The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 2 · History of century 10
CENTVRIE X.
Popes of Rome.
TO Thedoricus succeeded Pope Iohn the tenth,Iohannes 20. hee abrogated all the decrees of Pope Stephanus the sixt, and allowed the decrees of Formosus: whereupon great tumult and vprore arose in Rome. For this cause, the Pope fled to Ravenna, and gathered a Councell of 74. Bishops, also Carolus Simplex King of France, was present at this councell. There hee ratified the decrees of Formosus, and damned the decrees of Stephanus. Here let vsus marke that the Bishops of Rome doe both mocke God and the world,Note. in saying, that their Councels are guided by the holy Spirit, and cannot erre; in the meane time one of their Councels damning another, and being altogether opposite one to another. After hee had come backe to Rome, he concluded his life, having ruled two yeeres, and fifteene dayes. To him succeeded Benedictus the fourth, and continued three yeeres, and foure moneths.Benedictus 4.
After Benedictus ruled Leo the fift,Leo 5. and continued not in his Popedome aboue forty dayes: for he was cast into prison and bonds, by Christophorus his owne domestique servant. Christophorus by vnlawfull meanes attained to the Popedom,Christophorus. and lost it againe vnworthily, in the seventh monethmonth of his government, for hee was thrust into a Monastery, as the only refuge of all disasterd people. Those monsters saith Platina, God permitted them not long to liue.
After Christophorus, Sergius 3.Sergius the third, ruled seven yeeres, foure moneths, and fifteene dayes. Hee raised againe the body of Formosus out of the graue, wherein hee had lien buried eight yeeres, and beheaded it, as if it had beene aliue, and cast it into the river Tyber, accounting it vnworthy of a buriall place.Note. Platina doth marke, that Formosus had been his competitor, and hindered Sergius from attaining to the Popedome, they who are so overtaken with ambition and hatefull malice, that they cannot moderate their owne affections, how shall they governe and rule, the vniversall Church of God. Beside this barbarous cruelty, he was a vile whoremonger, and begate Iohn the twelfth (who afterward was made Pope) with Marozia the wife of Guido, a famous harlot.
Anastatius 3.After him Anastatius the third, ruled two yeers, of whom nothing worthy of memory is written, except this, that he was not so malicious in damning the memorials of other men, as his predecessors had beene.
Landus.Landus succeeded to Anastatius, and ruled sixe moneths, and 21. dayes.
…ohannes. 11.To Landus succeeded Iohn the eleventh, and ruled thirteene yeares, two moneths, and three dayes. Hee was more martiall in exployts of warfare, then religious and expert in knowledge of heavenly things. For hee fought against the Saracens, who had been brought into Italy by the Grecians, and discomfited them. But when hee returned againe to Rome, hee incurred the hatred of Albericus, Marquis of Hetruria, who had fought with him against the Saracens, and could not abide the pride of a presumptuous Bishop, who in his triumph ascribed the whole praise of the victory to himselfe onelyonly. This variance was the occasion of great trouble in Italy, for Albericus allured the Hungarians to enter into Italy, who did greater damage to the Countrey, then the Saracens had done before. On the other part, the Italians, who could not avenge themselues by rendering like evill to the Hungarians, they poured out their wrath vponupon Albericus, and killed him. The Pope also by the souldiers of Guido was cast in prison, and strangled, by stopping a pillow in his throat. The villany betweene him and Theodora a notable harlot: I hauehave overpassed with silence, fearing to be prolixe.
Leo the sixt followed, and continued seven moneths and fifteene dayes.Leo 6.
After Leo, followed Stephanus the seventh, and ruled two yeeres,Stephanus 7. one monethmonth, and twelue dayes.
The two preceding Popes, are supposed by Italian heights to be made out of the way, by Marozia, a notable harlot, to the end that her sonne Iohn the twelfth,Iohannes 12. whom shee had borne to Pope Sergius the third, might bee promoted to the Popedome; who ruled foure yeeres, ten moneths, and fifteene dayes. Marozia was an incestuous harlot, who like vntounto Herodias, was not ashamed to marrie two brethren, namely, Guido and Hugo: according as the verse made thereof witnesseth.
Nubere Germanis satagens Herodia binis.
Herein appeareth the terrour of the wrath of God, punishing the vngodlinesse of the Romane people: they were guided by the Popedome,Note. and the Popedome was guided by notable harlots.
After him succeeded Leo the seventh,Leo 7. and ruled three yeeres, six moneths, and ten dayes.
Stephanus the eight,Stephanus 8. was a Germane, and ruled three yeers, foure moneths, and ten dayes. Hee was mightily troubled with the seditions of the people of Rome, and was so miserably wounded, that hee was ashamed to come forth vntounto publique places to be seene.
Martinus the third,Martinus 3. succeeded to Stephanus the eight, and governed three yeeres, six moneths, and ten dayes. Platina calleth him a devout man, and altogether bent to religion, because he repaired old Churches, that were tending to ruine and decay,Note. the substance of religion being lost, the care of the fabricke of the Church, and such other externall things, was counted the onelyonly devotion.
Agapetus the second,Agapetus 2. successor to Martinus, continued in his Popedome nine yeeres, seven moneths, and ten dayes. In his time Berengarius King of Italy, and his sonne Albertus, tyrrannously abused the countrey, not sparing those of the Clergie. So that Agapetus was compelled to send messengers to Otto the first, whose fame was spread abroad in all Nations: and Otto without delay, addressed himselfe to Italy, and suppressed the insolencie of Berengarius, and his sonne Albertus, as hath beene already declared, in the historie of the life of Otto the first.
Iohannes 13.To Agapetus succeeded Iohn the thirteenth, and governed nine yeeres, three moneths, and fiue dayes. A man from his very youth replenished with all kinde of abhominable vices, a libidinous beast, a monstrous varlet, of whom I hauehave made so frequent mention already, and the head of Councels will cast vp the filthinesse of his infamous name of new againe: so that for the present I write the lesse. He was deposed in a Councell gathered by Otto the first, and Leo the eight was placed in his roome. Pope Iohn had such an end as his most wretched life deserved, for hee was deprehended in adultery,Note. and the husband of the woman whom hee defyled, wounded him to the death, so hee concluded his vnhappy life.
Leo 8.Leo the eight was chosen Pope, with advice of the Emperour Otto the first, and he ruled one yeere, and 4. moneths: albeit the seditious people of Rome reiected him, and accepted againe Iohn the thirteenth; and after his death they chose another, called Benedictus the fift: notwithstanding the Emperour Otto subdued those insolent and seditious people, and tooke Benedictus 5. prisoner, and banished him to Hamburg, where for very heart-griefe he ended his life. Leo loathing the manifold seditions of the Romane people, conferred againe the chusing of Popes to the Emperour.
Iohannes 34.Pope Iohn the fourteenth, ruled six yeeres, eleven months, and fiue dayes. Against whom conspired Godfredus, Count of Campania, and Petrus the chiefe Captaine of the citie, with two Consuls, and twelue Aldermen of the towne. They layd hands vponupon the Pope, in the Church of Laterane, and detayned him prisoner eleven moneths. The Emperour Otto and his sonne, made haste to come to Rome, and after due examination of this seditious attempt, he banished the two Consuls to Germany, hee commanded the twelue Aldermen to be hanged, and Peter the chiefe Captaine to be bound vponupon the backe of an Asse, his face turned towardes the Asses tayle, and his hands bound vnderunder the same; thus hee was carryed through the whole citie, and scourged with rods, and banished.
Godfredus and his sonne, before this time, were dead and buried, but the Emperour caused their bodies to be raised out of their graues, and to bee cast into vnhallowed places. The abusing of Pope Iohn was punished with the greater severity, because hee was hated by the Romanes, for the louelove hee carryed to the Emperour.The beginning of the abuse of baptizing of Bels. In this Popes time began the vile superstition of baptizing of Bels, and giving vntounto them peculiar names; and the Pope called the great Bell of the Church of Laterane, Iohn, according to his owne name.
Benedictus the sixt, was successor both to the place, and calamities of Pope Iohn. Benedictus 6.Cynthius a man of noble birth in Rome, imprisoned the Pope in the Castle of Saint Angeli, where hee was strangled, after hee had continued one yeere and six moneths, in his Popedome. Platina writeth, that of all things there is a vicissitude, even so the Popes now doe include the noble citizens of Rome, into that same Castle called Saint Angeli, whereinto of old, they were incloased themselues.
Donus the second of that name,Donus 2. dyed in the first yeere of his government: nothing worthy of memory is written of him.
Bonifacius the seventh,Bonifacius. 7. continued not aboue seven months and fiue dayes in his Popedome: a man famous for sacrilegious theft. For when he perceived that the Romane citizens conspired against him, he tooke with him all the iewels of the Church of Saint Peter, and fled to Constantinople, where he sold the Iewels, and acquired to himselfe a great summe of money, wherewith hee intended to corrupt the minds of the people of Rome, but incontinent he was cut off by death.
While Pope Bonifacius the seventh was in Constantinople, Iohn the fifteenth was chosen Pope,Iohannes. 15. and in the eight monethmonth of his Popedome, hee was inclosed in the Castle of Saint Angeli, called of old Moles Adriani, where he miserably ended his life.
Benedictus 7.Benedict the seventh ruled eight yeeres. He was Pope at that time when Otto the second dyed at Rome, and great deliberation was had about the successor of the Empire. The Pope consented to the Germanes, whose opinion was this, that the sonne of Otto the second, albeit young in yeeres, should be declared Emperour. Other things (and namely, the processe of the deposition and restitution of Arnulphus Bishop of Rhemes) I referre to the head of Councels.
Iohannes 16.After Benedict the seventh, succeeded Pope Iohn the sixteenth, who hated the Clergie, and dilapidated all the Churchrents vponupon his friends and kinsmen, hee dyed in the eight monethmonth of his Popedome.
Iohannes 17.To him succeeded, Iohn the seventeene, and continued ten yeeres, six moneths, and ten dayes. Hee was not free of popular seditions but fearing the cruelty of Crescentius, whom the Romanes wished that he should raigne, as Emperour and King of Italy: the Pope fled to Hetruria, from thence giving advertisement to the Emperor Otto the third, to support the distressed estate of the chaire of Rome. Crescentius fearing the power of the Emperour Otto, allured Pope Iohn to returne backe againe to Rome, which done, Crescentius with the chiefe authors of the foresayd sedition, kissed his feet, and craved him pardon. Notwithstanding of this, the Emperor Otto set forward with his army toward Rome, and when hee heard that Pope Iohn was dead, hee presented to the Romanes one Bruno a Germane, and of his owne consanguinitie, whom, the Romanes (fearing the Emperour) durst not refuse, and called him Gregorie the fift.
Gregorius 5.Gregorie the fift, governed two yeeres, and eight moneths. The Romanes more seditious then wise, incited Crescentius againe, to take vponupon him authority, and to eiect Gregorie the fift, and to choose another whom they called Iohn the eighteenth, Gregorie fled to Germanie and complained to Otto the third of the iniuries done to him.
The Emperour led an armie to Rome of intention once to be avenged of the continuall sedition of the Roman people.
Crescentius fortified the Towne of Rome and the castle of S. Angeli, which after that time receiued the third name, not onelyonly to be called Moles Adriani, and the Castle of Saint Angeli, but also the Castle of Crescentius: but all this preparation was made in vaine. Otto circumvened Crescentius and the new made Pope, putting them in hope of Pardon, but when they came forth, the new made Pope had his eyes thrust out, and was spoyled of his life, and Crescentius was hanged before the walles of the Citie. Gregorius was restored againe and made that constitution, about the choosing of the Emperour in time to come by the seuen Electors of Germanie, whereof I hauehave spoken in the life of the Emperour Otto the third.
After Gregorie the fift,Sylvester. 2. Sylvester ruled foure yeeres, one month, eight daies. Hee was first a Monke of Floriake: when hee left the Cloyster hee went to Spaine, and learned Sciences, in the Towne of Sivill. Of a Disciple he became in short time a Master, and had the honour to be an instructer of Otto the third, who was made Emperour, and Robert King of Fraunce, and Lotharie a noble man who afterward was Bishop of Senon. It was an easie thing for his Disciples being so potent and noble to advance him to all the honours hee obtained: first to be Bishop of Rhemes, secondly to be Bishop of Ravenna, and last of all to be Bishop of Rome. But his name is filthily spotted with Magicall arts, and hee was so familiar with the Deuill, that hee enquired of him (as Platina writeth) how long hee should continue in his Popedome, and the Deuill answered, euen, vntill the time hee should say Masse at Ierusalem.
Now there was in Rome a Chappel, called, S. Crucis, and vulgarlie it was called Ierusalem. In this Chappel in time of Lent the Bishop of Rome was accustomed to say Masse, and when Sylvester the second,Note. (who before was called Gilbertus) was saying Masse in that place, hee found himselfe attainted with a vehement feuer, and remembering that the place was called Ierusalem, hee knew that hee was deceiued, and put in vaine hope of long liuing by the deuill. Hee called for the Cardinals and confessed his fault, and desired them to cut his bodie in pieces (as it iustlie deserued) and to lay it open vponupon a Coach to bee buried in that place wherein the horses of their owne accord should draw the Coach. So the horses carried the Coach to the Church of Lateran, where hee was buried.
Onuphrius is weake in this, that neither can hee be silent, neither can hee defend the name of Pope Sylvester, with reason, but sayes hee was a learned man well acquainted with mathematicall sciences, and therefore vnlearned people counted him a Sorcerer. By such frivolous excuses all the Necromancers and Sorcerers in Europe might bee excused, against the testimonie of wise and learned Historiographers, who giuegive to cuerie man such prayse as their doings deserue.
Patriarches of Constantinople.
AFter Nicholaus and Euthymius, succeeded Stephanus Amasenus who continued aboue three yeeres.Stephanus. Amasenus. Tryphon. To whom succeeded Tryphon, admitted vponupon this condition, that when Theophilactus the youngest sonne of the Emperour Romanus should come to perfect age, hee should giuegive place to him. But when the Emperours sonne was 16. yeeres old, Tryphon would not giuegive place vntounto him, vntill he was circomuened by the craft of the Bishop of Cesarea, who pretending to be his friend said to him in this manner.
Seeing that the Courteours are in hope to hauehave you displaced in respect of your want of learning. I will giuegive you, faith he, my counsel, to write your owne name, together with all the titles and dignities of your calling in presence of many witnesses, and send this letter aforesaid to the Emperour, to let him vnderstand that yee are not so voide of learning as they talke of. To this Counsell Tryphon agreed, not foresmelling the subtilitie of the Bishop who gaue vntounto him this Counsell:Note But the Courteours so soone as the letter came in their hands subioyned to the words; Tryphon Archbishop of new Rome, and Vniversall Patriarch, the words following, that he voluntarily ouergaue his Patriarchship in fauour of Theophilactus the Emperours youngest sonne. So was Tryphon by his owne handwritting displaced,Theophilactus. and Theophilactus seated in his roome. He was a young man of 16. yeeres old when he was made Patriarch, and ruled 23. yeeres. Hee was riotous,Note. and full of youthly conceits, and in hunting his horse so brused his body, that he vomited blood and ended his life.
To Theophilactus succeeded Polyenctus in the dayes of Nicephorus and Zimisces, Polyenctus.of whom God willing more shall be spoken in the head of Councels, and to him a Monke Basilius, Antonius Siudites.who ruled 4 yeeres, and after him Antonius Studites.
Of other Pastors and Doctors.
LVitprandus a famous Historiographer liued in the dayes of Hugo and Berengarius kings of Italie,Luitprandus. and in the daies of Otto the first Emperour of the west, and Constantine Emperour of the East. His learning and skill in Musicke brought him in credit with Hugo King of Italie. Also Berengarius king of Italie found no man so meet to be employed Ambassador to Constantine Emperour of Constantinople as Luitprandus, who did his message faithfully vponupon the charges of his owne father in law. But Berengarius rendered vntounto him euill for good, for hee banished him. In time of his banishment he writ his historie of things done in Europe from the yeere of our Lord 858. vntill the 30. yeere of Otto Magnus, and dedicated it to Reginomundus a Bishop of Spain.
It is not certaine in what age Theophilactus liued: alwaies his name is inrolled in this Centurie. Hee was Bishop of Bulgaria, and writ in the Greeke Language fruitefull Commentaries vponupon the foure Evangelists, and vponupon all the Epistles of Paul, and vponupon some of the small Prophets, such as Habacuk, Ionas and Nahum. Hee followed Chrysostome in his writings, so that his bookes are thought to be a short abridgement of the writings of Chrysostome. He sharpely refuteth old Heretikes, but the defection of his owne time hee doth not so neerely touch. Of the Antichrist,2 Thes. 2. hee thinketh that hee should spring vp in the decay of the Romane Empire; and of marriage that it was honorable, and a step to the chaire of a Bishop.Tit. 1. The names of other men who were more famous then others, either for good or evill, will be found in the head of Councels.