The practise of prelates. CompiledThe practyse of prelates. Compyled

And therefore the pope with his authority of binding and loosing / loosed the bonds of that matrimony (as he hath many other since, and daily doth for like purposes) to the intent that he would with the sword of the french king put the Kingdom of Lombardy that was somewhat to nigh him • out of the way: by the reason of whose kings his fatherhood could not reign alone nor assign or sell the Bishoprics of Italy to whom he lusted and at his pleasure.

And therfore the pope with his auctorit• of byndynge and lousinge / lowsed the bōdes of that matrimony (as he hath many other sens, and dayly doth for lyke purposses) to the intent that he wold with the swerde of the french kyng put the Kyngdome of Lombardye that was somwhat to nye him • out of the way: by the reasō of whose kynges hys fatherhode coulde not raygne alone nor assygne or sel the Bysshoprykes of Italy to whome he lusted ād at his pleasure.

He kept also .iiij. concubines, and lay with two of his own daughters thereto. And though he wist how that it was not unknown, yet his lusts being greater than great Charles, he would not wit nor yet refrain.

He kept also .iiij. concubines, and laye with two of his owne doughters therto. And though he wist howe that it was not vnknowne, yet his lustes being greater thē great Charles, he wold not wete nor yet refrayne.

And beyond all that, the saying […] y• in his old age a whore had so bewitched him with a ring & a pearl in it, and I wot not what imagery graven therein that he went assault after her as a Dog after a bitch / and the doehed was beside himself and hole out of his Mind: insomuch that when the whore was dead, he could not depart from the Dead Corps, but caused it to be Embalmed and to be Carried with him whether so ever he Went / so that all the world wondered at him / till at the last his lords encumbered with carrying her from place to place, and ashamed that so old a Man, so great an Emperor and such a most christen king, on whom, & whose deeds every Mans eyes were set, should dote on a dead whore, toke counsel what should be the cause. And it was concluded that it must needs be by enchantment. Then they went unto the coffin, & opened it and sought, and found this ring on her finger: which one of the lords toke of and put it on his own finger. When the ring was of he, commanded to bury her, regarding her no longer. Nevertheless he caste a fantasy unto this Lord and began to dote as fast on him, so that he