The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 2 · History of century 13
CENTVRIE XIII.
Popes of Rome.
AFter Caelestinus succeeded Innocentius the third, and ruled eighteene yeeres, he excommunicated Iohn king of England, for not receiuing of Stephen Langtowne Archbishop of Canterbury being approued by the Pope, he brought the said king so low that he was in the ende constrained to resigne his crowne of England and Ireland to the Pope, and to receiue the same backe againe from the Pope to him and his heires for yeerely payment of a thousand marks, He confirmed the order of the Dominike or blacke friers, and the order of Franciscans or begging Friers.
To him Henry the sixt when hee departed this life left the tuition and protection of his sonne Fredericke the second. But Innocentius followed the footesteps of Iudas, but not of Saint Peter, made Otto Duke of Saxon Emperour in preiudice of Fredericke who was committed to his protection. But thorow the prouidence of God, the spirit of dissention fell betweene the Emperour Otto and the Pope, so that hee was excommunicated by the Pope, and the Empire was giuen to Fredericke. Also hee gathered a generall Councel at Rome called Lateranense, whereof hereafter.
After him succeeded Honorius 3. and ruled ten yeeres,Honorius 3. 7. months, 13. daies: he excommunicated the good Emperour Fredericke 2. and in this age it is to be noted that almost no Pope can be found,Note. who set not out his thunderbolts of cursings against kings and Emperours.
Next to him succeeded Gregorius the ninth,Gregorius. 9. and ruled one yeere, & three months, he caused the booke of the Popes decretalls to be compiled, and had cruell warres against the Emperour Fredericke whom hee excomunicated diuers times, as hath at length beene declared in the life of Fredericke.
Caelestinus 4.Caelestinus 4. followed after him, who liued not in the Popedome aboue the space of 18. dayes.
Innocentius 4.To him succeeded Innocentius 4. and ruled 11. yeeres 12. months 12. dayes: he helde a Councell at Lyons, wherein he excommunicated the Emperour Fredericke of new againe and deposed him from his Emperiall dignitie, and gaue the same to William Count of Holland. Hee died miserably, for hee invaded the kingdome of Sicilie with an armie, hoping to bring it vnderunder his subiection after the death of Fredericke, but was disapointed and repulsed by Manfred, king of Sicilie. And as hee was in Naples a voyce was heard in the Popes Court saying, Surge miser ad iudicium, that is, rise, O wretched person, and appeare to iudgement,Note. and the day following he was found lying dead in his bed.
Alexander 4.To him succeeded Alexander the fourth who did fight against Manfred king of Sicilie vnprosperously, but being ouercome in battell, hee had refuge to his old armour of cursing, and excommunicated Manfred. He damned the Booke of William de Sancto amore, which hee writ against the order of begging Friers, and died in the seuenth yeere of his Popedome.
Vrbanus 4.After him followed Vrbanus the fourth, and ruled three yeeres; and one month. Hee stirred vp Charles Duke of Angeow against Manfred, and gaue vntounto him the kingdome of Sicilie and Calabria, with the Dukedome of Apulia to be holden of the Pope as superior, for yeerely paiment of a certaine duety to the Church of Rome; which was the occasion of great troubles which after followed.
Clemens.To him succeeded Clemens, 4. and ruled 3. yeeres 9. months 21. daies. He finished the worke which Vrbanus begun, for hee gaue to Charles Count of Angeow not onelyonly the Dukedome of Sicilie, but also the stile of the kingdome of Ierusalem; prouiding alwayes hee should pay yeerely in few-farme to the church of Rome fortie thousand crownes. This Charles by instigation of the Roman Bishop first slew Manfred king of Sicilie, and afterward slew Conradinus sonne to Conrad who came to Italie to possesse the kingdomes duely appertaining to him. So was the kingdome of Sicilie taken from the posteritie of Fredericke, and put in the hands of Frenchmen.
After him Gregorius the tenth ruled foure yeeres,Gregorius 10. two months, ten dayes. He held a generall councell at Lyons whereat Michael Palcologus Emperour of Constantinople was present as will be hereafter delared, God willing.
He made peace beweene the Venetians and the Genuans who not onelyonly at home, but also in Asia had bloodie warres one against another to the great encouragment of the Infidels. Also hee interdyted the Florentines from all holy seruice, because they eiected the Gibelius out of their towne, whom the Pope being in France had receiued in favour and brought backe from banishment. Hee was so highly displeased with them, that (passing by the towne of Florence vponupon a time) being required of his fatherly clemencie to lose them from the foresaid interditment hee vtterly refused to doe it.
Next after him Innocentius the fift,Innocentius 5. died after hee had ruled sixe months, ad two daies.
After him Hadrianus the fift died,Hadrianus 5. hauing ruled fortie dayes.
Ioannes 22. who succeeded to Adrian, Ioannes 22.died after he had ruled 8. months. Hee was smothered by the sudden fall of a chamber newly built in the place of Viturbium for his solace and pleasure: and this iudgement fell vponupon him immediatlie after he had foolishly promised to himselfe long life,Note. and said to his friends that he knew by the position of the starres that he would liue a long time in this world.
After him followed Nicolaus the third,Nicolaus 3. and ruled three yeeres, three months, & fifteene daies. He was a mortall enemie to Charles king of Sicilie, whom his predecessours, Vrbanus and Clemens advanced. He tooke from him the lieutenanrie of Hetruria & the dignitie of a Roman Senator.
Likewise hee stirred vp Peter King of Arragon to claime the kingdome of Sicilie as iustly pertaining to him by right of Constantia his wife, Daughter to Manfred king of Sicilie.
And finally by his craft and wickednesse the countries of Flaminea and Bononia with the exarcht of Rauenna which had remained a long time vnderunder the Emperours iurisdiction were brought vnderunder the dominion of the Pope of Rome. In Religion he was verie superstitious and caused cases of siluer to be made wherein he put the skulls of Peter & Paul.
Note.Next, vntounto him followed Martinus the fourth, and ruled foure yeeres, and one month. Hee receiued Charles king of Sicilie in fauour, and restored vntounto him the dignitie of a Roman Senator,Nicolaus. 4. which Nicolas his predecessour had taken from him, and was so contrarious in all his doings to Nicolaus, that whereas Nicolaus stirred vp Peter king of Arragon to claime the kingdome of Sicilie as belonging to him by right. Martinus by the contrarie excōmunicated the king of Arragon as a spoiler of the Church-goods, because hee invaded the kingdome of Sicilie. Notwithstanding in this Popes time the Frenchmen, who were in Sicilie being hated of the people were pitifullie destroied: For they had agreed among themselues that vponupon a certaine day at euening time when a signe was giuen by ringing of a bell that they should cut off in one houre all the French blood that was found in Sicilie:Note. The Sicilians crueltie. which thing also they performed with such crueltie that they ript vp their owne countrie-women that were with child by the Frenchmen: to the end there should no remnant of French blood remaine among them, and from this excessiue crueltie the Prouerb yet remaineth Vesperae Siculae.Vesperae Siculae.
This Pope also tooke the Concubine of his Predessour Nicolaus, and caused to abolish all the pictures of Vrses and Beares that were found in his palace: fearing left his harlot by a deepe imagination and impression of these Pictures should bring forth children rough like Beares as shee had done before.Note.
Honorius 4.Honorius 4. followed and ruled 2. yeeres & one month, he ratified the sentence of excommunication giuen out against Peter king of Arragon for invading the kingdome of Sicilie.
After him followed Nicolaus the fourth;Nicolaus. 4. and ruled foure yeeres, one month: after whom the Chaire of Rome was vacant for the space of two yeeres, and three months, because of the intestine discord of the Cardinals who could not condiscend among themselues who should be chosen to succeede.
In the end Caelestinus, Caelestinus 5.the fift is chosen and ruled one yeere and fiue months: hee was an Heremit & had liued such a solitarie life that he was altogether vnmeet for gouernment in great and weightie affaires. Neuerthelesse he was a notable Hypocrite and pretended a reformation of the abuses of the court of Rome, and namely in this that the Cardinalls & Bishops should ride not vponupon horses & mules with Pompous traines, but vpō Asses following the example of Christ, who did ride to Ierusalem vponupon one of them. But the Cardinals were so farre from yeelding to this ordinance, howbeit the Pope in his owne person gaue them example so to doe, that they counted him an old doting foole, and finding him to be a verie simple man so abused his simplicitie that they caused him voluntarily resigne and giuegive ouer his office.Note. For Caietanus a certaine Cardinall digged a hole thorow the Popes chamber and sounded in a voyce admonishing him to resigne his office to another who was more fit to gouerne then hee was: which the Pope supposing to be an Angelicall voyce & an heauenly admonition, willingly resigned his office, desiring the Cardinals to choose another man more fit for the Popedome then himselfe was, who choosed thereafter this same Cardinall Caietanus, Bonifacius 8.and named him Bonifacius 8. who ruled 8. yeeres 9. months, 17. daies. Besides the subtile policie wherby he attained the Popedome he ioyned Barbarous crueltie, for his predecessor Caelestinus hauing dimitted his Popedome he returned againe to the wildernesse to liue a solitarie life as before. But Bonifacius brought him by force backe from the wildernesse, & emprisoned him where he died for heart-griefe. This Pope renewed the old factiōs of the Gibelines & Guelses, & hated the Gibelines to the death, in so farre that he deposed the Cardinals that were found to be of the families of the Gibelines, and disposed their dignities, rents, castles, and heritages to others, and proceeded in hatred and crueltie against them, that he could abide no man that was of the stocke of the Gibelines. Insomuch that Porthecus Archbishop of Geneua comming vntounto him, & falling downe at his feete Die cinerum: hee would not lay the Ashes vponupon his head, nor say to him, Memento homo quod cinis es, & in cinerem reuerteris, as the custome was but hee threw the ashes in his eyes,Note. and said Memento homo quod Gibellinus es, & cum Gibellinis in cinerem redigeris, that is, remember O man that thou art one of the Gibelines, and with them thou shalt be turned to ashes.The institution of the Iubilie. He instituted the first Iubily that was kept at Rome, promising a full remission of all their sins to so many as would take paines to visit the Apostolike Sea. In solemnising whereof the first day he shewed himselfe to the people in his Pontificall garments with S. Peters keies caried about him; but the second hee shewed himselfe vntounto them in royall apparell, with a naked sword carried before him, and an Harold proclaiming Ecce potestas vtrins que , gladij, that is, beholde the power of both the swords, to wit both ciuil and spiritual, claiming to himself a soueraigne authoritie in al things both ciuil & ecclesiasticall. He excommuincated Philip king of France and his posteritie to the fourth generation, because he made an ordinance that no mony nor revennue should bee caried out of his countrie to Rome. But Philip assembled a Councel at Paris and appealed from the Bishop of Rome to the first generall Councell to be holden. And sent William Nogaretius steward of his house together with Scarra Columnensis one of the noble men of Rome whom the Pope persecuted because he was a Gibeline. These two I say he sent to Rome to publish his appellation against the Pope, but they had another purpose in hand as the euent declared. For Scarra disguised himselfe, entered in Italy with a seruants habite, and secretlie gathered a number of his friends & Gibelines; and set vponupon the Pope by night as hee was lying at Anagnia the towne of his natiuity. Nogaretius also cōcurred with 200. horsmen, who brake in vponupon him by night and spoiled al his rich treasures, and put himselfe vponupon a wanton Colt with his face towards the taile, and made him a ridiculous spectacle to all the people. Soone after he went to Rome and died for displeasure that he had loosed his riches,Note. and sustained so great shame. This is he of whom it was truly said, that he entered in as a Foxe, liued as a Lyon, and died as a Dogge.
Patriarchs of Constantinople.
AFter Georgius Xiphilinus succeeded Ioannes Cametarus, Ioannes Cametarus. Thomas Maurocenus.after him Thomas Maurocenus, who being made Patriarch tooke his iourney to Rome, & receiued confirmatiō of the Roman B. Innocentius 3. He was also present at the coūcel of Lateran, holden at Rome in the yeere of our Lord, 1215.
Next to him succeeded Pantoleo Iustinianus, Pantoleo Iustinianus. Germanus and Arsenius.& after him Germanus and Arsenius, to whose tutorie the Emp. Theodorus cō mitted his yong sonne Ioannes, but Michael Paleologus being chosen Emp. plucked out the eyes of the yong Emp. for the which he was excōmunicated by Arsenius. Paleologus on the other part gathered a Councel of Bishops against him, & accused him for suffering of Azetines the Sultan to be present at the holy seruice,Note. & for conferring with him in the temple. In this councell Arsenius was deposed, because he appeared not to answere to the foresaid accusation, & immediatly after was bāished by the Emp. & Nicephorus placed in his roome. After whom succeeded Germanus, Iosephus.and after him Iosephus, to whom the Emperour confessed his sinnes of periurie and crueltie, in plucking out the eyes of Ioannes the son of Theodorus Lascaris, and receiued absolution from him.
But when he perceiued how the Emperour was purposed to make an agreement with the Bishop of Rome, hee would not consent thereto, but voluntarily dimitted his office and entered into a monasterie where hee ended his life.
Becus.After him followed Becus whom the Emp. traueled to perswade to giuegive his consent to the foresaid agreement with the B. of Rome, but all in vaine, for which cause the Emp. imprisoned him, there giuing him many books to reade, confirming the opinions of the Latine church, which made Becus change his opinion, and both by word and writ defend the doctrine of the Latin church.Hugolinus. To whom succeded Hugolinus.
Of other Doctors.
IN this age many were found who taking example of Petrus Lombardus invented subtile and intricat disputations: questionin̄g, reasoning, and calling all things in doubt after the maner of the Academik Philosophers,Note. insomuch that there was no head of doctrine howbeit plaine in it selfe which they did not obscure and darken with the mist of vaine Philosophie, & curious disputation. And that which was more lamentable the pure foundations of the word of God were vtterlie forsaken, & Theologues began to reuerence Aristotle, & his writings as if hee had bin a Prophet of God, & the Apostle of Iesus Christ. Yea things cōtained in the holy scripture were counted vulgar, common, base & of little importance, but they who were deeply learned in Aristotles Philosophie and in the volumes of the ancient doctors were counted excellent teachers, Angelicall and Geraphicall Doctors. Then were set out prolixe commentaries vponupon the master of Sentē ces by Albertus, Aquinae, Alexander, and Scotus, and all the schooles were filled with contentious disputations.Albertus Magnus. This Albertus was a Dominik frier, who for his great learning was called Magnus, & was made B. of Ratisbon by Pope Alexander 4. but he being wearied with the painefull trauels of that calling returned home again to Colen to spēd his time more quietly in reading and writing of bookes. Where hee writ those commentaries vponupon the Master of Sentences, & vponupon Aristotle with many other volumes. Also hee defended his owne order of friers against Guil. de S. Amore who impugned the same as shalbe hereafter declared God willing: before he died he pointed out a place for his owne burial and dailie visited it,Thomas Aquinas. Et vig…lias pro se ac si vita s…nctus esset, legit. Thomas de Aquino otherwaies called Angelicus Doctor, was disciple to Albertus Magnus, and profited in Theologie and Philosophie beyond others, while he was yong at the schoole he was quiet & stil more inclined to heare al men then to speake, & was called by his condisciples Bos, that is a kow because hee was so silent. Neuerthelesse afterward by his penne this kow lowed louder then all his cōdisciples, & filled al nations with the sound of his Doctrine. He was of the order of the Dominike or preaching Friers, & defended his order against William de S. Amore as Albertus his Master had done before. He died in the way as he was iourneying to the coūcel at Lyons, & was canonised by Pope Ioannes 22. and was supposed to hauehave wrought miracles after his death, because this age was full of lying miracles.Alexander Neckam otherwise called Ingenij Miraculum. Alexander Neckam was learned in Philosophie, Poetrie, Oratrie and Theologie, & obtained a glorious name to be called Ingenij Miraculū, hee was made Abbot of Excester in England, vponupon whose Sepulchre when hee died were written these Barbarous verses.
Eclipsin patitur sapientia, Sol sepelitur:
Cui si par vnus, minus esset flebile funus.
Vir bene discretus, & in omni more facetus,
Dictus erat Nequam, vitam duxit tamen aequam.
Ioannes Duns otherwise called Scotus Subtilis was a man borne in Dunce a towne of Scotland,Scotus Subtilis. who departed from his natiue countrie and ioyned himselfe to the companie of the gray friers in Oxford, from thence he passed to Paris, & from thence to Colen, where hee died being yet yong in yeeres. Hee was called Subtilis from the subtilitie of his wit. In his commentaries vponupon the Master of Sentences hee entreateth largely of the head of the Sacrament of the supper, where it may be seene that hee would neuer hauehave condiscended to the opinion of Transubstantiation, if hee had not beene induced thereto by the authoritie of the church of Rome.
Alexander de ales.Likewise in this age liued Alexander de Ales an English man brought vp in Paris and expert in Philosophie & Theologie, who amplified the doctrine of Petrus Lombardus with many subtile arguments and was called Doctor irrefragabilis. In the end hee tooke vponupon him the habit and order of the Graye Friers vponupon this Occasion. Hee had vowed, that hee should doe all things which he was required to do in the name of the blessed Virgin,Note. if so be they were possible to be done, and vponupon a time hee forgathered with a begging Frier, seeking almes who besought him for the LoueLove of our Lady to ioyne himselfe to their order, because they had no Master to gouerne and rule them. Thus Alexander de Ales without delay tooke vponupon him the habit of a graye frier and became their doctour. He died at Paris and was buried in one of the Abbacees of the graye friers.
Now in this time of most palpable darkenesse the Lord lacked not witnesses of his truth, but stirred vp many who damned the grosse ignorance and superstition of those times. Of this number was Arnoldus de Nova Villa a Spainard,Arnoldus de noua villa. a man famously learned and a great writer, whom the Pope with his Clergie condemned among Heretikes, for holding & writing against the corrupt errours of the Popish Church. His teaching was that Sathan had seduced all the world from the truth of Christ Iesus.
The articles which he maintained.First, That the faith which then Christian men were commonly taught, was such a faith as the Deuils had.
Secondly, That Christian people were led by the Pope to hell.
Thirdly, That all Cloysters are voyde of Charitie, and that they doe all falsifie the doctrine of Christ.
Fourthly, That the Diuines doe euill in mixing Philosophie with Diuinitie.
Fiftly, That the Masses are not to be celebrated, and that they ought not to sacrifice for the dead. Certaine other opinions there be which the slaunderous sects of Monkes and Friers doe attribute to him (as is their custome) rather of envious taking then of any iust cause giuen.
In this number also was the worthy and valiant Champion of Christ and aduersary of Antichrist Guilielmus de S. Amore a Master of Paris,Gulielmus de S. Amore. and a chiefe ruler then of that Vniuersitie. He in his time had no small adoe, writing against the Friers and their Hypocrisie, but especiallie against the begging Friers, both condemning their whole Order and also accusing them as those that did disturbe and trouble all the churches of Christ, by their preaching in churches against the will of the Ordinarie Pastors, by their hearing of confessions, and executing the charge of ordinarie preachings in their churches. All the testimonies of Scripture that make against the Antichrist, hee applied them against the Clergie of Prelats and the Popes spirituallie.
The same Guilelmus is thought to be the author of the booke which is attributed to the schoole of Paris and intituled De Periculis ecclesiae, where hee prooueth by 39. arguments that Friers be false Prophets. Moreouer he doth wel expound this saying of Christ. If thou wilt be perfect, goe and sell all that thou hast and come follow mee, declaring there, pouertie to be inioyned vsus of Christ, non actualem sed habitualem, not in such sort as standeth in outward action when no neede requireth, but in inward affection of heart when neede requireth, as though the meaning and precept of our Lord were, not that wee should cast away actuallie all that wee hauehave, but that when the confession of the name of Christ and his glorie shall so require,Note that then wee be readie to leaue all things for his sake, as when hee requireth in vsus after the like phrase the hatred of father and mother and of our owne liues, hee biddeth vsus not to dishonour our father or mother, much lesse to hate them, but that then when it is required we set all things behind the louelove of Christ.
Many other worthy workes hee compiled wherein albeit hee vttered nothing but what was truth, yet notwithstanding hee was by the Antichrist and his rable condemned for an heretike, exiled, and his bookes burnt.
Laurentius Anglus. Petrus Ioannis.Of this number also was one Laurence an Englishman & Master of Paris, and Petrus Ioannis a Minorit who taught and maintained many things against the Pope, prouing that hee was Antichrist, and that the Synagogue of Rome was great Babylon, whom because the Pope could not burne aliue, after his death his bones were taken vp and burned. Also Robertus Gallus is to be added to those before mentioned, who being borne of a right noble parentage,Robertus Gallus. for devotions sake, was made a Dominik Frier about the yeere of our Lord 1290.
This man (as appeareth by his writings) had diuerse and sundrie visions al tending against the spirituallitie of Rome: for hee called the Pope plainely an Idole, who hauing eyes neither saw nor desired to see the abhominations of his people nor the excessiue enormitie of their voluptuousnesse, but onelyonly to heape vp treasures to himselfe. And hauing a mouth did not speake himselfe but sayd, I hauehave set good men ouer them which is sufficient, to doe them good either by himselfe or others.
Hee notably describeth in one of his visions the curiositie and vanitie of the Scholastig, Doctours who flourished in this age, comparing them to a man, who hauing good bread & good wine hanging on both his sides was notwithstanding gnawing hungerly on a flint stone: thereby signifiyng that they leauing the wholsome foode of their soules contained in the Scriptures, busied themselues with subtile questions, containing no edification in them nor comfort to the soule of man.
Robertus. Gostred.In this age also is reckoned Robert Gostred Bishoppe of Lincolne in England, a man of great learning, godlinesse, and constancie: who liued in the daies of Pope Innocentius the fourth and constantly resisted his vnlawfull request. For this Pope had recommended vntounto him a yong Italian boy, to bee admitted to the first vacant prebendry of his diosie.
But Robert Gostred would not agree to the vngodlie desire of the Pope, but did write backe an answere to him, declaring that next after the sinne of Lucifer there is not nor can bee any kinde of sinne so repugnant and contrarie to the doctrine of the Apostles and holy Scripture, and to our Soueraigue Christ himselfe more hatefull, detestable, and abhominable, then to destroy and kill mens soules by defrauding them of the misterie of the Pastorall office, which by the ministerie of the Pastorall cure ought to saue and quicken the same. Which sinne by most euident places of Scripture such men are descerned and knowne to commit, who being in the authoritie of that Pastoral dignity doe serue their owne carnall desires with the benefite of the milke and wool of the sheepe and flocke of Christ, and doe not minister the same Pastorall office to the benefite and saluation of those their sheepe. And whereas hee perceiued that the Bishop of Rome delt in all his requests imperiouslie, rather commaunding, nor requesting any thing to bee done, hee answered in the end of this letter that the power which was giuen by God to any Bishop was to build the house of God, and not to destroy it, hereby blaming the Bishop of Rome, as one who abused his authoritie to the destruction of the Church of God, by placing young boyes in offices neither apt to teach nor wel acquainted with the maners and language of the people.
This ans…re being returned to the Pope hee was greatly moued with indignation, and sware that except hee had beene restrained by his owne naturall clemencie, hee would hurle him downe to such confusion as to make him afable, a gazing stocke, and a wonder to the world.
Not long after thus it pleased God to visit this reuerend father with sicknesse, in the time whereof hee called to him a Frier of the preaching Order, named Master Iohn Giles, a man expert and cunning both in Physicke and Diuinitie, partly to receiue from him some comfort to his body, and partly to conferre with him in spirituall matters. Thus vponupon a certaine day the said Bishop conferring with the said Master Iohn, and reciting to him the doings and proceedings of the Pope, did grieuously rebuke his fellow brethren the Preaching Friers, and the other Order also of the Minorites. Because their Order being planted in wilfull pouertie of the Spirit, to the intent they should more freely, carpe and repro…e the vices of the mightie, and not to flatter or to spare them, but sharpely to rebuke and reprehend the same: yet the said Friers contrarie to their profession did not boldly enough cry out and invey against the abuses of their superiours and men of power, not did vncouer nor detect their faults and wickednesse. And therefore the B. said I …udge them to be no better than manifest heretickes. And added moreouer (demanding of Master Iohn what is heresie) that hee would giuegive him the true definition of it. Whereat when the Frier did stay and pause not remembering the solemne definition of that matter, the Bishop therevpon inferreth, giuing this definition in Latine by the true interpretation of the Greeke word.What heresie is. Heresis gracè, Latine electio, est sententia humano sensu electa scripturae sacrae contraria, palam docta, pertinaciter desensa; that is, heresie is a sentence taken and chosen of mans owne braine contrarie to holy Scripture, openly maintained and st…flie defended. And this definition especiallie hee applied against the Romans who commit the charge of soules vntounto their kinsfolkes being, both in age vnworthie, and in learning insufficient, and so stiflie defend this their wicked opinion that if any dare presume to withstand the same, hee is suspended and excommunicated, and open warre proclaimed against him.
Therefore hee to whom the whole definition of an heretike doth agree, hee is a verie heretike. And eueryevery Christian man ought to set himselfe against an heretike as farre as hee may yea and that person who can resist him, and doth it not, hee sinneth, and seemeth to be a fauourer thereof according to the saying of Gregorie. Note.Hee lacketh not conscience of secret societie, who ceaseth to resist open impietie, and the Apostle writeth to the Romans, saying not onelyonly they who commit such things, but also they that consent, are worthie of death. Therefore it may be concluded that aswell the Pope (Vnlesse he cease from that vice) as also the same Friers, vnlesse they shew themselues more earnest and studious in repelling the same, are both worthy of death, that is, perpetuall damnation.
Item sayth the Canon Decretall that vponupon this vice of heresie the Pope both may and ought to be accused.He reproueth the enormities of the Church of Rome. After this the vehemencie of his disease more and more increasing and because the nights were somewhat longer, the third night before his departure the Bishop feeling his infirmitie to grow vponupon him, willed certaine of his Clergie to be called vntounto him, thereby to be refreshed with some conference or communication, vntounto whom the Bishop (lamenting in his minde for the losse of soules through the auarice of the Popes court) said on this wise, as by certaine Aphorismes.
Christ came vntounto the world to saue and to winne soules, Ergo he that feareth not to destroy soules, may hee not worthily be counted Antichrist.
The Lord created the world in six daies, but in the restoring of man he laboured more then thirtie yeeres: wherefore hee that is a destroier of that about the which the Lord so long laboured, is not hee worthy to be accounted the enemie of God, and Antichrist.
These and many other enormities of the Roman Church when the Godly Bishop had reproued, as all kindes of Auarice, Vsurie, Simonie, Extortion, and all kindes of filthinesse, fleshly lust, gluttonie and their sumptuous apparell, then sayth hee this old verse may be truly verified of the▪ Court of Rome.
Eius avaritiae totus non sufficit Orbis.
Eius Luxuriae meretrix non sufficit omnis.
Afterward hee went about more to prosecute; how the foresaid Court like a gulfe neuer satisfied, euer gaping so wide that the flood of Iordan might run into his mouth, aspired how to vsurpe the goods of them that die vntested, and of Legacies beq…e…hed without forme of law, whereby more licentiously to bring this to passe they vsed to ioyne the king to be fellow and partner with them, in their spoiles, extortions, and robbings.
Neither sayth he shall the Church be deliuered from the seru…tude of Aegyp…, out by violence and force, and with the bloodie sword. And albeit sayth hee, those be yet but light matters, yet shortly more great and grieuous things then these shall be seene. And in the end of this his prophecying, which he scarcely could vtter with sighing and weeping, his tongue and breath begun to faile. And so the Organ of his voyce being stopped made an ende both of his speech and life.
This is that Bishop who not onelyonly in his lifetime resisted the pride and insolencie of the Bishop of Rome, but also after his death God made him a terrour to the Pope, who dreamed that Robert Gostred came to him and with his staffe strake him on the side and said vntounto him; Surge miser, veni adiudicium, Note.after the which dreame within a few dayes hee ended his life. Others doe adde that a voyce was heard in the palace where the Pope lay at Naples, saying Surge miser, vem adiudicium, as hath beene declared in the life of Innocentius Quartus.
Of Monkes.
BEcause the orders of Monkes most abounded in this age, albeit they begun long before, therefore hauehave wee casten in this treatise in this Centurie, howbeit wee declare the Order of Monks that sprang vp before or at this time.
Of the Benedi…u… Monkes.About the time of the raigne of Iustinus the elder (as hath beene declared in the seuenth Centurie) Pope Iohn the first being Bishop of Rome, Benedict a father and fauourrer of Monkes gathered together all scattered religious persons and begun a peculiar order vponupon the Mount Cassinus, where he built a most renowned Cloister giuing them there, a rule, prescript, and forme of liuing.
Afterward the same Bennet hauing much people resorting to him built 12. other Monasteries, and filled them with religious men. Of this order is reported to hauehave beene 24. Popes of Rome. 182. Cardinalls, 1464. Archbishopps and Bishops. 15000. and 70. renowned Abbots as sayth Pope Iohn the 22. There hath beene of this Order 5655. Monkes canonised and made Saints.
This Bennet also invented an order for his sister Scolastica and made her Abbesse ouer many Nunnes. Her cloathing was a blacke coate, cloake, coule, and vaile, and lest the scripture should deceiue her, and Hers, it was commanded that none should read it without the consent and permission of their superiour. Here is to be seene how God is sought in all monasticall orders when as amongst them his holy word is expelled.Note. This order of Bennedictin monkes, when it was nerely decaied in shaddow of Godlines, was quickned againe by one Otlon or Otho and was called the order of Clumacensis. Of the Clumacensis order.Howbeit their cloathing and rule was according to the appointment of Bennet. And this monkish order was richly endewed with great substance and yeerely rents by a certaine Duke of Aquitania called Guillidinus in the yeere of our Lord 913.
In the yeere of our Lord 850. Pope Leo the fourth gouerning the Sea of Rome:Of the Camaldinensis order. the monkish religion of Camaldinensis was devised by Romoaldus of Rauenna in the mount Apenninus. Their coule and cloake and all their cloathing was white. They kept perpetuall silence. EueryEvery wednesday and fry day they fast on bread and water, they goe bearefooted, and lie on the ground.Of the Hieronimians order. Pope Innocentius the 7. being B. of Rome the monkish order of Hieronimians began vnderunder the name of S. Ierome, who leauing his natiue countrie went vntounto Iury & there not far from Bethelē builded him an house where he liued very devoutly in the later end of his life.
Those Apes and counterfeites of S. Ierom weare their cloathes of white and a cope platted about their coate girded with a lether girdle. The order was endewed with diuers priuiledges and liberties by certaine Bishops of Rome, as Gregorie the twelfth and Eugenius the fourth.
Of the Gregorian Order.Pope Gregorie the first, borne of a noble stocke and very rich, forsaked all and became a Monke. After the death of his father he builded six religious houses in Sicilie, giuing them a forme and rule of liuing.
He built another within Rome in the name and honour of S. Andrew, wherein he dwelt with manie monkish brethren which from time to time keeping his rule diligentlie are called Gregorians. Their habit is a copper-colloured cloath according to their rule.
Of the shaddowed valey order.Pope Gregorie the sixt bearing rule, Ioannes Gualbertus, a Knight, begun this order in a certaine moūtaine called Vallis Vmbrosa that is to say a shaddowed valley vnderunder Bennets rule, with adding thereto and changing of blacke cloathes into gray, In the yeere, 1038.
Of the Grandimontensis order.Pope Alexander the second being B. of Rome the sect of the Grandimontensis Monkes was invented by Stephen of Auernia. Their order is to lead a strict life as Monkes vse to doe, to giuegive themselues to watching, fasting, and praying, to weare a coate of Mailes vponupon their bodyes, and a blacke cloake therevpon.
Of the Cistertiensis order.Pope Vrban the second bearing rule. Robert, Abbot of Molisme in Cistert in a wildernesse, or forrest in Burgundie did institute the order of Cistertians, albeit some ascribe this to one Ordingus a Monke that perswaded the aforesaid Monke to the same. They weare red shoes, and white Rotchets on a blacke coate, all shauen except a litle circle. In the yeere of the Lord 198. Of this Religion was that great Clarke S. Bernard.
Of the Humiliats order.Pope Innocentius the third, confirmed and allowed the Order of Humiliats, first of all deuised by certaine persons exiled by Fredericus Barbarossa: who when they were restored to their countrie apparelled themselues all in white and promised to goe in lowlie and simple cloathing. The men and women to be separated each from other, and to labour euerie one in that wherein hee was most skilfill. They had one commune purse amongst them. They professed S. Bennets rule. This Order in processe of time hath increased so both in goodes and persons, that it was confirmed and endewed with many priuiledges of diuers Bishopps of Rome in the yeeres of our Lord, 1166.
Pope Celestinus the fift,Of the Celestines Order. willinglie gaue ouer his Bishoprike and returned againe to his solitarie life, wherein he quietly liued before his Papacie. Certaine superstitious persons counterfeited this Bishop, taking vponupon them an order of S. Bennet in a wildernesse, and called themselues Celestines after Celestine. The garment which they weare, cloakes, coule and cape are blew: in the yeere, 1297.
Pope Eugenius the fourth bearing rule:Of the Gilbertines order. S. Gilbert in England at Sirington and Semphring hame began an order of Monkes called after him Gilbertines, in the yeere, 1148.
Pope Eugenius the fourth, confirmed the religion of the Iustinians, Of the Iustinians order.adorning the same with manie liberties and priuiledges. It was first of all invented by Lewes Barbus a counsellors of Venice, and practised in the parts of Treuisa in the Cloyster of S. Iustine by the citie of Padua. They professe Monke Bennets rule, but in habit and apparrell they differ.
Pope Gregorie the seuenth being Bishop of Rome;Of the Charterhouse Monkes. Bruno of Colen that Philosopher and diuine, whom Bernard calleth a faire pillar of the church, did institute the Order of charterhouse Monkes in the Diocesse of Gratianopolis at a place named Curtusia: Their life was outwardly full of painted holinesse in forbearing flesh, in fasting with bread and water eueryevery Friday, in wearing hairie cloathes next to their body, solitarie, much silent, neuer going out, refusing all womens companie, &c.
Pope Gelasius the second bearing rule:Of the Templars order. Their originall. the order of the Templars begun in Ierusalem and continued almost 200. yeeres, whose beginning was thus. Templars begun in Ierusalem continued almost 200. yeeres whose beginning was thus.
After that Godfrey Duke of Loraine had conquered Ierusalem, certaine Knights perceiuing that such Pilgrimes as came to them of their devotion were robbed and murthered by the way, made a band among themselues to serue God in chiualrie. At the beginning they were but few and gaue themselues to wilfull pouertie, and their chiefe master was the keeper of the Temple doore, whence they were called Templary. They dwelt together not farre from Christs Sepulchre lodging the Pilgrimes, keeping them from mischiefe, and shewing them much kindnesse, bringing them from one holy citie to another. The badge of their order was a white cloake with a red Crosse. S. Bernard made them a rule according to the appointment whereof they framed their liues. Afterward they became verie rich through the gifts of noble men and Pilgrimes. But Pope Clement the fift put them downe, and destroied them all in one day,Why they were put downe. partly because (as they writ) they renounced the faith of Christ, and conspired with the Turke, and partly for other notable crimes. Notwithstanding some say that this rooting out of them, was more because of envie of their prosperitie and royaltie, then for their faults. For when their grandmaster Iames Burgonion was burnt at Paris with many of his brethren he affirmed that hee was neuer guiltie of the accusation laied against him. Thus perished this order of Templars, all in one day, their lands and possessions being distributed and giuen to others, in the yeere of our Lord, 1110.
Of the premonstratenses order.Pope Calixtus the second, allowed and approued the monkish order of premonstratenses, which was first of all deuised by a certaine man borne at Colen called Notorobertus a Priest: they be vnderunder the rule of Bennet the Monke, they be clothed all ouer in white to declare their vnstained virginitie Anno, 1119.
Of the order of the white Monkes of Mount OliuetPope Gregorie the 12. raigning: the Monkes of Mount Oliuet sprung vp through the deuice of Bernardus Ptolomeus.
Their cloathing is all white, their rule is Bennets, with some additions vntounto it. In the yeere of our Lord, 1406.
Pope Gregorie the 12. raigning,Of the Georgian Monkes. confirmed and established also the order of S. George of Alga by Venice, which was begun by a spirituall man, the Patriarch, Laurence Iustinian, a man of an incredible strictnesse of life. These Monkes are vnderunder S. Peters rule and the first order, with certaine ordinances ioyned thereto. In the yeere, 1407.
Pope Vrban the second bearing rule,Of the white Monkes. the order of white Monkes begun, first deuised by one Stephen Harding, and afterward in the yeere of our Lord, 1135. it was brought into England, by a certaine man called Waiter Especk: who built an Abbey of the same order called Meriuale.
Pope Honorius bearing rule,Of the Ioannitts order. Raymound, a man of Nobilitie first of all invented the Order of S. Iohn Baptist at Ierusalem about the yeere, 1130.
Pope Clement the sixt being Bishop of Rome,Of the order of scourgers. a certaine Pestilent sect of false religious persones, sprang vp in high Almaine, who called themselues Penitentes Cruciferi, seu flagellatores, that is patient crosse-bearers, or scourgers of themselues. Their maner was to goe from place to place, hauing a banner vponupon the Crucifixe borne before them, and neuer to tarrie in one place, but vponupon the Sabboth: eueryevery day also they did pennance both morning and euening, by scourging themselues before the people with a great whippe, of three coards full of knotts vponupon their bare bodies, affirming that it was reveiled vntounto them by an Angel from heauen, that they thus scourging themselues, should within thirtie dayes and twelue houres, thorow the suffering of those paines, be made so cleane and free from sinne, as they were when they were Baptized. Anno. 133.