they became forc'd to encounter the Heresies of Menander the Samaritan Ebioni and Cherinthus obstinate Hereticks and perverse Adversaries to the Apostles and so popular they denominated their parties with their own several Names and gave the Church great trouble and perplexity But St. John who writ his Epistles about that time though he was at a great distance by the assistance of some of his Disciples refuted their false Doctrine and silenc'd them After them succeeded Carpocrates of Alexandria and Epiphanes his son the Authors of the damnable Heresie of the Gnosticks and the Jews were about the same time routed out of Jerusalem and St. Mark made Bishop thereof about the year 137. In the year 161. Marcion the Heretick gave great disturbance to the Church but he was encounter'd and partly convinc'd by Bardesanus and Rodosianus two learned men and well skill'd in the Holy Scriptures but he was totally refuted by Musanus and Modestus who writ against Tatianus the Syrian an impious Heretick and a great sower of dissension amongst young Christians In the year 174. there sprang up a new Heresie by the means of Montanus Phrygius which was afterwards call'd the Cataphrygian Heresie and there were some worse Hereticks than himself joyn'd with him but it pleas'd God by opposing the Learning and Sanctity of Irenaus Bishop of Lyons against it to stop the violence of that torrent with the Books he writ in 184. Against which Artemonus one of the greatest Hereticks of that age writ also And in the year 246. there were new Hereticks broach'd in Arabia that were call'd Arabians but they were in a short time suppress'd by the industry of St. Origen The Clergy being divided Novatianus the Roman was by faction created Antipope in opposition to Cornelius which was the occasion of the first Schism in the Church besides the fall of two Bishops Basilides Astaniansis and Martialis Emeritensis and therefore to remedy and reconcile those disturbances that gave great scandal to Christendom it was thought necessary a General Council should be call'd In the year 258. Noetus and Sabellius appear'd Hereticks both of them in their Doctrine and arrogant in their Lives In 270. Paulus Samosatenus discover'd himself who was so much the more scandalous in his Heresie by how much he had been formerly a stout propugnor of the Faith But he was convinc'd by Machion a Priest of Antioch a learned man and one that writ several things with great judgement towards unity in the Church The second Schism began in Africa and was call'd the Schism of the Donatists Antro a Priest of Alexandria from whom the Heresie of the Arrians had its original began to preach it up in the year 324. and to prevent the spreading of those execrable blasphemies a General Council was call'd because this Heresie of the Arrians allowing I know not what liberty in their lives had perverted and debauch'd several Bishops from the Church of Christ And indeed the Church was never in that danger of being swallow'd up and submerg'd as in the dayes of Arrius in so much as there was nothing but tears to be seen in the eyes of the Saints that stood firm according to that expression Ingemiscens orbis terrarum Arrianum se esse miratus est The third Schism was betwixt Damasus and Vrsicinus in the year 366. and though that also had perverted the good orders in the Church yet it was inconsiderable in comparison of what the Church suffered in the year 407. there being then Heresies on foot and Rome sack'd at the same time by Alaricus King of the Goths who gave shelter and protection to those Hereticks that afflicted the Church About this time Venice was begun to be built by those that fled from the fury of the Goths and particularly of Attila whose actions were so barbarous he was call'd and glory'd in it Flagellum Dei as if by laying the foundation of Venice God Almighty intended to demonstrate the effect of his Divine Providence raising up as it were by Miracle a Republique that should be a bulwork of defence not to the liberties of Italy only but of all the Church of Christ and indeed her actions have express'd her so ever since having been alwayes ready to spend the blood of her dearest Citizens in defence of Christendome According as Heresie protected by several Princes and embrac'd by several great Cities did propagate and increase and according as any new and more dangerous sprung up the Church apply'd all seasonable and miraculous remedies to repell their audacity but in spight of all that could be done they were forc'd to call a general Councel at Constantinople to suppress the Heresie of the Monothelites which they condemn'd there and made many good Laws for the better regiment of the Church In short 't is not to be comprehended by humane imagination with how many sorts of Heresies and Schisms the Church of God in those dayes was afflicted and torn being for eight hundred years together in perpetual perplexity during which time several Councels and Synods both general and particular were call'd more especially two at Rome one at Antioch two at Carthage one of them to determine whether Hereticks that repented and would return again to the Church were to be rebaptiz'd or not the other to conclude upon the manner of baptizing of Infants in cases of necessity two more there were in Asia one in Licaonia the other in Phrygia to consult upon the manner of receiving such Hereticks into the Church again as had a desire to return which cost great argument and dispute before it could be concluded During these eight hundred years the Church was expos'd to several Persecutions under the Tyranny of several Emperours but nine of them were more bloody than the rest for thrusting and tearing into the very bowels of the Church the poor Saints were constrained either to lay themselves down as Sacrifices at the feet of their Persecutors or to fly from their barbarity to the protection of the Woods But that just God who had promis'd the Gates of Hell should never prevail against the Glory of his Church sent Charles the Son of Pipin King of France as a special gift from Heaven to command the Empire of the West Which being found and acknowledg'd by the Romans they ordered these words to be publiquely Proclaim'd thorough all the Streets in Rome To Charles the Great the most Pious and Peaceful Emperour Created by God be Life and Victory The Church that for so many years had been afflicted with Heresies and Schisms Wars both Intestine and Foreign Ecclesiastick and Civil found not only ease and protection under the Government of this great Emperour but was propagated exceedingly most of all the Cities of Europe especially in Italy and France abounding with multitudes of new Christans won by the example of Charles who thought the Christian Faith more glory to him than his Crown by the force of his Arms and the zeal of his Heart
CLEMENS IX PONTIFEX MAXIMVS CREATVS DIE XX IVNII ANNO M. D. C. LX. VII Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF THE CARDINALS OF THE Roman Church From the time of their first Creation to the Election of the Present POPE Clement the Ninth With a full Account of his CONCLAVE In Three Parts Written in Italian by the Author of the Nipotismo di Roma and faithfully Englished by G. H. LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Myter betwixt the Middle-Temple-Gate and Temple Bar in Fleet-Street 1670. A SUMMARY Of the Matters contained in the Three Parts of this Book THE First treats of the Essence of the Church of the Controversies which arise betwixt the Religious Orders the Princes and the 〈…〉 ergy Of the Pontifical Authority how it is understood in Rome and how it ought to be by the Soveraign Princes Of the Original Augmentation and Essence of the Cardinalitial Dignity and of the manner of living of all the Cardinals in general The Second shews how careless and perfunctory the Cardinals are in defending the Church from the rapacity of the Nipotismo with the reasons and obligations they have thereunto As likewise the Promotions Titles Alliances Qualities Vices and Virtues of all the Cardinals now living The Third discourses of all the Treaties Negotiations Differences Disputes and Dissentions happen'd amongst the Cardinals in the Conclaves and betwixt the Cardinals the People and the Emperors in the Elections of all the Popes and Anti-Popes from the Incarnation of our Saviour to the Conclave in the Year 1667. in which Clement the 9th was elected Pope To which are added certain Politick Aphorisms written by Cardinal Azolini upon the Cardinals of the said Conclave THE AUTHOR TO THE READER Kind Reader I Present you here with the Cardinalismo I promis'd you in my Nipotismo Read it as your own not as mine for he who promises a thing obliges himself de jure to him that expects its performance Certain Criticks who vouchsafe to throw away some moments of their time in the perusal of the Nipotismo wonder'd exceedingly that I should publish that book first having declar'd the Cardinalismo to be my first born The first pangs and qualms which I endured were I must confess in the Conception of my Cardinalismo but I laid that aside and fell upon my Nipotismo You will ask me upon what grounds or inducements VVhat necessity was there for that I will tell you sincerely my design was to publish them together but upon second thoughts I made an Esau of Jacob and a Jacob of Esau that is I put forth my Nipotismo by way of Essay resolving if that had not had the approbation I expected to have stifled the other or confin'd it to my own Cabinet But things succeeded according to the predictions of my Friends and the Nipotismo relishing even amongst those Argus's and Criticks who read books only to correct them and upbraid the Authors I concluded forthwith to present this Cardinalismo likewise for the benefit of the Publick presuming its reception would be no worse than the other if the Readers judgement and the Authors do agree which nevertheless I cannot but apprehend when I consider how frequently they differ This I know that if any book ever gave occasion of Censure this will and that not only to the Catholicks but to the Protestants also for even amongst them there are such as will find fault where they do not sometimes understand Methinks I hear a Protestant at one of my ears crying out already You might have left out this you should have omitted that it would have been better thus and thus and thus and in the other a scandaliz'd Catholick complaining that I write several things superfluous to the very nature of History and pass by others which would be proper and adequate But he who should write a book and undertake to give universal satisfaction would but lose his time and have his labour for his pains Nor is it to be expected the general will submit to a particular The Apostles were holy men guided by the holy Spirit and according to that direction they writ the book of the holy Gospel yet how many Hereticks are there found who fear not to condemn what they ought in Conscience to adore How many prophane persons which despise the Apostolical instructions How many Divines that with a thousand niceties and distinctions do controvert and dispute against the writings of the Apostles Now if the nature of man be so dogged and perverse that it cannot accommodate with so sacred a book so necessary to our Salvation and so infallible in its Composition how is it possible they should receive one kindly that perhaps is contrary to their own sence and inclinations I am satisfy'd it is impossible this Cardinalismo should please both Catholick and Protestant because the one contemns what the other approves and the other embraces what the first has rejected Many things are inserted which are familiar amongst the Catholicks and for that reason those are contemptible to them Many others there are which are common amongst the Protestants and accordingly as inconsiderable to them but all things are to be regulated with order and the good intention of the Author is to be excused because his design is to give general satisfaction as near as he can Should he have writ only what had been palatable to the Catholicks the Protestants would have disgusted it and on the other side to have address'd himself only to the satisfaction of the Protestants would have been as ingratefull to the Catholicks Seeing therefore what is acceptable to the one is unacceptable to the other the Catholick may read what makes for his interest and the Protestant what the Catholick rejects and I am certain he will reject what is most worthy to be read For my part I advise the Protestant to read nothing but what the Catholick condemns and the Catholick only what the Protestant despises that both of them may suck what honey they can and throw away the sting which pricks them within Thus far kind Reader I have spoken in general I shall now apply my self particularly to thee and first I desire thee to take notice I am not the only person concern'd in the composition of this book For these two last years I have endeavour'd notwithstanding some trouble and expence to procure such Memoires as were necessary for my design from the hands of other persons so that if the book happens to be dislik'd let not the whole blame be laid at my door but let them have their share who cooperated in the work which I cannot call mine because my Memoires came from the hands of other people people I may say for I depended not upon the Relations of any one man Yet there is one thing I may properly call my own and that is the Stile and Contexture of the book in which also you may have occasion and perhaps in every leaf to condemn me as
not observing the rules of the current Stile I confess I thought the trouble unnecessary to apply my self to those niceties and punctilioes to which the writers in this age are so much addicted and it preceeded from an inclination I had to the common not a particular benefit to the Publique and not to any private Party Those who writ with so much glory in this age do it to gain applause amongst the learned because they are learned themselves For my part I am conscious of great insufficiency and that I have nothing to recommend me but an immense and insatiable desire to make my self intelligible to the most illiterate people in the world for this reason being unable to arrive at that pitch of satisfaction which is natural to all writers to see my self favour'd by the learned and receiv'd by them though as the meanest of them all I endeavour to gain the acceptance of the commoner sort by framing my self to the capacity of every body and the rather because those strangers who are most curious of learning our tongue venture not but upon such books as are easie and familiar Thou wilst not deny but the learned do understand what is easie and that the common-people abhor what is difficult He therefore who writes smoothly end plain writes to every ones understanding whereas he that is abstruce designs only to please a few Such books as these ought to be read by many rather than by particular persons though but few of the Commonalty are acquainted with such things the rigour and severity being so great in Rome no books are permitted but Encomiums and Panegyricks Many will blame me for writing with that freedom of persons of so great quality and now living and not unworthily yet I am not the only man if I were I should not I hope deserve to be condemn'd writing nothing but the truth for it would be cruelty against nature it self and the right of reason and History if verity should be persecuted If the good Catholicks will look impartially upon what I have written of the Church of Rome they will find my aim is no other than to admonish them of the errours into which the world imagines they are fallen and ought therefore to incourage and commend the piety of my design there being no greater expression of kindness than for one to advertise his friend of a Precipice which he sees not himself Neither have the Cardinals more reason to complain the whole drift of this Cardinalismo being nothing but the elevation of their authority too much depress'd by the Popes and although they perhaps will despise such advertisements as Satyrical yet have their Eminences no reason to be offended if they be made acquainted with what the world sayes of them And if from the variety of Pens which co-operated in this work they meet with any thing netling and pungent they are in all humility desired to gather the Rose with such artifice as not to prick themselves with the Bryars The Princes on the other side are most humbly beseech'd and their Ministers of State with them that they would peruse this book intentively and not make any judgement upon the information of any prejudic'd Ecclesiastick and I am of opinion if they vouchsafe to read it themselves they will rather applaud than explode it You are desir'd likewise kind Reader to excuse the Errors of the Press they are too numerous indeed yet in respect of your judgement they are the fewer for I am confident there is nothing but what your learning will correct as you read and by that means cover those defects as well as the Errors of the Author who promises for the future to write nothing but in generals without any particular reflections either upon Rome or any other place The Books which I intend to publish are L'Europa Morta and Il Christianismo Universato Farewell A Catalogue of some Books lately Printed for John Starkey Bookseller at the Miter in Fleet-stteet near Temple-Bar THE Voyages and Travels of the Duke of Holsteins Ambassadors into Muscovy ' Tartary and Persia begun in the year 1633. and finish'd in 1639. containing a Compleat History of those Countries whereto are added the Travels of Mandelsloâ— from Persia into the East-Indies begun in 1638. and finish'd in 1640. the whole illustrated with divers accurate Maps and Figures Written Originally by Adam Olearius Secretary to the Embassy Englished by J. Davies of Kidwelly The second Edition in Folio Price bound 18 shillings The Present State of the Ottoman Empire in three books containing the Maxims of the Turkish Politie their Religion and Military Discipline Illustrated with divers Figures Written by Paul Rycaut Esq late Secretary to the English Ambassador there now Consul of Smyrna The third Edition in Folio Price bound 10 s. The History of Barbado's St. Christophers Mevis St. Vincents Antego Martinico Monserrat and the rest of the Caribby Islands in all twenty eight in two books containing the Natural and Moral History of those Islands Illustrated with divers pieces of Sculpture representing the most considerable rarities therein described Written by an Ingenious hand In Folio Price bound 10 s. A Relation of Three Embassies from his Majesty Charles the Second to the Great Duke of Muscovy the King of Sweden and the King of Denmark performed by the Right Honourable the Earl of Carlisle in the years 1663 and 1664. Written by an Attendant on the Embassies In Octavo Price bound 4 s. Il Nipotismo di Roma or the History of the Popes Nephews from the time of Sixtus the 4th 1471. to the death of the last Pope Alexander the 7th 1667. Written in Italian and Englished by W. A. Fellow of the Royal Society In Octavo Price bound 3 s. The Present State of the Vnited Provinces of the Low Countries as to the Government Laws Forces Riches Manners Customs Revenue and Territory of the Dutch Collected out of divers Authors by W. A. Fellow of the Royal Society In Twelves Price bound 2 s. 6 d. The Art of Chymistry as it is now practised Written in French by P. Thybault Chymist to the French King and Englished by W. A. Dr. in Physick and Fellow of the Royal Society In Octavo Price bound 3 s. Basilia Chymica Praxis Chymiatricae or Royal and Practical Chymistry in three Treatises being a Translation or Oswald Crollius his Royal Chymistry augmented and enlarged by John Hartman To which is added his Treaties of Signatures of Internal things or a true and lively Anatomy of the greater and lesser World As also the Practice of Chymistry of John Hartman M. D. augmented and enlarged by his Son with considerable Additions all faithfully Englished by a Lover of Chymistry in Folio Price bound 10 s. Accidence Commenc'd Grammer and supply'd with sufficient Rules or a new and easie Method for the learning the Latin Tongue The Author John Milton In Twelves Price bound 8 d. In the Press this 5th of November 1669. The Jesuites Morals faithfully
contempt of their Soveraigns and inslav'd by a blind obedience of the Church For my part I think those kind of delinquencies no less than Treason and that though such expressions appear at first sight but trifles and rhetorical ornaments yet 't is not to be imagin'd what influence they have upon the people how much they inflame and enamour them with the service of the Church and how much they lessen their devotion to their Prince whilst they perswade them that their Princes are inferiour to themselves That Race of Incendiaries is fit for nothing but the fire or to be banish'd out of every Kingdom as unworthy to dispense the Oracles of God that their Pulpits may be supply'd by sober and learned men and such as will preach the Word of God and not the Policies of Man the Doctrine Christ hath left us in the Gospel and not such Insinuations and Inveglements as they make use of in their Pulpits that thereby the affection of the people may not be perverted from their Prince but that they may be inflam'd and excited to a more cheerfull Obedience Had the Priesthood no designs against the Authority of Princes their proceedings would be with more sincerity than they are and they would give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars I have known contention in more than three or four Cities in Italy betwixt the chief Magistrate and the Bishop and the occasion was that the Bishop pretended to the presentation of the Preacher and the Prince would allow none of them to preach without his License So as by reason of these controversies Lent has several times past without any News from the Preacher I call it News because their preaching is now adayes little else but Novelties or which is worse Trifles or Sacrilegious Speculations unworthy to be publish'd in any Christian Church Amongst the Protestants also there are the same differences The Clergy pretend to the Election of their Ministers and that they can do it at their pleasure which notwithstanding is not conceded by the Civil Magistrate who will not suffer any to preach in his presence but such as he chooses himself so as in a certain City I could name there have some Cures been void above two years together because they could not agree in the Election of their Preacher But from whence I would fain know does their pretension proceed If the Clergy be Subjects upon what grounds is it they would behave themselves like Princes The privilege of Licensing or Electing of Ministers is in my judgement absolutely politick and therefore pertaining to the Civil Magistrate and not to the Church to whom the power of Ordination belongs indeed but not the power to Present and in this case it is of very great importance that all Princes and Magistrates be vigilant For the end of the Clergy in preferring their Preachers in the Cities is nothing else but that seeing themselves excluded from all secular jurisdiction they would this way take their Liberty and publish what Doctrines they please It is convenient therefore that all Soveraigns should consider that the people are at their dispose and that such Ministers are to be put over them as are suitable with the Genius of the people Moses could not readily resolve to go and speak unto Pharaoh till it pleas'd God to constrain him by the force of his power Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say However in these times the Prelats presume to put what Preachers they please upon their Princes and such sometimes as are ignorant in the Fundamentals of Christianity and that fall upon discourse nautious and unpleasant to the Palats of their Princes But of all Nations France is the happiest for preserving intirely the privileges of that Church it will by no means admit of that Ecclesiastical Grandeur and Authority which the Clergy have usurp'd in other Countries and which with great arrogance they do still exercise as if they were Princes and not subordinate at all And for conservation of the privileges of the Gallican Church the King of France loses no opportunity in the year 1626. as soon as news arriv'd at Paris that there was a Scandalous Book printed at Rome the year before intituled Antonii Sancterelli Jesuitae de Heresi Schismati Apostasiâ— c. in which he spake to the disparagement of the Power of Princes but magnity'd and exalted the Authority of the Pope The Parliament was immediately call'd by his Majesties Order and every period of the book strictly examin'd and having deliberated as was fit in a business of that importance at last by an Arrest of the whole Parliament it was Decreed that these following Articles should be Seal'd Subscrib'd confirm'd and Sworn to by the Jesuits in the presence of the whole Court of Parliament to the no small disgust and dissatisfaction of that Order The Articles were these That the King of France holds not his Kingdom from any thing but from the bounty of God Almighty and the power of his Sword That the King in his own Dominions had no Superiour but God That the Pope cannot upon any occasion whatsoever Interdict or Excommunicate either the King or his Kingdom nor in any case dispence with the Allegiance and Fidelity his Subjects were oblig'd unto him These Articles were receiv'd with no small compunction by the Jesuits whose design being alwayes to aggrandise the Pontifical Authority by the diminution of the Regal they could not advance the one but by depression of the other The President of the Parliament having demanded of the said Fathers if they did approve of that book of Santerelli's they answered no they did not being ask'd again why then their General at Rome had approv'd it they made answer That those who were at Rome could do no less than comply with the Court of Rome The President to entrap them perchance as indeed it fell out demanded immediately If you had been at Rome what would you have done to which they reply'd We would have done as they have done that are there which being heard by a Grave Person of the long Robe he spake out these words aloud I believe our Father Jesuits have two Consciences at their Command one of them for Rome and the other for Paris Venice is a place as eminent for Devotion in Religion for Piety and Zeal in the Service of God and the Church not only as any Republique in Christendome but as Rome or the Pope himself Yet when any thing is in agitation about the Popes Authority or the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction they will by no means permit the Clergy of their Dominions to Intrench or Usurp upon their Supremacy which they acknowledg'd only from Heaven and the Conduct and Valour of their Ancestors In Venice the Churchmen are Subjects not Princes 't is the Senate that Governs all with an effectual and Independant Authority as well in Spiritual things as Temporal insomuch that the Introduction of any
in the Sacred Colledge it must of necessity be granted that the Popes are inferiour to that Councel so that the Cardinals as Members of a Supreme Councel and depending only upon the power of God and the protection of Princes are oblig'd to constrain the Popes to an obedience of those Councels that proceed from that Councel that indeed is natural But the Cardinals will not understand this but turning the Natural Councel into a Bastard they advise nothing that in their Consciences they think necessary for the Service of God for the Honour of the Church or the Repose of the Faithfull but only sift out the Councels Advices Sentences and Opinions of their Popes and then making their Decrees as they desire them they take but little care of the rest not that they want good will but courage and audacity to put that good will in execution which is a thing so prejudicial to their Grandeur that it detracts and lessens their dignity This I am sure of that would they once take up a resolution of resuming that authority they formerly injoy'd and renounce the Tyranny of the Nephews the greatest Princes of Christendom would take their parts and provide them with all manner of assistance But let us see the Cardinals Answer to the Kings Letter which in my judgement will not improperly be inserted in this place Most Christian and most Royal Sir I Am very sensible of the transcendant favour your Majesty has done me in vouchsafing to impart to me your resentment for the unhappy accident betwixt the Corses and certain of the Duke of Crequy's train besides the honour you have done me by the benigne confidence express'd in your Letter and by the mouth of Mr. Burlemont your Majesty has also given me occasion with all reverence to represent the great displeasure conceived by our whole Court but more especially his Holiness in whose heart there is already so great an impression of esteem and so tender an affection for your Majesty produc'd and augmented by so many glorious actions so many perpetual testimonies of your Valour and Piety in demolishing the Garrisons of the Hereticks and shutting their Churches in places under their command so that his Holiness could not evidence with more paternal demonstration the disgust that action has given him which he has not only declar'â— publiquely in his Briefs upon that occasion but in the Consistory also and in his private discourse but much more in his actions bending all his thoughts to your Majesties satisfaction as he has alwayes designed I hope therefore your Majesty with your wonted generosity will reflect upon the just motives and remain satisfied even for the intire quiet and consolation of your Servants amongst which I being not inferiour to any in point of observance neither have nor will fail in my obedience to your Majesty nor in imploying my self to the utmost of my abilities in your Majesties Service On the other side likewise I shall rejoyce if in your Majesties resolutions your Majesties Royal Bounty and Prudence does more and more shew So that to make me perfectly happy there remains nothing but your Majesties fresh commands which I most obsequiously do beg of your Majesty and make my most humble Obeisance Rome the 24. of Sept. 1662. Had these Cardinals have been to write in Paris as they were in Rome the Letter would perhaps have been otherwise and not have flatter'd his Holiness as it did and indeed in any publique Conflagration people run with water and not with wood Yet it is no such wonder to me that the Cardinals sided with the Pope as that they rob themselves of their authority and make show of certain independency giving the world to understand that the composure and accommodation of the business belong'd wholly to the Pope There would not so many scandalous offences be committed in Rome there would not be so many Murthers in the State the Church would not be haâ—raâ—'d as it is nor thousands of Families run away from the Tyranny of the Popes the Court would not swarm so much with dissolute and ignorant persons nor the people be so deplorably miserable Virtue would not be banish'd the Vatican nor Flattery received into the Capital Miters would not be bestow'd upon Asses nor Monkeys introduc'd into the Colledge Caps would not be sold at that rate nor Offices conferr'd upon him that bids most in short all things would go well if the Cardinals would exercise the authority that God has given them and not depend upon the Humour and Capriccio of this Nephew or of that did the Popes see the Cardinals vigilant over their actions were they sure of their diligence and sincerity towards the well governing of the Church they would consider of it a hundred times before they would call their Kindred to Rome and put their whole Dominion into their hands they would make many a serious reflection before they would disoblige any Prince and not suffer themselves to be drawn by their Nephews into the displeasure of one or the other But in short if they meet no impediment if they see the Cardinals loytering and asleep why should they go about to satisfie their wills Whilst the Popes are sure to have the Cadinals Canonize their errours why should they forbear to commit them I shall tell one Story very lamentable for the Catholick Church though in this only that it makes sport for the ignorant and pragmatick Hereticks for those of better judgement are troubled at any misery that befalls the Catholicks and which is more do give God thanks when he delivers them from any extraordinary calamity but because what I am about to say is sufficient to break a mans heart I shall for this reason accompany it with such examples and arguments as I have been able to draw from the discourse of some persons it was my fortune to be amongst and particularly two Divines but both marry'd which is enough to prove they were no Catholicks These two reading of a Gazet one day do not wonder kind Reader if I say they were reading a Gazet for we live in an age in which the Ecclesiasticks spend more time about the affairs of the world than about their Sermons and of this sort I knew one my self that in publique was reserv'd and grave and in company a very honest man however he privately translated out of Italian into French a book so Prophane and Satyrical that even the worst of Christians are afraid to read it these two Preachers then being reading a Gazet in the time of the vacancy of the See they found in it That the Cardinals had concluded upon certain Ordinances and Rules to be observ'd by the Pope when he shall be created and that they had propounded in the Vestry of Saint Peter the abolishment of the Nipotismo One of the two which was he that was attending with a grave voice that seem'd to proceed from a heart full of zeal said God Almighty remove those good thoughts
Duties The first Pastors of the Church rejoyc'd to keep themselves at a distance from the Interests of Princes as fearing to defile the Innocent Purity of the Flock of Christ with the Diabolical pollutions of Secular policies But their Successors beginning to be curious and to pry into the most occult and private policies of Princes they would not suffer the Court of Rome to be medling there but gave themselves over to endeavour the introduction of their own Interests into the Cabinet of the Interests of the Popes For certain ages Rome was free from those intricacies that are familiar in Temporal States contenting it self to conduct the Flock of Christ to the Fold with her Pastoral Sheephook only I mean her Spiritual Arms but no sooner was she become greedy of Principality and Dominion but the Princes observing her Crosier to be chang'd into a Sword and the Book of the Gospel into an Epitomy of Politicks began also to imitate Rome seeing Rome following their Rules in Temporal Affairs For three hundred years and upwards the Primitive Church continu'd in a most Holy decorum without the least obstacle in the Election of her Popes they being then contented with the bare Title of Bishops of Rome The Elections were not made by the Interest of Princes or the Capriccio of Nephews as they are now but by a Holy Zeal in the Bowels of the Electors who us'd to meet sometimes in this place sometimes in that and many times in the Woods by reason of the cruelty of those Tyrants that envy'd the tranquility of the Christians They had in those dayes no secret nor private Votes because the inward designs of those Primitive Chistians were suitable and correspondent to their outward zeal and profession of good works The Deacons that is they who endued with greater Charity and Devotion serv'd the Church sometimes in collecting of Alms for the common necessities sometimes in distributing Relief to the necessities of the poor were admitted to the Election together with such Priests and Curats as were nearest to the City of Rome With what simplicity and integrity they proceeded to the Election of Popes in the Primitive times of the Church may be argued from what happen'd in the Vacancy of Pope Anthero who dyed according to Eusebius's calculation in the year 243. The Holy Fathers were met according to their usual custom to consult about a Successor and whilst they were discoursing of the virtues of this man and the abilities of another it happen'd that Fabiano Romano pass'd by near the place of their Assembly in order to the looking to some grounds of his which he did not disdain to cultivate many times with his own hands He was no sooner come over against the place wherein the Electors were met but a Pidgeon from a Neigbouring Dove-house alighting upon his Shoulder gave occasion to the Fathers to arise from their Seats at the first notice of it and esteeming it a Prodigye they proclaim'd him Pope unanimously every one being confident it was the intention of the Holy Ghost who was represented in that Dove Fabianus who thought of nothing less than to be chosen Pope was astonish'd at the business and not judging himself worthy of so great a Ministry he begg d upon his knees to be excus'd but his humility being overcome by the perswasion of the Electors he at â—ast embrac'd the Pastoral Cure of the Church in which after he had exercis'd it for the space of seven years with great advantage to the Christians he ended his dayes under the Tyranny of the barbarous Emperour Decius who at that time us'd great cruelty to the Christians constraining them from the City into the Woods which they were glad to make their houses of God seeing that the Emperour was pleas'd to make Cities places for wild Beasts and for Devils The Popedome was not ambition'd but avoided by the Ecclesiasticks because it commonly lost them their lives that exercis'd it He that found himself too weak and timerous to suffer Martyrdome renounc'd the Papacy and confess'd the imbecility of his nature and indeed who would ever have receiv'd much less have sought an office which brought no other advantages along with it than the persecution of Tyrants Now adayes what broyls what intrigues what differences are there at the creation of Popes where is he who would desire Votes to be made a Martyr For my part I dare affirm the Church would be as Holy in these times and perhaps more now we are as it were in the latter end of it than it was then in its beginning if the Popes were call'd to Poverty and not Riches to Martyrdom not Magnificence and to the care of the Church and not of Governments But whether do my thoughts transport me Let us return to our business and assert that the Church was Holy without Discord or Schism or Heresie to the dayes of San Silvester which were about the year 325. till that time the Popes having been Elected with tranquility and peace and no small satisfaction both to the Electors and Elected The Holiness of the Church I mean that Holiness that respects the Election of Popes began to cease under the Emperour Constantine because the Persecution of the Christians ceas'd Constantine suffer'd the Church to enjoy Peace that is of the body possibly but with greater torture to their minds for with the ease and wealth which he bestow'd upon the Ecclesiasticks with the conveniences of Houses and the Government of Cities which he assign'd to the Popes Charity began to grow cold Zeal to be weaken'd and Devotion to be lost and those Ecclesiasticks who formerly imploy'd their whole times in heaping up Penitencies and Fastings by those good works to purchase the Glory of Heaven began after that time to apply themselves to the acquisition of money to the begging of Abbeys and Bishopricks by those means to procure the glory of the world As soon then as Riches were introduc'd into the Church Schism and Heresie were introduc'd amongst the Clergy and Pride which began then to spread and worm it self into the hearts of those who were formerly meek and humble and sâ—câ— as shunn'd dignity and hid themselves from preferments insomuch as that Papacy which was avoided by every body as a thing that brought nothing but persecutions along with it began to be aspir'd too as soon as they perceiv'd their fear turn'd into security their flight into repose and their torments into happiness For if formerly by reason of the poverty of the Popedome they were subject to Tyrants they believ'd afterwards by virtue of their wealth to make Martyrs even of the Tyrants themselves No sooner did the Popes appear with their Miters of Gold and with their Scepters in their hands commanding the people but all of them design'd the destruction of the Secular Power to ingrandize the Pontifical Majesty to make themselves courted by the Vulgar and honour'd by the Great ones but the Emperours growing jealous of them began