A treatyse of the donation or gyfte and endowme[n]t of possessyons, gyuen and graunted vnto Syluester pope of Rhome, by Constantyne emperour of Rome [and] what truth is in the same grau[n] thou mayst se, and rede ye iugement of certayne great lerned men, whose names on the other page of this leafe done appere. — De falso credita et ementita Constantini donatione declamatio. English

A treatyse of the donation or gyfte and endowme[n]t of possessyons, gyuen and graunted vnto Syluester pope of Rhome, by Constantyne emperour of Rome [and] what truth is in the same grau[n] thou mayst se, and rede ye iugement of certayne great lerned men, whose names on the other page of this leafe done appere. — De falso credita et ementita Constantini donatione declamatio. English

Table of contents

Title page

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¶ The preface or ꝓheme of Bartholome we Pycern of the hyghe mountayne / vnto Pope Iulyus the ſeconde / vpon the priuylege / called the gyfte or graunt of the emperoure Conſtantyne / whiche priuylege the ſayd Bartholomewe affyrmeth with faſt aſſeueratyon hymſelfe to haue trāſlated out of greke into laten.

¶The decree imperiall written & gyuen to the worſhypfull and holy Catholyke and apoſtolycall church of Rome / by bleſſed Conſtantyne / the fyrſte amonge the emperours that became Chriſten.

❧ The preface of Vdalrike Hutten / vpon the lytell booke made by Laurence Valla / agaynſt the fayned and falſely forged donation or gyfte of Conſtantyne / vnto pope Leo the tenth of that name.

¶The reuerende father Iherome Pan / Cathalane chanon of Barcinon / doctor of both the lawes / & chā berlayn to Pope Alexandre the .vi. A man very worthy credēce / & to be beleued: writeth thus as herafter foloweth / in his boke / whiche they call cōmenly / the Practice of the popes Chauncery.

¶ The delamation of Lau. Valla / a noble man & of the ſenatours of blode of Rome / againſt the vntruly forged & falſely beleued donation or gifte of Cōſtātyne.

¶ The firſt ꝑte of this oration / in which thautor ſheweth this entēt & the order / after which he wyll ꝓcede in this worke / & alſo that neither Conſtātyne of lyke lyhed was wyllyng / or coude be ſuffred to gyue / neither Sylueſter was wyllyng / or myght laufully receyue the thynges mencioned in the donation.

¶The oratyon of Conſtantines ſonnes / and of his kynſfolke and frendes / made vnto him full of lamentable complaynte / for that he gothe about without / ye / and contrary to their deſeruynge ſo to take frome them their inheritaunce. &c.

¶ The oration of ye ſenatours & the people of Rome made to Cōſtātine / in which they nat only do ſhewe that Conſtantine hath no right nor auctorite to gyue the ēpier from him: but alſo that they wyll in no wiſe ſuffre it to be done / & that for many cōſyderatiōs / but raither flee both the receyuer / & him alſo the gyuer.

¶ The oration of Silueſter to Cōſtantine / in whiche he ſheweth it to be neither laufull / neither profytable for him / to receyue Conſtātines offre / although it were ſo as it is nat / that Conſtantine might rightfully / & without any impediment or offending of any perſone / giue ſuche thinges as he offred from himſelf and his children.

¶ The ſeconde princypall parte of this oration / in whiche the author ſheweth / that / although both Conſtantine might haue ben ſuffred / and had ben willing to make this gyfte / and Silueſter alſo willyng to accepte it (the contrary wherof hath ben afore proued) yet dyd neuer Conſtātine delyuer poſſeſſyō to Silueſter / but the ſame thinges remayned alwayes ſtyll in the handes and gouernaūce of themperours. &c.

¶The thyrde princypall parte of this oration / in which the author ſheweth / that Conſtantine was become Chriſten afore that Silueſter was pope / & that thoſe gyftes whiche Conſtātine gaue: were gyuen to the pope nexte after Silueſter / which ſame alſo were but meane or ſmall thinges / & no more than ſuffycient to the popes ſuſtentation.

¶ The fourth prīcipall ꝑte of this oration / in which the author ſheweth it to be vntruly ſayde / that the copye or example of this donation is founde in the decrees / or elles taken out of the hiſtorie of ſaynt Sylueſter / and alſo declareth what folyſſhe / what impoſſyble / what barbarous / and what repugnaūt & contrary thīges / with other vnreſonablenes / is cōtayned in the ſayde copie. & beſydes this he maketh mention of the fayned or friuolouſe donation of certayn other emperours. And laſte of al he ſheweth / that in caſe it were / ſo that Sylueſter or any other pope had at any tyme poſſeſſed theſe thīges: yet being ones put out of poſſeſſyō / & ſo long cōtinuīg diſpoſſeſſed as they haue done: they cā nat now after ſo long ſpace of tyme clayme thē agayn / neither by the lawe of god nor man. &c.

¶ The fy•th prīcipall parte & the laſt of this worke / • whiche it is ſhewed / yt the pope can nat make any p̄ ſcription •n thoſe thīges which he poſſeſſeth: howe ſo ouer longe tyme he hath had them in his poſſeſſyon.

¶ The ſentence & mynde of Nicholas of Cuſa / cardinall by the tytle of ſaynt Peter ad vincula: concernyng ye donation of Conſtātine / which ſentēce he wrote to the councell aſſēbled at Baſile in the thirde boke ye ſecōd cha. of the catholyke concordaūce & agremēt.

¶ Antonine ye archebiſſhoppe of Florence / ſaith / as here foloweth: in ye eyghte tytle / the ſecōde chapitour the eyghte paragraffe / of the fyrſt parte hiſtoriall.

¶Raphaell Volaterrane in the lyfe of great Conſtā tyne: writeth thus / as foloweth.

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¶ A treatyſe of the donation or gyfte and endowmēt of poſſeſſyons / gyuen and g [...]unted vnto Sylueſter pope of Rhome / by Conſtantyne emperour of Rome / & what truth is in the ſame graūt thou mayſt ſe / and rede ye iugement of certayne great lerned men / whoſe names on the other page of this leafe done appere.

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THe graunt and priuilege whiche is called the donation or gyfte of Conſtantyne / tranſlated out of greke in to laten / by one Bartylmewe Picern of the mounte of Ardue vnto Iulyus ye ſeconde / po [...] / of Rome.

¶ A declamation of Laurence Valla beyng of noble blode and borne in the cyte of Rome / agaynſt the forſayd priuilege / as beyng forged & nothyng true / but falſely admytted and beleued for true / with a preface of one Vdalryk Hutten a knyght of Germayne vnto Leo the tenth pope of Rome.

¶ The ſentence and mynde of Nycolas of Cuſe of the tytle of ſaynt Peter ye Aduyncle cardynall / whiche he wrote vnto ye counſell holden at Baſyle / of the ſayd donation and gyfte of Conſtantyne.

¶ Antony archebyſſhoppe of Florence of the ſame donation and gyfte of Conſtantyne.

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¶ The preface or ꝓheme of Bartholome we Pycern of the hyghe mountayne / vnto Pope Iulyus the ſeconde / vpon the priuylege / called the gyfte or graunt of the emperoure Conſtantyne / whiche priuylege the ſayd Bartholomewe affyrmeth with faſt aſſeueratyon hymſelfe to haue trāſlated out of greke into laten.

WHan among other / dyuers and ſondrie workes / whiche of late dayes I dyd rede moſt bleſſed father / in this your mooſt famous & goodly lybrary / there came vnto my hādes a certayne lytell Greke boke / whiche contayned the gyfte or graunt of Conſtantyne: I thought it mete & cōuenyent to tranſlate it out of greke in to latyn / and alſo yt I ought to dedycate or entytle it to your moſt holy fatherhed / whiche are the deputie of Chriſt / and of Peter / and the ſucceſſoure alſo of Sylueſter / for becauſe there be many men whiche haue ſayde and wyll abyde by it / that thys gyfte or graunte of Conſtantyne is falſe / counterfeyted & fayned / amonge whom Laurēce Valla is one / a man ſurely well lerned / whiche preſūtuouſli hath taken in hāde to write a boke of the falſe & forged gyfte of Cōſtantyne. But his opynyons very well reſyſteth and gaynſayth the moſte reuerende Cardynall of Alexandrie / excellently lerned and ſubſtācially ſene in both lawes / & alſo very dilygently confuteth and dyſſolueth the obiections made by the ſayd Laurēce. Parauenture that great clerke Valla ſuppoſed that ye thyng whiche he him ſelfe had nat redde / coulde in no place haue ben founde among other men. And no meruayle therof / ſeīg that he was a man of ſo gret mordacite. and all gyuen to checkīg that he hath nat ben afrayde to checke and rebuke Ariſtotle the chefe and pryncipall of all Philoſophers / ye and alſo / ſo to fynde fautes with all ye authors of the laten tonge / that he hath forborne no man. But leſte I be to tedyous: lette vs nowe lyſten / and here what Conſtantyne hym ſelfe ſaythe

¶The decree imperiall written & gyuen to the worſhypfull and holy Catholyke and apoſtolycall church of Rome / by bleſſed Conſtantyne / the fyrſte amonge the emperours that became Chriſten.

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IN the name of the holy and vnſeperable Trinytie / yt is to wytte / the father the ſonne / and the holy ghoſt. Caeſar Flauius Conſtātyne / in Chriſt Ieſu of ye ſame Trinitye our only ſauyour oure lorde / and our god / the faythfull mylde / and benefycyall Emperour of Almayne / of Gothia / of Sarmatia / of Germanie / of Britayne / and of the Hunnes / godly / proſperous / or fortunate conquerour / and triumpher / alwayes honorable and full of maieſtye: to the moſte holy and bleſſed father of fathers / Sylueſter / byſhoppe and Pope of the auncient and noble cyte of Rome. And to all biſſhoppes the ſucceſſours of hym / ſyttynge in the chayre of bleſſed Peter / euyn vntyll the ende of the worlde. Alſo to all moſt reuerende and deuout catholyke byſſhoppes ſubiectes / by this our emperyall cōſtytution to this worſhipfull and holy church of Rome: Grace peace / loue / ioye / conſtaunt mynde / and mercy from almighty god / bothe the father / and Ieſu Chriſt his ſonne / and alſo the holyghoſt be with vs all. Suche thinges as hath ben wonderfully wrought about our owne perſone / by our redemer and ſauyour the lorde Ieſu Chriſt / whiche is the ſonne of the moſt high father in heuyn / through his mercies / by his holy apoſtels Peter and Paule / and throughe the meane and interceſſyon of our father Sylueſter / the higheſt biſſhoppe and catholyke or vnyuerſall pope. We haue purpoſed and deſyred to ſhewe in order with manyfeſt narration / by this oure emperiall writte / that it may come herafter to the knowlege of all people and nations whiche are in the worlde / that the confeſſyon [...]wlegīg of ye reuelation ſhewed vnto vs moſt [...] within / & from the very hert. [...] declareth outwardely [Page] our fayth and belefe / whiche we haue learned of the aforſayd moſt bleſſed father and our interceſſour Sylueſter Catholyke pope chefe and higheſt preeſt / to the document and inſtruction of vs all. Secondarily it ſheweth alſo to all men the large mercy of god / whiche he hath plētuouſly poured and ſhedde forth vpon vs. For we wyll yt all you do knowe / euyn ſo as we haue declared vnto you by our pragmatycall conſtytution aforeſaid / that we haue renounced and vtterly forſaken the worſhyppīg of ydols / whiche are dombe and deafe and made with mannes hande / and that we are lepte away from the deuillyſſhe fayninges & falſe ymaginatyons / and from all the pompe of Sathan / and are humbly deſcended to the hole and parfyte pure faythe of chriſten men / whiche is the trewe lyght and lyfe eternall / as oure hyghe and moſt reuerende father and maiſter Sylueſter / him ſelfe hath taught vs / cōmaundynge vs to beleue on god the father almyghty maker of heuyn and of earthe / of all creatures viſyble & vnuiſyble / and on Ieſu Chriſt the onely begoten ſōne of him / our lorde / by whome all thīges haue ben created & made / and on the holy ghoſt that quickeneth and gyueth lyfe to euery creature. we do ſo and in ſuche wyſe confeſſe and knoledge the father the ſonne / and the holy ghoſt / as that in the perfyte Trinyte is bothe the perfeccyon of the godhed / and vnyte of power and myght. The father is god / the ſonne is god / the holyghoſt is god / and theſe thre perſones are all one ſubſtance. Thre formes than ar ther and but onely one power. Than after that he hadde fynyſſhed the creatyon of the heuenly powers / & of all erthely materiall ſubſtāces: by ye mercifull power and wyll of his wyſedome / he fyrſt formed man of the ſlyme of the earth / reſemblaunt to the ymage and ſymilytude of his owne ſelfe. And after he had ſo formed him / he ſet him in paradyſe a place of pleaſure / at whom and whoſ [...] felycite the ſerpent & olde enemy the deuyll hauyng enuy / thrugh the moſt bytter & myſerable taſtyng of the frute of a tre forbydden / cauſed [Page] hī to be outlawed & banyſſhed from that myrth / ioye / and pleaſure. And after he hadde cauſed hym ſo to be expulſed from thence / he ceaſſech nat by his mortyferous & dedly dartes / many maner wayes to woūde other men / to thende yt he myght drawe away mankynde from the waye of the trouth / and perſwade all men and brīg them in mynde to be ſeruauntes to the worſhyppyng of ydoles / that is to ſay / of the creatures and nat of the creator and maker of them / to then tent that whom ſo euer he ſhall be able by his craftye gyles to blynde / & to entangle in his ſnares / he maye cauſe them to be ponyſhed with eternall payne. But god takīg mercy & tēdre pyte vpon his creature / whō his owne ſelfe had formed and made / ſente his holye prophetes / and by them ſhewed and gaue knolege of the lyght of lyfe / that is to wytte / the comyng of his ſonne / our lorde / and ſauyour god / Ieſu Chriſt. And laſt of all he ſent alſo his onely begoten ſōne the worde of wyſedome / whiche came downe from heuyn for our helthe and ſaluatyon / & was begoten of the holy ghoſt / and of the vyrgyn Mary. The worde of god was made man / and hath dwelled among vs / nat leauyng that / which he was before / but takyng on hym to be / that that he was nat before / that is to wyrte / beyng both parfyte god / ſo as he was before / & parfyte man alſo / whiche he was nat before. And as god he wrought miracles and wonders / and as man / he ſuffred and beare the infyrmytes belongyng to the nature of man. Thus we vnderſtande the worde or ſonne of god to be man / and the ſame worde alſo to be god. And it is in no wyſe to be douted / that ye ſame is both very god and very man / accordyng to the doctryne and teachyng of our father Sylueſter. he than choſyng .xii. Apoſtles gaue to them the lyght of knoledge / and power to worke miracles & ſtrange thynges aboue the courſe of nature / that by them innumerable people myghte be taught and brought to belefe of the trauthe. We confeſſe & knowlege / that this our lorde Ieſu Chriſte hathe fulfylled the lawes and the [Page] prophetes / and that he ſuffred paſſyon / and was crucifyed fulfyllīg the ſcryptures / that he dyd ryſe agayn from deathe the thyrde daye / and that he aſcended into heuyn / and there dothe ſytte on the ryght hande of the father / and that from thence he ſhall come to iudge both quicke and dedde / whoſe kyngdome ſhall neuer haue ende. Thys is our trewe and ryght belefe / ſhewed and tolde before to vs / by oure mooſt bleſſed father Sylueſter. we do therfore aduertiſe and counſayle all people / and all maner of natyōs / to embrace and holde faſte this fayth / to haue it in honour / exercyſe it / to teache and preche it / and in the name of the holy trinite / to come vnto the gyfte of baptiſme / and with a reuerent herte and mynde to worſhyppe and honour our lorde and ſauyour Ieſu Chriſt / whiche with the father and the holyghoſt / raygneth worldes without ende. And whome oure moſt bleſſed father Sylueſter Catholyke and vniuerſall pope or hedde preeſt doth preche & teche for the very ſame lorde Ieſu chriſt hauyng pite & cōpaſſion vpon me a ſynner / dyd ſende his holy Apoſtels to vyſyte vs / and hathe illumynated and lyghtened vs with ye lyght of his brightneſſe / and withdrawīg and takyng a way darkneſſe / hathe vouchedſafe / me to come to the knowledge of the trauth / for a great foule and abhomynable leprie was ronne ouer all the fleſſhe of my body / and many leches & phiſyciōs reſortyng vnto me / dyd theyr vtter moſt cure to haue heled me / but yet coude I nat by the labour or dylygence of any of them optayne remedy of my dyſeaſe / and to be made hole. ❀ Beſydes this ther came to me alſo ye preeſtes of the Capitoly houſe ſayng that a Ceſterne myght be made in the capitoly houſe / and be fylled with the hote blode of innocētes / and that I muſt be bathed therin / by whiche bathīge (they ſayde) I myght recouer helthe / and be clenſed from that foule and horrible dyſeaſe / accordyng therfore to the counſayles of them / whan many innocente younglynges and babes were ſought and broughte togyther / and the wycked and cruell preſtes withou [...] [Page] all pyte / wolde haue cutte the throtes of them / and ſo with the blode of them haue fylled the ceſtrene: oure gratyouſe highneſſe with tendre pytie beholdyng the lamentable wepyng and waylyng of their mothers / forthwith dyd abhorre & deedly hate that / ſo abhomynable and cruell dede. And I than hauyng tendre cō paſſyon vpon the ſayde women / cōmaunded the chyldren to be delyuered agayne to the remothers / and lettyng them haue waggans / and ſuche other thynges mete for the coryage of their chyldren / and alſo gyuīg them giftes: ſent them agayne ioyonſe and gladde to their owne houſes and dwellyng places. Whan this day was ended and paſt / and reſtyng tyme of the nyght came on / and oportunyte prouoked me to ſlepe / and to take reſt: ſodaynly the holy Apoſtels Peter and Paule were harde by me / and ſayd theſe wordes to me. Bicauſe thou dyddeſt nat ſuffre the preeſtes to performe theyr ſynfull purpoſe / but dyddeſt abhorre the effucyon and ſhedyng of innocētes blode: we are ſent to the from Chriſt our lorde and god / to gyue the counſayle / howe / and by what meanes thou ſhalt recouer thy helth / harken therfore to our meſſage / and do that thynge whyche we do counſayle and teche the to do. The byſſhoppe of this cyte / Sylueſter / fleyng the perſecutyons: hath hydde ſecretely in dennes of ſtones / with hys clerkes / in the mount of Soracte. This Sylueſter thou ſhalte cauſe to be fetched vnto the / and by his inſtruction thou ſhalt learne & knowe the trewe ceſterne of Chriſtes profeſſyon / in the whiche ceſtrene after that thou ſhalt be dypped thryſe: all the poyſon of thy leprye ſhall leue the and go clere frō the / whyche thynge done: make thou agayne of thy parte / thys recompence to thy ſauyour / that by thy cōmaundimentes thou do renewe all the churches in the worlde / and in this behalfe / purge and clenſe thou thyne owne ſelfe / that forſakyng all the wretchedde worſhyppynge of ydoles: thou mayſte loue / honour / and worſhyppe onely hym / whiche alone is the lyuynge and the trewe God / and fulfylle his wyll [Page] and pleaſure. Than whā I was wakened out of my ſlepe / I dyd euyn ſo as I was taught of the Apoſtels to do / and ſendyng for the heygheſt & moſte excellent father Sylueſter / Catholyke Pope / whiche hath illumynated vs / & gyuen vs lyght. I declared to him all the wordes / that the holy Apoſtels hadde ſayd to me / and what they had bydden me do / and I demaū / ded of him what goddes they were / which are called Peter and Paule. And he ſayde / that they were nat properly called goddes: but he ſayde / that they were Apoſtels of our lorde and ſauyour Ieſu Chriſt. ❧

I began than agayne to deman̄de of the ſame moſt bleſſed Pope / whether there were any parfyte & euydent ymages of theſe Apoſtels / that by the pyctures myght knowe / if it were poſſyble / that they were the very ſame / whom we lerned them to be by reuelation Than that father worthy of all reuerēce / cōmaunded the ymages of theſe holy Apoſtels to be brought to me / by his owne propre deacon and myniſter / whiche whan I behelde & ꝑceyued in the ymages very well / the aſpectes and lykeneſſe of them / whom I had ſene in my ſlepe / with a great loude voyce I confeſſed in the preſence of my dukes and noble eſtates / that theſe were the very ſame perſones / whome I ſawe in my ſlepe. Than forthwith this our moſte bleſſed father Sylueſter / byſſhop of the cyte of Rome / apoynted to vs a certeyn tyme of penaūce / in which I ſhuld weare a ſherte of heare within our palyce of Laterane / that we myght pacifye or appeaſe the wrathe of our lorde god and our ſauyour / for all thynges which hath ben wickedly wrought / and vniuſtly done by vs: with faſtynges / watchynges / wepynges / and prayers.

Afterwardes / clerkes layeng their hādes vpon me / I came to the pope hym ſelfe / and there renouncynge the pompes of the deuyll and his workes / & all ydols made with mannes hande: I confeſſed of myne owne free wyll / in preſence of all the people / that I beleue in one god father almightye / maker of heuyn and of erthe / of all a viſyble and inuyſyble thynges. And in one lorde Ieſu Chriſt / the onely begoten ſon̄e of god / [Page] our lorde / which was begotten of the holyghoſt / and of Mary the virgyn. Than after that he had halowed the fonte or lauacre of baptyme / with his holy bleſſyng / he purifyed the water whiche was therin to putte. In to the which foūtayne or baptiſtory ſo ſone as I was ſette / I ſawe with my owne eyes a hande touchynge me from heuyn / by which hande (whan I roſe vp) I parceyued and knewe my ſelfe to be clēſed and purifyed from all the fowlneſſe and vnciēneſſe of leprie. And whan they had taken me out of that holy bathe / they dyd putte on me whyte garmentes. and he gaue me the carecte or marke of ye ſeuenfolde grace of the holy ghoſt / by a noyncyng me with holy oyle, & he marked the ſygne & token of the holy croſſe in my forhed / ſayng theſe wordes: God ſealeth or marketh the with ye ſeale of his fayth / in the name of the father and of the ſonne / & of the holyghoſt / and all the clergy anſwered / and ſayd. Amen. And the pope ſayde alſo Pax tibi. Peace be to the. The fyrſt day after that I had receyued the ſacrament of holy baptyſme / & that I was cured & healed in my body frō leprie. I knewe that there is none other god / beſydes the father / and ſonne / and holyghoſt / whome the moſt bleſſed father Sylueſter preacheth .iii. perſones in one god. and one god in .iii. perſones: for all the goddes of the gentyles and panyms / whome I haue honoured here to fore / are manyfeſtly ſhewed and declared to be deuyls and the workes of mennes handes. Than the ſayde holy father him ſelfe playnly declared to vs / how greate power and authoryte the ſame our ſauyour hath gyuen to his choſen Apoſtell bleſſed Peter / bothe in heuyn and in earth / whan after that he hadde founde him faythfull in anſweryng to his demaūde / he ſayd to him. Thou arte Peter / and vpon this ſtone I wyl bylde my churche / and the gates of hell ſhall nat preuayle agaynſt it. Conſyder you men of great power and myght / and attende and take good hede with the eares of your hertes and myndes / what ye good maiſter and lorde added more beſydes this to his owne dyſciple / ſaying. And I wyll gyue to the: the kayes [Page] of the kyngdome of heuyn / & what ſo euer thou ſhalt bynde vpon erthe / it ſhalbe bounden alſo in heuyn.

❀This is a marueylous worde and full of power / bothe to bynde & loſe ſo vpon erthe / yt the ſame ſhalbe bounden and loſed lykewyſe in heuyn. We therfore hauyng knowlege of theſe thynges / by thinſtruction of bleſſed Sylueſter / and parceyuing or felyng parſyte helth / to be comen agayne to our body / through the benefycence of the ſame bleſſed Peter: thought & iuged it mete and accordynge our ſelfe with all other dukes / erles / and our counſaylours / and the other noble eſtatꝭ / and alſo with the hole people beyng vnder the dominion of the empyre of Rome / that as bleſſed Peter appereth to haue ben conſtytuted / ordayned / & made by the ſonne of god his deputie in erthe / ſo lyke wiſe the ſucceſſours of the prince of the Apoſtels ſhulde take and receyue of vs and of our empire / gretter prerogatyue of power gyuen to them / than our ſerenite and alſo empire is knowen of all men to haue in erthe / for we haue electe and choſyn the prince of Apoſtels hym ſelfe / and his trewe ſucceſſoures / to be patrons and interceſſours for vs to god / and we haue decreed to honoure and worſhyppe with reuerence his ſacredde and holy churche of Rome: euyn ſo as our emperyall power is worſhypped in erthe / & to exalte the moſt holy ſee of bleſſed Peter / more than our owne empyre and tēporall dignyte / gyueng to it power & preferment of royaltie / ſtrength / and effycacie and hyghe honour emperyall. And we decree & eſtablyſſhe / that it haue the dominion & chefe gouernaūce vpon the foure chiefe and principall ſees: Antioche / Alexandrie / Conſtantinople / and Ieruſalem. Alſo vpon all the cōgregatiōs & churches of god / through out the hole worlde. and the biſſhoppe of that hyghe and holy churche of Rome for the tyme beyng / to be principall and heed of all preeſtes whiche are in the hole worlde / and that all thynges wherof cure ought to be taken for the worſhippyng of god / or the corrobora [...]yng and enſtrengthyng of the chriſten fayth / be gouerned and ordered by the iugement of him / for it [Page] is ryght that the heed of power & principalyte ſhulde there haue his holy lawes and ordynaunces: where oure ſauyoure the maker of holy lawes / cōmaunded ſaynt Peter to haue the chayre of his apoſtelſhyppe / and where Peter him ſelfe folowyng his maiſter and lorde bare his croſſe drinkynge that bytter draughte of glorious dethe. ❀ There contynually and euyn to the ende of the worlde / lette them ſeche their maiſter where the holy body of their maiſtre reſteth. There let people & natiōs of paynims bowe downe their neckes for ye confeſſion & knoleging of the name of Chriſt where their maiſter & techer the apoſtel Paule ſtretching forth his necke for Chriſtes ſake / was crowned with the garlonde of martyrdome. There & in that place / lette them humbly and lowlye ſubmytte them ſelues to the obſequie and ſeruyce of god the heuynly kynge / and ſauyour Ieſu Chriſte: where before they dyd ſeruyce to the proude power of an erthely kynge or gouernour. For whych cauſes and cōſyderations / we wyll that all people through out the worlde doo knowe that we within our palyce of Laterane / haue buylded a temple / to the honour of god our ſuaioure and lorde Ieſu Chriſt: euyn frō the very foūdation with a fonte to baptyſe in. And knowe you alſo / that we did beare out from thence vpō our owne ſholders xii. baſkettes full of erthe in the worſhippe of the .xii. Apoſtels beyng .xii. alſo in nombre. and we haue alſo edifyed churches in the honour of bleſſed Peter & Paule the chefe apoſtels / goodly decked & garnyſhed with golde and ſyluer / where alſo we buryeng the moſt holy and worſhypfull bodyes of them with greate reuerence haue buylded and made them ſhrynes of ambre / ſuche as neither fyre ne water can deſtroy. And we haue putte in through eyther of the ſhrynes a croſſe made of moſt pure golde & of precyous ſtones / and haue faſted it with nayles of golde. And to the ſame churches / for the contynuaunce & mayntynaūce of lyghtes within ye ſame: we haue gyuē poſſeſſions and landes / and by our emperyall & heygh cōmaūdement / we haue graūted to them our lyberte in the eeſt [Page] and weſt / and in the northe and ſouthe clymates / that is to witte / in Iurye / in Aſya / Grecelande / Aphrike / Italye / and in dyuerſe ylelandes / in ſuche maner and wyfe / that all maner thynges ſhall be dyſpoſed and ordred by the handes of our mooſt bleſſed father pope Sylueſter and his ſucceſſours. Lette all people therfore reioyce with vs / we admonyſſhe and counſayle all kyndes of people and nations in the worlde / that they confeſſe and gyue infynite thankes with vs to oure ſauyour Ieſu Chriſt / for that he beynge god in heuyn aboue / and in erth vnderneth / whan he had vyſyted vs by his holy apoſtles: made vs worthy to receyue the holy ſacramente of baptyſme / and helthe of our body / for the whiche thynges / alſo we gyue to the holy apoſtles ſelues & my lordes moſt bleſſed Peter & Paule / and by them to Sylueſter our father & hygheſt byſhoppe and catholyke pope of the cyte of Rome and to all byſſhoppes his ſucceſſours ſyttynge in the chaire of bleſſed Peter / euyn vnto thende of the worlde / and at this preſente tyme do delyuer vp / fyrſt the palace of Laterane our emperyall place which is the moſt royall and goodly palace (ſurmoūting all other palaces) that ar in the worlde. Next after it our dyademe / that is to ſaye / the crowne belongyng to oure heed. Lykewiſe we delyuer vp our phrigiū / that is to ſay yt which is called of the Romayns mitra. Further more oure ſuꝑhumerall / I meane that whiche is put about our imperyall necke. Alſo a purple robe and a purple coote / and all the indumentes and apparayle belongynge to an emperour / and the dygnyte of the emperyall knyghtes and lordes goynge before hym / geuyng moreouer to him the emperyall ſceptres / and therwith alſo the armes and badges / and dyuerſe ornamentes emperyall / and all the glorye and power of the moſt hyghe emperyall maieſtie / in pompes and proceſſyons / and to the mooſt reuerende men clerkes after dyuerſe ordres and degrees / ſeruyng this worſhipfull and holy church of Rome. We ordaine decre / and eſtablyſſhe / that they haue that attendaunce and propertye of power and preheminēce / with all the glorie [Page] & maieſtie / wherwith our moſte noble ſenatoures are ſene to be adourned / that is to ſaye / that they be made lordes of the cytie and heed offycers. ❀ Alſo we publyſſhe and openly pronounce / that they be adourned with the other dygnyties emperyall / and as the emperiall hoſt or armye is adourned: euyn ſo alſo we haue decreed / that the clergie of the churche of Rome be decked and adourned / and lykewyſe as the emperyall power and maieſtye is put to honoure with dyuerſe offyces of chaūberlaynes / porters / and watche men or garde: ſo we wyll / that the holye churche of Rome be decked and garnyſſhed with ye ſame offices. And we decree / that the dygnytie of the pope mooſte largely do ſhyne aboue all other / and that the preſtes of the ſame holye church of Rome / do ryde vpon horſes trapped with napkyns / and fyne whyte towels of lynen clothe / and as our ſenatoures do weare ſhoes / Cum vdonibus: that is to ſay / adourned with moſt whyte lynen clothe: euyn ſo we wyll them to be / that the heuenly thynges maye ſo be decked & garnyſſhed lyke the erthly thynges / to the prayſe and honour of god. And aboue all / we gyue lycence to that our moſt holye father Sylueſter / byſſhoppe of the cyte of Rome / and pope / and to all other mooſt bleſſed popes / whiche ſhall in tymes herafter ſuccede him / for the honour and glory of our lorde Ieſu Chriſt / in this gret Catholyke or vniuerſall power. if he be wyllynge to recken or accompte ony of oure circumſpecte ſenatours / amonge relygious clerkes: that none of them which are called ther vnto through pride / ſhall make excuſe / or refuſe to take this ordre. We ordayne and eſtablyſſhe this alſo / that the father Sylueſter / pope worthye all maner reuerence / and all popes his ſucceſſoures / ought to weare the dyademe / that is to ſay the crowne / which we do gyue to him from our owne heed / made of moſt pure and fyne gold and preciouſe ſtones and perles / and to weare it on their hedes to the glorie of god / for the reuerence of bleſſed Peter. And bycauſe the moſt bleſſed pope himſelf hath ben a ſhamed to were the crowne of gold vpon the crowne [Page] of his preeſthod / and on the tonſure or ſhauynge of his heed / whiche he hathe for the reuerence of ſaynte Peter: we therfore with our owne handes haue put on his mooſt holy heed / this phrigium / repreſentyng and ſygnifyeng the moſt bryght whyte coloure of it / the gloryouſe reſurrection of our lorde / and holding the brydle of his horſe / for the reuerence of bleſſed Peter: we haue couered his horſe. And we do ordayne and decree / that all his ſuccſſoures / eche one of thē after other / do weare the ſame phrigiū in proceſſyons to the ymitation & folowing of our empire / wherfore yt the high dignitie of ye pope debate nat / but that he beyng worthy / may be decorated & adourned both with glorye and power more than onye earthly kyng or gouernour.Gyueng of the palace and cyte of Rome. ❀ Beholde here we gyue vp as we haue ſayde afore / our palace / & the cyte of Rome and the prouynces / places / and the cyties of all Italy and of the weſt regyons / to the oft reherſed our moſt bleſſed father Sylueſter Catholyke pope / and releaſynge them to the power and iudgement of him and of his ſucceſſours popes. We haue decreed by our diuine pragmaticall conſtitution / that they be diſpoſed by the ſame popes / and we graunte theym to remayne and contynue alwayes to the right and tytle of the holye churche of Rome / wherfore we haue iuged it conuenyent and accordyng / to tranſlate oure empire / and the glorie thereof / to the Eeſt regions / and buyldyng in the cytie Byzantium (whiche is a verye good place) a cytie in our owne name: there to conſtitute and ſette our empire / thynkyng it vnmete / vnſemelye / and agaynſt right / that any erthlye kyng ſhulde haue any power and auctoryte ther / where the chefe prelacie of preeſtes / and the heed of the Chriſten relygion / hathe ben conſtituted and ordayned to be / by the heuenly kyng. Theſe thynges therfore by this our and ſacred writte and other emperyall decrees determyned / and corroborated: we haue ordayned and decreed to contynue in full ſtrengthe / and nat to be reuoked neither in the hole / neither in anye parte of them / vnto the ende of the worlde: wherfore afore [Page] the lyuing god / whiche hath cōmaunded and wylled vs to gouerne & raigne / and afore his terrible & dredefull iugement. We beſech all our ſucceſſours the emperours / all our dukes & noble eſtates: alſo the moſt worſhipfull ſenatoures / and all the people whiche be in the hole worlde: that none of them in any maner wyſe neither nowe / neither in any tyme to come / doo breke or myniſſhe this our graūt or priuilege in / ony poynte thervnto belonging. And if any man ſhall be (which thinge we do nat ſuppoſe) that ſhall either breke / or contemne & deſpyce this our decree: ſubiecte & bonde lye he to eternall cōdemnations. and I pray god that he may fynde & fele the ſayntes of god and chefe apoſtles Peter & Paule / contrary & aduerſares to him / and puniſſhed be he in the loweſt and depeſt pitte of hell / & baniſſhed be he for euer from the ſyght of god / and eternally mought he dye with the deuyll and all wicked men. we alſo roboratig & ſtrengthing letters patentes of this our ēperyall decree with our owne hande: haue layde it vp our ſelfe vpon the honorable corps or body of bleſſed Peter prince & chefe of the apoſtles / promiſyng ther to the apoſtle of god / that we our ſelfe wyll kepe all theſe thynges partytly in euery poynte / and alſo that by our cōmaundement and decree we do leue them to be obſerued & kepte of our ſucceſſoures that ſhalbe emperoures / and yt they ſhall (our lorde god & ſauiour Ieſu Chriſt mercifully grauntyng) remayne perpetually / proſperouſly / and peaſably / in poſſeſſyō to our bleſſed father Silueſter and Catholyke pope / & by him to all his ſucceſſoures popes / by our emperiall ſubſcriptyon. The godheed conſerue and kepe you many yeres and longe / mooſt holy and moſt bleſſed fathers. yeuen at Rome / the .xxvii. day of February / our lorde Flauius Conſtantinus Auguſtus and Gallycanus. &c.

¶Here endeth the decree of Cōſtantyne.

§

❧ The preface of Vdalrike Hutten / vpon the lytell booke made by Laurence Valla / agaynſt the fayned and falſely forged donation or gyfte of Conſtantyne / vnto pope Leo the tenth of that name.

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AT the laſt moſte bleſſed father / your noble & comfortable promiſe / whiche by your cōmaū dement was expreſſed / publyſſhed / & ſet forth at the very begynnīg / whan you were newly made pope: hath vanqueſſhed & perfitely ouercōe the opinyon of thoſe perſones / whiche dyd diſſwade & frayde men away from publyſſhyng and ſendyng forth abrode of the lytell boke made by Laurence Valla / agaynſt the donation and graunt of Cōſtantyne / for nowe ſeyng that you haue ones cauſed that marcyall triumphe to kepe ſylence / wherwith pope Iuly the ſeconde prouoked & ſtyred vp men to warre & batayle / and as it wer by ſtrykīg a cymbale of peace / haue rayſed vp the hertes & myndes of all chriſten people / vnto the hoope of liberte: All men do recken & ſuppoſe / that them ſelues may vſe all thynges / which they knowe to be laufull. And I verily of my parte / albeit that I was afore ꝑſwaded & in full belefe / if it ſhuld fortune & chaūce you to haue this moſt high auctorite & gouernaunce ouer all / for aſmoch as you haue alwayes / ſo and in ſuche wyſe loued & exerciſed the ſtudies of beſt letters / that your profyting and goyng forwarde in thē / may with out dout be cōpared with the doctryne of the beſt lerned men that be in this tyme / that you wolde nat ſuffre any of the monumētes or workes made by aūcient authors in olde tyme to periſſhe / & to be vtterly loſt & caſt away whiles you were pope / yet natwithſtāding whan I red that inſcriptyon or tytle openly ſet forthe in Italy. Leoni decimo pontifici maximo reſtauratori pacis / whiche is thus moche to ſay in englyſſhe.

To Leo the tenth pope / the renewer of peace: I leapte vp ſodaynly / beynge wonderfully ſtyred with a ſodayne ioye / and comforted / and reſtored agayn to my ſelfe / from that paſſyon and vnquietneſſe of my mynde / wherin I had before contynued a longe ſeaſon [Page] by the reaſō yt I ſaw this nation dyd ſuffre many greuouſe and ſhamfull thīges vnder tyrānuouſe and cruell popes. I am therfore ryght ioyfull and gladde for their ſakes / which are lyuing in this tyme / which by you / as it were by a moſt lucky ſtarre of peace ſprō gē vp or ryſē / now after ſo longe darkeneſſe of tyrā ny beholdeth & loketh vp to the newe lyght of lyberte / and you are a very pope in dede / whiche do brynge peace / but your predeceſſours / whiche had nat this peace:Popes beīge warriers are no popes at all. Were no popes at all / for they dyd nat folowe Chriſt / whiche gaue peace to his diſcyples / and lefte the ſame as inherytaunce vnto them / ſayeng theſe wordes.Io. 14. My peace I do gyue to you my peace I do leaue to you.

Peace was thynheritāce which Chriſt gaue & left to his apoſtles.

Popes makyng warre / ar nat the vicars but the aduerſarys & enemyes of Chriſt.

The workes of Chriſt & of certayne popes cōpared togider.

And therfore alſo they were nat his vycars / whoſe ſted & offyce they dyd nat kepe or fulfyll / for they kyngdome of god is to kepe peace / but rather they were clene contrary & enemies to Chriſt / whoſe ſtudies or workes they haue diſpyſed / and haue folowed a contrary kynde or maner of lyuing / for peace belōgeth to him: and they deſyred & folowed warres and batayls. He ſtudyed to ſaue men by his doctryne and teachyng / and they laboured buſely to kyll and deſtroye men / with weapons of warre. He ſhewed his kyngdome to be heuenly / and they fyrſt of al / and moſt chefely ſought the empiers of the worlde. Therfore neither they were bleſſed: bycauſe they were nat peaceable or maynteners of peace. Neither were they the ſonnes of god / for Chriſt ſayth. Bleſſed are the peceable perſons:Mat. v. for they ſhall be called the ſonnes of god. ❀ Lo / thā by you moſt bleſſed father is reſtored and renewed the peace / which through their peruerſyte was ſayd to haue had a great fall & decaye. And this peace moſt chefly & in eſpecyal learned men / haue receyued with great ioye by your benefyte and gyfte. Secondarely / they alſo very deſyrouſly haue embraced the ſame peace:The cōmodytees enſuyng of peace and tranquillyte. from whome many thynges had ben vniuſtly taken away by fraude and gyle / for with peace is come alſo iuſtice through your reſtoryng / for accordyng to the ſayeng of the prophete / nowe chefly in this tyme.Pſal. 84. Rightuouſneſſe and peace hath kyſſed [Page] to gyther. Faythe or fydelyte is come alſo / and that doughter of tyme / that is to witte / verite or trouthe:Verite is the doughter of tyme. ſhe is come alſo / & the vertues belonging to kynges and gouernours / that is to witte / mercy and mekenes are come alſo plentuouſly. Do you ſe here / Mercy and myldneſſe / ar vertues belō gynge to gouernoures & rulers. O Leo the tenth / of howe many good thynges and cōmodytes at ones / you haue ben the author and begynner? you by bringyng of peace / haue alſo with it brought in the ſtudies of peace / that is to ſay / the ſtudies of the beſt artes and ſciences. you haue alſo reſtored rightuouſenes / for in peace are lawes / and by the lawes is iuſtice cauſed. you haue alſo brought agayne lyberte whom trouthe accompanyeng: hath ben her ſelfe alſo greatly profytable to the men of your tyme / for where tyranny is / there can be no peace / Tyranny excludeth al vertues and cō modities. bycauſe there is no fydelyte or truſtines / neither can there be any iuſtyce or ryghtuouſneſſe: for as moche as euery man hathe nat that whiche is his owne / and bycauſe tyrantes done oppreſſe the lawes. Neither it is laufull there to ſay the trouthe: by cauſe there is no lyberte. But nowe we ben very free / & at lyberte in dede: bycauſe we haue peace / whiche we hauyng: ſhall haue and vſe alſo the ſtudies of peace. So than / this tranquilyte / which coulde nat be had in the tyme of Iulius the author of warres / we wyll nowe vſe vnder you / the reſtorer & renewer of peace / that we may reſt quietly in the ſtudie of good letters. ❀Therfore nowe let it come forth to lyght / if any thīg hath ben long tyme hidde / and let euery thinge come forthe ſo moche the more boldly / by how moch it is more truly & more ſincerely & faithfully written / of whiche ſorte is this boke / whiche other popes therfore haue nat ſuffred: bycauſe they wolde nat here ye trouth / but you ſhall therfore loue it / bycauſe you haue now afore begon to vs of ye cuppe of trouth / for what pertayneth yt to you beyng a pope of better cōſience / yt they ſayd this boke to haue ben writtē agaynſt ye dygnite of ye eccleſyaſticall eſtat? or yt they ſayd yt it did ſpeke yuel & rayled agaīſt popes / for verely neither they were popes /

They were no very popes / that fayn [...]d the gyfte or graunt of Cōſtantyne.

Neither it [...] a ryght churche that receyued the [...]ne graūt.

whiche fayned & forged the donation of Cōſtantyne / bycauſe they were nat paſtors or herdeſmen. Neither it was [Page] a churche / whiche receyued and admytted it / bycauſe it was nat a congregation of faythfull chriſten men / for if they had ben herdeſmen: they wolde haue fedde the ſhepe of Chriſt / and nat haue inuaded & deuoured them. And if it had ben a church: truly it wolde haue called people to lyfe & lyberte / & nat haue drawen violently empiers and nations vnder yoke and bōdage. For thus ſpeketh the church. Come to me all you yt do luſt & deſyre after me / & be you fulfylled of my generatiōs. Certainly ſhe fylleth (I meane the church) whomſoeuer ſhe hath receyued / but that congregation of wicked men / dyd emptie and make bare thoſe / whom they receyued. Moreouer Chriſt badde his vicars.Io. the .21 The ſucceſſours of Peter [...] to [...] Be good herdesmen / and nat rauenouſe and gredy deuouryng woolues. For he ſayde in this wiſe to Peter. Peter loueſt thou me? If thou doeſt Fede my ſhepe. He ſayd. Fede my ſhepe / and nat deuour my people:P [...]al. [...]. euen ſo as thou woldeſt deuour the ſubſtance of a lofe of breed. And whan he called them to the apoſtleſhyppe: [...] he ſayd. I ſhall make you fyſſhers of men / that is to ſay / I ſhall make you / that by preachyng and good enſamples gyuing / you ſhal allure and drawe vnto the trouthe / ſuch men as done erre & wandre from they fayth / whiche thing bycauſe you do folowe / moſt bleſſed father: we are gladde / and do greatly reioyce / that this ordre is retourned agayne to their offyce and dutie / through your cauſyng & bringing it to paſſe / by the reaſon that Peace / that lybertie / that iuſtyce / and verite by your meanes are called and brought agayne / for what more mery voyce / or what more ſwete or more pleaſaunt worde myght be herde than this: I meane the reſtoryng of peace. So than with lytell buſyneſſe / that is to wit with one lytell worde ſette forth: you haue taken away the great indygnation from the myndes of men / you haue pacifyed and layd the vehement and houge paſſyons and vnquietneſſe of mennes myndes / and haue diſapoynted and put by miſcheues and dyſtructions / and haue ceaſſed all wranglyng and ſtryfes / where than it ſhulde haue cōe to paſſe (if theſe cogitatiōs of men had happened vpon an euyll pope) that [Page] we wolde by force and violence haue takyn awaye many thynges: nowe by you it is brought to paſſe / that quietly reſtyng / we do optayne all thīges without any trouble or buſyneſſe / do you ſe. O Leo / a very pope in dede / what maner one I do iuge this your dede to be? we may nowe thanke your goodneſſe for the receyte of that thing: which els was to haue ben purſued after / and purchaſed with warre & fyghting / wherfore nowe lette certaine perſones ceaſſe to feare / leſt you wyll be diſpleaſed and miſcōtent / if this boke be publyſſhed and ſentte abrode agayne / by cauſe thoſe peruerſe and prepoſtrouſe popes / that haue ben afore you / haue forbydden that any man ſhulde haue it in his hande / for you are in no poynte agreynge or lyke to them: bycauſe they in no poynte dyd agre with Chriſt / for they vnder gylefull and coloura [...]ie deceite / haue drawen to themſelues the ſeculare and worldly empiers. But you / in the ſyncere and pure brightneſſe of trouthe / haue opened an heuenly dominatyon / that is to wytte / the kyngdome of peace. So than by your meane / Chriſtyan verite begynneth to reuyue and quicken agayne / which where as ſhe hathe ben of longe tyme oppreſſed: nowe taketh herte and ſtomake agayne / and ſhe / which hathe ben many a day in captyuite and thraldome: nowe delyuered and brought out agayn from that priſon & derkeneſſe: deſerueth to ſe lyght agayne / vpon truſt and boldneſſe wherof / Valla encoraged: dare now ryſe agayne from dethe / and preſent hīſelfe in to the eares and ſyght of men / and that ſo moche the rather alſo: bycauſe he hath ben in olde tyme / in high fauour and loue with your aunceſtres / of whom as you haue receyued & taken this vertue as it were by inherytaūce: euyn ſo lykewiſe in other vertues you do nat ſwarue or go out of kynde from them / for lykewiſe as in erudicyon and lernyng / you do reſemble that exellently lerned Politian your maiſter and techer: euyn ſo in cōdicyons & maners you a [...] nothyng vnlyke to your great graūdfathers graūdfather Coſmus Medices. And lykewiſe as this was his chefe praiſe / yt althogh [Page] he alone might haue done all thinges in his cyte / yet he wolde nat do al that he might / Euyn ſo let this be your laude / that wher as you might raigne and rule as an Emperour / you had leauer kepe and ſaue as a paſtor or herdeſman. But in Coſmus this was principally worthy meruayle and prayſe / that he beyng him ſelfe nat lerned / yet dyd he loue lerned men & had them in honour / cauſing them to beſought forth and brought to him from all places on euery ſide / and ſocouryng them with his helpe / and alſo with his goodes. But Laurence your father / both loued learned men: and alſo was himſelf for his lerning / worthy to be accompted amonge the cheyfe lerned men of his tyme. ❀ O than this is an happie family and kynred which hathe ben ordained of god / to the helping / promotyng / and fortheryng of good lernyng / for what other ſtocke or kinred is there / to whom els we be beholden / and whom ought we to thanke / as being the cauſers of the proſperite and cōmodites of this our time. By whoſe benefyte els is it: that we haue both the greke and alſo the laten letters reuiued & reſtored againe frome vtter deſtruction. So that in Italie onely / the Florentines are they whiche / ſo great a cō modite or benefite receyued: ought nat to repēte them or be aſhamed or wery of tirauntes. No dout of it / Valla was derely beloued of your anceſtres / whiles he was a lyue / therfore / for their reuerence & ſakes / he is nat to be deſpiſed of you: although he be deed / where than are they / which thought it for to be feared leſt you wolde nat ſuffre the publyſſhing and ſetting forth of this worke? as who wolde ſay / that you had at any time receiued and alowed in your minde / the fraude and craftie gile of them / whiche ſinfully and curſedly haue imagined lyes of Conſtantine / or els as though this litell boke were nat ſuch one / that nat only it may be red of all men: but alſo yt it ought & is neceſſarie & nedefull to be redde of all men / for aſmoch as very great frute & profite may come of it / whiles the trouth is perfitely knowen. But ſome man will happely ſay / that it is a cōuicious & a checking boke. Trouth [Page] it is / and therfore it is a good booke / ſeynge that it bytterly and ſharpely rebuketh euyll men. But they wyll ſaye agayne / it is deuellyſſh / cruell / and vncharytable agaynſt popes. Nay / raither agaynſt tyran̄ tes / for if in the cityes of Grecelande / it is ordayned and decreed / that they ought to haue rewardes / whiche haue ſlayne any tyraunte and ridde him out of the worlde: what rewarde than ſhall we gyue to them / whiche doo impugne & fyght agaynſt verye tyranny it ſelfe: Or if it be charyte and naturall / to loue our owne countrey. Howe can it be ſayde / that he dothe vncharitably and vnlouyngly / whiche hateth the enemye of it. Were nat thoſe popes the enemyes of Chriſten men / whyche vyolentlye plucked the ryches and goodes of all men / to their owne ſelues? whiche wēt about with all enforcemēt / to bryng all free men in to ſeruitude & bondage? and which deſpoyled the kīges of their empyre / & the cōmunes of their money? whiche did ſende vnto vs from Rome / byſhoppes clothed in palles or robes / with ſo great loſſe and domage of our patrimonyes or lyuelodes? Or were they the vicars of Chriſt / whiche dyde nat fulfyll his offyce / of whō it is written. His place hath ben made in peace.pſa. lxxv.

Or if they be tyrantes / whiche do take vpon them ſelues to haue empire / dominyon / and rule ouer men that be free: Who doth this thyng more than he / whiche chalengeth or draweth hym in to ſeruytude & bondage / that is the conſeruer and mayntener of lyberte / that is to wyt / the prīce or emperour of ye Romayns.

Therfore to cōclude / Valla ſpeketh nat euyll agaīſt popes / but he ſpeketh the trouthe agaynſt tyrauntes / and for that cauſe it ought to be ſuppoſed & thought that he dothe pleaſe you greatly: you (I ſaye) beyng a man ſprongen of ſo noble a ſtocke or kyndred: of ſo noble aunceſtres / endued alſo with ſo exellent learnyng / and hauynge alſo ſo honorable a name.

❀ There ought nat any lye or leaſynge to be agreing vnto anye one of the ſtocke or kyndred of the Medices / and where ſo greatte learnynge is: there no peruerſyte canne be receyued or haue entraunce. [Page] And the highe and great ſtomake of a lyon doth nat ſuffre or receyue vnto it ſelf the humilyte or vyleneſſe of fraude or gyle / Leo. whiche hath alwayes in his mouthe this ſentēce or ſayng of the greke poete. To lye / is an vnhoneſt / a vyle / and a knauyſhe thynge / and belongyng to villayns. The trouth: is an exellent and an honorable thyng / appertaynīg to noble & gentylmen. Beſydes this / if euer in any thynge Valla dyd ſhewe or declare what an exellent man he was / and with howe noble and ſtronge mynde he was endued: he dothe it in this lytle boke / whiche natwithſtandyng the very great ieoperdye that he ſawe ſette forth a fore his eyes: (Suche was the worlde at that tyme) yet wolde he nat ſhrynke or god awaye frome the trouth / but boldely and ſtyffely dyd ſtande by it / and in that poynte howe moche better and more lyke a Chriſten man dyd he / than dyd that dulle aſſe of late tyme / whiche dedycated the priuylege of that worſhypfull & goodly donatyon or gyfte / to pope Iulyus the ſeconde / nat without the contumelye and reproche of the mooſt excellente learned man / & in euery poynt better than hym ſelfe. Affyrmynge / that him ſelfe had trāſlate it out of ye greke / wher as we dyd nat knowe that it was wryten or made in the greke tonge / for he dyd flatter / to thentent / that he myght pleaſe one perſone. But Valla hath ſpoken the trouthe / to the ende that he myght profyte and do good to many men. What thynge lacketh he / that belongeth to the perfectyon of a Chriſten man / and a good man. They therfore doo nothyng knowe you / whiche doo feare / that this labour of Valla ſhalbe myſlykyng and diſpleaſaunte to you / for yf they dyd knowe you / or youre mynde / they wolde nat eſteme and iuge your lyfe / by the maners and condycions of thoſe popes / whiche haue ben robbers of men & theues / frome whom and whoſe opinyon I doo greatly dyſſente and diſagree / bothe whan I doo here your fame and prayſe openly ſpoken of / and ſpredde abrode euery where: and alſo whan I doo conſyder this your promyſe full of very good opinyon / for you do reſtore and renewe peace. [Page] But there can no peace be betwene the extorſyoners or robbers / and them whiche be robbed / & haue their goodes wrongfully by violence taken from them: excepte they haue that whiche is their owne / reſtored to them agayne. And you / excepte you were mynded to parforme and fulfyll the dede ſelfe / wolde neuer haue putte forthe and ſet afore vs this promyſe / whiche els ſhulde be but vayne wordes. And therfore this is myne opinyon / that you wolde haue ben greatly diſpleaſed and angry with me / if both agaynſt the iugement of myne owne mynde / and alſo agaynſt the cō men iugement of all men. (For who is he that is of y• opinyon or mynde) I ſhulde haue prayſed vnto you / that vngratious & myſcheuous ymagination or faynyng / whiche thoſe falſe popes haue vntrewly forged of Conſtantyne: ſayeng and alſo facyng it out / that he hath gyuen and graunted to them thempire of the Weſt parte of the worlde / with the cytie of Rome / the lady & regent of all people and nations / whoſe leude boldneſſe I do marueyle at / chefely in this: that they were nat afrayde nor a ſhamed / to affyrme that thing whiche they knewe well / that no man wolde beleue. But they wened that they ſhulde eaſely haue perſwaded the germayns / and brought them in bele [...]e therof bycauſe the cōmen fame & noyſe goeth / ye the germaīs haue no brayne nor witte / & therfore they vſe no witte nor polyce or crafty conueyance in this matter / for if they had had to do with other natyons / doutles this fayning or Imaginatiōs ſhuld nat haue ben ſo colde and faynte / as it is / but a great deale more craftely hādled / and they wold haue ben more ware and wiſe in the deuyſing of this lye / excepte there can be any man founde / whiche can ſhewe / that euer they vſed any ſuch fraude or gyle agaynſt any emperour / afore that the name of Empyere came to the Germayns I am therfore (oh good lorde) excedingly aſhamed of our forefathers there / which haue ben ſo ſlowe & dulwytted / that they coulde nat parceyue or eſpy the deceipte / which was eaſy to be parceyued and knowen euyn of very chyldren. But their fraude and gyle is [Page] ſo moche more worthy of more hatered: by howe moche after worſe facyon they haue abuſed or ſimplycite miſtruſtyng no deceyte or crafte at all. But who can prayſe and meruayle ynough at your filycyte & happynes / moſt bleſſed Leo: in whoſe perſone it hathe chaimced this change to be made of Popes / in to the better? for the church / from hence forwarde ſhall haue better popes / except this your promyſe be nat made with the herte / but fayned / as I am ſure it is nat. And therfore thoſe perſons do iniury vnto you: who ſo euer do but euen ſo moch as doubte ones / whether you wyll ſuffre them that do write agaynſt ye donatiō or gyfte of Conſtantyne / ſo ſhamfully & falſly forged and fayned / and agaīſt thoſe popes / whiche haue ben the ymagyners and deuyſers of this moſt deteſtable and abhominable miſchefe: all checkinge and bytter wordes / and alſo all ſharpe and cruel dedes / are mete and conuenyent to be vſed euyn to the vttermoſt that maye be eyther ſayd or done. Why nat? agaynſt robbers of princes and of the cōmunes / agaynſt theues / agaynſt tyrauntes / agaynſt open rouers. For who is a more vyolent thefe or open robber / than is he: whiche ſo plucketh mennes goodes frome them / that he neuer taketh vp / or maketh an ende of ſo doīg. Theſe were they / The excedīg abuſyons of certayne popes. which takīg occaſyō in a very ſmal thinge haue gone forth paſt al meſure in outrage of pyllyng and polyng away of mennes goodes / whiche haue ſet forthe / graces to be ſolde / which haue ſold pardons / haue ſolde diſpenſations / and a thouſande maners & kyndes of bulles / nowe ſo longe ſeaſon / whiche haue ordayned lucre and gaynes to be gotten in the remiſſyon and forgyuenes of ſynnes. And alſo haue found and gottē wynnyng and aduauntage in the punyſſhment & paynes of them that are deed / which alſo haue ſuffred the ben [...]fyces / which are almoſte of our forefathers: to be bought of themſelues / whiche haue brought the Germaynes in belefe / that they are no byſſhoppes: whiche haue nat boughte theyr palles of them / with many thouſande peces of golde / whiche haue nat ben cōtente / nor thought it ynough to exacte [Page] and require money extraordinarily euery yere ones / but alſo as oftentymes as it hath come ī to their mynde / haue ſent collectours & gatherers / ſondrie of them for ſondrie cauſes. As ſome / bycauſe they were about to make redy for warre agaynſt the Turkes: Other ſome / that they might buylde vp the churche of ſaynt Peter in Rome / whiche they do nat care or prouyde to be fyniſſhed. And albeit that they dyd all theſe thī ges afore reherſed / yet for all that / they wolde thē ſelues cōmunely to be ſaluted & called moſte bleſſed / and moſt holy fathers / and did nat ſuffre / nat onely any thynge to be done: but alſo nat ſo moche as to be ſayd or ſpoken agaynſt their conditions and maners. But if any man had ſpoken any whitte / or made any mencion of lybertie / or if any man had caſt any thynge at all agaynſt them in their way to letre / or delay / and hyndre them in their extortion or rauyne and robbry: they dyd wreke their teene vpon his ſoule / deſtroyēg it and dampnyng it forthwith to the pytte of helle. Wolde you nat rekyn him / moſt noble Leo / to be a very great enemy to you: if any mā dyd accompte you in the nombre of ſuche inſatiable theues? of ſo cruell tyrauntes? Or do you nat thynke him to be a frende & benefyciall vnto the eſtates of Popes: whiche with a gret loude voyce doth laude and prayſe you / for that you are nothyng agreyng or lyke vnto them? and on the other ſyde doth take away from them al thynges / that belonge to the ſucceſiyon of Peter. Or wyll nat you whiche are the renewer of peace / ſaye well of him / and gyue him your bleſſyng: which curſeth thoſe authors and cauſers of warres and ſeditions? Yes moreouer I knowe you ſo well / that I dare be bolde to ſay / your ſelfe wyll curſe them / that the ſayeng of the prophet may be applyed very well & accordyngly to euery one of them. He hath loued maladiction or curſyng / & it ſhall come to him.Pſal. 1.8 Popes nat ſhepherdes: but wolues nat kepers of Chriſtes flocke: but bet [...] [...]yers of them. He wolde no bleſſing and therfore it ſhall be ſette farre of frome him. For they with curſyng did deſtroye the ſoules of men: as though mennes ſoules were nat a poſſeſſyon derelye beloued of god / it may therfore be concluded / yt they [Page] were no paſtors or herdeſmen / becauſe they dyd nat ſaue or kepe ſoules from periſſhyng / but dyd diſtroy them / & dyd ſet forth the wepe of Chriſt in to daunger of the wolues / which go about the flocke of the lorde / for to deuoure it. I ſay they were nat ſhepherdes but wolues: nat kepers or watchemen / but traytours & theues / wherfore by very good ryght we may curſe them: becauſe god doth nat loue them / for as moche as thēſelues had no mīde or loue to the peace of god Therfore to conclude ſo longe hath there ben no pope in ye church: as longe as there hath ben no peace in it. Ye moreouer ſo longe might men neither ſay wel / neyther do wel: how longe theſe Rauenous wolues walked through goddes folde making hauocke / Pſal. 119. & ſo long as thoſe ſyngulare wyld beaſtes dyd waſt & deſtroy ye vineyarde of the lorde / & thoſe incōparable tyrauntes were lordes / & had domunō ouer al Chriſtendom / of whom Hieremy the prophete ſayth / Iere. [...]. Many herdeſmē haue deſtroyed & throwen down my vyneyarde / they haue my parte troden vnder the fote / for if euery man is ſo moche a worſe tyrant? by how moche he killeth mo bodyes of the Citezens or cōmunes / yt he him ſelfe may make hauocke & take his pleaſure / ſafely / out of ieopardy: what is to be ſayd of them / which yt them ſelues might haue riches / dyd begyne & inſtytute the ſlaughter & murther of ſoules euery where? which were nat contented / nor thought it ynough to kyll & ſlee the bodies of men / for that they defended the trouth: but alſo dyd kyll & ſle the ſoule / [...] thynge [...] of [...], and how deerly beloued of god. yt leue & dere ſpouſeſſe of god / whiche dyde deſtroy / kyll / & deuoure yt noble ſpoyle of hell / that rewarde of ſo great labour & trauayll / & which was purchaſhed & gotten with the precious blode of Chriſt? whom we truly dyd nat enuye agayn of our parte / for that they were riche & of gret power & myght: but we hated thē / bycauſe they were noyſome & euyl doers. But what alacryte or cherefulnes can be ſufficient for vs / yt we might ſhewe ye gret loue moſt depely graffed & roted now in the mides of Chriſten men towarde you / moſt bleſſed Leo? you ar the pryncypal loue of the worlde / you ar the chefe derlyng [Page] & delyghte of al mankynde / the renewer & reſtorer of peace / the quencher & ceaſſer of warres / the author and cauſer of ſecurite & quietnes / the pacifyer & a layer of troubles & ſtryfes / the father of ſtudies / the nouriſſher of learnyng / the repayrer & renewer of all good artes & ſciences / wherby the wittes are adourned & garniſſhed / of whom it is written by ye prophet In his dayes there ſhall ſpringe or ryſe iuſtyce / Pſal. 71. and plenty of peace. How moch more ſubſtanciall & true peaſe is contayned in theſe thynges: than were contayned in thoſe thynges / whiche of late dayes were ſpoken to Iulius of his warres and triumphes. For theſe thinges are the laudable & cōmendable workes of a very pope. And thoſe of Iulius were ye moſt ferce cruell / & vengeable dedes of a tyraunte. For douteles none of them was a pope / whiche haue drawen vnto themſelues (caryng nat by whatſo euer meanes) the ſeculare kingdomes. Neither he hath ben ye vicare of Chriſt / or the ſucceſſour of Peter: who ſo euer he be / that hathe defended that wretched & ſynful donation of Conſtantine / which neuer was made: neither yet was poſſyble to haue ben euer made. The improbation & diſprouīg wherof / in ſo moch I do nat ſuppoſe or thinke to be wicked: that I do iudge them grettely to miniſhe & derogate the dignyte of popes / who ſo euer do approue or alowe it. And alſo I haue confydence & truſt / that I do great pleaſure vnto you: in that I do renew and call it agayne as it were frome darknes to lyght / from death to lyfe / that lytell boke of Valla made concernyng this mater / whiche hathe ben of late tyme reiected / refuſed / and condēpned. ye more ouer I do dedicate the ſame boke vnto your holyneſſe: to the entente / that it maye be witneſſed and openly knowen to all men / howe that nowe (lyberte beyng reſtored / & as it were new borne agayne / by ye reaſon that you are pope) all men maye laufully both ſpeake the trouthe: ye / and alſo put forth the ſame in writyng / whiche my dede / all be it I do nat doute / but that yt dothe pleaſe you gretly: yet natwithſtandyng after that I ſhall haue perceyued this to be approued [Page] of you / by ſome publyke and open teſtymonie I ſhall gyue dilygence that I may oftentymes fynde out ſome ſuch lyke thīge. In the meane ſeaſon Chriſt preſerue you beynge ſo good & very a pope vnto vs / longe in helth & proſperite from Steckelberge caſtell the fyrſt day of Decēbre / in ye yere of our lorde. 1517.

¶The reuerende father Iherome Pan / Cathalane chanon of Barcinon / doctor of both the lawes / & chā berlayn to Pope Alexandre the .vi. A man very worthy credēce / & to be beleued: writeth thus as herafter foloweth / in his boke / whiche they call cōmenly / the Practice of the popes Chauncery.

Pope pius hathe written a dialoge / agaynſt the gifte or graunte of Conſtantene.That the donatiō or gyfte of Cōſtantine was neuer trew mater in dede: Rede Laurence Valla & pope Pius in his dialoge / & I my ſelfe truly neuer red any thīge of ſuch maner graunt in any approued writer of hiſtories / namley of ye ſorte / whiche wrotte in the tyme of Cōſtantine / or in the tymene [...] vnto it. For neither Euſebius / which was ye moſt dilygent enſercher & teller of Chriſtē hiſtories / maketh any mētion therof / which for all that ( [...]f it had ben of trouthe) ſemed nat to haue ben in any wiſe for to [...]e ouer hipped & lefte out. Neither Ierome / Aug. Ambroſe / Baſilius / Io. Chriſoſtome. Neither Ammyane / neither the hiſtorie called Hiſtoria Tripartita. Neither yet Damaſus the pope in his cronycle / neyther Beda / neither Droſius / hath ſpoken any thynge therof. And this is vndoutedly knowen to be trewe / yt by the ſpace of mo thā thre hundred yeres after Cō ſtantyn / Exarches themperours had the domynion / & were the gouernours & rulers of the cyte of Rome / & of Italy / by dukes / deputies / & leutenaūtes & captaynes / and that of the cyte of Rome: they had the gouernaūce in their owne handes / euyn vnto the tyme of po [...] Innocētius ye ſecond / as it appereth openly i Cronicles and hiſtories / A ſtrong reaſon and argumente. and of Iuſtiniane the emperour: [...]t is euident in the fyrſt and ſecond boke de officio [...] pretoris / africe / and in the proheme of the Inſtitutes and in the epiſtel Inter claras / and in many other diuerſe [Page] places of the ciuyll law /

Charlemayne & Pepin robbyng the true Emperours enriched the church of Rome.

¶ Pantheon was a temple in Rome / in which all the goddes were worſhipped / and therof it hath this name Pantheō whiche is as moche to ſay as of all goddes. This tē ple / Boniface the pope whiche was .iiii. after Siante Gregory / receyuyng it of phocas by gifte / tourned in to the church of alhalowes

& in the lyfe of Phocas themperour▪ yt is red / that Bonifacius the pope / optayned the temple Pātheon of him. To knowe than / how & of whō the church hath had lādes. Rede the teſtes or actes of great Charles / otherwiſe called Charlemayne: & in thiſtorie of Pepin. Rede alſo pope Piꝰ in ye aforſaid dialoge / & thoſe thīges which late tyme haue bē gathered togither by Bartylmue of Platyn / kepar of the lybrarie / which hath collected & gathered in a very great volume or boke / all thinſtrumētes or writīges apꝑteynyng & belōgyng to the ſtate of ye churche in tēporall thinges / namely about the gettynge of landes / & of other titles / lybertes / & rentes. To ye collection & gatheringe of whiche volume / we alſo haue done our labour & diligence / as touching the ouerlokyng & correction of it. And as cōcernyng ye aforſaid donation of Conſtātyne / & the healyng of his leprie: Rede thoſe thinges which Renus the byſſhop of Padua writeth at large this hiſtorie of ye lyues of popes

Theſe thinges it hath lyked vs to put here before / yt the reder / as it were inſtructed by an argumēt & brefe narratiō of the mater / herafter to be treated / Renꝰ biſhoppe of Padua may cō [...] the more p̄parred & redy to the reding of Lau. Valla.

¶ Thus endeth the fyrſt parte of this boke.

¶ The delamation of Lau. Valla / a noble man & of the ſenatours of blode of Rome / againſt the vntruly forged & falſely beleued donation or gifte of Cōſtātyne.

¶ The firſt ꝑte of this oration / in which thautor ſheweth this entēt & the order / after which he wyll ꝓcede in this worke / & alſo that neither Conſtātyne of lyke lyhed was wyllyng / or coude be ſuffred to gyue / neither Sylueſter was wyllyng / or myght laufully receyue the thynges mencioned in the donation.

I Haue made and put forth many & diuers bokes welne [...]e in euery kynde of doctryne and ſcyences. In whiche bookes / bycauſe I doo varry and diſagree in mynde and opynion from certayne great authours / and whiche haue ben nowe of longe tyme [Page] & contynuaunce approued & alowed / ſeyng that there be ſome men / which ar miſcontent & angry therwith / & which therfore do accuſe me as a preſūptuous ꝑſon and as one that had cōmytted ſacriledge: I pray you what is than to de ſuppoſed / that certayn ꝑſones wyl do now? how gretly ſhal they rage & rayle agaīſte me ye / & if it ſhal lye in theyr power / how vyolētly / & how curryſhely ſhall they hale & drawe me to execution? which nat only do write agaynſt them / that be deade: but alſo agaynſt them that be yet a lyue / and that nat agaynſt one or two alone: but agaynſt a great meyny & nat agaynſt priuate perſons onely: but alſo agaīſt thoſe / which are in auctorite / & be heed offycers / gouernours & rulers. But what heedoffycers or rulers? verely ye pope higheſt of all biſſhoppes / which is nat onely armed with the tēporall ſwerd / The pope occupieth bothe the temporall and the ſpirituall ſwerde. after the maner and cuſtome of kinges and princes: but alſo with the eccleſyaſticall or ſpirituall ſwerde / that a mā can nat defende himſelfe ſo from him. No / nat vnder the very ſhelde (that I may ſo ſaye) of any of the princes: but that ſhall be ſtricken with excōmunication / the great ſentence & the leſſe courſe. And if that man haue ben iuged to haue doone alſo as wiſely / as he dyd ſpeake whiche ſayd / that he wolde nat write agaynſt them / whiche haue power to proſcrybe or baniſſhe: Howe moche more ſemeth it / that I ought to do the ſame / & to be ware / There is no where any refuge to be had from the violente power of the Pope. how I do write agaynſt him / which ſhall nat ſo moch as leaue any place to proſcryption or baniſſhemēt / & which may ſo purſue me with the ſpūall vltyō of his power & auctoryte: that I may ryghtfully ſay with ye prophet Dauid / Pſal. 88. in the pſalme. whether ſhal I go from thy ſpyrite? & whether ſhal I fle from thy face? excepte parauēture we ſuppoſe / yt the Pope ſhal take theſe thīges more paciently / than other meane preſtes wold do. But that is nothyng ſo / for Ananias the hygheſt and heed preeſt / Actes. 2 [...]. Ananias commaunded ſalt Paule to be beaten on the mouth for ſaiyng the trouth. commaunded / euyn in the preſence of the hyghe captayne / whiche ſat as iudge: that Paule ſhuld be ſtrycken and beten on the face / becauſe he ſayd / that him ſelfe had lyued & bene cōuerſaunt among the Iewes / with a good conſcience [Page] / and Phaffur beyng endued with the ſame dignite / Iere. 20. Ieremy was caſt in to priſon by the highe preeſt / for ſpekynge the truthe. dyd caſte the prophete Hieremie into priſon: becauſe he dyd ſpeke the trouth boldely and frelye / but yet the hyghe captayne / & the Emperours deputie was both able and alſo wyllyng to defende Paule / & the Kyng both myghte and wolde defende Hieremie agaynſte the iniurie of the highe preſte or byſſhoppe / Iere. 26. but what captayne? what deputie or ruler? what kynge ſhalbe able? although he were willyng to delyuer me frome the hādes of the pope / if he may ones lay handes vpō me? But there is no cauſe / The pope cā nat bynde or loſe any thynge cōtrary to right / and the lawe of god. why this double feare of ieoperdy ſhuld trouble my mynde / or holde me backe from my purpoſe: for neither may the pope / eyther bī de or looſe any thynge contrary to ryght and goddes lawe / and to looſe and ſpende the lyfe in the defence & mayntenaunce of trouthe and iuſtyce:Let no man ſhrinke to ſpē de his lyfe / in the defence of trouth and iuſtice. is a poynte of moſt hyghe vertue / of moſte hyghe prayſe / and of moſt hyghe and greatteſt rewarde. Haue nat many men put them ſelues willingly in daunger and peryll of deathe: for the defence of their earthely coūtrye. & ſhal I thā be afraide to put my ſelf in daūger of deth / for to get & optayn the heuenly coūtrey (which thoſe men do gette & optayne / that do pleaſe god:Heuyn is go [...] ten by pleaſī ge of god / & nat by pleaſī ge of men. and nat they whiche do pleaſe men) Therfore fare wel feare / and adewe drede. The cauſe of trouthe / the cauſe of rightuoſeneſſe / the cauſe of god: is to be defended with a ſtronge and bolde mynde / with great courage & confydence / and with good hope / for he is nat to be accompted a right oratour which hathe crafte & connyng to make a good oration and to ſpeake well:who is a god oratour. except he dare alſo boldely do it. Let vs therfore be bolde and hardy / to accuſe whoſoeuer doth cōmytte thinges worthy accuſacion /

Mat. 18. Open ſiners & which wyll nat receiue ſecrete coūſa [...]le are to be rebuked openly.

The firſt epiſtell to Timothe / & .v. cha.

and he which treſpaſſeth agaynſt all men: let him be checked and rebuked by the mouth of one man / for all. But perauenture ſom wyll ſaye / that I ought nat to chyde or rebuke my brother openly / but ſecretely bitwene hym & me. yes verely / He which treſpaſſeth & offendeth openly / and which wolde nat receyue cloſe & ſecrete coūſaile / is to be rep̄ued & rebuked opēly yt by thēſāple of him / other [Page] may be put in feare & drede.Gala. 2. To the galatianes the ſecond chapi. Dyd not Paule) whoſe wordes theſe were / yt I laſt receyued) repreue. Peter to his face / in the preſēce and ſyght of the congregation / becauſe he was reprouable and worthy rebuke? & he hath lefte this in wrytīg:He that obſerueth the cō maundementes of god: is made one ſpyrite with god to our doctryne & inſtruction. But ſome man happely wyll ſaye agayne / that I am nat Paule / which may worthely rebuke Peter / yes verely / I am Paule: in that I do folowe Paule euyn lykewiſe as ye whiche is a moch greatter thing. I am made one ſpirite with god:

No mā is to be ſpared becauſe of his dignite but if he be reprefe word [...] [...]he mat & ought to be reproued.

Marcellus pope. Celeſtine pope.

wha I do dilygētly obſerue & obey his cōmaūdementes. Neither is it the dignyte of any man / that may him ſafe and ſure frome blame or rebukes / whiche dyd nat ſaue Peter frome reprefe / nor many other men of the ſame highe eſtate and degree: but that they haue ben rebuked / as Marcellus / bicauſe he had made ſacrifyce to goddes and Celeſtine / bycauſe he was of the ſame opinion: that Neſtorius ye heretyke was of / & as we do knowe alſo / that in our tyme & remembraūce / certayne haue ben of their inferiours. (For who is nat inferiour to the pope) repreued and rebuked (I wyl nat ſay condempned) And verely I doo nat this / For what entēte valla made this worke. bycauſe I do coueyte to rayle vpon any man / and to write ſuche reuilyng & rebukefull orations agaynſt him / as were the oratyons of Cicero / agaynſt maiſter Antonius / whiche orations are called philyppice (for god ſheld me from doīg ſuche a dede) but that I myght looſe & plucke a way erroures & wronge opinions frō mēnes myndes. and that I myght kepe thē farre away from vyces & ſīnes / either by admoniſſhīg & counſaylyng: or els by reprouīg & rebukīg of them. I dare nat be ſo bolde to ſay / that other men taught by me / may with a hooke or byll cutte & kepe lowe ye papale ſee (whiche is ye vineyarde of god) beīg now ouer ranke & hauyng to many ſuperfluous braunches / and compelle it to beare full grappes / and nat the ſmall buryes of the wylde vyne / which thynge whan I do: ſhall there be any man wylling either to ſtoppe my mouth or his own eares: I wyll nat ſay to offre or put vnto me puniſhment & dethe? that man that wolde ſo do [Page] although he be the pope hym ſelfe / what ſhall I ſaye that he is? Shall I ſay that he is a good ſhepherde? or elles rather a deafe ſerpent / which wyl nat heare ye voyce of the charmer or inchaunter / Pſal. 57. but is wyllyng to hurte his membres with her bytyng and poyſone. I knowe that ye mennes eares haue ben nowe a good whyle deſyrouſe and longyng to here / what faute or cryme I wyll lay to ye popes charge / for ſothe a great and a huge cryme / either of neglygent ignoraunce / or elles of outragyouſe couetouſneſſe / whiche is the ſeruitute of ydoles / or elles of vanyte / and deſyre of hauyng dominion and rule / whiche vyce / Ephe. 5. tiranny alwayes accompanyeth / for now certayn hūdreth yeres either they haue perceyued and vnderſtande / that the donation or graunte of Conſtantyne is but a forged or fayned thyng / or elles thēſelues haue fayned it / or els thoſe that haue comen after / ſettyng their fete faſt in the gyles of their predeceſſours / haue defended it for trewe / whiche they knewe well was falſe / dyſhonoringe the maieſtie of the papall eſtate / diſworſhippynge the memorie of the olde popes / ſhamynge the chriſten relygion / and troublyng and fyllyng all the worlde with murthers / threttes / and abhomynable ſynnes. ❀ They ſay that the cytie of Rome is theirs that the kyngdome of Nables is their owne good. And that all Italy / Fraunce / Spayne / Germanye / Englande / and all the weſt parte of the worlde / belongeth to them ſelues. For all theſe nations & countreis (they ſay) are contayned in the inſtrument and writte of the donation or graunt. Are than / all theſe afore reherſed kyngdomes / thyne highe byſſhoppe? Is it thy mynde? & arte thou purpoſed to recouer all theſe agayn? to ſpoyle & bereue all the kynges & princes of the weſt ꝑte / their cyties & townes? or to cōpell them to pay yerely trybutes to the? But I do ſay & thynke clene cōtrary / that ye kynges may more rightfully ſpoyle & depriue the of all thempire & dominion that thou haſt. For as I ſhall declare & open / yu that graunt or gyfte / wherof the popes wyll their right & tytell to haue taken his origynall / was knowen both [Page] to Sylueſter and alſo to Conſtantyne.Neither Conſtantyne neyther Syluerſter knewe euer any thīge at ſuch donation. But are euer I do come to the confutyng and diſprouyng of the inſtrument or writte of the ſayde donation (whiche is their onely defence / but bothe a falſe defence and a folyſſhe) the order requyreth that I reherce the matter ſomwhat farther of / and nere from the very begynnīg .i. And fyrſt of all I wyll ſhewe / that Conſtantyne and Sylueſter were no ſuche maner men / The order of his proceſſe in this oratiō & the deuiſyon of his worke. that either the one (I meane Cōſtantyne) wolde be wyllyng to gyue or els might rightfully gyue / or els that it dyd lye in his owne power / to delyuer them in to the handes of any other men / or els that the other (that is to wyt Sylueſter) wolde be wyllyng to receyue / or els miȝt laufully receyue and take them. Secondarily I wyl .ii. ſhewe / that albeit theſe thynges were nat ſo / whiche are moſt trewe and euydent. yet that neither Sylueſter dyd receyue / neither Conſtātyne dyd delyuer poſſeſſyon of thoſe thynges / whiche are ſayd to haue ben gyuen / but that thoſe thynges haue alwayes cōtynewed and remayned in the hādes and gouernaunce or rule of the emperours. Thirdly / that nothyng at all iii. was gyuen of Conſtantyne to Sylueſter / but to the pope that was nexte predeceſſoure to Sylueſter / for Conſtātyne was baptyſed afore that Sylueſter was pope. And that thoſe gyftes were but ſmall or meane gyftes / wherwith the pope might ſuſtayne his lyfe. Fourthly I wyll ſhewe / that it is falſely & vntrewly iiii. ſayd / that the copy of the donation or graunt / is eyther founde in the decrees / or els that it is taken of the hiſtorie and lyfe of ſaint Sylueſter: which neither is founde in that hiſtorie / neither yet in any other hiſtorie at all. Alſo I wyll declare and ſhewe / that in the ſayd writte or copy / be contayned certayne contrary and repugnant thinges / impoſſyble thynges / folyſſhe thynges / barbarous thynges / & madde tryfels / worthy to be laughed at. Furthermore I wyll ſpeake of the donation or gyft of certayne other emperours / beyng outher fayned / or els trifelyng / vayne / and of non effecte / wher I wyll putte to / that though Sylueſter had poſſeſſed theſe thynges / yet that nat withſtādyng [Page] either hym ſelfe / or els any other pope / who euer he was / beyng ones driuen out & put from the poſſeſſion of thē / they can nat nowe after ſo great ſpace of tyme betwene be aſked or claymed agayne: neither by goddes lawe / neither yet by the lawe of man. Laſt of all v. I ſhall ſhewe / that of thoſe thynges whiche the pope doth holde / there can be no preſcription made by any contynuaūce of tyme / be it neuer ſo longe. And nowe as touchyng to the fyrſt parte (and let vs ſpeke fyrſte of Cōſtantyne & afterwardes of Sylueſter) we muſt take hede & beware / that we doo nat pleade the emperours / ye / & in a maner the comune cauſe / with as ſlendre and ſmal eloquence and ſpeche: as priuate or meane mennes cauſes ar wonte to be pleaded / therefore as it were makyng an oration in the aſſemble & audience of Kynges and Princes (as doutles I do / for this myne oration ſhall come into theyr handes) it pleaſeth me to ſpeke vnto them / as if they were preſente / and ſet in ſyght afore myn eyes. I call and ſpeke vnto you Kynges and Princes (for it is harde for a priuate man which is in none offyce or auctorite to conceyue the Image of a royall and princely mynde) I ſerche and enquyre your mynde. I examine your conſcience. I aſke & requyre your teſtimonie, wolde any of you / if he had ben in Cōſtantines roume / haue thought / The authors ſheweth it to be nothyng lykely that any prince beynge in his ryghte mynde wolde of him ſelf be wyllyng to giue from him ſelfe ſo great thynges: as are fayned in the priuiledge to haue bē geuen of Conſtantyne. that himſelfe ought or that it had bē mete & cōueniēt bicauſe of liberte to haue giuē to another mā ye cyte of Rome his own coūtrey / ye chefe & heed place of all ye world / the lady & quene of cytees / moſt of power & might / moſt noble / and moſt rich of people / the venqueſſher & triumphant conquerour of all natiōs / the which is honorable & full of maieſtie / euyn in the ſight and beholdyng of it. And to gete hym ſelfe to a vyle and poore towne afterwardes / that is to witte to Bizantium. ye / moreouer that he ſhulde with the cyte of Rome / gyue Italy alſo / whiche is nat a prouince: but the heed of prouinces / ſholde gyue from him ſelfe the .iii. partes of Frauner / the .ii. Spaynes / ſhulde gyue Germanye / ſhulde gyue Englande / and all the hole weſte parte of the worlde / and ſhulde [Page] depriue himſelfe of one of the .ii. eyes of the empier. No man can bringe me in mynde to beleue / that any man wolde do this / whiche were in his right mynde. For what thinge dothe god gyue you more deſyred and longed for?Of all thīges princes deſire moſt to enlarge their dominion & empire and the cōtrary they moſte hate. What thyng is more pleſaunt? What is more acceptable and better welcome / than to enlarge and encreace your kingdome and empiers? and very greatly to amplyfie and ſetforthe your dition and dominion both in length and bredthe / about this thynge (as me thinke I perceyue right well) all your care / all your cogitation and thoughte / and all your labour & trauayle / is ſpente and beſtowed bothe day and night. Herof do you principally and chefly hope to haue glory / for this thīg you do forſake pleaſures / for this you do putte youre ſelues in a thouſande perylles and ieoperdes. for this you ar contente to loſe your moſt derely beloued childrē. ye for this / you do nat grudge to loſe ꝑre of your owne bodis / for I neuer herde or redde / that any of you hath ben feared away from the endeuourment and goyng about to amplyfie and enlarge his empier: bycauſe he had loſte either an eye / a hande / or a legge / or els any other membre or parte of his body. But this hote and feruent deſyre of hauing great and large dominion / as euery man is moſte of might and power: ſo it moſte troubleth and vexeth or chafeth his mynde.The inſaciable ambicyon of great Alexander. Alexandre nat content to haue walked on fote through the deſertes and wilderneſſes of Affrike / and that he had conquered the Eeſt parte of the worlde / euyn vnto the formaſt parte of the Occian ſee.Rede Plutarche in the lyfe of Alexander and that he had ſubdued the Northe parte: in the myddes of ſo many woundes / and of ſo many miſchaunces / whan his ſoudiers refuſed and forſoke ſo farre / ſo ſharpe / and paynfull vyages and iornayes: yet he thoughte all that euer he had done before / was nothyng at all: except he had alſo made the Weſt parte / and all nations tributary to himſelfe / either by force and violence / or elles by the auctorite of his name. yt is but a ſmall thinge / wherof I do yet ſpeke. He had purpoſed moreouer to paſſe ouer the Occian ſee / and to ſerche [Page] whether there were any other worlde / & to ſubdue it to his power / ye / & at the laſt (as I ſuppoſe) he wold haue entrepriſed & attempted to clyme vp into heuen Suche for the moſt parte is the wyll / deſyre / and appetyte of all kynges and princes: all be it they haue nat all lyke corage and boldneſſe. I wyll nat here reherce / how great ſynnes / and howe many abhominable thinges haue ben cōmitted and done / either for the winnyng & gettyng of empier & dominion: or els for the amplyfiyng & enlargyng of the ſame / in ſo moche that the one brother hath nat holden his handes from the murdryng & kyllyng of the other / neither the chyldren haue refrayned from the wycked effuſion of theyr fathers blode / neither the fathers haue refrayned from the kyllyng of theyr owne ſonnes: So that the temerite & folyſſhe lewde boldnes of man / is wōte in nothyng to rage more / or to vſe more cruelty / & to cōmytte more haynouſe offences or ſynnes: than here in this thynge. ye / & which a man may more maruayle at / you may ſee the myndes of olde men herein no leſſe quycke & full of courage: than be the myndes of yonge men / & of them that be chyldles: no leſſe than of thoſe that be fathers / & haue chyldren / & of Kynges & Princes: no leſſe than of tyrauntes. Now if dominion than or empire is wonte with ſo gret enforcemēt to be deſyred & ſought for: with how moche more inforcement & buſines muſt it nedes be kepte & menteyned? Neither is it ſo miſerable & wretched a thinge / nat to amplyfie & enlarge the ēpier / as it is to miniſſh it & to make it leſſe. Neither is it ſo ſhamfull a thīge for the / not to ioyne or put another māns realme vnto thyne: as it is that thyne ſhulde be ioyned to ye empier of an other man / for where we do rede / that certayne Kynges or certayn people / haue made ſome mē gouernours of theyr kyngdome or of theyr Cytyes: that was done ſo / not of the chefeſt or principall / nor of the greatteſt parte of the empyer: but in a maner of the hynmoſte or worſte / & the leſt parte therof / & that vnder ſuche maner & cōdityon / that he to whom ſuche gouernaunce & rule was gyuen: ſhulde alwayes acknowlege [Page] the gyuer to be as lorde / and hīſelf to be as a miniſter & ſeruaūte vnder him. I be ſeche you than do nat they ſeme to be of an abiecte / vyle / & cowardly mynde / and nothyng of gentle & high or couragiouſe ſtomake: which do thīke & ſuppoſe / that Cōſtantine dyd alyenate & gyue from himſelfe the better parte of the empier. I do nat meane Rome & Italy / & other: but the thre Fraunces / where he had made warres & batayles / where he alone had of longe ſeaſon ruled and had dominion / Mani cōſiderations / why Conſtantyne wolde nat gyue from hym the beſt parte of the Empire. where he had ſette the rudimentes and fyrſt foundation of his Empyre and of hys glorte: ſeynge alſo that he was a man / whiche for the deſire to haue dominion / had made warre vpon nations / and whiche perſecuting his owne frendes / and men of his alyaunce with ciuyll warre: had depriued them of their empier / and which alſo had nat yet perfytly ouercome & ſubdued thoſe that were lefte and remayned of the contrary facyon & parte / whych alſo nat only was wonte for hope of glorie & renowne to make warre with many nations: but alſo was of neceſſyte cōpelled to do ſo / bycauſe he was prouoked ther vnto dayly of the Barbarians / which moreouer had abūdance & plentie of chyldren / of kynſefolke / & alſo of frendes / which knew alſo right well / that the ſenatours & the people of Rome / wolde repugne and ſtryue agaynſt his dede / whiche beſydes all this had proued & founde by experience the inſtabilite of ye nations venqueſſhed & ſubdued / which welnere at euery change of the emperour or gouernoure of the Romaynes: were wonte to ryſe & rebelle / whiche therto dyd remembre himſelfe / after the maner & cuſtome of other emperours nat to haue come to that dominion and empier / by the election of the ſenatours / and conſent of the people or communes / but to haue gotten and wonne it with an army of men / with the ſwerde with warre and batayle. What ſo great and ſtronge cauſe? what ſo vrgent and neceſſarie thinge was there / why he ſhuld (all theſe thynges nothynge regarded / but vtterly deſpiſed and ſette at nought) be willyng to vſe ſo excedyng great lybertie. They ſay / [Page] bycauſe he was made a chriſten man. What? ſhulde he therfore depriue himſelfe of the beſte parte of the empire. ye / I wyſſe / I ſuppoſe it was ſynne / ye and that great ſine and wicked abhomination / to raigne than any longer / and that to be an emperour and gouernour of realmes: coulde nat be ioyned or ſtande togyther with the Chriſten relygion. Thoſe that be in auoutry / thoſe that haue made themſelues riche by vſury / thoſe which vniuſtly do poſſeſſe other mēs goodes: after that they haue receyued baptiſme / are wonte to reſtore the wyfe / to reſtore the money / and to reſtore the goodes / whiche they had of other mennes. yf you haue this cogitations or thought with you / O Cōſtantine: you ought to reſtore to cyties their lybertie / and nat to chaunge the lorde / making theym where afore they were bounde to you: nowe bounde to another. But ſome man wyll ſay / this was nat the cauſe / but that you were moued to do this thinge / onely for the honour of relygion and holyneſſe or deuotion / as who wolde ſaye / that it were a more holy and deuoute thing to lay from you your empire: thā to adminiſtre and gouerne it for the defēce and mayntenaunce of faith and relygion. For as touchinge to the receyuers of it: this your donation or gyfte / ſhal neither be worſhipfull or honeſt: neither yet profytable vnto them. But if you wyll ſhewe your ſelfe a Chriſten man / if you wyll ſhewe tokens of your holyneſſe and deuotion / if you wyll do good / and prouyde / I do nat ſaye for the churche of Rome / but for the churche of god: now ſpecyally and principally play the prince and gouernour / that you may fyght for thē which neither maye / neither ought to fyght for them ſelfe / that you may by your auctorite make thē ſafe & ſure from ieoperdy: which ar in daunger of traynes and iniuries. It hathe pleaſed almighty god in tymes paſt / to open and ſhewe to Nabugodonoſor / to Cyrus / to Aſſuerus / and to many other kynges and princes: the highe miniſterie of the trouthe. yet for all that / he neuer required of any of them: that he ſhulde renounce and forſake his empier / that he ſhuld [Page] gyue awaye parte of his kyngdome: but onely that he ſhulde reſtore lybertie to the Hebrues / and defende them frome the iniuries and noyaunce of their enemyes / that bordred vpon them. This was ſuffycient to the Iewes: this ſame alſo ſhall be ſuffyciente to Chriſten men. Conſtantine you are now made chriſten. But is it nat a ſhamfull thinge / that you beyng nowe a Chriſten emperour / are a ſmaler prince in dominion and empier: than you were beyng yet an Infydele?All power & auctorite is the gyfte of god. For to be a prince or gouernour: is a certayn principall and chefe gyfte of god / whervnto euyn the hethen princes alſo are iudged to be called & choſen of god. But happely ſome mā ſhall ſay / that Cōſtātyne was eaſed & delyuered frō his lepry / & therfore it is very lyke to be true / that he wolde make recompence / & paye home agayne with gretter meaſure: yt whiche he had receyued / Is it ſo in dede? Naaman yt noble mā of Syria / Rede the .v. chapit of the iiii. bokes of Kynges. whan he was cured & healed of his lepry by the prophete Helizeus / was wyllyng & content onely to offre gyftes & preſentes to him: but nat to gyue the one half of his ſubſtaunce & goodes / & wolde Cōſtantine offre the one halfe of his ēpier? It greueth me to make anſwere to this ſhamfull lyeng tale: as it were to an hiſtorie / of certaynte and vndouted trouth. For this lyeng fable is forged & coūterfaited to ye lykenes of the hiſtorie of Naaman & Helyzeus: as that other tale of the dragō in the lyfe of Silueſter / is imagined to the lykenes of that fable of the dragō of Bell. But though I do graunt theſe thīges to be true:Dan̄. 14. [...] the .xiiii chapit of the prophete Daniel: how he ſlewe the dragon (whiche the people of [...]lon dyd worſhippe) without ſwerde or [...]ta [...]fe. is there any mētion made of the donation in this hiſtorie? no verely nat one worde. But of this we ſhall ſpeke better & in more cōueniēt & mete place here after. well / I graunt he was delyuered from the lepry / he toke therfore a Chriſten minde to him / he was endued with the feare of god / with the loue of god / he was deſirous & wyllyng to do him honour & worſhyppe / what of all this? yet cā nat I for al that be ꝑſwaded & brought in mīde to beleue that he wold be willing to gyue away from hīſelfe ſo great thīges / for as moth as I do ſee no man / niether Gētyle / for ye honour of his falſe goddes / neither Chriſten mā / for the honore of ye lyuing [Page] god: that hath forſaken & layde from hīſelfe his ēpier / & gyuē it to preeſtes. For none of ye kinges of Iſrael coulde be brought in the mīde / 3. Regū 12 Exāple hereof you may fī de / of Hieroboam in the third boke of Kynges / & xii. chapit / ſomwhat nere to the ēde of the ſame chapit. that he wold ſu [...]re the people to go aft ye maner vſed aforetyme / to ye tēple of Ieruſalē / for to make ſacrifice / & al becauſe they fered & dreded / leſte the people being put in remēbraūce / by that holy exercyſe of religion / & by the maieſtie of the tēple: hapely might returne agayn to the kyng of Iuda frō whō they had fled & gone away. But how moche gretter a thyng is this: which Conſtātine is ſaid to haue done / & be cauſe you ſhall nat flatter & begyle your ſelf / by the reaſon of this healyng from lepre / thynkyng this a ſufficient cauſe / wherfore Conſtātin ſhulde make that graūte. Hieroboam was the fyrſte / that was choſen of god / to be kynge of Iſraell / & that truly frō moſt vile & lowe cōdition or eſtate / 3. Regū 12 Rede in the third boke of Kynges the xii. cha. which in my iudgement / is a more great thyng than it is to be holpen & cured frō lepry / & yet for all that he durſt nat betake or delyuer vp his kingdome to god / wilt thou yt Cōſtātine did gyue his kingdom & Empere to god which he had nat receyued of god? namely ſeyng yt in ſo doyng / he ſhulde offēde & greue his owne children (which thing could nat haue chaūced to Hieroboam) Shulde caſt downe his frēdes / ſhulde deſpiſe thoſe yt belonged to him / ſhulde hurte his coūtrey / ſhuld put all men to heuines & ſorowe / & be him ſelfe as it were tourned into a newe man? at ye leſt wiſe doutles there ſhulde nat haue lacked ſome / which wolde haue adminiſtred him / & put hī in remēbraūce / & in eſpeciall his chyldren / his kynſfolke / & his frēdes / whom who is he which wold nat thynke that they wolde forthwith haue gone to the Emperour? Ymagyn therfore them afore your eyes / after they haue herde Conſtantines mynde: tremblynge and full of feare / makyng haſte and with ſorowfull ſyghes & teares fallyng down at the knees of theyr prince / and vſynge theſe wordes & oratyon / ſo as here foloweth vnto him.

¶The oratyon of Conſtantines ſonnes / and of his kynſfolke and frendes / made vnto him full of lamentable complaynte / for that he gothe about without / [Page] ye / and contrary to their deſeruynge ſo to take frome them their inheritaunce. &c.

FAther / whiche haue ben heretofore the moſt louyng and naturall father / that might be in the worlde vnto your children: Do you in this wiſe now depriue? diſherite / and put vs your owne ſonnes frō youre lyuelyhode and poſſeſſyons / euyn in youre lyfe tyme / and as it were refuſe vs and forſake vs for your children. For that you ar willyng and mynded to gyue frome yourſelfe the beſt and the greatteſt parte of the empyer. we doo nat ſo greatly complayne therof / as we do meruayle therat. But we do complayne / that you do offre it to other men / with our bothe loſſe and alſo ſhame and rebuke. For what cauſe is there / wherfore you do defraude your chyldren / and do kepe from them the ſucceſſyon or inheritaunce of the empier / that they wayted & loked after: which haue your ſelfe raigned to gyther with your father. What haue we offended or treſpaſed agaynſte you? or what vnkyndnes or vnlouīg behauiour haue we vſed toward you? or what agaynſt our countrey? what agaynſt the name of the Romaynes / and the maieſtie of the empier? for whiche we ſeme to you worthy to be depriued by you and put frome the princypall and beeſt parte of the empier / and to be baniſſhed frome oure fathers houſe / from the ſyght of our natyue countrey from the ayre that we haue ben wonted vnto / and frō the auncient and olde cuſtome. Shal we now being baniſſhed men / forſake our owne houſes / the temples and the ſepulcres of our forfathers / kynſfolke / & frendes: knowyng nat where or in what regiō of ye worlde we ſhal become?The kynſfolke & frē des. what? we that ar your kynſfolke what? we that are your frendes whiche haue ſo often tymes ſtande with you in fyght & batayle / which haue ſene our brethrē / our fathers / our ſonnes ſtrickyn in / and thruſte through afore our face with the weapons of our enemies / & beatyng & tremblyng vpon ye grounde / and haue nat bene afrayde with the deth of other men / but haue bene redye alſo ourſelues to dye for your ſake in your cauſe: are we all together now [Page] now thus forſaken of you? we which do beare heed of fyces in Rome / & we whiche now haue the rule & gouernaūce / or in tyme to come ſhulde be rulers & gouernours in the Cyties of Italy / in the .iii. ꝑtes of Fraū ce / in the .ii. partes of Spayne / & in other prouinces: are we all reuoked or called backe agayn? & are we al cōmaunded to be priuate perſones without office / dygnite / or auctorite? will you recompence vs this gret loſſe another way / how can you be able to do it accordyng to our deſeruynge / & accordinge to our worthynes and dygnyte: whan you ſhall haue gyuen ones from you ſo great a parte of the worlde vnto another man / he that before was ruler & gouernour ouer an C Nations / wyll you / O Ceſar make him gouernour & ruler ouer one nation / how fortuneth it that euer this thing could come into your mynde? how cometh it to paſſe yt you haue thus ſodenly forgottē all yours: that neither you haue any whit pite of your frēdes. neither of your nere kynſmē / no / neither yet of yor own ſōnes / wold god / O Ceſer (ſo yt your dignite & victory were ſaued) that it had ben our fortune & chaūce to haue ben ſlayne in baytayle: rather thā that we ſhuld euer ſe theſe thynges: & verely as touchyng your empyre / you may do with it accordyng to your own luſt & pleaſure / & ſo may you alſo with vs / onely one thinge excepted / in which we wyll cōtinually be diſobediēt euē vnto deth / that is / that we wyl nat in any wiſe ceaſſe frō the honorīg of ye ydols / to the greate enſample alſo of other men / that you may know how lytell good or profyte your larges & lyberalyte ſhal do to the Chriſten relygiō. For if you do nat gyue ye empier to Silueſter: we are willyng & content to be come Chriſten with you / and many men ſhall take enſample of our dede / to do lykewiſe. But if you do gyue it to him: nat onely we can nat fynde in oure hertes to be made chriſtē mē: but alſo you ſhal make this name of Chriſt hatful / deteſtable / curſed / & abhominable to vs / & you ſhal make vs in ſuche caſe / yt at the laſt you wil haue pyte both of our lyfe & alſo of our dethe / and do nat accuſe vs of harde hertes and ſtubburnes: but accuſe [Page] your owne ſelfe. Wolde nat Cōſtantine (thinke you) if he were nat meued by his own accorde and of his owne mynde & free wyll: at the leaſtwiſe haue ben meued and ſtyrred with this oration / except we wyll that all humanyte was plucked out from his breeſt by the harde rotes. What if he wolde nat haue harde theſe men / nor regarded their oration or ſpech / were ther nat be ſydes theſe / ſome which wold haue repugned & be agaīſt this his dede / both with their wordes and alſo with their hande & power. wolde the ſenatours and the people of Rome haue ſuppoſed: that thēſelues ought to do nothīg in this ſo gret & weghty a mater / wolde nat they haue called to thē an oratour (as Virgile ſaith) beīge a man of grauyte & auctorite for his loue & benefytes towardes his countre:Enedos. 1 which ſhulde make this oration to Cōſtantine.

¶ The oration of ye ſenatours & the people of Rome made to Cōſtātine / in which they nat only do ſhewe that Conſtantine hath no right nor auctorite to gyue the ēpier from him: but alſo that they wyll in no wiſe ſuffre it to be done / & that for many cōſyderatiōs / but raither flee both the receyuer / & him alſo the gyuer.

MOſt noble Ceſar / if you haue no mynde or remembraūce neither of thoſe that be nere to you neither of your ſelfe / ſo that ye wyl neither their inheritaunce to remaine hole to your ſonnes / neither their riches & ſubſtaūce to your kynſfolke / neither their honours to your frēdes. neither ye empyre to your owne ſelfe: yet for all that / the ſenatours & the people of Rome can nat forget / or be vnmyndeful of their ryght & of their dignite / for how do you take vpon you ſo moche power / as to do this of the empyre of Rome: which was neuer wonne or gottē with the effuſyō of your blode / but of ours. wil you cut & deuide one body into ii. ꝑtes / & wyl you of one kīgdome make two / two heedes & to wylles. And wyll you as it were / offre ſwerdes vnto two bretherne / whiche maye ſtryue & fyght togider for the inheritaunce. We do gyue to ſuch cyties [Page] as haue ben frendly / & haue done good vnto this cyte of Rome: we do gyue to thē the lybertes of this cytie / that they may be citezins of Rome. And do you take away from vs the one halfe of the empire / that it ſhall nat aknowlege this cytie the parent & mother of it. ❀ In the hyues of bees / if there be bredde two kynges or maiſter bees / we do kyll the tone / A ſymilytude taken of bees whiche is the worſt of them two. And do you ſuppoſe or thinke it mete / in the hyue of the Romayne empire / wher you are the onely and the beſt gouernoure / another heed and gouernour to be ſette and placed / & that the very worſt and nat a profytable bee / but and vnprofitable drane.Of the diuyſyon of thempire ī twayne ſhal enſue many incōueniē ces / & finally the decay of it In this thyng / we do greatly require wiſdome in you moſt noble emperour / for what ſhal happen or come to paſſe by ye reaſon herof / if either in the tyme of your lyfe / or els after your deceaſe. Barbarous nations ſhall make warre / either agaynſt this parte of the empire / whiche you do alyenate and gyue from you / or els agaynſt the other parte / whiche you do reſerue and kepe ſtyll to your ſelf. With what ſtrength of ſouldiers / or with what hoſtes or armies ſhall we than reſyſt them? We can ſcantly withſtāde them nowe with the might and power of the hole empire: and ſhall we than be able to reſyſt thē? Shall theſe two membres or partes of thempire be alwayes at vnyte and cōcorde togider / the one with the other? As we ſuppoſe this is nat poſſyble / for as moche as Rome wyll rule and be maiſtreſſe / and the other ꝑte will nat be ſeruaūte and obey. ye / moreouer euen you beyng yet a lyue / within ſhorte tyme the olde garnyſon reuoked & newe put in their ſtede / and you beyng gone in to your kyngdome / & lyuing ferre hens / and another man gouernynge & rulynge here: Shall nat all thynges than be chaūged & newe / that is to ſay / dyuers & cōtrary? Cōmenly whan a kyngdome is deuyded betwene two bretherne / forthwith the myndes of the people and commens are deuyded / and they begynne to make warre a monge theym ſelues / afore that they make warre agaynſte their ennemyes of out natyons. ❀ Who dothe nat ſee / that the ſame [Page] thinge ſhall happen lykewiſe in this empier. Do you nat knowe / that in olde tyme this was the principall cauſe to the nobles and great eſtates / why they ſayd / that they wolde rather dye in the ſyght of ye people of Rome / than they wold ſuffre that lawe or ſtatute to be made and to go forthe / that parte of the ſenatours and parte of the cōmen people / ſhulde be ſente to inhabite the cyte called Veii. in Ethruria / and that .ii. cyties ſhulde be cōmune to the people of Rome. Forſeyng there was ſo moch diſſētion in one cyte of Rome: Howe moche more than ſhulde there be in two cyties. So lykewiſe in this tyme / if there be ſo moche diſcorde / debate and ſtrife now in one empier: (wherof I reporte me to your owne conſcience / and to the labours and trauayle whiche you haue taken) what diſcorde ſhal there be in two empiers. Go to / moreouer do you ſuppoſe or wene that you ſhall haue anye men from hence: which either ſhal be wyllyng / or els ſhall haue cōnyng & knowledge how to helpe you or ayde you / whan you ſhall be occupied & buſyed with warres? They whiche ſhalbe made captaynes ouer the ſoldyers and rulers or gouernours of Cyties / ſhal be as vnacquaynted with all feates of cheualry / & haue their mīdes as ferre ſet away from warre & baytayle: as he that maketh them captaynes and rulers. what? Shall nat either the Legions of Rome / or elles the very prouinces ſelues / attempte and take in hande to ſpoyle this gouernour / beyng ſo vnſkylled of doyng the offyce of a prince & gouernour / & ſo eaſy to ſuffre and take wronge: bycauſe they ſhall hope that either he ſhall make no reſiſtence: or els ſhall nat reuenge him ſelfe / nor do any puniſſhement to them. In good fayth I beleue they ſhall nat contynue in doyng their duety / nat ſo moche as one moneth ſpace / but yt they wyl rebelle forthwith / & euyn at the very begynnyng of your departyng from hence. what wyl you thā do? what counſayll wyll you than take: whan you ſhal be purſued and kepte in with double / ye / more ouer with manyfolde warre and batayle / we can ſcarſely rule & kepe in good ordre the Nations which we haue conquered [Page] & ſubdued. How ſhal we be able than to reſyſt thē: whan we ſhal beſydes thē haue warre with other nations alſo / whiche are fre and vnſubdued. Ceſar concerning ſuche thinges as belonge to your owne ſelfe / aduiſe you what you lyſt to do. But this matter ought to be no leſſe cared for of vs: than of you / your ſelfe are mortall: but the empier of the people of Rome ought to be immortall / and ſo ſhall it be as moche as ſhall lye in our power. ye / and nat onely the empier: but alſo the honeſtie and ſhamfaſtnes of the ſame people. Shall we ſo in dede? ſhall we receyue them to our gouernours and rulers: whoſe relygion and ſecte we do deſpiſe? and we that be princes and rulers of the worlde: ſhall we become ſeruauntes and ſubiectes to this moſt vile and wretched man? Whan the cyte of Rome was taken and wonne by the Frenche men: the olde auncyent father of Rome could nat ſuffre / that their conquerours ſhulde ſtroke their berde / or drawe it through their handes. And ſhall now ſo many men of the ſenatorie ordre / So many of the pretorie ordre / So many of the order and degree of Trybunes / So many men that haue ben Conſules and which haue victoriouſly tryumphed / ſuffre them to be rulers and lordes ouer them: to whom them ſelues haue done all maner contumely rebuke & puniſſhment / as it were to lewde or euyll bondmen. Shall theſe men make heedoffycers? ſhal they gouerne the prouinces? ſhall they make batayles & warres? ſhall they gyue ſentence of lyfe and dethe vpon vs? Sall the nobilyte of Rome / warre and take wages vnder them? ſhall they hope or wayte for honoures? or ſhall they gette offyces and rewardes vnder them? what more greate or more depely perſyng wounde may we receyue or take: than this? Thinke nat / O Ceſar / that the blode of the Romaynes is ſo chaunged and gone out of kynde / that they wyll ſuffre this with a pacient and quiet mynde. and nat thinke it to be by all maner meanes eſchewed and auoyded / whiche in good fayth / nat the very women could ſuffre or abyde but raither wolde brenne themſelues togyther with [Page] their ſwete chyldren and their howſes / with the worſhipfull goddes of the ſame. So that the women of Carthage haue nat ben more bolde and ſtronge herted / than the women of Rome wolde be / For Ceſar / if we had choſen and made you a kynge: verely you ſhulde haue great power and lybertie / to do with the empier of Rome what you pleaſed / but yet nat ſo: that you might miniſſhe / but euen the leaſte poynt of the maieſtie therof. For els we that hadde made you king / by the ſame power we wolde bydde you laye your kyngdome from you / and wolde depoſe you / nat onely you coulde nat be ſuffred to deuide or parte the kyngdome / nat onely you could nat alyenate and gyue from you ſo many prouīces / nat only you could nat be ſuffred to gyue the very heed and principall parte of the kyngdome vtterly and for euer to an Alian and moſt vile man. we haue made a dogge ouerſeer and kepar of the folde of ſhepe / whiche if he had leuer playe the wolfe / than do his owne offyce and dutie: either we wyll dryue him out / or els we wyll kill him. Now ſeyng that you haue ſo longe tyme vſed the offyce of a dogge / in defendyng the folde of the Romayns: wyl you now at the laſt ende be tourned in to a wolfe / ſo as neuer was any afore you. And we let you well to wytte (for as moche as you do compelle vs / to ſpeake ſomwhat ſharpely for our righte) you haue no power / right / nor tytle in the empeir of the people of Rome. Iulyus Ceſar wanne thempier and gatte it by force and vyolence. Auguſtus alſo gatte it by vyolence / and by ouercōming and vanqueſſhyng of the aduerſarie partes / made himſelfe lorde and gouernoure. Tiberius / Caius / Claudius / Nero / Galla Othouitellus / Veſpaſiane / and other / either by the ſame / or elles by lyke waye / haue ſpoyled and robbed vs of our lybertie. you alſo your ſelfe / by expellyng and driuyng out other / or els by kyllyng and ſleyng of other: haue bene made lorde and Emperour. we paſſeouer here / that you are nat borne of matrimony wherefore / Ceſar (to gyue you playne knowledge of our mynde) if you lyſt nat your ſelfe to be heed gouernour [Page] of Rome: you haue ſonnes. Make one of them accordyng to the lawe of nature / gouernour in your ſtede / which thyng we wyll both ſuffre you / and alſo deſyer you to do. if you wyll nat: we are mynded and purpoſed to defende bothe the publyke maieſtie / and the priuate dignyte. For this is no leſſe iniurye to the Cytezens of Rome: than was in olde tyme the defoylyng of Lucrecia / neyther we ſhall lacke one / whiche ſhall be captayne to this people for the recoueryng of theyr lybertye: lykewiſe as Brute was captayne to them agaynſt Tarquine / and fyrſt we ſhall drawe out our ſwerdes agaynſt them / whom you do make rulers ouer vs: and than afterwardes agaynſt you alſo / which thynge we haue done agaynſt many Emperours / & that truly for lyghter and ſmaller mater than this. Theſe wordes doutles wolde greatly haue moued & ſtirred Cōſtantyne: excepte we do iuge him to haue ben a ſtone or a ſtocke / which wordes although the people had nat ſpoken to his face: yet it was credyble & lykely / that they ſpake them amonge theyr ſelues / and euerywhere dyd grudge / & ſhewe them ſelues miſcontente / with ſuche maner wordes. Let vs than now go and ſay / that Conſtantyne was wyllyng to do Sylueſter pleaſure / whom he dyd brige in daunger of ſo many mennes hatered / and of ſo many mēnes ſwerdes: that (as farre as I do thynke or iudge) Silueſter ſhulde ſcaſely haue lyued ye ſpace of one day / for if he / and a fewe mo had ben rydde out of the way: all ſuſpition of ſo cruell iniury / and deſpite or contumely ſemeth to be clene taken away & rydde out from the hertes & myndes of the Romains Go to now: moreouer / let vs graunt / if we thynke it poſſyble: that neyther intreatyng and prayers / neyther manacyng or threttes / neyther any other way or meane coulde any thyng auayle / and that Conſtātine doth ſtyll contynue ſtedfaſtly in his purpoſe / neither wyll in any wyſe leue or forſake / or go from the opinion / whiche he hathe ones taken: who wyll nat yet agre herevnto / that he wolde haue ben moued & ſtyrred at the wordes and oration of Silueſter? whiche [Page] doutles wolde haue ben after ſuche maner as here foloweth: if this hadde ben a true thing doone matter in dede.

¶ The oration of Silueſter to Cōſtantine / in whiche he ſheweth it to be neither laufull / neither profytable for him / to receyue Conſtātines offre / although it were ſo as it is nat / that Conſtantine might rightfully / & without any impediment or offending of any perſone / giue ſuche thinges as he offred from himſelf and his children.

MOſt noble and beſt diſpoſed prince / and ſonne Ceſar: I can nat verely but greatly loue and embrace this your ſo redy and lyberall deuotion / and godly mynde / but yet that you do ſomedele erre and miſtake / and are deceyued in your opynyon aboute the offryng of gyftes / and makyng of ſacrifice to god I do nothyng meruayle / for as moche as you ar yet but a nouy [...]e and a yong ſoldyer in the Chriſten relygion / Rede the .xxii chapit of Leuitici. and Chriſten warre / as in the old tyme it was nat ſemely nor conuenyent / euery maner beeſt / whether it were wylde or tame / nor euery maner ſhepe to be offred vp in ſacrifice by the preeſt: ſo nat euery maner gyfte or oblation is to be receyued and takē of the preeſt. I am a preeſt / & a byſſhoppe / whiche ought to conſyder and loke well aboute / what thynge I do ſuffre to be offred vp at the aultre. Leſt parauenture I do nat ſay / any vnclene beaſte: but leſt a vipere or a ſerpent be offred vp there. Therfore this you ſhall vnderſtande / If it lay in your power & lybertye to gyue parte of the Empire and of the Cyty of Rome / the lady & Empreſſe of the worlde / to any other man than to your owne chyldren (whiche thynge I do nat ſuppoſe or thynke) and if this people of Rome / If Italy / If the other nations coulde ſuffre / and fynde in theyr hertes to be ſubiectes vnder the dominion & gouernaunce of them / whom they do hate / and whoſe relygiō and ſette they do refuſe and forſake / beyng delyted and blynded with the pleſaunte entiſementes [Page] of the world (whiche thinge is vnpoſſyble) yet if you thinke moſt loued ſonne / that I am any white to be beloued: I can by no meane be perſwaded & brought in the mynde / to aſſent and agree vnto you / excepte I wolde be vnlyke my ſelfe / and forget my condition and eſtate / and in a maner renounce and forſake my lorde Ieſu. For your gyftes / or (as you wyll haue them called) your remunerations or recōpenſations ſhulde pollute / ſtayne / or defoyle: ye / and alſo vtterly deſtroye the glorie / the innocentie / and the holy lyuyng bothe of me: and alſo of all that ſhall ſuccede me / and alſo ſhulde ſtoppe & cloſe vp the way to them whiche ſhall be wyllyng to come to the knowledge of the trouth. Helizeus wolde nat take any reward of Naaman that noble man of Syria:4. Reg. [...]. Rede the iiii. boke of kynges the .v chapit whome he had cured and heled from lepry. And ſhall I receyue reward of you: bycauſe you are cured of the ſame diſeaſe. He forſoke and refuſed gyftes. And ſhall I ſuffre hole realmes and kyngdomes to be gyuen to me. He wolde nat ſpotte or defyle the perſonne of a prophete / and ſhall I fynde in my herte / to defyle the perſone of Chriſt / whiche I do repreſent and beare in me. But why dyd he thinke the perſone of a prophete to be defyled by taking of giftes? verely bycauſe he might haue ſemed thā to ſelle holy thinges / & to lende forth the gyfte of god / for to haue increace and auauntage therby / and to nede the worldly ſocoure and aydes of them / and to miniſſhe and appayre the dignyte of his benefyte. He had leuer therfore make princes and kynges beholding to him / for his benefytes don to them: than him ſelf to be bounde to them for any benefyte receyued of them. ye / moreouer he wolde nat ſo moche. as take any recompence agayne for his benefytes. For it is a moche more bleſſed thinge (as the lorde ſayth) to gyue:Actes. 20. than to take and receyue. The ſame cauſe haue I: that Helizeus had ye / and a moche greatter cauſe / whiche am cōmaunded alſo of the lorde / that ſayd.Math. 10 Heale you thoſe that be ſycke / rayſe vp thoſe that be deed / clenſe them that be full of lepry / caſt you out deuyls & wicked ſpirites [Page] you haue receyued frely: gyue you alſo frely. Shal I Ceſar cōmytte ſo great offence / as nat to obey and execute the cōmaūdemētes of god / and to pollute and diſtaine my glorie. It is better (as ſayd Paule) that I dye: than that any man ſhulde bereue me my glory Our glory is to make honorable our miniſteri afore god / 1. Cor̄. 9. as the ſame Paul ſayth. I ſay to you Gentyles / As long as I am the apoſtle of the Gentiles: I wyll glorify my miniſterie. Shulde I than / O Ceſar / be bothe an enſample / and alſo a cauſe to other men for to offende and ſynne: I whiche am a Chriſten man / the preeſt of god / the biſſhoppe of Rome / and the vicare of Chriſt. Moreouer / howe ſhall preeſtes ſaue their innocencie of lyuing amonge riches? amonge gret offyces & dignites? amonge the adminiſtration of ſeculare and worldly buſyneſſes. Do we therfore renounce and forſake erthly thinges: that we myght gette the ſame thinges more plentuouſly. And haue we therfore caſt away our owne priuate goodes: that we might poſſeſſe other mennes goodes / and the commune goodes. Cyties ſhall be ours / Trybutes ſhall be ours / Rentes / tolles / and cuſtomes / ſhall be ours. And why ſhall it be lauful for vs to be called Clereci / that is to ſaye Clerkes: if we ſhall do theſe thinges Our parte our lotte (whiche in the Greke tonge is called Cliros / of whō cometh this word Clericus is) nat ye erthly dominion: but ye heuēly. The Leuites in the olde law (which were Clerkes) had nat ꝑte with their brethern / Rede in Deute the .x. and the xviii. cha. & in the boke of noumbres the xviii. cha. & wolde you yt we ſhuld alſo haue the portion of our brethern? wherfore / or for what intente ſhuld I haue riches & poſſeſſyōs: which am cōmaunded by ye wordes of my lorde / Math. 6. nat to be careful ſo moch as for to morow?Math. 6. & to whō he ſayd alſo theſe wordes. Do nat gather or hurd vp treaſur vpon erth. Do nat poſſeſſe golde / neither ſyluer / neither money in your purſes.Math. 10 And it is a harder thing for a riche mā to ētre into ye kyngdome of heuen:Mark. 10 than it is / yt a camell do paſſe through the eye of a nedle. And therfore he choſe to himſelfe poore miniſters / and thoſe which had forſaken all thinges / that they might folowe him. And [Page] he him ſelfe alſo was the enſample of pouertie. So moche is euen but the handlyng of riches & money / Mark. 10 enemy & contrary to innocēcie and vertue: nat onely the poſſeſſyon and dominion of them. Onely Iudas which had the bagges / & dyd beare ſuche thīges as were ſent: dyde play the falſe traytoure.Iohn̄. 13. and for the loue of money / whervnto he was wōted: He both repreued and betrayed his maiſter / lorde / and god. I feare therfore o Ceſar / leſt you wyl make me of Peter to be Iudas. Herken alſo what Paule ſayth. We brought nothyng into this worlde / and it is no doute that we ſhall alſo cary nothinge with vs from hence.1. Tim. 6. Hauing meate & drinke & clothes to be couered with all: Let vs be cōtented therwith / for they that couer to be made riche: do fall into temptation / and into the ſnare of the deuyll / and into many deſyers / both vnprofytable and alſo noyſome / whiche do drowne men and caſt them downe into dethe and perdition. For couetouſneſſe is the rote of all euylles / whiche certayne men deſyring haue erred from the faithe / and haue wrapped themſelues in many dolours and ſorowes. But thou being the man of god: flee & eſchew theſe thinges. And do you Ceſar / bydde me receyue thoſe thinges: whiche I ought to eſchewe and auoyde euen as venome or poyſon?Riches is po [...] ſon to men of the churche. And moreouer I praye you accordīg to your wiſedome conſyder / what place / tyme / or leyſure can be lefte among theſe thīges to make ſacrifyce / & to do goddes ſeruyce? The apoſtles / Actes. 6. whan certayn men gruged & were miſcōtent that their widowes wer diſpiſed in ye daily miniſteri made anſwer / that it was nat mete or cōueniēt / yt their ſelues ſhuld leaue ye prechīg of ye word of god. & miniſtre or ſerue ye table. And yet to miniſtre to widowes / is a farre other maner thyng: than to exacte & require tributes / rentes / cuſtomes / collage / than to haue care & charge of the treaſure houſe / to paye ſoldiers wages / to be entāgled with a thouſād lyke cares & buſyneſſes No mā / yt is ye ſoldiar of god:2. Tim. 2. Nume. 3. entāgleth hī ſelf with worldly buſynes / ſaith Paule. Did Aaron and other that were of ye ſtocke of Leuy: medle with [Page] the adminiſtratiō or ordring of any other thing / than onely of the tabernacle of the lorde.Rede in the boke of Leuitici the .x. cha. His ſonnes / bi cauſe they had taken other mennes fyer (whiche was nat mete nor according) into their ſencers / were brent and conſumed with fyer ſent from heuen. And do you byd or will vs to take the fyer of worldly riches / whiche is bothe forbydden and alſo prophane: into the holy ſencers / Rede in the boke of Numeri. that is to ſay / into to the offyce and workes belonging to preeſtes. Eleazar / Phinees / and other biſſhoppes & miniſters either of the tabernacle or of the temple: dyd they adminiſtre or medle with the ordring of any thinge / but onely of that / whiche belonge to the doinge of ſacrifyce / and to the worſhippyng of god. Do I ſay / dyd they adminiſtre? nay morouer might they haue adminiſtred any other thing: if they wolde ſatiſfye and fullfyll their offyce and dutie? whiche thinge if they wolde nat do: they ſhulde here the curſe of the lorde / which ſayth.Hiere. 48 Curſed be they: whiche do the worke of the lorde recheleſly / whiche execration or curſe / though it may falle vpon all men: yet moſte of all and principally vpon preſtes. O / howe great is the offyce of a biſſhoppe? how greate a thinge is it / to be heed of the churche? how great a thynge to be made paſtor and ouerſeer / and gouernour of ſo great a folde of ſhepe? of whoſe hande ſhall be required the blode of euery lambe and ſhepe / that ſhall periſſhe and be loſt. To whom alſo it was ſayd.Iohn̄. 10. If thou loueſt me more then other do / ſo as thou confeſſeſt and knoledgeſt thyſelfe to do: fede my lambes. Agayne / if thou doeſt loue me / ſo as thou ſayeſt: fede my ſhepe. And the thirde tyme alſo / if thou loueſt me: fede my ſhepe. And do you Ceſar wyll me to fede alſo gottes and hogges: whiche can nat be fedde nor kepte all of one / and the ſame herdes man. Beſydes this / you ar willyng and aboutward to make me a kynge / or raither an emperour / that is to ſay / heed & chef of kīges. But our lord Ieſu Chriſt beyng both god & man / kynge & preeſt / whā he ſayd yt his ſelf was a kynge: Herkē of what kingdome he did ſpeke.Iohn̄. 18. My kingdome (ſaith he) is nat of this worlde. For [Page] if my kingedome were of this world / Chriſtes kīgdome: is nat of this world doutles my ſeruauntes wolde fyght for me. And what were the firſte wordes of his preachinge / and the thinge whiche he oftentimes reherſed in his ſermons. was it nat this? Do you penaunce / for the kingdome of heuen is approched and drawen nere.Math. 4. The kingdome of god is approched: to the which the kingdome of heuens ſhal be compared and lykened. Did he nat whan he ſpake theſe wordes / declare / that the ſeculare kingdome dothe nothing apperteyne to him? And therfore nat only he dyd nat deſyre / nor ſeche for ſuche maner kingdome: but alſo / whan it was offred to him / hi wolde nat take it. For whan he perceyued / Iohn̄. 6. and vnderſtode vpon a certayn tyme / that the people had purpoſed & appoynted in their myndes / to take him / and to make him kyng:Chriſt fledde whan the people wolde haue made him Kynge euer them. he fledde into ye ſolytarines of the moū taynes / whiche thynge he hath gyuen and taught to vs / that be his ſucceſſours / for to be folowed / nat onely by his example: but alſo by his precepte and cō maundemēt / ſaying in this wyſe. The prynces and gouernours of the gentiles are lordes ouer thē.Math. [...] And they whiche ar greatteſt / do exercyſe power and auctorite vpon them. It ſhall nat be ſo among you / but who ſo euer is wyllyng among you to be made greatteſt: let him be your myniſtre. And who ſo euer wolde be chefeſt among you: ſhall be your ſeruaunte / lykewyſe as the ſonne of man hath nat come to be myniſtred vnto: but to myniſtre / and to gyue his lyfe for the redemption of many. God in the olde tyme (to let you vnderſtand / O Ceſar) dyd conſtitute and ſet iuges ouer the chyldren of Iſraell to gouerne them: and nat kynges / & he did hate the people deſiryng to haue a Kynge / & that he gaue thē a kynge? it was done / 1. Reg. 8. becauſe of the hardneſſe of theyr hertes / Deut. 24. euyn lykewyſe as for the ſame cauſe. He had permytted and ſuffred them to diuorce from theyr wyues / which thyng.Math. 19 He had reuoked in the new law of the goſpel / & ſhal I thā take or receyue a kyngdome: whiche am ſcaſely permitted or ſuffred to be a iuge?.1. Cor̄. 6. Do you nat know (ſayth Paule) that ſayntes and holy men ſhall Iuge of [Page] this world? And if the worlde ſhall be iudged by you are you nat vnmete perſonnes to iudge of ſmall trifles? Do you nat knowe that we ſhall iuge aungels? Howe moche more than / ſeculare thynges? Therfore if you ſhall haue ſeculare iugementes: make them iuges in ſuche maters / whiche are moſte contemptible and of leaſt reputation in the churche or cōgregation But the iudges dyd onely iudge of matters being in contrauerſie and ſtrife betwen partie and partie / they dyd nat alſo exacte tributes. And ſhall I than exacte them: whiche do knowe that our lorde demaunded of Peter / of whom the erthly kynges toke tribute or payment of money / of ſonnes: or elles of forayners and ſtraungers?Math 17 And whan Peter had made anſwer that of forayners: Chriſt ſayd agayne. Than are the ſonnes free. Wherfore / O Ceſar / if all men be my ſonnes / as certaynly they be: All men ſhall be free / and no man ſhall paye any thing. I haue no nede therfore of this your donation or gifte / wherby I ſhall gette nought els but labour / ſuche as in any wiſe I neither ought / neither may ſuffre or abide. ye / and wherby I ſhall moreouer of neceſſite be conſtrayned to exerciſe power and auctorite to kille and ſlee / to puniſſhe malefactours / to make batayles and warres / to ranſake and ſpoyle cities / & to deſtroy regions with fyer and ſwerde. For I can nat beleue / that I could other wiſe than by theſe meanes be able to ſaue and mayntayne thoſe thinges / which you had giuen to me. And if I ſhall do theſe thinges: Am I a biſſhoppe? Am I the vicare of Chriſt? Shall I nat than here him thondryng and terryble ſayng theſe wordes to me. My houſe ſhall be called the houſe of prayer to all nations.Eſaie 56. Mark 11. Iohn̄. 12. And thou haſt made it a denne of theues. I came nat into the worlde (ſayde the lorde) to Iudge or condēpne the worlde: but to delyuer it / & ſhal I which am his ſucceſſour be the cauſe of many mēnes deth? to whom it was ſayd alſo in the perſon of Peter.Mat, 26. Tourne thy ſwerde agayne into his owne place / for who ſo euer ſhall take the ſwerde in hande: ſhall peryſſhe with the ſwerde. It is nat laufull for vs ſo moche [Page] as to defende our ſelues with the ſwerde / for Peter wolde haue defended his mayſter / whan he dyd cut of the ſeruauntes care / And wyll you that we ſhall occupie the ſwerde for the cauſe of getyng / or de [...]ēdyng and ſauyng of ryches. Our power: is the power of ye kayes / wytneſſe the lorde whan he ſayd to the / Math. 16 The power of eccleſiaſticall perſons whiche was geuē to them by Chriſt: is the power of the keyes. wyl I gyue the kayes of the kyngdome of heuens / what ſo euer thynge thou ſhalte bynde vpon erthe: it ſhall be bounde alſo in heuens / and what ſo euer thyng thou ſhalte loſe vpon erthe: it ſhall be alſo loſed in heuens & ye gates of hell ſhall nat preuayle agaīſt them. Nothyng can be added or putte to / for to the augmētyng of this power / of this dignite / of this kyngdome / Spiritualmē nat contente with the power of the ke [...] es: deſyre worldly Kyngdomes of the deuyll. with which who ſo euer is nat contente: he deſyreth a certayn other kyngdome to him ſelfe of the deuyll / whiche was bolde to ſay to our lorde. I ſhall gyue to the al the kyngdomes of the worlde: if thou wylt fal downe vpon the grounde / and worſhyppe me.Math. & Luke. 4. Wherfore Ceſar (take no diſpleaſure with that / whiche I ſhall ſay) play nat the deuylles parte with me / byddyng me / lykewyſe as he bad / Chriſte / to receyue the kyngdomes of the worlde / of your gyfte / for I had leuer deſpyſe them: than poſſeſſe them / & that I may now ſpeke ſomewhat of the infydeles / but whiche I truſt / and hope ſhall be made faythfull beleuers: do nat make me to them / of the aungell of lyght / an aū gell of darkenes / whoſe hertes I deſyre and couete to induce to the fayth / and to godly lyuyng: and nat to put the yoke of ſeruytude and boundage vpon the neckes of them / and wyth the ſpirytuall ſwerde / Epheſ, 6. whiche is the worde of god / and nat with the ſwerde of yren / to ſubdue them vnto me / leſt they myght be made worſe / leſt they myght wynche or kycke agayne / and rebelle / leſte they myght ſtr [...] me with theyr horne / leſte they myght be prouok [...] through myne erroure and faute / to blaſpheme and ſpeake euyll of the name of god. My deſyre is to make them my derely beloued ſonnes / and nat my bondemen / to adopte and choſe them to my chyldren / nat to bye theym / to gendre and begette theym ſpyrytually / [Page] and nat to make them my bonde ſeruauntes / to offre the ſoules of them / a ſacrifyce to god: and nat their bodies a ſacrifyce to the deuyll. Learne you at me (ſaith the lorde) whiche am mylde and humble herted

Math. 11.Take my yoke vpon you / and you ſhall fynde reſt to your ſoules. for my youke is ſwete and pleſaunte / and my burdayne lyght and eaſy. Whoſe ſentence in the mater here folowyng (to conclude now and make an ende) take you as gyuen bytwene you & me. Gyue to Ceſar thoſe thinges which apperteyneth to Ceſar and to god thoſe thynges which belong to god.Math. 22 Wherfore it is ſo / that neither you oughte to leue and forſake youre poſſeſiyons: neither I oughte to receyue and take thoſe thinges / that belong to Ceſar / which ſurely I wyll neuer receyue: although you wolde offre them to me a thouſand tymes. At this oration of Sylueſter / ſo godly and according for an Apoſtolyke man. What coulde Conſtantine haue to laye agaynſt it for himſelfe any longer? Seyng than that it is thus: Are nat they which ſay yt this donation or gyfte of Conſtantyne was made in very dede / iniurious agaynſt Conſtantyne / To how many ꝑtes they are iniurious which beleue the donation of Conſtantyne to be true. whom they iuge to haue ben wyllyng to diſherite his owne children / & to weken and feblyſſhe thempire of Rome? Are they nat alſo iniuryous to the ſenatours & the people of Rome / to Italy / & to all the Weſt parte of the worlde / whom they ſuppoſe to haue ſuffred thempire to be chaūged / agaynſt both goddes lawe and mans lawe? Are they nat alſo iniurious agaynſt Sylueſter / whō they iuge to haue accepted the donation vnmete & vnſemely for ſo holy a man as he was? And are they nat iniurious alſo to the pope / to whom they do iuge it laufull / to poſſeſſe erthly kyngdomes / & to gouerne thempire of Rome? and [...] all theſe thynges hetherto ſpoken & reherced: apper [...]ayne here vnto only that it might appere and be open / that Conſtantyne among ſo many impedimentes & lettes / wolde neuer gyue from him ſelfe vnto Silueſter / the gretteſt parte of the Romayne Empire / whiche thyng theſe men do ſay that he dyd.

¶ The ſeconde princypall parte of this oration / in whiche the author ſheweth / that / although both Conſtantine might haue ben ſuffred / and had ben willing to make this gyfte / and Silueſter alſo willyng to accepte it (the contrary wherof hath ben afore proued) yet dyd neuer Conſtātine delyuer poſſeſſyō to Silueſter / but the ſame thinges remayned alwayes ſtyll in the handes and gouernaūce of themperours. &c.

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BVt go to nowe / moreouer / if we ſhulde beleue this donation / wherof your writte maketh mē tion: it ought alſo to be ſure & out of dout / that Sylueſter dyd accepte the ſame gyfte. Now therof haue we non euydence: wherby we might be aſſured and put out of dout. But parauēture you wyll ſaye / it is credyble and lykely / that he dyd accept that graunt. ye / ywyſſe / I thinke ſo / and that nat onely he dyd accepte and alowe that donation: but alſo that it is credyble and lykely / that he dyd craue & deſyre it. And that through continuall & importunate requeſtes and prayers: He gat it of Conſtātine / in a maner whether he wold or nat. Why / I ſay / do you cal that thīg credible: which is contrary to the opinion of al men? And all be it there is mention made of the donation or gifte in the pagine or writte of the priuyledge: yet is nat therfore to be ſuppoſed & thought / that the donation was accepted & taken. But rather contrary wiſe bycauſe there is no mention made of the acceptation: it is to be ſayd / that it was nat gyuen. So / than it maketh more agaīſt you / that Sylueſter refuſed this gyfte: than it maketh with you / that Cōſtātine wold gyue it / & a benefyte is nat gyuen to any man againſt his wyll: if he lyſte nat to receyue it. And we ought nat onely to deme / that Sylueſter dyd refuſe theſe gyftes: but alſo that he dyd ſecretely ſhewe / that neither Conſtātine might rightfully gyue them / neither himſelfe laufully receyue or take them. But O blinde and alwayes folyſſhe / and myſaduyſed couetouſneſſe Let vs graunt that you could alſo bringe forthe writynges / whiche were true / incorrupte / ſyncere / and [Page] perfyte of the aſſente and agremente of Sylueſter to the ſame: Dothe it folowe therfore / that thoſe thynges hath ben gyuen in very dede / which are conceyued in the writynges? Where was poſſeſſyon gyuen? Where was the delyuering vp in to his handes? For if Conſtantine dyd gyue to Sylueſter nothing elſes but onely the dede or writīg: than was nat his mynde to do Silueſter a pleaſure or good turne: but to gyue him a mocke. you ſaye it is very lykely / that he / whiche doth gyue any thinge: dothe alſo delyuer poſſeſſyon of the ſame. Take hede / and be ware what you ſpeke / ſeing that it is vndoubted / that poſſeſſyon was neuer delyuered: and it is alſo doubte / whether euer the ryght and tytle were gyuen or nat. It is lyke to be true / that he which gaue nat the poſſeſſyon wolde nat gyue the right and tytle. Is it nat vndouted and of certaynte / that poſſeſſyon was neuer delyuered? whiche thyng who ſo euer wyll denye: he is without all honeſtie / and vtterly ſhamles. Dyd Conſtantine brynge or lede Silueſter in to the Capitoly houſe / as it were one tryumphing / amonge the reioyſynges & ioyfull ſhowtynges of the multytude of the Cytizens of Rome / beyng yet meydels and hethen men? Dyd he ſet him in a chayre or ſeate of golde / all the hole company of ſenatours beyng aſſyſtent and ſtandyng by? And dyd he cōmaūde the heed offycers / eche one of them accordyng to his dignyte / to ſalute him and to honour him / as kynge or chefe gouernoure?

Theſe be the thynges / whiche are wonte to be done towardes newe princes: and nat onely ſome one palace (as for example the palace of Lateran) to be delyuered. Dyd he afterwardes lede hī about through all Italy? wente he with him to all the thre partes of Fraūce? Dyd he go with him in to both Spaynes? Wente he with him to the Germaynes / and to the reſydue of the Weſt regiōs? or if they both were greued and lothe to trauayle in their owne perſones ouer ſo great a parte of the worlde / and ſo many dyuerſe landes and coūtrees: whom made they their deputies? and to whom aſſygned they ſo great an office? which [Page] ſhulde bothe in the emperours ſtede delyuer poſſeſſyon: and in Sylueſters ſtede receyue and take it? Doutleſſe theſe muſt nedes haue ben ſome great men and of exellent auctorite / and yet who they were: no man can tell. In the tyme of our remembraunce (bycauſe I wyl paſſe ouer the aunciēt enſamples of olde tyme) we neuer ſawe it otherwiſe done / whan any mā hathe ben made lorde / either of any cyte / regyon / or prouynce: but that ſo onely poſſeſſyon hathe ben iuged to be gyuen and delyuered to him: if they olde offycers be depoſed or put downe / and new be made and put in their ſtedes? Though Sylueſter wold nat at that tyme haue requyred this to be done: yet dyd it appertayne and belonge to the magnifycencie of Conſtantyne (that he might declare / nat onely by his wordes / but alſo by his dede / that he dyd gyue poſſeſſyon to Sylueſter / to haue depoſed his owne deputes / lyeutynauntes / and other offycers / & to commaunde other to be put into their roumes / by the nomination & aſſygnement of Sylueſter. No man can ſaye / that poſſeſſyon was delyuered or gyuen vp: whiche remayneth ſtyll in the handes of the ſame men / whiche poſſeſſed it before / and whan the newe lorde dare nat put them from it. But ſuppoſe / yt this thinge alſo doth nothyng let or withſtand / but that we may thinke neuer the leſſe / that Sylueſter had poſſeſſyon and let vs ſaye / that all thinges were than adminiſtred and done contrary to the commune maner and cuſtome / & contrary to nature: I pray you / after that Conſtātine was gone awaye / what gouernours and rulers dyd Sylueſter make of the prouince or cytes? what warres or batayles made he? what natiōs that were rebelles dyd he oppreſſe or holde vnder? or by what captaynes & offycers did he theſe thīges / A bytter mocke. you do make anſwere & ſaye / we do knowe none of all theſe thinges. Verely I do thinke the ſame. All theſe thinges were done in the nyghte tyme / and therfore no man coulde ſe them. Go to now furthermore / I pray you / was Sylueſter in poſſeſſyon? Who than dyd put him out of poſſeſſyon? For he was nat euer contynually [Page] in poſſeſſyon / neither any of his ſucceſſoures / at the leaſt wiſe / vnto Gregorius Magnus / whiche alſo was without poſſeſſyon. Nowe who ſo euer is out of poſſeſſion / and can nat proue that himſelf hath ben driuen out of poſſeſſyon: doutleſſe that man had neuer poſſeſſyon. And if he will ſaye / that himſelfe hath had at any tyme poſſeſſion: he his ſtarke madde Seeſt thou here nowe / how I do proue the alſo to be madde? For elles: tell thou me / who droue the pope out of poſſeſſyon? Conſtātine himſelfe / or his chyldren / or Iulianus / or els any other emꝑour? Shewe the name of him / that dyd put him from poſſeſſyon. Shewe the tyme whan it was done. Shewe wherfore he was fyrſt expulſed. Wherfrō nexte / & ſo forth in ordre. Whether was he expulſed by ſedicion and manſlaughter / or elles without theſe thynges? Dyd al nations conſpire agaīſt him to gether at one time / or els whiche of them began fyrſt? What? Dyd no man at all helpe or aide him? Nat ſomoch as any of thoſe / whiche had ben made gouernours & rulers of cyties & prouīces by Sylueſter / or by ſome other pope? Dyd he leſe all to gether in one daye: or els by lytell & lytell. One ꝑte at one tyme / & a nother parte at a nother tyme? Dyd he & his heed offycers make reſiſtence: or els dyd they at the firſt rebellyon & buſynes gyue vp their poſſeſſion & offices / & put thēſelues frō all to gether? What? the cōquerours & ouer comers? dyd they nat make hauocke / with killīg & ſleing thoſe wretches & vile ſorte of men / whome they iuged vnworthy of ye empier: to the reuengyng of their owne cōtumelie & iniurie? to the defence & mayntenaūce of the dominiō: which they had wōne & gotten by force and violēce / to the contēpte & deſpyte of our relygiō / and alſo to the example of thē that ſhulde come after their tyme? Did no man of all thoſe / whiche were vanqueſſhed & ouercome: flie or rōne away? Did no man lurke and hide hīſelfe? was no man afraide? O meruaylouſe & wōderfull chaūce / that the empire of Rome / which was gotten & wonne with ſo great labours / with ſo moche blodeſhed ſhulde ſo peſably / [Page] ſo quietly / either be gotten or loſt of the Chriſten preſtes: that no blodſhedynge / no warre / neither yet any complaynte hath come bytwene / and alſo (which thinge a man ought no leſſe to meruayle at) that no man knoweth or can tell / by whom this thinge was done / nor at what tyme / nor howe or which waye / nor how longe it was in doing. A man might ſuppoſe & wene / that Sylueſter had raigned in the woddes amonge trees: nat at Rome amonge men / and that he was driuen out of poſſeſſyon / by the winter ſhowers and colde ſtormes: & nat by men. Who is he that doth nat knowe / if he be any thing acquaīted with hiſtories: how many kynges / how many cōſules / how many dictatours / how many protectoures of the cōmune peple / called Tribuni plebis / how many controllers & iuges of mēnes maners / called Cenſores / how many chamberlayns called Cediles / haue ben created and made in Rome? And there is nat one of ſo great a multytude & nombre / of ſo auncient & olde antyquite vnknowen to vs. We do know alſo / how many noble captaynes haue ben of the Athenienſes / how many of the Thebanes / howe many of the Lacedemoniās. we haue knowledge of all their fyghtes / battayles and ſkirmiſſhes / made both on the lāde & on ye water. we do know alſo / who hath ben kinges & gouernours of the Perſes / of the Medes / of the Chaldeis / & of the Hebrues / & of many other peoples & nations / & howe euery one of theſe hath receyued their kīgdomes / or hathe holden & kepte it / or how they haue loſt it / or haue recouered it againe. But the empier of Rome / orelles the empier of Sylueſter: vnder what maner it hath begōne / or how it hath ended. whan / & by whom no man can tell / nor it is nat knowen / nat ſo moch as in the cyte of Rome it ſelf. For I do aſke & demaūde of you / what recordes or what authors can you bringe forthe of thoſe thinges? you do anſwer & ſay / that you can bringe forth none. And are you nat a ſhamed than / you beeſtes rather than men: to ſay that it is lykely that Sylueſter hath had poſſeſſyon? But ſeyng that you can bringe forth no proffes for your parte: I [Page] ſhall on the contrary parte ſhewe euydently / that Cō ſtantine / euyn vnto ye laſt day of his lyfe. And ſo forth from hī / that all the emperours eche of thē after other had the poſſeſſyōs of theſe realmes: ſo yt you ſhal nat haue one worde to ſpeake. But it is a very hadre thinge / and a great maiſtri / as I ſuppoſe: to ſhewe this. Turne ouer & rede ye hiſtories both in Greke & latyn / Rede the other authors & writers whiche haue made mēcion of thoſe tymes / yet ſhall ye fynde none / that diſagreeth from other in this thinge. Let one teſtimonie of a thouſāde ſuffyce. Eutropius / which ſawe Conſtātine / Eutropiꝰ which ſaw the thre ſonnes of Conſtātine whom he lefte behynde him / emperours of ye worlde whiche writeth in this wiſe of Iuliane / which was ſonne to Cōſtātines brother,Iulianꝰ apoſtata. This Iulianus / whiche was a deacon in ye church of Rome / & made emperoure alſo: fell from the true faith / to worſhippīge of ydoles. He gouerned the ēpier / & with great preparation & ordinaūce he made warre vpō ye Parthians At the whiche viage & ſettīg forth I was preſent alſo myne owne ſelfe. This Eutropius (I ſay) neither wolde haue paſſed ouer with ſylēce the donatiō of the empier of ye Weſt regiōs / neither wolde he haue written a lytell after / in this wiſe of Iouiane / which ſucceded next after Iuliane.Iouiane thē perour nexte ſucceſſour to Iuliane the Apoſtata. He made peace with Sapore. A nedfull peace verely: but a ſhamfull peace / chaūging ye bondes of thēpier / & gyuēg vp a certayn portion of ye Romayne ēpier / which thīge neuer happened afore: ſyns ye Romayne ēpier was fyrſt begon. Moreouer our legions at Claudiū propontiū Teleſtinū / & at Numantiū in Spayne / & in Numidie / in token of ſubiection / were cauſed to paſſe through vnder a ſpere (as it was the maner than) but yet was there none of the bownes or termes of the Empier gyuen & delyuered vp. Here in this place it pleaſeth me to ſpeke to you / ye popes of Rome: which haue dyed of very late tyme / & to the Eugenie which arte alyue / but yet with the leaue & lycence of Felix / why do you ſo proudely bragge & boſte of the donation of Cōſtantyne? why do you ſo oftentymes manace & threttē certayn kynges & princes: that you wyl reuēge ye takyng [Page] of the Empier frō you? & how do you extorte of Ceſar whā he is tobe crowned / a certaī cōfeſſyō & knolegīg of ſeruitude & ſubiection to you / & lykewyſe of certaī other prīces / as of the kynge of Naples / & of Sicilie which thynge neuer any of the auncient popes of Rome in olde tyme did? Nat Damaſus of Theodoſius nat Syryne of Archadius / nat Anaſtaſius of Honorius / nat Ihon̄ of Iuſtiniane / nat other moſt holy popes of other moſt noble emperours / but they haue always openly graūted / Rome & Italye with the prouinces afore named to belonge to the ēperours / & therfore ye peaces of golde coyned in thoſe tymes (becauſe I wyl nat ſpeke of other monumētes / & of ye tēples of the Cyte of Rome) wherof ſome are yet remaynyng: hath their ſcripture written / nat in Greke lr̄es / but in latyn lr̄es / both the coynes of Cōſtātyne after he was become chriſtē: & alſo of ye other emperours / almoſt euery one after him in ordre / of which coynes / I haue my ſelf many in myne own hādes / cōmunely hauyng vnder the Image of the croſſe / this ſubſcription. Concordia orbis. A thauſande ſuch ioynes ſhulde there be foūde alſo of the popes: if euer you had ben the chefe gouernours & rulers of Rome / wherof now there is none foūde / neither of golde / neither of ſyluer / neither is it reported or ſayd / yt euer any mā hath ſeen any ſuche / & yet coude it nat be otherwiſe choſen / but ye nedely he muſt haue had at yt time his ꝓpre coyne: who ſo euer helde thā thēpier of Rome / at ye leſte wiſe vnder the image of our ſauiour / or els of Peter. Oh / ye ignorance & folyſſhnes of men / do you nat ſe / if the donation of Cōſtātyne be true / yt no thyng at al is lefte to ye emperours? De latino loquor. Lo / I pray you / what maner ēperour / what maner kynge of the Romaynes ſhall he be: whoſe kyngdom if any mā had / & had nothing els beſyde / he ſhuld haue vtterly nothyng at al? wherfore if it be euydēt (as it is) yt Silueſter had neuer poſſeſſion / yt is to ſay / ye Cōſtātine did neuer giue or delyuer poſſeſſion: it foloweth alſo vndoutedly / ye Cōſtantine neuer gaue (as I haue ſayd) ſo moche as right or title to poſſeſſe thē / excepte you do ſay / yt the right was geuyn / but the poſſeſſyon nat delyuered for ſome cauſe or conſyderation: ye I wyſſe / he gaue [Page] that thynge / which he knewe ſhulde nat come to paſſe He gaue that: which he could nat delyuer. He gaue that / which he knewe was nat poſſyble to come into the hādes of him / to whom it was gyuen: afore that it ſhulde be deſtroied. He gaue a gyfte / which ſhulde neuer be of ſtrengthe or ſtande in any ſtede / or at the leaſt / nat afore .v.C. yeres were expired. To ſpeke this / or thinke it: is playne madneſſe. But now it is tyme (leſt I be made to longe & tediouſe) ſeyng that we haue cutte & mangled the cauſe of our aduerſarys to giue it his dedly woūde / & to kyl it with one ſtroke.

¶The thyrde princypall parte of this oration / in which the author ſheweth / that Conſtantine was become Chriſten afore that Silueſter was pope / & that thoſe gyftes whiche Conſtātine gaue: were gyuen to the pope nexte after Silueſter / which ſame alſo were but meane or ſmall thinges / & no more than ſuffycient to the popes ſuſtentation.

EVery hyſtorie almoſt / which is worthy the name of an hiſtorie: telleth and maketh mention / that Conſtātine /

Conſtantyne was made Chriſten of a chylde / long afore that Silueſter was pope.

Euſebius the author of the eccleſiaſticall hiſtorie.

euyn whan he was a childe: became Chriſtē with his father Conſtātius / & ye long tyme afore that Silueſter was pope / as Euſebius ye writer of the eccleſiaſticall hiſtorie / whome Rufyne a man right exellently lerned / hath trāſlated / into the latyne tonge / and hathe alſo added two bokes of his owne tyme / which were bothe of them welnere in Cōſtantines tyme. Beſydes this / we haue alſo ye teſtimonie & witneſſe of ye pope of Rome / whiche nat onely was preſent at the doyng of theſe thinges: but alſo bare a great rule in the ſame / beyng alſo nat a witneſſe: but the author or doer / nat ye teller or rehercer of another mānes buſynes: but of his owne. He whome I do meane:Melchiades pope nexte afore Sylueſter. is Melchiades ye pope nexte afore Silueſter which ſaith in this wiſe. The church was come euyn vnto this poynt now: yt nat only people & natiōs / but alſo the princes of Rome / whiche helde thempier of the worlde: dyd come together to the faith of Chriſt and to the ſacramentes of the faith. Among whom / [Page] the moſt deuoute man Conſtantine fyrſt of all other openly gettyng the faith & belefe of the trouth: gaue lycence through out all ye worlde / to as many as were vnder his dominion and gouernaunce / nat onely to be made Chriſten men: but alſo to buylde churches / and he ordayned landes to be gyuen. And to be ſhort the afore reherſed emperoure gaue exceding gret giftes / and he began firſt the buyldinge of the churche of ſaynt Peter / in ſo moche that he did forſake his emperiall ſeate or place: and graunted it to the vſe and behofe of bleſſed Peter / & his ſucceſſours. Lo / here Melchiades maketh mention of nothyng that was gyuen by Conſtātine: but onely the palace of Laterane / and certayne other lādes / of whiche Gregorie very ofte maketh mētion in his regeſtre. Where than are they nowe / whiche do nat ſuffre it to be doubted / whether the donation of Conſtātine be of value and ſtrengthe / or nat? ſeyng that the ſayde donation or gyfte bothe was made afore Sylueſters tyme / and was alſo of priuate thinges onely? which thyng although it is playne & euident ynough: yet that nat withſtanding / we muſt ſomwhat diſpute & reſon of that priuilege / which theſe folyſſh felowes are wonte to alledge and bring forth.

¶ The fourth prīcipall ꝑte of this oration / in which the author ſheweth it to be vntruly ſayde / that the copye or example of this donation is founde in the decrees / or elles taken out of the hiſtorie of ſaynt Sylueſter / and alſo declareth what folyſſhe / what impoſſyble / what barbarous / and what repugnaūt & contrary thīges / with other vnreſonablenes / is cōtayned in the ſayde copie. & beſydes this he maketh mention of the fayned or friuolouſe donation of certayn other emperours. And laſte of al he ſheweth / that in caſe it were / ſo that Sylueſter or any other pope had at any tyme poſſeſſed theſe thīges: yet being ones put out of poſſeſſyō / & ſo long cōtinuīg diſpoſſeſſed as they haue done: they cā nat now after ſo long ſpace of tyme clayme thē agayn / neither by the lawe of god nor man. &c.

[Page]ANd fyrſt of all to begyne with / nat onely that felowe which wolde fayne ſeme to be Gratian whiche added certayn thynges to the worke of Gracian / is to be repreued of lewde vnſhamfaſtnes: but alſo they are to be reproued of ignoraunce and folyſhenes / The pagine of the donation / is nat foū de in the olde decrees collected by Gratian. which do wene or ſuppoſe / that the pagine of the priuilege is contayned in Gratians worke / whiche thynge neyther any lerned man dyd euer ſuppoſe: & agayn it is nat founde in the moſte auncyēt and eldeſt bokes of the decrees / & if in any place Gratian ſhuld haue made mention of this thīge / he ſhuld haue done it nat in this place (where they do put it interrupting and breking of the ordre and contexte of his oration and ſpeche) but rather in that place / where he ſpeketh of the paction & couenaunte of Ludouyke. Beſydes this there are two thouſād places in the decrees: whiche do proue this place nat to be true / of the whiche that place is one / where the afore reherſed wordes of Melchiades are alleged. Some men do ſay / that he whiche added this chapitour to the decrees: was called Palea / Palea in latin ſygnifyeth chaffe. either for that this was his very right name: or els bycauſe theſe thinges / whiche he dyd adde or put to of his own / if they be cōpayred to Gratiane are iuged to be / as it were / chaffe nere to the corne. But how ſo euer the trouthe is concerning this: it is a very great ſhame & an vnſhamely thinge to beleue / that collector & gatherer of the decrees / either dyd nat know theſe thinges / whiche haue ben added & put to ſyns of Palea: or els dyd ſet gretly by them / and accompe and take them for true thinges. This is well than / we are ſufficed / we haue the victory & our owne purpoſe. Firſt that Gratiane doth nat ſaye this thīge ſo as they belyed him: but moreouer he denyeth it and preueth it falſe and vntrue / as eaſily it maye be perceyued by a thouſand places and mo. Secondarelye / that they do alledge for theym ſelues one man alone / and that ſuche one as is vnknowen / and of none auctorite / a tryfler / and ſo folyſſhe alſo: that he hath added certayne thynges of his owne faynyng to the ſayd Gratiane: whiche can nat agree [Page] with the other ſayinges of the ſame Gratian / is this than this authour / that you bryng forth? do you vſe the teſtimonie of him alone? Do you recite a folyſhe writtyng of him in paper / for the confyrmation of ſo gret a matter: agaīſt ſix hundred kynges of proffes? But I loked for it / that you ſhulde haue ſhewed lytell Images of golde / tytles & wrytynges in marble / and a thouſand authours. But you do ſay / that Palea him ſelfe bryngeth forth the author / and ſheweth the very fountayne of the hiſtorie / and calleth to witneſſe Gelaſius the pope / with many other biſſhoppes Of the hiſtorie (ſayth he) of Silueſter whiche bleſſed Gelaſius in the counſell of .lxx. byſſhoppes reporteth to be redde of Catholyke men / and ſaith / that many churches doth folow this ſame maner / accordyng to the olde aunciēt vſage / in ye which hiſtorie it is redde / Conſtantyne. &c. And a gret deale before where mention is made of bokes whiche are to be redde / & which nat to be redde: he hath ſayd alſo / we do know that the actes of ſaynte Silueſter the byſſhoppe are redde of many catholyke men in the cyte of Rome: al be it that we do nat know ye name of him that wrote them / and the churches accordynge to the olde vſage do folowe the ſame. Oh / here is a wonderfull authorite / a meruaylouſe teſtimonie and recorde / & a ſtronge & inuincyble probation. I graunt you this / that Gelaſius ſayd this: where he ſpeaketh of the councel of .lxx. byſſhoppes / dyd he therfore ſay that the pagine or copie of the preuilege is redde in the lyfe or actes of ſaynte Silueſter? and that at Rome: the auctorite of whiche churche many other churches do folowe / whiche thynge I do nat denye: but I graunt / confeſſe / and knowlege / ye / and I do offre my ſelf to be a wytneſſe therof with Gelaſius / but what cā this thynge profyght or auayle you? but onely that it myght appere / that you wolde haue lyed / in alledgynge and bryngynge forth witneſſes and recordes. His name is nat knowen / which added this to ye decrees / & yet he alone doth ſay this thynge / his name is nat knowen / which wrote ye hiſtorie of Silueſter [Page] and yet he alone is brought forth / and that falſly for a wytneſſe and a recorde. And do you good and wyſe men iuge this to be ſufficient / ye / and more than ſufficient / to the teſtimonie and witneſſyng of ſo greate a matter? But conſyder now and ſe / how great difference there is betwene your iugemente and myne. I truly? al though this priuylege were contayned in ye hiſtorie of Sylueſter:The hiſtorye of Silueſter is but a fayned and a lyyng hiſtorye. wolde nat for all that thynke that it were to be accompted and taken for true. For as moche as that hiſtorie is none hiſtorie: but a fayned and a ſhamleſe lyeng tale / as I ſhall ſhewe and declare herafter / and alſo / ſeing that none other mā / namely beyng of any auctorite: dothe make any mention of this priuylege.Iacobus voraginēſis / the writter of ſa [...] [...]es lyues. And Iacobus Voraginenſis / whiche bare great fauour and loue to the clergie as beyng himſelfe an arche biſſhoppe: yet in his ſtori of ſaītes lyues / and of the actes of holy men / ſpeketh nat one worde of the donation of Conſtantine: but paſſeth it ouer with ſylence / as beyng but a lyeng fable / and nat worthy to be put among ye actes of Sylueſter / in whiche dede he gyueth in a maner ſentence againſt them: if any wolde haue put theſe thinges in writyng. But I wyll drawe that falſyfier and forger of writtes / and very chaffe in dede / and nat whete: in to iugement / writhyng his necke / whether he wyll or nat. What ſayſt thou falſe forger of writyngꝭ? How fortuneth it / or wherof is it longe / that we do nat rede this priuylege among the actes and dedes of Silueſter? I ſuppoſe this is a geſone boke / and harde to be founde / A bytter Irome. and there is but very few that haue it / and it is kept ſecretly / euen lykewiſe as the Regeſter or Kalender bokes of the Romaynes were kepte in the olde tyme of the biſſhoppes / and as the bokes of Sibillee were kepte of the .x. men / and it is written in the language of the Grekes / of the Iewes / or of the Caldayes. Gelaſius recordeth / that it is redde of many Catholyke men. Iacobus Voraginenſis maketh mention of it. We alſo haue ſene a thouſand copies of it / and that written in the olde tyme / and they are red almoſte in euery Cathedrall churche / vpon [Page] ſaynt Silueſters day / and yet no mā ſayth / that euer he redde therin this that thou forgeſt and ymagineſt. No man that euer he hath ſeen / no man that euer he dreamed of any ſuche thynges. It is parauēture ſome other certayn hiſtorie / whiche other hiſtorie ſhall that be? I know none other hiſtorie / neither I do iuge that thou doſte meane of any other hiſtorie / than this / for thou ſpekeſt of that hiſtorie which Gelaſius ſayth / redde ofte in many chuches / but in this hiſtorie we do nat fynde the priuylege / if thā it be nat redde in the lyfe of Silueſter: why doſt thou ſay that it is redde there? why durſt thou be ſo bolde to bourde in ſo great a matter? and to mocke and deceyue the couetouſe deſyre of lyght and folyſſhe perſonnes?

But I am a fole / whiche do rather rebuke his boldneſſe: than the peuyſſhneſſe of theym / whiche gaue credence to him / yf any man amonge the Grekes / amonge the Hebrues: ye / amonge the Barbarians / ſhulde ſay this thinge is founde written: wolde you nat bydde him name the author / and the booke to be brought forth / and the place to be expowned & declared of ſome faythfull expoſytour: er euer you wolde gyue credence to it? Nowe mention is made of your owne language / of a booke moſt cōmunely knowen / and yet you do nat make inquiſytion or any ſerche of ſo vnbeleuable a dede / or els whan you do nat fynde it writtē: yet you ar ſo light of credēce geuyng / yt you do accōpt it for writtē & for true / & thīkyng this title to be ſuffycient / you make great trouble & buſyneſſe in the worlde / and as though there were no doute in it at all: you do put them in feare with warre & other threttenynges / that do nat gyue credence to you?

O good Ieſu: how gret is the ſtrength / howe gret is the diuinite or godly power of the trouth? whiche by it ſelfe / without any great enforcement or labour / defendeth it ſelfe from all gyles & deceytes / that nat without a cauſe / whan a great contention was ryſen vp afore kyng Darius / Rede in .iiii. chapt. of the thirde boke of Eſdras in the Bible. what thynge ſhulde be of moſt myght and ſtrength / and dyuerſe men named dyuerſe thynges: at the laſt the vyctorie & chefe price [Page] was geuyn to veryte and trouth / and for as moche as now at this tyme I haue to do with preſtes / and nat with ſeculares or lay men: I muſt reherſe rather eccleſyaſticall examples / than ſeculare examples. Iudas Machabeus / whan by ſendynge the ambaſſadours to Rome / 1. Macabeorum. 8 he had optayned a leage and amite or frendſhippe of the ſenatours: He prouyded the wordes of the leage to be grauen in braſſe / and to be borne to Hieruſalem. I paſſe ouer here the ſtony tables of the .x. cōmaundementes: whiche god gaue to Moyſes.Exodi 24 And theſe ſo royall & meruaylouſe ſtrange donation of Conſtantine / can be proued by none other maner euydence and tokens / neither in golde / neither in ſyluer / neither in braſſe / neither in marble / neither laſt of all in bokes: but onely (if we beleue this felowe (in a pece of paper or parchment.Iobal his polytike deuiſe / for the ꝑpetual p̄ſeruation of the crafte fyrſte by him inuēted / that [...] to witte Muſike. Ioball the fyrſt inuentour of muſyke (as we do rede in Ioſephus) bycauſe in his tyme / it was a cōmune opinion lefte to theym of their forefathers / that the worlde / whiche was ones deſtroyed with water / ſhulde agayne be deſtroyed with fyer: He wrot his doctrine in .ii. pyllers / ye one of bricke / agaynſt the iniurie & hurt of fyer: and the other of ſtonne / agaynſte the hurte of waters (which piller of ſtone remained euyn to Ioſephus tyme / as he himſelfe writeth) to thentent / that his benefyte towardes all men / ſhulde alwayes remayne and be ſeen. And amonge the Romayns beīg yet rude and groſe / whan there was yet but ſmalle learnyng / and letters were rare and geaſon: yet that natwithſtandyng the lawes of the .xii.The lawes of the .xii. tables were grauen in braſſe. tables were grauen in braſſe / whiche were founde afterwardes ſafe and vnperiſſhed: Whan the cyte was taken and ſet on a fyer by Frenchemen. Suche is the vertue and myght of circumſpecte prouidence: that it is able to ouercome ye two gretteſt thinges in al ye worlde that is to witte diuturnite or longe contynuaunce of tyme / and the vyolence of fortune. And dyd Coſtantyne marke or ſeale this donation of the worlde / onely with paper and ynke? namely ſeyng that the forger of this fable / who euer he was / dothe make Conſtātyne [Page] in the pagyne of that priuylege / ſayeng theſe wordes: that he dyd ſuppoſe / that there ſhulde nat lacke men after his tyme / whiche through wicked couetouſneſſe wolde breake and diſanull this donation or gyfte. Feare you this thynge / O Conſtantyne / An apoſtrophe or tournynge of the ſpeche to Cō ſtantyne. and do you nat beware and prouyde: leſt they whiche wolde take away Rome from Sylueſter / myght alſo priuely conuay awaye this dede or writte in paper? What? Sylueſter himſelfe? Doth he no thinge at all for himſelfe? Dothe he ſo remyt all thinges to Conſtantyne? Is he ſo careleſſe / ſo ſlowe / and ſo peakiſhe? dothe he in ſo great a buſynes no thynge prouyde for himſelfe? nothyng for his churche? nothing for them that ſhulde come after his tyme? Beholde here / O Conſtantyne / to what maner man you do cōmyt the adminiſtratyon and gouernaunce of the empier of Rome: whiche ſlepeth in ſo great a mater and in the thyng / wherof ſhulde come either ſo great lucre: or elles ſo great ieoperdy and daunger. For the paper wherin the priuylege is contayned / ones taken away: doutles the donation or gyfte can nat be proued to haue ben made in proceſſe of tyme. The mad felowe calleth it the pagyne of the priuilege. Calleſt thou the donation of the worlde / a priuilege? (for it pleaſeth me to rebuke him / as if he were preſent) and wylt thou / that this priuilege was written in a pagine? and that Conſtantyne vſed ſuche maner oration and ſpeche? if the tytle be foliſh and agaynſt reaſon: what maner thīges ſhal we iuge the reſydue to be / yt do after folowe? ¶Conſtantinus īperator quarto die ſue baptiſmatis priuilegium Ro. eccleſiae pontifici contulit / vt in vrbe Roma ſacerdotes ita hunc caput habeant / ſicut iudices regem. Cōſtantyne the emperour / the fourth daye after he was Chriſtened: gaue a priuylege to the byſſhoppe of the churche of Rome / that in the cyte of Rome the preeſtes ſhulde take hym for heed / euyn ſo as the iuges do take the kynge. Theſe wordes be contayned in the very hiſtorye of Sylueſter / by reaſon wherof it can nat be douted / in what place this priuilege is ſygnifyed to haue [Page] ben writen. But after the maner of them / whiche do deuyſe and forge lyes or leſynges / he began with the trouthe: to thentent / that he might cauſe men to gyue credence to the falſe & vntrue thinges that do folowe. Euen lykewiſe as Sinon in Virgyle / ſayd fyrſte to Priamus theſe wordes.Eneidos ſecundo. Without fayle noble kyng all the trouth I ſhall ſay / & that I am a Greke borne I ſhall nat ſay nay. And in this he ſayd trouthe / but afterwardes he made many falſe leaſinges: ſo in this place dothe our ſubtyle & crafty Sinon / Sinon. which whā he had begonne with the trouthe: by & by after dyd adde theſe wordes. ¶ In eo priuilegio ita inter caetera legitur / vtile iudicauimus vna cum omnibus ſatrapis noſtris / & vniuerſo ſenatu / opeimatibꝰ etiā & cum cucto populo imperio Ro. ecclie ſubiacenti / vt ſicut beatus Petrus in terris vicariꝰ dei videtur eſſe conſtitutus: ita & pontifices ipſiꝰ principis Ap [...]o (rum) vicem / principatus poteſtatem / amplius (quam) terrenae imperialis noſtrae ſerenitatis manſuetudo habere videtur / cōceſſam a nobis noſtro (que) imperio obtineant.

In that priuilege among other thinges / thus it is redde. We with all our dukes & erles / and with the hole ſenate / and the optimates / and with all ye people beyng ſubiectes vnder the empier & gouernaunce of the churche of Rome / haue iuged & thought it profytable / that lykewiſe as bleſſed Peter ſemeth to haue ben conſtituted & ordayned the vicare of god here in erthe: euen ſo the popes alſo being the ſucceſſours of the prince of the Apoſtles / ſhulde optayne and haue power & dominion graunted to them of vs & our empier / more largely / than the myldenes of our erthely ēperiall ſerenite ſhulde ſeme to haue. O curſed and falſe wreche / the ſame hiſtorie / wherof thou takeſt recorde & witnes: telleth / that it is longe tyme ere afore euer they whiche were of ye ſenatorie ordre / wolde take vpon them ye Chriſten relygion / & that Cōſtātyne gaue money to poore men: that he might therby prouoke them to be baptyſed. And ſayeſt thou / that forth with within .iiii. dayes / the ſenate / ye noble & great eſtates / with ye rulers of prouīces / as though they [Page] had ben than alredy Chriſtened: dyd make decrees with the emperour / to put the churche of Rome to honoure and worſhippe? Wylt thou beſydes this / that Satrapae / that is to ſay / dukes or erles / were preſent? O ſtones / O dull ſtockes. vſe the emperours to ſpeake after this maner? Are the decrees of the Romaynes wonte to be expreſſed in ſuche formes of wordes? Who euer herde Satrapas / that is to ſay / dukes or erles / to be named in the counſayls or aſſembles of the Romaynes? I do nat remembre / that euer I red / any man / I do nat ſay onely beyng a Romayne / but alſo nat ſo moche as in the prouince belongynge to the Romaynes: to be named a duke or an erle. But this felow calleth them the dukes and erles of the emperoure / and he ſetteth them before the ſenatours / nat withſtandynge that all honores / ye / euen thoſe alſo / whiche are gyuen to the prince: are decreed onely by the ſenatours / and the people of Rome ioyned with them. And this is the cauſe / why we do ſe in the ſtones / or braſen tables / or in the coynes of olde antiquyte / either theſe two letters. SC .1. Senatus conſulto / that is to ſay / by the decree of the ſenatours: or elles theſe foure letters. SPQR .1. Senatus / Populus (que) / Romanus. that is to ſaye / the ſenatours and the people of Rome. And as Tertullyane maketh mētion / whan Pontius Pilatus had written to Tiberius Ceſar / of the merueylouſe and wonderfull workes & dedes of Chriſt / and nat to the ſenatours (for the heed offycers & gouernours had ben wonte to write of gret maters vnto ye ſenate) the ſenatours toke this thyng greuouſly / & were gretly dyſcontente therwith. And whan Tiberrius gaue this prerogatyue / that Ieſus ſhulde be worſhipped for a god: they gaynſayde it / onely for the preuy indignation & grudge which they had in their mindes: for that the dignyte of the ſenatorie ordre was offended & hurte. And that thou mayſt knowe of how gret ſtrength the aucorite of the ſenate is: they optayned that he ſhulde nat be worſhipped for a god.Howe greate the auctorite of the ſenate was. Beſides this thou ſayſt the Optymates whom we vnderſtāde either to be the chefe men in the cōmune weale / & than [Page] why doeſt thou name theſe: ſeīg ther is no worde ſpoken of other offycers? or els by optimates we vnderſtāde thoſe / which are nat Populares / that is / which ſeche nat to get ye beneuolēce & good wyll of ye people but are ye fauourers & defēders of the beſt men & of ye good ꝑties or ſydes / as Cicero ſheweth & declareth in a certayne oratiō / that ſuche are called optimates. And therfore we do ſay / that Ceſar afore that the cō mune weale was oppreſſed: was Popularis / & that Cato was one of the optimates / the dyfferēce of whiche two wordes Saluſt hath declared. And they whiche are called optimates in this ſygnifycatiō / are no more ſayde to be called to counſayle: thā other populare perſons or other good men. But what meruayle is it / if the optimates be there made of counſayle: where the hole people (if we gyue credēce to this mā) dyd iuge with ye ſenate & Ceſar? and that ye people beyng ſubiecte to the church of Rome. And which people is this? The people of Rome? whye is it than nat called ye people of Rome: rather than the people ſubiecte? What newe & ſtraūge cōtumelye / & meruaylouſe rebuke is this vnto yt cytizēs of Rome: of whō ye beſt & moſt exellēte poete Vergyle reporteth in this wyſe. Tu regere īperio populos Romane memēto. Thou people of Rome / remembre thou to gouerne & rule people. That people whiche is the gouernour & ruler of other peoples: is called here Populos ſubiacēs a people ſubiect / which thīg was neuer herde heretofore. For in this (as Gregorius witneſſeth in many epiſtles) diffreth ye biſſhop of Rōe frō other biſſhoppes: for yt he onely is the gouernour of a free people. But this admitted / that it were euen ſo as thou ſayſt Are nat other peoples alſo ſubiectes? doeſt thou meane of other peoples alſo? how coulde it be poſſyble / yt all the people beīg ſubiectes to the churche of Rome / were within thre dayes p̄ſēt at the makīg of that decree? how be it all ye vile ſorte & the raſcall of ye people I am ſure / dyd nat iuge or decree. Moreouer / why ſhulde Conſtantine call the people ſubiecte: afore that he had made them ſubiecte to the pope of Rome [Page] Agayne / why are they / whiche are called ſubiectes: ſayd to haue borne a rule / in ye makīge of the decree? Beſydes this / they are ſayd to haue decreed euē this ſame thīg: that their ſelues ſhulde be ſubiectes: & that he to whom they were all redy ſubiectes: ſhulde haue them ſubiectes vnto hī ſelfe. What other thīge doſte thou folyſſhe wretche / with thoſe folyſſhe & mad imaginatiōs: but onely ſhewe & declare / that thou haſte wyll & deſyre to deceyue & begyle: & that thou lackeſt power to do it. ¶ Eligētes nobis ipſu prīcipē apoſtolo (rum) / vel eius vicarios / firmos apud deu elſe patrones / et ſicut noſtra eſt terrena īperialis potēcia: ita eius ſacroſāctā Ro. eccleſiā decreuimꝰ venerater honorare / & āplius (quam) nr̄m iperiū terrenū (que) thronū / ſedē ſacratiſſimā beati Petri glorioſe exaltare / tribuētes ei poteſtatē / et gloriā / et dignitatē / et vigorē / & honorificenciā īperialem. Choſīg the prīce of apoſtles hī ſelfe or his vicars: to be ſtedfaſt / & ſure patrōs & defēders to vs / afore god. And euen as our erthly ēperiall power is: ſo haue we decreed / reuerently to honour his hole & worſhipfull church of Rome / & gloriouſly to exalte ye moſt worſhipfull ſeat of bleſſed Pet a great deale more / thā our ēpier & erthly throne / gyuyng to it power / & glory / & dignite / & ſtrēgth / & honorificēce ēperiall.Lactance firmiane wrote ſo eloquently: that ſaynt Iherome calleth him [...]luuiū Tulliane eloquentlye / the flowynge ryuer of Tullys eloquēce, Reuyue & waxe alyue agayne a lytell whyle / O Lactāce Firmiane: & relyſt this aſſe cryeng out ſo maynely. He hath ſo great delyte & pleſure in ye claterīg noyſe of proude & puffed wordes: that he repeteth & īculketh ofte agayn ye ſame thīges / whiche he had ſayd nat lōge afore. Dyd the ſcribes of thēperours (bycauſe I wyll nat ſay the horſekepers) ſpeke after this maner & facyō / in thy tyme? Conſtā tinꝰ elegit ſibi illos / nat patronos: but eſſe patronos. He put ī ye infynityue mode eſſe / to make ye nombre of the wordes ioyne more trymly to gether. An honeſt and a worſhypfull cauſe forſothe / to ſpeake barbarouſlye: that thyne oratyon or ſpeche maye ronne more pleſauntely and goodlye / if it be ſo that anye pleſaūtnes or goodlynes may be in ſo rought a ſtyle. Choſing ye prince of the apoſtles / or his vicars. you do nat choſe O Cōſtātine / Peter & his vicars: but [Page] either him excludīg them / or them excludīg him. And he calleth ye popes of Rome Peters vicars: as though Peter were yet alyue: or as though the popes were of leſſe dignite than Peter was. Is nat this alſo a barbarouſe maner of ſpeakīg. Cōceſſā a nobis noſtro (que) imperio. Graūted to thē by vs & our ēpier? as who ſhulde ſaye / that the ēpier had minde or purpoſe / and alſo power to graūte. And he was nat cōtented nor thought it ynough to ſay, Obtineāt / that they ſhulde haue & optayne: except he dyd ſay alſo / cōceſſā / graū ted / natwithſtāding that ye one of thoſe wordes alone were ſufficiēt. And that ſame / where he calleth them ſtedfaſt & ſure patrons: is very elegātly ſpoken. For god wot / he wyll / that they be ſtedfaſt & ſure: leſt they myght be corrupted with money / or els myght ſhrike & fall for fere. And this ſayeng alſo. Noſtra terrena imperialis poteſtas / or erthly ēperyall power / where he ioyneth two adiectyues without a cōiūction copulatyue / and that alſo Venerāter honorare / worſhipfully to honour / & that Noſtrae īperialis ſerenitatis māſuetudo. This gere ſauoureth & ſmelleth of the eloquēce of Lactāce: where he ſpeaketh of the power & gouernaūce of the ēpire: to name ſerenite & myldnes or gētelnes: & nat highnes or maieſtie. which ſayēg is alſo puffed & blowen vp with ſwolne pride: euen lykewiſe as that is: where he ſayth. Glorioſe exaltare per gloriā / et poteſtatē / et dignitatē / et vigorē / et honorificentiā īperialē. Gloriouſly to exalte by glory & power / & dignite / & ſtrēgth / & honorificēce ēperyall. which maner of ſpekīg ſemeth to be takē out of yt Apocalipſe or reuelation of ſait Iohn̄ / Apocalipſis the .v. cha. where it is ſayde.

Worthy is the lābe / which hath ben ſlayn: to take or receyue power / dignite / wiſedome / fortitude or ſtrē gth / honour / & benedictiō. He ſemeth alſo oftētimes (as it ſhall euidētly appere herafter) Cōſtātine to take vpō him ye tytles & prayſes belōgīg to god / & couetyng to folowe ye maner of ſpekīg vſed in ye holy ſcripture: which he had neuer red. At (que) decernetes ſācimꝰ vt prīcipatū teneat / tāſuꝑ quatuor ſedes / Alexādrinā Antiochenā / Hieroſolimitanā / Conſtātinopolitanā: (quam) etiā ſuꝑ oēs inuniuerſo orbe terra (rum) dei eccleſias / [Page] etiam pontifex qui per tempora ipſius ſacroſācre Roeccleſiae extiterit celſior & princeps cunctis ſacerdocibus / & totius mundi exiſtatis / & euis iudicio / quae ad cultum dei & fidem Chriſtiano (rum) / vel ſtabilitatē procurandam fuerint: diſponantur. we alſo by oure decree do eſtablyſſhe and ſtedfaſtly ordayne / that he haue the chefe gouernaunce / as well vpon the [...]oure ſees / of Alexandrie / Antioche / Hieruſalem / and Conſtantinople: as alſo vpon all the churches of god / in the hole worlde. Alſo that the biſſhoppe of the ſayde worſhipfull churche of Rome / whiche ſhall be from tyme to tyme: be higheſt and chefe heed of all preſtes and of the hole worlde / and that all thinges whiche ſhall appertayne to the honoring of god / and to the procurynge of the Chriſten [...]ayth / and the ſtabilyte therof: be diſpoſed and ordred by his iugement.

Here I do paſſe ouer his barbarouſe and corrupte maner of ſpeaking / that ye ſayd / Princeps ſacerdotibus for princeps ſacerdotum and that he did put theſe two wordes / Extiterit & exiſtat / bothe in one place and that whan he had ſayd / & in vniuerſo orbe terra (rum) He addeth agayn / et totius mudi. As if it were a certayne ſondrie thinge / or as it he wolde heuen to be contayned alſo / which is a parte of the worlde: whā a greate parte of the worlde was nat vnder the dominion of Rome / and that he ſayth. ad fidem Chriſtiano (rum) / vel ſtabilitatem pro curandam. makyng a diſtinccion and ſeperation of the faythe of Chriſten men / and the ſtabilyce therof / as though theſe two might nat be bothe to gether at one tyme / and that he mēgled theſe two wordes. Decernere & ſancire. And that he maketh Conſtantine nowe to decree: as if he hadde nat iuged before with other / and as though he purpoſed to decree & ordayne a penaltie / & that he maketh hī to eſtabliſſh together with ye people. Beſydes al theſe thīges / I ſay / what Chriſtē mā can ſuffre this & nat ſharply chaſtiſe ye pope which ſuffreth this / ye / & alſo hereth it gladdly / and reherceth it / that where as the Romayne ſee hathe taken primacie & preeminence of Chriſte (as the .viii. ſynode hath declared / Gratiane [Page] bering witnes / and many of the Grekes) nowe it is ſayde to haue receyued it of Conſtantine / being yet ſcaſely a Chriſten man / as it were of Chriſt himſelfe? Wolde that moſt diſcrete and lowly prince haue herde this? wolde the moſt godly and vertuouſe pope haue herde this? god ſhelde them bothe from ſo great ſynne and abhomination. Agayne / ſtandeth this with reaſon / or maye it be naturally / that any man myght ſpeake of Conſtantinople / as of one of the patriarchall / ſeattes: whyche yet was neither Patryarchall / neither any ſe at all / neither a Chriſten cyte / neither ſo named / nether yet buylded / nether ſo moche as purpoſed or appoynted to be buylded? For the priuilege was graunted within thre dayes after that Conſtantine was made a Chriſten man / at whiche tyme it was yet Bizantium: and nat Conſtantinople. Let me be accōpted and taken for a lyer: if this foliſſhe felowe dothe nat confeſſe the ſame him ſelfe. For nere vnto the ende of priuilege: he writeth theſe wordes. ¶ Vnde congruum proſpeximus / noſtrū imperium et regiam poteſtatē oriētalibꝰ trāſferri regionibus / et in Bizantinae ꝓuintiae optimo loco nomini noſtro ciuitatem edificari et illic noſtrum cō ſtitui imperiū. Wherfore we haue iuged it mete and according / that our empier and royall power be tranſlated to the regions of the Eſte / and that in the beſt place of the prouince of Bizantie: a cyte be buylded to our name / and that there our empier be cōſtituted and ſet. If he dyd nowe but purpoſe to tranſlate his empier to another place: he had nat yet tranſlated it. If he were but mynded to conſtitute and ſet his empier there: he had nat yet conſtituted or ſette it there. So lykewiſe / if he was than but in purpoſe to build a cyte / he had nat buylded it as yet. He oughte nat therfore to haue made mention of it as of one beyng patriarchal / as of one of the foure ſees / as of a chriſtē cyte / as of one ſo named / as of one allredy buylded: of the building wherof he was nat yet ſo moch as in thought & purpoſe / after ye mynde of ye hiſtorie / which Palea bringeth forth to witneſſe & recorde. But this [Page] beeſt (whether he be Palea / or who ſo euer he be / whō the other doth folowe) doth nat parceyue and ſe / that he deſagreeth from him / for there it is ſayde / that Cō ſtantine nat of his own voluntarie mynde: but by the admonition and warnyng of god / as he ſlepte / nat at Rome: but at Bizācie / and nat within fewe dayes but after certayn yeres was purpoſed & determyned to buylde the cyte / & that he gaue to it the name / whiche he was warned and taught to gyue in his ſlepe / who than doth nat ſee / that he whiche made the priuilege: was longe after the tyme of Conſtantyne? and that whiles he wolde garnyſſhe and ſet forth his lye: he forgate that he had ſayd before / that theſe thynges were done at Rome / the thyrde day after that Conſtā tine was baptiſed / ſo that the comune olde prouerbe may very accordyngly be applyed to him. Mēdacem memorem eſſe oportet. Alyer had nede to be good of remembraunce: Moreouer Bizantium the prouīce / (as he calleth it) was nothyng large ynough for the buyldyng of ſo great a Cyte / for Conſtantynople did contayne all olde Byzantiū / within the walles of it ſelfe / and yet this felowe ſayth / that a cytie ſhulde be buylded in the beſt place of Bizantiū. Beſydes this / he wyll that Thracia / wherin Bizanciū ſtode: is in the Eeſt parte / & yet in very dede it inclyneth towarde the northe / I ſuppoſe or wene that Conſtantyne knewe nat the place whiche he had choſen out among other / to the buyldyng of his cyte: in what quarter or parte of the worlde it was ſytuate / neither whether it were a cyte or a prouynce / neither of what meaſure and largeneſſe is was ¶Eccleſus beato (rum) aplo (rum) Petri & Pauli / pro continuatione luminario (rum): poſſeſſionū predia contulimus / & rebus diuerſis eas ditauimus & per noſtram imperalem iuſſionem ſacram tam in oriente / (quam) in occidente / (quam) etiā a ſeptentrione et meridionali plaga / videlicet et in Iudia / Grecia / Aſia / Thracia / Affrica / & Italia / vel diuerſis inſulis / noſtra largitate / Et conceſſimꝰ / ea prorſus ratione vt per manus beatiſſimi pacis noſtri Silueſtri ſūmi pontificis / ſucceſſorum (que) eius oia diſponātur.

[Page]We haue gyuen certayn landes and poſſeſſyons to the churche of the bleſſyd apoſtles Peter and Paule / for the continuation and vpholdyng of lyghtes / and we haue endowed & enriched the ſame churches with dyuerſe thynges / and by our ſacred imperiall cōmaū dement of our lyberalyte and bountuouſnes / we haue graunted to them our lyberty and power / as well in the Eeſt / as in the weſte: and in the north / and in the ſouth clymates or ꝑtes of the world / that is to wytte / bothe in Inde / Grecelande / Aſye / Tracia / Affrike / and Italye / or in dyuerſe Ilandes / and that vtterly in ſuche wyſe and maner: that all thynges be dyſpoſed by the handes of moſt bleſſed Silueſter our fader and pope / and by the handes of his ſucceſſours /

O falſe wretche / were there at that tyme churches or temples in Rome / dedicated to Peter & Paule? who had buylde them? who durſt haue bene bolde to buylde them? ſeyng that than there was no place for chriſten men (as the hiſtorie ſayth) but onely ſecrete corners / and lurkyng places: or if there had ben any tē ples in Rome dedicated to thoſe apoſtles / yet they were none ſuche / in whiche it were mete & accordyng that ſo gret ſerges or tapers ſhulde be lyghted / as beyng but lytle or ſmall chapels / nat temples or churches / and onely oratories within their owne houſes: and nat open great churches? he ought therfore / nat to haue taken care / & made prouiſion for the lyghtes of the temples: afore that he hadde taken care for the temples ſelues. What ſayeſt thou / which makeſt Conſtantyne called Peter and Paule / beatos / that is to ſay bleſſed / and Silueſter whan he was yet lyuyng / beatiſſimū / moſt bleſſed / and called his owne cōmaundemēt (whiche had bene nat longe before an infydele or paynyme) ſacred and holy? were ſo great thynges to be gyuen for the vpholdynge of lyghtes / that all the hole worlde ſhulde be made wery therby? Or whiche landes are thoſe / namely of poſſeſſyons? we are wonte to ſay Poſſeſſions of landes / but nat landes of poſſeſſyons / thou gyueſt landes and lorde ſhyppes / and doſt nat declare nor expreſſe whiche landes [Page] they be / thou haſt enriched thē with diuerſe thynges: and doſt nat ſhewe neither whan / neither with what thynges thou wylt that the plages or regions of the worlde be diſpoſed by Silueſter: but thou doſt nat ſhewe / in what maner or kynde of diſpoſyng or orderynge / thou haſte gyuen and graunted theſe thynges before. Why doſte thou nowe ſygnifye and gyue knowledge / that thou haſte begonne this daye to honour the churche of Rome / and to graunt the priuilege to it? doſt thou this day graunt and gyue? doſt thou this day make it riche or endowe it? why doſt thou than ſay / we haue graunted / and we haue made riche or endowed? wotteſt thou what thou ſpekeſt / or what thou meaneſt thou beeſte? I ſpeke to the / the forger of this lye: and nat to the very good prince Conſtantyne. But why do I require or looke for any wiſdome / or any lernyng in the: whiche arte nat endowed with any wyt or any literature at all as it appereth right wel whan thou ſayſt Luminariorū for Luminariū and orientalibꝰ traſferri regionibꝰ: where thou oughteſt to haue ſaid / ad oriētales trāſferri regiones? Moreouer which be thoſe .iiii. plages or quarters of the worlde? which reckeneſt thou to be ye eeſt plage? Thracia? dothe it nat (as I ſayd before) inclyne to the north? Iurie? but it lyeth more toward the ſouth / as beyng nere vnto Egipte / whiche alſo calleſt thou the weſt plage? Italy / But theſe thynges were done in Italye / whiche no man lyuyng or abydyng there: doth call the weſt plage or region / for as moch as we do ſay / the hiſpaynes to be in ye weſt. And Italye on the one ſyde / leaneth to the ſouthe / & on the other ſyde / leaneth to the northe: rather than to the weſt. Which calleſt thou the ſeptemtrionall or north plage? Thracia? But thou thyſelfe ſhalte haue it to be on the eaſt ſyde / or els Aſya? But this it ſelfe alone occupieth and poſſeſſeth the hole eaſt. And the north is commune to it and Europa / which calleſt thou the meridionall or ſouth plage. No dout of it / thou meaneſt Affricke. But why diddeſt thou nat expreſſe and ſhewe forthe ſome prouince by name? excepte peraduenture [Page] the moores of Ethiopia were vnder the empier of Rome. And yet neuer ye leſſe Aſia and Aphrike haue no place here / where the worlde is deuyded in to foure partes / and the regyons of eche parte are reherſed by name: but whan it is deuyded in to thre partes / Aſye / Affrike / and Europe. Excepte thou doſte name Aſya for the Aſyatike prouince / and Aphrike for the prouince / whiche is nere vnto the people of Getulya / whiche I can nat ſee / why they ſhulde be principally and chefely named. Wolde Conſtantine haue ſpoken in ſuche wiſe / whan he had ſpoken of the foure principall partes of the worlde: that he wolde haue named theſe regions / & nat haue named other? and that he wolde haue begonne with Iurie / whiche is rekened and accompted a part of Syria / and whiche at that tyme was no longer Iurie / for as moche as Ieruſalem was deſtroyed / and the Iewes chaced from thence and welnere deſtroyed / in ſo moche that I do ſuppoſe / that ſcacely any Iewe was than remainynge in his owne countrey: but all inhabytid other nations? Where I beſech you / was Iurie than / whiche was no longer called Iurie / euen lykewyſe as we do ſe nowe at this day the name of that lande deſtroyed? And euen as whan the Chananies were driuen out / that region was no longer called Chanania but the name beyng chaunged / was called Iudia of the newe inhabytauntes the Iewes: ſo whan the Iewes were baniſſhed and driuen out / and ſtraungers did īhabyte it: it was no longer called Iurie. Thou nameſt Iewrie and Thracia / and Ilelandes: but the Hiſpaynes / and Fraunces / & Germayne / thou thynkeſt nat worthy to be named / and whan thou ſpekeſt of other languages / as Hebrue / Greke / and Barbarouſe: thou ſpeakeſt nat of any of the prouinces vſynge the Latyne tonge or language. I perceyue now / thou dydeſt therfore ouerchippe or leue them out here: that thou myghteſt contayne or comprehende them afterwardes in the donatyon. And what? were nat the weſt prouynces ſo moche worthe / that they myght mayntayne and vpholde the coſtes and charges [Page] of the lyghtes: excepte that the reſydue of the worlde dyd helpe alſo? I paſſe ouer here / that thou ſayeſt theſe thynges to be graunted per / largitatem that is to ſay of lyberalyte and bowntuouſnes▪ than was it nat done for ye healyng of the leprie / ſo as they do ſay for els it were a ſtrāge preſūptiō in hī: who ſo euer wolde put or reckē a remuncratiō or recōpenſation in ſtede of lyberal or free gyftes. ¶Beato Silueſtre / e [...]uſ (que) vicario dep̄ſenti tradimus palatiū imperit noſtri Lateranenſe / deinde diadema / videlicet coronam capitis noſtri / ſimul (que) phrigiū / nec non ſuꝑhu merale / videlicet lorū / quod īperiale circūdare ſolet colū / veruetiam clamidē purpuream / at (que) tunicā coccineā / et oīa imperialia indumēra / ſeu etiā dignitatē imperialiū praeſidētiū equitū / conferentes ei etiam imperialia ſceptra / ſimul (que) cūcta ſigna at (que) bona / et diuerſa ornamēta imperialia / et oēm proceſſionē imperialis culminis / et gloriā poteſtatis noſtrae / viris etiā diuerſi ordinis reuerēdiſſimis / clericis ſāctae Romanae eccleſiae ſeruiēcibꝰ / illud colmē ſingula (rum) potē tiae / et praecellentiae / habere ſāctimꝰ / cuiꝰ ampli [...]ſimꝰ noſter ſenatus videtur gloria adornari / .i. patritios / conſules / effici. Necnou in caeteres dignitatibꝰ īperialibꝰ eos ꝓmulgauimꝰ decorati / & quēadmodū īperialis extat decorata militia [...]ita clerū ſāctae Ro. eccleſiae adorari decreuimꝰ. Et quēadmodū imperial [...]s potētia diuerſis officus cubiculario (rum) nēpe / et hoſtiario (rum) at (que) oīm cōcubito (rum) adornatur: ita et ſanctā Ro eccleſiā decorari voluimꝰ. Et vt āpliſſime pōtificale decus ꝓfulgeat: decreuimꝰ / vt et clerici ſanti eiuſdē ſāctae Ro eccleſiae / mappulis et lītheaminibꝰ .i. cādidiſſimo colore decoratos equos equitēt / et ſicut noſter ſenatus calciamētis vtitur eū vdonibꝰ .i. cādido lin the amine illuſtrētur / et ita celeſtia ſicut terreſtria ad laudē dei decorētur. To bleſſed Silueſter & to his vicare / we delyuer vp at this p̄ſent tyme ye palayce of our ēpier / called the palayce of Laterane / moreouer our diademe / that is to wyt ye crowne belōgīg to our heed. Alſo phrigiū / the coyfe / and the ſuꝑhumerale / that is to wit ye collar whiche is wonte to cōpaſſe our [Page] ēperiall necke / & beſydes this / a purple mātyll or tobe / & a purple cote / & all the ēperiall garmētes or apparyll / as alſo the dignyte of the ēperyal p̄ſidē [...]e knyghtes / Banna gyuīg to him alſo thēperiall ſcepters / & alſo al the ſygnes & armes or badges / & dyuerſe ornamētes ēperyall & / all the pōpouſe proceſſyō or goyng forth of the ēperyall maieſtie / & the glorie of our power. And alſo to ye reuerēde men of dyuerſe & ſōdrie ordres & degrees / the clerkes ſeruīg the holy churche of Rome: we do ordayne & eſtabliſſhe / that they haue that moſt high power & preemynēce / with the glory wherof our moſt honorable ſenate is ſeen to be adourned / that is to ſay / that they be made Patric [...] / & Cōſules. Alſo we haue promulged & publyſſhed / that they be adourned with other ēperiall dignytes. And as thēperyall cheualry is decked & apparayled: ſo we haue decreed that ye clergie of the holy churche of Rome he adourned.Concubitoribus. And as the ēperiall power is a nourned with dyuerſe offyces / that is to wytte / of chaūberlayns / porters / & watchemen: euen ſo we wyll yt the holy churche of Rome be adourned. And yt the honour & worſhyppe of the pope may be moſt bright / & moſt gloryouſly ſhyne forth & appere: we haue decreed / that alſo the holy clerkes of ye ſame holy church of Rome / ſhal ryde vpon horſes decked with napkyns & ſhetes / yt is to wit of moſt pure whyte colour. And as our ſenate wereth ſhoes with vdonibus .i. lytell mones / that is to ſay / be adourned with whyte lynnen cloth / & ſo that heuenly thīges may be lykewiſe decked & adourned: as be the erthely thīges / to the laude & prayſe of god.

O bleſſed Ieſu / wilt thou nat make anſwere frō a whorlewide to this felowe: which rolleth forth ſētences with barbarouſe and folyſſh wordes? Wylt thou nat thūdre? wylt thou nat caſt forth lyghtenīges / to reuenge and puniſſhe ſo great blaſphemye? Doſte thou ſuffre ſo great ſhame & abhomination in thy famylye or houſeholde? Canſt thou here this? Canſt thou ſee this? And cāſt thou wīke at it / & ſuffre it vnpuniſſhed ſo long? But thou art paciente and full of mercy / But yet I do feare / leſt this thy pacyence be [Page] rather wrathe and condemnation / as it was towardes theym / of whome thou ſaydeſt.Pſalmo. lxxx. And I haue lette theym alone / to do accordynge to the deſiers of their hert / and they ſhall walke in their owne inuentions / and in another place.Roma. i. I haue gyuen them into a reprobate ſenſe or mynde [...] they ſhulde do thoſe thynges / whiche are nat conuenyent: bycauſe it dyd nat lyke them to aknowledge me. I beſech the / O lorde bydde me cry out agaynſt them / and peraduenture they ſhal be conuerted.All other byſhoppes take exāple of miſcheuouſe vices at the pope of Rome / O you popes of Rome which are the examples of all ſynnes & myſcheuouſe vyces / to other biſſhoppes. O you moſt leude ſcrybes and phariſeis / whych do ſyt on ye [...]haire of Moyſes / and do the warkes of Dathan and Abyron:Mathu. xxiii. Nume. xvi. ſaye you ſo? ſhall the gorgyouſe garmentes / and apparyll of eſtate? ſhall the pompe of cheualrye? and to make an ende / ſhall all the maner lyuing of the emperour / be ſeme the vicare of Chriſte? what felowſhip or agrement / or what compariſon or lykenes / is there betwene a preeſt / and Ceſar? Dyd Silueſter do on ſuche garmentes vpon himſelfe? went he in ſuch apparyll / and with ſuche pompe & roialte? dyd he lyue at home / and did he raigne with ſuche celebrite of ſeruauntes? The vngraciouſe men do nat parceyue and vnderſtande / that Sylueſter ought raither to take vnto him the garmentes & apparayll of Aaron / Exodi. xxviii. & xxix. whiche was the hygheſt or chefe preeſt of god: thā of an hethen prince. But we ſhall at another tyme more ſore inuaye / and ſpeke agaynſt theſe thynges / and at this tyme / lette vs ſpeake ſomewhat / with this falſe forger of lyes: of his barbarouſe language / thorow whoſe folyſſhe ſpeche: his moſt ſhameleſſe leaſynge waxeth open & euydente / by the owne accorde / we delyuer vp (ſayth he) the palayce of our empier / called Laterane / As though he hadde done euyll / to put the gyftes of the palayce / here in this place among the ornamentes: he reherſed the ſame agayne afterwardes where mention is made of gyftes / Moreouer the diademe / and as though they dyd nat ſee / but hadde ben blynde / whiche were preſente: he declareth it / ſayyng [Page] / that is to wytte ye crowne belongeth to our heed but here he dyd nat put to / of golde / but afterwardes reherſyng the ſame thynges agayn: he ſayth / of moſt pure golde & of precyouſe ſtones. The vnlerned daſtarde was ignoraunte / A diademe is of cloth or els of ſylke. that a diademe is of clothe / or els paraduenture of ſylke / wherfor that wyſe ſayyng of a certayn kynge / is wonte to be moche ſpokē of / and prayſed / whiche is ſayd / whan the dyademe was delyuered vnto him: to haue holde it in his hā des / and to haue conſydered and well aduyſed it a longe ſeaſon / before he wolde put it on his heed / and to haue ſayde / O noble: rather than proſperouſe & lucky clothe / whiche if a man knew parfyghtly with how many cares / ieopardyes / & miſeries / thou art replenyſſhed: he wolde nat ſo moche as ones take the vp / if thou layeſt on the grounde. This felowe / weneth it to be of nought els: than of golde / to the whiche / nowe a dayes the kynges do put to / a crowne of golde with preciouſe ſtones. But Cōſtantine was nat a kynge / Conſtantyne was nat a kyng neither dyd he weare any crowne. neither durſte he haue ben bolde to call him ſelfe a kynge / neither to apparaill him ſelfe after the maner of kynges / he was emperour or chefe captayne of Rome / nat kynge / where a kynge is: there is nat a comune weale.Imperator. But in ye comune weale / there haue ben many emperours or captaynes / & that euen at one tyme / for Cicero writeth oftētymes in this wife / M. Cicero imperator / illi vel illi īperatori ſalutē that is to ſay in engliſhe / Marcus Cicero captayne ſendeth gretyng to this or ye captayne / all be it afterwardes the prince or gouernour of the Romayns / as beyng ſouerain of al: had this name ēperator appropriated to him / ſo yt he as by a name peculiare / & proprely belōgyng to hī / was called ēperour. Simul (que) phrigiū / necnon ſuꝑ humerale videlicet lo (rum) / quod imperiale ſolet circūdare collū / How great barbarouſnes is there ī theſe wordꝭ?Phrigiū. who euer harde this worde Phrigiū vſed in ye latyn tonge? wilte thou / whā thou ſpekeſt barbarouſly: yt I ſholde thynke it to be ye ſpeche of Cōſtātine or of Lactātiꝰ? Plautꝰ in ye cōmedye called Menechmi / Phrigio. put this worde phrigio for a ſhaper [Page] of garmētes / & Pliniꝰ calleth garmētꝭ broiderde & wroughte wt ye nedell. Phrigiones / becauſe ye people of Phrigia were ye fyrſt fynders out & deuiſers of ſuch garmētes. But what this worde phrigiū doth ſignify / which is a darke worde: thou doſt nat declare but this worde ſuꝑhumerale / which is a more playn worde: thou doeſt expoūde & declare / ſayeng. videlicet lorū &c. & yet thou wotteſt nat what Lo (rum) betokeneth for thou doeſt nat meane / yt a girdle / Lorum, or leaſe made of leddre (which is called lo (rum)) was put about Ceſars necke for an ornamēt / & herof it is / yt we do call ye raines & ledders of ye bridles & horſe harnais / & leddre thōges or ſcourges Lora in ye lati tōge / & if in any place we do finde theſe wordes Lora aurea: it can nat be vnderſtāded but only of ye raynes or leddres of ye bridels or collers / which ar wōt to be put about ye gilded necke of an horſe / or of ſome other beeſt / which thing / in myne opinion / begyled ye / & whiles thou wylte put Lo (rum) about ye necke of Ceſar & Silueſter: thou makeſt of a man / of thēperour / of ye pope: an horſe / or an Aſſe / or a dogge / Ve (rum) & chlamidē purpureā at (que) tunicā coccinea. Becauſe Math.Math [...] Iohn̄. 9. ſaith clamidē coccineā / & Iohn̄ ſaith / veſtē purpureā / ſpekyng both of ye purple mātill or veſture / which was don vpō Chriſt / in mockcage & ſcorne: this felow thought yt he wolde here ioyne thē both togyther ī one place. But if purpurea & Coccinea do betokē both of thē one coloure / as they do ī ye ſayīges of ye euāgeliſtes: why waſt nat thou cōtēt ſo as ye euāgeliſtes were cōtēt / to name the one of thē? except th [...]u doeſt vnderſtāde by purpurea a kynge (as vnlerned men do ſpeke now a dayes) of white ſylken cloth / But in very dede / what purpura betokeneth. purpurea is a fyſſhe / wt whoſe blode woll is dyed / & therfore of ye dying ye cloth hath his name & is called purple / whoſe colour may be takē for reed / though it be ſomwhat more īclynīg to blacke / & very nere to ye colour of cole & cluddred blode / & as it were a violete colour / & therfore ī Homer & Vergile it is redde / purpureꝰ ſāguis & marmor prophiricū / that is to ſaye / purple blode / and purple or Rede marble / whoſe coloure is lyke to the Amethiſte ſtone / for ye / which in the latyn tonge [Page] is called purpura: in ye greke is called porphyra / And what maner of garmente Chlamys is: I durſt ſwere / thou wotteſt nat at al / But leſt he ſholde bewraye him ſelfe to be a lyer / if he ſholde haue ſpokē at large of euery partyculare grament: he cōprehendeth them all togyder in one worde / ſayeng oīa īperialia indumenta / that is to ſay / all the emperiall garmentes / what? euyn thoſe alſo / wherin he was wōt to be clad and apparailed in batayle / wherwith he was cladde in huntyng? in playes or open ſhewes? and in feaſtes or bankettes? what can be ſayd more folyſſhely: than that all the garmentes or apparaille of Ceſar / is conuenient or ſyttyng for the pope? But how properly & pleaſauntly is this added of him. Seu etiam dignitatem imperialiū preſidentiū equitum / that is to ſay or the dignite of the emperiall preſydente knyghtes / he ſayth or he wolde departe theſe two thīges / the one from the other: as though there were great ſimilytude or lykenes betwen them / and he falleth downe frō ſpeakynge of the emperiall habyte or apparayll: to the dignite of knyghtes / ſpeakyng I wote nat what he wolde fayne expreſſe certayne meruaylouſe thynges: but he is afrayde to be perceyued & taken with a lye / and therfore with puffed and ſwolne chekes / & with a bowlne throte: he gyueth a ſounde without witte / and ſpeketh without any reaſon or wyſdome / no man can tell what Conferētes etiam ei imperialia ſceptra / that is to ſay / Geuyng to him alſo the emperiall ſcepters / what a maner ſpekyng is this? what elegancie? or what ordre is herein? whiche be thoſe emperiall ſceptres? There is but one ſceptre & nat many (if it were ſo / yt the emperour did beare any ſceptre at all) Shall the pope alſo beare the ſceptre in his hā ne? why ſhal we nat thā alſo gyue hī a ſwerde? an helmete / & a darte? Simul (que) cūcta ſigna et bāna / what meaneſt thou here by ſigna?Signa. ſigna betokeneth either carued ymages (& ſo we rede oftētymes theſe wordes ſigna & tabulas / for carued ymages & pictures / for in old tyme they did nat paīt vpō ye walles: but ī tables) or els ſigna betokeneth ſtāderdꝭ or bāners (of ſignū ī [Page] the former [...] whiche betokeneth a [...] image. Dyd God ariue thā gui [...]e to Sinister his [...] images: [...] his banners the two Egles? Wha [...] is more agaynſt reaſon [...]han this [...] what this worde Bā [...]a dothe ſygnyfye. I can nat fynde / nor imagyne.Banna God gy [...] the a miſchefe moſt leude wretche: whiche makeſt thē ſpeakyng barbarouſe / whiche were [...]t the learned worlde [...]yme. Et diuerſa ornamēta imperialia▪ Bycauſe he had ſayd Bāna: he thought he had gyuen knowlege ynough / and therfore he concluded & contayned al other vnder this vniuerſall or general worde. And how oftentymes reherceth he agayne this worde emperyall? as who ſhulde ſay / that there were certaine ornamentes properly belongynge to the emperoure: more than were belongynge to a Conſule / to a dictator to Ceſar. Et oēm ꝓceſſion [...] imperialis culminis et gliam poteſtatis nr̄e. He caſteth forth proude & gloryouſe wordes: beyng as it were Darius kyng o [...] kī ges / & coſyn to ye goddes / & neuer ſpeaketh / but in the plurell nōbre. But what proceſſyon or ſolēpne goyng forth is this of thēperyal cucūbre? Suppoſeſt thou yt Ceſar dyd tryūphe as ofte as he wen [...] forth of his houſe: as the pope / theſe dayes is wonte to do / hauynge white horſes goyng before him / whiche horſes beyng trapped & decked / the ſeruaūtes do ioyne & couple together to the charyotte? thā which thīge (though I ſpeke nat of other peuiſſhe & madde thīges) there can be none more vayne or p̄ſūtuouſe / neither more vnſemely or vnſyttīg for the pope of Rome / which is this Glorie alſo / that thou ſpeakeſt of? wolde he beīg a latyn man / haue called yt pōpe & ſolēpnite of ordinaūce / glorie: after ye maner & vſage of ye Hebrue tōge / as yt alſo militiū for [...]lites: which maner of ſpekīg we haue borowed of ye Hebrues: whoſe bokes Cōſtātine or his ſcribes had neuer red. But moreouer / how gret is your lyberalite & boūtuouſnes / o Ceſar / which do nat thīke it ſuffyciēt to haue adourned ye pope hīſelfe: vnleſſe you did alſo adourne ye hole clergy? Thou calleſt it ye high toppe of power & preexcellēcie: to be made [Page] Patrici [...]s or Conſules. Who herde [...]uer / that [...] nat [...] or other men were made Patricus? [...] may be made Cōſules: but nat Patrici [...] men (I ſay) either of the ſenator [...] kyndred (whiche is called Darius patriciae or ſenatoria / bycauſe ye ſenatours were called Pa [...]res conſcrip [...]) or of the houſe or kyndred of thē equeſt [...] ordre / or of the cōmune raſcall ſone. And it is a gretter thinge to be a ſenatour: than to be Patricius. For a ſenatour is one of the choſen counſayloures of the cōmune weale / Patriciꝰ but Patricius is he whiche deſcendeth by lynage of the ſenatorie houſe or ſtocke. So that he which is a ſenatour or one of the fathers is nat forthwith Patriciꝰ / that is to ſay / borne of the ſenatour ſtocke. But thou wylt peraduenture ſay / that there is mētion made of ye dignite / whiche is called Dignitas patriciatꝰ: in many bokes. I do nat ſay nay / that ſuch mētion is made / but it is in them / which ſpeaketh of ye tymes after Cōſtātine. It foloweth therfore / yt this pu [...]lege was made after Cō ſtātines tyme. But what may ye clerkes be made cō ſules? Clerkes of Italy hath forbyddē thēſelues mariage of wyues / & ſhall they be made conſules? And ſhall they cauſe ſoldyers to muſter? & ſhall they go in to ye prouīces / wherof they be made rulers: with legyōs / & the hoſtes of ye frēdes & felowes of ye Romaynes? Shal ye miniſters & ſeruaūtes be made ꝯſuls? or ſhall they weare ye ornamētes of mē of warre? & ſhal nat payers or couples of conſules be made / as ye olde vſage & cuſtome was: but ſhall hole hūdredes & thou ſādes of miniſters / which ſhall ſerue ye church of Rome haue ye dignite ēperiall? The miniſters / ſhall be emperours / & the clerkes / ſhall be ſoldyers. Shall the clerkes be made ſoldyers? or ſhal they weare yt or namētes of a ſoldyer? excepte thou doſte gyue to all clerkes vniuerſally ye ēperiall ornamētes. For I wot no whit / what thou doeſt meane. And who dothe nat ſee an perceyue that this lyeng fable hath ben imagined and deuiſed / by them whiche wolde themſelues to haue lyberte for to weare all maner garmentes / of what ſo euer faſhyon them ſelues lyſte / ſo [Page] that if any kyndes of playes or mery paſtymes be exercyſed amonge the wycked ſpirites whiche inhabite the ayre: I do iuge they are moſt exercyſed and moſt delyted / in counterfayting and expreſſyng / as it were in a ſtage playe / the appayrell / the pride and the ſuper fluite vſed of clerkes. Whether ſhulde I more rebuke and inuae agaynſte / the folyſſhenes of the ſentences (whiche you haue herde alredy) or elles the foliſſhnes of his wordes? as for example / whan he ſayth. Senatum videri adornari? that the ſenate ſemeth to be adourned / as who ſhulde ſay doutles / that it is nat adourned in very dede / and that to be adourned with glory / and whan he ſayth that thinge to haue ben done: whiche is but in doyng / as Promulganimus for promulgamus: We haue publiſſhed or pronounced openly / for we do publyſſhe or pronounce openly. For in dede ſo the oration or ſpeche ſowndeth more pleſaunlty. and whan he expre [...]ſeth one and the ſame thynge bothe by the preſent / and alſo by the preterperryte tence: as Decernimus & decreuimus: we do decree / and we haue decreed. And that all is full of theſe wordes Decernimus / decoramus / imperialis / imperatoria / potentia / gloria. And that he abuſeth this verbe Ex [...]at / puttynge it for this verbe eſt (where as Extate ſygnifyeth as moche as ſupereminere or ſupereſſe: to ſtande vp / or to remayne and be lefte) and Nempe for Silicer. And Concubitores for contubernales. He addeth alſo and ioyneth to hym certayne / with whom he ſhulde ſlepe (as I wene) leſt he myght feare phantaſmes or apparityons and ſyghtes in the nyght / he addeth to him chaumberlayns / he addeth porters. It is nat for nought:An ironie wherfore he reherceth theſe ſmall thīges / he inſtructeth & teacheth a younge warde / or elles his ſonne beynge a young man: and nat an olde man / for whom / he / as a very louyng father / prepaireth all thynges: wher of his younge & tendre age hath nede: as Dauid did for Salomon. And that this lyēg tale ſhulde be perfite / & lackyng in no poynt. He gyueth horſes to the clerkes / leſt they might els ſyt vpō aſſes backes aft ye [Page] foliſſhe maner of Chriſt.Mat xxi. To folowe Chriſt in pouertye & humblenes: is accompted foliſhenes of the clergye / nowe a dayes. And thoſe horſes / whiche are gyuen / are nat operti ſiue inſtrati operimentis coloris albi: but decorati colore albo. That is to ſay nat couered with couerynges or clothes of whyte coloure: but beutifyed and adourned with whyte coloure. And with what couerynges or clothes? nat with couerlettes or arayes clothes / nor with one other kynde of clothes: but onely / mappulis & lintheaminibus. Mappae / that is to ſay / bordeclothes: belonge to a table. Lintheamina / that is to ſay ſhetes belonge to beddes. And as if it were doute / of what coloure table clothes / napkyns / and ſhetes were: He declareth it / ſayeng. id eſt candidiſſimo colore. that is to witte / of very whyte coloure. Is nat this ſemely ſpeche for Conſtantine? Is nat this eloquēce worthy and mete for Lactance? bothe in other thynges: but ſpecially in this ſayng / Equos equitēt? And nat withſtandyng / that he hathe ſpoken nothyng of the apparyll of ſenatours / neither of their garment called Latus clauus / neither of purple / neither of other garmentes appertaynyng to them: yet he thought it neceſſary / to ſpeake of their ſhowes. And he dyd nat call them Lunulas: but Vdones or cum vdonibus / whiche / the folyſſhe felowe / as he is wonte to do / expowneth / ſayeng: Id eſt candido lintheamine: as though Vdones were but lynnen cloth. It cometh nat to my remenbraunce at this tyme / where euer I haue red this worde Vdones: but onely in Valerius Martialis / Vdones. in whom there are two verſes / whoſe title is. Vdones cilicini: as you wolde ſay ſockes of heer. The verſes are theſe.

Non hos lana dedit / ſed olentis barba mariti

Cymphio poterit planta latere ſinu.

Whoſe ſentence in Engliſſhe may be this. The ſtuffe wherof theſe are made: is nat wolle / but the heer of the ſtynking gottes bearde / ſo that nowe thou mayſt hyde thy fote in a ſhoe or ſocke of gotes heer. Vdones / ther fore are nat of lynnen / neither ar nat whyte / wherwith this two foted aſſe doth ſay / nat that ye fete of the ſenatours ar ſhoed: but that the ſenatours are [Page] illuſtrated. At (que) per hoc ita caeleſtia ſicut terreſtria ad laudem dei decorentur. And by this meane that the heuenly thinges may be decked and adourned / euen ſo as the erthely thinges be: to ye laude or prayſe of god. Which calleſt thou heuenly thinges? whiche erthely thinges? how or in what maner are the heuē ly thinges beutifyed or adourned? And what prayſe this ſhulde be to god: auyſe the / The ſecularyte of the clergye / is odible bothe to god and man. for I truly (if there be any fayth or trouthe in me) do ſuppoſe nothyng to be more hatefull neither to god / neither to other men / than ſo outragiouſe liberte of clerkes in ſeculare thinges. But why do I in this wiſe make aſſaulte agaīſt euery particulare ſayeng? The tyme wyll fayle me / if I wolde / I do nat ſaye amplyfie all thynges: but onely touche them. ¶ Prae oibus autem licentiam tribuimꝰ beato Silueſtro et ſucceſſoribꝰ eius / ex noſtro in dictu / vt quem placatus proprio conſilio cleri care voluerit / & in religioſo numero religioſo (rum) clericorum cōnumerare: nullus er omnibus praeſumat ſuperbe agere. Aboue all we gyue lycence to bleſſed Silueſter / and to his ſucceſſours / by our cōmaundement / that if it ſhall lyke & pleaſe hym to make any maner man a clerke / and to recken or accompte him in the religiouſe nombre of religiouſe clerkes: that no man of al men what ſoeuer he be / do preſume to do proudly. What Melchiſedech is this here / Gene. 14, which bleſſeth the Patriarche Abraham? Dothe Conſtantyne beyng yet ſcaſely a Chriſten man / gyue lycence and power of makyng clerkes / to him: of whom he was baptiſed / and whom he calleth bleſſed? As though Silueſter neuer had made / neither coulde haue made any clerkes before? And with what communication or thretenyng dyd he forbydde / that no man ſhuld let him / or be an impedimente to him? ſayeng. Nullus ex omnibus preſumat ſuperbe agere: Lette none of all men preſume to do proudely? And with howe gret elegancie alſo? ſayeng. Cōnumerare in numero religioſo religioſorum / et clericare clericorum / & in dictu / & placatus? And than he retourneth agayn to ſpeke of ye diademe. Decreuimus ita (que) & hoc / vt ipſe [Page] et ſucceſſores eius diademate / videlicet corona / quā ex capite noſtro illi conceſſerimus ex auro puriſſimo et gēmis precioſis: vti debeant pro honore beati Petri. We haue decreed this alſo / that he / and his ſucceſſours / ought to weare the diademe / that is to wit the crowne / whiche we haue gyuen to him from our owne heed / beynge of moſt pure golde and preciouſe gemmes or ſtones / for the honour of ſaynte Peter. Here agayne he dothe interprete & declare the worde Diadema: bycauſe he dyd ſpeke to barbarouſe & forgteful ꝑſons. And here he addeth alſo / Of moſt pure golde: leſt peraduenture a man wolde ſuppoſe / that ſome coppre or braſſe / or els ſome corruption or droſſe and fylth were mengled amonge it. And whā he had ſayd / gemmas which was ſuffycient: he added Precioſas / fearyng lykewiſe / leſt a man wolde els peraduenture haue demed them to haue ben of ſmall value and lytell worth. But why dyd he nat ſaye Precioſiſſtmas / that is to ſay moſt precyouſe: lykewyſe as he had ſayd / Aurum puriſſimū / golde moſt pure? For there is more difference in value / bytwene one gemme or precyouſe ſtone / and another: than is bytwene one golde / and another. And where he ought to haue ſayde Diſtinctum gemmis .i. garniſſhed or beſette with preciouſe ſtones: he ſaid that it was ex gēmis .i. of preciouſe ſtones. Who dothe nat ſee and perceyue that this maner of ſpekynge was taken of that place in the pſalmes (whiche the hethen prince had neuer redde) Poſuiſti in capite eius coronā de lapide precioſo .i.Pſal. 20. thou haſt put on his heed a crowne of precyouſe ſtone? Dyd Ceſar ſpeake in ſuche maner wyſe / through a certayne vaynegloriouſe deſyer to bragge and boſt of his crowne (if it be ſo / that Ceſar were crowned) beyng cōtumelyouſe and rebukefull to his owne ſelfe / in that he dyd feare / leſt men wolde haue ſuppoſed & thought hī nat to haue worn a crowne of moſt pure golde & precyouſe ſtones: except he had gyuen them knowledge therof / and tolde it them by his owne wordes. But herken nowe the cauſe why he ſpeaketh ſo. For the honour of bleſſed Peter / as who [Page] ſhulde ſay / that Chriſt were nat ye chefe corner ſtone / vpon which the temple of the church is buylded: but Peter / which thynge he doth alſo agayne afterwardes. But if he was deſyrouſe to worſhippe Peter ſo greatly: why dyd he nat dedycate the epiſcopale temple at Rome to him: rather than to ſaynt Iohn̄ Baptiſte? Moreouer / dothe nat the very barbarouſenes of the maner of ſpeakyng / wytnes openly: that this caroll hath ben fayned nat in the tyme of Conſtantyne / but in a tyme more late? whan he ſayth / Decreuimus ꝙ vti debeant .i, we haue decreed / that they ought to weare: where he ſhulde haue ſayd Decreuimus vt vtātur .i. we haue decreed that they may weare? Euen ſo ſpeake barbarouſe lawes nowe a dayes / & thus they write / Iuſſi ꝙ deberes venire: wher they ſhulde ſay / Iuſſi vt venires. And he ſayth here Decreuimus et cōceſſimus: we haue decreed & we haue graūted / as though theſe thīges were nat than in doyng: but had ben done at ſome other tyme. ¶ Ipſe vero beatus papa ſuꝑ coronā clericatꝰ / quā gerit ad gloriā beatiſſimi Petri: ipſa ex auro non eſt paſſus vn corona. But ye bleſſed pope hīſelfe / dyd nat ſuffre to weare ye crowne of golde / vpon the crowne of his clarkeſhippe / which he beareth to the glory & honour of moſt bleſſed Peter. O ye ſingulare & excedyng foliſhenes of you. O Conſtātine / you ſaid but euen now / yt the crowne vpon ye popes heed: did make for the honour of ſaīt Peter / & now you ſay / yt it maketh nothīg at all for his honour: ſeinge ye Silueſter refuſeth it. And natwithſtāding yt you do prayſe his ſo doīg: yet for all yt you do byd hī / & wyll hī to weare ye crowne of golde. And ye thīge / which hīſelfe thīketh yt he ought nat to do: ye ſame thīge / you ſay / that his ſucceſſours ought to do / I paſſe ouer here / yt thou calleſt ye ſhauē crowne of his heed / coronā: which is wōt to be called raſura / & that thou calleſt the biſſhop of Rome. papā / that is to ſay pope: whiche was nat yet at that tyme begonnen to be ſo called. ¶ Phrigiū vero condidiſſimo nitore ſplēdidū dn̄i reſurrectionē deſignantes / eius ſacratiſiimo vertici manib (bus) nr̄is impoſuimꝰ / et [Page] tenētes frenū equi / pro reuerētia beati Petri apli / dextratoris officiū illi exhibuimꝰ / ſtatuētes eodē phrigiooēs eius ſucceſſores ſigulariter vti in proceſſionibꝰ / ad imperu noſtri imitationē. And this coyfe / which by ye brightnes of the moſt whyte colour repreſēteth ye reſurrection of our lorde: we haue put with our handes / vpon his moſt holy heed / & holding ye bridell of his horſe / for ye reuerēce of bleſſed Peter the apoſtle: we haue done to him ye office & dutie of a fotemā. decreīg & ordaynīg: yt al his ſucceſſours ſhal weare ye ſame coyfe or cal / in ye ꝓceſſiōs / to ye imitatiō & folowīg of our ēpier. Doth nat ye author & fader of this fable / ſeme / nat through lacke of takyng hede / & vnware: but euen of ſet purpoſe / & for the nonce / to play ye falſe harlotte / & to gyue men occation on eueri ſyde / to rebuke him? He ſayth here / in this one & the ſame place that by ye whyte coyfe is both the reſurrection of our lorde repreſēted: & alſo that in ye ſame is the imitatiō & coūterfaytīg of ye empier of Ceſar. which two thinges are moſt dyuerſe & dyſagreīg / ye one frō the other I take god to recorde / I can nat fynde out or deuyſe / with what wordes / or wt what greuouſeneſſe or haynouſneſſe of wordes / I mighte rebuke / & as it were woūde this moſt vngratiouſe & wretched knaue. he doth ſo parbreke forth all wordes full of madnes. He doth make Cōſtātyne / nat only in office lyke to Moyſes.Leuiticis Exodi. 28 Which by ye cōmaūdemēte of god dyd aparyll & adourne the higheſt & chefe preeſt Aaron: but alſo he doth make hī expoūding & declarīg ſecrete miſteries / which is a very herde thīg to be done euen of thē alſo whiche haue ſtudied / & ben occupied lōge ſeaſō in the holy ſcriptures. Why dydeſt thou nat alſo make Cō ſtātine ye greatteſt & the higheſt biſſhoppe / as many ēperours haue bē in ye olde tyme: yt by ſo moch his ornamētes might the better / & more eſely & conueniētly be trāſlated to the other high biſſhop the pope? But thou waſt ignorāte and vnſkylled in ye hiſtories of antiquite. I do therfore gyue thankes to god for this cauſe / that he hathe nat ſuffred ſo wicked and ſo malytiouſe a mynde to be in any man: ſaue onely in the [Page] beyng a ſtarke fole without lernyng / which appereth alſo euidently / by that which foloweth. For he bryngeth in Moyſes doyng ye offyce & dutye of a foteman vnto Aaron ſittyng on horſe backe / & yt nat through the myddes of the chyldren of Iſraell: but through ye myddes of ye Chananies / & of the Egiptians / that is to ſaye / through the cyte of infideles / where was nat ſo moche the empier of the worlde: as was the empier of deuylles / & of people worſhyppynge deuilles or wycked ſpirites. ¶ Vnde vt pontificalis apex nō vileſcat ſed magis (quam) imperii terrent dignitas / glīa et potētia decoretur: ecce tam palatiū nr̄m / quam (que) Ro. vrbem / et oēs Italiae ſiue [...]identaliū regionū prouincias / loca / ciuitates / [...] pōtifici / et vniuerſali papae / Silueſtro [...] reliquimꝰ / et ab eo et ſucceſſoribus eius [...] cōſtitutū decriuemꝰ diſponēdas / at (que) [...] Ro. eccleſiae ꝑmanēdas. Wherfore / that ye [...] of ye pope may nat waxe vile & of ſmall [...] / but yt it may be beutifyed & made honorable [...] ye dygnyte / glori / & power of our erthely [...] here we delyuer vp / & do leue to the moſt [...] & vniuerſall pope Silueſter / as well our [...] cyte of Rome / & all ye prouīces / palaces / cytie [...]ly / or of ye weſt regiōs. And by our pragmati [...] [...] or decree / we haue decreed: yt they ſhal [...] by him & his ſucceſſoures / & that they ſhall [...] & remaīe to ye right of the hole church of Rōe [...] we haue ſpoken many thīges & that largely / [...] of the Romaynes / & in the oratiō of Silue [...] ▪ But now here is mete place to ſay / yt no mā [...] ben ſo vnwiſe: as to wrappe in & include al [...] is of the donation in one worde. And it is nat [...] that he whiche before had made mention of [...] tryfell / leauyng out or ouerhippyng nat [...] as the ſhoes / the lynen clothes / the ornament [...] [...] horſes: wolde nat now alſo reherce the [...] by name / in euery one of the whiche ſayd [...] / eche one hathe nat nowe ſeuerally a king or a [...] & [...]ere to a kīg. But this falſ forger of writte [...] [...]utles [Page] knewe nat which prouinces were vnder Conſtātines donation and gouernaunce: and which were nat. for of certaynte all were nat vnder him. We do ſe / that after Alexādre was deed / the regions eche one of them were nombred & rekened / in the ꝑtityon or deuiſyon made by the dukes.Xenophon. We do ſe that Xenophon hath named the landes & the prouīces / which were either wyllyng & of their owne accorde or els by conq̄ſt / vnder ye empire of Cyrus.Homer. We ſe alſo / that Homerus maketh reherſall & rekeneth vp ye name / the ſtocke or kynred / the coūtrey / the cōditions or maners / the ſtrēgth / the beautie / & welfauerdneſſe of the kynges / that were of the Grekes & of the barbarians. He cōprehendeth / as it were in a bederole / alſo the nōbre of the ſhippes / & welnere the nōbre of the ſouldiers. The enſample of whom / bothe many greke authors / & in eſpeciall our latyn authours / Ennius / Vergilius / Lucanus / Statius / & certayne other haue folowed: We do ſe alſo / yt Ioſue & Moyſes in the deuyding of the lande of Beheſt / Rede in the boke of Ioſue from the xiii. chap. of the .xix. incluſiuelye: dyd diſcribe & marke out euyn all the lytell ſtretes. And art thou greued to reherce & reken vp euyn prouīces alſo? Thou nameſt onely the occidentall or weſt prouinces / whiche be the meres or boūdes of the weſt. Where do they begyn? Where do they make an ende? Are the boūdes or meres of the weſt / of the eeſt of the North / & of the South marked forthe or ſette / and as certayne, as be the boundes or meres of Aſie / Affrike & Europe. Thou leaueſt out the wordes that were neceſſarie / which were nothyng nedeful. Thou ſayd prouynces / places / & cyties. Are nat both prouī ces & cyties: places? And whan thou haddeſt ſaid prouinces: thou putteſt after / cyties / as who wolde ſay / that cities were nat comprehended & vnderſtāded vnder this worde ꝓuinces. But it is no maruayll of hī which doth alyenate and gyue from himſelfe ſo great a parte of the worlde: if the ſame doth ouerhippe the names of the cyties & prouinces / and as it were one oppreſſed with the diſeaſe called the letharge: wotteth nat / what himſelfe doth ſpeake. Italiae ſiue occidentaliū regionum .i. of Italy or of the weſt regiōs [Page] As though he had gyuē but onely the one or the other and yet he meaneth bothe of them to haue ben gyuen. And he calleth here prouincias regionum .i. the prouinces of regions: natwithſtandyng that rather regyons are prouinciarū .i. regions / be partes belongyng to prouīces. And he ſayth / permanēdas: for permanſuras. ¶ Vnde congruū proſpeximus noſtrum imperiū / et regiā poteſtatē / orientalibꝰ tranſferri regionibus / et in Bizantinae prouīciae optimo loco / no mini noſtro ciuitatē aedificaci illū noſtrum conſtitui imperium. Wherfore we haue iuged it to be conueniente & mete / that oure empier and royall power be tranſlated to the Eſt regions / and that a cyte be builded to our name in the beſt place of the prouīce of Byzantium / and that there our empier be cōſtituted and ſette. I paſſe ouer here that he ſayd / ciuitatem aedificari: where he ſhulde haue ſayd / vrbem edificari (for ciuitas betokeneth the multytude of cytizens: whiche are nat edifyed or buylded) and that he ſayd / Italiam prouīciam. But if thou be Conſtātine: ſhewe the cauſe / why thou haſt choſen that place prīcipally afore other / to buylde thy cyte in? For that thou doſt remoue & flyt in to another place / after that thou haddeſt delyuered vp Rome out of thy handes: it is nat ſo moch cōuenient and mete (ſo as thou calleſt it) as it is neceſſary or nedfull. Neither do thou call thyſelf an emperour: ſeyng that thou haſt loſt Rome / & haſt done very moche hurte vnto ye name of the Romayne ēpier / whiche thou teareſt in ſondre & pulleſt in peces. Neither do thou call thy ſelfe a kyng / ſayeng / et noſtrā regiā poteſtatē: which neuer none dyd afore the / excepte thou doſte call thyſelfe a kynge: bycauſe thou arte now no longer a Romane. But thou allegeſt a cauſe forth very honeſt & worſhipfull / ſayēg. Quoniā vbi prīceps ſacerdotū / et chriſtianae religionis caput cōſtitutū eſt ab eo īperatore celeſti: iuſtū non eſt / vt illie imperator terrenꝰ habeat poteſtatē. For where ye chef & higheſt preſt & the hed of ye chriſtian religiō is cōſtituted & ſet by ye heuenly ēperour: it is nat righte nor accordīg / that ye erthely ēperour ſhulde there haue any power or auctorite. O foliſſh Dauid / O foliſſh [Page] Salomon. O foliſſhe Ezechias / & O folyſſh Ioſias & O you other kinges of Ieruſalē / than were you all foles / & without holynes & deuotiō: which haue foūd in your hertes / to dwell & a byde in the cyte of Ieruſalē with ye high preeſtes: & haue nat giuē vp the hole cyte to them / remouing your ſelues out of it to ſome other place. Cōſtātyne is more wiſe / and hathe more knowledge in thre dayes: thā they coulde be / or haue in their hole lyfetyme. And thou calleſt the pope / the heuēly ēperour: bycauſe he hathe receyued ye erthely ēpier / except it be god: whō thou doſt meane (for thou ſpeakeſt doutfully) & thā thou lyeſt / in ſayēg ye by hī the erthely dominion was cōſtituted & ſet of preeſtes: ouer ye cyte of Rome / & other places. ¶ Haec vero oīa quae per hanc imperialē ſacram ſcripturā / et peralia diualia decreta ſtatuimꝰ et firmauimꝰ: vſ (que) in finem mūdi illibata et cōcuſſa ꝑmanere decreuimꝰ. And al theſe thīges / which we haue decreed & eſtabliſſhed by this ſacred īperiall writte / & other godly decrees: we haue decreed / yt they ſhall cōtynually remayne vntouched / & inuiolated or vnbroken / euē vnto ye ende of the worlde. Nat longe ſyns O Conſtātine / you had called your ſelf erthely / & now you call your ſelfe Diuū et ſacrū / and do fall agayne to gētilyte or paynīry / ye & to more than gētilyte. you make your ſelfe a god / & your wordes holy & inuiolable / & your decrees īmortall and euerlaſtyng. For you cōmaunde the worlde to conſerue and kepe youre byddynges vnappayred or vnbroken / hole and perfyte / you do nat thynke or remembre / who you are / that is to witte / a man whiche nat longe a go was waſſhed / & ſcātely clene waſſhed from the moſt fylthy myer & durte of infydelyte. Why dyd you nat alſo ſaye / Rather heuen and erthe ſhall periſſh:Math 24 than one minome or one tytle or pricke of this priuilege ſhall peryſſhe. The kyngdome of Saull / Rede the laſt chap. of the fyrſte boke of kynges & the xii. chap. of the thirde boke. which was elected & choſē by god came neuer to ye hādes of his ſōnes: & the kīgdom of Dauid was ꝑted in ſōdre ī his nephues days / & afterwardes clene deſtroyed. And do you by your own auctorite decree that ye kyngdom whiche you do gyue to the gretteſt [Page] god: ſhall ꝑpetually remayne / & contynue euyn to the ende of the worlde? Moreouer / who thought you ſo ſone / that the worlde ſhulde periſhe & haue an ende? For I do nat ſuppoſe / that at this tyme you do gyue credēce to Poetes: which alſo do recorde the ſame / it foloweth therfore / yt you wolde nat haue ſayd this: but that another mā hath fayned & forged this of you But he / which but euyn ryght now ſpake ſo highly & ſo prowdly: now begynneth to feare and to miſtruſt him ſelfe / And therfore he falleth to beſechyng & prayyng in goddes behalfe / and adiurations / ſayenge. ¶Vnde coram deo viuo / qui nos regnare praecepit / et corā terribili eiꝰ iudicio / obteſtamur oēs nrōs ſucceſſores imperatores / & cūctos optimates / ſatrapas etiā / ampliſſimū ꝙ ſenatū / & vniuerſum populum in vniuerſo orbe terrarū / necnon et in poſterum / nullo corū quoquo modo licere hoc aut coufringere / vel in quoquo conuelli. Wherfore afore the lyuyng god / which hath cōmaunded vs to reygne / & afore his terrible & dredfull iugement: we obteſt & require all our ſucceſſours the ēperours / & all the optimates / the dukes & erls alſo / & the moſt noble ſenatours / & all the people in the hole worlde / which now are / or herafter ſhall be: that none of thē all / any maner way infrīge or breake this oure priuylege / or minyſſhe it in anye poynte. How reſonable / & howe deuoute & godly an adiuration is this? euen moche lyke / as if the wolfe ſhulde obteſt & beſech other wolues / & the ſhepeherds by his owne innocēcie & fidelyte: that ye fermer ſorte (that is to wit the wolues) wyll nat attempte nor enterpriſe / to take away: & that the latter ſorte (that is to wit the ſhepeherdes) wyll nat go aboute to aſke & requyre agaīe the ſhepe: whiche he hath takē / & hath deuyded among his ſonnes and his frendes. Why are you ſo greatly afrayde / O Conſtantyne?An abuſiō to the wordes of Gamaliel in the .v. chap. of the actes. If that whiche you do be of god: it can nat be dyſſolued or fordone. But if it be nat of god: youre worke or dede ſhall now ſtāde. But I ſe & perceyue right well you dyd coueyte to coūterfeyte ye wordes of the apocalipſe / where it is ſayde. I teſtify to him that hereth [Page] all the wordes of ye prophecie of this boke / if any mā ſhall adde or put to any thing to theſe / Apocalipſe the laſt chap. god ſhal adde or put vnto him ye plages written in thys boke. And if any man ſhal miniſſh any thing of ye wordes of the prophecie of this boke / god ſhall take away his ꝑte out of ye boke of lyfe / & out of ye holy cyte. But you neuer red ye Apocalipſe / wherfore theſe were nat your wordes. ¶Si quis autē (quod non credimꝰ) in hoc temerator extiterit aeternis cōdēnationibꝰ ſubiaceat cōdēnatus / et ſanctos dei apoſtolos Petrū & Paulū ſibi in praeſenti / & in futura vita ſentiat contrarios / At (que) in inferno inferiori (ſcꝪ)scilicet concrematus / cū diabolo & oībus deficiat impits. But if any man (which thinge we do nat ſuppoſe) ſhall breake or violate this priuilege: let him lye condēned vnder euerlaſtyng condēnations / & let him finde & fele the holy Apoſtles of god Peter & Paule / enemyes to hī / both in this ꝑſēte lyfe / & in the lyfe to come. And beyng brente in the depeſt hell / let him dye eternally / & baniſſhed be he for euermore from the ſyght of god / with the deuyll & all wycked perſons. This fearfull ſentēce & cōmination it nat wonte to be vſed of any Caeſar or ſeculare prince: but of the preſtes of the falſe goddes in olde tyme / & now of the eccleſiaſtical perſons. Theſe ar nat therfore the wordes of Conſtantine: but of ſome folyſhe clerke / which wotteth neither what he ſpeaketh: neither how he ſpeketh / but which beyng fatte and well fedde / in the myddes of his ſurfettyng / & in the great heate of wyne / belcheth forth ſuche ſentences / & ſuche wordes / as theſe are / which lyght nat vpon any other man: but are tourned agayn vpon him / ye ſpeketh thē Fyrſte / he ſayth. Eternis condēnationibꝰ ſubiaceat. let hī be ſubiected to euerlaſtyng cōdēnations. Afterwardes / as if more might be put to for ye augmētatiō thereof he coueteth to adde other thīges. And after ye eternal paines: he ioyneth to ye paines of this p̄ſente lyfe. And whā he hath put vs in feare wt ye cōdēnatiō of god: yet afterwardes (as if this were a gretter thī ge) he maketh vs afraide wt ye hatred & euyll wyll of Peter / to whō wherfor he doth ioine Paul / or why hī [Page] alone: I can nat tell. Agayn / after his olde letharge and maner of forgettynge hym ſelfe / Lethargus to a diſeaſe / makyng men to be meruailouſe ſlepie: and alſo forgerfull. he retourneth agayn to the euerlaſting paines / as if he had nat ſpokē of thē before. But if theſe were the threttes and execrations or curſynges of Cōſtantyne / I wolde curſe him agayn / as beyng a tyrante / and the deſtroyer of my cōmune weale / & after the maner of the Romains I wolde threten him / that I my ſelfe wolde be reuenged on him. But now / who regardeth or ſetteth any whitte by the execration or curſe of the moſt couetouſe felow: and which after the maner of ſtage players countrefayteth and fayneth wordes (and wolde make other men afrayde vnder the perſon of Conſtantyne. This is euen properly / Hypocrita ſimulator mimus / A fayner or contre fayter. to be an hypocryte (if we ſet the oute and conſyder well the ſignifycation of this greke worde hypochrita) vnder the ꝑſone of another man / to hyde thyne owne. ¶ Huius vero impertalis decreti paginam proprus manibus roborantes / ſuꝑ venerādū corpus beati Petri poſuimus. And we haue ſtrēgthyng & fortifyeng the pagyne of this ēperiall decree with our owne handes: haue layde it vpon the worſhipfull corps or bodye of the bleſſed Peter / Was it paper or parchemēt: this pagine / wherin theſe thinges were written? How be it a pagine / we do cal the one ſyde of a lefe / as a quayer of .x. leues hath .xx.Pagina. pagines or ſydes. O thynge / which neuer was herde: & which is vnbeleueable / whā I was a very yonge man / I remēbre / that I demaunded of a certayn perſone / who hadde written the boke of Iob / The boke or hiſtorie of Iob / was nat written by Iob hī ſelfe. and whan he hadde made anſwere / that Iob him ſelfe hadde written it: than I ſayde to him agayne. Howe coulde he than make mention of his owne deth? whiche thynge may be ſayde alſo of many other bokes: wherof to ſpeke / here is no conuenient place / for how can ye thynge be truly tolde of any man: which thinge is nat yet done? or how can ye thynge be cōtayned wt in ye writte: which thing (as he him ſelf cōfeſſeth was done after ye burial (if I may ſo ſay) of ye writ? This is none other thinge / but to ſay / yt the pagine of ye priuilege was dead / ye / & buried afore yt it was borne / & [Page] yet that it dyd neuer retourne after his deth and burial / namely ſeyng that it was roborated and ſtrengthed afore that it was written / and that nat with one hande but with both the handes of Ceſar. And what meaneſt thou / whan thou ſayſt roboratyng & ſtrengthyng? was it ſtrengthed with the hande wryttynge of Ceſar hīſelfe: or els was it ſealed with his ſignet? This was a great ſtrengthyng doutles / and moche greatter: than if he hadde grauen it in tables of braſſe.An Ironi But yet neded it nat to wryte them in braſſe: ſeyng that the paper was layde vpon the body of bleſſed Peter / why ſpekeſt thou here no worde of Paule / which lyeth buryed with Peter / and they both togeder myght better and more ſafely kepe it: than the body of the one of them alone? you ſee here the craftes and malycious ſubteltie of this our moſt wicked and gylefull Synon. Becauſe the donation of Conſtantyne can nat be euydently proued: therfore he ſayde / that the priuilege is nat wrytten in tables of braſſe / but of paper / and it lyeth buried and hydde with the body of the moſt bleſſed Apoſtle: that we ſhulde nat be bolde either to ſerche it in ye worſhypfull ſepulchre or graue / or els if we wolde ſerche it: that we ſhulde thynke it to be rotten and conſumed. But where was than the bodye of bleſſed Peter? Doutles nat in the temple or church where it is nowe / nor in no ſtronge or ſafe place / it foloweth therfore / that Ceſar wolde nat haue layde the writte or pagine in that place / where the body was. Durſt he nat put Silueſter in truſt with the pagine? was Silueſter ſo vnholy? was he ſo folyſhe? was he ſo neglygēt & recheleſſe? O Peter / O Silueſter / O you byſſhoppes of the holy church of Rome / to whom ye cure & charge of the lordes ſhepe is cōmytted: why do you nat kepe ſafe the pagine whiche was cōmitted and betaken to you? why haue you ſuffred it to be gnawen and eaten of wormes? & to conſume and rotte away for age? I ſuppoſe it is / bycauſe your owne bodyes alſo haue rotted and haue ben conſumed. Than dyd Conſtantyne folyſhely to lay it with your bodyes. Lo / now that the pagine is [Page] reſolued and brought in to pouder or duſte: the right or tytle of the priuilege is alſo tourned into duſt and brought to nought, But yet you wyll ſay / that there remayneth a copie of the ſame pagyne / as we do ſee. Who thā was he: which was ſo preſumptuouſe and foliſſh hardy / to take this pagyne from the boſome of the moſt holy apoſtle? Doutles you ought to brynge forth or name ſome of the olde authours / & ſuche one as was alyue in Conſtātynes tyme. But you can nat bryng forth or name any ſuch writer. But peraduenture you wyll bryngforth ſome man that wrot of late tyme. Where had he this knowlege? For who ſo euer maketh any hiſtorie of thinges done afore his tyme / either he ſpeaketh as the holy ghoſt endyteth to him / and putteth into his mynde: or els he foloweth the authorite of the olde authours / & that of ſuche as wrote of thinges done in their owne tyme. Wherfore who ſo euer doth nat folowe the olde authours / he ſhalbe of the nombre of them whom very aūcientneſſe & antiqtie maketh hardy and bolde to make ſeaſynges. And if in any place this thyng be reed / it doth accorde and agree with antiquite / euyn as moch as that peuyſſhe and madde narration of Accurſius the gloſe maker / Accurſ [...]us. which he telleth of embaſſadours ſent from Rome to Grecelande for to receyue the lawes / doth accorde wt Titus Liuius / & other moſt exellent authours of the olde tyme. ¶ Datum Romae tertio calendas Aprilis Conſtantino Auguſto quareo conſule / it Gallicano quarto conſule .1. Gyuen at Rome the .xxx. daye of March / Cōſtantine Auguſtus beyng than the fourth tyme conſull / & Gallicanus alſo beyng than ye fourth tyme conſull. He hathe dated the pagyne / on the laſt day of Marche ſaue one: that we ſhulde ſuppoſe it to haue bene done / about the tyme of thoſe Eaſter holy dayes / whiche are wonte cōmunely to fall about that tyme. Et Conſtātino quartum conſule / and Gallicano quartum conſule. And Conſtantine beyng thā the fourth tyme conſull / and Gallicanus alſo beyng than ye fourth tyme conſull. It is a meruaylouſe thīg if both Conſtātyne and Gallicanus had ben either of [Page] them thryſe conſull afore that tyme: that than at the fourth tyme they ſhulde both be choſen felowes together in that offyce. But it is a gretter meruayle / and more to be wondred at / that the emperour Auguſtus beyng full of the leprie / called Elephantia (bycauſe it paſſeth other dyſeaſes: as the elephant dothe other beaſtes) wolde take that highe dignyte and offyce of a conſull vpon him / 4 Reg 13. ſeyng that Azarias / as ſone as he was touched with the leprie: kepte himſelfe ſecret within the houſe / cōmittyng the ordring and gouernaunce of his realme / to his ſonne Ionathas / as for the moſt parte / Ioſephꝰ. libro nono cha. 11. all leprouſe kynges were wont to do. By whiche argumente alone / all the hole priuylege is vtterly cōfuted / proued falſe / & ouerthrowen. And that no man may dout / but that it muſt nedes be / that he was infected with leprie / afore that he was made conſull: let him vnderſtande and know this (whiche thinge phiſycions do wytneſſe) that this ſickenes or dyſeaſe groweth and encreaſeth preuely / by lytell and lytell. And agayn lette him vnderſtande and knowe this alſo (which appereth euydētly by olde hiſtories) that they were wonte to entre in to the offyce of the conſull / in the moneth of Ianuarie / and that it was in offyce laſtyng but one yere. And theſe thinges are ſayde to haue ben done at the March next after. And here alſo I can nat ouerhippe this / that in epiſtels is wonte to be written: Datū. &c. but nat in other writynges / excepte it be of ſuche as haue no lernyng / for epiſtels or letters are ſaid to be gyuen: & therfore we ſay / Do tibi epiſtolā. Do tibi epiſtolam / or Do ad te epiſtolam (Do tibi epiſtolam is aſmoche to ſaye / as I gyue a letter to you / as to a carier for to delyuer it in to his hādes / to whom it is written or ſende. Do ad te epiſtolā / is as moch to ſay / Do ad te epiſtolā. as I write or ſende a letter to you. But this priuilege (as they call it) of Conſtātyne / whiche ought nat to be delyuered to any man / ought alſo nat to haue ben ſaid to be gyuen / ſo that it may appere euidently / that he whiche ſpake thus dyd lye falſely / & yet had no wytte or cōnyng to fayne craftely ſuch thī ges / as it might be lykely to be trewe / that Conſtantyne [Page] either ſayde or dyd. And all they make themſelues pertayners and coſyns to him in foliſſhneſſe and madneſſe: who ſo euer do thynke and defende it / that this felowe hath ſayd true thynges: albeit that they haue nothing / wherby they may / I do nat ſay defēde: but honeſtly excuſe theyr opinion. Is this an honeſt excuſe of errour / whan thou ſeeſt the trouth manifeſtly and openly ſhewed / nat to be willyng to agree vnto it / bycauſe certayne great and excellent men haue ben of the contrary opinyon to the trouthe (I meane great men of dignyte: and neither of wiſedome / neither of vertue) But yet wherby knoweſt thou / whether they / whom thou foloweſt / if they had herde the ſame thynges ſo playnly declared / whiche thou doeſt here: wolde cōtynus and abyde ſtyll in their opinion or els wolde go from it and forſake it? And yet neuer the leſſe it is a great ſhame / and an excedynge great offence / to regarde a man more / It is an excedyng ſhame / to gyue more credēce to any man: than we do gyue to the trouth ſelfe. and to gyue to hym more credence: than we do regarde the trouthe / and gyue credence to it / that is to witte / to god. For verely certayne men beynge deſtytute of all reaſons or argumentes: are wonte to aunſwere in this wyſe. why haue ſo many popes beleued this donation to be true? I teſtefye to you / you do prouoke me to that / whiche I am euyll willynge & loth to do / and you do compell me agaynſt my wyll / to ſpeake euyll of the popes: whom I had leuer / if I myght: to hyde and couer in their offences and treſpaſſes. But let vs procede & holde on to ſpeke boldely / in as moche as this cauſe can nat otherwiſe be pleaded. Thoughe I do graūt that the popes did verily ſo beleue / & that they dyd it nat of a crafty & malicious purpoſe. What marueyle is it if they dyd beleue theſe thynges / wherin ſo great lucre & aduantage is pleaſaunt & lykyng to thē / Popes folyſhe / and ignoraunte. ſeyng that throughe excedynge folyſſhneſſe & lacke of knowlege / they do beleue many thynges / wherin no luc [...]s at all is ſhewed? Do we nat at Ara Celi / in ſo exellent a temple in the moſte worſhipfull and holy place / ſee a paynted table of Sybill and Octauian / as they ſay / by the auctorite and cōmaūdement of Innocentius [Page] the thirde / writyng theſe wordes? Which alſo lefte in writyng of the decay & ruyne or fall of the tēple of Peace / about the tyme of the byrth of the ſauiour / yt is to ſay / whā the virgin brought forth childe.

Whiche thynges apꝑtayne more to the diſtructyon of faith / for that they ar falſe and vntrue / than to the eſtablyſſhing of it / bicauſe they ar marueylous & wō derfull thīges. Dare the vicar of truth / for the apperaūce of trouth & godlyneſſe / beholde to make lyes / & wyttyngly to bynde him ſelfe to ſo great ſynne. why / Doth he nat lye? Ye moreouer / dothe he nat ſe whan he doth this / that he diſagreeth & varieth frō moſt holy men? I paſſe ouer other. Doth nat ſaynt Ierome vſe the teſtimony & witneſſe of Varro / that ther were ten Sibels / whiche worke Varro made afore Auguſtus his tyme.Ierome. And the ſame Ierome writeth in this wyſe of the tēple of Peace. Veſpaſianus & Titus / after that the tēple of Peace was edifyed & buylded at Rome / they dyd cōſecrate the veſſels of the tēple / & al the gyftes & offrīges in the temple of the ſame place / which thinges the Greke & the Romayne hiſtory telleth & reherſeth. And this vnlerned felow alone / wold that more credēce ſhulde be gyuen to his peuiſſh lytel boke / & the ſame alſo barbarouſly writtē: than to the moſt faithfull & true hiſtories of the moſt wiſe men / that wrot in ye olde tyme. Bycauſe I haue made mē tion ſomewhat of Ieronimy: I can nat ſuffre this cō tumely done to him / to be paſſed ouer with ſylēce. At Rome / A boke of the bible is kept & ſhewed for a relique at rome / as though it had bē written with ſaynt Iheromes owne hā de: whiche was written of an vnterned man. by the auctorite & cōmaūdemēt of the pope / is ſhewed a certayne boke of the Byble / as it were a relyque of ſome ſainte / with tapers alwayes lyghted / which they ſay / to haue bē written with ſaīt Ieronimes owne hāde. Wilte thou aſke / by what euydēt tokē they know that. Bycauſe ther is (as Vergil ſaith) Multū picta [...] veſtis et auri [...]i. Moch of paynted garmētes & of golde. And the very thīg ſelfe ſheweth rather / that it was nat writtē with ſainte Ieroms owne hāde. Whā I had loked ſomewhat more dilygētly in this boke: I foūde / that it was writtē by the cōmaū demēt of a kīge (Robert / as I wene) with ye hāde of [Page] of an vnlerned man / moche lyke hervnto is it (albeit there ar a thouſande ſuche maner thynges at Rome) that among the holy relykes there / is ſhewed in a certayne table / yt ymage or portrature of Peter & Paule whiche Sylueſter ſhewed to Conſtātyne / after that he had ben monyſſhed & taught of the ſame Apoſtels in his ſlepe / for the cōfyrmation of the viſyon that he had ſene. I do nat ſay this bicauſe I do deny yt thoſe ymages or purtatures be the true ymages & pictures of the aforenamed apoſtles (and wolde god / that the epiſtle / which was ſente urthe name of Lentulus / The epiſtle of Lentidus / cōcerning the ymage of chriſte: is a falſe forged thīge. of the ymage of Chriſte: were as true / whiche doutles hath bē no leſſe [...]eudly forged / thā this falſe priuilege / which we haue cōfuted) but for ye / that Silueſter did neuer ſhewe that table to Conſtātine / In which thinge I can nat fynde in myne herte to kepe within me / the great meruaylyng of my mynde. For I wyll diſpute & reaſon ſomewhat of the tale / whiche is forged of Silueſter. And bycauſe both al our queſtyō depē deth herof / and alſo ſeyng that I do ſpeke to the popes of Rome / it ſhall be moſt ſemely & accordyng for me / to ſpeake of a pope of Rome / that by this one enſample / a cōiecture may eaſely be taken of other thinges. And amonge many other fonde folyes & madde trifles / which are tolde & reherted therin:The confutation of that fained tale of the dragon / which is redde in the lyfe of ſaint Silueſter. I wyll touche that onely of the dragon / to thentent that I may euydently cauſe you to knowe / that Conſtātine was nat full of leprie (For the actes of Silueſter or the hiſtorie of hī: as the interpretour witneſſeth) was made by one Euſebius a certayne man of Grecelande / whiche nation hath alwayes be greatly gyuen to lyeng / as Iuuenale reporteth of thē / who was the author of ſalt Silueſters lyfe. ſayeng in his checkīg ſatyre. Ouicquid Graecia mēdax audet in hiſtoria .i. What ſo euer thynge the lyeng Grekes dare be bolde to do / in writīg of hiſtories. From whence dyd that dragon come? Dragons are nat gendred at Rome.The hiſtories of the Grekes ar corrupted with lyes Which alſo had that dragon his poyſon? Peſtiferouſe and venemouſe dragons are ſayde to be onelye in Affrike / by the reaſon of the excedyng and outragiouſe heate of ye region. Beſydes this / whence coulde [Page] he haue ſo moche habundance & plentie of venome & poyſon / that he might enfecte and corrupt with peſtylence / ſo large a cytie / namely ſeynge that hym ſelfe laye downe in ſo depe a denne or dongion / that men wente downe in to it / by an hundred and fyftie ſteppes or ſtayres?Serpētes ar noyſome nat with theyr brethe: but with their bitynge: onely the cocodrice except. Serpentes (onely the Baſilyſke or Cocodriſe excepted) do poyſon & kyll men / nat with their breth: but with their byting. Neither Cato / whan he fledde from Ceſar with ſo great an hoſte of men / whyles he iornayed through the myddes of Aphricke ſondes / and ſlepte there: ſawe any of his cō pany kylled or deſtroyed with the venemouſe breathing of any ſerpentes.Cato. Neither the peoples of that coūtrey do fele any corruption or infection of the ayre through that cauſe. And if we do gyue any credence to poetes fables: bothe Chimera the monſtre / and Hydra / and Cerberus the maſtyffe of hell / were ſene and touched cōmunely / without any harme or hurte taken therby. Agayne / why wolde nat the Romayns rather haue kylled hym? Thou wilte peraduenture ſay / bycauſe they were nat able. But yet Regulus ſlewe a moche gretter ſerpente in Affrike / Marcus Tiliꝰ Regulus. at the banke of the ryuer Bragadra. And it was no maſtry to haue kylled this dragon: if they had done no more / but onely haue cloſed or ſtopped vp the mouth of the caue or denne. What? wolde they nat do ſo? I ſuppoſe they dyd worſhippe hī for a god / euyn ſo as the Babylonians dyd worſhippe another dragon.Dan̄. 14. Why than wolde natre Sylueſter rather haue ſlayne this dragon: ſo as it is ſayd / that Daniell did in the olde tyme? Why wolde he nat haue bounde him with an hempen threde? and haue deſtroyed ye houſe for euer? But the forger of this tale / wolde nat that the dragō ſhulde be kylled: leſt men might playnly deme & iuge / that he dyd reherce the narration of Danyell. Seyng than / that ſaynt Ierome / a man moſt exellently learned / In the prologe afore the boke of Daniel. and the moſt faythfully interpretour. And Appolinaris / and Origene / and Euſebius / and certayne other authours / do affyrme and ſaye / that the narration of Bell is fayned / and a forged lye: in as [Page] moche alſo as the Iewes wyll nat knowlege it to be in the princypall copie of the olde Teſtament / The naratiō of hell is nat in the hebrus bokes. that is to ſay / if all the beſt latyne authours / and the moſte parte of the Greke authours / and euery one of the Hebrue authours / do dampne and dyſalowe that narration / as beyng nought els but alyeng fable: ſhal nat I dyſalowe and dampne this tale / which was counterfayted & made to the lykenes of that fable? ſeyng that it can nat be ſtrengthed and vpholden by the authorite of any authour / and / agayn dothe farre paſſe the other tale / to whoſe lykeneſſe it was ſhapen / in foliſſhnes? For who had buylded an houſe vnder the grownde for ye beaſt? who had put that beaſt in that houſe? and had cōmaunded him that he ſhulde nat come forth and flye away? For dragons do flye / as certayne men ſayne / though other men do ſaye nay) who had deuyſed and ymagined that kinde of meate? Who had cōmaunded women and thoſe virgins and nonnes to go downe into that denne: and that neuer but on the fyrſte day of the moneth? Dyd the dragon knowe whiche was the firſt daye of the moneth? and was he contented with ſo ſcace and ſyldome meate? Nor dyd the Virgins drede ſo depe a dongyon? ſo gret / ſo cruell / and ſo hungry a beaſt? I ſuppoſe the dragon fawned on them: bycauſe they were womē / An irony bicauſe they were virgins / and bycauſe they broughte hym meate. ye / and I ſuppoſe alſo / that he did commune and talke with them. And why ſhulde he nat alſo (ſauyng your reuerence) haue to do and gendre with them. For bothe Alexandre & alſo Scipio / Rede plutarche in the lyues of Alexdre & Scipio are ſaid to haue ben begoten by a ſerpent or dragon / that lay with their mothers. What ſay you moreouer / after that his wonte meate or foode was denyed hym / wolde he nat rather haue come forthe and ben ſlayne.

❀ O the marueylous madneſſe of men / whiche do gyue credence to ſuche olde dotynge wyues tales. But moreouer howe longe tyme hath this thyng ben done? Whan was it begon? Afore the commynge of oure Sauyoure. After the commynge of hym. [Page] None of all theſe thynges is knowē. Let vs be aſchamed of ſuche triflyng tales / and of our lyghtneſſe. Let a chriſten man be a ſhamed / whiche nameth him ſelfe ye ſōne of lyght & of trouth: to vtter or ſpeke forth any ſuch thīges / which nat onely are nat true: but alſo nothīg lykely to be true. But ꝑaduēture they wyll ſay / that deuylles & wicked ſpirites had ſuche power amonge ye gētyles or panyms: yt they might illude & mocke thē: bycauſe they did ſerue falſe goddes. Holde your tonges moſt ſhāles men (bycauſe I wyll nat ſay moſt wicked & vngratiouſe men) which haue alwayes ſuch a cloke / The Chriſtē verite nedeth nat any help of vntruethe of falſhed / it is ſtronge ynough of it ſelfe alone. to couer & hyde your fables & lyes The chriſtyan ſīceryte & trouth / nedeth nat / nor deſyreth the helpe & defēce of falſehed & vntruth it is defē ded ſuffyciētly / ye & more than ſufficiētly / by it ſelfe / and by it own light & verite / without any ſuch fayned & deceytfull tales / which are very cōtumelyouſe & blaſphemus both agaīſt god / agaynſt Chriſt / & agaynſt the holy ghoſt. Had god ſo delyuered mākīde into ye power of the deuylles that they ſhulde be illuded and mocked / with ſo manyfeſt / with ſo imperiouſe & lordly miracles & wōders: yt in a maner both he might be accuſed of īiuſtice / for that he cōmitted ye ſhepe to the wolfe / and mē alſo might haue a great excuſe of their errours? And if in the olde tyme / the deuylls had ſo great power ouer hethē men: they ſhulde nowe haue euen more power amōge thē / which thīge for all that we do nat ſe to be ſo / neither any ſuche fables or tolde of thē. I will nat ſpeke of other peoples: but I will onely ſpeake of the people of Rome / among whō very few miracles or wondres are ſpoken of / and thoſe of olde tyme / Libro quinto titulo ſerto / de pi [...]tate erga patriā ch. v.c.xxxviii. and nat of certayn. Valeriꝰ Maximus ſayth that the openyng or gapyng of the erthe / in the middes of the markette place / after that Curtius had caſte him ſelfe beyng armed / and his horſe alſo into it: came togyther and cloſed agayne / and forth with retourned into the olde ſhape agayne. Alſo he ſay [...] that Iuno Moneta / Libro primo titulo octauo de miraculis chap. xciiii. whan ſhe was demaunded and aſked in bourde of a ſouldyer of Rome / after that the Cytye Venne was takenne / whether ſhe were [Page] wyllyng to remoue & flytte to Rome / made anſwere. Ye / & yet Titus Liuius thīketh neither of theſe two thīges to be ſo / Titus Liuiꝰ diſagreeth frō Valeriꝰ Maximus. which is an authour both more aunciēt / & of an elder tyme / thā Valeriꝰ / & alſo of gretter authorite. For his mynde is / that ye aforeſayd openīg of the erth: or dēne dyd cōtynue & remayne ſtyl after yt tyme / & that it was a caue / which had bē there of lōge cōtynuāce afore yt tyme / & nat that ye groūde dyd thā ſodeynly open & gape / and that it was there / afore ye Rome was buylded / and that it was called Curtius Lacus: bycauſe ye Curtius Metiꝰ the Sabyne had lurked / & hyd hīſelfe therin: whan he fledde from the haſty & vyolēt purſute of ye Romayns. And ye ſame Titus Liuius wyll alſo / that Iuno made none anſwere: but onely dyd make a becke or lygne with her heed / that ſhe was cōtented & wyllīg to remoue from thēce / to Rōe. Afterwardes this was put to the tale: that ſhe dyd ſpeake alſo. And cōcernyng the becke or ſigne made with her heed: it is euydēt / that they dyd lye / either by cauſe they dyd interprete & iuge ye mouīg of ye ymage / whā they plucked it away / to haue ben done of yt owne accorde: or els ſuch wantōnes / as they vſed in demaūding or aſkīg queſtiōs of the goddeſſe of their enemyes beīg of ſtone / & vanqueſſhed: the ſame wātōnes they vſed / in famīg her to haue made a becke or ſigne wt her heed. How be it Liuiꝰ doth nat ſay / that ſhe did make any ſuche ſigne: but onely he ſaith yt / the ſoldyers cryed out / that ſhe had made a becke & by ſuch a ſigne gyuē / ſhewed herſelf cōtēted to remoue / which thīges for al ye good authors do nat defēde to haue bē done in very dede: but they do excuſe ye ſayēges of thē / For as ye ſame Liuiꝰ ſayth.Titus liuius. Pardone is gyuē to thē of olde ātiquyte / & they are holdē excuſed / that by ye mēglīg of godly thinges & worldely thīges together / they myght make ye begīnīges of cytes yt more worſhipfull. & in another place he ſaith / Titus liuius. In thynges of olde antiqte / if any thing be lyke to be trewe. Let them be accōpted & taken for true thynges Terētius Varro / Terentiꝰ Varro. whiche was afore the tyme of theſe two / and connynger than either outher of them / and [Page] (as I do iuge) an author of more grauyte and auctoryte:Thre diuerſe hiſtories writen by thre ſō drie authors of the pyt called Lacus curtius. ſayth / that there were thre diuerſe hiſtories written by thre dyuerſe authors of the aforeſayde Lacus Curtius. The one hiſtorie is written of Proculus / which ſaith / that this pytte or lake was called Lacus Curtius / of one Curtius / whiche dyd caſt himſelfe downe into it. The ſecond hiſtory is writen of Piſo / whiche ſaith / that it was named ſo of Curtius Metius the Sabyne. The thirde was written of Cornelyus (to whom he ioyneth Lactātius felowe and witneſſe) whiche ſaith / that it was named of / Curtius ye conſull / to whom Marcus Genutius was felowe in offyce. And verily I wyll nat diſſemble / that Valerius Maximus can nat be vttly rebuked / though he dothe ſpeke ſo / ſeyng that a lytell afterwardes he writeth theſe wordes folowyng wiſely & diſcretely.Libro primo chap. xcviii. I am nat ignorant / howe doutfull the opinyon is / of ye mouyng & of the voice & ſpech of the goddes immortall / whiche is parceyued by the ſyght & hearyng of men. But bicauſe no newe thynges are ſayd of vs / but onely thynges written in tymes paſt / are reherſed agayn of vs. Lette the authours chalenge credence to themſelues. He made mention here of the voice or ſpech of the goddes / bicauſe of Iuno Moneta / & bicauſe of ye ymage of the goddes Fortune / whiche they do fayne to haue ſpoken twiſe by theſe wordes. Rite me matronae vidiſtis. Rite dedicaſtis. 1. In dew forme & maner / you matrones haue ſene me. In dewe forme and maner / you haue dedicated me. But our forgers of fables do bring in eueriwhere ydols or ymages / ſpekyng / which thyng the very paynems & worſhippers of ydols do nat ſay / but more ſyncerely & faithfully do deny it / than the chriſten men do affyrme it. Amonge them / thoſe very fewe myracles that ar / leaue nat vnto the faith & credence of the authours / but as it were to a certayne ſacred and relygious cōmendation of auncient antiquite. But amonge oure tale forgers / certayn marueyles of later tyme are tolde / whiche the men of thoſe dayes neuer knewe. ❧ ❧ ❧ *. Neyther do I derogate or minyſſhe the admyration [Page] and honour of ſayntes / neither do I deny the diuyne and godly workes wrought by them / for aſmoche as I do knowe / that as moch faith as is the quātite of a muſtarde ſeede / maye tranſlate mountayns from one place to another. ye / Luke. 17. moreouer I do defende & maynteyne their ſaid workes: but I cā nat ſuffre that they be mengled with fables & lyes. Neither can I be brought in to other belefe / than that theſe writers either were infydeles & miſcreantes / whiche dyd it to mocke chriſten men / if theſe fayned lyes brought by gylefull felowes in to the hādes of vnlearned men / ſhulde be taken for true hiſtories: or els were Chriſten men / Roma. 10 hauyng in dede a zele vnto god: but nat accordynge to knowlege (as Paule ſaith) which haue nat ben afraide to write / nat only of the actes of ſayntes: but alſo of ye actes of ye Virgine goddes mother / ye and more ouer of the actes of Chriſt / certaine ſhamles and falſe goſpels. And ye pope calleth theſe bokes Apochriphos libros / that is to wit / bokes whoſe author is nat knowen / as who ſhulde ſay / yt it were no faute at all: that the author of them is nat knowen / & that the thinges were beleuable / which are tolde and reherced in thē / and all though they were holy thynges / & appertaynyng to the cōfirmation and fortifyeng of our religiō and fayth / ſo that now there is no leſſe faute in him / which hathe approued & alowed theſe euyll thynges: than is in him / whiche dyd fyrſt imagyne and deuiſe them. We do diſcerne / we do diſſeuer the euyll money from the good / and we do refuſe it / & caſt it from vs. And ſhall we nat diſcerne the reprobate & falſe doctryne: but ſhall we retayne & kepe it ſtyll? but ſhall we mengle it with good doctryne? but ſhall we defende it for good doctryne? I verely wyll gyue my ſentence or iugemēt frely and boldly. I deny that the hiſtory of Silueſter is Apocrophe (yt is to wit / whoſe authour is nat knowen) (for as I ſayde before / It is ſayd [...] that Euſebius a Geccian is the auctor of ſaint Silueſters lyfe. a certayne man called Euſebius / is ſayd to be the authour therof) but I ſay playnly / that it is a falſe hyſtorie / and nat worthy to be redde / bothe in other thynges: and ſpecially in thoſe narratiōs of the dragon / of the [Page] bull / Conſtantyne was neuer meſeld: ſo as they do faine and of the leprie of Conſtantyne / for the reprouyng of whiche leprie / I haue reherced theſe ſo many thynges. For all be it Naaman was a leprouſe perſone: it foloweth nat therfore forthwith / that Cōſtantyne alſo was full of l [...]prie. Many authors haue made mention of Naaman / but of Conſtantine / which was prince and gouernour of the worlde: no man hath written / nat ſo moche as any of his owne cytizens / but onely I wot nat what peuyſſhe felowe of a ſtraū ge countrey / to whom no more credence is to be gyuē than is to a nother certayne felowe / whiche wrote of the waſpes / that made their neſtes in Veſpaſianus noſe / The tale of the waſpes in veſpaſianes noſe / & of the forgge wherof Nero was delyuered: ar fals forged▪ tales and of the frogge / of which Nero was delyuered / as it had ben of chylde / wherof they ſay / that the place is called Laterane / ꝙ rana ibi late at inſepulchro .1. bicauſe the frogge is hydde there in the graue / which thynge I am ſure / neither the waſpes / neither ye frogges ſelues wolde haue ſayd: if they coulde haue ſpokē / except they do referre this to the goddes of the eanytoly houſe / as if they wolde ſaye / that theſe goddes had ben wonte to ſpeake / and had cōmaūded this thynge to be done. But why ſhulde I meruayle that the popes are ignoraunte / The excedīg ignoraunce of the popes & haue no perceyuing or vnderſtādyng in theſe thynges: whan they be ignoraunte of their owne name? For they ſay that Peter was called Cephas / Cephas. bycauſe he was heed of ye Apoſtles / as who ſhulde ſay: that this worde Cephas were a Greke worde cōmyng of Cephali (whiche in the Greke tong be tokeneth ye ſame that Caput dothe in latyne / or heed in Engliſſhe) and nat a worde of the Hebrue / or rather of the Sirie tonge / which the Grekes do write Ciphys / which amonge them is interpreted Petrus / and nat caput. For bothe Petrus and Petra are Greke wordes / and they do folyſſhely which do expounde and declare this worde Petra by a latyne etimologie / ſayeng Petra quaſi pede trita. And they do put a dyfference bytwen Metropolitanꝰ and Archiepiſcopus / Metropolitanus. ſayeng / that Metropolitanus cometh of Metron .1. mēīura / & poly .1. ciuitas / ſo ye thā Metropolitanus is ſayd / a menſura ciuitatis .1. [Page] of the meaſure of a cyte▪ where as in very dede / in the greke tonge they do nat ſay Metropolis: but Mitropolis / which is as moch to ſay in the latyne tonge / as Matere ciuitatis / or vrbis. And they wyll alſo / Patriarcha. that Patriarcha is ſo called: bycauſe he is / as it were pacer patrum .1. father of fathers / and that this worde Papa cometh of the interiection papae / whiche is an interiection of meruaylyng or wondryng / Papa. and that it is called Fides orthodoxa / quaſi recta glia:Fides orthodoxa. where as in very dede / orthodoxa betokeneth nat rectam glori [...]m / but is as moche to ſaye / as rectae opinionis: of eighte opinion. And they do pronounce this worde Simonem with the mydle ſyllable ſhorte: whan in very dede they oughte to pronounce that worde with the mydle ſyllable longe / euyn ſo as they do pronoūce this worde Platonem / and this worde Catonē / and many other lyke thinges / which I paſſe ouer / leſt for the faute of certayne: I might ſeme to blame and rebuke all popes. Theſe thinges haue I ſpokē to thentente / that no man ſhulde meruayle / if many popes coulde nat eſpye and perceyue / that the donatyon of Conſtātine was but a famed or forged thyng / allbeit yet. I do iuge / that this dyſ [...]eyte & gyle was begōne and brought vp firſt by one of the ſayde popes. But you wyll ſaye / why do nat the emperours / to whoſe hurte this thynge dyd tourne: denye the donation of Conſtātine but graunt and knowlege it / affirme it / and conſerue or kepe it? Forſoth this is an excedyng ſtronge argumente / and a wonderfull defence.An irony for of what imperour ſpeakeſt thou? If thou doeſt ſpeake of the Greke emperour / which was the very ēperour in dede: than wyll I denye that euer he confeſſed or graūted the ſayde donation. But if thou doeſt ſpeke of the latyne emperoure: I my ſelfe alſo wyll confeſſe thy forlong to be true. For who is he which knoweth nat that the latyne emperoure was frely made of the daye? Steuen (as I w [...]ne) whiche depoſed and put [...] the Greke emperoure:Stephen the ſecond tranſlated the empier from the Grekz to the frenche men. bycauſe he wolde nat bringe helpe and ayde to Italye / and made a latyne emperour / ſo that the emperoure ſhulde receyue mo [Page] thynges of the pope:The pope & the ēperour deuided the ēpier betwen them two alone. than the pope of the emperour▪ Doutles / the pope & the emperour departed and deuyded the empier bytwene them ſelues alone / by certayne pactions and couenaūtes: euyn as Achilles and Patroclus dyd deuyde bytwene them two alone / the riches of Troye / Achilles / and Patroclus. which thynge (as me ſemeth) euyn the very wordes of Ludouicus do declare and ſhew / whan he ſayth. I Ludouike emperour of Rome / do decree / and graunt by this pacte of our cōfrontation / to the / In decretis diſtinctione lxiii. Ego Ludouicus. &c. bleſſed Peter prince of the apoſtles / and by the to thy vycare lorde Paſchalis beyng pope / and to his ſucceſſours for euermore (be lykewiſe as you haue holden them of our predeceſſours / in your power and dominiō / Ludouike the emperour called Iewes the mylde. euē vnto this tyme) the cyte of Rome / with the dukedome belongyng to it / and all places within the precincte of the ſayd cytie / and all villages / ſtretes / territories belongyng to it / both in the moūtayns and in the ſee coſtes / hauens / or al ryties / caſtels / townes / and vyllages / in the parties of. Thuſtiab. &c. Ludouike do you make partes / couenauntes / or bargaynes with Paſchalis the pope if theſe aforeſayd thynges be yours / that is to ſaye / if they do appertayne to the empier of Rome: why do you graunt and gyue them to another? if they be his and be poſſeſſed of him: what nedeth you to confirme them? Agayne how lytell of the Romayne empier ſhall be yours: if you haue loſt ye very heed and chefe cyte of ye empier? The Romayne emperour hathe his name of Rome. Moreouer the reſidue which you haue in poſſeſſyon / are they yours: or do they belonge to Paſchalis? I ſuppoſe / you wyll ſay that they are your owne. Thā it foloweth / that the donation of Conſtātine is of no ſtrength / ſeīg that you haue in your poſſeſſyon thoſe thinges / which were gyuen by him to the pope. If it be of ſtrength: by what righte dothe Paſchalis remitte or releaſe the other thynges to you: retayninge to him ſelfe onely thoſe thynges / which he hath in poſſeſſyon? Is this it that is meaned by ſo great la [...]gytion of the Romayne empier / of you towardes him / or of him towardes you? Thā do you worthely▪ and [Page] nat without a cauſe / call it a pacte / that is as a man wolde ſay / a certayne collutiō or falſe packīg bytwen you two. But peraduēture you wyll ſay to me / what ſhall I do? Shall I go about to recouer by warre / thoſe thynges whiche the pope violētly & wrongfully holdeth frō me? That ſhulde nothīge auayle me / The pope is ſtrōger in batayle thā the emperour. for he is of more mighte & power that waye: than I am myſelfe. Shal I make clayme & tytle to thē / by right and lawe? That coulde nat helpe / for my right is no more: but euen ſo moch / as it ſhall pleaſe hī to graūt me. For I came nat to the ēpier by the waye of inherytaunce: but onely by pacte and couenaunte / that if I wolde be emperour: I ſhulde promyſe ſuche and ſuch thinges / to the pope agayne of my parte.The pope hath made emperours vpō certayn condicions & couenauntes. Shal I ſay / that Conſtantine gaue no whitte at all of the empier? If I dyd ſo: I ſhulde defende the cauſe of the Greke emperour / and put my ſelfe clene from all the dygnyte of the empier. For the pope ſaythe / that he maketh me emperour vpon this condityon: that I ſhulde be as a certayne vycare or deputie vnder hī / and excepte that I wyll promyſe ſo to be: he wyll nat make me emperour. And excepte that I wyll obeye him accordyng to my promyſe: he ſayth / that he wyl depoſe me agayne. So that he wyll gyue theſe thynges to me: I wyll cōfeſſe and knowlege all thynges / I wyll promyſe and couenaunte with him / what ſo euer thynges he ſhall requyre of me. But yet beleue me / if I had Rome / or Thuſtia in my poſſeſſion / nat onely I wolde nat than do as I do now: but alſo it ſhulde be labours all in vayne / for Paſchalis to tell me that tale of the donation of Conſtantine / whiche as I deme / is falſly forged. But nowe I do graunt and gyue thoſe thinges / which neither I haue in my poſſeſſyon: neither do hope that euer I ſhall haue. To enquyre and make ſerche of the popes right: that appertayneth nat to me / but to the emperour of Conſtantinople. Now Ludouike you haue excuſed your ſelfe to me ſuffyciētly / & whatſoeuer other ēperour is lyke to Ludouike. What ought to be demed of ye paction & promiſe made bytwen other emꝑours & the popes: [Page] whan we do know ſo euydētly / what Sigiſmū dus hath done / Sigiſmunde the emperour brought ī his extreme age / to excedynge gret pouerte. which verily at all other tymes / & in all other poyntes / was the beſt & moſt valyaūte prīce: but now in extreme age / nat ſo hardy & valyant as he was before / whom we haue our ſelues ſene / hauynge but a fewe ſeruauntes or a ſmall garde about hym / to wander through Italy / knowyng nat this day / howe or where to haue his dyner to morowe / & lykewiſe to haue ben famiſſhed at Rome / if Eugenius had nat giuen him fode / Popes do no thyngs for nought. but nat for nought / for he extorted a donation of him. This Sigiſmundus / whan he was comen to Rome for to be crowned there / themꝑour of the romains / Sigiſmunde ere he coude be crowned at Rome / was fayne to confyrme the danation of Cō ſtantine. he coude nat be crowned by any meanes of ye pope / but onely vpō this cōdition / that he ſhulde alowe & confyrme the donation of Cōſtātine / & gyue and graūt the ſame thīges now agayne a freſſh. what thinge is more repugnaūt & cōtrary / than yt he ſhulde be crowned ēperour of Rome: whiche had renoūced & gyuen from hīſelfe ye cyte of Rome?Marke well this geare / howe well it ſtandeth together. and yt he ſhuld be crowned of him: whō both himſelfe doth cōfeſſe & knowlege / & alſo as moch as lyeth in hī / he doth make lorde of the Romaīe empier? and yt he ſhulde alow & confirme ye donation of Conſtātine which if it were true: nothīg at all of the empier / ſhulde be lefte or remayne to the emperour? Which thīge / as I ſuppoſe and iuge:The coronation of themperour ought to appartayne to the people of Rome which [...] the pope chalengeth to hī ſelfe onely. nat very chyldrē wolde haue done. Wherfore it is ſo moche leſſe meruayle / if the pope do chalenge & take vpon hī the coronation of thēperour: whiche ought to apꝑtayne vnto ye people of Rōe. If thou O pope / both arte able to depriue the Greke ēperour: of Italy & of the prouīces of the Weſt. And doeſt alſo make ye latyne ēperour: Why vſeſt thou ſuch pactiōs / promyſes / and couenaūtes? Why doeſt thou parte & deuyde ye goodes of Ceſar?He is no very emperoure / & alſo he is forſworne: that goeth nat about to recouer the cite of Rome / from the pope. Why doeſt thou trāſlate the ēpier vnto thy ſelfe? wherfore let him know / who ſo euer is ēperour of Rome: that in my iugemēt he is neither Auguſtus / neither Ceſar / neither emperour: excepte he do holde & kepe the ēpier & gouernaunce of Rome / & excepte he do gyue dilygēce / & enforce hīſelf to recouer the cytie of Rome: that he is periured and [Page] forſworne. For the emperours in olde tyme / The emꝑors in olde tyme / wer nat ſworne ſolempnely to the pope as they are now a dayes of whom Conſtantine was the fyrſt: were nat conſtrayned to make any ſuch ſolempne othe / wherwith now adaies but emperours are bounden. but onely / that / as moche as might be done by mannes power: they ſhulde minyſſhe nothinge of the amplytude and maieſty of the empier of Rome. but that with all their labour and dilygence they ſhulde augmente and increace it. yet were they nat therfore called Auguſti / ꝙ imperiū augere deberent. 1. for that they ought to augmente the empier (as the opinion of ſome men is / whiche are vnſkylled in the latyne tonge) But Auguſtus is as moch to ſay / as Sacer / holy or worſhipfulle and it is ſaid Ab aulum guſtu .1.what Auguſtus ſignifieth & why the emperours were called Auguſti. of the taſtyng or eating of the byrdes. whiche thynge was greatly obſerued / marked / and taken hede of in the olde tyme: whan they wolde diuyne of the lucke that ſhulde folow any earneſt thinge that they toke in hande / Auguſtꝰ and therfore where the latyne men do ſaye Auguſtus: the Grekes do ſay Sebaſtos .1. venerādus or honorabilis.how the pope might be called Auguſtus The pope might better be called Auguſtusab augendo .1. of encreaſing or augmentyng: ſaue onely / that whyles he encreaſeth temporall thīges / he minyſſheth the ſpūall thinges. And therfore may you ſe / The worſt pope / did moſte defēde the donation of Cō ſtantyne. that as euery pope was moſt victouſe and worſt diſpoſed: ſo he gaue him ſelfe moſt to the defending of this donation. of which ſorte / Boniface the eyght was:Nota. Boniface the viii. an vngratiouſe & a myſcheuouſe pope / & al ſet vpon worldly pride: had a myſcheuouſe ēde as the cronicles do teſtifye. whyche deceyued Celeſtyne by trumpes putte within the wall. This Bonifacius alſo writeth of the donatiō of Conſtantine. and he depriued or depoſed the king of Fraunce. and iuged the kyngedome of Fraunce (as if he wolde haue put the ſayd donation in execution) to haue ben / and to be ſubiecte to the churche of Rome. which thynge / as being leude & againſt right ſhortly after his ſucceſſours Benedicte / and Clemēt / did rebuke. But what meaneth this your carefull dilygence / O you popes of Rome / Bened. 12 Clement pope. that you do requyre of euery emperour the confirmation of the ſayde donation of Conſtantine: but that you put diffydence and [...] in your ryght & tytle? But you labour [Page] [...] amples wherof we may fynde euery where. Neither it is ordayned by the lawe of nature / It is agaynſt humanite and cōtrary to the nature of mā to exercyſe violente rule ouer other of his owne hinde: that one people ſhuld ſubdue & make ſubiect another people to it ſelf. We may coūſayle & teche / & exhort other men / but we may nat play ye lordes ouer thē / & do vyolēce to them: excepte we wyll renoūce & forſake all humanite / and coūterfayte & folow ye moſte ferce & cruel beſtes / whiche done exercyſe a cruell & a blody empier vpon the weaker beaſtes / & thoſe which are of leſſe might and ſtrēgth. as the lyon / ouer four foted beaſtes / the egte ouer fowles of the ayer / & the Dolphyn ouer fyſhes. But yet for all this / theſe afore reherſed beeſtes / do nat chalenge or vſurpe any power ouer the beeſtes of their owne kynde: but onely vpon thoſe yt be of other lower kyndes / how moche more than ought we to do ſo: & one man to haue regarde & reuerence to another man / Mayſter Fabius. ſeyng ye (as Maiſter Fabius ſayd) there liueth none ſo wode a beeſt vpō erthe: but he dothe regarde his owne Image / & doth auoyde the hurtyng therof. There is therfore .iiii.Foure cauſes warrior warres are made moſte communely. cauſes / wherfore moſt cōmēly warres & batayles are made / either it is for to reuēge iniuryes or wronges / & to defende our frendes / or els it is for feare of calamite / yt we ſhal receyue after wardes: if the ſtrēgth & might or power of other / were ſuffred to growe & increſe / or els it is for ye hope of praye / or els for the deſire of glorye & renowne / of the which foure cauſes / the fyrſt is ſomewhat honeſte / the ſecōd but lytle honeſte / the two laſt are in no wyfe honeſte. And in very dede warres haue bene made oftētymes agaynſt the Romayns. but after they had defended thēſelues they made warre both vpō them & other [...] tions. Neither is there any nation or people / which hath geuē place / & bē obediēt to their dominiō: except they were vainqueſhed and ſubdued by batayle / how well and how rightfully / or for what cauſe: auiſe thē ſelues / for I wyll nat neither condemne them / as if they haue tought wrongfully: neither aſſoyle or quite theym / as if they haue fought ryghtfullye. This onely I wyll ſaye: that by the ſame reaſon / and for the ſame cauſe / the Romayns made warre vpō other [Page] nations: by whiche reaſon / and for the whiche cauſe / other kinges & peoples dyd. And that it was laufull for them / vpon whom warre was be gonne / and whiche were vaīqueſſhed or ouercome by bataile / to haue gone from the Romaynes / and to haue forſaken thē: euyn ſo as they had done from other lordes / whiche had ſubdued them. Left peraduenture (which thing no man wolde ſay) all the empiers might be brought agayne to thoſe moſt aunciente lordes of the olde tyme: whiche were fyrſt lordes / that is to ſaye / whiche firſt toke away other mines lādes and goodes. And yet is there better right to the people of Rome in the nations conquered by batayle: than is to the emperours / oppreſſynge the cōmune weale. Wherfore if it was laufull for nations & peoples to ſhrinke or go awaye from Conſtātine / and (which is a gretter thīg) from the people of Rome: without any doute / it ſhal be laufull for them / to refuſe and forſake him for their gouernour: to whom ſo euer Conſtātine hathe gyuē and releaſed his right & tytle. And that I may ſpeke more boldely / if it was laufull for the Romaynes / either to depoſe or driue out Conſtātine / ſo as they did Tarquine? or els to kyll him / Tarquin the proude the laſte kynge of the Romains of Iulyus Ceſar. Rede ſuetonius in the lyfe of hym. ſo as they dyd Iulius Ceſar: moch more it ſhal be laufull for the Romaynes or the prouinces / to kyll him: whiche is ſucceded (ſo as it is) in to the roume / and ſtede of Conſtantyne. This thing / albeit that it is true: yet is it beyonde the bondes of my cauſe or mater. And therfore I wil refrayne and rule or meaſure my ſelfe. and I will inferre or conclude none other thīg at this tyme of theſe thinges afore reherced: but only / that it is peuiſſhnes or madneſſe / where the vyolence or force or armes is: there any man to allege or brīge in ye right or tytle of wordes (for ye ſame thīg which is gottē or wōnē wt warre: is alſo loſt againe wt batayle) & that by ſo moche the more / ſeing that other ſtraunge nations (as we haue herde ſay of ye gothes) whiche were neuer vnder thempier of Rome: haue wonne Italy / and many prouīces / and entred vpō them / driuyng out the olde inhabytaūtes / which now to be called agayne into ye [Page] ſeruitude / ī which they were neuer before: what right or equyte (I beſeche you) is it: namely theſe natyōs which haue cōquered into the ſeruytude of them / peraduēture: which haue ben cōquered? At which tyme if any cyties & nations (as we knowe it to haue ben done in very dede) beyng deſtituted & forſaken of the emperour of Rome: were cōſtrayned / at the cōmyng of the Barbarous pope / of nec [...]ſyte / to chuſe a king to thē ſelues / vnder whoſe gouernaūce they haue goten the vyctory: ſhulde they afterwardes depoſe him from his kīgedome? or ſhulde they be wyllīg & deſyer to haue his ſonnes lyue priuate / without any rule or auctorite (which are worthy to be fauoured / both for their fathers ſake / & alſo for their own vertue & manlynes) that their ſelues might be agayne vnder ye emperour of Rome? namely whan their ſelues ſhulde cōtynually nede the labour & dilygence of them: and ſhulde nat hope to haue helpe or ayde frō any where els? If Ceſar him ſelf / or Conſtātine / if he were alyue agayne / or alſo the ſenate and the people of Rome wolde call the mater to the cōmune iugemēt / ſuch as was ſome tyme the iugemente of the Amphictions in Grece lande:Rede the prouerbe Amphictiones. he ſhulde be put backe / & caſt forthwith at the fyrſt action: For that he dyd demaūde & clayme agayne in to the ſeruyce & bondage / thoſe men whom he being their gouernoure / had forſaken long ſyns / and which had lyued ſo longe ſeaſon vnder another prīce & gouernour / and which neuer had ben ſubiect / to a kinge of another coūtrey / & which fynally were men borne to lybertie / & which were reſtored in to lybertie / by the ſtrēgth & valyaūtnes bothe of mynde & body. So that it may cuydētly appere / if Ceſar / if the people of Rome / be excluded frō claymīg them agayne in to ſubiectiōs & ſeruytude: moch more than the pope is excluded frō making ſuche clayme. And if it be laufull for other nations / which were vnder Rome / either to create & make a kinge ouer them ſelues or to kepe & holde a cōmune welth: moche more it is laufull for the people of Rome to do the ſame thing / namely & agaīſt ye new & ſtraūg tyrāny of ye pope.

¶ The fy [...]th prīcipall parte & the laſt of this worke / [...] whiche it is ſhewed / yt the pope can nat make any p̄ ſcription [...]n thoſe thīges which he poſſeſſeth: howe ſo ouer longe tyme he hath had them in his poſſeſſyon.

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BIcauſe our aduerſaryes are nowe excluded frō defēdyng of the donation of Conſtātine / in as moche as there was neuer any ſuche donation made / and though there hadde ben / it ſhulde nowe haue ben deade / through the condition and ſtate of tymes: they do runne to another kynde of defence / & as you wolde ſay / forſakyng the cyte: they gette them ſelues into a caſtell or fortelage / which forthwith they ſhall be cō pelled to yelde vp: bycauſe their vytayles ſhall fayle them.Preſcription is / whan any mā hath had poſſeſſion of houſe or landes ſo longe tyme as any man alyue cā remembre as by the ſpace of an. c. yeres or more: The church of Rome (they ſaye) hathe made preſcription in thoſe thīges: which it poſſeſſeth. Why doth than the ſayde churche requyre & clayme againe thoſe thynges (which is the greater parte) in whiche it ſelfe hathe nat made preſcription / & in which other men hath preſcribed? excepte it be nat laufull for other men / to do the ſame thynge to the pope: whiche it is laufull for him / to do to other men. The churche of Rome (you ſay) hath preſcrybed. Why dothe ſhe than gyue ſo greatly care and dilygence / to haue her ryght & tytle to ofte cōfirmed of the emperours? why doth the ſayde church than boſt the donation / and the confirmation of the emperours: if this thynge alone (that is to wit / preſcription) were ſuffycient? Thou doeſt iniury to it: if thou doeſt nat kepe ſylence of the other ryght or tytle alſo. Why doeſt thou nat than kepe ſylence of the one? Verely / bycauſe this alone is nat ſuffyciēt.

Malae fidei poſſeſſio.

Stulfae fidei poſſeſſio.

Ignorantia facti.

Thou ſayeſt ye church of Rome hath p̄ ſcribed. How can ye church of Rōe haue made p̄ſcription: wher ther is none euydēce or certētie of any rizyogh;t title / but onely a falſe & vniuſt poſſeſſion / or els if thou doſt deny yt it is a vniuſt poſſeſſion and of yuell faith / forſoth you can nat deny it to haue ben a poſſeſſion of foliſſhe faith or credēce. Ought the ignorāce / as they cal it: Facti et iuris to be holden excuſed ī ſo gret a mater: & ſo open & manyfeſt / ye ignorāce of ye dede / I call [Page] nat to knowe that Conſtātyne dyd neuer gyue Rome & the prouynces / wherof to be ignoraūte: [...]s a poynt [...] of an idyate or vnlerned man / & nat of a pope. Ignoraunce of the right / Ignorantia Iuris I meane / nat to knowe that thoſe thīges coulde neither be gyuen of the one parte: neither b [...] receyued of the other parte / wherof to be ignoraunte is a poynt of him that is ſcarſely a Chriſten man. Shall than the folyſſhe credulyte or lyghtnes of gyueng credence / cauſe the to haue right and tytle in thoſe thinges: which / if thou haddeſt ben wiſer / ſhulde neuer haue ben thyne? What? Shalte thou nat nowe at the leaſt wyſe loſe that right & tytle (if thou haddeſt any at al) ſeing that I haue declared ſo playnly / that it was longe of ignoraunce & folyſſhneſſe: that thou dyddeſt poſſeſſe them? And that thīg whiche ignoraunce leudly and wrongfully hath gyuē to the: ſhall nat knowledge well and rightfully take agayn ye ſame a way frō the? And ſhall nat the bonde man or prentyce retourne agayne from the uniuſt lorde / to the right maiſter? ye [...] peraduenture euyn with the frute and profyte whiche thou haſt taken / by the occupyeng and vſyng of him? For if thou doeſt contynue & holde on to poſſeſſe them yet ſtyll: now thyne ignoraunce is tourned into malyce & fraude or gyle / and thou arte playnly and vtterly made (as they call it in latyne tonge) Malae fidei poſſeſſor / that is to ſay / a poſſeſſor of euyll faith / in as moch as thou knoweſt yt he had no right to gyue thoſe thynges / which thou poſſeſſeſt: of whom thou dyddeſt receyue them. you dyd ſay / that ye church of Rome hath preſcribed.

Nota.O vnlerned foles / O you ignoraunt perſons & vnſkylled of goddes lawe. No nombre of yeres / be it neuer ſo great: can abolyſſhe or wipe away the true and iuſt tytle. In cauſe it were ſo / that I had ben taken priſoner of the Barbarions / and had ben ſuppoſed verely to haue ben deed / if now after an hundreth yeres in which I had ben priſoner / I dyd retourne agayne in to myne owne countrey: ſhall I be excluded therfore from claymyng and makyng tytle to the inherytaunce / which my father hathe lefte me? what [Page] thinge can be more cruell / and more cōtrary to all humanite: than this? And to brynge you ſome example.

Whan the chyldrē or ſōnes of Ammon / dyd requyre and clayme agayne the lande / from the coſtes or borders of Arnon euyn vnto Iabue / and vnto the ryuer Iordane: dyd Iepthe the captayne of Iſraell make anſwere in this wyſe to them. The iſraelytes haue preſcribed now by the ſpace of thre hūdred yeres? or dyd he ſhewe that the lāde which they claymed: had / neuer ben poſſeſſed of them / but of the Amorreanes? and that this was an euydente argument or profe / that the ſayde lande dyd nat belonge to the Ammonites: ſeyng that within the cōpaſſe of ſo many yeres / they had neither claymed nor demaunded it agayne. The churche of Rome hathe preſcrybed.Preſcription is made only of dumbe & vnreſonable thynges. Holde thy peace wicked & miſcheuouſe tonge. Thou doeſt tranſlate preſcryption / whiche is made onely of doumbe thinges and vnreſonable: vnto man / whom by how moch the longer they haue poſſeſſed in ſeruytude and bondage: ſo moch the more deteſtable their poſſeſſiō is. Byrdes / and wylde beeſtes / wyll nat that any preſcryptyon be made vpon them ſelues, but how ſo euer longe tyme they haue ben had in poſſeſſyon: yet whan they lyſt / and occaſyon ſhall be offred to them: they do go away. and ſhall it nat be laufull for a man of whom another man hath had the poſſeſſyon: lyke wyſe to go away from him / as the birde or wylde beſt dothe? Herken nowe a thyng / wherby the fraude or gyle of popes / rather than the ignoraunce of theym may appere. which done vſe to be tryed and iuged by warre and batayle: and nat by right and lawe.Popes wyll trye their ryght by warre & nat by the lawe. And I ſuppoſe verily / that the fyrſt popes in takyng poſſeſſyon / and entryng vpon the cyte of Rome / and the other townes / dyd in moch lyke maner faciō. A lytel before I was borne (I take recorde of them / whiche were preſente and do remēbre it well ynough) Rome toke or receyued the empier rule / and gouernaūce / or rather the tyrāny of the pope / where long afore that tyme / it had ben free: by a ſtraūge kynde of fraude or gyle / ſuche as hath nat ben herde of herafore. The [Page] pope at the tyme of whom I do ſpeke: was Boniface the nynth / The fraude & crafte of pope Boniface the ix. nat inferiour in wickednes to Boniface the viii. pere & egall to Boniface ye eyght / in fraude & in name / if it be to that they are to be called Bonifacii: that is to ſay good doers: Qui peſſime faciūt / that is to ſaye / whiche are moſt euyll & ſhrode doers. And whan the Romayns / after yt they had perceyued the fraude & gyle / were angry in their myndes / & diſcontente amōge them ſelues:Tarquin Boniface ye pope / after the maner of Tarquiniꝰ ſtroke of all the higheſt heddes of ye popies or cheſſebouls with a rodde or wāde ſo cauſed he the hedes of them to be ſtricken of / which were of moſt might & power. which thyng / whā Innocēcius / A propre & ſemely acte for a pope to do. which ſucceded wolde haue counterfayted and folowed: he was driuen or chaſed out of the cyte. I wyll nat ſpeke of other popes / Innocentius the vii. was driuen out of Rome. which haue alwaies holden Rome oppreſſed by vyolence & force of armes. Albeit / as ofte as it myght: it hathe alwayes rebelled / as ſyx yeres ago / whā it coulde nat optayn peace of Eugenius / neither the enemies had peace / whiche dyd beſege it: it ſelfe alſo beſeged ye pope within his owne houſe / Eugenius the iiii. of that name was fame [...]o di [...]gyſe hī ſelfe in a monkes coule / & ſo to ſaue the water of Tybi [...] / the Romayns ſho [...]g & [...]owyng ſtones after him. & wolde nat ſuffre him to go from thēce afore that either he dyd make peace with ye enemyes: or els wolde remitte and releaſe the adminiſtration & gouernaūce of the Cytie to ye citizens / But he choſe raither to forſake the cytie / diſgyſyng him ſelfe in the habite or wede of another man / & hauyng but one to wayte vpon him: than to do pleaſure to the citizens / which deſired nothynge of him / but ſuche thynges as were agreable to ryght & equite / which if they were put to free choyſe: who doth not know / but that they wolde choſe rather lybertie / than thraldome & bondage. It pleaſeth me to deme & iuge the ſame of other cities: which be retayned and holden in ſeruitude of the pope / by whom they ought to haue ben deliuered frō thraldome. It were to longe a thyng to reherce howe many cities ye people of Rome hath made free: which they dyd wynne & take of their enemyes / Titus flaminius. in ſo moch that Titus Flaminius did bydde or wyll all Grecelā de which had ben in ſubiectiō vnder Antiochus: to be free / & to vſe their owne lawes. But the pope / as we [Page] may euydētly ſe) lyeth in wayte all ye euer he can: to begyle peoples / & to ſpoyle thē of their lyberty.The pope ſtudieth as moche as he can to brynge all men into bōndage & thraldome. And therfore they lykewyſe agayne of their parte / whan they haue occaſyon offred: do rebell (take exāple herof euen nowe of Bonony) whiche if at any tyme / of their owne accorde / which thing is poſſyble ynough to haue chaūced) & with good wyll / they dyd cōſente to the papale empier / by the reaſon of ſome great ieoperdy yt was towardes them / & nere at hande from other outnations & people: it is nat yet ſo to be vnderſtāded & taken / that they dyd cōſente to make thēſelues bōdmen / ſo yt they myght neuer withdrawe their neckes from vnder the yoke / & ſo that they alſo: whiche ſhulde be borne afterwardes: ſhulde nat be at lyberty / neither haue any power ouer their owne ſelues for this were ouer moch agaynſt right & reaſon. We come to the / O pope / of oure owne free wylles: that thou ſhuldeſt gouerne vs. Now agayne of our owne free wylles / we do go frō the & forſake the / that thou ſhuldeſt gouerne vs no lenger. If thou thynke that we be any thynge in thy dette: let accompte be made of ſuche thinges as haue ben gyuen & receyued / both of thy parte & of ours. But thou wylte gouerne vs ſpite of our tethe / & whether we will or no / as though we were wardes / or chyldren vnder full age. and yet peraduēture we coulde gouerne the more wyſely: thā thou cāneſt gouerne vs. Beſydes this / many iniuries and great wronges are done verye oftymes to this cytye: by the and thyne heed officers / we take god to recorde / Iniurye conſtrayneth vs to rebelle / & to go from the: as it dyd cauſe the childrē of Iſraell in olde tyme to rebelle agaynſt Roboam.3. Regū. 2 And what ſo great iniurie / or how great a portion of our calamite was that / I meane to pay to ſore or greuouſe tributes?The Roma is haue farre gretter cauſe / to rebelle agaynſt the pope: than the Iſraelytes had agaynſte Roboam. For what if thou do euacuate / empoueriſhe & cōſume the ſubſtaunce of our cōmune weale? Thou haſt done ſo / what if thou doſt ſpoyle or robbe churches? Thou haſt ſpoyled thē / what if thou doſt defloure virgyns & defyle wyues? Thou haſt done it wtout fayle / what if thou doſt embrue the cytie with the blode of ye cytizens [Page] cauſīg them to make batayle & warre amōg thē ſelfe / one with another? Thou haſt nat fayled to do ſo. Ought we to ſuffre thoſe thīges? or els rather / ſeyng that thou haſt ceaſſed to be a fader to vs: ſhal we alſo forget / yt we be thy ſōnes? This people called yt to them & choſe the pope / for to be a father. or (if this do pleaſe & delyte ye more) to be a lorde or gouernour vnto thē / nat to be an enemy & a tyrānouſe murtherer of them. And thou wilt nat play ye father or the lorde & gouernour: but ye enemy & the tourmētour. We / albeit yt we myght rightfully folowe ye enſāple of thy cruelte & impiete / cōſydering ye extreme iniuries whiche thou doeſt to vs: yet yt natwithſtādīg / for as moch as we be chriſten men / we wyll nat. Neither wyll we be reuēged vpon the with ye ſwerde / takīg thy lyfe from the: but onely diſpoſīg the / we wyll choſe to vs another father or lorde. The ſōnes may fle or rōne away from their parētes / of whō they were begottē: if the ſayde parētes be euyll & cruell. And ſhall it nat be laufull for vs to fle frō the: which art nat our very & naturall father / but onely a father adoptyue & by electiō (for ye it pleaſeth vs to choſe & call ye thervnto) & whiche doeſt intreate vs in the worſt & moſt cruell maner & facyon? And medle thou / & take thou care for the ordryng of ſuch thīges / which do belonge to ye offyce of a preeſt:Eſaie 14. & be nat in mīde or wyll / to buylde the a ſeate in the north. and from thence to thūdre & throw forthe flaming lyghtenīgꝭ / vpon this people / & other. But what nedeth me to make any mo wordes in this thīg / which is moſt open & euydent? I ſay playnly to abyd by it / nat only yt Conſtātine neuer gaue ſo great thinges / nat onely yt the pope of Rome coulde nat preſcribe in ye ſame thīges: but alſo in caſe that the one had gyuen / & the other had preſcribed: yet that nothynge withſtāding / I ſaye / that bothe theſe rightꝭ or tytles are loſt & deſtroyed / The fountaine [...] and originall cauſe of the ruine and decaye of Italye. through ye abhomynable offēces & crymes of ye poſſeſſours. For as moch as we do ſe / that ye calamite / decaye / & ruine / or deſtruction of al Italy / & of many prouīces: hathe flowen out of this one foūtayne & ſprīge alone. If the foūtaine be bitter in it ſelfe: the riuer or ſtreame / that cometh from it / [Page] muſt nedes alſo be bitter / if the roote be vnclene & poiſoned: ye braūches muſt nedes be lykewyſe poyſoned.Iacobi .3. So contrary wyſe agayn / if ye ryuer or ſtreme be bitter: ye foūtayne or ſprynge is to be ſtopped vp / if the braūches be vnclene & vnholſome: the faute cometh frō the roote. Si miſſa ſācta non eſt delibatio quo (que) abomināda eſt. May we brīge forth & allege ye on̄ation of the papale power for right & lawe: which we do ſe to be ye cauſe of ſo great ſines / & of ſo great miſcheuouſe euylles / of all kindes & ſortes? wherfore I do ſay / & alſo do cry out with loude voyce (for I wyl nat feare men: putting my confydēce & truſte in god:Pſal. 117 that there hath ben no pope in my tyme / which in his popedome hath ben either a faythfull or a wyſe diſpē ſatour / Mat. 24 Lucae. 12. & which alſo nat only hath nat giuen meate & brede to the houſehold ſeruaūtes of god: but alſo hath deuoured thē. The pope both him ſelfe maketh warre vpon people / which are in quietnes & peace / The pope ſoweth the ſede of diſcorde & debate. & alſo ſoweth debates & ſtri [...]fes betwen cities & prices. The pope bothe thriſteth or gredily deſyreth the ryches or goodes of other men: & ſuppeth of his own (beyng as Achilles ſayd againſt Agamēnon) a kīge / Are nat theſe very apo [...]to [...] call vertues. the deuourer of the peoples ſubſtaūce. The pope nat only ſelleth & getteth lucre & aduātage by ye cōmune weale / which thīg neither Verres / neither Catilyne / The pope ſelleth all thynges / the comune weale / the ſacramentes / the eccleſiaſticall offyces / yee / & the holy ghoſte to / for money. nether any other robber of ye cōmune weale / wolde haue ben hardy or bolde to do: but alſo he ſelleth ye ſacramētes & the offyces of the church. ye / & the holy ghoſt alſo / which thīge / ye Symon ye inchaūtour doth deteſtate & defye. And whan he is admonyſſhed of theſe thīges & rebuked therfore of certayn good mē: he doth nat deny theſe thīges / but opēly cōfeſſeth & knowlegeth thē / ye / & alſo boſteth & reioyſeth therof / ſayeng yt it is laufull for hī / by all maner wayes & meanes / to extorte & wreſt out ye patrimony of ye churche / which was gyuē by Cōſtātyne: frō the hādes of thē / which violētly do holde it in theyr poſſeſſion. As who ſhulde ſay / that if that were recouered & gotten agayn: y• than the chriſten religion ſhulde be bleſſed and happy / and nat rather more oppreſſed & ouerwhelmed with all ſynnes / [Page] ryotous ſuꝑ [...]uitees / & lechery (if it be poſſyble to be more oppreſſed: than it is. & that there ſhall be place lefte for mo miſcheuouſe ſīnes:The goodes / which the pope getteth ſinfully / and vngratiouſly: he ſpendeth more vngratiouſly & wickedly than are alredy. Therfore / for the recoueryng & wīnyng agayn of the other mēbres & partes of the donaton / the money which he taketh euyll away from good men: he ſpendeth moch worſe / and noriſſheth & mayntayneth hoſtes and armes of horſemen & fotemen / which do noyſaunce and hurtes to all men, where as Chriſt in the meane ſeaſō dyeth in ſo many thouſādes of poore men / for lacke of foode & clothyng. Neither perceyueth he (O pituous caſe) whā he laboureth to take from the ſeculars ſuch thynges / as appertayneh to them: that they lykewyſe agayne of their parte / either are induced or brought in minde through the moſt vngratiouſe exāple of the pope. or els are conſtrayned & cōpelled through neceſſyte (albeit it is no true neceſſyte) to take away from the eccleſyaſtycall perſons / ſuch goodes & poſſeſſions as do belonge and appertayne vnto them. So than there is no relygion or holynes / anywhere. No vertuouſe lyuyng. No drede of god. and (which thynge alſo maketh me to ſheuer & quake now / to reherce it) all wicked & myſcheuouſe ſynners / Eſaie. 36. do take the excuſation of all their ſynnes & vyces from the pope. At him / At the pope & his folowers / do all abominable ſinners fetche the enſample / & alſo the excuſatiō of their wretched & noughty lyfe. & in his wayters on: is the enſāple of all ſinne and miſchef. ſo that we may ſay with Eſaia & Paule agaynſt the pope / & thoſe yt be next the pope. By you: the name of god is blaſphemed among the gentils / you yt do teache other men: you do not teache your ſelues / you yt do preache & teache opēly / yt no mā ought to ſteale / or to be a thefe: your ſelues are opē robbers you yt do abhorre / hate / & defye Idoles: do your ſelues cōmytte ſacrilege / Roma. 2. you which do bragge & boſte / reioyſyng in the lawe / & in the offyce of a byſſhoppe: by the trāſgreſſion & brekyng of the lawe / you do diſhonour god / Ouer moche welth & aboū daunce of ryches deſtroied the valiauntnes of the Romayns. whiche is the very byſhoppe / wherfore if the people of Rome / by the reaſon of ouer gret plē ty of ryches: loſt that true Romanite / & very manlyneſſe & valyauntnes / ſo greatly renoumed and dredde of all nations. If Salomon alſo through ouer moch [Page] aboundance of ryches / fell in to Idolatrye for the loue of women:3. Regū. 11 do we nat ſuppoſe the ſame thynge to be done & brought to paſſe in the pope & other clerkes? And yet we do afterwardes wene / ye god wolde ſuffre Sylueſter / to receyue the thynge: that ſhulde be the matter & occaſyon of ſynnīg. I wyll nat ſuffre this wrong & eniurie to be done to the moſt good and vertuouſe biſſhoppe: that he ſhalbe reported & ſayde to haue receyued & taken empiers / kyngdoms / & prouynces: whiche thynges euen they alſo are wonte to renounce: which deſyer / & are in wyll to be made clerkes. Sylueſter had but a fewe thinges in poſſeſſyon / Silueſter and the other holy popes were but ſmall poſſeſſioners. & ye other popes were but ſmall poſſeſſioners: whoſe viſage & ſyght was had in gret worſhippe & reuerēce euen of the enemyes / as for exāple the aſpecte of that pope Leo / which dyd put in feare / ye / & ouercome the cruell & ferce mynde of the barbarouſe kinge:Pope Leo the .9. whom the puyſaunce & power of the Romayns / neither was able to breake and ouercome: neither yet to make afrayde. But the popes of late tyme / that is to wytte / flowing in riches & pleaſurs: ſeme to labour & enforce thē ſelues hervnto only / that as moch as ye olde popes were wyſe & holy: ſo moche their ſelues may be both wicked and folyſſhe / Our popes of late tyme / [...] dy to be as [...]erre excellent in wickednes & folye: as the old popes were excellent [...] vertue, wy [...] dome. and that with all ſhamefull vyces: they may paſſe and ouercome the exellent and commendable vertues of them / what Chriſten man is he: that can ſuffre theſe thynges with a pacient & a quiete mynde? But I in this my fyrſte oration / wyl nat exhorte & cal vpon princes and peoples / that they ſhulde ſtoppe and inhibite the pope / whiche conneth at large with an vnbridled & vnruly courſe / and that they ſhulde compelle him / to reſte & to abyde within his owne boundes or meares: but onely / that they do admoniſſhe him / for paraduenture now that he ſhall ones haue knowlege of the trouth: he ſhal of his own free will gete hīſelfe forth frō another mānes houſe in to his owne houſe / & from the outragiouſe waues or belawes / & cruell tēpeſtes or ſtormes: īto ye porte or hauē. But if he wyl refuſe ſo to do: thā ſhal we buckle & prepayre our ſelues / to ye makyng of another oration [Page] moch more ferce & cruell than this.O the charitable and godlye wiſſhe of Valla. Wolde god that I myghte ones (for there is no thynge / that I do more longe for) ſe it brought to paſſe / & that namely by my coūſayle: that the pope were only the vicare of Chriſt and nat alſo the vicare of the emperour / and that this horryble ſayeng may be no more herde. The church fyghteth & warreth agaynſt ye peruſians. The churche fyghteth againſt the people of Bonony. It is nat the churche that fyghteth or warreth agaynſt Chriſtē men:Epheſ. 6. but it is the pope / that ſo doth. The church fighteth agaynſt wycked ſpirites in the regiōs of the ayre Than ſhall the pope both be called: & alſo be in very dede / an holy father / the father of all men / the father of the churche / neither ſhall he than raiſe or ſtyrre vp warres & batayles among Chriſten men: but he ſhall alay & ceaſſe the warres / which haue bē ſtirred vp by other: by his apoſtolike cenſure & papall maieſtie.

¶ Thus endeth the declamation of Laurence Valla: agaynſte the forged priuilege / called the donation of Conſtantyne.

¶ The ſentence & mynde of Nicholas of Cuſa / cardinall by the tytle of ſaynt Peter ad vincula: concernyng ye donation of Conſtātine / which ſentēce he wrote to the councell aſſēbled at Baſile in the thirde boke ye ſecōd cha. of the catholyke concordaūce & agremēt.

ONe thynge I can nat paſſe ouer with ſylence: becauſe it is the vndouted & aſſured ſentēce / wel nere of all men / that Conſtātine thēperour dyd gyue for euer the empier of the weſte / to Silueſter pope of Rome / & to his ſucceſſours / whiles the worlde ſhall contynue. And therfore / all though the reaſon & argumēt of the vnite of the prīcypall regente & gouernour (which is / that it is agaynſt ryght & good ordre / that there ſhuld be two hedes or prīcipal gouernours) did nat cōclude: yet neuer theleſſe / it ſhulde be open & euident / that there can be none emperour ryghtfully in ye weſt: excepte he wolde aknowlege his empier to be [Page] dependently of the pope. I haue ſerched out this rote as dilygently as I coulde / preſuppoſing this thinge alſo to be vndouted and of ſurety: that Conſtantyne might haue made ſuch gyfte or graunte / whiche queſtion for al that / neither hath ſoyled hytherto: neither by all lykelyhode ſhall euer be ſolued. But in very trouthe I meruayle excedyngly / if that thynge be of trouth & matter in dede:The donatiō of Conſtantyne is nat foū de ī any autē tical bokes or in any approued hiſtories that it is nat foūde in autenticall bokes / and in approued hiſtories. I haue red / and red again / all ye ieſtes or acres of the emperours / & the hiſtories of the popes of Rome: which I could fynde. and the workes of ſaynt Ierom: whiche was moſte dilygente / to make collection or gaderinge of all thinges. the workes alſo of Auguſtyne / Ambroſe / and of dyuerſe other very well learned men. I haue tourned ouer & ouer agayne / the thynges done in the holy and worſhipfull councels / which haue ben ſyns the coūcels called Conſiliū nicenū. and yet can I nat fynde any thinge / that doth agre & accorde with thoſe thinges which are red / cōcernyng the ſayd donation.

Holy Damaſus the pope / Damaſus [...] pope at [...] Iheromes [...]queſte: dyd [...] write the actes of his predeceſſours▪ is ſayde at the inſtaūce & requeſt of ſaynte Ierome: to haue ſet forth the actes and dedes of his predeceſſours. in whoſe worke / ther is no ſuche thynge founde: as is cōmunely reported & talked of Silueſter the pope. It is redde in certayne hiſtories: that Conſtantine was baptized of Silueſter. and that the ſame emperour dyd meruaylouſly adourne and decke thoſe .iii. churches / of ſaynt Iohn̄ of ſaynt Peter / & of ſaynt Paule / & that he gaue many yerely rentes & reuenues out of certayn percels of lande / in diuerſe prouinces & Ilandes: for the mayntenyng & vpholdīg of the garniſſhyng & adournynge of laumpes / of baulme / & of the precious oyntemēt of pure narde / & of other thynges / of all which thynges a man ſhall fynde ꝑticulare mētion made in the boke of popes / But cōcernyng the donation of the tēporall dominion / of the empier of the weſt: there is nothyng at all therein cōtayned.Aſtulphus kī ge of Lombardye. But we rede ye after Aſtulphus kynge of Lombardy had takē by force the dominion & gouernaūce of Rauenna & many other places / [Page] And pope Steuen the ſecōd of ye name beīg a romain borne (whoſe fathers name was Cōſtātyne) by many ambaſſadours ſēte to Aſtulphus / Steuen the .ii anoynted pipin the kynge of Fraunce. had requyred yt the places ſhulde be reſtored to ye emperiall diction or dominion / & Aſtulphus wolde nat in any wiſe cōſent ſo to do: Steuen wēt to Pipine / & anoynted him & his two ſōnes kynges. There was alſo an ambaſſadour of ye emperours / ſēte with ye ſame Steuen. & they optayned & gotte graūt of Pipine: that he ſhulde brīge Aſtulphus in mīde / to reſtore ye places to the empier. Pipine ſēte ambaſſadours to Aſtulphe / but all that auayled nat. Wherfore bycauſe he coulde nat by that meane optayne of Aſtulphe / yt reſtytution ſhulde be made: he made promiſe to Steuen / yt him ſelfe wold by force of armes take them from Aſtulphe / & that he wolde gyue thē to ſaīte Peter. Whan ye emꝑours ambaſſadour had herde this: he retourned home agayn / Pipin ꝑfourmed & fulfylled thoſe thynges whiche he had ꝓmyſed / and the fourme and maner of this donation or gyfte / is cōtayned in ye actes of ye aforſaid Steuen / Pope zachari the fyrſt depoſed Hilderike the kynge of Fraūce [...] & trāſlated the ſayd kyngdome to Pipin frō the [...]. & alſo the ꝑticulare names of all ye thynges / whiche were geuē. zacharie the pope did trāſlate the monarchie or kyngdome of Fraūce vnto Pipin depoſīg fyrſt & puttyng downe Hilderike the kynge whereof it is redde / in the .xv. cauſe & ye .vi. queſtion. Alins. &c. & in ye gloſe Venerabilē. By the reaſon herof / I ſuppoſe. ye Pipin from thēce forth did fauour the apoſtolike ſee. Afterwardes Deſiderius kynge of Lōbardie warme & recouered agayn by force of armes / thoſe cyties or ſome of thē: [...] in the tyme of Adrian / Adrian the pope ſēdyng many embaſadours vnto hī: required & demaūded agayn of him the right of ſaint Peter / but he could nat optayne.Adrian [...]. Than Charlemayne / of whom Adrian deſired ayde and ſocour: recouered the cyties & gaue thē agayn to ſaint Peter / Charlemayn recouered the cyties agayn: whiche Deſiderius with helde: & gaue therin to the pope by a ſolēpne gyfte or graūte / which is contayned in the actes of the ſayd Adrian pope. By theſe thynges it is euydēte / yt Conſtā tine dyd nat gyue the empier to the pope: by the duke dome of Rauenna / the cyte of Rome / & the weſt / whereof we do rede / that contynually euyn vntil ye times [Page] aforeſayd: the emperours did with full ryght poſſeſſe Rome / Rauenna / & Marchia / Places in the popes lawe: that make plaīly againſt the donation of Cōſtātine. with many other places / euyn ſo as they had before. And this is proued by the texte in the .xcvi. diſtīction. Bene quidē &c. where it is ſpokē of Patritius which was gouernour or captayne in the name of kyng Adoacre / & in the lxiii. diſtīction. Agatho &c. And in the xcvi.Rede that texte Cum ad verum. diſtīction Cū ad verū &c. And we do rede alſo / that ye popes of Rome did confeſſe the emꝑours to be lordes / for Agatho the pope / Agatho the fyrſte / & Conſtātine the iiii aſſembled the vi. ſynode at Cōſtātinople of ccixxx. byſſhoppes. writeth vnto Conſtātine the emꝑour (which gathered or aſſēbled the vi. ſynode & foloweth many yeres after the fyrſte of that name) how the cyte of Rome is the ſeruyle cyte of the emperour. And Boniface the pope / writeth to Honorius ye emꝑour / that him ſelfe ought to gouerne the benefice of the church of Rome in ſpiritual thīges: but the emperour ought to gouerne the tēporal thynges / & in the ende he ſaith.Bonifac. 1 that Rome is the cyte of his manſuetude or mildenes This texte is red in the xCi, diſtīcion / Eccleſiae. &c.The emperours were alwayes in poſſeſſion of [...] theſe thynges neither dyd the popes euer make any clayme to an [...] percels of the afore [...]he tim [...] of Pipin and pope Steuen the ſeconde. And (that I may ſpeke brefly) I neuer red the cōtrary in any place: but ye euermore vntyll the tyme of the aforeſayde Pipine: the emperour remayned in poſſeſſion of the places afore named. Neither coulde I yet any where rede / yt euer any of the popes preſumed to haue any ryght or tytle / by ye name of ſaīt Peter / in the ſayd places: vntill the tyme of Steuen ye .ii. pope of that name. Theſe thynges I beleue to be true: nat withſtādyng ye famouſe opinion of the contrary / which is redde in Palea the xcvi. diſtītion / Conſtātinꝰ &c for without doute if that wrytyng had nat bē apochriphe:Gratiā knew no thynge of the donation of Cōſtātine / & therfore it is nat put in the olde decrees of his collection. Gratianus ſhulde haue foūde it in the olde bokes & collections of the canones / but becauſe he dyd nat fynde it: therfore he did nat put it theri / wherfore thoſe thynges whiche he hath added afterwardes he put that fayned ſcripture for chaffe: euyn ſo as we do finde many other thīges of the apocriphe writyngꝭ to be writtē in our bokes / I haue alſo foūde this writīg ſet forth of lenght / in a certayn boke: which cōtayneth moche more than that / which is put in the decrees / in the place afore alledged / & whan I had dilygētly examined [Page] it: I foūde of ye ſelfe ſame ſcripture many manyfeſte & euidēt argumētes & tokēs of the forgynge & falſehed of the ſame / whiche nowe to reherce here: it ſhulde be bothe tedyouſe & alſo vnprofytable. This alſo is to be marked / yt the aforſayd writyng Cōſtatinꝰ &c.The chapi. in the decrees / Cōſtātinꝰ. &c. is takē of the legēde of ſaīt Silueſter. which is had in the xcvi. diſtīction: is extract & drawen out of the legēde of ſaint Silueſter / & he whiche dyd put ye texte in ye decree: groūdeth the auctorite of it / vpō the approbation & alowyng of Galaſius in the Sinode / I pray you loke vpon that approbation in the xv.A goodly and a worſhipfull approbation. diſtinction. Sancta Romana. &c. & it ſhal be foūde of ſmall ſtrēgth / for he ſaith. that the author therof is vnknowē / & yet yt nat wtſtandyng / that it is redde among catholyke mē / & therfore that it may be redde / what maner apꝓbation this is: euery mā may conſidre / There a [...] many & ſondrye [...] of ſaint Silueſter. for there are many hiſtories of ſaint Silueſter. One / in ye which this is nat foūde / which hiſtori Damaſus the pope made. Another / whoſe authour is nat knowē / which the texte ſaith nat to be true: but that it may be redde neither ſayth ye texte / yet yt this thinge is cōtayned therin. Alſo ye olde aunciēt bokes of ye decrees / hath nat yt text / but only vnto ye ꝑagraffe It [...] ̄ decreta romano (rum) pōtificū. &c. īcluſiuely. And ſo this ꝑagraffe of ye hiſtori of Sil.Pope Martin. 1 is nat foūde in thoſe bokes. Alſo ye fifth vniuerſal Synode / which maketh mētion of ye apꝓbate bokes of al lerned authors / & of ye approued ſcriptures:Paulus & Sergius heretikes moreouer ye Synode of Martin ye pope / which was made agaynſt ye aſſertiō of thē which ſaid yt there was but one wyl in Chriſt (yt is to wit / agaīſt Paulus & Sergius) renuyng ye approued ſcriptures / as I my ſelf haue ſeen: maketh no mētiō of theſe hiſtories / neither yet any other apꝓued author / or ſuch as is accōpted for a true author / Vincēt [...]ꝰ. yt euer I ſawe maketh any mētion of thē. I haue redde ī Vincent in ye xxiiii.Conſtantine▪ as ſaint Ierome ſayth) [...] his wy [...] [...] dayes [...] boke of hiſtories in the ende / after the mīde of ſaynt Ierome: ye Cōſtātine cruelly dyd ſlee his wyfe Fauſta & his ſōne Criſpus. And that at ye later ēde of his lyfe / after yt he had ben baptyzed of Euſebius byſſhop of Nichomedia: he declyned to ye hereſie of ye Arrians / frō which tyme (as ſaynt Ierome ſaith (ſpoylyng & robbrie of churches / & ye diſcord / debate / & ſtrife [Page] of the whole world hath folowed / euyn vntyl this p̄ſēt tyme. Theſe thīges manifeſtly do repugne / & ar plaī ly contrarye to ye boke of the actes of Silueſter / whiche boke Vincentius ſaith to haue ben tranſlated out of Greke by a certayn man / whoſe name he knoweth nat / as it is had in the ſame boke in the ix. chap. who wolde nat rather gyue credence to Ierome / whiche is an approued authour: than to ye writyngꝭ of an vnknowen authour / which therfore are called Apochriphe ſcriptures? The texte alſo / which is aſcribed to Melchiades ye pope / whiche is had in the .xii. cauſe & the firſt queſtiō / Futurā. &c. which texte ſemeth to be ſomwhat agaīſt this ſayeng: Is nat ye texte of Melchiades / after ye mīde of a certayne gloſe / & alſo accordyng to ye very trouth.Melchiades predeceſſour to Silueſter For Melchiades was p̄deceſſour to Silueſter / as it appereth in ye cataloge of the popes of Rome. And if Cōſtātine was baptyzed of Sylueſter / accordīg to ye commune noyſe & fame: thā it is euydēt / that ye tytle of ye texte is falſe. For it maketh mētion of ye baptiſme of Cōſtātine. And albeit that ye ſayd texte had ben writtē by Melchiades: yet coulde nat therof any argumēt or profe he takē agaīſt the p̄miſſes / for it ſayth nothīg els / but ye Conſtātine forſoke ye emꝑiall place of Rome / & graūted it to Peter & to his ſucceſſours / that is to ſay / yt wher ſōtyme was ye emꝑiall ſeate: there is now ye papall ſee.Conſtanly was Chri [...]t ī Melchia [...] his tyme [...]ter the myn of ſaynt Auguſtyne. which thīge no mā denyeth. And trouth it is / that Cōſtātine thēperour was in ye time of Melchiades ye pope / and that he was thā chriſten. as it is red in the workes of ſaint Auguſtīe in many places: & namely in ye epiſtle to Glorius & Eluſyus / which beguineth in this wiſe.

Dixit quidā aplolus. &c. & this alſo agreeth wt the mīde of ſaīt Ierome. I haue ſeē alſo ye decre of Leo the pope in ye ſinode holdē at Rōe / Leo the .viii. reſtored to Otto all the landes which Pipin Charles & Roberto had gyuen to the church Rome. wt the ſubſcription of the biſſhoppes & clerkes / & of the cytizēs of Rome / where Leo ye pope reſtored to Otho the firſt / all ye places which had ben gyuē by ye kīges / Pipyn / Charles / & Roberte / to ſaīt Peter. And all ye ſayd places ar named in ye ſame decre / but ther is no mētion made of ye donation of Cōſtātine. In my iugemēte thoſe textes cōcernīg Cōſtātine: ar apocriphe & of non auctorite.

¶ Antonine ye archebiſſhoppe of Florence / ſaith / as here foloweth: in ye eyghte tytle / the ſecōde chapitour the eyghte paragraffe / of the fyrſt parte hiſtoriall.

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THe thyrde dout is of the donatiō or gyft made to the churche by Conſtātine / of the which donation / mētion is made in the decrees / the xCvi. diſtīction Cōſtātinꝰ. But that chapitour is nat foūde in the olde & aūciēt boke of the decrees. Therfore what & how moch he gaue: it is nat very certayne. but neuer the leſſe it ſemeth at the leſt wiſe to be that: which Ludouyke kīge of Fraūce & emꝑour / Lewes ye mylde. ꝓmyſeth vnder othe to Paſchalis ye pope: & to his ſucceſſours. wherof mētion is made in the .lxiii. diſtīction / Ego Ludouicus. &c. & which Otto the fyrſt emꝑour of the Germayns / doth confirme to Iohn̄ the pope / in the ſame diſtīction / Tibi. &c. But yet euen to this day / it is a great queſtion amonge the Canoniſtes & lawyers: whether ye donation & gyfte hath holden. which thīge the Canoniſtes do vtterly affyrme / & the diuynes do more confirme. And yt it was no plaine donation: but rather a reſtitution made to the churche of her owne [...]ght: For as moch as all thīges are of the dominion if Chriſt: whoſe vicare the pope is in erthe. but the other thīges he hath dimyſſed & lefte to the temporall [...]ordes.

¶Raphaell Volaterrane in the lyfe of great Conſtā tyne: writeth thus / as foloweth.

OF the gyfte or graūt of Conſtātine▪ there is no mētion made in any authours / ſaue onely in the boke of decrees. And yt the ſayd donation or graūt is nat cōtayned in the aūciēt volumes of the olde tyme. Antonie biſhop of Florēce witneſſeth in his cronicles

❀ Here endeth the donation of Conſtantine.

§

¶Imprynted at London by Thomas Godfray Cum priuilegio.

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Information about this book

Title statement

A treatyse of the donation or gyfte and endowme[n]t of possessyons, gyuen and graunted vnto Syluester pope of Rhome, by Constantyne emperour of Rome [and] what truth is in the same grau[n] thou mayst se, and rede ye iugement of certayne great lerned men, whose names on the other page of this leafe done appere.De falso credita et ementita Constantini donatione declamatio. English

Valla, Lorenzo, 1406-1457.

Edition statement

1534

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A69138

ID [STC]

STC 5641

ID [STC]

ESTC S107251

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99842953

ID [PROQUEST]

99842953

ID [VID]

7653

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69138)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 7653)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 32:12, 1600:14)

Source

— A treatyse of the donation or gyfte and endowme[n]t of possessyons, gyuen and graunted vnto Syluester pope of Rhome, by Constantyne emperour of Rome [and] what truth is in the same grau[n] thou mayst se, and rede ye iugement of certayne great lerned men, whose names on the other page of this leafe done appere., De falso credita et ementita Constantini donatione declamatio. English, Valla, Lorenzo, 1406-1457., Hutten, Ulrich von, 1488-1523., Marshall, William, fl. 1535..

Extent

[148] p.

By Thomas Godfray [for William Marshall,. [Imprynted at London :: 1534]]. (Primarily a translation, possibly by William Marshall, of "De falso credita et ementita Constantini donatione declamatio" by Lorenzo Valla. Also contains a long preface by Ulrich von Hutten, an English translation of the Donation, and some short pieces by other authors.) (Place of publication and printer's name from colophon; publisher's name and publication date from STC.) (Signatures: A-L⁶ M-N⁴ (-N4).) (The last leaf is blank.) (Reproductions of the originals in the British Library and the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.) (Appears at reel 32 (British Library copy) and at reel 1600 (Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery copy).)

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