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 Exarches.

Longin a Grecian, the first Exarche in Italia, after all Italie as it were was occupied, raigned in Rauenna a 11. yeares, ap∣pointed by the Emperour Iustin.* 1.1 This office of Exarchate en∣dured in Italie 124. yeares, and was a soueraigne Magistrate, as a Liefe-tenant Generall for the Emperour.

Chilperic the ninth King of Fraunce, raigned foure yeares.

Hee was slaine by his owne wife called Fredegonde, as he returned from hunting, because hee had perceiued her whoredome.

Hee before had strangled his wife Galfonde, the daugh∣ter of the King of Spaine, at the request of the said Frede∣gonde. See the Annales of France.

Benet Pope, the first of that name a Romane, ruled at Rome foure yeares.

He helped the necessitie of many in the great famine a∣foresaid, especially at Rome, yea euen to bring victualls from E∣gipt for the poore.

Gregorie was sent by him to preach to the English men. Abb. Vrsperg.

[ 568] The Lombards tooke and occupied all Italie, at the instiga∣tion of Narses, whom the Empresse Sophie had angred, as is said, and they entred Millain.

Aman Bishop of Ʋtrect, or of Liege, and Maglorius Bi∣shop of Dole, were in this time. Abb. Vrsp.

Fortunatus an Italian, after Bishop of Poiters, made 77. Hymnes, and the miracles of S. Martin. Also hee made the life of S. Hilarie Bishop of Poiters, and the life of S. Mauril Bishop.

When Bishops are thus giuen to superstition,* 1.2 what will the people bee?

S. Ʋaast of Arras died in this time.

Tiberius, the second Emperour of that name, surnamed [ 567] Constantine, raigned 7. yeares. Hee was gentle and liberall to∣wards the poore, euen to lay out largely the treasures of the Empire for their vse.

Engippius an Abbot, writ the life of S. Seuerin a Monke, and a rule for his Monkes. Abb. Trit.

Sigebert King of Lorraine, the brother of Chilperike King of France, was traiterously slaine at Tornay, at the sollicitation of Fredegonde. The sea of Histories.

Pelagius Pope, second of that name a Romane,* 1.3 ruled at [ 580] Rome 10. yeares.

He was elected and ordained about the commaunde∣ment of the Emperour, at the time when the Lombards held the siege before Rome. But when the siege was leuied, Grego∣rie (a Deacon who after succeeded Pelagius) was sent to Con∣stantinople towards the Emperour Maurice to excuse the Popes election: and the Emperour seeing the willingnesse he had to come vnto him, contented himselfe.

This Pelagius ordained, that in all the Masses of the yeare there should be but nine Prefaces, after the auncient order of the Romanes: that is to say, Easter, Christmas, of the Kings,* 1.4 Pentecost, of the Trinitie, of the Ascention, of the Apostles, of S. Crosse, and of Lent Fast.

Yet this is nothing in respect of the abhominations which by succession of time came into the Masse.

In this time there was great Raines, in so much that men thought there would haue bene a second deluge.

Great strifes and contentions arose for the Romane seate, against Iohn Bishop of Constantinople.

Pelagius transported the Patriarkship of Aquilea vnto

Grad. and constituted it the Metrapolitane of all the Prouince of Venice,* 1.5 which the Emperour Tiberius confirmed.

Mauricius Emperor, raigned 21. yeares. He was sonne in lawe to Tiberius Cappidocian a magnanimous man; a good Ca∣tholique, and profitable to the Common-wealth.

He made warre vpon the Armenians and Persians, and o∣uercame them. The Huns also were brought vnder him. Supp. Chro.

[ 586] Clotaire, the second of that name, the 6. King of France, raigned 44 yeares.

At this time Antioche was founded and subuerted for the most part.

The Councell of Siuille: and at Toledo the 3. time.

In this Councell it was ordained in the 2. Chapter, that in Churches the Apostles Creed should be recited euery Sunday with an high voyce, that the people might be better disposed to the Cōmunion after they had made a confession of their faith.

* 1.6The Ʋisegothes conuerted to the Catholique faith, left the Arrian heresie, by the means of their king Recaredus, or Richan∣dus, and Leander Bishop of Siuile. The confession of their faith was sent to the said Councell of Toledo.

The Councell of Mascon, first and second, wherein the oblations and offerings of bread and wine are commaunded for remission of sinnes.

This ordinance is wholly against the word of God, and the merite of Iesus Christ, by whom alone comes remission of sinnes. And this is the beginning of the establishment of me∣rites.

Great abundance of waters were in Italie, and principally at Rome, wherewith many were drowned, and of the corruption of the dead bodies, came a great pestilence.

Pelagius died of the plague at Rome.

Pretextatus Bishop of Rouan, was called from exile.

Fredegonde was slaine in the Church on Easter day, at the sollicitation of whom, this Bishop was exiled.

Gregorie Pope, first of that name a Romane,* 1.7 ruled at Rome 14. yeares, or after some 13. yeares, tenne moneths and sixe dayes. [ 591]

This man was called one of the foure Doctors of the Church, with S. Augustine, S. Hierome, and S. Ambrose.

His Father was a Senator of Rome, and of the estate of Seneshall or Captaine. The said Gregorie was a Monke, after a Deacon, and finally the Romane Bishop.

In this time the Emperors cōfirmed the election of Popes and Churches.

There arose in this time a great contention for the prema∣cie of the Church.* 1.8 For Iohn Bishop of Constantinople, was in a full Sinode of the Grecians published and declared the vniuer∣sall Patriarke: and the Emperour Maurice commaunded the said Gregorie to obey that Patriarke of Constantinople. But Gre∣gorie could not endure that any Bishoppe should be vniuersall ouer all others:* 1.9 whervpon it came that he called himselfe Ser∣uant of the Seruants of God. See Gregorie in the 32. Epistle to Maurice, and 38. to Iohn Patriarke. See Iohn Caluin in the In∣stitution of Christian Religion.

Note here Reader, that after the persecutions before Sil∣uester, and the heresies before Gregorie, now the Church lifteth it self vp by ambition of preheminence, which engendred such a combat betwixt the East Church and the West, that since that time that schisme is not yet ended.

The Emperour Maurice was sharply reprehended by Gre∣gorie, for that he constrained Ecclesiastical persons to go to the warres, the which Gregorie resisted greatly.

Gregorie sent into England (after Naucler.) or Ireland, cer∣taine great persons, to preach the Faith, and amongst others, one called Augustine: and Melitus and other Monkes, Institu∣ted in the rule of S. Benet, to plant that order there: and their labour prooued so well, that from thence came great troupes of Monkes into France and Almaine.* 1.10 Of the number of these Irish Monkes was Colomban, and his Disciple Gallus, who after preached in diuers places of Almaine: and finally, hee retyred

into a sollitarie place which at this day is called S. Gaul in Suisse.

* 1.11Great libertie and immunitie was graunted vnto Blacke Monkes by the Pope Gregorie, at the Councell of Lateran, by the consent of the assembly.

* 1.12In this time raigned Seuerus Bishop of Marseil, who cau∣sed the Images of Saints and of Christ to be broken, seeing the people worshipped them. Gregorie reprehended him for brea∣king them, but praised him that hee forbad the worshipping of them. See the Register or the booke of his Epistle the 10. part, Epistle 4. And Pollidorus Virgil. lib. 6. chap. 13.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exarches in Italie.
• * 1.2

  Tiberius 2.
• * 1.3

  Pelagius 2.
• * 1.4

  An heape of superstitions.
• * 1.5

  Mauricius.
• * 1.6

  Visegothes conuerted.
• * 1.7

  Gregorie the first Maurice.
• * 1.8

  Combat for the premacie.
• * 1.9

  Seruant of Seruants.
• * 1.10

  Monkes.
• * 1.11

  S. Gaul. The Monkes of S. Benet priuiledged.
• * 1.12

  Images.