Part I, chapters 7–8: Timotheus Aelurus counterfeating him selfe to be an Angell; and following chapters

CHAP. VII. Timotheus Aelurus counterfeating him selfe to be an Angell, obteined a bissopricke: foure Monkes of the order of Preachers, made many vayne apparitions at Berna.

IT might bée somewhat borne withall, if these things had only chaunced among the Gentiles, which were without the word of God, if we dyd not euidentlye sée the like happen often times amongst christians, and in case it were not to be feared least many suche things shoulde happen euen at this day also. For it is well knowne to all men, that there haue bin many magiciens, sosserers, & coniurers, & those especially Monkes and priests, who could easelye counterfeit visions, and miracles, and familiar talking with soules.

Theodorus Lector, collectaneorum ex historia ecclesiastica li. 1. writeth of Timotheus Aelurus, that he, before Proterius bishop of Alexandria was put to death, gaping for the bisshopprike, in the night cladde in blacke apparell walked about the celles of the monkes, and calling eche man by his name, they answering, sayde vnto them, that he a spirit, one of gods seruants came to warne them, that euery one reuolting from Proterius, should ioyne him selfe vnto Timotheus. And by this craft and deceyte obteyning the bisshopprike, he made greate vproares in the Churche of God. Heere I cannot refraine my selfe as touching this present matter, but that I rehearse a famous historie, of foure monkes of the order of preachers (who were brent at Berna in Heluetia in the yeare of our Lord 1509. the last daye of May) by what subtilties they deceyued a poore simple Frier whō they had lately reteined into their monasterie: concerning which thing, many bookes were written at the same time when these things were done, which are yet extant both in the latine and in the germaine tong. There was great contention betwene the monkes of the order of preachers, and the friers Minorites, or Franciscans, touching ye cōceptiō of the virgin Mary. The Friers preachers affirmed, that she euen as other men also was conceiued in originall sinne, that the Franciscans denied and stoutly denied. At the last the matter came to that issue that the preachers determined to auouche and proue their opinion by false and fayned miracles: taking aduisement in a certeine Synode (which they call a chapter) holdē at Vimpenium a citie of Germanie, where the most conuenient and fittest place for this matter might be founde: and at the last they chose out Berna in Heluetia, bycause the people there were playne and simple, and giuen to the warres. Foure therefore of the chéefest in the Abbay of the order of preachers began the pageant at Berna: and bycause the Supprier one of the foure, was wel séene in coniuring, he bounde the Diuell to ioyne in councell with thē by what meanes they might best bring their purpose to passe. He appearing vnto them in the likenesse of a Negro or blacke Morian, promised them all that he coulde doo, vnder thys condition, that they shoulde yeld and giue them selues vnto him, whiche thing they willingly did, deliuering vnto him a writing written with their owne hande and bloud. And it chaunced at the same time very […]itlye, that one Iohn Iezerus, a plaine fellowe, a Tayloure by occupation, was chosen into their order, who séemed to be very fitte for their purpose. They tried him by throwing stones into his chamber in the night tyme, making a great noise, and faining them selues to be Spirits. The matter séemed vnto them, euen from the beginning, that it woulde take good successe, On a certeine day béeing Fryday, the supprior shrouding himself in a shéete, together with other Spirites, whom he had coniured vp for this purpose, brake into the Friers cel with great force and noyse, faining with many teares, that he desired his ayde & help. Now had they priuely conueyed Holy water and the Reliques of Saints into his Cell before. The poore Frier half dead with feare, denied that he coulde by any meanes helpe him, recommending himselfe to Christ our sauior, and to his holy mother. The Spirite aunswered, that it was in his and his brethrens power to deliuer him out of this miserie, if he would suffer hymself for the space of .viij. days, euery day to be whipped vntil the bloud folowed, and moreouer, cause .viij. Masses to be soong for his sake in S. Iohns chappell, himselfe while they were soong, lying in the floore with his armes spread abroade. After he tolde him that the next Fryday before midnight, he wold come again with greater noyse, willing him in any wise not to be afrayd, for the Diuels could nothing hurt him, bicause he was an holy man. The next day this foolish Frier openeth al the matter to the ringleaders of this deuise, beséeching thē to assist him, that the miserable soule might be deliuered. The matter was out of hand rumored aboute the citie. The Monkes preached openly hereof in the pulpit, cōmēding highly the holinesse of their order, which euen hereby might be séene, for that the spirite craued helpe of them, and not of the wicked dronken Franciscans, At the tyme appoynted, the spirite accompanied with other euil spirits, came again with greate noyse to the Friers cell, who adiuring and coniuring him, questioned with him touching certain points. The spirite shewed him who he was, and for what cause he was so miserably vexed: and withal gaue great thanks both vnto him and also to his fathers, for being touched with remorse of him, adding, that in case there were yet .xxx. Masses soong, and […]our Uigiles obserued, & that he wold yet once ageyn whip himself vntil he bled, then he shoulde be cleane deliuered out of most cruell torments, which he had continually endured a hundred and sixtie yeares. He had conferēce with him also of other maruellous matters, whiche we néed not here to rehearse. Afterwards the same spirit appeared againe vnto the Frier, and preferred the order of preachers before al others, bearing him in hand, that many of them which had bin aduersaries vnto this order, suffered most horrible torment in purgatory, & that the citie of Berna should be vtterly ouerthrowne, except they banished the Franciscans, & refused ye yearly stipends which they receyued at ye french kings hands. He also talked of sundry things which had hapned to ye Friar (which thing they had learned before of him by meanes of auricular confession.) Moreouer he hartely thanketh ye Frier for the great benefite of his deliuerāce, giuing him to vnderstande, yt he was nowe admitted into the .vij. degrée of Angels, and that he should say Masse there for his benefactors.

After these things thus done, an other night one comming vnto him in the apparell of a woman, sayde he was S. Barbara, whome he deuoutly serued, and tolde him that the blessed virgin would shortly appeare vnto him, and make full answere vnto those questions which one of the Monks had written in a paper for him. This paper Barbara promised that she hir selfe wold deliuer vnto our Lady, which they shoulde shortly after finde in a hollie place sealed and signed miraculously. The Frier vppon this reuealeth the whole matter vnto his fathers, desiring to bée confessed of his sinnes, wherby he might be found worthy the apparition or séeing of our Lady. He willed them to serche in ye halowed place for the scroule, which at the last they found in the Fratry (as they term it) where they had laide it before. Then they caried it with great reuerence vnto the high alter, affirming that it was sealed with christes bloud, and that the tapers lightned of their owne accord. In y[…] morning the virgine Mary appeared vnto him agayne, rehersing many things whiche hir sonne Iesus commaunded hir to tell vnto him: to wit, that Pope Iulius was that holie man, which shoulde reconcile the two orders in frendship againe, and institute & ordayne the feast of the defiled conception of our Lady, for she woulde sende vnto the Pope a crosse marked with foure droppes of hir sonnes bloud, in signe that she was conceiued in originall sinne: and that they shoulde finde an other crosse marked with fiue droppes of bloud in their fratrie, which they must conuey to Rome, for the Pope would allowe and confirme it with large indulgences and after returne it to Berna agayne: other things likewise she sayde, whereof many things were both reported and written to and fro.

But in witnesse of the foresayde things, the same Mary droue an yron nayle through the hand of the poore Frier, saying: this wounde shal be renewed in the day wherein my sonne was crucified, and in the feast of my sonnes bodie. After they toke a burning water made by Necromancie, by the which they taking away his senses, made foure other woundes in his body. And after that he came againe vnto him selfe, they bare him in hand that there was a certeine holie thing I wote not what, which appeared aboute him. And when they sawe that many men came flocking about him to sée this newe Christ, they taught him (for hée was of rude condicions) howe to behaue hym selfe. And when they had giuen him a drinke berée[…]ing him of hys senses, and causing him to some at the mouth, then he saide be striued and wrestled with death, euen as Christ dyd in the mount Oliuet. After al this, another of them appeared vnto him, telling him many things: but ye Frier knowing him by his voice, began to suspecte and mislike the whole matter, and with violence thrust him from him. The next night the Frier himself appeared vnto him, saying that he was Mary of whom he had ben in doubt, and to the ende he shoulde bée out of all suspicion, she had brought him the host of hir sonnes body (for he brought him an host stiped in poyson) to the ende he shoulde no more thinke he sawe an euil spirite: he also affirmed, that he had brought a vessel of glasse full of hir sonnes bloud, which he would giue vnto him, and to his Monasterie. But the Frier, who also had this vision in suspition, answered: If (sayde he) thou be not an euil spirit, reherse thy Pater noster and thy Aue Maria with me. The Priour sayde the Pater noster, and afterward sayd in the person of our Lady: Hayled am I Mary full of grace, the Lord be with me. &c. The Frier knowing the Priors voyce, caught a knyfe, and wounded him therwith, and when he defended himselfe, the Fryer stoutly resisted, and draue him backe. These things thus done, the Supprior béeing in good hope to restore all that they had lost, appeared againe to the Frier, saying that he was S. Catherin of Sena, and therwith begun to chide him, for that he so discurteously had intreated the holy Uirgin: adding moreouer, I am sent (quod he) to shewe thée, that the wounds which thou hast in thy body, are the very true woundes of Christ, whiche neyther I, nor yet S. Francis hath, and that he enlarged with many wordes. Yet notwithstanding, the Frier so entertayned him, that he was glad to saue himselfe with running away. Nowe bicause the Fryer wold no longer be mocked at their hands, they, maruellously troubled, and almost at their wits ende, taking aduise among them selues, brake the matter vnto him, and tolde him, that in very déede they fréely confessed many of those apparitions which he had séen to be fayned, and that for no other cause, but to the ende he should perseuere in his profession and Religion, howbeit the very effect of the matter was most true, and that he ought not to doubt, but that he bare the wounds of Chryst in his body. And forsomuch as the matter was nowe knowen abroad, they ernestly besought him, that he would not refuse to go on in the matter, for otherwise their order should incurre open shame, and bothe he and they fall into present daunger, but in case he woulde persist in his enterprised purpose, the thing woulde fall out to his and their great aduauntage. And so with fairer wordes, they persuaded him to make promise to be ruled by them hereafter.

After long instruction and teaching, they placed him on the altar of our Lady, knéeling on his knées within a chappell before the image of the holy virgine: Where one of the Monkes standing behinde a cloath, spake thorough a cane réede, as if it were Christ talking with his mother, in this wise: Mother why dost thou wéep? haue I not promised thée, yt whatsoeuer thou willest, shal be done? Wherto the image made answere. Therfore I wéepe, bicause this businesse findeth no end. Then sayd the image of Christ: Beléeue me mother, this matter shall be made manyfest. This doone, the Monke priuely departing, the chappell dores were shut. As soone as these things were scattered about the citie, by & by ther was a great thronging of people. Amongst whom also came foure monks, dissembling and fayning, that they knewe not what was there doone, and therfore they commaūded the doores to be opened, and after asked the Frier howe and after what sorte he came there. He answered them that he was caried by a spirite. And moreouer […]old them what woords the image had spoken, and that he could by no means moue out of that place before that four of the chéefest Aldermen were come vnto him, vnto whom he had certaine things to be declared: he also desired to receyue the holy sacramēt. The Aldermen were foorthwith called, and then the Frier declared vnto them, how the Uirgin Mary lamented and sorrowed, for that the citie of Berna shold be shortly destroyed, for receiuing yerely pensions of the French king: Also for that thei droue not the Franciscans out of their citie, who honoured her with the fayned title of vndefiled cōception. Unto this his talke the Aldermen answered very little. By and by the other Monkes gaue him the host infected with poyson, which when he refused to receyue, they brought him an other, which he tooke, then they led him with great pompe into the quire, (for so they call the vppermost parte of the churche. The Frier & the other foure Monkes were soone after called before the Aldermen, to testifie the truth whether those things were so or not. But the foure fearing excéedingly least he should bewray some thing, bicause they knew he suspected them, endeuored by al means to do him some priuie mischief by poyson giuen in his meat, & therfore they gaue him the sacrament dipped in poyson, which he presently cast vp againe by vomite: finally they so vexed and tormented him by so many wayes, that in the end he left the Colledge and ran away, and opened the whole matter to diuers and sundry men. In the meane tyme the Monkes dispatched two legates or messangers to Rome, to obteyne a confirmation of these thyngs of the Pope, that hereafter it should be vtterly vnlawfull for any man to contrary or mislike the same. And when these messengers were returned, (and as the Prouerbe is) thoughte them selues in a safe hauen, the noble Senate hadde commaunded the foure Monkes to be fast kept in prison: for they had learned the whole circumstance of the matter before of the Frier, whom they had committed to ward. And sparing neither labour nor money, sent also vnto Rome, that they might perfectly knowe, what they shoulde do in this matter. In ye ende both the Frier & the foure Monks were all put to torments, and there confessed all the matter. And when they had bin openly conuicte of so many guiles, and horrible déedes, by the Popes permission they were firste putte from the orders (which they commonly call degradation) and afterwardes burned in the f[…]er.

It was commonly reported, that in case the noble Senate of Berna hadde not prosecuted the matter with great constancie, and courage, the Cleargie woulde haue cloaked all the knauerie, and haue sette the authours at libertie. For they had greate cause to doubte, as it after came to passe, lest they should léese their credit and authoritie amongst many of the orders of Monkes, & that these things wheron the Popedome resteth, as it were vppon pillers, should now be had in great suspition with al men. For it is most euident that after the impietie, deceyt and wickednesse of these Monks began to be knowne abroade, the opinion of the cleargie began to decay, and to be suspected more and more euery day, of good and godly men: when as they sayd this or that soule required their helpe: that tapers lighted of their owne accorde: that this or that image spake, wept, or moued it selfe from place to place: that this or that Sainct endowed their monasterie with precious reliques: or that Crosses were sprinkeled with the bloud of Christ: yea and although they had obteyned cōfirmation of these matters from the Pope, yet notwithstanding many afterwards would in no wise belèeue it to be so. Likewise they woulde not be persuaded, that this holy father fallyng into a traunce, sawe any miraculous thyngs: or that Frauncis and Catherin of Sena, bare the markes of Chrystes fyue woundes in their body.

Furthermore, not without great cause, men began to doubte of transubstantiation of bread into the bodye of Christ, sith they had so often poysoned the sacrament: and also of those things which they chaunted vpon with open mouth, touching pardons, vigilies, orders, purgatorie, holly water, and satisfaction. For that wée let passe many things, it is clerer then the day light, euen by this history, that many things haue bin beaten into the peoples heads touching these foresayde matters, which were only deuised and inuented by these idle bellies.

CHAP. VIII. Of a counterfaite and deceiuing spirit at Orleaunce in Fraunce.

ANd that no man thinke the Friers preachers alone to haue bin so bolde, and wicked, and so ready in deuising so many monsters, let vs harken a while to a notable history of the Franciscan Friers, reported by Sleidane in the ninth booke of his commentaries, cōcerning the state of religion and the common welth in the tyme of Charles the fifth.

In the yeare (sayth he) of our Lord 1534. the Franciscan Monks played a bloudy and deadly pageant at Orleaunce in Fraunce. The Maiors wife of the same citie, when she died, commaunded in hir will, that she shoulde be buried without any pompe or noise, solemnly vsed at that time. (So also VVilliam Bude, a rare and singular ornament of Fraunce, lying on his death bed at Paris, in the yeare of our Lord 1540. in the month of August, lefte commaundement with his frends to bury him without any great solemnitie and pompe.) The womans husbande, who reuerenced the memoriall of his wyfe, did euen as she had willed him, and because she was buried in the Churche of the Franciscans, besides hir father and grandfather, gaue them in rewarde only sixe crownes, whereas they hoped for a farre greater pray. Shortly after it chaunced that as he felled certeine wooddes, and sold them, they desired him to giue vnto them some parte of it fréely without money: whiche he flatly denied. This they tooke very gréeuously, and whereas before they misliked him, they deuised thys meanes to be reuenged: forsooth to reporte that his wife was damned for euer. The chiefe workemen and framers of this tragedy were Colimannus, and Stephanus Atrebatensij, both doctors of diuinitie, and Colimannus a great cō iurer, hauing all his implements in a redinesse, which he woonted to vse in such businesse: and thus they handled the matter. They place ouer the arche of the church a yong nouice: he about midnight when they came to mumble their prayers (as they were wont to do) maketh a great rūbling & noise: out of hand the Monks began to coniure & charme, but he answereth nothing, then béeing required to giue a signe whether he were a dumbe Spirit or no, he begins to rumble & stirre again: which thing they toke as a certaine signe. Hauing layde this foūdacion, they go vnto certain citizens, chief men & such as fauored them, declaring that a heauy chance had hapned at home, in their monasterie, not shewing what ye matter was, but desiring them to come to their mattens at midnight. Whē those citizens were come & that prayers wer now begun, the counterfet Spirite beginneth to make a maruellous noise in ye top of the church, and being asked what he ment, and who he was, he giueth thē signes that it is not lawful for him to speak: Therfore they commaunde him to make answer by tokens and signes, to certeine thinges they woulde demaunde of him. Nowe was there a hole made in the vaute, through the which he might heare and vnderstande the voice of the cō iurer: and then had he in his hande a little boorde which at euery question he strake in suche sorte as he might easyly […]e heard beneath. First therefore they aske him whether he were one of them that had bin buried in the same place, afterwards they reckning vp many by name which hadde bin buried there, at the laste also name the maiors wife: & there by and by, the Spirite gaue the signe that he was hir soule. He was further asked whether he were damned or no, and if he were, for what deserte or faute? Whether for couetousenesse, or wanton lust, for pride, or want of charitie, or whether it were for heresie, and for the secte of Luther newly sprong vp? Also what he meante by that noise and sturre he kept there? Whether it were to haue the body nowe buried in holy grounde to be digged vp agayn, & to be layd in some other place? To al the which points, he answered by signes as he was cōmaunded, by the which he affirmed, or denyed any thing, according as he strake the boorde twise or thrise together. And when he had thus geuen thē to vnderstande, that the very cause of his damnation was Luthers heresie, and that the body must néeds be digged vp againe, the monks request ye citizens (whose presence they had vsed) that they would beare witnesse of those things which they had séene with their eyes, and that they would subscribe to suche things, as were done a fewe dayes before. The citizens taking good aduise on the matter, least they should offende the maior, or bring thēselues in trouble, refuse so to do: but the Monks notwithstanding take frō thence the swéete bread, which they call ye host, & body of our Lord, together with all the reliques of saints, & cary thē to an other place, & there say their Masse. The bishops substitute iudge (whom they call Officiall) vnderstā ding thys matter, cōmeth thither accompanied with certain honest mē, to the intēt he might know ye whole circū stances more exactly, & therfore he cōmandeth thē to make cōiuratiō in his presence, & also he requireth certain to be chosen to go vp to ye top of the vault, & there to sée whether any gost apered or not. That Stephanus Atrebatēsis stiffly denied, & maruellously persuading the cōtrary, affirmed, yt the spirit in no wise ought to be troubled. And albeit ye Officiall, vrged thē very much, yt there might be some coniuring of ye spirit, yet could he nothing preuaile. In ye meane while yt these things were a doing, the maior, when he had shewed ye other iustices of ye citie, what he would haue thē do, toke his iorney to the king, & opened the whole matter vnto him. And bycause the monks refused iudgemēt vpon plea of their owne lawes and liberties: the king chosing out certein of the Aldermen of Paris, giueth them absolute and full authoritie, to make inquirie on the matter. The like doth the chancelor, master Anthonius Pratensis, Cardinall and legate for the Pope, throughout Fraunce. Therefore when they hadde no exception to alleage, they were conueyed vnto Paris and there constreyned to make their aunswere: but yet coulde nothing be wroong out of them by confession. Whervpon they were put a parte into diuers prisons, the Nouice béeing kepte in the house of master Fumaeus, one of the Aldermen, who being oftentimes examined & earnestly requested to vtter the truthe, woulde notwithstanding confesse nothing, because he feared that the Monks would afterwards put him to death, for stayning their order, and putting it to open shame: but whē the iudges had made him sure promise, that he should escape punishment, and that hée should neuer come into their handling, he ripped vp vnto them the whole matter, as it was done, and being brought before his felowes, aduouched the same to their faces. The Monks albeit they were by these meanes conuicted, and almost taken tardy with the déede doing, yet did they refuse the Iudges, bragging and vaunting them selues on their priuileages: but al in vaine: for sentence passed on them, and they were condemned: that they being caried backe againe to Orleaunce, and there cast in prison, shoulde finally be broughte foorth to the chiefe Church of the citie openly, and from thence to the place of execution, where they should make open cō fession of their trespasses. But there chaunced at the very same time a greuouse persecution against the Lutherans, which was the cause why that sentence, (albeit it was too gentle for so great an offence) was neuer put in executiō. For they feared much, because Luthers name was odious euery where, least if any sharpe iudgement hadde passed, they should not so muche haue punished the offenders, as shamed their order: and many supposed that whatsoeuer had hapned vnto them, would haue bin a pleasant and ioyful pageaunt and spectacle for the Lutherans. Now the order of the Franciscane Friers, hath the opinion of greate holinesse with the common people: insomuche, that when they being condemned, were caried to Orleaunce certeine fonde women moued with foolish pittie, followed them to the very gates of the citie, w[…]ping and sighing abundantly. When they were come to Orleaunce, and were there cast into diuers prisons, agayne they vaunted and bare them selues very brag on their priuileages, and liberties: and so at the last when they had lien long in prison, they were in the ende deliuered without any greater punishment. Al the while they were in prison, they wanted nothing: for there was bestowed vpon them, especially by women, very largelie, for to serue for their liuing, and to purchase to them helpe and fauoure. Except these persecutions & troubles, which we spake of before, had hindred the matter, the king (as many reported) was fully determined, to haue ouerthrowne their house, and made it euen with ye ground.

This history also dothe demonstrate and shew[…], that Spirits are not alwayes heard, when some men affirm[…] they are.