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 building of the Masse.

* 1.1The greatest part of the ceremonies thereof came from this Gregorie. For he brought the office of the Church (as they call it) into a forme. So that at this day it is called the Gregorian Office.* 1.2 He brought all the Masse into certaine lawes, and al∣most such as it is at this day. And therefore many say he was the Authour thereof. And although he constrained none to fol∣low the Romane forme, as hee testifieth to Augustine Bishop of Canterbury, yet all Churches followed the manner to cele∣brate their Masses after the Romane Church: the English men by the said Augustine, the Spaniards, France, and after Al∣maine, by Boniface Bishop of Magunce, who was of great re∣nowne.

He made the Antiphones and Introite of the Masse, of some verse of the Psalmes. Item the Kyrieleison should be sung nine times, the Alleluia, in the end of the Offertorie of the Commu∣nion. At the beginnig of the Canonicall houres (Deus in adiu∣torium; and in the end of euery Psalme, Gloria patri & filio, &c. Item that the Pater Noster should be sung with an hie voyce ouer the consecrate hoste.

He added to the Canon of the Masse, Dies{que} nostros in tua pace disponas, &c. And made the Supper with his people in the language of his Country, which was Latin, common and intel∣ligible to all, as he witnesseth in the preface vpon Ezechiel.

In the Register of his Epistles, in the 8. part and 7. Epistle

he saith, the Canon (that is to say the prayer which the Priest saith in secret ouer the Eucharist) was made by one called Sco∣lasticus. This word Masse was inuented in his time,* 1.3 although as aboue, the Supper of our Lord be called Messe of the wri∣ters, who called it with a common name of their time, as is said.

But you must heere note, that so oft and wheresoeuer the Church was assembled, the Bishops preached to the people, and principally at Masse: And this custome endured yet in Gregories time, but after it was omitted by ignorant Bishops: a multitude of ceremonies were brought in, in the place of prea∣ching. Henry Bullinger.

He instituted it Rome the great Letanies on S. Markes day against the pestilence which was then,* 1.4 with the Procession of order. The first conteined all the Cleargie. The 2. the Abbots and Monkes. The 3. the Nunnes. The 4. the Children. The 5. Laie-men. The 6. Widowes. The 7. married women. And caused there to be carried the Image of the virgin Marie.

The people died neezing, whereof comes yet at this day, that when one neezeth, they say God blesse you.

He instituted a great part of the stations at Rome, & chiefly such as are made to S. Peter.

He ordeined for the great multitude of people which re∣sorted to Rome to the said stations and patrons, certaine Priests to keepe the Sepulchres of the Apostles, and called Chamber∣laines which afterward were deputed to keep the Popes Cham∣ber. And Leo the tenth made a Colledge of them.

Briefly this Pope Gregorie vpon deuotion (which was not [ 595] according to knowledge) brought into the church a great masse of superstition; which by little and little suffocated and choked the true Religion which remained. In his time in a certaine Si∣node of twentie foure Bishops assembled at Rome,* 1.5 the foure generall Councells were approued to be obserued as the Gos∣pell, which is a sacriledge to compare humane ordinances with the eternall word of the liuing God.

It was there also ordained that no Bigamus should be or∣dained Priest: and that Priestes accused of the people should haue this authoritie, & that by oath they might purge thēselues,

and approue their innocencie.

By this meanes they would be all innocent.

Monkes were forbidden to carry any to baptise, and wo∣men that they should not enter into anye Monasterie of Monkes.

In Italie after a great drought there came an innumerable multitude of Grashoppers which consumed all the graine and fruite, whereof came a great famine in Italie, which en∣dured two yeares. Chro. Euseb.

* 1.6The Legends of Saintes were forged at this time, of such liues as these Fathers writ. Many Relikes were found out by the subtilties of Sathan: As Christes Coate vppon which the souldiers cast Lottes, is said to be found in a Coffer of Marble, in the Towne of Zapha, and frō thence carried into the towne of Ierusalem. Abb. Ʋrsperge, and Naucler.

Such foule absurdities merit no recitall, but that the grea∣test of the world haue bene deceiued with these inuentions of Relikes: Argentuel nigh Paris, made a Banner of this Coat.

Agilulsphus king of the Lombards, was 2. yeares before Rome, and the Arrabian Sarrasins, entered into Sicilie, and by fire wasted it.

Mauricius otherwise a good Prince, who had many victo∣ries, especially against the Persians, in the end became odi∣ous to his souldiers, because of his infinit couetousnesse, which is a very detestable vice in a Prince. He by his auarice dissem∣bled rapines and murthers, and payed not his souldiers: but not them especially which serued vpon the Frontiers of Sarmatia. to resist the fiercenesse of the Scithians. They remained in barraine places enduring great necessities. For this cause the souldiers conspired against him, and Phocas was designed Em∣perour.* 1.7 Who caused his M. Maurice his head to be cut off in Chalcedone, the heads also of his wife & three Children, Theo∣dorus, Tiberius, and Constantine: the rehearsall thereof is worthy memorie: that Maurice seeing his children murthered by Phocas, and that hee himselfe straightway must be put to

death, he often cryed in this voice which is in 145. Psalme,* 1.8 and verse 12. Lord thou art iust, and thy iudgements are also. And so dyed of the age of 63. yeares, and the 20. yeare of his Empire.

We may learne by the example of the Emperour who was not of the worst: in great & cruell temptations in such sort to bridle our thoughts, that the iustice of God may alwayes haue his praise, and be vnto vs a buckler against all temp∣tations.

Colomban of Scotland, a very renowmed Bishop, dyed the [ 598] yeare 598. Abb. Trit.

The Lombards were conuerted to the Faith by S. Grego∣rie, who writ his Dialogues and presented them to Theodelinde the wife of Agilulphus their King. Supplem. Chron.

Eutropius a Bishop at this time. Abb. Trit.

Phocas 42. in number, and the 19. of the Grecian Empe∣rours [ 604] of Constantinople, which ruled in the East from a Gouer∣nour of Scythia, after he had wickedly slaine his maister, was chosen by the vnlucky Armie whereof he had charge: a verie slaue of couetousnesse, who handled secret matters with Cour∣tiers after the manner of the Persians, and solde the Offices of Magistrates & Iudgements, and dearly loued such as tormen∣ted the people by rapine and extortion.

This is hee who first ordeined that Rome should first be the chiefe of all Churches: yea though it were Constantinople.

Gregorie the first, besides so many ceremonies and supersti∣tions, made certaine ordinances, and gaue permissions and ly∣cences: Amongst others, he suffered diuorces for the long dis∣ease of a woman, which cannot yeeld her dutie to her husband, if he cannot conteine: vpon condition notwithstanding that he helpe and succour his said wife in her disease. This is in the se∣cond Epistle to Augustine the English man. And in the second volume of Councells.

But why then did he not rather vse moderation towardes men and women which were cast into Monasteries, when they can∣not conteine? wherefore constraine they them not to marry? See the same Epistle.

* 1.9Hee made many bookes: amongst many others the Dia∣logues of the miracles of Saints in foure bookes, which are full of Fables, whereby he pretendeth to prooue that the soules of the dead returne againe, and that we must pray for them.

These Fables inuented to pray for the dead, gaue great autho∣ritie to Masses, which after came in great credit.

Sauinian, Pope, a Tuscane, after Gregorie gouerned the Church of Rome two yeares.

He is accounted the third Pope noted of abhominable in∣famie, an insatiable man, and a sworne enemie of his predeces∣sor Gregorie, euen to cause his bookes to be burnt. He being once admonished to follow the liberallitie of the said Gregorie towards the poore, he answered that he dissipated and wasted the goods of the Church to get a good report, and the fauour of the people.

Hee passed not his Popedome without inuenting and or∣daining something, namely that there should bee burning Lampes kept continually in the Temple,* 1.10 and the houres of the day should be distinguished and rung in Churches. The sea of Histories.

Boniface Pope, the third of that name a Romane, after Nau∣cler. ruled in the Church of Rome one yeare fiue moneths.

* 1.11In a Sinode at Rome of 72. Bishops, 30. Priests, and some Deacons, it was ordained vnder paine of excommunication, that none should be elected Pope or Bishop but three daies af∣ter the death of his predecessour, and by the consent of the Prince, or of the Lord of the place.

It was also ordained, that all such as by gifts & fauour came to any Episcopall dignitie, should be excommunicated.

Then it followeth that all their Bishops at this day are excom∣municated.

This Pope ordained that the Aultar should be couered with cleane cloathes.

That the corporall of the Aultar should be kept cleane.

This Phocas (as is said) the murtherer of his M. the Empe∣rour, ordeined Boniface Bishop of Rome,* 1.12* 1.13 the soueraigne Bishop of all Chistianitie, and the Romane Church chiefe of all the Churches of the world. Abb. Vrsp.

The primacie then of the Romane Church was established by an homicide and a traytor, who died miserably.

Cosroes King of the Persian, vnderstanding his Father in lawe Maurice was put to death by the ambushes of Phocas, de∣tested so that treason that he rebelled against the Empire: In such sort that he wasted Siria and tooke Ierusalem, where there were nintie thousand men slaine. And the Chronicles adde that the wood of the holy Crosse was then taken and carried into Persia, and the Bishop Zacharie was also prisoner.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The ceremo∣nies of the Church.
• * 1.2

  S. Gregories Masse.
• * 1.3

  The word Messe.
• * 1.4

  The stations at Rome.
• * 1.5

  Councels.
• * 1.6

  Legends.
• * 1.7

  Maurice punished for his couetous∣nesse.
• * 1.8

  Phocas.
• * 1.9

  Sauinian. Boniface 3.
• * 1.10

  Lampes. Houres of the day distingui∣shed.
• * 1.11

  Election of the Pope.
• * 1.12

  Phocas. Boniface 4.
• * 1.13

  The Romane Bishop made vniuersall.