B11843:145
The tragedies of tyrants Exercised upon the church of God, from the birth of…The tragedies of tyrantes Exercised vpon the church of God, from the birth of…
The tragedies of tyrants Exercised upon the church of God, from the birth of Christ unto this present year. 1572. Containing the causes of them, and the just vengeance of God upon the authors. Also some notable comforts and exhortations to patience. Written by Henry Bullinger, and now Englished.The tragedies of tyrantes Exercised vpon the church of God, from the birth of Christ vnto this present yeere. 1572. Containing the causes of them, and the iust vengeance of God vpon the authours. Also some notable comfortes and exhortations to pacience. Written by Henrie Bullinger, and now Englished.
London: printed by William How for Abraham Veale, 1575
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
In the year of Christ, 1. 84. there1 came out of the East, a certain Anchor, whom historiographers do call Peter the Hermit. The same filled the ears of princes and men of all other sorts, declaring unto them the miserable state of the Christians in the East, whom y• Mahometan Saracens oppressed with woeful tyranny, and very much molested: wherefore that it was right needful for the Christians in the west, to have some care over them, and gathering an army both to overcome the Saracens, and release the Christians. Shortly after urban y• ii. being Pope, and scholar to Gregory the seventh called together a counsel at Claromont in France wherein ⟨image 61⟩it was decreed, that the christians with2 all their power should make war upon the Saracens, take Jerusalem, and the holy Sepulchre, and so deliver the Christians from their tyranny. This counsel was pernicious and hurtful to the Christian commonwealth, and had the very same end with the counsel which is described in the first book of Kings, the last Chapter. For all things were unfortunate, and the Christians were not only not released from the tyranny: but most part of them slain, & afterward oppressed, and afflicted more grievously then before. And albeit many holy and good men, upon a virtuous zeal yielded themselves and consented to the war: yet lacked it the foundation of Gods word, which should have commanded them to take Jerusalem and the holy Sepulchre from the Saracens, and to take in hand so great and dangerous a war. For although they achieved sundry noble adventures, and possessed many places: yet was there no constant Fortune as to hold that which they had taken, or to establish ⟨p. 79⟩peace for the oppressed christians. The bishops also in their councils touching this war gave but evil counsel unto Princes, and many other godly christians, as they have done also in many other matters. Other deceits and troubles which were annexed hereto, for brevity sake I omit at this present. The Claromont council was holden the year of Christ. 1095.