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 Coucell of Basill.

After the Councell of Constance, there was an other held

at Basill, which Cardinall Iulian began by the Popes comman∣dement: beeing forced so to doo by the Emperour Sigismond: And because then Sigismond was gone into Italie (as is said) to receiue the Imperiall Crowne, the Italians sought to per∣swade the Pope to breake the Councell of Basill and bring it vnto them, that the Townes of Italie might bee inriched with the great summes of money that should be brought thither: and that the Countrey should not bee subiected vnto straun∣gers: alleadging for a shewe, that Sigismond came for no other cause but to make himselfe Lord ouer Italie.

Sigismond after his Coronation returned vnto Basill.

This Councell endured tenne yeares, and there the Car∣dinall Iulian called of S. Angelo, was President.

The Bohemians being called vnto the said Councell with sure accesse and safe conduct, proposed 4. Articles wherin they differed from the Romane Church.

* 1.1

• 1 The Communion giuen to the people vnder both kinds.
• 2 That ciuill dominion is forbidden by diuine right to the people of the Church.
• 3 The preaching of the people ought to be free.
• 4 That publike sinnes ought not to be borne, if it were but to shunne a greater mischiefe.

In the said Councell the Bohemians were permitted to communicate vnder both kindes, as a thing lawfull by the au∣thoritie of Christ, and profitable and healthfull to all such as duly receiued it. Ʋadian & Naucler.

In the time of this Councell of Basill was Papistrie set vp in Bohemia by the great meanes and industrie of Sigismond: but incontinently after they came to that they did before. Naucler.

About the yeare of Christ, 1436. (as saith Naucler,) or 1438. after others, Eugenius would needs transport the Coun∣cell of Basill to Ferrara,* 1.2 for his commoditie; and after vnto Flo∣rence: his excuses were because the Greeke Church would ra∣ther agree there with the Romane Church then at Basill: not∣withstanding the Councell proceeded against him, and he was cyted three times, but would not appeare. There was against

him proposed that he was a fauourer and a louer of warres, a persecutor of Church men, and a man of bloud, and scandalous. Naucler.

In the Counccell of Ferrara were presented the Pope Eu∣genius, the Patriarke of Constantinople, and the Emperour of the same place, Iohn Paleologus, with his brother and fiue hundreth men: so was the said Church of Greece revnited with the Ro∣mane Church. The said Councell was transported from Fer∣rara to Florence, the yeare 1439. The Grecians accorded the holy Ghost to proceed as well from the Sonne as the Father. They agreed also to Purgatorie: and the Romane Pope to be the primate of the Catholicke Church: which they had ne∣uer done before now, but euer were of contrarie opinions. But as soone as they were come to their Countrey againe, at the perswasion of Marcus Bishop of Ephesus, they againe denied the two last Articles, Plat. Vola. and Naucler.

It is straunge that the Grecians which haue beene so slowe to acknowledge and confesse so true a doctrine of the holy Ghost, are now so quick and light to accord so friuolous and false a thing: that is, to receiue and beleeue against all holy scripture that there is a Purgatorie, and Romane Pope to be Primate of the Catholicke and Vniuersall Church: wherevnto the first generall Councell had openly resisted in the time of Con∣stantine the great.

In the said Councell of Florence, the Armenians and Indians were also brought into the vnion of the Romane Church, and promised to keepe and maintaine the Sacrament of Confirma∣tion. Naucler.

This Pope Eugenius confirmed Annates vpon all Benefices.* 1.3

Hee Canonized S. Nicholas Tolentin, of the order of the Hermits of S. Augustine.

Bessarion Cardinall flourished, and his house at Rome was open to euery man of knowledge like a Colledge. Vadian.

Sigismond of the age of 70, yeares died, and was buried in Hungarie, in the citie called Albe. His wife Barbara was without all religion and without God, insatiable in all paliardize and whoredome. Shee mocked her damzels because they fasted

and prayed,* 1.4 saying; they must liue iocondly and merily, and take all their pleasures during this life: for after death the soule perisheth with the bodie.

The Councell of Basill continued still, and proceeded a∣gainst Eugenius the fourth: who after many times cyting and not appearing, was publikely deposed by the authoritie of the Councell, the tenth of Iuly. Eugenius mooued herewith, inci∣ted the Dolphin of France,* 1.5 (who after was called king Lewis the 11.) to lead a great Armie in to the Countrey of Ferrara and Alsarce, and to come to Basill. Wherefore the said Councell brake vp, and herevpon came many mischiefes. See Naucler.

[ 1438] Albert the fift of that name, Duke of Austrich, and second king of the Romanes of that name, sonne of Albert the fourth, Duke of Austrich, was scant 10. yeares olde when his father di∣ed of poyson, fighting against Iosse Marquesse of Morauia: but being yer vnder Tutors which were his vncles, there was great strife betwixt them for his tutelage. Therefore Vienna and all the Countrey of Austrich endured great calamities till Al∣bert came to age and was dispatched of his tutelage and plan∣ted a peace in Austrich, which was before full of theeues and of Intestine warres. After the yeare 1422. he espowsed Eli∣zabeth the doughter of Sigismond, and had with her in marriage the noble Townes of Maruia.* 1.6 But after the death of Sigis∣mond▪ he was chosen king of Hungaria by the consent of all the principall of the Countrey, and Crowned the yeare of grace 1438. After this he was also made king of Bohemia: and that came, because there was a great alliance betwixt the Kings of Boheme and the Dukes of Austrich: whereby they had ordai∣ned betwixt them, that whensoeuer one of the houses remai∣ned without heire-male of the other, they should create a king. He was also chosen king of the Romanes by the common accord of all the Princes Electors.

The yeare 1459. the 17. day of Nouember, in the Coun∣cell of Basill, after the deposition of Eupenius, the Cardinalls e∣lected Amedeus of Ayme,* 1.7 Duke of Sauoy, and called him Felix the fift: so came into the Church the 23. schisme and diui∣sion, which endured the space of sixteene yeares.

Some followed Eugenius, others Felix: some said they were newters, and so obeyed neither one nor the other. The Kings of France, England, Spaine, & Scotland, obeyed the Pope Eugenius: For although he was deposed, yet held he good du∣ring his life.

This Councell of Basill assembled with great authoritie, was notwithstanding dissipated and broken by one onely Pope. That of Constance deposed three, and ordained the fourth. This could not bring about to depose one. Fa∣sci. Temp.

In the Councell of Basill it was forbidden that secular Prin∣ces, Councellors, and Communalties vpon paine of excommu∣nication, should not bee so hardie to greete and submit the Churchmen with tallies and common collection. Fasci. temp.

Augustine of Rome was condemned an heretike in the said Councell:* 1.8 and there was confirmed the Conception of the Virgin Marie to bee kept as a solemne Feast: But to the con∣trarie see Epiphanius in his 3 Booke, and 12. Tome, 68. and 69. heresie. See also S. Bernard in the Epist. 154. to the Canons of Lions.

The said Councell then confirmed that the Virgin Marie was conceiued without originall sinne: it also confirmed her visitation.

In this time was a Councell held of the French Church at Bourges in Berry,* 1.9 and there was published the pragmatike sanction (which is all the marrow and substance of the Canons of the Councell of Basill) to bee expresly obserued for euer. Iohn le Maire.

The Duke Aime of Sauoy after the death of his wife Mar∣garite of Bourgongne, had left his Ducall estate and withdrew himselfe into an hermitage pleasant and delightfull, called Ri∣paille,, vpon the Lake of Lansanne, which he had caused to bee sumptuously builded, and so left the gouernment of his signio∣ries to his eldest sonne Lewis, father of Duke Phillebert of Sa∣uoy. Beeing then in his said place of Ripaille, the said Duke Anne with tenne knights all hermits, wearing great beardes and simple cloathing, and writhen staues full of knottes,

in great renowne of sanctetie of life,* 1.10 was by the said Councell elected to be Pope, (as is said) the 17. of Nouember, the yeare 1439. and the 17. day of December the election was denoun∣ced vnto him, and he went vnto Basill, and was there solemnly crowned in the presence of two of his eldest sonnes. Before this ceremonie his Beard was taken from him, and in a small time he learned the Romane office. He created some Cardinalls of great estimation and vertue. Iohn le Maire.

The Emperour being called to goe into Hungarie, sound himselfe greatly tormented in the moneth of August with an intollerable heate, which hee thought to haue taken away by colde viands, which brought to him a fluxe of the belley, euen to bloud,* 1.11 whereof he died, the yeare 1439. nigh Strigoma, af∣ter hee had beene Emperour almost two yeares, Hee left two daughters, and his wife with childe, who soone after brought forth Ladislaus.

* 1.12Frederic Duke of Austrich, after Albert, was Emperour of Rome. He loued peace and rest, restrained and brideled easily them of Austrich which stirred strifes and commotions. So ex∣tinguished he the warre alreadie commenced by Matthias king of Hungarie by agreement with him.

Likewise this Frederic making warre against the Flem∣mings to haue his sonne Maximilian (whom they detained pri∣soner) appeased and contented them by the punishment of some, and so taking and receiuing his sonne Maximilian, he gently buried all occasion of warre commenced. Hee was crowned at Rome, & his wife Helenor, which he espoused at Na∣ples, in king Alphonsus his Court. At his departure from Rome, he went to Naples vnto the said king Alphonsus, his wiues nigh kinsman: of whom, and after of the Venetians, he was enter∣tained with great honour and prouision: and so euer after hee loued the Venetians.

He would often say to his wife (vnto whom her Phisitian counselled to drinke wine to auoyd barrennesse) that he could better loue a sober barren woman, then one fruitfull giuen to wine. Naucler. Chron. of the Emper.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Articles pro∣posed by the Bohemians.
• * 1.2

  A Councell at Ferrara.
• * 1.3

  Annates.
• * 1.4

  Albert. 5.
• * 1.5

  The end of ••he Councell of Basill.
• * 1.6

  Hungarie & Boheme came both to one.
• * 1.7

  23 Schisme Ayme Duke of Sauoy.
• * 1.8

  The concep∣tion of the Virgin Ma∣rie.
• * 1.9

  The Pragma∣tike sanction.
• * 1.10

  Albert.
• * 1.11

  The death of Albert.
• * 1.12

  Frederic Emp.