night with small satisfaction of the parties and scandall of honest men In the end all was resolued but by the greater part only which did not much exceed in number those who contradicted The seuenteenth of September the day appointed for the Session beeing The Session come the Legats Ambassadors and 180. Prelats went to the Church with the vsuall ceremonies and after prayers made in time of the Masse the Bishop of Ventimiglia preached who with an Episcopall and Senatorious grauitie vsing the comparison betweene ciuill bodies and naturall shewed how monstrous a Synod would be if it had no head he shewed the office of it in making an influence of vertues into all the members and the thankefulnesse and duety of these in hauing more care of it then of themselues exposing themselues also to the defence of it hee said that the chiefe fault of an heretique according to Saint Paul was that hee doth not acknowledge an head on which the connexion of the whole body doeth depend hee added in few words that CHRIST was the inuisible Head of the Church but in many that the Pope was the visible Hee commended the exact diligence of his Holinesse in making prouision for the Synod and put euery one in minde of his duty in presenting the dignity of his Head hee praised the pietie and modestie of the Fathers prayed GOD that that Councell might proceed and end as gloriously as it had begun The Masse being ended the letters of Cardinall Amulius were read who The letters of Cardinall Amulius concerning the Orientall Christians as Protector of the Orientall Christian Nations informed the Synod that Abdisu Patriarch of Muzale in Assyria beyond Euphrates was come to Rome who had visited the Churches rendred obedience to the Pope and receiued the confirmation and Cope from his Holinesse Hee related that the people subiect vnto him had receiued the faith from the Apostles Thomas and Thaddeus and one of their Disciples called Marcus wholy conformable to the Roman with the same Sacraments and Rites whereof they had Bookes written euer since the time of the Apostles In the end hee told the largenesse of the Countrey subiect to that Prelat which extendeth it selfe vnto the further India with innumerable people subiect partly to the Turke partly to the Sophi of Persia and to the King of Portugall The letter beeing read the Ambassadour of Portugall protested that the Easterne Bishops subiect to his King did not acknowledge any Patriarch for their Superior and said that by acknowledging of this Patriarch they might not doe themselues and the King a preiudice Afterwards the Confession of his faith made in Rome the Are confuted by the Portugall Ambassadour◠17 of March was read in which hee swore to maintaine the faith of the holy Church of Rome promising to approoue and condemne that which it did approue and condemne and to teach the same to the Metropolitans and Bishops subiect vnto him Afterwards his letters directed to the Synode were read in which hee excused his not comming to the Councel by reason of the length of the iourney and prayed them that when it was ended the Decrees thereof might be sent vnto him which he promised he would cause to be fully obserued The same things had been read in the first Congregation but not regarded The Portugals protestation made men consider diuers absurdities in that narration and there was a whispering and the Portugall Prelates began to speake But the Speaker by order of the Legates told them that this should be spoken of in the Congregation And proceeding in the actes of the Councell the Masse Bishop read the The doctrine of the Massè doctrine of the Sacrifice of the Masse diuided into nine heads which contained in summe 1. That for the imperfection of the Leuitical Priesthood another Priest according to the order of Melchisedec was necessary which was CHRIST our LORD who although he offered himselfe but once vpon the Crosse to leaue in the Church a visible Sacrifice representing that of the Crosse and applying the vertue thereof declaring himselfe to be a Priest after the order of Melchizedec offered to GOD the Father his body and blood vnder the Bread and Wine and gaue them to his Apostles commanding them and their successors to offer them And this is that pure offering foretolde by Malachie which Saint Paul calleth the Table of the LORD and was figured by diuers Sacrifices in the time of Nature and of the Law 2. Because the same CHRIST is sacrificed in the Masse without blood who was sacrificed on the Crosse with blood this sacrifice is propitiatory and GOD appeased with this offering bestoweth the gift of repentance and remitteth all sinnes the offering and by the Priests the offerer beeing the same who formerly offered himselfe vpon the Crosse onely in a diuers manner so that this of the Masse doth not derogate from that of the Crosse yea by this the fruits of that are receiued which is offered for the sinnes punishments and necessities of the faithfull and also for the dead not fully purged 3. And though some Masses bee celebrated in memory of the Saints the sacrifice is not offered to them but to GOD onely 4. And to offer him with reuerence the Church hath for many ages instituted the Canon free from all errour composed out of the words of the LORD tradition of the Apostles and constitutions of Popes 5. And for the edification of the faithfull the Church hath instituted certaine Rites to pronounce in the Masse some things with a lowe and some with a loud voice adding benedictions lights odours and vestments by Apostolicall tradition 6. And the Synode doeth not condemne as priuate and vnlawfull but doeth approoue those Masses in which the Priest doeth communicate alone which vse is common in regard the people doeth communicate spiritually and that they are celebrated by a publique Minister and for all the faithfull 7. And the Church hath commanded to put water into the wine because CHRIST hath done so and from his side did issue water and blood together by which the vnion of the people signified by the water with CHRIST their head is represented 8. And howsoeuer the people doe not receiue much instruction by the Masse yet the Fathers haue not thought it fit that it should bee celebrated in the vulgar Therefore retaining the vse of the Romane Church that the people may not bee deceiued the Priests ought to expound something which is read in it especially vpon Holy dayes 9. And to condemne the errours which are spread against this doctrine it doeth adde nine Canons 1. Anathematizing him that shall say that a true and proper sacrifice is not offered to GOD in the Masse 2. Or that shall say that CHRIST by these wordes Doe this in remembrance of mee hath not instituted Priests and The Canons of the Masse commanded them to offer 3. Or shall say that the Masse is a sacrifice onely of prayse or
aiming at this marke said for the present that the matter was hard and had need of greater examination that where the controuersie is betweene the Catholikes they ought not to condemne one part for feare of making a schisme and sowing contentions that they may ioyntly indeauour to confute the Lutherans Therefore that it were better to deferre the declaration by what right it is due vntil another Session Some thought it sufficient to renew the old Canons and Decretals in this matter and sayd they were seuere enough because they inflicted depriuation for a punishment and reasonable enough because they admitted lawfull excuses There remained to find a way that dispensations might not be granted and that was sufficient Others thought it necessary to adde new punishments and remoue the impediments which was of the greatest importance because those being taken away residencie would follow and that it was no matter from whence the obligation came so it were executed and that this being done the matter would be better discussed It pleased the maior part that the one and the other should be done whereunto the Legates g 〈…〉 vpon condition that the dispensations should not bee spoken against but to cause them not to be desired that the impediments should bee taken away which come by exemptions wherein there was as much spoken and with no lesse con 〈…〉 between those which held euery exemption for all abuse and those who thought them necessary in the Church and reproued onely the excesses S. Ierom witnesseth that in the first beginnings of Christianity the Churches A discourse of the Authour concerning exemptions were gouerned by a kinde of Aristocracy by the common counsell of the Presbytery but to withstand the diuisions which were brought in the monarchicall gouernement was instituted giuing all the superintendency to the Bishop whom all the orders of the Church did obey neither 〈◊〉 any one thinke to withdraw himselfe from vnder the authority The neighbour Bishops whose Churches because they were vnder one Prouince had commerce did gouerne themselues also in common by Synods and to make the gouernement more easie attributing much to the Bishop of the principall City they made him as it were Head of that body and by a more ample communion which all the Prouinces of one perfecture or great gouernement held together the Bishop of the City where the Ruler did reside gained a certaine superiority by custome These prefectures were the Imperiall City of Rome with the Cities adioyning the prefecture of Alexandria which gouerned Egypt Libya and Pentapolis of Antioch for Syria and other Prouinces of the East and in the other lesser prefectures called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same was obserued This gouernement brought in and approoued by custome onely which found it commodious was established by the first Councell of Nice vnder Constantine and ordained by a Canon that it should continue and euery one was so farre from putting himselfe out of this order that the Bishop of Ierusalem hauing many honourable preheminences perhaps because it was the place where our Sauiour Christ conuersed in the flesh and was the fountaine of Religion the Councell of Nice did ordaine that those honours should still remaine but so that nothing was detracted from the Metropolitan then Bishop of Cesarea This gouernement which hath bin euer held in all the Churches of the East was altered in the Latine because many great Monasteries being built gouerned by Abbates of great fame and worth who by their conspicuous virtues made the Bishops afraid there arose some emulation betweene these and those and the Abbates to free themselues from these inconueniences whether reall or fained and to couer their ambition to withdraw themselues from the subiection which they owed did obtaine of Popes to bee receiued vnder the protection of Saint Peter and immediately vnder the subiection of the Pope This being profitable for the Court of Rome because he that obtaineth priuiledges is bound to maintaine the authority of him that granteth them suddenly all the Monasteries were exempted The Chapters also of Cathedrall Churches consisting for the most part of Regulars by the same pretences did obtaine exemption Finally the Cluniacensian and Cistersian Congregations were all wholly exempted With great inlargement of the Popes authority which came to haue subiects in all places defended and protected by the Papacie and interchangeably defenders and protectors The inuention was not commended by Saint Bernard who liued in that time and was of the Cistersian Congregation yea hee admonished Pope Eugenius to consider thereof that all were abuses that it ought not to be well taken if an Abbat did refuse to obey the Bishop and the Bishop the Metropolitane that the militant Church should take example by the triumphant where no Angel euer said I will not be vnder the Archangel But Bernard would haue said more if hee had liued in the times following when the Mendicant Orders obtained not onely a generall exemption from the Episcopall authority but power also to build Churches in any place whatsoeuer and to administer the Sacraments in them But in these last ages the abuse went on so farre that euery petty Priest did obtaine with a smal charge an exemption from the superiority of his Bishop not onely in causes of correction but also to be ordained by whom he listeth and in summe not to acknowledge the Bishop at all This beeing the state of the cause and the Bishops requiring remedie some that were more vehement returned to the things spoken in the Congregations that were before the other Session against the exemption of Friars But the wiser sort thinking it impossible to obtaine any thing so long as the number and greatnesse of the Regular Orders continued and fauour of the Court they were contented to remooue onely the exemptions of the Chapters and particular persons and demande a reuocation of them all But the Legates treating with them in particular and putting then in mind that all the reformation could not bee made by that Session that it was fit to begin and leaue something for future times made them rest contented that the exemption of particular Priests Friars not inhabiting in the Cloysters A smal reformation in matter of exemption is made and of Chapters only in criminall causes should be remooued from whence the greater disorders doe arise as also faculties to giue Clericall Orders to him that resideth not in his owne diocesse promising to prouide against the other abuses in another Session While these things were handled in Trent the Pope hauing receiued aduice Card Farnese the Popes Legate with the Emperour is recalled from the Cardinall Farnese considering with how small reputation an Apostolique Legate did remaine in Ratisbon when his souldiers were in the field he recalled him and with him a great number of Italian Gentlemen which were of the Popes troupes did depart In the middest of October the two armies were so neere at Santhem that there was
onely giue his voice with modestie and serue the Legats out of his loue in any honest worke as farre as he was able And Madruccio did not forbeare to say that there was a secret Councell within the Councell which did arrogate more authoritie A Councell within the Councell The Legates perceiuing that euery thing turned against them caused the Congregations to be omitted Neither was this sufficient For the Prelats Practises to dissolue the Councell made priuate congregations amongst themselues and the Legats continuall consultations The Arch-bishop of Otranto and others who aimed at the Cardinalitie of which they thought themselues assured if the Councell were separated agreed together to oppose euery thing to make some tumult arise and went passionately about euen in the night also making practises and causing men to set their hand to papers Which though in effect it pleased the Legats yet for the manner it displeased the most of them as beeing of bad example which might giue scandall And on the contrary side there wanted not those who desired a dissolution But each partie expected an occasion that the cause of it might be attributed to the other so that the suspicions did encrease on both sides The Cardinall of Loraine complained to all that plots were laid to dissolue the Synod and especially to the Ambassadours of Princes desiring them to write to their Masters to perswade the Pope that the Councell may bee continued that the practises might bee moderated and the Fathers left to their libertie saying that otherwise a composition would bee made in France that Of which the Card of Loraine complaineth euery one might liue as hee would vntill a free Councell as this was not in which nothing could be resolued but as pleased the Legates nor by the Legates but as the Pope listed that he would be patient vntill the next Session And of the want of libertie in Councell and then if he sawe not things goe better hee would make his protestations and together with the Ambassadours and Prelates returne into France to make a Nationall Councel in which perhaps Germanie would concurre with them a thing which would be displeasing vnto himselfe in regerd of the danger that the Apostolique Sea would not bee acknowledged any more In those dayes many Curriers passed betweene Rome and Trent For the Legates As did also the French-men in Rome aduised the frequent contradictions and the Pope sollicited the proposing of the Canons which he sent And the French-men in Rome made the same complaint to the Pope which Loraine had done in Trent and vsed the same threats of a Nationall Councell and the assistance of Germanie But The Pope answereth resolutely the Pope who had been vsed to these things said hee was not daunted with words was not afraid of Nationall Synods did knowe that the French Bishops were Catholiques and that Germanie would not subiect it selfe to their Councels He said that the Councell was not onely free but might be called licentious that the practises of the Italians in Trent were not with his knowledge but did arise because the Vltramontans would tread the Popes authoritie vnder their feete that hee hath had three good occasions to dissolue the Councell but was willing it should continue hoping that GOD would not abandon his Church and that euery attempt against it would come vpon the head of the Innouators Fiue Churches departed and went to the Emperours Court in the time of these confusions to giue his Maiestie an account of the state of the Councel and of the combination of the Italian Prelates and it was discouered that Granata and his adherents had desired him to perswade the Emperour to write to the Catholique King concerning the Reformation and Residence that both in those and in other occasions they might speake freely according to their conscience all which the Legates did beleeue to proceede from Loraine And therefore for a counterpoise themselues also a few dayes after sent the Bishop Commendone to the Emperour vpon pretence to excuse and render the causes why the demands of his Maiesty could not as yet be proposed And they gaue him commission to exhort the Emperour to be content not to demand of the Councel bot of the Pope himselfe those points of his petition which concerne his authoritie as also other instructions such as seemed them good But Martinus Crame 〈…〉 Bishop of Vormis Ambassadour of the King of Polonia to the Emperour being come to Trent vpon pretence to visit the Cardinall of Varmia his ancient and in ward friend there was a great suspicion that he was sent by the Emperor to be an eye-witnes of the proceedings in Councell and to relate them to him All these things made the Legates doubt that the Councell would be dissolued in some manner dishonourable to the Pope and themselues obseruing that it was desired by many euen by some of the Papalins themselues and that disorders were purposely procured by others to iustifie themselues in case it should happen They sent vnto all the Ambassadours a writing which conteined the present difficulties and desired their counsell But the French Ambassadours answered vpon this occasion that which they desired to say many dayes before that as the Councell was assembled to remedie abuses so some were willing to make vse A free speech vsed by the French Ambassadours of it to encrease them that before any thing else were done it was fit to withstand such manifest practises that they were intolerable that if they were remoued and euery man had libertie to speake freely what hee thought a good accord would easily bee made that the Pope was Head of the Church but not aboue it that he was to gouerne and direct the other members but not to domineere ouer the body that to remedie the differences it was necessary to follow the Councell of Constance which hauing found the Church most disorderly by meanes of these opinions did reduce it into tolerable tearmes They sayd that one cause of discord was because the Secretary Seconded by the Imperialists did not set downe their voyces faithfully so that the greater part seemed in the acts to be the lesser and that could not be taken for a resolution which was concluded by the common opinion and therefore that it was fit to ioyne another with him The Imperialists said almost the same things and were more earnest for another Secretary The other Ambassadors stood vpon generall tearmes desiring a continuation of the Councell and an vnion of mindes Things standing thus Ventimiglia redispatched by the Pope returned The B of Ventimiglia returneth to Trent to Trent the nine and twentieth of Ianuary who made a relation of his credence to the Legates and by their aduice sought to remooue two opinions spread in the Councell one that the Pope could not liue long the other that hee desired a dissolution of the Councell Hee testified the desire of his Holinesse that laying aside
hee saith The other Apostles were that which Peter was and had the same fellowship of honour and power Saint Hierome saith the authoritie of the world is greater then that of one Citie Why doe you extoll the custome of one Citie Why doe you make a paucitie whence pride began to giue lawes to the Church Wheresoeuer any Bishop is whether at Rome or at Eugubium or at Constantinople or at Rhegium hee is of the same desert and Priesthood The strength of riches or humblenesse of pouertie maketh a Bishop neither greater nor lesse Gregorie sayth Peter is the chiefe member in the bodie Iohn Andrew Iames are Heads of particular people yet all of them are members of the Church vnder one Head Nay the Saints before the Law the Saints vnder the Law the Saints vnder the Gospel and all that make vp the bodie of the Lord are to bee accounted members and none was euer willing to bee called Vniuersall 29 This is that power which some doe so strenuously defend at this day which whatsoeuer they thinke of the Popes life and religion they would haue to bee most religiously maintained as if the Church could not subsist without it or as if a Councell were no Councell except the Pope did will and command it to be so or as if the whole world must needs be deceaued if it should thinke otherwise Wherefore now that you see that all things are most vniustly handled that nothing is sincerely and fairely caried in Councels you may not wonder that our men had rather tarry at home then take so long and so idle a iourney in which they shall both lose their labour and betray their cause 30 You will say it is not lawfull to make change in Religion without order from the Pope and the Councell Yet the Popes haue changed almost the whole state of the Primitiue Church without any Councell at all You vse a faire smooth speach but it is to couer foule errours The purpose is onely to keepe mens minds in expectation that being wearied with tedious delayes they may at the last despaire of any good For what while the Pope assembleth a Councell while the Bishops and Abbots returne home will they haue GOD's people in the meane while to bee deceiued to erre to mistake themselues to bee ouerwhelmed with errours and want of the knowledge of GOD and so to bee carried to euerlasting destruction Is it not lawfull for any of vs to beleeue in CHRIST to professe the Gospel to serue God aright to flie superstition and idolatrie except they will be pleased to giue vs leaue The state of God's children were most miserable if there being so many errors so generally spread so grosse so blind so foule and so perspicuous and manifest that euen our aduersaries themselues are not able to denie them nothing could be done without the whole world should meet in a generall Councell the expectation whereof is very vncertaine and the euent much more In times past when the Persians inuaded Greece and began to lay all waste if then the Lacedemonians whose virtue was then most eminent amongst the Grecians whose help was requisite as soone as might be had expected a more seasonable moone to make warre in for it was an ancient superstition which proceeded from Lycurgus not to goe forth to fight but in a full moone their Countrie might haue beene spoiled whilst they deferred the time They say delay breeds danger The safetie of God's Church is in question the Deuill goeth about roaring like a Lion seeking whom he may deuoure Simple men are easily deceaued and though they be often touched with a zeal towards God yet they persecute the sonne of God before they be aware And as Nazianzen saith when they purpose to fight for Christ they fight against him Nay the Bishops themselues who ought to haue a care of these things are as though they were but Ghosts carelesse of them or to speake truth they increase the error and make the mist that is in their Religion twice as great as it was Must wee therefore sit idle expecting how these Fathers will handle the matter must wee hold our hands together and doe nothing Nay saith Cyprian there is but one Bishoprique of which euery one holdeth an intire part whereof he is to giue account to the Lord. I will require saith the Lord their bloud at thy handes If any shall put his hand to the plough and looke backe and be sollicitous what others thinke and expect the authoritie of a generall Councell and hide the Lord's treasure in the meane while he shall here this O euill and faithlesse seruant take him away and cast him into outward darkenesse Suffer saith Christ the dead to burie their dead but come thou and follow mee In humane counsels it is the part of a wise man to expect the iudgment and consent of men but in matters diuine Gods word is all in all the which so soone as a godly man hath receiued hee presently yeeldeth and submitteth himselfe he is not wauering not expecteth others Hee vnderstandeth that he is not bound to giue care to the Pope or the Councell but to the will of God whose voice is to be obeyed though all men say nay The Prophet Elias presently obeyed God's command though he thought he was alone Abraham being warned of God went out of Chaldea Lot went out of Sodome the three Israelites made a publike confession of their Religion and did publiquely detest Idolatry without expecting a generall Councell Goe saith the Angel out of the midst of her and partake not of her sinnes lest you tast of her Plagues Hee saith not expect a Synode of Bishops So God's trueth was first published and so it is now to be restored The Apostles first taught the Gospell without a publique Councell in like manner the same Gospell may be restored againe without a publique Councell If at the first Christ and his Apostles would haue caried and differred all vntill a generall Councell when had their sound gone forth into all lands how had the kingdome of heauen suffered violence and how had the violent taken it by force Where now would the Gospell and the Church of God haue beene As for our parts we do not feare and flie but desire and wish for a Councell so that it bee freely ingenuous and Christian so that men doe meet as the Apostles did so that Abbots and Bishops be freed from their oath by which they are bound to the Popes so that that whole conspiracie be dissolued so that our men may be modestly and freely heard and not condemned before they be heard so that one man may not haue power to ouerthrow whatsoeuer is done But seeing it impossible as the times now are that this should be obteyned and seeing that all absurd things foolish ridiculous superstitious impious are defended most pertinaciously and that for custome sake because they haue beene once receiued we haue thought it fit to prouide for our
the malady carying with it in consequence a reformation he abhorred it Hee considered with himselfe how to call a Councell in Rome or some other place of the Churches dominion as his Predecessor and himselfe had celebrated with singular fruit the Councell of Lateran a few yeeres before hauing by that meanes appeased the schisme reduced the kingdome of France which was separated and which was of no lesse importance abolished the Prgamaticall Sanction doubly contrary to the monarchy of Rome as well in regard it was an example to take from him the collation of benefices a great foundation of the Pontificall greatnesse as also because it was a preseruation of the memory of the Councell of Basil and by consequence of the subiection of the Pope to a generall Synode But afterwards hee saw not how a Councell of that sort could giue remedy to the disease which was not in the Princes and great Prelates with whom familiarity and interest preuailed but in the people with whom it was necessary to vse reality and to make a true mutation The case The death of Pope Leo. standing thus in the end of the yeere 1521. Pope Leo departed this life 51 And in the beginning of the next yeere the ninth of Ianuary Adrian was Adriax is created Pope and much feared 1522 created Which assumption to the Popedome being made of a man who was neuer seene in Rome vnknowne to the Cardinals and the Court and remained in Spaine besides the world holding an opinion that hee would not approue the manners of the Romans nor the free life of the Courtiers all mens thoughts were turned to consider of it so that Luthers innouations were no more thought of Some doubted that hee was too much inclined to a reformation others that hee would call the Cardinals vnto him and so transport the Papacy out of Italy as had happened at other times But they were soone deliuered from this great feare For the new Pope the next day after he had receiued aduice of his election which was the 22. of the same moneth in the city of Victoria in Biscay not expecting the Legats sent vnto him from the Colledge of Cardinals to signifie it vnto him and to haue his consent assembled those few Prelates which he could get consented to the Election and hauing taken the habit and armes declared himselfe Pope and went presently to Barcellona where he wrote to the Colledge of Cardinals the cause why he had taken vpon him the name and charge of the Pope without expecting the Legates committing also vnto them the publication of it throughout all Italy He was inforced to tarry at Barcellona a conuenient time to passe the gulfe of Lions which was very dangerous yet he deferred no longer then needs must to imbarke for Italy and arriued there in the end of August 1522. 52 Adrian found all Italy in commotion by reason of the warre betweene the Emperour and the French King and the Apostolicall Sea ouer head and The troubled state of Italy at the arriuall of Adrian eares in a particular warre with the Dukes of Ferrara and Vrbin Arimini newly taken by the Malatesti the Cardinals diuided and not trusting one another the Isle of Rhodes assieged by the Turkes the lands of the Church exhausted and in extreame confusion during the anarchy of eight moneths Notwithstanding hee applied himselfe principally to compose the discords in religion in Germany And being nourished and brought vp from his childhood in the studies of School-Diuinity he held those opinions to be so cleare and euident that he was perswaded that no reasonable man could thinke the contrary Wherefore he gaue no other title to the doctrine of Luther but vnsauoury Adrian was very learned ' in Schoole Diuinity The Epithetes he gaue to the doctrine of Luther foolish and vnreasonable and thought that none but some fewe fooles could beleeue it and that those that followed Martin were men who in their conscience vndoubtedly maintained the opinions of the Church of Rome and fained the contrary beeing prouoked by the burthens layd vpon them His opinion therefore was that it must needes bee an easie thing to extinguish that doctrine which had none other foundation then matter of profite and thought that by giuing some small satisfaction the body would easily bee healed which rather made shew to bee sicke then that it was so indeed Adrian borne in Vtrect And because he was borne in Vtrect a city of low Germanie hee hoped that all that nation would willingly hearken to his proposes and ingage themselues to maintaine his authority as being an Alman and so sincere in all his treaties that he vsed neither Arts nor secret ends And being perswaded that it imported much to vse celerity he resolued to make his first proposition in the Diet which was prepared at Noremberg which to the ende it He resolueth to make a reformation before he maketh his first proposition in the Diet of Noremberg might be gratefully heard and his promise esteemed reall he thought it necessary to giue a taste by beginning a reformation before hee treated with them remoouing the abuses which caused the dissention To this ende hee called to Rome Iohn Peter Caraffa Archbishop of Chieti and Marcellus Cazele of Gaeta men esteemed for their honesty and vertues and very skilfull in whatsoeuer belonged to Ecclesiasticall discipline that by the counsell of them and of the Cardinals which he trusted hee might finde some remedy against the corruptions which were of greatest moment In this number the prodigality vsed in giuing Indulgences first presented it selfe vnto him because it gaue way to the reputation which the new Preachers in Germany had gained 53 The Pope being a Diuine who had written in this matter long before Luther thought to handle it meant to establish by an Apostolicall Decree and as Pope that doctrine which being a priuate man he had taught and written That is that an Indulgence being granted to one that shall doe such a godly worke the worke may be performed by some in such perfection that he may obtaine the Indulgence but if it want something of that exactnesse the worker obtaineth not all the Indulgence but onely so much as answereth in proportion to the imperfect worke The Pope thought that by this meanes hee should not onely prouide against scandall hereafter but remedy also those that were past because it being possible to qualifie with so good circumstances euery little worke that it may deserue any great reward Luthers obiection was answered how by the offering of a penny so great a treasure could bee gained and seeing that by the defect of the worke he that gaineth not all obtaineth notwithstanding a proportionable part the faithfull drewe not themselues backe from seeking Indulgences 54 But Friar Thomas of Gaeta Cardinall of S. Sistus a perfect Diuine disswaded it telling him that this was to punish that truth which for the safetie of soules it was better to
created Emperour and they made protestation of the iniurie But many of the Protestants kept themselues on his side because they could not beleeue that hee had any other respects then of State And the Arch-bishop of Collen of whom wee haue spoken The Arch-b 〈…〉 of Collen sentenced by the Pope is obeyed by his people and followeth the Emperour before who though hee were sentenced and depriued by the Pope continued in gouerment and was obeyed by his people followed the Emperour who also acknowledged him for Election and Arch-bishop and wrote vnto him that none of his subiects might beare armes against him wherein the Arch-bishop imployed his endeuours sincerely The Elector of Saxonie and the Landgraue seeing this they published a Manifest the eleuenth of Iuly declaring that the warre was vndertaken for Religion and that the Emperour couered his meaning with a cloake of taking reuenge against some few for rebellion to disioyne the confederates and oppresse them by degrees They alleadged that Ferdinand and Granuell and other ministers of his Maiestie had said that the cause of this warre was the The Elector of Saxonie and the Landgraue of Has 〈…〉 a publish a Manifest against the Emperour contempt of the Councell they called to minde the Popes sentence against the Elector of Collen they added that the Spanish Prelates would not haue contributed so much of their proper reuenewes for any other cause they shewed that in other things the Emperour could pretend nothing against them But while the Pope and Emperour prepared against the Lutherans some thing beside Anathematismes the day after the Session the eighteenth of Iune a Congregation was made where after the accustomed prayers and inuocation Iustification is to be handled in the next place of the holy Ghost the Secretary read in the Legates name a writing framed by the principal Theologues in which it was proposed that hauing by diuine inspiration condemned the heresies concerning originall sinne the order of the things to bee handled did require that the doctrine of the modernes in the point of diuinegrace which is the medicine of sinne should be examined and that the rather it was fit to follow the order because it was obserued by the Augustane Confession all which the Councell meaneth to condemne And the Fathers and Diuines were intreated to haue recourse by prayer vnto the diuine assistance and to be assiduous and exact in their studies because all the errours of Martin were resolued into that point For hauing vndertaken from the beginning to oppugne the Indulgences he saw hee could not obtaine his purpose except hee destroyed the workes of repentance in defect whereof Indulgences doe succeede And iustification by faith onely a thing neuer heard of before seemed to him a good meanes to effect this from whence he hath collected not onely that good workes are not necessary but also that a dissolute liberty in obseruing the Law of GOD and of the Church will serue the turne hath denyed efficiencie in the Sacraments authority of Priests Purgatorie sacrifice of the Masse and all other remedies for remission of sinnes Therefore by a contrary way he that will establish the body of the Catholike doctrine must ouerthrow this heresie of iustice by faith onely and condemne the blasphemies of that enemie of good workes When the writing was read the Emperours Prelates said that the more principall and important the point proposed was it should bee the more maturely and opportunely handled that the sending of the Cardinall Madruccio to the Pope shewed that some businesse was on foote the which it was not fit to disturbe but in the meane space to handle some thing of the reformation The Papalins did on the other side inculcate that it was no honour to interrupt the order begun to handle together in euery Session doctrine and reformation and that after originall sinne no other matter could be handled The Legates hauing heard all their opinions concluded that to discusse the points and prepare them was not to define them but that they could not bee determined without preparation before Which they said onely to gaine time and after to put themselues in order to execute what should bee resolued at Rome betweene the Pope and the Cardinall in the Emperours name That to digest that matter was not to hinder the reformation because in that the Diuines would bee imployed and in this the Fathers and Canonists With this resolution it was concluded that the Articles to bee discussed and censured should bee collected out of the bookes of Luther out of the Colloquies Apologies and out of the writings of the Lutherans and Fathers And three Fathers and as many Diuines were deputed to set downe what should bee discussed and to frame the Articles The next Congregation was held to order the matter of Reformation The discourse of the Card. Monte concerning residencie where the Cardinal of Monte sayd that the world hath complayned long since of the absence of Prelats and Pastoures dayly demanding residence that the absence of the Prelats and other Curats from their Churches is the cause of all the mischiefes of the Church For the Church may bee compared to a ship the sinking whereof is ascribed to the absent Pilot that should gouerne it if he were present He shewed to them that heresies ignorance and dissolution doe reigne in the people and bad manners and vices in the Clergie because the Pastours being absent from the flocke no man hath care to instruct those or correct these By the Prelates absence it is come to passe that ignorant and vnlearned Ministers haue beene promoted and persons assumed to bishoprickes that were more fit for any other charge for in regard they neede not execute their duety in person no fitnesse is necessary So he concluded that to establish the point of residencie was a generall remedy for all the maladies of the Church which also hath sometimes beene vsed by Councels and Popes but either for that the transgressions were then but few or for some other cause it was not applyed with such strong and strait bonds as is necessarie now that the disease is come to the height that is with a more seuere commandement with more greiuous and fearefull punishments and by meanes more easie to be executed This was approued by the first voyces of the Prelates But when Iacomo The Bishop of Vesone speaketh in fauour of nonresidency Cortesi a Florentin Bishop of Vesone was to speake commending what had beene sayd by others he added that as hee beleeued that the presence of the Prelats and Curats in times past was the cause of maintayning purity of faith in the people and discipline in the Clergie so hee could cleerely shew that their absence in these latter times hath not beene the cause of the contrary subuersion and that the custome of not residing hath beene brought in because residence hath beene wholy vnprofitable For the Bishops could not then preserue sound doctrine amongst
him vpon whom they were conferred by whose death the vnion was vnderstood to bee dissolued ipso facto and the benefices returned to their first state So they shewed the world their excellent inuentions conferring a benefice which was but one in shew but many in deed as one confessed hee had stollen a bridle concealing it was vpon a horse head which hee stole with it To remedy pluralitie it was necessary to remooue the abuse of these three pretences This the wiser sort of Prelates vnderstanding agreed vniformely at the first propose to inhibite all of what condition soeuer to haue more then three benefices And some added when two amount not to the vallew of foure hundred ducats of gold and that if one were worth so much no man whatsoeuer should haue any more nor more then three though they were not worth so much Of this there was much disputation and A dispute about the remedy of Pluvalitie much more when Aluise Lipomano Bishop of Verona proposed that this decree might touch them also who were now possessors of more who without exception of any should bee constrained to renounce those that were supernumerary within sixe moneths if they were in Italy and within nine if in other places which if they did not they should bee depriued without any further declaration notwithstanding the benefices were Vnited or commended or possessed by any othertitle To this opinion the Bishop of Feltre did adhere but did moderate it by distinguishing Dispensations Commendaes and Vnions saying that some were made for the good of the Churches and some in fauour of the possessor desiring that the former should remaine in force and the other should be regulated The Bishop of Lanciano did not admit this distinction saying that hee that would make a lasting law must not put exceptions into the body of it in regard the malice of man is apt to inuent them and to free themselues from the rule The Byshop of Albenga made a long oration to shew that good lawes doe regulate Lawes ought to looke forward onely and not backward the future onely and that hee who not containing himselfe within the bounds of reason will amend that which is past doth euer raise tumults and in stead of reforming make a greater deformation that it were strange to depriue men of their possessions and perswade them to be content Hee added that he foresaw that if such a Decree were made either it would not be receiued or if it were would cause colourable and simoniacall resignations and greater mischiefes then plurality could For hereafter the prouision seemed vnto him superfluous for no man beeing to haue more benefices but by the Popes dispensation it sufficed that he was resolued not to dispence In that Congregation amongst many tragicall exclamations made by diuers men Bernardus Dias Byshop of Calabora said that the Church of Vicenza was so disordered as all men knew that it required rather an Apostle then a Bishop taxing the Cardinall Ridolfi who possessed that Bishopricke besides many other benefices not gouerning it nor hauing the Episcopall order neuer seeing it nor knowing any thing but the rents And euery one spake against the inconuenience that famous Churches should neuer see their Bishops because they were imployed in other Bishoprickes or more beneficiall dignities Some said that the Pope onely might prouide against this and were of the opinion of Albenga that he alone might make the reformation This pleased the Legates as well for the Popes dignity as to free themselues from taking paines in this matter which in regard of the varietie of opinions and interests they thought would bee of an hard digestion hoping that when they had gone so farre as to leaue this reformation to the Pope they should easily leaue also vnto him the point of residencie which was as hard to be concocted for that it was popular and drew with it the regaining of the Episcopall authoritie and iurisdiction Therefore the Legates being in hope that it might bee obtained especially if it were proposed as a thing done not to bee done they presently sent the Pope word of it who was glad of the newes because both the Court and himselfe were doubtfull where the attempts and designes of the Prelates might end And thinking fit to strike the yron while it was hote hee made a greater stride then the Legates would haue had him and dispatched a Bull by which hee recalled vnto himselfe the whole businesse of the Reformation But in Trent whilst an answere was expected from Rome they proceeded in the treatie begun and made a draught of the Decree that no man should haue more then one Bishoprike and hee that had more should quit the rest that heereafter whosoeuer shall obtaine many inferiour incompatible Benefices shall bee depriued without further declaration and hee that formerly hath possessed more then one shall shew his dispensations to the Ordinarie who shall proceede according to the Decretall of Innocentius 4. Ordinarij In giuing their voyces vpon these points many desired to haue dispensations forbid The shewing of the dispensations Of dispensations for Pluralitie and the proceeding according to the Decree of Innocentius pleased but few because it was a kinde of approbation of them all and an increasing of the mischiefe For Innocentius saith that if the dispensations bee found good they shall bee admitted if there bee any doubt recourse shall bee had to Rome in which case no man doubted but that any of them might bee doubted of and receiue a declaration at Rome conformable to the grant Many feared that when they were examined and approued there remayning no doubt the abuse would bee confirmed and therefore would haue had them prohibited absolutely Others sayd they haue alwayes beene in the Church and were necessary and that all was in vsing them well Marcus Vigerius Bishop of Sinigaglia was of an opinion which if it had beene receiued and beleeued would easily haue reformed the whole Clergie Hee sayd the Synode might remooue all inconueniences by declaring that a lawfull cause was necessary for a dispensation and that whosoeuer doeth otherwise grant it doeth sinne and cannot bee absolued but by reuoking it and that hee who obtaineth it is not secure in his conscience notwithstanding the dispensation and continueth in sinne vntill hee quitteth the Benefices so gotten This opinion wanted not contradictors For some stood vp and said that hee who granteth licence of Pluralitie without a lawfull cause doth sinne yet the dispensation is good and the dispensed is secure in his conscience though hee knew the vnlawfulnesse of the cause And the difference continued many dayes these saying that it was to take all authoritie from the Pope and those that the Popes authoritie stretched not so farre as to make that euill should not bee euill From this they went to another doubt whether Pluralitie was forbid by the Law of A doubt moued by what law Plurality is forbid God or of man Those
many other places Sacramentally in a maner of existence which is beleeued by faith and can hardly be expressed by words For all the ancients haue professed that CHRIST did institute this Sacrament in the last Supper when after the benediction of the Bread and Wine hee sayd in cleare and manifest words that he gaue his Body and Blood which hauing a most plaine signification it is great wickednesse to wrest them to imaginary figures denying the trueth of the Flesh and Blood of CHRIST Afterwards it teacheth that CHRIST hath instituted this Sacrament in memory of himselfe ordayning it should be receiued as a Spirituall foode of the soule as a medicine for our dayly faults a preseruatiue from mortall sinne a pledge of eternall glory and a signe of the Body whereof himselfe is the Head And though it bee common to this Sacrament with others to bee a signe of a sacred thing yet it hath this proper to it selfe that other hauing vertue to sanctifie in the vse this doth conteine the author of Sanctity before the vse For the Apostles had not receiued the Eucharist from the hand of our Lord when he sayd that it was his Body and the Church hath alwayes beleeued that the Body of CHRIST is vnder the bread and the Blood vnder the wine by vertue of the Consecration but by concomitancie as much is vnder either of the kindes and euery part of them as vnder both declaring that by the Consecration of the Bread and Wine there is made a conuersion of their whole substance into the substance of the Body and Blood of CHRIST which conuersion the Catholique Church hath called Transubstantiation by a fit and proper terme Therefore the faithfull doe giue the honour of Latria or diuine worship due vnto God to this Sacrament and it hath been religiously instituted to make a particular feast for it euery yeere and to carry it in procession in pubique places Likewise the custome to keepe it in an holy place is auncient and hath been obserued from the time of the Nicen Councell and to carry it to the sicke is an old custome beeing reasonable besides and commanded in many Councels And if it be not fit that any holy thing should be handled without sanctity much more none ought to come to this Sacrament without great reuerence and proofe made of himselfe which proofe must bee that none hauing mortally sinned though hee bee contrite may receiue it without sacramentall Confession which the Priest also who is to celebrate ought to obserue so that hee can finde a Confessour and if hee cannot hee must confesse immediately afterward It doeth teach also that there bee three kindes of receiuing the Eucharist One Sacramentally onely as sinners doe another spiritually as those doe who receiue it with a liuely faith and desire the third conteineth both kindes as those doe receiue it who hauing prooued themselues as aforesaid doe goe to the Table And there is an Apostolicall Tradition and so it ought to bee obserued that the Liaitie should receiue the Communion from the Priests and the Priestes should Communicate Themselues In the ende the Synode prayeth all Christians to agree in this doctrine When the Decree was ended the eleuen Anathematismes were read 1. Against him that shall denie that in the Eucharist is contained truely The Anathematismes really and substantially the Body and Blood with the Soule and Diuinitie of CHRIST that is whole CHRIST and shall say that he is contained onely as in a signe or figure or virtually 2. That in the Eucharist there doeth remaine the substance of the bread and wine with the Body and Blood of CHRIST or shall denie that admirable conuersion of all the substance of the bread into the body and of the wine into the blood there remaining onely the forme which conuersion the Church most appositely calleth Transubstantiation 3. That in the Sacrament of the Eucharist vnder euery kinde and vnder euery part beeing separated all CHRIST is not contayned 4. That the Conseoration beeing made he is not there but in the vse and neither before nor after and that hee is not in the particles which remaine after the Communion 5. That the principall fruit of the Eucharist is the remission of sinnes or that it hath no other effect 6. That CHRIST in the Eucharist ought not to bee worshipped with the honour of Latria nor honoured with a particular feast nor carried in procession nor put in a publique place to bee worshipped or that the worshippers are Idolaters 7. That it is not lawfull to keepe it in an holy place but that it should bee distributed to the standers by or that it is not lawfull to carrie it honourably to the sicke 8. That CHRIST in the Eucharist is eaten onely spiritually and not Saoramentally and really 9. That the faithfull being of age are not bound to communicate euery yeere at Easter 10. That it is not lawfull to the Priest who celebrateth to communicate himselfe 11. That faith onely is a sufficient preparation to receiue it Declaring in the ende that the preparation ought to bee by the meanes of Sacramentall Confession holding him to bee excommunicate who shall teach preach affirme pertinaciously or defend in publique disputation the contrary The Decree of the Reformation containeth first a long admonition to The Decree of Reformation the Bishops to vse their iurisdiction moderately and charitably then determineth that in causes of visitation correction and inability and in the criminall none may appeale from the Bishop or his Vicar generall before the definitiue or from an irreparable grieuance and when there shall bee place of Appeale and a Commission shall bee granted in partibus by Apostolike authority it shall not bee granted to any but the Metropolitan or his Vicar or in case hee bee suspected or farre distant or the Appeale bee from him it shall not bee granted but to a Bishop dwelling neere or a Bishops Vicar That the defendant appealing shall bee bound to produce in the second instance the actes of the first which shall beegiuen him within thirtie dayes without paying for them That the Bishop or his Vicar generall may proceede against any to condemnation and verball deposition and may also degrade solemnely with the assistance of so many Abbats of Miter and postorals if hee can haue them or of so many other Ecclesiasticall dignities as there are Bishops required by the Canons That the Bishop as delegate may summarily take knowledge of the absolution of euery one of whom inquisition is made and of the remission of the punishment of euery one that is condemned by him and if it shall appeare vnto him that sentence hath been obtained by telling that which is false or concealing the trueth hee may cause it not to be executed That a Bishop may not bee cited to appeare personally but for such a cause for which he may be deposed or depriued by what forme of iudgement soeuer the proceeding bee That testimonies in
being curiously The Decrees are censured in Germany read in Germany and else-where raised much speech in many things concerning the Eucharist First because treating of the manner of the existence it said that it could hardly be expressed in wordes and yet affirmeth after that it is properly called Transubstantiation and in another place that it is a most fit terme which beeing so one cannot doubt but that it may bee properly expressed It was further noted that hauing declared that CHRIST after the benediction of Bread and Wine said that that which hee gaue was his Body and Blood it came to determine against the opinion of all the Diuines and of the whole Church of Rome that the wordes of consecration were not those that is this is my body because it doth affirme that they were spoken after the consecration But to prooue that the body of our LORD is in the Eucharist before the vse because CHRIST in giuing of it said before it was receiued by his Disciples it was his Body did shew that they did presuppose that the giuing of it did not belong to the vse the contrary whereof was apparantly true The manner of speach vsed in the fifth point of doctrine saying that diuine worship was due to the Sacrament was noted also for improper seeing it is certaine that the thing signified or conteined is not meant by the Sacrament but the thing signifying and containing and therefore it was well corrected in the sixt Canon which said that the Sonne of GOD ought to bee worshipped in the Sacrament That also in the third Anathematisme was noted that all CHRIST was in euery part after the separation because it seemeth one may necessarily inferre from hence that it was not in euery part before the diuision The Priest complained of the reformation and sayd that the Bishops authority The Priests complaine of the reformation was made too great and the Clergie brought into seruitude But the Protestants seeing the point where it was said that they desired to bee heard in foure Articles onely did much wonder who should make that request in their name seeing they had said and repeated so often in publique Diets and by publique writings that they desired a discussion of all the controuersies nor would receiue any of those things which were already determined in The Protestants dislike the reseruation of y e points of doctrine And the form of the Safe Conduct Trent but would haue all to be reexamined They thought also that the forme of the Safe Conduct was very captious because as well in the Decree to grant it as in the tenour therof there was this clause of reseruation as farre as belogneth to the Synode for no man demaundeth of another but that which belongeth to him to graunt But this affected diligence to expresse and repeat it was a signe that they had inuented a meanes to goe against it and to excuse themselues vpon others And they doubted not but that the ayme of the Synode was to leaue a gate open for the Pope that he might doe with his owne and the Councels honour what hee thought seruiceable for them both Besides the treating to depute Iudges for things hereticall committed or to be committed seemed to them a kinde of net to catch those that were vnwary and euen the very Pedants did laugh at it that the principall verbe was more then an hundred and fifty wordes distant from the beginning The Protestants did vniformely agree not to bee content with it or trust vpon it but to desire another iust like that which was giuen by the Councell of Basill to the Bohemians which if it were granted they did obtaine one great point that is that the controuersies should be decided by the holy Scripture and if it were not granted they might excuse themselues with the Emperour The day following the Session there was a generall Congregation to set downe how to treate of Penance and extreame Vnction and to continue the reformation It was considered that the manner of discussion prescribed was exceeded by the Diuines whence contentions did arise for which they could not be vnited against the Lutherans and therefore it was thought necessary to renew the decree not â—uffer any to vse the reasons of the schools but to cause them to speake positiuely and also to obserue the order which they thought fit to establish againe as well because the not obseruing of it had bred confusion as because the Flemings did complaine that none account was made of them as did also the Diuines which came with the Prelates of Germanie To handle Penance and extreame Vnction was decided already and something was said in matter of reformation and Prelats were deputed who with the Nuncio of Verona were to make the Articles in matter of faith and with the Nuncio of Siponto in matter of reformation In matter of faith twelue Articles were framed vpon the Sacrament of Penance drawen Verbatim out of the booke of Martin and of his Schoolers to be disputed by the Diuines whether they were to bee held for hereticall and condemned for such which in framing the Anathematismes after the Diuines had giuen their voyces were so changed that no iot of them remaining it is superfluous to recite them To these Articles were added 4. more of extreame Vnction answereable in all points to the soure Anathematismes established In Three Decrees are made concerning the manner of proceeding in Councell the same page where the Articles were set downe three Decrees were added That the Diuines ought to giue their opinions out of the holy Scripture Traditions of the Apostles holy Councels Constitutions and authorities of Popes and holy Fathers and out of the consent of the Catholique Church That the order of speaking should be thus that first they should speake who were sent by the Pope secondly those who were sent by the Emperour thirdly those of Louaine sent by the Queene fourthly those Diuines who came with the Electors fiftly the Secular Clergie men according to their promotions sixtly the Regulars according to their orders That there should be two congregations euery day one in the morning from the foureteenth houre vntill the seuenteenth another in the afternoone from the twentieth houre vntill the three and twentieth The Articles of Reformation were in number fifteene all which answered the points which were after established except the last in which a propose was made to constitute that Benefices should not be giuen in Commenda but to persons of the same age which the law required in those who might haue them in title which Article when it was spoken of was easily buried in silence because it hindered many Prelates to renounce their Benefices to their Nephewes The Pope who as hath been said wrote letters to the Catholique Suisses inuiting them to the Councell did still make the same instance vnto them by his Nuncio Ieronymus Francus wherein also hee was assisted by the Emperour The French
could not without danger and assistance of money thinke of Councels and some sayd that there beeing a diuision of the Protestants it was good to let them alone and not to name them alleadging that it was dangerous to mooue in a body ill humours which were at quiet To giue a Safe Conduct to English men which neither they nor any of them doe require would bee a great indignitie They were content it should bee giuen to the Scots because the Queene would demand it but so as that the demaund should first bee made For France there was a doubt made whether the Kings Counsell would take it well or not because it would bee thought to bee a declaration that the King had rebels Of Germanie none could doubt because it had beene formerly graunted to them and if it were graunted to that Nation alone it would seeme that the others were abandoned Many thought fitte to grant it absolutely to all Nations but the Spaniards did oppose and were fauoured by the Legates and others who knew the Popes minde to the great indignation of those who thought that an inference might bee made that the Councell was not aboue the Inquisition of Spaine In the ende all difficulties were resolued and the Decree framed with three parts In the first a Safe Conduct was giuen to the Germans iust word by word as it was made in the yeere 1552. In the second it was sayd that the Synod doeth giue Safe Conduct in the same forme and words as it was giuen to the Dutchmen to euery one who hath not communion of faith with her of euery Nation Prouince Citie and place where any thing is preached taught or beleeued contrary to that which is beleeued in the Church of Rome In the third it was sayd that although all nations The Decree of the Safe Conduct doe not seeme to be comprehended in that extention which hath been done for certaine respects yet those who repent and returne to the bosome of the Church are not excluded of what nation soeuer they be which the Synod desireth should be published to all But because it must be maturely consulted on in what forme the Safe Conduct must bee giuen them they haue thought fit to deferre that point vntill another time thinking it sufficient for the present to prouide for the securitie of those who haue publiquely abandoned the doctrine of the Church The Decree was presently printed as was fit it being made onely to bee published Yet the Synode did not keepe promise to consult of the forme of the Safe Conduct to be giuen to those of the third kinde and in printing of the body of the Councell this third part was left out leauing it to the speculation of the world why they did promise to prouide for those also and publish it in print with a desire to haue all men know it and afterwards not to do it and labour to conceale that which then they did desire to manifest The Emperours Ambassadours sollicited the Legates to make the reformation and to write to the Protestants exhorting them to come to the Councell as was done to the Bohemians in the time of the Councell of Basil The Legats answered that for these fourty yeeres all both Prince and people haue desired reformation yet neuer any part thereof was handled but themselues did crosse and hinder it so that they haue been constrayned to abandon the worke that now they will endeauour to make a generall reformation of all Christendome but for one particularly for the Clergie of Germanie which doth most neede it and which the Emperour doeth principally expect they saw not how they could make it seeing that the Dutch Prelats were not come to the Councell and for writing to the Protestants in regard they haue answered the Popes Nuncij with such exorbitant vnseemelinesse they could not but expect that they would make a worse answere to the Letters of the Synod The eleuenth of March the Legates proposed twelue Articles in the generall Twelue Articles to be discussed Congregation to bee studied and discussed in the next Congregations 1. What prouision might bee made that Bishops and other Curates may reside in their Churches without beeing absent but for causes iust honest necessary and profitable for the Catholique Church 2. Whether it bee expedient that none be ordained but vnto a title of some Benefice in regard many deceits are discouered which arise from ordination to a title of the Patrimony 3. That nothing be receiued for Ordination either by the Ordainers or their Ministers or Notaries 4. Whether it ought to bee granted to the Prelates that in the Churches where there are no dayly distributions or so small as that they are not esteemed they may conuert one of the Prebends to that vse 5. Whether great Parishes which haue need of many Priests ought to haue many titles also 6. Whether small Benefices with Cure which haue not a competent reuenue for the Priest ought to be reformed making one of many 7. What prouision is to be made concerning Curates ignorant and of a bad life whether it be fit to giue them coadiutors or able Vicars assigning them part of the reuenues of the Benefice 8. Whether power ought to bee giuen to the Ordinarie to incorporate into the mother Churches ruinated Chappels which for pouertie cannot be rebuilt 9. Whether it ought to be granted to the Ordinary that hee may visite Benefices held in Commenda though they be regular 10. Whether secret marriages which shall bee contracted hereafter ought to be made voyd 11. What conditions ought to bee assigned that a marriage may not bee esteemed secret but contracted in the face of the Church 12. What prouision ought to be made concerning the great abuses caused by the Pardoners After these the point following was giuen to the Diuines to bee studied One Article more concerning clandestine mariages and discussed in a Congregation appointed for that onely Whether as Euaristus and the Lateran Councell haue declared that clandestine or secret marriages are reputed not good both before the Iudge and in estimation of the Church so the Councell may declare that they are absolutely voyd and that secrecie ought to bee put amongst the impediments which doe make a Nullitie in the marriage In the meane space it beeing The Protestants of Germany treate a leaâ—ue and raise Souldiers discouered that the Protestants of Germanie did treate a league and make some leuies of Souldiers the Emperour wrote to Trent and to the Pope also that the Councell might surcease vntill it did appeare whither the motion did tend For this cause and because of holy dayes the residue of this moneth was spent in ceremonies onely The sixteenth day Franciscus Ferdinandus d'Aualos Marquis of Pescara The Spanish Ambassadour is receiued an oration is made in his name Ambassadour of the Catholique King was receiued in a generall Congregation and his Mandate being read an Oration was made on his name
the substance whereof was That the Councell beeing the onely remedie for the euils of the Church Pius the fourth hath vpon good reason thought it necessary in these times in which Philip King of Spaine desired to haue beene personally present to giue example to other Princes but because hee cannot hee hath sent the Marquis to assist and fauour it as much as possibly he can knowing that howsoeuer the Church is defended by God yet sometimes it hath neede of the assistance of man That the Ambassadour doeth not thinke it needfull to exhort the Synode knowing their incredible and almost diuine wisedome that hee seeth good foundations laid already and the things now treated on managed with arte which doeth mitigate and exasperate so that hoping that their future actions will bee correspondent hee will onely promise all good offices endeauours and fauours from the King The Speaker answered in the Councels name that the comming of an Ambassadour from so great a King had giuen courage and hope of the Synod that the remedies which it shall vse for the euils of Christendome will be profitable therefore it doeth imbrace his Maiestie with all good affection thanketh him offereth to requite his merits and to doe whatsoeuer it can for his honour and doth as it ought receiue the Mandate In The answere of the Speaker the Congregation of the 18. the Ambassadour of Cosmo Duke of Florence and Siena was receiued who after his Mandate was read made an Oration The Ambassador of Florence is receiued and maketh an Oration in which hee shewed at large the affinitie of his Duke with the Pope exhorted the Fathers to purge the Church and declare the light of the truth taught by the Apostles offering all possible assistance from his Duke as hee had done before to the Pope for preseruation of the Maiestie of the Sea of Rome The Speaker thanked him in the Synodes name and hauing made a reuerent commemoration of Leo the tenth and Clement the seuenth added that they were assembled onely for this end and thought of nothing but of composing all dissention chasing away the darkenesse of ignorance and manifesting the trueth Melchior Lusi Ambassadour of the Catholique Suisses and Ioachimus Propostus The Ambassadours of the Catholique Suisses are receiued an Abbat in the name of the Abbats and other Ecclesiastiques of that Nation were receiued in the Congregation of the 20. In whose name an Oration was made to this purpose That the Consuls of the 7. Cantons in regard of their filiall duety towards the Church haue sent Ambassadours to assist in the Councell and to promise obedience and to make knowen to all that they doe not yeeld to any in their desire to assist the Sea of Rome as formerly they haue in the times of Iulius 2 and Leo 10 as also when they fought with the neighbour Cantons for the defence of Religion slaying Zuinglius the most wicked enemie the Church had whose bodie they sought amongst the dead and burnt it to testifie that they ought to haue irreconciliable warre with the other Cantons so long as they continue to bee out of the Church in regard they are situated at the confines of Italy as a Castle to resist the Northerne euill that it cannot penetrate within the bowels of that Countrey The Synode answered by the Speaker that the piety and good deedes of the Heluetians towards the Apostolique Sea were many and great but no obedience or office more opportune then the Ambassage sent and the offer made to the Synode that they were glad of the comming of the Ambassadours and had beside the protection of the Emperour Kings and Princes much confidence in that famous Nation In the Congregation of the sixth of Aprill Andreas Dudicius Bishop of The Orators of the Clergy of Hungary are receiued Tinia and Iohannes Collosarinus of Canadia Oratours of the Clergie of Hungarie were receiued The first made an Oration and sayd that the Archbishop of Strigonium the Bishops and Clergie had receiued great ioy for three things for the assumption of Pius 4. to the Papacie for the conuocation of the Councell of Trent and for the deputation of the Apostolicall Legats to preside in it Hee shewed the obseruance of the Prelates towards the Catholique Church and called the Cardinall of Varmia for a witnesse thereof who did knowe them and conuersed with them hee expounded the deuotion of the Hungarians and the seruice they doe to all Christendome in maintaining warre against the Turkes and the particular diligence of the Bishops in opposing the plots of the heretiques Hee related the common desire of them all to bee present in the Councell if their presence had not beene necessary at home to defend their castles against the Turkes who are at their confines and to keepe watch against the heretiques so that being forced to performe this dutie by them their Orators they recommended themselues to the protection of the Councell offering to receiue and obserue whatsoeuer should be decreed by it The Secretary answered in the Councels name that the Synod was assured of the ioy which the Hungarians conceiued for the celebration of the Generall Councell that they ought to pray God for the happy issue of it that they desired to haue seene the Prelates in person but seeing they are hindered by the causes prooued by the Cardinall of Varmia it doth accept their excuse hoping that Christian Religion will receiue profit by their presence in their owne Churches and the rather because they haue recommended their actions to them the Oratours beeing honest and religious Fathers and therefore that they doe embrace both them and their Mandates In the Congregations dayly held from the seuenth day vntil the 18 the Fathers The Article of residence is set on foot againe and causeth a contention spake of the 4. first Articles but very confusedly of the first concerning Residence Of those who assisted in the first Councell when this point was handled which was done with some difference or rather controuersie there were but fiue Bishops in this and yet at the first proposing hereof they presently diuided themselues into parts as remembring the ancient contention which happened in no other question neither at that time nor in the time of Iulius nor at this present Some say the cause was for that the other discussions beeing theologicall were not well vnderstood and were handled speculatiuely by the learned without any passion but of hatred against the Protestants who did trouble them by setting on foot those questions But this touched the Prelates in their owne persons The courtiers were mooued with ambition or obliged to follow that opinion which was most commodious for their Patrons Others were caried away with enuie who not hoping to raise themselues to that height in which the courtiers were desired to pull them lower and so to become equall In this Article euery one laboured according to his passion and kept a strict account of his owne
the Communion of the Cup but much more because those Iesuites howsoeuer they were the first would bee excepted both from the generall orders with so much petulancie They called to minde the stirres raysed by them in the Session and Torre was particularly noted by Simoneta for hauing written against Catharinus in fauour of residence that it is de iure diuino with insolent termes as the Cardinall sayd Therefore the Congregation beeing ended hee told his Colleagues that it was fit to represse this boldnesse and giue example to others and they agreed so to doe vpon the first occasion In the discussions of the Diuines all were vniforme in condemning the The discussion of the Articles Protestant opinions of heresie in the Articles proposed and did quickly dispatch the others The discourse of euery one was long in prouing the Masse to be a sacrifice in which Christ is offered vnder the sacramentall elements Their principall reasons were That CHRIST is a Priest according to the order of Melchisedec but Melchisedec offered bread wine therefore the Priesthood of CHRIST doeth require the sacrifice of bread and wine Moreouer the Paschall Lambe was a true sacrifice and that is a figure of the Eucharist therefore the Eucharist also must bee a sacrifice Afterwards the prophecie of Malachie was alleadged by whose mouth God reiected the sacrifice of the Iewes saying his Name was holy great amongst the Gentiles and that in euery place a pure oblation is offered to him which cannot bee vnderstood of any thing else which is offered in euery place and by all Nations Diuers other congruities and figures of the old Testament were produced some grounding themselues vpon one and some vpon another In the new Testament the place of Saint Iohn was brought where CHRIST sayth to the woman of Samaria that the houre is come in which the Father shall bee worshipped in Spirit and in trueth and to worship in the holy Scripture doeth signifie to sacrifice as appeareth by many places And the woman of Samaria asked him of the sacrifice which could not be offered by the Iewes but in Ierusalem and by the Samaritans was offered in Garizim where CHRIST then was Therefore they sayd the place was necessarily to bee vnderstood of an externall publike and solemne adoration which could be no other but the Eucharist It was proued also by the words of CHRIST This is my body which is giuen for you which is broken for you This is my blood which is shed for you Therefore there is a breaking of the body and an effusion of blood in the Eucharist which are actions of a sacrifice Aboue all they grounded themselues vpon the words of Saint Paul who putteth the Eucharist in the same kind with the sacrifices of the Iewes and of the Gentiles saying that by it the body and blood of CHRIST are participated as in the Hebraisme he that eateth of the hoast is partaker of the altar and one cannot drinke the Cup of the LORD and eate of his Table and drinke of the cup of Deuils and bee partaker of their table But that the Apostles were ordayned Priests by CHRIST they prooued plainely by the words spoken to them by CHRIST our LORD Doe this in remembrance of me For better proofe many authorities of the Fathers were adduced who doe all name the Eucharist a sacrifice or in more generall termes doe testifie that a sacrifice is offered in the Church Some added afterwards that the Masse was a sacrifice because CHRIST offered himselfe in the supper And they brought this reason for the most principall and prooued the ground thereof because the Scripture saying plainely that Melchisedec offered bread and wine CHRIST could not haue beene a Priest after that order if hee had not done the like and because CHRIST sayd that his blood was a confirmation of the new Testament but the blood which doeth confirme the old was offered in this institution therefore it followeth by a necessary consequence that CHRIST himselfe also did offer it They argued also that CHRIST hauing sayd Doe this in remembrance of me if hee had not offered we could not doe it And they sayd the Lutherans haue no other argument to prooue the Masse to be no sacrifice but because Christ hath not offered and therefore that opinion was dangerous as fauouring the hereticall doctrine It was also more effectually prooued because the Church singeth in the office of the body of our LORD CHRIST a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec hath offered bread and wine And in the Canon of the Ambrosian Missal it is sayd that instituting a forme of perpetuall sacrifice hee hath first offered himselfe as an hoast and hath first taught how to offer it Afterwards many authorities of the Fathers were produced to prooue the same On the other part it was said with no lesse asseueration that CHRIST In which the Diuines are much diuided in the supper hath commanded the oblation to bee made for euer in the Church after his death but that hee hath not offered himselfe because the nature of that sacrifice did not comport it And for proofe heereof they sayd that the oblation of the Crosse would haue beene superfluous because mankinde would haue beene redeemed by that of the supper which went before That the sacrifice of the Altar was instituted by CHRIST for a memoriall of that which hee offered on the Crosse but there cannot bee any memoriall but of a thing past therefore the Eucharist could not be a sacrifice before the oblation of CHRIST on the Crosse They alleadged also that neither the Scripture nor the Canon of the Masse nor any Councell euer sayd that CHRIST offered himselfe in the supper and added that the places of the Fathers before alledged ought to be vnderstood of his oblation on the Crosse They concluded that hauing to define the Masse to bee a sacrifice as indeed it was it might most effectually bee done by proofes out of the Scriptures and Fathers without adding such weake reasons This difference was not betweene many and few but diuided aswell the Diuines as the Fathers into almost equall parts and occasioned some contention The former went so farre as to say that the other opinion was an errour and required that it should bee silenced by an Anathematisme condemning of heresie those that say that CHRIST hath not offered himselfe in the supper vnder the sacramentall elements The others said it was not a time to ground ones selfe vpon things vncertaine and vpon new opinions neither heard not thought of by antiquity but that one ought to insist vpon that which is plaine and certaine both by the Scripture and by the Fathers that is that CHRIST hath commanded the oblation All the moneth of Iuly was spent by the seuenteene who spake vpon the first Articles the latter they dispatched in a few dayes rather with iniurious tearmes against the Protestantes then with reasons It is not fitte to relate the particulars but onely
Councell was not intermitted for all The Articles of the Sacrament of Order this For the Articles concerning the Sacrâ—ment of Order were presently giuen foorth to be disputed by the Diuines the disputants elected and distinguished into foure rankes each of them being to di 〈…〉 two For they were eigh◠〈◊〉 Whether Order be truely and properly a Sacrament instituted by CHRIST or an humane inuentions or Rite to elect Ministers of the word of GOD and of the Saoâ—â—ments 〈◊〉 Whether Order bee one Saorament onely and all others bee meanes and degrees vnto Priesthood 3. Whether there be an Hierarchie in the Catholique Church consisting of Bishops Priests and other Orders or whether all Christians bee Priests or whether the vocation 〈◊〉 consent of the people or secular Magistrate bee necessary or whether a Priest may become a Laicke 〈◊〉 Whether there be a visible and externall Priesthood in the new Testament and a power to consecrate and offer the body and blood of CHRIST and to remit sinnes or onely the baâ—e Ministery to preach the Gospel so that those who preach not are not Priests 〈◊〉 Whether the holy Ghost is giuen and receiued in ordination and a Character imprinted 6. Whether Vnction and other ceremonies be necessary in consering Order or superfluous or pernicious 〈◊〉 Whether Bishops bee super 〈…〉 to Priests and haue peculiar power to confirme and ordaine and whether those who are brought in by any other meanes then Canonicall ordination are true Ministers of the Word and Sacraments◠〈◊〉 W 〈…〉 the Bishops called and ordained by the Pope be lawfull 〈◊〉 the those bee true Bishops who come in by any other way then Canonicall institution The 〈◊〉 of the moneth the Congregations of the Diuines 〈◊〉 gaâ— and were held twice la day and ended the second of October I will according 〈◊〉 vse â—â—late those opinions onely which are remarkeable 〈◊〉 ther for singularity o◠〈◊〉 among themselues In the first Congregation foure Dillines of the Pope spake who did all Are disputed in the Congregations 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 ning that Order was a 〈◊〉 by places of Scripture 〈◊〉 ally by that of S 〈◊〉 The thing â—hich 〈◊〉 from God are 〈◊〉 then by the â—â—adition of the Apoâ—â—le sâ—yings of the 〈◊〉 vâ—â—iso 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and aboue all by the Councell of Florence adding also this reason that the Church would bee a confusion if there were not gouernnment and obedience But Friar Peter Soto was copious in shewing that there were seuen Orders and each properly a Sacrament and all instituted by CHRIST saying it was necessary to make a declaration herein because some Canonists passing the limits of their profession haue added two more the first Tonsure and the Bishopricke which opinion may cause many other errors of greater importance He likewise shewed at large that CHRIST had when hee was on earth exercised all these Orders one after another all whose life as it was addressed to the last of these Sacraments so it is plaine that all the others serue onely as a ladder to climbe vp to the highest which is the Priesthood But Ierolamus Brauus a Dominican Friar hauing protested that hee constantly held that there were seuen Orders and each of them a Sacrament and that the vse of the Church ought to be obserued to proceed from the inferiour to the superiour and so to the Priesthood he added that hee was not of opinion that so particular a declaratioÌ„ ought to be made in regard of the difference betweene the Diuines amongst which one can hardly find two of the same minde For which cause Caietan in his old age wrote that he that collecteth the things taught by the Doctours and in the auncient and moderne Pontificals will see a great confusion in all other Orders but Priesthood The Master of the Sentences maintayned that Sub-deaconship and inferiour Orders were instituted by the Church and the Scripture seemed to haue instituted the Deaconship as a ministery of Tables and not as one of the Altar The difference concerning inferiour Orders in the old Pontificals where that which is in one is not in another doeth shew they are Sacramentall and not Sacraments And reason doth lead vs hereunto For the actions which one ordained doth may be done by one not ordained and are of the same validitie effect and perfection Saint Bonauenture also though hee thinketh that all seuen are Sacraments yet he holdeth two other opinions to be probable one that onely Priesthood is a Sacrament and the inferiours being imployed about corporall things as to open doores reade Lessons light Tapers and the like doe not seeme to expresse any celestiall matter and are therefore onely dispositions to Priesthood The second that the three holy Orders are Sacraments and concerning the common saying that the inferiour are degrees to the superiour Saint Thomas affirmeth that in the Primitiue Church many were ordained Priests immediatly without passing by the inferiour Orders and that the Church did ordaine that this passage should be made for humiliation onely It appeareth plainely in the Actes of the Apostles that Saint Matthias was immediatly ordayned an Apostle and the seuen Deacons did not passe by the Subdeaconship and the inferiour Orders Paulinus saith of himselfe that hauing a purpose to apply himselfe to the seruice of GOD in the Clergie he would for humiliation passe by all Ecclesiasticall degrees beginning from the Ostiarie but while hee was thinking to begin beeing yet a Laicke the multitude tooke him by force in Barcelona on Christmas day caried him before the Bishop and caused him to be ordained Priest at the first which would not haue beene done if it had not beene the vse in those times Therefore this Brauus concluded that the Synod ought not to passe beyond those things which are agreed on by the Catholiques and that it was better to begin with the Order of Priesthood which would make a connexion betweene this Session and the last which handled the Sacrifices and to passe from Priesthood to Order in generall not descending to any particularitie The Congregation being ended and most of the Prelates departed Fiue Churches with his Hungarians and some Polonians and Spaniards taried behinde to whom he made a speach and sayd that the Emperour being freed from all suspicion of warre by the truce concluded with the Turke tooke The Bishop of Fiue Churches maketh a speech concerning reformation nothing so much to the heart as the reformation of the Church which would surely be effected if some of the Prelates in the Councell would assist Therefore he exhorted and prayed them for Gods sake and for the charitie which euery Christian oweth to the Church that they would not abandon so honest iust and profitable a cause that euery one would put downe in writing what hee thought might be constituted for the seruice of God without any respect of man not reforming one part but the whole body of the Church both in the head and in the
so it was most iust that the perturbers of it should be punished The Bishop of Caua would neither excuse himselfe for that which hee had said nor receiue the admonition with silence though it was in generall but said that the causes ought to bee remooued that the effects might cease that if the words of the Bishop of Guadice had offended his owne person he would haue endured it for Christian charitie which as it requireth patience in wrongs committed against ones selfe so it maketh men sensible of the iniuries done vnto CHRIST whose diuine Maiestie is offended when the authoritie of his Vicar is touched that hee had spoken well yea as well as might be and confirmed the same with other words of the same sence which were generally condemned of petulancie Iacobus Gilbertus of Nogueras Bishop of Aliffe in deliuering his voyce The suffrage of the Bishop of Aliffe concerning the institution of Bishops said that concerning the institution of Bishops one could not speake with better ground then considering well and vnderstanding the words of Saint Paul to the Ephesians For as it is most true that CHRIST did rule the Church with an absolute gouernment while hee liued in mortall flesh as others had iudiciously said so it was a great vntruth which was added that is that being in heauen he hath abandoned the same gouernment yea hee doeth exercise it rather more then before And this is it which he spake to his Apostles at his departure I am with you vntill the end of the world adding also the assistance of the holy Ghost so that now also not onely the inward influence of graces commeth from CHRIST as from the Head but an externall assistance also though inuisible to vs which doeth minister occasions of saluation to the faithfull and driueth away the temptations of the world Notwithstanding besides all these things hee hath instituted also some members of the Church for Apostles Pastours c. to defend the faithfull from errours and to direct them to the vnitie of faith and knowledge of GOD. And vpon these he hath best owed a gift necessary for the exercising of this holy office which is the power of iurisdiction which is not equall in all but so much as euery one hath is giuen him immediatly by CHRIST Nothing is â—ord contrary to Saint Paul then to say that it was giuen to one onely to impart it to whom he listed It is true that it is not equall in all but according to the diuine distribution which as Saint Cyprian saith that the vnitie of the Church might bee preserued did ordaine that the supreame should be in Peter and his successors not that it should bee absolute and according to the Prouerbe that the will may bee a law but as Saint Paul saith for edification of the Church onely not for destruction so that it cannot bee extended to abrogate lawes and Canons made by the Church for a foundation of gouernement And heere hee began to alleadge the Canons cited by Gratian in which the ancient Popes doe confesse themselues to be subiect to the Decrees of the Fathers and to the constitutions of their predecessors The Cardinall Varminese interrupted him and sayd that the subiect to speake on was the superioritie of Bishops so that this discourse was beside the matter The Bishop answered that the authority of Bishops being handled it was necessary to speake of that of the Pope And Granata stood vp and said that others had spoken of it superfluously not to say perniciously meaning Laynez and therefore that Aliffe might speake of it likewise The Bishop of Caua stood vp and sayd that others had spoken of it but not in that manner and whisperings beginning to arise amongst the Prelates Simoneta made a signe to Caua to hold his peace and admonishing Aliffe to speake to the point he quieted the noyse But he continuing to alleadge the Canons as hee had begun Varmiense interrupted him againe not speaking vnto him but making a formall discourse to the Fathers concerning that matter He said the heretikes pretend to proue that Bishops elected by the Pope are not true and lawfull and that this is the opinion which ought to be condemned but whether true Bishops are instituted iure Diuino or not there is no difference betweene the heretikes and the Catholikes and therefore the question doth not belong to the Synod which is congregated only to condemne the heresies He aduised the Fathers to abstaine from speaking things which might giue occasion of scaudall and exhort them to leaue these questions Aliffe desired to replie but Simoneta with the assistance of some other Prelates did pacifie him though with some difficulty And after him spake Autonius Maria Saluiaâ—â— Bishop of Saint Papulo who sayd that all were assembled for the seruice of GOD and proceeded with a good intention though some one way and some another And hauing sayd many things which serued partly to accord the opinions but principally to reconcile their mindes was a cause that the Congregation did quietly ende and that words of humanitie and reuerence did passe betweene the Cardinall and the Bishop The fourth of December the Cardinall of Loraine deliuered his opinion The suffrage of the Card of Loraine concerning the same matter and spake at large saying that iurisdiction was giuen by God immediatly to the Church Hee alleadged the place of Saint Austin that the keyes are giuen to Peter not vnto one person but vnto the vnitie and that Peter when CHRIST promised him the keyes did represent all the Church who if hee had not been a Sacrament that is representing the Church CHRIST would not haue giuen them vnto him And hee shewed a great memory in reciling the places word by word Then he said that that part of iurisdiction which is ioyned with Episcopall order the Bishops doe receiue immediatly from God and declaring in what it doeth consist amongst other things hee specified that power of excommunication is contained in it inlarging himselfe much in the exposition of that place of Saint Matthew in which CHRIST doeth prescribe the manner of brotherly correction and iudiciall of the Church with authority to separate the disobedient from the body thereof Then hee disputed against that opinion alleadging diuers reasons taken out of the wordes of CHRIST spoken to Saint Peter and from the exposition which S. Leo the Pope doeth giue vnto them in many places Hee exemplified in many Bishops who had acknowledged all their iurisdiction to come from the Apostolike Sea and spake with so much eloquence and in such sort that it could not clearely bee discouered what his opinion was Afterwards hee sayd that Councels had authoritie immediately from God alleadging the words of CHRIST Where two or three shall be assembled in my name I will be in the middest of them and the Councell of the Apostles which ascribeth the resolution to the holy Ghost and the stile of all Councels in saying they are congregated
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
Church and of God's people belonged not to them or as if they were Pastors but of sheepe and oxen as it were to be carefull of their bodies and neglect their soules They remember not that they are God's seruants chosen of purpose to serue him Ezekias went not into his owne house before he saw God's Temple purified King Dauid said I will not giue any sleepe vnto mine eyes nor suffer mine eye lids to slumber vntill I haue found a place for the Lord a tabernacle for the God of Iacob O that Christian Princes would heare the voice of the Lord Now saith the Lord vnderstand O yee Kings and learne yee that bee iudges of the earth I haue said yee are God's that is men chosen by God to honour his name Thou whom I haue raised out of the dust and placed in the highest degree of dignitie and honour and set thee ouer my people when thou art so carefull to build and adorne thine owne house doe but thinke with thy selfe how thou canst contemne mine house Or how dost thou pray daily that thy kingdome may be confirmed to thee and thy posteritie Is it that my name may be contemned That the Gospell of my CHRIST may bee put downe That my seruants for my sake may bee slaine before thine eyes That tyrannie may be further spread my people alwaies deceiued and scandall confirmed by thee Woe vnto him by whom scandal commeth Woe also vnto him by whom it is confirmed Thou abhorrest materiall blood how much more the blood of soules Thou remembrest what hapned to Antiochus Herod and Iulian I will giue thy kingdome to thine enemie because thou hast sinned against me I change times and seasons I put downe and raise vp Kings that thou maiest vnderstand that I am the most high that I haue power ouer the kingdome of men and giue it to whom I will I bring low and I exalt I glorifie them that glorifie me and put to shame those that despise me Epistola Reu. P. IOANNIS IVELLI Episcopi Sarisburiensis ad virum nobilem D. SCIPIONEM Patricium Venetum 1 SCribis ad me familiariter pro ea consuetudine quae inter nos summa semper fuit ex eo vsque tempore quo vnd viximus Patauiae Tu in Reip. tuae tractatione occupatus ego in studijs literarum mirari te tecumque alios istîc multos cum hoc tempore Concilium generale componendae religionis cōtentionis tollendae causa Tridenti à Pontifice indictum sit eò iam reliquae omnes nationes vndique conuenerunt solum Angliae regnum nec Legatum eò aliquem misisse nec absentiam suam per nuntios aut liter as excusasse sed sine consilio omnem prope rationem veteris avitae religionis immutasse quorum alterum superbae contumaciae videri ais alterum perniciosi schismatis Nefas enim esse si quis sanctissimam authoritatem defugiat Rom. Pont. aut vocatus ab illo ad Concilium se subducat Controuersias autem de religione non alibi quam in huiusmodi conuentibus fas esse disceptari Ibi enim esse Patriarchas Episcopos Ibi esse ex omni genere hominum viros doctissimos ab illorum ore petendam esse veritatem ibi esse lumina Ecclesiarum ibi esse spiritum sanctum Pios Principes semper omnes si quid incidisset ambigui in cultu Dei illud semper ad publicam consultationem retulisse Mosen Iosuam Dauidem Ezechiam Iosiam aliosque Iudices Reges Sacerdotes de rebus diuinis non alibi quà m in Episcoporum Concilio deliber asse Apostolos Christi piosque Patres inter se Concilia celebrasse sic veritatem emicuisse sic expugnatas esse haereses sic Arrium sic Eunomium sic Eutychetem sic Macedonium sic Pelagium succubuisse sic hodie dissidia orbis terrarum componi ruinas Ecclesiae sarciri posse si positis contentionibus studijs veniatur ad Concilium sine Concilio autem quicquam in religione tentari nefas esse 2 Atque haec quidem ferè literarum tuarum summa fuit Ego verò non id mihi nunc sumo vt tibi pro regno Angliae quo quidque consilio factum sit quicquam respondeam Neque te id à me requirere aut velle arbitror Regum consilia recondita arcana sunt esse debent Nosti illud nec passim nec omnibus nec quibuslibet Tamen pro nostra inter nos veteri priuata consuetudine quoniam te id video ita prolixè petere quid mihi videatur breuiter amicè respondebo sed ita vt ait ille quantum sciam poteroque idque tibi non dubito fore satis 3 Miramur inquis Legatos ex Anglia ad Concilium non venire Obsecro te An Angli soli ad Concilium non veniunt an ergo tu Concilio interfuisti an censum egisti an capita singula enumerasti an videbas alias nationes vndique omnes conuenisse praeter Anglos Quod si tibi mirari tam cordi est cur non miraris hoc quoque aut tres illos memorabiles Patriarchas Constantinopolitanum Antiochenum Alexandrinum aut presbyterum Ioannem aut Graecos Armenios Medos Persas Egyptios Mauritanos Aethiopas Indos ad Concilium non venire An enim multi ex estis omnibus non credunt in Christum non habent Episcopos non baptizantur in nomine Christi non sunt appellanturque Christiani An verò ab istis singulis nationibus venerunt Legati ad Concilium An tu hoc potius dices Papam illos non vocasse aut ilios ecclesiasticis vestris sanctionibus non teneri 4 Sed nos hoc miramur magis Papam eos quos inauditos indicta causa pro hereticis iam antea condemnauit publicè excommunicatos pronunciauit eosdem postea vocare voluisse ad Concilium Homines enim primum damnari at que affici supplicio deinde eosdem vocari in iudicium absurdum est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verum hoc mihi velim responderi vtrum id agit pontifex vt nobiscum quos habet pro haereticis in Concilio de Religione deliberet an potius vt nos ex inferiori loco causam dicamus vel statim mutemus sententiam vel iterum è vestigio condemnemur alterum nouum est prorsus nostrarum partium hominibus iam pridem à Iulio Papa tertio denegatum alterum ridiculum est si id put at Anglos venturos esse ad Concilium tantùm vt accusentur causam dicant apud illum praesertim qui iamdudum non tantum à nostris sed etiam à suis grauissimis criminibus accusetur 5 Quod si Anglia sola tibi adeo videtur esse contumax vbi ergo sunt legati Regis Daniae Principum Germaniae Regis Suetiae Heluetiorum Rhetiorum liberarum Ciuitatum Regni Scotiae Ducatus Prussiae Cum in Concilio vestro tot desiderentur nationes Christianae ineptum