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 Kingdome of Bosne.

The kingdome of Bosne stretched euen vnto Macedonia: It was made tributary vnto the kingdome of Hungarie, the yeare 1415. After it reuoulted from the kings obedience and made alliance with the Turke. Sigismond King of Hungarie sought to chase away such as occupied it: but the Turke was the stronger, and reteined the Countrey of Bosne. After the Hungarians got together a great Armie, came into Bosne, and slew the king Itrarch who was a Turke, and subiected to their power all that Region, and constituted a king there: namely the first Christian which had yet bene.

There was a Prince in Ruscia called George Despot, who had giuen his daughter in marriage to the Turke. Hee had three sonnes, Stephen, George, and Lazarus. Lazarus succeeded his fa∣ther and had but one daughter, who espowsed Stephen king of Bosne: who soone after his enioying the principalitie of Ruscia, gouerned with a Turkish spirit, full of great impietie and wic∣ked religion. But it hapned that about the yeare of saluation 1463. as hee had a great land in the higher Misia, Mahomet [ 1463] the Turke by flatteries drew him out of the Castle where hee was, and calling him to him to talke vnder the shadow of ami∣tie, laid hold on him, and caused him to be scorched aliue: so lost he both his life and kingdome which he had by his father. By this mans temeritie and wickednesse together, Ruscia and Bosne with the greatest part of Seruia, fell into the Turkes o∣bedience.

As the Pope Pius was at Ancone, vpon his departing to goe to warre, he was surprised with a slowe feauer, the yeare of [ 1464] the Lord 1464. whereof hee died. From thence he was carri∣ed to Rome, and buried in the Church of S Peter. One vice of Ambition saith Volaterane, contaminated and defiled all the vertues of this person: as he that alwaies greatly desired great estates and honours. And for that cause endured hee great trauells, and alwaies maintained himselfe in the fauour of Princes.

The warre called The publike Weale, was begunne the yeare 1464. by the conspiration of the Princes of France, meaning to reforme the kings affaires: who tooke offices and dignities from such as had long time faithfully exercised them: He greatly also vexed the Nobles and puissant of the King∣dome by demaunds. The Duke of Britaine and the Count de Chaelois, the Duke of Bourgongnes sonne, perswaded Charles Duke of Berry to bee the chiefe Captaine and Prince of that warre and conspiration: which Phillip de Commines handleth at large and truly: therefore see his historie.

The aforesaid Pope Pius, as Platina and Sabellicus recyte, amongst other sentences which he vsed commonly, left this in writing. With great reason was marriage taken from Priests:

but yet there is a farre greater reason wherefore it ought to haue bene yeelded them againe.* 1.1 He inserted also this sentence in his second booke of Councells. It may be (saith hee) that it were not the worse if a many Priests were married: For many being married Priests should be saued, which in their barren singlenesse are damned. He himselfe would needs abolish cer∣taine Monasteries of S. Brigide and S. Claire: commaunding them out that they might burne no more, and vnder the ha∣bit of religion they should not hide whoredome, saith Caelius Secundus.

About this time there was no small debate in Italie betwixt the Friars Minors and such as they called Bullists, which of those should guard and gouerne the Nunnes there: As for the discords which were betwixt the Obseruantins and the Non Obseruantins, Baptista Mantuanus accordeth them in his Buco∣liques,, in the tenth Eglogue.

Paul the second of that name, borne at Ʋenice,* 1.2 the sonne of Nicholas and of Polixene, called before Peter Barbe or Balbe, [ 1465] and Nephewe of Eugenius the fourth, on his sisters side, beeing Cardinall of the title of S. Marke, was chosen in the place of Pius, and occupied the seate of Antichrist.

Before he was made Bope, he meant to traffique as a Mar∣chant: but hearing that his Vncle Gabriel was chosen Pope, he gaue his minde vnto Letters: and comming to Rome, he was first created Archdeacon of Bolongne after that Bishop of Cer∣uio, consequently Cardinall, and as hath bene said,* 1.3 finally Pope and Romane Antichrist. It was he who first vaunted that hee held enclosed in his breast all Lawes both diuine and humane.

He was a goodly man and of faire representation, but of a proud spirit and very couetous to gather riches, and yet more to distribute Ecclesiasticall Benefices for his owne gaine and profit.

As for his Popish apparell (saith Platina) you neede not doubt but he surpassed all his predecessors, and especially in his Mitre, which he maruellously inriched, buying from all Coun∣tries, Diamonds, Saphyrs, Emeraudes, Chrysolites, Iaspers, Pearles, and other precious stones of great price. Thus adorned

and shining he would come publikely abroad with an excee∣ding magnificall apparence.* 1.4 Then would he be seene and ado∣red of each one: & for that cause would he often stay Pilgrims in the towne, deferring the accustomed day to shew the Snaire, that at once he might be seene of more people.

And that hee alone might not differ from others in habits and garments, he commanded by publike Edict vpon greeuous paines that none should weare redde Bonnets but Cardinalls:* 1.5 vnto which also the first yeare of his Popedome he gaue them a cloath of the same colour for footcloathes for their Horses and Mules when they rode. Platina.

He fought to encrease his maiestie as well by authoritie as by force of Armes.* 1.6 All the time of his raigne he stirred great warres in Italie by his deuices and practises. Hee assailed the Towne of Ariminum and others, and miserably destroyed and wasted not onely the suburbes, but euen the Townes them∣selues with Gun-shot.

He greatly hated the decrees and acts of Pius his prede∣cessor: and depriued also of their goods and authorities such as (for their knowledge and doctrine) hee should haue sought through the world and haue drawne them vnto him by gifts and promises.

He declared such to be heretikes as from thenceforth should but onely name an Academie or Vniuersitie, eyther in sport or earnest. He was of an heauie and grosse spirit, and therefore loued neither Letters nor vertues.* 1.7 As one that was giuen alto∣gether vnto ambition, dissolution, and voluptuousnesse. He employed all the day either in gourmandizing or waighing peeces of Gold, or in regarding and contemplating the auncient money, precious stones, or Images and Portrai∣tures.

[ 1466] In the Romane consistorie, Gregorie King of Boheme was condemned an heretike & depriued of his kingdome: and after the Pope by his Legate sollicited the Princes of Almaine and the king of Pannonia to inuade the kingdome of Boheme, which they did: and the said George was cast out of one part thereof. Chron. Euseb.

In the moneth of September a Legate arriued in France to breake the pragmatike Sanction: vnto whom Iohn de S. Romain the Kings Proctor generall would not consent for any menaces of the said Legate: but said hee would rather loose both his office and goods before hee would yeeld to doo any thing so greatly to the preiudice of the Realme and Common-wealth.

The Towne of Liege was put to fire and sword by the Duke of Bourgongne because they had put their Bishop in pri∣son, who was his Nephewe by his sister, as is reported by the Chronicle of Eusebius. Others say he was his brother by his wife, the Duke of Bourbon his daughter.

Frederic the third vpon deuotion went to Rome in winter. [ 1465] Chron. Euseb.

Pope Paul hauing made alliance with the Turkes, ioyned in league also with the Venetians. Chron. Euseb.

The Pope Paul held Platina the Historiographer in pri∣son wrongfully: but his successor deliuered him.

He destroyed the Abbreuiataires in hatred of his prede∣cessor, who had reduced the said estate into order. At that time it was a Colledge of learned and studious people in Diuine and Ciuill Lawes, Poets, Orators, Historiographers, &c. See Naucler.

He set the Iubile from 25. yeares to 25. yeares, not for the saluation of soules: but rather to drawe new money vnto him, saith Fasci. Temp.

There is found in the booke of Stanislaus Ruthen, a thing worthy to bee noted. That is, that this Paul hauing read certaine Poesies that were made against him and his daugh∣ter, began to weepe, and amongst his friends began to accuse the rigour of the lawe of his former predecessours which forbadde Priestes to marrie: for as much as hee which ought not onely to bee the head of the Church, but also of continencie, sawe that each one had talke of his daugh∣ter to his great dishonour, and had theyr eyes continually vpon her. And although shee were most excellent in beau∣tie, yet did it grieue him that men should thinke that hee

had engendred her in whoredome: Seeing hee knew well that there was a lawe ordained of God, whereby shee might haue bene borne in wedlocke, had it not bene for that singlenesse (that is the defence for Priests to marrie) which hindred it. Therefore he had determined to haue set vp againe the marri∣age of Priests, but he could not execute it, because death pre∣uented him. For as he perswaded himselfe that hee should liue long, he was suddenly taken with an Apoplexie, and died sud∣denly, hauing well supped the night before.

* 1.8After this time the Popedome fell and decayed more and more.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A sentence of Pope PIus a∣gainst single∣nes of Priests.
• * 1.2

  Paul. 2.
• * 1.3

  Ambition.
• * 1.4

  A sumptuous Mitre.
• * 1.5

  Red hats.
• * 1.6

  Ariminum wasted by the Pope.
• * 1.7

  The Pope an enemie of Letters.
• * 1.8

  The Pope∣dome fell.