of God respecting the miserable ruine of the Englishmen First the brother of King Haldene the Dane before mentioned comming in with xxiij ships landed about Deuonshire where by chaunce being resisted by a bushment of king Alfredes men who for their safegarde there lay in garyson were slaine to the number of 1300. men and their ensigne called the Ranen was taken Houedenus in hys booke of Continuationis wryteth that in the same cōflict both Inguar and Hubba were slain among the other Danes After this King Alfrede being better cheared shewed him selfe more at large so that daily resorted to him men of Wiltshyre Somersetshyre and Hamshyre till that hee was strongly accompanied Then the King put himselfe in a bold and dangerous venture as wryteth Wilelmus Lib. de Reg. Polychron and Fabian which followeth them both for he apparelling him in the habite of a Minstrell as hee was very skilfull in all Saxon Poemes with his instrument of Musike entred in the tentes of the Danes lying then at Eddendime and in shewing there his interlude and songs espied all theyr slouth and ydlenes and heard much of their counsell And after returning to hys companie declared vnto them the whole manner of the Danes Shortly vpon the same the King sodainly in the night fell vpon the foresaid Danes distressed and slewe of them a great multitude chased them from that coast In so much that through hys strong valiaunt assaultes vpon his enemies out of his tower of Edelyng newly fortified he so encōbered them that he clearly voyded the countrey of them betweene that and Selwoodes His subiectes eftsones hearing of these hys valiaunt victories and manful deedes drewe to him daily out of all coasts Who through the helpe of God and their assistānce helde the Danes so short that he wanne from them Winchester diuers other good townes Briefly at lēgth he forced them to seeke for peace the which was concluded vpon certaine couenaunts Whereof one and the principal was that the forenamed Gutrum their King shoulde be Christened The other was that suche as woulde not be Christened should depart and voide the countrey Upon these couenants first the sayde Gutrum the Danish Prince cōming to Winchester there was Christened with xx of his greatest Dukes or Nobles To the whyche Gutrum King Alured being hys Godfather at hys Baptisme named hym Athelstane Who after a certaine season that he had feasted the said Danes he according to his promise before made gaue vnto theyr King the countrey of Eastanglia containing Northfolke Suffolke and part of Cambridshire Moreouer as saith Polychron he graūted to the Danes that were Christened the Countrey of Northumberland So the residue that wold not be Christened departed the land and sailed into Fraunce where what vexation and harme they wrought the Chronicles of Fraunce do partly comprehend King Athelstane thus hauing the possession of these countreis had all Eastangles vnder his obedience And albeit that he held the sayd prouince as in fee of the king promised to dwel there as his liege mā yet that notwithstanding hee continued more like a tyrant by the terme of xj yeare and died in the xij yere During the which space King Alfrede hauing some more rest and peace repaired certain townes and strong holds afore by the Danes empaired Also he builded diuers houses of religiō as the house of Nunnes at Shaftesbury An other religious house at Ethelyng he foūded Item an other in Winchester named the new monastery Item he endewed richly the Churche of S. Cutbert in Dyrham He sent also to India to pay and performe his vowes to S. Thomas of Inde which he made during the time of his distresse against the Danes About the xv yeare of the reigne of Alfred the Danes returning from France to England landed in Kent and so came to Rochester and besieged that City and there lay so long that they builded a Tower of tymber against the gates of the Citie But by strength of the Citizens that tower was destroyed and the Citie defended t◠King Alfrede came and reseued them Whereby the Danes were so distressed and so nere trapped that for feare they left their horses behind them and fled to their ships by night But the King when he was thereof ware sent after them and tooke xvj of their shippes slew many of the said Danes This done the King returned to London repaired the same honorably as sayth Houedenus made it habitable which before was sore decaied and febled by the Danes The third yeare after this which was the xix yeare of the raigne of king
that which our aduersaries take out of their owne treasurie And because I will not refuse the order of lawe in this behalfe let it be the ende of the strife that either I may be openly shamed before the people either els the victory falling on my side we may winne you to the obedience of our soueraigne Lord the Emperour Also take you hede to this saying If any man do preach otherwise then that which is preached let him be of you accursed This curse I say doeth not proceede from any newe prophane authoritie but is thundered downe from the third heauen And of them which knowe not the righteousnes of God but goe about to stablish their owne righteousnes and therfore be not subiect to the righteousnes of God I may boldly say let such be accursed So may you well say confounded be al they that proudly rise vp against the Lorde but thy seruant oh Lord shall reioyce for as thou hast wel saide without me you can doe nothing so in iudging of the wicked thou doest not condemne the iust Who art thou that iudgest another mans seruant to his owne Lord whether he doth stand or fall The answere of the Earle Lewes to Bishop Waltram THe Earle Lewys to the Lord Waltram howsoeuer vnworthy or vnmeete he be for the name Like as a good man from the good treasure of the hart bringeth forth good fruit so doeth the euil man from the euil treasure of the heart bring forth euil fruit What arrogācie hath so possessed you to prouoke my displeasure with such iniurious contumelies for in dede those my good lords and spirituall fathers which strengthen me in the way of righteousnes you railingly call them bloudy men like vnto Sathan and the wholesome lessons which they teache you say they are but dreames of the common people amongest foolish women Hath God any nede of your iudgement that you should speake leasings for him Iniquity hath taught your mouth to folow blasphemous tonges so that wel may the Prophet say of you he would not vnderstand to do wel he hath deuised wickednesse vpon his bed Although therfore you being altogether froward haue only spoken frowarde things yet we haue determined to set a watche before your mouth like as if a shameles person shoulde stande vp before vs and the worde of GOD dothe prouoke vs saying Answere a foole according to his owne foolishnesse least hee shoulde seeme wise in his owne opinion Shall folly speake and wisedome holde his peace Shall lies be freely vttered and trueth compelled to kepe silence Shall darkenes couer the earth shall not the Lorde arise and shine yea rather the light hath lightened the darknes and darknes hath not comprehended it In consideration hereof our harts haue melted and our zealous meditation hath set vs on fire We therefore speake and crie and the little foxes which vndermine the Lords vineyards as much as in vs is we driue away fearing the threatning prophecie You haue not withstanded our aduersaries neither haue you made a bulwarke for the defence of the house of Israel that you might be able to stand in battaile in the day of the Lorde Let them heare I speake not to you which haue cares and heare not eyes see not which haue made darke the light that is in you but let them heare I say that be wel disposed and haue eares to heare withall As for you you haue no vnderstanding and if you haue you cloke it Neither haue you any thing to say or to proue by what reason we should be subiect to the Lord Henry whome you call Emperour And yet as it is giuen vs to vnderstand you goe about to perswade that of necessity we ought to be subiect to him that by the argumēt of S. Paule Let euery soule be subdued to the higher powers for there is no power but of God he therefore that doth withstande power doth resist Gods ordinance The which sentence of the Apostle we say that you do euil conceiue and therefore euil interprete for if euery power be of God as you vnderstande what is meant by that that the Lord doth speake of some by the Prophet They did raigne and were not made Princes by me and I knewe them not If euery power be of God as you take it what is to be thought of that that the Lorde doth say If thine eye offende thee pluck it out and cast it from thee For what is power but the eie Certainly Augustine in the exposition of this sentence of the Apostle let euery soule c. doth say that if the powers do commād any thing against God then haue them in contempt but yet neuertheles feare thē Is there any iniquitie with God Is Christ the minister of sinne God forbid What shal we therfore say doth the Apostle preach contrary to the truth Augustinus sayeth no one winde filleth many pipes of diuers tunes Therfore let vs hear the Apostle agreeing and expounding himselfe and destroying his enemie and auenger There is sayeth he no power but of God What followeth He therfore sayth he that doth resist the power c. God forbid doeth nothing followe But what doeth followe Those powers which be ordeined of god truely that is it we look for O craftie tongue O heart imagining mischiefe O consuming breath that shall not returne why hast thou lied to the holy ghost Thine owne conscience shall accuse thee Behold the wicked fleeth and no man doth pursue him Why woulde you suppresse the truth to the intēt to deceiue Why haue you stolne away the pith and effect of this sentence For if these wordes should be taken away from the midst of the sentence it shuld lie contrary to it selfe inconuenient and halfe dead The worde of the Lord is herein fulfilled He that diggeth a pit for his neighbour shal fall therein him selfe Verely you can neither excuse you of theft neither auoid the punishment due for the same What O vnhappy man what shall you answer to the iudge when he shall require an accompt of his seruaunts whome he putteth in trust seeing you shal be set before him in the midst and prooued a picker of your maisters treasure Wherefore did you not feare the iudgement executiō whē as the giltines of offence doth require condigne punishment The Apostle through the holy Ghost did foresee that you and such heretikes as you are should spring in the Church which should call good euil and euil good and that should put darknes in place of light and light in place of darknes which also should take occasion by the sentences of truth to bring in error When as he did set this before there is no power but of God to the intent that hee might take away the coniecture of false vnderstanding for sayeth he those powers that be are ordeined of God Geue therefore an ordinarie power and we doe not resist yea we will forthwith doe
as I am heartily glad so my request is to you that the friendship and amitie which hath bene tofore betweene my father and your predecessours in times past may now also betwene vs in like manner continue vndeminished And that loue and gentlenes may first beginne of my part heere I sende vnto you that gift that S. Peter had in foretime of my predecessors And likewise the same honors obedience which your predecessours haue had in the realme of England before in the time of my father I will you to haue the same in my time also after this forme I meane and tenour that the vsage and maner of dignitie and such customes which my father hath had in this realme of England in the time of your auncetors I in like ample maner also nowe in your time may fully enioy the same in this the saide realme of England Thus therefore be it knowen to your holines that during this life of mine God almighty abling me to the same these aboue named dignities vsages customes of this realme of England shall in no part be lessoned Yea and if that I as God forbid I should would so much deiect my selfe into such cowardnes yet my Nobles yea the whole people of England in no case would suffer it Wherfore deare father vsing with your selfe a better deliberation in the matter let your gentlenesse so moderate it selfe toward vs least ye compell me which I shall doe against my will to receade and depart vtterly from your obedience At the same terme also be sent an other letter or Epistle to the sayde Pope crauing of him the passe for Girardus Archb. of Yorke the forme wherof here also followeth Reuerendo diligendo patri vniuersali Papae Paschali Henricus dei gratia Rex Anglorum salutem Amor quem plurimum erga vos habeo benignitas quae multum vestros actus exornat c. In English To the reuerend and welbeloued father vniuersall Pope Paschalis Henry by the grace of God king of England greeting The great loue which I beare to you and the no lesse gētlenes in you which not a little beautifieth your doings ministreth to me boldnesse to write And where as I thought to haue reteined still this Gerardus with me and to haue craued your palle for him by letters yet notwithstanding when his desire coulde not otherwise be satisfied but woulde needes present himselfe before your presence by his owne hart to craue of you the same I haue sent him vp vnto you Desiring your benigne fatherhoode in this behalfe that he obtaining the palle at your hands may be sent home again to me And thus requiring the assistance of your prayers I praye the Lord long to conserue your Apostleship This second letter of the king in sending for the Palle was well taken of all the court of Rome which as mine author sayth procured such fauor to Girardus archbishop of Yorke and bringer thereof that no complaint of his aduersaries afterward could hurt him with the Pope Notwithstāding he was accused grieuously for diuers things and specially for not standing to the consecration of Anselitic Archbishop of Cant. Polidorus in his 11. booke of his English history affirmeth that Anselmus also went vp to Rome with Birardus about the same cause But both the premisses and sequele of the story argueth that to be vntrue For what needed the 2. Monks to be sent vp on Anselmus side if he had gone vp himselfe Againe howe coulde the Pope wryte downe by the saide messengers to Anselme if he had there bene himself present For so procedeth the story by the narration of Malmesbury and others After the Ambassadours thus on both sides sent vp to Rome had laboured theyr cause with instante sute one against the other the pope glad to gratifie the king yet loth to graunt his request being against his owne profite and therefore more inclining to Anselmus side sendeth downe his letters to the sayde Anselme signifying that he woulde not repeale the statutes of his holy fathers for one mans pleasure charging him moreouer not only not to yeide in the cause of inuesting but constantly to adheare to the foresaid decreemēt of Pope Urban his predecessor c. Besides this letter to Anselme he directed also an other to the king himselfe which letter mine author saith the king suppressed and did not shewe onely declaring by word of mouth what the ambassadors had saide vnto him from the Pope Which was that he permitted vnto him the licence of Inuesting vpon condition that in other things he would execute the office of a good Prince c. To this also the testunony of the 2. bishops aboue minded did accord which made the matter more probable But the 2. monkes on the other side replied againe bringeth foorth the letter of Anselme to the contrary c. To thē was answered againe that more credite was to be geuen to the degree and testimonie of the Bishops then to theirs And as for monkes they had no suffrage nor testimonie saide they in secular matters and therefore they might hold their peace But this is no secular matter sayd Baldwine abbot of Ramesey Whereunto the nobles again of the kings part answered saying that he was a good man and of such demeanor as they had nothing to say against him neither so woulde if they might but yet both humane and diuine reason taught them so to yelde more credite and confidence to the testimonie of 3. bishops then of 2. monkes Whereby may well appeare that Anselme at that time wēt not with them Then Anselmus seeing the king and his peres how they were set and hearing also the testimonie of the 3. bishops against which he saw he could not preuatle And also hauing the popes seale which he sawe to be so euident on the contrary side made his answer again that he would send to Rome for a more certaintie of truthe Adding moreouer that he neyther would nor durst geue ouer his cause though it should cost him his life to do or proceede against the determination of the Churche of Rome vnlesse he had a perfect warrant of absolution from thence for his discharge Then was it agreed by the king and his nobles that he should not send but go himselfe to Rome And much intreatie was made that he wold take that iorney himself in his owne person to present himselfe to the Pope for the peace of the Church and of his country And so at the length by persuation was content went to Rome and spake with the pope In short time after followeth also the kings Ambassador William Warlwast new elect bishop of Exetor who ther pleading on the kings side for the ancient customes of the realme for the kings right of Inuesting c. First declared howe England of a long continuance had euer bene a prouince peculiar to the Church of Rome and howe it paied dewly
honor of the holy Martyr S. Steuen to keepe him from the hands of his enemies that day When the morrow was come beyng Tuesday there came to hym the Bishops Prelates counsailyng and perswadyng hym couertly by insinuation for apertly they durst not that he would submit hymselfe with all hys goodes as also his Archbishoprike to the wyll of the kyng if peraduenture his indignation by that meanes myght swage Adding moreouer that vnlesse he would so do periury would be layd agaynst hym for that he beyng vnder the othe of fidelitie to keepe the kyngs lawes and ordinaunces now would not obserue them To this Becketh the Archbishop answereth again Brethren ye see and perceyue well how the world is set agaynst me and how the enemy riseth and seeketh my confusion And although these things be dolorous and lamētable yet the thing that grieueth me most of all is this the sonnes of mine owne mother be pricks thornes agaynst me And albeit I do holde my peace yet the posteritie to come will know and report how cowardly you haue turned your backs and haue left me your Archbishop Metropolitane alone in this conflict And how you haue sittē in iudgemēt against me although vnguilty of crime now ii dayes together and not that only in the ciuil spirituall court but also in the temporal court ready to doe the same But in generall this I charge and command by the vertue of pure obedience and in peril of your order that ye be present personally in iudgement against me And that yee shal not faile so to do I here appeale to our mother the refuge of all such as be oppressed the church of Rome and if any secular men shall lay hands vpon me as it is rumord they will I straightly enioyne and charge you in the same vertue of obedience that you exercise your cēsure ecclesiastical vpon them as it becommeth you to doe for a father an Archbishop And this I doe you to vnderstande that though the world rage the enemy be fierce and the body trembleth for the flesh is weake yet God so fauoring me I will neither cowardly shrinke nor vily forsake my flock committed to my charge c. But the bishop of London contrary to this commandement of the archbishop did incōtinent appeale frō him And thus the bishops departed from him to the court saue only two Henry Winchester and Ioceline of Salisburie who returned with him secretly to his chamber and comforted him This done the Archbishop which yesterday was so sore sick that he could not stirre out of his bed now addresseth him to his masse of S. Steuen with all solemnity as though it had bene an hie festiual day with his Metropolitane Pall which was not vsed but vpon the holy day to be worne c. The office of his masse began Sederunt principes aduersum me loquebantur that is Princes sate and spake against me c. the kings seruauntes being also there and beholding the matter For this masse Gilbert bishop of London accused Becket afterward both for that it was done per artem magicam in cōtemptum regis as the wordes of Houeden purport that is both by arte magike and in contempt of the king c. The masse being ended the Archbyshop putting of his pall his miter and other robes procedeth to the kings Court but yet not trusting peraduenture so greatly to the strength of his masse to make the matter more sure he taketh also the sacrament priuily about him thinking thereby himselfe sufficiently defenced against al bugs In going to the kings chamber there to attend the kings comming as he was entring the dore he taketh from Alexander his crosier the crosse with the crosse staffe in the sight of al that stoode by and carieth it in himselfe the other Bishops following him saying he did otherwise then became him Amongst other Robert bishop of Hereford offred himselfe to beare his crosse rather then he shoulde so doe for that it was not comely but the Archbish. woulde not suffer him Then sayde the bishop of London to him if the king shall see you come armed into his chamber perchaunce hee will drawe out his sworde against you which is stronger then yours and then what shal this your armour profite you The Archb. aunswereth againe if the kings sworde do cut carually yet my sword cutteth spiritually striketh down to hell But you my lord as you haue plaid the foole in this matter so you will not yet leaue of your folly for any thing I can see and so he came into the chamber The king hearing of his comming and of the maner thereof taryed not long but came where Becket was set in a place by himself with his other Bishops about him First the crier called the prelates and all the lordes of the temporaltie together That being done and euery one placed in his seate according to his degree the king beginneth with a great complaint against the Archb. for his maner of entring into the court not as sayeth he a subiect into a kings court but as a traitor shewing himself in such sort as hath not ben sene before in any christen kings court professing christiā faith To this all there present gaue witnes with the king affirming him alwaies to be a vain a proud man and that the shame of his fact did not only redound against the prince himself but also against his whole realme Moreouer they sayde that this had so happened to the king for that he had done so much for such a beast aduauncing him so highly in such a place and roume next vnder himself And so altogether with one crie called him traitor on euery side as one that refused to geue terrene honour to the king in keeping as he had sworne his lawes and ordinaunces at whose handes also he had receiued such honour and great preferments and therefore was well worthy sayde they to be hādled like a periured traitor and rebell Wherupon great doubt and feare was what should befall vpon hym The Archb. of Yorke comming downe to his men said he could not abide to see what the archb of Cant. was like to suffer Likewise the Tipstaues and other ministers of the assemblie comming downe with an outcrie against him crossed them to see his hauty stubburnnesse and the busines there was about him Certaine there were of his disciples sitting at his feete comforting him softly and bidding him to lay his curse vppon them Other contrary bidding him not to curse but to pray and to forgeue them and if he lost his life in the quarell of the church and the liberty therof he should be happy Afterwarde one of them named Ioannes Stephani desired to speake something in his care but could not be suffred by the kings Marshal who forbade that no man should haue any talke with him Then he because he could not otherwise speake to
Lord and to reforme the same and not only to reforme and amend his fault but also to satisfy it to the vttermost if the law shall so require him Wherfore seing he is so willing to recōpēce satisfy the iudgemēt of the church in al things appertaining to the church refusing no order that shal be takē but in al thīgs submitting his neck to the yoke of Christ with what right by what canon or reason can you interdict him or vse excommunication against him It is a thing laudable a vertue of great cōmendation in wise men wisely to goe with iudgement and reason and not to be caried with puffes of hasty violence Whereupon this is the onely and common petition of vs all that your fatherly care will diligently prouide for your flocke and sheepe committed to you so that they miscary not or runne to any ruine through any inconsiderate or to much heady counsell in you but rather through your softnes and sufferance they may obtayne life peace and security It doth moue vs all that we heare of late to be done by you agaynst the Byshop of Salisbury the Deane of the same church prosperously as some men suppose against whom you haue geuen out the sentence of excommunication and condemnation before any question of their crime was following therein as seemeth more the heat of hastynesse then the path of righteousnesse This is a new order of iudgement vnheard of yet to this day in our lawes and canons first to condemne a man and then to enquire after of the fact committed Which order least ye should hereafter attempt to exercise in like maner agaynst our soueraigne and king or agaynst vs and our Churches and Parishes committed to vs to the detriment of the Pope and the holy church of Rome and to the no little confusion of vs all therefore we lay here agaynst you for our selues the remedy of appellation And as before openly in the publicke face of the Church with liuely voyce we appealed to the Pope for feare of certayne perils that might haue happened So now agayn in writing we appeale to the same assigning the terme of our appellation the day of the Lordes Ascention Most humbly and reuerently beseching your goodnesse that you taking a better way with you in this matter will let your cause fall sparing herein both the labours and charges as well of your selfe as ours also And thus we wish you right well to fare reuerend in the Lord. The rescript or aunswere agayne of Thomas Becket to all his suffraganes not obeying but confuting their counsayle sent FRaternitatis Gestra scriptum quod tamen prudentia Gestra cōmuni consilio non facilè credimus emanasse nuper ex insperat◠suscepimus c. Your brotherly letters sent albeit not by the whole assent of your wisedomes written as I suppose of late I receiued vpon a sodayne the contentes whereof seeme to contayne more sharpenesse then solace And would to God they proceeded more of sincere zeale of godliness or affection of charity then of disobedience or froward wilfulnesse For charity seketh not the thinges that be his owne but which appertayne to Iesus Christ. It had bene your duety if there be truth in the Gospel as most vndoubtedly there is and if you would faythfully haue accomplished his busines whose person you represent rather to haue feared him which can cast both body and soule to hell then him whose power extendeth no further then to the body rather to haue obeyed God then man rather your Father then your Maister or Lord after the example of him who was to his Father obedient vnto the death Which dyed for vs leauing vs example to follow hys steps Let vs dye therefore with him and lay downe our liues for the deliueraunce of his Church out of the yoke of bondage and tribulation of the oppressor which Church he hath founded and whose libertye he hath procured with his owne proper bloud Least if we shall do otherwise it may happely fall vpon vs whiche is written in the Gospell Who so loueth his owne life more then me is not worthy of me This ye ought to know that if it be right which your captayne commaundeth your duety requireth to obey his will if not ye ought then rather to obey God then men One thing I will say if I may be so bolde to tell it vnto you I haue now suffered and abstayned a long space wayting if the Lord had geuen you to take a better hart vnto you which haue turned away cowardly your backes in the day of battayle or if any of you would haue returned againe to stand like a wall for the house of Israel at least if he had but shewed himselfe in the field making but the countenaunce of a warrier agaynst them which cease not dayly to infest the Lambe of God I wayted and none came I suffered and none rose vp I held my peace none would speake I dissembled and none would stand with me in like semblance Wherefore seing I see no better towardnesse in you thys remayneth onely to enter action of complaynt agaynst you and to cry agaynst mine enemies Rise vp O Lord and iudge my cause reuenge the bloud of the church which is wasted and oppressed The pride of them which hate his libertye riseth vp euer neyther is there any that doth good no not one Woulde God brethren beloued there were in you any minde or affection to defend the libertye of the Churche for she is builded vpon a sure rocke that although she be shaken yet she can not be ouerthrowne And why then seek ye to confoūd me Nay rather your selues in me then me in you A man which hath taken vpon me all the peril haue sustained all the rebukes haue sustained all the iniuries haue suffered also for you all to the very banishment And so it was expedient one to suffer for that Church that thereby it might be released out of seruitude These thinges discusse you simply with your selues and weigh the matter Attend I say dilligently in your mindes for your partes that God for his part remouing from your eies all maiesty of rule and impery as he is no accepter of persons may take from your hartes the veile that ye may vnderstand and see what ye haue done what ye entend to do and what ye ought to do Tell me which of you all can say I haue taken from him since the time of my promotion either Oxe or Asse if I haue defrauded him of any peny If I haue misiudged the cause of any man wrōgfully Or if by the detrimēt of any person I haue sought my owne gaine let him complayn I will restore him fourefolde And if I haue not offēded you what then is the cause that ye thus leaue and forsake me in the cause of God Why bend ye so your selues agaynst me in such a cause that there is none more speciall belonging to the
the other side vpon occasion as followeth Gaufridus or Geffray sonne to King Henry 2. and brother to King Richard whom the King had elected a little before to the Archbyshoprick of Yorke vpon the euen of the Epiphany which we call Twelfe day was disposed to heare Euēsong with all solemnity in the Cathedrall church hauing with him Hamon the Chaunter with diuers other Canons of the church Who tarying something long belike in adourning and attyring himselfe in the mean while Henry the Deane and Bucardus the treasurer disdayning to tary his comming with a bolde courage lustilye began theyr holy Euensong with singing theyr Psalmes ruffling of descant and mery piping of Organs Thus this Catholicke Euensōg with as much deuotion begon as to gods high seruice proceeding was now almost halfe complete when as at lenth they being in the midst of theyr myrth commeth in the new elect with his trayne and gardeuiaunce all full of wrath and indignatiō for that they durst be so bolde not wating for him to begin gods seruice and so estsoones commaunded the Duyre to stay holde theyr peace The Chaunter likewise by vertue of his office cōmaūdeth the same But the Deane and Treasurer on the other side willed them to proceed and so the song on and would not stint Thus the one halfe crying agaynst the other the whole Duyre was in a roare theyr singing was turned to scolding theyr chaunting to chiding and if in stead of the Organes they had had a Drumme I doubt they would haue solsede by the eares together At last through the authority of the Archb. and of the Chaunter the Queare began to surcease and geue silence Then the newe elect not contented with that had bene song before with certayne of the Quire beganne the Euensong new agayne The Treasurer vpō the same caused by vertue of his office the candles to be put out Wherby the euensong hauing no power further to proceede was stopped forthwith For like as without the light and beames of the sun there is nothing but darcknes in all the world euen so you must vnderstand the Popes church can see to do nothing without candle light albeit the sun do shine neuer so cleare and bright This being so the archb thus disapointed on euery side of his purpose made a greeuous plaint declaring to the clergy and to the people what the Deane and Treasurer had done and so vpon the same suspended both them and the church from all diuine seruice till they should make to him due satisfaction for their trespasse The next day which was the day of Epiphany when all the people of the City were assembled in the Cathedrall church as theyr maner was namely in such feasts deuoutly to heare diuine seruice as they call it of the church there was also present the Archb. and the Chaunter with the residue of the Clergy loking when the Deane and Treasurer would come and submit themselues making satisfaction for theyr crime But they still cōtinuing in their stoutnes refused so to do exclaiming vttering contemptuous wordes agaynst the Archb. his partakers Which when the people heard they in a great rage would haue fallē vpon them but the Archb. would not suffer that The Deane thē his fellowes perceiuing the stirr of the people for feare like prety men were fayne to flye some to the tombe of S. William of Yorke some ran to the Deanes house there shrowded themselues whom the Archb. then accursed And so for that day the people returned home without any seruice Ex veteri Chronico manu scripto cui initium Anno gratiae Milles. c. After this King Richard preparing to set all thinges in an order before his going committed the whole gouernement of the realme principally to William Bishoppe of Ely his Chauncellor to Hugh B. of Durhā whom he ordayned to be the chiefe Iustice of all England in his absence the one to haue the custody of the tower with the ouersight of all other parts of the land on this side of Number the other which was the B. of Durham to haue charge vpon all other his dominions beyond Number Sending moreouer to Pope Clement in the behalfe of the foresayd William B. of Ely to be made the Popes Legate through all England and Scotland which also was obtayned Thus the B. being aduaunced in high authority to furnish the king toward his setting forth prouideth out of euery city in England ij Palfreys and ij sumpters out of euery Abbey one palfrey and one sumpter These thinges and other thus set in a stay the king according to his former appointment about the time of Easter sailed to Fraunce where the French king and he conferring together because they could not make redy at that time of Easter concluded to take a longer day proroging their voyage till after midsommer In which meane time the king occupying himselfe in redressing stablishing such things as further were to be ordred there determined that Baufridus Iohn his brethrē shuld not enter into England in 3. yeres after his departure Neuertheles he released that band afterward to his brother Iohn Thēn he appoynted the Captaynes Constables ouer his nauy set lawes to be obserued in his iourney vpon the seas But especially his care was to make vnity and concord betwene parties that were at variaunce and to set them together at one At which time the long contētion began also to be appeased which so many yeres had continued betwene Bald winus Archb. of Cant. and his monkes of Christs church The discourse whereof although it be some what tedious to be set forth at large being enough to make a whole tragedy yet to the intent the age now present may see what great conflictes and disquietnes vpō what litle trifles hath bene stirred vp what litle peace vnity hath bene not onely in this church but commōly in all other churches vnder the popes catholicke regiment I thought it labour not ill bestowed somewhat to intermeddle in opening to that eyes of the Reader the consideration of this matter Wherein first is to be vnderstood that the Archbishops of Cant. cōmonly being set vp by the pope especially since the time of the conquest haue put the Kinges of this land to much sorrow trouble as appeared by William Rufus Lanfrāck and also Anselme By Henry 1. and Anselme King Stephen Theobald Henry 2. Becket c For which the Kinges of this land haue vsed the more care circumspectiō to haue such Archbishops placed in that sea as either should stand with them or at least should not be agaynst them Now to the purpose of our matter entended First after Laufrancus who was Archb. xx yeares the sea standing vacant v. yeares succeded Anseimus sat 17. yeares After whom the sea stāding vacant 4. yeres succeded Radulphus and continued 9. yeares Then followed
Richard hearing of Ioachim Abbot of Curacio a learned man in Calabria who was theÌ„ thought to haue the spirit of prophesie told many thinges of a people that should come sent for hym with whom he his Bishops had much conference about the coÌ„ming tyme of Antichrist This Ioachim belike in his booke and Reuelations vttered some things agaynst the Sea and pride of Rome for the whiche he was lesse fauoured of the popes iudged an enemy to their Sea and so by pope Innocent the 3. was condemned with his bookes for an heriticke in his Idolatrous generall Councell of Laterane an 1215. as ye may read in Antoninus After this Henricus king of Almanes sonne of Fredericke the Emperour hearing of the decease of his father standing now to be Emperor first restoreth to Hen. Duke of Saxonie and to others whatsoeuer his father before had takeÌ„ from them That done he sent to Clement hys Cardinals promising in al thinges to confirme the lawes and dignities of the Church of Rome if they would grauÌ„t hym their assent to be Emperor Wherupon pope ClemeÌ„t by aduise of the Romaines assigned him the terme of Easter in the next yeare insuing for his coronation But before that Easter came P. ClemeÌ„t died after he had sit 3. yeres and about 4. monthes After whome succeeded Celestinus the 3. Of whom more hereafter God willing The time thus passing ouer in the month of February the next yeare following which was of the Lord. 1191. king Richard sent ouer hys Galleyes to Naples there to meet his mother Alinore and Berengaria the daughter of SaÌ„ctius king of Nauarre whom he was purposed to mary Who by that tyme were come to Brundusium vnder the conduct of Phillip Erle of Flanders so proceeding vnto Naples there found the kings ships wherin they sayled to Messana In this meane space king Richard shewed hymselfe exceeding bounteous and liberall to all men To the French king first he gaue diuers ships vpoÌ„ others likewise he bestowed rich rewardes and of hys treasures and goodes he distributed largely to hys souldiours and seruauntes about hym Of whom it was reported that he distributed more in one month then euer any of hys predecessors did in a whole yeare by reason whereof he purchased great loue and fauour which not onely redounded to the aduauncement of his fame but also to his singular vse and profite as the sequele afterward proued To proceede then in the progresse of king Richard it followeth In the first day of the month of march he leauing the citty of Messana where the Frenche king was went to Cathniensium a City where Tancredus Kyng of Sicilia then lay where he was honourable receaued there remained with king Tancred 3. dayes 3. nightes On the fourth day when he should depart the foresayd Tancredus offered him many riche presentes in golde and siluer and precious silkes whereof king Richarde woulde receiue nothing but one little ryng for a token of his good will For the which king Richard againe gaue to him a rich sword At length when R. Richard should take his leaue king Tancredus would not so let him part but needes would geue him 4. great ships and 15. Galeys and furthermore he himselfe would needes accompanye him the space of two dayes iourney to a place called Tauenium Then the next morning when they should take their leaue Tancredus declared vnto him the message which the French king a little before had sent vnto him by the Duke of Burgundy the contentes whereof was this That the king of England was a false traytour aud would neuer keepe the peace that was betweene theÌ„ And if the sayd Tancredus would warre agaynst hym or secretly by night woulde inuade him he with all his power would assiste him and ioyne with him to the destruction of him and all hys army c. To whome Richard the king protested agayne that he was no traytour nor neuer was and as touching the peace begon betweene them the same shoulde neuer be broken thorough hym neyther could he beleue that the French king being hys good Lorde and his sworne compartiner in that voyage would vtter any such wordes by him Which when Tancredus heard he bringeth forth the letters of the Frenche R. sent to him by the Duke of Burgundy affirming moreouer that if the Duke of Burgundy would deny the bringing of the sayd letters he was ready to try with hym by any of hys Dukes King Richard receiuing the letters muâ—ing not a little vpoÌ„ the same returneth again to Messana The same day that king Richard departed the French king coÌ„meth to Tauermum to speake with Tancredus there abode with him that night and on the morrowe returned to Messana againe From that tyme king Richard moued in stomacke against king Phillip neuer shewing any gentle countenaÌ„ce of peace and amitie as he before was wont Whereat the French K. greatly marueiling and enquiring earnestly what should be the cause therof word was sent him again by Phillip Erle of Flaunders what words he had sent to the king of Sicilia for the testimony thereof the letters were shewed which he wrote by the Duke of Burgundy to the king of Sicilia Which when the Frenche king vnderstoode first he held hys peace as gilty in his conscience not knowing well what to aunswere At length turning his tale to an other matter he began to quarrell with king Richard pretending as though he sought causes to breake with him and to maligne him and therefore he forged these lyes sayd he vpon him and all because he by that meanes would voyde to marry with Alice his sister according as he had promised Adding moreouer that if he would so do and would not mary the sayd Alice his sister according to his othe but woulde marry an other he woulde be an enemy to hym and hys while he lyued To this king Richard sayd agayn that he could by no meanes mary that woman for so muche as his father had carnall copulation with her also had by her a sonne for proofe wherof he had there presently to bring forth diuers and sondry witnesses to the kings face to testifie with him In conclusion through counsell and perswasion of diuers about the French king agreement at last was made so that king Phillip did acquire king Richard from his bonde of marying hys sister and king Richard agayne shoulde be bound to pay to him euery yeare for the space of v. yeares two thousand marks with certayne other conditions besides not greatly materiall in this place to be deciphred And thus peace beyng betweene them concluded the 28. day of the said month of March the FreÌ„ch king launching out of the hauen of Messana in the 22. day after in Easter weeke came with hys army to the siege of Achon After the departure of the French king from Messana king Richard
the third day after he would sure geue battayle to king Richard But he preuenting hym before sodenly the same morning before the day of battayle should be setteth vppon the tentes of the Griffones early they being vnwares and a sleepe made of them a great slaughter in so much that the Emperour was fayne naked to run away leauing his tentes and pauilions to the English men ful of horses and rich treasure also with the Imperiall standard the lower part wherof with a costly stremer was couered and wrought al with gold King Richard then returning with victory and triumph to hys sister and Bernegera shortly after in the moneth of May next following and the 12. day of the sayd moneth maryed the sayd Bernegera daughter of Rācon king of Nauarre in the Isle of Cyprus at Lymeszen The king of Cyprus seeing himselfe ouermatched was driuen at length to yeld himselfe with conditions to geue king Richard xx thousand markes in golde for amendes of such spoyles as he had gottē of them that were drowned Also to restore all hys captiues agayne to the king And furthermore he in hys owne person to attende vpon the kyng to the land of Hierusalem in Gods seruice and hys with CCCC horsemen and v. hundreth footemen in pledge whereof he would geue to hys handes his Castles and hys onely daughter would hold his kingdome of hym This done and the Emperour swearing fidelitie to king Richard before Guido king of Ierusalem and the Prince of Antioche who were come thither to king Richard a little before peace was taken and Isakius committed to the warde of certaine keepers Notwithstanding shortly after he breaking from his keepers was agayne at defiance with the king Whereupon K. Richard besetting the Ileland of Cyprus round about with ships and Galleyes did in such sort preuayle that the subiectes of the land were constrayned to yeld themselues to the K. and at length the daughter also of the Emperour at last the Emperour hymselfe whom king Richard caused to be kept in fetters of siluer and gold and to be sent to the City of Tripolis These thinges thus done and all set in order touching the possession of the Isle of Cyprus the keeping whereof he committed to Radulfe sonne of Godfrey Lord Chamberlayne being then the first day of Iune vpon the v. of the sayd moneth king Richard departed from the Isle of Cyprus with hys ships and galleyes toward the siege of Achon on the next morow came to Tyrus where by procurement of the French K. he was constrained by the cititizens to enter The next day after which was the vi day of Iune crossing the Seas he mette with a great Barke fraught with souldiours and men of warre to the number of a thousand and fiue hundreth which pretendyng to be Frenchmē and setting forth their flagge with the Frenche armes were in deede Saracens secretly sent with wilde fire certayn barrelles of vnknowne serpentes to the defence of the town of Achon Which K. Richard at lēgth perceauing estsoones set vpō them and so vanquished them of whō the most were drowned some taken aliue Which beyng once known in the Citty of Achō as it was a great discomfort to them so it was a great helpe to the christians for winning the citty The next day after whiche was the vii of Iune Kyng Richard came to Achon which at that tyme had bene long besieged of the Christiās After whose cōming it was not long but the Pagans within the Citty seing their walles to be vndermined and towers ouerthrowne were driuen by cōmposition to escape with life lymme to surrender the Citty to the two kings An other great helpe to the Christians in winning the Cittye was this In the sayd Citty of Achon there was a secret Christian amōg the Saracens who in tyme of the siege there vsed at sondry tymes to cast ouer the walles into the camp of the Christians certayn billes writtē in Hebrue Greek and Latine wherin he disclosed to the Christians frō time to tyme the doynges and counsels of the enemies aduertising them how and what way they should work what to beware And alwayes his letters began thus In nomine patris filij spiritus sancti Amen By reason whereof the Christians were much aduantaged in their proceedings But this was a great heauines vnto them that neither he would vtter his name or when the Cittye was got they could euer vnderstand who he was Ex Chronico manuscripto De gestis Richardi To make of a long siege a short narration vpon the 12. day of Iuly the yeare aforesayd the Princes and captaines of the Paganes vpon agreement resorted to y◠tent of the Templaries and to common with the two kinges touching peace geuing vp of their city the forme of which peace was this That the kings should haue the city of Achon freely and fully deliuered to thē with all which was therin and fiue hundreth captiues of the Christiās shoulde be restored to them which were in Achon Also the holye Crosse should be to thē rendered and a thousand Christiā captiues with 2. hundreth horsemen whosoeuer they thē selues would chuse out of all thē which were in the power of Saledine Ouer and besides they shoulde geue to the kings 200. thousand Bysāts so that they thēselues would remayne as pledges in the kings hands for the performāce hereof that if in xl dayes these foresayd couenaunces were not accomplished they would abide the kings mercy touching life and limme These couenaunces being agreed vpon the kinges sent their souldiours and seruauntes into the City to take a C. of the richest and best of the City to close them vp in towers vnder strong keeping and the residue they cōmitted to be kept in homes and streetes ministring to them according to their necessities to whome notwithstanding this they permitted that so many of thē as would be baptised receuie the fayth of Christ shoulde be free to go whether they would Wherupon many there were of the Paganes which for feare of death pretēded to be baptised but afterward so soone as they could reuolted agayne to the Saladine For the which it was afterward commaunded by the kinges that none of thē should be baptised agaynst their willes The 13. day of the sayde month of Iuly King Phillip of Fraunce and king Richard after they had obtained the possession of Achon deuided betweene thē al things therin contayned as well the people as gold siluer with all other furniture what soeuer was remayning in the Citty who in deuiding the spoile were so good caruers to themselues that many Knightes and Barons with other souldiours who had there sustayned the whole trauaile 2. yeres together about the siege seing the kings to take all to thēselues and there part to be but little retracted themselues without the vttermost trench and there after consultation had
to Northhampton where he held his Parliament saluting him sayd they came from the Pope of Rome to reforme that peace of holy church And first sayd they we monish you in the popes behalfe that ye make full restitution of the goods of the land that ye haue rauished holy church of and that ye receiue Stephen the Archb◠of Cant. into his dignity and Prior of Cant. and his monkes And that ye yelde agayne vnto the Archb. all his landes and rentes without any withholding And sir yet moreouer that ye shall make such restitution to them as the Church shall thinkk sufficient Then aunswered the K. as touching the Prior and his Monkes of Cant. all that ye haue said I would gladly do and all thing els that ye would ordaine but as touching the Archb. I shall tell you as it lieth in my hart Let the Archbishop leaue his bishopricke and if the pope then shal entreat for him peraduenture I may like to geue him some other bishopricke in England And vpon this condition I will receiue and admit him Then sayd Pandulph vnto the K. holy Church was wont neuer to disgrade Archb. without cause reasonable but euer she was wont to correct princes that were disobedient to her What how now quoth the K. threaten ye me Nay sayd Pandolph but ye haue now opēly told vs as it standeth in your hart and now we will tell you what is the popes will and thus it standeth He hath wholy interdicted cursed you for the wrongs ye haue done to the holye church and to the Clergy And forasmuch as ye will dwell still in your malice and will come to no amendement ye shall vnderstand that from this time forward the sentences vpon you geuen haue force and strength And all those that with you haue commoned before this time whether that they be Earles Barons or Knightes or any other whatsoeuer they be we assoyle them safely from their sins vnto this day And from this time forward of what condition soeuer they be we accurse them openly and specially by this our sentence that do with you common And we assoyle moreouer Earles Barons knightes and all other maner of men of theyr homages seruice and sealties that they should do vnto you And this thing to confirme we geue playne power to the B. of Winchester and to the B. of Norwich And the same power we geue agaynst Scotland to the B. of Rochester of Salisbury And in Wales we geue the same power to the Bishops of S. Dauid and of Landaffe and of S. Asse Also Sir K. quoth Pandolph all the kinges princes and the great Dukes christened haue labored to the pope to haue licence to crosse themselues and to warre agaynst thee as vpon Gods enemy and winne thy lande and to make K. whom it pleaseth the pope And we here now assoile all those of their sinnes that will arise agaynst thee here in thine owne land Then the K. hearing this answered What shame may ye do more to me then this Pandolph agayne we say to you in verbo Dei that neither you nor any heir that you haue after this day shall be crowned So the king sayd by him that is almighty God if I had known of this thing before ye came into this lād and that he had brought me such newes I should haue made you tary out these xii monthes Then aunswered Pandolph Full well we thought at our first comming that ye would haue bene obedient to God and to holy church haue fulfilled the popes commaundement which we haue shewed and pronounced to you as we were charged therewith And now ye say that if ye had wi lt the cause of our comming ye would haue made vs tary out a whole yere which might as well say that ye would haue taken a whole yeares respite without the popes leaue But for to suffer what death that ye can ordeine we shall not spare to tell you all the popes message and will that he gaue vs in charge In an other chronicle I finde the wordes betwene the King and Pandolph something otherwise described as though the king should first threaten him with hanging if he had foreknown of his comming in To whom pādolph againe should answer that he loked for nothing els at his hand but to suffer for the Churches right Wherupon the K. being mightely incēsed departed The k. the same tune being at Northhampton willed the shirifs and bailifes to bring foorth all the prisoners there that such as had deserued shoulde be put to death to the entent as some thinke to make Pandolfus afraide Among whome was a certaine Clerke who for counterfaiting the kings coyne was also condemned to be hanged drawn quartered And moreouer by the king was commanded therby to anger Pandolfus the more as may be thought to be hanged vp hiest aboue the rest Pādolphus hearing therof notwtstanding he somwhat began to feare least he should be hanged himselfe yet with such courage as he had he went to the church to set out booke bel and candle charging that no man vnder pain of accursing should lay hands vpon the cleark Vppon this the K. and the Cardinall departed in no litle anger And Pandolfe went to Rome reported to the pope and the Cardinals what had bene done Then the pope summoned al the bishops abbots and clarkes of England to come and repaire to Rome to consult what was to be done therein This councel began the first day of October In the which councel it was decreed by the pope and his assembly that Iohn king of England should be accursed with all such as helde with him euery day so long as that Councel endured Albeit this was not yet graunted that the people shoulde be crossed to fight against him because as yet he had shed no bloud But afterward the sayd Pope Innocent seeing that K. Iohn by no meanes would stoupe vnder his subiection nor vnder the rule of his popish see he sent vnto the French king vpon remission of all his sinnes and of all that went with hym that he should take with him all the power he might and so to inuade the realme of England to destroy K. Iohn This occasion geuen Pope Innocent yet once againe commanded in paine of his great curse that no man shuld obey King Iohn neither yet keepe company with him he forbad all persons to eate and drinke with him to talke with him to commune or coūsell with him yea his owne familiar houshold to do him any kinde of seruice either at bed or at boord in church hall or stable And what folowed therof The greater parte of them which after such sort fled from him by the ordinance of God of diuers and sundry diseases the same yeare died And betweene both nations English and French sell that yeare great amitie but secret subtil and false to the bitter betraying of England Neither was the pope
no such exactions should be hereafter vntill the returne of our your Ambassadours from the court of Rome sent thither purposely of vs and in the name of the whole realme for the same for to prouide redresse agaynst these oppressions Wherefore we straitly will and command you that from henceforth you do not proceede any more in collecting and exacting such tallages or helps as you will enioy our fauour and suche possessions of yours as within this our Kingdome you haue and hold And if you haue already procured or gathered any such thing yet that you suffer not the same to be transported out of our realme but cause it to be kept in safe custody till the returne of the sayd Ambassadors vnder the payne of our displeasure in doyng of the contrary and also of prouoking vs to extend our hand vpon your posessions farther then you will thinke or beleue Moreouer willing charging you that you participate make common this our inhibition with your Archdeacons and Officials which we here haue set forth for the liberties of the clergy and of the people as knoweth God c. At length the Ambassadours whiche were at Rome came home about the latter end of December bringing word that the pope hearing what was done in the Councell of Winchester and of the king was greatly displeased with him and the realme saying Rex Anglorum qui iam recalcitrat et frederisat suum habet consilium ego verò meum habeo quod sequar c. Whereupon when the Ambassadours began to speake in the kinges behaue froÌ„ that time they were halfe counted for schismatickes could no more be heard in yâ— court of Rome The king hearing this was maruelously incensed therwith commaunding by general proclamation through all this realme that no maÌ„ should hereafter coÌ„sent to any taxe or subsidie of mony for the court of Rome When this came to the popes eare vpon a cruell rage he directed hys letters to the Prelates of England charging that vnder paine of suspence or interdiction they should prouide the same summe of mony to be collected agaynst the feast of the Assumption the charge being geuen to the Bishop of Worcester to be executor of the said cursse The king that lately entended to stand to the liberties of the Church now for feare of the pope and partly for perswasions of the sayd Byshop of Worcester and other Prelates durst not stand to it but gaue ouer Moreouer the greedy gulfe of the Romish auarice waxt so vnmesurable that at length the pope shamed not vpoÌ„ the censure of hys cursse to aske the third part of the Church goodes and the yearely fruite of all vacant benefices The chiefe doers and Legates in England were Otho Stephanus Capellanus Petrus Rubeus nuncius Mag. Martin Mag. Marinus Ioannes Anglicus Episcopus Sabiâ—ensis Of whom to speake further for that I haue matter much more to write for this present tyme I thinke beast to surcease least in opening all the detestable doyngs and pestilent workinges of those men I might perhaps not onely molest good cares but also infect the ayre Yet one thing concerning the sayd Otho I cannot well ouerpasse This Otho as he left no place vnsought where anye vauntage might be got so amongst all other he came to Oxford Where lying in the house of Osney he was receaued with great honor the schollers presenting him honourably with suche dishes and rewardes as they had thinking to gratifie the Cardinall after the best maner This beyng done before dinner the dinner ended they came reuereÌ„tly to see and welcome him supposing that they also should with like curtesy agayn of hym be intertayned As they came to the gate the porter being an Italian with a loud voyce asketh what they woulde haue They sayd they came to see the Lord Legate But Cerberus the porter holding the dore halfe open with proud and contumelius language thrust them out and would not suffer them to enter The Shollers seeyng that by force thrust open the gate and came in whome when the Romaynes which were within would haue repelled with their fistes and suche staues as they had in their handes they fell to alarâ—â— and by the eares together with much houing and shouing and many blowes on both sides In the meane tyme while some of the schollers ran home for their weapons their chaunced a poore scholler an Irishman to stand at the gate waityng for hys almes Whom when the mayster Cooke saw at the gate he taking whote skalding water out of the pan where the meate was sodden did cast it in hys face One of the schollers a Welchman that came wyth hys Bowe and shaftes seing that letteth driue an arrow and shooteth this Nabuzardan that mayster of Cokes cleane through the body and slayeth hym out of hand The Cooke falling dead there was a mighty broyle a great clamor throughout all the house The Cardinall hearing the tumult and great noyse about him lyke a valiant Romayn runneth as fast as as he could into the steple there locket yâ— dores fast vnto him where he remained till midnight The schollers in the meane while not yet all pacified sought all corners about for the Legate exclayming crying out wher is that vsurer that symoniack that piller poler of our liuinges that proyler and extortioner of our mony which peruerteth our king and subuerteth hys kingdom enriching himselfe with our spoyles c. all this heard the Cardinall and held his peace When the night approching had broken vp the field the Cardinall comming out of his forte and taking his horse in silence of the night was priuily conueyed ouer the riuer toward the king conueying himselfe away as fast he could After the king heard thys he sendeth to Oxford a garrison of armed men to deliuer yâ— Romaines which were there hidden for feare of schollers Then was maister Odo a lawer with 30. other schollers apprehended caryed to Walingford Castle froÌ„ thence had in Cartes to London where at length through much entreaty of the byshops being brought barefoote to yâ— Legates dore had their pardon the Uniuersitie released of interdiction And thus much concerning the Popes Legates in England Thus partly you haue heard do vnderstand the miserable thraldome and captiuitie of this realme of England and the clergy of the same who before refused to take part with king Iohn their naturall Prince agaynst the forreigne power of the pope and nowe how miserably they are oppressed and scourged of the same pope Whose insatiable extortion rapacity did so exceede in pilling poling of this realme long after this that neyther the K. now could help theÌ„ neither could the pope with any reasonable measure be conteÌ„t In so much as writers record in the dayes of Sudbury Archb. of Canterbury an 1360. the pope by hys proctors gat from the Clergy in lesse then one yeare
sute and petition herein At Dominus Papa sayth Pariens qui rebellem Imperatorem super omnia aestuabat deijcere tantis promissionibus exhileratus trahitur ad consensum That is But the pope sayeth the author which boyled with desire aboue all measure to haue the Emperour his ennemie cast downe being cheared wyth so great promises graunted his consent to them who sitting then in his consistorie had these wordes as here followe There hath come a late to our intelligence the election of a certaine Monke named Walter to be Archb. of Cant. whereupon after that we hard and aduised as wel those things which the said Monke hath saide for himselfe and for his election as also on the contrary side the obiections exceptions of the bishops of England alleaging against him and against his election Namely of the bishop of Chester the bishop of Rochester and Iohn Archdeacon of Bedforde We vpon the same committed the examination touching the person of the man vnto our reuerende brethren Lorde Cardinall Albany L. Cardinall Thomas de Sabina and master Peter And when the foresaid elect comming before them was asked of them first concerning the Lordes descending into hel whether he descended in flesh or without his flesh he aunswered not well Item being asked touching the making of the body of Christ on the aultar he answered likewise not soundly Being asked moreouer howe Rachell wept for her children shee being deade before hee aunswered not well Item being asked concerning the sentence of excommunication denounced against the order of law he answered not well Againe being required of matrimonie if one of the maried parties be an infidel and do depart he answered therto not well Vpon these articles he was as is sayd diligently examined of the Cardinals to the which we say he aunswered not only not well but also very ill For so much therefore as the Church of Cant. is a noble churche and requireth a noble prelate a man discrete and modest and such as ought to be taken out of the bosome of the church of Rome and forasmuch as this new elect whom not onely here we pronounce to be vnworthy but also should say more of him if we would proceede with hym by the rigour of the law is so insufficient that he ought not to be admitted to such a roume we do vtterly infringe annihilate and euacuate his election alwaies referuing to our selues the prouision of the sayd church Haec ex Math. Paris ad verbum Thus the election of Walter being frustrate and dissolued the kings procurators bringing forth the letters of the king and of the suffraganes of the Church of Cant. presented the same vnto the pope for the ratification of Richarde Chancellor of Lincolne to be appoynted Archb. of Cant. whome they with great commendation of woordes did set forth to be a man of profound learning and knowledge of an honest coÌ„uersation which was greatest of al that he was a man much for the profite of the church of Rome as also for the realme of England And thus the saide Richard being commended to the Pope by the letters procuratorie of the king and of the bishops had the consent of the pope and of the Cardinals and so was made Bishop of Cant. before he was elected Whereupon the said pope Gregory in his behalfe directeth downe his letters to all and singular suffraganes of the church of Cant. declaring thus and beginning first with a lie that for so much as by the fulnes of ecclesiastical power the charge of pastorall office is committed to him in general vpon al churches he therefore for the sollicitude he beareth as wel to all other churches in generall as in speciall to the Metropolitan church of Cant. repudiating and disanulling the former election of Walter the Monke vpon iust causes hath prouided for that See a man as in all other good giftes perfect and excellent by the report of them that know him so for that function very fit and commodious and willeth and commaÌ„deth them and all other by his authority Apostolicall with all deuout reuerence to receiue him and humbly to obey him c. which was An. 1229. Ex Paris These things thus finished at Rome the pope not forgetting the sweete promises made of the English siluer which he so greedily gaped for omitting neither time nor diligence in all spedy wise sendeth to the king of England M. Stephen his own chaplein trusty Legate to require collect the foresaide tithes of all the moueable goods both of England Ireland and Wales which were promised to him before therew t to maintaine his warre against Fredericke the Emperor And to the intent he might inflame all christeÌ„ realmes wyth the like hatred which he bare against Frederike the Emperor sendeth also with the sayde Stephen special letters ful of manifold complaints and greuous accusations against the said Emperor whereof more Christ graunting shall be shewed hereafter Upon the comming of this Stephen the legate the king assembled all his erles and barons wyth the Archbishops byshops abbots priors templaries hospitalers parsons vicares and other such as held of him in capite to appear before him at Westminster to heare and to common of the matter In the assembly of whome the Popes patent letters were brought forth and red wherin he required the tenths of all the moueables in England Wales and Ireland as wel of the clergy as of the laitie to maintaine his expedition against the foresaid Frederike the Emperor The which expedition as he pretended to atchieue to take in hande for the cause of the vniuersall Church and happely had begon the matter already and for so much as the richesse of the Apostolicke See did not suffice for the accomplishing of so great an enterprise he therfore enforced by mere necessity did implore the aide and helpe of all the true obedient and natural chickens of the church of Rome least the members thereof together with the head should be subuerted These letters of the Pope to this effect being openly recited and explaned by the Popes chaplaine which hee with much more allegation and perswasion of words did amplifie to his vttermost the king sayth mine author in whoÌ„ al men did hope an helpe to their defence became then as a staffe of reede For as much as he had obliged himselfe to the same before for the election of his archb now could say nothing against it but held his peace The Earles Barons all the laitie vtterly refused so to bind their Baronies to the Church of Rome but the Bishoppes Abbots Priors wyth other Prelates of the Church first requiring space and respite to deliberate for 3. or 4. dayes at length for feare of the popes cursse although they durst not vtterly wythstande had brought to passe to haue concluded for a summe of money much lesse had not Stephen Segraue one of the kings counsailers â—raftily conuented
He departed from thence to Brundusium committing the gouernment of his kingdome to Renaldus the sonne of Duke Spoletus and to Anselmus a Baron of Instigensis and came by sea to Cyprus with his hoste From Cyprus the Emperour with his whole nauy sayled into Ioppa which City he fortified for that the passages by land were stopped and kept of the enemies And by sea might he not passe nor trauaile by meanes of the extreme weather and tempest whereby it came to passe that within short space they lacked vitayles and were sore afflicted with famine TheÌ„ fell they to prayer and made their humble supplicatioÌ„ to God with whose teares his wrath being appealed the great tempest and long coÌ„tinued foule weather ceased whereby the seas now being calme they had both vitaile great pleÌ„ty and all other necessary things for their need brought vnto them wherby immediately it came to passe that both the Emperour his army as also the inhabitauntes of Ioppa were greatly refreshed and animated and on the other side their enemies being disappoynted of theyr purpose were greatly discouraged In so much that the king of Egipt who with great power accoÌ„panied with Scarapho his brother prince of Gaza and the Prince of Damascus their nephew with many other Dukes and nobles hauing incamped themselues within one dayes iourny of Ioppa thinking to haue besieged the same were contented vpon the comming of the Emperors Harolds vnto them to intreat of a peace Whereupon Embassadours were sent vnto them with the Emperours demaunds right profitable to the Christian common weale The Sarasens immediately consulting vpon the same graunted thereunto so that a peace for x. yeares was concluded was confirmed by solempne othe on the behalfe of both Princes according to their seueral vsages and maner the forme and condition of which peace briefly collected are these First that Fridericke the Emperour should be crowned and annoynted king of Ierusalem according to the maner of the kinges of Ierusalem before him Secondly that all the lands possessions which were situate betwixt Ierusalem and Prolomaida the greatest part of Palastina and Cities of Tyrus and Sydon which were in Syria and at other territories which Baldwinus the 4. at any time had and occupyed there shoulde be deliuered vnto him onely certayne castles reserued Thirdly that he might fortifie and builde what fortresses and castles he thought good citties and townes in all Syria and Palestina Fourthly that all the prisoners which were in the Saracens hands should be raunsomed freely and sent home and agayne that the Saracens might haue leaue without armour to come into the Temple where the Lords sepulcher is to pray and that they should holde and keepe still Chratum and the kinges mount Friderick now for that he thought the coÌ„clusion of this peace to be so necessary as also profitable for at Christians and had also gotten as much thereby as if the warres had continued he should he sent his Legates with letters into the west to all Christen kinges princes and potentates as also to the bishop of Rome declaring vnto them the circumstance and successe of his iourny and warres as partly ye haue heard Requiring theÌ„ that they also woulde praise and geue God thankes for his good successe and profitable peace concluded And desireth the Pope that for as much as he had now accoÌ„plished his promise neither that there was any cause now wherefore he should be with hym displeased that he might be reconciled and obtaine his fauor In the meane season the Emperour with all hys army marcheth to Ierusalem where vppon Easter day in the yeare of our Lorde 1229. hee was with great triumphe comfort of al his nobles and also the Magistrates of that kingdome onely the Patriarche of Cyprus the kings Legate and Oliuer the maister or captayne of the Temple with his company excepted solemnly and with great applause crowned king After this he rerdifieth the Citty and Walles thereof which by the Saracens were beaten downe and battered After that he furnisheth it with munition he buildeth vy the Churches and temples that were ruinous he fortifieth Nazarethum and Ioppen with strong garrisons vitaâ—e and all other thinges necessary Now see and behold I pray you whilest that Fredericke was thus occupyed in the kingdome of Ierusalem what practises the Pope had in Italy Not I warrant you any whit at all carefull in the affayres of the Christian commoÌ„wealth but studiyng and labouring what mischiefe and spite he might worke agaynst the Emperoure whom of a set purpose he had so occupied partly for hate and partly to enriche himselfe in Asia and Ierusalem so farre out of Italy ye may be sure First he caused the souldiours whiche the Emperour sent for out of Germany to the mayntenaunce of the holy warres to be stayde as they passed through Italy letting them of their iourney and tooke from them and spoyled them of all such prouision as they had And not onely this but he sent secretly also hys letters into Asia to those that were of his owne facâ—ion that is to the Patriarche of Ierusalem and souldiors that kept the temple and the hospitall intising and inciting theÌ„ to rebell agaynst the Emperour whiche thing Blondus himselfe that Popish Parasite or historiographer dissuâ—uleth or hideth not But that he furthermore disswaded the princes of the Saracens that they should make no league nor take any truce with Fridericke neither deliuer vp vnto hym the Crowne and Kingdome of Ierusalem Whiche letters as they were manifest testimonyes of his trecherie and treason towardes him whom God had instituted and made his liege Lord and soueraigne and mightiest potentate vpon earth so was it hys will that he should come to the knowledge therof and that those letters shoulde fall into his handes And that he kept the same letters for the more credible testimony thereof in the same his last Epistle vnto the Christian Princes he proresteth The copy of which letter amongest his other Epistles you shall haue expressed Neither were the Popes letters written to that leauened secte and factious in vayne For the Patriarche and his Collegioners which tooke their name of the Temple did mightely repugne agaynst Fredericke They raysed a tumult in Ptolomaida agaynst him they accused him and his Legates openly of treason and did malipartly boldly wtstand the right worthy and good order he made amongest them But as God would by the helpe of the inhabitantes of Pisa and the Genowayes and the Dutch souldiours both their false accusations were refelled and also their seditious purpose tumult expressed And thys was the cause that when all other men reioyced and were glad of the Emperours coronation they as wicked confederatours were heauy therefore and obtrectours of hys worthy laud and fame The Pope when he had thus conspired agaynst Fredericke and had betrayed him to the publicke enemy of all Christen men the Turke he coulde
his assistaunts here assembled alledging the first Epistle of Peter the 2. chapter where he sayth Feare God honour the king By which wordes the holy Apostle S. Peter teacheth vs 2. things First that loue feare obedience is due vnto God for the mightinesse and puissaunce of his Maiesty saying Feare God Secondly how speciall honor reuerence is due to the King for the excellency of his dignity saying Honor the King But note you by the way how the Apostle placeth his woordes First he sayth that feare is due vnto God because principally and in chiefe we ought to feare GOD For if the King or any other should commaund things contrary to God we ought to haue no regard ther of but to contemne the King feare God For it is written in the 5. of the Actes of the Apostles we ought rather to obey God then men and also in the 7. chap. of Machabes the 2. booke where it is sayd I will not obey the commaundements of the king but the law The reason whereof S. Augustine geueth both in the glose vpon the Romaines also in the 11. quaest 1. He that resisteth the superiour power resisteth the will and ordinaunce of God But put case thou art commaunded to do that which thou maist not do or to do not that which thou oughtest to do Doubtlesse thou must neglect the lesser power and feare the higher learning the degrees of worldly thinges As for example be it so that a Proctour commaundeth thee any thing which if the same be agaynst the Proconsull thou oughtest not to follow it Yea and further put case the Proconsull commaundeth one thing the Emperour an other and God willeth the third Thou must not care for thē but obey God for God is the greater power For they may threaten thee with prison but GOD may threaten thee with hell fire they may slay and kill thy body but God may send thee body and soule to perpetuall hell fire And therfore worthely it is put first Feare God And here the place in the last of Ecclesiasticus is to be adioyned where it is written Feare God and keep his commaundements And me thinketh that man is boūd to feare God chiefly in three sorts That is to say First in the bountifull bestowing of his giftes and benefites Secondly in the euident promoting of his seruauntes And lastly in the full rendring and restoring vnto man that is his First I say in the bountifull c. and for this cause the Emperour Iustinian writeth although there is nothing to be accompted good which doth exceede and is to great yet for a prince to be stow accordingly vpō the church it is very good For why the king and Emperour is bound to bestow so much the more substaunce how much the more God hath geuen to him to bestow the same both franckly and especially to famous Churches wherein the best greatest measure is of the Lordes giftes that is a great gift And to this end Gregory enacteth a law cap. i. extra de donationibus that nobility ought in maner to prescribe this law to himselfe to thinke himselfe bound to geue whē he geueth freely vnlesse he increase in geuing still to think that he hath geuen nothing Wherfore Abell as appeareth in the 4. chapter of Genesis who offered of the best to the Lord was blessed of God And therefore other Kinges the more they offred to God the more they were both spiritually and temporally blessed of him As we read of Iosua Dauid Salomon other in the booke of the Kings and therefore it is so written in the 18. of Numbers And ye shall separate vnto the Lordes treasury thinges that be chiefest and most principall As likewise Dauid sayth in the first of Paralipomenon last chapter I haue geuen all this with a glad hart euen with a good will and now haue I had ioy to see thy people which here are present offer with a free will vnto thee And no maruell for Dauid sayth in that place For of thy hand we haue receiued all and to thee we geue And therefore it seemeth to me that because the Kynges of Fraunce and Barons of the same more then anye other hath geuen to GOD and his Church therefore they were happy and blessed aboue all other kinges and the more they did geue to God the more they receiued at hys handes Examples wherof we haue of Clodoue Charles and S. Lewes the more one geueth to God the more he receiueth of him For he in the 6. of Luke hath promised geue and it shal be geuen vnto you wherfore a gift that a Prince bestoweth vpon the Church is rendered agayne with triple encrease and that no lesse in time of warr then in time of peace I say in warre time because victory proceedeth of no other but onely of God for it is writtē in the 1. Machabecs the 3. Chapter The victorye of the battayle standeth not in the multitude of the boast but the strength commeth from heauen And likewise in the 17. Chapter of Exodus it is declared that when Moyses held vp hys handes Israell had the victory but when he let down his handes Amalec had the victory To this end also serueth the last chapter Machabes 2. where Iudas being at the poynt to haue the victory thought he saw Amon and Ieremy which had bene high Priestes and very vertuous men holding vp their handes toward heauē and praying for theyr people and all the whole Citye c. Likewise in peace time now the long dayes of the king and of hys sonnes their peace prosperity obedience by the prayer of the Church is mayntayned supported in the realme For as long as Salomon was bent and geuē in building the house of God so long he had peace who thus in the 16. chap. of the Prouerbes teacheth vs. when a mans wayes pleaseth the Lord he maketh his very enemies to be hys frendes And also in 1. Esdras 6. chapter where it is read how the Priestes were commaunded to offer sweet fauors to the God of heauen and pray for the kinges life and hys children And well therefore may it be called a gift both fauorable irreuocable wherby victory is geuen life graūted and peace with security conserued To serue therefore God liberally to geue toward the worshipping of him is the chiefest signe and token of diuine feare loue Eccl. cap. 2. O ye that feare the Lord beleue him your reward shall not be empty Secondly cōcerning the feare of God I do you to vnderstand that among the precepts of the Lord the first and chiefest commaundement of the second table is To honor thy father which precept is very well expoūded to y◠Hebrues in the 12. chapter where it is not onely ment of the fathers of our bodies but also of the father of spirites For as spirituall
Archb. Who there required day and place to deliberate vpon the conclusions aforesayd and to geue their answere vnto the same in wryting And also required to haue a copie of the sayde conclusions to be deliuered vnto them The which copy the sayd Nicholas Philip being openly read vnto them receiued Also the foresayd M. Iohn Ayshton lykewise was examined and iudicially admonished by the said Archbishop by vertue of his othe that hee setting aside all sophisticall words suttelties he fully and plainly would say his minde vpon the conclusions aforesayd And being asked moreouer by the said Archbishop whether he would haue a further day to deliberate vpon his answers as the foresaid Nicholas and Philip had before said expresly that he would not but would answer presently to those coÌ„clusions And so for finall aunswere sayde as concerning all these conclusions containing them all together that hys iudgement was in this behalf to hold his peace Wherfore the foresaid Archbishop reputing the saide Iohn herein to be suspected admonished him in form of words as foloweth We admonish thee Iohn Ayshton whome we repute to be defamed notoriously suspected of heresie the first the second and third time that in our prouince of Canterbury hereafter thou do not preach publickely or priuately wtout our speciall licence vnder paine of the greater curse which we denouÌ„ce here by these presents against thy person if thou obey not our monitions for nowe as for then And consequently for as much as the sayd Iohn being asked of the Archb. confessed that hee had heard before of the publication of the Archbyshops Mandate wherein was inhibited that no person prohibited or not sent should preach hereafter the foresayde Archb. assigned to him Friday next folowing which was the 20. day of the same moneth after dinner to appeare before hym either at Lamheth or in the same place to say for himselfe wherefore he myght not be pronounced for an heretick for such a one to be denounced through hys whole prouince Also the said Archbishop assigned to the foresaid Nicholas and Philip the saide day place to answer peremptorily and to say fully plainly to the conclusions aforesayde all sophistication of woordes and disputation set a part ¶ The names of the Friers that sate vpon them Friers preachers 7. Thom. Barnwel William Swynherd William Pitworth Tho. Whatley Laurence Grenham Iohn Leigh Iohn Haker Carmelites 3. Walter Dish Iohn Kinningham Iohn Louey Augustine Frier Thomas Ashborne Doctour In the 20. day aforesaid of the said month of Iune the yere and place aboue prefixed before the foresayde Archbyshop sitting in his tribunall seat in the presence of diuers Doctours of Diuinitie and lawyers both Ciuil and Canon personally appeared M. Nicholas Herford Phillip Repindon Bachelers of Diuinity and Iohn Ayshton maister of Arte. Where the foresaid Nicholas and Philip being required by the sayd Archb. to answere and say fully and plainly their iudgements vppon the conclusions prefixed whereunto the sayde Archbyshop had assigned to the sayd Nicholas and Philip the same terme did exhibite to the sayd Archbyshop there iudicially sitting certaine aunsweres in wryting contained after the maner of indeÌ„ture the tenour whereof here vnder is contained and after the same forme answered to the sayd conclusions The tenour of which Indenture containing the foresaide conclusions vnto them moued as afore foloweth in these wordes ¶ The protestation of Nicholas Philip and Iohn with their Articles and aunsweres to the same WE protest here as before publikely in these preseÌ„ts that we intend to be humble and faithful children to the church and holy scripture and to obey in all things the determinations of the Church And if it shall chaunce vs at any time which god forbid to swarue from this our intention we submit our selues humbly to the correction of our reuerend father Lorde Archbishop of Cant. and primate of all England and of all other which haue interest to correct such swaruers This protestatioÌ„ premised thus we answere to the conclusions aforesayd That the substance of material bread and wine remaineth in the Sacrament of the aulter after consecration After the sense contrary to the Decretall beginning Firmiter credimus we graunt that it is heresie That the accidents doe not remaine wythout the subiect after consecration of the Sacrament Aâ—ter the sense contrary to that Decretall Cum Marthe We graunt that it is heresie That Christ is not in the sacrament the selfe same truly and really in hys owne corporall presence Although this conclusion as the words stand sound to be probable and intelligible yet in the sense coÌ„trary to the decretal in Cle Si dudum We graunt that it is heresy And briefly concerning this whole matter of the Sacrament of the aulter as touching also all other thyngs we professe that we will both in worde and sense holde wyth the holy Scripture with the determination of the holy church and sayings of the holy Doctours Obstinatly to affirme that it hath no foundation in the Gospell that Christ ordained the Masse We graunt that it is heresie That God ought to obey the deuill In this sense that God in hys owne person or essence ought to obey the deuil with the obedience of necessity We graunt that it is heresie If a man be duely contrite that all externall confession is to him superfluous and vnprofitable We graunt that it is heresie If the Pope be a reprobate an euill man and consequeÌ„tly a member of the deuil He hath no power ouer the faithful of Christ giueÌ„ to him of any vnleast it be of Cesar. We graunt that it is heresie That after Pope Urbane the 6. none is to be receyued for Pope but that wee ought to liue after the maner of the Grecians vnder our owne lawes We graunt that it is heresie To say that it is against the holy Scripture for ecclesiasticall persons to haue temporall possessions If obstinacie be ioyned withall wee graunt that it is heresie That no Prelate ought to excommunicate any man vnles he know him before to be excommunicate of God We graunte that it is an errour Understandyng thys knowledge to meane an experimental knowledge so that heerewith may stand the Decree of the Church 11. q. 3. Nemo Episco That he which doth so excommunicate is thereby an hereticke or excommunicate After the sense agreeing with the other before we graunt to be an errour That a Prelate excommunicating a clerke whych appealeth to the king or counsell of the realme in so doing is a traitor to God the king and the realme We graunt it is an errour That they whych leaue off to preache or to heare the word of God the gospel preached for the excommunication of men are excommunicate and in the day of iudgement shal be counted for traytors to God Understanding this coÌ„clusion vniuersally so as scripture and lawes do vnderstand such indefinit propositioÌ„s We graunt it is an errour To
drue neare vppon which day it was looked for that Repington should preach This man was a Canon of Leicester had before taken his first degree vnto Doctorship who preaching the same time at Bradgate for the same Sermon he became first suspected and hated of the Pharisaicall broode of the Fryers But through the great amd notable dexteritie of his wit which all men did behold and see in him accompanied with like modesty and honesty he did so ouercome or at the least asswage thys cruelty and persecution whiche was towardes him that shortly after by the consent of the whole fellowship he was admitted doctour Who as soone as he had taken it vpon him by and by he stepped forth in the schooles and began immediately to shewe forth and vtter that whiche he had long hidden and dissembled Protesting opeÌ„ly that in all morall matters he would defend Wickliffe But as touching the sacrament he woulde as yet hold his peace vntill suche time as the Lorde shall otherwise illuminate the hartes and mindes of the clergye Nowe the day of Corpus Christi aforesayd approching neare when the Fryers vnderstood that this man should preach shortly fearing least that he would rub the galles of their religion they conuented with the Archb. of Cant. that the same day a little before that Phillip shold preach Wickliffes conclusions which were priuately condemned should be openly diffamed in the presence of the whole vniuersitie The doing of which matter was committed to Peter Stokes Fryer stonderd bearer and chiefe champion of that side against Wickliffe There were also letters sent vnto the commissary that he shoulde helpe and ayde him in publishing of the same conclusions as is before declared These thinges thus done and finished Repingdon at the houre appointed proceeded to his sermon In the which sermon among many other thinges he was reported to haue vttered these sayinges or to this effect That the Popes or Byshops ought not to be recommended aboue temporall Lordes Also that in morall matters he woulde defend maister Wickliffe as a true Catholicke doctor Moreouer that the Duke of Lancaster was very earnestly affected and minded in this matter and would that all such should be receaued vnder hys protection Besides many thinges moe which touched the prayse and defence of Wickliffe And finally in concluding his sermon he dimissed the people with this sentence I will sayd he in the speculatiue doctrine as appertayning to the matter of the sacrament of the auâ—ter keep silence and hold my peace vntill such time as God otherwise shall instruct and illuminate the hartes of the Clergie When the sermon was done Repington entred into Saint Frideswides Church accompanied with many of his friendes who as the enemies surmised were priuilye weaponed vnder their garmentes if need had bene Frier Stokes the Carmelite aforesayd suspecting all this to be against him and being afrayd of hurt kept to himself wtin the sanctuary of the church not daring as then to put out his hed The Vicechauncellor and Repington friendly saluting one an other in the church porch sent away the people and so departed euery man home to his owne house There was not a little ioy thorough the whole vniuersitie for that sermon but in the meanetime the vnquiet busie Carmelite slept not his matter For first by his letters he declared the whole order of the matter vnto the archbishop exaggerating the perils and daungers that he was in requiring and desiring his helpe and ayd pretermitting nothing wherby to moue stirre vp the archbishops minde which of his owne nature was as hote as a toste as they say and ready inough to prosecute the matter of his owne accord though no man had prickt him forward thereunto Besides all this 3. dayes after with a fierce and bold courage the sayd Fryer breathing out threatninges and heresies agaynst them tooke the way vnto the schooles mynding there to proue that the Pope and the Bishops ought to be prayed for before the Lordes temporall Whiles thys Frier was thus occupyed in the schooles he was mocked and derided of all men and shortly after he was sent for by the Archbishop to London whom immediately after the Vicechauncellor Brightwell followed vp to purge and cleare themselues and their adherentes from the accusations of this Frier Peter At the length they being examined vpon Wickliffes conclusions that were condemned they did all consent that they were worthily condemned The Vicechauncelor being afterward accused for the contempt of the Archbishops letters when as he perceaued sawe that no excuse would preuayle to auoyd that daunger huÌ„bling himselfe vpon his knees he desired pardon The which when he had now againe as is aforesaid albeit very hardly obtayned By the help of the Bishop of Winchester he was sent away agayn with certayne commandementes and suspencions of heretickes Then began the hatred on eyther part somewat to appeare and shew and specially all men were offended and in the toppes of these Friers and religious men vpoÌ„ whom whatsoeuer trouble or mischiefe was raysed vp they did impute it as to the authors and causers of the same Amongest whome there was one Henry Crompe a monke Cistertion a well learned deuine which afterward was accused by the Byshops of heresie He at that time was openly suspected by the Commissary because in his lectures he called the heretickes Lolardes from his actes as they terme them in the schoole Then he comming by and by vp to London made his complaynt vnto the Archbish. and to the kinges councell Whereupon he obtayning the letters of the king and of his counsaile by the vertue therof returning againe to the vniuersity was released restored again to his former state the wordes of whiche letter here followeth vnder written * The copy of the kinges letter THe king to the Vicechauncellour and procuratoure of the Vniuersitie of Oxforde greeting Where as we of late vnderstanding by the grieuous complaynt of Henry Crompe monke and regent in deuinitie within the sayd vniuersitie howe that he being assisted by the reuerend father in God the Archb. of Cant. and by other clerkes and deuines in the Citty of London to proceede in thee condemnation of certayne conclusions erroneous and hereticall hath bene therfore molested by you And that you through sinister suggestion of some aduersaryes pretending the peace of the sayd vniuersitie to haue bene broken by the sayde Henry in his last lecture did therefore call him before you to appeare and answere and for his not appearing did therefore pronounce him as obstinate and conuicte of peace breaking also haue suspended the sayd Henry from his lectures and all scholasticall actes And whereas we by our writte did call you vp for the same to appeare and aunswere before our counsayle vnto the premisses so that all thinges being well tryed and examined by the sayd counsayle it was found and determined that all your processe agaynst the
reforme theyr liues Whereby it appeareth that if euery of the fiue and forty Articles conteyneth in it wholly the thing that is false and vntruth the same is either playnelye or darckly condemned in the holye Scriptures Secondly it followeth by the sentence and minde of this holy man that if the condemation of the fiue and forty Articles be profitable the same is founde in the holy scriptures And where as agayne Saynt Augustine writeth vnto Saynt â—ierome in his â—ight Epistle and the ninth Distinction I sayth he haue learned to attribute this honor and reuerence vnto those writers onely which are called Canonicall that I dare affirme none of them to haue erred in theyr workes or writinges As for all other writers I doe so read them that although they abound wyth ueuer so much holynesse or excell in doctrine I do not by and by thinke it true because they themselues do so iudge but if they can by other Canonicall Authors or probable reasons perswade or proue that they doe not degresse froÌ„ the trueth Also the sayd Augustine in his booke De vnico Baptismo Lib. 2. sayeth thus Who doeth not knowe or vnderstande that the holy canonicall scripture to be contayned in hys owne bondes and limittes and the same to be preferred before all other letters and decrees of Bishops c. And a litle after he hath the like saying as for the letters of other Bishops which haue bene written or be written after the Canon being confirmed they may lawfully be reprehended and reproued both by the word of them that be more skilfull in that matter and also by the auncient authority of other Bishops or by the prudeÌ„ce and wisedome of such as be better learned or more expert or els by generall couÌ„sels if it so chaunce that they in any poynt haue erred and gone a stray from the sincere truth By these sayings of S. Austen and other like c. The Vniuersity of Prage hath concluded and determined that they will not receiue the condemnation of the fiue and forty Articles made by the Doctors in their councel house as iust and true except they which condemned them will proue theyr condemnation by the holy Scriptures and probable reasons vpoÌ„ euery of the fiue and forty Articles Wherefore for the dew examination of the foresayd coÌ„demnation whether it be effectuall or no we will at thys present take in hand the fouretenth Article of the number of the fiue and forty which Article is this They which leaue of preaching and hearing of yâ— word of God for feare of excommudication of men are alreadye excommunicate and in the day of iudgement shal be counted the betrayers of Christ. This Article conteineth first that all priests omitting the preaching of the word of God for feare of the excommunication of men they are already excommunicate Secondly it conteineth that all such as doe omitte the hearing of the word of God for feare of excommunicatioÌ„ are already excommunicated Thirdlye that both these sortes of men in the daye of iudgement shal be counted traitors of Christ. As concerning the first poynt it is presupposed that the preaching of the word of God is commaunded vnto the Apostles and theyr followers as it appeareth in Mathew the tenth where it is sayd Iesus sent his xii Disciples commaunding them and saying goe and preach that the kingdome of heauen is at hand Also in the last of Mathew and the tenth of Luke Whereupon Peter the Apostle of Christ acknowledging this precept and commaundement for himselfe and for the other Apostles and successors in the 10. of the Actes sayth thus he commaunded vs to preach and to testifye that it is he which is ordayned of God the iudge both of the quicke and the dead This commaundement also the other Apostles did acknowledge specially the chosen vessell pronouncing vnder a great threatning in the first Corinthians 9. chap. Wo be vnto me if I do not preach the Gospell And Pope Nicholas considering that great threatning in 43. Distinction sayeth the dispensation and distribution of the heauenly seade is commaunded and enioyned vnto vs. Woe be vnto vs if we doe not sow it abroode or if we hold our peace Whiche thing when as the vessell of election did feare and cry out vpon how much more ought all other inferiours to feare and dread the same To the same purpose doth S. Gregory write in his pastorall in the distinction Sit rector It is also euident by many other doctours and holy men as by S. Augustine Hierome Isidore Bernard whose words it were here to long to rehearse As touching the second poynt that the hearing of the word and law of God is commaunded vnto the people it is euident both by the olde and new law for it is sayd in the 28. of the Prouerbes he that turneth away his eare will not heare the law of God his prayer shall be cursed And our Sauior rebuking the Scribes and Pharesyes concludeth thus in the 8. of S. Iohn saying he that is of God heareth Gods word But forsomuch as you are not of God therfore you heare not his word Thirdly it is to be noted that excommunication is a seperation from the Communion the 11. Question 3. Nihil cap Canonica And 27. question first Viduas 34. Question 3. Cum sacerdos And this excommunication is double that is to say either secret or manifest The secret excommunication is whereby a man is seperated from the misticall body of Christ and so from God through sinne according vnto the 59. Psalme Your iniquities haue made seperation betwene your God and you And with this excommunicatioÌ„ doth the Apostle excommunicate euery man which doth not loue the Lorde Iesu Christ. Saying in the first Corinth and the last Chapter If any man do not loue the Lord Iesu Christ let him be accursed The manifest and apert excommunication may be deuided into a manifest excommunication by God Whereof it is spoken Math. 25. go ye curied c. And often times els in the lawe of God Also into a manifest excommunication by men whereby the Prelate doth either iustly or vniustly cast out any man from the participation of the Communion of the Church Whereof this shall suffise at this present Then as touching the first part of the article it is thus argued c. Whosoeuer forsaketh or leaueth the commaundemeÌ„ts of God vndone they are excommunicate of God But the Priestes which leaue of the preaching of the word of God for feare of the vniust excommunication of men do leaue the coÌ„maundement of God vndone Ergo those Priests which do leaue of preaching of the word of God are excommunicated of God The first part of this Article is true The maior appereth by the Psalme Cursed be they which doe decline and swarue from thy preceptes The Minor is euident by the first proposition which proueth that the preaching of the word of God is the
and graunts to that I say that this safeconduct stood not only vpon the Emperour but also vpon the consent of the Pope himselfe vide infr page And admit that to be true that the councell had power to make this decree to breake promise wyth hereticks yet this can not be denied but that Iohn Hus was condemned and iudged before that decree in the xix Session was made Finally when Cope hath prooued by what scripture the councels haue power to defeat the authoritie of their Emperours in such secular causes touching safeconductes and outward safetie then will I answere him more fully heerein But to the purpose againe of the story Iohn Hus seeing so many faire promises and the assurance which the Emperour had geuen vnto him sent answere vnto the Emperour that he would come vnto the Councell But before hee departed out of the Realme of Boheme and specially out of the towne of Prage he did write certaine billes long inough afore as well in Latine as in the Bohemian language and Almaine and caused them to be set and fastened vpon the gates of the Cathedrall Churches and parish Churches Cloysters and Abbayes signifieng vnto them all that he would go to the generall Councell at Constance wherof if any man haue any suspition of his doctrine that he should declare it before the Lord Conrade or Bishop of Prage or if he had rather at the generall Councell for there he would render and giue vp vnto euery one and before them all an accompt and reason of his fayth The example of his letters and intimations set vp were these the copie where of here followeth ¶ The Letters of Iohn Hus set vp in common places of the Citie of Prage MAister Iohn Hus Bacheler of Diuinitie will appeare before the most reuerend father the Lord Conrade Archbyshop of Prage and Legate of the Apostolicke seate in the next conuocation of all the Prelates and Cleargy of the kyngdome of Boheme being ready alwayes to satisfie all men which shall require him to giue a reason of hys fayth and hope that he holdeth And to heare and see all such as will lay vnto his charge either any stubburnes of errour or heresie that they should write in their names there as is required both by Gods law and mans And if so be that they could not lawfully prooue any stubbornes of errour or heresie against him that then they should suffer the like punishmentes that he should haue had vnto whome altogether he will aunswer at the next generall Councell at Constance before the Archbyshop and the Prelates and according to the decrees and Canons of the holy Fathers shew foorth his innocencie in the name of Christ. Dated the Sonday next after the feast of Sainct Bartholomew ¶ The Intimations folowing were drawne out of the Bohemian tongue I Maister Iohn Husnerz do signifie vnto all men that I am ready to come and stand before the face of my Lorde the Archbishop and to aunswere to all things whereof I am falsely accused in the next conuocation of Bachelers and chefly to this point that in many places they doo report me an hereticke not hauing respect vnto iustice or to law neither yet to my merits or deserts Therefore since that you which do neuer cease to selaunder and backebite me with your words doo vnderstand and knowe these things come foorth openly before the face and presence of the Lord Archbyshop and with an open mouth declare and shew foorth what false doctrine or other things you haue heard me teach contrary to Catholicke fayth and if that I shall be found faultie in neuer so small a matter contrary or against the faith of Christ or in any false doctrine and that I do choose that or other things contrary to the faith of Christ then I will hold my peace and suffer punishment as an hereticke And if there be no man that will resist against me or accuse me in this point once againe I say vnto you that I am ready to appeare at Constance in the famous congregation to the end that I may stand in the company of the Diuines euen before the face of the Pope Therefore whosoeuer knoweth any false doctrine contrary to the faith of Christ in me let him come thether and shew it forth boldly if he haue any thing to lay against me and for my part I will not be slacke if I may vnderstand or knowe it to answere as well to small as great as touching the truth which I haue receiued of God and desire to be defended All you good men therefore which loue the truth say now whether by these my words I do thinke or go about any thing either contrary to the law of God or man If I be not admitted then to be heard be it knowne and manfest vnto all men that it hapneth not thorough my fault the same day This Epistle which followeth was set vpon the gates of the Kings Palace translated into Latin out of the Bohemian tongue VNto the Kings maiestie the Queene and to all such as are of his Councell and to all other Rulers and Magistrates which now are in the Kings Court I Iohn Hus doo signifie and publish that I haue vnderstand not by any vayne rumor or tale that there be letters brought from the Pope to the Kings Maiestie the contents whereof is this That the Kyngs Maiestie shoulde bring to passe that the heretickes which were now lately sprong vp in hys kyngdome and dominions should not take any firme or strong roote For so much as without any desert as I trust by Gods grace the fame or noise is sproong and blowne abroade it shall bee our part to foresee and take heed that neyther the Kyngs Maiestie neyther the noble Kyngdome of Boheme should bee driuen to beare or suffer anye reproche on slaunder for mee Wherefore now of late I haue sent my letters too and fro whych I haue with great labour and diligence caused to be openly set vp to thys intent that I myght thereby cause the Archbyshop to be carefull and diligent about the matter signifyeng openly that if there were any man in all Boheme which did knowe mee to be a follower of anye false or corrupt doctrine that he should professe hys name in the Archbyshop hys Court and there to shew foorth and declare what he thought And for asmuch as there would none be found or come foorth which would accuse me the Archbyshop commaunded me and my procurers to depart in peace Wherefore I require and desire the Kings Maiestie which is the defender of the truth also the Queene and theyr Counsellers and all other Rulers and Magistrates that they woud geue me a faithfull testimoniall of this matter For somuch as I haue oftentimes willed and attempted this and no man hath eyther accused mee or troubled mee I doo it moreouer to bee knowne vnto all Boheme and to all nations that I wil bee present euen at the
that he dyd not personally appeare they say they haue heard both himselfe and diuers other credible persones say yea euen the most famous Prince Wenceslaus king of Boheme and almost all the whole nobilitie is witnes that he would willingly haue appeared at Rome or els where if he myghte safely haue commen thether and that deadly enmitie had not letted and moreouer his procurers which he sent vnto the court of Rome alleaging reasonable causes for hys non apparance some of them were cast into pryson and others very euill intreated As for the excommunication which he hath so long sustained they haue heard him often say that he hath not resisted against the same by contumacye or stubbernesse but vnder euident appellation and therupon reterreth himself vnto the Actes of his causes whyche were pleaded in the court of Rome wherm all this is more largely contained the which your reuerences may euidently perceiue and see in this our present publike transumpt which wee haue offred vnto you vpon certaine poynts aforesayd As cōcerning his preaching wherwithal his enemies do report and charge that M. Iohn Hus did preach openly in the Citie of Constaunce The Lordes aforesaide and specially the Lord Iohn de Clum here present do answere that hee hath continually lodged wyth the sayde M. Iohn Hus here in Constaunce and that whosoeuer they be that haue bene so bolde or dare be so bolde to say affirme that M. Iohn Hus had preached as is premised or that whyche lesse is since the time of his comming vnto thys citie euen vnto the very day time of hys captiuitie and imprysonment that he went but one step out of the house of his lodging that the said Lord Iohn de Clum will and is contēt to binde himselfe with any suche as shall affirme the same vnder what penalty so euer it be of money or otherwyse that which hee hath falsly reported vnto your reuerences he shal neuer be able iustly truely to affirme and prooue Thirdly whereas your reuerences do say that you do not vnderstād or know what the Lords do meane by the heretickes condemned at the councel holden at Pisa whether the mocking or deriding the Pope whose ambassadors came thither for vnitie or concorde the which were suffered and gently entreated as theyr Lordes were most enclined vnto vnitie and peace or els that they did vnderstande or meane the perticuler heretickes which were there condemned adioyning therunto that the heretickes also comming vnto the councell vnder the pretence of that vnitie should be gently handled and entreated c. Reuerēd fathers and Lordes whether they be counted the firste or that they be thought the second or last the Lordes aforesaid require none other thing but that the said M. Iohn Hus may vse suche liberty as they vsed forsomuch as he came willingly vnto this most sacred coūcel not for any other purpose but onely publikely to recognise his faith And in what poynt soeuer he shall seeme to vary from the worde of God and the vnion of the holy mother the church that in that poynte he will willingly be vnited and reconciled againe thereunto and not only himself but also his fauorers and adherents he would moue and prouoke therunto of whom the greater number are in the kingdō of Boheme Also he is come hether that he might purge and cleare the noble kingdome of Boheme from the sinister and euil slaunder which was raised vpon it Last of all most reuerend fathers Lordes for so much as your reuerences haue most fauourably answered vnto the principal request made by the Lords aforesayd that the processe of M. Iohn Hus through Gods helpe shoulde be determined and ended wtal expedition and gentlenes The Lordes aforesayd do render most harty thanks vnto your reuerences and when soeuer theyr desire by Gods helpe shall come to the ende or effecte long wished or looked for they wil not onely here but also before the whole kingdom of Boheme and in all other places wheresoeuer they come render most immortall thankes vnto your reuerences for euer ¶ Thys declaration of the nobles of Boheme aboue prefixed may serue not only to the cōfutation of the bishop Luthonius thys Bohemian but also against the cauillacious of Alanus Copus Anglus Dial. 6. pag. 929. touching the safe conduct of Iohn Hus wherof sufficiently before hath ben sayd vide supra pag. 596. When as the noble men of Boheme by lōg time could receiue no answer of those supplications whych they had alredy put vp they determined the last day of May following by an other supplication being put vp vnto the principals of the councell to entreat that Iohn Hus myght be deliuered out of prison and defend his owne cause openly they also put the testimonial of the bishop of Nazareth as touching Iohn Hus. The copy wherof is expressed in the beginning of this hystorie word by word ¶ Another supplication of the nobles of Boheme MOst reuerend fathers and Lordes in Christ of late there was a supplication put vp vnto your reuerences on the behalfe of the Lordes nobles of Boheme and the nation of Pole wherin they most humbly desired your reuerences to consider how the informations which were put vp vnto your reuerences by the enemies of M. Iohn Hus were insufficient And with reuerence be it spoken in many poynts vntrue as in the safeconduict graunted by the kings maiestie and also in other articles as more plainely appeareth in the Scedule which was then offred vnto you vppon the whych sayde Scedule and other things at that presence being put vppe they coulde not as yet receiue no aunswere Wherefore the Lordes aforesayde moste humbly require your fatherly reuerences that it would please you to consider the said supplication and to geue some answere to the Lordes aforesayd therupon and specially hauing respect vnto the great iniuries and griefs which are done vnto the sayd M. Iohn Hus the which may be vnderstād and knowen by the Scedule aforesayde that you will mercifully consider and foresee that all those griefes and euils so farre different from all brotherly loue and charitie are done vnto hym by his enemies euen for very malice and hatred To the intent therefore that the rancour and malice may be confounded and ouerthrowne and the plaine and euident truth appeare it may please your fatherly reuerēces to vnderstand that it is notified and knowen vnto the Barones Nobles Citizens Clergie and Laitie of the kingdome of Boheme that M. Iohn Hus in all his actes and doings as well Scholasticall as Ecclesiasticall and specially in all his publike and open sermons he hathe made and hathe accustomed to make these maner of protestations the which without any thing to the contrary hee hath alwaies endeuoured to haue them strong and firme as by this his protestation here folowing which he made about the determination of a certaine question it may most euidently and plainely appeare vnto
few witnesses vpoÌ„ the same agaynst him but as hee was about to apen his mouth to aunswere all this mad heard or flocke begaÌ„ so to cry out vpon him that he had not leasure to speake one onely worde The noyse trouble was so great and so vehemeÌ„t that a man might well haue called it a brute or noyse of wild beasts and not of men much lesse was it to be iudged a coÌ„gregatioÌ„ of men gathered together to iudge and determine so graue and waightie matters And if it happened that the noyse and cry did neuer so litle cease that hee might aunswere anythyng at all out of the holy Scriptures or Ecclesiasticall Doctours by and by he shoulde here these goodly replyes vpon him That maketh nothyng to the purpose Beside all this some did outrage in wordes agaynst him other some spitefully mocked him so that he seing him selfe ouerwhelmed with this rude and barbarous noyses cryes that it profited nothing to speake he determined finally with himselfe to hold his peace keepe silence FroÌ„ that tyme forward all the whole route of his aduersaries thought that they had wonne the battaile of him and cryed out altogether now he is duÌ„me now he is dumme This is a certaine signe and token that he doth consent agree vnto these his errours Finally the matter came to this poynt that certaine of the most moderate honest among theÌ„ seing this disorder determined to proceede no further but that all should be deferred put of vntil an other time Through their aduise the Prelates others departed froÌ„ the Councell for that present appointed to meet there agayne the morrow after to proceede in iudgement The next day which was the vii of Iune on whiche day the sunne was almost wholy eclipsed somwhat after about vii of the clocke this same flocke assembled agayne in the cloister of the Friers Minors and by their appointment Iohn Hus was brought before them accompanyed with a great number of armed men Thether went also the Emperor whom the gentlemen master of Dube Clum and the Notarie named Peter which were great friendes of the sayd Hus did folow to see what the end woulde be When they were come thether they heard that in the accusation of Michael de Causis they reade these wordes folowing Iohn Hus hath taught the people diuers and many errours both in the chapell of Bethleem and also in many other places of the Citie of Prage of the which errours some of them he hath drawen out of Wickleffs bookes and the rest he hath forged and inuented of his owne head and doth maintaine the same very obstinately and stifly First that after the consecration and pronunciatioÌ„ of the words in the supper of the Lord there remaineth materiall bread and this is prooued by the witnesse of Iohn Protiwate parishe Priest of s. Clements in Prage Iohn Pecklow preacher at s. Giles in Prage Benise preacher in the castle of Prage Andrew Brod Chanon of Prage and diuers other Priestes Unto thys Iohn Hus takyng a solemne othe answered that he neuer spake any such worde but thus much he did graunt that at what time the Archbishop of Prage forbad hym to vse any more that terme or word bread he could not allow the bishops commaundement for so much as Christ in the 6. chapter of Iohn doth oftentimes name himselfe the bread of angels which came downe from heaueÌ„ to geue life vnto the whole world But as touching materiall bread hee neuer spake any thing at all Then the Cardinall of Cambray taking a certaine bill in hys hand which he sayd he receiued the day before sayd vnto Iohn Hus will you put any vniversalities a parte rei.i. as touching the thing When Iohn Hus aunswered that he wold because S. Anselme and diuers other had so done the Cardinall did proceed to gather his argument in this maner It followeth then sayde he that after the consecration is made there remaineth the substance of materiall bread that I do thus proue That the consecration being done whiles the bread is chaunged transubstanciated into the body of Christ as you say either there doeth remaine the common substaunce of materiall bread or contrariwise If the substance do remaine then is our purpose at an end If contrariwise then doth it folow that by the decision of the singularitie the vniversall ceaseth any more to be Iohn Hus answered truely it ceaseth to be in this singular materiall bread by meanes of this traÌ„substantiatioÌ„ wheÌ„ as it is changed transubstanciated into the body of Christ but notwithstanding in other singularities it is made subiect Then a certaine English man by that argument woulde proue out of the first positioÌ„ that there remained materiall bread Then sayd Iohn Hus that is a childish argument which euery boy in the schooles knoweth and thereuppon gaue a solution Then an other English man wold proue that there remained materiall bread in the sacrament because the breade after the consecration was not anihilate Unto whom Iohn Hus answered Although said he that the breade be not anihilate or consumed yet singularly it ceaseth there to be by meanes of the alteration of hys substance into the body of Christ. Here an other English maÌ„ stepping forth sayd Iohn Hus semeth vnto me to vse the same kinde of crafty speach which Wickleffe vsed for hee graunted all these things which this man hath done yet in very deede was fully perswaded that material bread remained in the sacrament after the coÌ„secration The whych when Iohn Hus had denied saying that he spake nothing but only sincerely vprightly according to his conscience the English man proceeded to demaunde of hym againe whether the body of Christe be totally and really in the sacrament of the altar Wherunto Iohn Hus answered verely I do thincke that the body of Christ is really and totally in the sacrament of the alter the which was borne of the virgine Mary suffered died rose againe and sitteth on the right hande of God the father almighty When they had disputed a good while to and froe as touching vniuersalities the English man whych before would proue that material bread remained in the sacrament because that the bread was not anihilate interrupting and breaking theyr talke sayd to what purpose is this disputation vpon vniuersalities the which maketh nothing to the purpose as touching faith for as farre as I can perceiue or here this man holdeth a good opinion as touching the Sacrament of the aultare Then an other English man named Stoâ—kes sayd I haue seene at Prage sayd he a certaine treatise the whych was ascribed vnto thys man Iohn Hus wherein it was plainely set foorth that after the consecration there remained materiall bread in in the SacrameÌ„t Uerely said Iohn Hus sauing your reuerence that is not true Then they returned againe vnto the witnesses of them
maiesty doth heere vse it Then sayde the Cardinall of Florence Iohn Hus you shall haue a forme of abiuration which shal be gentle and tollerable inough written and deliuered vnto you and then you will easily sone determine with your selfe whither you will do it or no. Then the Emperour repeating againe the wordes of the Cardinall of Cambray said thou hast heard that there are two waies layd before thee First that thou shouldest opēly renounce those thy errors which are now cōdēned and subscribe vnto the iudgement of the Councel wherby thou shouldest try and find their grace and fauour But if thou proceed to defend thy opiniōs the Councell shal haue sufficient wherby according to their lawes ordinances they may decree and determine vpō thee To whom Iohn Hus answered I refuse nothing most noble Emperour whatsoeuer the Councell shall decree or determine vpō me This only one thing I except that I do not offend God and my cōscience or say that I haue professed those errors which was neuer in my mind or thought for to professe But I desire you al if it may be possible that you will grant me further libertie to declare my mind and opiniō that I may answere as much as shall suffice as touching those things which are obiected against me and speciallie cōcerning ecclesiasticall offices and the state of the ministerie But when as other men began to speake the Emperor himselfe began to sing the same song which he had song before Thou art of lawfull age said the Emperor thou mightest haue easily vnderstand what I saide vnto thee yesterday and this daye for wee are forced to giue credit vnto these witnesses which are worthy of credit for so much as the Scripture saith that in the mouth of two or three witnesses all truth is tried How much more then by so manie witnesses of such worthy men Wherfore if thou be wise receiue penance at the handes of the Councell with a contrite hart and renounce the manifest errors and promise by an othe that from henceforth thou wilt neuermore teach or preach againste them The which if thou refusest to do there are lawes and ordinances whereby thou shalt be iudged of the Councell Heere a certain very old Bishop of Pole put to his verdict He saide the lawes are euident as touching hereticks with what punishment they ought to be punished But Iohn Hus constantly answered as before in somuch that they saide he was obstinate and stubborne Then a certaine well fed priest and gaily apparelled cried out vnto the presidents of the Councell sayeng he ought by no meanes to be admitted to recantation for he hath written vnto his frends that although hee do sweare with hys tong yet he will keepe his mind vnsworne without othe wherefore he is not to be trusted Unto this slander Iohn Hus answered as is said in the last Article affirming that he was not guilty of any errour Then said Palletz to what end is this protestation for so much as thou saiest that thou wilt defend no error neyther yet Wickliffe and yet doest defend him When he had spoken these words he brought forth for witnes 9. Articles of Iohn Wickliffes and red thē openly afterward he saide When as I and M. Stanislaus in the presence of Ernestus of Austrich duke of Prage preached against thē he obstinately defended the same not only by his sermōs but also by his bookes which he set forth The which except you do here exhibite we will cause them to be exhibited So said the Emperor also Unto whome Iohn Hus answered I am very well contented that not onely those but also all other my bookes be brought forth and shewed In the meane time there was exhibited vnto the Coūcell a certaine Article wherein Iohn was accused that he had slaunderously interpreted a certaine sentence of the Popes the which he denied that he did saieng that he neuer sawe it but in prison when as the Article was shewed him by the Commissioners And when he was demaunded who was the authour thereof he aunswered that hee knew not but that he hard say that maister Iessenitz was the author thereof What sayd they then do you thinke or iudge of the interpretation thereof Then aunswered Iohn Hus what should I say therunto when as I said I neuer saw it but as I haue heard it of you Thus they were all so greuous and troublesome vnto him that he waxed faint wearie for he had passed all y◠night before without sleepe through the paine of his teeth Then was there another Article read in the which was conteined that three men were beheaded at Prage because that through Wickleffes doctrine and teaching they were contuinelious and slanderous against the Popes letters and that they were by the same Hus with the whole pompe of the Scholers and with a publike conuocation or congregation caryed out to be buryed by a publicke Sermon placed amongst the number of Saints And the same Doctour Naso of whome you haue heard certaine testimonies already recited affirmed the same to be true and that he himselfe was present when as the king of Boheme commanded those blasphemers so to be punished Then said Iohn Hus both those partes are false that the King did command any such punishment to be done and that the coarses were by me conueyed with any such pompe vnto their sepulture or buriall wherefore you do both iniury vnto me and the King Then Palletz confirmed the affirmation of Doctour Naso his fellow with this argumēt for they both laboured to one end and purpose That it was prouided by the Kings commaundement that no man should once speake against the Popes Bulles And these three spake against the Popes Bulles Ergo by vertue of the kings commaundement they were beheaded And what Iohn Husse his opinion and mind was as touching these men it is euident inough by hys booke intituled Of the Church wherein he writeth thus I beleeue they haue read Daniell the Prophet where as is said And they shall perish with sword and fire and with captiuitie and many shall fraudulently craftely associate themselues vnto thē And afterward he saith how is this fulfilled in these two lay men who not cōsenting but speaking against the fained lies of Antichrist haue offred their liues therfore and many other were ready to do the same and many were fraudulently associate vnto them which being feared by the threatnings of Antichrist are fled and haue turned their backes c. When these things were read one looking vpon another as though they had bene all in a maruellous strange study they held their peace for a certaine space For this Palletz the foresaide Doctour Naso had also added that Iohn Hus in an open Sermon had inflamed stirred vp the people against the Magistrates in so much that a great number of the citizens did openly set themselues against the magistrates and
destroyed This most holy and godly labour O most noble Prince was reserued only for thee vpon thee it doth only lye vnto whome the whole rule and ministration of iustice is giuen Wherfore thou hast established thy praise renowne euen by the mouthes of infants sucking babes for thy praises shall be celebrate for euermore that thou hast destroied ouerthrowne such and so great enimies of the faith The which that thou maist prosperously happely perfourme bring to passe our Lord Iesu Christ may vouchsafe to grant thee his grace help who is blessed for euer euer Amen When this Sermon was thus ended the Procurer of the Councell rising vp named Henricus de Piro required that the processe of the cause against Iohn Hus might be continued and proceed vnto the difinitiue sentence Then a certaine Byshop whych was appointed one of the Iudges declared the processe of the cause which was pleaded long since in the Court of Rome and elsewhere betweene Iohn Hus and the Prelates of Prage At the last he repeated those articles which we haue before remembred amongst the which he rehearsed also one article that I. Hus shoulde teach the two natures of the Godhead and manhead to be one Christ. Iohn Hus went about briefly with a word or two to aunswer vnto euerie one of them but as often as he was about to speake the Cardinall of Cambray coÌ„manded him to hold his peace saieng heereafter you shall answere to all together if you will Then said Iohn Hus how can I at once aunswere vnto all those things which are alledged against me wheÌ„ as I cannot remember them all Then sayde the Cardinall of Florence we haue heard thee sufficiently But wheÌ„ as I. Hus for all that would not hold his peace they sent the officers which should force him therunto Then began he to intreate pray and beseech therâ—â—hat they woulde heare him that such as were present â—ight not credite or beleeue those things to be true which were reported of him But when all this would nothing preuaile he kneeling downe vpon his knees committed the whole matter vnto God and the Lord Iesus Christ for at their handes he beleeued easely to obtaine that which he desired When the articles abouesaid were ended last of all there was added a notable blasphemy which they all imputed vnto Iohn Hus. That is that he saide there shoulde be a fourth person in diuinitie and that a certaine Doctour did heare him speake of the same When Iohn Hus desired that the Doctour might be named the Bishop which had alledged the article said that it was not needefull to name him Then said Iohn Hus O miserable and wretched man that I am which am forced and compelled to beare such blasphemy and slaunder Afterward the Article was repeated how he appealed vnto Christ and that by name was called hereticall whereunto Iohn Hus answered O Lord Iesu Christ whose word is openly condemned heere in this Councell vnto thee againe I do appeale which when thou wast euill intreated of thine enimies diddest appeale vnto God thy father committing thy cause vnto a most iust Iudge that by thy example we also being oppressed with manifest wrongs and iniuries should flee vnto thee Last of all the Article was rehearsed as touching the contempt of the excommunication by Iohn Hus. Whereunto he answered as before that he was excused by his aduocates in the court of Rome wherefore he did not appeare when he was cited and also that it may be proued by the actes that the excommunication was not ratified and finally to the intent he might cleare himselfe of obstinacie he was for that cause come vnto Constance vnder the Emperours safeconduct When he had spoken these words one of them which was appointed Iudge reade the definitiue sentence against him which followeth thus word for word The sentence or iudgement of the Councell of Constance geuen against Iohn Husse THe most holy and sacred generall Councell of Constance being congregate and gathered together representing the Catholike Church for a perpetuall memory of the thing as the veritie truth doth witnes an euill tree bringeth forth euill seuite hereupon it commeth that the man of most damnable memory Iohn Wickleffe through his pestiferous doctrine not through Iesu Christ by the Gospell as the holy Fathers in times past haue gotteÌ„ faithfull children but coÌ„trary vnto the holesome faith of Iesus Christ as a most venemous roote hath begotten many pestilent wicked children whome he hath left behind him successours and folowers of his peruerse and wicked doctrine against whome this sacred Synode of Constance is forced to rise vp as against bastards and vnlawfull children and with diligent care with the sharpe knife of the Ecclesiasticall authoritie to cut vp their errours out of the Lords field as most hurtfull brambles and briers least they should growe to the hurt and detriment of others For somuch then as in the holy generall Councell lately celebrated and holden at Rome it was decreed that the docrine of I. Wickleffe of most damnable memory should be condemned that his bookes which coÌ„teined the same doctrine should be burned as hereticall this decree was approued confirmed by the sacred authoritie of that whole CouÌ„cell neuertheles one Iohn Hus here personally present in this sacred Councell not the Disciple of Christ but of Iohn Wickliffe an Archheretike after and contrary or against the coÌ„demnation and decree hath taught preached affirmed the Articles of Wickleffe which were condemned by the Church of God and in times past by certaine most reuerend fathers in Christ Lords Archbishops and Byshops of diuers kingdomes Realmes Maisters of diuinitie of diuers Uniuersities especially resisting in his open Sermons and also with his adherents and complices in the scholes the condemnation of the said Articles of Wickleffes oftentimes published in the said Uniuersitie of Prage and hath declared him the said Wickleffe for the fauour and commendation of his doctrine before the whole multitude of the Cleargy and people to be a Catholicke man and a true Euangelical Doctour He hath also published and affirmed certaine many of his Articles worthely condemned to be Catholicke the which are notoriously conteined in the bookes of the said Iohn Hus. Wherfore after diligent deliberation full information first had vpon the premisses by the reuerend fathers and Lords in Christ of the holy Church of Rome Cardinals Patriarkes Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates Doctours of â—â—â—nitie and of both lawes in great number assembled and gathered together this most sacred holie Councell of Constance declareth determineth the articles aboue said the which after due conference had are found in his bookes written with his owne hand the which also the said Iohn Hus in opeÌ„ audience before this holy Councell hath confessed to be in his bookes not to be Catholicke neither worthy to be taught but that many of
number if thorough me it should come to passe that those things which they haue hetherto knowne to bee most certaine and sure should now be made vncertaine Should I by this my example astonish or trouble so manye soules so manye consciences endewed with the most firme and certaine knowledge of the Scriptures and Gospell of our Lord Iesu Christ and his most pure doctrine armed against all the assaults of Satan I will neuer do it neither commit any such kinde of offence that I shoulde seeme more to esteeme this vile carcas appoynted vnto death then their health and saluation At this most godly worde he was forced againe to heare by the consent of the Bishops that hee did obstinately and maliciously perseuere in his pernicious and wicked errours Then he was commanded to come downe to the execution of his iudgement and in his comming downe one of the seauen Bishops afore rehearsed firste tooke awaye the chalice from him which he helde in his hand saieng O cursed Iudas why hast thou forsakeÌ„ the counsell waies of peace and hast counsailed with the Iewes we take away froÌ„ thee this chalice of thy saluation But Iohn Hus receiued this curse in this maner but I trust vnto God the father omnipotent and my Lorde Iesus Christ for whose sake I do suffer these things that hee will not take away the chalice of his redemption but haue a stedfast and firme hope that this day I shall drinke thereof in his kingdome Then followed the other Bishops in order which euery one of them tooke away the vestiments from him which they had put on eche one of them geuing hym their curse Whereunto Iohn Hus answered that hee did willingly embrace and beare those blasphemies for the name of the Lord Iesus Christ. At the last they came to the rasing of his shauen crowne But before the Bishops would go in hand with it there was a great contention betweene them with what instrument it should be done with a rasour or with a paire of sheares In the meane season Iohn Hus turning himselfe toward the Emperour saide I maruell that forsomuch as they be all of like cruell minde and stomacke yet they can not agree vpon their kinde of crueltie Notwithstanding at the last they agreed to cut off the skinne of the crowne of his head with a paire of sheares And when they had done that they added these words now hath the Church taken away all her ornaments and priuilegies from hym Now there resteth nothing else but that he be deliuered ouer vnto the secular power But before they did that there yet remained another knacke of reproch For they caused to be made a certaine crowne of paper almost a cubite deepe in the which were painted three deuils of wonderfull ougly shape and this title set ouer their heads Heresiarcha The which when he saw he sayde My Lord Iesus Christ for my sake did weare a crowne of thorne why should not I then for his sake againe weare thys light crowne be it neuer so ignominious Truly I will do it and that willingly When it was set vpon his head the Bishops saide now we commit thy soule vnto the deuill But I sayde Iohn Husse lifting his eies vp towardes the heauens doo commit my spirite into thy handes O Lord Iesu Christ vnto thee I commend my spirit which thou hast redeemed These contumelious opprobries thus ended the Bishops turning themselues towards the Emperour said This most sacred Synode of Constance leaueth now Iohn Husse which hath no more any office or to do in the Church of God vnto the ciuill iudgement and power Then the Emperour commaunded Lodouicus Duke of Bauaria which stoode before him in his robes holding the golden apple with the crosse in his hande that he should receiue Iohn Husse of the Byshops and deliuer him vnto them which should do the execution By whome as hee was led to the place of execution before the Church doores hee sawe his bookes burning whereat hee smiled and laughed And all men that he passed by he exhorted not to thinke that he should dye for any errour or heresie but only for the hatred and ill will of his aduersaries which had charged him wyth most false and vniust crime All the whole Citie in a maner being in armour followed him The place appointed for the execution was before the gate Gorlebian betweene the gardens and the gates of the suburbs When as Iohn Husse was come thether kneeling downe vpon his knees and lifting his â—ies vp vnto heauen he praied and saide certaine Psalmes and specially the 50. and 31. Psalmes And they which stoode by heard him oftentimes in his praier with a merrie and chearefull countenance repeate this versâ— Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit c. Which thâ—â—g when the lay people beheld which stood next vnto him they said what he hath done afore wee knowe not but now wee see and heare that hee doth speake and pray very deuoutely and godly Othersome wished that he had a Confessor There was a certaine Priest by sitting on horsebacke in a greene gowne drawne about with red silke which said he ought not to be heard because he is an hereticke Yet notwithstanding whilest he was in prison he was both confessed and also absolued by a certaine Doctour a Monke as Hus himselfe doth witnes in a certaine Epistle which he wrote vnto his frendes out of prison Thus Christ raigneth vnknowne vnto the world euen in the middest of his enimies In the meane time whilest he praied as he bowed his necke backward to looke vpward vnto heauen the crowne of paper fell off from his head vpon the grounde Then one of the souldiours taking it vp againe said let vs put it againe vpon his head that he may bee burned with his maisters the diuels whome he hath serued ¶ The description of the burning of Iohn Hus contrary to the safeconduict graunted vnto hym Then was the fire kindled and Iohn Hus began to sing with a loud voice Iesu Christ the sonne of the liuing God haue mercy vpon me And when he began to say the same the third time the winde droue the flame so vpon his face that it choked him Yet notwithstanding he mooued a while after by the space that a man might almost say three times the Lordes prayer When all the wood was burned and consumed the vpper parte of the body was left hanging in the chaine the which they throwe downe stake and all and making a newe fire burned it the heade being first cut in small gobbets that it might the sooner be consumed vnto ashes The heart which was founde amongest the bowels being well beaten with staues and clubbes was at last pricked vppon a sharpe sticke and roasted at a fire a parte vntill it was consumed Then with great diligence gathering the ashes together they cast them into the riuer of Rhene that the least
the presence of the Duke In the meane time such as were the setters forward of the Councell agaynst M. Iohn Hus and M. Ierome that is to say Michael de Causis and M. Palletz and other their accomplices required that the sayde mayster Hierome should be cited by reason of hys intimations certayne dayes after the citation hereunder written was set vpon the gates and porches of the citty and Churches which followeth here in this maner This most sacred and holy Synode and general councell of Constance faithfully congregated and gathered together in the holy Ghost representing the vniuersall militant Church vnto Hierome of Prage which writeth himselfe to be a mayster of Arte of so many Uniuersities and pretendeth those things which are onely pertayning vnto sobriety and modesty and that he knoweth no more then he ought c. Know thou that there is a certayne writinge come vnto our vnderstanding and knowledge the whiche was set vp as it were by thine owne person vpon that gates of the Churches and Citty of Constance vppon the Sonday when there was song in the Church of God Quasi mo do geniti Wherein thou doest affirme that thou wilt openly answere vnto thy accusers and slaunderers which shall obiect any crime errour or heresie agaynst thee whereof thou art meruailously infamed and accused before vs and specially touching the doctrine of Wickleff and other doctrines contrary vnto the catholicke fayth so that thou mightest haue graunted vnto thee a safe conduct to come But for so much as it is our part principally and chiefly to foresee and looke vnto these crafty Foxes which goe about to destroy the vyneyarde of the Lord of hostes therefore we do cite and call forth by the tenour of these presentes thy person manifoldly defamed and suspected for the temerarious affirming and teaching of manifold erroures so that within the term of 15. dayes to be accompted from the date of these presentes wherof 5. dayes are appoynted for the first term fiue for the second and other fiue for the third we do ordein and appoynt by Canonicall admonition and warninge that thou do appeare in the publique Session of the sacred Councell if there be any holden the same day or els y◠first day immediately following when as any Session shal be according to the tenour of thy sayd writing to answere to those thinges which any person or persons shall obiect or lay agaynst thee in any cause of thy fayth and to receiue haue as iustice shall require Wherupon so much as in vs lyeth as catholike faith shall require we offer assigne to thee by the tenour hereof our safe cōduct frō all violence iustice alwayes being saued certifying thee that whether thou doest appeare or not the sayd terme or tyme appoynted notwithstanding processe shall goe forward agaynst thee by the sayd sacred Councell or by their Cōmissary or Cōmissaries for the time aforesayd not obserued and kept thy contuinacie or stubburnes in any thing notwithstanding Geuen in the 6. Session of the generall Councell the 17. day of Aprill vnder the seale of the presidentes of the foure nations ¶ Grumpert Faber Notary of the Germaynes AFter that Sigismund king of Hungary with the rest of the Councell vnderstood by the foresaid Duke Ioh. that M. Hierome was taken they were earnestly in hand requiring that M. Hierome shold be brought before them vnto the Councell The whiche Duke Iohn after hee had receiued letters of the kyng and the Councell brought M. Hierom bound vnto Constance whom his brother Duke Ludouicus lead through the Cittie to the Cloyster of the Friers Minors in Constance whereas the chiefe Priestes and Elders of the people Scribes Phariseis were gathered together attending and wayting for hys comming He the sayd mayster Hierome caryed a great handbolte of iron with a long chayne in hys hand and as he passed the chayne made a great ratlyng and noyse and for the more confusion and despite towardes hym they led him by the same chayne after Duke Ludouicus aforesaid holding and stretching out the chayne a great way from him with the whiche chayne they also kept him bounde in the Cloyster When he was brought into the Cloyster they reade before hym the letter of Duke Iohn which was sent with that sayd mayster Hierome vnto the Councell contayning in effect how that the sayd Duke Iohn had sent mayster Hierome vnto the councell who by chance was fallen into his handes because he heard an euill report of hym that he was suspected of the heresies of Wickleffe that the Councell might take order for him whose part it was to correct punish such as did erre and stray from the truth besides many other flattering tales which were written in the sayd letter for the prayse of the Councell After this they read the citation which was geuen out by the councell agaynst maister Hierome wherof we haue spoken before Then certayne of the Byshops sayd vnto hym Hierom why diddest thou flye runne awaye and diddest not appeare when thou wast cited He answered because I could not haue any safecōduict neither from you neither from the king as it appeareth by these letters patentes of the Barons whiche you haue neither by my open intimations could I obtain any safe conduict Wherfore I perceauing many of my greuous heauy frendes to be here present in the Councell would not my selfe be the occasion of my perils and daungers but if I had known or had any vnderstanding of this citation wtout al doubt albeit I had bene in Boheme I would haue returned agayne Then all the whole rabble rising vp alledged diuers and sondry accusations and testimonies agaynst him with a great noyse and tumulte When the rest held their peace then spake maister Gerson the Chauncellour of Paris Hierome when thou wast at Paris thou thoughtest thy selfe by meanes of thy eloquence to be an Angell diddest trouble the whole Uniuersitie alledging openly in the schooles many erroneous conclusions with their correlaria and specially in the question de vniuersalibus de Idaeis with many other very offensiue questiōs Unto whom Mayster Hierome sayd I answere to you mayster Gerson Those matters which I did put forth there in the Schooles at Paris in the whiche also I aunswered to the argumentes of the Maysters I did put them forth Philosophically and as a Philosopher and mayster of the Uniuersitie and if I haue put foorth anye questions whiche I ought not to haue put forth teache me that they be erroneous and I will most humbly be informed and amend the same Whiles he was yet speaking an other as I suppose the mayster of the Uniuersity of Colleyne vpon the Riuer of Rheine rising vp sayd when thou wast also at Coleyn in thy position whiche thou diddest there determine thou diddest propound many erroneous matters Then sayd M. Hierome vnto hym shew me first one errour whiche I propounded Wherwithall he being
declare vnto them hys minde neyther would he by any meanes consent vnto those priuate iudges Wherupon the Presidents of the Councell thinking that the sayd M. Hierome woulde renue hys recantation before the sayd audieuce and confirme the same did graunt him open audieÌ„ce In the yeare of our Lord. 1416. the 25. day of May which was the Saterday before the Ascenâ—ion of our Lord the sayd M. Hierom was brought vnto open audience before the whole Councell to the great Cathedrall church of Constance whereas by the Commissioners of the Councell in the behalfe of hys foresayd enemies there was laid agaynst him of new C. and vii Articles to the intent that he should not scape the snare of death which they prouided and layd for him in so much as the iudges had before declared that by the saying of the witnesses it was already concluded in the same audience The day aforesayd from morning vntill noone he aunswered vnto more then 40. Articles most subtletie obiected agaynst him denying that he held or mayntayned any such articles as were either hurtfull or false affirming the those witnesses had deposed theÌ„ agaynst him falsly and slaunderously as his most cruel and mortall enemies In the same Session they had not yet proceeded vnto death because that the noone time drew so fast on that he could not answere vnto the Articles Wherfore for lacke of time sufficient to aunswere vnto the residue of the Articles there was an other time appoynted which was the third day after the foresaid Saterday before the Ascention of our Lord at whiche time againe early in the morning hee was brought vnto the sayde Cathedrall Church to answere vnto all the residue the Articles In all which articles as well those which he had aunswered vnto the Saterday before as in the residue he cleared himselfe very learnedly refelling his aduersaries who had no cause but onely of malice displeasure were set agaynst him did him great wrong in suche sort that they were themselues astonyed at his oration and refutation of their testimonies brought agaynst him and with shame enough were put to silence As when one of them had demanded of him what he thought by the sacrament of the aultar He answered before consecration sayd he it is bread wine after the consecration it is the true body and bloud of Christ adding withall moe wordes according to theyr catholicke fayth Then an other rising vp Hierome sayde he there goeth a great rumor of thee that thou shouldest hold bread to remain vpon the aultar To whom he pleasantly answered saying that he beleued bread to be at the Bakers At which wordes being spoken one of the Dominicke Friers fumishly tooke on and sayd what doest thou deny that no man doubteth of Whose peuishe sausines Hierome with these words did well represse holde thy peace said he thou monke thou hipocrite And thus the monke being nipped in the head sate downe dumme After whom started vp an other who with a loude voyce cryed out I sweare sayd he by my conscience that to be true that thou doest deny To whom sayd Hierome agayne speaking in latine Heus inquit sic iurare per conscientiam tutissima fallendi via est That is thus to sweare by your conscience is the next way to deceiue An other there was a spitefull and a bitter enemy of his whom he called by no other name then dogge or asse After he had thus refuted them one after an other that they could finde no crime against him neyther in this matter nor in anye other they were all driuen to keepe silence This done then were the witnesses called for who coÌ„ming in presence gaue testimony vnto the Articles before produced By reason wherof the innocent cause of Hierome was oppressed and began in the councell to be concluded Then Hierome rising vp begaÌ„ to speak forsomuch sayth he as you haue heard mine aduersaries so diligeÌ„tly hether to conuenient it is that you should also nowe heare me to speake for my selfe Whereupon with much difficultie at last audience was geueÌ„ in the Councell for hym to say his mind Which being granted he from morning to noon continuyng entreated of diuers and sondry matters with great learning and eloqueÌ„ce Who first beginning with his praier to God be sought him to geue him spirite habilitie and vtterance which might most tend to the profite saluation of his own soule And so entring into hys Oration I Know sayth he reuerend Lords that there haue bene many excelleÌ„t men which haue suffered much otherwise theÌ„ they haue deserued being oppressed with false witnesses condemned with wrong iudgementes And so beginning with Socrates he declared howe hee was vniustly condemned of hys countrimen neither woulde he escape when hee might taking from vs the feare of two thinges whiche seeme most bitter to men to wit of prisonment and death Then he inferred the captiuitie of Plato the banishment of Anaxagoras and the tormentes of Zeno. Moreouer he brought in the wrongfull condemnation of many gentiles as the banishment of Rupilius reciting also the vnworthy death of Boetius and of others whom Boetius himselfe doth write of From thence he came to the examples of the Hebrues and first began with Moyses the deliuerer of the people the law geuer how he was oftentimes slaundered of hys people as being a seducer and contemner of the people Ioseph also sayth he for enuy was sold of hys brethren and for false suspicion of whoredome was cast into bandes Besides these he reciteth Esayas Daniell and almost all the Prophetes who as contemners of god and seditious persons were oppressed with wrongfull condemnation FroÌ„ thence he proceeded to the iudgement of Susanna and of diuers other besides who being good and holy men yet were they vniustly cast away with wrongfull sentence At the length he came to Iohn Baptist and so in long processe he descended vnto our sauiour declaring how it was euident to all men by what false witnesses both he and Iohn Baptist were condemned Moreouer how Stephen was slayne by the Colledge of the priestes and how all the Apostles were condemned to death not as good men but as seditious styrrers vp of the people and contemners of the Gods and euil doers It is vniust sayth he vniustly to be condemned one priest of an other and yet he proued that the same hath so happened most vniustly in that Councell of Priestes These thinges did he discourse at large with marueilous eloqueÌ„ce and with singuler admiration of all that heard hym And forasmuch as all the whol summe of the cause dyd rest only in the witnesses by many reasons he proued that no credite was to be geuen vnto them especially seing they spake all thinges of no truth but onely of hatred malice enuy And so prosecuting the matter so liuely and expressely he opened vnto them the causes of their hatred
with Lordes and cities neither wil they begin to teach you the true foundation of the truth For they do as a dogge which as long as he holdeth a bone in his mouth and knaweth it so long he holdeth his peace cannot barcke Euen so as long as they haue this bone of pleasaunt riches it wyl neuer be well in the world Wherfore all kinges princes and imperiall Citties should doe a great worke of godlines and mercy if by them they were compelled to do this as the dog is when the boane is takeÌ„ from hym And therfore ye noble men Kinges princes Lordes imperiall Citties and all the communaltie both riche and poore if ye haue bene a sleep yet now awake and opeÌ„ your eyes and behold the subtiltie of the deuill how he hath blinded the Church of Rome and take agayne that is youres and not theirs And if you wil make a good memoriall for your soules then do as the wyse man saith Eccle. 19 Lay vp almes c. The 6. article is that they are full of pride and of high mynde which is manifestly knowne by their long costlye and superfluous garmentes wherein they walke very vnlike to Christ our Lord who had a garmeÌ„t without a seam and to the welbeloued Iohn Baptist who had a garment of Camels heare and they wyl be honoured and worshyped and they preach and say that Priesthood ought to be honoured and so it ought in deede to be but there is none that do so much sclander and abase it as they themselues with their euill works gay apparell and with their euil words wherein they passe all other men Paul sayth the i. to Tim. the 3. chapter Let the Elders that gouerne wel be honoured with double honour chiefly they that labour in the word and doctrine of the Lord. Consider that he sayth they that gouerne well The 7. article is that they are couetous from the highest to the lowest and for couetousnes they preach many folish deedes manifest lies sell the holy sacramentes whiche is a great heresie for God commaunded that they shoulde geue freely Paule writeth in the first to Timothy Couetousnesse is the roote of all mischief wherunto many haue ben geuen and therefore they are separated from the fayth and haue denyed the truth The viii article is that they commonly are called notorious whoremongers This is manifestly seene in theyr concubines and children which walke openly in all mens sight and make many mens wiues whoores or corrupte their daughters being virgins and make theÌ„ priests harlots and rybauldes The ix Article is that they are ful of deuilish enuy and especially in al Monasteries they haue great enuy and hatred amongest themselues because when any thing is geuen or disposed to one Monastery or Colledge then there are others that hate it and enuy at it and woulde more gladly haue it themselues Like as among dogs when any thing is geuen to the one and not to the other which the other seing enuyeth hys fellow the other likewise wil rather deuour all himselfe then geue any part to his fellowe Wherefore it were well that they were brought from that great sin of enuy in geuing nothing vnto theÌ„ And it were better that their possessions were takeÌ„ from them and that they should do that which the Lord spake to hys disciples saying Go ye and preach the Gospell to all men The x. article is that they are idle and chiefly the Byshops Chanons and other Prelates which wil not labor dilligently in the holy Scripture wherewith they might cure the miseries of Christendome wherto they haue bouÌ„d theÌ„selues and they eate the bread therof in idlenes because when other men watch and labour to mayntaine themselues and their little ones theÌ„ are they with their lemmons or els they walke in some Cittie carying hawkes on their fistes or els they sit at the good wyne with their Concubines and there they sing and play the Lucians eat of the best and therfore al that willingly bring and geue to them shal be made partners of that curse whiche is geuen them of God because they eate their bread vniustly whereof Paul writeth in the 2. to the Thess. the 3. chapter He that laboureth not let him not eate The 11. article is that they are notorious liers becaâ—â—e to the end that they may please men they tel many tales lies which in the holy Scripture haue no foundation nor proofe Of such wryteth Iohn in the Apoca. 21. The 12. article is that they doe not rightly giue or minister to the people the body of our Lord Iesus Christ and they geue it not as God hath instituted it and commanded This is a great a deuilish sinne and to great malapertnesse Heerein we woulde ouercome them wyth the testimonies of the Euangelistes I say we woulde ouercome the Pope and all his Priestes with the authorityes of Marke Luke and Paule Rom. 13. and we woulde suffer that Kinges Princes Lordes and all that are willing to heare should heare it The 13. Article is that they sit in spiritual iudgement and then many times they iudge according to fauour and not according to the righteousnesse of God and they take bribes giuing sentence for hym which in Gods sight hath the wrongfull cause Wo be to such senteÌ„ces as it is wrytten in Isay 5. Wo be to ye that c. The 14. Article is that they sit hearing coÌ„fessions and when there come to them vsurers raueners and theeues they take bribes of them of their ill gotten goodes to spare them and they willingly suffer them in cities and towns And likewise of adulterers and other notorious whoremongers and whores and they neuer let or stay them in their great sinnes to the end that the scripture may be fulfilled in them which sayeth Giftes and the loue of money do draw to hell and do blinde the eyes of iudges The 15. Article is that they receiue tithes of men and will of right haue them and preache and say that men are bound to giue them tithes and therin they say falsly For they can not proue by the new Testament that our Lorde Iesus Christ commanded it and his disciples warned no man to do so neither did themselues receiue them But although in the old Testament it were commanded to geue tithes yet it can not thereby be prooued that christian men are bound thereto For this precept of the olde Testament had an end in the first yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ like as the precept of CircuÌ„cision Wherfore welbeloued consider and see how your bishops seduce you and shut youre eyes with things that haue no proofe Christ sayeth in the 11. of Luke Geue almes of those thinges that remaine but he said not geue the tenth of the goodes which yee possesse but geue almes But when they heare the word they may say as the lawyer said to Christ Maister when
you no more reward for such prayer then a candle lighted let vnder the couer of the font wil geue light by night to those which are in the church saying moreouer in english lewd wrightes of stockes hew and forme such crosses and Images and after that lewd paynters glere thē with colours And if you desire so muche to see the true crosse of Christ I will shew it you at home in your owne house Which this deponent being desirous to see the sayd Margery stretching out her armes abroad sayd to this deponēt this is the true crosse of Christ this crosse thou oughtest and mayst euery day beholde and worship in thine owne house and therfore it is but vayne to run to the Church to worship dead crosses and Images Itē this deponent being demaunded by the said Margery how she beleued touching the sacramēt of the aulter sayd that the beleued the Sacrament of the aulter after the consecratiō to be the very body of Christ in forme of bread To whom Margery sayd your beliefe is nought For if euery such Sacrament were God the very body of christ there should be an infinite number of Gods because that a thousand priests and more doe euery day make a thousand such Gods and afterward eat them and voyd them out again by theyr hinder partes filthily stincking vnder the hedges whereas you may find a great many such Gods if you will seek for them And therfore know for a certaynty that by the grace of God it shall neuer be my God because it is falsly and deceitfully ordeyned by the priests in the church to induce the simple people to idolatry for it is onely materiall bread Moreouer the sayd Margery said to this deponēt that Thomas of Canterbury whom the people called S. Thomas was a false traytor and damned in hell because he iniuriously endowed the churches with possessions and raised vp many heresyes in the church which seduce the simple people and therefore if God be blessed the sayd Thomas is accursed and those false priests that say that he suffered his death patiently before the aulter do lye For as a false cowardly traytor he was slayne in the church dore as he was flying away Moreouer this deponent sayth that the sayd Margery told her that the cursed Pope Cardinals Archbishops and bishops specially the bishop of Norwich others that support and mayntayne heresies and Idolatry raigning ruling ouer the people shall shortly haue the very same or worse mischiefe fall vpon them thē that cursed mā Thomas of Canterbury had For they falsly and cursedly deceiue the people with theyr false mammetries lawes to extort mony of the simple folke to sustayn theyr pride riot and idlenes And know assuredly that the vengeance of God will speedely come vpō them which haue most cruelly slayne the children of God Father Abraham William White a true preacher of the law of God and Iohn Wadden with many other godly men which vengeaunce had come vpon the sayd Cayphas the Bishop of Norwich his ministers which are members of the deuill before this time if the Pope had not sent ouer those false pardons vnto these parties which the sayd Cayphas had falsly obteyned to induce the people to make procession for the state of them and of the church Which pardōs brought the simple people to cursed idolatry Item the sayd Margery sayd to this deponent that euery faythful man or woman is not bound to fast in Lent or other dayes appoynted for fasting by the church that euery man may lawfully eat flesh and all other meates vpon the sayd dayes and times and that it were better to eat the fragments left vpō Thursday at night on the fasting dayes thē to go to the market to bring themselues in debt to buy fish and that Pope Siluester made the Lent Item the sayd Margery sayd to this deponēt that W. White was falsly condēned for an hereticke that he was a good and holy mā and that he willed her to folow him to the place of execution Whereas she saw that whē he would haue opened his mouth to speak vnto the people to instruct them a deuill one of bishop Cayphas seruants strake him on the lips and stopped his mouth that he could in no case declare the will of God Item this deponent sayth that the sayd Margery taught her that she should not goe on pilgrimage neither to our Lady of Walsingame nor to any other saynt or place Also this deponent sayth that the sayd Margery desired her that she Ioane her mayde would come secretly in the night to her chamber there she should heare her husband read the law of Christ vnto them which law is written in a booke that her husbande was wont to reade to her by night and that her husband is well learned in the Christian verity Also that the same Margery had talked with a woman named Ione West and that the sayde woman is in a good way of saluation Also that the said Margery said to this deponēt Ione it appeareth by your countenaunce that you intend to disclose this that I haue sayde vnto you and this deponent sware that she woulde neuer disclose it without the sayde Margery gaue her occasion Then sayde Margery vnto this deponent if thou do accuse me vnto the Bishop I wil do vnto thee as I did once vnto a certayne Frier a Carmelite of Varmouth which was the best learned Frier in all the country Then this deponēt desired to know what she had done to the frier Unto whom Margery answered that she had talked with the sayd Frier rebuking him because he did beg saying that it was no almes to geue hym any good thing except he would leaue his habite and go to the plough and so he should please God more then folowing the life of some of those Friers Then the Frier requyred of the sayd Margery whether she could teach him or tel him any thing els Thē the sayd Margery as she affirmed to this deponent declared to this Frier the gospels in enlish and then the Frier departed from her After this the same Frier accused the sayd Margery of heresy and she vnderstanding that the Frier had accused her accused the Frier agayne that he would haue knowne her carrally and because she would not consent vnto him the Frier had accused her of heresy And moreouer she sayd that her husbād would haue killed the Frier therefore and so the Frier for feare held his peace and went his way for shame This Margery also sayd that she had oftentimes bene faynedly confessed to the Deane of the fieldes because he should thinke her to be a woman of good life and therfore he gaue the sayd Margery oftentimes money Then thys deponent asked her whether she had confessed her sinnes to a priest or not And she answered that she had neuer offended any priest therfore she would
hys part for here are many byshops proctors whō he doth not recken because they are not of his opinion Neither is the dignities of the fathers to be respected in the Councell as he sayth but onely reason nor anyethyng more to be looked for then the truth neyther will I for my part preferre a lye of any byshop be he neuer so rich before a veritie or truth of a poore priest Neither ought a byshop to disdayne if he be rude or vnlearned that the multitude doth not follow hym or that the voyce of a poore learned and eloquent priest should be preferred before his For wisedome dwelleth oftner vnder a bare and ragged cloke then in rich ornamentes and apparell Wherfore I pray you my Lord byshops do not so much contēne your inferiours for the first which dyed for Christ the which also opened vnto all other the way of Martyrdome was no byshop but onely a Leuite As for that whiche Ludouicus and Panormitane do allege touchyng the voyces of Bishops I know not where they haue it Wherfore I desire them that they would tell me where they haue foūd it But if we repeat the examples of old councels we shall finde that the inferiours were alwayes present with the Bishops And albeit that Ludouicus do forbid vs the examples of the apostles I stay my self most vpon their doings For what is more comely for vs to followe then the doctrine customes of the primitiue Church It is sayd therfore in the 15. chapter of the Acts of the Apostles it seemed good vnto the holy ghost and to vs. The whiche word to vs is referred vnto them which are before named the Apostles and the Elders Neither this word it semed good signifieth in this place consultation but decision and determination whereby it appeareth that other beside that byshops had determining voyces In an other place also of the sayd Actes when as the apostles shoulde intreate vppon anye wayghty matter they durst not determine by themselues but the xii called together the multitude Here Ludouicus sayth that it doeth not appeare y◠the Apostles called other of necessitie but I say vnto hym how knowest thou that they did not call thē of necessitie But for so much as both partes are vncertayne nothing doth prohibite vs to follow the Apostles For seeing that all thinges were written for our learning it appeareth that the Apostles wold geue vs exāple that in wayghty matters we shold admit our inferiours And therfore in all Councels which were celebrate holden afterwards we find that Priestes were also present as in the Councell of Nice whiche of all other was most famous Athanasius being then but onely a priest withstood the Arrians and infringed their argumentes Albeit there were also other priestes And albeit mention be made of 322. byshops yet is not denyed but that the inferiours were there whome I thinke to be omitted for this cause for that they were almost innumerable for as you know well enough the denomination for the most part is taken of the most worthy In the Synode of Calcedon which was counted one of the foure principall Synodes it is sayd that there were present 600. priestes the which name is common both vnto byshops and Priestes In other Councels the name both of Bishops and Priestes is omitted mention made onely of Fathers which hath the same signification the thys worde Elders had in the actes of the Apostles Wee haue also a testimony of the ecclesiasticall history how that ther was a Councell gathered of Rome of lx Byshops and as many Priestes Deacons agaynst the Nouations which called themselues Cathari Also when Paule the Byshop of Antioche in the tyme of Galiene the Emperoure preached that Christ was a man of common nature the Councell assembled agaynst hym in Antioche wherunto there came Byshops out of Cesaria Capadotia out of Pontus Asia and from Ierusalem and many other Byshops Priestes and Deacons and it is said that for that cause the Councel was often holden And at the last in the same place vnder Aurelius the Emperour Paule was condemned of al Christian Churches which were vnder heauē neyther was there any mā which did more confound the sayd Paul then Malchiona Priest of Antioche which taught Rhetorike in Antioche But to make no long digression from the matter we haue most euident testimonies for the defence of the inferiours For the chiefe and principall amongst all the Diuines S. Austen vpō the wordes of Mathew where as Christ saith vnto Peter I wil geue thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauē sayth that by those words the iudiciall power was geuen not only vnto Peter but also to the other Apostles and to the whole Churche the byshops and Priestes If then Priestes haue a iudiciall power in the churche what shold iet that they haue not also a determining voyce in the coūcels The famous Doctour S. Hierome doth also agree with S. Austen whose wordes are these vpon the Epistle of Paule vnto Titus Before that difference was made in Religion by the instigation of the deuill or that it was spoken amongest the people I holde of Paule I of Apollo I of Cephas the Churches were gouerned by the common consent and Councell of the Priestes for a priest is the very same that a byshop is Wherefore all Byshops ought to vnderstand that they are of greater power then Priestes rather by custome then by the dispensation of the truth of God and that they ought to rule the church together And this we do also gather out of Paule vnto Titus which maketh so much concordaunce betweene bishops and priests that oftentimes he calleth priestes Byshops whereby it doth euidently appeare that priestes are not to be excluded from the conuentions of byshops and determinations of matters And albeit as S. Hierom writeth that byshops onely by custome are preferred before Priestes it may be that a contrary custome may take away that custome For if priestes ought to rule the church together with the byshops it is euident that it also pertayneth vnto them to decide and determine the doubtfull matters of the Church Wherfore the testimony of S. Paule is euident for as he writing vnto the Ephesians sayth If Christe instituted hys Apostles Prophetes Pastours and Teachers to the worke of the ministery for the edifying of hys Church vntill such tyme as we should meete hym for this purpose that there should be no doubt in the diuersitie of doctrine who doubteth then but that the gouernaunce of the Church is committed vnto others together with the Apostles Let these our champions now hold their peace and seeme to be no wiser then they ought to be The memoriall of the coūcell of Constance is yet fresh in memory wheras diuers of vs were present and I my selfe also whiche was neither Cardinall nor byshop but onely a Doctour where I dyd see without any maner of doubt of difficultie the inferiors
vereties which were examined that therby the temeritie of the EugeniaÌ„s might be repressed which verities albeit they were 8. in number yet was it not the Fathers inteÌ„t to conclude vpon them al but onely the three first euen as I also saith he here do conclude in the name of the Father the sonne and the holy Ghost When he had finished his Oration with a cheerful and mery countenaunce rising vp he departed Some of them kissed him and some of them kissed the skirtes of his garmentes A great number followed him and greatly commended his wisedome that being a Frenche man borne had that day vanquished the Italians which were men of great pollicy Howbeit this was all mens opinion that it was done rather by the operation of the holy Ghost then by the Cardinals owne power The other of the contrary faction as men bereft of their mindes hanging downe theyr heades departed euery man to his lodging They weÌ„r not together neither saluted one an other so that their countenaunces declared vnto euery man that they were ouercome Something more also is reported of Panormitane that when he came to his lodging was gone vnto his chamber he complained with himself vpon his king which had compelled him to striue agaynst the truth and put both his soule and good name in daunger of loosing and that in the middest of his teares and complayntes he fell a sleepe and did eate not meate vntill late in the euening for very sorow for that he had neither ignorauntly neither vnwillingly impugned the truth After this there was great consultation amongest the Eugenians what were best to be done in this matter Some thought good to depart and leaue the Councel other some thought it meeter to tary and with at endeuour to resist that nothing should further be done agaynst the Eugenians this opinion remained amongest them The next day after being the 15. day of Aprill the Archbishop of Lyons and the bishop of Burgen calling together the prelates into the Chapter house of the great church began many thinges as touching peace The Bishop of Burgen perswaded that there shuld be deputations appoynted that day vnto whoÌ„ the Archbishop of Lyons shoulde geue power to make an agrement Unto whome aunswere was made as they thought very roughly but as other iudged geÌ„tly but not withstanding iustly and truely For they sayd there could be no vnitie or concorde made before the aduersaries confessed their fault and asked pardon therefore The day following the sayd Byshop of Burgen with the other Lombards and Cathelans went vnto the Germaines and from thence vnto the Senate of the citie speaking much as touching the prohibiting of Schismes The Germaynes referred themselues to those thinges which the deputation should determine The Senate of the Citie as they were great meÌ„ of wisedom which would do nothing without dilligent aduise and deliberation answered that the marter pertayned not vnto them but vnto yâ— Counâ—or The fathers whereof were most wise men and were not ignoraunt what pertayned vnto the Christen fayth and if there were any daunger toward it shuld be declared vnto the Councell and not to the Senate For they beleue that the Elders of the Councell if they were premonished would foresee that there should no hurt happen as for the Senate of the Cittie it was there duety onely to defend the fathers and to preserue the promise of the citie with this answere the byshop of Burgen departed In the meane time the fathers of the councell had drawen out a forme of a decree vpon the former conclusions and had approned the same in the sacred deputations By this time the Princes Orators were returned from the assembly at Mentz holding a Councel among themselues they had determined to let the decree The 9. day of May there was a generall conuocation holdeÌ„ wherunto all meÌ„ resorted either part putting forth himselfe vnto the coÌ„flict The Princes Ambassadours were called by the bishop of Lubecke and Conrade de Winsperg the protectour into the quier and there kept whereas they intreated of a vnity and by what meanes it might be had and there they taryed longer then some thought to doe the whiche matter gaue occasion to bring thinges well to passe beyond al expectation The onely forme of the decree was appoynted to be concluded that day whereupon as soon as Cardinall Arelatensis perceiued the congregation to be full and that the twelue men had agreed and that there was a great expectation with sileuce he thought good not to delay it for feare of tumult but commanded by and by the publick coÌ„cordaunces to be read wherein this was also contayned that the Cardinall Arelatensis might appoynt a Session when soeuer he would Which being read he being desired by the promotors concluded according as the maner of custome is The Ambassadours of princes being yet it in the Duier as soone as they vnderstoode how the matter passed being very much troubled vexed they brake of theyr talke imputing all thinges to the bishop of Lubecke which of purpose had kept them in the Duier and protracted the time Wherupon they entring into the congregation filled the church full of complayntes First of all the Oratour of Lubecke complayned both in his owne name and the name of the protectour as touching the conclusion required that the councell woulde reuoke the same If that might be graunted he promised to intreate a peace and to be a protector betweene the Councell and the Ambassadours of the Princes But the Archbyshop of Turnon said that it seemed vnto him euery maÌ„ to haue free libertie to speake against that law whith shold be promulgate vntill the Session wheÌ„ the Canons shuld be consecrated and receiue their force wheÌ„ as the bishops in their poÌ„tificalibus after the reading of the decree in the Session should aunswere that it pleased them otherwise the demaund which was made by the promoters in the Session to be but vayne and for that the coÌ„clusious were not yet allowed in the Session and therefore he sayd that he might without rebuke speake somewhat as touching the same and that it was a great and hard matter and not to be knit vp in such a short time and that he had the knowledge thereof but euen now notwithstaÌ„ding that he being an Archbishop ought to haue knowne the matter that at hys return home he might informe the king also instruct those which were vnder him And that he and his fellowes before any Session should be would both heare be heard of others Neither doth it seeme good vnto him that the Session should be holdeÌ„ before report were made of those things which the Ambassadours of the Princes had done at Mentz which would peraduenture be such as might altter and chaunge the mindes of the fathers Then the Byshop of Concen Ambassadour of the king of Castell which was also lately returned from Mentz a man
of great vnderstanding but lacking vtteraunce greeuously complayned that the prelates were contemned Neither had it bene sayd he any great matter if they had ben taried for which notwithout great daunger and expences went to Mentz not for theyr pleasure but of necessitie And afterward as it were smiling he sayd how mad am I the would haue the Prelates to be taryed for vntil they returne from Mentz when as they are not taryed for whilest they came out or the Duier of the Churche doe therfore as ye list If there rise any offence or mischiefe her â—upon neyther are we the Ambassadoues of Castell to or blamed neither can anye man of right inpute any thing to one most noble king Here were it long is reprate with what rebukes and taimtes they inuyed agaynst the Cardinall Arelatensis but especially the byshop of Milane rayled most teuellye vpon him saying yâ— he fostred mayntained a table of Sopistes and Scholemaisters that he had concluded in matters of faith with them calling him also another Cataline vnto whom al desperate and noughty persons had refuge that he was thew Prince ruled the Church with them and that he woulde not geue care vnto the Ambassadours of the most noble princes or to the most famous Prelates in this most wayghty matter Albagensis a man of great nobilitie descended of the Emperours bloud albeit he had neuer alienate hys minde before from the Councell yet least he should seeme to dissent from other Ambassadours of the princes made the like complaynt as touching the atteÌ„pt of the prelates After this it came vnto PanormitaÌ„ to speake who as he had a greater vehemency in speaking so also he did declare a more angry stomacke and mind for in the beginning of hys Oration he seemeth not to go about accordyng to the precept at Oratours to get the good will of the hearers but rather theyr hatred for he sayd that our sauiour sheweth foure signes in the Gospell whereby we should know the good from the reprobate for he whiche is of God sayth he heareth the wordes of God but you heare not the wordes of God because yee are not of God And agayne he that doth euill hateth the light And in an other place also by their fruites you shal know them And a good tree cannot bring forth euill fruit All which sayinges he wrested agaynst the fathers of yâ— Councel because they would not heare the words of God that is to say the wordes of peace which the Ambassadors had spoken because they fled from the light in the absence of the Ambassadours priuilye concluding and because in their deputation they had not holden and kept the holye day but had coÌ„cluded thereupon also because they had the vpper hand in the foresayd coÌ„clusion not by reason but by deceit As touching the fruits he sayd that the fathers them selues shuld meditate and consider how that if their fruits were not good they also themselues were not good that he did see an other Councell at hand where as he feared least these conclusions should be reuoked as the fruit of an euill tree and therefore they ought not so sodaynly to proceede in so wayghty matters and that he woulde be yet more fully heard before the Session as well in hys owne name because he was an archbishop as in the name of his prince which raygned not ouer one kingdome alone but ouer many Also he said that he heretofore by his words deeds and writinges hath extolled the authoritie of the Councel and that he feared least by these meanes the authoritie thereof shuld be subuerted At the last he required pardon if he had offended the fathers of the Councell for so muche as very sorrow and griefe forced hym to speake so The Abbot Uergiliacensis would haue made answere to those thinges whiche Panormitan had touched concerning hyis deputation but Arelatensis thought good that all the contrary part should speake first amongst whome last of all Ludouicus the Prothonotary the Homere of Lawyers rose vp And albeit that he spake vnwillingly yet when he had begon he could not refrayne his wordes And whiles he went about to seeme learned and eloquent he vtterly forgat to be good He sayd that the Councell ought to take heed that they intreated no matter of fayth against the Prelates least any offence should follow for that some would say it were a matter of no force or effect For albeit that Christ chose 12. Apostles and 70. Disciples notwithstanding in the setting forth of the Creede onely the Apostles were present thereby as it were geuing example that the matters of fayth did pertayne onely vnto the Apostles so consequently vnto bishops Neither that they ought hastely to proceede in matters of fayth whiche ought to be clearely distinct for somuche as Peter affirmeth the triall of fayth to be much more precious then golde which is tryed by the fire And if the Bishops be contemned which are called the pillers and keyes of heauen the fayth cannot seeme to be well proued or examined But at length he confessed that the inferiours might determine with the Bishops but denied that the least part of the Bishops with the most part of the inferiours might determine any thing From thence he passing to the matter of fayth sayd that those verities whereupon question was nowe had are Articles of fayth if they were verities of fayth And forsomuch as euery man should be bounde for to beleue those therefore he would be better instructed taught in that matter whiche he shoulde beleue as an Article or fayth Neither should it be comely for the Councell to deny him his request which according to the rule of the Apostle ought to be ready to geue account vnto euery man whiche shall require it touching the fayth which it holdeth After euery man had made an end of speaking the Cardinall ArelateÌ„sis calling his spirites together made an Oration wherein he answered now the one now the other And first of all he commended the desires of the Imperiall Ambassadours which offered to intreat a peace and vnity but neither necessity nor honesty he sayde woulde suffer those thinges whiche are concluded to be reuoked He aunswered also that the petition of the Ambassadors of FrauÌ„ce is most iust in that they required to be instructed touching the fayth and that the couÌ„cell would graunt their request and send vnto them certayn diuines which should instruct them at home at theyr lodgings but the matter was already concluded could no more be brought in question that the Session was onely holden rather to beautify the matter then to confirme the same And as touching that which the bishop of Concen so greatly coÌ„playneth of he doth not much maruell for he could not know the processe of the matter when he was absent who being better instructed he supposed would speak nomore any such words forsomuch as a iust man would
require no vniust thing Also that his protestatioÌ„ had no euill sense or meaning in that he would not haue it imputed neither vnto him neither vnto hys king if any offence should rise vpon the conclusions Notwithstanding it is not to be feared that any euill shoulde spring of good workes But vnto the Bishop of Millayne he would aunswere nothing because he saw him so moued and troubled for feare of multiplying of more greuous and hainous words As for Panormitane he reserued vnto the last But vnto Ludouicus the Prothonotary whiche desired to be instructed he sayd he willed him to be satisfied with the wordes which were spokeÌ„ vnto the Bishop of Turnon Notwithstanding he left not this vntouched which ludouicus had spoken concerning the Apostles Creede For albeit that in the setting forth of the Creede the Apostles be onely named yet it doth not follow sayth he that they onely were present at the setting forth therof For it happeneth of tentimes that Princes are commended and praysed as chiefe authors and doers of thinges when as notwithstanding they haue other helpers as it appeareth in battayles which although they are foughte with the force of all the souldiors yet the victory thereof is imputed but vnto a fewe As in these our dayes they do ascribe all thinges which the army doth either fortunately or wisely vnto Nicolas Picenius that most valiaunt Captayne which hath obteined so many famous victories albeit that oftentimes other haue bene the inuentors of the pollicy and workers of the feate And therefore Ludouicus ought to knowe and vnderstand that they are not onely articles of fayth which are conteyned in the Creede but all other determinations made by the Councels as touching the fayth Neyther is he ignorant that there be some articles of the Creed which we now vse in the Church that were not put too by the Apostles but afterward by generall Councels as that part wherein mention is made of the holy Ghoste whiche the Councell of Lyous did adde in whiche Councell also it is not bee doubted but that the inferiours dyd iudge together with the Byshoppes But for so much as he had sufficiently declared that matter in the congregation before passed he would stay no longer thereupon But comming vnto Panormitan he rehearsed his wordes Qui ex Deo est verba Dei audit He that is of God heareth Gods word which is very well takeÌ„ out of the Gospell but not well applyed vnto the councell sayd he for he firmely beleued that his predecessors haue iudged holy Ghost to be in the middest of the Councels and therfore the wordes of the Councels to be the wordes of the holy Ghost which if any man do reiect he denieth himselfe to be of God Neither doth the councell hate the light which doth all things publickly and openly whose congregatioÌ„s are cuideÌ„t vnto all men neither doth it as the conuenticles of the aduersaries admit some and exclude other some Moreouer the thing which is now in hand was begon to be intreated of for two monethes agoe first the conclusions were largely disputed vpon in the diuinity scholes and afterward seÌ„t vnto Mentz and other places of the world After all this the fathers were called into the Chapter house of the great Church to the number of 120. amongest whom Panormitan which now coÌ„plaineth was also present and according to his maner did learnedly and subtilly dispute and had liberty to speak what he would Likewise in the deputations euery man spake his mind freely in that deputation where Panormitan was the matter was 3. dayes discussed After this the 12. men did agree vpon it and the general congregation did conclude it Neither hath there bene at any time any thing more ripelye or exactlye handled both openly also without any fraud or deceite And whereas the deputatioÌ„ did sit vpoÌ„ a holy 〈◊〉 â—here is no hurt in that neither is it any new or straunge thing forasmuch as they haue ofteÌ„ holden their Session vpon testinall dayes when as the matter hath had haste and specially for that the matter of fayth hath no holy dayes And further he said that he did not conclude craftely and deceitfully in the congregatioÌ„ as Panormitane hath reported but publickly opeÌ„ly at the request of the Promotoâ—s Neither hath any maÌ„ any iust cause to coÌ„playne vpoÌ„ him forsomuch as wheÌ„ he was made President he was sworne that alwaies wheÌ„ 4. or 3. of the deputations did agree he should conclude therupoÌ„ And forsomuch as he had already concluded in diuers causes touchinge the Pope he sawe no cause why hee should not conclude in the matter of fayth for that he was a Cardinall did weare his red hat for this purpose that he should shed his bloud in the defeÌ„ce of the fayth Neither hath he done any thing now agaynst the Pope for that omitting the fine conclusions touching Eugenius he had concluded but onely the generall conclusions which except he had done the fathers should haue had iust cause to complayne agaynst him in that they trusting in his fidelitye faythfulnes had chose him PresideÌ„t if by him they shoulde now be forsaken in this most necessary cause of fayth And turning himselfe vnto the people he desired the fathers to be of good comfort forsomuche as he woulde neuer forsake them yea although he should suffer death for he had geuen his fayth and fidelity vnto the Councell which he would be obserue and keepe neither should any manues flattery in threatninges put him from his purpose that he would be alwayes ready to do whatsoeuer the Councel should commaund him and neuer leaue the commaundements of the deputies by any meanes vnperformed As touching that Panormitan had extolled the authority of the Councell he sayd that he was greatly to be thaÌ„ked But yet he ought to vnderstand and know the authority of the Councell to be such as cannot be augmented or increased by any mans prayse or coÌ„mendation or be diminished by any opprobry or slauÌ„der These things thus premised he coÌ„maunded the forme of the decree to be read TheÌ„ Panormitane those which tooke his part would needes haue a certayn protestatioÌ„ to be first read There was great contention on euery side Notwithstanding at the last Arelatensis preuayled and the forme of the decree was read vnto this word Decernimus that is to say we decree TheÌ„ Panormitan rising vp would not sucter it to be heard any further And the Bishop of Catauia cryed out saying that it was vncomely that Arelatensis with a few other Byshops by name should conclude the matter The like did also all those which fauoured Panormitane The Cardinall of Terraconia also which vntill that time had holden hys peace did greuously rebuke his partakers that as men being a sleep or in a dreame they did not read the protestatioÌ„ and commauÌ„ded by and by one of his familiars to read it But like as the aduersaries
contentions those which most excell in learning and eloquence and do more then other should be most renowned named for on that one part Panormitane was prince and Captayne on the other Arelatensis but his owne will made not the one Captain but onely necescity for it behoued him to obey his prince Notwithstanding he was not ignoraunt of the truth and verity neither did he resist willingly against it for I haue sene him oftentimes in his library complayne of his prince that he followed other mens CouÌ„cell When as his time came to speak he sayd that he did not a little maruell why the protector of the fayth shoulde require the Prelates to haue a Session whiche was nothing perteining to his office and that he ought not to vsurpe the Presidentes place And agayne he complayned touching the contempt of the Prelates for the matter did presently touch the state of the Apostolicke sea for that cause the sea ought to be heard before any Session beholdeÌ„ Neither it is to be regarded said he that the couÌ„cell of constance semeth to haue decreed that it should now be spoken of for so much as Pope Iohn was not heard at Constaunce neither any man els to speake for the sea by which words he seemed both to conteÌ„nc and bring in dout all the decrees of that most great and sacred synode of CoÌ„stance therefore there was a great tumult and all men cried out with one voyce saying that the Synod of CoÌ„stance is holy and the authority thereof ought to be inuiolate But he being still instant with a stoute and hauty courage affirmed that the matter coulde not be finished without the Ambassadours of the Princes and that the Princes ought to be heard in a matter of fayth And agayne that the Ambassadors themselues cannot consent for so much as in the Colloqui holden at Mentz they had promised during the treaty of peace by them begunne they woulde receiue allow nothing that the Pope shoulde either doe agaynst the councell or the councell agaynst the Pope that he doubted not but that the thâ—ee first conclusions declared Eugenius an hereticke in so much that it was euident that Eugenius did vehemently resist the two first And therefore for so much as the Session was not yet holden and that it was lawful for euery man before that Session to speak what he will he desired and required them most instauntly that there might be no Session as yet holden Unto whom Arelatensis answered that it was not to be doubted but that the promoter of the fayth by his office might call the prelates to determine a matter of fayth specially for so much as the deputation of the fayth and the whole councell had so geuen him in commaundement As touching the prelates he sayth that albeit without all doubt bishops haue chiefe authority yet notwithstanding it is accustomed in Councels not to make any conclusion in the name of the bishops but in the name of the whole councell and the vniuersall Church hath decreed certayne lawes in this Councell which shoulde remayne inuiolate Neither let the bishops thinke the presence of the inferiors greuous vnto them when as ofteÌ„times vnder a bare and torne coate wisedome lyeth hid and vnder rich vestures ornaments folly lurketh Bishops ought also to be mindfull of the saying of Domitius whiche as S. Hierome reporteth sayd why should I esteme thee as a prince if thou doest not regard me as a Senator For the byshops ought to esteme Priestes as Priestes if they will haue reuerence done vnto them as Bishops Neither ought the Princes to be looked for to the deciding of this matter for so much as the Church is not congregated in the name of the princes but in the name of Christ which hath not receiued hys power from princes but immediatly from God to the defence wherof he should perceiue the inferiors to be no lesse lesse encouraged theÌ„ the bishops for that he did wel vnderstand and know that they would not onely spend theyr teÌ„porall good but also theyr liues for the defence thereof As for some bishops rather theÌ„ they will lose any part of their teÌ„poralties they wil sel the liberty of the church vnto the princes make them iudges and Lords ouer the Councel As touching the actes at Mentz he doth not regard them for so muche as as it is sayde they accompted without theyr hoste for he sayth he doth not vnderstand how this can be that they had decreed neither to obey the pope nor the couÌ„cell The one or the other they must needs be obedient vnto for there is no third tribunall whereunto any obedieÌ„ce is due in these matters which concern the fayth and the saluation of soules And finally that the Church woulde not suffer that theyr affayres matters of fayth shoulde be determined by the iudgement of princes for the holy ghost is not subiect vnto princes but princes vnto him and vpon this conclusion he would not feare neither the losse of hys goods neither any death or martirdome And wheras Panormitane doth nowe shew himselfe so great a defender of Eugenius he sayth that he doth not a litle maruell at it for that in times past no man hath more published Eugenius his errors then he by whose special labor councel both a decree monitory also the suspeÌ„sion was admitted set out against Eugenius And now whereupoÌ„ this sodein chauÌ„ge should come he saith that he was vtterly ignorant forsomuch as neither Eugenius had altered his life neither could the church continue in such a schisme Wherfore he desired Panormitane diligently to consider whether he spake according to his conscience or not for sayth he the conclusions which nowe shall be decreed are most generall neither is there any mention in them of the Pope and moreouer the verity of fayth is contayned in them agaynst the whiche if Eugenius did contend it were more meete that the Pope should be corrected then the veritye omitted And thus he making an end all were warned to come the next day vnto the Session The protector also desired the sacred Councel that none should be suffred to bring any weapon to the session For so much as he was ready to obserue the safe conduct of the Emperour and together with the Senate of the city to prohibite all quarrellers for doing of miury When the 16. day of May was come all they whom the Session conteÌ„ted and pleased assembled at the houre The Ambassadours also of the princes were come together into the quier of the church to attempt further what they could do and sending the bishops of Lubeck and Concense and the Deane of Turnon an excellent learned man they offered themselues to be present at the Session if that the deposition of Eugenius might yet be deferred foure monethes Who when they had receiued a gentle answere of ArelateÌ„sis and the other principals returning agayn vnto the
Embassadors they would only haue the first conclusion decreed and therupon sent agayne vnto Arelatensis vnto whō answere was made that the chief force did consist in the two other conclusions and that the Coūcel would specially determine vpon them If the Ambassadors would not be present they should vnderstand that the concord was broken by them which would not obserue that which they had offered With which auswere they departed the Sessiō begā to be celebrate There was no Prelate of the Aragons present at it neither out of Spayn and our of Italy onely the bishop of Grosserane and the Abbot of Dona whiche for theyr constancy steadfast good will toward the vniuersall church could not be chaūged from their purpose but of doctors and other inferiors there were a great number of Aragons and almost all the inferiors of Spayne and Italy for the inferiors feared not the princes as the Bishoppes did and then the worthy stoutnes of the Aragones Cathelanes appeared in the inferiour sort which woulde not shrinke away in the necessity of the church Of the two other nations there were only present 20. bishops The residue lurked in theyr lodginges professing the fayth in theyr hartes but not in theyr mouthes Arelatensis considering afore what would come to passe caused praiers to be made after their praiers made vnto almighty god with teares and lamētation that he would send them his holy spirit to ayde and assist them they were greatlye comforted and encouraged This congregatiō was famous and albeit that there were not many bishops present yet al the seats were filled with the Bishoppes Proctors Archdeacons Presidents Priors Priestes and Doctors of both lawes which I iudged to be about the number of 400. or more amongst whō there was no noyce no chiding no opprobrious wordes or contētion but one exhorted another to the profession of the fayth and there appeared a full and whole consent of them all to defend the church The bishop of Massilia a noble mau read the decree which was attentiuely harkened vnto and not one word interrupted When it was ended Te Deum laudamus was song with great ioy and gladnes so the Session dissolued whiche was in number the xxxiii Session and amongest all the rest the most quiet and peaceable The day following being the xxii of May the Princes Embassadors without all mens expectation came vnto the general congregatiō by that theyr doing at the least geuing theyr assent vnto the Session before passed In celebrating wherof if the fathers had erred it had not bene lawfull for the Princes and Embassadours to haue holden the councell with those fathers But it was thought that they were touched with remorse of conscience and euen now to detest and abhorre that which they had done as it was not hidden to the Embassadours of the Empyre and Fraūce For the bishop of Lubecke sayde that the cause of his absence was for that he was appointed by the Emperors cōmaūdement to intreat a peace Wherfore it was not comely for him to be present at any businesse whereby he should be vexed or troubled with whome the peace should be intreated Notwithstanding he did much commend the session before holdē and beleued the decree therein promulgate to be most good and holy and the verities therin contemed to be vndoubted sayd that he would sticke therunto both now and euen vnto the death But the bishop of Turnō a man both learned and eloquent speaking for him and hys felowes sayd that he heard how that they were euill spokē of amongst some in that they had not honored theyr king in that most sacred Sessiō whom it becommed specially to exalt and defend the fayth which also for that cause aboue all other kings was named most christen notwithstāding he sayd that they had a lawfull excuse in that it was cōuenient that they which were sēt to intreat peace should doe nothing whereby theyr Ambassade shold be stopped or letted Also there are two kindes of iniustice sayd he wherby either thinges are done that should not be done or thinges that should be done are not done The first doth not alwayes bind because it is conuenient to haue respect of time place and persō But the last doth alwayes bind wherin he sayd they were not culpable But as touching the first poynt they might seme vnto some to haue erred because they wer not present at the Session but yet in this poynt they had sufficient to answere forsomuch as if they had bene present at that Session they should haue bene vnmeete to haue intreated any peace with Eugenius And therfore albeit they were wanting at so holy a businesse in that point they followed the example of Paule which albeit he desired to be dissolued to be which Christ yet for the further profit and aduauncement of the church it was deferred So likewise he sayd that they had now done for that they were not absent because they doubted of the conclusions whiche they iudged to be most true and holy whereunto they would sticke euen vnto the death but because they woulde not be vnmeet for the treaty of peace for which they came and yet that which they had not done in theyr owne persō they had fulfilled sayd he by theyr seruaunts and household whom altogether they commaunded to reuerence that Session I would that I had bene then in the place of some great prelate surely they should not haue gone vnpunished whiche thought to haue playd bo peepe For what doth the declaration of the trueth hinder the treatye of peace Or if it doe hurt why is he not counted as great an offender which cōsenteth to him that declareth the truth as he which doth declare it What shal we need any further testimony for now the Embassadors of the Princes haue declared Eugenius to be an enemy vnto the truth But to passe ouer these thinges it is sufficient that Eugenius wrote afterward vnto the king of Fraunce that he did vnderstand the Bishop of Tournon to be become his enemy After that the Bishop of Tournon had made an ende Cardinall Arelatensis gaue thanks vnto God which had so defended his Church after great stormes and cloudes had sent fayre cleare weather cōmending the good wyll of the Emperour and the King of Fraunce towarde the Church he also praysed the bishop of Lubecke and Tournon for that oftentimes in the Councell and also of late at Mentz they had defended the authority of the coūcell But specially he commēded this theyr present doings that they had opēly confessed the trueth and had not sequestred them selues from the fayth of the Church Afterward he entring into the declaration of the matter sayd that he was at Pysis and at Constance and neuer saw a more quiet or deuout Session then this affirming y◠this decree was most necessary to represse the ambition of the Bishops of Rome whiche exalting
of the clergy so constant to death which wil suffer Martirdom either for the one part or the other Al we lightly hold that faith which our princes hold which if they would worship Idols we would also do the same not onely deny the Pope but God also if the secular power strayn vs thereunto for charitye is waxed colde and all fayth is gone Howsoeuer it be let vs all desire and seeke for peace the whiche peace whether it come by a councell or by assemblye of Princes call it what you will I care not for we stand not vpon the terme but vpon the matter Call breade if you will a stone so you geue me to asswage my hunger Whether you call it a Councell or a conuenticle or an assembly or a congregation or a synagogue that is no matter so that schisme may be excluded and peace established Thus much out of the Epistle of Pius By this may it appeare of what sentence and minde this Pius was in the time of the Councell of Basill before he was made Pope But as our common prouerbe sayth honors chaungeth maners so it happeneth with this Pius who after he came once to be Pope was much altered from that he was before For where as before he preferred generall Councels before the Pope nowe being Pope he did decree that no man should appeale from the high Byshop of Rome to any generall Councell And likewise for priestes mariage where as before he thought it best to haue theyr wiues restored yet afterward he altered his mind otherwise In so much that in his book intreating of Germany and there speaking of the noble city of August by occasion he inueyed agaynst a certayne Epistle of Hulderike once bishop of the sayd City written agaynst the constitution of the single life of priests Wherby it appeareth how the minde of this Pius was altered frō that it was before This Epistle of Hulderick is before expressed at large in the pag. 137. Here also might I touch something concerning the discord betwixt this Aeneas Syluius and Diotherus Archbish. of Mentz and what discorde was styrred vp in Germany vpon the same betwene Frederick the Palatine and duke of Wittenberge with others by the occasion whereof besides the slaughter of many the City of Mentz which was free before lost theyr freedome and became seruile The causes of the discord betwixt Pope Pius and Diotherus were these First because that Diotherus would not consent vnto him in the imposition of certaine tallages and taxes within his country Secondly for that Diotherus would not be boūd vnto him requiring that the said Diotherus being prince Electour should not call the other Electors together wythout hys licence that is without the licence of the Bishop of Rome And thirdly because Diotherus would not permit to the Popes Legates to conuocate his Clergy together after theyr owne lust This Pope Pius began his lea about the yere of our Lord. 1458. After this Pius secundus succeded Paulus secūdus a pope wholy set vpon his belly and ambition and not so muche voyd of all learning as the hater of all learned men Thys Paulus had a daughter begotten in fornication which because he sawe her to be had in reproch for that she was got ten in fornication began as the storyes reporte to repent him of the law of the single life of priestes and went aboute to reforme the same had not death preuented him Ex Stanislao Rutheno After this Paulus came Sixtus the fourth whiche builded vp in Rome a stewes of both kindes getting therby no small reuenues and rents vnto the church of Rome This Pope amongest his other actes reduced the yeare of Iubely from the 50. vnto the 25. He also instituted the feast of the Conception and of the presentation of Mary of Anna her mother and Ioseph Also he canonised Bonauenture and S. Fraunces for Sayntes By this Sixtus also beades were brought in and instituted to make our Ladyes Psalter thorowe the occasion of one Alanus and his order whome Baptista maketh mention of in thys verse Hi filo insertis numerant sua murmura baccis That is these menne putting theyr beades vpon a string number theyr prayers This Sixtus the Pope made xxxij Cardinals in his time whom Petrus Ruerius was the first who for that time that he was Cardinall which was but two yeares spent in luxurious ryot wasted and consumed 2 hundred thousand Floreines and was left 60000. in debt Wesellus Groningensis in a certayne Treatise of his de In dulgentijs papalibus writing of thys Pope Sixtus reporteth this that at the requeste of the foresayde Peter Cardinall and of Ierome his brother the sayd Pope Sixtus permitted and graunted vnto the whole family of the Cardinall of S. Lucy in the iij. hoate monethes of sommer Iune Iuly and August a horrible thing to be spoken free leaue and liberty to vse Sodomitry with this clause Fiat vt petitur That is be it as it is asked Next after this Sixtus came Innocentius the eight as rude and as farre from all learning as his predecessor was before him Amongest the noble factes of this Pope this was one that in the towne of Polus apud Aequicolos he caused 8. men and 6. women with the Lord of the place to be apprehended and taken and iudged for hereticks because they sayd that none of them was the vicare of Christ which came after Peter but they which folowed onely the pouerty of Christ. Also he condemned of heresy George the king of Boheme and depriued him of his dignity and also of his kingdome and procured his whole stocke to be vtterly reiected and put downe geuing his kyngdome to Mathias king of Panonia Now from the Popes to descend to other estates it remayneth likewise somewhat to write of the Emperours incident to this time with matters and greuaunces of the Germaynes as also of other princes first beginning with our troubles mutations here at home perteining to the ouerthrow of this King Henry and of his seate nowe following to be shewed And briefly to cōtract long proces of much tumult and busines into a short narration here is it to be remēbred which partly before was signified how after the death of the Duke of Glocester mischiefes came in by heapes vpon the king and his realm For after the geuing away of Angeow and Mayne to the Frenchmen by the vnfortunate mariage of Queen Margaret aboue mentioned the sayd frenchmen perceiuing now by the death of the duke of Glocester the stay and piller of this common wealth to be decayed and seing moreouer the harts of the nobility amōg themselues to be deuided foreslacked no time hauing such an open way into Normandy that in short time they recouered the same also gate Gascoigne so that no more now remayned to Englād of al the parts beyond the sea but onely Calice Neither yet did all the calamity
parte of consent therein and would take his part neither durst offer him any harme for that his doing nor yet could wel aduise with themselues what was best to do for feare of priuy confederacie within themselues Thus while Lascanus the chiefe captaine of the Christians aforesayd with his fellowe souldiours were in a mase what to doe or not to do in the meane time came one running who geuing a signe both to the Christians and the Turkes to hold theyr hands and weapons for that it was against all lawe of warre to fight after peace and truce taken our men as they were commaunded went into the inward tower The turkes in the meane time had got into the Castle and occupyed all the vtter parties Then was Salamanca by the consent of the rest sent out to the Turk who there being stayde that night the next morrowe the Turkes bull or warant was sent into the Castle permitting free libertie to the Christians to depart with bag and baggage Who now beyng ready to depart first were coÌ„maunded by the turkes compassing them round about to cast from them theyr dagges launces and battaile axes into the trench Then comming to the gate to go out theyr swordes were taken from them looking then for nothing but present death At last wheÌ„ they were come a little further other were sent to them to discharge them of theyr helmettes their tergattes currettes and what soeuer peece of harnes was about them Whereupon great feare came vpon them least some great cruelty should be shewed vpon them SolymaÌ„ after he had long deliberated with himself whether to kil theÌ„ or not at last contrary to all expectatioÌ„ granted theyr liues but before they should be dismissed he first caused them in derision of Christianitie to be bayted with scornes and mockes throughout all the Turkish army and so the next day commaunded them being stript out of theyr coats and apparell to be reduced againe into the castle by companies setting ouer them certayne turkes with cudgels battes to lay vpon their backes and sides causing them to bury the dead carcases and to gather vp the rubbish broken downe from the castlewalles and to scoure the ditches Which done the next day following he demaunded of them by an interpreter whether they would enter wages with hym take horse and armour to serue hym in his Warres which condition diuers for feare were contented to take seyng no other remedy to auoyd present death Some neyther by manasing wordes nor for any feare of death coulde be compelled thereunto of whom certayn which stoode stoughtly in refusing thereof were presently slayne whome I may worthely recite in the number and catalogue of holy martyrs Of the foresayde christians part were caryed ouer the riuer of Danubius not without great vilany contumely most despitefull For some had theyr wiues taken from them and caryed away some had theyr wyues rauished before theyr face and such as made or shewed any resistance therat had their wiues before them cast into the riuer and drowned also theyr infantes and yong children beyng appoynted by the turkes to the abhominable order of the Ianizarites mentioned before pag. 736. theyr parentes not consenting thereunto were precipitate and throwne into the riuer and drowned All whiche thinges are testified by Iohn Martinus Stella in hys Epistles in print extant written to his two brethren William Michaell c. Whiche Mart Stella moreouer this addeth affirmeth that he hymselfe being the same time at Uienna did see one of the foresaid wiues who being holden fast by the heare of the head yet notwithstanding hauing her heare pluckt off cast her selfe into the riuer Danubius for the singuler loue to her husband and so swamme to the shippe where he was And thus this miserable company of Germaynes Spanyards and ItaliaÌ„s mixt together macerate with labours with hunger pyned with watchinges dolours and sorow consumed came at length to Schinda When the tidings therof was noysed at Uienna partly with feare and dread partly with indignation all mens hartes were moued vexed diuersly Some thought them not worthy to be receiued into their citty shewing themselues so dastardly and cowardly Other thought agayne that mercy was to be shewed vnto them and commended their fact for that they being so few vnfurnished of ayde neither able to match by any meanes with suche an innumerable multitude of the turkes kept themselues till better time might serue theÌ„ But howsoeuer the matter was to be thought of the captaines brought the poore remnant of that rufull company vnto possidonium where the sayd Captayns were layd fast and their kept in durance to render accompt of the whole matter howe it was wrought and handled And thus haue ye the lamentable story of Strigonium The Turke proceeding in his victories conducted his army next vnto Tath and to the parties lying nere about Comaron This Tath was also a strong hold in Hungary wherein were placed certayne garrisons pertly of the Germaynes partly of the Italians The chieâ—tayne of the Italians was one Anniball Tosso constitute by Philipus Torneilius This Tasso was a man well experte in prowes of warre but of a filthy corrupt life also a foule swearer and horrible blasphemer of God and his saintes To make the story shorte this forte of Tathe before anye siege was layde vnto it was yelded and geuen vp to the Turkes vpon what conditions or by whose meanes the author sheweth not Thus much he sheweth that the sayd Anniball shortly vpoÌ„ the same returning into Italy was commaunded by Tornellius aforesaid to be apprehended and beheaded After the turkes had subuerted and destroyed the forte of Tathe they turned their power against Alba surnamed Regalis for that the kinges of HuÌ„gary haue bene always wont there to be crowned and buryed This Alba is a litle well compacted citie in Hungary hauing on the one side a marishe somewhat foggishe or fenny whiche made the town lesse assaultable But nere to the same was a woode from the which the turkes euery day with vi C. cartes brought such matter of wood and trees felled for the same purpose into the marish that within lesse then 12. dayes they made it apte and harde to their feete whiche the townes men thought neuer could be gone vppon but onely in the hard frostes of wynter At the first beginning of the siege there stoode a little without the munitions in the front of the citie a certayne church or Monastery whiche the Cittizens pretending to mayntayne and keepe agaynst the turkes had priuily coÌ„ueyed light matter easely to take flame with pouder in secret places therof and had hid also fire withal Whiche done they as agaynst theyr willes being driuen backe withdrew themselues within the munitions wayting the occasions when this fire woulde take Thus the turkes hauing the possession of the churche sodenly the fire comming to the pouder raysed vp the
8. Cammels and 8. Moyles laden with treasure and also got two red Guidons wyth a whole great peece of rich cloth of gold and with an other fayre and straunge Iewell The horse of this foresayd turkish captayn was betrapped and decked most richly The sadle wherof had the pommell and the backe part couered ouer with plate of fine Arabicke golde and the rest of the sadle beside the sitting place was plated with siluer very fayre gilded The seate of the sadle was couered with purple veluet the trappers and bridle beset with little Turkeys and Rubies Which horse was sent to Uienna vnto the Emperour Maximilian for a present Although the Earle would very fayne haue saued the Captayn not knowing what he was yet the Ianizarites labouring to carry away their captayne so stiffly defended thēselues that the Earle with his company was constrayned to kill both them and theyr Captayne From whome the said Erle of Serin the same time got xv thousand Turkish and Hungarish Ducates which mony was brought for the payment of the Turkishe souldiours in the towne aforesayd of Finffenkyrchen c. All which be good begynninges of greater goodnes to be hoped for hereafter thorough the grace of Christ our Lord especially if our Christian rulers and potentates first the churchmen prelates for theyr partes then the ciuile powers princes for their partes with holding theyr affections a little will turne their brawles variance into brotherly concord and agrement which the Lord of peace put in theyr mindes to doe Amen Or otherwise if it will so please the Lorde that the turke come further vpon vs so as he hath begonne for our punishment castigation his grace then geue to the flock of his poore Christians constancie of fayth pacience in suffering and amendmēt of life For so I vnderstand by publicke fame although vncertaynly rumored by the voyce of some that the Turkes power of late this present yeare of our Lord 1566. hath perced the parties of Apulia within Italy wasting and burning the space of an 100. myles toward Naples Which if it be certaine it is to be feared that the Turke hauing thus set in his foote feeling the sweetnes of Italy wil not so cease before he get in both head and shoulders also so farre into Italy that he will display hys banners within the walles of Rome do with old Rome the like as Mahumete his great granfather did with newe Rome the city of Constantinople and as the Persians did with Babylon The causes why we haue so to iudge he diuers first y◠the sea of Rome hath bene defended hetherto and mayntayned with much bloud and therefore it may seeme not vncredible but that it will not long continue but be lost with bloud agayne according to the verdict of the Gospell He that striketh with the sword shall perish with the sword c. An other cause is the fulfilling of the 18. chapter of the Apocalips where is written that great Babilon shall fall be made an habitation of deuils and a denne of vncleane spirite and a cage of filthye and vncleane byrdes the fall wherof shal be like a milstone in the sea that is which shal not rise agayne And this to come before the day of iudgement the text of the sayd chapter doth apertly declare where the wordes do follow shewing that the kynges of the earth and the marchantes which had to doe with the whoorishe City standing a farre of for feare of the heate and beholding the smoke of the sayd Cittie flaming and burning with fire shall be wayle and rue her destruction and desolacion c. What citty is this called great Babilon whiche like a mylstone shall fall and burne and be made an habitation of vncleane spirites and beastes let the reader construe This is certayn and playne by these her kinges and marchantes standing a far of for feare and beholding her burning that the destruction of this city what cittye soeuer it be shall be seene here in earth before the comming of the Lordes iudgement as may easely be gathered by these iij. circumstances that is by the stāding the beholding and be wayling of her marchauntes By the which marchauntes and kynges of the earth peraduenture may be signified the Pope the rich Cardinalles the great prelates and fat doctours and other obedienciaries of the Romish sea who at the comming of the Turkes will not auenture theyr liues for theyr Church but will flee the citty no doubt and stād a farre of from daunger and when they shal see with their eyes and heare with theyr cares the city of Rome to be set on fire and consumed by the cruell Turks the sight thereof shall seeme to them piteous and lamentable to behold the great and fayre city of Rome the tall castle of S. Angell the Popes mighty sea where they were wont to fishe out such riches dignities treasures and pleasures so to burne before theyr eyes and to come to such vtter desolacion which shal neuer be reedefied agayne but shall be made an habitation of deuils and vncleane spirites that is Turkes and heathen Sultans and barbarous Saracens c. This I say peraduenture may be the meaning of that prophetical place of the Apoc. not that I haue here anye thing to pronounce but onely geue my gesse what may probably be coniectured But the end at length will make this and all other thinges more playne and manifest For mistical prophesies lightly are neuer so well vnderstand as when the euent of them is past and accomplished An other cause concurring with the causes aforesayde may be collected out of Paulus Iouius who writing ofy e subuersion of Rhodes which was as ye heard an 1522. vpon Christmas day sayth that it chaunced sodenly the same day in Rome that as Pope Hadrian the vi was entring into the church to his seruice sodeinly ouer hys head the vpper frontier or toppe of the chappel dore which was of marble immediately as the pope was entring fel downe and slue certayne of hys garde wayting vpon hym Whereby peraduenture may be ment that the ruine of Rome was not long after to folow the losse of Rhodes The fourth cause I borowe out of Ioannes Auentinus who in his thyrd booke alledging the names but not the wordes of Hildegardis Brigitte and other propheticall men hath these wordes Si vera sint carmina vaticinia D. Hildegardae Brigittae Sybillanum Germaniae Bardorum fatidicorū qui ea quae nostro aeuo completa vidimus longo ante tempore nobis cecinerunt A grippinensis Colonia nolimus velimus Turcarū caput erit c. That is if the sayings and prophesies of Hildegarde of Brigitte of other propheticall persōs be true which beyng foretold long before we haue seene now in these our dayes accōplished the town of Colen wil we nil we must needes be the head city of the turks c. And this I write
to take circumcision Which if they will doe they are more fauourably entreated but all hope is taken from them of returning agayne into theyr country which if they attempt the payne therof is burning And if such comming at leÌ„gth to liberty will mary they may but then theyr children remayne boud to the Lord for him to sell at his pleasure and therfore such as are wise amongst theÌ„ wil not mary They which refuse to be circumcised are miserably handled for example wherof the author which geueth testimony hereof doth inferre his owne experience Such captiues as be expert in any manuall art or occupation can better shift for theÌ„selues but contrariwise they whiche haue no handycraft to liue vpon are in worse case And therfore such as haue bene brought vp in learning or be priests or noble men such other whose teÌ„der educatioÌ„ can abide no hardnes are the least reputed most of all other neglected of him that hath the sale or keping of theÌ„ for that he seeth lesse profit to rise of them then of the other therfore no cost of raymeÌ„t is bestowed vpon them but they are caried about bare head barefoote both sommer winter in frost and snow And if any faynt and be sicke in the way there is no resting in any Inn but first he is driueÌ„ forward with whips and it that will not serue he is let peraduenture vpon some horse or if his weakenesse be such that hee cannot sit then is he layde ouerthwart the horse vpon hys belly like a Calfe and if he chaunce to dye they take of hys garment such as he hath and throw him in a ditch In the way moreouer beside the coÌ„mon chayne which doth inclose theÌ„ all the hads also of euery one are manicled which is because they shoulde not harme theyr leaders for many times it happened that x. persons had the leading of 50. captiues wheÌ„ night came theyr feet also were fettered so yâ— they lodged in no house but lay vpon the grouÌ„d al night The yong women had a litle more gentlenes shewed being caried in paniers on the day time But when nyght came pity it was to heare the miserable crying out of such as were inclosed wtin by reason of the filthy iniuries which they suffred by their cariers in so much that the yong teÌ„der age of 7. or 8. yeres as wel of the one sexe as of the other could not saue theÌ„ froÌ„ the most filthy villany of the bestiall turkes When the morning cometh they are brought foorth to the market to sale where the buyer if he be disposed plucking of theyr garments vieweth all the bones ioynts of theyr body and if he like them he geueth his price and carieth theÌ„ away into miserable seruitude either to tilling of their grouÌ„d or to pasture their cattel or some other strauÌ„ge kind of misery incredible to speake of In so much that the author reporteth that he hath sene himselfe certeine of such Christen captiues yoked together like horse and oxen and to draw the plough The maid seruaunts likewise are kept in perpetuall toile and work in close places where neither they come in sight of any man neither be they permitted to haue any talke with theyr fellowe seruauntes c. Such as are committed to keep beastes lye abroad day and night in the wilde fieldes without house and harbor and so chaunging their pastour goe from mountayne to mountayne of whom also beside the office of keeping the beastes other handy labour is exacted at spare houres such as pleaseth theyr maysters to put vnto them Out of this misery there is no way for them to flye especially for them that are caryed into Asia beyond the seas Or if any do attempt so to do he taketh his time chiefely about haruest when he may hide himselfe all the day time in the corne or in woodes or marishes and finde foode and in the night onely hee flyeth and had rather bee deâ—â—outed of wolues and other wild beastes then to returne agayne to his maister In theyr flying they vse to take with them an hatchet and coardes that when they come to the sea side they may cut downe trees and binde together the endes of them and so where the sea of Helleâ—pontus is narrowest about the Sestos and Abidos they take the sea sitting vpon trees where if they wurde tide do serue luckely they may cut ouer in foure or fiue houres But the most part either perish in the floudes or are driuen backe agayne vpon the coastes of Asia or els be deuoured of wilde beastes in woodes or perish with hunger and famine If any escape ouer the seas aliue into Europe by the way they enter into no towne but wairder vpon the mouÌ„taynes following onely the Northftarre for theyr guide As touching such townes prouinces which are won by the Turke and wherein the Christians are suffered to liue vnder tribute first all the nobility there they kill and make away the churchmen and Clergy hardly they spare The Churches with the belles all the furniture thereof either they cast down or els they comâ—ert to the vse of their owne blasphemous Religion leauing to the Christians certayn olde and blinde chappels which when they decay it is permitted to our me to repayre the agayne for a great somme of mony geuen to the Turke Neither be they permitted to vse any open preaching or ministration But only in silence and by stealth to frequent together Neither is it lawfull for any Christian to beare office within the city or prouince nor to beare weapon nor to weare any garment like to the Turkes And if any contumely or blasphemy be it neuer so great be spoken agaynst the or agaynst Christ yet muste thou beare it and holde thy peace Or if thou speake one word agaynst theyr religion thou shalt be compelled whether thou wilt or no to be circumcised And then if thou speake one word agaynst Mahumet thy punishment is fire and burning And if it chaunce a Christian being on horsebacke to meet or passe by a Musulman that is a Turkish priest he must light from his horse with a lowly looke deuoutly reuereÌ„ce adore the Musulman Or if he do not he is beateÌ„ down froÌ„ his horie with clubs slaues Furthermore for theyr tribute they pay the fourth part of theyr substance and gayne to the Turke beside the ordinary tribute of the Christians whiche is to paye for euery polle within his family a ducket vnto the Turke which if the parentes cannot doe they are compelled to sell theyr children into bondage Other being not able to pay go cheined in fetters from dore to dore begging to make vp theyr payment or els must lye in perpetuall prison And yet notwithstanding wheÌ„ the christians haue discharged all duties it remaineth free for the turkes to take vp among the christians children whom the best like and
pontif Lib. 4. Ex Roger. Ho 〈◊〉 Eabia c. Anno. 1116. Assemble of the nobles at Salisbury Thurstine refuseth to professe subiection to the Arch. of Cant. Thurstine promiseth to renounce hys archbishopricke Anno. 1118. Pope Calixtus breaketh promise with the king Thurstine sacred archbishop of Yorke by the Pope agaynst the kinges minde Concision Rhemense Actes of the councell of Rhemes The Actes sent to the Emperour The Emperour agreeth not to the popes inuesting The councell deuided Ex Rog. Houed Henry the Emperour excommunicated Agreed that England shoulde haue no other Legate from Rome but onely the Archb. of Cant. England spoyld by the popes legates All the custome of the Realme graunted of the pope Anno. 1120. The popes letter to the King The king compelled to receaue Thurstinus for feare of the popes curse Thurstinus restored Anno. 1122. Wil. Archb. of Cant. The gray Friers first came into England Anno. 1125. Priestes payd for their wiues Ex Roger. Houed El Guliel GisburneÌ„si Ex Henrie Hunting lib. 7. The Abbey of Gilburne bailded S. la ues hand Reading Abbey fouÌ„ded Matilde daughter of K. Henry heyre to the crowne Geffry PlaÌ„tagenet Henry 2. borne of Matilde the Empresse Anno. 1130. The priorie of Norton founded Three terrible visioÌ„s of the king Three vowes made of King Henry Anno. 1131. Danegelt released The Church relieued Iustice rightly administred Bishoprike of Carlile newly erected by king Henry The Citie and Paules Church of London burned Honorius the 2. Mathaeus Partsiensis A romishe statute concerning priestes wiues and Concubines Mariage forbid to the seuenth degree The Popes Legate geuing preceptes of chastitie was found with an harlot Lotharius Emperour Arnulphus Martyred at Rome The history of Arnulphus Arnulphus Martyr Ex Tretimio A booke called Tripartitum written 400. yeares agoe Number of holy dayes Curious singing in Cathedrall Churches The world ouercharged with begging Religions Promotion of euill prelates Supersluitie of apparell in Bishops families Byshops seales abused to get mony Non residentes in benefices Rash bestowing of benefices Wastefull spending of the Church goods Old bookes of Councels lost by the negligence of the clerkes The vnchaste lyfe of priestes condemned by the nature of the storkes Amendment of lyfe ought first to begin with the priestes The realme of Fraunce interdited King of Portingale deposed The Knights of the Rhodes and Templars Pope 〈◊〉 centius the second Hurly 〈◊〉 betweene Popes The pope curse proclaymed agaynst 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 any priest The death of K. Henry Anno. 1135. Periury iustly punished Ex Chris. Anglico in certi autâ—ris The Bishop of Sarum and of Lincolne takeâ— prisoners of the king and led with ropes about their neckes Roger. â—eued in 〈◊〉 Steph. Ex Fabian In vita Step. Anno. 1136. K. Stephen Building of Castles in England The cruelty of the Scots agaynst the Englishe man Anno. 1140. Maude the Empresse came into England agaynst Steuen King SteueÌ„â—ken prisoner What it is for princes to be hard and straite to their subjectes K. Stephen and Robert Erle of Glocester deliuered by exchaunge Ex incerti autoris chronise The decease of Geffry Plantagenet Henry Duke of Normandy Henry entereth into England Theobalde Archbishop of Cant. Peace betwene king Steuen and Duke Henry concluded The death of K. Steuen S. William of Yorke Gracianns the compiler of the popes decrees Petrus Lombardus maister of the sentence Petrus Comestet Hugo de sancto Victore Bernardus Clareualensis Hildegare Ioannes detemporibus The fewes crucified a christen body at Norwich The order of the Gilbertines The Lordes prayer and the Creede in Englishe Matthaeus Pariensis lib. Chron. 4. Steuen king of England Cursing with booke bell and candle Anno. 1138. Pope Lucius the ij warring agaynst the Senators Spirituall excommunication abused in temporall causes Hadrianus a Pope an Englishman Anno. 1154. King Henry the second Thomas Becket chauncellor of England Anno. 〈◊〉 Gerhardus Dulcinus Preaches agaynst Antichrist of Rome Ex 〈◊〉 Gisbaron si Anno. 11â—â— Fredericus Barbarosa Emperor The pope displeased that the Emperour did not held his right stirrup The Emperour holdeth the Popes stirrup The Popes old practice in setting Princes together by the eares War more gaynefull to the Pope then peace Warre stirred vp by the Pope The pope driuen to entreate for peace The godly proceedings of Frederick the Emperour agaynst the pope A letter of Pope Hadrian to the Emperour Fredericke The Emperours name before the Popes A seditious and proud letter of the pope to the Bishops of Germany Well bragged and like a Pope Scripture well wrasted Ex Radenuico in appendice Frisingensis See the ambitious presumption of a proude priest Note here a couragious hart in a valiaunt Emperour An example for all princes to follow Note The order of Erenuâ—â— Anno. 1159. The saying and iudgement of P. Adrianus of the papall sea The popes rather successors to Romulus then to Peter Pope Alexander the third Alexander curseth the Emperour Anno. 1164. Volateran â—ken with a â—tradiction Concilium 〈◊〉 The clergie â—ounde to â—he vowe of â—hastitie Papiâ—tes are not so much in pro 〈◊〉 chastitie as in desining chastitie Tho. Becket Archb. at Cant. Becket no martyr Herberturde busebam Ioan. Charnot A lanus Abbot of Tenchbury Gulselmus Cantuariensis Tho. Becked described What commeth of blinde zeale destitute of right knowledge The life of Tho. Becket Polydorus mistaketh the mother of Becket Ex Roberto Criâ—eladensi Ex Florilego 〈…〉 The 〈◊〉 of vanâ—â— recited betweene 〈◊〉 king 〈◊〉 Archb. The kings custome Out of an Englishe Chronicâ—â— as it appearreth 〈◊〉 en cured Frenchâ—â— Erle â—â—lord 〈◊〉 The lawes of Claredoun Beckets additioÌ„ Saluo ordine suo The Bishop of Chichester The stubberne wilfulnes of T. Becket T. Becket relenteth to the king Becket yeldeth to the king Saluo ordine left out in the composition Becket repenteth of hys good deede A letter of pope Alexander to T. Becket Becket enterprising agaynst the king◠〈◊〉 to flye out of the realme Becket taunted of the king Ex Rogero Houed prâ— parte historia continuas a post Bedam The kinge to be the Pope Legate The ceâ—sty dissimulation of the Pope The popes secret letters to Becket More then an C. murthers done by the clergye Guliel Neuburg lib. 2. ca. 16. Becket cited to Northampton The Archbish. condemned in the Councell of NorthamtoÌ„ in the loâ—â—e of all hys moueables Becket required to geue an accompt The verdite of Winchester The counsell of the Bishop of London Canterbury Winchester Chichester Moderate counsell Lincolne Exceter Worcester Becket the Archbishop replyeth agaynst the Byshops A great â—â—ielle growen in the church because that Byshop may noâ—â—â— aboue 〈◊〉 and prince Becket destitute and forsaken Becket 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 nes when he should appeale A masse of S. Steuen 〈◊〉 saue hym from hys enemies Becket answere to the Bishops â—â—câ—â—t appealeth to Rome London appealeth from the Archbish. A masse to charme away persecutors Becket caryeth with hym the sacrament going
face of the harlot as she was kissing him and so got he the victorie by the constant grace of the Lord assisting him An other like example of singular chastitie is written of the virgin Theodora and an other souldiour by Ambrose Lib. 2. De virginibus At Antioche this Theodora refusing to do sacrifice to the Idols was condemned by the Iudge to the stewes which notwtstanding by the singular prouidence of god was wel deliuered For as there was a great company of wanton yong men ready at the doore to prease into the house where she was one of the brethren named Didimus as Ado sayth mooued with fayth and motioÌ„ of God putting on a souldioures habite made himselfe one of the first that came in who rounding her in the eare tolde her the cause and purpose of his commyng beyng a christiaÌ„ as she was his counsaile was that she should put on that souldiors habite and so slip away And he puttyng on her garmentes would there remaine to abide their force And so did whereby the virgine escaped vnknowen Didimus left vnto the rage and wondring of the people beyng a man in stead of a woman was presented vnto the President vnto whom without delay he vttered all the whole matter as it was done professing him so as he was to be a christiaÌ„ and therupon was condemned to suffer Theodora vnderstanding thereof and thinking to excuse him by accusing her selfe offred her selfe as the partie guiltie vnto the Iudge clayming and requiring the condemnation to light vpon her the other as innocent to be discharged But the cruell Iudge crueller then Dionysius which spared Damon Pithias neither considering the vertue of the persons nor the innoncency of the cause vniustly and inhumanely proceded in execution against theÌ„ both who first hauing their heads cut off after were cast in the fire Ambros. Ado. Although what tyme or in what persecution these did suffer in the authors of this narration it doth not appeare Agathon a man of armes in the Citie of Alexandria for rebuking certaine lewd persons scornefully deridyng the dead bodies of the Christians was cried out off and rayled on of the people Afterward accused to the iudge was condemned to loose his head Erfordiensis The sayd Erfordiensis also maketh mention of Paulus and Andraeas whome the Proconsul of Troada gaue to the people beyng scourged and after drawne out of the Citie they were troden to death with the feete of the people Hen. de Erford Among other that suffered vnder this wicked Decius Bergomensis also maketh mention of one Iustinus a Priest of Rome and of an other Nicostratus a Deacon To these Vincentius also addeth Portius a Priest of Rome whom he reporteth to be the conuerter of Phillip the Emperor afore mentioned Of Abdon and Sennas we read also in the foresayd Bergomensis and Vincentius two noble men who because they had buried the christians whom Decius had brought from Babylon to Corduba and there put them to death were therfore accused to Decius brought to Rome where they beyng commaunded to sacrifice to dead Idols would not obey and for the same were geuen to the wilde beastes to be deuoured but when the wild beastes more gentle then the men would not touch them they were at length with the sword beheaded Bergom Vincent Lib. 11. cap. 4 Albeit to me it seemeth not vnpossible nor vnlike this Abdon and Sennas to be the same whome in other storyes we finde and before haue mentioned to be Ammon and Zenon One Secundianus was accused to Valerian a Captayne of Decius to be a Christian which professioÌ„ when he stoutly did maynetayne was commaunded to prison By the way as the souldiours were leading him to the gaile Verianus and Marcellianus seing the matter cried to the souldiours asking them whether they drew the innocent At the which worde when they also confessed them selues to be Christians they were likewise apprehended and brought to a Citie named Centumcellas â— where being willed to sacrifice they did spit vpon the Idols and so after sentence and iudgement geuen first they were beaten with wasters or trunshons after that were hanged and tormented vpoÌ„ the gibbet hauing fire set to their sides Vincentius addeth moreouer that the tormentors some of them falleÌ„ sodainly dead other some being taken with wicked spirites the Martyrs with sword at length were beheaded Vinc. Lib. 11 cap. 31. To prosecute in length of history the liues and sufferings of all them which in this terrible persecution were Martyred it were to long almost infinite briefly therefore to rehearse the names of such as we finde alledged out of a certaine briefe treatise of Bede intituled De temporibus cited by Henricus De Erford it shal be at this time sufficient Under Decius suffered Hyppolitus and Concordia Hiereneus and Abnudus Victoria a virgine being noble personages of Antioche Bellias Byshoppe of the Citie of Apollonia Leacus Tyrsus and Gallinetus Nazanzo Tryphon in the Citie of Egypt called â—anais Phileas Bishop Philocomus with many other in Perside Philcronius byshop of Babylon Thesiphon Byshop of Pamphilia Nestor Byshop in Corduba Parmenius Priest with diuers moe In the Prouince called Colonia Circensis Marianus and Iacobus In Africa Nemesianus Felix Rogatianus priest â—elicissimus At Rome Iouinus Basileus also Ruffinâ— and Secunda Uirgines Tertullianus Valerianus Nemesius Sempronianus and Olympius In Spayne Teragone at Verona Zeno Byshop At Caesarea Marinus and Archemius In the towne of Miliane Priuatus Byshop Theodorus surnamed Gregorius Byshop of Pontus Haec Beda Vincentius in his xj booke maketh also mention citing Ex Hugone of certaine children suffering Martyrdome vnder the same persecution in a Citie of Tuscia called Aretium whose names I finde not except they be â—â—rgentius Laurentius mentioned in Equilinus Lib. 5. cap. 80. Nowe that I haue recorded of them sufficiently which vnder this tempest of Decius constantly gaue their liues to Martyrdome for the testimonie of Christ it remaineth that a fewe wordes also be spoken of such that for feare or frailtie in this persecution did shrinke backe slide from the truth of their confession In the number of whome first commeth in the remembraÌ„ce of Serapion an aged olde man Of whom writeth Dionysius Alexandrinus vnto Fabius declaring that this Serapion was an olde man which liued amongest them a sincere and vpright life of long time but at length fell This Serapion oft and many times desired to be receaued againe but no man listened to him for hee had sacrificed before After this not long after he fell into sickenesse where he remained three dayes dombe and benummed of all his seÌ„ses The fourth day following beginning a litle to recouer he called to him his sisters sonne saide how long how loÌ„g my sonne do ye hold me here Make hast I pray you that I were absolued Call hether some of the ministers to me and so saying no more