The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 2 · History of century 16
CENTVRIE XVI.
Popes of Rome.
AFter Paulus the second,Sixtus 4. succeeded Sixtus the fourth, and ruled thirteen yeeres, and foure dayes. Hee changed the custome of keeping the Iubilie every 50. yeere, and would hauehave it kept every 25. yeeres.
After him succeeded Innocentius the eight,Innocentius 8. and ruled seven yeers, ten months, and twenty seven dayes.
After him Alexander the sixt,Alexander 6. ruled eleven yeeres, and eight dayes. Hee was a notable tyrant, and a scourg of God to all Italy, and in speciall to that corrupt Colledge of Cardinals, which had chosen him to be Pope; not for his good graces and vertues, but for the heapes of gold which hee had distributed amongst them,Note. of whom some he banished, others hee caused to be impoysoned, and cruelly slaine.
In his time Charles the eight, King of France, clayming right to the Kingdome of Naples, entred into Italy with a mighty army, and without great resistance, came to the towne of Rome, and from thence to Naples. Alphonsus King of Naples, at this time finding himselfe to be hated of all men, had denuded himselfe of the Kingdome, and given it to his sonne Ferdinand, and hee himselfe was fled into Sicilie. Also his sonne Ferdinand not being able to resist the puissant army of King Charles, Charles King of France conquereth the Kingdome of Naples.was likewise compelled to flie to the little Island of Istria, for safety of his life: and the whole kingdome of Naples was in short time ouer-run, and subdued to the King of France.
This victorious conquest so hastily atchieved, made the name of Charles to be terrible to other Princes, even to the Duke of Millan, and Estate of Venice, who had beene his confederate friends, & assisters in this warfare. Notwithstanding, fearing lest his increasing power should in time be the overthrow of their Estates, they conspired with the Pope, and the Emperour, and the King of Spaine against him: and as hee returned backe againe to France, fought against him at Fornovo, not farre distant from the towne of Parma. The victory was vncertaine: notwithstanding Ferdinand King of Naples,Ferdinand recouereth the kingdome of Naples. was so encouraged with this encounter, that hee recovered againe all his kingdome which hee had lost.
Likewise in this Popes time, Lewis the twelfth, who succeeded to Charles the eight, came into Italy, claiming right not onelyonly to the kingdome of Naples, but also to the Dukedome of Millan. He had before bound vp a covenant with the Pope, the King of Spaine, and the Venetians vponupon these conditions that having possessed himselfe first in the Dukedome of Millan,Lewis King of France, obtaineth the dukedome of Millan. hee should give Cremona a famous towne in the Dukedome of Millan, to the Venetians: and hee should assist Caesar Borgia Duke of Valentinois, and sonne to Pope Alexander the sixt, to eiect out of Romagna the Lords presently bearing sway in that Countrey; to the end, that all might come vnderunder the Soveraignty and commandement of this Duke of Valentinois only: and finally, that he should divide the Kingdome of Naples, betwixt himselfe and Ferdinand King of Spaine. VponUpon these conditions, was King Lewis assisted by the Pope, the King of Spaine, and the Estate of Venice; and so with little adoe obtained the Dukedome of Millan, and carryed away Lodovick Sforce Duke of Millan, with his brother Askanius, captiues and prisoners to France.
This Pope as hee was fraughted with many great faults in his owne person,Alexander the sixt, a favourer of his childrens vices. so is he likewise noted to hauehave beene a fosterer of the wicked vices and villanous behaviour of his children: namely, of Caesar Borgia his sonne, who not only cast off his Religious apparrell, and became of a Cardinall a Duke and warriour, but also most vnnaturally slew his owne elder brother Duke of Gandia, and became captaine and leader of his fathers armie in his brothers place.
Also the vilde conversation of Lucretia his Daughter, and her familiar conversation both with her father and brethren, maketh this Pope to be more famous for wickednesse then many other.The iust iudgement of God vponupon the Pope in his death. His end in the righteous iudgement of God answered well vntounto his life, for as hee had destroied the liues of many by poyson, so vponupon a certaine time through the ouersight of the Butler the empoysoned wine, that was prepared for to destroy the liues of some Cardinals who were bidden to the banquet, was put in the hands of the Pope and his sonne Duke of Valentinois. The Pope immediatlie thereafter died, and the Duke although he vsed manie conterpoysons and other remedies, yet fell he into a sharpe and dangerous disease, and carried about all his time the remembrance of that nights banquet.
To Pope Alexander succeeded Pius the third,Pius 3. who immediatly after his admission to the Popedom finished his course the 26. day after his inauguration.
After him followed Iulius the second,Iulius 2. and ruled nine yeeres, and a eleuen months: hee was a sharpe warriour and not onelyonly recouered from the Venetians the townes of Ariminuim, Faventia,He warreth against the Venetians, and recouereth many townes from them. and Ravenna, which townes belonged to the Church, but also by cursing them & making a couenant with Maximilian the Emperour and the king of France and Spaine in Cambrey against the Venetians, he brought them so low that in short time they were spoyled of all the Dominion which they had by land in Italie. For Verona, Vicentia, and Padua, and the territories of Carinthia, were alloted to Maximilian the Emperour, also Bergama, Brixia, Cremona, and Crema, were possessed by Lewis king of Fraunce, also the townes of Tranmu, Monopolis, and Barletta in Apulia, were giuen ouer to the king of Spaine. Also the Duke of Ferrare recouered Rodigium, & the Duke of Mantua recouered Asula from the Venetiās. Thus was the flourishing estate of Venice in this Popes time vtterlie abandoned and brought to nought. Notwithstanding hee receiued againe the Venetians into fauour and relieued them of his interditment and cursing,The Venetians receiued in fauour. and thereby procured against himselfe the great hatred and indignation of the king of France and the Emperour:The king of France & the Emperour hate the Pope. who both being willing to abandon the pride of the Pope, and to abrogate his authoritie, and to substitute another in his roome, appointed a generall Councell to be holden at Pisa, and warned the Pope to be present thereat the first day of September.
But the Pope on the other part to frustrate all the attempts of his adversaries, appointed a generall Councell to be holden at Rome in the Church of Lateran, wherein all things that were done in the Councell of Pisa were disanulled and abrogated. Also he stirred vp the kings of Spaine and England to make warre against the king of France, and the Pope with the Venetians and Switzers ioyned their forces together to eiect him out of Italie.
The king of France by the Popes meanes be set with enemies.Thus the king of France being beset with enemies on all sides, thought meete to try his cause by the sword first in Italie, and gaue commandement to the Generall of his armie named Gasto Foiesseius a valiant Captaine and an expert warriour to giuegive battel to the enemies. Thus was a cruell battell fought, neere vntounto Ravenna, wherein the number of 20000. men were reckoned to hauehave beene slaine.The Frenchmen put the Popes, and confederats army to flight. And although the armie of the Pope and the confederates was put to flight, yet the Frenchmen bought their victorie deere with the losse of their Chieftan Foiesseius, and an hundreth and fiftie moe of the noble men of France, besides a great number of others that were slaine in this battell. Yea this victorie was with so great dammage to the forces of the king of Fraunce in Italie, that within the space of 70. dayes after the victorie, they were compelled to retire backe out of Italie:The Dukedom of Millan recouered from the Frenchmen. So was the Dukedome of Millan in a verie short time plucked out of the hands of the Frenchmen and was possessed by Maximilian Sforce sonne to Lodonike Sforce. In the end this restlesse Pope breathing battells and warres euen vntounto the day of his death, conspired of new againe with the Emperour against the Venetians, because they would not render vntounto the Emperour the Townes of Verona and Vicentia, and the Venetians on the other side, entered in league and couenant with Lewis king of Fraunce, who stirred vp a new faction of Cardinalls and Bishops against the Pope, and this Pope Iulius assaied all possible meanes to diuert the Venetians from their new league bound vp with France. But when hee perceiued that his trauells availed nothing, and fearing the power of his aduersaries, hee fell sicke and died; in the verie time of the Councell of Lateran which was begunne vnderunder Pope Iulius, and ended vnderunder Leo 10. his successour. Pope Leo the tenth was a learned and eloquent man,Leo 10. of the house of Medices, and ruled eight yeeres, eight months, and twentie dayes. He delighted in Musicke; and loued, and aduanced learned men. The Councell of Lateran which was begun in his Predecessors dayes was ended by him. He receiued in, those Cardinalls who were degraded by his Predecessour (after they had abiured their schisme, and damned their couventicles, at Pisa, Millan, and Lion) and restored them to their former dignities.
In this Popes time,The king of France againe obtained the Dukedome of Millane. Francisse de Valloise king of Fraunce came into Italie for recouering of the Dukedome of Millan, and ouercame his enemies in battell. Sforce the Duke of Millan rendered himselfe to the king, and was sent prisoner to Fraunce, and the Dukedome was againe recouered, and the Townes of Parma and Placentia were recouered out of the Popes hands,The Pope and Emperour recouer it againe. and ioyned to the Dukedome againe, yet within a short time after, the Pope and the Emperour banded themselues together for expelling of the Frenchmen out of Italie. For restoring the Dukedome to Francisse Sfortia, and finallie for restoring of the townes of Parma and Placentia to the Pope, and when the enterprise succeeded well and the Victorie was atchieued, the report of those glad tidings so exhilarated the Popes heart that for heart that for excessiue gladnesse hee died,Note. or as others write he contracted an ague, whereof immediately after he died He sent Caietanus his Ambassadour to Germanie,Caiesanus sent to suppresse Luther. to suppresse the Doctrine of Martin Luther, but by the prouidence of God, his rigorous dealing against Martin Luther made him to search out the scriptures better, and to discouer greater impieties in the Church of Rome, then hee did at the beginning.
Adrianus 6.After him succeeded Hadrian the sixt, a man of Holland and Schoolemaster to Charles the fift, Emperour. He endevoured to correct some abuses of the Church of Rome in maners, but not the abuses and errours of Doctrine, for hee also sent his Ambassadour Cheregatus to Germanie, with menacing letters to the Duke of Saxonie because hee maintained Martin Luther. But his time was short, for hee died before hee had ruled two yeeres in his Popedome.
Clemens 7.To him succeeded Clemens the seuenth, and ruled ten yeeres, ten months, and seuen daies. Hee was a man verie inconstant in his friendship to the Emperour Charles the fift, but secretlie boūd vp friendship with the king of France, but this deceitfull doing redounded to the Popes great hurt.Rome taken and the Pope besieged by Charles Duke of Burbone. For Charles Duke of Burboune, chiefe Captaine to the armie which the Emperour had in Italie, besieged the towne of Rome and tooke it, and albeit the Duke himselfe was slaine, yet the rest of the armie invaded the Towne, slew great numbers of men, defloured women, spoyled houses and temples, and besieged the Pope himselfe and his Cardinalls seuen months, till at length the Pope was free from his Captiuitie by commaund of the Emperour.
About this same time of the Popes besieging, Charles the Emperour was banqueting and reioycing for the Natiuitie of his sonne Philip, but hee stayed all banqueting, playing, and reioycing, when the tidings of the Popes besieging was carried vntounto him, and commaunded to set him at libertie. Manie great sinnes are imputed to him by writers, and amongst others that hee destroyed the liues of manie by poyson, and that in end hee receiued the same recompence himselfe.
After him followed Paulus the third,Paulus 3. who ruled fifteene yeeres, and twentie nine dayes. It grieued him to see the Gospell take so deepe roote, and to be ouerspred in many nations, and namelie in England by king Henry the eight, who abrogated the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome in England, & called himselfe supreme governour ouer Christ, in all Ecclesiasticall causes within the bounds of his owne countrie.
The Pope being destitute of all other revenging weapons, drew forth the old accustomed weapon of the chaire of Rome against Princes,King Henry the eight cursed by the Pope. and cursed king Henry the eight. This Pope ratified the order of the Iesuites and appointed a generall Councell to bee kept in Trent, a Towne of Italie bordering neere to Germanie. This Councell beganne to be kept in Trent in the yeere 1546. but hereafter was transferred to Bononia as shall be declared,A Councell ordained at Trent. God willing.
The Protestants of Germanie were desired both by the Emperour and the Pope to bee present at the Councell, but they would not acknowledge it to be a lawfull generall Councell wherein the Pope or his deputie did sit as a iudge,Note. who was indeede partie, and whom they were to accuse of false and erroneous doctrine, of abusing of the Church of God, and vsurping the honour which was onelyonly due to Christ, before this Councell ended, hee concluded his dayes.
Iulius the third succeeded in his place:Iulius 3. who ruled three yeeres. one month, and sixteene dayes. Hee reduced the generall Councell of Bononia, backe againe to Trent where it began, but the sudden report of the armie of Maurice Duke of Saxonie (who tooke armes against the Emperour Charles, for detaining the Lantgraue of Hesse his father in law in prison) dissolued the Councell againe for a time, because they feared lest the Dukes armie should hauehave come to Trent, and set vponupon them.
England embraceth Poperie in the dayes of Queene Marie.In this time the Church of England returned backe againe to the Popes obedience in the raigne of Queene Marie, and the Pope sent Cardinall Poole to England, to absolue that countrie from that curse and interditment which was layed vponupon it in the dayes of Paulus tertius.
Marcellus 2.After him succeeded Marcellus the second, and ruled twentie two dayes.
Paulus 4.After him followed Paulus the fourth, and ruled foure yeeres,He opposed himselfe against the Emperour Charles. two months, and twentie foure dayes. Hee was verie contentious, and hated the Emperour Charles, and brought into Italie 1000. footmen and 2000. horsemen of the french nation, vnderunder the conduct of the Duke of Guise. Also hee brought into Italie an armie of Swizers. Notwithstanding the Emperour had sent to Italie the Duke de Albe, who had taken a great number of townes belonging to the Pope, before the Duke of Guise entred into Italie. And in the ende the Pope was well content to accept conditions of peace, and to receiue backe againe the townes, which hee had lost in the warre.
In his time the Emperour resigned the Emperiall crowne to his Brother Ferdinand, & entered into a Monasterie, where hee concluded his daies: but the Pope neither approued nor ratified this election of Ferdinand, and Ferdinand on the other part made light account of the Coronation which his Predecessours had receiued from the Pope, and was obeyed in Germanie, although he wanted the Popes blessing and coronation.
Pius 4.After him ruled Pius the fourth, who continued fiue yeeres, two months, and fifteene dayes. In his time the councell of Trent (which was begun in the dayes of Paul the third) was finished.Queene Elizabeth would not permit the Popes Ambassadors to enter into her Realme. He sent an Ambassadour to England to invite the learned men of that countrie to the Councell. but Queene Elizabeth would not permit the Popes Ambassadour to enter into her Realme. Likewise hee sent Ambassadours to the Dukes of Germanie professing the reformed Religion. They entertained the Ambassadours honorablie, but sent them backe with this answere: that they marueled how the Pope could send an Ambassadour to them, who acknowledged not his authoritie in such matters.
From the first meeting of this Councell to the dissolution thereof, intervened the space of eighteene yeeres, but the time of meeting, consultation, and sitting, of the fathers of that Councell was onelyonly the space of fiue yeeres, namely vnderunder Paulus the third, two yeeres; vnderunder Iulius the third, one yeere; and vnderunder Pius the fourth, two yeeres.
In this Popes time the reformation of religion in Scotland began,The beginning of the reformation of religion in Scotland. images were broken and burnt, altars cast downe, Monasteries dimolished, and the masse abolished. The noble men, who were the principall authors of this reformation, were assisted by Elizabeth Queene of England, and defended from the intended persecution of the Frenchmen.
This Pope made a bloodie massacre in a Towne of Italie called Montalto,A Massacre in Montalto a towne of Italy by the Pope. against a number of Christian people secretlie met together, for hearing of the word of God, so that one after another were drawne out of the house where they met and their throates cut with a knife in the hand of a bloodie executioner. In this massacre were martyred 80. persons and not one of all the number for the feare of death did forsake the true fayth of Christ.
The Islie of Malta invaded by the Turkes.In this Popes time was the Isle of Malta invaded by the Turkes, but they were strongly resisted, and left the siege of the Isle, after they had lost 23000. of their number in that siege. The disputation of Poissne, and grieuous commotions in France after that disputation, began in this Popes time, whereof is spoken before.
Pius 5. The Isle of Cyprus taken by the Turkes.After him followed Pius the fift, and ruled seuen yeere. In this time the Isle of Ciprus was taken by Mustapha Captain of Selims armie, but with so great effusion of blood (for it is supposed that 80000. Turkes were slaine in the siege of Nicosia and famogusta two principall townes of the Isle) that Mustapha considering the number that were slayn, violated his promise made to Bragadinus, chiefe captain and defender of the Isle of Cyprus, and cruelly martyred that valiant Captaine. This calamitie of Cyprus made the Venetians very much bent against the Turke, and they banded themselues with Philip King of Spaine, and with Pius the fift Bishop of Rome, by whose support and assistance a Navie was set forth to the Sea;The battell of Lepanto. and a notable victorie was atchieued vnderunder the conduct of Iohn de Austria at Lepanto, of which before.
Gregorie 13.Gregorius the thirteenth followed, and ruled thirteene yeeres, one month, and three dayes. Hee founded a new Colledge for Iesuits in Rome,A new Colledge for Iesuits in Rome. and bestowed great revenues vponupon it, chiestie for this cause, to be a Seminarie of Learned Schollers, to convert the countrie of Germanie to the Roman religion againe.
The massacre of Paris.In this Popes time fell out that horrible murther of Paris in the yeere of our Lord 1572. which was well liked of by the Pope, who also sent to Charles the ninth king of France the summe of 40000. Ducates to maintaine and set forward the warre against the Hugonits, as they called them.
The king of Portugall slaine.In his time Sebastian king of Portugal was slaine in Mauritania beyond the straits, & Philip king of Spaine who was his neerest kinsman, obtained the kingdome after him by strong hand, and by driuing out of the land Duke Anthonie whom the people had chosen to be king.A new Calendar set forth by Gregorie. Sixtus 5. He excommunicateth the king of Navarre and Prince of Condie. The Pope intendeth a processe of excommunication against Henrie the third. Gregorie also set forth a new Calendar, and corrected the olde Roman Calendar, which new alteration bred many contentions speciallie in Germanie.
To him succeeded Sixtus 5. who in the beginning of his Popedom, excōmunicated the king of Nauarre & Prince of Condie: fearing that which indeede came to passe hereafter to witt that king H. 3. dying without children the kingdome shuld come to the house of Burboune. Likewise he intēded a processe of excōmunicatiō against H. the third king of France for slaying of the Cardinal of Lorain, & his brother the D. of Guise at Bloyes, & for detaining Captiues the Cardinal of Burbon & the Archb. of Lions. This proceeding of the Pope encouraged others against the King, so that a Iacobin Fryer called Clement, came out of the towne of Paris, when the king was besieging it,K. Henry the third killed. & killed the King with an impoisoned knife, as hath beene declared before. Yet after the death of the King, when H. the fourth, King of Navarre succeeded to the kingdome, and besieged the towne of Paris, this Pope gaue no subsidue to those of the League, that were banded together against the King, fearing that if the King prevailed in France,Note. he would be a strong adversary to him, if he had supported his enemies: whether this was the cause as Onuphrius writeth, or another that mooved him so to doe, yet this matter so displeased Philip King of Spaine, and the Leaguers, that they were minded to hauehave made a solemne prorestation against the Pope, if he had not prevented their intention, by excusing himselfe in the Consistory of his Cardinals. Hee was a very vigilant and actiue Pope, and vsed often to make mention of that speech of Vespasian, That a Prince should die standing on his feet, meaning that a Prince should be vigilant, and ever doing some part of his calling. He died after he had ruled fiue yeeres, foure moneths, and three dayes, and left behinde him fiue millions of gold.
After him succeeded Vrbanus the seventh,Vibanus 7. and ruled only thirteene dayes, for he died before his inauguration.
To him succeeded Gregorius the fourteenth,Gregorius 14. and ruled nine moneths, and ten dayes.
After him Innocentius the ninth,Innocentius 9. and ruled onelyonly two moneths, and one day.
After him Clemens the eight:Clemens 8. The King of France absolved by this Clemens. hee absolved the King of France from the sentence of excōmunication, pronounced by Pope Sixtus the fift, against him. For that the Kings Oratours in his name, had renounced and abiureed that doctrine, which the King in his young yeeres had so long prosessed: and after they had accepted such conditions, as it pleased the Pope to impose to the King; namely, that hee should receiue the Councell of Trent, & make it be obeyed in all parts of his kingdom: also that hee should deliver the young Prince of Condie, a childe of nine yeeres old, to be brought vp by Bishops or Abbots, in the Romane religion, and that hee should certifie by his letters, all Catholique Princes, of the abiuration of his former religion, with many other conditions, which were all accepted by the Kings Orators, and ratified by the King himselfe.
Of other Doctors.
IN this age God having compassion of the miserie of his poore sheepe, led out of the way by blinde-guides, raised vp many faithfull and learned men, by whose labours the clowds of grosse ignorance, was remooved: the vsurped authority of the Bishop of Rome, that was counted the mother Church of all others, was discovered to be the Synagogue of Satan.Martin Luther. Amongst whom Martin Luther a German borne in Islebia in the Countie of Mansfelt, steppeth forth as it were a couragious Captaine in the forefront of the army, whom God drew forth out of the very Cloyster of the Augustinian Monks, to be an instrument to reforme his house. The bitternesle of Pope Leo the tenth, and Pope Adrian the sixt, and their Ambassadours, who would not suffer the corruption of the Romane Church to be pointed out afarre off in selling of pardons, made this man of God more diligent in searching, and more couragious in defending the truth of God; so that at last the Pope tooke it to heart, that his kingdome should fall,The Duke of Saxonie Martin Luthers friend. if Martin Luther were not rooted out, yet the Lord raysed vp the Duke of Saxonie to bee his friend; by whose favourable assistance the Gospell was deeply rooted in Germany, and Martin Luther himself was preserved from the fury of all his enemies, till at last he dyed in Islebia, the towne of his nativity, in the yeere 1546. and in the 17. day of the monethmonth of February.
Iohn Calvin Preacher at Geneva.Iohn Calvin was borne in Noyen, a towne of Picardie, anno, 1509. the tenth day of the month Iuly, and was a Preacher of Christs Gospell, in Geneva, three and twenty yeers. His learning, and painfull travels, in writing are knowne by his bookes. The blessing, accompanying his travels, is knowne by the reformation of many Churches in France, by his advice and counsell, as also of the kingdome of Scotland. The power of the grace of God in him, is knowne by the malice of adversaries, who railed against him in his lifetime, and after his death; as if hee alone, and none other had troubled the kingdome of Antichrist: and finally, his painfull travels, in teaching his owne flocke of Geneva, is knowne by the disease which he contracted, by great fasting, watching, writing, and teaching, whereof also hee dyed, anno, 1564. on the 27. day of May.
I passe by the rest of those learned and holy men of God, by whose labours the kingdome of Christ hath bene prorogated in Europe, because their names, like as they are worthy of perpetuall remembrance, so likewise are they registred in sundry volumes, namely, by Theodorus Beza, in his booke intituled Icones.
Here endeth the second booke.