The doome warning all men to the iudgemente wherein are contayned for the most parte all the straunge prodigies hapned in the worlde, with diuers secrete figures of reuelations tending to mannes stayed conuersion towardes God: in maner of a generall chronicle, gathered out of sundrie approued authors by St. Batman professor in diuinite.

A brief rehersal of those Emperors, in whose time Iesus Christ vvas borne, and so consequently til the time of Constantinus the first Christian Emperour, for that they were helpers to the grieuous persecutions of the Christians, as more at large after this Cataloge is expressed: appeareth that were of like au∣thoritie in gouernement.

• 1 Augustus Cesar in whose time Christ was borne: who had to wife Iulia Augusta, Genitrix orbis.
• 2 Tiberius, in whose time Christ suffered.
• 3 Nero Cesar, the first mouer of persecution agaynst the Christians: who had to wife Octauia Augusta and Pompeia.
• 4 Vespasianus Cesar Aug. P.M. the subduer of Iurie, who had to wife Domicillae Aug.

• 5 Titus Cesar Vespasianus, the destroyer of Ierusalem.
• 6 Domitianus Cesar Aug. the seconde persecutor.
• 7 Traianus Aug. Germ. P.M. the third persecutor of Christians, who had to wife Plotina Augusta.
• ...8
  • M. Aurelius Cesar Aug. Mouers of the fourth persecution a∣gainst the Christians.
  • Antonius Aug. Mouers of the fourth persecution a∣gainst the Christians.
• ...2
  • M. Aurelius Cesar Aug. Mouers of the fourth persecution a∣gainst the Christians.
  • Antonius Aug. Mouers of the fourth persecution a∣gainst the Christians.
    • The Wife of M. Aurelius had to name Faustina Augusta, and Diua Faustina Pia.
• ...10
  • Seuerus Pertinax Aug. Mouers of the fifth persecution against the Christians.
  • Bassianus Antoninus. Mouers of the fifth persecution against the Christians.
• ...11
  • Seuerus Pertinax Aug. Mouers of the fifth persecution against the Christians.
  • Bassianus Antoninus. Mouers of the fifth persecution against the Christians.
• 12 Maximus Pius, Aug. the sixth persecutor of the Christians. who had to wife Diua Paulina.
• 13 Decius Aug. the 7. persecutor of the Christians who had to wife Sallu∣stia, Barbia Orbiana Aug.
• 14 Valerianus Aug. P.M. the eight persecutor of the Christians, who had to wife Diua Marianiania.
• 15 Aurelius Aug. the ninth persecutor of the Christians, who had to wife Diua Seuerina Aug.
• ...1••
  • Dioclesianus Aug. mouers of the tenth and laste persecution a∣gainst the Christiās, the wife to Maximianus, Eutropia Aug.
  • Maximianus Aug. mouers of the tenth and laste persecution a∣gainst the Christiās, the wife to Maximianus, Eutropia Aug.
• ...17
  • Dioclesianus Aug. mouers of the tenth and laste persecution a∣gainst the Christiās, the wife to Maximianus, Eutropia Aug.
  • Maximianus Aug. mouers of the tenth and laste persecution a∣gainst the Christiās, the wife to Maximianus, Eutropia Aug.

After these Tyrauntes and their Quéenes folowed Constantinus [ 34] Caesar the first Christian Emperor, who had to wife Pijssima ac venerabilis Domina nostra Helena Augusta, Mater Domini nostri victoris, semper Au∣gusti, Auia Constantini & Constanti, Beatissimorum ac florentissimorum princi∣pum. Author Hubertus Goltzius in hys treasure of Antiquities.

Paule, who yet had to name Saule, when he had receiued letters from [ 39] the high Priest, by whose authoritie he mighte leade Captiue to Ierusalem [ 40] those that beléeued in Christ, whilest with the officers he made hast to Da∣mascus, (where was a greate number of belieuers) sodainely being stricken from heauen, by a force from heauen, he hearde a voyce crying to him frō heauen Saule Saule why persecutest thou me, it is hard for thee to spurn against the prick, and from that time being taken blind, was by the helpe of his men carried to Damascus: where for thrée dayes and thrée nightes he neither eate nor drunke anye thing, vntill by Gods helpe Ananias had re∣stored hys sighte, for then fell as it were skales from his eyes, and recey∣uing his sight he turning was made a vessel of election.

Caius Caligula sonne of Germanicus Emperour, when of méere pride he woulde haue diuine honors giuen him, and had put on the garment of the Gods, he caused a temple also to be made him in the Citie, and a house in the Capitoll, to the ende he mighte dwel togither with Iupiter, but bée∣ing wroth afterwarde bycause the seconde place was giuen him dwelling

with Iupiter, he built him another tēple in the place, & when he went about to chaūge the Image of Iupiter Olympius into his own likenes, hée could not do it, bycause the vessel that was prouided to bring him ouer, was stric∣ken with lightning and broken. Moreouer as often as he wente to touche that Image, greate laughter was hearde: such greate ioy was made at hys election, that within thrée moneths there were 150000. sacrifices offered to the Gods. This man at his first beginning was cōmendable, after became ful of mischiefe, for the which he was slaine.

[ 48] When Claudius Emperour of the Romaines had chosen by adoption Nero the son of Agrippina, & afterward made hym his sonne in law in mat∣chyng him with his daughter, (leaste the brethren might séeme to be mat∣ched in marriage) there was a great Prodigie. For the Element séemed wonderfully to burne. A Comet appeared, and it rayned bloude, and light∣ning fel from heauen vpon the standerds of the Pretorian souldiours, and y^e Temple of Iupiter the Conqueror opened of himselfe. Immediately Clau∣dius the Emperour through the procurement of Agrippina was poisoned by a witch called Locusta, and afterwarde one dyed of euery sorte of thē that bare office.

The Phoenix was séen in Egipt, whych was thought to betoken the [ 50] death of Tiberius Caesar for the yeare folowyng he fel sore sicke: to whom Caiu•• (fearing least he should recouer) gaue no meate when he required it: bycause he affirmed that he wanted heate, couering hym wyth a great ma∣ny clothes he choaked him.

An Ilande of thirtie furlongs in length appeared in the sea, whych was neuer séene before: in a sedition. 30000. Iewes were slayne in the dayes of vnleauened breade, and parte of them were driuen oute of the City by Claudius.

[ 51] Thrée Sunnes appeared at once, and forthwith they ioyned al in one: there was a great famine in Rome.

[ 53] In Englande for certayne dayes the Sea séemed bloude, and by and by the Romaine garrison was slayne by the Ilanders, who sodaynely re∣belled.

The same moneth that Claudius Caesar was poysoned, a Comet ap∣peared [ 56] a long season, the tombe of his father Drusius was stricken wyth lightning: when he did sacrifice, the head of the beastes liuer was missing, whych they recorde was a moste sure token of perill to ensue: so also the Prince Caius whē he did sacrifice, the head in the liuer was missing, which foreshewed the perill that shortly ensued.

[ 60] When Nero Emperour of the Romaines had slaine his mother Agrip∣pina, amidde the sacrifice for Agrippina by the decrée of the Senate, the Sunne was altogither eclypsed, so that the starres were séene. More∣ouer

the Elephants whiche drewe Augustus Chariote, entering into the place where they behelde playes, when they came so far as where the Senators sate, they would go no further but stood stil, (and which a manne may most of all coniecture to haue happened by Gods wil,) the supper whi∣che was broughte vnto him was altogither burned with lightning, as if some Harpie had taken away his meate.

There was a greate Earthquake at Rome, and the Sunne was séene Eclypsed. Capua and Nuceria two vnder Cities were furnished with olde Souldiours. The Tributes were made more easie, and a decrée of the Senate was made concernyng the setting out of shewes in the pro∣uince.

When Lucius Fonteius Capito and Vipsa were Consuls, a Boye [ 61] of eight yeres olde, went betwéene noone and night 45000. paces, Iulius So∣linus Chap. 6. Also there happened an Eclipse of the sun the day before the Calendes of May.

A playe euerye fiue yeares was begun after the manner of the Gréek [ 62] exercise, and was called Neroneum: whilest the playes were set out a Co∣met appeared, and they iudged that this signifyed the chaunge of the kyng, wherevpon when Rubellius Plautus was thoughte of all men to be kyng, Nero gaue him counsayle that with his wife Antistia and his familiars he should go into Asia, to the lande that was left him by hys auncestours: wherfore in those dayes the ouermuch desire of sensualitie brought Nero in infamie and daunger.

Before Neros table fell lightning, wherefore two yeares after, Nero [ 64] to the ende he mighte beholde the likenesse of Troy beyng a fyre, burned the moste parte of the Citie of Rome, vsing vnséemely behauiours while the ci∣tie was on fire, to the greate impouerishing of the Citizens.

In the time of Nero the Emperour the Occean sea séemed bloud, and [ 66] the likenesse of mens bodies were left on the shore.

The Image of Victorie at Camulodunum a Citie of Englande was turned backe, as if he shoulde giue place to the enimye.* 1.1 Women in Englande béeyng troubled as it were wyth a propheticall furie said that destruction was at hande, so that the Ilanders liued in hope, and the olde Soldiors in feare.

Laodicea, Hieropolis and Calosse Cities of Asia fell downe wyth Earthquake. Prodigies of sundrie kindes, and a Comet appeared for sixe monethes, contrarie to the custome of Comets whiche commonlye are not séene so long a tyme. Before also vnder Claudius was séene a Comet and thrée suns, which without doubt did portend that thrée within shorte space shoulde striue togither for the soueraintie of the Empyre. And I thynke after the same sort, that that huge Comet did signify not only

sedition, but a chaunge in the Romaine Empire, and chiefely the lamenta∣ble destruction of the kingdome of the Iewes. Albinus the gouernoure of Iudaea dyeth, and Cestius Florius succéedeth, vnder whom the Iewes rebel∣led against the Romaines.

[illustration]

One called Iesus, [ 68] the son of Ananias, a man of the Coū∣try, foure yeres be∣fore the warres of Hierusalem, when the Citie was in peace and plentye, vpon the feast of the tabernacles hée be∣gan sodainly to cry out: A voice from the east, a voice frō the weast, a voice from the 4. winds, a voice ouer Hieru∣salē and the Tem∣ple, a voice ouer Bridegroomes and ouer brides, a voice ouer the Temple: And without cea∣sing day and nighte going from stréete to stréete, he cryed thus, vntil that certaine of the chiefest sort being offended at it, as a thyng that boded no good, tooke the fellowe and beate him well. But he speaking nothing for himselfe, nor entreating them to hold their handes, without a∣ny feare repeated the same wordes, wherevppon he being broughte before the iudge of the Romains was at his bidding torne to the bones with whip∣pings, neither did he entreate or shedde teares, but often repeating the former wordes with a great passiō and clamour added besides Wo, Wo, be to Ierusalem.

The yeare that Nero lost his soueraintie, the Olyue trées and the Mea∣dows [ 69] remoued out of their places. Peter and Paule in the first persecution of the Christians wer coroned with martyrdome the third day of the Ca∣lendes of Iuly.* 1.2

This Nero adopted into the Empire by Claudius who married hys Mother Agrippina although he were broughte vp by the reuerende & wise Seneca, yet by the ineuitable corruption of his nature, he became horrible vitious, in so much as he caused himselfe to be gelded, and cut in the forme of a woman and so to be abused, and by his crueltie caused his owne Mo∣ther to be slaine, and the Citie of Rome to be burned, in the mean time play∣ing on a Harpe, and signifying the destruction of Troy, finallye he being ha∣ted of all men, was slaine in a Caue wherinto he fled, when he was but 32. yeares olde, and had raigned 14. yeares, in the 57. yeare after the incarna∣tion of Christ. D. Coper.

Before the deathe of Sergius Galba when towne by town sacrifice was slaine and offered, a Bull being amazed with the blow of an Axe, and bre∣king that wherwith he was tyed, did set vpon his wagon, and al berayed it with his leg. The Mathematicians were that yeare banished out of Ita∣ly Titus Vespasianus was by his Father made ruler of Iudea, as Iosephus writeth in his sixth booke, Chap. last.

When Otho Syluius Emperour of the Romaines made warre a∣gainst Vitellius, they report besides other prodigies which then happened, that a byrde of a notable greatnesse was séene for manye dayes, suche a one as neuer was séene before: wherefore Otho when neuerthelesse he ioyned in battaile with Vitellius there were slaine on both sides in the conflictes at Cremona 40000. men.

When Vitellius was Emperour there appeared vnluckie prodigies, for there appeared a blasing starre, and the Moone séemed to be twice eclyp∣sed, contrarie to the appointed time, for she was darkned the fourth and the seauenth daye. Moreouer at one time in the Easte and in the Weaste two Sunnes were séene, of the which, the one weake and pale, & the other strōg and cleare. There were founde also in the Capitol manye and greate steps of certaine gods, which séemed to descend from the thence: and the Soldiours reported which that night did watche, that the Temple of Iupiter did o∣pen of it selfe with a great noyse, and that for that cause many of the kepers were sore afraide and astonied.

Moreouer when the Souldiours of Vitellius and Vespasian foughte in a most bloudie battaile for the Empire of Rome, vpon the taking of Alie∣nus the traytour who had taken the Citie of Cremona, during the fight not only the Moone was eclypsed, but also appeared blacke and contrarie to hir common custome bloudie.

Before Vitellius Emperour of the Romaines fought against the Vespa∣sian soldiours, whilste he did sacrifice and preached to his soldiours, a great number of Vultures rushed down, and tore in péeces the bowels of the sa∣crifice, and almost thrust the Emperour himselfe beside his chaire of estate, or his Tribunal seate.

Moreouer when at Vienna he sat in hys iudgemente seate, cruell Pro∣digies also appeared, whyche did shewe that an excéeding destruction was at hande, for a Cocke sitting vpon the Princes heade and shoulders, was a greate terror to all men: moreouer filthy byrdes flewe ouer, and so manye that almost they caused darkenesse.

[illustration]

The destruction of the Citie of Ierusa∣lem was shewed by [ 72] manye tokens and Prodigies, and not by tokens onelye, but also by a Pro∣phetical voyce, that men mighte haue repented, and the cruell reuengemēt of wicked offences might haue byn a∣voyded if they had appeased God, vn∣lesse, obstinacie had beed madnesse, and madnesse the for∣getfulnesse of all things, that they being vnmindefull of pitie and iustice fell blindfolde and headlong into their own destruction. A star in forme of a sword appeared in the Elemēt hāging ouer the Citie on the day of vnleauened breade, which was the 8. of April at y^e 9. houre of the night, about the greatest Altar of the temple, so great a light did shine y^t it was thought to haue bin day. The same day when a Cow was drawen to the Altar she calued amidst the temple. The brasen gate of the innermoste tēple whose dore xx. mē at once must thrust open, being shut fast with yron lockes, and a brasen bar, opened of it selfe the 6. houre of the night: and the 1••. day of the Calends of Iune, armed men were séene in the ayre to wan∣der in diuerse quarters of the Element, & to passe along vpon y^e clouds. On Whitson euen at night the priests going to the innermost tēple, to do sacri∣fice, they first perceyued a certaine crashing, and thervpon a voyce, was vt∣tered therby. (Let vs get vs frō hence.) Albeit there be some which say that

this hapned at y^e time in the which Christ suffered. One Iesus the sonne of Ananias a meane man of the Country, when he came to a solemne sacrifice in the which shepheardes cotages were set vp in the tēple, being sodainely strickē with a prophetical spirite, began to cry out, as he did certain yeres past, a voyce frō y^e East, a voyce frō the weast, a voyce frō the 4. winds, a voyce ouer Ierusalē & the tēple, a voyce ouer bridgromes & ouer brides, and a voyce ouer al the people: he crying out in this sort both day and night wēt about the Citie, & often being beaten of those y^t could not abide his spéech, as boding something to the Citie, he did it neuerthelesse. Whervpon he being brought before the Romaine Iudge, & being torne with a whip euen to the bones, he did neyther intreate, nor shedde one teare with his punishment, but only had this in his mouth, wo, wo, be to Ierusalem: and when Albinus who then was iudge asked what he mēt or why he was so péeuish, he made no aunswere, wherefore Albinus iudged him a foole and let him go. For 7. yeares togither he neuer went to any man, but being as it were giuen to prayer saide thus continually, wo, wo, be to Ierusalem, neyther became hée hoarce, through his continual plaining and bewayling: finally, vpō the be∣sieging of the Citie by the Romaines, when he went about the walles cry∣ing out, wo be to the Citie, wo be to the temple, wo be to all the people, it came to passe that he added this too otherwise than he was wont, wo be to me also, and with those words he being violently stricken with a stone by the enimie fel down dead. Titus after he had taken and burned Ierusalem, and for the most part destroyed it, leauing a garrison in the countrey there about, went as far as Euphrates.

There was a blasing star called Acontias, (whiche hathe the name of the [ 77] likenesse of a Dart) wherof the Emperour Titus hath written in a notable verse in his 5. Consulship, and this was the last day that he was séene. Pli∣nie in his second booke.

Thrée Cities in Cyprus fel down in an earthquake, & a gret pestilēce was [ 78] a yere folowing, so y^t for many days there wer numbred almost. 10000. dead men, immediately to wit in the yeare of our Lord. 80. after Vaspasian had furnished certaine vnder Cities with people, he dyed of the flix in his own manour place neare to the Sabines, in the 69. yeare of his age, after whom Titus was chosen Emperour.

Before the death of Vespasian the elder there appeared a Comet, and the tombe of Augustus the Emperour opened of it selfe. The mountaine [ 81] or the Hyll Vesuuius béeing broken in the toppe dyd caste out such flames of fyre, that it burned the Countreys adioyning, and manye Cyties with the people: the yeare following Titus called Musonius Rufus home [ 90] from banishmente, and Rome was sore spoyled wyth fire. Titus the Em∣perour fell sicke, and dyed in that manour place where hys Father dyd, to witte the yeare of hys age two and fortie: and concerning the hurtefull

horrible, & more prodigious burning of y^e Hill Vesuuius which happened in the time of Titus Vespasian, reade Xiphilinus at large in the life of Vespa∣sian. The second persecution of the Church in the time of Domitian y^e Em∣perour whose beginning was milde, but afterward sterne and cruell. Mo∣numents Per Ioan. Fox.

[ 98] Thepetion the elder ruler of the Gymnosophistes, cōmaunded an Elme trée to salute Appolonius Tianeus, whom she saluted with a distinct voyce, but smal and womanish: Philostratus in the life of Appolonius.

* 1.3Many tokens and straunge thinges were at Rome and in all the worlde: Domitianus was slayne in the Palace, and was vnnobly carry∣ed by the Carriers of the deade to his graue in the yeare of his age. 36. and the fiftéenth of his Empire, & his Targets and Images were euery where in Rome caste to the ground, and the people troade vppon them in re∣proch.

[ 99] The same yeare that Cocceius Nerua the thirtéenth Emperoure of the Romaine Empire dyed and was buried in Salust Gardens,* 1.4 there was an Eclipse of the sunne. Aurelius Vict. and Eutrop. After him raigned y^e Em∣perour Traian, whome Nerua adopted, whiche was of such excellent good∣nesse, that afterward as often as an Emperor was chosen: the people were wont alwayes to wish that he might be so happie as Augustus and so good as Traian. The third persecution.

[ 103] When Clemen•• the thirde Pope of Rome, had continued from Do∣mitian vntil the thirde yeare of Traian, he was banished by him, and sente into an Iland, where he found 2000. Christians condemned to cut Marble, who lacking water, he beate the grounde with his right foote, from whence forthwith sprang a fountaine.

[ 107] Elia, Merhina, Pitanae & Cyme, foure Cities of Asia, were ouerthrown with an earthquake, & two of Greece, to wit Opus & Orita, were destroyed y^e yeare folowing, whervpon in the yeare after Christ. 110. Traian going a∣bout to persecute the Christians, Simon the sonne of Cleopas who helde the Bishopricke at Ierusalem was crucifyed, after whom succéeded Iustus.

[ 112] Thrée Cities of Galatia were destroyed with an Earthquake. At Rome Pantheon which was y^e temple of all the Gods was burned with lightning, That yere Traian triumphed ouer y^e Daciās & Scythians, he subdued Dacia: after the conquest of Decibalus, a prouince was made beyond the riuer Da∣nubius in those quarters which now the people called Taiphali and Victohali and Terungiti do possesse.

At Antioch was such an horrible Earthquake y^t the Mountains being [ 114] pulled asunder fel downe, in some places the riuers sodainly turned theyr course, & in some place they were consumed or dryed vp, moreouer manye Cities were so shaken y^t they were almost quite destroyed, but moste of all Antioch, where a great nūber of people perished w^t y^e fall of houses, & amōg

them Pedo the Consul. Traian being warned of a cerraine Angel whyche shewed himselfe vnto him, in a goodly mans shape, at the beginning esca∣ped away openly, and for many dayes in the which this seare held him, he kept him selfe in Hippodromo a place where horsse were coursed: afterward at the beginning of the Spring the Parthian warre began againe.

Lightning wente before thys Earthquake, and there blewe greate and straunge windes, then followed an excéeding great lowing of the erth, afterward the sea roared horribly. The earth began to be lifted vp on high, houses were lifted vp and cast downe on the earth, then the nation of the Iewes, whilom Gods familiars, nowe more miserable for their opinions, toke weapons in hande throughout the Romaine Empire, they rebelled a∣gainst the Romains, they belieued that their Messias was to come, whych as yet that most vnhappy people loked for. They had some hope in the Christi∣ans who being worshippers of one God, were then diuersely punished by the Romaines. In Affrica aboute Cyrene, they sodainely without any diffe∣rence set vpon the Romaines and Greekes that worshipped the heathen gods, and not being content with the murder, they beganne to eate mans fleshe. They being imbrued wyth their entrailes y^e bloud yet running out, & coue∣red w^t their skins, they did cut many asunder through y^e middle to y^e heade, they caste many to beastes to be deuoured, they enforced other to fight to∣gither with naked swords, so y^t there were slaine in that furie more than 20000. men by the weapons of the Iewes: likewise a greate murder was committed in Egipt.

Nicomedia was ouerthrowen with an Earthquake, and a great parte also of the Citie of Nice, for the restoring of which Hadrian gaue of the cō∣mon [ 120] treasure. And the war was made against y^e Saromatae, which are the Russes, Tartarians and Muscouites. Adrianus the Emperour carried people into Affrica to inhabite Cities which the Iewes had spoyled.

Againe Nicomedia was ouerthrowen with an Earthquake and very [ 123] many buildings in the Citie of Nice were ouerthrown. Hadrian the Em∣perour carried verye manye people into Affrica, to inhabite the Cities whiche the Iewes had spoyled, and the yeare following Hadrian made lawes for the Athenians, according to the bookes of Draco, Solon, and the residue.

Nicopolis and Cesarea Cities of Palestine fell downe with an Earth∣quake. [ 129] Anthinous a very noble and beautiful yong man dyed in Egipt, who after that Hadrian the Emperour had honorably buried him, he rekoned him among the GODDES. There was a Citie called after hys name.

Manye and diuerse ouerthrowes, partly from heauen, partely rising [ 140] by the iniurie of men, did distaine the soueraintie or gouernement of An∣toninus surnamed Pius Emperoure of the Romaines, for there was a cruell

famine and a greate Earthquake, whereby Rhodes and other famous pla∣ces were horribly shaken. And there was a great fire in Rome whiche con∣sumed. 340. watered houses or inuironed with water. Nerbo in Fraunce, Antiochia and the iudgement house of Carthage, at that time were burned. Tiber w^t his vnaccustomed increase ouerflowed al places. There was born a childe with two heades. In Arabia there was séene a Serpente with a mane like a horsse, whiche deuoured halfe of himselfe from the tayle vp∣ward. Foure wilde Lions in Arabia gaue thēselues willingly to be taken. A woman at one byrth was deliuered of fiue children: so euill disposed was that time, that whatsoeuer misfortune happened it was imputed wholelye to Christian religion.

[ 160] Whē Antonius Pius Emperor of the Romaine, did raign, a little before his death in Bithinia and in Helespont there was a verye horrible Earth∣quake, wherewith as very manye other Cities were sore troubled, so chief∣ly it ouerthrew Cyzicum flat to the grounde, and the temple of that Citie, of all the greatest and goodlyest buildings, is reported to haue fallen down. And the Pillers of that Temple were foure fadome thicke and fiftie cu∣bits high, euery one of them being made of one stone. This writeth Dion, Nicaeus and Xiphelinus in the life of Antonius. Furthermore they reporte that at the same time in a cleare and calme sea, the surges came out of the sea Mediteraneum to the top of a Mountaine that was far off from it, & cast the fome a very great way vpon the maine land: the Historie of Palermo.

[ 161] In the yeare of the foundation of Rome. 720. and two and fortith of the age of Marcus Aurelius and two yeares before he toke possession of the Empire, the twentith day of August about the going downe of the Sun, in the Realme of Sicil in the Citie of Palermo (a port of the sea) there chā∣ced a perilous wonder: whilest they of Palermo were celebrating a greate feast, with much ioy, that they had vanquished the nauie of the Numidi∣ans: the Pirates deuiding their bootie, were preuented by the Magistrats of the Citie, who commaunded the whole spoyle to be layde vp, til the warres were finished, &c. when al y^e people were returned home vnto their houses to supper, (for it was in the Sommer time) there appeared a huge mon∣ster in y^e Citie in this forme: he séemed to be of the length of thrée Cubites, his heade was balde, so that his scul did appeare: he had no eares saue onlye two holes in his necke wherby men iudged that he heard: he had two wri∣then hornes like a Goate, his right arme was longer than his left, his hāds were like the féete of horsses, without throate, his shoulders and his heade were both of one hight, his shoulders shone as doeth the scales of fishes, his breaste was al rough of haire, his face in all things was like vnto a man, saue that he had but one eye which was in the middest of his foreheade, in his nose there was but one nostrill, from the middle downewarde there was nothing séene, bycause it was all couered: he sat on a Chariot wyth

foure whéeles, whiche was drawen with foure beastes, that is, two Lions before, and two Beares behinde: no man coulde tel whereof the Chariote was made, yet was it not vnlyke to other: wythin the Chariote stoode a greate Caldron wyth eares, wherein the Monster was, it wande∣red vp and downe in the Citie from one gate to another, casting forth spar∣cles of fire. This brought the people in a maruellous feare, the most parte ranne to the Temples of Iupiter, Mars, and Februa &c. The Monster came to the palace where the Pirates were, and cut one of the Lions eares off, and wyth the bloude thereof wrote on the Pallaice gate which was shutte RA.S.P.I.P. which signifyeth, R. Reddite, A. Aliena, S. Si vuitis, P. Propria, Ian pace, P. Possidere: Render vnto others that which is theirs, if thou in quiet wilt possesse thine owne: the Monster went the same night forth of y^e Citie, vnto an high Hill called Lamicia, and there stoode the space of thrée dayes, the Lions and Beares roared, breathing out dreadefull flames, to the greate astonishment of the Citizens. And last of all, after manye other hideous factes, from the Monster came suche lightning, that it burned both the Palaice where the Rouers were, and also their goods: read more of this in the Dial of princes, &c.

When Lucius Aurelius Commodus dyd sacrifice at Athens, a fire [ 162] séemed in the Elemente to goe from the Easte to the Weaste. Vologesus King of the Parthians spoyled certaine prouinces of y^e Romaine••, anone after the Romaines tooke Seleucia.

The same tyme at Prema Crosses were séene to sweate teares, Hogs [ 171] and Dogges defiled the Churche, whiche turned them in feare of Gods displeasure, for they could scarcely be driuen away from the side of the Al∣tar: and there were séene Woulfes in the Suburbes howling in flockes, and wyth horrible snarling to haue striuen with Scritch Owles: these vn∣luckye tokens all men iudged to concerne the Bishoppe, wherefore the fourtéenth daye before his deathe he beyng at Goslaria according to hys cu∣stome woulde not refrayne from drinckes nor bloude lettyng. Where∣fore béeyng taken wyth the moste grieuous disease of the Flixe, and consumed euen to the bones, being yet vnmindeful of hys health, he handeled the businesse of the common wealth,* 1.5 euen to the last houre of hys departing.

There was a greate persecution in Asia wherein beside infinite o∣thers, [ 171] we read that Policarpus, Pionius,* 1.6 & Iustinius the Philosopher were crowned with Martyrdome, when Marcus Antonius Emperoure of the Romaines encountred the Quades with a great battaile, great store of raine and fire fell from heauen among them as they were fighting, of whom some were refreshed with good and freshe water, and some were cleane burned with fire, but the fire dydde not touche the Romaynes, and if by chaunce it were among them, it was by and by quenched: neyther

did the rayne helpe the Quades, but did puffe them vppe, none otherwyse than oyle doth.

[ 173] In the time of Antoninus the Emperour, immediately after the cru∣ell persecutions of the Christians, there was an huge Earthquake, and the often ouerflowings of diuers riuers were séene many times: After these followed a great pestilence, which farre abroade spoyled manye prouinces, and chiefly Italy, which it so wasted, that euerye where Farme houses and groundes lay without tyllmen and dwellers. To conclude, there was no reste in any place from the warre: But throughout all the East, Illyria, Italy and France the war waxed maruellous hote: a huge swarme of Locustes immediatly followed the former pestilence, wherewithall the groundes in diuers countries were annoyed. Marcus Aurelius the brother of An∣toninus, and the Emperour making warre in Germanie and Russia, were in danger through ouermuch drowth: the souldiours were driuen awaye with often lightning, and with fiers falling from heauen.

[ 182] After the death of Aurelius and Antoninus the Emperour, Smirna a Citie of Asia fel downe with a great Earthquake, for the repayring wher∣of, tenne yeares tribute was forgiuen them. So greate a plague folowed in Rome, that wel nere the host of the Romains was cleane destroyed.

There was so great a pestilence throughout the whole worlde, that the Romaine armies were almoste brought to an vtter destruction. Moreo∣uer earthquakes and ouerflowings of waters did afflicte mankind and the whole worlde, that vnlesse Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius the 16. Emperour of the Romanes, had happened to redresse these mischiefes, the Romaine Empire had bin ouerthrowen. Moreouer Locustes hurtefull to the grounde, didde féede vpon meddowes and fieldes. In those dayes the seasons were moste daungerous and very Climatericall.

[ 187] We reade in Herodian, that in the time of Commodus Stars were séene all the day long, and that some did stretch in length, hāging as it were in the middest of the ayre, which was a tokē of a cloud not kindled but dro∣uen togither: for it séemed kyndled in the night, in the day when it was far off it vanished away. There followed a great slaughter of the Parthians by the guile of Comodus and not by his vertue. Therevppon arose the ci∣uil warres, fiue Emperours being slaine in one yeares space, thrée in the fielde, to wit, Didius, Iulianus, Pescenius Niger, and Albinus, two by trea∣chery or guile, to wit, Comodus and Pertinax.

[ 190] At Rome lightning fell vpon the Capitoll, and a great fire encreasing, the Librarie and all the houses neare it were burned. Thrée yeares after Comodus the Emperour slew many. And immediately, to wit, in the yere of our Lord. 195. in the house of Vesti••ianus he also was strangled.

[ 192] There appeared certaine prodigies in the Element: againe starres in the daye time continuallye appeared. Moreouer, all kindes of lyuyng

creatures not kéeping their nature were brought forth with a prodigious figure of their body, and with disagréeing members: and as this exceeding haynous matter made men to sorrow for the present, so for the time to come it made all afrayde with a most wicked diuination, for whereas there were no showres nor clowdes, but only a smal earthquake went before, whether it were with the fall of lightning in the night time, or whether it were of some fyre, as it were rubbed out in the mouing of the earth, the whole tem∣ple of Peace vpon the sodayne was consumed with fyre, which worke alone truely was the greatest of all that was in the citie, &c.

The day before Iulianus the Emperour was slayne by the Persians, [ 194] when in the night he rose to sacrifice, he saw fire descend from heauen, and when he asked the propheciers what it meant, they made aunswere that hee shoulde deferre his departure at least for one day which he did not so muche despise as he was compelled to doe, by reason that his victuals didde fayle him, for his Corne was lost by shipwrack: but the fyre falling from Hea∣uen didde alwayes signifie destruction and great misery, whether it was because it came from those causes, or because it was engendered of corrupt vapours, the armyes were gréeuously annoyed, and the people dyed. The same day that Pertinax dyed the Sacrificer not onely missed the heart of the Beast sacrificed, but also the Liuer.

Thrée dayes before Aelius Pertinax the Emperoure of the Romanes was slain, he séemed in a vision to sée a man in a ponde, that greatly troubled him with a sworde, and the same day that he was slaine they say the images which commonly appeare in the apples of mens eyes, were not séene in hys eyes, and when he offered sacrifice at the temple of Lares, the Sacrifice sée∣med still to be quenched, whereas the fatte Calues were wonte to bée in a flame, & as it is sayd beforee, the hart & head was not found in the Sacrifice. Moreouer the Starres by the Sunne appeared in the day time very brighte the day before he dyed.

When after the death of the Emperour Pertinax, Iulianus by subtilty [ 195] and craft had gotten the Romane Empyre, and that the Citizens rose sediti∣ously agaynst him & besought the helpe of others againste a Tiraunt and a manqueller, the firste daye of Ianuarie vpon the sodayne there was séene thrée starres about the Sunne, so bright, that all men sayd they signified Iu∣lianus destruction, which came to passe, for by Albinus who had the gouern∣ment of Englande, by Seuerus who had the gouernment of Poeonia, and by Niger who had the gouernment of Syria, the common wealth was deliue∣red from Iulianus Tyranny, who was a grieuous Enemye to the Chri∣stians.

When Seuerus was Emperour, an Eagle which lighted vpon a Sol∣dyers [ 196] Image, although she were chaced away,* 1.7 stoode still theron til she was taken, and the Bées wrought their Combes vpon the Souldyers Ensignes,

and chéefely on the Images of Niger. Immediately the Romanes foughte at Ciz••cū, where Seuerus Captaines ouercame & slue Aemilianus, moreouer in the streights of Nicea & Cyus there was a great & a diuers cōflict, wherin Nigers souldiers in a bloody battayle ouercame the Souldiers of Seuerus. The third battaile was made at Pila in Cilicia, wherein the Souldiers of Seuerus triumphed ouer the souldyers of Niger. While he was Emperour, also a sodayn fire was séene in the ayre towards the North, y^t many thought that it wold burn the whole citie, & many y^t the heauen was on fire, because in fayre weather,* 1.8 rain much like to dew and of a siluer colour, fell down in Frioli, with the water whereof brasen money being touched ouer, séemed sil∣uer for 3. dayes. Immediately the ciuile war of the Emperor Seuerus with Albinus Caesar began, wherein the army of the Romanes receiued a great o∣uerthrow.

[ 203] In the hill Boebius (otherwise called Veseuus) there was an excéeding great fire, and in it so great a lowing, that it was heard as far as Capua: read more in Xephelinus, in the life of Seuerus.

[ 204] In the 10. yere of the soueraintie of Seuerus, an excéeding great Whale a∣riued to that hauen which they call Augustus, & was there taken, the portra∣ture of which Whale being brought to the Amphitheatre, swallowed vp or did contain 50. beares, such seemed the greatnesse of the fish to be. Moreouer at Rome a comet was séene for many dayes, and the opinion was that he portended some great mischiefe. Platianus for his notable licentiousnes and cruelty was slayne.

[ 208] When Seuerus Emperor of the Romanes went into Britaine, a lightning fell vpon his Image, which stoode at that gate through y^e which he led forth his army, and which lay towards the way to England ward, or towards En∣gland, & blotted out 3. letters of his name, wherfore Seuerus, as the wise men had foretold, neuer returned out of Britaine.

[ 219] When on a tyme Diadumenus the sonne of Macrine the Emperoure walked in the fieldes, an Eagle tooke away his Cappe, which he putte vpon the heade of an Image of a certayne King. Immediately Opilius Macrinus Praefectus Praetorij chéefe officer about the Emperour, as Captayne of hys Garde, after the death of Bassianus, with his Sonne Diadumenus helde the Empyre fouretéene monthes onlye, and both were slayne by the army.

A little before Antonius Caracalla Emperor of the Romanes was slaine [ 220] by those that were about him, the leaues of the liuer in the Sacrifice of the beast were closed, & as he went out through the gate, a Lion (whom he had brought vp, and whome he admitted to his table and bedde, and otherwhile kissed openly) tooke him by the cote, and that he might go no further, he tare his garment in staying him: at Alexandria where then he was, a great fyre tooke all the inner part of the Temple of Serapis, wherein notwithstanding the sworde alone wherewith Antonius slue his brother Geta was burned,

all things else being saued from the iniury of the fier.* 1.9 Moreouer at Rome when the Playes Circenses were made or were in hande, the Image of Mars which had on him a triumphing garment fell doune, which although perchance it be lesse maruelled at, yet this is much more worth the noting, because the soldiours of Pracinus were ouercome, after they saw a Iay chat∣tering excedingly on the toppe of an Obilisk, loking toward them all,* 1.10 and sodaynely with one voyce as though they had forethought it, they beganne to cry thus together, Maritalis aue Martialis: oportune te vidimus, to wit, Martialis al hayle Martialis, we haue séene thée in good time. And this came to passe not for y^e séeing of the Iay, which earst was called Martialis, but be∣cause in him as it were with a certayne heauenly blast he saluted Martialis who was hired to murther Antonius.

When Macrinus was Emperor, a star was séene for many nights, frō the [ 237] weast stretching to the Sun rising,* 1.11 wherfore Macrinus being twice shame∣fully ouercome in battayle agaynst Artabanus, was compelled to buy peace with a great summe of money, & immediately there arose an other warre a∣mong the Romanes, not with barbarous motions, but a ciuile warre, wherin the Souldiers began to make an vprore, because Macrinus was not gentle & curteous to thē, and because he gaue them not so much pay as others had giuen them. Amon us a christian Philosopher of Alexandria, is said to haue had an asse, being a beast of all other most blockish, a hearer of his wisdome as witnesseth Suidas in Volaterrane, Booke 13. Chapt. 3. Anthrop. [ 229]

There was so great an Eclipse of the Sun, that it made the day as darke as the night. That yere Gordianus the yonger being a boy of 13. yeres old, [ 241] was coupled to the Empyre, and when the Maximini were slaine by the Souldiours at Aquileta, these two being created by the Senate, in the Sedition of the Soldiours were slayne not long after, who hadde to name Cupienus & Albinus, and when they were dead Gordianus was Empe∣ror nyne yeres, the yonger of that name.

When Gordianus was prince, the sunne was so notably eclipsed, that by [ 243] reason of great darkenesse vpon the earth, nothing could be done at al with∣out light: and in his raigne there was so sore an earthquake, that certayne Cities through a sodayne gaping of the earth were swallowed vp, together with the people. Capitolinus recordeth this, whiche I maruaile Eusebius hath ouerslipped, who diligently doth intreate of these strange things. Whē tidinges came of the death of Gordianus, the Senate appoynted Marcus to be Emperour, a man of singular grauitie and wisedome, who a few dayes after he tooke rule in hande dyed. In the tyme of the Emperoure Decius (a gréeuous Tyrant agaynst the Christians) when after diuers Persecuti∣ons Decius was come to Ephesus amid the Cittie he builded a temple, com∣pelling all vnder payn of death to doe sacrifice to Idols, and so greate a feare inuaded al men, that the sonne denied the Father, and the friend his fellow:

in the same Citie seuen chéefe gentlemen of the Emperours palace, to wit, Maximinus, Marcus, Martinianus, Dionisius, Seraphion, Iohn and Con∣stantine dispising the idols, and kéeping themselues close at home, fell to fa∣sting and prayer, and being accused to Decius, they deuided their patrimony among the poore, wherevpon they taking aduice together, withdrew them selues to the Mountaine Celion and determined there to hide themselues vn∣till the end of the persecution, whome one serued which bewrayed to others the furie of Decius, and brought them bread, wherwith they being refreshed and speaking together in heauinesse, as God would haue it, fell a sléepe. De∣cius commaunded the mouth of the Caue to bée stopped, to the ende they might ende their dayes with hunger and thyrste. The bodyes of these Mar∣tyrs thus shut vp in a Caue, were raysed by God to confute the errour risen among some that denyed the resurrection of the dead, who afterwarde spake to the Emperour Theodosius, and many others, and witnessing the resur∣rection, they slept in peace. Betwixt the second and last yeare of Decius vn∣to the thrée hundred ninetie and sixt yere of Christ, at which season Theodo∣sius was Emperor, is a hundred fortye and foure yéeres, the supposed tyme that these aboue mentioned slept. This was that Theodosius which Saint Ambrose Bishop of Millan excommunicated, for that he had wilfullye put for an offence to death the innocent with the guiltie. Cronicarum. 2.

[ 254] The Mountayne Aetna commonly called Mount Gibel (to be wonde∣red at for his burnings, seing it is full of a sulpherous matter, whiche is in∣gendered of moyst nourishment) burned wonderfully after the Martirdome of Saynt Agatha of Catina a Cittie of Sicilia, at that time in the whiche the Greekes possessed Sicilia. Thucidides recordeth thrée ouerflowinges of y^e fire of Aetna of the which after Strabo, Orosius and Eutropius, reade also Seba∣stian Monster in his worke of Cosmographie.

[ 258] In all Countreys cruell monsters of nature wente before the persecu∣tion of Valerianus,* 1.12 for many dayes the earth lay wrapped vp as it were in darkenesse, and thunder was heard out of the earth, as it were lowing, and not out of the Element, and there followed a great Earthquake, wherewith many buildinges with the inhabitantes, through a sodayne gaping of the Earth, were swallowed vp, and many men dyed with ouermuch feare: but Asia was chieflye subiect to this plague: Rome was shaken, and Af∣frica and in very many places the earth gaped excéedinglye: the Sea vppon the sodayne ouerwhelmed Cityes by the Sea cost, therevpon a pestilence a∣rose but it rayned chéefely at Rome and in Achaia, where fiue thousand died in a day.

12. Abuses in the life of man noted out of Ciprian in those dayes.

• ...1
  • ...Sapiens sine operibus.
  • ...A wise man without good workes,
• ...2
  • ...Senex sine religione.
  • ...An old man without religion.
• ...3
  • ...Adolescens sine obedientia.
  • ...A yong man without obedience.
• ...4
  • ...Diues sine eleemosyna.
  • ...A riche man without almes.
• ...5
  • ...Foemina sine pudicitia.
  • ...A woman shamelesse.
• ...6
  • ...Dominus sine virtute.
  • ...A guide without vertue.
• ...7
  • ...Christianus contentiosus.
  • ...A Christian man contentious.
• ...8
  • ...Pauper superbus.
  • ...A poore man proude.
• ...9
  • ...Rex iniquus.
  • ...A King vnrighteous.
• ...10
  • ...Episcopus negligens.
  • ...A Bishop negligent.
• ...11
  • ...Plebs sine disciplina.
  • ...People without discipline.
• ...12
  • ...Populus sine lege.
  • ...People without Law.

There were many & excéeding great earthquakes, & darkenesse for many [ 264] dayes: likewise an excéeding great pestilence afflicted Rome and diuers other places. When Aurelianus y^e Emperor imagined a new persecutiō against [ 278] y^e christians, being neuer the better for the lightning which fel down by him & his company, but sent letters and cōmandement to destroy the Christians, at last his own company slue him betwéene Constantinople & Heraclia, y^e moo∣uer

[illustration]

of the nine perse∣cutions againste the christians.

The tenth and laste persecution a∣gainst the christians, lasted ten yeares in extreame tyrannies, more gréeuous than before, among the whiche were burned in one temple twen∣ty thousand martyrs Arabians, Phrigians, Miletians, Armeni∣ans in Europe, as in Fraunce, Spaine, Bri∣taine, now called En∣glande.

Through an hor∣rible [ 306] Earthquake at Tire and Sidon many buildinges fell down and an innumerable companye of people

were slayne. The same yere in the month of March the Easter wéeke, chur∣ches were ouerthrowne, and there was a great persecution of y^e christians. [ 308] At Daphnes y^e pleasant and ambitious manour place, within the Suburbes of Antioch, there was born in the time of the Emperor Constantius a mon∣ster horrible to be séene and spoken of, to wit, a child with two mouthes, two téeth, and a beard, with foure eyes, & with two very short eares.

[ 315] Constantinus the great fighting agaynst Maxentius, who for his loose life and cruelty was vehemently bent agayne the people, beholding in the Ayre a banner of the Crosse, heard this voyce, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In hoc vince, that is, In this ouercome, when he was in his iourney by a vision in the nighte, he saw the signe of the Crosse in the Element, shining like fyre, and an An∣gell thereby saying on this wise: Constantine in this signe thou shalt o∣uercome, wherwith being greatly comforted, he shortly vanquished the ar∣mie of Maxentius who greatly persecuted the christians.

About this time in Lateran at Rome a hand was séene without any body, which wrote vpon the wall, al men séeing and reading it, these wordes, Ho∣die venenum Ecclesiae infusurus, that is, this day he will poyson the Church: and this happened that day y^t Constantine the great gaue Pope Siluester Lateran the palace of the Romish church,* 1.13 the citie of Rome, and the prouinces of Italy this writeth Malleolus in his booke de nobilitate.

Constantinus Magnus the sonne of Constantine, borne in Britaine, was there proclaimed Emperour, after the decease of his father. He maketh Licinius who maryed his sister, his fellowe Emperour. At the same time Maxentius played the Tyraunt at Rome, and Maximius in the Easte, he sawe in the ayre the signe of the Crosse, who fullye perswaded himself to fighte agaynste the Tyrauntes, and in the behalfe of Christian Religion: he foyled Maxentius vpon the riuer Tiber: Liciniu•• ouercame Maximinus, they ioyntlye published edictes in the behalfe of the Christians, in the ende Licinius rebelling agaynst him, Constantinus ouercame him, ruled alone, restored peace vnto the whole Worlde, gaue money vnto the Church, deli∣uered the Bishops from paying taxe or tribute, & wrote vnto Alexander byshop of Alexandria & to Arrius the Heretike, exhorting them to vnitye. When hée was thrée score and fyue yéere olde, he dyed, after he had raigned thyrtie and one: he deferred his Baptisme vnto his last ende, purposing ful∣lye to haue it in Iordane where Christ was baptized. The Donation that is fathered vpon him, is but a méere fable in the iudgemente of the best wri∣ters. Meredith Hanmer reciting Eusebius

The Coyne that Constantine vsed, in the one side thereof had expres∣sed the Charact or figure in the signe of Victory, which crossed figure also Magne••tius bare in his Coyne after this manner, who was afterwarde vanquished by Constantine and put to flight, in which Battaile were slayn

fiftie and foure thousande fighting men, whereby the puissaunte Romanes were greatly weakened: this Magnentius when he saw he coulde not pre∣uayle, he wounded his brother Desiderius, slue many of his friendes, and la∣stly killed himselfe.

[illustration]

About the yeare of our Lord thrée hundred twenty and thrée, Arrius a Priest [ 323] being cast out of the church, raysed vp a pestilent heresie, and spread it very farre abrode: a Comet wente before this heresie.

O what mischéefe comes to that countrey where there is founde a leche∣rous Prince, a proud Nobilitie, false Officers, and wilful Subiects. Thrée thinges be the spoyle of a common welth: A couetous King, a negligente Pastor, and an idle subiect.

Where Law is without loue, obedience without furtheraunce, Reli∣gion without temperaunce, there of necessitie followeth disturbance: thus writeth Pencerus in his booke of Diuination.

An earthquake ouerthrew many Cities: Constantius subdued the peo∣ple [ 340] France, and brought them to peace. The impietie of Arrius bolstred by Constantius, was persecuted with Banishmentes, Imprisonmentes, and diuers manners of afflictions, fyrst by Athanasius, afterward by other Bishops.

About the yeare of our Lorde. 341. the death of the Emperour Con∣stantinus [ 341] was foreshewed by a blasing star, which of no common greatnesse gaue light for certaine monethes. Orosius in his seuenth booke, Chap. 19. Eu∣trop in his eleauenth booke.

Niphus writeth that the Emperoure dyed in the yeare of oure Lord. 324. This blasing starre did portende the lamentable warre and the

commotion which followed the Princes death.

[ 343] There was an Eclipse of the Sunne, and an earthquake ouerthrewe ma∣ny Cities. The Romanes made warre agaynst the Persians to their gréeuous losse.

An Earthquake ouerthrew many Cities in the East, and the horrible heresie of Arrius was vtterlye extinguished, and by the mightie prouidence of God, the sooner, because he going to ease himself of naturall excrements, his guts fell out: of the which he dyed.

[ 344] An Earthquake shooke chiefely Antioche and the East parts for a yere together: the counsayle of the Arrians was healde at Antioche, wherein the Nicen counsayle was condemned.

[ 347] Neo Caesaria was ouerthrowne into the Sea with an Earthquake, sauing a Churche. Sapor King of the Persians doth persecute the Christi∣ans afresh.

[ 342] Dirachium fell with an Earthquake, it made Rome nodde for thrée dayes and thrée nightes, and it gréeuously troubled verye manye Cities of Campania.

[ 350] There was a great Eclipse of the Sunne, that yere the Christians had a miserable conflict in the night season wyth the Persians at Singara: the Persians besieged Nicibis, and toke Bizabde and Amida. The high Bishop [ 362] of Iherusalem dyed. The seconde Counsell of Nice assembled by the Ary∣ans agaynst the Christians, was this yeare broken vp by an Earthquake. For Eudoxius as Functius recordeth in tyme Bishop of Germanicia a Citye in Cylicia, after the death of Leoncius toke the seate of the Bishop of the Church of Antioch, and openly brought into the Church the Heresy of Arius in opressing the right beleuers. Moreouer when Constantius the Emperor was absent, and made war in the west parts, Eudoxius delte priuily wyth the noble men of the palace that y^e Sinod of Bishops might be assembled at Nice hoping that it might come to passe that the Arrians being assembled in this méeting together with one consent woulde condemne that confession which before was set forth in the same Citie, and that from thenceforth by processe of time, the former conclusion being taken away, vnder the name of the fayth of Nice this latter might be in estimatiō, but God who hath a care of his Church, did soone cut off this mischiefe, for when the Bishops were come together, and were ready to intreate of the matter, so great an Earth∣quake shooke the whole Citie of Nice on euery side, that a great part of the building fell downe, and many of the inhabitantes were slayne, with which misfortune of the citie, the Straungers being sore afrayde, euery man went to his home.

[ 363] Nicomedia was quite ouerthrowne with an earthquake, and some of the Cities adioyning were troubled therewith. Paulinus Bishop of Triues being in banishment in Phrigia dyed. There was a great persecution of the

faithfull, in the which the true fayth was condemned.

Very wooll mixed with raigne fell out of the clowds. Athanaricus king [ 364] of the Gothes, persecuted the christians euen in his own kindred. Hillarius Bishop of Poytiers, and Eusebius bishop of Versella died. Hillarius a noble Christian, a great enemy of the Arrians who set forth twelue bookes of the Trinitie, notwithstanding his twice banishment, was the first among the Catholiques that set forth Himnes and Verses, and there followed a great famine in Phrigia.

Nicomedia and part of the citie of Nice fell with an earthquake. [ 366]

When the Iewes at the motion & bidding of Iul••anus were now desirous [ 367] to restore the Temple at Ierusalem, they say that there arose a huge Earth∣quake, which is sayde to haue bene so horrible, that with the shaking therof it cast stones from the very foundations, it loosed the buildings y^t were nere too, & slue a greate number of men with the fall of houses: moreouer when immediately they tried to build it again, a fire sparckling out from the very foundation, and likewise an other hanging ouer in the aire, is sayde to haue consumed more than the earthquake: moreouer the fire falling from heauen did quickly bring to ashes their hammers, their grauing tooles, their sawes, Ares, Hatchets, and what thing soeuer the workmen brought thither méete for building, which fire burned fiercely a whole day: besides this, there was an other myracle, for the night following the Iewes garments themselues were marked with signes of the crosse, fashioned like beames of the sunne, wherefore all had their Garments as it were garnished with starres & sette out by the skill and cunning of weauing: and when this was séene the nexte day, they went about to wash away and wipe out the markes of the Crosse, but they preuailed not. Agayne a gréeuous Earthquake vppon this cast out and scattered the rest of the stones from the foundation. And also a certayne cruell storme arising, caryed the lyme vp into the ayre, whereof there was an infinite quantitie, and dispersed it all abrode, likewise the fire which so∣daynly crept vp from the lower parts, did in a moment also consume an in∣finite number of people.

When Iulianus Apostata the Emperour went vnto Thrace, when he came to the mountains of that countrey, at that time when the stars called Virgilae wente downe, after the vintage, the vines sprang vp with buds and freshe Grapes, and a dew out of the ayre was so spreade vpon him and his company, that euery drop vpon their Garmentes represented the forme of a Crosse: Moreouer by the vnripe Grapes was signified prodigiouslye his vntymely and short Empyre,* 1.14 and the Crosse didde portende that the doc∣trine of the Christians was heauenly, and that all men ought to be marked therewith.

When Iulianus the Apostata going about to make offring slue a solemne sacrifice, the signe of the Crosse, enuironed with a Crowne, is sayde to haue

appeared therein, which made them not a little afrayde that attended vpon him, suspecting that the power of Christ and our doctrine shoulde last for e∣uer, because the crowne was a signe of victory, and the Circular forme ta∣king his beginning on euery side and ending in it selfe, did portend that it should haue no end.

[ 369] There was an Earthquake ouer all the Worlde, the Sea ranne ouer the bankes and the Cities of Sicilia and of many Ilandes, and innumera∣ble people were destroyed. Procopius who at Constantinople tooke rule in hande by force, dyed at Phrigia, and verye manye that tooke his parte were slayne and vanished. Damassus was ordayned Bishop of the Romishe Church and immediately certayn Bishops appoynted Vrsinus, hée with his complices inuaded Sicinum, by whome the people that tooke Damasus parte, assembling together, most cruell murthers of diuers sexes were com∣mitted.

[ 370] Most substantiall authors doe testifie that there was in the times of Va∣lentinianus and Va ens the Emperors, almost in al the world an excéeding great Earthquake, wherin was this to be noted, that the water being floong away, the depth of the sea lay open, and what vallies and mountains therin lay or had not séene the sunne, were then discouered, with the same violence ships were remoued euen vpon the houses of Alexandria. Amianus Marce∣linus saw one forespent with age, remoued 2000. paces of by Methone, a city of Peloponesus now called M••done. That yere Valens made war vpon Pro∣copius, who excercised tiranny in Bithinia.

[ 371] Hayle of a wonderfull greatnesse falling at Constantinople slue manye men and beastes, likewise Wooll mixed with rayne at Atrebate, fell out of the clowdes.

[ 372] When Valens Emperour of the Romanes made war agaynst Procopius, there fell an excéeding great haile very like to huge stones, a gréeuous earth∣quake did very muche harme in diuers places, and Nice a citie in Bithinia, was therewith quite ouerthrown, and not long after, when there arose ano∣ther earthquake, it did the like to Cerma, a citie of Hellespont. al these things were tokens of the trouble of the church, of the which Nicephorus maketh mention: the yere following Hartanaricus King of the Gothes persecuting the christians, slue very many of them, & droue them from their own dwel∣lings to the Romanes. Vincentius Booke. 15. Chap. 51.

[ 377] There appeared a comet, and there was an earthquake almost ouer al the world, which made y^e sea passe his bounds, & destroied the Cities of Sicilia & of many Ilands, & innumerable people besides: that yere Valentinianus the Emperor ouercame the Saxons in the countrey of France.

[ 382] When Valentinianus the Emperor was in the Citie Sabaria, an Owle sate vppon the toppe of his bathe crying heauily and yellinglye: the Empe∣rour was present, wherefore there were some which cast stones, and shot at

her, and although they leuiled at her they could not driue her away, where∣fore not long after, and scarsely a day, he sodaynly died. There were other tokens but they were common, and this of all was the most euident.

In the time of Theodosius the Emperor there appeared a terrible sign [ 384] in the Element in all points like to a piller, and that yere Gregorius Nazi∣anzenus the Bishop died.

A star at the cockes croy arising in the North and shining like the day star, at first appeared bright, within twenty dayes vanished awaye: at that [ 389] tyme great aboundaunce of crackling Hayle fell downe for two dayes toge∣ther and destroyed beastes and trées. The Lumbards after their Captaynes were dead made themselues a King, to witte Algemon the sonne of Aron. The Temple of Serapis in Alexandria was pulled downe by the decrée of the Emperor Theodosius.

When Theodosius was Emperour, there were séene strange and vn∣wonted [ 393] sightes, which did portend mischéefes to the worlde to ensue, for fyrste vpon the sodayne there appeared a straunge Starre in the Elemente at midnight shyning brighte nere the day starre, about that circle whiche is called Zodiacus, shée gaue not muche place to the daye Starre, because shée was great and shining by reasō of her glittering beames, and a great num∣ber also of other starres by little and little drue neare her, if a man had séene that sight, he would haue compared it to a swarme of bées, which flée round about their Captaine, and that light which came from them all as it were from the violent dashing of the one agaynst the other, mixed together and became one flame, and shining with a certaine terrour, became altogether like a greate and horrible two edged sworde, for where as the other starres were séene altogether (and one) and that alone which first was séene didde appeare altogether as a pummell to a handle, and after a sort did yéelde all the brightnesse of the fyrst Starre appearing euen as the match burning in a Candle, so the flame went vpwarde, whiche when it had appeared sword like, or rather expressing or representing the forme of a Sworde for fortye dayes, it vanished away: at the same time also two mens bodies were séene the one in Siria, excéeding in greatnesse the nature of man, the other in Ae∣gipt being of an incredible shorte stature: hée that appeared in Syria, grewe in length fyue cubites, and a hande breadth, although his féete didde not aunswere in proportion the rest of the greatnesse of his body, for they were crooked inwarde, and his name was Antonius, but he that was in Aegipt was so short, that he was very like a Partridge, in whome notwithstan∣ding was so much wisdome as was required in a handsome man, his voice shewed him apt to sing, his spéeche did shew the notable worthinesse of hys minde, the greatest of these two was 25. yere old, and the least was neare a∣bout that age.

There appeared in the Element a signe like a hanging doue and burning [ 394]

for 30. dayes. At the citie of Antioche in the nighte season there appeared an image in a womans apparell wandering aloft in the ayre, of a huge greate∣nesse, and of a countenaunce so fell, that it made the beholders excéedingly a∣frayde, that runing vp and downe in the ayre, ouer y^e streates of y^e Citie, with a whip making a great sound, did beat y^e ayre, from whence came such a noyse as they are wonte to make which styrre Wylde Beastes to an∣ger and furye, when they make shewe of them to the people: and immedyatelye the same Moneth, there arose a greate and a bloodye se∣dition in that Citie, by reason of a tribute that Theodosius had extraordina∣rily leuied.

[ 395] At this time there was a great & a wonderful earthquake, which with∣out doubt excéeded al the former in greatnesse, swiftnesse, and continuance of time, for it lasted sixe months, and ceased not at times, but shooke al things with a continuall mouing, and that almost throughout the whole Worlde, in so muche that not onelye in the Cittie of Constantinople the Towers fell downe headlong, and the Wall in dyuers places was broken, but also all the Buildinges which wree about Chirsonesus, whiche they call Macromiches, fell quite downe, and in euery place innumerable buildings of great workes and Temples fell to wracke: this Earthquake also touched Alexandria in Aegipt but being more forcible at Antioche didde chéefelye breake in péeces y^e most gorgeous workes y^e were to be séene, and there hap∣pened innumerable chances, not only by lande, but also by sea, for in some place the earth chincking swallowed vp many streates in townes and Vil∣lages in the countrey, in some places great welspringes sodaynely dried vp, in some places also the water ranne plentifullye, where before there was wont to be none, there were many trées pulled vp by the rootes, together with the stemme or bodyes, many small heapes were made or sodaynly be∣came great Mountaynes: the Sea passing his limittes cast oute like a sling dead fishes of huge greatnesse: many Ilands together with their inhabitants were drowned, and at this day are not to be séene. The Waues of the Sea rolling away in heapes, the shippes were séene to stande amidde the Sea on drye Lande. Bythinia, Hellespont, both Phrigia, and the greatest part of the Easte felte verye muche losse by this Earthquake: as it hath bene sayde it also inuaded many countreys of the Weast, and when it had con∣tinued a long season, it didde not endure to spoyle with that vehemencie as it beganne, but by little and little it gaue ouer his violent vntill it alto∣gether ceased. The destruction was this: the inhabitantes of Constan∣ti••ople beeing excéedinglye afrayde; and fearing the fall of the Buil∣dinges, lefte the Walles, and made their abode without the Citie in the fielde together with the Emperor Theodosius & the Patriarche Proclus, praying continually, & beséeching God to be mercifull to them & deliuer the world from that imminent calamitie: and when vpon a time by the rage of

that quaking the earth as it were wauing was dasht together, and men through feare were afrayde that it should be pulled vp from the very foun∣dation, and all men being giuen to prayers and supplications wepte to∣gether, and from the bottome of their heart cryed out for Gods mercy, then there followed a myracle contrarye to all mennes opinyon, whiche exceeded all reason and feare, for sodaynelye in the sight of all men, by a certayne di∣uine power, a Boye from among them was drawne vp into the ayre euen to Heauen, so that now he was not séene, who heard a Heauenlye voyce, wherein the Aungels didde prayse GOD, and when he had learned that voyce, agayne he came downe through the ayre the same waye he ascended vp, and told the Bishop Proclus and the Emperour, and all the people that were at prayer and singing hymnes to God, y^t he heard Angels singing these wordes: Sanctus Deus, Sanctus fortis, Sanctus immortalis, miscrere nostri: that is, Holy God, Holy strong, Holy euerlasting haue mercye vppon vs. Which when Proclus vnderstoode, by and by he commaunded it to be sung after the same sort, and forthwith the earthquake stayed & altogether ceased. Furthermore the Emperor Theodosius & amōg the women Pulcheria wor∣thy to be highly estéemed of all men, being stricken with so great a miracle, by & by decréede by the Emperors constitution, that this heauenly Hymne should be sung ouer al the world, & frō that time y^e church of Christ receyued it, & doth not only vse it euery day, but also with a full mouth doth set it first of al at the beginning of euery verse & praise of God. The boy that dischar∣ged the Ministery of these wordes, immediately departed this life, and was buried in the great church, which hath the name of Peace, and that place in y^e which he was taken vp, was afterward called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is Diuina exaltatio, to wit, the heauenly lifting vp, lying toward the South parte, in the Citie of Constantinople.

In the yeare of Algimundu the first king of Lumbardy a certaine strum∣pet [ 396] brought forth at one byrth 7. boyes, and cast thē into a ponde to be slain, which when king Algemundus by chaunce found out, he saued one of them, being drawne out with his speare, & deliuered him to a nurse, to be brought vp with all diligence, who had to name Lamitius, and when he was come to mans estate, for the greatnesse of his wit, after the death of Algemundus he succéeded him in the kingdome.

In the raigne of the Emperor Theodosius, in the third yeare of y^e con∣fulship [ 398] of Arcadius and the second of Honorius, in the East parts in the pro∣uince of Palestine at a castle of Emaus there was borne a perfite boy deuided from the nauill vpward, so that he had two breasts, and two heads and eue∣ry one his senses, one did eate and drinke, and the other did not eat: one slept and the other watcht, sometimes they slept together, they played one with an other, and both wept and strake one another: they liued almost two yeres one died and the other ouerliued foure dayes.

Constantinople fearing the wrath of GOD, fyre shining terriblye on a Clowde, tourned to repentaunce and escaped. Ruffinus Mayster of the Fielde in the East rebelling was slayne by Stillico. Gyldo Earle of Af∣frica rebelling, drue from the Romanes their accustomed stypende, whome not long after Sullico killing, broughte Affrica to her former sub∣iection.

There was an Earthquake for many dayes, the Element séemed to burne: After Theodocius the great, Arcadius was made Emperour of the east, and the Visigothes and the Hunnes spoyled the prouinces of the Romanes with many inroades.

There fell great Hayle at Constantinople and in the suburbes the 30. day of September and the fourth daye after the hayle, Eudoxia the Empresse dyed, as Socrates writeth in his tripartite history.

At Rome a woman of a Giantes greatnesse borne of parentes of a meane stature made many to maruayle. The Vandales by the conducte of Croscus, ranging ouer France destroyed many Cities and churches.

Gainas that most valyaunt Scithian, who inuaded the Empire of the Ro∣manes with a great armye, when he went about to sacke and vtterlye to de∣stroy Constantinople because Arcadius Emperor of the Romanes woulde not build therin a Temple for the Arrians: a Starre representing a Sword did portend that ambushment, which was excéeding shining (the like of whom was neuer written of before to haue appeared) he shined ouer the Cittie and almost touched the very earth from the top of the element. That yere when Rome was besieged and spoyled by the Gothes, Alaricus being their Cap∣tayne, so great a murther was committed, as no age knew the like sithe the World begane that Starre also hauing the shape of a sword, forewent that destruction, for not onlye the Souldyers were slayne, nor these mischiefes were in one part of the World, but all mankinde was hewed in péeces, and all Europe went to wrack, no small part also of Asia was broughte to con∣fusion, and a very great part of Affrica, but chéefelye that which was tribu∣tary and subiecte to the Romanes, for the Sworde of the barbarous Enne∣mies didde mowe a greate multitude, and famine and pestilence and flockes of wylde Beastes consumed the rest. Furthermore greate Earth∣quakes didde quite cast to the grounde Cities and houses, and brought ma∣ny to ineuitable destruction.

In manye places also the earth cleauing asunder, became a spéedy and a voluntary Sepulcher for the inhabitantes. Moreouer, the fylthinesse of rayne water, with other fierye droughtes, and with some the fall of light∣ning caused a diuerse and an vnsufferable calamitie. Furthermore, in many places Hayle was séene to fall bigger than stones that one maye cast with his hande, weighing aboute eyghte pounde wayghte. To con∣clude,

the aboundaunce of Snowe, and extremitye of colde destroyed manye, whylste others liued in other quarters. All whiche thinges did sufficientlye preache before hande Gods heauye displeasure, all whiche to recounte one after another were too harde for a manne to doe. Besides all this there was so greate an Eclipse of the Sunne, that the Starres were séene euen at noone daye, after whiche there followed such a drouth, that after a straunge sorte manye menne, and other liuing Creatures dy∣ed, and when the Sunne fayled, a certayne shyning appeared also in the Elemente, bearing the forme of a Creste of an Helmet, or Sugerloafe, broade beneath, and sharpe towardes the toppe, whiche some igno∣raunte menne called a Comet, and a bearded Starre, for nothing that was in it was like a Comet, neyther hadde it a beardye brightenesse, nor was it in any poynte like a starre, but séemed to be of it selfe as it were the flame of some great Candell, neyther didde anye of his beames beare the forme of anye Starre: his moouing also was diuerse, for that Lighte beganne to mooue on that syde where the Sunne aryseth by the Aequinoctium, and going awaye from thence by little and little, by the laste Starre whiche is placed in the Tayle of the Beare, healde his course to the Weast, and after he hadde raunged ouer the Ele∣ment more than foure Monthes, hée vanyshed awaye. Sometyme his toppe was so long and so sharpe, that it excéeded the manner of a Hel∣met, but sometime it drew to the measure thereof: it also yielded other monstrous shewes, by the whiche it swarued from the nature of wonted and common appearances: He beganne first to appeare from mid∣sommer almost till the ende of Autumne.

This myracle also foreshewed greate Warres, and wonderfull death of men. And herevpon there beganne to be Earthquakes, whiche without doubt could not be compared with them that were before. With the Earthquake also fyre falling from heauen, as if it brake asunder, cut off menne from all hope of safetye, yet it didde them no harme, for Gods goodnesse by sending a strong wind, and by scattering the fyre on euery side cast it into the Sea: then a man might sée a new sighte, the surges them∣selues, euen as it were certayne regyons of the Sea, to burne excéedinglye vntill that the flame was cleane quenched in the Water. When in manye places of the Earth there were such great Earthquakes, the céelinges and coueringes of the houses séemed to be pulled asunder one from another, with so great a noyse and crashing, that they which were within in their houses did plainly behold y^e element w^t their eyes, and after this maner of breaking they were agayne so fitly ioyned together, that they gaue no man anye sig∣nification of so straunge a thing: the same also happened in many places to Shippes and pauementes of houses. Certayne Garners didde choke them that dwelt vnderneath them, with the corne that aboundantly & sodainly fel

vppon them through the open chinckes, and agayne the earthquake did close the floud so well, that men doubted from whence y^e corne came which made such a murther. Moreouer there were also other harmes of this kind, and af∣ter a strange sort which did sufficiently declare that they did not procéed of a∣ny naturall cause (as the doting followers of the Greeke superstition do say) but were sente vppon men as scourges of Gods heauye displeasure: manye men surelye saw at that time that those thinges happened through Gods wrath,* 1.15 for so open a wrong that was offered to that moste worthye Iohn, the Light of the Churche, for a man might sée Eudoxia the Emperours wife (which then happened to die) to be made Wormes meate, and to moue the Coffin wherein she was put, God shewing hereby the commotion whiche by her was styrred vp in the church. Cassiodorus writeth also that y^e Gothes that yere spoyled Rome, Blondus, Haloander and others: albeit Functius and some others thinke otherwise.

[ 412] After the death of Arcadius the Emperor the earth at Eutica made a low∣ing for 7. dayes. Stillico aspiring the kingdome of Honorius the Emperour through his sonne Tucherius, bred destruction to the common welth, some∣times bringing in barbarous nations into his countrey, and sometimes che∣rishing them by his consent, wherevpon their cruelty, and chéefelye of the Vandales, raged in Fraunce, more than it was wont.

[ 413] On the sea shore at Vtica in Affrik, a Giants tooth was found so great, that if it had bene cut in péeces to the quantitie of our téeth, it would haue made a hundered. When the Vandales made inroads into France, the Frenche men encountering them slew their King Modigisilus with 20000 of the Van∣dales.

[ 416] When a certaine Iew for gainsake had bene often times baptised in many churches of Heretickes, and at last also with the same intent came to be baptized at the Churches of the true Christians, the Water of the Fonte sodaynly vanished awaye, and when agayne Water was broughte and the Font filled agayn, then agayne the water vanishing awaye made shewe of Gods power, and of the Iewes vnfaythfulnesse.

Honorius brought the Churches to peace. After that Athanulphus king of the Ʋisigothes was slayne by his owne companye Sigericus beganne to raigne.

Certain of y^e weast part reckoning the cōmon yere, the last yere of y^e Dece∣noua cicle for Embolismus which is y^e adding of a day to y^e yere, & through this erring, in celebrating of easter, were by a diuine miracle brought to y^e truth, for in a certaine churche of Italy, where yerely on the Saboth of holy Easter in the houre of Baptisme Water was wonte to come downe from Hea∣uen, and by and by to retourne of it selfe, no Conduyte or Pype to conuaye it vp into, appearing, nowe the Water running not oute for the space of a whole daye and a nighte, deceyued them that

didde celebrate Easter sooner than they oughte, that is, the seauenth daye of the Calendes of Aprill. And vpon that day that Easter should be kept, at the houre of Baptisme the Water flowing according as it was wonte shewed that Easter shoulde be kepte the tenne Calends of May.

A Comet was séene vntill the moneth of September, on whych day [ 418] all the Iewes were banished out of Alexandria, through the faction of Cy∣rillus the Bishop. Wherevpon there arose many and wicked murders. He∣raclianus by the Counsayle of Sabinianus preparing in Affricke a Nauy of 4700. Vessels arriued at Rome, who being shamefully put to flighte by Ma∣rinus, and going to Carthage in a shippe-boate, was slayne by hys Soul∣diours.

[illustration]

It is worthie re∣membrauce [ 434] which happened this yere to the Iewes inha∣biting Crete. A cer∣tain seducer whom some thoughte to haue ben a wicked spirite, wandered a∣bout that Ilande a whole yeare, say∣ing stil that he was Moses who in time past brought vp the Israelits out of E∣gipt, through the red Sea, and that hée was sent againe to bring the dispearsed Israelites to theyr lande: and the mi∣serable Iewes led with false hope too soone beléeued the seducer, who left all their goods to others, and at a time appointed, all with their children and wiues followed the seducer that went before them. They came to a certain rocke that did hang ouer the sea, and their false Moses commaunded them that wrapping their clothes about them like a footeball, they shoulde turne of the rocke into the sea. They doing as he willed them without any tary∣ing,

many falling vpon the sharpe edges of stones dyed, many being swal∣lowed vp with the water were punished for their follye, and manye more had bin cast away, vnlesse Christian men that were a fishing had taken a∣shipborde certain of them that were in daunger in y^e Sea, and were neare their death. When these were lustie againe, they returning to their ac∣quaintance, opened vnto them how they were beguiled, and in what dan∣ger they were,* 1.16 whervpon they being madde for anger, sought false Moyses to put him to death, who being no where to be founde, made them suspecte that he was a spirite of error, accustomably appearing in mans shape, that he might the better bring to effecte that he desired. Many of the Iewes of Crete being moued with this so great a destruction, were tourned to the fayth of Christ.

A Comet appeared, and a few dayes after at Tolosa it ranne bloude. Gisericus besieged Hippo a Cittie of Affrike and the thyrde moneth of the [ 434] siege, Saynte Augustine the Bishop departed this lyfe. Diaco. in his first Booke.* 1.17

When at Constantinople for foure monthes the earth waued vp and [ 444] downe with an Earthquake, in the sight of all them that were at prayers, one by the power of GOD was lifted vp into the ayre. Pyrates spoyled Sicilia euery where. When at Rome Xystus the Pope was dead, Leo the firste succéeded him in the sea.

[ 448] A Comet was séene continually for many dayes, and there was an Earthquake in the East.

Attila king of the Hunnes calling Bleda his Brother and Consort, af∣licted a greate parte of Italy with Warre, spoyled manye worthye Ci∣tyes, and at length after he had assembled the banished men, they were put in the Sea at Venice.

[ 434] There were almost continuall Earthquakes, and very many sightes were séene in the Element. In the euening Northward, the Element was as redde as fyre, hauing clearer strikes mingled in the fyrye rednesse, fa∣shioned like Speares. The Moone was Eclipsed: a Comet appeared, and many other horrible thinges. And the yeare following Attila king of the Hunnes being ayded by Walametes King of the Ostrogothes, and by Ardaricus Kinge of the Gepidians, and by other Nati∣tions, went oute of Pannonia, and soone after set vpon the Empyre of the Weast.

[ 457] Ouer the Ilande of Britaine, there appeared a Starre of a won∣derfull greatenesse to whose beame didde hang a Ball of Fyre, like to a Dragon, oute of whose mouth procéeded two beames, the one of which streatched beyonde Fraunce, but the other reaching toward Irelande, did ende in sixe little beames.

The Saxones after the death of their king Aurelius Ambrosius be∣ing frée from the couenaunte of their league, inuaded the Cities and Promontoryes, and spoyled all places from Albania as farre as Yorke.

In the seconde yeare of the Empyre of Leo, there was so greate an [ 460] Earthquake and rumbling, that in manye places many Buildinges fell downe, and well neare all Antioche was shaken. That destruction was the reward of the mischiefs that followed, because the Citizens béeing e∣straunged from Gods Lawes were cruellye mynded lyke Beastes, and were haunted with all blynde furie of doting madnesse, for the forest earth∣quake of all that inuaded that Cittie was fyue hundreth and sixe yeares after the building of that Citie, the fourtéenth day of the Moneth of Sep∣tember, the fourth hower of the nighte, and from that Earthquake whiche hapned in the tyme of Traiane thrée hundered forty and seuen yeares, for the one afflicted Rome when in the one hundreth twentye and nine yeare that Cittie vsed her Lawes as a frée common Wealth, and the other op∣pressed Antioche in the time of Leo, in the fyue hundreth and sixt yeare, as it hath bene founde out in the Learned, and almoste it ouerthrewe all the houses whereas it was moste populous, so that there was in it no deserte or any place inhabitable or made lighte of. It was moste royallye sette oute by reason of the ambitious liberalitie of many Princes, who haue endeauoured howe to excell one an other in costly building, and haue stro∣uen to surpasse one another in glory: wherefore both the houses of the Em∣perour fell downe, others escaped the perill together with the bath adioy∣ning, which deliuered the Cittie from his former discommoditie, because that the other baines or Bathes had hurt it with their ouerflowing. More∣ouer the porches that stoode before the Emperors houses were cast downe, and the Tetrapulum that were set vpon them:* 1.18 furthermore the towers and certaine porches standing vpon them, before the dores where horses were coursed, fell downe likewise, and in the olde Citie it touched neyther house nor porche, it shooke besides the Bathes of Traian, Seuerus & Adrian, like∣wise very many buildings & the porch which is called Ostracina, & also that which was called Nimphean, all which at large Iohn the Rhethorician in his histories hath set forth. By reasō of this earthquake & for y^e houses pul∣led down, they report that the Emperour did forgiue that Citie a thousand Tallentes of Golde of their yearelye Tribute, and that hée gaue a greate summe of money to repaire common houses. At that time also Thrace, Hel∣lespont, all Ionia, and the Ilandes which are called Ciclades were shaken, many buildinges in Cuidus and Cous fell downe, but at Constantinople, and in the Prouince of Bithinia there endured mightie showers, water conti∣nually falling downe from heauen in maner of riuers, for thrée or foure dayes. The Mountaynes became playne, excéeding greate Villages

through the deluge were no more séene.* 1.19 Through the great plentie of soyle and filth in certaine Moores there became Ilands, as it happened in Boaue, which is by Nicomedia, many other things happened besides: there were also sights séene in the Element, for a clowde was séene for forty dayes ha∣uing the shape of a trumpet. At which time also it rayned ashes at Con∣stantinople, the cloudes being turned into fire, whyche ashes laye vpon the tyles almost a handbroade thicke, the whych was a moste euident token of the burning that was at hande, wherefore they all going out of the Citie with trembling, appeased God with prayer, saying that God would abolish all things with a fierie rayne: at last when God was turned to mercie, and the flame quenched, the horrible ashes fell to the grounde. Hereof Proco∣pius of Cesaria doth also make mention, writing that this fire beganne at the Mountaine Pebius, from whence, when it was waxen great, being dri∣uen aloft with a violent winde it fell downe vpon that place where it cea∣sed, and perchaunce after it was so driuen aloft in the ayre, God cast it vpō those places whiche were to be punished: when the mouing of the Earthe which we haue spoken of, did inuade them, the Emperour Leo fearing him selfe, pitched his tabernacles about Saint Mamant, refrayning to enter the Citie for sixe monethes, and by that meanes thinking that he should auoide Gods wrath, there folowed a pernitious or mortall burning of the Citie of Constantinople Maioranus the Emperour led his army into Affrica against the Vandalles.* 1.20 Thodoricus being afrayde of the tydings, leauing Emerita wente againe into Fraunce and laying peace apart, and raging with mur∣der, spoyled and burned Churches, Cities and townes.

[ 464] In the fourth yeare of the Emperour Leo at Tholosa a Citie in Frāce, out of the middle therof bloud ran a whole day, with a very great streame, whiche the Gothes toke for a sore warning, or a token of destruction. The next yeare Theudimar put to the sword the Sireni and the Scyri, for the re∣uengement of his slaine brother.

[ 466] The 6. yeare of the Emperour Leo, when a certaine Painter went a∣bout to tricke out our sauiour, according to the likenesse of Iupiter, all hys hand dryed vp. Vincent. booke 21. Chap. 25. out of Sigebertus, who notwith∣standing setteth downe that this was done in the yeare 463. Seuerus at Ra∣uenna, was by Ricimer made Emperour of the Weast, in Fraunce Farme houses flockes of shéepe and manye other things were stricken with light∣nings, and two young menne were founde wyth theyr bodyes ioy∣ned togither with the fire. Iord••nis in his booke of the Annals, and Cuspim∣anus in the Consuls.

The eleauenth yeare of the Emperour Leo at Vienna in Austria cer∣taine temples and Palaces fel downe with an horrible Earthquake. And Woulfes and other wilde beasts wandering al the yeare long through the City deuoured men.

Moreouer the Kings Palaice being consumed with fire from heauen, vpon holy Easter day, made many afrayde. When Vterpendragon king of the Britaines was deade, Arthur his sonne was aduaunced to his king∣dome (called the most Christian king of the Britaines,) who ware on hys heade a Helmet of golde, wherin a Dragon was grauen: he caused a shield of gold called Pridwine to be carryed before him, wherein was séene painted the Image of Gods mother: Moreouer he caused his speare called Ron (whi∣che was long and great,* 1.21 and fit to spoyle) to be caried with him whersoeuer he went: and it is saide that he had, and carried with him a sworde, called Caliborne, w^t which he vsed to fight: he ordayned the order of the round ta∣ble, wherevnto were none admitted, but those which were of Princely li∣nage, or of incomparable strength. After twelue victorious battayles he fi∣nished his life, & is buried at Analon now called Glastenburie. His principal Court was Winchester.

H••mericus king of the Vandales in the Consulship of Theodoricus & [ 488] Venantius did very sharpely assayle the Christians, in whiche persecution many had their tongs mangled, and some had them quite cut off, whyche notwithstanding being cured by Gods diuine power, did speake euen with∣out tongs, as Sigebertus and Marcellinus. At this time the tyraunt Hono∣richus the eight yeare of hys raigne ended his life with a death miserable y∣nough, but most worthy of so gret a wickednesse, for not only his body was rotten and swollen vp with Wormes, but also the partes of his bodye sée∣med to carry him to the graue.

There appeared in the Elemente diuers tokens and strange Comets. Theodo••ic•••• king of the Ostrogotes issuing out of Messea and going in∣to Italy, met twice with Ordoaces King of Italy and put him to flight, and closing him in at Papia, did there besiege him thrée yeares. When Eoricus king of the Vigotes was dead, Alaricus hys sonne did succéede him in the kingdome.

In Minias a riuer in Spaine fishes were taken,* 1.22 in whose scales the coyne of that yeare was as it had bin engrauen, the same yere Felt e•••• and Feua [ 490] kings of the Rugians went about to thrust the Herules out of the Country, whom Odoaser vanquished and flewe, and almost defaced the nation of the Rugians.

When Deuterus a Bishop of the Arians at Constantinople Baptised one [ 504] Barba, & distinguishing the trinitie amisse said. I Baptise thee Barba in the name of the Father through the sonne in the holy Ghost (Baptizo te Bar∣ba in nomine patris per filium in spiritu sancto) the water vanished away.

Moreouer in those dayes, there appeared in Affrica Gods reuenge∣ment [ 506] vpon an Arian called Olympius, who whilst he washed his bodye in bathing water, belching out certaine vnworthye and blasphemous words, touching the holy beliefe and the trinitie, there came sodainely a fierie

dart from heauen which visibly burned him. Neocesaria fell with an earth∣quake.

[ 515] At Alexandria many of both kindes being possessed with a Spirite or Diuell sodaynelye barked like Dogs. Vitalianus Ruler of the North, v∣surped agaynst Anastasius. The Hunnes called Baber, passing through the straightes of the Caspian Sea, spoyled Armenia, Capadocia, Gallatia and Pontus.

[ 520] Anastasius borne of a base parentage, became Emperour of the East, but he falling into heresies, did many iniuries to the right beléeuers, and distayned the honour of the Empire, with the corruption of the Eutichian herezie, wherefore he deserued Gods reuengement, who being stricken with lightning dyed.

[ 527] In the seuenth yeare of the Empire of Iustinus Caesar, the nine and twentith day of May at noone tyde, an Earthquake together with a quaue∣ring boyling being at Antioche and shaking the verye Foundation of the Cittie, made it ill fauoured and dreadfull, and what notable thing soeuer was in it, it cast to the grounde: besides this destruction there was a light∣ning, so that those mischances séemed to deuide misery among themselues, for the earthquake and the shaking made flat with the ground a great part of the Cittie, and if that spoyle lefte any thing vntouched, the fyre han∣ging ouer consumed, and after a maruaylous sorte brought it into a∣shes.

[ 529] Agayne Antioche suffered moste gréeuous Earthquakes, when af∣terwarde it got due care or prouision by Iustinian and was called Theopo∣lis, that is the Citie of God, euery one of the Citizens writing the name of Christ ouer his doore, by that meanes droue away the Earthquake, when God had commaunded a certayne religious man in an Oracle to write these wordes ouer their doores, Christus nobiscum, state: that is, Christe is with vs, stande ye.

[ 538] King Totila persecuting for Christ his sake Benedictus the younger a manne famous for his holynesse, when he wente aboute to burne him with his Cell, he put him into a hote Fornace or Ouen, who béeing vn∣hurte, yea his Garmentes vntouched, he came out the nexte day. The Gothes besieged Rome for a whole yeare, and Vitiges stirreth vp Cosroes king of the Persians agaynst the Romanes, Procopius Booke .2. of the Persian warre.

[ 339] In the Mone••h of December a Comet was séene in Sagittarius, then in Italy war was made with the Gothes, which nation at length Narces by the helpe of the Lumbardes vtterly destroyed.

[ 341] When Narces made warre agaynst Edualde king of the Brentians, in Lumbardy, and chéefely in the partes of Liguria certayne signes vppon

the sodayne appeared miraculouslye on the Houses, Dores, Crosses, Ves∣sels or Garmentes, whiche if anye went aboute to washe awaye, they more and more appeared: immedyatelye after this followed a horrible plague which cruelly spoyled on euerye side, but the yeare following, there beganne to growe about mennes priuities or in other delicate pla∣ces, Kernels lyke a Nutte or a Date, after whiche immediatelye there followed an intollerable heate of Agues, so that in thrée dayes the sick dyed, but if any hadde escaped thrée dayes, he had hope to liue, and in all places there was mourning, in all places there was wéeping, for the rumour of the common people was, that they which fled awaye shoulde auoyde that disease: the houses were left without inhabitantes, dogges alone kéeping the house, the Cattayle only remayned in the pastures without any sheap∣hearde: a man might sée this day houses full of men, and the next daye they all flying away, euery place to be very silent. The children and the sonnes fled away, leauing the dead bodies of their parentes vnburied: the parents forgetting their fatherlye loue, forsooke their children frying with heate: if by chance pittie moued any man to burie his neighbour, he himself remay∣ned vnburied and whilest he was about the buriall he dyed: a man might sée the Worlde brought to his auncient silence: there was no voyce in the Countrey, no whistling of sheapheardes, no beastes lying in waight to de∣uoure, no damage in house founde. Corne being ouer-ripe was vntouched, the Vineyardes were vngathered when Winter came, both daye and nighte a company of wandering folkes made a noyse, there was hearde of many as it were the noyse of men of warre, there appeared no steppes of men comming, there was séene no murtherer, and yet the Carcasses of the deade were innumerable, sheapheardes places were turned to buriall places, and mennes dwellinges became places for the Beastes to flye vnto.

In diuers places of Fraunce there were diuers tokens, there appeared a Comet vpon holy Easter day, the Element was séene to burne, very blood fell out of clowdes vpon mens Garments. Cosroes king of the Persians the fourth tyme inuaded the landes of the Romanes and was put back by Belli∣sarius. Bellisarius being Generall in the Persian warre, made a citie in Si∣sauranum to yéelde.

There was an vniuersall Earthquake ouer all the World, wherein among other Citties Epidamnus also, whiche nowe is called Dirrhachium, sustayned verye muche domage, and lykewise Corinth whiche standeth in the countrie of Greece, and Anazarba which is the head citie of Cilicia suffe∣red the like, which cities the Emperor Iustinian restored with a great sum of money, while he was Emperor: Foelix also a Citie of the Edesceni∣ans, beyond the riuer Euphrates which is excéeding great and populous & in

the prouince of the Obscaenians, who was muche afflicted with the wonder∣ful ouerflowing of the riuer Scirtus, which runneth by it, that whē it shoke downe, and drew with it many houses, it caried away and drowned an in∣finite number of men: whom after that the water had forcibly takē away, immediately like vnto a violente streame that groweth after a rayne, run∣ning through the middle of the Citie, vanished away, whych euill when it ceased, a Table of Marble appeared in holye written Letters signifying this:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Saltabit ciui saltum saltator acerbum.

that is,

A dauncer shal daunce an ill daunce for the Citizens.

There was séene in the same time a certaine woman of the Giauntes kinde, excéeding the stature of any man, hir breadth also did aunswere hir length in proportion. Hartabanes deliuered Affrica and Carthage from the tyrannie of Gontharis. Bellisarius was chosen againe to be ruler in the Ita∣lian warre. The Herulians ouercame the Slauonians at the Riuer Ister.

[ 545] In Thrace the Sea flowing vp foure mile long swalowed vp manye people. Totilas besieged Rome. They which were possessed suffred excéeding hunger. The Gothes also forcibly besieged Placentia, who sustayned so grie∣uous hunger, that they did eate one another, & through this necessitie they were constrayned to yéelde to Totilas.

[ 546] There was a great Earthquake at Constantinople. Totilas toke Rome the third part of the wal was cast down, the Citie was desolate, which Bellisa∣rius entred and fortifyed.

[ 547] There were oftentimes earthquaks at Constantinople and else where: the riuer of Nilus in Egipt, did so ouerflowe as it did neuer before, y^e Hunnes and Totilas plaied the tyrantes in Italie and Illiria, which miserably spoy∣led as far as Epidamnus.

[ 550] The flowers, the berries, and the fruite of the trée which is called El∣der, were transformed into the flowers, berries, and fruite of the Vine, as Sigebertus writeth. The Slauonians entring into the landes of the Ro∣maynes slewe them, and at laste at Constantinople, they were driuen to flye.

There were cruell Earthquakes in Greece in Beccia and Achaia: the [ 551] Gréeke Criseas was lastly shaken, very many places and Cities were swa∣lowed vp, in diuers places the earth being drowned sunck vnder foote, and againe in some places great openings of the earth closed vppe, and in some places the earth gaped continually. Alboinus King of Lumbardie, by the help of Iustinian fought with y^e Gepidiens, slew their king Chunimundus, and almoste put out the name of the Gepedes.

A certaine boy in the East, sonne of a Iewe, when he was brought to [ 552] this, by his companions the sonnes of Christians, in the Churche of the Virgin Marie to receiue the Sacramente of Christ our sauiour, was for that by his father cast into a burning furnace, whom the Christians thēce drewe forth without any harme. At Constantinople a Sinod was assembled against the madnesse of Theodorus, Narses with a great army entered and ouercame the Gothes at Tagina.

An Earthquake shoke Constantinople for fortie dayes. The Frenchmen [ 554] hauing Bucelinus their Captaine, slue the Herulians at Parma, and Da∣gisteus vanquished Bucelinus.

There appeared the forme of a launce in the Elemente, from the [ 555] North to the Weaste, Bucelinus and Amingus Captaynes of Fraunce,* 1.23 were miserably slain by Narces. When Modardus of Nouum, Comum, and of Turne•• dyed, the Element opened, and Heauenly lightes did shine forth two houres space: this writeth Sigibertus in his Chronicles. Lotharie king of Fraunce subdued wyth a great conflict and slaughter the Saxons rebelling against him, and them of Thuring helping them, and not long after dyed at Trident in his iourney.

There were verye many Prodigies, there were huge Earthquakes, [ 557] dashings togither and gapings of the earth, wonderfully burning of stars, and ouerflowyng in the Sea, whyche ranne vppe into Thrace, al∣moste foure myle. And a blynde Whelpe dydde certayne straunge things he gaue euerye man hys owne, and shewed with signes certaine secrete things. An Earthquake afflicted Constantinople for tenne dayes and [ 558] nightes.

The Citie Berito fell downe with an Earthquake, the Iland of Cous, [ 560] was shaken, that yeare Lotharie chalenged vnto him the thirde part of the reuinewes of Churches. There appeared many tokens, manye signes, in the Sunne and Moone, Italy and chiefely Liguria was troubled with a mi∣serable plague. The kingdome was againe diuided among the sonnes of Lotari king of Fraunce. There was séene fierie speares in the Element, por∣tending the breaking of the Lumbards into Italy. That yeare Etherius, A∣uitatus, and Medicus, laye in waite to kyll Iustinian and were slaine.

At London in Englande, trées séemed to be a fire. At Yorke fountaines [ 570] ranne bloude.

In Kent a Boye laughed in hys mothers belly. Which prodigies were very truely expounded by Merline, against the English Saxons: witnes••e hereof is Bale.

Bloude is saide to fall from heauen, when at that time the Lumbards ha∣uing Albuinus there Captaine entred Italy, where afterward they held the kingdome more than 200. yeares.

In Italy there were séene fiery battailes in the Element from y^e which fell bloud, and afterward for manye dayes through continuall raine Tiber swelled so great, that with greate slaughter of the people, it drowned the lo∣west places of Rome, and likewise in certaine other Cities. Leuigialdus King of the Gothes subdued the Cities and Countryes of Spaine rebelling. The Lumbardes with a huge multitude, with their sonnes, with their wi∣ues, and other barbarous nations vnder their king Albuinus entred Italie, by way of Sirmium a Citie of the lower Panonia, & possessed it. There were heard soundyng Trumpettes in the Element. In those dayes there were moste troublesome times, Sainte Gregorie thoughte that the ende of the worlde was neare and that that greatest day of Christ was at hande. The Lumbards without any letting them inuaded Italy. Paul•• the Patriarke of Aquilea fled awaye, the Churches of Christe were ouerthrowne, Priestes were slaine, and Monkes were hanged vpon crosses by theyr féete: Deacōs hadde theyr heades cutte off, the common people and husbandmen were slayne, bycause they woulde not worshippe the consecrated heade of a Goate offered to their Goddes, and eate of the fleshe offered to their Goddes, sauing Rauenna and Rome. Italy was broughte vnder the Empyre of the Lumbardes, whyche at thys daye they commonlye call Lumbardy.

[ 573] In that war whych the Romaines made againste the Persians very ma∣ny Prodigies portending the insuing destruction of the Romaines were séene. A Bull newelye Calued was séene in the beginning of the warre, out of whose necke appeared two heades, the Romaines ouercame the Persians in a greate conflicte about Segarthon.

King Heribertus dyed. Betwéene the Spaniardes and the Frenchmen there arose a greate contention touching the kéepyng of Easter [ 579] day.

The thirde yeare of Tiberius Constantinus the Emperour, there a∣rose againe at Antioche an excéeding greate Earthquake, whiche shooke the publike and priuate houses, euen to the verye foundations, and yet dyd not ouerthrow them to the grounde. And all Daphne (made as it were the worke thereof at sundry times) fel down. Leonogildis in the beginning of his raigne droue the Sweuions out of Spaine, and ouercame Andeca their [ 580] king.

A fire was séene to runne vp and downe in the Elemente. Hormisda Kyng of the Persians makyng inrodes vppon the prouinces of the Ro∣maines was shamefully ouercome by the Romaines: he published a decrée, that the Kyng of the Persians shoulde not goe forth anye more to fighte by himselfe, bycause the force of the Romaines mighte not be de∣minished.

The fourth yeare of Tiberius Constantinus Wolues entred the Ci∣tie

of Burdeaux, and fearing no man, deuoured the dogges, immediately the Lumbardes passing the Alpes dyd grieuouslye annoye Rome, and the Cap∣taynes of the Lumbards did set vpon Fraunce, and the Lumbardes stroue to∣gither with diuerse kindes of fighte.

At Turon bloude ranne out of broken breade. Mumulus being put in the place of Amatus vanquished the Lumbardes at theyr returne: the peo∣ple [ 581] Auares toke Sermium. Tiberius the Emperour fell mad, and not long after dyed.

The Empyre was foretolde Mauricius by manye tokens from hea∣uen. For when late in the nighte, he was occupyed in Gods seruice, and offered incense in the highe Churche of our Lady, whiche was so called by Iustinian among them of Antioch: the vaile wherwith the holy table was couered, fell on a fire, so that Mauricius being driuen to amazednesse was thereat afrayde, and Gregorie being the Hierarch or holy ruler of that Ci∣tie which there stoode present, saide that that was some diuine thing, & dyd betoken new and high matters: and when vppon a time Mauricius was in the East, Christ appeared to him euidently and manifestlye, and besoughte him to reuenge the iniuries offered him, whiche surely was a true diuina∣tion of his Empire, for of whom should Christe aske reuengemente, but of an Emperour, and of him that was so deuoute towards him. Moreouer, those which brought him (the said Emperour) into the world, recoūt of him other things worthy of remembraunce. For his father tolde him about the time he was begottē, y^t there appeared to him in his fléepe an excéeding gret vine, which grew and spred out at his Chamber dore, bringing forth al kind of ripe clusters of Grapes hanging all about: but his mother in the time of his birth saide, that there came out of the Earthe a certaine straunge and a diuerse swéete smel, and said moreouer (which is a fable of old women, and to me almost incredible) that that which is called Empusa, other cal it Gilo, Hobgoblin or the Fayrie, toke the child out of the Chamber, as it were to deuoure him, yet coulde do him no harme, moreouer that* 1.24 Simeones which made his abode vppon a piller neare Antioch being giuen to doe so manye good workes as scarsely none other did, and most famous for all kinde of vertues, did not only speake, but did also many things by the way of diui∣nation, whiche didde note or betoken his Empire. The same yeare Iohn Mystaco ruler of the Easte, vanquished the Persians at the riuer Nimphi∣as.

In France Clodoue the Kings yongest son was slaine, when his step∣mother Phridegundis bare rule. The people of Auares comming to Constā∣tinople, made a couenant that the Romaines shoulde pay them yearely the sti∣pend of 100000. pound of gold.

There was a gret deluge chiefly at Venice, & in Liguria y^e first of October, [ 586]

and great thūder, and there folowed a grieuous plague at Rome, through y^e stinck of Serpents cast vpō the shore. In the riuer Nilus there were séene liuing creatures, both male and female, which as far as the flanckes hadde mans shape, and being adiured by God, they stayed to be seen from y^e mor∣ning till nine of the clocke. The Lumbardes, make Atheris son of Dep••on their king, who was called Flauius, of whom afterward kings were tear∣med Flauij. In Fraunce Fredigundis and hir aduouterer Laudrichus mai∣ster of the horsemen caused the king to be slaine at Cala, returnyng from hunting in the night season. Caianus ouerthrew Sigipon.

[ 589] In Italy and chiefely at Rome there arose cruel tempest, wherefore the Lumbardes besieging Rome, and being sore afrayde with the continuall raging and force of whirlewindes, were compelled to remoue theyr siege, and there folowed so great a boundaunce of water, that well almoste innumerable men and beastes perished throughe Italie, and especiallye at Rome. Throughe the corruption of deade carcases, there folowed a pestilence of which Pelagius the Bishop dyed, after he had held his Bishop∣rick eleauen yeares.

[ 590] When for a moneth space, a Comet hadde appeared, manye Prin∣ces dyed, and eyghte yeares after Machomet, the greate Prophete of God as sayde the Sarazens, who gaue lawes to the Sarazens, was born in Arabia. The sonne of Hormilda, after hys Father was taken, in∣uaded the kingdome of the Persians. The Romaynes also were ouer∣come by the Persians. Ouermuche rayne caused greate ouerflowings, in suche sorte that all men sayde, the last daye of iudgement was at hande, for the destruction was so greate, that none coulde remember to haue bin more grieuous sithence the worlde beganne. A greate Dragon also in a man∣ner of a strong beame, with an innumerable number of Serpentes went throughe Tiber into the Sea, by the whyche the beastes of the sea, beyng strangled and caste on the shoare, corrupted the ayre with theyr rottennesse.

The yeare followyng Hormisda kyng of the Persians whome the Persians made blynde, was slayne by hys sonne Coldroe, whiche fledde to the Emperoure Mauris, and by hys manhoode he vanquished the Persians.

The same tyme the Riuer of Tiber, did so breake ouer the banckes at Rome, that flowing ouer the Walles of the Citie, it occupyed an excéeding greate parte of the Countrey, and ouerthrewe manye houses: Of the stincke also, there followed a verye grieuous plague, whyche they called Inguinaria, whyche was so greate that it also kylled the Pope Pelagius, and euerye where verye manye houses in Rome stoode emptie.

[ 593] When king Agilulphus was king ouer the Lūbardes there came a great

number of Grashoppers into the territorie of Trident, which were greater than others bée: all these eate vp the grasse and corne of the field: and thys yeare was a greate drought from the moneth of Ianuarie, to the moneth of September, and there was greate scarsitie of corne, so that manye dyed of hunger.

In Fraunce a certaine man felling downe trées in a wood, was so pe∣stered with flyes, that two yeares he was madde. Afterward vnder the ha∣bite of religion he shewed him selfe a false Prophet, after that a Magitian, and after that he cured sicke persons, and saide that he was Christ, and cō∣maunded himselfe to be honored for hym, he stroke like an enimie, those that woulde not worship him togither with the people whiche in great nū∣bers cloue vnto him, yet afterward he was slaine by a certain faithful mā, and so his followers were dispearsed. This yeare Recharetus king of the Vicegothes, spoyled the borders of the Romaines, the Gothes came to vni∣on of the Catholike Faith, and Hianus againe inuaded Thrace.

By reason of the excéeding drouth going before, the fall of the multi∣tude of Locustes wasted the fruites of al y^e fields, and hereof in Italy came a wonderful famine.

When the same Aginulphus raigned, in the moneth of Ianuarie there [ 594] appeared a blasing Starre morning and euening for a whole moneth, in the whiche moneth also Iohn Archbishoppe of Rauenna died, and Euendux at Trident, and at the same time, more thā 2000. of the Boyoarians were all slaine whilest they set vpon the Slauonians, whom Cachanus came to help. A certaine Senators sonne of Rome, was created by the people of Rome, the chiefest commaunder of Italy, againste the Lumbardes, whiche office was not before. Ag••nulphus made peace with Cachanus king of the Hunes re∣quiring the same by his embassadors from Panonia.

After that Gregorie the Pope who being a Deacon, toke the gouern∣ment [ 595] of the sea of Rome after Pelagius, had ordayned a seauen shaped or fa∣shioned letanie, within the space of one houre while he praied to God, 80 of them sodainelye falling to the grounde gaue vp the ghost, againe Agenul∣phus slew the auntient Slauonians at Ister, and doeth inriche hys Souldi∣ers with a huge pray, Caianus maketh peace with Agenulphus the Lum∣barde.

At Constantinople a boy was borne with foure féete, and another ha∣uing [ 596] two heads, whiche prodigies did betoken aduersitie to those places where they were borne. Thassilo being appointed king of the Baiorians, by Childebertus and ouercomming the Slauonians triumphed.

The Sunne from the East to the Weast was deminished to one third part of him, the Lumbardes breaking in vpon the Hil Cassinus made spoyle of all things in Italy. Gallicanus succéeded the Senators son of Rome that was deade, and made peace with the Lumbardes.

[ 597] There were séene at this time manye and horrible prodigies, which por∣tended the future calamities of Mahomet, which as this yeare was borne in Arabia, for the self same yeare a Comet was séene at Constantinople, hor∣rible to behold. Moreouer Guntranus dyed, and by his testament Hildebert his brother succéeded him. Many prodigies wēt a litle before y^e deth of Mau. [ 601] K. of y^e Romains, for at first an excéeding great Comet was séene shining for many dayes: In Thrace y^e same time, a womā brought forth a child altogi∣ther mōstrous, & an offēce to nature, for he lacked eyes, eyelids, & eyebries, neither had he iust forme & likenes in y^e rest of y^e constitution of his body, for he had neither hands nor armes, & at his thigh there grewe & hung down y^e taile of a fishe: which monster when Mauricius the Emperor saw, he cōmā∣ded it to be slain & immediately he kist the sword, & the mother which brou∣ght forth y^e mōster, for as much as hir fault wrought nothing in this strāge miracle, was discharged of crime: thē also y^e best of y^e Emperors horsses, and the goodliest to behold w^t his golden furniture, vpō y^e sodain fel down & burst in sunder, & in y^e stréets of y^e suburbs of y^e imperial Citie, other mōsters al∣so wer born: to wit, a boy hauing 4. féete, & another hauing 2. heads, but they both wer cut in péeces. The 19. yere of y^e Empire of Mauricius when Mena bare rule in Egipt, there were also certain mōsters séen in y^e riuer of Nilus, for after y^e ruler came to Delta (this place is famous amōg the Egiptians, ta∣king name of y^e forme of y^e letter) & early in y^e morning went to y^e riuer side, sodainly a certain mā bringing w^t himself a horror, came out of y^e chanel of y^e riuer like to a Giant, in countenance hauing a graue looke, a broune haire & sprinckled with hoare haires, a great brest shewing in his back & armes a valiantnes, & shewing himself to be séene as far as the shore, when some∣times he lept vp aboue the water, but hyding y^e rest of his body vnder the water as though he had bin a shamed, couered the secrets of nature. Whē y^e captain beheld him, he solemnly again & again adiured him, if he were a Diuel to go out of sight, & to get himself to a desart, but if he wer some crea∣ture, he adiured him y^t he should not go out of sight before he had satisfied all men with his straunge presence: wherfore y^e liuing creature (for I dare not cal him a man) stoode stil a long time, being bound with the adiuration & let al men sée him. The 3. day after in y^e morning, another liuing creature also in the forme of a woman (for nature shewed it sufficiently) came out of the water. For the mildnes of hir countenance, the length of hir haire, y^e consti∣tution of the rest of hir bodie, hir haire partly folded, partly lose, & hir goodly fauor shewed hir to be a womā, but hir haire was somewhat black, hir face white, hir nose reasonable, & hir fingers séemely, hir lips tender, hir breasts round & smoth, & hir dugs séemed to the beholder a little to appeare: the Ri∣uer hid the other parts of a woman, putting away the secret parts frō the beholders, as from those which had not receiued secret orders. Wherefore the captain & his company fed their eyes with that sight, till the sun going down, at which time those liuing creatures also entred into the innermost

parts of y^e riuer, whē they had shewed themselues to be séene without spea∣king any worde, for with domb silence they appeared to their louers. Of all these vnlucky tokēs the Emperour gathered by this coniecture, a gréeuous end of all things, and at that time he was sore troubled with the feare of that which fell out, bycause that they which diligently haue written histo∣ries, haue left in writing, that those monstrous shews were neuer good to y^e common wealth. Not long after Priscus & Commentiolus, Rulers of the Coūtries of Europe, by breaking y^t peace which by a certaine subtilty they had made with Chaganabat, the Prince priuily cōmanding it, passed ouer Ister in ships, & as soone as they arriued to Vimenacium, which is an Iland standing in the riuer of Ister, & afterward sodainly met with Barbarians & certain others, in the space of a moneth, in many battailes, they slue aboue. 30000. of the Abarians, Gepides & the Sclauonians, & tooke more than 1500. of them, & when they had gotten such a victorie, as almoste neuer any was known to haue had of his enimies, they went backe, or returned. There appéered so many Prodigies as neuer before, by the which the miseries to [ 603] come were foreshewed, or there was séene a very brighte Comet in y^e mo∣neth of September, & Nouember, whervpon y^t yeare Mauritius the Empe∣rour was slain by Phocas, & afterward Pope Bonifacius y^e third with great contētion obtained y^t Rome should be called & accoūted y^e head of y^e churches.

When Gregory Agilulphus made peace with Theodoricus K. of Frāce, a most gréeuous plague spoyled Rauēna & those which inhabited y^e sea cost, & the yere folowing, it so spoyled y^e whole territorie of Verona, y^t one halfe of y^e people was not left aliue, Paulus Wanefri. li, 4. ca. 15 Ther appéered a blou∣dy signe in y^e Elemēt, like a bloudy speare, & the light appeared cleare to all mē al y^e night long, & grieuously afflicted Theodopertus K. of France, y^t was in y^e field against Clotarie his coosin germaine. The yere folowing captain Agilul which succéeded Farualdus at Spoletū died. Whē Theodopert K. of [ 604] France bare rule, whilst y^e French fighting with y^e Saxōs had made a bloudie slaughter, at Tisinū in y^e high church of S. Peter y^e Apostle, Peter a singer was strickē with lightning, Pau. Wanefridus Lōgabardus li. 4. ca. 32. In the mo∣neth of April & May, there appeared a star in y^e Elemēt which we cal a Co∣met, & the same yere Seuerus Patriark of Aquilca departed: y^e same yere af∣terward in y^e moneth of Nouem. & Decem. a Comet again appeared, & the same time whē Candidianus was ded, Epipha: was created Patriark, & so at y^t time the Romains began to haue two Patriarkes. When Lotharius and Theodoricus fought togither in battayle, 30000 mon were slaine: in y^e conflict the Angell of the Lorde was séene holding a naked sworde ouer the people. When Mauricius the Emperour was slaine, the Persians and the Hunnes made a spoyle in the prouinces of the Romaines.

The coate without seame of our Lord Iesus Christ, made by the bles∣sed [ 608] Virgin Marie, which by lot fel to one of y^e souldiers, at this time of Pho∣cas the Emperour was founde by the Bishops Gregorie of Antioch, Tho∣mas

of Ierusalem, and Iohn of Constantinople, vncorrupt and without blea∣mish, not far from Ierusalem, at the Citie Zaphat, layde vp there in a Mar∣ble tombe, which being had in great price, and carried to Ierusalem there inclosed in a chest of Iuorie, they reporte that this coate after the taking of the Citie of Constantinople, came into the hands of the Turkes. Chronicorū. lib. 6. Folio. 149.

[ 617] There appeared a Comet for a moneth, then Cosdras king of the Per∣sians sacked Ierusalem, Polidor Virgil in his third booke of prodigies. Thys yeare also the Persians spoyled all Palestine, they caryed away Zacharie the Patriarke with his ornaments and people. Sigebertus and Functius, do re∣fer this to the yere of Christ. 615. Sigebertus the son of Dagobert Kyng of Fraunce, saide when he was Christened, the people being silent, Amen.

There was a grieuous Earthquake in Palestine, and a signe was séen in the Element hauing the forme of a sword, which stoode 30. dayes South∣ward, wherby men thoughte was signifyed the power of the Sarazens.

Betwéene the Romaines and the Sarazens there arose a war that coulde not be appeased. King Dagobart bet downe the Idolatrous Slauonians.

Cadwallo or Cadwaline king of the Brytaines, by the helpe of Penda tyrant of the Mercians reuolted from the people of Northūber, Edwine di∣ed in the ouerthrow.

[ 639] Againe at Antioch about the third houre of the nighte there sodainely arose a great shaking and a rising of the earth, with a gret noyse, and thrust vp the whole Citie, frō the very foundation: & as it did ouerthrow the buil∣dings, that wer lifted vp aloft, so did it ouerthrow in the lower places those buildings whiche déepely stayed vpon the foundation, so that al the buil∣dings of the holiest Churche were cast downe righte, and the Hemisphere alone remayned in his place. Which Euphaemius the Bishop had builded of the rafters taken out of the wood dedicated to Daphne, when the Earth∣quake made a grieuous destruction in the time of Iustinus, for it was de∣cayed in the North part, with other shakings of the erth, and therfore it had rafters to hold it vp, those rafters then with a great and vehement mouing were so ouerthrowen to the grounde, that the Hemisphere was restored to his place, like a certaine rule. Moreouer manye buildings being shaken in that part of the Citie, whych is called Ostrasine, fel down: and that building also which doth aunswere his name called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i Psephion: likewise those buildings which in y^e mother tong are named Brycia, and besids the church of our Ladie which was neare vnto it, where the middle of the porch alone was wonderfully preserued, al the towers also in the plaine, were wonder∣fully spoyled w^t other wals, sauing the bulwarks alone were vntouched &c. there were slaine at y^t time w^t the fal of the buildings. 6000. persons. Greg. Bish. of y^e citie was saued cōtrary to al hope, for al the house & the dwelling wherin he made abode fel down, neither did any escape y^t dāger but hée &c.

A wonderfull storme at Constantinople, spoyled the Fieldes and the Gar∣dens [ 684] adioyning pulling vp the trées and hearbes. The Sarasens inuaded Affrike, droue awaye Gregorie the Tyraunt, and made it tributarie. Ro∣dolphe duke of the Toringens, denying tribute, was vanquished by Sigi∣bertus king of Austracia, and was compelled to pay tribute.

A fierie stone, as it were a masse of glowing yron flying came from [ 650] the Weast, and many saw a huge Dragon. The yéeres folowing Linthol∣phus the Duke rebelled agaynst Otho his Father. The Earle Adelber∣tus was slayne: the Hungarians spoyled Norica, Fraunce, and Italy.

The eleuenth yeare of the Empyre of Constance, it rayned Ashes, [ 953] wherevpon Constantinople was in a greate feare, fire sell from heauen, and by and by a moste gréeuous plague for the space of thrée sommer Monthes made greate mortalitie. There was séene also in very déede a wicked Aun∣gell going about the Citie, who as often as he stroke the houses of the in∣habitantes with a hunting staffe, so many men the same day died. Con∣stance the Emperor after he had sent a commaunder into Italy, he resisted the Church of God, when Martin the Pope withstoode the Emperor Con∣stantine, he being by him driuen into banishment died, and the Bishops sease was voyde for fourtéene Moneths.

The rising of superstition, The fall of Religion,

The libertie of Errours, The fredome of the Churchmen or clergie.* 1.25 And after their kingdomes, transgression & sinne inuading and com∣ming vpon them, there shall stande a king mightie in face, and vnder∣standing ridels, & his power shalbe strengthened,* 1.26 and not in his owne power and might, and he shall corrupt maruellous thinges. And he shall prosper and doe, and shall corrupt strong thinges, and the people which are holy, and he shall be after his owne opinion, and deceit shalbe direc∣ted and prosper in his hande. And he shall be exalted in his owne harte, and in his prosperitie he shall corrupt many, & he shall resist the prince of all princes, and shall be consumed without hande, whome the Lorde Iesus shall consume with the spirite of his mouth, and shall destroy with the appearaunce of his comming, euen him whose comming is, after the working of Sathan with all lying power, and signes and wonders, and with all deceaueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perish, because they receiued not the loue of the truth, that they mighte bee sa∣ued. &c.

There was an Eclipse of the Sunne at 10. a clock the fifte daye of the Kalendes of May, in the seuenth indiction. A cruell pining sicknesse and a pestilence inuaded Englande, the Archebishop Deus dedit, God gaue, dyed. Constance for his tyrannie towardes godly Priestes, and for his brothers death being hated of his subiectes went to Rome, the Emperour Constan∣tinus tooke many of the Lumbards, he besieged Beneuentum and their King

Grimwaldus gréeuously wasted his armie.

[ 673] The fourth yeare of the Emperour Constantine: there appeared in the Element in the month of March a rainebowe & a fire of such a horrible greatnes, y^e men cried out & said, y^t the last day of y^e world was at hand: that yere a great plague of men, & a morain of cattel afflicted Ticinū. And y^e Sara∣sens breaking in vpō y^e borders of y^e Romans, spoiled al places & tooke Cizicū.

[ 674] The 5. yere of the same Emperor, there was in Italy such rain & thunder that the lightning alone slue men and beastes. Moreouer there was such a∣boundaunce of raine, that men coulde neyther threshe, nor put the corne in their Garners, whereof it came to passe that through the rayne, Graine grew vp againe and came to ripenesse.

[ 676] From August forward for 3. whole moneths, a fearefull star pearced the element with his beames, appeared at the sun rising vntill the sunne went down, after which followed a great plague in the east parts, y^e element to y^e great terror of the beholders séemed to burne for 10. days, & immediatelye a blasing star appeared for 3. Months, & there fel from heauen continual rain and horrible thunder, the like whereof was neuer heard in the memorie of man, for the auoiding of which, Theodatus oftentimes appoynted the peo∣ple to pray, & he after a solemn sort followed the multitude. Theodatus died to y^e great sorrow of the Citie, the 4. yere of his papacie, and was buried in Vaticā Donus after him got the Sea. The Sarasens weried Licia and Cili∣cia [ 677] with warre, a greate plague afflicted Ticinum: Grashoppers flewe in great swarmes, through Siria and Mesopotamia The yere following Ba∣linicus the cunning builder came to Rome, from Heliopolis a citie of Siria, who found out the sea fire, which afterward the Romanes vsing, burned the ships of the Sarasens.

[ 682] In the time of Constantine the 4 Emperor, immediately after the sixte general counsaile of Constantinople the Moone was eclipsed, and almoste at the same time the sunne was eclipsed, nere about ten of the clock of the day, the fift day of the Nones of May, and immediately there followed a moste gréeuous pestilence, which in thrée months made such a spoyle, that euen y^e fathers with the sonnes, & the brothers with the sisters, being so by couples put on the beares, were at Rome caried to burie. In like sort also it spoyled at Ticinum in such sort that all the Citizens fled to the tops of mountaines, and hearbes and shrubbes grew in the Market place, & in other stréetes of the Citie. Moreouer the same yere Muhamas the Amiras or king of the Sa∣rasens died, after whom Gyreth his sonne tooke the gouernment. Constan∣tinus remoued Heraclius and Tiberius being both brothers, from the socie∣tie of the Empire, and began to raigne with Tiberius his sonne.

[ 785] The 16. yere of the sayde Constantine the fierie hill Vesuuius in y^e king∣dome of Naples in time past renowmed for the goodnesse of wine, alwayes casting out smoke and fire, as Aetna doth in Cicilia, burned a fresh. A great

multitude of the Aegiptians entering Affrica did almost vtterly ouerthrow Carthage that was spoyled before. Egfridus king of y^e Nordouimbrians was slaine by the Picts, The Picts, the Scots, and the Britons, vexed the English∣men, and recouering their libertie which in time past they lost by the En∣glishmen, they spoyled a great part of England.

There appeared a horrible star about y^e feast of Christs byrth, aboute the [ 687] orbe of the starres called Vergil•• which continued day and night til twelfe-tide. Benedictus Bishop of Rome died, in whose place Iohn the fift of that name succéeded. Pepin and Martine dukes of the Austracians, were ouer∣come by Ebroyne, and Martine contrary to fayth and promise was slayne. When Perthareth king of the Lumbards was dead, Chumperth his sonne succéeded in the kingdome. When Edrith King of Englande was deade, straunge kinges of other Nations for the space of 4. yeares spoiled & wa∣sted the kingdome of Englande.

There was a deluge in the borders of Ʋenice and Liguria, & other coun∣treys [ 690] of Italy the like whereof is not thought to haue bene sithens y^e time of Noy. Mens houses became ditches, & there was a great death of men and beasts, & the high ways & paths were quite destroyed, and the riuer Athesis grew so hie, that the walles of the citie Verona on the one side were ouer∣throwne: this ouerflowing was the first day of Nouember: moreouer there was such thunder and lightning, the like whereof was not woont to bée in somer time. Tiber also at Rome grew so great that the water thereof ranne ouer the walles and ouerflowed the countrey all abrode, then through the chanell of the same riuer, a dragon of a wonderfull greatnesse with a great number of Serpentes, passing through the Citie went to the Sea, imme∣diately after this ouerflowing ther followed a most gréeuous plague, which they call Inguinaria that destroyed the people in suche numbers, y^t of a mul∣titude inestimable, a very few remained.

The 9. yere of the Emperor Iustinian the sunne was eclipsed the thyrde [ 695] hower of the day, so that certain starres through their brightnesse might be séene of all men in the element. Iustinian the Emperor went about to wea∣ken the sixt holy sinode, and indeuoureth in vayne to thrust out of y^e churche Pope Sergius who herein resisted him.

There was a great earthquake in Siria, Constantinus the 23. pope died, [ 714] after whome succéeded in the Papacie Gregorie the seconde, according to Platina, Sigibert, and others. But there be some who following Blondus doe appoynte Stephan the seconde. Pipin also dyed the same yere, who left his sonne Carolus surnamed Martellus heire of his kingdome.

The Sarasens besieging Constātinople were afflicted with cold, famine and [ 719] pestilence, but when the siege was raysed, the Sarasens shippes were drow∣ned with a prodigious haile, so that but tenne alone escaped.

In the fift yere of Leo in Campania a Countrey of Italy there fell downe [ 722]

from heauen burnt wheate, barley and pulce, as it were rayne, and the yeare following Charles subdewed the Saxons, Rigubertus Bishoppe of Rhemes was put from his seate by Charles, euen as Eucherius Bishop of Orleans was, because he would giue no ayde against Reginfred.

There appeared two Comets, and for this cause chéefelye worthye of remembraunce, because the one went before the Sunne rising, the other followed his going downe.

[ 729] Gregorie the Pope, the second of that name, after sixtéene yeres died, after whome the third of that name a Sirian born, succéeded. The Cazarians rose against the Sarazens and made a greate slaughter of them, Eudo sente forth Sarasens out of Spaine.

[ 735] There was fyre séene in the Element, Luitprandus king of the Lum∣bardes besieged Rome, through whiche feare Gregorie the Pope sente for helpe to Charles the sonne of Pepin. The Sarasens inuaded Fraunce agayn, and possessed Au••nion by treason, Martellius tooke the citie by force, & cha∣sed awaye Athinus king of the Sarasens.

[ 738] Aboute this time died Frideswida, a holy mayde, borne at Oxforde, the Daughter of Duke Didamus, whome king Algarus secretly loued but not honestly. Folowing her to the Citie of Oxforde, the Mayde hasting to saue her virginitie, entred the Citie, after whome the Gates shutte fast of themselues, and the king was stroken blinde, not able farther to pursue, notwithstanding at the prayer of the Maiden, his sight was restored so that the king euer after durst follow no more Maids to Oxforde. There be some Countreis in the worlde, that if the Magistrates should be so handled, there woulde be very few found that had their s••ght, from whose euill ensample, the inferiour sorte are become abhominable. Policron Book. 5. Chap. 24.

[ 740] There was a huge Earthquake at Constantinople, the seuenth daye of the Kalendes of Nouember, which ouerthrew Temples and Monasteries, and this quaking lasted a whole yeare. Pope Leo dyed the fourtéenth daye of the kalendes of Iuly after whome Zacharias succéeded.

[ 744] When Constantine was Emperour ashes fell from heauen. Con∣stantinus the fourth day of the Nones of Nouember, tooke by force Con∣stantinople and put out the eyes of Artabazdus & his two sonnes. The Huns in 7. dayes iourney and with so many armies entring into Scithia, recoue∣red Panonia agayne.

[ 745] There appeared a Comet in Siria after which followed a great plague, which by little and little inuaded all the Ilands of the Sea, and al Greece. It is a maruailous thing, and worth the noting, which Functius singularly reciteth to haue happened in this time. Haly prince of the Sarasens at Da∣mascus sent in banishmente Peter Archebishop of that place, hauing his tongue cut off, to the furthermost Arabia to Eudemon because that he fréely reprooued the Sarasens, and Maniches, of their errour. One Peter a scribe

of the Sarasens hearing this, with a stoute courage withstoode the Sarasens, that he mighte deserue the crown of Martyrdome. For when at that tyme he laye sicke of a gréeuous disease, he sent for the chéefest of the Arabians to come vnto him, whome comming according vnto their custome, when they were wont to receiue of him before their reckninges of their tribute, he spake vnto after this sorte, Albeit it be apparant ynough to me, that you my friendes are infidels, yet because that you haue vouchsafed to visite me in my sicknesse, I desire and beséeche G••d with my harte, to yéelde you a large rewarde, and I will haue you to be witnesses of my will, whiche I nowe make, and I earnestly beséeche you, that you receiuing this precepte with your eares, would lay it vp in the bottome of your harts, and daylye thinke vpon it, and this it is, Whosoeuer beléeueth not in the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, a diuine trinitie in vnitie, of one substaunce, he is deade in soule, and worthy of euerlasting punishment. Such a one I confesse your false prophet Mahomet to be, whome I nothing doubte to bée the forrunner of Antichrist. Depart you, then depart you I cal heauen and earth to witnesse for you, from his most wicked trifles and fables, for this I counsayle you, leaste togither with him yée be punished for euer. The A••abians being stricken with the straungenesse of the thing, and supposing that the man doted, and through féeblenesse had lost the vse of reason, made then little account of him, speaking these wordes through vnsensiblenesse, or rather madnesse. And whē not long after he recouered his former health, he cried out with a lowder voyce than euer he did before, that Mahomet was accursed, that his writing was ful of fables, and that all they that did obey him and beléeue in him, shoulde perishe vnder an euerlasting curse, and when he had proclaimed this often and openly, he was forciblye taken by the Sarasens that were made to heare him, and was beheded, and became (as he wished,) the Martir of Christ.

The fifte yere of the Emperour Constantine in Calabria, Cicilia, and [ 746] in certayne other places, there appeared little Crosses vppon mens Gar∣mentes, and vpon the vayles of Temples, as it were marked with Oyle, And that yere followed an horrible pestilence which began in Cicilia, and afterwarde by little and little inuaded all the Ilandes of the Sea, and all Greece. And Cachis king of the Lumbardes, whilest he vpon league broken went about to vexe Rome was not only repressed by Pope Zacharie but al∣so comming to Rome with his wife and Children, through his perswasion became a Monke.

An Earthquake did gréeuously molest Palestine, chéefely the holy Cit∣tie, [ 747] a pestilence spoiled the Citie of Constantinople, the Sarasens inuade Cipres with a Nauie. In Fraunce Pepin doth persecute his Brother Gr••••on, go∣ing about to entrap him.

The eleuenth yere of Constantine the Emperour there was a terri∣ble [ 752]

Earthquake wherewith some Cities fell quite down, some were part∣ly ouerthrowne, some were caried from hillie places to a Champion coun∣trey, more than sixe myles, whole and safe together with their walles and inhabitantes. In Mesopotamia also the earth cloue asunder for the space of two mile, and an other earth very white and sandye rose vp from the bot∣tome, and out of that came a beast like a Mule vntouched speaking with a mans voyce, and vttering (the inuasion of a Nation from the Wildernesse against the Arabians.)

In Fraunce in the night time there was séene a great firie signe in the Element, to witte a fierie bowle, on the south side declining from the bor∣ders of Fraunce to the quarters of Lumbardy. Theodosiopolis and Mittilene were recouered by Constantine, Stephan the Pope choosing Pepin to helpe him against Aistulphus ouercame the Lumbards in Italy, & besieged their king Muruha at Papia.

[ 757] There was an earthquake in Palestine in Siria. The next yere after this, to witte the eightéenth yere of Constantine, it happened that certain Magi, wise men of the Persians called Marophori fell to so great madnesse, y^t they perswaded themselues and other fooles light of beléefe, if in selling all their substaunce (to what vse they gathered their money, & whether it were giuē to poore folkes or not, it is not known) they would cast themselues naked from the walles of the citie, then without stay they should flie vp into hea∣uen: very many miscaried through this péeuishnesse, and at length sixtéene of the chéefest being slaine by the Prince of the Sarasens, this madnesse en∣ded. When the Pope Stephan was deade Paule the firste succéeded in the Sea of Rome. Pepin doth valyauntly breake asunder the Munitions of the Saxons and after a great slaughter he made them tributarie. The Kingdome of Northumberlande this yeare fell to decaye. Osowlcas King thereof being oppressed by a conspiracye in his house dyed imme∣diately.

Astulphus king of the Lumbards who went about to make the Romanes [ 758] his tributaries, being stricken with lightning died, after he hadde raigned 3••. yeres.

[ 760] The Sunne was eclipsed the 18. day of the kalendes of September at 9. a clock, the next yere also, the day before the nones of Iune, at sixe a clocke. Immediatly Pepin King of Fraunce died at Paris and Paule the pope also. Constantine being ouercome by the Vulgarians lost many noble men with their armies, the Arabians inuaded Armenia.

[ 761] There appeared a blasing starre in the East for ten days, an other in the weast for one and twentie dayes. Chilpingus of Auerne. and Amingus of Poyters, both Earles, encountering with the Souldiers of Pepin, were slain with many besides.

[ 763] The 22. yere of the Emperour Constantine there was a great froste

from the Kalendes of October vntill Februarie, wherewith the Sea of Pontus for 1000 miles space by reason of the vehemente coldenesse of the yse, was become as hard as a stone, hauing thyrtie Cubits from the o∣uershewe to the bottome, a Snowe also of twentie cubits thick couered it, so that therewith the sea was made fyrme and gone vppon, but in the Mo∣neth of Februarie the Ise cloue in dyuers péeces like Hilles. This yere also Starres séemed to fall from Heauen, wherevppon menne being fea∣red with the wonder, thought that the ende of the world was at hande. A Comet appeared in the East: the Bulgarians killing their Gouernoures, make Zeletis their Duke, who being vanquished in a greeuous conflicte by Constantine, was slayn by his own men, & Paganus was put in his place. Stars séemed again to fal frō heauen, there ensued a great drougth, Con∣stantinus [ 765] inuading the bulgarians by Sea, suffered shipwrack, wherein he lost many thousand men. The Turkes againe starting abrode, foughte with the Arabians.

The 35. yere of Constantinus when the Saxons besieged the Castle of He∣resburch, [ 776] the glory of God appeared to al men ouer the Church, to wit, in 2. shields flaming with a bloody colour making certain mouings in the ayre as in the war, and immediately king Charles comming into Saxony brake asunder their fortifications, victory was gotten of the Lumbards and al Ita∣ly was subdewed, the Pope graunted him authority to choose the Pope, and to order the Apostolike seate, and the dignitie of the Patriarkeship. The same yeare Constantinus leading his armie against the Bulgariās died of a miserable death and wayling.

Charles the great first king of Fraunce & after Emperor of the Romanes, [ 777] as faith our histories, was séemly of body, fierce in countenance, his stature was 8. of his féete in lēgth, which was very large, nere to 11. foote of our me∣sure, brode backed, clean bellied, big armes & thighes, he was a fierce & skil∣ful souldier, & very strong in al his lims, his face 18 inches cōpas breadth & length, his nose half a foote long, his foreheade a foote brode, his eyes were like a lions, round & sparckling, so y^t on whome he frowned he greatly fea∣red, his eye browes were half a foote long ouer ech eye, y^e girdle wherewith he was girt was 8 foote lōg, besides y^e which hung down, a big & short beard the depth of a foote: he cut asunder with one blow hauing his own sword, an armed souldier sitting vpō his horse, frō y^e head to y^e saddle: he could stretch forth with his hands at one time together 4. horseshooes, he coulde also liste vp frō the ground on the palm of his hand an armed man standing vpright, he was verye liberall in giuing, sound in iudgement, and eloquente in spéeche. Author Speculum Vincentij Histon. About the same time, there was a Giant captaine ouer 20000. Sarasens, that came agaynste the Christians, he was as strong as 4••. men, his stature twelue cubits, his face a foote and a halfe brode, his Nose a foote long, his whole hande from

the wrest to the toppe of the fingers, thrée foote, his armes foure cubits, not∣withstanding his greatnesse, and great strength, he was after sunderye as∣saultes ouercome by Roulande a valiaunt yong Gentleman of Fraunce, by policie. It is sayd, that the Emperour hauing intelligence of this Giaunt, y^t no sooner foure or sixe armed menne assailed him, but he woulde with smi∣ling countenaunce take them all vp vnder his armes, and carie them clean away from the place, went to Naugeris to sée him. Vincentius.

[ 777] The same time when the Frenchmen made warre in Spaine with ill successe, the day before the Kalends of February, the seuentéenth day of the Moone, the Sun was eclipsed about noone tyde, when thrée dayes before the Moone had suffered the like: the same night armies of men appeared in the Element, and the Star of Mercurye was séene the sixtéenth day of the ka∣lendes of Aprill. Amid the Sunne there was a certayne blacke spot. Char∣les the great King of Fraunce being warned by an Oracle, as he sayde, sub∣dued an excéeding great part of Spaine in the whiche war Pampilonia, Osca, Lucema and other Cities notable for their riches, were taken, rather by Gods helpe than mans, as Turpinus séemeth to signifie. Immediatelye the Sarasens comming out of Affrique and hauing Aquilandus their Captaine, chalenged to themselues that Countrey, and Charles agayn recouered that prouince, And at Bay••n a Citie of Gasconi they fought vpon chalenge, and on sides, with chaungeable fortune, now vp, now downe, finallye they soughte together with all might and mayne, and there were slayne in that battayle fyftie thousande Christians, and among those Milo Auglerius the father of Roulande.

[ 778] It rayned blood, which also is sayd to haue come forth of the Earth, there were also many other prodigies spoken of. At this time at Constātinople or as others write, in the long Walles of Thrace, a certayne man digging, founde a Coffin of Stone, which when he hadde made cleane and opened, he founde a mans body therein, and letters glewed or fastned to the Coffin containing these words, Christus nascetur ex virgine Maria, & credo in eum, sub Constanti••o & Irene imperatoribus: O soliterum me videbis. Christ shall be borne of the virgine Marie, and I beleue in him, in the time of the Em∣perours Constantine and Irene, O sunne thou shalt see me again and the same yere that these thinges were founde Irene with her sonne Constan∣stine began to reigne ten yeares. The Saxons rebelled, whom Charles the great King of Fraunce vanquished, and they deliuered him 4500. sedicious persons, who put in suerties.

[ 782] The Sunne was eclipsed the fiftéenth day of the Kalends of October, at two a clocke, and crosses appeared on mens Garmentes, Charles the great persecuted with an exceeding great armie the rebels going through Germanie to the borders of Baioaria. Charles came into Fraunce, to whome also Baioaria became subiect.

In the tyme of Brithricus king of the Britaines it rayned blood, [ 786] whiche falling on mennes clothes, appeared like crosses, not long after the Danes fyrste ariued in the Ile called Portlande, and greatly vexed the Britons.

It is lefte in wryting, that in a cleare and calme weather Woode [ 787] fell out of the Element vpon the Territorie of Fusingentum.

Moyses Amiras dyed, after whome Aaron his brother, bare rule o∣uer the Sarasens. Charles king of Fraunce comming to Rome made warre agaynst Heregishius duke of Beneuentum. War arose betwéene the french∣men and the Auarians.

There happened at Rome a very great and vnaccustomed ouerflowing [ 91] of Tiber, wherein the riuer water like vnto a violent streame after raine, ranne very farre abrode through the gate Flaminta, (which nowe is called Porta populi) with a great slaughter of men and spoyle of goods: men passed through a great part of the Citie in boates, by the which at the Popes bid∣ding meate was giuen to the poore folkes that could not come abrode, and y^e wanted all other helpe: the houses of the citie & the heards of cattayle were violently caried away: that deluge did not only hurt at the present, but was the cause also that the yere following there was great dearth of Corne at Rome. Adrian the Pope comforted the Citie in this distresse, he gaue much reléefe to many, that that miserye might the lesse be perceiued: he amended the walles and towres of the Citie that were ouerthrown with the forces of the water. This yere also in Februarie an earthquake did shake Constā∣tinople, and Irene depriueth her sonne of the Empyre, and raigned alone. The war of the Hunnes began, which continued almost 8. yeres. The Ara∣bians set vpon Cypres.

That yere in the which Irene the Empresse, after y^t the Empire was [ 797] taken from her, abusing her womanishe sorrowe, depriued her sonne Constantine of his eyes and Empire, and Charles the king ouercame the Saxons with a gréeuous conflict, the sunne was darkened for 17 days. There was an Earthquake in Creta and in Sicilia: likewise there was an other forcible earthquake at Constātinople: and in Spaine Barcilona being resto∣red to the Sarasens was besieged of the Souldiers of Charles.

Whilest the Emperor Charles the greate was at Spoletum the daye be∣fore [ 800] the kalends of May, the second houre of the nighte, the earth trembled gréeuously, the couering or roofe of S. Peters church at Rome fel down. In I∣taly, Germany, Fraunce, & about the Rhene, many cities & vilages were there∣with afflicted, by reason of the mildnesse of the winter seasō, there folowed a pestilēce, about this time the Empire was remoued frō the east to y^e west, Gerardus duke of Bauaria encoūtring in Panonia w^t the Bauariās was slain, the Iles called Baleares by the help of the Frenche, were defēded from the Sarasens. The thirde yere of the Empresse Irene in the moneth of Iuly,

there was a sharpe horefrost, and twice frosen against nature, but nothing hurt the fruits. And the same yere they which reuolted frō the Emperor of Constātinople came again into fauour, & Pepin was appointed king of Italy.

[ 803] The third yere of the Emperor Charles the great, the Moone was thrice darkened & the Sun once, and armies of a wonderful greatnesse were séene in the ayre. Nicephorus by deceit setteth vpon the Empire of the west, dri∣uing Irene into a Monasterie. The people Abotriti receiue the lande of the Saxons, beyond the riuer Albis, of Charles, to dwel vpon. In Italy y^e ci∣ties Ostona and Luceria that thought not well of Charles, did yéelde.

[ 805] The sun was eclipsed the third day of the Ides of Februarie, at 6. of the clocke. There arose a great & a priuie grudge betwéene Godfrey King of y^e Normans and Charles the great. Egino Bishop of Constāce died. The Sax∣ons rebelling continually being al this time vanquished were driuen to re∣ceiue y^e Romish religion. Charles the son of Charles the Emperour vanqui∣shed the people Betheman•• rebelling against him, & slue Leith their duke.

[ 808] The 8. yere of Charles the Emperor, the day before the kalends of febru∣arie, the Moone being 17 dayes old, the sun was eclipsed at Noone tide, y^e sun & the moone being in the 25 part of Aquarius: likewise the 4 day before the kalends the moone was eclipsed, & the same night there appeared armies of a wonderful greatnesse, & the sun stoode in y^e 12. part of Pisces, & the Moone in the 11. part of Virgo: moreouer y^e star of Mercury y^e 16. day before the kalēds of Aprill, was séene in y^e sun, as it were a little spot, yet black a little aboue the middle center of y^e same star, but he could not be marked because he first went in or came out, the clowdes letting the sight: likewise y^e xj. day of y^e ka∣lends of Septēber, the moone was eclipsed the third hower of the night, the sun being in y^e 5. part of Virgo, & y^e moone in y^e 5. part of Pisces, & so frō Septē∣ber of the yere past, vntil Septēber of y^e yere following y^e moone was thrice darkned, & the sun once. Nicephorus Emperor of the east, violētly taking a∣way Theophania frō her husbande, matched her with his son Stauracius, in whose mariage y^t wicked person corrupted 2. honest virgins. In Britain or England Eardulphus king of the Nordouimbrians was driuen oute of his countrey and kingdom, Gotherike the Dane subdued the Abrotrites.

[ 810] The Sun was eclipsed the 7. day of the Ides of Iune: likewise the same yere the sunne was eclipsed the day before the kalendes of December, at 3. a clock, Pepin the sonne of Charles the great dyed. King Charles the sonne of Charles died, and the Emperoure sent Hatto the Byshoppe to Constanti∣nople. The Bulgarians vanquished the Romanes at the riuer Strimonium, and tooke Sardica. Nicephorus the Emperour being ouercome by the Bul∣garians dyed.

[ 811] Grashoppers flying by flocks out of Affrique did gréeuously annoy Italy, Hemingus King of the Danes died, after whom two stroue togither for the Kingdome, and made a battayle, in the which 1000 Dane: were slayne

The sunne was eclipsed in the 12 part of Taurus, the 4. day of May. Mahā∣mad [ 813] Amiras encountered with his brother Habdale, by whome he being o∣uercome, suffered him to raign with him against his will, and through this warre the Kingdome of the Sarasens was for certaine yeares dismembred. Michaell the Emperour being vanquished by the Bulgarians, resigned his Empyre, and chose him a Monkes life, and Leo was chosen in his place to be Emperour, who in the east raigned 8. yeares.

When Charles the great the most vnconquerable Emperor of y^e Romanes [ 814] laye at the poynt of death, the Sunne was darkened and the Moone waxed pale, there was also an excéeding great Earthquake, and a little before his death there was séen a dreadful Comet with many other strange prodigies that were séene and heard in diuers places. Moreouer the same yeare there grew a bloody warre betwéene the sonnes of Goterike King of Denmarke. The bridge of the riuer of Rhene, which the Emperour for tenne whole yeres together was a building with a maruaylous worke of Timber, (at Mogunce) was casually consumed with fyre in thrée howers.

This yere continually raine marred the Corne, and kept it from riping, [ 820] whervpon it did rot in the fieldes: the ouerflowing of waters in Autumne spring did let the sowing: A cruell pestilence of men and a morrayne of beasts insued. Cloamir king of the Abrodites, and Lupus King of y^e Vascons being condemned to die, were banished by the Emperor Lewis, and in dy∣uers countreys there was an excéeding famine.

This yere was famous for prodigies & strange sights: at Thurin a turffe [ 822] of a foote & half long, being sodainly lifted vp into the aire, was found whole from y^e place the space of 25. féete. In the borders of Saxony and Misnia the earth swelled vp like to a great pile, & it rose by y^e méere Aonseū as it were a rampier or bulwarke the space of thrée mile: the winter was longer than it was wont. The greatest riuers of Fraunce and Germany, as Danubius, Renus, Albis, and Sequana, were very harde frosen, and Waines and cartes wente too and froe vppon the Ise as vpon firme lande more than thrée hun∣dreth dayes. King Lothary was sente by his Father into Italy to sette thinges in order.

Vnwonted prodigies did terrifie mens minds. At Aquisgrane y^e Prin∣ces [ 823] house trembled, in Frizatium a Lordship of Saxony there were 23. Vila∣ges burned with lightning. Lightning fell from Heauen in a quiet calme weather otherwise than it was wont. Houses were stricken with lighte∣ning, and menne and Beastes were slayne: it hayled stones aboute the re∣tourning of the Sommer. In Sommer in Burgundie a péece of yee fiftéene foote long, 7. foote broade, and two foote thicke, fell from the Element. In the Territorie of Tullium, at a manour house called Commerciacum a gyrle of twelue yeres old, after that she had receiued the holye communion of the priest at Easter, abstayned first 12. monthes from bread, afterward for thrée

yeres from all meate and drinke, and afterward she did as before. Lothary was crowned Emperour by pope Pascall. At Franckeforde there were held assemblies, at the which Lewis king of Fraunce and Miligast & Celeadro∣gus kinges of the Wilzeans were also present.

[ 823] When Pascall the Bishop of the Romish churche occupied the Sea, there was a great earthquake in his last yere: many farme houses and other hou∣ses also were burned from heauen, men and beasts were killed with the stroke of lightning, corne was spoyled with haile, and among it stones of a huge waight fell downe, & there followed the prodigies, an excéeding great pestilence of men.

[illustration]

When Popileus king of Polande in∣famous of lyfe and manners, didde of∣tentymes wishe in his life to bée de∣uoured of Rattes, at laste Mice sette vppon hym, ma∣king good Cheare, well tipled, crownd with Garlandes, smered with swéete oyntments, and o∣uercome with sur∣fet & excesse: which Rattes came from the dead Carkasses of his Vncles by the Fathers syde, whiche he and the Quéene his Wife had poysoned. For Rattes of a huge greatenesse being come forth leapt vpon the feasting Tyraunte, and his wife and Sonnes, and bitte them cruellye, his Garde coulde not driue them awaye, because when men were wearie, the Rattes continued day and night withoute a∣nye wearinesse. Burning Fyres were made, and Popileus hys Wife and Sonnes were placed amiddest them, but for all that the Rattes pas∣sing through the fyre ceased not to gnaw the Manqueller. At laste they went to an other Element. Popileus murtherer of his Fathers brother;

was with the rest caryed to a déepe standing water, notwithstanding the Rattes continuallye followed them and made holes in the Vessels, in so muche that the water entring in, they were in danger of drowning, wher∣fore the Marriners fearing to be drowned, broughte the Vessell to shore, when an other company of rattes méeting them, and ioyning with the for∣mer, did more gréeuously annoy them. When this was séene, the defenders knowing it to be Gods vengeaunce, fled all away, and Popileus hauing none to defend him, got him to a high tower in Crusuieza, where the mice with a swift course ascēding, destroyed & deuoured the two boyes, the wife, & the wicked Popileus. Beholde there is no power or counsayle against the Lord, small creatures and weake Rats didde miserably consume Popileus euen as Lice which are wormes lesse than Rats, brought Arnolphus the Emperor euen to his death, eating vp his flesh and entrailes, the phisitions nothing profiting, in leauing only his gristles and bones.

Haile of a wonderfull greatnesse falling in Fraunce slue much cattaile & many men. The yere following Pope Eugenius the seconde of that name died, when only he had ruled the Romish church 40. dayes, in whose roome Gregorie the fourth succéeded.

In Ʋascouia it rained corne, like vnto wheat, but the graines were shor∣ter, [ 828] in other places great heapes of wheate, and of all kinde of graine were found in the fieldes, which if cattell tasted, by and by they died: flower was made therof, but it vanished away in the hande. In the nighte season there were hearde voices of folkes laughing and playing, and confused noyses: there was besids continuall showers in a place otherwise marshie, therfore what earth soeuer was cast out in the daye time, in the nighte the grounde falling in againe sunke downe. The Italian armie of Lewis the Emperour was conuayed into Affrike by Sea, who ioyning in battaile with the Af∣fricanes slue a great number of them.

An Earthquake shaked Aquisgrane, In the which yeare some write, that [ 829] the conspiracie of the Emperours sonnes and the Nobles began agaynste their Father: the Sarasens comming from Affrike into Italy, spoiled the Va∣tican at Rome.

The 19 yere of Lewis the Emperor the Sunne and the Moone were eclip∣sed. [ 833] And the same yeare Lewis the emperour was forsaken and betrayed by his own company and brought vnder his sonnes power. Wherfore at the bidding of the bishops he layde his weapons aside, and was shut into a mo∣nasterie to do penaunce, but the yeare following he being loosed againe, ta∣king weapons in hand and the empire, compelled his sonne Lotharie to re∣turne into Italy.

At Turin in Fraunce, a trée 40. foote hye and ••4. foote thicke remoued of it [ 837] selfe to an other place. In Saxony for certayne myles, the earth swelled vp lyke a bulwark or mount. The earth shooke gréeuously with which tremb∣ling,

manour houses and countrey building were burned with Fyre from heauen. Stones mixt with hayle were thought to fall from heauen. The last yere which went before the spoyle of Italy, a monstrous hayle fell so∣daynely from heauen in Fraunce before the retourning of the sun in sōmer, in which haile a lumpe of frosen yse was found 12 foote long, 6 foote brode, and •• foote thick, but some men thought that these strange sights did not so much portend the destruction of Maura, as the vngodly déede of Lothary, who taking his Father Lewis by crafte, bounde him like an enemie, ney∣ther could he alleage any other excuse for his wicked act, than that Charles who afterwarde was surnamed the Bald, was presented before him in ho∣nour.

[ 838] When Lewis the Emperour ruled, a Comet appeared in the signe of Libra: the Normanes spoyled the Ilande Walachia and requyred Tri∣bute.

[ 839] The 25. yere of Lewis the Emperor, a Comet appeared in the sign of A∣ries & for certain days very many sparkes of fyre like stars were séene to run vp and downe in the Element, and the same yere Lewis the Emperor was reconciled to his sonne Lothary comming to him vnder safeconduit, who receiued of his Father the dignitie of the Empyre, and the crowne of the kingdome.

[ 840] There was an Eclipse of the sun the 4. day of the nones of May, at 9 of y^e clock, & the same yere Lewis y^e Emperor died. The eleuenth of the kalends of Iune, there arose a whote warre betwéene the bretheren, touching the deuision of the Kingdome. Drusco king of the Pictes was by Knedus van∣quished and slaine, and the kingdome of the Picts turned to the Scots.

[ 841] At Witzburge the head of auncient Fraunce the earth trembled twēty times: Men, Beaste, & the Fieldes were sore annoyed with hayle, whyrle∣windes, and strange vnseasonable weather. The Temple of Saint Elian was blasted with sodayne lightning the fyrste of the Nones of Iune, the Fyre compassing the Timberworke by little and little consumed the whole. Lothary the Sonne of Lewis when he was chosen Emperour of the Romanes, was ouercome by his brothers, who also aspired to the Em∣pyre.

[ 842] The second yere of the Emperour Lotharie there appeared a Comet in the signe of Aquarius, and the same yere thrée Brothers being at vari∣ance about the losse of the kingdome, a field was fought in the Lordship of Antisiodore, at the manoure house called Fontanedum, where so greate a slaughter was made on both sides, that no age can remember that so great a slaughter was made of the Frenchemen, for their force at that time was so abated, that they were compelled to defende their borders from Forrainers.

They report at this time that there were séene two Circles about

the sunne in the citie of Paderburne, of the which the innermost did contain the greatnesse of the Church, the vttermost the breadth of the Citie. They were not scarsely vanished awaye, but there arose a greate fyre, and well neare all the Citie with the Church was miserably burned, and the noone day was turned into night. The Normans spoyled Flaunders and many o∣ther places: so gréeuous a famine wasted Germany, that the Parentes de∣uoured their own children to kill their hunger.

About the end of the Empire of Lothary who was duke of Saxony, a [ 854] certaine woman brought forth a monstrous byrth, to wit, in the shape of a man and a dogge, hauing their bodyes perfitely ioyned together, the backe being fyrmely fastned to the back. Immediately the Emperours death en∣sued.

The fiftéenth yeare of the Empyre of Lothary there was a huge earth∣quake, [ 855] y^e ayre was strangely distempered, whyrlwinds, haile, tempest, and great lightning fel frō heauen on diuers countreis, to y^e great discommodity of al men, certain men also were consumed with lightning, their Garmēts notwithstanding being vntouched: and this yeare the Emperour deuiding his kingdom betwéene his sonnes, renounced the world & became a monk, and Lewis his sonne being before annointed king by Pope Sergius began to rule.

At Treuere in the high church and the Cathedrall place of the Bishop a Dogge was séene thrice in his seate, whiche sodainlye vanished awaye. At Mogunce the fyrste daye of Ianuarie was a greate earthquake, whiche ouerthrewe the Temple of Saint Vrban, and the walles of the Citie in di∣uers places.

The 2. yere of Lewis Emperor of the Romanes, at Colone y^e 17. of y^e kalēds [ 857] of October, whē at y^e rising of a tēpest the people fled to y^e cathedrall Church of S Peter, sodaynly a lightning like to a fierie dragon, cloue & pearced the church, and destroyed 3. men in sundry places with one stroke, and also left sixe other half dead with the same violence.

This yeare a Deuill miserably afflicted the Citie of Mogunce for thrée [ 858] yeares: this reuolte and runagate Spirite didde manye myracles, hée shewed many iuggling trickes, and greatlye annoyed the inhabitauntes: firste being an idle Ghost he was séene of no man, but caste stones at men, and knocked at their doores: afterwarde that pestilent and wicked Angell lurking vnder the shape of a man, gaue aunsweres, bewrayed theftes, and being accused he defamed euery bodye, he raysed vp discorde and priuie ha∣tred, by little and little he kindled and set on fyre Garners and Cotages: but he hapned to be more troublesome to one, than to others, he was al∣wayes by his side wheresoeuer he went, and burned his house, and to the ende that he mighte sturre vp all his neighboures to kill the innocent, the wicked forger of lies auaunted that this place was infamous,

and accursed for his wickednesse, the man was driuen to abide abrode, for he was forced to leaue his house, as though he had bene detested of all the night walking spirites, and to the ende that he mighte satisfie the Neigh∣bors, he caried a whot yron in his hands, wherwith for as much as he was not hurt, he prooued himselfe guiltlesse: yet notwithstanding that same foule and wicked Goblin or Deuill burned in the fieldes his corne being laid in shockes, & whē he dayly more & more procéeded to be spitefull, the mē of the countrey were driuen to open the matter to the Bishoppe of Mogunce, priestes being sente, purged and clensed the Fieldes and ferme houses with holye and solemne prayers: at firste he helde in his wicked and troublesome mind, and wounded certaine with stones, but being charmed with diuine charms, & cōiured with effectuall supplications, at length helde his peace, & was séene no where. Whē the priests were gon, an other pesti∣lent spirite came again, saying, whilest these shaueling priestes were mur∣muring I know not what, I lurked vnder a priestes surplice, naming him, who through my perswasion the last night had to do with his hosts daugh∣ter: and when he had tolde this, in making a great howling, the idle Ghost departed out of those quarters, & left y^e places being throughly purged, & va∣nished away into y^e thin ayre. That yere the french sent for Lewis king of Germany to come home into Fraunce by reason of Charles crueltie, who be∣ing ouercome by Charles retourned back with great shame.

[ 864] The winter was long and sharp contrary to his custome, there fel bloody snow, the gulphe of the Sea Adriatik where Venice standeth was frosen, & the marchauntes wente too and fro from the maine lande to the Citie with Slides, Horses and Waines laden with wares. This yeare Lotarie falling into adulterie was miserably punished by the Pope.

[ 868] There was a great earthquake, and a comet was séene: king Lothary the brother of Lewis the Emperour dyed, and Charles king of Fraunce in∣uaded hys Kingdome. Michel Emperour of the Greekes falling mad, slue his friends.

[ 870] At this time haile and lightning happening oftner than they were wont, made many afraid, which destroied corn, men & beasts. S. Peters Church at Wo••mes was burned with lightning, the wals were made flat to y^e ground. The thyrde daye of the nones of December at one a clock the earth shooke.* 1.27 Whilst Lothary King of France made hast to goe to Rome to Pope Adrian to reconcile himselfe vnto him, after a counterfeit confessiō he and his were admitted to the holy communion, but the same yeare all they which recei∣ued the Eucharist with him rashly, and with a false mind, died miserably, & Lothary also died at Placentia in his retourning.

[ 871] The 4. of the Ides of August, clowdes in the ayre like armies encounte∣red together with brandishing speares on fyre.

Grashoppers almost ouer al Fraūce féeding on the corne & shrubs, brought those people to miserable famine: war was made by Lewes Germanicus a∣gainst the Slauonians with a diuerse euent.

The nintenth yeare of Lewes the Emperour at Brixia in Italy bloud [ 874] is sayde to haue rayned from heauen thrée dayes and thrée nightes. Innu∣merable Grashoppers again greater than the other spoyled France, hauing as it were hard scaled couerings ouer their wings, sixe féete, and two teeth, harder than a stone, flying in companies as men embattelled, sending their Captaines with a few, one days iourney before, to a place called M••••e••, as who would say, Giue place to the multitude that is comming. About nyne a clock they comming to the place prouided, and there loking for the Suns rysing, for the space of one daye they couered the ayre, darkning the verye Sunne beames: they spoyled all the greennesse in Hearbs and trees, occupy∣ing the space of foure or fiue miles euerye day: they comming as far as the narrow Britanish or English seas w^t this miserable sight, were at length drowned in the Sea with the blast of winds, but with working of the sea, they being cast a shore, caused many to perish through their rottennesse and corrupt smel.

An extreame famine insuing, caused many to die through hunger, that almost the thirde parte of men was consumed in Fraunce The yeare solo∣wing the winter was sharper and longer than it was wont: there was snow and frost from fyrst the day of Nouember, vntil the day & night were of one length in the spring.

So at the beginning of Sommer this yeare, in Germanie Grashoppers greater than the ordinarie, as big as a mans thumbe, comming from the East to séeke forraine soode, flew towards the Weast, with so great a noyse of their wings, that they were thought to be other byrdes, and shadowed the Sun for the space of fiue miles. The people behelde them, and were a∣frayde least they should couer theyr ground. They ouershadowed their har∣uest with a dreadfull clowde, burning manye things with their touching, gnawing al things with theyr byting, the barkes of trées also, and the gates and dores of houses. It is left in writing, that they eat in one day y^e growth of ••5••. Acres: they went in one day twentie miles through the ayre, set in order, and as it were in battayle aray, they lighting vpon the Earth, made their setling as if it had bene tentes, the Captaines with a few went before the army one days iourney, as it were to get fit places for them to light on: the same houre in the which the day before the sorerunners came, the nexte day after all the host was present before the Sunnes rising, they remoued not from the place where they lighted: againe when the Sunne was vppe they ioyned togither in companies. Varro writeth, that in Affricke Gras∣hoppers by sitting on houses bare downe a Citie, such was the multitude

that they haue past ouer long seas, continuing their flight many dayes. The people of Germanie for feare of want, was driuen to fly for remedy at Gods handes, this same yeare, there was an extreame hunger through al Ger∣manie and Italie. The Normans requyring Tribute from the Kyng∣dome of Lewes King of Germanie were most grieuouslye slaine and ouer∣come by his army.

[ 879] There appeared a Comet redder than the ordinarie, and there happened a sodaine and an excéeding ouerflowing of water in many places: this yere a very cruel plague killed many mē, scarsly the third part of the people sur∣uiued that cruel pestilence. There was a sodaine ouerflowing by rain, at a village called Aschopruna in the Lordship of Nita, the fifth of the Nones of Iuly late in the night, it ouerwhelmed beastes and cattel, it drowned 88. persons in their bed men, women and children, it ouerthrew houses, gar∣ners, storehouses, trées by the rootes, and Churches, so that not one foote∣step appeared therof: the carcasses of the deade being caried with the rayne water were found vpon the borders of another Lordship.

[ 878] This yeare was a cruel morraine among Cattel, chiefely about Rhe∣ne wher in the territorie of Wormes not far from Ingelheim, in the Lordship of Walshun, al the dogs of the Countrey assembled togither, as it oftentimes commeth to passe, to eat carion. Afterward, in one day, they went away to∣gither in one company out of those quarters, no man knew whether a liue or deade, neyther coulde they finde afterward the step of any. Charles the bald, falling sick at Mantua died by taking poyson of his Phisitiō Zedechi∣as a Iew, and his son Lewes surnamed Balbus the second raygned.

[ 880] The Sun at nine a clocke of the day was so darkned that the Stars appeared soone in the skie. Lewes king of France dyed the same yeare, who was surnamed Balbus, & left his wife great with child, wherof in the king∣dome of Fraunce arose most grieuous dissentions. In a wood of Fraunce cal∣led Carbonaria were slaine more than 9000. Normans.

The third of the Calends of Ianuarie, the Earth shoke at Mogunce, & af∣terward [ 882] the fiftéenth Calends of February. This yere a blasing Star was séene. Immediately the Normans ioyning with the Danes committed mise∣rable murder almost ouer al Fraunce.

[ 905] In the monethe of Maye there appeared a Comet. Immediately the Hungarians oftentimes made inrodes into Germanie and spoyled it. Thys Comet as manye iudged, signifyed the losse of Kyng Lewes eyes the sonne of Boson, whyche immediately followed, for Berengarius Emperor of Italy put out his eyes at Verona.

[ 912] There were séene fierie Torches in the ayre, and Starres gliste∣ryng and running too and fro in the ayre, wherevppon not long af∣ter the Hungarians entryng Italie wyth an armye, gaue and tooke

many a deadelye blowe, and the Comet appeared redder than be∣fore, and there followed many excéedyng greate floudes chiefelye in Saxonie.

Hatto Bishoppe of Mogunce by whose deceite in time past Adel∣bertus [ 918] dyed, when by the perswasion of Conrade the Emperour he wente about to kil Henrie Duke of Saxonie, thrée dayes after being depriued of his purpose was slaine by a stroke of lightning.

The Winter was not only strangely but wonderfully colde. Rodolph [ 928] Duke of Burgondie died, leauing thrée sonnes. Leo the sixth of that name was chosen Pope of Rome, who onelye satte in hys Popedome seauen monethes and fiftéene dayes.

The sixtéenth of the Calendes of Marche in the morning aboute [ 930] Cockes crowe, vntill the breake of daye, there were séene ouer all the face of the Elemente bloudye armyes, in a certayne Countrey of Fraunce, and the moneth followyng the Hunnes began to spoyle France, Burgondie, and Aquitaine.

At the beginning of the Popedome of Iohn the eleauenth, a Foun∣taine [ 935] of bloud ranne aboundantly at Genoa, whiche prodigies did truelye foreshewe that miserable calamitie whiche shortlye after ensued, for the Sarazens comming out of Affricke wyth a greate Nauye, dydde wyth great trouble and dissembling inuade Italy. They besieged and toke Genoae, they slewe at the first entry the defenders: they cruelly cutte manye mens throates, & drew them out of the Churches and corners, they did put may∣dens, matrones, & yong boyes a shipborde, and carried them into Affricke. Ther be some which write, that the men children returned afterward into theyr Countrey, but they shewe not by what chaunce. At the same time the Hungarians, as Platina writeth, were spoyled of their Italian pray by y^e Marsi and therevpon was euery one slaine.

When Leo sate the 117. Pope of Rome, the lefte hande of a certain [ 937] manne that was cutte off, was restored to hym in his sléepe, almoste a yeare after, vppon whyche foretoken of a myracle, as it were a bloudye lyne was marked aboute the ioynte. The Sunne was darkened in fayre weather, but it sent forth as it were bloudie beames, through y^e house windowes. King Henrie died the same yere, after whom his sonne Otho ruled.

The Sunne agayne for certayne dayes appeared as if it bled, and [ 940] immediately there followed sodaine diseases of manye men, and straunge kindes of sicknesses. Berengarius the fourth, with Albert his son, inuaded the tyrannie in Italie.

There appeared Comets for fourtéene nightes, about Constance a Ci∣tie [ 941] of the vpper Germanie, and immediately ensued a morraine among Cat∣tel:

the war of the Hungarians with the Baywarians began, wherin the Hun∣garians were ouercome. Pope Leo the seauenth dyed, after whom succéeded Stephen the eight. Hugh king of Italy by the help of the Emperor of Rome vanquished the Sarazens and burned the Nauy. King Otho besieged Brisac and spoyled Alsacia.

[ 941] There happened a great Earthquake the sixtéenth Calends of Maye. Otho the great entred Fraunce, and immediately Bertolphus, Duke of the Bayoarians dyed. Abderam king of the Sarazens was in Spain ouercome by Ramirus in the field.

[ 944] In Italy a Comet of a wonderful greatnesse appeared, portending the famine which ensued.

[ 956] In Italy also a stone of maruellous greatnesse, being cast from heauen in a thunder and a troublesome tempest, caused the beholders to wonder ex∣céedinglye: the same yeare in manye places Churches were shaken with a strong tempest. Priestes of both orders were killed with lightning, and ve∣ry many strange sightes horrible to be spoken were shewed.

[ 963] When there was very gret ado in Italy, for the diuerse choice of Popes, many and terrible prodigies happened at that time in so many companies of the Romish Church, and among them there fell a great starre from hea∣uen, with a vehement deale of rayne, and the signe of a bloudie crosse ap∣peared on the sodaine vppon many mens garments, which strange shewes of things were interpreted to portend some notable calamitie to the clear∣gie. Iohn the wickedst of all the Bishops which were at that time, dyed the ninth yeare of his Popedome, other adde foure yeares and ten monethes more. Benedictus which was chosen in his place, was cast out of his Apo∣like Sea. Otho being angry with the Romaines, woulde not heare the Em∣bassadors which were sent from the Citie to desire forgiuenesse, but began to spoyle all places about the Citie like an enemie, with the which terror y^e Citie being subdewed, restored Leo, and Otho made the Citizens sweare, that they should chaunge none of those things which the Emperor had ap∣pointed in the Popes affaires. Benedictus after he had bene Pope sixe mo∣nethes, was disgraded, whom Otho afterward carried away with him in∣to Germanie, least being left at Rome, he might be cause of some commotiō. Leo the eight of that name, who by the means of Otho was created Pope, and was cast out of the faction of Iohn the 1••. was restored in the Empire of the same Otho and dyed the first yere of his Popedom, wherin this was notable, that in restoring him, the law of making the Pope went from the people and the cleargie to the Emperour.

[ 968] There hapned an earthquake, and a Comet appered. The yere folowing king Lotharie the brother of Lewes dyed, and Charles king of Fraunce in∣uaded his kingdome.

Crosses appeared on mens garments, some were foule like leaprosie. Thys yeare there was a great famine in the worlde, and Hatto surnamed [ 969] Bunosus Bishoppe of Mogunce, who before was Abbot of Fulda, séeyng poore menne oppressed wyth greate hunger, assembled verye manye in a Barne and burned them: for hée sayde that they did not differ much frō mice, which eate vp corne, & are profitable for nothing. But God suffered not such great tyranny vnreuenged, for he commanded the mice to inuade him by companies and day and night to afflict him, and they made haste to deuoure him, but he flying to a certaine tower, which stoode in the midst of the Rhene (this is called the Rats towre hauing this name of the like euent) thinking that he shoulde be safe in the middest of the Rhe∣ne, from the byting of the Rats, which for al that did not auayle him. For innumerable Rattes came swimming through the Rhen•• to execute gods iust iudgement, which the wretch acknowledging, at length died among the Rattes. Some do write that the mice also defaced his named vpon the walles, and did gnaw it out of the tapistrie. Authors do varie, in the yeare that this was done, but we finde in y^e Chronicles of the Monasterie of Fulda and of the Archbishoppes of Mogunce, that this happened, whilest he was Bishoppe of Mogunce the eleauenth moneth of William duke of Saxony, in the yeare from our saluation, restored vs throughe Christe. 969. in the which yere by this troublings of Rats and Mice, he dyed and was buryed in Saint Albons Church.

The Sunne was eclypsed the eleauenth of the Calendes of Decem∣ber, [ 969] and the yeare folowing, a certayne token of a fierie colour appeared in the Elemente, Otto ouercame the Gréekes in Calabria and made them tributarie. Otho the younger droue the Sarazens out of Ita∣lie.

The 2. yeare of the Emperor Otho the 2. there was greate frost from [ 975] the first day of Nouember, vntil March, then there appeared a Comet at the village called Rhegium which is called Calua, the same yeare Kyng Edgar ended his life.

The sixth yere of the Emperour Frederike the seconde of that name, [ 978] armes of fire were séene in the Element for a whole nighte the fifth of the Calendes of Nouember, wherefore immediately the Emperour went a∣bout to bring to the Empire of Rome Apulia, and Calabria prouinces of I∣taly depending vpon the law of the Gréekes kingdome, chiefely by reason of the affinitie which he had with the Emperour of the Gréekes, by his wife Theophania. The Gréekes being wroth with Otho, bycause he had in∣uaded their prouinces, getting them an ayde of the Sarazens, encountred wyth the Emperour in battaile at Calabria, wherin almost al the armye of the Romanes was quite destroyed. The Emperour desirous to escape by swimming, was taken of the Mariners vnknowen, and was deliuered by a

[ 983] friend of his called Sclauo.

At this time a Comet appeared, after whych ensued famine, pestilence and Earthquake, the which Earthquake shoke Beneuentum and Capua. O∣tho the Emperour fainting through wearinesse and griefe of minde, dyed at Rome, and the nobles were at variance about the choosing of the Empe∣rour, yet at last, Otho the third his son was chosen.

[ 989] The sixth yeare of the Emperour Otho the third of that name, ther was often ouerflowing of diuers riuers: the sommer after was extreame whot, whervpon the corne was partched vp, and a gret famine ensued. Too much snow fel down. In Albania it rained corne from heauen, some also repor∣ted that it rayned little fishes from heauen in Saxonie. The Vandales sette twice vpon Saxonie.

But the yeare folowing Duke Charles taking Rhemes, toke the Arch∣bishop,* 1.28 whom king Hugh enstalled, and certaine nobles, and the yere folo∣wing he died, after whō his son Otho succéeded in y^e Dukedom of Lorainge.

[ 991] Fire rose out of the riuer of Rhene, and burned the manour places y^t were nere thereto, the same yeare Theophania the Empresse and Charles Duke of Loraine dyed, and Otho the son of Charles succéeded him. The yere folo∣wing

[illustration]

at Rhemes a Si¦••ode was assembled, and the emperor O∣tho the third did be∣siege Brandburge.

[ 997] Widerolphus Bi∣shop of Stausbourgh whom notwithstan∣ding others cal Wil∣deroldus, when hée had succéeded Baldus in the Bishopricke, the seuententh yere of his Bishopricke, (for they erre that write him to haue ruled only .ij. yeres) after he had conse∣crated or hallowed the Monasterie of Zelizi standing vp∣on the riuer of Ri∣••e, by Gods secrete counsaile and iudge∣mente was the xij.

day of Iuly deuoured by Rats, (euen as Hatto the Archbishop of Mogunce was) and was buried in the Monasterie of Ebershminster, whiche he loued excéeding well, and verye bountifullye enriched: that yeare Otho the third entring Italy besieged Rome, and worthily punished Crescentius and the se∣ditious persons.

The sixtéenth yeare of Otho the third, were many prodigies séene, for there happened an excéeding greate Earthquake. A Comet appeared the [ 998] ninetéenth of the Calends of Ianuarie. Aboute nine a clocke the Elemente opening, a burning Torch did shine vpon the Earth with a long traine like a brightnesse, in so muche that not onlye they whiche were in the fieldes, but also they whyche were within the dores were stric∣ken with that so greate a shining as with lightning breaking in. In the whiche opening of the Elemente vanishing by little and little, there was séene as it were the forme of a Serpente hauing his heade encrea∣sing, with blew féete. The yeare following Crescens a Senators sonne of Rome put Gregorie the third out of his Popedome, a Saxon borne and the Emperors kinseman, and for monye bestowed vppon diuerse, he procured Iohn Bishop of Placentia in despighte of the Emperor to be made Pope. Which when Otho the Emperour vnderstoode, he entred Italy with a gret armie, and making hast to the Citie, met in the field with Crescētius, whō he ouercame, toke prisoner, and after long vexation he caused him to be hā∣ged before the Citie, and put out Iohns eyes that was vnlawfullye made Pope.

There is a matter to be maruelled at, that at Rome in the Churche of Lateran where the tombe of Siluester the seconde Pope of Rome doth stand, that tombe throughe the dashing of the bones togither, and by sweating, is sayde alwayes to haue foretolde the death of the Popes, euer sithence that he in time past was put in it. How this Siluester the seconde by the Diuels meanes got the Popedome reade the Historiographers.

About this time the plague was so grieuous that more were accomp∣ted [ 1001] deade than aliue, which calamitie a fountaine of most holesome Water turned into bloud at that time did declare in Lorraine. Pope Siluester dyed whom Iohn the nintéenth succéeded.

The thirde yeare of the Emperour Henrie the seconde, the firste of [ 1002] October, a Comet horrible to beholde, and casting out flames on euerye side was séene in the south parte. When Duke Otho was dead, the Duke∣dome of Lorraine was gyuen to Earle Godfrey the sonne of God∣frey.

A great famine vexed not only al Europe but wel neare al the world. The [ 1003] war which was called Bellum Sacrum ensued. Thys most vnlucky war la∣sted for many yeares, and was made to the great losse of all Christendome.

Almost al the nations of the worlde were by the eares among themselues. There were slaine on both sides, kings, Princes, Dukes, and men innu∣merable, much bloud was spilt. The Cardinall Benedictus de Acolitis de∣scribeth this war.

[ 1009] The seuenth yere of Henrie the second the son was eclipsed the ij. hour of the day. The Turkes toke Ierusalem. The Hungarians were turned to Chri∣stian religion.

[ 1010] In the Lordship called Bruhesar at a manner house tearmed Alfrid a fountaine ran bloude for 25. dayes and infected the brooke running thereby in the sight of all men. The same yeare Guillerius King of Englande dyed, likewyse Pope Sergius the fourth whome Benedictus the eighte succée∣ded.

[ 1011] When Pascal was Pope of Rome the riuer Trena for a whole daye ran not a mile, but as though he had turned his course an other way did so leaue that part of the chanel for the space of foure and twentie houres, y^t mē went too and fro vpon the dry sand, but afterwarde it began to runne again as it dyd before.

Likewise a Sowe farrowing broughte forth a pig with a mans face, a Cocke with foure féete was hatched. There followed in England and Ire∣land great cōmotions, and in Normandie fields were fought in diuerse pla∣ces.

[ 1012] The ninthe yeare of the Emperoure Henrie the seconde in Lor∣raine by the Hyll Castrilocum a little spring of verye holesome Water tur∣ned to bloude. The Moone appeared bloudye, and the earthe dyd shake prodigiously. A burnyng Torche like a Tower was séene to burne with a great noyse in the Element. The Sea ouerflowed further than ordi∣narie, and drowned certayne Cytyes, wyth a greate destruction of men. Famyne and Pestilence afterwarde ensewed, and suche a number of menne dyed, that almoste more dyed than were lefte aliue. At that tyme Stephen Kyng of Pannonia by the counsayle and perswa∣sion of hys wyfe Scylla embraced the Fayth of Christ. The Sarazens spoy∣lyng al Palestine, Ierusalem was by and by taken.

[illustration]

The tenth yeare [ 1012] of the Emperoure Henrie the second, in a certaine parishe of Saxonie one Otho¦perdus leading a daunce in a church∣yard with eightéene of his companiōs. 15 mē and thrée womē and offending godly eares w^t filthy sōgs, was cursed by a cer∣taine priest, and dā∣ced and soong with∣out ceasing, wyth his companie, for a whole yere: no rain fel vpon thē, neither did cold, heat, hūger thirst, or wearines annoy them: theyr apparell and shooes were not worn out, and they suncke in∣to the groūd, first to the knées, afterward to the thighes. The yere being en∣ded, a Priests daughter with two others by and by dyed: all the rest slepte continually for thrée nights, some of which afterward dyed, but the residue gaue witnes of this matter with the trembling of their lims. Othoperdus himselfe left this written, who was one of them. Vincentius in his nine∣téenth booke Chapter tenth, out of Guilarin. Aunto. Tome seconde Chap∣ter fourth, Booke 19. The same yeare Bleslaus made war with the Saxons and Sweno King of Denmarke inuaded England. He subdued Northumber∣land and Mersia.

About England the Ocean Sea without any cause knowen, grew won∣derfully, [ 1012] not long after the Iland was broughte into the subiection of the Danes.

Many men were slaine with maruellous Hayle and Lightning. When [ 1016] Ethelred King of Englande was deade, Edmunde toke the gouernemente of the kingdome.

The fiftéenth yeare of the Emperour Henrie the seconde, a Comet [ 1017] more wonderfull than ordinarie appeared for foure moneths, like a great

beame. The Emperour again led his army against the Polanders.

[ 1018] A Sow farrowed a Pig, hauing the shape of a mans face, there en∣sued a pestilent yere. Geroslaus Duke of Russia lastly set vpon Poland, who being vanquished by Boeslanus returned home with a greate slaughter of his men.

[ 1019] In the Emperour Henrie the seconds time, was founde at Rome, the bodye of Pallas the Giant vnconsumed, whereon was founde a wounde of foure foote and a halfe: his bodie passed in height the walles of Rome at the heade of so straunge a carcasse was founde a Lampe burning, that mighte not be quenched with winde, neyther with moysture: on his tombe were written in English thus: Pallas Euanders sonne, whom with speare Tur∣nus ouercome, that Knight did to death, lyeth buryed here. Wilhelde Regibus, the Author of Policronicon, Ranulph Higden, Monke of Chester, in his sixth Booke, Chapter. 21.

At the writing of this straunge wonder, I ymagined that the moste part of men in this our féeble age would giue small credite. Notwithstan∣ding I haue thoughte good to set downe among my straunge reportes that I haue founde written long agone, with such likelyhoode from the veritie, as may peraduenture stay the rash iudgement of many, to credite at theyr choyce. In the first booke of the Kings and seauentéenth, is written of one Golliah a Philistian of the hight of sixe Cubits and a hand breadth: I wold be certifyed by which of the Cubits he was measured, it séemeth to me that all measures haue procéeded from the Hebrues to the Grecians, to the La∣tines, &c. among al nations vntil this day. If so then it may be graunted the Hebrue measure to be the firste, then doe I finde, euerye Hebrue Cubit to containe nine foote, which sixe Cubits amounteth too, after our measure of eightéene ynches, which is a foote and a halfe, to the full length of eightéene yardes, that maketh Goliah his hight. 54. foote, beside the hand breadth. In the same Chapter is also set forth his harneis, as his shirt of Male called a Habergeō, that waied 5000. Cycles, which is 2500. ounces, the Iron of his speare, 600. Cycles, 300. ounces, beside his helmet: his Bootes of brasse. If then the waight of a shirte of Male was 208. pounde waighte and more, the shaft of his speare as big as a Weauers cloth beame, whose compasse is 28. or 30. ynches, kéeping proportion, after Al••: Durerius, of measures, framing a hand to hold such a staffe, & thereto a proportionable bodye, these things considered. I refer iudgement to the wel disposed, yet notwithstan∣ding for the further trial, to my great cost, I haue to shew the bones of men of such straunge greatnesse, and téeth, some founde in this Ile, others from other coūtries, y^t when this published may not receiue credite, if the writtē veritie be disliked, my Monuments then looke for smal acception.

Also in the testament of Iuda, our father Iacob slew y^e Giant Beelisa king of al kings, who was mightie and huge, of stature. 12. cubits: it is said also y^e he slew the Giant Achor with a stone of 60. pounde waight: first his horsse

& after the Giant, with another stone of thrée talēts, supposed 600. waight from of a wall, being pursued of the Giant.* 1.29 After Iuda sayd the God of my fathers, being mercifull, and ful of compassion, knew that I sinned through ignoraunce, for the Prince of error had beguiled me, & I ouerthrew my self as a fleshly man, and being corrupted wyth sinne, knew not mine infirmi∣tie, but thought my selfe to be inuincible. Know yée therfore my sons, that two spirits do awayt vpon a man, that is to wit, the spirite of truth, and the spirite of error. And in the middest betwéene them is set the spirite of vn∣derstanding of the minde, whose propertie is to incline which way it listeth &c. Aucthors G. Alle•• B. of Exce second booke, Chap. 8. Folio. 11••. Rob. Gro∣sted. B of Lin. Art. Gol. in his third booke Chapter. 20.

The great Hercules of Libia was said to haue thrée rowes of téeth, in y^e citie of Tigena. At such time as Sartorius was Captain of the Romain army in y^e Countrey, there was a graue opened, and the bones measured wer in length 70. cubits after the Latines, Antonius Sabellicus in his Aeneades.

The ••6. yere of the Empire of Henrie the second, in Frizeland whilst Theodoricus the Erle son of Arnulphus of Gaunt subdued the Frizelanders for the reuengement of his father which was slayne of them, the Emperor sente Duke Godfrey to subdue him. There was hearde a voyce in the conflict, no man knoweth from whence it came, which cryed often (fu∣gite fugite, flye fly) whervpon when al fled away, the host was chased by a few Frizelanders.

There hapned a great Earthquake the fourth Ides of May, the same [ 1020] yere at the Popish Feria sexta Herebertus Archbishop of Colone dyed, whō Pilagrinus succéeded, Rodolphus king of Burgondy, moued with the pryde of the Burgonians, was in minde to giue the kyngdome of Burgony to the Emperour Henrie, but being ouercome with the fayned good will of the Burgonians, was wythdrawen from his purpose,

The twentith yeare of the Emperour Henrie the seconde, when at [ 1022] Aquisgran•• there was helde for certaine dayes a general Sinode, sodaynly there was such a drought and vnseasonable weather, that manye fainted & dyed through too much heate, many beastes also sodainely pearished. The pauements and Marble pillers dyd sweate so much that on euery side wa∣ter ran downe wonderfully.

The Sunne was eclypsed the thyrde of the Calendes of Iulye at sixe [ 1033] of the clocke, Conrade Emperour of the Romaines, set vpon the Western Fraunce, who droue out from thence Odon Duke of Campania that hadde inuaded that kyngdome. Pope Iohn the twentith dyed, whom Benet the ninth succéeded.

The 15. yere of the Emperor Conrade y^e 2. there was séene in the Elemēt [ 1039] betwéene the southe and the Easte quarter a fierie beame, of a wonderfull greatnesse, whiche running by the Sunne nowe goyng downe, séemed

to fall vpon the Earth, the signes wherof mighte be séene a long time: and the same yeare the Emperor Conrade making spéede with a great armye subdued those that thoughte to rebell, he cast certaine Bishoppes into pri∣son, and when the Bishop of Milane had scaped away by flighte, the Em∣perour caused the suburbes of Milane to be burned. Kuonegundis the Em∣presse the fifth of the Nones of March, and Herman Duke of Swedon, son of the Empresse Gilela died. And Peter the Nephue of Stephen by his sister a cruel man, was made king of Hungarie.

When Conrade the Emperour came into Italy to subdue those that thought to rebel, vpon Whitsonday there was such grieuous thunder and lightning that some fell madde and some dyed. The Sunne was eclyp∣sed the cleauenth of the Calendes of September, and the same yeare the Dukes Conrade and Albero dyed. Likewise Reginbaldus Bishop of Spire.

[ 1042] The thirde yeare of the Emperour Henrie the third, whilest Benedi∣ctus the ninth sat in the Sea of Rome, in the Lordship of Brachaten by Tor∣ney, a multitude of Snakes méeting togither foughte a venemous battell: many being slaine on both sides, the parte vanquished flying awaye hydde themselues in a hollowe trée, but the other part following in manner of conquerours, made a noyse aboute them with hissing, vntill that men bur∣ned them all, laying fire rounde about. The same yeare Peter king of Hū∣garie was banished of his people, for whiche thing the Boemians were sub∣dued by the Emperour: the yeare following Henrie king of Fraunce dyed. Vincentius. But Sigisbertus Gemblacensis doth referre this to the yere of Christ. 1059.

[ 1043] The fourth yere of the Emperour Henrie the third, a Comet appea∣red hauing long and flaming haires, which when Elmerus* 1.30 a verye holye man at that time saw, he is reported to haue said, thou art come to bewaile for many matyrdomes, it is not long sithence I sawe thée, but nowe I be∣holde thée muche more terrible, threatning destruction to this Countrey. Henrie the Emperor entring into Hūgarie ouerthrew two very populous Cities, he subdued many vnto him, & restored the king. The Empresse Gi∣sela died the sixtéenth of the Calends of March, and was buried at Spire. Pe∣ter king of Hungarie was by his people depriued of his kingdome, & again the Emperour restored him to the king in displacing Abbas.

[illustration]

The fifth yeare of [ 1044] the Emperour Hen∣rie the third, in the borders of Norman∣dy and Britaine, ther was a strange sight séene, in one, or ra∣ther in two womē, there were ij. heads, foure armes, al the reste was twinne vnto the Nauel, and beneath al was un∣gle, it did eat, laugh, speake, it wepte, & hungred togither: the one kept silence: it did eate w^t bothe mouthes, but it dis∣burdened at one fundamente: when the one was deade the other suruiued almost thrée yeres, carying the deade one vntil she fainted with the burden and the stinck of the carcas. It was thoughte also of some, and left in writing, that in this same Monster was sette before mens eyes the figure of England and Normandie, whiche Coun∣treys althoughe they were asunder, yet were they vnder one soueraigntye, of which interpretatiō more at large read Vincent in his sixe and twentith booke Chapter 38. out of Guilerinus, but Mathew Palmerius hathe refer∣red this to the yeare of Christe. 1061. Pope Nicholas the second dyed, after whome succéeded Alexander the seconde: the yeare following there was a greate famine and lamentable Pestilence throughout the world.

When Henrie the third of that name was Emperour of Rome, in Eng∣land [ 1045] a certain southsaying Witch was caried away by the Diuel,* 1.31 whyche being drawen after him vppon his horsse with a horrible crye, he cary∣ed away vp into the ayre, the cry of whiche old woman was heard for cer∣taine houres almost foure miles in that Countrey.

Emma the mother of Edward king of England purged hir self by fire, being falselye accused of adultry, of whom rea Pollidor.

[ 1046] The Historians write, that it must néedes be counted a monstrous thing, that Pope Benedictus the ninth was séene after his death to wan∣der vp and downe in a horrible shape, hauing a body like a Beare, a tayle like an Asse: he being asked why he fell into this transformation, it is sayde that he aunswered,* 1.32 I wander vp and downe in this shape, because in my Popedome I liued as a Beaste without lawe. Nauclerus and Pla∣tina.

[ 1048] There happened a great Earthquake about Constancia standing by the méere Accronia, the thirde of the Ides of October. Godfrey persecuted Duke Adelbertus that spoyled his countrey, and sending a multitude slue him being founde with a fewe, and Godfrey was made Duke by the Em∣perour.

[ 1055] About the end of the Empire of Henry the thyrde Emperour of the Ro∣manes a Sow farrowed a pigge like in forme to a mans heade. A Henne hatcht a Chicken with foure legs: And a certaine Gentleman in the Court of the same Emperour, whilest at a superfluous banket he eate and drunke ouermuch was an the sodaine beset wyth innumerable Mice and Rattes, and being long time vexed by them, driuen to flye, and afterwarde carryed by ship to the sea, dyd so little auayle, that at last he was deuoured of the Rattes pursuing him to the greate daunger of the Mariners: Faelix Mal∣leolus in his booke of Nobilitie Chap. 26. The same yeare the Emperour with his army went to Italy, by reason of Duke Godfrey he brought away his wife Beatrice, that was plagued. William the Marques & Diodoricus the Earle with an infinite multitude of Saxons were slaine by the Luticians and Vandales.

As erle Godwing sat at y^e table with King Edward, the sō of Egelrade, it hapned one of the cupberers to stumble, and recouer againe, so y^t he did shed none of the drinke: whereat Godwine laughed and saide, nowe one bro∣ther hath sustained the other, with which words the king calling to mynde his brothers death that was slaine by Godwine beheld the earle, saying, so shold my brother Godwine haue holpē me, ne had Godwine bin. Godwin then fearing the kings displeasure to be newly kindled, after many words in excusing himselfe said: so might I safely swallow this morssell of breade, as I am guiltlesse of y^e déed, but as soone as he had receiued the bread, forth∣with he was choaked. D, Cooper. Cron. Folio. 196.

[ 1057] Stones of a maruellous greatnesse mixt with Hayle, fel from heauen, and many were killed with lightning. Pope Stephen dyed, and Iohn with∣out Cannons was through brides chosen in his place. Conrade the Empe∣rours son Duke of Bauaria dyed.

[ 1058] In Poland a blasing star for certaine dayes appeared, whom immediately the same yere the deth of Casimerus ensued. In Frizelād the Emperor Hē∣rie taking certain Castles, bridled the Frizlanders from rebellion.

The sixth of the Ides of Februarie there was an Earthquake and [ 1062] lightning aboute Constantia, and immediately the plague waxed maruel∣lous hot. Hanno Bishop of Agrippa, of Colin surnamed Agrippina, by the indeuour of certaine Princes of the kingdome, toke away king Henrie by force from his mother the Empresse with his launce and other badges of the Empire, and brought him to Colin.

At Constantia at the lake or moore of Acronium, two children man and [ 1063] woman were born, with two heades, foure armes, and foure féete, hauyng all theyr lims perfect, but their bodies ioyned about the Nauel. The By∣shop of Colin, by making a faction, toke away the king by slight, and after∣ward gouerned the kingdome.

A Coment long appeared at the feast of Easter throughout all the worlde: [ 1066] about fourtéene nightes after diuerse mischiefes ensued, for the same yeare Wiliam earle of Normadie, killing king Herold assayled the greater Brytaine which is now called England, and all the Countrey being brought into subiection, and the Normans being there placed, he therin became king and gouerned. The yeare folowing the King of the Romaines Henrie the thirde, some cal him the fourth, taking to wife Bertha the daughter of O∣tho of Italy, did celebrate the mariage at Triburie, which was a towne not far from Fanchford, at this day a village. But Pope Gregorie the seuenth sending often for the King excommunicated him. And as it is said Rodolph Duke of the Almaynes was created king by the certaine Princes, & when not long after he was slaine in publike battayle, and Herman Prince of Lorraine was sette in his place, he not long after was slaine, by the former vnfaithful friends.

At Siracusia in Sicilia there hapned an horrible Earthquake, whyche [ 1070] so shoke the Citie, that many buildings fell downe, a Church also fel down at seruice time, and slew almost all the ment that were in it. The Hungari∣aus pretended rebellion against their king Salomō, the Marques Vdo toke Brandenburg, from the Vandales. Kanutus king of Denmarke inuaded Eng∣land.

The sixt of the Calendes of Februarie two pillers of a golden colour [ 1074] on the righte and the lefte hande rose wyth the Sunne, and a Rayne∣bowe the nighte before was séene aboute the Cockes crowe. There was made a conspiracie of the Princes, againste Henrie the fourth Empe∣rour of Germanye. The Pope Gregorie the seauenth dydde accurse suche as vsed Simonye, and remoued marryed Priestes from their diuine of∣fice.

While Harold King of Denmarke made warre against Harquine, [ 1076] and that they were on bothe sides readye to fighte, a Darte was séene ouer theyr heades, to runne vppe and downe in the ayre, with a wonderyng

and doubtful course, and séemed to search a fit place to giue a wound, which miracle when al men beheld with a great wonder, and not knowing what so wōderful a thing might portend, sodainely the fall of it turned the daun∣ger (whyche all menne suspected,) vppon Harguines heade alone, who was ouerthrowen and slayne by the deadelye wounde of that Dart.

[ 1077] When Henrie the Emperor had helde at Wormes a counsai••e of 24. Bi∣shops that were gathered togither, not long after on Palme Sonday about sixe a clocke in faire weather a star appeared. Henrie the Emperour dydde deadly hate Pope Gregorie the seauenth called Hildebrand, he vndid that he had done in the counsaile held at Wormes, and abiured the Pope: contra∣riwise Hildebrand did excommunicate the Emperour: whervpon a deadly war grew betwéene the Emperour and the Pope.

The .5. yere of the Emperour Henrie the fourth, there was an Earth∣quake with a grieuous lowing the sixth of the Calendes of April, the firste houre of the night, portending perchaunce the great mischiefe that was spo∣ken of throughout the world, concerning the Emperours war against the Pope, wherewith all Italy was spoyled on euery side. Moreouer the same yeare Nicephorus, after Michael Emperour of the East was ouercome, helde the Empire ouer the Gréekes, with his thrée sonnes. Boleslaus bée∣ing a banished man in Hungarie, and falling mad, was deuoured of his own dogs.

Monsters appeared in the Element, there was séene an host of horse∣men [ 1081] running too and fro, whose footesteps notwithstanding by no meanes coulde be perceyued. Henrie in the meane time, made his abode in Italy, & going again to Rome pitched his tentes where he did before, at the weaste gate of the Castell of Saint Peter, and Rome was taken the fourth of the Nones of Iune. The Popishe Feria sexta, before the eighth of Whitson∣tide, at which time Pope Gregorie being shut vp into the Castel of Cres∣centiu•• which then was commonly called the house of Theodoricus, awai∣ted to see how the matter woulde fall out, but the king making his fortify∣cation vpon the Hill Palatine, lost manye of them whiche he had put in gar∣rison, by reason of the vnaccustomed heate of the Sommer: but the same plague destroyed others also.

[ 1084] Grashoppers spoyled Russia. Alexius depriued Nicephorus of his king∣dome, and thrust him into a Monasterie, and he became Emperour of the Gréekes: the Romaines receiued again their Emperor Henrie and thruste Hildebrande out of his Popedome.

[ 1085] In England vnder William Conqueror king of the same countrey, there was so great an Earthquake that many buildings fel downe on al sides, in which yeare after Henrie king of Fraunce was in armes against the Eng∣lish, and the countrey was spoyled on both sides, and the Cities and Castels

were taken.

The 30. yere of y^e Emperor Henry the 4. an excéeding deluge did muche [ 1086] harme in many places, for in Italy there was so great an ouerflowing, that the verye rockes being fret downe therewith destroyed many manour pla∣ces with their fall. The same yere housbyrdes, as peacockes, hennes, and Géese. &c. withdrawing themselues from houses became al wilde, of which thing also Austin Booke 3. of the citie of God maketh mention. Whē Gre∣gorie the 7. was dead, Victor the third succéeded in the popedome. The or∣der of the Carthusian Friers at this time beganne, by the meanes of one Bruno of Coline.

In the prouince of Wales called Ros, was founde the Sepulchre of [ 1087] Gawin, (who was the sisters sonne of Arthure king of the Britaines) being in length fourtéene foote, the one and twentith yere of the raign of Will••am Conquerour. If in those dayes men were of such greate stature, muche more greater was Goliah and the Ekemimes who didde so farre excéede the Children of Israell, that they séemed but as Grassehoppers.

The thrée and thirtith yeare of Henry the Emperoure there was a [ 1089] greate pestilence, and chéefely in the Weast part of Loraigne, were manye being infected with Sainte Anthonies Fyre and rotting, and hauing their limmes eaten black like coles, there was made a great slaughter of men.

William Rufus succéeded his father William in the kingdome of Englād, but certain byshops making a conspiracie against him, styred vp his bro∣ther Robert against him, whom notwithstanding he vanquished and putte to slight, and made league with his brother.

The toppe of the Tower at Sarisbury was quite ouerthrowne with [ 1091] the force of lightning. Excéeding great swarmes of strange flies flew a∣boute in many countreys. The same yere in England there was so greate an ouerflowing of water through the aboundaunce of raine, the like wher∣of none could remember: immediatly the winter after,* 1.33 riuers were so fro∣sen, that horses, wagons and Waines might passe ouer them: and imme∣diately the yere following, to wit the seuenth yere of king William, by rea∣son of the tribute which he had set in Normandy tillage failed, and a greate famine insued, whervnto a plague and morrain being ioyned, tooke away an infinite number of men and beasts.

There was in Englande the 3. of the Ides of August, a huge earthquake, [ 1033] which made all the realme afrayde with the dreadfull myracle: with that earthquake huge buildinges partlye fell downe, partly sunke: there ensued scarcitie of fruites, and verye slowe riping of Corne, that the Harueste was not scarce inned at Sainte Andrewes Tyde. A fyerye Darte was séene flying in the Elemente from the South to the North, the fyrste of August at the fyrste hower of the nighte. Vratislaus King

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of Bohemia falling from his horse died, whome his Brother Conrade suc∣céeded. Brisitislaus Duke of Bohemia spoyled Silecia, and at this tyme the Englishe menne hadde dyuers conflictes with the Scottes, Northumberlan∣ders and Welchemen. Agayne with a great whyrlewynde there happe∣ned also an earthquake at midnight, the fourth of the Ides of September, in many and dyuers Countreys: the daye before the nones of Aprill about the morning very many starres were séene to fall from heauen vppon the earth, among which one excéeding great star fell to the earth: when one in Fraunce* 1.34 did greatly wonder, & had poured out water vpon the place where it séemed to fall, he more maruayled that smoke with a hissing noyse should issue forth from thence. In the Countie of Namucum many tasted breade y^t was baked in ashes as it were stainde with blood, and the same yere many were sick of the disease called S. Antonies fire, hauing their lims as black as coles. Vincentius but Sigibertus doth referre this to the yere of Christe. 1095.

[ 1094] At the Citie Laudunum a certaine woman guiltye of murther, and therefore also put in the fire, felte no burning at all, but the fyre being spent shée remayned vnhurte, of whiche thing the Aduersaries saying y^t the wood was the cause, didde interprete amisse, and agayne they kindling the fyre aboute her with better Woode, it nothing preuayled, wherefore the wo∣man comming out of the fyre was not only vnhurt in her flesh, but also in her garments, and was caried away with reioising of al the people, & a few dayes after she ended her life. Sigebertus Gemblacensis describeth this hi∣storie more at large. The same yere was a greate whyrling together of lightning in the ayre, and a shaking of Cities on the earth. The first day of the Ides of October, at Ibiceltumba a thunderbolt fell from heauen, whiche gaue the side of the tower so great a blow, that it stouped to the earth won∣derfully, it also cast down an excéeding great beame along the churche, and the heade of Christe crucified hanging thereat,* 1.35 together with the righte hande and the foote: there followed and insued an horrible stenche. There were moreouer excéeding great windes comming from the Southeast, the sixtéenth of the kalends of Nouēber, which at London crackt & broke down more than 600. houses: the Churches were dashte againste the houses, and walles agaynst walles.

[ 1094] A fiery dart was séene to flie in the ayre from the South to the North the firste day of August at one a clock at midnight: that yere Pope Vrban the second restored the decrées of Hildebrande. whiche before were disanulled. In Fraunce and Germanye a great part of the people died of the plague.

[ 1097] At the beginning of October for 8 dayes a Comet appeared in the weast, and with ouer great flouds haruest fowing was hindered, whervpon ensu∣ed barrennesse of all corne, great famine & pestilence. The same yere the ar∣mie of y^e christians entring the borders of the pagan infidels fought luckily

with their enimies. Henry the Emperour retourned into Germany, and at Mogunce in the assembly of the Empyre he intreated of peace.

The 5. of the Kalendes of October in the night time, the Element sée∣med [ 1098] to burne in many places, and the morraine of Cattaile ensued, and the corne was corrupted with ouermuch rain and blasting. At the besieging of Antioche the Christians were so weakened for the want of al thinges, that in a great and excellent armie vnneath 100 good horses could be found. The order of the Premonstratensians and immediately of the Cysterciensians was appoynted.* 1.36

The tenth yere of William the 2. king of Englande there appeared a Co∣met the firste day of October for 15. days, shooting out his greater beard to∣wards the east, and the lesser toward the Southeast. There appeared also other stars, as it were casting out darts one against another. And that yere Anselme the light of Englande flying the darknesse of erroures, wente to Rome (to become more blinde.)

[illustration]

Monocerote the Vnicorne, among straunge beastes one of the rarest, bo∣dyed like the horse, short and round footed like the Elephant after y^e bignes, tayled lyke the Goate, a fierce neighing, one horne in the middest of his foreheade of two cubits long, blackish nexte the heade, and towardes the toppe graye and whyte. In the Mountaynes of Iudea, he hath bene [ 1100] séene among other Beastes. The Indians call this Beast Cartazonon, of his greatnesse and courage, seldome taken, of coloure much like the wylde Asse, the forepart more déeper coloured than the hinder parte, on the backe as the red déere, red like the Weasell, and white bellied.

In Mecha a Citie of Arabia where the Sepulchre of Mahomete

is, are the hornes of diuers Vnicornes kept, as iewels of singular vertue, one of the whiche is thrée cubites long. In the kingdome of Basmam, vn∣der the greate Cham, are manye Vnicornes, not muche lesse than the Elephante, betwéene eyther is contynuall enmitie, so that by cru∣ell fighte as well the one as the other is slayne, the Victorye commonly happening to the Vnicorne, whiche is called among the Hebrewes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Reem, which holye letters signifie Vnicornem, of some interpreted to bée the Rhinoceros because he hath one Horne also, whiche standeth on the toppe of his Shoulders, but not on the foreheade, and therefore muche ouersighte hath bene among Writers, to take the one for the other, being farre vnlyke: notwithstanding manye suppose there is no suche Beaste. Conrade Gesner at large alleageth sufficiente proofe, in the prayse of Abraham, when Balak required Balaam to curse Isra∣ell, hée sayde: GOD hath broughte him oute of Aegipt, his strength is as an Vnicorne Reemim 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 His bewtie also is as the first borne Oxe, and hys Hornes as the Hornes of Vnicornes, with the same shall hee pushe Nations together, euen vnto the endes of the Worlde.

O Lorde howe glorious are thy workes. &c. An vnwise man doth not know this, and a foole will not vnderstande it, &c. Chalde, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Dischon, Itali. Alicorno or otherwise Leocorno, Galli. Licorne: Hispani. Vni∣cornio: Angli. Vnicorne, German. Einhorn. Illyrij, Gednorozech.

Albertu•• sayth that the Vnicorne is of suche couragious fiercenesse, that he feareth nothing, neither other Beastes swiftnesse, nor theire strength.

The onelye waye to subdue him is, to sette a Mayden Virgine, as a bayte, vnto the whiche by a secrete in Nature he is allured, in some such place where prouisiō is made to take him, whom no sooner he espyeth, but trotting forward on he setleth himself close by the Virgine, on whose lappe hée layeth his head, and falling a sléepe, is in the meane time preuen∣ted from retourning back, and so taken. The Vertue of his Horne is to expulse venime forth of the stomacke, by taking a Graine of the powder thereof in Wine: also the horne put into Wine, and the wine presentelye drunke, cureth the Feuer, if a dramme be taken in pure salet Oyle and gy∣uen to anye that hath surfeyted either by eating or drinking, it present∣lye cleanseth the stomacke and cureth the bodye: it is good agaynste al ve∣nome. One was giuen to the Sultan at Mecha as a Iewell of wonderfull value, about the yeare of our Lorde 1100. Plinie. Albert. Gesner. Booke 1. Folio. 7••3.

The Vnicorne going to the riuer to drink, first styreth the water with his Horne, from the whiche corruption of vap••••r auoydeth, after whome

followeth diuers sorts of beasts to drinke. In the Ile Madagascar there are beastes with one horne, of two kinds, the one clouen footed called Orix or the wilde Asse, the other round hooued as the Horse. Andrewe Theuet Chapt. 23.

Siracusa was shaken with an earthquake, wherewith the greatest [ 1100] Church fell downe, and slue a number of people. Gulbertus and Vrbanus which stroue for the Popedome, by dying made an ende of their contenti∣on, and Pascall was taken in the place of Vrban the second. Anselme arch∣bishop of Canterburie was banished. Baldwine succéeded his brother God∣fride in the kingdome of Ierusalem.

Among manye other prodigies they affirme that a Comet of a won∣derfull [ 1101] greatnesse then appeared, which immediatly was séene in the west at the sunnes going downe. Histories record, that manye and greate mis∣chiefes insued. Ericus king of Denmarke with his wife Boltilda being de∣syrous to sée the holye lande, dyed by the waye, in the Ilande of Cyprus. Henry the fyrste, King of Englande, succéeded William Rufus his bro∣ther.

At this time liued Herluca a holy woman of Baeoaria in a certaine col∣ledge [ 1103] of Augustine Nunnes, fiftéene mile beyonde the Abbey, she being accustomed to be present at the night méetinges and secrete counsailes of the supernall and infernall, was wont to tell (as A••entinus the Historian recordeth) that those that were cursed, were tormented in the hotest flame of all. A certaine Priest also like vnto one that were a dying, lay for thrée dayes in Saxony, when he came to himselfe againe, he reuealed that Hilde∣brande, Rodolph, and Herman the Tyrauntes were punished in hell with euerlasting tormentes. False Prophets, false Apostles, and false Priests, at that tyme sprong vp, which deceyued the people with a counterfeyte re∣ligion: they made many signs and wonders, and began to sit in Gods tem∣ple, & to be extolled aboue all that which is worshipped. Sée more of these in the Author cited, for there were at that time most perilous times, almost like vnto ours.

Strange sights happening often made mens mindes afrayde, the E∣lement [ 1104] was séene oftentimes to burne, the Sunne and the Moone were of∣ten eclipsed otherwise than they were wont, very many starres were séene to fall from the Element to the ground, burning torches, fiery darts, flying fire were oftentimes séene in the ayre, likewise new starres, Swarmes of Butterflies, little fiery and strange Wormes flew in the ayre, which tooke away the light of the sunne in maner of Clowdes. Churches, houses, cota∣ges, men, beastes, the fieldes, pulse, fruite, and Corne were wasted with lightning, hayle, wyndes and whyrlewinde: fierye battayles, troupes of Horsemen, bandes of footemen, Cities, swordes, Glaues, bloody weapons, were séene in the element, and fought together: men report that there were

riuers of blood, when bread was put into the ouen to be baked, a man brea∣king the bread by chaunce, founde droppes of running blood: and Abbas doth testifye, that at Spyre blood ranne oute of breade. An euerlasting signe vpon the sodayn claue to mens Garmentes, (he tels not what it was) a woman going with chylde two yeares, brought forth a man chylde that spake.

There were monsterous byrthes broughte forth, both menne and Beastes with two heades: house foule, Pecockes, hennes and Geese, went from Villages, Farmes, Cities and houses, into Woodes, where they aby∣ding became wild. It is written in the chronicles, that a Woolfe had eaten thirtie men. Al these prodigies came to passe in the time of the Emperour Henry the fourth, all good plaine, iust, noble, and simple men haue lefte vs in writing, that the Empyre of Antichrist then beganne: the whole worlde was then out of frame with the stormes of Warre: Mankynde was euery where wrapped in the whyrlewindes of Weapons, they of the East and Weast foughte togither, all men afflicted one another with woundes. The Normanes, the Frenche, the Germanes, the Saxons, the Hungarians, the Italians, the Englishe, the Weast Christians, were euen worne oute with varyaunce among themselues and with ciuile Warre: The Greekes and the Armenians, the Turkes and the Arabians, the Spa∣niardes and the Sarasens, the Asians and the Affricanes, mette to∣gither with mortall Ensignes. Ierusalem was twice taken and twice destroyed. There were greate floudes, and much barrennesse, dearth of Corne, famine, and pestilence, men were tormented with strange diseases, with fire, with flame, with inuisible heate, and dyed without any mark of burning.

[ 1100] The 49. yere of Henrye the 4. the Emperour, on Christmasse euen there was a huge Earthquake at Ierusalem▪ and the same yere the inhabitantes of Ierusalem vanquished a great number of the Infidels with a glorious victorye. Moreouer two Orbes appeared, like the Sunne in shape and light, giuing forth beames of all coloures like the rainebow. King Henry doth persecute the Emperor his father: after two months siege he tooke and sackt Norenburge.

[ 1106] The fiftith yere of Henry the fourth Emperour, the first daye of the Nones of Februarie, a Comet was séene for a day, from 3 a clock till 9. as it were a cubit distant from the Sunne, not long after, to witte in the first daye of the Ides of Februarie at Barum in Italy, Starres were séene in the Element in the daye time; sometymes as it were running together, and sometyme as it were falling to the grounde. The same yeare after the taking of Norenburge when the Emperour Henry made a licenti∣ous spoyle throughout Alcatta, hée was puffed vp with the successe there∣of, for entring into the Citie of the Rubiaquentians, (whiche is my

swéetest countrey) and then was mightie in number of Cittizens and armorie, whilest his Garde made a more hauocke in the Citie than it be∣came Straungers, he being ouerlayde with the Weapons of the Citti∣zens and drouen to flighte with his menne, loste his Crowne, his Standerde with the Eagle, another Standerde sette with redde and yel∣low collour, and his golden Apple and Scepter, and afterward vpon peace made contrary to his fayth, he spoyled and burnte the towne, and lefte it in ashes, as Anonius (who descrybeth the lyfe of Henrye) wry∣teth.

The Sea ouerflowed the bankes otherwise than he was wonte, 2••. [ 1106] paces other write 100. paces. Fluentinus the Bishop, being moued with these prodigies, doubted not to affyrme that Antichrist was borne, with which preaching Pascall being moued, went into Hetruria, and cōmoning with him at Florence vpon that matter, when it appeared that the man did leane to none other reason, thā that he might séeme to be y^e authour of some greate matter, onelye admonished him vsing this preaching, to leaue of his rash enterprise. Priuie hatred began betwéene Colomannus and Almun∣dus being brothers: Henry the fift Emperor of Germany entring Flaunders agaynst Ruber•• besieged Bresburg.

In the East many signes and wonders were séene in the Element. For [ 1107] 40. dayes and more, a blacke Comet was séene about the beginning of the night to draw his beard in length, and agayn from the sunne rising vn∣till thrée aclock, the sunne séemed to haue on eche side a sunne of like great∣nesse, but inferiour in brightnesse. Moreouer a rainebow was séene aboute the sun set with his colours, and the same Hugh of S. Ademar fighting with the armie of the Tyberiadenses & them of Damascus, was deadly hurt, and yet he died conqueror, in which conflict many were slayn on both sides. Boamandus retourning out of Fraunce into Apulia with a huge army, and whilste he made hast into Siria leauing behind him a sonne of y^e same name died, the army of y^e Turkes spoiling the countrey of the Edissans, sought with Tancred.

When Henry the firste was king of Englande, a Comet appeared for [ 1108] certayne dayes in Normandy, not long after two full Moones were séene, the one in the East, the other in the Weast. This yere because Electus the Emperour hindered them that went to Ierusalem, he was fought withal by Boemundus▪ with whom lest he should suffer more gréefe, he made league or least it might be the worse for him. Henrye King of Englande ouer∣came in battayle his Brother Robert Duke of Normandy, and subdewed Normandy.

The yeare that Philip King of Fraunce and Anselme Archebishop of [ 1109] Canterburye died, in the parishe of Leedes a Sowe broughte forth a Pigge hauing a mannes face, and in another place there was a Chicken found

with 4. féete: immediately many fell sick of S. Antonies fire, hauing their limmes as black as coles.

[ 1110] In the moneth of Iune a comet appeared, turning his beames to the south: many coniectured that these prodigies did portend the future expedi∣tion of King Henry towardes Italy, which by and by followed, to appease the discorde which was betwéene the Clergie and laitie, of whiche thing Vincent: doth write at large Book 27. Chapt. 10. The Abbot of Vsperg Naw∣cherus.

[ 1112] The Citie of Rotenburg by Necharum fel with an Earthquake, which afterward in the yere of our Lord 1270. was againe restored by Albert Earle of Hohenburg. In Englande a double boy was born, so deuided from the buttockes to the vpper partes, that he had two heads, and two whole bodies as farre as the rayns, with their armes, who being christned, sur∣uiued thrée dayes. Boleslaus King of Polande vanquished the Pomerans, & slue 40000 of them. Vdalricus Duke of Saxony dyed, for whose gooddes that were lefte, a contention arising, armed many Dukes against the Em∣perour.

[ 1113] The seuenth yere of the Emperor Henry the fift, in the moneth of Iune the wheate, the Corne and trées being burned with fyre from heauen, cut awaye all hope of their fruite, certayne Woodes were so dryed, that they kindled with their naturall heat, and there followed a gréeuous & long sick∣nesse among men, with the flixe, and a most deadly pestilence. Henry the Emperour subdued the Saxons. Sigifridus Palatinus was nowe recey∣ued into the Emperours fauour: peace was made betwéene the Bohemians and Polonians.

[ 1114] When Henry the fift was Emperour, in the Territorie of Heminia∣num and Flaminium and also at Rauenna and Parma Cities of Italy, blood rayned in the fieldes and within the Walles the firste day of the Ides of Iune. Vincentius.

The same yere the Venetians with a strong armie sayling to Dalma∣tia, and robbing Sibinicum, tooke many Cities. In the Lordship Brachacen∣tis about Tornei there fell such aboundaunce of snowe the ninth of the Ka∣lendes of May, that it broke downe Woods. In the the firste of the Ides of Nouember, in the Subburbs of Antioche in the night season the earth ga∣ping swallowed vp many Towers and many houses néere too, with the in∣habitants. And at that time Baldwine King of Ierusalem together with Ro∣gerius Earle of Antioche tooke their voyage agaynste the Turkes.

[ 1115] When Henry the fift Emperour of Rome foughte with the Saxons at the Woode Quelfica, the eleuenth day of Februarie the Castle of the Em∣presse Goslaria was stricken with lightning, and the Emperours Target and Sword were burned. On Easter day y^e Element cleauing wide asun∣der, sent about a bright shining, which when it had lasted a whole hower, it

shewed in the middle the Image of the Crosse of a Golden colour, and whē again he was to go into Italy, to aske the Diademe of the Pope, a Comet appeared sixe monthes, being the messenger of his calamities and dangers. That yere while Henrye againe encountred with the Saxons, he was o∣uerthrowne in the fielde by Hogier a worthie Souldier, but on the Saxons side the Bishop of Holberstade who was generall dyed. The Dukedome of Ostfranke was graunted to the Bishop of Wirtzburg brother of the Duke of Zeadon by the Emperour Conrade.

The first hower of the night fierie armies appeared in the element from [ 1116] the North to the East, afterward they being dispearsed ouer all the Ele∣ment for the most part of the night made the beholders to maruayle ex∣céedingly. Henrye the Emperoure by reason of sedition lefte Germanye and went to abyde at Rome, herevppon the affayres in Germanye grewe to a desperate poynte. A Counsayle was healde in Rome at Late∣rane.

In the Moneth of Ianuarie the thyrde of the Nones in certayne [ 1117] places there happened so gréeuous an Earthquake that the partes of cer∣tayne Cities fell with the Churches. Moreouer the riuer Mosa now called the Maze by the Abbey which is called Sustula as it were hanging in the Ayre, was seene to leaue his foundation or bottome. This yeare the Ci∣tie of Leod••um was gréeuouslye spoyled, for in the moneth of Maye the fifte of the Nones of the same whilste they sayde Euening prayer in the great Church, sodaynelye a thunder with an excéeding great Earthquake ouerthrew all the ground, and the lightning entring in at the lefte side of the Churche, cast downe on euery side greate péeces of Morter from the Wall, afterwarde entring the Tower it cleue asunder manye partes of the beames, there followed an intollerable stinke, in so muche that with swéete smelles of spices and gunnes it could scarsely be driuen away: like¦wise the 7. of the Ides of Iune about nine a clocke, a clowd of rayne sodain∣ly breaking from the Mountayne, which is called Roba••t•• hell, didde so de∣stroy that part of the Citie that lay vnder it, that it ouerthrowe many hou∣ses, and spoyled greate store of Corne, and slue a mother imbracing her two children in her armes, and eight other men. When they rung at Ser∣uice, whilest one was washing a boyes head, his handes became all blee∣dye.

The fyrste of the Kalendes of Iune also, about sixe a clocke a moste mightie whyrlewind and a darkenesse couered the Citie, & a clowde brea∣king out violently, did so ouerthrow all the couering of the great Churche, that it lay open for the rayne, and wet the pauemente, immediatelye light∣ning entring from the part of the North, slue a certayne Clarke, reading in a pulpit behind y^e alter of the Saints Cosina and D••mi••n, & an other pray∣ing before the Crucifix: the thyrde going out of the Churches Regester

house being nere y^e church in the very entrance of y^e church, was stroken al∣so. It slue likewise a lay man before the dore. The vij. of the Ides of Iuly, from thrée a clock till nyne, 4 whyrlewindes compassed the citie al about, from the foure quarters of heauen: a wynd also thundered with great vio∣lence, and washed the citie with much rain. The 3. of the Nones of August at the beginning of the night, when thunder was heard euery where, and that it lightned often, the whyrlewind was so cruell at the Citie Leodium, that men being lifted vp from the pauementes, filled the Churches with a sorrowfull company, who all the night bent themselues to prayer, but earlye in the morning so great a fyre did beset them with so great a flame, that al were afrayd least they shoulde be burned from aboue: after this a greate whyrlewinde breaking forth of the Weast, séemed somewhat to darken the fyre, and agayne the fyre (as it were conquerour) waxed hote agayne with the flame, and agayne the whyrlewinde retourning, it laye close for a while, and the thirde time the fyre waxed hote agayne, and last∣ly being neuerthelesse ouercome with the whyrlewinde, it quenched. This sight did wonderfully feare the beholders from the sun rising vntill thrée a clock.

[ 1118] Then vnaccustomed hayle and Ise in the moneth of Iune afflicted dy∣uers places of Germany. On Easter daye the light of the Sun surpassed her wonted light, and a Crosse appeared therein. A Sow brought forth a pigge in Fraunce with a mans face. A Cocke chicke was hatched with foure feete. Winter was intollerable colde, and immediately ensued famine and mo∣raine of wilde and house cattell. Innumerable Byrdes fighting in the ayre fell downe dead to the ground. In Italy the Earth quaked so dreadfully for fortye dayes, that a certaine Manour house, through the vehemente moo∣uing was remoued to another place.

At the same tyme Ortus Veneris a Towne not farre from Luna a Citie of Hetruria was builded with much Marble by the Genowais agaynste the Pisans, and became an vnder Citie of the Genowais. The Pisans tooke the I∣lands Baleares.

Boleslaus King of Polande, made warre with the Pomeranes, and Bald∣wine the second King of Ierusalem succéeded his vncle. A certaine Monster was borne at Namutum, to wit, a child hauing two heades, as well double in kinde, as in other thinges, but single in the frame of his body. The third of the Ides of December when y^e stars shone at midnighte in faire wether, the Moone was eclipsed, & was almost a whole houre spred ouer with ma∣ny colours, but chéefely with a bloody colour, she being in a narrow cōpas. The 1••. of the kalends of Ianuarie at one a clock in the night, armies of fire were séene in y^e element tourning from the North to the East. Afterwarde they being dispearsed ouer all the Element, for the most part of the nighte, they made the beholders to wonder and maruell: And y^e yere Pope Pas∣call

dyed, whom Iohn Chauncellour of the Romish church succeeded, whom they named Gelasius. Baldwinus the second king of Ierusalem died. It ray∣ned blood. One washing anothers head, found his hande embrewed with blood, y^e earth shooke, cities & houses were euerthrowne in y^e night time, they that were a sléepe were shakē forth of their beds, much thunder & lightning made mē afrayd. At Leodium vpon the sodaine, in calme wether a whyrle∣wind arysing, slue with lightning thrée priestes that were at euening prai∣er in the church: the daye before the Assention it ouerthrewe the Towne Walles and houses, and a pestilente stinke ensued. Clowdes being loo∣sed and powring downe like riuers couered houses, Cotages, and Beasts, with Water. Bloodye Clowdes were séene: a Crosse also and a man shy∣ning white was séene in the element, whervpon they beléeued that the de∣struction of the world would come. It is writtē in the Bookes called Fa••t•• which were calenders of Holydayes among the Romanes, that suche pro∣digies did foreshewe Ciuill warre. Reade the Chronicles of the Bot••ns sette forth by Auentinus, for those thinges which followed.

A huge fyre in the East part about the morning cast forth flames for sixe [ 1121] howers, vntill that a whyrlewinde comming from the weast quenched it with aboundance of raine.

Whē the Christians continually failed which passed ouer by Sea frō Eu∣rope, Baldwinus assembled many y^t beléeued in Christ from beyond Iordane, which together with his, he caused to inherite Ierusalem. Burdunus y^e popes enemie being taken at Sutria was banished by Calixtus. Baldwinus y^e se∣cond king of Ierusalem tooke Gazi king of the Turkes and vanquished and tooke the king of Damascus.

There happened many and diuers prodigies euery where, the number [ 1124] of which cannot be remembred: among the rest this happened, that in the moneth after Whitsontide, a sharp frost afflicted the earth, wherwith trées and vines were wonderfully hurte. There were also seene many sightes in the Sun and the Moone, in the Lordship of Duleset. A boyes knée did swell excéedingly, which when it was opened there fel out grayns of wheat, bar∣lye and otes. The Emperor Henry the fift subdued the rebellious Holan∣ders. An excéeding famine did wonderfully afflict Poland and the Countreis adioyning.

The Winter was sharper than it was accustomed, and ouer rough [ 1125] and cruell with heapes of Snowe, in so muche that many through the feruente colde gaue vp the Ghoste, and in pondes Fishe was destroyed with yse.

There ensued through the vnseasonablenesse of the ayre a greate plague among men, and morrayne among Cattaile.

The Winter againe was very sharpe, and the famine was so great [ 1126]

through the scarsitie of fruites, that many perished for hunger and wante. In Albania a pore Woman brought forth a Monster wyth two bodyes, the eies loking awayward, and body ioyned to the other, before stoode the likenes of a man, hauing the whole bodye and Member of a man, but be∣hynde the face of a Dogge, hauing lykewise the whole propertye of the bo∣dy and lymmes.

In the vyllage called Brachbant, a woman brought forth at one byrth fower Boys: In the parrish of Geblacce whilest a certayne householder mixed corne together for his scant and grinded it for his housholde, in the grinding the flower séemed altogether to burne, with a blacke stynche. That yeare the Emperour Henry the fourth, putte from him his wyfe Matylda, the daughter of Henry King of Englande. And not long after he dyed of the disease called Dracunculus and Baldwine King of Ierusalem be∣ing before taken by the Sarasens vpon the paine of his raunsome was deli∣uered forth of prison.

[ 1128] An earthquake almost ouerthrew the Citie of Tyre, with a great slaugh∣ter of the people: The yeare following Pope Honorius the ••. died, after whome Innocentiu•• the second succéeded. Mathias Palme.

[ 1130] Henrye the fyrste after many troublesome disquiets by the meanes of Anselme Archebishop of Canterburie and the Clergie, the one for depri∣uing of maryed priestes, the other for inuesting of Byshoppes, hadde on a tyme thrée terrible visions: The firste was, of a greate multitude of Husbande menne of the Countrey, whiche appeared to flye vppon hym with theyr Mattockes and Instrumentes, requyring of him his debte whiche he didde owe vnto them. The seconde, hée sawe a greate num∣ber of Souldiers and harnessed menne so come fiercelye vpon him. In the thyrde hée saw a companye of Prelates and Churchmen threatning him with theyr Bishops staues, and fiercely approching vpon him, where∣vpon (being dismayde) in all haste, he ran and tooke his sworde to defende himself & finding there none to strike, taking pause of this vision, he reuea∣led the same to his Phisition (named Grimbald) who admonished the King, by repentaunce, almes, and amendmente of life, to make some a∣mends to God and to his Countrey, whome he had offended, whiche thrée vowes being made, the next yere following passing the long seas into Eng∣land not without some dangerous tempest, with his Daughter Maltilde, remembring his promise, he no sooner ariued, but first he released the com∣mons of a taxe called Danegylt, whiche his father and brother before had renewed. Secondly he wente to Sainte Edmundes Burye, where hée bestowed great benefites on the Churchmen. Thyrdelye hée procured Iustice to be administred more rightly throughoute the Realme. Poli∣chr••••icon: Io••nalensis and Polydorus, aleaged by Iohn Fox in the Actes and Monuments.

The Ocian ouerflowed the mayne lande, and sodaynlye drowned a [ 1135] great part of Flaunders, Holande, and Freezelande, in destroying a number of men and beastes. In Englande the earth quaked so horriblye, that Buil∣dinges fell downe euerye where: the fayling of the Sunne and Moone, which the Greekes call Eclipsis, happened at this time wonderfullye. The fyre breathing oute in manye places through the chinckes of the earth for certayne dayes coulde bée quenched neyther with Water nor anye other matter. There was an excéeding winde the fifte of the Kalendes of No∣uember, which ouerthrew Towers and many buildinges:* 1.37 and this yere Henrye the firste King of Englande ended his dayes, leauing Stephan the Frenche, his Nephew by the Sisters syde, his Successoure. The Warre was begonne afreshe by Boeslaus with the league breaking Russus.

There was so great a drought, that a greater hath not bene in the [ 1137] memory of man, for in diuers countreys the riuers that bare Vessels were so dried, that men might go through their chanels drye shodde. In Fraunce also Fountaynes and Welles were quite dried, and many on euerye side dyed for lacke of drinke only. Lotharius made his second voyage into Italy. Magnus king of Norway hauing his eyes put out by Harrolde, was depri∣ued of his kingdome.

We read of one named Ioannes de Temporibus which as affirmeth the most old histories, liued 361. yeres, seruant he had bene to Char••e•• y^e great, and in the voyage of Stephan king of Englande died. Policro. Booke 7. Iohn Fox in the Actes and Monuments. Folio 259.

In Italy at a place named Tarantum nowe called Taranto, an olde man became yong agayne, and chaunged his skinne as the Snake doeth, who became so young, that hée was not knowne of them wyth whome hée hadde béene famylyar, and when hée hadde lyued after that fyf∣tye yeares, hée became so olde agayne, that hée séemed withered like the rootes of trées.

The like was knowne to be of a verye truth, by the Admyrall of Spayne called Don Fadrigo, who passing in his youth through a place called La Riota, heard there of a man that was so yong in shew as though he had bene but 15. yeares olde, who notwithstanding had ouerliued all his po∣steritie.

Straunge sightes were often séene in the Element at thys tyme, and the crashing of ciuile Weapons made a thunder: false Prophets de∣ceyued the people with fained myracles: they wente aboute to slaye the Iewes. Saint Barnard saued them, hée admonished them by a heauenlye O∣racle, that they should abstayne from them, least we shoulde accuse God of lying, who promised that he woulde saue the remnaunt of them. It ray∣ned fleshe, Comets were séene, and the Element was a fyre. A Woolfe

deuoured thirtie men.

Roger after he had set vpon the Souerainty of Calabria and Apulia, hée tooke in the fielde Pope Innocent the second, and making with him peace, after a sort obtained of him to be crouned. By reasō of a dissention growing betwéene the pope and Lewis king of Fraunce the frenche church grew out of order, (or was troubled.)

[ 1143] It was reckened in place of a prodigie, that very many smal wormes were to be séene in manye Countreis, flying not farre from the earth, so that they might be touched with ones hand or with a stick, equall to Flies in greatnesse, but longer, of whome the number was so great that they oc∣cupyed almost a mile in breadth, and thrée miles in length, and with their thicknesse they séemed to darken the light of the Sunne: by which prodigi∣ous sight, some interpreted that that voiage which 4 yeres after was made to Ierusalem was figured, and there insued an intollerable pestilence of men, & morraine of Beasts, through the corruption of the ayre, wherevpon such liuing things were then brought forth, as after dying increased the vnseasonablenes of the ayre. It is reported also y^t there appeared tokens in the element, & that boules of fire were séene in diuers places, and afterward hid themselues in some other part of the element: many did interpret that they were Angelical powers which drue men to the holy voiage for y^e pope at the counsayle of Claremont stirred vp the frenchemen. Peter the Hermit a Spaniarde borne, styrred vp other nations and shewed himselfe to be their leader, affirming that a letter was sent to him from heauen, which exhor∣ted nations to that voiage.

[ 1147] When Conrade King of the Romanes and Lewis King of Fraunce with certayne Princes of Fraunce and Germany were nowe making their voyage to the holye Lande, about the Euening it thundered on the syde of a hill with a great tempest, and beholde at midnighte a water falling downe with great violence, drue all thinges that were amidst the valley, both menne and Beastes into the Sea, the residue wente to Constantino∣ple, afterwarde to the arme of Saynte George: and Lewis King of Fraunce directing his armie to Ierusalem loste a greate parte of his army, and the menne of King Conrade perished through hunger and thyrste, and the King with his stronger menne retourned into Greece, the o∣ther armye of the same appoyntment passing by Sea, at the request of the King of Galitia tooke Lisborne the chéefe Citie of Portugale before inhabi∣ted by the Sarasens and afterwarde by the Christians.

Warre arose betwéene the Brothers Dukes of Russia, wherein Ste∣phan the sunne of Gisa king of Hungary did helpe Isassauus who wearyed the rest of his brothers with Warre. Emanuel Emperour of Constantino∣ple did trecherously handle Conrade the Emperour of Germany & his com∣pany,

mixing lime with flower, whereof his armie miserablye died, when Conrade the thyrd Emperor of the Romane & Lewis king of Fraunce went into Asia with a great hoste, cruell prodigies were séene, by the which dy∣uers discommodities of the war were foretold, for vpon an euening a very thick cloude couering the Pauilions, did greatlye annoy them. Further∣more al the wings of the Butterflies that flue abrode, appeared so sprinck∣led with blood, as if it had rayned blood, which the king and other Princes seeing coniectured that they were called out to very great labours, & danger of death, neither did the coniecture deceiue them, for not long after, when nighte was neare, there was hearde by y^e mountaine side a crashing of thū∣der, & a sound of tempest, and at midnight a violent streame of raine water breaking down washt away in a moment and droue into the Sea whatso∣euer was in the valey.

At Landunum the 3. of the Nones of Iuly, when it thundered, y^e Monkes [ 1148] being at seruice in the Monastery of S. Vincent two of them being sodain∣ly stricken with lightning gaue vp the Ghost, some being touched or feared with so great perill fell sick, and after long sicknesse died. The lightning burned the Alter cloth, and pearced the Vestrie (and burned all their Re∣liques) in other places also the lightning slue men and Beasts. At the same time it is certain that it lightned at Ierusalem in the Temple of the Lord, & at the mountaine Oliuet. In the Territorie of Geb••num a Woolfe vnlike to other in greatnesse of body and fiercenesse through his madnesse tore in pée∣ces in y^e sight of men 30. persons of diuers seres and age, the same yere D••∣mascus was besieged and token by the Frenchemen and Germanes whiche also was spoyled before by the Sarasens. Norad••uus after the departure of the Emperour and the kings besieged Antioche.

There was an eclipse of the Moone the ••. of y^e kalends of Aprill aboute ••. [ 1149] of y^e clock at night, after which immediately ensued boistrous winds: for 4. days together there was séene & hearde oftentimes thunder, and lightning wherby in the Territorie of Vernium by Gaunt, a certain Priest while hée sayd Masse being stricken with lightning died. At Rhomes a certaine clarke died in the same tempest. The second yere Lewis king of Fraunce, when he had fought valiantly in Palestine against the Sarasens, and now had appoin∣ted to retourn into Fraunce chaunsing vpon the ships of the Greekes was ta∣ken. The Pope Eugenius the thyrd retourning into Italy foughte with the Romanes with a variable euent. Raymundus Prince of Antioch going oute against the Turkes the first of August, manye of his men were taken priso∣ners and slayne, and they lying in wait for him, he also was miserablye murthered, the Turkes carying about his head, tooke almost all places or Ci∣ties which were vnder him sauing Antioche.

When the earth was very hard frosen in Winter a Turffe of a verye [ 1140] greate length and breadth being sodainlye pulled from the Earth, was

remoued farre off to an other place, and the yeare following the Quéene of Ierusalem fauouring the Infidels more than was reason, was the author of many miseries in the holy land, against whom King Baldwin her sonne a∣rose, and taking the fortifications was at last suffered to enter Ierusalem: The Citie Reatina after a long siege was destroyed by Rogerius King of Sicilia.

[ 1152] There was an earthquake in y^e part of Italy, after whom duke Frederike the first his Nephew succéeded, surnamed Barbarosla. Rogerius King of Si∣cilia died, euen as Baldwinus king of Ierusalem, who left his life the fifte of the Kalends of October. The Massamutes, whiche some call the Moabites, after they hadde vsurped the Kingdome of Mauritane and hanged the King, and also killing the King of Bulga, they inuaded his kingdome, and they threatned to inuade Sicilia, Apulia, and Rome also.

[ 1154] Robert of Botua a man full of all wickednesse, being kindled with the spirite of Gealosye, when hée hadde commaunded a certayne manne, his moste Familyar, together with his Wyfe to bée shut vp in a little house to be burned, there appeared as it were thrée goodlye Chyldren in the house being on fyre, and the manne and the Woman remayned vn∣hurt amidste the flame whiche flew ouer their heades in maner of a light shining Clowde. The Sunne for a whole daye was darkened the first day of October.

[ 1155] In Burgundye there chaunced an Earthquake on a nighte whiche ouer∣threw many buildings. The Pope Anastasius the 4. died, Henry Duke of Normandie was annointed king of England by Theobaldus Archbishop of Canterbury, and the yeare following Lewis king of Fraunce was friende with Henry of Normandy with whome he had made warre.

[ 1156] In the raign of Henry the ••. king of England, the first day of October, al∣most for 3. howers there were séene 3. circles about the Sun, which often∣times vanishing away there was séene ••. sunnes, by whiche prodigie, the falling out of the King & Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterburie was thought to be foreshewed. Moreouer there appeared in the Moone the signe of the Crosse, and immediately Albertus a souldyer of Belnacum, a most ho∣ly man suffred martirdome for the faith of Christ. And Frederike the Em∣perour besieged Milan almost for 7. yeres, and destroyed it. Vitales Micha∣ell Duke of Venice tooke Vlricus Patriarke of Aquileia in the field, & 700. of the Gentlemen of Forum Iulij now called Frioll, and made them of Frioll tributarie. The Emperour Frederike Barbarosla besieged Milan which yielded vnto him.

[ 1157] There was a great snow & a cold vnaccustomed whervpō there insued a plague & a drie sōmer. At Rome the riuer of Tiber excéedingly ouerflowed, by meanes wherof many things on euery side were spoyled to mens great losse, & y^e same yere Williā king of Sicilia rased flat to y^e groūd y^e citie of Barū

sauing the Temple dedicated to Saint Nicholas: Of other of whose exploits done this yeare, reade Sigisbertus. The third Calends of Iune, the Popish Feria quarta, on Assention euen about noone tide, almost for halfe an houre, a Circle of a great bredth appeared about the Sunne, whiche Sunne was of a fierie and blew colour. William the first begotten sonne of King Hen∣rie of England dyed,* 1.38 and was buried ae Reding at the féete of his great grād∣father King Henrie. There often happened in Normandie in the moneth of Iuly lightning and Tempest, whervpon in manye places the haruest was lost, and men being stricken with lightning dyed. There ensued aboun∣daunce of raine, which began amidst the moneth of August, letting the In∣ning of corne, and the sowing ensuing, of which continuall floudes that la∣sted a long time, many towres and Churches, and old wals fel in Norman∣die and England. Radulphus de Fulgerijs, in a certaine conflict toke Eudo vicount of Ponehait and for this cause the greatest part of the Brytains chose the Earle Conauus Duke of Brytaine, sauing Iohn Dolens, who as yet as much as laye in hym resisted Conauus and hys coadiutors.

In the moneth of September there were séene thrée Sunnes togither, in as cleare weather as might be, and a few dayes after in the same mo∣neth thrée Moones, and in the Moone that stood in the middle, a white crosse, whervpon the Doctours, and the skilfullest searchers of natural things, be∣ing sent for from the vniuersitie of Paris and Bononia, and of Venice also, did interprete the prognostication, signifying that there shoulde arise a dis∣corde betwéene the Cardinals in chosing the Pope, and also of the Princes electours, in choosing of the Emperour: neyther did the euent deceiue those wise men: for not song after, against Pope Alexander, foure other were chosen, not without a great sedition of the people, and it continewed seuen∣téene yeares, and there followed also manye Earthquakes, whereby not only Cities and Castels, but also whole Countreys were shaken, and were in diuerse places quite ouerthrown. Canutus y^e son of Waldamar the gret, after he had fought with his kinsmen Sweno and Waldamar for the king∣dome of Denmarke, there were séene many tokens in y^e Element to•…•… the North, as it were fierie Torches, and the likenesse of mans bloude•…•…¦ning: neyther did these wonders deceiue them, for by and by king〈…〉〈…〉 spoyled the Countrey of the Wagians, and al places euery where were•…•…¦led with the war.

Vpon a Saterdaye before the Octaues of Easter, in Abrincati•…•… Farme or house, whiche is called Landa Aronis aboute noone tide, a〈…〉〈…〉 whirlewinde as it were rising out of the Earth, wrapped aboute al〈…〉〈…〉 that were next it, and toke them away. At laste there stoode vprigh•••…•…¦taine Piller of a redde and blewe colour, vnder the whirlewinde•…•…¦ding vpwarde, and therewyth hearde as it were Arrowes and lau•…•… dashyng againste the Piller, albeit it appeared not to the beholders, wh•…•…

gaue the stroke, and in the whirlewinde whiche stoode still, there appea∣red as it were diuerse kindes of Byrdes flying vnto it, there ensued by and by in the same manour place, a Pestilence among the folkes, among whom the Lord himselfe dyed, and not onely in that place, but in many places of Normandie and of the Countreys adioyning, the Pestilence this yeare made a great spoyle. That yere the Milliners agayne rebelled, whome Fre∣dericke the Emperour againe besieging made to yéelde, and in the meane season, he fortifyed Laud•• with walles. The Agarenians puttyng Au∣forsius the Emperoure of Spayne, to flyghte, tooke agayne the Cit∣tye Almaria in Spayne by siege, wyth soundrye Castels which they had lost.

[ 1160] The Moone was eclypsed, and immediately the Quéene of Fraunce wife of King Lewes the daughter of the Emperoure of Spaine, ended hir dayes in whose place the King matched hymselfe wyth Adela, the daugh∣tor of Theobaldus. Fredericke the Emperoure after hée hadde wone Millai••e ouerthrewe also the Townes or Castels of Papia and Placentia and made almost all Lumbardy subiect vnto him. Sweno the thirde King of Seland••a beyng driuen forthe of hys Realme by Canutus, after thrée yeares exile, was broughte into hys kyngdome agayne by Henrie Leo Duke of Saxonie.

[ 1161] There happened an Earthquake the firste of Ianuarye in the Lord∣ship of Constantine, at the Castell of Saint Lawde about one a clock. This yeare in the moneth of May, peace was made betwéene the Kings Henrie of England and Lewes of Fraunce, in renewing theyr former couenauntes. Phillip brother of Lewes King of Fraunce dyed. Constantia also Quéene of Fraunce dyed in childbyrth, leauing hir daughter aliue, for whose sake she hastned hir death.

[ 1163] In the moneth of Iune in Brytaine the lesse, to witte in Recel it ray∣ned bloude, and there it ranne downe from the bancks of a certayne foun∣tayne, and also it ranne out of breade. William King of Sicilia, goyng out of Sicilia into Apulia wyth a great armye, and putting Robert Deba∣seuila wyth hys complices to flighte recouered the Cities and Castels whi∣che reuolted from hym. There was a grieuous famine and Pestilence. Ramaldus De Castilio of Antioche whylest he vncyrcumspectlye entring into the Countrey of y^e Agarenians, many of his men were slaine and takē, and he himselfe taken prisoner.

[ 1164] At Senone on Goodfryday, when Pope Alexander was at Masse, there was a horrible darkenesse, and whilest the Lectorer redde aloude the pas∣sion of the Lorde, and came to thys place Consummatum est. It is finished, there fell suche a wonderfull lightning, and there was so great a cracke of thunder that Alexander forsaking the Aulter and the Lectorer omyt∣ting

the passion and all they whiche were presente thoughte good to pro∣uide for themselues by flying awaye: at whyche tyme also the Archebishop of Colen, the Bishoppes of Padeborne Minda and Munster, and Henrye Duke of Saxonie, besieged the Castell of Arnesbach, bycause the Earle Henrye hadde committed manye thyngs agaynste them all, and kepte hys brother being a Chylde, in prison where he dyed, the Castell was taken and ouerthrowen, and Henrye bannyshed, yet afterward com∣ming in fauoure agayne, he recouered the Castell, which after his deathe he bequethed to the Church of Colen, which at this day holdeth al the Lord∣ship of that auntient nobilitie. Bolestauus king of Polana subdued the Bry∣tenians (with war.)

The eyghte daye of Auguste in the Bishopricke of Dolon, it rayned bloude. That yeare the Vandales war was again valiantly made by Wal∣damar by the helpe of Henrie Leo Duke of Saxonie.

In the Lordshippe of Ruthen a certaine Tempest corrected the peo∣ple wyth a grieuous scurge: and wilde Wolues, toke awaye young chil∣dren from theyr Mothers breastes, and cruellye deuoured them. The Valentians breakyng theyr Faith wyth King Henrie, robbed and spoyled the Countrey that was promised them. Richard of Humbar King Hen∣ries Conestable callyng togyther the Barrons of Normandy and Bry∣taine in the moneth of Auguste tooke the Castell of Comber in Bry∣taine.

There appeared in the Weast two Sunnes of a fierye colour, one of [ 1165] the whiche was greate, the other little, and they were as it were ioyned togither, and afterwarde asunder, lastly, they appeared far one from ano∣ther, and this was vpon Christmas euen, in the Octaues of Whitsontide. There was a vaine entreatie of peace at Vilcasme, betwéene the Kings of England and Fraunce, they went away without any conclusion, and with inwarde grudge they prepared to the field, and they made greate spoyle on both sides with fire and sword.

The first of the moneth of September there were séene at once in the [ 1168] Weast thrée Suns, and two houres after, when two were gone he whiche was middlemost wente downe alone: in like sort the yeare folowing thrée Moones appeared.

An Earthquake ouerthrew many cities & churches, towns, and Vilages, [ 1169] and the gaping of the earth swallowed vp many thousands of men, and co∣uered most part of the buildings in the fal. The same yeare also in Sicilia y^e Citie Cathana before one of the clocke was ouerthrowen, with the whyche Erthquake the Bishop & the cleargie (the Abbot of Miletū with 40. Mōcks and about 1500. of the common people sodainely perished, manye Castelles also in the Ilande were shaken at that instaunte, in parte also beyonde

the Sea, a great part of the Christians and Panims perished with Earth∣quake: many Cities were ouerthrowne: Antioch and Ierusalem trembled, & the same yeare the king of England sent for Sainte Thomas to come home frō exile, and he established peace as he had promised the Pope, and Lewes king of Fraunce. The Romanes destroy vtterly Alba: a certaine Priest, in a part of Denmarke which is called Alfse,* 1.39 standing at the Altar, when he had lifted vp the Challice, being about to take the host, beholde there was séene in the * Chalice the forme of flesh and bloud: he being stricken with feare, after he had brought the Chalice to the Bishop and the Cleargie to be séene, the Bishop protested that there hung grieuous trouble ouer the Churche, and that the bloud of Christian people shoulde be spilt, whych in short space also came to passe, for scarsely fouretéene dayes after the armye of the Sla∣uonians breaking into the Countrey, toke al places, ouerthrew Churches, and brought al the people into bondage, and whosoeuer resisted they perse∣cuted with fire and sworde.

There were excéeding Earthquakes and huge flouds in Germanie. The same time also Callina a Citie in Sicilia was shaken wyth an Earthquake, and was so ouerthrowen, that a greate number of menne perished there∣in. The Kyng of Denmarke inuaded Rugia and put downe Idolatrye. [ 1170] Menardus the firste Bishoppe of Liuonia was made Bishop by Pope Alexander the thirde. The Kings of England and Fraunce makyng peace at twelfetide were attoned.

[ 1171] Many Earthquakes shoke diuerse prouinces, and chiefely Syria and Sicilia, in which many Cities stoode bending, and some fel, making a great slaughter. The bones of a certayne Giaunt in Englande were discouered by scowring of the Water, the length of whose bodye was fiftie foote. Saledinus slewe Calypha the Egiptian his soueraigne, and obtayned hys kingdome, the Florentines vanquished them of Sena. at Ascianum, Canu∣tus sometyme King of Englande and Denmarke, was canonized a Saint, (and that is a wonder, where the Diuell makes men as fast as the Pope makes Saints,)

[ 1173] The firste daye of Ianuarie there were heard manye thunders, and di∣uerse places holye and profane, were stricken with cruell lightning, and the same yeare and daye folowing, Thomas of Canterburie was crow∣ned with martyrdome for Christian religion and the confession of sounde doctrine (that is to saye, for a little treason againste the Kyng, and as for hys doctrine at that tyme was no resistaunce) wherevppon the yeare folo∣wyng Pope Alexander canonized him a Saint, hereof all England became seruile to the Pope.

[ 1175] The fierie Hil of Etna, burned againe, at which time the fal of the hou∣ses made such a noyse, through an excéeding Earthquake, that al the priests of Saint Agatha were slayne with the fall of the same. At thys time

Pope Alexander treading vnder his féete the Emperour Frederike the firste, who otherwise was called Barbarosla, and treading vppon his necke he saide, it is written. Super aspidem & Basiliscum ambulabis & conculcabis Leonem & dra onem, Thou shalt walke ouer the Aspe and the Baselisk, & shalt treade down both the Lion and the Dragon, and so at length he a∣bused him. Againe Fredericke sayde, that he shewed that humilitie, not to Alexander but to Peter, wherevnto Alexander aunswered & mihi, & Pe∣ter, To me, and to Peter, and so peace was made betwéene the Emperoure and the Pope, but I know that Robert Abbot of Mount the continuer of Sigebert of Gemblaca and Stumphius, doe referre thys to the yere of Christe 1177.

The Sunne was eclypsed at sixe of the clocke, the firste of the Ides of [ 1177] September. The war of Emanuel Emperor of Constantinople, with y^e Sul∣tan begā about the feast of Whitsontide. The Lumbards & chiefly the Milli∣ners assailed the Emperour Fredericke with a great host, who being in the Citie of Papia, scarsely escaped flying awaye. On Sainte Andrewes daye at nighte there was a mightie winde, and that daye and in the euen there appeared a lighte comming in the morning from the Easte to the Weste, vpon whiche day the Christians fought wyth the Infidels, at Saint Georges de Ramula. There was thys yere in Sōmer and Autumne a great drought wherevpon seedes and plantes in the fields, and corne and haye, for y^e most part was destroyed.

The Ocean English Sea grew so hygh, that it swallowed vp manye [ 1178] men. This yeare Saladinus king of Egipt assayled Guido King of Ierusalē with a very fierce battayle, and did wonderfully afflict all the Christian cō∣mon wealth. The Heretickes Angenenses despisers of the Sacraments, & detesters of matrymonie, assembled togither aboute Tholosa, with whome Diuines and men skilful in the Scripture, of which Peter legate was the chiefe, méeting, brought them to a better passe.

The fiftéenth of the Calendes of September, after eight a clocke on a [ 1179] Sonday at night the Moone was eclypsed: there ensued an extreame colde Winter, wherein the Snow continued vntill the purification of the Vir∣gine Marie. There were also greate floudes of Water, and chiefely at the Citie of Maine and Angue in Fraunce, where it brake the bridges and carried away innumerable houses, with a great number of men. Emanu∣el Emperour of Constantinople reuenged himselfe of Soliman at Iconium by whom before he was putte to flighte. Soliman also being now set vp∣on with a great army, was so discomfited, that he left the Citie of Iconium, almost without souldiours.

Thys yere about Michaelmasse there were two or thrée Earthquaks in England,* 1.40 in which yeare also there was great discord betweene the King [ 1180] of England and his sonnes, for the Castel of Clareual, which belonged to the

inheritance of Angue, and Richard Erle of Poiters, priuily assented vnto it. King Henrie the elder sent his armie into Brytaine and besieged the tower of Rhedon and toke it, and burning it they built it againe and fortifyed it. Moreouer the Earle of Brytaine burned a greate parte of the Citye, and the Abbay of Sainte George and Becherell the Castell of Rouland de Di∣uam.

[ 1181] In the prouince of Kemens in Wales, a yong man named Cicilius El∣karhar, and of some long legged Cicill. being a greate time visited wyth sickenesse, was at the length assaulted with Toades: his kinsemenne and friendes defending him, slewe manye of those soule vermine, neuerthe∣lesse they grew and increased so fast, that they were fayne to put him into a Coffen of woodde, and hoyse him vppe to the toppe of a trée, paring awaye the boughes to hinder the créeping vp of the Toades: neuerthelesse they cea∣sed not til they had eaten him to the bones: Authours, Giraldus Cambren∣sis Itinerarij, and Iohn Stowe. Thys happened in the time of King Henrie the second.

[ 1185] In midde Februarie there was an Earthquake in Gotlande, and in the Aprill following the Moone was eclipsed. There arose a discorde betwéene Phillip King of Fraunce, and Phillip Earle of Flaunders, for the Earledome of Veromanenum The Emperor Frederike made Henrie his son ruler ouer the Citizens of Italy. Bela the thirde king of Hungarie and of Boemia, ta∣king Vlademirus Duke of Halike, sent Andrew his sonne which seazed the Dukedome of Halike.

[ 1186] The Sunne was eclipsed, and there ensued a greate Pestilence in Poland and Rusland. When Pope Lucy the thirde was deade, Vrbane the fourthe succéeded hym in the Sea of Rome. Thys yeare the Wyn∣ter was verye hotte, whereof it came to passe that the fruites of the Earth waxed sooner ripe than they were wont, for haruest was in May, and Vintage in August.

The Sun was eclipsed on Saint Iohn Baptist day, the sixth houre of the [ 1187] day. Baldwinus king of Ierusalem with many noble mē were takē by Sala∣dine king of Asia and Syria.

[ 1190] In Englande a Crosse appeared in the Elemente aboute noone-tyde, when Richarde King of Englande and Phillip of Fraunce prepared warre againste Saladine. Thys yeare after the deathe of the Emperour Frede∣dericke Barbarosa, Henrie the sixth his sonne succéeded him in the Em∣pyre. The Colliners and other rebelled. Luneburge a Citie of Germany and Berna a Citie of Vchtland (at thys day of the Heluetians) were builded.

[ 1193] There was a greate eclypse of the Sunne. Saladinus after his long per∣secution of the Christians and murders committed died at Damascus, and his kingdome was deuided by his sonnes, wherfore Saphandinus the bro∣ther

of Saladine, being grieued bycause that Saladinus had left him no part of his kingdome, droue his sonnes out of the kingdome, and he alone ray∣ned afterward. Henrie the Emperour receyuing money of Richarde king of England, leuied an army and went into Apulia, and assaulted Salerne. A perpetuall peace was confirmed betwéene the Polanders and the Hungari∣ans, whervpon Russia yéelded to the Polanders.

In the Lordship of Belloacum, betwéene the Mountaine Claurum and [ 1194] Compennium there fel so much raine, with thunder, lightning and tempest, that the like was neuer hearde of, for foure square stones as bigge as egs, falling down from the Elemente, mixed with rayne, did vtterlye destroy fruite trées, Vines, and Corne. Manour houses also in manye places, were destroyed and burned with lightning. Rauens also of huge greatenesse fly∣ing in the ayre, from place to place, were séene to carry in their bils quicke and burning coales, with whiche they set houses on fire. The same day al∣so, in the Bishopricke of Laudunum, a certaine Castell aboute Clauemounte was quite destroyed with lightning, and the same yere the Emperor Hen∣rie subdued to his Empire all Apulia, Calabria and Sicilia, which fel to hym by the right of his wife.

In the moneth of March there were sodaine and excéeding floudes of [ 1196] water in manye places, which destroyed houses, ouerthrewe Townes, slue most of the inhabitauntes that dwelt in them. The same yeare Phil∣lip Augustus Deodatus King of Fraunce marryed to wife Mary daughter of the Duke of Morauia, Boemia, & Marques of Histria. Henrie Leo Duke of Branswike and Luneburg dyed vpon Saint Sextus day, after whom succée∣ded his son Henrie who also was Counte Palatine of Rhene.

Throughe the violence of a storme risen, stones with rayne fel from [ 1197] heauen. Henrie the Emperour sente ayde to the Christians in Syria, who afterwarde the yeare folowing vpon the deathe of Henrie returned home. Wherefore the Christians which remayned in Syria, being destitute of all helpe, vtterlye lost the Lordship of that prouince: war also arose betwéene Conrade Duke of Sweue, and Bertholdus Duke of Zeringe, wherein Conrade dyed. By the procuremente of Henrie the Emperour, Frederick the Emperours sonne crying in hys Cradle, was appointed king of the Romaines.

Manye Prodigies at this time were recorded in Cronicles. The [ 1198] quaking of the Earth the fourth of the Nones of Maye afflicted the whole earth, and ouerthrew Cities, houses, cotages, and Churches. At Longiona a Lordshippe of Bauaria which belongeth to Boemia with the Hillye part of the wood Hersinia, the Earthquake continued a yere & sixe monethes, so that the inhabitauntes were constrayned to leaue their houses, & abyde abroade in heate and colde.

At Vermendesiū a certain souldiour that was dead reuiued, and foretolde many notable things to many men, and afterwarde also he liued without meate and drinke a long season. In Fraunce aboute Midsomer, dewe in the night falling from heauen, excéeded the swéetenesse of Honny, and in the moneth of Iuly a great storme arose, and stones of such a greatnesse fel frō Heauen, that through their violence from Hemblack, as far as the Mona∣sterie of Chale and to the places adioyning, they destroyed not onely corne and Vines, but the wooddes also, and mens gorgeous houses. And the same yeare in the moneth of Iuly Philip Augustus Deodatus King of Fraunce, contrarye to the opinion of all menne, and to the Kings decrée, resto∣red the Iewes to their former state at Paris, and grieuouslye persecuted the Churches of God.

[ 1200] There arose a great Earthquake at noonetide, which for certain days togyther, shoke many buildings, in Poland and the Countreys adioyning whiche thyng almost vnhearde of in these Countrys, was accounted a pro∣digie. The same yeare Constantinople was taken by the Frenche and Veneti∣ans. Alexiu Emperour of Constantinople being dryuen out of his Realme fled to Hal••k to the Emperour of Rome. The Emperour Phillip son of Bar∣baro••. spoiled Alsaise and destroied certaine fortresses of Rhubiaquen and of the Castel of Fereburg, which is in the Towne, he brake the Walles, and spoyled all places wyth fire and sworde as elsewhere we haue noted more at large in the description of the Citie of Rubiaquen.

[ 1202] The thirtith daye of the moneth of Maye, there was an Earthquake wherein was hearde a terrible voyce, but nothing was séene. A great parte also of the Citie of Achon with the kings Palace fell downe. Tyre was al∣most ouerthrowen, Archas a verye strong Towne, almoste fell to the grounde, the greatest parte of Tripolis fel downe, and a greate number of men were strangled. After this Earthquake folowed a great barrennesse of the grounde. In forraine Countreys there was a great famine, and a horrible pestilence folowed the famine. Pope Innocēt the third excommu∣nicated twice the Emperor Phillip, and depriued him of his imperial Ma∣iestie, and absolued his subiects.

[ 1205] A horrible Tempest in manye places destroyed the Corne and the Vines. Phillip the Emperour pursueth with his army Otho whom Pope Innocent the third chose against him, and besieged him at Cullen, but Otho in a certain conflict which he had with the Culleners, escaping by flight gotte him to the king of England. Phillip subdued the Colleners, & was crowned K. by the Archbyshoppe of Aquisgranne, The L••tuanians whose name at thys tyme was fyrste knowen, entred into Russia with a great army, but they went away conquered. In Germanie Conrade Archbishop of Har∣bepol••, [ 1206] was slaine by his seruaunts.

The day before the Calendes of Marche, there was an eclypse of the

Sunne, the fifth houre of the day, and the moneth folowing. Adela Mother of King Phillip dyed, who was buried in Burgondie, by his father Theobal∣dus in the moneth of December there were many floudes hurtful to many places of Italy and Fraunce, which not only brake the bridges, but y^e beames of houses also, and ouerthrew many houses and pillers of stones. Iohn the brother of Richard Duke of Normandy and king of Englande, goyng out of Englande made warre agaynste Phillip Kyng of Fraunce, and by rea∣son of the plague among the Souldiours, there was truce made for two yeares.

On Saint Nicholas day in Fraunce, there were harde great thunders, [ 1207] through the violence of which, many buildings holy and prophane wer set on fire, and ouerthrown with lightning. There folowed a wonderful and a huge floude of water. The same yeare Satellia a verye strong Citie was taken and spoyled by the Panims, Phillip the sonne of Barbarosla the Em∣perour of Germanie was slayne at Babenburge, in whose place Otho the fourth was appointed, who only was Emperour foure yeares, and he ta∣king to wife the daughter of Phillip, drewe vnto hym greate parte of Germany.

There appeared in Poland a great Comet in the moneth of May whi∣che [ 1211] lasted eightéene dayes, and passed about in his course ouer Polande Ta∣nais and Russia, and stretching his tayle ouer the weast, & signifying the cō∣ming of the Tartarians. Whervppon the yeare following, the nation of the Tartarians vnknowen til that day, hauing slaine as it was reported Dauid their own king, came from vnder the mountaines of India, manye nations of the North drawen vnto thē, and went to the Poluci which other call the Gothes, they grieuously afflicted many with many battailes, the one and the other Sarmacia, the Poluci and the Russi were banished by the Tartarians, and in a gret ouerthrow Conradus Crispus son of Henrye Barbatus, duke of Vratislauium was slaine.

In the prouince of Collen and in the Dioces of Munster, at a place in [ 1218] Frisland called Leidan, in the moneth of May, thrée Crosses appeared in the ayre, one white towards the North, another of the same colour towardes the South, but the thirde set forth with a middle colour, hauing the figure or forme of a man hanging vppon it, hauing the armes lifted vp and stret∣ched out with the fastning of nayles in the handes and the féete, and hys heade bending to one side, and thys crosse was the middlemost betwéen two other Crosses. The same tyme in a certayne place of Frislande there appeared a Crosse of blewe coloure by the Sunne, likewise there was seene one altogyther lyke vnto thys, but a whyle after in the Dio∣ces of Traiectum, and immediatelye the Christians toke in hande greate voyages against the Sarazens for the defence of the Christian Faith. Vinc. in his 31. booke Chap. 73.

Otho the Emperour died, and immediately Fredericke was established in the Empire. Conradinus the Sarazen, king of Ierusalem and Syria, miserablye slue all the Christians remayning at Ierusalem.

[ 1221] In England and other Countreys adioyning, there were séene manye prodigies, for there appeared a Comet of a huge greatnesse, the Earthe shoke wonderfully, there were heard many thunders with a great crashing of the Element, which for as much as they are heard but seldome in Eng∣land, and that in Sommer season, thereof it commeth to passe that as often as they happen, they are reckned as prodigies: likewise continual showers of raine, with such great blastes of winde, that houses were ouerthrowne, and the sea went further abrode than it was wont, it rained all the spring time in Polande, wherevppon so great a famine afflicted them of the Coun∣trey, that a great part of the people perished wyth hunger and pestilence. There were thys yere great cōmotions and tumultes of war in Englande vnder King Henrie the thirde of that name, of the whiche reade Polidor Virgil in his 16. booke of the English Historie, & Lilie in his Cronolog. Phi∣lip king of Fraunce departed this life, leauing Lodouicus his son to succéede hym: the Emperour Fredericke was depriued of hys imperiall dignity by Pope Honorius, whervpon there grew hote war.

[ 1223] A cruell Comet was séene ouer all Fraunce, the order of the Fryer Minors was made and established by Pope Honorius. Damiata was loste agayne by the negligence of the Souldiours. Waldamar Kyng of Den∣marke, beyng layde in wayte for, was taken by Henrye Earle of Swerne.

[ 1225] A little before the death of Honorius the third, the earth did shake sore vpon the Alpes among the Saluians, that 5000. men were brused to deathe wyth the fal of houses: great pieces of rocke also were pulled from the side of the Hilles, and fell down into the vallies vnderneath, that were well in∣habited, to the great destruction of men and cattell. Lewes Duke of Bauare was made King Henries protector and tutor by the electors. Henrie Barba∣tus Duke of Vratislaue rebelled at Lenskone, and the peace was to smal pur∣pose.

[ 1230] There arose an excéeding tempest of winds, a storme and flashing of lightning, and a crashing of thunder, which euery where set on fire and o∣uerthrew many houses, moreouer, there arose such sea floudes (of the Sea) in Frizeland the like wherof were not since Noas time, which spred ouer al the ground by the sea side of Frisland and Halderia, & al the méery & marishe ground. Albis & Visurgis two riuers in Germany, wer so ouerflowen, y^t theyr course could not be séene. Then there perished many thousands of men, and cattel without number. While the riche and great men of that place gaue themselues to delicacie and pleasure wythout any other care, they were ca∣ryed away and swallowed vp with sodaine tempest. And it was the 10. day

day of Februarie when this tempest brake asunder all the pillers & bancks made for defence of the water course, and brought in the raging Sea amidst the land. That yeare Vladislaus being chased to Leskonogie, by Vdalislaus Othos son, was spoyled of the kingdome of the greater Poland. Francis the Patrone of the barelegged Friers, about this time was canonized a Saint by Pope Gregorie the ninth.

At this time many Prodigies did forshew the miseries ensuing, a great [ 1233] plague and morrain raigned vpon men and beastes, all riuers were harde frozen, and at length being thawed with the heate of the spring, they ouer∣threw cotages, garners, bridges, wals, and trées. In Rathstadium a Town on the Alpes which lye to the Countrey of Germany called Noricum, and ter∣med of the inhabitantes Taurum, a childe was borne with hornes, whose crying and wéeping was heard fourtéene days before he was borne. In the Countrey of Fruxinum towards the South, a great number of fielde Mice vpon the sodaine spoyled the haruest, and did eate vppe euen to the rootes, the corne, grasse, and haye, whervpon the inhabitauntes being driuen from thence, were compelled to chaunge that curssed place, and the husbandmen were driuen to forsake their olde dwellings. The third of the Nones of Iu∣ly, the Sunne, by the Moones comming betwéene was hid for two houres togither. The Moone was séene with sixe corners stretching out towards y^e East. The day before y^e Nones of October also, the Moone taking away the Sun beames by hir setling betwéene, the stars did shine at noone dayes, as in the night. Many other suche prodigies and straunge tokens are recorded in the Chronicles There ensued factions, deceites, mischiefes, murder, ciuil war, through the which all heauenly and wordly things were confused to∣gither. The Christian common wealth was crased with mischieuous dis∣corde, and became a praye for a fewe mens lust. Loke in the Chronicles of the Boyans whych Auentinus most diligently handleth.

The Sun was greatly eclypsed. The yere folowing Pope Gregorie [ 1234] the ninth, when he had held his seate 14. yeares dyed, after whome Celesti∣nus the fourth succéeded in the Papacie: the partes taken of the Gybelines for the Emperour, and of Guelphes for the Pope beginning at thys tyme in Italy, were the cause of many miseries. The Bishop of Collen was taken by the Emperour.

In England was a great dearth and pestilence, so that manye of y^e poo∣rer [ 1239] sort for wante of foode perished. Corne was verye scarce. It is sayd, that Walter Gray, Archbishop of Yorke kept corne fiue yeres, & doubting y^e long kéeping therof, made it away by exchāge to his farmers for new after har∣uest, but would spare none to satisfy the poores néed. It fortuned, that when men came to the stackes, which stoode not far from Ripon, to take the shea∣ues to threshe, sodaynely appeared from betwixte the sheaues heades of

Wormes, Toades, and Serpents, and a voyce was hearde that sayde, as if it had bene spoken among the vermine, Lay no handes on the Corne, for the Archbishop and all that he hath is the Diuels: the voyce and the sight so amazed the commers, that a wall was made aboute the Corne, and so sette on fire, leaste the venemous Wormes should haue gone forth, and poysoned other places Anto. Math. Paris. Iohn Stow, in his Chronicle. Folio 264.

[ 1240] In the woods of Saxonie towards Denmarke in a desart, certain Mon∣strous beasts were taken, on the top of a rocke in a thicket, hauing almoste in all pointes the shape of a man, of whiche the female dyed, with the by∣ting of dogs, and the wounds giuen by hunters, and the male being taken became tame, and went other while vpright vpon his hinder féete, he lear∣ned to speak but very vnperfectly, and not many words, he had a smal voice like a Goate, he had no reason, and was ashamed to be séeene to ease himself, &c. he desired to company with women, and openly assaid at the time of hys lust, not sparing any, whatsoeuer they were. Albertus Magnus, and out of him Gesner in his seconde booke of his Historie of liuing creatures wyth foure féete.

In Saxonie there was séene a Comet by the North pole, which cast forth his beames betwéen the East & the South, directing them rather to y^e East. The yere folowing the K. of the Tartars making an inrode into Polad, with a great army, burned and killed euery where, afterward taking his iourny into Morauia, he miserably afflicted it for thrée yeares.

[ 1241] In Englād when Henrie the 3. raigned, in y^e moneth of Ianuarie a Comet appeared feareful to behold, almost for 30. days togither, & this yere K. Hē-went into Wales w^t an army against Dauid who taking & punishing y^e Au∣thors of the seditiō, brought Wales into his subiectiō. The same yere also Isa∣bel wife to y^e Emperor Fred: and sister to Hēry died, at which time also ther was an eclips of the sun. Pope Gregorie the 9. died, in whose place Celesti∣nus the 4. was chosen, as some Historiographers recorde. Fredericke as∣saulted Fauentia, Parma and Bononia, very strong Cities of Italy, and remo∣ued the vniuersity of Bononia to Parma. Bathy king of the Tartariās entring into Polonia with great force spoyled, burned, and slew euery where.

A great Hil in Burgondy parting from a mountain, and straightning the vallies slue many thousand of men & cattel. Moreouer running alōg for many miles destroyed about 5000. men, and at length after al things wer spoyled, he returned wonderfullye to the other mountaines. Wherfore the yeare folowing the Sarmatians, comming without their limits with a huge multitude, did first set vpō y^e prouinces of Greece, w^t murder & cōmō spoile, & thervpō playing y^e robbers throughout Panonia, they came against y^e Germās as it were a thicke storme of raine, and did greate destruction to those pro∣uinces. Celestinus the 4. Pope of Rome died, & in his place Pope Innocent

the fourthe was chosen. Hugh a Christian chylde was crucifyed by the Iewes in Englande, in contempte of oure sauioure Christe and reproche of Christians, for which wicked acte many of the Iewes were partly slain, and partly put to flight.

In the Dioces of Lancolne, there was a woman of noble byrth, wel fauo∣red [ 1246] and beautiful, whiche was married to a riche man, and did beare him children, who also got another gentlewoman with childe, which bare thrée sonnes by hir, one after another, or euer it was knowne. The womens names were Hauisia and Lucia: this sayde woman was of both kindes, and thereby as well able to gette children as to conceyue, whereby she be∣came not onelye a Mother, but also a Father, Iohn Stowe in hys Chronicle. Folio 270. and Vesper in his Coniectures in the thirtith yere of Henrie the third.

In Englande the earth shoke dreadfully, and manye houses fel down, [ 1248] which thing, as it is wonte to happen seldome in an Ilande, so it was ac∣compted at that time a great prodigie, but in Fraunce it made a more grie∣uous spoyle. The yeare following Lewes king of Fraunce made stoute war in Egipt against the Sarazens. William Longsparta wente into Asia with chosen souldiours. Alexander Prince of Scotland dyed. A Comet was séen in Germanie for certaine monethes. The winde more vehemente then it was wont, ouerthrewe wooddes, houses, Cotages, and trées, and did greate harme to men and beastes. In faire weather pauilions were stricken with lightning, when at the mountaine Attinum, the Florentines and the Pisans ioyned togither in battayle. A Monster in the territorie of Verona was soa∣led of a Mare hauing foure féete and a mans heade, at whose noyse, cry∣ing, and confused sounde of a voyce like vnto a childe, one dwelling therby in the Countrey, and being astonyed with the straunge sighte, in drawing forth his sword slue the Monster, for the whiche cause he being broughte to iudgement, and being asked concerning the Monsters byrth, and the causes of hys comming, he aunsweared that he dydde it onelye for the hor∣ror and the abhomination of the thing, which hearde he was cleare of al suspition.

In Englande the Sea rose higher than it was wonte: there appeared a [ 1255] great Comet, and oftentimes high buildings were stricken from heauen, whyche straunge sightes immediately the death of Walter Archbishop of Yorke followed, a man of great vertue, who had bene Bishop fortie yeres. The Genoways ioyning with the Pisans with an armed nauie besieged Ve∣nice, and spoyled their ships and sea castes.

A yong man of Friburge in Misnia, to the ende that he might obtaine his [ 1260] loue, was brought by a Magitian to a desart place of a house, and when the inchaunter did shewe vnto that desperate louer the likenesse of the mayde which he loued, he retching out his hand vnto it, was dasht against the wal

by a wicked spirite, and was miserably slaine, whose carcase also was caste against the Magitian with so great a violence, that he lay a long time halfe dead. This horrible example of punished lust, to fear foolish yong men, Suf∣frid the Prieste recordeth, who liued in y^e time of the Emperour Albert the first. That yere Bala the fourth king of Hungary made war against Ocha∣carus kyng of Boemia and being vanquished by him fled to Hamburgh. In Italy Guido Nouellus was made Duke of Florens. The folowers of the Guelfes forsoke Florence and Florence became subiect to Manfred.

[ 1264] A Starre, which the Greekes cal Cometa, appeared of a notable great∣nesse aboue thrée moneths, and the very same night that Pope Vrbane the fourth of that name dyed it went out. Bondogodar the Solda•• subdued the Christiās in Syria there ensued a sharpe plague, whereof men and beastes dyed. In Pruscia the crucifixe or crosse carriers had ill lucke, who wer quite destroyed by the Barbarians The Russiās made inrodes into Poland. Masso∣nia was spoyled by the Lituanians and the Brussians. Charles wente out of Fraunce with his host, and ouercomming Manfred kyng of Sicilia, he posses∣sed the kingdome of Naples: two yeres after y^e Africans past ouer into Spain, and made gret slaughter, and at length were put to flight and slaine in He∣truria: also there was raised a great commotion, and diuers conflictes were made. Thrée yeres after the Comet Banduca king of Babilon and Assiria inuaded Armenia with a huge hoste, he sacked Antioch, and made a greate slaughter of the Christians. Sée more hereof in Pontanus writing in hys Commentaries vpon the hundred sentences of Ptolome.

[ 1265] At Basil throughe an outragious floude of the riuer Birsus the townes men had much harme. Henrie Bishop of Basil, and Rodolph of Habspurg, after long variaunce toke weapons in hand, wherefore ciuil was arose in the Citie, in the which the factions of gentlemen did grow, but the Psitasi toke the Bishops part, of which sedition reade more at large in Stomphius in the Chronicles of Swizerland.

[ 1268] About this tyme a Goose of a monstrous forme was hatched, whiche Alberte recordeth that he sawe, hauing two neckes, foure féete, and wings on his backe, that he séemed one Goose carrying another, it liued not long.

In the Countrey of Cracouia (as it is written by Martin Cromer in his [ 1269] 9. booke of his historie of Poland) an honest Matrone called Margaret y^e wife of the Earle Verboslaus brought forth at one byrth 6. boyes aliue, the 20. day of Ianuarie. And the sixth day of December in the twylight, astrange and a notable brightnesse shaped like a crosse, gaue light down, not only vp∣on the Citie, but vpon all the Countrey about. At Calissa 8. dayes after the feast of the byrth of Christ, a Cow brought forth a Calf with ij. dogs heads and téeth, and seuen Calues féete, but the biggest head was set in his place, and the lesser at the tayle, byrdes and dogges did abhorre his carcase. In Si∣lecia

in the Lordship called Machalanum, and betwéene the riuers Odra & Nissa it was saide to haue rayned bloude thrée dayes: there brake out a cru∣el war againe betwéene Boleslaus Duke of Poland and Calissa, & the Saxōs or the Marquesses of Brandburg. Sulentia was sacked and burned, and al the Sommer that yeare through continual raine and straunge floudes of wa∣ter much harme was done, not only to corne, but also to shéepe and Cattel, vilages and townes.

In Englād after an earthquake, wherwith many houses fel, it rayned [ 1274] bloud in Wales, as a deadly forwarning to that nation, with whose bloude not long after the Countrey was euerye where imbrewed vnder Lewelin Grifin who made newe seditions in Englande and ioyned himself with the French.

In Germany neare the towne of Lauffenburg in the borders of Swi∣zerlād [ 1274] standing by the riuer of Rhene, there was borne a childe hauing hys hands and féete like a Goose, with a hideous heade.

The riuer of Rhene by reason of extreame rayne, did so rise that passing [ 1276] his channel, he carryed away on euerye side manye things in the champion or plaine Countrey. At Basil it brake the bridge, and there were drowned a∣bout a hundreth men through y^e force of y^e streame: by the violence of haile about the mountain Borsetium in Switzerlād, not only the séedes of the erth, and plants, but also shéepe and cattel were hurt.

In the territorie of Cracouia a boy being toothed the same day he was [ 1276] borne, spake distinctly and plainly, & when he was christned he lost both his téeth, and the vse of his spéech, & another boy being but halfe a yeare old, sore∣tolde in the City of Cracouie, that the Tartariās wold come & cut off y^e heads of the Polāders and being demaunded whether he knew this from aboue, & that this mischiefe also hung ouer his head, he aunswered that it is many∣fest ynough, that this should happen twelue yeares after. This yeare was the Silesiā war, the Countrey of Polesia and Prusia was spoiled by the Mas∣sontās and Cutaniās, afterward the Emperor Rodolph, made war with the Boemians.

In Polād, aboute Cracouie, there appeared on that midnighte in the [ 1276] whiche the yeare began, a shyning skie hauing a cleare and pleasant light for a short time, afterwarde it is lefte in wryting, that fishers toke a disfi∣gured Diuell, in a certayn stoure (which is a mighty gathering togither of waters, from some narrow lake of the sea) and when their net was cast in, at the first draught y^e fishers drew 3. little fishes, in y^e ij. draught nothing, but the net wrapte vp, lastlye in the third draughte, they drewe vppe a horrible Monster, with a Goates heade, and eyes shyning lyke fyre, wherevppon they were all afrayde and ranne awaye, and that ghost plunged him∣selfe vnder the Ise, and running vppe and downe in the Stowre

made a terrible noyse and sound, and many men being blasted by hym, had filthy vlcers. This yere dyed Boleslaus Pudicus king of Poland. Likewise Boleslaus Pius D. of Calissa. And also Boleslaus Caluus or Rogatra duke of Legn••cium. Oto••arus the seconde King of Boeme through the treason of hys men was slaine in Austria after he had ioyned battayle with Rodolph the Emperour and Ladislaus King of Hungarie.

[ 1278] In Argoia a prouince in Swicerland a noble matrone brought forth a Lion, a most fierce beast, which Iohn Stumphius writeth, came to passe in the yeare of Christ. 1278. Albeit other Historians doe referre this to an o∣ther time. That yere when Iohn the one and twentith Pope of Rome was deade, Nicholas the fourth was chosen in his place: warre began betwéene Rodolph the Emperour and Otacarus King of Boeme, and in the fieldes of Austria, beyonde the riuer Danubius, there was a bloudie battaile, and Ro∣dolph became conqueror through the manhoode of the Swesians and Alsa∣tians, and Otocarus fighting manfully dyed.

[ 1278] The Sunne was eclypsed when the Moone had suffred the same thrée dayes before, and the Star of Mercurie was séene amidde the Sunne as it had bene a blacke spot. At the same time Charles the great returning Con∣queror forth of Spain lay in wayte for him. The Emperour gaue the Pope Romandiola, and y^e soueraintie of Rauenna, who published Bertholdus Vr∣sinus his nephue Earle Romandiola, and the Pope kepte to himselfe the Senators office.

[ 1280] It is left in writing that there appeared to Alphonsus king of Aragon the seconde of thys name a golden crosse, in the Church of (Ouitum) wyth∣out any mans workemanship, that yeare the king through the helping ar∣my of Charles the great ouercomming the Sarazens, spoyling the borders of the Austurians, made Lysborne a Citie in Portugale subiect to hys Do∣minion.

When a Prebende of the Churche of Thurin did preach to the Pope at the Tombes of the Martyrs that were the patrons of the church, a stone violently brake in péeces, without any styrring it, and is sayd to haue made so great a sounde and noyse, that all the people being stricken with a feare trembled, as if the Arches of the Churche shoulde haue fallen. The same yeare the thirde of October the greatest parte of Thuringe was consumed with fire, and moreouer throughe the dissentions of the Citizens, in a sedi∣tion of the people, the Citie was wonderfully spoyled by taxes of y^e Church men, or excommunications.

The same yere when at Traiectum a Citie in Flanders, both & men wo∣men led a wanton daunce vpon a bridge, and despised and scorned a Priest whiche reproued them for so doing, the bridge breaking downe, they fell headlong into the riuer Mose, and aboute two hundred of them were swallowed vp through Gods vengaunce, who were punished for contempt

of their religion, and for their lightnesse.

They report that the riuer of Tiber at Rome swelled so high, that the washing of the riuer couered the high Alter foure foote and more, in Pan∣theon, which now is the Church of the blessed Virgine, and of all Saintes: Pope Nicholas the fourth of that name, the thirde yeare of his Popedome and the eyghte moneth dyed, after whome succéeded Martine the fourth. Hamburg a Towne of Saxony was for the most part consumed with fyre: the yeare following the Germanes destroyed Pisa.

In the Popedome of Martine the fourth, a Noble woman that was [ 1282] the Popes necessarie, brought forth a hearie Boye, hauing hands and féete like a Beare, with whiche monstrous byrth the Pope being sore troubled, commaunded all the Images of Beares whiche by chaunce were in her house to be put out, for a manifest argument of imagination conceyued by her in conception. This Monster happened the first yere of Pope Martine, at which time there was taken a Fish in the Coasts of Tyrrhenia at a place called Centum celle hauing the perfect shape of a Lyon, who being drawne out of the Sea, houled like a man: he was brought to the Pope to sée, who then by chaunce was in the olde Citie: the Pope and all the people were astonied to sée so strange a shape of a beast. But I sée that the common peo∣ple are thus perswaded, that nothing is borne in any part of nature, which may not be séene in the Sea. The Genowais and they of Luca were made frée by the Emperoure.

The Tartarians inuaded Panonia, spoyling euery place as far as Pestum. The Sicilians not abiding the pride and lasciuiousnesse of the Frenche, by the meanes of Iohn Prochitius (who was made an instrumente for this feate by Peter king of Arragon) slue all the Frenche in one nighte at the ringing of a Bell. At Frioll the same tyme the Frenchemenne were slaine.

In Italy there was a moste gréeuous earthquake wherewith manye [ 1285] buildinges on euery side were ouerthrowne flat to the grounde: the earth∣quake lasted in his shaking for certaine dayes. Pope Boniface was then at Treate, who fearing the fall of the houses,* 1.41 commaunded a Cotage to be built him of very slender stuffe, in an open Court before the house, that hée might not much feare the fall, and so remayned abrode for many dayes. Therevpon appeared a Comet of a notable greatnesse, in other partes of Italy. The Venetians at that time, or surely not long before or after, when truce was expired, whiche for certayne yeares they hadde made with the Genowais, immediatelye they furnishe their Nauie to kéepe the Lordeship of the Sea: the Pisans being vanquished by the Genowais in a battaile vpon the Sea, lost fiftie Gallies and twelue thousand menne. The Tartarians agayne inuaded Panonia, and spoyled all places as farre as Pestus.

While Charles king of Fraunce inuaded Spayne with an army, and

made warre with Peter king of Aragon, a swarme of great flies of diuers colours assailing the Frenchemen slue them with their stinges, as it hadde bene with Swordes: moreouer, they being oppressed with manye o∣ther miseries, and dispayring of their victory, went awaye, and in their iorney euery where they dyed in troupes, among whome Charles hym∣selfe faynting, being caried in a Litter died at Ampure: Lucius Ma∣rineus a Sicilian, wryteth this in his eleuenth Booke of the Kings of Spaine.

[ 1290] In the Territory of Constance a woman brought forth a Lion with a mans head. Rodolphe the Emperor Earle of Habspurg tooke by his Soul∣diers the Castles of Clancks and Wilber in Abbacella Tubertall, and the hold of Wyberg in Turtal against the Abbot William of Sangalla.

[ 1295] This yere the, of the Nones of Aprill, on which day at that tyme Easter fell, a déepe Snow couered the grounde, & strange hayle spoyled the Corne. The daye before the Nones of September the grounde shooke, vpon the Alpes whiche lye towardes the Countrey of Germany called Rhe∣ti••um there were 15 Castles, Forts and Holdes ouerthrown, and a famine afflicted the Boeans.

[ 1298] There appeared in the Elemente a Comet, that was a token of a great destruction that followed, and shewed the affliction of the Christi∣ans. It is written that the Iewes stealing awaye the Christians holye Hoste, scorning it and beating it in a Morter with a pestle, there came out blood from it (if this be true, or the Authour supersticious.) The Iewes at Norenberg and in East Fraunce were destroyed with Fyre and Sworde. The Scottes aspyring theire libertie by theire Captayne Vallaceus, thrust the Englishe men oute of Scotlande▪ and tooke from them their holds and townes.

[ 1300] A Comet appeared againe this yere wherein the Pope heald his Iubile, there were diuers commocions in Italy▪ a great multitude rising in Flaun∣ders handycrafts men, and men of base estate, left the Frenche, & being be∣come Lordes of the prouince, they ouercame the greate armye, and moste cruelly slue them. Pope Boniface the 8. of that name, by the helpe of Philip king of Fraunce was taken at Anania by Scart•• of Columna & cast into pri∣son, whome notwithstanding the Citizens of Anania deliuered; dayes af∣ter. The Emperour Albert gathered a great armie in Switzerlande against the Hollanders.

[ 1301] This yere the firste of December a strong winde ouerthrewe Cot∣tages and houses: there ensued verye calme weather, and vnaccustomed heate, so that in the moneth of Ianuarie trées bare leaues: afterwarde there was a greate floude of Water. In Italy there arose the factions of the Albes and the Nigres, as before of the Guelfes and the Gibelines. Stom∣phius in his Chronicles doth agayne make mention of a Comet, which as

he wrote, did portende the great spoile that was made afterward in Flaun∣ders.

There appeared a Comet for thrée moneths towardes the North. [ 1304] This yeare the riuer Danub••us at Reginburg through eating of the earth with his surges, bent his course towardes the North, by making of a great pyle of Stone, Timber and stemmes of Trees being driuen to his former Channell. When Pope Boniface the eyghth was deade, Benedictus the eleuenth succéeded, who absolued Philip le beau King of Fraunce, that Celestinus had excommunicated. Edward the fourth king of Englande subdued Scotlande ouer which he made Odomar Valentinianus, Earle of Penbroke, ruler.

A Comet againe appeared in y^e wéeke of Christes passion, after which [ 1305] there followed a plague almost throughout al the world. The Courte of Rome was remoued to Auinion in Fraunce. Venceslaus king of Bohemia was slaine at Olomuntium.

The Sunne was eclipsed the thyrd of the Ides of Februarie, the [ 1307] Sunne and the Moone being in the fiue and twentith part of Aquarius and the fourth of the Kalendes of Marche the Moone was eclipsed, and the same night the appeared in there Element Armies of a wonderful great∣nesse. Agayne the twelfth of the Kalendes of September there was an e∣clipse of the moone the ••. hower of the night. The same yere before the mur∣ther of Albert King of y^e Romanes (who being wounded at Russa a riuer nere to Vindonissa and the town of Bruckergoue, by the wile or deceit of Iohn Ro∣dolphe his brothers sonne died in a womans lap that followed the war) a knight of y^e courte being on horseback & stricken with Waspes, lept frō his horse & escaped, but the horse was slain with the Waspes, and the Gentle∣mā comming to Badena a town of Ergone at this day famous for the assem∣blies of y^e Switzers declared his ill luck to Albert which whē he going frō his place endeuored to shun, was slain by the said ambushmēt: not long af∣ter, the same yere y^e knights of S. Iohn recouered the Rodes from y^e Sarasens.

A fierie flame continuallye burning passed along y^e Elemente. The [ 1309] Emperour Henry the 7. entred Italy tooke al Lumbardy, & was crowned at Milain with an Iron crowne. The Hungarians were excommunicated by Clement the fift, because they had not receiued Charles. Donaldus a Duke of the Iles, prouoking Robart le Bruze king of Scots into the fielde was taken.

About this time in the Territorie of Florence a boy was born with two [ 1310] bodies, foure armes, and about the priuities he was so knit together, y^t hée had but ••. legges, and this childe as men sayd liued but few dayes.

There appeared a Comet for 14 dayes, which departed from y^e North [ 1313] to y^e South, beside y^e mou••ng of Mars. Milechius vpon the 2 booke of P••inies natural historie. That yeare Florence was besieged, also the English men

encountered Robart le Bruze, and his Scots at Estriualiis, where in a strong battayle the Scots had the victory, and diuers English Nobles were slaine, and of common souldiers supposed fiftie thousande. A great famine for thrée whole yeres gréeuously afflicted Lituania and the Countreys adioy∣ning.

[ 1314] A Comet fearefull to beholde burned thrée moneths together, which after the death of Henry the 7. betokened a ciuile war, in the which Lewis of Bauaria and Frederike of Austria were chosen at once by the variable voyces of the Electors, and stroue together for the Empire eighte yeares, vntill that Frederike was taken in the fielde, and Lewis alone helde the Empyre: while he raigned immediatelye two other started vp, the one in the yeare of our Lord 1337. the other two yeares after: There followed these, besides a cruell pestilence, a deadly dissention among the Electors, who being styrred vp by Pope Clement, deposed Lewis & created Charles the fourth, and immediately after he was remoued, they chose Guntherus Erle of Scuuartzburg, which thing caused new hurly burly, and again they ran to weapons, yet not long after Guntherus being poysoned, yielded the Empyre to Charles.

There appeared thrée Moones in the Element, the same yere Philip king of Fraunce died.

[ 1316] At a village in a valley of the vppermost part of the riuer Arnus cal∣led Tertaneum, a Monster was borne hauing two boyes ioyned together at the nauel, who on the one side had his members and two weak thighes, but on the other side there was but one vnperfite thigh, and he liued a daye. When Lewis king of Fraunce was dead, Iohn his sonne, being yet a Boy, succéeded for twentie dayes, after whome Philip the brother of Lewis raig∣ned fyue yeares. The same yeare also Pope Iohn the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. of that name was chosen Pope, when the seate had bene emptie for two yeres and thrée monethes.

[ 1322] In the firste day of Iune there was a terrible earthquake in Germany, and y^e 5. day of the same moneth there was seene a red Circle about the sun, and neare it there appeared two Crosses standing oute, and the same yere throughout all the Imperiall cities of Sinedon, there were cruell fiers, floods of Water, robberies and seditions. In Englande the Sunne appeared as blood, and continued sixe houres, shortelye after the Scottes inuaded the bor∣ders.

[ 1329] There brake out a great streame of fyre from foure déepe holes of the mountaine Aeanc: the fyre thereof was fearefull to beholde in the nighte, neyther did it shine as other fyre: and in the day it burned dimme, no other∣wise than kindled Sulpher, of which matter the Mountayne is full. The Auncientes write much of this mountaine, but specially Strabo, who affir∣med that he had bene at the toppe of the mountayne, and hadde diligentlye

considered all thinges, some say that there are meruailous alterations in the toppe of it, for otherwhile it belcheth out a flerie streame, otherwhile a flame of fire or duskish smoke: moreouer this is muche to be meruailed at, touching the heate of that fire, that it can be alayde with no colde, nor colde can be dissolued by that heate, for the vppermost part of the Mountayne is full of ashes, which in the Winter are couered with snow, and the highest part of the hill is plaine, and doth comprehende in compasse about 20. fur∣longes, that is halfe a Germane mile, which is a myle and a halfe English, in the middle whereof there riseth a little hill of ashes from whence some∣times fire and sometime smoke doth breathe: in the night season fire is séene on the top of the hil, but commonly in the day time a duskish smoke ascen∣deth: yet in our time when the combustible matter was thought to be spēt or consumed by the fire, nothing was séene to assende from the Mountaine but a dim vapour.

The Sunne and the Moone were eclipsed, the same yere the Greekes [ 1330] inuading the Germanes styrred vp a great warre, which the yeares follow∣ing was oftentimes renewed. The Pisans tooke Peter of Corbona the false Bishop (whome the Emperoure Lewis passing into Germany lefte at Pisa) and sent him to Pope Iohn then abiding at Auinion to whom he confessing his errour, with much entreatie obtained his life, vntil that 3 yere after he being kept in an honest prison died.

The seuenth of the kalendes of Iulie continuall lightninges, & scort∣ching [ 1333] flashes made men afrayde, and slue many, vilages & Townes were purged with sacrifises and offringes. There were great flouds of Water. The same yere at Constancia by the méere Acronium for the hurting and ill handling of Christians nine Iewes were slayn with the sword, sixe drow∣ned, and twelue burned.

The Riuer Arnus rose wonderfullye with continuall rayne, and o∣uerthrew thrée Bridges at Florens, with part of the walles of the Citie, and the buildinges that stoode next the riuer, to the excéeding feare of the Citi∣zens. The yere following Pope Iohn 22. and Philip king of Fraunce toge∣ther with the Venetians prepared a Nauie for the defence of the Gree••es, wherewith they ouercame and discomfited the Turkes.

There were fishes or Whales or of some other kind of such a greatnesse [ 1335] which ariued to Lubec out of the sea, that many of them were in length 20. foote, some eightéene foote, and some 24 foote: and this was reckened and ob∣serued as a prodigie, as if it portended something. At Hamburge about the same time there was a sedition and no small sturre, because that y^e church∣men being against the Magistrates would after their opinion and will cor∣rect and punish all whoredome, which controuersie notwithstanding (and strife) the Bishop of Breme ended.

There appeared a fearefull Comet for foure moneths, to whom there [ 1337]

came an other which gaue light with this more than thrée moneths, to wit Iune, Iuly, and August, & besides it is written that it rayned blood: more∣ouer a great number of Grashoppers at that time brake out of the Easte parts, which had sixe wings, & were armed with téeth shining like pearles, they tooke away the light of the sunne in maner of clouds, they occupied 35. miles in length & ten in bredth, they cut the ayre as it wer in battayle ray, they pitched their pauilions vpon the ground, their forerunners choosing a fit place for thē to light in, went before the legions one days iorney, which being deuided into bandes went forward at the sunne rising, so that about 9. of the clocke they pitched vpon the ground, and when vittaile failed them they went farther: they were forced through the coldnesse of winter to hide themselues, & to returne agayne in sommer. Foure yeares after, flockes of storkes, of Iayes, of Crowes, of Dawes, and the like byrdes, deuoured thē which thrée sommers had fed vpon the leaues of Trées, Corne and Haye, throughout all Ge••many: they were in vayn driuen away with noyse made in the ayre and with bels. Rotuuilla a noble Cittie and famous for y^e consi∣storie of the Empyre, was pitifully burned and spoiled with lightning, al∣though there were but 60. men only destroied with the storme. The plague at Norenberg consumed many thousand men.

[ 1340] A Comet or a bearded starre was seene agayne in the Elemente: the Englishe ouercame the Frenche, and slue 33000, a victoryous Bat∣tayle. The Scottes rebelled against the Englishe. There died at Florence of the plague 16 thousand and in the Countrey thereabouts it raged extreme∣ly. The Spaniardes slue in the kingdome of Granata two hundred thousand Sarasens.

[ 1341] The colde was so great in winter, y^t the noses and fingers of the crucifi∣ers or crosse carriers warfaring in Liuonia. were fretted off with the frost. At Constacia by the méere Acronium there was a gréeuous and deadlye se∣ditiō of the Citizens agaynst the Magistrate. At Norenbu••g foure hundreth houses were wholy burned.

[ 1343] In the gréeuous and fierce battayle of the Venetians with the Geno∣wais when as they were in fight vpon the Sea, it is sayd that a great num∣ber of crowes fought together ouer the Nauie one agaynst another, & that one side was so oppressed that the feathers and the spilt blood sprinckled the gallies of the Venetias. and moreouer, that one of their rowers going out of his Gally into the next, was taken and deuoured of a great fishe. The Ve∣netias being vanquished the Genowais at Corsica submitted themselues and theirs to the Archbishop of Millane

[ 1344] In the moneth of September yong rauens were found vnfeathered in y^e neast, which Auentinus in the affairs of Bauaria supposed was obserued in place of a great prodigie. In the towne called Ʋeldcirk scituate not far frō the méere Acronium, fire fell from heauen into the stréetes, but when the

townes men beheld it with great feare and astonishmente, it wente vp a∣gayne from the earth to the element not doing any harme, as S••o nphius in his Chronicles recordeth. There was this yere a gréeuous famine in Swead n, but chéefely in Switzerlande,

Vpon the day of the Conuersion of S. Paule, a greate earthquake shooke* 1.42 Germa••ye wherewith many villages & Castles fell downe, likewise stones mixte with raine fell out of the ayre: moreouer the same day with a great earthquake manye publique and priuate houses fell at Venice some leaned atoneside fearefull to beholde, and among these, the towers of Churches in a place or two: afterwarde the earth was shaken more or lesse 15. dayes, whereof it happened that almost all women with child that were then in y^e Citie, were deliuered before their time, and after this a noysome pestilence which they called Ingu••naria, inuaded the people, the force of the disease was so deadly, that of all the number of them that were sicke, scarselye the 100. person escaped death: yet it was sayde to begin firste in Scuhia, afterwarde it raged along the Costes of the Sea Pontus and Hellespont, and at length through Greece and Illiria it crope into Italy. Sab. in his eyghth Booke, Ene. 90. Gu••lterus called Duke of Athens, helde the Soueraigntye of Florence for tenne moneths, and there played the Tyraunt: Angelus Acci∣olus deliuered the Florentines. Philip king of Fraunce did confiscate the vsu∣rers goods.

A great vapour cōming frō the northpart, to y^e great feare of y^e beholders [ 1348] was séene in the Element, and fell vpon the earth: and the same yeare cer∣tayne small Beastes in great number fell from the elemente in the Easte, through whose corruption and stinche, there ensued a cursed plague, which for thrée yeares together raigned almost ouer the whole worlde, for firste it créeping into Asia went euery where among the Indians, & was so vehe∣ment in England and al Countreys, that scarsely the tenth of one hundreth remayned alyue, and many places were quite forsaken: at Florence it tooke away sixe thousand men. In Germanye this yere the plague made so great a spoyle and through all Europe, the lyke whereof no manne hath redde in Historyes to haue béene among menne. Iewes were defamed for it, that they had bin causers of it by poysoning of Fountaynes, and there∣fore they were burned euery where, some were found as the authours of all inchantments, and met together in Spaine about their sorcerye, likewise about the murthering of many children, about the falsification of debts by writings, & money, whervpon the people being in a rage drew them all to punishmente. The Iewes were burned in many places, and when they sawe they coulde not escape, they shutte themselues within their houses, and burned themselues together with the places adioyning. It is said y^t at Mogūce the fire grew so great hereby, that the great bell in y^e Church of S. Quintine didde melt with the fire. There were also found little bagges

in fountaynes full of poyson, wherefore the fountaines and Welles were stopped, and in place of wel water, men vsed riuer and raine water. Many of the Iewes also were christned, few for the loue of God, but rather for feare of punishment, the Cities of the Empyre pulled downe Iewes hou∣ses, and of the stones of them & of their Churcheyards, they built Towers and Walles. To conclude all places were full of styrre and businesse, by reason of the Iewes.

[ 1349] The eight of the Kalendes of Februarie in Noricum on that side it is ioyned with Panonia, Illiricum, Dalmatia, Carinthia and Histria, there was a great earthquake in the Euening which lasted fortie dayes, and the earth was strangely shaken, and rare things were shewed. Moraui and the vp∣permost Bocaria felt it: it is recorded among the Acts of that yeare, y^e there were 6. Cities & Castles which were ouerthrown, men and beasts were staine, walles churches, and houses were ouerturned, whole Cities fell downe, Cities were swallowed vp, and much ground also: Manour houses were cast downe, and verye many liuing thinges that were within them were slayne, the gaping of the earth that ensued partlye remained, partlye swallowed vp all thinges, the earth so closing againe that no tokens ap∣peared. Moreouer fiftie men and moe milking kine at their Farmes, be∣ing killed with their Kine, became stiffe, and their bodies through the va∣pour of the Earth were tourned into Images of fault, among the people Carine. Conrade of Medenburg a notable Philosopher, and a Mathe∣matician of that time recordeth, that he and the Chauncellour of Austria behelde these Images. Immediately a most cruell pestilence made a spoyle ouer the whole world, the most part of mē died, vnneth the fourth part sur∣uiued, and men being sodainly taken away by the infection died forthwith, Boyes and Gyrles telling wonderfull thinges of death gaue vp y^e Ghoste, Villages and Farmes were brought to desolation, some attributed this to Gods wrath, the commons beléeued the Iewes had poysoned the Foun∣taynes for the destruction of the Christian people, wherefore in many vila∣ges & townes the Iewes were burned. The Writers of this time recoūt that aboue twelue thousande Iewes suffered cruell punishment in the said Countreys.

This yere also in the Citie of London the plague was so vehemente, that in a place called the Charterhouse yarde were buried of the better sorte of people 6000 persons. The Buessarians commonly called the Penitentia∣ries, a wicked and a superstitious kinde of men at that time sodaynlye ap∣peared, sometimes 500. otherwhile ••000. menne: women made hast to sée them: they went two by two from towne to town, and hauing their vpper∣partes naked as farre as the nauill, they cruelly scourged themselues, so many dayes as euery one was yeares olde: It rayned blood also in these dayes, and streames ranne thereof. At Kelhaim by the riuer of Danubius

there brake out a violent streame of blood, whiche according to the skilfull in the secretes of nature, is nothing else but a clammye or moyste va∣pour, and that being mixed with an earthye and fierye breath tourneth redde. At this time for the remembraunce of the thing, there is there a Churche of Stone to bée séene whiche hath his surname of holie blood.

Villacum a Cittie of Germany fell downe with an Earthquake, and in [ 1350] Panonia and Italy manye Cities hong at one side, in the whiche many buil∣dinges fell downe. Philip king of Fraunce died, and his sonne Iohn the firste succéeded him in the kingdome. When the Iubile was helde at Rome, scarselye the tenth of a thousand suruiued the pestilence: In Ox∣forde shire nere Chepingnorton was founde a Serpent hauing two heades and two faces like women, one face attired after the newe fashion that was then vsed, and the other like the olde or accustomed maner, y^e winges were like a Batte or flindermouse. That yeare King Edwarde the third hadde a greate victorye on the Sea agaynste the Spaniardes, Gunthar Earle of Schwartzburg being made Emperoure was poysoned at Franke∣forde.

A Comet appeared in the North in December, and when it was oute, there followed gréeuous tempests of winds, and a beame was séene in the Element to slide along, hauing the forepart afyre. Lewis the sonne of Philip king of Varentū, after he had obtained y^e kingdom of Apuli•• against Lewis king of Panonia & was annointed at Naples by a Legate in y^e name of pope Clemēt he tooke his kingly gouernmēt. Furthermore this yere Frignanus the son of Mastinus begotten of a whore, whilst his father went to Belsamū a town in Germany to recreate himself, after y^e conspiracy was made amōg the Cittizens became Lord of the citie, & shut out the great dog his father with al his other sonnes, but y^e Dog hauing aid of others, assembled his ar∣mie, besieged the Citie, and after many assaults at length tooke it, and putte his sonne Frignanus to death, with y^e other seditious citizens. That yere is sayde to bée in England a drie Sommer, of some referred to the yere follow∣ing: there ensued great dearth of corne.

A flame spreading far abrode in the element betwéene the Weast and the [ 1353] South, after the Sunnes going downe, & shewing a terrible burning, at length with a great noyse rushed againste the element. Likewise the yere following a flame was séene in the Element vpon the sodain going from the north to the south: almost an endlesse number of grashoppers appeared in A••frique & Cipres, which féeding vpon the sap of hearbs and trées made a great barrennesse of corne: there was y^t yeare a great eclipse of the Sunne. Vicount Iohn ruler of Milain, and a verye warlyke Tyraunt dyed. Ma∣rinus Falceianus Duke of Venice when he soughte to vsurpe the Duke∣dome and to rule the common wealth as he list, was beheaded, which was

a worthie ende for his enterprise.

Vpon S. Lukes day the Euangelist, there was a horrible earthquake in Germany, in the which also Basill was ten times most gréeuouslye shaken, & about a 11 a clock at night the Cathedrall church and many other buildings [ 1356] of the citie fel downe in diuers places, in the which aboute 100 men were presently slaine.

There arose also (to the ende that this one calamitie mighte not be alone) a deadly burning of the Citie, which when by no meanes it might be quenched, for certain dayes the deuouring flame as though it had conspired the destruction of the cittizens, did great harme to the Citie on e∣uery side.

Leichstall a Towne but two myles distaunte trom Basill fell downe at the same time with many churches thereaboutes, and within the space of certayne myles there fell downe diuers Castles, at Homberg two, at Telsberg thrée, at Wartenberg, Farnsperg, Gilgenberg, Munchensperg, Lewen∣berg, Her••enberg, Mersperg, Tiersten, Lewenstien, Bischosten, Wildensten, Newenstein, Engenstein, Rhienstene, Birszecke, Haggenbach, Brombach, Fro∣burg, Hasselburg, Landoser, Munstrall, Stienbrun, Buttingen, Hertwiller, Dorneck, Pfefficken, Buren, Lantscrone, Munchenstein, Waldeck, Beren∣fels, &c.

In Spaine and chéefely at Ciuill and Corduba verye manye houses also [ 1357] fell downe with the earthquake: the Englishe men ouercame the Frenche nere to P••ris and they tooke Iohn their king with Philip his sonne pryso∣ners: this acte is referred to the yere 1356. as some write. Moreouer y^e same yere at Norenberg a Bull was ordayned and established by Charles the 4. Edwarde Prince of Wales tooke Iohn King of Fraunce and his yong sonne Philip prisoners, with the Victorie ouer sixtie thousande Frenchemenne, the Prince hauing not muche aboue the number of eight thousande Soul∣dyers. The Germane law was appoynted by Casimere in the Castle of Cracouie.

There were great floods of water in Scotlande. Lewis of Bronswik and [ 1258] of Luneburg died. At Constancia by the méere Accronium the plagne made a wonderfull spoyle for a whole yeare: the Castle of Wosserburg scituate not far from Constācia was spoiled. A second pestilence was in London and ouer the whole lande for the most part, in which time dyed Henry Duke of Lā∣caster.

A finall peace was concluded betwéene the kinges of Englande and of Fra••nce on this condicion that king Edward should haue to his proper pos∣session the countreis of Gascoyne and Guian, Poyters, Limosin, Beleuile, Exan∣ctes, Cales, Guine•• and diuers other Lordships, townes, Castles, and all the landes to them belonging, wit••out knowledging of any soueraigntie, obei∣sance, homage or subiection for the same, and that the king of France should

pay for his raunsome 30000. scutes.

Mightie tempestes of winde did ouerthrowe Townes, stéeples, and [ 1362] houses in the south part of Englande About the yere 36. of Edward the thyrd King of Englande, Simon Islip Archebishop of Canterburie did establishe a decree, that more shoulde not be giuen to Priestes for their yerelye sty∣pende, than thrée pound, 6 shillings 8. pence, which caused many of them to steale: so likewise the vnaduised making of Ministers withoute conside∣ration of liuinges and place of Seruice, is the cause of as lewde of∣fences, to the greate gréefe of the Learned, and slaunder of the Church.

Through the cruell drought of this yeare there was so great scarci∣tie [ 1363] of haye in Germany, that the most part of horse and cattell dyed for hun∣ger, and part was saued (with much adoe) with strawe drawne from the houses. Furthermore the winter of this yere was so colde, that well neare all the Meeres and stowres in Switzerlande were couered with Ise, and the water Fowle séeking for foode euen in the stréetes of Towns, were taken by the inhabitauntes. That yere thrée kings came into Englande, namelye the frenche king, the King of Cyprus, and the King of Scottes, but the frenche king fell sick at London whereof he died.

In August so great a number of Grashoppers flew through Switzer∣lande [ 1365] that they couered all the Countrey like snowe & hurt the fruits of the field: the same yere Leopoldus Duke of Austria bringing into Germanye 400••0 English men besieged Argentine & stirred them vp in vaine against the Switzers. Stomphius.

Switzerland was shaken on euery side with deadly Earthquakes to y^e [ 1372] great feare and horror of all men, and Basill was gréeuouslye shaken again with the violence therof. The first of Iuly and fyue dayes after, a straunge Circle was séene about the Sunne, ouer whiche appeared two crosses of a redde coloure: that yere Schaffhucia a Citie of Switzerlande was bur∣ned with a terrible fyre, wherein there perished aboute seuentie persons. The thyrde parte of the Citie was scarcely left frée from the extremitie of the fire.

The Genowais for certaine disworship done to them, inuaded & spoy∣led the Countrey of Cipres and conquered the Citie of Famagusta. They constrayned also their king Petrine to pay vnto them a great tribute the space of certaine dayes.

Diuers intreaties of peace were made betwéene the king of Englande and Fraunce by meane of the Bishop of Rome but none was concluded.

The Element was séene often to burne all the night long: a bearded star did shine: the Emperor Charles y^e 4. departed this life: there ensued greate [ 1375] calamities in the Cities of Italye: the Florentines didde for the moste

part reuolte from the Pope. Manye wonderfull sicknesses fell among the people, as well in Italye as in Englande, whereof they dyed mer∣uaylouslye, greate ruffeling also fell betwéene the borderers of England and Scotland.

[ 1376] At Posnania the high church with y^e tower ioyning vnto it was stricken from heauen on the right side, so y^t the top being broken asunder, & a corner of the town, y^e lightning pearced into the kings chappel through a litle cleft in y^e roofe, & leauing other things vntouched, it brake in péeces only y^e Ima∣ges of king Premislaus & his wife Rixa. This yere in Poland & Posnania the plague made a meruailous spoyle. Zemouitus duke of Masouia was cursed because he had not punished such as spoiled the goods of the church. Iarosla∣us afterward died.

In Switzerlande many places were spoyled with the ouerflowing of diuers riuers, and the Riuer of Rhene swelled so bigge, that through his violence he carried away two arches of the Bridge at Basill, and did great∣lye hurte the Cities of the Lower Germanye. The same yeare an inestima∣ble Multitude of Grashoppers in the Moneth of August comming from the East did spoile almost all Fraunce, which were greater than the other gras∣hoppers, & had 6 wings, and it is wonderfull to be spoken, how in maner of marching souldiers they passed through the ayre in distincte order, or lighting vpon the grounde pitched their tentes: the Captaynes with a few other, went one daies iorney before the hoste, as to prouide fit places for the multitude: aboute nine of the clocke the Captaynes rested where they came the day before, neyther did they remooue from the place they tooke, vn∣till the sunne rose agayn, then went they in their companies y^t a mā might see the discipline of war in small creatures: they eate vp the Corne, which was so wasted by them, y^t it séemed to be consumed with a greate tempest: they occupied 4. or 5 miles the space of one dayes iorney, and they came as far as the British sea, couering the vpper face of y^e earth, whereinto as God would haue it, they were driuen with a violent blast of winde, and caried into the déepe were drowned, but by the working and flowing of y^e Ocean they being cast aland, filled the sea shore, & there was such greate heapes of them, as it had bene mountains, and through their stinche & corruption the aire was so infected, y^t it bred a forcible plague among the people nere ad∣ioyning, whereof many died. A great famine oppressed Italy for two yeres. Prince Edward of England a valiaunte personage died in the flower of his cheualrie: also king Edward the 3. king of England ended his life the yere 1377. the 22. of Iune.

[ 1377] The . day of Iune there was a great and dreadfull earthquake in Swit∣zerl••n••, where also a few dayes after there was séene a great circle about y^e sun feareful to behold: there followed diuers kinds of warre, famine, and mischéeuous floods on euery side, which did great harm to the inhabitants.

There arose many floods in Switzerland: The riuer Birsus did so swell, [ 1380] that in the flesh market the Citizens were carried in Boates from house to house. About this time (although some sayde the same yeare) Gunnes were firste inuented by a Monke in Germany. moreouer, Munster writeth that Achilles Gassaru•• a Doctour of Phisicke, and a moste diligente Hy∣storian wrote vnto him that Gunnes were in vse about the Sea of Nor∣waye in the yeare of Christe 1354. and that the fyrste inuentour and Au∣thoure of them was an Alcumist called Bertholdus Schwartz a Monke: surely he founde out a meruailous worke, whiche the sharpest wittes of times past coulde not inuente, and whiche some iudge to bée heauenlye and very necessarye, but some diuelishe and verye deadlye: first they leane to these Argumentes: it is manifest that by reason of auarice, wicked∣nesse, and colde charitie, the number of the wicked cannot be kepte vnder by lawes, and that no man can go safe, no not a myle, for a little before the inuention of Gunnes the assemblye and factions of wicked menne be∣ganne to sacke and spoyle in many places the laboures of good menne, ney∣ther coulde anye ouerthrowe the Castles of those Théeues and Robbers from the Mountaynes where they kepte themselues, withoute the helpe of Gunnes, wherefore verye manye doe amisse condemne the inuentoure of Gunnes, withoute the whiche good men cannot lyue in safetye, nor Cit∣ties coulde be so mightie and riche, séeing that occupiers could not excercise Marchaundize, whiche are the chéefest parte of mightie and great Cittyes: wherefore let the enemies to Gunnes cease to despyse Gods giftes, vnlesse a man thinke a Dogges open mouth and his tooth made to byte méete to be condemned, and vnlesse a man iudge that the hornes in an Oxe, are not the good worke of the Creator: but no man that is well in his wittes will condemn these kind of partes geuen to liuing creatures by nature in place of Weapon, wherefore those men condemne the abuse, as also in an Oxe and a mad dogge it were better the hornes and the téeth were away. But what Creature is it whiche the wicked doe not abuse? Some doe simplye condemne this inuention as diuelishe and hellishe, than the whiche no∣thing at anye time hath bene inuented vnder heauen more horrible, and which the wickeddest sort as Turkes & Tartariās, the cōmon plagues of the World, doe vse for the destruction of the good and godly. Here no magnani∣mitie, no strength of body, no subtiltie in Warre, no weapons, no Castles of stone doe profite: those stone spitting, yron spitting, and fire spitting tor∣mentes doe breake, batter, and ouerthrowe all thinges, and bring them to naught: one stroke taketh away one hundreth, or two hundreth menne set in battayle ray, be they neuer so well fenced with yron. This Almayne gifte was sente to the Venecians when the Genowais béeing shutte vp in Clugia were besieged by the Venetians. There are dyuers kyndes of Gunnes, which at this daye are called Amasone, Basilisce, Luscinie,

Quartanae commonly Cartune Dracones, Serpentes, Faulcones, greate and little, also Cannons, Culueringes, Demies, Minions, Baces, and such like.

[ 1381] In Englande an Earthquake sodaynly arose, wherewith manye buil∣dinges fell: this yere ensued a deadlye sedition in the tyme of Richarde the seconde king of England••: all the Weaste grewe in ciuile hatred: all England was wonderfully afflicted with the pestilence, & a great commoti∣on raysed by Wat Tiler, Iack Straw and others. There were burned sun∣dry places, the Sauoy, and the places with the records of y^e Citie, but Willi∣am Waleworth Mayre séeing the king abused, in Smithfield sodainlye stroke Wat Tile•• on the heade, and thrust him in with his Dagger, and broughte the King into the Citye, the rebels being therewith amased, in shorte time fledde away where many of the chéefe were afterwarde execu∣ted, and William Walworth was by the king made knight: it is sayd the cause of this commmocion rose by the meanes that the king ordayned that euery person of the age of fourtéene yeres should pay 4. pence to the king, there were gathered together of the common people to the supposed nūber of 60000 persons, read Iohn Stowe in his summarie. Moreouer 32. of the rebels as they were entring the Sauoy being gotten downe into a Wyne seller dranke so much swéete Wines that they not able to come forth, tari∣ed so long vntill the dore was fastned vp with the whorling together of woode and stones, (as it should appeare of the defendants) there, and in such sort remained for y^e space of 7. dayes, no helpe being to deliuer thē although they were heard, they there died: likewise at the spoyle of y^e new Temple, there also they became so drunke, y^t one violentlye killed an other, whereby may be perceyued the iust reuenge of God against wilfull & obstinate ma∣lefactors.

There were also great commotions in Flaunders for the new taxes that the Earle Lewis set vpon marchants, there arose deadly strife, not without mutual hatred betwéene Pope Vrbane the 6. and 13. frenche Cardinals for the choosing of the Pope which they thought not to be well made.

The same yere was a generall earthquake the 21 of May, at one of the clock after noone, by meanes whereof much harme happened, and the Saturdaye after at thrée a clocke in the Morning, was a trembling of the Water, rather to bée tearmed a Waterquake, that made the Ships in the Hauens to totter and réele and those which rode nere together were there∣by greatly brused. Iohn Stow. The yere following there arose a newe be∣gon sedition, by one Iohn Ball a priest, and Iohn Wraw Priest, whiche did rise at Meldenhall and greatly troubled the Commons and the Citizens of London: who being taken were after hanged. Piked shooes, high heads, and long tayled gowns, with women riding aside first vsed in England brought into this lande at such tyme as king Richarde the second maried Anne the

daughter of Viselaus king of Bohemia. Their piked shooes were tyed with Siluer gilte chaynes to their knées, the noble women vsed high attirings aboue their heades piked, and long traine gownes, before which time wo∣men were vsed to ride astride as men doe.

The Scots tooke Yorke vpon the riuer of Tweede▪ spoiled & burnt it: after∣ward [ 1383] they were by the Kings armie driuen thēce, yet after followed grea∣ter attemptes, but the Scots gained little thereby.

The thyrd of May there was an earthquake about midnight in En∣gl••nde. [ 1385] The King with a great armie entered Scotlande the Scottes fledde, and the King (Richarde the seconde) burned the Countrey and retour∣ned.

The 18. of Iulye there was an other earthquake, there followed among [ 1386] the Londoners a great feare of the frenche King comming to inuade y^e land, which enterprise came to small effect.

A maner of exhalation in likenesse of fire appeared in the nighte time, in [ 1387] many parts of England in the moneth of Nouēber and December, & went with men as they went, & staid as they did, sometime like a whéele, some∣time like a barrell, sometime like a long timber log or beame, and somtime in other shapes, but when many went together then it appered farther off.

The same yeare in Lente was a head of earth at Oxforde by arte of [ 1388] Necromancie (as it was reported) that at a time appoynted spake these 3. wordes, and after left of speaking, the words be these: first, Caput decidetur, that is, The head shall be cut off the seconde, Caput eleuabitur, The heade shall be lift vp: thirdely, Pedes eleuabuntur super Caput, The feete shall be lifted aboue the head: there followed a sedition in Oxford among y^e schol∣lers, and a dislike of the kings gouernment by a few, so that 40000. were stirred vp by Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester, the Earles of Warwike of Darbie and Nottingham. Read Iohn Stow. 1387.

The yere that the peace was made betwéene the Ʋenetians and the [ 1389] Genowais who agayne had taken weapons in hand, the very same day that the peace was concluded, a childe was borne hauing 1. thighes and armes and liued vntill that he was christned. Leopoldus Duke of Austria being vanquished by the Switzers died with great stoutnesse. Galiatians Vicount of Millaine after Barron of ••ouis was slayne.

A great pestilence in the North: in a short time at Yorke were buryed [ 1390] xj. hundreth people.

Vpon the day of the Natiuitie of our Lord God was séene in the ry∣uer [ 1395] of Thames a Dolphine fishe floting and mounting close to the Bridge, foreshewing peraduenture the Tempestes that followed shortly after, or else the disturbaunce of the Citizens which shortly through the kinges dis∣pleasure they came into the 15. yere of Richard the second. Stow in his sum∣marie fol. 241.

There appeared a star which is called Veru, slender ynough, with his bearde and beames stretching vpward, and his head hanging downward. The Astronomers sayd that this was the worst which commonlye appea∣red among other Comets, but because it appeared not in the morning but in the Euening, it signified y^t those things should lately come to passe which cōmonly insued: perchance the same is it which Gaguinus in his 9. Booke of the kinges of Fraunce hath written to haue appeared in the North in the tyme of Charles the 6. king of France. The same yere the 22. day of March, a gréeuous earthquake shooke Switzerlande. The 7. yeres peace betwéene the dukes of Austria & the Switzers was lengthned to 20 yeres, and y^e yere after there was an ouerthrow of Sigismund king of Hungary with y^e frēch.

[ 1391] In Gallia Belgica not farre from the Citie Leodium. it is reported for certaine that that was done, which Eneas Siluius who afterwarde was called Pope Pius, did put in writing: in Europe a Faulcon had made her a neast eyther vpon a trée or in a Rocke, and hatching her Egges, shée gréedilye looked for her yong, Rauens comming ouer her, thruste her off her Neast, in breaking and deuouring her Egges: the heardmen behelde it being néere to and marked the fearefull Faulcon flying away: the nexte day after, (a wonder to be spoken) the Faulcons and the Rauens as it were from al parts of the world assembled, the one holding the North∣side, the other y^e South, in setting their armies in aray, and as though they hadde bene capable of reason, they sette some in order to kéepe the Wings of the Battayle, others to leade the Mayne shoule marching forwarde: they foughte a cruell fight in the ayre, wherein when sometime the Rauens, sometime the Faulcons retyred, and agayne recouering their strength, gaue the onset afreshe, the whole Fielde vnderneath was couered with Feathers and carcasses: at last the Faulcons had the Victorye, who not onelye fought sharpely with their Billes, but also with their Tallons, and lefte not one of the Rauens aliue, wherevpon not long after, when two stroue together about the Church of Leo••ium. the one being chosen Bishop by Gregory the 13. the other by Benedictus the twelfth (for there was va∣riaunce betwéene them concerning the Pope) they two came with theyr Hoste to fight in the same place. Iohn Duke of Burgondie did helpe the one in the field, the other parte the people of Leodium tooke, they encountred together in the fielde, and with great contencion on both sides there was fought a deadlye and bloodye battaile, wherein at length Duke Iohn being conquerour slue 30000. of the enemies.

[ 1393] That yeare through the aboundaunce of waters at Bury the churche was ouerflowed therewith, and at Newmarket it threw down Wals of houses, and menne hardelye escaped drowning: this Floode happened in the Moneth of October. The yeare following died Quéene Anne, wife to king Richarde.

On Newyeares day, neare vnto Bedforde, a very déepe water whiche can betwixt the Townes of Swelston and Hareleswod, stoode sodainely still [ 1395] and diuided it selfe the space of thrée myles, the bottome remayning drye, which wonder foretolde the trouble that folowed of the falling away of the people from the king.

A blasing star was séene at the same time with beames of moste feruent [ 1399] fire. A certaine Priest arayed al in white, came out of the Alpes into Italy, bringing with him a number clothed also, whom Bonifacius Bishoppe of Rome dispersed, he burned the Priest that was their leader. Lanquet, Coo∣per, Folio. 259.

A Prior and eyghte Friers were hanged at Tiburne for treason.

The Church of Rome in these dayes coulde hide no longer hir trauaile [ 1400] of bringing forth horrible monsters, Sects, Heresies, Schismes, and Dis∣cords, procéeding of hyr first begotten furies.

Iohn the twelfth the Bastarde of Pope Sergius begotten on Marosia the Harlot, in whose time a fountaine in Genoa flowed with bloud, there folowed not only a huge slaughter of people, as before is mentioned. 935. by the Affricans, Sarazens, and Hungarians, but also in Rome betwéene Hugh Albertus to the disquiet of the Citizens.

Adrian the fourth an Englishman, called Nicholas Breakespeare the sonne of one Dan Robert a Monke of Saint Albons, going to Agnania to de∣nounce the excommunication against the Emperour Fredericke, after he had tarryed there a fewe dayes, walking forth with some of his companye to coole him, drinking of a certaine spring of water, forthwyth a flye did en∣ter into his mouthe, and stucke so fast to his throate, that he was choaked. 1159.

Celestine the thirde by a made marriage betwéene Henrie the sixthe [ 1401] Emperour and Constance a Nun of Panormia, dispossessed Tancred King of Sicilia, whervpon followed bloudie wars, and great diuision euery wher, in so much that this was written against Rome, Reioyce oh yee mother, bycause the Conduits of al treasures on the erth are opened, that moun∣taines and whole riuers of money might flow into thy hands: Reioyce vpon the iniquitie of the sonnes of men, bycause thou art rewarded with so many mischiefes: Reioyce vpon thine assistaunt companye Lady Dis∣sention, who hath burst loose from the pit of bottomlesse Hel, that shee might heape vpon thee many gubs of golde. Thou hast that which thou dost thirst after: bycause thou hast daunted the worlde by the malice of mankinde, not by holy religion. Men are hated and drawen vnto hir, not by deuotion or pure conscience, but by treachery & working mischiefes manifold, and the deciding of controuersies gottē with bloude This bed∣lam Pope caused Fredericke the Emperor to stoope while he with his foote spurned off his Crowne. 2198.

Boniface the eight, this good face by a fraude perswaded Celestine the fifth to resigne his Popedome, which being done, not contented therwyth, cast him in prison, where simple Celestine died. This is that Pope of whō it is commonly sayde: He entred like a Fox, he rayned like a Lion, he dyed like a dogge, he gaue sentence, that vnlesse kings would receiue their king∣domes at his hand, they should be accursed: for his horrible mischiefs, in the end he was set vpon a yong horse with his face to the horsse tayle, and for∣ced to ride a galloppe, til he was almost out of breath, afterwarde impriso∣ned where he dyed. 130••.

Peter Thomacel a yong youth of twenty yeares old, called Pope Bo∣niface the ninth, this Pope toke the first fruites of Abbies, and great chur∣ches, at length it came to personages, &c. a swéete baite, from a soure deuice, pinching them that nipped others, by deuised offerings to relickes, stockes, and stones: the vice being abolished, the plague remayneth, with no lesse violence, than as if there were that is not: so that fléece is become so not through carelesse security,* 1.43 but by y^e Gospel finding so little charity, that the same plague which ouerthroweth Idolatrie, wil hinder veritie. In this Popes time, through couetousnesse and Simonie, vsurie waxed so rank in Rome as sayeth Theodoricus, that it was counted no sinne. Many other vi∣ces were committed. Also a maruellous plague was in Rome, in which seasō the Pope solde diuerse benefices to one man, and when they had no mony, he toke houshold stuffe, horses, hogs, shéepe, and al maner of graine, nothing came amisse that was worth money, he kept the Iubile at Rome, Anno. 1400. where many straungers were robbed, and great Ladies rauished by the Pesants of the Popes Court: he died of the cholicke and stone. 1404.

In the Church of the Iacobines in Geneua, at the place called y^e Palace, in the yeare of our redemption 1401. against the iniquitie of these aforesayde Popes and the rest was founde this picture printed by Iames Iacore of the Citie of Taurinum in Peedmont, togither with the latine verses whych were put therto, to shew that God hath not at this time alone through his infinit goodnesse breathed into the heartes of some, to know that the Pope and all Poperie, came from this horrible and monstrous beast, to wit the Prince of the bottomlesse pyt infernal.

[illustration]

Iudicabit iudices iudex generalis, Hic nihil proderit dignitas papalis, Siue sit Episcopus siue Cardinalis, Reus condemnabitur, nec dicetur qualis. Hic nihil proderit quicquam allegare Neque excipere, neque replicare Nec ad Apostolicam sedem appellare, Reus condemnabitur, nec dicetur quare. Cogitate miseri qui vel quales estis Quid in hoc iudicio dicere potestis Idem erit dominus iudex, actor, testis.

The general iudge, wil iudge vs all, The Popish honor shall nothing auaile, Be he eyther Bishop or Cardinall. Him his desarts shall damne and glorie quaile. Then shal it nought auaile thee thy selfe to sense, Neyther ought to aunsweare, nor to reply,

Ne seate Apostolike iudgement to vse, He giltie shal be damned, no man shal say why Weigh yee wretches, who and what yee are, What in this doome, can you vouch or deny? When God is iudge, witnesse and plaintife at barre.

The Diuell appeared at Danburie in Essex, vpon the day called Cor∣pus Christi, in the likenesse of a Gray Fryer, who entring the Churche ra∣ged very insolently, wherby y^e Parishioners were maruellously feared: the same houre with a Tempest of whirlewinde and thunder, the toppe of the Stéeple was broken down, halfe the Chancel shaken and scattered abrode. Shortly after sir Roger Claringdon Knight the Bastard sonne (as it was sayde) of Edward the blacke Prince, and with him his squire, and a young man were beheaded, and eight Friers broughte to open iudgemēt were cō∣demned and hanged, that published King Richarde to be aliue. Reade more in the Summarie of Chronicles.

[ 1402] There appeared an excellent Comet, and it was séene towardes the Weast, immediately when the Sun was gone downe, beyond our horizō. And the yeare following Tamerlan the cruellest tyrant that euer was, ra∣ged in the East parts, and committed suche a slaughter of Turkes and Sara∣zens of both kindes, that with their heads alone he made a wal. D. Malleo∣lus of Thurin in his booke whiche he intituled of Nobilitie. Of this Comet Montanus thus writeth: and least that those things which are very far frō oure memorie shoulde alwayes be recorded, before that Tamyris or that Tamerlan king of the Scithiaus and Parthians, with innumerable power inuaded Asia, going into far Countreyes, a huge Comet was séene in the East Angle of the heauens, whyche wente towardes the Sunne rising, not long after almoste the destruction of all Asia ensued hym. Thys Historie Camerarius wryting of straunge sightes doeth trimlye de∣scribe.

[ 1403] A Comet was séene in the Elemente. Galeatius Duke of Mi∣lan continuing yet the warre by his Captaines against the Florentines, died at Malignanum a towne in the territory of Milan.

[ 1404] Richard Scrope Archbishop of Yorke for treason againste king Henrie the fourth, was at Yorke beheaded, and his Scottish confederates discomfi∣ted for that time.

[ 1406] Among the Sabines a Calfe was brought forth with two heades, in the territorie of Picenum a childe was borne with sixe téeth. Then the Turkes beganne euerye where to take oure holdes, Polidor Virgill in his third Prodig.

[ 1407] In Englande a greate froste beganne in December, and lasted fif∣téene wéekes, whiche destroyed all the smal byrdes. The yeare 1408. Ed∣munde

Holand Earle of Kent was made Admiral of the sea, who landing in Brytaine, besieged the Castel of Briake and wan it: but with an arrow he was there wounded to death: there followed a rebellion, which was some disturbaunce to the Common wealthe. Reade Lanquet, Cooper, Iohn Stow.

A gyrle was borne with two heades, foure armes, so manye handes* 1.44 and féete, in y^e North part of Boearia at a place called Sandersdorph, betwéen the riuers Danubius and Alemanus, the ninth of the Calendes of April. In Switzerland there came so great a number of straunge foule, that the Suns light was couered with their wings, wherof darknesse ensued: Ladislaus king of Apulia that yeare after he had besieged, the holde of Adrian he sette vpon Rome.

A straunge Tempest of winde and raine, the firste of the Nones of [ 1414] August at two of the clocke in the afternoone at Micena ouerthrewe in the Cathedrall Church two Towres with seauen bels: vpon the couering the Hayle crackt the tyles: in the houses, the windowes and gates: vpon Hils, and in Gardens, the whirlewinde pulled vp trées by the rootes.

The riuer Albis and Trebisa, toke awaye the vttermoste parte of the Bridge, men myghte Rowe in the stréetes as far as the Frierie of Sainct Francis The yeare after the counsel of Constance began.

About this season a maruellous heape of discordes were made mani∣feste, to the great disquiet of the Princes then being, through the disturbāce of the pontifical iurisdiction, whose discord caused manye persons to decline from them: for at that time at Constance was helde a general counsaile, at which tyme thrée Popes striued for y^e Popedome. The first was Iohn, whō the Italians set vp. The seconde was Gregorie whome the Frenchmen allo∣wed. The third was Benedict, whom the Spaniardes placed. Suche was the knowen practises of the Romish sea vnto the worlde, that diuerse learned graue fathers by figures of deformed shapes expressed their abhominable seditiōs, scismes, murders, conspiracies and treasons. Among many of the which behold one, not to laugh at their folly, but to warn thée frō sin, least a greater plague appeare for disobedience. It is saide that Sibil prophesied long agone, that Hempe should be Errours destruction: Finde Emor, and know the place from whence error began, and is vntil this daye descended.* 1.45 Marke the soile where Hempe doth grow, which maketh Cable, Cloth, and Twine, of the which paper some say is made, thē peraduenture it is Prin∣ting, by which al abhominatiōs ar so spéedily reuealed. Hir supposed words are these.

Miserable shal that time be, when Hempe shal destroy thee.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

[illustration]

* 1.46The Lion, and the Dragon both, do Albions ensigne beare, Supporters of a Kingly badge, most fit for them to weare. To serue as shew of valiant minde, two lawes they represent, For God and man, too rule them by, their own by due discent. If Iuda did the Lion beare, and Dan the Dragon fel, Then iudge who worthy ought to haue, that rules them both so well, For he whose harte once pierced was, hath fixt his feete most sure, In right of Albions worthy grace, for euer to endure. The lightsome Sunne, the truth foretels, whiche giues the Lion light, And tels the Dragon what is past, by shew of Stars in night. * 1.47Who now must serue a worthy Queene, as Sathan servde the Lord Vntil the time that Iesus comes, all nations to accorde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Supposed Col∣chester in Essex.
• * 1.2

  The first perse∣cution o•• the Church.
• * 1.3

  Cronicarum saith 35.
• * 1.4

  The praise of the Romaine Heathen.
• * 1.5

  M. Antonius
• * 1.6

  The fourth persecution.
• * 1.7

  The fifte pers••∣cution of the Christians.
• * 1.8

  The countrey nere to Venice.
• * 1.9

  Plays at Rome.
• * 1.10

  VVhich is a great square stone with sun∣dry cubits
• * 1.11

  The sixt perse∣cution raised by Maximinus for the hatred he had to the house of Alex∣ander, in which time Origine wrote a booke de Marty••io.
• * 1.12

  The eight per∣secution.
• * 1.13

  VVhich was the house of a Consull so cal∣••ed.
• * 1.14

  Nota.
• * 1.15

  Iohn Baptist.
• * 1.16

  This h••llithe M••yses may be likened to the counterfeite Peter of Rome whose clemen∣cie is superstiti∣on, and his mercye mur∣ther.
• * 1.17

  In this Citie S. Austen was borne.
• * 1.18

  Note in Archi∣tecture for 4. stadii.
• * 1.19

  Great waters standing.
• * 1.20

  A Citie in Por∣tingale now callen Merida.
• * 1.21

  In those dayes the Brytaines being but very weake in the Christian faith, vsed much en∣chauntment to the which too many trusted.
• * 1.22

  Minius.
• * 1.23

  A ruler of two places.
• * 1.24

  A man so called.
• * 1.25

  Daniell. 8.
• * 1.26

  Deut. 13. Esay. 11. Mat. 14.
• * 1.27

  The computa∣tion is referred to the varietie of Authors, or else it must be another Lo∣tharye.
• * 1.28

  And Laudunū was brought in subiection.
• * 1.29

  1. Reg. 17. Iudas religion. Pal. Thess. 5.
• * 1.30

  Elmerus
• * 1.31

  Nota.
• * 1.32

  Nota.
• * 1.33

  Osmunde nor the Founder•• but the am••••∣der or repay∣rer.
• * 1.34

  In Fraunce.
• * 1.35

  Carued.
• * 1.36

  A Secte.
• * 1.37

  Henry. 1.
• * 1.38

  Henrie 2.
• * 1.39

  A notable mi∣sterie againste the reall pre∣sence flesh and bloud in the chalice, a figure of the destru∣ction of men, and not their saluation, then where is their vertue of tran∣substātiatiō: this being turned the priest knew not how or which way.
• * 1.40

  K. Henrie. 2.
• * 1.41

  Consider that here the Pope was afr••dde.
• * 1.42

  134••
• * 1.43

  It is come frō Rome to Bry∣taine hauing visited other Countryes by the way.
• * 1.44

  14••••
• * 1.45

  Gene. 34.
• * 1.46

  Number. 23. Deut. 33. Ezech. 29. Dani. 14.
• * 1.47

  Exod. 6. Psalm. 90.