The letters The Abbat readeth a protestation being recited the Abbat read a Protestation containing a narration of a Protestation made by Termes in Rome saying That the King after hee had taken vpon him the defence of Parma seeing that those laudable things which hee had done were reprehended vsed great care that Paul Termes his Ambassador should giue an account of all to the Pope Colledge of Cardinals to take from them all sinister opinion shewing that the taking of the Duke into his protection was the effect of a pious humane and kingly minde wherein there was no cunning or priuate gaine but respect onely of the Church as appeared by the propositions of accord which aymed at nothing but that the Church might not be robbed and Italy preserued in peace and libertie And if the Pope thought this a cause to put all Europe into warre he was sorry but it could not be imputed to him hauing not onely accepted but offered also all honest and fit conditions Neither could the dissolution of the Councell assembled bee prescribed to him praying the Pope to consider what mischiefes would accompany the war and to preuent them with peace Which if his Holinesse will not regard but desire rather to set Europe on fire and hinder the Councell giuing suspicion that it was called not for the good of the Church but for priuate interests excluding from it a most Christian King hee could not choose but to protest to him and the Colledge that he could not send his Bishops to Trent where the accesse is not free and secure and that he could not esteeme that a generall Councell but priuate from which he was excluded neither could the people or Prelates of France be obliged to the decrees of it Afterwards he protested that he would come to the remedies vsed by his ancestors in like occurrences not to take away his due obseruance from the Apostolique Sea but to reserue it for better times when armes shall bee laid downe which are dishonestly taken vp against him desiring of his Holinesse that this Protestation might bee registred and giuing him a copie of it to peruse These things hauing beene already protested in Rome he desired should be likewise protested in Trent with the same instance that they might be registred in the actes of that assembly and that there being a publike instrument made of it he might vse it in time and place When the Protestation was read the Speaker hauing talked with the President answered in substance That the Kings modesty in his letters was gratefull to the Synode that it doth not accept the person of the Abbat but as it is lawfull that warneth him to bee in the same place the eleuenth of October to receiue the answere which shall bee made to the Kings letters and forbiddeth the Nuncij to make an instrument of the present action but ioyntly with the Secretary of the Councell And nothing else beeing to bee done the Session was ended Then the Abbat demaunded an instrument of the action but could not obtaine it When Termes had protested in Rome though many did not know of the The censure of this Protestation act yet it was beleeued that the Pope would deferre the Councell because it must needes bring forth new diuisions if such a principall Nation did resist But he deceiued the world not for any desire hee had to celebrate it but for that he would not seeme to be cause of the dissolution being resolued that if it were separated without him hee would answere with an open mouth to whosoeuer should desire it again that he had done his part and would do no more But the Protestation made in Trent a place so conspicuous was presently published euery where and gaue matter of discourse The Imperialists esteemed it a vainity saying That the act of the maior part of the vniuersality is euer esteemed lawfull when the lesser being called either cannot or wil not be present that all are called to the Councell and the Frenchmen also might haue come without passing by the Popes territories but in case they could not yet their absence doth not derogate from the Councell because they are not neglected but inuited It was said to the contrary that to call in words and to exclude in deeds was not to inuite and for the Popes territories one might goe from France to Trent without passing by them but not without passing by those of the Emperour and the maior part hath full authoritie when the lesser cannot appeare and is silent because it is presupposed to consent and when it will not appeare because it is accounted contumacious but when it doth protest it bath its place and especially if the impediment proceed from him that calleth the action in absence cannot be of force And the Counsellors of the Parliament of Paris said some thing more The Decrees of Councels do not binde the Churches absent That it is true that the authoritie of the whole vniuersalitie is transferred into the maior part when the cause is common to all and nothing belongeth to particular men but when the whole belongeth to all and euery one hath his part the assent of euery one is necessary Et prohibentis conditio potior and the absent not giuing their voyces are not bound Of this sort are Ecclesiasticall assemblies and bee the Councell as populous as it will the absent Churches are not bound if they thinke fit not to receiue it This hath alwayes beene vsed in ancient times that the Councels beeing ended the Decrees should be sent to be confirmed to the Churches that were absent in which otherwise they had no force which euery one that readeth Hilarius Athanasius Theodoretus and Victorinus who handle this particular may see plainely And iâ— happened sometimes that some part of the Canons were receiued by some Church and some left out as euery one thought fit for their necessities manners and vses And S. Gregorie himselfe doth witnesse that the Church of Rome did not receiue the Canons of the second Councell of Constantinople nor of the first of Ephesus Wisemen not considering the subtilties said that the King had giuen that Councell an vncurable wound For it hauing no other ground then Christian charity and the assistance of the holy Ghost it would neuer bee beleeued that these were present in an assembly against which a most Christian King persecutor of all Sects with the adherence of a kingdome not blemished in Religion did protest in that forme And they brought an experience for proofe For they said that the Presidents retyring to consult with the Emperours Ambassadours did shew who guided the Councell And which was of more importance when these fiue had consulted and imparted nothing to any body else the Speaker sayd The holy Synod doth receiue the letters And what was that holy Synode And likewise the Abbats exposition The Presidents take vpon them the authority of the Councell beeing read the answere resolued
by the people secular power or Magistrate or by their owne temeritie doe ascend to Ecclesiasticall Ministeries are not Ministers but theeues This doctrine was attended with eight Anathematismes 1. Against him that shall say that there is no visible Priesthood in the new Testament nor any power to consecrate and offer and remit sinnes but onely an Office or naked Ministery to preach the Gospel and that those who doe not preach are not Priests 2. Or that besides Priesthood there are not greater Orders The Anathematismes and lesse which are degrees to ascend to Priesthood 3. Or that holy ordination is not a Sacrament but an humane inuention or onely a certaine Rite to elect Ministers of the word of God and of the Sacraments 4. Or that the holy Ghost is not giuen by the holy Ordination nor any Character imprinted or that a Priest may returne to bee a Laique 5. Or that the holy Vnction or other Ceremonies which the Church vseth are not requisite but may be omitted or are pernicious 6. Or that there is not an Hierarchie instituted in the Catholique Church by diuine Ordination consisting of Bishops Priests and Ministers 7. Or that Bishops are not Superiour to Priests or haue not power to confirme and ordaine or that Priests also haue the same power or that Orders conferred without the consent or vocation of the people or Secular power are voyd or that they may be lawfull Ministers of the word of God and Sacraments who are not lawfully ordayned by the Ecclesiasticall power 8. Or that Bishops assumed by authoritie of the Pope are not lawfull and true but that it is an humane inuention Afterwards the decree of reformation was read which contained eighteene The Decree of Reformation heads The first concerning the matter of Residence so much disputed on in which it was sayd that euery one that hath cure of foules is bound by the Commandement of God to know his sheepe to offer Sacrifices for them to feede them with preaching Sacraments and good examples and to attend other Pastorall charges which things because they cannot be performed by him who doeth not assist and watch ouer the flocke the Synode doeth admonish them to feede and gouerne with iudgement and trueth But that none by a badde interpretation of the Constitutions made vnder Paul the third in this matter may thinke the absence of fiue Moneths lawfull it doeth declare that whosoeuer hath Bishoprickes in what title soeuer though Cardinals are bound to reside personally nor may bee absent but when Christian charitie vrgent necessitie due obedience or vtility of Church or Common-wealth doth require as also that such causes of absence must bee approoued for lawfull by the Pope or Metropolitane except they bee notorious or sudden in which case the Prouinciall Councels must take knowledge and iudge of the licences graunted that there may bee no abuse therein the Prelates prouiding that the people may not be damnified in their absence And because a short absence deserueth not this name though without any the causes aforesayd it doeth declare that this shall not exceede the space of two moneths or three at the most whether it be continuate or at diuers times so that there be equity of reason in it and without the dammage of the flocke which must be referred to the consciences of the Prelats admonishing euery one not to be absent on Sundayes in Aduent Lent Feast of the Natiuitie Resurrection Pentecost or Corpus Christi Which Decree he that shall violate besides the penalties imposed vpon Non-residents vnder Paul the third and mortall sinne may not with a good conscience enioy the Fruits for that proportion of time decreeing the same concerning all those that haue charge of soules who being absent with leaue of the Bishop must substitute a sufficient Vicar approoued by the Bishop allowing a conuenient stipend and doeth ordaine that this Deceee together with the other vnder Paul the third shall bee published in the Prouinciall and Diocesan Councels The second Article of the Decree concerning Order was That whosoeuer doeth hold a Bishopricke in what title soeuer though a Cardinall not receiuing consecration within three moneths shall lose the Fruits and deferring three moneths more shall lose the Benefice and that the consecration if it bee not in the Court of Rome shall bee celebrated in the proper Church or in the Prouince at the least if there be opportunitie The third That Bishops shall celebrate the ordinations in their owne person and in case they be sicke shall not send their subiects to bee ordained by other Bishops before they bee examined and approoued by themselues The fourth That the first Tonsure shall not bee giuen but to him that is confirmed and hath learned the principles of Faith to reade and write and hath chosen a Clericall life to serue GOD not to auoyd the Secular iudgement The fift He that is to be promoted to the inferiour Orders shall haue testimonie from the Parish Priest and Schoolemaster and charge shall bee giuen by the Bishop that his name may bee proposed publikely in Church and inquisition made of his birth age manners and life The sixth That none shall haue an Ecclesiasticall Benefice before the age of fourteene yeeres nor enioy the exemption of the tribunall if he haue not an Ecclesiasticall Benefice or wearing the habit and Tonsure doeth not serue in some Church by commission from the Bishop or dwell in a Seminary or Schoole or Vniuersitie with licence of the Bishop And for married Clerkes the constitution of Boniface the eighth shal be obserued with condition likewise that they shal serue in the Church in habit and Tonsure by deputation of the Bishop The seuenth That when an ordination is to be made all shal be called to the Citie the Wednesday before and diligent inquisition and examination of them made by the Bishop with the assistance of who he pleaseth The eighth Ordinations shall not be celebrated but in times appointed by the law in the cathedral Church in presence of the Canons and if occasion bee to make it in an other place of the Diocesse it shall bee in the most worthy Church in presence of the Clergie Euery one shall be ordained by his owne Bishop or if any bee ordained by another he shall haue letters testimoniall of his owne The ninth A Bishop shall not ordaine one of his family that is not his subiect if he haue not dwelt with him three yeeres and in that case shall presently conferre a Benefice vpon him The tenth No Abbat or other Prelate shall conferre the first Tonsure or the minor Orders but vnto Regulars their subiects nor these or other Prelats Colledges or Chapters shall grant dimissorie letters to Secular Clerkes to receiue Orders The eleuenth That the minor Orders shall be conferred vpon him that vnderstandeth the Latine tongue and with interposition of time betweene one Order and another and these being degrees vnto others none shall be ordained if
obedience of the Pope The Emperours Ambassadour to finde out a meane had many audiences The Empeors Ambassadous laboureth to perswade the Pope to chuse a place in Germanie for the Councell but cannot obtaine it with the Pope and with two Cardinals deputed by him ouer this matter He put him in minde that neither hee nor France nor Spaine had neede of a Councell nor did desire it and that therefore it was to no purpose to haue respect vnto them that it was sought for to cure the diseases of Germanie vnto which because it ought to bee proportionated it was fit to chuse a place where all that Nation might bee present That for other Countreys the principall subiects were sufficient because nothing was to bee handled concerning them that the Cities proposed were in all respects exceeding fit but only that they were farre distant from Germanie and though the safe conduct of his Holinesse ought to secure euery one yet the Protestants were suspicious for diuers reasons both old and new amongst which they esteemed not the least that Leo the tenth his cousin had condemned them alreadie and declared them heretikes And although all their reasons are resolued with this onely that euery one ought to relie vpon the Faith of the Pope yet his Holinesse by his great wisedome and experience might know that it was necessarie to yeeld to the imperfection of others and for pitie to accommodate himselfe to that which though in rigour is not due yet in equitie is conuenient And concerning the deliberatiue voyces of the Councell Who ought to haue voices in Councell hee discoursed that they being brought in partly by custome and partly by priuiledge a large field was opened vnto him to exercise his benignitie by introducing another custome more fit for the present times For if the Abbots were formerly admitted by custome because they were more learned and intelligent in religion it is reason to grant the same now to persons of equall or greater learning though they haue not the title of Abbats But the priuiledge ministreth matter to giue satisfaction vnto all For by granting the same priuiledge to euery one that is able to doe God seruice in that congregation there will bee a Councell exactly pious and Christian such as the world desireth Vnto these reasons answere being made with the motiues before named the Emperour could obtaine nothing of the Pope whereby the businesse remained vnperfect for that time and the Emperour applied himselfe to sollicite the treatie of peace alreadie begun which being brought to a good conclusion and the Turkish warre drawing neere at the last a composition was published the three and twentieth of Iulie that A peace of religion conclu 〈…〉 Germani Iuly 23. called the IUterim there should bee common and publike peace betweene the Emperours Maiestie and all the States of the Empire of Germanie as well Ecclesiasticall as secular vntill a generall free and Christian Councell and in the meane space that none should make warre against another for cause of religion nor take spoile or besiege him but that there should bee true amitie and Christian vnitie amongst all That the Emperour should procure the intimation of the Councell within sixe moneths and the beginning within a yeere Which if it bee not possible all the States of the Empire should bee called together to resolue of what is fit to bee done as well for the Councell as for other necessarie things That the Emperour should suspend all the iudiciall processes in cause of religion made by his Fiscall or others against the Elector of Saxonie and his adherents vntill the future Councell or the forenamed resolution of the States On the other side the Elector of Saxonie and the other Princes and Cities should promise faithfully to obserue this publique peace to giue due obedience The Emperor pro 〈…〉 the calling of a 〈…〉 oú â—within 6. moneths to the Emperour and conuenient ayde against the Turke This peace the Emperour ratified and confirmed by his letters dated the second of August and suspended also all processes promising to doe his endeuour for the calling of a Councell within sixe moneths and for the beginning of it within a yeere Hee gaue also an account to the Catholike Princes of the ambassage sent to Rome for that end adding that some difficulties of weight could not as yet bee accorded concerning the manner and place But he would continue his endeuours that they should bee resolued and that the Pope should grant the conuocation hoping that hee would not be wanting to the necessitie of the Common-wealth and his owne duetie but in case this succeeded not hee would intimate another Diet to finde a remedie herein This was the first libertie of Religion which those that adhered to Luthers confession called the Augustan obteined by publique decree whereof the world talked diuersly At Rome the Emperor was reprehended for putting The first libertie of the Augustan confession his sickle as they sayd into another mans haruest euery Prince being obliged by the strictest bonds of censures to the extirpation of those that are condemned by the Pope wherein they ought to spend their goods state and life and the Emperours much more because they doe so solemnly sweare vnto it This not being performed by Charles an example not heard of there was cause to feare a sudden reuenge from heauen But others commended the pietie and wisedome of the Emperour who laboured more to preuent the danger imminent to Christendom by the armes of the Turke a direct opposer of Religion against whom hee could not haue made resistance without securing the Protestants who are Christians too though dissenting from others in some particular rites which is a tolerable difference That the Maxime so renowned in Rome that it is more meete to persecute heretikes then infidels was wel fitted to the Popes dominion but not to the benefit of Christendome Some also not regarding the Turkes said that Kingdomes and Principalities ought not to bee gouerned by the lawes and interests of Priests who are more partiall for their owne greatnesse and profits then any other but according to the exigence of the publike good which requireth now and then the tolerating of some defect That it was the duetie of euery Christian Prince to indeuour equally that his Subiects maintaine the true faith as also that they obserue all the Commandements of God and not this more then that But when a vice cannot bee rooted out without the ruine of the State it is acceptable to the Maiestie of God to permit it neither is the obligation greater to punish heretikes then fornicators who if they be tolerated for publike quiet it is no greater inconuenience if those bee permitted who defend not all our opinions And though it bee not easie to alleadge examples of Princes which haue done this within these 800. yeeres yet hee that will consider the times before will see it done by all and laudably too
proceed ioyntly with the Ambassadors and Prelates and to communicate to them their most inward thoughts whereupon when letters came from Rome or Germanie they assembled all to reade them But perceiuing that Don Diego equalized himselfe to them and the Bishops presumed more then they were wont to doe at Rome and fearing some inconuenience would arise when their number did encrease they sent aduise to Rome that alwaies one letter should be written to bee shewed and the secret things apart because of the letters which they had receiued vntill then they had made no vse but by their wit They demanded also a cipher to communicate the matters of greater moment All which particularities with many more that shall bee spoken of hauing taken out of the Register of the letters of the Cardinall of Monte I haue not beene willing to conceale them because they serue to penetrate the depth of the treaties The moneth of March beeing past and the time prefixed in the Popes Bull to beginne the Councel expired many dayes the Legates consulted amongst themselues concerning the opening of it and resolued to expect aduise from Fabius Magnanellus Nuncio with Ferdinand of what was handled in Wormes and order from Rome after the Pope had heard of the arriuall and proposition of Don Diego and the rather because they were ashamed to make so great a beginning with three Bishops onely The Ambassadours of the King of the Romanes arriued the eight of April and a solemne congregation was made to receiue them In that Don Diego would haue preceded the Cardinall of Trent and sate next the Legates saying that in regard he represented the Emperour he ought to sit in the same place where his Maiestie D. Diego would haue preceded the Cardinall of Trent should But not to hinder the businesse they found out a way to place them so that it could not appeare who had the precedence The Kings Ambassadours presented onely their Prince his letter and declared by word of mouth his obseruance towards the Apostolique Sea and the Pope his readinesse to fauour the Councell and large offers and they The Ambassadours of the K. of the Romanes are receiued in congregation added that hee would send a commission in forme and persons better instructed After this the wished for aduise came to Rome and Trent of the proposition made in the Diet the 24. of March by King Ferdinand who was President there in the Emperours name and of the negotiation which followed thereupon The Kings proposition was that the Emperor had made peace with the French King that he might apply himselfe to coÌ„pose the differences of religion and prosecute the warre against the Turkes from whom he had The proposition of Ferdinand in the Diet. promise of assistance and an approbation of the Councel with a resolution to be there in person or by his Ambassadors That for this end it being before prorogued hee had dealt with the Pope to intimate it againe and solicited him to giue ayde against the Turkes That he had obtained the intimation of his Holinesse and that Ambassadors sent from the Emperor and himselfe were already in Trent That all the world knew what paines Caesar had taken to cause the Councel to bee celebrated first with Clement in Bolonia then with Paul in Rome Genua Nizza Lucca and Busseto That according to the Decree of Spira he had giuen order to men of learning and good conscience to compose a forme of reformation which was accordingly performed But it being a thing of great deliberation and the time short and the Turkish warre threatning them the Emperour was resolued not to speake of this any more but to expect how the Councel would proceed and what might bee hoped from it because it was suddenly to beginne and in case no fruit appeared hee might before the end of that Diet intimate another to handle all that businesse applying himselfe how to that which is of more importance that is the Turkish warre This proposition made the Protestants very suspitious For the peace of religion being to last vntill the Councell they were in doubt that when they were exhausted by contributions against the Turkes they should be assailed vpon pretence that the peace was ended by opening the Councel in Trent The suspition of the Protestants Yet they demanded that the treatie begun should bee continued alleadging that the time was long enough to him that feared God or at least that a new peace should be established vntill a lawfull Councel so often promised such as that of Trent was not for the reasons so many times rehearsed before And they declared that they could not contribute if they had not assurance of peace not â—â—ed to the Popes Councell which they had refused whensoeuer it was spoken of And though the Ecclesiastiques did consent absolutely that the cause of religion should be wholly remitted to the Councel yet it was resolued to expect the Emperours answere before the conclusion Three particulars in this action displeased the Pope and Legate which The Pope and the Legates were displeased with three particulars in the proposition were at Trent One that the Emperour arrogated to himselfe to haue induced the Pope to celebrate the Councell which argued small care of Religion in his Holinesse The second that he had induced the French King to consent vnto it which was no honour to his sanctitie to whom this belonged The third that hee would still keepe the bit in his mouth by a future Diet that in case the Councel went not forward hee should alwayes feare that things concerning Religion should be treated of in the Diet. The Pope was perpetually troubled not so much for the iniuries receiued from the Protestants as for the Emperours actions which as hee was wont to say though they seemed fauourable yet were more pernicious to religion and his authoritie which could not be separated Besides it seemed he was alwayes in danger that the Emperour would make some accord with the Dutch-men to his preiudice And thinking how to prouide a remedie hee could finde none but to set on foote a warre for Religion because the Protestants would bee curbed and the Emperour likewise intangled in a dangerous enterprise and all speech of reformation and the Councell would bee buried in silence He had great hope it would succeede by that which his Nuncio wrote vnto him that hee found in the Emperour great disdaine against the Protestants and that he hearkened to his propositions to subdue them by force For this respect beside that which was before related and to hinder that no preiudiciall thing might bee done in the Diet and to encourage and giue strength to his followers another cause was added more vrgent because it belonged to his priuate interest For being resolued to giue Parma and Piacenza to his son The Pope is resolued to giue Parma and Piacenza to his sonneâ—â— but feareth the Emperour hee thought he could not doe
Apostles and other disciples in Ierusalem who were assembled about the question of keeping the Law And though it may bee said that it was a recourse of the new Churches of the Gentiles vnto the old mother Church frō whence their faith was deriued a custom much vsed in those first ages often rehearsed by Irenie and Tertullian though the letter were written by the Apostles Elders brethren of Ierusalem only yet in regard that not they only but Paul Barnabas also did speake it may well be called a Councel by example whereof the succeeding Bishops thought all Christian Churches to bee but one and likewise all Bishoprickes to be but onely one so framed that euery Bishop held a part thereof not as his owne but so as that all ought to gouerne the whole and euery one to employ himselfe most in that which was particularly recommended to him as S. Cyprian in his little golden booke of the vnity of the Church doth piously demonstrate In case of necessity of any particular Church though the persecutions sometimes waxed warme as many as could assembled themselues to make prouision in common In which assemblies CHRIST and the holy Ghost being president and charity chasing away all humane passion they aduised and resolued of what was fit without ceremonies or formes prescribed But after a certaine time passions of men and charitie beeing mingled together and there beeing a necessity to gouerne them with some order the chiefest man amongst those that were assembled in Councell either for learning or for greatnesse of the Citie or Church whereof he was or for some other respect of eminencie tooke vpon him the charge to propose and guide the action and collect the voyces But after that it pleased God to giue peace to the Christians and that the Romane Emperours receiued the holy faith there happening more difficulties in doctrine and discipline which by reason of the ambition or other bad affections of those that had followers and credite troubled the publike quiet another sort of Episcopal assemblies had beginning congregated by Princes or their Lieutenants to remedie the troubles In these the action was guided by those Princes or Magistrates which did call them together who also were personally present proposing and gouerning the treatie and decreeing interlocutorily the occurring differences but leauing the decision of the principall point for which the Councell was congregated to the common opinion of the assemblie This forme appeareth in the Councels whose actes doe remaine The Colloquie of Catholikes and Donatistes before Marcellinus and many others may serue for example But to speake onely of generall Councels this was done in the first Councel of Ephesus before the Earle Candidianus sent President by the Emperour and more cleerely in that of Calcedon before Martianus and the Iudges by him appointed in that of Constantinople in Trullo before Constantine surnamed Poganatus where the Prince or Magistrate that was President commanded what should bee handled what order obserued who should speake and who be silent and did decide and accommodate the differences in these things And in the other generall Councell the actes whereof are not extant as of the first of Nice and the second of Constantinople the historians of that Age doe witnesse that Constantine and Theodofius did the like Yet in those times when the Bishops themselues did assemble of their owne accord and others medled not the action was gouerned as hath been said by one of them and the resolution taken according to the common consent Sometimes the matter was so easie that it was dispatched in one meeting Sometimes by reason of the difficulty or multiplicitie thereof it was necessarie to reiterate the businesse whence proceeded the many Sessions in the same Councel Not one of them was about ceremony or only to publish what was digested elsewhere but to vnderstand the opinion of euery one and the colloquies discussions disputes and whatsoeuer was done or spoken were called the actes of the Councel It is a new opinion and seldome practised though established in Trent that the Decrees onely are called Actes of the Councel and ought onely to bee published but in the ancient Councels all was giuen vnto all Notaries were present to collect the voyces who when a Bishop spake and was not contradicted wrote not his proper name but thus The Holy Sinode saith And when many said the same thing it was written The Bishops acclaymed or affirmed and the things so spoken were taken for decisions if they spake in a contrary sense the contrary opinions were noted and the names of the authours and the Iudges or Presidents did pronounce Sometimes some impertinencie did vndoubtedly happen by reason of some mans imperfection but charitie which excuseth the defects of ones brother did couer it A greater number of the Prouince where the Councell was held and of the borders was present but without emulation euery one rather desiring to obey then to giue a law vnto others After the Easterne and Westerne Empires were separated there remained still in the West some marke of the ancient Councels and many were celebrated in Councels gouerned by Princes France and Germany vnder the posterity of Charles the Great and not a few in Spaine vnder the Kings of the Gothes At last Princes being absolutely debarred to intermeddle in Ecclesiastical matters that kind of Councel grew in disuse 1546 PAVL 3. CHARLES 5. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. that alone remained which was called by the Ecclesiastikes themselues the conuocation of which Prouinciall Councels was almost wholly assumed by the Pope by sending his Legates to bee Presidents wheresoeuer hee heard there was a treatie to hold a Councell And after a certaine time hee tooke that power to himselfe which the Romane Emperours vsed to conuocate a Councell of the whole Empire and to be President himselfe if hee were present or in his absence to send Legates to be Presidents and to gouerne the action But the Prelats assembled in the Synod being deliuered from the feare of a Secular Prince which kept them in awe as worldly respects the causes of all mischiefes did exceedingly increase which caused also the multiplying of many indecencies they beganne to digest and order the matters in priuate that they might obserue a decencie in the publike meeting Afterwards this was obserued for a forme and in the Councels besides the Sessions they beganne to make Congregations of some Deputies to set in order the matters to bee treated of which in the beginning if they were many were diuided and a proper Congregation assigned to euery one And this beeing not sufficient to remooue all the indecencies because those that were not present hauing different interests made difficulties in publique besides the particular Congregation they made a generall before the Session where all were present which according to the ancient rite is the Conciliarie action because the Session euery thing being done before remayneth but a pure ceremonie But a
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 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
and that they should speake as vnderstanding the matter not as they seemed to doe by custome and habite of the Schooles Diuers draughts were made by both sides to expresse these mysteries and some were composed by taking some thing from either partie But none gaue satisfaction especially to the Nuncio Verona who was the principall Superintendent in this matter It was determined in the generall Congregation to vse as few words as was possible and to make an expression so vniuersall as might bee accommodated to the meaning of both parties and the care heereof was committed to some Fathers and Pheologues with the superintendencie of the foresaid Nuncio In the end of this Congregation it was proposed that a collection should The abuses occurring therein rre noted be made of the abuses occurring in this matter with remedies against them and in the Congregations following many were recounted That in some particular Churches the Sacrament is not kept and in others is kept very vndecently That when it is carryed in the streeâ—e many doe not kneele to it and some scarce vouchsafe to put off their caps That in some Churches it is kept so long that it becommeth putrified That in administring the holy Communion great indecencie is vsed by some parish Priests who haue not so much as a cloath for him that communicateth to hold in his hand That which is of most importance the communicants doe not know what they receiue nor are instructed of the dignity and fruit of this Sacrament That Concubinaries Concubines and other enormous sinners and many who know not the Pater noster and Aâ—â—e Maria are admitted to the Communion That money is demanded at the Communion in the name of almes and which is worse there is an vse in Rome that he who is to communicate doeth hold a burning candle in his hand with money sticking in it which together with the candle after the Communion remayneth to the Priest and he that beareth not a candle is not admitted to the Communion To remedie part of these and other abuses flue Canons were made And fiue Canons made to redresse them which had a faire proheme In which it was constituted that the Sacrament beeing lifted vp on the Altar or carryed by the way euery one should kneele and vncouer his head That the Sacrament should bee kept in euery Parish Church and renewed euery fifteene dayes and haue a lampe burning before it night and day That it bee carryed to the sicke by the Priest in an honourable habite and alwayes with light That the Curates teach the people what grace is receiued in this Sacrament and execute against them the penalties of the Chapt. Omnis Vtriusque sexus That the Ordinaries should haue care of the execution chastising the transgressours with arbitrary punishments besides those which are set downe by Innocentius the third in the Chapt. Statuimus and by Honorius the third in the Chapt. Sane The reformation was handled at the same time when there was disputation in matter of faith but by other Congregations in which the Canonists did assist which discussions not to interrupt the matter I haue brought all together to this place And because the purpose was to reforme the Episcopall iurisdiction this place requireth for the vnderstanding of what will be sayd vpon this and many other occasions hereafter that the originall should bee declared and how beeing mounted to so great power it became suspected to Princes and terrible to the people CHRIST hauing commanded his Apostles to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments hee left also to them in person of all the faithfull this principall precept To loue one another charging them to make peace betweene those that dissented and for the last remedie giuing the care thereof to the body of the Church promising it should bee bound and loosed in heauen whatsoeuer they did binde and loose on earth and whatsoeuer two did aske with a common consent should bee granted by the Father In this charitable office to giue satisfaction to the offended and pardon to the offender the Primitiue Church was alwayes exercised And in conformity of this Saint Paul ordayned that brothers hauing ciuill suites one against another should not goe to the Tribunals of the Infidels but that wise men should be appoynted to iudge the differences and this was a kind of ciuill Iudgement as the other had a similitude of a criminall but were both so different from the iudgements of the world that as these are executed by power of the Iudge who enforceth submission so those onely by the will of the guilty to receiue them who refusing them the Ecclesiasticall Iudge remaineth without execution and hath no power but to foreshew the iudgement of GOD which according to his omnipotent good pleasure will follow in this life or the next And indeed the Ecclesiasticall iudgement did deserue the name of charitie The Reformation is handled at the same time with the Doctrine but in diuers Congregations in regard that it only did induce the guilty to submit and the Church to iudge with such sincerity that neither in the one any bad effect could haue place nor iust complaint in the other and the excesse of charitie in correcting did make the corrector to feele greater paine then the corrected so that in the Church no punishment was imposed without great lamentation of the multitude and greater of the better sort And this was the cause A discourse of the Authour concerning 〈…〉 opall Iurisdiction why to correct was called to lament So Saint Paul rebuking the Corinthians for not chastising the incestuous said You haue not lamented to separate such a transgressour from you And in another Epistle I feare that when I come vnto you I shall not finde you such as I desire but in contentions and tumults and that at my comming I shall lament many of those who haue sinned before The iudgement of the Church as is necessary in euery multitude was fit that it should be conducted by one who should preside and guide the action propose the matters and collect the points to bee consulted on This care due to the most principall and worthy person was alwayes committed to the Bishop And where the Churches were many the propositions and deliberations were made by the Bishop first in the Colledge of the Priests and Deacons which they called the Presbyterie and there were ripened to receiue afterwards the last resolution in the generall Congregation of the Church This forme was still on foote in the yeere two hundred and fiftie and is plainely seene by the Epistles of Cyprian who in the matter concerning those who did eate of meates offered to Idols and subscribe to the Religion of the Gentiles writeth to the Presbytery that hee doeth not thinke to doe any thing without their counsell and consent of the people and writeth to the people that at his returne hee will examine the causes and merits thereof in their presence
Baptisme and of the Communion of the flesh of CHRIST What other spirituall things are there beside these And if there were how can hee who is partaker of these which are the chiefest be sayde absolutely in generall termes to be vncapeable of spirituall things But they sayd that the Minor was false also that causes appropriated to the Episcopall iudicature are spirituall For all either delicts or contracts which considering the qualities giuen by the holy Scripture to spirituall things are as farre from being such as earth is from heauen But the opposition of the better part could not ouercome the greater and so vpon the spirituall power giuen by CHRIST to the Church to binde and loose and vpon the institution of Saint Paul to compose contentions betweene Christians without going to the tribunall of Infidels in much time and by many degrees a temporall tribunal hath beene built more remarkeable then euer was any in the world and in the midst of euery Ciuill gouernement another instituted not depending on the Publike which is such a kinde of Common-wealth as not one of as many as haue written of gouernments would haue imagined could subsist I will omit to speake how the paines of so many besides the obtaining of the wished end To make themselues independent of the publike haue before they were aware raysed an Empire there being a more difficult opinion sprung vp taking root with admirable progresse which giueth to the Pope of Rome as much at once as hath in 1300. yeeres beene gained by so many Bishops by such extraordinarie meanes not making the power to binde and loose the foundation of iurisdiction but the power of feeding and so affirming that all iurisdiction was giuen the Pope by CHRIST in the person of Peter when he sayd to him Feede my sheepe For so it will be said in the third reduction of the Councell when great tumults were raised by this opinion which shall then be recounted But by that which hath been now declared euery one may of himselfe conceiue what remedies were necessarie to giue a tolerable forme to a matter broken out into so great corruptions and compare them with these that were proposed In Trent there were two defects considered that is that the charitie of the superiours was turned into domination and the obedience of the inferiours into complaints subterfuges and lamentations and they first thought of prouiding in some sort against them both But in prosecuting the first which is the fountaine from whence the second is deriued they vsed onely an exhortatorie remedie to the Prelates to take away domination and restore charitie And for the inferiours many subterfuges beeing mentioned to delude iustice three heads onely were taken Appeales absolutorie graces and complaints against the Iudges Iohannes Groperus who assisted in that Councell as a Diuine and a Lawyer spake honourably of Appeales and sayd that while the heat of faith remained in the brests of Christians Appeales were not heard of But charitie in the Iudges waxing colde and place being giuen to passion they entred into the Church for A discourse of Iohannes Groperus concernâ—ng Appeales the same reasons which brought them into the secular Courts that is for the ease of the oppressed And as the first iudicatures belonged not to the Bishop onely but to him with the councell of his Priests so the Appeale was not deuolued vnto one man but vnto another Congregation But the Bishops taking away the Synods did institute Courts and officers like the seculars Neither did the mischiefe stoppe there but passed to greater abuses then in the Secular court For there the first Appeale is onely to bee immediate superiour neither is it lawfull to leape to the highest nor permitted in the articles of the cause to appeale from the Decrees of the Iudge which they call interlocutories but it is necessarie to expect the end But in the Ecclesiasticall Courts one may appeale from euery acte which maketh the causes infinite and immediately to the highest Iudge which carryeth them out of the Countreys with great charges and other intolerable mischiefes This hee said hee did declare to conclude that if they would reforme this matter which is wholly corrupted and doeth not onely hinder residencie as in the Congregations of so many worthy Doctours and Fathers was considered but corrupteth the whole discipline and is a grieuance charge and scandall to the people it was fit to reduce it to its beginning or as neere to it as might bee setting a perfect Idea before their eyes and ayming at that to come as nigh to it as the corruption of the matter doth comport That the well instituted monasticall religions haue forbidden all appeale that this is the true remedie Hee that hath not beene able to goe so high hath moderated them granting them within their order and forbidding them without which succeeding well as appeareth to keepe those gouernments in order it would worke the same effect in the publike gouernments of the Church if the Appeales were confined within the same Prouince And to effect this and to bridle the malice of the litigants it is sufficient to reduce them to the forme of the Common lawes forbidding the Leap that is to go to the highest without passing by the intermediate superiours and by forbidding Appeales from the Articles or the interlocutory Decrees with which prouisions the causes will not goe farre will not be drawne in length will not cause excessiue charges and other innumerable grieuances and that the sentences may passe with sinceritie to restore the Synodals which are not subiect to so great corruptions remouing those officers by whom the world is so much scandalized because it is not possible that Germany should endure them This opinion was not willingly heard except by the Spaniards Dutch-men But the Cardinall the Nuncio of Siponto were displeased that hee went so farre For this was to take away not onely the profit of the Court but the honour also no cause would goe to Rome and by degrees euery one would forget the superioritie of the Pope it beeing an ordinary thing with men not to esteeme that Superiour whose authoritie is not feared or cannot be vsed Therefore they caused Iohn Baptista Castellus of Bolonia to speake in the next Congregation in the same matter in such sort as that without contradicting Groperus the appearance which the reasons alleadged by him did make should bee darkened Hee beganne with the prayses of the ancient â—n opposition whereof Iohannes Baptista Castellus maketh another discouâ—se by direction of the Presidents Church yet dexterously touching that in those same times there were imperfections in some part greater then in the present He thanked GOD that the Church was not oppressed as when the Arians did scarce suffer it to appeare and said that antiquitie ought not so to be commended as that something in the latter age may not bee reputed better Those who praise the Synodall iudicature haue not seene their defects
also euery day for other causes those whose constancie giueth an encrease to the reformed Religion who were interessed in their ouerthrow either for loue of the old Religion or as Ecclesiastiques and authours of the former persecutions thought it necessarie to discouer them before they were so many as that they could not be suppressed To this end they caused the pictures of the blessed Virgin and of Saints to be placed in euery corner throughout all France and Meanes vsed in France to discouer the Reformatists especially in Paris burning candles before them making the porters and other vulgar persons sing the vsuall prayers of the Church and appointing men to stand there with little boxes to aske almes for the buying of candles and he that did not honour the images in passing by or did not stand with reuerence at those corners or did not giue the almes that were asked wree held suspected the least euil that did befall them was to be abused by the people with boxes and spurnings But many of them were imprisoned and put in suit This prouoked the Reformatists and caused the great conspiracie of Geffery Renaut of whom wee will speake hereafter In Rome after diuers contentions and practises to create Pope the Cardinals of Mantua Ferrara Carpi and Putea finally the 24. of December at Iohn Angelo Car 〈…〉 Medici is created Pope night Iohn Angelo Cardinall of Medicis was created and named himselfe Pius 4 who hauing appeased the tumults of the city and secured the minds of all by a generall pardon of whatsoeuer was committed in time of their sedition applyed himselfe suddenly to the execution of two capitulations which he had sworne concerning the most common affaires and the thirtieth of the same moneth calling together 13. Cardinals and consulting with them about the reiection of the Ambassage of Ferdinand and the determination of Paul not to acknowledge him for Emperour the common opinion was that he had receiued wrong But after a long consultation how to remedie this inconuenience many things being proposed and discussed but no meanes found how to treat without danger of greater incounters in case the Electors should interpose as it was impossible to forbid them the common opinion was that they were to auoide all negotiation because it would conclude with the dishonour of the Pope and that it was better not to expect any request to be made from the Emperour This was approued by the Pope who thought it wisedom to giue that which he could neither He approoueth the resignation of Charles the succession of Ferdinand keepe nor sell He therefore presently called for Franciscus della Torre the Emperours Minister in Rome and tolde him that he approued the resignation of Charles A succession of Ferdinand to the Empire promising to write vnto him with the vsual titles and bad him send aduise hereof After this he thought seriously of the Councell being assured hee should be importuned for it from diuers parts Conferring with the Cardinall Morone whom he trusted for his wisedome and friendship he much doubted as himselfe said whether the Councell were good for the Apostolique Sea or not and if not whether it were better to denie it absolutely and freely oppose whosoeuer should desire it or to make shew he was willing and to crosse it with some impediments besides those which the businesse it selfe And consulteth about the Councel would bring and if it were fit to celebrate it whether it were better to expect vntill he were requested or to preuent and require it himselfe He called to minde the causes why Paul the 3 did dissolue it vnder colour of translation and the hazards which Iulius did runne if good fortune had not assisted that now there was no Emperour Charles to be feared and that the weaker the Princes are the BB. are the more bolde who were the more to be looked vnto because they cannot aduance themselues but vpon the ruines of the Papacie To oppose openly the demand of the Councell was scandalous in regard of the glorious name thereof and of the vaine opinion which the world hath that it must needs be profitable as also because euery one is perswaded that the Councel is refused for feare of reformation which maketh the refusall a greater scandall And if necessitie shal enforce to grant that which had bene absolutely denied it will be a totall losse of reputation and incite the world to debase him who hath opposed In these ambiguities the Pope was assured that the Councel could not be profitable for the Church nor for the Kingdomes diuided and must necessarily endanger the Papal authoritie yet he could not openly oppose it because the world was vncapable of this trueth But he was vncertaine whether in case the Kings or Kingdomes did require it the coiunctures of the future affaires might be such as that the secret impediments might take effect When hee had thought of all he concluded to shew himselfe ready yea desirous and to preuent the desires of others that he might conceale himselfe the better in crossing them and haue more credit in representing the contrary difficulties referring to the superiour causes that deliberation to which humane iudgement could not reach So much he resolued of and no more The coronation was made at the Epiphany and the eleauenth of the same moneth he held a frequent congregation of Cardinals in which he declared his minde at large that hee would reforme the Court and call a generall Councell charging them all to consider what things deserued reformation and of the place time other preparations of the Synod that it might not bring foorth the same fruit that it had done twice before And afterwards he spake of this in his priuate discourses with the Cardinals and Ambassadours vpon all occasions yet did nothing which might manifest his intention more plainely Newes came to the Emperour at Vienna of what the Pope had intimated to his Minister who immediatly deputed an Ambassadour and before The Emperour sendeth an Ambassador to Rome his departure wrote to the Pope to giue him ioy of his assumption and thankes that he had wisely and like a father ended the difficultie which Paulus 4 had against reason and equitie set on foot giuing him an account of the Ambassadour which he had appointed to come vnto him This was Scipio Count of Arco who came to Rome the tenth of February and fell into a great difficulty in the very beginning For the Emperour gaue him commission to render to the Pope reuerence onely and the Pope was resolute hee should render him obedience shewing that the. Ambassadours of other Emperors had done so to his predecessors and said plainly that otherwise he would not admit him The Ambassadour of Spaine and the Cardinal Pacceco aduised him not to transgresse his commission but the Cardinals Who after some contestation rendereth obedience to the Pope not reuerence onely Morone Trent perswaded the contrary
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
voyce deliuered in the Congregations and of all the voyces of others which were any way remarkeable Of this number 34. came into my hands in that forme as they were deliuered and of the others I haue vnderstood the conclusion onely but here nothing is to be related but that which is of note The Patriarke of Ierusalem said That this Article had been handled and The Suffrage of the Patriarke of Ierusalem concerning Residence discussed in the first Councell and concluded that to cause residence there are two prouisions One to constitute punishments for those who doe not reside another to remooue the impediments which doe hinder residencie The first was fully ordered in the sixt Session neither can any thing bee added in regard the losse of halfe the reuenues is a very great pecuniary punishment then which a greater cannot be imposed without making the Bishops beggars If the contumacie bee excessiue there can bee no greater punishment except depriuation which requiring one to execute it which must needs be the Pope in regard the ancient vse of the Church was to reserue to that Sea the hearing and determining of the causes of Bishops that sixt Session referred it to his Holinesse to finde a remedie either by meanes of a new prouision or otherwise and bound the Metropolitane to aduise him of the absence For the second they beganne to make prouision and in that and other Sessions many Decrees were made to take away many exemptions which hindered the Bishops to exercise their charge Therefore it now remaineth onely to continue and to remooue the residue of the impediments electing a certaine number of Fathers as then was done to make collection of them that they may bee proposed and prouided for The Archbishop of Granata added that a more potent and effectuall remedie The suffrage of the Arch-bishop of Granada was proposed in that Councell that is that the obligation of Residence was by the Law of God which was handled and examined tenne moneths together and that if that Councell had not been interrupted it would haue beene decided as a necessary yea as a principall article of the doctrine of the Church and was then not onely discussed but the reasons vsed by diuers were put in print also so that the matter is prepared and digested and nothing now remaineth but to giue it perfection When it shall be determined that residencie is de iure Diuino all hinderances will cease of themselues the Bishops vnderstanding their duety wil thinke on their owne conscience they will not be reputed hirelings but Pastors who knowing that the flocke is giuen to them by God to whom they must make an account without laying the fault on others and being assured that dispensations wil neither saue nor helpe them they will apply themselues to performe their duety And he proceeded to proue with many authorities of the New and Old Testament Is approved by the maior part and exposition of the Fathers that this was the Catholike truth This opinion was approoued by the maior part of the Congregation the maintainers whereof laboured to bring authorities and reasons Others did reiect it and said it was new neuer defended neither by antiquity And reiected by others nor by this age before Cardinall Caietan who set the question on foote and maintained that part which notwithstanding hee did abandon in his old age because hee tooke a Bishopricke and did neuer reside that the Church hath euer held that the Pope might dispense that Non-residents haue alwayes beene punished and reprehended as transgressors of the Canons onely and not of the Law of God that indeede it was disputed in the first Councell but the disputation was held to be so dangerous by the Legats men of great wisedome that they did cunningly cause it to bee buried in silence that this example ought to be followed and that the bookes which haue beene written since haue giuen great scandall to the world and made knowen that the disputation proceeded from partiality For the authorities of the Scripture and Fathers they are onely exhortations to perfection neither is there any substantiall proofe but out of the Canons which are Ecclesiasticall lawes Some held opinion that there was neither place nor time nor opportunity to handle that question that no good could come by the determination of it but danger of many inconueniences that the Councell was assembled to extirpate heresies not to make Schisme among the Catholiques which would happen by condemning an opinion followed if not by the greater part yet by one halfe at the least that the authours of that opinion haue not inuented it for trueths sake but the more to vrge men to reside with small ground of reason in regard that the Lawes of GOD are not more diligently obserued then the Lawes of the Church that the precept for keeping of Lent is more strictly obserued then those of the Decalogue that if to confesse and communicate at Easter were commanded by GOD The lawes of the Pope are more strictly obserued then the lawes of God more would not doe it then now doe that to say Masse with Copes is an Ecclesiasticall law and yet no man doth transgresse it hee that doth not obey the penall commands of the Canons will transgresse much more when hee feareth onely the iustice of GOD neither will any Bishop be mooued with that determination but it will giue occasion to plot rebellions against the Apostolique Sea to restraine the Popes authority and as some haue been heard to whisper to depresse the Court of Rome that that was the ornament of the Clergie which is respected in other places onely in regard of it that if it should be depressed the Church would euery where be lesse esteemed and therefore that it was not fit to handle such a businesse without imparting it to his Holinesse and Colledge of Cardinals to whom it doeth principally belong The opinion of Paulus Iouius Bishop of Nocera is not to be omitted who The Suffrage of Paulus Iouius Bishop of Nocera said in substance That certainly the Councel was assembled to cure a great wound which is the deformation of the Church the cause whereof as all are perswaded is the absence of the Prelats from their Churches which beeing affirmed by all is perhaps not sufficiently considered by any But it is not the part of a wise Physician to take away the cause before hee be well assured that the remoouing of it will not cause greater diseases If the absence of Prelats hath beene the cause of the corruptions there will bee lesse deformation in those Churches where they haue resided The Popes for these hundred yeeres haue continually sate in Rome and vsed all diligence to instruct the people yet we doe not see that that citie is better gouerned then others The great capitall Cities of Kingdomes are most out of order where the Prelats haue alwayes resided on the contrary some poore cities which haue not
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
an end without speaking of the other 3. Articles But concerning the fourth Article the Spanish Diuines and dependants The 4. Article that the Cup is not to bee allowed to the people is stâ—oÌ„gly maintained by the Spanish Prelates on Spaine were maruellously vnited in giuing counsell that by no meanes the vse of the Cup should bee permitted to Germany or others The substance of that which they said was That none of the causes which formerly mooued the Church to take it from the people beeing ceased yea beeing now more vrgent and others more strong and essentiall annexed it was fit to perseuere in the determination of the Councell of Constance and of the Church before and after And discoursing of the dangers of irreuerence which was the first kinde of the causes they said they were now more to bee feared then in former times For then there was none who did not constantly beleeue the reall and naturall presence of CHRIST in the Sacrament after the consecration so long as the kindes did last and yet the Cup was taken away because men had not such regard to the blood of CHRIST as was necessary and therefore what reuerence can bee hoped for now when some doe denie the reall presence and some will haue it onely in the vse Besides there is not so much deuotion amongst good Catholiques diligence in humane affaires and negligence in diuine beeing much increased so that it may bee feared that a greater neglect may produce a greater irreuerence To make a difference betweene Priests and others is now more necessary then euer because the Protestants haue exposed them to the hatred of the people and spread a doctrine which taketh from them their exemptions subiecteth them to lay Magistrates detracteth from their power of absoluing from sinnes and saith also that they should bee called to the ministery by the people and bee obnoxious to bee deposed by them which should force the Church to preserue exactly all those rites which may giue them reputation The danger that the vulgar may receiue an impression of false beleefe and bee perswaded that some thing is in the Cup which is not vnder the bread is now more vrgent in regard of the new opinions spread abroad Many said that the Church did prohibite the Chalice to oppose the errour of Nestorius who did beleeue that all CHRIST was not vnder one kinde which being the opinion of some of the heretiques now the prohibition is to bee maintained still What they would inferre by this I cannot expresse better hauing neuer read that Nestorius did speake in this subiect nor that the Modernes doe handle it with those termes But the third danger that the authoritie of the Church would bee debased and a conclusion made that it hath erred in taking a way the Cup may bee called not a danger but a thing that would certainely happen neither was the request made by the Protestants but to conclude that the Synod hauing confessed the errour past hath corrected it by this graunt so they will publish the victory and demaund a change also in other constitutions of the Church They said they were deceiued who thought the Dutch-men would bee satisfied with this and submit themselues to the decrees of the Councell yea they will take away fasts difference of meates demaund marriage of Priests and an abolition of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in the exterior Court which is the marke at which they all doe ayme that it is not credible they are Catholikes who desire the Cup because the Catholikes doe all beleeue that the Church cannot erre and that no deuotion is acceptable to God if it be not approued by it and that obedience to the Church is the height of Christian perfection that it is certainly to bee beleeued that hee that doth demaund the Cup thinkes it necessarie and hee that thinketh so cannot bee a Catholique that none doth demaund it beleeuing that hee may not lawfully vse it without the graunt of the Councell but that they may not bee hindred by their Princes who if they were alone would vsurpe it without any allowance that of this euery one may bee assured obseruing that not the people but the Princes doe entreat who will not suffer a nouitie without a lawfull Decree not because the people would not bring it in of themselues more willingly then seeke it of the Councell And this argument was so pressed that Fryar Francis Forier a Portugall A petulant saying of a Fryar against the Princes who demanded the Cup. vsed a conceipt which the auditors thought to bee not onely bold but petulant also that the Princes would make themselues Lutherans by permission of the Councell The Spaniards exhorted them to consider that if this were graunted to Germanie Italy and Spaine would demaund the like to whom it could not bee denied from whence also these Nations would learne not to obey and to desire a change of other Ecclesiasticall Lawes and that to make a most Catholike countrey Lutheran there was no better meane then to giue it the Cup. Franciscus Della Torre a Iesuite repeated a saying of the Cardinall Saint Angelo the chiefe Penitentiarie that Sathan who was woont to transforme himselfe into an Amgell of heauen and his Ministers into Ministers of light doth now vnder the couer of the Chalice with the blood of CHRIST exhort to giue the people a cup of poyson Some added that the prouidence of God guiding the Church inspired the Councell of Constance in the former age to establish the taking away of the Cup by a decree not onely for the reasons which were then of force but because if it were now in vse there would bee no externall signe to distinguish the Catholiques from the Heretiques and this distinction being taken away the Protestants would bee mingled in the Church with the faithfull and that would follow which Saint Paul saith that A little leauen doth quickly make sower a great lumpe so that to graunt the Cuppe would bee nothing else but to giue the heretiques greater opportunitie to hurt the Church Some also who knew not the petition had beene presented to the Pope and by him to vnburthen himselfe and draw the matter in length referred to the Councell did expound it ill that the request was then made to the Synod and not to the Pope suspecting it was to this end that they might enlarge euery grant with vnsit interpretations and so cause a necessitie of another Councell But those who thought they might condescend to the requests of the Emperour and of so many other Princes and people gaue counsell to proceed with lesse rigour and not to make such bad interpretations of the godly prayers of the weake brethren but to follow the precept of Saint Paul to transforme themselues into the defects of the imperfect to winne them and not to haue worldly aymes of reputation but to gouerne themselues by the rules of charitie which treading vnder foot all others euen those of humane
but others did not thinke it probable First because by this meanes all hope was taken from â—onde whom he â—â—istâ—â—sted much more yea that hee did much desire that Borbon should returne to the secular state that himselfe might be the prime 〈…〉 France and that if a Patriarke were made as hee much desired hee might vndoubtedly be the man which could not bee if Borbon did still remaine in the Cleargie The Pope hauing receiued aduice of the death of Mantua and consulted with his inward friends thought it necessary to send other Legats who being new not intangled with promises and treaties might follow his instructions with more ease And therefore the seuenth of March the second Sunday in Lent not intimating a Congregation as hee was wont but the Two new Legates are created Cardinals being assembled in the Chamber where they put on their robes to goe to the Chappell according to the vse hee stayed and excluding the Courtiers caused the doores to bee shut and created Legats the Cardinals Iohn Morone and Bernardus Nauaggerus that by the perswasions of Princes or Cardinals he might not bee forced to name others that pleased him not The Pope thought to doe it secretly but it came to the eares of the French-men and the Cardinall of Bordissiera spake to the Pope before hee went out of the Chamber and told him many reasons that in case hee would create new Legats hee could not commit the charge to a more worthy person then the Cardinall of Loraine But the Pope being resolute and displeased that the matter was not so secretly carried answered freely that the Cardinall of Loraine came to the Councell as Head of one of the pretendent parties and that he would depute those who were Neutrals and without interests The Cardinall being about to reply the Pope made haste away and went downe out of the Chamber so fast that there was not time to make answere The Congregation being ended the Pope let the Cardinals goe to the Chappell and himselfe returned to the Chamber because hee would not bee in ceremonie when he was so much vexed with the words of that Cardinall The ninth of March newes came to Trent that the Duke of Guise brother The Duke of Guise is slains vnder Orlience to the Cardinal of Loraine as he returned from the trenches vnder Orlience was shot by Iohn Poltrot a priuat Gentleman of the reformed religion and sixe dayes after died to the great discontent of all the Court and that after he was wounded he exhorted the Queene to make peace and said openly that he was an enemie to the kingdome who was against it The Homicide being interrogated of his complices named Coligni the Admirall and Theodore Beza and afterwards excused Beza but perseuered in accusing the other Yet hee wauered so that one could not tell what to beleeue The Cardinall aduertised hereof prouided a greater guard then formerly hee had and being exceedingly grieued for the death of his brother who was so deare vnto him first of all hee wrote a consolatorie Letter to Antoniette de The Card. of Loraine writeth to his mother Borbon their common mother full of exquisite conceits to bee compared or rather as his friends said to bee preferred to those of Seneca in the end whereof hee said hee was resolued to goe to his Church of Reims and to spend the residue of his life in preaching the word of GOD instructing the people bringing vp his brothers children in Christian pietie and neuer to cease performing of these offices but when the Kingdome for some publike affaires had need of his paines The Letter was no sooner parted from Trent but the Citie was full of copies of it rather importunely offered by his friends then requested so hard it is for the affection of selfe loue to bee quiet though in the occasion of greatest sorrow After this the Cardinall thinking of the change of things by this variation altered all his desseignes And this caused a change also in the affaires of the Councell For hee being the man which the Emperour and Queene of France had vntill then wholly employed they were forced for want of so fit a minister to bee more remisse in their purposes and to proceed more slowly But it happeneth in humane affaires as it doeth in fortunes at Sea where the windes being ceased the waues doe tumultuate for some houres after So the great weight of the affaires of the Councell could not easily be appeased in regard of their former impetuous motion But it is certaine that the death of that Duke The death of the Duke caused a great alteration in the Councell was a great beginning of the quiet which succeeded some moneths after especially after the death of the other brother great Prior of France and the peace made with the Hugonots and the instances of the Queene to the Cardinall to make his peace with the Pope and returne into France of which things wee will speake in due place Hereby the Cardinall saw that the affaires as they stood would not bee profitable neither for himselfe nor his friends The death of Guise was lamented both in Trent and Rome because euery one thought hee was the onely maintainer of the Catholique partie in the kingdome of France neither did it appeare what other person could succeed in supporting that weight the rather because euery one was daunted by the example of his death The French Prelats in the Councell were troubled in minde because they vnderstood that an accord was treated with the Hugonots who pretended amongst other things that the third part of the Ecclesiasticall reuenues should bee employed for maintenance of the reformed Ministers In this varietie of businesses and perplexitie of mindes Fiue-Churches returned to Trent and with the other Ambassadours of the Emperour had audience with the Legats and presented to them the Emperours letter which The Emperours letters to the Legats and the Pope hee brought and the copy of another written by his Maiestie to the Pope They all made request for the reformation but in generall termes onely and very remissely The Emperours letter to the Legats did signifie his desire to see some fruitfull proceeding of the Councell for which it was necessary to remooue some impediments whereof hauing written to the Pope he prayed them to labour in Councell and to vse perswasions to his Holinesse that the future progresse might be for the seruice of GOD and benefite of Christendome In his letter to the Pope hee said that hauing dispatched great businesses with the Electors and other Princes and States of Germanie nothing was more precious vnto him being Aduocate of the Church then to promote the affaires of the Councell that hee was come to Ispruc for that cause where to his griefe he vnderstood that matters did not proceed as he hoped and as the publike tranquillitie did require that hee feared if better order wer not taken the Councell would end with scandall of
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
so that a meanes were found to satisfie the Fathers Newes being come to Rome of the French protestation the Pope and the whole Court were wonderfully moued thinking it was purposely done to dissolue the Councel and imputed it vnto them But the Pope complained aboue all that while the King did demaund a fauour and a grant of a hundred thousand crownes of the reuenues of the Clergie of France his Ambassadours should say in the face of the whole Councell that hee might take them without him And the Cardinall of Loraine was troubled more because he thought it would be a great crosse to his negotiation with his Holinesse He laboured to make it appeare that this did happen against his will and that he would haue diuerted it if he had been in Trent that that instruction was a remnant of the Councels taken in the life time of the King of Nauar and the execution procured by the dependants of that faction of which de Ferrieres was one that that faction though it professed the Catholique religion outwardly did hold strict intelligence with the Hugonots who desired a dissolution of the Councell without a quiet end that they might not be anathematised But he said that those who gouerne the affaires in Trent were not without blame in regard that before his departure from that Citie the things concerning that matter stood in good tearmes the Legates hauing promised morethings with which the Ambassadours were contented One that they would not speake of Kings and Soueraigne Princes but onely of certaine little Lords who grant to Bishops no exercise of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction the other that all things depending on graces done by the Pope should bee excepted as indulgences priuiledges and graunts of the holy Sea notwithstanding since his departure they had giuen to the Fathers the first forme with the same things in it which they had promised to take away But he assured his Holinesse that notwithstanding this the Councel should haue a quiet end and promised to write to the King and complaine of that which was done and to vse meanes that the Ambassadours should returne to Trent which he hoped to obtaine According to this promise he wrote into France and to the Ambassadours These he told that their action had this excuse that it was done but that hereafter they should continue in doing their duty without making any more innouations He wrote to the King that the opposition made by the Ambassadours seemed vnto him very strange and the rather because they had done it without his priuitie and that there was neither reason nor occasion for it that his absence from Trent was the cause why the Ambassadours had applied out of season a sharpe plaster to a small sore that at his returne he would make prouision therein with great case But because things done alreadie could not bevndone he praied his Maiestie to write to the Ambassadours to continue in doing their dutie and to abstaine from violent courses He added that he found the Pope well inclined and disposed to an holy and serious reformation of the Church that Christendome was happy in hauing so worthy a Pastor that hee sent him backe to Trent so well instructed of all his holy intentions for the ending and conclusion of the Councel that he might hope for an happy successe And because in the end of the Councel the decrees must bee subscribed by the Fathers and Ambassadours who haue assisted in the name of their Princes he desired the King to cause his Ambassadours to returne that they may bee present and accomplish that which is the complement of the protection and of all the fauours done to the Councel by his Maiestie by his Brother Father and Grand-father The Cardinall had much adoe to defend himselfe not onely with the Pope but with the Colledge of Cardinals also in Consistory who said that Princes desired the liberty of the Councell yet not in the least and iustest thing that concerne them but onely for the destruction of the Ecclesiastiques The Pope gaue order that better consideration should be had of that which was to bee written to Trent about that reformation saying hee did it not to meddle in the affaires of the Councel because hee meant to let the Fathers alone but onely to instruct the Legates by way of counsell But in the meane while hee wrote to the Legates that if the French-men would depart they should doe it but that they should not giue them occasion but should bee very carefull to hold the Session at the time appointed when Loraine should be returned and to finish the Counsel with one Session more holding it within two or three weekes at the most and that they should conceale this order imparting it to none but to Loraine And if the Emperours Ambassadours should mooue them they should answere that at the arriuall of that Cardinall they would resolue what to doe And he encōuraged them saying that hee had brought Germany and France to his purpose and that nothing remained but Spaine which answered that it was not good to finish the Councell because many things and the most principall did remaine to be handled Notwithstanding he had hope he said to reduce it and to conclude the Synode with a generall satisfaction And indeed hee was secure of France and Germanie For besides his treatie with Loraine who did abundantly secure him of France hee receiued at the same time a resolution from the Emperour that he was content with the end and would promote it And howsoeuer his Nuncio aduised that his Maiestie was doubtfull in resoluing and that there was danger he would change yet vnderstanding that the King of the Romanes was author of the resolution saying that it was good to finish it because it did no good nor gaue any hope that it would doe he was assured that that King mooued by himselfe and by good reason would perseuere in his purpose and by consequence keepe his father in that opinion But the French Ambassadours after the Oration did no more appeare publiquely in Trent They let those few Prelats remaining know that the Kings pleasure was that they should oppose the fift Article and the second because the persons and causes of France might by vertue of those two bee drawen to letigate out of the Kingdome and the ninteenth because by it the preuentions were canonized and the Parlaments depriued of their prerogatiues in matter of benefices The Legates so soone as the Fathers had made an end of speaking of the 21. Article proposed vnto them the others also wherein all the Ambassadours opposed in regard of the matter concerning Princes The Fathers complained that being to reforme as alwaies hath been said all the Church in the Head and in the members in the end the Princes would haue no reformation but for the Clergie onely which could not bee reformed neither if the Prelates were hindered in performing their charges and the Ecclesiasticall liberty not preserued Notwithstanding