But these Basilien clerks, there still fastlie contei|ning themselues, so smallie regarded this summons of Eugenie (who then with his prelats, as the time was run on, vpon prorogation from Ferrar kept an other councell at Florence 1439) as by a confident countermand cited Eugenie & all his cardinals to come to them at their solemne set councell at Basill. Which his supremasie (for so best became it, notwith|standing sundrie citations) vtterlie contemning to doo, they soone after like verie impious imps, first for contumacie accurssed his holie fatherhood, then de|priued him of his papasie, and out of hand chose an|other in his office, one Amedeus late duke of Sa|uoie, who afore that time hauing giuen vp his pos|sessions & dignitie vnto his children, became an here|mite in a monasterie of his own building by mount Geuenna in Sauoie nigh the lake Leman, where he by title of Decanus militum Iesu Christi, and ten more of nobilitie with him, had setled themselues to liue.

The vertuous minded man thus chosen pope by spirituall counsell inueigled, lest the holie life (such as it was) that he had profest, tooke the papasie vpon him the same 1439, and called Felix the fift, which promotion yet he not long inioied. For after, by his successour Nicholas the fifts ambition, that had sub|orned emperour Frederike to be a worker in the matter, this sillie Amedeus was coosined of his popes golden crowne for a cardinals felt hat. An. 3. Nichol. Then (good man) at last could he find, whether were née|rer to christen profession, the life of a vertuous prince ruling in iustice, of a solitarie heremite vertuouslie occupied, of an imperious pope that may know no péere, or of a licentious cardinall to liue as he li [...]t. This poore prince had experience of all, & then knew EEBO page image 611 the best: when well might he lament him, but too late repent him.

And in the fift yeare of this Basilien councell that had a continuance of eleuen yeare (whereof an eight were run yer Felix was chosen,143 [...] in which Eu|genie remaining pope still, though of curst hart he neuer came at them) motion was made among Si|gismund the emperour and other christen kings (who for appeasing this schisme betwéene the pope and his prelats, were all present by person or proxie) that sith such horror of bloudshed betwéene the two nations continuallie so lamentablie raged in France, some mediation might be made for accord: whereof one thing seemed to minister occasion of the more hope, bicause the duke of Burgognie was willing (so that it were not of his owne sute) to returne and recon|cile himselfe with the French king his mortall eni|mie and ancient aduersarie.]