The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 1 · History of century 10
CENTVRIE. X.
Ludovicus tertius.
AFter Arnulphus succeeded his son Lewis the 3. & raigned 10. yeeres, he receiued not the Emperial Diadem at Rome: because Berē garius by force inioyed the Kingdome of Italie. At this time the Hungares a nation fierce and cruell inuaded Italy, France, and Germanie, and made in these nations horrible desolations. Likewise the Saracens invaded Calabria and Apulia in Italie,Platin. in vita. Ioan. 10. and if the Lord had not pittied the distressed estate of Europe, it was at this time like to be vndone, for Platina writeth that while they were besieging Consentia, the King of the Saracens was slaine with thunder, and the Saracens terrified with this vnprosperous successe returned backe againe to Africk. In this Emperours dayes a remarkable thing fell out. Albert Marquis of Bamberg rebelled against the Emperour Lewis, Funct. Comment in chronol lib. 9.and hee had slaine Conrad the Emperours brother. The Emperour seeing that by no meanes hee could prevaile against him,Note. hee was supported by the coofening treason of Hatto Arch-bishop of Mentz; for he came to the noble Marquis as though he would make reconciliation betweene the Emperour and him, and swore vntounto him, that hee would bring him backe in safetie to his owne house, but his deceitfull maner of reducing was this. After they had riden a short way the Bishop felt his stomach, and repented they had not first dined before they had taken iourney. Thus the Marquis and the Bishop returned backe againe and dined, this the Bishop counted an exoneration of his promise and oath, and like a traitour deliuered him to the Emperour, who by and by beheaded the Marquis. In the East Alexander raigned two yeeres, and after him Constantine, a man of good disposition, but defrauded of his kingdome by Romannus Captain of his armie.
Cunradus primus.
AFter Lewis, his Nephew Cunrad the first was made Emperour and ruled seuen yeeres. Hee was the last of the of-spring of Charles the great (who had enioyed the empire of the West 112. yeeres) after whom the Empire was transferred to the Saxons. When he fell sicke hee called for his brother Eberhard, and desired him to deliuer the imperiall ornaments, to Henrie Duke of Saxon, who for his wisedome and worthinesse was most meet to gouerne the troubled estate of the Empyre,Note. which dutie Eberhard most faithfullie performed, preferring fidelitie in performing his promise made to his brother, before the desire of a kingdome.
Henricus auceps.
HEnrie Duke of Saxonie to whom Eberhard broght the Imperial ornaments, was called Auceps, because he was delighting himselfe in hauking when Eberhard came vntounto him with the ornaments a foresaid. He raigned 17. yeeres for wisedome and magnanimitie worthy of so high a place. He made a couenant of peace with the Hungars for the space of 9. yeeres. He fought against the Sclauonians, the people of Dalmatia and the Bohemians, and made them tributaries vntounto him, when the 9. yeeres were expired hee fought a great battell against the Hungares at Mersburg and prevailed against them, and in testimonie of his thankfulnesse to God who gaue vntounto him victorie, he purged his dominions from Simonie, a fault vniuersallie ouerspread in those dayes,Not… and dedicated to Gods seruice the whole tribute which the Saxons were accustomed to pay to the Hungars, hee was greatly beloued of his subiects and was called Rater patriae.
In the East Constantine recouered his Empire againe From Romanus and his Sonnes, and measured to his sonnes such measure as they had measured to their father Romanus. For Stephanus and Constantine had caused their father Romanus to bee shauen and thrust into an Isle called Prote.Hist. Magd. cent. 10. cap. 16. And Constantine after the issue of 26. yeeres, wherein Romanus and his sonnes raigned, he laied hands on Stephanus and caused him to bee shauen and sent vntounto the isle Mytelene,Note. and his brother to the Isle of Samothracia. Thus the Lord who will not suffer iniquitie to escape vnpunished rendered to the sonnes of Romanus a iust recompence of their vnkindlie dealing with their father.
Otto Primus.
OTto the first after the death of his father Henrie was chosen Emperour, and raigned 36. yeeres. Hee was molested with many forraine and domestique warres, but hee prospered in all his enterprises, yea and Lyndolphus his owne sonne conspired against him, for the marriage of Adelphed the relict of Lotharie sonne to Hugo, who contended against Berengarius for the kingdome of Italie.
This Adelphed the Emperour, Otto not onelyonly relieued from her distressed estate, but also married her. The mother of Lindolphus was daughter to Edmont King of England, after whose death it displeased him that his father should marrie Adelphed. But when hee made warre against his father he was ouercome, and besieged at Ratisbon, and in the end was reconciled to his father. The tyrannie of Berengarius the second enforced the Romans to implore the assistance of the Emperour Otto, who led an armie to Rome at diuerse times. The first time hee gathered a Councell at Rome and deposed Ioan. 13. whom others call Ioan. 12. and placed Leo 8. in his steed. Likewise hee subdued Berengarius, and his sonne Albertus did flie to Constantinople, and so the Emperour recouered againe his owne dignitie to be king of Italie, and that no man should bee chosen Pope without consent of the Emperour. Againe, the inconstancie of the Romans in reiecting Leo 8. and receiuing againe Ioan. 13. or 12. compelled the Emperour to returne to Rome, and to punish the authors of that sedition to the death. After hee had declared his sonne to be Emperour, he died and was buried in the Church of Magdeburg, which he had builded in his owne time.
In the East, after Romanus the son of Constantine had raigned 3. yeeres, Nec…phorus raigned 6. yeeres, a man more magnanimous in warfare, then wise in government. He was murthered by the Counsell of his owne wife Theophania, and Zimisces raigned in his steed.
Otto Secundus.
OTto the second after his fathers death raigned ten yeeres, he was a vertuous Prince, but not like vntounto his father. Henrie Duke of Bavare contended against him for the title of the Empire, but Otto prevailed. Likewise Lotharie the King of France invaded the countrie of Loraine, onelyonly belonging to the Emperour. But Otto gathered a strong armie, recouered the Countrey of Loraine and pursued Lotharie to Paris, burning and destroying all the Countrey whether hee went. The third great conflict was against the Eretians assisted with the Saracons, for the Countries of Apulia and Calabria. These countries did appertaine of old to the Emperour of the East. But Basilius, with his brother Constantine willing to recouer these Countries, againe did fight against the Emperour Otto, and discomfited his armie, and the Emperour himselfe hardly escaped in a fisher boate, faining himselfe to bee but a simple Souldier, and payed his ransome. Afterward hee conuerted all his wrath against the Italians, who had trayterouslie forsaken him, and were the chiefe cause of the discomfiture of this armie, hee died at Rome and was buried in the Church of S. Peter.
Basilius Emperour of the East raigned 50. yeeres, and recouered the Isle of Candie from the Saracens, and the Countryes of Apulia, and Calabria from Otto as is said, after whom his Brother Constantine raigned 3. yeeres.
Otto Tertius.
OTto the third was young in yeeres when his father died. For hee exceeded not eleuen yeeres old, notwithstanding he was chosen Emperour, and raigned 19. yeeres. Hee was wise aboue his yeeres, and was called Mirabile mundi, that is, the admirable thing of the world. The Italians continuallie breaking soueraigntie, advanced one Crescentius to bee Emperour. The Emperour Otto for suppressing such seditious attempts, pearced into Italie with an armie at three diuers times, and pardoned Crescentius twise. But when hee made no ende of his seditious attempts, the third time, hee hanged him. Likewise Iaon 18. whom the Seditious Romanes had advanced, reiecting Gregorie the fift who was made Pope with the Emperours consent, his eyes were plucked out, and hee was throwne headlong from the Capitol. By the prudent aduise of Otto, Gregorie the fift, appointed Seuen electors of the Emperour, to wit the Bishops of Mentz, Collen, and Treer, with Count Palatine▪ the Duke of Saxonie, and the Marquis of Brandenburgh: and in case of contrary opinions, the King of Bohemia. Which custome doth continue even to our dayes. One thing was lacking in the felicity of this noble Emperour, that his wife, Mary of Arragon, was a notable and barren harlot, and the widow of Cresentius, Note.and had almost bewitched his noble heart. Shee being alwayes disappointed of her expectation, sent vntounto the Emperour a paire of impoysoned gloues, which procured his death, and hee was buried in Aken.