the infinite length in the dispatches the impediments in the diligent examination the difficulty to informe so many the seditions made by the factious it is to bee beleeued that they haue beene intermitted because they did notsucceed well and that the Courts and Officers haue beene brought in to remedy those disorders It cannot be denied that these haue some that deserue to be prouided against which is fit to doe without restoring that which was abolished because it was intollerable In Appeales the custome was to passe by the intermediate Superiours and not at the first to leap to the highest which was taken away because the Gouernours of Prouinces and Countries were become Tyrants ouer the Church and for a remedie all businesses were carried to Rome This hath its inconueniencies the great distance of place and charge but they are more tollerable then oppression He that would reduce the first custome should find that in stead of redressing one euill hee should cause many and euery one greater But aboue all it must be considered that the same publike thing must not alwayes bee ordered in one manner but as time hath mutations so it is fit to change the gouernment The ancient manner of gouerning will not be profitable except the ancient state of the Church doe returne Hee that seeing how children are gouerned and how the libertie of eating and drinking any thing at any time is cause of health and strength should thinke an old man might doe so would find himselfe much deceiued The Churches were little compassed with Pagans vnited amongst themselues as beeing neere the enemy now they are great without any opposite to keepe them in their duetie whereupon the common things are neglected and it is necessarie they should be cared for by one If the causes did continue in euery Prouince within a few yeeres there would bee such diuersitie that one would bee contrary to another and they would not seeme to be of the same faith and religion The Popes of Rome tooke not vpon them in ancient times many parts of gouernment when they saw it was good but reserued it to themselues when it was abused by others Many succeeding Popes were of holy life and good intension who would haue restored it but that they saw that in a corrupt matter it could not be well vsed His conclusion was that to preserue the vnity of the Church it was necessary to leaue things as they are Neither did this please the Italian Prelats who would haue the Popes authoritie preserued yet withall some thing restored to themselues especially being to reside therefore they came to moderate the businesse To restore Synodall iudicatures was reiected by almost all because it did diminish the Episcopall and was too popular To appeale by degrees though it was maintained by many yet it was excluded by pluralitie of voyces To appeale from the definitiues alone was accommodated with a limitation that it should be onely in criminall causes others beeing left in the same state though perhaps they had more neede to be reformed For proceeding against the persons of the Bishops no man desiring to facilitate the iudicature against himselfe the restoring of it to Parochiall Synods vnto which it did formerly belong was not spoken of but they desired to prouide that it remaining in the Popes hands it should passe with greater dignitie of that order moderating the commissions which came from Rome by which they were forced to appeare and submit themselues to persons of an inferior ranke And this was so earnestly desired by all that it was necessary for the Legat to yeeld vnto it though he was not pleased with any exaltation of the Bishops because all was taken from the Pope which was giuen to them The Dutch Prelates did propose that the lawes of the Degradations might be moderated as being intolerable and giuing much occasion of complaint in Germany For it being a pure ceremonie which hindereth Iustice and The Dutch Prelates complaine of the lawes of Degradation they hauing desired a moderation euer since the yeere 1522. in the one and thirtieth of the hundred grieuances to see that the abuse is continued giueth matter of scandall to some and of detraction to others The ancient vse of the Church was that if any Ecclesiasticall person would returne to the secular state to the end it might not appeare that those who were deputed to the A discourse about Degradation ministerie of the Church should serue the world the Bishops did vse to take from him the Ecclesiasticall degree as in warre to hold themselues in more reputation it was not graunted to a Souldier to returne to ciuill functions and be subiect to the ciuill Iudge if he were not first bereaued of his militarie degree which therefore was called Degradation taking from him his girdle and armes as with those he was created a Souldier Therefore when any Cleargie man either willingly or by the lawes was to returne to secular functions or for some faults was made subiect to that Court the Bishops did take from him the degree with the same ceremonies with the which he was inuested spoilng him of the habits and taking out of his hand the instruments by the assignation of which he was deputed to the ministerie Being apparelled iust as if hee were to minister in his charge hee was to be stripped first of that which was last in the ordination and with contrary words to those that were vsed in the promotion And this was very vsuall in those first times after Constantine for three hundred yeeres But about the yeere sixe hundred a custome was brought in not to permit Cleargie-men of holy Order to returne to the world and to others it was granted to doe it at their pleasure whereupon by little and little the Degradation of the lesser was wholy disused and that of the greater was restrained onely to this case when they were to be made subiect to the secular Court And Iustinian regulating the iudicature of the Cleargie after he had ordained that in Ecclesiasticall delicts they should be chastized by the Bishops and in secular delicts which hee called Ciuill by the publique Iudge added that the punishment should not bee executed before the partie guiltie were despoyled of 〈◊〉 Priesthood by the Bishop And after that criminall iudicature ouer the Clergie was granted to the Bishops the Degradation remained onely when the punishment was death which in regard of the dignity of their order the Ecclesiastiques would not haue inflicted vpon a Clergie man But in cases of exorbitant wickednesse it seemed that it could not be denied without scandall therefore they found a way to doe that indirectly which directly they could not saying it was iust that the offences of the Clergie should bee punished with deserued death but the Degradation was first necessary which they made so difficult by circumstances of solemnitie that very seldome it could bee done And this procured a greater reuerence of the Clericall
THE HISTORIE OF THE COVNCEL OF TRENT Conteining eight Bookes In which besides the ordinarie Actes of the Councell are declared many notable Occurrences which happened in Christendome during the space of fourtie yeeres and more And particularly the practises of the Court of Rome hinder the reformation of their errors and to maintaine their greatnesse Written in Italian by Pietro Soaue Polano and faithfully translated into English by NATHANAEL BRENT Vnto this SECOND EDITION are added diuers obseruable Passages and Epistles concerning the trueth of this Historie specified in the next Page DIEV ET MON DROâ— LONDON Printed by BONHAM NORTON and IOHN BILL Printers to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie M. DC XXII THE APPENDIX OF THIS SECOND Edition conteining 1 AN Epistle of Gregory the First Bishop of Rome to Maurice the Emperour 2 A passage of the History of Fr. Guicciardine Florentine concerning Pope Alex. 6. left out of his third Booke in the printed Copies 3 A second passage of the same Author conteining a large discourse of the meanes whereby the Popes of Rome atteined to their greatnesse that they now enioy left out of the fourth Booke 4 〈◊〉 third passage of the same Author left out of his 10. Booke 5 Certaine passages out of the Letters of the Lords de Lansac Pibrâ—â—c Ferrier c. taken foorth of the Instructions and Missies of the Kings of France and their Ambassadours sent to the Councell of Trent Published in French An. 1608. 6 Andr. 〈…〉 udithius Bishop of Quinquecclesiae in Hungary his Testimony of the Councell of Trent in his Epistle to Maximilian 2. Emperour 7 An Epistle â—f Bishop Iewell vnto Seignior Scipio a Senatour of Venice touching the causes mouing the Church of England to refuse Communion with the Councell of Trent now first published according to the Originall annexed 8 Lastly the foresaid Epistle of Dudithius written by himself in Latine TO HIS MOST SACRED MAIESTIE I Offer to your MAIESTIES view the truest and most iudicious Ecclesiasticall Historie that either moderne times or any antiquitie hath afforded to the world impaired I confesse in beautie as being transported out of the naturall lustre both of stile and phrase by a rude and vnskilfull Translator but nothing altered in the trueth and sincerity of the matter which it handleth The Author a stranger to these parts conuersant onely where the Gospell cannot be truely preached was moued to write it as for the common good of all Christendome so particularly in contemplation of your Maiesties seruice For as you hold the highest place amongst all Kings and Princes and are Gods greatest Lieutenant vnder the whole cope of heauen so your admirable perfections of Wisdome Learning Iustice and Religion with which your royall breast is inriched beyond all comparison to bee made with any others cast foorth their bright shining rayes into all Countreis and quarters of the world and rouse vp the endeauors of the worthiest euen in places the farthest remote to labour in the building vp or repairing of Gods Church so farre as the tyranny of Antichrist vnder which they liue and the safetie of their liues which nature bindes them to preserue doth giue them leaue In which number is the Author of this present Treatise The end and scope whereof being the glory of God by discouery of those practises which for many yeeres haue beene concealed by the enemies of CHRIST the aduancement of true pietie and Religion I know not to whom it may be addressed more iustly then to the greatest Maiesty vpon the whole surface of the earth and the chiefest Defender of the true faith amongst vs. And surely if euer any booke except onely the Booke of God did deserue the protection of so excellent a Patron it is this Historie of the Councell of Trent For of all the things in the world Religion is of the greatest consequence and in Religion Ecumenicall Councels next after the holy Writ haue euer caried the greatest sway which being true and guided by the holy Ghost haue beene causes of infinite blessings but being pretended onely and gouerned by humane policies and Arte haue brought foorth as many mischiefes and afflictions to the Church of God Now in this of Trent it is plainely discouered that the Bishops of Rome of whom eight liued and died during the time of the Synode and treatie thereof in stead of being CHRISTS holy Vicars as they pretend haue beene the greatest and most pernicious quackesaluing iuglers that euer the earth did beare It would be infinite to relate the Stratagems they vsed to diuert it before it began their postings to and fro to hinder the proposing of those things which they thought would diminish their profit or pull downe their pride their policies to enthrall the Prelates and Diuines by hopes and feares their diligence in sending their adherents to Trent and so by procuring a maior part of voices to make themselues the absolute Lords of all the determinations that passed By which deuices that which was desired by godly men as the onely remedy against all the errors in manners and doctrine both in Church and Common-wealth and especially against the greatest enormities of the Popes themselues hath beene wrested to a quite contrary vse to weaken the lawfull rights of Kings and Princes to peruert the doctrine and Hierarchie of the Church of GOD and to lift vp the Papacy to an vnsufferable height of pride This is that holy and great Synod of which the Romanists doe boast themselues so much And indeed euery one of any meane capacitie may easily know that many controuerted points betweene them and the true Professors necessary as they maintaine for the sauing of mens soules had neuer any colourable establishment but this which insensibly creeping in by the superstition of the vulgar or secretly set on foote by those that were ambitious and couetous or at the best blindly zealous haue alwaies beene opposed by the Orthodox euen publikely vntill the malitious industry of the greater part put to silence though neuer quite ouercame the paucitie of the better So that their vanting of the Antiquitie of their Religion and of the infancie of ours is vaine and idle And if they will glory as vsually they doe of the vniuersalitie of their doctrine because it was established forsooth by the holy Ecumenicall Councell of Trent as they terme it none can better iudge then your MAIESTY how factious and how vnlawfull that assembly was and by this Historie the whole world may vnderstand the weaknesse of that foundation The Almightie blesse your MAIESTIE with length of daies strength of bodie loyaltie of your people and with all imaginable happinesse in your most Royall Progenie and in swaying the Scepter of your Dominions Your Sacred Maiesties most humble and most faithfully deuoted Subiect NATHANAEL BRENT TO THE READER COurteous Reader thou shalt see in this Booke greater varietie of remarkeable accidents then before the reading of it thou couldest haue possibly imagined The state of religion
in those negotiations Hauing therefore collected so many things as may minister vnto me sufficient matter for a narration of the progresse I am resolued to set it downe in order I wil relate the causes and managings of an Ecclesiasticall Conuocation by some for diuers ends and by diuers meanes procured and hastened by some hindered and deferred for the space of 22. yeeres and for 18. yeeres more sometimes assembled sometimes dissolued alwayes celebrated with diuers intentions and which hath gotten a forme and conclusion contrary altogether to the deseigne of them that procured it and to the feare of those that with all diligence disturbed it a cleere instruction for vs to referre our selues to God and not to trust in the wisedome of man For this Councell desired and procured by godly men to reunite the 1500 ALEXAND 6. MAXIMILL 1. HENRY 7. LEVVIS 12. The conclusion of this Councell was contrary to the opinion of all men Church which began to bee diuided hath so established the Schisme and made the parties so obstinate that the discords are become irreconciliable and being managed by Princes for reformation of Ecclesiasticall discipline hath caused the greatest deformation that euer was since Christianity did begin and hoped for by the Bishops to regaine the Episcopall authority vsurped for the most part by the Pope hath made them loose it altogether bringing them into greater seruitude on the contrary feared and auoided by the Sea of Rome as a potent meanes to moderate the exorbitant power mounted from small beginnings by diuers degrees vnto an vnlimited excesse it hath so established and confirmed the same ouer that part which remaineth subiect vnto it that it was neuer so great nor so soundly rooted It will not be inconuenient therefore to call it the Iliade of our age in the explanation whereof I will exactly follow the truth not being possessed with any passion that may make me erre And hee that shall obserue that I speake more copiously of some times and more sparingly of others let him remember that all fields are not equally fruitfull nor all graines deserue to be kept and that of those which the Reaper would preserue some eare escapeth the hand or the edge of the sickle that being the condition of euery haruest that some part remaineth to be gleaned after But first I must call to minde that it hath beene a most ancient custome in the Church of Christ to compose the differences of Religion and to reforme The originall cause progresse of Synods the corrupted discipline by the conuocation of Synods So the first which began in the life time of many of the holy Apostles whether the conuerted Gentiles were bound to obserue Moses law was composed by a meeting in Hierusalem of foure Apostles and of all the faithfull which were in that Citie by which example in the occurrences which incidently sprung vp in euery prouince for the space of 200. yeeres and more afterwards the Bishops and chiefest of the Churches assembled themselues together to qualifie and end them that being the onely remedy to reunite diuisions and to accord contrary opinions But after that it pleased God to giue peace vnto his Church by exciting Constantine to fauour religion as it was more easie for many Churches to communicate and treate together so also the diuisions became more common And whereas before the differences went not out of a city or at the most out of a Prouince now by reason of the liberty of meeting together they extended themselues ouer the whole Empire Wherefore also it was necessary that the Councels which were the vsual remedie should be assembled from places more distant Whereupon a Councell of the whole Empire being congregated in those times by that Prince it had the name of the holy and great Synod and a litle after was called the general Oecumenical Councel though not assembled from all parts of the Church a great part whereof extended it selfe beyond the bounds of the Romane Empire but because the vse of that age was to call the Emperour Lord of the whole habitable earth howbeit the tenth part thereof was not subiect vnto him By which example the like Councels were called by Constantine his successors in other occurring differences of Religion And though the Empire was diuided into the Easterne and Westerne notwithstanding the affaires thereof being managed A new deriuation of the name of generall Councels vnder a common name the Conuocation of Synods throughout the whole continued still 7 But after that the East was so diuided from the West that there remained no more communion in the Soueraignty and after that the East was for the most part possessed by the Saracens and the West parted amongst many Princes the name of an Vniuersall and oecumenicall Councell was no more deriued from the Roman Empire but amongst the Grecians from the assembly of the fiue Patriarkes and in these countreys of ours from the vnitie and communion of those Kingdomes and States which obeyed the Pope in causes Ecclesiasticall And the assembling of these hath beene continued not to appease the dissentions about Religion principally as before but either to make warre in the Holy-land or to compose Schismes and diuisions of the Church of Rome or else for controuersies betweene the Bishops and Christian Princes 8 In the beginning of the 16. centurie of yeeres after the natiuitie of our 1500 Sauiour Christ there appeared no vrgent cause to celebrate a Councell neither was there any likely to happen for a long space For the complaints of many Churches against the greatnesse of the Court seemed absolutely to be appeased and all the countreys of the Westerne Christians were in the communion and obedience of the Church of Rome Onely in a small part that is in that tract where the Alpes are ioyned with the Pyrences there were some remainders of the olde Waldenses or Albigenses In whom notwithstanding Waldenses in the Alpes there was so great simplicitie and ignorance in learning that they were not fit to communicate their doctrine vnto others besides their neighbours conceiued so sinister an opinion of their impietie and obscenitie that there was no danger that the contagion could spread any further 9 In some Cantons also of Bohemia there were some few who maintained Picards in Bohemia the same doctrine euen remnants of those whom the Bohemians call Picards whose increase could not be feared for the same reason 10 In the same Kingdome of Bohemia there were some followers of Iohn Hus which were called Calistini or Subutraque who except that particular Calistial in Bohemia that in the holy Communion they ministred the Cup vnto the people in other things differed not much from the doctrine of the Church of Rome But these also were not esteemed considerable aswell for their small number as because they wanted learning neither did it appeare that they desired to communicate their doctrine nor that others were curious to
them as because euery one would bow at that maiesticall and venerable name But the Pope who feared nothing more then a Councell especially if it were to bee celebrated beyond the mountaines free and in the presence of those who alreadie had openly shaken off the yoke of obedience saw very well what an easie thing it was for these to perswade the others also Hee considered further that although the cause was common to him with all other Bishops whom the new opinions sought to depriue of the wealth they possessed yet there remained some matter of distast betweene them and the Court of Rome For they pretended that collation of Benefices with the reseruations and preuentions was vsurped from them and a great part of their authoritie taken away and drawen to Rome by calling of causes thither by reseruations of dispensations absolutions and such like faculties which formerly being common to all Bishops the Popes of Rome had appropriated to themselues Whereupon it was represented vnto him that the celebration of a Councell would be a totall diminution of the Popes authoritie Therefore he turned all his thoughts to perswade the Emperor that a Councell And the Pope did infinitely disswade the Emperour from desiring a Councell vvas not good to pacifie the stirres of Germanie but pernicious for the Imperiall authoritie in those Prouinces He put him in mind of two sorts of persons the multitude and the Princes and Grandies that it vvas probable that the multitude vvas deceiued but to giue it satisfaction in the demand of a Councell vvas not to giue it more light but to bring in popular licence If it vvere granted vnto them to make question or seeke greater perspicuitie in religion they vvould immediately pretend also to giue lavves for gouernement and to restraine the authoritie of Princes by Decrees and vvhen they haue obtained to examine and discusse the Ecclesiasticall authority they vvill learne also to trouble the temporall He shevved him that it vvas more easie to oppose the first demaunds of a multitude then after they had beene gratified in part to prescribe them a measure For the Princes and Grandies hee might assure himselfe that their end was not pietie but the making themselues Lords of the Ecclesiasticall goods and being become absolute to acknowledge the Emperour nothing at all or very little and that many of them kept themselues vnspotted with that contagion because they haue not as yet discouered the secret which being made manifest they will all addresse themselues to the same scope That there was no doubt but that the Papacio would lose much in the losse of Germanie but the losse of the Emperour and of the house of Austria would bee farre greater Against which if hee would make prouision he had no other meanes then seuerely to imploy his authoritie and power while the greater part obeyed him wherein expedition was necessarie before the number increased and the profit were discouered by all which is reaped by following those opinions That vnto expedition so necessarie nothing is more contrarie then to treate of a Councell For though euery one incline himselfe to it and no impediment bee interposed yet it cannot bee assembled but in length of yeeres nor the causes handled without prolixitie which thing onely he would consider For it were infinite to speake of impediments which would bee raysed for diuers interests rests of persons who would oppose themselues with diuers pretences at the least putting in delayes that it may come to nothing That there was a same spread that the Popes will haue no Councell for feare their authoritie should be restrained a reason which maketh no impression at all in him hauing his authoritie immediately from Christ with promise that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it And the experience of former times hath shewed that the Papall authoritie hath neuer beene diminished in any Councell but according to the words of our Lord the Fathers haue euer confessed it to bee absolute and vnlimited as it is in deede And when the Popes in humilitie or for some other respect haue forborne to vse it intirely the Fathers haue made him to put it wholly in execution And this is cleerely to be seene by him that shall reade the things that are past For the Popes haue alwayes imployed this meanes against the new opinions of heretiques and in euery other necessitie with increase of their authoritie And setting aside the promise of CHRIST which is the true and onely foundation and considering the things but temporally the Councel consisteth of Bishops vnto Bishops the Papall greatnesse is profitable because they are by that protected against Prince and people Kings and other Souereignes also who haue vnderstood and will vnderstand well the rules of gouerning will alwayes fauour the Apostolicall authoritie hauing no other meanes to represse and keepe in order their Prelates when they haue the spirit to goe beyond their degree The Pope concluded that in his minde hee was so assured of the issue that hee could speake thereof as a Prophet and affirme that by calling a Councel greater disorders would ensue in Germany For those that desire it pretend to continue vntill then in what they haue begun when their opinions shall bee condemned and nothing else can succeede they will take another cloake to detract from the Councell and in conclusion the Emperours authoritie in Germany will come to nothing and in other places will be shaken the Popes power will bee diminished in that Countrey and in all the residue of the world will bee increased the more And therefore the Emperour should beleeue his opinion the rather because hee was not mooued by his proper interest but with a desire to see Germany reunited to the Church and himselfe obeyed That nothing The Pope perswadeth the Emperor to execute the sentence of Leo and the Edict of Wormes would take good effect if hee went not presently into Germany and immediately vsed his authoritie intimating that the sentence of Leo and the Edict of Wormes should bee executed without any replie not giuing eare to any thing the Protestants could say either demanding a Councell or more instruction or alleaging their appeale or protestation or any other excuse because they are all but pretences of impietie That hee should vse force against the first incounter of disobedience which would bee easie for him to doe against a few hauing all the Ecclesiasticall Princes and the greater part of the Seculars who to this end would take armes with him That this and no other thing is congruous to the office of the Emperour Aduocate of the Church of Rome and to the oath taken in Aquisgran and which hee ought to take in receiuing the Crowne from his hand Lastly that it was a cleere case that the holding of a Councell or any other treatie or negotiation in this occasion would necessarily end with warre Therefore it was better to make triall of composing these disorders by the
Libell was published in England against the Pope and the whole Court of Rome and that besides a Comedie had beene made in presence of the King and Court to the great disgrace and shame of the Pope and of euery Cardinall in particular For which cause all being inflamed with choler they ran head-long to giue sentence which was pronounced in the Consistorie the foure and twentieth of the same moneth that the mariage betweene Henry and Queene Catherine was good that he was bound to take her for his wife and that in case he did it not he should be excommunicated The Pope was soone displeased with this precipitation For sixe dayes after the French King his letters came that the King of England was contented to accept the sentence concerning the Attentates and to render obedience with condition that the Cardinals whom hee mistrusted should not meddle in the businesse and that persons not suspected should bee sent to Cambray to take information And the King had sent his Proctors before to assist in the cause at Rome Wherefore the Pope went about to deuise some pretence to suspend the precipitated sentence and againe to set the cause on its feete But Henry so soone as he had seene it sayd it was no matter For the Pope should be Bishop of Rome and himselfe sole Lord of his kingdome and that he would doe according to the ancient fashion of the Eastern Church not leauing to be a good Christian nor suffering the Lutheran heresie or any other to be brought into his kingdome And so he did Hee published an Edict wherein hee declared himselfe head of the Church of England and punished capitally whosoeuer said that the Pope of Rome had any authoritie there he chased out the Collector of the Peter-pence and caused the Parliament to approoue all these things where it was determined that all Bishoprickes of England should bee conferred by the Archbishop of Canterburie without sending to Rome and that the Clergie should pay to the King one hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling yeerely for the defence of the Kingdome against whosoeuer This action of the King was variously expounded Some thought him wise for freeing himselfe from the subiection of Rome without any innouation in Religion and without putting his subiects in danger of sedition How the action of K Henry was expoâ—nded and without referring himselfe to a Councell a thing which they saw hard to be effected and dangerous also for him it being impossible that a Councell composed of Ecclesiasticall persons should not mainetaine the Popes power which is the maine pillar of their order because by the papacie it is aboue all kings and the Emperour but without it is subiect to them there being no Ecclesiasticall person that hath superioritie but the Pope But the Court of Rome maintained that it could not be said that there was no change in Religion the first and principal Article being changed which is the supremacie of the Pope and that seditions would arise as well for this onely as for all the rest Which the euent shewed to be true For the King was faine to proceede seuerely against some of his subiects whom he loued and esteemed It cannot be expressed what griefe was conceiued in Rome and by all the Clergie for the alienation of so great a Kingdome from the Popes subiection and it discouered the imbecillitie of humane affaires wherein for the most part great damages proceed from those things from which the greatest The Popes haue gained much by matrimoniall dispensations benefits were formerly receiued For by matrimonial dispensations and by sentences of diuorce as well granted as denyed the Papacie hath gained much in former times sheltering the Princes with the name of the Vicar of Christ whom it concerned with some incestuous mariage or by dissoluing one to contract another to vnite some other territory to their owne or to drowne the title of diuers pretendants making for this cause straight alliance with them and interesting their power to defend that authoritie without which their actions would be condemned and hindred yea interesting not those Princes onely but all their posteritie to maintaine their legitimation But the misfortune which then arose might be ascribed to the precipitation of Clement who in this case knew not how to manage his authoritie and if it had pleased God to haue giuen him in this fact the vse of his vsuall wisdome he might haue gained much where now his losse was great But the Emperour at his returne into Germany being informed of the negotiation of the Nuncio Rangone concerning the Councell wrote to Rome complaining that himselfe hauing promised a Councell to Germany and treated with the Pope in Bolonia in what sort the Princes should be dealt with in this matter yet the Nuncij of his Holinesse had not proceeded in that manner that was agreed of but had so treated that the Protestants thought themselues deluded praying him in the ende to finde some way to giue Germany satisfaction The eighth of Iune the Emperours letters were read in the Consistorie and because there came aduice a little before that the Landgraue of Hassia had taken the Dukedome of Wittenberg from King Ferdinand by force of armes and restored it to the Duke Vlrick the lawfull Lord of it and that Ferdinand also was inforced to make peace with them many of the Cardinals sayd that the Lutherans hauing atchieued 1534 PAVL 3. CHARLES 〈◊〉 HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. so great a victorie it was necessarie to giue them some satisfaction and not to proceede any more by Art but to make some demonstration of effects because the Emperour hauing promised a Councell it was necessarie hee should not be deluded and sayd that if the Pope could not finde a way there was danger That his Maiestie would be constrained to yeelde to some other thing of greater preiudice and losse to the Church But the Pope and maior part of the Cardinals seeing it was impossible to make the Lutherans accept such a Counsell as might bee seruiceable to the Court of Rome and being resolute not so much as to hearken to any speach of making it otherwise they resolued to answere the Emperour that they knew very well the importance of the times and what great need there was of a generall Councell which they were most readie to intimate in case it might be so celebrated that it might produce good effects as need requireth but seeing new discords arise betweene him and France diuers open dissentions betweene other Christian Princes it was necessarie they should cease and mindes should bee reconciled before the Councel were called For during the discords it could not produce any good effect and now least of all the Lutherans being in armes and made proud by the victory of Wittenberg But it was necessary to leaue discoursing with the Pope of a Councell For hee fell into a long and mortall infirmitie whereof he dyed in the end Clement the 7. dieth
by the Popes consent that it might appeare there was some designe in Rome and some paines taken also for reformation The coppy was suddenly printed and published throughout all Germany and many wrote against it both in Dutch and Latine And the number of the Protestants increased dayly in that Countrey the king of Denmarke and some princes of the house of Brandeburg being entred into their league Nouember drawing neere the Pope sent out a Bull for conuocation of The Councell is intimated at Vicenza and three Legates appointed the Councell at Vicenza and alledging the necessitie to prorogue the time because winter was at hand hee did intimate it for the first of May the next yeere 1538. and appoynted three Cardinals Legats for that place Lorenzo Campeggio Legate before for Clement the seuenth in Germanie Iomes Simoneta and Ierom Aleander created Cardinals by himselfe So soone as this Bull went out the King of England published another Manifost against this new conuocation and addressed it to the Emperor Kings Another manifest published by the K 〈…〉 of England and Christian people dated the eight day of April the same yeere 1538. that hauing before declared to the world the manifold causes why hee had resused the Councell which the Bishop of Rome fained hee would celebrate in Mantua prorogued afterwards without assignation of any certaine place it seemed not conuenient to protest as often as hee did excogitate a new way and to refuse that Councell which the Pope 〈…〉 de a colourable shew that he would celebrate Hee said that that declaration desended his and his Kingdomes cause against all the attempts that either Paul or any other Pope could make which he was willing to confirme with this Epistle to excuse himselfe for not going to Vicenza more then hee would haue done to Mantua though no man desired a publike assembly of Christians more then himselfe so that the Councell bee generall free and picus such as hee hath described in his protestation against the Councell of Mantua And as nothing is more holy then a generall Conuocation of Christians so nothing is more preiudiciall and pernicious to religion then a Councell abused for gaine and profit or confirmation of errours That it is called a generall Councell because all Christians may speake their opinions and that it cannot bee called generall where onely they are heard who are resolued to put themselues on the Popes side in all matters and where the same men are plaintifes defendants aduocates and iudges That all may bee sayd of Viconza which in his declaration hath been said of Mantua And briefly repeating a short contents thereof hee sayd if Frederick Duke of Mantua hath not yeelded so much to the Popes authoritie as to grant him his Citie in that manner that he would why should we so much esteeme it as to goe whither hee pleaseth If the Pope hath power from God to call Princes whither hee will why can hee not choose what place hee listeth and make himselfe obeyed If the Duke of Mantua can with reason denie the place which the Pope hath chosen why cannot other Kings and Princes refuse to goe thither And if all Princes should denie him their Cities where would be his power what a thing would it haue beene if all men had put themselues into the iourney and being arriued there should haue beene shut out of doores by the Duke of Mantua That which happened for Mantua may happen likewise for Vicenza The Legats went to Vicenza at the time appointed and the Pope to Nizza The Legates toe to Vicenza in Prouence at the same time to speake personally with the Emperour and French King which hee gaue out was onely to make peace betweene those A conference in Nizza betweene the Pope French K. and King of Spaine two great Princes though his principall ende was to draw the Dukedome of Milan into his house I here the Pope amongst other things desired them both to send their Ambassadours to the Councell and to cause the Prelates which were in their traines to goe also and to giue order that those that were at home in their Kingdomes should begin their voyage thither For gluing the order they both excused and said that first it was fit to informe themselues by the Prelates of the necessities of their Churches and for sending those that wore present that it would bee hard to perswade them to goe before they had consolted with others The Pope was so easily satisfied with the answere that it was doubted whether hee more desired the affirmatiue or the negatiue Therefore this Treatie being vnprofitable as were all his other in that meeting hee went his way and being at Genua in The Councel is defened vnull Easter his returne receiued letters from his Legates who were at Vicenza yet alone without any Prelate wherefore hee recalled them and by his Bull dated the eight of Iulie prolonged the terme of the Councell vntil the next Easter day This yeere the Pope brake the wise patience or rather dissimulation which for foure yeeres together hee had vsed towards England and sent against the King a terrible thundering Bull such as neuer was The Pope thundereth against the K. of England vsed by his predecessours nor imitated by his successours Which fulmination hauing its originall from the Manifests published against the Councel of Mantua and Vicenza my purpose requireth I should make mention thereof Besides for the vnderstanding of many accidents which shall bee related heereafter it is necessary to repeate this euent with the particulars of it The King of England hauing denied his obedience to Rome and declared himselfe head of the English Church the yeere 1534. as hath beene said in its place Pope Paul immediately after his assumption was continually instigated by the Emperour for his owne interests and by the Court which thought by that meanes either to regaine England or set it on fire to fulminate against that King which hee as a man well experienced in the world iudged would bee to little purpose considering that if the thunders of his predecessors neuer had good successe when they were beleeued and feared by all there was lesse hope they could effect any thing after a doctrine was published and receiued by many which did contemne them Hee thought it wisedome to hold a weapon within the scabberd which had no other edge but what was giuen by the opinion of those against whom it was vsed But the beheading of the Cardinall of Rochester happening in the yeere 1535 the other Cardinals were earnest in remonstrating vnto him what a shame and how great a danger it was to the Order which euer was esteemed most sacred and inuiolable if such an example should bee suffered to passe For the Cardinals defend the Popedome boldly with all Princes because they are assured of their liues which assurance when it shall be taken away and made knowen to the Seculars that the Cardinals may bee
requiring hee should bee compelled by excommunications and other censures according to the stile of the Court to make payment hee lamented his case and said that his Pensioners were in the right and yet himselfe was not in the wrong For so long as hee was in the Councell hee could not spend lesse then sixe hundred crownes by the yeere and that his pensions being detracted hee had left but foure hundred wherefore it was necessarie that hee should bee disburthened or assisted with the other two hundred The poore Prelates laboured herein as in a common cause and some of them passed to high wordes and said it was an infamie to the Councell that an officer of the Court of Rome should bee suffered to vse censures against a Bishop assisting in the Councell that it was a thing monstrous and would make the world say that the Councell was not free that the honour of that assembly required that the Auditor should be cited to Trent or some reuenge taken against him that the dignity of the Synod might be preserued Some also proceeded so farre as to condemne the imposition of pensions saying that it was iust and anciently obserued that the rich Churches should assist the poore not by constraint but by charity without taking things necessary from themselues and that S. Paul taught so But that poore Prelates should be constrained to giue to the rich some of that which is necessary for their owne sustenance was a thing intolerable and that this was one of the points of reformation to be handled in the Councel reducing it to the ancient and truely Christian vse But the Legats cōsidering how iust the cōplaints were and whither they might tend appeased all promised they would write to Rome and cause the iudiciall processe to surcease and to endeuor that the Bishop should in some sort be prouided for that he might maintain himselfe in the Councel All the Diuines hauing made an end of speaking the eighth day a Congregation A Decree made on the day of Carnoual that Traditions are of equall authority with the Scriptures was intimated for the next though it was no ordinary day not so much to establish quickly a Decree vpon the disputed Articles as for a grace of the Councell that in that day dedicated to a profane feast of the Carnoual the Fathers should busie themselues in the affaires of the Councell And then it was approued by all that the Traditions should bee receiued as of equall authority with the Scriptures But they agreed not in the manner of making the Catalogue of the Diuine bookes and there were three opinions One not to descend to particular bookes another to distinguish the Catalogue into three parts a third to make onely one and to make all the bookes of equall authoritie And not beeing all well resolued three draughts were made and order giuen that they should exactly consider which of them should be receiued in the next Congregation which was not held the twelfth day by reason of the arriuall of Don Francis of Toledo sent Don Francis of Toledo arriueth in Trent Ambassadour to the Emperour Ambassadour by the Emperour to assist in the Councell as Colleague to Don Diego who was met on the way by the maior part of the Bishops and families of the Cardinals At this time Vergerius who often hath beene named before came to Vergerius flieth to the Councell for refuge but findeth none Trent not so much with desire to assist in the Councell as to flie the rage of his people raised against him as cause of the barrennesse of the land by the Inquisitor Friar Hannibal a Grison For he knew not where to remaine with more dignity nor to haue greater commoditie to iustifie himselfe against the imputations of the Frair who published him for a Lutheran not onely in Istria but before the Nuncio of Venice and the Pope Whereof the Legates of the Councell beeing aduertised suffered him not to bee present at the publique Actes as a Prelate if first hee were not iustified before the Pope to whom they effectually exhorted him to goe and if they had not feared to raise talke against the libertie of the Councell they would haue gone beyond exhortation This Bishop seeing hee was more disgraced in Trent departed a little after with purpose to returne to his Bishopricke hoping the popular sedition was appeased But when he came to Venice he was forbidden by the Nuncio to goe thither who had order from Rome to make his processe for disdaine whereof or for feare or for some other cause hee quitted Italie within a few moneths after Vergerius forsaketh Italie The fifteenth day the three draughts beeing proposed though euery one was maintayned by some yet the third was approoued by the maior part In the Congregations after the Diuines discoursed vpon the other Articles and in the third there was much difference about the Latine translation of the Scripture betweene some few who had good knowledge of the Latine and some taste of the Greeke and others who were ignorant in the Tongues Friar Aloisius of Catanea said that for resolution of this article nothing could Discourses about the Latin translation be brought more to the purpose or more fit for the present times and occasions then the indgement of Cardinall Caietane a man very well read in Diuinitie hauing studied it euen from a childe who for the happinesse of his wit and for his laborious diligence became the prime Diuine of that and many more ages vnto whom there was no Prelate or person in the Councel who would not yeelde in learning or thought himselfe too good to learne of him This Cardinall going Legate into Germanie in the yeere 1523. studying exactly how those that erred might be reduced to the Church and the Arch-heretiques conuinced found out the true remedy which was the litterall meaning of the text of the Scripture in the originall tongue in which it is written and all the residue of his life which was 11. yeeres hee gaue himselfe onely to the study of the Scripture expounding not the Latine translation but the Hebrew rootes of the old and the Greeke of the new Testament In which tongues hauing no knowledge himselfe he imployed men of vnderstanding who made construction of the text vnto him word by word as his workes vpon the holy bookes doe shew That good Cardinall was wont to say that to vnderstand the Latine text was not to vnderstand the infallible word of God but the word of the translatour subiect and obnoxious vnto errors That Hierome spake well that to prophesie and write holy bookes proceeded from the holy Ghost but to translate them into another tongue was a worke of humane skill And hee complayned and said Would to God the Doctors of the former age had done so and then the Lutherane heresie would neuer haue found place Hee added that no translation could bee approued without reiecting the Canon Vt veterum d. 9.
the people to nothing but to giue money The onely remedie for these disorders is to take away all the priuiledges and to restore to the Bishops the charge to teach and preach and to elect those for their fellow labourers whom they shall know worthy of that ministery and disposed to exercise it with charity On the contrary side the Generals of the Regulars and others saide An Apologie of the regular orders that the Bishops and Curates hauing wholly abandoned the office of a Pastour so that for many hundreds of yeeres the people remained without Sermons in the Church and without the doctrine of Diuinitie in Schooles God had raised the begging orders to supplie these necessary ministeries into which notwithstanding they intruded not themselues but entred by the graunt of the Supreame Pastour vnto whom it principally appertaining to feede all the flocke of CHRIST it cannot bee saide that men deputed by him to supplie the defects of him that had the care of the flocke and did aband on it haue vsurped the office of another But it may bee say de that if they had not vsed that charitie there had now remained no signe of Christianitie Now that they haue applyed themselues more then three hundred yeeres to that holy worke with such fruit as appeareth they haue prescribed those functions and made them their owne by a lawfull title giuen by the chiefe Pastour the Bishop of Rome and that the Bishops haue no lawfull right vnto them nor can alleadge the vse of antiquity to regaine that office which so many hundred yeeres since they haue forsaken That they haue a desire of gayning for themselues or their Monasteries is a meere calumnie because the almes are gathered onely for their necessary foode and apparell and the residue being spent for the worship of God in masses buildings and ornaments of Churches turneth to the benefit and edification of the people and not to their owne profit that the seruices done by their orders to the holy Church and doctrine of Diuinitie which is no where to bee found but in their Cloisters deserue the continuance of that charge which others are not able to exercise The Legates importuned by both parties by the Councell of their most The Legats relate this difference to Rome and expect an answere inward friends resoluted to relate to Rome and expect an answere The Pope referred it to the Congregation where presently it was seene whither the pretence of the Bishops tended that is to make themselues so many Popes in their Diocesses For when the Popes priuiledge and exemption should bee remooued and euery one should depend on them and none on the Pope all cause of going to Rome would cease They considered that the Popes The Deputies in Rome take part with the Mendicants for reasons of Policie haue anciently had for a principall secret to preserue the Primacie giuen them by CHRIST to exempt the Bishops from the Arch-bishop the Abbats from the Bishops and so to oblige men to defend him That it is a cleere case that after the sixe hundredth yeere the Primacie of the Apostolike Sea hath beene vpheld by the Benedictine Monkes exempted and after by the Congregations of Clunie and Cistercium and other monasticall assemblies vntill God raised the Mendicant orders by which it hath beene maintained vntill now Wherefore to take away their priuiledges were directly to oppugne the Papacie and not those orders to remooue the exemptions were a manifest depression of the Court of Rome because they should want meanes to keepe a Bishop within compasse that hee exalt not himselfe too high Therefore that the Pope and Court were compelled by necessitie to maintaine the Friars cause But to doe these things smoothely they considered also that it was necessary to conceale this reason and they resolued to answere the Legates that by all meanes they should preserue the state of The Popes answere the Regulars and cause the Bishops to surcease setting before them the excessiue number of the friars and the credit which they haue with the people and aduise them to take a moderate course and not make a Schisme by desiring too much That it was iust they should receiue some satisfaction but they should also bee content to giue it and when they came to the point they should grant any thing concerning the Pardoners but should doe nothing concerning the Friars without communicating it to the Generalls and should giue the Bishops some satisfaction which might not take away the priuiledges That they should doe the like for the Vniuersities because it was necessary that both these and those should depend on the Pope and not on the Bishops After these letters came to Trent those of the Councell had three diuers endes For the other particulars proposed in these two matters by those who were not interested either to fauour or disfauour the exemptions were but little considered of For the Lectures some proposed the restitution of the ancient vse when Monasteries and Canons cloisters were but Colledges and Schooles Whereof some remainder appeareth in many Cathedral Churches where there is the dignitie of a Schooleman Head of the readers with a Prebend These men now doe not performe the duetie and indeede are vnable All thought it honest and profitable to restore the Diuinitie Lecture in Cathedral Churches and Monasteries For the former they thought it easie to make prouision by committing the care of the execution thereof to the Bishops but for the latter very difficult The Legates opposed the Superintendencie of Bishops euen in this also though it were ouer Monkes onely not Mendicants for feare of leauing a gate open to them to meddle with priuiledges granted by the Pope But Sebastianus Pighius Auditor of The inuention of the Auditor of the Rota the Rota found a temper for this that the superintendencie should be giuen to the Bishops as Delegates of the Apostolique Sea The inuention pleased because it was in fauour of the Bishops without derogation of the priuiledge for the Bishop was to superintend not as Bishop but as the Popes Delegate And this gaue a paterne to accommodate other difficulties one in giuing authoritie to the Metropolitans ouer Parishes vnited to Monasteries not subiect to any Diocesse another in giuing power to Bishops ouer exempted Preachers who faile and serued also very much in the Decrees of the Sessions that were after The Canonists proposed that the Schoole subtiltie was not fit in these Politique reasons to vphold the Popes authoritie times and that it beseemed rather naturall things and Philosophie that these new Lectures should bee introduced to handle the Sacraments and the authority of the Church as Turrecremata Augustinus Triumphus after them S. Antoninus and others haue done with great fruit But the Fryars contradicting and opposing that this doctrine was as necessary as that they found a temper and ordered that the Lecture should bee for exposition of the Scripture and that the matter
beene all instituted by CHRIST or that they are more or lesse then seuen or that any of them is not truely and properly a Sacrament 2. And that they differ not from those of the old Law but in the ceremonies and rites 3. And that none of them is in no respect more worthy then another 4. That they are not necessary to saluation and that the grace of God may bee gained by faith alone without them or without any purpose to receiue them 5. That they are ordained onely to nourish faith 6. That they doe not conteine in them the grace signified or doe not giue it to him that doth not resist but are externall signes of iustice and Characters of a Christian profession to discerne the faithfull from Infidels 7. That grace is not alwayes giuen by the Sacraments nor vnto all for as much as belongeth to God though they bee lawfully receiued 8. That by Sacraments Grace is not giuen in vertue of the administration of them called Opus operatum but that it sufficeth onely to beleeue the promise 9. That in Baptisme Confirmation and Order no indeleble Character is imprinted in the soule for which cause they can bee receiued but once 10. That all Christians haue power to administer the Word and all the Sacraments 11. That in ministring the Sacraments the ministers intention at the least to doe what the Church doth is not necessarie 12. That the minister who is in mortall sinne giueth not the true Sacrament though he obserue all things necessary 13. That the vsuall rites approued by the Church may be despised or omitted or changed for others by euery Pastour Of Baptisme there were fourteene Anathematismes 1. Against him The Canons of Baptisme that saith the baptisme of Iohn had the same vertue with that of Christ 2. That true and naturall water is not necessarie to baptisme 3. That in the Church of Rome which is the Mother and Mistris of all the Churches there is not to bee found the true doctrine of baptisme 4. That Baptisme giuen by heretiques in the name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost with intention to doe what the Church doeth is not true baptisme 5. That the baptisme is free that is not necessary to saluation 6. That the baptized cannot loose Grace though he sinne so that he leaue not to beleeue 7. That the baptized are bound onely to beleeue and not to obserue the Law of CHRIST 8. That they are not bound to obserue the Lawes of the Church 9. That by the memory of baptisme all vowes made afterwards are of no force but derogate from faith and baptismall profession 10. That sinnes committed after baptisme by faith and memory thereof are remitted or made veniall 11. That baptisme is to be renewed in him who hath denied the faith 12. That none should bee baptized but in the age of CHRIST or at the time of death 13 Against him who putteth not children baptized in the number of the faithfull or saith they must be rebaptized at the yeeres of discretion or that it is better to omit their baptisme vntill then 14. That children baptized when they come to age ought to be required to ratifie the promise made in their name and to bee left to their will if they refuse not compelling them to Christian life but by denying them other Sacraments Of Confirmation there were three Canons 1. Against him that saith it is an The Canons of Confirmation idle ceremony not a Sacrament properly or that it was formerly vsed that children might giue a publike account of their faith 2. That to giue vertue to the Chrisme is to wrong the holy Spirit 3. That euery simple Priest is the ordinary minister of Confirmation and not the Bishop onely After this the decree of reformation was read which in the Actes bare The decree of Reformation this title A Canon concerning residencie And it contained in substance 1. That no Bishop be created but of lawfull matrimonie of ripe yeeres learned and of good behauiour 2. That none may haue or keepe more Bishoprickes then one in Title Commenda or any other way and whosoeuer hath now more then one shall choose one and quit the rest within sixe moneths if they be of the Popes free collation or else within a yeere otherwise all shal be accounted void but the last 3. That other benefices especially with Cure be giuen to worthy persons able to take charge of soules otherwise the ordinary Patron is to be punished 4. That hereafter whosoeuer shal receiue many incompatible Benefices by way of Vnion for life perpetuall Commenda or otherwise or shall keepe those that he hath receiued against the Canons shall bee depriued of all 5. That the dispensations of those who haue many Benefices with Cure or incompatible shall bee shewed to the Ordinaries making prouision afterwards for the cure of soules and other obligations 6. That perpetuall Vnions made within forty yeeres shall be reviewed by the Ordinaries as delegates and those that are vniust shall be nullified and those that haue not beene in possession or shall be made hereafter shall be presumed to be surreptitious if they be not made for reasonable causes and with citation of all that be interested and nothing to the contrary of this shall be declared by the Apostolique Sea 7. That Benefices with cure vnited shall bee visited by the Ordinaries euery yeere and shall haue Vicars a signed perpetuall or temporall with such a portion of the fruits as to them shall seeme meete without respect of Appeales or Exemptions 8. That the Ordinaries shall euery yeere by the Apostolique authority visit the Churches exempted prouiding for the care of soules and other dueties without respect of Appeale Priuiledges or Customes prescribed 9. That Bishops shall be consecrated within the time set downe by the Law and all prolongations for more then sixe moneths shall bee voyd 10. That the Chapters of Churches in vacancie of the Bishopricke shall not grant Dimisories for Orders but to him that is obliged to take them because of a Benefice 11. That licences to bee promoted by any Bishop shall bee voyd if a lawfull cause be not expressed for which they may not bee promoted by their owne Bishop and in that case they shall bee promoted by a Bishop that resideth in his Diocesse 12. That Faculties not to receiue due Orders shall not serue for longer time then a yeere but in cases expressed in the law 13. That men presented to Benefices by any Ecclesiasticall person whatsoeuer shall not be instituted before examination made by the Ordinaries except those who are presented by Vniuersities Colledges and generall Studies 14. That in the causes of the exempted a certaine forme shall be obserued and where the question is of reward or concerning those who sue in forma pauperis the Exempted also who haue a Iudge deputed shall be conuented before the Ordinarie but those who haue no Iudge deputed shal bee conuented in all causes
and vnder their iudgement and hee wrote to those Priests who of their owne braine had reconciled some that they should giue an account to the people The goodnesse and charitie of the Bishops made their opinion for the most part to be followed and by little and little was cause that the Church charitie waxing colde not regarding the charge layd vpon them by CHRIST did leaue the care to the Bishop and ambition a witty passion which doth insinuate it selfe in the shew of vertue did cause it to be readily embraced But the principall cause of the change was the ceasing of persecutions For then the Bishops did eâ—ect as it were a tribunall which was much frequented because as temporall commodities so suites did encrease The iudgement though it were not as the former in regard of the forme to determine all by the opinion of the Church yet it was of the same sincerity Whereupon Constantine seeing how profitable it was to determine causes and that by the authoritie of Religion captious actions were discouered which the Iudges could not penetrate made a Law that there should lye no appeale from the sentences of Bishops which should bee executed by the secular Iudges and if in a cause depending before a secular tribunall in any state thereof either of the parties though the other contradict shall demand the Episcopall iudgement the cause shall be immediately remitted vnto him Here the tribunall of the Bishop began to be a common pleading place hauing execution by the Ministerie of the Magistrate and to gaine the name of Episcopall iurisdiction Episcopall audience and such like The Emperor Valence did enlarge it who in the yeere 365. gaue the Bishops the care ouer all the prizes of vendible things This iudiciall negotiation pleased not the good Bishops Possidonius doth recount that Austin being imployed herein sometimes vntill dinner time sometimes longer was wont to say that it was a trouble did diuert him from the things proper vnto him and himselfe writeth that it was to leaue things profitable and to attend things tumultuous and perplexed And Saint Paul did not take it to himselfe as being not fit for a Preacher but would haue it giuen to others Afterwards some Bishops beginning to abuse the authoritie giuen them by the law of Constantine that law was seuentie yeeres after reuoked by Arcadius and Honorius and an ordination made that they should iudge causes of religion and not ciuill except both parties did consent and declared that they should not be thought to haue a Court. Which law being not much obserued in Rome in regard of the great power of the Bishop Valentinian being in the Citie in that yeare 452. did renew it and made it to be put in execution But a little after some part of the power taken away was restored by the Princes that followed so that Iustinian did establish vnto them a Court and audience and assigned to them the causes of Religion the Ecclesiasticall faults of the Clergie diuers voluntary iurisdictions also ouer the Laitie By these degrees the charitable correction instituted by CHRIST did degenerate into domination and made Christians loose their ancient reuerence and obedience It is denyed in words that Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction is dominion as is the secular yet one knoweth not how to put a difference betweene them But S. Paul did put it when he wrote to Timothie and repeated it to Titus that a Bishop should not be greedy of gaine nor a striker Now on the contrary they make men pay for processes and imprison the parties as is done in the secular Court But the Westerne Countries being separated and an Empire made of Italy France and Germany and a kingdom of Spaine in these foure Prouinces the Bishops for the most part were made Counsellors of the Prince which by the mixture of spirituall and temporall charges caused their iurisdiction to encrease exceedingly Before 200. yeeres were past they pretended absolutely all iudicature criminall and ciuill ouer the Cleargie and in some things ouer the Laitie also pretending that the cause was Ecclesiasticall Besides this kinde of Iudicature they inuented another which they called mixt in which the Magistrate or the Bishop might proceed against the secular which of them tooke the cause in hand first whereby in regard of their exquisite diligence neuer leauing place to the secular they appropriated all vnto themselues and those which remained out of so great a number were comprehended in the end by a generall rule established by them as a ground of faith that euery cause is deuolued to the Ecclesiasticall Court if the Magistrate will not or neglect to doe iustice But if the pretensions of the Cleargie were contained within these bounds the state of Christian Common wealthes were tolerable The people and Princes when they saw it mount to these vnsupportable termes might with Lawes and statutes haue brought the iudgements to a sufferable forme as formerly vpon occasion hath beene done But that which put Christendome vnder the yoke tooke from it in the end all meanes to shake it from the necke For after the yeere 1050. all the causes of the Cleargy being appropriated to the Bishops and very many of the Laitie vnder title of spiritualitie and almost all the rest vnder the name of a mixt iudicature and placing themselues aboue secular Magistrates vpon pretence of iustice denied they came to say that the Bishop had that power to iudge not by the grant or conniuency of Princes or by the will of the People or by custome but that it was essentiall to the Episcopall dignitie and giuen to it by CHRIST And though the Lawes of the Emperours remaine in the Codes of Theodosius and Iustinian in the Capitulars of Charles the great and Lewis the Deboneere and others of later Princes of the East and West which doe all shew plainely how when and by whom this power hath beene graunted and all Stories as well Ecclesiasticall as prophane doe agree in declaring the same grants and customes adding the reasons and causes yet so notorious a trueth hath not had such power but that a contrary affirmation onely without any proofe hath been able to ouercome it which the Canonists haue so farre maintained as to publish those for heretikes who doe not suffer themselues to bee hoodwinckt And not staying heere they adde that neither the Magistrate nor the Prince himself can meddle in any of those causes which the Clergie hath appropriated because they are spirituall and of spirituall things the Laiques are vncapeable Yet the light of trueth was not so put out but that learned and godly men in those first times did oppose that doctrin shewing that both the Premisses of that discourse were false that the Maior that is that the Laiques are vncapeable of spiritual things was absurd and impious For they are adopted by the heauenly Father called the sonnes of God brothers of CHRIST partakers of the Kingdome of heauen made worthy of Diuine grace Of
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
Saint Iames did vnderstand the ancients for age and not the Priests ordained by the Bishop But if any maruaile why it is said in the first head of the doctrine that 14. Articles of reformation are handled in which the Presidents of the Synod the Bishops haue diuers ends this Sacrament is insinuated by CHRIST our Lord in Saint Marke and published in Saint Iames whereas the antecedence and consequence of the words did require that it should not bee sayd insinuated but instituted hee may know that it was first so written but a Diuine hauing obserued that the Apostles who anoynted the sicke of whom Saint Marke speaketh were not Priests because the Church of Rome holdeth that Priesthood was conferred vpon them onely in the last Supper it seemed a contradiction to affirme that the Vnction which they gaue was a Sacrament and that Priests onely are ministers of it Whereunto some who held it to bee a Sacrament and at that time instituted by CHRIST did answere that CHRIST commanding them to minister the Vnction made them Priests concerning that acte onely As if the Pope should command a simple Priest to giue the Sacrament of Chrisme he made him a Bishop for that acte Yet it was thought too dangerous to affirme it absolutely Therefore in stead of the word Institutum they put Insinuatum Which word what it may signifie in such a matter euery one may iudge who vnderstandeth what Insinuare is and doeth apply it to that which the Apostles then did and to that which was commanded by Saint Iames and to the determination made by this Councell But in matter of reformation as hath beene said fourteene Articles were proposed all belonging to Episcopall iurisdiction whereof when they had vnderstood the opinion of the Canonists in the particular Congregations and read all in the generall they came to frame the Decree Herein the ayme of the B B was to increase their authority to recouer that which the Pope had vsurped from them and of the Presidents to grant as little as they could But both parties did proceede cunningly and made shew to regard onely the seruice of God and the restitution of the ancient Ecclesiasticall discipline The Bishops thought they were hindered in executing their office For when they did suspend any from exercise of their orders or Ecclesiasticall degrees and dignities for causes knowen to themselues or did refuse to let them passe to higher degrees all was retracted by a Licence or Dispensation gotten at Rome which caused a disreputation of the Bishops damnation of soules and a totall ruine of discipline Concerning this the first head was made that such Licences and Restitutions should not bee offorce But the President for the honour of the Apostolique Sea would not haue the Pope named nor the chiefe Penitentiarie nor any ministers of the Court from whom such Licences were wont to bee obtained The titular Bishops did also hinder them who beeing depriued by a Decree published in the sixt Session of power to exercise the pontificall office in the Diocesses without leaue of the proper Bishop did retire themselues into a place exempt from all Bishopriques admitting those to holy orders who were before reiected as vnfit by their owne Bishops which they did by vertue of a priuiledge to ordaine any that offered himselfe vnto them This was prohibited in the second head but with this moderation that for reuerence of the Apostolike Sea mention should not bee made who granted the priuiledge And consequently in the third head power was giuen to the Bishops to suspend for what time they pleased any one ordained without their examination or with licence by facultie giuen by whomsoeuer These things the wiser sort of Bishops knew to bee of small weight because the Canonists doe hold that 344 Licences Priuiledges and Faculties granted by the Pope are neuer comprehended in generall words without speciall mention bee made of them But not beeing able to obtaine more they were content with this hoping that time might open them a way to proceede further It was also decreed in the same sixth Session that no secular Clerke by vertue of personall Priuiledge nor Regular dwelling out of the Monasterie by vigor of the Priuiledge of his order should bee exempt from the correction of the Bishoppe as Delegate of the Apostolike Sea Which some thinking not to containe the Canons of Cathedrall Churches and other Collegiate dignities who not by priuiledge but by ancient custome or by sentences put in execution or by Concordates with the Bishops established and sworne were in possession of not beeing subiect to Bishops and others also restraining it onely to visitation it was ordained in the fourth head that concerning secular Clerkes it should bee extended to all times and all sorts of excesses and declared that none of the things aforesayd should withstand Another disorder as great did arise because the Pope did grant a Iudge at the election of the supplicant to whosoeuer did seeke it by the ordinary meanes vsed in Court with authoritie to defend protect and maintaine him in possession of his rights and to remooue the molestation giuen him extending also this fauour to all his domestiques And this sort of Iudges were called Conseruators who did stretch their authoritie in place of defending the supplicant from molestations to withdraw him from iust corrections and also at their instance to molest and trouble the Bishops and other ordinary Ecclesiasticall superiours with censures The fifth point made prouision against this disorder ordaining that Conseruatorie graces should not helpe any body nor free him from inquisition accusation and conuention before the Ordinary in criminall and mixt causes and in ciuill also in which hee is plaintife and in other causes if the Conseruator bee suspected or difficultie arise betweene him and the Ordinary who is competent Iudge that arbitrators shall bee chosen according to the forme of the Law and that Conseruatory letters which comprehend domestiques shall bee extended but vnto two who doe liue at the charge of the Master of the familie and that these and the like graces shall not continue aboue fiue yeeres and that the Conseruators shall not haue Tribunals But the Synod did not meane to containe in this Decree Vniuersities Colledges of Doctours and Schollers places of Regulars and Hospitals Concerning which exception when this point was handled there was very great contention it seeming to the Bishops that against all right the exception was larger then the rule because the number of Doctors Schollers Regulars and Hospitalaries is greater then of all others who can haue Conseruatorie letters and that the prouision against any particular man was easie but the disorders of Vniuersities and Colledges were of the greatest importance The Legate gaue an account heereof to Rome where it beeing decided by that which was consulted vnder Paul the third that it was necessary for maintenance of the Apostolique Sea that the Friars and Vniuersities should totally depend on
Rome there was no neede of a new determination and immediatly answere was made that the Conseruatories of these should by no meanes bee touched Whereupon the Fathers of the Synode who were adherents of Rome beeing entred into this opinion the others who were fewer were forced to be content with the exception and there was some hope and some meanes vsed to pacifie them The sixth point was concerning the Priests apparell wherein it was easily concluded to ordaine that all the Ecclesiastiques of holy Order or Beneficed men should bee bound to weare an habite fit for their degree according to the appointment of the Bishop giuing him power to suspend the transgressours if after admonition they shall not obey and to depriue them of their Benefices if after correction they shall not amend renewing herein the constitution of the Councel of Vienna which notwithstanding was not much fitted to those times prohibiting vpper garments laced and of diuers colours and frockes shorter then the vestment and red and greene breeches chequered things disused which haue no neede of prohibition The vse of all Christian Nations was most ancient that to imitate the mildenesse of CHRIST our LORD all the Ministers of the Church should bee neat and cleane from mans blood neuer receiuing to any Ecclesiasticall order any person defiled with homicide whether voluntary or casuall and if any Clerke committed any such excesse either willingly or by chance all Ecclesiasticall function was immediatly taken from him This hath beene and is now inuiolably obserued by other Christian Nations vnto whom dispensations against the Canons are vnknowen but in the Latine where rich men may easily make vse of them it is obserued onely by the poorer sort It being proposed in the fourth and fifth Article to moderate the abuse it was ordained in the seuenth head that a voluntary homicide should for euer remaine depriued of all Order Benefice and Ecclesiasticall office and when there shall bee cause to dispence with the casuall homicide the commission of the dispensation shall bee directed to the Bishop onely or if there bee cause to the contrary to the Metropolitane or next Bishop They saw that this Decree did not serue to moderate the abuses but to make the dispensations dearer For the Popes hands were not tied concerning voluntary homicide and for casuall the decree was obserued in not committing the cause to any but the Bishop but to dispence directly without committing it to another was not taken away first making the proofes in Rome or dispatching the dispensations vnder the name of Motu proprio or with other clauses with which the Chancery doth abound when it hath cause to vse them A certaine sort of Prelates seemed to hinder much the authority of Bishops who for their reputation in the place where they dwelt obteined power of the Pope to punish the faults of the Ecclesiastiques of that place and some Bishops also pretending that their Priests receiued scandall and bad example from those of the next Diocesses obtained authority to chastise them Some desiring that this disorder should bee remedied by reuoking wholly such authorities and perceiuing that it would distaste many Cardinals and great Prelates who abused them they found a moderation that they should vse them yet without preiudice of the Bishop ordayning in the eighth poynt that they might not proceede but in presence of the Bishop or his deputie There was another way to subiect the Churches and people of one Diocesse to the Bishop of another by vniting the Churches of one to the Churches or Benefices of the other which though it were prohibited in generall termes in the seuenth Session yet it beeing not so plainely done as some desired an expresse declaration was demanded Whereupon it was resolued in the ninth point that all perpetuall vnions of the Churches of one Diocesâ—e to the Churches of another should be prohibited vnder what pretence soeuer The Regulars made great instance to keepe their Benefices and to regaine those which they had already lost by the inuention of perpetuall Commendaes and many Bishops for sundry respects were willing to assist them They were desirous to propose that these perpetuall Commendaes should bee quite taken away but fearing to bee contradicted they were content onely to desire they should bee moderated The Presidents on the other side seeing the hazard that this matter dangerous for the Court should bee set on foote themselues proposed a light remedie to hinder all treatie of a better And this was that Regular Benefices vsually giuen in title to religious men when they shall bee vacant hereafter shall not bee conferred but vpon men professed of that Order or to some person who is to receiue the habite and take vpon him the profession This was the tenth poynt which did not much import the Court of Rome in regard as many Commendaes were alreadie made as could bee and the Prelates had no great desire to obtaine more though it would haue beene an honour for the Churches if the regular Abbats had resided But in regard of the fauour extended to the Monkes not to take more from them then was taken already a counterpoize was added in the next point ordaining that they could not haue secular Benefices though with cure Which howsoeuer it speaketh onely of those who are translated from one order to another ordaining that none should bee receiued but with condition to remaine in the Cloyster yet by parity of the reason or by an argument of greater reason it hath beene vnderstood generally of all And because the patronage of Churches was graunted in Court by grace and to make the grace the greater power giuen to depute an Ecclesiasticall person with faculty to institute him that is presented this disorder was remedied in the twelfth head ordaining that none should haue right of Patronage but the founded of the Church or hee that hath competenly indowed with his patrimoniall goods one already founded And for remedie of the second disorder it was forbid in the 13. head that the Patrone though he had a priuiledge to doe it should not make the presentation to any but the Bishop While these things were handled Iohannes Theodoricus Pleniagorus and The Ambassadors of the Duke of Wittenberg arriue in Trent with commission to present the confession of their faith Iohannes Eclinus Ambassadours sent by the Duke of Wittenberg to the Councell arriued in Trent with order to present publiquely the confession of their doctrine whereof mention hath beene made and to say withall that Diuines would come to expound it more at large and defend it if securitie and safe conduct were giuen them according to the forme of the Councell of Basil They went to the Count Montfort the Emperours Ambassadour shewed him their Mandate and tolde him they had commission to propose some things in the Councell This being related by the Count to the Legate hee answered that as others Ambassadors did first present themselues to the Presidents in the name
against with more seueritie mitigating the punishment of those who assemble without Armes onely for Religion instructing and admonishing them and to this purpose to cause the Prelates to reside hoping that by these remedies all will bee prouided for without either Generall or Nationall Councell The voyces beeing not vniforme a Decree was made the 27. of that moneth that there should bee an assembly of the States at Meaux the tenth of December and if the Generall Councell shall not be called suddenly as the Pope hath made shew the Bishops shall assemble the 13. of Ianuary to treat The Decree of this Assembly of celebrating a Nationall in the meane while the punishments for cause of Religion were suspended except against those who tooke Armes The Pope enformed of the resolution of the assembly of Fountainbleau wrote to Cardinall Tornon to hinder the meeting of the Bishops and if hee could not returne to Rome And the three and twentieth of September hee called the Ambassadours and told them the neceseitie of the sudden celebration of a generall Councell in regard of the determination of the Frenchmen to call a Nationall which though he had giuen order to Cardinall Tornon to hinder yet hee did not hope it could be done But hee saw Causeth the Pope to make shew that hee is resolued to call the Councel suddenly a necessitie to celebrate the generall Councell that it might not bee sayd that the Nationals were called for want of it Therefore that hee must needes open the Councell of Trent taking away the suspension that the place was most fit beeing betweene Germanie and Italie though others propose Spire Triers and other places which hee would accept if they were secure beeing readie to goe to Constantinople if hee might with safetie that one could not trust those who want faith that no Catholike could bee secure in those places no not the Emperour himselfe that if they refuse Trent they may finde places in the Dukedome of Milan the Kingdome of Naples in the State of Venice of the Duke of Sauoy or Florence Concerning the reuocation of the things already decided it was not to bee mentioned that hee would neither reuoke nor confirme them but referre all to the Councell which with the assistance of the holy Spirit will determine whatsoeuer it shall please God Hee did much ruminate vpon the Nationall Councell of France saving that Germanie would follow the example and that some stirres would bee raised in Italie if order were not taken that they would submit the Papacie to the Councell and whatsoeuer belongeth to it But his resolution was this Pro fide religione volumus mori Desiring the Ambassadours to speake their opinion the Emperours Ambassadour sayd it was better to take time in regard the Emperours affaires would not permit him to consent The Pope seeming to bee angry the Ambassadour added that it was good first to winne the mindes of the Princes of Germany The Pope answered more angerly that there Wherein he is contradicted by the Emperours Ambassadour onely was now no time to doe it and the Ambassadour replying that he feared that by this meanes the heretiques would bee incited against Italy the Pope said aloud that GOD would not abandon his owne cause and that he should bee assisted by the Catholique Princes with men and money for his defence The Spanish Ambassadour commended the Popes purpose and said that his King would not faile to fauour him and that to this end hee had already sent Antonio di Toledo into France The Ambassadours of Portugall Venice and others offered the fauour and assistance of their Princes and in the ende the Pope gaue them order to signifie his intention and so dismissed them Afterwards hee receiued answere from Cardinall Tornon that hauing tried all meanes hee was not able to remooue the King nor any of his Councell nor could hope for any better successe hereafter yea that hee saw all things to waxe worse The King of Spaine hauing sent to the Pope the finall answere giuen to Toledo wrote withall that the French King excused himselfe that without a Nationall Councell hee could not remedie the disorders of his kingdome and that it was no maruell if to withstand inconueniences Princes doe that alone which they should doe together with the Pope This letter troubled his Holinesse thinking hee did inferre that hee might doe the same also himselfe in Flanders It was afterwards discouered that the Popes purpose was if hee could not absolutely auoyd the Councell to deferre it at the least vntill he had set in order his domesticall affaires For being to hold a Synod it was necessary to giue a good example in the meane space and spend excessiuely in maintaining poore Prelats and officers and The Popes secret purpose was to auoid or deserre the Councell other things necessary for the Synode which would consume all the reuenewes and the businesse it selfe also would take vp all his time so that hee could not take care of his house But hee resolued though against his will not to deferre the Conuocation any longer Whereupon the twentieth of But maketh a contrary resolution against his will October hee held a Congregation of Cardinals in which hee gaue them an account of the answere of the French King to Toledo of the King of Spaine his letter to him and of the negotiation of the Cardinall Tornon adding a new aduertisement sent him out of France that although the generall Councell were opened they would not goe thither if the Protestants did not consent to receiue it These things put them in a great confusion and all feared that though the generall Councell should proceede yet France would And is much troubled with the occurrences of Trance make the Nationall whence by consequence an alienation from the obedience of the Apostolique Sea would arise and an example to the residue of Christendome to doe the like either with or without the consent of their Princes Some thought much of the Protestation made to the Cardinall of Trent that hee should not bee too liberall in offering that Citie but remember that the Emperour is Lord of it without whose consent hee neither can nor ought to dispose of it in such a businesse who had declared himselfe alreadie that by all meanes hee would first make a Diet. They were also much troubled with that which D. Antenio di Toledo wrote that all the Grandies yea the Bishops themselues did fauour the new opinions to settle and augment their owne estates Notwithstanding all this all the Cardinals except the Cardinall of Ferrara were of opinion to open the Councell remoouing the suspension The Pope said the Councell should begin at Saint Martins tide and considering the imminent dangers and the hopes to ouercome them he His comfort is that the losse will be greater to the French King then to the Apostolike Sea resolued himselfe and did comfort also the Cardinals and his other dependants
not stop the eyes and eares of the world that they should not see and heare their differences and that if they would make shew of vnion where they were at variance they should bee conuinced of vanitie and lying and after many contentions they remained without agreement in that point For the Councell some thought fit to refuse it absolutely and others were of opinion to send Ambassadours to make offer that they would goe to a free and Christian Councell and to propose the exceptions of the suspicion of the Indges of the inconueniencie of that place and others often times proposed to shew they did not refuse the authoritie of a lawfull Councell and that the vnion of the Church was not hindered by them but by the ambition of the Coure of Rome which would make the Germane Catholiques more fauourable 〈◊〉 them And they concluded to make petition to the Emperour in this forme The two Nuncij arriuing in Austria at the same time found the Emperour To which place y e Popes two Nuncij are sent by the Emperor with three Ambasdors of his owne at Vienna who gaue them counsell to go both immediately to Nâ—umburg in Saxenie where the Protestants were assembled in a Diet and to treate as modestly with them as was possible taking care not to exasperate or offend them For if they went to each of them into their owne States they would bee posted from one to another and would neuer haue any certaine answere and when they had both performed this office ioyntly they might diuide themselues and god apart to whom they were sent He put them in mind of the Conditions with which the Protestants did formerly condescend to the Councell that if mention were made thereof againe they might bee prepared to replie in the Popes name what they thought fit The Emperour sent three Ambassadours of his owne to goe with them to the Assembly and the King of Bohemia did recommend them to the Duke of Saxonie that they might goe securely The Emperours Ambassadours hauing had audience at the Diet exhorted the Princes to assist in the Councell and to put an end to the 〈◊〉 of Germanie The Princes after they had consulted together thanked Caser and concerning the Councell said they would not refuse it if the word of GOD were to beiudge if the BB. were released of their oaths made to the Pope and the Sea of Rome and if the Protestant Theologiâ—es might have 〈◊〉 But seeing that the Pope admitteth no Bishops to be in the Councell but such as are sworne vnto him against which they The Protestants answer to the 〈◊〉 Ambassdor haue alwayes protested they could hardly agree vnto it that they were willing presently to represent so much to the Emperour with all respect deferring their absolute answere vntill the Princes then absent were informed Afterwards the Popes Nuncij were brought in who hauing commended the Popes 〈◊〉 and Religion in reuiuing the Councel to extiâ—pate 〈◊〉 in regard there are as many Religions and Gospels as there are Doctors said he had sent â—â—inuite them to helpe forward so laudable an enterprise promising that all should be handled with Christian Charitie and that their voyces shall be freeâ— They presented also the Popes Briefes written to each of them The next day all the Briefes sealed as before were sent backe and the Nuntij called And to the Popes Nuntij to receiue an answere which was to this effect That they did not acknowledge any iurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome that there was no cause to reueale their pleasure concerning the Councell to him who had no power either to call or hold it that they had deliuered their minde and determination to the Emperour their Lord that to the Nuncij who were nobly descended in a Common-wealth which they loued they offered all good office The Protestants doe intimate another assembly to begin in April and would doe more if they had not come from the Pope Thus they did end the assembly and did intimate another to begin in April to finish the 〈◊〉 of vâ—iting themselues together The Nuncio Delphinus deliuered his Ambassage in diuers Cities as he returned The negotiation of Delphinus The Senate of Noremberg answered that they would not forsake the Augustan Confession not accept of the Councell as not hauing the conditions required by the Protestants The Senates of Argentine Francfort Ausburg and Vlma answered in the same manner Comendone parting from the Of Comendone Diet went to Lubec from whence he sent to Frederic King of Denmarke to demand his Safe conduct to come to him to deliuer to him the Popes Ambassage and inuite him to fauour the Councell Hee answered that neither Christian his father nor himselfe had euer any thing to doe with the Pope and therefore hee cared not to receiue any Ambassage from him Both the Nuncij had a fauourable answere from the Prelates Princes and Cities Catholique with promise of deuotion to the Pope but concerning the Councell they sayd they were to treate with the Emperour it being necessary to consult together for feare of the Lutherans Ierolamus Martinengo sent to Of Martinengo the Queene of England for the same cause beeing in Flanders receiued commandement from her not to passe the Sea and although the King of Spaine and Duke of Alua did make earnest entreaty that hee might bee admitted and heard commending the cause of that Legation that is the vnion of all the Christian Church in a generall Councell yet the Queene did perseuere in her first resolution answering that she could not treat with the Bishop of Rome whose authority was excluded out of England by consent of Parliament Canobius when hee had deliuered his Ambassage to the King of Polonia by whom he was well receiued could not goe into Moscouia by reason of the warre betweene that Prince and the King But going into Prussia hee was answered by that Duke that he was of the Augustan Confession and could not consent to a Popish Councell The Suisses assembled in a Diet at Bada heard the Popes Nuncio and receiuing the Briefe one of the Burgomasters of Zuric And of Canobius did kisse it The Pope aduertised hereof could not choose but tell it to all the Ambassadours residing with him with much ioy But hauing consulted The Pope reioyceth that his Bull was kissed by a Burgomaster of Zuric of the businesse concerning the Councell the Catholiques answered that they would send thither and the Euangeliques that they would not accept of it The negotiation of the Nuncij in Neumburg beeing published in Rome there was a whispering against the Pope for sending Ministers to the Diet of the Protestants wherein hee excused himselfe that it was not by his order but by the Emperours to whose direction he did deferre the Nuncij for which hee did not blame him in regard hee did not care for nice points of honour but onely for doing of good The
regard of his fatherly affection and that the Legates beeing in Trent already and many of the Italian and Spanish Prelates and the rest in their iourney they should immediatly send an Ambassadour and their Bishops Besides he commanded the Legat to vse all diligence to hinder the preaching and assembling of the Protestants and to encourage the Diuines giuing them Indulgences and spirituall graces and promising them temporall assistance also but that himselfe should by no meanes be present at the sermons of the Protestants and auoid all banquets where any of them were in companie At the same time the Polonian Prelats came to Trent who hauing visited Two Polonian Prelates cometo Trent the Legates and shewed the deuotion of their Church to the Sea of Rome related how the Lutherans attempted to bring their doctrine into that kingdome and the foundations which were already layd in some parts to oppose whose plots the Bishops were alwayes to be vigilant that they were all desirous to assist in the Councell and to promote the common cause which not being able to doe for the cause aforesaid so important and necessarie they had sent their Proctors to giue voyce as if the Prelats were present And they demanded to haue as many voyces as they had commissions from the Bishops who for lawfull causes could not part out of the kingdome The Legats answered in generall termes meaning to resolue with mature deliberation Who desire to haue as many voices as they haue commissions from the Bishops Their râ—quest is sent to Rome where it was resected for feare of dangerous confequences and the Pope whom they had aduised hereof proposed it in Consistorie where the Cardinals without difficultie concurred in the negatiue because it was determined before that the resolutions should bee made as formerly they had beene by pluralitie of voyces and not by Nations Which was therather thought to be necessary because there was a fame that the French-men though Catholiques came with Sorbonicall and Parliamentarie mindes fully bent to acknowledge the Pope no further then they pleased And it was knowen before that the Spaniards had some humour to subiect the Pope to the Councell and the Legates had often sent aduice from Trent The deseignes of the French and Spanish Prelates are suspected that some bad ambitious humours to enlarge the Episcopall authority were discouered and in particular the Spaniards did propose that it was necessary to restraine the authority of the Pope at the least so farre as that hee might not derogate from the decrees of this Councell saying that otherwise the labour and cost would be all in vaine if for small causes and sometimes without any he might dispence with them as he dayly doth with all the Canons The Cardinals saw no other meanes to oppose these attempts but by sending a great number of Italian Prelates who being vnited together will ouercome For which cause the Pope resolueth to send many Italian Prelats to Trent to make a maior part all the Vltramontans And this remedie would bee to no purpose if the voices of the absent were admitted For the Spaniards and French-men would cause all their Bishops to send proxies and it would be as much as to giue voyces not by heads but by Nations Therefore it was written to Trent that they should make large promises to the Polonians but conclude that the Councell was a continuation and the same which was begun vnder Paulus the third so that the orders then practised and continuately kept with good fruit as did appeare must be still obserued amongst which one was that the absent should haue no voyce with which if they did dispence all other National would pretend the like with much confusion that whatsoeuer request Polonia did make for any thing The Polonian Prelats seeme to be satisfied with a courteous negatiue but depart returne no more that was proper to it selfe and would not raise any stirres in other Countries should be granted in regard of the merits of that most noble Nation The Polonians seemed to bee satisfied with the answere yet pretending businesse at Venice they departed and returned no more A letter which the King of Spaine wrote with his owne hand caused much ioy in Rome in which hee aduertized the Pope of the negotiation of Montbrun sent vnto him by the Queene of France and of the answere which hee gaue him promising to assist his Holinesse to purge Christendome of heresie Iohn Tancherel is condemnâ—d by the Parliament of Paris for defending in y e schooles that the Pope may depose Kings with all the forces of his Kingdomes and States and to send potent and speedy aydes to any Prince that would cleanse his Countrey of that contagion But the bad conceit which the Court had of the French-men was increased by an aduice sent from Paris that the Parliament had with much solemoitie condemned to recant one Iohn Tancherel a Bachelor of Diuinity because with intelligence of some Diuines he had proposed and defended publique questions that the Pope Vicar of CHRIST is Monarch of the Church and may depriue Kings and Princes who disobey his commandements of their Kingdomes States and Digmties who beeing accused cited and hauing confessed the fact did flie and the iudges as in a Comedie caused the Beadell of the Vniuersitie to represent his person and to make a publike satisfaction and recantation forbidding the Diuines to dispute such questions hereafter making them goe to the King to aske pardon for hauing suffered so important a matter to bee disputed on and to promise to oppose themselues alwayes against that doctrine They spake of the Frenchmen as of lost sheepe who denied the authoritie giuen by CHRIST to S. Peter For which the French-men are much censured in Rome to feede the whole flocke and to loose and binde which doth consist principally in punishing the delicts which giue scandall or offence against the Church in common without difference of Prince or subiect The examples of the Emperours Henry the fourth and fifth Frederic the first and second and Lewis of Bauaria of the Kings of France Philippus Augustus and Pulcher were alleadged as also the famous sayings of the Canonists in this poynt they sayd the Pope ought to cite the whole Parliament to Rome and that the conclusion of that Diuine ought to be sent to Rome also to be examined before any thing else were done and approoued and the contrary condemned The Pope did moderately complaine hereof and thought it better But the Pope dissembleth his distaste to dissemble because as hee sayd the great sore of France did make this insensible The Court was perswaded that neither Ambassadour nor Bishop would be sent out of France to Trent and discoursed what was fit for the Pope to doe to force them to accept the determinations of the Councell which the Pope was by all meanes resolued to open at the beginning of the new yeere Hee imparted this
belong vnto them iure diuino The Papalins are distasted with the French Congregations And this singularitie of congregation was vsed afterwards by the Cardinall in all occurrences to the great distast of the Papalins who said hee helde a Councell apart and feared that the Spaniards would imitate the example which might in time make a manifest schisme as it happeneth in the first Councell of Ephesus by the Congregations which Egyptians and Syrians held apart But the Papalins had amongst the Spaniards Barthomeus Sebastianus Bishop of Patti who a Spaniard by nation because hee had a Bishopricke in Sicilie had great intelligence in Rome and had discouered all the Spanish practises and counsels Amongst the Frenchmen about the time Iacobus Hugonius betrayeth y e French Prelates when the Cardinall of Loraine put himselfe in order for the iourney the Nuncio in France did gaine Iacobus Hugonius a Franciscan Friar a Diuine of the Sorbone elected by the Cardinall for his company with whom hee had some cause of acquaintance because he was constituted Proctour for the Councel by Iohannes 〈◊〉 Bishop of Triguier where of he sent newes to Rome and addressed him for correspondence in Trent with his letters to Lactantius Rouereda Bishop of Ascoli But Simoneta was not willing to put such confidence in that Bishop nor would suffer him to know the intelligence which was to be held with that Diuine Therefore when Loraine was neere vnto Trent hee caused the Bishop of Ventimiglia to send another Friar of S. Francis called Pergola to meete Hugonius to tell him from him that he was informed by the Nuncio of France of a letter which hee brought to the Lord Bishop of Ascoli who had written also vnto him that hee should speake with him before he did deliuer it Pergola did this businesse cunningly so that the Diuine promised to doe so and accordingly went to Ventimiglia a few dayes after hee came to Trent and after that they knew one another and the tokens that they were to treat together the Friar made him a relation of the state of all things and said that one ruine of the kingdome did especially proceede from the Queene who fauoured the heretiques as himselfe saw plainely in the dispurations which hee often had with them in her presence Concerning the Ambassadours in Trent he sayd they were corrupted also The Cardinall hee held to be a good Catholique but inclined to impertinent reformations of Ecclesiasticall Rites of the vse of the Cup of taking away images of bringing in the vulgar tongue and such other things whereunto hee was perswaded by the Duke of Guise his brother and others of his kinred and that the Queene at his departure had effectually perswaded him to it and giuen him twenty thousand crownes Hee said that amongst the Bishops there were three of the same faction but aboue all that the Bishop of Valence helde intelligence with the Queene and was sent expresly by her as the prime man to whom the Cardinall was to beare respect In the end they set downe an order how to meete and treate together Ventimiglia gaue him fifty crownes in gold as the Legates had appointed which at the first hee refused to accept but Ventimiglia perswaded him with good termes to bee content Notwithstanding himselfe did not take them but called his seruant who was with him and gaue him order to keepe them in the name of his Religion I haue often rehearsed and continue still many particulars which I am sure many will thinke not worthy of mention as I haue thought my selfe but finding them preserued and noted in the memorials of those who were present in the actions I perswade my selfe that for some respect vnknowen to me they haue deemed them worthy of commemoration and therefore according to their iudgement rather then mine owne I haue thought fit to relate them Perhaps some sharpe witte may discouer in them some thing which is not penetrated by mee and those who doe not esteeme them will lose but a little labour in reading them The sixe and twentieth of Nouember destinated for the Session Cardinall Seripando proposed in Congregation that it might be deferred in regard the Decrees which they were to publish were not established And he admonished the Prelates of their long discourses by meanes whereof they could not determine any certaine day for the Session which therefore was necessarily to bee deferred during pleasure Hee tolde them that many of them spake of abuses not remembring that to spend so much time in vaine disputations without any fruit was the greatest abuse of all which was necessarily to be taken away if they desired to see the end of the Councell with edification Loraine confirmed the same and exhorted the Fathers to leaue those questions which were nothing to the purpose in that time and to bee briefe and diligent in dispatching the things already proposed that they may come to things of more importance and necessitie Many of the Prelates did not consent that the Session should bee deferred during pleasure and required a determinate time To whom it being replied that it was not possible because they knew not when they should end the matter now in hand which was so much controuersed amongst them it was concluded that the determinate time should bee set downe within eight dayes The same day the Senator Molines arriued sent by the Marquis of Peseara to renew and giue strength to the perswasions vsed to the Spanish Prelates in fauour of the Pope which hauing beene made by the Secretary resident had done no good Hee brought new letters of credence to them all from the Marquis and laboured with great diligence Which wrought a contrary effect For the Prelates did interprete it to bee a practise of the Cardinall of Arragon brother of the Marquis without any expresse commission from the King It appearing now that the further they proceeded about this point of the institution the more difficultie did arise the Ambassadours of France vsed meanes that a temper might befound that they might rid themselues of those superfluities and come to the businesse of the Reformation that they might know what they might hope for from the Councell And the Bishop of Nismes told them when he gaue his voyce that if the Fathers were delighted to decide a curiositie which in conclusion will bee nothing but words yet they ought not to entertaine others with it but deferring it vntill another time to handle that now which is more necessary Diego Couarruuias Bishop of Citta di Rodrigo who spake after him excusing the Fathers for spending time in that question sayd that it hauing been proposed by the Lords the Legates the Prelates could not choose but deliuer their opinions Wherewith Cardinall Simoneta beeing mooued did denie that the proposition was made by them and Seripando did second him more fiercely and sayd that themselues assuming too much licence did not thinke it sufficient to discourse of the superioritie of Bishops which
is not bound that hee is exempted from the Law The last day but one of February the Cardinall of Loraine returned to Trent hauing remained fiue dayes in Ispruc which hee sent in continuall The Card. of Loraine returneth negotiation With the Emperour King of the Romans and their Ministers At his returne he found the Popes letters to him in which hee said that hee did desire a reformation should bee made and not deferred any longer and that they might haue time to labour therein the words of the decree of Order which were in difficultie should bee taken away The Cardinall did publish these letters purposely in Trent where it was generally knowen that the Legates had a contrary Commission But the Papalins vsed all diligence to find what businesse the Cardinall had by meanes of those who were in his company and in particular what resolution was taken concerning the seuenteene Articles and the rather because Count Fredericke Massei who came from Ispruc but the day before related that the Cardinall was euery day in priuate conferrence more then two houres with the Emperour and King of the Romans The Frenchmen made show to vnderstand nothing of the Articles and said that none of the Dutch diuines had treated with the Cardinall but Staphilus onely who presented him with a booke which hee had made in matter of residence and Canisius when hee went to see the Colledge of the Iesuites that the Diuines had not spoken to the Emperour but onely when going to see the Librarie they ouertooke him and the King his sonne who demanding what they thought concerning the grant of the Cup the Abbat of Claneual who was first of them answered that he thought it could not be granted then the Emperour turning to the King of the Romanes spake this verse of the Psalme in Latin Fourtie yeeres haue I endured this generation and haue alwayes found them to erre in their will But Loraine in visiting the Legates said nothing but that the Emperour was very well and zealously affected towards the Counsel desiring it might produce some fruit and that if occasion were he would assist in person and goe to Rome also to pray the Pope to haue compassion of Christendome and to suffer a reformation to be made which might not diminish his authority to which he bare exceeding great reuerence nor would haue any thing spoken of touching his Holinesse and the Court of Rome But to others in priuat he said that if the Councel had beene gouerned with that wisedome as was conuenient it would haue had a sudden and prosperous end that the Emperour was resolued that a good and a strong reformation should bee made which if the Pope would continue to crosse as hitherto he had done some great scandall would ensue that his Maiestie purposed to goe to Bolonia in case the Pope came thither with desseigne to receiue the crowne of the Empire and such other things It is not to bee doubted that the Cardinall spake of the affaires of the The points on which the Cardinall of Loraine treated with the Emperour Councel and informed the Emperour of the disorders and deliuered his opinion what remedies might be vsed to oppose the Court of Rome and the Italian Prelates of Trent to obtaine in Councel the communion of the Cup the mariage of Priests the vse of the vulgar tongue in holy matters the relaxation of other precepts of positiue law a reformation in the Head and the members and a meanes to make the Decrees of the Councel indispensable and how in case they were not able to obtaine they might haue a colourable occasion to iustifie their actions if of themselues they should make prouision for the necessities of their people by making a Nationall Councel assaying also to vnite the Germans with the French-men in matters of religion But this was not his negotiation onely For he treated a mariage also betweene the Queene of Scotland and the Arch duke Ferdinand the Emperours sonne and another betweene a daughter of his Maiestie and the Duke of Ferrara and to find a meanes to compose the differences of precedence betweene France and Spaine which things as domesticall doe touch Princes more neerely then the publique After the returne of Loraine the Congregations continuing Iames Alan a French Diuine entred likewise into the matter of dispensations and sayd that authority to dispence was immediately giuen to the Church by Christ and by it distributed to the Prelates as neede required according to times places and occasions Hee extrolled the authority of Generall Councels which represent the Church and diminished the Popes adding that it belongeth to the Generall councel to enlarge or restraine it The second of March the Cardinall of Mantua hauing beene sicke a few The Cardinal of Mantua dieth daies passed to another life which was cause of many mutations in Councel The Legates did presently send aduice hereof to the Pope and Seripando who remained prime Legate beside the common letter wrote in particular that he would be glad his Holinesse would send another Legate his superiour to gouerne the Councel or remooue him but in case hee would The three Legats remayning write to the Pope leaue him prime Legate he told him he would proceed as God should inspire him and that otherwise it were better to remoue him absolutely The Cardinall of Varmia wrote a part also that his Church had great neede of the presence of a Pastor and that the communion of the Cup was brought in and other notable abuses desiring leaue to goe thither to make prouision heerein and that generally in all Polonia there was neede of a person who might keepe the residue of the people in obedience saying he should doe the Apostolique Sea more seruice in those quarters then he could by remaining in the Councel But Simoneta desirous that the weight of the whole businesse should lie vpon his shoulders hoping to guide it with satisfaction of the Pope and his owne honour considering that Seripando was satiated with it and not inclined to gouerne it and that Varmiense was a simple man fit to beled he wrot to the Pope that the affaires of the Councel being not in a good state euery nouity would shake it much and therefore did thinke fit to continue without sending other Legates and promised a good issue In those dayes aduice came from Rome that a cause of the Bishop of Segouia which was to be proposed in the Rota was refused and that one of the Auditors told his Proctor that the Bishop was suspected of heresie This made a great stir not onely amongst the Spaniards but all the Oltramontanes also complaining that in Rome calumnies and infamies were raised against those who did not absolutely adhere to their wils The fourth of March the third ranke beganne to speake and for the fift Article all agreed that it was hereticall and to be condemned and so they did of the sixt Yet there was a difference because some
who could determine of him selfe and was of a more gentle and sweete disposition farre from any cunning and not intangled with warre whereas in France the King being a child many that were partakers in the gouernment vsing many artifices and hauing diuers interests it would be very hard to doe any good Where-vpon he resolued that Cardinall Morone before he entred into the affayres of the Councell should goe to the Emperour for this end And remembring what Loraine The Pope resolueth to send Cardinal Morone to the Emperour said in Trent that the Emperour would goe to Bolonia to receiue the Crowne he resolued to try whether he could induce that Cardinall to bee a mediatour herein and so to translate the Councell to that Citie He gaue order to the Bishop of Vintimiglia to insinuate with him and to perswade And hath a plot vpon the Cardinall of Loraine him to it and to giue him a meanes of entrance he caused Boromeo to giue him commission to condole with him for the death of his brother the great Prior. But before this order came the Cardinall was gone for Padua The Bishop therefore conferring with Simoneta concluded that the importance of the matter did not admit any losse of time nor could bee negotiated but in presence Wherefore he resolued to follow him pretending to see a Nephew of his who was very sicke in Padua Being come thither hee visited the Cardinall presented the letters of Boromeo and condoled with him making no shew of any other businesse Talking together the Cardinall demaunded what newes there was in Trent since his departure and whether Cardinall Morone would goe to the Emperour as was reported After many discourses on both sides the Bishop began to put him in minde that his Excellencie had formerly told him in Trent that in case the Pope would go to Bolonia the Emperour would goe thither also and would make it an occasion to receiue the Crowne which would turne to the great aduantage of his Holinesse to maintaine the possession of coronation which Germanie did oppugne The Cardinall affirming this againe the B. added that hee had then sent aduise therof to Rome and now had receiued an answer by which he did conclude that a very faire occasion was presented to his Excellencie of doing much good to the Church of GOD by labouring to bring so profitable a disseigne to effect For in case he could perswade his Maiestie to go to Bolonia calling also the Councell thither he might assure himselfe that his Holinesse would resolue to be there likewise and that by the assistance of them both the affaires of the Synod would haue a quicke dispatch and a happy successe The Cardinall desired to see what was written to him and the Bishop making demonstration to proceede freely with him shewed him the letters of Cardinall Boromeo and a writing of Ptolemeus Gallus the Popes Secretarie The Cardinall hauing read all answered that at his returne to Trent bot should better vnderstand the Emperors mind and what answere the Pope had sent to his Maiestie whereby hee might resolue better and would not faile to bestow his paines if there were occasion The Bishop replying that he might plainely vnderstand the Popes mind by the letters which he shewed him and that there was no cause to expect better information the Cardinall entred into other discourses neither could the Bishop though he often returned to the same matter draw any other answere from him Hee sayd indeed that the Emperour had spoken of his going to Bolonia because the Pope had told him of his purpose to make the reformation but seeing that it is now plaine by long experience that howsoeuer his Holinesse promiseth many things yet nothing is executed in Councell his Maiestie and other Princes do beleeue that hee hath no true meaning of performance and that otherwise the Legates would not haue failed to haue executed his will Hee sayd the Emperour was not satisfied for that the Pope hauing in Ianuary shewed a purpose to go to Bolonia was cooled on the sudden and that when his Maiestie told him of of his desire to assist personally in Councel his Holinesse laboured much to diswade him vsing his wonted varietie of speeches He said also that the Emperour would not resolue to goe into Bolonia lest he should displease the Princes who might doubt that when he was there his Holinesse would gouerne all after his owne manner conclude the Synode as he listed without making any reformation He said he had receiued aduise of the instance made by Don Lewis d' Auila in the name of the Catholique King and was glad to heare it And speaking at large of the particulars hee added that it was necessarie it should bee performed euen from Alpha to Omega and that it was fit to remooue from the Councell fiftie Bishops at the least who doe alwayes oppose all good resolutions Hee sayd that formerly he thought there were more abuses in France then else where but now he knew that there were enough in Italy also For the Churches are in the hands of Cardinals who ayming at profit onely doe wholly abandon them and leaue the cure to a poore Priest by which meanes the Churches are ruined and Simonies and an infinitie of other disorders committed For remedie whereof the Princes and their ministers did proceed moderately hoping that at the last the desired reformation would be made That himselfe also had proceeded with respect but now seeing that it was time to labour in earnest for the seruice of GOD hee would burthen his conscience no more but in the first voyce hee should giue was resolued to speake hereof That his familie had suffered as euery one knoweth the losse of two brothers that himselfe would spend his blood in the same cause though not in Armes as they did that his Holinesse ought not to hearken to those who would diuert him from so pious an intention but to resolue to obtaine a reward at the hands of GOD by the merit of remouing the abuses of the Church Hee sayd also that when the new Legates came who no doubt would be well informed of the Popes minde it would hee knowne what his purpose was concerning the reformation in regard they could haue no cause to delay it if they meant to make it at all And howsoeuer the Bishop did often assay to bring him backe to speake of the iourney to Bolonia yet hee alwayes turned the discourse another way Vintimiglia sent aduice of all to Rome and gaue his censure I that howso euer the Car 〈…〉 had heere to fore made mention of this iourney his mind was contrarie and spake it only in cunning to discouer the intention of his holinesse and of the County and that he was glad he had found his purpose For if he had promised to labour herein he might haue prolonged the businesse and caused diuers preiudiciall inconueniences to arise Aduise came to Rome that the French King had
the Princes who seemed to desire reformation did oppose that decree which did restore vnto them their liberty and iurisdiction necessarie for it The Legates excused themselues and said they must needs giue some satisfaction to the Prelates that the Ambassadours had had time to alleadge their grieuances and to handle the cause with reason and that it was too much violence to oppose onely de facto and to shew that the Councell is onely for reformation of the Clergie and not of the whole Church Newes came at the same time that the Emperour was very sicke and his The Emperors sicknesse troubleth the Fathers Ambassadours said that in case hee should die the Councell would not be secure because the safeduct would bee ended The Legates sent presently to the Pope for order what to doe and the Prelates began to thinke more of paâ—ting from Trent then reforming Princes Therefore a Congregation was holde the seuenth of October to resolue what should bee done with the other Articles of Reformation besides the one and twentie and especially with that which concerneth Princes In which after long discussion it was concluded that the Session should be celebrated with the matter of Matrimonie and the 21. Articles of reformation and that of the Princes should bee deferred The next day the French Ambassadors parted from Trent to Venice according to the Kings order The Pope though well satisfied of Loraine and of the French-men his dependants yet prouoked against that faction from which hee thought the The French Ambassadors goe to Venice motiue of the protestation made in Councell came hee resumed his determination made at the time of the Edict of pacification with the Hugonots to proceede in Trent against the Queene of Nauarre which hee had put off foreseeing that the Emperors Ambassadors would oppose as they did when mention was made of proceeding against the Queene of England resolued to 〈◊〉 it in execution in Rome And the thirteenth of the moneth hee caused The proceeding against fiue Bishops of France and of the Queen of Nauarre a sentence to be published against the fiue French Bishops formerly cited as hath been sayd and a Citation to bee affixed to the gates of Saint Peters Church and in other publique places against Iohan Queene of Nauarre the widow of Antonie that within the terme of sixe moneths shee should appeare to defend her selfe and to shew reasons why she should not bee depriued of all her Dignities States and Dominions and the marriage betweene Antonie of Vandome and her made voyd and the issue illegitimate and that she had not incurred other penalties declared by the Canons against heretiqdes The Cardinall of Loraine before the Pope came to those sentences and processe vsed perswasions to him and put him in minde that the maximes held in France did much differ from those of Rome For it would bee ill taken in that kingdome that the causes of BB. in the first instance should bee iudged in Rome and that the Citation against the Queen as well for the same cause as in regard it was with temporall punishments would giue matter of talke and bad satisfaction to many But those perswasions being vnderstood by the Pope as they were made brought forth no other fruit but that which the Cardinall did secretly desire For the conference which the Queene Mother so much desired by euery Currier that came from her new instance was made to the Pope But newes came from the Emperours Court that hee would not hearken vnto it and out of Spaine though complementall words of the Kings desire to haue it effected yet a resolution that the times and coniunctures did not comport it The Cardinall of Loraine was of opinion that howsoeuer there was no hope yet the Pope should not forbeare to send expresse Nuncij for this purpose as beeing an office whereon many other negotiations for the seruice of the Apostolique Sea might depend and in particular to remooue impediments of the conclusion of the Councell in case any should arise Whereupon Visconte was dispatched into Spaine and Santa Croce into Germanie in shew to treat of this conference but indeede with other particular instructions In Trent the Legates being not willing to giue occasion of any difficultie while the Session was expected did propose Indulgences Purgatory worshipping of Saints and images not to publish the Decrees in the next Session but in the other following adding the manner how the Diuines ought to handle those matters that is to giue their opinion in writing only coÌ„cerning the vse of them and not to speake of the other Articles and giuing order to the fathers to deliuer their voyces in short termes protesting that whosoeuer would delate besides the point should be interrupted Notwithstanding the Diuines made long writings and so diuers that the Fathers knew not what to resolue in that doctrine For the reformation howsoeuer twentie Articles were concluded and the one and twentieth treated on with the Count of Luna the Spanish Prelates complained that the Article of the exemption of Chapters and the last of the first instances and appeales were altered from that which was noted by the Prelats Whereat the Legats and Deputies for making the Decrees disdaining answered that either they should iustifie what they saide or holde their peace And some words of distast passing the Count of Luna appeared in their fauour demanding that the oppositions made by his Prelates against those two Articles might bee considered on Afterwards he desired that in the first Article in which the criminall causes of Bishops were reserued to the Pope a declaration should be made that no preiudice should bee done to the inquisition of Spaine which request the Ambassador of Portugal had first made for his kingdome And the Legates answering that those matters were already decided the Count replyed that if they should be proposed so he would not go into the SessioÌ„ nor suffer any of his Prelats to enter Whereupon Cardinal Morone said that if they would not go into the Session it should be done without them The Count ascribing this rigiditie of the Legats to the Proctor of the Chapters of Spaine he commanded him to depart immediatly from Trent which displeased the Legats But that nothing might hinder the Session the time whereof did draw nigh to please the Ambassador in the Article of the causes of Bishops they caused kingdoms where the Inquisition was to bee excepted For that of the first instances because they would wholly take from the Pope all authoritie to make commissions in Rome the Legats thought it too hard The sixt also did import very much For the Chapters of Spaine are a very principall member and doe more depend on the Apostolike Sea them Bishops doe because these are all by the nomination of Kings whereas more then halfe of the Canonries are of the Popes pure collation Therefore they resolued to deferre this matter vntill the next Session rather then to preiudice the
iudge yet there is no doubt but that in the declaration they would say they meant the Ecclesiasticall onely And they thought it an vsurpation of temporall authoritie to punish Seculars with infamie and incapacitie of dignities Neither did they approoue the constitution against conculinaries any a yeere in excommunication that they should be punished by the Ecclesiastique because excommunication is the extreme last and greatest of Ecclesiasticall punishments according to the doctrine of all the Fathers so that to passe that was to enter vpon the Temporall power and the rather because they giue themselues power to course concubines out of their countreys deriding the secular Magistrates by imploring their arme if there shall bee need which is as much as to affirme that ordinarily the execution of this banishment may be made by the Ecclesiastique himselfe The Decree of reformation in the first Article was noted either of defect or of presumption For if the Synode had authoritie to giue Law to the Pope especially in things so iust it was not fit to doe it by way of narration or by obloquitie of words But if it ought to receiue Law from the Pope it cannot bee excused for hauing passed its bounds because it doeth sharpely reprehend the former actions of this and other Popes though it doeth it obliquely Those that were seene in the Ecclesiasticall stories said that to draw all the causes of Bishops to Rome was a new policie to make the Court great whereas all the examples of antiquitie and Canons of the Counsels of those times doe shew that the causes of Bishops though of depositions were handled in the countries of each of them Those who expected a prouision against the abuse of pensions seeing what was decreed in the 13. Article did iudge that the matter would passe to a greater corruption as the euent also hath shewed The fourteenth Article was commended by euery one because it did seeme to take away the Annates and paying for Bulls dispatched at Rome for collation of Benefices But in progresse of time it appearing that those remained still and that there was not so much as any cogitation either to remooue or moderate them they remembred that onely the small abuses of other Churches being prouided against the saying was verified that onely moates were taken out of the eyes and beames neuer Euery wise man thought that this age was not worthy of that Decree for the vnitie or at the most dualtie of Benefices and that it would not be obserued but in the poorer sort onely Likewise for the examination in concurrence in the collation of Benefices euery one did prognosticate that it would bee deluded by some sinister interpretation And the prophecie was quickly verified For in Rome within a short time they began to declare that concurrence was not to bee obserued in case of resignation but that hee onely was to bee examined to whom the resignation was made which was as much as to abolish the Decree for the most part because the better sort were excluded by resignation and hee onely preferred who pleased the resignant and Benefices are not vacant for any other cause but casually The Decree of the cognition of causes in the first instance was quite destroyed by the exception added that is except those which the Pope will commit and call to himselfe For causes were neuer taken from the lawfull tribunals but by commissions and auocations of Popes and now the cause of the disease was preserued and the symptom onely cured And howsoeuer the adiunct for vrgent and reasonable causes did seeme to moderate the matter wel yet men of vnderstanding knew that it was as much as to say for any arbitrary cause But in the last poynt which was in expectation so many moneths touching the essentiall liberty of the Councell seeing it was declared that the meaning of the Synod was not to change the manner of proceeding nor to make any addition or diminution of the old constitutions wise men said that concerning this Councell it was a declaration contrary to the fact and published when it did no good neither was there any more vse of it then of a medicine applyed to a dead body And some mocked and said that it was as much as the consolation of an honest man whose wife had brought him children by other men and said she did it not to doe him wrong But by an example giuen to posteritie it did teach how all violence and exorbitancie might bee vsed in Councell from the beginning to the end and all inconuenience done excused by such a declaration yea iustified and maintained for lawfull At this time besides the aduice of the Session helde three other sorts of distastfull newes came into France The first was the Popes answere about the hundred thousand crownes The second the protestation made in Councell and the displeasure taken at it in Trent and Rome The last was the sentence against the French Bishops and the citation of the Queene of Nauarre The French-men hauing much considered on these things resolued The Alienation of Ecclesiasticall reuenues in France not to treate any more with the Pope for his fauour in the alienation but to execute the Kings Edict approued in Parliament without any consent of his Holinesse This being suddenly performed few buyers could bee found as well because men doe not easily resolue to lay downe their money as because they were disswaded by the Ecclesiastiques who told them that the sale wanting the Popes confirmation would not hereafter be esteemed to bee good This was a hinderance to the King and no fauour to the Clergie For the sale was made but it was done at a low rate neither was there raysed more then two millions and halfe of Francks small in regard of the things aliened seeing that it was made at twelue for an hundred whereas it had beene a small price if they had giuen an hundred for foure And it is worthy to bee repeated heere that amongst the things solde one was the iurisdiction which the Arch-bishop of Lions had held vntill that time ouer that citie which was sold at the outcry for thirty thousand Francks But the Bishop complained so much that in supplement of the price he had giuen vnto him 400. crownes yeerely Concerning the protestation made in Councell the King wrote to his Ambassadors the ninth of Nouember that hauing seene what the Cardinall of Loraine had written against their protestation and heard the relation made by the Bishop of Orlience of all things done in Trent he was pleased with it as also with their retire to Venice and commanded that de Ferrieres should not depart thence vntill he had new order which should bee when hee was aduised that the Articles were so reformed that the rights of the King and of the Gallican Church were not put in question And he wrote to the Cardinall of Loraine that himselfe and his Counsel knew that his Ambassadors had protested vpon great and iust
gaue to those which were built before In like manner euery one payed them tithes due either by law or custome as in the old Testament is commanded Wherein euery one was the more forward because Clergie-men in those times contented themselues with necessaries onely and bestowed the remainder either to repaire their Churches or to adorne them or in workes of charitie and pietie Now the Bishops of Rome pride and ambition hauing not as yet possessed their harts were acknowledged by all Christians to bee superiours of all Churches in all Spirituall gouernment as successours vnto the Apostle Saint Peter because that Citie by reason of the dignitie and greatnesse thereof retained the name and maiestie of the Empire as head of all the rest and because Christian Religion was thence diffused into the greater part of Europe and because Constantine hauing beene baptized by Siluester did willingly acknowledge that such authority belonged to him and his successors Besides there is a fame that Constantine beeing constrained to translate the seate of the Empire to Bizantium now called by his name Constantinople by occasion of some accidents hapning in the Westerne Prouinces gaue to the Popes the Lordships of Rome and of many other Cities and Prouinces in Italie This fame though cherished by succeeding Popes and beleeued by many by reason of their authoritie and credit is not onely disproued by more probable authors but euen by the very things themselues For it is most manifest that Rome as also all Italy obeyed the Emperours and their Magistrates both then and many yeeres after Some wil not beleeue any thing at all that hath been spoken concerning Constantine and Siluester such is the obscurity of things done so long agoe affirming that they liued not at the same time yet no man denieth that the translation of the Empire was the first cause of the Popes authoritie For the people of Rome withdrew their obedience from the Emperours by occasion of their absence and of the difficulties which they found in the East and did the rather performe willingly some certaine obsequiousnesse to the Bishops of Rome though indeed no absolute subiection These things appeared but slowly because of the inundations of the Gothes and Vandals and other barbarous nations into Italy by which Rome hauing beene often sacked the Popes in respect of temporall matters were obscure and meane and in Italy the Emperours had very small authoritie hauing left it as a pray to the Barbarians Of these nations the rest being past away like a torrent the Gothes who were Christians both by name and by profession and had their 〈◊〉 from some parts of Dacia and of Tartaria continued their power there seuentie yeeres together When these were driuen out of Italie by the Emperours the Countrey began againe to bee gouerned by Greeke magistrates the chiefe of which called by a Greeke word Exarke kept his residence at Rauenna a Citie very ancient and then very rich and much inhabited by reason of the fertility of the Countrey This Citie beeing much augmented by the great armada which Augustus Caesar and other Emperours continually maintained in the Port neere adioyning which now is vanished was inhabited by many Captaines and after a good while together by Theodorick King of the Gothes and by his successors who made choyce of it for the seate of their Kingdome because that Sea was neerer to the Emperours of Constantinople whose power they suspected The Exarks seated themselues in the same place because of the opportunity thereof though vpon a contrary ground and deputed particular magistrates whom they called Dukes to gouerne Rome and other Cities of Italie Hence the Exarchate of Rauenna tooke the name vnder which was conteined whatsoeuer was not gouerned by particular Dukes In those times the BB. of Rome had no temporall power at all and hauing lost their former Spirituall reuerence because their liues began to be more corrupt they were subiects to the Emperours without whose confirmation or of their Exarks they durst not accept the Papacie though they were solemnly chosen by the Clergie and people of Rome Nay because the principall seate of Religion followeth the power of the Empire and of armies the Bishops of Constantinople and Rauenna did often iustle with them for superioritie But the State of those Countreys was changed not long after For the Lombards a fierce Nation entred into Italie possessed that part which was called Gallia â—isalpina and now Lombardia from their name as also Rauenna and the whole Exarchat and aduanced their forces as farre as the Marquisate of Ancona Spoletum and Beneuentum in which two last places they created particular Dukes The Emperours made no prouision against these things partly by reason of their negligence and partly because they were hindered by the affaires of Asia so that Rome hauing no assistance from them and the Exarks beeing driuen out of Italie began to gouerne her selfe by the aduice and authoritie of her Bishops These together with the Romans beeing a good while after oppressed by the Lombards did finally implore the ayde of Pipin King of France who passing into Italie with a great armie chased the Lombards from a part of their Dominion which they had enioyed more then two hundred yeeres This part being become his by right of warre hee gaue to the Bishop and Church of Rome that is to say Vrbino Fano Agobbo and much land neere Rome Rauenna and the whole Exarchat vnder which is comprehended all from the confines of Placentia which are contiguons to the territory of Pauia vnto Arimini betweene the riuer of Po the Apennine mountaine the lake of the Venetians and the Adriatique Sea as also from Arimini to the riuer of Toglia now called Isauro The Popes beeing molested by the Lombards after Pipins death Charles his sonne iustly surnamed the Great for the great victories he atchieued vtterly rooted them out and confirmed his father's donation to the Church and while hee made warre with the Lombards hee gaue to the Bishop of Rome the Marquisat of Ancona and the Dukedome of Spoleto which comprehendeth the Citie of Aquila and a part of Abrazzi These things are reported for certaine and some Ecclesiasticall writers adde that Charles gaue to the Church Liguria vnto the riuer Varus which is the vtmost border of Italie Mantua and whatsoeuer the Lombards possessed in F 〈…〉 li and Histria Another writer sayth as much of Corsica and of the whole territorie betweene the Citie of Luni and Parma For these merits the Kings of France haue been magnified by the Popes and haue obtained the name of Most Christian Kings Afterwards in the yeere 800. after CHRIST Pope Leo and the people of Rome by the Popes authoritie onely as head of that people made this Charles Emperour of Rome separating this part of the Empire from those Emperours which had their seat at Constantinople because Rome and the Westerne Prouinces beeing abandoned by them could not well subsist without a Prince of their
keepeth him fast 44 Is crowned in Bolonia 52 Goeth to Rome is proud of his victorie in Africa 78 Is distasted with the Pope 110 And reconciled againe 111 Maketh the Pope afraid by residing at Ispruc so neere the Councell 355 Vseth meanes to make the Empire hereditarie but is crossed by his Nephew Maximilian 382 Quitteth the world 404 Charles the ninth the French King seemeth to fauour the Protestants 449 Alieneth Ecclesiasticall goods without the Popes leaue 712. 713 Wherewith his Holinesse is very angry 713. 793 Church what power it hath concerning the Sacraments 669 Whether it can make mariages void 756 Clement the seuenth Pope thinketh a Councell to be dangerous when the Popes authoritie is in question 34 Maketh a league with Francis the first the French King and inueigheth against the Emperour 37 Hee was illegitimate and created Pope by Simony 42 Is taken prisoner 44 Escapeth out of the Castle in the habit of a Merchant 45 Doeth suddenly recouer his greatnesse 47 Disswadeth the Emperour from desiring a Councell 50 And perswadeth him to proceed seuerely against the Lutherans 51 Sheweth a desire to call a Councell but meaneth to auoid it 58 Is aliened from the Emperour and ioyneth with France 64 His death vertues and vices 71 Colloquie betweene the Protestants and Papists 56 Another in Aganoa 92 In Wormes 93 In Ratisbon 95 And againe in Ratisbon 126 Colloquie in Wormes of foure and twentie Doctors 407 Of Poisi in France 451 Commendaes what they are is shewed by the Author in a large discourse 500 Commenda of all the Benefices in the world giuen by Clement the seuenth to his Nephew Hippolitus Card. de Medici 251 Communion of the cup denied by the Pope 290 Treated of in France 457 Demanded and discussed in Rome 458 459 519 520 522 523 526 528 529 537 556 559 560. Is denied in Councell by pluralitie of voices 567 Concubines of Priests are of Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction 82 Conclauists and their priuiledges 554 Conference at Marpurg betweene Luther Zuinglius 49 Conference in Nizza betweene the Pope French King and King of Spaine 85 Conference betweene the Pope and Emperour in Lucca 100 And another in Busseto 104 Confirmation the Sacrament is handled and a question disputed whether Bishops be the onely ministers of it 244 Confirmation of the Decrees of the Councell whether it ought presently to be made by the Pope is much disputed 814 815 c. Conseruators are Iudges granted to some particular men by the Pope to maintaine them in their pretended rights 352 353 Conspiracie in Genua of the Fieschi against the Dorij 222 Conspiracie in France against King Francis the second 421 Contarini is Legate for the Pope in Ratisbon 94 Speaketh as ambiguously as an oracle his exhortation to the Prelates 96 Complaineth that his answere was mistaken 97. Is suspected to be a Lutheran 100 His death 103 Continuation of the Councell is disliked by the Emperour and the French King but approoued by the King of Spaine 441 477 506 The Pope resolueth the continuation shall bee declared that the Councell may be dissolued but dareth not stand to it 511 Coronation of the Emperour in Bolonia 49. 52 Councels for what causes they began to be celebrated 2 Councell of Trent is opened by singing amasse of the holy Ghostonely 116 Councels held by Secular Princes 136 Councels doe deliberate of faith not by diuine inspiration but by humane disquisition 230 The question whether they haue greater authoritie then the Pope is forbid by the Legates to be handled 231 How the Spirit did worke in the Councell of Trent 276 The Councell is remanded to Trent from Bolonia 302 303 Councels doe not binde by their decrees the Churches absent 320 The Councell of Basil what authoritie it had 566. The Councell of Constance is commended by the Generall of the Serui. 567 The Councell of Trent was assembled to remedy abuses but was vsed to increase them The State of it is quite altered 782 The conclusion of it 803 Count of Luna is receiued in congregation and protesteth about his place 707 708 Creed established in the fourth Session 147 D. DEcrees of Iustification 223 And of Reformation 226 Are censured in Germany 227 A decree concerning the Sacraments 263 Concerning Baptisme 264 Concerning Confirmation 264 A decree of Reformation 264 A Decree concerning the Eucharist 339 A decree of Reformation 340 The decree Proponentibus Legatis is made and contradicted 469 The Spanish Ambassadour desireth it may be abrogated 720 The Emperor disswadeth the King of Spaine from desiring the abrogation of it 727 A decree of the institution of Bishops and of Residence 723 Another concerning Residence 736 Concerning Priest-hood and the other Orders 738 Another concerning Order 740 741. A Decree of reformation 787 788 Another concerning Purgatory 799 Decrees of the Councell of Trent must not haue any glosses or interpretations made vpon them but all doubts must bee referred to the Pope 817 Degradation of Prelats and the lawes thereof 336 337 Denmark embraceth the reformed religion 84 Deputies appointed in Rome ouer the Councell 168 256 257 Diet of Wormes 13 Of Noremberg 24. Of Spira 35 36 Of Ausburg 52. Of Aganoa 92 Of Ratisbon 94 126 183 Diets in Ausburg 272 292 306 388 Diocesan Counsels held in diuers Prouinces 296 297 Dispensations whether they may be graunted without a lawfull cause 253 What they are 675 are maintained at large by Laynez Generall of the Iesuits 721 Whether they haue brought more aduantage or disprofit to the Sea of Rome 791 Distributions called Canonicall what they are 495 The power of Bishops concerning them 556 Diuorce is handled by Dominicus Soto 670 and by Iohn Ramirez 671 The Venetian Ambassadors desire that the Grecians within their dominions may bee permitted to put away their wiues for fornication because they haue alwaies done so 755 Dominicans were emploied in Saxonie to vent Indulgences 5 are opposite to the Franciscans in the point of the reall presence 328 Duke of Saxonie called Iohn Frederick disputeth whether hee may cary the sword before the Emperor and stand at the Masse 52 Hee publisheth a Manifest against the Emperour 190 Who setteth forth a Bando against him 201 Hee had equall authority with the Landgraue of Hassia which maketh them both vnfortunate 204 Hee is taken in battell and condemned to die 270 But pardoned vpon very hard conditions 270 Duke of Saxonie called Maurice created Elector by the Emperour Charles the 5. sendeth ambassadours to the Councell 362 Who demand a safe-conduct 363 One of them makth an Oration in Councell 367 The Duke taketh Ispruc scarreth Charles the Emperour very much who setteth Iohn Frederick the deposed Duke at liberty 378 Duke of Wittenberg sendeth ambassadours to the Councell who present the Confession of their faith 355 Hee sendeth order to them to proceed in their negotiation 359 The Presidents will not suffer their confession to be disputed of in Councell 359 360 One of the Ambassadours maketh an
sins of the communion of Indulgences of Excommunication of the power of the Pope of the authoritie of Councels of good works of Free-will of Purgatory of pouerty all which he saith are respectiuely pestiferous pernicious scandalous offensiue to pious eares contrary to charity contrary to the reuerence which is due to the Church of Rome contrary to obedience which is the sinew of Ecclesiasticall discipline wherefore being willing to proceede to sentence he with the Cardinals genetals of the regular orders with other Diuines and Doctours both of the one and the other law hath made diligent examination of them Therefore hee condemneth and reiecteth them respectiuely as hereticall scandalous false offensiue to pious eares deceitfull to godly minds and contrary to the Catholike trueth Hee prohibiteth vpon paine of excommunication and infinite punishments that no man should dare to keepe them defend them preach them or fauour them And because the same assertions are found in the bookes of Martin therefore he condemneth them commanding Luthers bookes are condemned to the fire vnder the same paines that none may reade or keepe them but that they ought to be burned as well those which doe containe the foresaid propositions as all the rest Concerning the person of Martin himselfe he saith he The Pope giueth an admonition to Luther and his followers hath many times admonished cited and called him with promise of safe conduct and prouision for his iourney that if hee had come hee would not haue found so many errours in the Court as hee saide and that himselfe the Pope would haue taught him that the Popes his predecessors haue neuer erred in their constitutions But because he hath endured the censures for the space of a whole yeere and hath dared to appeale vnto a future Councell a thing prohibited by Pius and Iulius the second vnder the punishments due to heretikes hee could proceed to condemnation without any more adoe notwithstanding forgetting these iniuries hee admonisheth the said Martin and his protectors to change their opinions cease to preach and in the terme of 60. dayes vpon the same paines to reuoke al the foresaid errors and burne the bookes which in case they doe not hee declareth them notorious and obstinate heretiques After he commandeth all vnder the same paines that they keepe not any booke of the same Martin though it conteine not the like errours Then ordaineth that all men ought to shunne as well him as his fauourers yea commandeth euery one to apprehend them and bring them personally before him or at least chase them out of their Lands and Countreys hee interdicteth all places whither they shall goe commandeth that they bee euery where made knowen and that his Bull ought to bee read in euery place excommunicating whosoeuer shall hinder the publication thereof he determineth that the exemplifications ought to be beleeued and ordereth that his Bull be published in Rome Brandeburg Misna and Mansperg Martin Luther receiuing newes of the condemnation of his doctrine and The Popes admonition cruseth Luther to make a solemne Appeale bookes set foorth a writing repeating the Appeale made to the Councell and making replication thereof for the same causes Furthermore for that the Pope had proceeded against a man not called nor conuinced nor the controuersie of the doctrine heard preferring his owne opinions to the word of God and leauing no place for the Councell he offereth to demonstrate all these things praying the Emperour and all Magistrates to accept this his Appeale for defence of the authority of the Councell thinking that this decree of the Pope bindeth not any till the cause be lawfully discussed in a Synod But men of vnderstanding seeing the Bull of Leo marueiled at it for many causes First concerning the forme that the Pope should proceede to a The Bull of Leo censured declaration with clauses of the palace in a matter which ought to be handled with the words of the holy Scripture and especially vsing periods so intricate and so long and prolixe that it was scarcely possible to draw any sense from them as if he had been to giue sentence in a feodatary cause And it was particularly noted that one clause which saith Inhibentes omnibus ne praefatos errores asserere praesumant is so drawen out in length with so many inlargements and restrictions that betweene Inhibentes and Praesumant there are placed more then foure hundred words Others passing on a little further considered that to haue proposed and condemned as hereticall scandalous false offensiue to pious eares and deceitfull to simple minds 42. propositions without declaring which of them were hereticall which scandalous which false but onely with a word respectiuely attributing to euery one of them an vncertaine qualitie caused a greater doubt then was before which was not to define the cause but to make it more controuersed and to shew more plainely that another authority and wisedome was necessary to determine it Some also were filled with admiration for that it was said that amongst the 41. propositions there were errours of the Grecians condemned long agoe Others thought it a strange thing that so many propositions in diuers points of faith should be decided in Rome by the aduice of the Courtiers onely without participating them to other Bishops Academies and learned persons of Europe But the Vniuersities of Louain and Collen being pleased that there was a colour giuen to their sentence by the Popes Edict publikely burned the bookes of Luther Which gaue cause that he also in Wittenberg all that Schoole being The Popes Bull and the Decretals burned in Wittenberg assembled iudicially and publiquely made to be burned not onely the Bull of Leo but together also the Popes Decretals and after gaue an account to the world of that action in a long manifest published in writing noting 521. LEO 10. CHARLES 5. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. A Councell was thought to be necessarie for two causes the Papacie in tyrannie of the Church peruersenesse of Christian doctrine and vsurpation of the power of lawfull magistrates But aswell for Luthers appeale as for these and other considerations euery one became of opinion that a lawfull Councell was necessarie by which not onely the controuersies might bee decided but the abuses also long since brought into the Church might bee redressed and alwayes the necessitie hereof appeared the more by how much the more the contentions increased writings being set forth continually both by the one part and the other For Martin failed not to confirme his doctrine by diuers writings and accordingly as he studied hee discouered more light euer passing some step further forward and finding articles of which in the beginning hee had not thought Which hee sayd he did for the zeale of the House of God But hee was constrained also by necessitie For the Romanists hauing laboured effectually in Collen with the Elector of Saxonie by the mediation of Hierom Aleander that he would deliuer Martin
wiues and children of them He exhorteth them if they cannot reduce Martin and his followers into 1523 ADRIAN 6. CHARLES 〈◊〉 HENRY 8. FRANCIS 〈◊〉 the right way by faire meanes to proceed to sharpe and 〈…〉 ry remedies to cut the dead members from the body as anciently was done vnto Dathan and Abiram to Ananiaâ— and Saphira to Iouinian and Vigilantius and finally as their predecessors did against John Husse and Hierome of Praghe in the Councell of Constance whose example in case they cannot otherwise doe they ought to imitate In conclusion he referred himselfe as well in this particular as in other affaires to the relation of Francesco Chiericato his Nuncio He wrot letters also almost to all the Princes with the very same conceits and to the The Popes letto the Duke of Saxonie Elector of Saxony he wrot in particular that he should consider what blemish it would be to his posterity to haue fauoured a franticke man who put confusion into the world with impious and foolish inuentions turning vpside downe the doctrine established by the blood of the Martyrs labours of the holy Doctors and armes of the most valiant Princes that he should walke in the pathes of his ancestours not suffering his eyes to bee dazled by the fury of a petty companion to follow errous condemned by so many Councels 60 The Nuncio presented to the Diet not onely the Popes Briefe but his The Nuncio perswadeth the Princes by seauen reasons to oppose Luther 1523 owne instructions also by which he was inioyned to exhort the Princes with seauen reasons to oppose themselues against that pestilent doctrine of Luther The first because the worship of God and charity towards their neighbour mooued them thereunto Secondly the infamy of their nation Thirdly their owne honour shewing themselues not to degenerate from their predecessours who where present at the condemnation of Iohn Husse in Constance and of the other heretiques leading some of them to the fire euen with their owne hands and that they would not faile of their owne promise and constancy the greater part of them hauing approoued the Emperours Edict against Luther Fourthly that the iniury should mooue them which Luther hath done to their progenitors publishing another faith then that which they beleeued and concluding by consequence that they are all in hell Fiftly they ought to be mooued by the marke which the Lutherans aime at which is to weaken the secular power after they haue annihilated the Ecclesiasticall by a false pretence that it is vsurped against the Gospell although they craftily make shew to prcferue the secular onely to deceiue them Sixtly that they should consider the dissentions and confusions raised in Germany by the sect And finally he desireth them to obserue that Luther treadeth in the same way that Mahomet did long agoe permitting carnall inclinations to be saâ—iaâ—ed though he seeme to doe it with more modesty that he may the more powerfully deceiue them And if any should say that hee was condemned in absence and without defence and therefore that it were fit to heare him the answere was that it was a iust thing to heare him in that which concerneth the fact that is if hee haue preached written or not but that in matter of faith and of the Sacraments it was not conuenient because that ought not to be questioned which hath beene once confirmed by generall Councels The Pope 〈◊〉 fesseth the abuses of the Clergie not exempting the A 〈…〉 sto 〈…〉 S 〈…〉 and by the whole Church Then the Pope giueth him commission to acknowledge ingenuously that this confusion was caused by the sinnes of men especially of the Priests and Prelates confessing that some yeeres since some abominations haue beene committed euen in that holy Sea many abuses in spirituall things many transgressions of the commandements and lastly all things turned to the worst so that it may be said that the infirmity is passed from the head to the members from the Popes to the inferiour Prelates in so much that there hath beene none that hath done good no not one For the amendment of which euil himselfe is resolued to imploy all his wits and vse all diligence that the Court of Rome from whence peraduenture all this mischiefe proceeded should be reformed first of all Which he will the rather doe because he seeth that all the world doth earnestly desire it Notwithstanding that no man ought to maruaile if he shall see that all the abuses be not so suddendy amended For the disease being inueterated and multiplied it is necessary to proceed slowly in the cure and to begin from things of greatest weight to auoyd the confounding of all by desiring to doe all together He gaue him commission also to promise in his name the obseruation of the Concordates that he would informe himselfe of the causes called into the Rota to remaund them to the parties according vnto iustice And lastly that he should sollicite the Princes and States in his name to answere the letters and to informe him of the meanes by which he might most commodiously resist the Lutherans Besides the presentation of the Popes Briefe and the information the Nuncio proposed that it was obserued that almost euery where in Germany religious men forsooke the Cloisters and returned to the world and that the Priests married themselues to the great contempt and disgrace of religion and the greater part of them committed many excesses and enormities Wherefore it was necessary that some order were taken that these Sacrilegious marriages might bee dissolued the Authors seuerally punished and the Apostates reduced vnder the power of their Superiours 61 The Diet answered the Nuncio in writing that with reuerence they had read the Popes Briefe and the instructions concerning Luthers sect and that The answere of the Diet. they gaue thankes to God for his Holynesse assumption to the Popedome wishing him all happynesse from aboue And when they had spoken what came into their minds about the concord betweene Christian Princes and the warre against the Turkes concerning the demand to execute the Sentence giuen against Luther and the Edict of Wormes they answered that they were most ready to imploy all their power to roote out heresies but that they had omitted to execute the Sentence and Edict for most weighty and vrgent causes in regard that the greater part of the people was perswaded by Luthers bookes that the Court of Rome had brought many grieuances vpon Germany so that if any thing had beene done for execution of the Sentence the multitude would haue entered into suspition that it was done to vphold and mainetaine the abuses and impiety and popular tumults would haue beene raised with danger of ciuill warres Wherefore they sayd that in such difficulties more fitting remedies were necessary especially himselfe the Nuncio hauing confessed in the Popes name that these euills proceeded from the sinnes of men and promised a reformation of the Court of Rome the
haue come from a common Father and Vicar of CHRIST which he beleeued also were not resolued on without their counsell because he was perswaded that the Pope treated not of things of so great a moment without communicating all vnto them Therefore hee was troubled very much to see that from a Pope and so religious fathers should proceed warres threats and pernicious counsells against an Emperour protectour of the Church and so well deseruing that to please them hee stopped his eares in Wormes against the prayers of all Germanie made vnto him against the oppressions and grieuanes which it receiued from the Court of Rome making none account of the honest demands that a Councell might bee called to withstand the foresaid oppressions which would be as much as to withstand the Lutheran heresie That to serue the Sea of Rome hee had prohibited the meeting at Spira which Germanie had intimated foreseeing that it would haue bin a beginning to separate it frō the obedience of Rome hath diuerted the thoughts of those Princes by promising them a Councel Whereof hauing written and giuen an account to the Pope his Holinesse thanked him for hauing forbid the assembly of Spira but prayed him to deferre to speake of a Councell vntill a more conuenient time And hee to please made more account to giue him satisfaction then of the prayers of Germanie which were so necessarie And yet for all this the Pope now wrot letters vnto him full of complaints and imputations demanding things of him which hee could neither iustly nor securely grant Of which letters he sendeth them a copy being desirous to signifie the whole vnto them that they might vphold Christianity now ready to fall and imploy themselues to diuert the Pope from so pernicious a deliberation in which if he shall remaine vnmoueable they may exhort him to call a Councell whereunto in case he will not condescend according to order of law hee beseecheth their most reuerend Paternities and the sacred Colledge that the Pope denying or deferring the conuocation they would call it themselues obseruing the due order Wherefore if they shall refuse to grant him this iust demand or shall deferre longer then is conuenient he wil make prouision for it himselfe And perswadeth them to call a Councel if the Pope refuse by the Imperiall authority vsing the meanes that are iust and fitting This letter was deliuered in the Consistory the twelfth of December and together also with it a duplicate of the letter which was consigned to the Nuncio in Granada was presented to the Pope 92 All these letters were instantly printed in diuers places of Germanie Spaine and Italie and many copies went vp and downe from hand to hand Those persons who though they obserue the accidents of the world yet haue not much capacity and vse to liue and gouerne themselues by the examples of others and especially of the Grandies and who by the demonstrations which Charles made against the Lutherans as well in Wormes as in other places in The Emperor is censured in Germany contemplation of the Papacie beleeued that he fauoured the Popes side for religion and conscience sake seeing his change were much scandalized especially for that he said that he stopped his eares to the honest prayers of Germanie to doe the Pope a pleasure And those of the wiser sort were of opinion that his Maiesty was not well aduised to diuulge so great a secret and to giue the world occasion to beleeue that the reuerence shewed towards the Pope was an Art of gouernement couered with the cloake of religion And further they expected that for these letters the Pope would shew some desire of reuenge the Emperour hauing touched two great secrets of the Popedome the one in appealing from the Pope to a future Councell contrary to the Constitutions of Pius and Iulius the seconds the other in hauing inuited the Cardinalls to call a Councell in case of a negatiue giuen or a dilation interposed by the Pope And it was necessary that this beginning should draw great consequences with it 93 But as seedes though most fertile cast into the ground out of season fructifie not so these great attempts happening in time not conuenient became The family of Colonna assault Rome and take it vaine And so much happened in this occasion For while the Pope sought reuenge with his armes and with the armes of so many Princes that hee might vse spirituall remedies after he had made some temporall foundation those of the familie of Colonna either not trusting the Popes promises or for some other cause arming their Subiects and others who followed that faction approched Rome vpon the side of the Suburbs the twentieth of September which amazed very much the Popes family And the Pope himselfe surprized vpon the sudden and wholly confused knowing not what resolution to take called for the solemne Pontificall habits saying that so apparelled to the imitation of Boniface the 8. sitting in the Pontificall chaire hee would expect to see if they dared adde to the first a second violation of the Apostolicall dignity in the person of the Pope himselfe But hee easily The Pope saueth himselfe in the Castle yeelded to the counsel of his friends to saue himselfe in the Castle by the gallery and not giue occasion to be noted of folly 94 The Colonnesi entred Rome and sacked the Popes palace and S. Peters Church They spread themselues also euen vnto the principall houses of the Borough But the inhabitants making resistance and the Orsini a contrary faction comming in ayde against them they were constrained to retire themselues into a secure quarter which they had taken neere hand yet carying with them the spoyles of the Vatican with the infinite displeasure of the Pope and the army waxing bigger euery day with succours that arriued The palace and S. Peters Church are sacked from Naples the Pope fearing some greater incounter ouercome by necessity called into the Castle Don Hugo de Moncado one of the Emperours ministers concluded a truce with him for foure moneths with condition that the Colonnesi and Neapolitans should retire themselues from Rome and the A truce concluded Pope should call backe his Souldiers from Lombardie the which both parties performing Clement caused his men to returne to Rome vnder pretence to obserue the capitulations of the truce and being by them secured hee thundered out excommunications against the Colonnesi declaring them heretiques The Popes Bull against the Colonnest and Schismatiques and excommunicating whosoeuer afforded them assistance counsell or fauour or gaue them entertainment and depriued also the Cardinall of his red Hatte This Cardinall being in Naples not esteeming the Popes censures published an appeale to the Councell proposing not only the The Cardinal appealeth to the Councel iniustice and nullity of the monitories censures and sentences but also the necessities of the Church vniuersall which being manifestly ruinated could not be easied any other way
the Spanish and German Cardinals though they were confident because the armie was composed of their nations were not better vsed then the rest The Pope retired into the Castle of Saint Angelo was besieged and constrained to make an accord at the same time yeelding the Castle to the Emperours Captaines and The Pope yeeldeth the Castle and his person consigning his person prisoner therein where hee was kept verie close And beeing in exceeding great affliction for the things past there was added one more in his opinion much greater that the Cardinall of Cortona who gouerned Florence in his name hauing heard the newes retired himselfe from Florence becommeth free againe the Citie and left it free The which hauing suddenly chased out the Medici and regained their libertie reformed their gouernement and the greater part of the Citizens shewed such hatred towards the Pope and his family that they defaced their armes euen in their priuate places and disgraced with many blowes the images of Leo and Clement which were in the Church of the The images of Leo the 10. of Clement the 7. are defaced Nunciata 98 But the Emperour hauing receiued aduice of the sacking of Rome and of the imprisonment of the Pope gaue many signes of infinite griefe and The Emperor maketh a shew of griefe for the Popes calamitie made demonstration thereof by causing the solemnefeasts to cease which were made in Validolid for the birth of his sonne the one and twentieth of the same moneth By which appearances he would haue giuen testimony to the world of his pietie and religion if hee had commanded at the same time that the person of the Pope should bee set at libertie But the world that saw the Pope was prisoner sixe moneths more perceiued what difference there was between truth and appearance 99 They began immediately to treat of the Popes deliuery The Emperour would haue had him conducted into Spaine deeming as was true indeede And is disswaded from causing him to be brought into Spaine that it would haue beene a great reputation to him if in two yeeres there had beene brought out of Italie into Spaine two so great prisoners a French King and a Pope of Rome But because all Spaine and especially the Prelates detested to behold so great an ignominie of Christianitie that he should be brought prisoner thither who represented the person of CHRIST hee changed that opinion considering also it was not good to stirre vp too much enuie against himselfe nor to prouoke the King of England whom he feared much in case he should haue ioyned himselfe more neerely with the French King then he was by the peace published in August who had alreadie sent a potent army into Italie and atchieued diuers victories in Lombardie Wherefore in the ende of the yeere the Emperour graunted that the Pope should be set free with this condition that hee should not be against him in the affaires of Milan and Naples and for securitie thereof should giue into his hands Ostia Ciuita vecchia Ciuita Castellana and the Cittadell of Furli and for hostages The Pope is set at liberty vpon hard conditions his two Nephews Hippolitus and Alexander that he should grant him a Crusado in Spaine and a tenth of the Church reuenues in all his kingdomes The deliuerie being concluded and hauing receiued power to depart out of the Castle the ninth of December he durst not expect so long but went out the night before with a small conuoy in the habit of a Merchant and retired himselfe immediately to Monte Fiascone and after he had taried there a little from thence he passed to Oruieto 100 While the Princes were all busied in war the affaires of religion altered in diuers places in some by publike Decree of the Magistrates in others by popular sedition For Berne making a solemne assembly both of their own The state of religion in the Cantons of the Suisses other places Doctors and of Strangers and hearing a disputation many dayes receiued the doctrine conformable to Zuric and in Basil all the images were ruined and burnt by a popular sedition and the Magistrate depriued and others put in his place and the new religion established And on the other side eight Cantons assembled themselues together and ratified within their territories the doctrine of the Church of Rome and wrote a long exhortation to those of Berne perswading them not to change their Religion which belonged not to one people or one Countrey but onely to a Councel of the whole world But for all that the example of Berne was followed at Geneua Constance and other places thereabout and in Argentina after a publike disputation the Masse was prohibited by a publike Decree vntill the defenders of it could shew that it was a worship acceptable to God notwithstanding that the Chamber of Spira had made a great and a long remonstrance that it was not lawfull not onely for one Citie but not for all the States of the Empire to make innouation of rites and doctrine it belonging onely to a generall or nationall Councell 101 In Italie these two yeares there being neither Pope nor Court of Rome 1528 The reformed religion increaseth in Italie and it seeming that these calamities were an execution of Gods iudgement against that gouernement many men beganne to reforme and in priuate houses in diuers Cities especially in Faenza a Towne belonging to the Pope there was preaching against the Church of Rome and the number of those whom others called Lutherans and themselues Gospellers increased euery day 102 The yeare following 1528 the French army was farre aduanced within The French-men beeing entred into the kingdome of Naples cause the Spanish army to forsake Rome the Kingdome of Naples and had possessed it almost all which constrained the Emperours Captaines to conduct the army out of Rome much diminished partly by reason of those who laden with spoyles meant to put them in a secure place and partly because of the plague which caused great mortalitie among them The confederates instantly desired the Pope that Rome beeing set at liberty by necessity not by the desire of the Emperour hauing no more neede to temporize with him hee would in that occasion declare himselfe to be ioyned with them and proceede against 1529 CLEMENT 7. CHARLES 5. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. him with spirituall armes and depriue him of the Kingdome of Naples and of the Empire But the Pope as well for that hee was wearied with troubles as also because in case the confederates had gained the better they would haue maintained the liberty of Florence the gouernment whereof he more desired to recouer then to bee reuenged of the iniuries receiued from Charles hee made a firme resolution not to bee contrary yea to ioyne himselfe The Pope refuseth to ioine with the confederates for the more easie recouery of Florence with him vpon the first occasion to regaine Florence
successor of S. Peter gaue them his benediction The Arch-bishop of Mentz answered the Legats oration by order of the And is answerred by the Arch-bishop of 〈◊〉 Emperour and the Diet that Caesar as supreme Aduocate of the Church will vse all meanes to compose the disorders will imploy all his forces in the 〈◊〉 against the Turkes and that all the Princes will joyne themselues 〈…〉 that their actionâ— shall bee approoued by God and the Pope After this many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being heard the Elector of Sacco 〈…〉 and protestant Cities â—oyned with him presented to the Emperour she confession of their faith written Latine and Dutch 〈…〉 it might be read But the Emperour refusing to haue it The Lutherans doe present a confession of their faith And so do the Zuinglians 〈◊〉 in publique it was put off vntill the next day when the Legate would not be present for feare of receiuing some prejudice But the Princes being assembled before the Emperor in an Hall capable to receiue about 〈◊〉 persons it was read with aloud voyce And the Cities which followed the doctrine of Zuinglius presented apart the confession of their faith not differing from the former but onely in the point of the Eucharist The confession of the Princes which afterwards from this place where it was read was called Augustana contâ—ined two parts in the first were The name of the Augustan confession bega 〈…〉 expounded 〈…〉 de of the vnitie of the God-head of originall sinne of the incarnation of iustification of the ministery of the Gospel of the Church of administring the Sacraments of Baptisme of the Eucharist of Confession of Penance of the vse of the Sacraments and the Ecclesiasticall order of the rites of the Church of the ciuill Common-wealth of the last â—udgement of free will of the cause of sinne of faith of good workes and worshipping of Saints In the second were expounded the doctrines which were different from the Church of Rome the abuses which the Confessionists reprooued And these were declared at large in seuen articles of the holy Communion mariage of Priests of the Masse of Confession of the distinction of meates of Monasticall vowes and Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction In conclusion they offered in case it were needfull a more full information But in the proheme thereof they deliuered that they had put their confession in writing to obey the Propose of his Maiestie that all men ought to present their opinions and therefore if the other Princes will giue vp theirs in writing they are readie to conferre peaceably with them that they may come to an agreement whereunto in case they could not come his Maiestie hauing giuen them to vnderstand in all the former Diets that he could not determine or conclude any matter of Religion for diuers respects then alleaged but that he would perswade the Pope to call a generall Councell and finally hauing caused it to bee said in the Diet of Spira that the differences betweene his Maiestie and the Pope being readie to bee composed there could bee no doubt but that hee would giue consent vnto it they offered to app 〈…〉 and to giue a reason and make a defence of their cause in such a generall free and Christian assembly of which it hath alwayes bin treated in all the Diets celebrated during the time of his Empire Vnto which Councell and to his Maiestie they haue formerly in due forme and vpon good cause appealed vnto which appeale they doe yet adhere not intending to abandon it neither by this treatie nor by any other if the difference bee not charitably reduced first to a Christian concord This was the onely Act of the first day But the Emperour before he made any resolution would haue the Legates aduice Who hauing read The Legate would not censure the Confession and considered the confession together with the Diuines which he brought out of Italie though hee was of opinion that it ought to bee opposed and a censure published vnder his name yet foreseeing that it would giue occasion of greater tumults and saying plainely that the difference for the most part seemed verball and that it imported not much whether one spake after one manner or after another and that it was not reasonable that the Apostolicall Sea should take part in the disputations of the Schooles hee conâ—ented not to haue his name vsed in the contentions And hee answered the Emperour that for the present there was no cause to make any 〈◊〉 examination of the doctrine but to consider the example which would bee giuen to all vnquiet and subtile wits who would not haue wanted infinite other nouities to propose with no lesse probabilitie which would haue beene heard with greedines because of the itching of cares which they stirre vp in the world and that by correcting the abuses that were noted greater inconueniencies would be raised then those which one sought to remedie That his opinion was that the doctrine of the Lutherans being read to remoue all preiudice a confutation thereof should be read likewise which should not be But gaue order that a confutation therof should be read and no copie giuen published in copies for feare of opening a way to disputations but meanes should be vsed that the Protestants should 〈◊〉 from going further on by proposing fauours and threats But the Confession being 〈…〉 it wrought diuers effects in the mindes of the Catholiques who heard it Some thought the Protestants more wicked then they were perswaded before they were informed of their particular opinions others on the contrary remitted much of the bad conceit they had against them esteeming their opinions not to absurd as before they did yea for a great part of the abuses they confessed they were iustly reprehended It is not to be omitted that Cardinal Mattheo Langi Archbishop of Salzburg told euery one that the reformation of the Masse The Archbishop of Salzburg would not haue the world reformed by a Monke was honest the libertie of meates conuenient and the demand iust to be disburthened of so many commandements of men but that a poore Monke should reforme all was not to bee endured And Cornelius Scoperus the Emperours Secretarie saide that if the Protestant Preachers had money they would easily buy of the Italians what Religion pleased them best but without golde it was impossible to make theirs shine in the world The Emperour according to the Legates aduice approued also by his owne Counsellers desirous to compose all by a negatiue went first about to separate the Ambassadors of the cities from ioyning with the Princes which proiect not succeeding he caused a confutation to be made of what the Protestants put vp in writing and another of that which was produced by the Cities And hauing called the whole Diet together hee told the Protestants that he had considered of the confession presented vnto him and giuen order to some pious and learned men to deliuer their opinion thereof And heere
to hinder the desolation of Germany and that not to speake of a Councell was willingly to runne into a ciuill warre In the second place the King treated with them that they would be contented with a Councell in Italie But neither did the Germans agree vnto this for they sayd that this match was worse then the first because that constrained them onely to make warre but this cast them into a seruitude both of body and soule whereunto resistance could not be made but by a Councell in a free place yet condescending for his Maiesties sake to whatsoeuer they were able they would cease to demand to haue it celebrated in Germany so that another free place were appointed out of Italie though it were neere vnto it In the beginning of the yeere 1534. the King gaue the Pope an account 1534 of what hee had done and offered to bring to passe that the Protestants should bee contented with Geneua The Pope hauing receiued the aduise The Pope is displeased with the Propose of Geneua for the 〈◊〉 place of the Councell was vncertaine whether the King though his confederate and kinsman would be glad to see him in troubles or if in this particular hee wanted that discretion which he shewed in other affaires But hee concluded that it was not good to vse him in this matter And writing vnto him thanked him for his paines without answering to the particular of Geneua and hee incouraged many of the Courtiers whose mindes were troubled assuring them that by no meanes he would consent to such a folly But this yeere the Pope in stead of regaining Germanie lost the obedience He looseth the obedience of England of England by proceeding rather with choler and passion then with wisedome necessarie in so great negotiations The accident was of great importance and greater consequence which to declare distinctly it is necessary to begin from the first causes whence it had its originall Catherine Infanta of Spaine sister to the mother of Charles the Emperour was married to Henry the eight King of England and was before the wife of Arthure Prince of Walles Henryes eldest brother after whose death their father gaue her in marriage to Henry who remained successor by the dispensation The cause of Pope Iulio the second This Queene was with child often and alwayes either miscaried or brought foorth a creature of a short life except one only daughter King Henry either for displeasure against the Emperor or for desire of issue male or for some other cause conceiued a scruple in his mind that the mariage was not good and taking counsell of his Bishops separated himselfe from her company The Bishops treated with the Queene that shee would be contented with a diuorce saying that the Popes dispensation was neither good nor true The Queene would not giue eare to them but had recourse to the Pope to whom the King also sent to craue a diuorce The Pope who was still retired in Oruieto and hoped for good conditions in his affaires if the fauours of France and England which still they performed were continued by molesting the Emperour in the kingdome of Naples sent into England the Cardinal Campeggio delegating the cause vnto him and the Cardinall of Yorke From these and from Rome the King had hope giuen him that in the end the sentence should bee on his side Yea to facilitate The Cardinals Campeggio and Wolsie were delegated by the Pope to heare the cause of the Kings diuorce the resolution that the solemnities of the iudgement might not draw the cause in length a briefe was framed in which hee was declared free from that marriage with the most ample clauses that euer were put into any Popes Bull and a Cardinall sent into England with order to present it after some few proofes were past which he was sure would easily be made And The Pope caused his Briefe which he had made in fauour of the diuorce to be burned this happened in the yeere 1524. But Clement iudging it fitter for compassing his designes vpon Florence as hath beene declared in its proper place to ioyne himselfe with the Emperour then to continue in the friendship of France and England in the yeere 1529. hee sent Francis Campana vnto Campeggio with order to burne the Briefe and to proceed slowly in the cause Campeggio began first to draw the cause in length and after to make difficultie of performing the promises made to the King Whereby beeing assured that the Iudge and his aduersaries did collude hee sent to the Vniuersities of Italie France and Germanie for a consultation in his cause where amongst A consultation about the cause of diuorce the Diuines some were contrary and some fauourable to his pretension The greater part of the Parisians were on his side and some beleeued that the Kings giftes more perswaded them then reason But the Pope either to gratifie the Emperour or for feare that in England by meanes of the Cardinall of Yorke something might happen not according The Pope to gratifie the Emperour recalleth Campeggio to his minde as also to giue occasion to Campeggio to part from thence called the cause to himselfe The King impatient of delay either because he knew their cunning or for some other cause published the diuorce with his wife and married Anne Bullen in the yere 1533. yet still the cause depended before the Pope in which he was resolued to proceede slowly to The King in 〈…〉 yeth 〈◊〉 Bulle◠satisfie the Emperour and not offend the King Therefore some by points rather were handled then the merits of the cause And the disputation grew vpon the Article of the Attentats in which the Pope gaue sentence against the King declaring that it was not lawfull for him by his owne authoritie without the Ecclesiasticall Iudge to separate himselfe from his wife For which cause the King in the beginning of this yeere 1534 denied the Pope obedience commanding all his subiects not to carry any money to Rome The King causeth the Peter-pence to be denied the Pope nor to pay the ordinary Peter-pence This infinitely troubled the Court of Rome and dayly they consulted of a remedie They thought to proceede against the King with censures and to interdict all Christian Nations all commerce with England But the moderate Counsell pleased best to temporize with him and to mediate a composition by the French King King Francis accepted the charge and sent the Bishop of Paris to Rome to negotiate a pacification with the Pope where they still proceeded in the cause but gently and with resolution not to come to censures if the Emperour did not proceede first or at the same time with his forces They had diuided the cause into three and twenty Articles and then they handled whether Prince Arthure had had carnall coniunction with Queene Catherine in this they spent time vntill mid-lent was past when the nineteenth of March newes came that a
England did waxe greater for that the Emperour had neuer The Popes disdaine against the Emperour is increased assented to any of those maine and ample matches offered him by the Cardinall Farnese whom he sent Legate with him into Germany concerning the grant of the Dutchie of Milan to the Familie of the Farnesi and that being to assist in the Diet of Spira he would not suffer the Cardinall Legate to follow him thither for feare of offending the Protestants And finally considering the Decree made in the Diet so preiudiciall to him and the Apostolique sea he was more offended because hee saw his hopes lost and his authoritie and reputation much diminished and iudged it necessarie to shew he was sensible of it And though on the other side hee considered that his partie in Germany was weakened and was counselled by his most inward friends to dissemble yet finally beeing assured that by declaring himselfe openly against Caesar hee did more straitly binde the French King to maintaine his reputation hee resolued to begin from wordes to take occasion to passe to deeds as the coniunctures should comport And the fifth of August he wrote a great long letter to the Emperor the substance whereof was That hauing vnderstood what decrees were made The Pope writeth a long angry letter to the Emperour in Spira his duty and fatherly charitie did inforce him to tell him his opinion that he might not follow the example of Ely the Priest whom God seuerely punished for his too much indulgence towards his sonnes That the Decrees of Spira were dangerous for the Emperours soule and extreamly troubled the Church that hee should not violate the rules obserued by Christians which command that in the cause of religion all should bee referred to the Church of Rome and yet hee not esteeming the Pope who onely by the law of God and man hath power to call Councels And to decree in spirituall matters was willing to thinke of assembling a Generall of Nationall Councell and hath suffered Idiots and Heretiques to iudge of religion hath made decrees concerning sacred goods restored to honour the rebels of the Church whom he had condemned by his owne Edicts that he is willing to beleeue that hee hath not done these things by his owne inclination but by the pernicious counsell of those that beare ill will to the Church of Rome and that he complaineth of this that he hath yeelded vnto them that the Scripture is full of examples of the wrath of God against the vsurpers of the office of the High Priest of Vzza Dathan Abiron and Core of King Ozias and others That it is not a sufficient excuse to say the Decrees are but temporary vntill the Councel onely For though the thing done be holy yet in regard of the person that did it it not belonging to him it is wicked That God hath alwayes exalted those Princes that haue beene deuoted to the sea of Rome Head of all Churches Constantine the Theodosij and Charles the Great and contrarily hath punished those that haue not giuen due respect vnto it Examples hereof are Anastasius Mauritius Constan◠the 2. Pilip Leo and others and Henry the 4. was for this cause chastised by his owne sonne as also Fredericke the 2. by his And not Princes onely but whole Nations haue beene punished for it the Iewes for putting to death Christ the Sonne of God the Grecians for hauing many wayes contemned his Vicar which things he ought the more to feare because he is descended from those Emperours who haue receiued more honour from the Church of Rome then they haue giuen it That he commendeth him for desiring the amendment of the Church but withall doth aduise him to leaue the charge thereof to him to whom God hath giuen it That the Emperour is a Minister but not a Gouernour nor an Head He added that hee desired the reformation and hath declared it often by intimating the Councel whensoeuer any sparke of hope hath appeared that it might be assembled and though in vaine vntill then yet hee had not beene wanting to his duety desiring much a Councel which is the only remedy against all mischiefes as well for the generall good of Christendome as the particular of Germany which hath more neede thereof That it hath beene intimated already though deferred vntill a more commodious time by reason of the warres That it belongeth to the Emperour himselfe to giue way that it may bee celebrated by making peace or deferring the warre while matters of religion are handled in the Councel That hee should obey these fatherly commandes exclude from the Imperiall Diets all disputes about religion and referre them to the Pope ordaine nothing concerning Ecclesiasticall goods reuoke the grantes made to the rebels against the Sea of Rome otherwise to performe his owne duety that he shall be forced to vse greater seuerity against him then hee would THE HISTORIE OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT THE SECOND BOOKE THe Warre betweene the Emperour and the French The Emperor is wholly incliued to peace which was cōcluded the 24. of September King lasted not long For the Emperor saw plainely that while he was busied in that and his brother in the other against the Turke Germanie so much increased in libertie that the Imperiall name would not be esteemed within a short time and that so long as hee made Warre in France he imitated Esops dogge who following the shadow lost both it and the bodie Whereupon he hearkened to the propositions of peace made by the French men with designe not onely to be freed from that impediment but by the Kings meanes to accommodate the Turkish affaires and applie himselfe vnto Germanie The foure and twentieth of September the peace was concluded betweene them and amongst other things they both capitulated to defend the old Religion and to labour for the vnion of the Church and reformation of the Court of Rome from whence all the dissensions are deriued and that for this purpose the Pope should ioyntly be requested to call the Councell and the French King should send to the Diet of Germanie to perswade the Protestants to accept it The Pope was not afraide of the capitulation for the Councell and reformation of the Court being assured that whensoeuer they began that enterprise by reason of their diuers ends and interests they would not long agree neither did he doubt but that the designe being to be executed by a Councell he would so accommodate euery treatie that his authoritie should be amplified But he thought that in case he should call the Councell at their request the world would imagine he was constrained which would bring much dishonour to his reputation and incouragement to him that designed the moderation of the Papall power Therefore not expecting to be preuented by any of them and dissembling The Pope dissembleth his suspicions the suspicions conceiued against the Emperour euen those that were most important which the peace made
which commandeth to haue the Hebrew text to examine the relitie of the bookes of the old Testament and the Greeke for a direction in those of the new To approoue a translation as authenticall was to condemne S. Hierome and all those who haue translated If any be authenticall to what end serue the rest which are not it would bee a great vanitie to produce vncertaine copies when there are some infallible That they should bee of the opinion of 9. Hierome and Caietane that euery Interpreter may erre though he haue vsed all arte not to vary from the originall But sure it is that if the holy Councell should examine or correct an interpretation according to the true text the holy Ghost which assisteth Synods in matters of faith would keepe them from erring and such a translation so examined and approoued might bee called authenticall But that any could be approoued without such an examination with assurance of the assistance of the holy Ghost hee durst not say except the Synode did determine it seeing that in the Councel of the holy Apostles a great inquisition was made before But this beeing a worke of tenne yeeres and impossible to be vndertaken it seemed better to leaue things as they had remained 1500. yeeres that the Latine translations should be verified by the originall Texts On the contrary the maior part of the Diuines said that it was necessary to account that translation which formerly hath beene read in the Churches and vsed in the schooles to be diuine and authenticall otherwise they should yeeld the cause to the Lutherans and open a gate to innumerable heresies hereafter and continually trouble the peace of Christendome That the doctrine of the Church of Rome mother and mistresse of all the rest is in a great part founded by the Popes and by schoole Diuines vpon some passage of the Scripture which if euery one had liberty to examine whether it were well translated running to other translations or seeking how it was in the Greeke or Hebrew these new Grammarians would confound all and would be made Iudges and arbiters of faith and in stead of Diuines and Canonists Pedanties should be preferred to be Bishops and Cardinals The Inquisitors will not be able to proceede against the Lutherans in case they know not Hebrew and Greeke because they will suddenly answere the text is not so and that the translation is false and euery nouity or toy that shall come into the head of any Grammarian either for malice or want of knowledge in Diuinity so that he may but finde some grammaticall tricke in those tongues to confirme it will be sufficient to ground himselfe thereon and he will neuer make an end That it doth appeare since Luther began to translate the Scripture how many diuers and contrary translations haue seene the light which deserue to bee buried in perpetuall darkenesse and how often Martin himselfe hath changed his owne translation that neuer any hath beene reprinted without some notable change not of one or two passages but of an hundred in a breath that if this libertie bee giuen to all Christianitie will soone be brought to that passe that no man will know what to beleeue To these reasons which the maior part applauded others added also that if the prouidence of God hath giuen an authenticall Scripture to the Synagogue and an authenticall New Testament to the Grecians it cannot be said without derogation that the Church of Rome more beloued then the rest hath wanted this great benefit and therefore that the same holy Ghost who did dictate the holy bookes hath dictated also that translation which ought to be accepted by the Church of Rome Some thought it hard to make a Prophet or Apostle onely to translate a booke therefore they moderated the assertion and said that he had not a Prophericall or Apostolicall Spirit but one very neere And if any should make dainty to giue the spirit of God to the Interpreter yet he cannot deny it to the Councell and when the vulgar edition shall bee approued and an anathema thundered against whosoeuer will not receiue it this will be without error not by the spirit of him that wrote it but of the Synode that hath receiued it for such D. Isidorus Clarus a Brescian and a Benedictine Abbat a man well seene in this studie went about to remooue this opinion by an historicall narration and said in substance that in the Primitiue Church there were many Greeke translations of the Old Testament which Origen gathered into one volume confornting them in sixe columnes the chiefe of these is called of the Septuagint from whence diuers in Latine were taken and many were taken from the Greeke text of the new Testament one of which most followed and read in the Church and esteemed the best by Saint Austin is called Itala yet so as that the Greeke text ought vndoubtedly to bee preferred But Saint Hierom a man as all doe know skilfull in the knowledge of tongues seeing that of the olde Testament to swarue from the Hebrew trueth by the fault partly of the Greeke interpreter and partly of the Latin made one immediately out of the Hebrew and amended that of the new Testament according to the trueth of the Greeke text Hieroms credit made his translation to bee receiued by many but was reiected by some either because they loued more the errours of antiquitie then new trueths or as himselfe complaineth by reason of emulation But a few yeeres after when enuie was laid aside that of S. Hierom was receiued by all the Latins so they were both in vse one being called the olde and the other the new Saint Gregorie writing to Leander vpon Iob testifieth that the Apostolike Sea vseth them both and that himselfe in the exposition of that booke made choice to follow the new as conformable to the Hebrew text yet in the allegations he would vse sometimes one sometimes another as it best befitted his purpose The times following by the vse of them both composed one taking part of the new and part of the olde according as the accidents required and to this the name of the vulgar Edition was giuen The Psalmes were all of the olde because being dayly sung in the Churches they could not be changed The lesser Prophets are all of the new the greater mixt of both This is very true that all hath happened by the ordinance of God without which nothing can succeede But yet it cannot be said that there was in it greater knowledge then humane Saint Hierome saith plainely that no interpreter S. Ierom saith that no interpreter hath spoken by the holy Ghost hath spoken by the holy Ghost The Edition which wee haue is his for the most part it would bee strange to attribute the assistance of God to him that knoweth and affirmeth hee hath it not Wherefore no translation can bee compared to the text in the originall tongue Therefore his opinion was that the vulgar
Colloquie and were informed in the differencies Amongst the Prelats of Germany onely the Cardinall of Ausburg had sent a Proctor and him a Sauoyard For the Proctors of the Cardinall and Elector of Ments vnderstanding their masters death went away two moneths before Others said that the things decided were not of so great moment as they Nothing is certainely defined concerning traditions seemed For the point of traditions which seemed most important was of no consequence First because it was nothing to ordain they should be receiued if it were not declared which they were how they should be knowen thē because there was no commandement to receiue them but onely a prohibition to contemne them wittingly and deliberately So that he that reiected them with reuerend termes contradicted not and the rather because there is an example of the adherents of the Church of Rome who receiue not the ordination of Deaconesses graunt not to the people the election of the Minister which certainely was an Apostolical institution continued more then eight hundred yeeres and which more importeth obserue not the communion of the Chalice Instituted by Christ preached by the Apostles obserued by the whole Church vntill within two hundred yeeres and now also by all Christian Nations but the Latine that if this be not a tradition it is impossible to shew whatother is And for the vulgar edition declared authenticall nothing at all was done because among so many copies it cannot be knowen which is the true But this last opposition was made because the deputation to make a corrected copie of the vulgar edition was not knowen The which for what cause it was not effected shall be said in its place But the Decrees of the Session being seene in Rome and the importance Nor concerning the vulgar edition of the things treated of considered the Pope began to thinke he ought more to regard the businesse of the Councell then vntill that time hee had done and he enlarged the congregation of Cardinals and Prelats who were to consider of the occurrences of the Synode and to relate them By the aduice of these after their first assembling he admonished the Legats of three things One not to publish hereafter in Session any decree before they had communicated it at Rome and to auoyd too much slownesse in proceeding The Pope admonisheth the Legates of three things but to beware much more of two much celeritie which might make them resolue of some indigested matter and want time to receiue orders from him what they should propose deliberate and conclude The second not to spend time in matters not controuersed as they had done in those that were handled for the last session wherein all agree that they are vndoubted principles The third to take heede that by no meanes the Popes authoritie be disputed on Whereunto they readily answered that they would obey his Holinesse To whom the Legates make a ready answere commandement but that it seemed to them that in the things defined there is small difference betweene Catholiques and Heretiques and that some of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament receiued by the third Councell of Carthage by Innocentius the first by Gelatius by the sixt Synod of Trullus and the Florentine Councell are called into question by the Heretikes and which is worse by some Catholikes and Cardinals and also that the vnwritten Traditions are impugned by the Lutherans who intend nothing more then to annihilate them declaring that all things necessary to saluation are written And therefore though these two heads bee principles yet they are the most controuersed conclusions which are to bee decided in the Councell and of the greatest importance They added that vntill then there was no occasion to speake of the Popes authoritie or of the Councell but in treading of the title when the addition of Representation of the vniuersall Church was required That many desire it still but that they will auoyd it as much as possibly they can And in case they shall be brought to it by force they will desire thinking it will not bee denyed them to expound the manner how it doth represent that is by meanes of the head and not otherwise whereby there will bee rather gaine then losse For the rest because they think the maior part will alwayes beare al reuerence to his Holinesse being vnited as Head with the bodie of the Councell which will be so long as they shall agree in the reformation hee may set his heart at rest that his authoritie shall not be questioned After this the Pope sent Ieronimo Franco Nuncio to the Swisses giuing him The Pope sendeth a Nuncio to the Swisses letters to the Bishops of Sion and Coira to the Abbat of S. Gallo and other Abbats of those Nations to whom hee wrote that hauing called all the Prelates of Christendome to the Generall Councell of Trent it was fit that they who represent the Heluetian Church should assist also in regard hee much loued that nation as especiall sonnes of the Apostolike Sea and maintainers of the Ecclesiasticall libertie That Prelates out of Italie France and Spaine were arriued alreadie and the number increased dayly That it was not seemely that they being borderers should bee preuented by those that dwelt further off That their Countrey was infected with heresies and therefore had more need of a Councell In fine hee commanded them vpon their allegiance and oath and paines prescribed by the lawes to goe thither as soone as was possible referring the rest to bee tolde them by his Nuncio And at the many instances of the Clergie and Vniuersitie of Collen assisted And giueth sentence against the Arch-bishop of Collen by the Bishops of Liege and Vtrect and Vniuersitie of Louaine he pronounced sentence against the Arch-bishop and Elector of Collen declaring him excommunicated depriuing him of all benefices and priuiledges Ecclesiasticall absoluing his subiects from their oath of fidelitie and commanding them not to obey him because he had incurred the censures of the Bull of Leo the tenth published against Luther and his adherents as hauing held defended and published that doctrine against the Ecclesiasticall rules traditions of the Apostles and vsuall rites of Christian religion And the sentence The Pope maketh a Bull in fauour of Adolphus was after printed in Rome He made also another Bull giuing order that Adolphus Count of Scauemburg assumed before by the Arch-bishop for his Coadiutor should be obeyed And hee earnestly desired the Emperour that the sentence might be executed The Emperor will not execute the Popes sentence who thought not this nouitie fit for his purpose because it would make the Arch-bishop who vntill then had absolutely obeyed him to vnite himselfe with those that were combined against him And therefore he held him still for an Arch-bishop and treated with him and wrote to him without regard of the popes sentence This vexed the Pope at the heart but seeing
is iust and honest to please the Pope but he knew wel that in a Nationall Councel he should neither be able to reconcile the parties nor find whom to make iudge The Ambassadour of Mentz and Triers diuided themselues from the other foure and being vnited with all the Catholikes approoued the Tridentine Councell and besought Caesar to protect it and to perswade the Protestants to goe thither and submit themselues vnto it They answered that the Councell in Trent was not free as was demanded and promised in the Imperiall Diets they desired againe that the Emperour would obserue the peace and ordaine that Religion might be established in a lawfull Councell of Germanie or an Imperiall Diet Job a Colloquie of learned men 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 In this Interim the Emperour had made secret prouision for warre which not being able longer to concedles 〈…〉 knowen to the Protestants in the Diet and because peace was concluded with the French King and The prouisions for warre against the 〈◊〉 Protest 〈…〉 〈◊〉 no longer be concealed truce with the T 〈…〉 euery one did easily perceiue the cause especially for that a fame was spread 〈…〉 the Pope also and Ferdinand did arme whereby all was in confusion And the Emperour seeing hee was discouered the ninth of Innosent the Cardinall of Trent Post to Rome to demand of the Pope the succours 〈◊〉 promised and sent Captaines with money into Italie and Flanders to leuie Souldiers and sollicited the Princes and Protestant German Captaines not combined with those of the league of Smalcalda to follow his colours affirming and promising bee would not make warre for Religion but suppresse the rebellion of some who vnder that pretence would not acknowledge the Lawes nor the Maiestie of the Prince By this promise he quieted many of the Cities who before had receiued the renouation in the Rites of the Church promising all beneuolence to the obedient and securitie for their Religion But in the Councell there being no more difference amongst the Fathers concerning the things discussed and the decrees of faith and reformation being framed the Emperours Ambassadour being not able any longer to resist the Legats resolution the seuenteenth of Iune being come the day appoynted for the Session Alexander Pichalhomini Bishop of Pianza sang Masse Marcus Laureus a Dominican Friar preached and when the vsual ceremonies were ended the decree of faith with fiue Anathematismes was read 1. Against him that confesseth not that Adam by transgressing hath The Decree of faith with 5. a 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 in the Session lost sanctitie and iustice incurred the wrath of God death and thraldome to the Deuill and is infected in soule and body 2. Against him that auerreth that Adam by sinning hath hurt himselfe onely or hath deriued into his posteritie the death onely of the body and not sinne the death of the soule 3. Against him that affirmeth that sinne which is one in the beginning and proper to euery one transmitted by generation not imitation can bee abolished by any other remedie then the death of CHRIST or denieth that the merit of CHRIST is applied as well to children as to those that bee of ripe yeeres by the Sacrament of Baptisme ministred in the forme and rite of the Church 4. Against him that de 〈…〉 eth that children which are newly borne ought to be baptized though the sonnes of Christians or saith they are baptized for remission of sinnes but not because they haue contracted any originall sinne from Adam 5. Against him that denyeth that by the grace of Baptisme the guilt of originall sinne is remitted or saith that all is not remooued which hath the true and proper nature of sinne but that it is razed and not imputed concupiscence still remaining in the baptized for an exercise which cannot hurt but him that consenteth to it the which beeing called sinne by the Apostle the Synod declareth that it is no true and proper sinne but is so termed because it ariseth from sinne and inclineth to it That the Synod meaneth not to comprehend in the decree the blessed Virgin but that the constitutions of Sistus 4. ought to be obserued which it doth renew The Decree of the reformation containeth two parts one in matter of the Lectures the other of the Sermons For the Lectures it was ordered that in the Churches where there is a stipend allotted for reading Diuinitie the Bishop should prouide that the holy Scripture should bee read by the Stipendary it he be fit and not being fit the Bishop should depute a substitute The Decree of reformation to performe the charge but for hereafter that the benefice should not bee conferred but vpon a sufficient person That in the Cathedrall Churches of populous Cities and collegiate Churches of great Castles where no such stipend is assigned the first Prebend that falleth void should bee applyed to that vse or some simple benefice or a contribution of all beneficed men to institute the Lecture That in poore Churches there should bee at the least a Master to teach Grammer who shall enioy the fruits of some simple benefice or haue a stipend from the Capitular or Episcopall table or the Bishop shall finde some other way to effect it That in the Cloysters of Monkes there should be a Diuinitie Lecture if it may bee wherein if the Abbats shall bee negligent they shall bee constrained to doe it by the Bishop as the Popes Delegate That in the Conuents of the Regulars there should bee deputed Masters of sufficiencie to performe this charge That in publique studies where a Diuinitie Lecture is not instituted it shall bee instituted by the charitie and pietie of Princes and Republiques and where it hath beene instituted and neglected it shall bee restored That none shall bee made a Lecturer either publike or priuate before hee bee approoued by the Bishop as fit for his life manners and knowledge except those that reade in the Cloysters of Monkes That the priuiledges granted by law to Publique Readers in Diuinitie and schollers for the enioying of the fruits of their benefices in their absence shall be preserued Concerning Sermons the Decree containeth that the Bishops and Prelates bee bound if they bee not hindered to preach the Gospel in person and if they bee to substitute men of sufficiencie That the inferiour Curates ought to teach things necessary to saluation either by themselues or others at the least on Sundayes and solemne Feasts whereunto they shall bee constrained by the Bishops any exemption notwithstanding And the Curates of the Parishes subiect to Monasteries which are in no diocesse shall be constrained to the same by the Metropolitanes as Delegates of the Pope in case the Regular Prelate shall be negligent That the Regulars shall not preach except they be approoued for their life maners and knowledge by their superiours and in the Churches of their Order they shall demand the benediction of the Bishop before the Sermon begin but in other Churches they
which maketh a iudiciall processe and saith that none can accuse or condemne GODs Elect because GOD doth iustifiethem where the iudiciall words to accuse and condemne doe shew that the word Iustifie is iudiciall also But the Franciscans approued habituall grace because charity it selfe is an habit And here was a sharpe disputation betweene them and the Dominicans whether the habit of Grace be the same with the habit of Charity as Scotus would or distinct as Saint Thomas and neither party yeelding they debated whether besides this Grace or inherent Iustice the Iustice of CHRIST also bee imputed to the iustified as if it were his owne which they did in regard of the opinion of Alvertus Pighius who confessing the inherent added that we must not trust in that but in the imputed iustice of CHRIST as if it were ours None doubted that CHRIST had merited for vs but some blamed the word to Impute and would haue it abolished because it was not to bee found in Fathers who contented themselues with the words Communication participation diffusion deriuation application computation and coniunction Others said that agreeing vpon the thing they ought not to differ vpon the word because it signifieth precisely the same that the others doe which though not by all and often yet sometimes was vsed For this the 109. Epistle of Saint Barnard was brought and Vega defended that though the word be not found in the Scriptures yet it is a most proper Latine word to say that the iustice of CHRIST is imputed to mankind for satisfaction and merit and that it is continually imputed to all that bee iustified and doe satisfie for their owne sinnes but hee would not haue it sayd it was imputed as if it were ours Whereunto it being opposed that Saint Thomas vseth to say that the passion of CHRIST is communicated to the baptized for remission as if himselfe had sustained it and died there was a long and great contention vpon his words The Heremite Generall held an opinion that in the Sacrament of Baptisme the Iustice of CHRIST is imputed because it is communicated wholly and intirely but not in penance when our satisfactions are also required But Soto sayd the word Imputation was most popular and plausible because it signified at the first sight that all should bee acknowledged from CHRIST but yet that he did euer suspect it in regard of the bad consequences which the Lutheranes draw from thence That is that this onely is sufficient without inherent righteousnes that the Sacraments doe not conferre grace that the punishment is abolished together with the guilt that there remaineth no place for satisfaction that all are equall in grace iustice and glorie whence they deduce also that abominable blasphemie that euery iust man is equall to the blessed Virgin This admonition begat such a suspicion in the hearers that there appeared a manifest inclination to condemne the word for hereticall though reasons were effectually replyed to the contrary The contentions betweene the Theologues did certainly arise from the immoderate affection they bare to their owne sect and were cherished by diuers for diuers ends By the Imperialists to constraine them to abandon iustification By the Courtiers to find a way to separate the Councell and so to auoid the imminent reformation And by others to free themselues from incommodities which they feared would be greater by reason of the dearth Contentions in the Councell are cherished by diuers for diuers ends A Iubily is published in Rome in which religion is declared to be the cause of the warâ—e against the Protestants and of the warre which approached and the rather because they had little hope to doe good But while they thus dispute in Trent the Pope published a Iubile in Rome the fifteenth of Iuly by which he eased the Princes of Germany of the paines to find out or perswade others the true cause of the warre For hauing largely declared in that Bull his pastorall affection and care for the saluation of men relating the perdition of soules by the increase of heresies and that to roote them out the Councell was alreadie begun hee bewailed aboue measure the obstinacie of the heretikes who contemne and refuse to obey it and to submit themselues to the determination thereof For remedie whereof he had made a League with the Emperour to reduce them to the obedience of the Church by force of Armes Hee therefore wished them all to haue recourse vnto GOD by prayers fastings confessions and communions that GOD of his Diuine Maiestie would giue a good issue to this warre vndertaken for his glory exaltation of the Church and extirpation of heresies The Emperour in conformity to his purpose of concealing the cause of The Emperours Bandâ— against the Sax on and Landgraue Religion the twentieth of the same moneth published a Bando against the Saxon and Landgraue laying to their charge that they had alwayes hindered his designes had neuer obeyed him made conspiracies against him mooued warre against other Princes of the Empire seased vpon Bishoprickes and other gouernments dispossessed many of their goods and couered all these things with the glorious and sweet name of Religion peace and liberty but hauing indeede rather any other end Therefore hee doeth prescribe them as perfidious rebels seditious guilty of high treason and enemies of the publike peace and commandeth that none doe assist them or be linked with them absolueth the nobility and people of their dominions from their Oath of fidelitie including all those in the Bando who perseuere to obey them The cause of the warre alleadged by the Emperour grieued the Pope and The Pope and the Emperour are offended one with another for alleadging diuers causes of the warre that of the Pope grieued the Emperor because both their ends were hindred For though the Pope pretended that he had published this Manifest that all the people of Christendome might implore the ayde of God to fauour the Emperours Armes yet both he and euery man of iudgement knew very well that it was to giue notice to Germany and the whole world that the warre was for Religion which the simpler sort also did know a little after For his letter to the Suisses before mentioned and a copie of the Capitulations made with Madruccio were published The Pope crossed Casar in this because hee desired the suppression of the Protestants without the exaltation of the Emperour and therefore to ballance them well hee meant to constraine all the professors of the new Religion to vnite against him And it is certaine that the Popes action hindered the Emperours designes For desiring the Suisses to continue their league with the house of Austria and Burgundy and not assist the rebels the Euangelikes answered that they would first be sure that the warre was not for Religion So it hapened that the warre being but newly begun diseords were already sowed betweene the Princes lately confederated The Potentates of Italie were amazed
on by the Presidents onely was giuen in the same name Neither can the difficulty bee remooued by saying that the matter was of no great importance first because it will be hard to maintaine that it is not a most important matter where the danger of diuision in the Church is in question then be it as it will no man can arrogate to himselfe power to declare what is of importance and what not and this is a demonstration that things are carried iust as the Pope sayth in the Bull and the Presidents in the Sermon read that they were to direct the Councell for they did so indeed The adulse that the King had dismissed the Popes Nuncio and published a Manifest did reiterate the same discourses The French King dismisseth the Popes Nuncio and publisâ—â—th a Manifest which Manifest was then printed and diuulged throughout Where he sheweth at large the causes why he tooke vpon him the protection of Parma blameth the Pope for the warre begun saying that hee vsed this Artifice that the Councell might not be held Concluding in the end that it is not meete that he should haue money out of his kingdome to make warre against him whence a great summe is ordinarily taken for vacancies Bulls Graces Dispensations and Expeditions and therefore by the counsell of his Princes he did for bid to dispatch Curriers to Rome and to answere money or gold or siluer not coyned by way of banke for Benefices or other Graces and Dispensations vpon paine of Confiscation as well for Ecclesiastiques as seculars and these to bee punished corporally besides giuing the Promooters a third of the confiscation This Manifest was inrolled in Parliament with a proposition of the Attourney generall of the King in which he said that it was no new thing but vsed by Charles the sixt Lewis the eleuenth and Lewis the twelfth and was conformable to the common Law that money should not bee carried to the enemie and that it would bee a hard case if with the money of France warre should bee made against the King and that it was better for the subiects of the kingdome to keepe their money and not care for dispensations which were not able to secure the conscience and are nothing but a shadow cast before the eyes of men which cannot hide the trueth from GOD. It could not be endured neither at Rome nor in Trent that the King should What the Aposâ—olike Sea is solemnely protest and make warre against the Pope and still say that hee bare the same reuerence toward the Apostolique Sea which is nothing but the Pope Whereunto the French-men answered that antiquity had not this opinion yea Victor the third who was one of the Popes that assumed much sayd that the Apostolique Sea was his mistresse The same was sayd before him by Stephen the fourth and by Vitalianus and Constantinus who were more ancient it plainely appeareth that by the Apostolike Sea is vnderstood the Church of Rome for if the Pope were the same thing his errours and defects would be of the Apostolike Sea The French King fearing that by his dissention with the Pope those that desired change of religion would make some innouation which might The French King waxeth more seuere against the Protestants prooueseditious or that himselfe might come into the bad opinion of his people as if his minde were auerse from the Catholike faith and perhaps to open a way for reconciliation with Rome hee made a most seuere Edict against the Lutherans confirming all the others which hee had published before adding greater punishments more wayes to discouer the guilty and greater rewards to the Promooters The Emperour considering that the French King in regard of the number of the French Cardinals and other dependants of that Crowne had no lesse power in the Colledge then himselfe and being combined with the Farnesi did farre exceede him though he had the Pope of his side sent to Rome Don Iohn Manriques to perswade his Holinesse to create new Cardinalls to exceed or equalize the number of the French The Pope was enclined hereunto yet hee saw what difficulty there was his Papacie being new and exhausted and in time of stirres when it is hard to haue the consent of all the Cardinalls and to create them without consent was dangerous Hee was doubtfull whether to make many at once or by little and little He thought hee should sooner obtaine consent for this second course and that his trusty friends would remaine in hope and that the Cardinalls would more oppose a numerous promotion and those that were excluded would despaire He doubted whether it were fitte to create any of the Prelats of the Conucell because there were many that deserued well and the three Electors were not to bee passed ouer especially the Elector of Mentz who thought of it On the other side to send red Cappes to the Councell hee thought would mooue enuie Hee resolued not to expect Christmas when all come foorth with their pretensions and the places of common meetings are full of wagers but to execute this businesse some day before vpon the sudden though afterwards he found no fit time to create them but Christmas But to returne to Trent the second of September the day following the Session a generall Congregation was made and in it Fathers deputed to frame the Articles of the Eucharist to bee giuen to the Diuines and to collect the abuses in that matter Afterwards they discoursed of the Reformation which because it was to take away the cause why Bishops doe not reside many were repeated some proposed before in Trent and Bolonia and some then first spoken of Finally they insisted vpon iurisdiction saying that the Bishops were wholly depriued of it partly by auocation of causes and partly by appeales but especially by exemptions yea that more often iurisdiction was exercised ouer and against them by their Subiects either by speciall commission from Rome or by vertue of Conseruatories then by them ouer their subiects And Fathers were elected to frame the Articles concerning this matter The Presidents considering the Popes instruction to auoid dangerous contentions among the Diuines their vnintelligible disputes in which they grow bitter and also their confusion in speaking they gaue out the Articles framed which they were to begin to handle on Tuesday after dinner and there added the manner and order to bee held in the Congregations much limited which did compell them to speake soberly The Articles were tonne drawen from the doctrine of the Zuingliani and 〈…〉 That in the Eucharist the Body Blood Ten Articles concerning the Eucharist are proposed to be discussed by the Diuines and Diuinitie of CHRIST is not truely but as in a signe 2. That CHRIST is not giuen to bee eaten Sadramentally but spiritually and by faith 〈◊〉 That in the Eucharist there is the Blood and Body of CHRIST but together with the substance of the Bread and Wine so that there is
a criminall cause against a Bishop may not bee receiued by information but by witnesses and those of good fame chastizing them grieuously if they shall depose vpon Passion and the criminall causes of the Bishops may not be determined but by the Pope After this another Decree was published in which the Synode sayd The Decree concerning matters to be deferred vntill the comming of the Protestants That desiring to extirpate all errours it had handled foure Articles exactly 1. Whether it were necessary and commanded by GOD that all the faithfull should receiue the Sacrament vnder both kindes 2. Whether hee that receiueth but one receiueth lesse then he that receiueth both 3. Whether the holy Church hath erred in communicating the Laiques with the bread onely and the Priests who doe not celebrate 4. Whether children ought to bee communicated But because the Protestants of Germany doe desire to bee heard concerning these Articles before the definition and therefore haue demanded a Safe Conduct to come remaine speake freely propose and depart the Synode hoping to reduce them into the concord of one faith hope and charity by yeelding to them hath giuen them publique faith that is Safe Conduct as farre as it can according to the tenor vnder-written and hath deferred to define these Articles vntill the twenty fiue of Ianuary the next yeere ordaining withall that the Sacrifice of the Masse be handled in that Session as a thing annexed and that in the next the Sacraments of Penance and extreame Vnction be discussed The tenour of the Safe Conduct was That the holy Synode doeth as The tenor of the Safe Conduct much as it can grant publike faith full security that is Safe Conduct with all necessary and fit clauses though they require a speciall expression to all Ecclesiasticall and Secular persons of Germany of what degree state or quality soeuer who will come to this generall Councell that they may with all liberty conferre propose treate come remaine present Articles by writing or by word conferre with the Fathers deputed by the Synode and dispute without iniury and ill words and depart when they please And the Synode is further pleased to grant that if for their greater liberty and security they shall desire that Iudges bee deputed for the offences which they haue committed or shall commit though they be enormous and sauour of heresie The Ambassage of the Elector of Brandeburg they may name those that they shall esteeme fauourable After this the Mandate of Iâ—achim Elector of Brandeburg was read in the persons of Christopher Strassen a Lawyer and Iohn Osman his Ambassadours sent to the Councell The former made a long Oration shewing the good affection and reuerence of his Prince towarde the Fathers without declaring what his opinion was in point of Religion The Synode answered that is the Speaker in its name that it heard with great content the Ambassadours discourse especially in that part where that Prince doth submit himselfe to the Councell and promiseth to obserue the Decrees hoping that his deedes will be answerable to his wordes But the Proposition of those of Brandeburg was noted by many because the Electour was of the Augustane confession and it was openly knowen that his interests did mooue him to make such a faire shew that his sonne Fredericke elected Archbishop of Magdeburg by the Canons a Benefice vnto which a very great and rich principallitie is annexed might not be hindered at Rome and by the Catholiques in Germanie The answere which the Councel gaue was much matueiled at in regard An artifice vsed by the Councel often practised by the Church of Rome of the faire and aduantagious manner of contracting pretending ten thousand by vertue of the promise when the bargaine was but of ten For there is no more proportion betweene these two numbers then was betweene the reuerence promised by the Electour and the obedience receiued by the Synode It was replied for defence that the Councell did not regard what was but what should haue been sayd and that this is an vsuall and pious allurement of the holy Church of Rome which yeelding to the infirmitie of her children maketh shew to beleeue that they haue performed their duetie So the Fathers of the Councell of Carthage writing to Innocentius the first to giue him an account that they had condemned Celestinus and Pelagius desiring him to conforme himselfe to their declaration hee commended them in his answere that remembring the old Tradition and Ecclesiasticall discipline they had referred all to his iudgement whence all ought to learne whom to absolue and whom to condemne And indeed this is a faire gentle meanes to make men speake that in silence which they will not in words Afterwards according to the intimation made to the Abbat of Bellosana to giue him then an answere to the Letters and Protestation of his Master they made the Apparitors demaund by proclamation at the Church doore whether any were there for the most Christian King But no man appearing because it was so concluded by the Kings Counsel not to enter into the contestation of the cause especially for that they could expect no answere but made at Rome by the Pope and the Spaniards the speaker did desire that the answere decreed might be read publikely and so it was by consent of the Presidents The substance of it was That the Fathers conceiuing great hope of the fauours of the King were exceedingly grieued for the The answere of the Councell made to the Abbat of Bellosans words of his Minister which did much abate it yet they had not quite lost it in regard they were not conscious of hauing giuen him any cause of offence and for that hee said the Councell was assembled for the profit of some fewe and for priuate ends it had no place in them who were assembled not by the present Pope onely but by Paulus the third to extirpate heresies and reforme discipline then which causes none can bee more common and pious praying him to let his Bishops goe to assist this holy worke where they shall haue all liberty And if his Minister a priuate person who brought vnto them things distastfull was heard with patience and attention how much more welcome shall persons be of so great dignitie Adding withall that though they come not the Councell will not want reputation or authoritie hauing been lawfully called and for iust causes restored And for that his Maiestie did protest to vse the wonted remedies of his Ancestors the Synode had good hope that hee would not restore the things long since abrogated to the great benefit of that Crowne but looking backe vpon his Ancestors on the name of the most Christian King and on his father Francis who did honour that Synode following that example hee will not bee vnthankefull to GOD and the Church his mother but will rather pardon priuate offences for publike causes The Decrees of the Session were immediatly printed which
fauouring the Colonnesi and therefore spake very often disgracefully of them in the presence of all sorts of persons but most willingly when any Spanish Cardinall was present and at last commanded it should be written vnto them None of these proofes taking effect hee proceeded further and the three and twentieth day of Iuly made the Fiscal and Siluester Aldobrandinus the Consistoriall Aduocate appeare in the Consistory who declared that his Holinesse hauing excommunicated and depriued Marcus Antonius Colonna and prohibited vnder the same censures all sorts of persons to assist or fauour him and it being notorious that the Emperour and King Philip his The Pope maketh shew that he will proceed against the Emperor and his sonne sonne had furnished him with horse foote and money they were fallen into the punishments of the same sentence and had lost their Territories which they held in Fee Therefore they desired that his Holinesse would proceed to a declaratory sentence and giue order for execution The Pope answered that he would aduise of it by the counsell of the Cardinals and giuing them leaue to depart he proposed in Consistory what was fit to bee done in a case of so great importance The French Cardinals spake with much honour of the Emperour and King Philip but so that the Pope was more prouoked The Imperialists vsed words of an ambiguous sence fit to gaine time The Theatini the Popes owne Cardinals spake magnificently of the Papall authoritie and of the worth and wisedome of his Holinesse who onely knew how to finde a remedy for that maladie praising all that he had done and referring themselues vnto him for all the rest The Consistory being dismissed without a resolution the Pope knew that either hee must yeeld or come to a warre from which beeing not auerse in regard of his naturall disposition full of courage and hopes aduice came fitly to him from his Nephew of what was concluded in France So that the discourses of reformation and Councels were turned into parleys of money Souldiers and intelligences of which things as not pertaining to my purpose I will onely say as much as may shew what the Popes minde was and how much he was addicted to a true or at least to a colourable reformation of the Prouideth for warre Church The Pope armed the Citizens and inhabitants of Rome for the most part artisans and strangers to the number of 5000 distributing them vnder the Heads of the Rioni for so they were called hee caused many of his Cities to bee fortified and put garisons in them and the French King sent Wards or precincts him at his instance 3000. Gascons by sea that hee might subsist while the royall Army was prepared In these negotiations and preparations for warre the Pope imprisoned And imprisoneth many Cardinals Barons vpon suspicion and King Philip his Ambassadour many Cardinals Barons and others vpon suspicion as also Carsillasso di Vega Ambassadour of Philip King of England and Ioannes Antonius Tassis the Emperours Post-master And to the Duke of Alua who sent to protest against him for maintaining in Rome the fugitiues of the kingdome of Naples for laying hands on and keeping in prison publique persons without reason for hauing opened the Kings letters all which things hee had done adding that the King for preseruation of his honour and of the right of his people could not choose in case his Holinesse did perseuere in such offensiue actions but seeke reuenge for the iniurie he sent backe an answere that The Duke of Alua protesteth of the wrong done to his Master by the Pope and receueth a proud answere hee was a free Prince and superiour to all others not bound to giue any account but to demaund it of any whosoeuer that hee might entertaine any persons and open any letters which hee thought to bee written against the Church that if Carcillasso had done the office of an Ambassadour nothing should haue been done against him but hauing made treaties mooued seditions 1557 PAVL 4. CHARLES 5. MARY HENRY 2. plotted against the Prince to whom he was sent he had offended as a priuate man and as such should bee punished that no danger should make him bee wanting to the dignity of the Church and defence of that Sea referring all to GOD by whom hee was made shepheard of the flocke of CHRIST And the Pope still continuing to make prouision the Duke of Alua being resolued that it was better to assault then to bee assaulted sent another protestation against him that the King hauing endured so many iniuries knowing that the intention of his Holinesse was to dispossesse him of the kingdome of Naples and beeing assured that to this end hee had made a league with his enemies could not continue in those termes and therefore in regard his Holinesse did desire warre hee did denounce it against him and would begin it quickly protesting that the calamities thereof could not be imputed to him and laying the blame vpon the Pope But if he desired peace he did offer it likewise vnto him with all readinesse The Pope making a shew to desire peace but answering onely in generall termes to gaine time the Duke began to make warre the fourth of September and in the yeere 1556. possessed himselfe of almost all Campania holding it in the For which cause he moueth warre against him name of the next Pope and came so neere to Rome that he put all the Citie in feare and made them strengthen and fortifie it And the Pope to teach the Gouernours of strong places what they ought to doe in such cases compelled all the religious persons of what state or qualitie soeuer to carry earth with a dosser on their shoulders to raise the bulwarkes Amongst other places which had need of Rampards one was neere the gate of the people at the end of the way called Flaminia where there is a Church of our Ladie The Pope armeth the Regulars and purposeth to pull downe a Church of great deuotion of much deuotion which the Pope purposing to pull downe the Duke sent to pray him to let it stand giuing his word and oath that he would make no vse of the opportunitie of that place But the greatnesse of the Citie and other respects and dangers counselled him not assayling Rome to vndertake smaller enterprises It gaue much matter of discourse that this yeere Charles the Emperor The Emperor quitteth the world parted from Flanders and passed into Spaine to betake himselfe to a priuate life in a solitary place so that they made a comparison betweene a Prince trained vp from his infancie in the negotiations and affaires of the world who at the age of little more then fifty yeeres had resolued to quit the world and onely to serue God changed from a mighty Prince to a meane religious person and one who had formerly abandoned the Eiscopal charge to retire into a Monastery and now being at the age
it in a Mercuriall so they call the iudicature instituted to examine and correct the actions of the Counsellors of Parliament and Iudges of the King held in Paris the 15. of Iune where they were to treate of Religion after the Congregation was assembled entred in person Hee said hee had established peace in the whole world by the marriages of his sister and daughter that hee might prouide against the inconueniences bred in his Kingdome about Religion which ought to bee the principall care of Princes Therefore vnderstanding they were to treat of this subiect hee exhorted them to handle Gods cause with sinceritie And hauing commaunded them to prosecute the things begun Claude Viole one of them spake much against the manners of the Court of Rome and the bad customes growen to bee pernicious errours which haue caused the new sects Therefore it was necessary to mitigate the seuere punishments vntill the differences of religion were remooued and the Ecclesiasticall discipline amended by authority of a Generall Councell the onely remedie for these euils as the Councels of Constance and Basil haue iudged commanding that one should bee celebrated euery ten yeeres His opinion was followed by Ludouicus Faber and some others Anne du Bourg did adde that many villanies were comitted condemned by the Lawes for punishment whereof the rope and fire were not sufficient as frequent blasphemies against God periuries adulteries not onely secret but euen cherished with impudent licence making himselfe to be plainely vnderstood that hee spake not onely of the Grandies of the Court but of the King himselfe also adding that while men liued thus dissolutely diuers torments were prepared against those who were guilty of nothing but of publishing to the world the vices of the Church of Rome and desiring an amendment of them In opposition of all this Egidius Magister the prime President spake against the new sects concluding that there was no other remedie but that which was formerly vsed against the Albigenses of whom Philippus Augustus put to death sixe hundred in one day and against the Waldenses who were choked in the caues whither they retired to hide themselues When all the voyces were giuen the King said he had now heard with his owne eares that which before was told him that the contagion of the Kingdome doth hence arise 1559 PIVS 4. FERDINAND PHILIP 2. ELIZABETH HENRY 2. And coÌ„mandeth some of the Counsellors of Parliament to bee imprisoned that there are in the Parliament who doe despise the Popes authoritie and his that he well knoweth they are but few but the cause of many euils Therefore hee exhorted those who are good subiects to continue in doing their duety and immediatly gaue order that Faber and du Bourg should be imprisoned and afterward caused foure more to bee apprehended in their houses which did much daunt those who embraced the new religion For the Counsellors of Parliament in France beeing reputed most sacred and inuiolable who notwithstanding were put into prison for deliuering their opinion in publike Assembly they concluded that the King would pardon none But examples of great feares are alwayes ioyned with others of equall boldnesse 15â—9 The Reformatists hold a Synod in Paris For at the same time as if there had beene no danger at all the ministers of the Reformed for so the Protestants are called in France assembled in Paris in the suburbes of Saint German made a Synode in which Franciscus Morellus the chiefe man amongst them was President ordayning diuers constitutions of the manner of holding Councels of remoouing the domination in the Church of the election and office of Ministers of censures of marriages of diuorces of degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie that throughout all France they might not onely haue an vniforme faith but discipline also And their courage did increase because the fame of the seuerity vsed in France comming into Germanie the three Electors and And are encouraged by the intercession of the Protestant Princes of Germanie other Protestant Princes sent Ambassadours to the King praying him to proceede with pietie and Christian charitie against the professors of their Religion guiltie of nothing but of accusing the corrupted manners and the discipline peruerted by the Church of Rome which had bene done more then an hundred yeeres since by other godly Doctors of France For that Kingdome beeing now in quiet the differences of Religion may easily bee composed by the disputation of able men desirous of peace who may examine their confession by the rule of holy Scripture and of the ancient Fathers suspending in the meane time the seueritie of the sentences which they will receiue as a thing most gratefull and remaine much obliged to him for it The King gaue a courteous answere in generall wordes promising Which did them no good to giue them satisfaction and to send one expresly to signifie so much vnto them Yet he remitted nothing of the seueritie but after the Ambassadours were parted hee deputed foure Iudges of the body of the Parliament in the causes of the prisoners with the Bishop of Paris and the Inquisitor Antonie de Mocares commaunding them to proceede with all expedition The Pope vnto whom all these things were knowen as hee was much discontented with the progresse of the new doctrine in the States of both the Kings so hee was pleased that those Princes did thinke of it and mooued them by his Nuncij and by their Ambassadours residing with him to doe so still But hee would not haue any other meanes then that of the Inquisition which he thought the onely remedie as he said vpon all occasions iudging that the Councell would doe as formerly it had done that is reduce all into a worse state While he was possessed with these cogitations and weake of body the King of France died the second of Iuly by a wound in the eye running at Tilt for which hee seemed very sorrowfull and was so indeede For although hee suspected and with reason the intelligence betweene the 1559. PAVL 4. FERDINAND ELIZABETH FRANCIS 2. Henry the second dyeth the second of Iuly two Kings yet hee had still hope to separate them But the one being dead he saw he was at the discretion of the other alone whom he more feared because he was more offended by him and was of a more close nature hard to be sounded Hee feared also that in France a gate would be set wide open to let in sectes which might bee confirmed before the new King could get so much wisedome and reputation as was necessary to oppose so great difficulties Hee liued some few dayes afflicted with these cogitations but now laying aside all hopes which had vntill then kept him aliue hee died the eighteenth The Pope Iyeth the 18. of August recommending to the Cardinals nothing but the office of the Inquisition of August recommending to the Cardinals nothing but the office of the Inquisition the onely meanes as he said to
hee receiued him in the Kings Hall and as Ambassadour of the King of Nauarre thinking it preiudiciall to his possession of that Kingdome to which hee had no title but by the excommunication of Iulius the second and because hee gaue audience to Monsieur de Cars who came to intreat him in the same Kings name to be a meanes that the Kingdome might be restored to him or satisfaction giuen him and had promised his paines herein The Pope sent the Bishop of Terracina expressely into Spaine to iustifie and excuse what hee For which two causes the Pope sendeth a Nunciâ— into Spaine had done in fauour of the King of Nauarre and to expound as it were by occasion the meaning of the Bull. To those that were afraid in regard of the contrary opinions of so great Princes hee answered that as a louing father hee had inuited all but that hee esteemed the Protestants as lost and that the Catholiques of Germanie could not adhere to the Councell without making a separation from the others and raising a warre and if any Catholique Prince would forsake him hee would proceede by his owne authority as did Iulius the third without the French King But hee told his inward friends that he accounted all these troubles to be indifferent in regard not knowing the issue of them hee might as well hope for a good successe as feare a bad In the meane space hee saw that hee receiued some benefit by this vncertaine Councell because it serued him as a bridle for Prince and Prelate in attempting any nouitie and for a colour to denie vnpleasing The vnccrtainty of y e Councel did stand the Pope in some stead suits saying that the Councell beeing opened hee ought to proceed warily and with respect and not to be prodigall in bestowing graces and fauours and when any great difficulty did arise hee did referre it to the Councell Onely he was afraid that the bad affection of the Protestants towards the Church of Rome might cause some excursion into Italie which A difference about precedence betweene the Dukes of Florence and of Ferrara would bee deriued wholly vpon himselfe and hee saw an ouerture thereof by a difference of precedence betweene the Dukes of Florence and Ferrara who descended to vnciuill termes Cosmo Duke of Florence said hee held the place of the Florentine republique which was euer preferred before the Dukes of Ferrara Alfonso Duke of Ferrara pretended that the Dukedome had continued in the house of his progenitors for many successions whereas Cosmo was the first Duke of Florence whose precedencie could not be maintained by the right of the Republique because it was no more in being This Duke was fauoured by Francis as cousin to Henry the second and brother in law to those of the house of Guise The other grounded himselfe vpon a sentence of Charles the fifth in his fauour Alfonso made instance in Germanie that the Emperour with the Electors would bee iudge of it in a Diet. The Pope thought it dangerous that the Diet of Germany should giue sentence concerning Italy which did by consequence import an execution and danger of Armes For remedie whereof he wrote to both the Dukes that it belonged onely to the Apostolique Sea and Vicar of CHRIST to giue sentence in such causes commanding them both to shew him their proofes and to expect his determination And to be prepared for all euents hee resolued to fortifie the Castle of Rome and the Citie Leonina commonly called Borgo and other places in his State as hee thought conuenient and imposed a taxe of three Iulij vpon euery measure of corne called a Rubie throughout his whole Territory And not to giue cause of iealousie to Princes he called the Ambassadours of the Emperour Spaine Portugal and Venice to whom hee imparted his determination and his reasons commanding them to aduertise their Princes of it and sayd that the Subsidie layd vpon his Subiects would be but small lesse then that which was imposed by Paul 4. when hee commanded the celebration of the Chaire of Saint Peter because by his imposition the poore man paid but three Iulij a yeere but by the Feast of Paul 4. did lose fiue and that dayes worke The time prefixed to begin the Councell approaching the Pope not to The Pope appointeth Presidents for the Councell faile in any thing that was to bee performed by him deputed Legate to preside Hercules Gonzaga Cardinall of Mantua a man eminent in regard of the greatnesse of his house of his brother Ferandus and of his owne vertue Hee vsed the Emperour to perswade him to accept and was confident of his worth and dexteritie To him hee ioyned Iacobus Puteus of Nizza an excellent Lawyer who was exercised a long time first in the Rota and then in the Signature saying that hee purposed to make three more and that if hee could not finde able men in the Colledge hee would create new Cardinals Diuines and Lawyers men of honesty for this imployment And hee called a Congregation of Cardinals and Prelates to giue order for all things necessary for the beginning of the Councell in Trent at the time appointed and letters came very fitly from the French King and in conformity of The French King accepteth the Bull. them his Ambassadour Mounsiear of Angolesme did declare vnto him that he was content with the Councel vpon any tearmes being desirous to see the effect of it and that fruit which all Christendome did require And he sent Mounsieur de Ramboullet expressely vnto him to make the same request and to represent vnto him the necessities of France and to tell him of the instance made vnto him herein by the States assembled in Orliens signifying vnto him that if this remedie were not quickly applyed hee should bee constrained to receiue a medicine in his owne Kingdome by an Assembly of his Prelates in regard there was no meanes to compose the differences of Religion but by a free Generall Councell or in defect thereof by a Nationall The Pope answered that none did desire the Councel more then himselfe the delay whereof proceeded not from him but from the diuers opinions of Princes for whose satisfaction he had giuen such a forme to the Bull as seemed most fit to content them all They changed their opinion in France because beeing in as bad a state as might bee thought that euery mutation made elsewhere would better their condition Viterbo wrote out of Spaine that the King did approoue his propositions and that after some consultation with his Prelates was finally resolued to accept the Bull without making any difficultie and to send his Prelates as And so doth the King of Spaine soone as the season was fit for trauell and an honourable Ambassage to assist in the Councell Hee sent aduice also that the Prelates of Portugall were already parted from their houses and that the King would send an Ambassadour but that he had perceiued that
Catholiques Others sayd it would bee generally good to handle these controuersies often because the parties would by this meanes become familiar malice and other bad affections would cease and many wayes of composition might be found and that there was no other course to extirpate the euill that had taken such deepe roote For the Court being diuided vnder pretence of religion it was impossible they should be reconciled except all obstinacie layd aside they did tolerate one another and take that cloake out of the hands of vnquiet and turbulent people with which they couer their bad actions The Pope vnderstanding that the Colloquie was dissolued without doing Wherwith the Pope is well pleased any thing was very glad and much commended the Cardinall of Loraine and Tornon more The zeale of the Iesuite pleased him and sayd hee might be compared to the ancient Saints hauing without respect of the King and Princes maintained Gods cause and vpbrayded the Queene to her face On the contrary hee reprehended the oration of the Chancellour saying The Chancellour of France is blamed in Rome together with the whole gouernment of that kingdom it was hereticall in many parts and threatned to call him into the Inquisition The Court also when it was diuulged to them was distasted with it and coniectured that all the gouernours of the Kingdome had the same disposition toward Rome and the French Ambassadour had much adoe to defend himselfe That which hapned to the Cardinall of Ferrara is not to bee omitted as The entertainment of the Cardinall of Ferrara in France being of affinitie to the matter whereof I write That Prelate was receiued at the first by the King and Queene with much honour and hauing presented the Popes letters of credence was acknowledged for Legate of the Apostolike Sea by their Maiesties by the Princes and Clergie But the Parliament hauing discouered that amongst his Commissions one was to desire a reuocation or moderation at the least of the things accorded in the States of Orleance the last of Ianuary concerning the distribution of Benefices and particularly the prohibition of paying Annates to Rome and sending money out of the Kingdome to obtaine Benefices there or other fauours did immediatly publish the Decrees which had not been punished vntill that time vnder the date of the thirteenth of September that the Cardinall might not obtaine his purpose and did resolue not to giue the Legate leaue to vse the Faculties giuen him by the Pope For the custome of that kingdome is that a Legate cannot exercise his office if his Faculties be not first presented and examined in Parliament and regulated and moderated by a decree thereof and confirmed in that forme by the Kings Briefe so that when the Bull of the Faculties of the Legation was presented to bee as they say approoued it was refused by the Chancellour and Parliament alleadging that it was already determined not to vse any more dispensations against the rules of the Fathers nor collation of Benefices against the Canons But the Cardinall had a greater affront in that Pasquins were made and spread both in the Court and Citie of Paris concerning the loues of Lucretia Borgia his mother and Pope Alexander the sixt his Grand-father by the mothers side with repetition of the obscenities diuulged throughout all Italy in the time of that Popedome which made the Cardinall ridiculous to the people The first thing hee vndertooke was to hinder the preaching of the Reformatists who after the Colloquie did practise it more freely then before and vsed perswasions and made secret promises to the Ministers And because hee had no credit with them in regard of his kinred with the house of Guise for which reason also he was held suspected by all the opposites of that familie to gaine reputation he made acquaintance with the Nobles of the Hugonot faction and went to their feasts and sometimes was present at their Sermons His familiarity with the Hugonots in the habit of a Gentleman By all which he gained nothing because many thought he did it as Legate by consent of the Pope and the Court of Displeaseth the Court of Rome Rome was displeased with his actions The Queene of France vnderstanding that the King of Spaine tooke the Colloquie in ill part sent Iaques de Montbrun expresly to him who made a large The Q. mother sendeth an Ambassadour into Spaine to excuse the Colloquie excuse that all was done for necessitie and not in fauour of the Protestants and that the King and Queene without speaking any more of a Nationall Councell were resolued to send their Bishops to Trent as soone as might bee The King answered him in generall words and referred him to the Duke of Alua who hauing heard his Ambaslage said that the King was sory that in a kingdome so neere and so neerely allied to him in kinred religion should be so ill handled that there was neede of that seuerity which Henry vsed in a Mercuriall Congregation and Francis in Amboise not long since hee prayed the Queene to make prouision in regard the danger of France belonging to him also hee was resolued by the aduice of his Councell to imploy all his forces and his life also to extinguish the common pestilence whereunto he was sollicited by the Grandies and people of France The wise Spaniards thought The Spaniards would haue cured y e maladies of Flanders with the medicine of France to cure the maladies of Flanders by the medicine of France which were not lesse but onely were lesse apparant and tumultuous The King of Spaine could neuer make the States assemble to obtaine a contribution or donatiue but priuate assemblies in Cambray Valentia and Tornay were discouered The Magistrate hauing forbid them and imprisoned some of them they put themselues into Armes with great danger of rebellion and it seemed that the Prince of Orange and Count Egmont were open fauourers of them especially after that the Prince had married Anne daughter of Maurice Duke of Saxonie The Prince of Orange marieth the daughter of y e Duke of Saxony deceased which did much displease the King foreseeing what issue such a marriage might haue contracted by one of his Subiects with a Protestant of so great adherence Yet the Spaniards spake as if Flanders had beene sound and that they feared infection in France onely which they would haue purged with warre And the Ambassadour was answered concerning the King of Nauarre of whose businesse he had Commission to treate that hee deserued nothing for the small care hee had of religion and that if hee would haue fauour he should first mooue warre against the Hugonots in France The Queene also excused the same Colloquie to his Holinesse by the Kings Ambassadour in Rome telling him that to put the Hugonots to silence who said they were persecuted before they were heard and to appease their commotions the King was forced to graunt them publique audience in the
determination to the Cardinals exhorting them to consider that it did not stand with the honour of the Apostolike Sea nor of that Colledge to receiue rules and reformations from others and that the condition of the times when all crie out for reformation not vnderstanding what The Pope promiseth to make a reformation in the Court. it is did require that in regard of the glorious name thereof it should not bee refused that in this contrariety of reasons the best temper was to make by way of preuention a reformation of his owne accord which would not serue to that purpose onely but win commendations also by making himselfe an example to others that for this cause hee would reforme the Penitentiary and Datary principall members of the Court and afterwards consider of smaller matters and he deputed cardinals for one and the other charge He discoursed of the causes why the opening of the Councell could And hastneth the opening of the Councell no longer be deferred For it being discouered that the Vltramontans haue bad ends and disseignes to abate the absolute power which GOD hath giuen to the Pope of Rome the more time they haue to thinke on it the more their plots will encrease and that there is danger that by time some of the Italians may bee gained also that therefore it is the safest way to vse expedition and that if the great expences which are made in maintaining the Prelats be not quickly ended the Apostolike Sea will not bee able to beare them Afterwards he gaue the crosse of the Legation to the Card. Altemps with order to put himselfe in readinesse and to bee in Trent at the opening of the Councell if it were possible The cause why hee reuoked the order giuen at the departure of Cardinall Simoneta to open the Councell at his arriuall was the instance of the Emperours Ambassador in Rome that the Ambassadours of his Master might bee present at it But afterward hauing aduertized his Holinesse that they would be in Trent before the midst of Ianuary hee earnestly entreated the Marquis of Pescara whom the King of Spaine had sent Ambassadour to the Councell to bee in Trent and assist at the opening of it Hee solicited the Venetians also to send their Ambassage beeing carefull that that ceremony should passe with reputation Notwithstanding he wrote to the Legats to open the Councell so soone as the Ambassadors of the Emperour and of the forenamed Princes were arriued and that if they came not by the middest of the moneth they should deferre it no longer And in this coniuncture the yeere 1561 did end THE SIXT BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT THe Legats 1562 PIVS 4. FARDINAND ELIZABETH CHARLES 9. in conformitie of that which the A generall congregation is hel the 15. of April in which two great controuersies did arise Pope had last commanded the fifteenth of Ianuary made a generall Congregation in which the Cardinall of Mantua as prime Legate made a discourse to shew how necessary and fit it was to open the Councell and exhorted the Prelates to promote so sacred and pious a worke with fastings almes and frequent Masses Afterwards the Bull of the Legation was read dated the tenth of March which was in generall termes with the vsuall clauses that he sent them as Angels of peace to preside in the Councell which was to begin at Easten After this three other Briefes were read The first dated the fifth of March and was a facultie to the Legates to giue leaue to the Prelates and Diuines to reade during the time of the Councell bookes prohibited The second dated the three and twentieth of May that the Legates should haue facultie to absolue those who would secretly abiure for cause of heresies The third was dated the last of december in which the Pope to take away all controuersie which might happen betweene the Prelates about precedencie doth command that the Patriarkes should haue the first place the Archbishop the second and the Bishops the third regarding onely the time of the promotion not the dignitie of the Sea or of the Primacie whether true or pretended This being read Friar Bartholomew de Marâ—iri Archbishop of Braga in One about precedence of the Prelates Portugall exclaimed that the Councell should begin with doing iniurie to the principall Churches of Christendome saying that his Sea which had the Primacie of Spaine should by this sentence be made inferiour not onely to three Archbishopricks subiect vnto him but also to the Archbishop of Rosano who hath no Suffragan and to the Archbishops of Nissia and Antiuari who haue not any residencie and scarce any Christians to gouerne that it is not equitable to make one law for ones selfe and another for others and to pretend the preseruation of ones owne right and to depriue others of theirs He spake so earnestly that the Legats were troubled and did hardly pacifie him though they caused a declaration to bee written that the Popes meaning and theirs was that no man should gaine or lose any right by that Decree neither in 〈…〉 possission but that euery Primate whether true or pretended should after the Councell remaine in the same state in which hee was before The Archbishop beeing with much adoe appeased the other Spaniards made request that the opening of the Councell Another whether this Conuocation of the Councell should be a continuation of the old or a new Councell might be declared to be a continuation of that which was begun vnder Paul and prosecuted by Iulius le 〈…〉 any one might cauill that it was a new Councell The Bishop of Zante who had been in Germany and knew how that action would be calumniated and how distastfull to the Emperour replied that as the things already determined ought not to bee questioned but held as decided so to declare so much now without necessitie would cut off all hope from the Emperour and French King to finde such a coniuncture as that the Protestants would submit themselues to the Councell and assist in it The Legats especially Mantua and Varmiense did second the opinion of the Bishop with many discourses and much was spoken on both sides very bitterly and the Spaniards sayd they would protest and returne yet after many consultations they finally agreed to desist from their instance not to oppose the Emperour the French King the Dutchmen and Frenchmen nor to giue matter of complaint to the Protestants so that no words were vsed to signifie it was a new Councell or to preiudice the continuation The Cardinals promised in the Popes name that his Holinesse would confirme whatsoeuer was done in Trent in the two precedent Councels though this were dissolued without conclusion The Spaniards were content and after long discoursing it was concluded that a forme of words should be vsed A decree for opening the Councell to signifie that the Councell did begin to be celebrated all suspension being remoued which
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
opposite whose Ambassadours would be in Trent very shortly he resolued to giue the King 100000. crownes and to lend him as much in the Name of Marchants vpon sufficient assurance for the principall and the interest so that he would in earnest and without dissimulation reuoke the Edicts and make warre for religion that with that money Suisses and Germanes might be leuied to bee vnder the conduct of his Legate and the collours of the Church that no Hugonot should bee pardoned without his consent that the Chancellor the Bishop of Valence and others to bee named by him should be imprisoned that in the Councel nothing should be handled against his authority and that his Ambassadours should not make mention of the Annats Yet he promised to accord with the King in that matter and to reforme it to the satisfaction of his Maiestie Afterwards the Pope consulted on the point of Residence that when there was occasion hee might speake thereof correctly without preiudice to himselfe or scandall to others And hauing well discussed the reasons hee setled his opinion to approoue it and cause it to be executed vpon what He consulteth on the point of Residence law soeuer it were grounded whether Canonicall or Euangelicall And so he answered the French Ambassadour who spake to him of it adding that he alone is deputed to see the execution of all the Euangelicall precepts For CHRIST hauing sayd to S. Peter Feede my Lambes hath ordained that all the orders made by his diuine Maiestie shall be executed by meanes of him onely and that hee would make a Bull thereof with a penalty of depriuation of the Bishoprickes which should be more feared then a declaration which the Councell might make de iure Diuine And the Ambassadour insisting vpon the liberty of the Councell hee said that if all liberty were graunted vnto it they would extend it to reforme not onely the Pope but Secular Princes also And this forme of speech much pleased his Holinesse who was wont to say that nothing was worse then to stand vpon the defence onely and that if others did threaten him with the Councell hee would play with them at the same weapons At this time to begin to execute that which hee had requested and promised And reformeth the Court in petty matters onely that is to reforme the Court that the Councell might not meddle with it he first published a reformation of the Penitentiary a very principall member giuing out a report that hee would shortly also reforme the Chancerie and the Chamber Euery one did expect that the things belonging to the saluation of soules should haue beene regulated which are managed in that office but in the Bull there was not any the least mention made of repentance conscience or any other spirituall thing onely it tooke away the Faculties which the Penitentiary doth exercise in diuers causes beneficiall belonging to the exterior discipline of regular Friars not expressing whether that prouision was made to giue those Faculties to some other officers or whether hee esteemed them abuses vndecent and would banish them from Rome But the euent did immediatly take away the doubt For the same things were obtained from the Datary and by other wayes onely with greater charge And this was the fruit of the reformation But to returne to Trent the Fathers hauing deliuered their opinions and the deputies framed nine Decrees for the Articles of Matrimonie as already decided and of residencie by consent of the Legats and of some of the Fathers perswaded thereunto were omitted they proposed them to bee established in Congregation and to bee read in the Session at the time appointed By reason of this omission the demands of those that fauoured residency Another contendon about Residence were stirred vp Wherunto the Legats answering that that Article was not wel discussed nor was fit to be proposed in that Session but that it should bee done in time conuenient they were more earnest then before alleadging that there would neuer bee a greater opportunitie murmuring that it was a tricke neuer to conclude it But they were forced to relent seeing the Legates resolute not to handle it then and because those of the contrary opinion encouraged from Rome did labour more effectually to the contrarie Therefore speaking of the other Articles onely with some few alterations the nine heads were framed The Maquis of Pescara made earnest suite in the Kings name that that Councel might be declared to be a Continuation of the Councell begun vnder Paul 3. and prosecuted vnder Iulius He was assisted by the Spanish Prelates The Spanish Ambassadour maketh siut to haue the Continuation declared and others who followed them alleadging that it was to be done for necessity of faith and that otherwise the determinations already made would be questioned which would be a notable impiety The Emperours Ambassadors vsed strong perswasions to the contrary saying they would presently depart And is opposed by the Emperours Ambassadors protest For the Emperor hauing giuen his word to Germany that that Conuocation should be a new Councel he could not indure so great an affront They said they would not by this meanes reexamine the things decided but that while there was hope to reduce Germany they would not cut it off especially with so much disgrace of the Emperor Card. Seripando had no other aime but that it should be determined to be a continuation formerly in making the Bul of the Conuocation did labour therein did now effectually further the Spaniards request But Mantua did constantly resist that such an iniurie might not be done to the Emperor without necessitie and he found a temper to pacifie the Spaniards saying that hauing already held 2. Sessions without making mention of this proposition it will be no preiudice to deferre it also to another The resolution of the Emperors Ambassadors to depart and the perswasion of the Card. caused Pescara to proceed more rimisly And letters came very fitly from Lewis de Lansac chiefe of the Ambassadours sent to the Councel from the French King who beeing in his voyage not farre distant wrote to the Legats and Fathers to pray them that the Session might be prorogued vntil he his Colleagues were come Mantua making vse of this occasion proposed the prorogation of the Session for which though they would not consent in regard of maintaining the dignity of the Synod yet they resolued some for one respect some for another and some because the humors of residence were not wel quieted to celebrate it without proposing any thing The 14. day being come they met in the publike Session with the vsuall A Session is held Ceremonies where the Masse and the prayers accustomed being ended the Secretary read the Mandats of Princes according to the order in which the Ambassadors presented themselues in Congregation Of the Catholike king of the Duke of Florence of the Suisses of the Clergie of Hungary and of
the Germanes in the Diet to goe and submit themselues to the Councell For so long as the Dutch and French-men continue in their resolution not to goe to it nor acknowledge it the Fathers doe in vaine abide there to their great cost and incommoditie and when his Maiestie shall see they cannot be perswaded he will procure a suspension of the Councel thinking it will bee a greater seruice to God and benefit to the Church to leaue matters vndecided and in the state they are expecting a more fit time for the conuersion of those who are separated then by precipitating as hath beene done vntill that time the decision of controuersies in absence of those who haue put them in disputation to make the Protestants irreconciliable without any benefit of the Catholiques saying that in the meane while they might treat of the Reformation that the Ecclesiasticall goods may bee distributed to persons of desert and all haue part of them and the reuenues may be well dispensed and the part belonging to the poore not vsurped by any and such other things In the end hee demaunded of them whether the Count of Luna comming with the title of the Emperours Ambassadour the difference betweene Spaine and France for precedence will cease The Legates answered to this last that they did not see what pretence the French-men could haue to contend and for the rest they sayd they could not forbeare to handle the points of doctrine but that with them they would handle the Reformation effectually according to the order set downe by the Synode They commended the Emperours intention to desire the Protestants to submit but added that for this hope the Councell ought not to bee prolonged For the Emperour Charles in the Papacie of Iulius the 3. made meanes for the same and obtained it also but the Dutch-men proceeded with dissimulation to the damage of the Church and of the Emperour himselfe Therefore it was not fit the Councell should change its pace before the Emperour was assured of the intentions of the Princes and people aswell Catholique as Protestant and what kinde of obedience they will yeeld to the Decrees made already and to be made in this Councel and in the former requiring the obseruation of the Synode with authenticall Mandats of the Prouinces and Princes and obligation from them for the execution of the Decrees that their cost and labour may not be in vaine and laughed at And in conformity heereof they answered the Emperour A Congregation was held the 25. of October to receâ—ue Valentinus Erbuâ—us The Ambassador of Polonia is receiued Bishop of Premisa Ambassadour of Polonia who made a short spe 〈…〉 concerning the Kings deuotion the tumults of the Kingdome about religion the necessity of a good reformation the vsing of some remission in yeelding to the desires of the people in matters which are de iure positiuo The Speaker answered in the Synods name thanking the King and the Ambassadour and offering to giue assistance in all the occasions of that Kingdome The Legats did not permit that any thing else should bee handled in that Congregation for the cause which shall be related The Court in Rome and the Popes Ministers in Trent were no lesse troubled with the Spaniards and their adherents in Councell then with the expectation of the comming of Loraine and of the french-men with which they were not so much mooued so long as there was hope that some rubbe might stoppe them as after that certaine newes came that they would The coÌ„ming of the French Prelates doth much trouble the Pope and Court keepe the day of All Saints with the Duke of Sauoy The Cardinal either vainly or of purpose made it knowne at the french Court before he parted and in many places in the iourney that he would handle diuers things in diminution of the popes authority and commodities of the Court which beeing reported diuers waies both in Rome and Trent made an impression in both places that the generall intention of the French-men was to prolong the Councel and according to occasions to discouer and put in practise their particular desseignes and they had coniectures to make them beleeue that it was not without the knowledge of the Emperour and of other Princes and Lords of Germany And howsoeuer they were assured that the Catholique King held not full intelligence with them yet they had strong arguments to make them beleeue that his desseigne was to prolong the Councel or at the least not to suffer it to end To crosse this purpose they How the reformation of Princes began determined to propose the abuses of the Kingdome of France and to let the Ambassadours vnderstand that they would make prouision for them because all Princes who desire a reformation in the Church would not willingly endure any at all of themselues so that they thought that if any matter of importance were handled to their preiudice they would forbeare and make their Prelats forbeare also to speake of things preiudiciall to the Apostolique Sea Therefore after some packets had passed betweene Rome and Trent it beeing iudged a good course the abuses were collected which were said to be principally in France and partly in other Dominions And hence the reformation of Princes began which in the relation of the things that follow will affoord vs much matter Besides in Rome it was thought to bee a good remedie that the Legates should bridle the transcendent boldnesse of the Prelates vsing their authority and superiority more then they had done And in Trent it was thought to be a good course to keepe the Prelates their adherents vnited well edified and satisfied For howsoeuer the voyces of the contrary part might encrease yet they should euer exceede in number and bee Lords of the resolutions And they thought fitte also proceed to finish the Councel or suspend or translate it They wrot also and made many of the popish Prelates to write to their friends and Patrons in Rome that there could bee no better resolution or prouision then to giue occasion which might easily bee done that some Prince might desire the suspension not suffering any to slippe and for this end they demanded diuers Briefes to be sent from Rome in matter of translation suspension c. that they might make vse of them as occasion was offered They counselled the Pope also to goe to Bolonia in person For besides the receiuing of more frequent and fresh aduices and the sudden making of incident and necessary prouisions hee might haue a colourable reason to translate the Councel to that Citie vpon euery small occasion or to suspend it desiring him that as they had imparted nothing to the Cardinall Madruccio so nothing might come to the eares of the Cardinall of Trent his vncle who for many respects and particular interests would certainely vse all meanes that it might not bee transferred from Trent To quench the boyling heat in the controuersie about the institution of
King refused to goe thither to oppose his person against the ill disposition of the people and the dessignes of the Grandies as Granuel the chiefe in that Gouernment had giuen him counsell For that wise King knew how dangerous it was to be contemned to his face and doubted that in stead of gaining Flanders hee should make it more contumacious and in the meane while loose Spaine But he thought The Queene mother resuseth the Spanish armie that by subduing the Frenchmen who rebelled against their King hee might make an absolute prouision against the contumacie of his owne Subiects And therefore he offered the Queene great assistance of men and money sufficient to subiect the whole Kingdome vnto her But the Queene refused the men and demanded the money knowing that if she had receiued a Spanish armie she should haue beene forced to gouerne France not according to her owne intrests but of the King of Spaine Yet taking a middle course she receiued sixe thousand men with which and with her owne forces conducted by the Constable and the Duke of Guise the battell was made the seauenteenth day aforesaid in which three thousand Hugonots and fiue thousand Catholiques were slaine and the Generals on both sides Conde and the Constable taken prisoners Neither of the armies was discomsited by venue of the Lieutenants on both sides Guise for the Catholiques and Colignie for the Hugonots The Queene did make Guise the Generall which did not deterre Collignie from maintaining his armie preseruing the places he possessed and making some progresse also For this victorie for so it was called though it deserued not the name thankes were giuen to God in Trent by all the Fathers assembled together making a procession singing a Masse Franciscus Belcarrus Bishop of Metz made an Oration also in which relating all the storie of the confusions of France since the death of Francis the second and the successe of the last warâ—e Solemnities are vsed in Trent for the victory in France hee gaue the praise of all that was well done to the Duke of Guise only Hee said Martin Luther was cause of all those troubles who though but a little sparke had raised a great fire first in Germanie and afterwards in all the Prouinces of Christendome except Italie and Spaine Hee exhorted the Fathers to assist the Christian common-wealth because they onely were able to extinguish that flame Hee told them that this was the sixe and twentieth yeere since Paul the third began to heale this disease by intimating the Councell there which was first deferred then dissembled and finally celebrated with diuers factions vntill it was transferred to Bolonia where there were many dilations and greater contentions and more bitter factions then before Afterwards it was recalled to Trent and by reason of the warres dissolued Now that they were come to the last there was no more place for dissimulation because the Councell would either reconcile the whole world or cast it headlong into an infallible ruine Therefore it was fit that the Fathers should not regard their priuate interests nor haue particular designes nor speake in fauour of others in regard the cause of religion was in question which will be vtterly ouerthrowne if they cast their eye vpon any thing besides This libertie of speach hee tempered with flatterie first towards the Pope then towards the Emperour kings of the Romanes and of Polonia He passed to the commendations of the Queene Mother of France and of the King of Portugal and in the end exhorted them to reforme the Ecclesiasticall discipline The Cardinall of Loraine hauing receiued newes of the imprisonment of the Prince was very glad particularly for the honour of his brother and desired the more to returne quickly into France to assist him in the Court and in the Kings Councell and to raise himselfe also one degree higher in regard Nauar and the Constable to whom hee was neccessarily to yeeld were both taken away The Pope was full of suspicion for the iourney to Ispruc which the Emperour The Pope is troubled that the Emperour will goe to Ispruc had published thinking hee would not goe thither without great designes and without assurance to effect them Hee beleeued hee had secret intelligence with France and Spaine but knew not to what ende but onely in generall that it was a plot against him Therefore hee resolued to goe in person to Bolonia to send eight or tenne Cardinals to Trent to make greater alliance with the Italian Princes and to confirme the Prelates his adherents in Councell vntill bee could finde some occasion to dissolue or suspend it And â—o hinder all treaties in Trent of reforming the Court hee laboured much himselfe in that businesse Hee reformed the Rota publishing a Briefe dated the seuen and twentieth of December in which he ordained that no Auditâ—r should proceede to a definitiue howsoeuer the case might be plaine before he made the proposition to the whole Colledge without 1563 PIVS 4. FEâ—â—INAND ELIZABETH CHARLES 9. PHILIP 2. consent of the parties that the sentences propounded in writing should be produced within fifteene dayes that the causes of the Auditors themselues or of their kinsfolke vnto the second degree or of any of their familie shall not bee heard in the Rota that the parties shall not bee forced to receue an Aduocate that no decision shall bee made against those which bee printed except two thirds of the voyces doe consent that they shall bee bound to remit euery cause which seemeth to bee criminall In the same Bull hee made also a taxe for moderation of fees Hee reformed likewise by other Bulls published the first of the next Ianuarie the signature of iustice the tribunals of Rome the office of the Friscall Aduocate ordaining what fees they should haue But the vsuall extorsions were so farre from being redressed by those prouisions that by transgressing the new orders they learned to violate the olde which were in some vse The Courtiers in Rome thinking the Catholikes in France had gotten an absolute victorie and that the Hugonots were reduced to nothing were exceeding glad For beleeuing that France had obtained that by Armes which it expected from the Synode and there being no further regard to bee had of Germanie which protested against it they thought that all causes of holding the Councel were ceased so that it might be suspended or deferred and them selues deliuered from feare which had increased euery weeke by reason of the nouities which happened in Trent But the Pope made no great matter of it For being informed that the Catholike forces were not augmented nor the Hugonots diminished and that this battell would giue occasion to treate a peace which could not bee without his preiudice nor without giuing matter of more nouities in Trent hee was more afraide and troubled then before And the yeere 1562. ended thus a congregation in Trent hauing beene helde the thirtieth of the moneth in which it was
the world and laughter of those who had forsaken the obedience of the Church of Rome who would bee incited to retaine their opinions with greater obstinacie there had beene no Session held of a long time that while Princes did labour to vnite the aduersaries differing in opinions the Fathers came to contentions vnworthy of them that there was a fame that his Holinesse meant to dissolue or suspend the Councell perhaps mooued thereunto by the present state thereof but that his opinion was to the contrary For it had beene better it had neuer beene begun then left vnperfect with the scandall of the world contempt of his Holinesse and of the whole Clergie preiudice of this and other future generall Councels losse of that small remainder of Catholiques and opinion of the world that the end of the dissolution or suspension was onely to hinder the reformation that in the intimation of it his Holinesse did desire his consent and of other Kings and Princes which he did in imitation of his predecessors who alwayes haue thought it necessary for many respects that the same reason doth conclude that it cannot be dissolued or suspended without the same consent And he exborted him not to hearken to those who would haue him to dissolue it a thing shamefull and vnprofitable which vndoubtedly would be a cause of Nationall Councels so much abhorred by his Hol. as contrary to the vnity of the Church which as they haue been hindred by Princes to preserue the Popes authoritie so they cannot be denyed or deferred any more Hee perswaded him to maintaine the libertie of the Councell which was impeached principally by three causes One because euery thing was first consulted of at Rome another because the Legats had assumed to themselues onely the libertie of proposing which ought to be common to all the third because of the practises which some Prelats interested in the greatnesse of the Court of Rome did make He said that a reformation of the Church being necessary and the common opinion being that the abuses haue their beginning and growth in Rome it was fit for common satisfaction that the reformation should bee made in Councell and not in that Cittie And therefore desired his Holinesse to be content that the demands exhibited by his Ambassadours and by other Princes might be proposed In the conclusion he told him hee purposed to assist in Councell personally and exhorted his Holinesse to doe the like This letter was dispatched the third of March and it gaue much offence With which his Holinesse is offended to the Pope For hee thought that the Emperour did embrace much more then his authoritie did reach vnto and passed the termes of his Predecessors men more potent then himselfe But he was displeased more when hee was aduised by his Nuncio that hee had sent copies of the same Letter to other Princes and to the Cardinall of Loraine also which could bee done to no other end but to incite them against him and to iustifie his owne actions Besides Doctor Scheld great Chancellor to the Emperour perswaded Delphinus the Popes Nuncio in that Court that he would be a meanes that the words Vniuersalem Ecclesiam might bee taken away which did inferre the superioritie of the Pope aboue the Councell saying that these times did not comport they should be vsed and that the Emperour and himselfe also did know that Charles the fift of happy memory did hold the contrary opinion in this article and that they should take heed of giuing occasion to his Maiestie and other Princes to declare what they thinke 〈◊〉 The Pope considered that Loraine also had written that it was not 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the difficultie of the words Vniuersalem Ecclesiam c and the aduice which came from Trent that the Cardinall said that neither himselfe nor the French Prelats could endure them that they might not â—anâ—nize an opinion contrary to all 〈…〉 ance which when men came to speake plainly in the discussion of this point would haue more fauorers then was beleeued that they were deceiued who thought she contrary which shewed clearely that hee had treated hereof at the Emperours Court These things considered the Pope thought fit to make a good answere and to send about also to iustifie himselfe Therefore hee wrote to the Emperour that hee had called the Councell with the participation of him and of other Kings and Princes not because And answereth the letter thus the Apostolike Sea had need in gouerning the Church to expect the consent of any authority whatsoeuer because hee had pleniâ—ude of power from CHRIST that all the ancient Councels haue beene assembled by authority of the Bishop of Rome nor any Prince euer interposed but as a meere executor of his will hee had neuer had any purpose either to dissolue or to suspend the Councell but hath alwayes purposed to giue a compleat end for the seruice of GOD that by consulting Rome of the same matters which were disputed in Trent the libertie of the Councel was not only not hindred but promoted rather that no Councell was euer celebrated in absence of the Pope but that hee hath sent instructions which the Fathers haue also followed that the instructions doe still remaine which Pope Celestinus sent the Ephâ—sine Councell Pope Leo to that of Chalcedon Pope Agatho to than of Trullus Pope Adrian the first to the second of Nice Pope Adrian the second to the eighth generall Councell of Constantinople that for proposing in the Councell it hath alwayes belonged to the Pope whensoeuer he hath bin present yea he alone hath resolued and the Councell done nothing but approoue that in absence of the Pope the Legats haue euer proposed or others deputed by them in conformitie whereof the Councell of Trent hath determined that the Legates should propose that this is necessary for the keeping of order in regard there would be a great confusion if the Prelats 〈…〉 iltuously and one against another might set on foote matters seditious and in conuenient that the Legaes haue neuer refused to propose any thing that is profitable that the practises made by dideâ—s against the authoritie of the Apostolike Sea hath much displeased him that all the bookes of the Fathers and Councels are full that the Pope successour of Peter and Vicar of CHRIST is Rastor of the vniuersall Church that many conuenticles and 〈◊〉 haue beene made in Trent against this trueth how soeuer the Church hath alwayes vsed this forme of speech as his Maiestie might feel 〈◊〉 the place which he sent him cited in a paper inclosed 〈…〉 present A paper full of quotations 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 because his Legates vsing 〈…〉 bad 〈◊〉 〈…〉 g take occasion to speake against the libert of the Councell had 〈…〉 to bee contemned so that the Councell might be◠〈…〉 that for reformation hee de 〈…〉 it should 〈…〉 and absolute and hath continually solliâ—â—ted his Legates to resolue vpon 〈◊〉 concerning the Court the
residence was exquisitely obserued by all before any Canons or humane Decrees were made because euery one held that hee was bound by God But since that some haue perswaded themselues that there was no obligation but that which is deriued from humane Lawes howsoeuer these haue often beene renewed and fortified with penalties yet all hath still growen worse and worse The same day Cardinall Seripando dyed to the great griefe of all the Prelates and of all Trent hauing in the morning receiued the Sacrament of the Eucharist which hee tooke out of his bed vpon his knees After that hee returned into his bed and in the presence of fiue Prelates and of the Secretaries of Venice and Florence and of all his familie hee made a long Oration The death of Seripando in Latin vntill his spirits did faile him hee confessed his faith wholly confortable to the Catholique of the Romane Church spake of the workes of a Christian of the Resurrection of the dead of the affaires of the Councell recommending the progresse of it to the Legates and the Cardinall of Loraine but striuing to set downe the meanes his spirit did faile him and he sayd that GOD had forbid him to proceede further but that his Diuine Maiestie would speake himselfe in time and place and so passed without saying any more The Count of Luna wrote from the Emperours Court to Martin Gusdelun the Secretary and sent a copy of a letter written to him from the King in which his Maiesty did aduise that the Pope had complained to him of the Spanish Prelates and howsoeuer hee beleeued that his Holinesse was not well informed thinking that the Prelates would shew deuotion towards the Apostolique Sea yet hee gaue order to the Count that at his comming to Trent hee should cause them to fauour the Pope as farre as their conscience could permit and so to carry themselues that his Holinesse might not haue cause to complaine of him And to this purpose the Count wrote also to Granata Segouia and Leon. The eighteenth of March in which no Congregation was held by reason of the obsequies of Seripando the French Ambassadours appeared solemnely before the two Legates and complained that these eleuen moneths since the first day of their arriuall in Trent vntill then they had made knowen the desolations of France and the dangers of Christendome for the differences of Religion and declared that the most vnecessary and principall remedie was a good intire reformation of manners and s 〈…〉 moderation of positiue Lawes and had alwayes receiued good hope and gracious wordes but could neuer see any effect of them that the reformation is auoyded as much as is possible that the greater part of the Fathers and Theologues are now more hard and seuere th 〈…〉 i◠〈◊〉 yielding to the necessitie of the time they prayed them to consider how many good men dyed before they were able to doe any good worke for the publique seruice whereof the Cardinals of M 〈…〉 and Seripando were examples desiring them to doe something for the discharge of their conscience while they had ti 〈…〉 The 〈◊〉 answered that they were displeased with this long deferring of matters 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and Seripando were cause that themselues 〈…〉 so great a weight praying them to expect 〈◊〉 and N 〈…〉 〈◊〉 would presently arriue They were 〈◊〉 with the 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 ther because the Imp 〈…〉 made instance 〈◊〉 would 〈…〉 ly expecting the negotiation of the Emperours Ambassadours in Rome who together with Lewis 〈…〉 made request to the Pope that a generall reformation of the whole Church in the Head and in the members might bee made not in Rome but in the Councell and also that the Decree that the Legates onely might propose in Councell should be reuoked as contrary to the liberty of the Ambassadours and Prelates in propounding what they thought profitable these for their Churches and those for their States The negotiation of the Ambassadors of the Emperour King of Spaine in Rome This instance the Emperour the tight fit should be first made to the Pope and afterwards to the Councell Notwithstanding these Princes were not absolutely of one minde For howsoeuer Don Lewis made the same demands apart yet afterwards hee desired the Pope to perswade the Emperour not to seeke the communion of the Cup and marriage of Priests saying that the King had giuen commission to his Ambassadour to goe to Trent and perswade that it should not bee spoken of or if it were that the Spanish Prelates should oppose it Hee exhorted the Pope to endeuour to winne the heretiques by gentlenesse not sending Nuncij but vsing the meanes of the Emperour and of other Princes of authoritie to accept the demands of the Frenchmen and to leaue the Councell free that all may propose and no practises bee vsed in making the resolutions The Popes answere to the Ambassadours was that the decree The Popes answere Proponentibus Legatis should bee so expounded that euery one might propose what he would and that to the Legates which parted lately hee had giuen libertie to resolue all things which might oâ—â—urre in Councell without writing at all that the reformation was desired by him and that he had often made instance for it and that if the world would haue had it from Rome it should haue beene done by this time and put in execution also but seeing they would haue it from Trent if it were not effected the cause ought to bee as 〈…〉 ed onely to the difficulties which were amongst the Fathers that hee desired to see an end of the Councell and did procure and sollicite it nor had euer any thought to suspend it that in conformitie hereof hee would write to the Legates and did write that the Decree proponentibus Legatis was made to take away confusion but that his will was that 〈◊〉 of the Prelates should bee hindered to propose what hee thought fitte and that they should dispatch the 〈◊〉 according to the voyces of the Fathers without expecting any order from Rome But this letter was to giue satisfaction and not to worke any effect For Morone the prime Legate Secret instructions giuen to Cardinall Morone had instructions apart to giue a 〈◊〉 to the orders also which should come from Rome The Pope answered Don Lewis in particular that hee had opened the Councell upon promise of his Maiestie that hee would protect it and preâ—â—rue the authoritie of the Apostoli 〈…〉 Sea but that he found hee was decerted in regard he had 〈…〉 his Prelates then from he was not pleased it should haue license nor be in seruitude to those Princes who preach liberty and are desirous to command that euery one made request to him for the libertie of the Councell but hee did not know whether they had all well considered of what importance it would bee if the Prelates had the raines laid on the necke that howsoeuer there were amongst them some men excellent for
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
did happen she would subiect both those Kingdomes to the obedience of the Apostolique Sea The letters beeing read the Cardinall made an cloqnent Oration to 〈…〉 use the Queene for sending neither Prelates nor Ambassadouts to the Councell because they were all heretiques and promised that she would neuer vary from the true Religion For answere thankes were giuen in the name of the Synode Some laughed because the negotiation was as if it had been of a priuate person not of a Prince and maruelled that she had not so much as one Catholique subiect to send But the wiser sort did beleeue this was begged and extotâ—ed from her because shee was able to doe like a Prince in regard shee had euer many Catholiques about her The Secretarie of Loraine was returned whom he sent to Rome to cleere him of the imputation that he was a Head of a faction whom the Pope receiued with demonstration of loue and seemed to beleeue his exposition and wrote to the Cardinall that he was content that the contentious matterâ— should be omitted the doctrines of Order and Residence not spoken of but the reformation onely treated on Loraine imparting this letter to 〈…〉 that order might be taken to begin was deferred vntill the returne of Morone where with hee was distasted as if he had been mocked by the Pope And ioyning this with the aduice which came vnto him that Morone speaking with the Emperour of the libertie of the Councell sayd that himselfe and the French Ambassadours did hinder it more then others he complained vpon euery occasion to all with whom hee spake that the Councell had no libertie and that not onely the resolution of euery litle particular was made aâ— Rome but that the Fathers and especially the Gardinall M 〈…〉 and himselfe were not thought worthy to know what was commaunded by the Pope that they might conforme themselues to the will of his Ho 〈…〉 and that it was 〈◊〉 that so many 〈◊〉 should bee disparched from Trent to Rome by the Legaâ—s for euery shall 〈…〉 and sometimes 〈…〉 concerning the same matter and yet it could heuer be kno 〈…〉 what resolution or answere came from the 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 hereat because the things went so apparant and publike that they could neither be denied no◠〈◊〉 Loraine full of these â—ll satisfactions beeing called the 〈…〉 consultation to treat of begining the Congregations because Morone had w 〈…〉 would bee in Trent within eight dayes 〈…〉 t parties steel a good while without speaking one word afterwards entring into complements they 〈…〉 from another without talking of the bus 〈…〉 sse The Proctor 〈…〉 the French Prelats who remained in the Kingdome being 〈…〉 in Trent they dessired the Ambassadours that they might bee admitted in Congregation which 〈◊〉 refusing Lansae replied that they La 〈…〉 spor 〈…〉 had doth anded it in reuerence not because they did acknowledge the Legats for Iudges and that hee was resoliue that the difficulty should be proposed in Councell This made the Legats aâ— per their perpose to expect Morone and appointed a Congregation for the fourteen the of May to handle the abuses 〈…〉 Where Loraine giuing his voice 〈…〉 the first point which The Cardinal of Lorain in deliuering his susâ—rage afterwards was taken away for the causes which shall bee related hereafter spake at large of the abuses 〈…〉 ring in that matter And that hee right more 〈…〉 gh against the disorders of Rome he begain with France not spâ—ring the King he could 〈◊〉 the Concordate said that the distribution of the Benefites of the Kingdome which ought 〈◊〉 belong to the Chapters was diuided betweene Pope 〈◊〉 and King F 〈…〉 scareely forbearing to say as the prey is diuided amongst Hunters He disliked that the King and Princesâ— all the nomination of Prelatures and that Cardinals did possesse Bishop 〈…〉 also the vaccord lately made by the King with the Hugonots But leauing France hee sayd that Rome was the fountaine whence all di 〈…〉 that no Cardinall was without a Bishopricke yea without 〈…〉 how 〈…〉 charges were incompatible that the inuention of Commendaes Vnions for life administrations by which against all law many Benefic 〈…〉 with appearance that hee had but 〈…〉 was 〈…〉 king of the Maiestie of GOD. Hee often allead 〈…〉 that place of Saine P 〈…〉 Take heede of errours for God is not mocked and one shall reape only that which hee hath soâ—ed Hee spake much against dispen 〈…〉 by which the strength of all lawes is taken away as also against many other abuses and with such cloquened that hee spent the whole Congregation His discourse was not 〈…〉 taken by the Papalins Simoneta did openly treats with 〈◊〉 Preiats 〈…〉 said he spake like the Lu 〈…〉 and God grant that hee were not of their opinion wherewith Lo 〈…〉 was 〈…〉 to the Pope In the Congregations following one thing 〈◊〉 ordinary 〈◊〉 of memorie was spoken except 〈…〉 obliquely vsed by those who had vn 〈…〉 by Loraine In this inter iâ— Cardinall Morone had his dispatch in writing from the Emperour very generall termeâ— that bee would defend the authoritie of Is thought to speake like a Lutheran and Hope against heretikes 〈…〉 would remaine at 〈◊〉 and passe further that the 〈…〉 noâ— to be made without 〈◊〉 of the King 〈…〉 for 〈◊〉 〈…〉 because being done on the sudden 〈…〉 much matter of discourse 〈…〉 manie that bee would â—est satisfied with the proceeding in 〈…〉 vpon the 〈◊〉 conditions that the reformation 〈…〉 Trent and that euery one might propose desiring they would presently begin to handle the Articles exhibited by him and France Concerning this negotiation of the Cardinall and of the answere made I haue related what I haue found registred in publike monuments but I ought not to omit the fame then diuulged in Trent and beleeued by men of the greatest vnderstanding that the Cardinall had treated with the Emperour and with his sonne King of the Romans more secret matters and shewed them that in respect of the diuers The secret negotiation of the Cardinall Morone with the Emperor ends of Princes and Prelats and of their diuers and important interests which were contrary it was impossible the Councell should haue such an end as some of them did desire Hee told them that in the matter of the Chalice marriage of Priests and of the vulgar tongue things desired by his Maiestie and the French King neither the King of Spaine nor any Prince of Italie would euer consent that in matter of reformation euery sort of persons would remaine in their present state and reforme others whence it commeth that euery one demandeth reformation and yet when any Article thereof is proposed more doe oppose then fauour it that euery one thinketh of himselfe onely and doth not consider the respects of another that euery one would haue the Pope a minister of his designes not thinking whether others will remaine offended for it for whom it
them vnto him he made a great complaint of the Counts proposition For the Protestants he said that none did more desire to reduce them to the Church then hee that the actions of his predecessors for fourtie yeeres and his owne by sending Nuncij expresly to them all not regarding the indignitie to which hee did subiect himselfe and the Apostolike Sea was a manifest argument thereof that he had vsed the Emperors mediation and the perswasion of all Catholike Princes that he is assured that the hardnesse of their heart is voluntarie resolute and obstinate and therefore that the reducing of them was no more to be thought of it beeing impossible but the preseruation of the obedient that so long as there was any hope to regaine them the time did require that all meanes should be vsed to please them but that beeing lost it was necessarie to keepe the good to make the diuision strong and the parties irreconciliable that the affaires of their King did require the same as he would perceiue too late in case he should temporize in Flanders and vse termes of mediocritie that the King should remember what good effects his seuere executions at his entrance into Spaine had produced whereas if hee had proceeded remisly and desired to gaine the fauour of the Protestants hee would haue felt those accidents which are seene in France He complained also that the Count would prescribe a manner of handling matters of Theologie and determine when they should be well digested And last of all hee tolde them of their promise that the King was content that the Councell should end which the Count did labour to hinder The Ambassadors hauing excused the Count and confessed what they had said concerning the Kings pleasure for the end of the Councell the Pope was satisfied so that they would be content he should say so much where he thought it necessarie Whereunto they consenting hee gaue order to his Nuncio in Spaine to complaine to the King and to tell him that he could not penetrate the cause why the Ambassadours of his Maiestie in Rome and Trent should speake diuersly and which imported more himselfe doing what he could to gratifie him for what cause he should be crossed by his Ministers in regard the Councel continuing he was hindered from doing his Maiestie many fauors and graces that if for his affaires in Flanders or for the interests of the Emperour in Germanie he did desire any thing of the Councel he might know by experience how hard it was to effect it in Trent that they might promise themselues any thing from him and that hee was resolute so soone as the Councel was ended to send into all Prouinces to prouide for the particular necessitie of euery one whereas in Trent generall prouisions onely can bee made which haue infinite difficulties to bee fitted to euery place But the perswasions of the Count in Trent made a diuision of the Prelates some desiring that those matters might bee exactly disputed and the rather because very little or nothing was spoken of them by the Schoolemen and whereas for other things handled in the Synode there were decisions either of other Councels or of Popes or an vniforme consent of Doctors these were wholly obscure and in case they were not cleered it would bee sayd that the Councel had failed in the most necessarie things Others said that if there were so many difficulties and contentions in the thing decided already how much more might they be feared that 〈◊〉 these which are full of obscuritie where there is no sufficient light shewed by the Doctours they might goe in infinitum because they had a large field in regard of many abuses which were crept into them for matter of gaine and of the difficultie which would arise about the interpretation of the Bulls especially of the words vsed in some of penaltie and guilt as also of the maner of taking Indulgences for the dead Therefore in these and the adoration of Saints the vse only might be handled and the residue omitted and for Purgatorie the opinion of the heretikes condemned only otherwise there would be no end of the Councel nor any resolution of this difficultie While these opinions went about concerning these matters reserued for the last the Legats resolued to dispatch that of Matrimonie and to abbreuiate the time of the Session and to holde it the 19 of August at the latest This pleased the Card of Loraine very much The Card. of Loraine resolueth to goe to Rome who hauing receiued answere out of France that hee should giue the Pope satisfaction in going to Rome did resolue so to do in the end of that moneth so that the Session were celebrated And he was forced to ioyne with the Pope and his adherents not onely in regard of the order receiued out of France but because the Imperialists and Spaniards did mistrust him for the successe of the last Session The 22. of Iuly the Anathematismes were giuen forth not much differing from the manner in which they were established afterwards The greatest varietie was that vntill then they had not sufficiently considered of the fift condemning diuorces allowed in the Code of Iustinian which Anathematisme was aded at the instance of the Cardinal of Loraine to oppose the opinion of the Caluinists And it was easily receiued because it was conformeable to the Schoole doctrine and the Popes Decrees But in that of diuorce for adulterie the composers of the Canons did forbeare to vse the word Anathema fearing to condemne that opinion which was of Saint Ambrose and of many Fathers of the Greeke Church Notwithstanding the others thinking that it was an Article of faith and almost all the Fathers consenting thereunto the Canon was reformed and the Anathema added condemning those that say that the bond is dissolued by adulterie and that either of the parties may contract another Matrimonie whilest the other liueth which Canon receiued afterwards another mutation as shall be saide in due place In the Congregations following the things proposed were easily dispatched but almost all the Prelates left those and spake of â—landâ—stine mariages though neither the time nor the place did comport it and the difference of opinions therein began to be discouered In the Congregation of the foure and twentieth day in the morning the Bishop of Cortona Ambassador of the Duke of Florence was receiued who made a short speech of the deuotion of his Prince towards the Apostolike Sea and fauour to the Synbd and thankes were giuen him In the congregation that night the French Ambassadors caused a request to be read in the name of their King that children which are in The Ambassador of Florence is receiued in congregation the power of their Parents might not without their consent either many or betroth themselues or if they did that it should be in the power of the parents to make void or ratifie the contract as they pleased And the same day the
Fathers were admonished to put vp in writing to the deputies the abuses obserued by them in the matter of Matrimonie The voyces beeing all giuen concerning the Anathematismes two Articles were proposed the promotion of married persons to holy Orders and the making voyde of clandestine marriages For the former the Fathers Two new Articles concerning married Priests and secret mariages did vniformely and without difficultie agree on the negatiue and the Arch-bishop of Prague and the Bishop of Fiue Churches who perswaded them to thinke better on it were scarcely heard But the other of clandestine marriage did not passe so For one hundred thirty and sixe did approue the making it voyd fiftie seuen did contradict and ten would not declare themselues The Decree was composed according to the opinion of the Maior part that howsoeuer clandestine mariages were good so long as the Church did not make them voyde and therefore the Synod doth anathematise him that thinketh the contrarie yet the Church hath alwayes detested them And now seeing the inconueniences the Synod doth determine that all persons which hereafter shall either marrie or betroth themselues without the presence of three witnesses at the least shall bee vnable to contract and whatsoeuer they doe therein shall be voide And another Decree followed commanding the Banes but concluding that if there were a necessitie to omit them the mariage might be made so that it were in presence of the Parish Priest and of fiue witnesses at the least publishing the Banes afterwards vpon paine of excommunication to him that should contract otherwise But that great number which would make void the secret mariages was diuided into two parts some following the opinion of those Diuines who grant power to the Church to make the persons vncapable and some those who say it may make the contract voide And the Legates themselues did differ Morone was content with any resolution so that they might dispatch Varmiense thought that the Church had no power herein and that all mariages celebrated in what manner soeuer with consent of the persons contracting are good Simoneta said that the distinction of the contract of Matrimonie from matrimonie it selfe and the giuing of power to the Church ouer the one and not ouer the other seemed to him sophisticall and chimericall and was much inclined not to make any innouation Concerning the abuses of Matrimonie many Prelates considered that the causes to hinder mariages and to make them voyde though they were contracted were so many and happened so often that there were but few not subiect to some of those defects and which was more persons did contract ignorantly either not knowing the prohibition or the fact or by forgetfulnesse in whom after they knew the trueth many perturbations and scruples did arise as also suits and contentions about the legitimation of the issue and the dowries The impediment of kinred contracted in baptisme was particularly alleadged for a very great abuse because in some places twenty or thirty men were inuited for God-fathers and as many women for God-mothers betweene all which by Ecclesiasticall constitution a spirituall kinred doth arise who oftentimes not knowing one another do ioyne in marriage Many thought fit to take away this impediment not because it was not well instituted at the first but for that the cause of the institution beeing ceased the effect ought to cease also They considered that the gossips were then sureties to the Church for the faith of the children baptized and therefore were bound to instruct and chatechize them according to their capacitie by which meanes they conuersed often and familiarly with them and their parents as also the gossips amongst themselues by which meanes a certaine relation did arise betweene them which was a cause to be reuerenced and sufficient to prohibite marriage as all other causes to which reuerence ought to bee borne But afterwards when vse bad abolished whatsoeuer was reall herein and the God-father did seldome see his God-childe and had no care at all of his education the cause of reuerence ceasing the relation ought not to haue place Likewise the impediment of Affinitie by fornication nullifying marriages vntill the fourth degree it beeing a matter of secrecie did ensnare many who vnderstanding the trueth after the mariage were filled with perturbations For kinred of Consanguinity and Affinity it was said that the same account beeing now not made of it as formerly was and amongst great personages scarce memorie kept of the fourth degree that might bee omitted also Wherein there was much disputation Some thought that as seuen degrees of kinred did hinder marriage for many hundred yeeres and Innocentius the third tooke away three of them at once restrayning the impediment vnto the fourth alleadging very common reasons that there are foure Elements foure humours of mans body so it appearing now that foure cannot bee obserued without many inconueniences the impediments may bee more iustly restrayned to the third Others contradicted and sayd that so they might hereafter proceede further and at the last come to that of Leuiticus which would cherish the opinion of the Lutherans and therefore did conclude that it was dangerous to innonate Which opinion after much examination did preuaile Some thought that the impediment of fornication beeing secret ought wholly to beetaken away But they preuailed not because there appeared an inconuenience in regard that many things which first are secret are published afterwards Many were of opinion that no nouitie should bee made in these prohibitions but power granted to Bishops to dispence and maintained that it was better to giue it to them then to the court because they knowing better the merits of the fact and the causes may exercise distributiue iustice more exactly herein They sayd the court of Rome doth often giue dispensations to persons not knowen who obtaine them by deceipt and that diligence cannot be vsed in regard of the distance of the Countreys besides the world beeing scandalized thinking they are not giuen but for money that imfamie ought to be taken away The Spaniards and French-men laboured effectually herein but the Italians said they did it to make themselues all Popes and not to acknowledge the Apostolique Sea and that the difficultie of sending to Rome and negotiating the expedition with paines and cost was profitable because by that meanes few marriages were contracted in degrees prohibited whereas if by granting power to Bishops there were aâ—facility herein the prohibitions would in a short time come to nothing and so the Lutheranes would gaine their opinion Here upon a common inclâ—natioâ— grew that none should bee dispensed with in these prohibitions but for a very vrgent cause into which opinion those who could not preuaile for the Bishops did enter also thinking it was more for their credit if that which was forbid to them were not granted to others After many discourses in the Congregations it was resolued to restraine spirituall kinred and affinity by mariage and
giuen by the Legates made for the interests of Rome could not be fitted to other countreys But the Cardinall of Loraine and the French and Portugall Ambassadours contradicted alleadging that euery one might speake his opinion concerning the Articles proposed and propose others if there were cause so that there was no need to giue this distast to the Pope and the Legates who could not endure to heare speach of Nations in Councell And the Imperialists comming to this opinion also the Count retired but said that diuers considerations ought to bee had concerning those which were proposed The Cardinall of Loraine counselled the Legats to facilitate the businesse and to take away those points which might seeme to cause contradiction adding that the fewer matters were handled the better it would be whereat Varmiense seeming to wonder Loraine asked him whether hee marueiled The Card of Loraine excuseth the change of his minde because hee saw not in him that heate and desire of reformation as hee had made demonstration of at other times and he added that his desire was the same and had the same disposition of minde to imploy all his force therein but that experience hath taught him that not onely nothing perfect or ordinarie can bee done in Councell but that euery enterprise in that businesse turneth to the worst He perswaded also the Count of Luna not to seeke to hinder the reformation totally but if there were any thing which did not fully satisfie him hee should make the partcular knowen and hee would labour that contentment should be giuen him The Emperours Ambassadours first of all gaue their answere in writing the one and thirtieth of Iuly in which they said that desiring a generall reformation in the head and members and hauing read the Articles exhibited they had added some things and noted others desiring they might be corrected accordingly and discussed by the Fathers And because the Emperour with the Ambassadours of many Princes did hold a Diet in Vienna to handle many things concerning the Councell they hoped they would take it in good part if hauing receiued a new commandement from his Maiestie they should present other considerations also and that for the present they added eight Articles to those proposed by them 1 That a serious and The Imperialists adde 8. Articles more durable reformation of the Conclaue might bee made in Councell 2. That alienation of Ecclesiasticall goods without the free and firme consent of the Chapter might be prohibited and especially in the Roman Church 3. That Commendaes and Coadiutories with future succession might bee taken away 4. That Schooles and Vniuersities might be reformed 5. That the Prouinciall Councels may bee inioyned to correct the Statutes of all the Chapters as also that authoritie may bee giuen to reforme Missals Breuidries Agends and Graduals not in Rome onely but in all Churches 6. That Lay-men may not bee cited to Rome in the first instance 7. That causes may not bee remooued from the Secular Court to the Ecclesiasticall vpon pretence of iustice denyed before the trueth of the supplication bee knowen 8. That Conseruators may not bee giuen in prophane matters And concerning the Articles exhibited by the Legates they noted many things part whereof as being but of small weight it will not be amisse to omit Those of importance were That Cardinals might bee chosen out of all Nations that the Vniuersall Bishop might bee created by Electors of all Countreys That the prouisions against Pensions Reseruations and Regresses should bee extended not onely to the future but to those also that are past That the kissing of the Gospel should not be taken from the Emperour and Kings who ought to defend it That it may be declared what secular affaires are prohibited to Ecclesiastiques that that which is determined in the decree of Residence may not be crossed That in the Article of not laying taxes vpon the Ecclesiastiques the cause of Subsidie against the Turkes and other Infidels may be excepted The proposition though it were of hard digestion did not so much trouble the Legats as the doubt mooued that some extraordinary demaund for change of Rites receiued by the Church of Rome and relaxation of Precepts de iure Positiuo might come from the Diet in Vienna The third of August the Frenchmen gaue their obseruations the essentiall whereof were That the number of Cardinals might not exceed foure and The articles exhibited by the French-men twentie and that no more might be created vntill they were reduced to that paucitie That they may bee elected out of all Kingdomes and Prouinces That there may not be two of one Diocesse nor more then eight of one Nation That they may not bee lesse then thirtie yeeres of age That the nephew or brother of the Pope or of any Cardinall liuing may not bee chosen That Bishoprickes may not bee giuen them that they may the better assist the Pope and that their dignitie being equall their reuenew may bee equall also That none may haue more then one Benefice and that the difference vnknowen to the good ages of the world of Benefices simple and with cure compatible and incompatible may be taken away and that hee that hath two at this present may choose and keepe one only and that within a short time That resignations in fauour may be quite taken away That it may not bee prohibited to conferre Benefices onely vpon those who haue not the language of the Countrey because the Lawes of France forbid all strangers without exception to haue Offices or Benefices in the Kingdome That the criminall causes of Bishops may not be iudged out of the kingdome in regard of the ancient priuiledge of France that none may bee iudged out of the Kingdome neither voluntarily nor by compulsion That power may bee restored to Bishops to absolue from all cases without exception That to take away suits for Benefices preuentions resignations in fauour mandats expectatiues and other vnlawfull wayes to obtaine them may be remooued That the prohibition that the Clergie may not meddle in secular matters may be expounded so that they may abstaine from all functions which are not holy Ecclesiasticall and proper to their order That the Pensions alreadie imposed may be taken away and abrogated That in causes of Patronage the ancient institution in France may not be changed to giue sentence in the possessorie for him who is in the last possession and in the petitorie for him who hath a lawfull title or a long possession That the lawes of France concerning Ecclesiasticall causes may not bee preiudiced that the possessorie may beiudged by the Kings Iudges and the petitorie by the Ecclesiastiques but not out of the Kingdome That none may be assumed to bee Canon in a Cathedrall Church before he be fiue and thirtie yeeres old That for the Article containing the reformation of Princes the Clergie may bee first intirely reformed in this Session and that which belongeth to the dignity
impossible to reduce this Decree into such a forme as might giue satisfaction to various opinions and to represent them with reseruations and nice distinctions gaue this forme to it in which it now is which as it is subiect to diuers interpretations so it may bee fitted to diuers opinions and being proposed in Congregation it had one hundred thirty and three voyces in fauour of it and nine and fifty did expresly contradict The Legates informed the Pope of all and demanded order what they should doe and whether the contradiction of such a number it beeing impossible to perswade them should hinder the Decree or not There was a A vaine feare of the plague in Trent report which caused some feare amongst the Fathers that the plague was in Ispruc and many would haue been gone if the Cardinal Morone who thought that matters were in good terme to finish the Councel had not vsed meanes to know the certaintie which was that in Sborri a place twentie miles distant from Ispruc many of those poore men who laboured in the mines died of a contagious sicknesse by an infection taken vnder the ground and that those of Ispruc had prouided so well as that there was no danger the disease would come thither which also did decrease in Sborri A great stirre happened likewise amongst the Italian Prelates especially those of the kingdome of Naples and Dukedome of Milan For the Catholike A stirre about the Inquisition in Milan King moued the Pope the moneth before to place the Inquisition in the state of Milan as it is in Spaine and to make a Spanish Prelate the Head of it alleadging that in regard of the vicinity of places infected it was necessary to vse exquisite diligence for the seruice of God and defence of religion and notice came that the Pope had proposed it in consistory did shew howsoeuer it was contradicted by some Cardinals some inclination to it at the perswasion of Cardinall Carpi who told him that it was good for the keeping of the citie of Milan in deuotion towards the Apostolike Sea which office hee performed for a secret hope cherished by the Spanish Ambassador that by this meanes hee should gaine the fauour of the King of Spaine to make him Pope The cities of that state sent Sforza Morone to his Holinesse and Cesare Tauerna and Princisuale Bisosto to the Catholike King and Sforza Briuio to the Councell This last to pray the Prelates and Cardinals of that state to haue compassion on their Countrey which being brought into misery by excessiue impositions would bee wholly dissolued by this which goeth beyond all many citizens preparing themselues to abandon the Countrey knowing well that that office had neuer proceeded in Spaine to heale the conscience but very often to emptie the purse and for many other mundane respects also And if the Inquisitors vnder the Kings owne eyes doe domineere so rigidly ouer their owne Countrey men how much more will they doe it in Milan where remedy will hardly bee found against them towards persons whom they care lesse for Briuio declared how the Cities were generally perplexed with this ill newes desiring the fauour of the Prelates This did more displease the Prelates then the Seculars and those of the Kingdome did doubt that the yoke being put vpon the state of Milan themselues should not bee able to keepe it from their owne neckes as they had done before The Prelates of Lombardie did assemble and resolue to write letters to the Pope and to Cardinall Borromeo subscribed by them all They tolde the Cardinall it would bee a preiudice to him to whom it belonged as Arch-bishop to bee the chiefe in that office And they said to the Pope that there were not such causes and respects as are in Spaine to put so rigorous an Inquisition amongst them which besides the euident ruine which it will bring to that state will be a great preiudice to the holy Sea For he could not refuse to place it in Naples also which would giue occasion to other Princes of Italie to desire the like And that Inquisition hauing authority ouer the Prelates the holy Sea would haue but little obedience from them because they would be forced to seeke the fauor of secular Princes to whom by this meanes they would be subiect so that in occasion of a new Councel he should haue but few Prelates whom hee might trust and commaund freely Neither ought hee to beleeue that which the Spaniards might say that the Inquisition of Milan should bee subiect to that of Rome as doeth appeare by their proceeding in the cause of the Arch-bishop of Toledo euer refusing to send the Processes which haue beene demanded from Rome as also doe the Inquisitors of the Kingdome of Sicilie who depend on Spaine The Prelates not content with this and other reasons alleadged vnto the Cardinals and others of Rome by euery one to those with whom hee had any power did perswade also that some word might bee inserted in the Decrees of the Councel in fauour of the Bishops to exempt or secure them and that the manner of making processes in that matter might be decreed which if it could not be done in the first Session it might in the next Morone gaue them hope of satisfaction And this accident did trouble the Councell very much because many were interested in it But newes came a few dayes after that the Duke of Sessa had found the generall distaste it gaue and for some reports which came vnto him doubting that the Dutchie of Milan would follow the example of the Flemings who became Gueux for so the reformists are called in those Countreys by the attempt of putting the Inquisition vpon them knowing it was not a fit time to handle that businesse stopped their Ambassadors promising to vse meanes that the State should haue satisfaction And but for this some maâ—er of great moment had ensued The Pope seeing the answeres of the Ambassadors made to the Articles proposed by the Legates was more confirmed in opinion that it was necessary to finish the Councell otherwise hee thought some great scandall would follow and the incoâ—ugniences foreseenâ— hee esteemed but light and feared some greater not thought on But seeing the difficulty to make an end The Pope laboâ—â—eth to finish the Councell without determining the things for which the Councel was called if the Princes were not content he resolued to treat with all of them herein Therefore hee wrote concerning this to his Nuncij in Germanie France and Spaine and spake of it to all the Ambassadours residing with him and to the Ministers of the Princes of Italie also vsing this concept that to him that assisted to finish the Councell hee should bee more obliged then if hee had assisted him with armes in some great necessitie To the Legates hee answered that they should principally ayme at the conclusion of the Councell and should grant whatsoeuer was necessary to obtaine it admitting
of heresie and others said it was much to bee suspected at the least and others that it was offensiue to godly eares They said hee had taken occasion to doe it in absence of the Cardinall of Loraine who would neuer haue endured those termes and that his end was to dissolue the Councell that hee did attribute to Kings more then belongeth to them that hee inferred that the Popes authority is not necessary for the vsing of Church goods that hee made the French King like to the Queene of England But nothing did so much offend as that hee said that the authority of the French Kings ouer persons and goods Ecclesiasticall was not founded vpon the Pragmatique Concordates and priuiledges giuen by Popes but vpon the law of Nature holy Scripture ancient Councels and lawes of the Christian Emperours The French Ambassadours were reprehended also because they did not follow the steps of the Emperours and Spanish Ambassadors who though they had the same interests made not such a commotion because they knew there was no reason for it De Ferrieres defended himselfe said that the Legates had promised the Cardinall of Loraine that this matter should not bee spoken of but with such moderation as that it should not touch the affaires of France which was not performed that the Kings instruction had beene imparted to the Cardinall who if he had beene present would not onely haue consented to but counselled Protestation that those were great Ignorantes who hauing seene nothing but the Decretals Lawes of foure hundred yeeres did thinke that there were 〈◊〉 Ecclesiasticall lawes before them that if any would reforme the King by the Decretals he would reforme them by the Decrees and lead them also to more ancient times not onely of Saint Austine but of the Apostles also that he did not make the French King as the Queene of England but did oppose them who haue begunne long since to enlarge their owne authority by di 〈…〉 ing the Kings that if those Articles did so much damnifie the Emperour and Catholique King as they doe France they would neuer haue beene proposed and therefore he was not to take example by those who haue not equall interests The Arch-bishop of Sant and the Abbat of Claraual were distasted most of all who went vp and downe saying that the Ambassadours had done ill to protest and that their end was to make a confusion and giue occasion for a Nationall Councel in France that they were men not well affected creatures of the King of Nauarre sent by him to the Councel for his owne deseignes had protested without the Kings commission that it was fit to make them shew their instructions to frame an Inquisition against them as not hauing a good opinion in matter of faith Where in great differences did arise between the Ambassadours and them The next day the Ambassadors gaue the King an account of the causes why they had deferred the protestation vntill then and how they were forced at that time to come vnto it adding that they would deferre the registring of it in the acts of the Councell vntill his Maiesty had seene it and commanded them what they should doe The Legats not hauing a copie of the Oration made a collection of it by the memory of those who had beeene most attentiue to send it to the Pope of which de Ferrieres hauing gotten a copie complained that many things were expressed against his intention and in particular where hee named Ecclesiasticall lawes it was repeated spirituall lawes and that Kings might take Church goods at their pleasure whereas hee had sayd onely for necessary cause By this he was forced to giue foorth his Oration and sent a copie of it to Rome to the Cardinall of Loraine excusing himselfe for not hauing vsed words of such acrimony as he was commanded in the last instructions and in the first which are reconfirmed in those adding also that he thought it necessary to obey the King and was not willing to vndergoe the reprehensions of the Counsellors of Parliament who would haue taxed him if in a Generall Councell matters of so great importance had beene determined against that which hath beene by them so exactly maintained besides the Kings authority which hee defended hauing beene vpheld foure hundred yeeres by the Kingdome of France against the war in opposition of it made by the Court of Rome it was not iust that the Fathers of the Councell the greater part of whom are Courtiers should be Iudges of the ancient differences which the kingdome hath with that Court He gaue a copie of the oration to the Ambassadors also and to as many as did desire it and some saide that he had pronounced it otherwise then it was written Whereunto hee replyed that that could not bee said by any that had any meane vnderstanding of the Latine and that howsoeuer it was the same pronounced and written yet if they thought otherwise they must remember that the stile of the Synod was neuer to iudge of things as they were deliuered in voyce but as they were exhibited in writing and therefore they should moue no controuersie herein or if they would himselfe was to bee beleeued before any other The oration being published it was answered in the name of the Synod And answered by a namelesse man Hee said that the French Ambassadours had reason to compare themselues to the Ambassadours of the Iewes because they had both made an vniust complaint against GOD and that the same answere might be giuen them which the Prophet gaue to that people in the name of GOD that if they had fasted and lamented so many yeeres or ate and drunke all was for their owne interests that the Kings of France were cause of all the abuses of that Kingdome by naming to Bishoprickes vnlearned persons ignorant in Ecclesiasticall discipline and more inclined to a lasciuious then to a religious life that the French-men would not haue a resolution in the controuersies of faith that Christian doctrine might allwayes be vncertaine and place might be giuen to new masters who might rub the itching eares of that vnquiet Nation that they spared not to say in those turbulent times that it belonged to the King though very yong as yet to dispose of all the gouerment of the Church that they had sayd with asseueration that beneficed men had onely the vse of the reuenues whereas in France time out of mind they haue carried themselues for Vsufructuaries making Testaments and receiuing inheritances from their kinsfolke who die intestate that to say the poore are owners of the reuenues was much contrary to another saying in the same oration that the King is Patron of all Ecclesiastical goods and might dispose of them at his pleasure that it was a great absurdity to say that the King might not bee reprehended by a generall Councell seeing that Dauid was reprehended by the Prophet Nathan and tooke it in good part that it did
occasion For as hee would continue in the vnion and obedience of the Church so hee would preserue inuiolable the rights of his crowne without suffering them to be questioned or disputed or himselfe forced to shew them That they should not thinke to satisfie him with saying in the ende Sauing and reseruing the rights c. because vnder this colour they would binde him to shew a reason in euery opposition That if hee had seene the Articles as they were proposed hee would haue iudged that the Ambassadour could not haue done otherwise then make the opposition which his desire was they should first haue shewed to him but said they were to bee excused in regard of the occasion suddenly arising and of the circumstances which did produce it and of the suspitions which made them doubt of some Artifice to precipitate the decision And if the Pope had no intention as hee the Cardinall giueth him to vnderstand that the rights of the Emperour and Kings should bee touched and disputed his Holinesse must turne his anger vpon the Legats who proposed the Articles and named Kings Emperour Republikes and not vpon the Ambassadors That hee thinketh the protestation may be iustified before all Christendome when the Articles shal be seene That the Legats hauing proposed those Articles against the intention of his Holinesse he ought not to referre himselfe to their discretion hereafter nor to cause his Ambassadors to returne vntill he had ful assurance that those Articles should not be spoken of any more which being done he will command them to goe againe to the Councell Concerning the citation and sentence the King gaue order to Henry Clutia The French King taketh part with the Queene of Nauarre Lord d'Oysel to tell the Pope that his Maiestie had vnderstood to his great displeasure that which he did not beleeue by the fame which was spread vntill he had seene a copie of the monitories affixed in Rome that the Queene was so proceeded against as that hee was bound to defend her First in regard the cause and danger was common to all Kings who therefore were obliged to protect her and the rather because she was a widow and his obligation was the greater in respect of the neere kinred hee hath with her by both lines and by agnation with her husband who died but a little before in the warre against the Protestants leauing his sonnes Pupils Therefore hee could not abandon her cause following the examples of his ancesters and the rather because hee ought not to indure that any should make warre against his neighbours vnder colour of religon adding that it was not pious to put the Kingdomes of Spaine and France lately ioyned in friendship in danger of a bloody warre for this cause He said moreouer that the Queene hauing many Fees in France shee could not by the rights and priuiledges of that Kingdom be compelled to appeare either in person or by Proctor adding many examples of Princes and Popes who haue proceeded with due and lawfull moderation Hee touched the forme of the citation by Edict a thing not heard of in former times inuented by Boniface the eighth and as too hard and vniust moderated by Clement the fifth in the Councell of Vienna He said that such citations could by no meanes take place but against the inhabitants to whom the accesse is not secure and that the Queene remayning in France a great iniurie was done to him and the Kingdome by vsing that forme as also was done by exposing to prey and granting to the Vsurpers the Fees she holdeth in France the right whereof belongeth to him And euery one marueiled hee said that his Holinesse who did fauour so affectionately the cause of King Antonie while he liued in being his mediator with the King of Spaine would now oppresse his children and widow But he complained most of all that so many Kings Princes and cities hauing departed from the Church of Rome with in fourtie yeeres hee had not so proceeded with any other which shewed well that he did it not for the good of her soule but for other ends Hee wished his Hol. to consider that power was giuen to Popes for saluation of soules not to depriue Princes of their States nor to order any thing in earthly possessions which hauing beene formerly attempted by them in Germanie did much trouble the publike quiet Hee intreated the Pope to reuoke all his Actes against the Queene protesting that in case hee would not hee would proceede to those remedies which his predecessours haue vsed Hee complained also of the cause of the Bishops and commanded his Ambassador And with the Bishops that declaring vnto him the ancient examples the liberties and immunities of the French Church and the authoritie of the Kings in causes Ecclesiasticall he should pray the Pope not to make any innouation Monsieur d' Oisel performed this office with great vehemencie and after many treaties with the Pope obtained of him to speake no more either of the Queene or of the Bishops But in Trent the Session being ended and matters well agreed on betweene the Legates and Loraine and the businesse imparted to the principall Papalins Otranto Taranto and Parmaâ— as also to the Emperours Ambassadours The Card of Loraine publisheth y e desseigne to finish y e Councell Loraine began to publish their deseigne that the Councel might bee finished with one Session more Hee sayd hee could not bee in Trent at Christmas that himselfe and all the French Bishops must depart before that time that hee desired to see the Councel ended and was loath to leaue so honourable an assembly but that hee could not otherwise doe beeing commanded by the King The Imperialists also did publish in the Councell that the Emperour did desire the dispatch and that the King of the Romanes did write that his desire was it should bee finished by Saint Andrewes day or at the longest in the beginning of the next moneth by all meanes And indeede that King not to please the Pope but because it was his opinion did sollicite the conclusion For beeing to hold a Diet hee was not willing his Father should haue Ambassadours in the Councell and said that if that were shut vp the affaires of Religion in Germanie would bee in farre better case The greater part of the Fathers were glad to heare this and Morone making a Congregation in his house the fifteenth of Nouember of the Legates two Cardinals and fiue and twenty Bishops the principall of euery Nation hee proposed that the Councell hauing beene assembled for the necessities of Germanie and France and now the Emperour King of the Romanes Cardinall of Loraine and all Princes desiring that it should bee finished they would speake their opinion concerning the concluding of it and the manner Loraine sayd it was necessary to finish it not to hold Christendom in suspence any longer to shew the Catholikes what they ought to beleeue and to take away the
confirmed by those that heard them rather then by him that did not know them But others answered that there was no neede the Pope should then see them because nothing was done in Trent which was not first resolued by him In many consistories following the Pope spake for the obseruation of the Decrees of the Councell saying he would obserue them himselfe though hee was not bound and gaue his word that hee would neuer derogate from them but for euident and vrgent causes and with consent of the Cardinals He charged Morone and Simoneta to bee diligent in aduertising him if any contrary thing were proposed or handled in consistorie which was but a small remedie against the transgressions because not an hundreth part of the grants made in Rome are dispatched in consistorie He sent the Bishops to their residence and resolued to make vse of the Protonotaries and Referendaries in gouerning the citie of Rome and the Ecclesiasticall state But howsoeuer he was freed from great trouble by the conclusion of the Councell yet there were some remainders of it in all kingdomes which brought new difficulties vpon him Aduice came out of Spaine that the King was offended with the ending of And are executed in Spaine by the Kings authority onely the Councell and determined to call the Bishops and agents for the Clergie of Spaine before him to set downe in what manner it might bee executed And the aduice was not false For not only all that was done in Spaine for receiuing and executing the Decrees of the Councell that yeere partly in the Spring and partly in the Autumne was by order and resolution taken in the Kings Councell but the King sent also his Presidents to the Synods which were held causing to bee proposed that which pleased him and was fit for his seruice to the great distast of the Pope who was angry the King should take so much vpon him in matters Ecclesiasticall But hee made no demonstration Which maketh the Pope angry heereof to his Ministers purposing to make vse of it in another opportunitie designed by himselfe which shall bee related in due place The President de Ferrieres hauing while hee remained in Venice made obseruations vpon the Decrees of the two last Sessions held after his departure from Trent and sent them to the Court the Cardinall of Loraine at his The Card of Lorain is taxeâ— in France at his returne returne into France had many assaults and reprehensions for consenting to things preiudiciall to the Kingdome They said that by the words of the first Article of reformation in the last Session where it is said that the Pope hath charge of the vniuersall Church in Latin Sollicitudinem Ecclesiae Vniuersae hee had yeelded the point which himselfe and all the French Bishops had so long contended for and obtained that preiudice might not bee done to the opinion of France of the superioritie of the Councell aboue the Pope that hee might haue remedied this with one little word by making them say as S. Paul had done care of all the Churches because no man would haue denied that kind of speech which S. Paul did vse that preiudice was likewise done to the same opinion of the superioritie of the Councell in the one and twentieth Article of the last session sauing in all the Decrees the authoritie of the Apostolique Sea and in the last Decree for demanding the Popes confirmation It was opposed also that the King and French Church hauing contested that the Councell might bee declared to bee new and not the old continued the continuation was declared that it was one Councell with that of Paul and Iulius in the said one and twentieth Article and in the Decree for reading the things constituted vnder those Popes by which all was basely yeelded which had beene two yeeres maintained by the King They sayd moreouer that the approbation of the things done vnder Iulius was dishonourable and preiudiciall to the protestation then made by King Henry the second But they reprehended aboue all that honourable mention hauing beene alwayes made vnder Paul and Iulius of King Francis the first and King Henry the second together with Charles the fifth the Cardinall had not caused a memorie to bee made of them in the acclamations when it was made of Charles nor the present King to bee named when the liuing Emperour was The Cardinall excused other things saying that with sixe Prelates for hee had no more in his company hee was not able to resist the consent of more then two hundred But this last opposition hee knew not how to excuse though hee sayd it was to preserue the peace of the two Kingdomes For it was replied that he might haue suffered others to make the inâ—onation and not to haue been the authour himselfe of that preiudice And so it is seene that vaine men often times thinking to gaine reputation by retaile doe lose it in grosse But the Counsellers of the Parliament found many other things to oppose The censure of the Parliament of Paris vpon the last Session against the Articles of Reformation published in those two Sessions where the Ecclesiasticall authority they said was inlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giuing power to Bishops to proceede to pecuniary mulcts and imprisonment against the Laitie whereas no authority was giuen by CHRIST to his Ministers but meere and pure Spirituall that when the Clergâ—e was made a member and part of the policie the Princes did by fauour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergie-men with temporall punishments that discipline might bee obserued amongst them but to vse such kinde of punishments against the Laiques they had neither from the Law of God nor of man but by vsurpation onely that in the matter of Duell they pretend to proceede against the Emperour Kings and other Souâ—reignes who graunt it in their Kingdomes euen by excommunication whereas their opinion was that to permit Duell in some cases was not amiffe as the permitting of fornication and other offences howbeit they are sinnes was not ill in regard of publique vtilitie and to auoyd greater inconueniences They said that this power beeing naturall and giuen to the Princes by God could not bee taken away or restrained by any power of man They thought it also intolerable to excommunicate Kings and Princes holding it for a sure maxime in France that the King cannot bee excommunicated nor his officers for execution of their offices They added that to depriue Princes of their States Lords of their Fees and to confiscate the goods of priuate men were all vsurpations of the temporall authoritie because that which was giuen by CHRIST to the Church doeth not extend it selfe to things of this nature Concerning Patronages they said great wrong was done to the Seculars in disabling their proofes and that the whole Article was grounded vpon a false maxime that all benefices are free if the Patronage bee not
prooued For Churches haue no temporall goods but granted by the seculars who can not bee presumed to grant them so as that they may bee managed and dissipated at the pleasure of the Ecclesiastiques by which meanes it ought to bee presupposed that euery benefice had a Patrone from the beginning of it except an absolute donation with a totall cession of the patronage can be shewed And as the Common-wealth or Prince doth succeed him that hath no heire so all benefices the Patronage of which doeth not belong to any ought to bee vnder the publique patronage Some mocked that forme of speech that benefices which had Patrons were in seruitude and the others free as if it were not plaine seruitude to bee vnder the disposition of the Court of Rome which doth manage them contrary to the institution and foundation whereas the seculars doe preserue them Besides the censure of some decrees for this cause they added that others were against the customes and immunities of the French Church as the reseruation of great criminall causes against Bishops to the cognition of the Pope alone taking away the power of Prouinciall and Nationall Councels which haue alwaies adiudged them in all cases and burthening the Bishops by forcing them to litigate out of the Kingdome contrary not onely to the custome of France but to the Canons of ancient Councels also which haue determined that such causes should bee iudged and ended in their proper Countries They saide it was against iustice and the vse of France that benefices should bee clogged with Pensions and Reseruations of Fruits as was obliquely determined Likewise that it was not tolerable that causes of the first instance should be taken out of the Kingdome by the Pope because it taketh away a very ancient vse confirmed by many constitutions of Kings Neither could it bee iustified by the exception of vrgent or reasonable cause experience of all times hauing shewed that all causes may bee taken out of the Kingdome by this pretence For hee that would dispute whether the cause were vrgent or reasonable doeth enter into a double charge and difficulty because not onely the principall cause but that Article also must be discussed in Rome They did by no meanes approoue that the possessing of immoueables should bee granted to begging Friars and sayd that they hauing been receiued into France with that institution it was iust that they should bee maintained in the same state that this was a perperuail Artifice of the Court of Rome to take goods out of the hands of seculars and to draw them into the Clergie and afterwards to Rome that the Munkes did first gaine credit by pretence of the vow of pouerty as if they aimed at no temporall thing but did all in charity for the good of the people afterwards hauing gained reputation the Court do the dispence with them for their vow by which meanes the Monasteries being made rich are giuen in Commenda and finally all commeth to the Court. To this they added an exhortation in the twelfth article made to all the faithfull to giue largely to Bishops and Priests which had beene good in case they did serue the people as they ought and were in need For so Paul doth exhort that hee that is instructed in matters of faith should giue some part of his goods to him that doth instruct him But when hee that beareth the name of a Pastor doth intend rather any other thing then to instruct the people the exhortation is not fit and the rather because Ecclesiasticall goods formerly were for maintaining the poore and redeeming slaues for which cause not the immoueables only but euen the very ornaments of the Church and holy vessels were sold But in these last times it is prohibited to doe it without the Pope which hath enriched â—he Clergie exceeding much In the Mosaicall law God gaue the tenth to the Leuites who were the thirteenth part of the people prohibiting that any more should be giuen vnto them but the Clergie now which is not the fiftieth part hath gotten already not a tenth onely but a fourth part and doth still proceed and gaine vsing also many Artifices therein They said that Moses hauing inuited the people to offer for the fabrique of the Tabernacle when as much was offered as did fuffice did forbid them in the name of God to offer any more but here no end will bee found vntill they haue gotten all if men will continue in the lethargie If some Priests and religious persons bee poore it is because others are excessiuely rich and an equall diuision would make them all rich abundantly But to omit these so euident considerations if they did exhort the people to assist the poore Bishops and Priests in their necessities it would bee tolerable but to say they should bee assisted to maintaine their dignitie which is their pride and luxurie doth signifie nothing but that they are quite without shame It is true that in exchange another Decree was made in the eighteenth Article infauour of the people that dispensations should be giuen graâ—is which beeing commanded by CHRIST and not obserued there was no hope that this Decree would doe any more good These things being obiected to the Cardinall of Loraine that hee had authorized them against the expresse commandement of the King in his letters of the twentie eighth of August before mentioned hee defended himselfe in one word onely that in the Congregation of the tenth of Nouember the The defence of the Card of Loraine Decrees being read to bee published in the Session the next day the rights and authority of the French King and priuiledges of the Gallican Church were reserued Whereunto Monsieure le Feure replied that himselfe and his colleague hauing vsed all diligence to haue a copie of that Decrce they could neuer obtaine it and that in humane affaires not to appeare was as much as not to bee Besides this did not serue to excuse the things published in the last Session But that which was saide concerning the Synode in the Councels of the King and Parlament was nothing to that which the Bishops and Diuines and their seruants also according to the French libertie did relate to euery one vpon all occasions making iests at the discords and contentions betweene the Fathers at the practises and interests with which the matters of reformation were handled And those who were most familiar with the Cardinall of Loraine spake most of all And The censure made by the French BB. of the Councell after their returne into France A Prouer be made in France concerning the Councell it passed in France in manner of a Prouerbe that the moderne Councell had more authoritie then that of the Apostles because their owne pleasure onely was a sufficient ground for the Decrees without admitting the holy Ghost But in Germany the Decrees of reformation were not thought considerable neither by the Protestants nor by the Catholiques The Protestants did examine the
houses and their cold Cottages which was all they had in the beginning So verely these men if they would deale plainely and lay aside their disguises and doe their duety and render euery one his owne they see they must come to their staffe and scrippe againe to sobrietie and modestie to the labours and function of the Gospell For they haue heard Austin say that The name of a Bishop is a name of worke not of worship and That they are no Bishops that would haue the preeminence aboue others but not benefit them And therefore they see that it is lesse expedient for themselues then for any sort of men to haue the Gospell spread wider and further propagated for they cannot bee safe if they will bee sound Therefore now they raise tumults and puzzle all as Demetrius the Smith did of old when hee saw that his hopes of gaine were cut Now therefore Councels are summoned the Abbats and Bishops are called to make a partie For this they thought the cunningest plot to spinne out the time for some yeeres to hold mens mindes in suspence with expectation many things as it vseth might fall out in the meane time Some Warre might be raised One of these Princes might die that this so sharpe edge of theirs for the Gospell might in processe of time bee dulled mens mindes might waxe coole In the meane while as one sayes somewhat will be done I hope 14 Long since the Persians hauing beene vanquished and led in triumph when as the Athenians had begun to repaire their walles which the Persians had layd leuell with the ground and the Lacedemonians had straitly interdicted them to the end that they might keep them the easier vnder their check Themistocles the Athenian Generall a wise man seeing the safety of his Countrey might be hazzarded promised that he would come to Lacedemon to confer with them about it So being vpon the way to spend time he faignes himselfe sicke that hee might dwell the longer vpon his iourney At length beeing come to Lacedemon hee began to make many cauils on set purpose Somtimes the couenants did not please him Somtimes hee demands time to aduise Sometimes hee must waite for his fellowe Ambassadours without whom nothing could bee done otherwise he must send Ambassadors to Athens In the meane time whilest he trifles the Athenians had walled their City round and if any force were offered were prouided of a defence So these men whilest they putt off from day to day and will haue all referred to Councels in the meane while they build vp their walls whilst we sitt idle looking after wee know not what that at the last when they haue made all safe they may shutt vs out wholly and neither Councell may be held nor any thing at all done 15 For it is worth the paines to obserue their trickes and fetches How often Councels haue been summoned and not met How often a poore rumor hath dashed all their preparation and all the expectation How often haue the Fathers made a stand vpon the sudden in the middest of their iourney How often haue the scarlet Counsailers slipped home in the middest of the Councell hauing done iust nothing and haue reiourned the next Session till the ninth or tenth yeere following How often haue they quarrelled with the ayre the victuals the place the time For the Pope onely assembles the Councels and hee alone dismisseth them when hee lists If any thing please him not or the businesse beginne to goe awry presently the solemne close of the Playes is heard Valete Plaudite Farewell and clap your hands A Councell is warn'd at Basil They meete from all parts in great numbers They fall earnestly vpon many matters Eugenius the Pope is cast by all the voyces as a Simoniacall and Schismaticall Person Amideus Duke of Sauoy is put in his place Eugenius as hee was to doe takes this indignely thinkes with himselfe that this might bee a dangerous president for posteritie That his power and strength was far aboue all Councels That a Councel could not meet but by his command nor determine of any thing but what hee pleased That it was an vngodly act to inquire into his life in a Conuenticle of Bishops Presently he cals backe the Councel to Ferrara in Italie afterwards translates it to Florence Why what doings is this I pray Did Eugenius thinke the climate would alter mens mindes or that the Holy Ghost would giue discreeter answers in Italie then he had formerly in Germany Nay nay in all those changes he sought not after CHRIST but his own benefit He saw that his enemy Sigismond the Emperor did ouertoppe him in Germanie both in power and in fauour And that those Fathers which had met at Basil if they were remooued out of those harsh and rough Countreys into Italie they might as trees when they are transplanted bee made more mellow For now adayes mercifull God! the intent or scope of Councels is not to discouer trueth or to confute falshood For these later ages this hath been the onely indeauour of the Popes to establish the Romane Tyranny to set warres on foote to set Christian Princes together by the eares to raise money sometimes for the Holy Land sometimes for the building of Saint Peters Church sometimes for other vses I know not what or rather abuses all which money was to be cast into some few bellies in gluttonie and lust And this hath beene the onely cause or course of Councels for some ages last past For of errours and abuses as if there were none at all nothing euer could bee handled 16 Peter de Alliaco made great complaint in the Councel of Constance concerning the couetousnesse and pride of the Court of Rome but what good did hee Was there any part of their controuersie or pride restrained by the authoritie of the Councel The same man sayes that Holy dayes and the flocks of idle Monkes ought in his opinion to bee lessened And another in a certaine Worke intituled Tripartite and ioyned to the Lateran Councel The whole world almost sayes hee speakes against it and is scandalized at the infinite multitude of beggerly Friars And the Fathers in the Councell of Lateran wee strictly commaund say they that for the future no man inuent a new religious order Since that time what hath been done for Holy dayes I know not it is probable that no abatement is made But for the Orders of Monkes they are infinitely multiplied For the last Popes haue added Iesuites Capuchins and Theatines as if there had not beene yet enough of these slow-bellies Iohn Gerson Chancellour of Paris exhibited in the Councell of Constance seuentie fiue abuses in the Church of Rome which hee did earnestly desire might bee reformed But of so great a number what one abuse did they take away Iohn Picus Mirandula writes to Pope Leo to abridge idle ceremonies and to restraine the luxurie of Priests The Bishops afterwards in the Lateran Councell sate in
147 The fourth Apr. 8. 1546. 162 The fift Iune 17. 1546. 184 The sixt Ian. 13. 1547. 223 The seuenth March 3. 1547. 263 The eight March 11. 1547. 267 The ninth and first in Bolonia Aprill 21. 1547 270 The tenth and second in Bolonia Iune 11. 1547. 276 The eleuenth Session and first in the second reduction in Trent May 1. 1551 313 The twelfth and second in the second reduction in Trent Sept. 1. 1551. 317 The thirteenth Session Oct. 11. 1551. 339 The fourteenth Nouemb. 25. 1551. 356 The fifteenth Ian. 25. 1552. 369 The sixteenth which is the sixt and last vnder Pope Iulius the third April 28. 1552. 376 The seuenteenth and first vnder Pope Pius the fourth Feb. 26. 1562. 469 The eighteenth and second vnder Pius the fourth Feb. 26. 1562. 480 The nineteenth May. 14. 1562 506 The twentieth Iune 4. 1562. 511 The one and twentieth Iul. 16. 1562. 539 The two and twentieth Sept. 17. 1562. 572 The three and twentieth Iul. 15. 1563. 737 The foure and twentieth Nouem 11. 1563. 783 The fiue and twentieth and last of the Councell of Trent December 3. and 4. 1563. 805 Session in the Councell of Trent had no reall difference from a generall congregation 662 Siluester Prierias writeth against Luther 6 Simoneta maketh a faction about the Institution of Bishops 607 Simonie is discussed with all doubts belonging to it 398 399 492 c. Simonie is laid to the charge of Pope Pius the fourth 628 Smalcalda in which there was a great assembly of the Protestants 77 Soto is suspected to bee a Lutheran 178 writeth three bookes De natura gratia as a Commentarie vpon that Decree of the Councell and is opposed by Andreas Vega. 216 229 Being readie to die hee writeth a letter to the Pope concerning Conciliarie matters 693 Subscription of the Decrees of the Councell 813 Suisses are diuided in religion 45 Make a league after the death of Zuinglius 60 are inuited to the Councell by the Pope 164 are much fauored by Pope Iulius the third 313 Supplication sent out of France into Spaine 447 Suspension of the Councell is made for two years 376 377 But continueth ten yeares 381 T THechel a Dominican writeth again Luther 5 Title of the Councell is much questioned 134 141 142 481. Titular Bishops spoken against and defended 717 The Bishop of Conimbria speaketh against them 735 Traditions are diâ—oursed on 151 152 c. Are made to â—e of equall authority with the Scriptur 154 Translation of the Councell to Bolonia is resolued on in Rome 259 and executed in Trent 266 267 c. The discussion of the cause thereof is referred to certaine delegates in Rome 283 Treasure of the Church what it is 6 Trent is named for the place to hold the Councell in but the Protestants will not consent 101 The Legates are recalled from Trent because they were left alone 104 and are sent thither againe 111 The Councell of Trent is protested against by the Protestants 126 It beginneth the 13. of December Anno Dom. 1545 129 130 V. VErgerius is sent Nuncio to King Ferdinand 52 Is made Nuncio in the place of Hugo Rangone Bishop of Rheggio 66 Is recalled out of Germanie 72 and sent backe 73 His negotiation 74 Returneth to the Pope and is rewarded 78 Goeth to the Colloquie in Wormes vnder a false name 93 Flyeth to the Councell for succour and after quitteth both it and Italy 154 Discouereth the plots of the Romanists to the Suisses and Grisons 345 Writeth against the Bull of the intimation of the Councell 436 Being in Valtellina maketh obiections against the Councel 743 Vincentia is chosen to hold the Councell in 84 Three Legats are sent thither 85 The Councell is deferred 86 and afterwards suspended during pleasure 90 The Venetians will not suffer the Councell to be held in Vincentia 100 Virgin Marie is exempted from sinne by the Franciscans 175 180 How she came to be worshipped 181 182 Vnction and the doctrine of it 350 351 Vnction of Benefices was inuented to Palliate Pluralitie 251 Vniuersities of Louaine Collen condemne Luthers Bookes 9 and so doth the Vniuersitie of Paris 16 Voices in Councell to whom they belong by right 62 How they haue beene giuen in Councell in all ages 135 Whether they may be giuen by Proctors 707 Vulgar tongue in the Church what inconuenience it bringeth 460 How it hath beene vsed in former times 577 578 W. WAldenses or Albigenses in the Alpes 3 are miserably slaine by the Frenchmen 119 Obtaine a great victory against the Duke of Sauoy 446 War betweene the Emperour and the French King 102 The Pope doth more intend the war against the Protestants then the Councell 144 Rumors of the Protestants armes causeth the Counsell to be suspended 377 Warre in France betweene the Protestants and Papists 647 Wolsey is delegated by the Pope to heare the cause of the diuorce of Henry the eight 68 Workes of good men how they are to be valued 196 Workes before grace 198 Workes after grace 199 Z. ZVinglius in Zuric opposeth the Pope beginning from the abuse of Indulgences preached by Friar Samson amongst the Suisses 9 The Bishop of Constance writeth and the Dominicans preach against him by which meanes he is the more stirred vp 16 His difference with Luther 48 Is slaine in battaile 59 Zuric maketh a Decree in fauour of the reformed religion 17 FINIS LONDON ¶ Printed by Bonham Norton and Iohn Bill Printers to the Kings most Excellent Maiestie ANNO DOM. M. DC XXIX