History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 15 · Chapter 1

History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600 · Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 15 · Chapter 1

p. 506CHAP. I. Of POPES.

1. INNOCENTIUS the VII. was crowned An. 1404. Before that time none ſpoke more againſt the ambition of the Antipopes; and he had ſworn to renounce his place, if the union of the Church did ſo require; but now he could not hear any ſpeaking of taking away the Schiſm; yea, becauſe ſome Romans bewailed the dammages of it, he ſent them to his Nephew Lewis (whom he had made Marqueſs of Piceno, and Prince of Firma) as to a Burreo, (ſaith Platin.) and he cauſed in his own ſight, eleven Romans to be thrown out of an high window; and ſaid, This Schiſm cannot be otherwiſe taken away; therefore he was called, the bloody Tyrant. Tho. Cooper. For this cauſe the Romans called for the aid of Ladiſlaus, King of Naples, and the Pope fled unto his Nephew in Viterbio; thereafter the Romans, fearing that Ladiſlaus would uſurp over the City, brought back the Pope; and he did accurſe Ladiſlaus. Pope Benedict ſent unto Pope Innocentius, for a ſafe conduct unto his Cardinals, that they may treat of an union. Innocentius ſlightly refuſed. Wherefore Benedict made his vaunts in ſundry miſſives, that he was deſirous of union, and Innocentius had denied a treaty. Then Innocentius became paralytick; and his own Clergy ſaid unto him, It happened unto him juſtly, according to his demerits. He ſate two years. Then the French Nation did repreſent unto Pope Benedict, the inconvenients of the Schiſm; and they craved, that he would willingly lay down his Dignity, for the welfare of the Church, if the Pope that ſhall be choſen at Rome ſhall do the like. He promiſed to do ſo. The Cardinals at Rome, in conſideration of the enormities waxing every where by this Schiſm, took this order; they promiſe each one, with ſolemn vow to God, to Mary, to Peter and Paul, and the bleſſed company of Saints, that if any of them were called to that high place, whenſoever the other Pope will quit his place, and his Cardinals will condeſcend unto the Cardinals at Rome upon a new election, that one may be choſen by them together, in that caſe he p. 507who ſhall be now choſen, ſhall renounce his Papacy. And they provided, that none ſhall ever take abſolution from this oath: All did ſubſcribe.

2. GREGORY the XII. being eighty years old, was choſen; and the ſame day, in preſence of all the Cardinals, confirmed the ſame oath by a new ſubſcription. The union was attempted again, by Letters from the one Pope unto the other; they conſent to meet on Michaelmaſs day at Savona in Liguria; but Gregory objected ſundry impediments; and when theſe were removed by Biſhops and Princes, he coined more; as may be read at large in Morna. Myſter. pag. 497. & ſſ. Benedict ſtill made ſhew of readineſs; when he heard that Gregory made new delays, he went unto Catalonia in Spain, where he was born, profeſſing his deſire of union, but there was no appearance of it: In truth, he was neceſſitated to go thither; for the French King, and Univerſity of Paris, would bear no longer with him, and called him a Schiſmatick, &c. Gregory thought then that the field was won: He called a Councel to aſſemble at Aquileia; and to the end he may attain his deſigns, he created more Cardinals. Benedict practiſed the like in Arragon; both of them ſtill pretending unity. The Church of Rome had of late broached Experience sheweth that Popes are not infallible.this conceit, That the judgement of the Pope is infallible; but now it pleaſed God to check that fond opinion, and by lamentably ſenſible examples teach them their error, that if reaſon cannot perſwade them, experience ſhould convince them; or if they will believe none who had written that the Pope may er, yet they ſhall ſee it with their eys, and then let them hold him the rule of faith at their peril. So the Cardinals of both theſe factions began to diſtaſte the ambition of their Popes; and firſt, ſome of the Spaniſh Cardinals withdrew themſelves, and came to Piſa; and others of the other ſide aſſembled with them, to the number of 124 Divines, and 300 Juriſts: They with one conſent call a Councel to be held there, An. 1409. and by their Letters they require the Emperor, the Kings of France, Hungary, England, Poland, Sicily, Arragon, and other States, to give their concurrence. Only the nearer part of Spain, Scotland, and the Count Armeniacus, followed Benedict. The Councel was aſſembled, to the number of 1000 Divines and Lawyers, as ſome write. They ſummon both Popes to appear, either perſonally or by their Proctors. They both conteſted againſt the lawfulneſs of the Aſſembly, as not having authority from the head. The Councel replied, A Councel cannot be called by one of the Competitors; for a party cannot make a general, but a particular Councel; but neither of the two would yield to the other; ſo the Councel goeth on; and becauſe none of the two Popes would appear, after many Seſſions, and after long diſputation of their power, and after canonical proceſs, they all, without exception, condemn Pope Benedict and Pope Gregory, and abſolve all men from obedience unto them; they annul all their Acts, promotions.....In the tenor of deprivation, they call theſe two notorious Schiſmaticks, obſtinate maintainers of Schiſm, Hereticks departed from the faith, ſcandalizing the whole Church, unworthy the Papacy, and cut off from the Church. And they elected unto the Papal Chair, a Greek by birth, Peter Philargus, the Biſhop of Millain; who was called

3. ALEXANDER the V. Of him it is ſaid, He was a rich Biſhop, a poor Cardinal, and a beggarly Pope: this laſt part was ſaid of him, partly becauſe of the diviſion of the Papal revenues, and partly becauſe of his profuſion beyond any Prince. The other two Popes would never conſent unto this Synod. Bellarmin will neither call this Councel lawful nor unlawful, De Concil. lib. 1. cap. 8. Then were three Suns, as the Popes were wont to call themſelves in compariſon of the Emperors, but they were all pale in the clouds, none of them being in their own region; and the Romiſh Church had p. 508three heads. Alexander had ſcarcely warmed his Crown on his head, when he gave full remiſſion of all ſin unto them, who conferred any thing unto the Monaſtery of S. Bartholomew by Smithfield; and reſorted to that Church any of theſe days following, to wit, Maundy Thurſday, Good Friday, Eaſter Even, or on the Feaſt of Annuntiation, from the firſt Even Song unto the latter. Io. Fox in Act. He died in the eighth monethmonth. When he was dying, he proteſted before a multitude of Biſhops and others, that the Piſan Councel had proceeded very lawfully, and had decreed moſt juſtly. Platin. Will not the Papiſts believe the proteſtation of their Pope on his death-bed? Then the Cardinals thought to be more circumſpect in chuſing his Succeſſor; they aſſembled at Bononia; where Baldeſar Coſſa, a Noble man of Naples, was the Pope's Legate, and Commander of the City; he had a great number of Soldiers both within and without, under pretence of preventing all tumults, but indeed, that if he could not attain unto the Papacy by ſolicitation, he might atchieve it by arms. Platin. He preſſed the Cardinals to name a Pope. They went to election, and named one; he refuſed him: they name another; he refuſed to accept him: they did name more; none were to his liking: They ask, Whom will he name? He ſaid, Give me the Cape of bleſſed Peter, and I ſhall give it unto the Pope: Then he put it on his own ſhoulders, and ſaid, I am Pope. The Cardinals thought this an informable election; but none durſt ſpeak againſt him. Bellar. de Ro. Pon. lib. 4. cap. 14. ſaith, It could not be eaſily judged, by which of theſe three was the true and lawful Pope: why? becauſe every one of them had moſt learned Patrons. This ſame Pope,

4. JOHN the XXIV. (alias XXIII.) feared that the Cardinals would enterpriſe ſomething againſt him, and therefore preſently ſent Legates unto Germany, entreating the Princes to accept Sigiſmund unto the Imperial Throne; he thought ſo to gain his favor. Platin. He, obtaining this deſire, proclaimed a Councel at Rome, under pretence to crown the Emperor, but intending to eſtabliſh himſelf. The Schiſm continued, until the Emperor procured a Councel at Conſtance, An. 1414. John, hoping that the Emperor would acquit him for his former favor, conſented, and gave his Bull for aſſembling the Councel; and in that Bull, he acknowledged the lawfulneſs of the general Councel at Piſa; and called Pope Alexander, the Preſident of happy memory. In the Councel he laid down his Papacy; and the Emperor gave him thanks, and kiſſed his foot: But when he ſaw no appearance to be reſtored, he thought beſt to provide for himſelf by flight; and he would revoke his renuntiation. The Emperor cauſed to purſue him. Frederick Duke of Auſtria apprehended him, and delivered him unto the Emperor; and he committed him unto the Count Palatine of Rhine, who kept him three years in his Caſtle at Hedleberg. John was judged as unworthy as any of the other two; for he was accuſed to have hired Marſilius Parmenſis, a Phyſician, to poiſon Pope Alexander; that he was an Heretick, a Simoniack, a Murtherer, an Inchanter, an Adulterer, a Dice-player, a Sodomite, a notorious Atheiſt, and contemner of all Religion; he ſold for 50000 ducates the head of John Baptiſt, which was in St. Silveſter's Monaſtery at Rome. John Naucler ſaith, About forty Articles were proved againſt him. Then the Councel dealt with the other two Popes to renounce their authority, as followeth. Pope Gregory, being then decrepit, ſent his Proctor, and renounced his power; and was made Legate of Piceno; and died ſhortly after. Benedict would never acknowledge the Councel; and when he died, after the Councel was ended, he required an oath of his Cardinals, that they ſhould chuſe another Pope after his death.

5. MARTIN the V. was choſen by the Councel on Martin's day, p. 509An. 1417. he was convoyed by the Emperor and Councel, with great ſolemnity, into the great Church of Conſtance, and from thence unto the Monaſtery of St. Auguſtin to be crowned; the Emperor led his horſe by the bridle on the right hand, and the Marqueſs of Brandenburgh on the left hand, both on foot. He confirmed the Acts of the Councel. The Emperor entreated him to abide in Germany, becauſe of the diverſity of Religion, or (as he ſpoke) for divers enormities there. The French Nation allured him to go with them. He ſaid, The Churches of the Saints in Rome were decaying, by the long abſence of Popes; ſo he went to Italy, and ſtayed three years at Florence. At that time John the XXIV. redeemed himſelf out of priſon for 30000 crowns, and went unto Florence. Pope Martin feared that he would renew the Schiſm; but John kiſſed his foot, and was made Cardinal of Tuſculo; yet could not patiently live in ſo private a condition, and died of melancholy. Then Martin had but one Antipope, and ſought by all means to have him out of the way; but Alfonſo King of Arragon maintained Pope Benedict the rather, that Pope Martin had declared Lewis, Duke of Anjow, to be King of Sicily. When Benedict had ſate thirty years, and was dead, his Cardinals choſe Pope Clemens the VIII. who ſate four years; until Pope Martin, ſeeing the unlucky ſucceſs of King Lewis, did agree with Alfonſo concerning Sicily; then theſe two compound with Pope Clemens, that he ſhall have the Biſhoprick of Majorca; and his Cardinals ſhall enjoy their hats, except ſome recuſants that were committed; ſo the Schiſm was ended. Pope Martin was hot in the wars againſt the Bohemians. Angelus de Clavaſio, a Minorite, in his Summa, at the word Papa, writeth, that this Martin, after conſultation, granted licence unto a man to marry his own Siſter. He ſate fourteen years, and died An. 1431.

6. EUGENIUS the IV. was miſcarried with ill advice, and troubled all things concerning God and men. Platin. By his covetouſneſs he ſo provoked the Romans, that there was a great fight within the City, and he thought it his beſt way to ſteal away in a Monkiſh habit; when the Citizens knew that he was going down the river in a boat, they threw ſtones at him; but by means of his Captain Sfortia, he regained all that he had loſt, and became very haughty. He loved wars, which may ſeem ſtrange in a Pope, ſaith Platin. He was afraid of the event of the Councel at Baſil, when he ſaw it encreaſe with multitude of Princes and Biſhops from Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, &c. and had made an Act in Seſſ. 2. A Councel is above a Pope; and all men of whatſoever condition, even Papal, ought to obey it; therefore he went about the tranſlating of it to Bononia; but the Emperor, and all the Princes and Biſhops there, charged him, that if he did not approve the Councel, which was ordained by the former Councel, and was called by the former Pope, and now had ſate ſo long time by his own conſent, the Nations there aſſembled would dethrone him: This Letter made him approve the Councel by his Bull, An. 1434. When Sigiſmund died, Eugenius aſſembled his Cardinals and faction at Ferraria, and then (as followeth) at Florence, and would have taken all power from the Councel; but the Councel did ſo deſpiſe his threatnings, that they condemned Pope Eugenius as unworthy of Peter's Chair; and they choſe another, to wit, the Duke of Savoy, who had lived an Eremite for ſome years; him they called FELIX the V. This was a new ſchiſm; ſome followed the one, and ſome the other, and ſome were neutral; ſo they were two Popes, and two Councels contrary unto one another. Behold the unity of the Roman Church! all the Acts and conſecrations of Pope Eugenius were judged null at Baſil, nor was he ever abſolved from their curſe; they called him, a rebel againſt the ſacred Canons, a notorious p. 510ſcandalizer and diſturber of the peace and unity of the Church, a ſimoniſt, a perjured wretch, incorrigible, a ſchiſmatick, and obſtinate heretick. On the other ſide Eugenius wrote his Letters from Florence unto all Princes, ſhewing that Amedeus, alias Pope Felix, had adviſed with the inchanters, and had received reſponſe that he ſhould be Pope, and therefore he had lived an Eremite for a ſpace, to deceive the world with hypocriſie; he called him, a wolf in a ſheeps skin; the Image of Nebuchadnezzar; the Idol of Beelzebub, ſtanding in the Church of God; Lucifer, who ſaid, he would ſet his ſeat in the North, &c. Ph. Morn. in Myſter. pag. 544. He publiſhed ſundry Acts and writs, wherein he did aver, that he was ſo far from being obliged to follow and obey a Councel, that he did then deſerve moſt, when he contemned the Acts of a Councel; and he ſaid, It is hereſie to think, that a Councel is above a Pope, although all the Univerſity of Chriſtendom would affirm the ſame: So by the Bull of Pope Eugenius, the infallability of the Church is preſerved in the Pope only, and the Pope only may make a true Church; or rather we may infer, The Pope is the Antichriſt: For as Auguſtine, Lib. 20. De ci. Dei, cap. 19. ſaith, The Antichriſt ſhall ſit (as it is in the Greek) non in templo Dei, ſed in templum Dei, tanquam ipſe ſit templum Dei, quod eſt Eccleſia, ſicut dicimus, ſedet in amicum, id eſt, amicus; that is, not only in the Church, but over the Church, as if he were the Church. When his Bulls and practiſes could not prevail againſt the Councel, he enticed the Daulphin (who thereafter was Lewis the XI. King of France) to go with 30000 Soldiers againſt Baſil, as followeth. John Palaeologus, Emperor of the Eaſt, ſent word, that he would come unto the Councel to treat of union; (but his aim was to procure aid againſt the Turks) then Charls the VII. ſent ſhips into the Ionian Sea, to bring the Emperor and his Clergy into France, and that way to convoy him unto Baſil: But Eugenius prevened them with ſhips and money ſent unto the Emperor, as it were to defray their charges by the way, and with promiſes to pay all their charges in Italy; and his Admiral ſaid, That the Pope and the Councel were reconciled: the other ſhips come too late, and ſhewed, that the Councel was not reconciled with the Pope; the Patriarch and other Biſhops perceived ſome fraud, and refuſed to go into Italy, until reconciliation was made there among themſelves: whereupon the Admiral of the Papal ſhips would have fought with the Councels ſhips; but the Emperor would not ſuffer them to fight within his dominion; and alſo he preſſed the Biſhops to go aboard; it was in the winter time, and after they had been beaten with ſtorms, they arrived at Venice; the Patriarch Joſeph was ſickly, and the Emperor left him, and went to Ferraria; within few days Joſeph followed; and while he was yet in the ſhip, the Emperor ſent to inform him, that at his firſt meeting with the Pope, he muſt fall down and kiſs his foot; the Emperor (ſaid the meſſenger) providing for your honor, hath dealt theſe three days with the Pope, that it ſhould not be ſo; and he adviſeth you hereof before hand. This news ſeemed ſtrange unto the Patriarch; for he had reſolved to acknowledge the Pope as a Father, if he were older; or as a Brother, if he were equal in years; or if the Pope were yonger, he would accept him as a Son: yea, and before he came from home, he had ſaid unto ſome of his friends, that if he were once in Italy, he hoped to purchaſe more reputation, and to recover the honor of his See; and now when he is ordered to kiſs the Pope's foot, he was amazed. About noon ſix Biſhops come unto him to congratulate his arrival; and to exhort him, that he would not refuſe to give unto the Pope the obeyſance that all men give him. The Patriarch anſwered peremptorily, that he would not ſalute the Pope after that maner, yea, and all maner which nature doth not allow; ſince they are Brethren, they p. 511ſhould embrace one another after a brotherly maner. The Biſhops return to ſhew this anſwer unto the Pope; and in the mean time, the Patriarch asked the advice of the Greek Biſhops; they, in one voice, ſaid, It was not lawful, nor comely, nor profitable; and they told him, that he might have known the Pope's pride before, when his Legate ſought the precedency in Conſtantinople, as they alſo had given him to underſtand at that time, but he would not regard their advertiſement. Before night the Papal Biſhops came again, and preſſed the ſame curteſie. The Patriarch ſaid, By what reaſon can the Pope demand this? what Councel of the ancient Fathers hath ſo ordained? if he call himſelf Peter's Succeſſor, the Succeſſors of other Apoſtles are here; and did any of the Apoſtles kiſs Peter's foot? who ever heard that? The Biſhops replied, Kings and Emperors, and Cardinals greater then the Emperor, do ſo unto the Pope now through many ages. The Patriarch anſwered. It is but a late cuſtom, and I will rather return home then do it; I am in the ſhip, and I will not go out of the ſhip, if that be required of me. Briefly, becauſe the Patriarch would not ſo abaſe himſelf, the Pope was content to accept him with mutual embracings and kiſſes, yet but in a chamber, in preſence of a few Cardinals. Of their proceedings in the Councel, I ſhall ſpeak hereafter: For the preſent thus much only; among the Articles covenanted between the Emperor and the Pope, this was one, that if the Turks ſhall invade Conſtantinople, in the time that the Greeks ſhall be in Italy, the Pope ſhall ſend a navy for aid: But in two ſeveral ſummers Amurathes did invade Conſtantinople by Sea, and the Pope could not be perſwaded to ſend one ſhip; the Emperor ſought but two, and Eugenius would ſend none. The Hiſtory marketh, that God did preſerve Conſtantinople at that time; and immediately Nicolaus, Duke of Piceno, took two Cities, Bononia and Friuli, from Eugenius. Sgyrop. Hiſt. ſect. 5. cap. 12. In the year 1443. the Pope made agreement with the chief Romans, and returned to Rome in September; he would have gone into St. Peter's the ſecond day, but all the people were in an uproar, crying, Away with new tributes, and the authors of them; Eugenius had laid new tribute on the wine: He did not dare to go out of doors that day, but diſcharged the late Impoſt; the next day he went forward, the people crying. Long may Eugenius live. On the nineteenth day thereafter, he called an aſſembly at Lateran; and excommunicated all the Prelates at Baſil. Vladiſlaus, King of Hungary, had made peace with the Turks: Eugenius ſent his Legate, Cardinal Julian, Perjury is punished, though the Pope approve it.and perſwaded the King to break the peace; becauſe without his leave, he could not contract with the enemies of Chriſt. At the firſt onſet, the company of Aſia, on the north wing of the Turks Army, were put to flight by John Hunniades, Prince of Tranſilvania, and General of the Hungarians: Then Amurathes took out the Book of the Articles of Peace, and lifting up his eys to Heaven, he ſaid, Theſe are the Articles, O Jeſus Chriſt, which thy Chriſtians have covenanted with me, and have ſworn holily by thy name; and now they have violated their faith atteſted by thy name; they have falſely denied their God; and now Chriſt, if thou be God, I beſeech thee avenge thy own wrongs and mine, and ſhew the puniſhment of perjury unto them, which as yet have not known thy name. He had ſcarcely uttered theſe words, when (behold!) the fight was ſuddenly changed. Ph. Morn. in Myſter. ex Bonfin. Hiſt. Hungar. dec. 1. lib. 6. A bloody fight followed at Varna, where the Turks prevailed; that ye may ſee (ſaith Aen. Sylv. lib. 1. epiſt. 81.) how oaths ſhould be kept, not only with the houſhold of faith, but with enemies alſo. That day the yong King, and Julian the falſe Cardinal, and many of the Hungarian Nobility, were ſlain; and the Prelates, that were in the field for encouraging the Soldiers, fled, and fell into mariſhes; and all the trinches and ditches were p. 512filled with blood of Chriſtians, An. 1444. from thenceforth wars proſpered not well with the Hungarians. The ſame Pope raiſed wars in Italy, and died An. 1447.

7. NICOLAUS the V. was choſen, Pope Felix being alive; wherefore many remained neutral; and the wars that were begun, continued until the year before the Jubilee. The Emperor, with his Diet at Oſchoffenburgh, did charge all Germany to acknowledg Pope Nicolaus; and he commanded the City Baſil to diſmiſs the Councel before the Feaſt of St. Martin, An. 1548. The Pope Nicolaus ſent Aen. Sylvius to perſwade Pope Felix to renounce his title; they agree, that Amadeus ſhall be a Cardinal, and Legate of Germany, and of his own Countrey; and all his Cardinals and Biſhops ſhall keep their places. To procure the favor of the Germans, Nicolaus publiſhed a Bull, Ad ſacram Petri ſedem, and another, Vt pacis, dated in July An. 1449. wherein he preſcribeth ſome moderation of Annates; he approveth and confirmeth all the proviſions and Acts of the Councel at Baſil, and of Pope Felix the V. and their other cenſures, excommunications, abſolutions, &c. This Bull is annexed unto the Acts of that Councel, after the Decretum quinque concluſionum, Such were the times, that the Popes framed their Decrees and Bulls according to their own intereſt, and not according to equity, nor the voices of them who had called on the holy Ghoſt: That Councel was alſo confirmed by Pope Sixtus the IV. All troubles being thus calmed, ſo many went to Rome in the year of Jubilee, that on a day Peter Barbus, Cardinal of St. Mark, riding on a mule toward the Vatican, and reencountring with the people on Hadrians bridge, could go neither forward nor backward for the throng, his mule and two hundred men with three horſes, were extinguiſhed, and many fell from both ſides of the bridge into the water. Platin. The next year Mahumet, having received many foils at Conſtantinople, was preparing all his forces againſt it. Then Conſtantine Paleologus ſent unto the Pope, and craved help of men and money. Nicolaus refuſed, unleſs the Emperour would cauſe the Greeks to ſubmit unto his Papal Authority. Antonine Biſhop of Florence, at the ſame time, ſaith; The Pope thought it not reaſon to ſpoil Italy of monies, for aid of a Nation potent enough, if they would beſtow their money to hire other Nations. Anton. par. 3. tit. 22. cap. 13. But the Greeks would rather ſuffer any extremity, then be ſubject unto the Pope; ſo that City was loſt unworthily, An. 1453. Then Nicolaus hoped to reap a rich harveſt; he ſent Baſſarion, a Greek, (whom Eugenius had enticed unto his ſide at Florence, and had given him a red hat, with the Biſhoprick of Tuſculo) to be Patriarch of Conſtantinople; the Greeks would not accept him, but choſe Gennadius Scholarius. Many Greeks came then into Italy; and many Italians began then to ſtudy the Greek Language. Bodinus in Daemono. ſheweth ex Iac. Sprenger. a rare diſpenſation granted by this Nicolaus: A German Biſhop (whom the Pope loved) was ſick, and had learned from a witch, that another witch had done him ill; nor could he be healed, unleſs that ſickneſs were caſt upon the woman which had done it, and then ſhe aſſuredly was to die: The Biſhop ſendeth unto the Pope for an Indulgence to practiſe this. Nicolaus granted it, with this clauſe, Of two evils, the greateſt is to be eſchewed. He ſate eight years.

8. CALLISTUS the III. inſtantly after his coronation, produced a Book, wherein he had many years before written theſe words; I Calliſtus, Pope, vow unto the Almighty God, and the holy individual Trinity, that I ſhall purſue by wars, interdictions, curſes, and by what other means I ſhall be able, the Turks, which are enemies of Chriſt's name. Platin. So he ſent ſixteen ſhips, under the conduct of the Patriarch of Aquileia, into Aſia. At that p. 513time a great Comet appeared; which the Mathematicians deemed to portend a great plague: wherefore the Pope ordained, that the bells be tolled at noon; and then all people to fall upon their knees, and pray that the plague might fall on the Turks; but it fell at home: for as the wars were taken in hand ſuddenly, ſo they ended ſoon and ſhamefully. Ibid. Calliſtus ordained the feaſt of Chriſt's transfiguration on Auguſt 6. granting the like indulgence unto the obſervers thereof, as of Corp. Chriſti. Jo. Naucler. He multiplied the number of canonized Saints, adding Edmund an Engliſh Minorite, and Vincentius a Spaniſh Minorite, &c. When the before named Beſſarion heard of this enrolling, he ſaid, Theſe new Saints make me doubt of the old. He ordained a general Letany and proceſſion the firſt Sunday of every monethmonth; and that every one obſerving it, ſhall have indulgence for ſeven years. He added unto the Maſs a prayer, for victory againſt the Infidels; which whoſoever ſhall ſay, ſhall have three years indulgence. If he had minded ſincerely to aid the Chriſtians, he had a fair occaſion; for at the ſame time John Hunniades, or Vaivoda, overcame Mahumet at Alba, (ſaith Naucler, or as others write, Belgrad) and was not able to purſue his victory, his Army was ſo ſore weakened. Antonin. par. 3. tit. 22. cap. 14. Shortly thereafter the valiant Hunniades died at Zemplen, An. 1456. But Calliſtus was more deſirous to have his Son, or Nephew, Lignius Borgias, to attain the Crown of Sicilies; for Alfonſo King of Arragon died, and his baſe Son Ferdinand ſucceeded in all his Kingdoms; but the Pope proclaimed the Kingdom of Sicilies to be vacant, and fallen again unto St. Peter, and ſo the Pope may diſpoſe of it at his pleaſure: he commanded Ferdinand, under pain of his curſe, that he call not himſelf King of Sicilies; but if any can pretend any right unto it, it ſhould be examined at Rome: and he diſſolved all oath of obedience unto Ferdinand. Anton. ibid. cap. 16. They were levying on both ſides; and in the mean time Calliſtus died, when he had ſate three years.

9. PIUS the II. was before Aeneas Sylvius; with the change of his name, he changed his manners. He had been Scribe at the Councel of Baſil; and was one of the twelve Cenſores Concilii; when any thing was done by Deputies of Nations, Aeneas was one for Italy; when Eugenius was depoſed, and Felix was choſen, Aeneas was ſent, by the Councel, unto the Emperour, to declare the equity of the election; and the Emperour admiring the dexterity of his wit, choſe him to be his Secretary. In his firſt book, Degeſtis Conc. Baſil. he hath a large diſcourſe, proving that the Pope is ſubject unto the Councel; there he ſaith, The Church is the Spouſe of Chriſt, and the Pope is but his Vicar; now (ſaith he) the Spouſe is above a Vicar, neither will will any man ſubject his Wife unto his Vicar: There he proves that theſe paſſages of Scripture, Thou ſhalt be called Cephas, and I will give thee the keys; and I have praied for thee; and feed my ſheep, give no priviledge unto Peter, but are wreſted by flatterers, contrary to the mind of Chriſt, and expoſition of the Fathers. There alſo he ſaith, Chriſt is the head of the Church, and the Pope is not the head; unleſs one will ſay, that he is the Miniſterial head, or Vicar of the Head for edification, and not the harm of the Church; and therefore as an offending member may be cut off, ſo the Pope may be depoſed: And that a Councel may be aſſembled without the conſent of the Pope, he proves both by reaſon and practice. But when Aeneas was made Pope, he ſent abroad a Bull, with the Title of Retractations, revoking what he had written againſt other Popes; and praiſing them. In another, beginning Execrabilis, and dated in the ſecond year of his Papacy; he condemneth all appellations unto a future Councel, as execrable and peſtiferous; and he condemns all Univerſities, and favourers of ſuch appellations. In another p. 514that beginneth In minoribus agentes, and directed unto the Univerſity of Colen, An. 1463. he profeſſeth repentance for writing the Dialogue, and other books for authority of a Councel; and ſaith, He had perſecuted the Church ignorantly, as Paul did; and he would prove the authority of a Pope above a Councel, from the ſame paſſages of Scripture which he had brought to the contrary. In the end he ſaith, he doth reverence the Councel of Conſtance; and yet that Councel had decreed that a Councel is above the Pope. And ſo Pius verifieth what Pope Gregory, on Iob lib. 11. cap. 10. ſaith, A Doctor neglecting to practice what he hath taught, and will not do the good that he hath averred, beginneth to teach the lewd things that he loveth; and in the juſt judgment of God, now he ſhall not have for good, who refuſeth a good converſation; becauſe when the heart is inflamed with the love of earthly things, it ſpeaks alwaies of earthly things; as truth ſaith in the Goſpel, Out of the aboundance of the heart, the mouth ſpeaketh. This Pope abſolved Ferdinand King of Arragon, from the curſe of Pope Calliſtus; yet ſo, that he gave his wifes ſiſter in marriage unto the Pope's Nephew; and alſo gave him the Dutchy of Maldeburg and Celan. Platina ſaith, This Pope's ſiſter had four ſons; and the King made the two youngeſt both Knights; and unto one of them he gave his daughter, with the Dutchy of Amalphis. Pius was an enemy to Lewis the II. King of France, becauſe he confirmed the Pragmatica Sanctio; and he cauſed him to annul it. He menaced Borſius▪ Duke of Mutina, becauſe he favoured the affairs of France. He purſued, with moſt grievous cenſures, Sigiſmund Duke of Auſtria; becauſe he had impriſoned Card. Nicol. Cuſanus, unto whom the Pope had given a Biſhoprick in Tirolis, without the Duke's conſent. He deprived Diether, Biſhop of Mentz; becauſe he would not conſent that the Pope ſhould exact the Annats in Germany, nor give his Oath that he would never ſollicite for a Councel; and Pius gave that See unto Adolph of Naſſow. Crantz. in Saxon. lib. 12. cap. 1. ſaith, The Pope's confirmation was not regarded; therefore Adolph levied an Army, and by the aid of the Palatine of Rhine, he prevailed againſt Diether, and ſpoiled the City pitifully, and brought it into miſerable bondage, and all trading decaied there. Faſcic. rer. expeten. fol. 164. Edit. An. 1535. ſaith, Pius ſighed ſo oft as he heard the name of Mentz, becauſe he had done ſo great harm unto that City; and thereafter he reſtored Diether. Pius brought unto the Patrimony of the Church Tarracino, Benevento, Sora, Arpino, and a great part of Campania; and was alwaies carefull to inlarge the Papal authority. He was ſo intangled with wars, that he ſeemed not to favour learning, ſaith Platina. In the year 1460. he aſſembled a Councel at Mantua, for levying an Army againſt the Turks: The Orator of France came thither, and complained that the Kingdom of Naples was taken from the right heir, and given unto the King of Arragon; but the Pope pleaded for Arragon, and would have no buſineſs to be treated there, but only preparation againſt the Turk; and he ſent Beſſurion into Germany and Hungary for the ſame effect: But their private jars hindred the common cauſe, ſaith Laon. Chalcocon. lib. 8. Io. Naucler. ſaith, Many Souldiers came from Germany, France and Spain unto Ancona; the Pope gave them all his bleſſing, and ſent them home again, becauſe they had not brought money enough with them. He writ an Epiſtle to Mahumet, which is the 396. in number; where he affirms that the Empire of Greece depends on his See, and his Predeceſſours had given the Empire of Germany unto Charls; and he offered to give that Xingdom peaceably unto him, if he would turn Chriſtian, and defend the Church. He did ſit ſix years. Platina reckoneth theſe following Proverbs to be his, There be three perſons of one Deity; and we p. 515may not conſider by what reaſon it may be ſo, but who hath ſaid it. When men attempt to meaſure the Heaven, they may be called bold, rather than true meaſures. Fools, and not wiſe men, are moved with fair words. The firſt places in Kings Courts are ſlippery. As all Rivers run into the Sea, ſo all vices into great Courts. Men ſhould be given to dignities, and not dignities unto men. Some men are in Office, and deſerve it not; others deſerve, and have it not. A wandring Monk is the Divel's ſlave. For weighty cauſes marriage was taken from Prieſts; but for weightier reaſons it ſhould be granted, &c. I have ſeen ſome Editions that have not this laſt Proverb; but it is in the Edition at Venice, An. 1562. Cum Privilegio Pontificis, &c.

10. PAUL the II. had been a Merchant in Venice; when he heard that his Uncle Eugenius was Pope, he would then learn Grammer, but becauſe of his age, he made little progreſs. Platin. Nevertheleſs Eugenius made him Arch-Deacon of Bononia, then Biſhop of Cervia, and then a Cardinal; but his ambition ſtayed not until he was Pope; and then he was not ſo much void of all literature, as an hater of all learned men; for he deprived them of their Benefices without any juſt cauſe; among them Platina was one: Theſe ſeeking to be reſtored, craved that their cauſe might be heard before Auditores rotae; but he ſaid, Ye would bring us before Judges, as if ye were ignorant that all Laws are in our breaſt; I have declared ſo, and let them all go; I am Pope, and may approve or refuſe the Acts of others at my pleaſure. He was the firſt Pope that ſpoke in this maner. Io. Serres. After three weeks, when they ſaw no appearance to be reſtored, Platina wrote unto him thus; If thou may ſpoil us of that which we bought with our money, we may alſo complain of the wrong and unjuſt ignominy; ſince we have been rejected by thee, and have received ſo notorious infamy, we will go to Kings and Princes, and exhort them, for your cauſe, to aſſemble a Councel; where thou ſhalt be compelled to give account, why thou haſt ſpoiled us of our lawful poſſeſſions. For this Letter Platina was laid in Iron fetters; for the Pope could not hear of a Councel: after ſome ſpace Platina was looſed, upon condition, that he go not out of Rome. Platin. Eugenius had founded ſome Canons in the Lateran Church, which were Regulars; Calliſtus expelled them, and placed Seculars; now Paul put out the Seculars, and reſtored the Regulars, to the great offence of the Romans. Idem. He exceeded all his Predeceſſors in gorgeous apparel; his Mitre was ſet with all manner of precious ſtones; he would be admired by all men; and leſt he were too ſingular, he ordained by a publick Decree, that none ſhould have a ſcarlet hat, but the Cardinals; and thoſe ſhould always have their horſes or mules covered with ſcarlet; he would have given them more ornaments, if ſome, thinking well, had not admoniſhed, that the pomp of the Church ſhould not be augmented in prejudice of Religion. Idem. All offices were then ſold at Rome; he ſold the richer Benefices to them who had the leſſer, that his Annates might be the more; no reſpect was had of learning, but only, who will give moſt: He called the Students of Humanity, (as Platina ſpeaketh) Hereticks; and he exhorted the Citizens, that they breed not their children with learning; it is enough (ſaid he) if they can read and write. He deviſed new offices for his own gain; he kindled wars in ſeveral places; he ſtirred the Germans and Hungarians againſt the Bohemians; he vexed the Poli in Aequitoli, becauſe they ſaid Chriſt hath no Vicar. He ſate ſix years ten moneths, and died of Apoplexy, An. 1471. Agrippa de vanit. ſcien. cap. 6. calleth theſe, Paul and his Succeſſours Sixtus, Alexander and Julius, famous diſturbers of Chriſtendom.

11. SIXTUS the IV. General of the Franciſcans, reſtored the Secular Canons, whom Paul had ejected. Onuphr. in Addit. to Platin. Paul ſowed, p. 516and Sixtus reaped a plentiful harveſt; for Paul did ordain that the Jubile ſhould be kept every 25. year, and Sixtus kept it, An. 1475. In the next year he ordained, that whoſoever kept the feaſt of the conception of Mary (as was ordained at Baſil) according to the order now preſcribed by his Notary, ſhould have as large forgiveneſs as was decreed by Urban the IV. or Martin the V. unto the obſervers of Corp. Chriſti. This conſtitution was annexed to the Acts of the Councel at Trent; and by a conſtitution following there, it is clear, that many Preachers in their Sermons and Books, maintained that Mary was conceived in ſin, and it is a deadly ſin to hold the contrary; wherefore the former conſtitution had need of a Bull of confirmation, dated An. 1483. Onuphrius ſaith, In the days of Paul, Sixtus was ſo reſpected for learning, that all the doubts of ſaith were committed unto him among all the Cardinals; and now he made ſhew of great things; he proclaimed a Councel to be at Lateran for reformation of the Church, and for aid againſt the Turks. The Emperor Frederick objected, that no good was ever done at Rome for the Church; therefore it were fitter to aſſemble at Conſtance, or other City in the confines of Germany: Conſtance, where ſo many Popes were depoſed, was odious at Rome. Frederick then named Utina in Carnia. Then Sixtus perceived that he could not atcheive his deſignments, and forgetting the Councel, turned to the advancing of his kinred, of whom he made ſome Dukes and Princes. Onuphrius ſaith, He loved his kinſmen greatly, and was blamed for granting unto them ſome things contrary unto reaſon and equity; to wit, as Weſellus Groningenſis (who was an eye witneſs, in his Book De indulgen. Papali.) reporteth, At the ſuit of P. Ruerius, (whom Sixtus made Cardinal of S. Sixto) and of his own Brother Jerome, he granted unto all the domeſticks of Cardinal de S. Lucia, a free licence to commit ſodomy in the moneths of June, July and Auguſt. Onuphrius ſaith, He deviſed new tributes, but ſpared to ſhew the particulars. Agrippa de van. ſcient. cap. 64. doth ſhew, ſaying, Pope Sixtus built a large Stews; and was like to Heliogabulus, who fed herds of whores to his friends and ſervants.....and now each whore in Rome payeth dayly unto the Pope a Julian penny; which tribute ſurmounteth to 20000. ducates yearly; and this is the charge of the Exchequer of the Church, to reckon the rewards of whores: for I have heard them reckoning thus; This man hath two Benefices, a Curates place of twenty crowns, with three whores, paying weekly twenty Julians: Yea, the Biſhops and officials of Court are bordellers, and compel the Prieſts to pay a yearly tribute for their concubines; ſo that it is a proverb, Have he one or none, he muſt pay a crown for his concubine; or let him take one if he will: But in the Kingdom of avarice nothing is filthy, if it bring gain. I paſs (ſaith he) that for a ſum of money, Biſhops give licence unto women, in their husbands abſence, to dwell w…th othermen; all which are ſo manifeſt and frequent, that it is doubted, whether the ſhameleſneſs of Prieſts, or patience of people be more out of order...ſuch patrons hath the bordle craft, &c. But to return; Sixtus would never refuſe to grant a Benefice, ſaith Onuphrius; and would give the ſame Benefice to ſundry perſons, being importunate; and to take away all jarrings, he appointed John de Monte unto that charge; he was much addicted to wars; and did nothing well, ſaith Onuphrius. When he heard that Hercules Duke of Ferraria had agreed with the Venetians, he was ſo vexed, that he died within five days, when he had ſate fourteen years. Ioh. Sapius made this Epitaph;

Sixte, jaces tandem, noſtra diſcordia ſecli,

Saeviſti in Superos, nunc Acheronta tenes.

Sixte, jaces tandem, deflent tua buſta cynaedi,

Scortaque, lenones, alea, vina, Venus.

p. 517Riſerat ut vivens coeleſtia numina Sixtus,

Sic moriens nullos credidit eſſe deos.

12. INNOCENTIUS the VIII. followed him in bloody wars, deviſing tributes, ſelling Benefices, advancing his Nephews, &c. At that time Zizimus, (or Games) the elder Son of Mohumet, was overthrown in battel in Bithynia, by his younger Brother Bajazet, and fled into the Rhodes, where the Maſter apprehended him. When Baiazet knew it, he ſent rich gifts unto the Maſter of the Knights, entreating to keep him in ſure ward, and he would give him 40000. crowns yearly, and never move wars againſt Chriſtians. Leſt Games make an eſcape, he was ſent into France, and thence delivered unto Innocentius. Phi. Cominaeus Hiſt. pag. 944. edit. Hanno. An. 1606. The Pope profered unto all Chriſtians, if they would leave inteſtine wars, he would aid them againſt the Turks; and to encourage them, he told them, that Captain would go with them: But Bajazet ſent him 40000. crowns yearly, and ſo that enterprize was ended. Onuphr. He was compelled to make peace with Ferdinand King of Naples; and then pretending that the King paid not his tribute, he accurſed him, and gave his Kingdom to Charls the VIII. King of France. He ſate four years.

13. ALEXANDER the VI. attained the Papacy by ambition of ſome Cardinals, whom he corrupted with gifts and promiſes; ſo the worſt of all was preferred to them all. Onuphr. Some in the conclave ſaid, They had moſt fooliſhly made him Pope, who was a moſt wicked man, and great hypocrite, and would vex them all; neither were they deceived, for Aſcanius Sfortia (the chief procurator of the election) became phrenetick, others were exiled, ſome were impriſoned, and ſome condemned to death by him. Charls the VIII. King of France, was then in his expedition toward Naples, and intended to go againſt the Turks; for he heard, that Bajazet was not ſtout, and was in fear of Games; and the Chriſtians did advertiſe Charls, and invited him. P. Comin. de bello Neapo. lib. 2. The Pope envying France, agreed with Alfonſo Son of Ferdinand, on condition, that the Pope ſhould ſend a Cardinal to Naples for his confirmation; and Alfonſo ſhould pay as his Father was wont, &c. Then theſe two ſent their Legates unto Bajazet (ſaith Guic. lib. 1.) ſhewing, that Charls was then in Arms againſt Naples; and thence intending into Greece, in proſecution of the project of his Anceſtors; and they proferred to detain the force of France, if he will aid them with money. Bajazet returned thanks unto the Pope, that he who is the head of Chriſtendom, had advertiſed him ſo lovingly of ſo eminent danger; and intreated him to kill Games by poiſon, or any other way, and he would give him 200000. ducates, and the woven garment of Chriſt; as he had ſent unto Innocentius the point of the ſpear, wherewith Longinus had pierced Chriſt's ſide. P. Morn. in Myſter. Nevertheleſs Charls, in the twentieth year of his age, paſſed through Italy, with Bernard Stewart Duke of Albany, General of his Army, without reſiſtance; and knowing that Alfonſo was with the Pope, he went to Rome, and told the Citizens, If they let him not enter, he would make a way to himſelf. The Pope hearing how others had accepted him, neither did refuſe, nor had power to hold him out: The ſame night Alfonſo fled unto Naples; and Alexander went into Hadrians Tower. A great number of the Cardinals and Senators went forth unto Charls, and lodged him in that part which belonged unto the Columnenſes. The Pope was odious unto the Cardinals, and they had a purpoſe to chuſe another: They exhorted the King to batter the walls of the Tower, which he might have done eaſily; neither wanted he will, but he wanted the dexterity of choiſe men; ſo his Courtiers, being corrupted with gifts by Alexander, they agreed upon theſe conditions: p. 5181. The Pope ſhould give unto the King four Cities, for aſſurance of the Kingdom of Naples. 2. No wrong or trouble ſhould be done unto the Cardinals and Gentlemen who had followed him. 3. He ſhould deliver Games unto the King. 4. He ſhould give his Son, the Cardinal of Valencia in pledge, but under a ſhew of the Pope's Legate. P. Comin. lo. cit. Io. Serres addeth, that Charls got the title of the Emperor of Conſtantinople. The Pope could not refuſe theſe conditions, yet ſo, that his perfidious minde could not hide it ſelf; for he poiſoned Games, and then ſent him to Charls; and within few days he died. Charls abode at Rome three weeks, and kiſſed the Pope's foot, and then his cheek (which Alexander cauſed to be painted in the Gallery of St. Angelo, Guicciar. lib. 1.) and to ſhew that he had power within Rome, he cauſed ſeats of Juſtice to be ſet up where he pleaſed, and did execution on ſome guilty perſons. From Rome he went to Naples; and the Cities received him, Alfonſo having fled into Spain. Then Charls preſumed of ſecurity, and left no Gariſons in the City; in the mean time Alexander, by his Legates at Venice, made a new league with the Emperor, Spain, Venetians and others, againſt King Charls, ſo that he was forced to return into France; and the Cities of Apulia and Calabria, not being fortified, received the Spaniards. P. Comin. de bell. Neap. lib. 3. Then Pope Alexander did ſalute the King of Spain, The moſt Chriſtian King; and he would have given him that title, thereby to ingage his favor for ever; but becauſe ſome Cardinals adviſed him, that the King of France would be offended, to be deprived of that title, Alexander gave the title of The Catholick King unto Ferdinand. Ibid. lib. 5. Then Alexander being delivered from the fear of Charls, began to enrich his kinſmen by all manner of ways, ſaith Onuph. If at any time he was not taken up with publick affairs, he gave himſelf unto all maner of pleaſures, being altogether given unto women; he had four Sons and two Daughters; above all women he loved Vannocia, whom he kept almoſt as a wife. Idem. Other Popes did not avow their children, but he openly honored them: It is offenſive to godly ears to hear, and vile to repeat the inceſt of his family, which Onuphrius toucheth; Guicciardin hath at large, lib. 1, & 3. and Iulian. Pontan. tumul. lib. 2. hath ſummarily in his Daughters Epitaph:

Hoc jacet in tumulo Lucretia nomine, ſed re

Thais Alexandri filia, nupta, nurus.

He kept the ſeventh Jubile An. 1500. and by his Bulls ſent pardons unto all men who could not go to Rome, or were careleſs to go, ſaith Onuph. but Pol. Virgil. ſaith, He proclaimed to keep the Jubile not at Rome only, but in all Provinces; both for his own gain and eaſe of all Chriſtians, that who would might buy plenary Indulgences, as if they were in Rome. Of this Jubile Sannazarius ſaith,

Pollicitus coelum Romanus & aſtra Sacerdos,

Per ſcelera & coedes ad Styga pandit iter.

He profeſſed a great expedition againſt the Turks, and that he would go perſonally as General. Gaſper a Spaniard was ſent into England, who within few moneths amaſſed vaſt ſums of money; which the Pope received, but forgot the expedition. Fr. Maſon in Antiq. Brit. lib. 4. c. 13. he made many Cardinals for money. Onuph. he killed every rich Prieſt at Court, and ſome Cardinals, that their riches might be brought into his treaſury; he had uttered his cruelty againſt more, for hope of their inheritance, if he who was born for the ruine of Italy, had not been the cauſe of his own death, by error of his Cup-bearer; for when he had invited ſome rich Senators, and prepared a poiſoned bottle of wine for them, the Cup-bearer gave the wine to the Pope and his Son Caeſar Borgias; the young man fell into a ſharp feaver, yet p. 519eſcaped; but the old Pope could not overcome the poiſon. Idem. He ſate 11. years, and died An. 1503. Onuphrius (who can commend the worſt Popes) ſaith, He had vertues with his vices; deep judgement; ſingular memory, and eloquence that was hurtfull to many; none could propound a thing more craftily, defend it more ſharply, or bring to paſs more readily, what he once attempted: Theſe gifts he defiled with monſtrous vices, and with falſhood more than Punike; horrible cruelty; unmeaſurable avarice; infinite luſt, &c. This gives credit unto his Epitaph made by Ia. Sannazarius,

Fortaſſe neſcis cujus hic tumulus ſiet:

Aſta viator, ni piget.

Titulum quem Alexandri vides, haud illius

Magni eſt, ſed hujus qui modò

Libidinoſa ſanguinis captus ſiti

Tot civitates inclytas,

Tot regna vertit, & duces leto dedit

Natos ut impleret ſuos.

Humanajura, nec minùs Coeleſtia

Ipſoſque ſuſtulit Deos.

Vt ſcilicet liceret (heu ſcelus!) Patri

Natae ſinum permingere.

I nunc, Nerones vel Caligulas nomina,

Turpes vel Heliogabulos.

Hoc ſat viator: reliqua non ſinit pudor.

Tu ſuſpicare & ambula.

Who hearing or reading theſe things, written not by adverſaries of his See, but by Popiſh writers, will not think, That the Pope is the man of ſin?