History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 14 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I. Of POPES.
1. BENEDICT the XI. was choſen Pope November 1. An. 1304. He abſolved Philip King of France from the excommunication of Boniface; and reſtored the Cardinals, John and James Columnae, which had written againſt Pope Boniface. And Platina addeth, Boniface had purſued them more then became a Prieſt, for envy againſt them, and too much reſpect of the faction of the Guelphs. He ſate nine months.
2. CLEMENS the V. after contention of the Cardinals the ſpace of ten months, was elected; being, in the mean time, at his own ſeat in Burdeaux. When it was certified unto him, he commanded all the Cardinals to come unto Lions: There were preſent at his Coronation, Philip King of France, his Son Charles, John Duke of Burgundy, &c. In the midſt of the Proceſſion a great wall fell upon them, ſo that John and twelve other perſons were killed, Philip was hurt, the Pope was ſtruck from his horſe, and loſt out of his Mitre a Carbuncle of the value of ſix thouſand crowns. Platin. When this unlucky pomp was ended, he created many French Cardinals, (and not one Italian) and removed the Court of Rome unto Avenion; where it continued ſeventy four years, as in another tranſportation to Babylon. We read not of any, which in all this time made exception, that Rome was the ſeat of St. Peter, and houſe of the holy Ghoſt; and therefore the Pope ſhould abide at Rome. Clemens avouched openly to keep a Concubine, the Daughter of Count de Fuxa. P. Morn. in Myſter. ex Villano. He ſent three Cardinals with Senatorial power to govern Rome and Italy. Becauſe Ferraria had revolted, and ſubmitted themſelves unto the Venetians, he excommunicated the Venetians for accepting them; and gave all their goods unto ſpoil, whereſoever they could be apprehended: the like he did unto the Florentines, and other Cities, for their revolting. Sardinia did belong unto Genua, and he gave it unto the King of Sicily, for winning it from the Turks. How he dealt with the Emperor, it followeth: But here it is to be remembred, how he ordained, that none ſhould uſe the title, or exerciſe the power of Emperor, until he were confirmed by the Pope: And when the Imperial ſeat is vacant, the Pope ſhall reign as Emperor until one be choſen. He confirmed the Feaſt of Corp. Chriſti, granting Indulgences of one hundred days unto all who ſhall be preſent at the Matins, &c. Lib. 3. Clement. tit. 16. de reliquiis ca. Si Dominum..It ſeemeth, that the people had not regarded the former Inſtitution. He was the Author of the ſeventh Book of Decretals: before his death he did condemn them, as containing may ſnares in them; and cauſed them to be burnt, ſaith Io. Naucler. But his Succeſſor did confirm them. He excommunicated Andronicus, the Emperor of the Eaſt, as an Heretick, becauſe he would not ſuffer the Greeks to acknowledge the Pope for their head, &c. Becauſe he would not reſide at Rome, the Romans refuſe to give him the patrimony of St Peter; and thereby he was brought into the greater exigence: But Platina ſaith, A great famine was the cauſe of his ſcarcity. Then he lived by the money of Biſhops, which came unto him to be confirmed, and by ſuch other ſhifts and gifts; yet by theſe means, he is ſaid to have gained 9500. marks of Silver, beſides his expenſe, which he beſtowed liberally in one year. Platina writeth, that he ordained the Annates, or the firſt years ſtipend of all Annates.Intrants, to be paid unto the Pope out of all Countries. But Pol. Virgil. de inven. rer. lib. 8. cap. 2. ſaith, It was the cuſtom of Italy in the days of Pope Alexander the IV. and in the Councel of Vienna. An. 1308. the Clergy offered unto the Pope, the twentieth part of their ſtipends yearly, if he would diſcharge the Annates, and they were not heard. England would never pay the Annates of leſſer Benefices, although they did yeild in Biſhopricks, ſaith Caranza in Bonifac. VIII. Io. Naucler. pag. 914. ſaith, I ſee none, in Germany, pay Annates unto the Pope, but only they who hold their Benefices of the Pope immediately. Pol. Virgil. loc. cit. ſaith, How grievous is it to the Prieſts, to deliver the price of the Annates before they receive a penny, whereby they are forced to undertake great debts, and ſo wrong their friends from whom they borrow, if it happen that they die ſoon? ſhall not this be occaſion unto wicked men to corrupt Religion? yea, and indeed (ſaith he) it breedeth great contempt of the poor Miniſters and their Miniſtry. P. Mornay. in Myſter. pag. 540. ſaith, That An. 1416. the Church of France did refuſe to pay the Annates, becauſe, albeit it was once granted in the days of Pope John XXI. for an expedition beyond Sea, and ſundry Popes had by force taken them, yet it ſhould not be ſo, ſince thereby Benefices and Eccleſiaſtical things are ſold, and both Popes, Biſhops and Prieſts are guilty of ſimony, contrary to their oaths. But to return unto Pope Clemens; he had promiſed unto King Philip to aboliſh the memory of Pope Boniface the VIII. and to annul all his Acts; but by advice of Cardinal Pratenſis, he delayed unto a general Councel; and this he ſummoned to be held at Vienna: where the King did require from the Pope the performance of his promiſe. The Councel did acknowledge Boniface to have been a lawful Pope; but they did declare all his Acts againſt the King, to have been unjuſt; and that none of them ſhould be prejudicial unto the King, nor his Succeſſors, Io. Naucler. pag. 872, & 878. In this Councel the Pope did propound the aid of the Chriſtians in Syria; that the Templaries ſhould be puniſhed; as alſo the reformation of the Church. Wars were proclaimed; and Indulgences were offered in theſe words; We will, that the puniſhment of Hell be no way laid upon him which is ſigned with the Croſs; granting alſo, unto every ſigned perſon, power to pull three or four ſouls out of Purgatory at their pleaſure. The Divines at Paris were not a little ſcandalized, and the rather, becauſe it was written in the ſame Bull, We command the Angels to carry the abſolved ſoul into the glory of Paradiſe. It was then a received Article, that the Pope may command the Angels as his Sergeants. In this Councel the Templaries were condemned for their Apoſtaſie. But Io. Bale in Cent. 4. 82. in Appen. 2. ſheweth The Red Friers deſtroyed.from Chriſtop. Maſſaeus, and P. Mornay. ſheweth, that Bocatius, Villanus, Antonin, Aventin, and others, bear witneſs of their innocency; ſome affirm, that their great revenues through Europe was the cauſe of their ruine; and therefore ſome accuſe Pope Clemens, and King Philip: others ſay, the Pope envied them, becauſe they inveighed againſt the Popes and Court of Rome, as diſturbers of Chriſtendom, and the cauſe of loſing Syria and Paleſtina. Io. Naucler. pag. 873. ſaith, At that time Clemens the V. accuſed the Templaries of impiety; and that order was deſtroyed; and their moſt large revenues were taken. Some report, that they had an image clothed with a mans skin, unto which, when they entered the Order, they did homage, ſacrificing moſt cruelly with mans blood; which when they had drunk, they did exhort one another unto continuance in ſuch wickedneſs: and other crimes were imputed unto them, eſpecially that by their craft the Turks had got Jeruſalem. This peſt (ſaith he) did fall by the great fervor of all French; and alſo in Germany, after the Letters of Pope Clemens: and I ſee, that ſome writers do not ſo much condemn the doleful religion of the Templaries, as the avarice of the French King, who was the cauſe of this faction: And Pope Clemens gave their goods unto the Order of St. John, or the Hoſpitalaries; but becauſe the King and other Princes had taken poſſeſſion of them, much money muſt be paid for redeeming them. But thereafter, the King and his children were obnoxious to many miſeries, which they were ſaid to have ſuffered for their iniquities; and many judged thoſe men to have ſuffered unjuſtly, and did reverence them as Martyrs, and with devotion did gather their bodies and bones. Moreover (ſaith he) Jacob de Moguntia, writing of thoſe times, reporteth, that Clemens the V. condemned the Order of the Templaries; and committed the execution againſt ſome in Germany unto the Biſhop of Mentz: He called a Synod; and when he was in the Chapter-houſe, ready to publiſh the proceſs, a religious man, Hugo Count of Wiltgraff, who abode in the Caſtle of Grunbach, by Meiſenheim, came in with twenty Soldiers, his Brethren of that Order, clad with white clokes, with the ſign of the red Croſs, after the maner of the Teutonicks, and they all had their weapons under their clokes. The Arch-Biſhop roſe up unto them, and beckoned with his hand, that they ſhould ſit by him: But the Count ſtanding, ſaid, My Lord, Arch-Biſhop, it is publickly ſaid, that to day you will renounce and accurſe me and my Brethren, of the Order of the Temple, which is not pleaſant unto us; but we demand, that you would publiſh unto your Clergy here preſent, our appeal which we have made unto the next Pope. The Arch-Biſhop could not go from his place for fear of weapons, and therefore he anſwered calmly, It ſhall be ſo, but firſt the Pope's Proceſs muſt be publiſhed; and afterwards, without any diſtance, he cauſed the Appeal of the Templaries, with the cauſes thereof, to be read and publiſhed. And among other things in that Appeal, it was written as one cauſe, that their Brethren, whom the Pope had cauſed to be burnt, were free of thoſe imputed crimes; and for a miraculous token of their innocency, their clokes, with the ſign of the Croſs, were not burnt nor conſumed in the fire. The Arch-Biſhop ſaid unto them, Be of good courage, I will write unto the Pope in your favor; and ſo it was: And after the Arch-Biſhops Letter, the Pope wrote again unto him, and recommended to enquire of the matter: And the Biſhop called another Synod; and by advice and conſent of other Biſhops in the Province, the innocency of the Friers was clearly known, and they were abſolved. This was done in Mentz An. 1211. Iuly 1. ſaith Naucler. P. Morn. in Myſter. ſaith, When John Molan, a Burgundian, the chief of that Order, was entering into the fire, he ſummoned Pope Clemens to appear, within forty days, before the throne of God, to anſwer to that ſentence pronounced againſt him. Molan was burnt March 11. An. 1313. and Clemens died April 10. immediately following. As for the third cauſe of the Synod, we ſhall have occaſion to ſpeak of it in the third Chapter. The See was then vacant two years and three months; and the Cardinals at laſt did ſubmit all their ſuffrages unto Jacob de Oſſa Cadurcenſis; who afterwards went up unto the Papal Chair, and ſaid, I am Pope. This was
3. JOHN the XXIII. who was ſo deſirous of novelties, and to leave remembrance of him, that he turned Biſhopricks into Abbeys, and Abbeys into Biſhopricks; he divided one into two, and united two into one; he erected new Colledges, and deſtroyed the old; he appointed new Scribes, and taxes of every Biſhop and Prieſt. Pol. Virgil. de inven. rer. lib. 8. cap. 2. By a Decree he pronounced them Hereticks, who ſay, Chriſt did teach perfect poverty; that is, to renounce the poſſeſſion of all goods, both in particular and in common; for (ſaid he) it is impoſſible to retain the uſe of conſuming things, and to quit the right of them both in particular and in common. This Decree (ſaith Platina) doth ſcarcely accord with ſacred Scripture, which teſtifieth in many places, that Chriſt and his Diſciples had not of their own, and it condemneth all the Franciſcans, teaching and diſputing in their ſchools, againſt the ambition and avarice of the Clergy; and it was made directly againſt the Decree of Pope Nicolaus the IV. Bellarm. de Ro. pont. lib. 4. cap. 14. ſaith, Theſe two Decrees fight not; becauſe Nicolaus denieth not, that Chriſt had ſome propriety although in common; but he denieth that Chriſt lived ſo always; and John denieth not, that Chriſt ſometimes had not propriety in particular, nor in common; but he denieth that he lived ſo always. Thus the Jeſuit will have the two to agree, although John would purpoſely condemn the others Decree. This John believed, that the ſouls do not enjoy the preſence The Pope was an Heretick.of God before the day of judgement. Bellarm. loc. cit. teſtifieth, that the Cardinals did reſiſt this opinion; and that he repented the day before his death; nor was it an error (ſaith he) becauſe it was not defined in any Councel. Naucler. ſaith, Many Divines, of approved knowledge and life, held that this Pope was an Heretick, for holding ſome errors; which (they ſay) he recanted coldly at his death; and his Succeſſor, Benedict, did publickly condemn thoſe errors. Note here, the Pope was an Heretick; and the Pope recanted; but he recanted coldly. Eraſmus in Praefat. before the fifth book of Irenaeus, ſaith, He was compelled by the Divines of Paris to recant his opinion. Biſhop Jewel againſt Harding, pag. 668. declareth this ex Maſſae. lib. 18. Pope John taught and profeſſed error; and he ſent two Preachers to Paris, the one a Dominican, and the other a Franciſcan, to maintain the ſame hereſie: But one Thomas, an Engliſh Preacher, withſtood the Pope; and the Pope threw him into priſon: hereupon the King ſummoned a Councel unto his Palace in Vintiana Sylva; the whole Aſſembly ſubſcribed againſt the Pope; immediately the King ſent unto Pope John, and willed him to reform his error, and to ſet the Preacher at liberty; and ſo he did. At that time Peter de Corbaria, John and Michelin, three Minorites, did openly teach, that St. Peter was no more the head of the Church, then any of the other Apoſtles; that Chriſt left no Vicar upon earth; that the Pope hath no power to correct or puniſh, to ſet up or caſt down an Emperor; all Prieſts, of whatſoever degree, are of equal degree, power and juriſdiction, by the inſtitution of Chriſt; and it proceedeth from mans authority, that one hath more power then another; neither the Pope, nor all the Church, can, by coactive power, puniſh any man, unleſs they be authoriſed by the Emperor. At that time the Pope and Emperor were at variance, as followeth; and when the Emperor went to Rome, Pope John was depoſed by the Cardinals as a fugitive; and the now named Peter was choſen, and called NICOLAUS the V. When he was inſtalled, Pope John accurſed him, for thoſe his articles; his excommunication is in the Extravagants of Pope John the XXII. and beginneth, Ad audientiam: and Pope Nicolaus accurſed Pope John. At laſt Boniface, Earl of Piſa, brought Pope Nicolaus to Avenion, and there ſhut him up in a Monaſtery till he died, Antonin. par. 4. tit. 11. cap. 7. §. 5. Nicolaus had advanced the Minorites, and John degraded them the more, and declared them Hereticks. He ſat twenty years. His Heirs found in his treaſury 25. millions of crowns. Io. Naucler.
4. BENEDICT the XII. ſent 25000. florens for reparation of S. Peter's Church at Rome. His contention with the Emperor followeth. His Epitaph deſcribeth his life briefly:
Hic ſitus eſt Nero, laicis mors, vipera clero,
Debius àvero, cuparepleta mero.
He ſat ſeven years; and died An. 1342.
5. CLEMENS the VI. took upon him, at the firſt, to enrich all his Cardinals with the Biſhopricks and Benefices of England. Edward the III. was not a little offended, and annulled all the proviſions which the Pope had given within his Realm; commanding, under pain of impriſonment and death, that none preſume to bring from the Pope any ſuch proviſions. At the ſame time all the tenths of Templaries were paid unto Edward, as followeth. Clemens exchanged a fue-duty, which the French were wont to pay out of Naples, for the City Avenion; and ſo that Kingdom was made free, and Avenion was a part of St. Peter's patrimony. Boniface the VIII. had ordained The Iubilee.the Jubilee to be kept every hundred year, to the imitation of the ancient Secular Plays, in honor of Apollo and Diana; now Clemens thought he could have no benefit, if it were delayed ſo long time; therefore he ordained, that it ſhould be kept every fiftieth year, after the maner of the Jews; and ſo it was kept at Rome An. 1350. Though he did change the time, yet he would keep the Rites of the Secular Plays: 1. In invitation; Before the Secular Games, Heraulds were ſent through Italy to make publication; and they cried, ſaying, Come ſee the Plays which none living hath ſeen, nor ſhall ſee again: So all men, throughout the Papal juriſdiction, were invited by his Trumpeters; and at that time they were exhorted, that in reſpect of the uncertainty of mans life, they ſhould not let ſo gracious an occaſion ſlip. 2. The Emperors, Claudius and Domitian, being deſirous to have the glory of the Secular Games, did ſhorten the time of an hundred years; ſo Clemens the VI. and Urban the IV. have done. 3 The Heathens promiſed the remiſſion of ſin; and there was no wickedneſs ſo grievous, which the Jubilee promiſed not to blot away. 4. The Emperor went in great pomp, and confluence of people; ſo do the Popes. 5. In the beginning, they were wont to uncover a certain Altar dedicated to Pluto and Proſerpina; and when the Plays were finiſhed, that Altar was covered again with earth: So at the Jubilee opened a Gate, which they called, The holy Gate, with a ſilver hammer; and when he ſhut it again, he faſtened it with ſilver plate, as honoring the god of riches. 6. During the Secular Plays, the people did viſit the Temples, Altars and Reliques; ſo now. 7. The Heathens offered ſacrifices unto their gods and goddeſſes; ſo now unto the he-Saints and ſhe-Saints. 8. At every Secular Play they had new hymns; at every Jubilee they have new oriſons through the ſtreets of the City. 9. The Heathens cauſed to be engraven on the brazen Altar, the names of the Conſuls, or Emperor, in whoſe time it was ſolemniſed; ſo now, under what Pope. But the Chriſtian Emperors aboliſhed the Secular Plays; and the Popes have reſtored them. The Bull of proclamation, under Clemens, hath theſe words; What perſon or perſons ſoever, for devotion, ſhall undertake peregrination unto the holy City, the ſame day that he goeth out of his houſe, he may chuſe a Confeſſor or Confeſſors in the way, or where he pleaſeth; unto which Confeſſors, we grant, by our Authority, full power to abſolve all caſes Papal, as fully as if we were perſonally preſent: And we grant, that whoſoever, having truly confeſſed, ſhall chance to die by the way, ſhall be abſolved from all his ſins; and we command the Angels of Heaven, to take his ſoul out of his body, being abſolved, and to carry it into the glory of Paradiſe, &c. He ſate ten years.
6. INNOCENTIUS the VI. in ſome things gave a good pattern; he would not beſtow Benefices, without examination of the life and literature of the Intrant; he ſuſpended many collations that were granted by Clemens, becauſe the perſons were not qualified; he commanded all Prelates, under pain of his curſe, to reſide at their own ſeats; becauſe the ſheep ſhould be attended by their own ſhepheard, and not by an hireling; he reſtrained his domeſticks to a ſmall number, and thoſe were men of good report; and he commanded all Cardinals to do the like; ſaying, His life, and the life of his Cardinals, ſhould be exemplary unto others, as was the life of our Savior. Platin. Nevertheleſs, in pride he was not inferior unto any of his Anceſtors; for he kindled the wars in Italy, ſending Cardinal Aegidius with an Army againſt ſundry Cities in Romandiola, Marchia, Anconitana, &c. which had fallen from the Popes. He ſent Magiſtrates into Rome, now one, and then two, as he pleaſed: He advanced a vain man, Nicolaus Gencii, who under the title of Tribunus Romae, attempted great things: He charged the Pope to return into Rome, or otherwiſe he and the City would chuſe another Pope. When Charles the IV. was choſen Emperor, this Nicolaus (pretending that he was the true Soldier of the holy Ghoſt, the deliverer of the City which hath juriſdiction over all the world, and now revoked all priviledges granted before unto others, in prejudice of her juriſdiction) ſummoned Lewis Duke of Bavier, and Charles King of Bohem, who called themſelves Emperors, and all the Electors, to compear before him, or he will proceed againſt them as diſobedient. Io. Naucler. gener. 45. The people followed him for a time, but ſoon forſook him; then he fled privily, and ſought refuge under the wings of Charles, whom he had ſummoned: Charles taketh him, and ſent him unto Avenion; where he was kept, until Francis Baruncellus did uſurp the like prank; the Pope ſent againſt him this Nicolaus; he killed the other, and was again Tribunus; not long after the Pope threw him down again, and created Guido Jordanus Senator for a year. This Pope ſate nine years and eight months.
7. URBAN the V. an Engliſh man, had waited long at Court, and when he could attain no Benefice, he ſaid unto his fellow, I think verily, although all the Churches of the world were vacant, none of them would fall on me: The ſame companion, ſeeing him taken from a Cloiſter, and crowned with the triple Mitre, ſaid unto him, Now all the Churches of the world are fallen on your head. He followed the courſe of his Predeceſſors, in ſubduing ſome Cities of Italy, and ſtirring men to go unto Syria. In the fifth year he would go to Rome: He cauſed the heads of Peter and Paul to be ſearched; he took the fleſh of them, and when they were laid in boxes of gold, he placed them by the great Altar in Lateran. Platin. If thoſe could be true reliques, let the judicious conſider. He was the firſt conſecrator of the Roſe; and gave The firſt holy Roſe.it unto Johanna Queen of Sicily, who was called a famous whore; and is ſaid to have killed her husband. From that time the Popes do yearly, on the Sunday of Laetare, honor ſome Prince with ſuch a Roſe; being conſecrated with great ſolemnities, and certain prayers, anointed with balm, ſprinkled with musk, and watered with holy water, in ſign (as they ſay) of Jeruſalem, both militant and triumphant, in the name of the Father, Son and holy Ghoſt. About that time began the Agnus Dei, which the Pope giveth in the firſt year Agnus Dei.of his Papacy, and reneweth it every ſeventh year: this is the prayer wherewith they hallow it; By the worſhip and honor hereof, let the iniquity of us thy ſervants be waſhed away; let the filthineſs of our ſins be cleanſed; let pardon be obtained, grace be beſtowed, and at laſt they, with thy Saints and choſen, may deſerve to attain eternal life. What more can be wiſhed by the merits of Chriſt? P. Morn. in Myſter. Urban ſate twelve years. Platina could not know, whether he died at Avenion, or by the way. Froſſard. Hiſt. lib. 1. ſaith, At Avenion, An. 1571.
8. GREGORY the XI. had vowed to dwell in Rome only, if ever he were choſen Pope; and then he was mindeful of his vow. This was not acceptable unto ſome Cardinals, nor unto the King of France, who ſent his Brother, Duke of Anjow, to diſſwade him; at laſt he would go, and died there ſhortly after. He ſent into Germany, craving tenths of all Church-men; the three Electoral Biſhops, with one voice, refuſed. Crantz. in Saxo. lib. 10. cap. 2. & Naucler. The Hiſtories ſhew many troubles and wars in his time. He ſate ſeven years.
9. When the Cardinals aſſembled unto the election, the Romans threatned them, if they did not chuſe a Roman, they would do whereof they ſhould repent; and being not contented ſo, they came violently among the Cardinals, and cauſed an old man of an hundred years to be choſen: They ſat him upon a white mule, and convoyed him thorow the City with much pomp. The old man died on the third day. Froſſard. lib. 2.
10. URBAN the VI. a Roman, was choſen likewiſe by force and fear. He commanded the Cardinals to have fewer ſervants and horſes; becauſe what was beſtowed on them unneceſſarily, might be better employed on the poor: he commanded alſo, they ſhould not take gifts from pleaders in their Courts; wherefore the Cardinals, fearing his ſeverity, went to Anagnia. Platin. But Froſſard. (who lived at that time) ſaith, He diſpleaſed all men with his pride; and the Cardinals ſaid, they were forced to chuſe him; and therefore the See is vacant. So at Funda, they choſe CLEMENS the VII. Biſhop of Camerak, a French man. This Schiſm continued thirty nine years. Crantz. in A long Schiſm between the Popes.Saxo. lib. 10. cap 4. ſaith, The Emperors were wont, and yet do, carry in their colours, a double headed Eagle; and now the Popes began to worſhip a double headed Mitre. Robert Budeus, a Noble man of Britain in France, was in the bounds of the Romans with 2000. men; Clemens allured him on his ſide: thus troubles began. Charles the V. King of France (the wiſeſt Prince of thoſe times, ſaith Froſſard.) aſſembled his Eſtates, eſpecially the Clergy, to enquire which of the two ſhould be accepted: Opinions were different; the Prelates, the King's Brethren, and many Divines were for Clemens; the King approved their ſentence; immediately it was proclaimed; and Clemens made his reſidence at Avenion. There followed him the King of Spain, the Prince of Savoy, the Duke of Millain, the Queen of Naples, and the King of Scotland. The Emperor Charles diſſembled, although the greateſt part of the Empire followed Urban. Lewis Earl of Flanders, ſaid, Wrong was done to Urban. The Hammonians yeild to neither of the two. Froſsard. lib. 2. What troubles were then in all the Church, and every Nation partaking thereof? Prieſts were impriſoned by the adverſe party; Cardinals were racked and killed; and many battels were fought for thoſe two; the one called the other a Schiſmatick and Heretick, the ſon of Belial, and the Antichriſt: It would require a volume to ſhew their bloody facts. Then was great ſtrife for the Kingdom of Sicilies; Johanna the Queen had married four husbands; the couſins and heirs of her husbands pretend right; when ſhe could not eſchue the trouble of pretentions, ſhe rendred the Kingdom unto Pope Clemens, to diſpoſe of at his pleaſure. Urban gives it to an Hungarian, Charls the brother's ſon of her firſt husband; on condition that Pregnan his brothers ſon ſhould have Campania. Clemens gave the Kingdom to Lewis Duke of Anjou, An. 1380. The people receive Charls: Lewis went thither with an Army of 30000 men. Both pretend right from the Pope; and Lewis alledged the conſent of the Queen then defunct. The Neapolitans ſaid, that the Queen could not diſpoſe of the Kingdom; and Clemens was not Pope. Calabria and ſome others received Lewis, who continued there, and died An. 1383. Then Charls was only King, and refuſed to give Campania unto Pregnan. Urban ſummoned Charls to appear at Nuceria; and in the mean time he caſt ſeven Cardinals into priſon, and created 39 Cardinals of his own kindred. Charls came with an Army to the place; but Urban fled by ſea into Genua, and took the ſeven impriſoned Cardinals with him; of whom he cauſed five to be ſhut up in factis, and to be drowned in the ſea. When he heard that Charls was dead, he returned unto Naples, with intention to defraud his ſons; but when he could not prevail, he went to Rome: he ſent his Buls from Genua into England (for he could not find a greater enemy againſt France, ſaith Froſsard.) offering remiſſion of ſins unto all who would fight againſt the Clementines; and gave liberty unto the King to give aſſignations of the Tithe of all Church-rents (except the Primates) unto the Noble-men for their charges; and he prevailed with ſome Preachers to perſwade the people. They being allured with fair promiſes, thought themſelves happy to die in ſuch Wars; Such were the times ſaith Froſſard. In a ſhort ſpace, by Tithes and voluntary offerings, were gathered 2500000 French crowns; and for the more aſſurance, the Pope would have a Biſhop to be General; and Henry Spencer Biſhop of Norwich was named. The like Bull was ſent to Luſitania, to excite them againſt Spain, for ſiding with Clemens. A Letter of Richard the II. is extant (ſaith Io. Fox in Act. & Mon….) unto A remarkable Letter by all Kings.Pope Urban, exhorting him to have more reſpect unto the unity and peace of the Church; and ſhewing, that Princes ſhould coerce ſuch miſ-order in the Church, as Moſes rebuked Aaron; Solomon put down Abiathar; Otho the I. removed John the XIII....and by the ſame reaſon (ſaid the King) why may not Kings now bridle Roman Biſhops, if the quality of their fault, and the neceſſity of the Church ſo require? And if it were not lawfull for Princes to reſtrain the outrages of a Pope, though he were lawfully choſen; he may oppreſs the Church, change Chriſtendom into Heathens, and make the ſufferings of Chriſt in vain; or elſe God hath not provided well in all things for his Church on earth, by ſervice of men, to withſtand dangers; and the Pope ſhould conſider theſe things ſeriouſly, leſt he cauſed all the Princes to riſe againſt him....for certainly the World will not be oppreſſed by a Prelate; and will rather leave the Romiſh Church deſolate, &c. But affections blunt all admonitions. Urban knew what gain was reaped by the Jubile; therefore he ordained it to be kept every 33 years, becauſe Chriſt lived but 33 years: ſo he proclaimed and kept it An. 1383. He cauſed his Cubicular John de Therano, to write a book on theſe words, Give to Caeſar, what are Caeſar's, &c. The ſcope of the book was to prove, that thoſe words had place only for a time, and after Chriſt's aſcenſion they were out of date; becauſe he ſaid, If I were lift up to heaven, I will draw all things after me; that is, I will draw all things to the Empire of Popes, who from thence ſhall be Lord of Lords. In the year 1383. the Clementines beſieged him in a Caſtle, and had taken him, if the Soldiers had not mutined for want of pay; nor could Clemens afford them 20000. franks. Urban ſate eleven years, and died An. 1389. very few bewailed his death, becauſe he was ſo rude and intrectable. Platin. Then Pope Clemens deſired the King to interpoſe his Authority with the Emperor and other Princes, that for conſerving peace, no other Pope be choſen; but he was diſappointed, ſaith Froſſard.
11. BONIFACE the IX. was choſen at Rome, one altogether ignorant of literature, and ſo unfit for the affairs of Court, that he ſcarcely underſtood the propoſitions which were ſcanned before him; and in his time ignorance was in price, ſaith Theod. à Niem. the Secretary of many Popes. Morn. in. Myſter. yet he was like unto Boniface the VIII. as in name, ſo in craftineſs; and when the Romans began to ſhew their diſcontentedneſs, he, like another Tarquinius, cut off the Chaſtoles high heads. Laur. Valla in Declam. contra Donat. Conſtant. He openly profeſſed ſimony; and would admit neither Cardinal nor Biſhop; until they delivered money at his pleaſure, or at leaſt an Annate. Morn. pag. 490.
12. BENEDICT the XIII. was choſen at Avenion, after the death of Clemens, An. 1393. upon expreſs condition, that if the King of France did not approve the election, another ſhould be choſen. The King heard the Legates of both Popes, but conſented to none of them; and, intending the peace of the Church, he ſent unto the Emperor, (whoſe Authority and care ſhould have been principal in this caſe, ſaith Froſſard.) and unto the Kings of England, Bohemia, and Hungary, intreating them not to be deficient unto publick tranquility. After the year 1397. when the Noble men of France were redeemed from the power of the Turks, King Charls wrote again unto the Emperor. They appointed to meet at Rhems, pretending other cauſes of their meeting. After conſultation, they ſent the Biſhop of Camerak unto Rome, exhorting Boniface, that for the good of the Church, he would lay aſide his Papal honor for a time, until by advice of Princes and learned men, a neceſſary overture were provided. The Pope ſaid, He would follow the advice of the Cardinals. But the people of Rome did exhort him to maintain his own right, and not to ſubmit to any Prince of them all. At the ſecond conference, Boniface ſaid, He would ſubmit, if Benedict would ſubmit alſo. The Biſhop did report this anſwer unto the Emperor, at Confluentia; and returned into France; and he was ſent unto Benedict with the ſame propoſition. His Cardinals could agree upon no certain anſwer; and he ſaid, He was lawfully choſen, and would not renounce for any mans pleaſure. Wherefore a Captain that was ſent with the Biſhop, laid hands on the Pope, and took him. Then Charls advertiſed the Emperor; and he intreated the King of England to lay aſide all faction for a ſpace, and contribute his aid in this caſe. When this came in conſultation, the Eſtates were deſirous of the purpoſe, but it did offend them, that the buſineſs was carried on by Authority of the French King; and they ſaid, France ſhall never preſcribe an order in Religion unto England. The ſame year Charls died; and Richard was committed to the Tower, Froſſard. lib. 4. Then France agreed with Benedict, upon condition he ſhould procure the peace of the Church. Many Cities in Italy revolted from Boniface, as may be ſeen in Platin. and he was brought into ſuch great penury, that he ſent unto all Countries, offering pardons for ſo much money as their charges towards Rome would require: By ſuch Indulgences, his Legate brought from one Country 100000. florens. Theod. à Niem. lib. 1. cap. 68. & Mornay. He called his Legates to account, and finding that they had reaped more gain, he put them to death. But his pardons were ſo contemned, ſaith Platin. that many crimes were done, becauſe people thought, they could have remiſſion for money. Pol. Virg. de inven. rer. lib. 8. cap. 1. reporteth the ſame. He kept the Jubilee An. 1400. when many hundreds of people died of the plague at Rome. After that the Cardinals of Avenion went to Rome, to treat of peace: but Boniface ſaid, He only was Pope, and Peter de Luna was the Anti-Pope. They replied, Their Maſter was not a Simoniack. He diſcharged them of the City, and within three days he died, An. 1404.