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.

A Schisme betwixt them of the East, and of the West.

Whatsoeuer agreement was made, there was stil enuie and enmitie betwixt the East and the West Emperours, and they could not suffer one an other: yet this dissention hapned not onely betwixt them, but also betwixt the East and the West Churches; wherof altogether the Pope was cause, in intent to withdrawe and exempt himselfe from the obedience of him of

whom he held all his good.

Charlemaigne inriched many Churches, Abbeys, and Bi∣shoppricks; especially in Almaine, the Bishoppricks of Magunce, Strasbourge, Colongne, and Treuers, giuing them great priuile∣ges. Briefly, there were fewe renowmed Churches in Germa∣nie, nor in all the two Frances, which hee endowed not with some goods and reuenewes.

Iohannes Scotus, a Monke of S. Benet, a Disciple of Beda, and a companion of Albin or Alcuin, Charlemaignes maister, wrote vpon S. Mathewe three bookes, and other things. Abb. Trit.

Hinmarus Bishop of Rhemes, before Monke of S. Deuis, wrote two bookes of the life of S. Remy Bishop. Tritem.

Charlemaigne at the last got the vpper hand of the Hunga∣rians, and tooke great riches from them: for it had bene two hundreth yeares that they did no other thing but pill and spoile all other Nations, without beeing pilled themselues. After, he tamed the Bohemians, hauing ouercome their King called Lechon. And so in the ende Charlemaigne was peaceable of Italie, France, Almaine, Hungarie, and Bohemia.

So oftentimes the Lord sends puissant Monarkes to re∣paire things confused,* 1.1 as also to represse the insolencie and disordinate dealings of great persons dispersed on the earth.

Charlemaigne of the age of 72. yeares, died at Aix in Al∣maine, of a Feauer and a Plurisie, the yeare of his raigne, 46. of his Empire 14. and the yeare of Christ 814. hauing instituted the Vniuersitie of Paris and Pauie.

Lewis, Charlemaignes sonne, by his wife Hildegarde, surna∣med [ 814] Le Debonaire, because he was of a soft and gracious spirit,* 1.2 was after the death of his father, pronounced Emperour by the chiefs of the Kingdome.

Stephen, fourth of that name, a Romane, being substituted in the place of Leo, three monethes after went into Fraunce towards Lewis Debonaire the Emperours, to the ende to purge

himselfe concerning his election:* 1.3 for that against the decrees of Adrian and Leo his predecessors, hee had beene chosen and confirmed Pope by the Cleargie and the people of Rome, without the counsell and authoritie of the Emperour. Where∣in we see that the Romane seate is so faithfull an obseruer of her owne lawes and ordinances, that the first that succeeds him which made them, breakes and transgresseth them. But to the end that this flatterer vsing hipocrisie might the rather for a time abuse Lewis, hee set on his head a faire Crowne (which hee brought with him) and an other on the head of the Queene Hirmingarde, calling her Auguste, or Empresse. But the subtil Foxe being recompenced by the Emperour, returning, and the Church of Reate in Italie, euen then falling vacant, he would not consecrate the Bishop who was chosen there, vnlesse hee would first acknowledge that the Emperour should approoue his election. But see what followed after. As soone as he was come to Rome, he beganne to thinke that the right and prehe∣minence giuen to Charlemagine and his successers, might bring with it many mischiefes, therefore taking the greater hardi∣nesse, by the softnesse and benignitie of Lewis, thought it good to abolish such a right: and there vpon pronounced that the Popes election ought to be in the power of the Cleargie, of the Senate, and of the Romane people; yet fearing to prouoke the Emperours anger against him, he added this Interpretation: namely, that it should be very lawfull for them to elect the Bishop of Rome without the authoritie of the Emperour, but that it should not be lawfull to consecrate him without the Emperours presence, or his Embassadors. So by this meanes for a certaine time were the Emperours kept from the elec∣tion of the Pope. Yet because Stephen occupied not the seate past eight moneths, hee could do litle of that hee forethought to encrease his authoritie. But he died in his accustomed super∣stition. [ 817] Anno domini. 817.

Pascal first of that name, a Romane Monke, following the traine of Stephen his predecessor, was chosen Pope by the Cleargie and people of Rome, without the consent of the Em∣perour. And as the Emperour complained of this election,

Pascal subtilly purged himselfe by his Embassadors sent thi∣ther. By tract of time this subtill and malitious Pope seeing there was daunger if he longer deferred to augment his autho∣ritie, so straungely enchaunted the Emperour Lewis,* 1.4 insomuch as he bare great honour to the Romane Church, that he con∣sented to remit into the hands of the Cleargie and the people, the right of electing of the Pope, which had beene giuen be∣fore to Charlemaigne; and also that hee should by his Letters confirme all Donations made by his predecessors, although they were made of things acquired by vniust & vnlawfull vio∣lence. This hee did as one ignorant of their cautelous and deceitfull dealings, and sealed them with his seales. But after he had Crowned at Rome Lotharie his sonne Emperour, (to the end that by that meanes he might more easily compasse that which he sought) he did so much by treason and secretly, that Theodorus and Leon, officers of the Emperours house, which faithfully held their maisters part, had their eyes put out, and after their heads cut off by the meanes of certaine muti∣nous and seditious people. And although he were accused to the Emperour, as well for the sedition which had bene stirred,* 1.5 as for the murder against their persons committed: after he had assembled a Sinode of a certaine number of Bishops, he pur∣ged himselfe by oath. Notwithstanding he accused of trea∣son them which were slaine, and pronounced that by good right they had bene slaine: declaring them to be absolued which murthered them.

Behold the holinesse of these holy Fathers in their kingdome of perdition.

Pascal honoured with a most magnificall Sepulchre in the Towne, two thousand bodies (if he faile not in his account) of Saints before dead, which were buried in Church yardes. He builded all new the Temple of S. Praxides, and set in it the bodies of S. Cecilie, Tiburcius, Ʋalerian, Maximian, and o∣ther Martyrs: also of S. Ʋrbain and other Bishops: He reedi∣fied some Churches which were like to fall with great age.

Lewis vpon great deuotion he had to the Apostolike Sea, bestowed vpon the people and Cleargie of Rome, the power to choose the Pope and the Bishops, which authoritie belonged to the Emperours. But hee reserued this prerogatiue; that the Pope beeing chosen, hee should alwaies send to the Empe∣rours to confirme amitie. Naucler.

The Emperour also ratified the donation made to the Pope of Rome by his predecessors, and signed it with his owne hand, and his three children, tenne Bishops, eight Abbots, and fifteene Earles.

The Copie of these Letters are in Volateran, in the third booke of his Geographie.

Pascal then tarried not long after to commaund vnder paine of excommunication that none should presume to re∣ceiue an Ecclesiasticall Benefice of a Lay-man, whosoeuer hee be. Supp. Chro.

Great signes and maruells happened in this time.

In Saxe a great Earthquake; so that many villages (as Vrsp. saith) perished by fire.

In diuers places it raigned stones amongst haile, which slew men and beasts. Naucler.

[ 824] Eugenius Pope, second of that name, borne at Rome, ruled three yeares.* 1.6

A Schisme rose vp in the Church, and there was great discord amongst the Cardinalls, some choosing Sozimus, but finally Eugenius obtained the Papacie, for he had in him great appearance of holinesse.

At this time a Peace was confirmed betwixt Leo Em∣perour of Constantinople, and Lewis the Romane Emperour. Naucler.

The King of Denmarke, named Hariolus, cast out of his Kingdome by the children of Godfrey, came for succours to the Emperour Lewis, and obtained helpe to be restored into his Kingdome. Chron. Sigeb.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Wherefore God sends great Monarks
• * 1.2

  Lewis surnamed the Debonaire, Emperour Stephen. 4. A subtill Foxe.
• * 1.3

  Lewis.
• * 1.4

  The right of choosing and Inuesture of Bishops, be∣longed to the Emperours.
• * 1.5

  The Pope purgeth him∣selfe by oath.
• * 1.6

  Eugenius. 2. Schisme.