he had vnder hym aboue thirty Bishoprikes and Suffraganes, now he had not three, MarginaliaAl Grecia gone from the obedience of the church of Rome.adding moreouer that all the Grecians and certein other, with Antioche and the whole Empire of Romania, euen to the gates almost of Constantinople, were gone from the obedience of the Church of Rome. &c. Math. Paris. fol. 112. &c. fol. 186.MarginaliaEx Mat. Parisiens. fol. 186.

By the occasion of which separation aforesayde, of the Grecians from Pope Gregory, it happened shortly after, MarginaliaGermanus Patriarch of Constantinople writeth to Pope Gregory 9.beyng the yere of our Lord. 1237. that Germanus Archb. and Patriarch of Constantinople, wrote to the sayd Pope Gregory 9. humbly desiring hym to study, and seeke some meanes of vnitie, how the seamelesse coat of the Lord Iesus thus lamentably rent, not with handes of souldiours, but by discord of Prelates, may be healed agayne, offering this moreouer, that if he will take the paynes to stirre out, he for hys part, notwithstandyng his old age and feble body, would not refuse to mete hym in the mid way, to the intent that the truth on both sides being debated by the Scriptures, the wrong part may be reduced, the slaunder stopped, and vnity reformed betwene them.

This request of the Patriarke, as it was both godly and reasonable, so it had bene the bishops part agayne with lyke humilitie to haue condescended to the same, and glad with all his might to helpe forward the reformation of christian vnitie in the Church of Christ, and so to have shewed hymselfe the sonne of peace. But the proud bishop of Rome, more lyke the sonne of discord and dissension, standyng still vpon hys Maiestie, refused thus to do, but writing againe, answer to hys letters with great disdayne, sekyng nothing els but onely how to aduance his sea aboue all other Churches: and not onely that, MarginaliaThe Pope setteth the West church to fight against the Easte church
Ex Mat. Paris. fol. 112.but also shortly after sent forth his preachyng Friers to moue all Christians to take the signe of the Crosse and to fight agaynst the Grecians no otherwise then against the Turkes and Saracens: In so much that in the Isle of Cyprus many good men and Martyrs were slayne for the same, as by the letters of the sayd Germanus Patriarke of Constantinople, is to be sene.

MarginaliaEx libro Mat. Paris. manu scrito. fol. 3. & 112.The tenour of the which letter to the Pope, wyth the Popes answer agayne to hym, beyng long and tedious to read, are extant in the history of Math. Paris. there to be sene and found. fol. 111. The summary effect wherof notwithstanding I thought here briefly to notifie for the simple and vnlearned multitude, which vnderstaindyng not the Latine, may hereby perceaue the fault of this schisme not so much to rest in the Greeke church, as in the Church of Rome, as by the contentes of hys letter may appeare.

MarginaliaThe letter of Germanus Patriarch of Cōstantinople to Pope Gregory 9. an. 1237.IN the which letter the sayd Germanus Patriarcke of Constantinople, writing to Pope Gregory, first after his reuerend salutation and preamble following vpon the same, entryng then toward the matter, sheweth the occasion of hys writyng, which was by fiue obseruante Friers repayring that wayes, whom he gently receauing into his house, had conference with them touchyng this discorde betwene 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 them to write his letters. MarginaliaHe sheweth the inconuenience 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 against brother, lyke as among fishes the greater deuoureth the lesser, he procedeth then further gētly to exhort Pope Gregory to the study of vnitie.

And for somuch as the Pope had accursed (belike) those Churches of the Greekes before, he therfore takyng hys ground vpon the wordes of S. Paule, Gal. 1. MarginaliaGalat. 1.where he accurseth euery such person and persons, what soeuer they be, either man or Angell of heauen, that shall preach any other Gospell then hath bene preached, &c. willeth the Pope to stand with hym vpon the same ground of the Apostles accurse, so that if the stroke of that curse haue light vpon him or his churches, he desireth him to shew the wound, and to help to wype away the bloud, to minister some spiritual emplaster, to bynde vp the sore, and to saue his brethren from perishyng which lay in daunger, accordyng to the saying of the wise man: MarginaliaSalomon.A brotherly frend is tried in aduersitie. &c.

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

And as touching this great discorde betwene vs, if either contrarietie of doctrine, or swaruing from the auncient Canōs, or diuersitie of rites receaued of our forefathers be any cause therof, we here taken heauen and 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 and to tell you playne, this we suppose, that many mighty and noble potētates 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 inordinate oppressions wherewith you wryng your subiectes. By reason wherof haue risen amongest vs cruell warres, one fighting 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 and slaughter of the Grecians.So that now onely one thing lacketh, which I beleue to be predefined and appointed frō aboue long before to vs Grecians, the tyme, I meane, of martyrdome, which also now hasteneth fast vpō vs, that the tribunall of tyrantes should be opened and 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 & feele, which hath made many new Martyrs, and hath sene valiant souldiors of Christ, which of long tyme before passing by water and teares of sorrow, now at last haue also passed throw fire, 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 tyrāny & auarice of the Pope chastened by the word of S. Peter.Is this the biddyng of that good Peter, þ^e meeke and humble disciple of Christ? Doth he thus instruct the Seniors and Elders in hys Epistle, where he writeth in this wyse: Marginalia1. Peter. 5.The Elders which are amongst you, I beseche, which am also a fellowelder wyth them, and witnesse of the sufferinges of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shalbe opened: feede the flocke of God, which is amongst you, hauyng care and sight ouer it, not of coaction as compelled agaynst your wils, but willingly of your owne accord, nor for filthy lukers sake, but freely and hartily, neither as bearing dominion and lordship ouer the Church, but shewyng your selues, as an example to the flocke, and when the chiefe 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 he willeth them to reioyce which are in heauines through manifold tentations, that the tryall of their fayth beyng much more precious then golde that perisheth, and is tryed in fire, may be their 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 meekest) and suffer my wordes though they seme somethyng sharpe: for they be sightinges of a sorowfull hart.

MarginaliaHe exhorteth the Pope to come & meete with him, that they might conferre together about the vnitie of fayth.Wherfore girde about your loynes with fortitude and light vp the candle of your discretion, and seeke the groate that is lost, of the vnitie, I meane, of fayth. And we wil also with lyke compassion ioyne with your holinesse, and will not spare this weake body of myne, in pretendyng any excuse either of age or length of the way. For the more laborious the trauaile is, the moe crownes it bringeth. And S. Paule sayth: Euery man shall receaue reward according to his trauayle. &c.

MarginaliaThe Greeke Church sound and sincere in doctrine.Neyther are we ignoraunt (if it please your holinesse) that like as we Grecians for our partes do labour in all respectes to keepe and obserue the sinceritie of true fayth and doctrine, not to erre ne swarue in any part or poynt from the statutes of þ^e blessed Apostles a& auncient fathers: so the church likewise of olde Rome, doth for her part labour also (we know wel) to folow þ^e sincere veritie of Christiā doctrin, and thinketh her selfe to erre in nothyng, nor to neede any remedy or reformation. And this we know, is the iudgement & saying of both the Churches, aswel of the Greekes, as of the Latines. For no man can see any spot in his owne face, without he stoupe downe to the glasse, or els be admonished by some other, whether his face be blotted or no. MarginaliaHe exhorteth the Church of Rome to loke her face in Gods glasse that is, to trye their doctrine by Gods word.Euē so haue we many great and fayre glasses set before vs, first the cleare Gospell of Christ, the Epistles of the Apostles, & diuinitie bookes of auncient writers. Let vs therfore looke in them well. They will shew euery mans mynde & iudgement, whether he go right or wrong. The GOD of peace