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.

Printing inuented.* 1.1

The noble Art of printing with Letters made in Brasse,* 1.2 was found out in this time: a verie diuine inuention, worthy of memorie and admiration: yet were it more admirable if it were not so much prophaned. The inuention was Germanike, and very straunge at the beginning, and of great profit: Iohn Gutemberge Knight, was the first Author of this goodly inuen∣tion. The thing was first assayed at Magunce 16. yeares before it was divulged in Italie. One saith that Iohn Faustins, called Gutman, inuented it, with Peter Sheffer. Eun. 10.

Dionysius Charthusianus in this time writ vpon Daniel.

The Pope Engenius retiring from Florence, came and dwelt at Rome, where he was welcomed because hee diminished their tallies and subsidies. Naucler.

The Swisses (except Berne and Soleure) made warre against some of their Allies called in Latin Duricenses, because contra∣rie to their alliances, they ioyned with the Dukes of Austrich: and the said Swisses obtained victorie against their said Allies. Naucler.

Foure thousand Swisses were put to death against the Ar∣mie of the aforesaid Dolphin, which was of 25. or 30. thousand horsemen, besides footemen, and was ouerthrowne nigh the Hospitall of S. Iames by Basill.

The said Dolphin hauing wasted the Countrey of Alsarce, returned with great losse of his Campe.

The yeare of Christ 1444. on S. Martins euen the Turke Amurathes gaue battaile against the King of Polone, Ʋladis∣laus and the Cardinall Iulian, who was president in the Coun∣cell of Basill.

The said Iulian, the Apostolike Legatein Hungarie, fled after the battaile was lost: but as he let his horse drinke he was perceiued and knowne of the Hungarians, who slew him, thin∣king he had had much money about him: and hauing dispoy∣led him, they left him naked. See Naucler.

This Legate vppon the exhortation of Pope Eugenius, councelled the King Ʋladislaus to breake his faith with the

Turke and to assaile him in his Countrey:* 1.3 the which hee did with 30000. combatants; all which vnluckily perished in that warre: whereof rose infinite mischiefes, and carnall and mor∣tall warres throughout all Christendome. The King fell from his horse, & had his head cut off, which was carried on a Launce throughout all the Countrey. The bloud of many Princes and Prelates was shead. Two Bishops were cause that the Chrsti∣ans lost the victorie. For beeing willing to pursue the Turke, they kept not the places which they had in charge. In so much as the Turkes as it were vanquished, returned againe into bat∣taile, and entred into the Christians Armie.

Iohn Huniades fled from the battaile with a great number of people, to the number of tenne thousand Hungarians, Francis Caldemonio a Cardinall of Venice, Nephewe vnto Pope Eugenius the fourth, being Legate and chiefe of the Armie by sea, ordained to keepe the straight of the Arme S. George, that the Turkes should not passe that way to goe to the suc∣cours of their people: and although he had a great and puis∣sant Armie of the Christians, yet vpon treason and cowar∣dise hee let passe through that straight an hundreth thousand Turkes, with Amurathes their Prince: and which is worse, hee vsed not diligence to aduertise the Christian Armie. A Carack of Genoua ledde their way: whose patron was of the house Grimald, and made the said passage vpon a couenant with the said Turkes; namely to haue a Ducat for euery head. The said Grimald of Genoua Patron, went from thence into Flaunders to employ his hundreth and 60. thousand Ducats which hee had gotten: but he was consumed before he came there with a Sea-tempest.

[ 1445] Constantine Paleologue, the brother of Iohn Paleologue, was the last Christian Emperour of Constantinople, and raigned eight yeares.

Eugenius the 4. died the 20. day of the moneth of Aprill of the age of 64. yeares: hee did many good things to the Towne of Rome, and in diuers places caused it to be repaired and paued.

Amurathes the second of that name being Victor, did not

pursue the Christians after the discomfiture, nor shewed him∣selfe merrie as his custome was: being demaunded why he was so sad, not reioycing at his victorie, Hee answered; I would not alwaies thus ouercome.* 1.4 Soone after hee dismissed him∣selfe of his dominion and principalitie, and left the gouern∣ment to his sonne Mahomet, he after made himselfe a Monke of the straightest religion that was amongst them. See Nau∣clerus.

Nicholas Pope, fift of that name, borne at Genes,* 1.5 ruled at Rome eight yeares: before hee was called Thomas de Sirsone, [ 1447] or Sarresane, in the signiorie of Lucan: Cardinall of Bolongne, sonne of a Phisitian. Suppl. Chron.

This Pope in lesse then a yeare was made Bishop of Bo∣longne, Cardinall and Pope of Rome: hee was elected the sixt of March, and crowned the ninteenth of the said moneth, the yeare 1447. yet ceased not the schisme of the Church. For still liued Felix the fift, of Sauoy, who accounted himselfe Pope.

Nicholas was esteemed a great Theologian.

In this time writ Laurentius Ʋalla, Blundus the Histo∣riographer: Trapezontius the Rhetoritian, and Theodorus Gaza.

The King of Fraunce recouered Normandie which the English men held. And recouered the yeare after the Coun∣trey of Aquitaine. The Sea of Hist.

The yeare of Christ 1448. after some 1449. Felix the 5. [ 1448] renounced his Popedome and sent to salute Nicholas the true successor of S. Peter: so was obedience giuen vnto Nicho∣las, and by that meanes ceased the 23. schisme. Then brake off the Councell of Basill, which for that purpose was assembled. This treatie and composition of that Session was made as Lau∣sanna by many Princes of France, Almaine, England, and Sauoy, for the vnion of the Church. And this was at the sollicitation of the Emperor Frederic, and the request of Pope Nicholas.

The King Charles the 7. to bring a peace in Christendome, caused a Councell to be assembled of the French Nation at Ly∣ons to appease all. Iohn le Maire.

This yeare brought the first inuention of the Francarchers in France.

Nicholas Pope, sent the Cardinalls Hatte to the said Felix, appointed him Legat a Latere, in Saouy, in France, and in Al∣maine.

This Felix, or Ayme de Saouy, was of litle stature, a deuout man, founder of the Monasterie of Rapaille, vnder the rule of S. Augustine: wherein hee was sumptuously buried. Fasci. Temp.

Whatsoeuer hee said Felix had done and decreed during his Papaltie, was ratified and held for good. Iohn le Maire.

[ 1450] * 1.6The yeare of Christ 1450. the Pope Nicholas held a Iubile at Rome, wherat there was such a multitude of people, that ma∣ny were stifled as they entred and came out of Churches: There perished more then 200. persons besides an infinit num∣ber which fell into the floud as they passed ouer the Bridge of S. Angelo.

This is the reward that such deserue that leauing the truth, follow the inuention of Antichrist.

Amurathes Turke second of that name died, after he had raigned 31. yeares, whom Mahomet the second succeeded. This Amurathes tooke the Lord of Seruia, and Mesia, and oc∣cupied Sophia, &c. Also he tooke captiues three of his children: whereof two were males, and put out their eyes with an hotte Iron, and the third a maide, hee tooke to wife. He made warre vpon the Venetians and occupied Thessalonica, which at this day is called Salonike.

[ 1453] The yeare 1453. the 28. day of May, after Naucler. or of March after some, Mahomet the second, surnamed the great, sonne of Amurathes, by the cowardise of Iohn Iustinian of Ge∣noua, tooke Constantinople, hauing with him 300000. fighters. The siege endured 60. dayes. Michael Paleologus a Grecian, tooke it of the French by the helpe of the Geneuois. The said Ionh Iustinian was made king by the space of three daies, as the Turke had promised him: but the fourth day he was be headed saith Fasci. Temp. The Patriarke and all the Christians were slaine without any mercie. They had sent to demaund helpe

of the Pope and the Christians, but no helpe came.

It is impossible to recyte the horrible crueltie which was there exercised. Constantine the last Emperour of the last Greekes, as he fled was encountred and murthered nigh the gates. His head was stucke on the top of a Launce and carried about the Towne. Mahomet also caused to be erected an Image of a Crucifixe, and did write vpon it; This is the God of the Chri∣stians: and commaunded to cast dung and other filth against the said Image. The Emperours wife, with her daughters and the most noblest Damzels there, were brought before Maho∣met, and after he had done them all the shame he could, yea the greatest villanies of the world, he caused theyr bodies to be cut in peeces.

Such examples of so extreame crueltie ought to induce vs to abhorre so barbarous an enemie: and to detest the Papists Idolatrie, which by the adoration of Images are the cause wherefore the passion of Iesus Christ is thus slaundered.

The King of France recouered all the Townes which the English held in France, except the Towne of Callais. The Sea of Histories.

In this time flourished Nicholas Perotus, Ioannes de turre oremata, a Iacobin, Doctor in Theologie, Bishop and Car∣dinall.

Nicholas Canonized S. Bernardine of Senes, a Friar. Chron. Euseb,

He was a louer of Letters and learned people, & greatly lo∣ued such: Bookes were also presented and dedicated vnto him on all sides. For hee stirred such as were learned to translate Greeke Authors into Latin. Naucler.

He couered with lead S. Marie the round, auntiently called the Pantheon: he repaired the Church of S. Stephen: he also builded the Church of S. Theodore, repaired the bridge Miluius, paued many streetes: hee gaue to many Churches vessels of gold and siluer, and many Crosses adorned with pre∣cious stones.

The yeare 1455. the 25. of March, Nicholas the 5. died of a

Feauer, hauing bene sore troubled with the taking of Constan∣tinople. Naucler. The Sea of Hist. saith he was poisoned; as was found by effect when he was opened.

Scanderbeg so called of the Turkes when he was circumci∣sed, (for before he was called George Castriot) was giuen in Ho∣stage by his father king of Epire and Albania, of old called Ma∣cedonia, to Amurathes the 7. Emperour of the Turkes, who af∣ter he had in many deedes of Armes experimented his pro∣wesse, made him chiefe of the Armie against the Hungarians: vnto whom he yeelded himselfe, and moreouer constrained Bassa the Turkes Secretarie to write Letters to the Gouernours of the Towne and Countrey of Croya: whereby was sent in the name of Amurathes, that the said Towne should be deliue∣red into his gouernment. So subtilly recouered he his Coun∣trey about this time. But Amurathes fell vpon Egipt with a [ 1454] great power: after hauing in vaine besieged Croya many mo∣nethes, he died of griefe.

* 1.7Calixtus or Calistus, the third of that name, a Spaniard, cal∣led [ 1455] before Alphonsus Borgia, being alreadie of a great age, by the consent of the Cardinalls succeeded Nicholas: a man onely learned in the Lawe or right Canon.

Some say he was first, Secretarie to Alphonsus King of Ar∣ragon, and was made Bishop of Ʋalence by Martine the fift, and vnder Eugenius was made Cardinall of the title of foure Crownes, as commonly they say at Rome (de Sant quatre) As soone as hee had receiued the Papall dignitie, hee publi∣shed warre against the Turkes, according to a vow hee had made.

* 1.8But by the dutie of his office hee ought rather to haue sought peace with all men: Painims should be taught and not assailed by warre.

The Turke Mahomet went into Hungarie against Alba and was vanquished, and more then fortie thousand of his peo∣ple perished. Naucler.

Iohn Huniades a vertuous Captaine at the iournie of Albe, died shortly after the said victorie.

But the Pope the better to execute so couragious an en∣terprise,

sent preachers like himselfe in capacitie and couetous∣nesse, with Bulles and Indulgences: That is,* 1.9 certaine begging Friars garnished with power like the Scorpions of the earth. The principall of them all were Iohn Capistran and Robert de la lice, of the order of Friars and hypocrites: which euery man re∣ceiued with great admiration. These men knowing the Popes subtiltie, and hauing no certaine hope that they could gather much money out of the Iubile, did all their businesse and traf∣ficked by the the meanes of feigned prayers full of hypocrisie, of Letanies, of Images, of crosses, of songs, of ringing of Bells, and of their pastie God: to the end they might fill all the purses, budgets, and sacks of their maister.

Calixtus ceased not by his Embassadors to exhort other Christian Princes to enterprise that warre as a thing very ne∣cessarie and holy. Therefore sent he to all Priests that as they sung Masse they should pronounce certaine Prayers or Col∣lects against Painimes and Turkes.

He also commanded that at noonetime a Bell should toll as there was done at night to salute the Virgin Marie:* 1.10 to the end that (as Stella the good Popish Theologian saith) they which ordinarily fight against the Turkes, might be helped by that prayer. This is also the reason saith he wherefore hee or∣dained the Feast and seruice of the transfiguration of Iesus Christ: and commaunded it should bee celebrated with like pardons and Indulgences, as that of the Feast of the body of Iesus Christ. This was for the victorie which the Christians had against the Turkes the sixt day of August before Albe in Hungarie.

Hee sent also towards the Armenians and Persians to sol∣licite them to doo the like against the Turkes, and caused cer∣taine peasants to be hanged and strangled which mocked and derided these toyes and follies.

He placed in the Kalender of Saints one Ʋincent borne at Valence, of the Iacobin order, Albert of Dropan Carmelite, and Edmond of Canterburie English. He ordained also that no person should appeale from the Pope to the Councell, and yet had done more if he had liued longer.

He gaue too much licence to his followers, and made one Roderic Borgia his Vice-chauncellor, who after was Pope, cal∣led Alexander the sixt. He published (saith Valerius) Letters of pardons which he solde then for fiue Ducats a peece, but now they are better cheape) by the meanes whereof he left vnto his successor an hundreth and 15. thousand Ducates.

* 1.11Iohn Capistran and Robert de la Lice, aboue named (as is said) were sent by the Pope into diuers Countries to preach the yeelding of obedience to the Romane Church, to giue some colour and appearance to their filthy fooleries, prohibited pa∣stimes, and other ciuill exercises, as bankets, daunces, and other like things. Briefly they acquired such great brute and fame by their hypocrisie, that afterward they were adored as Saints of many, although they knew not what the doctrine of Iesus Christ meant.

The world meriteth to haue such Doctors since they make so small account of the truth.

[ 1455] This Pope Calixtus died in Iuly the yeare 1458. beeing very olde, and left great riches.

Frauncis Foscarius was Duke of the Venetians about 36. yeares, who hauing conquered (or rather vsurped) many lands and dominions in Italie vnto the profit of the Seignorie of Ve∣nice, in the end of his dayes for a repentance the Venetians de∣posed him of his Ducall dignitie, without alleadging any other reason but his age and impotencie:* 1.12 And constrained him to leaue his Ducall Pallace, to see a new successor enter into it, whereof incontinently after he died. After his death his sonne was banished, and after called againe and cruelly tortured, and againe sent into perpetuall exile: although they found no∣thing in him of that which they laide to his charge. Chron. Euseb.

* 1.13Pius the second of that name, a Tuscan by Nation, borne in the Towne of Sienes: whose father was Siluius, and his mo∣ther Ʋictoria, before called Eneas Picolominius: although long time he had bene spotted with the vice of ambition, yet finally he came vnto the Popedome.

This poore young boy became so great (as all Historio∣graphers say which haue written of the Popes liues) that hee was held one of the learnedst Popes and much esteemed, for that he had written many things worthily.

In the Councell of Basill he was the Popes Secretarie, and by Orasons and Epistles he purged the authoritie of Eugenius, a litle after that, he was crowned a Poet Laureate, by the Em∣perour Frederic the third of that name, and being called from his Court, he came vnto greater estates, and was both his Se∣cretarie and Counceller.

He was sent Embassador hither and thither vnto many Prin∣ces, and after ordained Bishop of Trieste by Nicholas the fift, and consequently Bishop of Siennes, and after placed in the number of Cardinalls by Calixt.

Finally comming vnto the Papaltie, following the exam∣ples of his predecessors, hee published a voyage against the Turkes: but being preuented by death he could not put it in execution.

Some there are (as saith Iohn Functius) which haue left in writing, that he sought to draw to himselfe a great summe of siluer from the Almaines, vnder a colour to make warre vpon the Turkes, because he knew well the riches of the Almaines as he that had long conuersed with them, and that to the end he might dispend them in pompes and papall dissolutions, and to inrich his parents and friends.

Vnder the shadow of warring against the Turkes, Popes get store of siluer.

Lewis 11. sonne of Charles the 7. the 54. king of France, [ 1461] being in Bourgongne, and hearing newes of his fathers death, came straight into France and was crowned.

The aforesaid Pope though before he was Pope, hee had with singular diligence written two bookes of the acts of the the Councell of Basill, yet as soone as he was made Pope, hee sought to suppresse it. For as he was very ambitious in all hee did when he was Pope, so he trauelled in nothing to lessen the Maiestie or rather Papall tyrannie, but rather to encrease it what he could. Which to maintaine (saith Stella the Venetian)

it is found that hee spared neither Kings nor Princes, people nor tyrants: hee I say which was more cruell then any ty∣rant.

He was a great enemie of Lewis king of France, the eleuenth of that name: because he would not consent to the abolition of the pragmatike sanction in his kingdome, because it deroga∣ted from the libertie of the Cleargie. Hee was angry against Borge de Est Duke de Mutine, and made warre vpon him be∣cause hee fauoured Sigismond Malateste, and the French men against Ferdinand. For vpon his owne authoritie and by force of Armes hee put in possession of the Kingdome of Naples, Alphonsus Bastard of the King Ferdinand, to the great disaduantage of Iohn de Aniou sonne of King Rene.

He pursued with cruell and sharpe persecutions Sigismond Duke of Austrich, because hee had chastised Nicholas de Cuse a Cardinall, for his rapacitie and couetousnesse full of arro∣gancie.

He shead out also the venome of his malediction against Gregorie de Hambourge, a man very learned in the Ciuill lawe, as it had bene a chased viper (as Wolfgang de Winsebourge, a Di∣uine of Basill saith) and so sharply pursued him with the Letters of his thundring excommunications, that he was constrained to remooue into Boheme.

He furiously cast out of his feat Diether d' Eisenbourge, Arch∣bishop of Magunce because (as he said) he had an euil opinion of the Romane Church, and placed an other in his place. Besides, he depriued the Archbishop of Beneuent of his Archbishop∣pricke: because against his will he tooke in hand new enter∣prises.

He caused a day to be giuen to George king of Boheme, be∣cause he fauoured such as held the doctrine of Iohn Hus, & that vpon the paine to loose his kingdome.

He for his particular profit deposed many Bishoppes, and added 12. newe Cardinalls to such as were alredie be∣fore.

He celebrated a Councell at Mantua, and abbrogated in

France the pragmatike sanction,* 1.14 as a pernitious practise against the Romane Church.

Hee was the first that created the Abbreuiators of the Chauncelerie, and reducted them into their order. He brought vnder his gouernment many Townes of Campania, called at this day Terra de lauoro: the Land of Labour, and maruellous∣ly encreased the Churches reuenewes and rents.

He neuer graunted any thing eyther to kings or to people for any feare hee had (as his fierce and arrogant Papists say) but he sharply persecuted the enemies of the Cleargie, as if they had beene publike enemies. As for his friends, hee shew∣ed himselfe very gentle towards them, and greatly helped them.

At the sollicitation of Soreth,* 1.15 he Canonized one called An∣gelus, borne at Ierusalem: and placed in the number of Virgins Katherine de Sienes, a Iacobin.

Because he was a very curious builder (as the Papists giue him that praise) he repaired the Courts of Vatican: and had sooner atchieued a Castle in the Towne of Tiuoli then was thought he had begunne. At Sienes where hee was borne, hee builded a goodly Porch of wrought stone. At a place called Corfinium he founded a Citie, and named it Pientia of his owne name, and builded there a vaulted Temple very sumptuous, and a pleasant house: and besides this, a Sepulchre of Marble for his father and mothers bones. See what Platina sayth thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Frederic. 3.
• * 1.2

  Printing In∣uented, in what time & by whom.
• * 1.3

  Note how ma∣ny euils faith-breaking brin∣geth.
• * 1.4

  Amurathes maketh him∣selfe a Monke.
• * 1.5

  Nicholas. 5.
• * 1.6

  A Iubile.
• * 1.7

  Calixtus. 3.
• * 1.8

  Rom. 12.18.
• * 1.9

  Apoc. 9.3.
• * 1.10

  Wherefore a Bell was knol∣led at noone.
• * 1.11

  Iohn Capi∣stran Robert de la Lice.
• * 1.12

  Ingratitude of the Veneti∣ans.
• * 1.13

  Pius. 2.
• * 1.14

  The pragma∣tike sanction abbrogated. Abbreuiators created.
• * 1.15

  Katherine de Sienes Canonized.