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 East Empire beganne to decline.

The Hans likewise reuolted against the Empire,* 1.1 and with their great multitude they ouerranne the Romane Prouinces.

The Persians occupied Mesopotamia and Assiria, and from Ierusalem ranne euen to Cappadocia and Gallatia, and succoured all the Country euen to Chalcedone.

On the other side the Sarrazins wasted Egipt.

Boniface Pope, 4. of that name, borne of the Countrey of Marses, in the Citie of Talleric, a Phisitians sonne, gouerned the Romane Church the space of seuen yeares.

At the request of this Pope, the Emperour Phocas com∣maunded that the old Temple of Pantheon wherin were all the Goddes and Goddesses of the Painims, should be consecrated and dedicated to the honor of the virgin Mary, and of al Saints. And then was insttiuted the Feast of All-Saints in the Moneth of May,* 1.2 which after was brought to the first of Nouember.

See how those Fathers rather chaunged then chased away su∣perstitions.

Leontius Bishop of Naples, in the Ile of Cyprus, made a booke of the life of S. Iohn the Almes giuer, Bishop of Alexandria. Abb. Tris.

* 1.3After the death of Boniface the fourth, the seate was va∣cant 7. moneths, and 25. dayes, for the great discentions which were at Rome.

The yeare of Christ 612. Phocas was miserably slaine by the souldiers of his guard. Abb. Ʋrsperg. Others say that Hera∣clius and Priscus slew him, cutting off his hands & feete. Others adde that his priuie member was cut off. Finally after his head was cut off, his body was burnt.

See the ende of this wicked Tyrant, who caused so many good people to die. All his brethren and parents had like ende, and his race was vtterly extinct. The Romane seate is worthie to haue had such a monster to authorise his primatie aboue all Churches.

Heraclius the sonne of Heraclien, succeeded Phocas. When his Father a Captaine in Affrica marched from Affricke into E∣gipt and Asia, with a great Army, the Persians being out of feare of him assailed Affricke, and brought it into their subiection.

Corfrees King of the Persians, would neuer receiue any conditions of peace, vnlesse they renounced Christian Reli∣gion.

The Bishop Didier of Vienna, was stoned at the commaund of Theodorus King of Soissons.

* 1.4Deus of dedit, or Dorothea a Romane, Pope, ruled three or [ 595] foure yeares. His Father was a Subdeacon, after some.

He ordeined that no Christian should take in mariage his Gossip. Item, that the sonne of a Gossip or Suertie should not take in marriage the daughter that his Father had held at the Font: And ordeined this so straitly, that if the Father or Mo∣ther carried their childe to Baptisme, that they should be sepe∣rated: notwithstanding that the wise might receiue her dowry, and that after a yeare she might marry again in any other place.

There happened a great Earthquake at this time in the moneth of August, and after a great mortalitie. The Councell of Auxerre in this time, wherein it was decreed that it was a thing vnlawfull, that the Estrenes should be giuen the first day

of the yeare, calling them diuellish ceremonies,* 1.5 because of the obseruation of the day.

In the 12. Chapter there was forbidden to giue vnto dead bodies the Eucharist or the Paxe to kisse.

In the 21. Chapter, it is not lawfull for a Priest to lye with his wife, nor for Subdeacon, nor Deacon.

In the 24. and 25. Chapter, it is not lawfull for Abbots nor Monkes to goe to marriages, nor to haue commothers, nor to present children to Baptisme.

In the 31. Chap. it was forbidden to take his cousin Ger∣maine, or the issue of cousin Germaine in marriage.

In this time were Loup Arch-bishop of Sens, Amand, and Bauon in Flaunders. And Priscian, after Abb. Trit, and Eloy Bi∣shop of Noyon, after the Sea of Histories.

Cosroes King of the Persians, was vanquished by Heraclius: And Anastatius a Persian Monke, was martyred for the faith, with 70. others. He was hanged three houres by one hand, and after be headed. Abb. Vrsp.

Boniface Pope, 5. of that name, borne at Naples, gouerned [ 619. Or 623.] the Church fiue yeares.

This was hee who first ordeined that offenders which sa∣ued themselues in Churches,* 1.6 should haue Immunities and pri∣uiledges, and that from thence they should not be deliuered by force; but that such as committed Sacriledge in all places should be excommunicated.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Declination of the Empire
• * 1.2

  The Feast of All-Saints.
• * 1.3

  Heraclius.
• * 1.4

  Deus dedit.
• * 1.5

  Boniface 5. Heraclius.
• * 1.6

  Priuiledges of Churches.