seameles coate of the Lord Iesus thus lamētably rent, not with handes of souldiours, but by discorde of Prelates, may be healed agayne, offeryng this moreouer, that if he will take the paynes to styrre out, he for hys part, notwithstandyng his old age & feble body, would not refuse to meete him in the myd way, to the entent that þ^e truth on both sides beyng debated by the Scriptures, the wrong part may be reduced, the sclaunder stopped, and vnitie reformed betwene them.

This request of the Patriarch, as it was both godly and reasonable, so it had bene the Byshops part agayne with like humilitie to haue condescended to the same, and glad with all his might to helpe forward the reformation of Christiā vnitie in the Church of Christ, and so to have shewed him self the sonne of peace. But the proude Byshop of Rome, more like the sonne of discorde & dissension, standing still vpō his Maiestie, refused thus to do, but writyng agayne, aunswere to hys letters with great disdayne, seekyng nothyng els but onely how to aduaūce his sea aboue al other churches: and not onely that, MarginaliaThe Pope setteth the Westchurch to fight against the eastchurch
Ex Mat. Paris. fol. 112.but also shortly after sent forth hys preachyng Friers to moue all Christians to take the signe of the Crosse and to fight agaynst the Grecians no otherwise then agaynst the Turkes and Saracens: In so much that in the Isle of Cyprus many good men & Martyrs were slaine for the same, as by the letters of the sayd Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople, is to be sene.

MarginaliaEx libro Mat. Paris. manu scrito. fol. iij. & 112.The tenour of the which letter to the Pope, with the Popes aunswere agayn to him, beyng long and tedious to read, are extant in the history of Math. Paris. there to be sene and found. fol. 111. The sūmary effect wherof notwithstandyng I thought here briefly to notifie for þ^e simple & vnlearned multitude, which vnderstaynding not the Latine, may hereby perceaue the fault of this schisme not so much to rest in þ^e Greeke cchurch, as in the Church of Rome, as by the contentes of hys letter may appeare.

MarginaliaThe letter of Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople to pope Gregory 9. an. 1237.IN the which letter the sayd Germanus Patriarch of Constantinople, writyng to Pope Gregory, first after his reuerend salutation and preamble folowyng vppon the same, entryng then toward the matter, sheweth the occasion of his writyng, which was by fiue Obseruant Friers repayring that wayes, whom he gently receauyng into his house, had conference with them touching this discord betwen the two Churches, how it might be reduced agayne to vnitie: and afterward perceauyng the sayd Friers to make their iorney toward Rome, he thought therfore by thē to write his letters. MarginaliaHe sheweth the inconueniēce of discord.Wherin he first lamentyng this diuision in the house of God, and recityng the inconueniences which come therof, by the example of Iuda and Israell: Ierusalem and Samaria: Cain and Abel: Esau, and Iacob: also of other such like both priuate and publicke societies, where brother fighteth agaynst brother, like as amongest fishes the greater deuoureth the lesser, he procedeth then further gently to exhort Pope Gregory to the study of vnitie.

And for somuch as the Pope had accursed (belyke) those Churches of the Greekes before, he therfore takyng his ground vpon the wordes of S. Paul, Gal. 1. MarginaliaGalat. 1.where hee accurseth euery such person and persons, what soeuer they be, either mā or Aungell of heauen, that shall preach any other Gospell thē hath bene preached, &c. willeth the Pope to stand with him vppon the same ground of the Apostles accurse, so that if þ^e strocke of that curse haue light vpon him or his Churches, he desireth him to shew the wound, and to helpe to wype away the bloud, to ministre some spirituall emplaster, to bynd vp the sore, and to saue his brethren from perishyng which lay in daunger, accordyng to the saying of þ^e wise man: MarginaliaSalomon.A brotherly frend is tryed in aduersitie. &c.

MarginaliaWhether the Church of the Greekes or the Popes church lyeth more vnder the daūger of Gods curse.But if we (sayth he) of the Greeke Church be free from the stripe of this accurse of the Apostle, and that you Italians and of the Latin Church be stricken therwith, and lye therby in daunger of destruction, I trust that you through ignoraunce and wilfull obstinacie will not so suffer your selues to be separated from the Lord, but rather wil suffer a thousand deathes before, if it were possible for a man so often to dye.

And as touchyng this great discord betwen vs, if either contrarietie of doctrine, or swaruing frō þ^e aunciēt Canons, or diuersitie of rites receaued of our forefathers be any cause therof, we here taken heauen & earth to witnes, that we for our partes are ready, and desire also vpon due triall of profound truth by Gods word, and inuocation of the holy Ghost, to ioyne handes with you, or you to ioyne with vs. But to say the very truth & to tell you playne, this we suppose, that many mighty and noble potentates would sooner incline to your obedience, MarginaliaThe Greekes afrayd of the Popes oppressions.were it not that they feared your vniust oppressions, your insatiable exactions, and vnordinate oppressions wherewith you wryng your subiectes. By reason wherof haue risen amongest vs cruell warres, one fightyng agaynst an other, desolation of Cities, Bulles and Interdictions set vpon Church doores, diuision of brethren, and Churches of the Grecians left without seruice, where God should be praysed. MarginaliaThe Patriarch of Constantinople prophesieth of the Martyrdome & slaughter of the Grecians.So that now onely one thing lacketh, which I beleue to be predefined & appoynted frō aboue long before to vs Grecians, the tyme, I meane, of Martyrdome, which also now hasteneth fast vppon vs, that the tribunall of tyrannes should be opened & the seates of tormentors be set, that the bloud of Martyrs should be spilled, and we brought to the stage of Martyrdome, to fight for the crowne of glory.

MarginaliaThe Popes persecution in the Isle of Cyprus.This that I do speake, and wherfore I speake it, the noble Ileland of Cyprus doth already know and feele, which hath made many new Martyrs, & hath sene valiant souldiours of Christ, which of long tyme before passing by water & teares of sorrow, now at last haue also passed through fier, and so entred into the heauenly rest. How say you, be these thinges good and semely, O holy Pope, successor of S. Peter the Apostle? MarginaliaThe tyranny & auarice of the Pope chastened by þ^e word of S. Peter.Is this the byddyng of that good Peter, the meke and humble Disciple of Christ? Doth he thus instruct the Seniors and Elders in his Epistle, where he writeth in this wise: Marginalia1. Peter. 5.The Elders which are amongest you, I besech, which am also a felowelder with them, and witnes of the sufferinges of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shalbe opened: feede the flocke of God, which is amongest you, hauyng care and sight ouer it, not of coaction as compelled agaynst your willes, but willingly of your owne accord, nor for filthy lukers sake, but freely and hartely, neither as bearyng dominion and Lordshyp ouer the Church, but shewyng your selues, as an example to the flocke, and when the chief pastor shall appeare, you shall receaue an incorruptible crowne of eternall glory. &c. And this is the doctrine of Peter, as they shal see, which do not obey it. As for vs the other part of the sayd Epistle is sufficient, Marginalia1. Peter. 1.wherein hee willeth them to reioyce which are in heauines through manifold tentations, that the triall of their faith beyng much more precious then gold that perisheth, and is tryed in fire, may be your laud, honour, and glory at the appearyng of the Lord Iesu. &c. But beare with me, I pray you (O holy father, and of all your predecessours most mekest) and suffer my wordes, though they seme somethyng sharpe: for they be sighynges of a sorowfull hart.

MarginaliaHe exhorteth the Pope to come and mete with him, that they might cōferre together about the vnitie of faith.Wherfore gyrde about your Loyns with fortitude, and light vp the candle of your discretion, and seeke the groat that is lost, of the vnitie, I meane, of fayth. And we will also with like compassiō ioyne with your holynes, and wil not spare this weake body of mine, in pretendyng any excuse either of age or length of the way. For the more laborious the trauaile, is þ^e moe crownes it bringeth. And S. Paul sayth: Euery man shall receaue reward accordyng to his trauayle. &c.