A01115:539
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.
About what time Hildebrand was made Pope, Henricus 4. the Emperor, was encumbered with wars in Germany, by Otho duke of Saxons. Now upon the point hereof, Hildebr. cursed all those, that being lay men, gave any spiritual promotions, or received any at their hands: her by thinking to wring all authority from temporal men, and to take it to the spiritualty: and sent for the Emperor, now busy in wars to appear at the Council of Lateran in Rome. Where the emperor could not (being busy in his wars) appear. The Pope threateneth he would excommunicate him,1 & except he would abjure simony, as they called it, & do penance, (he called simony, giving & taking spiritual livings at lay mens hands) he would also depose him from his regal dignity. The Emp. being moved with the arrogancy of the Pope, called a council at Worms, in which all the Bish. of the whole empire of Germany concluded upon the deposing of Hildebrand: 2and sent Roulandus, a priest of Parmen with the sentence, who there denounced the same. Hildebrand tickled with the sentence, first condemneth it in his Council of Lateran, with excommunication. Secondly, depriveth Sigfridus archbishop of Mentz, of all his dignities: with all the prelates & priests, that took the Emperors part. Thirdly, he accuseth Henricus the Emperor himself, depriving him of his kingdom, and regal possession, and releaseth his subjects of their oath made unto him.3 The Princes of Germany took this occasion to rebel again, and concluded to elect another Emperor, and to fall from Henry, unless the Pope would come into Germany, & he there content to submit himself, & so obtain his pardon. Whereto the Emp. seeing no other way, with an oath agreed: whereupon, the Bishop of Triers was sent Ambassador to entreat the Pope to come into Germany, whereto he yielded: and in his way when he came to Vercellos, the bishop of that city, bearing a grudge to the Emperor, persuaded the pope, that he was coming against ⟨p. 139⟩him with a mighty power: willing him to provide for himself, whereupon the pope being afraid returned to Canusium or Canusus, a city subject to Matilda a Countess in Italy. Whereof the Emperor understanding, incontinent coming out of Spires with his wife & his young son, in the deep and sharp winter, resorted to Canusus without any company, for they were all afraid of the popes curse: