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 first League of the Switzes.

The alliance of Leagues and Cantons in the Countrey of Switze, beganne now. They droue out of their Country many Noble men which were tirants, and committed vniust actions vpon them. So did they defend the poore, the Orphanes and widowes, whereby they became renowmed through all the world, saith Fasci. temp.

* 1.1In this time, S. Lewis king of France as soone as he was re∣turned, made many goodly Lawes and ordinances to hold his people in iustice: Bayliffes, Prouosts, and Sargeants, in theyr duties, that they might not be raueners or eaters of the people, vnder the paine to be put from their offices.

He droue from his Court Morrisdauncers and Ieasters, for∣bidding Officers to take gaine, or to take Benefices for theyr

children. Hee ordained that the blasphemers should haue the hotte Iron set in their browes. He went into Affrike, tooke Carthage, and besieged Tunes. The plague fell in his Campe, where he died of a Fluxe of the belley, hauing raigned 44. yeares. His body was carried to bee buried at S. Denis. See E∣mil. Lib. 7.

An opposition against the Sects of Mendicants or begging Friars.

Guilliam de S. Amour, Doctor of Paris, Chanon of Benuais, flourished in this time. In his Sermons (as himselfe witnesseth) he especially enuied against the hipocrisie of Prelates: saying that that vice was of all most dangerous, wherewith all the Church was infected. He opposed himselfe against Monkes, and aboue all against Mendicants, accusing them that they troubled Churches, and brought out the witnesses of the scrip∣tures, which make mention of Antichrist and his supporters. And applying them to the time present, proued by 39. signes, that begging Friars were false Prophets. He expounded that place of the Gospell: If thou wilt be perfect, goe and sell all that thou possessest, &c. Vpon which place the Mendicants founded their order: And he gaue to know in full disputation, that the place was not meant of actuall pollicie (as Sophisters speake) but of habituall pouertie: that is to say, that Iesus Christ de∣maundeth of vs, not that we should forsake and cast off that which we haue, but that we be readie (when the confession of the name of God, and the glory of Iesus Christ requireth it) to abandon and forsake, not onely that which we possesse, but euen our owne soules: and not onely (as is said in an other place) to leaue their father and mother, but also to hate them,* 1.2 yea our owne liues. Briefly, Iesus Christ would that we should be rea∣die to forsake all, when the confession of his truth requireth it.

There are learned people of our age, which say they haue seene foure bookes which he writ, Intituled, a Collection of the Catholike and Canonicke scripture. He writ also a booke Intituled the fiftie markes and signes of false Prophes. Hee writ against Bonauenture, who then was the chiefe Buckler of the begging Friars.

Matheus Paris an English Historiographer, writes that in this same time there was in the schoole of Paris great disputati∣ons against Monkes, which by multitude would needs oppresse and oppugne all the schoole, hauing forged a new booke full of errors and blasphemies, which they then reiected and intitu∣led (Euangelium eternum) that is, the euerlasting Gospell; which they would needs bring into light. But to appease this tumult, there were sixe delegates of all the schoole, which were of the greatest estimation in all the Vniuersitie, amongst which was Guilliam de S. Amour, to send them to Rome vnto the Pope, and shewe the insolencies and blasphemies of those Monkes. The Monkes also sent thither on their part: and af∣ter great contention, their errors were condemned touching their eternall Gospell. But the Pope with certaine Cardinals, Monkes, repressed nothing the tirannie of the begging Friars, thinking it was needfull that such his black gard should be∣come mightie ouer all. These be the words of Matheus Paris, who was in this time.

Wee also finde a booke written in this time, intriuled (de periculis mundi) of the daungers of the world, which the Pa∣pists attributed vnto Guilliam de S. Amour, making him alone of that opinion: but it seemeth to haue bin written by many, and conteineth complaines against those new rising Monkes, with an aduertisement vnto the Church, that by them great mischiefes would follow.

This S. Amour was condemned an heretike, wherevpon great stirres fell out amongst the schooles at Paris: but to o∣bey the Popes commaundement, Guilliam S. Amour was bani∣shed from France.

We heare that some of his bookes are yet at this day in the librarie at Sorbone: and many other Doctors haue since writ∣ten the like, as in our discourse shalbe said.

Truth is alwaies banished, yet still getteth the vpper hand of all.

Alexander being come to Viterbe, to make peace betwixt the Ʋenetians and Geneuois, died there, and the seate was vacant foure moneths.

Albert the great, and other studious people were at this time at Paris.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ordinances of King Lewis.
• * 1.2

  Luk. 14.16.