by all meanes possible to bereaue them of their accustomed matrimony.

MarginaliaByshop of Mentz.
Ex Lamberto Scafnaburg?si. in Histo. Germanorum.Amongest other the Archbishop of Mentz, perceiuyng this acte of takyng away priestes mariage, might breede hym no little trouble: talketh with his Clergy gently, admonisheth them of the Popes mynd and decree, and geueth them halfe yeres respite to deliberate vpon the case: exhortyng them diligently to shew themselues obedient to the pope & to hym, & to graunt with good will that, which at length will they, nil they, nedes they must be forced vnto: and therfore of their owne accord to stand content therwith, lest the Pope should be cōpelled to attempt wayes of sharper seueritie. The tyme of deliberation expired, the Archbishop assēbleth his clergy at Erspford, the month of October: and there willeth them according to the pontificall decree, either to abiure for euer all matrimony, or els to abrenounce their benefices and ecclesiasticall liuinges. MarginaliaThe Priestes of Germany stout agaynst the Popes vnlawfull procedinges.The clergy agayne defend themselues agaynst the popes decree with scriptures, with reason, with the actes of generall councels, with examples of aunceters, by diuers strong argumentes, declaryng the Popes decree not to be consonāt, nor ought to take effect. But the Archbishop said, he was compelled so of the Pope and could not otherwise do, but to execute þ^t was inioyned him. The cleargy seyng þ^t no reasō nor prayer, nor disputation would serue: lay theyr heades together, consultyng among themselues what was best to be done. Some gaue counsell not to returne agayne to the Synode. Some thought it good to returne, and to thruste out the Archbishop from hys seat, and to geue him due punishment of death for his deseruyng: that by the examples of hym, other may be warned hereafter, neuer to attempte that thyng any more, to the preiudice of the church, and the rightfull liberty of ministers. After that this was signified to the Archbishop, by certaine spies that were amongst them, what the clergy intended to doe: the Archbishop to preuent and salue the matter, sendeth to the priestes as they were commyng out, certayne messengers biddyng them be of good hope, and to returne agayne to the Metropolitane, and they should haue that should content their mindes. So beyng perswaded, they come agayne to the Councell. The bishop promiseth he would do his indeuour what he could, to reuoke and turne the mynd of the bishop of Rome from that sentence, willyng them in the meane tyme to continue as they had done, in their cure and ministery. The nexte yeare followyng, Hildebrand the souldiour of Sathan, sendeth hys legate (a certayne bishop called Curiensis) vnto the Archbishop of Mentz, and assembled there a Councel. In the which councell the Archbishop agayne proposeth the matter, commaunding all þ^e clergy vnder paine of *þ^e popes curse, there perpetually eyther to abrenounce their wiues or their liuynges. The clergy defended their cause agayne with great constancy. But when no defension could take place, but all went by tiranny and mere extortion: it burst in the ende to an vprore and tumult, where the legate and the Archbishop beyng in great daunger, hardly escaped with their lyues, and so the Councell brake vp. By this schisme and tumult it folowed, that the churches after that in chusing their priestes, would not send them to þ^e bishops (the enemies and suppressors of matrimony) to be confirmed and inducted, but dyd elect them within themselues, & so put them in their office: without all leaue or knowledge of bishops, who then agreed and were determined to admit no priestes, but such as should take an othe of perpetuall singlenes, neuer to marry after. MarginaliaSingle priesthoode how it began.And thus first came vp the othe and profession of single priesthode. Not withstandyng if other natious had followed the like constancy and concord of these Germaine ministers: the diuelish drift and decree of this Hildebrand (or rather helbrande) had bene frustrate and auoyded. But this greedines of liuinges in weake priestes, made them to yelde vp their godly liberty, to wicked tiranny. MarginaliaExamples of concorde in priests and ministers.Yet this remayneth in these Germaines to be noted, what concord can do, in repressing vnordinate requestes of euill bishops if they constantly stand to truth, and hold together. And thus much for banishing of matrimony. Now let vs procede to the cōtentions, betwixt wicked Hildebrand, and the godly emperour. But before by the way of digression it shall not be much wyde from the purpose, to touch a little of the properties of this Pope as we finde them described in certayne epistles of Benno a Cardinall writyng to other Cardinals of Rome: which Benno lyued in the same tyme of Hildebrand, and detecteth the prodigious actes and doynges of this monstrous pope.

MarginaliaEx histo Cardinaii.First declaryng that he was a sorcerer most notable, & a Necromansier, an olde companion of Siluester, of Laurentius, and Theophilactus called otherwise Benedictus nonus. Amongst other, Benno Cardinals writeth this histo-ry of hym. How vpon a certaine tyme this Gregorius cōmyng from Albanus to Rome, had forgot behynd hym hys familiar booke of Necromancy, which he was wont commonly to cary alwayes with him. Wherupon remembryng himself entred the porte of Laterane, he calleth two of his most trustie familiars to fette the booke, charging them at no hand to looke within it. But they beyng so restrayned, were the more desirous to open it, and to peruse it, and so did. After they had read a little the secretes of the Sathanicall booke, sodenly there came about them the messengers of Sathan, the multitude and terror of whome made them almost out of their wits. At length they comming to themselues, the spirites were instant vpon them to knowe wherfore they were called vp, wherfore they were vexed. Quickly (sayd they) tel vs what ye would vs to do, or els we will fall vpon you, if ye retaine vs longer. Then spake one of the yong men to them, bidding them go and plucke downe yonder walles pointing to certaine high wals there nigh to Rome, which they did in a moment. The yong men crossing them for feare of the spirites (scarse recoueryng themselues) at length came to their maister. And it followeth moreouer in the Epistle of the saye Benno, to the Cardinals.

MarginaliaPope Hildebrand forsaken of dyuers of his Cardinals.We haue made mention to you before of diuers colleges of the church of Rome, which refused to communicate with him. As Leo then Archpriest of the Cardinals, Benno, Vgobaldus, Iohannes the Cardinall, Peter Chaunceler & cardinal, beyng all instituted before this Hildebrand. These 3. also beyng consecrated by hym that is Natro, Innocentius, and Leo: forsooke him, cursing the detestable errours, which he had. In like case Theodinus whome he constituted, Archdeacon, and other Cardinals mo: Iohannes surnamed Primicerius, Petrus oblationarius with all that apparteined vnto them, sauing one only man. And now when this Hildebrand saw, that the bishops also would forsake him: he called vnto hym the laymē, and made them priuie of his counsell, thinking thereby to separate the Bishops, that they should haue no conference with the Cardinals. MarginaliaPope HIldebrand compelleth the Byshops & priestes of Rome to sweare vnto hym.After that, he called together those bishops: and beyng garded with bandes of lay men, he enforced the bishops partly for feare and partly by his manacing words, to sweare vnto hym, that they should neuer disagree vnto that, which he would haue done: that they should neuer defend the kinges quarell, and that they should neuer fauor or obey the pope, that should in his stede be instituted. Which thyng beyng done, he sent them by meanes of the prince of Salernites, into Campania: & thus did he separate them, from the company of the Cardinals, and from the citie of Rome. And not onely the bishops, but also the priestes of the citie, and clerkes of inferiour orders as also the lay men: he bound by their othes, that at no tyme nor for any cause, they should condiscend vnto the kyng.

Assoone as Pope Alexander was deade, whiche dyed somewhat before night: MarginaliaPope Hildebrand vnorderly made Pope.the same day contrary to the Canons he was chosen Pope of the laymē. But the Cardinals subscribed not to his election. For the Canōs prescribe (vnder payne of accursing) that none should be chosen Pope before the third day after the buriall of his predecessors. But he (by sinister meane thus climyng to the seate) remoued the Cardinals of the sayd seate frō beyng of the counsell. But with what persons, he consulted night and day, Rome well hard and saw. And he now putting the Cardinals from his counsell: his lyfe, fayth and doctrine, no mā could accuse or beare witnes of: where as in the Canons is commaunded, that in euery place where soeuer the Pope is: should be with him iij. Cardinals beyng Priestes, and ij. Deacons, because of his Ecclesiasticall testimonie and stile of veritie: of which Canonicall decree, looke gētle Reader, before pag. 39. He violently wrested the sacred Scriptures, to couer his falshode: which kynde of idolatrie, how great it is, manifestly throughout all the Scripture it appeareth. MarginaliaThe Emperour wrongfully excommunicated.Contrary to the myndes and counsell of the Cardinals, and besides the determinate order of pronoūcing iudgement by the Canons, he rashly did excommunicate the Emperour: being in no Synode solemly accused before. The sentence of which excōmunication after rehearsall of these presentes, shall also be manifested (Christ willyng): to the which excommunication sayth Benno, none of the Cardinals would subscribe. MarginaliaThe Popes chayre brake vnder hym as he rose to excomunicate the Emperour.As soone as he rose out of his seat papall, to excommunicate the Emperour: the same seat (beyng made but a litle before, with bigge tymber) sodenly by the appointement of God, was rent and shyuered in peeces: so that all men might plainly vnderstād, what, and how great and terrible schismes, that lubber had sowen agaynst the Church of Christ: against the seat of S. Peter: and how cru-