A mirrour or looking-glasse both for saints and sinners held forth in about two thousand examples wherein is presented as Gods wonderful mercies to the one, so his severe judgments against the other collected out of the most classique authors both ancient and modern with some late examples observed by my self : whereunto are added the wonders of nature and the rare ... / by Sa. Clark ...

CHAP. V. Examples of the wicked lives, and woful deaths of many of the Popes, and Popelings.

THat Rome is Babylon, and the Pope Antichrist, are things now so evident and notorious, that few question it: but that so many thousands which live under the Romish jurisdiction should abide in so grosse ignorance, as to continue courting that old, and withered strumpet, may justly seeme a marvell, were it not that the common people are kept in such miserable ignorance, being deprived of the soul-en∣lightning Word of God, and enjoyned to pin their faith on the Priests sleeve: And the more knowing sort of them are by Gods just judgement given over to strong delusions to believe a lie, as the Apostle Paul long since foretold, 2 Thes. 2. 11. which pro∣phecie as it is in many other things fulfilled, so especi∣ally in these prodigious blasphemies which are not onely published, but believed, and entertained with great applause among them: Many instances might be given, but take one onely in stead of all, where∣in they affirme that Christ imprinted his five wounds upon Francis of Assise the Freir, as if he also were to suf∣fer for the world, and redeem mankinde: whereupon Tursellin the Jesuite made these Verses:

Exue Franciscum tunicâ, laceróque cucullo, Qui Franciscus erat, jam modo Christus erit. Francisci exuviis, siqualicet, indue Christum, Jam Franciscus erit, qui modo Christus erat.

Strip Francis from his coat, and cowle, all nak't, and you shall see He that even now St. Francis was, to Christ will turned be. Again put Francis coat, and cowle on Christ, and (marke the lier) He that even now Christ Jesus was, will Francis be the Frier.

But that you may the better see what manner of persons the Popes themselves have been, what their lives, and what their deaths, reade these Examples following.

Pope Joane, whose proper name was Gilberta, a [ 1] Dutch woman, cloathing her self in mans apparel, and attaining to learning, procured to be chosen Pope under the name of John the eighth: who afterwards playing the whore, fell in travel in the time of a so∣lemne procession, and died thereof: since which time the Cardinals shun that place in all their processions. Simps.

Pope Stephen the sixth so envied the name of [ 2] his predecessor Formosus, that he abrogated, and dis∣solved all his decrees, caused his body to be taken up, cutting off two fingers of his right hand, which he commanded to be cast into the River Tybur, and then buried him in a private Sepulchre. Simps.

Pope John the eleventh kept for his Paramour a fa∣mous [ 3] strumpet called Marozia, by whom afterwards he was smothered with a pillow, that so her son might attaine to the Popedome. Simps.

Pope John the thirteenth was a whoremaster, an a∣dulterer, [ 4] incestuous, a gamester, and extortioner: Of some of his Cardinals he put out their eyes, from some he cut out their tongues, some their fingers, some their noses, and privy members: He ordained

Deacons in a Stable, committed incest with two of his sisters: at Dice he called to the devil for help, and dranke an health to him: for money made boyes Bishops: lay with his fathers Concubine, ravished maides, and wives: lay with his own mother, made his Palace a Stews, at length being found in the act of adultery was slaine by the womans husband. Simps.

Pope Silvester the second was a great Conjurer, and [ 5] by the help of the devil obtained the Popedome: He enquiring of the devil how long he should live? was answered, Till he should say Masse in Jerusalem: In the Lent after as he was saying Masse in the Chap∣pell of Saint Crosse, he suddenly fell sick and remem∣bering that that Chappel was called Jerusalem, he per∣ceived how he was cousened by the devil: He com∣manded his Cardinals that after his death they should cut his body in peeces, and so bury him, having before bequeathed his soul to the devil: It is commonly reported, that by the ratling of his bones in his tombe is portended the death of the Pope. Simps.

Pope Benedict the ninth attained to the Popedome [ 6] by Magick, and practised inchantments, and con∣juration in woods after an horrible manner: and by magical Art used to allure women to his lust: and being in fear of the Emperour whom he had much abused, sold his Popedome for fifteen hundred pound weight of gold: and going into a Forrest to practise his sorceries the more privately, the devil stran∣gled him to death. Simps.

Pope Gregory the sixth, scholar to Silvester, and as [ 7] great a Conjurer as his Master, after many horrible mischiefs committed, was banished Rome, and ended his life most miserably in Germany. Bal∣leus.

Pope Hildebrand attaining to his Papacy by un∣lawful means, set the whole Christian world into a combustion. As he rose out of his seat to excommu∣nicate the Emperour Henry the fourth, his seat (be∣ing newly made of great timber) rent, and shiver∣ed in peeces: Afterwards he hired one to knock the Emperour on the head as he was at prayers: En∣quiring of the Hoast for an answer against the Em∣perour, because it would not speak, he threw it in∣to the fire, and burnt it: and after many such out∣ragious villainies, he was deposed and banished: af∣ter which he wandred as a vagabond, without com∣fort, without help, without hope, in a pitiful estate, yet pitied of no man, travelling under the unsupport∣able burthen of a restlesse conscience, and at last died for grief, Simps.

Pope Clement the sixth raised many horrible Wars against the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria: and was the death of twenty thousand Frenchmen by the King of England: At last he poisoned the Emperour: But shortly after himself was, by Gods just judgement, sti∣fled to death.

Pope Adrian the fourth, a most proud person, who was angry with the Emperour Frederick Barbarussa for holding his stirrup on the left side; as he was walk∣ing with his Cardinals abroad, a flie got into his throat, and choaked him. Simps.

Pope Alexander the third, a proud, and turbulent per∣son, [ 1] having taken the Emperours son prisoner, the fa∣ther was faine to submit himself to the Pope, who put∣ting his foot upon the Emperours neck, spake these words: Thou shalt walk upon the Adder, and the Ba∣siliske, and shalt tread down the Lion, and Dragon: The Emperour said, Not to thee, but to Peter: To whom the Pope answered: Both to me and to Peter. Simps.

Pope Boniface the eighth was a most proud, and [ 12] turbulent man, who took upon him to give, and take away kingdomes at his pleasure: He excommuni∣cated Philip King of France, and his posterity to the fourth generation, for making a Decree that no mo∣ney should be carried out of his Countrey to Rome: but the King sent the steward of his house, and a Noble man of Rome, whom the Pope had driven out of his inheritance, to publish his appeal to the next general Councel, who seizing upon the Pope, spoyl∣ed his treasures, and set him upon a wanton Colt with his face towards the taile, and so made him a ridiculous spectacle to all the people: whereupon he fell into so cruel a frenzie that he eat his own hands, and died miserably: of whom it was said, that he entered like a Fox, reigned like a Lion, and died like a dog. Simps.

Pope Urbane the sixth was a most cruel, and bloody [ 13] man; He caused one of his Cardinals which had displeased him to be slaine: five others of them to be sowed up in Sacks, and cast into the Sea; three more of them in the presence of all the people to be knockt on the head, and their bodies to be dried in an oven, and carried in Chests about with him, with their red hats set upon the same: but shortly after, as he was with much greedinesse gathering mo∣ney, he fell from his Mule, and so bruised himself, that he languished thereof for twenty seven dayes, dying by degrees, and so suffering the paines which he caused his Cardinals to endure. Simps.

Pope Sixtus the fourth, most unjustly vexed all [ 14] Italy with warres, and dissentions. One of his own writers saith, that amongst all the Bawds of these lat∣ter dayes that built brothell-houses, this Pope sur∣mounted them all: who at Rome erected Stews of

double abomination, one of women, the other of, &c. and allowed the whole family of the Cardinall of St. Lucy in the three hot moneths of Summer free leave to use Sodomitry: He caused every whore to pay him a certain rate, which yearly amounted to the summe of fourty thousand Duckets. of whom these Epitaphs were made:

Sixte, jaces tandem, nostri discordia sceli, S••visti in superos, nunc Acheronta move. Sixte, jaces tandèm, deflent tua busta cinaedi, Scort••que, lenones, ••lea, vina, Venus.

Another.

Gaude prisce Nero, vincit te Crimine Sixtus, Hîc scelus omne simul clauditur, & vitium. Act. & Mon.

Pope Innocentius the fourth, a bloody, and turbu∣lent [ 15] man, after many wicked and abominable prankes, as he was in Naples, a voice was heard in his Court: Surge miser, & veni ad judicium: Arise oh wretch, and come to judgement, and the day following he was found dead in his bed, all black and blew as though he had been beaten with bats, Simps.

Pope John the 22. told his friends that he knew by [ 16] the position of the starres that he should live a long time in this world: but very shortly after he was smo∣thered to death, by the sudden fall of a Chamber, which he had newly built for his solace, and pleasure. Simps.

Pope Paul the second being an ignorant, and illite∣rate [ 17] person himselfe, accounted all that were learned, hereticks, and thereupon exercised much cruelty a∣gainst many learned and famous men. Plat.

Pope Alexander the sixth, was endued with most [ 18] filthy conditions, void of sincerity, truth, faith, and Religion: was full of unquenchable covetousnesse,

unreasonable ambition, more then barbarous cruelty, and a burning desire of advancing his bastards, where∣of he had many: He set benefices, and promotions to sale: He poisoned John Michael, Cardinal of Venice, at Rome for his gold and treasures. In adulteries he was most filthy, and abominable: In Tyrannie most mercilesse: In Magick most cunning, and therefore execrable: He poisoned his own father: He com∣mitted incest with his own sister Lucretia: He poi∣soned Zemes, brother to Bajazet the great Turk, be∣ing hired thereto by two hundred Duckets, after he had sworne friendship to him: He procured aide of the Turk against the King of France: He caused the tongue, and hands of Anthony Mancivel, (a learned and prudent man) to be cut off, for making an Ora∣tion in reproof of his wickednesse: He never attempt∣ed any thing, but he first consulted with the devil: He was accustomed to poison any whom he disliked; but at last through the mistake of his Butler, had the poisoned wine (which he had prepared for some of his Cardinals) put into his own hand, which he drink∣ing off, with horrible cries and groans, died im∣mediately. Simps. Guich: Bembus.

Pope Anastasius the second, who was a deadly ene∣my [ 19] to all that were good, as he was doing his secret businesse, his bowels gushed out, and so he died mise∣rably. Plat.

Pope Benedict the eleventh, when the Ambassadors [ 20] of the Councel of Constance came to him, laying his hand on his breast, cried out, Hîc est Arca Noae. To which they tartly, but truly replied: In Noahs Arke there were few men, but many beasts, Act. & Mon.

Pope Leo the tenth, admiring the huge masses of mo∣ney, [ 21] which by his indulgences he had raked together, said unto Cardinal Bembus most Atheistically: Vide

quantum haec fabula de Christo nobis profuit: See what a deal of wealth we have gotten by this fable of Christ: And when he lay upon his death-bed, the same Cardi∣nal rehearsing a text of Scripture to comfort him, he replied: Apage has nugas de Christo: Away with these bawbles concerning Christ. Act. & Mon.

Pope Adrian the sixth, before he was Pope, taxed [ 22] sharply many errors, and abuses in the Court of Rome, but having attained the Popedome, when he was pres∣sed to reforme them, being in place, and having pow∣er to do it, answered, When I was a childe, I thought like a childe, and spake like a childe; but now I am a man, I have put away childish things. Act. & Mon.

Pope Julius the second, having raised a great Army [ 23] against the French, as he was going out of Rome with it, he took his keys, and threw them into the River Tibur, saying, That for as much as the keys of Saint Pe∣ter would not serve him to his purpose, he would be take himselfe to the sword of Saint Paul: Of which Pope it is observed, that partly by warre, partly by cursings, he was the cause of the death of two hundred thousand Christians, in the space of seven yeares. Act. & Mon.

Pope Nicolas the first prohibited marriage to the [ 24] Clergy, saying, That it was more honest to have to do with many women privately, then openly to take one wife: Insomuch that a Priest of Plac••ntia, being ac∣cused to have a wife, and children, was deprived of his benefice, but proving the same woman to be wife to another man, and but his Concubine, he was re∣stored againe.

Iohn the twenty fourth, was accused before the Coun∣cel [ 25] of Constance, for heresie, Simony, murther, poison∣ings, cousenings, Adulteries, and Sodomy, which be∣ing proved against him, he was deposed, and imprison∣ed, whereupon, through vexation, and griefe, he end∣ed his wretched life.

A certain Cardinal in Rome much blamed a Painter for [ 26] colouring the visages of Peter, & Paul too red, to whom he tartly replied; That he painted them so, as blushing at the lives of those who stiled themselves their successors.

Pope Honorius the second, sent one Iohn Cremensis [ 27] his Legate into England to disswade the Clergy from marriage, who having called a Convocation, the Le∣gate made a very accurate speech in the praise of a single life, and how fit it was that Ministers should live sequestred from the cares of the world: but the night following, he himselfe was taken in the very act of adultery. Mat. Paris.

Pope Iulius called for his Pork flesh (which was [ 28] forbidden him by his Physicians) and said that he would have it Al despito de Dio, in dispite of God: And having appointed a cold Peacock to be reserved for him, when he missed it the next meale, he grew into a great rage, and being requested not to be so angry for such a trifle, he answered, That if God was so angry for an Apple, why might not he be as angry for his Peacock? Act. & Mon.

Doctor Cranmer with the Earle of Wiltshire, and [ 29] some others, being sent by King Henry the eighth to the Pope, about his divorce from Queen Katherin, when the day of hearing was come, and the Pope sit∣ting in his Pontificalibus, put forth his foot to be kissed of the Ambassadors, an unmannerly Spaniell of the Earles ran and caught his great Toe in his teeth, so that the Ambassadors disdaining to kisse where the Dog had taken an assay, let the Pope draw back his foot, and so they lost the espicial favour offered unto them. Speed. Chron. 10. 12.

Pope Paul the third when his sonne Farnesis had [ 30] committed an unspeakable violence on the body of Cosmus Chaerius Bishop of Fanum, and then poisoned

him, held himselfe sufficiently excused that he could say, Haec vitia me non commonstratore didicit: He never learned this of me.

Pope Pius Quintus spake thus of himselfe: Cùm es∣sem [ 31] Religiosus, sperabam bene de salute animae meae: Car∣dinalis factus, extimui: Pontifex creatus, penè despero: When I was first in orders without any other Ecclesia∣stical dignity, I had some good hope of my salvation▪ when I became a Cardinal, I had lesse: since I was made a Pope, least of all. Corn. è Lapi.

Before the Pope is set in his chair, and puts on his [ 32] tripple Crown, a piece of Towe, or Wadd of straw is set on fire before him, and one is appointed to say: Sic transit gloria munda: The glory of the world is but a blaze. Also one day in the yeare, the Popes Al∣moner rides before him, casting abroad to the poor some pieces of brasse, and lead, profanely abusing that Scripture, saying, Silver and Gold have I none, but such as I have, I give unto you.

Pope Adrian the sixth having built a faire Colledge [ 33] at Lovain, caused this inscription to be written upon the gates thereof in letters of Gold: Trajectum plan∣tavit, Lovanium rigavit, Caesar dedit incrementum: Utrecht planted me, (there he was born) Lovaine wa∣tered me, (there he was bred up in learning) and Cae∣far gave the encrease, (for the Emperour had prefer∣red him:) One to meet with his folly and forgetful∣nesse, wrote underneath, Hic Deus nihil fecit: Here God did nothing.

The Popes have a book called Taxa Camerae Aposto∣licae, [ 34] wherein men may know the rate of any sinne: upon what termes a man may keep a whore, be a So∣domite, murther his father, &c.

When the Emperour Henry the seventh, (having [ 35] pacified Germany) went into Italy to reforme the many

and great abuses there: A certain Monk (to gratifie the Pope) mixed poison with the bread of the Eucha∣rist, and gave it him, whereof he died. Simps. Ec. Hist.

King John of England having broken with the Pope, [ 36] was afterwards no good friend to him, and his clergy, especially to their loose, and licentious lives; where∣upon as the King in his progresse rested himself for two dayes at Swinstead-Abby, not far from Lincolne, a Monk of that house went to his Abbat, and told him that he had a purpose to poison the King, saying, It's better that one man should die, then that all the peo∣ple should perish: The Abbat wept for joy, and ab∣solved the Monk from all his sinnes: Then did this varlot mixe the poison of a filthy toade with a cup of excellent wine, and brought it to the King, saying, My Liege, here is such a cup of wine as you never drank a better in all your life: I trust this wassail shall make all England glad: and therewithal began a good draught to him, and the King pledging him, shortly after died.

Anno Christi 1605. when the powder-plot was in [ 37] agitation, Catesby, one of the Plotters, repaired to Garnet a Popish Priest with this case of conscience, Whether it was lawful in some cases to destroy the inno∣cent with the wicked? This good father so soon as he perceived the conspirators to be in good earnest, peremptorily resolved, that without all doubt it was, when the good coming by it might make compensation for the losse of their lives.

Pope John the twenty third calling a Councel at [ 38] Rome against the godly Christians in Bohemia: when the Councel was set, the Masse of the holy Ghost sung, and the Pope placed in his chair, there came flying in a∣mongst them an ugly Owle with an ill-fauoured hoot∣ing,

and set her self upon a crosse beam just over against the Pope, casting her staring eyes upon him: where∣upon the whole company began to marvel, and whispering each to other, said, Behold, the Spirit is come in the likenesse of an Owle: The Pope himself blushed at the matter, and began to sweat, fret, and fume, and so being in great distraction dissolved the Councel for the present; yet afterwards calling an∣other Sessions, when they were met, in came the Owle as before, still looking steadfastly upon the Pope; whereupon he was more ashamed, saying, that he could no longer abide the sight of her, and com∣manded her to be driven away with bats, and shout∣ings, but by no means could she be removed, till with the blowes of the sticks thrown at her, at length she fell down dead amongst them.

Then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his coming,

2 Thes. 2. 8.

Non male sunt Monachis grata indita nomina Patrum Cùm numerent natos hic, & ubique suos.