❧Charles the Great.

TO begin therefore with the Frenchmen, who first transferred the Empire from the Grecians to the Germanes: who liueth so ignorant, that knoweth not, with what immunities and honourable in­dowments they adorned the Romane Clergie? First, Charles surnamed the Great, to his eternall renowne deliuered that Sea, being most grieuously laide vnto by Desiderius King of the Lombards, to the vtter con­fusion of his Armie. Against Herisigus Duke of Beno­uent, he likewise defended his frontiers: And presently [Page 9] after that, hee restored Leo the third to his Sea, at Bary­ona, being expulsed from Rome by the faction of his aduersaries.

❧Lewes surnamed Pius.

LEWES succeeding his father Charles (as the Romane Chronicles record) with no lesse liberalitie, granted vnto the Romane Bishops and his successours, the Citie of Rome toge­ther with his Dukedome: and defended the iurisdicti­on and dignitie thereof, euen to the imputation of su­perstition.

Notwithstanding; neither the remembrance of the good seruices of the father, nor the vertues of the sonne, could so farre foorth wey with Gregorie the third, as to suppresse, much lesse to mitigate his diue­lish intendments once conceiued against this Lewes. For the Warre being on foote betweene Lewes and his sonnes; He (as it behoued an Apostolicall Bishop) sought not to quench the fire of this vnkindnesse be­tweene father and child, but being sent by Lewes into the Campe of his sonnes to capitulate the Peace, with condition to returne againe vnto the Emperour; re­uolting from Lewes, he remained with his sonnes, and like a true Apostata, abetted and complotted this vn­naturall [Page 10] dissension; so farre foorth, that the father was taken, and being committed to most seuere imprison­ment, with his yonger sonne was finally thrust into the Monasterie of Suessons. Behold here a most strange precedent of ingratitude in children against their dea­rest Parents, and the detestable impietie of a Bishop a­gainst a most innocent Emperour; both equally gilty of like periurie and disloyaltie.

From that time, although the Royal Diademe con­tinued for some certaine Ages in the posteritie of Lewes, neuerthelesse their hellish humors did no more spare the issue, then in former time it compassionated the Parent. And no maruaile, for this was the onely marke that they shotte at, that hauing once shaken off the right which the Emperour pretended in the con­firmation of Bishops, they might with more securitie euer after haue meanes to ouertop them in greatnesse. Which their most prouident proiect was long a hat­ching, neither could it bee deliuered to discouerie, be­fore the yeere eight hundred ninetie fiue. At what time Charles the Grosse departing out of Italy to warre vpon the Normans, who at that time miserably infe­sted the Sea coasts of France; Hadrian the third layed hold vpon this opportunitie, and in the very begin­ning of his Pontificie, made his complaint vnto the Senate and people of Rome; That in the Election of Bi­shops, the Imperiall authoritie was not to be stood vpon, but that the Suffrages of the Clergie and the people ought al­wayes to be free.

By this Decree he disseysed the Emperours of their whole right, which but lately they possessed both vp­on [Page 11] the Bishops and the Citie; Thereby pointing out to his successors a course how to attempt proiects of higher nature in future ages.

And surely from those times, what vpon the defi­ciencie of the issue of Charles the Great, which had most fortunately Gouerned the Empire for the space of one hundred and odde yeeres: and what in regard of that most horrible Schisme proceeding from that Chaire of pestilence, managed betweene the Bishops themselues by mutuall Murders, Poysenings, and all other kind of enormities, their continued machinati­ons against the Emperours some-deale ceased; vntill they reassumed a new occasion of plotting & reitera­ting their former courses against Otho the first, Em­perour of Germanie.

❧Otho the Great.

FOr at what time, in the Reigne of Otho, Iohn the thirteenth, Noble in trueth by Birth, but most base in conuersation, Gouerned the Romish Sea, and polluted Peters Chaire with ryot, gaming, pandarisme and Women, &c. At that very same instant likewise Berengarius Duke of Lombardie, amongst many other Cities, forbore not to presse hard vpon the Citie of Rome also. The Car­dinals grew discontented, aswell at the Popes Epicu­risme, [Page 12] as at Berengarius his Tyrannie. Two of them more agrieued then the rest (whether vpon scruple of conscience, or in remembrance of the greatnesse of the Romane name, or in hatred of the Pope) resolued to pray in aide of Otho, a Prince of that time much ce­lebrated for his vertues amongst the Loraners, the French, the Hungarish, the Danes, and all the other bar­barous people, vnder his obedience throughout that part of the world.

Whereupon, calling some others to Councell, by letters and messages they solicite Otho, that he would vouchsafe to assist the declining estate of the Church and Common-wealth: That hee would represse the Tyrannie of Berengarius cruelly raging vpon the Christian people: And that he would not let, to deli­uer the Church from so fell and impure a beast. The Bishop comming to the knowledge of these passages, first cut off three of his fingers, that indited the Let­ters, and then slit his Chancellors nose, for giuing ap­probation thereunto. But Otho, who thought it not fitte to leaue the Church succourlesse in times of dan­ger, hauing amassed all necessaries for warfare, mar­cheth into Italy with fiftie thousand Souldiers. Ex­pelleth both Berengarius and his sonne Adelbert: then speedeth towards Rome. Where arriued, although the inhumane cruelties of the Bishoppe were not vn­knowne to his Maiestie: Yet in reuerence of the Apo­stolicke Sea, at first hee decreed no hard or vnbesee­ming censure against him, but causing all things that had beene iniuriously taken from him to bee restored, hee presented him moreouer with great masses of Gold, Siluer and Iewels. And appointing him a time [Page 13] of conference; secretly and friendly hee repeated what he knew of his fore passed offences, wishing him ther­after to abstaine from so grosse and foule enormities; To leade a thriftie life; to bee an ornament, and not a dishonour to the Church; That integritie of life was no lesse commendable in a Churchman, then Artes and learning.

For the present, the Pope protesteth great hopes of amendment: The Emperour reioyceth thereat, and leauing Rome iournieth towards Papia, there minding to Winter, but withall exacteth a solemne Oath from the Bishoppe taken vpon the body of Saint PETER; THAT IN HIS ABSENCE HE SHOVLD NO WAY BE ASSISTING TO BEREN­GARIVS, NOR HIS SONNE. The Emper­our had scarce left the Gates of Rome, but the Bishop returning to his wonted inclination, not onely fol­loweth his pleasures, his Whoredomes, his Ryottes, his poysenings, and all other mischiefes, of like na­ture; but also hauing forgotten his plighted faith to the Emperour, reuoketh Adelbert from Fraxineto, whether hee had fled out of Italy to the Saracens, and promiseth him his vtmost assistance against the Em­perour: Hee dispatcheth also his Legats to make like complaint against him at Constantinople.

The Emperour, vnto whome such grosse and wil­full periurie seemed more then wonderfull, vpon the first intelligence thereof, thought it not fitte rash­ly to listen thereunto, but dispatcheth certaine of his Seruaunts to Rome to learne the certaintie of the bu­sinesse.

[Page 14]Vpon their returne, and iustification of these, and more vile indignities, the Emperor (not vniustly mo­ued to displeasure) suddenly hasteth towards Rome: where pitching his tents hard vnder the walles (Iohn and Adelbert being fled into Campania) he is most ho­norably receiued into the City by the Inhabitants. Vnto him they promise faith and loyalty, and sweare thereafter neuer to elect a Pope without the consent of the Emperor Otho, Caesar, Augustus, and his Sonne Otho.

Iohn being thus escaped; and for feare of Caesar lur­king in Campania in woods and corners; after three daies, at the instance both of the Clergie and the peo­ple (desiring a Commission to enquire vpon the life and conuersation of Iohn) the Emperor agreeth, and proclaimeth a Councell; whereunto he calleth all the Bishops and Abbots of Italie, such as he knew to bee men of integrity, honest, and zealous.

Who appearing vpon the day prescribed, although his abominable life was such, that euen by the gene­rall opinion of the Councell, it could not but be deci­phered by the remotest Nations, yet this most vertu­ous Emperor, tooke order that they should not pro­ceed to any rash Iudgement, but to determine all accu­sations with mildnesse of mind and deliberate advice.

Whereupon with the Archbishops of Liguria, Tuscanie, Saxonie and France, he dispatcheth his letters vnto Iohn, reciting therein the cause and maner of his accusation: not forbearing to intreat him to make his personall appearance, to say for himselfe against his ac­cusers.

But he returning for answer; that it should easilie ap­peare, [Page 15] what slight esteeme he made of that Councell; And that, he would suddenly proceed to Excommunication, in case they presumed to elect Any other: the Empe­ror in a most solemne Oration intimateth to the Councell, his periuries towards himselfe, and his dis­honest conuersation towards the whole Christian world.

Vpon hearing wherof, with one consent the Coun­cell declared this Apostata Iohn for his euill life to be wor­thilie depriued: And Leo chiefe Secretary of the Ro­mane Church was chosen to succeed him.

In the interim wherof, the Emperor not to be burden­some vnto the State of Rome, had dismissed many of those companies of Souldiers which at first hee had brought with him into Italie. Which comming vnto the vnderstanding of this reprobate Bishop, who full well was acquainted with the disloyall and mutable humours of the Italian Nation, sendeth his espialls to Rome, with exhortations to the people to attempt a surprize vpon the Emperor and his weake companies; for which their good seruice he promiseth to reward them with all the Treasures of the Church and Saint Peter.

The Romans being hereunto incouraged, partly by the weaknesse of Caesars army, and partly with the conceit of these Golden mountaines, arise, and at the sound of a Trumpet charge vpon the Emperor.

He maketh a stand vpon the Bridge of Tiber, and there with his fearelesse and old Trained companies, valiantly receiueth the charge: The Romanes receiue the iust reward of their trechery: for being routed, and put to flight, neither sanctuary, nor vnsanctuary could [Page 16] warrant any one mans life; the fury of the Souldiers slew the periurd, aswell at the Altar, as in the Sham­bles.

When this was done, Caesar stood in good hope, that after so great a punishment, the Romanes would proue afterwards to be of more quiet and aduised dis­positions, and in this conceit, he hastneth to Spoletum, the place of Adelberts rendeuou.

Vpon which absence Iohn betaking him to his wits, through the mediation of certaine good-wenches, here­tofore of his ancient acquaintance, so worketh with many of the Roman gentry, that Iohn is receiued into the City; and Leo with much labour escaping their hands, flieth vnto the Emperor.

The deposement of Leo, and the cruelty of Iohn, which he had already inflicted vpon some few, being known; Caesar repaireth his Army, with intention to be revenged vpon the Romans, as well for the iniury offered to his own person, as for the wrong in depo­sing a Bishop of his owne institution.

In midst of which intendment, by the iudgement of Almighty God, meaning to make this Iohn an exem­plary president to the world of his most iust indignati­on, it came to passe, that he died a most strange kind of death.

For when vpon a certain night without the walles of the City, hee was sporting himselfe with an other mans wife, the diuell gaue him such a knocke on the Temples, saith Luitprandus of Ticine, that within eight daies he died of the wound.

Plati. in the life of Iohn xiij.Other write, that he was wounded by the womans husband; and so gaue vp his impure soule to the diuell [Page 17] his master, whom he had long serued.

But death gaue no surcease to the seditions first oc­casioned by this monster. For the Romans, in place of the deceased, set vp Benedict the fift, and afterwards re­quired Confirmation from the Emperor, then residing at Spoletum.

The Emperor disallowing the Election, disdainful­ly dismissed the Romans, little mistrusting any such welcome: and by fire and sword wasting all things a­bout the City, finally compelled them, that expulsing (or rather yeelding vp) Benedict, they should accept of Leo: binding them by Oth, that they should not presume to alter any thing, which he had set down for the Churches gouernment.

Hereupon Leo being restored to his Sea at Bario­nea, Platina in the life of Benedict the fif [...]. See also Krant­zius lib. 4. cap. 9. and over wearied with the disloyall humours of the Roman people, retransferred the whole Authori­ty of chosing the Roman Bishops from the Clergy and people of Rome, vnto the Emperor; as it is set downe. distinct. 6. c. in Synodo.

And Otho, having in this maner marshalled his af­faires, returned into Germanie, taking Benedict with him; who not long after through griefe of mind, being committed to the safe custody of Adaldag, Othoes Chancellor, and Archbishop of Hanburg, died at Ham­burg, and there lieth buried in the Cathedrall Church.

❧Otho the third.

Naucler. gene­ral 34. Plat. in vita Gregorij V. Cuspinian & Theod. de Nyem in the life of Otho the third. SOme few yeeres after, as Otho succeeded his Grandfather in the Empire: so did hee like­wise in the contentions of the Bishops. For when as Iohn the xvij. being dead, by the right of Election, inuested vpon him by the donation of Leo the viij, to his predecessor Otho the great, hee had chosen Gregorie the v. for Pope; Crescentius and the people stomacking that a man of the German na­tion should be aduanced to be their Bishop, and him also chosen by the sole authority of the Emperor, they resolued to depose him; and in his place they substitu­ted, Iohn the xviij. of that name, first Bishop of Placen­tia, a man well stored with coyn, and a great Scholler.

Gregorie maketh his repaire into Germanie to the Emperor, and there vnfolding his hard vsage, so pro­uoked the Emperor, that he besiegeth the City, and pressed it so closely, that the people almost hunger starued opened their Gates, and receiued his Maiesty.

Being now in possession, and vnderstanding, that like power by warrant of Gods word, was bequeathed him ouer a wicked Bishop, as ouer a common theefe; at first he gaue commandement that the eies of the captiue Bishop should be put out, the fingers of both his hands to be cut off, and then clothed in vile attire, with his stumps and feet manacled, to be set vpon an Asse, so to be conueyed through the City, and finally [Page 19] to be thrown headlong from the rocke Tarpeia.

Crescentius the Consul hee also caused to be moun­ted vpon a base Beast, his face towards his taile, his nose and eares to be cut off, so to be a common specta­cle to all beholders, and lastly to be hanged vpon the common Gallowes in sight of the City walles.

Thus hauing wrecked his iust indignation vpon his aduersaries, he not only restored Gregorie, the xj. mo­neth after his deposall to his pristinate dignity: But also this good and most excellent Emperor, left an ex­ample to his successors, that these proud Churchmen were not to be managed by lenity and mildnesse, but to be curbed by roughnesse and seuerity. For it was the receiued opinion of that age, that looke which of the Caesars shewed himselfe to be of more milde dis­position, then some others; so much the more wan­tonlike would they dally with his lenity, and more basely prosecute him with railings, & foule-mouthed reproches; As by that which followeth, I will clearely make manifest vnto you.

❧Henricus Niger.

THis seuerity of Otho, last before spoken off in punishing the treason of Iohn, Cardinal Benn [...] of the l [...]fe and gests of Hilde­brand. for some certaine time so terrified the Bishops, that vntill the smart was forgotten, openly they [Page 20] attempted nothing against the Maiesty of the sacred Empire. But no sooner had Benedict the xj. by Sata­nicall and magicall Inchantmentes leaped into the place, but by how much his skil and confidence in that profession was remarqueable, by so much the more insolent was his cariage in the Popedome.

For no sooner was Conradus, (a most faithfull stew­ard of the Law and Religion, Emperor of Romans, al­waies Augustus) gathered to his fathers; but this fire­brand going to counsell with his minion Laurentius, and other his fauorits; bendeth his studies, how hee might dispossesse Henrie the sonne of Conrade from his hereditary succession to the Crowne of the Empire; and disturbe the peace of the Church with Schisme and dissension.

To the effecting of which stratageme, hee sendeth the Crowne of the Romane Empire vnto Peter King of Hungarie, with this Motto vnder written. ‘Petra dedit Romam Petro: tibi Papa Coronam.’ ‘The Rocke gaue Peter Rome: to thee the Pope this Crowne.’ But the Emperour, vnder the leading of Godfrey Duke of Lorain, a most excellent Souldier, and faithfull ser­uitor, confronted Peter, tooke him Prisoner; and fur­ther, meaning to repay Theophilact the ringleader vn­to so dangerous a Schisme, according to his deserts, set forward for Rome. Vpon brute whereof, Theophi­lact, (alias Benedict the ninth) stroken in remorse of conscience, and amazed with terrour, bartered the Pa­pacie to one of his Companions, the Archpriest of Saint Iohns de Porta latina, the Master of Hildebrand, for the Summe of one thousand and fiue hundred [Page 21] pounds. Who ascending the Seate by the staires of such abominable iniquitie, by changing his Name, was thenceforth stiled, Gregorie the sixt.

Now is the Cup brimfull;Benno. Plati. in the life of Sil­uester the third and Gregorie the sixt. and the Papacie so mana­ged, that all good men being either reiected or oppres­sed, euery other party, as he was caried away by ambiti­on, or inabled for briberie, cast to lay hold-fast vpon this so high a step of Dignitie; more entring like theeues and robbers by the windowe, then by the doore. So that in these dayes (besides the Archpriest Iohn Gratian) ascended also into this Seate of iniquities; Iohn Bishop of Sauoy who (changing his Name) was otherwise nominated Siluester the third. Thus was the Roman Church ren tinto diuers factions: Three Popes appeared at one instant, viz. Benedict the ninth, Silue­ster the third, and Gregorie the sixt, and euery one clai­meth lawfull succession in Peters Chaire, and pleadeth possession. Where is now the Church? Who is this head? Who shall now stand vp to arbitrate so difficult a controuersie? None is now to be seene but the Em­perour; And him, without question, surnamed Niger, God himselfe stirred vp (hauing set Germanie in good order) with an Armie to trauaile into Italy, where cal­ling a Councell, he inforceth Theophilact to flie: Hee imprisoned Gregorie, and afterward with Hildebrand, exiled him into Germanie. The Bishop of Sauoy he dis­patched to his charge; and in their places consecrated Syndoger Bishop of Bamberg, otherwise called Clement the second. Of whom he receiued the inauguration of the Imperiall Crowne, and then inforced the Romans to take an Oath: That thereafter they should neuer pre­sume to meddle with the Election of a Romane Bishop, with­out [Page 22] expresse Commission first obtained from the Emperour.

For his most excellent Maiestie did well foresee, that in those times the world was giuen to so much licenti­ous libertie, that euery factious and Potent compani­on, though most ignoble, would not sticke to arrogate vnto himselfe that so eminent a dignitie, by corrupti­on and vnderhand-courses, which by the strict com­mandement of God, was not to be bestowed vpon a­ny liuing creature, saue him who for learning and san­ctitie of life, ought worthily to bee preferred there­vnto.

This vsage now grew vnto so inueterate a custome, that euery sedicious and wicked varlet presumed, that hee might without scruple of conscience vsurpe vpon Saint Peters Chaire; As did Damasus the se­cond, by birth a Bauarian. This man hauing gotten poyson for his purpose, slue Clement, and laboured by villanie to attaine to that promotion, which whilom was accustomed to bee bestowed onely vpon vertue. But God, the most iust reuenger of such wickednesse preuented him, and the three and twentie day after his vsurped installment, sent him to accompanie the dead in the place of darkenesse.

❧Henricus quartus.

ALbeit, that euen hitherto, from the dayes of Charlemaine, the Romane Bishops be­ing generally possessed with the spirit of Supremacie, by sleights and deuises, did continually oppose themselues against the Maiesty of the Empire, and left no practise vnat­tempted, that might weaken or discountenance the Emperors soueraignty; that so they might dispose of all things at their pleasures without all feare of con­trolment: yet was it not the will of Almighty God, to suffer them as yet totally to cast off the yoke of duty, by warrant of Holy writ inuested vpon Princes and great personages placed in Authority. But what can humane wisedome plead in search of Gods purposes? perdere quos vult Iupiter, & hos dementat: For now the malice, impiety and treason of the Roman Clergy, to­gether with their diabolicall ambition, especially vn­der that figuratiue Dragon (Gregorie the seuenth) grew like a violent tempest so outragious and exorbitant, that those times may truly be recorded to be the daies, which vtterly razed, blemished, and wounded the Ma­iesty of this famous empire with the fatall ruine of glory and Honor.

For this mischieuous monster, not contented to haue poisoned six Bishops, and to haue deposed his Master Alexander, for imploring assistance from the [Page 24] Emperor; Neither mindfull of the fauours which Hen­rie (surnamed Niger) had afforded him, in curteously dismissing him from perpetuall Imprisonment, sepera­ted from the company and sight of all mortall crea­tures, whereinto (as we told you before) he had beene condemned with Gregorie the sixt: At what time, the Normans raged through Apulia, Calabria and Campa­nia, Of this Matil­da, whence and what she was, see Krantzius lib. 5. Saxon. partly relying vpon the great wealth of Matilda, a most potent woman in those daies, and partly anima­ted to see the Empire distracted with most dangerous wars raised by the warlike Nation of the Saxons a­gainst the Emperor, scarce three yere seated in his go­uernment; together with the reuolt of the Germane Bishops whom the Impostor our perpetuall aduersary had seduced from the seruice of their Master: Then I say, this man first of all other, against the custom of his predecessors, absolutely vsurped vpon the Papacy, without all consent of the Emperor, before that time alwaies accustomed to be mediated in the Election of these Bishops.

And in future; to preuent the residue of the Bish­ops and Abbots from seeking their confirmations at the Emperors hands,Formula de­creti extat. C. si quis deinceps. he set forth a decree vnder pain of Excommunication; That hee had not onlie power in heauen to bind and to loose, but also that he had plenitude of iurisdiction in Earth, to take away, and to giue Empires, Kingdomes and Principalities. Then began he impu­dently to boast: to vsurpe vpon the temporall and Su­preme iurisdiction, and that by a law of his own coy­ning: to esteeme of Kings and Emperors as tenants at will: to imprison Caesars Ambassadors opposing a­gainst his insolencies, & finally leading them through [Page 25] Rome in ignominious manner, to expell them the city.

Henrie, albeit he were infinitely perplexed with the war of Saxonie, yet knowing that this nouell and vn­vsual pertinacie of the Bishop, was not to be forgotten, calleth a Councell at Wormes; wherein, audience be­ing giuen to the Ambassadors, which came from Rome, and Hildebrands disloyall Letters being read; be­sides the Saxons, all the German and French Bishops, made a Decree; That sithence Pope Hildebrand a fugitiue Monke first of all other incroched vpon the Papacie with­out the good liking or priuity of the Romane Emperor, con­stituted of God to be his Soueraigne Lord, and that, contra­rie to the Custome of his Predecessors, contrarie to law, and contrarie to his oth of instalment: And moreouer had v­surped vpon both iurisdictions, the temporall and Ecclesia­sticall, as the Decij and worshippers of false Gods were ac­customed to doe: That ipso facto he was deposed from his Bishoprick; for sheep were no longer to be intrusted to the keeping of such a woluish Shepheard.

One Rowland a Clerke of Parma, was dispatched to Rome with letters containing the sentence of the Councel: In whose Name he was commanded to in­terdict Gregorie from all Ecclesiasticall Function; and moreouer to enioyn the Cardinals, that making choice of another for Bishop, they should present him to the Emperor.

In like maner, Caesar himselfe dateth his Letters vn­to Hildebrand, to the Clergy, and the Roman people: commanding according to the Iniunction of the Councell; That himselfe should returne to a priuate life; and That, they forsaking Hildebrand, according to their accustomed Priuiledges should proceede to the [Page 26] election of a New Pastor.

At the receit of this newes, Hildebrand became not so much lenified, as furiously exasperated, and insolent­ly imboldned. For, whereas before he had Excommu­nicated but some certaine of the Emperors familiars, whose aduice he presumed Caesar to haue vsed in these his proceedings: now presumeth hee by nouell presi­dent to Excommunicate Caesar himselfe in a hellish conuenticle, against the order of Christian piety, rati­fied by the sacred Canons of Holy writ; Him, I say he prescribeth,Vide formulam abrogationis apud Plat in. in vita Gregorij. 7. Be [...] no. depriueth of all kingly Authority, dispoi­leth of his Kingdom, and absolueth his Subiects from their oths of obedience.

Behold, he was no sooner risen from the Seat wher­in he sat to Excommunicate Caesar, but the Chaire be­ing lately made of strong and new timber, suddenly by the prouidence of God in most terrible manner was rent into a thousand shatters: manifestly foreshewing, That by that rash and vnaduised Excommunication, this cruell Scismaticke should proue the Author of a most fearefull diuision in the Church of God.

And surely these were neither blind nor idle predic­tions. For the Princes and German Bishops, taking notice of the Curse, some vpon a vaine superstition, some in hope of bettering their estates, and others in remembrance of their ancient hatred against Henrie, at the next assembly of the States, threatning a Re­uolt, vnlesse he would suppliantly desire forgiuenesse of the Pope (now resolued to come into Germanie) brought the controuersie vnto so narrow a pinch, and his Maiesty into such mistrusts of despaire, with the dispoiling him of his reall possession, That he was fain [Page 27] to promise the Princes, that hee would goe vnto the Pope, and personally craue absolution at his foot.

Wherupon putting off his regall habiliments, with his wife and yong sonne barefooted, and clothed in canuasse, being made a spectacle for Angells and men to admire at, in a most bitter winter, and a most dange­rous kind of trauell, commeth to Canusium where the Pope then resided: There before the gates of the City fasting and sutor-like from morning till euentide, he danceth attendance: Meane while Hildebrand within,Benno. Nauclerus ge­neratione 36. Ʋrspergensis. Platina in loco ante citato. amongst whores and shauelings laugheth him to scorne. Three daies he patiently indureth this lamenta­ble affliction, desiring admittance. He is denied. At three daies end instancing admittance with greater im­portunacie, It is answered; That his Holinesse is not yet at leysure to attend his suit. Henrie by patience making a vertue of necessity (In that he could not be admitted into the City) contenteth himself to abide in the Sub­urbs, but not without many incommodious greeuan­ces. For the wether was sharpe, and all places appea­red hoary with frost.

At last, after his incessant three-daies petitioning, and deniall, at the instance of Maud the Countesse of Adelaus Earle of Sauoie, and the Abbot of Clunois, he is admitted vnto presence.

Vpon the fourth day in signe of vnfained penitency, he resigned his Crowne and imperiall Ensignes, and maketh a protestation that hee were vnworthy to en­ioy the Title of an Emperor, if he should againe com­mit the like offences against the Roman Sea, as for­merly he had done.

[Page 28] For all this, this inexorable Prelat would neither pardon nor absolue him, vnlesse he would put in good securitie, that according vnto his Popish pleasure he would expiate the of­fence in a Councell, and be forth comming at euerie day and place appointed, (there the Pope being Iudge) to answer vnto all accusations without once plotting in his thoughts anie scruple of reuenge.

2. Yea after his purgation, and reconciliation, either to re­tain, or forsake his kingdom, if the Pope thought it so fitting 3. Thirdlie, that before the Examination of his Cause, he should not presume to weare anie Kinglie habit, neither haue borne before him anie Imperiall ensignes, That hee should not meddle in state gouernment, nor exact anie oth of allegiance vpon his vassalls.

Vpon promise of performance, and future obedi­ence,The Pope will deale surely. the attonement is now at length confirmed as­well by Oth as Indenture, and Henrie absolued.

Now obserue I beseech you, the restlesse humours of attainted consciences. The Court of shauelings, deep polititians, men of profound reaches; and admira­ble well seen in the principles of Machiuell, and care­full aswell to preuent future blowes, as to oppose a­gainst present perils, either reuoluing in their far rea­ching wits, or suspecting in their seared consciences, that Henrie beeing sure seated in a peaceable estate, could not possibly disgest so vilanous an indignity, nor the world allow of so base a tiranny; fall againe to their old plots, but a new-Counsell; viz. how they might vtterly dispossesse Henrie of his Empire. Rodulph Duke of Sweuia, Henries brother in law, is presented with a golden Crowne, thus inscribed. ‘[Page 29]Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadema Rodulpho:’ And withall the Bishops of Magunce and Colen are commanded, that (rebelling against Henrie) they shold set it vpon Rodulphs head, and assist him therin to the vt­most of their forces. Was it for Loue, or Honor may the world dispute, that the Pope became thus bounti­full of an other mans patrimony, to bestow it vpon Ro­dulph? Or doth any History make mention that Rodulph was a more kinde Son to the Church, then Henrie? Beleeue me, the Pope did neither vpon any such res­pects, it was far from his imagination. But this was the windlace of all: if Henrie must liue in peace, Henrie must seek reuenge: but if the Duke of Sweuia find him play on one side, Romandiola shall be secured on the o­ther side. Let Rodulph or Henrie sinke or swim, meane while res nostrae tutiores redduntur, that is, the Court of Rome may securely swagger; If Henrie haue the bet­ter, yet shall he be much the weaker: if Henrie haue the worse, then all the care is taken, for Rodulph is infinitly beholding vnto vs. And be it as be may: nether party (being potent Princes) shall haue cause to laugh at their bargain; let time try the sequell; and so it hap­ned. O the blind folly of ambition.

For albeit that Rodulph was the Emperors sworne liege-man, his brother in law by mariage, indowed with the Dukedom of Sweuia after his decease, and ho­nored with many other fauours: notwithstanding be­ing seduced by the faire and false protestations of the Bishops, and borne out by his own greatnesse and the succours of Saxonie, he inuadeth the Empire, and re­belliously to his vtmost power moueth war against his Soueraigne master.

[Page 30] Caesar by the admonishment of the Bishop of Ar­gentine, seeing the danger arising from all parts, leui­eth his people, affronteth Rodolph, and setteth all vp­on the hazard of a battell. The issue whereof was this, That the Pope vpon mistrust of the worst, commanded both parties to Peace, and that Henrie should expect his sentence at the Synode, which shortly hee would proclaime to be held in Germanie. Which limitation, when Henrie stomacked, vpon protestation that hee would suffer no Assembly to bee holden in Germanie, vnlesse Rodolph were first remooued: The Pope (rather then hee would disharten Rodolph by finall Peace) re­nueth the Excommunication, and sendeth foorth his Mandates full stuffed with hellish furie.The forme of the Curse is ex­tant in Platina. Henrie is no­thing abashed, but the third time giueth the battell at Elistrum of Misia, and there ouerthroweth his enemy. This came to passe in the yeere 1080. the Ides of O­ctober.

Vrsperg. fol. 238 doth witnesse this conference betweene the King and the Bishops. Rodolph being grieuously wounded, and from the field conueied to Merseburg, intreateth the Bishops and the Leaders of his people to compeere before him. Where being assembled, Rodolph feeling death seazing vpon him, stretched forth his right hand and said: My Lords, this is the hand with which I plighted my faith to my Lord Henrie. At your intreaties, thus, and thus ma­ny times hath it vnfortunately fought against him: Re­turne yee, and make good your first Othes to the King: I am to depart to my fathers.

See the iudge­ment of God. Rodolph being vanquished, and Germanie by his death resonably well quieted, Henrie neither forget­ting Hildebrands iniuries; neither hauing his spirits so peaceably affected, but that hee could call to remem­brance, [Page 31] how the Pope had twise Excommunicated him; how for three dayes space being a most suppliant Peti­tioner in a very cold season, he could attaine no recon­ciliation; As also, that cunningly hee had assisted his enemie, euen the competitor of his Kingdome, pro­claimeth a Synod of the Bishops of Italy, Lombardy, and Germanie, to bee celebrated at Brixia a Citie of Norica.

Where being assembled, and the Acts of Hilde­brand examined, with one consent they promulge this suffrage.

For that it is apparently knowne, that Hildebrand was not Elected of God, Abbas Vrsperg. but most impudently by fraud and bribe­rie, made his owne way to the Papall dignitie: And therein being seated, hath subuerted all the Orders of the Church, disquieted the whole Christian world; intended the death both of body and soule, to a most peaceable and Catholicke King; defended a periurd Prince, and amongst the peaceable, sowed seedes of discord, &c. Wee here Congregated by the Grace of God, and assisted by the Legats and letters of nine­teene Bishops, assembled against the foresaid Hildebrand at Mognuce the eight day of Pentecost, doe canonically giue iudgement against the said Hildebrand, That he is to bee deposed and expelled, for vnaduisedly Preaching of Sacri­ledges and factions, defending Periuries and Scandals; Abclieuer of Dreames and diuinations, a notorious Ne­cromancer; a man possessed with an vncleane spirit; And therefore an Apostata from the true faith: And vnlesse vp­on the receite of this our iudgement, hee shall voluntarily resigne the Seate, we doe finally Accurse him.

These businesses being thus dispatched, and Germa­nie quieted, in the yeer 1081. the Emperour iournyeth [Page 32] to Rome, and pitching his Campe before the Castle of Saint Peter, hee chargeth the Romanes with so ma­ny assaults, that they are glad to pray for Peace, and to open their Gates. The Bishop with his followers reti­reth into the Bastile of Adrian: wherein being besie­ged, he worketh the Emperour more disquiet by craft and subtiltie, then the Emperour could doe him, by Mine or Engine. For as Henrie accustomed frequent­ly to make his Orisons in Saint Maries in Mount Auen­tine, this Traitour suborned a certaine villaine, secretly to conuey vpon the Rafters of the Church, great and massiue stones; and so to dispose them, that as the Em­perour should kneele at his Prayers, from aloft they should fall vpon his head, and dash out his braines.

As this villanous Regicide, the Minister of Popish iniquitie, was hastning his dissiegne, and labouring to fit this massie stone to the execution of his Treason, the stone fell down and drew this villaine downe with­all: So that bruising the Table whereon it fell, suppor­ted with strong Tressels, it rested on the Pauement, and there by the iudgement of God, dashed in pieces the carkise of this Trayterous workman. The Ro­manes vpon notice of the Treason, fastning a corde to one of his legges, for three dayes space dragged him a­long through the streetes of the Citie.

This failing, had the Pope so shallow a pate, as to carie about him but one string to his bow? Or was he so honest a man, that rather then hee would spare the blood of Christian people, hee would giue ouer his owne life, nay his Seate, for the saftie of many thou­sands? Obserue what followeth: To be sure, that nei­ther Germanie should long breath in peace, now Rodolph [Page 33] was gone; nor the Emperour bee secured in Italy;Ab. Vrsperg. Helmoldus in his 30. cap. of the hist. of S [...]lad Krantz. and in­numerable o­thers. he turneth to the Art of diuersion (a point of Warre well knowne amongst Souldiers) and stirreth vp the Saxons in his absence to create Harman Prince of Lucelburg in Lorain, Emperour at Isleb. by Hercinia: Who likewise by the prouidence of GOD at the siege of a certaine Castle, was miserably slaine by the fall of a stone cast from the battailement of the Wall by the hand of a sie­ly woman.

Hee being gone, (the Romish Religion will still be dealing, rather then loose one iot of their reputes, if they cannot otherwise preuaile) this inhumane Ty­rant thirdly stirred vp Ecbert Marques of Saxonie: and him also God predestinated to suffer condigne punish­ment for his Rebellion. For the fift yeere after, he was beset in a Mill neere Brunswicke by the Emperours Guard, and thete miserably slaine.

Once againe, Hildebrand flieth to his wits,I hope the Ro­manists of this age are not be­hind for shifts▪ &c. and per­ceiuing, that his stake in Germanie was cleane lost; Himselfe immured in a Bastill, where he could not al­wayes continue, and that he had small reason to fall in­to the sight of Caesar, hee dissembleth a parley, and du­ring the conference Iudaslike forsaking his companie, in disguised habit flieth vnto Salerne amongst the Nor­mans.

Caesar forthwith assembled a Senate of his Nobles and Bishops, according to the custome of his prede­cessors, giueth order for an Ecclesiasticall Diet: Where Hildebrand, as a thiefe and a robber; a perfidious fugitiue, a forsaker of the fold; a Traytor to the flocke, a debalker of Christian charitie, by the vniuersall consent of the Conuoca­tion, is denounced and condemned.

[Page 34]In his place is promoted Guibert Archbishop of Ra­uenna, a louer of Peace and Concord; a man learned and religious: By the consent of the Cleargie hee is Consecrated Bishop by the name of Clement the third, in the yeere of Christ 1084. This done, he Rein-stal­leth Caesar and his spouse Bertha, and saluteth them Au­gusti, with the vniuersall applause of the people. As for Hildebrand, either through griefe, or guiltinesse of conscience, he died in exile (as the saying is) Ab aris & focis in the Towne of Salerne.

But this firebrand of Warre and discord being ex­tinguished, the furie of the Prelates amongst them­selues was neuer the neere allayed; howbeit, thereby, the world enioyed peace; and Germanie her pristinate Maiestie.

For Vrban (after Victor the second, a Bishop but of a fewe dayes standing) intruded vpon the Papacie at Gurstung by the faction of Hildebrand, but especially by the money of Matilda, and the Armes of the Nor­mans. Him the Emperour with the greater part of his Nobilitie accused of Irreligion, and denounced him in the number of the wicked. This fellow, notwith­standing that he had long wandered sine lare, sine grege, yet he so artificially finished the webbe begun by Hil­debrand, Benno. that instead of Vrbanus, the world stiled him Turbanus, yea, hee went far beyond his Schoolemaster Hildebrand in wit and villanie.

A [...]. Vrsperg, Aue i [...]inus. Naucler.For, being not able any way to wrong Henrie by se­cret inuasion (Papists will doe nothing openly, or at least without pretext) he commandeth the Canons of that most pestilent knaue Hildebrand, to be confirmed and holden in force against him.

[Page 35]Then draweth he into Parricide Cunrade the sonne of Henry, begotten on his first wife, by his fathers appointment Viceroy of Italy. Vpon him he bestowed Matilda the wife of Roger the Norman, and by him expulseth Clement the third, Installed by the good liking and con­sent of his father.

But Vrban and Cunrade being both quickly dispat­ched, Paschal the second loth to come behind his pre­decessors in Treacherie, and taking it for good Policie, to giue Caesar no breathing time to prouide against tempests, by the example of Vrban, in a Synode at Rome reuiueth and ratifieth the Curse of Gregorie a­gainst the Emperour. Buls are but words, and words are no weapons for Popes. Whereupon a quicker co­rasiue must bee applied: The other Sonne of Henrie (named also Henrie) the Princes of Aquisgrane must salute as Caesar, notwithstanding that already he had gi­uen his father his Oth of Loyaltie and true Leigeman.

O Lord! where shall not a man finde a man for blood, if promotion, or money, or Mariage be offered for recompence; but especially, if the man of blood may resort vnto a Churchman, and receiue absoluti­on for so cruell and vnpardonable mischiefes? Of such persons, and such stratagems, behold in those dayes the Popes made their especiall vses: they may be as bold in these times and in these points to pleade vniuersali­tie and antiquitie as they did and doe for their Masse, and the residue of their trumperie. For yong Henrie is vp in parricidiall Rebellion: Papa impellit, saith the Hi­storie: and being borne out by the Armes of the Sax­ons, so caried the Warre, that this most valorous Em­perour, and stout reuenger of the impeached Maiestie [Page 36] of the Empire, being harried with continuall conflicts, and weary of his life through the perpetuall burden of Popish vexations, as he trauailed towards the Dyet of Mogunce, Krantzius li. 5. c. 22. Vrsperg. 362. Helmold. in the annals of Scla­uony. li. 1. ca. 32. by treason vpon the high way, and that a­gainst a publique oth of safe conduct, was taken by his Sonne Henrie: then being degraded most vnwillingly of all imperiall ensignes, as also of his Crowne by the Bishops of Mogunce, Colen and Wormes; hee was com­mitted to prison in the towne of Leyge: where pining to death through griefe, he finished his troublesome daies in this most lamentable maner.

Notwithstanding such was the irreconcilable rancor of these charity-preaching fathers, that they not con­tented with these their most cruell turmoiles practised against his life; Hyena-like, with as barbarous bestia­lity they also preyed vpon his liuelesse carkasse. For the body being already buried in the monastery of Ley­ge, See more here­of D. Barlo 240. at full. they inforced the Bishop of the place to dig it vp againe, and without either honor to so great a perso­nage, or reuerence to holy sepulture, they commanded it to bee cast amongst other carcases into a prophane place. The reason was grounded vpon one of their owne Canons: Quibus viris ecclesia non communicat, il­lis etiam nec mortuis communicare possit. Repentance etiam in nouissima hora, and the reward of him that came into the vineyard at the cloze of the day, equali­zed to his, that began to worke in the dawning, is of no force with them. It is scripture; and scripture, you know, is not sufficient for saluation. I quake in wri­ting. Councels may controll It; the Church, The Coun­cels; and who is the Church? the Pope; For otherwise it were folly to broche so many positions, as it doth, [Page 37] against law, conscience and sound diuinity, if it lay not in their fulnesse of power to doe and vndoe, say and vnsay.

To conclude, at last,See Krantz. lib. 5. Vrsperg. fo. 264 H. Mutius seuenteenth of his Cronicles. the body is conueyed in a cof­fin of stone from Leyge to Spire, and there also for fiue yeeres space, it remained without the duties of Christi­an buriall.

❧Henrie the fift.

NOw let vs see, if Henrie the fift, seduced by the witchcraft of the false Pope, to vsurpe vpon the Empire of his father, experimented any other allowance of loue and fidelity from the Bishops, then did his ancestor.

Comming vnto Rome to be crowned with the im­periall Dyadem, he thought it much to concerne his honor, to demand restitution of his right in the confir­mation of Bishops, Abbots and Prelates. The Pope forgetfull of all former fauours, doth stoutly deny the motion. From request they fall to blowes, insomuch that the Pope with certaine of his seruants was taken prisoner, and conueied to Mount Soracte, now called Mount Siluester.

Paschal seeing no remedy,C. Adrian. c. in synodo 63. di­stinct. c inter vos. sent vnto the City for Notaries, and at length confirmeth and reuiueth to the vse of the Empire, the auncient prerogatiues claymed by the EMPEROVRS in the Crea­tion [Page 38] and Inuestiture of Popes and Bishops: and in re­quitall is honoured againe by the Emperour, with ma­ny rich presents.

But such was the iust iudgement of God towards this Henrie; that as he obserued not faith towards his father, no more did others keep towards him. For euen those men who for his sake had forsaken his father, rise now in rebellion against the Son. For presently vpon his returne in the yeere 1116. into Germanie, the Pope congregateth a full Councell of his owne creatures, and there bewailing his sinne,A Pretext for Periurie. which he had commit­ted in surrendring his priuileges; after long and so­lemne debating of the case, vndoeth all he had done before; confirmeth the Decrees of Gregorie the se­uenth; and vpon the custome lately taken vp, Excom­municateth Henrie.

Hereupon many the Princes of Germanie, and espe­cially the Bishop of Mogunce fall into rebellion. Caesar sendeth vnto the Pope, to treat a peace, but by his death that businesse was determined.

After his decease the Cardinalls create Gelasius Pope, neither calling Caesar to Councell, nor once acquain­ting him with their determinations. Whereat Caesar being agreeued, flyeth to Rome, & consecrateth Mau­ritius Archbishop of Brachar for Pope.

Gelasius being deposed, and Maurice confirmed, they both conspire with ioynt consent to curse the Empe­ror in his retrait from Rome, dispersing their Ministers through Germanie after the precedents of their prede­cessors to incite the Subiects of the Emperor to rebel­lion. Henrie fearing the sequell, hastneth into Germany.

Gelasius being dead, Calixtus the second being his [Page 39] successor, warreth vpon the Antipope, whom as wee told you the Emperour had consecrated. Henrie per­ceiuing the Pope, vnderborne by the Armes of the Normans, to bee too strong for him, and that he began to meate the same measure towards him, as his prede­cessors had towards his father: In the yeere 1122. by the speciall mediation of the Apostolicke Legat Lam­pert, afterward Pope, and called Honorius, he became so deuote a Conuert to Papacie, that hee resigned his whole right of Inuestiture concerning the Ring and the Staffe; granted a free Election and Consecration to be thenceforth vsed in all Churches; and couenan­ted to restore, or at least, to cause to be restored all Re­galities, formerly renounced, or at least as many as re­mained in his dispose.

The Pope againe couenanted, that the Election of Bishops and Abbots should be done in the Emperors presence, without violence: so farre foorth that the E­lect should receiue his Regalities, by the Scepter from the Emperour. This Concord bore date at Wormes, No­no Cal. Octob. Anno Dom. M.C.XXII.

But, albeit this Henrie vtterly discouraged with the Thunder-bolts of curses, gaue way to all Popish vsur­pations, and to the euerlasting staine and impouerish­ment of the Germane Empire, thrust his necke vnder the yoke of the Romish tyrannie, yet, in regard of new tumults and rebellions practised in Belgia and the higher Germanie, he could not liue out the remainder of his daies in affected peace. For appeazement wher­of, as he trauelled towards Vtrick, he fell sicke, and died without issue. This accident, and not iniustly, men ar­gued, to haue proceeded from the iudgement of God, [Page 40] for that contrary to his commandement, he had beha­ued himselfe so vngraciously towards a father, that had so well deserued of him his sonne.

❧Lotharius Saxo.

HENRIE being gone, and Germanie still reeking in blood and ciuill war: The greatest care that the Bishops tooke, was to prouide, that the people should not reunite their forces, and take time to breath from these inhumane and vnnaturall mur­ders. Whereupon after the death of Henrie, when as Cunrade Duke of Sweuia, Henrie the fift sisters sonne, laied claime to the Empire; against him by the cun­ning of Albert Archbishop of Mogunce, they set vp Lotharius Duke of Saxonie, the man in truth whose in­fidelity they had vsed in the miscarriage of Henrie the fifth.

Cunrade is now in march, and hauing ouertopped mount Septim. is honorably receiued of the Millanois and crowned by the Archbishop Anselme at Modoe­cia, the chiefe Sea of the Kingdome of Italie. Honorius, in fauour of Lotharius, and in despight of the House of Henrie (which he thirsted vtterly to extinguish) depo­seth Anselme, Otho frising. li. 7. ca. 17. Nauclerus gen. 38. and by the terror of his Curses inforceth Cunrade to post out of Italie: Who finally in despaire of the Germane aide by reason of their factions and [Page 41] dissensions, vtterly giueth ouer his further hopes of in­ioying the Empire, and by the mediation of S. Bernard of Clareual, falleth to make his peace with his corriuall Lotharius.

Lotharius being now sole and absolute Lord of the Empire, according to his Saxonish simplicity, honou­ring the Papall Sea with more then common obser­uancie, ceaseth not to deserue well thereof by all the offices of loue and duty, which an obedient sonne to the Church could possibly imagine to performe. In­nocentius the second, the successor of Honorius, expul­sed by Anacletus Antipope and Roger Duke of Apulia, flying vnto him for succour, to his infinit charge he re­stored to his Sea at Barionea.

But beleeue me, neither these kind offices,Nauel. gen. prae­allegata, saith that this was done at Leyden, before his iour­ny into Jtaly. nor any worldly respects, were of ability either to frustrate or to mollifie the Popish auarice: for when the Pope had declared Lotharius Emperor, he made shew as if he would againe seeke restitution of the auncient rites, which the Empire claimed in the election of Bishops and Abbots: But the rauenous Pope not only refused to vnloosen his talents vpon what he had already sei­sed,Otho Frising. and Naucler. in the fore alleged places. but also re-attaching whatsoeuer Lotharius himself either by the perswasion of Bernard, or in feare of fur­ther sedition, had voluntarily offered to the Romish sea, he laboured by all other meanes to adde more to the former, through his immesurable avarice.

For when Lotharius hauing expulsed Roger the A­pulean; would haue bestowed the Dutchy vpon Earle Reignold the generall of his armie; the Bishop imple­ded him, as concerning the right of donation, with so vehement a contention, that neither being minded to [Page 42] yeeld to other, the controuersie at last was faine to be thus determined: viz. That both parties should lay their hands vpon the Staffe of the Feodarie ensigne, then to be de­liuered to the new Duke of Apulia: Thereby signifying that both of them had equall interest in the transportation of that Dukedome.

So that, the more humility accompanied with sweet behauiour and moderation, that this all-praise-worthy Emperor shewed towards the Papacie: The more the waywardnesse and malice of the Romanists began to shew it selfe, and that without feare or modesty. For whereas this Emperor in receiuing the Diademe had cast himselfe at the Popes feete, the Clergie, to vse the precedent to the debasement of succeeding Empe­rors; and to deliuer it as a trophee to posterity, as soon as his backe was turned, set vp in the Lateran pallace his protraiture, with this inscription.

What was this, but a bewraying first of their froward­nesse, manifested in despising the Maiesty of so high a calling; and secondly of their pride, in that forsooth, they would seem either to ouertop, or obscure, the vic­torious gests of him, who to his immortall commen­dation had subiected vnder tribute, the Duke of Polo­nia, Cusp. in the life of Lotharius of Saxonie. the Pomeranes and the Russies: who I say, to the no small honor of the Maiesty Imperiall; had inforced the King of Denmarke to beare the sword at his Coronati­on; [Page 43] had subiugated the states of Cremona, and Papia, Naucl. Gen. 38. and brought the vanquished Bononians and Piemon­tois into the forme of a prouince: and finally with the conquest of Apulia, had brought vnder obedience ma­ny most noble Cities in that Dutchy. Now is he van­quished, and acknowledged the Popes bondslaue. For what other signification doth the Popes (Creature) import, but to be his vassall or seruant?Hominem fieri. Such are these admirable seruants of seruants, whom euen Emperors themselues are glad to acknowledge and respect as Lords and Masters.

❧Conradus tertius.

LOtharius, in his second retrait out of Italie, being departed this world not farre from Trent, Conrade the same Prince (whom as before we told you) the malice of Honorius had frustrated of the Empire, and banished Italie, now succeedeth his dead predecessor. But, albeit (after the decease of Lotharius) the Princes of the Empire, and that in the presence of Theodoret the Popes legate,Cuspin. in the life of Conrade. and with his very good liking, did elect him King of Ro­mans, yet by no meanes could the Popes assent be got­ten to perfect the Election.

For whereas hee had conferred to Roger Duke of Apulia, that Dukedome, with the titulary dignity of a Kingdome, in liew of ransome for himselfe, and his [Page 44] Cardinalls taken in battell; and Conrade in preiudice of the Empire would neither ratifie, nor hearken vnto so vnreasonable a motion: Nocentius complotting with Roger, Naucler out of Antoninus and Godfridus Gen. 38. incited Guelfo Duke of Bauaria, to rebell against Conrade, for that hee could not obtaine at his hands the graunte of his brothers Dutchie: Herewith, the Emperour had so much to doe to defend his owne, that hee quite forgot to thinke vpon the recouery of Sicil and Apulia. Behold here a president of Papall fi­delity,Nauc. gen. 38. & 32. if his auarice bee not supplied by losse to the State.

About this time these fatall factions of the Guelfes and Gibellines (whereof others haue discoursed) began in Germanie.

Bartolus in a peculiar book of the Guelphs and Gihellines. Panorm. in c. Lucanis & Pi­sanis de rest. spol. Cuspin. in the life of Fred. the second.For as Nauclerus reporteth out of Hermanus, whilst the battell was fighting betweene Conrade and Guelfo, those of the Kings party tooke for their word or Mot­to, Hie Wiebling, which is as much to say, The King: as being nobly discended from a village of that appella­tion: Those which followed Guelfo, reclaimed, Hie welf. Where after it came to passe, that those two denomi­dations of Guelfes and Gibellines, became the originall of all the factions in Italy. Which falling out happely for Gregorie the ninth to make vse of, from thence­forth, he gaue them such large entertainment, that no City, towne nor people were cleere from the infecti­on of so spreading a contagion. For vpon no other ground, saue the vse of these names, euen vntill our daies with more then admirable fury, City bandied a­gainst City, Prouince against Prouince, yea & in a Ci­ty one part of the people confronted another.

Not only the factious people continued this dissen­sion [Page 45] amongst themselues: but the Bishops also in this quarrell prosecuted one another to the vtmost of their furie.

Amongst others, that Boniface the eight,Plati. in the life of Bonef. the eight. Naucle. gen. 44. then whom the Romane Sea neuer indured a more fell monster, persecuted from place to place all those whome hee knew to bee of the Gibelline faction, ran­sacking and spoiling all places whereunto they made any repaire of abiding. Whereupon some finding no safety in Cities, setled their abodes in woods and forrests: manie of the Gentrie, like wilde beastes inhabited the Sea coastes, and at last left Italie to bee companions with pirates. For they assured themselues, that the Pirates could not haue vsed them worse, then this Malefacius Nero would haue done, if he had once caught them in his clutches.

As for example: When hee heard that certaine of the contrarye faction were fledde to GENOA, hee posted after them, with full determination by de­stroying them all, to haue razed their verie name from the memorie of mankinde through the whole world. Heere likewise it happened vpon Ashwednesdaie, as hee was casting Ashes according to Custome a­mongst the people: the Archbishop of the City knee­ling vpon his Maribones with his head vncouered to receiue the Ashes; the Pope by chaunce vnderstan­ding that hee was a Gibelline; where his Holinesse should haue saide, Remember Man that thou art but Ashes, and into Ashes thou shalt returne againe: Not so (quoth the Pope) Remember Man that thou art a Gibel­line, and with the Gibellines thou must bee turned to dust: [Page 46] and therewithall in a most furious manner, without once regarding the holinesse of the place, the presence of the people, or the regard of Religion, of set purpose (missing his head) he cast great quantities thereof into his eyes: Afterward he depriued him, and then againe restored him.

At last by Gods iudgement it came to passe, that those Gentlemen, who (as we told you) left Italy with the Pirats, returned againe, and gathering together some companies of such as here & there lay lurking in feare of Maleface, breaking open the gates of the place where he lay, mistrusting no such aduerse aduenture, they tooke him, and brought him prisoner to Rome: where in the space of fiue and thirtie dayes, what for griefe and greatnesse of stomacke, he breathed out his loathsome soule, ouer-laden with innumerable mis­chiefes.

❧Fredericke Barbarossa.

FRederick, for his redde Beard, commonly ter­med Barbarossa, the sonne of Frederick Duke of Sweuia, the brother of Conrade, a Prince of excellent partes both for body and minde, succeeded this Conrade, a Prince also no whit inferiour to his successor for his honourable carriage in peace and warre.

To speake little of his Nobility, it is recorded, that [Page 47] the intire right of the most noble Families of the Ger­man Common-wealth, viz. of the Henries of Gweiblin­gen and Gwelforum of Altorff, descended vpon him.

Howsoeuer; by the consent of all writers, hee was reputed to bee of an excellent capacitie, prouident in Councell, of a good memorie, eloquent, constant and valiant, a good Souldier, and well practised in Armes; To the humble, courteous; To the peaceable, milde. Amongst honest men, vertuous; Amongst proude persons, imcompatible. Very bountifull, and in sci­ence of many humane ornaments, not immatcheable to any. In regard of which his manifold vertues, by the suffrage of the whole Nobilitie, he is declared Em­perour, not without assured expectation, that through his worthinesse, Peace should be maintained through Germanie, the disgraced forces of the Empire restored, and Italy now growne insolent through continuall re­bellion, brought into order and requisite acknowledg­ment.

The Romish contentions with the Germane Em­perours, by vile and nouell prescription, seemed now so possessionated, that the Bishops, by whose suffrage the Emperours were to be confirmed, began to make small or no account of the Imperiall Maiestie, which the preposterous ambition, and immatcheable pride of the Romanists, the Germane Princes (and who can blame them) taking to heart, could hardly disgest: but by how much this noble Heros in the greatnesse of his mind, meditated to abate the insufferable pride of this pernicious rable: by so much the more found hee all things to oppose against him with more and more dis­aduantage, to the impeachment of all his proiects.

[Page 48]Which his noble exploits albeit they are not vn­knowne to all men; neither is it any part of my minde, nor the proiect of this pamphlet to set them downe punctually (for so they would require an Ilias) yet by patience I will glance briefly at some of them, which in my iudgement shall sufficiently informe you, what was the obseruancie, and what the fidelity of the Bi­shops of these times, towards the sacred maiestie of this most worthy Emperour.

Obserue therefore, that the third yeare after his election, this Frederic hauing set Germanie in order, and especially through infinite paines taking procu­red a firme peace betweene Henry the younger, and Henry, Nauel, vbisu­pra. Raaouicus li. 3. Dukes of Saxonie and Austrich, with a po­pulous armie marcheth into Lombardy, now by the long absence of the Emperours, growne confident in ability of resistance, by proiecting many infallible signes of insolencie and rebellion. By the way, he de­stroyeth the camp of the Millanois, Rosatum, Gailarda, Treca and Gaira, and setteth the citie of Ast on fire: Derthona most strongly fortified by art and nature, hee taketh by force: and from thence remouing his troops through Romania and Tuscanie, hee passeth as farre as Sutrium.

In these times the Romane sea stood incumbred with most dangerous contentions. William King of Sicil, who succeeded Roger (the same that we spake of in the life of Conrade) had taken from Hadrian the fourth, by birth an English man, the suburbs of Bene­uent, Ceperanùm and Bacùm in Campania.

Moreouer, the Romanes by the instigation of Ar­nold of Brixia, redemanding their lost liberties in chu­sing [Page 49] their senate for the gouernment of their Citie, maintained the contention so farre forth against Ha­drian, that as, after his election, hee made his progresse towards the Lateran to be consecrated, the people meeting the Cardinal of Saint Pudentiana in the via sancta taking his way towards the Court, twice woun­ded him.

At this outrage Pope Hadrian grew out of all pati­ence, accurseth the King, releaseth his subiects of their oath of allegiance, & the easier to draw them into re­bellion, leaueth them at libertie.

The Romans sped no better, vntill vpon alteration of their humours, they banished Arnold out of the Ci­tie, and renouncing their Consular prerogatiues, diue­sted the absolute gouernment of the place vpon the di­scretion of his Holinesse.

Who now hearing that Frederic was vpon his way towards Rome, the Pope with his Cardinals, neither for loue nor in honour, but to mediate reuenge against the Romans and Roger, goe forth to salute him.Funcius li. 10. Chro. Barnus de vitis Pontif. Fre­deric reioysing at the approach of his Holinesse, recea­ueth him with wonderfull deuotion and maiestie; hol­deth his left stirrope as hee alighteth from horse-back, & so conducteth him to the Imperial pauilion. Could more reuerence be deuised to be done by an Emperor to a Pope? when Christ came to Ierusalem vpon Palme Sonday, did Herod or Pilat so obserue him? or did Nere so salute Peter at his first comming to Rome?

Well, these so great personages being arriued at the emperiall pauilion;Helmold. in the Cro. of Sclauony ca. 81. The Bishop of Bamberg in the name of the Emperor in the exordiū of his oration, be­gan to discourse, with what earnestnes of affection his [Page 50] Maiestie had desired this long expected conference with his Holinesse. And God be blessed (quoth he) that he now is become master of his desires. Humbly and sub­missiuely he requesteth your Holinesse, that according to the accustomed maner, by the Inauguration of the Imperiall diadem, you would declare him chiefe Prince and defender of the Catholique Common-weale. And herewithall the Bishop concludeth honestly, and elegantly, with the reasons and causes, which could not but inable him most worthy of so reasonable, so iust, and so Christian-like a confirmation.

The Bishop hauing ended his Oration, the Pope commendeth the speach; but withall replieth; That the contents thereof, and the matter in hand were of farre different arguments. For albeit (quoth hee) that the matter whereof I meane to speake of, be triuial & passa­ble; yet can it not be denied, but that there is cause of feare, that hee, who becommeth negligent in small matters, will proue more negligent in greater.

At this, the company rowsing their attentions, and wondring what offence his Holinesse should intimate; he goeth on; saying, As I alighted from my horse, he held the left stirrope of my Saddle: and whether he did it in moc­kage of vs, or vpon some other like fantasie, wee can not guesse, for surely if he meant to haue honoured vs, he knew that the right stirrope, and that with the right hand, ought to haue beene holden.

Caesar being nothing moued with this base prattle of the Bishop, smiled and replied; That he had not been brought vp to hold a stirrope: you (most Holy father, quoth he) are the first vnto whom we haue vouchsafed this office: And by and by after his orisons, forgetting his pati­ence; [Page 51] I would know (saith he) whether this office be to be done of dutie, or of good-will. If of good-will, who would finde fault at an escape or ouersight? If of dutie, then wee thinke amongst friends there is small difference, on which side the partie that meaneth to honour his friend, approa­cheth. Thus bandying a few bitter words, they brake company, but not without stomaking.

But the Emperour being a most prudent Prince, dissembling what he had heard, and seene to proceede from the hellish heart of this proud prelate, the next day following re-inuiteth the Bishop to a second con­ference. The Bishop approcheth, the Emperour ma­keth speed to meet him; and by his former ouersight, being now become a better Prentize in his occupati­on, layeth hold on the right stirrope, and so leadeth his Holinesse into his pauilion.

Being set, thus Hadrian thundereth:Barnus in vita. Hadriani, ex Johan. de Cre­mona. Thine auncestors (saith he) Princes of the auncient world, who made their holy repaire vnto this sea to receiue the crown at our hands, were accustomed to manifest their loues towards vs, by some notable emolument bestowed vpon S. Peters chaire; think­ing it their duties to preuent vs, that so they might call the world to witnesse, that they obtained our benediction and their inauguration with an eminent gratuitie. So Charles, after he had tamed the Lombards: So Otho, after he had subdued the Beringary; And so Lotharius, after he had repressed the Normanes, merited the Imperiall diadem.

In like manner, Let your Serenity, restore vnto vs and the Church, Apulia an appendancie of the Romish sea, now arrogated by the Normanes, and then shall you, with our very good will, obtaine as much as ap­pertaineth vnto our loues to performe.

[Page 52]Vpon the reading of this Historie, can any man call this Prelat servum seruorum, who ashamed not to ex­act from so great an Emperour, his Lord and Master, as from a base and mercinarie souldier, the laborious toiles, and the extreame expence of warfare gratis? Are conquests of Kingdomes, surrendring of Prouin­ces, and such like passages (let any man tell me) those spiritualia, whereof our moderne Papists doe hold the Pope capable?

When the Nobility saw no remedie, but Hadrians hand was as hard as Pharaos heart, so that it were folly to expect a Coronation, vntil at their proper costs and charges they had restored to the Apostaticall sea, Apu­lia (in truth an appendancie of the Imperiall right) from William King of Sicil; they thought it fittest to content his holinesse with this ouerture; That sithence their present forces were wasted through continuall labour and indefatigable iourneyes, that Caesar hauing leuied a new armie in Germanie, would returne, and accomplish his expectation. The Bishop flaming what with indignati­on against William, & almost halfe dead to heare, that a­gainst his will hee must volens nolens giue him time of breathing and re-inforcement, shewing a countenance as if he liked well of their excuses, allowed thereof, and so dismissed them with promise that hee would set the crowne vpon Fredericks head.

Frising. li. 2. cap. 21.These businesses thus dispatched; the Emperour with the Bishop departeth from Sutrium, and iourni­eth towards Rome. Mid way certaine Romane Orators, as full swolne with pride, as their Master with disdaine, accourt him with this rude welcom: For their theame they begin to extoll, euen aboue the skies, the antiquitie of [Page 53] their Commonwealth: At conclusion they fall in glori­ous termes to intimate, That of mere good will the Roman people had called Frederick out of Germany ouer the Alps, first to create him a citizen, and afterwards a Prince of Rome: but with this per-closse; That the Romans stood ready to receiue him; vpon condition; That hee should confirme the fundamental lawes of the City: If the Pope can not haue Apulia presently, he must haue gold without excuse. That hee should bestow vpon the Romans who were to bid God saue him, in the Capitol, fiue thousand pound of gold: That he shold defend the commonwealth from iniuries, euen to the hazard of his own life: And finally, that he should confirme all these capitu­lations with an oth, and thereto set his hand.

Fredericke beeing beyond meane inraged at these their mad and arrogant motions, roundly taketh them vp for their follies in a most pithy oration: and telleth them, That the Empire descended vpon him, not by any the least well-wish of the Romanes, but by the meer vertue of the Germanes. And perceiuing their knauery, that vnder pretext of these demands, they meant to gull him of mony; he told them in plaine termes: That he came not into Italie, to bring it in, but to carrie it out. With which answer when these impudent shauelings were not sa­tisfied, but still vrged the Articles, his Maiesty disgrace­fully commanded them to depart.

And perceiuing that their comming vnto him was but to put som trick vpō him, he caused his men of war to fortifie the Church of S. Peter and the bastile of Leo. The day following he entred Rome, the people follow­ing him with great applause and being honorably ac­companied, was crowned and blessed. 4. Calend. Iulij. in the fourth yere of his raigne.

The Emperor being about his Coronation in the [Page 54] Church of S. Peter, the Romanes stomacking the busi­nesse, and betaking them to their armes, kept the gates of the City shut, vnder colour, that the Emperour should bring in no forces to the preiudice of the Ci­tie. And perceiuing that Fredericks troopes had pit­ched their tents in the Neronean medowes, through the gate of Hadrian they breake out into the Vatican, to preuent Caesars souldiers from entring thereinto.

Caesars souldiers made strong resistance, and driuing the inraged people from the Vatican into the City, they slew about one thousand, and tooke sixty priso­ners: whom, the ceremonies being ended, at request of the Pope, the Emperor dismissed in safety, and pro­uided for his returne into Germanie.

But before his departure, it is reported, that such a like businesse happened betweene him and the Pope, which I thinke not fit here to be pretermitted.

Innocent the second, he whom a little before Lotha­rius had restored vnto the Papacie, had caused to be painted in a Table, the Pope (as it were) sitting in his chaire, and the Emperor with his hands held vp toge­ther, receiuing the Imperiall Diadem: where vnder were written the foresaid two verses, Rex venit ante fores &c. Cronicon Her­saugiense in vi­ta Hartuigi abbatis. Rade­nious li 3. num. 3. & 10. When this picture with the inscription, was shewed vnto his Maiesty, it did greatly displease him, and casting foorth some obiurgatorie word, he instan­ced the Pope to take it away: which hee promised to doe, least so friuolous a spectacle might giue matter of discontent to many worthy personages then residing in the City.

Frederick is departed: and Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople vnderstanding with what desire of re­uenge [Page 55] the Popes stomack burned against William King of Apulia, by Palcologus his Orator and Embassador, he offereth vnto the Pope his voluntary seruice; and withall, to expulse William out of Italie; vpon conditi­on, If the businesse tooke expected issue, that then, ac­cording to the treaty; the Grecian should inioy three maritime cities in Apulia. Doubt not, I beseech you, but that he who had already depriued William of Apu­lia, for contemning such religious wares, as are Popish Bulls and Curses, did not straine much curtesie to ac­cept of the Articles. Whereof William taking notice, and withall somewhat fearefull, by his Embassadours moueth his holinesse to hearken vnto peace; promi­sing not only to restore vnto the Church, whatsoeuer he had taken away, but also that he would adde some­what of his owne thereto: Moreouer, that hee would thencefoorth containe the Romans, rebells to the Church, in their due obedience.

These were honourable conditions, but that the Pope should not accept therof, the Cardinalls disswa­ded him, like true men of armes, hoping to reape more crownes by war, then by peace. Whereupon, warre is proclaimed against William. Hee leuieth an army throughout Sicily, landeth in Apulia, wasteth the coun­try by sword and fire, and finally routeth Emanuel, who had pitched his Tents not far from Brundusium vnto Beneuent, where at that time the Pope with his Cardinalls resided, he gaue such sharpe assaults, that in despaire of their liues, he inforced them to sue for peace.

William accordeth, and is receiued into fauour, and proclaimed king of both kingdoms, on this side and beyond Pharum; but vpon oath, that from thenceforth [Page 56] hee would neuer againe infest the territories of the Church.

Thus, as you heare, matters being ignominiously compounded, the Pope riding in visitation through the territories of the Cassinates, Marsi, Reatini, Narnien­ses and Tudertini, at last ariueth at Ouieta; and there is giuen to vnderstand, that Rome is in combustion, the Consuls doing their vtmost to restore the City to it former liberty.

Hereupon groundeth He his deadly hatred against Frederick, most greeuously complaining, that being in distresse between the swords of the Romans and Wil­liam, that contrary vnto his superabundant promises, against all right, he had forsaken him; yea, that he was now so incircled with perils, that he could not liue in security at Rome: As if the Emperor were a vessell es­pecially chosen rather to patronize the Popes wilfull errors and ouersights, then to defend the innocency of the Christian flock committed vnto his tutelage.

But Fredericke taking in euill part many the Popes actions, but especially the alienation of Apulia, being an appendancy of the imperiall dignity, without his consent or knowledge: As also calling to remembrance, That the Pope had wrested from the late Emperors the right of In­uestiture of Prelates: Nauel. Gen. 39. That by his ministers hee had impoue­rished the subiects of the Empire, and by their subtill dis­persions of treasonable practises, had done what in them lay, to raise sedition throughout the Empire: Vpon these grounds, I say, the Emperours Maiesty now thought it high time to put remedy vnto these violent intrusi­ons vpon the regalties of the Empire.

Hereupon hee exacteth an oth of fidelity of all the [Page 57] Bishops of Germany; The Popes Legats (such as were not called in by his good pleasure) he commandeth to depart the Teutonick kingdom: prohihiteth his peo­ple either to appeale or trauaile to the Romish Court and in his mandats causeth his name to be inserted be­fore the Popes.

Vpon the proclaiming of this Inhibition, it happe­ned, that a certaine Bishop in his way from Rome,Radeuicus li. 3. ca. 9.10. (whether as a contemner of the Emperors edict, or vpon any other cause, I know not) was taken prisoner, and committed to ward.

Now hath the Pope found an occasion by the ta­king of this Bishop, to fulminate his long-conceiued displeasure against the Emperor, and by a proud Em­bassie, seemeth only to be agreeued, that the Bishop is not deliuered from Captiuity; but withall interlaceth, both in his letters, as also in the speeches of his legat, many blundering Items; which did abundantly insinu­ate in what manner he deemed the Emperor to be ob­liged vnto him.

For by his letters he wisht him to re-consider, how from him he had receiued the confirmation of the Im­periall crowne; and yet did his Holinesse nothing re­pent it, had the fauours which he had bestowed vpon him, been far more beneficiall.

Vpon the reading of which letters, the nobility fal­ling into discontent; one of the Legats rose vp, and re­solutely tooke vpon him to broach: That the Romane Empire was transferred from the Grecians to the Almans, not to be called Emperor, but King of the Teutonicks, vntil he were confirmed by the Apostolique sea: Before consecrati­on he was a King, after an Emperor: Whence then hath hee [Page 58] his Empire, if not of the Pope? By the election of the nobili­ty he hath the name of a king, by consecration of the Pope, the stile of an Emperor, and Caesar Augustus, Ergo per Pa­pam imperat. Search Antiquity: Zachary inobled Charles and gaue him the sirname of Great, that he mought be Emperor: and ordained that euer after the Teutonic King should bee Emperor, and Champion of the A­postolique Sea: That Apulia, by him should be pacified, and restored to the Church, being in truth holden of S. Peter, and not of the Empire.

Rome is the seat of the Pope, Aquis in Arden is the Emperors: Whatsoeuer the Emperor possesseth, he holdeth it whollie of the Pope. As Zachary transferred the Empire from the Greeks to the Teutonics: So may the Pope retrans­fer it from the Almans to the Grecians. Behold, it is in his power to giue it to whom he pleaseth, beeing onlie constitu­ted of God ouer Kingdoms and people; to destroie, to pull downe, to build and to plant. In conclusion, he termeth the Germans cowards, for that they could neither expulse Ro­ger out of Italy,Radeuicus vbi supra. nor would at anie time bring the Danes and Frislanders to subiection. Vpon the hearing of these scandalous exorbitations, both the Emperor concei­ued a iust displeasure, and the whole nobility so stor­med thereat, that Otto of Wittelspach drawing the sword, which he accustomed to beare before the Em­peror, had shethed it in the body of the Legat, had not the Emperor thrust betweene them. Of these abuses the Emperor or euer after made vse, pretending that the cause of his so and so doing, took originall from these saucy and malepert speeches of the Popish ministers. And thereupon causing the Legats to be safe conduc­ted to their lodging, at break of day hee commaunded [Page 59] them to be packing; with especiall caution, that they should not rome hether and thether vpon the liuings of the Bishops & Abbots: but that they should keepe the high way towards the Citie, without declining therefrom either to the right hand or the left. The e­speciall reason was, that according vnto the accusto­med dog-trick of the Romanists, they should not di­sperse their conceiued poyson of discontent ouer all the Churches and Parishes of the Kingdome; neither strip the Altars, nor carie away the vtensils of Gods house, nor fliece the crosses.

And because that no man should imagine, that this intimation was inflicted aboue desert, nor any com­motion should thereupon arise, Caesar by the councell of the wise men of his Kingdome, sendeth his letters through the whole Empire, shewing the tenour of the cause. And thereunto adioyneth his most passionate complaints vpon the diminution of the honor of the Em­pire: with a declaration, That by the election of the Prin­ces, vnder God onely, the Empire had deuolued to him and his successours. Against which, if any man presumed to affirme that the Emperour ought to hold of the Pope in fee, he was to suffer punishment, as a person guilty of an vntruth, & one that maintained an opinion con­trarie to the diuine institution, & the doctrine of Saint Peter.

The Legats ariue at Rome, where in most calumni­ous manner aggrauating their wrongs and iniuries, in the presence of Hadrian, by adding flame to fire, they so incense his holinesse already transported with furie and reuenge, but to thinke that Frederick had done, what his auncestors durst not haue dreamed of (for of [Page 60] which of the Romane Emperours is it read of, that euer interdicted the Romanists Germanie.) That forth­with hee addresseth his minitory letters vnto Caesar: wherein most bitterly and papally hee expostulateth with his Maiestie of these and all fore-passed greeuan­ces. The transcript whereof because they are worth the reading and animaduersion, for the benefit of the Reader I will here insert.

Adrian Bishop, seruant vnto the seruants of God, sen­deth greeting and apostolicall benediction vnto Frederick Emperour of Romanes. Nauel fo. 761. Gen. 39. As the Diuine Law assureth long life vnto those, that render due obedience vnto their pa­rents: So, vnto him that disobeyeth his father or mother, it inflicteth the sentence of death, and damnation. The voice of veritie doth teach vs, that euery soule that exalteth it selfe, shall be humbled. Whereupon (beloued sonne in the Lord) according vnto your wisedome, we are not a little a­mazed, that you shew not that measure of reuerence towards Saint Peter, and the Romane Church, as you are bound to doe. In your letters dated to our Holinesse, you insert your stile before Ours. Wherein, you incurre the scandall of pre­sumption, I will not say, of Arrogancie. As concerning your fealtie auowed and sworne to Saint Peter and vs, how is it kept, when you require Homage, exact fealty, and hold the holy hands of those betweene yours, who are duly dedica­ted to God, being his most glorious children, viz. the Bi­shops, shewing your selfe manifestly rebellious vnto vs, in denying our Cardinals (directed vnto you from our side) not onelie entrance into the Churches, but also into the Cities of your Kingdome? Repent, repent therefore wee aduise you, least that in seeking to deserue a Crowne and coronation, at our hands, in affecting things vngranted, you lose not what [Page 61] is alreadie granted. We tender your noblenesse.

What inference of humility or apostolicall lenitie appeareth (I beseech you) in these letters? nay, rather may not a good Christian without offence terme such a pride to be truly Luciferian, that taketh so great a scorne to haue the papall stile placed behinde the Im­periall, as if other Emperours in their letters to His Holinesse, had not before times done the like? See 97. dist. c. victor. & 63. distinct. c. tibi.

After the receite of these blunt and proud-papall mandats, the Emperour according to his excellent suf­ficiencie in Christian sapience, requiteth him; and as the prouerb is, driuing out one naile with another, he payeth his holinesse home in this manner.

Frederick by the grace of God Emperour of Romanes al­waies Augustus,Nau. fo. 792. vnto Adrian Bishop of the Catholique congregation. Whatsoeuer Iesus began to doe and to teach, in all things ought wee that to follow. The Law of Iustice distributeth vnto euerie man his owne. Wee derogate not from our parents, as long as in this Kingdome we vouchsafe them due Honour, from whom, viz. our progenitours, wee haue receaued the dignitie and Crowne of the Kingdome. I pray you in the time of Cōstantine was Siluester known to haue anie interest in the Regalties? By his Pietie, the Church obtained libertie and peace: and what euer iura regalia your Papacie can claime, they accrewed vnto you by the boun­tie of Princes. Turne ouer the Cronicles, and if you please not to belieue what I write, there shall you finde as much as we affirme. What should then let vs, that we should not ex­act homage and oathes of allegeance from them, which are Gods by adoption, yet hold of vs in regaltie: sithence that He, who was ours and your Master (taking nothing from [Page 62] the King, but distributing all his goods indifferentlie a­mongst all persons; paying tribute to Caesar for himselfe and Peter, and leauing the example behinde him for you to follow) hath warranted the president, by saying; Learne you of me, for I am meeke and humble of heart. Where­fore, let them either resigne their regalties, viz. their tem­poralities; or in the name of God, if they shall iudge them profitable, let them giue vnto God the things that are Gods, and vnto Caesar, what belongeth to Caesar. The reason wherefore we interdicted your Cardinals, the Churches, and forbad them our Cities, was because we finde them not Prea­chers, but robbers: not peace-makers but money masters: not conuerters of the people, but heapers of insatiable trea­sure. Yet, when we shall finde them, such as the Church or­daineth them; messengers of peace, lights to their Coun­trie, and impartiall assistants to the cause of the Humble, then will we not deferre to relieue them with competent sti­pends, and necessarie prouisions: meane time you wrong hu­militie, the Princesse of vertues, and mightilie scandalize your submissiuenesse, by terrifying the consciences of secu­lar persons, with positions wholy impertinent to religion. Let your fatherhood therefore take heede, lest while you mo­tion points of such nature (whereof we make light account) that you offend not those, who would otherwise euen in hast open their eares as willingly vnto the words of your mouth, as vnto a presage of a ioyfull accident. These things we can not but aunswere, sithence so detestable a beast of pride hath crept into S. Peters Chaire. Fare you well alwaies, and God at all times make you carefull for the peace of the Church.

What humane spirit can scandalize these the Em­perors letters? What scruple of equity, of piety, or vp­rightnesse can any man say is wanting in them? Who [Page 63] can iustifie, that hee wrote otherwise then became a true and a Christian Emperor? He but retorted the Bi­shops pride; he maintained but the honor of the Em­pire; he sought but reason, and that was, Christian hu­mility and modesty in Christian Churchmen; which in those times, as the world then complained, was not to be found in that sort of people.

What followed? Peace I warrant you: nothing lesse. For the Pope not contented that by letters hee had bandied with the Emperor, but writing vnto all the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany, he punctual­ly noteth downe the cariage of the cause,The Epistle is to be seen in Rade­uicus li. 3. c. 15. and aggre­uateth the indignity of the fact: Admonishing them, that sithence the action concerned the whole body of the Church (for they will make vs beleeue that with­out their intrusions all Christendom must perish) that they should corroborate themselues, as a wall of brasse to sustaine the declining estate of the house of God. And that they should not only find meanes to reduce the Emperor into the right way, but also take open and condigne satisfaction vpon Rainold the Emperors Chancelor, and Otto Earle of Wittelspach, who forsooth had belched out infinit blasphemies against the Apo­stolike Legats and the Church of Rome: That as the in­ciuilitie of their speech had offended the eares of manie, Notable policy cunning and hypocrisie. so their penances might be an example to restore as manie a­gaine into the right path of obedience.

But for that (as certaine of the writers of that age doe testifie) the then Bishops were not so eagerly ad­dicted to maintaine the Popes vsurpations,Iacob. Spigelius in annotat. ad Ligurinum Gunthori. li. 6. fol. 143. as many of them are now, they conuocated a Councell, and thus wrote backe vnto his fatherhood: That they were [Page 64] not onlie wonderfullie agreeued at these abuses; Epist. extat li. 3. ca. 16. in Rade­uicus. Auent. li. 6. An­nal. Boior. so. 636. but also Arnold of Mogunce and Euerard of Saltzburge by their priuate letters admonished all Roman Priests, Cardi­nals, Archbishops, Bishops and Massemungers, to giue ouer their saucinesse, their pride, their auarice, their perfidie, and all other enormities, by which they robbed the poore, and disturbed the peace of the Empire. Finallie they humblie besought them, that they would put their helping hands to worke Adrian to obserue peace: vndertaking for the Em­peror that he should do nothing, but what stood with religi­on, reason and equitie.

Sure these were bitter pills for Hadrians stomach: But what remedy? Popes, as they are cursefull, so are they politique, and beeing well skild in speculation, they know by the Planets, when it is high time to hold a candle before the Diuell. He that now reigneth is not Henrie the fourth, but Frederick the first: who is now preparing for Italie; and hauing sent his honora­ble Embassadors, Rainold his Chauncellor and Otto of Wittelsbach, before to assemble a conuocation of the Princes and Bishops of Italy, prepareth his way in po­tent and Princelike manner, and meaneth himselfe in short time to sit in person in Councell amongst them.

Now is it time to fly vnto the fox his case; a necro­mantique spell hath informed vs, that the Lions skin will nothing preuaile vs:Nau. Gen. 39. Auenti. loco prae allegato. Rade. li. 3. cap. 17. Humble letters are dispatch­ed towards Augusta to lenifie the Emperours displea­sure; and Henrie Duke of Saxonie and Bauaria with O­tho the Frison; made intercessors to reconciliation.

No long time after, Hadrian betakes himselfe againe to his perspectiue, where obseruing that the Cities of Italy (Crema being hardly besieged by Frederick) had [Page 65] interprised a conspiracie to re-uindicate their liberty, the Pope hauing vtterly forgotten his yesterdaies re­conciliation, traiterously adhereth to the faction and animateth the conspiracie vpon these conditions. First That neither partie should accept of peace without the good leaue of the other. Secondly, That if the Bishop chanced to die, that none but one of the same faction, shoald be created in his stead.

And then to giue the better countenance to the re­bellion,Nau. Gen. 39. ex Joh. Cre­monensi. for an infinit Masse of mony hee is corrupted to accurse his Maiesty. So saith mine Author; but in these daies, I am of opinion, that malice is as powerfull in a Papists breast as corruption in the Papall Court.

But our best and great God, who by the mouth of his seruant Dauid, seemeth punctually to cry out a­gainst these hired Excommunications of Popes: They curse, and thou blessest: Let those that rise against me be confounded, but thy seruant shall reioice: This good God, I say, inuerted this execrable maledict vpon the Popes own head, and miraculously confounded the man, to the terror of all posterity. For being at Anag­nia, the place where hee had excommunicated Frede­ricke, it chanced that as he walked abroad amongst his familiars to take the aire, as hee was drinking at a cer­taine fountaine, a flye flying into his throat, stucke so fast therein, that no physicall experiment could giue him ease; and so he died miserably choked.

Would it not amase any humane flesh, to see so huge a gyant in the middest of his armed and rebelli­ous battalions, but euen now scorning the Emperor and all his forces, presently to lye dead with the stroke of a flie? Or is there any Priest amongst them so irreli­gious, [Page 66] that dare but imagine, that this stroke procee­ded from casualty, and not from the finger of God, considering that that throat which had but now bel­ched out so iniust an execration against a most godlie and innocent Emperor, was also appointed the instru­ment to confound his spirits? Yea this vnshamed rab­ble, being nothing terrified with so miraculous a pre­sident, could by no meanes be diuerted from their in­tended conspiracy. For perceiuing that they could not haue their wills vpon his Maiesty by force, beeing strōg in soldiery, Lord of Italy, & in diuers ouerthrows putting the Millanois to the worse; they made their recourse to villany, and by treason laid wait for his life.

To the execution whereof, by great rewards they cunningly corrupt a fellow of a strong body vnder the habit of a foole or iester to goe vnto Landa, the place where the Emperor then resided, and there vp­on oportunity to offer him violence.

The traitor wholly animated by their large promi­ses,Radeuicus li. 4. ca. 40. & 4. Guntherus in Ligucinoli 9. circa finem. resolueth vpon the villany, goeth to Landa; entreth the Campe, and by iests and fooleries maketh his ac­cesse euer into the Emperors pauilion: His Tent at that time was pitched vpon the very banke of the riuer Abdua, so steep and sliding, that if any thing fell there­into, the swift course of the streame would forth with carry it away with violence. Which the foole-villaine obseruing to be a fit proiect for his intended treason, assaulteth the Emperor (according to his custome go­ing alone vnto his prayers by day dawning) and by struggling and tugging laboureth to carry him to the foresaid steep place. The Emperor plaieth the man, so that both parties being intangled with the tackling of [Page 67] the tents, fell to ground; by which time the Gentle­men of the chamber being awaked, by the calling of the Emperour, runne to succour, and taking the vil­laine, they threw him headlong into the same place of the riuer. This stratagem being f [...]ustrated, they fall to a second, but will be seene in neither.

They suborne eight creatures of their owne with plenty of crownes, to set Landa on fire. One of them mistaking the night, and laying his traines, was taken by the watch, with an other of his companions a coun­terfeit Monke, and both hanged.

Being also deceiued in the execution of this Gun­powder plot, they fall to a third; and send forth a cer­taine Mountebank, resolute to death, accompanied with some such fellowes as himselfe, to set to sale in the Emperours Campe poysoned rings, bridels and spurres, so deadly inuenomed, that if the Emperour had touched any of them, he had surely perished. But his Maiestie being fore-warned, causeth this Marchant to be watched and apprehended: Commandeth him to be examined, but finding that he scorned both que­stions and torments, without more a-doe hee sendeth him to the gallowes.

Hadrian (as we told you) being choakt with a Fly,Ab. vrsperg. Plat. in vita Alex. Nauc. Gen. 39. Rad. li. 4. ca. 54. the Cardinals begin to wrangle about the choise of a successor. For two and twentie, being the Emperours aduersaries, would haue chosen Roland of Siena, one of those Cardinals; whom a little before Hadrian had sent Legat vnto Frederick, and Frederick had banished Germanie: But nine others adhearing to the Emperor, by the suffrages of the Prefect of the Citie, and the peo­ple, created Octauianus a Romane borne, Priest and [Page 68] Cardinall of Saint Clements, and stiled him Victor.

But these rash elections being likely to foster infi­nite dissensions, It was agreed betweene the Electors of both parties; that neither of the Elected should be confirmed, before it was agreed vpon at all hands who should be the Man, and the contention quite si­lenced.

But the Rolanders being the maior partie, falsifying their oathes, proclaimed the election of Roland, and new christned him Alexander the third. From hence arose a mighty Schisme. Victor remaineth at Rome, Alexander flieth vnto William King of Sicil, and there the twelfth day after his election, is confirmed Pope. And to preuent,Behold the Em­periall iurisdic­tion solicited. Radeu. li. 4. cap. 58. that this dissension should not draw with it the finall destruction of the Church of Rome, by his legats, hee intreateth the Emperour Frederick, that by interposition of his authority, he would vouch­safe to put end to the Schisme. The doubtfull issue of a new Schisme much troubled Frederick; wherefore, finding that both the Elettos, being orderly consecra­ted, he could not lawfully determine the strife, with­out the authority of a Councell; after the examples of Constantine, Theodosius, Iustinian and other Emperors: (knowing that the summoning thereof appertained vnto him) he nominateth the day of the Assembly to be held at Papia; and thether he warneth both the Bi­shops to appeare, promising also to be there in person to take cognizance of eithers greeuances.

After proclamation whereof, Alexander goeth to Anagnia, Generall coun­cels ominous to Popes. whereat the Emperour being angrie for his contempt, despatcheth his letters vnto him by Daniel and Herman, Bishops of Prage and Verdim, citing him [Page 69] by the name of Bishop, and not of Pope, to appeare at the Councell.

Alexander reiecteth Caesars Ambassadors most con­tumeliously,C. Patet. & ca­nemo 9. q. 3. Item 17. q. 4. ca. Si quis suadente in extremo. Item dist. 40. c. si papa. Naucl. gen. 39. and in very arrogant termes telleth them plainly, That the Romane Bishop was to bee iudged by no mortall creature. They doing no good vpon Alexander, retire towards Octauianus, him they salute as Pope, and accompany to Papia. There the Councell being assem­bled, and the cause vpon sufficient witnesse through all circumstances iudicially examined, Victor is decla­red Pope, and so acknowledged by all the German Bi­shops by the commandement of Caesar.

At which pretended iniury Alexander being moo­ued, he accurseth Fredericke and Victor: and forthwith dateth his letters of iustification vnto all Christians Kings and Potentates; That what He did, was done with equitie and good reason. But at his returne into the Ci­ty, finding many new vpstart aduersaries, openly op­posing against him, he went to Tarracine: And there going on shipbord, purposely there layde for him by William of Sicil, hee retyred into France: where by the good leaue of Philip, assembling a Conuenticle in Claremount, in all hast he proclaimeth his curse against the Emperor and the Antipope.

His Maiesty, albeit he foresaw the mischiefes likely to arise vpon this dissension; notwithstanding he con­tinueth his siege against Millan, vntill enforced by fa­min and wants, the inhabitants voluntarily surrendred the City at discretion, This dispatched, he sent his Am­bassadors to the French King, to desire that he would call a Councel at Didion: Whether if hee would bring his Pope, then would his Maiesty also promise to bee [Page 70] there, and with him, to bring his Pope also. What an­swer these Ambassadours receiued,Nauc. gen. 39. it is not truely known: but so much is recorded to memory, that the Earle of Blois gaue the Emperor his faith, that the King his master would not faile to be there. Where­upon, at the prefixed day the Emperor with Victor kept promise, and pitched his tents neere Didion: Thither came also Henrie the second, and William kings of Eng­land and Scotland.

But Alexander could not only not be perswaded to come; vnder pretence, that the assembly was congre­gated by the Emperor, and not by him: but he also so wrought with Philip, that he came vnto the place in­deed, but before the Emperor; where washing his hands in the riuer hard by, forthwith by the voice of an Herauld he summoned his Maiesty (as if herein he had satisfied his oath) and so departed. Wherewith the Emperor, the Kings, & the other Princes being much agreeued, wished Victor to returne to his Popedome, and they retired euery man to his own home.

Naucl. vbi supra. Victor ariued at Lucca in Hetruria, fell sicke, and di­ed: in whose place succeeded Guido Bishop of Cremo­na, called Paschal the third. And vnto him at Goslaria the Emperor, and all the Princes and Bishops of Germany did their reuerence.

Alexander who was yet in France, to keep Rome in obedience, constituted Iohn the Cardinall his Vicar generall, and regranted liberty to the Romanes to chuse their owne Consuls; prouided that they were such as were fauorites of his faction. Then departeth he from France into Sicil, foorthwith returneth to Rome, and is willingly receiued of the Romanes, and [Page 71] Guido reiected. Whereupon the cities of Italie, incou­raged by the comming of Alexander to hope after li­berty, contrary to their oathes sworne before vnto the Emperor, they reedified Millan, but lately razed and subuerted by Caesar. Then at the instigation of Alexan­der, they enter into actuall rebellion; they inuade the Emperors ministers and fauorits,Nauc. gen. 40. Vrspergens. some of whom they expell, and some they murder. Then vsing his further councell and assistance, they proceed to the building of a new City, called Alexandria, in honor of Alexander and contempt of Frederick, culling out of euery City, fifteen thousand men for inhabitation; vnto whome they deuide the territory, and assigne portions where­upon to build their dwellings.

Vpon intelligence of these rebellious combinations, Caesar leuieth an armie, and prepareth for Italie: where inforcing certaine of the rebels to composition, he be­siegeth Alexandria; but this siege proued nothing ho­nourable: for Alexandria being continually relieued from the interessed cities, defended it selfe valiantly. And more then that, Henry Leo Duke of Bauaria and Saxonie, corrupted with money contrarie to all imagi­nation of the Emperour, neither regarding the bond of kindred, nor the memorie of fore-passed kindnesses, most traiterously departed with his forces: so that Fre­derick finding himselfe too weake to withstand the Ita­lian rebels, dispersed his hoast, and with great difficul­tie in the habit of an Hostler fled into Burgundy by the way of Mount Iupiter. But Leo escaped not scot-free: for the Emperour hauing now recouered Germanie, and re-inforcing his armie, limiteth the Duke a day; appeacheth him of treason; and ouerthrowing his [Page 72] forces, depriueth him of his Lordships & Dukedome.

Nau gen. 40. Abbas vrsper­gensis.Some Princes fauouring Henrie, gaue out, that the Emperor could not condemne him, vnlesse the sen­tence had beene giuen within his owne dominions. Which Frederick, who before times had shewen him­selfe a seuere censurer in inflicting exemplary punish­ment against rebells and outlawes, little esteemed; but bestowed the Dutchy of Noricum vpon Otto of Wittel­spach, that of Saxony vpon Bernard Anhaldin, and the re­sidue, vpon other of his seruants. Who being re-enfor­ced by the assistance of their friends within the space of one moneth, expulsed Leo almost out of all his liuely­hoods; which of any subiect of the Empire, were the greatest and goodliest; insomuch that nothing was left him, saue only the Dutchy of Brunswicke: An ex­cellent president for gentlemen to looke vnto, and to learne; that the authority of soueraignty lawfully warranted by Gods owne mouth, is not rashly to bee vilified, but to be reuerenced with fidelity, obedience, and honor, and that for conscience sake.

And because I make no question, but that the review of this example, may be a motiue to bring many a rash spirit into the due consideration of authority, I will bee bold here to relate certaine other exemplary pu­nishments inflicted by this Emperor vpon others of his rebellious subiects.

Tritemius in Cronico Hier­saug. sub abbate volmaro. so. 175. Nau. ge. 39. fol. 765. Herman Earle Palatin of the Rhene, and his compli­ces, for that in his Italian absence, hee had violated the publique peace, by raising armes against Arnold Arch­bishop of Mogunce, he compelled publiquely for satis­faction to lead a dog vpon the birth day of the Lord of Wormes.

[Page 73] Gualfag Earle of Angleria, and Prince of Millan, for that after the promulgation of the Curse by the Pope he sided with Alexander, and in his quarrell committed many insolencies in the City, to the derogation of the honor of the Empire; hauing taken him, three daies he tied him as a dog vnder his table; whipt him with scur­ges, and at last in chaines sent him into Germany. These were the punishments of those daies; the like whereof if transgressors in like cases should vndergoe in these times, there were no doubt, but to find greater tranquility, and better obedience to the lawes through out the Empire. But to our pupose.

Frederick hauing thus abated the greatnesse of Hen­rie, leuied a new army in Germany, Platin. in vitae Alex. Nau. gen. 41. Blondus & alij. and again marcheth towards Italie.

Variable I know, is the opinion of writers about the gests done in Italie in this iourney.

Some report that he fought in such great danger a­gainst the Millanois, that his horse being slayn, himself had almost miscaried: and that vpon the compulsatory threats of the Bishops, he was fain to treat a peace with the Church. Others write,Io. Cremonensis. Barnus Author vitae Frederici Germanice scriptae. that by the perswasiō of the Bishop of Brixia, he went into the Holy-land, and that there, after the atchiuement of many famous victories, hee was betraied by Alexander to the Soldan, yet at length again restored to liberty by the Popes liberality.

Albeit I know that these reports are heaued at by many: notwithstāding sithence they are vouched with the authority of such authors, whose diligence in re­porting the life of so worthy an Emperour, may de­seruedly bee tollerated: I am onely disposed to relate them as I finde them, especially, beeing such as in [Page 74] likelihood held correspondencie, with the papall di­sposition against Emperours, not altogether imperti­nent to our Argument: for beliefe, I leaue it to euery mans iudgement. Then thus at large.

Frederick being arriued at Brixia, Hartmannus Bi­shop of the place, and the Emperours Secretarie, by the secret instructions of the Pope, dealeth with his Ma­iestie rather to turne these armes against Turks and In­dels,Did not the Bi­shops of Eng­land so by Hen­rie the fift. then against the most Holy father and the Chri­stian people. The Holie land (quoth hee) which your Grandfather Conrade to his infinite expence recouered from the Turks, is now reconquered by the Egyptian Sol­dan. I beseech your Maiestie euen in the name and behalfe of the publique welfare, that vnto the glorious recouerie of these Kingdomes, you would diuert your whole cogitations. This if you please to entertaine, you may assure your selfe, that the French King will noblie assist you to expell this Sa­cracen. This honest-seeming oration (saith the Histo­rie) the Emperour well liked, and transporteth into Turkie this armie, first leuied against the Pope, and the Italian rebels. Taking his iourney by Hungarie, he com­meth to Constantinople, transporteth his army, and ta­keth many cities from the Soldan. He inuadeth the lesser Armenia, and comming to Ierusalem, hee winneth the Citie, and casteth out the Pagans. But whilst the world goeth thus prosperously forward in the East, Pope A­lexander, that most wicked Traytour, imagining it would not be so with him and his complices, if his Maiestie should returne so powrefull into Italy, resol­ueth to seeke his destruction by villany. He causeth an excellent Painter to draw the protraiture of Frederick, and sendeth it to the Soldan, with this Item; That if he [Page 75] desired to liue in peace, There was the Emperours counter­fait; make meanes to destroy him. The Soldan hauing receaued the Breue, and the Picture, meditateth how he might gratifie the Bishop, pleasure himselfe, and be reuenged on his enemie. Opportunity in the Camp, or in conflict is seldome, or neuer offered. But as Cae­sar led back his troupes securely from the conquest of Ierusalem, he deuideth them into Companies, for the better commodiousnesse in their retreat to prouide them of necessaries. In Armenia, what by the heat of the sunne, & the tediousnes of the iourney (imagining that no danger could proceed frō those solitary woods) with a few horsmen, & his Chaplin he departeth from the Army. Being a little remoued, and the horsemen commanded to depart, he prepareth to put off his gar­ments, to wash himself in the riuer, to asswage the heat of his body. There with his Chaplin he is taken, and throgh the woods brought prisoner to the Soldan. The horsmen in vain expect the returne of their Master, yet diligently scourd vp and down the country, both that and next day to heare what newes. The report goeth that he is drowned. Great is the griefe of the Camp, & for a moneths space they drag for him in the riuer. But not finding him, they chose new Captaines & depart.

The Emperor being brought before the Soldan, fai­neth that he is his Chamberlaine. The Soldan by the protracture knoweth him to be the Emperour, and commandeth the picture to be shewed, and the Popes letters to be read. Whereat his Maiestie being astoni­shed, and perceiuing that there was no further time of denial, cōfesseth the truth, & asketh honorable vsage. The Soldan after many discourses with his Maiestie, [Page 76] incloseth him & his Chaplin in prison, and according to his calling, entreateth him accordingly. At three moneths end, they inter-parly againe: when the Soldan perceiuing by conference, that Fredericke was an vp­right man, in whom no vertue requisite in so great a personage was wanting; admiring his wisdom, his ca­riage his faith and integrity; hee fell into imagination with himselfe, that it would be much for his honor and glory to set at liberty so great & so magnificent a Mo­narch. Whereupon he sendeth for the Emperour, and proposeth his conditionall liberty, viz. That hee should giue him hostages, and pay for his ransome three hundred thousand sicles. The Emperor answereth, that he is able to do neither; first, that he had no man there to be his pledge, and secondly, that his treasure being exhausted by this long war, he could not pay so excessiue a masse of mony. The Soldan, well knowing that he spake no­thing but truth, deliuered him on condition; That hee should euer during his life keepe firme peace: pay one hun­dreth thousand duckets, and leaue his Chaplin behinde him vntil the mony were paid. The couenants are drawn: the Emperor prepareth for his iourney: willeth his Chap­lin to be of good courage: and promiseth him neuer to giue ouer, vntill the mony were procured, & himself safe returned into Germany. The Soldan bountifully ho­noreth the Emperour; prouideth for his iourney, and conducteth him to Brixia by the seruice of 34. horse, and certaine companies of foot.

The Princes vnderstanding of the Emperors returne, in frequent assemblies congratulate his safety. Caesar requiteth his conuoy with an honorable larges, and adioyeth some troupes vnto them to safe conduct [Page 77] them to the frontiers of the Empire. Then proclai­meth he a Diet at Norimberg, and before all the Prin­ces of the Empire he vnfoldeth the treason of Alex­ander; readeth the letter; and declareth in what maner hee was taken, and vpon what conditions deliuered. The Nobility promise to assist him, so that hee should keepe his day of payment with the Soldan;Haec subsequen­tia Naucl. gen. 40. narrat. vt et alij pontisicij, praecedentibus tamen omissis. and in an­ger advow, that they will neuer forsake him, vntill they see him reuenged on the Traytour Alexander. An Armie is inrolled in Italie, no man repining; and Rome approached. Thether hee sendeth his Embassa­dors, and requireth of the Romanes (concealing yet a while his priuate wrongs) that vpon hearing of either Bishops cause, they would restore concorde to the Church, by determining the right of the Papacie to one of the Elected. If thus they would doe, he promi­sed to giue them peace, as also to restore, what in right they could challenge.

The Pope perceauing, that by these good courses, the Emperour was become Lord of his desires; by night he flieth to Caietta, afterward to Beneuent, and lastly, in the habite of his Cooke to Venice. Where, af­ter he had lien hid certaine moneths in a Monasterie, he is at length made knowne, and in Senatorial habite by the commandement of Duke Sebastian, honorably receiued, and in his Pontificalibus accompanied to the temple of Saint Mark.

Frederick being giuē to vnderstand of this reception, stormeth at the Venetians for receiuing their common aduersarie. He desireth them to send vnto him, the de­stroyer of the Cōmon wealth. The Venetians deny. Fre­derick sendeth his Son with an Armada to demand the [Page 78] man; but with prohibition at any hand to fight, be­fore himselfe was come in person. Otho a Prince yong, frolicke and aduenturous, desirous of honour and glo­ry, copeth with his enemies, is taken and made priso­ner. Vpon whose captiuity, Alexander mounted vpon the wings of this prosperous successe, vtterly denieth to treat with Caesar, vnlesse he would suppliantly come to Venice, and there accept the already written condi­tions of peace. Wherewith Caesar being mooued not vpon any base conceit, or despaire of victory, but part­ly through his affectionate loue towards his child, but more for desire to settle a firme peace in Europe, assen­ted, and impawned his Honor to come vpon the day prescribed.

Where according to promise, appearing, and pro­ceeding to capittulation, Alexander sent him word, That he would not absolue him from the censure of Excom­munication vntill he come into the Temple of S. Marke. Naucl. generat. allegata.

Here is He now ariued, accoutred in humble and re­ligious habiliment: The Pope, before a multitude of people, most papally commandeth him to lie agroofe on his belly, and suppliantly to aske forgiuenesse. The Emperor, German-like, simply suspecting, that a Bi­shop, who ought to haue been the mirour of modesty, would haue abused him with no grosse or dishonou­rable behauior, obeieth the Pope word, and so groue­leth at his feet. At the sight whereof: He not only in­sulteth, but that worse is; most tyrannically he treadeth vpon his prostrated neck, and then blasphemously yel­leth foorth this misapplied place of Scripture. Thou shalt tread vpon the Aspe and the Bosiliskc, and thou shalt bruse downe the Lyon and the Dragon.

[Page 79]Did euer History record of so sauage a demeanor? Surely some barbarous souldiers, who in battell haue taken Princes prisoners, haue intreated them more in­humanely, then stood with their estates: Sapores the Persian vsed to set his foot vpon the neck of Valerianus the captiuated Emperor, as he mounted his Horse: The Tartarian Tamerlan (the correlatiue tyranny to this of the Popes) inclosing Baiazeth Emperour of Turkes in an yron Cage, carried him so dishonoured through all his iournies. But what is this to a Pope? By how much the disproportion holdeth betwixt a soul­dier and a Churchman, betweene a Christian and an Ethnique, by so much is the immatuity of the Pope the more damnable. They being Barbarians, might plead some probability of excuse, in that they misused but their enemies, and those by the law of Nations captiuated for seruility: But the Pope is a Christian, seruus seruorum, a peace-maker, and a Priest; whose of­fice is only to pray and to preach: Wherefore I can not blame Bellarmine, if he could make vs beleeue; that this History may be doubted of, when I shall relate vn­to you in the word of truth; That this mirror of Chri­stian Humility) Cyclopica immanitate, first, with a Gy­antlike rudenesse saith mine Author) most ignomini­ously with his bestiall feet presumed to touch (nay to tread) vpon the sacred necke of a mighty Emperour, then (as I said) in peaceable maner lying agroofe, and humbly desiring absolution of an vniust Excommuni­cation.

But why do I against the Precepts of history, thus lash out, by aggreuating of so barbarous a cruelty, to mooue the mind of my Reader to compassion, sithence [Page 80] I can neuer do it, for that the president in it selfe goeth far beyond any delineation that humane wit can possi­bly polish it withall? Vox faucibus haeret, &c.

Well, Caesar knowing himselfe, and recalling his ge­nerous spirits; to shew that he was not a little moued at the indignity, openly calleth vnto the Pope; saying, Non tibi, sed Petro: meaning that he became so deuout a suppliant, not to this Tyrant, but his Apostolique Cal­ling. But the tyrannicall Pope, once againe bowing downe his reuerend necke with his beare-like pawes; reclaimeth, Et Mihi & Petro.

The good Emperor, that had neuer offended any man, no nor the Pope himselfe, but his pride; albeit he could not but agrieue at this iniurious and base vsage, yet in regard of the common quiet (much preferred before his own dignity) held his peace: And after his absolution, thus renued his grace with the Bishop.

❧Henricus VI.

Platina in the life of Celestin the third. THe Romanists thinking it no safe policy, too much at one instant to irritate the reuenge­full spirits of secular Princes, smothered a while their domineering humours, vntill the dayes of Celestine the third. Who although he had bestowed vpon Henrie for wife, Constance the Nun, the daughter of Roger the fourth King of Sicil, taken forth from the Monastery of Panormo, vpon condition, that [Page 81] Tancred the base Son of Roger now deposed, (whome Clement the third had before to no purpose labored al­so to displant) should hold both kingdoms in fee of the Church: Notwithstanding some there are, who write,Bergomensis in supplemento & eum sequens Nau. gen. 40. that because this Henry punished somewhat seuerely not only the Apulian and Sicilian Laickes, for entring into actuall rebellion against him, but also proceeded with like rigor against the Clerks and Bishops, being guilty of the same conspiracy; from some pulling their skins ouer their eares, from other their eies; impaling some vpon stakes, and incircling some of their heads with a flaming Garland; hee escaped not Celestines curse, who by this time being weary of peace, intended nothing else but the dispossession of Henry, from the Crowne of both Sicils.

❧Philip the Sweuian.

HOweuer the world fared in this age, certaine it is, that presently after the death of Henrie, Nauel. gen. 40. Cuspinian in vi­ta Henrici & Philippi. the rage of the Bishop grew fiery hot a­gainst his successor. For Henrie now lying vpon his death bed, had instituted Innocent the 3 (the suc­cessor of Celestine) guardian to his yong infant, fower yeeres of age, yet chosen to the succession of the Em­pire by the Suffrage of the Princes; To him he also re­commended his wife Constance and ordained his own brother Philip Duke of Hetruria and Sweuia (during [Page 82] the minority of the child) to bee his Lieutenant, through the whole Empire and the Kingdome of Si­cil. But the Bishop falsifying his faith of Guardian­ship, turneth traitor, and by setting al Germany in com­bustion, sideth with the House of Sweuia.

For as Philip posting towards his sick brother, by the way about Mount Flasco, not far from Viterbium, vnderstood that his brother was departed, tranported with a desire of Soueraignty, hee hastneth as fast to Haganoa, the place of the Assembly of the Princes, and there worketh as many as he can, to fauour his pro­ceedings.

Nocentius, who in shew deadly hated the Sweuians as persecutors of the Church, but in truth sorely thir­sting after the reall possession of Sicil, at first (to giue Philip to vnderstand, that without his Holinesse acted a part in all Princely policies, it were folly to vnder­take great matters) he excepteth against him by an Ex­communication, which stood on Record filed against him, in the daies of Celestine. Secondly to shew himselfe a displeased Father, he sendeth the Bishop of Sutrium vnto him, to demand at his hand certaine Hostages, whose eyes not long agoe his brother Henry had cau­sed to be put out. Thirdly, failing, against imagination of his will; for that Philip by confessing and repenting of his fault, had procured absolution from the Legat, and remitted the Hostages: In odium Philippi he shew­eth the blind pledges to the people, and depriuing the Bishop of Sutrium, for that without commission hee had absolued Philip, he confineth him into one of the Ilands: And finally, now to perfect his proiects, he re­commendeth vnto the fauours of the Electors Ber­thold [Page 83] Duke of Zazingia, a Prince strong and valiant, and whom he knew full well to be a deadly enemy to the Sweuians, because he had before times beene mo­lested by the wars of Conrade, the brother of Philip. The letters of his election written at large, are yet to bee seen. C. venerabilem. de Electi potestate.

But Berthold, being a wise and an Honorable Prince, knowing himself far inferior to Philip, and that he had been already nominated for Emperor by the generall good-liking of the Sweuians, Saxons, the Bauarians, the Bohemians and the Princes of the Rhene, so affec­ted the fauor of his lawfull king, that in assurance of o­bedience, he gaue him for pledges his own Nephewes Crinen and Berthold Earles of Vrach, together with his personall oath of Allegeance. Whereat Innocent tooke so great an indignation, that he could not refraine, but belched out: That either the Bishop should dispossesse Phi­lip of his Crown, or Philip dispossesse the Bishop of his Mi­ter. And forthwith he calleth from England Otho the sonne of Henry Leo, a proud and harebraind Prince, and by sending him the Imperiall Diadem, he setteth him vp against Philip; And to withdraw his subiects, he in­terdicteth him of all honor and authority.

Hereby arose a most pestiferous dis-vnion in the state of Germany, but a masse of aduantages to the Pope and his Clergy. For as long as Philip and Otho by their in­testine wars distracted the Empire, there scant fell void any Ecclesiasticall dignity, yea almost scant no poore vicarage, but being made litigious by the cunning of Rome, the dicesion of the incumbency was remooued into the Popes Court, and there peraduenture com­pounded; [Page 84] but not without the fleecing of both par­ties purses. This the Abbat of Vrsperg in the end of one of his Orations doth set downe, for one of the trickes, wherby the Popedom is accustomed to trouble Chri­stendome, meane-while enriching their priuate cof­fers. These be his words.

Reioyce (sayeth he) our mother Rome: for cataracts of treasure are opened vpon earth, that riuers and masses of money in great abundance may flowe into thy bosome. Reioyce for the iniquitie of the sonnes of men, for that rewards are accumulated vpon thee to reconcile mischiefes. Reioyce for thy Adiutresse, Discord; for shee is let loose from the bottomlesse pit, euen to breake thy backe with bagges of siluer. Now thou enioyest that, which thou hast long thirsted for: Sing a merrie Song, for by the recipro­call malice of men, and not by thy religous workes, thou hast got victorie ouer the world. All men flock vnto thee, not for deuotions sake, or in puritie of conscience, but by re­wards to compound their contentions, and to redeeme their trespasses.

And albeit that Odoacer King of Bohemia, Herman Lantgraue of Thuringe, the Bishop of Argentine, and Adulph Archprelate of Colein, being terrified by the papal curse, had sided with Otho, assisted with the for­ces of his Vncle Richard, Naucl. gen. 41. Vrsperg. fo. 323. King of England; yet being strong with his Hetrurians leauied in Italie, and his Sweuians raised in Germanie, he beginneth with Alsatia, next neighbour to Sweuia, and wasteth it: then fal­ling vpon the Thuringer, confederated with the Bohe­mian, hee inforceth him to submission, and routeth the Bohemian. This done, through the reconciliation [Page 85] of the Colennois, at Confluence hee treateth a league with the Dukes of Brabant & Lotharinge: with whom and his associates descending to Aquisgran, with great solemnity he is there crowned by the fore-said Colen­nois. Finally, meeting with Otho not farre from Colen, he put him to flight, and without his companions en­forceth him to flie againe into England.

When the Princes perceiued these prosperous suc­cesses to attend Philip, being now throughly wearied with these ciuill combustions; by a generall consent, they conclude to send an honourable Embassie to his Holinesse; who vpon restitution of Philip into fauour, should intreat his fatherhood to confirme him in the Rights of the Empire.

He giueth audience, and returneth for aunswere; that vnlesse Philip will giue vnto Richard his brothers sonne (newly created Earle of Thuscanie) Spolet, and Marchia Anconitana, with the daughter of Philip, hee will neuer harken vnto the Emperours Ambassie. Be­hold here another trick of Popish discontent: By this match, hee onely meant and hoped to inuest his Ne­phew in the perpetuall inheritance of these goodly Lordships.

Thus haue these Holy fathers long since accusto­med, vnder the habit of Saint Peter, See Guicciar­dine. to fish rather to inrich their Nephewes, their kindred, and their Gos­sips, then to be carefull ouer the Church and the com­mon-weale; yea, in these respects they haue often mo­ued warres; so that the meanes, by which God hath ordained to reconcile families, & to corroborat peace; they haue inuerted to maintaine factions, and to serue their owne purposes.

[Page 86]After the Embassadors had heard the proposed con­dition, altogether impertinent to the businesse, where­about they had taken so much paines; they tooke it as a strange motion; That the daughter of a King, should be affianced to the base Nephew of a Pope: Howbeit, not to offend his Holinesse, they answered, that they had no commission to treat of any such ouerture: but desire, that by some people of his owne, hee would acquaint their Lord and Master with his Holinesse request.

Whereupon, with more heat, then good discreti­on, he adioyneth vnto the Embassadors of Philip (now vpon their returne) Hugoline and Leo Cardinals of Ho­stia, and Saint Crosses in Ierusalem. Who arriuing at Augusta, were honourably receiued, and highly fea­sted, but vpon notice of the proud and preposterous message of their Master (nothing ashamed to violate the Constitutions of his Lord Peramount) the King and his Counsell secretly laughing at the Legats discour­sing vpon matters, nothing tending to Peace and Ab­solution; from Augusta the Court remoued to Spiers and so to Northius. And there after long debatement, the peace was ratified, and the Bishops Nephew reie­cted; vpon condition, that the daughter of Philip (whom the foole-Bishop eagerlie instanced) should be affianced to Otho; And that he liuing in priuate, during the life of Philip, after his death, should succeed in the Empire.

Not long after this treatie Philip died: for leauing Saxonie, and for recreation sake retiring vnto Baben­berg in Sweuia, he was traiterously slaine in his Cham­ber, there solely remaining, after the opening of a vain, by Otho of Wittelsback, Nephew vnto him vpon whom Frederick (as we told you before) had bestowed Baua­ria. [Page 87] The cause of his discontent arose, for that being a suter to his daughter, in regard of some imputation of disloyaltie, he had beene repulsed, and the Lady, by the Emperour, her fathers good liking, affianced to Otho.

After this lamentable regicide, Otho by the generall consent of the Nobility, assembled at Francofurt, is sa­luted Emperour.

❧ Otho the fourth.

OTho, Naucl. gen. 41. Ʋrsperg. in the life of Otho the 4. by consent of the Princes being thus installed in the Imperial throne, set­teth all things through Germany in good order; and then with a warlike Armie marching by the vally of Trent, hee pas­seth by Lombardie, and so commeth to Rome, to receiue the Imperiall diademe: where, by the Pope, the Cler­gie, and the people hee is heartely welcommed, and honourably receiued: And so much the rather, the Pope studied to honour and gratifie his Maiestie, for that hee had heretofore alwaies assisted his partie, a­gainst Philip his predecessour.

But this extraordinarie kindnesse was of no long continuance betweene these new friends; but being soone ripe, soone vanished, and turned into hatred. For vpon the very day of the Coronation, an affray began betweene the Dutch and the Romanes, about the donatiues which the Emperors accustomed to bestow at this time amongst the souldiers; so that (as report [Page 88] went) about one thousand and one hundred men were slaine, and as many wounded. Whereupon Otho be­ing moued at so great an indignity; complained vnto the Romans for reparation of amends; which they promised, but performed so slowly, that the Emperor began to enter into suspition, that the Pope himselfe became a fautor of the tumult; whereupon hee de­parted, towards Millan, and there laying aside his Imperiall ensignes, hee infested Tuscanie, Mark An­cona, and Romandiola, vulgo, S. Peters patrimony. More­ouer in warlike manner he inuaded Apulia, subdued the Dutchy of Capua, and tooke from Frederick the se­cond many other Cities pertayning to the kingdome of Sicil, at that time mistrusting no such outrage.

Vpon intelligence hereof Innocent admonisheth O­tho to restore the feodary possessions of the Church, and to abstaine from further violence. But Caesar not only reiecteth his admonitions, but infesteth those pos­sessions, with more and more souldier-like depredati­ons. Innocent flyeth to Excommunication, depriueth him of his Imperiall titles, and absolueth the Princes of their oth of allegiance towards Otho. And that more is, prohibiteth vnder paine of damnation, that no man serue, account, or call Otho Lord or Emperor. It is reported, that he caused the Princes anew to sweare vnto Frederick King of Sicil, being as yet an Infant; and him he made choice of to succeed in his place.

Naucl. gen.Whereupon Otho returned into Germany; where, albeit in the Assembly of Noremberg, vpon complaint of the Popish tyranny, and the cowardize of the Prin­ces, he had entred a strict bond of alliance with many; and had moreouer taken sharpe reuenge vppon Her­man [Page 89] Lantgraue of Thuringe by wasting his territories, for that at the Popes commandement he had violated his faith: yet at last being forsaken of his people, hee was glad to retire into Saxonie, where the fourth day after his royall mariage at Northuis with the daughter of Philip, he fell sick, and died.

❧ Fredericke the second.

FRederick the second, by the vniuersall con­sent of all Writers, a Prince worthy all attri­butes of honour, as well for his gouernment in peace, as his cariage in warre; vpon the de­iection of Otho, at the commandement of Innocent the third, tooke vpon him the Imperiall Crowne at A­quisgran. And in the yeare next following (Otho de­parting at Perusium) he was crowned at Rome, and ho­noured with the name of Augustus, Cuspinian in vita Frederici. Pandulphus Collomitius. by Honorius the third. With him hee brought many rich gifts into Italie, and amongst the rest, the Countie of Funda; which with manie notable donatiues he bestowed vp­on the Church; And then setting Germanie in order, he prepared himselfe for the iourney of Ierusalem, ac­cording to the custome of his Auncestors: Who being deceaued by their false pretexts of Religion, imagined that they were not worthie to merit the Imperiall Diademes, but by vowes and donatiues; [Page 90] First, forgetting that no Pope, but the Princes, and the people, were interessed in the election of the Empe­rours: And secondly, not fore seeing, that the Priests, who had too sharply felt the armes of the Princes to their extreame losse, were not so carefull to recouer Ierusalem for the Christian good, as they were proui­dent to direct, or distract the forces of stirring Poten­tates; That mean while they might liue at pleasure, and prouide for their bellies. For the Princes being seque­stred into the farthest parts of the world (this pretext I confesse, caried a great shew of zeale & honesty) who was left to hinder them, from making free vse of their wits at home, and that without restraint or contra­diction.

Howeuer Frederick in the beginning caried himself bountifull and obedient towards Honorius; notwith­standing, his vertues could neither safe conduct his life against their subtilties, impieties and clandestine councels; neither his bountie extenuate or lenifie their conceiued malices against his person. For, three most wicked Bishops successiuely succeeding one another, for almost thirtie yeares space, so hardly kept him to it, that his most barbarous enemies, the Turks and Sa­racens, may be reported to haue made faire and gentle warres against this most warlike Emperour, in regard of those trickes and tragedies, which the Romanists played him.

Pandulfus in vita Frederici. Ʋrsperg. & Alij.First, Honorius immediatly after the receit of his Do­natiues, without any pretence of receiued displeasure, seditiously maintained and acquited from their oathes of allegeance the two Earles of Tuscanie, Richard and Thomas, condemned of treason, & the Emperors pub­lique [Page 91] & dangerous enemies. Secondly, that with more facility they might make vse of his fauour to purpose, and vsurpe vpon the Kingdomes of Sicil and Apulia, he branded the Emperor with the censure of excommu­nication, and (as far as lay in his power) depriued him of all Imperial soueraignty. After this, he prouoked the Lombards to rebellion; so that they repelled the Princes of Germany, approching to a diet to be held at Cremona by the Emperors direction: and had done more, had not God taken him out of this world, to accompanie his predecessours in the vale of death.

Gregorie the ninth succeedeth: He to seeme nothing inferiour to his predecessor, euen in the first step to his Papacie, raged worse then Honorius. He accuseth him, that according to his vow, vndertaken in the time of Honorius, to passe vnto Ierusalem, hee had not accom­plished it within the prefixed time: and therefore re­newing the excommunication, hee condemneth him without allowance of defence, vnsommoned and vn­heard; yea, he vtterly denieth either to heare, or to ad­mit vnto the presence of his councell, the honourable Embassadors of his Maiestie, bringing honest & lawful reasons in excuse of their Master; yea, petitioning to be admitted vnto satisfaction, in case their Lord had in any thing offended: But the Pope notwithstanding all offer of submission, daily intimateth his fulminations; confirmeth in their rebellions, Iohn King of Ierusalem, the Earls of Tuscany, the Emperors rebels, & the Nobles of Lombardy; And forbiddeth the Emperors seruants to appeare at the day of the Assembly, proclaimed by the Emperor, to be held at Rauenna; And spoileth the cros­sed souldiers, bound for the iourney of Ierusalem, of all [Page 92] their necessaries. The Emperor obseruing this passage, to lenifie his papall anger, passeth the sea, laieth siege to Acon, and finisheth many glorious attempts to the ho­nor of Christendom and the Christian religion. Meane time, the Pope (O the deepe abysse of Popish impiety) taketh his aduantage vpon the Emperours absence, subdueth Apulia, prohibiteth the crossed companies to passe the seas, & committeth infinit such like masteries, not only vnbeseeming a Christian Bishop, but much more Christ his Vicar. For first, he slaieth those Embas­sadors, whom the Emperor had sent vnto him to con­gratulate his good successe against the Soldan, & then to terrifie those cities of Apulia, which refused his yoke of subiection, he giueth out publique rumors, that the Emperor was departed this world. Hee also maketh meanes vnto the Soldan (mean time to work his will in Apulia) that he should not capitulate to surrender the Holy lād vnto Caesar. Here behold the piety of this Ho­ly father: Here behold his study, & conuersion of leuies of prouisions taken vp through christendom to be im­ployed against Gods enemies. This is his persecution of Infidels, this his Croisado against Turks & Pagans, viz. To inuert christian armes against christians, to for­sake a christian Emperor warring in a forraine land a­gainst the enemies of the Christian faith; and especially (I dare auow) for the safety of Italie, as experience hath since made manifest. For mine own part in the behalfe of the whole christian cōmon weale, I can but condole for the generall captiuity of Israel, but as for the Popes I say to them, as somtime mutata regione Tasso prophetically said of the Greeks vpō the very same Argument:

But, as in another place the same Poet spake of the Grecian Emperor, so the German Monarch might at this time say of the Romish Prelate:

Necessity will inforce me to returne; And so he did,Cuspinian in the life of Frede­ricke. to­wards Italy. Where, albeit by the way he had intercep­ted the Popes letters directed to the Soldan, containing the aforesaid instructions; yet hauing recouered the losses suffered in his absence; most heroically for the loue of Christ he beareth & dissembleth all forepassed greuances: And in pure deuotion to peace, of his own accord he beseecheth his holinesse to receiue him into fauour, & in requital therof, he protesteth to becom his future true liegeman for the kingdome of Sicil. What say you vnto this, you hypocrites? Heere you see a king, humble, contrit, & studious of peace; through this whole dis­course haue I yet read of no such Pope. What are thē the signs of christianity, and true religion? war or peace? Humility or pride? If you say peace & humility, where then must we seek them? In the breasts commonly of christian Princes. And no maruell, for both the written word of God, and conscience, haue warranted their authorities: yours not so, at leastwise, in such worldly maner, as you vse it. For being nouell, and [Page 94] conuersant in pompeous habiliments, in Lordlie appella­tions, in rich patrimonies, in commerce, in treaties, inuesti­ture of Princes, in maintaining of garrisons, in rigging of gallies, in entertaining of noble men and captaines for seruice, how can it chuse but by plots and deuises, to main­taine these worldly charges, and titulary honors, cleane con­trary to the example of Christ, the doctrine of the Apostles, and the modesty of the Primitiue Church) you shall bee con­strained to mingle the leuen of the Lord, with the abomina­tion of Baal; and in stead of preaching and praier (your sole function) to spend your times in perfecting and preuenting your own imaginations, and your enemies designements. For I know the kingdome of heauen is not of this world, neither will flesh and blood respect you as they ought, if as you say, you should carry lowly shewes, and truely practise Christian humilitie: but you know, where your reward is laid vp; Imi­tate this good Emperor, and thinke with your selues, that in this he followed your sayings, and not your doings. Imitate you your sayings, but saie, and doe, and then will the world turne their bitter reprehensions, to sweetest Sonnets in praise and admiration of your liues & Embassies. And here I craue pardon for digression.

Cuspinian. Plati­na in the life of Gregory. Naucl. gen. 41. Platina citans.Againe to the History: Albeit, most of the Princes of Germanie, Ecclesiasticall and secular, namely, Eber­hard of Salisburg, Seyfrid of Ratisbone, Sibot of Augusta, Bishops: Leopold of Austria, Otho of Merouia, and Bar­nard of Carinthia, Dukes with many other Nobles, did to their vtmost, labour with the Pope to reconcile his displeasure against Caesar then residing at Capua: yet could not his Maiesty obtaine promise of pardon, vn­till he had giuen assurance to pay into the Churches exchequer by the hands of the Master of the Teutonick [Page 95] order, the summe of one hundred and twenty thou­sand ounces of gold. Is this to forgiue thy brother sea­uenty times seuen? Or can sinne and trespasses be wa­shed away by Masses of mony? O impudent merchant, Antichristian impostor! The price being made, par­don followeth, and the Emperor inuited to a riotous feast, where amongst many dishes, simulata Amicitia, I assure you, is carried vp for a seruice. For the Emperor was scarce vpon his way towards Germanie, to represse the sonne of Henrie, who with the Lombards and Thuscians had rebelled against him, but he is openly giuen to vnderstand by the Princes, that by messen­gers in the name of the Bishop, they haue strict com­mandement, not to acknowledge any man of the Em­perors family for King: and moreouer, that hee had conspired with the states of Italie to disgrade him of all imperiall iurisdiction.

Whereat Caesar, being full of discontent, hauing ta­med his rebells, hee plagueth the mutinous Cities of Hetruria and Lombardie. The Pope is now become more then mad, and to disgorge melancholy (for o­therwise it will stifle him) againe the third time he cur­seth the Emperor with book, bell and candle. And to be sure at this blow to tumble him quite downe from the height of all Imperiall dignity; first hee treateth a league with the Venetians: Then by the counsel of the Kings of France and England, hee summoneth a coun­cell to be celebrated at Rome in the Lateran: wherein is a great dispute about the vtter abolishment of the regall authority of Fredericke. Before the first sitting the heads of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul, with due solemnity are carried round about the City. And [Page 96] lastly,Collomitius, quem prae cae­teris, vide. Platina in vita Gregorij noni. in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter, he ma­keth a sermon full of Commiseration; proclaimeth the Croisado, and promiseth life euerlasting to as ma­ny, as shall take vp armes against his Maiestie.

Frederick being giuen to vnderstand, that the Croi­sado was now proclaimed against him, which was ne­uer from the daies of Adam heard of, to be divulged a­gainst any, but Turks and Infidels, waxeth exceeding angry, and directeth his forces to the walls of Rome; combatteth with the Romanes, rowteth them with a miserable slaughter, and spareth not a man, marked with the Crosse. To some crosse-wayes he comman­ded foure words to be giuen. Others had their heads clouen a crosse, and the Clergie-men hee willed to be shauen to the quick, and the signe of the crosse to be imprinted vpon their bald pates; that so they, who were but said to be signed with the Crosse, might be so signed indeed.

Afterward, by a long and tedious siege, hauing for­ced Furentia, and hearing that the Pope had sent forth his Legats, to summon the English and French Prelats to the Councell; he shutteth vp by sea and by land all passages: and by the seruice of the Pisans taketh some Cardinals, and many Prelates passing by sea, and com­mitteth them to prison. Two Cardinals hee drow­neth, and assigneth to the gallowes some Abbots and Bishops, but especially the Popes brother, for their vnpardonable treasons.

Whereupon, this good holy father, sorrowing to see so many of the Lords annointed, for treason to be so sharply vsed by Frederick, became so moued and di­stempered at the indignity, that falling into sicknesse, [Page 97] through griefe of minde, hee departed the same way, which his beloued Sons, had but lately foregone.

Celestine the fourth succeedeth, and intendeth to proceed in the steps of his predecessor against Frede­rick, had not death summoned him to attend another businesse in a fitter place. For hee sate Bishop but eighteene daies, and then was poisoned in drinking.

Innocentius the third succeeded;Petrus de vi­neis li. 1. ep. 33. whilom the Em­perours deuotest friend, but now his most bitter ene­my; persecuting his Maiesty with more furie, then any of his deceased predecessors. And thus it fell out.

Baldwin the Grecian Emperor,Collenutius & Cuspinian in vi­ta Frederici. Hieron. Martius. hoping to play the part of a good Christian, in supplying the office of him, who was vtterly degenerated from all remem­braunce of his owne function and calling, laboured what hee could to set vnity betweene these two migh­ty monarchs: (for so is all Popery in truth, though not in shew.) But the Bishop, hauing no mind to hearken to so Christian-like a motion, dealeth with the Geneois (hauing a Nauie at that time riding at anchor in the Port of Centumcellae) to transport him vnto Lyons in France, and there illuding both Princes for their kind­nesse and paines-taking, proclaimeth a concionable; causeth Fredericke to bee cited, yea himselfe in the end of his Homely, citeth him: and for default of appea­rance (although his sufficient substitute, Thadeus Su­essanus, a most famous Lawyer, humbly desired his Furiousnesse but to allow him a sufficient returne, whereby hee might haue conuenable time for his re­paire to Lyons) he denieth him respit; accurseth him; depriueth him of al Imperial honors; absolueth his sub­iects, & abetteth them in despight of Frederick, to make [Page 98] choice of some other. Most impudently alleadging (so did euer the Pharisies by Christ, because otherwise they could not effect their wills) very vile, false and for­ged suggestions against him, as blasphemies, periuries, sacrilege, and such like stuffe: which see in C. Apostol. de sent. & re iudicata, lib. 6.

The Emperor hearing hereof, setteth Italie in or­der, and with a compleat army marcheth towards Ly­ons, there face to face to bandy with this insolent Pre­late. But thinke you a Pope to be so silly an Asse, as to deale with his forewarned enemy? no beleeue it. His conscience can not assure his heart to look him in the face: He must deale altogether vpon aduantage, ciuill dissentions, alienations of obedience, trecheries, periu­ries, discontents of neighbour-Princes and subiects. At which weapons he now dealeth with the Emperour; and hauing his scouts, his espialls and Intelligencers in euery corner through the world, by their seruices, he worketh the banished gentlemen of Parma, to returne to their country, and there to plot out myriads of re­bellions against those Cities, which as yet in Italie stood well affected to the Emperors seruice. Where­upon before his Maiesty could come to Taurinum, Cusp. in vita Frederici. Nauc. gen. 42. Epi. extat in e­pistolis Petri de Vineis. epist. 32. in feare that the residue of the Italian people would one follow anothers example, he quitteth his Lyons-iour­ny; and by letters, directed both vnto the King of France, as also to the prelats there assembled, in most honest termes he refuteth his enemies obiections, dis­courseth at large vpon the insufficiency and nullity of a Popish curse, and withall strongly prepareth by sea to reduce Parma to its former obedience.

But good Emperour, the greater thy learning, the [Page 99] more their griefe: the greater thy courage, the more vigilant is thy diuill-like enemy for thy ruine. Thou staiest at Grossetum, about the sea coast of Sienna, there to refresh thy wearied and ouerwrought spirits, with some disports of hauking; Thou wilt not get thee in­to Germanie, nor repasse the mountaines:De hac coniu­ratione vide ep. 10. & 52. li. 2. Rursus epi. 19. & 62. li. 3. Then will thy ghostly father meditate night and day to vndoe thee; then will he traiterously inueigle thy principall seruants, some by wrested sentences of Scripture, and some by corruption of mony, to worke thy downfall. Thus imitate they Christ in blessing their enemies; Thus honor they Kings according to Saint Peter; But (thanke thy God) the conspiracie was detected, and the traytors worthely punished.

Nocentius beeing fallen into a desperate fury, for that he had failed in these his most nefarious proiects, in seeing the Emperor for this time fully cleered from his diuelish intendments, grew yet resolute, not to giue ouer, vntill hee had really dispossest him of his crowne & life. Which to effect, by threats, exhortations, & pro­mises he aweth the Princes of Germanie to depose Fre­derick, and in his place to set vp Henrie Lantgraue of Thuringe. But this gentleman following the seruice of his master at the siege of Vlmes, was deadly wounded the same yeere wherin he was nominated King. So also his successor William, beeing imploied in other wars, performed nothing in fauour of his Furiousnesse.See D. B. 290. Whereupon the Pope obseruing his Anathems to be vilified, his rebellious hirelings in Italy to be throughly persecuted, & his aduersary to be resolute and vndaun­ted, after long and manifold trecheries plotted, and fru­strated, at last, he procureth him to be poisoned in the [Page 100] two and thirtith yeere of his raigne, and the fifty sea­uenth of his age, on the very same day wheron he was declared Emperor, Caesar, Augustus.

Thus, this most worthy Heros, this Frederick the se­cond, Emperor of Germany, king of both Sicils and Hie­rusalem, Lord of Sardinia and Italie, & Duke of Sweuia, an excellent Prince, adorned with all good gifts dained by God vnto man, aswell for the furniture of mind, as body; valiant, honorable, liberall; a great linguist, and excellent well learned, finished his mortall race: who, had he not been diuerted, from turning his Christian Armes against the Pagans, by the rebellions of Italy, and the Papall abetments thereto, verely he had meri­ted more praise of the Christian world, then Alexan­der in due could haue exacted of his Macedonian sub­iectes.

Verely, If this our Age (miserably shaken with this inueterate Papall tyranny) by this president would learne, what emolument, peace and plenty would ac­crue both to the Church and common-weale, by due ballancing the temporall and Ecclesiasticall Au­thorities; then would I not doubt, but to behold the German Empire most great, most glorious, and the Papall vsurpation once again reduced to its pure and primitiue integrity. More in commendation of this good Emperor I can not say, but onely wish that the Motto, which was once vnderwritten Brutus his statue, and now due to him (vtinam viueres) might at this day be reuiued in the hearts of all Christian Potentates to reuindicate their pristinate prerogatiues.

But who shall recomfort the Laments of Sion? Al­beit that this most worthy Generall was gathered in [Page 101] peace to the bed of his fathers, yet Death had no pri­uiledge to giue period either to the extinguishment or satiation of these Popes neuer dying malice. For, a­gainst all humane beliefe, and the diuine precepts it raged with so inhumane a feruencie against this Em­perors posterity, that it neuer gaue ouer,So did it in the powder treason. vntil it had de­priued his issue both of life and Empire.

For forthwith from the decease of Frederick, these (three Popish Sultans) Innocent the third, Alexander and Vrban the fourth, following the continual streame of their proud fortunes, imployed the vtmost of their meanes to re-inuest the Kingdome of Naples in the Church, and to strip thereof the House of Sweuia; but in vaine; for Manfred maintained and retained it valiantly as yet against all their violences; vntill Cle­ment the fifth following the claime of his Predecessor Vrbans Intrusion,Platina in vita Clementis quar­ti. called Charles Earle of Prouince and Aniow out of France, to take possession thereof: vpon condition, that Manfred being expulsed, Hee should yearely pay vnto the Church of Rome in the Name of a Tenure thirtie thousand Duckets; And for farther encouragement; Not to accept the inuestiture thereof, Nauel. gen. 43. though freelie offered, from the Romane Emperour, hee caused him to be stiled, King of both Sicils. Which done, in the Lateran Church, hee is inaugurated with the Crowne of Sicil and Hierusalem. And af­ter manie and various conflicts, hee not onely ouer­throweth, and slayeth Manfred at Beneuent, betrayed by his people: but also, extinguisheth the sole heire of the noble house of Sweuia, the stem of many worthy Emperors, Conrade the son of Conrade, whō he got vnto his power by treasō neer Naples; & there by the wicked [Page 102] dispensatorie counsel of the Pope, with more then Pha­larian cruelty struck off his head, for going about to recouer his owne,So alwaies Pap. cauill. but indeed, vpon suggestion that hee persecuted the Church.

For Clement, after he had heard the opinion of ma­nie wise men, perswading him that Conrade, as being the onely branch of the most noble house of Sweuia, was to be preferred, and obliged to the Romane sea by fauours and affinitie, turned himselfe to Charles, and would needes know of him, what he also deemed: To whom the Traytor made this butcherly Reply. Vita Conradini, mors Caroli: Mors Conradini, vita Coroli. i. The life of Conrade will be death to Charles; The death of Con­rade, life to Charles. By which his brutish opinion, hee thus whetted on a minde already prepared for mur­der; by manifest presumptions fore-shewing, that hee was already acquainted with some plot of treason a­gainst Conrade. For after he vnderstood, that Conrade with a puissant armie of Germanes, was passed Viterbi­um, where then his Holinesse resided, he was heard to prophesie, That he was led as a Lamb to the slaughter.

Thus, the posteritie of Frederick being for manie ages turmoiled by this succession of Bishops, after in­finit practises at last was vtterly ruinated by these blou­die monsters: yea, the Princes of Germanie were so in­volued in these fatal oppositiōs, that none of thē either daring or willing to weare a Crowne at so deare a rec­koning, Alphons of Spaine, and Richard of England, by mony and the Popes fauour (as the world saith) began to aspire vnto that Dignity, which for so many ages past, the Germaines alone had enioyed, and honoura­bly maintained.

[Page 103]But neither of them,Herein let all Christians note the beginning, progresse and sequell of all Popish pra­ctises. either in iealousie one of ano­ther, or in feare of their predecessors harmes, euer came to the reall possession thereof, so that for the space al­most of 22. yeares, the Empire became an Anarchy, and so continued, vntill by the generall suffrage of all the Princes, Rodulph of Hauespurg was chosen Em­perour.

❧Rodulphus Habspurgicus.

AFter these lamentable Tragedies acted vpon the person of Frederick & his issue, is Rodulph of Hauespurg, elected King of Romanes. Who, albeit he had pleighted his faith to Gregorie the tenth, that hee would come to Rome, and there be crowned; as also, had studied to deserue the friendship of him, and other his successours, with extraordinarie indeuours; For that, time had taught him, that euen against all hu­mane reason, this viperous generation had clearely extinguished the two most worthy and glorious fami­lies, of France and Sveuia; As also, for that, they had transferred the Kingdome of Naples from the race of Frederick, to the house of Aniow; and therfore thought with himselfe, that such Potentates, as they, were not rashly to be prouoked, especially being now shielded with the fauours of the French, and the peeuishnesse of [Page 104] the Germane Bishops; As also, that it was worke e­nough, beseeming the Maiestie of a good and gracious Emperour, to tender the welfare of his natiue Coun­try, now almost ruinated and rent by ciuill dissentions: Notwithstanding his godlinesse, his clemencie, his de­uotion, his humanity, his modestie, and his obseruan­cie, yet could hee deserue no other retribution from these vngratefull Politicians, but intrusions vpon his Crowne, and taunts against his person.

Mutius. li. 21. Naucl. gen. 44.For Honorius the fourth, being Bishop at that sea­son, arrogating vnto himselfe all Regall authority, di­rectly against the good will of Rodulph, constituted Priziualna Earle of Ianua, vicar Generall of the Em­pire throughout Italy. And after his Maiestie for mo­ny had quite claimed vnto many Cities their liberties, this Honorius most wickedly sealed this scandalous transaction.

Naucl. vbi su­pra.After the decease of Honorius, Nicholas the fourth had vtterly dispossest this Emperour of Romandiola and Rauenna, vnder the false pretext of an expedition a­gainst the Turke, had not Death taken truce with his traiterous intents. By a new creation of two Kings in Italie, the one to gouerne Lumbardy, the other Tusca­nie, he had plotted, that by the commodiousnesse of their scituations all alongst the Teutonick Alps, from hence by armes he might alwaies haue meanes to curb the French, who now hold Sicil, and the goodly King­dome of Naples in full possession.

Paralip. Ʋrsp.Wherof Rodulph taking notice, resoluing with him­selfe neuer to be made a stale to an other mans de­spight, which by affectation of a titularie Crowne in Italie, publiquely at all times giueth forth, that at some [Page 105] time or other, he would find sufficient occasions of di­uersion and redresse; but in plain termes he intimateth to his friends, that he was wholly deterd from iourny­ing into Italy, for that he had formerly obserued, That the entrance of the Caesars thereinto was applauded, honou­red, and full of hopes: but their returnes aukward, heauie, mournfull and miserable. Not impertinently alluding vnto Esops fable of the Wolfe; who told the Lyon ly­ing sick in his den, That in truth he had no reason to enter, considering that he could well obserue the foo­ting of euery beast in entrance, going forward, but not of one, returning backward.

❧Albertus Primus.

ALbeit Albert succeeding his father Rodulph, Cuspi. in vitae. Alberti. in the Empire, continued the same obseruancy towards the Roman Monarchy,Paralip. V [...] ­sperg. as his father formerly had done: yet could he by no meanes escape the bitter quips & taunts of these cloistered asses. For, at what time by his Ambassadours according to cu­stome hee praied of Boneface the eight, the Confirma­tion of his Election, Boneface hauing a sword by his side, and the Imperiall Crowne vppon his head, sheweth himselfe in publique to the assemblie, and with a high voice exclaymeth: Ego sum Caesar & Pon­tifex: Behold, here is Caesar and the Pope: And in furie [Page 106] (whereas it mought haue been done without his pri­uity or authority) hee reiecteth the Election as friuo­lous and of no force; denieth confirmation, and with a full-foule mouth, calleth him Homicide.

Afterwards, vpon a bitter quarrell arising between this Maleface and Philip King of France, for that his Maiesty would not acknowledge him for his supreme Lord, he chāged his first opinion; aprooued Albert Emperor; by his Breues inuested him with the Kingdom of France, and in a full Consistorie Excommunicated Philip. Yet againe when Albert re-answered, that he would not stir one foote against the King of France, vnlesse his Holynesse would confirme him and his heires in the Kingdome and Empire: The Pope, not able to conceale his imprisoned displeasure, most arro­gantly replied:Naucl. gen. 44. Non futurum id Iezabele viuente; That, that should neuer come to passe, so long as Iezabel liued By which abusiue name, he pointed at that most noble Dame Elizabeth, the wife of Albert, the daughter of Menihard, Earle of Tirol, and sister by the mothers side to Conrade late Duke of Sweuia. In shew cauelling at this noble Lady, as an implacable persecutrix of Cler­gy men against Gods commandements, but in truth, most barbarously enuying her in memory of her bro­ther and her deceased Auncestors, for their claming and retaining of their hereditary royalties against the vsurpations of the former Bishops. Let the world be Iudge, if they continue not the like, yea the very same stratagems, against all Princes at this day, if they but crosse their ambitions. The man that feareth God would think, that a good and a vertuous life, especially in a Prince, should warrant his daies from vexation, [Page 107] and his graue from infamy. But here you see the con­trary: Albert followeth the steps of his father; he is humble, in offensiue, glad to please, yet not well requi­ted: His Lady neither medleth nor maketh with these contentious persons, and yet in regard that her Aun­cesters displeased the Roman prelacie, shee sauoreth; and must be disgraced in most opprobrious manner:Doct. B. fo. 68. S. E. H. fo. 48. yea the depth of the graue can not secure her honora­ble friends from railing, so furious is the fire of a Po­pish conscience.

No maruell: for this is that Boniface the eight, who (like the Diuell in the Gospell) censured all principali­ties and powers to bee in his donation; who vsurped vpon both swords, and would needs haue inforced the whole world, to haue acknowledged him their Lord Peramount: glorying that to him were committed the keies of Heauen gate: That he ought to be iudged of no man, no though hee carried a million of soules with him to hell for company.

❧Henricus Septimus.

AFter the decease of Albert, Henrie of that name the seuenth,Mutius lib. 23. of the House of Lucel­burge, by the lawfull suffrage of the Elec­tors, is nominated Emperor. Clement the fift (then High-Priest) liuing at Auignion, (well fare the iarre betweene him and Philip the French King) in [Page 108] odium Philippi, gaue so courteous and facil a way vnto this election, that sending his Legats through all the quarters of Germanie and Italie, hee gaue strict com­mandement, that Henry should be acknowledged Em­peror, and really confirmed in the election; prouided that, within the space of two yeares, hee should come to Rome to be crowned, and personally visit Italy, which now by reason of sixty yeares absence of the Germane Emperours, was miserably afflicted with intestine dis­sensions.

But the Pope could not long be Master of his own breast, hee must needes follow the accustomed kna­uerie of his vafrous predecessours. For when Henrie, in satisfaction of his promises, had made his peram­bulation throughout euerie Prouince of Italie; had twice rowted Rupert King of Apulia with the Vr­sins; approached Rome, and expected his Coronation in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter: The Pope, repenting him of his forwardnesse, by calling to minde of Henries powerfulnesse, and Ruperts friend­ship, at first commandeth the Cardinals not to pro­ceede to Henries inauguration; and then againe vp­on the Emperours serious expostulation, changing his interdiction; hee assenteth, conditionally, that hee take an oath of fidelity to the sea of Saint Pe­ter.

Which when his Maiestie refused, alleadging the president to be new, and but lately vsurped in the dayes of some fewe of his Predecessours, That the chiefest Prince of Christendome should be obliged by an oath of fealtie to the seruant of seruants at last with much [Page 109] a-doe, but vtterly against the Popes minde,Cuspinian. by the loy­all seruice of Steuen of Colonna, he was crowned by the Cardinals. For, Clement himselfe in deadlie hatred a­gainst Him, reuolted to Rupert King of Apulia, by a lawfull triall condemned of high treason; and re­uersed his sentence of condemnation,Vide C. pastora­lis, desententia & re iudicat. in Clement. not so much for any defect in Law, but in extreame malice against his Maiestie.

Thus was the quarrell pickt against Henry; obserue the cause thereof, I beseech you, and tell me if the pre­sident hold not with their practises at this day. But by the suddaine and immature departure of this religious Emperor, nothing was effected.

For, Henrie now being resolued to take vpon him the Crowne of Sicilie, Rhithmi de morte Henrici impressi hunc proditorem ve­neficum Pauli­num vocant. being thereunto nominated by the Sicilians, vpon the vigil of the Assumption of our Lady was come as farre as Bonconuent: Where, by Bernard the false dominican Monke, who before times had giuen many hypocriticall testimonies of seruice towards his Maiestie, by a new and neuer heard of example, at Masse mingled poison, and the powder of Adamant (which as men say bringeth speediest death) into the communion cup, and so slew his Lord and soueraigne.

All the wakes, Annals, records, songs, rithmes, verses and Epigrams written in those daies, doe make am­ple relation of this tragedy. But the whole Rabble (and blame them not) of the Dominicans do vtterlie deny it; giuing out, that in griefe of mind, for that he could not be fully reuenged vpon his enemies, hee gaue vp tho ghost, after he had receiued letters from his Holinesse [Page 110] in testimoniall of this afore-said villaines innocencie. But howeuer; These faire glosses could not so exempt their Order from the suspition of this murder, but that many of their Couent, together with their houses were burnt and destroyed by sword and fire in manie places throughout Tuscanie and Lombardy.

❧Lodouicus Bauarus.

HEnry (last spoken of) being thus dispat­ched, the tempest which in his life time lay smothered in embers, in hideous ma­ner now breaketh out vpon the head of his successors. For Frederick of Austria, and Lewes of Bauaria being both by the discordant suf­frages of the Electors, named for Caesars, Iohn the 22. findeth an occasion to disquiet them both; and first in very ignominious fashion hee quarelleth with Frede­rick. And thus it fared: Conrade the Bishop of Gurcia was sent to Rome by the Austrians, to desire his Holi­nesse in fauour of Frederick, to giue assent to the electi­on, and to represse Lewes; where, in making his Ora­tion, he chanced to discourse, vpon the praises of Fre­derick his grandfathers and great-grandfathers, con­cluding, that the Christian world was likely to reape nothing contrarie to expectation, considering, That it was alwaies seene, that from good and valiant Parents, [Page 111] discended good and valiant children; yet by your fauour, most arrogantly and impertinently replied his Holi­nesse; Of all men liuing without question Salomon was the wisest, and yet he begot a sonne most foolish. Not ob­scurely intimating thereby, that Frederick was degene­rated from the vertues of his auncestors, and therefore vnworthy of the Imperiall diademe.

VVas this displeasure, deeme yee, of continu­ance? no surely; for then had it not beene papall. But at that time Iohn had no neede of Fredericke: Lewes Iudas-like was saluted King, and the beloued sonne: But now Mapheus with his sonnes the Visconti, are vp in Italy, and assaulting Genoa. And thereupon must a league of reconciliation be priuily contracted with Frederick to the expulsion of Lewes, and the re-orde­ring of Mapheus.

Eight yeares after his election, Frederick was foiled in field, and taken prisoner: Howbeit,Cuspin. in vita Ludouici Pul­chri. Naucl. gen. 46. the Pope pro­secuteth Lewes with continuall malice; denounceth him an Enemie to the Church, a Schismatike, and an Heretike; First, for that immediatly vpon his Electi­on, without his Holinesse permission, hee had stiled himselfe Emperour; secondly, for that hee presumed to relieue certaine of his yonger bretheren being con­demned of heresie, and outlawed after excommunica­tion; and thirdly, for his rash assistance sent to Galeas Visconti of Millan against his holy forces.

Whereupon Lewes, Naucl. gen. 45. vnderstanding by the best Di­uines and Lawyers of that age, that the acts and say­ings of Iohn were repugnant to Christ his Doctrine: That the Pope in truth ought to be subiect to the Em­peror, and not the Emperor to him in temporall cau­ses: [Page 112] tooke thereat such incouragement, that, he appea­led from the Pope male informato (as the Lawyers speake) to the Pope meliùs informando, at the next ge­nerall Councel to be held, when he sate at Rome in Pe­ters chaire. Meane time, valiantly and vigilantly hee preuenteth all iniuries, and diuulgeth the Tenor of the Appeale throughout all the Prouinces of Germany.

During these verball and scribeling contentions, it came to passe, that the Romans being throughly tor­mented with their ciuill dissentions, sent their submis­siue Orators to Iohn, with humble supplications to in­treat his Holinesse; that leauing Auignion, he would re-uisite Rome, and confer the Imperial Inuestiture vp­on the King of Romans: this if he refused, they certifi­ed him in plaine termes, that they would renue the an­cient Lawes and gouernment of the Romane people. Iohn not only denieth their requests, but with threats and minaces, in most ignominious maner dismisseth the Orators: At which his pride the Romans being not a little offended, by letters and Ambassies call Lew­es to Rome as their lawfull Emperor.

Lewes granteth the motion, and with his army ta­keth his way towards Italy; and at Millan according to the accustomed manner is crowned by the Archbi­shop. After this, making choice rather by humility, then armes, to asswage the Bishops wrath, he sendeth messengers vnto him, humbly to desire his fatherhood to confer the vsuall and Imperiall honours vpon his Maiesty. Which when the Bishop not only gainsayd, but despighteously dismissing his Ambassadors, pe­remptorily cited his Maiesty to Auignion; As report goeth: Caesar as hauing full experience of the Papall [Page 113] tyranny, yet willing to preserue the Imperiall dignity (collated from aboue) holy and inuiolable, vtterly re­fuseth slaue-like to prostrate himselfe before the Pope, or to appeare at Auignion. But to auoid the effusion of blood, he is content in peaceable maner by proxy to become a sutor for his collation. But herein finding the Pope as stiffe as himselfe, and his friendes the Visconti to his disgrace alreadie accursed, he maketh no more adoe; but setting Millane in order, he iour­nyeth to Rome, where with great applause by the commaundement of the people and the Clergie, together with his wife hee is Crowned by Cardinall Steuen Colonna, the whole Nobility assisting, and crying, GOD saue Lodowicke Augustus Emperour of Romanes. And foorthwith by all their good liking, he createth Peter of Corbar, a Minorit, a man learned and in-ured to Gouernement, High Priest: Hee cau­seth the counterfet of Iohn to be made in wood, and in the presence of Caesar most ignominiously consumeth it to ashes; pronouncing him an Heretique, a destroier of the Church, and a publique enemy to the peace of Christendome.

Iohn again, thundreth out cruell processe against Lew­es, depriueth him of all imperiall preheminence, and ex­communicateth him as a Rebell and Arch-heritique a­gainst the Roman Church. Wherupon the Emperor, to whom Italy became displeasāt, partly for that he had already determined to make no long abode therein, & partly in feare of poison, wherwith he knew the Roma­nists were better acquainted, then with arms, made his retrait into Germany. Whether (no sooner ariued) but newes was spred abroad of Iohns departure, to the vni­uersall [Page 114] ioy of all wel-minded Christians, in hope that by the election of a new Bishop, all old quarrels should lie buried with their framer. But not so: For Benedict the twelfth succeeding in the Popedom,Plati. in vita Benedict. 12. Cusp. in vita Ludouici. succeeded also in all Popish qualities against this Emperor; confir­ming all the censures, and depriuations which his pre­decessor Iohn had sued out against him.

Apud. Na Decretum hoc extat gen. 45.Whereupon, Caesar perceiuing that these fiery spi­rits would neuer be at peace, vntill by the vtter ouer­throw and disgrace of all temporall Authority, they had fully and forceably strengthned their owne great­nesse, at Franckford he assembleth the Princes, with the wise-men of his Kingdom; persons of immatcheable dexterity in diuine and humane sciences, and there, by the aduise of the most zealous and best learned, hee publisheth a Decree vnder his seale against the iniuri­ous processe of the dead Bishop: therein rendring a most Christianlike account of his faith, plainly & inge­nuously confessing, that as it became a true Catholike he beleeued all the Articles of the Christian veritie.

To these by solemne proclamation hee annexeth many notable edicts, to the ancient Constitutions he addeth some new, and corroborateth the old, viz. That the Electors of the Empire, and no man besides, should inter­meddle in the election of the King of Romans: Whereun­to the Princes and nobility gaue their full consent: Or­daining moreouer, that who euer was nominated King or Emperor, should be acknowledged for the true, supreme, and indubitate Soueraign of the Empire, being indeed though different in name, yet the same in effect. That without a­ny confirmation or approbation from the Apostolique sea, he might absolutely gouerne and administer iustice through­out [Page 115] the Empire. And that after publication from the Prin­ces, in case of lawfull proceeding in the election, the Pope is bound to anoint him: And in defalt of refusall or denial, that any other catholique Bishop is as capable as the Pope, to pro­claime him Emperor, Caesar, Augustus; Considering that these formal and solemne ceremonies, are but things indifferent deuised by the Popes, conferring only titles and names, but no matter of substance. For what Ro­man Bishop consecrated the Constantinopolitan Em­perors? what Pope before Charles his time, the ancient Augusti? or who before Constantine the Ethnike Caesars? And then, the Emperor acknowledged no oth of fide­lity, but of obseruancy and of defending the faith.

From this point, he proceedeth to prooue, that in case of vacancy, the Imperial election diuolueth not to the Papacy: and that, the prescription is derogatory to the liberty, dignity, the rites and maiesty of the sacred Empire, but in truth by long and aprooued custome from Antiquity, and stl in vse, that all Iudicature, feal­ties and priuiledges of conferring and disposing of all rights, interests, & demands, belonged & do belong to the House of the Count Palatine of the Rhene, during the vacancy, notwithstanding the constitutions of the Cle­mentines.

What pen can be so partiall, as not to giue due com­mendation to the prudency of this good Emperor, be­ing seasoned with so plentifull a measure of discretion? who so modestly carried himselfe between the Princes & the Pope, that the former admired his wisedom, and the later celebrated his goodnesse?Naucl. gen. 45. For in Benedicts prime-entrance into the pontificacy, vpon occasion of discontents between his holinesse and the French king [Page 116] his Maiestie vnderstanding therof, by meanes made for reconciliation and absolution, vnto which the Bishop, after hee had entered into a large field of discourse in praise of Germany and this Emperour, condiscended; promising to be mindfull of the motion; concluding, That that Noble branch of the Church (meaning Lewes) which now began to be seperated, should again be re-ingraf­ted into the body of the tree.

Vpō another occasion, when the Embassadors of the kings of France and Apulia, had scandalized his Maiestie for plotting of diuers indignities against the Court of Rome: his Holines excused him with great earnestnes, openly anouching, that the Clergie had wronged him, and not he the Clergie.

Naucl. vbi su­pra.But howeuer, at this time he acknowledged the in­nocencie of Lewes, yet afterwards, when the king of France in despight of the Emperor & the Pope, had slily preuented the returne of certaine Cardinals into his kingdom; and that Iohn king of Bohemia, & Henry Duke of Bauaria, had traiterously cōspired to elect a new Em­peror, he suffered himselfe with small intreaty to be dis­swaded from his former resolution of Absolution: yea, after the king of France & his Maiestie had capitulated a peace, full sore against his mind; vpon request to haue it ratified by his Holines, he flatly denied it; cauelling, that Lewes being now declared an heretike, ought not again to be accounted a Christian at the kings plesure.

Thus may you see how the Popes were accustomed to play fast and loose with the German Emperors.

Cuspin. Marius.Well, the Absolution by this nicity being adiour­ned, and the Emperor well obseruing wherunto these pontifical policies tended, summoneth the Princes and [Page 117] Electors to a Diet at Rensium. There with ease, by his affability, liberality and clemency, he so deuoteth their loyalties to his seruice, that by solemne oath they not onely auow to maintaine and defend the honor of the Empire: but they also decreed, the Processes of Iohn late Pope of Rome, returned against his Maiestie, to be void and of no validity: yea, that a Bishop ought not to en­tertaine any such practises against an Emperour, for that their iurisdictions were meerly of distinct natures.

Benedict dieth, & Clement the 6. succeedeth:Cuspin. & Pa­ralip. Ʋrsperg. an effemi­nat Prelat, extraordinarily ambitious of honor & po­tencie. Who had no sooner seated his foot in the chair of Lucifer, but his furious Genius took such hold of his hart, that in Latin & Dutch libels affixed vpon church dores, he summoneth his Maiestie vnder the censure of extream penāce, within three daies space to make satis­faction, to God & the church (meaning himself) as also to desist frō further medling in the affaires of the Em­pire; which limitation being expired, & no appearance recorded, he proceedeth to sentence of cōtumacie. Af­terwards, whē his Proctors craued forgiuenes, with an offer to performe all iniunctions to vtmost: he was not ashamed to motion so foule an attonement, as neuer Pagan demanded of his Captiue slaue: viz. That hee should confesse and acknowledge all his errors and heresies. That he should resigne the Empire: and simply commit his children, and all his moueables into his tuition.

Where is now become, O Lucifer, thy pastoral hu­mility? where thy fatherly aspect? where thy represen­tatiue Holinesse?

Notwithstanding, albeit the poorest refuse of the world would not haue accepted of these basest condi­tions, [Page 118] yet this good Emperour, fore-seeing, that if he should not bend; warre, slaughter & spoiles would ensue, he receiued the pontificall libell; signed it with his seale, and swore to obserue it; so farre forth humi­liating his deiection, that vpon relation thereof, the whole Colledge of the scarlet-roabed-fathers could not chuse but receiue it with vnaccustomed admiratiō.

But the Emperor vpon sounder aduice, considering with himselfe, that without the consent of the Ele­ctors, and of the Princes & the estates of the Empire, it was against the fundamentall Law to accept of any such Capitulation, in the next assembly at Frankford, hee causeth the tenor of the reconciliation to be read before the whole Assembly. They giue sentence, that it tendeth in most points to the preiudice and destru­ction of the state, and therefore reiect it: They pro­mise to stand fast vnto his Maiestie; in case, as before, he would re-assume his courage, and resolutely defend the honour of the Empire. And to conclude, they di­spatch an Embassie to the Pope, with intimation, that from thence-forth he should cease from such friuolous conuentions, being purposely deuised to dishonour the Maiestie of the German Empire.

They arriue before his Holinesse; they expostulate the rigour of the Articles to the preiudice of the Em­pire: nothing else they inforce, nothing else they de­mand: But his Holinesse inraged like an illuded Ti­gresse; layeth all the blame vpon Lewes, & with deeper hart-burning then before, falleth into treatie with Iohn and Charles Kings of Bohemia, heretofore ouerthrowne by Lewes, and with their vncle Baldwin, Archbishop of Treuers, to destoy Lewes and his whole posterity.

[Page 119]The bargaine agreed vpon by these Pseudo Christi­ans, in the yeare of our Sauiour 1346. vpon Maundy-Thursday, hee is most irreligiously accursed by Bene­dict; and by the renouation of the Processe (sent out by his predecessour Iohn) declared an Heretique and scismatique.

To aggrauate the despight, and by effects to shew the solidity of his religion, hee commandeth the Ele­ctors within a proportioned time, to make choise of another. Loe, the Emperor rather then he will be an instrument of slaughter and faction, disgraceth his high calling by acceptance of basest articles; but the Pope rather then he will want of his will, vnico statu (as the prouerb is) will depose, set vp, commend, dispraise, blesse and curse; and without all respects, either of conscience or humanity, set all Christendome on out­rage, to be reuenged on one creature. Were this the practise but of One, the imputation were excusable, as a defect in manners, but through the whole Legend of euery Emperours life, you shall obserue the one ab­stinent, yea timorous, for conscience sake to defile e­uen his imaginations with humane blood: the other rigorous, wrathfull, impatient, and quarrelsome: som­time vpon donatiues, sometime vpon iura imperij, and sometimes vpon non augmenting of Saint Peters pa­trimonie. Which irreligious and Antichristian out­rages, albeit they know them in their consciences to be absolutely diabolicall, repugnant to Christian Do­ctrine, and pernicious to all ciuill society, yet rather then any Pope or Popeling will let fall any one parti­cle of vnlawfull vsurpation, gained by any the wicked­est of his predecessours, words and workes shall flie at [Page 120] randon vpon euery occasion, so that it would amaze a very Turke to heare with what shifts, with what eua­sions, and distinctions of spiritualia, they will stuffe whole volumes in iustifying of their falsifications, in wresting and curtailing of Authors, in denying mani­fest Records, in railing on their opposites, and pressing mens consciences with miracles, policies, and impo­stures. Insomuch, that if words will not worke, impo­stures shall seduce; if impostures prooue fruitlesse, swords shall walke, if swords be preuented, then poi­sons and treasonable practises shall put end to the controuersie. Blood must satiate, or the Church can­not be satisfied.

But to our History: The Electors haue a perempto­ry day giuen them, against which if they produce not their Anti-emperor, the Pope protesteth by no irreli­gious reliques, that rather then the Church shall want a Lieuetenant, an Aduocate (Himselfe must bee Cap­taine and chiefe Iustice) hee will set vp One of his sole Election. Well, oaths must be kept inuiolable, especi­ally with traitors, and so doth his Holinesse. And thus he beginneth his web. Henrie of Wittenberg Archbi­shop of Mogunce, and one of the electors, for his loiall adherency vnto his Lord and master, to curry fauour with the Bohemians, he depriueth of all his ecclesiasti­call and temporall capacities, and into his place he in­trudeth Gerlace his Chaplein, the Nephew of Adolph of Nassaw, once King of Romans. This new Papall Bi­shop in satisfaction of his Lord and masters expectati­on, and in requitall of like office towards the Bohemi­ans for their choice and election, vpon the assembly of the Princes at Rensium, for the nomination of a new [Page 121] Emperor, worketh with Baldwin of Treuers, Walram of Colein, Rodulph Duke of Saxonie, and Iohn the father a Bohemian, to nominate and elect Charles King of Bo­hemia for supreme Lord of the Empire.

But for all this;Paralip. V [...]sp. albeit Charles in the life time of Lewes was crowned at Bonna, yet such was his reputation, and such the affection of all the good townes through the Empire towards his seruice, that vpon a conuoca­tion of a Diet, and that after the coronation of Charles; No one of the Princes was found, either to second the election, or to regard the Popes Breues, or to swarue from their promised fidelity.

Had he beene a Popelike Prince; that is, If to worke his will, he would haue hazarded his Title vpon warre and bloodshed, what could hee not haue performed. But beeing of a quite contrary disposition, and guided by the best spirits of vnpartiall Prechers, he neuer be­gan a warre against any man, though prouoked, but onely for the quiet and honour of his country; And in detestation of slaughter, resolued with himselfe ne­uer to determine a quarrel by warre, if any secondarie meanes might finish it by peace; and therefore beta­king himselfe to his quietest dispositions, by the treche­ry of Clement (as some Authors report) he was poyso­ned at a meriment, and after as he rode on hunting, as soon as by labor and the motion of his beast his blood heated, hee fell headlong from horsebacke. Thus, most vnworthyly was this Emperor to the griefe of all good Christians made away, in the second yeere after the e­lection of Charles, the fift of the Ides of October, in the yeere of Grace 1347. after hee had so honourably go­uerned the Empire for the space of thirty and three [Page 122] yeeres, that those good spirits who all his life time had administred vnto him true and loyall seruice against al Papisticall malediction, now after his death with like constancy and honesty defended his neuer dying me­mory, against all Shemeis posterity; as at this day it is apparantly seen, not only by record of history, but also by the particular letters of the Consul of Basil.

Parap. vrsp. Naucl. gen. 45.And thus it is: the Bishop of Bamberg (by vertue of a commission directed vnto him from Auignion by the Popes authority, to absolue as many as adhered vnto Lewes) the yeere following the death of Lewes, iourni­ed with Charles towards Basil: At his ariuall he made a very perswasiue speech to induce the Inhabitants, sithence they stood excommunicated in the behalfe of Lewes for assisting his party, with all humility to de­mand absolution: vnto whome Conradus of Bernsfield, the Maior of the City, in the presence of Charles, and the rest of the nobility, as well secular as ecclesiasti­call, made this resolute reply: Lord of Bamberg, know, that we will neither confesse nor beleeue, that our Soue­raigne Lord Lewes, Emperor of Romans, was euer an He­retique: But howeuer; whomsoeuer the Electors shall im­pose vpon vs for our Master, him onely wee acknowledge, without asking leaue of the Pope.

Surely as this Heroique speech of the Consul, shewed the Christianlike courage of the man, in attri­buting due obedience to his lawfull Soueraigne, and may to future ages be a testimony of innocency pro­tested, and in meere loue and admiration of vertue: so without question this noble and worthy Emperour deserued no lesse, if the whole impartiall world were to returne a Iury vpon the passage of his intire life: [Page 123] being doubtlesse an honest man, vnspotted, studious of his countries freedome, and onely a seuere opug­ner of the Romish tyranny: so far foorth, that with­out exception, he is to be remembred with all those stiles of Honor, which are accustomed to be instiled vpon those, who for the loue of their countries, haue refused to vndergoe no difficult perills.

❧Charles the fourth.

LEWES being dead, Charles after he had by di­uerse meanes appeased the competitors op­posed against him by the electors of Mo­gunce, the Palatine, the Saxon, and the Brandeburge­an, is at last vpon promise that he should procure ab­solution for the free Cities (yet standing excommuni­cated for their adherence vnto Lewes) crowned Empe­ror, and on his iourny towards Italie; but there enter­tained with more disgrace, then any of his predeces­sors. For as on foot he entred the City, Behold (quoth a certaine Senator) in his Oration before the people in the Capitol) thy King commeth towards thee in great hu­mility; very bitterly taunting him with scoffes and re­uilements. Insomuch that the Cardinall of Hostia, sent from Auignion by Innocent the sixt, would not condis­cend to Crowne him, before he had giuen security to [Page 124] remaine in Rome nor in Italy, no longer then the busi­nesse imported.

How base and ignominious this limitation was to the Honour of the Empire, is apparantly to be dis­cerned by the Epistles of Francis Petrarch, (that most learned and eloquent Poet) written vnto Charles him­selfe in these wordes. I knowe not what this promise made and sworne to the Romane Bishop meaneth, as if your Maiesties entrance into the Citie, had beene gaine-said by some inexpugnable trench, or impassable mountaine: what manner of pride is this, that the Romane Prince, the life and fountaine of liberty, should himselfe be depriued of li­berty; so farre forth, that he who ought to be Lord of all, can not be said to be Lord of himselfe?

And in another place, Nerio of Friuli, in his wri­tings, doth not much dissent. All superiority is impa­cient of corriualty: whereof, if antiquity can not giue vs presidents, I feare that late examples will make the case fre­quent. For now (as fame goeth) the Pope of Rome hath forbidden the Romane Prince, Rome: whom hee not onely suffereth, but also commandeth, to be contented with the di­adem, and sole title of the Romane Empire. Him, whom he suffereth to be Emperour, at no hand will he suffer to enioy Emperie.

As the cowardize of Charles, in dissembling his greeuances against this propagating pride of the pre­lacie, is with iust cause to be complained of. No lesse are the Popes worthy of eternall reprehension, who for their proper respects in deposing of good & god­ly Emperors, substituted in their places such Ministers whose mindes they knew were alwaies prepared to sa­tisfie their behests by warre and bloud-shed, most wic­kedly [Page 125] & feloniously imposing vpon the Empire those losses and disgraces, wherewith at this day wee see it weakned and generally taxed.

For surely this Charles, to inable his proiects to ap­pease his Competitors; to dispose of the reuenues of the Crowne at his pleasure; and freely to bestow them where he thought good, gaue vnto Gunther Earle of Swatzburg, a valiant and warlike Leader,Cuspin. in vitae Guntheri. and by the Electors saluted for Emperor 22. thousand markes of siluer, with two Imperiall Cities in Thuringe for the terme of his life.

Vnto Frederick Marques of Misnia, Idem in vitae Caroli. elected in stead of Schwatzburge deceased, he gaue ten thousand marks, to resigne his nomination; and then prepared for his iourney towards Rome.

From whence escaping,Auont. li. 7. by an excuse of going on hunting, in as dishonorable a manner, as neuer any of his predecessors before, hee returned to Millan, and there created the Visconti (a Potent family in that Ci­tie) in receit of a wonderfull masse of mony, perpetuall Vicars of the Empire throughout Lombardy, to the euer­lasting dishonor and preiudice of Germanie.

For a sumptuous banquet in Ville-noue neere A­uignion, hee re-deliuered to the King of France, the Kingdome of Arles, acquired to the Empire by Otho the first.

From Gerlace, Archbishop of Mogunce, Theodor. de Nyem. though by his partiality hee gained his election, hee wrested the priuiledge of inaugurating the King of Bohemia, in right belonging to the Church of Mogunce, and by cōfirmation of Clement the sixt, inuested it in the Arch­bishop of Prage.

[Page 126] Zeigl. de viris illustribus Ger­maniae. ca. 91.He ordained by law, that none but Bohemians should be admitted into the Colledge of the Canons regular of Inglehame, Krant. li. 1. c. 3. Tritemius in Cron. Hirsang. being of the Dioces of Mogunce. And presently after to make quick and profitable returnes of the profits of the Empire, hee retailed vnto the ad­ioyning Princes sixteene free Cities of Sweuia, all held of the Crowne. To Cunon Archbishop of Treuers, he pawned Bopardia and Wesel (Imperiall Cities) by sta­tute.

Lusatia, which time out of minde, had beene held in fee of the Imperiall diademe by the Archbishops of Magdeburg, Aeneas Siluius ca. 3. hist. Bo­hemic. by the corruption of the then Incumbent, he perpetuated vnto the kingdome of Bohemia.

Against the fundamentall Lawes of the Country, and the custome of Antiquity,De his & alijs quam plurimis prolixè vide Theod. de Nyem in nemore suo iam edito. c. 71. by nouell and subordi­nate practise, he offered euery Elector (a part) one hun­dred thousand Duckets to nominate for his successor, his sonne Winceslaus, a man giuen ouer to idlenesse, cowardize, luxurie, all wantonnesse and belly-cheere. For which, when this Phocas had not wherewith to keepe his dayes of payment, he morgaged for one hun­dred thousand duckets, to some their Imposts, and to the Palatine (as memory recordeth) Caesarea Luthrea, Oppenham, Odenham, and Ingelham. Whereupon I may be bold to say, that by these diminutions, alienations, and mortgages, the Honourable entrados of the Crowne were so immeasurably wasted, that from that day to this, it hath not beene of power to recouer or restore this terrible downefall.Zeigl. de viris illustribus Ger. ca. 83. For by the sale of these Imposts (the true and essentiall Patrimonie of the Crowne) the glorious Eagle hath beene so deplumed, that euer since shee hath beene but a scorne and con­temptible [Page 127] to euery other liuing creatures. Which be­ing true (as true it is) what Patriot can but accurse the Romane Bishops, as the sole and prime-authors of all these mischiefes, the children of desolation, and the perpetuall disturbers of all Christian welfare?

❧Wenceslaus the Coward.

AFter the demise of Charles, Wenceslaus his sonne, during the schisme betwixt Vrban the sixt, and Clement the seuenth (then the which a more fatall, bestial, durable dissention neuer befell the Church) go­uerned the Empire, and tooke part with Vrban. Naucl. gen. 47. To Clement vpon occasion he sendeth his Embassadours; and amongst them, are remembred certaine honest and indifferent Prelates to haue passed, whom by exquisite tortures he slew most barbarously. And as for Vrban, for that the couetous King had deceiued the more co­uetous Romanes, gaping after the treasure raised vpon ecclesiasticall benefices, in not keeping promise with his personall presence, after hee had granted his com­mission for leuying the saide ecclesiasticall tribute through the whole Empire, towards the defrayment of his charges for his Romane-iourney, he became vt­terly alienated from his auncient friendship. But what Death preuented by the death of Vrban his successour, [Page 128] Boneface the ninth being sure to haue had it, if God had giuen life, made good in highest measure. For he ap­proouing the censure of deiection against Wenceslaus, not so much for his euil and degenerate life, as for that he had beguiled the Romans of their pence, ratified and aduanced the Election of Rupert Earle Palatine, prefer­red vnto the Empire by the Bishops of Mogunce, Theod. de Ny­em. li. 2. ca. 14. Golen, and Treuers.

❧Rupertus Caesar.

AS Boneface the ninth, in despight of Wencesla­us, with great facility and readinesse appro­ued his deposition:Theod. de Ny­em. li. 3. ca. 53. so Rupert but now aloft in highest fauour of the Pope, at this pre­sent is so counterchecked by this wether-cocke, Alex­ander the fift, the third from Boneface (a most malicious Cretusian) that he is very likely to feele the smart of as violent a diuision in the state, as doth the Church in a present and terrible schisme.

For vpon his very installment at Pisa in the Fishers chaire without any regard either of Ruperts right, or his present possessiō vpon a iust title, he nominateth by his missiues for King of Romanes, Wenceslaus, the man, whom in a frequent assembly, with one consent the E­lectors had heretofore remooued from imperiall go­uernement.

Which Indignity Rupert not being able to disgest, hee made his grieuous complaints thereof vnto the [Page 129] Lords of the state; and exceedingly interrupted the obedience of the Church throughout the Empire. And without doubt, he had attempted far greater re­formations, had not the sparkles of these smoking sub­stances together with the Prelate, to the general good of Christendom been at one extincted by the Physick of Marsilius a physitian of Parma.

And Rupert applying his labours to redresse what had been amisse by the auarice of Charles, and the cowardize of Winceslaus, in the tenth yeere of his raigne departed this world. In whose place succeeded Sigis­mund, a Prince for his wisedom, learning and integri­ty, most renowned.

❧Sigismund.

SIGISMVND at his entrance vpon the Imperiall Diadem, finding the Romane Sea miserably distracted by the wicked schisme of three Antipopes (Iohn the foure and twentieth at Bononia, Gregory the twelfth at Arimi­num, and Benedict the 12. in Spaine) tooke such infinit paines to restore it vnto its pristinate beauty,Naucl. gen. 48. Parap. vrsp. Cuspinian. as few or none of the auncient kings or Emperors euer vnder­took the like, for the welfare of the Church. For al­beit of his owne authoritie diuested vpon himselfe, and diuolued from his Ancestors, he might, & ought to haue cast out these boute-feaus of diuision; yet made [Page 130] he choice in modesty and truenesse of Christian piety, rather to redresse these euils by a Generall Councel, then by the violent meanes of war and blood-shed. Which to effect, to his extreame trauaile, danger and expences, he visited almost all the realmes of Christen­dome, France, Spaine, and England, and there by his godlinesse and good counsell so wrought with the Princes of those kingdomes, that they commended his zeale, allowed his course, and promised their best as­sistance.

Platinan vita Martini quinti, praeter alios.This done, he tooke his iourny towards Italy, and dealt with Iohn at Mantua, to come vnto the Coun­cel at Constance. The Assembly being set, such were his feeling perswasiues, such his important motiues, as the three Antipopes being condemned to deposition, hee caused Otho of Colonna, a Roman patrician, by the name of Martin the fift, to be preferred to the place by the generall suffrage of all the nations there assembled. Yea, and to remoue all impediments from retardation of the peace, he suffered Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prage, men of exquisit learning and singular piety, to be con­demned and burned, against an oath of safe-conducte publiquely allowed them.

But now, let vs go by examination to learne what thankes this godly, zealous, honourable and Christian Emperour receiued at the hands of this Holy-seeming Sea, for these their so infinite benefits. Vpon which I will not stand to exemplifie, for that euery weake braine can conceiue, what are the blessings of peace, what the fruites of a quieted conscience, what the re­wardes of vnity in religion. But surely their retribu­tions were such, as would absolutely dishearten any [Page 131] wise man, to inable such ingratefull Canonists by be­nefits. Yet will wee take so much paine, as to decipher them to our Reader.

No long time after (Eugenius the fourth,Plat. in vita Eugenij. 4. then Po­ping it in Venice) the Emperour tooke occasion to go into Italie to receiue his Inauguration: where by the way it happened that he countenanced somewhat aboue ordinary, Philip Duke of Millan, at that instant warring against the Venetians and Florentines. They partly fearing, and partly imagining, that their wills were halfe obtayned, if they might worke the Pope to their fashion, aduentured, and without opposall gained his Fatherhoods good will, to deny the Emperor his lawfull request; and more, adioyned his forces, to make good the passage of Aruo about Syenna against his Maiesties people. This, you must at any hand remem­ber, was the Popes requitall, this their vsuall remune­rations, not vnfitly beseeming their double dealing consciences.

Yet departed his Maiesty not vncrowned, but obserue I beseech you, by what practises, by what cunning sleights they proceeded in their state-House. Extraor­dinary Intercession must be made; Six months he must stay at Siena, to his infinit expence; who gained by that? And at last, must he leaue Rome, doubt you not, but to Eugenius his high content.

And againe, this Neronian bloud-thirsting Bishop, som short time after being deposed, for going about to frustrate the decree of the Councel of Constance (wher­by it was inacted that euery seuenth yeare the Bishops should celebrate a Generall Councell) and to ratifie That of Basil, which Martin had summoned, and [Page 132] himselfe authorized; in the daies of Frederick the third, he set all Austria, Vuimphelina­gus in Epit. re­rum Germani carum. on a miserable, woful & lamētable cō ­bustion, by prouoking Lewes the sonne of Charles king of France, then called the Daulphin, to infest Germany with warre, fire, & famine. For this Prince, at the plea­sure of Eugenius, endeuoring to make void the Coun­cel of Basil, with his Armeniachs and souldiers, by cun­ning, treason, & protestations, possessed himselfe of all the plaine Country, yea, and of some Cities of Alsatia, miserably wasting that goodly Prouince, the most fer­til mother of grain & wine. That done, he fell to bur­ning the villages,Naucl. gen. 49. the Mannors & Mansions of citizens, of orphanes and widowes, and therein spared neither Gods Churches nor Monasteries. Hauing put period to wast, but not to cruelty, he returned to Basil with 30. thousand Cumbatants, where by the valiancy of three thousand Heluetians, charging for their Country, hee was finally slaine, the third part of his lame & maymed Army, scant returning with life into France. Such be the successe of all papal entertainment.

❧ Frederick the third.

ALbert succeeded Sigismund; but hee de­parting this world within two yeares af­ter his election, the Imperiall diaceme di­uolued vpon Frederick of Austria; who be­ing [Page 133] by nature a Prince of a clement, milde & peaceable disposition, set diligent watch and warde ouer his thoughts, his words, and his actions, not at all to of­fend these hereditarie disturbers of peace, and perpe­tuall manaclers of Princes. Yet could hee not fully a­uoid their crossings, abate their pride, nor escape their plots.

For as in a publique Parliament held at Mogunce, he did what he could to corroborat the councell of Basil, held in the yeare of our Lord 1441. which the Pope la­boured tooth and naile to disanul; as also, to diminish the exactions which by Popish iniunctions were leui­ed vpon the German Churches; which to effect, by his letters, hee desired the king of France either to assist in person, or by some eminent persons of his Kingdome:Epist. extat. infi­ne clemangis in fasciculo re­rum repetun­darum ante ali­quot annos Co­loniae impressa. So the Pope, to countermine against this lawfull bat­tery of publique triall (for these can no more abide it, then Owles can light) tampereth with the French, nei­ther to goe himselfe, nor to suffer any other (without his priuity) to appeare as his Deputie. Here behold one Popish tricke more for the present to frustrate the intended reformation of a noble & vertuous Empe­rour. And heereupon followed that wofull Alsati­an de-population, whereof wee tolde you but now;VVork layd out on another frontier by the Court of Rome, when reforma­tion is spoken of. There is an other tricke complotted, to busie his head with-all, viz. Diuersion. His owne house is on fire, how can hee then attend the quenching of his neighbours?

And albeit, that hee outliued three successiue Bi­shops, & during their liues, caried himself so modestly and benignly towards them, that nothing was attemp­ted by them against his Dignity; & yet hoped for grea­ter [Page 134] contentments by the rising of Pius the second to the Papacie, his auncient seruant and Minister: Not­withstanding, this his trusty friend being once seated, without acquainting the Emperour, made no scruple to accurse his kinsman, Sigismund Archduke of Austria, and to entangle Germanie with intestine diuisions. As thus.

Sigismund, after long controuersying, and nothing preuailing, being vnwilling that the people vnder his tuition, should still stand exposed to the depraedations of the Romanists, in a bickering of Horse-men, chanced to take prisoner, and imprisoned, Nicholas Cusanus, by the Pope sent into Tirol, to ransack the Bishoprick of Brixia: The Bishop censuring him at no lesse a crime then high treason, committed against one of his crea­tures, enioyneth him greeuous punishments, from which his trustinesse could not be wooed to absolue him, no not at the intercession of Caesar, vntill Pluto himselfe came a messenger to release him from his pa­pall obstinacie.

His owne Creatures report, that neither the threats, nor the intreaties of Princes or communalties could any whit terrifie him, but in extreame and insatiable prowling for mony, he was ready to accurse and pro­secute with warre, as many as any way offered to gain­say his intendments.

Vide Paralip. Ʋrsp. Munster. in Cosmog. Naucl. in vlt. gen. Theodorick Erbach, Archbishop of Mogunce being dead, Diether Erusburg was preferred to his place. This man, for that Annats and first fruites had beene aboli­shed and condemned in the Councel of Basil, refused to pay to Saint Peter for bestowing the Pall vpon him, those twenty thousand, sixe hundred and fifty duckets [Page 135] of the Rhene, which his Holinesse by prescription ad­iudged to be due vnto him. Pius was not a little mo­ued at the refusall; denieth him confirmation, and be­stowed the Incumbencie vpon Adolph of Nassau (not for loue towards the one belieue it, nor for especiall desert in the other) but for that hee was honourably allied,Note. and able by friends to become master of the possession.

Diether valiantly resisteth his Deiection, & amongst many others, by large and bountifull entertainment draweth Henry the Palatine, and Frederick of Bamberg, to take part in his quarrell: All Germanie is vp in facti­on, and the principall personages therein ingaged, to their notable losse and consumption. For, Charles Mar­ques of Baden, George Bishop of Meten, & Vlrich Earle of Wittemberg, of the faction of Adolph, in a notable incounter neere Sechenham, are rowted, slaine, capti­uated, and imprisoned in the Castle of Heydelberge. From whence they could not be deliuered, before that Baden had payed one hundred thousand Florins; Me­ten forty fiue thousand, and Wittemberg as many, as the Marques. And for further gratuity, they were faine ei­ther to add, or to release to the Palatine, other royalties of equall value vnto their ransomes.

At this misfortune of his friends, who maketh any doubt, but that Pius was exceedingly agreeued? wher­vpon, as the brused viper, hee addresseth his querimo­nious letters vnto Philip Duke of Burgundy, concer­ning the miserable estate of his partakers; a Prince as truly wise, as valiant in armes.Note againe. Him hee nominateth Captaine of the Warre, and intreateth his assistance a­gainst the Palatine, Diether, the Earle of Catzenelboge, [Page 136] and their adherents. But Philip in his high wisedom, ei­ther misliking the burthē of this war, or by the tempo­rizing awkwardnes of the Pope too-long deferring his resolue; meane while, by the treason of two Citizens, Mogunce was surprised by Scaludo in the night & by Lo­dowic Niger Palatin, the Earle of Vold, and other of their complices in the behalfe of Adolph. Who put it to sack, and fire; slew fiue hundred of the Citizens, and re­duced it into perpetuall seruitude. So that this noble Diocesse, what by the sales, the alienations, and the mortgages, of the dorps, villages and burroughs, euen to this very day feeleth, and smarteth for the outrages of this papall warre.

This was one of Pius his good deeds; Rather then his auaricious Cofers would forbeare to in-exhaust Germanie of her treasure, hee cared not into what di­stresses he cast the Princes, the people, and the Cities of the kingdom.

But as this second Impius dealt with the Princes; So did his successor, a Venetian, Paulus the second (and worse) with his Maiesty. For after the taking of Constan­tinople, Frederick made his second iourny to Rome, on purpose to deliberate with Paul about an expedition a­gainst the Turks, To the accelerating wherof, for that the Princes through their mutuall discontents were much deiected in courage, he praied his Holinesse in person to beare him company into Germanie. But the Bishop putting off the motion with Courtship and kind protestations,Hubertus Golt. & Hutenus. notwithstanding laid wait for his life. Which he by his prouidence declining, and in fu­ture resoluing, to take precise notice of Popish treche­ries, first couragiously opposed in the Parliament at [Page 137] Noremberg against the Legats of Innocent, deputed through Germany to collect his Holinesses dismes, but dispatched them away againe to Rome as penilesse, as from thence they departed.

What man liueth so void of proficiency, that rea­ding these Legends, will hereafter beleeue this traite­rous society; sithence such worthy Emperours, such wise Princes, and such great Potentates, could nei­ther by their owne prouidences, nor the prudencie of their counsels, prescribe themselues an assured meanes, to be fully acquited from their ouer-reaching inuentions?

❧ Maximilian the first.

AFter the decease of Frederick, Maximili­an being by the generall suffrage of the Electors in the life time of his Father chosen for his Consort in the Empire, was now acknowledged for Emperor. Who although with ease hee might haue purchased the accustomed solemnities of Caesar, yet beeing a Prince most deepely in-seene into worldly practises; without question, vpon recordation of such inconue­niences, which hee obserued formerlie to haue fallen vppon the preceding Emperours, (allured vnto Rome, by the glittering reflex of a golden Crowne) hee set himselfe downe, and quoted it in his Ta­bles; [Page 138] That the presence of the Popes were euer to bee a­uoided, an infallible presage of ensuing aduersity to the Ro­man Emperors. Notwithstanding his wariest sinceritie could not at all times auoide their wickedest couse­nages.Naucl. gen. 49. Mutius li. 29. Cuspinian in vita Maximil. & Zelemi Othomanni.

For in the very infancie of his installement, that most luxurious and couetous Tyrant Alexander the sixt, for mony, to the eternall reproch of the Christian name, sold Zezimus heire of Turky, expulsed by his brother Baiazet, aliue and dead within the space of one day. In like thirst of treasure, receiued from the French, he ratified the Rape of Anne of Britaine, before es­poused by Proxie vnto Maximilian. The solemnized and consummated mariage of the daughter of the said Emperor with Charles of France, he dissolued against the will, intreaty, and reall commandement of Caesar her father.

By Cardinall Raymond he pillaged the chiefest Pro­uinces of Germany with nouell and vnheard off deuises of exaction.

Mut. li. 3.By that irregular and incomprehensible power of the keies, for many yeeres to come he gaue pardons to all rich-soules departed.

After him, as second in name, so second in Papacie, Iulio circumuented this Emperor with as fine fetches, as did any of his predecessors the former Caesars.

For after he had ingaged his maiesty in the warre of Venice, Hubertus Goltz. Paral. Vrsp. a warre of all other the most dangerous & trou­blesom, and that he had forced the best of their Cities to the pinch of necessity: Iulius against his faith, most religiously sworne before the states of the Empire at Augusta; and against common honesty, not only recei­ued [Page 139] the Venetians, vpon request of peace, into fauour, but entring with them into League, this most wicked Senacherib turned his armes against his Maiesty. Yel­ling out a speech rather shewing euident testimony of an Out-lawes humour, then of Peters successor.

For by records of memory it is certainly reported, that as he passed from the City by the bridge of Tiber, he threw the keies into the Riuer, exclaiming in fury: Sithence Peters keies will no longer stead vs, welcome Pauls sword. Whereby, if a man would fall to iest, he might well argue, that by this mad tricke he depriued himselfe and his successors of this Clauian Tyranny, claimed from S. Peter, and now transferred to Saint Tiber.

Vpon which translation of Iulius his keies, one hath plaied no lesse truly, then wittely in these verses.

But our great and eternall God,Hubert. Goltz. Mutius lib. 3. Paralip. Ʋrsp. the iust reuenger of iniquity, suffered not this his neuer-before-heard-of periury to die vnreuenged.

For at what time Lewes king of France, according to the Conuentions of the League with Caesar, persecuted his Holinesse, so far ouergone in pride through the assistance of the Venetians, as hee doubted not to [Page 140] scorne all conditions of peace; yet after the battell of Rauenna, such was the disastrous fortune of him and his, that the peace, which but euen now, hee scorned, now hee humbly seeketh, to his cost experimenting that for all his iesting, Peters keyes at a pinch did him more seruice, then many thousands of Pauls swords.

After this ouerthrow, and some other crosses, hee died, and left Leo the tenth, his successour, as well in seat as in trecherous disposition. For in the begin­ning of his pontificie, estranging himselfe from the French King, he adhered to Caesar & Sforza the Milla­nois, against the French, then in March vpon an inua­sion against Millan.

Vpon the slaughter of the Heluetians at Marignan, Frederick and Sforza being reduced into order, he vi­olated his league with Maximilian, and returned a­gaine to the friendship of Francis. Arnoldus Fe­ronius in vita Francisci Ʋa­lesij. Vnto whom, after he had obtained a Graunt, that the pragmaticall San­ction should be abolished in France, and a new inser­ted, hee conserred the titles of the Constantinopolitan Empire.

In this donation, whether should a Christian more admire his preposterous liberality, in giuing away an other mans right, or abhorre his trecherie in doing his vtmost, to crosse Maximilian, so well-deseruing an Emperor?

Catal. testium veritatis.But Caesar finding himselfe deceiued (whether in this confrontment, or in some other, I am not able to say) is reported to haue said in Dutch: That hee could well auow, that none of the Popes had kept faith with him: And that Leo should be the last of that ranke, vnto whom hee would giue credit. And that hee said so, and did so, [Page 141] the sequel proued. For within a few yeares after fal­ling into a laske, he yeelded vp his ghost, in the yeare of Saluation 1519. By whom, by the pleasure of al­mighty God, it might haue come to passe, that hee, who had beene so often illuded by Popish practises, might haue taken some course in so great an alterati­on and blessed reformation of religion, to haue begun primitiue restauration to their finall destruction. But being preuented by immature death, what was in his minde, he bequeathed to be executed, by the potencie of his liuing successor Charles, his brothers sonne.

❧ Charles the fift.

BVt what Penne, as it ought, in suting orna­ment, is able to delineat to life, the trea­cheries which from time to time these Patrons of confusion bounded out against this Charles, this potent and thrice hono­rable Emperour? In so wonderfull an alteration of re­ligion, such as since the corruption of the Primitiue, neuer befell the Christian world, who can but wonder at the daring presumption of the Popes, in prouoking so happy and so worthy a Potentate? who, taking into notice his singular affection in defending and vphol­ding the Papacie, can chuse but accurse the ingratitude of such desperat persons?

[Page 142] Jouius li. 4. de vita Leonis decimi. The Pope is now French.For vpon the decease of Maximilian, the Electors being assembled at Frankfort, Charles and Francis king of France, became competitors for the diademe. Leo the tenth, being in bonds of strict friendship with Francis, and according to the innated humours of the Church, hauing receiued his fee, fauoured and plea­ded his best plea in barre of Charles, to the preferment of his bountifull client Francis.

His cautions consisted of three principles; the first imported a consideratiue feare of his Greatnes, being by inheritance a Prince indowed with many spacious and wealthy Kingdomes. The second, was taken from his peculiar and figure-casting imagination; In that, forsooth, this Charles by no obscure and lineamentall predictions of face and disposition, should resemble the man, fore-told in certaine verses of an auncient Pro­phet;A truer Pro­phesie, then the Pope was a­ware of. Who arising in the North, should be the motiue of greeuous alterations to fall vpon all Italy, but espe­cially vpon the Romish sea: The third from pretence of equity, by letters signified vnto the Lords of the Ele­ction; That it stoode not with Law for Charles to aspire vnto the Empire; for that the Kings of Naples were the Churches Liege-men, and time out of minde by oath had capitulated with the Bishops, neuer to affect the Romane Empire, but to rest contented with their inheritances.

Appendix ad Plati. Sleid. vbi supra.But by the integrity of Frederick Duke of Saxonie, in manifestation of his loyalty towards Maximilian his deceased Master, vnto whom all his life time hee stood most deuoted; Charles preuailed. Leo now turning Vulpes, Now Imperial. followes the streame; for the present, cleanly falleth off from the French: And finding Grace to at­tend Charles; there courts he; and thether hee dispat­cheth [Page 143] his Commendatorie miseries.

Charles requireth his Amen to the Election; as also his dispensation, to retaine with the Empire the King­dome of Naples, the Law of Inuestiture in no point gaine-saying it. But giue a Pope leaue, I pray you, to fly to his wits, he must, and doth plot out new deui­ses, to impeach the Greatnes of Charles. Hee sendeth his Breues and messengers throughout Germanie, Resp. Caesaris ad breue Apo­stolicum. to forbid the Diet at Wormes: of purpose to put off his Coronation at Aquisgran. But when his pontifical im­probity perceiued his positiue diuersions to be illu­ded; and the resolution of the Electors to be such, as could not be daunted in their proceedings by force, feare, flattery, nor threats, hee then fell againe, to the renuing of his league, with the late-forsaken French: Amongst other Articles inserting this for one; That,Againe French. both the Sicils should be taken from Charles; That the go­uernment of Italie should be altered, and the protection of the Cities shared, betweene the French and his Holines.

Now the question is, for how long time this Com­bination stood immutable: so long doubt you not, as it stood with the welfare of Leo, and the aduantage of his sea. And this is an especial note, to be alwaies ob­serued through the whole discourse of these liues.

For, as soone as the French King, vpon confidence of this Popish League, had broken with Caesar, & sent Robert de la March, Charles his rebel, to infest Nether­land; yea, and his men of warre into Italy, to assay the surprise of Rhegium, a towne late belonging to the Church; Leo fearing the potencie of the French, and calling their fidelities into suspect: to make sure work for the maintenance of his owne stake, and to reduce [Page 144] a restitution to the Church of those townes which the French had vsurped; Now againe the third time hee followeth the Fortunes of Caesar: And lastly Imperiall. Desiring of his Ma­iesty (after his most courteous reception) that Parma & Placentia might be restored to the Church; Francis Sforza to the Dutchy of Millan; the French expulsed Italy, and the Papacy being setled in a peaceable estate, might thenceforth be secured from all feare of the French.

But Paul dying; By the succession of Adrian the sixt, a Germane borne, the Papall Anger for a while lay si­lenced.Gerardus Mo­ringus in vita Hadriani vi. Iouius in vita eiusdem. For during the short time of his Papacy, As a good schoolemaster, hee persisted constant in good will towards Caesar; And against the French, he assisted him with treasure, and conioyned him in league with the Florentines, the Siennois, the Luquois, the Royte­lets of Italy, the Apostolique sea, with Henry of Eng­land, and Lewes of Hungary.

But Adrian in the second yeere of his Papacy being departed, not without suspition of poyson, the fatall practises of the Bishops by so much the more eager­nesse outflamed, by how much they had gathered ma­terialls to worke vpon, during the time of the former respiration.

Feronius in vita regis Francisci.For Iulius of Medices, otherwise Clement the seuenth, after much wrangling being elected Pope, before his installation was, no man more, esteemed of Caesar. From the Church of Toledo, by his bounty he receiued an annuity of ten thousand duckats.Resp. Caesaris ad breue Aposto­licum. He reconciled him so throughly into the fauour of Adrian, from whence he was fallen, that in all affaires of importance, Adrian made him only of his counsell. But no sooner Pope, [Page 145] no sooner traitor. Against his Lord hee complotteth league vpon league, discharging his bills of account with acquittances of this nature.

For Francis the French king being in Italy, Feronius. and after the taking of Millan dispersing his forces throughout Lombardy, Clement worketh the dis-union of the Hadri­an confederacy, and forbiddeth the Florentins, the Sy­ennois and the Luccois to pay the money, which by the conuention they ought to haue sent vnto Caesar.

By Albert Pius Prince of Carpi, As Leo: So Iu­lius. As Leo and Iu­lius, so the resi­due: viz. we­thercocks, for aduantage. Sleyd. li. 4. he concluded a Clan­destine league with king Francis, meane time cunning­ly treating with the Imperialists by way of sequestra­tion and Indifferency to impledge the territory of Millan into his discretion.

But the deuise being vtterly disliked, and fortune a­gainst all imagination so crossing his designements, that in a memorable defeature, Francis was taken pri­soner at Paruie, and carried captiue into Spaine;Feronius in vita Francisci. Iouius li. 7. in vita F. Daui. then to his perpetuall reproch of leuity and inconstancy (to flater with Caesar) he parted with an infinit masse of mo­ny for his souldiers arrerages: yet during these passages in iealouzy, that Charles would turne his thoughts to the conquest of Millan, which of all his Italian preten­dācies was only left vnconquered, he goeth to counsel with Loyesse the Queen mother, Henry king of England, the Venetians and some other Potentates, how to ex­pulse the Imperialists out of Italie, and redeeme Fran­cis. To set forward the execution whereof, he dealeth with Ferdinand Dauila, a man of eminent place & soul­diery in Caesars Campe: assaieth to draw him to the par­ty, and for a bait offereth him the title of the kingdom of Naples. Dauila being of a subtill & close disposition, [Page 146] accepteth, learneth the secrets of the enemies proiects, and acquainteth his master therewith. Caesar laugheth at the mans periury; who being the principall archi­tect of all iniurious & preiudiciall proceedings against him, had notwithstanding himselfe made his enemy priuy to counsels, giuen him very serious cautions in future, how to proceede in his affaires, and how to prouide for his owne security, with an intimation to become carefull to bind the loyalties of his men of warre with greater deuotion to his seruice.

Wherby finding himselfe ouer-reacht by Dauila, he giueth not ouer, but trieth another way to the wood: And thus it was: Francis being set at liberty by Caesar, and vnwilling to make good these conuentions, wher­unto by the treaty of Madril he stood obliged; he takes hold of the occasion, absolueth him of his oath; confe­derateth anew with the French and some others, and proclaimeth the confederacy by the name of the Most holy League. Inserting amongst the Articles, that Caesar also might be cōprehended therin, So that, he would first re-deliuer vpon a competent ransome the children of France, as yet in hostage for their father: restore Mil­lan to Sforza, and enter Italie for his Coronation with no greater troops, then should seeme requisite to the discretions of the Pope and the Venetians.

What indifferent Reader, weighing the originall of this league, the time wherein it was concluded: and the occasions wherupon it was broched, can make any other construction to his vprightest censure, but that his Holinesse had small intention by these iniurious breaches of concluded articles, to further the publique peace, but rather to administer matter of implacable [Page 147] heart-burnings and assured wars between the Princes. For by one Apostaticall Breue, first, the conditions of the peace are prescribed to so high and mighty an Emperor, by his subiect and Vassall Sforza of Milan: secondly, the oath of the French King duely and so­lemnly taken, is pardoned and frustrated: thirdly Caesar is commanded to re-deliuer the children of France, as if it were not enough by the releasement of the fathers oath, to be once deluded. Fourthly, He is commanded, not to winke at, but to perpetuate the tyranny of the Italian Kinglings. Fiftly, he is commanded to forbeare to come vnto Italy, vnlesse he proportioned his troops to the shape of the Papal and Venetian limitations. Sixt­ly, He is commanded to giue pardon to Traitors: and for conclusion, in case of not-performance, warre is denounced by sea and by land.

Amidst which dishonorable limitations, what could Caesar doe, but in true acknowledgement of the vp­rightnes of his cause, reiect these base conditions with as great courage on the one side, as they were inso­lently propounded by the other, reposing more hope in his innocency, then in the multitude of Horse or shipping?

And surely, God almighty, the vnpartiall Iudge of humane actions, so moderated the execution of his di­uine iustice, that whatsoeuer complots this architect of euill counsell, meant to haue throwne downe vpon the head of Caesar, the very same befell his own person, euen when he thought himselfe to stand vpon so sure a ground, as to be an onely Spectator of the ensuing troubles.

For Caesar beeing awakened at the Report of so fa­mous [Page 148] a Confederacie,Sleyd. li. 6. Feronius vbi supra. dispatched into Italy the Duke of Burbon & Fronsperg, Captaines of admirable repu­tation for their cariage in the last warres; with warrant to defend Naples, now by the tenor of the league giuen in prey to warre and dis-vnion.

These Leaders pretending, as if they meant to passe by Florence, now growen proud by the continuance of peace, their mighty Citizen the Pope, and the late league; at last bending their course by the mountaines and rocks, vpon the sixt day of May, they solemnly en­tred Rome: droue Clement into the Bastil of Adrian; and vpon want of all necessaries (his Bulls, his Breues and execrations, thicke and threefold breathed out a­gainst the Germanes and Spaniards, standing him in no stead) compelled him to yeeld; but with so seruile and base conditions, as vpon the like, neuer did Souldier to this day, giue vp his fort.

The insolency of the Spaniard, and the inhumanity of the Germane, I am not able in apt words to display. See Guicoiardine, and the Histories of those times.

For besides their horrible pillagings, their spoiles, their rauishments, and their wasts, no kinde of scorne was left vnpractised against the Pope & his Cardinals: All without difference were alike made captiues, all a­like tortured: He that was rāsomed to day by the Spa­nish, to morrow was again in durance to the Germans.

Caesar writeth his letters to the Pope and the King of England, that all this happened besides his priuity or command; yea, that he would not acknowledge such transgressors for his souldiers,Like for like, by Caesar to the Pope. who durst attempt so wicked a seruice. Yet sticketh hee not to attribute the mishap to the secret iudgements of God, who would [Page 149] not suffer so grosse an indignity concluded against the Maiesty of the sacred Empire, to escape without pu­nishment. Bona verba.

The Pope being restored to liberty, maketh shew of great friendship, but in secret worketh him all possible vexation.

For either vpon hope to possesse the Kingdome of Naples (a precise condition in the articles) or else in de­sire of reuenge; he so wrought with the French king to renue the warre, that at his direction Lautrick was sent into Italy, for the conquest thereof. But such was the e­uent, that Lautrick died; the pestilence raged through the Camp; and nothing was effected. Wherupon, the French king for the loue of his children (as yet captiues in Spaine) was glad to accept of the proffered conditi­ons. The Bishop, alwaies accustomed to goe with the streame, vpon the peace perfected at Cambray, be­tweene the Emperour, the French, and the other Prin­ces, enstalleth Charles at Bononia, with the Imperial dia­dem, and aydeth him in the siege and conquest of Flo­rence; the people whereof hee saw punished most se­uerely. But his Holines had not forgotten to requite Charles with many like courtesies, if God had bestowed longer life vpon him.

For within three yeeres after, hee had complotted a league with Francis the French King at Marsellis, to take Millan from Caesar, & to inuade Sauoy; bestowing his niece Katherin vpon his sonne Henry, if, to the good of the Christian common-wealth, he had not beene by death preuented, and that, not without the suspition of poison, as some suppose.

Could a more treacherous man be found liuing [Page 150] then this Clement, If such the men continually, thē what their Reli­gion? who continually being taken into fauour and alliance with Caesar, continually betrayed his faith, and of a dissembling friend, euermore proued a professed enemie.

After the decease of Clement, succeeded Alexander Farnesius, otherwise Paul the third, a man almost spent with age, yet of a farre more subtile disposition.

Haec omnia ex­posita exstant apud Sleyd. li. 17. vs (que) ad lib. 23.For vpon obseruation, that the controuersies in re­ligion did daily more and more augment, and propa­gate, with singular affection he studied Caesars fauour; but to no other purpose, then in thirst of the German bloud, to combine his Maiestie and the other Princes, in stricter bonds of perseuerance, to take armes against the Lutherans; hypocritically giuing out to all per­sons, and in all places, and that vpon his faith, that hee would speedily assemble the Generall counsell, so of­ten petitioned, and promised to the Germane Nation. And surely so he did,To winne time. first proclaiming it to be held at Mantua, then at Verona, and lastly after the expiration of many yeares at Trent: but not with any intention to salue the greeuances of the Christian Common-weale, or the distemperature of the Church: but that by holding the Germanes in suspence vpon the finall determinations of the Councel; meane time he might win time to effectuate his secret resolutions; viz. the suppression of the truth, and the restitution of Germa­nie, now through the light of the Gospell beginning to shake off Babilonian tyrannie, to it pristinat capti­uity. So in the yeare of our Lord 1546. he celebrateth the Councell at Trent, and maketh all possible faire weather with the Germanes. But with what intent? surely to combine the nobility, & to instigate his Ma­iestie [Page 151] to begin the warre against the Protestant Princes, and the Euangelicall Cities. In the beginning whereof, good fortune prognosticated a prosperous progresse vnto Caesar (by the taking of Iohn Frederick Elector of Saxonie; the Lantgraue of Hessen; the confiscating of all Wittembergs estates, and the finacing of many con­federat Cities) yet, in being too officious to giue his Holines content, in keeping his prisoners more strict­ly then Honour could warrant, and in coyning new articles of religion to the Popes best liking; such an alteration followed, vpon the rising of Maurice Prince Elector, and Albert of Brandenburg, and other new confederates, that (dismissing the captiuated Princes, and granting liberty of Conscience through Germa­nie) so disaduantageous were his proofes of papall countenance, that he often wished, that he had prefer­red the loues of the Princes, before the Popes surest alliance.

For although (to confesse truth) the proceedings of Paul against his Maiestie, were slower and better cari­ed, then those of his predecessors; in regard that hee was his Champion, to manage bloudy and difficult stratagems against the seruants of God: yet vpon the death of Peter Aloysius duke of Parma & Placentia (mur­dered by treason for his tyrannie) when Ferdinand Gon­zaga, Caesars Generall, and Gouernour of Millan, Mamb. Roseus li. 4. appendicis ad Historiam Neapolita. Pā ­dulphi Collenu­tij haec latè ex­plicat. was inuested in his stead: the Pope presently mistrusteth Caesar for an author of the murder; and in vaine reque­sting the Restitution of Placentia, he strait starteth from Caesar, and bethinketh himselfe how to ioyne with the French: And had ioyned in deed, if hee had longer li­ued; the time offering so fit an opportunity.

[Page 152]For now Henry vpon the defeature of the Princes, and the seizing on Placentia (aboue expectation) grow­ing into iealousie of the powerfulnesse of Caesar, renu­eth his league with the Switzers, and strengthneth his party with friends on all hands.

But in midst of these reuengefull deuises, this miser dyed, distracted more through griefe and anguish, then any infirmity of Age: the tenth day of Nouember. 1549.

Sleid. li. 21. l. 26.After long wrangling in the Conclaue, 1550. Iulius the third is saluted Pope: being before his installment, of the French faction, and after, so giuen ouer to belly-cheere and venery, that he died of a Lethargy, and wan­ted rather leisure then will to attempt against Caesar.

But Paul the fourth a most diuelish Hypocrite, and next succeeding Marcellus the second, (a Pope also of a few daies standing) by the packing of the Cardinalls wholly deuoted to the French seruice, was consecra­ted High Priest: This man during his Cardinalship, was Caesars most malitious enemy: Insomuch that by his prouocation, Paul the third was perswaded to in­uade Naples, M. Roseus li. 4. append. ad Hist. Neopolit. Hiero. Rosellus de bello Ro­mano. as an apourtenāt of the Church. But now enioying fuller meanes to worke fuller despights, hee maketh open profession of his late concealed malice, and prosecuteth his followers with indignities of dee­pest fury. For no sooner was he seated in the Chaire of the scarlet Beast, but he casteth into durance Alexan­der Farnesius Cardinall of Sanflorian, Camillus Collonna, and Iulianus Caesar with his brother the Archbishop, vpon suspition of a conspiracy complotted against him in fauour of the Imperialists. As many the Ser­uants and ministers of Caesar, here and there negotia­ting [Page 161] his affaires through Italy, as he could lay hands on, he seazeth; and amongst these, Tascis master of the forests to his maiesty, and don Garzia Lassus a Duke of no obscure reputation amongst the Spanish.

Marke Anthonie Colonna beeing absent, he citeth to appeare before him within three daies space; and in default of appearaunce, hee maketh prize of his goods.

To Iohn Count of Montorian, he giueth the goods of Ascanius Colonna, together with the titular Earle­dome of Pallianum.

In despight of Caesar he recalleth the Out-lawed gen­tlemen of Naples, and endoweth them with offices, and publique preheminences.

At the instance of Peter Stroza, he fortifieth Pallia­num, and prepareth it for the receit of the French to the infesting of Naples.

Finally, by sending his kinsman Cardinall Caraffa in­to France, most impiously he disturbeth the peace con­cluded in Belgia, betweene his most excellent Maiesty and the French Monarch.

And to bee especially carefull, that no one shot of Popish malice should misse his Maiesty, he absolutely denieth his sonne Philip (vnto whom the father had re­signed the administration of all his kingdoms) the in­uestiture of the kingdomes of Naples and Sicil, being held of the Church. Wherupon followed such furious and lamentable wars, managed between these migh­ty potentates of Christendome, that Italy and France being chiefly ingaged therein, reeked againe in the bloody tragedies of their deerest Citizens.Guil. Zenocarus de vita caroli. 5.

For not Rome only was almost brought vnto those [Page 154] extremities by the presence of the Duke of Alua, which once it suffered in the daies of Clement, and for the pre­sent auoided by accepting of these conditions, which the now-somwhat-lenified Lord Generall propoun­ded: but the French also in fauour of the Papacy, being sent into Italy vnder the conduct of the Guise, to in­fest the peacefull estate of the Latian prouinces,At Saint Quintins. vnder­went the miserable destiny of vnfortunate warfare, in their indeauours to thrust in new forces into the chiefe City of Vermandois, against the squadrons of King Philip, marching out of Belgia to the reliefe of the said place. In which conflict their whole army was routed by the Germane Horse, the Constable, the Rhene-graue, and many noble men taken prisoners, and the City forced.

And not long after being masters of Calaies, they suffered a no lesse disasterous defeature in their returne by Graueling at Count Egmonds hands: Termes and Villebon their two most famous leaders beeing ta­ken prisoners, their armie routed, and their people slaine.

Now, what vpright conscience can sauour a Reli­gion so insatiate of blood? or what Christian can thinke that Man, who to perfect his owne respects, ca­reth not what mischiefe he worketh, to be the Vicar of Christ?

Surely, Let them impudently affirme what they list, their workes so perspicuously layde open to meanest capacities, may with sufficiencie assure vs, that through the whole course of their successions, they haue e­uer rather merited the Sir-names of Saule, then the least title of Paul. And so to the worlds end will they [Page 155] doe, rather then by the redeeming of one Christian soule from spoile and blood shed, they will suffer one Acre of Saint Peters imaginary patrimony, to be wre­sted from them, if possibility or trecherous pollicy can any way withstand it.

❧Ferdinand Caesar.

AS soone as Charles had betaken himselfe to a solitarie life in Saint Iustus in Spaine, his brother Ferdinand long be­fore elected King of the Romanes, now by the generall suffrage of the Electors assembled at Frankford, is preferred vnto the Em­pire. After the ceremonies whereof accomplished, to make manifest his obseruancie towards the Romish Sea, he dispatcheth to his Holinesse Guzman, his chiefe chamberlaine; to signifie, that his Maiesties pleasure was, vpon oportunity of first-offered-occasion, to re­quest and receiue the imperiall Diadem at his Holi­nesse Hands. But such was his father-hoods arrogant and froward answer: that it may well argue the Rela­tor, not onely not to be the successor of Peter, who with the residue of the Apostles, reuerenced the au­thoritie of the higher powers, as the ordinance of [Page 164] God, with due honour and obedience: no, nor a man willing to doe one good turne for another, accor­ding to the mutuall lawes of courtesie and humanity: but in truth, that very Antichrist, whom the warrant of Holy writ doth point out, to be the person, who should arrogate to himselfe, to prescribe aboue, and a­gainst any thing, that God himselfe hath commanded to be holy and inuiolable.

For this irregular Beast, would vppon no rea­son acknowledge Ferdinand for Emperour; cauil­ling that his predecessour Charles, had no ability or capacity to surrender the Empire to no liuing crea­ture, but to the Romish Sea; Neither that it was law­full for Ferdinand, to take vppon him the admini­stration of the State, without the approbation there­of.

His Maiesties Embassadour hee would at no hand suffer to approach his presence; but hauing learnt out the tenour of his Embassie, hee propounded vn­to the Cardinals and Lawyers certaine questions, nei­ther arising from the rudiments of Gods word, nor enforced from the grounds of Nationall Lawes; but harried from the deepest Abysse, and there discus­sed by Lucifer the Prince of malice, pride and falsities. Which, as afterward they were libelled out, and di­spersed by the Romanists themselues, you shall here receiue.

1 If Guzman, who auerreth that Hee is sent from his Lord Ferdinand, vnto the most Holy Lord the Pope, ought by Law to speake what Charles the fifth hath done, about the resignation of the Empire to his [Page 165] brother Ferdinand.

2 Which being sufficiently vnderstoode; whe­ther they, wholy, or in part haue done rightfully and lawfully, sithence the Approbation of the most Holy Lord the Pope, and the Apostolique sea, was not in­terposed therein.

3 Whether, these difficulties being cleared; no­thing for the present may bee obiected against the person of the most excellent Lord Ferdinand. Where­by, hee may be adiudged incapable of the Imperiall dignity: As the euill education of his sonne the king of Bohem, inclinable to manifest heresie. It beeing promised, that within the Kingdomes subiect to his authority, heresies are tollerated without punish­ment; Catholiques are oppressed, Monasteries dis­solued, Churches auoided, and the Professours of the Augustane reformation, suffered to conuerse and inhabite promiscuouslie with Romish Catho­liques.

As also, that Ferdinand himselfe did graunt a con­ference at Wormes, as touching controuersies in Re­ligion, without the consent and good leaue of the Holy Apostolique Sea. That, Hee bound himselfe by oath in the Dyet of Frankford, to obserue all the Articles confirmed in the fore passed Sessions; where­in manie damnable and Hereticall opinions were maintained and allowed. That, Hee vsurped the Name of Emperour by his owne Authority. That he suspended the Decree, published against Communi­cants vnder both kindes; especially at such a time, wherein seuerest execution was most requisite: That [Page 158] he had falsified his oath, taken vpon his first election of King of Romanes (wherein he had bound himselfe, to be a defender of the Church, and the Catholique faith) schismes, heresies, and the Protestant Religion. That he had faulted in many more points of like kind, against his oath, and the Holy Canons.

4 What in like manner were to be determined concerning the persons of many the Princes Electors, who being notoriously knowen to haue forsaken the Romish religion, haue agreed to this Resignation: And how all these mischiefes may be preuented and reme­died with the least disturbance and breach of Tranqui­lity to the Christian Common-wealth.No true Popish motion: but in these dayes the Turk is growen too neere a neighbour. These were the points to be questioned by the Cardinals.

Now albeit the Method of the Narration doe binde me, to acquaint you with the Resolutions of these Cre­atures the Cardinals (for surely I know it is a part of my task to diue into the cunning intendments of these proposed questions:) Notwithstanding, the incom­patible pride of the Romanists; their tyrannizing ouer all Lawes, and the indignity of such base, wicked, and malicious propositions, doe wholy diuert mee from my intended Method, forcibly compelling me against the Rules of Historie, to walke a long digression from my intended Narration. For which, I beseech thee (Reader) pardon and patience.

For who vpon mature deliberation of such scru­ples, knowing the Author by whom they were pro­pounded, can refraine from accursing this so fanatical an ambition of Soueraigntie in a Bishop, accompani­ed with such horrible impiety & contempt of his euer­liuing Masters commandement? What conscience [Page 159] can but blush at his impudencie, who hauing by Gods permission for our manifold sinnes tyranized ouer the Church of Christ for so many yeares, would yet at this day, in despight of light and truth, reduce Kings and Princes into the auncient estate of their Babilonical seruitude? Not once looking back vpon such like nar­rations as these, (taken out from their owne Records) to consider, how their predecessors to work their wils vpon mighty Potentates (for hic Aquila non captat mus­cas, & quicquid delirant Reges, plectuntur Achiui.) haue made no more conscience by secret and cun­ning practises, to imbrue the whole Christian world in bloud and desolation;Mustipha ac Famagusta. then a Turkish Generall by falsifying his faith, hath done against conquered Chri­stians. Yea, I dare auow, (for experientia optima ma­gistra) that by hooke or crooke, at this day they would as eagerly follow their Canonical presidents, to re­store their Entrados (hinc illae Lachrimae) as euer did any of their Luciferian predecessors. Were it not, but that they apprehend, how the Turkish forces,Tunc tua res agitur, &c. first by land affront the Empire from the Carpathie Mountaines to the Ardiatique: Secondly by sea, how at diuers times, but especially in the yeare of our Lord 1534. Barbarussa so scoured alongst the coast of Italy, that if he had descended a little lower to Ostia, actum esset de Roma. His Holinesse must haue resorted to auncient deuises, viz. peraduenture haue sought a new Auigni­on in Thule or China, whether his Iesuites are already imployed to prepare his way. But this is not all the feare, wherewith these mercilesse fellowes haue terri­fied his holy wisedome.

For the world doth know, that for a whole Win­ter [Page 168] they haue set footing in Italy, and wasted Friuli. Which to preuent,Read the Tur­kish Historie for the bottome of their inforced lenities. by the best meanes, wherewith God hath truely inabled him, and the residue of the Christian Princes, if they be not prouident, I can but pray, that his diuine Maiesty would be pleased, to re­sume the welfare of his people into his owne protecti­on. And so to the Response of the Cardinals.

Who confessing the weightinesse of the questions to be such, as partly in regard of the nouelty, partly in regard of the qualitie of the persons, and lastlie in regard of the trouble of the times, and the power of the infidell enemy, they ought to be examined in a full counsell of the choicest and discreetest wisedomes; yet either in wayward affectation to preserue the Papall Authority, or in feare of his bestiall furiousnesse, maliti­ously powred out on all sorts without difference; they returned an answer rather testifying some such ima­gination, then any way sauouring of truth or integrity.

And thus it was. That, it ought to bee prooued by pub­lique Euidence, whether it appeared, that the Empire be­came voide by Charles his Resignation, or by some other meanes. That, it ought to be sifted how Ferdinand could pretend to succeed: meane time that his Embassador sent to Proxy his obedience, or to negotiate any other publique Act, ought not to be admitted. That all things treated of and ratified at Frankford concerning Ferdinands electi­on, were voide, frustrate and of no effect, for that the Scep­ter of the Apostolike Sea (vnto whome at first the keies of all heauenly and earthly power were giuen) was not first mediated. That those worthy personages who were assisting and tainted of hereticall impiety, had forfeited all the rites and prerogatiues, of old granted them, concerning the [Page 169] election of Emperors. As touching the points obiected a­gainst his Maiesty in the third article: That it was of grea­test consequence; and had need of penance: which being per­formed, his Holinesse was to proceed according to fatherlie clemency. Whereupon a Procurator was to be sent from his Popishnesse, to renounce all the sanctions and decrees ratifi­ed at Frankford. After publication whereof, and the Empire now voide, a new mandat might bee made to petition Confirmation, for that it is apparant, that by virtue of the Election, adioyned to Clement his Con­firmation, Ferdinand ought to succeede in the Em­pire.

As concerning the impediment procured by his owne default, and somewhat hindering him; It ought to bee put to Examination: That after absolution obtained, obedience performed, and the auncient oath of fidelity administred, he may fully enioy the confirmation of the Apostolique Court. Whose only and peculiar propertie it is, to wide open its Armes, louingly and halfe way (as it were) to imbrace euerie liuing soule comming to be recei­ued vpon repentance, and flying thereunto with a liuelie faith.

O you Romanists! here let mee aske you, which of you dare presume to say, that hee is more holie, or more religious, then Ferdinand? What is his sinne so greatly to bee repented of? What manner of re­pentance is that, which you so much desire? or how. shall he hope to speede, if hee stand to your waue­ring and dispensatorie discretions? Here is no fault committed against God: his word doth warrant his proceedings. The fundamental lawes of the Empire do auouch that an Emperor being chosen by al the Electors, or [Page 162] the more part of them, Vide de hoc constit. Lodouici 4. apud Albe­ric. de Rosate L. Benè a Zenone C. de quadrien. praescript. vpon the very election, without ap­probation of Pope, or any other forraine Potentate, is to be receiued for true and indubitate Emperor. Cardinall Cusa­nus saith:

But admit there were no such law, is not the inau­guration of all Princes meerly temporall? are not the setting on of a Crown, the girding of a sword, and the deliuery of a Scepter, orders meerely ceremoniall? where are then your interessed claimes? I will leaue you to your wits, and proceede to your starting-holes of spiritualia; Which I am sure consist in suffering the people to receiue the blessed Communion vnder both kinds. Here is a sinne vnpardonable. Stay, I be­seech you. Did not Paul the third, and he a Pope, send [Page 163] out his Bulls, wherby he gaue all the Bishops through­out Germanie full authority to communicate vnto the people vnder both kinds? How say ye?Strange conclu­sions in Poperie. shall his Maie­sty be exempted, and they priuiledged? will you tole­rate an order of your owne inacting in euery parish, and not suffer the magistrate to see the same by peace and quietnesse preserued and executed through a whole kingdom? you know vpon what points of ne­cessity, that Bull was granted, and now rather then you will faile to make odious his sacred Maiesty to the fautours of your passions, you will quarrell him about an act of your owne allowance. Woe vnto you, you Hypocrits, who in words seeme Saints, but in your hearts retaine not a graine of piety. Woe vnto you, who offer your open brests to penitentiaries, but ha­uing them in your clutches, you teare them in their consciences with more then heathenish foppery. You inioine penance to others, and performe no such mat­ter your selues. Amongst your selues, yee reueale all se­crets, and are Iouiall thereat; but treasons and massa­cres you conceale, and then your impudent wits must beare you out, (for your faces will not) that it was told vnder the vaile of confession. Thus by impostures you liue, you raigne, and deceiue the world, neither caring to enter heauens gates themselues nor suffering others to enter that would.

Well, during the Interim of these ponderous ma­chinations against his Maiesty by the college of Car­dinalls, Guzman comming to the vnderstanding there­of, day by day hastneth his Audience before his Holi­nesse. At last after three moneths attendance, and ear­nest begging (but not before hee had receiued a more [Page 172] strict commandement from his Master) either vpon audience to execute his commission, or without de­lay to returne from Rome, hee is admitted to speake in the presence of seuen Cardinals, from whom hee re­receiueth this aunswere. Forasmuch as his demaund required the most mature deliberation of the Cardinals, and such like persons learned in the Lawes, that, according to his Masters commaund hee might depart at pleasure: meane time his Holinesse would recall the whole matter vnto full examination.

Note the Eua­sion.Good GOD, what other deliberation could be meant heereby, more then a meere cunning, and di­latorie illusion? For the matter had beene againe and againe disputed on, and the confirmation so long de­layed, in expectation of some disaster, which Time might produce against Caesar, that before any thing was determined, this politique Impostor was taken out of this world. After whom departed vnto the place of eternall blisse this worthy Emperour; but so, that the confirmation which Clement made litigious, Pius the fourth offered willingly, and Ferdinand reiected as constantly, after the examples of Radulph of Habs­burge his progenitor, and Maximilian his Grandfa­ther, contenting himselfe with the orderly election of the German Princes.

I haue heard report of as weighty a toleration as this, euen in matters of religion, if as vertuous a Prin­cesse, as any of these afore-named, would haue con­discended to haue accepted the approbation at his Ho­linesses hand. And as the world now standeth, who doubteth but the Pope would doe much to be recon­ciled to some Christian Constantines.

[Page 173]And therefore to conclude, I hold it not fit to con­ceale these worthy remembrances of his godlinesse and sincerity; That in his raigne, in the yeare 1552. the second day of August, an Edict was obtained, whereby peace was graunted to the professors of the Augustan confession.

That, in the yeare 1555. that noble Decree follo­wed, wherein it was ordained, that no force, nor of­fence, directly or indirectly, in case of Religion should be thence-forth vsed against Prince, Earle, or any imperiall Citie.

In the yeare 1559. at Augusta, in a full assembly of the States, the said Decree was reuiued and con­firmed.

After which Constitutions confirmed by the trans­action of Passauia, and confirmed by the Estates (as I saide at Ausburg) this good Emperour perswading himselfe, that mens mindes were wrought to Religi­on, more by preaching and teaching, then by force and bloud-shed; was willing, euen within his owne hereditarie possessions, That no subiect of his should bee troubled for his conscience. Wishing, that some abu­ses (vsed by the Romanists) might by lawfull and mo­derate proceedings be reformed, and yet the Hierar­chy and order of the Ecclesiastical policy, be decently maintained.

Whereupon, when the Austrians desired the pub­lique vse of the Lords supper in both kindes; as also o­ther articles of religion, to be freely permitted them, which they had drawen forth in the confession of Au­sburg; Ferdinand, not onely tooke the articles, and the [Page 166] reasons of the abuses (deseruing reformation) into his owne consideration: but also, when he heard the testi­monie of the Greeke Church, concurring with the pe­tition, hee sent Vrban Bishop of Gurcia for this cause principally to Venice, that there he should procure in­structions, how the Greekes accustomed to doe in di­stribution of this part of the Lords supper: as also what was their Opinion concerning this maine point of do­ctrine. And in the Synod of Trent by his Orators, he did most instantly insist and vrge; That by leaue of the Pope, the people of Austria might vse both the parts of the Sacrament.

Somewhat before his death, he receaued the Breue, authorizing the Communion to be administred vnto the Laity vnder both kindes, which Pius the fourth sent vnto the Archbishop of Salisburge; but interlaced with diuers limitation of conditiōs.Inseruiendum est tempori. Wherat this good Em­peror did exceedingly reioyce, and gaue thanks that it pleased God, that he had obtained that, which his sub­iects of Austria, had so often, and so earnestly desired of his Maiestie.

For his cariage towards the Counsell of Trent, which he referred wholy to his Holinesse, I hold it not fit to speake. For he adiudged, that hee had receiued an in­finite pleasure from the Pope, in that he had graunted him that, (though by much intreaty and many restri­ctions) which Christ commanded vnto all Christians, plainly and effectually.

❧ Maximilian the second.

BEtter fortunes, then his father and vncle Charles, had not Maximilian the second, from whom concerning the ample pro­mises of Clement the seuenth, wee haue heard this saying to proceed: It is surely Iacobs voice; but his hands denote him to be Esau: vehe­mently complaining, That euermore these people haue violated their faith, and broken their leagues: That against all right and equitie, their words are of no validity, nor their oathes of force. And therefore hereafter neuer to be captiuated with security.

He was created Emperour in the yeare of our Lord 1564. A Prince of a sincere disposition, especially in matters of religion: which when hee perceiued to be sorely shaken and rent, with diuersity of opinions; hee greeued in minde, but shewed himselfe indifferent to the professors thereof, neuer hindering the course with any seuere edict.

Which his godly moderation, caused the Romanists to offer him some hard measure surely not to be said, to haue vtterly washt away the contagion of their an­cient treacherie and malice, in esse diuolued vpon them from the successiue discent of so many their predeces­sors. But this worthy Prince was nothing mooued [Page 176] thereat, neither started one iot from his accustomed le­nitie. Crato Craftheim his Councellor and Physition, a man beyond all exception, shall witnesse it in his fune­rall Oration. The Emperor Maximilian neuer entred in­to iudgement of another mans Conscience, but alwaies in controuersie of Religion forbore by force to settle mens minds. For he confessed in the hearing of many men ten yeeres agoe, vnto William Prelate of Olomuch: That no sinne was more greeuous, then the forcing of Consciences, Many are also aliue who remember what hee said to a Prince flying his kingdome, and in his flight resorting vnto him for succour: Surely those that arrogate power ouer mens consciences, inuade the bulwarkes of Heauen, and oftentimes loose that Authority, which God here hath giuen them vpon earth.

Such care and study as Father Ferdinand vsed in ob­seruing the Pacification of Passania, the same the sonne Maximilian emulated and defended, permitting vnto the Austrian Nobility the doctrine of the confession of Ausburg by edict, dated the 18. August 1568.

For when as many noble men of Austria vnder the gouernment of Ferdinand, had presented vnto Charles the fift, certaine Euangelicall ministers professing the Confession of Ausburg: and amongst these, many tur­bulent spirits dismissed vppon many occasions from many parts of Germanie, had resorted vnto his go­uernment as to a place of security; And vnder blinde pretences of Euangelicall liberty had inconsiderately innouated and tumultuously preached many things concerning Church-gouernement: This Maximilian after the example of his father, thought it not meet to prohibit his subiects the confession of Ausburg; and [Page 177] yet forbore not to restraine that anarchiall temeri­ty of such hot spirits, throughout euery seuerall vil­lage of the Prouince, almost teaching and institu­ting a peculiar forme of Doctrine and Ceremonies.

At last at the earnest entreaty and humble petitions of the Austrian Nobility, he permitted them the free exercise of the Augustan confession, both in Chur­ches and families, so that they would assure him to ob­serue that certaine order of doctrine and celebration of the Lords supper, throughout all their Churches, which as then was already vsed and imbraced by the residue of the Protestant Churches, according to the prescript of order of the said confession. For reforma­tion whereof he emploied Ioachim Camerarius and Da­uid Chytreus: and the promise once granted, being af­terwards Emperor he obserued most religiously. Of whose faith and integrity, although to his neuer dying honour much may be spoken, yet here will we cease, and fall to discourse vpon the succession of his Sonne Rodolph. What further matter the good and well min­ded Reader may expect, I will leaue to his own discre­tion to be exemplified, by the application of these old verses:

❧Rodolph the second.

RODOLPH now onely remaineth. Here, whether I should admire at the busie, but now out-worne fury, tyranny and ambiti­on of these selfe-wild Bishops: or reioice at the restored magnanimity, fortitude, and constancy of our Emperour Rodolph, I confesse my selfe grauel­led. But to affirme nothing of mine owne braine, here behold a witnesse acting his own part; A man aboue exception, auouching—

He is the same, who was Author of the Commen­tary vpon the Coloin Businesse. These are his words; What (saith hee) should I speake of the inuincible Empe­rour Rodolph, who now raigneth. I haue seene his Em­bassadours at Rome, the most noble and valiant Lord Flacchus, Prior of the Order of Saint Iohn of Ierusalem in Germany, and Ierome Turner of his Maiesties Coun­cell: A man of exquisit learning, of high wisedom, faith­full and honest. I soiourned with them in the same house; For they lodged with Cardinall Mandrutius (whome for honours sake I name) my very honourable good Master, and a man of excellent vertues. He for acquaintance sake inter­tained them kindly, and vsed them royally: they stayed with vs almost one whole summer: of which delay this was the cause.

The Pope, Gregorie the thirteenth was wonderfull desirous to haue the Emperour performe his obedi­ence to his Popeship. For, that it ought so to be, he plea­ded [Page 179] prescription. The Ambassadors, to doe more then their Commission warranted, resolutely refused. And their Commission stretched no further, then to pro­mise Obsequium, his humble seruice to the Pope, but o­bedience vnto the Church.

Letters hereof were sent vnto his Maiesty, and meane while Turner was eagerly assaulted by the Car­dinals to change opinion; but he was constant. At last, vntill the Emperors Maiesty could be wrought, to relinquish that forme of words, which the worthy and laudable Caesars, Ferdinand his grandfather and Maxi­milian his father had vsed, the Embassador was accep­ted to do what he was commanded. And so in a full as­sembly of the Cardinals, the Pope being mounted vp­on an high Seig, Hee promised his Holinesse his seruice, and the Church, his obedience. In action whereof he gaue good proofes of his learning, wisedome, and ad­mirable boldnesse.

To many in the City, this seemed a ridiculous con­tention, sithence the words obsequium and obedientia doe so little differ in substance: but let them laugh; The Popes rites well vnderstand the meaning there­of, otherwise, let them bee assured, that his wisedome would not so stifly haue insisted vppon the bare word of obedience.

As for the Emperour, the world knoweth, that here he made it manifest, that hee was not bound to giue obedience vnto a Bishop, his subiect, from whome hee expected subiection and fealtie: At least­wise he layde an excellent foundation, towards the restitution of the decayed Honour of the Empire, by others to be perfected as God and time shall offer oc­casion. [Page 180] For what a greater blessing can a Christian man wish, then to see a Bishop praying and preach­ing, and abhorring to prescribe lawes vnto a tempo­rall Emperour? What other thing more necessarie for peace and humane society can the Councel of State deuise, then to bridle seditious mindes, from taking aduantage to disquiet the State, vpon euery sinister se­ducement of an vnconscionable Iesuite? Which if they once effect, then shall the Emperours giue them their due fauours, that is, acknowledge the Lateran Bishops to be venerable fathers. If these passages, I say, were reduced to their pristinate forme and integrity, then no longer should wee behold the Christian peo­ple turmoyled in discords, no Princes murdered, no oaths of allegeance impugned, no equiuocation iu­stified, nor Turkish inuasions so powerfully main­tained.

But of these abuses, and many more mentioned by mine Author, and still maintained, but not with aun­cient obstinacie, for want of this implored reforma­tion, let him that hath a stomach to bee informed, read the Apology, brought out of Spaine, and prin­ted at Antwarp in the yeare 1527. There in order shall hee finde as much as followeth, the summe whereof drawen into heads, shall suffice for this present.

1 The Breues of Clement the seuenth, wherein hee loadeth Caesar with as many calumniations, as his witte could deuise, and those most false and for­ged.

2 The aunswere of the Emperour Charles the fifth vnto these forgeries.

[Page 181]3 The second Breues of the Pope, wherein vppon repentance that hee had falsly accused Caesar, hee sen­deth vnto his Nuncio, to forbid him the deliuery of the former Breues.

4 The answer of Caesar to these second Breues.

5 An Epistle of Charles Caesar vnto the Colledge of Cardinalls, desiring them, that in case his Holi­nesse did continue either to denie, or differ, a ge­nerall Councell, that they themselues would pro­claime it.

Now that wee haue fully informed you how this halfe-deplumed Estritch hath notwithstanding oppo­sed against the two last Emperours, Ferdinand and Maximilian, and not at this day feareth not to bee troublesome vnto their successour Rodolph: As also, how his patience hath beene nettled by the transacti­on of Passauia, and the Edicts of peace deuised, rati­fied and proclaimed by these three late worthy Em­perours: It shall not for a perclous vnto your wea­ried mindes, I hope, proue a loathing seruice, if I shall in order recite vnto you, at what warde his Holinesse at this day lieth, considering that hee is not able any longer, to set father against sonne, and sonne against father in open action; Prince against Prince, and people against Prince, and Prince against people.

These practises are reuealed and absolute, now must they erect (and but once erect) an order to pur­pose; An order that must commit all villanies, and his Popeship not seene therein: an order that must studie Matchiauell, entertaine intelligence, and able in [Page 182] it selfe to negotiat in Princes affaires, without posting and reposting, to the view of the world, for their di­spatches to Rome: an order of all orders that euer were deuised, the most cruell and truly bestial; the bane of mankinde, and the fire-brands of Christendome. Of whom, if any worthy pen would take the paines, to indict a Legend; the world should soone perceiue, that they to the vnderpropping of this declining sea, within these few yeares, haue committed as many forgeries, villanies,VVitnesse France, Bel­gia, and Hun­garie. and seducements to warre and murder, as their Masters before them haue done in many Ages. So furious are their humours, so irregular their con­sciences to worke, pleasing seruices to their politique Monarch! Bound they are to auert, whatsoeuer they shall thinke or know preiudiciall to the Romish sea. Bound they are (as much as in them lieth) to hinder the propagation of the Gospel. Then, their calling be­ing such, their seruice such, and such their vowes, let vs learne amongst many of their actions, by some few, what peace in religion is to be expected, from such persons, that hereafter we may be able to discerne the man by his speech, as the Lion by his clawes.