letter written from Trent weighing the inconueniences that would follow if hee kept the Councell at anchor with the ill satisfaction of the Bishops that were there and the mischiefe that might arise if the reformation should begin In fine perceiuing that it was necessary to put something to the hazard and that it was wisdome to auoid the greater euill he resolued to write backe to Trent to begin the action as they had aduised admonishing them not to broach any new difficulties in matter of faith nor to determine any of the things controuersed amongst the Catholiques and to proceed slowly in the reformation The Legates who vntill then had in the Congregations entertained themselues in generall matters hauing receaued power to goe on proposed in the Congregation of the 22. of February that the first foundation of faith beeing established they ought in the next place to handle another more ample which is the holy Scripture wherein are points belonging to the doctrines controuerted with the Lutheranes and others for reformation of those abuses which are most principall and necessary to be amended and so many that perhaps the time vntill the next Session will not bee sufficient to finde a remedy for all They discoursed of the controuersies with the Lutherans in this subiect and of the abuses and much was spoken hereof by diuers Prelates The Diuines who were thirty in number and almost all Friars had vntill then serued in the Councell onely to make Sermons on Holy-dayes in exaltation of the Councell and the Pope and to make light skirmishes with the Lutheranes but now that controuerted doctrines were to bee decided and the abuses of learned men rather then of others to bee reformed their worth The Diuines begin to be esteemed beganne to appeare And order was taken that in the points of doctrine to be decided articles should be extracted out of the bookes of the Lutheranes contrary to the orthodox faith to bee studied and censured by the Diuines that euery one speaking his opinion of them the matter might bee prepared to frame the Decrees which being proposed in the Congregation and examined by the Fathers when euery mans voyce was knowen that might bee established which was to bee published in the Session And for the abuses euery one should call to mind what hee thought worthy of amendment together with the remedy fit for it The articles for matter of doctrine drawen out of the Lutheranes bookes were 1. That the necessary doctrine of Christian faith is wholy conteyned in the holy Scripture and that it is an humane inuention to adde vnto them vnwritten Traditions as left vnto the holy Church by Christ and his Apostles deriued vnto vs by meanes of the continuall succession of Bishops and that it is sacrilege to defend that they are of equall authority with the old and new Testament 2. That amongst the bookes of the old Testament none should bee reckoned but those that haue beene receiued by the Iewes and in the New the sixe Epistles that is that vnder the name of S. Paul to the Hebrews that of S. Iames the 2. of S. Peter the 2. and 3. of S. Iohn one of S. Iude and the Apocalyps 3. That to vnderstand the Scripture well or to alledge the proper words it is necessary to haue recourse to the texts of the originall tongue in which it is written and to reprooue the Latine translation as full of errors 4. That the diuine Scripture is most easie and perspicuous and that to vnderstand it neither glosse nor comment is necessary but onely to haue the spirit of a sheepe of Christs pasture 5. Whether Canons with Anathematismes adioyned should be framed against all these Articles Vpon the two first the Diuines discoursed in foure Congregations and in the first all agreed that the Christian faith is contayned partly in the Scripture and partly in Traditions and much time was spent in alledging for this places of Tertullian who often speakes of them and many were numbred out of Irenie Cyprian Basil Austin and others yea some said more that Tradition was the onely foundation of the Catholique doctrine For the Scripture it selfe is not beleeued but by tradition But there was some difference how this matter might fitly be handled Vicenzo Lunello a Franciscan Friar was of opinion that in regard the holy Scripture and traditions were to be established for ground of faith they ought first to treat of the Church which is a more principal foundation For the Scripture receiueth authority from it according to the famous saying of Saint Augustine I would not haue beleeued the Gospel if the authoritie of the Church had not compelled me and no vse can be made of traditions but by grounding them vpon the same authority For if a controuersie Discourses about the authoritie of traditions arise about a tradition it will bee necessary to decide it either by the testimony or by the determination of the Church But this foundation being laid that euery Christian is bound to beleeue the Church one may securely build thereon He added that they should take example from all those that haue substantially written against the Lutherans as Fryar Siluester and Ecchiâ—s who haue more alleadged the authoritie of the Church then any other argument neither is it possible to conuince the Lutherans otherwise That it is contrary to the end proposed that is to lay all the foundations of Christian doctrine to leaue out the principall and perhaps the onely ground but certainely that without the which the residue cannot subsist This opinion had no followers Some opposed against it that it was subiect to the same difficulties which it made to others For the Synagogues of the heretiques also would arrogate to bee the true Church vnto whom this authoritie was giuen Others holding it to be a thing most knowen and vndoubted that by the name of the Church the Cleargie ought to bee vnderstood and more properly the Councell and the Pope as head said they ought to maintaine that the authority of the Church is already decided and that to treat of it now were to shew there was difficultie or at the least that it was a thing newly cleered and not most ancient euer beleeued since Christianitie began But Anthonius Marinarus a Carmelite Fryar thought fit to refraine speaking of traditions and said that for decision of the first Article in this matter it was meete first to determine whether the question were facti or iuris that is if the Christian doctrine haue two parts one which was written by the will of God and the other which was forbidden to bee writ but onely taught by word of mouth or if in the whole body of doctrine it hath accidentally happened that all hauing beene taught some part hath not beene committed to writing Hee added that it was a cleere case that the Maiestie of God ordaining the law of the Old Testament appointed it should be necessary to haue it in writing and therefore
would inferre the word Publique for a necessary condition doeth inferre that the consent only is not sufficient and that the Councell of Florence hath failed in a necessary declaration That CHRIST sayd in generall of Matrimonie that man cannot separate that which GOD hath ioyned meaning both the publique and the secret coniunction That in the Sacraments nothing ought to be affirmed without authoritie of the Scriptures or tradition neither of which doe allow this authoritie to the Church yea by tradition wee finde the contrary because all Churches in all nations throughout the world are vniforme in not pretending any power herein On the contrary it was said to be a cleere case that the Church hath power to make any man vncapable of marriage because many degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie are made hinderances by the Ecclesiasticall law onely and likewise the impediment of a solemne vow was made by the Popes law and therefore secrecie may bee likewise made an impediment by the same authoritie The other part answered that the prohibition by reason of kinred is de iure diuino as Saint Gregory the Pope and many of his successors haue determined that matrimonie cannot be contracted betweene two vntill it bee knowen in what degree of kinred they are ioyned and if other Popes haue restrained this vniuersalitie to the seuenth degree afterwards to the fourth this was a generall dispensation as Diuorce was to the Iewes and that a solemne vow doeth hinder de iure diuino not by the Popes authoritie But Camillus Campeggius a Dominican Friar agreeing with the others that no humane power is extended to the Sacraments added that whosoeuer can destroy the essence of the matter can also make it vncapable of the Sacrament that no man can make water not to be the matter of Baptisme or some bread of wheat not to bee the matter of the Eucharist but hee that shall destroy the water turning it into ayre or shall burne the bread turning it into ashes shall make those matters not to bee capable of the forme of the Sacraments So in Matrimony the ciuill nuptiall contract is the matter of the matrimoniall Sacrament by Diuine institution which beeing destroyed and made of no force can no more bee the matter of it Therefore it cannot bee said that the Church can make a nullity in the secret marriage for so it would haue authority ouer the Sacraments but it is true that the Church can nullifie a secret nuptiall contract which as beeing voyd cannot receiue the forme of a Sacrament This doctrine did much please the generality of the Fathers because it was plaine easie and resolued all the difficulties But Antonius Solisius who spake after him did contradict saying the speculation was true but could not bee applied to this purpose For the reason as it is meant of Baptisme and the Eucharist that whosoeuer doeth destroy the water and the bread doeth make them vncapable of the formes of those Sacraments doeth not argue an Ecclesiasticall power but a naturall so that whosoeuer hath vertue to destroy the water may by this meanes hinder the Sacrament whereby it would follow that hee that can nullifie a ciuill nuptiall contract may hinder Matrimonie but the annullation of such contracts belongeth to the ciuill Lawes and to secular Magistrates therefore they must take heede lest while they would giue authoritie to the Church to make voyd secret marriages it bee not rather giuen to the secular power Amongst those who attributed this power to the Church it was disputed whether it were fit that the Church should vse it And there were two opinions One to make voyd all the secret in regard of the inconueniences which ensue The other that the publique made without consent of parents in whose power they are should be made voyd also And these alleadged two reasons one that as great inconueniences did follow by these in respect of the ruines which happen to families by mariages vnaduisedly contracted by yong men the other that the Law of GOD commanding obedience to parents doeth include this case as principall That the Law of GOD doeth giue this particular authoritie to the Father to giue his daughter in marriage as it plainely appeareth in Saint Paul and Exodus That there are examples of the Patriarches in the olde Testament all married by their fathers That the humane ciuill Lawes haue esteemed the marriages voide which haue beene contracted without the father That as then it was iudged expedient to nullifie secret marriages so now seeing that the Popes prohibition is not sufficient which hath forbidden them without addition of nullitie there is more reason in regard the malice of man will not obey the Law of GOD which forbiddeth to marry without consent of parents that the Synode should adde vnto it a nullity also not because the Fathers haue authoritie to make voyde the marriages of children which is heresie to affirme but because the Church hath authoritie to nullifie both these and other contracts prohibited by diuine or humane Lawes This opinion as honest pious and as well grounded as the other pleased many of the Fathers And so was the Decree framed howsoeuer the publication was omitted for causes which shall be related hereafter But the Prelates did not for beare to discusse the controuersies about the Popes authoritie and institution of Bishops And the Frenchmen did perseuere in their resolution not to admit the words Church-Vniuersall lest they should preiudice the opinion held in France of the superioritie of the Councell and if it had beene proposed would haue made protestation of the nullitie and departed The Pope wrote it should bee proposed whatsoeuer did The Legates dare not propose the Article of the institution of Bishops follow But the Legats fearing that euery little stirre would be much out of season now the Emperour was so neere wrote backe that it was better to deferre it vntill the Article of Matrimony was finished The seuenteenth of February Father Soto was the first that spake in the second ranke who vpon the Article of Diuorce did first distinguish the matrimoniall coniunction into three parts the bond the cohabitation and the carnall copulation inferring that there were as many separations also He shewed at large that the Ecclesiasticall Prelate had authoritie to separate the married or to giue them a diuorce in respect of cohabitation and carnall copulation for all causes which they shall iudge expedient and reasonable the matrimoniall bond still standing sure so that neither can marrie againe saying that this was it which was bound by GOD and could not bee loosed by any He was much troubled with the words of Saint Paul who granteth to the faithfull husband if the vnbeleeuing wife will not dwell with him to remaine separated Hee was not contented with the common exposition that the Matrimonie of the vnbeleeuers is not insoluble alleadging that the insolubilitie is by the law of Nature as also the words of Adam expounded by our
Nouice two yeeres at the least at what age soeuer he entred The Generals opposed saying it was not iust to hinder any from entring into Religion who was capable to know what the Regular vowes did import which capacitie was iudged by the Church to bee at the age of sixteene yeeres in a time when the world was not so well awake and therefore that it was fit rather to make the age lesse then greater which reason they vsed also against the two yeeres of the Nouiceship In the end because they were willing to please all they resolued to satisfie the Generals also and to make no innouation herein Besides the twentie two Articles there was another in which power was giuen to the Prouincials Generals and Heads of the Orders to expell the incorrigible out of the Order and to depriue them of the habite Which Iohannes Antonius Fachinnettus Bishop of Nicastro opposed sharpely saying that the profession and Act of admission to it are a mutuall contract and as it were a marriage by which the professed is bound to the Monastery and the Monastery to him and as the one could not depart so the other could not put him away and that by meanes of this Decree all Cities would bee filled with expelled Friars to the great scandall of the world The Arch-bishop of Rosano said to the contrary that the relation was not as betweene man and wife but as betweene father and sonne and that the sonne could neuer lawfully refuse the father but the father might emancipate his sonne especially if hee were disobedient and that it was a lesse euill to see expelled Friars in the Cities then incorrigible in the Monasteries The Generals were not all of one opinion The perpetuall did approoue the expulsion but the temporary did not The maior part inclined according to the custome of a multitude when it consulteth to leaue things in the state they were and not to decree either for the one side or the other But in this consultation it was often repeated and by many that the people did receiue great scandal to see some weare a religious habit many yeeres and afterwards become seculars This brought the secret profession into question and made a consultation to begin whether they ought to declare it to bee of force as it had beene vntill that time or that no profession doth bind but that which is expresse But this had difficulties also for temper whereof this resolution was taken that the religious Prelat the yeere of probation being ended should be bound either to giue the Nouice leaue to depart or admit him to the profession And this was inserted in the sixteenth Article as in a place conuenient Generall Laynez commended the Decree very much as necessary but desired that his societie might bee excepted alleadging that the condition of it was different from that of other regular Orders that in those tacite profession hath place by ancient custome and approbation of the Apostolique Sea which in their society is prohibited that the cause of scandall which the people receiueth in seeing some in a secular habite who haue long worne the religious doth cease in them in regard the habit of the Iesuits doth not differ from the secular that their society hath also a confirmation from the Apostolique Sea that the Superiour may admit to the profession after a long time which hath neuer beene made to any Regular All inclined to fauour him with this exception for extention whereof hee contended that the Rules of speaking Latine did require that the expression should bee in the plurall saying that by these things the Synod doth not intend to alter the institution of the Iesuits c. And it was not considered that this manner of speech might bee referred both to the admitting or dismissing of Nouices in the end of the Laymez maketh vse of the negligence of the Fathers in Trent yeere of Probation and to the whole Contents of the sixteenth Article as also that it might be referred to all the things contained in the sixteen heads But the Father knew how to make vse of the negligence of others laying a foundation on which the succeeding Iesuites might build that singularitie which now appeareth in their Societie The Congregation of the two and twentieth treated of Indulgences the difficultie and length of which matter made the maior part to bee of opinion to speake of it no more in regard all were resolued before to auoide impediments But some desired to handle them saying that otherwise the Heretickes would say that they were omitted because there was no ground to maintaine them Others thought it sufficient to speake of their vse onely and to take away the abuses which the corruption of times hath brought in The Ambassadour of Portugall said hee was sorry that prouision was not made for the Crusadoes but would bee silent lest occasion might bee taken to prolong the Councell The Emperours Ambassadours though they did ioyntly sollicite the Expedition by commission from their Master were not of accord in this Prague would not haue them speake of the points of doctrine Fiue-Churches said that if they were omitted and the abuses of reliques Images and Purgatorie not taken away the Synode was quite shamed The Bishop of Modena tolde the Fathers that in case they would handle Indulgences as they had done Iustification considering all the causes and resoluing all the questions they would finde it difficult and to require a long time it being impossible to make that matter plaine but by determining first whether they bee absolutions or compensations onely and suffrages or whether they doe remit the penalties imposed by the Confessor onely The Councel dareth not handle the matter of Indulgences exactly or all that are due likewise whether the Treasure which is put for their foundation doeth onely consist of the merits of CHRIST or whether those of Saints bee required also whether they may be giuen though the receiuer performe nothing whether they extend to the dead also and other things of no lesse difficultie But to determine that the Church may graunt them and hath done so in all times and that they are profitable for the faithfull who doe worthily receiue them needeth no great disputation The authoritie to graunt them is prooued by the Scripture their continuall vse by Apostolicall tradition and authoritie of Councels and the perspicuitie of the whole matter by the vniforme doctrine of the Schoolemen Vpon this a Decree may be composed without difficultie The opinion had many followers and hee with other Friar Bishops was deputed to make a Decree in this sense adding a prouision against abuses In the Congregations following they handled the Index of bookes Catechisme Breuiarie Missals and Agends And all things determined in the particular congregations of the Prelates deputed for these matters since the beginning of the Synod were read Wherein they did not all agree Some thought that certaine Authours and Bookes were censured without reason
ministers of Aremboldus went to the Dominican Friars These men in publishing the Indulgences desiring to amplifie the value of them more then others had done before spake many strange things which gaue cause of scandall Whereunto was added the bad life of the Pardoners who in Tauernes and elsewhere in games and other things not fit to bee named spent that which the people spared from their necessary expences to purchase the Indulgences 18 By these meanes Martin Luther an Heremite Friar being stirred vp began Martin Luther speaketh against the Indulgences to speake against the Pardoners first reprehending these new excessiue abuses onely after being prouoked by them hee set himselfe to study this matter being desirous to see the foundations and the rootes of the doctrine of Indulgences Which when he had examined passing from the new to the old 95. Conclusions of Luther abuses and from the building to the foundations he published 95. Conclusions in this matter which were proposed to bee disputed on in Wittenberg Iohn Thecel a Dominican proposed Cōclusions contrary to those of Luther where they being seene and read they were not opposed in any vocall conference because no man appeared against him but Iohn Thecel a Dominican Friar proposed others contrary vnto these in Frankfort of Brandeburg 19 These two files of Conclusions were as one may say a ioyning of issue Wherefore Martin Luther went on to write in defence of his and Iohn Ecchius to oppose them and these Conclusions together with other writings being gone to Rome Siluester Prierius a Dominican Friar wrote against Luther Which contestation enforced both the one and the other partie to swarue from this Iohn Ecchius opposeth Luthers conclusions Siluester Prierius wrot against Luther The doctrine of Indulgences was neuer well vnderstood vntill this time matter and passe to other things of greater importance For the doctrine of Indulgences hauing not beene well examined in former ages which did neuer consider how they might bee defended and maintained or how impugned the essence and causes of them were not well vnderstood Some thought they were nothing but an absolution or freeing made by authority of the Prelate from penance which the Church in the most auncient times imposed by way of discipline vpon the penitent which imposition was assumed in succeeding ages by the Bishop onely after delegated to the penetentiary Priest and in conclusion left wholly to the will of the Confessor and that they deliuered vs not from paying the debt due to the Iustice of God Others thinking that this brought more hurt vnto Christians then benefit who being deliuered from Canonicall punishments became negligent to satisfie the diuine Iustice with voluntary penance began to bee of opinion that they set vs free from both the one and the other but these were diuided Some thought that they set vs free though nothing were giuen in recompence for them Others abhorring that opinion said that by reason of the mutuall participation in charitie of the members of holy Church the penance of one might bee communicated vnto another and free him by this compensation But because it seemed that this was more proper to men of an holy and austere life then to the authority of Prelates there arose a third opinion which made them in part an absolution because authority was necessary for them and in part a compensation But in regard the Prelates liued not in such sort as that they could spare much of their merits for others there was made a treasury in the Church full of the merits of all those who had more of them then would serue their owne turnes the dispensation whereof is committed to the Pope who when he giueth Indulgences recompenseth the debt of the sinner by assigning so much in value out of the treasurie Neither was there The treasure of the Church an end of the difficulties for it was opposed that the merits of Saints being finite and limited this treasure might be diminished Wherefore desiring to make it indeficient they added the merits of Christ which are infinite Whence arose a doubt what need there might be of the little drops of the merits of others when there was an infinite Ocean of the merits of Christ which gaue cause to some to make the treasure to bee onely of the merits of our Sauiour 20 These things so vncertaine at that time and which had no other foundation then the Bull of Clement 6. made for the Iubilie of they yeere 1350 seemed not sufficient to oppugne the doctrine of Martin Luther to resolue his reasons and to conuince him Wherefore Thecel Ecchius and Prierius seeing themselues The aduersaries of Luther prooue the doctrine of Indulgences by common reasons only not strong enough in points proper for this matter betooke themselues to common places and layd for their ground worke the Popes authoritie and consent of the Schoolemen concluding that the Pope not beeing 1518 LEO 20. MAXIMIL 1. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. Luther beginneth to speake against the Popes authority and other doctrines of the Romane Church able to erre in matters of faith and hauing approoued the doctrine of the Schoolemen and himselfe publishing the Indulgences to all the faithfull it was necessary to beleeue them as an article of faith This gaue occasion to Martin to passe from Indulgences to the authoritie of the Pope which being predicated by others to be the highest in the Church was by him made inferiour to a Generall Councell lawfully called where of he said there was need in that instant and vrgent necessitie and the heat of disputation continuing the more the Papall authority was aduanced by others the more it was by him abased Notwithstanding he conteined himselfe within the bounds of speaking modestly of the person of Leo sometimes referring himselfe to his iudgement And for the same reason the doctrine of remission of sinnes of Penance and of Purgatorie was set on foote the Romanists seruing themselues of all these common places for proofe of Indulgence 21 Friar Iames Hogostrat a Dominican Inquisitor wrote against Martin Luther Iames Hogostrat his perswasion to the Pope more to the purpose then them all who setting these reasons aside exhorted the Pope to conuince Martin with chaines fire and flames 22 Neuertheles the controuersie grew still more bitter and Martin alwaies 1518 went forwards to some new proposition as occasion was offered Wherefore Pope Leo caused him to be cited to Rome by Hierom Bishop of Ascoli Auditor of Meanes vsed by the Pope to bring Luther to Rome the Chamber in August 1518 and wrote a Briefe to Fredericke Duke of Saxonie exhorting him not to protect him He wrote also to Thomas de Vio Cardinall Caietan his Legat in the diet of Ausburg that he should vse all diligence to commit him to prison and to send him to Rome Diuers meanes were vsed to the Pope that he would be contented to order that his cause might be examined in Germany
himselfe for his owne part would willingly make present answere to the things proposed but because there are many Princes which haue receiued the same confession in the Diet of Ausbug it was not fit nor profitable for the cause to answere alone but an assembly being intimated against the 24. of Iune hee desired hee would bee contented to grant this short delay that he might receiue a more common and resolute conclusion The ioy and hope of the Nuncio was much increased The Nuncio is pleased with the delatory answere The answere of the Protestants assembled in Smalcalde who desired the delay had been rather of yeeres then moneths But the Protestants assembled at the aforesaid time in Smalcalde answered thanking the Emperor that for the glory of God and safetie of the common-wealth hee had taken paines to cause a Councell to bee celebrated which would bee in vaine if conditions were not obserued necessary for the curing of the diseases of Germanie which desireth that her controuersies may be defined with due order and hopeth to obtaine it for that the Emperour hath in many imperiall Diets promised such a one which by the mature deliberation of the Princes and States hath been resolued should be celebrated in Germanie in regard that many errors being reuealed by occasion of the Indulgences published in Sermons Pope Leo condemned the doctrine and the Doctors who discouered the abuses But that sentence was opposed by the testimonies of the Prophets and Apostles Whence did arise the controuersie which cannot be decided but in a Councell where the Popes sentence or the power of whosoeuer may not preiudice the cause and where iudgement may be giuen not according to the Popes lawes or opinions of the Schooles but according to the holy Scripture If this be not performed this so great a labour would bee taken in vaine as may appeare by the examples of some other Councels celebrated before Now the propositions of the Pope were contrary to this end to the petitions of the Diet and promises of the Emperour For though hee propose And their exceptions against the propositions of the Pope a free Councell in words yet in effect hee would haue it tied so that vices and errors may not be reprehended and himselfe may maintaine his power That that was not a reasonable demand that any man should bind himselfe to obserue the decrees before he know by what order maner or forme they are made whether the Pope desire to haue the supreme authoritie in him and his whether hee will haue the controuersies discussed according to holy writ or according to humane lawes and traditions That that clause also seemed captious that the Councell should bee made according to the old custome For it being vnderstood of that old when all was determined by the holy Scriptures they would not refuse it But the Councels of the next preceding age were much different from the other that were more ancient where too much was attributed to the Decrees of Popes and other men That the propose was glorious but it tooke absolutely away the libertie which was demanded and was necessary for the cause That they desired the Emperour to bee a meanes that all might passe lawfully That all men were in attention and stood in hope of a Councell and demanded it with vowes and prayers which would bee turned into great sorrow and vexation of minde if this expectation should bee deluded by giuing a Councell but not such a one as is desired and promised That there is no doubt but that all the States of the Empire and other Kings and Princes also will bee of the same opinion to auoid those snares and bonds with which the Pope thinketh to binde them in a new Councell to whose will if the managing of the affaires shall be permitted they will referre the whole to God and thinke of what they haue to doe Yet for all this if they shall bee cited with good and lawfull assurance in case they see themselues able to doe some thing for the seruice of God they will not refuse to appeare but with condition not to consent to the Popes demands nor to a Councell which is not conformable to the Decrees of the imperiall Diets In the end they prayed the Emperour not to take their resolution in ill part and to endeuour that the power of those be not confirmed who long since haue waxed cruell against the innocent The Protestants resolued not onely to send the answere to the Pope and the Emperour but to print it also together with the Nuncio his proposition which by the same Pope was iudged indiscreete and too open Therefore The Pope recalleth Hugo Rangone B. of Rheggio his Nuncio and putteth Vergerius in his place vnder colour that hee was old and vnable to beare that charge he recalled him and wrote to Vergerius Nuncio with King Ferdinand that he should take vpon him that place with the same instructions admonishing him to remember not to swarue by any meanes from his will or to giue eare to any 1534 CLEMENT 7. CHARLES 5. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 2. moderation though the King desire it that vnaduisedly he cast him not into some strait and constraine him to call a Councell which was not profitable for the Church or for the Apostolicall Sea While these things were in handling the Pope who fore-saw the answere which would come out of Germany before in Bolonia had conceiued but small confidence in the Emperour wholly aliened himselfe from his friendship For in the cause of Modena and Rheggio betweene his Holinesse and the Duke of Ferrara referred to him by the parties hee pronounced for the Duke For all which causes the Pope negotiated a confederation with the French King the which was concluded and established also by the mariage The confederation betweene the Pope and the French King is confirmed by marriage of Henry the Kings second sonne with Catherine de Medici the Popes great grand-child And to giue a compleat perfection to the whole businesse hee went to Marseilles in person to speake with the King But vnderstanding that this iourney was reprehended by all as not addressed to any publike respect but onely to make his house great hee iustified himselfe by saying hee vndertooke it to perswade him to fauour the Councell and to abolish the Lutheran heresie And t is true that there beside other treaties hee perswaded his most Christian Maiestie to deale with the Protestants especially with the Landgraue of Hassia who was to come to him into France to cause them to desist from demaunding a Councel proposing vnto them that they would seeke out any other way to accommodate the differences and promising his owne faithfull and effectuall helpe when time should serue The King did thus negotiate but could obtaine nothing For the Landgraue alleadged The French King treateth with the Landgraue of Hassia at the Popes request about the Councell that there was no other meanes
the Councell was not truely intended and that they had nothing but words and Court holy water And he deliuered his minde with such graue sentences that the whole The Pope sendeth Nunci◠to all Princes to treate with them concerning the Councel auditorie was mooued In that consistorie it was resolued to dispatch Nuncij to the Emperour to the French King and other Christian Princes with commission to declare that the Pope and Colledge had determined absolutely for the benefit of Christendome to celebrate a Councell exhorting them to fauour it and to procure peace and tranquillitie while it shall last but to tell them that for the time and place his Holinesse was not resolued as yet And the most secret instruction was that they should cunningly finde out what the Princes thought concerning the place to the end that all their interests and purposes being knowen hee might hinder them by opposing one against another and so worke his owne will Hee charged also the Nuncij to complaine of the actions of the King of England and when they saw opportunitie to incite them against him and to offer them also that Kingdome for a prey Among these Nuncij Vergerius Vergerius is sent backe into Germanie with speciall instructions was one sent backe into Germanie with more speciall Commissions to penetrate the minde of the Protestants concerning the forme of proceeding in the Councell that hee might draw from thence such conclusions as were necessarie He gaue him also particular charge to treat with Luther and the other principall Preachers of the reformed doctrine vsing all kindes of promises and offers to reduce them to some composition The Pope reprehended in all occasions the rigidnesse of Cardinall Caietan who in the Diet of Ausburg 1518. refused Luthers offer that silence being imposed to his aduersaries hee would also bee contented to hold his peace and hee condemned the acerbitie of that Cardinall who by vrging obstinately a recantation cast that man headlong into despaire which had cost and would cost the Church of Rome as much as the halfe of her authoritie is worth That hee would not imitate Leo in beleeuing that the Friars are good instruments to suppresse the Preachers of Germanie For reason and experience haue declared the vanitie of that cogitation That there were but two meanes force and treaties both which he would vse being readie to agree to any condition so that the Popes authoritie might remaine intire For which end hee said hee had neede of able men fit for negotiation and therefore the one and twentieth of May hee created sixe Cardinals and the seuenth a few dayes after all which were men much esteemed in the Court. Among these was Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester then prisoner in England for refusing to obey the Kings Decree which tooke away the Popes authoritie The Pope in making choice of him considered that hee honoured this promotion The Pope creaseth seuca Cardinals by putting in that number a learned man and well deseruing for the persecution which hée endured and that hauing increased his dignitie hee In which number was Iohn Fisher B. of Rochester would haue more respect with the King and more credit with the people But that Cardinals Cap profited that Prelate in nothing but to hasten his death which was giuen him 43. dayes after by cutting off his head in publike But howsoeuer the Pope made open demonstrations to desire such a Councell as might giue satisfaction and reduce Germanie yet all the Court and the Popes neerest friends who treated most secretly with him of these The Court was of opinion that Mantua was the fittest place for the Councell things said that it could not any where bee celebrated but in Italie because in no other place it could bee free and that in Italie no place could be chosen but Mantua Vergerius at his returne into Germanie deliuered the Popes Ambassage first to Ferdinand and then to those Protestants that came to that King about the present occurrences and at last hee made a iourney to treate with the others also He had no other answere from any of them but that they would consult together and resolue by common consent in their assembly which should bee called in the ende of the yeere The proposition of the The negotiation of Vergerius in Germanie Nuncio contained that that was the time for the Councels so much desired the Pope hauing treated with the Emperour and all the Kings to call it seriously not as formerly in appearance onely and that it may not bee deferred any more hee determined to chuse Mantua for the place according to the resolution taken with the Emperour two yeeres since Which being a Citie of the Emperours vassall placed neere his confines and the Venetians they might holde it for secure besides that the Pope and the Emperour would giue any greater caution whatsoeuer That it was not necessarie to resolue or speake of the manner and forme of treating in the Councell because this would better bee done in the Councell it selfe when it shall bee called That it could not bee celebrated in Germanie which abounded with Anabaptists Sacramentaries and other sects for the most part both foolish and furious Therefore that it would not bee secure for other nations to goe where that multitude is potent and to condemne their doctrine That to the Pope it is all one to call it in any other Country whatsoeuer but hee would not seeme to bee inforced and to haue that authoritie taken from him which he hath inioyed so many ages to prescribe the place of generall Councels In this iourney Vergerius found Luther at Wittenberg and treated with He treateth with Luther him very courteously vpon these tearmes inlarging and amplifying them very much And first hee assured him that the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals esteemed him exceedingly who were infinitely grieued for the losse of one who if he had been employed in the seruice of God and the Apostolicall Sea which are ioyned together might haue brought foo 〈…〉 inestimable fruit and that they would doe whatsoeuer they could to regaine him Hee told that the Pope blamed the rigiditie of Caietan and that the Cardinals did no lesse that hee might expect all fauour from that holy Sea and that the rigor of Leo which hee vsed by the instigation of others not of his owne disposition displeased all men Hee added also that hee would not dispute with him of the controuersies because hee professed not Diuinitie but that by common reason hee could shew him that it was good to reunite himselfe with the head of the Church For considering that his doctrine comming to light and being published within these eighteene yeeres had raysed innumerable sects of which the one detesteth the other and so many popular seditions with the death and banishment of so great multitudes it could not bee concluded that it came from God But one might well assure himselfe that it was pernitious
head inueighed seuerely against the Canons and wrote vnto them reprehending them for introducing a dangerous nouitie without reason or example of antiquitie that there want not places to praise the Virgin who cannot be pleased with a presumptuous nouitie mother of rashnesse sister of superstition daughter of lightnesse The next age had Schoole-Doctors of both the orders Franciscan and Dominican who in their writings refuted this opinion vntill about the yeere 1300. when Iohn Scot a Franciscan putting the matter into disputation and examining the reasons did flie to the omnipotencie saying that God had power to free her from sinne or to cause sinne to remaine in her onely for an instant or for a certaine time that God onely knoweth which of these three is true yet it is probable to attribute the first to Marie in case it bee not repugnant to the authoritie of the Church and of the Scripture The doctrine of this famous Diuine was followed by the Franciscan order But in the particular of the conception seeing the way layd open they affirmed absolutely for true that which hee had proposed as possible and probable vnder this doubtfull condition if it bee not repugnant to the Orthodoxe Faith The Dominicans did constantly resist and followed Saint Thomas one of their order famous for his learning S. Thomas is canonized by Pope Iohn the 22 to disgrace the Franciscans and for the approbation of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth who to depresse the Franciscans who did for the most part adhere to the Emperour Lewis of Bauaria excommunicated by him did canonize that Doctour and his doctrine The shew of pietie and deuotion made the Franciscan opinion generally more accepted and more tenaciously receiued by the Vniuersitie of Paris which was in credite for eminent learning and after long ventilation and discussion was afterwards approoued by the Councell of Basill which forbade to preach and teach the contrarie This tooke place in those Countreys which receiued the Councell Finally Pope Sixtus the fourth a Franciscan made two Bulles in this matter one in the yeere one thousand foure hundred seuentîe sixe approouing a new Office composed by Leonard Nogarola Protonotarie with Indulgences to him that did celebrate it or assist the other in the yeere one thousand foure hundred eightie three condemning the assertion as false and erronious that it is heresie to hold the conception or a sinne to celebrate it excommunicating the Preachers and others who noted that opinion of heresie or the contrarie because it was not as yet decided by the Church of Rome and the Apostolike Sea But this did not appease the contentions which betweene the two orders of Friars still waxed sharper and were renewed euery yeere in December so that Pope Leo the tenth thinking to giue a remedie by deferring the controuersie made letters bee written vnto diuers But afterwards he had more important cogitations by reason of the nouities of Germanie which in these contentions wrought that which happeneth in States that the Citie being beleaguered the factions doe cease and all ioyne against the common enemie The Dominicans grounded themselues vpon the Scripture the doctrine of the Fathers and the most ancient Schoole-men where not one iot was found in fauour of the others but they alleadged for themselues miracles and contentment of the people Iohn of Vdine a Dominican Friar sayd either you will that Saint Paul and the Fathers haue beleeued this exemption of the Virgine from the common condition or not If they haue beleeued it and yet haue spoken generally without euer making mention of this exception imitate them also now But if they haue beleeued the contrarie your opinion is a nouitie Ierolamus Lombardellus a Franciscan Friar sayd that the authoritie of the present Church was no lesse then that of the Primitiue if the consent of that in those times made men speake without exception the consent of this which appeareth in celebrating the Feast throughout ought to induce vs not to omit it The Legate wrote to Rome of the marueilous agreement of all against the Lutheran doctrine and the resólution taken to condemne it and sent a copie of the Anathematismes framed giuing aduise withall of the contention raised about the conception Whereunto it was answered from Rome that by no meanes they should meddle with a matter which may cause a schisme betweene Catholikes but should striue to reconcile the parties and giue The Pope commandeth that the contention about the conception should be omitted for feare of making a schisme them both satisfaction and aboue all to preserue in strength the briefe of Sistus 4. The Legates hauing receiued the order did by themselues and by the wiser sort of Prelates perswade both parties to lay aside the contentions and apply themselues ioyntly against the Lutherans They were on both sides contented to be silent so that their opinion were not preiudiced yet the Franciscans said that the Canon was against them if the Virgin were not excepted and the Dominicans that they were condemned if shee were It was necessary to finde a way how it might bee declared that shee was neither comprehended nor affirmatiuely excepted which was by saying they had no intention either to comprehend or except her Afterwards at the great instance of the Franciscans the others were content it should bee sayd onely they had no meaning to comprehend her And to obey the Pope it was added that the constitutions of Sistus 4. should be obserued While these things are handled in Trent the Diet being assembled in Ratisbon The Diet of Ratisbon the Emperour shewed great displeasure that the Colloquie was dissolued without fruit and required that euery one should propose what hee thought fit to appease Germanie The Protestants desired that the difference of Religion might bee composed according to the Recesse of Spira by a nationall Councell saying it was more fit then a generall because by reason of the great difference in opinions betweene Germanie and other Nations it is impossible to auoyde the raising of a greater contention and whosoeuer will enforce Germanie to change opinion must first slay many thousands of men which would be a dammage to the Emperour and a ioy to the Turkes The Emperors ministers answered that his Maiestie was not the cause why the Decree of Spira was not executed and that it was knowen vnto all that to make so necessarie a peace with the French King hee was constrained to yeeld to the Pope in matters of Religion that the Decree was fitted to the necessities of that time which being changed it was also necessarie to change opinion that in National Councels somtimes maners are amended but Faith and Religion neuer handled that in Colloquies one hath to doe with Theologues who for the most part are vntractable obstinate so that with them one cannot come to such moderate counsels as is necessary that none loued Religion more then the Emperor who would not swarue one iote from that which
disputations and how farre different that was which they printed would not beleeue how much was spoken vpon this article and with how much heate not onley by the Diuines but the Bishops also all seeming to vnderstand the trueth and to haue it on their side so that Santa Croce saw there was more neede of a bridle then spurres who desired to make an end of it by intreating them to passe to something else and to diuert the controuersie It was twice proposed in congregation of the Prelates to leaue this question as ambiguous long and troublesome yet they returned to it being drawen by their affections At last the Cardinall shewing they had said enough and that they should consider againe of the things spoken to resolue on them more maturely obtained of them to speake of preparatiue workes and obseruation of the Law vpon which occasion the matter of Free will was brought in by many and not neglected by the Cardinall he proposed whether they would haue that particular also handled together with the rest because it did so cohere with thē that it could not be handled seuerally Therfore Prelates and Diuines were deputed to collect Articles out of the workes of the Lutherans that they might be censured The Articles were 1. God is the totall cause of our workes good and euill and the adultery of Dauid the cruelty of Manlius and the treason of Iudas are workes of God as well as the vocation of Saul 2. No man hath power to thinke well or ill but all commeth from absolute necessitie and in vs is no free will and to affirme it is a meere fiction 3. Free Articles concerning Free will will since the sinne of Adam is lost and a thing onely tirular and when one doeth what is in his power hee sinneth mortally yea it is a thing fained and a title without realitie 4. Free will is onely in doing ill and hath no power to doe good 5. Free will mooued by God doeth by no meanes cooperate and followeth as an instrument without life or as an vnreasonable creature 6. That God conuerteth those onely whom hee will though they will not and spurne against it Vpon the two first Articles they rather spake in a tragicall manner then The discussiō of the articles Theologicall that the Lutheran doctrine was a frantique wisedome that mans will as they make it is prodigious that those wordes a thing of title onely a title without realitie are monstrous that the opinion is impious and blasphemous against God that the Church hath condemned it against the Manichees Priscillianists and lastly against Aballardus and Wigleffe and that it was a follie against common sence euery one proouing in himselfe his owne libertie that it deserueth not confutation but as Aristotle saith chastisement or experimentall proofe That Luthers Schollers perceiued the folly and to moderate the absurditie sayd after that man had libertie in externall politicall and oecumenicall actions and in matters of ciuill iustice that which euery one but a foole knoweth to proceede from counsell and election but denied libertie in matters of diuine iustice onely Marinarus sayd that as it is foolish to say no humane action is in our power so it is no lesse absurd to say that euery one is euery one finding by experience that hee hath not his affections in his power that this is the sence of the Schooles which say that wee are not free in the first motions which freedome because the Saints haue it is certaine that some freedome is in them which is not in vs. Catarinus according to his owne opinion that without Gods speciall assistance a man cannot doe a morall good said there was no liberty in this and therefore that the fourth Article was not so easily to bee condemned Vega after hee had spoken with such ambiguitie that hee vnderstood not himselfe concluded that betweene the Diuines and the Protestants there was no difference of opinion For these concluding now that there is liberty in Philosophicall iustice and not in supernaturall in externall workes of the Law not in internall and spirituall it is to say precisely with the Church that one cannot doe spirituall workes belonging to religion without the assistance of God And though hee said that all indeuour was to be vsed for composition yet hee was not gratefully heard it seeming in some sort a preiudice that any of the differences might bee reconciled and they were wont to say that this is a point of the Colloquies a word abhorred as if by that the Laitie had vsurped that authority which is proper to Councels A great disputation arose amongst them whether it bee in mans power to beleeue or not beleeue The Franciscans following Scotus did denie it saying that as knowledge doth necessarily follow demonstrations so faith doth arise necessarily from persuasions and that it is in the vnderstanding which is a naturall agent and is naturally mooued by the obiect They alledged experience that no man can beleeue what hee will but what seemeth true adding that no man would feele any displeasure if hee could beleeue hee had it not The Dominicans said that nothing is more in the power of the will then to beleeue and by the determination and resolution of the will onely one may beleeue the number of the starres is euen Vpon the third Article whether free will bee lost by sinne very many authorities of Saint Austine being alledged which expressely say it Soto did inuent because hee knew no other meanes to auoyd them that true liberty is equiuocall for either it is deriued from the Noune Libertas freedome or from the Verbe Liberare to set free that in the first sence it is opposed to necessity in the second to seruitude and that when Saint Austine sayd that free-will was lost hee would inferre nothing else but that it is made slaue to sinne and Satan This difference could not bee vnderstood because a seruant is not free for that hee cannot doe his owne will but is compelled to follow his Masters and by this opinion Luther could not bee blamed for intitling a booke of seruile will Many thought the fourth Article absurd saying that liberty is vnderstood to be a power to both the contraries therefore that it could not bee said to bee a liberty to euill if it were not also to good But they were made to acknowledge their error when they were told that the Saints and blessed Angels in heauen are free to doe good and therefore that it was no inconuenience that some should bee free onely to doe euill In examining the fifth and sixt Articles of the consent which free-will giueth to diuine inspiration or preuenting grace the Franciscans and Dominicans were of diuers opinions The Franciscans contended that the will beeing able to prepare it selfe it hath liberty much more to accept or refuse the diuine preuention when God giueth assistance before it vseth the strength of nature The Dominicans denied that the workes preceding the
here against their will and because of the departure of many and protestations of others by whose departure the Councell would bee dissolued and for other causes alleadged by the Fathers notoriously true and lawfull Dothe it please you to declare that for the security of the Prelats liues and prosecution of the Councell it ought to be transferred to Bolonia and is now transferred and that the Session intimated for the 21. of April shall be celebrated and all things prosecuted there vntill the Pope and Councell shall thinke fit to reduce it into this or some other place by the aduise of the Emperour the French King and other Christian Kings and Princes The next day the Session being held and the Decree read 35. Bishops and A Session is held to reade the Decree of the Translation to Bolonia three Generals did assent But the Cardinall Pacceco and 17. other Bishops opposed Among those that consented there was not one of the Emperors Subiects but Michael Saracenus a Napolitan Archb. of Matera But amongst those that consented not there was Claudius della Guische Bishop of Mirpois and Martelli Bishop of Fiesole and Marcus Viguerius Bishop of Sintgaglia whom the Cardinall of Monte did vpbraid that his vncle beeing drawen from a base estate to the height of the Cardinality from whence the greatnesse of his house and his owne Bishopricke did proceed he did ill requite the Apostolike Sea For answere he vsed the words of S. Paul God is not mocked The Legates departed with the Crosse caried before them accompanied with the Bishops of their faction with ceremonies and prayers The Imperialists were commanded by the Emperours Ambassadour not to depart vntill his Maiestie were informed and gaue them order In Rome the Court was glad they were deliuered from danger For there was already great confusion and sale made by the possessors of many Benefices who sought to vnburthen themselues but so as that they would lose no commoditie The Pope said that hauing giuen his Legates power to translate the Councell and promised to ratifie what they should determine and cause it to be executed and they hauing iudged the infection of the ayre to bee a lawfull cause hee Which is approued by the Pope could not chuse but approoue it and the rather because the maior part of the Prelates did consent But none was so simple as not to beleeue that all was done by his commandement it being certaine that nothing how little soeuer was handled in the Councel without order first had from Rome For which purpose letters comming once euery weeke and some weeks twice it was not credible that a matter of that importance was hatched in the Legats braines Besides onely to bring so many persons into a Citie so iealous as Bolonia without consent of the Prince thereof seemed to be a thing which the Legats would neuer haue The date of the Bull is suspected by many attempted Many did beleeue that the Bull had not a true date but was newly made though the date were old and with the name of Cardinall Poole to giue greater reputation otherwise that clause in which authoritie is giuen vnto two of them the other being absent to translate the Councell would seeme a kinde of Prophecie that Poole should depart a yeere after and the libertie to transâ—erre it to what Citie they listed seemed too large and improbable considering the suspicion alwayes fixed in the minde of the Popes that the Councell should bee celebrated in an vnfaithfull Citie shewed more then euer by Pope Paul when hee did call it So that it was incredible that hee would vnnecessarily expose himselfe to the discretion of another in a matter of so great weight Yet following the notes which I haue seene as I haue said before I assure my selfe that it was made two yeeres and sent 18. moneths before this time But that which could not be concealed and which did scandalize It appeareth by the Bull that the Councell was not free euery one was that by that Bull it appeared that the Councel was in seruitude For if the two Legats could command all the Prelats at once to part from Trent and compell them by punishments and censures let any man say that can what liberty they had The Emperor hearing the newes was much The Emperour is offended with the Translation displeased because it seemed hee was despised and because hee saw a weapon taken out of his hand by managing whereof according to opportunity hee thought to set Religion at peace in Germanie and so to put it vnder his The French King dieth obedience The newes came not to the French King who the 21. of the same moneth changed this life for a better THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT I Am not ignorant of the lawes of Histories 1547 PAVL 3. CHARLES 5. EDWARD 6. HENRY 2. and how they differ from Annals and Diaries I The censure of the Author concerning this worke knowe likewise that the narration of vniforme accidents breedeth satiety in the Writer and tediousnesse in the Reader and that to recount small matters too particularly deserueth the name of a foolish knowledge Yet I obserue frequent replies and little narrations in Homer and that in the expedition of Cyrus the yonger Xenophon doth more rauish and instruct the minde by reciting the serious and merry discourses of the souldiers then by relating the actions and counsels of Princes I am of opinion that euery matter hath his proper forme and that this of mine cannot bee composed with ordinary rules I assure my selfe that this worke will bee read by few and is of a short life not so much for want of forme as for the nature of the Subiect And I am so perswaded by that which I see happen in the like things But not regarding perpetuity or continuance of time it shall suffice me that it will please some one to whome I will shew it because I know hee will make vse of it and I am assured that for hereafter that will happen to it which the coniunctures shall comport The Prelates remaining in Trent were in great suspence vntill letters The Emperors Prelats remaine in Trent came from the Emperour commending them for contradicting the Translation and abiding in Trent with expresse order not to part from the Citie They consulted among themselues whether they should doe any Conciliarie Writings passe betweene the Prelats of Trent and of Bolonia act and it was vniformely resolued that it would make a schisme and therefore was not to be attempted but that they ought to study the points and to expect what opportunity would bring There passed some writings betweene the Diuines of Trent and of Bolonia These did with affectation call it the Synode of Bolonia and those the holy Synode bee it wheresoeuer it will And some of them remaine still in Print in Bolonia The Legates and other Cardinals of Rome made
Euangelists fore seeing they would speake many iniurious things against God and that but for the respect they bare to the King they would haue risen and disturbed the Whereat Cardinall Tornon disdaineth assembly Therefore hee prayed his Maiestie not to beleeue what they had said because the Prelates would disprooue it so that hee should see the difference betweene the trueth and a lye and demanded a dayes time to answere requiring that all should bee remooued from thence that they might not heare those blasphemies Wherewith the Queene thinking her selfe to bee touched answered that nothing was done but by the aduice of the Princes of the Kings Counsell and Parliament of Paris not to change or innouate any thing in Religion but to compose the differences and to reduce those that wandered into the right way which the Bishops were bound in wisedome to procure by all good meanes The assembly being dissolued the Bishops and Diuines consulted amongst themselues what to doe Some of them would haue had a Confession of Faith written vnto which if the Protestants would not subscribe they should bee condemned for heretiques without any further disputation Which opinion seeming too hard after much discourse they resolued to answere two of the points proposed by Beza that is of the Church and of the Eucharist The Congregation being assembled againe the sixteenth of the moneth the The Card. of Loraine speaketh for the Catholiques Cardinall of Loraine in the presence of the King Queene and Princes made a long Oration and sayd That the King was a member not head of the Church that it belonged to his care to defend it and that for matter of doctrine hee was subiect to the Ecclesiasticall Ministers that the Church did not containe the elect onely any yet could not erre that when any particular Church is in an errour recourse must be had to the Church of Rome Decrees of the generall Councels consent of the ancient Fathers and aboue all to the Scripture expounded in the sense of the Church that the heretiques failing in this haue runne into inextricable errours as the modernes for example in the point of the Eucharist in which by an incurable itch of curious questions they haue vsed that which was instituted by Christ for a bond of vnion to make an irreconciliable rent in the Church And then he handled this matter and concluded that if the Protestants will not change their opinion herein there is no meanes of composition When he had made an end all the Bishops stood vp and said they would liue and die in that Faith they prayed the King to perseuere in it adding that if the Protestants will subscribe to this article they will not refuse to dispute the rest but if not they ought not to haue any more audience but to be chased out of the whole kingome Beza asked leaue to answere presently To whom Beza was willing to answer and was not suffered but it seeming not fit to equalize a priuate Minister to so great a Prince Cardinall the assembly was dissolued The Prelats were willing the Colloquie should haue beene thus ended but the Bishop of Valence told them it was dishonourable Therefore the foure and twentieth day it was assembled againe in presence of the Queene and the Princes Beza spake of the Church But speaketh another day and of the conditions and authority thereof of Councels shewing they may erre and the dignity of the Scripture Claudeus Espenseus answered that hee had alwayes desired a Colloquie in matter of Religion and abhorred the punishments which the poore vnfortunate people endured but he much marueiled by what authority and by whom the Protestants were called into the Ecclesiasticall ministery who had layd hands on them to make them And is answered by Claudius Espenseus ordinary Ministers and if they pretended an extraordinary vocation where were the miracles to demonstrate it Then hee treated of Traditions Hee shewed that there beeing a controuersie of the sense of the Scriptures recourse must be had to the Fathers and that many things are beleeued by Tradition onely as the Consubstantialitie of the Sonne the baptizing of infants and the virginity of the mother of Christ after his birth Hee added that no generall Councell was euer corrected by another in point of doctrine Diuers replies and disputations passed on both sides betweene the Diuines who were present And there being a great contention the Card of Loraine making a silence proposed the matter of the Eucharist and sayd that the Bishops were resolute not to proceede any further if that Article were not agreed on and then demaunded of the Ministers if they were prepared to subscribe the Augustan Confession in that Article Beza asked whether hee proposed that in the name of all and whether himselfe and the other Prelates would subscribe to the other points of that Confession and receiuing no answere either of the one or the other hee demanded that that which was proposed to bee subscribed vnto should bee put in writing that they might consult of it and so the Colloquie was put off till the next day In which Beza who began to speake did much prouoke the Bishops For hauing iustified his vocation to the Ministerie he discoursed of the vocation Beza speaketh againe and prouoketh the Bishops and ordination of Bishops shewing what Simonie was committed and demanding how it could be accounted lawfull The passing to the Article of the Eucharist and the point of the Augustan Confession proposed vnto him hee said it ought to bee first subscribed by those who did propose it The parties not being able to agree a Spanish Iesuite one of the traine of the Cardinall The sawâ—ines of a Spanish Iesuite of Ferrara who was at the Colloquie hauing reproched the Protestants did reprehend the Queene for meddling in matters which belonged not to her but to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops This arrogancie troubled the Queenes Patience but for the Popes sake and the Legates shee dissembled Finally not being able to conclude any thing by this manner of parlie it was A new course is taken ordered that two Bishops and three Diuines of the most moderate should conferre with fiue of the Protestants Ministers to see if they could finde out a way to make an agreement They assayed to frame an Article of the Eucharist Which doth as little good as the former in generall termes taken out of the Fathers which might giue satisfaction to both parties which because they could not doe they concluded the Colloquie This did minister much matter of discourse Some sayd it was a bad example to treate of errours once condemned and that they ought no so much as to heare those who denie the foundations of Religion which hath continued so long and beene so much confirmed especially in the presence of ignorant people and that although nothing was resolued against the true Religion it hath made the heretiques bolde and grieued the
those that say Masse onely and not for all the faithfull that it was necessary to insert this clause to remooue all doubt from the Catholiques and all occasion of opposing and calumniating from the heretikes that they as Diuines sent from the Pope could not forbeare to giue their aduice in a matter of so great importance and were both so earnest especially Salmeron who talked with Varmiense that the reading of the Decree being ended Varmiense first and then Madruccio made the proposition which pleased many but was reiected by the greater part not for its owne sake but for the manner of proposing it on the sudden without allowing time to consider on it It did not please the other Legats for the same cause also yet in regard of the honour of the place they said without any adoe that it should be reserued to the next Session in the handling of the two next Articles Afterwards the nine points of reformation were read That for collation of Orders Dimisories Testimonials Seale or any thing else neither the Bishop Nine points of Reformation are read nor any of his Ministers shall receiue any thing though voluntarily offered That the Notaries where there is custome not to receiue and where they haue no salarie may receiue the tenth part of a crowne That no secular Clerke though sufficient may be promoted to holy Orders if hee haue not a Benefice patrimony or pension able to maintaine him and that the Benefice may not be renounced nor the pension extinct nor the patrimony aliened without licence of the Bishop That in the Cathedrall or collegiate Churches in which there are no distributions or very small the Bishop may conuert to that vse the third part of the profits of the Prebends That in Parish Churches where much people is the Bishops may compell the Rectors to take the assistance of other Priests and those that are large in compasse may bee diuided and furnished with new Rectors if there shall be neede and the people may be compelled to contribute That the Bishops may make a perpetuall Vnion of Benefices with cure or without because of pouertie or other iuridical causes That the Bishops may giue Coadiutors to Parish Priests that are vnlearned and punish those that are scandalous That the Bishops may ioyne the Benefices of old ruinous Churches to others and cause the Churches to bee built compelling the people to contribute to the fabrique That they may visite all Benefices held in Commenda That the name office and vse of Receiuer be taken away in all places In the end the Session was ordained for the seuenteenth of September and a declaration made that the Synod might abbreuiate or prorogue at pleasure as well that Terme as any other which shall be limited for the future Sessions The actions of this Councell were not in so great expectation in former times as at this present in regard all Princes had agreed in demanding it and sent Ambassadors and that a great number of Prelats were assembled foure times so many as before and had beene begunne now sixe moneths and The actions of the Councell are censured those spent in daily and continuall treaties and discussions with dispatches of many Curriers and Prelats from Rome to Trent and from Trent to Rome But when the Session came out in print the vsuall Latine prouerbe of The birth of the Mountaines was generally vsed by all And particularly the delaying of two Articles was noted it seeming strange that hauing made foure Articles of faith with foure Anathematismes they were not able to declare that of granting the Cup which is de iure Ecclesiastico Some were of opinion that it ought to haue beene handled first because if it had beene granted all the disputations had ceased The third point of doctrine was much considered on in the conclusion For it being said that the faithfull who receiueth the body of CHRIST onely is not defrauded of any necessary Grace it First in matter of doctrine seemed a confession that some grace not necessarie is lost And here a doubt was made whether there bee any authoritie of man which can hinder the superabundant and not necessarie grace of God and if it can whether these impediments bee charitably vsed Two things were much spoken of amongst the rest one the obligation imposed to beleeue that antiquitie did not hold the Communion of children to bee necessarie because where the trueth of a story is in question it is a matter of fact and past in which there is no authoritie that can alter the things done Yet hee that readeth Austin will know that in nine places not in a word but with a discourse hee doeth affirme the necessitie of the Eucharist for children and two of them doe make it equall to the necessitie of Baptisme yea hee saith more then once that the Church of Rome hath held and defined it to bee necessarie for the saluation of children and doeth alleadge for it Pope Innocentius whose Epistle doeth yet remaine in which hee saith it plainely And they marueiled why the Councell would without necessitie trouble it selfe here in to no end when it might bee said that either it or Innocention had erred The other was the second Anathematisme with the declaration that he is an heretike who saith the Church was not induced vpon iust causes to communicate without the Cup which was to ground an Article of faith vpon a fact of man And they held it a miraculous thing that they would say that one is bound to obserue the Decree onely iure humano but is bound iure Diuino to beleeue it is iust and to make Articles of faith in things which may bee changed daily Others added also that if the causes were so iust they should say what they were and not force men to beleeue by terrour but induce them by perswasion because that was to domineere ouer the faith which Saint Paul doth so much detest Concerning the points of reformation Secondly in point of Reformation it was generally said that more light points could not be handled nor more lightly and that they did imitate the Physician who in an Hecticall bodie laboured to kill the itch And to put their hands into mens purses to maintaine Curats or repaire Churches seemed a strange thing both for the matter and for the manner For the matter because the Cleargie was luperfluously rich and rather indebted to the Layne for diuers euident respects for the manner because neither CHRIST nor his Apostles did euer compell men to make contributions but onely gaue power to receiue those that were voluntarie And he that readeth Saint Paul to the Corinthians and to the Galathians shall see the masters treatment of the Oxe that treadeth the Corne and the dutie of the catechised towards him that doth teach yet so as that those labourers haue no action or right by rigour of Law nor any Chancerie to relieue them The Session being ended the Legats began
some holding that the Pope onely is instituted iure diuino vntill it came to the Arch-bishop of Zara who said it was necessary to adde the words de iure Diuino to condemne that which the heretiques say to the contrarie in the Augustane Confession Varmiense said againe that in that Confession the heretikes did not dissent in this and Zara alleadging the place and the words the contention was so long that the Congregation did end with it In the Congregations following the opinions were diuers also In particular the Arch-bishop of Braga demaunded the same adiunct saying it could not be omitted He prooued at large the institution of Bishops De iure Diuino bringing reasons and arguments like to those of Granata and said that the Pope could not take from Bishops the authoritie giuen them in their consecration which doth containe in it the power not onely of Order but of iurisdiction also because in it the people is assigned to him to be fed and gouerned without which the Ordination is not of force whereof this is a manifest argument that to titular and porâ—atiue Bishops a Citie is allotted which would not be necessary if the Episcopall Order could subsist without iurisdiction Besides in giuing the Pastoâ—all this forme is vsed that it is a signe of the power which is giuen him to correctvices And which is of more importance when the Ring is giuen him it is said that with it he doth marry the Church and in giuing the booke of the Gospell by which the Episcopall Character is imprinted it is said that hee must goe to the people committed to him and in the end of the consecration that prayer is say'd Deus omnium fidelium Pastor Rector which since hath beene in the Missals appropriated to the Pope by turning himselfe to GOD and saying that his will is that the Bishop should gouerne the Church Moreouer Innocentius the third said that the spiritual mariage of the Bishop with the Church is a bond instituted by GOD not to bee loosed by the power of man and that the Pope cannot translate a Bishop but because hee hath speciall authoritie to doe it all which things would bee very absurd if the institution of Bishops were De iure Diuino The Arch bishop of Cyprus sayd that it ought to be declared that Bishops are superiors to Priests Iure Diuino but reseruing the authority in the Pope The bishop of Segouia adhearing wholly to the conclusions and reasons of Granata made a long repetition of the places of the heretiques where they denie the superiority of Bishops and their institution to be De iure diuino Hee said that as the Pope is successour of Peter so the Bishops are of the Apostles and that it was plaine by the Ecclesiasticall History and by the Epistles of the Fathers that all Bishops gaue an account one to another of all that happened in their Churches and receiued approbation thereof from others The Pope did the same for the occurrences of Rome Hee added that the Patriarches when they were created sent a circular Epistle to the others to giue them an account of their Ordination and faith which was as much performed by the Popes to others as by others to them that if the power of the Bishops be weakened that of the Pope is weakned also that the power of Order and iurisdiction is giuen to the Bishops by GOD and that the diuision of Diocesses and the application of them to the person proceedeth from the Pope He alleadged an authoritie of Anacletus that Episcopall authoritie is giuen in the Ordination with the vnction of the holy Chrisme that the degree of a Bishop is as well an Order instituted by CHRIST as the Priest-hood that all Popes vntill Siluester haue either professedly or incidently sayd it is an Order which commeth immediatly from God that the words spoken to the Apostles Whatsoeuer yee shall binde on earth c. giue power of iurisdiction which is necessarily conferred vpon the Successors that CHRIST did institute the Apostles with iurisdiction and since that time the Church hath euer instituted Bishops in the same sort Therefore this is an Apostolicall tradition and it beeing defined that points of faith are taken out of the Scripture and Traditions it cannot bee denied that this of the Episcopall institution is an Article of faith and the rather because S. Epiphanius and S. Austine doe put Aerius in the number of heretiques for saying that Priests are equall to Bishops which they would not haue done if Bishops had not beene De iure diuino Fifty nine Fathers were of this opinion and perhaps the number had been Simoneta vseth practises in the point of institution of Bishops greater if many had not been ill at case at that time of a defluction of rheume which then did generally raigne and some others had not fained the same impediment that they might bee out of the crowde and offend none in a matter handled with such passion especially those who for speaking what they thought in the matter of Residence found they had incurred the displeasure of their Patrons as also if Cardinall Simoneta when hee saw matters proceed so farre had not vsed diuers perswasions employing herein Iohannes Antonius Faâ—binetâ—us Bishop of Nicastrâ— and Sebastianus Vantiue Bishop of Oruieto who perswaded with much cunning that the enterprise of the Spaniards was to shake off their obedience to the Pope and that it would bee an apostacy from the Apostolike Sea to the great shame and damage of Italy which hath no other honour aboue the Nations beyond the Mountaines but that which it receiueth from the Papacy Fiue Churches said it was fit that it should bee declared quoiure all the Orders and degrees of the Church are instituted and from whom they receiue authoritie Some others adhered to him and in particular Pompeius Picholhomini Bishop of Tropeia who making the same instance added that when all the degrees of the Church were handled from the greatest to the least and declared quo iure they were he would deliuer his opinion also concerning the degree of Bishops if the Legats would giue leaue In this number some briefely adhered to the opinion of others who had spoken in this matter and some amplified the same reasons and turned them into diuers formes so that it would be too long to make a narration of all the suffrages which are come into my hands That of George Sincout a Franciscan Friar Bishop of Segna doth well deserue to be repeated who adhering to Granata said that hee would neuer haue beleeued that any could haue doubted whether Bishops are instituted and haue authority from Christ For it they haue it not from his diuine Maiestie neither can the Councell haue any from him which consisteth of BB. that it is necessarie that a Congregation though very populous haue their authoritie from whom the particular persons haue it that if Bishops are not instituted by CHRIST but by men the authoritie
of them altogether is humane and hee who heareth it spoken that Bishops are not instituted by CHRIST must needs thinke that this Synod is a Congregation of profane men in which CHRIST doth not preside but a power receiued precarily from men and so many Fathers would in vaine reside in Trent to their great charge and trouble because hee who hath giuen the power to Bishops and the Councell may with more authoritie handle the same things and it would bee a great illusion generally of all Christendome to propose it not onely as the best but as the onely and necessarie meanes to decide the present controuersies He added that he had beene fiue moneths in Trent with this perswasion that neuer any would haue doubted whether the Councell hath authoritie from GOD and whether it may say as the first Councell of Ierusalem did It seemed to the holy Ghost and to vs that hee would neuer haue come to the Councell if hee had beleeued that CHRIST had not beene in the midst of it Neither can any one say that where CHRIST assisteth the authoritie commeth not from him that if any Bishop should beleeue and thinke his authoritie to bee humane it had beene great boldnesse in him to denounce in the former difficulties anathematismes and not rather referre all to him who hath greater authoritie And if the authoritie of the Councell bee not certaine it was fit in the yeere 1545. when this was first assembled that this matter should haue beene sifted and decided what the authoritie of Councels is as is vsually done in places of iustice where in the beginning of the cause it is disputed and decreed whether the Iudge bee competent least in the end there bee a nullitie in the sentence for want of authoritie The Protestants who doe take all occasions to detract from and wrong this holy Synod cannot haue any more fit then that it is not certaine of its owne authoritie He concluded that the Fathers should take heed what they did resolue in a point which beeing resolued truely doeth establish all the actions of the Councell and if otherwise ouerthroweth all The nineteenth of October all the Fathers made an ende of speaking in this matter except Father Laynez Generall of the Iesuites who beeing to speake last did purposely absent himselfe that day that hee might haue a whole Congregation for himselfe alone And to make the cause hereof vnderstood Laynez spendeth a whole congregation himselfe The importance of this point of the institution we must returne a little backe and remember that when the question was set on foote in the beginning the Legates thought that the aime was onely to make great the authoritie of Bishops and to giue them more reputation But before the second Congregation was ended they perceiued very late by the voyces giuen and reasons vsed of what importance and consequence it was For it did inferre that the keyes were not giuen to Peter onely that the Councell was aboue the Pope and the Bishops equall vnto him who had nothing left but a preeminence aboue others They saw that the dignitie of Cardinals superiour to Bishops was quite taken away and that they remained meere Priests or Deacons that by that determination residence was inferred by a necessary consequence and the Court brought to nothing that the preuentions and reseruations were remooued and the collation of Benefices was drawen to the Bishops It was noted that the Bishop of Segouia had a few dayes before refused to admit one to a Benefice in his Diocesse to whom it was giuen in Rome And these things did still appeare more plainely as new suffrages were dayly giuen and new reasons alleadged For these causes the Legates did vse the sollicitations aforesaid for feare that more Italians might ioyne with the Spaniards Yet they were not able to preuaile so much but that almost the halfe were of that opinion And the other Papalins reprehended the Legates because they foresaw not what might happen but suffered such great preiudices to come vpon them saying they proceeded by chance and admitted not counsels and aduertisements of wise men that so soone as Granata deliuered his suffrage they were put in minde to vse effectuall sollicitations which afterwards they were forced to vse when it was too late that by their want of care if not malice in some matters haue beene handled of the greatest importance that can possibly happen in Councell They added that the Ambassadour Lausac had by many sollicitations vsed to diuers of the Prelates discouered himselfe to be not onely a fauourer but a promoter of that opinion and considered what an addition would be made vnto it when the French-men came who were expected And they spake so openly that some words came to the eares of the Legates themselues who seeing now the danger not foreseene thought in regard the matter had proceeded so farre and so many had put themselues on that side that it was not fit to thinke of diuerting the question but of finding a temper to giue the Spaniards some satisfaction And after long consultation they determined to compose the Canon with these words That Bishops haue the power of Order from GOD and in that are superiour to Priests not naming iurisdiction for feare of making them suspect For by such a forme of wordes it might be inferred that the iurisdiction remained wholly in the Pope without saying it They sent Father Soto to treat with the Spanish Prelats concerning this forme not so much with hope to remooue any of them as to penetrate to what they might be brought Granata gaue him audience but no answere He laboured with others also and gained the reputation of a good Courtier of Rome in stead of the other of a good Friar as he was before And to win some that wauered and some who vnaduisedly fell into that opinion beeing otherwise deuoted to the Pope they resolued to vse solicitations vnto them that vnderstanding the difficulty they might bee content to referre it to his Holinesse or at the least to speake more sparingly To performe this with the two aforenamed they ioyned the Archbishop of Rosano and the Bishop of Ventimiglia And that those who would acknowledge their error might haue colour to retire they gaue order that Laynez should make an exact ful Lecture on this matter and that it might be heard attentiuely and make an impression they would not haue him as hath beene sayd speake after the others in the ende of the Congregation but allowed him one wholly for himselfe The foure Iesuits consulted together concerning the opinion and Caueglione laboured more then the rest And not to omit any good meanes of diuersion they busied the Prelates in another matter For to returne to the occurrences of that Congregation after that the Generall of the Serui who was the last had giuen his voice in conformitie of the Spaniards the Cardinall of Mantua admonished the Fathers deputed for the Index and shewed how important
howsoeuer hee might haue instructions apart yet hee ought not to execute them without aduising them first and communicating all vnto them at least in the execution In the Congregation of the one and twentieth of Iune the answere to bee made to the President Birague composed by the Legates and Cardinall of Loraine was read which passed without difficultie And because he was not present that it might not bee giuen him by word of mouth they sent it after him in writing And Adamus Fumanis was deputed Secretary ioyned with Tilesius who continued in his indisposition But the differences about the Articles of the institution of Bishops and of the authoritie of the Pope remayning still or rather increasing and it beeing plaine that to speake of them in Congregation would augment them more the Prelates as it were with a common consent began to handle them particularly and to propose courses to finde a temper for them Some desirous to burie these controuersies and to proceede seeing no meanes of concord gaue counsell to omit both the matters absolutely which opinion howsoeuer in conclusion it was receiued in the beginning had much contradiction The Spaniards did oppose who by all meanes would haue the Episcopall iurisdiction to proceede from CHRIST and the Cardinall of Loraine went further and would haue it defined that their vocation and place were immediatly from God And the French-men did desire that the Popes authority might be so declared as that it might neither contradict nor dispense with the Decrees of the Generall Councel Others sayd that this course serued onely to defer without assurance that the delay would doe any good For when they came to the conclusion of the Councel it would bee necessary to define all matters which haue beene examined so that the difficulty would returne and in case the French-men should depart first as they resolued to doe there would bee danger of schisme if afterwards any controuersed point should bee handled Besides in regard of the intelligence of Loraine with the Emperour those who knew not their new thoughts did beleeue that the French-men being gone his Maiestie would recall his Ambassadours also in which case it would bee small reputation to continue the Councell and to determine any thing would bee thought to bee a thing done without authority Another difficultie as great as this was in the election of Bishops For many of the Fathers would haue it sayd that there is an obligation to elect the most worthy and for confirmation alleadged many Canons and holy Doctors The Papalins said on the contrary that this was to binde the authority of the Pope that hee could not gratifie any and that the vse of the Court time out of minde hath beene to thinke it sufficient if a man worthy were elected The French and Spanish Ambassadours also did not agree because it did too much restraine the power of Kings in nominations if they were bound to goe about and seeke the most worthy Many Prelates went vp and downe vsing perswasions that the Article might not bee receiued though it were without the addition of electing the most worthy and especially the Bishop of Bertinoro and the Generall Laynez distributing some annotations and aduertisements made by them shewing that great inconueniences would ensue by that Decree For in it was contayned that a Cathedrall being vacant the Metropolitane should write vnto the Chapter the name of him who was to be promoted who should afterwards be published in pulpit in all the Parish Churches of the Citie on Sunday and hanged on the doore of the Church and afterwards the Metropolitane should goe to the Citie vacant and examine witnesses concerning the qualities of the person and all his letters patents and testifications beeing read in the Chapter euery one should be heard who would oppose any thing against his person of all which an instrument should bee made and sent to the Pope to bee read in Consistory This constitution they said would bee a cause of calumnies and seditions and that heereby some authority was giuen to the people with which they would vsurpe the election of Bishops which formerly they were wont to haue Others beeing stirred vp herewith made the same oppositions against the Article concerning those who are to bee promoted to the greater orders in which it was sayd that their names ought to bee published to the people three Sundayes and affixed to the doores of the Church and that their letters testimoniall ought to bee subscribed by foure Priests and foure Laiques of the Parish alleadging that no authoritie ought to bee giuen to the Laitie in these affaires which are purely Ecclesiasticall In these perplexities the Legates knew not what to doe but to enioy the benefit of time and to expect some ouerture to come to the end of the Councell to which they saw not how they should be able to arriue Another trouble beganne about the reformation of Cardinals And the Pope vnderstanding that this was spoken of in all Courts and that in Trent The reformation of Cardinals the Ambassadours of France Spaine and Portugal were combined to demand it of the Councel hee wrote to the Legates for aduice to know whether it were better to handle it at Rome or in Trent He proposed the same in Consistorie ordayning also a Congregation to consult on it and particularly to finde a meanes that Princes might not intermeddle in the Conclaue in the election of the Pope And to proceede with all circumspection in a businesse of so great weight hee sent many Articles of reformation to Trent drawen out of the Councels with order that the Legates should impart them to the principall Prelats and signifie their opinions The Cardinals of Loraine and Madruccio answered they would not deliuer their owne opinions before they vnderstood the Popes minde and afterwards it would bee necessary to thinke very much on it And Loraine said that there are many things which are thought worthy of correction which himselfe did thinke could not iustly be reprehended and others which might in part but not absolutelie Hee descended to the particular of hauing Bishopriques saying there was no inconuenience that a Cardinall Priest should haue a Bishoprique but did not like that a Cardinall Deacon should bee a Bishop and that for this cause hee had counselled his brother the Cardinall to leaue the Arch-bishoprique of Sans. But this matter of reformation of the Cardinals was quickely put to silence For those who were in Trent inclining rather to haue it Did quickely vanish handled by the Pope and Colledge and those who pretended for the red Cap doubting their desires might be crossed they did with great facility leaue to speake of it The Pope also thought to make a constitution that no Bishops should haue any temporall offices either in Rome or in the Ecclesiasticall Dominion But he was aduertised by Simoneta and other Prelats that it would bee a great preiudice to the Ecclesiastiques of France Polonia and
Session that they might haue time so to dispose it as that it might please all least the publication of the things agreed on should be crossed in regard of this There was the same difficultie about the last of the Articles proposed in which a forme of confession of faith was prescribed to bee 〈◊〉 by those who were designed to Bishoprickes Abbies and other Benefices with cure before the examination which did so other with that of the election as that they could not be separated It was resolued to 〈◊〉 this Article also But because it was deferred and then resolued not to 〈◊〉 and afterwards in a tumultuous manner referred to the Pope as shall bee said in due place it is not alieue from our present purpose to recite heere the substance of it Which was that not onely it should bee required of them who were designed to Bishoprikes and other cures of soules but also an admonition and precept in vertue of obedience made to all Princes of what Maiestie or excellencie soeuer not to admit to any dignitie magistracie or office any person before they haue made inquisition of his Faith and religion and before hee hath voluntarily confessed and sworne the Articles contained in that forme which to that end it did command to bee translated into the vulgar tongue and publikely read euery Sunday in all the Churches that it might bee vnderstood by all The Articles were To receiue the Scriptures of both Testaments which the Church doth hold to bee canonicall as inspired by God To acknowledg the holy Catholike Apostolike Church vnder one Bishop of Rome Vicar of CHRIST holding constantly the faith and doctrine thereof in regard being directed by the holy Ghost it cannot erre To haue in veneration the authority of Councels as certaine and vndoubted and not to doubt of the things once determned by them To beleeue with a constant faith the Ecclesiasticall traditions receiued from one to another To follow the opinion and consent of the Orthodoxe Fathers To render absolute obedience to the constitutions and precepts of the holy mother the Church To beleeue and confesse the seuen Sacraments and their vse vertue and fruit as the Church hath taught vntill this time but aboue all that in the Sacrament of the Altar there is the true body and blood of CHRIST really and substantially vnder the Bread and Wine by the vertue and power of the word of God vttered by the Priest the onely minister ordained to this purpose by the institution of CHRIST confessing also that hee is offered in the Masse to God for the liuing and the dead for the remission of sinnes And finally to receiue and retaine most firmely all things which haue beene vntill this time piously and religiously obserued by their ancestours nor to bee remooued from them by any meanes but to auoide all nouity of doctrine as a most pernicious poyson flying all â—â—â—isme detesting all heresie and promising to assist the Church readily and faithfully against all heretikes It being as hath beene sayd resolued to omit this matter they laboured to rectifie the matter of Residence by taking away whatsoeuer might displease those who held it to bee de iure Diuino or those who thought it to bee de iure Positino Loraine vsed all effect all diligehee to make the parties agree resoluing that by all meanes the Session should be held at the time appointed For hauing receiued lately very louing letters from the Pope co 〈…〉 him to come to Rome and to speake with him and determining to giue his Holinesse all satisfaction his resolution was to giue him this as an earnest that is to end the discorde and comâ—ose the differences betweene the Prelates a thing much desired by him For his going to Rome he spake ambiguously meaning to expectan answere from France 〈…〉 Another matter though of no great importance did prolong the progresse that is the handling of the 〈◊〉 one of Orders of which a great long 〈◊〉 was proposed wherein all were expounded from the office of a Decon to the office of a doore-keeper This was composed in the beginning by the Deputies when the Decrees were made as necessarie to oppose against the Protestants who say those Orders were not instituted by CHRIST but by Ecclesiasticall introduction because there is vse of them as being offices of good and orderly gouernement but not Sacraments This Article of the Deeree was taken out of the Pontificall which would be too long and superfluous to repeat in regard it may be read in the booke it selfe And the Decree did The functions of the inferiour Orders declare besides that those functions cannot be excercised but by him who being promoted by the Bishop hath receiued grace from God and a Character imprinted to make him able to doe it But when it came to bee established they were troubled to resolue an olde common obiection what neede there could bee of a Character and spirituall grace to exercise corporall Actes as to reade light candles ring bels which may bee as well or better done by those who are not ordained especially since it hath beene disused that men ordained should exercise those functions It was considered that the Church was condemned hereby for omitting this vse so many yeeres And there was a difficultie how to restore the practise of them For they must ordaine not children but men of age to shut the Church doores to ring the bells to dispossesse the possessed with deuils which if they did they did crosse another Decree that the inferiour orders should be a necessarie degree to the greater Neither did they see how they could restore the three offices to the Deaconship to minister at the Altar to Baptize and to preach nor how the office of the Exorcists could bee exercised in regard of the vse brought in that the Priests onely did dispossesse the possessed Antonius Augustinus Bishop of Lerida would haue had that whole matter omitted saying that howsoeuer it was certaine that these were Orders and Sacraments yet it would bee hard to perswade that they were brought in in the Primitiue Church when there were but few Christians that it was not for the Synods dignitie to descend to so many particulars that it was sufficient to say there are foure inferiour Orders without descending to any further specialiâ—ie of doctrine or making any innouation in the practise Opposition was made that so the doctrine of the Protestants who call them idle Ceremonies would not be condemned But Loraine was Authour of a middle course that the Article should be omitted and in few words the execution referred to the Bishop who should cause them to bee obserued as much as was possible These things being setled they resolued to reade all in the consultation of those principall Prelates that all things might passe in the generall Congregation with absolute quiet Both parties were agreed but onely in the s 〈…〉 h Anathematisme that is that the Hiâ—â—archie is instituted by Diuine
and authoritie of Kings and Princes may bee deferred vntill the next and that nothing may be decreed therein before they the Ambassadours bee heard who haue giuen account to the King of those and other things which they had to propose But howsoeuer they proposed these difficult matters yet they said indifferently to all and with affectation that it might be published that they would not be earnest in any thing but that which concerneth the rights and Secular affaires of their Kingdome The Venetian Ambassadours proposed that the Article of Patronage might be so accommodated that it might not giue occasion of nouitie concerning those who belong to their Republique and Prince The Ambassadours also of Sauoy and Tuscane made the same instances At this time the Imperialists receiued commission from their Prince to mediate as they did with the Legats that in the reuiew of the Index of the bookes mention might not bee made of the Recesses of the Diets in Germanie formerly prohibited by Paul 4 and the Emperors order was somewhat sharpe that in stead of handling of Ecclesiasticall matters they would not giue a forme to the policie of Germanie and occasion to the people who are gouerned by such Lawes to aliene themselues from the Church of Rome against their wills Answere was made that the Bishop of Prague one of them who was chiefe of the Congregation might know whether any speech were made of it and if there was not his Maiestie might trust to his Ambassadour who in all causes concerning him should bee fauoured both by them and by the Pope The seuenth day the Spanish Ambassadour presented his writing in which hee said he was well satisfied with all the Articles and would not demand any thing but onely the change of some words which seemed vnto him to be superfluous or that they may be expounded better And hee touched almost all things which did enlarge the authoritie of Bishops so moderating the words that the alteration did not seeme to be substantiall but that indeed he did rather restraine then augment it Hee made request also that they would treat of the Conclaue saying that the King did much desire it as also that the part concerning fecular Princes might be deferred vntill another Session After he had exhibited his writing hee desired the Legates that so soone as voices were giuen concerning the things proposed they would depute Fathers of euery Nation to collect what they should thinke necessary for reformation of their Countreys that all might bee determined with a generall satisfaction Morone answered in the name of all that they could not consent to proceede otherwise then they had done hitherto in other matters Wherein many things being said by both parties by the Count to intimate the Councell was in seruitude and by the Cardinall to shew the libertie Morone added that no man could complaine that hee was hindered in his libertie of speaking The other replyed that he could not beleeue that any thing of worth had beene done by them and did not forbeare to tell him that there was a great murmuring in the Councell for the particular congregations assembled a few dayes since and that it was supposed that they were made to get voices The Legates said it was their duety in the diuersitie of opinions to vnderstand the trueth and to accommodate the differences that matters may bee determined with vnion The Count replyed that it was well if it were so but that Italians onely were called except two or three Spaniards and as many Frenchmen who differed from others of their Nations The Legats defended themselues that they were not called in proportion because there were an hundred and fiftie Italians in Councell and not aboue threescore of all other Nations The Count seemed to be satisfied and being parted said to his Prelats that the Legats hauing begun a discourse to shew that esteeme ought not to bee held of Nations had concluded it shewing that they had euer held esteeme of them The next day the Legats and two Cardinals consulted about the aduertisments of the Ambassadours and how to amend the Articles of reformation to be giuen to the Fathers and of the maner to bee held in speaking on them In which Loraine hauing receiued new letters from France and order that both himselfe and all the other French Prelats should fauour the Popes affaires wholly bent to satisfie the Legats perswaded them not to suffer so many points to be handled at once but to diuide them into parts according to the subiects and when one part was ended to propose another and to hasten the Session omitting all the things which had any difficultie and concluding those onely in which all or the greatest part would agree and particularly not to propose in the beginning those in which the Ambassadours did not consent The eleuenth day the Congregations began to be celebrated to establish the Anathematismes and decrees of Matrimonie The proposition of the French-men was handled to make mariages voide contracted by children without consent of parents in whose power they are And the first that gaue voice did differ in opinion The Cardinall of Loraine did approue it alleadging places of the Scripture which giue to the Fathers power to marry their children examples of mariages of the Patriarkes Isaac and Iacob adding the Imperiall lawes of the Institutions and the Code made by Christian Princes of famous memorie as also the Canon vnder the name of Euaristus and another of the Councell of Carthage produced by Gratian. And hee related the inconueniences arising herein The Arcbishop of Otranto was of the contrary opinion saying that this was to giue authority to Lay-men ouer the Sacraments and make them beleeue that the authoritie in making them voide doeth depend on the paternall not on the Ecclesiasticall Besides it would be a decree directly contrary to the holy Scripture which expressely faith that a man shall leaue father and mother and cleaue to his wife And for inconueniences it will cause more referring the sonnes to their fathers in matters of conscience And if a father would not consent to the mariage of a sonne who hath not the gift of continencie hee would be infinitely perplexed Nine and twentie spake in that Congregation and twentie were of opinion to omit that matter Of the others some approoued the decree so generally and some restrained it in sonnes to the age of twentie yeeres and of eighteene in daughters In the end of the Congregation the Venetian Ambassadours caused a The Venetian Ambassadours doe exhibite a petition cōcerning diuorces in the Greeke Church demaund of theirs to bee read concerning the Anathematismes of diuorces which did continue in substance That their Republique hauing the kingdomes of Cyprus Candie Corfue Zante and Cephalonia inhabited by Grecians who haue from all antiquitie vsed to put away their wiues for fornication take another for which Rite well knowen to the whole Church they were neuer condemned nor reprehended by any
Canons And they imployed the Emperours Ambassadours to perswade the Count to be content with it by which meanes that difficultie also was ouercome The declaration of Propenentibus Legatis did remaine For which not being able to find a temper they tolde the Count that hee should propose a forme how he would haue it done Wherein hee excusing himselfe they deputed three Canonists to treat with him and to find a meanes that might please him so that it were not to alter the way prescribed by the Pope But The Card of Loraine returneth to Trent and hasteneth the end of the Councell the Cardinall of Loraine came fitly for that occasion who being parted from Rome with instruction and conclusion of all things and hauing tooke Venice in his way to perswade the Ambassadours to returne before the end of the Councell and now arriued in Trent caused with his desteritie the Count to approoue that manner by which that difficultie so much agitated receiued an end with satisfaction of all and it was made the one and twentieth Article of reformation proposed in the Congregation of the ninth of Nouember held for this purpose and approoued with small resistance After this the second Article was taken away which being done all the Articles were read ouer againe and the suffrages briefly deliuered In which Loraine to salue his honour said that howsoeuer he desired a greater reformation yet knowing that in the beginning one could not come to the last remedies hee assented to the Decrees not iudging them sufficient but hoping that the Pope either by bringing the old Canons into vse or by celebrating other generall Councels would adde a perfection It is worthy of memorie that in this Congregation hee made a long digression He maketh an Oration in 〈◊〉 of the Pope in forme of an encomiasticall Oration of the Popes good will of his desire to see the Church reformed the Episcopall degree restored to its ancient dignitie and the Councell ended with the fruit of all Christendome The Arch-Bishop of Granata when it was his turne to speake brake out into the Popes commendation also attributing as much vnto him as the other but added that either the Pope did iudge that he could not doe as he would or had not authority to make his ministers and dependants to execute his will Here I must make a great mutation of stile For whereas in the former narration I haue vsed that which is proper to describe varietie of minds and opinions The state of the Councel is quite altered one crossing the designes of another and delayes of resolutions interposed framing my selfe to declare the counsels of diuers sometimes contrary amongst themselues hereafter I must make relation of one aime only and vniforme operations which seeme rather to flie then run to one only end whereof I can giue but one cause not to repeate it in all places that is the ioynt resolution to precipitate the Councell Therefore to speake simply I must say that Letters came from the Pope with resolution that the Councell should bee ended though with distast of the King of Spaine because hee had meanes to make an agreement with him that they should establish the Decree of secret marriage with as much vnion as was possible but yet to doe it though the same opposition should continue that for the reformation of Princes and restitution of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and libertie they should not descend to any particular but renew the ancient Canons and without Anathemaes that if any difficultie did arise concerning the other Articles they should reserue it for him who would make prouision therein referring them for the residue to the Cardinall of Loraine who was fully informed of his whole will whom they ought to beleeue Afterwards hee sent a forme in what sort they should finish the Councell which did containe that all things done vnder Paul and Iulius should be confirmed and declared that they were all done in this one Councell and that in all things the authoritie of the Apostolike Sea should be preserued that of the things decreed the Popes confirmation should be demanded that all the Fathers should subscribe and after them according to the example of the ancient Emperours there should be a subscription of the Ambassadors that the Princes might be bound to the obseruance of the Decrees and to persecute with Armes those of the contrary religion leauing it in the power of them the Legats together with Loraine to adde diminish or alter according to opportunite All which things were kept most secret vntill after the Councel that they might 〈…〉 the better as shall be said The eleuenth of Nouember came in which the Session was held with the vsuall ceremonies Voyces beeing to bee giuen in the matter of clandestine mariage Cardinall Varmiense who held it a matter of 〈◊〉 and thought the Church had no authoritie ouer it would not bee 〈…〉 sing himselfe that in a matter of positiâ—â— law be thought 〈…〉 The Session 〈…〉 deliuer his minde freely though the contrarie were 〈…〉 hee should bee forced to say for satisfaction of his 〈…〉 Synod could not make that decree which might haue â—used same distates such as hee was not willing to giue Francis Richarâ—â— made the Sermonâ— in which hee admonished the Fathers that this most holy Synod hauing beene in trauaile these two yeeres and euery one beeing in expectation of what it will bee deliuered it was not fit it should produce 〈…〉 〈…〉 childe because the worlde doth expect a sound and perfect issue For effecting hereof it was conuenient to imitate the Apostles â—â—yrs and Primitiue Church making them a patterne whence to take the 〈…〉 of the infant which is to come into the world These were hee said doctrine religion and discipline all which beeing degenerated in these times must bee restored to their ancient integritie And that this is it which hath been expected so long and is expected still The ceremonies being ended the letters of Madam Regent of Flanders concerning the sending of 〈◊〉 Prelates to the Councell were read as also the Mandates of the Duke of Florence and of the grand Master of Malta Afterwards the doctrine and the anathematismes of matrimonie were read by the Masse Bishop to which all consented The Articles of reformation of Matrimony beeing read to the first of the annullation of the clandestine Cardinall Morone said that it Varietie of opinions about clandestine mariages pleased him if it pleased the Pope Simoneta said it did not please him but referred himselfe to the Pope Of the others sixe and fifty did absolutely denie and all the rest did approoue it Afterwards the Decrees of reformation were read And beeing come to The Decrees of reformation the fift of the criminall causes of Bishops perceiuing the Kingdomes where the inquisition is were excepted a great commotion was raised amongst the Fathers the Lombards and Neapolitans saying confusedly that that exception was neuer proposed in
gaue to those which were built before In like manner euery one payed them tithes due either by law or custome as in the old Testament is commanded Wherein euery one was the more forward because Clergie-men in those times contented themselues with necessaries onely and bestowed the remainder either to repaire their Churches or to adorne them or in workes of charitie and pietie Now the Bishops of Rome pride and ambition hauing not as yet possessed their harts were acknowledged by all Christians to bee superiours of all Churches in all Spirituall gouernment as successours vnto the Apostle Saint Peter because that Citie by reason of the dignitie and greatnesse thereof retained the name and maiestie of the Empire as head of all the rest and because Christian Religion was thence diffused into the greater part of Europe and because Constantine hauing beene baptized by Siluester did willingly acknowledge that such authority belonged to him and his successors Besides there is a fame that Constantine beeing constrained to translate the seate of the Empire to Bizantium now called by his name Constantinople by occasion of some accidents hapning in the Westerne Prouinces gaue to the Popes the Lordships of Rome and of many other Cities and Prouinces in Italie This fame though cherished by succeeding Popes and beleeued by many by reason of their authoritie and credit is not onely disproued by more probable authors but euen by the very things themselues For it is most manifest that Rome as also all Italy obeyed the Emperours and their Magistrates both then and many yeeres after Some wil not beleeue any thing at all that hath been spoken concerning Constantine and Siluester such is the obscurity of things done so long agoe affirming that they liued not at the same time yet no man denieth that the translation of the Empire was the first cause of the Popes authoritie For the people of Rome withdrew their obedience from the Emperours by occasion of their absence and of the difficulties which they found in the East and did the rather performe willingly some certaine obsequiousnesse to the Bishops of Rome though indeed no absolute subiection These things appeared but slowly because of the inundations of the Gothes and Vandals and other barbarous nations into Italy by which Rome hauing beene often sacked the Popes in respect of temporall matters were obscure and meane and in Italy the Emperours had very small authoritie hauing left it as a pray to the Barbarians Of these nations the rest being past away like a torrent the Gothes who were Christians both by name and by profession and had their 〈◊〉 from some parts of Dacia and of Tartaria continued their power there seuentie yeeres together When these were driuen out of Italie by the Emperours the Countrey began againe to bee gouerned by Greeke magistrates the chiefe of which called by a Greeke word Exarke kept his residence at Rauenna a Citie very ancient and then very rich and much inhabited by reason of the fertility of the Countrey This Citie beeing much augmented by the great armada which Augustus Caesar and other Emperours continually maintained in the Port neere adioyning which now is vanished was inhabited by many Captaines and after a good while together by Theodorick King of the Gothes and by his successors who made choyce of it for the seate of their Kingdome because that Sea was neerer to the Emperours of Constantinople whose power they suspected The Exarks seated themselues in the same place because of the opportunity thereof though vpon a contrary ground and deputed particular magistrates whom they called Dukes to gouerne Rome and other Cities of Italie Hence the Exarchate of Rauenna tooke the name vnder which was conteined whatsoeuer was not gouerned by particular Dukes In those times the BB. of Rome had no temporall power at all and hauing lost their former Spirituall reuerence because their liues began to be more corrupt they were subiects to the Emperours without whose confirmation or of their Exarks they durst not accept the Papacie though they were solemnly chosen by the Clergie and people of Rome Nay because the principall seate of Religion followeth the power of the Empire and of armies the Bishops of Constantinople and Rauenna did often iustle with them for superioritie But the State of those Countreys was changed not long after For the Lombards a fierce Nation entred into Italie possessed that part which was called Gallia â—isalpina and now Lombardia from their name as also Rauenna and the whole Exarchat and aduanced their forces as farre as the Marquisate of Ancona Spoletum and Beneuentum in which two last places they created particular Dukes The Emperours made no prouision against these things partly by reason of their negligence and partly because they were hindered by the affaires of Asia so that Rome hauing no assistance from them and the Exarks beeing driuen out of Italie began to gouerne her selfe by the aduice and authoritie of her Bishops These together with the Romans beeing a good while after oppressed by the Lombards did finally implore the ayde of Pipin King of France who passing into Italie with a great armie chased the Lombards from a part of their Dominion which they had enioyed more then two hundred yeeres This part being become his by right of warre hee gaue to the Bishop and Church of Rome that is to say Vrbino Fano Agobbo and much land neere Rome Rauenna and the whole Exarchat vnder which is comprehended all from the confines of Placentia which are contiguons to the territory of Pauia vnto Arimini betweene the riuer of Po the Apennine mountaine the lake of the Venetians and the Adriatique Sea as also from Arimini to the riuer of Toglia now called Isauro The Popes beeing molested by the Lombards after Pipins death Charles his sonne iustly surnamed the Great for the great victories he atchieued vtterly rooted them out and confirmed his father's donation to the Church and while hee made warre with the Lombards hee gaue to the Bishop of Rome the Marquisat of Ancona and the Dukedome of Spoleto which comprehendeth the Citie of Aquila and a part of Abrazzi These things are reported for certaine and some Ecclesiasticall writers adde that Charles gaue to the Church Liguria vnto the riuer Varus which is the vtmost border of Italie Mantua and whatsoeuer the Lombards possessed in F 〈…〉 li and Histria Another writer sayth as much of Corsica and of the whole territorie betweene the Citie of Luni and Parma For these merits the Kings of France haue been magnified by the Popes and haue obtained the name of Most Christian Kings Afterwards in the yeere 800. after CHRIST Pope Leo and the people of Rome by the Popes authoritie onely as head of that people made this Charles Emperour of Rome separating this part of the Empire from those Emperours which had their seat at Constantinople because Rome and the Westerne Prouinces beeing abandoned by them could not well subsist without a Prince of their