new authoritie breaking the decrees of the Chalcedone councel, not onely in wordes, but also in publicke wrytings haue agreed, that it is tollerable both to baptise & communicate being out of the church of God: and how blinde these men were, and also what hereticks they be, their own writings do declare. What a mischief is this (sayth Bēno) they presume to iudge of the church, which swarme them selues in all errours: who also esteeme the verity, but as a lye: and least their poysoned falshoode both in wordes and writings should appeare, they haue (lyke subtil poysoners, the sooner to deceiue) mixed hony therwithall. MarginaliaMendacium quid.A lye sayth S. Augustine is euery thyng pronounced with the intent of disceiuing other.

MarginaliaPope Hildebrand a worker of sorcerye & coniuring.It were to long and tedious here to recite all the detestable doings, and diabolical practises, of cuniurings, charmes, & filthye sorceries, exercised betwene him and Laurentius, and Theophilact, otherwyse named Pope Benedicte the ninth: wherof a long narration foloweth in the foresayd epistle of Benno to the Cardinals to bee sene, to whom the reader may repayre, who so hath eyther laisure to reade, or mynde to vnderstande more of the abhominable partes, and diuelish artes of this Hildebrande.

Thus hauing sufficiently alledged the woordes and testimonies of Benno and Auentinus, concerning the actes and factes of this pope: now let vs procede (in the order as followeth in hys story) to set forth the myserable vexation which the vertuous and godly Emperour, sustayned by that vngodly person.

MarginaliaHenricus iiii. the Emperour.About what tyme Hildebrand was made pope, Henricus iiij. the Emperour was encombred and much vexed with ciuill dissension in Germany, by reason of certaine greuances of the Saxons agaynst hym and his father Henricus þ^e iij. Wherupon þ^e matter growing to sedition, sides were taken, & great warres insued, betwixt Ottho duke of Saxony, and Henricus the Emperour. The busy time semed to Hildebrand very oportune to worke his feates: whose study and drift was euer from the begynnyng, to aduaūce the dominion of the Romish seat aboue all other bishops: and also to presse downe the authority of temporall rulers, vnder the spirituall men of the church. And although he went about the same lōg before by subtile trains and actes set forth concerning simony: yet nowe he thought more effectuously to accomplishe hys purposed intent, after that he was exalted thither where he would be. And therfore now bearyng him self the bolder, by the authority of S. Peters throne, MarginaliaMuch boast made of Peters throne, but hys life they let alone.first he began to pursue the acte set out by hys predecessor, as touchyng simony: cursing and excommunicating, whosoeuer they were that receyued any spirituall liuyng or promotion at laye mens handes, as all such as were the geuers therof. For this he called than Simony, that vnder that colour he might defeat the temporall potestates of theyr right, and so bryng the whole clergie at length, to the luer of Rome. And for as much as the Emperour was the head, thinkyng first to begin with hym: he sendeth for hym by letters & legates to appeare in the councell of Laterane at Rome. But the Emperour, busied in his warres against the Saxons, had no leasure to attēd to councels. Notwithstandyng Gregorius the pope, procedeth in his councel: rendring there the cause and reason before the bishops, why he had excommunicate diuers of the clergie, MarginaliaHermannus excōmunicate of Hildebrand.as Herman bishop of Bāberge, counceler to the Emperour, and other priestes mo, for Simony. And there moreouer in the said councel, he threatneth to excommunicate likewise the Emperour him self, and to depose him frō hys regall kingdome, vnlesse he would abrenounce the heresie of Simony, and do penance. The coūcel beyng ended: Guibertus archbishop of Rauēna, perswadeth with one MarginaliaCentius.Centius (a Romaine, the captains sonne, whō the pope had excōmunicate) to take the Emperours part agaynst þ^e pope. Who watchyng his time,in the temple of S. Mary, MarginaliaHildebrād cast in the tower.vpon Christmas day in þ^e morning, taketh þ^e pope & putteth him fast in a strong tower. The next day, the people of Rome hearing this, harnesse them selues with all expedition to helpe the bishop: whō when they losed out of prison, they besieged the house of Centius, and pluckt it downe to the ground. His family hauyng their noses cut of, were cast out of the citie. Centius hym selfe escapyng, fled to the Emperour. MarginaliaGilbertus archbyshop of Rauenna.Guibert the archbishop pretendyng good will to the pope, departeteth from Rome: who lykewise had wrought with Hugo Candidus cardinall, and with Theobaldus archshop of Millen, also with diuers other bishops about Italy to forsake the pope, & take the Emperours part. Gregory the pope hearyng the conspiracy, layeth the sentēce of excommucatiō vpon them all, and depriueth them of their dignitie. The Emperour being moued (and worthely) with the arrogant presumption of the proude prelate: calleth together a councel at Wormes. In whiche councel all þ^e bishops not onely of Saxony, but of all þ^e whole Empire of Germaines, agree and conclude vpon the deposition of Hildebrande: and that no obedience here after should be geuen to hym. This beyng determined in the coūcel, Rolādus a priest of Parmen, was sent to Rome, with the sentence: who in þ^e name of the councel, should commaunde Gregory, to yelde vp hys seate, and also charge the cardinals, to resorte to the Emperour for a new election of an other pope. The tenor of the sentence sent vp by Rolandus was this.

MarginaliaThe councel of Wormes against the pope.FOrasmuche as thy first ingresse and comming in, hath bene so spotted with so manye periuries: and also the church of God brought in no litle daūger through thine abuse & new fanglenes: Moreouer, because thou has diffamed thyne own life and conuersation, with so much and great dishonesty, that we see no little perill of slaunder to ryse therof: therfore the obedience which yet we neuer promised thee, hereafter we vtterly renounce, and neuer entende to geue thee. And as thou hast nether taken vs yet for bishops (as thou hast openly reported of vs) so neither wyll we hereafter take thee to bee Apostolike. Vale.

MarginaliaThe councel of Rome agaynst the counsel of Wormes.Gregorye the pope tickled with this sentence, first condemneth it in hys councel of Lateran with excommunication. Secondarily, depriueth Sigifridus archbishop of Mentz of his dignities, & ecclesiasticall liuinges, with all other bishops, Abbats and priestes, as many as tooke the Emperours parte. MarginaliaHenricus the Emperour excommunicate of Hildebrand.Thirdly,accuseth Henricus the Emperour himselfe: depriueth him of hys kingdome and regall possession, and releaseth all hys sworne subiectes of their othe of allegiaunce geuē vnto him: after this forme and maner.

MarginaliaEx Platina.O Blessed S. Peter, prince of the Apostles: bow down thyne eares I beseeche thee, and heare me thy seruaunt, whom thou hast brought vp euen from myne infancie: and hast deliuered me vnto thys daye from the handes of the wycked, which hate and persecute me, because of my fayth in thee. Thou art my witnes, and also the blessed mother of Iesu Christ, and thy brother S. Paul, fellow partner of thy martyrdome: MarginaliaMarke this, ye papistes that say the pope can not erre.how that I entred this function (not wyllyngly) but enforced agaynst my wyll: not that I take it so as a robbery, lawfullye to ascende into this seate: but because that I had rather passe ouer my lyfe like a pilgrim or priuat person, then for any fame or glory to clyme vp to it. I doo acknowledge (and that worthely) all this to come of thy grace, & not of my merites: MarginaliaThe pope thretneth kindnes of S. Peter.that this charge ouer christen people, and this power of bynding and losing is committed to me. Wherfore trusting vpon this assurance, for the dignitie and tuition of holye churche: In the name of God