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.

Translation of holy bodies.

Now was translation of the bodies of many Saints from Italie, into Almaine, France, and England. Fascic. temp. This was all the Religion of this time.

Michael Emperour of Constantinople,* 1.1 sent Embassadors towards Lewis Debonaire, to vnderstand his opinion towching the Images of Saints; namely, whether they should keepe them, or reiect them. Lewis sent them to Pope Eugenius to heare his opinion. Bonif. Simoneta. This Emperour Mi∣chael, sent to Lewis the bookes of the Hierarchie of S. Denis. Chro. Sigeb.

Lotharie King of Italie came to Rome, and was royally receiued of Pope Eugenius: hee reformed the estate of the Towne, and all Italie, and ceased all partialities,* 1.2 and ap∣pointed at Rome Magistrates to do right to the people. Nau∣cler. Blond.

Ʋalentine, second of that name, Cardinall and Deacon, a [ 827] Romane, gouerned at Rome onely fortie dayes, an eloquent man. Bonif. Simoneta.

Organes became first in vse in France about this time, by a Priest called Gregorie, who learned his cunning therein in Greece. See the Hist. of France.

Gregorie Pope, fourth of that name, a Romane, ruled at [ 827] Rome 16. yeares.* 1.3

This Pope would neuer accept the Popeship, vnlesse first the Emperour would approoue his election, and therof he was certified by an Embassage which the Emperour sent to Rome, to examine the said election. Naucl. and Abb. Ʋrsp.

The Sarrasins with the Souldan of Babilon, came into Rome, [ 829] and of the Church of S. Peter, made a stable for horses,* 1.4 and wa∣sted Pouille, Calabria, and Sicilie, and pilled and spoiled all where they went. Chron. Euseb. and Naucler.

Naucler. saith, that in the Councell held at Aixle Chapele,* 1.5 vnder this Pope, the yeare of Christ, 830. there was ordained a meane and rule for Monkes, Nunnes, Canons, and others to liue in.

There was also ordained that euery Church should pos∣sesse rents and reuenewes, that so Priests might haue whereon to liue, and so to keepe them from applying themselues to any prophane thing, or dishonest gaine. Prebendes were ordained for Monkes, that for necessitie they might not be withdrawne from holy things. There was also graunted Franches and li∣bertie to Monkes, Clarkes, and Priests, that they should not be subiect vnto temporall Lords, &c.

The body of S. Marke was transported from Alexandria to Venice. Naucl.

[ 833] After this Councell, there were ambushes laid for the Em∣peror Lewis: euen his owne children, angry at the second mar∣riage of their father, with one called Iudith, an audatious wo∣man. He sent them farre from him; namely, Lotharie into I∣talie, Pippin into Aquitane, and Lewis into Bauiere. Notwith∣standing he was imprisoned in the Monasterie of S. Modard at Soissons.

Iohn le Maire declareth this Historie as followeth. In the time of Gregorie the fourth (saith he) was held a Councell at Campaigne, which was detestable and pernitious, by the disor∣dinate Prelates of France, who grieued that at the former Councell the Emperour had corrected their pompes and dis∣ordered superfluities; hauing caused them to leaue their Rings, they conspired against him, and caused the children to take Armes against their father, and to take him and hold him in straight guard at Soissons; the Pope Gregorie aiding in this ex∣ploit. Moreouer, at the said Councell (or rather conuenticle and monopole) the said Bishops and Prelates coniured, con∣demned their soueraigne Prince and Lord to lay away Armes and his militarie Girlde, and to dispoile himselfe of his Imperi∣all dignitie, and in the place therof, to take the Monkes Coole or Frocke. O false, wicked, and Pharasaicall Priestly hypocrisie (saith he). This is not the first time that thou hast conspired in great disdaine against such as reprehend and correct thee. For thou begannest at the head, that is, at our Lord Iesus Christ. But afterward this said Emperour was againe established into his Kingdome by an other better Councell of Bishops and

Prelates of France, and by the conduct of certaine good Bar∣rons and loyall Captaines of his kingdome, being nigh touched with his troubles and griefes. His sonnes which had imprisoned him, demanded pardon for their fault and villainous enterprise, and obtained it. See Iohn le Maire. Ebdo Archbishop of Rhemes, and many other Prelates which had conspired against the king, were deposed from their dignities, condemned and banished out of France, Chron. Sigeb.

Gregorie the fourth instituted the Feast of All-saints, vpon [ 834] the first day of Nouember.

Rabanus first Monke of S. Benet, and Abbot of Fulden,* 1.6 af∣ter Bishop of Magunce, flourished at this time. He expounded all the Bible, as well the olde as the new Testament, and made many other bookes.

Strabus a Monke of Fulden, a Disciple of Rabanus,* 1.7 was the first which made the ordinarie Close, which after was augmen∣ted. Tritem.

Bertramus Priest, a learned man, and well instructed in true pietie, made a booke of Predestination, and an other of the body and bloud of the Lord, wherein he speaketh very properly of the Lords Supper.

He serued for a light to illuminate others in this darke time.

Turpin, Archbishop of Rhemes, wrote two bookes of the actes of Charlemaigne. Abb. Trit.

Lewis Debonaire died of the age of 64. yeares, hauing [ 840] raigned 26. and was buried at Mets in the Sepulchre of his mo∣ther Hildegarde. After his death, rose vp a cruell time: for whilst his children Lotharie, Charles, and Lewis, were in debates and warres, the Sarrasins on the other side lifted vp themselues, as also the Saxons, with others. At a battle giuen at Fountenay, a Towne of Auxerrois, Lotharie fled to Aixle Chapelle, and and from thence to Vienne.

Lotharie or Lother obtained the Empire 15. yeares. The [ 841] felicitie of that Kingdome, acquired by Charlemaigne,* 1.8 soone finished in this man, whose Empire was diuided. He had such

debates with his bretheren,* 1.9 that one day at an Easter Feast, al∣most all the Nobilitie of France perished at a combat, where∣in Charles had the victorie. Finally, there was meanes found of agreement; namely, that Charles surnamed Le Chaune, should be King of France, Lewis King of Germanie, and Lotharie who was then the eldest, should haue Gaul, Belgique, Prouince, and that portion of the Countrey which of his owne name was cal∣led Lotharinge: that is to say, Lorraine. He already possessed Italie.

Lothaire left three sonnes, Lewis, Lotharie, and Charles, vn∣to which he made a partition: to Lewis, the Empire, with Italie: to Lothaire, Austrasia and Lorraine: and to Charles the youn∣gest, the Kingdome of Prouince. This partition was during his life, in the presence of the greatest of his Kingdome. After, he tooke him to a Monasterie.

* 1.10Sergius Pope, the second of that name, a Romane, ruled [ 842] three yeares. His election was confirmed by Lewis, the Empe∣rour Lothaires sonne, who sent to Rome for that purpose, and the said Lewis was crowned King of Italie by Sergius. Nau∣clerus.

This Sergius was before called Swines Snowte, and there∣fore chaunged his name, and so gaue first occasion to his succes∣sors to chaunge their names in their election.

He then, and they which followed, esteemed more of the name which they receiue at their cursed vnction, then that they re∣ceiue at their baptisme: wherein there is an apparant marke of Antichrist.

* 1.11Some there are, which by reason of certaine misteries and secrets which were then reuealed, count the number of the Beast from this change of the name, vntill the 7. yeare of Iulius the second of that name: who casting S. Peters keyes into Ti∣ber, tooke Saint Pauls Sword: whereof wee shall speake in his place.

* 1.12This Pope had a brother called Benet, who outragiously vsursped to himselfe the Church goods: and there was so

great couetousnesse at Rome, by the carelesnesse of Sergius, that Bishopprickes were publikely solde to him that would giue most: and no man in authoritie sought any remedie for such an enormitie: which they said came because of the Sarrasins comming into Italie.

Yet hee was very diligent to adorne and repaire Chur∣ches, and to place many holy bodies in them. Supp. Chron.

He builded a Monasterie nigh the Church of S. Siluester. Supp. Chron. He added to the priuate Masse, the breaking of bread into three peeces.

Leo, Pope, 4. of that name, a Romane, ruled 8. or 9. yeares.* 1.13 Hee was presently chosen, euen before his predecessor was [ 846] buried.

Hee repaired many Temples which the Sarrasins had de∣stroyed.

He ordained that no Lay-man should presume to enter into the Quier of the Church,* 1.14 nor to come nigh the Priest when he sung Masse, vnlesse it were to the offering. For that place is ordained for them which doo diuine seruice. Chron. Euseb. Hee also made many Collects and Orisons: as Deus cuius dextra beatū Petrū ambulantem in fluctibus, &c. Item, Deus quibeato Petro collatis, &c. Item, Deus quiab ipso huis mundi principio, &c. Item, Presta quaesumus, omnipotens & misericors Deus, &c. against the assaultes of the Sarrasins and Earth∣quakes.

He builded the Castle of S. Angelo at Rome,* 1.15 repaired the walles and gates, and builded fifteene Bul••arkes for the de∣fence of the Towne. And he himsefle went to warre against the Sarrasins.

It was hee which enriched the Crosse with precious stones, the which the Deacons vsed to carrie before the Popes.

The yeare of Christ 849. Leo Emperour of Constantinople was slaine in his Pallace, hee beeing in his Chappell, by a conspiracie of his Nobles, and especially of Count Michael, who after obtained the Empire nine yeares. Naucler. Chron Sigeb.

A Sinode at Rome of 64. or after some, 47. Bishops, was assembled by Leo: wherein a great Cardinall was condemned and deposed, because he had left his Parish fiue yeares, and for other crimes. Notwithstanding, after this, the same Pope or∣dained that a Bishop ought not to be condemned vnlesse hee were euicted by 72. witnesses.

A great mutation hapned in France by the Normanes, Frisons, Brittaines, and others: which wasted it.

Adulphus (after the Chronicle of Eusebius) or Ethel∣wolphus, or Alidulphus, or Adolphus after some, the first Chri∣stian King of England,* 1.16 went to Rome on Pilgrimage with his sonne Alfredus. Nauclerus. And graunted to the Pope Leo of each house in his Countrey a certaine peece of Siluer for tribute, payable to the Popes of Rome euerie yeare, in the honour of Saint Peter, which custome was long time af∣ter kept.

This Tribute was called S. Peters pence, or guilt, and so was all England made subiect to the Popes seate. Func∣tius.

The body of S. Helena, mother of Constantine the great, from Rome, was transpoted into France. Chron. Sig. and Fasc. Temp.

In Almaine vpon the coast of Rhene, a great famine came, and after that, a great earth quake: whereby S. Albons Church at Magunce fell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Michael, Emperour of Constanti∣nople.
• * 1.2

  Rome then, was not yet the Popes.
• * 1.3

  Gregorie. 4.
• * 1.4

  Rome.
• * 1.5

  A Councell at Aix wherin the superflui∣ties of Bishops were cut off.
• * 1.6

  Rabanus.
• * 1.7

  Strabus. The Ordinarie Close.
• * 1.8

  Lotharie.
• * 1.9

  Lotharie.
• * 1.10

  Sergius. 2.
• * 1.11

  A marke of the beast.
• * 1.12

  Benefices sold to them which would giue most.
• * 1.13

  Leo. 4.
• * 1.14

  The people seperated frō Priest in the Church.
• * 1.15

  The Castle of S. Angelo.
• * 1.16

  S. Peters pence in England.