Christs victory over Satan's tyranny Wherein is contained a catalogue of all Christs faithful…Christs victorie ouer Sathans tyrannie Wherin is contained a catalogue of all Christs faithfull…

In this year began the Council of Constance,¹ called by Sigismond the Emperor, and Pope John the 23. for pacifying a Schism betwixt three Popes, all striving for the Pope-dome, which continued nine and thirty years: the Italians set up this John, the Frenchmen set up Gregory, the Spaniard set up Benedict, and every Nation defended his Pope, to the great disturbance of Christian Nations: this Council endured four years, wherein all matters were decided most by four Nations: the English, Germans, French, and Italians, out of every Nation was a president: there names were, John the Patriarch of Antioch for France, Anthony Archbishop of Rigen for Italy, Nicholas Archbishop of Genes•ensis for Germany, and Richard Bishop of Bathe for England: the aforesaid Pope John, resigned his Pope-dome, for which the Emperor thanked him, and kissed his feet: but after he repented himself, […] being disguised fled, but was taken by the Emperor and put in prison: this Pope was deposed, by the Decree of the Council; more then forty most heinous crimes proved against him; as for hiring a Physician to poison Alexander his predecessor, and that he was an Heretic, a Simoniac, a Liar, an Hypocrite, a Murderer, an Enchanter, a Dice-player, an Adulterer, a Sodomite, and many others: he held a Council at Rome about four years before, and ever when they assembled there was a huge Owl in the place, or somewhat else in the shape of an Owl, which did always look so earnestly upon the Pope, which made him still break up the Sessions, and at length to dissolve the Council: some said it was the Spirit of God in the shape of an Owl, indeed there Spirit is better figured in the shape of an Owl then of a Dove.

In this yeare began the Councell of Constance,¹ called by Sigismond the Emperour, and Pope Iohn the 23. for pacifying a Schisme betwixt three Popes, all striuing for the Pope-dome, which continued nine and thirty yeares: the Italians set vp this Iohn, the Frenchmen set vp Gregory, the Spaniard set vp Benedict, and euery Nation defended his Pope, to the great disturbance of Christian Nations: this Councell indured foure yéeres, wherein all matters were decided most by foure Nations: the English, Germans, French, and Italians, out of euery Nation was a president: there names were, Iohn the Patriarch of Antioch for France, Anthony Archbishop of Rigen for Italy, Nicholas Archbishop of Genesensis for Germanie, and Richard Bishop of Bathe for England: the aforesaid Pope Iohn, resigned his Pope-dome, for which the Emperour thanked him, and kissed his féete: but after he repented himselfe, being disguised fled, but was taken by the Emperour and put in prison: this Pope was deposed, by the Decree of the Councell; more then fortie most hainous crimes prooued against him; as for hiring a Physition to poison Alexander his predecessor, and that he was an Heretick, a Symoniack, a Lier, an Hypocrite, a Murderer, an Inchanter, a Dice-player, an Adulterer, a Sodomite, and many others: he held a Councell at Rome about foure yeares before, and euer when they assembled there was a huge Owle in the place, or somewhat else in the shape of an Owle, which did alwaies looke so earnestly vpon the Pope, which made him still breake vp the Sessions, and at length to dissolue the Councell: some said it was the Spirit of God in the shape of an Owle, indeed there Spirit is better figured in the shape of an Owle then of a Doue.