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 Tartarians.

Till this time the Tartarians were vnknowne in Europe. Now they shewed themselues, and finally entred into Hunga∣rie with fiue hundreth thousand men, from thence into Polonia Schlesia, Morauia. See Monstre. lib. 4.

* 1.1Some recite that in this time, Haalon King of the Tartari∣ans ouercame the Countries of Persia, and tooke Babilon, then called Baldaca, with the great Caliphe: who in the Mahumetist

lawe is to bee compared vnto the Pope of Rome, in authoritie and treasure.

This Haalon hauing the Caalipho prisoner (as is said) in∣uented and ordained in a great mockerie his death in this sort.

It is conuenient (saith hee) that that man (speake of the Caliphe) which loued so much gaine,* 1.2 should be nourished with precious viands, go then and place him in the middest of heaps of gold and precious stones, and let him vse such meates. As then he had certaine time bene kept in great affluence of gold and siluer, and in the middest of these riches, he died with hun∣ger. See Paralip. Ʋrsp.

Innocent Pope, fift of that name, borne at Burgongne,* 1.3 after Supp. Chron. and Cor. Abb. Or in Lombardie, after Fasci Temp. [ 1275] before called Peter de Tarentaise, Prior Prouinciall of the Ia∣cobins in France, Maister and Doctor in Theologie, Archbi∣shop of Lyons, Cardinall d' Ostia, and great Penitenciary of the Pope.

See how these Grashoppers Mendicants, enter alreadie in∣to power to appoint ouer them the King Abadon, as is spo∣ken, Apocalips. 19.

Whilest this man was Bishop of Ostia and Cardinall (whose office it is to consecrate the Pope) Bonauenture Friar was also Cardinall and Bishop of Albe. This Peter or Innocent,* 1.4 beeing chosen Pope, came soone after to Rome. Where hauing bene crowned in the Church of S. Peter, that hee might rest at his pleasure, he sent Embassadors, men of great authoritie which commaund them of Tuscane, (which had conspired to destroy the Pisans) and the Geneuois and Ʋenetians, beeing at dead∣ly foode to lay downe their Armes vpon paine of excom∣munication. The Embassadors of Charles King of Sicilie were also there present; by meanes of whose authoritie, hee hoped things should more easily haue such issue as they desi∣red▪ The Tuscanes straight did what was commaunded them. And aboue all, the Florentines: which also for that cause he de∣clared and absolued of the Interdict which Gregorie his prede∣cessor had published against them. But the Geneuois & Ʋene∣tian (whose hearts had of long time beene inueterated) consu∣med

one an other by losses and mutuall victories: which not∣withstanding Innocent would haue made consent vnto that he pretended, if he had longer liued, he tooke the matter so much to heart. But he dyed sixe moneths and two daies after he was chosen Pope, the same yeare of his predecessour Gregorie, and was buried in the Church of Laterane. This saith Carsulanus, al∣though he had determined to do many things, yet did nothing worthie of memorie, because he was preuented by death. This Pope (as Platina saith) displeased much the secular Priests:* 1.5 be∣cause that being at Viterbe after he had heard the processe that was betwixt them and the Iacobins touching the sepulcure of Clement the fourth, hee ordeined by sentence that his bodie should be buried by the said Iacobins, Rodolphe.

Adrian Pope, fift of that name, borne at Genes, of the house of Tolisques, before called Othobonus, was created Pope at Rome, in the Pallace of Lateran, after the death of Innocent his vncle, hauing bene ordeined by him Cardinall, Deacon of Saint Adrian, and sent into England with large power to le∣uie a great summe of money. But as hee sought to appease certaine discordes betwixt the King and his Barons, that hee might dispatche his businesse the more easilie, hee was clapt vp in prison by the Londiners, but finally deliuered againe.

The yeare of our Lorde, 1266. hee helde a Sinode in Northumberland, and an other at London, whether resorted a great number of Bishoppes and Priests. There after they had brought to such estate as he thought good the things appertai∣ning to the Popedome, hee published certaine lawes, which in time to come England should vse in such things as concerned Popery. He declared wicked all such Bishops as had rashly fol∣lowed the Princes part against King Henry the third: which yet were absolued by him, partly by gifts & presents, and part∣ly because he was constrained vnto a quicke transportation to the Pope of Rome.

Being then created Pope of Rome, he tooke incontinently his way towardes Ʋiterbe, and sought to bring into Italie the Emperor Rodolphe, to diminish the power of Charles King

of Sicilie, (this was hee which a little before they had lifted vp into that roome against all iustice and equitie) who at that time did his pleasure and as he would at Rome. But Rodolphe being wrapped in warre against the Bohemians, could not satisfie A∣drians request. As for Charles meaning to flie the enuie against him, transported into Achaia all his forces which he had prepa∣pared to make warre: to the end by that meane to make a way to be Emperour of Constantinople.

Adrian had a will (saith Platina) to cause that all Seignories belonging vnto the Church should come into great assurance against such as oppressed them: and to reduce into an other forme the constitution of his predecessour Gregorie,* 1.6 touching the shutting vp of Cardinalls at the Popes election: But death hindered his enterprises, and opposed it selfe against the great∣nes of his courage. What could he do (saith Wicelius Apostate of the truth) that was a Pope but of fortie dayes? For be de∣ceased at Viterbe, the yeare 1276. before he could be consecra∣ted, and was enterred in the Couent of Friars the fourth day of his Popedome, and the seat was vacant about 28. dayes.

Many debates and contentions happened amongst the Bishops and Pastors against the Mendicant Monkes which troubled Churches; because whether Bishops & Priests would or no, they would ascend into Pulpits to preach. Amongst such as complained of them besides Guilliam d'Amour (of whom we spake before) there was Bernard the Glossator of the Decre∣talls, Godfrey des Fountaines, Henry de Gaud, and many o∣thers.

Laurent an English man, Doctour of Paris, in this time maintained the opinion of Guilliam de Saint Amour, and writ against the Monkes a Booke conteining an admoniti∣on against false Prophets, and an other by which he defendeth the said de Saint Amour. The Booke that the bogging Friars set out Of the eternall and spirituall Gospell, to e••••••••ct the true Gospell of our Lord, was publikely burnt: and to couer their filthinesse and impudencie, they saide that a certaine Monke (which long time before was dead) had made it.

* 1.7Iohn, 22. of that name of Portugal, borne in the Towne of [ 1276] Lisbone, making profession of Phisicke, called before Peter of Portugall,* 1.8 of a Cardinall and Bishop of Tusoule, was created Pope.

This Pope although he was accounted a very learned man, yet because he had not such knowledge of things that hee had to gouerne, as was requisite: and also because he was of incon∣stant and mutable maners, as Platina saith, hee brought much more domage vnto the Popedome, then honour or profit. For he did many things, wherein he shewed himselfe astonished and light. There was one onely point wherein he was worthy praise; that is, that willingly hee helped many young people which had desire to profit in good Letters, in giuing them sil∣uer and Ecclesiastical Benifices, and aboue all, such as were pres∣sed with pouertie.

* 1.9The Venetians then did greatly molest them of the Mar∣quesdome of Ancone, because they made traffique of Mar∣chandise into Dalmatia, without paying any portage to the Ve∣netian: the Pope defended them not as he ought, they beeing the Churches subiects: for hee was readie inough in words, but when it came to lay hand to worke, he had neither courage nor hardinesse.

They of Ancone seeing themselues destitute of the Popes succours, taking courage, made a sallie vpon the Venetians which had besieged their Towne, and droue them away after hauing greatly indomaged them.

In all things this Pope accustomed not to vse any other Councell but of Iohn de Gauiette, by the will and direction of whom all things were gouerned: for that by his meanes hee was chosen Pope. He sent Embassadors as well towards Mi∣chael Paleologne, as to Westerne Kings, exhorting them in his name that they would make Peace one with another, and take Armes against the Sarrasins and other enemies of Christian re∣ligion: which thing if Paleologne would not do, and if he kept not the vnion that he had accorded vnto, Iohn would giue his Empire vnto Charles king of Sicilie.

This Pope promised himselfe long life, yea he foretold it

by the Starres, and affirmed before euerie one that he should liue long. But as he affirmed such a folly, in the presence of his people, a new Vault (Valerius calls it a playing Hall: Stella, a rich and precious Chamber) which he had builded in his Pal∣lace at Viterbe, fell suddenly the fourth day following, the yeare 1277. And the seuenth day after the said ruine, being found miserably slaine betwixt the stone and the wood, was enterred in the great Church, the 8. moneth of his Popedome.

He knew by experience how great was the vanitie of his Di∣uination.

The Sea was vacant by the space of sixe monethes by the meanes of debate amongst the Cardinalls. Hee writ certaine Problems, following therein Aristotle, the Canons and rules of Phisicke. The treasure of the poore, and certaine Epistles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caliphe of Babilon.
• * 1.2

  Insatiable cu∣piditie puni∣shed.
• * 1.3

  Innocent. 5.
• * 1.4

  Disorders that were in Italie.
• * 1.5

  Law for the buriall of Clement the fourth.
• * 1.6

  The ordi∣nance tou∣ching the shutting vp of Cardinalls.
• * 1.7

  Iohn. 22.
• * 1.8

  He was called Petrus His∣panus.
• * 1.9

  The Vene∣tians molest thē of the Mar∣quesdome of Ancone.