Page:The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe Volume 3.djvu/452



if the king be there himself, sitting in his throne of estate, he should receive the same oath of the cardinals. Upon this, such as should be electors, besides the cardinals, were chosen.

Furthermore, forasmuch as the goods and substance of such as were elect, were accustomed to be given and granted unto such as could catch them (whereupon, under the pretence of the same, many did invade the goods of the cardinals, and others who were in the conclave, falsely feigning those to be elected who were not to be elected,) to stop the greedy ravening of such, a decree also was published in the same session.

These things thus prepared and set in order, the patriarch of Constantinople, with the cardinals and other archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, deans, archdeacons, doctors, with other electors, entering into the conclave on Monday, on Thursday after they had hatched out a pope, being St. Martin's even, whereupon they named him Martin. This Martin thus being elected, was straightforth brought in by the emperor and the council into the church of Constance, and there enthronized for pope, not without great solemnity and triumph. The twenty-first day of the said month, this aforesaid Martin, according to their accustomed pomp, was honourably brought in to be crowned with sumptuous procession from the high church of Constance, the right unto the monastery of St. Austin; the emperor on foot leading his horse by the bridle on the right hand, and the marquis of Brandenburgh, prince elector, likewise leading his horse on the left hand; the pope himself riding in the midst upon his palfrey.

And thus being brought into the monastery aforesaid, and so reduced roundabout again from thence to the high church of Constance, he was there crowned with all magnificence.

Notwithstanding all this, yet all the trifling and fond vanity of this council, more great than wise, did not end thus.

In the next session, which was the forty-second, came out a decree in the name of the pope and the council, discharging the bond of the emperor and the county palatine, touching the safe custody of pope John, who was, by bond, committed unto them to be kept in safety.

In the forty-third session, certain other decrees and statutes were made by pope Martin in the said synod, annullating and reproving all the acts and proceedings of the other popes before, during the time of the schism from the time of Gregory XI.; as in matters concerning exemptions, unions, fruits, and profits of the church, benefices, simony, dispensations, tithes and other burdens of the church. Also concerning the apparel of the clergy, and such other things.

In the forty-fourth session, the sage fathers of this council were occupied about the determining what place the next council should be kept in. The forty-fifth session brake up and dissolved this synod.

Now, to finish our tedious rehearsal of this synod, the cardinal Umbald, by the commandment of the pope and the council, with a high and loud voice pronounced these words: "Domini! ite in pace;" which is, "Lords! depart in peace;" whereunto the standers-by answered, "Amen."

Thus the council being dissolved, friar John, bishop of Catania, by the consent and commandment of the pope and the council, went up into the pulpit to make a sermon, taking for his theme, "Vos