The Pageant of Popes, Book 5 · Part 38
118. Honorius the thirde.
HOnorius the thirde a Romaine borne was made Pope at Prusium, at what time the Cardinals distressed for want of foode, did there dispatch the election of him. Who byinge to Rome as fast as he coulde, toke order about the warre in Asia, to maintaine it stil, knowīg how auaylable it was to their matters wroughte heare at home in Christendome: forth with Iohn Columna a Cardinal of Rome was appointed to proceede as ambassadour with yt armye, which Innocentius had prouided for yt purpose: He crowned Frederick the seconde sonne of Constance the Nonne Emperour against Otho the fourth, whom notwithstanding afterward for vsinge his owne right in the coastes of Sicil & Apulia the Pope excommunicated. Yea this Honorius (sayth Marius) was so enflamed against this Emperour Frederick yt hee did trayterouslye maintaine Thomas and Mathewe Earles of Thuscia with other rebels that put themselues in armoure against the Emperours maiestye, whereby the Emperour coulde not punishe them as they deserued: which (sayth Vspergensis) caused him much to complaine that the Sea of Rome did euer maintaine traytours and rebels,Rome the sturrer and nourisher of rebels. which presumed vponupon that refuge. Also he discharged his barons of their fealty to their Lorde: which mischiefe was yet for a while stayed by the meanes of Hermannus, maister of the flemings of Zeland. He cōfirmed the orders of Dominican & Franciscan friers deuised in the time of Innocentius. He maintayned the white fryers and Augustinian fryers, that they should vphould transubstantiation against the Valdenses, who then began to defye the Church of Rome in many matters: for the Dominicans forged that Pope Innocentius a little before his death had a vision, wherin was reuealed vntounto him that Lateran Church should fall, vnlesse their patron Dominicus shoulde bolster it vppon his shoulders: whereof Mantuan deluded with such fansyes maketh mention. Al. so he wryteth of another dreame for the Franciscan fryers, of which though they dreamed as necessarye, yet I omitte as vaine and fonde. In this Popes time while these thinges were doing,Signes of Antichrist in the heauens. there were seene in the ayre straūg sights, testifying the horror of Antichrist encreasing in his members as shall appeare by the Popes following.
While the Christiā estates were turmoyled abrode fighting for Hierusalem, the Pope in pompe and ease at home, was at leasure to build sondrye sumptuous Pallaces and gorgeous Temples, dedicating them to diuers Saincts. He published Epistles decretall: and decreed that vnlearned parsons should not be made priestes. He commaunded that when the singinge cake was heaued and lifted vp,Vvorshipping of the hoast at masse. the people should fal downe on their knees: and that it should be caryed in comlye order to the sicke, with a burning Taper before it. He graūted Archbishops power to giuegive pardons, faculties,Nonresidenties and pluralities licenced by the Pope. dispensations, dualities, & pluralities wtin their diocesse. Anno 1223 one Adam Cathanēsis a bishop in Scotlande (as Boethius wryteth) was burned of his own neighbours in his owne kitchin, because he had excō municated certaine of them for with holding theyr tythes: the Pope knowing of this murther neuer ceased, till to reuenge the same foure hundred of these men were hanged, and their children gelded by king Alexander: A sufficient reuēge for the death of one man. Furthermore this Pope warred vppon the Emperour in Apulia: and condemned the Earle of Tholos for an hereticke,The Popes rigour on the dead. geuinge his landes to the French kinge, and finallye would not suffer his bodye to be buryed like a Christian. At length the Pope died Anno 1227. of whom Mattheus Parisius in the 8. booke of his Chronicle wryteth thus.The Popes pillage in England. Pope Honorius sent his Legate Otho to require to hauehave Prebendes giuen vntounto him throughe all England: For (sayth the Pope) the naturall children must assist their mother in pouertye. Therefore he required ij. prebends of eueryevery Cathedrall Church, one of the bishops stipende, and the other from the charter. And so he …raued diuers porciōs out of the religious houses. At this time the Pope was sicke of the spiritual dropsye, so that by his Legat he drancke vp the treasures of the clergye, and cloystermongers, and vsed straunge tyrannye amonge them: for Hugh VVells bishop of Lincolne to recouer his bishopricke paide an hundred markes to the Popes Legat, and a thousande markes to the Pope. At this time it rayned bloude for the space of three dayes in Rome: whereuppon one wrote these two Verses.
O pater Honori, multorum nate dolori,
Est tibi dedecori viuere? vade mori.
O Pope Honorius borne thou werst,
to mischiefe many men:
Thou liuest with shame, conuaie with speede
thy boones to deadly den.