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.

Touching the Kings of France.

Because of the great troubles which at this time were in the kingdom of France, the greatest part of the kings of France was created after the appetite of him who was maister of the

Pallace.* 1.1 The kings had but the title & their pleasures to build Monasteries and Temples as they thought good. This Maister of the Pallace had the Gendarmie in his power,* 1.2 as the Gardian and Protector of the dignitie royall. This endured vntill these [ 725] maner of kings were extinct; and that the administratiō Roy∣all was deuolued into the family of Pippin le Court, which is the 22. king of France, the sonne of Charles Marteil, Maister of the Pallace, bastard sonne of Pippin le Gros Duke of Austrasia, a va∣liant man, and an excellent warriour.

[ 728] Theodoricke Cala, the 20. king of France, had the title and dignitie of a king, and raigned 15. yeares.

The Sarrasins of Spaine (which they had occupied) came into France, being called by Erido king of Aquitane, who felt himselfe too weake to resist Charles Martel: These Sarrazins discended in number 400000. with their wiues, children, and seruants, as meaning to occupie all France: wasting & destroy∣ing all places where they came. Endo who was their hoste to in∣uite them thither, seeing so great a multitude, made an agree∣ment and retyred on the side of France: And Charles Martel met these Sarrasins in Tourrain, and made an incredible slaugh∣ter of them: So that their king Abdirama was there slaine: and on the side of France there were no more slaine but 1500.

It should be an incredible thing, if besides the Historio∣graphers of France, straunge writers had not witnessed the same, this so miraculous a deliuerance from so barbarous and horrible a multitude, beeing so autenticke and so generally knowne.

The Eccleciastical people of France durst make the world beleeue (with lye and all) that this Charles Martel was dam∣ned, because hee exacted certaine tenths of the goods of the Church, to help the charges of this so daungerous a warre.

Can there any Ingratitude or Couetousnesse be greater then is in this Papall Priesthood?

Eucherius Bishop of Lion, of great authoritie, a little after the death of Charles Martel, namely the yeare 742. saith, hee

sawe in a vision Charles Martel in the paines of hell:* 1.3 because he had vsurped the goods of the Church, and had not restored them as he promised. Fasci. temp. And others recite it.

A lye which is for the profit of the Priests kitchin, Inconti∣nently findes his witnesses, yea by horrible absurdities.

Iohn Damascene was in this time. Eutrop. and maintained the Popes quarrels touching Images.

Gregorie Pope, third of that name, a Sirian, gouerned at [ 731] Rome 10. yeares and more.* 1.4

This Pope was cause that all Italie departed from the do∣mination of the Empire, because Leon the Empeour would that in Churches there should be no Images of Saints. And there∣fore the Pope made a Councell at Rome to be held, where were assembled as many Bishops as hee could get: And there it was decreed, that we may lawfully honour Images. And a generall sentence was pronounced against all violators and gainsaiers of their Canonike conclusiō and they excommunicated the Em∣perour, and depriued him of his dignitie.

Emperours here may take a good example, that they suffer not themselues to be led by Popes, least finally they loose their Em∣pires.

Gregorie restored many Monasteries, and builded new, adding great lands and reuenewes vnto them, for the Monkes liuing.

He commaunded Priests to make a commemoration of the dead, and to pray for them:* 1.5 and writ to Boniface Archbi∣shop of Magunce, that Christians might offer for their Parents which died faithfully. Naucler. Some attribute this to Grego∣rie. the 2. in the 2. volume of the Councells.

He added to the seruice of the Masse (Quorum solemnitas hodie in conspectu tuae maiestatis celebratur, &c. Domine Deus no∣ster in toto orbe terrarum. Chron. Sigeb.

Some Monasteries were richly founded in Almaigne,

at Fulden,* 1.6 at Herfelden, and other places. Fasci. Temp.

Rome was besieged by Luitprandus, King of Lombardes: [ 735] wherefore Gregorie sent to Charles Martel, King Pippins Fa∣ther, the keyes of the holy Sepulchre, and S. Peters bands, with other goodly gifts, to the ende it would please him to deliuer and take the Romane Church from the seruitude of the Lom∣bards. Charles Martel writ to Luitprandus, and intreated that which the Pope desired, Naucler.

Before when the Citie of Rome endured any violence by other Princes, she vsed to demaund helpe of the Emperour of Constantinople; but Gregorie the third would not do this. So that the tutorship of the Romane Church was transported from the Emperour of Constantinople to other Princes; & by that meane came it to passe that Rome is retired and exempted from the o∣bedience of the Emperour of Constantinople. Naucler.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Leo. 3. Gregory. 2.
• * 1.2

  The great Maister of the Pallace.
• * 1.3

  Leo. 3.
• * 1.4

  Gregory. 3.
• * 1.5

  Praying and offering for the dead.
• * 1.6

  Leo 3. Gregory 3.