1This Hildebrand was a most wicked, & reprobate monster; a sorcerer, a necromancer, an old companion of Sylvester, Theophilactus, & Laurentius conjurers, Benno cardinal of Rome setteth out many of his villainous acts. As soon as pope Alexander was dead, who died somewhat before night, the same day (contrary to the canons) he was chosen pope of the Laymen; but the Cardinals subscribed not to his election. ⟨p. 137⟩For by the Canons, under pain of cursing, none should be chosen under 3. days after the burial of his predecess.2 He also put the Cardinals from his counsel, and society; so that none could bear witness of his life, faith, and doctrine: whereas the Canons command, that in every place where the Pope is, should be with him 3. Cardinals, being priests, and 2. deacons, because of his ecclesiastical testimony. He excommunicated the Emperor,3 being in no synod solemnly accused before: whereto none of the cardinals would subscribe. As soon as he had rose out of his papal seat, to excommunicate the Emperor, it (being made a little before with big timber) suddenly rent and shivered in pieces. He appointed one to lay great stones over the Church roof of S. Mary's in the mount Aventine, whether the Emperor was wont to go to prayer: to the end, by throwing them down the vault, he might slay the Emperor at his prayers.4 Which while the hireling was doing, by removing a stone, it broke the plank whereon it lay, and the hireling standing thereon, both fell down together: and so he was with the same stone dashed in pieces. Also enquiring of the Sacrament of the altar an answer, (as an oracle against the Emperor:) because it would give no answer,5 he threw it into the fire, and burned it, contrary to the persuasion of the Cardinals. His villainies were infinite: in so much that divers of the colleges of the Church of Rome refused to communicate with him. He persuaded the Emperor to depose those Bishops that came in by Simony: which he did without delay, & after Hildebrand restored the same again, to procure their friendships unto himself, and to make the Emperor odious unto them: and after much vexing of him, caused him by force and violence to accuse himself at Canusium, in his presence, who had excommunicated him.
1This Hildebrand was a most wicked, & reprobate monster; a sorcerer, a necromancer, an old cōpanion of Siluester, Theophilactus, & Laurentius coniurers, Benno cardinall of Rome setteth out many of his villanous acts. Assoone as pope Alexāder was dead, who died somewhat before night, the same day (contrary to the canons) he was chosen pope of the Laymen; but the Cardinals subscribed not to his electiō. ⟨p. 137⟩For by the Canons, vnder paine of cursing, none should bée chosen vnder 3. daies after ye burial of his predecess.2 He also put the Cardinals from his councel, and society; so that none could beare witnes of his life, faith, and doctrine: wheras the Canons command, that in euery place where the Pope is, should be with him 3. Cardinals, being priests, and 2. deacons, because of his ecclesiastical testimony. He excommunicated the Emperor,3 being in no synode solemnly accused before: whereto none of the cardinals would subscribe. Assoon as he had rose out of his papal seate, to excommunicate the Emperor, it (being made a little before with bigge timber) sodainly rent and shiuered in pieces. He appointed one to lay great stones ouer the Church roofe of S. Maries in ye mount Auentine, whether the Emperor was wont to go to prayer: to the end, by throwing thē downe the vault, he might slay ye Emperour at his praiers.4 Which while the hireling was doing, by remouing a stone, it broke the plank wheron it lay, and the hireling standing thereon, both fell downe together: and so he was with the same stone dashed in pieces. Also enquiring of the Sacrament of the altar an answere, (as an oracle against ye Emperor:) because it wold giue no answer,5 he threw it into the fire, and burned it, contrarie to the perswasion of the Cardinals. His villanies were infinite: in so much that diuers of the colledges of the Church of Rome refused to communicate with him. He perswaded the Emperour to depose those Bishoppes that came in by Simony: which he did without delay, & after Hildebrand restored the same againe, to procure their friendships vnto himselfe, and to make the Emperour odious vnto them: and after much vexing of him, caused him by force and violence to accuse himselfe at Canusium, in his presence, who had excommunicated him.
- 1Hildebrand a villainous pope.Hildebrand a villanous pope.
- 2None chosen Pope under 3. days after his predecessors burial.None chosen Pope vnder 3. daies after his predecessors buriall.
- 3The Pope excommunicateth the Emperor.The Pope excōmunicateth the Emperour.
- 4The pope practiseth to kill the Emperor while he prayeth.The pope practiseth to kill the Emperour while he prayeth.
- 5Hildebrand asketh counsell of the host, and casteth it in the fire, because it would not answer.Hildebrand asketh counsell of the host, and casteth it in the fire, because it would not answere.
