Of Cain and Abel.

[Page ij] SCrypture sayth that Adam and He­ua broughte forth children, and that Cain slewe hys brother Abel. And here begynneth the persecution of the sayntes of the wicked men, and is and example very dredefull. For thys manslaughter happened for none other cause, Persecution for the true gods seruice than for y ^• seruice of god, the which, whan it is done purely, Sathan can not abyde it: for the whyche cause he sturreth Cain to slaye his brother, that the worde of God and syncere doctrine maye be quen­ched. And this dede sheweth howe vehement is the ire of Sathan and rage: also what mannes fraylnesse and blindnesse is. There are by the waye rehearsed in this history weyghty and graue prea­chinges of the iudgement of Christ to come, of the dredefull vengeaunce for sheddinge of bloude, the whiche to rehearse here, were to longe.

Cain after that he fled hys fathers sight, he be­gan The cytye Enoch. to buylde the citye called Enoch. Hys chyldren inuented all maner of handycraftes and sciences. Finally for the manslaughter was he punished, for he dyed a lyke kynde of death.

Of Seth.

AFter this was Seth boren to Adam. thys man beynge famous and renomed for his endeuour of honest and godlynesse enforced after Abel to auaunce and aug­ment Gods kyngdome. Of this Seth were after­ward engendred holy fathers, and the remnaunt of [Page] thys kynred remayned: But the posterytie of Cain was whole drowned in the floude. Iosephus wyt­nesseth Adam and Seth finders of sciences. that Adam and Seth made two tables, the one of brasse, the other of stone, and that in them wer grauen the worde of God and prophesyes, by the whiche the worde of God was kepte. He wryteth moreouer, that they diuided the yeare into twelue monethes, and that they obserued fyrste the course of starres and taught it. For it had not bene possible, that the minde of man coulde haue attayned to the searching of so high and wounderfull things, with­out God had opened them the knowledge of them. Wherfore to Adam and Seth we must ascribe the word of god, the figures of the letters and the greatest sciences. Ther are also many witnesses among the Grekes, that the writinge and all sciences are come of the Iewes aunceters. For Herodotus wri­teth in his fyfte boke, that the Grekes haue recea­ued theyr sciences and letters of the Phenices.

The age of Adam was nyne hundreth and thir­ty yeares, and reached vntill the time of Noes fa­ther: but he dieth hundreth and. 26. yeares before Noe was borne. But in this tyme is written to be happened nothinge worthy of rehearsall, vntyll Noes tyme, saue only genealogy: that in the meane whyle we maye know surelye, of whom it behoued Christ to be borne. But neuerthelesse by the waye maketh scripture mention of the death of Enoch, Enoch is an [...]mple of euerlastyng lyfe. that he be taken vp by God: the whiche dede God hath sett before the worldes eyen, that it mighte know and beleue that there is immortalitie after thys lyfe, and that God shall iudge, and saue the [Page iii] good truely, but punish the wycked.

Of the Floud.

THE scripture maketh mention that the worlde was punished of God, and ioyneth therto the occasions thereof, namely that it begann to peier: and a­monge the chefest of the euels are na­med the despisynge of God, aduoutry and tyranny, in the which is vsed all maner of wyl­fulnesse and wantonnesse. For of this wyse saieth the text: The childeren of holy men beganne to be­come Gene. [...] ▪ tyrauntes vpon earth, by the which is signifi­ed, that whan Gods worde was despised and hys worshyp, they liued vnmaneredly and an vnbryde­led lyfe, they oppressed the weake and poore, accor­dinge to their pleasure, and vsed wylfulnesse of ru­linge as they would. For cause of these thinges did God threaten the worlde wyth the floude: and be­fore the same should come, he wylled Noe to preach it an hundreth yeare before, that some beynge con­uerted, mighte be saued.

Whan Noe was sixe hundreth yeare olde, came the floude, and accordinge to Goddes commaundement, went he into the arcke with his wyfe and his thre sonnes Sem, Cham and Iaphet, taking with them their wiues, and was saued. The residue of men and beastes hath the floude taken awaye and destroied. And are from the creation of the world, vntyll the tyme of the floude, thousand, sixe hun­dreth and sixe and fiftye yeares.

Of the tyme after the Floude.

WHan Noe had now ben aboue an half yeare in the arcke, and that the floud mynyshed, the arcke rested vpon the hyghesthyl of Armenia: and after the yeres ende, whan the earth beganne to drye, Noe was commaunded of God to leaue the arcke, wherein he had now ben a whole yeare. Than dyd God ordeine as it were a new worlde agayne. For fyrst he gaue hys worde, by the which he promysed not to drowne the world agayne, and in token of certayntye, he gaue the Raynebowe, which shulde admonysh vs of the pro­myse made: and of thys wyse hath he set before vs tokens of beneuolence and mercy, to exercyse the fayth: He hath also than permitted the lybertye to [...] [...]e of flesh [...]st [...]ed cate flesh, the which the holy fathers before the floude dyd neuer vse. Besyde thys gaue God a new commaundement of outwarde administrati­on, and commaunded more playnly that mansley­ers shoulde lykewyse be putt to death, by those, The exam­ple of ven­geaunce. that be lawfullye permittted, that is by the offi­cers. Of thys wyse than is a new state of the worl­de ordeyned agayn.

All these thynges haue I brefely recyted, spe­cially that euery man may call to minde, and waye by hymselfe, how great Gods wrath is for synne. For God would cause the worlde to be more ware by this example, because he wyliudge and auenge: it is also shewed that God shall once iudge the whole worlde, for he will not that synne be vnre­uenged [Page iiij] or vnpunished. Some haue written, that seynge the worlde hath fyrst be drowned with wa­ters, it maye be gathered by naturall reasons, that it shall after thys be consumed wyth fyre. Yea and this is worthy to be marked, that they whiche belong to god, are kept of him, though they be few, abiect and despised.

This is also to be noted in thys place, that the ciuyll power is ordeined, and punishment for man­slaughter. For that is nerehande the heade of all ciuill exercise of iustice, after the which all other ca­ses and trespaces ought to be iudged.

Of the Tower of Babel.

AFter the floude whan mankynd was now encreased, the Tower of Babel, and the citie of Babilon was begon to be buylded by the Chaldees, that they might begyn a kyngdome ther, and subdue to them other nations or people. But thys enterpryse hath God ouerthro­wen: For whan they all vsed before one language, it befell that after the commune speche was chaun­ged, The proprietye of spe­ches. they spake one one maner of language, another another, so that they vnderstode not eche other. Wherfore there was a diuision of speches, and the worke it selfe was left vnperfect. The posterite of Noe than was strowed here and ther in the world, the which the fygure folowynge shall declare.

Sem the eldest sonne of Noe, of whose kyn­red Sem. is Christe, hath wyth hys childeren possessed [Page] that parte of Siria, whiche is towarde the Easte. For of Aram hys sonne, came the Syrians: of Assur, came the Assyrians: of Arphaxat, came the Chaldeis: of Elam are the Persyans spronge. Cham.

Cham the seconde sonne of Noe, hath optay­ned that countrye, whyche goeth towarde the South. Of Canaan, are come the Chananeis: of Mizraim, came the Egyptyans: of Chus, came the Ethiopians: of Saba, came the Arabians. Iaphet.

Iaphet the longest sonne of Noe went to the North and West, and this is the father of vs all, and therefore his name founde by the Poetes, whych haue called him Iapetus. Of his sonne Ia­uan or Iaon are the Grekes, whiche are called Io­nes: Iones are [...] fyrste [...]s. for they be the first Grekes. And the voice Ia­nan or Iaon, is no doute the same, whom the Lati­nes do call Ianus. Wherfore Ianus hath [...]lages.

They vsed to paynte him with a double vy­sage, before and behinde, because that of hym be sprouge both the nations, the Grekes and the La­tines: and as oft they would begynne any thinge, they worshipped him wyth a spngulare honour, by the whyche they wytnessed that they counted The Mace­dones. Iaon their father. Iaons sonne was Cethim, of whome are called the Macedones, and thys confyrmeth the fyrste boke of the Machabees, and the worde Machetim sygnifyeth in Hebrue of Cethim, of the whiche is spronge the worde Macedo. For Stephanus the expounder of Gre­ke wordes, wryteth that the auncient dyd saye Macetis.

[Page v]Iaon had manye chyldren, Elisa and Doda­nim, of the whiche haue their beginninge the Aeo­les Aeoles. or Hellas and the Dodoneies: all these are the first of the Grekes. Of Tarsis Iaons sonne, is Tharsus in Cilicia called.

Iaphet had other chylderen also, Gomer, Magog, Tyras and Mesech. Of Gomer are the Cunerij or Cimbry as witnesseth Eusebius. Of Ascanes Gomers sonne came the Tuiscones, that is, the Germanes. Of Magog are spronge the The Ger­manes. Scythe, and of them are begonne the Turkes. Of Thyras come the Thraces. I haue brefelye shewed what part of the worlde eche of Noes chyl­deren hath possessed, the which doeth greately a­uayle better to vnderstande many hystoryes.

Of the fyrst Monarchye.

THat it maye be vnderstande how the worke of God muste be knowen and honored in those thynges that the magistrate or superiorite doeth: we haue aduertysed before in the pre­face, that God willed to entertayne the world by foure Monarchies, to the intent that policye, iustice and correction mighte be entertay­ned amonge men: for this cause are many thynges The foure Monarchies are proposed to Daniel. Dan. ij. spoken here and there of these Monarchies in holy scripture God hath proposed them to Daniel two maner of waye: First vnder the figure of a greate man, whose heade was golden, the brest of syluer, the belly of copper, the legges of yron, the fete par­tely [Page] of earth, partly also of yron. And lest we should not know, that then finally shal y ^• end of the world be, there is added, how that the stone Christ doeth breake his fete, that the man hymself do fall, and so do the world cease.

Daniel hym self hath expounded this vision of the foure monarchies. For he saieth that the head doth signifie the first kyngdome, that is, the Monarchie of the Assyrians. The brest of siluer, sygnifieth the kyngdome of the Persians. The belly of copper, signifyeth the kyngdome of the Grekes. The leg­ges of yron signifyeth the kyngdome of the Roma­nes. The fete of yron and earth, signifyeth the state of the Empire of Rome at this tyme, namely that now a dayes is much lesse and weaker, than it was wont to be.

The foure beastes shewed vnto Daniel do also pretende these foure kyngdomes. The Lyonesse, sygnifyeth the force of the Assyrians. The Beere sygnifieth the Persian empyre. The Leoparde sig­nifieth Alexander. By the fourth beast are the Ro­manes signifyed. And there is added that besyde the Romaine empyre there shall ryse an other em­pyre full of cruelnesse, and suche one that shall make a new lawe agaynst Gods worde: And that is the Mahometish and Turkysh empyre now a dayes. God wyll haue vs so truely warned, that as we knowe the histories of al the worlde, we should con­syder that the tyme of finishyng be not farre of, and that of this wise we should haue wherewith to con­firme our faith.

[Page vi]In the Bible it is manifest, that the fyrst king­dome beganne by Nemrod amonge the Babylo­nians, and the scripture calleth him a valyaunt hunter before God, that is, a mighty prynce, which wyth force subdued men to obeye. And he is Nemroth Gods hun­ter. called a hunter before the Lorde, as Gods hun­ter: whereby it is signifyed, that the ciuill power is ordeyned of God, as a vengeaunce, and that she be a minister of God. Wherfore the fyrst Monarchye beganne by the Chaldeis, as wytnesseth also Xe­nophon, and the successors of Cham raygned fyrst, of the whyche dyd Nemroth yssue. For though Noe had cursed hys sonne Cham, yet neuerthe­lesse dyd God in the meane whyle by a wonderfull destiny differ the vengeaunce and promise. How­beit the kyngdome remayned not by the poste­ryte of Nembroth. For there rose a newe kyng­dome by the Assirians thorough Assur, by whome also the citye Niniue was buylded. Oute of Ni­niue went the Assyryans, and subdued the cytye of Babylon, the whyche Diodorus Siculus do­eth wryte: and by thys occasyon is the Monar­chye translated from the Chaldeis to the Assy­rians.

Strabo and other dyd make mention of the ci­tye Niniue. Niniue, that it lyeth in Assyria: whereby it may easely be gathered, that Niniue and Babilon haue ben two seuerall cityes, not one of dyuerse names. Many kynges are there rehcarsed in thys Monarchye: Howbeit seyng ther is nothing notably writ­ten of their dedes, it maketh no greate matter to [Page] rehearse their names onely: onely this behoueth it the reader to remembre, that this Monarchye be­ganne neare hande before the ende of the fyrste two thousande yeares, whiche were accomplished be­fore that tyme, whan Abraham was fyftye yeare olde.

Hetherto haue wee treated of the fyrste age of the worlde, in the which may be sene of the crea­tion of the worlde, of the churche, and ciuyll admi­nistration ordeined of God, besyde that of other wonderfull dedes shewed in the world by god. But The churche from Noe [...] Abrahām the churche, came from Noe the patriarche, vntyll Abraham, whiche was eyght and fyftye yeare olde, whan Noe dyed. In the meane whyle whan this Monarchye beganne, vngodlynesse and idolatry beganne to ryse here and there in Babylon, and the true worde of God was in the meane tyme quenched.

Of the Germanes.

IN the tyme of Augustus were the The Germanes were fyrst couque­sted by warre. Tiberius Drusius. Germanes first attempted of the Romanes. Tiberius and hys brother Drusius were wyth an hoost in high germany, and inuaded those coastes, that are ioyninge to Rhetia and Vindelicia. But they dyd not wholy subdue those con­tryes vnder theyr empyre. The Rheti are those Rhetia. that dwell in the valley of the floude Enus or Ihn, they of Tyrol vntyll Bregetium or Rab, Kempte and dounwarde vntyll Nordlingen, where yet re­mayneth Vindelicia. the name Ryes. They of Vindelicia are Augspurg and vpper Beyerlande. Drusus went doune vntyll Mentz, and there gettynge a disease he lost hys lyfe.

Aboute that tyme made the garnyson of the Romanes, that was appoynted at Colen an [Page] assaulte vpon Westphalen and Saxony. But one called Hermannus was captayne of Saxony, whō the historyeus do call Arminius lord of Cherusia. Cherusci. Armnius. As for the Cherusci are euen the Saxons & Thu­rynges, dwellynge by the wood called Schwartz­walde, of that syde, that stretched beneth by the floude Wesurgus vntyll the citye Breme, And by my iudgement is that called Cherusci, whych now is communely called Hertzishe. This Arminius oppressed the Romanes vnwarres, and slew about one and twenty thousand of them. Besydes also a great army of the ayders and confederates of the Romanes, whych warred wyth them, as French­men do wyth the Scottes.

Quintilius Varus the captayne of the Ro­mane Quintilius Varus. hoost slew him self wyth hys swearde. Taci­tus the historyographes sheweth at larg of the battayl that was had, namelye betwene the floudes Lyppia and Amisia, that is, beneth the toune Cas­sel, not farre from the toune Padeborne in West­phalen. For thus sayeth Tacitus: They ployled so much as lyeth betwene the floudes Amisia & Lyp­pya, not farre from the woode of Teutoburgum, where the residue of Varus hooste and legions is sayde to lye vnburyed. As for this slaughter made the Romanes no lesse afrayde, that in tymes paste whan the Cimbriwaysted Italy. For the Roma­nes were afrayde lest Arminius wyth force of ar­mes had inuaded the Romane empyre, and come vntyll Rome. Augustus was in suche distresse by reason of the feare of the greate daunger, that he caused euery man to be euery where in armes. It [Page lxxxix] is also sayed, that he sayed of wepyng & with great crye: Quintily restore the legions. But when the Romanes were dryuen out of Saxony, they brou­ght to passe, that Arminius was inuaded with war of his neighbors, there was at that tyme the Swe­des and Belhems, dwelling by the ryuer Albis: but Arminius ouercame them also, and takyng in their contreis, he had Westphalen, Shwartwald, Saxony, Marck, Misen, and Bohemy. He reigned about twelue yeare, and finally was he slayne by the op­pression of his. But this is ynough sayed of Augu­stus tyme.

Tiberius the third Emperoure.

• The yeare of the worlde. iii M. ix. C. lx.
• The yeare of Rome .vii. C. lxix.
• The yeare of Christe .xvi.

THough many excellent Emperours haue bensence the time of Augustus, (for when God kepeth the common welthes, he geueth also suche men, that are mete to do great thynges.) yet haue the in the meane seasō now and than princes dissolute and wicked: so that a me­ry conceated man semeth to haue sayed very true: that the ymages of al good princes may be grauē in one rynge. It is very profitable to beholde in histo­ries the thynges that are declared and the exam­ples of wycked princes, that we may drede y ^• wrath of God, by the feare of the punishment, wherewith they are punyshed.

Tiberius was not the sonne of Augustus, but for Tiberiu [...]. [Page] somuche as the true heyres of Augustus were deade, he toke in steade and chose for heyre Tibe­rius the sonne of Liuia, whiche was already ma­ried to Augustus: and because Tiberius was a va­liaunt man of armes, Augustus vsed hym alway for a captain. This Tiberius was the first Emperour, to whome the senate of Rome did yelde it selfe. He reigned thre and twenty yeares.

The fyuetenth yeare of Tiberius was Christe Whā Christ was bapti [...]ed our Lorde thirty yeare olde, and that yeare was he baptised of Ihon Baptiste, and beganne the preachyng of hys Gospell, of penaunce, of remis­sion of synnes, and lyfe euerlasting. This was sence the creation of the worlde the .iiii. M. ix. C. and lxxv. yeares. But after the beginning of Alex­anders Monarchie the .CCC. and .xl. yeare. Ad­de an hundreth and fyue and fourty yeares vn­tyll the second yeare of Longimanus. Thus haue ye the foure hundreth and foure score and fyue yea­res: and these are the thre score and nyne wekes of the whiche is spoken by Daniel: whiche thynge we haue treated at length before.

In the eyghtenth yeare of Tiberius was Christ Whā Christ was cruci­fyed. oure Sauioure crucified, dyed, and rose agayn the thyrde daye. But after his resurrection he com­maunded his disciples, that they should preache the Gospell thorowe all the worlde, the whiche they began strayght way, when they had receaued the holy ghost from heauen vpon Wytsonday, and af­ter the visible ascension of Christ into heauen.

Therfore is now the worde of God and spiritual Where the Churche or spirituall kingdom is kyngdom, and also the churche or congregacion of [Page xc] the faithful or christen people not only in the Iewish kyngdom: but in the whole worlde, where the Go­spell is preached by the Apostles, and where theyr writinges are brought For God promised to worke by preaching of his worde. Moreouer where Gods worde is taught, ther is it necessary to be some that pertaine to Gods kingdom, where Christ is ruling and workyng, accordynge to that sayenge: I shalbe with you vntyll the worldes ende. To this oure Lorde Christ our sauiour and true God, be prayse, glory and thankesgeuyng for euer. Amen.

But now it remayneth that we do shew further how greate and heuy assaultes the churche of chri­stenmen hath suffered, both by outwarde persecu­tions of enemies, and also chefely by heretikes, whiche haue nowe and than toren wretchedly the vnitie of the churche with wicked doctrines: which thynge hath brought a farre more dammage and despysynge to the Churche or congregacion, than any outwarde persecutions.

The nyntenth yeare of Tiberius after Christes resurrection was Steuen the fyrst martyr stoned Whan Ste­uen was sto­uen. and the same yeare was Paule conuerted to the fayth. And this befell.

• The yeare of the worlde .iii. M. ix. C. lxxviij.
• The yeare of Rome .vii. C. xcii.
• The yeare of Christe .xxcix.

CAius Caligula the fourth Emperoure reig­ned Caius Cali­gula. thre yeare and ten monethes: he was of a veri dissolute and vmbrideled lyfe, he defyled [Page] all his systers with an vnnamed or an vnnaturall medling: Fynally was he slayn by the chefe of hys hoost through a preuy conspiracy. This Caligula caused his ymage to be set in the temple at Ierusa­lem, to be worshipped, whiche thyng was also pro­phecied by Daniel, namely: When Israell shall se an Daniel. ix. Idoll set in the temple, then shal the ende be at hād. This happened.

• The yeare of the worlde. iii. M. ix. C. lxxxvii.
• The yeare of Rome. vii. C. lxix.
• The yeare of Christe .xliij.

CLaudius the fyft Emperour reigned Claudius. thyrtene yeare and nyne monethes: he was poysoned. The secōd yeare of Claudius came Peter the Apostle to Rome, who had preached before certayn yeares at Antio­chia: and here begynneth the Romyshe churche.

• The yeare .xliiij. After Christes natiuite.
• The yeare .iii. M. ix. C. lxxxviij. after the worl­des creation.
• The yeare .vii. C. xcvii. after the buyldynge of Rome.
• The yeare of the worlde. iiii M.
• The yeare of Rome .viii. C. ix.
• The yeare of Christe.lvi.

NEro the syxt. Emperour reigned fourten Nero. yeare. At the begynnyng lyued he honestly fyue yeares, afterwarde was he moste vngratious by reason of hys intemperan­cy of maners and tyranny. He put to death his own mother & his wyfe, and also many noble men, amōg whom was also Seneca. Finally whan his officers [Page xci] was gone from hym, whan he was sought to be put to deaht by the Senate of Rome, he fleing slew himselfe, before he was founde out by the souldiours: and this was done the two and thirtyeth yeare of his age. But the kyngdom of the Romanes is now wholy remoued from the posteritie and kynsmen of Augustus and Leuia. When Pe­ter was cru­cified. Linus by­shoppe. Paul is be­headed.

In the tyme of Nero was saint Peter crucifyed at Rome. After hym was Linus made byshop, and afterwarde was Paule the Apostle beheaded also. And yf ye counte the yeares of Paule, hee preached the Gospell about foure and thyrty yea­res.

In the tyme of Nero appeared a comete syxe A comete se­ne in Nerois tyme. monethes contrary too all cometes, whiche are not wont to be sene so longe. There was also a comete sene before in the tyme of Claudius, and three sonnes, whiche sygnyfyeth doutlesse, that three princes shoulde shortely striue for the empire. In lyke maner do I suppose, that their great Co­mete dyd sygnifye not onely the sedicion and vp­roure, but also the mutacion and chaunge in the Romane empire, and specially the lamentable decaye of the Iewysh kyngdom.

Sergius Galba, Otho, and Vitellius.

AMong these thre was a stryfe for the em­pyre, Sergius Galba, Otho. after Neroes death. As for Galba was slayn in y ^e marketplace of Rome by y ^• layenge wayte of Otho. Afterward was Vitellius chosen Emperoure in Germany of the Vitellius. hoost, and sent some men of armes into Italy. The [Page] whiche metyng Otho, he fought foure feldes with them: thre tymes dyd he ouercome them, but in the fourth was his hoost ouerthrowen. And though the souyldiours drue frely to hym, yet would hee warre no more. For it is reported that he shoulde haue said: that he set more by the comon peace, then by his owne lyfe or priuate glory: and the fourth moneth after Galbas death, slew he hymselfe with a daggar.

In the meane season was Vespasianus chosen Vespasianus Emperoure in the Easte, by the souldiours: thesa­me sent an hoost into Italy, the whiche ouerthrewe Vitellius men of armes. Of that rose vproures at Rome, and Vitellius was taken his handes bound vpō his backe, and with a halter cast about his neck, he was drawen through the myer in the stretes, and fynally was he slayne as he had deserued. For he was suche one, that deserued rather to bee called a cruell beaste, than a man. This was the fyrst vproure that was in the Empyre for the elec­tion or chosyng, after Augustus.

• The yeare of the worlde .iiii. M. xvi.
• The yeare of Rome .viii. C. xxv.
• The yeare of Christ .lxxij.

VEspasianus the Seuenth Emperoure reig­ned nyne yeares. It was a man renowmed in wysedome and honesty, and a prince moste worthy of the Empyre. For where Caligula, Clau­dius and Nero dyd nott onely suffre all intempe­rancy out of measure in other, but dyd it themsel­ues also: this man contrarywyse restored at Rome [Page xcij] the nourture of modestie and honest lawes. He au­gmented also the Empyre with all maner of vic­tuals, and in the prouinces ordeined he necessary aydes. Besides this ordeined he also at Rome com­mon pensions for professers of phisyck and other sciences.

Of the last destruction of Ierusalem.

IN the seconde yeare of Vespasianus be­gan When Titꝰ the sonne of Vespasiane besyeged Ie­rusalem. Titus the sonne of Vespasian to be­syege the cytie Ierusalem, whan Easter began to be kept in the moneth of Apryll, and afterwarde in the moneth September dyd he spoyle and burne it. But in the meane tyme was so great mysery in the cytie for hunger, vproure and inwarde manslaughter, as neuer was red to haue bene in any cytie. The mothers dyghted their owne chyldren to satisfye their hunger, but in­uayne: For the souldyours tooke them awaye from them par force, and deuoured them, and the mothers dyed with hunger the whyles. Many slew themselues. Iosephus wryteth that in the cy­ty Ten hūdreth thousād men were in the citie whan Ie­rusalem was besyeged. were about ten hundreth thousand persons. For because it was Easter, a very great multitude came together into the cytie: Besydes this, they that dwelt here and there in villages, in all Iewry, drue all together to Hierusalem, for none other cause, but that they trusted to bee in saue garde by the defence of so well afortified citie. In so great nō ­ber of people, the moste parte nere hande dyed with [Page] hunger, pestilence and sworde. Titus sent syxtene thousand to Alexandria, to do seruice, none other wyse then slaues. He brought twoo thousand with hym, whiche hee shewed in a triumphe, and caste them to wylde beastes in common games to be to­ren in peces. But what shall I saie muche? nomans oraciō can be sufficient to expresse so great a mysery. For God woulde propose to men a new and syngu­lar An example of Gods wrath. example, wherein myght be sene the greatnesse of Gods wrath against despisers of Godlynesse. For it must be a very stony and harde harte, whiche shoulde not be sore afrayed at so dredefull an exam­ple. And it is aboue all thynges to be ouerloked in this hystorye, that yf God vsed no mercy towarde thys people in punyshynge them for their wycked­nesse, whome he called hys peculiar people, whyche also was come of so holy fathers: He shall muche lesse spare the Heythen. And God in threatenynge thys, declareth also in the same example the shewe of mercy and Godly beneuolence: namely, that we do not doubt that after that the Iewysh kyngdom is ouerthrowen, we that are Gentyls, are truely the chosen people and Gods chyldren, yf we do tru­ly beleue in Christe.

This destruction of Ierusalem befell in the secōd yeare of Vespastanus: and it was the threscore and fortene yeare after Christes natiuite, the fortieth yere after that Christ had suffered his passion. But from the creation of the worlde the foure thousand and eightenth yere. And this temple dyd stande af­ter the second yere of Longunanus fyue hundreth and syx and twenty yeares.

[Page xciij]Many dredefull tokens signifyed this destruc­tiō Straung thī ­ges were se­ne before the destructiō of Ierusalem. afore, which for shortnesse we can not here reherse. A burnyng sworde was sene aboue the temple nearehande a whole yeare. I haue added thys therfore, lest no man do rashly despyse the tokens, which pretende the euidēces of Gods indignacion, by the which we are called to repentaunce, that the wrath of God maye be ether auoyded, or mitigated: which thynge of mercy happened to the Niniuites.

The yeare of the worlde

iiii. M. xxv.

The yeare of Rome.

viij. C. xxxii.

The yeare of Christe.

lxxxi.

TItus the eyght Emperoure reigned two The gentle­nesse of Titꝰ Vespasianꝰ. yeare. He was the sonne of Vespasianus, endued wyth all kynde of princely ver­tues, wherefore he was praysed of euery man, and called: The loue and delite of man kynde. But when he perceaued, that some went about to optayne the Emperyall dignitie agaynst hym, he ☜ commaunded to admonyshe them frendly, to ab­stayne from suche enterpryses: For all theyr labour was inuayne in suche thinges, and that the gouer­naunce is a gyft of God, whiche befalleth to hym, whome it pleaseth hym to geue: He dyd nothynge more rygorously to them. Titus (as some suppose) dyed of poyson.

After that Linus was deade, was Anacletus made the third byshop of Rome.

• The yeare of the worlde .iiij. M. xxvij.
• The yeare of Rome viii. C. xxxvj.
• The yeare of Christe .lxxxiij.

[Page]DOmitianus the nynth Emperoure, the bro­ther Domitianus of Titus reigned fyftene yeares. He had warres in Germany, and ce [...]sely agaynst the Catti, that now a daies are called the Hesses. He Catti. vsed incredible intemperancy and great tyranny at Rome, wherfore he was fynally slayne. He droue The Mathe­matici are [...]en out of Rome. out of Rome the Mathematicos, that is, teachers by demonstracion and Philosophers. He persecu­ted the Christen, and put them to death, lyke as Nero dyd.

Whan Anacletus was deade, Clemens the fyrst of that name was made Byshop of Rome.

• The yeare of the worlde .iiij. M. xliij.
• The yeare of Rome .viij. C. lij.
• The yeare of Christe .xcix.

NErua the tenth Emperoure reigned one [...]. yeare and foure monethes. He adopted and made heyre apparant Traianus, who was as then capitaine in Germany about Collen. Ner­ua dyed being olde .lxviij. yeare.

• The yeare of the worlde .iiij. M. xliiij.
• The yeare of Rome .viij. C. liij.
• The yeare of Christe .C.

TRaianus the Emperoure reigned nynetene yeares and syxe monethes. This same was Traianꝰ [...]as [...]ho [...]. the fyrste of the straunge Emperours: For he was no Italian, but a Spanyarde by kynred. He was of suche notable honestie, that euer afterward, as oft as an Emperoure was electe, he dyd wyshe ☞ with open requeste, that: he might be lyke to Traia­nus in honestie, & Augustus in happenesse. When he [Page xciiij] had made the principall officers of his court, he ga­ue The noble sayenge of Traianus when he ga­ue his heade officer the power of the sworde. hym a sworde in hys hande, sayeng these wor­des: Vse this sworde agaynst myne enemies in iu­ste causes. If I do not iustly, then drawe it vpon myselfe. The Romane empyre was neuer so large, as in the tyme of Traianus: and aboue the exam­ples of other Emperours, possessed he the realmes of the East most largely. He had very great warres in Hungary and Germany.

Ihon the euangelist that was driuen out by Domitian, Ihon the A­postle retur­neth out of Pathmos. returned agayne to Ephesus out of the yle Pathmos. If ye wyll reken the nōbre of the yeres, it shalbe founde that Sainct Ihon hath preached aboue thre score yeares. Good Lorde howe many ☜ myseries hath Sainct Ihon sene in so longe space, among the whiche was euen the greatest, the de­struction of Hierusalem hys countrey: I wyll passe ouer how greueously hee hath stryuen wyth many and euen peruerset heretikes. For we reade that vpon a tyme Sainct Ihon came into a bath, and founde Cherinthus the Heretike sittyng with hys company, and disputynge earnestly amonge them, and the vnshamefast blasphemer denyed Christe to be man. But Sainct Ihon rysynge, bad hys frendes that were set wyth hym, to de­parte with hym from thence: For God woulde not suffre any lenger so vnshamefast blasphemies. But strayghtwaye as he was gone out, the house Cherinthus the heretike was killed [...] the fallyng of an house. An example of vengeaūce fallyng downe, slewe Cherinthus wyth hys com­pany. It is a dredefull example of Gods wrath a­gaynst them whiche blaspheme the name of GOD, wyth open and manifest vngodlynesse, howe [Page] litle he wyl suffre them to be vnpunished at length.

Euaristus the fift. B. of Rome succeded Clemēs

After Euaristus death succeded the .vi. B. of Rome Alexander the first of that name.

Vnder Traianus were many Christen men tor­mented. [...]e persecu­ [...] of Chri­st [...] m [...]n v [...] ­ [...]r Traianꝰ But afterwarde was a sentence ordeined, that they shoulde not be brought into iudgement, without they were fyrst openly accused, and then shuld they be punyshed: and this was gotten by the benefite of Plinius. Traianus died of a flyxe in the The yeares of his age [...]. belly.

• The yeare of the worlde .iiij. M. lxiiij.
• The yeare of Rome .viii. C. lxxiij.
• The yeare of Christe .C. xx.

ADrianus the .xii. Emperoure, reigned twenty yeares: He was adopted of Traia­nus. He was a prince of greate wysdome, he was not geuen too warre after the example of Traianus, but was geuen to common peace by al maner of meanes: and of this wise restored he the Empyre in moste best fashion, wherfore he also deserued moste hygh prayse with euery man. Ther was neuer a more profytable Emperour to the Romysh kyngdome, sence Augustus, then this Adria­nus. He was excellently learned in astronomy, and Adrianus a [...] learned [...]per [...]r [...] cō [...]ing [...]tronomy composed euery yeare a pronostication for hymself. Vnlearned readers of sciences put he out of wages, howbeit he prouided of hys own coste for thē, that they had no nede in the meane season: and set other learned and profitable mē to teache in their steade. He furnished also excellent libraries: for he was reakened to be very well learned in Greke and Latin.

[Page xcv]In the tyme of Adrianus began the Iewes to re­store The Iewes▪ rayse an vp­roure through one Mes­sias. their kyngdom, fyndyng also out one Messias among thē: But Adrianus ouercame them, though it was not without great busynesse. Afterwarde commaunded he to repayre Ierusalem, and called her Elia, after his name Elius.

At the fyrst was he sore against the Christians, The clemen­cy of Adria­nus towarde Christen mē and commaunded to torment them: but afterward, when some learned Christen men wrote bokes to the Emperoure, the whiche are yet now adayes a brode, he chaunged his mynde, and commaunded that from thence foreward no man should be atta­ched for his religion.

Xystus the fyrst of that name, and seuenth B. of Rome succeded Alexander.

After Xystus succeded Thelesphorus the eyght Who ord [...] ­ned [...]ent. B. of Rome. He is reported to haue ben the institu­ter of Lent.

Of the Manicheis the heretykes.

STrayghte waye after the Gospell was preached, rose sectes and dissensyous a­mong Christen men. But I am not minded to rehearse y ^• erronious opinions of euery one in this treatise: I wyll only recyte the moost greatest, which haue infect and troubled ma­ny and greate cityes and contryes wyth theyr ve­n [...]m: that the reader maye knowe, nothynge to be Heretykes are b [...]gyn­ [...]ers of vp­roure▪ more venimous in this commune lyfe of man, than false doctrine: and that all heretikes are desyrous of vproure, nether couet ought els, but that they maye defende and spreade abrode theyr erroure by vprour and commune ryot. For Sathan their che­fe doer, is both a lyar and manslayer. Ether of thē truely is euident in all scismatickes, which both te­ache false, and are wonte to rayse manslaughter through sedysyon and per [...]urbatyon of commune welthes. Manichei the heretikes Manes born in Persia.

In the tyme of Aurelyanus beganne fyrst the Manycheis, and one Manes borne in Persya was begynner of them. Thyssame spred hys venim a­brod largely, fyrst by y ^• Arabians, afterward in Africa: the which went so spedely on, that it coulde not The doctrine of the Ma­nicheis▪ be swaged the space of two hundreth yeares af­terwarde▪ The chefe of theyr doctryne was: that [Page] ther were two goddes▪ the one good the other euel, and both lyke euerlastynge. This doctrine semed vnto mans reason alowable. For seynge God is good by nature, and that in the meane season the euell hath such power: it is necessary there be also a peculiar God▪ which is author and doer of euels, equall to the other God wyth power and euerla­styngnesse. Besyde these had they other opinions that they taught, namely, that Christe was no true God: nether receaued they the bokes of the Apost­les, but fayned there seuerall doctrines, the which they called Christes Gospel also: they boasted also of seuerall illuminations of heauen, and sayde they gaue the holy ghost. They ordeyned sundrye cere­monies: they vsed also choyse of meates: they for­badde wedlocke▪ sayenge that thereby is optayned the holy ghost. They taught also to reiect ciuil po­wer. For matrimony and gouernaunce of communwelth they sayde to haue theyr ofspringe from the euell God, and not to be ordeined of the good God. Thomas Monetarius or mynter at Thuringen Thomas Monetarius was playnly fallē into the same heresy in our daies.

Of Arrius the heretyke.

ARrius lyued in the tyme of Constanti­nus. Arrius an o­pen reader in the scole of Alexan­dria. The doctrine of Arrius. He was an open reader in the scole of Alexandria in Egypte. The churches concorde was miserably spoiled wyth hys error and heresy: For he taught y ^t Christ was not truely and naturallye God. But what prac­tyse and vicious pleasauntnesse of persuasyons he dyd vse to confyrme this error, it were to longe to rehearse. Howb [...]it it pleased the world so wel, that great learned bishops, and neare hande the whole churche of the Easte, wyth manye also in the Weste [Page] dyd embrace hym. Neuerthelesse in the meane sea­son wythstode heauely this heresy two bishops of notable godlynesse. The fyrst was Alexander, who Alexander & byshop. optayned of Constantinus to gather the councell of Nicene, wherein was condemned the heresye of Arrius. Wherfore was Arrius forsaken and ban­nished out of the dominion. But whan Constanti­nus was deade, a certayne preste was in fauoure wyth Constantius, whom also he committed al his counsels: the same broughte to passe wyth his per­suasyon by the Emperoure, that Arrius beyng cal­led agayne, was sett in hys former office. The fyre that was metely well quenched afore, began nowe agayne to burne more fearcely, insomuche that the Emperoure Constancius beganne also to embrace Constancius [...] [...] Arrius. thys erroure of Arrius. Whan at the last a daye was appointed by Constantius, wherein Alexan­der and Arrius shoulde openly reason of the scryp­ture, concerninge this learninge, Alexander spent the whole nyghte in prayenge in the temple, pray­enge God, that the secte of Arrius should crepe no farther. Wherfore in the morninge before the ap­poynted houre of the disputation, whan Arrius went to the place, he beganne (as he went) to haue payne in the bellye, and went to a preuye to do hys The death of Arrius i [...] an [...]ample of [...]. easement, where he aboue all mens estimacion, dy­ed incontinent. Howbeit whan Arrius was of this wyse deade, yet ceased not the sede of his poysoned doctrine to be sowed larger abroade, because that they that were conspyred together of this secte, be­ganne to sprede it more vehemently. At the laste whan Alexander was deade also, Athanasius hys [Page cv] successor disputed hymselfe agaynste the Arryans: but the same beynge banyshede by Constantius, he Athanasius beynge ban­nished, flyeth to Triere out of Egypt. fled from Egypt, vntyl the citye Tryere in Germany. And though thys was a very farre flyghte, yet was the bannyshed man fayne to hyde hymselfe se­cretly at Tryere vntyll the eyght yeare. In the meane season was that heresy fearcely growen thorough out in the East churche, euen so muche, that for a season a greate part of Christen men did leane to the Arrian secte, and out of thys secte sprange by lytle and lytle, other sectes many. Fynally whan the name of Arryans was by the decrees of many councels quenched, yet was it now and than rene­wed againe in the churche vnder other names. In one citye were sundery opinions, and diuerse sec­tes persecuted eche other, insomuche that the one running vpon the other in theyr temples, made ry­ots and committed man slaughter. At that tyme was the state of the church very wretched and py­teous, the which worthely gaue an occasiō of slaunder, not only to the Gentyls, why they dyd not embrace the word of God: but dyd offende other also, that they went from the Christianity to the Idola­try of the Heythen, among the which was also Iu­lianus the Emperoure. In the tyme of this so mys­cheuous Arrius was y ^c forerunner of Mahomet heresy, came vp finally Mahomet, to whō by Arrius was as it were a window handsomly o­pened: & was the forerunner of this most cruel An­tichrist. For whan the myndes of men went astray in so great dissension of opinions, came Mahomet, & inuented very wysely the thirde way, wherwith he should heale the variete & diuersyty of errours. [Page] For he toke awaye all disputacions, whiche thinge men dyd alowe. But hereof shall we speake after­warde. And let thys suffise to be rehearsed of the Arryans erroure and other lyke heresyes: of the whiche we haue here made mencyon therfore, that it may be sene how greate dammages, manslaugh­ters, seditions & ryotous heresyes do brynge both to the commune welth, and to the churche.

Marcellynus the .xxviij. byshop of Rome succe­ded Cains.

Not long before Constantinus death, was a ve­ry [...] comete was [...]ue. greate comete sene certayne monethes, whiche signifyed the greate warre and commotion, that folowed after Constantinus death.

Of Pelagius the heretike.

IN the tyme of thys byshop of Rome, one Pelagius an heretyke in Britanne. Pelagius liued in Britanne. The same taughte, that we are not iustyfyed and saued by the mercy of God for Christes sake, wythout our deseruynge: but by oure owne workes and naturall vertues, is true and sounde ryghteousnesse purchased by God, and remyssy­on ofsynnes optayned not by the fayth of Christe, but by oure workes and procuracyons. Agaynste S. Augustin hath written against Pe­lagius▪ thys man hath. S. Augustine wrytten moost sub­stancially, and hath bickered fearcely wyth this sentence, and hath defended it agaynst hym, that we are saued by fayth wythout oure deseruynge, and that we optayne remyssyon ofsynnes by the mercy of God only, yf we do truste to it. For yf remyssyon or forgeuenesse of synnes came by [Page] oure workes, the conscience should neuer be in qu [...] ­er and assured, but should alwaye be in doubte: For mans endeuoure is to weake, than that God be­ynge displeased, can be apeased therewyth, and the drede of death taken awaye. Neuerthelesse God requyreth of vs obedience and good worckes and that the conscyences be sure, we doo please God, that he wyll heare them that call vpon hym, and saue vs. Howbeit that thys doth not stande in the worthynesse of oure worckes: but in the promyse and mercy of God. Thys mynde of S. Augustyne whan it is knowen, doth brynge greate comfort to the consciences of the godlye, and teacheth what the true fayth is, and that God in the meane sea­son requireth good workes of vs. The same veryly doth he requyre of vs: but by fayeth onely wyll he haue vs to receaue the forgeuenesse ofsynne, with­out regarde of oure deseruynges. The doctryne of Pelagius is condempned in some councels of our tyme.

The spoylyng of the fourth Monarchy.

Of the Gotthies.

Dietrichus of Berna. Some call him Theo­dericus, some Titri­cus of [...]e­rona. Othacarus.

THe Gotthies came nomore into Italy af­terward, saue in the tyme of Zeno the Emperoure, whan Othacarus was become mighty at Rome. The same was a Barbarian, borne in Rugia, & was a souldiour vnder Au­gustulus, & being become puissaunt by that meanes he vsed great tyranny at Rome: insomuch y ^e the Romanes required ayde against him: Than was sent Dietrichus of Berna. by Leno into Italy Dietrichus surnamed of Ber­na. The same slayenge Othacarus, raigned two & thyrty yeares in Italy: he loued peace out of mea­sure, and had most deserued to haue the fauoure of Italy, insomuch, that as histories do make menciō, Italy neuer had a foren prince more frendelier and gentlyer. He gaue also much goodes to the chur­ches vse, to entertayne the ministers of the word, & to mainteyne the doctrine of religion. But he was infect with the heresy of Arrius, as also the reste of The Got­thies were Arrians. y ^• Gotthies. For whan y ^• Gotthies required of Va­lens y ^e Emperours prestes, of whom they might be instructed in y ^t Christen religion, he sent them Arri­an doctors. Howbeit y ^• most noble vertues of this Dietrichus deserued those praises, which cōmonly are songe in those dityes as are vsed now adayes. In thē is made mencion of giauntes, which signifi­eth the Barbarous, whō Dietrichus hath vanqui­shed & slayne. He is surnamed of Berna, because he was wonte to be muche at Verone wyth the court. Besydes this man was also another Dietri­chus [Page] a Gotthian lykewyse, by whose valiauntnesse Attila was slayne, but he dyed in the same felde. He Attila. was so great a man, that besyde him, noman coulde lyghtely haue enterprysed oughte against Attila. The same Dietrichus was not surnamed of Ber­na, but he was his cosyn. He was fyue and forty yeare before the tyme of Dietrichus of Berna.

• Alaricus
  The Weste Gotthies.
• Ataulphus
• Mallia

• Dietrichus
  The East Gotth [...].
• Hermerichus
• Ditmarus
• Dietrichus of Berna
  Himelsuita. Adelrichus.

HImelsuitha the doughter of Dietrichus of Berna had a sonne called Adelrichus: the­same raygned eight yeres at Rome in Italy after the death of Dietrichus of Berna, and the mother ruled with great praise. Whan her sonne was deade, she delyuered the gouernaunce to her ne­phew Theodatus: but the same not remembrynge the benefyte that he had optayned, caused by a trayne her to be slayn, in the tyme of Iustinian the Emperoure. Dietrichus of Berna had mo dough­ters An example of distoyalty. besydes this: he had also geuen hys systers doughter in mariage to the kynge of Thuringen: whyche thynge I would not passeouer here, with­out the syngular prayse and commendacyon of the princes of Thuringen.

THeodatus raigned ii. yeres, & was worthely punished. For whan the moost honeste quene Theodatus. [Page cxiii] Himelsuith a had commended herselfe and her sōne to. Iustinian the Emperoure, Iustinian toke an oc­casion to reuenge the murther, and sent Bellisarius into Italy against the Gotthies. Now was Theo­datus suspected, because he withstode not Bellisa­rius, as though he would betray the Gotthies: the An example of vengeaūce Witichus. whiche Gotthies made Wittichus kyng, by whose commaundement was Theodatus slayne.

VVitichus reigned thre yeares. Against hym warred Bellisarius with greate policy: For Wittichus had an appoynted army of more then twoo hundreth thousand men. Bellisarius kept hymselfe within the walles of Rome, whome Wittichus besyeged a whole yeare, and there was a great derth, not onely at Rome, but also in al Ita­ly. But as the Gotthies fled and strayed here and there without order, by reason of the great derth. Bellisarius folowed vpon them and ouerthrue thē and enclosyng in Wittichus by an intrap, toke him. But in y ^• meane seasō could not the Gotthies be vt­terly weded out, but Iustinianus making peace w ^t them, graunted them to dwell in the contreis from the Alpes, vntyll the ryuer Padus, nether shoulde passe these bondes. He called Bellisarius back agayne: for he feared, lest he being made Emperour, he should take to hym the empyre of Italy: though Bellisarius trustyd in his affayres, went not about suche thynges. Wherfore beyng returned to Con­stantinople, he brought Wittichus and other of the greatest nobilitie prysoners with hym in a greate triumphe.

Totilas was made king of the Gotthies after the depar­ [...]

THus was Rome foure tymes taken of the Gotthies and Vandalies within an hundreth and nyne and thyrty ye­res. First by Alaricus, vnder the Em­perour Honorius.

Of the Vandalies.

IN the tyme of this Theodosius the yere Whan the Vandali ca­ [...] into A­phrica. of Christ, CCCC. xxxiij. came the Vādali into Aphrica by this occasion. Thos two capitaines of the Romanes hated eche o­ther, and fought other whiles with playn fielddes. Wherfore the one, called bonifati [...]s, entyced busely the Vandalies that were in Spayne at that tyme to come into Aphrica, which thyng they did gladly. For the Gotthi beyng myghty in Spayne, coulde not suffre the Vādalies. For (as we shewed before) the Vandalies moued by Stillico against the Got­thies, toke in the contreis that be about Hungary, namely Walachia & Illyricus, where the Gotthies dwelt afore. Besyde that were they also in Germany, from whence as they went into Fraūce, they did much hurte: howbeit they were driuen out of Fraū ­ce by the Frankes and Gotthies. Afterward beyng come into Spayne, they vere constrayned to fyght agayne with the Gotthies: but in Aphrica beganne the power of the Vandalies to growe and encrease S. Augustine also died about that time, when Genserichus [...]. Augustin kyng of the Vandalies besieged the towne Hippo, wherein. S. Augustine was byshop. Hippo.

When Valentintanus was dead, one Maximus [Page cxvi] made hymselfe Emperoure at Rome of his owne mynde. But the quene E [...]doxia, because she would haue the heires that were left to succede in the em­pyre, sought ayde by Genserichus againste Maxi­mus, by whose helpe the citie of Rome was taken & spoyled. But the Vandall vsed a Vandalians faith­fulnesse A Vandaliā faythfulnesse and stedfastnesse with the quene: for he lede her, with her two daughters away with hym into An example of dystopa [...]te Aphrica prysoner. For so doth it somtyme befall, when we call foren ayde to defende oure goodes. Howbeit afterwarde vnder Iustinianus, though the Vandalies were not vtterly roted out in Aphrica: yet were they brought to suche strayghtnesse, that they could neuer floryshe any more. For Geli­merus the kyng was taken by Bellisarius, & Aphrica beyng subdued, obeyed the Empyre agayne. But not lōg after began the Saracens to haue dominiō in Aphrica. Let this suffise to speke of the Vādalies

Of the Boemes.

IT is also to be noted, that about this time Whan y ^• Vā dali came first into Germa­ny. came fyrst of all in Germany the Vandali, wherein they haue yet a great part nowe a dayes, namely the kyngdom of Boeme, whiche was in tymes past part of Germany: which The Boemes are Germa­nes. the word Boeme, which is a Germane worde doth testifie sufficiently, whiche was before the Vandali came into these countreis. The worde hath his sygnificacion of the Bauaries or Beyers, to whō it was wont to be subiect, wherfore it is properly called Boienheim. Nether wyll the Vandali of Boeme be called Boemes, but zeski, after their capitayne, by [Page] whose guyde they were fyrst brought into Boeme. But these auncient Boemes, the Germanes, were in greate admiracion and confederacion with the Romanes, and by Cornelius Tacitus the history writer they are highly praised. By this occasiō also is Germany translated from the Roman empyres Germany is [...]frō [...]. monarchy. For in low Germany were the Frankes puyssaunt, in hygh Germany Alemanni, and in Boeme the Vandali. But what is happened to Boeme afterward, and whan it was subdued again by the Germane Emperoures, that shall we shewe in the histories of the Emperours: for there shall we shew some other thynges of the chaunge of the thynges of Germany.

Of Attila.

FIrst of all came into Hungarye the Got­thies afterward the Vandali, last of al the Hūni, and these last kept the lande, of whō it is called Hungary. This cruell people The callyng of Hungary. [...] in dedes of Attila. dyd moste mischefe nerehand to all Europa. Attila brought an army of three hundreth thousande into Germany, and toke in many myghty cities, among the whiche was Basil, Ausborowe, Strasborowe, [Page cxvij] Wormes, Coelen, and many other cities. Goynge forth from thence into Fraūce, toke the kyng of the Bourgunyons, he besieged the citie Aureola, and entended to vsurpe the dominion of whole Europa

At that tyme was in the hether part of Fraunce whiche the Romane Emperours kept, a Romane captaine, called Aetius: the same made a confedera­cion Aetius. with the Frankes and Gotthies, that with ly­ke hande they should resiste the moste cruell tyraūt. But Attila, because he was afrayed for the power of the Gotthies he procured by Dietrichus theyr kyng, that they should not ayde the Romanes: but after their singular constance refused the Gotthies al maner of frendshyp or allegeaunce with the Barbarous tyraunt. Wherefore both hostes met at To­louse The battaill with Attila by Tolouse. in Fraunce: on the Romane syde Aetius, the Gotthi and Frankes, and of the other syde Attila. And histories make mencion, that in the West came neuer so great an hoost and multitude together, as at that tyme. The battaill lasted from the Sunne rysyng, vntyll nyght. At the last Attila beyng driuē to the flyght, lost a hundreth and foure score thou­sand men: he himselfe also was driuen to such strait­nesse, that he had nearehande slayne hymselfe. And though Aetius, the Frankes and the Gotthies had the victory, yet dyed Dietrichus kyng of the Got­thies in that battayll. The sonne would haue reuē ­ged the fathers death, and entended to gather an army, and persue Attila, and to destroie the resydue of his hoost: and would vndoubtedly haue done it had he not chaunged his mynde through the coun­saill of Aetius. But that counsaill of Aetius was [Page] nought, for Attila myght at that tyme haue bene o­uer come with a small army. But afterward beyng returned into Hungary, restoring his host, & recoueryng strength, he inuaded Italy, taking in the cities from the first entry of Italy, vntyl the moūtayn Appenninus. Then Leo the byshop of Rome metyng hym, knelyng besought hym, that he would go back again. It is reported y ^• Attila shuld haue said, he saw the image of a man standing by the byshop, threate­ning him with a drawen sworde, & he being afraied, promised to go backe again. Whē he was come again [...]ath o [...] [...] The [...] of Au [...] The [...]urge of God. into Hungary, he made a great wedding, and being the fyrst nyght sore dronken, dyed a certaine death. Of this wyse died this tyraunt, that was not ashamed to call hymselfe thescourge of God.

Venice.

AT this tyme was Venice the citie builded in the sea, where the best of Italy fled for feare of Attila.

After Celestinus was Xystus made the xlvij. byshop of Rome, the third of that name.

After Xystus succeded Leo the .xlviij. byshop the fyrst of that name.

When Leo was deade, Hilarius was made the xlix. byshop of Rome.

Valentinianus the Emperoure caused Aetius to [...]h [...] [...]. be put to death, because he suspected hym to couet y ^• empyre. But this is the worldes reward forsoth, for the great valiauntnesses. Stillico Aetius & af­terward Bellisarius were most excellēt captaines. Nether were in the empyre any els, which resēbled the vertues and strength of the auncient Romanes [Page cxviij] so well, as they: but they were not worthely rewar­ded for suche desertes. Valentinianus demaunded of a Romane prince, whether Aetius were not worthely punyshed? who said, he could not tell: but this was he sure, that the Emperour had with his left hande cut of hys ryght hande.

After Valētinianus was the empire of Rome nere hand toren in peaces, & many called thē Emperours in Italy. Yet in y ^e meane season remained y ^• maistie of an Emperours name by them of Cōstantinople, & afterwarde restored Iustinianus the West empyre by Bellisarius & Narses. But after that Valētinia­nus was deade, many were called Emperours at once, & within .xx. yeres had Italy .ix. Emperours, whiche reigned by a succession, & the one was slayn of the other by occasion. The last was called Augu­stulus Augustulus. (that is, litle noble or litle ful of maiesty.) The diminution of the name, was an euidence that the gouernaūce of the Augustus▪ should fayle in Italy: for with this Augustulus failed finally the empyre. Othacarus droue out the same Augustulus, agaīst whom was Dietrichus of Bernasent into Italy, in the tyme of zeno the Emperoure. Wherefore was the empire of Italy translated to the Gotthi, which afterward were suppressed vnder Iustinianus, as we haue sayde before.

Of Bellisarius.

I can not worthely ouerpasse that of Belil­sarius, which he hath handled most faith­fully in all thynges: he was a peace and concorde maker in all the worlde. He dyd wholy restore the empire of Rome, that was neare­hand decaied and altogether weakened: to be short, he shewed hys lorde and all the worlde suche plea­sure, ☜ that none coulde be greater nor more prayse worthy: and if they were estymed aryght, they are hygh and incredible gyftes of God. But what thā ­kes the worlde geueth agayn for so great vertues, and suche g [...]stes of God, that doth the example of Bellisarius was very Bellisarius declare sufficiently: whom Iustinianus [Page] of a very lyght suspicion without cause, caused to put out his eye [...], and droue him away, that he shuld be fayne to seke his meate with beggyng: at the last dyed he lyke a moste wretched begger. Of this wy­se The ende­ [...]f the [...]. doth the deuel at the last set hym against the greatest men, whiche vndoubtedly hateth all Gods workes, and moste hygh vertues in men.

Besyde thys dyd Narses also fall in the Empe­rours indignacion, but he woulde not returne to Constantinople: For that he myght be more safe for daungers, he remayned all hys lyfe longe at Na­ples in Italy.

Simplicius the .l. bysh. of Ro. succeded Hilarius.

Felix the secōd of that name succeded Simplicius.

After Felix was Gelasius the .lij. bysh. of Rome.

Anastasius the seconde of that name was after Gelasius.

After Anastasius was Symmachus the .liiij. by­shop of Rome.

In hys tyme was the fyrst trouble raysed for the [...] per [...] [...]of y ^• [...] of R [...] chosyng of the byshop of Rome. For some woulde haue had one Laurentu [...]s, agaynst Symmachus▪ and thys stryfe was the cause of a greate slaughter at Rome. At the last did Dietrichus of Bernaswag this vproure.

After Symmachus succeded Hormisda y ^e lv. bysh.

Ioannes the first succeded Hormisda.

Felix the thyrd the .lvii. bysh. was after Ioannes.

Bonifacius the secōd the .lviii. bysh. succeded Felix

Ioannes the second succeded Bonifacius.

Agapetus the. l [...]. byshop succeded Ioannes. This same optained of the Emperoure Iustinianus that [Page cxx] heretikes shuld not be brought to Constantinople.

Syluerius the .lxi. bysh. succeded Agapetus.

Vigilius was bysh. after Syluerius. Thissame was taken of Iustinianus, and vncourteously en­treated, because he would not consent to the restitucion of the bannyshed heretikes.

Pelagius the first succeded after Vigelius in the tyme of Totilas.

Ioānes the third was y ^e .lxiiij. bysh. after Pelagiꝰ Wonders sene in Italy before Ma­homet.

In these tymes were sene very dredeful wōders in the skye, by the Italians. There were sene bur­nyng battayls, Cometes. Besyde this also was Rome nearehand drowned wyth the surroundyng of the Tyber. These tokens signified the decay of the Romane empyre and the Churche, the whiche en­sued afterward. For not long after rose the Maho­meticall pestilence.

Of Mahomet and of the kyngdome of the Sarracens.

Of the [...]urkes begynnyng.

THE cause of the comming of the Tur­kes The Tur­kes were Tartares. out of Tartary into Asia was, that whan the Saracens warred against y ^• Perses, the Perses required ayde of the Turkes. As for these Turkes wer Tartares by the [...]yll Caucasus. Thys happened not longe before Caro [...]us Caluus, about the yeare of Christ eyght hundreth thre score and ten. After thys assistaunce beganne the Turkes by lytle and [...]y [...]le to remayne in Asia, euen as it happeneth most commonly whan we call for foren helpe. But foras­much as the Turkes were chefely geuen to warre­faring, it came to passe, that the rule of the royalme came to their handes. And fyrst began Othoman­nus Othoman­nus y ^• Turk [...] the Turke to excelle in power and myghte, in the tyme of Albert of Eastenriche the fyrst, whyche was sonne to Rodu [...]phus the Emperoure. Thys was about the thousand and thre hundreth yeare after Thristes incarnation. Now sence thys Otho­mannus Whan the Turkes be­gan to haue dominion. tyme, was Mahomets kyngdome cha [...]n­ged into the name of y ^• Turkish empyre. It is wor­thy to be noted here, that this present nacion of the Turkes began to subdue contryes, & to beare rule [Page] in the [...]yme of the fyrst Emperour of the [...]astry [...]h [...] house: and it is to be hoped that it shalbe lyk [...]wyse repressed at the [...]aste by an Emperoure of the same stocke of Eastryche.

The figure of this Turkysh kyngdome is d [...]ribed full of dredefulnesse in holy scripture, that we shuld not be ignoraunt that this were the de [...]els kyngdom, and by whose power and prosperity we might not be with drawen, to de [...]er from Christe to Mahomets vngodlynesse. Ezech [...]e [...] and▪ S. [...] Ihon call the Turkes Gog and Magog.

Gog, is called a [...]ent: Magog▪ is the people with ou [...] the tentes: for the Tartaryes [...]wel in [...]entes. And Ezechiel wr [...]eth plainly, that God fuffred the power of Gog [...]o be augmented, because of peoples synnes

Mahomet signifieth rage or indignation. [...]

[...]ur [...]a signi [...]yeth sou [...]d your or wayster. Me­thodius called thys people Redde Iewes beca [...]se [...]h [...]y haue borowed some ceremonyes of y ^• Iewes▪ Nether were they the very Iewes, but were cal­ [...]d the Re [...]d Iewes, ether because they were coue [...]ous of man s [...]aughter and bloude, or els because [...] [...] ­ [...]. Mahomet was born of Edom in Arab [...]a: for Edom signifieth reed. Methodius sayeth that Gog and Magog were closed in beyond the hylles Caspii: that is Caucasus, and that a [...]oxe shal make them a passage. This [...]ox [...] is Mah [...]met: for beyng prouo­k [...]d by mahomets law, they became mighty and began to beare r [...]le.

We haued [...]ared before how the Romane Monarchy came to y ^• East▪ But now are y ^• [...] [Page cxxiiij] [...] of Egypte, Syria Asia and Aphrica [...]y [...]he Mahometystes▪ vntyll finally the Turkes at [...]hys [...]yme haue taken and waysted Grece, and what more was restynge.

Deus dedit the, [...]xxi. [...]ish. of Rome succeded Bo [...]ifacius▪ in the tyme of Heraclius.

After him was bonifacius the fyft the lxxii. bysh In hys tyme was. S. Gallus. The same taughte What [...]me S. Gallus preached in hygh Ger­many. Christes doctrine in hygh Germany.

After hym was byshop Honorius the fyrste, and in hys tyme was Mahomet.

After him was Seuerinus y ^• lxxiiii. [...]ish. of Rom.

After him. succe. Ioannes the▪ iiii. the lxxv. bysh.

After Ioannes was Theodorus a Greke y ^• lxxvi

¶ Of the Germanes

• Charles the greate.
• The yeare of Christ viij. C. i.
• The yere of the worlde .iiij. M. vii. C. xlv
• The yeare of Rome .M. v. C. li.

CArolus magnus was crowned Empe­rour Carolus magnus. The begyn­nyng of the translatyng the empyre to the Ger­manes. of Leo the iij. the very Christmasse daye. Thys was the begynnynge of translatinge the empyre to the Germa­nes, and by this translatynge happened vnto Ita­ly and the Best kyngdome a moost mightye heade, and a moost sure fortresse. For though the Empe­rours of Germany were not alway of lyke power, as in no kyngdome the kynges were alwaye of lyke power or lyke fortunate: yet in prowesse were they such somtyme, that they dyd rydde Italy out of daungers, and preserued not onely in the Weste quietnesse in the commune welth: but also kept the Christen religion sound in the churche. And if ye wyll ponder the feates dedes, and maners of oure Emperours, ye shall iudge them to haue ben excel­lent wyse princes, and not barbarous, and in no­thing to be estimed lesse, than those excellentand al­lowable Emperours Augustus, Traianus, Adria­nus and Constantinus: yee yf ye do aduisedly pon­der all thynges, ye shall saye, that ther hath bene more honestye and modestye in oure Emperours, than in them. Thys shall ye fynde also, that ours haue enterprysed no warre of any ambicion or pri­uate [Page] profyte: but only of necessitie, to mayntayne religion, to defende the liberty of the empyre and the sauegarde of the subiectes.

As for me, beynge certayne of myne owne vna­blenesse, though I can not iudge nor speake of the vertues of greate men acrording to theyr worthy­nesse: yt is my mynde to praise some princes aboue the other. For I iudge it to be pertaynynge to the duety of euery history wryter, that he do nowe and than turne asyde into the rehearsall of the most best vertues, and shewe them to the reader for a shewe as an example to folow. Now in mens assaires can nothinge [...]e more honeste nor more pleasaunt, than the consyderacion and knowledge of princely ver­tues in great men. Wherfore I woulde oure Ger­mane Emperours were so set before the eyes of our Germanes, that they myght know theyr vertues, and wonder at them: wonder it is how greatly the same wolde helpe and further to the amendement, and also rayse a flame in the hartes of good men to folowe. In my iudgement are these princes doute­lesse suche, whyche be worthy farre to be preferred before the auncient Romanes, whether ye wyll re­garde wysedome, or strength, or finally the ende­uour of honesty and modestye.

• Carolus magnus.
• Ludouicus pius the sonne of Carolus mag­nus▪
  After the syxe Saxons.
  • [Page cxxviij]Henricus the fyrste.
  • Otho the greate.
  • Otho the second.
  • Otho the thyrd.
  • Henricus y ^• .ij. which is buried at Bamberch.
  • Lotharius the Saxon.
  Item these Frankes.
  • Cunradus.
  • Henricus the sonne of Cunradus.
  Item these Schwaben.
  • Fridericus Barbarossa.
  • Fridericus the second.
  • Afterward Rodolphus.
  • Sigismundus.
  • Maximilianus.

Of Germany, and occasyon of the kyng­dome of the Frankes.

ALl Germany was not subiecte to the empyre, but had onely those contryes, that are betwene the Rene and the Danow. And much worke had the Emperoures, before oure nacion could be subdued and kept.

For in the tyme of Augustus had Drusus war­res By whom Germany was vexed wyth war­res, sence the tyme of Au­gustus. and Germanicus, afterwarde Caius, and after him Vitellius, Domitianus. Traianus had subdu­ed the lower Germany vntyll Moganus. Maxi­minus was come vntyll Schwartzwald. Valeria­nus was wyth an hoost in hygh Germany. [Page] After hym vnder Galienus the Frankes beynge sett in a commotion, began to ryse: but by the Em­peroures folowynge, were theyr violences some­tyme assuaged. For Aurelianus vanquyshed them by Mayntz. Probus had many and noble victory­es in lowe Germany. Constantinus buylded the citye Spyre. Iulianus, Valentinianus and Theo­dosius dyd lykewyse subdue the Alemans & Fran­kes, and the contries that lye by the Rhene, and toke in Schwaben land also.

But after that the power of the Frankes and Alemans begonne to encrease, the Emperours re­turned The of­springe of y ^• Frankes not into Germany. Some fable diuersly of the fyrst begynnynge of the Frankes: but it is cer­tayne, that they were hyghe Germanes in Augu­stus tyme. For we haue no certaynty of the Ger­manes estate out of histories before Augustus. But that the Frankes were in suche estimacion by the hygh Germanes, that it can easely be proued out of Strabo, who wrote an history in the tyme of Au­guste, and warrefared wyth the Romanes. As for Strabo sayeth that the Frankes were ioynyng to the Vindelici, that is, Bayerlanders, vpon the which they border partly at thys tyme also. The The dedes of the Fran­kes, and by what occasi­on they de­ [...]iuered frō the empyre. commotion of the Frankes beganne by thys occa­syon: In the tyme of Galianus the Emperoure, was Posthumus captayne in Germany: the same was made Emperoure by the people for hys syngular honestye, and vertues in gouernynge the em­pyre, Galienus in the meane season lyued in ydel­nesse and pleasure at Rome. But whan Galienus hearde that Posthumus was made Emperoure, [Page cxxix] he sent against hym an apointed army. Posthumus likewyse commaunded his men to be in a readinesse among the whiche were euen the Frankes the principall. And though Posthumus was afterwarde slayne priuely by an intrap, yet the Frankes once prouoked to weapons, remayned alway in the set­tyng forth to warre, and came downe from Moga­nus to the Rene, and ouer the Rene toke they first the citie Trier from the Romanes, and afterwards went into fraunce. But after that they had foughtē against Attila with the Romanes, they were alway in great fauour wyth the Emperours, in so muche▪ that Iustinianus the Emperoure through a conue­naunt made with the Frankes, suffred them to haue and inhabite that parte of Gallia, whiche at this ty­me Francia or Fraunce [...] part of Gallia. is yet called Francia or Fraunce. Wherefore the Frankes toke in both the contreis of the Ryne, and parte of Fraunce and both the contreis were mayn­teined by one common kyngly gouernaunce. The histories make euery where mencion of great pray­ses of the Frankes, partely for their goodly polycy and prosperitie in gouernyng their kyngdome, but specially because they embraced the Christen religiō in the begynnyg of the kyngdome, and wylled it to be publyshed and spred abrode. In the meane tyme By what or­casion the Almanes decy­uered from the emppre. dyd the Alemans decyuer from the Romyshe em­pyre also. The Alemans were the hygh Germanes, whiche now are called Schwaben, Schweitzer & Baier. Therefore when the Romane Monarchy was sundered, then was Germany first deuyded in Germani is deuided in Almanes and [...] Frankes. Alemanes and Frankes. But in the time of Pipine, father to Charles the greate, became the Frankes [Page] lordes of the Almaines: and therfore as the empyre was thus deuided, they called hygh Germany the Easte kyngdome, and lowe Germany wyth Fraun­ce the West kyngdome: And by thys partynge of the kyngdomes remayne the names yett in Ger­many.

The elders of Charles the greate were princes of Germany and Lordes of the courte, and that more is, the chefe gouernours by the kynges of the The elders of [...] y ^• greate were Grand may­sters. Frankes, and by the commission of their office, were called Grande maysters. It is also sayed, that the­same was theyr duchy & dominion by enheritaunce, where now is the countyshyp of Palatine about the Rene syde. For certayne it is, that the fyrst sprynge [...] [...]t Palatine [...] [...]ha [...] [...]he greate of the stocke of the Palatine, commeth of Charles the greates yssue. But at the last, when the kyngly progeny decreassed and fayled by processe of tyme more and more, and that these princes became more myghtyer, it came topasse (by the consent of the by­shop of Rome) that the gouernaunce of the kyng­dome Piping king of Germany and Fraūce. was brought ouer to the princes: and Pipi­nus beyng made kyng of thys wyse gouerned both Germany and Fraunce. When Pipinus was deade, Charles surnamed the greate was kynge of the Frankes two and thyrty yeares before he was Em­peroure, and after that he was made Emperoure he reygned fourtene yeares. Of this wyse reygned he both in the kingdome and empyre together .xlvi. Charles is borne in In­gelheim. The dedes of Charles the greate. yeares, when they be counted together. He was boren in Ingelheim in the county of Palatine, not farre from the cytie Mentz. In the begynnynge of his reigne warred he agaynst the Saracens in [Page cxxx] Gascon: afterward warred he about thirty yeares with the Saxons, the whiche he subdued at the last and made them to obeye the empyre, & embrace the Christē faith, besyde other many and great battails, whiche he had in the meane season also. Desiderius kyng of the Lombardes.

Desiderius kyng of the Lombardes coueted the dominion of whole Italy, & goyng to Rome, caused some of the chefe cytesens to be put to death. Wher­fore Adrianus the byshop of Rome sendyng ambas­sadours to Charles, desyred he woulde come and rydde Italy and Rome out of daunger. (For Pipi­nus the father of Charles had also before delyuered Rome from the tyranny of the Lombardes.) Char­les goyng into Italy, besyeged Desiderius at Pa­uye, and constrayned hym to yelde hymselfe. But when Charles perceaued in dede that the vprou­ryshnacion of the Lombardes coulde not rest, (for he had assayed the matter with them afore also, that they beyng content with their borders, shoulde re­mayne within their owne realme.) and that there myght be a sure peace thoroweout Italy. Charles Charles op­tayueth Lom­bardy. toke in whole Lombardy, and in the same as in hys owne kyngdome set he gouernoures and capitay­nes. As for Desidexius with his wyfe the quene & chyldren led he with hym prysoners, and commaun­ded them to be kept at Ludick or Liege. Thys was the end of the kyngdome of the Lombardes in Italy, whiche had lasted two hundreth and thre ye­res, from the yere of Christ .CCCCC. lxxij. when Iastinus reigned, vntyll the yeare of Christ .vij. C. lxxv. thys was the syxte yeare before Charles opteined the empyre. For though Charles was [Page] gone to Rome in this settynge forth, and had set at quiet not onely Lombardy, but also that parte of I­taly that is beiond Rome: yet would he not vsurpe The mode­s [...] o [...] Char­ [...]. for hym the title of Imperiall maiestie, lest he should robbe the Grekes of their honoure and this digni­tie. He graunteth the Emperours cities in Italy to enioye their former lybertie wythout any hynde­raunce: but he kept the kyngdome of the Lombar­des as his owne: for long ago was it not subiect to the Emperours.

Tassilo duke of Baierland raysed warre against Tassilo duke of Baierland was ouerco­me of Char­ [...]. Charles, but he was ouercome of Charles the twē ­tieth yeare of his reigne, and takyng in the duchy. Tassilo wyth his sonne was put into a monastery. Nether did Charles vse so great rigour against his cosyn rashly: for Tassilo raysyng an vprour against hym afore, and taken to mercy, kept no promyse.

Charles goyng to Rome the two and thirtieth yeare of his reigne, restored Leo the byshop of Ro­me, against whome the Romanes had raysed vp­ [...]ours, insomuche that the byshop was compelled to flye. But when now Charles [...]erceyued certeynly, that no peace could be satteled in Italy, vntyll suche cyties in Italy as had fraunchyses graunted them, dyd ceasse to do all thynges accordyng to their ap­petite, he was constrayned by necessitie to take to him the dominion of whole Italy. But he betoke to the byshop of Rome some cities and contreis, for the mayntenaunce of ministers in the churche. In the Christmasse nyght cryed the byshop of Rome: Charles to be Emperoure of Romanes, and alwaye full of maiestie. And it is sayde, that Charles shuld haue [Page cxxxj] aunswered to this: yf I had knowen that any suche thyng should haue happened to me, I would not ha­ue entered into the temple. Nether would he accept the title of Emperoure, wythout the consent and a­lowaunce of them of Constantinople. Wherefore I­rēne the mother of Constantinus and Nicephorus consented that Charles should be Emperoure in the Charles was made Empeperoure of the West. West, to that dyd they consent frely: for these coun­treis dyd not obey to the Emperours of Constanti­nople, any more.

But as sone as Charles was made Emperoure, The Hunga­rians are as­saulted with warre by Charles the greate. and that the state of Italy was nowe satled with great trauaile, he determined to warre vpon the Hungarians. And this warre lasted eight yeares, wherein the Hungarians were in a maner rooted out. He set also garnysons of Germanes in Hunga­ry, to kepe the realme: by the whiche occasion do vn­tyll this tyme Germanes dwel in the coastes of Hū ­gary, whiche is called Seuenburge. It is mencio­ned Tra [...]s [...]lua­nia or Sept [...] castra called Seuenburg. in histories, that Charles brought great ryches out of Hungary, and that is lyke ynough: for the Hū garians had bene occupied in warrefarre and robbery aboue two hundreth yeares, they ledde prayes of al nacions nerehande, in the meane season was their realme inuaded of no foren naciōs: wherby no doubt were great and precious treasures founde by them. In the meane tyme dyd Charles, the sonne of Charles the great, subdue Bohemy, vanquyshyng Lecho Bohemy was ouercome w ^t Lecho theyr kynge. their kyng: and thus was charles at the last a moost myghty prince of all Italy, Fraunce, Germany, Bo­hemy and Hungary, and brought the whole West empyre in a quiet estate, & kept it in the same. Wher­fore [Page] for these vertues, and thys strength of courage, whiche he vsed in all his enterpryses, is Charles worthy to be counted amonge these princes, which God hath now and than geuen to the worlde to re­payre common welthes, iustice, equitie, shamefast­nesse, [...]ally to restore amonge men the bandes of modestie and common peace, as were in tymes past Dauid, Hercules, Cyrus, Alexander, Iulius, Augu­stus, Constantinus, The odosi [...]s. In Charles affai­res is chefely worthy to be noted, how kynges and great men make [...]umors among them. For God Wh [...]rfore monarches & [...] of God sendeth sometyme the chefe monarches to represse them. Euen as in oure tyme Charles the fyfte hath brydeled the excesse and want o [...]nesse of the Roma­nes, and the Venetian power.

But it is expedient for moste hygh princes to be excellent, not onely in feates of warre and handlyng of weapon: but also to enforme common welthes with honest lawes and dectrine of religion. And this was Charles chefe care. He caused some coun­sails [...] ded [...] to be kept at Rome and Franckforde and some tyme in Fraunce. He founded also thre vniuersities to spreade abrode and maintayne the doctrine of Christenreligion, namely at Bonony in Italy, Pa­ris in Fraunce and at Paduam Italy. In Germa­ny dyd he lyke wyse founde many monasteries, for to teache youth in steade of scoles. Besyde thys dyd he set the lawe of the Frankes morder, and caused the bokes of the lawe to be written. For that olde lawe of the Romans was long before put out of [...]re throug the Lombardes and Frankes.

He caused also to gather together the olde histo­ries [Page cxxxij] of the Germanes and songes, wherein it is said he had suche pleasure, that he learned them by rote.

He was excellently well sene in the Germane Charles the greate was learned in Greke & La­tin. toungue and Latine: he coulde also speake Greke, for he herde the Greke messangers, and aunswered them in Greke: but in along and durable relaciō did he speake Latine. There are yet verses that be not greatly vnsemely, whiche is sayde he dyd make at the death of his cousin Roulande. In his olde age he gaue hymselfe to Astronomy. At diner and sup­per at home delyted he in hearyng reade the bokes of saincte Augustine.

In the temple dyd he syng the canonicall hou­res and also lessons with the pristes, and he woulde other princes to do likewyse after his example, whō he prescribed lessons, which semeth to pertain to his and their amendemēt. For he was an exciding louer of christen doctrine. In all maners of liuyng dyd be haue hym so, as nomā might passe him in godlinesse. Beside this sent he succours of mony to the christiās in straunge contreis, and obteined by the Saracen kynges that the christians should be more easely en­treated.

He gaue the wyndes and monethes those names, whiche remayne yet now a dayes: so that by these thynges may easely be gathered, that thys prince was garnyshed of God with greate vertues and hygh happenesse by hys studyes, so that he may worthely be surnamed great. When he was nowrenowmed throughout all the worlde of all these vertues, peace stablyshed, y ^• lawes restored, the state of religiō set in order, because he might auoyde the occasion of [Page] great euels, he appoynted hys sonne Lewis before hys death to be an heyre and successour in the em­pyre, afterward dyed he at Aken the two and seuen­tyeth yeare of his age. Before his death the brydge that was layde ouer the Rene by Mentz, burnt, whiche was made in the space of ten yeres, at Char­les [...]he [...] by [...] ▪ greate costes. Thys burnynge sygnyfyed, that Germany shoulde not long after be separated from Fraunce.

Lewis the gentle, the second Empe­roure of the Germanes.

THe yeare of Christ .viij. C. xv. began Le­wis the gentle to gouerne the empyre, he [...] [...]he [...] ▪ reigned syx and twenty yeares. Charles had many chyldren, whiche dyed before the fathers deceasse. Lewis renewed the peace that his father had made with them of Constantinople in the begynnyng of hys reigne, and wylled it to be stablyshed. After [...]hose he hys sonne Lotharius for [...]. a party ruler in the empyre, that he shoulde rule in Italy. Beyng sent to Rome, he was crowned Em­peroure of Paschalis byshop of Rome, and was cal­led Augustus or full of maiestie. Sence that tyme kept Lewis a parliament at Aken, for the reforma­tion of the state of the Churche: and he brought to pas [...]e wyth greate diligence, that to the ministers of the Churche shoulde bee geuen necessary relefe to maynteyne their lyues. An agrement was also ma­de betwene hym and the byshop of Rome, that suche as came after them myght be sure, what part is per­taynyng [Page cxxxiij] to the byshop, and what to the empyre.

Thys Godly or gentle Emperoure was taken Lewis the gē tle is taken of hys sonne. prisoner of his sonne Lotharius, through the coun­sayll of the Byshops and some princes, because he was afrayed lest by hys stepmothers inspiracion, hys father would remoue the empyre from hym to hys younger brother. But Lewis beyng delyue­red returned to thempyres gouernaunce, and cau­sed Lotharius hys sonne by force to go into Italy: but at the last was he reconciled wyth hys father agayne.

After Leo was Stephanus the fourth made S [...]phanus was confir­med of Le­wis. the hundreth byshop of Rome. The same demaun­ded the confirmacion of his byshopryke of Lewis the Emperoure.

Paschalis the hundreth and one byshop of Ro. succeded Stephanus. Thyssame sent also for hys confirmacion to Lewis.

Eugenius the .C. i [...]. byshop. succeded Pascalis.

Valentinus the .C. iij. byshop succeded Euge­nius.

Gregorius the .iiij. the .C. iiij. byshop succeded Valentinus. He refused to take the byshoprycke before he were confirmed of the Emperour Lewis.

Lotharius the fyrst of thys name, the thyrde Germane Emperoure.

THe yere of Christ .viij. C. xli. after y ^e death of Lewis the Godly or gentle reygned Lotharius hys sonne fyften yeares. But now hath the golden worlde of this pro­geny The brethren of Lotharius were th [...]e, [...] an end. Lotharius had many brethren, Lewis Germanicu [...] and Charles the balde: amonge the [Page] whiche was debate for the departynge, whereof wis, Germanicus & Charl [...] the balde. grewe no lesse greate then a dolefull warre. For in Fraunce dyd the brethren mete with suche a fygh­tyng, that, (as histories recorde) the power of the Frākes was so febled, that afterward they could neuer wholy recouer it. Lewis, Germanicus & Char­les the balde had the ouerhand. After so great man­slaughter, when truce was made amōg the princes, they fell to an atonement. Lewis had for his parte Germany, Schwaben, Bayerlande, Boheme, Eastē ryche, East Fraunce, Thuring, Saxen, and all that was vntil y ^• ryuer Rene. This Lewis is called the Germane kynge, and greate prayses are spoken of The dukes of the Fran­kes [...] of [...] ▪ hym. The residue of the dukes of the Frankes folo­wyng are his successours in bloude. He brought Bohemy also to receaue the Christen faith.

Charles the balde optained by conuenant hereditare the greatest part of Fraūce or Gallia, & the Frē ­che kynges folowyng haue their ofspringe of hym.

Lotharius kept Italy, and Prouentz, & that part that hetherto is called Lothring or Lorain: and by [...]. this man remained the hyghnesse of the Emperiall maiestie. By this occasion thefore was Gallia or [...] Fraunce separated from Germany Lotharius toke afterwarde the gouernaunce of the empyre to his second sonne Lewis, and he beyng aged, went into a religion and became a monke.

Not few Cometes were sene this yeare before this dissencion and warre of the brethren.

After Gregory the .iiij. was Sergius the second made the .cv. byshop of Rome. The same was the first that chaunged his name: for it is sayde he was [Page cxxxiiij] called before Swines mouth. Of hym was Lewis Swynes mouth was y ^• first that chaū ged his name Castel Angel the second the sonne of Lotharius crowned at Ro.

Leo the .iiij. the .cvi. byshop succeded Sergius. The same buyldded Castel Angel at Rome. He was accused by Lotharius that he went about to optain the hyghnesse of the Emperiall maiestie from the Frankes, to the Grekes. Wherfore whē Lotharius was come to Rome, the byshop did declare hymselfe vngylty.

After Leo was Iohannes the .viij. The same is Iohānes. vi [...] byshop of Rome a woman said to be borne at Mentz, & that she was a woman.

Benedictus the .iij. was made the .cvij. byshop of Rome after Iohannes the .viij. In his tyme were raysed greate stryfes and rumours for the election of the byshop of Rome, but Lotharius swaged them.

Lewis the seconde, the fourth Ger­mane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .viij. C. lvi. toke Le­wis the .ij. the sonne of Lotharius the empyre: he reigned twenty yeares. He re­strayned the Saracens cōmyng into Italy Lewis the. [...]. is buried at Milane. with a greate violence, and ouercame them. When he had restored peace again in Italy, he died, and is buried at Milane.

Nicolaus the fyrste the .cviij. byshop of Rome succeded Benedictus the .iij.

Adrianus the .ij. chosen of the priestes and com­mon people, succeded Nicolaus.

Iohannes the .ix. was made the .cx. byshop after [Page] Idrianus. The same by a conspiracy made wyth the The disloyalte of the by­shop of Ro. in transfer­ryng the empyre to Frenchemen. kynges of Gallia or Fraunce, endeuoured to trans­ferre the maiesty of the empyre from the Germanes vpon Charles the balde, afterward vpō Lewis the stammerer his sonne: but the Germanes kept the empyre par force, whiche thynge we shall saye after­warde. In the meane season that the byshop goeth aboute this, was he taken, but beyng escaped, he fled into Fraunce to Lewis the stammerer.

Charles the bald of Fraunce.

THe yeare of Christe, viij. C. lxxvj. came Charles the balde. Charles the balde at Rome, and by the ayde of the byshop of Rome Iohannes the .ix. was made Emperoure. Char­les the balde was Lotharius brother, sonne to Lewis the gentle, whose part in deuydyng became Fraunce or Gallia. Now went the byshop of Rome about, to transferre the maiesty of the Empyre from the Germanes, vnto the Fren­chemen, but that the sonnes of Lewis woulde not suff [...]e the Germanes. Which thyng when Charles the balde had herde, he threatened to bryng so ma­ny hoostes of enemies ouer the Rene, that the hor­ses drynkyng vp the Rene, the hoost should go tho­row it drye shodde. O the ouerfolysh maners of the The French [...]nings Frenchemen. But they met hym at Colen with fyf­ty thousand, where he was ouerthrowen of the two sonnes of Lewis the Germane, not farre from A [...] ­b [...]ach.

The next yeare after went Charles the balde in to Italy, where the two cosins the sonnes of Lewis [Page cxxxv] folowed hym. As he herde this, he was taken with a disease of a soden feare, and died. Yet in the meane The death of Charles the balde. season persysted byshop Iohannes in transferryng of the empyre, and willed the sonne of Charles the balde to succede in his fathers place. Wherfore he was taken at Rome of the Germane legates, and such as were of their partes: but escapyng their handes, he fled to the Frenche kyng, where he made Lewis the stammerer the sonne of Charles the balde Emperoure. This Lewis lyued nomore but twoo yeares after hys fathers deceasse. And of this wyse was this earnest couetyng come to an euell ende at the last for the Frenchemen, and also was the byshop frustrate of his false engines.

Charles the grosse, the fyft Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .viij. C. lxxxi. came the Charles the grosse. empyre agayne to the Germanes. For the Saracens commyng agayne into Italy, and spoylyng all thynges, dyd the Roma­nes call their byshop agayne out of Fraunce: for the Italians had nede of succourse agaynste the Sara­cens. And when the kyng of Fraunce was deade, seyng the kynges heyre was not yet of ful age, there were raysed euery where great dissencions and de­bates in Fraunce, for the gouernaunce of the realme vntyll the kynges sonne were come to age. Where­fore the byshop of Rome constrayned by this necessi­tie required ayde of the Germanes to rescue Italy out the brunt of daungers. Then came Charles the grosse sonne to Lewis the Germane into Italy, & [Page] driuing out the Saracens, toke the emperial crown the yeare of Christe .viii. C. lxxxij. Charles reigned after that he was crowned, ix. yeares. About this The Normā des fell into Fraunce. tyme the Normandes fallyng into Fraunce, dyd so much harme euery where, that the Frenchmen wer compelled to require ayde of the Germanes: and by consent of euery man, was Charles made kyng of Fraunce, and by thys occasion gott Charles the Grosse the realme both of Germany and Gallia or Fraunce agayne. But these kyngdomes were separated againe not long after. Charles beynge wery of the warre in Morauia or Meerhen by rea­son of the greate combraunce and trauail, forsakyng the empire, he made Arnolfus his brothers sonne Emperour, who pointed Charles out of the empire so muche reuenues, so long as he lyued, as was suffi­cient for a kynges state.

Arnolfus the .vi. Germane Emperoure.

ARnolfus the sonne of Carolomanus, duke Arnolphus Emperoure. of Baierlande, Schwaben and of the Frā ­kes y ^• cosin of Charles the third, was sub­stitute by hym in the empyre the year [...] of Christe .viij. C. xci. he reigned .xij. yeares. Fyrst ouercame he the Morauians or Meerhlanders, af­ter that the Normandes, whiche beyng now retur­ned out of Fraunce, came vntyll the Rene, and com­myng to Worms, put the byshop of Mentz to execu­tion. As the Normandes, were vanquyshed by the The Normā ­des are ouer­come. Emperours, at the last became they Christen. Afterwarde when V [...]ido duke of Spoleta by a rumor was made Emperoure, Arnolfus goyng into Ita­ly, toke in Rome by greate force, and was crowned [Page cxxxvi] of Formosus the byshop of Rome. Wherfore whē he had taken in Italy agayne, V [...]ido was bannyshed. He restored againe also the duchy of Bourgondie to the Germane dominion.

Marinus the .C. xi. bysh. of Ro. succeded Ioānes Adrianus the .iij. was byshop after Marinus.

Stephanus the fift C. xiij. bysh. succeded Adrianꝰ Formosus succeded Stephanus.

At that tyme was again a great debate at Rome for the election: For Sergius was also created by­shop: but the fauoures of Formosus driuynge out Sergius, Formosus sent for the Emperoure into Italy, that he myght kepe styll the byshopryke by that meanes. For Sergius was fled into Fraunce, and went about to obteine the byshopryke by the ai­de of Frenchemen. Howbeit after certaine yeares, when Formosus was deade, he was made byshop, & vsed more tyranny and presumpcion, then he ought to haue done, accordyng to byshoply mekenesse. He An example of moste notable cruelnesse of a Rompsh byshop. Sergius vn­learned and a tyraunt. caused to digge vp the deade carcas of Formosus, to degrate it, and beheadyng it cast it into the floude Tyber with moste shame. It is written that this Sergius was very vnlearned & vnmanered, which thinge his cruell dedes declare plaine ynough.

Bonifacius the .vi. the .C. xv. byshop succeded Formosus.

Stephanꝰ the .vi. folowed Bonifacius. Thissame disanulled & condempned al Formosus ordinaūces.

Romanus the .C. xvi. byshop of Rome succeded Stephanus.

Theodorus the .ij. succeded Romanus.

Ioānes y ^• .x. the C.xix. bysh. of Ro. succeded The [...] [Page] dorus thissame alowed agayne the ordinaunces of Formosus, whiche Stephanus the syxte had disa­nulled.

Benedictus the .iiij. was the .C. xx. byshop after Iohannes.

Leo the .v. was after Benedictus the .C. xxi. byshop of Rome. The same was taken prysoner by Christophorus.

Christophorus was byshop after Leo. Thissame was taken by Sergius.

After Christophorus was Sergius the .iij. ma­de the .C. xxiij. byshop of Rome. The same caused the deade coarse of Formosus be dygged vp agayne The tyranny of y ^• byshops of Rome. and beheaded. It is a thynge full of drede ether to reade or to reherse byshops of Rome to haue vsed so great tyranny among themselues. And it could not be that any regarde could be had of Christen godly­nesse: let no man then marueill in the meane season, yf any abuses and wycked opinions be broken into the churche in the meane whyle.

Lewis the .iii. the .vii. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .ix. C. iij. Lewis the Lewis the. iij sonne of Arnolphus, being substitute in the empyre of hys father, reygned ten yeares. It is no where redde that he was crow­ned. The Hunga­rians way [...]t Germany & [...]ly. For when Arnolphus was deade, the Hunga­rians inuaded Germany wyth greate violence. Agaynst them dyd the good prince Lewis the Em­peroure set hymselfe, and dyd greuously disconfite them by the ryuer Lyeus, but he was afterwarde ouercome of them lykewyse. Then the Hungarians [Page cxxxvii] beynge vanquishers, dyd euery where muche mys­chefe and harme to the Schwoben, Frankes, Ba­ierlanders and them of Ostenryche. Slayeng euery one wythoute regarde or mercy, burnynge tem­ples, cityes, tounes, villages, yee euery thynge.

Afterwarde entrynge into Italy, vsed lyke cru­eltye. Berengari­us prince of Foroiulium. At that tyme was Berengarius prince of Foroiulium, which gatherynge a great army aganyst the Hungaryans, although somtyme he fought vn luckelye: yet gat he hym such a good name by thys settynge forth, that afterwarde he wylled to be called Emperoure.

Cunradus the .i. the viij Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. xii. was Conradus Conrade the fyrste▪ made Emperoure, he raigned seuen yeares. But he was not crowned of the Romysh byshop. He was Lewis the .iii. brothers sonne: he was duke of the Frankes, and the laste of the mooste noble posteritye of Charles the great, whiche ye maye gesse by the order of the genealogye wrytten hereafter: the whych I haue added therfore, y ^t it maye be knowen, to how great chaunces, and how many alteracions the kingdom of the Germanes hath ben putt, the which thynge can not be red wythoute greate wonderynge at. For that maye be sene euerye where that greate kyngdomes floryshe a certayne space in the world, but at the laste they be weakened, and tossed wyth troublous commocions: howbeit in the meane sea­son be they so kept by Godes prouidence, that they [Page] do not wholy perysh. Lewis the thyrd left no so [...] after hym: and therefore stroue the Frankes and Sacons together, to make Otho duke of Saxony Otho duke of Saxony. Emperour: but the good prince withstode the same not wylling that to the moost noble stocke of Char­les, shulde happen suche a reproch. Therefore counselled he to make Conradus duke of the Frankes Emperoure. Of thys wyse succeded Conradus in the empyre, but Otho was in more greater autho­rity, & whyle Conradus lyued, he dispatched more busynesses also: yet in the meane time shewed he great loyalty and honestye toward Conradus the Emperoure.

But in the meane tyme vsurped Berengarius Berengarius duke of Foroiulium the name of the Emperoure in Italy, and enticed the Hungarians, that they shuld spoyle Germany agayn: but Conradus ouer came those, by the ayde of Otho.

But whan Otho was deade; Conradus the Emperour fearyng happely, lest the son of Otho Hen­ry Henry the Fouler. The occasiō of the warre betwene the Frankes & Saxons. the Fouler shoulde growe ouermuche in power: therefore wythdrue he parte of those thynges, whyche before he had graunted hys father Otho. And whan Henry toke it greueouslye, the Empe­toure endeuoured to slaye him by an intrap, and to bryng thys to passe, was y ^e byshop of Mentz made out: But the intrap was disclosed. Than was Henry very greuously moued▪ & went home, and toke from the byshop of Mentz all that was hys domi­nion in the land of Turyngen and Hesse. But hereof rose a greate warre betwene the Frankes and Saxons.

[Page cxxxviii]But whan Conradus was a dyenge, callyng to him his brother Eberardus, he commaunded hym to brynge the Emperyall croune to Henry duke of Saxony: for him he iudged best worthy to gouern the Empyre. He admonyshed prince Eberarde also with al diligence, to make an ende of the warr that he had taken in hande wyth Henry duke of Saxo­nye, The empyre is translated to the Saxōs lest the Frankes that were yet alyue, shuld vt­terly he roated out and perysh. For he marked wel that God prospered Henryes affayres. To thys counsell dyd duke Eberardus agre willyngly, and bringyng the crowne to Henry, and makyng peace on both sydes, he was afterward loyall to Henry. And by thys occasyon came it to passe, that the em­pyre was remoued from the successors of Charles the greate to the Saxons.

• Charles the great Emperoure.
• Lewis te Gentle, whose sonnes were these thre.
  • Lewis the Ger­man he had Alma­ny, & subdued y ^• Bohemes, his sonnes wer: Lewis, charles y ^• grosse, which toke y ^• empyre frō Charles the bald and Caroloma­nus the sonne of Carolomanꝰ was Arnolphus, who raygned after Char­les the Grosse.
  • Lotharius y ^• Em­peroure. He had Loraine & Italy, his sonn was Le­wis the seconde the .iiij. Germane Emperoure. He droue y ^• Saracens out of Italy. After him woulde the bishop of Rome transferre the empyre to the Frenchmen vpon Charles y ^• balde, but the sonnes of Lewis y ^• Germane restored the em­pyre agayn to y ^e Germanes▪
  • Charles the balde kynge of Gallia or Fraunce: his sonne was Lewis the stammerer kynge of Fraunce.

[Page]The sonnes of Arnolfus were

• Lewis the .iij. Emperoure.
• Conradus, and hys sonnes were
  • Eberardus, whose successors are the princes of y ^e Fran­kes.
  • Conradus the last emperoure of this linage

Not longe after was the kyngdome of Fraunce also translated from the posteritye of Charles the greate. So lytle doeth anye thynge remayne euer sted fast in his estate among men, so that the generacions of great prynces, do now florish in the height, now agayne layde in the duste to be weakened and discouraged.

Anastasius the .iij. the .cxxiiij. byshop of Rome, succeded Sergius.

Lando was made the .xxv. byshop after Anasta­sius.

Ioannes the .xi. succeded Lando.

Henry the .i. surnamed the Fouler, the ix. Emperoure of Germany.

THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. xx. was Henry the fyrste, surnamed the Fouler, [...] the [...]. duke of Saxon made Emperoure, he raygned seuenten yeares. He was not crouned of the bishop of Rome, nether went into Italy, though twayne toke vpon them the name of the Emperoure, and by vproure ray­synge battayll fought now and than a great felde. [Page cxxxix] For Henry had busynesse more than ynough in Germany, which the good prince apeaced wyth greate diligence, accordinge to hys syngular policye, and endeuored to make it more excellent.

Surely the kyngdome of Germany dyd neuer The kyng­dome of germany neuer wanted vp­roures. in a maner want vprourish commotions, ther was almost neuer an Emperour chosen, wythout the se­dition of some princes, which went aboute to take vpon them the name of the Emperoure. Yet was God alway wyth those Emperours, that were du­ [...]lly called, detended the authoritye of the lawfull empyre, and the sedicious were punished. Arnolde duke of Bayerlande set him selfe wyth hurtfull en­terpryse agaynst Henry, who recountred y ^e Baiers wyth appointed armyes: but behauynge himselfe not as an enemy, he requyred to speake wyth duke Arnolde familiarly. He reasoned wyth hym, & ear­nestly The reaso­nyng of Henry the Em­perour wyth Arnold duke of Bayer­land. admonyshed hym, that the maiesty of the empyre, is geuen of God: yf it were so, that he wer chosen Emperoure by the consente of other prynces, than wolde he frely geue place, and be ready y ^• fyrst that shuld submitte themselues. Duke Arnold she­wed these thynges to his counsel, which answered: That it were euident that Salomons sayenge of wysedome were most true, which is: By me do kynges rule. And for asmuch as it appeareth euidently ynough that Henry is endued with wisedome and gentlenesse, it is no dout, but God doth assiste him: he shuld therfore thenceforth leaue of from his en­terpryse, nether to go about any thing against Henry. Wherefore duke Arnolde ceased, & obeied frely without y ^e slaughter of any of his men. Who I pray [Page] you wold not saye, y ^• these Germane princes were no Barbaryans, and that they excelled in pryncely wisedome & high gentlenesse? This is also wryttē: that. S. Vdalryck had a visty on of the duke of Ba­ierland, The vision of S. Vdal­r [...]ke. which he obserued: For it was shewed him by God, that the duke had a swearde wythout hyltes or handel: wherby was signified, that the duke shulde not vse the sweard, that is, that he shuld not retayn the empyre. Wherefore he admonyshed the duke to do nothyng vnaduisedly.

After that dyd Henry take Brandenburge: and The d [...]es [...] by Henry the fyrste. the Vandales beyng subdued, they receaued the Christen fayth vntyl the see.

He besieged the city Praga, and brought the Bohemes to the Empyre.

After that vanquyshed he fourty thousand Hungaryans by Mersburge, whereby he gatte hym a great renowme and drede by the straunge nacions and gat tranquillitye to al Germanye: He restored the contry of Lothring or Lorayn to the kingdom of Germany, and gatt the speare that Christe was pearsed through of Rudolphe kyng of Burgundy: the same was Constantinus wont to haue.

Henry the Fowler beynge now neare to his de­ath, made his sonn Othe succeder in y ^e empyre after him, lest any stryfe shuld happen in the empyre after hys death, concernyng the possession of it.

Leo the .vi. succeded the .C. xxvii. byshop after Ioannes the .xi.

Stephanus succeded Leo.

After Stephanus was Ioannes the .xii. the. C xxix. byshop.

[Page cxl]Leo the .vii. succeded Ioannes the. xii

Stephanus the▪ viij. a Germane the .C. xxxi▪ byshop succeded Leo.

Otho the .i. the .x. Germane. Emperoure.

OTho the fyrst the sonne of Henry the Fowler Otho the fyrst. beganne hys domynyon the yeare of Christ .ix. C. xxxviii. and raigned .xxxvi. yeares. He toke the emperyall crowne at Aken of the byshop of Mentz. In the begynnynge The vpron­res raysed a­gainst Otho Eberardus the Palatine Giselbert prince of Lotharing or Loraine▪ of Othes gouernaunce rose thre greate and daun­gerous vproures at one tyme.

The doers of the fyrste vproure were Eberar­dus the Palatine, and Giselbert prince of Lorain. These (because they were of the posteritie and li­nage of Charles the greate,) affirmed, that the empyre came from the Saxons to the Frankes by ri­ght of succession: and that such enterpryses myght seme to be more ryghtfull, they drew on their syde Henry the elder brother of Otho, vnder the pre­tence, Henry bro­ther to Otho that by reason of the age, he oughte to go­uerne the empyre, and not Otho.

Thys warre wyth the counte Palatine Ebe­rardus and duke Giselbert lasted syxe yeares, and many feldes were foughtē in the mean season. Herman duke of Scwaben, and Conradus duke of the Herman prince of Schwaben▪ Lonradus duke of the Frankes. Frankes toke the Emperours parte. This Conradus of Worms, called the wyse, was cosyn to Ebe­rardus. These fought the last against y ^e enemies by Andernak, with a great camp, wherin Eberardus countye Palatine was slayne, and duke Giselbert [Page] in the flighte, was drowned in the Rene. It is a dreadfull example, wherein we may be aduertised, An example of [...]eage­ [...] also on greate [...]. that the endeuoure of sedition remayneth not vn­reuenged, euen in greate princes also. But whe­ther thys Eberardus be he, y ^t we haue sayde of be­fore to haue broughte the Emperyall crowne to Henry the Fowler, it is not specifyed for a trueth. For the hystorye wryters of the Germanes, were grosse and vnlearned men, ignoraunt of these thinges, whyche are necessary to be obserued in wry­tynge of hystoryes.

But after thys victory, was not the stryfe yet The seconde vp [...]ouce was wyth hys brother. alayed which Otho the emperoure had wyth Henry his brother, and besyde that wyth the byshop of Mentz: Henry was besyeged at Mersburg: but he seynge that hys interpryses were inuayne, and that hys defence beganne to be feble, he hymselfe came knelynge to y ^e Emperoure, desyryng pardon for his offence, was receaued to mercy by Otho: and not long after, the duke of Baier deceassynge wythout heyre male, Otho the Emperoure gaue hys brother Henry the duchy of Baierland. As for that Henry the Emperoure whyche is buryed at Bamberg, was thys Henryes sonnes sonne, as we shall shewe hereafter.

Afterwarde was Mentz besyeged and taken in by the Emperoure, and the byshop taken also: but shortly after was he letten louse agayn.

The thyrde rysynge agaynste Otho was many The thyrde [...] was by his owne [...]. yeares after, by his owne son Ludolfe, by this occasion: Otho had fyrste a quene out of Englande cal­led Edyth or Ide, which is buryed at magdeburg. [Page cxli] Of the same had he hys sonne Ludolphe. After the same was deade toke he another quene of the Burgundyon bloud, which thynge Ludolphe dyd not alow. But what happened farther, that is vn­knowen. For the Germane hystory wryters dyd in maner expresse no thynge wholye by theyr occasy­ons and circumstaunces: nether ruely could they do it, seyng they were monkes, lyuynge in priuate idelnesse▪ beynge somtyme farre from all thynges, that be done in gouernynge the commune welthe: I passe ouer that they were to s [...]outhfull also to search & enquyre the causes and occasions of great matters of other men, as y ^e duety of a true hystory wryter is to do. Yet do they make mencion of this Salfelde [...] deadly place for counsels. that Ludolfus kept an assemble at Salfelde, & to haue conspyred agaynst hys father: and that place Salfeld, is called a deadly place for counsels. Lu­dolfus had neuerthelesse in the meane season most great princes y ^• were partakers wyth hym in thys conspiracy and counsel, among the which also was Conradus the wise duke of the Frankes. But in y ^• meane tyme that thys was in bruynge, was the father in Italy, who besieged hys sonne at Mentz so Regenspurg sone as he cameinto Germany: Ludolfe escapyng, fled vntyl Regenspurge: but the father folowyng, besyeged Regenspurg also straytly two moneths. In that syege dyed not a few men, among y ^e which was the chefe, Arnolde the yonger duke of Bay­er. After hys deathe Ludolfe requyrynge pea­ce frelye, came barefooted knelynge befoore hys father, and lyenge vpon the grounde, he desyred pardon for hys trespasse very humblye. Wherfore [Page] the father toke hym to mercy, and a verye stronge peace was made.

No Emperoure in a maner dyd dispatche euer anye more greater and daungerous busynesses than the Emperour Otho, so farr as I can marke. But in all them was he in the meane season luckye, not wythout the incredible fauoure of God. For whyle he had these warres he ouercame the Bohemes, the Hungarians, and Frankes, besyde that made he quyet the troublous state of Italy, which thynge we shall brefely shewe.

He vanquyshed the Hungarians by Augsburge The Hungarians are vanquished. neare the floude Lycus, and weakened he the strenght of them so, that they durste neuer after come into Germany. In thys battayll dyed Con­rade [...]. [...] the Wyse, and. S. Udalricke byshop of Auguspurg was wyth the Emperoure in the hooste.

Moreouer whan Otho enuironned euery wherwith greate peryls, the Frenchmen trusted easely to bryng the empyre to them agayn: but here was An example that [...] God [...]. it founde in Otho, that it is inuayne for men to sett themselues agaynste him, whome God fauoureth. Innumerable enemyes had compassed Otho a­bout, the Bohemes, the Frankes, the Hungarians Italyans, the Frenchemen: but the power of all these, coulde not breake and oppresse the vertue of thys good prince. The Frenchemen threatened to brynge into Germanye so greate an hooste, as neuer had ben sene afore. Whereto it is reported The aun­swer of O­tho to the Frenche [...]s threaten [...]y [...] ­ges. Otho shuld haue aunswered: That such vayn my­naces became not wyse princes, seyng it is euident, that y ^e victory & fortun of warr is in Goddes hand. [Page cxlii] He aunswered thys also: that he wolde brynge so Strawe hattes. many couered with strawe hattes into Fraunce, as they neuer had sene before: and therefore had all they that were in the hooste strawe hattes, whych hooste he broughte vntyll parys. For Hugo prince Hugo prince of Fraunce of Fraunce had taken the kynge his lorde prisoner, and entended to take to him Fraunce and the dig­nyty of the empyre. Thyssame Hugo was taken of Lewis is re­stored agayn to the realme of Fraunce. Otho in the citye of Paris, and delyuerynge Le­wis his brother in Lawe, restored him to y ^• realme of Fraunce agayne. For Gerberga the syster of O­tho was maryed to Lewys. Otho restored than to to the Germane empyre lowe Germanye, Lorain and Burgundye.

The Hungaryans had many skyrmyshes also in Italy, but some Emperoures before Othoes tyme were so occupied in Germany, that they could'not ayde Italy. Whan now the princes of Italy were dryuen to extreme necessity for to resist the Hungarians, it happened that Berengarius prince of Fo­roiulium, gat hym a great wonderyng at his pro­wesse, and afterwarde coueted the gouernaunce of whole Italy. And though other prynces dyd also stryue for the souerayntye of Italye, yet dyd Be­rengaryus, excellynge in power, kepe Italye tyll the thyrde heyre. The same toke vpon hym the tytle of Emperoure, and vsed greate crueltye in Italye. The Italyans requyred ayde and suc­coure Berengari­us peldeth hymselfe to Otho. of Otho agaynste hys tyrannye. Wherefore Otho goynge into Italye, he inuaded Lombar­dye, and gat it. Berengarius wyth yeldynge himselfe frely, optained of Otho that grace, that he [Page] shuld not wholy be dryuen out of Italy, but should retayne a duchy to possesse. After twelue yeares was Otho called into Italy agayne, to defende or clayme the Italians wyth the clergye and byshop of Rome, from the tyranny of Berengarius, which thynge he also dyd valyauntly. For whan he came Berēgarius wyth hys sonne are [...]a­ [...] for their disloyaltye. agayne into Italy, he toke Berengarius and hys sonne Alberte, and bannished them for theyr dislo­yaltye: the father wyth hys wyfe to Bamberge in Germany, wher they spent theyr liues also as out­lawes: but the sonne sent he to Constantinople.

Otho entrynge into Rome in thys settynge forth, Otho y ^• first made the [...] othe to the bishop of Rome. was crow [...]ed of Ioannes the .xii. This Otho was the fyrste Emperour that made an othe to y ^e bishop of Rome, wherof the maner and tenor is in y ^e canon lawes, begynnynge: Tibidomino Ioanni .iii. & ce. After that is Otho come the second tyme to Rome to rebuke Ioannes bish. of Rome, because he was accused of many fautes. Wherfore the bishop kno­wynge himselfe gyltye, fled for feare of Otho. And therfore was Leo the .viij. made bishop in his stead The [...]es of the [...]ppes of [...]. But before that Otho went from Rome, Ioannes commynge to Rome, thrust Leo out agayne: Leo fled to the Emperoure. But the moost wyse Emperoure vsed greate policy, lest he shoulde geue an oc­casion of debate: He suffred Ioannes to vse the bi­shopryck, so longe as he lyued. But so sone as he was deade, to take Leo as lawfully chosen bishop: but the Romanes wolde not alowe it, whych refu­syage Leo, chose another called Benedictus in spete of the Emperoure. Otho than retur­nynge, inuaded the possessyons of the Romyshe [Page cxliij] byshops, and dyd much hurte. He besyeged also the citye of Rome, vntyl the cithesins constrayned by famine & necessity, opened the gates frely to Otho. He than puttynge to death manye Romanes, and banny shinge the Consuls, restored Leo: & whan he had apeased al thynges, returned into Germany, leadynge wyth hym Benedictus, who was kept at Hamborowe.

Otho goynge the thyrde tyme to Rome, droue the Saracens and Grekes out of the farther coa­stes of Italy. Than chosynge Otho hys sonne to be partener in the Empyre, bringyng hym wyth hym, commaunded to crowne hym, and caused the Em­perour of Constantinoples doughter to be geuen hym in mariage. By all these thynges maye it ease­ly be gathered, that this Otho was one also of the­se princes, which God hath now and than geuen to repayre the decayed state of the worlde. For he set vp agayne the decayed empyre of Rome, and set all Europa in quiet: by hys succour hath he defended whole Italy and Germany. He subdued the Hun­garians and Frenchmen. To be shorte, he hath re­stored the maiestye of the empyre to hys former bryghtnesse, and set it in order: afterward dyed he at Quedelnburg in great quyetnesse. It is written Quedeln­burg. Who fande fyrst the syl­uer Mines in Misen. also, that he found fyrst the syluer mines in Misen. He gaue also muche good to the churche, to mayn­teine religion, and to promote the doctryne of god­lynesse, to which intent he made also not a fewe by­shops, as at Magdeburg, Misen, Brandenburg, Mersburg, and Ceitz.

Martinus the .iij. was the .cxxxij. byshop after Stephanus.

[Page]Agapetus the .ii. succeded Martinus.

Ioannes the .xiii. the C. xxxiiij. bishopp was af­ter Agapetus. The same crowned Otho the fyrst: afterwarde fled he from Rome, fearynge leste for hys vnclennesse of lyfe, he shulde be caste from the offyce by Otho.

Leo the .viii. was chosen in Ioannes steade.

But whan Ioannes was returned to Rome. Leo fled to the Emperour, but whan Ioānes was deade, was Leo restored agayne.

Ioannes the .xiiii. and .C. xxxvi. bishop succeded. Leo. Of hym was Otho the seconde crowned.

Otho the seconde, the .xi. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. lxxiiii. raygned Otho the [...] ▪ Otho y ^• .ii. after hys fathers deceasse ten yeares: against him was an vprour ray­sed Henry du [...]e of [...]. also. For Henry duke of Baier hys co­syn coueted y ^e empyre. This Henry is not the bro­ther of Otho the firste, of whome is spoken before, which conspiringe rose agaynst his brother Otho, and afterward reconciled again to his brother, gat the duchy of Baier. Thys fyrst duke of Baier, that was of the Saxons bloude, dyed .xv. yeare before Otho. But thys fyrste Henryes sonne is the same whyche set hymselfe agaynste Otho the seconde: but Otho had soone tamed this newe enterpryser.

Afterwarde dyd the Frenchemen fall sodenlye vpon the Emperoure at Aken, and he dyd searcely escape theyr intrap. But Otho repayring an army, went into Fraunce, and spoyled euery where vntyl [Page cxliiij] Paris, & constrained the Frenchmen to demaunde peace: whyche dyd than bynd them wyth an othe, The French men are sub­dued of O­tho the secōd that they wold neuer claime Lorain any more.

Whan he had set Germany at quyet, he went in­to Italy. There did he fight wyth the Grekes and Saracens in Apulia: but hys hoost beyng vanquy­shed, he was taken by mariners, as he fled. But be­cause Otho the se­cond was taken by mari­ners. he was vnknowen to the mariners, by reason he could the greke language, nether was he taken for a Germane prince, he redemed himselfe with an easy price, and comming to Rome, he gouerned the empyre as he dyd before. It is sayd that the Ita­lians poisonned hym, for his rigoure that he vsed in the gouernaunce.

Benedictus the .v. the .C. xxxvii. bysh of Rome was after Ioannes the .xiiii.

Donus the .ii. succeded after Benedictus

Bonifacius the .vii. the .C. xxxix. bysh. succeded Donus.

Benedictus the vi. succeded Bonifacius. In his tyme became Otho the thyrde Emperour.

Otho the .iii. the .xii. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .ix. C. lxxxiiij. raygned Otho the thyrd after hys fathers deceasse .xix. yeares. He was yonge, scarcely passed xii. yeres whan hys father dyed: wherefore Henry duke of Bayer, cosyn to thys Otho, caused him to be kept at Rome, and beganne agayne to vsurpe the Em­pyre. Some Italians counseled to make Cres­centyus Emperoure, that the emperyall maie­stye myghte be broughte agayne to the Italyans. [Page] But the Germane princes beynge loyall to theyr The ende­uoure and faythful­nesse in ke­yyng the empyre▪ lorde, called the yonge Otho agayne from Henry, and made hym Emperoure wyth commune assent, whereto Benedictus the byshop of Rome gaue his consent also.

The fyrste warre that he hadde, was wyth the Frenchmen, whyche forgettynge theyr othe that they had made, inuaded Lorayne agayn, takynge in many cityes: but Otho dryuyng out the French men, kept Lotharyng or Lorayn.

In the meane tyme a Romane prince, called Crescentius, takyng vpon hym the name of an Emperoure, vsed great crueltye in Italy. Wherefore Otho commynge to Rome, enuyrouned wyth a greate army, and takyng Crescentius, cutt of hys nose and eares, set hym arswarde vpon an asse, caused The punish­ment of Cre­scentius a Roman [...] Prynce for [...]yng y ^• Emp [...] hym to be caryed about the city Rome to wonder at, and at the last to be hanged.

Of the begynnynge and institution of the Electors in Germany.

WHan Otho was nowe eyghte and twentye yeares olde he was endued wyth so ready wytt, that for hys syn­gular Otho the iij. called the Worldes wonders▪ wysedome, he was called the Worldes wonders. Besyde that knewe the Saxons readye wytted and valyaunt men, the deceatfull traynes of the Frenchmen. Wherfore whan they perceaued that great and dangerous commotions were raysed by the. Ro. byshoppes, bothe agaynste Emperoures, and also in the commune welth, Otho chose Bruno [Page cxlv] a Saxon his cosin to be byshop of Rome, who was Bruno a Saxon was made bysh. of Ro. called Gregorius the fyft after that he had the by­shopryke. Of hym was Otho the thirde crowned. Besyde this when the wyse prince consydered that the Frenchemen and Italians raged euer to trans­fer the emperiall maiestie from the Germanes, and that among the aunceters of him was now and thā strife also for the election: and that in the meane ty­me is so greatly requisite a myghty monarche to the Christiantie, for to defende the bishop of Rome, and libertie of Italy: yea to maynteyne concorde of religion in whole Europa. But that the same mo­narchy could not last long and be stable euermore, without the ayde and succourse of some peculiar & moste mighty nacion. Therfore with the assistence and ayde of Gregorius the byshop of Rome (who, because he was a Germane, did lyghtely consent to so necessary a thyng,) dyd make the ordinaunce of the princes Electors for to choyse an Emperoure. And that concorde might be had in the election be­cause of religion, among the prelates spirituall and princes temporall the aucthoritie to chose an Em­peroure is committed to seuen Germane princes, To what pr [...] ces the elec­tion is com­mitted. the Archebyshops of Mentz, Colen and Trier. To these are ioyned the prince of Boheme: (for at that tyme had Bohemy yet no kynge,) the County Pa­latine of the Rene, the duke of Saxony, & the Mar­ques of Brandenborowe. I maruayll verely why so hygh a dignitie is not bequyethed to other prin­ces, which at that tyme were farre more puyssaunt, as namely to the dukes of Baier, of Schwaben & of the Frankes, and specially the duke of Baier, who [Page] was nearer of kynred to Otho, than the other, and more greater of domynyon. For he had subiect to hym Bayerland and Eastenryche, vntyll Aglar or Aquitanya, the whyche Henry brother to Otho the fyrste had wonne. The duke also of Schwaben was neare kynsman to Otho the Emperoure. For whan Herman duke of Schwaben vnder Otho the fyrste had no heyre male, He gaue his doughter in maryage to Ludolfe sonne to Otho the fyrste, agaynste whome hys father Otho dyd warre for hys rebellyon. Of this Ludolfe come the dukes of Schwaben. Therefore maye it be maruayll, what was the occasion to orden that institutyon of pryn­ces Electors. The Germane history wryters seme to be so voyde of all iudgment, that it may of good Ihon Stabi­us an astro­nomer. ryght lothe any man to reade them. Ihon Stabi­us the astronomer of Maximylyan shewed me oft, that Maximilian was went to complayn vpon the rudenesse of the Germane hystorye wryters, that The Ger­mane history wryters vn­learned. they dyd not only wryte the dedes of so noble and wyse princes, that God had sent wythoute order: but dyd also corrupte them wyth euell wrytynge. And he had commaunded to compile in a short Cronycle orderly the mooste notableste thynges out of all hystorye wryters: whych thynge doutlesse had ben done, yf the mooste wyse Emperour had ether lyued longer, or had not left it by reason of the care of more weyghty matters.

As for me, (though I might seme to be rash, yf I allege or shewe what me thynketh,) yet wyll I de­clare what gessynge I haue, wherewyth I maye shewe some certayntye of so great a thynge. Bohe­my [Page cxlvi] no doute is come in the election for his cōmody­ous Why Bohe­my hath the authorytye of eleccion. Saxony. sytuatyon, & because yt is fensed round about.

To the Saxons hath Otho that was a prince of the Saxons bloud worthely geuen that honour: for at that time was the same duchy most puissaunt.

The princes of Saxony kept Brandenburg at Branden­burg. that time also, the Emperours kinsmen: and it may easely be gathered, that Otho dyd fauer those con­tryes more, than other duchyes.

I suppose that to y ^• countyshyp of Palatyn was The county­shyp of Pa­latyne. geuen thys prerogatiue, more than other princes dominions, for none other cause, than that to Charles the greatest posterity myght rebound thys ho­nor, so that it shuld be not only by the Saxons, but part thereof shuld also be sent ouer to the Frankes: for the countyes of Palatine were at that tyme of the kynred of Charles the greate.

What prayses thys ordinaunce of the princes Electors What pro­fite is by the princes Ele­ctors. is worthye, that can I not now sufficiently declare according to the worthynesse of it: the dede proueth yt selfe what profite it hath broughte. For by thys ordinaunce hath the Empyre remained in Germany aboue fyue hundreth yeares. Besydes that is nothyng so good nor wholsome in mens e­states, than those counsels and ordinaunces, whe­reby is auoided the occasion to alter of tymes the gouernaunce of Empyres: whyche thynge by the goodnesse of God is done by thys instytutyon of the Electors. By thys meanes is yt come to passe, that the Empyre is prouyded, that the tray­nefull and secrete conspiracyons of the byshoppe of Rome and Frenche kynge dyd not prospere, [Page] whiche endeuoured oft to transferre the hyghnesse of the Empyre from the Germanes to the Frenchemen. The Emperoure also hath more sauegarde or defence of the princes, when he is chosen by their cō sent: and lesse stryfe can ryse for the election, when the desyres of the chefe princes consent to one. Be­sydes this also, forsomuche as the maiestie of the empyre is remitted to many princes together, it is to be trusted that the state of the empire shalbe both stronger and more durable, then if it dyd stycke by the succession of one bloude. All these thynges ma­ke for that purpose, that no great stryfe come by re­son of the election or choysyng: and also that the heade of the West empyre be in some certayn place, and that because the concorde and tranquillitie of the religion in all this West kyngdome, be maynteined vnder one certayne heade. The Athenians in tymes past auaunced their ordinaunce of the Areo­pagites with great prayses: lykewyse dyd the La­cedemonians their statutes of the Ephories: and that worthely, for by them remained their common welthes stedfaste a great while. But forsoth this in stituciō of Otho made of the Electors, as it is farre more profitable, so it is worthy muche more prayse and auauncement: as by the whiche stablenesse of the empyre and constant religion are mainteyned many yeares, not onely in one or other citie or con­trey, but in the whole Weste. And the princes Elec­tors ought worthely make muche of this their pre­rogatiue. First because of the whole Christiantie, that by them is this hyghnesse set aparte. For they are as a stedfast heade, wherewith foreuer all this [Page cxlvii] Weste kyngdome is kept and bounde together: for they maye be called the very route, out of the which emperoures must euermore growe. Moreouer also can no hygher dignitie happen them in this ly­fe then that worthynesse is geuen them lawfully, whiche passeth farre the hyghnesse of kynges and princes. Then must this ordinaunce be estemed a hygh gyft and an ordinaunce of God: Wherefore also it must greatly be made of and kept without blemysh, least any occasion bee geuen to dissolue so Godly and wholsome, yee and moste fayre harmo­ny in this lyfe. For by them standeth the summe of the Romane Empyre. And therfore whan the Electours are seuered, it is necessary that the kyng­dome or empyre fayle, and that the last iudgement is at hande. For the worlde shall ende vnder thys empyre. It is written that the institucion of the Electours was.

• The yeare of Christe .M. ij.
• The yeare of the worlde .iiij. M. ix. C. xlvi.
• The yeare of Rome .M. vii. C. lij.
• The yeare after Charles the greate his coronacion .ij. C. i.

When this ordinaunce was made, the Italians made diuers vproures against Otho the .iij. inso­muche that he could not be safe at Rome: and when he went towarde Germany, Crescentius wyfe sen­ding Otho the. i [...] ▪ was poyso­soned. hym poyson by an intrap, was kylled the thir­tyeth yeare of his age.

Iohannes the .xv. the cxli. byshop of Rome succeded Bonifacius the .vi. He was taken by Bonifaciꝰ father, because he wold not consent to Bonifacius election.

[Page]Iohannes the .xvi. succeded Iohannes the .xv.

Iohannes the .xvii. succeded Iohannes .xvi. Beynge taken and dryuen out by Crescentius, he [...]ought ayde of Otho.

After Iohannes the .xvii. was Gregorius the fyft made the .C. xliiij. byshop of Rome a prince of the Saxons bloude, and that for the same cause, as we haue declared a lytle before. For the Italians deuised now and then newe thynges agaynste the Emperours, nether dyd they euer want matters of vproures. Therefore semed it a necessary thyng to maynteyne common quietnesse that a Germane shoulde be made byshop of Rome. But yet in the meane season was Gregorius driuen out by the Italians, ordeinyng in hys steade one Iohannes: but Otho returning to Rome with a great power, restored Gregorius kynsman againe. Syluester byshop of Ro a w [...]other with [...]ll spectes.

Siluester the .ij. succeded Gregorius the .v. It is sayde he was an Inchaunter.

After this sorcerer was Iohannes the .xviii. made the .C. xlvi. byshop of Rome. In hys tyme appeared towarde the South a comete of a drede­full syght, the whiche folowed no lesse hunger then pestilence.

Hrnry the .ij. surnamed the Haultynge, the. [...]iij. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .M. iij. was Henry Henry the .ij. the secōd of that name duke of Bayer chosen Emperoure. We haue sayd be­fore that Otho the fyrst gaue his bro­ther Henry the duchy of Baier. But I reken this Emperoure Henry was [Page cxlviii] the brothers sonne of that Henry. For Hēry Otho the first brother died .xv. yeares before Otho deceased. The Germane history writers were so negli­gent, that out of their writynges I can not saye for a certayne, whether he were that Henries sonne, or his brothers sonne. Truely that is wonder that the chanons of Bamberg knewe not certaynly the genealogy of their founder.

This Henry was the first that was chosen Em­peroure by the Electors, and raygned .xxii. yeres. He was famous by wysdome and noble victories, he made many and greate warres with maruay­lous luckinesse. Fyrst making werry y ^• Bohemes & The dedes of Henry the .ij. Vandalies wyth warre, he subdued and made thē tributaries to hym. He besyeged Metz and Gaunt: he wanne also Lorain and Flaunders. He [...]ought in Italy agaynst the Saracens, and droue them out of Italy. Then was he crouned victori­ously at Rome by Benedictus the seuēth. He brou­ght the Hungaryans to the Christen fayth, and ga­ue Steuen kyng of the Hungarians. to Steuen the Hungarian kyng his syster in mariage. Before his death optayned he of the Elec­tors lawfully, that Cunradus the .ij. of that name a Franke, should succede hym in the empyre. He foū ­ded the byshopryck of Bamberge, and is buryed there.

Iohannes the .xix. the .C.xlvii. byshop succeded Iohannes the .xviii.

Sergius the .C.xlviii. bish. of Ro. succeded Ioh.

Benedictus the .vii. folowed Sergius. Of hym was Henry the Emperoure crowned.

Iohannes the .xx. the .cl. byshop of Rome succe­ded [Page] Bedictus. Of hym was Cunradus crowned▪

Cunradus the .ij. the .xiiij. Germane Emperoure.

THe yere of Christe .M. xxv. was Cunra­dus Cunradus y ^• second. a Franck chosen Emperoure, who dwelt in the Limburg castell by the citie Spire, and gouerned the empyre fyftene yeares. But in the begynnyng of hys reigne when he perceaued all thynges in a rumour euery where, he brought to passe that hys sonne should be chosen a party ruler with hym, lest when he were gone in to Italy, the subiectes in Germany shoulde make a rumour without a certayn heade.

Ernestus duke of Schwaben and the Catuli: for Ernestus duke of Schwaben the Catuly were also lordes in Schwaben. These (I saye) were rebelles to the Emperoure: but he dyd so assuage them, that they dyd strayghtwaye obeye frely. From thence went he into Hungary, and redressed that also. He toke Bourgundy and Liege or Ludich, he toke the realme of Orleaunce agayne, and gouerned it vnder his dominion. Af­terwarde going into Italy, he besieged Milan, and commyng to Rome, he was crowned of Iohannes the .xx. The Romanes about that tyme rysynge agaynst Cunradus, were fearcely slayen of the Emperours men: But the Romane affaires were apeaced. In the meane tyme whyles this was done in Italy, Ernestus duke of Schwaben, raysed a newe commotion wherfore Cunradus in hys returne droue hym awaye, and pearsed hym through. Cun­radus gaue the duchy to Herman hys brother. [Page cxlix] This Cunradus made many lawes, which are yet now a daies. Vnder this Emperoure, was a couu­saill kept at Tribur by Ment [...]. He builded wyth great costes the Churche of Spire, wherein he is buried with his quene Gisela.

Greate prayses are of this Gisela. She was a Gisela a que­ne of Bour­gundy. quene of Bourgundy, of Charles the greates poste ritie. Her first husbande was Ernestus duke of Schwaben, of whom she had two chyldren: Erne­stus that was driuen out, and Herman: afterward was she wedded to Cunradus the Emperoure.

Here do the writers make the first menciō of the The first mē ­cion of y ^• marqueshyp in Easteuriche. marqueshyp in Eastenriche, whiche at that tyme possessed Albert duke of Schwaben, brother to Ernestus the elder. Nether was Eastenryche yet at that time a duchy, but the Schwaben kept it, which had taken it from the Hungarians by strong hand. The begyn­nyng of the erldome of Thuryngen and whence y ^• lordes therof be. Lewis the Bearded.

The Erldome also of Thuryngen beganne in the tyme of thys Cunradus: For Lewis the Bear­ded of the lynage of Charles the greate was cosin to Gisela. The same because he had longe bene con­uersaunt in the courte of the Emperoure, and had bene diligent in many thynges, was made Earle of Thuringen. And by this meanes haue the Lordes of Thuringen their ofsprynge of Charles the greates bloude.

Benedictus the .vij. was made the .C.li. byshop of Rome after Iohannes the .xx. who beynge dri­uen out, one Syluester bought the byshoprycke with money. Therefore Benedictus beyng retur­ned, to the intent he myght rayse factions or com­mocions agaynst Syluester, he solde hys ryght of [Page] the byshoprycke to one that was the thirde, called Gregorius the .vi. And so did Benedictus geue place to hym: but Syluester woulde contrarywyse Thre bishops of Rome stronyng for the [...] deposed defende hys ryght against Gregorius. This con­trouersye dyd compell the Emperoure Henry the black to come to Rome, who dyd worthely depose those thre monsters from the byshoprycke, and or­deined in steade of them one Syndeger byshop of Bamberg, who was called Clemens the .ii. the .clii byshop, of whom Henry the blacke was crowned.

About this time began the name of Cardinals to When [...] Car­dinals began [...]. be vsed: whereby it may be supposed, that this same dignitie in the church, was not elder.

But for somuche as oftymes happened moste heuy contencions and stryfes, of the diuersitie of wyl­les in makynge of the byshop of Rome, Henry the Blacke made an ordinaunce, that thenceforth no byshop of Rome should be chosen, without the consent of the Emperour & also his confirmacion. This or­dinaunce was afterwarde sore foughten against of the byshops of Rome, insomuche also, that most haynous warres are rysen thereof in the tymes of Hē ­ry the fourth and fyfth Emperours.

Henry the thyrd surnamed the Black, the .xv. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .M.xl. beganne to Henry the .iij raygne Henry the third, called the Black, and raygned seuentene yeres. Fyrst inuaded he the Bohemes with warr, but they beyng ayded of the Hungarians, ouercame hym. The yere after were the Bohemes so weried with [Page cl] warres of Henry, that their prince constrayned by necessitie came to Regenspurg, and made hymselfe tributary frely to the Emperour. After that going into Hungaty, warred thre yeares, and takynge in certayne cities, he compelled the Hungarians to demaunde peace. He subdued also the duke of Lorain, that he obeied the empire.

At Rome put he down thre byshops at once, striuing for the see, and made a Germane byshop to be byshop there, whō they called Clement the .ii. Thē ­ceforth ouercame he the Saracēs by Capua. Afterward came he again into Germany & kept a cōgre­gatiō at Mentz, wherein was Leo the bysh. of Ro.

Cuno duke of Bayer, whiche was after. S. Hē ­ry, Luno duke of Baier. An euel counsayll. &c. trustyng to the ayde and conspiracion of the Hū garians, set hym agaist the Emperoure: for by that meanes entended he to drawe the possession of the kyngdome to hym. But the Hungarians were o­uercome, the duke Cuno was driuen out, and liued all his lyfe a bannyshed man in Hungary. The land of Bayer was in the meane tyme wythout a duke and gouernoure.

Before Henry the Black dyed, he caused hys sonne Henry, fyue yeare of age to be chosen Empe­rour, and was crowned at Aken, to the intēt there shoulde be a certayne heade of the empyre, nether should any rumour be for the election. Wherefore the sonne raygned a certayn space vnder the mo­thers protection. The mother of Honry the .iiij. was called Agnes, borne in the county of Pisto in Fraunce.

After Clemens was Damasus the .ij. made the [Page] cliij. byshop of Rome, whiche optayned the byshop­ricke by force.

Leo the .ix. succeded Damasus. The same was in the counsaill kept at Mentz and was conuersaunt wyth Henry the black a whyle afterwarde.

In his tyme Berengarius a deacon of Angewe Berengarius [...] of [...]trewe [...]ar [...]i the [...] of Christes bo­dy and bloud in Fraunce taught, that the true body and bloud of Christ were not in the breade and wyne, according to Christes institucion. Leo the byshop of Rome condempned this in the counsaill of Vercelli: but the sedes of this doctrine that were left hath caused great persecucion to them that came after.

Victor the .ij. the .clv. byshop of Rome succeded Leo. The same was before byshop of Eichstet.

Stephanus the .ix. succeded Victor.

Benedictus the .ix. the .clvij. byshop of Rome succeded Stephanus.

Nicolaus the .ij. folowed after Benedictus. The same deposed Benedictus, and is sayde to haue or­deined fyrst, that Cardinals shall haue aucthoritie to chose the byshop of Rome. Berengarius was al­so condempned againe by hym, and was compelled to reuoke that he had taught of the sacrament.

Alexander the .ij. the .clix. byshop of Rome suc­ceded Nicolaus, then also was greate strife for the delection.

Gregorius the .vij. before called Hiltebrande was the .clx. byshop of Rome after Alexander. The same dyd excommunicate and persued Henry the iiij. raisyng also fearce warres, that he myght get & obteyne, that a byshop of Rome myght be chosen and confirmed wythout the Emperoures consent [Page cli] and confirmacion, lest the Emperours shoulde cla­me any aucthoritie vpon the byshops of Rome to rule them, whereof we shall speake more in Henry the fourth.

Henry the .iiij. the .xvi. Germane Emperour. Henry y ^• .iiij.

THe yeare of Christ .M. lvij. began Henry the .iiij. to reigne after that his father was deade, beynge yet a chylde, and raygned fyfty yeares. In this man dyd not onely the vertue of suche kynde of Emperours fayle, but the empyre of whole Germany began so to decaye, that afterwarde it neuer coulde nether be brought to his olde state, nor recouer his former strength. Hiltebrand byshop of Rome was causer of this la­mentable Of how great euell Hilte­brand was occasion. game, who turned neare hād al Germany vp & down with warres among the princes therof.

In Henry the Emperours chyldhode, dyd Ag­nes his mother gouerne the empyre, not without prayse: she set Germany and Italy at peace and trā quilitie. But the byshop of Colen dyd priuely leade away the chylde beyng now twelue yeares of age, and ready to be gyn to beare rule, and in the meane season he hymselfe ruled afterwarde the empyre. It is saide also that he caused the Imperiall childe to be brought vp vnsemely.

It were longe to reherse here all the causes and circumstaunces: I wyll onely reherse here brefely the most worthy of remēbraunce. Henry the Black The constitution of Hen­ry the blacke of choysynge the byshop of Rome. father to this Henry, had made a constitucion of making a byshop of Rome by a most wyse aduise, that y ^• same should not be done without the knowledge and consent of the Emperoure. But now that Hilte­brand [Page] was come into the see, he made a decre cōtra­ry The tyranny of Hiltebrād in deroga­ti [...] the au­th [...]ritie of Emperoure. wyse, that the confirmacion of a byshop shoulde not be demaunded of the Emperoure. But the Emperoure woulde, that this his fathers constitucion should beare effect. Besydes that also had the Em­peroure aucthoritie to geue the byshoprycks of the empyre: but Hiltebrand would not suffre that also. For it happened oft, that when one byshop was dead, another was made in his stead of the Empe­roure, and agayne another of the byshop of Rome, whiche dyd then excommunicate the other. Finally came the game to this ende, that the Emperoure was not onely excommunicated, but it was also cō ­maunded, that other greate Lordes of Germany, should make another Emperoure. And the maister of this game was the byshop of Halberstat in Saxony, to do the byshop of Rome a pleasure. Wherfore fell from the Emperoure Henry the fourth Otho [...]ha [...] the [...] were that tell [...] Henry the [...]ourth [...] [...] [...]ishops pleasure. duke of Saxony, Rudolfus duke of Schwaben, to whom was maried the Emperoures syster germa­ne, and certayne byshops, specially Saxons. On the Emperours syde were the Bohemies, and the lordes Catuly, whom the Emperoure gaue Baier­lande, driuyng out Otho the duke of Saxony, and some byshops also, whiche disalowed the byshop of Romes tyranny, in derogatyng and takyng away the aucthoritie of Emperours at his pleasure. Wherfore they made congregacions also, and reiectyng the byshop of Rome excommunicacion, excommunicated hym lykewyse. Now went the Empe­roure into Italy to treate and finish this controuersy. In the meane season was Rudolfus duke of [Page clii] Schwaben chosen Emperour of y ^• contrary party Rudolfus is made Emperoure of the bishops at Phorcen. in the town Phorcen, whych was about the yere of oure lorde .M. lxxvii. The byshop of Rome sente Rudolfus a crowne, wherein was wrytten thys verse. Petra dedit Petro, Petrus dyadema Ru­dolfo. That is: Chryst the Stone gaue the crowne to Peter, Peter geueth to Rudolfe both crowne and septer.

Whereby he wolde sygnyfye, that Christe gaue the Empyre to the byshoppe of Rome, and that he lykewyse geueth it to princes. Therfore came Henry haystely agayn into Germany. & droue Rudol­fus out of Schwaben into Saxonye, and foughte some battayls wyth hym by the ryuer Vnstrote, in the which were slayne the byshops of Worms and Magdeburg.

The yeare .M. lxxx. was foughten the laste felde agaynste Rudolfe by Mersburge, and in the same battayll was Rudolphus ryghte hande stryken of. Whan euerye man nowe fled into the cytye Marsburge, the hande was brought to the new Emperoure, lyenge in hys bedde, where the by­shops The com­plaint of Rudolfus the Emperoure vpon the bi­shops. stoode aboute. The whyche as he sawe, he sayde: Lomy Lordes ye byshops, thys ys the hande, wherewyth I haue promysed my lord Henrye sayeth and loyaltye: iudge ye your selues now howe godly ye haue counseled me to decyner from him. Thys is a very myserable complaynte, whyche declareth the troubled mind of the prince to haue iudged it self gilty of vprour. Of this wise dyed Rudolfus about the .iiij. year of his election. [Page] Whome I praye you would it not moue (wythout he be of yron) this so dredefull example to obey hys magistrate, & to beware of vproure? Yet were not the byshops in the meane tyme in reste, and set the sonne also against the father. Hiltebrand the byshop boasted to haue sene a vision in his slepe, that an vnlawfull Emperoure should dye that same yeare. But thys was Caiphas prophecye: for the punish­ment Hiltebrande the byshop of Rome was another Cayphas. fell not vpon Henry, but on the byshop of Ro­mes adherentes.

After this victory came Henry to Rome, and ta­kyng in the citie by force, he toke Hiltebrand the by­shop and put hym from his office: and in his steade was chosen the byshop of Rauenna, called Clemēs, and of hym was Henry the fourth crowned. As for Hiltebrand died not longe after in exile.

Sigebertus the history writer doth not greatly Sigebertus [...] history wryter. prayse Hiltebrande, and doth reprehende the man [...] dedes, that he did disquiet the peaceable state of the churche and empyre without greate cause: and writeth also, that Hiltebrande when he was dyeng should hymselfe haue complayned it, and should ha­ue required of Henry by embassage forgeuenesse of hys trespasse. Hiltebrande forbade the priestes of Hiltebrande did first for­byd the Ger­mane priestes to mary. Germany to mary, and many that were maryed, caused he to be diuorced.

The yeare of Christe .M. ciij. when Henry had vāquished the Saxons, & the erle of Misen Erbert was slayne, whome the byshops made to truste to be Emperoure after Rudolfus. Besides that when al maters of Germany and Italy were set at a stay, was Henry the fyft chosen Emperoure by Henry [Page cliij] the fourth hys father. Wherefore dyd the byshop­pes procure by this Henry, that he shoulde ryse a­gainst his father, and driue hym out of the empyre. But this greued the good prince greatly. Where­fore Henry the .v. set to worke by y ^e byshops besyeged hys father. Henry the sonne makyng a leage the yeare. M C. v. dyd fyrst besyege his father at Mentz: but the princes refusyng to assault it, Henry the sonne was fayne to departe, and leauyng Mentz went with the hoost to Norinberg, and gat and spoyled it in Norinbergh is taken by Henry the, v. the space of two monethes. The father persued the sonne, and on both sydes were they a while in their campes by Regensburg: but they came neuer to playne felde by reason the princes went alwaye be­twene. But the sonne warned the father to beware of hys owne seruauntes, wherefore he fled priuely to Ludich, and dyed there that same yeare. But when he had lyen vnburied fyue yeares, by reason of the excommunicacion or course of the Romyshe byshop he optayned absolucion, and was buried at Spire. There are yet wrytynges at thys houre, that were sent to the kynge of Fraunce by Henry the father, treatyng of the iniury of the sonne, and their malice, which set the sonne against the father. Reade more of this tragedy in the life of Hiltebrād, prynted seuerally in Englyshe.

Of the takyng in and possessyng the citie Hierusalem.

IN the tyme of this Henry the fourth be­gan the settyng forth to warre into Ie­wry against the Saracens and Turkes. The fyrst capitayne was Godfre of Bi­lion, [Page] prince of Lothringe or Lorain. Hym accom­panied Godfre of Bilion. the best princes and lordes of Gallia.

The yere .M. xcix. Godfre wan the citie Ierusalē, and was straight waye made kyng. But he refused to be crowned with a golden crowne there, whe­re Christes was crowned with a crown brayded of thornes. This happened foure hundreth thre score and eight yeres before that Hierusalem was taken out of the Perses power by Heraclius. But not muche aboue thirtene yeres after became the Sa­racens lordes of Hierusalem. Many yeares after were the Saracens dryuen out of Hierusalem by the Turkes. About this tyme gat the Christiās Ierusalem again, and subdued many cities & contreis there about. They had the realme of Ierusalem. lxxxviij. yeares, vntyll the yere of Christ a thousand, one hundreth & foure score & seuen. The Souldane wanne Ierusalem againe in the tyme of Frederick Barbarossa.

The chaunge of many duchyes in Germany.

HOw many miseries the inwarde warre The [...] raysed in Germany [...] the bishop [...] Rome. of Germany, whiche was sturred by the byshop of Rome wylenesse, hath brought with it, may easely be gathered thereby, that when the princes and great men were slayne, the lord shyppes and dominions were chaunged. Henry the fourth gaue to the Catuly Lordes of Schwaben the lande of Baier. After Rudolphus death gaue Henry the fourth the duchy of Schwa­ben to Frederick of Stauffen hys sonne in lawe that had maried hys daughter. The auncetry or [Page cliiij] kynred of the Frankes dyed in a very shorte space. Ecbertus erle of Misnia was slayne. Gebhardus the father of that Lotharius, whiche became after­ward Emperoure, was slayne also in a battaill: and to conclude, the power of Germane is wholy made feble and turned vpsyde downe by this debate of the princes.

Whan Hiltebrande was deade, a byshop called Victor the third of that name was chosen out of the citie of Rome by his companions, in spete of Cle­ment. But when Victor was deade a litle after, by them was Vrbanus the, ij. chosen byshop of Rome The same returned to Ro. by their ayde that were▪ now appointed to go to Ierusalem. Being restored in the see, he droue out Clemens.

Paschalis the, ij. succeded Vrbanus the .ij. This­same was first taken by Henry the fyft. Afterward did he constrayne hym to crowne hym Emperoure.

Henry the fyft, the xvij. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .M. C. vii. beganne Henry the. [...]. Henry the fyft to reigne after his fathers decesse, and reigned .xx. yeres. Verely he was well rewarded of the byshops, that folowyng their counsails, he warred vpon his fa­ther the good Emperoure. Comminge to Rome, he coulde not obtayne the crowne of the byshop of Rome, without he dyd fyrst ordeyne that thence­forth it shoulde be alowed that both the byshop of Rome and other byshops should be made without the Emperours approbating and consent. Besides [Page] that also was at that tyme so great an vproure ma­de in the citie of Rome by the byshop of it, that ex­cept the Emperoure had defended his lyfe with his owne hande, he had bene lost. When the Emperour had the ouerhande, many Romanes were put to [...]mple [...]graūce death and taken prysoners. The byshop was taken also, and led out of the citie: And when communica­tion was had wyth hym of the coronation & right of makyng the byshop of Rome and other byshops, Paschalis dyd frely graunt, that Emperours shuld take to them that prerogatiue, that no byshop of Rome nor other should be chosen, without their graūt. From thence are they returned to Rome, and Hen­ry was crowned Emperoure of Paschalis.

But after that the Emperoure was departed out of Italy, the byshop turned hys mynde, and makyng an assemble or counsayll dyd not onely reuoke the graunted priuilege, but dyd also excōmunicate and accurse the Emperoure. Whiche thyng when it was shewed Henry the fyfte, retourning straight waye to Rome with a greate power, he droue out the byshop, and ordemed another in his place. In the meane season dyd not the byshops of Germany syt styll, whiche dyd againe set the Saxons against the Emperoure, so [...]ore also, that Germany beynge eftsones styrred with mutuall debates, dyd mete eche other with displayde banners, and in the yere M. C. xv. the .xi. daye of February was the battail The ba [...] [...] Mansfeld by Māsfelde, neare by the wood Catula [...]ia, wherin was slayne Hoterus Erle of Mansfelde.

Wherfore the Emperoure p [...]rceauynge, that this playe coulde not be assuaged without cōtinuall [Page clv] battail, nether would the Romish byshops leaue of, tyll they had oppressed hym as they had done hys father before: the good prince had aduice to the common peace of the empyre, and renounced frely the Henry the .v. renoūced hys ryght of the choysynge of byshops. right of his priuilege. Therfore as the peace was made betwene the byshop of Rome and Emperour by this occasion, and also betwene the other lordes, and was proclaymed not farre from Wormes by the Rhene, where greate armies were together on both parties: greate ioye was made in all Germa­ny for this accorde of common peace.

This Henry warred also in Hollande and Lo­rayne. As for Lotharius duke of Saxony, who was made Emperour after Henry, came to Mentz in along and vile garment humbly requyryng par­don of the Emperoure. The same dyd Henry graūt hym frely of hys syngular mercy. This Henry had no manchylde, and therefore came the duchy of the Frankes to Conrade sonne to Frederick of Stauf­fen and Henries the fyftes syster.

Gelasius the .ij. succeded Paschalis the .ij. This­same was dryuen out of Rome by Henry the fyft, and in hys steade was Gregorius made byshop. Gelasius died in Fraunce in exile.

When Gelasius the .ij. was deade, was chosen in Fraunce byshop of Rome Calistus the .ij. who commyng to Rome, fought some battayls wyth Gregorius the false byshop, whome Henry the fyft had made. At the last was Gregorius taken, and set arswarde vpon an asse, was caried about the citie. Vnder Calistus was the peace made with the Em­peroure Henry the fyft.

[Page]Honorius the .ij. succeded Calistꝰ the bysh. of Ro.

Innocentius the .ij. was made byshop after Ho­norius. In spite of this man was Petrus Leonis chosen, who called himself Anacletus. Of hym was Innocentius driuen out with force. Lotharius as­swaged this rumour, who was crowned Empe­roure of Innocentius.

Lotharius the Saxon, the xviij. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .M. cxxvii. was Lo­tharius [...]s [...] Saxon. duke of Saxony chosen Empe­roure by the Electors. whose father Geb­hardus was slayne by Henry the fourth. Lotharius reigned thyrtene yeares.

This Germane empire hath oft ben shaken with moste heuy assaultes. For now agayne is raysed a great and durable vproure against Lotharius al­so. For the Schwaben and Frankes, which had lōg warred with the Saxons toke in euell worth, that the highnesse of the empire came to the Saxons. Besydes that also were the sonnes of the dukes of Schwaben borne of Henry the fyftes syster: & therfore did they pretend, that the empire of right shuld be belongyng to them. Henry the .v. (as is sayd be­fore) gaue to Conradus of Schwaben his systers husbande the duchy of Franken. Godfry counte of Palatine was with him, who chofe Conradus Emperoure, & to him did leane the cities of the Schwaben and Franckes.

But Catulus Henry duke of Baierland toke Lotharius parte, for he was Lotharius daughters husband, wherby also the possessiō of Saxony came [Page clvi] to the Baiers by succession hereditare. And those The princes of bruns [...]ig came of the Ca [...] [...]. also that now a daies are called princes of Brun­swig, are of the Baiers bloud, of Catulus Henry duke of Baier.

That Conradus might prenent Lotharius he went into Italy, and toke in Lombardy, where he was also crowned with an yron crown. In the meane tyme besyeged & wan Lotharius the cities Sprre, Vlme and Nurenberg, and after that persued he Conradus into Italy. For the Saxon Lotharius beyng more sage and wyly, thought well, that without Germany were well assured, Conradus coulde not kepe Italy. Wherfore when Conradus knew that both the cities of Germany were lost, and that no hope of succoure was to be loked for out of Germany, to retayne Italy: leauyng Italy, he dyd ma­ke a conuencion of peace with Lotharius through S. Bernarde made the peace betwene y ^• Emperours Conradus & Lotharius. the entreatement of sainct Bernarde, and left the empyre that he had taken vpon hym. Lotharius went twyse into Italy. First to assuage the commotions that were raysed at Rome against Innocen­tius the byshop, for choisyng another byshop. After that against Roger, which had inuaded Campania and Apulia. He droue hym out of Italy: but when Lotharius was deade, Roger returned.

Of the Roman lawes repared and restored.

LOtharius is not onely praysed for his no­table valiaūtnesse in warres, where with he hath set both Germany and Italy at a staye & rest: but also for his endeuoure in y ^e [Page] religion and good lawes. In his tyme was in Ita­ly by the quene Mectildis a man of great learnyng Wernherus [...]restorer of y ^• lawes. called Wernherus, whome Accursius the lawer calleth oft Irnemerius. The same founde the bokes of the Romane lawes in the liberaries dusted & vn­regarded, and brought them to lyght agayne: Lo­tharius commaunded to vse them openly in scoles, and to geue sentence agayne after them in iudgemē tes The p [...]yse [...] profitable [...]s of the Rom. lawes. of the empyre. And so by this meanes was that treasure brought to lyght agayn, whiche none can be more profitable, nor more costly, namely whereof innumerable profites are flowen. For first it is a certaine lawe and conformable to mans reason resto­red to whole Europa: by reason all nacions, and all other lawes vse this Romane lawe in searchynge right as a certayne line or carpenters rule: for it is moste nearest applyed to common honestie. Secōdly do thees restored Romane lawes not a lytle pro­fyte thereto, that they gyue commaundementes of the common behaue ours of this lyfe and best ma­ners, whiche are no where founde better: I passe o­uer that the purenesse of the Latine tungue began to florysh agayn, by restoryng of this lawe as borne again. But when this study of the lawe was in­stitute, straightwaye were become great and many excellent lawers, whiche busied both to interprete the lawes, and to set them againe in vre. Truely, I can not maruaile ynough, that men became so well learned at that tyme, wherein the vse of the Latine tunge, the histories, finally al the auncient Romane disciplines were left of for the whyle: so that it may easely be supposed, that those fyrst lawers were not [Page clvii] onely men of greate diligence in studies, but also greate and wyse men exercysed with muche expe­rience of common matters: For wythout exercyse, had it bene impossible to knowe the Roman lawes. Wherefore are the same doctors of the lawe to bee iudged no lesse, than those auncient lawiers Vlpia­nus, Seruius and other.

Azo, whiche is euen the chefe of the expounders Azo. of the lawe, lyued in the tyme of this Lotharius. After the same lyued Accursius, the same also lyued Accursius. vntil the time of Frederick the second. In the tyme of Henry of Lucelborowe were many and notable doctors, as Bartholus and other. Gratianus, who Bartholus. Gracianus. gathered the Decrees of the common lawe, was also in the tyme of Lotharius. But before were su­che bookes also. For of this sorte was a lytle booke written by a byshop of Wormes, whiche at that ty­me was vsed: we also haue sene it in our daies. But when the studies of the lawe floryshed now euery where, and that the best learned embraced them, By what oc­casion the mō kes are brou­ght to wryte. (as it happeneth moste commonly in a new thing,) the monkes perceauyng that the knowledge of ho­ly scripture beganne to coule and be despysed, for studieng the lawe: they also beganne a studye of Theology or diuinitie, and ordeyned scole disputa­tions in diuine matters, as the lawers dyd in ciuyll matters. Thus beganne the diuinitie scole, wherof we shall saye more hereafter.

Cunradus a Schwabe, the .xix. Germane Emperoure.

[Page] THe yeare of Christ .M. cxl. succeded Conradus Conradus a Schwabe. borne duke of Schwaben Lotha­rius the Saxon in the empyre, who was made prince of the Frankes by Henry the fyft. He reigned fourten yeres. It is no where red that he was crowned of the Romysh byshop. This Cunradus (as we said before) rose against Lotha­rius, but he was constrained to yelde himself vnder the Emperours power. But when Lotharius was deade, the succession of the empire fell vpon Conra­dus: though Henry duke of Baier & Saxony that had marted Lotharius daughter coueted the empire, and besyeged Conradus at Auspurg. But Con­radus the Emperoure minished Henries power, & gaue the duchy of Baier to the Erle of Eastenrich. Howbeit this warre was not very long: for not lōg after died Henry in Saxony, and was laide in Lo­tharius his wiues fathers graue. After that dyd a prince of Catuli warre with the duke & Emperour Cōradus for the duchy of Baier, but inuain. Wher­fore he was afterwarde reconciled againe with the Emperoure, through Frederick that became Em­peroure afterward. Conradus with many princes Conradus went to Ierusalem against the Saracens and a great hoost went to Hierusalem, againste the Saracens Christes enemyes, through the counsail of sainct Bernarde, against the whiche also toke wapen Lewis kyng of Fraunce: but many souldiours Emanuel Emperour of Cō stantinople [...]s disloyaltie. dyed thorough the disloyaltie of Emanuel Em­peroure of Constantinople. Yet had our men ma­ny and great battails in Asia and at Hierusalem in the meane season. Cunradus returned the fourth yere after into Germany & died, and was buried in [Page clviii] the towne Lorch by Gemund.

In the warre that Conradus had with the Ca­tulies, he toke the castel and town Weinsburg, that lyeth not farre from the riuer Necehar. Then commaunded The vertue of noble dames in the citie Weinsburg. the Emperour to take al the gentlemen: but the gentle women shoulde be letten go with so great packe of goodes as they could cary. Thē the gentlewomen forsakyng the goodes would rather cary away their chyldren. Whiche thing when som did blame, whiche would haue the yong children be prisoned, sayeng: the graunt was to cary goodes, & not men. The Emperour delited so in the vertue of the noble women, that he gaue them leaue not only to cary away their childrē, but also al their goodes.

Celestinus the .ij. was byshop of Rome after In­nocencius the .ij.

Lucius the .ij. was byshop after Celestinus.

Eugenius the third was made byshop after Lu­cius. Against the same was another byshop chosen by the Romanes, of whom Eugenius was driuen out: but gatheryng a Frenche ayde, he returned, o­uer came his aduersary, and was restored againe.

Anastasius the .iiij. succeded Eugenius.

Adrianus the .iiij. was byshop after Anastasius. Of hym was Frederick Barbarossa or with the William of Sicily. reade bearde crowned Emperoure: but afterward sticked he to William of Sicily, which kept Naples and made the Lombardes obedient to hym, by a moost haynous coniuracion against the empyre. He An example of the Romish bysh▪ disloyaltie & tyranny. did excōmunicate Frederick, & raysed most haynous warres in Italy. It is written y ^t he shuld haue saied not long before he died: there is no more wretched [Page] state in earth then the byshoprick of Rome: and to The cōplaint of Adrian by­shop of Rom. whē he shuld dye. get that byshopryck by bloude, is not to succede Peter, but Romulus rather, who flew his owne bro­ther, that he myght haue the monarchy and reigne alone. These wordes wytnesse sufficiently, that it repented hym of the debate that he had begonne against the Emperoure.

After Adrianus began a greate diuision. Some Cardinals chose Octauianus, who was called Vic­tor. Some chose Alexander the .iij. Frederick Barbarossa helde Octauianus for the true byshop of Rome. But yet in the meane season commaunded he by a counsayll to enquire who shoulde abyde by­shop. But Alexander refusyng the aucthoritie of the counsayll, kepeth hymselfe in Fraunce, and ac­curseth Frederick. At the last gat Alexander the by shopryck by the ayde of the Italians, and returned to Rome, where Frederick came then also. But A­lexander beyng afrayed, fled to Venice, where at the last, peace was made. But hereof shall we spea­ke more in the history of Frederick.

Frederick the .i. called Barbarossa, or wyth the red bearde the .xx. Ger­mane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .M. C. lij. was Fre­derick Frederick y ^• fyrst. chosen Emperour, the fyrst of that name, surnamed Barbarossa. He gouer­ned the Empyre .xxxvij. yeares. He was a borne duke of the noble house of Schwaben, Conradus y ^e Emperours brothers sonne, a most renov­med prince of hardinesse, valiauntnesse and iustice. [Page clix] So farre as I can perceaue by his dedes, it semeth that Frederick, as a gentle Schwabe, could not pa­ciently beare these iniuries, that the byshops of Ro­me dyd hym: and I thynke it came by this, that he was more harde againste them.

In the begynnyng of his empyre, set he Baier­lande and Eastenriche at one, and restored to Catu­lus Henry duke of Saxony, and Henry sonne too When the duchy of Easten riche began. Lotarius doughters husbande, Baierlande. He made his Cosin Henry Erle of Eastenryche duke, and set boundyng borders to ether duchy. Then began first the duchy of Eastenriche. But Catulus Henry kept Baierlande not longe: for he for­soke Fredericke in Italy, and raised new rebellions Who are the dukes of Ba­ier and coun­ties of Pala­tine. in Germany against hym. Wherfore Frederick dri­uyng away Henry afterwarde, the duchy of Baier­lande was geuen to Otho of Witelsbach. And of this Othoes bloude are those princes borne, which now a dayes haue Baierlande, and the counties Palatine by the Rene. The right of election on the Saxonies behalfe, gaue he to Bernarde prince of Anhalt. Henry flyenge, went into Englande wyth his wyfe and chyldren: but at the last when he re­turned, composition was made, that Catulus Hen­ry Lubeck. should possesse the duchy of Brunswich. But thē dyd Phillippe byshop of Colen take the countrey Westphalen from the duchy of Saxony withforce.

Frederick besyeged Lubeck, and subdued it to Milan [...]. the empyre. He compelled also the kyng of Denne­marck to require peace.

They of Milane rebelled, and went about to brynge the other cities of Italy vnder their subiec­tion. [Page] For that maner and wylfulnesse to haued ominion, doth last yet by the Italians: wherfore Frederick goyng into Italy, apeased all rumors. But af­terwarde did the byshop of Rome entice the Mila­ners, and the other cities to a coniuracion againste Frederick, and dyd excommunicate hym. For whi­che Frederick was excom­municate by the byshop of Rome. cause he went nowe the fourth tyme into Ita­ly, he subdued and spoyled Milane, and assayed all the meanes he coulde to alaye the debate betwene the byshop of Rome and hym: but it was inuayne. For Alexander the third byshop of Rome could not be brought to that poynte, that he shoulde not vexe the moste gentle prince: wherefore Frederick went to Rome, but Alexander fled to the Venecians. Then was Otho Fredericks sonne sent agaynste the Venecians: who beyng taken in a battayll vpon the water, condicions of peace were accepted. For Frederick the Emperoure sawe that the byshops of Rome coulde reste by no meanes. Moreouer consydered he also, that besyde that hys sonne was taken, what was chaunged to the Emperours that were afore hym. Wherefore Frederick vsed sub­mission and moste lowly humblenesse. For he came The humilite or lowlynesse of Frederick to Venice, and layed hymselfe downe before the Churche dore afore the Romyshe byshop, and suf­fred hymselfe to be troden with his fete: who com­maunded also to be cried out: Thou shalt treade vpō the adder and coceatrice, and then dyd he absolue hym at the last. Frederick sayde contrariwyse, that he dyd not shewe that lowlynesse to Alexander, but to Peter. Whereto aunswered Alexander: both to me and to Peter. But what is to be thought of this [Page clx] dede of the byshop of Rome, that do I committee the reader to iudge. The byshops of Rome rayse war­res without any lawfull cause. For Alexander stri­ueth for his priuate election, nether woulde he euer admitte any counsaill, nor any other condicions. And besyde this iniury, dyd he vse also extreme The extreme tyranny of Alexander the thyrde bysh. of Ro. against y ^• Emperour Frederick. wylfulnesse and pryde againste the hyghest power of Christianitie, when he dyd treade vpon the Em­peroure with his fete, whome God commaundeth euen to honoure.

But when this agremēt was made, he chose Hē ­ry his sonne to be party ruler with hym, the yere of Christ .M. C. lxxxvj. lest the empyre shuld be with out a gouernoure, when he toke his yourney into Asia. He maried his sonne to Cōstantia the daugh­ter to Rogerius, by whiche meanes the kyngdome Sicily and Naples came to the empyre & Germa­nes, and made the young kyng gouernoure of Ita­ly. Not long after went he into Asia with a greate preparacion of warre & company of many princes, to recouer again the citie Ierusalem, that was lost Frederick the fyrst goynge into Asia what warres he had. not long before. He toke in many & mighty cities in Cilicia, & vanquyshed the Saracens & Turkes. He made the Souldane so afraide for hym, that he caused many of his greate cities to cast down their walles in Syria, when he did mistrust to kepe them, & he himself fled into Egypt. For the kynges of Eng­land & Fraūce were already arriued into Asia with a great army. But what fortuned when they had gathered a greate hoost? Fortune whiche is not alwaye good, beganne to turne. Frederick when he had now takē the cōtrey Armenia, by reason of y ^e [Page] heate, went into a swyft water with his horse, and the doughty prince was drowned the yeare .M.C lxxxix. Nether ought it to be maruayll, that Frede­rick peryshed of this wyse in a ryuer: for histories Frederick went oft into waters. do make mencion, that he otherwhyles also went into waters. In the second setting forth vpon Mi­lane, the Italians pitched their tentes on the other syde of the ryuer Abdua, whiche is no lesse then is the Tems about Sion, and mocked Frederick the Emperoure, who was of this syde the ryuer with his hoost: thynkyng, that by reason the ryuer was betwene them both, they myght mocke the Empe­roure wythout daunger. Then did the Emperour steppe into the ryuer without feare, and commaun­ded the horsemen to folowe hym. Whiche thynge seyng the, Italians thought shoulde neuer come to passe, (for ether they laye here and there, or vnadui­sedly went vp and downe without order,) they to­ke the flyght, and were ouercome of a small compa­ny of horsemen. This feate witnesseth that Frede­rick was a prince of excellent hardinesse▪ and also one that doubted not to put hymselfe lyghtely into waters.

The prince of Boheme was made a kyng by Frederick, The prince of Bohem [...] is made a kyng for his sundry and excellent faithfulnesse, that he vsed toward Frederick at Milane.

Lucius the .iij. was made byshop of Rome after Alexander.

Henry [Page clxi] the .vi. was crowned of hym.

Henry the .vi. the xxi. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .M.C.xC. began Henry Henrye the syxte. the vi. of that name to raigne after his fathers deceasse, and raygned seuen yea­res. He had great warres in Apulia, and finally subdued the whole realme. In Germany had he enemyes the byshop of Colen and Lutich or Liege, besyd them also the Burgundions. In this vproure was the byshop of Lutich slayne, and the other beynge abashed by thys myshappe, left of frō theyr enterpryse, and obeyed frelye. He made hys sonne Frederick yet a chylde Emperour wyth the consent of y ^• electors. The election was confirmed with sealed letters of the princes electors. the same was afterward called Frederick the .ii. But whan Frederick the seconde. Henry was now dyenge▪ he committed the warde­shyppe of the chylde, and empyres gouernaunce to his brother Philippe, who had the gouernaunce of the empyre, whan Henry was yet alyue.

Innocentius the .iii. was byshop of Rome after Celestinus.

The same persued Philippe the Emperour, and it is reported he shulde haue sayde: He wolde take The Romish byshops crake. awaye from Philippe the Emperours crowne, or hys thre crowned miter shulde be taken from hym. He made Emperoure Otho the Saxon. But thys frendeshyp was not stedfast nether: for Otho was excommunicated of the Romyshe byshop not longe after.

Philippe sonne to Barbarossa, the .xxii. Germane Emperour.

THe yeare of Christ .M.C.xcviii. was chosen Philippe Emperour. Emperour Philippe the sonne of Barbarossa, duke of Schwaben, and gouer­nour of Italy on y ^• Emperours behalfe, he raygned ten yeares. In hys tyme rose greate vproures in Germanye. For whan Henrye was deade, haystynge out of Italy, Philippe dyd admonysh the princes electors of the election had of hys yonge cosyn made Emperoure. And that the em­pyre shulde haue no alteracyon, ether they shulde cōmitte to hym the admynistracyon, or make hym Emperoure, and none other prince. But whan Innocentius the Bysh. of Rome smelled that, he dyd earnestly procure by the princes electors that ano­ther Emperour shulde be chosen, shewyng openly: he coulde not brouke Philippe: for he was displea­sed wyth hym, because that whan he was gouer­noure in Italye, he had done I wote not what a­gaynst the Byshop of Rome wherefore also he was excommunicated of Innocentius. But nowe had alegat absolued Philippe of the excommunication, wo also was punyshed therefore of the Byshopp of Rome. But what nede many wordes? The byshop of Ro. hated all Fredericks kinred, & intended▪ to rout it out. Wherefore was chosen by the electors Emperour Bertholdus duke of zaryngē, who be­syde y ^t he was riche, was worthy noprayse in a ma­ner. Bertholdus duke of Ze­ [...]ingen. Philipp was in the toune Mulhausen, where were come also many princes, as of Bohemy, Sax­ony, Baier & Schwaben, of whome he was made [Page clxii] Emperour. But whan the duke of zeryngē knewe that he was weaker than Phlippe of pussaunce and power, he came frely to him, and yelded himselfe as to his lyege lord, refusing to take vpon him the na­ming of the Emperiall maiesty. But the byshopp of Ro. ceassed nothyng the more of his forepryse: but broughte to passe that the prince of Brunswich O­tho, Otho the fourth. the fourth of that name, sonne to Henrye that fled, was made Emperoure of the bysh. of Colen, and county af Palatine. The same dyd Innocenti­us confirme and crowne, cursynge and excommu­nicating Philippe. Wherefore went from hym to Otho not a fewe princes, the prince of Bohemye, the erle of Thuringen Herman and the byshop of Argentine or Strasburg. But yet dyd God in the God prospered the busi­nesses of thē that are law­fully called. meane season prosper Philips affaires, insomuche that he gouerned the empyre all the tyme of hys lyfe. Fyrst goynge in Alsace, he toke in Strasburg and compelled the byshop of Strasburge to yelde hymselfe. In the meane tyme was Otho come tyll Spyre: but he also was dryuen backe by Philippe into Saxony, and as Philippe folowed now vpon hym into Thuryngen, thether came the kynge of Bohemy, and y ^e erle of Thuryngen. But they refu­syng to geue battayl, yelded thēselues to Philppe. Afterwarde besyegynge the citye Colen also, he compelled the bysh. to yelde himselfe: who though he had crowned Otho before, yet crowned he Phi­lyppe also at Achen wyth the Emperyall crowne. Not longe after Otho strengthened wyth the suc­course of some byshops, he forsoke the byshoppe of Colen, because he was fallen to Philippe: but than [Page] returned Philippe to Colen, and fought some fel­des wyth Otho, and gat the victory: but Otho fled into Englande.

At the laste whan the princes sawe that Othoes parte was weakened, and that Phylippe kept the empyre, who also made hym selfe familiar with the princes. He had to wyfe Irene, doughter to the Irene doughter to the Emperour of Cō stantinople. Emperour of Constantinople: of the which he had foure doughters, whereof he maryed the one to the kynge of Bohemes sonne, another gaue he to the prince of Brabant. Than I saye, whan the princes sawe all these thinges, they deuised to make an accorde. To the bishop of Rome wer Legates sent to make an atonement betwene him and Philippe, and also that Otho shuld be taken in fauoure. Wherefore the Bysh. of Rome sendyng embassiadours into Germany, Phylippe the Emperoure was ab­solued of the excommunicatyon. The agrement was made also, that Otho shulde marye one of the dougdters, to the intent the bande of the concorde and familiaritye made, myght the better be kepte betwene both partees. All thys was done.

But whan this agrement and leage was made, Philip dwelt afterward at Bamberg. And vpon a day whan he was lettē bloud, and the good prince suspected now no harme, and had in hys chamber no more wyth hym, than the Chaunceler and hys karuer of Walpurch, ther came in to him Otho of Witelspache, whose kynred Friderick the first had made honorable & famous, by geuynge him the du­chy of Baier. The same whan he sawe that the Emperour was alone without any company or ayde, [Page clxiii] he fell sodenly vpon hym not thinkyng any thing, Philippe the Emperoure was slayne of Otho of Witelspach and stroke a greate wounde in the Emperoures necke. The Karuer came runnynge, to helpe hys prince, but the murtherer by reason of hys swyft­nesse escaped. Thys woūd was deadly to Philipp: and as he was deade, he was buryed, at Bamberg. But afterwarde was the bodye dygged vppe, and brought to Spyre by Fridericke the .ii. Vpon the stone that lyeth on the graue, is written Philipp of Bamberg. Nether wanted Otho of Wytelspache An example of venge­aunce. the murtherer finally his worthy punyshment: for he hym selfe was slayne also not longe after.

Of the institution of the freres beg­gynge ordres.

IN the tyme of Philippe founded Domi­nicus Dominicus. Franciscus. and Franciscus the Orders of beggynge Freres. For the monkes or cha­nons that were ryche the same beynge now become mighty lordes, despising the seruice of teachynge in the Churche or congregacyon, went to warre wyth y ^e Emperoures and princes. Ther­fore beganne these two men than to preache, and toke to their companions sobre and peaceable men, as men geuen to learnynge and thus beganne that thinge. After that began more orders after the ex­ample of these, as it commeth moost communely to passe, as oft as new thynges begynne to be wonde­red at. But as nothyng remayneth stedfast alway, and durable in his degre, in mens affayres: euen so do we se the orders of Freres and monkes to lose theyr state and doctrines.

Otho the fourth, the .xxiii. Germane Emperoure.

THE yeare of Christ, M.CC.ix. after Otho the fourth. that Philippe was deade, fell the ma­iestye of the empyre to Otho prince of Brunswich, who was chosen Empe­roure afore also agaynste Philipp. He raygned after Philips decease foure yeares. But wythin these foure yeares went he fyrst to Rome, and receaued the Imperiall crowne of Innocen­tius. In Italy vsed he a very kynglye and mooste costly apparelynge, and shewed a notable grauitye toward all princes and cityes, insomuch, that they all dyd humbly worshyp hym. After hys coronaci­on toke he some imperyall cityes, whyche the Ro­mysh bysh. dyd possede: but thys was an occasyon of the breche of frendeshyp with the bysh. of Rome. Wherefore Innocentius dyd accurse Otho, euen whan he was yet present in Italy: and before O­tho came agayne into Germany, he sent ambassa­dours to the princes, that they should choyse ano­ther Emperoure, namely Frederick the seconde, sonne to Henry the vi.

It was very proudly and cruellye done of the The pryde and cruellye of the by­shoppes of Rome. Bysh. of Rome, so to excommunicate and accurse the Emperoures, nether to excommunicate them only, but also to put them from the empyre, so that one can thynke no honestye in these dedes of the Romysh byshoppes, specially yf ye ponder and way all the causes and reasons. All these were excom­municated in a rowe, and yet were they myghtye and wyse Emperoures, that haue brought to passe great and notable thinges.

The yeare of Christe .M.CC.xii. Otho beyng come agayne into Germany, though he knew that the princes myndes were set agaynst him, yet poynted he a day of parlament at Norinberg, and admonyshed the princes, that they shulde not graunt the bishops of Ro. that authoritye, that they shulde put downe Emperoures at theyr pleasure: for the em­pyre pertayneth not to Romysh byshops, but to the Germane princes. He brought some princes to his mynd with this admonition, and fell vpon Herman Herman county of Thuringen. S. Elizabeth erle of Thuryngen the father of erle Lewys, to whome. S. Elysabeth was spoused. For erle Herman, to do the Byshoppe of Rome pleasure, set hymselfe agaynst the Emperour, as a man condemned wyth byshoppe of Romes excommunicatyons and curses. But afterwarde was Otho forsaken of all the princes, except one erle of March in Mi­sen. For Fryderycke the yonger, enemy to Otho, was alreadye come into Germany: besyde that by the byshoppe of Romes procurynge, was the Frenche kynge in armes agaynste Otho. But whan tydynges came to Otho of Frideryckes com­myng he prepared hym to go agaynste hym into Alsasse, and was wyth hys hooste at Brysacke: howe beyte beynge destytute of all the ayde of [Page] hys, he was constrayned to flye into Saxony. But than repayring an hooste, and beyng holpen of the kynge of Englande, he went into low Germany, a­gaynst the Frenche kynge, of whome he was ouer­come, and dyed afterwarde, the yeare .M. CC. xviij. He lyued wythout the tytles of thempyre .v. yeares.

Friderick the .ij. the .xxiiij. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .M. CC. xiij. was chosen Friderick the second. Emperoure Friderick the .ii. of that name, the sonne of Barbarossa, kinge of Naples and Cicily, and duke of Schwa­ben, whan Otho was put downe, and was crow­ned Emperoure at Achen. He raygned seuen and twenty yeares. Yet before he dyed, was he depry­ued fyue yeares of the Empire, by Innocentius the Bysh. of Rome. Noman can pitye ynough the case of thys laudable Emperoure, that he was endued wyth many and noble vertues: and yet in the mean season suffred he moost extreme and heuy persuin­ges of Romane byshops. He was verye well lear­ned in many languages. For he knew perfectly the Latine, Greke, Germane and Saracens langua­ges. Besydes thys set he forth also the disciplines of good sciences. He brought to passe that the boke The science of Astrono­mye was brought to lyght agayn by Friderik the .ij. of Ptolome, called Almagestū was translated out of the Saracens language into Latyn, and by that meanes the doctryne of Astronomye, whyche no­man had taughte many yeares before in Europa, was brought to lighte.

[Page clxv]Hys fyrste warre had he in Germanye agaynste Otho the .iiii. by the bishop of Romes counsel: but he had the same rewarde for it, that other Empe­rours afore him haue had.

The seconde warre had he in Brabant, agaynste the duke of Brabant and Othoes adherentes, and restored Lorain againe to the Germane empyre.

The yeare of oure lorde .M. CC. xx. was Fri­dericke crowned of Honorius the .iii. Emperoure. Two erles in Tuscia had taken in some cityes that belonged to the empire, the which whan Friderick had taken agayne, the erles that were driuen out, fled to Honorius bysh. of Ro. who toke them in hys defence and commaunded Friderick, to restore thē into the possession of the cityes, that he had taken from them. But whan Friderick refused that, Ho­norius excommunicated hym, settyng asyde all the former loue.

The yeare .M. CC. xxii. came Friderick again into Germany, and holding a parlamēt at Wyrtz­purg, he made Henry his yonger son felowgouer­noure of the empyre, and was crowned at Achen. Henry the sonne was taken by Frideryke hys father. But afterwarde was the same Henry taken by his father, because he had made a leage with certayn cityes of Lombardy agaynst the father: & while the father liued yet, died he of y ^e filthinesse of the prison.

Though the city Hierusalem, was now loste, yet possessed the Christians other great and mighty cytyes in Siria. But whan the power of the Tur­kes grewe dayly more & more, and the fortune of y ^e Ioannes kyng of Hie-rusalem. Christiās went back: Ioannes came to Rome, who had yet the title of y ^e king of Hierusalē, and desyred [Page] ayde of Honorius the byshop of Rome, and optay­ned by Honorius, that Friderick who was accur­sed, was absolued. Wherefore Fridericke and the Germane princes consented frelye to make an ar­mye for the delyueraunce of the cytye Hierusalem: and the kyng of Hierusalem gaue Iole hys doughter in maryage to Friderick the Emperoure. Whereby Why the kynges of Sicyly clayme the [...]tle of Hie­rusalem. it commeth, that yet at this houre the kynges of Sicily ascrybe to them the title of the realme of Hierusalem. Fridericke the Emperour than went wyth a great army, well furnyshed to Hierusalem and wyth hym many princes of Germany, among the which was also Lewis y ^• landtgraue, to whom Lewis the Landtgraue S. Elisabeth was maried, & the same dyed in that settynge forth at Brundusium.

The yeare .M. CC. xxviij. went Fridericke to Hierusalem, and dyd hys busynesse so, that the Souldane gaue hym frely agayne not only Hieru­salem, but many other cytyes there about. Fride­rick was crowned at Hierusalem the yeare .M. C C. xxix. He caused the citye Hierusalem to be made sure agaynste the power of the enemyes. He made treuce with the Souldane for ten yeres. All thys shewed he by a letter to the byshop of Ro. and requyred absolucion of the curse: for by thys Gre­gorye was he accursed also. I wote not for what title in the kingdome of Sicily. But it was a small matter for the byshop of Rome to deny to the Em­peroure the absolution: for this gyle also or rather iniury had he done to Frederick being absent. For he set y ^• Italian cities against him, & toke in by force some cityes in his patrimonial realme Naples. By [Page clxvi] thys constraynt was Friderick driuē to come back agayn into Sicilye, and to rescue his realme come by inheritaunce, from feare of daunger. Although the bysh. of Ro. had ben sore dissoial against the Emperour in his absence, yet required he absolution so lowly, that he promysed he wolde holde the kyng dome of Sicily of him by fealtye. Besydes this also caused he the princes of Germanye to come into I­taly, that at the least by them myght the debate be­twen hym and the Emperour be alayed. Therfore dyd Gregorius absolue the Emperour agayne the yeare of Christe .M. CC. xxx.

After y ^c came the Emperour Friderick the thyrd time into Italy, and warred in Eastenrich agaynst the Hungarians, & toke the eyty Vienne the which that she shuld be & remain an emperial city, he wold haue it confirmed with letters geuen there vpon.

The yeare .M. CC. xxxviij. Whan Fridericke went agayn into Italy, they of Milan rose agaynst him, and many other strong cityes. To Milan dyd Friderick great harme: for the which cause the city es makynge an aliance wyth the byshop. of Ro. con Friderick y ^• ij. is excom-municated y ^• thyrd time. spired against Friderick the Emperour whome for this cause Gregorius the Romysh byshop doth ex­communicate the third time, and condemneth him for an heretike, stearing also the Venecians to war vpon him. Friderick with opē writynges dyd com­plain of the iniury done to hym, and in the meane tyme dyd he also humbly require absolution of the byshop of Ro. Ther were many of the Cardynals, whiche alowed not the bysh. of Romes counsels. But whan Frederick could by no meanes optayne [Page] pardon of Gregorius, necessitye compelled Frede­ryck to defende hymselfe: he had also his faction or diuision. For at that tyme was Italy diuyded in Guelphies and Gibelines, the Gibelini were for the Emperoure, and the Guelphi were wyth the Byshop of Ro. Ether name beynge brought vp in Germany, was translated and brought ouer into Guelphi. Italy. For the kynred of the Guelphi, had conti­nuall hatred agaynst Fredericks bloude. Whereof also they were called Guelphi, as alwaye hatefull Guelphi. enemyes of Fredericke. As for the spring of Fredericks kynred was of the Weiblings, whereof they are called Guiblings, which the Italians (chaun­ginge the name) do call Gibelini.

The bysh. of Ro. constrayned by great necessitie dyd proclayme the crosse and pardon agaynst Fri­derick the Emperoure, as though he were many­festly vngodly, and destroyer of the religion. Fri­derick toke that very euell: he besyeged Rome, but drue back agayne wythout takyng it, and toke the citye Rauennas.

The yeare of Christ M. CC. xlv. Innocentius the iiij. holding a councel at Lyons in Fraunce, de­posed Frideryk y ^• Emperoure [...] deposed of y ^• empyre by the byth. of [...]. Friderick of the empyre, vsynge therto the Frenchmens ayde: and by letters he shewed the princes Electors, to choyse another Emperoure. But they made Emperoure Henry the Landt­graue of Thuringen. The same was slayne before the citye Vlme wyth an instrument of warre.

Friderick buylded a new citye in Italy, whiche was called Victoria. Whan he wanted syluer, he Victoria [...]yty [...]. caused to make a coyne of lether, y ^• he mighte haue [Page clxvii] where wyth to pay his men of warre: but so soone Fridericke coynet [...]ether in tyme of nede. as he had gotten syluer, he shulde geue them good and lawful mony for the lether coyne, which thing he dyd liberally. But now whā he could loke for no more ayde out of Germany: and that besydes thys hys sonne Encius was taken, who also dyed in the preson, he was sore distressed, and went into Apulia were he also dyed the yeare .M. CC. l. Some wryt that he was poisonned. Yee surely, the moost holy fathers coulde not rest, without they sawe the good prince clene rydde out of the waye. The kingdome of Naples left he to hys sonne & heyre Cun­radus. As for Italy remayned alwaye after diuy­ded. For one part helde wyth the empyre, another wyth the byshop of Rome, vntyl the powers of the Venecians and of them of Mylane beganne after to growe and increase.

Honorius the .iij. succeded Innocentius the .iij. of whome Friderick the .ii. was crouned, and after warde excommunicated.

Gregorius y ^• .ix. was after Honorius, of whome was Friderick lykewyse accursed.

After Gregorius was Celestinus the .iiij. bysh. of Rome.

After Celestinus was Innocentius the .iiij. The­same deposed Friderick from the empyre, and ac­cursed hys sonne Cunradus.

Cunradus the .iiij. the xxv Ger­mane Emperour.

[Page] THe yeare of Christ .M. CC. l. raigned C [...]nradus the fourth. Conradus the sonne of Fridericke af­ter hys fathers deceasse, but he was excommunicated by Inocentius the .iiij. Henry the Landtgraue of Thuryn­gen ouercame hym by Francoforde, whyle hys fa­ther Frederick was yet alyue. Some wryte that thys warre was after hys fathers death, by Wyl­lyam the Landtgraue. But whan Conradus per­ceaued that he was destitute of the Germane prin­ces ayde he gat him into his hereditary kyngdome Naples, and there he dyed the yeare .M. CC. liij.

The ende of the dukes of Schwaben.

CVnradus, of whome we haue now spo­ken, had a wyfe of the Baiers bloude, of the whiche he had a sonne Conradinus who was nouryshed and brought vp in hys hereditary duchy of Schwaben, and after hys fathers deceasse wolde go to Naples hys heredy­tary kyngdome. But Clemens the bishop of Rome called Charles the Frenche kynges brother into the realme of Naples agaynst hym. Conra­dynus for so muche as he was duke of Schwaben, had a greate bende and hooste of Germanes about hym, and at the begynnynge had he greate vycto­ryes. But at the laste were Conradinus the sonne of Conradus, and Fryderyck duke of Eastenriche taken by a trayne. Besydes thys were they en­treated more vnsemelye than was pertaynynge and put to shame. At the laste were they behea­ded throughe the counsell of the Romyshe byshop. [Page clxviii] O notable crueltye. He must be euen as harde as a The notable cruelty of Clemens bi­shop of Ro. agaynst Cū ­radinus. stone verely, whome the examples of so great cru­elty dyd not moue, namelye so noble a kynge, borne ofso many Emperoures, to be so shamefullye put to death by Clemens the Romysh byshop, without any ryghte or reason. Ther are yet euen at thys houre writinges, which were written at that time, in the which the good prince complayneth of the iniury, and rehearseth at length the whole matter orderly: so that it is no doute, the bishoppes of Rome haue vsed playne tiranny against Conradinus.

Wiliam, the, xxvi. Germane Emperour.

THe yeare of Christ M. C. C. liiij. was William Emperoure. chosen Emperoure Wylyam counte of Holland. It is sayde he was an honest manered prince, and of notable innocency of life: but he was slayn by the Friselanders the yerre. 1256.

Vacation of the Empyre.

WHan thys Wiliam was dead, the empire stode with out a certayne emperoure seuentene yeares, and that not wythout great destruction of the Germane naci­on. Thys mischaunge grewe by the cyuyl warres, that were raysed in the empyre by the bysh. of Ro. Now whan the debate was rysen amonge the E­lectors Alfonsus kynge of Spayne and astronomiā. for the choyse, some chose Alfonsus kyng of Spayne Emperoure, because he was a very wyse man, and endued with notable vertues. As for thys Alfonsus is he, who not only had hys plea­sure in the science of Astronomye, but also aug­mented [Page] and amēded the study thereof with many bokes wrytten. Thoughe Alfonsus was admony­shed by the byshop of Rome to take vpon hym the Emperyall maiestye: yet refused he it earnestly, be­cause of the vncertayn faythfulnesse and vnstable concord of the Romysh Byshops wyth the Empe­rours. The other parte of the Electors chose Ri­chard, the king of Englandes brother, and brought hym vntyll Basyll: but he was not accepted of the Empyre.

Alexander the .iiij. succeded after Innocentius. At thys time lyued Albertus the greate. and Thomas Aquinas.

Vrbanus the .iiij. was after Alexander.

Clemens the .iiij. succeded Vrbanus. Thyssame caused Conradynus Conradus sonne to be be­headed.

Whan Clemens was deade, was the see voyde two yeares through the dissension of choysynge a Byshop at the last was Gregorius the .x. chosen. The same admonyshed the Electors in the begyn­nynge of hys byshopryck, to choyse agayne an Em­peroure wyth egall consent, leste the state of the empyre dyd wholy decaye.

Rudolfe the .xxvij. Germane Rudolf erle [...] Habys­burge. Emperoure.

THe yere of Christ .M. CC. lxxiij. was Rudolfe chosen Emperour the erle of Habisburge, and counte prouincial of Alsace. He raygned .xix. yeares. He was confirmed of the Byshopp of Ro. [Page clxix] For the Emperoure and byshop of Rome came to­gether at Lausana euen accordyng to the saieng of these two verses of auncient men.

Twelue hundreth thre score and thertene yere, dyd stande.

Lausana, tyll the pope and the kyng came the­ther into that lande.

Howbeit Rudolfe went not into Italy, nether receaued he the Imperiall crowne. He was wont to reherse Esops fable of the Foxe, which said to the Lion sicke in his denne: she were afrayd to come in therefore, because she sawe the footsteppes of bea­stes that were gone in, but not of beastes that were come out. That lykewyse he dyd consyder, how his aunceters went oft into Italy with greate hoo­stes: but mooste commonly returned home euell in­treated. Yet in the meane season sent he a Lieute­naunt into Italy, who was receiued of the bestpart of the Italian cities.

The Bohemies and Baier withstode Rudolfe at the fyrst, but he subdued Baierlande forth with. Othacarus kyng of the Bohemies wold not obey, and besydes that helde Eastenriche, (that was now without heire, & belongyng to the empyre) against ryght and reason. Wherfore Rudolphe sent the Burggraue of Norenberg into Bohemy, to shewe the kyng on the Emperours behalfe, to obeye, and Othacarus hy [...]g of the Bohemes. to voyde out of Eastenryche: but Othacarus refu­sed both. Wherfore after muche reasonynge vpon the matter, brought Rudolphe armed hostes into Eastenryche, and toke it in. He besieged the citie Vienne, & fought a great battaill by Nidersbrug▪ [Page] in the yeare .M. cclxxviij. In that battayll was O­thacarus slayne. Of this wyse was Eastenriche at the last brought vnder Rudolphes dominion, and after that made he Albert his sonne duke there: so that henceforth Eastenriche by this meanes is hol­den Albert duke [...] Eastērich of the empyre by fealtie or benefite. Moreouer the princes of Eastenriche haue their offpringe of this Alberte, vntyll the moste prayse worthy Charles the Emperoure that now is, & his brother kyng Ferdinande.

Rudolphe the Emperoure shewed high fauour and gentlenesse towarde Wenceslaus Othacarus sonne: for he left hym the kyngdome of Bohemy, and gaue hym his daughter in mariage. This Wen [...]slaus [...]g of Bo­ [...] ma­ [...]. Wenceslaus is canonisated for a saynt, and is wor­shypped. Rudolphe subdued the Bourgundians also. In Alsace dyd he take by violence those cities that rebelled and conspyred agaynst hym, and pu­nyshed them worthely: amonge those were Hage­no [...], Colmar, Tzurig and Berne.

The yeare .M. cclxxxvi. dyd he inuade the Erle of Wirtenberg, and besyeged the citie Studtgard: at the laste was an accorde made by the byshop of Mentz.

The yeare .M. ccxc. had Rudolphe a great par­liament at Erfurde▪ and by the aide of the citie Er­furde Erfurde. did he spoyle & cast downe about .iij. score hol­des in Thuringe. O [...] this wyse fynally dyd Ru­dolfe bryng the troubled & full of sedicion estate of Germany, whyle it had no certayn Emperours to a peaceablenesse, and dyd in a maner set vp the de­cayed empyre. He dyed the yere of Christ M. ccxcii.

[Page clxx]Innocencius the .v. succeded Gregorius the .x.

Adrianus the .v. succeded Innocencius.

Iohannes the .xxi. a phisicion succeded Adrianꝰ

When Iohannes was deade, Nicolaus the .iij. was made byshop of Rome. He went about to geue his two cosins the two kyngdomes of Italy, that the one should be kyng of Hetruria, the other kyng of Lombardy: For the Romysh byshop sawe that Rudolphe had more then ynough to do in Germa­ny, and thought he coulde not therefore come into Italy. But the imperiall cities wythstode the by­shop of Romes enterpryses, that they could not prosper, and Rudolphe sent a Lieutenaunt into Italy also.

Adolfe the .xxviii. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .M. ccxcij. was Adolfe Adolfe coūte of Nassau Emperoure. counte of Nassau chosen Emperour. The same was before in greate estimacion by Rudolphe. Besydes that was his bro­ther byshop of Mentz, and by his voyce in the elec­tion was he holpen to be made Emperoure. He raygned syxe yeares, and was deposed from the empyre by the Electours: For hys substaunce was not sufficient to sustayne the costes of the Empe­ryall hyghnesse: Besydes that was he very in for­tunable in dispatchynge greate thynges. The warre, worthy of remembraunce that he hath had, was that he brought an army into Thuryngen. For Albert Landtgraue of Thuringen had a [Page] stryfe wyth his sonne Dieterus, and Frederick surnamed Gnawed cheke. And the same solde to Adolfe the Emperoure the prouinciall Erldome of Thuringen. He also endeuoured to make his kynreds nobilitie more renowmed, and went into Thurin­van, and dyd much harme to it. He besyeged Crutzberg, Frankenstein and Friburg: But Frederick droue him back agayn. Howbeit to apeace sundry & many perturbacions that were at that tyme in the empyre, it was requisite to haue a more puyssaun­ter heade in Germane. And therefore the princes Electors makyng an assembly at Mentz, they chose Albert duke of Eastenrich, sonne to the Emperour [...] du [...]e [...]f [...]ste [...]rich Rudolphe. But for asmuche as Adolfe would kepe the empyre by force, duke Albert went against hym with an army, and they fought fearcely together by Worms. In that battayll was Adolfe slayne the yeare .M. ccxcviij. as these verses folowynge do witnesse.

After Nicolans the .iiij. was Celestinus the .v. made byshop of Rome. The same leauynge the by­shoprycke became an heremite.

After Celestinus became Bonifacius the .viij. Byshop of Rome. It is sayde that Celestinus was begyled by thys man with a voyce spoken to hym through a rede or pype, as though it wer come out of heauen, that he should forsake the byshopricke, & ordeyne Bonifacius. He raysed greate warres in Italy. He dyd excommunicate the Frenche kyng, [Page clxx] and gaue the tytle of the Frenche kyngdome to Al­berte the Emperoure, that by this meanes at the last the Garmanes and frenchemen might come to strokes. At the last was Bonifacius taken, and dy­ed in the pryson. And hereby commeth that it is A feate saieng by Bonifaci [...] the .viij. sayde of hym: He entred as a Foxe, he reygned as a Wolfe or Lion, he died as a Dogge.

Albert the .i. xxix. Germane Emperoure.

the .M .cc. xcviij. yere of Christ began Al­berte Albert Emperoure duke of Estenriche. duke of Eastenriche, sonne to Rudolphe the Emperoure to raygne. He ruled the empire ten yeres: he ouercame in battaill Adolfe the Emperoure. At the first would not bonifacius confirme Albertus empyre: afterwarde did he frely cōfirme it, to do the Frenche kyng a spi­te, and geuyng Albert the title of the kyngdome of Fraunce, he set hym agaynst the Frenche kynge. But the kyng of Fraunce geuyng hys daughter to Alberts sonne, he appeased hym, that he should en­terpryse no enimitie agaynst hym. He made a set­tynge forth agaynst Bohemy, and made his sonne kyng of Bohemy. He dyd so tame Bohemy and Mentz, whiche made fyndely confederacions toge­ther that they obeyed the empyre.

At the last was he slayne of his brothers sonne & some erles of Eastenryche. It was happely Gods pleasure so, lest the manslaughter that he had done against Adolfe the Emperoure should be vnpuny­shed. For though he was not of lyke power: yet in the meane season ought he to haue worshipped him as his lorde, ordeyned of God. The kyllers of hym [Page] were punyshed also. For God letteth not manquel­lers [...]n example of vengeaūce vnpunyshed.

Benedictus the .x. was byshop of Rome after Bonifacius the .viij.

The remouing of the Romysh byshops se from Rome into Fraunce.

WHen Benedictus the .x. was deade, Cle­mens the .v. was made byshop of Rome. The same dwelt at Lions in Fraunce, & absolued the Frenche kyng of the excommunication. Wherfore sence that tyme, which was the yeare .M. cccv. was the byshop of Romes see translated from the citie Rome, to Auinion in Prouence a contry of Fraunce .xvii. yeres.

At this tyme were the Fratri [...]elli, whiche were [...]ricelli. euen of lyke opinion with the Anabaptistes, that in oure dayes go astraye: their opinion was, that no­man should haue ought propre or of hys owne, that Christen men should not gouerne cōmon welthes, and suche lyke madde opinions had they.

Of the Turkes.

IN the tyme of Albert of Eastenriche, be­gan the kynred of Othomanus to grow Othomānus among the Turkes in power and estimacion: of whose bloude are spronge those kynges of the Turkes that raygne at this tyme.

Henry the .vij. called of Lucelburg, the .xxx. Germane Emperoure.

[Page clxxi] THhe yere of Christ .M. cccix was chosen Henry the vi [...] Emperoure Henry the prince of Lucel­burg. He reigned .vi. yeares. For in the meane tyme that the Romish bishop was in Fraunce, the Frenche kyng desyred inordinatly the dignitie of the empire, and trusted to obteayne his request. througe the consent of the Romish by­shop. But the cōcorde was not long durable betwe­ne the byshop & the Frenche kyng. Wherfore the byshop aduertised the princes Electours, whiche had now long disagreed for the electiō, to hayste to choyse an Emperoure with one consent the prince of Lucelburg, who at that time was demed a most renowmed prince, for his wysdome ioyned with hygh grauitie. As he was chosen, strayght waye dyd the by­shop of Rome cōfirme hym. And thus was the Frē ­che kyng disapointed of his request & endeuoure▪ to remooue the dignitie of the Romish empire to him.

First toke he from the duke of Wirtenberg al his goodes, because he was a rebel to the empyre. To his sonne Iohn gaue he the kyng of Bohemies daughter in mariage: & by this meanes became Iohn prince of Lucelburg, the father of Charles the iiij. kyng of Bohemy.

Afterward went he into Italy with a great ar­my, and made Italy so afrayde of hym, as no Em­peroure had done a greate whyle before hym. Some cities woulde not yelde them to hym, with­out they were compelled by force, namely Cremo­na and Brixia: the residue obeyed frely. At Rome Henry the vij was poisoned of a black frier in the Sa­crament. was he crowned Emperoure. He besyeged Florence with a heuy and strayght syege, at the whiche [Page] tyme (as it is reported) a frere of y ^• preachers order or Black freres, that was made out of the Florentines, destroied Henry with venim, whiche he strake vpon the syngynge breade, yea and the byshop of Rome hymselfe also, beynge now armed with hys weapons, threatened Henry wyth the dart of ex­communicacion, as he perceaued that he began to be sett by in Italy.

Ludouicus or Lewis the Baier, the .xxxi. Germane emperoure. And agaynst hym was chosen Emperour Frederick Duke of Eastenriche.

THe yere of Christ M. cccxiiij. were as­sembled together at Franckforde the princes Electors the bysh. of Mentz▪ Trier and Colen, Ihon kyng of Bohe my, Rudolphe counte Palatine of the Rene, Rudolphe duke of Saxony & Volcmarus marques of Brandenburg. On saynct Lucies daie was chosen Emperoure Lewis the Lewi [...] the Ba [...]er Baier by the byshops of Mentz & Trier, the kyng of Bohemy and Marques of Brandenborowe. And agaynst hym was chosen Friderick duke of Frederick duke of Easten­ [...]che▪ Eastenriche be the byshop of Colen, the cunte Pa­latine and duke of Saxony. Lewis was crowned Emperoure at Aken, & Frederick at Bonne. This controuersye in chosynge, brought an occasion of greate inwarde or ciuyll warre in Germany. The duke of Eastenriche had fauourers the byshop of Rome the kynges of Fraunce and Bohemy, the Schwabes, the counte of Palatine, them of Stras­borow [Page clxxii] and other cities many. But God prospered Lewis, who was lesse of power, & destitute of mans ayde. He raygned .xxxiij. yeares.

The yeare .M. cccxxiij. dyd they stryke a felde by the floude Nechare, whereof both sydes many were slayne.

The yeare .M. cccxxv. on saynt Michaels euen gaue Lewis a greate battaill to Frederick. Frede­rick did ayde Lupoldus hys brother, ioyned wyth Lupoldus. hym the Schwaben and Switcers, and a greate parte of the Hungarians. As for Lewis dyd folow the kyng of Bohemy, and the erle of Norenberg, and some other princes. Now when Lupoldes ta­ried so long, that he could not passe the water, y ^• host of Eastenriche was slayne, and Friderick was ta­ken Friderick du­ke of Easten­riche was ta­ken by a Eb­rarde Mo­sbach. by a Franke, whose name was Ebrarde Mo­sbach: the same led hym to the erle of Norenberg, who sent hym to Lewis. But when Lupoldus sa­we he coulde not helpe hys brother, he was so an­gry and ragious, that he had in a maner vndone hymselfe, had not hys men refrayned hym: whiche also consayled hym to withdrawe, nether dyd rash­ly cast hymselfe into the daunger. Afterwarde assa­yed Lupoldus many thynges inuayne both by the byshop of Rome, and also the Frenche kyng, that he myght take his brother awaye by force: for the Frē che kyng made no greate force of a strange matter Friderick was a prysoner the space of thre yeares in a castel in Baierlande: at the last when the con­trouersy was brought to a poynt, he was let louse vpon this condicion, that he shoulde renounce the empyre: whiche thing when he had frely promised [Page] he was restored into Eastenriche by Lewis. Of this wyse behaued Lewis hymselfe very gently toward his enemy: Lupoldus yet in the meane tyme not ceassynge of raysynge commocions, euen after that Frederick was deliuered.

Afterwarde dyd Iohannes the .xxij. cast hys Lewis is ex­cōmunicated thonder boltes of coursyng agaynst Lewis the Emperoure, because he vsed the Imperyall aucthori­tie and empyres gouernaunce in Italy, before hys coronacion. Thereof rose an occasion of a greate diuision in Germany, and that lasted about .xxiiij. A diuision in Germany. yeares. In the meane tyme rose here and there greate sedicions in the empyre and cyties, and one parte busyed to dryue out and oppresse the other by conspiracion. And though Lewis desyred absolution not once, but often of the byshop of Ro­me, yet could he not obtayne it wyth any prayers, so that both Benedictus that was after Iohan­nes, and other many and honest men dyd refuse the processe. There are yet now a dayes wrytynges of the controuersie, wherein the Romyshe byshop. Iohannes the .xxii. is not ashamed to boaste, that The boastīg of Iohannes [...]he .xxij. bysh. he hath the full power and aucthoritie to make and depose, not onely kynges, but also all Emperoures at hys pleasure. By thys it maye be gathered ease­ly, that the Romyshe byshop vsed so greate hatred agaynste the Emperoure, for no very weyghty cause. There were also about that tyme some lear­ned men, whiche openly blamed the Romyshe by­shops writynges, amonges these was Occam one▪ Ocam a re­ [...]ouer of the [...]om [...]h bish. the princes of Germany euery one, as wel ecclesia­sticall, as of the nobilitie helde with the Emperour: [Page clxxiii] at the last were some compelled by the byshop of Rome to fall back, and also to choyse another Empe­roure.

Lewis had very greate vproures in Italy. Ga­leacius Galeacius of Milan. of Milan, and the counsayll of Rome lon­ged for Lewis commyng into Italy. Wherfore he went thether with the Emperesse, which also was delyuered of a chylde at Rome, that was called Lewis the Romane, and was afterwarde by the Emperoure made marques of Brandenborowe. At Milan was Lewis crowned of the bysh. there, and at Rome of the Cardinall de Columna. He made also Peter of Corbaria byshop of Rome, who was not longe after caried bounde to Auinion in Fraunce, to Iohannes the .xxii. who cast hym into pryson, wherein he dyed.

But whyle allthys was adoynge, Lewis by no Lewis the Romane. requestes coulde optayne to be released of the excō ­municacion by the byshop of Rome. But forsoeth the Romysh byshop brought that to passe wyth his busy laboure at length, that in an assembly or daye holden at Lucelburg, the byshops of Mentz, Trier and Colen, the kyng of Bohemy and duke of Sax­on, dyd choyse another Emperour. There was chosen Charles the fourth erle prouincial of Morauia, the sonne of the kyng of Bohemy. The same was then confirmed by Clemens the .vi. byshop of Ro. But for as muche as the cities of Aken and Colen would not knowe hym for an Emperoure, he was crowned at Bon.

Of Nicolaus Augustus, that is, Nicolas the noble, that was at Rome.

[Page] ABout this tyme happened at Rome an Nicolas the noble or ful of maiestie, an example of notable folye. example of a notable folye: There was at Rome one Nicolas, a towne clarke or recorder of Rome, of suche power and aucthoritie, that one would haue sayde he had the rule of the whole citie: for at that tyme were the Romysh Byshoppes yet in Fraunce. This Nicolas called hymself Tribunus Augustus, that is, the noble hygh officer: and with open scriptures wytnessed, that Rome is yet the true heade of the empyre: and therfore by y ^e citie of Romes aucthoritie, had he the hyghest power to handle maters of the empyre. And by reason of this aucthoritie called he Lewis and Charles to appeare before hym, and to cōmitte their matter to his arbitremēt or iudgement. Ly­ke folyshnesse vsed he oft agaynst other cities and kynges y ^e space of two yeares. At the last this pore Augustus being driuē out by the byshop of Romes partie, fled to Charles the fourth. But Charles sent the rash man to the byshop of Rome at Auiniō, of whom he was kept in pryson.

The yeare of Christ .M. cccxlv. died Lewis the Bayer. And then came Charles with a great hoost out of Bohemy to Regenspurg, where he was knowen for an Emperoure. From thence was he also receaued at Norenberg: for Charles made thē beleue, he had gotten a fauourable absolution of the bishop of Rome to put out the great offences, wherwith they had offended, in that they were adherent to Lewis. When they of Basyl sent out their Bur­gemaisters to Charles, that he in the name of the citie should aske absolution, he answered: he thought [Page clxxv] they had not done amisse, in that they had Lewis for an Emperoure, nether thought he that Lewis was an heritike: yet in the meane tyme if they could be absolued of their trespasses, he wold be content. And thus were they absolued.

The yeare of Christ .M. cccxlviij. when Lewis was now deade, there rose yet a greater discorde: the byshop of Mentz, the counte Palatine, the mar­ques of Brādenburg, and the duke of Saxony, his sonne that hath chosen Charles Emperoure, assembled and refusyng the election of Charles, they chose Edward the iij. kynge of Englande, & Fredrick erle of Misen re­fuse the dignitie Emperial [...] Edward the third, kyng Englande to take vpon hym the maiestie Emperiall: but he refused it, as a thyng ful of cumbraunce. After that chose they Frederick Erle prouinciall of Misen. But he also forso­ke that title of the empyre: for he would not fyght and warre with his neyghbours the Bohemies to vndoe his countrey.

Guntherus Erle of Swartzburg is chosen Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .M. cccl. was cho­sen Emperoure at Franckforde Gun­terus Erle of Schwatzburg, yet not with consent of all the Electors. The­same accepted the gouernaunce of the empyre, and garnyshed with all defen­ce to retayne the empyre, he was armed ynough a­gainste the force of Charles, who then abode at Mentz. But shortly after died Gunterus at Frāckforde sodenly poysoned. Wherefore Charles was Emperoure alone. He came to Franckforde, and [Page] was receiued for an Emperoure.

After Clemens the .v. became Iohannes the xxii. byshop of Rome who without a iuste cause dyd excommunicate the good Emperoure Lewis.

Benedictus the .xi. was made byshop of Rome Benedictus the. [...]i. after Iohannes. The same neuer alowed the ac­tion of Iohannes against the Emperoure Lewis, and when he was made byshop of Rome he had frely absolued hym, had not the kynges of Fraunce and Naples with their threatenynges withstande hym. When in the relacion the orators or embassa­dors of the kinges alledged, that Lewis had enterprysed many haynous thynges against the byshop of Rome. Benedictus answered: yea, we haue done against hym. He liued not long in the byshopricke, & therefore dyd al the causes hang vndispatched.

Clemens the .vi. was made byshop after Bene­dictus. The same renewined the thonder boltes cast against Lewis, and persued hym moste fearce­ly: though in the counsayll of Vienne in Fraunce were treated in the meane tyme of the condicions of peace, and that Lewis declared hymselfe hum­ble. This Clemens bought the citie Auenion of Io­anna Auenion a ci­tie p [...]pall. quene of Sicily, and so hath the byshop of Ro. aucthoritie vpon this citie.

Moreouer at this tyme went about here & therin The [...]de­ [...]r [...] in [...] ­many & Fraū ce [...]g themsel [...]s. in Germany and Fraunce, a great nomber of men, whiche did beate themselues with roddes. Many of them came to Spire, when the day or parliamēt was holden there pretending great holynesse. For their holinesse sake were they bidden to the meales of the citesens. And as the deceate of the erroure [Page clxxvi] dyd not differ from the Anabaptistes supersticious opinion: euen so was that secte no lesse daūgerous in those daies. But at the last it was condemned.

Innocentius the .vi. succeded Clemens. In his tyme was Charles the .iiij. crowned at Rome.

Charles the .iiij. the .xxxij. Germane Emperoure.

THe yere of Christ .M. cccl. began Charles y ^• Charles y ^• iiij iiij. to raigne, after y ^e death of Guntherus of Schwartzburg. He was a prince of y ^e bloud of Lucelburg, the sonne of Ihon kyng of Bohemy: for Iohn was y ^e sonne of Henry of Lucelburg. Frō this yere of .M. cccl. reigned Charles. xxvii [...]. yeres

The yeare .M. ccclv. went Charles downe into Italy, & was gently receaued of the cities. At Ro. the senate & all the best metyng Charles, did recea­ue hym with all reuerence. He likewyse, to declare to the Romanes his gentlenesse, lyghted from his horse, & receaued on fote the yelding of the citie. Af­terward was he crowned of the cardinal of Hostia. The cities of the bysh. of Rome in Italy, that were rebels, subdued he to do the Romysh byshop a plea­sure, so that they repyned nomore. I fynde none o­ther thynges that he dyd in this iourney.

They yeare .M. ccclx. he ouercame and sp [...]yled Ebrardus erle of Wirtenberg with a great army. But at the last was the debate layde downe, by the byshop of Ausburg, Strasburg and Spire.

The yeare .M. ccclxvi. went Charles agayne in to Italy, in the whiche iourney he assuaged and subdued some cities, desyrous of vproure.

[Page]Charles besyeged also y ^• citie Vlme, but I reade no where for what cause. For oure Germanes not knowyng the propertie of histories, haue not taken hede to the circumstaunces and causes of thynges. Charles the [...] maker of y ^e gold [...] buile

Charles hath deserued greate thankes for the golden bulle that he made, wherein he hath hand­somly comprised many thynges, that make to entertayne common peace. He did chefely endeuoure & procure the affayres of Bohemy. He ordeined the: The viuersi­tie of Praga in Bohempe. vniuersitie of Praga. Some there are that disa­lowe, that he gaue the French kyng ryghtes in the kyngdome of Orleaunce.

The yeare .M. ccclxx. caused Charles his sonne Wenceslaus to be made Emperoure. To his other sonne Sigismundus gaue he the Erldome of the marques of Brādenburg, the which he had bought of Lewis the Romane.

The yere .M. ccclxxvii. fought Vdalricus Erle of Wirtenberg mishappely, before the citie Rut­lingen. The battayll by Rutlingē In that battaill dyed many and noble men.

Switzer league.

ABout this tyme began the Switzer lea­gue, The Swi­tzers league. and first the citie Lucerna, then Berna, at the last Tzurich dyd ioyne themsel­ues to the Switzers: and the noble prince Lupoldus duke of Eastenriche, was ouercome Lupoldus duke of Eastenriche was slam by the Swit­zers. and slayne by the Switzers the yere .M. ccclxxxv.

But for as muche as there are in mans handes euery where histories of the Switzers dedes. I reken it neoelesse to make longe rehersall of their ac­tes in this lytle boke.

[Page clxvi]Vrbanus the v. succeded Innocentius the v [...].

Gregorius the x [...]. was byshop of Rome after Vrbanus. The same remoued y ^• see out of Fraunce to Rome agayne, the yeare MCCCLXXVI.

A diuision

AFter Gregorius the xi. rose a greate di­uisiō A diuisiō af­ter Gregory us the .xi. in the spiritualtye. The Italians made an Italian Byshoyp of Rome cal­led Vrbanus the vi. and the same remayned at Rome. The Frenchmen also chose a Byshop of Rom. in Italy, whome they called Clemens the vii. The same gat hym to Auinion. Thus was Rome diuided, and ther were two byshoppes of Rome: the one dyd accurse the other. Truely Ita­ly, Germany and Hungary dyd hange to Vrbanus the byshops of the Romanes. Thys diuision lasted vntyll the councel of Constance .xxxix. yeares.

Wenceslaus the .xxxiii. Ger­mane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .M. ccc. lxxviij. after Wēceslaus Emperour. Charles deceasse, began Wenceslaus his sonne to raygne, and raygned after hys fathers death .xxii. yeares.

At thys tyme began Ihon Husse opēly to teache Ihon Husse teacheth opē lye agaynst pardons. at Praga agaynst the byshop of Romes pardones: and by thys occasion rose hurteful insurrections in Bohemy agaynst prestes and religious men.

Wenceslaus was at the laste taken by hys bro­ther Sigismundus, and kept at Vienne in preson. Other thinges do I not fynde of this Wenceslaus that I iudge worthy to be put in writynges.

Rupertus the xxxiiij. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christ .M. CCCC. was Rupertus the counte Palatine made Rupertus Emperoure. Emperour. He raigned tenne yeares. But seynge the Emperours had now ben long from Italy, the power of the kynred of Galeacyus was waxen greate at Milan and the Florentins were become ryche also, and warred agaynst them of Milane. The Florentins asked ayde of Rupertus the Emperoure, to repre­sse the power of the Galacians. Wherefore Ruper­tus went vppe into Italy to helpe the Florentius. and toke Galeacins. Howbeit Rupertus beyng destitute of the assistaunce of the duke of Easten­riche, and bishop of Colen, was to weake, than that he coulde haue brought so greate thynges to passe: and though he had assayed many thinges, yet was he constrayned to returne agayne into Germanye hys bussinesse beyng not dis [...]p [...]rched.

Bonifacius the .ix. was made bishop at Rome after Vrbanus.

And against him was made bish. after Clemens y ^e .vii. Petrus de Luna called Benedictus the .xii.

After Bonifacius was Innocentius y ^•. vii made byshop at Rome.

After Innocētius was Gregorius the xii. made byshop at Rome. The same promysed y ^• he woulde renounce the byshoprycke, yf Benedictus lykewise dyd not refuse to renounce also. But whā Benedictus fled into Spayne, leauyng Auinion, Gregori­us reuoked hys promise concernyng to resigne the [Page clxxvii] byshoprycke. Wherefore was a councell gathered at Pysis, whereyn bothe Gregorius and Benedic­tus were deposed of the byshoprycke, and in theyr steade was the thyrde Romysh byshop chosen Alexander the .v. Gregorius fled to Ariminum, where he remayned vntill the counsel of Constance was. Alexander the .v. dwelt at Bonony, for the Hungarians hauing than taken in Rome, vsed incredible tirāny, & warred with the Frenchmen for Naples.

After Alexander the .v. was Ioannes the .xxiii. The diuision of thre Rom. vysh. made byshop of Rome at Bonony. And of this wise were a lyue, vntil the general councel of Constance thys Ioannes the .xxiii. at Bonony, Gregorius at Ariminum and Benedictus in Spayne. But they were all thre set besyde y ^• Romyshe byshopryck in that councel.

Of Tamerlanes the ty­raunt of Tartaria.

IN the time of Rupertus the Emperour Tamerlanes a tyraunt. lyued the passynge cruell tyraunte Ta­merlanes the Tartarian, who by greate spoylynge, wente aboute nearehande al y ^• East and Asia, with an armye of tenne hundreth thousande men. He spoyled the Perseans, Arme­nians and Syrians. He inuaded also the lesse Asia and toke Paiasetus the Turkysh Emperoure, and caryed hym in a cage as a byrde aboute wyth hym for a wonder and mockage.

Sigismundus the .xxxv. Ger­mane Emperoure.

[Page]THe yeare of Christe .M.CCCC. after Sigismun­dus Empe­roure. Rupertus the Emperours deceasse was Sigysmundus made Emperoure. He was the sonne of Charles the fourthe, marques of Brandenburg, kynge of Hungary and Bohemye. He was Emperour seuen and twentye yeares. He was a moost famous prince in wisedome, learnyng and honestye: suche one of stature, as was semynge a lyke prince. His countrefaytoure very connyng­ly made, is to be sene yet this daye, by the erle Hoi­er of Mansfelde. He had greate warres in Hunga­ry agaynst the Hungaryans of the whyche he was taken. He fought oft agaynst the Turkes. But whan he was made Emperoure, he made a greate settyng forth agaynst the Turkes with the ayde of all nacions, whereof we shall speake hereafter

Of the councell of Constance.

IN the beginnynge of Sigismundus raygne he went vp into Italye, and toke counsell with Ioannes the bysh of Ro. of callinge a generall councel for to auoyde the diuision. He went also to the Frenche kynge, and com­pelled hym to agre to the callynge a general coun­cell. Wherefore by the consent of the byshop of Ro. Ioannes, the Emperoure, and also the kynges of Fraunce, Spayne and England, was the councell of Constance begonne the yeare .M. C C C C. xiiii. to the whiche came Ioannes the Byshop of Rome hymselfe.

The Emperoure Sigismundus came to Con­stance [Page clxxviii] before Christmasse, and at masse songe he the gospell as Deacon: Ther went oute a commaun­demente from Augustus the Emperoure &c.

Afterwarde was ther treated of Ihon Husse, He that wyll knowe the whole histo­ry of Ihon Husse & Hie­rō of Pragga y ^t were burnt in y ^e councel at Cōstāce, let him read Eneas silui­us ī his boke of y ^E begin­ning & dedes of y ^e Bohemies y ^e .xxxv. & xxxv. chapy. and hys doctryne beyng condemneth, he was burneth wyth Hieronimus of Praga. After that treated they to a peace the diuisyon, and deposyng the byshoppes of Rome. Ioannes the .xxiij. Gre­gorius and Benedictus, was chosen in the see O­thode Columna, who was called Martynus the fyfte.

But whan it repented Ioannes the .xxiii. that he had consented frelye to the renouncynge of the Byshoprycke of Rome, he wente aboute to flye pryuelye, wyth the ayde of Frederyck duke of Easten­ryche. But in the flyghte Ioannes was had backe agayne, by the Emperoures men. And the duke of Eastenryche was bannyshed by the Emperoure, and some of hys townes taken in hys duchye. At the last was the debate layed downe of thys wyse: It was coūselled Frederyck, that he frely yeldyng to the Emperoure all hys landes, shulde humblye requyre forgeuenesse of hys offence. Wherefore by the Emperoures gentlenesse and fauoure he was restored in the duchy of Eastenryche.

But Ioannes the byshoppe of Rome, was dely­uered to the counte Palatyne to be kepte. The­same caried him int y ^e castel Māheym, not farre frō the citye Heidelberg: there was he kepte the space of thre yeare. After y ^t was he receaued to grace by [Page] Martinus the Romish bish. and made a Cardinal. Whan of this wise that hurteful diuision that was betwene the bishops of Rome was anoyded, peace and reste was restored to the churche, and that by the endeuoure and procurement of Sigismundus the Emperoure, who therefore deserued greate prayses.

The residue that were done in that assemble or councel, is no nede to rehearse: for whole bokes are wrytten thereof.

Of the prouincial erles of the mar­queship of Brandenburg.

THe yeare of Christ .M. C C C C. xvii. the fyrste sondaye after Easter, dyd Sigys­mundus the Emperour in the councell geue to the mooste prayse worthy prince Fridericke Burgraue of Norinberg, the ryghte of Imperyall election, and the prouincyall marque­shyp of Branbenburge: and that for hys excellent vertues, and greate truste, that he had shewed in dispatchinge great causes of the empyre. But truely it were long to rechearse here how noble princes haue ben both before thys dignitye was gotten, & also afterward in this progeny of Burgraues: yee and before hath oft ben made mēcion of them. But after that they were made Electors, they were di­ligente euer in treatynge the greateste and mooste weightyest matters of the empyre, for the whyche thynges sake shalbe oft made mēcion of thē hereaf­ter. Wherfore in the histories of our time, is Albertus the Marques praised before al other, who for [Page clxxvii] his vertues sake is surnamed y ^• germane Achilles.

It is also not vnknowen in oure dayes, y ^• Mar­ques Ioachim of Brandenburg Elector, my moost gentle lorde, and his brother Albert Cardinal and Elector, Archebyshoppe of Mentz and Magden­burge &c. are garnyshed with hygh wysedome, and all princely vertues: and that therfore theyr coun­sel & ayde is requyred before other in hyghe and harde matters, not only concernynge the empyre, but also to y ^• whole Christiantie. Nother cā it other wyse be in gouernaunces and dominions, y ^• whych so longe as they haue theyr beynge, must be deser­ued and maynteyned by the wysedome of men of greate authoritye, whiche thynge the Wysedome her selfe wytnesseth in holye scriptures, sayenge: By me kynges do raygne.

Whan the councell was broke vp, many settyng forth were appoynted agaynst the seditions and e­uell disposed men, whiche spoyled and robbed both churches & monasteryes after Ihon Husses death Zischa captayn of the Hussites sect. Theyr captayn was called zyscha. Greate man­slaughter was of both sydes, of the Bohemes and Germanes, which went against them: yet was not The settyn [...] forth of Sy­gismundus agaynste th [...] Turkes. that brunt of vproure so quenched. Sigismundus (as we sayd before) had prepared & brought vntill Adrianopolis a verye greate army of Germanes, Frenchmē, Italians & Hungarians against y ^• Tur­kes. In this setting forth were most greatest prin­ces y ^• Emperour Sigismundus & Philippe duke of Burgundion. But by reason the Frenchemen stroue, sayenge they must haue the foreward in the army, y ^• orders were broken, not without an incre­dible [Page] losse of Christen men: for theyr enemyes van­quyshed them, and the duke of Burgundy was ta­ken. Sigismundus the Emperour fled to Constan tinople. After longe season after, was the duke of Burgundy delyuered.

A mery story is recited of Sigismundus. He The history of Sigisinū ­dus with his seruaūt. had a seruaunt y ^• was many yeares familiar wyth him, whom he had not greatly rewarded, (though in the meane season he was a liberal & free prince,) which thing Leonardus Aretinus also doth write who sawe Sigisinūdus the Emperour, & had done many messages to him, on the bysh. of Ro. behalfe. It fortuned that whā he was ridden into a water, hys horse dyd stalle. Whyche thinge whan the ser­uaunt, that went strayght before the Emperoure did see, he sayd in sporte: The horse was of lyke na­ture that hys lorde was. The Emperour hearyng it by chaunce, maruayled, & commaunded to shewe him what he saide. The seruaunt aunswered. The horse pourech out water into the ryuer, where as is water ynough alredy. Euen so is the Emperour lyberall to those, whych haue ryches plenty, & nede them not greatly. Sigismundus the Emperoure perceaued that he was aduisedly touched or taun­ted, that he had not rewarded hys olde seruaunt with some peculyar or greate rewarde, and sayd: He neuer wanted the wyll to recompense, but that princes gyftes are not properlye theyrs, that de­serue them: but theyrs that they are appoynted by Goddes prouydence and dysposycyon. The same sayde he that he woulde proue wyth the dede, so soone as he shulde be at leasure and reste. After­warde [Page clxxx] whan the Emperour had gotten leasure he caused to make two boxes of one bygnesse and fa­shion. In the one he put golde, in the other leade of lyke weyght, and callyng the seruaunt, he bad hym take one of the boxes. The seruaunt being abashed weyed now the one boxe, than the other douting y ^• whiche he myghte rather take: at the laste he toke y ^• boxe, wherein the leade was. Which whan he had opened, the Emperour sayde: It may be sene openly, that hys wyli was not in the faute, why he was not rewarded hetherto, but hys misfortune. This dede wythnesseth verely, that the Emperoure dyd wysely consyder, that the fortunable prosperity of The prospe­rity cōmeth of God. Albert duke of Eastērich. thynges commeth of God.

Sigismūdus the Emperour had no heyre man­kynne, he gaue hys only doughter to Albert duke of Eastenryche, who became kyng of Hungary and Bohemy by that meanes.

The yere .M. CCCC. xxxiiii. whyle Sigismun­dus was yet alyue, began the councel of Basil. For The cosicel Basil. it was ordeyned in y ^• councel of Constance, that of a newe coūcel shulde be gathered after twelue yea­res. But after that Sigismundus was deade, the bysh. of Ro. holdinge a councell fyrste at Ferraria, and from thence at Florence, letted y ^• furtheraūce of the councel of Basill: and that had he so muche the more easy a do, because ther was no monarche or noble prince that defended the decree: of y ^• coun­cel of Basill.

After that Martinus was deade, Eugenius the iiii. was made bysh. of Ro. The same crowned Si­gismundus Emperour at Rome.

Albert the .ii. of that name, the .xxxvi. Germane Emperour.

THe yeare of Christe .M. cccc. xxxviii. af­ter Albert the .ii. the death of Sigismundus, was Alberte, a prince of the bloude of Easten­ryche, kyng of Hungarye & Bohemye, made Emperoure. He dyed in the seconde yeare of hys raygne.

Parte of Bohemy dyd cleue to the kyng of Po­len, & endeuoured to drawe y ^• kyngdome of Bohe­my to Polony. The Poles brought a great army into Bohemy, & drew into their faction the vprou­rysh kynde of men called Thaborites. Agaynst thē sent Albert y ^• Emperour Albert marques of Bran denburg. The same brought to passe wyth manye battayls, that the matter was agreed betwene the Emperoure and the Poles.

Albert the Emperoure came wyth a greate ar­my into Hungary, agaynst Amurates the Turke, who at that tyme was fallen into Hungary. Whan Albert the Emperoure came he fled backe, and be­sye gynge the cytye Sinderouien, he returned in­to Grece, and wann the city Thessalonica. In this settynge forth fell Albert into a sycknesse, and be­ynge broughte agayne to Uyenna, dyed wythyn few dayes.

Friderick the .iii. the .xxxviij. Ger­mane Emperoure.

THe yere of Christ .M. CCCC. xl. af­ter Frederick y ^• third. Albertus deathe, was Fridericke the thyrd duke of Estenrich, made Emperoure. He raygned .liii. yeares. [Page clxxxi] The doughter of Sigismundus, wyfe to Albert the Emperoure was now bygge wyth chylde: but some of the Hungaryans despayrynge of an heyre Ioannes Huniades. of the realme, chose Vladislaus the yonger kynge of Polen for a kyng. The kings gouernour in Hungary was Ioānes Huniades, father to Mathias. The same had weakened the power of the Turkes wyth a great battail, and compelled Amurates to Vladislaus. demande peace. But so soone as Vladislaus was come into the realme, the Hungariās trusted, that yf they & the Poles powers were ioyned together, they shuld easely gett great prayse yf they inuaded the Turke. And happely had the yonge kyng Vla­dislaus pleasure in thys prayse. Wherfore Iulia­nus Iulianus the Cardinal. the Cardinall brake the treuce made wyth the Turke, vnder thys pretence and coloure: that it were not lawfull to make peace wyth the Turkes, wythout the Bish. of Romes consente, seyng y ^• case is belonging to whole Christendome. Thus Vla­dislaus gathering an hoost went against Amura­tes vntill Varnam, which is not farr from Cōstan­tinople: though Ioannes Humades in y ^• mean sea­son dissuaded to take warre, because that he knew well the weakenesse of his men, & the power of the Turkes, & also had he made peace with the Turke, not without necessitie. It is also sayd that Vladis­laus desyred ayde of Dracoles y ^• Malache, but he Dracoles y ^• Wlache also dyd counsell to leaue y ^• setting forth to warre. Yet dyd he send his sonn with him to aide king V­ladislaus with two thousand horsemen, to whom he shuld haue said: He gaue hym a couragious and Dracoles gaue Vladi­slaus a horse. swyft horse, suche one as he wold geue to his sonn [Page] also for his mynd gaue that they shuld lose the feld, and therefore shuld they haue these horses at hand that as nede shulde requyre, the myghte troughe theyr swyftnesse escape the daunger. As for the Turkes dyd forse themselues wyth nolesse carfulnesse, than wysedome, and were euery where appoynted in a readynesse, before the Hungaryans were set in an order. Wherefore thoughe the Hun­gariās The battayl by Wardam. fought fearcely for y ^e glory of Christes name and ouerthrwe verye great hoostes of the enemy­es: yet dyd the Turkes at the last ouercome wyth the multitude, stayeng Vladislaus the yong kinge, and afterward was Iulianus the Cardinal slayen also in the flyght. Humades as he was a ware soul dioure, toke hede to hymselfe by tymes, and esca­ped. This felde was the yeare .M. CCCC. xliiii. Amurates be [...]me [...] mōke [...]rp man. the tenth daye of Nouember. Amurates became a Mahometyshe monke after thys vyctorye, suppo­synge to haue accomplyshed hys duetye in the em­pyre, after so greate prosperitye in vanquyshynge hys enemyes, leste he rashely trustynge smylynge fortune farther, dyd stayne hys glorye wyth some euell. But Hunyades dyd inuade and fell vpon Huniades hurteth the Turkes greueously. the Turkes agayn, and dyd hurt them so sore, that they called Amurates agayn to the realme, to resist Hunyades their enemy, and shuld driue him out of Hūgary. Afterward whā Cōstantinople was lost, Huniades ouercame Mahomet y ^e Turkishe Emperour bringing into Hūgari an hurtful army with a great discōfitur, & deliuered whole Europa from y ^e fear of daūger. For yf that setting forth had lucked Mahomet y ^e Turkish Emperour, he had now takē [Page clxxii] in not only Italy, but other contryes also.

Whan Vladislaus was deade, the Hungarians receaued the chylde Ladislaus, the heyre of the re­alme, borne of Sigismundus doughter, for theyr kyng. Thys Ladislaus whan he was ful growen, dyed at Praga the haed citye of Bohemy.

The yeare .M. CCCC. xliiij. broughte the Dolphin The Dol­phin and Armeniakes go into Germany. with the Armeniakes an army into Elsace, vntyll Basil, not wythout a greate and horible man­slaughter of the Germanes. Some thynke that Eugenius the bysh. of Ro. sent hym into Germany to trouble the councel of Basil. The Dolphyn had aboute fyue and twenty thousand men. The Swi­tzers The power of the Swi­tzers agaynste the Dol­phin. sent foure thousand men against them, to rescue the citye Basel out of theyr handes. They sett vpon the enemyes wyth so greate strengthe and corage, that none of them gaue backe: and thoughe they coulde not ouercome them, by reason of the multitude of thē, yet left they theyr enemies a bloudy & dolefull victorye. For the Dolphin lost in that battayl about ten thousand men, and was fayne to flye out of Germany, with the residue y ^• remayned

The yeare .M. CCCC. xlix. dyd Albert mar­ques af Brandenburg warre agaynst imperial cityes Norinberg and some other. Thys was called Warre of y ^e cityes. the warre of the cityes. Many princes dyd ioyne themselues to ether syde, and thys warre lasted. ii. yeares. Albert the marques ouerthrue them of Norinberg wyth .viii. battayls.

The yeare .M. cccc. lii. went Friderick into Italy, and was receaued of euery man wyth seastly honoure. In the citye Sena dyd he acomplyshe hys [Page] weddynge wyth Leonora hys spouse, doughter to the kynge of Portingale. Commynge to Rome he was crowned of Nicolaus the fyfte wyth hys quene the .xviij. daye of Marche. Returnyng from Rome at Ferraria made he Borsius of Esta duke. From thence shipped he ouer to Venice, and abode there ten dayes. I haue herde of a man of greate renowme, that it was tolde him of the prince of Venice, who beynge Senator, serued the Emperour Fridericke and the prince of Venice at the table, that Frederick shulde haue sayd at the meale: that he truely wold be a frende to the Venecians conti­nually, but they shulde haue muche trouble and dā ­mage of hys successours.

Of Constantinople Wonne by the Turkes.

THe yeare of Christe .M. CCCC. liiii y ^e xxix daye of Maye after longe syeggat Mahometes the Turkysh Em­peroure the citye Constātinople at y ^e laste with a very strong assaulte: and vsed thereyn so muche cruelnesse, that it can not be expressed wyth no wordes. Con­stantinus Constātinus Emperoure of Constantinople. the Emperoure was slayne by the gate of the cytye, in the flyghte, whose heade caused the Turke to be smytten of, & stycked vpon a pole to be caryed thorow out the citye. He commaunded also [...]table [...]of y ^e [...]whā [...]nn [...]ino pl [...]. to set vp an image of the crucyfyed Christe in the ci­tye, and towrytte vpon it: The same is the God of the Christians. But he commaunded to moke it, and caste fylthe vpon it, and all to defyle it. The [Page clxxxiii] Emperours wyfe and doughters wyth other ho­nest matrones were drawen to a banket, and there were they fyrst misused, after that hewed to peces These examples, and other mooste cruel dedes of y ^e Turkes, ought duely to rayse and styrre our mindes, that we shulde earnestly fight agaynst those e­nemyes, The Turkes are beastes & not tirauntes whyche one nede not to call tyrauntes, but rather cruel beastes.

The yeare .M. CCCC. lxi. dyd the bysh. of Ro. depose Dietericke of Isenburge from hys byshop­rycke, and in hys steade was made Adolphe of Na­ssau. This chaunce gaue an occasion of greate war­res in the Empyre. Friderick the counte Palatyne toke vpon hym to defende & retayn byshop Diete­rych. Agaynste the same dyd the Emperour sturre the erles of Wyrtenberg and Baden, and the bysh. of Mentz. Whan these spoyled y ^e contry of y ^e count Palatine, they were taken by Frideryck count Palatine about the yeare .M. CCCC. lxii.

The same yeare dyd contrarye wyse Adolfe the byshop take in the citye Mentz.

The yeare .M. CCCC. lxiij. was Friderick the Emperoure strongly besieged in the castel at Vien­na, by hys cityesins, and the doer of thys was Al­bert, the Emperours brother: but George kyng of the Bohemes delyuered the Emperoure, driuing awaye the cityesins.

The yere .M. CCCC. lxxiiii. dyd Charles prince of the Burgundyons besyege the towne Nuce a whole yeare, and that because the chapiter chanōs of Colen had dryeuen out Rupert byshoppe of Colen, whome Charles wold haue restored agayne. [Page] But whan he went about to, turne the byshopryck of Colen from the empyre &, haue gotten it to him, the Emperour appoynteth an army agaynst hym.

The captayne of the hoost was Albert marques of Brandenburg, and the empyres standardebea­rer Albert duke of Saxony. At the last whan di­uersly was treated of alayenge the debate, Char­les gaue place: and it is sayde, that at y ^• tyme was fyrst treated of geuyng Maximilian the doughter of Charles of Burgundy.

The yeare .M. CCCC. lxxvii. was the duke of Burgundy vanquished by Nansen, by them of Lo­tayn and the Switzers, and slayne. For Charles had taken from them of Lorain Nansen: & in Switzerland Nansen▪ Gransen. had he taken in Gransen, and other small townes: besides that also, caused he in the towne of Gransen, to be hanged .v. C. and .xii. Germanes.

Whan Charles was deade, the Frenchemen en­terprised to ioyne Flaunders and Brabant to theyr kingdom, & this desyre of the Frenchmen brought the cause of great warres. But whan the Burgundions wold not that theyr duchies shuld be straun­ged or alienated from Charles doughter, they delivered to wedde Charles doughter to Maximilian Maximili­ane. son to Friderick the Emperour. Wherfore Maxi­miliane went wel appointed into Brabāt, the yeare M. cccc. lxxvii. and wedded Mary Charles doughter: whereby it came to passe, that he augmēted not a litle the glory of the Eastenrychs name, and that Maximiliā did many renowmed prowesses, to de­fende those countryes agaynste the assaulte of the Frenchemen.

[Page cxciiii]The yeare .M. cccclxxxvi. was Maximilian made Emperoure: at Aken he was crowned the tenth daie of Apryll. When he was chosen Emperoure at Franckforde, Albert marques of Brandenburg dyed there, whome the Italian history writers also do geue the prayse of a sage and wyse prince, and al­so a doughty man of armes.

The yeare .M. cccclxxxvii. was Maximiliane Maximilian istakē at Brudgis. taken of his subiectes at Brudgis in Flaūders, by a preuy trayne of the Frenchemen. But when Frede rick came downe into lowe Germany, furnyshed wyth the ayde of the whole empyre, Maximilian was letten fre of them of Brudgis.

The yeare .M. ccccxc. he asked agayne and toke Frederick dyeth. possession of his hereditary landes of the duchy of Eastenriche, the whiche Mathy kyng of Hungary had taken in.

The yere M. ccccxciii. dyed Frederick the third Emperonre in the towne Lyntz, and was buried at Vienne. The same yeare dyd the Turkes fall in to Croacia: but they were dryuen backe agayne by Maximiliane, that then was in Eastenriche, surny­shed wyth an army of fyftenth ou saude men.

When Eugenius the .iiij. was deade, Nicolaus Nicolaus the v. a fauourer of learnedinē the .v. was made by shop of Rome. Friderick the Emperoure was crowned of hym, and he entertayned with moste hygh liberalitie not onely learned men of Italy: but also suche as were fled from Con stantinople to Rome, namely Gaza, Trapezontius, Argyropylos, by whose procurement al good scien­ces are renewed and amended.

Calistus the .iij. was bysh. of Ro. after Nicolaus.

[Page]Pius the .ij. before called Eneas Syluius succe­ded Eneas Sil­uius. Calistus. He was Frederick the Emperoures Chaunceller. He had gathered a greate army of all nacions against the Turkes: but while the army is demissed without doynge any thyng.

Paulus the .ij. was after Pius.

Xystus the .iiii. was by shop of Rome after Pau­lus. In his tyme the yeare .M. cccclxxx. dyd Ma­hometes Mahometes besyeged Hy­druntum. the Turkysh Emperour besyege Hydruntum in Italy, and wanne it, vsyng therein incredi­ble tyranny. Italy was so asrayed, that Xystus the Romysh byshop made hrm reade to flye into Fraunce. But Mahometes died the same time when Hy­druntum was a takynge, and that by some destiny, lest he should straie farther into Italy. Moreouer Alfons [...] kyng of Naples. whyle this was dayng, Alfonsus kyng of Naples, warred with them of Sena: but when he harde the tydyngs of Hydruntum, he haisted to returne into his kyngdome, and getteth the besyeged citye Hy­druntū out of the Turkes handes. For whyle Ma­hometes was deade, and that the Turkes haysted now to returne home, lest any variaunce myght ry­se in their kyngdome, Alfonsus obteined the citie easely, driuyng the Turkes out of Italy.

After Xystus was Innocētius the .viii. by. of Ro.

Alexander the the .vi. was made byshop of Ro. The prince of [...]rbinas sa­yenge. after Innocentius. The same had a sonne duke of Valencia, whom he made prince of Vrbinas. Hys sayeng it was: O Cesar, o nullo. that is: Ether Em­peroure, or nothyng. At the last was he nothyng. For he was slayne for his sundry craftes, that were mengled with gite and deceate.

[Page clxxxv]The beginning of the science of printyng, is sayd The science o [...] printyng. to haue bene vnder Frederick the thyrd: and thys science of boke printing they saye to haue ben found fyrst at Mentz, the yeare .M. cccc. xl.

The craft of the gonnes is much elder, & it is supposed The craft of gonnes. that the same was also founde in Germany, by a frear the yeare .M. ccc. lxxx.

Maxi milianus the .xxxviii. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare of Christe .M. ccccxciiii. began Maximilia­nus the Em­peroure. Maximilianus hys raygne, when his fa­ther was deade, with whome he gouer­ned the empyre his lyfe tyme .viii. yeres. But after hys fathers deceasse raygned he .xxv. yeares. Though the begynnynges of the empyre were lowe and weake: yet at the last turned they to hygh auauncement and encrease of the Germane kyngdome.

In the begynnynge of Maximilanus raygne, Charles with the bunched back the Frē ­che kyng. brought Charles wyth the crooked backe an army into Italy, and toke Naples. But a yeare after, when he was returned into Fraunce, gat Ferdinā ­dus the yonger Naples agayne with ayde of Ma­ximilian dryuynge the Frenchemen out of Italy, whiche the Frenche kynge had left at Naples, for a garryson.

Maximilian had many and great battails. First in low Germany. Flaunders and Brabant, in the whiche it is sayd he dyd many noble actes with his owne hande, where of I haue herde some, but I know not the very truth thereof. And would God [Page] there would once come one that is sure of such thynges, who would writh all those histories in a cōplet boke to the prayse of so greate a prince, and myght auaunce worthely, before the worlde the puyssaun­ce and vertues of so doughty an Emperoure. I myselfe Pyrcamer. haue herde of Pyrcamer of Norenberg, that Maximiliane hymselfe had written some of his de­des for certayne yeares. For he sayde: He sayled from Lynda to Constance with Maximilian the Emperoure: and when Maximilian was nowe at leasure in saylyng, he called his Scribe to hym, and rehersed to hym in Latine hys dedes of one yeare, in a moste feate order, with the declaracion of all the circunstaunces and occasions. But when Pyrca­mer thought the Scribe should note some secrete thynge, and therefore would auoyde, the Empe­roure cōmaunded hym to remayne and lysten. Yea and at euening he toke it to Pyrcamer that he had rehersed to rede, and asked: whether that souldi­ours Latine dyd lyke hym? and should haue sayde moreouer: He were mynded to comprehende those thynges so brefely and clerely, that afterwarde learned men might declare them so muche the more di­ligently by their causes and circumstaunces. And Pyrcamer sayde: that no Germane history writer had vsed so pure a stile, as was that of Maximilian: And that after maximilianus death he had asked after this writynge, but he coulde not obteine it. But let this suffyse to be spoken of low Germany.

The yeare .M. ccccxcv. was in the parliament When the duchy of Wirtē berg began. holden at Worms of the earldome of Wirtenberg made a duchy, and erle Ebrarde was made the [Page clxxxvi] fyrst duke.

The yeare .Mccccxcix. toke the Switzers warr The switzers warre against their neigh­bours them of Eastenriche. against their neyghbours them of Eastenrich, the whiche to rescue, Maximiliane came haystely out of Gelderlande, where at that tyme he had to do al so. Wherefore hauing many skyrmyshes of both sy­des, it is certayn that .xx. thousand mē were slayn: at the last was an agrement made.

The yeare .MDi. were euery where figures of Figures of a crosse sene v­pon garmēts. crosses sene vpon mens garmentes. But suche lyke was oft happened before also.

The yeare .MDiiij. was the warre of Baier­lande, The warre of Baier. wherein the Emperoure Maximilianus de­fended the princes of Baier, agaynst Philip count Palatine of the Rene, and duke Ruperte sonne to Philippe the Palatine. For the same maryeng the daughter of George duke of Baier, woulde haue Landshut and thatsame parte of Baier to be geuē ouer to hym by a tytle of inheritaunce. But Ruper­tus dyed with his spouse, whyle this warre was in hand, & the count Palatine was put besyde a great parte of his lordeshyppe by the Emperoures men and them of Wirtenberg. Yea and a great army of the Bohemyes that came to helpe the count Pala­tine, were ouerthrowen of the Emperoure. At the last neuerthelesse Maximilian vsyng no lesse wysdō than fauoure, toke the count Palatine to mercy, lest any perturbacion myght be raysed in the ryght of the election in the empyre, that long sence was alo­wed and approued.

The yeare .MDv. besyeged the army of the Emperoure the duke of Gelders in the citie Arnheym, [Page] and constrayned hym to yelde hymselfe.

The yeare .MDvi. died Philippe sonne to Ma­ximilian, Philip sonne to Maximi­lian d [...]th Maximilian warreth a­gainst the Venecians. Lewis kyng of Fraunce. kyng of Spayne and duke of bourgundy, beyng of age .xxviii. yeares.

The yeare .MDvii. beganne Maximiliane the warre againste the Venecians, no lesse greate then durable: in the whiche befell both many bloudy bat­tails, and wonderfull mutacions. Lewis kynge of Fraunce was first with the Venecians, afterwarde fell he from them to the Emperour. Contrary wy­se the byshop of Rome Iulius, was first of the Em­peroures syde, afterwarde toke he parte with the Venecians. The Venecians lost in this warretheir best cities. Verona, Pauy, Teruas & other many. Howbeit when the Romysh byshop deciuered and fell to the Venecians, the Frenche kyng began to warre vpon hym also, seyng he had yet the Empe­rours souldiours in Italy. Now feared the Empe­roure, lest if he had the victory, he shuld fall into Naples also, and do also some euell at Rome, to the em­pyres destruction. Wherfore he sent the Cardinall Matheus Langius bishop of Saltzburg one of his counsaill to Iulius the byshop of Ro. to demaunde peace, before the Ro. byshop and the Frenche kyng Iulius the by shop of Rom. was discomfited in a bat­taill by the ci­tie Rauennas vpon Easter daye. had foughten a felde. Iulius, for asmuch as he was very well appoynted with the ayde of Spaniardes and Italians, he thought to be sure of the victory, & therfore refused he the peace. The battail was vpō Easter daie the yeare .MDxii. by Rauennas. The byshop of Romes host lay vnder, & there were slain in that battaill syxtene thousand. Nether is there red of a more greuous felde to haue ben about this [Page clxxxvii] tyme, wherein men haue fought so fearcely. But af­ter this victory lost, dyd Iulius frely demaūde pea­ce. Howbeit lest the French kyng enterprisedought farther in Italy, dyd Maximilian and the bysh. of Rome set the kyng of Englande, Germany and the Switzers against hym: and of this wyse was the Frenche kyng at the last constrained to leaue Ita­ly. The Venecians were afterwarde reconciled to to the Emperoure also.

The yere .MDxix. dyed Maximilian the Em­peroure, and thatsame yere the princes Electors What Elec­tors chose Charles that now is Em­peroure. Albert Cardinall byshop of Mentz. Herman by­shop of Colen erle of Wida. Richarde byshop of Trierlorde of Grieffenklau, the deputie of Le­wis kyng of Bohemy. Lewis coūt Palatine of the Rene. Frederick duke of Saxony. Ioachim mar­ques of Brandenburg, did chose lawfull and with great wisdom at Frāckford Charles duke of Eastē ryche and Bourgundy, and kyng of Spayne, the xxviii. daye of Iune.

Pius the iij. was bysh. of Ro. after alexander the vi. The same died shortely after.

Iulius the .ij. succeded Pius. Against him wrote Bernardinꝰ the Cardinal in the tyme of the Venecian warre of kepyng a counsail. The matter shuld haue geuen an occasion of a diuision, had not Maxi­milian preuented it by his syngulare wisedome.

Leo the .x. sonne to Laurence Medices was made byshop of Rome. after Iulius.

In the tyme of this Leo y ^• yere .MDxvii. wrote Martine Lu­ther▪ Martin Luther fyrst against the Romysh byshops pardons, & from thence rose many disputaciōs after ward, whiche thynge caused no small alteracionin [Page] the churche by the Germanes.

Charles the .v. the .xxxix. Germane Emperoure.

[...]He yeare .MD. xix. was Charles the .v. Charles y ^•. chosen Emperoure the nepheu to Maxi­milians, kynge of Spayne, prince of Ea­stenryche and Burgundy. The Electors sent into Spayne to shewe Charles of this election Fride­rick count Palatine. Wherfore the next yeare after he came into Germany, and was crowned Empe­roure at Aken.

The yeare .MDxxv. was Frances the Frenche Frances the French king taken. kyng taken by Pauy in Lombardy, by the Empe­roures souldiours in a felde, and afterwarde brou­ght into Spayne. Charles vsed a very incredible gentlenesse & moderacion of mynde in so great pro­speritie of victory. For he dyd not onely let fre the Frenche kyng, restoryng hym to his kyngdom: but also bounde hym with affinitie to hym, geuing hym his syster Leonora to wyfe. The capitaines of the battail, whereof we saied euen now, were Nicolas coūt of Salma, George of Frūsberg knight, Mark Sittich, duke Burbon, & the marques Piskerame.

The same yeare were raysed in Germany horri­ble The commotion of vplan [...]y [...]h m [...]n. and neuer afore herde comotions, by vplandishe men in Elsace, Schwaben, Frankenlād, Thuringē, and in those contreis that lye by the Rhene. This commotion was alayed by the great force & armes of the princes, so that within the space of thre monethes nere hande, were slame in battaill aboue hun­dreth thousand vplādysh men, none other wyse thē [Page clxxxviii] as beastes. Moreouer one called Schapler, wrote Schapler. Twelue arti­cles of the se­dicious rusti­kes. xii. artickes of the Christē libertie, among the whi­che this was euen the chefest: Tribute ought not to be geuen to the magistrate or superioritie. By thys doctrine, vpon hope to get libertie, the gretest part of the rustikes beyng enflamed, it is saide to haue taken weapons agaynst their lawfull magistrate. In the towne of Thuringen, called Mulhausen, was a Thomas Mynter. preacher, called Thomas Mynter. The same prea­ched openly, that he shoulde restore the decayed sta­te of the churche: and dyd boiste, that reuelacions were priuely shewed him: and that Gedeons sword was geuen hym, to roote out the tyranny of the vngodly. He led forth by heapes the vplandish men, and commaunded the houses of gentlemen to bee spoyled, and the goodes of monasteries to be polled and waisted. But when the rustical armies spoiled euery where without order, the prince of Saxony and Landgraue of Hesse destroied them. Thomas Mynter and some of his felowes were takē and be­headed, and were punyshed for their enterpryse. This Mynter was the first begynner of the madde erroure of the Anabaptistes, which yet causeth muche ado in Germany.

The yere .MDxxv. dyd Iohn Oecolampadius Iohn Ocal [...] ­padius & Huldrich Zwin­glius renew the doctrine of Berengarius [...]ndreas [...]a­rolestadius. at Basel, and Huldrich zwinglius in zwizerlande fyrst of all with there writing renewed the doctrine of Berengarius that in the bread and wyne was not really present the body and bloude of Christe, though the yeare before the learned man Andrew Carolostadius had proposed the same argument.

The yeare .MDxxvi. was Lewis kyng of Hū ­gary [Page] [...]ayne by Solyman the Turkysh Emperour.

The yere .MDxxvij. dyd duke Burbon brynge Rome taken by Burbon. the Emperoures hoost to Rome, the citie was besieged and taken, and also spoyled. The byshop of Ro. constrayned by necessitie into the Castell angel, yel­ded hymselfe to the Emperoures men: but the Emperoure of his gentlenesse let hym fre agayne, and restored hym to hys former dignitie, that the com­mon peace of Christendome were nothyndered.

The yere .MDxxix. went Charles into Italy, & was receaued of all princes and cities, with moste hygh honoures.

The same yeare in the moneth of October the With what an [...]ost So­l [...]yd be [...]ge [...]iēn [...]. Turkysh Emperoure Solyman brought about a hundreth and fourty thousand men into Germany whiche nomber they shoulde afterward haue boa­sted themselues in the citie Cracowe in Polen: and besieged the citie Vienne certayn wekes and assaul­ted it greueously. But Friderick count Palatine, apointed by the empire captaine of the souldiours, gatheryng an army with all spede, sent it to Viēne, thre dayes before the Turke besieged it. Philippe counte Palatine was with them in the citie Viēne. Wherfore by the gracious fauoure of God was the citie Vienne so strongly defended, that the Turkish tyraūt was fayne to turne backe agayn with great shame, and losse of hys host. The messaunger of the Poles is reported to haue sayde: that in the assault of Vienne, were slayne about foure score Turkes, and partely to haue dyed by the waye, for lacke of [...]itayls, and fearcenesse of the colde.

The yeare .MDxxx. the .xxij. daye of February, [Page clxxxix] was Charles crowned Emperoure at Bonony by Charles is crowned Emperour at Bonony by the bysh. of Ro. Clemens the byshop of Rome with a great solem­nitie and coste.

After that went he agayne into Germany, and came on Corpus Chist euen at Ausborow, wherthe parliament was adiourned. The chefe princes of Germany came thether, of whom Charles the Emperoure was receaued with high honour. Though The parlia­ment of [...]us­borow. the Emperour assaied many waies to appeace y ^• debates in the religion, & to restore them into a quiet­nesse, yet could no certayne thynge be brought to passe or ordeined, in so great diuersitie of myndes. At the last commaunded he by an open commaundement to retaine and kepe the accostumed maners of ceremonies, and the doctrine afore vsed.

The same yeare. the eight daye of October, was An ouerflo­wyng at Ro. an ouerflowynge at Rome so greate, as no man coulde remembre to haue bene sene, and the same lasted about foure and twenty houres: and when thys ouerflowynge stode styll in the place called Campo Flore, the hyght of a longe moryshpycke, many buildynges, walles, houses and goodes were destroyed.

When Leo was deade, Adrianus alowe Germane, borne at Vtrecht was made byshop of Rome.

After Adrianus was Clemens the .vij. chosen Clemens the vij. is taken. by. of Ro. The same was taken by the Emperours hoost at Rome, for makyng a confederacy with the Frenche kynge, whome also he sent ayde agaynste the Emperor. But the same iniury dyd y ^• very good Emperoure dissemble with hygh softnesse: and lest any occasion myght ryse of a greueous debate [Page] in Christendom, he set the byshop of Rome Clemēs the .vij. at libertie, of whome he was afterwarde crowned at Bonony.

Ferdinande the .xl. Germane Emperoure.

THe yeare .MDxxx. was Ferdināde king Ferdinande kyng of Hun­gary. of Hungary and Bohemy, Archeduke of Eastenriche &c. brother to Charles the Emperoure, made kyng of the Romanes: and that after the example of the aūcient Emperours, which were wont to take to them other, that the empyre myght haue a successor, and that when the other were deade, no debate or occasion of warre myght ryse amonge the princes of the empyre. This elec­tion was at Colen the yeare .MDxxx.

The yeare .MDxxxi. was Ferdinande after the election crowned at Aken in Ianuary.

The same yeare was a Comete sene in Germa­ny, A Comete sene. Italy Fraunce and Englande, about the syxte daye of Auguste, and fyrst appeared it certayne da­yes in the morning before Sunne rising, after that folowed it the Sunne, and was sene the space of. iij wekes about the euenyng, after Sunne sett, vntyll the thyrd daye of September. Hys course was through the celestiall or heauenly sygnes Cancer. Leo, Virgo and Libra, where it was sene nomore nether appeared any more after that.

Not long after in October rose a warre in Switzer The Switzer warre within themselues. lande. For to they of Tzurich stopped the passages, that to their neghburs of zugia, Vria. Suicia. [Page cxc] Siluia and Lucerne, noman coulde bryng corne, salte and other victuals. Wherfore they armed thē against those of Tzurich. They met eche other w ^t displaied banners, & they of Tzurich beyng vanquished with thre fieldes, had the worst. In the fyrst battayll was slayne the preacher of Tzurich, Hul­drich zwinglius. In the meane tyme endeuoured they of Stralborow and Constance their neigh­bours, to make an accorde among the cōfederated. And thus after .viij. monethes and .vi. wekes was the vproure alayed. Of thē of Tzurich died about fyue thousande, of the other syde a fewe.

The yeare M D. xxxii. came Charles the Em­peroure againe out of Brabant into Germany, and came in Marche with his brother kyng Ferdinand to Regenspurg to kepe a parliament. Thithercame The parlia­ment holden at Regēspurg the deputies sent frō the Imperial cities. There came also many princes, or at the leaste, their Ambas­sadours.

Not very long before that Constantinople was taken by the Turkes, I reade there was a solitary man, not farre from the citie Constantinople, and he shuld haue prophecied: that the Turkes in dede Prophecies of recouering Constantino­ple, and of roting the Tur­kes out of Europa. should winne Constantinople, and should roote out the kyngdom of the Grekes: but anone after foure score yeres, should they lose Constantinople agayn, and that the Turkes should be rooted out of Euro­pa. But that tyme sence Cōstantinople was wonne, is expired the last yeare.

A most connyng Astronomer also at Naples, cal­led Laurentius Miniatensis an Astrono­mer. Laurētius Miniatensis, scholemaister to Pon­tanus, wrote these verses in his boke .lx. yeres ago, [Page] concernyng the coniunction of Iupiter and Saturnus in the sygne Cancer, the whiche he sayeth shall be, and was in the yeare thousande, fyue hundreth and foure last past.

These verses are moste worthy to be marked: and I woulde not passe them ouer, because of the renowme of the moste famous Emperour. For what hygher prayse can be in the Emperour, then that he calleth hym a Harmelesse kyng, euen as Iohn Lichteberg sayde of hym: The shamefast of visage shall raygne euery where.

At Magdeburg is founde .C. yere ago a Latine cronicle, wherin are these wordes: Of the bloude of Charles the Emperour, and the kynges of Fraūce, shalbe borne an Emperoure, called Charles: thesa­me shal haue dominion in all Europa, by whom also the decayed estate of the church, shalbe repared, and the auncient glory of the empyre shalbe restored. For there shall come a people, that shalbe called: people without heade, and than we to the priestes: Pe­ters lytle shyppe shall suffre greate force, but the waues shall crasse at the last, and it shall haue victory. [Page cxci] Greate and dredefull mutacions of al kyngdomes, are at hande, and the settyng store by monkes, shall peryshe. The Beaste of the West, and the Lion of the Easte shall haue dominion of the whole worlde, and the Christians shallwander through Asia in sa­uegarde fyftene yeares: but after that shal dredeful thynges be herde of Antichriste.

Abbas Ioachim saieth in the ende of Ieremye: A great Egle shall come, whiche shall ouercome euery man saue one, who at the last beynge despysed, shalbe for saken of the people.

I fynde also another prophecie, whiche is renowmed: The Emperoure shalbe awaked, as a man fal­len into a swete slepe. The same shalbe counted of men as deade, and shall go vp vpon the greate sea, and inuade the Turkes, and shall ouercome them: he shall leade their wyues and Chyldren captiues. Greate feare and drede shall ouerwhelme the Turkes, their wyues and chyldren shall wepe and la­mente: all the Turkes landes shalbe geuen ouer in to the Emperours handes of Rome.

I haue herde a Portingale saye, that an Astronomer should haue sayde to Ferdinandus oure Em­peroures greate graundefather: that the Turkysh empyre shoulde be subdued and ouerthrowen by a kyng of Spayne, and that the same should haue in­terpretated the kyng to be Ferdinande. But Ferdinande should haue answered: That he shoulde not do it, but hys heyres that should succede hym.

Other emdences more that are yet restyng, wyl I at this tyme passe ouer. God the father of mercy, geue and graunte Christendom victory and grace, [Page] for the glories sake of his godly name. Amen.

Moreouer the thinges that shal yet happen, shal doutlesse marke greate and wyse men, whiche are now in this settyng forth of warre. As for me, I haue onely rehersed suche thynges of this preparacion of the settynge forth to warre, as I was sure of, and therefore do I now make an ende of wry­tynge.

In the moneth of September this yeare, was A Comete sene. a Comete sene agayne certayn wekes, two houres before Sunne rysyng, and toward the Easte. Whē I sawe it, it was in Virgo to my iudgemen, & stret­ched his brandyshynge tayll betwene the South & West. But by reason of the gloumynge and cloudy ayer in these contreis, coulde it not be sene here. Howbeit, who wil not iudge it to be a fearfullthing, that two Cometes haue bene sene in the space ne­rehande of twelue monethes? and seyng the Co­mete of the last yere, namely of the yere M D. xxxi. dyd not appeare without the hurte of Easte and North: for it semed to threaten those partes. For the tyrannyshe Turke fell into Hungary and Ea­stenryche kyng Christiernus goyng into Denne­marck with a greate nauy, to demaunde againe his kyngdome, yelded hymselfe into Frederick hys fa­thers brothers the kyng of Denmarck handes. Christiernus also his sonne, that was brought vp in the Emperours court, dyed. Veryly it is to be feared also, that the Comete of this yeare of. M D. xxxij. do signifye greate euell to the partes of Italy and the Rene.

The ende of the Cronicle.

[Page cxcij]The cōclusion of this Cronicle of Iohn Carion.

A boke of Chronicles ought to cōprehende moste greatest thynges in a feate order, so that the reke­nyng of the yeares, and the chefe alteracions, that befall into the religion and other greate thynges may be ryght obserued and knowen. For it can not be that all thynges that are done in one realme, can be written in one boke, though it were great, by reason of the sundry circumstaunces and occasions of y ^• businesses, the whiche must chefely be consydered. Of this wyse truely wrote Herodotus, Theucydi des, Xenophon & Titꝰ Liuius histories. The other Writers of Histories. Cronicles. are onely to be called Cronicle writers, whiche also ought not to take vpon them the name of History wryters: For they do brefely shewe thynges done, and settyng the order of the tyme before, seme onely to aduertyse the wyse reader, to marke some of the notablest thynges. Whiche thinge we haue done also in this Cronicle: we haue only drawen those thinges as it were in a pathwaye, whiche semed moste best, and haue other whyles shewed their occasions, to the intent we maye learne to marke and forse so much thenarower suche lyke thynges, in like chaū ­ces, Howbeit what profites otherwise besides this do Cronicles bryng, that same haue we declared before in the preface.

Truely I muste before the ende of this wryting put the reader agayne in remembraunce of the sa­yeng of Elias, the whiche we haue set in the begynnyng of this treatyse, that he may so much the mo­re easyer marke both the order of the tyme, and also the dedes of the histories. Item that he thinke that [Page] also, that the ende of mens affaires is at hande, ac­cordynge to the sayeng of Elias, that the worldes age conteyneth .vi. M. yeares, and that the same space shall not he fully expyred: for God shall preuēt it because of the worldes corrupte maners. Now seyeng there are expyred .v. M. and .v. C. yeares sence the worlde beganne, as may clerely be gathe­red out of the table folowing: it is no doute but that the worldes age is nerehand come to the ende, that Christe our lorde do rayse vp the death by his com­myng, and iudge the whole worlde, and that more is also appoynt the deuels and wicked men euerla­stynge fyre, but take the very godly out of al sorow, and set them into the euerlasting fruition of God & blesse. Besydes this do the wonderfull mutacions and chaunges of all kyngdomes nearehande wyt­nesse that the worlds ende is not farre of. For with What the mutacions of kyngdomes de signifye. in fewe yeares euen by our remembraunce we ha­ue perceaued the hyghnesse of the Romish byshop, Fraunce, Hungary and Dennemarckes kingdoms to haue greucously fallen, and lyke chaūce are shortly to be loked for in other kyngdomes also. Daniel witnesseth that shortely after that the Turkes po­wers be minyshed, shall the ende of all thynges of the worlde be at hande. But the Turkysh kyngdōs decaye shall doutlesse be sene wythin few yeares (if Goddes wyll be so,) and after that our Emperoure Charles shalbe deceassed, it can not be, but that the empire also shalbe miserably toren of the Germans themselues. For I feare me two wyll then greatly stryue for the monarchye. Almighty God of his in­finitie mercy, swage so horrible commotions & tur­ne the [Page cxciij] princes hartes, to concorde and peace.

The toren tranquillitie and spoiled peace in the churche, maye also be a signe and token, and it is to be feared, lest the same do also growe and sprede far­ther by warres and negligence of Romish by shops.

But seyeng Christe hymselfe aduertiseth vs in the Gospel of the perils, that shalbe at hande in the latter dayes, not only in those thinges that pertayn to the body, but also those that belong to the sprete, yea the heauen itselfe also threateneth with horry­ble darkeninges and coniunctions: I wil passe ouer to speake of those tokēs, that be rehersed in the scri­pture cōcernyng the latter dayes, so that at the last we maye learne to beware & take hede to our selues and doute not to demaunde and loke for ayde and comfort of God onely in so greate misere of al thin­ges. Wherefore I willed the reader to be admony­shed in this place, to call to remembraunce, that tho­se tymes full of peryls & wretchednesse, are at hand, and that the same peryls ought not to be despised with a rechelesse mynde. For it is no lyght thynge, and suche one as all maner of men do proue wyth their harme and damage, that realmes are chaun­ged, empires pulled out of their frames, and con­corde of religion is spoyled. The buyldynge or fa­brike of the worlde semeth to represente a greate and moste olde buyldynge, whyche oftentymes is more and more ready to fall, when nowe doth one wall fall downe, then the other. Likewise doth the world seme to be ready to fal at this time, & doth by litle and litle bryng a more greuous fal with it, one and other kyngdomes falling down and decayeng. [Page] Nether let any man thynke that so greate a buyl­dyng shall fall without a moste excedynge commo­tion. God lyghten oure myndes, that we beyng ad­monyshed with the earnest threatenynges of the Gospell, maye seke at onely Christe consolation and refreshynge: and that greate princes maye vse no lesse wysedome in the feare of God, then mekenesse, to assuage the occasions of all euels. For thereto are they ordeined of God, that with their care and wisedom, they maye gouerne and de­fende mankynd that is weake & wret­ched. And yf they do their duetye in the feare of God. God shall lyke­wyse be with them, and pro­sper their enterpry­ses.

Amen.