The History of the Church Since the Days of Christ, Book 4 · History of century 15
CENTVRIE XV.
The Councell of Constance.IN the yeere of our Lord, 1414. the Emperour Sigismund, and pope Iohn the 23. gathered a generall Councell at Constance, for pacifying of a Schisme,The occasion of this Councell. which was between three Popes striving for the Popedome; to wit, Pope Iohn, whom the Italians set vp; Pope Gregorie, whom the French-men set vp; and Benedict, whom the Spaniards placed. In this schismaticall, ambitious, conflict, every one defended his owne Pope, to the great disturbance of Christian Nations. This Councell endured foure yeeres space. The first beginning of it (as the manner was) is with a masse of the holy Spirit. As they were singing, according to their custome, the Hymne, Veni sancte spiritus, there was at the same time, a certaine paper set vp in the Church, by some well disposed persons, as it seemed, wherein was contained these words following;Note. Alys rebus occupatinunc, adesse vobis non possumus: that is, wee are otherwise occupied at this time, wee cannot intend to come to you. In this Councell, was not onelyonly Pope Iohn the 23. deposed, for many grievous and haynous crimes, obiected and prooved against him, but also Gregory and Benedict, All the three Popes deposedsustayned the like censure; and Pope Martin was chosen, as hath beene declared. Many wicked things were decreed and done in this Councell; as namely, in the eight Session thereof, a sentence of condemnation was given out against the doctrine of Iohn Wickliffe, A decree against Iohn Wickliffe. Against the Communion in both kinds.and for the hatred of his memorie, his bones ordained to be raysed out of his sepulchre, and to be burnt. In the thirteenth Session it was ordayned, that no Priest vnderunder paine of excommunication, should communicate vntounto the people vnderunder both kindes of bread and wine.Iohn Husse condemned. In the 15. Session the Sentence of Iohn Husse his condemnation was read and published, and he was deliuered to the secular power to be burned.
In the 19. Session it was decreed that notwithstanding the safe conduct giuen by the Emperour and kings; inquirie may be made against a man for heresie, by a sufficient iudge, and processe to be made according to Law.
In the 21. Session a sentence of condemnation was pronounced against Ierom of Prague;Ierom of Prague condemned. and hee was deliuered to the secular power to be burned. And finallie nothing was decreed in this Councell or enacted worthy of memorie, but this only that the Popes authoritie is vnderunder the Councell,The Councell aboue the Pope. & that the Councell ought to iudge the Pope, yet albeit Articles were giuen in to the Councell crauing reformation of the Corrupt life of the Clergie and namely of the Court of Rome, and Ioannes Gerson Chaunceller of the vniuersitie of Paris himselfe gaue in 75. abuses which hee willed to bee corrected and amended, no reformatiō was obtained; because the chiefe gouernors of the Councell themselues being men of corrupt and filthie conversation, hated aboue all things the Articles of reformation.
But on the other part this new Pope Martine, Martin not having leasure to reforme the abuses of the Clergie erects an inquisition for repressing of the Hussits.although hee could not finde time and leasure to reforme the abuses of the clergie, yet found he time to deuise a cruell & bloody inquisition against the true professours of the Gospel whom hee called Heretikes, and for repressing of the Hussites hee deuised a strict inquisitiō, which afterward followed in many Countries, and namely in the countrie of Spaine.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The Councel of Basil. was gathered a generall Councell at Basil; which as it indured longer then any other Councell before celebrat and holden in the Church (for this continued almost 17. yeeres) so likewise was it most troublesome, in respect that Iulian Cardinall and Deacon of S. Angel, being appointed president of the Councel, by Pope Martin the fift and after his death being also approued by his successor Eugenius the fourth.
A generall Councell aboue the PopeThis Iulian (I say) suffered a certaine question to be reasoned freely in the Councell, touching the authoritie of generall Councells; after which reasoning it was concluded that the generall Councell is aboue the Pope, and that all persons ought to be subiect to the generall councells, as children are subiect to authoritie of their mother. This conclusion grieued the Pope the more, that this matter being once concluded in the Councell of Constants alreadie; was now againe ratified and more amply discoursed in the Councell of Basil, for this cause he would hauehave transported the Councell to Bononie.Eugenius seeketh to translate the Councel from Basil to Bononie, but by the Emperour is forced to ratifie the Councell of Basil. But the Emperour Sigismund (who was a great fauourer and protector of the Councell) with aduice of the fathers of the Councel; admonished Eugenius that hee should not onelyonly leaue off his intended purpose of transferring the place of the Councell, but also by his owne appearance before the Councell of Basil, ratifie his subiection to the same, which if he refused to doe they would proceede against him as a person contumacious, & obstinatly, rebelling against the voyce of the Church. The Pope was so dashed with this admonition, that he was constrained to dissemble for a time, and to confirme the Councell of Basil with his Apostolike letters.Eugenius after the Emperours death holds contrarie Councels. But after the death of the Emperour (who died in the sixt yeere of the Councell) Eugenius tooke vponupon him greater boldnesse, and first held a contrarie Councell at Ferraria and afterward at Florence, pretending that he behoued to meet with the Greekes for vniting of them to the West Church; who because they would no wayes passe the Alpes, he was compelled for their commoditie to keepe a Councell in some neerer place.Eugenius deposed. The Councell of Basil although weakned by the Emperours death, proceeded not the lesse to the deposition of Eugenius; and elected Amedeus Duke of Sauoy, to be Pope whom they called Foelix the fift. To this Councell were the Bohemians and Morauians invited, who after they had receiued sufficient suretie and pledges for their safe passage & returning againe, sent Ambassadours to the Councell, by whose earnest trauels it was obtained that the Bohemians and Morauians should hauehave the communion celebrat vntounto them vnderunder both kinds.The Bohemians obtaine to hauehave the Sacrament vnderunder both kinds. Aeneas Syluius changeth his opinion with his state of life.
The Historie of this Councell was written by Aeneas Syluius who was present at the same, and liked well of the proceedings and determinations thereof, as may appeare by his owne writings; and namely by a certaine Epistle of his written to the Rector of the vniuersitie of Colen, wherein he reioyceth for a certaine treatise of the said rectors which came into his hands: reprouing the rudenesse and rashnesse of such as deny the Bishop of Rome and his consistory, to be subiect to the Generall Councell, and that the supreme tribunall seat of iudgement standeth in the Church, and not in one Bishop. Notwithstanding the same Syluius who by his learned writings advanced the decrees of the Councell of Basil, yet afterward being promoted to that papall dignitie himselfe, turned his coat; and returned againe to the old filthy pride of the Chaire of Rome, which magnifieth it selfe not onelyonly aboue the Church, but also maketh it selfe companion to God himselfe.
IN the yeere of our Lord,The Councell of Florence. 1439. while as the Councell of Basil was yet sitting vndissolued; Eugenius the fourth perceiuing that matters went against him in Basil, he held a contrarie Councell at Florence, where he brought to passe that the Emperour and Patriarch of Constantinople with the rest of the Grecians there present, were perswaded to receiue the sentence of the Church of Rome concerning the proceeding of the holy Ghost, also to receiue the communion in vnleauened bread, to admit Purgatorie, and to yeeld themselues to the authoritie of the Romish Bishop, wherevnto notwithstanding the other Churches of Grecia would in no wise assent at their comming home; in so much that with a publict execration, they did condemne afterward all those Legats which had consented to those Articles, that none of them should be buried in Christian buriall.
It is to be noted in this Councell, that the Grecians who agreed to other opinions of the Roman Church, yet could neuer be induced to beleeue their doctrine of transubstantiation. Notwithstanding they were content to set forth vntounto Note.the people a Bull of agreement which they called Bulla Consensus, and the difference of opinions in that point of doccrine was not thought a sufficient impediment to stay the promulgation of this agreement. Howbeit afterward as it were forgetting what they had done themselues in the Coū cels of Florence & their Bulla Consensus, they cry out that there is no agreement & vnitie amongst the Protestants, because there is some difference of opinions about the Sacrament among them. In the time of this Councell, Iosephus Patriarch of Constantinople died, & Eugenius required that presently before the dissolution of the Councell another should be chosen; but to this the Grecians would not agree, affirming that it was not lawfull to choose a Patriarch of Cō stantinople, but onelyonly in their owne Church there. The Emperour Paleologus after his returning liued not long.
The agreement of the Grecian Church with the Roman, an euill presage of the destruction of the Grecian Empyre.And finallie this agreement was counted of the Grecians infortunat, and an euill presage immediatly before the vtter ruine of the Orientall Empire and the destruction of the towne of Constantinople. For within 14. yeeres after this agreement at Florence, the famous citie of Constantinople was taken by Mahomet Emperour of Turkes, the Emperour Constantine the Brother of Paleologus was slaine, and the Empire of the East was cut off.