The sum of the conference between John Rainoldes and John Hart touching the head…The summe of the conference betwene Iohn Rainoldes and Iohn Hart touching the head…

Yea, perhaps, it is much less now at this time, (how great or how lordly soever it seem in your eye,) then it was in the very best times almost thirteen hundred years since. For, to begin with the donation of Constantine the great, he, (as Eugubinus writeth) resigned to S. Sylvester Pope and to his successors the city of Rome with all his Imperial robes, and ornaments, him self retiring to Constantinople, where he abode as in his Imperial seat, as also many other Emperors after him for many years together did, keeping still either at Constantinople in the east, or else at Milan and Ravenna in the west. And this to be a certain story of the gift of Constantine to the Bishops of Rome, besides very many witnesses which here I could cite for proof thereof, as Ammianus Marcellinus a heathen, who was sorry to see it, Photius Constantinopolitanus, no favourer of the Pope neither and a Grecian borne, Nicephorus, and many moe besides, as you may read in the Chronicles: S. Damasus, who lived about the same time, and saw Constantine himself, doth write of the said donation and gift of the Emperor. Which gift moreover, to put it out of all doubt, was confirmed a hundred years after by the Emperor Justinian, by Arithpert king of the Lombards, by king Pippin of France, Charles the great, holy king Lewes, and lastly by Otho the great at a Council holden at Ravenna, as your own men in their Centuries do grant and confess. For although they say withal that this increase of wealth in the Church of Rome began after S. Gregory's time; yet are they notably disproved by S. Gregory himself, in whose reign, (as it may probably be thought,) the Churches possessions were more then they be now at this present. And this appeareth by sundry of his epistles, where he maketh express mention of S. Peters patrimony in Africa, in Naples, in Campania, in Dalmatia, in France, in Italy, in Sicily, in Sardinia, and in many other countries. Now then whereas for this which is the greatest part, so good proofs may be made: there is no doubt but for sundry other very great and large gifts of divers Princes, many Nobles, men and women, which were bestowed upon that See, the Bishops thereof can show very good evidence when need shall require.

Yea, perhaps, it is much lesse now at this time, (how great or how lordly soeuer it seeme in your eye,) then it was in the very best times almost thirtéene hundred yeares since. For, to beginne with the donation of Constantine the great, he, (as Eugubinus writeth) resigned to S. Syluester Pope and to his successors the citie of Rome with all his Imperiall roabes, and ornaments, him selfe retyring to Constantinople, where he abode as in his Imperiall seate, as also many other Emperours after him for many yeares togither did, kéeping still either at Constantinople in the east, or els at Milan and Rauenna in the west. And this to be a certaine storie of the gift of Constantine to the Bishops of Rome, besides very many witnesses which here I could cite for proofe therof, as Ammianus Marcellinus a heathen, who was sorie to sée it, Photius Constantinopolitanus, no fauourer of the Pope neither and a Grecian borne, Nicephorus, and many moe besides, as you may reade in the Chronicles: S. Damasus, who liued about the same time, and saw Constantine himselfe, doth write of the said donation and gift of the Emperour. Which gift moreouer, to put it out of all doubt, was confirmed a hundred yeares after by the Emperour Iustinian, by Arithpert king of the Lombardes, by king Pipine of Fraunce, Charles the great, holy king Lewes, and lastly by Otho the great at a Councell holden at Rauenna, as your owne men in their Centuries doo graunt and confesse. For although they say withall that this encrease of wealth in the Church of Rome began after S. Gregories time; yet are they notably disproued by S. Gregorie himselfe, in whose reigne, (as it may probably be thought,) the Churches possessions were more then they be now at this present. And this appeereth by sundry of his epistles, where he maketh expresse mention of S. Peters patrimonie in Africke, in Naples, in Campania, in Dalmatia, in Fraunce, in Italie, in Sicilia, in Sardinia, and in many other countries. Now then whereas for this which is the greatest part, so good proofes may be made: there is no doubt but for sundry other very great and large giftes of diuers Princes, many Nobles, men and women, which were bestowed vpon that Sée, the Bishops thereof can shew very good euidence when nede shall require.