defied the Persians who spoiled the coūtry of Mesopotamia And being ariued at Asia hauing takē phisycke for to recouer his health he dyed not without suspition of impoisonment This is he who is surnamed the great who called Bizantius a Citie of Thracia by his name where he placed the seat of the Empire Constantinople He begane to raigne about CCCXII yeres after the natiuity of Christ A blaising starre of straūge and wonderfull greatnes preceaded his death Constantinus Constantius Constans bretheren He left behind him thre sones to wet Constantinus Cōstantius Constans vnto Constantinus befell the regiment of the Alpes Fraūce Spaine Englad the Iles called Orchades Ireland Thile Vnto Cōstans Italy Afrike with the Iles Sclauony Macedonia Achaia * Now called Morea Peloponesus Grecia vnto Constantius the country of Asia of Thracia Constantinus not wel content with this particiō stirred vp war against his brother Constans and was euē already come to Aquileia where he gaue the on set against his brothers army But hauing lost his army he was slain After this victory Cōstans who in the meane while made warre wyth the Getes and Sarmatians in * A coūtrye beyond Hūgarie called now Transilianiam Dacia came into Italy and hauyng passed the mountaines he entered by force into Fraunce in suche sorte that by the space of two yeares he enioyed all the dominions of his brother disceassed But shortelye after he was murdered by the Ambusches and conspyratyes of Magnentius who was chosen Emperour by the Souldiours he oftentymes repeteth that it appertaineth to him only who is Bishop as he saith of the chiefe seat to assemble the generall coūsells a thing commytted vnto hym by synguler pryueledge and by deuyne Commaundement A man myght meruyll how he could for shame write this or the residue boste themselues therof seyng that before his time Constantinus had assembled that of Nice more then an hūdreth yere after him the Emperour Martianus that of Chalcedon He saith Moreouer that it appertaineth to hym onley as beyng Bishop of Rome to haue knowledge of Bishops causes other like affaires The other Bishops could not suffer this hys arrogancie and presumption The Bysshops resist Iulius therfore being assembled at Antioch they vertuously answered him that it appertained not vnto him to retract the sentence by thē pronoūced seing that they were in like degre of dignitie with him that the doctrine of Christ was proceded out of their country finally came to Rome by the meanes and trauayle of the Apostles Moreouer yf that he dyd contynue in hys opinyon and makynge of newe decrees they woulde not onely not obey but they woulde also neyther make nor meddell wyth hym and they would consulte to gyue order herein accordynge to the wayttynesse of the matter In an other Synode holden in the self same Towne where they were assembled in greatter number they ordayned amongeste other thynges what was the offyce of the Byshop and that of the Metropolytan yf anye Proces should happen as touchyng thynges of greate importaunce For yf it chaunce that the Bishops doe not accorde they commaunde that the Metropolytan take certayne of the next prouince for Iudges to gyue absolute and diffinityue sentence If that anye Byshoppe for hys offence or cryme be condempned by the common consent of the other Byshoppes they wyll that the sentence remayne ferme and stable and not to be retracted by any other They ordayne moreouer that the Bishoppe employe faythfully the goods of the Church gyuen to the vse of the poore yf nede require that he take therof as much as shal be nedefull for his necessitie forasmuch as sainct Paulle sayth that we ought to be content with meate clothing And if it so happen that the Byshoppe employe these gooddes to hys owne perticuler profite or of his gyuing the vse therof to hys kynsfolkes they wyll that he be reprehended by the Synode Iouinianus hauyng the enemye at hys elbowe he made a treaityes of Peace verye ignominius vnto the publyke weale for he restored the fyue prouynces whyche Galeryus had conquered beyonde Tyger as it hathe beene sayde wyth a certayne part of Mesopotamya Moreouer he promysed in the treatyes of Peace that the Romayns should not succour nor helpe the Kyng of Armenia although he were their frend and compaynyon Thys done goyng on with his armye to retyre homewards he died in the confynes of Bithinia The armie incōtinently after elected Valentinianus to be Emperour Valentinianus who being ariued at Constantinople tooke Valeus hys brother to be hys compaynion in the regiment of the Empire and committing vnto him those countries there he went into Germanye where he subdued the Saxons borderers of the Ocean sea This brought to passe he drew into Fraūce where some say he died for anger At this time his brother Valeus the other Emperour Valeus was in Asia for to represse and withstand the fury of the Parthians who forraged in Armenia and the kinge of the Persians who stirred vp warre contrary to the couenantes But beyng aduertised that the Hūnes or Tartarians and Scithians did spoyle the country of Hungarie Albanie and Thessalie he retyred into Europa beyng vainquished in the assaulte he was brought into a litle house very sore hurt where the enemies setting the same a fyer brunt him There is found a certaine acte or law made by the Emperours Valentinianus Valeus The decree of Valentinianus and Valeus by the whych it is commaunded that they that follow the deserte monasticall lyfe auoiding by thys meanes the publike charges goyng a warfare should be plucked out of their dēnes and shuld be constrayned eyther to serue the country or to be frustrated of all other commodities the whiche shoulde be transferred to them who did sustaine daungers trauills for the publike weale The enemyes forth with encamped before Constantinople but being pacified by the gyftes and presentes of the Emperour they raised their campe and departed When the coūtry of Saxonia was pacifyed the Emperour Valentinianus dyd adopte Gratianus hys sōne to be compainion of the Empyre Now the father the Vncle beyng dead Gratianus Gratianus succeded them both and for as muche as the publyke weale was incombered with diuers troubles he elected Theodosius an excellent Captayne Theodosius sent him towards the East coūtry He ouerthrew and defeicted the Hūnes Gothes about Constantinople and draue thē out of the country of Thracia Shortly after Gratianus was traitrously slayne in Fraunce by a certaine Captaine of hys named Maximus who coueted the Empire Ansonius Poet. Ausonius of Bourdeaux was his schole maister of whom is found a certaine Poesie who also was exalted by the Emperour euen to the dignye of Consull of Rome His sone Valentinianus dyed almost after the sayd sort through the deceipte of Abrogastus his famillier frend But the mourderers remayned not long vnpunished
By this meanes the gouernment of the Empyre retourned to Irene hys mother Who was driuen out foure yeres after and sent in exile and in her roume the aboue sayde Nicephorus was placed About the tyme of these tumults and troubles of Constantinople the fame of Charles kyng of Fraunce was very great For he hauing put ende to the warre of Spayne came into Italy wyth his armie at the request of Adrianus Byshoppe of Rome And euen as Pipine hys father had suppressed Aistulphus king of the Lombards so likewyse he after long seyge toke Desiderius the successour of Aistulphus The kyng of the Lombards takeÌ„ by Charlemayne who greatly molested Italy and Adrianus the fyrst of that name Moreouer he banished Adalgisius his sonne from the kingdome and out of al Italy For since Constantinus the great the Romain Emperours were placed very farre of to witte in Constantinople and were not only encumbred with forren warres but also with ciuill and domesticall dissentions tumultes and debats Wherthrough it befell that they toke no great care of Italy or that they could not well defend it especially after that the Lombards threaned to enter the country Moreouer the most part of them were at great strife wyth the Byshoppes of Rome and for spyte they bare them they did not greatly withstand the aduancement of the Lombards For this cause the Popes sought forren aide and succour And because that at that time there was no family more noble nor more mighty then that of the French Kyngs the refuge of the popes vnto the kinges of Fraunce Charlemaine proclamed Emperour for the excellentnes of their actes the said popes had refuge thether as vnto a certayn Hauen On this sort Leo the thyrd Adrianus successour hauyng fyerce and myghtye enemies at Rome demaunded ayde of Charles the sonne of Pipine He beyng for the fourth tyme come to Rome was saluted Emperor by the pope and all the people The which came to passe at such time as Constantinople was encombred wyth hurlye burlies great stormes and diuisions in such sort that it semed that the tyme and state of the publike weale dyd offer meanes and gyue occasion vnto thys mutation So therfore the Weast Empyre fell into the Germayns hands for it is not to be doubted whether Pipyne and Charles weare Germayns Thys fell in the eyght hundreth and one yere after the natiuitie of Christ As touching the East Emperours it is certayn that synce Nicephorus they haue bene alwaies tormented and troubled wyth warres For in the begynning the Bulgates had often times battaile against them Afterwards the Saracenes beyng marched froÌ„ Affrike occupyed the Iles of Candy and of Sicilia and destroyed Asia through out Whych also fynally the Turckes dyd who weare yssued out of Scithia Now from Nicephorus vnto ConstaÌ„tinus Paleologus the last there are reckened about fyftye Greke Emperours and amongst theÌ„ certayne women They were for the most part meÌ„ of no worthynes And in the raygne of Constantinus Monamachus who is the twentith from Nicephorus Constantinus Monomachus the Turckes beyng of a small begynning beganne to enlarge their dominions by lyâ—le and lytle and to assault Asia in such sort that encreassing daily their power The beginning of the turckes at length they haue establyshed a Monarchye but no newe one or fifth in order but engendred of that part of the Romayn Empyre whych was in the East The first of this Monarchye was Ottomanus Ottomanus the firste Emperour of the Turckes about the yeare of Christ a thousand thre hundreth Afterwardes Mahomette the second of that name and great grande father vnto Solimanus who raigneth at thys present hauing taken Constantinople and slayne the Emperour Constantinus Paleologus wyth all hys race Constantinople taken by Mahomette he vtterly rooted vp in those places the name and succession of the Emperours of our religion Now vnto thys day the Turckes hold and possesse Asia Syria Egypte Mesopotamia Iudea Rhodes and all Grecia Thracia Bulgaria Macedon Sclauonye and the two Mysies and of freshe memorye one of the Hungaryes and a certayne part of Barbarye Diuelyshe ambition of the Bisshoppes As touchyng the supremacye in tymes past the Churches of Ierusalem of Antioch of Constantinople and of Rome haue bene at great strife and variaunce especially the two laste as it hath bene sayd But the Turcke toke away the debate and in such sort confounded all thynges in those thre fyrst places that at thys day there is no apperaunce there of any Church or Christian assembly As concerning that whych remayneth and whych triumpheth beyng freed from the others that bare her enuye the thyng it selfe doth shewe in what state and disposytion she is After then that we haue declared how that part of the body of the Romayne Empyre whych lyeth towardes the East is altogether perished and fallen into other mennes handes It resteth to declare how that whych lyeth towardes the West is ruinated beynge brought vnder new gouernours It is here nedefull to consyder as in by passyng the meruelous mockyng of fortune in that that the Honour and so hygh dygnytye of the Empyre hath bene transferred from the auncient Romayne famylyes vnto straungers The euyll happe of the Emperours and Empyre yea vnto certayne vyle and shamelesse personnes amongest theym For somme of theym were Spaynyards others natyue of Hungarye Pannonia Dacia Dardanya Dalinatia Fraunce Thracia or Cappadocia Chyefely it is requysyte to contemplate how greatly the estate of the Emperours hath bene doubtfull and myserable for theyr prosperitye and dygnyty dyd not consyste in the defence or power of the Senate or of the people but of the Legions and souldiours in such sort that it was meruel that euer any wold take vpon them an offyce so daungerous and subiecte to so many calamytyes For synce Iulius Cesar who was murdered in the presence of the Senate vnto Charlemayne The number of Emperours murdered there are founde about thirtye that were slaine and foure that slewe theym selues wyth theyr owne handes There was alwayes somethynge in theym that dyd mislyke the souldyours neyther coulde they beare any more wyth the good then wyth the bad and conspyrynge for the least accasyon in the world they cutte their throttes whome they had enforced to take vppon theym that hyghe estate as it is manyefest It so befell vnto Elius Pertinax The Senate stoode in awe of the Emperour but he dyd depend almost vppon the wyll and pleasure of the vyle souldiours They toke vpon them thys aucthoritye after the death of Iulius Cesar especyally the olde bandes and leâ—yons whose ayde he had vsed in Fraunce Spayne and Affryke Cicero lamentyng the same sayth they are valiaunt but for the Memorye of thynges whych they haue done in fauour of the lybertye of the Romayn people and dignity of the publyke weale they are ouer much arrogant and drawe all our councells vnto their fellonie and violence The ende of the seconde Booke The
* people of Frannce Soisonois The writters of the Annales of Fraunce say that the ecclesiastical prelates whose pride and superfluity he did reprehend did raise moue this tempest in an assembly that they made at Aix in Germany Impiety of the bishops and did pushe forward the children to enterpryse such execrable wyckednes He notwithstanding was deliuered sixe monthes after to the great ioye contentation of the people and the kingdome with all his other goods was restored vnto him Since that he came to quietnes it is chiefly to be noted that diuers coūsells were holden in Fraunce Counsells holden in Fraunce The first next the abouesaid of Aix was holden at Troye in Campania after at Reimes at Clermoūt in Auuergne at Tours at Diion at Paris Lions Vienne Auignon Viarron in Berry Orleans and truely dyuers almost in eche of the sayd places For when the estate of thinges did so require the kings did conuocate the ecclesiasticall order the other lords for to remedy the publike inconueniences After this sort Ludouicus the .xii. who had great enimities debates with Iulius the second held a counsell of his subiectes at Tours at Lions the yere of saluation a M.D.X. a. XI Let vs now retourne to our purpose Ludouicus beyng disseassed and buryed at Mets Lotharius succeded who had warre with his brethren Newe parting of the kingdome betwen the brethren But fynally it was appeased new particion was made Where through Germanye fell vnto Ludouicus lot with a part of Fraunce From the Maze to the Rheine Fraunce befell vnto Charles from the Englishe sea the hiles Pirenees vnto the Maze Lotharius ouer and besides that he was Emperour obtayned Italy and the Prouince of Narbonne The Saracenes repressed Ludouicus the second his sonne succeded him who did represse the Saracenes that did rushe in to Italye In hys raygne Adrianus the seconde was Pope amongest others yea wyth oute the Emperours consent as theyr bookes report And was created by the nobilitye of Rome by the Citezins and by theym whom they call the clargye For albeit the Emperours Embassadours were in the Towne not wythstandynge they weare not called to the electyon And for as muche as they were wroth herewyth it was aunswered them that that was not done in contempt of the Emperour but for to take hede that hereafter the custome of wayting for the Emperours Embisadours should not enter in credyte as nessarye They say that the Embassadours were not onely pleased with this aunswere but that also they dyd humble curtesy vnto the Pope Here a man may perceiue in their writings a maruelous inconstancie variety For if according to their saying Ludouicus the first did graunt vnto them fre election as also we haue here aboue mentioned why did his Nephew Ludouicus the secōd thinke iniurie to be done vnto hym But how so euer the matter goeth the title of the decree which is in the repertories of Gratianus is manifestly false False shode in the great decre of Gratianus For it is attributed vnto Gregorie the fourth albeit that he was dead two and twenty yeares before that Adrianus the second came to be Pope He being dead could he wrytte the Historye of things whych besell afterwardes Before Adrianus was Nicolas the first of whom is found a longe Epistle vnto Michell Emperour of Gretia where he maketh dyscourse of hys power ouer al churches For Ignatius was put out of his Bishoprike at Cōstantinople and Photius placed in hys roume no mention beyng made ther of vnto the Byshoppe of Rome yea the Images were beaten downe He cryeth therefore there agaynst as muche as he coulde possyble Diuers of his decrees do yet remayn ful of Papall maiestie The aboue said Charles king of Fraunce made hast to goe into Italy albeit that his other brother Ludouicus king of Germany who was his elder did resyst him There he was cōsecrated by the byshop of Rome Iohn the eygth He went for the second time at the Popes request to resyst the Saracenes who again had enuaded the coūtry of Campania Ludouicus the maffler and died at Mantua His sonne Ludouicus surnamed the Maffler succeded hym but he raigned but two yeres Charles the Great The Empyre came from hym to Charles the great sōne of Ludouicus kyng of Germany who after the death of hys twoo brethren possessed all Germany Italy and Fraunce and defeicted the Saracenes who troubled Italye He made warre for a certaine space against the Normayns a people of low Germany who forraged in Gallia Belgica Fynally he graunted theym that part of Fraūce which beareth their name vnto this day Arnulphus Emperour The Emperour Arnulphus his nephew by the brother syde succeaded after him who truely was an excellent Prince He marched into Italy for to deliuer the Pope Formosus from his aduersaries and forthwith toke the Citie of Rome where he caused the authours of the seditiō to be punished In his time the Hungares beyng driuen from the country of Scithia cast themselues vpon Pannonia and in the tyme that Ludouicus the third sonne of Arnulphus was Emperour they passed into Germany and hauing wonne a triumphant victorie nere the flood of Lech they filled Bauier Swane Franconie and Saxonie with slaughters robberies and burnings In the Emperour Arnulphus time there was a Counsell holden at Tribur a towne sytuated vpon the Mein at the which were present .xxii. Bishoppes of Germany And amongst dyuers thyngs it was ordayned that none shuld sell the buriyng of the dead A decree for bedding selling of Graues Berengarius and that no layman as they call them should be buried wyth in the church At this time a great fyer was kindled in Italy For Berengarius and other great lords of Lombardie vnto whō Charles the Balde had done great benefites cōspired against Fraūce at such tyme as Charles the great was Emperour Sedition in Italy by Berengarius But perceauyng that they could auayll nothinge herein they tourned their enterprisses against Italy and hauing skermished a long time amongst themselues as commonly it hapneth they did very great hurt Finally Berengarius remaining victorious he obtained the kingdome of Italy and as writtings do mention he toke and put out the Emperour Ludouicus eies who had thether conducted his armie At that time also to the end that no calamitie might be wanting the Saracenes Affrikans Hungares horribly wasted and spoyled Italye And for that the estate of Italy so fayre a region was thus miserable and bloudy vnder the Berengareis Hugo Rudolphus Lotharius Albertus and certayn others and that the Emperour Ludouicus was disseassed in these hurlieburlies the Almains and chiefely the Saxons offred the Empire to Otho prince of Saxonie of Turing But he being then of great age perswaded them to electe Conrad Duke of Franconie Conrad Duch Emperour Who beyng in the estate dyd almost all things by the counsell of Otho Moreouer Otho
was elected Emperour A litle before this time occasioÌ„ of great warre did arise betwen the Frenchmen the Englishemen Charles yâ— fourth For as Charles the faire king of FrauÌ„ce was disceased without men children the which befell the yere a M. CCC XXVII Edward the third of that name king of England contended that the kingdome appartained vnto him Warre betwene the FrenchmeÌ„ and the Englishemen because that he was sonne of Isabel the sister of Charles The chiefe of the kingdome who are named Petes elected king Philip of Vallois cosin of king Charles disceased excluding not only Edward soÌ„ne of the sister but also the kinges daughter who was borne after the dyscease of her father For they sayd that the heritage of that kyngdome dyd nothyng appartayne vnto daughters Herevpon sprong a terrible warre the which yet at this day is not wel appeased The affaires of the Emperour Charles were very troublesome at the beginning Edward king of England was also chosen Emperour but he wold not accept it as it is reported because of the war where in he was occupied against the Frenchmen The Emperour Charles hauing appeased diuers innimities thorow Germany drew into Italy at the consent of Pope Innocent the .vi. who was in Fraunce was crowned at Rome by certain Cardinalls vnder conditioÌ„ that he shuld not soiourne neither at Rome nor in Italy Institution of the viccaires of the Empyre Wherfore he returned to Millan where he graunted to the family of Vicontes who then were of great power in that towne that they shuld be perpetual Viccaires of the Emperour through Lomberdie For the which benefite he receiued a great summe of monny of them not of them only but also of other people vnto whom he had gyuen certaine priueledge The which dyd greatly weaken the powers of the Empire in that country After he was returned from Italy he assembled the Princes made the decree of the Empire which is coÌ„monly called the bul of gold Last of all he declared Wenceslaus his sonne successour of the Empire The goldeÌ„ bull the which he obtained as the bruit goeth by great summes of money Shortly after he disceased In the time of his Empire Iohn king of Fraunce son of Philip of Vallois gâ—ue battaile against the Englishe men who then held the most parte of Aquitania and the towne of Bourdeaux He was taken in the battaile very nere Poitiers with Philip the least of his sonnes Iohn kyng of Fraunce taken of the Englyshe men who was afterwards duke of Bourgony surnamed the Hardy Diuers of the chiefe nobilitie were slain in that battaile They that haue writen the Annales witnes that the EnglishemeÌ„ were no more then vii thousand and on the coÌ„trary that that FrenchmeÌ„ were come thether in an infinite nuÌ„ber euen about sixtie M. This came to passe the yere a M. CCC L. VI. the xx of September The king was led captiue into England where he died .vii. yeres after Wenceslaus as writtings do mentioÌ„ was very vitious aswel of his nature and bringing vp Wenceslaus as of his maner of liuing toke no care of the publike weale He hauing receiued peÌ„ce of Iohn Galeatius who was of the house of Vicontes Galeatius the first duke of Millan he made him duke of Millan of Lomberdy notwithstanding that he was a couetous and cruell man In his raigne Iagello duke of Lituanie was elected by the will and consent of the Princes king of Polonia after the death of king Ludouicus He was then fyrst baptised and named Vladislaus He is the double great grandfather of Sigismondus the .ii. who now raigneth The king of Hungarie defeicted by the Turcke Sigismundus King of Hungarie was vainquished nere vnto Nicopole by Baiazeth Emperour of the Turcks the last of SepteÌ„ber The king of Fraunce Charles the .vi. of that name had sent a braue cheuallry vnto the succour of the Hungarians wherof Iohn sonne of Philip the Hardie duke of Burgony had the conduction who was taken in the battaile presented vnto the greate Turke being in extreme danger of his person not withstanding he escaped after a straunge maner Iohn of Bourgonie deliuered by a strang meanes which reciteth the Annales of Fraunce Baiazeth had one of his familiares who was of them that make profession bost themselues to know the dispositions natures of meÌ„ in beholding the body the eyes the visage the forhead He hauing cast his eye sight vpon the prisoner perswaded that Emperour to let him go safe seing that at his returne into his country it would so come to passe that he shuld kindell a fier wherewith the most part of Europa or of Christendome shuld be enflamed Baiazeth beleued him let go the prisoner with the other gentill men after he had receiued their ransome which did amount vnto CC. M. crownes Iohn being returned into Fraunce begaÌ„ne to set himself against Ludouicus duke of Orleans who was the kings brother For he seyng the king his brother to be holden wyth an incurable disease would handle the affaires haue gouernment be cause that he was his nerest kinsman Iohn of Bourgony on the contrary perceauing himself to be the kings cosin and greater in age Philip his father being dead would goe before Their quarel increased dayly in such sort that the duke of Orleans was at length slaine at Paris as he returned to his lodging after supper The murderers were hired by the Duke of Bourgonie the whiche he denyed not and likewyse approued that whych was done this befell in the yeare a M. CCCC VII the ninth of December Twelue yeares after when the said duke of Bourgonie came to the place appointed for the parising of the matter The death of Iohn of Burgonye not withstaÌ„ding the assurance made vnto him he was dispatched bi certain familiars of the aforesaid duke of Orleans who had conspired against him The murder was done in the presence of the Dolphine who preseded in the leading of the matter This is the original beginning of the war which from that time hath not ceased euen vnto this day to be renued from time to time betwene these two famalies Because that the Emperour Wenceslaus was dispised for his vnmanlines the princes dyd put him from besides his estate elected in his place Robert Palatin Robert Palatin Emperour This maÌ„ forthwith applied his mind to correct that which Wenceslaus had done amise would not ratifie the graunt that his predecessor had made vnto Iohn Galeatius so that he was minded to bring LoÌ„bardy again in the obedience of the Empire But as he forcasted to go into Italy aswel for this cause as for others he was letted yea repulsed by the aboue said Galeatius The estate of Italy was then very troublesome through the faute chieflye of Charles Wenceslaus who had ouermuch licenced graunted vnto those people For besides Galeatiê° who of late was
the hands of their companions fellow helpers Constantius had the dominion of Fraunce England Spaigne Italy Affrick Galerius of Sclauonia Grecia Asia At thys tyme Marcellus was Bishoppe of Rome The degree of Marcellus bishop of Rome of whome a certayn decre is founde that it is not lawfull for the byshops to assemble a Synode or generall counsell without the authoritie of the romaine Sea nor any bishop to condemne any what soeuer he be yf he appeale vnto Rome This man was poore as hys predecessours were liued in great affliction because that Maxentius the Emperour did persecut him Wherfore it is easy to be iudged whether that he being so vexed troubled was so arrogaÌ„t presumptuous to make such decrees Constantius being disceased at york Seuerus Marimianus Maxentius Galerius adapted Seuerus Maximianus In the meane time the nobles other souldiours of the gard which wer at Rome did elect Maxentius for to be Emperour after that Seuerns was slain Maximianus toke Lucinius to be his companioÌ„ Lucinius Great trouble was raised betwene these by reason whereof the nobilitie of Rome called Constantine the sonne of Constantius who had his abiding in FrauÌ„ce for to deliuer the citie from the tyrany of Maxentius CoÌ„stantinus drew into Italy with a part of his souldiours wan the first battel finaliy slew cut a sunder the hooste of Maxentius neare vnto Rome Constantinus the great He had also war against Lucinius who was vaÌ„quished inbattaill at the last was slayn of hys owne Souldiours Certayne holde that the cause of the warre was because that Lucinius dyd sharply persecute the ChristiaÌ„s not withstandynge that Constantine had admonyshed prayed hym to restrayne therefrom For from the resurrection of Christ vntyll this tyme almost for the space of CCC yeres they which made profession of Christ were afflicted tormented diuers wayes For let me omitte to speake of that which the holy scripture reciteth of Stephen of Iames the brother of Iohn of Peter prisoner but diliuered by the angel yea let me omit Paule a great persecuter of the church of god who after he was coÌ„uerted did suffer infinite dauÌ„gers for the profession of Christ The romain Emperours haue raised vp horrible most cruel sortes of torments This did Nero Tyrantes Domitianus Traianus Septimus Seuerus Maximinus Decius Valerianus Aurelianus Diocletianus CoÌ„stantyne doth embrace the doctrine of Christ Maximianus Constantinus remaining victorious embrased the true religion serued as a port refuge vnto the Christians And then first of all the bishops of Rome began to be in safetie For hitherto almost al of them were martyred The number of the bishops since Peter whom they would haue to be the first vnto this time do amount to .xxxiii. Their decrees are enclosed in the bookes of the counsels but the most part of them are so vaine folyshe yea so contrary vnto the holy scriptures that it is to be presupposed that long tyme after some others haue inuented counterfeited them But if they be verily of them proceded of their forge it semeth that the same which S. Paule prophecied might be rightly applied then this respect To wit that euen in the sonne of perdition man of synne began to worke the mysterie of iniquitie The decree of Anacletê° There is found a certain decre which is attributed vnto Anacletus whom certain do place the fourth after Peter by the which he affirmeth the church of Rome to be the head of all others by the commaundement institution of Christ Another decre is vnder the title of Alexander his successour whereby he commaundeth to consecrate water with salt for to purifie the people and to mollifie the assaults and subteltie of the deuill I besech you what agremeÌ„t or likenes is there betwene these things and the maiestie of the Apostles or the writings of Iohn the Euangelist who almost liued euen to thys age I haue only specified these two to the end that the readers might iudge of the residue who are of such like quality endued with such ambitious and couetous mynds and euen as the language is barbarous so likewise the sentence hath no salt which Paule requireth in the ministers of the churche The donation of Constantine is a lye forged of the papistes The bequethment or dontion of Constantine is of the lyke style the which they haue not forgotten in theyr bookes as the foundation and fortiâ—ication of their power For the cause and occasion of his excessiue liberalitie maye be reprehended by the histories and conuicted of falsholde And put the case that this Emperour had bene so prodigall yet could he not diminyshe his right herein but only from hymselfe not froÌ„ his successors who had like power authoritie were defenders of the weale publyke For he can not be named father of a countrey that doth lessen the right reuenue of the Empyre nether can he prescribe a lawe to the preiudice of hys companion lyke in authoritie At the commaundment of Constantine there was publyshed and held a counsell at Nice in Bithinia whereat a great multitude was present In the sayde counsell the opinin of Arius was condemned The couÌ„sell of Nice against Arius who denied Christ to be of equal substaunce with the father It is fouÌ„d in writing that not only the bishops of Europa Asia wer there assistaÌ„t but also those of Egipt Libia Amongst other things it was ordeyned decreed that the auncient custome should be obserued in Egipt Libia Pentapoli to wit that they all shuld be subiect vnto the bishop of Alexandria albeit the bishop of Rome vsurped kept back this custome Moreouer that the priuileges should remain vndiminished at Antioche in other Prouinces churches After this counsell a certayn man called Eustathius spred abroad diuers wicked opinions Eustathius authour of the monkish superstition as to flie froÌ„ marriage to vse new vnaccustomed maner of garments to abstayne from eating of flesh to forsake their possessions Now for asmuch as diuers married men did seperate themselues for their wiues diuers bondmen dyd forsake their maisters went tooke this new religious garment as they call it women also dyd the lyke forsakyng their husbands And because that they that dyd eate fleshe were dispised and estemed as defiled and offendynge God as also the ministers of the church that wer marryed Vppon thys occasion a Counsell was holden at Gangre a citie of Paphlagonie wherein were condemned they who taught on this maner with them that beleued the same Eustathius opinion condemned After that Constantinus had been honourably saluted and gratified by the Senate and the romain people because of the peace restored vnto the publyke weale he set hys whole mynde vppon forreyn warres vanquished in diuers conflicts the Gothes and Sarmatians who oppressed Thracia In hys old age he
a certaine part of Affrike was assigned thē to dwell in The Gothes who by the good will permissiō of the Emperour Honorius did possesse Aquitania in Fraunce as we haue sayde not beyng content with their limites they did wrong violence vnto their neighbours and kept Narbona straightly beseiged But Litorius beynge sent thether with an armie he made the seige to be raised Litorius against the Gothes vittelled the town He was also prosperous in the fyrst battaile But afterwards he was takē almost all hys armie put to the sword The ouer throw was so great that the Romains were constrained to demād peace On the other syde Gensericus king of the Wandales violating the peace which he had as we haue sayde made in Affrike with the Romaines he toke Carthage suddenly being vnloked for wherin he did dyuers sondry cruelties This Citie had bene vnder the Romains for the space of fiue hundreth foure score yeares After he had gotten Carthage he passed into Sicilia where he did exceding much hurt Where through Theodosius did then prepare furnishe hys nauye for to goe and warre agaynst the Wandales But forasmuch as at the same instant the Hūnes dyd spoyle and oppresse Thracia and Sclauonie the armie was called frō Sicilia for the tuition defence of those countries At that time the Scottes Pictes dyd enter Perce into great Britaignie forasmuch as the inhabitants did despaire of the Romain helpe succour they demanded aide of the Englishe mē a people of Saxonia But they dyd so affectionate the plentifullnes fearnes of the coūtry that by litle lytle landyng new souldiours and increasyng their armye The Britons dryuē out by the Englyshemen they at the last dyd assubiecte the most part of the I le after they had defeicted the Britons Shortly after Theodosius the second dyed at Constantinople In his raigne the sūne was obscured or darkned as certayne say almost from the fyfetenth of Iuly vnto the month of Septēber appeared a blaysing starre Martianus Emperour Martianus succeded Theodosius in the regimēt of the East partes We haue herebefore spoken of Gensericus king of the Wandales Valentinianus entred in leadge wyth him and dyd deuide part Affrike betwen them The forcastes of Athila king of the hunes About thys tyme Athila kyng of the Hūnes who hauing violenly possessed Dacia Hungarie most cruelly assaulted the next countries there about to wytte Macedonia Mysia Thracia purposed to bring vnder his subiection that part of the Romaine Empyre which lyeth towards the Weast But because he perceaued that this warre should be very difficil yf the Gothes who were in peace with the Romains and did inhabite a part of Fraunce as it hath bene sayd should ayde and succour theym he hastened out an ambassadour towards them for to require them to be his frend and aliaunte but Atius the Lieutenant of Valentinianus the Emperour preuented hym by fyrst ariuing thether and hauyng confyrmed the allyaunce with Theodoricus kyng of the Gothes he prepared hymself to the battayle wyth all his power Athila neuertheles pursewed that which he had taken in hand and they fyersly ioygned in battayle in the playne of Chalons in Campania which is at this day so named through the great slaughter that was there committed Terrible warre in Cāpania It is said the there remained slain in that battaile almost foure score thousand men amongst others Theodoricus king of the Gothes Athila seyng himself van quished thought to slay hymself fearing to fall a lyue into hys enemyes handes But as king Theodoricus sonne folowyng the coūsell of Etius dyd retyre homewards with his armie for to succede his father disceassed Athila had leasure to take agayne hys breath and to retourne into Hungaria where hauing gathered a new armye he entred very furiously into Italy and beseiged long tyme Aquileia which fynally he subdued spoyled and brunt At one voyage he toke Concordia Padua Vicentia Verona Brixia Bergome Myllane and Pauye From thence spoyling all thorow out Flaminia he fynally encamped ouer agaynst the floode Mincius and that of Apia In the which place as he consulted whether he weare best goe to Rome with hys army the Byshop of Rome Leo the fyrst of that name came vnto hym leo pacifieth Athila so handled the matter that he not onelye wyth drew himself from goyng to Rome but also leauing the country of Italy he retourned into Hungarye where shortly after he dyed This is that Leo of whom diuers Epistles are yet found wryten vnto Theodosius the seconde and vnto Martianus Emperours wherein he partly excuseth hymself for that he could not be assystaunte at the Councells by theym published desyryng theym not to be offended in that he sendeth thether Ambassadours and partly he requyreth and prayeth theym to assygne the place of the Counsell rather in Italye then in Asia But he obtayned nothing The fyrst foundation of Venise At such tyme as Athila dyd in such fort vexe and trouble Italye The towne of Venise was built because that dyuers Ryche and noble men of the countrye there aboutes dyd retyre as into a place of resuge into that arme of the Sea Iles and hylly places The begynnynge then of this towne was pitifull poore and almoste in dyspayre and at thys present it is growen to suche greatnesse as we see it The number of the Dukes of Venise The number of their Dukes are hetherto counted to be foure score fyue of whom Paulus Anazatus was the first in the yere of saluation seuen hundreth syxe two hundreth fyfty two yeres after the foūdation of the towne Valentinianus was afterwards slaine and Gensericus Kyng of the Wandales passed forth from Affrike into Italy wyth a most myghtye armye beyng ayded of the Maures he went to Rome toke the towne beyng destitute and abandoned almost of all her inhabitants Rome takē by the Wandales Notwithstanding he beyng intreated by the Bishoppe Leo who had also pacifyed Athila as it hath bene sayd did not put the towne to fyer and sword Howbeit he proied it caried a great nūber captiue into Carthage Afterwards the enemies did much cruelty to the coūtry of Lauor and did ruinate Capua Nola Naples and other Townes byndyng them in cheynes whom they left a liue That is great Campania And beyng loden with the proy of Italy they retourned into Affrike Martianus who was Emperour in the East dyd kepe hym self in peace accordyng to his quiet peaceable nature He vsed to say that it was not decent nor honest for a Prince to put himselfe in armes A notable sentence as long as he myght lyue in peace In hys raygne a very great Coūsell was assigned at Chalcedon by his commaūdement The coūsel at Calcedō where Eutiches who confoūded the two natures in Christ was condemned There amongst other thinges it was ordayned that no clerke as they
third booke How the Almaines are entred into frauÌ„ce BEFORE that we begyne to speake of Charlemayne vnto whom according as we haue sayd the West Empyre was bequethed it behoueth to declare somewhat of the Germaines of whom he proceaded Fyrst of all it is most euident that the Germayns haue oftentymes passed the Rheine and haue entred into the French dominioâ—s to the end there to make their inhabitition because of the goodnes of the country For the Teuthons did pierce into Prouince where they were defeicted by the Consull C. Marius Synce as the Auuergnaes and they of Autun did stryue and contâ—nd for the principalitie certain bands of Almaynes hyred of the Auuergnaes and tâ—â—y of Sens came thether By litle and lytle they so encreased that vnder the king Ariouistus they possessed the most part of the country Iulius Cesar defeicted them in plaine battaâ—le And certayn yeres aâ—ter as he made war against them of Liege which is a people beyond Brabant the Germains passed again ouer the Rheine for to assaile the Romain host But they were ouerthrowen where the Maze and the Rheyne meteth Many yeares after they held theÌ„selues within their limites because that the Romain Emperours made war vpon theÌ„ But hauing gotten a certayn apt commodious time they loked vnto theyr aduantage and forraged Fraunce without ceasse So likewise in the Emperour Gallienus time a voluptuous man and of no worthines they did inuade and oppresse it by succession of time became so mightie that the Emperour Probus the fourth after Gallienus draue them out with great difficultie Iulianus also Lieutenant of the Emperour Constans dyd ioyne in battaile with them Synce in the Emperour Honorius time the Gothes entred by force of armes into Fraunce who beyng encoumbred with diuers wâ—rres graunted them the country of Aquiâ—ania to dwell in On the other syde the French Almayns entryng in armes through the country called Gallia Belgica suppressed them of Trire GilderlaÌ„d Cleaue with them of Liege of Terouane of Turney of Amiens of Beauuoys of Soissonois Which done they toke their habitatioÌ„ in that part of Gallia Paris the head Citie of FrauÌ„ce the which yet at this day beareth the name of Fraunce Wherof Paris is the head Citie nere wherto is the town of S. Denis the which was afterwards consecrated to bury the kings as it is yet at this present They being so enlarged and holding also before a great part of Germanie to witte al the country about the riuer of Mein and of Rheyne did not onely defeÌ„d themselues if any came to assaile them but also set vpon others And as the Romain Empire fel dai by day into decay in Asia Afrike the Lombards also waistig Italy they maruelously enlarged their limites in Fraunce Afterwardes manye of their kings raigned there vntil such time as the kyngdom fel into the hands of Pipine of Charlemaine his sonne Charles Martellus was the father of Pipine who was not king but one of the princes great maisters as they are commonly called He vanquished them of Bauiers of Swaine For according as the writters of the * Histories of Actes yerely done Annales of Fraunce do mention the time hath bene that the kynges haue had but only the tytle and the name as touching the whole aucthorie it was in the hands of the great Maister The Great maisters of Fraunce their credit For they were altogether degenerated from the vertue manlines of their ancestours and being addicted vnto pleasures voluptuousnes they toke no care of the publike weale Wherfore the Great maister had the administration and dyd increase so much the more hys power as the lithernes carlesnes of the king did abound Pipine who was great maister in the raigne of Childericus came to the crowne vnder such occasion The kyngs suffer the pope to displace them the thing hauing bene debated vpon before pope Zachary as they say MentioÌ„ is made hereof in the decree which they intitill of Gratianus where it is said to be lawfull vnto the popes to put the kynges out of their thrones But the tytle inscriptioÌ„ of that place is false For albeit that there haue ben two Emperours named Anastasius notwithstaÌ„dyng it cannot be attributed neither to the one nor to the other forasmuch as the first raigned more then two C. yeres before the befell the other .xxxvii. Moreouer in the last mans daies there was neuer any pope named Gelasius I thought it necessarye to adde this Contraritie in the writinges of Popes for to aduertise the readers to read intentiuely warly the writigs of popes For we find in diuers places that their chiefe end is to put their lawes in credite auctority by falsly giuing to vnderstand that they are very ancient Ouer besides this that Pipine did suppresse the Lombards in Italy at the request of the pope as is before said he made warre agaynst the Saxons and moreouer against them of Aquitania whose Duke beynge taken he slewe After the death of Pipyne they oftentymes rebelled But Charlemayne hys sonne putte ende vnto the twoo warres to wytte that of Saxonye and of Aquitania but not wyth oute greate trauayle LoÌ„g warre against the Saxons He had warre with the Saxons for thre thirtie yeares space and during this warre he was also occupied with others For he did subdue the country of Bauier the which did rebell vnder the conduction of the Captain Tassilon and made two iournies against the Lombards and passed euen into the land of Lauor in such sort that he subiected all Italy and ordayned lawes as touchyng policie He constrained also the cities of Gallia situated about the Ocean sea in times past named * The auncient name of Britaine in FrauÌ„ce Armorica and now comprehended vnder the name of lytle Britayne to do their duety Because that they refused to pay the tribute that was yerely dew vnto the kings of FrauÌ„ce He went also into Spain where he was victorious against the Saracenes but at his returne the Gascons a people of Aquitania did lay waite for him in the forestes called * Mountaines which do diuide Fraunce froÌ„ Spaine Pirenees discomfited him Finally at the eyght yeres end he vainquished the HuÌ„nes who held the country of Hungaria pacified Bohemia by hys LieutenaÌ„ts His last war was against the Danois or Normanes who wasted all that side of Germanye and of Gallia with their sea armie Through these so great actes he was surnamed the Great For before tyme the French kings did hold but that part of Germany which is betwen Saxony and Dunowe betwen the Rheyâ—e the riuer of Sala betwene Swane and Bauieres But he annexed the whole country of Saxonie moreouer the two Hungaries Demnarbe or the great Westphalyâ— Ireland and the mediteran cost of Dalmatia The aboue sayd French kings did possesse in Gallia the part which is betwene the Rheine and Loire
Emperour the Pope made him ready to say masse and for to purge hymselfe of the crimes imputed vnto hym he swalowed the vnleauened bread or the cake whych they call Corpus Domini giuing hymself vnto a thousand thousand deuills if all weare not fayned and inuented by hys aduersaries The parâ—â—rie of Hildebrand he exhorted the Emperour that yf on hys part he thought the accusations of the Princes to be false that he had wrong done vnto hym that according to his example he shuld swallow the other morsell of the bread consecrated But as the Emperour did excuse hymself saying that he could not wel so doe the Pope did no more presse vpon hym but hauyng made hym a feast he gaue hym leaue very courtuously This being knowen the great lords of Italy were greatly offended for that the Emperour had so vilely and vnhonestly submitted hymselfe vnto him who by wicked practises had vsurped the Papacie who had fylled and polluted all wyth murders and adulteries The Emperour the aulter and defence of lawes They had put all theyr hope in him who is the protectour of Iustice the aulter and defence of lawes and had not only contemned the excommunication but also were sore animated agaynst the pope for hys sake now hath done an acte for euer vnhonest hath fyled and defamed the Empyre with aspote that can neuer be washed away beyng reconciled with the enemy aswell of the Church as of the publike weale These and such lyke rumours did runne amongst them and not rumours only but also they were mynded to electe the Emperours Nephewe and to bring hym to Rome for to displace the Pope The Emperour being informed of these things saw no way more expedient for to appease them then to breake the couenaunt and to ioyne hymself with them Which doyng he brake the Popes enterpryses so that he was coÌ„strained to leaue of his iourny which he had taken towards Germany He then not able to do any other thing declared vnto the Princes of Germanye by Ambassadours that whych had bene done and exhorted them to loke vnto the publike weale Rudolphus elected agaynst Henry This be fell the yere a thousand seuenty seuen The Princes then elected Emperour Rudolphus Duke of Swane who was consecrated by the Byshop of Mense Henry returning into Germany gathered souldiours the which did Rudolphus also who trusted chiefly vpon the succour of the Saxons But at the thyrd conflicte he was so sore hurt that he lyued not long after This victorie wonne Henry assembled the estates at Brixne where it was decreed by the Bishops that there were aswell Italians as Germains that Gregory was not lawfull Byshop of Rome wherfore the Archbyshop of Rauenna was put in hys place Pope Victor against HildebraÌ„d and named Victor the thyrd Thys decre made the Emperour draw to Rome and assaulted Gregory who found meanes to escape and flye awaye The Emperour confyrmed Victor the thyrd and was crowned by him Gregory being dead Vrbanus the second who was the nexte after hym came to Clermount in Auuergne where there was an assemblye of dyuers great Lordes at suche tyme as Philip the fyrst of that name raygned in Fraunce There he perswaded the warre agaynst the Saracenes The Counsell at Clermount whereof afterwards Godfrey of Bullon was head who prospered in dyuers enterpryses and recouered Iurusalem Paschall Vrbanus successour was also the Emperours enemye who myndyng by reason hereof to take voyage into Italye He appoynted hys Sonne to be hys successour He beyng pushed of others and hauyng forgotte the duety whych naturally is ingraffed in vs The sonne against the father brought hys Father into extreame dystreasse and constrayned hym to forgoe the Empyre hauyng the Pope and dyuers Prynces of Germany that sette to theyr helpyng handes He was then Emperour the fyfth of that name whose Father dyed afterwardes in great myserye in the Towne of Liege Certayn yeres after he marched into Italy wyth a mightye armye for to accord the varyaunce that was betwene the publyke weale of the Empyre and the Papacye Henrye the fyfth and makyng hymself way be force of armes fynally came to Rome The Emperour conferred the benifices Nowe synce Constantyne the Emperours dyd conferre the ecclesiastycall honours and dignities The whych at length vexed the Popes that were becomme ryche And for as muche as they thought the thynge vnreasonable they stirred vppe dyuers innimities agaynst the Emperours Thys Emperour then demaunded out of hand hys ryght and aucthoritie wherof was raysed a greate tumulte at Rome in suche sorte that the Emperour was awaked by nyghte for to succour hys menne speadelye who weare slayne of the enemyes on all sydes When the sedicious were defeyted he toke Paschal the second and dyd not let hym depart before that he had satisfied him Pope Phascal taken by the Emperour and made alliaunce and agreed But assoone as the Emperour was returned into Germany the Pope brake the othe which he had made by most holy wordes and excoÌ„municated the Emperour Pope Phascal breaketh his othe This offred occasioÌ„ of rebellion vnto many princes of Germanye chiefly vnto hym of Mense The Emperour beyng retourned into Italy sent Ambassadours vnto the Pope for to make peace but as that was a doyng the Pope diseassed and Gelasius the second succeaded hym The Emperour not content for that no mencion was made vnto him of the election The Pope and the Emperour are excommunicated came to Rome and ordeyned another Gelasius beyng dryuen out excoÌ„municated the Emperour and the Pope that he had constituted And forasmuch as his Ambassadours solicited them of Germany for to reuolte the Emperour was enforced to retyre homeward The meane whyle Gelasius dyed in whose place the Romaines elected Calixtus the seconde He displaced him whome the Emperour had created in despyte of Gelasius and by the meanes of certain he agreed with the Emperour Lotharius the third of that name succeded Henry the fyfth Lotharius the third who was of the house of the Duks of Saxony CoÌ„rad Duke of Swane made warre vpon him beyng dyspleased that the Empire was retourned vnto the Saxons and went into Italye for to vsurpe the Realme whilest Lotharius shoulde possesse Germanye But beynge destitute of succour he retourned and made peace with the Emperour Innocent the .ii. was then Pope at Rome who had Anacletus to his aduersary and for asmuch as Anacletus was of a great house Innocent was constrained to forgoe the place Notwithstanding hauyng required them perours ayde he was reestablished The Emperour being retourned into Germany and hauing there ordered his affayres he tooke agayne hys way into Italy with a great army where he sacked certayne rebellious townes and amongest others Ancone and Spoletum He draue Roger kyng of Sicill out of Puel and out of the land of Lauor in such sort that since Charlemain there is found no Emperour that hath done more enterprises in Italy
pope on thother side his own innocencie He was mynded to go to Lyons to hazard hymself but that again there arose a commotion in Italy whereagainst he employed all hys force But because that his affayres prospered yll being returned into Puel he fell sick finally dyed Some saye that he was poysoned other saye that he was strangled by Manfredus his bastard son who afterwards possessed Italy Azo Iurisconsul was then in great fame Azo Iuris consul after whom came this infinite band of wryters who hauyng transgressed the act of the emperour Iustinian no lesse graue then seuere haue fylled the world with innumerable bokes Wherfrom now we must draw that which the auncient Doctours had moste abundantly and moste learnedly intreated For they robbe one anothers wrytyngs and there is no end nor measure of their wrytyng and all is full of contrary opinions infinite bookes of Legistes in such sort that the saying of the olde man who had consulted with thre aduocates may be here very properly applyed you haue done well sayed he but I am in far greater doubt then I was before I omit the cauilations that are forged daily more more Truly here is that accomplished which the Commodie saith by subteltie one euyll doth engender another Terrence in the cōmodie of Phorninon Cicero complayneth that diuers singuler ordinaunces of lawes are corrupted depraued by the dispositions of Iurisconsuls What woulde he now do yf he lyued and saw these high pyles of bokes with our practise If he sawe this holy temple of lawes to be so vilelye poluted and so miserablye prophaned Howbeit as God hath in our age brought again to light all arts so he hath styrred vp diuers who indued with good letters haue prosperously trauayled herein do yet trauayle Learned iurisconsuls for to reestablishe in her beauty equitie this most excellent science altogether necessary vnto the societie of men which deserueth rather to be called an heauenly gyft drawen from the middest of the fountaines of Philosophie For the which enterprise they are not only worthy of publyke prayse but also of reward After the death of Fridericus the Empyre remained vacant almoste xxii yeres albeit that now one then another were elected who coulde not haue the gouernement in that so troublesome a tyme. In the meane whyle the kingdome of Naples was plucked from the familie of Fridericus and put into the Frenche mens hands and afterward Sicilia also For then the popes dyd strengthen them selues wyth the succour power of Fraunce although that through occasion of these kyngdomes great warre were raised betwene the house of Arragon the house of Anion in Fraunce But question is not thereof at this present The publike weale hauing a long tyme wauered in such sort as hath bene sayd Rudolphus Emperour Rudolphus of Habspurg was elected Emperour who in the beginning of his raygne appeased the motions that were through Germanye Afterwards hauing holden certain counselles or assemblies he enuaded Ottacharus kyng of Bohemia who dyd rebell constrayned hym to make peace vnder conditions which he straight ways brake at the persuation of hys wyfe and commyng the second tyme to the conflict in Austrich remayned slain in the field Ladislaus kyng of Hungary ayded the Emperour Finally peace was concluded wyth the Bohemians by marriage makyng and the Emperour gaue Austrich to Albertus his son whych the kyng of Bohemia had possessed many yeres The Emperour beyng letted with sundrye affaires in Germany dyd neuer take vsage into Italy neyther had he any great mynde therevnto For it is sayd that on a certayne tyme in sportyng he recited the fable of the Fore The fable of the fore who visited not the Lyon that fained hym selfe sicke in a caue because that the trace of other beasts dyd astonish hym who were gone in thyther and retourned not Notwythstandyng he appoynted in Italy a Lieutenaunt and as it were a vice Emperour Moreouer it is sayd that he confirmed Flaminia and the Exarchshyp whereof we haue often tymes spoken to the romain Church because that no great profit dyd redounde vnto hym frō those places For the Emperours were at length so weryed wyth the continuall hatredes and inimities of Popes that by lytle and lytle they became nice and of faynte courage Neyther was it possible for them to haue peace wyth the Popes vntyll such tyme as they had cleane forgone all Italy The popes at lēgth are maisters ouer Emperours And for asmuch as the popes dyd leane vp on the French men and did many sedicions by the the bishops of Germany whom thei allured they came at length to th end of that which they had a long tyme forethought forecasted It is here nedefull to put in memorie the merueylous chaūge of things come to passe when they who had bene preserued by the clemencie of the Emperours and by them had found the meanes to maintayne thē selues in theyr place dignitie beyng magnified by their liberalitie fre gifts haue taken dominion ouer thē also defrauded thē of their patrimony For not being content to haue vsurped the moste part of Italy they haue straight bound vnto them the Kings of Sicilia and of Naples in such sort that these Kyngs pay them yerely tribute and dare not accept the Imperiall dignitie without their licence do auowe this by othe amongest other thyngs when by the popes they are put in possession of the sayd kingdomes The notable ouerthrow and sackyng of the Frenchmē in Sicilia befel in Rudolphus time For then thei held this Ile but because that accordyng to the disordered maner of souldiours thei did many insolences and whoredoms thei were al suppressed by a secret conspiratie which was assigned when thei roung vnto euenyng seruice The Euenings of Sicilia This slaughter is commonly called the Euenings of Sicilia And it fell in the yere M.CC.lxxxi on Easter day The Emperour Rudolphus set dyuers townes at libertie for money the which before dyd appertayne vnto the Empyre to witte Boloigne the fat Florence Guenes Luques and others Afterwards hauing assembled the Princes at Franckford he could not haue his request ratified which was to elect Albertus hys sonne to be his successor He beyng dead Adolphus of the house Nansau succeded him Adolphus Emperour who shortly after had great quarell with Albertus duke of Austrich And for as much as by his doings he fore displeased the princes of Germany yea euē him of Mense by whose meanes he was made Emperour he was displaced Albertus Albertus duke of Austriche sonne of Rudolphus put in his place Who hauing made a leuye of men and beyng ayded of the princes went to encounter Adolphus The conflicte betwene them was aboute Spyre where Adolphus was greuouslye hurt by Albertus and afterwardes slaine by the residue of the multitude After thys victorie Albertus minding to assure himself and fearing least any should say that