The Pageant of Popes, Book 2
THE SECONDE SORTE OF ROMAINE BIshops, from Syluester to Boniface the thirde.
¶ These bishops persecution being ceased, began to take estate more vponupon them then the former, for Constantine and other Christian princes, began of deuociō and zeale to aduaunce the prelates to wealth, and therupon they liuing in wealth and ease, began also to aduaunce thēselues in dignitie aboue the former estate, putting riche myt…rs on their heades, taking vponupon them the name of Archebishops. Also they began by litle and litle to adde their own deuices to Gods seruice, to alter, chop, and chaūge, and make Canons, as liked eueryevery ones fantasie, and so pecemeale began to plante and sowe in Rome the seade of Antichriste, which afterwarde grewe vp to so great pride and abhomination: Thus at the firste in the churche, deuotion bredde wealth, but the doughter choaked the mother, and engendred the mō ster ambition, who also like the cursed impe of the bastard her morher, did in the ende deuoure her grandmother Religion.
THE PRELATES or Archebishops of Rome.
1. Marcus.
MArcus a Romaine, bestowed a pall vponupon the bishop of Hostia, who had consecrate the bishop of Rome before other. He also cōmaunded that the people and the clergie should on Sondayes after the Gospell were redde, singe the Nicean Crede. He builded churches, and gaue many giftes vntounto them & died a confessour in the yere. 335.
2. Iulius the first.
IVlius the first a Romaine, appointed that a priest shoulde (as they forge of him) not aunswer his cause any where, but before an ecclesiasticall iudge: and he reprehended the bishops of the east, (onlesse they slaunder him) because they had helde counsels without his authoritie, but they scorned him for his pride, he caused churcheyardes to be made, and at the lenghth died a confessour in peace, Anno. 351. Platina sayth, that this Pope appointed certaine notaries to wryte the actes of other men, the whiche office sayth he, is yet about the Pope remaining: But these notaries of our time saith he, are such doultes for the moste parte, that for wante of learning they can not wryte their owne name in Latin: of their maners I will not speake, because these offices are bestowed on bawdes and flatterers, vnmete to wryte the actes of other men.
3. Liberius.
LIberius a Romaine, for ambition (as Hierome witnesseth) falling into the Arrian heresie, forsooke the trew faith, and subscribed to Arrius articles. And yet this man died a confessour also, Anno. 366. though in dede taynted with damnable heresie.
4. Foelix the seconde.
Foelix the seconde a Romaine, was preferred by the Arrians, who thrust out Liberius, and aduaunced him, because they hoped he agreed with them in opinion. But in the seconde yeare after he was driuen from his seate, and Liberius restored: And in the yeare of our Lorde, 359. He with other spirituall persones, was slayne in a tumulte. This man sayth Isidorus, made lawes for the defense of the Clergie. Also Sozomenus, lib. 4. ca. 10. Eccle. histor. saith, that he being bishop, did both admitte Arrian heretikes to the ministery, and also vsed their communiō, though els he yelded to the counsell of Nice.
5. Damasus.
DAmasus a Spanyarde, being made Pope in a certaine faction, and vehemently accused of adultery, did condemne Liberius his dedes, he builded temples, and beawtified them with iewels, he gaue landes, and bathes to the Clergie, he encreased strange seruice in the churche, he added Confiteor to the seruice: he appointed the singing of the Psalmes, and allowed Hieroms translation of the Bible: For then the myndes of the Prelates began to bee more puft vp with ambition. Afterward▪ Damasus (as they saye) being a diligent gatherer of thinges doone in times past, wrote the lyues and decrees of his predecessours the byshops of Rome, enterlacing them with many open and manifest vntruthes. And in the yere 384. died a confessour.
Socrates, in the eight booke of his ecclesiasticall history, and the 24. chapter, sayth: that when this Damasus was chosen bishop, one Vrsinus a Deacon of the same churche, did stande in suite against Damasus, but whē he sawe that Damasus was preferred, for anger he began by all endeuour to gather congregations to him selfe, seuered from the churche. Also he perswaded certaine obscure and abiect byshops, to chose him bishop secretly in a corner. And so he was created not in the churche, but in a close place of ye pallaice called Sicona: Whiche being done, the people began to wrangle And hereof arose a bitter contention and deadly sedicion, not touching religion▪ but whether of these two Prelates should be bishop. Of this grewe so many assemblies, and so often brawlinges, that in the end the tumulte was so great that many were slayne about it. And therfore Maximinus then liuetenant of the citie, did punishe sharpely a great numbre, both the Clergie and layetie, & so suppressed Vrsinus and his faction. Thus it appeareth that bloudy ambition is not a newe thing in Rome.
6. Siricius.
SIricius a Romaine, medling and making decrees in many matters, remoued those from saying seruice, that had bene twyse maried, & was the firste that admitted monkes into orders for pretence of single life, who before, were neuer reckened to be as clarkes. He mingled y• Antiphones with the Psalmes, and appointed that orders should be geuen, some at one time, some at an other, he died a confessour, Anno 399.
7. Anastasius.
ANastasius a Romaine, appointed that whyle the Gospel was reading they should stand & not sitte. He exempted from the ministery those that were lame, impotēt, or diseased persons, and slept with his forefathers in peace being a confessour. Anno. 404.
8. Innocentius.
INnocentius borne in Albania, aduaūced the sea of Rome aboue all other, and would hauehave it to be iudged by none. He commaunded the faithfull to faste on the Saturday, to bewayle with Mary Magdalene our sauiour Christe that was buried▪ euen as on that daye. He deuised that at masse time the Pax should be geuen about in the church, and cō maunded that the church (a wayghty matter) being ones consecrate should neuer be consecrate any more. He made certayne decrees concerning Iewes, Pagans, & Monkes, and made the anoyling of the sick to be a sacrament: And is counted among the dead confessours, Anno. 416. The yeare before being the yeare 415. Alaricus king of Gothes, ouerranne Italy, wan Rome, wasted, spoyled, and burnt it miserably. And sone after him his cosen Athoulfus, came thether againe and spoyled all that he had left.
9. Sozymus.
SOzymus a Greke, appointed that tapers should be blessed on the holydaye, and that the Deacons in saying seruice should hauehave their lefthandes couered. He forbad that clarkes should vse tipling in opē place, or haunte tauernes, and that no bondmen should be admitted to be of the Clergie: And died a confessour. Anno. 420. Also this Sozymus suppressed the Nouacian heretikes, whiche in time past had borne great swaye in Rome. But nowe they were kept vnderunder, for sayth Isocrates, the byshop of Rome, as well as the byshop of Alexandria, had stretched his power beyond the limittes of priesthood stepping into temporall authoritie. Socrat. histor. eccle. lib. 7. cap. 11.
10. Bonifacius.
BOnifacius a Romaine, the sonne of one Iucundus a priest, was chosen Pope, at suche time as there was great sedition among the Clergie. He made decrees that were very necessary, God graunte they proue so: as yt a woman (yet though she were a hoodded noonne) should not openly touche the altar cloth, nor the holy vessels, nor smell to the incense: And that none should be made priest till he were thirty yeres olde. After he had decreed that sainctes eueninges should be kept, he died a confessour, Anno. 426.
11. Coelestinus.
Caelestinus borne in Campania, patched the Popishe masse vp with these thinges, Introitum, Graduale, Responsorium, Tractum, & Offertorium, as his owne deuices. And gaue straight charge that the priestes should be perfitte in the Popes decrees. He sent these bishops, Germanus into Englande, Palladus into Scotlande, and Patricke with a certaine Segetian into Irelande, to roote out the Pelagian heresie. He died Anno. 435. being put in among the number of confessours.
12 Sixtus the thirde.
SIxtus the thirde a Romaine, called the enricher of churches, he builded the churche of S. Mary the greater after a miracle of snowe: and enriched it with great giftes, and garnished the pallayces with golde. At the persuasion of a woman called Eudoxia, he did hallowe Peters chaynes, and appointed a yearely feaste daye in honour of them to be kept at Midsommer. He died a confessour. Anno. 440. and was buried in the citie.
About the yeare of our Lorde. 456. Genesericus came out of Aphrica, into Italy with a great armye against Rome, and cōming thether, he finding the citie empty, inuaded it. And for the space of xiiii. dayes continually caried out the spoyle of it, and toke away many prysoners.
13 Leo the first.
LEo the first a Thuscane borne, added to the masse these wordes to name it Sanctum sacrificium, Immaculatā hostiam, hanc oblationem, An holy sacrifice an vnspotted offering and oblacion.whiche cannot be without blaspheming God haynously▪ He like an Idolatour, builded a pallayce in the honour of Cornelius a byshop, and appointed clarkes to kepe the Apostles sepulchres. He decreed that men should worship the images of the dead, & allowed the sacrifice of the masse, he died a confessour. Anno. 462.
14 Hilarius.
HIlarius borne in Sardinia, a man daily exercised in building and beautifying of churches, decked the post of Christe his crosse with golde and precious stones: He made decrees by synodes, proclayming them to be kept through the whole worlde. He made a lawe that eueryevery minister should be put from his calling, whiche maried either a widowe or deuorced woman, and not a mayde: He died a confessour, Anno. 469. In his time Mamertus Claudius, bishop of Vienna, made the Letanies or procession to be saide thrise a weke whereof Mantuan sayth Fast. 4.
By Rodanus there standes a towne Vienna men it name,
Sorenoied while one Mamertus, was bishop of the same:
And suffred many sturdy stormes: for oft with firy flake
Of thonderclap it burnt, & while the trēbling soyle did shake,
The grounde did gape as torne in twayne, whereby the daungerous dell
VVith yawning mouth stoode open downe to glowing goulphe of hell,
Among the dungeons depe of Ioue: and rauening wolues vvithall
VVere driuen to madnes, through the haggs of hell that vp did crall.
The frāticke neat begā to murther mē in field, & tovvne,
VVherevvith mens hartes amazed vvere, that thus the Lord should frovvne.
And so cōstraind they asked aide and succour frō aboue,
And vvith their humble prayers sought Gods mercy for to moue.
And herevppon the Letanye at first deuised vvas,
And aftervvard it did from thens to other people passe.
In the time of this Pope about the yeare of Christ 476. Odoacer with an army of Herulās & Turcihugians, came from Panonia and wanne Rome and all Italye, and raigned there xiiii. yeres. About this time Rome was so terriblie shaken wyth earthquakes, that manye houses fell downe wythall.
15. Simplicius.
SImplicius a Tiburtinian borne, did dedicate Pallaces and deuided the towne into fiue parts for the priestes to serue, and appointed the sacrificing priestes their weekes: hee shewed yt the Church of Rome was the chiefe Church of all. He vsurped auctoritie vppon the people of Rauenna like a tyraunte, and commaunded that none of the Clergy should acknowledge, that he held any Ecclesiasticall benefice of a lay mā. And this mā dyed a confessor. Anno. 484.
16. Foelix the third,
FOElix the thirde a Romaine the sonne of one Foelix a priest, decreed that onelye a bishoppe, and no priuate priestes should dedicate the Churches, and allowed a feast for the dedication of them: Hee hallowed Agapetus hys Pallaice. He decreed that the Clergye being accused of anye matter, should hauehave dayes graunted to returne theyr aunswere, and dyed in peace a confessor. Anno. 494.
17. Gelasius.
GElasius an Aphrican sonne to Valerius a bishop, burned the bookes of the Manichies, hee made hymmes, prefaces▪ graduals, collects and prayers, hee seue…ed ye Apocrypha from Canonicall Scripture: and allowed maryed wydowers after they had maryed their seconde wyfe to be priestes, if they toke his dispensation. He encreased y• Clergye, he dedicated Pallaices: and decreed that priestes orders should bee geuen foure times in the yeare, he added to the Masse the conclusions of the prayers Et te igitur: & at lengthe auouched yt he & his successors should be iudged by no bodye. And dyed a confessor. Anno. 497.
18. Anastasius the second.
ANastasius the seconde a Romaine, leaned to the Eutichians and Nestorians, he did cōmunicate wyth heretikes: he excommunicated the Emperour. And in the yere of our Lorde 499. on the stoole of easemente his bowels issued out of his bellye. He dyed a confessor, so writeth Volaterranus.
19 Symmachus.
SYmmachus borne in Sardinia was chosen bishop with much dissention among the Clergye. He ordayned that virgins which had once professed chastitye, shoulde neuer marrye afterwarde, and that none of the Clergye shoulde keepe in house wyth anye woman, but such a one as were his kinswoman: He builded many Pallacies euen out of ye ground. He brought the masse into fashion, hee commaunded to singe Gloria in excelsis vppon the byrth dayes of saincts. And if any mā may trust Gregoryes Dialogues, he cōmitted to Purgatorye the stubborne soule of one Paschasius a deacon after his death. And yet this man dyed a confessour. Anno. 514. Vspergensis sayth that whē this Pope was chosen, one Laurence was also chosen by some, wherevppon manye slaughters both of the people & Clergye were made in Rome during the space of iii. yeres, but Symachus preuailed.
20. Hormisda.
HOrmisda borne in Campania, did set quietnes among the Clergie, he appointed that the Psalmes should be songe by course enterchaungeable: He commaunded that the decrees of counsels should be kept, and bestowed many thinges to y• furniture of churches, he lefte a wedge of syluer waying a thousande & fourty poundes in saint Peters churche: and commaūded that no aultar should be builded without the consent of the byshop. He added ceremonies to publique mariages: and excommunicated Anastasius the Emperous, because he sayde that it was an office dewe only to the Emperoure to commaunde, and not to be at a byshops commaundement: suche then was the courage of the spirite of Antichriste. Iustinus the Emperoure, as Isiodorus wryteth, made this Hormisda a Patriarch of Rome being before but an Archebishop: who died a confessour, Anno. 523. From the time of Syluester, the Romaine prelates were Archebishops, for the space of twoo hundreth yeares, that is from the yeare 320. vntill this yeare 520. at what tyme they were first made Patriarkes by the Emperour Iustinus. I declare this more diligently, whereby the attentiue reader may knowe by what degrees the Romain bishops crept vp to the Popedome it selfe, and what crafte the deuill wrought in them before the great Antechriste came, and was reuealed to the full. So that as ye see the bishops of Rome. Here againe altered their name the seconde tyme, to title of greater dignitie, that is frō Archbishops to Patriarkes, and so the rest folowing for a season were called.
21. Iohn the first.
IOhn the firste a Thuscane, whome Theodoricus kyng of Italy sent, (for then they were subiect to Princes) as his oratour, with certaine other, vntounto Iustinus the Emperoure. This bishop being the worthiest man of all this latter company, gaue a testimonie of his pure life, by suftring paciently vndeserued death. He decreed, and that very godly, that if any man were robbed of any thing, he should hauehave all restored againe. But I take it to be false that he should restore three churcheyardes, enriched the churches with giftes or decked the altars with golde, syluer, or precious stones, as Platina and other wryte, least he should seeme nothing to hauehave encreased the kingdome of Antichriste. There is to be seene comfortable Epistles of his to the byshops of Italy, whereby he warneth them, that they should not shrinke from their purpose, but stande to it stoutly, although that the said king Theodoricus, fowly tainted with the Arrian heresy, had threatened to destroye them and all Italy. For the whiche at the tyrannous commaundement of Theodoricus, Anno 527. hee perished at Rauenna through famine, stinke, & noysomnes in the pryson. As touching Arrius, thus Mantuan writeth of him.
This Arrius euen the deadly bayne infecting mankinde,
And borne to breake Gods lawe, and quenche the faithe of Christian minde,
Had venomd sondry nacions infecting all the world.
22. Foelix the fourth.
Foelix the fourth was borne in Samia, being not verye carefull in his pastorall charge, and casting of the office of preaching, builded the churche of Cosma and Damianus, he restored Saturninus temple, and repaired other temples of the dead. He commaunded that masse should be said only in halowed places. He made a partition betwene the Clergie and the people in the churche. He excommunicated the Patriarke of Constantinople, misdemed of heresy: he commaunded that if a priest died, another should succeade him twoo dayes after, and commaunded precisely that they that lye a bying, should be annoynted, with hallowed oyle, and died a confessour, Anno. 530.
23. Boniface the seconde.
BOniface the seconde a Romaine, was made bishop, whē the Clergie were at great iarre, ready to go together by the eares: He made canons, especially this one, that within three dayes after one bishop were dead, another should be appointed in his rowme. He following Foelix, did seuer the Clergie frō the layetie, by making the quier in the church, and that for double pollicie, the one was, that by this meanes he might at length take frō the people both their place, and their voyce, whiche they had in chusing the bishops, & that it might not be lawefull for any of them to sewe a byshop, or any of the Clergie in any cause, ciuill or criminall, before a temporall magistrate. But marke what happened these wretches through their pryde, as I thinke, Whyle euen like the Pharisies they wilbe counted holier then other, with their shauen heades, their annoynted fingers, & seuered chauncelles, deuiding them selues from the faythfull, that were redemed with the bloud of Christe.
It is to be feared, least hereby they become the Goates that in the last day shalbe deuided frō the lambes. Math. 25 as not pertaining to the misticall body of Christe. It is easy to iudge howe muche these men swarue from Peter the Apostle, of whome they boaste so muche, to whome it was not lawefull in the tenth of the Actes, to decree of Cornelius, that he should be either a layeman, or a prophane persone: Boniface died a confessour, Anno. 532.
24. Iohn the seconde.
IOhn the seconde was a Romaine, who otherwyse for his eloquencie was called Mercurie or Iuppiter, his embassadour. Iustinianus the Emperoure, sent vntounto this man a cup of gold, of sixe pound waighte beset with precious stones, and two syluer cuppes of seuen pounde weight, and twoo syluer chalices, waying fiftene poundes, for a present from Constantinople, after he had condemned Athenius the Patriarke of heresie, and the sayde Emperoure commaunded his bishops, as (Crantzius witnesseth) to talke with the byshop in his name, moste friendly vnderunder benediction: this byshop died a confessour, Anno. 534. And as VVicelius saith, he did nothing of any valewe.
25. Agapetus the firste.
AGapetus the first a Romaine, sonne of a priest, called Cardinall Gordian, was sent by Theodatus kyng of the Gothes, as his Embassadour, to pacifie Iustinianus the Emperour, for the cruell murther of Amalasimitha a noble queene, and an excellent learned woman: whose worthy vertues the same Emperour reuerenced highly, who also procured his peace with spending saint Peters treasure: He decreed that on the sonday they should go in procession in the churches: And died a confessour, Anno. 535.
26. Syluerius.
SYluerius borne in Cāpania, sonne of Hormisda a bishop of Rome, when Agapetus was dead, as he went on his voyage to the Emperoure, this man by the commaundement of Theodatus kyng of Gothes, was placed in his steade without the Emperours consent. Therefore by the prouocation of Vigilius a D…acon, who also did accuse him, that he would betraye Rome to the Gothes, he was banished into the Isle Pontus, by Theodora the Empresse, and Antonina the wife of duke Bellisarius. So that it appeareth, the Popedome at that time was a thing but of small countenaunce, when they were sent as Embassadours at the commaundement of inferiour princes, & could be depriued of their authoritie, put from their seate by women. At length Syluerius died miserably in his banyshement being an hooded confessour, Anno. 537.
27. Vigilius.
VIgilius a Romaine, the crafty accuser of the sayd Syluerius, compassing the bishoprike by subtiltie, was aduaunced into the sayde place by the forenamed women. Whereby Rome had then twoo bishops, one made by the Gothes, another by the Grekes, or rather by those Grekishe dames. And were vsed vngently, but not vnworthely of them: for either of them receiued the reward of his rashnesse, for the one attayned the Popedome by crafte, the other by might, and yet the Papistes will hauehave them bothe reckened among martyrs. Theodora did sue Vigilius, because he brake promisse with her, and caused him first to be brought to Constantinople, there to be reuiled and beaten, and afterwarde with an halter about his necke to be drawē through the streate, and last of all, bee driuen into banishement. This man made certaine lessons of his owne for the holydayes to be redde in the churche. He woulde hauehave the church of Rome to be taken for the mother of other churches: He appointed Candelmas daye to be kept holy daye, and that the masse should be sayde, the priest standing with his face into the East: He died a confessour, in the yere 554. in Cicilia. In these dayes was one Maurus, who preached and taught the hipocriticall life of mōkes. Also in his time Anno. 542. there was a terrible earthquake ouer all the world, as Vspergensis sayth.
28. Pelagius.
PElagius a Romaine, aspired to the pontificall dignitie, in that time when the tyrant Totila, called Gods scourge, to the great comfort of the Goathes being their king, inuaded Italy, as Procopius wryteth. This Pelagius to please Totila and his companie, made a publique decree, that it was nedeful to hauehave the authoritie of the prince, and consent of the people in creation of byshops. He in the middest of troubles of that time, hauing more regarde to aduaunce the Popedome, then Christianitie: decreed that the Clergie should momble eueryevery daye seuentimes, the canonicall howers. Abbots should be chosen by order, one magistrate should be sufficient to punishe an hereticke: that in Lent priestes might say masse at nine of the clocke: and that eueryevery Prouince should contayne twelue or tenne cities at the least. This man first auouched that the premacie of the churche of Rome was fette from Christe himselfe, and not from men nor gene…all councels. He buried together the bones of the firste Martyr Stephen and S. Laurences carkasse. He allowed solemnities in remēbraunce of the dead, and for louelove of gaynes he mingled them with the masse. And because he sometime him selfe was accused in a libell, that he had geuen occasion why Vigilius his predecessour was troubled, and depriued, therfore he prouided that such libelles should not be harde. But it is reported that he purged him selfe from the infamy of that libell by takinge an oathe, and kissing the crosse. He liued in the extreame tyme when Rome was besieged, & died a confessour, Anno. 566.
About the yeare of our Lorde 557. Totila king of Gothes, besieged Rome, whiche being miserably oppressed with extreame famine, was compelled to yelde it self to the slauery of the saluage people, vnderunder whiche it continued tenne yeares.
In the time of this Pope, a Pestilence raigned ouer all Italy, beginning in Liguria so contagiously, that the contreye was almoste destroyed of the inhabitours thereby. Vrspergensis.
29. Iohn the third.
IOhn the thirde a Romaine, was an especiall friende to Narsetes the Eunuche, gouernour of Italy, when the Gothes were ouercome: for he recouered his fauour towarde Rome, when it was in displeasure, and obtayned that hee was made consull, for then the bishop had almoste all the swa…e in Rome. This man decreed contrary to his predecessour, that none ought to be called chiefe prieste, or vniuersall bishop, Distinctione 99. Nullus. Furthermore, taking away from the bishops chauncelours the laying on of handes, graunted it only to bishops, as Isidorus writeth. Afterwarde turning his minde, and taking delight in building, he finished Philip and Iacobs churche, whiche Vigilius had begonne, and restored the Sainctes tombes in the citie. Finally being a very olde mā, & taking great thought vponupon occasion of straunge tempestes he died at Rome, Anno, 577. In his time the Armenians became Christians.
30. Benedict the first.
BEnedict the first a Romain, was bishop when the Lombarde, spoyled Italy. And w…s a good bishop, because he did nothing worthy memorie: as Barnus and Functius write of him. But yet whiche is to be noted, for the worthinesse of the dede, he forbad that mē should treade on crosses made of marble, stone, or woode: And when there was great dearth in Rome, he or at the least wise Tiberius Augustu… in his steade, brought corne out of Egypt, to succour them withall He died for sorowe to se so many miseries in the citie. Anno. 582.
31. Pelagius the second.
PElagius the seconde, while the citie was besieged, without the Princes cōmaundement, cōtrary to the custome was made bishop. Therefore to pacifie the Emperoure, he sent one Gregory a monke, to Constantinople: afterwarde he made the cloyster of Hermes a martyr, and builded vp S. Laurence pallaice from the foundacion. He renewed the Canon for saying the howers, and commaunded Subdeacons, either to forsake their wiues, or els their ecclesiasticall functions, and appointed nyne prefaces to be song in the masse before the Canon: Pestis inguinaria, arising of great tempestes, and the contagiousnes of the aire tooke awaye this bishop among many other: This pestilence was cause of many supersticions, for then they firste began to thinke that Gods wrath was to be pleased: and the Letany of seuen partes was made by Gregorie. The occasion hereof saith Vspergensis was, that a great part of Italy was drowned with great flouddes.
32. Gregorie the great.
GRegorie the great a Romaine, was made byshop being before but a Monke and a Deacon. He was the best mā of all these Romaine Patriarkes, for learning and good life. He succeded Pelagius, vnwillingly refusing it, and in the ende cōpelled thereunto: he (though otherwyse he was learned and Godly) yet because he was a Monke, burthened the churche, and religion of God aboue all other, with more ceremonies, then had the Iewes. He turned his parentes houses into Monasteries, and dedicated the firste of them to S Andrewe the Apostle. He made Scholes of quiresters, and made certaine songes for the church, according to Ambrose maner, which we call Anthemes: He appointed one to be chaunter for the daye, another for the night. He gathered together the lawes of the holy fathers. He did deuise the order of masses, & linked the Cannons therof together, he caused the masses to be begonne with peces of Psalmes. He commaunded to saye Kyriaeleison nine tymes, and to chaunt Alleluia after the Graduall hee ioyned the same Alleluia, for Easter tyme to the Offertories. Hee added three peticions to the Cannons of the masse: That is, Dies nostros in tua pace. &c. He cōmaunded that the Lordes prayer, should be either song or sayde, with a loude voyce ouer the communion bread. He commauned that masse shoulde be saide ouer the dead carkases of sainctes: And added to the Canonicall howers, Deus in adiutorium, with Gloria patri: He deuised Letanies, and processions, & deuided thē into these seuen orders, Clarkes, Monkes, Nonnes, Boyes, Laymen, Widowes, and maried wyues. He suffered the Image of the blessed virgin Mary to be caried about withall, But not to be worshipped: Furthermore this Gregorie (as they shamefully imagine) compelled an Angeli to put vp his terrible swerde into his sheathe. By his indulgences he established certaine stacio…s, and pilgrimages vntounto Images in the citie, according to the peoples deuocion. He solemnized the feast of the Purification of our Lady with wex candels, (whereof it is called Candelmas daye) and appointed the solemnitie of Palme Sondaye to be kept with processions. He added iiii. dayes to Lent faste, and hallowed the beginning thereof with Ashwednisdaye. He forbad those that should faste to eate fleshe, milke, butter, chese, or egges, because they seme to beare a taste of fleshe, and suffered them only to eate fishe, excepting also the greater sorte of fishes, whereof Mantuan sayth Fastor. 2.
Yet was it not against the lawe to fede on fishes small:
For Gregorie forbad the great, but time misordred all
And stately tables combred are with fishe of larger sort
So Gregories laws …r kept wher nede doth bear a sīple port
That in the shallowe brookes and floodes to find his fare:
As for the great grown fulsom fishe in depth of seas they are.
But holy peers that do with Peters line and gredy hooke,
Down to the bottom angle: can eche sort of fishes brooke.
Gregorie gaue tapers to the churche, and furnished it with quier Psalmodis, Canticles, Oades, Hymnus, and other Heathen ceremonies: He buylded sixe Monasteries of his owne coste in Sicilia, and dedicated Agathas churche: He forbad that women should resorte to abbeyes, or that Monkes should resorte to Nonneries. Also he woulde not hauehave Mōkes baptize, neither Nonnes to be Godmothers. He forbad him that had bene twise married to bee made priests: And that priestes should geue testimony of honest life by taking an oathe: He was an vphoulder of pardons, but not a seller of them. He was the first that gaue pardons vponupon certayne dayes, to suche as frequented the churche. He entertained straungers at his table. He ayded the Mō kes of Hierusalem with necessaries, and gaue stipendes to three thousande maydes: He allowed by decree the first fiue counsels: He forbad that sainctes Images should be brokē, or that one of the Clergie should at the Emperours commaundement serue in the warres, or that there should bee twoo Metropolitanes in one Prouince: He would hauehave a bishop to be consecrate but ones, and would hauehave the laste will and testament of eueryevery man to be ratified. He made foure bookes of Dialogues, to boulster vp Purgatorie: He allowed hallowing of ashes, washing of feete, worshipping of the crosse, and mass…s to be saide for the dead, and (wherin the Papistes horribly belie him) he deliuered Traian the Emperours soule from hell. He cōtemning the Britaines sent Augustine a Monke, to reclaime the English Saxons to the churche of Rome: He reft from London the right of the Archebishoprike, and translated it by the same Augustines meanes to Caunterburie. Al these thinges did Gregorie as Patriarke of Rome, and died a confessour, Anno. 604. But although he doted in many supersticions, yet more is falsely fathered on him thē euer he did or thought.
33. Sabinianus.
SAbinianus borne in Thusca, was a Prelate of no value, who for the hate he bare to his predecessour Gregorie, after he had published certaine flaunders against him, cō maunded that his bookes should be burned. This man being the last of the Romaine Patriarkes, commaūded that the howers of the daye shoulde bee deuided by ringing of belles for the ecclesiasticall offices: & that they should hauehave continuall burning lampes in the churche: At lengthe he died an infamous death through feare that he conceiued of a terrible vision, which he sawe in the night time, An. 606.
The Christian deedes of Gregorie.
NOwe to say somewhat touching the Christiā sayinges and doinges of the foresaid Gregorie: he fought stoutly against the supremacie of the Popishe kingdome, in the very entraunce of the Popedome, and hewde in pieces with sharpe tauntes the title of vniuersal Patriarkeship, saying that suche an one was the foreronner of Antichriste, an hipocrite, a tyraūt, and Lucifer the vsurper of Gods power. He commaunded certaine Images that were of wonderfull excellent workemanship, to be throwen into the Riuer Tiber, least religion should be corrupted by them. He commaunded prayer and fasting for the asswaging of the pestilence. He reclaymed the Gothes from the Arrians, to the vnitie of the church. He wrote Homilies in a pleasaunt stile following S. Augustine. Hee xpounded the moste part of the holy bookes of the Bible. He by common consent defaced the name of vniuersall byshop. And professed him selfe in his wrytinges Seruus seruorum Dei, seruaunt to Gods seruauntes, whereby he might shewe, howe farre he was from all ambicion and desire of soueraintie: This title his posteritie hath continued, bearing the name, but forbearing the humilitie that belongeth therunto. At the length Gregorie did greatly lamente to se that howling and chaū ting in the church had so taken place, that preaching of the Gospell was neglected. Beholde (quoth he among other sayinges) the worlde is full of priestes, & yet in the lordes haruest are founde fewe labourers: We hauehave taken vponupon vsus the office, but wce do not discharge the office. Brethren, I thinke that God suffereth dishonour of none more then of priestes (for the moste parte). If they se any liue in lowly estate, or liue continently, they scorne them. Consider therfore what becōmeth of the flocke, when Wolues are made shepeheardes. These take charge of the sheepe, who are not afrayde to endaunger the liues of the Lordes foulde, but they chaunge the office of their blessed function to the encrease of their ambicion. We leaue Gods cause, & ronne to worldly affaires: we enioye the place of holines, and are entangled with earthly matters, so that Baptist Mantuan saith of him in the thirde booke of his Fastor.
In speache he was ful eloquent, his workes are yet in store,
He speaketh still, and by his workes he shall do euermore,
He taught the quyristers to sing, in sōgs was his delight.
Huldricus bishop of A…gusta, sheweth a wonderful story of this bishop, in his Epistle to Nicolas the first, the effect whereof is, that this Gregorie did firste cōmaunde priestes to liue single life: but afterwarde when he perceiued, that they were geuen secretly to fleshly pleasure, and that hereupon many children were murthered, hee disanulled that commaundement, and sayde that it was better to mary, thē geue occasion of murther: For whē on a time he sent a certaine woman vntounto a fishepoole to take fishe, there were founde in the same poole sixe thousande heades of infantes, that had bene drowned therein: whiche he perceauing to procede of forced single life, with sighing and sorrowing, he reuoked that Canon. For as that Huldericus sheweth, they accompanied not onelyonly with virgins and wyues, but also euen with their owne kindred, with mankind, yea and that whiche is horrible to be sayde, with brute beastes. After the tyme of this Gregorie, ensued more blindnes thē was before. The puritie of doctrine decayed, & the churche was darkened maruelously with mans tradicions: For Monkery with his manifolde supersticions waxed great: Herewithall sprang vp sale of masses, and praying to the dead, and the Lordes supper began to be an offering for the dead. Bishops also being deluded with visions of spirites, or rather of diuels, began to reuolte from the doctrine of faithe to put affiance in good workes, and mans satisfactiō, as appeareth of Gregorie.
As it is euident of Gregorie, who in his Dialogues to Theodolinda, a very superstitious woman, telleth of dead men that appeared and craued to hauehave prayers and suffrages. This while Christianitie began to fall to ceremonies forthwith blinde supersticion, by meanes of Monkery began to crepe in▪ Gregorie as is mentioned before, sent Augustine a Romaine Monke, and other his compaignions, to the Englishemen, Anno. 596. not to preache Christe vntounto them, whose doctrine the Brytaines had receiued more sincerely of Ioseph & the churches of Asia, But to thrust vponupon them the Romain religion, patched vp with mans diuices and tradicions. The Britaynes had always the preaching of the truthe, syncere doctrine, and the liuely faith and such seruice as was deliuered to the Apostles by Gods commaundement: They had Christian churches, whereof Godfrey of Munmuthe, in the eight booke and fourth chapiter of the actes of the Britaines sayth thus: In the contrey of the Britaines, Christianitie florished hetherto, which neuer failed among them since the Apostles time. But when Augustine came hee founde in their prouince seuen bishoprikes, and one Archebishoprike maintained by godly Prelates, and many Abbots liuing by their handy labour, among whome the Lordes stocke kept true waye. It appeareth also that there were shepeherdes among thē that were diligent to preserue the puritie of doctrine, as was Dionotus, Anonius, and his fellowes, who in contēpt of the Romaines ceremonies stacke stoutly to it euen to the death. Augustine entred the lande not with the Gospell of Christian peace, but with the banner of his Aposticship, with his syluer crosse, his Letanie, his procession, images, painted puppettes, reliques, canticles, and bookes of ceremonies. But when by the authoritie of the king in the west part of England he sommoned the byshops and doctours, that they accepting and communicating the Romaine customes should submitte them selues to him, Anno. 602. They going to the synode, did firste demaunde of a certaine wise man, that liued solitarely, whether it was laweful to followe his commaundement, and forsake those tradi…ions whiche they had receiued of their fathers: to whome hee aunswered. If he be a mā of God, followe him. They further asked howe they should proue that. Ye knowe quoth he, that the Lord commaunded saying: Take my yoke vpō you, and learne of me because I am gentle and lowlye of harte. Therefore if this Augustine be suche an one, it is credible that he also beareth Christes burthē, and offereth it to you to beare: but if he be proude and cruell, it is euidēt tha he is not of God and ye ought not to regarde his talke. And howe shall we knowe that quoth they. Let Augustine (quoth he) and his company goe firste to the Synode: And if when ye come, he ryse vp to salute you, knowe ye that he is Christe his seruaunt, and obey ye him. But if he disdayne you, or make smale accompt of you, and shewe no token of curtesie in his countenaunce, seing ye are the greater number, doe ye likewyse contemne him. Therfore when they came to Augustine sitting ambiciously on his stalle, and sawe that he gaue them no token of frendship, they by and by conceiuing displeasure, & noting him to be a proude persone, did forthwith ouerthwart eueryevery thing that he put forth: For he charged them that they did many thinges cō trary to the custome of the catholicke churche, especially in keping their Easter, in ministring of baptisme, and in their preaching, and that they regarded not mans tradiciōs: and he commaunded that in these and other thinges they should followe the vse of the church of Rome. But they aunswered that they would do none of these, neither take him for their Archebishop. Whereupon he promised them warre should ensewe, and threatned them fiercely to reuenge it by death, whiche immediatly ensued. Reade Beda in his ecclesiasticall history of Englande, the seconde booke, and the second chapter, and likewyse the sayde Godfrey. But I wonder muche of this crueltie of Augustine: For Gregorie before had so discussed it, and wrote vntounto him that it was not nedefull in all churches to hauehave the same order of ceremonies: but that eueryevery churche might ordaine the beste for it selfe. But suche was wonte to be the tyranny of hypocrites: whereof Mantuan saythe.
The fathers of the Latin churche to taxe they enterprise,
And make them fondly force the Britains bend vntounto the guise
Of Romish church against al right: with foolish hardines
They rashly cause the auncient league of amitie to cease▪
As touching peace they saye that Rome should rather make then marre,
To kepemans lawe: so that Christes lawe therby do neuer larre.
And faith with doctrine whiche allowed by the firste Synode was
As it from Christe the light of life to all mankinde did passe.
And to speake in fewe wordes, the Romaine bishops were starres euen hetherto, yet but falling from Christes right hande to the grounde, from whome the heauen departed, Apocal. 6. and they are prefigured by the redde horse, vntounto whose ryder power was geuen to take awaye peace from the earth, and to murther to and fro, whereupon as in the firste order the Romaine Prelates called bishops by their true ministring the worde of God, and constant faith, were starres abiding in Christe his right hande: so in this second sort vnderunder the name of Archebishops and Patriarkes, by the neglecting of the same woorde, and their earthly affections, they were starres falling to the earth, Apocal. 6. But in the thirde ranke, whiche shall followe vnderunder the name of Popes and Antichristes, for their absolute reuolting from Christe, and open idolatries they shal be the starres falling from heauen to the earthe. Apoc. 9.