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 third sort of Kings beganne to raigne in France.

From Pharamond a Painim, vnto Hughe Capet, are accounted 587. yeares. From Clouis the first Christian, 487. From Pippin the Father of Charlemaigne, 237. yeares.

Hughe Capet, 35. in number, and the first King of France, raigned nine yeares, and began the third sort of Kings which yet endureth in the kingdome of France. Dantes a Florentine Poet, in his Purgatorie saith, that Hughe Capets Grandfather was a Butcher. Of a Counte of Paris by the fauour of souldiers he was first saluted king in the Towne of Noion. Raigning then

newly in France,* 1.1 he caused a Councel of Prelates of the French Church to be assembled at Rheimes in Campaigne. And because he feared the posteritie of Charlemaigne (vpon which hee had vsurped the kingdome) he caused in the said Councell to be de∣posed, the Arch-bishop of Rheimes called Arnulphe, or Arnoul, bastard brother of the king Lotharie, & set in his place a Monk, a Philosopher, and Magician called Gilbert, or Gerbert: vnto this deposition consented all the Prelates of France, except Ser∣gius Arch-bishop of Sens, who was sent prisoner vnto Orleans with Arnulphe, but three yeares after they were deliuered. See Iohn le Maire in the 2. part, and others. Against the said Coun∣cell, Pope Benet made an other be held in the same Cittie of Rheimes, wherein the said Arnulphe was restored, and Sergius or Serinus, and Gerbert or Gilbert, was deposed: who notwithstan∣ding was after Archbishop of Rauenna, & at last Pope of Rome by diuellish meanes, whose end was miserable. Iohn le Maire.

Many holy bodies S. Landoul. S. Adrian, S. Amand of Hasban, were transported into the Towne of Gaunt. Chron. Sigeb.

The Abbey of S. Magloire at Paris was founded by y^e king.

* 1.2Iohn Pope, 16. of that name, ruled at Rome 4. moneths: his [ 984] Father was called Leo a Priest. He distributed the goods of the Church, to his parents, friends, and Allies. Therefore he was hated of all the Cleargie and people: and was enclosed in the Castle S. Angelo, where he dyed of hunger. Supp. Chron. and R. Barns.

This custome was afterward much vsed in the Romane Church.

* 1.3Iohn Pope, 17. of that name, a Romane, ruled at Rome 9. or 10. yeares, 6. or 7. moneths, and 8. or 10. dayes, after the di∣uersitie of writers.

In this time Crescentius Momentanus, a Consull of Rome, had vsurped rule ouer the Towne of Rome, and perswaded the Romanes & Italians to take againe the Empire. Hee so per∣secuted this Pope Iohn, that hee was constrained to flie out of Rome, and to soiourne in Tuscane and Lombardie. But when he heard that the said Iohn, had now the third time sent for succors of the Emperor Otho, he sent messengers towards the said Pope

to recall him! At whose request the Pope returning, Crescentius demaunded pardon of him.

Otho desiring to haue the Emperial crowne, hauing gathered together a great army, and before hee entred Rome hee made a peace betwixt the Duke of Beneuent and the Duke of Capuae: from thence hee came to Rome, and was crowned by

Gregorie 5. of that name, his cofin, before called Bruno,* 1.4 son of Duke Otho of Saxonie, whō he made Pope in the place of Iohn, maugre the Romans, and by him was crowned Emperour. Cer∣tain time after Crescentius Conful of Rome corrupted with aua∣rice, procured y^t the Bishop of Plaisance,* 1.5 who was a Grecian by nation, a very pernitious man, was constituted Pope,* 1.6 & was cal∣led Iohn 18. and held the seate 10. months. Gregorie then rety∣red towards the Emperour, to bee reuenged of the iniurie was done him. The Emperour sore mooued at that outrage, with great power returned to Rome. Crescentius vnderstanding of his cōming, not trusting in the Roman people, caused the Castle de S. Angelo to be fortified. And as these things were in doing, the Emperor besieged the towns. The Romane people more meet for seditiō then to fight, desired pardō of y^e Emperor, & opened the gates vnto the Almains.

Crescentius & Pope Iohn being destitute of Councel, retired into the fort of the said Castle. Some by treason promised them assurance if they would demand pardon of the Emperor.* 1.7 They then came downe, & as they came were surprised. Pope Iohn after his eies were put out & his mēbers mutilated he was slain. Crescentius was set vpō a Mare, his face towards the taile, & his nose & eares being cut off, hee was led before the Towne, for a spectacle vnto all. Some say he was hanged without the towne, others say his head was cut off. R. Barns.

Therfore Gregory being restored into his Bishoprick, seeing the troubles y^t in time past had bin for the electiō of Emperors, and the variable issues therof, assembled a Councel, wherein the first ordinance & establishment of Electors was decreed, to the end the dignitie Emperial should no more remain in one house & family by successiō of line.* 1.8 This electiō then was giuē to the Germanike natiō, which yet holdeth it at this day. Sixe Princes

were established: three Ecclesiasticall, that is to say, the Arch∣bishoppe of Magunce, of Treuers, and of Colongne: the three other secular, were the Marquesse of Brandeberge, the Duke of Saxonie, and the Counte of Palatine, vnto which was giuen the right and power for euer to elect the Emperour. With them was ioyned the Duke of Boheme, (Boheme then had not obteined the title of a kingdome) as the seuenth to ac∣cord them, if peraduenture they were euen in yeares.

If it be demaunded wherfore so high a dignitie of election was not rather committed to other Princes, which then were puissant, namely he of Bauieres, Sueuia, and Franconia, Histo∣riographers make no mention thereof. But if it be lawfull to set downe some appearance of cause, it is certaine that Boheme was a Country meete to maintaine the right of election, as a Coun∣trey inuited by nature. Saxonie had that honour, because the Emperour descended out of that house, as also for that it is a very large and puissant Country. The Country of Brandeberge held then also on the house of Saxonie, and it is likely the Em∣perour Otho desired to aduaunce that which was of his owne house.

The Counte Palatine sued to haue that prerogatiue, by rea∣son of the posteritie of Charlemaigne. For the Countie of Pa∣latine was then of the line of Charlemaigne.

After that this election was thus established, the Italians stirred many troubles against the Emperour: new matter of se∣dition wanted not therevnto.

* 1.9Whilest Iohn 18. ruled at Rome, and that Gregorie the fift was absent and deiected (as is said) one called Odillo a Monke, and afterward the Abbot of Clugni, instituted in his Monaste∣ry the day of All-soules, the next day after All-saints: which in∣stitution was incontinently receiued and approoued by all the Church. The occasion hereof was, that this ignorant Monke had vnderstood of an Hermite returning from Sicilie, that great noyses and lamentations were heard in the Mountaine Aetna, who hee thought were the soules of the dead which suffered paine in Purgatorie: therefore hee thought they might be hel∣ped by Orisons and prayers. See Iustine in his booke, 3. Chron.

Sigeb. and Polyd. Ʋerg. lib. 6. cha. 9.

The house of Sauoye issued from the Dukes of Saxonie, as is said, is raised into a Counte.

The Emperor Otho espoused the daughter of the King of Arragon, a very intemperate woman, who maintained a young man in womans array, as one of her Chamber-maides: but the thing discouered the adulterer, who was burnt aliue, and by intercession of friends the Empresse was reconciled: but for all this she desisted not from perseuering in her incontinences, of∣ten requiring men, before she were required. In the Towne cal∣led Modena in Italie, she was imbraced with the loue of a Count very faire and of good grace, and sought by all meanes to cause him to condiscend to her luxutious desire, which he would not, fearing the losse of his estate. She accused him to the Em∣perour, saying he solicited her of dishonour. The Emperour angred hereat, in his furie caused him to be beheaded. But the truth afterward being knowne, she was burnt aliue, and foure goodly places were giuen to the wife of the saide Counte in re∣compence.

Ammonius a Monke of Fleury, in this time wrote a booke of the myracles of S. Benet, and Herigerus Abbot of Lob, wrote an other of the dissonance of the Church, & an other booke of the diuine office. Also of the bodie and blood of the Lord, and others, Abb. Trit.

Robert 36. King of France, raigned 34. yeares, a learned [ 997] and very studious man. He went to Rome vpon deuotion. The Sea of Histories.

Constance his wife founded the Abbey of Poissi, wherin she was buried. The same.

Siluester Pope, second of that name,* 1.10 of the Countrey of Aquitane, called before Gilbert, or Gerbert, a Magician, & Ni∣gromancer [ 998] (as hath bene saide) came to the saide seate by the art of the diuel, vnto whom he had done homage, that all his af∣faires might goe after his wish.

In his youth he was a Monke of Fleury, in the Diocesse of Orleans: but for the ardent desire hee had of learning, left his Abbey & got him to Siuile in Spaine, which then the Sarrasins

held, and gaue himselfe to a Magitian Philosopher, who had a booke none like it in the Art Magicke. Gerbert sought often to steale it from him, but by reason his maister kept it very care∣fully, hee could not come by it. Yet hee perswaded the Phi∣losophers daughter with whom hee had great familiaritie, to get the booke and lende it him to reade, which shee did. Hauing then the saide booke, hee retired, and fearing to be surprized with it, hee vowed himselfe to the Diuell, vppon condition hee would bring him to Fraunce. Being returned, he kept a Schoole, and taught the liberall Arts with great ad∣miration of his Auditors. After he was Maister vnto Otho the the fourth, of Robert, sonne of Hugo Capet King of Fraunce, and of Lotharie, who afterward was Arch-bishop of Sens: by whose helpe hee was aduaunced: First to be Arch-bishop of of Rheimes as is saide, and after of Rauenna, and finally Pope. During which time hee alwayes dissembled his Art Magicke, and the communication hee had with the Diuell. Of whom once desiring to knowe how long hee should liue in the Pope∣dome, the Diuell answered him that he should liue til he said Masse in Ierusalem.

Siluester then giuing himselfe altogether vnto his delights, hoping to liue long, and thinking of nothing lesse then of go∣ing to Ierusalem, It came to passe that one day in Lent as he ce∣lebrated in the Church of the holy Crosse of Ierusalem, he was suddenly taken with a great Feuer then did he remember y^t the said place was called of y^e crosse of Ierusalem, & so had bin sedu∣ced by the ambiguity of the answer. Straight heard he great tu∣mults of diuels in his presence, & being surprised with feare be∣gan to lament. And although he was a very wicked man, yet fel he not into dispair: but seeing he must needs die, called his Car∣dinals & told vnto them all his life: and the art Magicke which he had vsed to come vnto that dignitie, exhorting them to liue holily: and before all men cōfessed himself miserable: & ordei∣ned that his body should be hewen & cut in peeces, but especi∣ally such of his members wherby he had worshipped the diuel: and then that they all should be put in a cart, and in what place soeuer the horses which drew y^e cart should stay, there he should

be buried. And it came to passe that the horses without any cō∣duction of man, carried his body into the Church of Laterane; where he was laid in a Sepulchre. And at this day his Sepulchre is a pronosticke token of a Popes death. R. Barnes. Suppl. Chron. and Nauler.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Otho. 3.
• * 1.2

  Iohn. 16.
• * 1.3

  Iohn. 17. Naucler. Supp. Chron. Platina.
• * 1.4

  Gregorie. 5.
• * 1.5

  Schisme.
• * 1.6

  Iohn. 18.
• * 1.7

  A true reward of ambition.
• * 1.8

  The begin∣ning of Elec∣tors.
• * 1.9

  Iohn. 18. Inuention for the dead.
• * 1.10

  Siluester. 2.