vnderstand it 11 There was yet some danger of Schisme For Iulius the second hauing Pope Iulius the second was more a souldier then a Clergie man addicted himselfe more to the Arts of warre then to the Priestly ministery and gouerned the Popedome with excessiue imperiousnes towards the Princes and Cardinals had constrained some of them to separate themselues from him and to call a Councell And the French King Lewis the twelfth excommunicated Levvis the 12. excommunicated by the same Pope had withdrawen his obedience from him and was ioyned with the separated Cardinals which beginning did seeme might produce some important cōclusion But Iulius opportunely dying and Leo being created in his stead with his dexterity he reconciled in a very short space the Cardinals and the Kingdome of France both at once so that a fire was quenched with admirable celerity and ease which in likelihood might haue burned the Church LEO 10. MAXIMIL 1. HENRY 7. LEVVIS 12. The description of Pope Leo. 12 Leo the tenth as one whose birth and education was noble adorned the Papacie with many good parts which he brought into it amongst which were his singular learning in humanitie goodnesse and a marueilous sweete manner in treating of affayres together with a pleasing behauiour more then humane ioyned with incomparable liberalitie and a great inclination to fauour those that were learned and endowed with any extraordinary quality Which vertues were not found in that Sea of a long time before neither equall nor neere vnto his And he would haue been a Pope absolutely compleate if with these he had ioyned some knowledge in things that concerne Religion and some more propension vnto pietie of both which he seemed carelesse And as he was most liberall and well seene in the Arte of giuing so in that other of gaining he was not able enough of himselfe but vsed the assistance of Lorenzo Pucci Cardinall of Santi Quatro a man exceeding sufficient in that behalfe 13 Leo therefore finding himselfe in this state quiet the Schisme extinguished absolutely without an aduersary as one may say because those few Waldenses and Calistini were not any way considerable liberall in spending and rewarding aswell his kindred as Courtiers and professors of learning other fountaines from whence the Court of Rome was wont to draw riches vnto it selfe out of other nations being dried vp he thought fit to serue himselfe of that of Indulgences 14 This manner of gaining money was put in practise after the yeere When the Art of gaining money by Indulgences began 1100. For Pope Vrbane the second hauing granted a plenary Indulgence and remission of all sins to whosoeuer made warre in the Holy land to regaine and set at liberty the Sepulchre of Christ out of the hands of the Mahumetans was imitated by his Successors for many hundreds of yeeres some of which as alwaies new inuentions are enlarged granted it to those that maintained a souldier in case they could not or would not goe to warre themselues in person And after in progresse of time the same indulgences and pardons were giuen for the taking of armes against those that obeyed not the Church of Rome although they were Christians and for the most part infinite exactions were made vnder those pretences all which or the greater part were applied to other vses 15 Leo being counselled by the Cardinall of Santi Quatro to follow these examples sent an Indulgence and pardon for sinnes throughout all Christendome Leo granted a plenary Indulgence granting it to whosoeuer would giue money and extending of it euen vnto the dead for whom when the disbursement was made his will was that they should be freed from the paines of Purgatory giuing also power to eat egges and whitmeats on fasting daies to choose themselues a Confessor and other such like abilities And although the execution of this enterprise of Leo had some particular in it that was neither pious nor honest as hereafter shall appeare which did giue scandall and caused innouation notwithstanding many of the grants formerly made by the preceding Popes had causes more vniust and were exercised with more auarice and extortion But occasions arise many times which are able to produce notable effects and yet come to nothing for want of those that know how to vse them And which 1517 LEO 10. MAXIMIL 1. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. 1517 is more it is necessary for the effecting of anything that the time come in which it may please God to correct the errours of men All these things met together in the time of Leo of whom we speake 16 For hauing published an vniuersall grant of Indulgence in the yeere 1517. he distributed part of the haruest before it was reaped or well sowed giuing vnto diuers persons the reuenues of diuers Prouinces and reseruing some also for his owne Exchequer In particular the Indulgences of Saxonie and of that arme of Germanie which reacheth from thence to the sea hee gaue The Popes sister hath a great part of the benefit of Indulgences Leo was created Cardinal at the age of fourteene to his sister Magdalene wife vnto Franceschetto Cibo bastard sonne of Innocentius the eighth By reason of which marriage this Leo was created Cardinall at the age of fourteene yeeres which was the first beginning of Ecclesiasticall greatnesse in the house of the Medici And Leo vsed this liberality not so much through brotherly loue as for recompense of the charges which the familie of Cibo were at when he retired himselfe to Genua not daring to abide in Rome so long as Alexander the 6. had linked himselfe with the Florentines who being enemies to the house of the Medici had chased it out of Florence The sister that the Pope his gift might be profitable vnto her committed the care of preaching the Indulgences exacting the money vnto Bishop Aremboldus Aremboldus was the agent of the Popes sister who in the assumption of the Episcopal dignity deuested not himselfe of any of the qualities of a perfect Genua Merchant This man gaue power to publish the Indulgences to whosoeuer promised to raise most profit by them without any regard of the qualitie of the persons euen so so rididly that no man of any tolerable condition could contract with him but he found Ministers like vnto himselfe who aimed at nothing but the gaine of money 17 It was a custome in Saxonie that whensoeuer Indulgences were sent by The Heremit Friars were publishers of Indulgences in Saxonie by custome Popes the Friars of the order of the Heremites were imployed to publish them The Pardon-mongers Ministers of Aremboldus would not goe to these because being accustomed to manage the like merchandizes they might vse some deuice to draw some secret profit to themselues and from whom likewise as practised in this office they expected not any extraordinary thing which might bring them more then vsuall aduantage but they The Dominicans were imployed by the
calumnies raised against him that he procured a schisme when he demanded a Councel in Trent to vnite Christendome and for Piacenza that it was a member of the Dutchie of Milan many yeeres vniustly vsurped by the Popes and if they haue title to it let it bee shewed and hee will not faile to doe iustice The Pope seeing his spirituall weapons would doe no good without the temporall changed his opinion and sought to make a strong League against the Emperour wherein he found many difficulties not being able to perswade the Venetians to enter into it and the Frenchmen requiring the consent of the Consistory in regard of the Popes decrepite age and a pawne of money which the Pope was not willing to lay downe in regard of the great charge he was at fearing it would be greater for which cause he had layd as great burthens His Holinesse endeauoureth to make a strong league against the Emperor but finding difficulties in it knoweth not what to doe on his subiects as they were able to beare and sold and pawned as much as he could and giuen order for granting of all sorts of dispensations and fauours to whomsoeuer would giue money to supply the wants of the Apostolique Sea For the Councel he was most resolute not to let it bee out of his owne Territories and besides other vrgent reasons that of his owne and the Popedomes reputation was added that the Emperour should not compell him But he knew not how to induce him and Germany to giue consent To let it vanish sometimes seemed good vnto him and sometimes not and he often discoursed thereof with the Cardinals both in Consistory and priuately But finally hee resolued to put to hazard the determination for which hee knew he was insufficient not onely for the reasons before alleaged but for other weightie respects which passed in Germany For Caesar at the returne of the Cardinall of Trent to Ausburg vnderstanding the Popes minde and the answere hee gaue to Mendoza at the end of December which caused him to giue ouer for the Protestation as hath beene sayd and thinking that the Pope by requiring the restitution of Piaconza sought to diuert all speech of the Councell was assured that so long as he liued either the returne would not be or the resolution would bee protracted and therefore thought fit before he disarmed to set Germany at peace in matters of religion Hereof a proposition was made in the Diet and order taken The Emperor resolueth to settle a peace of religion in the Diet. that choyse should be made of persons fit for this good worke Those were chosen who were esteemed the best who not agreeing all was referred to Caesar Hee elected three Iulius Flugius Michael Sidonius and Iohannes Islebius These after long consultation composed a forme of Religion which was often examined reuiewed and changed first by themselues and then by diuers persons vnto whom the Emperor caused it to be shewed Therefore a forme is composed called the Interim and some of the principall Ministers of the Protestants were also called that they might approoue it But it had so many alterations additions and diminutions that it appeared to be the worke of many men who had contrary ends Finally it was reduced into that forme in which it now is the Legate sent a copie thereof vnto Rome by the Emperours consent who was willing to vnderstand the Popes opinion and by the counsell of the maior part of the Prelates who seeing the controuersies betweene the Pope and the Emperour feared that the Emperour would obey him no longer a thing much abhorred by them for the inbred and inueterate opinion of the Dutchmen to maintaine the dignitie of the Pope which is the only counterpoise of the Emperours authoritie whom without his assistance they were not able to resist if according to the vse of ancient Christian Princes they would keepe them within their bounds and remooue the abuses of the renowned libertie of the Clergie The Booke contayned twentie fiue heads Of the state of man in innocencie Of the state of man after sinne Of the redemption by CHRIST Which contemeth 25. heads Of Iustification Of the fruits thereof Of the manner how it is receiued Of charitie and good workes Of beliefe of the remission of sinnes Of the Church Of the signes of the true Church Of the authoritie thereof Of the Ministers of the Church Of the Pope and Bishops Of the Sacraments Of Baptisme Of Confirmation Of Penance Of the Eucharist Of extreame Vnction Of Order Of Marriage Of the Sacrifice of the Masse Of the memory intercession and inuocation of Saints Of the Communion Of the Ceremonies and vse of the Sacraments To recite here the substance of them would be too long tedious and vnprofitable because the consequences which began from that Doeth not continue long booke lasted not long It had the name of the Interim prescribing what to beleeue vntill all was established by a generall Conncell When the copie came to Rome euery one was amazed first in generall that a temporall Prince in a secular assembly should meddle with religion and not in one Article onely but in all The learned called to minde the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Zeno the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Heraclius and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Constance and what diuisions these Imperiall constitutions in matter of religion made in Christendome And is censured in Rome and said that vntill then there were three names vnluckie to the Church bringing into it many diuisions vnder pretence of vnitie to which might be added this fourth the Interim of Charles the fifth They doubted that this beginning of the Emperour would end where Henry the eight King of England did arriue to declare himselfe Head of the Church which would haue so much more compasse as Spaine Italy Germany and other adiacent Countreys were greater then one Island which in appearance did make shew to containe one Catholike doctrine but was very farre from it Descending to particulars they reprehended that in the points of originall sinne iustification the Sacraments Baptisme and confirmation the doctrine determined by the Councell was not set downe and that collection being made to bee obserued vntill the Councell in regard the Councel concerning those points was made already what else could bee said but that it was precisely to be obserued But to haue published another doctrine was to annihilate the Counsell and that the Emperours cunning was more to be suspected then euer seeing that hee made so earnest a request that the Councell should returne to Trent and did at the same time take away all authority from whatsoeuer was constituted by it They condemned the whole body of that doctrine for that it contained ambiguous speeches which superficially considered did receiue a good sence but inwardly were full of poyson that in some parts it did purposely stand onely vpon the generall that the Lutherans might expound
quite altered in diuers Kingdomes and Countreys of Christendome the Grandies sometimes diuided and armed one against another sometimes ioyned in confederations and leagues the Ecclesiastikes oppressed the Protestants persecuted the Bishops of Rome as it were acting their parts and most liuely deciphered in their naturall colours If learning will content thee marke the disputations of the Theologues and the deepe discourses of the Author himselfe If policie will please thee thou shalt finde it in the consultations and treaties of Princes managed with admirable dexterity by their Ambassadors and Ministers and generally no delight will bee wanting to thee which thy curiositie can desire or any other Historie affoord But consider aboue all in what a strange manner the Conciliarie Acts of this assembly in Trent were caried By reading of those few words of thy Countrey-man Edmond Campian below in this page thou maist perceiue in what repute the Papalins doe hold it and after when thou hast read the Booke thou wilt know how much it is ouer-valued Compare thy iudicious censure with his that is partiall and thou shalt finde them to agree as white with blackenesse darkenesse with light Farewell Verba Edmundi Campiani ratione quarta reddita Academicis TRidentina Synodus quo magis inueterascet eò magis indies ebque perennius efflorescet Bone Deus quae gentium varietas qui delectus Episcoporum totius orbis qui regum rerumpublicarum splendor quae medulla Theologorum quae sanctitas quae lachrymae quae ieiunia qui flores Academici quae linguae quanta subtilitas quantus labor quam infinita lectio quanta virtutum studiorum diuitiae augustum illud Sacrarium impleuerunt The words of Edmond Campian in his fourth reason giuen to the Vniuersities THe Synod of Trent the older it waxeth the more it will flourish Good God what varietie of Nations what choice of Bishops of the whole world what splendor of Kings and Common-wealths what marrow of Theologues what sanctitie what weepings what fasts what Academicall flowres what languages what subtilties what labour what infinite reading what riches of vertues and studies did fill vp that Maiesticall sacred place TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD MY SINGVLAR GOOD LORD THE LORD Archbishop of Canterburie his GRACE Primate of all ENGLAND and Metropolitane and one of His MAIESTIES most Honourable Priuie Councell MOst Reuerend in Christ It may seeme strange and I am sure it is without example that of one Councell onely so large an Historie should be written and so full of all varietie of matter For in those of former ages in which the Holy Ghost did really and effectually assist the Fathers howsoeuer more Prelates and Diuines were assembled from places more remote and the actions guided by the greatest Princes of all those times yet nothing was attempted to encrease or maintaine the Heresies and abuses that raigned then nor was any thing remarkeable but the very Doctrines and Decrees themselues But after that the Bishops of Rome scorning to be Ministers and Seruants made themselues Masters and Monarkes of the Church of God the practises and inuentions of worldly men chased away the heauenly inspirations of the blessed Spirit and greater confusions and troubles did arise in handling Diuine Mysteries then did happen at any other time in negotiating the affaires of Kingdomes and of Common-wealths This hath ministred a whole Ocean of occurrences and affoorded a most copious Subiect to this present Treatise And so irresistable is the force of Truth and the Diuine Prouidence so great that howsoeuer the Romanists haue vsed all possible diligence to hinder the finding out of their vnlawfull proceedings in this Councell by suppressing all publique writings and monuments by which their treacheries and abuses might bee discouered more plainely to the eyes of the world the writer of this Historie a man of admirable learning exquisite iudgement indefatigable industrie and integritie scarcely to be matched hath been raised vp by God who out of the Diaries Memorials Registers and other writings made and preserued by the Prelates and Diuines themselues and by the Ambassadours of Princes and Republiques who were assistants herein which are the most infallible grounds that any writer can haue hath reuealed an infinite of intolerable abuses and as the prouerbe saith Cornicum oculos confixit This Booke I haue translated out of Italian into our vulgar language presuming to commend it to the royall protection of his sacred Maiestie for whose sake as some reasons induce me to beleeue it was principally composed And because I vndertooke this worke at your Graces command who haue beene the chiefest cause why the originall crossed the Seas before the iust natiuitie of it and saw the first light within his Maiesties dominions as also in regard of the high place you most deseruedly beare in the Church of God I thought it my dutie to craue your fauour likewise that as the birth of it hath beene happie by your Graces meanes so the growth may accordingly proceed and the fruit of both which is to remooue an erronious opinion of the infallibilitie of this pretended Councell may constantly endure vntill the worlds end In publishing heereof if my Pen hath not merited such praise as others might yet my desire to benefit Gods Church hath not beene wanting and my zeale to serue your Grace in whatsoeuer I am able shall neuer yeeld to any Vnto whom I wish for the publike benefit of Church and Common-wealth and for your owne particular contentment a perfect accomplishment of all your pious and honorable designes Your Grace's most obliged to doe you seruice NATHANAEL BRENT THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT MY purpose 1500 Pope ALEXANDER 6 Emperour MAXIMLLIAN I. HENRY 7. King of England LEVVIS 12. French king is to write the History of the Councell The purpose of the Author of Trent For though many famous Historians of our age haue made mention in their writings of some particular accidents that happened therein and Iohn Sleidam a most diligent author hath related with exquisite industry the causes that went before notwithstanding all these things put together would not suffice for an entire narration For my selfe so soone as I had vnderstanding The meanes he vsed for collection of his matter of the affaires of the world I became exceeding curious to know the whole proceedings therof and after I had diligently read whatsoeuer I found written and the publique instructions whether printed or diuulged by pen I betooke my selfe without sparing either paines or care to search in the remainder of the writings of the Prelates and others who were present in the Councel the Records which they left behinde them and the Suffrages or opinions deliuered in publique preserued by the Authors themselues or by others and the letters of aduice written from that Citie whereby I haue had the fauour to see euen a whole register of Notes and Letters of those persons who had a great part
haue come from a common Father and Vicar of CHRIST which he beleeued also were not resolued on without their counsell because he was perswaded that the Pope treated not of things of so great a moment without communicating all vnto them Therefore hee was troubled very much to see that from a Pope and so religious fathers should proceed warres threats and pernicious counsells against an Emperour protectour of the Church and so well deseruing that to please them hee stopped his eares in Wormes against the prayers of all Germanie made vnto him against the oppressions and grieuanes which it receiued from the Court of Rome making none account of the honest demands that a Councell might bee called to withstand the foresaid oppressions which would be as much as to withstand the Lutheran heresie That to serue the Sea of Rome hee had prohibited the meeting at Spira which Germanie had intimated foreseeing that it would haue bin a beginning to separate it frō the obedience of Rome hath diuerted the thoughts of those Princes by promising them a Councel Whereof hauing written and giuen an account to the Pope his Holinesse thanked him for hauing forbid the assembly of Spira but prayed him to deferre to speake of a Councell vntill a more conuenient time And hee to please made more account to giue him satisfaction then of the prayers of Germanie which were so necessarie And yet for all this the Pope now wrot letters vnto him full of complaints and imputations demanding things of him which hee could neither iustly nor securely grant Of which letters he sendeth them a copy being desirous to signifie the whole vnto them that they might vphold Christianity now ready to fall and imploy themselues to diuert the Pope from so pernicious a deliberation in which if he shall remaine vnmoueable they may exhort him to call a Councell whereunto in case he will not condescend according to order of law hee beseecheth their most reuerend Paternities and the sacred Colledge that the Pope denying or deferring the conuocation they would call it themselues obseruing the due order Wherefore if they shall refuse to grant him this iust demand or shall deferre longer then is conuenient he wil make prouision for it himselfe And perswadeth them to call a Councel if the Pope refuse by the Imperiall authority vsing the meanes that are iust and fitting This letter was deliuered in the Consistory the twelfth of December and together also with it a duplicate of the letter which was consigned to the Nuncio in Granada was presented to the Pope 92 All these letters were instantly printed in diuers places of Germanie Spaine and Italie and many copies went vp and downe from hand to hand Those persons who though they obserue the accidents of the world yet haue not much capacity and vse to liue and gouerne themselues by the examples of others and especially of the Grandies and who by the demonstrations which Charles made against the Lutherans as well in Wormes as in other places in The Emperor is censured in Germany contemplation of the Papacie beleeued that he fauoured the Popes side for religion and conscience sake seeing his change were much scandalized especially for that he said that he stopped his eares to the honest prayers of Germanie to doe the Pope a pleasure And those of the wiser sort were of opinion that his Maiesty was not well aduised to diuulge so great a secret and to giue the world occasion to beleeue that the reuerence shewed towards the Pope was an Art of gouernement couered with the cloake of religion And further they expected that for these letters the Pope would shew some desire of reuenge the Emperour hauing touched two great secrets of the Popedome the one in appealing from the Pope to a future Councell contrary to the Constitutions of Pius and Iulius the seconds the other in hauing inuited the Cardinalls to call a Councell in case of a negatiue giuen or a dilation interposed by the Pope And it was necessary that this beginning should draw great consequences with it 93 But as seedes though most fertile cast into the ground out of season fructifie not so these great attempts happening in time not conuenient became The family of Colonna assault Rome and take it vaine And so much happened in this occasion For while the Pope sought reuenge with his armes and with the armes of so many Princes that hee might vse spirituall remedies after he had made some temporall foundation those of the familie of Colonna either not trusting the Popes promises or for some other cause arming their Subiects and others who followed that faction approched Rome vpon the side of the Suburbs the twentieth of September which amazed very much the Popes family And the Pope himselfe surprized vpon the sudden and wholly confused knowing not what resolution to take called for the solemne Pontificall habits saying that so apparelled to the imitation of Boniface the 8. sitting in the Pontificall chaire hee would expect to see if they dared adde to the first a second violation of the Apostolicall dignity in the person of the Pope himselfe But hee easily The Pope saueth himselfe in the Castle yeelded to the counsel of his friends to saue himselfe in the Castle by the gallery and not giue occasion to be noted of folly 94 The Colonnesi entred Rome and sacked the Popes palace and S. Peters Church They spread themselues also euen vnto the principall houses of the Borough But the inhabitants making resistance and the Orsini a contrary faction comming in ayde against them they were constrained to retire themselues into a secure quarter which they had taken neere hand yet carying with them the spoyles of the Vatican with the infinite displeasure of the Pope and the army waxing bigger euery day with succours that arriued The palace and S. Peters Church are sacked from Naples the Pope fearing some greater incounter ouercome by necessity called into the Castle Don Hugo de Moncado one of the Emperours ministers concluded a truce with him for foure moneths with condition that the Colonnesi and Neapolitans should retire themselues from Rome and the A truce concluded Pope should call backe his Souldiers from Lombardie the which both parties performing Clement caused his men to returne to Rome vnder pretence to obserue the capitulations of the truce and being by them secured hee thundered out excommunications against the Colonnesi declaring them heretiques The Popes Bull against the Colonnest and Schismatiques and excommunicating whosoeuer afforded them assistance counsell or fauour or gaue them entertainment and depriued also the Cardinall of his red Hatte This Cardinall being in Naples not esteeming the Popes censures published an appeale to the Councell proposing not only the The Cardinal appealeth to the Councel iniustice and nullity of the monitories censures and sentences but also the necessities of the Church vniuersall which being manifestly ruinated could not be easied any other way
the Pope and to make the Emperor the principall and the Pope his minister By the obseruation of these beginnings he concluded that there was little hope in the affayres of Germany and that hee was to thinke of a defensiue that the disease might not passe to other parts of the body of the Church And because that which was past could not be yndone hee thought it not wisedome to shew it was done against his will but to make himselfe the author 1531 CLEMENT 7. CHARLES 5. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. He writeth to al Princes that he would call a Councell though he neuer meant it of it that he might receiue a lesse blow in his reputation Therefore he gaue an account of the things past to all Kings and Princes dispatching his letters the first of December all of the same tenour that he hoped the Lutheran heresie might be extinguished by the presence of the Emperour and that principally for that cause hee went to Bolonia to intreat him for it though he knew that of himself he was very wel affected that way But hauing receiued aduice from the Emperour and from his Legat Campeggio that the Protestants are become more obstinate hee hath communicated the whole to the Cardinals and together with them seeth cleerely that there remaineth no other remedie but that which hath beene vsed by his Predecessors that is a generall Councell Therefore hee exhorteth them to assist in the Councell that shall be called either in person or by their Ambassadours a thing so holy that hee is resolued to put it in execution so soone as it is possible intimating a generall and free Councell in some fitte place in Italie The Popes letters were knowen to the whole world because his ministers endeuoured in euery place to giue notice of them vnto all not because the Pope or the Court desired to apply their minds to a Councell from which they were most auerse but to entertaine the world that by expectation of the remedie of the abuses and inconueniences they might remaine constant in obedience Yet few were deceiued for it was not hard to discouer that to desire Princes to send Ambassadours to a Councell whereof And his collusion is discouered by many neither time nor place nor manner was resolued on was too much affected preuention But the Protestants also tooke occasion by these letters to write likewise to the Kings and Princes and the next yeere in February they framed 1531 The Protestants doe write likewise to all Princes a letter to euery one vnder a common name of all of this tenour That the old complaint of pious men against the vices of the Clergie noted by Iohn Gerson Nicolas Clemangis and others in France and of Iohn Collet in England and of others elswhere was knowen vnto their Maiesties which also happened in Germanie in these last yeers by occasion of the detestable infamous gaine which some Friars made by publishing Indulgences And passing from this to relate whatsoeuer happened vntill the last Diet they said that their aduersaries endeuoured to incite the Emperor and other Kings against them vsing diuers calumnies which as they haue withstood in Germanie so they will more easily confute in a generall Councel of the whole world wherunto they will referre themselues so that it may be such a one in which preiudices and passion may take no place That amongst the Calumnies laid vpon them this is the principall that they condemne all Magistrates and vilifie the dignitie of Lawes which is not onely not true but as they haue shewed in the Diet of Augusta their doctrine honoureth Magistrates and defendeth the strength of Lawes more then euer hath been done in other ages teaching Magistrates that their state and kinde of life is most acceptable to God and preaching to the people that they are bound by Gods commandement to giue honour and obedience to them and that he wil not leaue vnpunished the disobedient because the Magistrate hath his gouernement by diuine ordination That they haue desired to signifie these things to them Kings and Princes for cleering of themselues before them praying them not to beleeue the calumnies and to suspend their iudgements vntill those that are accused haue place to acquite themselues publiquely And therefore they will desire the Emperour that hee would call a godly and free Councell in Germanie as soone as might bee and not to vse force vntill the matter be disputed and lawfully defined The French King answered with very courteous letters in substance giuing The answere of the French King to the Protestants them thankes for communicating vnto him a businesse of so great weight he shewed them that he was glad to vnderstand of their innocencie and did approoue the instance they made that the vices might bee amended wherein they shall finde his Will to concurre with theirs that their requiring of a Councell was iust and holy yea necessary not onely for the affayres of Germany but of the whole Church that it was not honest to vse Armes where the controuersies may bee ended with treaties The letters of the King of England were of the same Tenour but that hee The answere of the King of England declared in particular that himselfe also desired a Councell and that hee would mediate with Charles to find out a meanes of composition The Emperours Decree being knowen throughout all Germanie they began immediatly to accuse the professors of the new Religion in the chamber Sentences were made in the chamber of Spirae against the Protestants and contemned of Spira some for zeale others for reuenge and some also to possesse the goods of their aduersaries Many sentences were made many declarations and many confiscations against Princes Cities and priuate men and none tooke place but some against priuate men whose goods were within the territories of Catholiques By others the sentences were contemned with great diminution of the honour not onely of the Chamber but of the Emperour also who soone perceiued that the remedie was not fitted to themaladie which increased dayly For the Protestant Princes and Cities besides that they esteemed little the iudgements of the Chamber combined themselues together prepared for their defence and fortified themselues with forraine intelligences so that it appeared that in case things went on a Warre would arise dangerous for both parties and whatsoeuer the issue was pernitious for Germany Wherefore he was willing that some Princes should interpose and find out a way of agreement To this end many heads and conditions of composition were negotiated all this yere 1531 and to giue them some conclusion a Diet at Ratisbon was appointed for the next yeere In the meane space all things remained full of suspitions and the Zuinglius taketh armes and is slaine diffidences betweene the one part and the other rather increased And this yeere also there happened a notable euent among the Suisses which composed the disputes between them For though the
to hinder the desolation of Germany and that not to speake of a Councell was willingly to runne into a ciuill warre In the second place the King treated with them that they would be contented with a Councell in Italie But neither did the Germans agree vnto this for they sayd that this match was worse then the first because that constrained them onely to make warre but this cast them into a seruitude both of body and soule whereunto resistance could not be made but by a Councell in a free place yet condescending for his Maiesties sake to whatsoeuer they were able they would cease to demand to haue it celebrated in Germany so that another free place were appointed out of Italie though it were neere vnto it In the beginning of the yeere 1534. the King gaue the Pope an account 1534 of what hee had done and offered to bring to passe that the Protestants should bee contented with Geneua The Pope hauing receiued the aduise The Pope is displeased with the Propose of Geneua for the 〈◊〉 place of the Councell was vncertaine whether the King though his confederate and kinsman would be glad to see him in troubles or if in this particular hee wanted that discretion which he shewed in other affaires But hee concluded that it was not good to vse him in this matter And writing vnto him thanked him for his paines without answering to the particular of Geneua and hee incouraged many of the Courtiers whose mindes were troubled assuring them that by no meanes he would consent to such a folly But this yeere the Pope in stead of regaining Germanie lost the obedience He looseth the obedience of England of England by proceeding rather with choler and passion then with wisedome necessarie in so great negotiations The accident was of great importance and greater consequence which to declare distinctly it is necessary to begin from the first causes whence it had its originall Catherine Infanta of Spaine sister to the mother of Charles the Emperour was married to Henry the eight King of England and was before the wife of Arthure Prince of Walles Henryes eldest brother after whose death their father gaue her in marriage to Henry who remained successor by the dispensation The cause of Pope Iulio the second This Queene was with child often and alwayes either miscaried or brought foorth a creature of a short life except one only daughter King Henry either for displeasure against the Emperor or for desire of issue male or for some other cause conceiued a scruple in his mind that the mariage was not good and taking counsell of his Bishops separated himselfe from her company The Bishops treated with the Queene that shee would be contented with a diuorce saying that the Popes dispensation was neither good nor true The Queene would not giue eare to them but had recourse to the Pope to whom the King also sent to craue a diuorce The Pope who was still retired in Oruieto and hoped for good conditions in his affaires if the fauours of France and England which still they performed were continued by molesting the Emperour in the kingdome of Naples sent into England the Cardinal Campeggio delegating the cause vnto him and the Cardinall of Yorke From these and from Rome the King had hope giuen him that in the end the sentence should bee on his side Yea to facilitate The Cardinals Campeggio and Wolsie were delegated by the Pope to heare the cause of the Kings diuorce the resolution that the solemnities of the iudgement might not draw the cause in length a briefe was framed in which hee was declared free from that marriage with the most ample clauses that euer were put into any Popes Bull and a Cardinall sent into England with order to present it after some few proofes were past which he was sure would easily be made And The Pope caused his Briefe which he had made in fauour of the diuorce to be burned this happened in the yeere 1524. But Clement iudging it fitter for compassing his designes vpon Florence as hath beene declared in its proper place to ioyne himselfe with the Emperour then to continue in the friendship of France and England in the yeere 1529. hee sent Francis Campana vnto Campeggio with order to burne the Briefe and to proceed slowly in the cause Campeggio began first to draw the cause in length and after to make difficultie of performing the promises made to the King Whereby beeing assured that the Iudge and his aduersaries did collude hee sent to the Vniuersities of Italie France and Germanie for a consultation in his cause where amongst A consultation about the cause of diuorce the Diuines some were contrary and some fauourable to his pretension The greater part of the Parisians were on his side and some beleeued that the Kings giftes more perswaded them then reason But the Pope either to gratifie the Emperour or for feare that in England by meanes of the Cardinall of Yorke something might happen not according The Pope to gratifie the Emperour recalleth Campeggio to his minde as also to giue occasion to Campeggio to part from thence called the cause to himselfe The King impatient of delay either because he knew their cunning or for some other cause published the diuorce with his wife and married Anne Bullen in the yere 1533. yet still the cause depended before the Pope in which he was resolued to proceede slowly to The King in 〈…〉 yeth 〈◊〉 Bulle◠satisfie the Emperour and not offend the King Therefore some by points rather were handled then the merits of the cause And the disputation grew vpon the Article of the Attentats in which the Pope gaue sentence against the King declaring that it was not lawfull for him by his owne authoritie without the Ecclesiasticall Iudge to separate himselfe from his wife For which cause the King in the beginning of this yeere 1534 denied the Pope obedience commanding all his subiects not to carry any money to Rome The King causeth the Peter-pence to be denied the Pope nor to pay the ordinary Peter-pence This infinitely troubled the Court of Rome and dayly they consulted of a remedie They thought to proceede against the King with censures and to interdict all Christian Nations all commerce with England But the moderate Counsell pleased best to temporize with him and to mediate a composition by the French King King Francis accepted the charge and sent the Bishop of Paris to Rome to negotiate a pacification with the Pope where they still proceeded in the cause but gently and with resolution not to come to censures if the Emperour did not proceede first or at the same time with his forces They had diuided the cause into three and twenty Articles and then they handled whether Prince Arthure had had carnall coniunction with Queene Catherine in this they spent time vntill mid-lent was past when the nineteenth of March newes came that a
without his knowledge with points preiudiciall to his authoritie put into his head he set forth a Bull in which he inuited the whole Church to reioyce for the peace by which the onely impediment of the Councell was remooued which he established againe in Trent giuing order it should begin the 15. of March He saw the terme was straight and not sufficient to giue notice throughout much lesse to giue the Prelates space to put themselues in order and make the iourney Yet he thought it aduantage that in case it were to bee celebrated it should beginne with few and those Italians Courtiers and his dependants whom hee had solicited to bee there first because the manner of proceeding in the Councell should bee handled in the beginning The Popes Bull of the conuocation of the Councell which is the principall yea the onely thing to preserue the Pontificall authoritie vnto whose determination they who daily arriued would be constrained to stand That it was no maruaile that a generall Councell should begin with a few for so it was in that of Pisa and Constance which neuerthelesse had an happie progresse And hauing penetrated the true cause of making the peace he wrote to the Emperour that he had vsed preuention and celeritie to intimate the Councell to doe him seruice For knowing that his Maiestie was constrained by reason of the French warre to permit and promise many things to the Protestants by intimating the Councell he had now giuen him a meanes to excuse himselfe in the Diet which was to be in September if the Councell approaching hee performed not what hee had promised to grant vntill the Councell But the Popes hastinesse pleased not the Emperour nor the reason gaue him satisfaction He desired for his reputation to be the principall cause The Emperor was displeased with the sudden intimation of the Councell to make Germanie accept the Councell more easily and for many other respects And therefore being able to doe nothing else hee vsed all those termes which might shew himselfe to be the Author and the Pope the adherent He sent Ambassadors to all Princes to signifie the intimation and to pray them to send Ambassadors to honour the meeting and to confirme the Decrees which should there be made And he set himselfe to make serious preparations as if the enterprise had been his owne He gaue diuers orders to the Prelates of Spaine and the Low Countries and commanded amongst other things that the Diuines of Louaine should assemble themselues together to consider of the doctrines which were to be proposed which 33. Points of doctrine collected by the Diuines of Louaine they reduced to three and thirtie heads without confirming them by any place of Scripture but explicating magisterially the conclusion only These Heads were after confirmed by the Emperors Edict published with command that they should be defended and followed by all And the Emperor The Emperor sheweth his distast against the Pope concealed not his distaste against the Pope in his speeches to the Nuncio as well vpon that occasion as in other audiences yea the Pope hauing created thirteene Cardinals in December amongst which were three Spaniards he forbad them to accept the armes or vse the name or habit The French King also assembled at Melun the Parisian Diuines to consult of the necessarie positions of the Christian Faith to be proposed in the Councell where there was much contention For some desired to propose the confirmation of whatsoeuer was constituted in Constance and Basil and the reestablishment of the pragmaticall Law and others doubting that the King would be offended by destroying the Concordate made between him and Leo which would necessarily follow gaue counsell not to set that disputation on foote And afterwards because there were diuers opinions in that Schoole concerning the Sacraments vnto which some giue effectiue ministeriall vertue and others not euery one desiring that his opinion should bee an Article of Faith nothing could be concluded but that they should keepe themselues within compasse of the fiue and twenty Heads published two yeeres before But the Pope signifying to the French King how little good will the Emperor bare him desired him for the maintenance of the Apostolike Sea to send Ambassadors to the Councell as soone as might be and charged his Nuncio residing with the Emperor that attending all occasions when the Protestants gaue him any distaste he should offer all assistance from him to recouer the Imperiall authoritie with Spirituall and Temporall aydes Whereof the Nuncio hauing had too many occasions he so wrought that The Emperor is reconciled to the Pope the Emperor finding he might haue need of the Pope both the one and the other way remitted his rigiditie And he gaue an argument thereof by granting the new Cardinals leaue to assume the name and armes and by giuing the Nuncio more gratefull audiences and by conferring with him of the affaires of Germanie more then he was wont to doe The Pope made great haste not onely to call the Councell but to dispatch The Pope dispatcheth the Legates to Trent the Legates whom he charged that for maintenance of their dignitie they should not first send some substitute to receiue the first Prelates as some aduised that afterwards they might make their entrie with meetings and ceremonies but would haue themselues to be the first and to be there before the time He deputed for his Legates John Maria de Monte a Bishop Cardinall of Palestrina Marcellus Ceruinus Priest of the Holy Crosse and Reginald Poole Deacon of S. Mary in Cosmedin In this man he chose Nobilitie of blood and opinion of pietie which commonly was had of him and the rather for that he was an English man to shew that all England did not rebell in Marcellus constancie and immoueable and vndaunted perseuerance together with exquisite knowledge in Monte reallitie and opennesse of minde ioyned with such fidelitie to his patrons that he could not prefer their interests before the safetie of his own conscience These he dispatched with a Briefe of Legation without giuing them as the custome is a Bull of Facultie or any instruction in writing being vncertaine as yet what commission He giueth them no instructions to giue them meaning to gouerne himselfe as the successes and the Emperors proceeding should counsell him So he made them depart with the Briefe onely But besides the care the Pope had for the affaires of Trent another of no lesse moment troubled his minde concerning the Diet to be celebrated in Wormes where he thought the Emperour would not be present and doubting Cardinall Pernese is sent to the Diet of Wormes and to the Emperour that being prouoked by the letter written vnto him he would vnderhand cause some Decree to be made more preiudiciall to his affaires then the former or at the least giue way vnto it he thought it necessarie to haue in that place a minister of authoritie
themselues with spirituall weapons and that their diligence may haue both beginning and progresse from the grace of God it determineth to begin from the confession of faith imitating the examples of the Fathers who in the principall Councels in the beginning of the actions haue opposed that buckler against the heresies and sometimes haue conuerted the infidels ouercome the heretikes with that alone in which all that professe Christianitie doe agree And here the whole was repeated word by word without adding any other conclusion And the Archbishop asked the Fathers whether the Decree pleased them All answered affirmatiuely b 〈…〉 some with conditions and additions of no great moment yet such as displeased the Cardinall of Monte who liked not they should descend to particulars in the Sessions fearing that when some matter of weight was to bee The eighth of Aprill is appointed for the next Session treated of some inconuenience might arise Afterwards the other Decree was read intimating the Session for the eighth of Aprill alleadging for a cause of the delay that many Prelates were in a readinesse to come and some were in the iourney and for that the deliberations of the Synod will be more esteemed when they shall bee strengthened by the counsell and presence of of more Fathers yet so as that they would not deferre the discussion and examination of what seemed fit to be handled presently The Court of Rome who stood all amazed at the very name of reformation was well pleased to heare that the Councell entertained it selfe in preambles hoping that time would bring foorth some remedie And the Courtiers that had intemperate tongues exercised their gibing publishing diuers bitter Pasquins as then the custome was in all accidents some commending Pasquins made against the Session the Prelates assembled in Trent for making a most noble decree worthy of a generall Councel and some exhorting them to vnderstand their owne worth and knowledge The Legates in giuing the Pope an account of the Session held sent also aduise that it would be hard to oppose and ouercome those who desired to finish The Legates giue the Pope an account of the Session the title with the representation of the Church vniuersall yet they would endeauour to remooue the difficulties But that it was impossible to entertaine the Prelates any more without comming to and doing some essentiall matter and therefore that they expected the order and instruction which they so often had demanded That for their parts they thought it fit to handle those points of the holy Scripture which were in controuersie betweene them and the Lutherans and the abuse brought into the Church in that matter which things would much satisfie the world and offend no man and they would expect an answere for this there beeing space enough to examine those matters and many occasions to driue out the time vntill the beginning of Lent But though the Councell was then opened and still celebrated the affaires of Germanie continued the same In the beginning of the yeere the Elector The affaires of Germanie continue the same And the Palatine embraceth the reformed religion Palatine brought in the vse of the Chalice the popular tongue in publique prayers the marriage of Priests and other things which were reformed before in other places And those that were appointed by the Emperour to bee present in the meeting to finde out a way to compose the differences of Religion met together at a Colloquie in Ratisbon The Emperor deputed for Presidents the Bishop of Eicstat and the Conte of Furstemberg but no good fruit grew thereof by reason of the suspicions which one part conceiued against the other and because the Catholikes omitted no occasions to giue greater iealousies to the other side and to faine them of their owne which finally made the Colloquie to dissolue The fifteenth of February Martin Luther died also These newes being Martin Luther dieth sent to Trent and Rome there was not so much griefe for the change of Religion in the Palatinate as ioy that the Colloquie succeeded not well but tended The Romanists reioyce at his death and at the dissolution of the Colloquie without fruit to dissolution and that Luther was dead The Colloquie seemed another Councell and gaue great iealousie because if any thing had beene accorded they saw not how the Councell could after reiect it and if it had beene accepted it would seeme that the Councell receiued lawes from another place And by all meanes the Colloquie being on foote and the Emperours ministers there present it brought small reputation to the Councell and the Pope The Fathers in Trent and the Court in Rome conceiued great hope seeing that so potent an instrument to contradict the doctrine and rites of the Church of Rome was dead who was the principall and almost the totall cause of the diuisions and innouations introduced and held it for a presage of the good successe of the Councell and the rather because that death was diuulged throughout Italy with many prodigious and fabulous circumstances which were ascribed to miracle and the vengeance of God though there were but the vsuall accidents which doe ordinarily happen in the deaths of men of sixtie three yeeres of age for in that age Martin Luther Fables raysed vpon Luthers death died But those things that happened afterwards euen vntill our age haue declared that Martin was onely one of the meanes and that the causes were more potent and secret The Emperour beeing arriued in Ratisbon complained grieuously that The Emperors letters concerning the Colloquy were laughed at the Colloquie was dissolued and wrote letters thereof throughout all Germany which were laughed at because it was too much knowne that the separation was wrought by the Spaniards and Friars and by the Bishop of Eicstat whom hee had sent And when the workemen are knowne it is not hard to iudge whence the beginning of the motion doth proceed But the wise Emperour was willing to vse the same thing to satisfie the Pope and the Councel and to finde an occasion against the Protestants which the euent shewed to bee true For the same complaints beeing renewed in the Diet and meanes of agreement beeing sought by those that were assembled the Ministers of Ments and Triers separating themselues from the other Electors and adhering to the other Bishops approoued the Councell and desired the Emperour to protect it and to cause the Protestants to be there and submit themselues to it But they did resist and remonstrate that that Councell had not those qualities and conditions so often promised and desired that the peace might bee kept and the differences in religion accorded in a lawfull Councel in Germanie or in an Imperiall Diet. But in the end the maskes The prouisions for warre were knowne were remooued and the prouisions for war could no longer be hid whereof mention shall bee made in its proper place The Pope considered very much of the
Councels in medling with the priuiledges granted by the Pope And they could not agree not onely for the varietie of Opinions and interests of the Bishops but also because the Imperialists did endeauour to make a difference to hinder the proposing of the points of Doctrine Neither was this temporizing vngratefull to the Legates who were resolute if they were not forbid in the answer which they expected from Rome to propose the doctrines and as their inward friends sayde to cleere themselues afterwards of whatsoeuer should ensue But to make some end of the things handled they caused a briefe of the opinions of the Diuines and Canonists deliuered in diuers preceding Congregations to be read saying that in regard the voyces were long they had collected the summe of them that they may examine them and speake their opinions thereon But Bracius Martellus Bishop of Fiesole hearing the extract read opposed it in a continued speech and said it was necessary that the The Bishop of Fiesole opposeth the Legates generall Congregation should know the voyces and reasons of all without reading collections and summes and inlarged himselfe by amplifying the authoritie of the Councel the necessity to informe it wel the smal conueniencie that some few should be Iudges of the determinations or that the resolutions should come from any other place whereat the Legates were much offended and reprehended the Bishop with affected modesty but bytingly enough And so the Congregation brake vp The next day the Legats sent to the B. to demand a copie of his discourse and sent it to Rome taxing it as irreuerent and seditious adding that they had modestly and seuerely reprehended him and would haue gone further Who complaine to the Pope both of him and of the Bishop of Chioza because he deserued no lesse but that they feared to mooue some vnseasonable dispute which might make a rent But that he ought not to escape vnpunished least he should be emboldened to do the like in euery congregation or worse representing to his Holinesse that by all meanes he should bee chased out of Trent and order taken that the Bishop of Chioza not much vnlike vnto him though in another course should neuer returne This Bishop parted immediatly after the session vpon pretence of indisposition but in trueth by reason of wordes which passed betweene him and Cardinall Poole in Congregation in the matter of traditions For hauing spoken in defence of Fryar Antonius Marinarus and thereupon contested with the Cardinall and so hauing complained that the Councell was not free he saw he was not in the Legats fauour and obnoxious to danger The Legats not content with what they had done to mortifie the Bishop of Fiesole and to keep the matter intire vntill there came aduise from Rome that they might goe on with it or dissemble as they should be commanded in the next Congregation Monte gaue him a nip by the way and concluded that he left him then to consider of his owne affaires because himselfe was to be imployed in matters of greater importance The Pope answered concerning the two Bishops that he would giue a remedie in time conuenient But for the matters to be handled he sayd that The Popes answere to the Legates if they regarded the desires of Princes they would make the Councel more tumultuous and the resolutions more long and hard because euery one sought to crosse what liked him not and by putting difficultie in one thing to promote another Therefore that without any more to doe they should begin with originall sinne aduising them to omit the excuse which they purposed to vse to D. Francis that is that the article of originall sinne is not questioned in Germany but should rather vse generall termes and all reuerence to the Emperour He further commanded them that concerning the correction of the The Councell in Tr 〈…〉 is gouernd by cert 〈…〉 ne 〈…〉 puâ—tes 〈◊〉 Rome vulgar edition they should proceed no further vntill the Deputies ouer the Councell in Rome had determined what course should be held The Legats resoluing for execution of those orders to propose originall sinne made a congregation two dayes together to determine of the two heads of reading and preaching before they published their purpose to handle matters of faith least those two points being vndecided might cause the Imperialists to dinert from this And they caused the Deputies for the vulgar edition to bring to them all they had done charging them to proceed no further vntill they had receiued new order Such was the libertie of the Councell depending on the Pope in leauing of things begun and beginning new In treating of the Lectures and Sermons there was a generall complaint of the Bishops especially Spanish that CHRIST hauing commanded that his doctrine should be taught which is exercised in the Church by preaching and reading to the more capacious that they may be fit to teach the people the care to superintend ouer all that exercise these functions ought to bee proper to the Bishop That the Apostles haue so instituted and the holy Fathers so practised That now this office is absolutely taken from the Bishops by A complaint against the regular orders priuiledges so that no iot thereof remaineth That this is the cause why all is out of order because the order instituted by CHRIST is changed The Vniuersities are withdrawen with exemptions that the Bishop cannot know what they teach the Sermons are by priuiledge giuen to the Friars who by no meanes acknowledge the Bishop nor suffer him to meddle so that the office of a Pastour is quite taken from the Bishops And on the contrary those who anciently were appointed to weepe for sinnes and expressely and seuerely forbid to preach and teach haue assumed this power vnto them or at the least it is giuen them for their proper function And so the flocke remaineth without either shepheard or hireling because these ambulatorie Preachers who to day are in one Citie to morrow in another know neither the need nor the capacitie of the people and least of all the occasions to teach and edifie them as doth the proper Pastour who liueth alwayes with the flocke and knoweth the necessities and infirmities of it Besides the ende of those Preachers is not to edifie but to take almes either for themselues or their Cloisters which that they may the better obtaine they ayme not to benefit the soule but to delight the care and soothe men in their pleasures that thereby they may draw more profit and the people in stead of learning the doctrine of CHRIST learneth either nouitie or vanitie at the least Luther was one of these who if hee had remained weeping in his Cell the Church of CHRIST had not stood in these termes That the abuse of the Pardoners was more manifest who goe about preaching Indulgences whose scandals formerly giuen cannot bee related without teares That it is a cleere case that they exhort
should be fitted to the exigence of the text read and the capacitie of the auditors After many Discourses in many Congregations they came to establish the Decrees for the Sermons and to ouercome the difficulties they caused the Prelates who were their assured friends to negotiate with the Italian Bishops wishing them to consider how much they were bound for the honour of their nation to vphold the dignitie of the Papacie whose authoritie was treated of by medling with the priuiledges and what they might hope for from the Pope and Legates applying themselues to that which is iust and not depriuing the Friars of that they haue enioyed so long That it was dangerous to despise so many learned men now when heresies doe trouble the Church That the authoritie of Bishops should be enlarged by granting them power to allow or disallow the Preachers when they preach out of the Churches of their Order and when they preach in them by making them acknowledge the Prelate first asking his benediction That the Bishops might punish the Preachers for heresie forbid them to preach to auoyd scandall That they should bee contented with this and that other things should bee added as occasion serued By this meanes they gained so many that they were secure to establish the Decree with those conditions But there remained another difficulty because the Friars and Generals were not satisfied and to distaste them was not secure and expresly forbid by the Pope They endeauored to shew them that the grant made to the Bishops was iust and necessary whereof themselues were cause by extending their priuiledges too much and by passing the bounds of honesty In fine by admonishing the Bishops to proceed so that the Friars might not haue cause to complaine the Generals also were pacified When they made knowne their resolution to condemne in the same Session the Lutheran opinions of originall sinne they alleadged that to keepe the order of putting both the matters together it was necessary to handle some poynt of faith and that they could not begin from any other poynt And they proposed the Articles extracted out of the Protestants doctrine in that matter to bee examined and discussed by the Diuines in the Congregations whether they ought to bee condemned for hereticall The Cardinall Pacceco said that the Councell was to handle Articles of faith onely to reduce Germanie the which hee that would doe out of season should not onely faile of his ende but make matters worse When there is opportunitie to doe it it cannot bee knowen to those in Trent but onely to him that sitteth at the sterne of that Countrey who seeing all particulars knoweth when to applie the medicine Therefore hee aduised that they should craue by letters the opinion of the principall Prelates of the Nation before they went any further or that the Popes Nuncio should speake thereof with the Emperour To which opinion the Emperours Prelates induced by the Ambassadour did adhere But the Legates commending their iudgement and promising to write to the Nuncio added that notwithstanding this the Articles might bee disputed by the Diuines to gaine time whereunto the Cardinall also and the others adhered hoping that many difficulties might come acrosse to cause a delay and the Ambassadour Toledo was contented so that the Summer might bee past before the definition were made The Articles proposed were 1. That Adam by transgressing the precept hath lost iustice and incurred the The points of originall sinne to bee discussed wrath of God and mortalitie and though hee bee impaired both in soule and bodie yet no sinne is transferred from him to posteritie but onely corporall punishments 2. That Adams sinne is called originall because it is deriued from him to posteritie not by transmission but by imitation 3. That originall sinne is ignorance or contempt of God or want of feare without confidence in his Maiestie without diuine loue and with concupiscence and bad desires and generally a corruption of the whole man in his will soule and body 4. That in children there is an inclination to euill proceeding from the corrupted nature so that after the vse of reason it bringeth forth a loathing of diuine things and an immersion in matters of the world and that this is originall sinne 5. That children at the least borne of faithfull parents though they are baptized into the remission of sinnes yet they haue no sinne by descending from Adam 6. That originall sinne is not cancelled in Baptisme but not imputed or so razed that it beginneth to diminsh in this life and is wholly rooted out in that to come 7. That the sinne remayning in the baptized hindereth his entrance into heauen 8. That concupiscence which cherisheth sinne and remayneth after baptisme is truely sin 9. That the principall punishment due to originall sinne is hell fire besides corporall death and other imperfections vnto which man is subiect in this life The Diuines in the Congregation agreed that to discusse those Articles it was necessary not to proceed in that order but to examine all the matter methodically and see what was sinne in Adam and what deriued from him to posterity is sin in all men called originall how it is transmitted and how remitted In the first point also they agreed that Adam being depriued of righteousnesse The discussion of originall sinne his affections rebelled against reason which the Scripture vseth to expresse saying the flesh rebelleth against the spirit and by one onely name calleth his defect Concupiscence That hee incurred the wrath of God and corporall mortalitie threatned by God together with the spirituall death of the soule and yet that none of these defects can be called sinne but punishments that follow For sinne is formally the transgression of a diuine precept And here many enlarged themselues to finde out the kinde of this fault Some said it was pride some gluttony some infidelity and some more soundly that it might bee drawne to all these and more But hee that will take S. Pauls words for his ground can put it in no other kinde but of pure disobedience But seeking to know what thing deriued from Adam is sin in vs the opinions were more diuers For S. Austine who first sought into the essence thereof following S. Paul said it is concupiscence And S. Anselmus many hundred yeeres after holding that sin is cancelled in the baptized concupiscence still remayning maintayned that it is the priuation of originall righteousnesse which in Baptisme is renewed by a thing equiualent which is grace But S. Thomas and S. Bonauenture desiring to reconcile these two opinions considered that in our corrupted nature there are two rebellions one of the soule against God the other of the sences against the soule and that this is concupiscence and that vnrighteousnesse and therefore both together are the sin And S. Bonauenture gaue the first place to concupiscence saying that this is positiue and the other negatiue And S. Thomas contrarily made
the cause of its truth but is so by the truth of an affirmatiue nor euer any proposition was false but because another is true neither can the falsity of the one be knowne but by him who knoweth the truth of the other Therefore the opinion of the Lutherans cannot bee condemned of heresie vntill the opinion of the Church be set downe He that shall obserue the maner of proceeding in all Councels which haue handled matter of faith will see that they haue laid first an Orthodoxe foundation and by that condemned the heresies and so it is necessary to doe now For when it shall be read that the Councel of Trent hath condemned the Lutheranes for saying originall sinne is ignorance contempt distrust an hate of heauenly things and a corruption of the whole man in the will soule and body who is there that will not demand what is it then and will not say in himselfe if this opinion bee hereticall which is Catholike And when he shal see the opinion of Zuinglius condemned that children the sonnes of the faithfull are baptized into remission of sinnes though nothing bee transmitted from Adam but the punishments and the corruption of nature will not suddenly aske what else is then transmitted In summe he concluded that the Councel was assembled principally to tell the Catholique trueth not onely to condemne heresies The Bishop said That these Articles hauing been so often disputed in the Diets The Bishop of Sinigaglia Friar Ierom Generall of the Augustins speake to the same purpose of Germanie euery one would expect from the Councell a perspicuous doctrine cleared from all difficulties The Generall also who was somewhat suspected to bee suborned by the Ambassador Toledo added that the true Catholique doctrine of originall sinne is contained in the writings of S. Austin that Egidius Romanus had wrote a booke thereof that whensoeuer the Fathers would take but a little paines they might bee able to vnderstand the truth and iudge of it that they should not suffer a fame to bee spread that in Trent that was resolued in foure dayes which in Germanie hath beene so long discussed without conclusion These aduertisements were not hearkened vnto because the Prelates had no hope to bee able by studie to bee well informed in the crabbed schoole-poynts neither durst they goe about to make triall of it and because the Legats had receiued absolute command from Rome to define this matter in the next session they were constrained to auoid the difficulties especially because the Cardinall of Monte was resolued to make this great iumpe by all meanes And therefore calling vnto him the Generals of the Orders and the Diuines Catarinus and Vega who spake more then the rest he charged them to passe by the difficulties and helpe forward the dispatch The Prelates deputed to frame the decree with the assistance of the Diuines deuided the matter into fiue Anathematismes The first of the personall sin of Adam the second of the transfusion into posterity the third of the remedy by baptisme the fourth of the baptisme of children the fifth of concupiscence remaining After this the opinions of the Zuinglians were cōdemned in the foure first and of Luther in the fifth They conferred on these Articles almost all adding and taking away what they thought fit with much concord but onely that the Franciscan Bishops and Fryars approoued not The Franciscans desire that the Virgine Mary should be excepted that it should be generally sayd that the sinne of Adam passed into all mankinde because the blessed Virgine the mother of our LORD was comprehended if shee were not particularly excepted and they desired the exception The Dominicans said on the contrary that the proposition so generall and without exception was Saint Pauls and all the holy Doctors and therefore that it was not fit to alter it with an exception and that contradiction waxing warme they fell into the question which the Legates had often diuerted They said that though the Church had tolerated the opinion of the conception yet hee that would examine the matter well might find that shee was not exempted from the common infection And the others opposed that it would bee as much as to condemne the Church who celebrateth the conception as immaculate and a kinde of ingratitude derogating from the honour due vnto her by whom all the graces of CHRIST passe vnto vs. The disputations turned into contention so farre that the Emperours Ambassadour had hope to obtaine his designe that the matter might not be proposed in the next Session Many things were proposed vpon that occasion which caused them to A discourse of the Author to shew how the blessed Virgin came to be worshipped proceede to the Decree which shall bee rehearsed which because it afforded matter of discourse for the entire vnderstanding of all it is necessary to relate from the beginning the originall of this controuersie After that the impietie of Nestorius had diuided CHRIST making two sonnes and denying him to be God who was borne of the blessed Virgin the Church to inculcate the Catholike trueth in the mindes of the faithfull made often mention of her in the Churches as well of the East as of the West with this short forme of wordes in Greeke Maria 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latin Maria mater Dei This beeing instituted onely for the honour of CHRIST was by little and little communicated also to the mother and finally applyed to her alone and therefore when images began to multiplie CHRIST was painted as a babe in his mothers armes to put vs in minde of the worship due vnto him euen in that age But in progresse of time it was turned into the worship of the mother without the sonne hee remayning as an appendex in the picture The writers and Preachers especially those that were contemplatiue caried with the torrent of the vulgar which is able to doe much in these matters leauing to mention CHRIST inuented with one accord new prayses Epithites and religious seruices in so much that about the yeere 1050. a dayly Office was instituted to the blessed Virgin distinguished by seuen Canonical houres in a forme which anciently was euer vsed to the honour of the Diuine Maiestie and in the next hundred yeeres the worship so increased that it came to the height euen to attribute that vnto her which the Scriptures speake of the Diuine wisedome And amongst these inuented nouities this was one her totall exemption from originall sinne Yet this remayned onely in the breasts of some few priuate men hauing no place in Ecclesiasticall ceremonies or amongst the learned About the yeere 1136. the Canons of Lions dared to bring it into the Ecclesiasticall Offices Saint Bernard who liued in those times esteemed the most learned and pious of that age who was most frequent in the prayses of the blessed Virgin so farre as to call her the necke of the Church by which euery grace and influence passeth from the
head inueighed seuerely against the Canons and wrote vnto them reprehending them for introducing a dangerous nouitie without reason or example of antiquitie that there want not places to praise the Virgin who cannot be pleased with a presumptuous nouitie mother of rashnesse sister of superstition daughter of lightnesse The next age had Schoole-Doctors of both the orders Franciscan and Dominican who in their writings refuted this opinion vntill about the yeere 1300. when Iohn Scot a Franciscan putting the matter into disputation and examining the reasons did flie to the omnipotencie saying that God had power to free her from sinne or to cause sinne to remaine in her onely for an instant or for a certaine time that God onely knoweth which of these three is true yet it is probable to attribute the first to Marie in case it bee not repugnant to the authoritie of the Church and of the Scripture The doctrine of this famous Diuine was followed by the Franciscan order But in the particular of the conception seeing the way layd open they affirmed absolutely for true that which hee had proposed as possible and probable vnder this doubtfull condition if it bee not repugnant to the Orthodoxe Faith The Dominicans did constantly resist and followed Saint Thomas one of their order famous for his learning S. Thomas is canonized by Pope Iohn the 22 to disgrace the Franciscans and for the approbation of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth who to depresse the Franciscans who did for the most part adhere to the Emperour Lewis of Bauaria excommunicated by him did canonize that Doctour and his doctrine The shew of pietie and deuotion made the Franciscan opinion generally more accepted and more tenaciously receiued by the Vniuersitie of Paris which was in credite for eminent learning and after long ventilation and discussion was afterwards approoued by the Councell of Basill which forbade to preach and teach the contrarie This tooke place in those Countreys which receiued the Councell Finally Pope Sixtus the fourth a Franciscan made two Bulles in this matter one in the yeere one thousand foure hundred seuentîe sixe approouing a new Office composed by Leonard Nogarola Protonotarie with Indulgences to him that did celebrate it or assist the other in the yeere one thousand foure hundred eightie three condemning the assertion as false and erronious that it is heresie to hold the conception or a sinne to celebrate it excommunicating the Preachers and others who noted that opinion of heresie or the contrarie because it was not as yet decided by the Church of Rome and the Apostolike Sea But this did not appease the contentions which betweene the two orders of Friars still waxed sharper and were renewed euery yeere in December so that Pope Leo the tenth thinking to giue a remedie by deferring the controuersie made letters bee written vnto diuers But afterwards he had more important cogitations by reason of the nouities of Germanie which in these contentions wrought that which happeneth in States that the Citie being beleaguered the factions doe cease and all ioyne against the common enemie The Dominicans grounded themselues vpon the Scripture the doctrine of the Fathers and the most ancient Schoole-men where not one iot was found in fauour of the others but they alleadged for themselues miracles and contentment of the people Iohn of Vdine a Dominican Friar sayd either you will that Saint Paul and the Fathers haue beleeued this exemption of the Virgine from the common condition or not If they haue beleeued it and yet haue spoken generally without euer making mention of this exception imitate them also now But if they haue beleeued the contrarie your opinion is a nouitie Ierolamus Lombardellus a Franciscan Friar sayd that the authoritie of the present Church was no lesse then that of the Primitiue if the consent of that in those times made men speake without exception the consent of this which appeareth in celebrating the Feast throughout ought to induce vs not to omit it The Legate wrote to Rome of the marueilous agreement of all against the Lutheran doctrine and the resólution taken to condemne it and sent a copie of the Anathematismes framed giuing aduise withall of the contention raised about the conception Whereunto it was answered from Rome that by no meanes they should meddle with a matter which may cause a schisme betweene Catholikes but should striue to reconcile the parties and giue The Pope commandeth that the contention about the conception should be omitted for feare of making a schisme them both satisfaction and aboue all to preserue in strength the briefe of Sistus 4. The Legates hauing receiued the order did by themselues and by the wiser sort of Prelates perswade both parties to lay aside the contentions and apply themselues ioyntly against the Lutherans They were on both sides contented to be silent so that their opinion were not preiudiced yet the Franciscans said that the Canon was against them if the Virgin were not excepted and the Dominicans that they were condemned if shee were It was necessary to finde a way how it might bee declared that shee was neither comprehended nor affirmatiuely excepted which was by saying they had no intention either to comprehend or except her Afterwards at the great instance of the Franciscans the others were content it should bee sayd onely they had no meaning to comprehend her And to obey the Pope it was added that the constitutions of Sistus 4. should be obserued While these things are handled in Trent the Diet being assembled in Ratisbon The Diet of Ratisbon the Emperour shewed great displeasure that the Colloquie was dissolued without fruit and required that euery one should propose what hee thought fit to appease Germanie The Protestants desired that the difference of Religion might bee composed according to the Recesse of Spira by a nationall Councell saying it was more fit then a generall because by reason of the great difference in opinions betweene Germanie and other Nations it is impossible to auoyde the raising of a greater contention and whosoeuer will enforce Germanie to change opinion must first slay many thousands of men which would be a dammage to the Emperour and a ioy to the Turkes The Emperors ministers answered that his Maiestie was not the cause why the Decree of Spira was not executed and that it was knowen vnto all that to make so necessarie a peace with the French King hee was constrained to yeeld to the Pope in matters of Religion that the Decree was fitted to the necessities of that time which being changed it was also necessarie to change opinion that in National Councels somtimes maners are amended but Faith and Religion neuer handled that in Colloquies one hath to doe with Theologues who for the most part are vntractable obstinate so that with them one cannot come to such moderate counsels as is necessary that none loued Religion more then the Emperor who would not swarue one iote from that which
shall not preah without the Bishops licence which shall bee giuen them gratis If the Preacher sow errours or scandals the Bishop shal prohibite him if heresies he shall proceede against him according to law and custome and if the Preacher bee a priuiledged person hee shall doe it as delegate yet taking care that the Preachers bee not molested by false imputations and calumnies and haue no cause to complaine of them That they permit not that either Regulars who liue out of Cloysters or secular Priests except they be knowen and allowed by them doe preach vntill an account be giuen thereof to the Pope That the Pardoners shall not preach nor cause any to preach and in case they doe they shall be compelled to obey by the Bishop notwithstanding the priuiledges In fine the 29. of Iulie was assigned for the next Session The Decrees beeing pronounced by the Bishop that sayd Masse the Secretary of the Councel read the letters of the French King in which hee deputed for his Ambassadour in the Councel Peter Danesius who made a long The 29. of Iuly is appointed for the next Session Peter Danesiu is Ambassador for the French King and maketh an Oration in the S 〈…〉 on and eloquent Oration to the Fathers saying in substance That the Kingdome of France since the first most Christian King Clodoueus hath alwayes preserued Christian religion most sincere That S. Gregory the first gaue the title of Catholique to Childebert in token of his incorrupt religion That the Kings haue neuer suffered any sect in any part of France nor any but Catholiques yea haue procured the conuersion of Strangers Idolaters and Heretiques and haue constrained them with pious armes to professe the true and sound religion Hee shewed how Childebert compelled the Visigothes who were Arrians to ioyne themselues with the Catholique Church and how Charles the Great made warre thirty yeeres with the Saxons to reduce them to Christian religion Then he declared the fauors done to the Church of Rome He recounted the enterprises of Pipin and Charles the Great against the Lumbards and how in a Synode of Bishops it was granted by Adrian to Charles to create the Pope and to approoue the Bishops of his Dominion and inuest them after they had receiued the oath of fidelity He added that though his sonne Ludouicus Pius surrendred that authority to create the Pope yet he reserued that Legats should be sent vnto him to preserue amitie which hath beene euer maintayned with mutuall offices For which confidence the Popes in times of difficultie either chased out of their Sea or fearing sedition haue retired themselues into that Kingdome That it cannot bee told how many dangers the French men haue runne and how much money and blood they haue spent to enlarge the lists of the Christian Empire or to recouer that which hath bene vsurped by the Barbarians or to restore the Popes or to deliuer them from danger Hee added that King Francis descending from these in the beginning of his reigne after the victory atchieued in Lumbardy did with the same piety goe to Bolonia to meete Leo the tenth to confirme a peace with him which hath continued with Adrian Clement and Paul and in these 26. yeeres the points of faith being brought into great ambiguities in diuers regions hee hath taken most exact care that nothing should be innouated in the common Ecclesiasticall vse but all reserued to the publique censures of the Church And though hee bee of a quiet pleasing and not bloody disposition yet hee hath vsed seueritie and made grieuous Edicts and hath brought to passe by the diligence and vigilancie of his Iudges that in so great a tempest which hath subuerted many Cities and whole Nations that most noble Kingdome should not bee shaken in which the ancient doctrine rites ceremonies and manners doe remaine so that the Councel might ordaine what they thought to bee true and fitte for the Christian Common-wealth He said further that the King knew how profitable it was to Christendome to haue the Pope for Head and that beeing tempted and inuited with most gaineful profers to follow the example of another would not forsake his opinion and thereby hath lost his neighbors loue with some disaduantage That vnderstanding the Conuocation of the Councell he presently sent some of his Bishops and when hee saw it went on in earnest and that the authoritie thereof was established by many Sessions he hath sent him for his Ambassadour to assist them and to procure that at the last they would constitute and propose the doctrine which ought euery where to be professed by all Christians and rectifie the Ecclesiasticall discipline by the square of the Canons promising that the most Christian King will cause all to be obserued in his kingdome and protect the decrees of the Councell Then he added that the merits of the French King being so great his priuiledges granted by the ancient Fathers and Popes ought to be preserued which Ludouicus Pius all the Kings of France since haue possessed and the rights priuiledges and immunities confirmed to the Churches of France of which hee is defender Which if the Councell will doe the French-men will be thankfull and the Fathers will not repent them of their deede And is answered by Hercules Seuerollo Hercules Seuerollo Proctour of the Councell briefely answered in the name of the Synod thanking the King shewing that the Ambassadors presence was most acceptable promising all diligence in the establishing of faith and reformation of manners offering all fauour to the Kingdome and Church of France But the Decrees of the Session being printed and gone into Germanie affoorded The censure of the decrees in Germany matter of discourse It was sayd that the Pelagian impietie was superfluously handled being by so many Councels and the common consent of the Church more then a thousand yeeres since condemned that it had beene tolerable if the ancient doctrine had beene confirmed that in conformitie vnto it they had well proposed a true vniuersall proposition by saying that the sinne of Adam did passe into all his posteritie but after had destroyed it by an exception that it helped thē not that the exception was not assertiue but ambiguous for as one particular maketh false the contradictorie vniuersall so one ambiguons particular maketh the vniuersall vncertaine And who seeth not that so long as this exception remaineth though with ambiguity euery one may conclude that it is not certaine that sinne is passed into all the posterity because it is not certaine whether it be passed into the Virgin and the rather because the reason which perswadeth that exception may perswade many more That Bernard concluded well that the same reason which induced to celebrate the Conception of the Virgin will conclude the like for her father and mother Grand-fathers and great Grand-fathers and all her Genealogie since Adam But when they came to Abraham they should goe no further because there is
places of the other Epistles where he saith We haue nothing but what wee haue receiued from God that wee are not able of our selues so much as to thinke well and where in giuing the cause why some haue reuolted from the faith and some stand firme he said it was because the foundation of God standeth sure and hath this Seale the Lord knoweth who are his They added diuers passages of the Gospel of Saint Iohn and infinite authorities of Saint Austin because that Saint wrote nothing in his old age but in fauour of this doctrine But some others though of lesse esteeme opposed this opinion calling it hard cruell inhumane horrible impious and that it shewed partialitie in GOD if without any motiue cause he elected one and reiected another and vniust if he damned men for his owne will and not for their faults and had created so great a multitude to condemneit They say it destroyed free wil because the elect cannot finally doe euill nor the reprobate good that it casteth men into a gulfe of desperation doubting that they bee reprobates that it giueth occasion to the wicked of bad thoughts not caring for penance but thinking that if they bee elected they shall not perish if reprobates it is in vaine to doe well because it will not helpe them They confessed that not onely workes are not the cause of Gods election because that it is before them eternall but that neither works foreseen can moue GOD to predestinate who is willing for his infinite mercie that all should bee saued and to this end prepareth sufficient assistance for all which euery man hauing free-will receiueth or refuseth as pleaseth him and GOD in his eternitie foreseeth those who will receiue his helpe and vse it to good and those who will refuse and reiecteth these electeth and predestinateth those They added that otherwise there was no cause why GOD in the Scripture should complaine of sinners nor why hee should exhort all to repentance and conuersion if they haue not sufficent meanes to get them that the sufficient assistance inuented by the others is vnsufficient because in their opinion it neuer had or shall haue any effect The first opinion as it is mysticall and hidden keeping the mind humble and relying on GOD without any confidence in it selfe knowing the deformitie of sinne and the excellencie of diuine grace so this second was plausible and popular cherishing humane presumption and making a great shew and it pleased more the preaching Fryars then the vnderstanding Diuines And the Courtiers thought it probable as consonant to politique reasons It was maintained by the Bishop of Bitonto and the Bishop of Salpi shewed himselfe very partiall The defenders of this vsing humane reasons preuailed against the others but comming to the testimonies of the Scriptures they were manifestly ouercome Catarinus holding the same opinion to resolue the places of Scripture which troubled them all inuented a middle way that GOD of his goodnesse hath elected some few whom he will saue absolutely for whom hee hath prepared most potent effectuall and infallible meanes the rest he desireth for his part they should be saued and to that end hath prouided sufficient meanes for all leauing it to their choice to accept them and bee saued or refuse them and be damned Amongst these there are some who receiue them are saued though they be not of the number of the elect of which kind there are very many Others refusing to cooperate with God who wisheth their saluation are damned The cause why the first are predestinated is onely the will of GOD why the others are saued is the acceptation good vse and cooperation with the diuine assistance foreseene by GOD why the last are reprobated is the foreseeing of their peruerse will in refusing or abusing it That Saint Iohn Saint Paul and all the places of Scripture alleadged by the other part where all is giuen to GOD and which doe shew infallibilitie are vnderstood onely of the first who are particularly priuiledged and in others for whom the common way is left the admonitions exhortations and generall assistances are verified vnto which hee that will giue care and follow them is saued and he that wil not perisheth by his own fault Of those fewe who are priuiledged aboue the common condition the number is determinate and certaine with God but not of those who are saued by the common Way depending on humane libertie but onely in regard of the foreknowledge of the workes of euery one Catarinus said hee wondred at the stupidity of those who say the number is certaine and determined and yet they adde that others may bee saued which is as much as to say that the number is certaine and yet it may bee inlarged and likewise of those who say that the reprobates haue sufficient assistance for saluation though it be necessary for him that is saued to haue a gratâ—er which is to say a sufficient vnsufsicient Hee added that Saint Austins opinion was not heard of before his time and himselfe confesseth it cannot be found in the works of any who wrote before him neither did himselfe alwayes thinke it true but ascribed the cause of Gods wil to merits saying God taketh compassion on hardeneth whom he listeth But that will of GOD cannot bee vniust because it is caused by most secret merits and that there is diuersitie of sinners some who though they be iustified yet deserue iustification But after the heate of disputation against the Pelagians transported him to thinke and speake the contrary Yet when his opinion was heard all the Catholikes were scandalized as S Prosper wrote to him And Genadius of Marscilles 50. yeeres after in his iudgement which he maketh of the famous writers said that it happened to him according to the words of Salmon that in much speaking one cannot auoyd sinne and that by his fault exaggerated by the enemies the question was not then risen which might afterwards bring forth heresie whereby the good Father did intimate his feare of that which now appeareth that is that by that opinion some Sect and diuision might arise The censure of the second Article was diuers according to the three related opinions Catarinus thought the first part true in regard of the efficacie of the Diuine will toward those who are particularly fauoured but the second false concerning the suffiencie of Gods assistance vnto all and mans libertie in cooperating Others ascribing the cause of Predestination in all to humane consent condemned the whole Article in both parts But those that adhered to S. Austin and the common opinion of the Theologues did distinguish it and said it was true in a compounded sence but damnable in a diuided a subtiltie which confounded the mindes of the Prelates and his owne though hee did exemplifie it by saying hee that mooueth cannot stand still it is true in a compound sence because it is vnderstood while hee moueth but in a diuided sence it is
the conclusion of that point euery one might plainely see that the cause ought to haue beene giuen for that no man can certainely know that he hath obtained grace But to satisfie one part hee added certainety of faith and the Dominicans thinking this was not enough vrged him to adde Catholique But because the adherents of Catarinus were not contented in stead of those words Catholique faith it was said Faith which cannot be subiect to falshood This contented both sides For one party inferred then that certainty of faith which can be had herein may bee false and therefore is vncertaine the other inferred that this certainety could haue no doubt of falsehood while it remained but by changing from the state of of grace to the State of sinne it may become false as all contingent truthes by alteration of their subiects are made false But the Catholike faith is not onely certaine but vnchangeable because the subiect of it 〈…〉 things necessary or past which cannot be altered And truly concerning these particulars it is not fit to robbe the Cardinall of his due praise who knew how to satisfie men euen obstinate in contrary opinions And those that would be better informed therein may vnderstand that immediatly after the Session Friar Dominicus Soto principall of the Dominicans Dominicus Soto Principall 〈…〉 the Dominicans and Andreas Vega 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 publish books as commentaries of the Decree contraâ—â— one to an 〈…〉 wrote three bookes and did intitle them of Nature and Grace for commentary of this Doctrine and in his expositions all his opinions are found when this worke was published Fryar Andrew Vega the most esteemed of the Franciscans fet foorth fifteene great bookes for Commentaries vpon the 〈…〉 eene points of that decree and did expound it all according to his owne opinion These two opinions do not only differ almost in all the Articles but in many of them are expresly contrary Both which workes were printed in the yeere 1548. and hee that shall reade them obseruing that they doe giue very often interchangeable and doubtfull sences to the words of the Councell wil maruaile how these two persons the chiefe for learning and estimation who had greater part therein then others did not know the onely sence and true scope of the Synode of which also some few others of those which were interested hauing written diuersly I could neuer finde whether that assembly did agree in one sence or whether there was vnitie of words onely But to returne to the Cardinall when the Decree was approued The Decree is sent to Rome and approued there by all in Trent he sent it to the Pope and the Pope gaue it to the Fryars and learned men of Rome to be consulted of and it was approoued by them because euery one might vnderstand it in his owne sence I haue rehearsed altogether what was done in matter of faith that I mighâ— not diuide things that are connexed But in the meane time some dayes Reformation is handled were spent about the reformation and in those congregations it was proposed to set downe the qualities requisite in the promotion of the greater Prelats and Ministers of the Church And very graue sayings were deliuered with great ostentation but there was no way found how those things whereof they spoke might be obserued For where the Kings haue the presentation they saw not with what bonds to tie them where election hath place the chapter doth consist of great and mighty persons for the residue all dignities are conferred by the Pope and more then two thirds of the benefices The point concerning the qualities of the Prelats is omitted are reserued to the Apostolike Sea vnto which it is not fit to prescribe a law Whereupon after many and long discourses it was concluded that it was better to leaue the businesse The discourses in point of residency were neither fewer nor shorter The point of residence is handled which ended not in the resolution which was necessary desired by many and made some confusion then and prepared matter for other times For the vnderstanding whereof it is necessary to resume this matter from the beginning The Ecclesiasticall Degrees were not originally instituted as dignities preheminencies rewards or honours as now they are and haue beene many A discourse of the author concerning residency hundred yeeres but as ministeries and charges otherwise called by Saint Paul works and those that exercise them are called by CHRIST our LORD in the Gospel Worke-men and therefore no man could then enter into cogitation to absent himselfe from the execution thereof in his owne person and if any one which seldome happened retired from the worke it was not thought reasonable he should haue either title or profit And though the ministeries were of two sorts some anciently called as now they are with care of soules others of temporal things for the sustenance and seruice of the poore and sicke as were the Deaconries and other inferiour workes all held themselues equally bound to that seruice in person neither did any thinke of a substitute but for a short time and for great impediments much lesse to take another charge which might hinder that The Church being increased where there were many Christians and free from persecutions another sort of Ministers was instituted to serue in the Ecclesiasticall assemblies aswell in reading the diuine Scriptures as in other functions to stirre vp deuotion There were instituted also Colledges of Ministers which might in common apply themselues to some charge and others as Seminaries from whence to take Ministers instructed already These of the Colledges not hauing any personall charge seeing the Congregation did administer as well with one more as with one lesse sometimes by reason of studie or greater instruction or for some other cause were absent from the Church one for a short time another for along without hauing title charge or profit So Saint Ierom a Priest of Antioch but without any particular Cure and Ruffinus in the same manner of Aquileia and Saint Paulinus ordained Priest of Barcellona did reside but little But when the number of them increased they did degenerate and were called vagabond Clerkes because that manner of liuing made them odious who are often spoken of in the Lawes and nouell constitutions of Iustinian But neuer any thought to holde the title of an office or inioy the profit without doing seruice but onely after the yeere seuen hundred in the West Church when the Ecclesiastical ministeries were changed and made dignities and honours and rewards for seruices done And as before a person was chosen fit for the necessitie of the Church so afterward a degree dignitie or emolument was fitted to the qualitie of the person from whence arose the exercising of the ministery by a substitute This abuse hath drawen in another by consequence that is to thinke ones selfe disobliged not onely to minister but to bee present and assist him that
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
the good of the Church That they saw not why they should depart with the Legates who promised in the generall Congregation and in the publike Session to returne to Trent so soone as the suspition of the sicknesse did cease especially if Germany would submit to the Councell That they remained there beleeuing they would returne especially when they vnderstood that by the grace of God and vertue of the Emperour Germanie did submit it selfe And that some haue receiued scandall by their abiding in Trent as his holinesse saith it is sufficient for them that they haue not giuen it and on the other side the departure of others hath troubled many That the successor of Saint Peter hath euer been very venerable to their nation wherein themselues haue not beene defectuous They pray his Holinesse that they may not bee blamed for what they haue done to a good end and doe humbly beseech him not to consent they should bee put into a suite in regard the cause is not theirs but Gods saying that if it were theirs they would be content to indure any wrong but being Gods and CHRISTS as it is it belongeth more to none then to his Vicar In fine they prayed his holinesse to set the interrupted Councel on its feete againe and cause the Legats and Fathers to returne to the same place and to doe this by a Briefe without treating of Translation They prayed him to take their words in good part not spoken to signifie what the dutie of his Holinesse was but what they hoped from him The Spaniards answere being receiued by the Pope it was sent to the The reply of the Proctors of the Fathers of Bolonia the Spaniards answere Cardinals to whom the cause was committed by whom it was communicated to the Proctors of those of Bolonia that they might proceede These answered that they were glad that the Spaniards do acknowledge the iudgement and the Iudge and that they will not bee a partie Yet it was necessary to retort some things deliuered in their answere to make the Trueth appeare In that they say his Holinesse should first haue been aduised with it was superfluous in regard a speciall Bull was then read That the Emperour had been neglected it cannot be sayd because so great esteeme hath been held of his Maiestie as of the Pope the cause it selfe not comporting any delay seeing it was necessary to dissolue or translate the Councell in regard of the progresse which the pestilent sickenesse made in the Citie and borders of the actuall and eminent departure of many Fathers of the Doctors oath especially of Fracastorius who had a publike stipend and of the feare that the commerce of the neighbour Cities would bee taken away All which appeareth in the actes transported to Rome by his Holinesse commandement That the Legates after the Decree exhorted them to goe to Bolonia and being arriued there did admonish them by letters so that they cannot say they ought not to follow the Legats because they confented not to the Translation for the suffrages of all in the Councell being free they might dissent with a safe conscience but the maior part hauing made a Decree it was meete the lesser part should yeelde or else neuer any thing would be determined That the returne hath beene promised is true but it may bee seene in the Decree in what forme the promise was made If they taryed beleeuing that the others would returne why did they not answere the Legats letters who admonished them to goe to Bolonia But when they say the suspicion of the Pestilence was pretended it is probable they spake it by chance otherwise hauing nothing to say against the Translation and not sending according to the Popes Decree they should incurre the Censures Neither is that diuisiō ought worth if the cause be theirs or of God For as it belongeth to them no man will doe them wrong as vnto CHRIST seeing the question is of the fact it is necessarie to cleere that which is not manifest in the fact Whereupon the Emperour hauing calling the Legats pretended and the Fathers of Bolonia not a Councell but a priuate assembly and vttered many opprobrious termes against the Translation it was reasonable the Pope should assume the cause not to cherish but to appease contentions Whether scandals haue risen by the Translation or by their remaining in Trent may be seene by this onely that their remaining is the cause why the returne cannot be And when they pray his Holinesse to cause the interrupted Councell to returne if they vnderstand it of the vsuall Congregations they haue neuer beene intermitted if of the publication of the Decrees this hath beene referred for their sake and so many things are already discussed in Bolonia as well of faith as reformation that a long Session may bee made thereof Therefore they pray his Holinesse to giue sentence considering that no Councell but in time of schisme hath lasted so long as this so that the Bishops are desired by their Churches vnto which it is fit they should bee restored This writing was presented in the ende of Aprill After which there was no further proceeding in the cause for that the deputed Cardinals knew not how to conclude To pronounce the Translation The Cardinals deputed in this cause knew not how to proceed lawfull in the absence of the contradictors was to make a schisme hauing no meanes to enforce them to receiue the sentence and they saw lesse meanes to force them to assist in the cause The Pope was much troubled seeing no way to compose the difficultie without forme of iudgement While these things were in question after the death of the Duke his sonne the Pope did continually demand the restitution of Piacenza and of other places vsurped in the District of Parma making vse of the interests of the Emperours daughter wife to Duke Octauius sonne of him that was dead But the Emperour purposing to ioyne that Citie to the Dukedome of Milan and to recompence his sonne in Law in something else delayed the time with diuers answeres and offers hoping that the Pope beeing eighty yeeres of age and grieued for his sonnes death and hauing many other distasts would end all the controuersies by his death But the Pope seeing he Differences betweene the Pope Emperour about the restitution of Piacenza was deluded with delayes molested with requests for the returne of the Councell to Trent and offended by the remaining of the Spaniards in the Citie to make a diuersion at the least hee let the Emperour know that the vsurpers of Piacenza a Towne belonging to the Church had incurred the Censures to the declaration of which hee would proceed fulminating also more of them if within a certaine time prefixed it were not restored to him The Emperour wrote backe a sharpe letter aduising the Pope not to cherish the fugitiues of Naples shewing that all the practises were knowen vnto him and that hee did vnderstand the
it for themselues but in the Article of concupiscence it spake iust as the Lutherans did as also of iustification placing it in the beliefe of the promises and attributing too much yea all to faith In the Article of good workes nothing was said of the merit of condignitie which is the principall point in that matter In the Article of the Church that it hath not deriued vnity from the visible Head which is essentiall and which is worse hath made a Church inuisible by charitie and then made the same visible That it is a secret Artifice to destroy the Hierarchie and establish the Lutheran opinion That to haue made notes of the Church soundnesse of doctrine and the lawfull vse of the Sacraments hath giuen a way to all sects to hold obstinately themselues to bee the Church concealing the true marke which is the obedience to the Pope of Rome That the saying that the Pope was appointed for remedie of Schisme and Bishops by the Law of God was not to be endured That the Sacrament of Penance was made most Lutheran-like in that it was sayd that beleeuing to receiue with this Sacrament that which CHRIST hath promised it happeneth to euery one as hee beleeueth That the principall point of Sacrifice is concealed that it is expiatorie and propitiatory for the liuing and the dead That hauing granted wiues to Priests and the Cup in the Communion of the Laitie euery one might see that with those two abuses the whole Catholike faith was ouerthrowen All the Court laid with one voice that the principall point was in question that the foundations of the Church were shaken that it was necessary to imploy all their forces to excite all Princes to send to the Bishops of all nations and by all meanes to resist this beginning from whence would vndoubtedly follow not the ruine of the Church of Rome for that was impossible but a greater deformation and dishonour then euer But the old Pope beeing most sensible who with the acutenesse of Where the Pope differeth in opinion from all others his iudgement saw more then them all did immediatly penetrate to the bottome and iudged that the enterprise would bee good for him and pernicious for the Emperour He maruelled much at the wisedome and counsell of so great a Prince that by one victory hee should thinke hee was made iudge of all mankinde and presuppose hee was able to contest with both parties That a Prince adhering to one might oppresse another but to contend with both was too much boldnesse of vanity Hee foresaw that the doctrine would generally more displease the Catholikes then the Court and the Protestants most of all and that it would be impugned by all and defended by none wherein there was no neede of his paines because his enemies would worke for him more then himselfe could doe and that it was better to permit the publication of it then to hinder it and rather being in this state in which it is then when it is reformed that it may more easily fall Onely there was neede of three things That the Emperour should not know this That he should be put vpon the businesse as soone as might be And that the first blow should be against the Protestants To effect the first it was fit to make a light opposition in some things for the second to set on foote the interests of the Germane Prelates and for the third to make it cunningly appeare that this doctrine was collected not to vnite both parties but onely to curbe the Protestants by which meanes a great point was gayned that is that a secular Prince did not make Articles of faith for the faithfull but for those that erred Therefore hee sent instructions to Cardinall Sfondrato to make some His instructions to his Legate in Germany opposition and when the doctrine should bee published that hee might not be present to take leaue and bee gone The Cardinall according to his Commission declared in the Popes name that the permission to continue the receiuing of the Cup in the holy Communion though he that receiueth it is not to bee reprehended the custome of receiuing the Sacrament vnder both kindes being abrogated long since was a thing reserued to the Pope as also the granting of marriage to Priests and the rather because it hath neuer been vsed in the Church and the Greekes and Easterne people who doe not binde them to a single life doe graunt that married men may receiue Orders and keeping their wiues may exercise the ministery but doe not nor euer did permit them to marry who were in Orders before He added that without doubt if his Maiestie would graunt these things to bee lawfull he should grieuously offend the Maiesty of God but holding them vnlawfull hee might permit them to the heretikes as a lesser euill It is tolerable and belongeth to the wisedome of a Prince when all euils cannot bee remooued to suffer the least that the greater may bee rooted out That his holinesse perusing the booke saw it was onely a permission to the Lutherans that they may not without end passe from one errour to another and that it is not granted to the Catholikes to beleeue or doe any thing but according to the prescript of the holy Apostolike Sea which onely as Mistris of the faithfull may make Decrees in point of Religion And being assured that this was his Maiesties purpose he told him it would be necessary to make an expresse declaration therof and not to giue the raines so much to the Lutheranes especially in the power of changing ceremonies considering that in the last point hee seemed to giue them too much liberty where hee graunteth that the Ceremonies which may giue cause of Superstition should be taken away Hee added that the Lutherans would hold it lawfull to retaine the Ecclesiasticall goods and iurisdiction vsurped if they were not commanded to make restitution wherein a Councell was not to be expected but execution presently made and that the spoyles being notoriously knowen he neede not obserue the nice points of Law but proceed summarily and with his Princely power This censure was imparted by Caesar to the Ecclesiasticall Electors who The Ecclesiasticall Electors approue the Popes cēsure of the Interim especially concerning restitution of goods vsurped by the Protestants did approoue it but particularly for the point of restitution of Ecclesiasticall goods they affirmed it was necessary without which the worship of God could not bee restored nor Religion preserued nor peace well assured And that because the spoile was manifest iustice did require a short proceeding All the Bishops were of the same opinion The Secular Princes were silent for feare of offending the Emperour and by their example the Ambassadors of the Cities spake but little and of that little little account Wherefore the Emperor maketh a proheme to the Interim was made In regard of the Legates remonstrance the Emperour caused a Proheme to bee made
to treat with Cardinall Pacceco but that hee would let him know the Capitulations which hee required that hee might resolue whether that medicine would cure the maladies of Germanie or should thinke of other remedies it being impossible to continue longer in that State The Pope considering with his inward friends that this was the most important deliberation which could happen in all his Papacie did ballance And the Pope doth seriously deliberate what answer to make the reasons which might perswade or disswade it First he considered that remitting the Councell to Trent hee condemned the Translation to Bolonia which was principally his deede and so should plainly confesse hee had done amisse either willingly or at the instance of another And if there had beene nothing but the Translation it had not beene a matter of so great weight But hauing made himselfe a party to defend it and so earnestly hee could not excuse himselfe of malice if hee did so easily retract it And which imported most he should put himselfe into all those dangers from which Paul a most wise Prince thought fit to secure himselfe perseuered in that opinion vntil his death and that it was a manifest error to reenter into them And though many were not ill affected to him being a new Pope yet it is certaine that the maior part doe not pretend to bee greued at the Pope but at the Popedome and for this particular no man can bee sure that something may not happen in the progresse which may raise him greater hatred though without his fault Besides all men are not mooued with hatred but those that hurt most desire to aduantage themselues by depressing others Therefore it may be concluded that the same reasons which mooued Paul would constraine Iulius also to the same resolution He considered the great troubles that Paul sustained 26. moneths for this cause and the indignities which hee did necessarily suffer and the diminution of the Papall authority not onely in Germany but in Italy also And if this did derogate from Paul confirmed so many yeeres in the Papacie and esteemed by all it would doe it from him much more being a new Pope not hauing as yet made intelligences and adherences necessary for the enterprise of contesting and if a protestation should hee layde on his backe or a Decree as the Interim his authoritie would bee scorned by all Hee was not to reckon of the paines in translating the Councell and his constancie in defending it because with the change of fortune whatsoeuer dependeth on it is changed and the actions of Iohn Maria di Monte doe not appertaine to Pope Iulius and those things which gaue reputation vnto that man doe not giue it vnto this Then it was fit to doe as he did to shew himselfe a faithfull seruant of his Lord but now beeing Lord himselfe the respect of constancie in seruing well doeth quite cease and another doeth succeede which requireth wisedome in applying himselfe to the times Hee considered how popular the Emperours request was in regard the reducing of Germanie was in question and how scandalous it would bee not to hearken vnto it The causes which mooued to make the Councell were plaine and manifest to all those which disswaded were secret knowen to few Finally the Oath made and iterated ought to be regarded which though it did binde to prosecute the Councell without prescribing the place yet it was certaine that without the Emperours consent being king of Spaine and Naples Prince of the low Countries and hauing other adherences in Italie it was impossible to make a generall Councell so that to refuse to bring it backe to Trent and not to prosecute it was all one He inclined to this part most as most agreeable to his disposition desirous rather to flye present incommodities then auoyd future dangers For choosing to celebrate the Councell hee was deliuered from the trouble which the Emperour would giue him and for the dangers which it brought hee began to esteeme them lesse Hee thought the Emperours fortune was not then the same as it was two yeeres before For at that time the expectation of the victorie which hee after obtained gaue him reputation which now seemeth rather to bee burdensome to him then any ease Hee holdeth two Princes prisoners as wolues by the eares The Cities of Germanie doe openly inchne to rebellion The Ecclesiastikes haue a satietie of that domination There are also domesticall crosses in regard of his sonne brother and nephew who aspire to the Empire a businesse which perhaps may giue him trouble beyond his forces In fine he concluded according to his disposition Let vs get out of the present difficultie with hope that our good fortune will not abandon vs. And concealing his resolution hee deputed a Congregation of Cardinals He cōcealeth his resolution vntill it bee confirmed by a congregation of Cardinals and Prelates and other Prelats for the most part Imperialists that they might fall vpon the resolution which hee had taken mingling some few of his trustie friends amongst them to gouerne the businesse according to his purpose To these he proposed the Emperours request giuing order that without all respect euery one should speake what he thought conuenient for the seruice of GOD and the Apostolike Sea And in case they thought fit to condescend they should thinke how to doe it with honour securitie and fruit The Congregation hauing often consulted related to the Pope that they were of opinion the Councel should bee prosecuted because such an Oath was taken in the Conclaue and by his Holinesse after his assumption and to take away scandall from the world which without doubt would be very great incase i◠were not done And it might be prosecuted two wayes one by continuing it in Bolonid another by remitting it to Trent It could not bee continued in Bolonia because Paul had called to him the cause of the Translation and inhibited to proceede any further If his Holinesse did not first giue sentence that the Translation was good it was not lawfull to goe on in that City and if hee did he would giue a lawfull pretence to bee suspected it being knowen that the Translation was made by him as being the prime Legate and President Therefore onely the other way remayned to remit it to Trent and all occasion was so taken away from Germanie to spurne against it and the Emperour was satisfied which was a very essentiall poynt This aduice being brought to the Pope was approued by him and so they passed to that which remained And first it was concluded that the consent and assistance of the French The difficulties 〈…〉 ting y e councel to Trent are debated King was necessary and the presence of the Prelates of his Kingdome otherwise the reputation of the Councell would bee very weake and they should bee in danger to loose France onely to indeuour to regaine Germanie which is lost which were according to the
exhortation to the Fathers of the King of the Romanes and then the Arch-bishops The Masse beeing sung and the Ecclesiasticall ceremonies ended the Secretary read an exhortation to the Fathers of the Councel in the name of the Presidents to this purpose That by the presence of the two Electours being entred into hope that many Bishops of that and other Nations will assist in the Councel they thought fit in the meane time in regard of the place they bare to giue a little admonition to themselues and them though they saw all were ready to doe the office of good Pastours because the matters to bee handled were of great moment that is to extirpate heresies to reforme Ecclesiasticall discipline from the corruption whereof heresies haue risen and finally to pacifie the discords of Princes That the beginning of the exhortation ought to be taken from the knowledge of their owne insufficiencie flying to the assistance of GOD who will not faile them whereof they see many arguments already but especially the comming of the two Princes That the authority of Generall Councels was alwayes very great the holy Ghost presiding in them and their Decrees esteemed not humane but diuine That an example hereof hath beene left by the Apostles and the Fathers following seeing that by Councels all heretiques haue beene condemned the life and manners of Priests and people reformed and the discords of the Church appeased Therefore being now assembled to doe as much they must awaken themselues that they may regaine the sheepe that lept out of the Lords fold and keepe those which haue not gone astray as yet Wherein the saluation of those only is not in question but their owne too in regard they must giue an account to GOD by whom if they performe their duety they shall be rewarded and all posterity will attribute great praise to that Councel but they should not aime at that but onely at their owne duety and charity towards the Church which beeing afflicted wounded and depriued of so many deare children lifteth vp her hands to GOD and them to restore them to her That therefore they would handle the matters of the Councel with all gentlenesse and without contention as becommeth so great an assembly vsing perfit charity and consent of minds knowing that GOD doeth behold and iudge them The exhortation beeing ended the Decree was read by the Bishop that The Decree of the Session is read said Masse the substance whereof was That the holy Synode which in the Session past did determine to proceed in this hauing deferred to doe it vntill now by reason of the absence of the Germane Nation and the small number of the Fathers reioycing for the arriuall of the two Prince Electors hoping that many more of that and other Nations will by their example hasten their comming doth deferre the Session for fourty dayes that is vntill the eleuenth of October and prosecuting the Councell in the state in which it is hauing treated alreadie of the seauen Sacraments of Baptisme and Confirmation doth ordaine to treat of the Eucharist and for reformation to handle those things which doe facilitate residencie Then the Emperours Proxie beeing read the Earle of Mountfort said that the Emperour after hee had obtayned the reduction of the Councel to Trent neuer ceased to labour that the Prelates of his states should goe thither which the presence of the Electours and the frequencie of the Fathers doth demonstrate And to testifie his mind the more he hath sent Don Pedro of the Kingdome of Spaine another of his patrimoniall States and himselfe of Germanie though vnworthy Praying to be receiued for such Iohn Baptista Castello the Speaker answered in the name of the Councell that they were glad to heare the Emperours Mandate hauing by it and the quality of the Proctours conceiued how much they may promise themselues therefore that it hopeth for assistance from them and doth as much as it can admit the Emperours Mandate Likewise the Proxie of the King of the Romanes in the person of Paulus Gregorianus Bishop of Zagabria and of Fredericke Nausea Bishop of Vienna was read and this second did speake and was answered as those of the Emperour After this Iacobus Amiotus Abbat of Bellosana appeared in the name of the French King with letters of his Maiesty which he presented to the Legate The Abbat of Ballosana presenteth the French Kings letters the inscriptioÌ„ wherof giueth distast to the Synode desiring they might be read and his credency heard The Legate receiuing them gaue them to the Secretary to be read The superscription was Sanctissimis in Christo Patribus Conuentus Tridentini The Bishop of Orange and after him the other Spaniards said aloud that those letters were not sent vnto them who were a generall Councel and not a Conuent and therefore that they ought neither to bee read nor opened in publike Session but if the Messenger had ought to say hee should goe home Much was spoken concerning the signification of the word Conuentus the Spaniards persisting that it was iniurious So that the Bishop of Mentz was forced to say that if they would not receiue a letter from the King of France who called them Sanctissimus Conuentus how would they hearken to the Protestants who called them Conuentus Malignantium But the Spanish Prelats continuing still to be more tumultuous then the rest the Legate with the Nuncij and the Emperours Ambassadours retired into the vestry and had a long disputation hereof At the last returning to their place they made it bee told to the Speaker that the Synode doth resolue to reade the letters without preiudice thinking that the word Conuentus is not meant in an ill sence and if it be doth protest of the Nullitie Then the Kings letter was opened and read which was dated the 13. of August and said in substance That it seemed agreeable to the obseruance which his ancestors haue alwaies vsed towards the Church to signifie to them the causes why he hath bin forced not to send any B. to the conuâ—nt called by Iulius by the name of a publike Councel being assured that they the fathers wil not condemne any mans fact before they know it and that when they shal vnderstand what he hath done they wil commend it That he was compelled for preseruation of his honour to continue in his resolution to protect the Duke of Parma from which hee would not refuse to depart if Iustice and Equity did permit That hee writeth to them as to Honourable Iudges praying them to receiue the letters not as from an addersary The contents of them or a person vnknowen but as from the Prince and principall sonne of the Church by inheritance of his Ancestors whom hee promiseth alwayes to imitate and while he defendeth himselfe from wrongs not to lay aside his charity towards the Church but euer to receiue whatsoeuer shall be constituted by her so that due order be obserued in making the Decrees
man but was by all others knowen to bee an errour In the ninth Article the first part that as much is not contained vnder one Species as vnder both was thought to bee hereticall by the Dutch Diuines but the Italians sayd it must bee distinguished before it could bee condemned For if it were vnderstood in respect of the vertue of the consecration it is cleare that vnder the bread there is the body onely and vnder the wine the blood onely but by consequence which the Diuines call Concomitancie vnder the bread there is the blood soule and diuinitie and vnder the wine there is the body and the other things and therefore it is not to be condemned in so generall termes But for the second that as much is receiued by one as by both there was a difference for many did thinke that although no more of the Sacrament yet more grace was receiued so that they did desire a declaration herein In the tenth some would haue the first part expounded of dead faith because there is no doubt but that a liuely faith is sufficient For the necessitie of Confession the Dominicans considered that many learned and holy Catholiques held that opinion so that to condemne that would bee to condemne them Others proposed for a temper that it should not bee condemned as hereticall but as pernicious Some would haue this condition added if there were commodity for a Confessor The last part for communicating at Easter it not beeing commanded by the Law of GOD but by the Church onely the common opinion was that it ought not to bee condemned for hereticall it being a thing not heard of that one should bee condemned of heresie for not approouing a particular humane precept Many Diuines did propose another Article also taken out of the writings of Luther which was necessary to condemne And it was this that although there was a necessitie to recite the words of CHRIST yet they are not the cause of the presence of CHRIST in the Sacrament but the cause is the faith of him who receiueth it After all the diuines had spoken the deputed Fathers did collect seuen Out of which 7. Anathematismes are composed Anathematismes out of their opinions which being proposed in the generall Congregation it was first of all considered that it was not fit to passe ouer the matter with Anathematismes onely that this was not to teach but onely to confirme that the ancient Councels had not done so which alwayes had expounded the Catholike opinion and then condemned the contrary that the same succeeded well to this Councell in the matter of Iustification and although it was forced in the Session of the Sacraments to change this course for vrgent respects yet that was rather to bee imitated which was then done by reason then that which was after changed by necessitie This opinion was cherished by the Italian Diuines who saw there was but one way to regaine their reputation lost For as the Dutch and Flemish Diuines were of abilitie to prooue the conclusions by authorities so to expound them and finde their causes there was neede of Schoole Diuinitie in which themselues were well seene This opinion did preuaile and order was giuen that the Heads of doctrine should bee framed and Fathers deputed to see it done The Heads were reduced to the number of eight Of the Reall presence Of the Institution Of the excellencie Eight heads of doctrine are proposed to bee discussed Of Transubstantiation Of worship Of preparation to receiue the Sacrament Of the vse of the Cup in the Communion of the Laitie Of the Communion of Children It was proposed also to make a collection of the abuses which did occurre and to adde the remedies Then in that Congregation and some of those that followed the Fathers began to speake their opinion concerning the seuen Anathematismes wherein nothing remarkeable was sayde but that in condemning those who confessed not the reall presence of the Lords body many desired that the Canon should bee more fat and pregnant for so their wordes were that in the Eucharist there is the body of IESVS CHRIST the same which was borne of the Virgin did suffer on the Crosse was buried raysed and ascended into heauen sitteth on the right hand of GOD and shall come to iudgement And some of them called to minde that there wanted one very important point that is to declare that the Minister of this Sacrament is the Priest lawfully ordained Which they did because Luther and his followers doe often say that euery Christian may doe it euen a woman But the Earle of Montfort perceiuing that they treated of a matter much controuersed especially of the Communion of the Cup which was the most palpable popular and best vnderstood by all hee thought that if The Ambassadors of the Emperor and Ferdinand disswâ—de the discussion of the Communion vnder one kinde that were determined the Protestants would neuer bee induced to come to the Councell and all the labour would bee in vaine And hauing imparted this to his Colleagues and the Ambassadors of Ferdinand they went all together to the Presidents to whom when they had shewed what paines Caesar had taken both in warre and in the negotiation to make the Protestants submit to the Councell which they would neuer doe if they went not thither they shewed that they ought to apply themselues principally to this and to that end the Emperour had giuen them a Safe conduct But they were not contented with it alleadging that it was decreed in the Councel of Constance and really executed that the Councell is not bound by the Safe conduct of any whatsoeuer hee bee and therefore they required one from the Synode which was promised to them by Caesar who gaue charge to them his Ambassadours to obtaine it of the Councell Whereunto the Legate making a very complementall answere and referring himselfe to the Session which should bee held to gaine time that hee might giue an account thereof to Rome the earle added that for the same cause he thought it not fit that before their comming the controuersed points of the Eucharist should bee handled that there wanted not matters of reformation to be treated on or others in which there was no difference The Legate answered that it was resolued long agoe to handle the Eucharist neither could it be altered because it was concluded before that the Decrees of faith and reformation should goe hand in hand and that the matter of the Eucharist did follow that of reformation which was handled last before they went to Bolonia But hee sayd that this was more controuersed with the Zinglian Suisses then with the Protestants who are not Sacramentaries as those The Count spake of the Communion of the Cup and said that if that point were decided against them which is vnderstood by all the people and a thing whereon they stand most it was impossible to reduce them That Caesar also in the Decree of the
Order with whose blood iustice had nothing to doe if so much solemnitie did not precede It was iustly ordered that the Bishops should not doe it but in publique apparelled with the holy vestments and which more imported with the assistance of twelue Bishops in the Degradation of a Bishop of sixe in the Degradation of a Priest of three in the Degradation of a Deacon who were to bee present in their Pontificall ornaments And it seeming strange that a Bishop who might giue a degree without companie could not take it away alone Pope Innocentius the third remooued the marueile with a maxime which hath not much probability saying that temporall buildings are hardly erected and easily pulled downe but spirituall contrarily are easily built and hardly destroyed The vulgar held the Degradation for a necessary thing and when it happened ranne to it with vnspeakeable frequencie But learned men doe know the bottome of it For hauing determined that in the collation of the Order a signe is imprinted in the soule called a Character which is impossible to blot out or remooue by Degradation this remaineth a pure Ceremony performed for reputation onely In Germanie there beeing but few Bishops it could not bee done without immense charge to bring so many into one place And those Dutch Prelates who were in the Councell for the most part Princes did know more then others how necessary it is for examples sake to punish with death the wickednesse of Priests wherefore they desired that prouision should be made therein This particular was much discussed and in the end it was resolued not to change the Ceremony by any meanes but to finde a temper that the difficulty and the cost might be moderated The Legat though euery weeke he had giuen an account to the Pope of all occurrences yet he was willing to establish in Congregation the draughts of the Decrees that he might send a copie of them and receiue an answere before the Session Wherefore the generall Congregation being assembled not making mention of what was written to him from Rome hee made a relation of that which the Earle of Mountfort had represented adding that the request for a Safe Conduct seemed reasonable and also the deferring of whatsoeuer could bee deferred with honour For hauing appointed already to speake of the Eucharist the first day of September they could not choose but doe it but to omit some point more important and more controuersed was a thing which might be granted And the voyces beeing collected all were of opinion that the Safe Conduct should bee giuen but concerning the matter to bee handled some thought that it was not for their honour to deferre it if the Protestants did not giue securitie that they would come to handle it and submit themselues to the determination of the Councell Others said that their honour was saued if it were done at their A dispute what points of doctrine are to be handled vntill the comming of the Protestants request and this was the more common opinion Then the Legate added that they might reserue the matter of ministring the Cup to the Laitie and to shew that they did not come for one Article onely they might ioyne also with it the Communion of Children And order was taken to compose the Decree in this particular Which beeing read some thought it was too little to reserue two Articles and therefore that it was better to diuide the first into three and so reserue foure and to adde the Sacrifice of the Masse the controuersies whereof are great For so it will appeare that many things are reserued and the most principall and in this opinion all did agree And when it was sayd that the Protestants desire to bee heard concerning these a Prelate of Germanie stoode vp and asked by whom and to whom this request was made because it did much import that this should appeare otherwise when they should say it was not true the honour of the Councell would bee much blemished But there beeing nothing but what Count Mountfort had sayd as of himselfe and that also not restrained to those foure heads nor to the matter of the Eucharist but in generall of all the Controuersies they were much troubled how to resolue To shew that this reseruation was made by their owne motion besides that it was an indignitie it did draw an obiection vpon them that they ought to reserue all This way was found to bee least ill not to say that the Protestants make request but that they desire to bee heard whereof there can bee no doubt made because they haue sayd it vpon diuers occasions and though they meant concerning all the controuersies yet it is no falsitie to speake that of a part which is spoken of the whole number not excluding the rest Some thought that this was to hide themselues behinde a thread but yet it did passe because they knew not how to doe better For this cause the matters reserued beeing to bee taken out of the Heads of doctrine and the Anathematismes these which remained were for more perspicuitie diuided and reduced to eleuen When they were to make the Decrees against the abuses they knew not where to put them Amongst those of faith they were not to bee placed beeing of Ceremonies and vses With those of Reformation they did not agree in regard of the diuersity of the matter To ranke them by themselues was a nouitie and did alter the order set downe After a long dispute it was concluded to omit them now and after to place them with the Decrees of the Masse The points of the Reformation were accepted without difficultie hauing beene already established by themselues There remained the forme of the Safe Conduct which was referred to the Presidents to compose by the helpe of those who had experience in such things which assisted the Legate to make that forme passe which was sent him from Rome The eleuenth of October beeing come they went to the Church as they were wont The Bishop of Maiorica sang Masse and the Archbishop of Torre made the Sermon which was all in the praise of the Sacrament of the Eucharist And other vsuall Ceremonies being performed the Decree of the doctrine was read by the Bishops that did celebrate the Masse The substance whereof was That the Synod assembled to declare the ancient faith A Session is held and to remedy the inconueniences caused by the Sectes did desire from the beginning to roote cut the cockle sowed in the field of the Eucharist Therefore The Decree of doctrine concerning the Eucharist teaching the Catholike doctrine euer beleeued by the Church it doth prohibite all the faithfull hereafter to beleeue teach or preach otherwise then is declared First it teacheth that in the Eucharist after the Consecration CHRIST is contained truely really and substantially vnder the appearances of the sensible things notwithstanding he is in heauen by a naturall existence because he is present in his substance in
Saint Iames did vnderstand the ancients for age and not the Priests ordained by the Bishop But if any maruaile why it is said in the first head of the doctrine that 14. Articles of reformation are handled in which the Presidents of the Synod the Bishops haue diuers ends this Sacrament is insinuated by CHRIST our Lord in Saint Marke and published in Saint Iames whereas the antecedence and consequence of the words did require that it should not bee sayd insinuated but instituted hee may know that it was first so written but a Diuine hauing obserued that the Apostles who anoynted the sicke of whom Saint Marke speaketh were not Priests because the Church of Rome holdeth that Priesthood was conferred vpon them onely in the last Supper it seemed a contradiction to affirme that the Vnction which they gaue was a Sacrament and that Priests onely are ministers of it Whereunto some who held it to bee a Sacrament and at that time instituted by CHRIST did answere that CHRIST commanding them to minister the Vnction made them Priests concerning that acte onely As if the Pope should command a simple Priest to giue the Sacrament of Chrisme he made him a Bishop for that acte Yet it was thought too dangerous to affirme it absolutely Therefore in stead of the word Institutum they put Insinuatum Which word what it may signifie in such a matter euery one may iudge who vnderstandeth what Insinuare is and doeth apply it to that which the Apostles then did and to that which was commanded by Saint Iames and to the determination made by this Councell But in matter of reformation as hath beene said fourteene Articles were proposed all belonging to Episcopall iurisdiction whereof when they had vnderstood the opinion of the Canonists in the particular Congregations and read all in the generall they came to frame the Decree Herein the ayme of the B B was to increase their authority to recouer that which the Pope had vsurped from them and of the Presidents to grant as little as they could But both parties did proceede cunningly and made shew to regard onely the seruice of God and the restitution of the ancient Ecclesiasticall discipline The Bishops thought they were hindered in executing their office For when they did suspend any from exercise of their orders or Ecclesiasticall degrees and dignities for causes knowen to themselues or did refuse to let them passe to higher degrees all was retracted by a Licence or Dispensation gotten at Rome which caused a disreputation of the Bishops damnation of soules and a totall ruine of discipline Concerning this the first head was made that such Licences and Restitutions should not bee offorce But the President for the honour of the Apostolique Sea would not haue the Pope named nor the chiefe Penitentiarie nor any ministers of the Court from whom such Licences were wont to bee obtained The titular Bishops did also hinder them who beeing depriued by a Decree published in the sixt Session of power to exercise the pontificall office in the Diocesses without leaue of the proper Bishop did retire themselues into a place exempt from all Bishopriques admitting those to holy orders who were before reiected as vnfit by their owne Bishops which they did by vertue of a priuiledge to ordaine any that offered himselfe vnto them This was prohibited in the second head but with this moderation that for reuerence of the Apostolike Sea mention should not bee made who granted the priuiledge And consequently in the third head power was giuen to the Bishops to suspend for what time they pleased any one ordained without their examination or with licence by facultie giuen by whomsoeuer These things the wiser sort of Bishops knew to bee of small weight because the Canonists doe hold that 344 Licences Priuiledges and Faculties granted by the Pope are neuer comprehended in generall words without speciall mention bee made of them But not beeing able to obtaine more they were content with this hoping that time might open them a way to proceede further It was also decreed in the same sixth Session that no secular Clerke by vertue of personall Priuiledge nor Regular dwelling out of the Monasterie by vigor of the Priuiledge of his order should bee exempt from the correction of the Bishoppe as Delegate of the Apostolike Sea Which some thinking not to containe the Canons of Cathedrall Churches and other Collegiate dignities who not by priuiledge but by ancient custome or by sentences put in execution or by Concordates with the Bishops established and sworne were in possession of not beeing subiect to Bishops and others also restraining it onely to visitation it was ordained in the fourth head that concerning secular Clerkes it should bee extended to all times and all sorts of excesses and declared that none of the things aforesayd should withstand Another disorder as great did arise because the Pope did grant a Iudge at the election of the supplicant to whosoeuer did seeke it by the ordinary meanes vsed in Court with authoritie to defend protect and maintaine him in possession of his rights and to remooue the molestation giuen him extending also this fauour to all his domestiques And this sort of Iudges were called Conseruators who did stretch their authoritie in place of defending the supplicant from molestations to withdraw him from iust corrections and also at their instance to molest and trouble the Bishops and other ordinary Ecclesiasticall superiours with censures The fifth point made prouision against this disorder ordaining that Conseruatorie graces should not helpe any body nor free him from inquisition accusation and conuention before the Ordinary in criminall and mixt causes and in ciuill also in which hee is plaintife and in other causes if the Conseruator bee suspected or difficultie arise betweene him and the Ordinary who is competent Iudge that arbitrators shall bee chosen according to the forme of the Law and that Conseruatory letters which comprehend domestiques shall bee extended but vnto two who doe liue at the charge of the Master of the familie and that these and the like graces shall not continue aboue fiue yeeres and that the Conseruators shall not haue Tribunals But the Synod did not meane to containe in this Decree Vniuersities Colledges of Doctours and Schollers places of Regulars and Hospitals Concerning which exception when this point was handled there was very great contention it seeming to the Bishops that against all right the exception was larger then the rule because the number of Doctors Schollers Regulars and Hospitalaries is greater then of all others who can haue Conseruatorie letters and that the prouision against any particular man was easie but the disorders of Vniuersities and Colledges were of the greatest importance The Legate gaue an account heereof to Rome where it beeing decided by that which was consulted vnder Paul the third that it was necessary for maintenance of the Apostolique Sea that the Friars and Vniuersities should totally depend on
though for other ends as hath beene said yet the Scripture doth expresse all the singularities of them Now that CHRIST would introduce a rite to confesse our sinnes in particular so exactly as that no vse was euer the like it seemed strange that hee would bee vnderstood by words from which it must bee drawne by a very vnioynted consequence yea by many consequences very farre fetcht as was done by the Councell And they wondred why the institutiō being made by the word remitto the forme was not I remit thy sinnes rather then Iabsolue thee Others added that if by those words a Sacrament of absolution is instituted with this forme Absoluo te by which one is absolued one must say by an vnresistable necessitie that another or the same is instituted in which this forme should likewise be Ligo te because it cannot be vnderstood how the same authoritie to loose and binde founded vpon the words of CHRIST absolutely alike doth require in absolution the pronouncing of the wordes Absoluo te and that other of binding doth not require the pronouncing of the words Ligo te Nor by what reason to execute that which CHRIST hath said Quorum retinueritis c. quaecunqne ligaueritis c. it is not necessary to say Ligo te but to execute Quorum remiseritis quaecunque solueritis it is necessary to say Absoluo te Likewise the doctrine inferred in the fifteeneth point was censured by critiques where it is saide that CHRIST by the same words did constitute the Priests iudges of sinnes and therefore that it is necessarie to confesse them all absolutely and in particular together with the circumstances which alter the kinde seeing that it doeth appeare by the words of our Lord that he hath not distinguished two sorts of sinnes one to bee remitted and the other to be retained whereby it would bee necessarie to know of which the delinquent is guiltie but one onely which doeth comprehend all and therefore the word Peccata in generall is onely vsed But hee hath distinguished two sortes of sinners saying Quorum Quorum one of the Penitent vnto whom remission is granted another of the obstinate vnto whom it is denyed Therefore they are rather to know the state of the delinquent then the nature and number of the sinnes But concerning the circumstances which alter the kinde it was said that euery honest man may sweare with a good conscience that the holy Apostles and their disciples most skilfull in things celestiall not regarding humane subtilties did neuer knowe what were the circumstances which alter the kinde and perhaps if Aristotle had not made this speculation the worlde would not haue knowen it vntill now and yet there is made of it an Article of Faith necessary to saluation But as it was approoued that Absoluo was a iudiciall word and reputed a good consequence that if the Priests doe absolue they are Iudges so it appeared to be an inconstancie to condemne those who say it is a naked ministerie to pronounce it being plaine that the office of a Iudge is nothing but to pronounce him innocent who is so and the transgressor guiltie and that this metaphore of the Iudge doth not beare that the Priest can make a iust man of a delinquent as is ascribed to him The Prince may pard on offenders and restore them to their good name to whom hee that maketh a wicked man iust is more like then to a Iudge who doeth euer transgresse his office when hee pronounceth any thing but that which hee first findeth to be true But they were amazed most of all when they read the poynt where the specificall and singular confession of sinnes with the circumstances is prooued because the iudicature cannot bee executed without knowledge of the cause nor equitie obserued in imposing punishment if the faults be knowen onely in general and afterwards that CHRIST hath commanded this confession that they may impose the cōdigne punishment They said that this was plainely to mock the world and think all men fooles to perswade themselues that all their absurdities should be beleeued without more to doe For who knoweth not and seeth not dayly that the Confessors enioyne Penance not onely without weighing the merit of the faults but without hauing the least consideration of them It would seeme considering the words of the Councell that the Confessors should haue a balance to make difference of euery graine and yet oftentimes to recite fiue Pater nosters shall bee a Penance for many murders adulteries and thefts and the most learned Confessors and generally all in giuing Penance doe say to euery man that they doe impose onely part of the Penance Therefore it is not necessarie to impose that exact Penance which the faults doe deserue nor to haue a particular enumeration made of the sinnes and circumstances But what neede one goe so farre when the same Councell in the ninth point of the doctrine and the thirteenth Anathematisme doth ordaine that satisfaction is made by voluntary Penance and suffering of aduersities Therefore it is not needefull yea not iust to impose in Confession the punishment that is correspondent and by consequence not to make a specificall enumeration which is sayd to bee ordained for this ende And they added that not considering any thing spoken before the Confessor though most learned attentiue and wise hauing heard the Confession of an ordinary man for one yeere much more of a great sinner for many yeeres it is impossible hee should iudge aright though hee had Canons of the punishment due to any sinne whatsoeuer without danger to erre more then halfe to speake the least For a Confessor seeing all in writing and considering many dayes of it could not make a balance to decide iustly much lesse hearing and resoluing presently as the custome is They said it was not fit they should be so contemned held so insensible as to beleeue such absurdities Of the reseruation of Cases enough was said by the Diuines of Louine and Collen which was attributed to a desire of dominion and to auarice The next day there was a generall Congregation to giue order for the The Sacrifice of the Masse the Communion of the Cup and of children are handled discussion of the Sacrifice of the Masse and the Communion of the Cup and of Children And although the Decrees were already made for the Session of the eleuenth of October and deferred yet they discoursed againe as if nothing had beene sayd and did choose Fathers to collect the Articles to bee disputed on and others to make the Decree And because they made hast seuen Articles were suddenly framed whereon they disputed twise euery day in which number was the Ambassadour of Ferdinand and Iulius Plugius Bishop of Namburg and for greater reputation the Electour of Collen that all that doctrine might seeme to come from Germany and not from Rome They made also thirteene Anathematismes condemning those for heretiques who doe not
held wherein the dilation made vntill the comming of the Protestant Diuines should be published and Fathers elected who together with the Nuncio of Sponto should make the Decree the Protestation and Safe Conduct The Emperours Ambassadours desired to haue the draught of the Safe Conduct before it was published to shew it the Protestants that if it did not giue them satisfaction it might be so amended that they might not haue occasion to refuse it as they did the other The dayes following were spent in the things aforesaid which beeing An exhortation of the Emperours Ambassadour Pictauius to the Protestants finished the Emperours Ambassadours called the Protestants to them and the Ambassadour Pictauius hauing made an eloquent encomiastique oration of the goodnesse and charitie of the Fathers and exhorted them to giue some little part of satisfaction to the Councell as they receiued much from it told them that it was concluded to receiue their Mandats and persons and to heare their propositions and to deferre the conclusion of the points of doctrine though already discussed and digested to expect the Diuines and heare them first That they should haue a very ample Safe Conduct as they desired whereof the draught was made And hee was copious in shewing that these were memorable fauours and graces saying it was necessary to yeeld something to the time and not to desire all at once that when they shall bee entred into the businesse occasion will make them obtaine many things which before seemed hard that the Fathers doe desire the comming of the Diuines that themselues the Emperours Ambassadours haue matters to propose of great moment and doe stand onely expecting that the Protestants should beginne that afterwards they may come foorth themselues also For this cause he prayed them to proceed slowly in their demand that the Pope should submit himselfe to the Councell For the Fathers doe know that there is some thing to bee amended in the Papall greatnesse but withall that they must goe on cunningly that themselues haue dayly experience what dexterity and Art must bee vsed in treating with the Popes Ministers Likewise the reexamination of the things already concluded was not to be proposed in the very beginning because it would bee too great an infamy and dishonour to the Councell Therefore let their Diuine come who should haue a conuenient audience in all things and when they shall see themselues wronged it shall euer be free for them to depart The Protestants retyring themselues and considering the draught of the safe Conduct were not content because it was not like to that of Basill in which foure things more were granted to the Bohemians 1. That they should haue a decisiue voyce 2. That the holy Scripture the practise of ancient Church the Councels and Interpreters conformable to the Scripture should bee Iudges 3. That they might exercise their religion in their houses 4. That nothing should be done in contempt and disdaine of their doctrine Of Who are not content with the forme of the Safe Conduct these foure the second was different from that which was graunted in this draught and the three others were totally left out They suspected also because the Councell did not promise them security in the name of the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals as did that of Basil Yet they resolued not to make mention of this but to demand the inserting of the other 4. clauses and told the Emperours Ambassadours plainly that they could not receiue it in this forme because they had this expresse commission in their instructions Toledo shewed some disdaine that they should not content themselues with that which he and his Colleagues had obtained with so much paines that the chiefe importance was in the security of comming and departing and that the residue appertained to the maner of their negotiation which might more easily be concluded by the presence of the Diuines that it was too much obstinacie to yeeld in nothing and to desire to giue lawes alone to the whole For which cause Toledo the Emperors Ambassadour is offended Church But it not being impossible to remoue them with these reasons from their resolution they said in the end that they would referre it to the Fathers to whom they restored the draught of the safe Conduct with the additions which were required The Legate and presidents vnderstanding the request and resolution of the Protestants shewed the Emperours Ambassadours how vniust and vnmeet their demands were For in the forme or that of Basil they neuer found that it was granted to haue a decisiue voyce in the Councell but that the Scripture practise of the Church Councels and Doctours who ground themselues on it should bee Iudges is sayd because the practise of the Church is called by the name of Apostolicall Tradition and when it is said the holy Fathers it is vnderstood that they ground themselues on the Scripture because they haue no other gounds The third to exercise their Religion in their owne houses is vnderstood with condition that it bee not knowen and done without scandall The prohibition that nothing shall bee done in contempt of them is expresse when it is promised that by no meanes they shall bee offended Therefore that it did appeare that they complayned without cause onely to cauill and in regard there is no hope to content them there doeth remaine nothing but to giue them the Safe Conduct as it is made and to leaue them to their liberty to make vse of it or not The Earle of Mountfort replied that nothing could bee more seruiceable to the publique cause then to take from them all pretences and cauils and to make them vnexcusable to the world therefore in regard there was no reall difference betweene the Safe Conduct of Basil and this to stoppe their mouthes that might bee copied out Verbatim changing onely the names of the persons places and times The Presidents mooued with that subtile and strict answere looked one vpon another and the Legat taking the matter vpon him answered that it should be referred to the Fathers in the Congregation and resolued according to their determination The Presidents did recommend the cause of GOD and the Church euery one to his familiar friends To the Italians and Spaniards they said that it was great iniury to bee compelled to follow a company of Schismatiques who haue spoken vnaduisedly and contrary to Christian doctrine and bound themselues to follow the Scripture onely But vnto all in generall they sayd it would be a great indignitie if the Councell should so speake as that an inextricable dispute should presently arise For in setting downe what Doctors doe ground themselues vpon the Scripture they should neuer agree that it was honourable for the Councell to speake plainely and that the expression made was iust the declaration of the Councel of Basil And such perswasions they vsed as that almost all were resolued not to change the draught hoping that though the Protestants
Many are burned in England for Religion they had beene liuing and their bodies digged vp and burned an action commended by some as a reuenge of what Henrie the eight had done against S. Thomas by others compared to that which the Popes Stephanus the sixth and Sergius the third did against the Corps of Pope Formosus Many also were at the same time burned in France for Religion not And in France also without the indignation of honest men who knew that the diligence vsed against those poore people was not for pietie or Religion but to satiate Which was done to satiate the couetousnesse of Diana Valentina the couetousnesse of Diana Valentina the Kings Mistris to whom he had giuen all the confiscations of goods made in the Kingdome for cause of Heresie It was wondred also that those of the new reformation should meddle with blood for cause of Religion For Michael Seruetus of Tarragona made a Diuine of a Physician renewing the old opinion of Paulus Samosatenus and Marcellus Anciranus that the word of God was not a thing subsisting and therefore that Christ was a pure man was put to death for Michael Seruetus is burned in Geneua it in Geneua by Counsell of the Ministers of Zuric Berne and Schiaffusa and Iohn Caluin who was blamed for it by many wrote a Booke defending that the Magistrate may punish Heretickes with losse of life which Doctrine being drawen to diuers sences as it is vnderstood more strictly or more largely or as the name of Hereticke is taken diuersly may sometime doe hurt to him whom another time it hath helped At that time Ferdinand King of the Romanes published an Edict to all The King of the Romanes publisheth an Edict against all innouation in Religion the people subiect vnto him that in points of Religion and Rites they should not innouate but follow the ancient customes and particularly that in the holy Communion they should bee content to receiue the Sacrament of bread onely Wherein though many persons of note the Nobilitie and many of the Cities made Supplication vnto him that at the least the Cup might bee granted them saying that the institution was of Christ which might not bee altered by men and that it was the vse of the old Church as was confessed by the Councell of Constance promising all submission and obedience in all other things praying him not to burthen their consciences but to accommodate his commandement to the orders set downe by the Apostles and of the Primitiue Church yet Ferdinand perseuered in his resolution and answered them that his commandement was not new but an ancient institution vsed by his Ancestors Emperours Kings and Dukes of Austria and that the vse of the Cup was a nouitie brought in by curiositie or pride against the Law of the Church and consent of the Prince Yet hee moderated the rigour of the answere saying that the question being of a point that concerneth saluation hee would thinke of it more diligently and answere them in fit time but that in the meane while hee expected from them obedience and obseruation of the Edict Hee published also a Catechisme the fourteenth of And a Catechisme August made by his authoritie by some learned and pious Diuines 1555 PAVL 4. CHARLES 5. MARY 〈◊〉 HENRY 2. Which gaue distaste to the Court of Rome commaunding all the Magistrates of those Countries not to suffer any Schoolemasters to reade any but that either in publique or in priuate because by diuers Pamphlets which went about Religion was much corrupted in those Countryes This constitution distasted the Court of Rome because it was not sent to the Pope to bee approoued by his authoritie nor came foorth in the name of the Bishop of the Countrey the secular Prince assuming the office to cause to bee composed and to Authorize Bookes in matter of Religion especially by name of Catechisme to shew that it belonged to the secular power to determine what Religion the people should follow and what refuse The two yeeres of the suspension of the Councell being expired they treated in the Consistorie what was fit to bee done For although the condition in the Decree was that the Councell should be of force againe when the impediments were remooued which did still continue by reason of the warres of Siena Piemont and others betweene the Emperour and the French King yet it seemed that any man of an vnquiet Spirit might say that those impediments were not sufficient and that it was vnderstood that the Councell was on foote againe so that to free themselues from those dangers it might be good to make a new declaration But wiser men It is resolued in Rome not to speak of the Councell though the two yeeres of suspension were ended gaue counsell not to mooue the euill while it was quiet while the world was silent while neither Prince nor People demaunded the Councell lest by shewing they were afraid they might excite others to require it This aduice preuayled and made the Pope resolue neuer to speake more of it In the yeere 1555. there was a Diet in Ausburg which the Emperour 1555. A Diet. 〈◊〉 had in Ausburg to compose the differences in Religion had intimated principally to compose the controuersies of religion in regard this was the fountaine of all the troubles and calamities of Germanie with the losse not onely of the liues of many thousands of men but of their soules also Ferdinand began the Diet in the Emperours name the fifth of Februarie where hee shewed at large the lamentable spectacle of Germanie in which men of the same Baptisme Language In which Ferdinand maketh an Oration and Empire were distracted by so various a profession of Faith there arising new Sects euery day which did shew not onely small reuerence towards God and great perturbations of mens mindes but was cause also that the multitude knew not what to beleeue and that many of the principall Nobilitie and others were without all faith and honestie making no conscience of their actions which tooke away all commerce so that now it could not bee sayd that the Germanes were better then the Turkes and other barbarous people for which causes God hath afflicted it with so great calamities Therefore it was necessarie to take in hand the businesse of religion Hee sayd a generall free and pious Councell was formerly thought the onely remedie For the cause of Faith beeing common to all Christians it ought to bee handled by all and the Emperour imploying all his forces heerein did cause it to bee assembled more then once But there was no neede to say why no fruit came by it it beeing well knowen to all that were present Now if they desired to prooue the same remedie againe it was necessary to remooue the impediments which did 1555 MARCDILVS 〈◊〉 CHARLES 5. MARY HENRY 2. hinder them from attaining the wished end But if by reason of the accidents
it in a Mercuriall so they call the iudicature instituted to examine and correct the actions of the Counsellors of Parliament and Iudges of the King held in Paris the 15. of Iune where they were to treate of Religion after the Congregation was assembled entred in person Hee said hee had established peace in the whole world by the marriages of his sister and daughter that hee might prouide against the inconueniences bred in his Kingdome about Religion which ought to bee the principall care of Princes Therefore vnderstanding they were to treat of this subiect hee exhorted them to handle Gods cause with sinceritie And hauing commaunded them to prosecute the things begun Claude Viole one of them spake much against the manners of the Court of Rome and the bad customes growen to bee pernicious errours which haue caused the new sects Therefore it was necessary to mitigate the seuere punishments vntill the differences of religion were remooued and the Ecclesiasticall discipline amended by authority of a Generall Councell the onely remedie for these euils as the Councels of Constance and Basil haue iudged commanding that one should bee celebrated euery ten yeeres His opinion was followed by Ludouicus Faber and some others Anne du Bourg did adde that many villanies were comitted condemned by the Lawes for punishment whereof the rope and fire were not sufficient as frequent blasphemies against God periuries adulteries not onely secret but euen cherished with impudent licence making himselfe to be plainely vnderstood that hee spake not onely of the Grandies of the Court but of the King himselfe also adding that while men liued thus dissolutely diuers torments were prepared against those who were guilty of nothing but of publishing to the world the vices of the Church of Rome and desiring an amendment of them In opposition of all this Egidius Magister the prime President spake against the new sects concluding that there was no other remedie but that which was formerly vsed against the Albigenses of whom Philippus Augustus put to death sixe hundred in one day and against the Waldenses who were choked in the caues whither they retired to hide themselues When all the voyces were giuen the King said he had now heard with his owne eares that which before was told him that the contagion of the Kingdome doth hence arise 1559 PIVS 4. FERDINAND PHILIP 2. ELIZABETH HENRY 2. And coÌ„mandeth some of the Counsellors of Parliament to bee imprisoned that there are in the Parliament who doe despise the Popes authoritie and his that he well knoweth they are but few but the cause of many euils Therefore hee exhorted those who are good subiects to continue in doing their duety and immediatly gaue order that Faber and du Bourg should be imprisoned and afterward caused foure more to bee apprehended in their houses which did much daunt those who embraced the new religion For the Counsellors of Parliament in France beeing reputed most sacred and inuiolable who notwithstanding were put into prison for deliuering their opinion in publike Assembly they concluded that the King would pardon none But examples of great feares are alwayes ioyned with others of equall boldnesse 15â—9 The Reformatists hold a Synod in Paris For at the same time as if there had beene no danger at all the ministers of the Reformed for so the Protestants are called in France assembled in Paris in the suburbes of Saint German made a Synode in which Franciscus Morellus the chiefe man amongst them was President ordayning diuers constitutions of the manner of holding Councels of remoouing the domination in the Church of the election and office of Ministers of censures of marriages of diuorces of degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie that throughout all France they might not onely haue an vniforme faith but discipline also And their courage did increase because the fame of the seuerity vsed in France comming into Germanie the three Electors and And are encouraged by the intercession of the Protestant Princes of Germanie other Protestant Princes sent Ambassadours to the King praying him to proceede with pietie and Christian charitie against the professors of their Religion guiltie of nothing but of accusing the corrupted manners and the discipline peruerted by the Church of Rome which had bene done more then an hundred yeeres since by other godly Doctors of France For that Kingdome beeing now in quiet the differences of Religion may easily bee composed by the disputation of able men desirous of peace who may examine their confession by the rule of holy Scripture and of the ancient Fathers suspending in the meane time the seueritie of the sentences which they will receiue as a thing most gratefull and remaine much obliged to him for it The King gaue a courteous answere in generall wordes promising Which did them no good to giue them satisfaction and to send one expresly to signifie so much vnto them Yet he remitted nothing of the seueritie but after the Ambassadours were parted hee deputed foure Iudges of the body of the Parliament in the causes of the prisoners with the Bishop of Paris and the Inquisitor Antonie de Mocares commaunding them to proceede with all expedition The Pope vnto whom all these things were knowen as hee was much discontented with the progresse of the new doctrine in the States of both the Kings so hee was pleased that those Princes did thinke of it and mooued them by his Nuncij and by their Ambassadours residing with him to doe so still But hee would not haue any other meanes then that of the Inquisition which he thought the onely remedie as he said vpon all occasions iudging that the Councell would doe as formerly it had done that is reduce all into a worse state While he was possessed with these cogitations and weake of body the King of France died the second of Iuly by a wound in the eye running at Tilt for which hee seemed very sorrowfull and was so indeede For although hee suspected and with reason the intelligence betweene the 1559. PAVL 4. FERDINAND ELIZABETH FRANCIS 2. Henry the second dyeth the second of Iuly two Kings yet hee had still hope to separate them But the one being dead he saw he was at the discretion of the other alone whom he more feared because he was more offended by him and was of a more close nature hard to be sounded Hee feared also that in France a gate would be set wide open to let in sectes which might bee confirmed before the new King could get so much wisedome and reputation as was necessary to oppose so great difficulties Hee liued some few dayes afflicted with these cogitations but now laying aside all hopes which had vntill then kept him aliue hee died the eighteenth The Pope Iyeth the 18. of August recommending to the Cardinals nothing but the office of the Inquisition of August recommending to the Cardinals nothing but the office of the Inquisition the onely meanes as he said to
conspiracie so that they disarmed within 24. houres Afterwards the King by his Edict pardoned all the reformatists vntill they returned to the Church Hee forbade all assemblies for Religion and committed to the Bishops the hearing of the causes of heresie This displeased the Chancellor though hee consented for feare the Spanish Inquisition would bee brought in as the Guisards desired The humors mooued were not quieted by the punishment of the Conspirators and the pardons published nor the hopes laid aside which they had conceiued to haue libertie of religion yea greater tumults of the people were raised in Prouence Languedoc and Poitou whether the Preachers of Geneua The Protestants doe increase by meanes of the Preachers of Geneua were called and came willingly by whose Sermons the number of the Protestants did increase This generall and sudden combination made the gouernours of the Kingdome resolute that there was neede of an Ecclesiasticall remedie and that very quickly and a Nationall Synode was proposed by the whole Councell The Cardinall of Armignac said that nothing was to be done without the Pope that he alone was able to make prouision that they should write to Rome and expect an answere To which opinion some few Prelats did adhere But the Bishop of Valence said that a sudden remedy could not be expected from the Pope because he was farre distant nor a fit one because hee was not informed of the particular necessity of the Kingdome nor a charitable one because he was busied in making his Nephewes great that GOD had giuen to all kingdomes all things necessary to gouerne them that France had Prelats of its owne to regulate the causes of religion who better know the wants of the kingdome that it would bee a great absurditie to see Paris burne hauing the riuers of Some and Marne full of water and to beleeue that water must be brought from Tiber to quench the fire The resolution A Nationall Synod is intimated in France of the Councell was that there beeing neede of a strong and sudden remedy the Prelates of the Kingdome should assemble to finde a way to hinder the course of these great mischiefes and the eleuenth of Aprill the Synod was intimated for the tenth of September But that the Pope might not take it in ill part a Curriet was dispatched to Rome to giue him an account of the resolution and to enforme him of the necessity of that remedy and to pray him not to take it amisse The Ambassador represented to his Holinesse the infection of the kingdome and the dangers and the hope which the King had of some good remedy by a generall Conuocation of the Prelats without which he saw no meanes to make an effectuall pouision Therefore hee was forced not to deferre longer nor to expect remedies from places romote which were vncertaine and long in comming and to vse that which was in his owne power and he added that no constitution of that Synod should bee of force before it were confirmed by his Holinesse The Pope on the contrary did grieuously complaine that the King had pardoned the errours committed against religion euen of The Pope blameth the French King for pardoning hereâ—â—kes those who did not aske it wherein none had power but himselfe And what King is there hee sayd who thinketh hee is able to pardon offences against GOD That it is no maruell if by the iust wrath of GOD there be so many tumults in that kingdome where the Sacred Canons are disesteemed and the Popes authority vsurped He said that the assembling of the Prelats would doe no good yea would cause a greater diuision that he had proposed a generall Councel which was the onely remedy that the cause why it was not essembled already proceeded from them who would not haue it that hee was resolued to celebrate it though it were desired by none but And will not approue the Nationall Synod would not by any meanes consent to the assembly of the Prelates either in France or elsewhere that this was neuer tolerated by the Apostolique Sea that if euery Prince should celebrate Councels of himselfe a confusion and separation of the Church must needes follow Hee complained much that the assembly was first intimated and then his consent demanded which hee must needes thinke was done with small respect of the head of the Church to whom all Ecclesiasticall affaires are to bee referred not to giue him an account when they are done but to receiue from him authority to doe them that the Edicts published did inferre an Apostasie in that kingdome from the Sea of Rome for remedie whereof hee would send an expresse Nuncio to make his will knowen to the King Hee sent the Bishop of Viterbo with instruction to shew him that a Nationall But sendeth a Nuncio into Spaine to disswade it Councell of that Kingdome would bee a kinde of Schisme from the vniuersall Church giue a bad example to other nations and make his Prelates proud assuming greater authoritie which diminution of his owne that it is generally knowen how earnestly they desire the restitution of the Pragmatique which they would first of all bring in by which meanes the King would lose his whole collation of the regalities and the presentation of the Bishoprickes and Abbies whence it would follow that the Prelats not acknowledging the power of the King would refuse to obey him And yet with all these inconueniences the euils which do now presse him would not be prouided against For the heretikes doe professe already that they esteeme not the Prelates so that whatsoeuer they should doe would bee opposed by the Protestant Ministers if for no other cause because it was done by them that the true remedie was to make the Prelates and other Curates reside and keepe their flockes opposing the furie of the woolues and to proceed in iustice against those who are iudged to bee heretiques by the iudges of faith and where it cannot bee done in regard of the multitude to vse force of armes to compell all to the performance of their duetie before the contagion doth increase that all these things beeing done now all differences might bee compleatly endded by the celebration of the generall Councell which hee would immediatly intimate that if the King would resolue to reduce the contumacious to obedience before they did more increase in number and strength hee promised to assist him with all his power and to labour that the King of Spaine and Princes of Italie should doe the like But if hee would not bee perswaded to compell his Subiects by force the Nuncio had instruction to propose vnto him that all the mischiefe which troubleth France and the poyson which infecteth that Kingdome and the neighbour places commeth from Geneua that the extirpation of that roote And to perswade y e King to make ware against Geneua would take away a great nourishment of the euill that making warre out of the Kingdome hee
some of those Prelates had a purpose The Pope is troubled with the designe of the Portugal Diuines that the superioritie of the Councell aboue the Pope should be defined in the Synode which point they had studied and caused many Diuines to doe the like The Pope was troubled with this aduice and considered what hee might looke for when the Prelates were assembled in the Councell and did treate altogether who had such high thoughts before they parted from home and feared that the King and his Counsell had a finger in it Yet as a wise Prince hee considered that when the Councell was held not that nouitie onely would be proposed but many more to the disaduantage of others as well as of himselfe saying that euery weight had his counterpoyse and that of the things that are attempted not one in a thousand doeth take effect Hee was more attentiue to the enterprises of the French-men as beeing more imminent and of persons who are not flegmaticall in resoluing as the Spaniards are Therefore hee imparted to the Ambassadour euery aduice that came vnto him and told him in diuers conferences that they were not to thinke of Nationall Councels assemblies or Colloquies in matter of Religion because hee could not but esteeme them all for schismaticall that hee prayed the King not to vse those remedies which would certainely reduce France not onely into a worse condition but into the worst of all that the difficulties of Spaine being remooued the Councell should certainly be celebrated because those which doe continue in Germanie are not considerable that the Catholique Princes and Bishops will consent and perhaps the Duke of Saxonie also as hee hath made shew by separating himselfe from the others assembled in Neumburg that hee hoped the Emperour would assist personally if there were neede as himselfe did promise to doe if hee thought it fit wherein hee would not subiect himselfe to the iudgement of any but himselfe Easter drawing neere which time was appointed to begin the Councell One of the Presidents falleth sicke and another is put in his place and Cardinall Puteus being very sicke hee put in his roome Friar Ierolamus Cardinal Seripando a Diuine of much fame and caused him to depart presently and to passe by Mantua taking with him the other Legate and to bee at Trent at the time appointed Notwithstanding which commandement they came not thither vntil the third feast of the resurrection and found there nine Bishops who were arriued before them The Pope was diligent to make the Italian Bishops put themselues in order and therefore wrote effect all errors to the Vice-roy of Naples and to his Nuncio there and caused his Ministers to perswade the Bishops of the State of Milan to bee ready for their iourney to the Councell as soone as might be Hee desired also the State of Venice to send the Bishops of their Territories in Italy of Candia Dalmatia and Cyprus with all possible expedition and to create Ambassadors to assist in the Councell in the name of that Republike The Italian Prelats were not easily moued because they knew the beginning could not be before the consent of the The Italian Prelates are not so hasty to goe to the Councel as y e Pope would haue had them Emperour did come which was still prolonged because the Spaniards and French-men were expected before whose arriuall in Italy they thought it superfluous to goe to Trent And many of them especially the Courtiers could not beleeue but that the Pope did counterfeit But the trueth was that being assured he could not auoide the Councell hee did desire to see it quickly Hee said he knew what incouenience the prolongation did cause but knew not what the celebration might doe and thought that the enemies of his owne person and of the Apostolique Sea might doe him more hurt in the time of the expectation then they could doe in the Councell it selfe And being of a resolute nature hee vsed the Prouerbe It is better to prooue the euill once then alwayes to feare it While these delayes were vsed the Duke of Sauoy made a composition The Duke of Sauoy maketh 〈◊〉 composition with the Waldenses of Montsenis with the Waldenses of the Valleys of Montsenis For hauing made more then a yeeres tryall to reduce them by punishments and after they stood vpon their guard as hath been sayd maintained Souldiers against them for which the Pope did assist him with money howsoeuer they proceeded rather with skirmishes then any set warre because of the craggednesse of the Countrey yet at the last they came to a formall battaile in which the Duke had a great ouerthrow lost seuen thousand men and slew but fourteene of the enemies and although hee did often repaire his Army yet he had alwayes the worse By reason of a great ouerthrow Therefore considering hee did nothing but make his Rebels more warlike consume his owne Countrey and spend his money hee resolued to receiue them into fauour and made an agreement with them the fifth of Iune in which hee pardoned all faults past gaue them libertie of conscience assigned them certaine places where they might make their Congregations in other places gaue them leaue to comfort the sicke and doe other dueties of religion but not to preach gaue leaue to those that were fled to returne againe and restitution of goods to those that were banished It was agreed also that the Duke might send away which of their Pastors he pleased and that they might prouide themselues of others that the Roman Religion might be exercised in all places but no man inforced to professe it The Pope was much distasted that an Italian Prince assisted by him and not so potent but that Which giueth distaste to the Pope hee might still haue neede of him should permit heretikes to liue freely in his state and the example did trouble him aboue all because it would be alleadged to him by greater Princes when they would permit another religion Hee made a bitter complaint hereof in the Consistorie comparing the ministers of the Catholique King with that Duke who hauing at the same time discouered three thousand Lutherans who went out of Cosenza and retired themselues to the mountaines to liue according to their doctrine did hang some burne others and put the rest into the Galleys and hee exhorted all the Cardinals to thinke of a remedie But there was great difference betweene oppressing a few disarmed persons farre from helpe and ouer comming a great number of armed men in a place aduantagious for them with potent succours at their shoulders The Duke sent to iustific his cause and the Pope not able to answere his reasons was pacified In France though the Queene and Prelates did desire to satisfie the Pope in referring the causes of religion to the Councell yet a congregation of the Who was pacified by the 〈◊〉 The Pope is offended with the Congregation of the Prelates
Coccus Archbishop of Corfu made the Oration When the Masse was ended A question betweene the Ambassadors of Portugal and Hungary about the precedency of their Masters 〈◊〉 the Mandats of Princes being to be read there grew a question between the Ambassadors of Hungary and Portugal each pretending that his should first be read as of the more eminent King There was no difficultie in the Precedence of the Ambassadors themselues because that of Portugal as a secular sate at the right side of the Temple and the other as an Ecclesiastike at the left The Legates hauing consulted hereof said that the Mandats should be read in the order as they were presented not according to the dignitie of the Princes The Popes briefe referring the matter of the Index to the Councell was read also This Index had beene made in Rome by Paul the fourth as hath been said with which if the Councel had medled it might haue seemed to chalenge superiority aboue the Pope Therfore they thought fit that the Pope should voluntarily giue leaue to preuent that preiudice The Masse Patriarke read the Decree the substance whereof was That the Synod The Decree concerning the Index meaning to restore the Catholike doctrine to its purity and correct maners in regard the number of pernicious and suspected bookes was increased because the censures made in diuers Prouinces and Rome haue done no good hath determined to depute some father to consider hereof and to relate to the Synod in time conuenient what they thinke fit to haue done more to separate the cockle from the good corne to remooue all scruples out of mens mindes and to take away all cause of complaints ordaining that this should bee published with that Decree that if any haue interest in the businesse of the bookes and censures or any other to bee handled in Councell hee may know and be assured that hee shall bee courteously heard And because the Synod doth heartily desire the peace of the Church that all may acknowledge their common mother it doth inuite all who doe not communicate with her to reconciliation and concord and to come to Trent where they shall be imbraced with all offices of charitie and further hath decreed that a safe conduct may be granted in a generall Congregation and shall bee of the same force and strength as if it had beene granted in publike Session The Decree being read the title whereof was Of the holy Ecumenicall generall The title of the Councell is questioned Synod lawfully assembled in CHRIST the Arch-bishop of Granata required that these words representing the vniuersall Church should bee added as hath beene obserued in all the later Councels Antonius Peragues Arch-bishop of Caglieri made the same request and these two were followed by almost all the Spanish Prelates desiring that this request might bee noted in the acts No answere was made but for conclusion the next Session was appointed to be the 14 of May. The Decree was printed not onely because it was the custome but because The Decree is censured it was made of purpose to bee published to all and it was censured by all sorts of persons It was demanded how the Synod did call those who were interested in the things which were to bee handled in the Councell if they were not knowne and said that formerly all things were handled besides expectation and who could prophesie what the Legates would propose because they knew not themselues still expecting Commissions from Rome Those who were interested in any booke how could they know that any thing would be spoken against it The generalitie of the citation and incertaintie of the cause might induce euery one to goe to Trent because euery one hath interest in some particular which might perhaps bee treated on It was concluded generally that they were called in shew and excluded indeed Notwithstanding these things which they could not praise they commended the ingenuous confession of the Synod that the former prohibitions had begot scruples in mens minds and giuen cause of complaints In Germanie that part was suspected where the Synod giueth authoritie to itselfe to giue a safe conduct in a generall Congregation For they vnderstood not any difference in regard the same persons met in both assemblies but only that they did weare Miters in the Sessions and Caps in the Congregations nor why if the safe-conduct could not then be granted they could not make a Session expresly for it In summe they thought that there was some great mysterie couered in it howsoeuer the most vnderstanding men did beleeue that the Synod was assured that no Protestant would come to Trent with any safe-conduct whatsoeuer except it were by force as it happened in the yeere 1552. because of the resolution of Charles a thing which could no more bee put in practise The Pope wrote backe to the Legats that the heretikes should not be inuited to repentance with promise of pardon because it hauing been done by Iulius and another time by Paul the fourth no good issue came of it Amongst the heretiques those who are in a place of liberty will not accept it and those who remaine where the Inquisition hath power if they feare to bee discouered will receiue the pardon fainedly to secure themselues of that The Popes answer to the Legats which is past with purpose to doe worse more warily For the Safe Conduct hee was content it should bee giuen to all who are not vnder the Inquisition but so as that the exception should not bee expressed in regard that when Iulius granted his pardon except onely to those who were subiect to the Inquisitions of Spaine and Portugall much was spoken against it and it passed with small reputation as if the Pope had not the same power ouer that Inquisition as ouer others But for the manner of expressing it hee did referre it to the Synode For the forme hee commended that which the Councell gaue to Germanie in the yeere 1552 in regard that was seene already and that so many Protestants came that yeere to Trent vpon that securitie Concerning the Index he ordained that the deputies should proceede vntill an occasion were offered to make a publique Decree without the opposition of any Prince The answere being come the second of March and the day following Congregations were held to resolue whether the generall pardon ought to bee published and a Safe Conduct granted and what forme was to be giuen to the one and the other and the fourth day after long disputations all was concluded the Legates hauing made the determination fall where they aymed without interesting the Popes authority To inuite the heretikes to repentance was omitted for the reasons alleadged in Rome It was much disputed whether a Safe Conduct was to be giuen by the name of the French English and Scottish men and some spake of the Greekes and other Nations of the East It was presently seene that these poore men afflicted in seruitude
temptations which the Deuill would vse to diuert the Fathers from the right way saying that if they gaue eare to him they would make Councels lose all authoritie adding that many Councels haue been held in Germany and Italy with no fruit or very little of which it was sayd that they were neither free nor lawfull because they were gouerned by the will of another that they ought to bee carefull to vse well the power and liberty giuen them by God For if in priuate causes they deserue seuere punishment who doe gratifie any man against iustice they deserue it much more who being iudges in causes diuine doe follow a popular applause or suffer themselues to be made gowned slaues to the Princes to whō they are obliged and said that euery one should examine himselfe what passion doth possesse him And because the defects of some former Synodes haue made a preiudice to this it is fit to shew that those things are past that euery one may dispute without being burned that publike faith is not broken that the holy Ghost is to be called for from heauen onely and that this is not that Councel which was begunne by Paul 3. and prosecuted by Iulius 3. in turbulent times and in the midst of armes which was dissolued without doing any thing that was good but a new free peaceable and lawfull Councell called according to the ancient custome to which all Kings Princes and Republiques doe giue consent to which Germany will runne and bring with the authors of the new disputes the most graue and eloquent men which it hath He concluded that they the Ambassadours did promise to this end the assistance of the King It seemed that some of the Fathers and of the Legates themselues did not take those words well to which the Speaker not knowing To which the Speaker knoweth not what answer to make what to answere nor what complement to make the Congregation ended with the Oration The next day the same Ambassadours went to the Legats assembled for that purpose where they excused the French Prelates for not comming in regard of the tumults promising that when they were ended as they hoped The French Ambassadors demand of the Legates a declaration that the Councel is new they would be shortly they should come with speed Afterwards they declared that the Hugonots doe suspect the continuation of the Councel and doe require a new that the King had treated heereof with the Emperour who desired the same at the instance of the Confessionists that hee had demanded the same also of the Pope who answered that the difference was onely betweene them and the King of Spaine and that it concerned not him but referred it to the Councel Therefore they demanded a declaration in plaine termes that the Indication is new and not in these words Indicendo continuamus continuando indicimus which is an ambiguity not befitting Christians and implieth a contradiction and said that the Decrees already made by the Councell are not receiued by the French Church nor by the Pope himselfe and that Henry 2. did protest against it that concerning this point they were addressed to them the Legates because the Pope hath often said that the question of Indiction or continuation was not his and that hee referred it to the Councel And hauing deliuered this petition by word they left it also in writing The Legats after they had consulted together answered in writing also that they admitted the excuse of the Bishops absent but that they could To whom the Legats answere not deferre the discussion of that which was to bee handled in the Councel vntill their comming because the Fathers who were present would bee incommodated too much that they haue not power to declare that the Indiction of the Councel is new but to preside onely according to the tenour of the Popes Bul and the will of the Synode The French-men were contented with the answere for the present hauing determined together with the Imperialists not to proceed further so long as in the acts mention was not made of continuation considering that the Spaniards hauing made requests in the first Session that the continuation should be declared and receiued much contradiction there was danger that the Councel would haue been dissolued But the answere of the Legats published by the French men that their authority was to preside according to the will of the Synode made the Spaniards say that those words did subiect the Legates to the Councel whereas indeed they made themselues Lords ouer it And Granata said that it was an absolute dominion to make vse of the quality of a seruant and of a Lord also The Legats proposing nothing for the next Session the Prelats who fauoured residencie beganne to discourse againe of it and perswaded the Ambassadours of the Emperour Kings of France Portugal and all the others to mooue the Legats that it might be decided in the next Session alleadging The Spaniards require a determination in the point of Residence that it hauing beene proposed and disputed it would bee a great scandall to leaue it vndecided and would shew that it was for some particular interest seeing that the principall Prelats of the Councel and the greater number did desire the determination of it The French men together with the Imperialists made instance that the points of doctrine might not bee handled The Ministers of the French King Emperor demand of the Legats that y e points of doctrine may be deferred vntill the comming of the protestants in absence of the Protestants who doe impugne them vntill their contumacie be manifest in regard the disputation is superfluous where there is none to contradict especially there being matter enough besides in which the world doth agree that is a good reformation of manners that the English Ambassadour in France had declared that his Queene would send to the Councell whence it would follow that the other Protestants would do the like so that a generall reunion of the Church would succeed and that one might assure himselfe to see this effected if a good reformation were made Cardinall Simoneta answered this second proposition that the businesse seemed easie but was not so because all consisted in the disposition of Benefices in which the abuses proceed from Kings and Princes This troubled all the Ambassadours because of the nominations and dispositions which Princes do exercise and especially the French King But the proposition of the Residence did molest the Legats more nor were the Fathers pacified with the excuses formerly vsed that the matter was not sufficiently digested that there was not time enough before the Session to make it cleere and for other considerations And the heate grew so great that some of the Vltramontans were agreed to protest and depart And this was the cause of stopping the motion For the Ambassadors fearing that the Councell would be interrupted and knowing that the Pope would cherish euery occasion ceased
corrupt the Councel and make it Hugonor which he sayd himselfe would preserue and haue forces to doe it That hee also and his Colleagues defended some who disputed the authority of the Councell to be aboue the Pope which opinion is hereticall and the fauourers of it are heretiques threatning to persecute and chastise them Hee sayd they liued like Hugonots that they did no reuerence to the Sacrament that Lansac at his table in the presence of many Prelates inuited had sayd that there would come so many Bishops out of France and Germanie that they would chase the Idol out of Rome He complained of one of the Venetian Ambassadors and sent his Masters word of him He sayd of the Cardinals Mantua Serepando And of three of the Legats and Varmiense that they were vnworthy of the Cap. Of the Prelates he spake as occasion was offered and perswaded the friends of each of them to write vnto them All this was done and sayd by him not because he beleeued it or for intemperance of his tongue but by Arte to force euery one some for feare some for shame some for ciuilitie to make his Apologie to him which he did most easily receiue and readily beleeue And its incredible That hee might force them to make their Apologies how his affaires were aduanced by this meanes For hee gained some and caused the others to proceede more warily and remisly Whereupon his naturall courage reuiuing in him which still was full of hope hee sayd that all were vnited against him but that in the end he would make them all be reunited in his fauour because they haue all neede of him some demanding assistance and some graces Amongst the Prelates which the Pope sent last to the Councel from Rome as hath beene said there was one Charles Visconte Bishop of Vintimiglia who had beene Senator of Milan and imployed in many Ambassages a man fit for negotiation and of an exact iudgement Hauing loaded this man with promises which hee performed also creating him Cardinall in the first promotion after the Councel hee desired to haue him in Trent besides The Bishop of Vintimigliaâ— is the Popes secret minister in the Councell the Legates as a secret Minister Hee gaue him commission to speake that to diuers which was not fit to bee committed to writing to marke well the differences betweene the Legats and the particular causes thereof to obserue exactly the humors opinions and practises of the Bishops and to write to him particularly all matters of substance Hee charged him to obserue the Cardinall of Mantua aboue all the Legates but to holde intelligence with Simoneta who knew his minde and to labour that there should bee no more any demand made for the declaration concerning residencie or if it could not bee hindered that it should be deferred vntill the end of the Councell and that if that also could not bee obtained hee should delay it as long as it was possible vsing all meanes which hee thought expedient for this ende Hee gaue him also a list of the names of those who fauoured the Roman part in that matter with commission to thanke them and incourage them to continue and to promise them recompense referring to his discretion intreating with the opposites to vse some kind of threats without sharpenesse of words but strong in substance and to promise to those that would relent obliuion of all that is past and to giue particular aduice to Cardinall Boromeo of whatsoeuer did happen which he did And the register of the letters written by him with much acutenesse and iudgemens hath been shewed me out of which a great part of those things which follow hath beene drawen But hauing receiued aduise of the promise made by Mantua hee saw it was hard to diuert the handling of that Article and thought that the dissention betweene the Legates would produce greater euils and esteemed this to bee the most principall point as well in deede as for reputation For how could he hope to represse the attempts of the ministers of other Princes when he could not gouerne his owne Therefore hee thought it necessary to vse the strongest medicines for a disease that had seized on the vitall parts and resolued to shew openly how ill hee was satisfied with Mantua which hee thought would either make him alter his course or aske leaue to depart or by some meanes to retire from Trent and if the dissolution of the Councell did insue it was so much the better He gaue order that the dispatches to Trent The dispatches from Rome are no more addressed to the Cardinall of Mantua formerly addressed to him as prime Legate should heereafter bee directed to Simoneta he remooued from the congregation of Cardinals who were to consult of the affaires of Trent the Cardinall Gonzaga and caused Frederico Boromeo to tell him that the Cardinall his Vncle did thinke to ruine the Apostolike Sea but should effect nothing but the ruine of himselfe and of his house He related to the Cardinall S. Angelo who was a great friend to Mantua whatsoeuer had happened and shewed himselfe most cholerique against him and as much against Camillus Oliuus the Cardinals secretary as not hauing performed the promise hee made vnto him when hee was sent to Rome Which cost the poore man very deare For howsoeuer the Pope and the Cardinall were reconciled yet after his death returning to Mantua with the corps of his Master he was imprisoned by the Inquisition vpon diuers pretences and troubled a long timeâ— whom after his persecutions were â—nded I knew my self to be a person very vertuous and that he had not deserued such misfortunes When the Pope was thus affected Lanciano came to Rome and amongst Whose Secretarie also Camillus Olluus is in disgrace with the Pope other things presented to his Holinesse a letter subscribed by more then thirtie Bishops in fauour of residencie In which they complayned of his distaste against them protesting they did not thinke their opinion was contrary The negotiation of the Arch bishop of Lanciano with y e Pope to his authority which they would defend against all and maintaine it inuiolable in all partes This made a miraculous disposition in the Popes minde to receiue kindely the letters of the Legates Mantua Seripando and Varmiense and to giue care to the relation of the Arch-bishop who gaue him a particular account of all occurrences and made him a great deale lesse suspicious Then hee began to excuse the Cardinals that in the beginning not beeing able to foresee that any inconuenience could happen they did discouer the opinion which in their conscience they did holde and after that contentions did arise without their fault or defect their adherence to that part was honourable for his Holinesse and the Court. For now it could not bee sayd that the Pope and all the Court were opposite to an opinion which the world held to bee pious and necessary And this hath
of Surrento the Bishop of Viuiers Peter Paul Costazzarus Bishop of Aqui and others who had obtained leaue from the Legates which Mantua gaue them that in regard they were his friends he might set them at libertie and the others to take away occasion of distastes But the Ambassadour of Portugall did remonstrate to the Legates that this would bee a disreputation to the Councell the cause being knowen why they suffered and that it would bee sayd there was no libertie which would also be dishonourable to the Pope Thereupon they resolued to stop them and the rather But are stopped because they vnderstood that so soone as they were departed others would aske leaue also The Legates deferring to propose the other Articles in regard of the difficulties which they foresaw the third of Iuly the Emperours Ambassadours and the Bauarian desired that they would deliuer their opinions concerning them and a Congregation beeing called the next day to this effect the French Ambassadours presented a writing exhorting the Fathers The Ambassadours of France and Bauaria present a writing to perswade the grant of the Cup. to graunt the Communion of the Cup making this their ground that in matters of Positiue Law as this was they ought to yeelde and not to bee so obstinate but to consider the necessitie of the time and not giue scandall to the world by shewing themselues so constant in obseruing mens preceptes and neglecting GODS by reiecting reformations And in the ende they required that what determination soeuer they would make it might not preiudice the vse of the Kings of France who receiue the Cup in their Consecration nor the custome of some Monasteries of the Kingdome which doe at certaine times administer it Yet nothing else was done in that Congregation but onely sixteene poynts of doctrine giuen foorth to bee discussed in the Congregations following The Legates were astonished at the proposition of the Frenchmen vnderstanding they were ioyned with the Imperialists for which cause themselues The Legates are troubled with the coniunction of the French-men and Imperialists in this point of the Chalice were to walke more warily And weighing well the motiues of the Frenchmen to derogate froÌ„ the positiue precepts they obserued that the grant of the Cup besides the difficulties proposed did draw with it many more in diuers matters They remembred the request for marriage of Priests made by the Bauarian and that Lansac in a feast two dayes before in the presence of many Prelates inuited exherting them to gratifie the Emperour in the petition for the Cup sayd that France did desire Prayers diuine Offices and Masses in the vulgar tongue that the images of the Saints should bee taken away mariage granted to Priests and knowing that the beginning is more easily resisted then the Progresse and that one may with lesse paines be hindered from entring into an house then driuen forth they resolued that it was not a fit time to treate of the Cup. They perswaded Pagnauo Agent of the Marquis of Pescara to desire that the determination might not bee made before his King was aduised thereof The Congregations of the sixe and seuen dayes were intermitted to treate with the Imperialists that they would bee contended to deferre the matter alleadging diuers reasons the most concluding whereof was because the time was too short to make the And theâ—â— doe cause treaty there of to be â—â—ferred Fathers vnderstand that the graunt was necessary Finally after long parley they were content that all that part which concerneth doctrine should be deferred wher with the Legats not being satisfied at the last the Ambassadors consented that that point onely should be deferred so that the dilation were mentioned in the Decree and a promise made to determine it another time The French-men remained to be treated with where they found more facilitie then they expected who said they had neither proposed nor required it but onely assisted the Emperours Ambassadours This difficulty being ouercome they began to compose the Decrees which to dispatch quickly they let the Fathers knowe that if any of them would aduise any thing they should commit it to writing that the composition might not bee foreslowed In the Congregation of the eighth day Daniel Barbaro Patriarke of Aquileia said in deliuering his suffrage that newes beeing come of the accord in France and therefore it beeing probable that many Prelates would come it were fit to deferre the points of doctrine vntill their arriuall but the instance beeing seconded by none not so much as by the French Ambassadors themselues it did fall of it selfe In the next Congregation Antonius Augustinus Bishop of Lerida put them in minde that it would bee good to make mention of the customes of France according to the instance of the Ambassadors by putting in words which might preserue the priuiledges of that kingdome adding that after the determination of the Councell of Constance the Grecians were not forbid to communicate with the Cup because they had a priuiledge which hee had seene but beeing seconded by none but Bernar do dal Bene a Florentine Bishop of Nimes his proposition was layd aside also After the Congregation the Ambassadour Ferrier did curiously demaund of Augustinus the tenour Authour and time of that priuiledge who hauing referred it to Pope Damasus the Ambassadour laughed because it was certaine that an hundred yeeres after that Pope to abstaine from the Cup was accounted sacriledge in the Church of Rome and that the Romane Ordinarie doth describe the communion of the Laitie alwayes with the Cup and that in the yeere 1200. Innocentius the third maketh mention that the women did receiue the blood of CHRIST in the Communion The tenth day Leonard Aller a Dutchman titular Bishop of Philodelphia who came the weeke before deliuering his opinion concerning the Decrees made a digression in manner of a set speach desiring the Legates and the Synode that the German Prelates might bee expected vsing diuers reasons but principally three which were ill taken by the Congregation that is That it could not bee called a generall Councell in which a whole principall Nation of Christendome was wanting That to proceede without expecting them would bee accounted a praecipitation That the Pope ought to write to them and call them particularly The good Father knew not that the Pope had dealt with them two yeeres before by Delphinus and Commendone his Nuncij in Germany nor what answers were made by the Protestants and Catholiques the former of which sayd they would not and the later that they could not come to the Councell Some thought he was mooued by the Emperours Ambassadours who seeing that the proposition of the Cup was deferred were willing to prolong theresidue also In the next Congregation nine points of reformation formerly established were read and to the first that nothing should bee payd for Ordinations Nine points of reformation are read Albertus Duimius Bishop of Veglia who came the weeke before
who required that the matter should be deferred and examined againe To whom the Speaker answered in the name of the Legats that consideration should be had of it And finally the next Session was intimated for the twelfth of Nouember to determine concerning the Sacraments of Order and Matrimony The matter of the next Session And the Synod was dismissed after the vsuall manner great discourses betweene the Fathers about the Communion of the Cup continuing still Concerning which some perhaps will be curious to know for what cause the Decree last recited was not put after that of the Masse as the matter seemeth to require but in a place where it hath no connexion or likenesse with the Articles preceding He may know that there was a generall maxime in A Maxime in the Councell about the Maior part that Councell that to establish a decree of reformation a maior part of voyces was sufficient but that a Decree of faith could not be made if a considerable part did contradict Therefore the Legats knowing that hardly more then halfe would consent to this of the Chalice did resolue to make it an Article of reformation and to place it the last amongst those to shew plainely that they held it to be of that ranke There were also many discourses at that time and some dayes after about the point decided that CHRIST offered himselfe in the Supper some saying that in regard of the three and twenty contradictors it was not lawfully decided and others answering that an eight part could not bee called a considerable or notable part There were some also who maintained that the maxime had place onely in the Anathematismes and in the substance of the doctrine and not in euery clause which is put in for better expression as this which is not mentioned in the Canons The Emperours Ambassadours were very glad for the Decree of the Cup beeing assured that his Maiestie would more easily obtaine it of the Pope and vpon more fauourable conditions then it could haue beene obtained in the Councell where for the variety of opinions and interests it is hard to make many to bee of one minde though in a good and necessary matter The greater part ouercommeth the better and he that opposeth hath alwayes the aduantage of him that promoteth And their hope was the greater because the Pope seemed before to haue fauoured their Petition But the Emperour had not the same opinion aiming not to obtaine the communion of the Cup absolutely but to pacifie the people of his owne States and of Germanie who beeing distasted with the Popes authoritie for the things past could not relish any thing well that proceeded from him whereas if they had obtained this grant immediatly from the Councell it would haue giuen them good satisfaction and bred an opinion in them that they might haue obtained other requests which they esteemed so that this motion beeing stopped and the infected Ministers casseered he did hope he might haue held them in the Catholique Communion Hee saw by former experience that the grant of Paul was not well receiued and did more hurt then good and for this cause hee did prosecute the instance no further with the Pope and declared the cause of it Therefore when hee receiued newes of the Decree of the Councell turning to some Prelates who were with him hee said I haue done all I can to saue my people now looke you vnto it whom it doeth more concerne But those people which desired and expected the fauour or as they sayd The censure of the decrees the restitution of that which was due vnto them were all distasted that their iust request hauing been treated on sixe moneths presented by the intercessions of so many and so great Princes and after for better examination deferred and disputed and discussed againe with such contention should in the end be referred to the Pope which might haue been as well done at the very first without loosing so much time so many perswasions and so great paines They sayd the condition of Christians was according to the Prophecie of Isayas Hee sendeth and countermandeth expecteth and reexpecteth For the Pope who was moued first referred that to the Councel which now the Councell remitteth to him and both of them doe mocke both Prince and people Some discoursed more substantially that the Synod had reserued the definition of two Articles Whether the causes which did formerly moue to take away the Cup are such as that they ought to make them perseuere in the same prohibition and if not with what conditions it ought to be granted The former being vndoubtedly a matter not of fact but of faith the Councell did confesse by a necessary consequence that it knew the causes to bee vnsufficient and would not for worldly respects make the declaration For if they had thought them sufficient they must needes perseuere in the prohibition if any doubt had remained they should haue proceeded in the examination and ought not to remit it but for the insufficiencie of the causes But if they had made the declaration negatiue that is that the causes were not such as that they ought to perseuere and referred to the Pope to doe vpon information what remained to be done defacto they might haue beene excused Neither can it bee sayd that this is presupposed by the reference For in the Decree of this Session hauing repeated the two Articles they resolued to referre the whole businesse to the Pope and therefore not presupposing any thing I doe not finde in the memorials which I haue seene that the Decree of the sacrifice did rayse any matter of discourse And the cause perhaps was for that the words doe not so easily declare the sense as contayning many strained Metaphors which draw the mindes of the Readers vnto diuers considerations who when they are come to the end know not what they haue read Onely concerning the prohibition of the vulgar tongue in the Masse the Protestants sayd something For it seemed a contradiction to say that the Masse doeth containe much instruction for the faithfull people and to approoue that part should be vttered with a lowe voice and wholly to forbid the vulgar tongue onely commanding the Pastors to declare something to the people Whereunto some answered well that in the Masse were some secrets which ought to be concealed from the people which are vncapable for which cause they are spoken softly and in the Latine tongue but other things which be of good edification are commanded to be taught But this was opposed two wayes one that therefore this second sort ought to bee in the vulgar the other because they did not distinguish the two sorts For the Pastors being commanded to declare often something of that which is read and conceale the rest these two kindes being not distinguished some of them may mistake for want of knowledge and so abuse the people The Antiquaries did laugh at these discourses because it is
for the deferring of it Wherefore though the time was past they came to the Legates and told them they had a new commission from the King to make request that they would labour in the reformation and for points of doctrine expect the comming of his Prelates adding that if the matter of Order and Matrimonie were disputed by the Diuines and handled by the Prelates no more points of doctrine would remaine and the comming of the Frenchmen would bee to no purpose Wherefore then request was that they would be pleased to deferre them vntill the end of October imploying themselues in the meane space in the matter of reformation or one day in that and another in matter of doctrine not deferring as they had done all the matter of reformation vntill the last dayes immediatly before the Session so that there scarce remained time so much as to see the Articles much lesse to consult vpon them The Legates answered that their propositions did desire to be weighed well To which the Legates answered and that they would be carefull to giue them all possible satisfaction demanding a copie of their instructions that they might resolue the better The Ambassadours gaue them a writing of this tenour That the King hauing seene the Decrees of the sixteenth of Iuly concerning the Communion Sub vtraque and deferring two Articles in the same matter and those proposed in the Congregations concerning the sacrifice of the Masse howsoeuer hee commendeth that which is done yet he cannot conceale that which is generally spoken that is that the matter of discipline and manners is either quite omitted or slenderly handled and the controuersed points in Religion in which all the Fathers doe agree hastily determined Which although hee thinketh to bee false yet hee desireth that the propositions of his Ambassadours may bee expounded as necessary to prouide for the good of Christendome and the calamities of his Kingdome And hauing found by experence that neither seuerity nor moderation hath beene able to reduce those who are separated from the Church hee thought fit to haue recourse to the Generall Councell which hee hath obtained of the Pope that hee was sory that the tumults of France did hinder the comming of his Prelates that hee saw well that the constancie and rigour in continuing the forme begunne by the Legats and Bishops was not fit to reconcile peace and make an vnity in the Church that his desire was that nothing might bee done to aliene the mindes of the aduersaries now in the beginning of the Councell but that they may bee inuited and in case they come receiued as children with all humanitie hoping that by this meanes they will suffer themselues to be taught and brought backe to the bosome of the Church And because all that are in Trent doe professe the same Religion and neither can nor will make doubt of any part thereof hee thinketh the disputation and censure in poynts of religion to bee not onely superfluous but impertinent for the Catholiques and a cause to separate the aduersaries the more For hee that thinketh they will receiue the Decrees of the Councell in which they haue not assisted doeth not know them well neither will any thing bee done by this meanes but arguments ministred of writing more Bookes Therefore the King thinketh it better to omit the matter of Religion vntill the other of Reformation bee well set in order and that this is the scope at which euery one must ayme that the Councell which now is great and will bee greater by the comming of the Frenchmen may produce fruit Afterwards the King demandeth that in regard of the absence of his Bishops the next Session may bee put off vntill the end of October or the publication of the Decrees deferred or a new order expected from the Pope to whom hee hath written labouring in the meane while in the matter of Reformation And because he vnderstandeth that the ancient libertie of Councels is not obserued that Kings and Princes or their Ambassadours may declare the necessities of their States his Maiestie demandeth that their authoritie may bee preserued and all reuoked which hath been done to the contrary The same day the Emperours Ambassadours came to the Legats requiring The petition of the Emperors Ambassadors that the Articles sent by his Maiestie and presented by them might bee proposed and were very earnest that the points of doctrine might bee deferred vntill the comming of the Frenchmen and that the reformation may bee seruiceable not onely for the whole Church but for the Church of euery particular Kingdome their desire was that two of euery Nation might bee deputed to put them in minde of that which did deserue to bee proposed and discussed in Councell The Legats made a common answere to them both that they could not alter without great preiudice the order set downe which was to handle Doctrine and Reformation both together and if they should that other Princes would oppose but to content them they would ordaine that the Diuines and Prelates should examine the matter of Order onely and afterwards handle some poynts of Reformation obseruing still the former vse that euery one of what condition soeuer may put them the Legats in minde of what they thinke necessary profitable or conuenient which is a greater liberty then to haue two deputed for euery nation and afterwards they would treat of Matrimonie The Ambassadours being not one iote contented the Legats sent all their demands to the Pope The Frenchmen complained to all men of this austeritie and for that the Pope had lately commanded other Prelats to goe to the Councell that hee might exceed in number which the Papalins themselues did not like should bee done so openly and iust when the newes was spread of the comming of the French-men desiring to be secured by a maior part yet so as not to haue it knowne for what cause it was done But the Pope did of set purpose proceede 〈◊〉 openly that the Cardinall of Loraine might know that his attempts would be in vaine and so resolue not to come or that the Frenchmen might take some â—easion to make the Councell dissolue Neither was the Pope oâ—â—ly of 〈…〉 pinion but all the Court fearing some great preiudice by the Cardinals desseignes which howsoeuer they might not succeede a thing which they could scarce hope hope 〈…〉 yet his comming onely would hinder prolong and disturbe the Councell Ferraâ—â— told Loraine his kinseman 〈◊〉 his iourney would bee of no moment and of small reputation to himselfe in regard hee would arrâ—ue after all was determined and Biancheto a familiar friend of the Cardinall of Armignac who also had credit with Loraine 〈◊〉 as much to them both and the Secretary of Seripando who had 〈…〉 ritie 〈◊〉 the President Ferrier â—olde him the same all which was though too bee do 〈◊〉 by commission from the Pope or to please him at the least But tâ—â—ir care of the actions of the
Bishops that it might not increase by meanes of so many who were prepared to contradict Laynez they would not hold any Congregation for many daies But this leasure did strengthen their opinions and they spake of no matter but of this in euery corner and almost euery day three or foure of them ioyned together and went to some of the Legates to renew the instance And one day the Bishop of Gadici with foure more hauing after the proposition made added that as they confessed that the iurisdiction belonged to the Pope so they were content it should bee expressed in the Canon The Legates beleeued that the Spaniards acknowledging their error would confesse that all iurisdiction was in the Pope and deriued from him but desiring a further declaration that Bishop said that as a Prince doth institute in a Citie a Iudge of the first instance and a Iudge of appeale who though he be superior yet cannot take authority from the other nor vsurpe the causes belonging to him so CHRIST in the Church hath instituted all Bishops and the Pope superiour in whom the supreme Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction was yet so that others had theirs depending on CHRIST alone Fiue Churches complained to euery one that so much time was lost without holding any Congregation which might bee profitably spent but that the Legates did according to their vse purposely suffer it to bee spent in vaine that they might giue forth the Articles of reformation the last day that there might not be time to consider much lesse to speake of them But the Legates were not idle still thinking how they might finde a forme for this Canon which might bee receiued and changed it more then once a day which formes going about and shewing the hesitation of the Legates the Spaniards were not onely encouraged in their opinion but spake also with more liberty so that in a meeting of many Prelates Segouia was not afraid to say that one word would bee cause of the ruine of the Church Seuen dayes being past without any Congregation the thirtieth of October the Legates being in consultation as in the dayes before all the Spaniards with some others required audience and made a new instance that the institution and superiority of Bishops De iure Diuino might bee defined saying that if it were not done they should faile to doe that which is iust and necessary in these times for clearing of the Catholique trueth and protesting they would assist no more in Congregation or Session This being diuulged many Italian Prelates agreed together in the house of Cardinall Simoneta in the Chamber of Iulius Simoneta Bishop of Pescara and came to the Legates the next morning three Patriarches sixe Arch bishops and eleuen Bishops with a request that it might not bee put into the Canon that the superiority is De iure Diuino in regard it sauoured of ambition and was vnseemely that themselues should giue sentence in their owne cause and because the greater part would not haue it put in the occasion might not bee giuen to speake of the Popes authority which they would and ought to confirme When this was knowen in Trent many did beleeue that this instance was procured by the Legats themselues whereupon after Euensong a greater number assembled themselues in the vestry in fauour of the Spanish opinion others in the house of the B. of Modena for the same end and there were foure other assemblies in the houses of the Arch-bishops of Otranto Taranto Rosano and of the Bishop of Parma The tumult proceeded so farre that the Legats were afraid of some scandall and thought they could by no meanes hold the Session at the time appointed and that there was a necessitie to discusse some points of doctrine and propose some matter of reformation before they came to the resolution of the Article which was the cause of so greate a motion And Simoneta complained often that he had little assistance from Mantua and Seripando who howsoeuer they did some thing yet could not hide their thoughts which did incline to the aduersaries Letters of credence came from the Marquis of Pescara to the principall The letters of the Marquis of Pescara Spanish Prelats with commission to his Secretarie to vse the strongest perswasions with them and to aduise them not to touch any thing in preiudice of the holy Sea assuring them that the King would be displeased and that great inconueniences in his kingdomes would ensue saying it could not be expected from their wisedome that they would resolue in any particular before they vnderstood his Maiesties pleasure And he gaue him order to aduise whether any of the Prelates made small account of this admonition or were refractary in obeying because it was the Kings pleasure that they should stand vnited in the deuotion of his Holinesse and should dispatch The answere of the Arch-bishop of Granata expresse Curriers if there were occasion Granata answered that he neuer meant to say any thing against the Pope and thought that whatsoeuer was spoken for the authority of Bishops was for the benefit of his Holinesse being assured that if their authority were diminished the obedience to the holy Sea would decrease also though by reason of his oldage he knew that it would not happen in his time that his opinion was Catholike for which he would be content to die that seeing such contrarietie he was not willing to remaine in Trent because hee expected but small fruit and therefore had demanded leaue to depart of his Holinesse and his Maiesty much desiring to returne that at his departure out of Spaine he receiued no commandement from the King and his Ministers but to ayme at the seruice of God and the quiet reformation of the church which he had truly performed that he thought he had not crossed the Kings will though he made not protession to diue into it but hee knew that Princes when they are requested especially by their Ministers doe easily content them with general tearmes Segouia answered that his meaning neuer was to do the Pope any The answere of Segouia ill office but that he could not gaine-say his opinion because it was for the Catholique truth nor could speake more then he had spoken already hauing neuer since seene or studied any thing concerning this matter Afterwards they retired all together and sent to the King a Doctor of the family of Segouia with instruction to informe his Maiestie that neither they nor any other Prelats could bee reprehended if they knew not how to promote the proiects of Rome because they could not propose any thing but onely deliuer their opinion concerning that which was proposed by the Legates as his Maiestie did well know that it would bee hard so interrogate them and binde them to answere against their conscience that they were assured they should offend GOD and his Maiestie if they should doe otherwise that they could not bee blamed for speaking out of season because they
fit to dissemble it Hee sent into France fourtie thousand Crownes the residue of the hundred thousand which hee promised And hee caused Sebastianus Gualterus Bishop of Viterbo and Ludouicus Antinori to goe to Trent who hauing bin in France had some acquaintance with some of those Prelats and had made themselues knowne to the Cardinall vnder colour to honour him And hee wrote to this Cardinall and to Lansac letters full of complement and confidence Yet they thought that these men were sent to discouer the Cardinals intention and to obserue his proceedings and the rather because they had receiued aduice from Rome that the Bishop had exhorted the Pope not to be so much afraid in regard the Cardinall also would finde difficulties and impediments more then he beleeued hee should and said that himselfe would make more to arise The 22. of Nouember the Cardinall resolued to enter into the Congregation the day following and it was agreed that the Kings letters should be read and himselfe make a speach But Loraine proposed also that the Ambassadour de Ferrieres should make another To this the Legates did not consent because if this had beene once permitted both hee and all other Ambassadours would still bee desirous to speake and propose with danger of making greater confusion but concealing this cause they said that neither in this Councell nor vnder Paul or Iulius it was euer permitted to Ambassadours to speake in Congregation but onely when they were first receiued and that without the Popes consent they could not yeelde to such a nouitie But Loraine answered that the Kings letter and the instruction beeing new it might bee called a new Ambassage and that the first entrance After many answeres and replies Loraine hauing giuen his word that they should not desire to speake any more the Legates to giue him satisfaction and that hee might not haue cause of open distast were contented Therefore the next day the Congregation beeing assembled the Kings letter was read with this inscription To the most holy and most reuerend Fathers assembled in Trent to celebrate the sacred Councell In which hee said that it hauing pleased God to call him to the Kingdome it hath pleased him also to afflict him with many warres but hath so opened his eies that howsoeuer hee be yong hee knoweth that the principall cause of the euils is The French Kings leters the diuersitie of religion By meanes of which diuine illumination in the beginning of his Kingdome hee made instance for the celebration of the Councel in which they were then assembled knowing that in them the ancient Fathers haue found the most proper remedies to the like infirmities and that he was grieued that being the first to procure so good a worke hee had not beene able to send his Prelates with the first the causes whereof beeing notorious hee thought hee was sufficiently excused and the rather because the Cardinall of Loraine was now arriued accompanied with other Prelats That two principall causes hath mooued him to send that Cardinall the first his owne great and frequent instance to haue leaue to satisfie his duty in regard of the place he holdeth in the Church the second because being of his Priuie Councell and exercised from his youth in the most important affaires of the Kingdome he knoweth the necessity thereof better then any other and whence the occasions doe arise so that he will be able to make a relation vnto them conformable to the charge which is giuen him and demand in his name the remedies which are expected from their wisdome and fatherly affection as well for the tranquillity of the Kingdome as for the generall good of all Christendome Hee beseeched them to proceede herein with their wonted sincerity that they may come to an holy reformation and that the ancient lustre of the Catholique Church may appeare in the vnion of all Christendome in one religion which will bee a worke worthy of them desired by the whole world recompenced by God and commended by all Princes In conclusion for the particulars hee referred himselfe to the Cardinall praying them to beleeue him in whatsoeuer heâ— should say vnto them on his part After this the Cardinall spake In the begining hee shewed the miseries The speech of the Cardinall of â—oraine of the Kingdome deplored the warres the demolitions of Churches occisions of religious persons conculcation of the Sacrament burning of the libraries images and reliques of Saints ouerthrowing of the monuments of Kings Princes and Bishops and expulsion of the true Pastours And passing to ciuill matters hee shewed the contempt of the Kings Maiestie vsurpation of his rents violation of the lawes and seditions raised amongst the people He attributed the cause of all this to the corruption of manners to the ruine of Ecclesiasticall discipline and negligence in repressing heresie and in vsing remedies instituted by God Turning to the Ambass of Princes he told them that that which they doe now behold at leasure in France they shall find at home when it will be too late to repent if France tumbling downe with its owne weight shall fall vpon places neere vnto it He spake of the vertue and good disposition of the King the counsels of the Queene and King of Nauarre and of the other Princes but said the principall matter was expected from the Synode whence the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding ought to come That the most Christian King being assured hereof in regard of his obseruance towards that Synod and of his sorrow for the differences of religion did demand two things of them The first that they would auoyd new discords new and vnprofitable questions and cause a suspension of Armes amongst all Princes and States that scandall may not bee giuen to the Protestants and occasion to beleeue that the Synode doth more labour to incite Princes to warre and to make confederations and leagues then to keepe the vnity of peace That King Henry hath first established it and then Francis continued it and that the present King vnder age and his mother haue alwayes desired it which how soeuer it hath vnhappily succeeded yet they might feare that the accidents of the warre would bee more vnfortunate For all the states of the Kingdome beeing in danger of shipwracke one cannot helpe another Hee therefore desireth that some account may bee held of those who are gone astray from the Church pardoning them as much as may be done without offending God and holding them for friends as much as is possible euen as farre as vnto the Altars The second request common to the King with the Emperour and other Kings and Princes was that a reformation of maners and of Ecclesiasticall discipline should bee handled seriously wherein the King did admonish and coniure them by CHRIST our LORD who will come to iudgement that if they meant to restore the authoritie of the Church and retaine the Kingdome of France they would not balance the incommodities
resolued to prolong the Session and appoint a day for it within fifteene dayes The yeere 1563. began in Councell with the presentation of the articles of reformation made by the French Ambassadours which seemed very hard to the Legates and all the Papalins especially in those particulars in which 1563 The Articles of reformation they would haue the Rites of the Roman Church altered and in which the emoluments and profits which the Apostolike Sea receiued from other Churches were touched The Ambassadors added the vsuall Appendix not to call it a protestation that if their propositions were not imbraced they would prouide for their necessities in France The Legates were sure the Pope would bee vexed heerewith in regard of the promise made vnto him that they would not treat in Councell of the Annats and other pecumarie Rites but friendly compose the matter with him Therefore they thought it necessarie to send them to him by a Prelate and to informe The Bishop of Viterbois sent to the Pope his Holinesse And they elected the Bishop of Viterbo as being well instructed in the affaires of France where hee had beene Nuncio many yeeresand in the designes of the Cardinall and French Prelates of the Councell with whom hee had conuersed since their arriuall The Cardinall of Loraine informed heereof perswaded them to doe so and himselfe gaue him instructions to speake with the Pope The Bishop was so nimble that howsoeuer the Cardinall held that hee was sent vnto him for a spie and an obseruer yet hee carried himselfe so well that he gained the confidence of him and the Ambassadours without losing that which the Pope and Legates had in him The Prelate went with instruction to represent to the Pope all the difficulties which the Legats found and to bring backe a resolution how they should gouerne themselues in euery particular Hee had instructions from Loraine to desire his Holinesse to take in good part that which was desired by the King for the necessitie of his Kingdome and by them to execute the commands of his Maiestie and to offer his endeuours to accommodate the differences of the institution of Bishops and of residence which held the Councell employed in small matters The Emperours ministers seeing the Reformation of the Frenchmen and considering the Proheme thought they were noted to haue but small authoritie They complained to the Legates that the Articles of reformation mentioned by the Emperour and by them had not been proposed though they had giuen copies of them sent them to Rome and spread them throughout Trent desiring they may bee put together with those of the Frenchmen The Legats excused themselues in regard of the libertie which the Emperour by letters and themselues by word of mouth had giuen them to propose and omit what seemed them good adding that they did expect a fit time and that indeede the Frenchmen had not found a good coniecture while the differences of the two Canons doth continue which giueth much trouble to his Holinesse The Amdassadours were not so satisfied saying there was a great difference betweene omitting all and a part and betweene deferring whiles in the meane space things are concealed with due respect and diuulging them and putting them in derision And Simoneta replyed that it was hard to discerne which were fit to bee proposed but easie to know which were to bee omitted in the end they were content to expect what the Pope would say to the French propositions so that afterwards theirs might bee proposed The French Prelates had consented in generall termes to the Articles belonging to Rites and to the grieuances of Bishops which in their secret thoughts they did not approoue because they beleeued that in the discussion of them they should haue the Spaniards and many of the Italians their opposites but seeing they were sent to Rome they were afraid that the Pope opposing those which touched his reuenues would yeeld to the others and by composition be content to giue way to those which were preiudiciall to them to auoyde others which concerned his owne interest For this cause they made secret practises with the other Prelats perswading a moderation which being done after the French fashion without much caution was knowne to the Ambassadours Therefore Lansac assembled them all and reprehended them sharpely for daring to oppose the will of the King Queene of the whole councell and of the Kingdome Hee exhorted them not onely not to labour against but to promote the Kings determination And the admonition was very rigorous But before wee relate the negotiation in Rome it will not bee amisse to declare the substance of the French proposition which presently was printed in Ripa and Padua and conteined That the Ambassadours had determined long since in performance of the Kings command to propose to the Councell the things conteined in that writing but the Emperour hauing proposed almost the same things not to importune the Fathers they had expected to see what the Pope would resolue concerning the propositions of his Imperiall Maiestie Now hauing receiued a new commandement from the King and seeing the instance of the Emperour deserred longer then they thought they resolued not to make any more delay not desiring any thing singular or separate from the residue of Christendome and that the King expecting that esteeme should bee held of his propositions doth notwithstanding referre the iudgement and knowledge of them all to the fathers The points were foure and thirtie 1. That Priests The French propsitions should not bee ordained before they were old and had a good testimonie of the people that they had liued well and that their carnalities and transgressions should bee punished according to the Canons 2. That holy Orders should not bee conferred at the same time when the inferiour were but that euery one should bee approoued in these before hee ascended to those 3. That a Priest should not bee ordained before hee had a Benefice or ministerie according to the Councell of Chalcedon at which time a presbyterall title without an Office was not heard of 4. That the due function should bee restored to Deacons and other holy Orders that they may not seeme to bee bare names and for ceremonie only 5. That the Priests and other Ecclesiasticall Ministers should attend to their vocation not medling in any office but in the diuine ministery 6. That a Bishop should not be made but of a lawfull age manners and doctrine that hee may teach and giue example to the people 7. That no Parish Priest should bee made but of approued honestie able to instruct the people celebrate the sacrifice administer the Sacrament and teach the vse and effect of them to the receiuers 8. That no Abbat or Conuentual Prior should bee created who hath not studied diuinity in some famous Vniuersity and obtained the degree of Master or some other 9. That the Bishop by himselfe or by other preachers as many as are sufficient according to the
proportion of the Diocesse should preach euery Sunday and Holyday in Lent on fasting dayes and in Aduent and as often as it shall bee fit 10. That the parish Priest should doe the same as often as hee hath auditors 11. That the Abbat and Conuentuall Prior shall reade the holy Scripture and institute an Hospitall so that the ancient Schooles and hospitality may bee restored to the Monasteries 12. That Bishops Parish Priests Abbats and other Ecclesiastiques vnable to performe their charge shall receiue Coadiutors or leaue their Benefices 13. That concerning the Catechisme and summarie instruction of Christian doctrine that should be ordayned which the Emperour hath proposed to the Councell 14. That no man should haue more then one benefice taking away the differences of the quality of persons and of Benefices compatible and incompatible a new diuision not heard of in the ancient Decrees and a cause of many troubles in the Catholique Church and that the regular Benefices should bee giue into regulars and secular to seculars 〈◊〉 That he who now hath two or more shall retaine that only which he shall choose within a short time or shall incurre the penalty of the ancient Canons 16. That to take away all note of auarice from the Clergie nothing bee taken vpon any pretence whatsoeuer for the administration of holy things but that prouision be made that the Curates with two Clerkes or more may haue whereon to liue and mainetaine hospitality which may bee done by the Bishops by vniting benefices or assigning tenths vnto them or where that cannot bee done the Prince may prouide for them by 〈◊〉 or collections imposed vpon the Parishes 17. That in parish Masses the Gospel be expounded cleerely according to the capacity of the people and that the prayers which the Parish-Priest maketh together with the people bee in the vulgar tongue and that the sacrifice being ended in Latine publike prayers bee made in the vulgar tongue likewise and that at the same time or in other houres spirituall hymnes or Psalmes of Dauid approoued by the Bishop may bee sung in the same language 18. That the ancient Decree of Leo and Gelasius for the Communion vnder both kinds bee renewed 19. That before the administration of euery Sacrament an exposition bee made in the vulgar so that the ignorant may vnderstand their vse and efficacie 20. That according to the ancient Canons benefices may not bee conferred by the Vicars but by the Bishops themselues within the terme of sixe moneths otherwise that the collation may bee deuolued to the next Superiour and by degrees to the Pope 21. That the Mandats of Prouision expectatiues regresses resignations in confidence and commendaes bee reuoked and banished out of the Church as contrary to the Decrees 22. That the resignations in fauour be wholly exterminated from the Court of Rome it being as it were an election of ones selfe or a demanding of a successour a thing prohibited by the Canons 23. That simple Priories from which the cure of soules is taken away contrary to the foundation and assigned to a perpetuall Vicar with a small portion of tithes or of other renenue bee restored to their former state at the first vacancie 24. That benefices vnto which no office of preaching administring the Sacraments nor any other Ecclesiasticall charge is annexed may haue some spirituall cure imposed vpon them by the Bishop with the councell of the chapter or bee vnited to the next parishes because no Benefice ought or can bee without an office 25. That pensions bee not imposed vpon benefices and those abolished which are imposed already that the Ecclesiasticall reuenues may bee spent in maintaining the Pastors and poore and in other workes of pietie 26. That Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction throughout the whole Diocesse be restored to the Bishops all exemptions being taken away but of the chiefe gouernors of the Orders and Monasteries subiect vnto them and those who make generall Chapters to whom exemptions are granted by a lawfull title but yet with prouision that they bee not exempted from correction 27. That the Bishop may not vse iurisdiction and handle matters of great weight concerning the Diocesse without the counsell of the Chapter and that the Canons may reside continually in the Churches bee of good conuersation learned and at the least 25. yeeres of age in regard the lawes not giuing them the free disposition of their goods before that time they ought not to bee made counsellours to Bishops 28 That the degrees of affinity consanguinity and spirituall kindred be obserued or reformed and that it may not bee lawfull to dispence therein but with Kings and Princes for the publique good 29. That in regard many troubles haue risen by meanes of images the Synode would make prouision that the people may be taught what they ought to beleeue concerning them and that the abuses and superstitions if any be vsed in the worship of them may be taken away and that the same be done concerning indulgences pilgrimages reliques of Saints and of companies or confraternities 30. That the publike and ancient penance in the Catholike Church forgrieuous publike offences be restored and brought into vse as also fastings and other exercises of sorrow and publique prayers to appease the wrath of God 31. That excommunication be not decreed for euery sort of offence or contumacie but onely for the greatest and in which the offender doth perseuere after admonition 32. That to abbreuiate or quite take away suits of law for benefices by which the whole Clergie is blemished the distinction of petitorie and possessorie newly inuented in those causes may bee taken away nominations of Vniuersities abolished and a commandement giuen to Bishops to giue benefices not to those that seeke them but to those that auoid them and are worthy of them and their merit will be knowen if after their degree receiued in the Vniuersitie they shall haue spent some time in preaching with the consent of the Bishop and approbation of the people 33. That there beeing a suit for a benefice an Economique may bee created and arbitrators elected by the litigants which in case they refuse to doe that the Bishop may nominate and that these may determine the controuersie within six moneths and that no appeale may lie from them 34 That the Episcopall Synods may bee held once a yeere at the least and the Prouinciall once in euery three yeeres and the Generall if th ere bee none impediment euery tenth yeere The first of Ianuarie Vintimiglia arriued in Rome hauing made the iourney The negotiation of the Bishop of Vintimiglia in Rome in seuen daies Hee presented the letters to the Pope and declared his credence relating the cogitations and diuers ends and humours which were in the Councell and in what sort the Legates and other good seruants of his Holinesse thought the difficulties ought to bee managed The Pope held a congregation the third day and gaue account of the relation of Vintimiglia
all contentions they would labour for the seruice of God and to end the Councell quickly Hee spake of Bulls of offices and Benefices conferred vpon some of the kinsmen of some Prelats and a Referendariship to the Secretarie of the Portugal Ambassadour and a very great pension to the sonne of the Spanish Secretary and diuers promises to others according to their pretensions But to the Cardinall of Loraine he made great complements in the Popes name shewing that hee had confidence in him onely for a sudden and a good end of the Councell The comming of the Bishop of Asti the Ambassadour of the Duke of The Legates vse perswasions to the-Card of Loraine by the B. of Sinigaglia Sauoy gaue a fit occasion to reassume the Congregations in which the Legats designing after they had receiued him to renew the proposition of the Canons they sent the Bishop of Sinigaglia to the Cardinal of Loraine to pray him to finde a meanes that the french-men might bee satisfied The Bishop shewed him that those words to gouerne the Church Vniuersall were vsed in many Councels that the other that they were assumed into part of the care Who answereth were vsed by S. Bernard a writer much commended by his exce 〈…〉 The Cardinall answered that the whole world was a spectator of the actions of the Councell that the opinions and voices of euery one were knowne that one ought to beware what he saith that writings had beene sent out of France against the opinions maintained in Trent in the questions that were handled that many complained of him that hee proceeded with â—do much respect especially in that matter and in that other of residence that hee 〈◊〉 not beene so earnest as he ought for the declaration that they are de 〈◊〉 diuino that by a word vsed by an Author one cannot presently conclude what his meaning was because the antecedents and consequents must bee considered which may inferre a contrarie sence that the wordes doe not trouble him but the sence which they would cano 〈…〉 that to say the Pope hath authoritie to gouerne the Church vniuersall could not bee admitted by the French men by any meanes that if it were proposed againe the Ambassadours would protest in the name of the King and of the twentie French Prelates from whom they should alwayes haue authoritie to doe it that this would bee a preiudice to the opinion which is generally helde in France that the Councell is aboue the Pope Sinigaglia relating these things to the The French opinion is that y e Councell is aboue the Pope Legates in presence of many Italian Prelates assembled to consult vpon this matter made them feare that it was impossible to reduce the French-men The comming of Martin Guzdellun of whom wee spake before which Martin Guzdellun coÌ„plaineth that the Councell is not free happened at the same time gaue great courage to the Spaniards who hauing seene the passages of one day said hee vnderstood plainly that the Councell was not free He praised Granata and said the King had a very good opinion of him and that if the Bishop like of Toledo were voide hee would bestow it vpon him Things being thus managed sunday the last of Ianuary came when the generall congregation was intimated to receiue the Ambassadour of Sauoy who made a short speach to shew the dangers in which The Ambassadour of Sauoy is receiued in Congregation the state of his Prince was by the vicinitie of the heretikes and what charge hee was put vnto he exhorted them to finish the Councell quickly and to thinke of some meanes to make the contumacious receiue the Decrees thereof and offered all the forces of his master In the answere made the pietie and wisedome of that Duke was commended and ioy giued the Ambassadour of his comming As the congregations continued so the dissentions increased and many demanded that the Decree of residence composed by the two Cardinals should bee proposed But the Legats seeing such variety of opinions after long consultation amongst themselues and with the Prelates their friends resolued it was not a time to make any decision but necessarie to interpose so great a delay that the humors might coole of themselues or some meanes might bee found to compose the differences by prolonging the time of the Session And to make Loraine agree to it they went all to his house to impart their purpose vnto him and to demand his counsell and assistance He complained of the conuenticles and that they sought by vnlawfull meanes to giue the Pope that which belongeth not vnto him and to take froÌ„ Bishops that which is giuen them by CHRIST he said he did not like the deferring of the Session so long though he was coÌ„ 〈…〉 to yeeld vnto then but prayed them that in regard this was done to moderate 〈…〉 ens minds they would indeauor effectually to curbe those who were vnquiet and ambitious In the congregation of the third of Februarie Mantua proposed that in regard Lent was neere and that the holy dayes and feasts of Easter would follow quickly they would deferre the Session vntill after that time and in the meane while in the congregations handle the reformation belonging to holy Order and the matter of the Sacrament of mariage But the proposition had much contradiction The French and Spaniards almost all were earnest that a short prorogation should bee determined and the matter of Order together with its reformation defined before they treated of Matrimonie to which opinion also some Italians did adhere Others desired that the Session should bee helde with the things decided alreadie and in particular that the Decree of recidence composed by the Cardinals should bee established and some added that it was a great indignitie to the Councell to haue the Session so often deferred shewing there was a desire to violence the Fathers by wearinesse to consent to those opinions which they did not beleeue in their conscience and therefore that it ought to bee held and matters to bee resolued by the maior part Some did not forbeare to say that the distinction of Session and generall congregation was not reall and that in regard No real difference between a Session and a general congregation the persons and the same number were in both that ought to bee helde for decided in the one which was determined in the other After great contention the dilation vntill the two and twentieth of Aprill was concluded by the maior part the others still contradicting The Cardinall of Loraine howsoeuer hee seemed to consent only to content the Legates yet hee was willing in regard of his owne interest and that for foure causes To know whether the Pope would recouer his health To haue commoditie to treat with the Emperour To vnderstand the Catholike Kings mind And to see the successe of the affaires of France that hee might resolue what to doe vpon better ground The next day the French
not performe its duty and that which is expected from it by so holy and necessary a reformation to call a Nationall hauing first giuen satisfaction to GOD and men by continuall perswasions vsed to the Fathers and the Pope to obtaine of them a remedy against the common euill that to effect this with greater ease he had dispatched the Lord of Oysel to the Catholique King and the Lord d' Allegres to the Pope and commanded Birague that after he had performed his charge with the Fathers of the Councell he should passe to the Emperour to try if by meanes of these Princes bee might gaine so great a benefit It is certaine that the Pope was much distasted with the peace as well for the preiudice of his authority as because it was concluded without his knowledge hauing made so great contributions to the war But the King of Spaine was displeased more For beeing by his souldiers a party in the warres and the victory and hauing spent so much hee thought all was lost and that it was not iust to conclude a peace without him to the preiudice of religion which hee vndertooke to defend and maintaine especially hauing so great interests therein in respect of the damage hee did receiue in the gouernment of the Low Countries it beeing plaine that euery prosperity of the Hugonots in France would encourage the people of Flanders and strong then them more in their contumacie For these reasons the Catholique Ambassadour in France made great complaints which was the principall cause why these extraordinary Ambassages were sent to Rome and into Spaine to make knowen that the King and his Councel were not induced to make this accord by their owne will but by meere necessity and for feare that grosse Armies would bee sent out of Germany to the Hugonots which as was reported were prepared about Strasburg and in other places For those Dutch men who had made warre in France beeing returned home loaden with spoiles they inuited others to goe thither and make themselues rich Neither were they without feare that the Princes of the Empire would vpon that occasion assay to 〈◊〉 Monte 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other Cities of the Empire and that the Queene of England would assist 〈◊〉 Hugonots more potently then she had done to possesse some other places 〈◊〉 already shee had possessed Haure de Grace But besides this principall end of both the Ambassages d'Oysel was afterwards to make a proposition for translating the Councel from Trent to Constance Wormes Ausburg or some other place in Germany and to represent to the King that in regard it ought to bee celebrated for the Dutch English Scottish and part of the French-men and other Nations who were resolute not to adhere to nor euer to accept that of Trent it was in vaine to continue in that place Conde was author of this negotiation who hoped by this meanes if it did succeed to strengthen his party by vniting it to the interests of so many Kingdomes and Princes and to weaken the Oatholiques by promoting difficulties against the Councell of Trent But it did not take effect For the King of Spaine hauing heard the proposition which I say by way of anticipation that I may not returne to this matter did perceiue what the aime was and made a full answere that the Councell was assembled in Trent with all the solemnities with consent of all Kings Princes and at the instance of Francis the French King that the Emperour had superiority in that City as in the others that were named and might giue full security to all in case the former Safe conduct were not sufficient that hee could not choose but fauour it in the place where it was and accept the determinations thereof And hee aduised the Pope of all assuring him hee would neuer change that resolution The French men in Trent thought it superfluous to make instance to the Fathers as the King had commanded before the returne of Morone it being generally resolued that all Conciliary actions should bee deferred vntill then But the Emperour had not dispatched that Cardinall and informed Loraine at the same time that for diuers accidents and because the propositions were of the weight and importance as that they did deserue mature deliberation and consultation he had not beene able as yet to giue a resolute answere but hee hoped it should bee such as to make all men know that his actions were answerable to his desire to see the affaires of the Councell set straight for the common benefit Therefore notwithstanding the occasions and vrgent necessities of his other Prouinces hee resolued to continue his residence in Isprue to fauour the liberty of the Councell by his presence vntill hee had hope to see some good fruit This delay did not please Morone not that the Emperour should referre as hee did all the negotiations to the Diuines and Counsellors and both hee and the Pope did doubt that the answere would be deferred vntill he had heard Birague who as they were informed was to propose the translation of the Councel into Germany to giue satisfaction to the Hugonots whereunto the Pope was resolute not to consent as well by his owne inclination as in regard of the instance made vnto him by the Colledge of Cardinals and all the Court. And he maruelled at the humor of the French-men who demanded reformation and a translation at the same time and desired to haue a supply from the Clergie for payment of the Kings deâ—ts and yet would make shew to be fauourers of the Church But the truth was that the French-men being assured they could obtaine nothing fit for their 〈…〉 ce so long as the Italians did make the maior part beganne to despaire and to hold no esteeme of the Councel while it remayned in Trent Therefore they tooke from the Diuines sent by the King their publique allowance and gaue them all leaue either to depart or 〈…〉 ine there so that almost all went away one after another The two Benedictines remained vntill the ende who were â—haintained by chest Monasteries as also Hugonius whom the Papalins caused to be lodged and defrayed in the Monastery and gaue him fifty crownes euery three moneths Loraine hauing 〈…〉 ed the allâ—gations sent by the Pope to the Emperour and made a conâ—ure vpon them sent it to his Maiestie 〈◊〉 thought The conâ—ure of 〈…〉 vpon the 〈…〉 allegations he had done all secretly but Hagonots had not onely discoured it but giuen a copie to the Legates who expecting Morone shortly wrote by order from the Pope to the Bishops departed from Trent that they should returne to resume the actions of the Councel In the meane while a congregation was made the tenth of May to reade the letters of the Queene of Scotland presented by the Cardinall of Loraine in which she declared that shee did submit herselfe to the Councell made mention of her succession to the Kingdome of England promising that in case it
instructed in Christian doctrine that to omit antiquitie the Schoole-men and greater part of the Canonists haue constantly said that the dispensations of Prelates are good Claue non errante and not otherwise Hugonius also did offer to prooue that assertion that there is the same tribunall of CHRIST and of the Pope to bee impious and scandalous making mortalitie equall to immortalitie and corruptible iudgement of man to the incorruptible iudgement of GOD and that it did proceede from ignorance that the Pope is that seruant which is set ouer the familie of CHRIST not to performe the office of the Master of the familie but onely to distribute to euery one not arbitrarily but that which is ordained by the Master that he was amazed that Christian cares could endure to heare that the whole power of CHRIST is imparted to any They all spake some censuring one some another of the Iesuites assertion But the Cardinall told them that it would be no small matter if they could obtaine that in the publike Decrees of the Councell way might not bee giuen to that doctrine at which it was conuenient that all should ayme to which end they should more easily come if the matter were passed ouer in silence and suffered to dye in obliuion which by contradiction might doe some preiudice to the trueth They were pacified yet not so but that in their priuate meetings they spake of it very much But the Legates did so accommodate the two Articles of the Institution of Bishops and of Residence with generall tearmes that they The Decrees of the Institution and of Residence gaue satisfaction to both parties and to Loraine also But hauing consulted on them with the Popish Diuines and some Canonists Prelates these sayd that they did admitte an interpretation preiudiciall to the authority of the Apostolique Sea and the vses of the Court The Bishop of Nicastro who had often contended in this matter in fauour of Rome sayd plainely that by that forme of speach it was inferred that all iurisdiction of Bishops did not proceede from the Pope but a part of it immediatly from CHRIST which was by no meanes to bee endured Other Papalins maintained the same and made a bad interpretation of all if it were not plainely sayd that Bishops haue all iurisdiction from the Pope Therefore the Legates sent the Articles thus reformed to the Pope not so much that they might bee examined in Rome as because in a matter of so great importance they would propose nothing without the Popes knowledge The Cardinals deputed for these affaires hauing seene and examined them did iudge that the forme was sufficient to make all Bishops in their Diocesses equall to the Popes And the Pope reprehended the Legates for sending them because hee knew that the maior part in the Councell were good Catholikes and deuoted to the Church of Rome and in confidence hereof was content that the propositions and resolutions should bee determined in Trent without his knowledge Notwithstanding hee thought he ought not to consent to any preiudiciall thing for feare of giuing bad example to them and beeing a cause that they also should assent vnto it against their conscience At this time they had another very hard negotiation also For the King A difficultie whether the King of the Romanes ought to promise obedience to the Pope of the Romanes being to send Ambassadours to giue him an account of his election would not doe as other Emperours and Kings had done who hauing no cause to make difficultie did promise and sweare whatsoeuer the Popes would haue them But hee hauing respect not to offend the Princes and Protestants of Germanie would first know what words must bee vsed The consultation hereof being committed in the Cardinals they resolued that hee must demaund confirmation of the election and sweare obedience according to the example of all other Emperours Whereunto he answered that they were deceiued and that hee would consent to nothing which might preiudice his successors as the actions of his predecessors were alleadged against himselfe and that it was to confesse he was Vassall And he proposed that his Ambassadour should vse these wordes that his Maiestie will performe all reuerence deuotion and duty to his Holinesse and the Apostolique Sea with promise not onely to preserue but to enlarge as much as hee can the holy Catholique faith This negotiation continued this whole yeere without agreement and finally in Rome they thought they had found a temper for it proposing that hee should sweare obedience not as Emperour but as King of Hungarie and Bohemia because it could not bee denyed they sayd that King Steuen did giue the kingdome to the Apostolique Sea in the yeere of our LORD 1000 acknowledging to receiue it from the sayd Sea and making himselfe vassall and that Vladâ—slaus Duke of Bohemia did receiue from Alexander the second power to weare a miter binding himselfe to pay an hundred markes of siluer euery yeere These things being considered of in Germanie because there was no proofe of them but the bare affirmation of Gregorie the seuenth were derided and answere was made that they desired more fresh examples and more certaine and more lawfull titles Messengers went to and fro with diuers propositions answeres and replyes of which we will now relate the issue that wee may returne no more to them Which was that twenty moneths after Count Elfestain Ambassadour of that King arriued in Rome with whom the same treaties were renewed to demaund confirmation and sweare obedience Hee answered that the Oration which he was to recite punctually was in writing and that hee had commission not to alter one iote The Pope therefore proposed the businesse to the Cardinals in a generall Congregation who after long consultation concluded that howsoeuer the confirmation were not demaunded nor obedience promised yet in the answere to the Ambassadour it should bee sayd that his Holinesse did confirme the election supplying all defects thereof de facto de iure and did receiue the Kings obedience without saying it was demanded or not demanded promised or not promised This ceremony gaue but small content to the Pope and lesse to the Colledge of Cardinals But to returne to the time whereof I write the Pope was to answere the frequent instances made vnto him by the Ambassadours resident in Rome and by the Count of Luna in Trent for abrogation of the Decree of Propouentibus Legatis And beeing satiated with this trouble hee wrote to the Legates that the suspension of it should bee proposed in Congregation But Morone answered the Ambassadours who vrged the Popes order that rather then hee would condescend vnto it hee desired that his Holinesse would remooue him This answere being giuen without participation of the other Legates and many other things resolued by him alone Morone is thought to take too much vpon 〈◊〉 by the other Legates put them in a iealousie that hee tooke too much vpon him saying that
there be not hope that hee may bee worthy of holy orders and from the last of the minor Orders vntill the Subdeaconship there shall be the interposition of a yeere if the Bishop shall not iudge otherwise for the good of the Church The twelfth None shall be ordained Subdeacon before the age of two and twenty yeeres Deacon before three and twenty Priest before sixe and twenty Neither shall the Regulars haue any exemption herein The thirteenth Subdeacons and Deacons shall bee first proued in the minor Orders shall haue hope to liue continently shall serue the Church to which they are ascribed and shall thinke it very conuenient to receiue the Communion on Sundayes and solemne Feasts when they serue at the Altar Subdeacons shall not passe to a higher degree vntill they bee exercised one yeere in their owne but two holy degrees shall not be giuen in one day by vertue of any priuiledge whatsoeuer The fourteenth None shall be ordained a Priest but a Deacon which hath been exercised in that ministery a whole yeere at the least and found sufficient to teach the people and administer the Sacraments and the Bishop shall take care that they celebrate the Masse euery Sunday and holy day 〈◊〉 in case they haue cure of soules they shall satisfie their charge and if any be ordained to the superior Orders before the inferior the Bishop may dispense if there be a lawfull cause The fifteenth Howsoeuer Priests receiue power in their ordination to absolue from sinnes yet none shall heare confessions who haue not a Parochiall Benefice or is not approued by the Bishop The sixteenth None shall be ordained before hee bee ascribed to some particular Church or pious place to exercise the ministery of that Order and if hoc abandon the place without consent of the Bishop the ministery shall be prohibited vnto him and no strange Clerke shall bee admitted to the exercise of the Ministery without the letters of his Ordinary The seuenteenth To bring againe into vse the functions of the Orders from a Deacon to an Ostiarie which being vsed from the time of the Apostles haue been intermitted in many places that they may not be derided by the heretikes as idle these Ministeries shall not be exercised but by those who haue receiued the Orders appertaining and the Prelates shall restore those functions and in case they haue not continent Clerkes for exercise of the minor Orders they may take married men so that they haue not been twice married and be in other respects apt for that exercise The last article was for the institution of Seminaries in which it was constituted that euery Episcopall Church should haue a certaine number of boyes brought vp in a Colledge neere the Church or in another conuenient place the boyes shall bee twelue yeeres olde at the least legitimate and distributed into formes by the Bishop according to their number age and progresse in Ecclesiasticall discipline They shall weare the habit and tonsure learne Grammer Musicke Ecclesiasticall computation the holy Scripture to reade the Homilies of the Fathers know the Rites and Ceremonies of the Sacrament and especially that which belongeth to hearing confessions And to defray the charge thereof where there is any reuenue deputed for education of children it shall bee applied to this Seminarie and to supply that which remaineth the Bishop with foure of the Clergie shall detract a portion from all the Benefices of the Diocesse and apply simple Benefices also to this vse and compell those who haue Schoole-houses or other charge to reade or teach in the Schooles of the Seminarie by themselues or by sufficient substitutes and Schoolemasters places shall not bee giuen hereafter but vnto Doctors or Masters in Diuinity or in the Canon law And if in any Prouince the Churches be so poore that a Seminary cannot bee erected in them one or more shall bee appointed in the Prouince and in the Churches of the great Diocesse the Bishop shall erect one or more if hee thinke fit besides that of the Citie which notwithstanding shall depend on that of the Citie In the end the Decree intimating the next Session for the sixteenth of September was read expressing that then the Sacrament of Matrimony was to bee handled and other things pertaining to the doctrine of Faith as also the prouisions of Bishoprickes Dignities and other Benefices and diuers other articles of reformation The Session continued from nine vntill sixteene a clocke with great content of the Legates and Popish Prelates that matters did passe so quietly and with such a generall consent And they commended the Cardinall of Loraine aboue all confessing that he had beene the most principall cause of this benefit No act of this Councell was seene with more desire then this of this Session The censure of the actes of this Session euery one being curious to know what that was which held in contention so many Prelats in Trent and all the Courts of Christian Princes in businesse ten moneths together But it prooued to be according to the prouerbe The trauaile of mountaines and the natiuity of a mouse No man could finde how it could deserue not onely so great and long paines of so many great persons but euen the least employment at all And those who vnderstood Theologie did desire that it should be once declared what the Councell did vnderstand by the power of retaining sins which was made one part of the Sacerdotall power because they had declared the sence of the other which was to remit sinnes And others wondered at the declaration that the inferiour Orders are onely degrees vnto the superiour and all vnto Priest-hood in regard it doth appeare in the ancient Ecclesiasticall Storie that those who were ordained to any ministery or charge were for the most part perpetually entertained in the same and the ascending to an higher degree happened very seldome and was vsed onely in case of necessitie or great vtilitie None of the seuen Deacons instituted by the Apostles ascended any higher and in the ancient Church of Rome it selfe it doth not appeare that the Deacons whose office was to heare the confessions of Martyrs did passe to the title of Priesthood The ordination of Saint Ambrose to bee a Bishop of Saint Hierome Saint Austin and Saint Paulinus to bee Priests and of Saint Gregorie the Great to be a Deacon is described without mention of any passage by other degrees They did not blame the vse begun in later times but they marueiled that they did alleadge it as a thing alwayes vsed whereas the contrary was manifest The Decree that the ministeries of the Orders from a Deacon to an Ostiary should not bee exercised but by persons promoted to those proper Orders made a faire shew but it seemed a thing hard to bee obserued that in no Church none might ring the bels or open and shut the doores but the ordinarie Ostiaries nor light the lamps and candles but the Accolites who were to exercise
them vnto him he made a great complaint of the Counts proposition For the Protestants he said that none did more desire to reduce them to the Church then hee that the actions of his predecessors for fourtie yeeres and his owne by sending Nuncij expresly to them all not regarding the indignitie to which hee did subiect himselfe and the Apostolike Sea was a manifest argument thereof that he had vsed the Emperors mediation and the perswasion of all Catholike Princes that he is assured that the hardnesse of their heart is voluntarie resolute and obstinate and therefore that the reducing of them was no more to be thought of it beeing impossible but the preseruation of the obedient that so long as there was any hope to regaine them the time did require that all meanes should be vsed to please them but that beeing lost it was necessarie to keepe the good to make the diuision strong and the parties irreconciliable that the affaires of their King did require the same as he would perceiue too late in case he should temporize in Flanders and vse termes of mediocritie that the King should remember what good effects his seuere executions at his entrance into Spaine had produced whereas if hee had proceeded remisly and desired to gaine the fauour of the Protestants hee would haue felt those accidents which are seene in France He complained also that the Count would prescribe a manner of handling matters of Theologie and determine when they should be well digested And last of all hee tolde them of their promise that the King was content that the Councell should end which the Count did labour to hinder The Ambassadors hauing excused the Count and confessed what they had said concerning the Kings pleasure for the end of the Councell the Pope was satisfied so that they would be content he should say so much where he thought it necessarie Whereunto they consenting hee gaue order to his Nuncio in Spaine to complaine to the King and to tell him that he could not penetrate the cause why the Ambassadours of his Maiestie in Rome and Trent should speake diuersly and which imported more himselfe doing what he could to gratifie him for what cause he should be crossed by his Ministers in regard the Councel continuing he was hindered from doing his Maiestie many fauors and graces that if for his affaires in Flanders or for the interests of the Emperour in Germanie he did desire any thing of the Councel he might know by experience how hard it was to effect it in Trent that they might promise themselues any thing from him and that hee was resolute so soone as the Councel was ended to send into all Prouinces to prouide for the particular necessitie of euery one whereas in Trent generall prouisions onely can bee made which haue infinite difficulties to bee fitted to euery place But the perswasions of the Count in Trent made a diuision of the Prelates some desiring that those matters might bee exactly disputed and the rather because very little or nothing was spoken of them by the Schoolemen and whereas for other things handled in the Synode there were decisions either of other Councels or of Popes or an vniforme consent of Doctors these were wholly obscure and in case they were not cleered it would bee sayd that the Councel had failed in the most necessarie things Others said that if there were so many difficulties and contentions in the thing decided already how much more might they be feared that 〈◊〉 these which are full of obscuritie where there is no sufficient light shewed by the Doctours they might goe in infinitum because they had a large field in regard of many abuses which were crept into them for matter of gaine and of the difficultie which would arise about the interpretation of the Bulls especially of the words vsed in some of penaltie and guilt as also of the maner of taking Indulgences for the dead Therefore in these and the adoration of Saints the vse only might be handled and the residue omitted and for Purgatorie the opinion of the heretikes condemned only otherwise there would be no end of the Councel nor any resolution of this difficultie While these opinions went about concerning these matters reserued for the last the Legats resolued to dispatch that of Matrimonie and to abbreuiate the time of the Session and to holde it the 19 of August at the latest This pleased the Card of Loraine very much The Card. of Loraine resolueth to goe to Rome who hauing receiued answere out of France that hee should giue the Pope satisfaction in going to Rome did resolue so to do in the end of that moneth so that the Session were celebrated And he was forced to ioyne with the Pope and his adherents not onely in regard of the order receiued out of France but because the Imperialists and Spaniards did mistrust him for the successe of the last Session The 22. of Iuly the Anathematismes were giuen forth not much differing from the manner in which they were established afterwards The greatest varietie was that vntill then they had not sufficiently considered of the fift condemning diuorces allowed in the Code of Iustinian which Anathematisme was aded at the instance of the Cardinal of Loraine to oppose the opinion of the Caluinists And it was easily receiued because it was conformeable to the Schoole doctrine and the Popes Decrees But in that of diuorce for adulterie the composers of the Canons did forbeare to vse the word Anathema fearing to condemne that opinion which was of Saint Ambrose and of many Fathers of the Greeke Church Notwithstanding the others thinking that it was an Article of faith and almost all the Fathers consenting thereunto the Canon was reformed and the Anathema added condemning those that say that the bond is dissolued by adulterie and that either of the parties may contract another Matrimonie whilest the other liueth which Canon receiued afterwards another mutation as shall be saide in due place In the Congregations following the things proposed were easily dispatched but almost all the Prelates left those and spake of â—landâ—stine mariages though neither the time nor the place did comport it and the difference of opinions therein began to be discouered In the Congregation of the foure and twentieth day in the morning the Bishop of Cortona Ambassador of the Duke of Florence was receiued who made a short speech of the deuotion of his Prince towards the Apostolike Sea and fauour to the Synbd and thankes were giuen him In the congregation that night the French Ambassadors caused a request to be read in the name of their King that children which are in The Ambassador of Florence is receiued in congregation the power of their Parents might not without their consent either many or betroth themselues or if they did that it should be in the power of the parents to make void or ratifie the contract as they pleased And the same day the
Fathers were admonished to put vp in writing to the deputies the abuses obserued by them in the matter of Matrimonie The voyces beeing all giuen concerning the Anathematismes two Articles were proposed the promotion of married persons to holy Orders and the making voyde of clandestine marriages For the former the Fathers Two new Articles concerning married Priests and secret mariages did vniformely and without difficultie agree on the negatiue and the Arch-bishop of Prague and the Bishop of Fiue Churches who perswaded them to thinke better on it were scarcely heard But the other of clandestine marriage did not passe so For one hundred thirty and sixe did approue the making it voyd fiftie seuen did contradict and ten would not declare themselues The Decree was composed according to the opinion of the Maior part that howsoeuer clandestine mariages were good so long as the Church did not make them voyde and therefore the Synod doth anathematise him that thinketh the contrarie yet the Church hath alwayes detested them And now seeing the inconueniences the Synod doth determine that all persons which hereafter shall either marrie or betroth themselues without the presence of three witnesses at the least shall bee vnable to contract and whatsoeuer they doe therein shall be voide And another Decree followed commanding the Banes but concluding that if there were a necessitie to omit them the mariage might be made so that it were in presence of the Parish Priest and of fiue witnesses at the least publishing the Banes afterwards vpon paine of excommunication to him that should contract otherwise But that great number which would make void the secret mariages was diuided into two parts some following the opinion of those Diuines who grant power to the Church to make the persons vncapable and some those who say it may make the contract voide And the Legates themselues did differ Morone was content with any resolution so that they might dispatch Varmiense thought that the Church had no power herein and that all mariages celebrated in what manner soeuer with consent of the persons contracting are good Simoneta said that the distinction of the contract of Matrimonie from matrimonie it selfe and the giuing of power to the Church ouer the one and not ouer the other seemed to him sophisticall and chimericall and was much inclined not to make any innouation Concerning the abuses of Matrimonie many Prelates considered that the causes to hinder mariages and to make them voyde though they were contracted were so many and happened so often that there were but few not subiect to some of those defects and which was more persons did contract ignorantly either not knowing the prohibition or the fact or by forgetfulnesse in whom after they knew the trueth many perturbations and scruples did arise as also suits and contentions about the legitimation of the issue and the dowries The impediment of kinred contracted in baptisme was particularly alleadged for a very great abuse because in some places twenty or thirty men were inuited for God-fathers and as many women for God-mothers betweene all which by Ecclesiasticall constitution a spirituall kinred doth arise who oftentimes not knowing one another do ioyne in marriage Many thought fit to take away this impediment not because it was not well instituted at the first but for that the cause of the institution beeing ceased the effect ought to cease also They considered that the gossips were then sureties to the Church for the faith of the children baptized and therefore were bound to instruct and chatechize them according to their capacitie by which meanes they conuersed often and familiarly with them and their parents as also the gossips amongst themselues by which meanes a certaine relation did arise betweene them which was a cause to be reuerenced and sufficient to prohibite marriage as all other causes to which reuerence ought to bee borne But afterwards when vse bad abolished whatsoeuer was reall herein and the God-father did seldome see his God-childe and had no care at all of his education the cause of reuerence ceasing the relation ought not to haue place Likewise the impediment of Affinitie by fornication nullifying marriages vntill the fourth degree it beeing a matter of secrecie did ensnare many who vnderstanding the trueth after the mariage were filled with perturbations For kinred of Consanguinity and Affinity it was said that the same account beeing now not made of it as formerly was and amongst great personages scarce memorie kept of the fourth degree that might bee omitted also Wherein there was much disputation Some thought that as seuen degrees of kinred did hinder marriage for many hundred yeeres and Innocentius the third tooke away three of them at once restrayning the impediment vnto the fourth alleadging very common reasons that there are foure Elements foure humours of mans body so it appearing now that foure cannot bee obserued without many inconueniences the impediments may bee more iustly restrayned to the third Others contradicted and sayd that so they might hereafter proceede further and at the last come to that of Leuiticus which would cherish the opinion of the Lutherans and therefore did conclude that it was dangerous to innonate Which opinion after much examination did preuaile Some thought that the impediment of fornication beeing secret ought wholly to beetaken away But they preuailed not because there appeared an inconuenience in regard that many things which first are secret are published afterwards Many were of opinion that no nouitie should bee made in these prohibitions but power granted to Bishops to dispence and maintained that it was better to giue it to them then to the court because they knowing better the merits of the fact and the causes may exercise distributiue iustice more exactly herein They sayd the court of Rome doth often giue dispensations to persons not knowen who obtaine them by deceipt and that diligence cannot be vsed in regard of the distance of the Countreys besides the world beeing scandalized thinking they are not giuen but for money that imfamie ought to be taken away The Spaniards and French-men laboured effectually herein but the Italians said they did it to make themselues all Popes and not to acknowledge the Apostolique Sea and that the difficultie of sending to Rome and negotiating the expedition with paines and cost was profitable because by that meanes few marriages were contracted in degrees prohibited whereas if by granting power to Bishops there were aâ—facility herein the prohibitions would in a short time come to nothing and so the Lutheranes would gaine their opinion Here upon a common inclâ—natioâ— grew that none should bee dispensed with in these prohibitions but for a very vrgent cause into which opinion those who could not preuaile for the Bishops did enter also thinking it was more for their credit if that which was forbid to them were not granted to others After many discourses in the Congregations it was resolued to restraine spirituall kinred and affinity by mariage and
giuen by the Legates made for the interests of Rome could not be fitted to other countreys But the Cardinall of Loraine and the French and Portugall Ambassadours contradicted alleadging that euery one might speake his opinion concerning the Articles proposed and propose others if there were cause so that there was no need to giue this distast to the Pope and the Legates who could not endure to heare speach of Nations in Councell And the Imperialists comming to this opinion also the Count retired but said that diuers considerations ought to bee had concerning those which were proposed The Cardinall of Loraine counselled the Legats to facilitate the businesse and to take away those points which might seeme to cause contradiction adding that the fewer matters were handled the better it would be whereat Varmiense seeming to wonder Loraine asked him whether hee marueiled The Card of Loraine excuseth the change of his minde because hee saw not in him that heate and desire of reformation as hee had made demonstration of at other times and he added that his desire was the same and had the same disposition of minde to imploy all his force therein but that experience hath taught him that not onely nothing perfect or ordinarie can bee done in Councell but that euery enterprise in that businesse turneth to the worst He perswaded also the Count of Luna not to seeke to hinder the reformation totally but if there were any thing which did not fully satisfie him hee should make the partcular knowen and hee would labour that contentment should be giuen him The Emperours Ambassadours first of all gaue their answere in writing the one and thirtieth of Iuly in which they said that desiring a generall reformation in the head and members and hauing read the Articles exhibited they had added some things and noted others desiring they might be corrected accordingly and discussed by the Fathers And because the Emperour with the Ambassadours of many Princes did hold a Diet in Vienna to handle many things concerning the Councell they hoped they would take it in good part if hauing receiued a new commandement from his Maiestie they should present other considerations also and that for the present they added eight Articles to those proposed by them 1 That a serious and The Imperialists adde 8. Articles more durable reformation of the Conclaue might bee made in Councell 2. That alienation of Ecclesiasticall goods without the free and firme consent of the Chapter might be prohibited and especially in the Roman Church 3. That Commendaes and Coadiutories with future succession might bee taken away 4. That Schooles and Vniuersities might be reformed 5. That the Prouinciall Councels may bee inioyned to correct the Statutes of all the Chapters as also that authoritie may bee giuen to reforme Missals Breuidries Agends and Graduals not in Rome onely but in all Churches 6. That Lay-men may not bee cited to Rome in the first instance 7. That causes may not bee remooued from the Secular Court to the Ecclesiasticall vpon pretence of iustice denyed before the trueth of the supplication bee knowen 8. That Conseruators may not bee giuen in prophane matters And concerning the Articles exhibited by the Legates they noted many things part whereof as being but of small weight it will not be amisse to omit Those of importance were That Cardinals might bee chosen out of all Nations that the Vniuersall Bishop might bee created by Electors of all Countreys That the prouisions against Pensions Reseruations and Regresses should bee extended not onely to the future but to those also that are past That the kissing of the Gospel should not be taken from the Emperour and Kings who ought to defend it That it may be declared what secular affaires are prohibited to Ecclesiastiques that that which is determined in the decree of Residence may not be crossed That in the Article of not laying taxes vpon the Ecclesiastiques the cause of Subsidie against the Turkes and other Infidels may be excepted The proposition though it were of hard digestion did not so much trouble the Legats as the doubt mooued that some extraordinary demaund for change of Rites receiued by the Church of Rome and relaxation of Precepts de iure Positiuo might come from the Diet in Vienna The third of August the Frenchmen gaue their obseruations the essentiall whereof were That the number of Cardinals might not exceed foure and The articles exhibited by the French-men twentie and that no more might be created vntill they were reduced to that paucitie That they may bee elected out of all Kingdomes and Prouinces That there may not be two of one Diocesse nor more then eight of one Nation That they may not bee lesse then thirtie yeeres of age That the nephew or brother of the Pope or of any Cardinall liuing may not bee chosen That Bishoprickes may not bee giuen them that they may the better assist the Pope and that their dignitie being equall their reuenew may bee equall also That none may haue more then one Benefice and that the difference vnknowen to the good ages of the world of Benefices simple and with cure compatible and incompatible may be taken away and that hee that hath two at this present may choose and keepe one only and that within a short time That resignations in fauour may be quite taken away That it may not bee prohibited to conferre Benefices onely vpon those who haue not the language of the Countrey because the Lawes of France forbid all strangers without exception to haue Offices or Benefices in the Kingdome That the criminall causes of Bishops may not be iudged out of the kingdome in regard of the ancient priuiledge of France that none may bee iudged out of the Kingdome neither voluntarily nor by compulsion That power may bee restored to Bishops to absolue from all cases without exception That to take away suits for Benefices preuentions resignations in fauour mandats expectatiues and other vnlawfull wayes to obtaine them may be remooued That the prohibition that the Clergie may not meddle in secular matters may be expounded so that they may abstaine from all functions which are not holy Ecclesiasticall and proper to their order That the Pensions alreadie imposed may be taken away and abrogated That in causes of Patronage the ancient institution in France may not be changed to giue sentence in the possessorie for him who is in the last possession and in the petitorie for him who hath a lawfull title or a long possession That the lawes of France concerning Ecclesiasticall causes may not bee preiudiced that the possessorie may beiudged by the Kings Iudges and the petitorie by the Ecclesiastiques but not out of the Kingdome That none may be assumed to bee Canon in a Cathedrall Church before he be fiue and thirtie yeeres old That for the Article containing the reformation of Princes the Clergie may bee first intirely reformed in this Session and that which belongeth to the dignity
to propose to the Pope a conference betweene his Holinesse the Emperour and the King of Spaine and the King her sonne in whose traine her selfe would be The proposition did not displease the Pope because it might serue him to finish the Councell but hee thought the execution was impossible And he promised to send Nuncij to the Emperour and King of Spaine to this end and appointed the Bishop of Vintimiglia for Spaine whom hee therefore recalled from Trent and the Bishop of Ischia for the Emperour To the Cardinall of Loraine he made excessiue demonstrations of honor lodged him in the palace a thing vnusuall went publiquely to visite How the cardinall of Loraine was treated in Rome him in his lodging Their discourses were partly about the Conference though the Cardinall did not thinke it feasable They treated about the sale of a 100000. crownes which whether the Cardinall did promote or draw backe was not discouered But the Pope hauing vpon a new instance made by the French Ambassadour answered that he did referre it to the Councell many thought it to be an excuse inuented by Loraine But the principall businesse was about finishing the Synode which the Pope thought to be of greatest importance and knew to bee most difficult Wherein there was great confidence betweene them For the Cardinall discouered to him that his interests were turned the same way and that since the death of his brothers he saw plainely that there was no meanes to maintaine Religion in France and his house but his coniunction with the Apostolique Sea The Pope promised to make Cardinals at his instance and gaue him such words as shewed an intention to make him his Successour in the Popedome and that they might haue more credite he made shew that the greatnesse of that Cardinall was profitable for the endes hee had in ayming at some matter of great moment And the conclusion of his discourses to euery one was We must shut vp the Councell prouide money and afterwards that will happen which shall please GOD. The Pope told the Cardinall that as often as he heard of the discords and delaies which some did plot he thought to suspend the Councell but changed his opinion for feare of the scandall which the world would take which knew not the trueth and that sometimes he thought this the greatest euill that could occurre and sometimes iudged it lesse then the danger in which his authoritie was which was the marke at which the Princes Bishops and all sorts of persons did shoot but finally that it was necessary to lay aside all respects and come to this resolution The Cardinall disswaded him shewing that this was not a medicine to cure the euill but to deferre it onely with greater danger because hee would in a short time haue new demands to restore it and plots would be laid by those who were not satisfied with him and that to suspend was as difficult as to finish it For there was no need to alleadge causes for this it being sufficient to bring things to the conclusion and so to ende whereas the suspension did require an allegation of the cause whereof euery one would speake his opinion that it was more honourable to finish then to suspend it and hee vsed other reasons which made the Pope know that his counsell was good and faithfull And afterwards he aduised him to deale plainely with the King of Spaine Therefore calling the Ambassadours of that King hee complained in grieuous termes saying that he had called the Councell vpon hope and promise that the affaires of the Papacy would haue beene fauoured by his Maiestie to whom he had giuen all imaginable satisfaction and would giue him more according to his demands if the impediments caused by the Councel were taken away that he had not demanded any fauour of his Maiestie and his Ministers but the ending of the Councell for the seruice of GOD and the publike good and therein was ill vsed though it was rather a losse to the King then a benefit Therefore hee was forced to hold esteeme of him by whom he was esteemed and to cast himselfe into the armes of those that would assist him And he dispatched also a Currier to the King with a letter of his owne hand complaining of the offices done by his Ambassadour and Prelats in Trent contrarie to his Ministers in Rome each party saying hee doth the commission of his Maiestie Hee shewed that it was conuenient for the seruice of GOD of the Apostolike Sea and of his Maiestie that the Councell should end and in conclusion he desired him to declare himselfe plainely whether he would assist him heerein or not The Cardinall did counsel him also not to be auerse from granting to the Emperour the Cup and marriage of Priests by which meanes he should gaine both him and the king of the Romans not to consent onely to the ending of the Councell but to be fauourable and to promote it He told him likewise that it was necessary to omit the reformation of Princes because it would prolong the businesse more then any thing besides After the departure of Loraine nine French Bishops parted from Trent and returned home so that there remained but eight besides sixe who went with the Cardinall to Rome This departure caused an opinion that they were recalled and that there was a purpose at the perswasion of the Hugonots to recall the others that the end of the Councell approaching no French men might bee present when they should bee anathematized The Legates to facilitate the difficulties of secret mariage caused the Diuines who were maintainers and opposers of it to make a publike disputation This was neuer done before in any occurrence and then did so little good that euery one was more confirmed in his owne opinion After this to reassume the Congregations and to handle the reformation they gaue foorth the residue of the Articles the last of which was the reformation of Princes being forced thereunto by the mutinie of the Prelats Of which matter concerning Princes hauing often made mention and now being come to a place in which it is necessarie to recite it for the vnderstanding of the things that follow it must bee knowne that it did containe a propheme with thirteene Articles and a very pregnant Epilogue the substance whereof was That the Synode besides the things constituted concerning Ecclesiasticall persons hath thought fit to correct the abuses of the Seculars brought in against the immunitie of the Church hoping that the Princes will be content and cause due obedience to be rendred to the Clergie And therefore it doth admonish them to cause their magistrates officers and temporall Lords to yeeld that obedience to the Pope and constitutions of the Councell which themselues are bound to performe And for facilitation heereof it doth renew some things decreed by the holy Canons and Imperial The Articles of the Reformation of Princes lawes in fauour of Ecclesiasticall immunitie which
ought to bee obserued vpon paine of Anathema 1. That Ecclesiasticall persons may not bee iudged in a secular Court howsoeuer there may bee doubt of the title of the Clerkeship or themselues consent or haue renounced the things obtained or for any cause whatsoeuer though vnder pretence of publike vtilitie or seruice of the King nor shall be proceeded against there in cause of murder if it bee not truly and properly a murder and notoriously knowne nor in other cases permitted by the law without the declaration of the law going before 2. That in causes spirituall of matrimonie heresie patronage beneficiall ciuill criminall and mixt belonging in what manner soeuer to the Ecclesiasticall Court as well ouer persons as ouer goodes tithes fourths and other portions appertaining to the Church or ouer beneficiall Patrimonies Ecclesiasticall Fees temporall iurisdiction of Churches the temporall Iudges shall not meddle neither in the Petitorie nor in the Possessorie taking away all appeale vpon pretence of iustice denied or as from an abuse or because the things obtained are renounced and those who shall haue recourse to the Secular magistrate in the causes aforesaid shall bee excommunicated and depriued of their rights belonging vnto them in these things And this shall be obserued also in causes depending in what instance soeuer 3. That the Seculars shall not appoint Iudges in causes Ecclesiasticall though they haue Apostolike authoritie or a custome time out of mind and the Clerkes who shall receiue such offices from the Lakes though by vertue of any priuiledge whatsoeuer shall bee suspended from their orders depriued of their Benefices and offices and made vncapeable of them 4. That the Secular shall not command the Ecclesiasticall Iudge not to excommunicate without licence or to reuoke or suspend the Excommunication denounced nor forbid him to examine cite and condemne or to haue Sergeants or Ministers for execution 5. That neither the Emperour Kings nor any Prince whatsoeuer shall make Edicts or Constitutions in what manner soeuer concerning Ecclesiasticall causes or persons nor meddle with their persons causes iurisdictions or tribunals no not in the Inquisition but shall bee bound to affoord the seculat Arme to Ecclesiasticall Iudges 6. That the temporall iurisdiction of the Ecclesiastikes though with meere and mixt power shall not bee disturbed nor their subiects drawne to the Secular tribunals in causes temporall 7. That no prince or magistrate shall promise by Briefe or other writing or giue hope to any to haue a Benefice within their dominions nor procure it from the Prelates or Chapters of Regulars and hee that shall obtaine it by that meanes shall bee depriued and yncapeable 8. That they shall not meddle with the fruites of Benefices Vacant vnder pretence of custodie or patronage or protection or of withstanding discords nor shall place there either Bayliefes or Vicars and the Seculars who shall accept such offices and custodies shall bee excommunicated and the Clerkes suspended from their Orders and depriued of their Benefices 9. That the Ecclesiastikes shall not bee forced to pay taxes gabels eithes passages subsidies though in the name of gift or loane either in respect of the Church goods and of their Patrimonial except in Prouinces where by ancient custome the Ecclesiastikes themselues doe assist in publike Parliaments to impose Subsidies both vpon the Laitie and the Clergie to make warre against the infidels or for other vrgent necessities 10. That they shall not meddle with Ecclesiasticall goods mooueable or immooueable vassallages tenths or other rights nor in the goods of communities or priuate men ouer which the Church hath any right nor shall rent out the depasturing or herbage which groweth in the lands and possessions of the Church 11 That the letters sentences and citations of Iudges Ecclesiasticall especially of the Court of Rome so soone as they bee exhibited shall bee intimated without exception published and executed neither shall it bee necessarie to require consent or licence which is called Exequatur or Placet or by any other name either for this or for taking possession of Benefices though vpon pretence of withstanding falshoods and violences except in fortresses and those Benefices in which Princes are acknowledged by reason of the temporalitie and in case there shall bee doubt of falsitie or of some great scandall or tumult the Bishop as the Popes delegate shall constitute what hee thinketh needefull 12. That Princes and Magistrates shall not lodge their officers seruants souldiers horses or dogs in the houses or Monasteries of the Ecclesiastikes nor take any thing from them for their foode or passage 13. And if any Kingdome Prouince or place shall pretend not to be bound to any of the things aforesaid by vertue of priuiledges from the Apostolike Sea which are in actuall vse the priuiledges shall bee exhibited to the Pope within a yeere after the end of the Councell which shall bee confirmed by him according to the merites of the Kingdomes or Prouinces and in case they be not exhibited before the end of the yeere they shall be vnderstood to bee of no force And for the Epilogue there was an ad 〈…〉 tion to all Prindes to haue in veneration the things which concerne the Clergie as peculiar to God and not to suffer them to bee offended by others renewing all the constitutions of Popes and holy Canons in fauour of Ecclesiasticall immunitie commanding vnder paine of Anathema that neither directly nor indirectly vnder any preâ—ence whatsoeuer any thing bee constituted or executed against the persons or goods of the Clergie or against their libertie any priuiledges or exemptions though immemoriall notwithstanding And this is it which was first imparted to the Ambassadours and by each of them sent to their Princes whereupon the French King gaue the order to his Ambassadors before mentioned And the Emperor hauing seene them wrot to the Cardinall Morone that hee could not possibly assent either as Emperor Are distastfull to the Emperour or as Arch-Duke that they should speake in Councell of reforming the iurisdiction of Princes nor to take from them authority to receiue assistance and contributions from the Clergie putting him in minde that all the former euils did arise from the oppressions attempted by the Ecclesiastikes against people and Princes That they should beware not to prouoke them more and cause greater inconueniences to arise After Loraine was departed the French Ambassadours put their protestation in order to make vse of it if need were In the Congregation of the two and twentieth of September one of the Fathers made a long speach to shew that the cause of all deformation proceeded from Princes that they had more neede of reformation that the Articles were already in order and was now time to propose them that they might not vanish to nothing by delaies After hee had spoken the Ambassadour de Ferrieres made a long querulous The speach of de Ferrieres Oration or as the Frenchmen say a complaint The contents whereof in the
iudge yet there is no doubt but that in the declaration they would say they meant the Ecclesiasticall onely And they thought it an vsurpation of temporall authoritie to punish Seculars with infamie and incapacitie of dignities Neither did they approoue the constitution against conculinaries any a yeere in excommunication that they should be punished by the Ecclesiastique because excommunication is the extreme last and greatest of Ecclesiasticall punishments according to the doctrine of all the Fathers so that to passe that was to enter vpon the Temporall power and the rather because they giue themselues power to course concubines out of their countreys deriding the secular Magistrates by imploring their arme if there shall bee need which is as much as to affirme that ordinarily the execution of this banishment may be made by the Ecclesiastique himselfe The Decree of reformation in the first Article was noted either of defect or of presumption For if the Synode had authoritie to giue Law to the Pope especially in things so iust it was not fit to doe it by way of narration or by obloquitie of words But if it ought to receiue Law from the Pope it cannot bee excused for hauing passed its bounds because it doeth sharpely reprehend the former actions of this and other Popes though it doeth it obliquely Those that were seene in the Ecclesiasticall stories said that to draw all the causes of Bishops to Rome was a new policie to make the Court great whereas all the examples of antiquitie and Canons of the Counsels of those times doe shew that the causes of Bishops though of depositions were handled in the countries of each of them Those who expected a prouision against the abuse of pensions seeing what was decreed in the 13. Article did iudge that the matter would passe to a greater corruption as the euent also hath shewed The fourteenth Article was commended by euery one because it did seeme to take away the Annates and paying for Bulls dispatched at Rome for collation of Benefices But in progresse of time it appearing that those remained still and that there was not so much as any cogitation either to remooue or moderate them they remembred that onely the small abuses of other Churches being prouided against the saying was verified that onely moates were taken out of the eyes and beames neuer Euery wise man thought that this age was not worthy of that Decree for the vnitie or at the most dualtie of Benefices and that it would not be obserued but in the poorer sort onely Likewise for the examination in concurrence in the collation of Benefices euery one did prognosticate that it would bee deluded by some sinister interpretation And the prophecie was quickly verified For in Rome within a short time they began to declare that concurrence was not to bee obserued in case of resignation but that hee onely was to bee examined to whom the resignation was made which was as much as to abolish the Decree for the most part because the better sort were excluded by resignation and hee onely preferred who pleased the resignant and Benefices are not vacant for any other cause but casually The Decree of the cognition of causes in the first instance was quite destroyed by the exception added that is except those which the Pope will commit and call to himselfe For causes were neuer taken from the lawfull tribunals but by commissions and auocations of Popes and now the cause of the disease was preserued and the symptom onely cured And howsoeuer the adiunct for vrgent and reasonable causes did seeme to moderate the matter wel yet men of vnderstanding knew that it was as much as to say for any arbitrary cause But in the last poynt which was in expectation so many moneths touching the essentiall liberty of the Councell seeing it was declared that the meaning of the Synod was not to change the manner of proceeding nor to make any addition or diminution of the old constitutions wise men said that concerning this Councell it was a declaration contrary to the fact and published when it did no good neither was there any more vse of it then of a medicine applyed to a dead body And some mocked and said that it was as much as the consolation of an honest man whose wife had brought him children by other men and said she did it not to doe him wrong But by an example giuen to posteritie it did teach how all violence and exorbitancie might bee vsed in Councell from the beginning to the end and all inconuenience done excused by such a declaration yea iustified and maintained for lawfull At this time besides the aduice of the Session helde three other sorts of distastfull newes came into France The first was the Popes answere about the hundred thousand crownes The second the protestation made in Councell and the displeasure taken at it in Trent and Rome The last was the sentence against the French Bishops and the citation of the Queene of Nauarre The French-men hauing much considered on these things resolued The Alienation of Ecclesiasticall reuenues in France not to treate any more with the Pope for his fauour in the alienation but to execute the Kings Edict approued in Parliament without any consent of his Holinesse This being suddenly performed few buyers could bee found as well because men doe not easily resolue to lay downe their money as because they were disswaded by the Ecclesiastiques who told them that the sale wanting the Popes confirmation would not hereafter be esteemed to bee good This was a hinderance to the King and no fauour to the Clergie For the sale was made but it was done at a low rate neither was there raysed more then two millions and halfe of Francks small in regard of the things aliened seeing that it was made at twelue for an hundred whereas it had beene a small price if they had giuen an hundred for foure And it is worthy to bee repeated heere that amongst the things solde one was the iurisdiction which the Arch-bishop of Lions had held vntill that time ouer that citie which was sold at the outcry for thirty thousand Francks But the Bishop complained so much that in supplement of the price he had giuen vnto him 400. crownes yeerely Concerning the protestation made in Councell the King wrote to his Ambassadors the ninth of Nouember that hauing seene what the Cardinall of Loraine had written against their protestation and heard the relation made by the Bishop of Orlience of all things done in Trent he was pleased with it as also with their retire to Venice and commanded that de Ferrieres should not depart thence vntill he had new order which should bee when hee was aduised that the Articles were so reformed that the rights of the King and of the Gallican Church were not put in question And he wrote to the Cardinall of Loraine that himselfe and his Counsel knew that his Ambassadors had protested vpon great and iust
a nullitie in the profession shall not bee heard after fiue yeeres from the first day thereof and shall alleadge the cause before the Superiour and Ordinarie before hee depose the habit and none shall goe to a more large religion nor haue leaue to weare the habit secretly 20. The Abbats and Heads of the Orders shall visit the Monasteries subiect vnto them though but by Commenda and the Commendataries shall be bound to execute the Ordinations and in those Priors and Superiours who haue spirituall gouernement shall bee created by the Chapters or visiters of the Orders 21. That the Synode doeth desire to restore discipline in all Monasteries but seeth it is impossible in regard of the stiffenecked and difficult age yet they will not omit to vse meanes that hereafter prouision may bee made therein and doe hope that his Holinesse as farre as hee shall see the times will comport will prouide that a Regular professed person shall bee made gouernour of Monasteries commended and those that shall bee vacant hereafter shall not bee conferred but vpon Regulars and those who haue Monasteries in Commenda and are Heads of Orders if prouision bee not made within sixe moneths of a Regular successor they shall make prouision or quit the place otherwise the Commendaes shall bee vacant And in the prouision of Monasteries the qualitie of euery one shall bee expressed by name otherwise the prouision shall bee accounted surreptitious 22. That it shall bee vnderstood that all Regulars are subiect to these Decrees notwithstanding any priuiledge though by foundation commanding Bishops and Abbats to execute them immediatly and praying and commanding Princes and Magistrates to assist them as often as they shall be required The reading of the generall reformation did presently follow which The generall reformation after an exhortation to Bishops for exemplary life modestie in apparell and food and frugality doth forbid 1. That they shall giue to their kinred or any of their family any part of the reuenues of the Church except they bee poore extending the same to all beneficed persons secular or regular and also vnto Cardinals 2. That the Bishops shall in the first Prouinciall Councell receiue the Decrees of this Synod of Trent promise obedience to the Pope Anathematize the heresies condemned and euery Bishop promoted hereafter shall doe the same in the first Synod and all beneficed men who are to assist in the Diocesan Synode shall doe the same therein Those who haue the care of Vniuersities and studies generab shall endeauour to make the Decrees to be receiued in them and the Doctours to teach the Catholique faith in conformitie of them and shall take a solemne oath herein euery yeere And for those which are immediatly subiect to the Pope his Holinesse will haue care that they be reformed in the same manner by his Delegats or as hee shall thinke fit 3. That howsoeuer the sword of excommunication is the sinew of Ecclesiasticall discipline profitable to keepe men in obedience it is to be vsed with sobriety and circumspection hauing found by experience that it is more contemned then feared when it is denounced rashly for a small cause Therefore it shall not be denounced by any but by the Bishop for things lost or stollen who shall not grant it at the perswasion of any secular authority whatsoeuer though a Magistrate And in iudiciall causes in which a reall or personall execution may bee made they shall abstaine from censures and in ciuill belonging in what manner soeuer to the Ecclesiasticall Court they may vse pecuniary punishments or proceed by distraining of goods or imprisonment of the parties themselues with their executors or others and in case they be not able to execute really or personally they may proceed to excommunication And the same shall be obserued in criminall causes The secular Magistrate shall not prohibite the Ecclesiasticall to excommunicate or reuoke excommunication vpon pretence that the Decree hath not beene obserued The person excommunicated shall not onely not be receiued to participate with the faithfull but if he perseuere in the censures he may be proceeded against as suspected of heresie 4. It doth giue power to the Bishops in the Diocesan Synods and to the Heads of the Orders in the generall Chapters to ordaine for their Churches that which shall bee for the honor of God and benefite of them when there shall be an obligation to celebrate so many Masses by testamentarie legacies that they cannot bee performed or that the almes is so small that none can bee found to performe the charge but with condition that memory be alwaies made of those parties deceased who haue left the legacies 5. That in the collation or any other disposition of Benefices no derogation bee made to the qualities conditions and charges required or imposed in the erection or foundation or by any other constitution otherwise the prouision shall bee accounted surreptitious 6. When the Bishop not in time of visitation doth proceed against the Canons the Chapter shall elect two in the beginning of euery yeere by whose councell and consent the Bishop shall proceed in all the acts and the voyces of both shall bee as one and in case they both dissent from the Bishop a third shall bee elected by them who shall determine the controuersie and if they cannot agree the third man shall bee elected by the next Bishop But in causes of concubinaries or other more hainous the Bishop may receiue information alone proceed to retention and for the residue shall obserue what is ordained The Bishop shall haue the first seate in the quire Chapter or other publique places and shall choose his place The Bishop shall preside in the Chapter except in cases belonging to him or his which authority shall not bee communicated to his vicar and those who are not of the Chapter shall in causes Ecclesiasticall be all subiect to the Bishop and where Bishops haue more iurisdiction then the aforesaid the Decree shall not haue place 7. Heereafter no regresse or accesse to any Ecclesiasticall benefice shall bee granted and those which be granted already shall neither bee extended nor transferred and herein the Cardinals shall be comprehended also Coadiutors with future succession shall not be made in any Ecclesiasticall benefices whatsoeuer and if in Cathedrall Churches or Monasteries it shall be necessary to doe it the cause shall first be knowen by the Pope and the due qualities shall concurre 8. All beneficed men shall vse as much hospitality as their reuenue will giue them leaue and it doth command those who haue the gouernement of Hospitals vnder what title soeuer to exercise it as they are bound by the reuenues deputed hereunto and if persons of that sort as the institution doth require be not found in the place the reuenues shall be conuerted to a pious vse as neere as can be to that as shall seeme good to the Bishop with two of the Chapter And those who will not giue
matter of faith onely They said that to haue spoken one word incidently in handling the Masse that it doth assist the dead which The censure of the Councell in Germanie also may receiue diuers sences and in the decree of Purgatorie to alleadge it as a definition of the Article was a thing not to be vsed in Councels especially in this where the matters were minced and an Article of faith made of euery question which could be mooued in any matter And to commend Bishops to teach the sound doctrine of Purgatorie without declaring what it is did shew that the Fathers had great hast to depart from Trent But in the matter of Saints the hast was greater condemning in one breath and in one period eleuen Articles not declaring what condemnation it was or whether they were condemned of heresie or for any other cause and after a long discourse of Images anathematising those that speake against the Decrees without letting them know which it doth comprehend vnder the Anathema whether the immediatly precedent concerning Images or all the others aboue written But of Iudulgences they spake more then all the rest that these gaue occasion of the present diuision amongst Christians that the Councell was principally assembled for these that in that matter there is no part which is not controuersed and vncertaine euen amongst the Schoolemen themselues and yet the Synod hath passed them ouer without cleering any doubt or deciding any controuersie And concerning the remedy of abuses they spake in such ambiguous termes that it could not bee vnderstood what they did approue or disapproue saying they did desire a moderation according to the old custome approued in the Church For it is certaine and cannot bee concealed that in no Christian Nation of the Easterne Church either in ancient or moderne times there neuer was any vse of Indulgences of any kind whatsoeuer And in the west if by ancient custome they meane that which was obserued before Vrban the second in the yeere 1095. no proofe can bee brought of the vse of Indulgences If from that time vntill the yeare 1300. It will appeare that the vse of them hath beene very sparing and onely to free men from punishments imposed by the Confessor Afterwards from the Councell of Vienna the abuses began which did increase very much vntill the time of Leo the tenth so that the Councel desiring the restitution of the old custome approued in the Church it was necessary to declare in what Church and in what time But those words that the Eclesiasticall discipline is weakened by too much facilitie in graunting Indulgences are a plaine confession that they belong not to the conscience not doe free men from any thing in the fight of God but touch the externall onely that is the Ecclesiasticall discipline For the difference of meates and fasts they said that to command them was good but that was not decided of which the world complained that is that they did binde the conscience Therefore the Princes of Germany held none esteeme of this Councell Onely some few ministers of the Augustan confession published a protestation of which but little account was made The Catholikes did not thinke of the doctrine of Purgatorie and of Indulgences desiring onely to obtaine the Communion of the Cup mariage of Priests and relaxation in the multitude of precepts De iure positiuo concerning fasts feasts and such other things For whose satisfaction the Emperour and Duke of Bauaria made instance The Emperor writeth to the Pope about the communion of the Cup. to the Pope The Emperour wrote letters to him dated the foureteenth of February saying that during the Councell hee had laboured to obtaine the grant of the Cup not for any priuate interest or scruple of conscience which hee had but because hee did beleeue and doeth still that the graunt is necessary to bring backe to the Church those that wander that he did then tolerate the impediments interposed to treat there of with the principall Prelates and Princes of the Empire with whom hauing conferred whether it were expedient to renew the same request they thought fit hee should moue his Holinesse therein Therefore calling to mind what the Cardinals Morone and Loraine had caused to bee told him which was confirmed also by the Bishop of Liesina his Nuncio hee would no longer deferre to demand the grace of him without repeating any more the weighty causes that did constraine him desiring him to assist the Germane Nation to which all wise Catholikes doe thinke that the graunt will bee very beneficiall adding that to preserue the remainder of Religion in Germanie and extirpate heresies it will be of great moment to graunt that Priests who are separated because they are married may bee reconciled and retaine their wiues and that hereafter where there is not a sufficient number of Priests married men of good life and fame may be admitted to the Priesthood For this he prayed him in his owne name and in the name of the Duke of Bauaria his sonne in law assuring him that he should doe a thing worthy of his piety and most acceptable The letters of the Duke of Bauaria did containe that hauing sent often And so doth the Duke of Bauaria to his Holinesse to shew the miserable State of Germanie in matters of Religion he did hope hee should not long desire the medicine which seeing it was not applied vntill then he together with the Emperour and Ecclesiasticall Electors did pray him to grant power to the Arch bishop of Salzburg to giue leaue to Catholike Priests to administer the Cup to those who haue confessed and are penitent and do beleeue the other Articles of Religion which grant would giue satisfaction to his Subiects who remaine in his State to those also who goe forth of his Dominions to seeke those who will minister it vnto them that himselfe will alwayes be content with one kinde nor will force any to vse the Cup who as himselfe will be content with the bread onely that for these hee demandeth nothing but that it seemeth to him not inconuenient for the Vicar of CHRIST to haue pitie vpon the others also Likewise he prayed his Holinesse that hee would grant for some time at the least that married Priests may bee reconciled to the Church keeping their wiues and married men ordained also To these Letters was added a Remonstrance or consideration composed by the Diuines of Germanie in which it was said That it was plaine that the Scripture of the New and Old Testament doeth permit Priests to A Remonstrance concerning the same Grant haue wiues because the Apostles some few excepted were married neither is it found that CHRIST after their vocation did separate their wiues from them That in the Primitiue Church as well Orientall as Occidentall the marriages of Priests were free vntill the time of Calistus the Pope that the ciuill Lawes did not condemne the marriage of Clerkes that it is
sint vel minus boni quam caeteri mortales esse solent Englished thus No man expects any sanctitie in Popes now a dayes they are thought to be excellent Popes if they haue neuer so little honestie or be not so wicked as other men vse to be Last of all thou mayest reade an Epistle written by that famous Prelate Bishop Iewell as an answere to a friend of his who liued neere the place and in the time of this vnlawfull assembly or conuenticle at Trent In it thou mayest finde reason enough why the Church of England did neither send Prelates to it nor receiue afterwards the Decrees and Constitutions of it As likewise the Church of France refused to doe though their Bishops were present in it When thou hast read these things consider well of them and the Lord giue thee a true vnderstanding in all things GREGORIE GREGORIE to the Emperour MAVRICIVS concerning IOHN Bishop of Constantinople who hath assumed the name of Vniuersall Bishop Chap. 76. OVrmost religious Lord whom God hath placed ouer vs Ep. 32. amongst other weighty cares belonging to the Empire doth labour by the iust rule of holy writ to keepe the Clergie in peace and charitie Hee truely and piously considereth that no man can well gouerne matters terrene except he can manage well things Diuine also and that the Common-wealths peace and quiet depends vpon the tranquillity of the Church Vniuersall For most gracious Souereigne what humane power or strength would presume to lift vp irreligious hands against your most Christian Maiestie if the Clergie being at vnitie amongst themselues would seriously pray vnto our Sauiour CHRIST to preserue you who haue so well deserued of vs or what Nation so barbarous as would exercise such cruelty against the faithfull except the liues of vs who are called Priests but indeede are not were most depraued and wicked But whilest we leaue those things which belong not vnto vs and imbrace those things for which wee are not fitte wee raise the Barbarians vp against vs and our offences doe sharpen the swordes of our enemies by which meanes the Common-wealth is weakened For what can wee say for our selues if the people of God ouer whom wee are though vnworthily placed bee oppressed by the multitude of our offences if our examples destroy that which our preaching builds and our works giue as it were the lye to our doctrine Our bones are worne with fasting but our mindes are puft vp Our bodies are couered with poore clothing but in our hearts wee are as braue as may be We lie groueling in the ashes but ayme at matters exceeding high Wee are teachers of humilitie but patternes of pride hiding the teeth of wolues vnder a sheepes countenance The end of all is to make a shew to men though God knoweth the trueth Therefore our most pious Souereigne hath been most prudently carefull to set the Church at vnitie that hee might the better compose the tumults of warre and to ioyne their hearts together This verily is my desire and doe yeeld for my part due obedience to your souereigne commands Howsoeuer in regard it is not my cause but Gods and for that not I onely but the whole Church is troubled because religious Lawes venerable Synods and the very precepts of our Lord IESVS CHRIST are disobeyed by the inuention of a proud and pompous speech my desire is that our most Religious Souereigne would lance this sore and would tie the partie affected with the cords of his Imperiall authoritie in case hee shall make his resistance By binding of 〈◊〉 the Common-wealth is eased and by the paring away of such excremen 〈…〉 as these the Empire is inlarged All men that haue read the Gospel doe know that euen by the very words of our LORD the care of the whole Church is committed to S. Peter the Apostle Prince of all the Apostles For to him it is sayd a Iohn 21. Peter louest thou me Feede my sheepe b Luke 22. behold Satan hath desired to winnow thee as wheate and I haue prayed for thee that thy faith should not faile and thou being at the last conuerted confirme thy brethren To him it is said c Matt. 16. Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it And to thee I will giue the Keyes of heauen and whatsoeuer thou bindest on earth shall be bound also in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth shall bee loosed also in heauen Behold he hath the Keyes of the Kingdome and the power of binding and loosing is giuen vnto him The care and the principalitie of the whole Church is committed to him and yet is not called Vniuersall Apostle howbeit this most holy man Iohn my fellow Priest laboureth to bee called Vniuersall Bishop I am inforced to crie out and say Oh corruption of times and manners Behold the Barbarians are become Lords of all Europe Cities are destroyed Castles are beaten downe Prouinces depopulated there is no husbandman to till the ground Idolaters doe rage and domineere ouer Christians and yet Priests who ought to lie weeping vpon the pauement and in ashes desire names of vanitie and doe glory in new and profane titles Doe I most Religious Souereigne pleade herein mine owne cause Doe I vindicate a wrong done to my selfe and not maintaine the cause of God Almighty and of the Church Vniuersall Who is hee who presumeth to vsurpe this new name against both the law of the Gospel and of the Canons I would to God there might bee one called Vniuersall without wronging of others We know that many Priests of the Church of Constantinople haue been not onely heretiques but euen the chiefe leaders of them Out of this schoole proceeded Nestorius who thinking it not to be possible that God should be made man did beleeue that IESVS CHRIST the Mediatour betweene God and man was two persons and went as farre in Infidelitie as the Iewes themselues Thence came Macedonius who denied the holy Ghost consubstantiall to the Father and the Sonne to be God If then euery one in that Church doth assume that name by which hee maketh himselfe the head of all good men the Catholique Church which God forbid must needes bee ouerthrowen when hee falleth who is called Vniuersall But let this blasphemous name be farre from Christians by which all honor is taken from all other Priests while it is foolishly arrogated by one It was offered to the Bishop of Rome by the reuerend Councell of Chalcedon in honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles but none of them either assumed or consented to vse it lest while this priuiledge should be giuen to one all others should bee depriued of that honour which is due vnto them Why should we refuse this name when it was offered and another should assume it without any offer at all This man contemning obedience to the Canons is the rather to be humbled
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
the people when the Friars and Pardoners had authoritie to preach against their wills It is well knowen that the innouation in Germany sprang from the Sermons of Fryar Iohn Techel and of Friar Martin Luther among the Suisses from the Sermons of Friar Samson of Milan And the residing Bishop was able to doe nothing but fight with disaduantage against these who were armed with priuiledges The Bishop is not able to make the Clergie liue honestly for that besides the generall exemption of all the Regulars euery Chapter hath one and there bee few particular Priests that want it The Bishop cannot prouide that fit men bee promoted to that charge for the licences to promote and the faculties which the titular Bishops enioy who suffer him not to vse so much as the ministery of the Pontificals And it may be said in one word that the Bishops doe not reside because they haue nothing to doe or rather that they may not make greater inconueniences to arise which would happen by their concurrence and contention with priuiledged men Hee concluded that as he thought it fit to restore residency so they ought to treat how to restore the Episcopall authoritie The Bishops that spake after this Prelate followed his opinion that it was necessary to commaund residency and to remooue the exemptions which do hinder it And the Legats were enforced to cōsent that both should be considered of and that euery one speake his opinion of them and that some Fathers should be deputed to frame the Decree that it might be examined The deputies for collecting the Articles of iustification hauing receiued The Deputies for collecting the Articles dissent about the manner of proceeding the extracts of the propositions noted by euery one to be censured were not all of one opinion One part desired that foure or sixe fundamental Articles of the new doctrine might bee chosen and condemned as was done in the matter of originall sinne alleadging that it was fit to follow the stile begun and the example of the ancient Councels which hauing declared the principall Article condemned the heresie neuer descending to particular propositions but condemning the bookes of the heretiques in that vniuersall they comprehended all the pernitious doctrine and so the honour of the Councell required But the other part aymed to put vnder censure all the propositions which might receiue a bad construction that those might be condemned which in reason did deserue it saying that it was the office of a Pastor to discerne intirely the wholesome grasse from the hurtfull and not to suffer the flocke to taste of this And if the example of ancient Councels ought to be imitated they should imitate that of Ephesus which made so many and so famous Anathematismes against the doctrine of Nestorius that they did containe whatsoeuer the heretique had saide and the Councels of Africa which descend to the condemnation of all the propositions of the sectes The first opinion did vndoubtedly propose a more easie way and would 25. Articles concerning iustification haue pleased whosoeuer desired a speedie ende of the Councell and left a chinke open for agreement which future times might produce Yet the second was embraced which said it was good to examine all the propositions of the Lutheran doctrine to censure and condemne that which after mature deliberation should seeme necessarie and conuenient And 25. Articles were framed 1. Faith without workes is sufficient to saluation and alone doth iustifie 2. Iustifying faith is a sure trust by which one beleeueth that his sinnes are remitted for CHRIST and those that are iustified are bound to beleeue certainely that their sinnes are remitted 3. By faith onely wee are able to appeare before God who neither regardeth nor hath need of our workes faith onely making vs pure and worthy to receiue the Eucharist beleeuing that in it wee shall receiue grace 4. Those that doe honest things without the holy Ghost do sinne for that they do them with awicked heart and it is sinne to keepe the Commandements of God without faith 5. The best repentance is a new life and the repentance of the life past is not necessary neither doth the repentance of actuall sinnes dispose vs to receiue grace 6. No disposition is necessary to iustification neither doth faith iustifie because it disposeth vs but because it is a meanes or instrument by which the promise and grace of God is laid hold on and receiued 7. The feare of hell helpeth not in gaining of iustice yea hurteth and is sinne and maketh the sinners worse 8. Contrition which ariseth from the discussion calling to minde and detestation of sinnes weighing the grieuousnesse multitude and filthinesse of them or the losse of eternall happinesse and gaine of perpetuall damnation maketh a man an hypocrite and a greater sinner 9. The feares by which sinners are terrified either internally by God or externally by Preachers are sinnes vntill they are ouercome by faith 10. The doctrine of the dispositions destroyeth that of faith and taketh consolation from the consciences 11. Onely faith is necessary and other things are neither commanded nor forbid neither is sinne any thing but incredulity 12. Hee that hath faith is free from the precepts of the Law and hath no neede of workes to bee saued for faith giueth all abundantly and alone fulfilleth all the Commandements and no worke of a faithfull man is so bad as may accuse or condemne him 13. A man baptized cannot lose saluation by reason of any sinne whatsoeuer except hee will not beleeue and no sinne but infidelity separateth vs from the grace of God 14 Faith and workes are contrary and workes cannot be taught without shipwracke of faith 15. Externall workes of the second Table are hypocrisie 16. The iustified are set free from guilt and punishment and satisfaction neither in this life nor after death is necessary and therefore there is no Purgatory or satisfaction which is part of Penance 17. The iustified though they haue the grace of God cannot fulfill the Law or auoide sinnes though mortall 18. Obedience vnto the law in the iustified is weake and vnpure in it selfe not acceptable to God but accepted for the faith of the person reconciled who beleeueth that the remainders of sinne are forgiuen him 19. The iust sinneth in euery good worke and no worke maketh the sinne veniall 20. All the works of men yea of the most sanctified are sinne the workes of the iust are veniall by the mercie of God but in the rigor of his iudgement are mortall 21. Though the iust ought to doubt that his workes bee sinnes yet hee ought withall to be assured that they are not imputed 22. Grace and iustice are nothing but the will of God neither haue the iustified any inherent iustice in them and their sinnes are not abolished but onely remitted and not imputed 23. Our iustice is nothing but the imputation of the iustice of CHRIST and the iust haue neede of a continuall
King did oppose by his Ambassadour Marleus M 〈…〉 assisted by Vergerius who knowing the searets and ends of the Romanes told Vergerius discouereth the secret ends of the Romanists to the Suisses and Grisons him how hee should perswade that nation and wrote also a Booke in this subiect so that in the Diet of Bada which then was helde not onely the Euangelicall but the Catholique Suisses also were perswaded not to send any and the Crisons entring into suspicion vpon the aduertisements of Vergerius that the Pope did plotte something to their preiudice did recall Thomas Planta Bishop of Coira who was already in the Councell In Trent the Congregations of the Diuines were diligently hastened who though they spake according to the order of the twelue Articles yet all the matter of Penance was handled not as the Schoole-men only but also as the Canonists doe handle it following Gratian who maketh a question thereof diuided for the length of it into sixe distinctions and the manner prescribed by the Presidents to deduce and prooue the conclusions from the The manner of discussing the points of doctrine is censured fiue places aforesaid caused not prolixity superfluity and vnprofitable and vaine questions to bee auoided but gaue occasion of greater abuses For when they spake Scholastically they kept themselues within the matter at the least and the discourse was all serious and seuere But in this new maner which they call positiue an Italian word drawne from plaine apparell without superfluous ornaments they ranne into fooleries For alleadging the Diuine Scripture they brought all the places of the Prophets and Psalmes especially where the word Confiteor and its verball Confessia are found which doth signifie in the Hebrew prayse or rather religious profession and haled them to the Sacrament of Confession and which was lesse to the purpose figures were drawen from the Olde Testament to shew that it was prefigured without any regard whether it might bee applied to it with similitude and hee was held most learned who brought most of them All the rites signifying humility griefe and repentance vsed by those who confessed were boldy called Apostolicall Traditions Innumerable miracles were related ancient and moderne concerning things which sueceeded well to those who were deuoted to Confession and ill to those who were negligent and despisers of it All the authorities alleadged by Gratian were often recited but various and diuers sences giuen them according to the matter and others also were added And hee that should haue heard those Doctours speake could not but conclude that the Apostles and ancient Bishops did neuer any thing but kneele at Confession or sit to confesse others In summe that to which all did come and which was most to the purpose was the Councell of Florence Among the memorials there doth nothing appeare worthy of particular mention except that which is to be spoken of when the substance of the doctrine must be recited But thus much was necessary to be deliuered Out of these sheaues of diuers sorts of corne caried into the barne it is no maruell if a mingled grist were threshed The points of doctrine by reason of the mixture did absolutly please but few neither was it obserued in this subiect as in others not to condemne any opinion of the Catholikes but where the opinions of the diuines were various to make the expression with such a temper that al parties might be satisfied Which causeth me not to obserue my former order but first to expound the substance of the Decree as it was established to be read in the Session and then to adde that which the same persons of the Councell did not approue The Decree was this That although in handling Iustification much The Decree concerning Penance was spoken of the Sacrament of Penance yet to roote out diuers heresies of this age it was fitte to illustrate the Catholike trueth which the holy Synode doth propose to bee perpetually obserued by all Christians adding that Penance was alwayes necessary in euery age of the world and after CHRIST to those also who were to be baptized which Penance is not a Sacrament There is another instituted by CHRIST when breathing vpon his Disciples he gaue them the holy Ghost to remitte and retaine sinnes that is to reconcile the faithfull fallen into sinne after Baptisme For so the Church hath alwayes vnderstood it and the holy Synode doeth approoue this sense of the wordes of our Lord condemning those who vnderstand them of the power to preach the Gospell And this Sacrament differeth from Baptisme not onely in the matter and forme but also because the minister of Baptisme is not iudge whereas after Baptisme the sinner doth present himselfe before the tribunall of the Priest as guilty to bee set at libertie by his Sentence And by Baptisme a full remission of sinnes is receiued which is not receiued by Penance without sighes and paines And this Sacrament is an necessary for sinners after Baptisme as Baptisme it selfe is to him that hath not receiued it But the forme thereof consisteth in these words of the minister I doe absolue thee vnto which other prayers are laudably added though they bee not necessary And Contrition Confession and Satisfaction are as it were the matter of the Sacrament which are therefore called parts of Penance The thing signified and the effect of the Sacrament is reconciliation with God whence peace and clearenesse of conscience do sometimes arise And therfore the Synod doth condemne those who make horror of conscience and faith to be parts of Penance Contrition is griefe of minde for sinne committed with purpose to sinne no more and was euer necessary in all times but in sinners after Baptisme it is a preparation to remission of sinnes being ioyned with a purpose to doe whatsoeuer else is required for the lawfull receiuing of this Sacrament And it is not onely a ceasing from sinne or a purposing and a beginning of a new life but also an hate of the life past And though Contrition be sometimes ioyned with charity and reconcileth a man to GOD before the receiuing of the Sacrament yet this vertue cannot bee ascribed to it without purpose to receiue the said Sacrament of Penance But the action which ariseth either by reason of the filthinesse of sinne or of the feare of punishment with hope of pardon is not hypocrisie but the gift of GOD by which the penitent beeing assisted doeth goe on to receiue Iustice which although it cannot bring vs to iustification without the Sacrament yet it doeth dispose vs to obtaine grace from GOD in the Sacrament of Penance By this the Church hath euer vnderstood that CHRIST hath instituted the entire confession of sinnes as necessary by the Law of GOD to those that fall after Baptisme For hauing instituted the Priests his Vicars for Iudges of all mortall sinnes it is certaine that they cannot exercise this iudgement without knowledge of the cause nor obserue equitie in imposing
punishment if the sinnes bee not particularly made knowen vnto them and not in generall onely Therefore the penitent ought in Confession to declare all his mortall sinnes euen the most secret but the veniall though they may be confessed yet they may bee concealed also without offence And hence it commeth that in Confession it is necessary to explicate the circumstances which alter the nature of the sinne because otherwise one cannot iudge of the weight of the excesses and impose a condigne punishment So that it is wickedesse to say that this kinde of Confession is impossible or that it is the murdering of the conscience because nothing is required but that the sinner hauing diligently examined himselfe should confesse what hee remembreth and the sinnes forgotten are supposed to bee included in the same Confession And though CHRIST hath not forbid publique Confession yet he hath not commanded it neither would it bee good to commaund that sinnes especially secret should bee confessed in publique Wherefore the Fathers hauing euer praysed the Sacramental secret Confession the calumny of those is vaine who call it an humane inuention excogitated by the Laterane Councell which did not ordaine Confession but onely that it should be made at the least once euery yeere Concerning the Minister the Synod doth declare those doctrines to bee false which extend to all the faithfull the ministery of the keyes and the authority giuen by CHRIST to binde and loose remit and retaine publique sinnes by correction and secret by voluntary Confession and teacheth that the Priests though sinners haue authority to remit sinnes which is not a naked ministery to declare that sinnes are remitted but a iudiciall act Therefore let no man ground himselfe vpon faith thinking that without contrition and a Priest who is willing to absolue him hee can haue remission But because there is a nullity in the sentence pronounced against him who is not subiect there is also a nullity in the absolution of the Priest who hath not authority delegate or ordinary ouer the penitent and the greater Priests doe with reason reserue to themselues some faults more grieuous and so doth the Pope very iustly and there is no doubt but that euery Bishop may doe it in his Diocesse And this reseruation is not onely for externall policie but is also of force before GOD. Therefore it was alwayes obserued in the Church that in the houre of death any Priest may absolue any penitent from any sinne Of satisfaction the Synod doth declare that the sinne beeing remitted the punishment is not pardoned it beeing not conuenient that hee should bee so easily receiued into Grace who hath sinned before Baptisme and after and bee left without a bridle which may draw him from other sinnes yea it is conuenient hee should bee like to CHRIST who suffering punishments did satisfie for vs from whom our satisfactions also receiue force as offered by him to the Father and receiued by his intercession Therefore the Priests ought to impose conuenient satisfactions not onely to keepe the penitent from new sinnes but also to chastise him for the old declaring likewise that Satisfaction is made not onely by punishments willingly receiued or imposed by the Priest but by induring also with patience the scourges sent from God In conformitie of this doctrine fifteene Anathematismes were made 1. 15. Anathetismes Against him that shall say that Penance is not truely and properly a Sacrament instituted by CHRIST to reconcile sinners after Baptisme 2. That Baptisme is Penance or that is not the second table or bord after shipwracke 3. That the words of CHRIST Quorum remiseritis peccata are not vnderstood of the Sacrament of Penance but of the authority to preach the Gospel 4. That Contrition Confession and Satisfaction are not required for as it were the matter and as parts of Penance or shall say that the terrors of conscience and faith are parts 5. That Contrition is not profitable but causeth hypocrisie and is a forced and not a free sorrow 6. That Sacramentall Confession is not instituted and necessary by the law of GOD or that the manner of confessing to the Priests in secret is an humane inuention 7. That it is not necessary to confesse all mortall sinnes euen those that are hidden and the circumstances which doe change the nature of them 8. That this is impossible or that all are not bound to confesse once a yeere according to the precept of the Laterane Councell 9. That the Sacramentall absolution is not a iudiciall act but a ministery to declare the remission of sinnes to the beleeuer or that an absolution giuen in iest doth helpe or that the confession of the penitent is not requisite 10. That Priests in mortall sinne haue not power to binde and loose or that all the faithfull haue it 11. That Bishops haue not authority to reserue cases but for externall policy 12. That all punishment is remitted together with the fault and that no other satisfaction is required but faith that CHRIST hath satisfied 13. That Satisfaction is not made by suffering afflictions sent by GOD by punishments imposed by the Priest and willingly taken and that the best Penance is onely a new life 14. That Satisfactions are not diuine worship but humane traditions 15. That the keyes of the Church are onely to loose and not to binde The Diuines of Louaine opposed the reseruation of cases saying it was not Some of which are opposed by the Dutines of Louaine and Collen so cleere because it cannot bee found that any Father did euer speake of it and that Durand who was a Penitentiarie and Gerson and Caietan doe all affirme that not sinnes but censures are reserued to the Pope and therefore that it was too rigid to esteeme him an heretique who thought otherwise The Diuines of Collen ioyned with them and said plainely that it could not bee found that any Ancient did speake of any reseruations but of publique sinnes and that it was not fit to condemne the Chancellour of Paris so pious and Catholique an Authour who wrote against them That the heretiques were wont to say that these reseruations were inuented for gaine as also Card. Campeggio said in his reformation and that it gaue him occasion to write against it vnto which the Diuines would not haue answered nor been able to answere And therefore as well the doctrine as the Canon ought to bee moderated that it may not giue scandall nor offend any Catholike The same men of Collen said that the meaning of the words Quorum ligaueritis condemned in the tenth Canon is expresly and formally so vnderstood by Theophilact and that to condemne it were to make the enemies reioyce And that which was said in the last that the power to bind is vnderstood to impose Penance they obserued that the ancient Fathers did not so vnderstand it but that to binde was to make one abstaine from receiuing the Sacraments vntill a compleate satisfaction They demanded