The Pageant of Popes, Book 6 · Part 32 – Part 33
152. Eugenius the fourth.
EVgenius the fourth was a Venetian borne and a Coelestinian canon, called before Gabriel Condelmerius: his fathers name was Angel. He being a Cardinal gatte the Popedome by this meanes (as Platina sayth) For whē Gregorie the xii a Venetian was made Pope, his nephew Antony Corrarius a canon of the order of Coelestines goinge to Rome, toke this Gabriel with him being of ye same profession. Whom Gregorie lyking wel did first make his treasurer and afterward bishop of Sene, and made Antonye prelate to the Bononians. Afterward he mistrustinge his estate, and departing from Rome to Luca minding to augmente the nomber of Cardinals, he made both his nephewes Cardinals. For first Pope Gregorie and afterwarde Pope Martin were much ruled by the councell of Gabriel, especially in embassages: whereby he succedinge them did trouble al the world. Certaine cauiling parsōs were very busye about him to put into his head that Pope Martin his predecessour being a great hourder vp of treasure, had lefte greate aboundance thereof: whereby they brought him to this point, that he cōmaūded that his kinsmen, frendes, and vicechauncelour, shoulde be taken, and their goodes be confiscat. Hereupon the Romaines mindfull of their libertyes, raysed a maine crye, and put themselues in armour, and dryuing oute all the magistrates of Eugenius, and taking Frauncis Candelmerius his nephew prisoner, they choose newe officers whereof vii. were Citizens of Rome whom they called gouernours, who had power of life and death. In the meane time Eugenius amazed in this sturre deuised to runne awaye. And therefore disguising himselfe in his apparell and puttinge on a monkes weede, he entring into a fisher boote with one Arcenius a certaine monke beguiled his keepers, and was transported to Hostia. But the Romaynes vnderstanding therof did pursue him with arrowes and stoanes. But he gat from thence to Pisa, and from thence to Florence, hauinge his galleyes readye for the purpose: where he dwellinge for the space of certaine yeares, made xvi Cardinals. Afterwarde he wente to Bononia and there builded certaine sumptuous houses. He refused to come to the councell at Basil Anno. 1432. because it was sayd that a councell was aboue the Pope, and againe because he being cited should hauehave bene called to aunsweare such faultes as were layed against him. And therefore he was deposed and condemned for an heretick, and Amadeus Duke of Sabaudia and an heremite was placed in his steede. In this councell were condemned they that kept concubines, and walkers in the Church in seruice time. Also the communion was allowed vnderunder both kindes in the xxx. session. They yt were cosins to the Pope or Cardinals, were depryued from being Cardinals. The feast of our Ladyes cōception (as they terme it) was then decreed. But Pope Eugenius to ouerthrowe this councell of Basill, did summon another at Ferrara, and afterward at Florence. There were at Florence the Embassadours of the Gretians, Aethiopians, Asians, Armenians, Indians, Danes, & other Legates oute of the East, who did there giuegive their cōsent to many thinges of the Popes religion, because they were (as Stella saith) al maintayned vponupon the Popes charge. But the Legates being returned home especiallye the Danes, were not allowed of their countrye for that wherein they had yelded to the Pope as the chronicles of Polonia do testifye.
It is worthye here to be mentioned what a myserable destruction fell vponupon Ladislaus kinge of Hungary. Pope Eugenius compelled this king being a yong mā, to breake his oath and not kepe the league which he had sworne vntounto Amurithes the great Turke. But while this yonge Prince Ladislaus beinge xxii. yeares old, doth vnwarelye seeke to obeye the Pope as his most holye father, hee was worthelye plagued by Amurithes. For while Amurithes bringing an houge host warred vpō him, he hauing his armye slaine, at the length being beguiled by Eugenius was also slaine.
They saye that this Pope Eugenius was maruelouslye delighted in warres, and that he being moued with great grudge, did sturre vp Lewis the Dolphin of Fraūce sonne to Charles the vii. against the Basilians. Whereof greate mischiefe ensued. And afterward whē he came to Rome he bestowed many thinges on the Citye, as buildings and reparations, with diuers superstitious woorkes, to the enriching and pleasuring of monkes, fryers, and such like. He first tormented cruellye Thomas Redonensis & VVilliam Estonteuill, and afterward did burne them most terriblye: for Thomas said that there were many abhominations in Rome, and that the Church had neede of great reformation. Furthermore he sayd that the Popes curse for the quarel of Christe is not to be feared. This Eugenius canonized one Cyril that wrote many fantasticall visions vnderunder the name of Reuelations. Touching the foresaide Thomas, Il…iricus sayth thus in his Catalog: Thomas Redonius a white fryer borne in Fraunce in ye Dukedome of Britaine was a famous preacher flourishing (sayth Antonius) Anno 1430. He in his preaching tought through Fraūce & Italy yt great abhominatiōs was vsed in Rome, that the Church wanted greate reformation, and that the prelates forsakinge their pompe and royat, oughte to liue more modestlye, according to the example of Christe and his Apostles: and that the Popes vniust curses are not to be feared. For these opinions Pope Eugenius caused him to be burned at Rome Anno 1436. This Thomas also thoughte reuerentlye of the mariage of the clergye, for he wrote that it was against the safetye of manye soules, if they were not suffered to marrye accordinge to the maner of the Greeke Church, who ha… not the gift of cōtinencye. Because at that time they were dishonest and blotted with vnlawful coniunction. Of this Thomas Mantuan saith thus: A certaine Frenchman called Thomas, who as yet fostred in harte the zeale of old fayth went into Italye accompanied with a fewe. For so it pleased God yt the same countreye which in all thinges excelleth other, should also enioye this parson being a mirror amonge men. But God prouided not onelye for Italye, but also for this holy man: for he gaue to Italye such an one whose life it mighte follow, and to the said man he gaue a crimsen crowne of martyrdome. For while he liued well and in godlye order, he was accused vntounto the Pope of haynous treacherye by certaine spiteful fellowes, and after he had suffred prison, tormentes, vexation, at the length when they coulde finde nothinge in him worthye of death, they sifted him more narrowlye, and armed themselues stoutlye with iniquitye to fulfill that which by equitye they coulde not do. And so committed him to the cursed fyre. Of this man were manye Uerses and Epitaphes written to his greate prayse, & bewayling of the tyrannye vsed toward his innocent body. Furthermore Eugenius ere he were Pope, did repayre S. Agnes Church at Ancon, and the gate of the Citye, and in his Popedome he Crowned Sigismond Emperour at Rome. He also after Boniface confirmed the annuities of all benefices. At length he dyed at Rome Anno 1446. and was buryed at S. Peters. He caryed the Miter of S. Syluester (being brought from Auenion to Rome) out of Vatican to Lateran, with great worship and a procession. He punished certaine priestes that had pilfred certaine precious stones oute of Peters and Paules head. One Lewis Cardinall of Aquilegia was the first of his order that began first to maintaine houndes and horses, in steede of the poore.
153. Foelix the fift.
Foelix the fifte borne in Fraunce was an heremite called Amadeus before his Popeship, He being first Duke of Sauoy, hauinge a wyfe and two children (Pope Eugenius being deposed) was aduaunced to the seate by the voyces of xxvi. Electours. And notwithstandinge he were chosen & by the auctoritye of Basil Synode confirmed in the Papall chayre, yet he being hindred by the faction of the said Eugenius, could neuer set foote in ye Romaine seate, which they call Peters chayre. A sciesme rose hereupon that lasted … yeares, and many tumultes sprange in the kingdomes of Christendome, because some would obeye Eugenius, some Foelix and other some would be counted neuters. And in this sciesme it made much controuersye, because some held opinion that the Pope was vnderunder the iurisdiction of the general coūcell, and othersome maintayned the contrarye. And of this arose another waightye and bitter controuersye whether the Pope were head of ye Church or no, which continueth to this day. This Foelix being an aged man ere he came to be Pope liued to see the day, that the sonnes of his sonnes matched in mariage with kings doughters. And in the end geuing ouer all worldly charge, …e purposed to go into a wildernes to lead an heremites life with 6. knightes. But as sone as he vnderstoode that he was chosen Pope by the auctoritye of the general coūcell, he shaued himselfe both crowne and chinne and came thether wyth a trayne of noble men, and being consecrate Pope toke the function vppon him, and did all thinges that belonged to the Pope to do, to giuegive orders, minister Sacramēts, excō municate &c. and played the Pope x. yeares. He was so bountifull to the poore, that being demaunded whether he kept any houndes and to shew them: he aunswered that he would shew them another day. But when they that asked this question were with him the next day, he shewed them a great company of poore & needye people that sate downe together at dinner: saying, these are my houndes which I feede dailye, with the which I hope to hunte for the glorye of heauen.
It liked this mā at ye length for vnitye sake Anno 1447. to vnpope himselfe, and giuegive place to Nicolas the fift: whō he therefore made Legate of all Germanye and Fraunce, and also Cardinall of Sabin, but he dyed sone after.