A01115:537
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
Volume 1 › Book 4: The fourth book.Volume 1 › Book 4: The fourth booke.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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.