It were incredible that one carrion should have so much, so horrible filth, but that his own Church and the Italian Bishops (in a Council assembled by the Emperor Otho) did charge him with these things, and with things more villainous and outrageous then these. And himself, when the Emperor and Council wrote unto him, that he should come to make his answer, made this answer to them, and other he would make none, that he cursed them all to hell if they attempted to deprive him, as he heard say they did. Luitprandus, a deacon of a Church in Italy, pa man commended for his holiness, who lived at the same time, qdoth write this story of Pope John; and that with such credit, that beside rMartinus, sTritemius, tPlatina, uKrantzius, and xothers, men of your own religion, who write the sum of it after him: Sigonius (an Italian, yto whom your Pope giveth almost a thousand crowns yearly to read in one of his Universities,) though he dissemble much, in his Italian history, the things that touch the Popes state; yet zhe acknowledgeth this, and writeth it somewhat fully. Now (I hope) you will not say of this Pope, Pope John the twelfth, that perhaps he showed his faith by his works: or if you would say that he showed his faith (as it may be he did,) yet you will not say that it was such a faith, as was the faith of Peter for which our Saviour prayed. For, if you think here, that notwithstanding all these crimes he might be good after, as Peter repented when he had denied Christ, and so his faith did not fail, though it did faint: then I must tell you further, that Pope John went forward as he had begun, and his death was answerable unto his life. aWhile he was committing adultery▪ he was slain: whether bthrust through by some who took him in the act, or cstricken by the devil; historians agree not. But dCardinal Turrecremata doth take that as more likely, which is ⟨p. 284⟩more dreadful. Because the life (saith he) of Pope John was detestable, and marvellous offensive to the Christian people: therefore Christ himself gave out the sentence of condemnation against him. For, while he was abusing a certain mans wife, the Devil struck him suddenly, and so he died without repentance.
It were incredible that one caraine should haue so much, so horrible filth, but that his owne Church and the Italian Bishops (in a Councell assembled by the Emperour Otho) did charge him with these thinges, and with thinges more vilanous and outragious then these. And himselfe, when the Emperour and Councell wrote vnto him, that he should come to make his answere, made this answere to them, and other he would make none, that hee cursed them all to hell if they attempted to depriue him, as hée heard say they did. Luitprandus, a deacon of a Church in Italie, pa man commended for his holines, who liued at the same time, qdoth write this storie of Pope Iohn; and that with such credit, that beside rMartinus, sTritemius, tPlatina, uKrātzius, and xothers, men of your owne religion, who write the summe of it after him: Sigonius (an Italian, yto whom your Pope giueth almost a thousand crownes yearely to reade in one of his Uniuersities,) though he dissemble much, in his Italian historie, the thinges that touch the Popes state; yet zhe acknowledgeth this, and writeth it somewhatfully. Now (I hope) you will not say of this Pope, Pope Iohn the twelfth, that perhaps he shewed his faith by his workes: or if you would say that he shewed his faith (as it may be he did,) yet you will not say that it was such a faith, as was the faith of Peter for which our Sauiour prayed. For, if you thinke here, that notwithstanding all these crimes he might be good after, as Peter repēted when he had denyed Christ, and so his faith did not faile, though it did fainte: then I must tell you further, that Pope Iohn went forwarde as he had begoon, and his death was answerable vnto his life. aWhile he was committing adulterie▪ he was slaine: whether
- pPlatina in vita Stephani quint.
- qHistor. re•ū per Europam gesta•um l. 6. c. 6. & 7. & 8. & 10Histor. re•ū per Europam gesta•um l. 6. c. 6. & 7. & 8. & 10
- rMartin. Polon. in supput. Pont.
- sIn Chronic. monast. Hirsau.
- tin Johann. decimo tert.in Iohann. decimo tert.
- uSaxon. l. 4. c. 9. & Metrop. l. 3. c. 1.
- xSigibertus in Chronic. Blondus decad. 2. lib. 3.
- yThe discovery of Nicols, part. 2.The discouery of Nicols, part. 2.
- zSigon. de regno Italiae lib. 7.
- aAlb. Krantz. Metrop. l. 5 c. 1.
- bPlatina in vita Johan. decimi tert. Blondus decad 2. lib. 3.Platina in vita Iohan. decimi tert. Blondus decad 2. lib. 3.
- cLuitpr•nd. Ticin. l. 6. c. 11. Sigibert. in Chron. Tritem. in Chron. monast. Hirsaug.
- dSumma de eccles. l. 2. c. 103.
