of the night In the seventh eighth and ninth Centuries the Romane Church resembling the Harlots of Heliopolis in Phoenitia who having liberty to prostitute themselues to the lust of strangers teach their children procreated by this libidinous copulation to depend only vpon them whom they know not vpon their fathers whom they know not disadvantageth her children with the voyce of God sounding in holy Scripture teaching that it is sufficient to beleeue as the Church of Rome the mother of al Churches beleeveth which in matters of faith cannot erre But wee must depend vpon the voyce of God our heavenly Father Who hath begotten vs by the incorruptible seed of his Word fed vs with the sincere milke of the same and anoynted vs with the balme of Gilead making glad his owne Citie even with the waters of his owne Sancturay The lowd sounding trumpets of vaine and idle words we leaue to the adversaries of the truth for that is their armour wherewith they fight against the Gospell of Iesus Christ. In the tenth eleventh and twelfth Centuries the tyranny of Antichrist was accompanied with a wonderfull growth of lyes falshood and ridiculous fables of which the absurdity of one striving with the absurditie of anotheâ— derogateth in the end credite from them all and as the souldiers of Cadmus who were bred of Dragons teeth kill one another Vincentius is not ashamed to write that they who regarded more their play game dancing then they did the reverend hearing of the masse were plagued with a continuance in dancing without intermission for the space of a twelue-moneth thereafter If penne could blush if hand could tremble if paper could bee ashamed such ridiculous fables had not beene written At this time learning was not to bee found in Pastors sincerity in Councels humility in Prelates and true religion in the multitude of people and Nations For in stead of these there was abundance of Liturgies Processions and Pilgrimages Masses superstitious vowes multiplication of vnprofitable ceremonies confidence in externall service as if it could saue ex opere operato Fastings tyed to dayes and moneths not vnlike to the fasts of the Donatists At this time the vines of Sodome and Gomorrah abounded with grapes of gall and bitter clusters At this time the key of the kingdome of God seemed almost lost the preaching of the kindome of Christ ceased for the most part The authority and preheminence of the Pope over Princes and all men in spirituall offices like the axes and hammers of the Assyrians cutting downe the carved worke of the house of the Lord sounded so lowd in all Churches that the sound of the Gospell could scarcely be heard And although at this time there were some Romane Bishops who spoke against the kingdome of the Divell yet their hearts were so filled by him with ambition avarice vncleannesse contempt of the lawfull authority of Princes superstition and horrible idolatry that hee led them head-long to hell as men may leade dogs though barking aloud whither they please In the thirteenth fourteenth fifteenth and sixteenth Centuries even to these our times there is nothing to bee expected but a discoverie of Antichrists hypocrisie a decay of his vsurped authority an abrogation of his tyrannous lawes and finally an vtter ruine and destruction of his kingdome notwithstanding of all the maintainers and vpholders of the same And surely it is a great encouragement to vs when we see false teachers dayly renuing their forces to fight against the truth as the Philistims did who fought against David in the valley of Rephaim after they had beene often discomfited by him The last period of their reluctation against the Lords annoynted was losse and hurt to themselues and dishonour to their gods whom they were forced to leaue behinde them which David tooke and burnt with fire calling the place Baalperatzim that is the rupture of Baal The adversaries of the Gospell in Christendom by renuing their forces againe are procuring a new name vnto their Idols They cannot bee content with the name of Baal-peor Baal-meon Baal-thamar Baal-chatsor Baal-gad but they will spread out their banners in the valley of Rephaim against the Lord longing for the last name Baal-peperatzim confusion to themselves That this hath beene the estate of the Church euer since the dayes of Christ vntill this present doth evidently appeare out of the ensuing History wherein besides the antiquity and visibility of this our Church your Ladiship may also as in a mirrour behold her wonderful constancie opposed to her enemies cruelty Let the Papists to cover the turpitude of their new found doctrine pretend antiquity as much as they will yet they will never bee able to proue it So did the Hagarens boldly vsurp the name of Saracens although they were only the brood that sprang from the wombe of Hagar the hand-maide of Sarah And the Priests boy in the dayes of Eli came to the Caldron while the flesh of the peace-offering was seething and thrust in his flesh-hooke all that the flesh-hooke brought vp the Priest tooke for himselfe which thing was done by violence the Priest having no right thereto The Roman Church in our dayes having borrowed the flesh-hooke of the Priests boy and violently arrogated vnto themselues the faithfull keeping of ancient Apostolique traditions when wee demand where the Charter containing their title and right wee see nothing but the flesh-hooke with these three teeth in their hand 1. The Church cannot erre 2. Wee are the true Church 3. Cursed be hee that saith in matters of faith our generall Councels can erre Madam accept vnder your Ladiships favourable protection these my travailes in weaknesse not vnlike the writer whose life it hath pleased the Lord to prolong these many yeeres by-past vnder many infirmities of a dayly decaying tabernacle containing a faithfull testimony of my humble endeavour to confirme the branches of your noble houshould in the true faith of Christ. Though there be many that forsake Christ and are as reprobate silver from whom the drosse cannot bee separated yet let the Noble house of Marre follow Christ. And as Helene Queen of Adiabani when she left her Countrey and came to dwell at Ierusalem filled the bellies of the poore with the corne of Egypt and the fruites of Cyprus for it was a yeere of vniversall famine and spared for no cost to doe good to the Saints who were at Ierusalem so I beseech the Lord to raise vp many honourable Ladies such as your Ladiship is to refresh the barren soules of ignorant people in this Land with examples of humilitie modestie godlinesse and all other vertues Now the mercies of the Lord Iesus The Author and finisher of our faith attend vpon my Lord your husband vpon your Ladiship and all your Noble house and The great Mediator of the covenant of God stablish all your hearts in the certainty of his vndoubted truth vnto the end and in
his rigour and through the intercession of the Bishop of Mentz and the Palsgraue granted peace to the Protestants so that they should ayde the Emperour against the Turks and on the other part the action of the Chamber-court should cease in all sutes of Religion against the Protestants About the same time that all this businesse was in Germanie for the Doctrine of Martin Luther Vlricus Zuinglius Preached the Word at Zurik detested the abuse of pardons of other corruptions then reigning in the Church but see great offence begun to rise and diverse stepped out on the contrary side to Preach and inveigh against him Vpon this the Magistrates and Senate of Zurik sent forth their commandement to all Priests Ministers within their Dominion to repaire to the Citie of Zurik against the 29. of Ianuarie next ensuing there euery one to speake freely and to be heard quietly touching those Controversies of Religion This disputation was appointed in the yeare of our Lord 1523. Zuinglius had contriued all his doctrine in a certaine ordâ—â— of places to the number of 77. Articles which he had published also abroad before to the end that they who were disposed might resort thither better prepared for disputation The Bishop of Constance sent thither Iohannes Faber Stapulensis his Vicegerent who in stead of disputation reasoned that this was no convenient place for disputation but rather the handling of Controversies in Religion belonged to a generall Councell which he said was alreadie appointed and nigh at hand Wherevpon the Senate of Zurik caused incontinent to be proclaimed through all their Dominions and Territories that the traditions of men should be displaced and abandoned and the Gospell of Christ purely taught out of the old and new Testament When the Gospell begun thus to flourish in Zurik the yeare next following Anno 1524. another assemblie of the Helvetians was convented at Lucerna where Decrees were made on the contrary part that no man should deride the Masse that no mention should be made of Luther or any new doctrine that Pictures and Images of Saints in euery place should be kept inviolate and finally that all the lawes and decrees set forth by the Bishop of Constance should be obserued After these things thus concluded at Lucerna the Cantones of Helvetia together direct their publique Letter to the Tygurines or men of Zurik complaining that they had receiued a new Doctrine which would be the seed of discord whereas before time all things were in quiet Wherevnto the Tigurines answered that at the first this Doctrine seemed strange to themselues but after they vnderstood it directed them onely to Christ as the pillar and onely rocke of their saluation they could no otherwise doe but with ardent affection receiue so wholesome and ioyfull message And like as faithfull Christians in former times after they had receiued the Gospell did not by and by fall out in debate with their neighbours So lâ—kewise they trusted God willing to keepe peace with all men Neuerthelesse the rest of the Cantons grew in hatred against the men of Zurike and for suppressing of the doctrine of Zuinglius appointed a disputation to be holden at Baden which was kept in the moneth of Iune Anno 1525. where were present amongst other Divines Iohannes Faber Eccius and Murnerus The Bishops also of Lucerna Basile Curiak and Lawsanna The conclusions there propounded were these 1. That the true body and blood of Christ is in the Sacrament 2. That the Masse is a Sacrifice for the quicke and the dead 3. That the blessed Virgin and other Saints are to be invocated as Mediators and Intercessors 4. That Images ought not to be abolished 5. That there is a Purgatorie Which Conclusions or assertions Eccius tooke vpon him soundly to defend Against him reasoned Oecolampadius Preacher at Basile with other moe Zuinglius at that time was not there present but by writing confuted the doctrine of Eccius declaring withall the causes of his absence which were for that he durst not for feare of his life commit himselfe to the hands of Lucernates Vrbani Suitij Vnternaldi and Tugiani his enemies and that he refused not to dispute but onely the place of disputation excusing moreouer that he was not permitted of the Senate to come Neverthelesse if they would assigne the place of disputation either at Zurik Berna or Sangallum thither he would not refuse to come The conclusion of this disputation was this that all should remaine in that Religion which hitherto they had kept and should follow the authoritie of the Councell neither should admit any other new Doctrine within their dominions In the yeare of our Lord 1527. the Senate and people of Berne whose power amongst all the Helvetians chiefely excelled considering how neither they could haue the acts of the disputation of Baden committed vnto them and that the variance about Religion still more and more increased assigned another disputation within their owne Cittie and sending forth writings thereof called vnto the same all the Bishops bordering about them as the Bishops of Constance Basile Sedune Lusanna determining also the whole disputation to be decided only by the authority of the old new Testament To all that would come thither they graunted safe conduct And to the end men might come thither better prepared before they proposed in publique writing ten conclusions in the said disputation to be defended by their Ministers by the Scriptures which Ministers were Franciscus Colbus and Bertholdus Hallerus The Theames or Conclusions were these 1. That the true Church whereof Christ is the head riseth out of Gods Word and persisteth in the same and heareth not the voyce of any other 2. That the same Church maketh no lawes without Gods Word 3. That traditions ordained in the name of the Church doe not binde but so farre forth as they be consonant to Gods Word 4. That Christ onely hath made satisfaction for the sins of the world and therefore if any man say there is another way of saluation or meane to put away sinne he denieth Christ. 5. That the body and blood of Christ cannot be receiued really and corporally by the testimonie of the Scripture 6. That the vse of the Masse wherein Christ is presented and offered vp to his heauenly Father for the quicke and the dead is against the Scripture and contumelious to the Sacrifice which Christ made for vs. 7. That Christ onely is to be invocated as the Mediatour and Advocate of Mankinde to God â—he Father 8. That there is no place to be found â—y the holy Scripture wherein soules are purged after this life and therefore all those prayers and ceremonies yeerely dirges and obiles which are bestowed on the dead also Lampes Tapers and such other things profit nothing at all 9. That to set vp any Picture or Image to be worshipped is repugnant to the holy Scripture and therefore if any such be
neuer at Rome Eightly That the Clergie of Rome is a den of Theeues Ninthly That the doctrine of the Pope is not to be followed because it leades to eternall death In another treatise he disputes of free iustification by grace and that workes are no efficient cause of Saluation Sed causa sine qua non for the which doctrine hee was condemned by the Pope I passe by a great number who clearelie discouered the corruptions and Apostasie of the Church of Rome such as Ioannes de Gunduno Gregorius Ariminensis Andreas de Castro Dante 's an Italian Taulerus a Preacher of Argentine in Germanie Franciscus Petrarcha a man famouslie learned who in his workes in Italian verses speaking of Rome calles it the whoore of Babilon the schoole and mother of errour the Temple of heresie the nest of treacherie growing and increasing by the oppression of others Likewise Ioannes de rupe scissa who was cast in prison by Pope Innocentius the sixt also Conradus Hager a Germane of the citie of Herbipoli Gerardus Ridder Michael Cesenas Provinciall of the Gray friers Petrus de Corbaria with one Ioaxnes de Pâ—liato This foresaid Michael general of the gray friers writ against the tyrannie pride and primacie of the Pope accusing him to be Antichrist and the Church of Rome to be the whoore of Babilon drunken with the blood of the Saints He affirmed there were two Churches one of the wicked florishing wherein raigned the Pope the other of the Godly afflicted also that the veritie was almost vtterlie extinct and for this cause hee was depriued of his dignitie and condemned by the Pope Notwithstanding he stood constant in his assertions and left behind him many fauourers and followers of his doctrine of whom a great part were slaine by the Pope Some were condemned as William Ockam who writ both in defence of the Emperour Lewes whom the Pope excommunicated and likewise in defence of Michael generall of the gray friers whom the Pope had cursed for an heretike and some were burned such as Ionnes de Castellione and Franciscus de Arcatara Likewise Armachanus a Bishop in Ireland and Matthias Parisiensis Ioannes Montziger rector of the Vniuersitie of Vlme Nilus Bishop of Thessalonica Iacobus Milnensis and one Milezius Henricus de Iota and Henricus de Hassia Likewise in this most desperate time when the estate of religion was vtterlie corrupted and the onely name of Christ remained amongst Christians his true and liuely doctrine being vtterly vnknowne and turned into an heape of shadowed Ceremonies which so increased that there was no end of heaping vp of ceremonies invented by man at this time I say the Lord raised vp Iohn Wickliffe a professor of Diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Oxford who seeing that error by long vse and custome had beene so deeplie rooted in the hearts of men that it could hardly be plucked out hee medled not with all at once bâ—â— firsâ— bâ—gâ—â—nne to touch the matter of the Sacraments and discoâ—er 〈◊〉 â—rrours that men were fallen into in this head of 〈◊〉 but this byle could not be touched without the great griefe and paine of the whole world For first of all the whole rabble of Monkes and begging Friers were set on rage and madnes against him and after them the Priests and then after them the Archbishop Simon Sudburie tooke the matter in hand who for the same cause depriued him of his benefice which then he had in Oxford Notwithstanding being supported by the friendly assistance of the Duke of Lancaster sonne to king Edward the third and some other friends whom God raised vp for his protection he bare out the malice of the Friers and Archbishop Likewise Pope Vrbane was so busied with suppressing of another Pope Clement the seuenth set vp against him that he could not spare any time to suppresse Iohn Wickliffe and so it came to passe thorow the prouidence of Almightie God that the enemies of the true light with fretting minds were compelled to see the sparkles thereof not being able to quench them The chiefe heads of doctrine which hee maintained against the Roman church were these That the substance of bread remained in the Sacrament of the altar after the words of consecration That it is not found in the Gospell that Christ instituted or confirmed a masse That it is a presumptuous Speaking to affirme that the infants of the faithfull who die vnbaptised are condemned That in the time of Paul there were onelie two orders of Clerks to wit Elders and Deacons neither was there in the time of the Apostles any distinction of Popes Patriarches Archbishops Bishops but these the Emperours pryde did finde out That the causes of diuorcement for spirituall consanguinitie or affinitie are not founded on the scriptures but onely by the ordinance of men That he who is most seruicable and humble in the church and most inamored with the loue of Christ the same is the neerest vicar of Christ in the militant Church If corporall vnction were a Sacrament then Christ and his Apostles would not haue left the ordinance of that vntouched Whatsoeuer the Pope and Cardinals doe command which they cannot deduce cleerely out of the Scriptures the same is to be accounted hereticall and not to be obeyed That it is but a follie to beleeue the Popes Pardons That it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the church of Rome to be supreme head of other Churches A Deacon or Priest may Preach the word of God without the authoritie of the Apostolike sea The Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Sathan neither is the Pope immediatlie the vicar of Christ nor of the Apostles That the Emperour and Secular Lords are seduced who so inrich the Church with ample possessions If any man enter into any priuat religion whatsoeuer it be hee is thereby made more vnapt and vnable to obserue the commandements of God Of Monkes POpe Clement the sixt bearing rule Iohn king of France sonne of Philip invented the sect and order of those Monkes which in Latine are called Stellati whose maner is alwayes to weare a starre vpon their brest signifying thereby that there is nothing in them but the light of perfection and the cleere shining of good workes Yea that they themselues are the light of the world according to the saying of Christ vos eslis lux mundi yea are the light of the world Item That they shall rise againe at the later day all shining and glistering as the most cleere and pleasant starres according as it is written by the Prophet They that informe many into righteousnes shall be as the starres world without end In Anno 1336. Pope Boniface the ninth raigning a certaine man called Gerardus being of great learning and vertuous conversation ordained a certaine fraternitie or brotherhood of learned godlie men to teach schollers and to bring vp youth not onely in good letters but also in good maners that by those means there might be
turne to Heresies So the Donatists in the end were defenders of Hereticall opinions namely that the Catholicke church was no where els to be found but only in that corner of Africke wherein they themselues dwelt and that Baptisme was not effectual except it had bin ministred by one of their societie Of all the branches of this heresie Circūcelliones was the most reprobate branch a people cruel sauage not only against others but also against themselues throwing themselues headlong frō high places or casting themselues in fire and water and this sort of death they counted Martyrdome The diuersitie of names wherewith this Heresie was pointed out clearely declares that the Donatistes wanted not a great number of fauorers for they were called Parmeniani Rogatistae Cirtenses and Maximianistae Against this Heresie and the Heresie of the Pelagians August Bishop of Hippo contended with mightie grace as likewise against the Heresie of the Manicheans wherein he had bin nursed himselfe Collyridiani were a sort of superstitious people who worshipped the Virgin Marie the mother of our Lord with diuine adoration and with baking little pasties which in the Greeke language are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they offered to the Virgin Marie as to the Queene of Heauen Epiphanius counts them Heretikes because the Virgin Marie albeit shee be a blessed woman yet is shee not God Many late heresies are nothing els but a renewing of old decayed heresies Such was the heresie of Priscillianus a man of Noble birth in Spaine very eloqvent rich temperate with great show of humilitie who easilie insinuated himselfe in the fauour of the people In his youth hee was inclined to Magical Arts and renewed the heresie of Gnostici who disallowed Marriage and commended fornication Some Bishops of Spaine were entangled with this heresie such as Iustantius Salvianus and Helpidius whom Adygimus Bishop of Corduba damned in a Coūcell gathered at Caesaraugusta This was done in the dayes of the Emp. Gratianus Valentinian The great Citie of refuge to heretikes was to addresse themselues to the Bishop of Rome and to leane vnder his shadow But Damasus who was bishop of Rome at this time would not admit these Heretikes to his presence Neither would Ambrose Bishop of Millane to whom they addressed next in any wise accept of them when al other means failed them last of al with buddes and bribes they sollicited the Emp. cubiculers were sent backe againe to enjoy their owne places Neuerthelesse God suffered not Priscillianus to escape punishment for hee was conuict of sorcery and was punished to the death after the death of Valentinian the second whether by Maximus an vsurper of the Emperiall Soueraintie or by Theodosius I am not certaine Lucifer was Bishop of Calaris in Sardinia He was present at the Councell of Millan and was banished by Constantius because hee would not consent to the deposition of Athanasius Hee was reduced from banishment by the Emperour Iulian. Hee visited Antiochia a towne miserably distracted with Schismes and by ordaining Paulinus Bishop of Antiochia hee rather augmented then lessened the schisme he perceiued that this his fact was disproued by Euseb. Bishop of Vercellis and many others therefore he and his followers did not communicate with such as disproued the ordination of Paulinus This seemeth rather to be reckoned in the catalogue of schismes then of heresies and Theod. disprouing Lucifer saith that hee made faith to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he saith not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a weapon of contentions but not a weapon of heresie These who supposed that after the Natiuitie of the Lord the Virgin Marie companied with her husband Ioseph and did beare children to him were called Antidicomarianitae In this opinion was Helvidius a man more curious then wise The opinion of the Fathers of the Church not repugnant to Scripture was this That like as no man did lie in the sepulchre wherein Christ was buried before him Euen so in the wombe wherein hee was conceiued no man was conceiued after him so the Fathers tooke the words of the Apostolicke symbole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if it had beene said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is borne of Mary a perpetuall Virgin In holy scriptures by the brethren of our Lord is meant the kinsmen of the Lord according to the flesh to which exposition the consent of Ancient and Neotericke writers for the most part agreeth Augustine cites out of Philaster a sort of heretikes called Metangismonitae whose heresie sounded to this That the sonne is in the Father according to the similitude of a little vessel comprehended within the compasse of a greater vessel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke Language signifieth a vessell and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the entering of one vessel within another which in our language cannot be expressed by one word as it is in the Greeke From Seleucus Hermias this heresie had the name where they dwelt or in what Emperours daies this heresie was propagated August maketh no mention their opinions were most abominable namely that the Masse whereof God created the elements was coeternall with him and that the Angels and not God created the soules of men that Christ in his ascension vncloathed himselfe of the flesh of man and left it in the Globe of the Sunne They receiued not baptisme by water They denyed the resurrection of the dead supposing that by new generations one succeeding to another that is performed which in Scripture is written concerning the resurrection The rest of heresies of this age were all obscure and had few followers such as Proclianitae who denied that Christ was come in the flesh Patriciani who affirmed that the body of man was formed by the deuil not by God Ascitae who carried about with them the new vessels to represent that they were vessels filled with the new wine of the Gospell Patalorynchitae foolish men who counted it religion to stop their breath with their fingers and to vtter no intelligible speech Aquarij who in stead of wine receiued water in the holy Sacrament The beginning of this errour seemes to haue beene in the dayes of Cyprian Coluthiani denyed that any evill either of sinne or punishment came of God Floriani who by the contrary affirmed that God created creatures in an evill estate The eight heresies which Philaster cōmemorates without any name either taken from the Author or from the heresie it self Augustine scarcely will reckon them into the roll of heresies CENTVRIE V. PElagius Brito and his followers Iulianus and Coelestius mantained damnable heresies in the dayes of Arcadius and Honorius Their pernitious heresies may be easily knowne by the learned writings of Augustine who directly impugneth the Pelagians and by the Councels of Arausio in France and Milivetanum in Numidia which damned the error
were two Gods the one authour and creator of good things and the other of euill things Alwaies it is certaine that they counted the Clergie of the Romane Church a corrupt rable And for this cause Innocentius the third sent vnto France twelue Abbots of the Christian order with Didatus Bishop of Oxfurd and Dominicus who was afterward the author of a new sect of Dominike Friers All those came to France for cōfutation of Albigenses But when the Pope perceiued that they yeelded not to his foresaid Ambassadours he pursued them with cruel warres and sent out an armie against them vnder the conduct of Leopold Duke of Austria and Simon Count of Montfort who vsed great crueltie against the townes of Bitera Carcassus Vaurus Careum Apistaginum Galliacum Causacum Funum Marcelli Fanim Antonij Modacum and diuers others wherein Albigenses had their residence In the towne called Castra Mineruae an hundreth and twentie were burnt quicke In Paris about the same time 14. Priests were accused as guiltie of this sect and ten of them were burnt with fire one at London At Penuense Agenois Castrum which was long besieged 74. Souldiers were hanged the rest who would not recant their opinions were burnt with fire Yet after this the French armie being troubled with other warres the Albigenses increased of new againe and were supported by Raymond Count of Tulosse and Peter king of Arragon against whom Simon of Montfort leading out his armie slew of their host twentie thousand men In Avinion Lewis the eight for suppressing of their sect dimolished the walls of the towne razed from the groūd 300 houses in Avinion and was minded to haue vsed greater rigour if hee had not bin preuented by death Almaricus a man of Carnotum a towne in France vttered strange opinions cōcerning God whom hee affirmed to be the essence of all creatures the soule of heauen that all creatures should be counerted into the substance of God againe with many other foolish things who was refuted by the Schoole of Paris and after that he had appealed to the B. of Rome was sent backe againe to recant his errour which thing also he did rather with his mouth then with his heart Likewise about Tullouse sprang vp certaine heretikes called Patereni and Gazari from the authors of this sect who affirmed that married men were not in the state of grace could not be saued This opinion was damned in the Councell of Lateran In this age also sprang vp Begardi Beginae and Bizochi who are all reckoned to be of the sect of Fratricelli who imagined that a man might attaine in this world to the estate of such perfection that he might be altogether voide of sin And that he who had attained thereto was neither vnder subiection to ciuill nor spirituall gouernours but was freed from all subiection to mortall men and that they had no neede of prayer and fasting and such other exercises whereby increase of grace is obtained CENTVRIE XIV POpe Iohn the 23. of that name taught that soules so soone as they were dispoyled of the bodie should not see God before the last iudgement Against whom Thomas Wallafe a Iacobin an English-man opposed himselfe but was thrust in prison Afterward Pope Benet who succeeded Pope Iohn made a decretall wherein hee confuted and condemned as hereticall the doctrine which his predecessor Iohn had publiquely preached touching the happy soules and it was determined and declared that the soules which had nothing to purge incontinent as they are departed from the bodie doe see the face of God CENTVRIE XV. THE Councell of Basill confirmed that the Virgin Marie was conceived without originall sinne CENTVRIE XVI WHen the Gospel began to spring vp in Germany thorow the malice of Satan sprang vp also a Sect of pestilent Heretiques called Anabaptists so called by reason they thinke that Infants should not bee baptized vntill they come to perfect age and can giue a confession of their owne faith They maintaine wicked opinions concerning Christ himselfe his Word his Church his Magistrates Concerning Christ that hee tooke not flesh and blood of the Virgin but brought it from heaven concerning the Word that God not onely revealeth his will by the written Word but also by visions and dreames wherevnto the Anabaptists do leane more then to the Word concerning the Church that it is not a true Church wherein there is any spot or wrinckle concerning Magistrates that their office vnder the New Testament is not a calling approved of God Some other wicked opinions they maintaine but these are the chiefe And it was no wonder that men who had layd such grounds of seditious doctrine were also found in their liues to be authors of very seditious commotions and insurrections against Princes Like as Thomas Muntzerus one of the first Fathers of this sect gathered a great number of common people who made insurrection against their superiours and albeit this first attempt of the Anabaptists succeded very vnprosperously for the Princes of Germany overcame in battell those seditious people and tocke Thomas Muntzerus himselfe and beheaded him whose memorie was so perturbed with beastly feare that hee could not recite the beliefe but the Duke of Brunswicke was constrained to recite it before him and hee followed after him for lacke of memorie yet others would not take warning by him to abstaine from the like seditious attempts For in the yeere of our Lord 1533. Iohannes Leidensis a Taylor of Holland came to a towne of Westphalia called Munster and hee had seduced many and increased the number of his faction hee expelled and banished the Citizens of Munster and vsurped to himselfe a kingly authority being assisted with the support of Cniperdolingus a vaine man and a false Prophet who affirmed that it was revealed to him by God that Iohannes Leidensis should haue the dominion of the whole world and that he should raise vp a mightie army and destroy the Princes of the world and should onely spare the simple multitude so many of them as would forsake impiety and imbrace righteousnes Likewise hee affirmed that it was the will of God that Iohannes Leidensis should send throughout the whole world eight and twentie Apostles to exhort the world to repentance and to receiue the doctrine of the Anabaptists which thing Leidensis was willing and readie to performe But the Princes of Germany and the Princes of other Countries tooke those seditious Apostles and gaue vnto them the reward which seditious Preachers iustly deserved so that of all the number of his Apostles onely one who by fleeing conveyed himself away escaped the punishment of Death Thus Iohannes Leidensis was called King of new Ierusalem and tooke vnto himselfe many wiues of whom also hee beheaded one in the open market-place because she had compassion of the poore besieged people of Munster of whom many died through famine For the Bishop
taken from him 3. That no man should reuenge the wrongs done to his blood and kindred 4. That men should be compelled to pardon them who smote them 5. That euery Friday a fasting shall bee kept with bread and water 6. That on Saturday there should be an abstinence from flesh and fat things 7. That men should content themselues with this kinde of fasting for remission of all their sinnes so that they neede none other kind of repentance That all men should be bound by an oath to obserue these new lawes they who refused to sweare obedience to these ordinances should be separated from the Church and they should neither be visited when they were sicke nor buried when they were dead These new lawes which came not from heauen but from the instinct of an euill spirit many were content to receaue Others who were of more sound iudgement specially the B. of Cambry reiected them as repugnaÌ„t most part to the word of God to the coÌ„stitutions of the Church to the peace of wel-ordered common-wealths to charitie Alwayes consider that this was a time of horrible darknesse and ignorance wherein any durst affirme in face of a Councell that such lawes came from heauen as were flatlie repugnant to the written word of God IN the yeere of our Lord 1046. and vnder the raigne of the Emperour Henry the third an assemblie was gathered by the Emperour at Sutrium a towne of Italie for pacefying an horrible schisme in the Roman Church for three Popes contended for the Popedome to wit Benedict the ninth Silvester the third and Gregorie the sixt when the fathers had conueened at Sutrium and the Emperour had considered the causes of the scisme and the ambition of Prelats striuing for superioritie they thought expedient to remoue all these three monsters and to choose one Sindigerus Bishop of Bamberg to be Pope whom they called Clemens the second Moreouer the Emperour did bind the Romans with an oath that they shuld in time to come abstaine from the electioÌ„ of the Pope ABout the yeere of our Lord 1050. Leo the ninth assembled a Councell at Rome against Berengarius Deacon at Angiers vpon this occasion was the Councell gathered Berengarius saw that the opinion of Transubstantiation was ouerspred in his time to wit that after the words of coÌ„secration the substance of bread evanished and the substance of the body and blood of Christ was in the Sacrament vnder the accidents of bread and wine which opinion he disaproued and followed rather the opinion of Augustine Ioannes Scotus about the Sacrament of the supper He writ also letters to Lanfrancus B. of Canterbury about this question The Messenger who carried the letters did not find Lanfrancus in Normandie whether he was directed Therefore he deliuethe letters to some of the Clergie who opened the letters of Berengarius and sent them to Pope Leo the ninth After the sight whereof he assembled a Councell at Rome and read the letters of Berengarius and condemned him though absent as an heretike LEo the ninth assembled another Councell at Vercellis against Berengarius in the moneth of September of the yeere of our Lord 1050 so that both these Councels were holden in one yeere against Berengarius Berengarius was warned to bee present at the Councell Lanfrancus Bishop of Canterbury was also present In Berengarius name compeared two of the Clergie who were taken and cast into prison The issue of the Councell was this The Bookes of Ioannes Melrosius Scotus de eucharistia were read in the Councell and condemned Leo likewise appointed in many Prouinces Synods to be assembled against Berengarius notwithstanding he persisted constantly in his opinion vntill the dayes of Pope Nicolaus the second IN the yeere of our Lord 1055. Pope Victor the second assembled a Councell at Towrs against Berengarius The Popes Ambassadours were present at the Councel and Berengarius answered that hee adhered to no particular opinion of his owne but he followed the Common doctrine of the vniversall Church and that hee would not be contentious This gentle answere mitigated the kindled affections of his Adversaries yet he persisted in his own opinion for this cause Lanfrancus obiected against him that he deluded the Councel of Towrs with general doubtsome words IN the yeere of our Lord 1059. Pope Nicolaus 2. assembled a great Councel at Rome of 100. 13. B. Berengarius was present at the Councel Berengarius through infirmitie submitted himselfe to be corrected by Pope Nicolaus 2. and the Councel They prescribed to him a forme of renounciatioÌ„ of his error as they called it which Berengarius accepted recaÌ„ted Notwithstanding afterward he published in writing a refutatioÌ„ of the doctrine of Transubstantiation damned his owne recantation Manie other constitutions were made in this Councel such as that the election of the Pope should belong to the Colledge of Cardinals that no man should heare a Masse sayd by a married Priest that no Laick person should be iudge to a man in a spirituall office that no person should marrie any of his owne consanguinitie vntill the seventh generation with many other foolish constitutions IN the yeere of our Lord 1060. as appeareth Pope Nicholaus the second sent Petrus Damianus to hold a Councell in his name at Millan The questions disputed in the Councell were two chiefly to wit about Simonie and the errour of the Nicolaitans It was accounted Simonie to receiue investment by staffe and ringe from a secular man It was counted the errour of the Nicolaitans when Priests married wiues And Damianus to bring such mariages vnder the Compasse of Heresie hee said that faults in manners if they were obstinatlie deâ—â—nded they became Heresies But suppose this was true as it is a false definition how can it bee called the heresie of the Nicolaitans seeing that Nicolaitans were not called Heretikes in respect they had wiues but in respect they made their wiues common as I haue declared in the first Centurie The issue of this Councell was that the whole Towne of Millan both Clergie and people was in an vprore complaining that the Towne wherein Ambrose was Bishop should be brought in subiection to the Ordinances of any other Church Damianus was in great feare to bee rent in pieces albeit the Archbishop of Millan was sitting at his one side and the Bishoppe of Luca at his other After that the tumult was pacified Damianus did speake vnto the Clergie and people manie things concerning the prerogatiue of the Chaire of Rome and the Bishop of Millan standing before the Altar did sweare that hee should bee obedient to the ordinances of the Roman Church in extirping the heresie of Simonie and of the Nicolaitans and many of the Clergie following his example did the like and were content like inconstant fooles to receaue penance for cohabitation with their owne lawfull wifes IN the yeere of our Lord 1066.
THE HISTORIE OF THE CHVRCH SINCE THE DAYES OF Our Saviour IESVS CHRIST vntill this present Age. Devided into foure Bookes 1. The first containeth the whole proceedings and practises of the Emperours both of the West and East for or against the Church as also the wonderfull loue of God towards it by whom it was so preserved that neither by Tyranny it could be subdued nor by policie circumvented 2. The second containeth a breefe Catalogue of the beginnings and proceedings of all the Bishops Popes Patriarchs Doctors Pastors and other learned men in Europe Asia and Affrica with or against the Church together with their deaths 3. The third containeth a short summe of all the Heretiques which haue beene in the Church the time when and the place where they lived as also the persons by whom they were subdued 4. The fourth containeth a short compend of all the Councels Generall Nationall and Provinciall together with their severall Canons which haue beene established either with or against the Church Devided into 16. Centuries By all which is clearely shevved and proved the Antiquitie Visibilitie and Perpetuitie of our Church euer since Christs dayes vntill this present Age. Collected out of sundry Authors both ancient and moderne by the famous and worthy Preacher of Gods vvord Master PATRICK SYMSON late Minister at Striueling in Scotland LONDON Printed by I.D. for Iohn Bellamie and are to be sold at his Shop at the three Golden Lions in Corne-hill neere the Royall Exchange and for William Sheffard at the entering in of Popes-head Alley out of Lumbard streete 1624. TO THE RIGHT GRATIOVS PRINCE LODOWICK Duke of Richmond and Lenox Baron of Settrington Darnley Teâ—banten and Methuen Lord great Chamberlane and Admirall of Scotland Lord Steward of the Kings household Knight of the most noble order of the Garter and one of his Maiesties most honorable privie Councell ALthough it may seeme both to your Grace and others great presumption in me a stranger to trouble your Grace either with the view of these vnpolished lines or this ensuing Historie yet I hope the latter shal be a sufficient excuse for the former For having received it from your Noble Sister the Countesse of Marre at her Ladiships commaundement and especiall direction I revised it put it to the Presse hastened the Printing and now also craue your Graces Patronage thereto not so much respecting the greatnesse of your authoritie as the goodnes of your nature and disposition whereof much might be sayd but that I hold it needlesse to shew the Sunne with a candle Thus humbly commending it to your Graces favourable acceptation and heartily committing you to the Almighties gracious protection I humbly take my leaue resting Your Graces humble servant A. Symson TO THE RIGHT NOBLE VERTVOVS and elect Ladie Marie Countesse of Marre P.S. wisheth grace mercie and eternall felicitie THE estate of the Church of Christ NOBLE LADIE whereof wee reioyce to be accounted feeling members hath beene subject vnto manifold afflictions even from the beginning of the world not like vnto the estate of Moab setled vpon her dregs and not poured out from vessell to vessell yet the more afflicted the more beloved of God whose face watred with teares is faire and whose mourning voyce is pleasant in the sight of God and as doing of good willingly hath a great recompence of reward from God even so patient suffering of evill for righteousnesse sake as it is highly commended in Scripture so it shall be richly rewarded in heaven yea the very heathnick Philosopher Plato to whom the glory of the sufferings for Christ was vnknowne affirmeth that men who suffer scourging binding tormenting boring out of eyes and finally strangling of their breath for righteousnesse sake are exceeding happy are as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 importeth thrice happy although the superlatiue degree of suffering which can be found amongst the heathnicks could never equall the glorie of the sufferings of Christians They who were initiated in the mysteries of Mittera which word in the Persian language signifieth the Sunne could not bee admitted to that honour before they had beene tried by suffering fourscore divers sorts of punishments such as long abstinence from meate and drinke solitarie living in the wildernes a long time tryall of suffering the fervent heate of fire and the coldnes of water and many other torments vntill the number of fourescore had beene completed These voluntarie sufferings like as in the beginning they wanted the warrant of Gods calling so likewise in the end they wanted the hope of Gods reward but the mouth of God himselfe pronounceth Christians to be blessed who die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their works follow them The manifold persecutions of the Church may be devided into three rankes some were fierce and bloodie some were craftie the third was and is both craftie and cruell The ten heathnicke Emperours Nero Domitian Traian c. were so prodigall of the blood of the Lords Saints that they poured it out like water vpon the ground The Arrian Emperors were subdolous and craftie but the persecution of Antichrist which is the third goeth beyond the rest both in crueltie and craft yea the experience which we haue had in our owne dayes of the cruelty of Antichrists supposts and their craftie convey of their malicious enterprises intended against our Soveraigne Lord His Royall race and Noble Counsellers doth cleerely proue that the malice and craft of Antichrist goeth as farre beyond the craft and malice of all Emperours as the flood of Noah exceedeth the inundation of Nilus In the first second and third Centuries the faith and patience of Christians was tried by the yoake of ten bloody persecutions For first the Apostles who had heard with their eares the words of the great shepheard of our soules and seene with their eyes God manifested in the flesh were chosen to be faithfull to the world of the doings sufferings and doctrine of Iesus Christ and next to the Apostles their Disciples and true successours sealed vp with rivers of blood that faith which they receiued from the Apostles The fire wherewith they were burnt the water wherein they were drowned the ayre wherein their bodies were hanged the mountaines and wildernesses through which they wandered the darke prisons wherein they were enclosed as people vnworthy of libertie yea all the elements the very light of heauen from whence by most vnrighteous violence they the righteous heires thereof were excluded all these I say were witnesses of their glorious sufferings In the fourth fift and sixt Centuries the knowledge of the Church was tryed by Heretiques who by the mistie clowds of error endeavoured to blindfold the eyes of men and to leade them captiue from the simplicity of the truth of God at which time also the power of the light of God was manifested in discipating the darknesse of errours as the Sun-rising doth the darknesse
death beginning of the life of Melchisedecke this was done of purpose to bring in Melchssedeck as a type and figure of the true king of peace Christ Iesus as the Apostle declareth Heb. 7. but among ecclesiasticall writers I finde a preterition of the names of these worthy Pastors who were martyred for the cause of Christ in the sixt persecution and this ouerpassing with silence so weightie a matter is a secret confession of ignorance in this part of the historie together with a doubting whether Vrbanus the first Valerianus Tiburtius Cecilia and Martina suffered vnder Alexander or vnder Maximinus or vnder Decius Yea Platina writeth it was the opinion of some men that Vrbanus 1. was martyred in the persecution of Dioclesian I haue insisted at greater length in this purpose to the end that euery man may giue vnto sacred scripture that reuerence that is due vnto it but other writings let vs reade them with judgement for assuredly there is palpable weaknes in them In the ende this wicked persecuter Maximinus and his sonne were slaine by his owne souldiers at the siege of Aquileia Gordianus THe tyrannie of Maximinus enforced both the Senate of Rome and likewise their oppressed confederates in Africke to aduise by what meanes the distressed estate of the Commonweale might be supported And first Gordianus a man of noble birth in Rome and at that time Praconsul in Africke with his sonne bearing the name of Gordianus with his father these two were declared to be Emperours to resist the tyrannie of Maximinus but they were both cut off by Capellianus Captaine of the Mauritanians Within a short time the senate of Rome chused Maximus Pupienus and Balbinus to be Emperours and to resist the tyrannie of Maximinus But this election displeased the people of Rome therefore they were compelled to associat Gordianus a yong man of 13. yeeres olde in conjunct authoritie with them This Gordianus was the nephew of him who was Proconsull in Africke and the souldiers made out of the way Max. Pupienus and Balbinus So Gordianus raigned himselfe alone without associats sixe yeeres Philippus PHilippus a man borne in Arabia and his sonne raigned fiue yeeres Eusebius saith 7. yeeres He was the first Emperour who became a Christian and was baptized by Fabianus B. of Rome He was content to stand among the number of the penitents who made confession of their sinnes for his life was reprooueable in somethings before his conuersion especially in slaying of Gordianus an Emperour inclined to peace Decius one of the Captaines of his armie conspired against him and slew him and his sonne raigned in his stead Decius DEcius and his sonne obteined the Empire 2. yeeres Whether for hatred of Philip his master whom he had slaine or for detestation of Christians or for couetous desire of the treasures of Philip left in the custodie of Fabian B. of Rome or for some other cause it is not certaine Alwayes he mooued a terrible persecution against the Christians The martyrs who suffered death in the time of this persecution were innumerable Some few of the principall martyres I shall rehearse Alexander Bishop of Ierusalem died in prison at Caesarea Babylas Bishop of Antiochia died likewise in prison Fabian Bishop of Rome suffered martyrdome Dionisius Alexandrinus by a wonderfull prouidence of God escaped the handes of persecuting enemies Ciprian Bishop of Carthage was banished and reserued to the honour of martyrdome vntill the dayes of Valerian the eight persecuter Origen who from his childhood was desirous of the honour of martyrdome in this persecution of Decius he fainted and his heart was so ouerset with feare to haue his chaste body defiled with an vgly Ethiopian that he choosed rather to offer incense to the Idol then to be so filthily abused For this cause he was excommunicated by the Church of Alexandria and for very shame fled to Iudea where he was not only gladly receiued but also requested publickly to preach at Ierusalem Neuerthelesse in stead of teaching he watred his face with teares when he reade these words of scripture To the wicked man saith God What hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances that thou shouldest take my couenant in thy mouth Ps. 50. ver 16. These words so deepely wounded his heart with griefe that he closed the booke and fate downe and wept and all the congregation wept with him No pitie nor compassion was had neither of sexe or age In this persecution Apollonia a virgine of good yeeres after they had dashed her face with battons till all her teeth were stricken out of her jawes they burned her quicke at the port of Alexandria This is that holy martyr whose teeth the Romane Church in our dayes say that they haue them as holy monuments kept in the treasures of their reliques vntill this time But the tryall that was taken of late dayes by Henry the eight king of England seeking for the teeth of Apollonia as a remedy of the toothach clearly prooueth that many teeth are supposed to be the t eeth of Apollonia that were neuer fastened in her jaw bones The death of Quinia Ammonarion Mercuria Dionisia clearely declareth what pitie was had of the weakenesses of women Iulianus an olde and gowtie man burned with fire testifieth what regard was had to the gray haires of ancient men Dioscorus a yong man not exceeding 15. yeeres of age albeit they were ashamed to condemne him to death yet he escaped not many painfull torments and was a glorious Confessor with patient expectation awaiting vntill the Lord should call him to the honour of martyrdome Nemesion was accused in Alexandria as a companion of brigants and was punished with stripes and fire vnto the death with greater seueritie then any brigant albeit his innocencie was sufficiently knowne Ammon Zenon Ptolemeus Ingenuus Theophilus warri ours and knights standing by the tribunall seate beckened with their hands to a certaine weake Christian who for feare was readie to incline and fall that he should continue constant and stepped to the bench and professed themselues to be Christians This dayly increasing courage of Christians who were emboldened by the multitude of sufferings astonished terrified the Iudges Ischirion was slaine by his owne master The number of martyres in Alexandria and Egypt of whom Dionysius in this Epistle written to Fabius Bishop of Antiochia maketh mention clearely testifieth that if the names of all those who suffered martyrdome in the townes of Rome Carthage Antiochia Ephesus and Babilon were particularly set downe together with the names of others who suffered in other townes of Asia Africke and Europe subject to the dominiof the Roman Emperour it were not possible in the volume of a litle booke to comprehend them all For mine owne part I presume not to doe it but I reuerence the painfull trauelles of learned men who haue dipped deepely into such a fruitfull subject specially the writer
many followed him When Pope Alexander came to Rome the Townes of Italie were in great â—â—ope of libertie and rebelled against the Emperour they reedefied the towne of Millan which the Emperour had sacked and ruinated and they builded a towne called Alexandria in contempt of the Emperour and in honour of the Pope When the Emperour Frederike came to Italie hee besieged this new builded towne called Alexandria but was betraied by Henry Duke of Bauaria and Saxonia so that he escaped hardlie in the habit of a seruant and returned to Germanie The Emperour renewed his forces againe and pierced into Italie with a great armie Pope Alexander fled to Venice Otto the Emperours sonne on the other part with a well appointed nauie pursued after him hauing receiued a commandement from his father to attempt nothing against the Venetians vntil his owne comming But the young man more hardie then circumspect encountred with the Venetians and was ouercome and taken prisoner The father for relieuing of his sonne from Captiuitie was content to come to Venice and in Saint Marks Church to craue absolution from Pope Alexander When hee kneeled downe at the Popes feete the proud Pope set his foot vpon the Emperours necke and abused the words of holy Scripture Super aspidem basiliscum ambulabis conculcabis leonem draconem that is thou shall walke vpon the Lyon and the Aspe the young Lyon and the Dragon shalt thou tread vnder feet The Emperour answered non tibi sed petro that is not to thee but to S. Peter but the proud Pope replyed Et mihi petro that is both to me and to S. Peter to wit thou doest this homage The Emperour not willing to giue any further occasion of offence held his peace and so was absolued and his sonne relieued with whom hee departed from Venice After this some affirme that he led an armie to Palestina to fight against the Turks and that hee prospered vntill at length he was drowned in a certaine riuer The Christians in Ierusalem had their last helpe and refreshment from Philip king of France and Richard king of England These two besieged Acon and conquered it But there was kindled betweene the two kings a feruent heat and indignation euerie one of them enuying the honour of another so that Philip returned to France and king Richard after hee had conquered Ioppo returned also to England But by the way hee made ship-wracke and hardly escaped the perill of drowning And albeit hee disguised himselfe putting on the habite of a seruant yet he was knowne and taken prisoner by the Duke of Austria and was brought to the Emperour Henry the sixt where hee was detained vntill hee paied the ransome of 10000. pounds money After Baldowine succeeded Amalricus the sixt king of Ierusalem And after him his sonne Baldowine the 4. the 7. king of Ierusalem Hee was sickly and not meet for governement Therefore he committed the gouernement to Guido and Raimundo Count of Tripoli The discord and debate betweene Raimund and Guido presented occasion to Saladin king of Turkes to recouer againe Ierusalem and other Townes possessed by Christians for the space of 88. yeeres Henry the Sixt. AEter the death of Frederike the first his sonne Henry the sixt was declared Emperour who raigned 8. yeeres hee was Crowned by Pope Caelestinus the second who tooke Constantia the daughter of Rogerius out of a Monasterie and gaue her in marriage to Henry the sixt and both Sicils were bestowed to him in way of dowrie paying alwayes to the Bishop of Rome the fee duely that was accustomed to bee paied out of those parts Henry the sixt tooke Trancredus the young king of Sicile put out his eyes and thrust him into a Monastery and vsed great cruelty against the Bishops and other inhabitants of the Isle of Sicile So that Pope Caelestinus did excommunicate him for his Barbarous crueltie but hee went to Rome acknowledged his fault and obtained pardon together with a confirmation of the kingdome of Sicile The Pope sollicited also the Emperour to lead an armie to Asia for support of distressed Christians which thing hee performed albeit he went not thither in his owne person for he sent the Bishop of Mentz the Duke of Saxonie the Duke of Austria and the Duke of Bauaria and the Lantgraue of Thuringia with many other noble persons and with a well appointed armie But the yeere following their arriual at Palestina the report of the Emperour Henries death caused them to returne backe againe to Germanie leauing the Christians in a verie desolate care CENTVRIE XIII Philippus AFter the death of Henry the sixt Philip his brother by the helpe of the Bohems Saxons Bauaroies and Sueuians tooke on him the Emperiall authoritie contrarie to the minde of Innocentius Bishop of Rome and reigned 10. yeeres In his time the country of Germanie was tormented with most cruell wars for the Pope of Rome did excommunicate him and caused the Bishop of Colen and other electors to make Otto Duke of Saxon Emperour betweene whom and Philip were fought diuers battels But Philip defended himselfe so couragiously that by force hee held the Emperiall Crowne all his life-time against the heart both of Otto and the Roman Bishop who oftentimes had threatened that either hee would pull from Phillip the Imperiall Crowne or else that Phillip shold take from him his triple Diademe so meek was this gentle Byshop In the end the Countrey of Germanie being wearied with continuall warres entreated for peace betweene Philip and the Pope which was obtained vpon these conditions that one of Philips daughters should bee giuen in marriage to Count Richard the Popes Nephew and another of his daughters should be giuen in marriage to Otto Duke of Saxon who should for that cause denude himselfe of the Emperiall dignitie Not long after this peace was concluded the Emperour was cruellie murthered in his owne chamber by Otto Count Palatine In this Emperours daies began the kingdome of the Tartarians who came from the mountains of India with their wifes and children in 〈◊〉 1202 and began to spoyle the Prouinces nerest adiacent to themselus afterward they ouerhaled the Parchians Medes Assyrians Persians Armenians and Sarmatians and in the end setled their dwelling place at Meotidis Paludes a barbarous and fierce people practising great crueltie against all nations both of Christians and others Otto Quartus AFter the death of Philip Otto Duke of Saxon was Crowned Emperour by Pope Innocentius the third Now it was the custome that hee who was crowned Emperour vsed to distribute gifts to the Romans which custome being neglected by Otto the Romans made some commotion and tumult wherein they abused the Emperours seruants He therefore departing from Rome with great discontentment invaded certaine townes belonging to the Chaire of Rome whereby hee incurred such hatred at the Popes hands that hee was forth-with excommunicated and although the Pope hated the of-spring of Henry the sixt
generall or provinciall councell should be had within the space of a yeare and in the meane time the decree of Wormace Councell to cease In the next Councell kept at Spire where Ferdinand Ambassadour in the Emperours name was present certaine Citties were greatly blamed for altering Religion contrary to the Emperours commandement and the Ambassadour for the Citie of Argentine was not suffered to sit in the Councell because that Cittie had disanulled the Masse Shortly after by the assent of a few Princes these points were decreed That such Cities as had altered Religion should make no further change That other places should obey the decree of Wormes vntill a generall Councell That it should be lawfull to all men who would vse the masse euen in those Citties where it was abolished That the Anabaptists should be punished by death That the doctrine of the Lords supper shuld not be receiued That the Ministers should teach according to the interpretation of the Church That the Princes and Cities should not receiue foreiners comming for Religion into their dominions if any man did otherwise he should be proscript The Duke of Saxonie George Prince of Brandenburgh Erneste and Francisse Princes of Luneburg and the Landgraue of Hesse and a Prince called Anhaldius withstood this decree and answered to euery point thereof saying that the consent of a few could not vndoe that decree which before was made at Spire by the whole Empire and therefore that they all made protestation that they would not acknowledge it And of this protestation were those Princes and all that allied with them called Protestants which name is now giuen to all them that in their doctrine swerue from the Bishop of Rome To the Princes aboue-named these Cities following did agree Argentine Norinberg Vlmes Constance Ruteling Winsemium Mening Lindan Campodune Hailbrune Isna Wiseborough Norling Sangall All these Cities with the Princes refused the act of Spire appealed to the Emperour and to a generall or provinciall Councell After the breaking vp of this Councell the Protestants send Ambassadours to the Emperour to declare the causes of their appellation from the Councell of Spire The Emperour at this time was in Italie and on his iourney to Rome to be crowned with the Emperiall Diadem by Pope Clement the seuenth who hauing heard the Ambassadours of the Protestants entreated them roughly and sent them backe againe with menacing words threatning to punish with all rigour those that would not be obedient to the Decree of the foresaid Convention of Spire This was the first ground that moued the Protestants in the conventioÌ„ of Smalcaldy to bind vp a couenant amongst themselues of mutuall ayde if any of them were pursued for Religions sake as shall be declared afterward God willing In the meane time the Citie of Argentine entreated league with Tigure Berne and Basill who being not farre distant might be more helpfull each to other that if they were invaded for the quarrell of Religion they should mutually assist one another wherewith the Councell of the Empire were much grieued and found great fault with them After the Emperours returning from Italie where he was crowned with the Emperiall Diadem and had sworne to be a defender of the Roman Church a solemne conuention of the Estates of the Empire was kept in the Towne of Angusta or S. Ausbrugh to which were brought many learned diuines The Protestants brought with them Philip Melanchton Iustus Ionas Georgius Spalatinus Iohannes Agricola Islebius and diverse others The Romane Church had for their part Cardinall Campeius the Popes Ambassadour Eccius Iohannes Faber Cochleus and many others The Emperour commanded the Princes of the Protestants to come to Masse with him and to command their Preachers to silence but they answered they would neither come to Masse nor inioyne their Preachers to silence before the matter was concluded Onely the Duke of Saxonie after deliberation with his Divines was content at the Emperours commandement according to his dutie to carrie the Sword before him as he went to the Church Then the Emperour vnder great perill commanded both the parties to silence and he by prerogatiue appointed certaine to Preach that should touch no Controversie In this Convention the Protestants offered vnto the Emperour a copie of the Articles of their Faith which with great difficultie they obtained to be openly read before they delivered it into the Emperours handes This Confession commonly called Augustana Confessio was exhibited to Eccius and Faber Divines on the contrary part to be confuted and the copie of this confutation was also openly read But when the Protestants desired that they might answere to it the Emperour would not grant it saying he would heare no more disputation but willed them to returne to the Catholique Church Also the Citizens of Argentine Constance Mening and Lindan who differed from the other Protestants in the opinion of the Sacrament did in like manner exhibite a confession of their Doctrine a confutation of this Booke also was made by Eccius and Faber with very bitter and sharpe words but the other partie could not haue licence to reply nor any sight of the copie but as they heard it read After this three were chosen on each side to debate matters of Religion where although Melanchton granted more then his â—ellowes would haue him yet nothing was agreed because that Eccius and his two Lawyers who were chosen for the Romane Church stucke so fast by their Masse and Monasticall Vowes that in those things they would admit no reformation In the end the Emperour published a Decree wherein he declared that although the confession of the Protestants was sufficiently confuted yet he would giue them respite for a time to returne to the Church of Rome In which time they should keepe peace and alter nothing of Religion and suffer all that would to follow the Church of Rome But the Princes and Protestant Cities answered that they could not keepe that Decree with safe consciences Thus was the Emperours interim refused wherefore he set forth another Decree wherein he confirmed the Doctrine of the Church of Rome in all points and abrogated all manner of appellations made by the Protestants It appointed also an order how the Emperours Court called the Chamber should proceed in iudgement against the Protestants and forbidded that any Prince of that sect should beare any office in the Court and all that were of the faith of the Romane Church to be taken into the protection of the Emperour against their owne Princes This act caused great feare wherefore the Princes and Ambassadours of the Protestants shortly after met againe at Smalcalâ—ie and went through with the League which they had begunne the yeare before to ayde each other in the quarrell of Religion About this time the Emperour hauing sure information that the Turke with great preparation was setting forward his armie against Vienna in Austrich begun somewhat to relent of
erected vp in Churches to that intent the same ought to be taken downe 10. That Matrimony is prohibited to no estate or order of men but for eschewing of fornication generally is permitted to all men by the word of God And forasmuch as all fornicators are excluded by the testimony of Scripture from the communion of the Church therefore this vnchast and filthy single life of Priests is most of all inconuenient for the order of Priesthood At this disputation were present Oecolampadius Bucerus Capito Blanreus with many other moe all which defended the affirmatiue of the conclusions propounded On the contrary part of the opponents the chiefest Captaine was Conradus Trogedus a Fryer Augustine who to proue his assertion when he was driuen to shift out of the Scripture to seeke helpe of other Doctors and the Moderators of the disputation would not permit the same being contrary to the order before appointed he departed out of the place and would dispute no more The disputation indured nineteene dayes in the end whereof it was agreed that the conclusions there disputed were consonant to the truth of Gods Word and should be ratified not onely in the Cittie of Berne but also proclaimed by the Magistrates in sundrie other Citties neere adioyning Furthermore that Masses Altars Images in all places should be abolished The day and yeare when this reformation with them beganne from Popery to true Christianitie they caused in a pillar to be engrauen in Golden letters for a perpetuall memorie to all posteritie to come This was Anno 1528. The rumour of this disputation and alteration of Berne was noysed in other Citties and places abroad and others were encouraged by this occasion to take the like order within their bounds and namely the Townes of Strousbrough and Basile and Geneua All this time by the providence of God the Emperour and the King of France were together occupied in Warres and strife which hapned very commodiously for the successe of the Gospell for otherwise it is to be thought that the Helvetians and other Germanes should not haue had that leisure and rest to reforme Religion and to linke themselues in league as they did albeit Ferdinandus the Emperours brother and Deputie in Germanie omitted no time nor diligence to doe what he could in resisting the proceedings of the Protestants as appeared both by the decrees set forth at Ratisbone and Speirs as hath beene declared The rest of the Pages of the Helvetians which were of a contrary profession hearing of the end of this disputation at Berne and namely because they had not regarded their admonition disswading them to proceed in their intended purpose of disputation and reformation of Religion confederated themselues in league with Ferdinandus to suppresse the Religion of Christ in Berne and Zurik The names of which Pages especially were fiue to wit Lucernates Vrani Suitenses Vnternaldij and Tugiani who for hatred and despite hanged vp the armes of the foresaid Cities vpon a Gallowes beside many other iniuries and grieuances which they wrought against them For the which cause the said Cities of Berne and Zurik raised their power intending to set vpon the foresaid Switzers as vpon their capitall enemies But as they were in the field readie to encounter one Armie against the other through the meanes of the Citie of Strousbrough and other intercessours they were parted for that time and so returned After this the old wound waxing raw againe beganne to burst out and the Tigurines and Bernates by reason of certaine new iniuries and contumelious words spoken against them began to stoppe the passages and straits whereby no corne not victuall should be conveyed to the fiue Pages aforesaid This second debate also was composed by meanes of the King of France and certaine Townes of Switzerland as namely the Glareans Friburgians Soloturnians and some other laboured to set them at agreement vpon certaine conditions which not being kept and the fiue Pages not obseruing the couenant the warre brake vp of new againe amongst them And the Tigurines and Bernates begunne againe to stoppe the passages so that for lacke of victuall the fiue Pages were pinched with penurie Who notwithstanding arming themselues secretly set forward in warre-like aray towardes the borders of Zurike whereas then was lying a Garrison of Zurike men to the number of a thousand and aboue Whereupon word was sent incontinent to the Cittie of Zurike for ayde to their men But their enemies approached so fast that they of Zurike could hardly come to rescue them fot when they were come to the top of the hill whereby they must needs passe they did see their fellowes at the foote of the hill in great distresse Whereupon they encouraging themselues made downe the hill with more hast then order striuing who should goe fastest by reason whereof they were discomfited and ouer-matched by their enemies Amongst the number of them that were slaine was also Vlricus Zuinglius the blessed seruant of God whose bodie after his death they most vildly abused by cutting it in pieces consuming it with fire and practising against it all despite that malice and hatred could deuise The Bernates were willing to come and reuenge their quarrell but before they came their enemies set vpon them the second time and had the vpper hand yet would they of Zurik nothing relent in Religion At the last through mediation a Peace was concluded and thus the matter agreed that the Tigurines Bernates and Basilians should forsake the league which they lately made with the Citie of Strousbrough and the Landgraue Likewise should the fiue Page men giue ouer the league and composition made with Ferdinanâ—us and hereof Obligations were made and sealed for the greater suretie and better keeping of the promises In this Emperours time amongst other places great alteration of Religion fell out in the Countrey of England vpon this occasion Henry the 7. King of England had two sonnes Arthur and Henry Prince Arthur his eldest sonne married Katherine daughter to Ferdinand King of Spaine but he soone after his marriage died without children King Henry with advise of his Nobles to the end her dowrie might remaine within the Realme thought meete to espouse Lady Katherine to Prince Henry brother to King Arthur This marriage seemed very strange and hard for one brother to marry the wife of another but yet by dispensation of Pope Iulian the second this marriage which neither sense of nature would admit nor Gods law suffer was concluded approued and ratified and so continued as lawfull without any scruple or doubt the space of twentie yeares till that a certaine doubt began to be moued by the Spaniards themselues of the Emperours Councell Anno 1523. At which time Charles the Emperour being in England promised to marry Lady Mary daughter to King Henry the eyght King of England with the which promise the Spanyardes were not well contented Obiecting that the Ladie Mary was begotten of the King of
skirmishes there were killed a thousand of their enemies and scarce fortie persons of their owne Triniteus the Captain by the counsell of Truchetus an expert Warriour thought meet to besiege the Castles of Convallenses but God fought against them in all their enterprises and the Convallenses came vpon them suddenly as they were besieging a certaine Castle and slew a great number and Truchetus himselfe was first sore wounded with stones afterward was slaine with his owne sword by a poore Shepheard that was keeping cattell in the fields In the end when Triniteus was out of all hope to subdue the Angronians and their complices he advertised the Duke of Sauoy how all matters went and peace was granted to the Convallenses with libertie to vse their owne Religion providing they should render all due seruice and obedience to the Duke of Savoy their Soveraigne Lord and Master To returne againe to France After the disputation at Rossie the number of the Protestants daily increased and rumours of sedition vprores were in the mouths of all the people The Queene mother willing to prouide timely remedie for repressing of ciuill and intestine warre assembled the estates of the land at S. Germane where the edict of Ianuarie was made bearing that the professours of the reformed Religion might assemble themselues together to heare Preaching of the Word provided those assemblies were kept without the towns without armour This edict was published throughout all the land and sore grieued the hearts of the adversaries namely the Duke of Guise the Constable Mommeraunce and the Marescall Santandreus who consulted together how they might haue this act vndone againe but no way could be found out to bring this matter to passe except first the King and Queene mother were in their hands to the end that the force of the Lawes which they feared might be turned against their enemies when as they had the Law-makers in their owne hands This was also thought to be an high attempt and dangerous to be enterprised so long as the King of Navarre was their enemie and a fauourer of the reformed Religion for this cause all meanes were sought out to divert the affection of the King of Navarre from his foresaid Religion The Cardinall Ferrar being the Popes Ambassadour in France put him in hope that by the Popes trauailes with Philip King of Spaine the kingdome of Navarre should be restored to him againe if he would turne to the Catholique Religion Thus was the heart of the King of Navarre stolen away from his Religion to the great encouragement of the Duke of Guise and his complices who without further delay put hand to worke The first fruits of his martiall deeds after he raised his armie was the cruell Massacre of poore vnarmed people assembled to heare the Word of God at Vassiace a towne in the borders of Champaigne and neere vnto his dominion Those poore people to the number of a thousand and fiue hundreth being occupied as is said vpon the Sabbath day the Duke of Guise came vpon them suddenly and compassed the Church wherein they were with armed souldiers that none might escape also the Duke himselfe stood in the entry with a drawne sword in his hand and sent in his souldiers who most cruelly without compassion of sex or age martyred the poore members of Christ for hearing of his Word After this the Duke of Guise addressed himselfe toward Paris where he was receiued with ioyfull acclamations of the people and from thence he marched forward to Fonteblew where the King was and seased himselfe of the King and the Queene mother and for greater securitie transported them both to Paris On the other part the Prince of Condie went to Orleance to whom resorted a great number of the Nobles of France namely the admirall Castilion Andelot Princeps Porcianus Rupsfocald with many others who all bound themselues together to set the King and the Queene mother at libertie from captivitie wherein they were deteined by the Guisians as also to defend the true professours of the Gospell of Christ that according to the act of Ianuarie they might without molestation assemble themselues to heare the Word of God The Prince of Condie was chosen to be their Chieftaine to whom the Queene mother sent many secret Letters declaring that she was deteined by the Guisians against her heart And if the Prince of Condie could set the young King and her selfe at libertie shee would neuer be vnmindfull of so great a benefit Thus in the beginning of the Warres the Queene mother fauoured the Prince of Condie and stirred him vp with many Letters and secret advertisements to procure her and her sonnes libertie for greater euidence whereof the Letters themselues are inserted in the French Historie Many great townes in France were taken and fortified by the Protestants as namely Orleance Lion Valence Granoble Roane Bourgos Towers Poictiers Montpellier and Nimes Many of those townes were recouered againe by the Guisians namely Bourges and Roane At the siege of Roane the Prince of Navarre was slaine and receiued a iust reward of his inconstancie and leuitie And Augustinus Marlorart a faithfull seruant of Christ and Preacher of the Gospell was taken by the Guisians and afterward hanged Many great cruelties were designed against those of the Religion in this first Warre namely in Tullus Aurange Burges Roan Sens and diverse other places In Montargis belonging to the Ladie Rence daughter to Lewis the twelfth Dutches Dowager of Ferrar fell out a very remarkeable matter This Ladie was a retrait to diuers families of the Religion notwithstanding the threatnings of the Duke of Guise sonne in law to the said Ladie who sent thither one Malig corne a new Knight of the order to sease vpon the Towne and Castle who begun to threaten the Ladie with Canon shot to batter her Castle wherin were diuers of the Religion But the Princesse answered him that there was not any man in the realme except the King alone that had power to command her And if he would proceed to such boldnesse as to batter her Castle with Canon shot shee would first stand in the breach her selfe to try if he durst be so bold as to kill the daughter of a King Those words caused Malicorne like a Snaile to pull in his hornes and presently to depart Afeer this the Prince of Condie perceiuing that great preparation was made against him and the Queene mothers affection was turned away to the Guisians thought meete to send for ayde to the Queene of England and the Prince of Condie willing to ioyne himselfe with the English armie marched forward to Normandie but the Duke of Guise followed after him with so great celeritie that the Prince of Condie was compelled to ioyne Battell with the Guisians at Dreux in Normandie before he was supported of the English armie This battell was fought with vncertaine victory for on the one part
nothing but the dissention dayly encreased hee ordayned Paulinus presbyter of Antiochia and the chiefe of those who were called Eustatiani to be Bishop of Antiochia This fact of Lucifer was like vnto fuell added vnto the fire and mightily augmented the schisme Theodoretus blameth him for so doing and Eusebius Vercellencis when hee came backe from Alexandria disliked also the fact of Lucifer Wherefore Lucifer would not communicate any longer with Eusebius These sorrowfull times of multiplyed schismes alienated the hearts of a great number of people from the true Church Meletius was restored from his second banishment in the dayes of the Emperour Gratianus Paulinus would on no condition communicate with him because hee had receiued ordination from the Arrians When Meletius had ended his life the people would not admit Paulinus to be their Bishop because they sayd it was not meete that he should be his successor who dispised his fellowship and counsell in his life time To Meletius succeeded Flavianus a worthy man Paulinus albeit hee appoynted Evagrius to bee his successor yet such formes manifestly repugnant to the approoved order of the Church could take no place The Bishoppes of Rome Damascus Siricius and Anastatius were great adversaries to him and mis-informed the good Emperour Theodosius against him but when he appeared before the Emperour hee spake before him both freely and wisely words that liked the Emperour well as they are reported by Theodoretus O Emperour if any man doe blame my Faith as perverse or my life as vnworthy I am content to bee iudged by my very adversaries but if the disputation onely bee concerning principality and eminent places I will not contend with any man but denude my selfe of all superiority and commit the chaire of Antiochia to whom yee like best The Emperour admired his courage and wisedome and sent him backe againe to governe his owne Flocke and was slow to heare frivolous accusations in time to come against Flavianus This was that worthy Bishop who associated Iohn Chrysostome to bee his fellow labourer in Antiochia and who mitigated the wrath of Theodosius conceived against the City of Antiochia for misusing the Image of his wife Placilla Bishops of Constantinople COnstantinople was builded by Constantine Anno 336. in a place where Asia and Europe neerly confines being separated onely by a narrow river called of olde Bosphorus Thracius The cause wherefore this Imperiall Citie was builded in this place was not to resigne the towne of Rome and the government of the West to the Bishop of Rome but as Sozomenus writes that Constantinople or new Rome might bee as a soveraigne Ladie to all those who in the East West North or South were obedient to the Romane Empire Learned men in our dayes are ashamed to maintaine all the foolish fables of the Romane Church for they see cleerly the cause of the building of this great Citie was to keepe firmely both the East and the West vnder the Soveraignty of Constantine and his successors Alexander Bishop of Constantinople prooved a worthy man in the dayes of the Emperour Constantine The Arrians finding themselues to be vtterly reiected by Athanasius they addressed themselues to Constantinople vnder the conduct of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and threatned Alexander that in case hee would not receive Arrius into the fellowship of the Church then they would bring him in authorized with the Emperours command to the griefe of his heart Alexander cloathed himselfe with the armour of God and all the night long prayed in this sense Lord if Arrius be to be received to morrow into the communion of thy Church then let thy servant depart in peace and destroy not the iust with the wicked but Lord if thou wilt spare thy Church wherevnto I am assured thou wilt be favourable then Lord turne thine eyes toward the wâ—rdes of the Eusebians and give not thine inheritance to a desolation and reproach and cut off Arrius lest while hee entreth into the Church his heresie also seeme to enter with him and so no difference seeme to bee betwixt Piety and Impiety The next day following the prayer of Alexander Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia with his retinue came with great confidence and pompe to performe all which they threatned they would doe But Arrius was compelled to goe to a secret place where his bowels gushed out and he concluded his wretched life with ignominy and shame To Alexander succeeded Paulus his lot was to gouerne this Church vnder the raigne of an Arrian Emperour Constantius who reiected him and seated Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia in his place But this great Patron of the Arrian heresie scarcely was placed in Constantinople when he ended his life The Homousians received againe Paulus to bee their Bishoppe The Arrians chose Alaâ—edonius This was the cause of great strife in Constantinople and the people divided in factions hatefully invaded one another the Emperour hearing of the tumult sent Hermogenes the Generall Commander of his horsemen to remoue Paulus from Constantinople Hermogenes was very ready to execute the Emperours commandement but the people being affectioned toward their Pastor arose vp with popular tumult compassed the house of Hermogenes set it on fire sâ—ew him and fastned a cord to his legges and trailed him along the street For this cause the Emperour Constantius willing to punish the authours of this tumult hastened to come to Constantinople The people went forth to meet him and with teares confessed their fault and craved pardon The Emperour abstayned from punishing them vnto the death but he cut off the one-halfe of thâ— victuall which the liberality of his father had bestowed vpon Constantinople to bee payed yeerely out of the tributes of Egypt Hee banished Paulus the second tune and seated Macedonius in Constantinople not without effusion of blood Paulus was againe restored by the meanes of the Emperour Constans but after the death of Constans hee was banished to Cucusus a towne of Armenia where hee was strangled by the bloody Arrians The Church of Constantinople was miserably troubled with Arrianisme vnder the raignes of Constantius and Valens The raignes of Gratianus and Theodosius was a breathing time to the professors of the true Faith At this time Nazianzen a constant defender of the Faith was chosen Bishop of Constantinople who notwithstanding voluntarily left the great Citie in regard the Bishops assembled in the second generall Councell gaue not a full and vniversall consent to his admission Yet gaue they all their consent to Nectarius a man of noble birth of the countrey of Cilicia at that time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and who had received no Ecclesiasticall preferment before that time This man I say they made Bishop of Constantinople with full consent and allowance both of the Councell and people ouer-passing Nazianzenus so fraile are the cogitations of men euen in generall Councels that they are oft times more ruled
is to be reade in the catalogue of heretikes Next to Nestorâ—us was Maximianus who continued not aboue 2. yeeres and 5. months To whom succeeded Proclus and continued 12. yeeres Flaâ—ianus after Proclus gouerned that sea in the dayes of Theodosius the second a faithfull man in his calling but scarcely did he complete 2. yeeres in his Bishopricke Hee deposed and excommunicated Eutyches an Abbot in Constantinople the authour of a pernitious heresie Hee was cruellie troden vnder foot in the second councell of Ephesuâ— called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a councell of brigandrie Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria in that councell fauoured the opinion of Eâ—tyches and by tumultuary dealing so oppressed Flavianus that he procured his death They who attribute too much to the authoritie of Councels let them fasten their eyes vpon this councell and learne that possibly councels may erre and that Patriarches such as Dioscorus was may erre euen in matters of faith To Flaâ—ianus succeeded Anatolius and gouerned eight yeeres And after him Gennadius thirteene yeeres Acatius the successor of Gennadius gouerned seuenteene yeeres vnder the Emperour Zeâ—o Hee gaue a good proofe of his constancie in the true faith at that time when Basiliscus who draue Zeno from his Kingdome condemned the Councel of Chalcedon and compelled bishops to subscribe to the errour of Eutyches The great dissention that fell out bewixt him and the Roman Bishops for Petrus Moggus Bishop of Alexandria and Petrus Cnapheus Bishop of Antiochia it was not for coÌ„municating with them before they renounced their errour as some learned men doe affirme but for plaine emulation such as was of old betwixt Pompeius and Caesar the one could not abide a coÌ„panion the other could not abide a superior The Roman Church manifestly coÌ„tended for superiority the Church of Constantinople on the other part perceiuing what aduantage the Roman bishops tooke of this that their counsel was craued they left off the doing of it And this moued the proud stomacke of Gelasius after the death of Acatius to burst out in these arrogant words that the church of Rome had power to iudge of all other churches but no church had power to iudge of the church of Rome yea and Platina a late writer groundeth the supremacie of the B. of Rome vpoÌ„ this that Acatius B. of ConstaÌ„tinople wrote vnto him to damne the heretical opinion of Peâ—rus Moggus B. of Alexandria albeit the faith of Peter was grounded vpoÌ„ a sure rocke yet the supremacie of the Roman Bishops is grounded only vpon such sandie ground as Platina and other flatterers of the Romane chaire doe cast out in their writings After Acatius succeeded Phrauitas otherwise called Flauitas and continued scarse 4. months some thinke that God in wrath shortned his dayes because that by vnlawfull meanes hee attained to that dignitie to be Bishop of Constantinople The Synodicke letter of Petrus Moggus Bishop of Alexandria written to Flauitas and pondered by his successor Euphâ—mius wherein Petrus Moggus accurseth the councell of Chalcedon it will clearely prooue inconstancie in Petrus Moggus but not a fault in Acatius for many are like vnto dogs who returne vnto their vomite againe and this blame must rest in the bosome of fickle and vnconstant men and not in the bosome of honest men who are deceiued by them Euphemius succeeded to Flauitas and gouerned vnder the raigne of Zeno and Anastatius and would not complete the ceremonies of the inauguration of Anastatius vntill the time that by his oath and hand-writ hee promised to be a defender of the true faith and of the actes of the councell of Chalcedon The hand-writ Anastatius craued to be deliuered backe againe to him which when he could not obtaine Euphemius was compelled to flie for safetie of his life When he pondered the Synodicke letter of Petrus Moggus he abhorâ—ed his name inserted against the name of Fâ—â—lix B. of Rome into the catalogue of Bishops which was razed and cancelled by Acatius one of his predecessors Patriarchs of Alexandria THeophilus ministred in Alexandria in the dayes of Theodosius and of his sonnes Arcadius and Honorius a man both reproovable in his life and inconstant in his faith Hee sent Isidorus a Monke to Rome there to lurke secretly and to expect the event of the battell that was to bee sought betwixt Theodosius Maximus and to congratulate the victor When hee returned from Rome hee endevoured to promote him to the Bishopricke of Constantinople but Iohn Chrysostome was preferred before him After this hee cannot keepe friendship with Isidorus whom he intended once to haue preferred but vpon a light occasion cast him off and excommunicated him because hee would not deliver to him the mony left in testamental legacie to be distributed to the poore This money which Theophilus sister had left to the vse aforesayd Theophilus craved that it might be put in his hands to be imployed to building and repairing of Churches But Isidorus answered that the money put in his custodie should bee bestowed according to the will of the defunct And that it was a worke more acceptable to God to support the poore who are the living temples of God then to build olde and ruinous walles Therefore Theophilus hated and excommunicated Isidorus for this cause Isidorus left Alexandria and addressed himselfe to the wildernesse of Schethis where hee complained to Ammonius Dioscorus Eusebius and Enthymius called Long fâ—atres of the iniury that Theophilus had done vnto him who intreated Theophilus to receiue Isidorus in favour againe and to admit him to his communion but Theophilus gaue vnto them an evill reward for their travels for hee hated them and finding that there were diverse opinions amongst the Monkes of Nitria and Schethis hee put fuell to the fire to the end that diversity of affection might bee added to diversity of opinion a man in all his courses malicious and deceitfull Longifratres fled to Constantinople to complaine to the Emperour Arcadius of the malice of Theophilus and they were humanely and courteously received by Chrisostome but not admitted to the participation of the holy mysteries vntill their cause had beene first iudged To the rest of the Monkes who dwelt in Nitria and Schethis the malice of Theophilus was not vnknowne And fiue hundred of them especially such as were Anthropomorphite came from the wildernesse of Nitria with intention to haue slaine Theophilus but hee met them and with gentle and flattering words lenified their anger for he said vnto them Brethren I see your faces as the face of God They tooke his words in this sense as if hee had sayd that God was fashioned according to the likenesse of a mans body Therefore they desired him to abiure the doctrine of Origen which thing hee willingly did for he hated the bookes of Origen and so he escaped the danger The next practice of his malice was
and Eutyches they in like maner absolued him And finally after his death in the fift general councell his writings against the twelue heades of Cyrillus were damned All these troubles proceeded from one and the selfe same ground to wit vpon the extraordinarie loue hee caried toward his Patriarch Iohn This one thing laid aside hee was nothing inferiour to the most wise accurate and learned writers of the ancient time In the first of his learned dialogues called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he prooueth that the Word became flesh without changing of the diuine Nature into the humane Nature or the humane Nature into the diuine Euen as in the Sacrament of the Supper of the Lord the bread becomes the body of the Lord not by changing the substance of it but by assuming by grace an other vse than it had the very symbol obtaineth the name of the thing represented by the symbol When Papists doe read the dialogues of Theodoritus let them leaue off to bragge of the antiquitie of the doctrine of Transubstantiation and take them to the Monke Damascene the first authour of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he continued at least thirtie yeeres in his ministrie and ended his life as is supposed vnder the raigne of Leo the first Augustine in his young yeeres was infected with the errour of the Manicheans His mother Monica watered her face many times with teares in her prayers begging at God his conuersion to the truth God heard her prayers he was sent to Millan to be a teacher of Rhetoricke by the preaching of Ambrose Bishop of Millan and the deuote behauiour of the people in singing Psalmes to the praise of God the like whereof Augustine had neuer seene in any place before for men in earth praising God with ardent affection seemed to represent the Angels of heauen who incessantly prayse God with vnspeakable desire Also with the reading of the life of Antonius the heremite he was wonderfully moued and began to dislike his former conuersation which hee had spent in worldly pleasures and went vnto a quiet garden accompanied with Alipius with many teares he bewailed the insolencie of his bypast conuersation wishing the time to be now come wherein without farther delay his soule should be watred with the dew of the conuerting grace of God And as he was powring out the griefe of his wounded heart to God with a flood of teares hee heard a voyce saying vnto him tolle lege and againe tolle lege that is to say take vp and read take vp and read At the first hearing he tooke it to haue beene the voyce of boyes or maides speaking in their play such words one to another but when he looked about could see no body hee knew it to be a celestiall admonition warning him to take vp the booke of holy Scripture which he had in the garden with him and read Now the first place that fell in his hands after the opening of the booke was this Not in gluttonie nor drunkennes nor in chambring nor wantonnesse nor in strife or enuying but put on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought of the flesh to fulfill the lustes thereof At the reading whereof he was so fully resolued to forsake the vanities of the world and to become a Christian that immediatly thereafter he was baptized by Ambrose Bishop of Millan with his companion Alipius and his sonne Adeodatus After this hee returned to Africke and was coadiutor to Valerius Bishop of Hippo as Chrysostome was to Flauianus in Antiocha and after the departure of Valerius he was Bishop of Hippo his vncessant trauels in teaching Gods people and in stopping the mouthes of heretikes and gainsaiers of the truth of God specially Donatists Pelagians and Manichean heretikes his learned writings do testifie When he had liued 76. yeeres he rested from his labours before the Vandales had taken the towne of Hippo which in time of Augustines sicknesse they had besieged In this Century flourished worthy preachers in France such as Eutherius Bishop of Lions Saluianus B. of Marseill who liued at that time when the nation of the Gothes oppressed France and many beganne to doubt of the prouidence of God in respect that wicked men had so great vpper-hand Salvianus in his godly and learned bookes doth declare that it is a iust thing with God to punish men who knowes their dutie best with greatest punishments in respect that oft times they are most negligent doers of it Clauaianus Mammertus Bishop of Vienne is praised by Sidonius with excessiue commendations as if all the graces of Ierom Augustine Basilius Nazianzenus and many other fathers had beene incorporated into his person Hilarius first Bishop of Arls and afterward as appeareth of Vienne opposed himselfe directly to Leo Bishop of Rome and would acknowledge no iurisdiction nor domination of the Bishop of Rome ouer the Churches of France for this cause Leo accused him as an vsurper of supremacie onely because hee would not stoupe vnder his feete but Hilarius came to Rome nothing regarding the anathems and cursings of the Romane B. and in his face affirmed that neither did Christ appoint Peter to be head of the rest of the Apostles neither had the Bishop of Rome a soueraigntie ouer the Churches of Fraunce All the grandure of Leo his speeches was to talke of those few words Tu es Petrus super haâ— petra c. that is thou art Peter and vpon this Rocke c. as if Christ had breathed vppon him and had bidden him receiue the holy Spirit so confidently did he affirme that in these wordes was allotted a supremacie to the Bishoppes of Rome the successors of Peter But this grandure I say of his proud conceites and vaine interpretation of Scripture made not men of vnderstanding incontinentlie to stoup vnder the feete of a proud Prelate Vincentius Lirinensis a mightie impugner of heresies Prosper AquitaÌ„icus SidoÌ„ius B. in some part of Ouernie Martinus Turonensis is coÌ„mended for the gift of many miraculous workes that were wrought by his hands He coÌ„pared virginitie marriage fornication to a medow a part wherof was eaten by the pastoring of beastes another part was hollwed by the rudenes of rooting swine and the third part was vntouched but flourishing in the perâ—ect growth of grasse neere to mowing time Fornication he compared to the part of the medow that was hollowed and misfâ—shioned with Swine Mariage to that part of the medow that was pastored so that the herbes had then rootes but wanted the beautie of their flowres but virginitie is like vnto that part of the medow that is vntouched flourishing with roote blade flower and all kinde of perfection In counting marriage good but virginitie better hee followeth the doctrine of the holy Apostle Paul Râ—â— gius Bishop of Rhemes by whom Clodoâ—eus the first Christian king of France was baptized and the whole countrie of France was purged
King of Gothes compelled the Clergie to subscribe to his election hee governed the Church of Rome at that time when Iustinian sent Belisarius to fight against Vitiges Theodora the Emperour Iustinians wife sent to Silverius desiring him that he would condiscend to the restitution of Anthemius an Eutychian Heretique and to the deposition of Menas Bishop of Constantinople Silverius refused to obey such impious commandements Therefore Theodora sendeth a commandement to Belisarius to banish Silverius and to appoynt Vigilius Bishop of Rome who had promised to fulfill her desires Thus was Silverius banished to the Isle of Pontia after hee had ruled the Church of Rome one yeere and fiue moneths Vigilius succeeded Silverius and ruled seventeene yeeres and six and twenty dayes His entry to this office is inexcusable for by open force secret bribes and promises to performe the impious desires of the Empresse hee obtained the chaire of Rome so that Onuphrius cannot finde out an excuse for his vnlawfull entry Theodora the Empresse vrged him to performe his promise and to restore Anthemius But Vigilius as appeared repenting of his great temeritie and rashnesse answered that evill promises were not to be kept for this cause hee was led away violently to Constantinople and a cord was fastned about his necke and he was drawne through the streets and cast into prison hee endured all this contempt the more patiently because hee confessed that for his sinnes hee had deserved greater punishment at the hands of God then this man In the end hee was delivered out of prison by the earnest request of Narses Captaine of Iustinians army in Italy but hee dyed by the way and hee whom so many cares could not destroy the sicknesse of the travell destroyed him at Sicrlâ—e and his bodie was transported to Rome and buryed there But now let vs consider the fondnesse of Baronius who keepeth no measure in his Historie but as the Poet speaketh of a Ship rossed with a vehement tempest Tollimur in coelum subtato gurgite idem Subducta ad manes imos descendinâ—us vnda When Baronius speaketh of the entry of Vigilius he calleth him a thiefe a brigand a man who entred not by the doore of the sheep-fold a false Bishop an Antichrist yet soone after hee calleth him the Vicar of Christ as though by the crueltie whereby he draue his predecessor Siluerius to death he were worthy of the name of the Vicar of Christ. Albeit hee restored not Athemius according to his impious paction with Theodora yet hee wrote vnto the Heretiques Anthemius Theodosius and Severus and confirmed their error by his secret missiue letters as Morenus in his booke called Misterium iniquitatis prooveth His cariage in the fift generall Councell hee being present in the towne of Constantinople shall be declared God willing in its owne place the cord that was lapped about his neck and drew him through the streets of Constantinople could not draw out of his proud stomacke the conceite of supremacie for hee sent his opinion in writing to the Councell but would not bee present to sit in a lower place then Eutychius Bishop of Constantinople and Moderator of the Councell After Vigilius succeeded Pelagius the first hee ruled the Church of Rome eleven yeares twelue moneths and twenty eight dayes In a very perillous time this charge was committed to him namely when the Nation of the Goâ—â—s had chosen Toulâ— to bee their King who was a fierce and cruell man and was called for his fiercenesse Flagellum Dei that is the scourge of God hee led a great army from Tarvisium through Italy destroying and wasting the countrey whithersoever hee went but hee set his face chiefly against Campania By the way hee addressed himselfe in the habite of a simple souldier to mount Cassinates where was Saint Benedict the father of Monkes not because he invented the Monasticke life but because the most part of Monks adhered to the forme invented by him hee was but lately sprung vp in the dayes of the Emperour Iustinus the elder and of Pope Iohn the first yet was his name in great account so that Totilas in a disguised habite went vnto him and conferred with him Platina writeth that Saint Benedict knew him notwithstanding of his deepe dissimulation and with terrifying words disswaded him form vsing cruelty against Christians The counsell was good but Totilus was not obedient vnto it He was slaine in battell by Narses neere to Brixellum and Teias whom the Gothes chose in his roome was slaine in battell at Nuceria so the Kingdome of the Gothes in Italy was vtterly vndone by the valour of Narses After the first comming of Theodoricus into Italy they raigned in Italy seventy two yeeres Now their name dominion and all their might is vtterly quenched Pelagius depended much vpon the friendship of Narses And when Macedonius Bishop of Aquileia died Honoratus Bishop of Millan ordained Paulinus to be his successor Pelagius Bishop of Rome grieved at this Neverthelesse hee complaineth not to Narses that Paulinus was Bishop of Aquileia without his consent but rather because this was done without the foreknowledge of the most noble Emperour Iustinian who like as he had delivered Istria and Venice from the grievous bondage of Totilas so likewise it became them to expect the Emperours answere before they had appointed a Bishoppe in Aquileia Marke the hypocrisie of the Bishops of Rome vnder colour of obedience to the civill Magistrate secretly creeping to their owne soveraignty the chiefe marke whereat they continually aymed Iohn the third succeeded Pelagius and governed twelue yeers eleven moneths and twenty six dayes In the dayes of Iustinus the younger who was successor to the Emperour Iustinian did he minister in the Roman Church and at that time when Alboinus King of the Longobards came into Italie with a great army with their wiues and children and setled their aboad in that part of Italy which lyeth about the river Padus The Empresse Sophia had irritated Narses that valiant captaine with contumelious words and he gaue to her and to the estate of the Empire this hard meeting that hee possessed the Longobards in Italy weaving a web vnto her according as hee promised which shee was not able all her time to vndoe againe The Deputy of the Emperour of Constantinople kept a part of Italy which was not conquered by the Lombards and this was called Exarchatus Ravennae and the Bishop of Rome with the assistance of the countrey kept Rome free from the dominion of the Lombards for a short time At this time did Iohn the 3. governe the church of Rome He brought in new constitutions into the church that Chorepiscopi otherwise called Vicarij Episcoporum would haue no power at all of imposition of hands which constitution he confirmed with a foolish reason because none of the 70 disciples whom Christ adioyned as helpers to the Apostles had power by imposition of hands
Constans highly offended against Martinus sent first Olympus the Exarche of Italie either to take Pope Martinus prisoner or els to kill him but his attempts were frustrate not without a miraculous worke of God as Platina recordeth And afterward he sent Theodorus Calliopas who vnder pretence of friendship came to salute the Pope and cast him in bonds and sent him to Constantinople where Constans the Emperour caused his tongue to be cut out and his right hand cut off and banished him to Chersonesus Ponti The chaire of Rome was vacant for the space of foureteene moneths because they had no certaintie of the time of the death of Pope Martinus Next vnto him Eugenius the first was chosen Pope and gouerned two yeeres and nine moneths He was the first that made an Ordinance that Bishops should haue prison-houses for correcting the enormitie and contumacie of the Clergie After him succeeded Vitalianus the first he continued foureteene yeeres and sixe moneths in the Popedome to the singing of Psalmes in the Church by vive voyce he added Organs Next after Vitalianus followed Adeodatus and ruled foure yeeres two moneths and fiue dayes of a Monke he was made Pope In his time there were terrible apparitions in Heauen a great Comete continuing for the space of three moneths terrible thunders the like whereof had not beene heard in any preceding time great abundance of raine fastning the Corne to the ground so that they grew againe and in some places of Italie came to maturitie and ripenesse Great incursions of Turkes and Saracens who spoyled the Isle of Sicilie In all these calamities sayth Platina Adeodatus multiplied supplications for preuenting the fore-signified wrath to come If repentance and abolishing of horrible Idolatrie which had now taken deepe roote had beene joyned with prayers the Lord might haue beene the more easily entreated Donus or Domnus his successor ruled fiue yeeres and ten dayes he reduced the Church of Rauenna after long reluctation to the obedience of the chaire of Rome It is to be noted that all the time they were not subiect to the Bishop of Rome they were called by the Romanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so bent were they to vindicate all declining from their authoritie with opprobrious names of Heresies imposed to the decliners thereof Agatho successor to Donus ruled 2. yeeres 6. moneths and 15. dayes of whom Platina writeth that he cured a leprous man with a kisse as Pope Deus dedit had done before In his time Constantinus Pogonatus Emperour gathered the sixt generall Councell at Constantinople wherein the heresie of the Monothelites was condemned and Macarius Patriarch of Antiochia for his obstinate perseuering in that errour was excommunicate and Theophanius sometime an Abbot was placed in his roome But this I remit vnto its owne place The epistle of Agatho written to the sixt generall Councell is full of Antichristian pride wherein he affirmeth that the chaire of Rome neuer erred and that it cannot erre that euery soule that is to be saued must professe the Romane traditions and all the constitutions of the Romane Church are to be receiued as if they had beene deliuered by the diuine voyce of Peter Likewise he damned the marriage of men in a spirituall calling he commendeth the Masse impudently alledging a writing of Chrysostome concerning the Masse whereas in all the writings of Chrysostome this word of the Masse is not to be found After Agatho succeeded Leo the second who continued onely ten moneths and seuenteene dayes He was the first author of the kissing of the Pax. To him succeeded Benedictus the second and ruled ten moneths and twelue dayes onely In his dayes Constantinus Pogonatus Emperour ordained that in time to come the consent of the Emperour and Exarche of Italie should not be expected but he whom the Clergie and people did elect should forth-with be counted the Vicar of Christ. In so doing the Emperour very vnaduisedly put an hurtfull weapon into the Popes hand whereby the estate of the Empire was encombered and hurt afterward Iohannes the fift his successor continued not aboue one yeere and nine dayes And Conon the first the successor of Iohn the fift ended his course after the issue of 11. moneths and 3. dayes After the death of Conon the election of the Pope was like to be decided by weapons rather than by Suffrages and Votes some fauoured Theodorus others promoued Paschalis and neither of the parties would yeeld to the other In the end the people thought expedient to reiect them both and to choose some third person to the Popedome So they elected Sergius the first and carried him vpon their shoulders to the Church of Laterane In his time Iustinian the second gathered a Councell at Constantinople to perfect and finish the worke which his father had begun Sergius refused to subscribe the Acts of the sixt generall Councell albeit his Ambassadour who was present at the Councell had subscribed them Of the consecrated Hoste he ordained one part to be put into the Chalice to represent the bodie of Christ which was risen from death another part to be eaten to represent the bodie of Christ walking vpon the earth the third part to be laid vpon the Altar vntill the ende of the Masse to represent the bodie of Christ lying in the Sepulchre He gouerned thirteene yeeres eight moneths and twentie-foure dayes Patriarches of Constantinople COncerning the Patriarches of Constantinople in this Century little mention is made of them because for the most part they kept not the right faith but were intangled with heresie After Cyriacus Thomas and Iohannes and Constantinus succeeded whose faith as vnspotted with any blame of heresie hath an honest testimony in Church rolles called Sacra diptytha Sergius Pyrrhus and Paulus were miserably infected with the heresie of the Monothelites Pyrrhuâ— once recanted his heresie and was absolued from excommunication by Pope Theodorus but he returned incontinent againe as a dog to his vomite Pope Theodorus when he excommunicated him the second time vsed a new and insolent fórme of doing the like whereof was neuer heard at any time before for he infused some drops of the consecrated cup into inke and writ a sentence of cursing against Pyrrus Paulus also obtained at the hands of the Emperour Constans edicts to be affixed in diuers places whereby all men should be compelled to subscribe to the error of the Monothelites After them Petrus and Theodorus albeit they maintained not the fore-mentioned heresie with so high and proud attempts as others had done yet they were addicted vnto it Gregorius successor to Theodorus in the sixt generall Councell had defended the error of the Monothelites but when he was cleerly refuted by testimonies of Scripture by places cited out of the Fathers he yeelded and embraced the true faith Callyniâ—us ministred vnder the raign of Iustinian the second who demolished a Church neere approching to his pallace
in office aboue the space of two yeeres And after him Gulielmus ruled fifteene yeeres After whom succeeded Fulcherus and continued Patriarch twelue yeeres Hee was hated of Raymond master of the Templaries who caused the bells to bee rung in the time when hee preached to the people so that the people could not profit by hearing his Sermons For this cause he went to Rome to complaine of the iniuries done vnto him but some of the Cardinalls were corrupted with money so that he obtained nothing at the hands of Adrian the fourth who was Pope at that time and so returned againe with shame After him followed Amalricus and ruled two and twenty yeeres In whose dayes Saladinus a Prince of the Turkes recovered Ierusalem out tht hands of the Christians Of other Pastors and Doctors FRom the beginning of this Compend I haue kept this order that I haue not overcharged a little booke with mention-making of all things that are written neither haue I pretermitted in the heads which I entreat matters of greatest importance so farre as my memory and vnderstanding could comprehend In this age the Scholastique Doctors began to arise of whom Petrus Lombardus was the first who afterward was made Bishop of Paris but I supersede to write of them vntill the next Centurie Arnulphus was an eloquent man and a mighty preacher who reprooved the Clergie of Rome for the lewdnesse of their conversation Wherefore the Clergie hated him and drowned him secretly in the night time as hath been declared in the historie of the life of Honorius the second At this time was set forth a booke called Opus Tripartitum Arnulphus was supposed to bee the Author thereof It contained an heavie complaint of the enormities and abuses of the Church of the number of their holy-dayes and all lusts of vncleannesse according to the saying of whores and naughty women who bragged that they gained more in one day then in fifty other dayes Likewise it complained of the curious singing in Cathedrall Churches whereby many are occasioned to spend much time in singing which might bee better spent in more necessarie sciences It also complained of the rabble and multitude of begging Fryers shewing what idlenesse and vncomely behaviour hath proceeded thereof Also it toucheth the vnchaste and voluptuous behaviour of Church men aggravating their faults by the similitude of storks who are accustomed to beate those storkes out of their number that having a mate ioyne themselues vnto another What then is to bee done with Church-men who professing chastity doe defile other mens houses so that the stinke of their vncleannesse is knowne to the whole world Finally it wisheth reformation to begin at the Sanctuary as the Prophet speaketh In this age also was Vualdus a Merchant-man of Lions in France whom God enlightned with the true knowledge of his word and remooved from the eyes of his minde the common vaile of ignorance that overcovered the eyes of the most part of men who liued at this time in such sort that albeit Antichrist was sitting in the chaire of Christ yet very few either perceived him or abhorred his tyrannie This man Vualdus was stirred vp by God after this manner Some of the chiefest heads-men of Lions were walking abroad and it chanced one of them the rest looking on to fall downe by sudden death This Vualdus being one of the company and a rich man beholding the matter more earnestly then the rest was touched with a deepe and earnest repentance whereupon followed a carefull study to reforme his former life in so much that hee first begun to distribute large almes to the poore and to instruct his familie in the knowledge of the Word of God and to exhort all them who resorted vnto him to repentance and amendment of life The Bishops envyed the travels of Vualdus nothing regarding the words of holy Scripture Let the Word of God dwell plentifully in you and edifie one another with Psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs And being mooved with great malice against him threatned to excommunicate him if hee ceased not from catechizing those who resorted to him But Vualdus neglecting the threatnings of the wicked sayd hee must rather obey God then men Whereupon followed cruell persecution of him and of all his adherents So that they were compelled to fly from Lions and the Bishop seazed vpon their goods These were called Waldenses or Pauperes de Lugduno The doctrine and articles which they professed were these 1. That onely the holy Scripture is to bee believed in matters pertaining vnto eternall life and that it contayneth all things necessary to salvation 2. That there is onely one Mediator of God and man the man Christ Iesus and that Saints â—re not to be invocated as Mediators 3. That there is no Purgatorie fire but all men are either iustified by faith in Christ or else they are in the state of condemnation 4. That all masses namely such as are sung for the dead are wicked and to be abrogated 5. That all mens traditions are to be reiected at least not to be accounted necessary vnto salvation 6. That constrained and prefixed fasts bound to dayes and times difference of meats such variety of degrees and orders of Priests Fryers Monkes and Nunnes superfluous holy-dayes so many sundry benedictions and hallowing of creatures vowes peregrinations with all the rablement of such rites and ceremonies brought in by man should be abolished 7. The supremacie of the Pope vsurping aboue all Churches and especially aboue all politique Realmes and Governments or for him to vsurpe both the swords is to be denyed 8. That no degrees are to bee received into the Church but onely Priests Deacons and Bishops 9. The Communion vnder both kinds to bee necessarie to all people according to the institution of Christ. 10. That the Church of Rome is Babylon spoken of in the booke of the Revelation and the Pope the fountaine of errors and the very Antichrist 11. The Popes pardons and indulgences to be reiected 12. The mariage of Priests and men in spirituall offices they hold to be lawfull and necessary 13. Such as heare the true Word of God and beleeue it are the true Church of God to whom the keyes belong to driue away wolfes to institute true Pastors to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments These are the most principall articles of Vualdenses to the which the rest may be reduced 14. Concerning the Supper of the Lord their faith was that it was ordayned to be eaten and not to bee shewed and worshipped for a memoriall not for a sacrifice to serue for the present ministration not for reservation to be received at the table not to be caryed out of the doores in pomp And this they proue by an old Chronicle called Chronica gestoruÌ„ and by the testimonie of Origen who writing vpon Levit. saith thus Whosoever receiveth this bread of Christs Supper vpon the
of excommunication giuen out against Peter king of Arragon for invading the kingdome of Sicilie After him followed Nicolaus the fourth and ruled foure yeeres one month after whom the Chaire of Rome was vacant for the space of two yeeres and three months because of the intestine discord of the Cardinals who could not condiscend among themselues who should be chosen to succeede In the end Caelestinus the fift is chosen and ruled one yeere and fiue months hee was an Heremit had liued such a solitarie life that he was altogether vnmeet for gouernment in great and weightie affaires Neuerthelesse he was a notable Hypocrite and pretended a reformation of the abuses of the court of Rome and namely in this that the Cardinalls Bishops should ride not vpon horses mules with Pompous traines but vpō Asses following the example of Christ who did ride to Ierusalem vpon one of them But the Cardinals were so farre from yeelding to this ordinance howbeit the Pope in his owne person gaue them example so to doe that they counted him an old doting foole and finding him to be a verie simple man so abused his simplicitie that they caused him voluntarily resigne and giue ouer his office For Caietanus a certaine Cardinall digged a hole thorow the Popes chamber and sounded in a voyce admonishing him to resigne his office to another who was more fit to gouerne then hee was which the Pope supposing to be an Angelicall voyce an heauenly admonition willingly resigned his office desiring the Cardinals to choose another man more fit for the Popedome then himselfe was who choosed thereafter this same Cardinall Caietanus and named him Bonifacius 8. who ruled 8. yeeres 9. months 17. daies Besides the subtile policie wherby he attained the Popedome he ioyned Barbarous crueltie for his predecessor Caelestinus hauing dimitted his Popedome he returned againe to the wildernesse to liue a solitarie life as before But Bonifacius brought him by force backe from the wildernesse emprisoned him where he died for heart-griefe This Pope renewed the old factiōs of the Gibelines Guelses hated the Gibelines to the death in so farre that he deposed the Cardinals that were found to be of the families of the Gibelines and disposed their dignities rents castles and heritages to others and proceeded in hatred and crueltie against them that he could abide no man that was of the stocke of the Gibelines Insomuch that Porthecus Archbishop of Geneua comming vnto him falling downe at his feete Die cinerum hee would not lay the Ashes vpon his head nor say to him Memento homo quod cinis es in cinerem reuerteris as the custome was but hee threw the ashes in his eyes and said Memento homo quod Gibellinus es cum Gibellinis in cinerem redigeris that is remember O man that thou art one of the Gibelines and with them thou shalt be turned to ashes He instituted the first Iubily that was kept at Rome promising a full remission of all their sins to so many as would take paines to visit the Apostolike Sea In solemnising whereof the first day he shewed himselfe to the people in his Pontificall garments with S. Peters keies caried about him but the second hee shewed himselfe vnto them in royall apparell with a naked sword carried before him and an Harold proclaiming Ecce potestas vtrinsque gladij that is beholde the power of both the swords to wit both ciuil and spiritual claiming to himself a soueraigne authoritie in al things both ciuil ecclesiasticall He excommuincated Philip king of France and his posteritie to the fourth generation because he made an ordinance that no mony nor revennue should bee caried out of his countrie to Rome But Philip assembled a Councel at Paris and appealed from the Bishop of Rome to the first generall Councell to be holden And sent William Nogaretius steward of his house together with Scarra Columnensis one of the noble men of Rome whom the Pope persecuted because he was a Gibeline These two I say he sent to Rome to publish his appellation against the Pope but they had another purpose in hand as the euent declared For Scarra disguised himselfe entered in Italy with a seruants habite and secretlie gathered a number of his friends Gibelines and set vpon the Pope by night as hee was lying at Anagnia the towne of his natiuity Nogaretius also cōcurred with 200. horsmen who brake in vpon him by night and spoiled al his rich treasures and put himselfe vpon a wanton Colt with his face towards the taile and made him a ridiculous spectacle to all the people Soone after he went to Rome and died for displeasure that he had loosed his riches and sustained so great shame This is he of whom it was truly said that he entered in as a Foxe liued as a Lyon and died as a Dogge Patriarchs of Constantinople AFter Georgius Xiphilinus succeeded Ioannes Cametarus after him Thomas Maurocenus who being made Patriarch tooke his iourney to Rome receiued confirmatiō of the Roman B. Innocentius 3. He was also present at the coūcel of Lateran holden at Rome in the yeere of our Lord 1215. Next to him succeeded Pantoleo Iustinianus after him Germanus and Arsenius to whose tutorie the Emp. Theodorus cōmitted his yong sonne Ioannes but Michael Paleologus being chosen Emp. plucked out the eyes of the yong Emp. for the which he was excōmunicated by Arsenius Paleologus on the other part gathered a Councel of Bishops against him accused him for suffering of Azetines the Sultan to be present at the holy seruice for conferring with him in the temple In this councell Arsenius was deposed because he appeared not to answere to the foresaid accusation immediatly after was bāished by the Emp. Nicephorus placed in his roome After whom succeeded Germanus and after him Iosephus to whom the Emperour confessed his sinnes of periurie and crueltie in plucking out the eyes of Ioannes the son of Theodorus Lascaris and receiued absolution from him But when he perceiued how the Emperour was purposed to make an agreement with the Bishop of Rome hee would not consent thereto but voluntarily dimitted his office and entered into a monasterie where hee ended his life After him followed Becus whom the Emp. traueled to perswade to giue his consent to the foresaid agreement with the B. of Rome but all in vaine for which cause the Emp. imprisoned him there giuing him many books to reade confirming the opinions of the Latine church which made Becus change his opinion and both by word and writ defend the doctrine of the Latin church To whom succeded Hugolinus Of other Doctors IN this age many were found who taking example of Petrus Lombardus invented subtile and intricat disputations questionin̄g reasoning and calling all things in doubt after the maner of the Academik Philosophers insomuch that there
learned men alwayes in store to beare rule in the Church of Christ and to gouerne the common-wealth according to the praescript and rule of Gods word This Gerardus being but a Deacon preached the word of God purelie and feruently and when hee was moued by his friends to be a Priest hee alwayes answered that he was vnworthie to haue such an high office affirming that hee would not haue the cure of soules not so much as by the space of one night for all the gold of Arabia In Anno 1379. Pope Vrbane the fift greatly allowed the order of Iesuits and gaue vnto them many great and singular priuileges coÌ„manding the Monkes of that order to weare a white kirtle and a russet coule and that they should be called of all men Clerici Apostolici that is the Apostles clerks This order of Iesuits was the invention of Ioannes Columbinus in SeÌ„a a citie of Hetruria They were not at the beginning Priests or consecrated persons but were men of the lay sort giuen and addicted willingly and freely to prayer and to labour getting their liuing with the trauell of their hands and sweate of their browes liuing as it were in common after the example of Christ and his disciples They are called Iesuits because the name of Iesus should be often in their mouths In Anno 1368. Pope Boniface bearing rule the order which is called Ordo Dealbatorum was invented by a certaine Priest in Italie who pretended such a modestie and grauitie both in words and countenance that euery man tooke him for a Saint The professors of this order were cloathed with long white linneÌ„ euen downe to the ground hauing coules vpon their heads like vnto Monkes The chiefe point of their profession was to lament the state of mankind to bewaile the sinnes of the people to pray for redresse of the same at the hands of God They neuer went abroad without a Crosse with the Image of the Crucifixe caried before them which Crosse the Lucenses keepe at this day with great reuerence as a most precious relike and daylie make vowes and offer gifts therevnto But Pope Boniface aforsaid conceiuing that they should doe no good to his honorable estate if they continued forasmuch as they all appeared before men righteous good and Godlie and the Pope with his complices most wicked euill and vngodlie caused the author of this order a seditious person to be beheaded at Viterbium Some say that hee was burnt as a superstitious Hypocrite and attainted of some heresie In Anno 1400. CENTVRIE XV. Of Popes of Rome AFter the death of Innocentius Sephinus the Cardinalls perceiuing the great schisme that was in the Church of Rome by reason of diuers Popes ruling at one time bound themselues together by horrible oathes that they would endevour by all their might to haue the Church of Rome restored againe to her wonted vnitie and for this cause they elected Gergorie the twelfth to be Pope after they had caused him to sweare that hee would by all possible meanes trauell to restore the peace and vnitie of the Church But Gregorie although hee writ to Benedict the thirteenth Pope in Avinion exhorting him to vnitie and peace and Benedict on the other part with pleasant words protested his earnest desire of peace and vnitie yet both the one and the other kept their dominions and Popedomes and continued the Schisme So that the Cardinalls thought it expedient to gather a Councell in the towne of Pisa wherein they deposed the two aforesayd Popes Gregorie and Benedict as persons who by conclusion amongst themselues sought rather their own gaine then the vnitie of the Church of God and they elected Petrus Cretensis Cardinall of Millan to be Pope whom they called Alexander the fift but he continued not aboue the space of eight months in his Popedome He was counted verie liberall and gaue so large and ample benefices to others that he left almost nothing to himselfe and was accustomed to speake of himselfe that he was a rich Bishop a poore Cardinal and a beggerly Pope After whose departure Ionnes 23. is chosen Pope howbeit the two other Popes who were deposed in the Councell of Pisa were yet aliue and had great sway and nothing reguarded the decrees of the Councell of Pisa because that Councell was convocated by a number of Cardinalls only who had no lawfull power to appoint a generall Councell Thus was the scisme augmented rather then empaired by the Councell of Pisa and in stead of two Popes then three afterward were ruling at one time In this Popes daies the Emperour Sigismund tooke great trauell to quiet the estate of the Church and to remoue the scisme but found none other way how this matter might be brought to passe but onely by gathering a generall Councell in the Towne of Constantia At this Councell Ioannes 23. was personally present and was required to giue ouer his Popedome farre contrarie to his expectation for he looked for ratification of his Papacie because he was more obedient to the Councel then the other two but finding that the Councel was fullie bent to depose all the three Popes to set vp one whom they should chose in place of them all he begun to be grieued at his owne proceedings that he had hazarded to come to the Councel to their iudgement to submit himselfe his honorable estate wherefore he thought best secretly to flie out of the towne but flying could not availe him any thing for hee was brought backe againe by the Emperour from Friburge to Constantia and cast into prison and deposed by the Councell after hee had ruled foure yeeres and ten months The other two Popes Gregorie the twelfth and Benedict the thirteene although they were absent yet sustained the like sentence of deposition Martinus 5. was chosen Pope after whose election the Emp. Sigismund was so filled with gladnesse that the scisme was now taken away and peace restored to the Church that forthwith he did remoue to the conclaue where the Cardinals Commissioners of countries were assembled for election of the Pope fell downe before him kissed his feet After his election earnest sute was made for reformation of the corrupt maners of Ecclesiasticall persons and that Bishoppes Abbots and other Prelates might bee compelled to attend vpon their owne callings that superfluous feastings and abuses of fasting and canonisation of Sainctes might be abrogated and that the orders of Monkes daily multiplying might â—ee reduced to a more tolerable number But no reformation at all was obtained Onely Pope Martine thought meet to dissolue the Councell of Constance And for satisfaction of the hearts of all men and to put them in hope that some reformation was intended the Pope consented in the Councell of Constance that immediatly after the issue of the Councel another should be kept in Papia within the space of fiue yeeres immediatly following the same and
Epiphan I passe by almost with silence because they were like vnto abortiue birthes continued not long to perturbe the peace of the Church Now concerning other Heretickes by whose venemous doctrine the Church of Christ had great strife and perturbation Artemon and Beryllus Bishops of Bostra in Arabia denied the diuinitie of Christ and affirmed that he was not existent before hee tooke flesh of the Virgin With Beryllus Origen conferred and reduced him backe againe to the true faith and therefore I set not his name in the Catalogue of Heretikes because he added not vnto the fault of his bad opinion an obstinate defending of the same The heresie of Helcesaitae otherwise called Sampsei because of the short continuance of it is scarce worthy to be reckoned They mixed the religion of the Iewes Gentiles and Christians together but were more addicted to the supperstition of the Iewes then to any one of the other two They reiected the writings of the Apostle Paul and affirmed that a man who denyed the Lord with his mouth in the time of persecution if so be hee adhered to the faith in his heart hee had committed no sinne They carryed about with them a singular book which they sayd was sent downe from heaven and they promised remission of sinnes to every man who would hearken to the words of that booke Novatus a Presbyter at Rome was a man of a contentious spirit and men that are humorous high-minded and contentious they are wise to doe evill but they can do no good Such a man was Novatus who disquieted with schisme and heresie two of the most notable Churches in the world at that time viz. Carthage and Rome by giving out a rigorous sentence against those who in the time of persecution had fallen albeit they had repented after their fall and all outward tokens of vnfained repentance had beene seene in them yet his opinion was that they should not be admitted againe to the fellowship of the Church This opinion was not onely repugnant to the wordes of Isai Ezech. 18. Mat. 11. and to innumerable moe places of sacred Scripture but also it was a foolish opinion advancing the kingdome of the divell and not the kingdome of God For the two great wheels of the cart of the divell whereby he carryeth men headlong to hell are presumption and desperation and mercâ—lesse Novatus teaching a doctrine that strengthened not the knees of the weake hee did what in him lay to moue sinners to despaire There Cyprian Bishop of Carthage who excommunicated him and Cornelius Bishop of Rome who did the like with the advice of a graue and worthy Councell gathered at Rome are to bee counted wise men because they endevoured timely to suppresse those errours that weakened the hearts of the children of God I reade of no heresie preceding the heresie of Arrius and Eutiches that continued longer time in the Church of God then the heresie of Novatus partly because it crept in vnder pretence of zeale to the glory of God and vnder pretence of a detestation of sinne partly also because the Novatian Heretiques in the question concerning the divinity of Christ were conformable to the opinion of the true Church Thirdly because in the time of the Arrian persecâ—â—ion the Novatians were banished and troubled with no lesse hatâ—full malice and despite then the members of the Church were yea and the true Catholiques and Novatians being companions of one and the selfe-same suffering were content also to giue their liues one for another And the foresayd author saith Parúmque abfuit quin coadunarentur that is They were neere-by vnited and agreed together to wit the true Catholiques and Novatians But what was the impediment that hindred their vnion Reade the Historie and it shall not be found in the true Catholiques but in the obstinacy and wilfulnesse of the Novatians And so it falleth out at all times that men who are the authors of heresies and schismes are also the principall hinderers of the redintegration of the vnion of the Church The razing and demolishing of the Temple of the Novatians in Cyzicum a famous towne of Bithynia together with the calamity of the people of Mantinium a towne of Paphlagonia cleerely prooveth that the Novatian heresie continued vntill the dayes of Constantius the sonne of Constantine an Arrian Emperour and a persecuter of the true faith The favour that they obtained in the dayes of Iulian I passe over with silence But in the dayes of the raigne of Theodosius the Novatians by the Emperours edict were permitted to haue publique conventions in Constantinople to enioy such priviledges as other Christians had and to possesse the Oratories and Temples wherein they were accustomed to serâ—e God All this toleration and liberty was granted to them by the good Emperour Theodosius because in the head of Doctrine concerning the divinity of Christ they damned the Arrians agreed with the Homousians The Magdeburg historie saith that this heresie continued in Constantinople to the time that it was conquered by the Turkes I haue written of this heresie at great length to admonish all true Christians that it is not enough to adhere to some points of the true faith and to suffer persecuion for righteousnes at sometimes and to loue brotherly fellowship at some times so that we are content to sacrifice our life for our brethren all these things did the Novatians and were favoured by the Emperour Theodosius as is sayd yet they were both Schismaticks Heretiques because they would be wiser then God and debarre them from the bosome of Christs compassions whom Christ inviteth to come vnto him saying Come vnto me all yee that are weary and laden and I will ease you Let the example of the Novatians admonish men who studie to singularity and to bring in new customes or opinions in the Church of God to take heed that their opinions bee not repugnant vnto the written Word left after they haue continved a long time in the end they bee reiected as opinions foolish vaine hereticall and not agreeing with the Scriptures of God His followers were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Puritans Let this name rest in the bosome of Hereticks And men who are not guilty of the faults that were in the Novatians if they be vndeservedly charged with this name given of old to Heretiques let them say with humble hearts that in one sense they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they are purged from sinne in the fountaine of the blood of Christ. But in no other sense and meaning can true Christians bee called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 except onely in this because their sinnes are freely forgiven in Christ and God hath begun the worke of sanctification in them to bee a testimony that they are planted in the stocke of Christ In this sense speaketh the Evangelist Iohn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is
Now are yee cleane through the word that I haue spoken vnto you The heresie of Sabellius began to shew it selfe vnto the world about the yeere of our Lord 257. vnder the raigne of Gallus It was set forth by Nortus in Ptolemaida afterward by Hermogenes and Prazeas and last it was propagated by Sabellius the disciple of Noetus Alwaies the heresie rather taketh the name from the disciple then from the master They confessed that there was but one God onely but they denyed that there were three distinct persons in this one Godhead viz. the Father Sonne and holy Ghost By this their opinion they confounded the two Greeke words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if there were no difference betwene them No man dare presume to say that in God there are three distinct substances therefore Sabellius and his adherents sayd that there were not three distinct substances or persons in the Godhead but the three names of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost were given to one person only but pointed not out distinction of persons or substances in the Godhead By this opinion they were compelled to grant that it was the Father who cloathed himselfe with our nature and dyed for our sinnes and they were called Patrispassâ—ani because their opinion imported that the Father suffered In the raigne of Gallienus and about the yeere of our Lord 264. a certaine Bishop in Egypt called Nepos began to affirme that at the later day the godly should rise before the wicked and should liue with Christ heere in the earth a thousand yeeres in abundance of all kinde of delicate earthly pleasures The ground of this errour was the misvnderstanding of the words of the Revelation of Iohn chap. 20. vers 5.6 In refuting of this heresie Dionysius Bishop of Alexandria bestowed his travels with good successe for hee disputed against Coracion a man professing this errour in Arsenoitis a place of Egypt whom hee refuted in presence of many brethren who were auditors of that disputation for the space of three dayes from morning till evening So that in the end Coracion yeelded and promised that hee should not maintaine any such opinion in time to come About that same time that is in the time of the raigne of Gallienus Claudius and Aurelianus Paulus Samosatenus Bishop of Antiochia a pestilent fellow denyed the divinity of the Sonne of God and affirmed that Christ obtained the name of the Sonne of God through his vertuous behaviour and patient suffering but he was not naturally and truely the Sonne of God begotten of the substance of the Father His life correspondent to his doctrine was wicked and prophane He was so covetous of vaine-glory that he built vnto himselfe in the Church a glorious seat according to the similitude of a princely throne and from this seat hee spake vnto the people whom he was accustomed to reproue with sharpe words if they had not received his words with cheerfull acclamations and shoutings such as were wont to bee vsed in Stage-playes The Psalmes also that were sung in Church to the praise of God hee abrogated and was not ashamed to hire women to sing his owne praises in the Congregation of the Lords people For this his damnable doctrine and lewd life he was most iustly deposed by the Councell convened at Antiochia and excommunicated by all Christian Churches in the whole world and was so detested by all good men that Fâ—rmilius Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia and Dionysius Alexandrinus who for his olde age might not travell and be present at the Councell of Antiochia yet they both damned the Heretique Samosatenus by their letters sent to the Congregation of Antiochia but not to the Bishop thereof because hee was not worthy that any man should salute him either by word or writ Manes a Persian otherwise called Manicheus a man furious and mad answering well vnto his name set forth the venome of his heresie in the time of the raigne of Diclesian a man both in speech and manners rude and barbarous in inclination divelish yet hee durst to call himselfe the holy spirit as Montanus had done before and to represent Christs actions in chusig vnto him twelue disciples whom hee sent forth to propagate his errors into diverse parts of the world His heresie contained a masse or venomous composition of old extinguished errors which hee renued and massed together such as the error of Cerdon and Marcion concerning two beginnings The error of Encratitae in prohibition of meates which God hath appointed for the vse of man with thanksgiving specially flesh and wine Hee vtterly reiected the old Testament as many other Heretiques had done before him Hee ascribed not sinne to the free will of man and his voluntary defection from the estate of his first creation but to necessity because mans bodie was made of the substance of the Prince of darknes This was that heresie wherewith Augustine was infected before his conversion but the Lord who brought forth light out of darknesse and made Paul sometime a Persecuter to be a Preacher of his Gospell and Cyprian a Sorcerer to be a worthy Preacher and Martyr this same gracious Lord I say in the multitude of his vnspeakeable compassions drew Augustine out of this filthy myre of abhominable heresie and made him liste vnto a bright starre sending forth the beames of light to comfort Gods house The opinion of Manes concerning the creation of the world and the creation of man the manifestation of Christ in our nature rather in shew and appearance then in verity and the horrible abhomination of their vile Eucharist no man can be ignorant of these things who hath read but a little of the bookes of Augustine written against the Maniâ—heans In the end like as Manes exceeded all the rest of the Heretiques in madnesse of foolish opinions even so the Lord pointed him out among all the rest to be a spectacle of his wrath and vengeance For the King of Persia hearing of the fame of Manes sent for him to cure his sonne who was deadly diseased but when hee saw that his sonne died in his hands hee cast him into prison and was purposed to put him to death but he escaped out of prison and fled to Mesopotamia Neverthelesse the King of Persia vnderstanding in what place Manes did lurke sent men who pursued him tooke him and excoriated his body and stopped his skin full of chaffe and set it vp before the entry of a certaine Citie of Mesopotamia If any man bee desirous to haue greater knowledge of this remarkeable Heretique both in respect of his life and death hee may reade the fore-mentioned chapter of the Ecclesiasticall history of Socrates and he shall finde that the first man called Manicheus who renued the error of two beginnings was a man of Scythia He had a disciple first called Buddas afterward Terebynthus who dwelt in Babylon This man
matter of Faith to be first entreated others craving that the liues of such as were accused or deposed should be first examined and both parties grounded themselues vpon the warrant of the Emperours letters The principall ring leaders of the one faction were Acacius Bishop of Caesarea Palestinae Georgius Bishop of Alexandria Vranius of Tyrus Eudoxius of Antiochia and their followers exceeded not the number of two and thirtie On the other side were Georgius Bishoppe of Laodicea in Syria Sophronius of Pompeiopolis in Paphlagonia Eleusius of Cyzicus and the greatest number of the Councell followed the opinion of these Bishops So it came to passe that the most part thought it expedient that the matter of Faith should bee first entreated After this the Councell was of new againe divided into three factions Acacius and his complices thought meete that the forme of Faith should bee altered The most part were in a contrary opinion that the summe of the Nicene Faith should be kept onely the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should bee left out Sylvanus Bishoppe of Tarsus was in the third opinion that the summe of Faith compiled in Antiochia at the dedication of the Temple should be kept Pluralitie of voyces prevayled that the Sonne of God should neither be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is like vnto his Father because in Scripture hee is called the image of the invisible God And they consented to excommunicate all those who called the Sonne of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is vnlike vnto the Father Now Acacius and his complices who were indeede Anomaei would haue seemed to accord with the rest of the Councell but when it was demanded of them in what sense they counted the Sonne alike vnto the Father They answered that hee was like in will but not in substance After that much disputation and little agreement had beene Leonas a secret favourer of Acacius dissolved the assembly Neverthelesse the Fathers of the Councell convened to iudge the cause of Cyrillus Bishoppe of Hierusalem whom the Acacians had deposed and warned the Acacians to bee present but they would not compeare Therefore the Councell proceeded to the deposition of Georgius Bishop of Alexandria Acacius Bishop of Caesarea Vranius Bishoppe of Tyrus Patrophylus Bishope of Schythopolis and Eudoxius Bishop of Antiochia in whose place they substituted Avianus a Presbyter in Antiochia others call him Adrianus The Acacians layd hands on Avianus and delivered him into the hands of Leonas and Lauritius and they banished him The Councell protested against Leonas and Lauritius and the Acacians that they violated the Decree of the Councell and without further delay they addresse to Constantinople to giue information to the Emperour But the Acacians prevented the rest and misinformed the Emperour and accused the Councell and perswaded him to reiect the summe of Faith agreed vpon in Seleucia THe wrath of the Emperour against the Fathers of the Councell of Seleucia made the rest to bee dispersed only the Acacians remained stil in Constantinople and they gathered together fifty Bishops out of Bithynia and other neere adiacent places In this Synode they confirmed the summe of Faith read by Vrsatius and Valens in Ariminum It is iudiciously observed by Socrates that after the Councell of Nice the Arrians in the multiplyed conceits of their wauering minds set forth nine divers summes of faith to wit in the dedication of the Church of Antiochia two formes The third by those who adhered to Narcissus was exhibited to Constance in France The fourth was sent by Eudoxius to Italy In Sirmium three formes were indited whereof one was read in Ariminum with noting the names of the Consuls in whose time it was written The eight was the summe of Faith set forth in the Councell of Seleucia The ninth was the sum of faith set downe in Cōstantinople with this addition that the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should be silenced when Preachers spake of God Thus we see that there is no end of wandering when men haue once forsaken the narrow path of the truth of God THe Emp. Constantius the rest of the Arrians were like vnto a troubled sea that cānot take rest yet another coūcel must be gathered in Antiochia for abjuring both the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that in time to come no man shall call the Son of God consubstantiall with the Father nor yet of a different substance frō the Father The bishops conueened thought expedient before they intreated concerning the Faith that the chaire of Antiochia vacant at that time without a B. should first be prouided choise was made of Meletius some-time B. of Sebastia in Armenia Hee receiued ordination by Arrians who subscribed also to his admission their hand-writs were deliuered into the custody of Eusebius Samosatenus But when Meletius disappointed the expectatiō of the Arrians they procured his banishment that Euzoius should be placed in his stead Likewise Eusebius Samosatēus for no minassings threatnings of the Emp. would deliuer backe againe the subscriptions of the Arrians so that the Emp. both commended admired the magnanimous courage of Eusebius This Coūcel was holden in the 25 yeere of the raigne of Constantius In it the Arrians could not perfect their intended purpose to inuent a new sum of faith which would haue made not the tenth forme of faith indited by thē because Constātius got knowledge of the seditious attempts of Iulian he left the Councel to preueene the enterprises of Iulian but he fell sicke by the way and died at Cilicia Vnder the raigne of Iulian Iouinian some particular councels were assembled such as a Councel in Alexandria gathered by Athanasius Eusebius Vercellensis for dāning old heresies and confirming the Faith Another in Palestina for ordaining a B. in Maiuma Another in Antiochia by the Acacians vnder the raigne of Iouinian These wandering stars accustomed to accommodate themselues to times places and persons to gaine fauour at the Emperours hands they subscribe the Nicene Faith But I set forward to the rest LAodicea is the Metrapolitane towne of Phrygia and one of the seuen Churches of Asia to whom the Apostle Iohn when hee was banished in Pathmos for the word of God did write his Epistles This description I haue premitted to distinguish Laodicea of Syria a citie neere approaching to Antiochia and whereof frequent mention is made in the Ecclesiasticall Historie from Laodicea of Asia In this towne Laodicea of Asia a Synode was gathered after the death of Iovinian about the yeere of our Lord 368. Nothing was determined in this Councell concerning matters of Faith but onely constitutions concerning Ecclesiasticall policie were made in number 59. In this assembly the worshipping of Angels is damned as horrible idolatry and a forsaking
at Occumenicke Councels as were at this convention Secondly to declare the effromed peartnesse of Heretiques when they are met together all that they doe is ascribed to the holy Spirit for in their definitiue sentence against Maximianus they borrow the words of the holy Apostles Placuit Spiritui sancto qui in nobis est that is It hath pleased the holy Spirit who is in vs. Yet were they guided by Satan and not by the holy Spirit in all the actions of this Councell IN the eight yeere of the raigne of Theodosius the second was a general Councel assembled in Ephesus against the Heretique Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople of whom Socrates writeth that the first ground of his heresie was the speeches of a Presbyter in his Church called Anastatius whom hee had in reverent account This Anastatius vpon a time teaching in the Church sayd let no man call the Virgin Marie the mother of God whereupon ensued great trouble in the Church for they were assured of the divinitie of Christ. And Nestorius not willing that the man should bee disesteemed whom he so much regarded he chopped oft in his Sermons vpon the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not willing to giue vnto the blessed Virgin so great an honour When the Councell of Ephesus was assembled consisting of the number of two hundreth Bishops and aboue and Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria was appointed Moderator by the ordinance of the Emperours who commanded the Councell to bee gathered Cirillus began to embarke and to agitate the question before Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia and his companie could be present at the Councell At the first meeting Nestorius being present in the towne of Ephesus vtterly spoyled his cause and added to his former opinion borrowed from Anastatius that they thought it an indignity done to the onely begotten Sonne of God to speake of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were all reproachfull words to be spoken of the Sonne of God that is that hee was nourished vpon milke that he was borne of a maide that hee was two moneths or three moneths old all these words hee counted to bee reproachfull words to be spoken of the Sonne of God The Fathers of the Councell were all highly offended at these wordes and warned him to bee personally present at the Councell but hee refused to appeare vntill the time that Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia should be present at the Councell Cirillus Bishop of Alexandria was a man prompt and forward in all causes both good and bad and hee would not linger vntill the comming of Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia and his company but forthwith hee caused his books and writings to be examined wherein it was cleerly found that hee sayd the Sonne of the Virgin Mary was not God but onely that God was with him so hee denyed the personall vnion of the divine and humane Nature The Fathers of the Councell vpon this ground damned Nestorius as an Heretique and Nestorius on the other part gathered the Bishops of his ownefaction and damned Cirillus Bishoppe of Alexandria and Memnon Bishop of Ephesus After this Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia came to Ephesus whose comming rather increased then diminished the schisme for hee was so angry against the precipitation and hastinesse of Cirillus that hee would not adioyne himselfe to the Councell hereupon followed mutuall excommunications Iohn Patriarch of Antiochia excommuicated Cyrillus and Memnon and they on the other part excommunicated him and his 〈◊〉 who came not to the Councell yet in the mercy of God this schisme that fell out last amongst good men was cured and they were reconciled and the Heretique Nestorius was banished to Oasis BEfore Theodosius the second had ended his life Flavianus Bishop of Constantinople had gathered a particular Councell and damned Eutyches an Abbot of Constantinople because hee affirmed that in Christ after the vnion of the divine and humane natures there was no longer two natures This absurd opinion Flavianus damned as hereticall Notwithstanding Chrysaphius the chiefe Governour of the Emperours Palace was a friend to Eutyches and a favourer of his heresie And hee procured at the Emperours hands that Eutyches cause should bee iudged in a more frequent assembly to bee gathered at Ephesus and wherein Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria should be Moderator In this assembly Dioscorus dealt imperiously like vnto an head-strong Heretique Hee called vpon Eutyches and required a confession of his faith which when hee had given not expecting the votes of others who were present with clamour and out-crying hee gaue allowance vnto it as if no more were requisite in a Councell except onely the suffrage and vote of the Moderator Likewise hee suffered not the letters of Leo Bishop of Rome sent to the Councell to be read Thirdly he absolued Eutyches and 300 Monks all intangled with this heresie whom Flavianus had iustly excommunicated and last of all he excommunicated Flavianus and caused him by the tumult of his factioners to be so rudely and discourteously entreated that he was trod vnder foot and was so wounded that within three dayes after hee ended his life for this cause this Councell was called a Councell of brigandrie THe Councel of Berytus in Phoenicia wherein the cause of Ibas Bishop of Edessa whom Dioscorus had deposed was wakened and he was iustified and absolued I purposely passe by because the controversie against Ibas will be discussed in a greater assembly And the Councell called Agathense in France wherein albeit there be a great number of Constitutions yet nothing is more remarkable in it than this that they grant they had libertie to meete together by cōmandement of Alaricus king of Gothes who at that time had soueraigntie in that part of France called Gallia Narbonensis where the Councell was gathered so that in al countries Councels both generall and nationall were conueened by the authoritie of Princes IN the yeere of our Lord 454. and in the third yeere of the raigne of the Emperour Martianus a generall Councell was assembled at Chalcedon a towne of Bythinia lying directly ouer against Constantinople Martianus the Emperour was in person present at the Councell and of Bishops and reuerend Fathers from all partes of the world sixe hundreth and thirtie The like whereof hapned not in any generall Councell preceeding this time The Patriarches were all present at this Councell either in proper person or by their Ambassadours Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria Maximus Bishop of Antiochia Iuvenalis Bishop of Ierusalem and in stead of Leo Bishop of Rome his Ambassadours Pascasianus a Bishop Lucentius Bonifacius and Basilius Presbyters with a Christian brother Iulianus Martianus entreated all the Fathers of the Councell to thinke that he gaue his presence to the conuention not for ostentation of his power or vertue but onely for desire that the true faith should be confirmed and
widow who hath had concubines who is in a servile condition who is vnknowne Neophycus who is given to war-fare or an attender in Court who is vnlearned or hath not attained to the age of thirtie yeares who hath not proceeded to honour by ascending degrees who by ambition or bribes hath presumed to honour who hath been elected by his predecessor who hath not beene elected by the Clergie and people of his owne citie He who is approved shall be consecrated on the Lords day by all the comprovinciall Bishops at least by three of them Let Levites be of the age of 25. yeeres before their admission and Presbyters of 30. Let Bishops be vnreproveable according to the precept of the Apostle 1 Tim. 3. Let Bishops not onely haue the testimony of a Good conscience in the sight of God but also the testimony of an vnruproueable conversation amongst men Presbyters Levites whom infirmity of old age permits not to abide in their secret chambers yet let them haue witnesses of their honest conversation and remaining places Youth-hood is prone and bent to evill therefore let them that are young be all brought vp in one conclaue vnder the instruction and government of some well approved Senior But they who shall be found lascivious and incorrigible let them bee thrust into a Monastery to the end that stricter discipline may correct the proud minds of insolent youths Seeing that ignorance is the mother of all errours it becommeth Presbyters who haue vndertaken the office of teaching continually to meditate vpon holy Scripture according to the words of the Apostle Take heed to reading exhortation and doctrine 1 Tim. 4. for by meditation of holy Scripture and the Canons of the Church men are made able to instruct others in knowledge and in precepts of good manners Presbyters shal receiue from their owne Bishops an officiall booke to the end that through ignorance they doe nothing amisse neither in celebration of the Sacraments nor in their Letanies nor in their forme of comming to Councels When Presbyters and Deacons are admitted to their offices they must vow chastitie and binde themselues to their Bishops to lead a continent life and after such profession let them retaine the discipline of an holy life A Bishop Presbyter or Deacon who shall happen to be vniustly deposed if they bee found innocent by the tryall of the Synode let them be restored to their former dignities before the Altar by the hands of Bishops in this manner If hee bee a Bishop let him be restored to his Orarium with Staffe and Ring If hee be a Presbyter to his Orarium and Planeta If he be a Deacon to his orarium and Alba If he be a Sub-deacon to his Plate and Chalice and other orders let them receiue in their restitution that which was given vnto them in their ordination If any of the Clergy be found to haue cōsulted with diviners sorcerers let him be deposed from his dignity put into a Monastery to make cōtinual penance for his sacrilege Church-men who dwell in borders confining to a Nation that is vnder hostility with their owne countrey let them neither receiue from the enemies of the countrey nor direct any secret message vnto the enemies If any Church-man sit in iudgement or be iudge in a sentence of blood let him bee depriued of his dignity in the Church Let Bishoppes haue a care of such as are oppressed to reproove the mightie men who oppresse them and if the word of wholesome reproofe profite nothing let them complaine to the king to the ende that by regall authoritie impietie may be subdued Seeing auarice is the roote of all euill let Bishops so gouerne their dioceses that they spoyle thē not of their rightes but according to the determination of anteriour Councels let them haue the third part of Oblations Tithes Tributes Cornes the rest let it remaine vnto the Paroches free and vntouched That thing which one Bishop possesseth without interpellation for the space of thirtie yeeres let no man in that same Prouince be heard in an action of repetition But as concerning them who dwell in diuerse Prouinces the case standeth otherwise lest while Dioceses are defended the boundes of Prouinces be confounded A Church newly builded shall appertaine vnto that Bishop in whose diosie it is knowne that spiritual conuentions haue beene kept A Bishop shall visit yeerelie all the paroches of his diosie and in case he be hindered by infirmitie or by weightie businesse he shall appoint faithfull Presbyters and Deacons to take inspection of the fabricke of the Churches and of their rentes Whatsoeuer reward a Prelate promiseth to a man who vndertaketh any worke tending to the vtilitie of the Church let him faithfully performe his promise Seeing that a part of Church-rentes is bestowed vpon sustentation of strangers and of poore and indigent people if it shall happen at any time those persons or their children to be indigent who haue rendered any rent to the Church let them render a just deserued retribution to their bene-factors in sustaining them to whose beneuolence they are addoted The Deacons are decerned to be inferiour to Presbyters Let the Leuites be content to be cloathed with their Orarium onely vpon the left shoulder and not vpon their right shoulders and let it neither be beautified with colours nor with gold Platina in the life of Zosinus calleth it Linostima Let Clergie-men haue the vpper-most part of their heads bare and shauen and the lower-part rounded not following the example of the Readers of Gallicia who did shaue onelie a little of the vpper-most part of the haire of their head conforming themselues in so doing to the custome of some Heretikes which dishonour is to bee remoued from the Churches of Spaine No strange women shall cohabite with Church-men only their mother or sister or her daughter or fathers sister may dwell with them amongst which persons the bandes of nature permitteth not to suspect any sinne according to the constitutions of auncient Fathers Some of the Clergie who are not married are intangled with the forbidden lust of strange women let the Bishop separate them sell the women and redact the men infected with their lust for a space vnto penance If a man of the Clergy marrie a wife or a widow or a deuorced woman or an harlot without aduise of his Bishop let the Bishop separate them againe Clergie-men who haue cloathed themselues with armour voluntarilie and haue gone to warre fare let them be deposed from their office and bee thrust into a Monasterie there to remaine all the dayes of their life Church-men who are found spoyling the sepulchers of persons departed let them be deposed and be subject vnto three yeeres penance By the commandement of king Sisenandus Churchmen are exempted from all publike indictions and labours to the end
with great libertie they may attend vpon spirituall seruice Let Bishops have some of their owne Clergie to be rulers of their house-holde-affaires according as the Councell of Chalcedon hath ordained A man is made a monke either by his parents deuotion or by his own profession but whether he be embarked into the Monasticke life the one way or the other there is no redresse againe vnto a secular estate Persons of the Clergie who are desirous to enter into a Monasterie and to leade a contemplatiue life let not their Bishops hinder the purpose of their minde because they haue intention to enter into a better trade of living Bishops haue power to constitute Abbots to governe Monasteries and to correct enormities that shall happen to fall out amongst them but not to redact them to servile offices nor to convert the rents of the Abbie to their owne vse as a possession duly belonging to themselues The Monks who leauing their Monastery returne againe to a secular life and marrie wiues let them be brought back againe to their owne Monasterie there to doe penance and to lament for their by past sins Religious men who wander vp and downe in a Nation and are neither members of the Clergie nor Monkes of any Monasterie let the Bishops restraine their licentious libertie and appoint them either to serue in the Clergie or in a Monasterie except such as through infirmity or age haue gotten an exemption They who haue confessed the committing of any deadly sinne cannot be promoted to Ecclesiasticall honors Secular men who in receiving their penance haue been content to be shaven and to put on a religious habit if they revolt againe and will needs become Laickes and be incorrigible then let them be counted apostates and excommunicate from the fellowship of the Church Widowes who haue put on a religious habit and vowed chastitie if they marrie they haue damnation according to the wordes of the Apostle 1 Tim. 5.12 Iewes are not to bee compelled to receiue the Christian faith but these who already by constraint haue received it in the dayes of the noble King Sisebutus seeing they haue been already partakers of our Sacraments let them be compelled to persevere left the Name of the Lord Iesus bee blasphemed and the Faith which they haue embraced bee counted vile and contemptible They who receiue the bribes and rewards from the Iewes to cloake their vngodlinesse and to foster them in their infidelity let them be accursed and counted strangers from the Church of Christ. Iewes after their conversion to the Christian faith if they be found to haue circumcised their sonnes or servants by the commandement of the most religious King Sisenandus it is ordained that the circumcised children of the Iewes shall be separated from the fellowship of their parents and the servants shall bee set at liberty for the iniury done vnto their body by circumcision Iewes who are punished to death for any contempt done by them against Christ after their baptisme this punishment shall not preiudge their children from right to enioy their goods if they be faithfull because it is written The sonne shal not beare the iniquity of the father Ezech. 18.20 Let not Iewes after their conversion haunt the company of other superstitious Iewes as yet addicted to the abolished law of ceremonies left they be perverted if they transgresse this ordinance such of them as haue professed Christianity shall be given in service to Christians others shal be appointed to be publickly scourged Iewes who haue married Christian women if they will not embrace Christian religion let them be separated from their wiues company and let the children be brought vp in the faith of their Christian mothers Iewes who haue once professed Christian Faith and haue sliden backe againe from it shall not bee admitted witnesses before a Iudge albeit they professe themselues to be Christians because like as their faith is suspected so in like manner their humane testimony is to be doubted of Let no Iew be preferred to any publique office Let no Iew presume to buy a Christian servant which if hee doe the servant shall be taken from him and shall be set at liberty Bishops who haue not benefited the Church by any proper donation of their owne goods they should not impoverish their Church by setting at liberty Church-servants which thing if hee presume to doe his successour shall reduce those servants againe to the possession of the Church whom iniquity without any iust right hath absolved A Bishop who setteth a servant at liberty having first by permutation set another of the like worth and merit in his place shall deny liberty to the fore-said servant either to accuse or to beare witnesse against the Church wherein hee was a seruant else he shall forfeit his liberty and bee reduced to his former servile condition in that same Church which he would haue harmed and in the meane time the permutation afore sayd shall stand firme and stable Hee who hath augmented Church-rents either by conferring or accquiring some augmentation vnto it hath some liberty to set Church-servants at liberty prouiding alwayes they abide vnder the patrociny of the Church Because the patronage of the Church never dieth let those servants whom the Church hath set at liberty and their posterity be obedient to the Church depend vpon their patrociny If they be vnthankfull let their liberty bee forfeit and let the Church defend them from all insolency and wrong Servants who are set at so full liberty that their patrons haue kept no band of subiection over their heads if they be vnspotted and vnreproueable they may bee promoted to Ecclesiasticall offices But it is vnseemly that any man shal be received into a spirituall office who is bound vnto the servile subiection of an earthly Master In the end earnest supplications are ordained to be made to God for preservation of King Sisenandus and the Nation of the Gothes and many Anathenus are pronounced against them who shall presume to violate the oath of allegeance made to the King In the end the Acts of this Councell are subscribed by Isidorus Bishoppe of Hispalis and seventie other Bishops IN the first yeare of Chintilla King of the Gothes and about the time of the raigne of the Emperour Heracleon convened with Eugenius Bishoppe of Toledo twenty other Bishops In this Councell nothing was entreated except a mandate was given concerning the yeerely Letanies that should be made three dayes immediatly following the Ides of December and if the Lords day intervened these three dayes Letanies should be deferred vntill the beginning of the next weeke In these three dayes pardon for sins should be humbly begged at the hands of God with teares The rest of the ordinances of this Councell appoint supplications to be made to God for the preservation of the King and his
not distribute the Lords bodie indiscreetly to children and to all persons who happen to be present who if they be entangled with great sinnes they procure vnto themselues rather damnation then any remedie to their soules according to the saying of the Apostle Whosoeuer eateth this Bread and drinketh this Cup unworthily hee shall be guilty of the bodie and blood of the Lord Let a man therefore try himselfe and so let him eate of this Bread and drinke of this Cup. By this let the iudicious Reader marke that even in the dayes of Carolus Magnus priuate masses had no place but they who were duly prepared did communicate with the Priest 20. Presbyters shall not suffer the holy Chrisme to be touched by every man 21. Presbyters shall not resort to Tavernes to eate or drinke 22. Bishops and Presbyters shall prescribe to sinners who haue confessed their sinnes penance discreetly according to the waightinesse of their fault 23. Chanons who dwell in Cities let them eate in one Cloyster and sleepe vnder one roofe to the end they may bee ready to celebrate their Canonicall houres From the 24. Canon vnto the 32. are contained constitutions concerning Monkes and Nunnes which I ouer-passe with silence fearing to be prolix Canon 32. All men should studie to peace and concord but especially Christians forsaking hatred discord and envie 33. Lords and Iudges should be obedient to the wholsome admonitions of their Bishops and Bishops on the other part should reverently regard them to the end they may be mutually supported every one with the consolations one of another 34. Lords and Iudges are to bee admonished that they admit not vile and naughty persons to beare witnesse in their iudicatories because there are many who for a contemptible price are ready to make shipwracke of a good conscience 35. Let no man for his decreet receiue a reward For divine Scripture in many places forbiddeth this as a thing that blindeth the eyes of the blind 36. Let euery man be carefull to support indigent persons of his owne family and kindred for it is an impious and abominable thing in the sight of God that men abounding in riches should neglect their owne 37. Christians when they make supplications to God let them in humble manner bow downe their knees following the example of the Martyr Steven and of the Apostle Paul Except vpon the Lords day and other solemne dayes on the which the vniversall Church keepeth a memoriall of the Lords resurrection and at such times they are accustomed to stand and pray 38. Faithfull people must be admonished not to enter into the Church with tumult and noyse and in time of prayer and celebration of the masse not to be occupied in vaine confabulations and idle speeches but even to abstain from wicked cogitations 39. Let not the Consistories and Iudgement-seates of secular Iudges be in the Church or portches thereof in any time to come because the house of God should bee an house of Prayer as our Lord Iesus Christ saith 40. Let it be forbidden that Merchandize be vsed vpon the Lords day or Iustice-Courts because all men should abstaine from servile labours to the end this day may be spent in praising and thanking God from morning till evening 41. Incestuous persons parracides and murtherers are found who will not hearken to the wholsome admonitions of Church-men but persevere in their vitious conversation who must be reduced to order by the discipline of the secular power 42. Let the people be admonished to abstaine from Magicall Arts which can bring no support and helpe to the infirmities of men and beasts but they are the deceitfull snares of the Divell whereby he deceiveth man-kinde 43. A frequent custome of swearing is forbidden wherein men vpon euery light occasion willing to purchase credit to that which they speake they take God to be witnesse of the verity of their speeches 44. Many free subiects by the oppression of their Masters are redacted to extreame pouerty whose causes if our element Soveraigne please to examine hee shall finde that they are vniustly redacted to extreame indigence 45. A false measure and a false ballance is an abomination vnto the Lord as Salomon recordeth The 46. Canon containeth a regrate that tythes were not duly payed to the Church notwithstanding that the Church had giuen in their complaint to the civil Magistrate whereby it came to passe that not only lights in the Church and stipends to the Clergie began to inlacke but also the very parish Churches became ruinous 47. When generall Fastings are appointed for any impendent calamity let man neglect the fellowship of the humble Church for desire to feed his belly with delicate foode 48. Drunkennes and surfeiting are forbidden as offensiue both to soule and bodie and the ground of many other sinnes 49. Lords and Masters are to be admonished not to deale cruelly and vnmercifully with their subiects yea and not to seeke that which is due vnto themselues with excessiue rigour 50. Let Laicke people communicate at least thrise in a yeere vnlesse they be hindred by some grivous sinnes committed by them 51. In the last Canon mention is made that they diligently examined the cause of them who complained to the Emperour that they were dis-inherited by thâ— donation of lands which their Fathers and friends had bestowed vpon the Church and in their bounds they found no man who did complaine Alwaies in that matter if any thing was done amisse they humbly submitted themselues to be corrected by their Soveraigne Lord and King THe Councell of Chalons was the fourth Councell convened in the yeere of our Lord 813. by the commandement of Charles the Great for the reformation of the Ecclesiasticall Estate Many of the Canons of this Councell are coincident with the Canons of the former therefore I shall be the shorter in the commemoration thereof 1. That Bishops acquaint themselues diligently with reading the bookes of holy Scripture and the Bookes of ancient Fathers together with the Pastorall bookes of Gregorius 2. Let Bishops practice in their workes the knowledge which they haue attained vnto by by reading 3. Let them also constitute Schooles wherein learning may be increased and men brought vp in them that may be like to the salt of the earth to season the corrupt manners of the people and to stop the mouthes of Heretiques according as it is said to the commendation of the Church A thousand Targes are hung vp in it even all the Armour of the strong Cant. chap. 4 vers 4. â— 4. Let Church-men shew humility in word deed countenance and habite 5. Let Priests bee vnreproueable adorned with good manners and not given to filthy lucre 6. The blame of filthy lucre wherewith many Church-men were charged for this that they allured secular men to renounce the world and to bring their goods to the Church they endeuour with multiplyed number of words to remoue 7. Bishops and Abbots who with deceitfull speeches haue circumvened
simple men and shauen their heads and by such meanes doe possesse their goods in respect of their covetous desire of filthy lucre let them be subiect to Canonicall or regular repentance But let those simple men who have layd downe their haire as men destitute of vnderstanding who cannot gouerne their owne affaires let them remaine in that estate which they haue once vndertaken but let the goods given by negligent Parents and received or rather reaved by avaritious Church-men be restored againe to their children heires 8. If Church men lay vp provision of come in Victuall-houses let it not be to keepe them to a dearth but to support the poore in time of need therewith 9. Hunting and hawking and the insolency of foolish and filthy iests are to bee forsaken of Church-men 10. Gluttony and drunkennesse is forbidden 11. The Bishop or Abbot must not resort to civill iudicators to plead their owne cause except it be to support the poore and oppressed Presbyters Deacons and Monkes having obtained licence from the Bishop may compeare in Civill iudgement-seats accompanied with their Advocate 12. Let not Presbyters Deacons or Monkes bee farmers or labourers of the ground 13. It is reported of some brethren that they compell the persons who are to be admitted in time of their ordination to sweare that they are worthy and that they shall do nothing repugnant to the Canons and that they shall be obedient to the Bishop who ordayneth them and to the Church in the which they are ordayned which oath in regard it is perilous we all inhibit and discharge it 14. Bishops in visiting of their Parishioners let them not be chargeable vnto them but rather comfortable by preaching the Word and by correcting things that are disordered 15. It is reported that some Arch-deacons vse domination over the Presbyters and take tribute from them which smelleth rather of tyranny then of due order For if the Bishoppe should not vse domination over the Clergie but by examplars to the flocke as the Apostle Peter writeth much lesse should these presume to doe any such like thing 16. Like as in dedication of Churches and for receiving of orders no money is received even so for buying of Balme to make Chrisme Presbyters keepers of Chrisme shall bestowe no money but Bishops of their owne rents shall furnish Baulme for the making of Chrisme and Lightes to the Church 17. It hath beene found in some places that Presbyters haue payed 12. or 14. pennies in yeerely tribute to the Bishop which custome wee haue ordained altogether to be abolished 18. The receiuing of paunds from incestuous persons and from men who pay not their Tythes and from negligent Presbyters is forbidden as a thing which openeth a doore to auarice but rather let Ecclesiasticall discipline strike vpon transgressours 19. Let people giue their Tythes to those Churches wherein their children are baptized whereunto they resort all the yeere long to heare Church-seruice 20. Let peace bee kept amongst all men but in speciall betwixt Bishops Countes whereby euery one of them may mutually support another 21. Ciuill Iudges ought to judge righteously without exception of persons and without receiuing of rewards and let their Officiars Vicars and Centenaries bee righteous men least by their auarice and greedinesse the people bee grieued and impouerished And let the witnesses be of vnsuspect credite for by false witnesses the Countrey is greatly damnified 22. The Abbots and Monkes in this part of the Countrie seeing they haue addicted themselues to the Order of Saint Benedict let them endeuour to conforme themselues vnto his institution and rules 23. The ordination of Presbyters Deacons and other inferiours is to bee made at a certaine prescribed time 24. Concerning Bishops Presbyters Deacons and Monkes who shall happen to be llaine let the Emperour giue determination to whom the satisfacton of blood shall belong 25. In many places the auncient custome of publicke repentance hath ceased neither is the auncient custome of excommunicatioÌ„ and reconciliation in vse Therefore the Emperour is to be entreated that the ancient discipline may be restored againe and they who sinne publikely may be brought to publike repentance and euery man according as hee deserueth may either bee excommunicated or reconciled 26. It is reported that in some Churches there is contention and strife for diuidng of Church rents It is ordained therefore That no Masse shall be said in those Churches vntill they who are at variance be reconciled againe 27. Neither the Sacrament of Baptisme nor the Sacrament of Confirmation should be reiterated 28. Concerning the decrees of affinitie and in what degree Marriage may be bound vp euery man is sent to the Canons of the Church to seeke resolution 29. Seing that the man and the woman are counted in Scripture as one flesh their Parentage is to be reckoned by like degrees in the matter of Marriage 30. The Marriage of seruants is not to bee dissolued which is bound vp with consent of both their masters euerie seruant remaining obedient to his owne master 31. It is rumoured that some women by negligence and others fraudulently doe present their owne children to the Sacrament of Confirmation to the ende they may bee separated from the companie of their husbandes Therefore wee statute and ordaine that such women as either negligently or fraudulently present their owne children to the Sacrament of Confirmation they shall bee compelled to doe penance all the dayes of their life neither shall they in any wise be separated from their husbandes 32. Let a sinner confesse vnto his Father-Confessor all his sinnes which hee hath committed either in thought word or deede because that hatred enuye and pride are such pestilentious botches of the soule and the more secretly that they are couched the more periculously they hurt 33. Sinnes should not onely bee confessed to God according to the example of Dauid who saith I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne Psal. 32. vers 5. But also wee should confesse our sinnes to our Father-Confessor according to the precept of the Apostle Acknowledge your faultes one to another and pray one for another that yee may bee healed I at 5.16.34 In preâ—â—â—ibing of penance let fauour and hatred of any person be laide aside and let the injunctions be giuen according to the rule of holy Scripture and according to the Canons and custome of the Church following the example of the Physitions of the body who without exception of persons doe adhibit cuttings burnings and vehement remedies to perilous diseases 35. Many in doing of penance are not so desirous of remission of sinnes as of the accomplishment of the prescribed time of their humiliaon and beeing forbidden to eate flesh or drinke wine they haue the greater desire of other delicate meates and drinkes but spirituall abstinence which should bee in penitent persons excludeth all bodily delightes 36. Let no man sinne of
the tenth part of all Ecclesiasticall rents for the space of six yeeres should be payed to furnish out an army to fight against the Infidels for recovering of the holy Land and a full remission of sinnes was promised to all them who would vndertake a part of this war-fare CENTVRIE XIIII IN the yeere of our Lord 1311. Pope Clement the fift bearing rule a generall Councell was assembled at Vienna wherein he set forth a booke of Papall decrees called Liber Clementiarū which was received allowed and ratified by the Councell And albeit as Nauclerus witnesseth Clemens himselfe before his death repented the setting out of this booke and commanded it to be burnt yet the Popes succeeding him and namely Iohannes the two and twentith confirmed and authorized the sayde booke againe together with the Decretals of Gregorius and Bonifacius because these bookes most highly advanced the seat of Rome exeeming the Bishop of Rome from subiection to generall Councels and attributing power to him to receiue or to reiect the Emperour after hee is chosen comparing the Pope to the Sunne and the Emperour to the Moone finally counting it a thing necessary vnto eternall life that every person bee subiect to the Bishop of Rome In this Councell it was ordayned that the feast of Corpus Christi should be kept with many indulgences granted vnto them who should celebrate this feast Likewise it was Decreed that the way to reduce Infidels to the true faith was not by armour and shedding of blood as the preceeding Popes had done for the space of three hundred yeeres though in vaine but by preaching of the Word of God to gaine their soules to the Lords Kingdome And for this cause it was ordained that Schooles should bee erected and forraine tongues should bee learned namely the Hebrew Chaldaicke and Arabique languages Finally it was ordained that the name and remembrance of the order of Templaries should be rooted out and this Decree was put in execution by all Christian Princes who in one day vtterly rooted out the sayd order of Monkes as formerly hath beene declared CENTVRIE XV. IN the yeere of our Lord 1414. the Emperour Sigismund and pope Iohn the 23. gathered a generall Councell at Constance for pacifying of a Schisme which was between three Popes striving for the Popedome to wit Pope Iohn whom the Italians set vp Pope Gregorie whom the French-men set vp and Benedict whom the Spaniards placed In this schismaticall ambitious conflict every one defended his owne Pope to the great disturbance of Christian Nations This Councell endured foure yeeres space The first beginning of it as the manner was is with a masse of the holy Spirit As they were singing according to their custome the Hymne Veni sancte spiritus there was at the same time a certaine paper set vp in the Church by some well disposed persons as it seemed wherein was contained these words following Alys rebus occupatinunc adesse vobis non possumus that is wee are otherwise occupied at this time wee cannot intend to come to you In this Councell was not onely Pope Iohn the 23. deposed for many grievous and haynous crimes obiected and prooved against him but also Gregory and Benedict sustayned the like censure and Pope Martin was chosen as hath beene declared Many wicked things were decreed and done in this Councell as namely in the eight Session thereof a sentence of condemnation was given out against the doctrine of Iohn Wickliffe and for the hatred of his memorie his bones ordained to be raysed out of his sepulchre and to be burnt In the thirteenth Session it was ordayned that no Priest vnder paine of excommunication should communicate vnto the people vnder both kindes of bread and wine In the 15. Session the Sentence of Iohn Husse his condemnation was read and published and he was deliuered to the secular power to be burned In the 19. Session it was decreed that notwithstanding the safe conduct giuen by the Emperour and kings inquirie may be made against a man for heresie by a sufficient iudge and processe to be made according to Law In the 21. Session a sentence of condemnation was pronounced against Ierom of Prague and hee was deliuered to the secular power to be burned And finallie nothing was decreed in this Councell or enacted worthy of memorie but this only that the Popes authoritie is vnder the Councell that the Councell ought to iudge the Pope yet albeit Articles were giuen in to the Councell crauing reformation of the Corrupt life of the Clergie and namely of the Court of Rome and Ioannes Gerson Chaunceller of the vniuersitie of Paris himselfe gaue in 75. abuses which hee willed to bee corrected and amended no reformatiō was obtained because the chiefe gouernors of the Councell themselues being men of corrupt and filthie conversation hated aboue all things the Articles of reformation But on the other part this new Pope Martine although hee could not finde time and leasure to reforme the abuses of the clergie yet found he time to deuise a cruell bloody inquisition against the true professours of the Gospel whom hee called Heretikes and for repressing of the Hussites hee deuised a strict inquisitiō which afterward followed in many Countries and namely in the countrie of Spaine IN the yeere of our Lord was gathered a generall Councell at Basil which as it indured longer then any other Councell before celebrat and holden in the Church for this continued almost 17. yeeres so likewise was it most troublesome in respect that Iulian Cardinall and Deacon of S. Angel being appointed president of the Councel by Pope Martin the fift and after his death being also approued by his successor Eugenius the fourth This Iulian I say suffered a certaine question to be reasoned freely in the Councell touching the authoritie of generall Councells after which reasoning it was concluded that the generall Councell is aboue the Pope and that all persons ought to be subiect to the generall councells as children are subiect to authoritie of their mother This conclusion grieued the Pope the more that this matter being once concluded in the Councell of Constants alreadie was now againe ratified and more amply discoursed in the Councell of Basil for this cause he would haue transported the Councell to Bononie But the Emperour Sigismund who was a great fauourer and protector of the Councell with aduice of the fathers of the Councel admonished Eugenius that hee should not onely leaue off his intended purpose of transferring the place of the Councell but also by his owne appearance before the Councell of Basil ratifie his subiection to the same which if he refused to doe they would proceede against him as a person contumacious obstinatly rebelling against the voyce of the Church The Pope was so dashed with this admonition that he was constrained to dissemble for a time and to confirme the
Leviticus not onely to grant libertie to persons to marrie who are forbidden there to marrie but also to interdite and forbid mariage betweene persons who haue libertie by the Law of Leviticus to marrie The ninth and last Session of this Councell was kept the third day of December anno 1563. wherein the doctrine of purgatorie was confirmed with invocation of Saints keeping of Reliques kneeling to Images giving of Indulgences superstitious Fastings and keeping of festiuall daies to the end that the Roman Church should seeme in no point to haue erred All past through and all was allowed by them but the Lord will onely allow that doctrine which is agreeable to his blessed Word To whom be be praise for ever Amen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS Iere. 48.11 Cant. 2.14 Plato in repub 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apoc. 14.13 Three rankes of the persecution of the Church The estate of the Church in the 1 2 and 3 Centuries The estate of the Church in the 4. 5. and 6. Centuries The estate of â—â—e Church in 〈◊〉 7. 8. and â— Centuries â— Pet. 1.23 and 2.2 Ier. 8.22 Psal. 46.5 The estate of the Church in the 10. 11. and 12. Centuries Vincen. in speculo an 1012. Deut. 32.32 Psal. 74.16 Simile The estate of the Church in the 13. 14. 15. and 16. Centuries 1 Chron. 14.11 1 Sam. 2.14 Euseb l. 2. c. 12. Ioseph l. 20. c. â— Simile Theod l. 4. c. 26. Ier 6.4 Simile Euseb. l. 5 c. 23. Euseb. l. 6. c. 37. Cypr. epist. lib. 1. epist. 2. Euseb. l. 5. c. 29. Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 1. cap. 5. Funct Chron. Luk. 1. Nazianz. in Iulian. annot nouni Luk. 2. Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 3. Ioseph antiq lib. 25 cap. 10. Sozom. lib. 1. cap. 1. Christ was borne when the Scopter vvas apparanly sliding from Iuda Gen 46.10 Christs Kingdome is everlasting Rom. 14.9 Hos. 13.14 Mat. 2.13 The vncertainty of tradition Sozom. lib. 5. cap. â—2 Ioseph antiq lib 17. cap. 13. Mat. 2 22.2â— Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 3. Romane Deputies in Iuda 1. Bucole Index Ioh. 18.13 Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 3. Luk. 13.1 The Priestly â—arments Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 6. Euseb hist. eccl lib. 1. cap 10. Mat. 3. 4. Christ crucified in the 18. yeare of Tiberius Heb. 7. The Senate of Rome refuseth to acknowledge the diuinity of Christ. Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 2. cap. 2. Rom. 1.21 22. Pilate killeâ—h himselfe Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 8. Caius would be counted a god Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 2. cap. 6 Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 11 The Ievves abhorted the vpsetting of the image of Caius in their Temple Act. 12. The petition of Agrippa The bloody letter of Caius written to Petronius his Deputy Ioseph antiq lib. 18. cap. 11. The hypocrisie of Agrippa Ioseph antiq lib. 19 cap. 5. Ioseph antiq lib. 19 cap. 7. Acts 12. Contention betweene the Iewes Grecians who dwelt at Alexandria Ioseph antiq lâ—b 18. cap. 10. Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 2. cap. 5. Euseb. hist. lib. 2 cap. 4. Ioseph antiq lib. 18 cap. 9. Ioseph antiq lib. 19. cap. 3. New Iupiter in worse case then old Iupiter Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 19. Ioseph antiq lib. 19. cap. 4. Acts. 12. Acts 12. The famine foretold by Agabus Acts 11. Funct Châ—on The Counciâ— of Ierusalem Anno. 48. Acts 15. Acts 15. Romane deputies Acts 5.36 â—â—seph antiq lib 20 cap 2. Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 11. Acts 5 37. Iosephus lib 18. cap. 3. lib 20. cap. 3. Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 4. Ioseph antiq â—â—b 20. cap. 4. Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 5. Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 5. Daniel 3.19 The ten persecuting Emperours wrestled against God Gen. 32. Hos. 12. Rom. 1.18 Exod. 3. The first persecution Anno. Cler. 65. Bucole Index chron Funct chron Chytr chron Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 25. The martyrdome of Peter and Paul Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 25. Romane Deputies Act. 25. Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 6. Acts. 25. Acts 12. Contention betweene Agrippa and the Ievves Ioseph antiq lib. 20. cap. 7. The martyrdome of Iames furnamed Iustus Ioseph antiq lib 20 cap 8. Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 23. Epiphan contr heres Ioseph de bello Iuduco lib. 2. cap. 15. The ground of the warre betweene the Iewes and the Romanes Mat. 24. Bucole Index chron Zach. 11.9 Ioseph de bello Iud lib. 2. c. 30 Ioseph de bello Iud. lib. 2. cap. 36. and 41. Forerunning tokens of the destruction of Ierusalem Ioseph de bello Ind. lib. 6. c. 31. De bello Iud. lib. 3. cap 27. De bello Iud. lib. 4. cap 39. Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 5. The destruction of Ierusalem Anno Chr. 71. Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 7. De bello Iud. lib. 6. cap. 21. Ioh. 19.15 Mat. 24.37 38.39 Iude ver 7. The flood of Noe the overthrow of Sodome and destruction of Ierusalem types of the great iudgement to come Mat. 24. Bucole Index chron Bucole The second persecution Anno Chr. 96. Chytr Chron. Mat. 13. Ioh. 4.14 The banishment of the Apostle Iohn Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 18. Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 19. Chytr chron Domitian afraid by rumors of the Kingdom of Christ. Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 20. Euseb. lib. 3. cap. 21 Euseb. lib. 3 cap. 21 Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 3. The third persecution Anno. Chr. 108. Heb. 12,2 Rom. 12. The martyrdome of Simon the sonne of Cleopas Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 3 cap. 23. The letter of Pliny 2. vvritten to Traian Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 3. cap. 23. Tertul. Apol. Damas. Serm. de defunct Gregory 1. prayed for the soule of Traian Chytr chron Euseb. eccles hist. lib 4. cap. 3 Ierom. catalog script eccles Barcochebas a false Prophet seduced the Nation of the Ievves Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 6. Note Euseb. ecel hist. lib. 4 cap. 9. Adrianus his intention to build a church for the honor of Christ. Bucole Note Carion lib. 3. Monarch 4. Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 4. cap. 13. Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5 cap. 9. Bucole The fourth persecution Anno Chr. 168. Heb. 11.25 Heb. 11.35 The martyrdome of Polycarpus and Iustinus Euseb. eccl hist. lib. 5. cap. 1. Bucole Index Slanderous speeches against Christians Euseb. ibid. Iustin. Martyr Apol. Iohn 16.2 The Romane Army supported by the prayers of the Christians Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 5. Euseb. ecel hist. lib. 5. cap. 27. Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 23. Contrary Ievves The fift persecution Anno. Chr. 205. Euseb. lib. 6 cap. 12. Euseb. lib. 6 cap. 1 Leonides the father of Origen The conversion of Basilides Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 5. Alexander fellow labourer with Narcissus Euseb. l. 6. c. 39. Note Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 4. Rhais a Martyr burnt before she was baptized Euseb. ibid. The death of Sevetus Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. Note Bucole The death of Bassinus Euseb. lib. 6. cap. 21. Funct chron The death of Heliogabalus Euseb. lib. 6. cap 28. Chrons Funct Vlpianus an enemy to Christians Hist Magdeb. cent 3. The martyrdome of Agapetus