The estate of the Church with the discourse of times, from the apostles vntill this present: also of the liues of all the emperours, popes of Rome, and Turkes: as also of the Kings of Fraunce, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike, Gentleman.

The beginning of the Kings of France.

THe French-men are said to be issued of the Troians, and as Histories say, came after the destruction of Troy, with the Duke Francion,* 1.1 to the pooles of Meotides, which at this day is called the Golfe de la Tana, aboue and something farre frō Con∣stantinople, as men draw towards the North: neare there they builded a Towne which they inhabited vntil the time of Valen∣tinian the Emperour, sonne of Valentinian, and the brother of Gratian also Emperours.

They were honoured by the said Emperour, and made free of paying tribute for 10. yeares, in consideratiō that they redu∣ced the Almanes vnder the obedience of the Romanes. But af∣terward when the tribute came again to be laid vpon them, and they vnwilling to subiect themselues, they forsooke the Coun∣try, and came with their Duke Marcomir into Franconia, which is betwixt Saxe and Almaine.

[ 420] Pharamond the sonne of Marcomir, was chosen for their King, and began to raigne ouer them the yeare of the worlde 4383. and of Iesus Christ 420. vnder whom first they vsed Lawes, and appointed foure Nobles which iudged of causes and differences betwixt men. Then was the Salike Lawe made which stood vpon many articles, amongst which there was one which tooke frō daughters the right to succeed in the Crowne and Realme of Fraunce. Hee raigned 11. yeares. Paul. Emil. the first booke.

Boniface the first of that name a Romane, ruled at Rome 4. yeares. His Father was a Priest called Iucundus. [ 421]

The fourth schisme was by a Priest called Enlalius,* 1.2 who was also ordeined: whereof came great dissention and schisme which endured 7. moneths, but finally Boniface was approued.

The sixt Councell of Carthage after some, & the seuenth.

S. Hierome died of the age of 91. yeares.

The Affricane Councell was now, which is a confirmation [ 422] and recapitulation of the Councels of Carthage. The titles of the Canons are in the number 105.

Boniface renewed certaine decrees attributed to his pre∣decessors. Amongst others, that none should be ordeined a Priest before the age of 30. yeares, &c.

Also that no woman or Nunne might touch or wash the Priests ornaments which are holy.

The Hunnes a cruell and barbarous people which came out of Scithia, did great hurt all ouer, and at their comming into Italie many fled towards the Adriatike sea, and tooke place in those litle Iles which were in great number, and liued as they could of fishing.

After they beganne to make certaine buildings in these Iles, and principally in that which is called Miroalto,* 1.3 it being the chiefest of them.

There was at this time many Churches in Italie. Sozom. reciteth them, lib. 4. cha. 24. where hee makes mention of the faithful which retired into the places where is now builded the Towne of Venice, in the Adriatike Sea. There is also heereof made mention in the Epistle of the Romane Sinode which was held vnder Constantine. Theodor. Liber 2. Chapter twentie and two.

The Emperour Honorius being at Millan, and vnderstan∣ding the dissention for the electiō of the Romane Bishops, de∣posed them both, and writ to Boniface that whē two were elec∣ted he would ordain that neither should be allowed, notwith∣standing for this time he allowed the election of Boniface.

Boniface by his Legate Faustin Bishop, a fierce and proud man, and Philip and Esellus Priests, proposed to the sixt Coun∣cell of Carthage, that it might be graunted that appellations of Bishops might be sent to Rome: and that no Councell should be allowed vnlesse he send thither his Legate to doo it; and al∣ledged for his speech the decree of Nice. The Bishops caused the bookes to be searched, and the Registers of the Councell if it were so. Also they caused to come from Constantinople a Co∣pie of the said Councell: but finding it not to be so as the said Boniface had alledged by his Legate, his request was reiected. See the Epistle of the said Councell of Affricke to Boniface, and to Celestine in the first volume of the Councells.

Note here by what meanes the Popes sought to obtaine their primacie.

[ 426] * 1.4Celestine first of that name a Romane, or of Campaine after some. He ordeined that the Introitus of the Masse should be of some Psalme Dauid, yea and the Graduall which they call the Offertorie, and added vnto the thē Praiers with the song. Naucler.

Also that the Priest should say before the Introitum the 43. Psalme. Indica me Deus. Supl. Chron.

Item that they should sing three Sanctus. Abb. Vsp.

This said yeare 426. the Emperour Honorius died.

The third generall Councell at Ephesus against Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople, of 200. Bishops: It was there conclu∣ded that Iesus Christ is one alone person in two natures, and that the Virgine Marie by good right is called the mother of God. Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria assisted there.

[ 427] Theodosius the younger, alone obteined the Empire, and raigned 26. yeares.

Celestine gaue commaundement to all Ecclesiasticall per∣sons to know and obserue the Canons.

He sent Palladius a Greeke and Patricius, into Scotland and Ireland preach the faith.

He sent into England Saint Germaine Bishop of Anxerce,

against the Pelagian heresie.* 1.5

He ordeined that none should attempt any thing in an o∣thers parish.

Item that no Bishop should be ordeined against the wil of the people, but that the consent of the Cleargie and of the peo∣ple was requisite.

The Church in that time was greatly troubled, and espe∣cially in Affrike: the Ecclesiasticall people were cast into exile, and martyred by Gensericus of the Vandales.

Palladius composed the life of S. Iohn Chrisostome.

S. Augustine Bishop of Hipone, of the age of seuentie sixe yeares dyed, after he had gouerned the said Church fortie sixe yeares, the third moneth after his Towne was besieged by the Vandales, euen when he writ against Iulian a Pelagian Bishop.

Possidonius writ his life.

Sedulius, Possidonius, Sozomenus, Socrates, and Theodori∣retus, were Authors of the Tripartite Historie, which after∣ward was brought into one by Cassiodorus.

Ʋalentinian was made Emperour with Theodosius, and they [ 431] raigned together, the one in the East & the other in the West.

Clodio a Painim, King of France, raigned 18 yeares. Hee recouered from the Romaines Torney and Cambray, where he was buried.

Superstition was now farre entred into the houses of great men: In so much as Eudoxia the wife of Theodosius the yonger went vnto Ierusalem, and frō thence brought the chains where∣with S. Peter was bound by Herode, which were ioyned with them of Nero, wherevpon afterward was instituted the feast of S. Peter in bonds.

Item the Relikes of S. Steuen.

S. Hierome in his Epistle to Eustochius counteth them o∣therwise.* 1.6

Sixtus the third of that name a Romaine, gouerned the [ 436] state of Rome, 8. yeares.

Hee was accused by a Priest of great credit called Bassus,

to haue committed Incest, and to haue violated a religious wo∣man named Chrysogonus, and so did Bassus vnderstand of a ser∣uant of the said Sixtus called Peter. But in a full Sinode of 55. Bishops, by Valentinian Augustus, libertie was left to Sixtus to iudge himselfe. For it is not lawfull saith he to iudge nor giue sentence against the hie and great Bishop. He then tooke his oath that he was innocent of the matter, and so was absolued by the Sinode, and Bassus banished, and all his goods confiscate and giuen to the Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Francion.
• * 1.2

  The fourth schisme.
• * 1.3

  The begin∣ning of Ve∣nice.
• * 1.4

  The introitus of the Masse.
• * 1.5

  Valentiniā
• * 1.6

  Abb. trip. Naucler.