Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prince_n	castille_n	king_n	marry_v	2,309	5	9.5488	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07768	The mysterie of iniquitie: that is to say, The historie of the papacie Declaring by what degrees it is now mounted to this height, and what oppositions the better sort from time to time haue made against it. Where is also defended the right of emperours, kings, and Christian princes, against the assertions of the cardinals, Bellarmine and Baronius. By Philip Morney, knight, Lord du Plessis, &c. Englished by Samson Lennard.; Mystère d'iniquité. English	Mornay, Philippe de, seigneur du Plessis-Marly, 1549-1623.; Lennard, Samson, d. 1633.	1612 (1612)	STC 18147; ESTC S115092	954,645	704

wounded both in generall and particular the seruants of Christ as both in this and the yeare following for innocents were enforced to idolatrtes and as Apostates to renounce truth which is God himselfe And here the Author stayes a little in declaring some circumstances which were these Prelats were sold like Oxen and Asses Behold the vttermost condition of seruitude behold the sellers which should haue beene cast out of the Temple and beene whipped But because it is a more vnworthie thing to commit an iniurie violently than to suffer innocently it may be thought that the complaining crie of this will ascend vp vnto the Lord God of reuenge But at length he concludes The Pope hath power in all those things which tend to edification not in those which lead to ruine according to Robert Bishop of Lincolne Neither did matters succeed any better with him in other places for saith he when they perceiued his actions so different from those prayers which at his first comming to the chaire he had caused to be made in his behalfe Manies deuotion grew coole towards him and diuers construed it to be meere hypocrisie and masking of his secular power therefore their former hopes conceiued of his sanctimonie fell to the ground And first at Rome Senator Brancalone of whom former mention was made executing justice at Rome without any exception of persons and the Nobilitie hardly digesting this seueritie after apprehension they put him in prison but his wife escaped out of the tumult and got to Bologna and there caused the hostages to be closely kept The Romans moued the Pope that out of his Pontificall prerogatiue he would commaund the Bolognians to deliuer them who to gratifie the Romans omitted neither threats nor intreats herein yet hee had the deniall Then the people rose against the Nobilitie and in despight both of them and the Pope restored and set at libertie Brancalone The Pope being hereunto solicited by the Nobilitie excommunicated both the Senator and all his followers that is to say the people of Rome omnes cachi nantes all of them with scorne and laughter condemned and mocked at his threatnings The Senator suppressed all the seditious not sparing the Popes friends and neere kinsfolkes and at length he vrged himselfe to forsake the citie and threatned to demolish his natural town and countrey Anagnia The matter came to this passe that will he nill he in verie submisse and humble words he was enforst by Legats to intreat them to forbeare the ruine of his naturall Citie least he should become an opprobrie to the whole world In the meane while Brancalone makes euen with the ground the Palaces of the Roman Nobilitie part of them he casts into prison and other some he hanged maimed many of which were kinsmen and nere allies to the Cardinals being as great a friend to Manfred as he was an enemie to Alexander Yea and after his death his memorie was so venerable amongst the people that in hatred and detestation of the Pope they chose his vncle Senator in his place and closing his head within a rich vrne they set it vpon a marble pillar for a monument of his integritie and justice These things turne the rather to the skorne and contempt of the Roman Court because the Pope vnderstanding of his death admonished the people That they should chuse no man Senator without his consent but they laughing hereat and dispising the Popes iniunction chose forthwith Brancalone his vncle sollemnely electing and constituting him Senator in his nephewes place These things Mathew relates whereby he proues as much as he had formerly spoken in what great contempt and skorne the Pope was held of all men for his euill proceedings and gouernement An. 1259. In Germanie about the yeare 1257 William Count of Holland retayned the Title of Emperour beeing conferred and continued in him by the Popes who retiring out of an hot battaile beeing shot through the bodie with an arrow died Conrades sonne was yet too young to be chosen Emperour Alexander notwithstanding commaunded the Archbishop of Magunza and the other German Prelats threatning them with all in verie grieuous penalties if they did elect this boy sonne to the excommunicated Emperour seeing they could not be ignorant how opposit his grandfather Frederick was to the Popes but so he highly commended vnto them Richard Earle of Cornwall of whom part of the Princes accepted especially for this respect because he was reputed to be rich in treasure and coyne whereupon grew this verse Nummus ait pro me nubit Cornubia Romae The money plainely saies it selfe Rome marries Cornewall for vile pelfe Part of the Electors made choice of Alphonsus king of Castile but the most voices concurred at last with Richard who being sent for out of England he was conducted into Germanie Alphonsus began to moue warre for the holding of his place and sollicited the Pope by Embassadours that no other might be crowned but himselfe Answer was returned from him that the custome was that none could receiue the imperiall crowne except he had formerly beene instald in the Germaine and Italian kingdomes Summa constitut Firma profecto consistit An. 1262. Sigon l. 19. de regno Jtaliae The Empire therefore hanging in doubt Germany was diuided while Octauius his Legat abusing the institution of the crosse proceeded with all kind of crueltie against the imperiall adherents and during these ambiguities Alexander died in the yeare 1261 to whom three moneths after Vrban the fourth succeeded borne of obscure parents in Troie a towne of Campania Celtica Men obserued one notable constitution of his our author cals it most cruell which was That euerie Bishop or Abbot elect was bound personally to trauell beyond the Alpes Math. Paris in Henrico 3. that is to enrich to his owne hurt nay and vtter ruine the Romans purses Vrban called a Councell at Rome not about matters of faith which now grew obsolete but about the expelling of Manfred He thought good therefore to produce against him the Croysadoes and augmented for this end their indulgences Charles Earle of Anjou brother to S. Lewis he also called into Italie out of hope to be installed in the kingdomes of Apulia and Sicilie And thus all the treasure which Henrie king of England had so vnaduisedly disbursed was sunk and swallowed vp in this ambitious gulph And Charls took counsel of king Lewis about this affaire But Vrbans death preuented his comming whom Clement the fourth prosecuting the same designe succeeded borne at Narbone elected at Perugia he presently sent Legats to Charls who commaunding his armie to follow him by land went by sea to Rome where he was louingly entertained by the Romans being created perpetuall Senator which then was the supremest dignitie of that citie And Clement in the meane while held his residence at Viterbe by reason of some controuersies that occurred betwixt him and the Romans Wherefore by foure Cardinals the inuestiture of the kingdome was

the Author himselfe intimates Peter of Aragon returning an answer to the same set before his eyes the just judgement of God in that he lately put his hand to such a brutish immanitie as was detestable execrable to all men And long time they slept not in this flagition for as Collenucius notes Charls from that time forward was continually afflicted and tormented with the anguish terror of his daily misfortunes and ouerthrows Clement suruiued them but one moneth when as the fruit and triumph of victorie he thought to haue gotten all Italie into his hands The Papacie was then vacant for two yeares and nine moneths though his predecessors had euerie way studied and endeuoured to preuent such an inconueniencie For those Cardinals which were resident at Viterbe supposing no one was inferiour to another could resolue vpon nothing certaine amongst whom one of the number laughing at the others curiositie said Sir Onuphrius in Pontificibus we had need open the top of this Conclaue for the holie Ghost cannot descend through so many roofes downe vpon vs. At last Philip king of France and Charles king of Sicilie were faine to come thither to their rebuke and shame and for the further encouragement of the Gibelline faction who after long and many contestations at last brought it to passe that they consented to chuse Theobald Vicont of Placentia and Archdeacon of Liege who was then in Syria he returning into Italy obtained the place and was named Gregorie the tenth and hereupon grew these verses of the Cardinall de Porto Papatus munus tulit Archidiaconus vnus Quem Patrem Patrum fecit disdordia fratrum An Archdeacon obtained the Papall dignitie Father of fathers made by brothers enmitie These things occurred in the yeare 1272. An. 1272. In the meane while Richard Earle of Cornewall dyed being another competitor for the Empire for supplie of whose place the Princes assembled together to take some order Part of them after Richards death thought good to retaine Alphonsus of Castile others alledged That a king of Germanie was to be brought from no other part but Germanie when Gregorie put in his spoke and told them plainely That if they presently resolued not vpon some bodie he out of his Pontificall authoritie would constitute them an Emperour All things therefore being maturely debated and considered at last they concluded vpon Radulph sonne to Albert Count of Hasburg a Prince of no great State but renowmed for his militarie experience and judgement whom they declared Emperour All gaue their consent except onely Otocarus king of Bohemia whose steward this Radulph had beene and he was herewith highly moued so as they came to a sharpe war amongst themselues He was chiefe of the house of Austria in which familie the Empire at this day continues Alphonsus was much discontented because Gregorie gaue his consent thereunto complaining wonderfully against Gregorie in that vnknowne to him he had condescended to this election aduising him to desist from this enterprise proceeding no further in it During Pope Gregories raigne a Councell was celebrated at Lyons whereat Philip king of France the Emperour of Greece and many other Princes were and for the better successe and issue hereof certaine Prelats out of euerie Prouince well affected to him were cited to be there present Their proposition was out of the example of the Machabees to shew That the Bishop of Rome as he was high Priest had power ouer both swords and therefore that it concerned him to ordaine warre especially when it was for sacred ends for deluding them with this sauce he made them swallow and digest many vnsauroy cates Consequently he decreed That a tenth of all benefices should be paid for six yeares to this purpose All Penitentiaries and Confessors were enioyned to vrge vehemently all sinners and offendors to assist him with their riches and wealth he imposing on all Christians in generall without exception of sex age or qualitie a yearely penie vnder paine of excommunication Rodulphus without the priuitie of the States of the Empire did first yeeld vnto him Romania which before was wont to pay to the Empire yearely seuentie thousand dragmes of gold The Emperour of Greece complained who was at this Councell That he being daily threatned and menaced by the Turke who lay hard by him yet Charles of Anjou disturbed him with other attempts and after his returne into Greece hee promised Gregorie by embassadors That if he would but crosse Charles his designes he would joyne a new to an old Rome which was Constantinople The which embassage Gregorie readily gaue eare vnto returning vnto him againe by his Nuntioes who were to accord with him of three conditions Nicephor Gregoras l. 5. First That in their sacred administrations and offices 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the foure Patriarches he might be first nominated Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That any might be permitted to appeale to Rome as to the higher and most soueraigne tribunall Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That in all things he might be allowed supremacie and highest place About any other points of diuinitie saith Gregoras there past not a word No not of the addition made to the Creed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but all things were quiet and pacified In these things there was a long addormentation and silence onely hee regarded that which belonged to his own peculiar interest But it fell not out well with him that the Greeke Church disauowed the Emperour especially in this Councell where a certaine forme of electing the Pope was set downe which at this day is obserued in the Conclaue Vbi pericul de election electi potestate in sexto Innocent 3. in serm 3. de Consecratione Summi Pontificis as we may read in the chapter Vbi periculum de electione in sexto And there he doth not onely exhort the Cardinalls That they would chuse the Vicar of Christ Peters successor gouernour of the whole Church and guider of the Lords flocke but further is not ashamed to adde For a necessarie prouision of the whole world as a fit spouse for the same Church That which Innocent the third in truth did formerly produce in the third sermon of his consecration he brings it out more audaciously from a Decretall which they esteeme of highest authoritie being the order and forme according to which the Popes are chosen and inuested with their proper attributes and titles What can be done more to Christ our Lord the onely true Bridegroom of the Church Oseae 3. Or besides him who could say In mercie and pitie I haue espoused thee Ephes 5. v. 25. 26. Who besides him doth sanctifie her He yeelded vp himselfe for her that so she might be sanctified and clensed by the washing of water in the word and therefore who is that fit Bridegroome for the Church but he and who will arrogate to himselfe these titles but Antichrist not by way of comparison or in

conuersant in the Court of Rome he was reputed humble and deuout but he was no sooner setled in the Popedome but he was changed into another man he began to tyrannize ill demeaning himselfe towards those Cardinals that had chosen him and doing other outrages vnaduisedly He had a nephew called Francis Pregnan an vnprofitable member more licentious than is fit to be spoken vpon whom he would bestow many dukedomes and earledomes in the kingdome of Sicilia and intitled him vnto them and would willingly if it had beene in his power haue made him Souldan of Babylon too notwithstanding it were too apparent that he was vnable to gouerne a small familie To conclude there was no man euer in the Popedome more wicked and more cruell in so much that hee caused many Bishops and Cardinals barbarously and cruelly to be murthered Secum super hoc vt aestimo diabolo dispensante the diuell as I thinke dispensing with him for it or atleast wise ioyning with him in the execution thereof Of Boniface the ninth He was of a goodlie stature but a vicious nature For we read of none that euer bare rule in the Apostolike See that durst presume so publikely and with so little shame to commit the sinne of simonie scandalizing without respect of difference and ordaining Archbishops Bishops Prelats Clerkes and Priests and all for gaine He likewise made his brothers Marquesses Dukes Earles Of Innocent the seuenth In him vertue and vice was at variance he was a great dissembler firie in carnall affection He enriched his kindred with temporalties and tooke no care to confirme the vnion in the Church which he had promised and sworne to doe Of Gregorie the twelfth How he hath and doth carrie himselfe touching his kindred and that vnion that is to be made by him 〈◊〉 is apparent ynough And these foure gaue no almes which is a signe of damnation and though a fault in all yet worst in a Prelat because no man can be saued without charitie And this he writ being notarie of the Apostolike letters An. 1408. in the yeare 1408. There was likewise an Epistle directed to this Gregorie which he calleth delusorie of the officers of the Church of Rome wherein he is called The damnable forerunner of Antichrist Neither is Benedict his competitor forgotten therein There they protest That the world from thence forward will make no account of their excommunications but rather make a jeast of them since it manifestly appeareth that they both draw men into open perdition being the one and the other vnworthie of the Popedome especially Gregorie to whom they attributed most was a drunkard an heretike a destroyer of the Church of God a man accursed And in like manner they speake of his most familiar friends namely of Gabriel who was afterward Eugenius the fourth whom they call his first borne sprung from his raines and of the Cardinall of Raguse they say he was a Demoniacall Monke an infernall Legat and the like of diuers others The Author in the end concludeth That this schisme was come to that passe that the Princes of both parts contemned these Popes and nothing regarding their Bulls knit themselues in friendship alliances and mariages one with the other in such sort that a man might truely say that all things on both sides were doubtfull We haue neither a true Pope nor a true king of the Romans Behold here againe that succession they boast of He likewise writ a treatise of the inuestiture of Bishops and Abbots and attributeth the right to the Emperour Henrie Token Deligat of the Bishop of Magdeburge in the Councell of Basil maketh mention of him in his treatise That the Councell is aboue the Pope Here our France doth the rather offer it selfe to our consideration because one of these contendants was then resident at Auignion Clement therefore being departed the Cardinals chose Petrus de Luna called Benedict Froissard saith That the election was made vpon condition If it pleased the king of France and his Counsell otherwise he was not to be receiued yea that when he gaue the king to vnderstand of his Popedome he carelesly answered That it was doubtfull whether hee should acknowledge him to be the true Pope or no. He sent therefore vnto him some of the most learned of the Vniuersitie of Paris as master Iohn of Gigencourt master Peter Playons others to admonish him That the Christian faith was much weakned by this schisme that the Church could not long continue in that state In so much that the Vniuersitie of Paris was not of opinion that the Clergie seeking grace and fauour should send their petitions to Auignon notwithstanding that Benedict had before opened the fountaine of grace to all Clergie men which the king likewise forbad by their counsell vntill it were otherwise determined The Duke of Britaine did the like notwithstanding some Princes of France fauoured Benedict because he denied them nothing The king therefore without the knowledge of the Pope disposed of such benefices as were voyd in so much that the Cardinals began to feare least he should likewise lay hands vpon those benefices they held within the kingdome and therefore they sent a Legat vnto him to assure him That if Benedict were lesse pleasing vnto him they would enter the Conclaue againe to chuse another to his owne contentment The Legat being heard and withall a Frier Minorite who resided with the king in behalfe of Boniface Pope of Rome it was concluded in Councell not without the consent of the Vniuersitie That both the riuals should be commaunded to resigne the Popedome Froissard l. 4. c. 58. and all the Cardinals their Cardinalships and that certaine Clergiemen that were men knowne to be honest and of a good conscience should be chosen out of Germanie France and other nations who deliberating of the cause amongst themselues with good aduice and without all fraud should restore the Church to her former state and vnitie Which sentence of the Vniuersitie the king approued and so did the Dukes of Orleance and Burgundie and their Counsellors Whereupon he sent embassadous to the kings of Germanie Bohemia Hungarie and England vndertaking for the kingdome of Castille Nauarre Arragon Sicilia Naples and Scotland that they should yeeld their obedience vnto him to whomsoeuer he and his realme should grant his There was much time spent in these embassages but yet with this fruit That Richard king of England agreed to whatsoeuer the king of France thought conuenient and the Emperour Wenceslaus in the yeare 1398 with many other great Princes came to Rheimes to consider of this businesse with the king notwithstanding he pretended the cause of this his journey to bee the mariage of the daughter of the Duke of Orleance to the Marquesse son of Brandebourg There after many deliberations those great Princes being assisted with the greatest and grauest personages of their States decree That Petrus de Alliaco Bishop of Cambray should goe in

taught by the word of God not to feare them that can kill the bodie only but him that can cast the soule into hell Lastly That seeing the embassadors of Eugenius dare preach euerie where their new doctrine That the Pope is aboue the Church they ought not deferre the publication of those three Conclusions yea That they should imitat the Apostle Paul who would not for one houre forbeare Peter not walking according to the truth of the Gospell with a right foot But that the other things which respect his person might be deferred least Panormitan exclaime more than needs At these words Panormitan Ludouicus Romanus and others made a great tumult and greatly vpbraided him That he had related those Conclusions at Louaine and at Colonia which he himselfe also denied not And verie hardly could Iohn de Segouia obtaine silence to be made though all did take an exceeding great delight to heare him speake He then strongly confirmed the sentence of the President after many forcible arguments The followers of Eugenius saith he preach heresie all the world ouer neither doth any say vnto them that they should surcease but to you that intend to publish the truth a thousand things are whispered in your eares for to make you be silent c. And to you my Lord President I say that you must rather please God than Princes If you therefore depart hence without conclusion know that you shall render an account thereof in the seuere iudgement of God And at length the Cardinall of Arles pronounceth sentence whereby the minds of the contrarie partie were sore troubled The Councell had established eight Conclusions yet with intention to retaine onely the three former These saith he in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost I conclude This said he rose vp cheerefully and very many striuing kisse the skirts of his garments it being the common opinion That this was rather a worke of the holie Ghost than of him Panormitan being much ashamed retireth to his lodging and in his chamber complaineth of his king the king of Arragon in that he had compelled him to fight against the truth and to lose his reputation and his soule And the Author addeth That notwithstanding his protestation he had seene him oftentimes in his studie complaining of his Prince that he was carried away with the counsell of others and the Archbishop of Arles vpbraideth him that none was more eagre in publishing the errours of Eugenius none more readie to the Monitories and suspension and therefore that he should examine his conscience Now in the end the Decree is read and published and the Hymne Te Deum sung according to custome with the assent of the embassadors of the Princes yea of the Emperour and of the king of France notwithstanding the endeuours of the aduerse parties to the contrarie and they protested by the mouth of the Archbishop of Tours That what they had moued to the contrarie had not beene for that they doubted of the truth and holinesse of those Conclusions for which they were euen readie to suffer martyrdome but that they might reserue to themselues some way of treating a peace The same Authour noteth That the pestilence waxing hot at Basil many of the Prelats departed into diuers places who at the point of death receiuing the Sacrament said to their friends that stood about them We are within few houres to appeare before the tribunall seat of God All yee which be present pray to God to conuert them who acknowledge Gabriel to wit Eugenius for Pope because they cannot be saued in that estate testifying euen to the last gaspe that they will dye in the faith of the Councell of Basil And notwithstanding all this danger the Cardinall of Arles would not depart till he had fully brought to passe both the deposition of Eugenius and the election and coronation of a new Pope which was Amade Duke of Sauoy called Felix the fourth Then because he had beene maried grew a question whether he might be chosen it was determined That not onely he who hath had a wife but he which yet hath one may be admitted For why else say they doe our Doctors dispute Whether one that hath a wife being chosen Pope is bound to yeeld the duetie of mariage to his wife but because also a maried man may be receiued There haue been also as you know Popes in mariage state neither was Peter the Prince of the Apostles without a wife Why doe we now obiect these things It may be it were neuer the worse if many Priests did marie Sacerdores quam-plures vxorari because many would be saued in a maried Priesthood which in a barren are damned Some doe note That the Cardinall of Arles to whom the prayse of this whole action is referred being sent from the Councell into lower Germanie in his returne verie hardly escaped an ambush which Eugenius had layd against him so that he seemed not without cause to haue said in a certaine Session of the Councell Christ was sold for thirtie peeces of siluer but I was sold for a farre greater price for fortie crownes of gold deliuered and payed by Gabriel sometime Eugenius that I might be taken prisoner and presented vnto him It is worthie remembrance That when Eugenius had sent Legat Iulian Cardinall of Saint Angelo to the Councell of Basil presently after sent him commaundement to dissolue it Iulian laied open vnto him by letters how great an iniurie he should doe himselfe and brought many reasons against it Epist Julian Cardin. Legati in German ad Eugen. Papam among others this That the Bohemians who had beene called thither would by good right say Is not heere the finger of God seene Behold armies haue so often sled from before them and now the vniuersall Church also flieth Behold they can neither be ouercome with armes nor by learning Whereas hee alledged his warres although he most certainely foresaw that he should lose Rome and the whole patrimonie of the Church that he ought rather forgoe them than breake off the Councell seeing that the saluation of one soule for which Christ died is deerer vnto him than all the temporall demaine of the Church than the whole world than heauen it selfe If not saith he Now is the axe layed to the root the tree leaneth ready to fall neither can it long persist For the feare also hee was brought into least the Councell would take away the temporall of the Church A wonderfull matter saith hee if this Councell did not consist of Churchmen it might perhaps bee doubted But what Church-man is there will consent to this determination not only because it were against faith but because it would redound to their owne detriment c. But I feare least it happen vnto vs as it did to the Iewes who said If wee let this man goe the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation So likewise we if we

common consent of the States George Prodebraccius a great captaine and a professor of their religion who restored the condition and sliding state of these Churches And as he constantly perseuered therein notwithstanding the threats of the Emperour and Pope hee was excommunicated by Paul the second and his Estate exposed to the first inuaders thereof Matthias king of Hungarie tooke vpon him the conquest of this Prouince by the instigation of Rodolfe the Popes Legat with the approbation of the Emperour Fredericke the third and by the fauour of many of the great men of the kingdome But after many battels fought with variable successe he could not bring his purpose to passe And in the meane time this valiant Prince was thereby hindered from the necessarie warre which he had prosperously made against the Turkes being accused of ingratitude for that he had set vpon George to whom he was verie notably obliged for hauing generously set him free out of prison without any ransome and also giuen him his daughter in mariage when he was chosen king of Hungarie In hatred of which fact euen after the death of George when Matthias was declared king by the Pope the States of the kingdome of Bohemia would neuer giue their consent vnto it but preferred before him Vladislaus sonne of Casimir king of Polonia who although he was oftentimes instigated by the Pope against George yet would neuer be persuaded to take armes against him judging it a thing vnworthy vnder pretence of the Catholike Faith to violat the faith giuen to each other And this bringeth vs to the yeare 1470. 64. PROGRESSION The Atheisme of Sixtus the fourth and his abhominable and wicked life whom Innocent the eighth succeeded both in the Popedome and in all impietie Of Alexander the sixt by what diuellish meanes he attained the Popedome and of his abhominable incestuous life and miserable death Charles the French king passeth into Italie with a mightie armie and of his valiant proceedings there NOw it was thought that the Popes were come to that height of impietie and tyrannie that they could hardly ascend to a higher step and yet by that which followeth we shall easily perceiue that they found meanes to adde both a ridge and pinnacles to that building It is beyond all beleefe especially we reporting it had we not their owne Authours to witnesse it against them In the yeare 1471 Francis de Rouere borne in Sauoy Generall of the Franciscans got the Popedome who was called Sixtus the fourth Of this man Onuphrius giues this testimonie That for his great learning as long as hee was Cardinall all questions that concerned matter of Faith were committed to him Where let the Reader note from that which followeth vpon whose faith the Catholike Faith depended At the first onset he made shew of calling a Councell at Lateran vnder a twofold pretence The reformation of the Church and The holie Warres The causes were both verie plausible both for the allaying of the grieuous gronings of good men and the freeing them of their feares But the place was not thought so fitting being that out of which there neuer came any thing profitable to the Church The Emperour Frederick desired that it might be in the borders of Germanie and at the instant request of the Archbishop of Carnie who gaue his best assistance to forward the Reformation the Emperour and Princes called an assemblie of many Bishops at Basil But Sixtus hearing thereof Stumfius in Histor Heluetia sent Angelus the Bishop of Suesse to the Senat of the citie threatening to interdict them if they sent not the Archbishop to Rome bound hand and foot accounted not the rest of the Bishops that were with him for excōmunicat persons But the Senat of Basil not enduring that so great a wrong shold be offred vnto them in a free city the Legat excommunicating them departed in choler Frederic neuerthelesse persisted in his purpose but yet the better to pacifie Sixtus he desired that the Councel might be called at Vtina in Friuli a countrey in Italie but that pleased him not neither This difficultie so soone as he saw he had ouercome withall established his seat with the mutuall Legations of Princes hee bent all his endeuours to the encrease of the honour and greatnesse of his friends and kindred Volateran Onuphr Volateran and Onuphrius say in expresse tearmes That he was accounted by the iudgement of all verie louing and indulgent towards his kindred for whose sakes hee had done and granted many things praeter fas jusque against all lawes humane and diuine Hee created therefore two Cardinals and that not without a mysterie Peter Riere whom hee had brought vp from a child with his brother Ieronimo and Iulian his brothers sonne who was afterward Iulius the second Peter being in a short time strangely inriched became so sumptuous that he seemed to be borne to spend money for he consumed in those two yeares wherein he liued a Cardinall two hundred thousand crownes in his ordinarie houshold expence left fortie thousand crownes in debts and other infinit riches and mouable goods He died weakened and worne out with pleasures But neuerthelesse a Legat a mad choyce it was in Italie It is he whose prodigious prodigalitie Baptista Fulgosius describeth to be such Baptista Fulg. dict factor memorab l. 9. Baptista Mantuanus in Alphonso l. 4. that hee vsually gaue to Tiresia his harlot pantofles wrought all ouer with pearle of whom likewise Baptista Mantua writeth these verses wherein Iupiter thus saluteth him in hell At tu implume caput cui tanta licentia quondam Foemineos fuit in coitus tua furta putabas Hic quoque praetextu mitrae impunita relinquit Sic meruit tua foeda Venus c. But thou O Bauld-pate who once mightest freely Glut thy desires with womens companie Thinkst thou thy Myter can here thy thefts defend Such hath the desert of thy leacheries been c. To the reproach and ignominie both of Pope Sixtus and himselfe Of Iulian we shall speake hereafter in his place Hauing prouided for these two that were neerest vnto him both in bloud and affection he bent his endeuours to the promotion of the rest of his kindred He made therefore his brother Ieronimo brought vp with him the Prince of Forlie and Imola whether by right or wrong hee regarded not whom he maried to Catherina the bastard daughter of the Duke of Milan hauing first bestowed a hat vpon Ascanius the Dukes sonne to get his fathers consent Presently after he raised Leonard his brothers sonne whom he maried to a bastard of king Ferdinands and made him Gouernour of Rome He made Iohn also the sonne of Cardinall Iulian Prince of Soria and Senogallia who maried Ioan the daughter of Frederick of Montefeltro Duke of Vrbin from whom came Franciscus Maria who his vncle dying without heires male obtained the dukedome and in this manner did he exalt diuers others He was so liberall say

caetera diuina in the Church of the holie Crosse of Hierusalem said to be found in the time of Innocent the eighth Can any man doubt but that hee hereby mocked the Crosse of Christ That man who in the yeare 1494 in his rage published with his owne mouth a pardon for thirtie thousand yeares to as many as would say a certaine prayer before the Image of Saint Anne the mother of the blessed Virgine Benedicta sit sancta Anna mater tua ex qua sine macula peccato processisti c. Where were now the Dominicans who preached a contrarie doctrine This is that man who diuided the world amongst the Princes gaue to Ferdinand of Aragon and to Isabel of Castile the West Indies discouered at that time by Colombus But by what right if not by that wherewith he bound himselfe before to the Prince of the world euen to him that said vnto Christ All this will I giue thee if thou wilt fall downe and worship me OPPOSITION Now in the Historie of these three Popes described by their owne friends and followers wee haue a kind of hidden or rather publike Opposition against their tyrannie For is there not here a liuelie picture of Antichrist whose name onely as Painters vse to doe they haue concealed Al●eric de Rozate in● bene a Zenon ●●ol 6. num 18. c. de Quadrie●●●i praescriptis leauing to vs not onely to diuine who he should bee but to pronounce this verie man to be the man of sinne euen Antichrist himselfe Let vs neuerthelesse see amongst other Authors of that age whether it will not more manifestly appeare Albericus de Rozate an excellent Lawyer defendeth as many had done before That the Empire depended not vpon the Pope That the Emperour needed not his confirmation That they who thought otherwise were guiltie of treason and their goods to bee confiscated That the Popes Jdem in verbo Romae according to the present state of their affaires haue sometimes exalted sometimes depressed the Empire to the end they may get vnto themselues a power both ouer temporall and spirituall And these are his verses Curia Romana non petit ouem sine lana Dante 's exaudit non dantibus ostia claudit The Courts of Rome without the wooll refuse the sheepe Giuers they heare against no giuers the doores they keepe As likewise that of the Donation of Constantine I haue heard of men of great credit that there was then heard a voyce from heauen saying To day is the poyson of Aspes sowed in the Church of God and they say that this is to be found in the auncient authentique writings and so doth the said M. Iohn of Paris report in his booke of the Papall and imperiall power C. 21. Hieronimus Paulus Catalanus a Canon of Barcelone and Doctor of both lawes Chamberlaine to Alexander the sixt in his booke of the practise of the Apostolike Chauncetie feares not to say That the Donation of Constantine was not de facto Read Laurentius Valla and Pope Pius in his Dialogue neither haue I read any thing of any such Donation in any approued writer especially those that haue written that age or the next vnto it For neither doth Eusebius who was a diligent writer and enquirer into Christian affaires make mention thereof c. nor Ierome nor Augustine nor Ambrose nor Basil nor Iohn Chrysostome Amian nor Beda nor Orosius And it is apparent that for aboue three hundred yeares after Constantine the Emperours had the gouernement of the citie by Dukes Presidents and Exarches vntill the time of Innocent the second as it plainely appeareth in the Histories and Chronicles To which purpose he alledgeth many places out of the Digests the Code and the new Constitution And in the life of Phocas the Emperor we read that Pope Boniface obtained the Panteon of him Which is that Church that is called Maria retunda If therefore you will know from whence the Church had her lands and reuenues see the Acts of Charles the Great of Pipin and of Pius in the sayd Dialogue and the collections newly gathered by Bartholmew Platina the Liberarie keeper in one great volume wherein he hath gathered all the instruments appertaining to the state of the Church as touching their temporalties especially the acquisition of their lands reuenewes and rights vnto them vpon the reuiew whereof I haue likewise bestowed some paines Of the sayd Donation and cure of the leprosie of Constantine read that which Remus the Bishop of Padua hath writ at large in his historie of the liues of the Popes Both the one and the other the Donation and the Cure grounded vpon one and the same vanitie Hieron Marius in Eusebio Captiuo Mancinellus was yet more bold who vpon a solemne day about the houre of procession mounting vpon a white horse according to the custome made an Oration at Rome before all the people against Alexander the sixt openly reprehending his abuses his scandalous life and foule abhominations and hauing ended his speech exemplified it before their eyes Alexander therefore caused him to be apprehended and commaunded both his hands to bee cut off which were no sooner healed but vpon another feastiuall day with the like boldnesse he spake againe But by the commaundement of Alexander his tongue was presently cut out Machiauellus Historiae Florentin l. 1. whereof he died Machiauel the Secretarie of Florence in his historie saith plainly That vntill the time of Theodoricus king of Lombardie the Pope had no temporall jurisdiction yea was hardly acknowledged to haue any superioritie in causes Ecclesiasticall aboue the Church of Rauenna but that power and authoritie that it hath it got afterwards by diuers guiles and subtilties sometime taking part with the Greekes sometimes with the Lombards vntill they had ouerthrowne both the one and the other But especially their greatest power they attained vnto by the wicked abuse of their excommunications indulgences and publication of the Crosse but yet so that at what time they thundered most in countries and kingdomes most remote they were in greatest contempt at Rome hauing much adoe to reside there notwithstanding they promised not to intermeddle with ciuile causes but Ecclesiasticall onely Hee likewise saith That they were the authors of all the warres in Italie after the time of Theodoricus king of the Gothes and in his owne time of all those troubles that were in Italie That the Cardinals were but simple Curats of the Parishes in Rome increasing afterwards by little and little in wealth and honour and pride and titles and habiliments as the Popedome and the contention for the Popedome increased And in the handling of this subiect he concludeth the first booke of his Florentine historie which it shall not bee amisse for the Reader to take a view of Guicciardine also the Standard-bearer of the Church of Rome writ the like discourse in the fourth booke of his histories but the place was carefully rased out but