legittimating vnlawfull and accursed issue and thereby advancing into Thrones of regalitie oftentimes base sundrie times adulterous yea sometimes incestuous and perhaps vnnaturall of springs dooth not Reason foretell and hath not experience thought that both the parties in such mariages and much more their whole issue are bound in as strong a bond to the vp-holding of the Popes infinite authoritie and power as the honour of their birth and the title of their Crowne are worth It was a sâ—ely conceit in them which hoped that Queene Mary would not vphold the Popes authoritie in England by reason of her promise when a greater bond to her then her promise did presse her to it What man ever in the world stucke faster to his chosen friend then the late King of Spayne Philip did to the Papacie notwithstanding with the Popes themselves his often ielousies and quarrels who ordained moreover that all his heires and successours in the estate of the Low-countries by vertue of his late transport shall for ever vpon their entrie into those Seigniories take an oth for the maintaining of the Papacie and that Religion Is not the reason apparant that if the Papacy should quaile his only sonne whosoever descend of him is dishonured and made vncapable of those great Estates and Kingdomes which now he holdeth yea and a fire kindled in his owne house about the title to them neither is it to be admitted into any conceit of reason but that this young King will be as sure to the Papacy as his father being borne of a marriage prohibited by God abhorred happily by Nature disaproved by the world and onely by papall authority made alowable For for my part I hold not that opinion vnprobable that the marriage of Vncle and Neâ—ce as it was in this case was contrarie to the law of Nature and not to Gods positive lawonely seeing the Vncle hath a second right and place of a father But howsoever that point stand wherin I dare not affirme ought it is creerely contrary to such a positive lawe of God as the reason and cause thereof must needes continue vnto the dissolution of the world or overthrow of mankinde And therefore in reason and law no way agreeable or dispensable with but by the same or higher authority then that which first did make it that the Pope neede not thinke that they do him so apparant wrong who invest him with the title of that man of power who sitting in the temple of God exalteth himselfe above God For what may it seeme else bearing himselfe head of the Church to take vpon him to councell or authentically to alow of the breach of Gods law without having his expresse precise commission for so doing Though I am not ignoraÌ„t that they have distinctions for all this which were a merry matter if Sophistry were a proper scieÌ„ce of sal vatioÌ„ But by this some other mariages those strainge relations of aliance have growne that K. Philip were he alive might call the Archd. Albert both brother cosen nephew son for all this were he vnto him either by blood or affinitie being vnkle to himselfe cosen germain to his father husbaÌ„d to his sister father to his wife to come a step neerer home the same rule of Pollicy made me greatly feare til now that god by death hath prevented the mischeife howsoever hitherto what for feare of scaÌ„dalizing what for other respects the Pope made shew not to be forward to coÌ„seÌ„t to a intended mariage betweÌ„ a married K. his Mistris much lesse to legittimate the childre adulterously begotteÌ„ by finding nullities on both sides in the former mariages things made of purpose as he knoweth to cloke a falshoode that yet notwithstanding himselfe or his successours would yeelde to it in the end if any colour in the world could be laid vpp on the matter to salve the credite of his not erring Sea And hee might see good hope for that race to prevaile deriving the sucession also of his other greate Kingdome vppon issue whose tytle must holde vppon his legittimation hee might be better assured of it then he hath beene hitherto and have them ever firme and irreconcileable adversaries to all those whither subiects or neighbours or whosoever as should oppose against his Soveraigntie and vnstinted power So searching and penetrant is that Sea to strengthen it selfe more by the vnlawfull marriages of other men that ever Prince yet coulde doe by any lawfull marriage of his owne 15 The dispencing with oathes and discharging from them especially in matters of treatie betweene Princes and Estates is a thing so repugnant to all morall honestie Dispensation with oathes so iniurious to the quiet and peace of the world so odious in it selfe so scandalous to all men that it may be they adventure not to play vpon that string in this curious age so often as heretofore for feare of discording all the rest of their harmony Cleare it is that heretofore this made them a necessarie helpe for all such Princes as either vpon extreamity were driven to enter into hard conditions or vpon falshood and dishonesty desired to take their advantage against their neighbours when it was offered In which Princes having no meanes to salve their credite with the world but onely by iustifying the vnholinesse of the Art by the Popes holy authoritie interposed in it were afterwards tied firmely to adhere vnto them And this was the cause that Francis the first of France with whom immediately vpon his oath given to Charles the fift for performance of the articles accorded at his delivery Clement the 7. dispenced and by probable coniecture had promised to dispence with his oath before he had made it vpon hope whereof also he tooke it the effect was for the Popes behoofe that ever after there was strict love and amity betwen them testified finally to the world by that famous marriage betweene the sonne of the one and the kinswoman of the other And verily though I hold in generall too much suspitiousnesse as great a fault and as great an enimie to vvisedom as too much Incredulitie it doing oftentimes as great a vvrong to friends as the other doth receive vvrongfull hurt from dissemblers yet vievving the short continuance of svvorne leagues at this day the small reckoning that Princes make of oathes solemnly taken vvhether to neighbours or subiectes not faith but profit being the bond of aliance and amitie which altering once the other have no longer during it maketh me think it not possible that Popes vnlimited fingers may bee stirring even at this day more often in secret in vntying those knots of the bonds of conscience then the world is ware of at leastwise that by authority and imitation of his example Princes assume vnto themselves a like faculty of dispencing with their own oaths whensoever they can perswade themselves it is behooveful to their kingdome as he when to his Church But howsoever that standeth this is
fiunt Pontifices Romanis There with all so soone as the Conclave was broken vp he retired to his country and neuer saw Rome againe But the matter of greatest marke herein at this day is the power of the K. of Spaine in swaying those Elections who by pensions by perferments by hopes of the highest hath assured a great third part of the Cardinalls to him And to be alwaies at his devotions in all Elections whereby having the exclusiue as they terme it no Pope can be made but with his liking He prodeeds on by his Ambassadors to name also some five or six vnto them whereof please they but to choose any he shall rest wel satisfied which course though it mightily distaste the rest of the Cardinalls who are hereby for ever debased from their chiefe desire yea and inwardly much afflict the great states of Italie who are loth to have their Pope of a Spanish Edition yet there is no remedie one of these in fine they must needs choose the discretion they can have is onely this to choose such of them as is like to prove least to his purpose A memorable example heereof in the election of the saide Gregorie where the greatest parte of the Cardinalles enflamed against the King and banding against him yet in conclusion after twoo moneths imprisonment in the Conclave were forced to relent and to choose one of his nomination or otherwise a cleere case no Election at all which whether there were or no made no mater to Spaine who stands vpon a sure ground in his exclusive obstinatenesse The nessesitie of the Church the state of the Papacie their owne present condition the disorders of the cittie of Rome and of all their territories which in want of a Pope and this locking vppe of the Cardinalles in a cellar doe swarve exceedingly did maynly cry out to have some Pope or other which at the last they yeelded to by consenting vpon a favorite yea a subiect of Spaine also for such was that Gregorie howbeit the maine matter runneth not with him so cleerely they being not the same men that are chosen and that are Popes But changing with their estates both name and nature also yea sometimes not easier to finde two divers men of humours more different than is the same man in his Cardinalship and in his Papalitie whereof no better witnesse than Sixtus Quintus the most crooching humble Cardinall that ever was lodged in an oven and the most stowt resolute Pope that ever ware Crowne in his Cardinalshipe a meere vassall and slave of Spaine in his Papasie the most dangerous enimie that Spaine ever had in the world in summe who in his Cardinalship was scorned as a base Friar in his Papacie was reverenced as a Prince of great worth and spirite neither is there any marvell to be made of this difference seeing the meanes of obtaining and maintaining the Papall honour are so cleane contrarie seeing in the one state they fashion themselves to all other mens humors in the other they looke all men should accommodate themselves to their honors And lastly seeing these Princes whose favors are the only hopes to compasse this place and their power quelling downe the estate For this cause as in general the Cardinals doe in their hearts favor France above Spaine both as being the weaker part and the further neighbours the only hope to maintaine counterpose against the others greatnes So let the king of Spaine make what choice among them of a Pope he can he shall finde that as long as these reasons continue whosoever sits in the seate will more respect his owne safetie than the service of his preferrors even as doth this very Pope who for that cause is conceived to have made some alteration of inward friendshippes though holding good termes of love and loyaltie with both But this vncertainty mutability of the newe Popes affections doth cause both the K. of Spaine other princes of Italy above all other things to aime at a man of calme nature not of stirring mettall that if they cannot make any great account of his friendship yet his naturall disposition and temper may assure them that he shall not be a raiser of new stirs in Italy and diverse of them to scamble somewhat for ther own have bin as on the other side a speciall good inducement to the Cardinalles in his age and sicknesse that the place may bee soone void again for the gaining whereof there is alwaies practising and plotting immediately vpon the Election 41 Thus is the Pope made who hath his councel of cardinals to attend and advise him he chosen by them they created by him whose nuÌ„ber may amount they say to 72 but many places are kept void still to serve for desperate pushes for these there are some 20. being lightly the yoÌ„ger sonnes of Dukes and Princes who in case their Ancestors states should descend vp on them with dispensation from the Pope may resigne vp their hats among the Cardinalls for their owne honor and for the gratifying of the world are sorted out and divided al the orders of religions all the nations of christendome wherof they are appointed the particular protectors in the Court of Rome As the Protectour of England now is Cardinall Caietane a verie stout man of Spanish faction who hath beene Legate into Fraunce and more lately into Poland but now returned 42 Now for this Pope who is by countrey birth a Florentine was chased from thence with his father vpon a conspiracie against Don Cosmito I have little more to say than what I have before touched hee is reputed to bee a man of a good calme disposition and not too crafty yet close and one that can hold his owne well enough kind to his friends devout in his waâ—es thinks without doubt that he is in the right he wil weepe very often some conceive vpon a weaknesse tendernes of minde habituated therin by custom others say vpon pietie and godly compassion At his mafles at his processions at the fixing vp of his iubilies his eyes are still watering sometimes streaming with teares insomuch that for weeping he seemeth an other Heraclitus to ballance with the last Gregorie another Democritus for laughing Touching his secret life the Italians speake somewhat diversly especially for his younger yeares But mens tongues are alwaies prone to taint their governours and the worse men speake worse in hope to lurke themselves vnder the blemish of their betters For my part hearing no extraordinarie badde matter against him but only by suspition I iudge the best and howsoever I had rather preserve the credit of a bad man than staine or impaire it in a good For his yeeres hee doth not much exceed three score but is troubled with the dropsie and that caused some say accompanied with a thirstie infirmitie for a Prelate he hath good comendations an enemie to the licentious lives of the Friars yea to the pompe also
and secular braverie of Cardinalls howbeit more desiring reformation in both then daring to attempt it in either for ought as yet appeareth Verie magnificall ceremoniall in his outward comportment in his private cariage humble as his frends say in managing the Church temporall goodes rather trustie than liberall but of their spirituall treasure of supererogatorie workes large bountifull in Indulgences and Pardons which they vseâ— not onely as charitable reliefes of the needie but as honorable giftes also to reward Princes that have presented him In these I should thinke him verie exceeding wastful but that where the treasure is infinite there the spender in ordinarie estimation cannot be prodigall For a Prince he hath beene somewhat defective heretofore as being neither of deepe resolution nor of great spirit But fortunate men are wise and conquerors are valiant And surely this mans proiects and attempts have so well prospered what in the matter of Ferrara what in working the great peace the honour whereof by them oft is wholie attributed to the pope though others say he was importuned to deale in it by the Spaniard being so tyred waisted out with troubling his neighbours that in fine he delighted not in any thing but in peace only that he hath purchased him the opinion not onely of a fortunate and wise Pope but of one who doth sincerely affect the quiet of Christendome thinketh nothing remaining to the height of his glory but to be the Author of an vniuersal league and warre against the Turk against whom he hath sundry times given aide already that for that ende notwithstanding his abilitie oportunitie what by his excommunications what by his ready armie to have righted himselfe yet hath he laid by his owne particular pretences aswel against the great duke of Tusca for Burgo di San Sepulcrâ— which belongs to the Church as also and more principally against the Venetians for Romgo and the Polissina which they have rent by warre and retaine from farrara not to mention that ancient quarell touching the Patriarkship of Aqueileia whose territory even all Friuli their state hath vsurped that no private nor temporall commoditie of this Church and Sea might give â—â—pediment to the publike good in withstanding and repressing the grand enemy of Christendom These thoughts surely are honorable neither vnnecessarie for his owne future safetie considering how neere a neighboure the Turke is to him and how often his state hath bin afflicted by him and somtimes in hazard But now for his neere neighbours the great Duke and the Uenetians as their States so their loves and his are but neighbourly they thinking his growing to be their stoppe and endaungering But the Uenetians perhappes feare him and the great Duke hateth him more The Uenetians having still painted in their great Pallace and dayly before their eies the extremitie which former Popes excommunications hath brought theÌ„ to having their state as ill seated in regard of potent neighbors who all gape after them vpon any advauntage as any that I know againe in the world The Turke confining and bordering with them on the East the King of Spaine on the West the Emperour on the North and the Pope on the South who can never want pretence they holding that which they list not yeeld besides some iealousies and discurtesies passed lately betweene them and the Pope and his Cardinals The great duke not only for that hereditary enmitie first and that personall discourtesie since what for effecting that title of King of Tuscanie whereof his wife is written Queene by some already and having gotten as is said the Emperors liking the Pope denyed him in putting him off with a distinction that he was content he should be K. in Tuscanie but not of Tuscanie which scholasticall subtilties plaine suters love not but much more care for the correspondeÌ„cie of conference favor which is thought to be betweene the Pope and those popular Florentines who distasted with their home government once free now almost servile live elsewhere abroad and at Rome in exceeding store specially seeing not only the Pope in the faction of his particular family but all popes in the affection which the Papacy both engender do naturally more desire that their neighbours states should be popular as having the ground of their greatnesse in swaying the multitude But generally the Duke of Tuscane will be alwaies regardfull to hold the best correspondency with the Popes that may be as having their state very often to assault on that side the rest being surrounded by the Appennine and the Sea To conclude this Pope where there is no private cause of disfavoring his persoÌ„ or disalowing his place carieth the name of a good Pope and they which do subtilly see the points of goodnesse more then curiously will say that â—ius Quintus was a good Prelat but no good Prince that Sixtus Quintus was a good Prince but no good Prelate Gregorie the 13. a good Prince and Prelate but no good man this Pope both good man good Prince and good Prelate and so I leave him wishing his daily encrease in all parts of true goodnesse whereof his Church hath too little and himselfe happily as other good men nothing too much returning to the Papacy 43 The next point which commeth to be considered is The forraine strength of the Papacie what power it is at this day in this world by reason of those nations which either in whole or greater part still adhere vnto it which are Italy with his Islands Spaine with his Indies Germany with his skirts which I count the 17 provinces of the Low countries on the one side the 13 Cantons of Suizzers and 3 leagves of Grisons on an other and Bohemia with his Marquisate of Moravia Slesia on the third And lastly the great vnited well seated fruitfull populous Kingdomes of France with his neighbours of Loraine and Savoy whom though Princes of the Empyre whensoever themselves list and finde it for their profit yet in regarde of their greater affinitie to Fraunce both in language and fashion which associate also affections I annexe vnto it of all which some briefe seemeth necessary to be taken For as for Poland and Transilvania with Valachia and the remaines of Hungary by reason of their neere and dangerous confining with the Turke together with the multitude of Religions which are swarming in them in Poland especially of which it is said by way of bi-word That if a man hath lost his Religion let him to go seek it in Poland and he shall be sure to find it or else make account that it is vanished out of the world ther is no great reckoning to bee made of their force eyther way Then England with the more North Kingdomes Scotland Denmarke and Sweden whose King notwithstanding is of the Roman faith now but hath few there that followe him They are accounted to have wholy cast off the Papacy for albeit they make reckoning of many
great facility and without which there is no possibilitie of salvation 2 That divine prerogative is granted vnto them abve all the people in the world which doth preserve them everlastingly from erring in matters of faith and from falling from GOD. 3 That the Pope being Christes deputie hath the keyes of heaven in custodie to admit in by Indulgence shut out by excommunication as he shall see cause 4 That the charge of all soules being committed to him he is thereby made soveraigne prince of this world exceeding in power and maiestie all other princes as far as the soule in dignitie doth exceed the bodie eternall things surmount things temporall and seeing the end is the ruler and commander of whatsoever doe tend vnto it and all things in this world are to serve but as instruments and the world it self but as a passage to our everlasting habitation 5 That therfore he that hath the managing of this high honour to be the supream conductor vnto it hath also power to dispose of all things subordinate as may best serve to it to plant to roote out to establish to depose to bind to loose to alter to dispence as may serve most fitte for the advancement of the church and for the atcheving of the soules felicitie wherein whosoever oppose against him whether by Heresie or Schisme they are no other then verie Rebels or seditious persoÌ„s against whom he hath vnlimited endlesse power to proceede to the suppressing ruining and extinguishing of them by all meanes that the Common-welth of God may florish in prosperitie and the high way to heaven bee kept safe and open for all Gods loyall and obedient people In these poynts no doubtes or questions are tolerable And whoso with them ioyne in these shall find great connivence in what other defect or difference soever this being the very touchstone by which all men are to be tried whether they be in the Church or out of the Church whether with them or against them and by this plott have their wits erected in this worlde a Monarchie more potent then ever any that have bene before it A Monarchye which intitling them de iure to all the world layeth a strong foundation thereof in all mens conciences the onelie firme ground of obedience in the worlde and such a foundation as not onely holdeth fast vnto them whatsoever it feazeth on but worketh outwardly also by engines to weaken and vndermine the states of all other Princes howe great so ever and that in such sort as by possessing themselves of the principall places the hearts of their subiects as being those from whome they have their principall good even the happinesse of their soules to incite vppon everie conscience a gaynest their naturall Soveraigne at pleasure and by a writte of Excommunication to svbdue or at leastwise greatly to shake whom they list without fighting a blow without leavying a Souldier lastly a Monarchie which as it was founded by meere witte needeth not anie thing but meere witte to mainetaine it which enricheth it self without labouring warreth without endangering rewardeth without spending vsing Colledges to a great purpose as others can fortresses working greater matters partly by Schollers partly by swarmes of Friars than else they could ever doe by great garrisons armies And all these maintained at other mens charges for to that rare poynt have they also proceeded as not onely to have huge rents themselves out of other mens states but to maintaine also their instruments out of other mens devotions and to advance their favorites vnder the faire pretence of providing for Religion to the verie principall preferments in forraine Princes Dominions That no man need find it strange if finding the revenew of skill and cunning to be great and their force mightie especially what they worke vpon simplicitie and ignorance They inclosed in times past all learning within the wals of their Cleargie setting forth Ladie Ignorance for a great Saint to the Laitie and shewing her vnto them for the true mother of Devotion And assuredly but for one great defect in their pollicy which was hard in regard of their owne particular ambition but otherwise not impossible to be avoided That they choose their Pope lightly verie old and withall without any restraint of all Families and Nations whereby they are continually subiect to double change of government The Successor seldome prosecuting his Antecessors devices but eyther crossing them through envie or abandoning them vpon new humour it could not have been but they must have long since beene absolute Lords of all which defects notwithstanding so strong was their pollicy by reason of the force of their Cardinall fonndation That no Prince or Potentate ever opposed against them but in fine even by his owne Subiects they eyther maistered him or vtterly brought him to good conformitie by great losse and extreamitie tâ—ll such time as in his latter age the bottom of the foundation it selfe being stoutly discovered hath given them a sore blow hath changed in great part the state of the question and hath driven them to a re-inforcement of new inventions and practises 12 Howbeit those positions being the ground of their state and the hope of their owne glory in them they admit no shadow of alteration but indevour still per fas nefas euen by all the meanes in the world to strengthen them and amongst their manifold adversaries hate them most of all other who have laboured most in stopping of that foundation And seeing that by reason of this bookish age they have not that helpe of ignorance which in times past they had they cast about greatly to soake and settle them in mens perswasions and consciences by another way They tell men that the very gound whereon we build our perswasion of the truth of Christianity it self are no other then credible That the proofes of the Scripture to be the word of God can be no other at this day than probable onely being impossible for any wit in the world to produce exact necessary and infallible demonstrations Eyther that the holy Apostle Saint Paule had his calling from above or that those Epistles were of his writing so likewise in the rest and that the chiefe proofe that we have therof is the testimony of the church a thing which their very adversaries are forced to confesse Now that this probable perswasion of the truth of Christianity doth afterward grow to an assurednesse therof this issueth from an inward operation of Gods divine spirit the gift whereof is faith and that faith being a knowledge not of bare science but of beleefe which searcheth not the particular necessitie of the veritie of things delivered but relieth in generall vpon the approoved wisedome truth and vertue of him that doth deliver it Then surely whosoever will have necessarie proofe of the severall Articles of Religion doth but wittily deceive himselfe and by over-curious indevour to chaunge his faith into science doth loose that which
small deale of wisdom me thinke might decide it especially considering that all good things are froÌ„ God though they be found in his very enemy whatsoever is not vniust being vsed in a good cause is good 27 The first and chiefe meanes wherby the reformers of Religion prevaile in all places was their singular assiduitie Preaching dexteritie in preaching especially in great cities Palaces of Princes whereby the people beeing ravished with the love admiration of that light which so brightly shined vnto theÌ„ as meÌ„ with the Sun who are newly drawn Publishing treatises of piety froÌ„ dungeon readily followed those who caried so faire a lamp before them Hereto may be added their publishing of treatises of vertue of piety of spirituall exercises devotions which ingendred a firme perswasion in the minds of men that the soile must be sound good from whence so sweet wholesome and heavenly fruites proceed Now although the opinions of the Papacy and of a great part of the reformed religion be as opposite herein wel-nie as hot and cold as light and darknes the one approving no devotion severed from vnderstanding the other thinking the vnderstanding to be a means rather to divert dazle the devotion then to direct and cherish it And for preaching in like sort the French Protestants making it an essential chiefe part of the service of God whereas the Romanists make the Masse only a worke of duty the going to Sermons but a matter of conveniency such as is left free to mens leasures oportunities without imputation of sin yet in regard of the great sway which they have learned by their losse that those cary in drawing of mens minds affections they have indevoured in all places in both those kinds to equal yea to surmount their adversaries For although in multitud of preachers they greatly come short being an exercise wherein the secular priests list not to distemper their braines much but commend it in a maner wholy to their regulars friars these thinking the cuntrey capacities to blockish or otherwise not worth bestow ing so great cost on do imploy theÌ„selves wholy in cities other places of great resort all which they have great care to have coÌ„petently furnished yet in the choyce of them whom they send out to preach in the diligence paines which they take in their Sermons in the ornaments of eloquence grace of action in their shew of piety revereÌ„ce towards God of zeal towards the truth of love towardes his people which even with their tears they can often testifie they match their adversaries in the best in the rest far exceed them But herein the Iesuits cary the bel froÌ„ all other having attained the coÌ„mendations working the effect of perfect orators And of those besids certain drawn yearly by lot froÌ„ their general residing at Rome their choise preachers are sent abroad amongst Infidels heretiks at Lent in especial they are sent out one in each city in Italy with yearly charge and the custom of Italie is for the same maÌ„ to preach every day in the lent without intermission if their strength do serve them so as sixe daies in the weeke to preach on the Gospel of the dayes and on the Sâ—terday in honor praise of our Lady so in every yearely change there is the delight of variety in the daily continuing of the same the admiration of industry Some such like course it is to be thought that the Iesuites hold also in other CouÌ„tries their proiects being certaine and exactly pursued But wonderfull is the reputation which redounds thereby to their order exceeding the advantage which it giveth to their side for bookes of praier pietie all countries are full of them at this day in their own language to stopp in part the out-crie of their adversaries against them for imprisoning the people whollie in those darke devotions especially to win the love of the world vnto them by this more inward and lively shew of sanctitie godlines Yea herein they conceive to have so farre surpassed their opposites that they forbeare not to reproach vnto theÌ„ their povertie weaknes coldnes in that kind as being forced to take the catholikes books to supply theirs which as in this it cannot altogither be denied to be true so on the other side it had bin greatly to be wished that these bookes of Christian Resolution exercise had bin the fruits of conscience rather then of the wits of those that made them which in some of them as father ParsoÌ„s by name have bin otherwise besides the rest of his actions vnsutable to those resolutions Some of them also more zealous in their way have not forborne to coÌ„fesse that by performing so good works with a good mind to a good end conforming their own lives demeanors acordingly they might have prepared mens minds to an hope of a through recoÌ„cilatioÌ„ wheras now by vsing holines it self for a meere instrumeÌ„t of practise to win men to their party they cannot but drive the world into such a laborinth of perplexities ielousies as to suspect alwaies their policies dispaire of their honesties 28 A second thing whereby the Protestant part hath so greatly enlarged it selfe hath bene their well educating of youth specially in the principles of Christian Religion pietie wherein their care and continuance is even at this day in many places very worthily to be coÌ„mended of all and imitated by them who hitherto have bin more remisse in educatioÌ„ of youth sowing in those pure minds seede of vertue and truth before the weedes of the world do raÌ„cor and change the soile being by the consent of the most renowned wise men of the world a point of incoÌ„parable force and moment for the well ordering and governing of all kind of states and for the making of Common-weales ever happie and flourishing for all education confor ming to the lawes and customes in being doth vphold states in the termes wherein they are The first seasoning with opinions accustomaÌ„ces whatsoever being of double force to any second perswations and vsages not comprising herein those nimble quick-silvered braines which itch after change liking in their opinions as in their garments to be noted to be followers of outlandish fashions as being of a more refined sublimated temper then that their Country conceits can satisfie Here in then the Papacie were taken short by the protestants even as in the for mer and mightily overonne eâ—e they were aware thereof notwithwaÌ„ding as difficulties doe rather kindle then dauÌ„t the generous spirits adde that to their diligence which was waÌ„tting in their timelines so these men have bestirred themselves so well therein to follow the trace which their adversaries had led them that in fine they have in some sort out-gone them in it quoted them in all one onely excepted that they respect not much
savourers in them as of foure thousand sure Catholicks in England with foure hundred English Roman Priests to maintaine that militia who vpon quarrel with the Iesuites affectors of superiority disgracers of all that refuse to depend vpon them have instantly demaunded of late a Bishop of the Pope to be cosen by them and to be resident among them yet this is so small a portion being compared with the whole as not to bee estemed especially seeing in Italy counted wholy theirs there are full foure thousand professed Protestantes that have exercise of their Religion also in the valleies of Pimont and Salusto besides sundrie Gentlemen who live abroad and resort to them In Lucca also a great part are thought favorites of the reformation some of that sort there are scattered in all places especially in Venice But their pâ—ucity and obscurity shall enclose them in a Cipher so that Italy wee will account it to stand wholly for the Papacie though the Princes and other free States thereof little like the Popes enlarging his temperall Dominion at home being alreadie of a large sise in proportion with theirs and especially for those pretences which his Sea neuer wants and those extraordinarie advantages with concurrence of his spirituall supremacy doe giue him by interdictions excommunications discharging othes of obedience which above all other they have greatest cause to feare both in regard of their huge company of Priests Prelates and Friars wherewith hee hath fortified himselfe mightily in their States As also for that discontent which their cruell impositions extortions and oppressions have bred in their owne subiects who wish rather that all Italy were reduced into the hands of some one naturall potentate whose greedinesse how great soever they were able to satisfie And of the Popes above all men who promiseth much lenitie by his late example at Ferrara where he remitted many imposts which their late Dukes had raised than to be thus daily racked and devoured by so many pettie Tyrants as it were with their prowling Gabilâ—ieres whose ambitions and emulations whose prides and pleasures thirteene millions of yeerely revenew vvhich Italy now yeeldeth them is not able to satisfie though I say for these causes the Princes and States of Italy no way favour the Popes strength in his temporality at home considering vvithall vvhat swelling and turbulent spirits mount sometimes into that Chaire have purposely set Italy on a flaming for that in the sacking of many themselves might get somewhat for the advancing of such as nature and bloud did cause them to love best yet on the contrarie side for his spirituall power and soveraigntie abroad they vvish it vpheld and restored if it vvere possible both for the honour of their nation which is thereby their triumphant Queene of the world and much more for the commoditie which by vicinitie they and theirs reape thence in more aboundance than all other together vvhat by sharings as occasion serveth in his booties abroad vvhat by being alwaies in sight to receiue favours at home what by that vvhich sticketh to them in very passing thorow their Territories Then to exclude any innovation the care of their owne safetie and not quiet alone perswades them it being dangerous in a body so full of diseases and discontented humors to change or stir any thing seeing all alteration sets humors on working one humor on foot quickneth vp all other what allured by Sympathie what by Antipathie provoked the end thereof is eyther the dissolving of Nature by length of conflictes or the disburthening of Nature by expelling that which before did oppresse it For this cause no audience to be given to the reformation as enemie to their peace which is the Nurse of their riches and sole Anchor to their safetie For it were but simplicity to thinke that conscience and love of truth did sway the deliberation the World having in most places done Religion this honour as to remoove it out of those secret darke Cabinets of the heart where the iealousie of some devout dreames of the Gardens of Paradise had imprisoned it and advaunced it vnto the fairest sight and shew of the whole world even for to make a maske of it or rather a very vizar with mouth eyes and nose very fairely painted and proportioned to all pretenses and purposes And others yet of more gallant and free spirit have given it generall passage to goe whither it selfe listeth so that it come not neere them It doth much grieve mee to speake yea the very thought of it must needs bring horrour and detestation what a huge multitude of Atheistes doe brave it in all places and there most where the Papacie is most in his prime What renouncers of God blasphemers of his onely begotten Sonne vilanisers of his Saints and scorners of his service who doe thinke it a glorious grace to adore a King of a Countrey But to name or to thinke reverently of the Creator of the World to proceede from a timorous base-mindednesse and abiectnesse Of so deepe reach and iudgement are these pedlers in their proportions who doe know no other Magistrates but those of their parishes These men are favourable alike to all Religions but can best endure that wherein they are least checkt and may range with most impunity But for the Souldiarie of this age a profession and an exercise reputed in olde time for an onely Schoole of Vertue but now defamed with all manner of vice and villanie in olde time such That the wisest Philosophers thought it reason sufficient why the Lacedemonians were more vertuous than other Nations because they followed the warres at this day a cause of cleane contrarie effect those desperate Atheismes those Spanish renouncings and Italian blasphemings have now so prevayled in our Christian Cuâ—pes that if any restraine them hee shall bee vpbraided as no souldiour nor gallant-minded man that the verie Turkes have the Christians blaspheaming of Christ in execration and will punish their prisoners sorely whenas through impatience or desperatenesse they burst into them Yea the Iewes in their speculations of the causes of the strange successes of the affaires of the worlde assigne the reason of the Turkes prevailing so against the Christians to bee their blasphemies and blaspheamous oaths which wound the eares of the verie heavens ann cry vnto the high Throane of Iustice for speedie vengeance As for Princes and great persons it is a rare thing and surelie an happie wheresoever it falleth out of them that any of them hath any extraordinarie store of religiousnesse of any sort Their example I doe speake of many of them which might bee the soveraigne restorers of vertue reestablishers of a happy world with the endles blissâ— of many millions now perishing through their default is at this day the only ruine and despaire of goodnesse having forgoâ—ten whose Lievetenants they are in the world for what end they are placed for what cause they are honoured and most of all what great account they
the Turkes shal be necessarily inforced to imploy the vttermost droppe of their blood to keepe them off next whensoever the matter growes to the Election one of another new Emperour they shall alwaies have the casting voice with them or rather in them having entangled the States of Bohemia in such bondes and promises Besids there is no other whom they may make choyce of that they may make no other accompt of it then as being halfe hereditarie And lastly their late pollicie now strengthened by vsage of declaring a King of Romans in the Emperours life time whilest his presence and power may governe the action doe assure them it shal alwaies passe with them roundly and quietly The other ground of their hope is the division of the Protestants into their factions of Lutherans and Calvenistâ— as they stile them wherein the Ministers of each side have so bestirred themselves that a coale which a wise man with a little moysture of his mouth would soone have quenâ—hed they with the winde of others have contrariwise so enflamed that it threatneth a great ruine and calamitie on both sides And though the Princes and heades of the weaker sides in those parts both Palgrave and Lansgrave have with great wisedome and iudgement to asslake those flames imposed silence in that point to the Ministers of the one partie hoping the charitie and discretion of the other sort would have done the like yet it falleth out otherwise the Lutherane Preachers rage hitherto in their Pulpets against the other as much as ever and their Princes and people have them in as great detestation not forbearing to professe openly they will returne to the Papacy rather then ever admitte that Sacramentarie and Predestinarie pestilence For these two pointes are the ground of the quarrell and the latter more scandalous at this day then the former And some one of their Princes namely the Administratour of Saxonie is strongly misdoubted to practise with the Emperour for the ioyning of the Catholike and Lutherane sect in one and by war to roote out extinguish the Calvinists the most plausible motion of the Emperor that ever could happen Neither is there any great doubt but if any stay and agreement could bee taken with the Turk all Germany were in danger to bee in vproare within it selfe by intestine discention howbeit all the Lutherans are not caried with this sterne humor but they only which are called Lutherani rigidi the greater part which are perhaps the Molles Lutherani are quiet enough Neither account they otherwise of the Calvinists then as of erring bretheren whom the Rigidi haue as is saide threatned to excommunicate as Schismatiques and Heretiques To this lamentable extremitie hath the headinesse of their Ministers on both sides brought it whilst in the peremptorinesse of their poore learning they cannot indure any supposed errour in their bretheren whereof themselves even the best of them perhaps if they were well sifted would be found to be full enough such take I to bee the condition of all men of this world that in their ignorance of all actions save of their Schooles and books make more account of some ill shaped Sillogisme then of the peace of the Church and happinesse of the worlde the end whereof will bee that their enemies shall laugh when themselves shall have cause to weepe vnlesse the gratiousnesse of God stirre vp some worthy Princes of renowne and reputation with both sides to enterpose their wisedome industry and authoritie for the vniting of these factions or at leastwise for reconciling and composing those differences in some tollerable sort A worke of immortall fame and desert and worthy of none but them of whome this wicked base worlde is not worthy But heereof I shall have occasion to speake in his due place for this place it suffiseth that these intrinsicall quarrels are the hopes which make their enemies hold vp their heads and quickneth their expectations to see the blades of these reformers drawne one against another that themselves being called to the beating downe of the one partie may afterwards in good time assaile the other In the meane season planting in all places their Colledges of Iesuites as the onely corrasive medicine to fret out their adversaries Now on the other part the hopes are also not fewe besides their over-topping of them so much in multitude and power First the Germaines bearing a naturall stiffe hate to the Hopes of the Protestants Italians for his winding and subtill wit which dispiseth and would ransacke him but that hee opposeth a proude stoutnesse and intractable obstinacie which serveth alwaies as a wall of defence to simplicitie will hardly what tempering soever the Princes make bee brought ever to reaffect the Papacie whose sleights and devises they are throughly acquainted with and have in more detestation than any Nation whatsoever And for their owne inwarde dissentions it is to bee hoped that though no courses were taken to compound them yet never will they bee so madde as to decide them by a generall open warre having on both sides the Turke Pope and Emperour to ioyne them in friendshippe For although the contention of brethren bee bitterest yet a common strong enemie alwaies maketh them friends againe And as for the Administrator so much suspected who prowles as some say in the practises for his owne greatnesse his authority is but short and expireth within three yeares Then for having an Emperor of some more indifferent familie though their desire bee in that point of all other greatest yet their hope is as I suppose least that which is seemeth to be grounded vpon Electors of Collen either if the old Elector Gerarduâ— Thrachesius should live so long whom in that case they might by force restore to his place from which he standeth now by force reiected yet retaineth his claime still and stile of Elector Or if some other of that See might be induced to follow the steps of two of their auncestors who have turned Protestants of which cause that place wil be alwaies in danger by reason of such vicinitie and intermixing of their state with Protestant Princes Besides in Collen it selfe the religion hath already sooting or at the leastwise might be drawen to that civill indifferencie as in preserving their freedome of election to change once in an age that familie of Austria wherein the Empyre having continued these seven discents may in time be established by prescription And lastly for the Iesuites their great Patron and planter the olde Duke of Bavaria having now retyred himselfe into their College and resigned his state to his Sonne Maximilià n who it is thought doth disfavour them as much as his father doted on them These and other such chaunges may give stay to their proceedings But to leaue these hopefull speculations on both sides and to take matters in termes they stand now and may so continue The benefit which the Papacie may expect from the Empire is rather to keepe matters in
any part capitall yet have they beene are and will be as long as they continue causes of dislikes of iealosies of quarrels and of danger In summe what vnitie soever is amongst them proceeds only from the meere force vertue of verity which all persons seeke for which though it bee incomparably the best and blessedest and which alone doth vnite the soule with God yet for order in the worlde for quiet in the church for avoyding of scandall for propagating and increase of what great power that other vnitie is which proceedes from authoritie the Papacie which standeth by it alone may teach vs. These then are the advantages on the parte of the Papacie But nowe one disadvantage such is the nature of all things impeacheth and diverteth all other their forces that is their vicinity with their grand enimie the Turke who by land and Sea presseth harde both vppon the Emperour Pope and the Monarchie of Spaine and driveth then oftentimes to such extasies of devises that Spaine hath no other shifts to cleere himselfe than by diverting him vpon his owne deere brethren of Austria and causing him to sall foule vppon his friend the Emperour wherein he is driven yet to a twofolde charge both in bribing the Bas shawes to draw their Lord into Germanie and in supporting their Emperour with money to withstand him The Emperor on the other side calleth the Protestants for his aide without whome the whole Empire were in danger to wreking The Pope who of all other is in deepest feare though not yet in the neerest knowing that the finall marke that the Turke shooteth at is Italie as thinking that to be the banner nowe onely remaining to be sett vp for the accomplishment and the perfection of his Empire And that the warres with the Emperour are but to open that land passage forasmuch as by Sea hee hath alwaies prooved the weaker bestirres himselfe on all sides in the best sorte he is able both in sending such ayde as his proportion wil bear and especially in soliciting of the Princes of his parte to enter into a common league and warre against him giving overture of like desire for the Protestants also but the Protestants would know what securitie and quiet they shall have from himselfe first their neere and sterne and vnplacable enemie before they waste out themselves in giving ayde vnto him against a common enemie indeede But one who is furthest off from them of all other who as now is desirous enough to entertaine friendship and who at the worst haÌ„d carrieth no more cruell hate against them and their profession neyther condemneth their religion more than the Pope their fellow christian Then for his Catholiques and Polakers they cleerely slip collar both for the naturall hatred they beare the Germaines for that they are in peace and amitie with the Turke paying a certaine tribute And although his neere neighbors yet not in his way which is not the North but to the sunne and to the South parts and mainely and plainely to the conquest of Italie The Venetians are contente also to live rather as free tributaries to the Turke as they now are than as slaves vnto Spaine who in ioyning with them heeretofore in league against the Turke Pope Pius Sixtus did coÌ„trary to his oath bond forsake them suffer them to be beaten being left alone to the Turks furie And all this to the end that having their state vtterly maymed and broken by the Turke they might be constrained wholy to cast themselves their soveraignetie cittie into the armes embracements of Spaine for safegarde With this vnchristian treacherie have they charged him heretofore though now all beeing quiet they are content to put an vnacceptable motion to silence by demaunding of impossible conditions of securitie Then for Fraunce it is farre off lookes that the neerer be as they ought more forward first and requireth also with reason some breathing time to revive himselfe after his wearinesse by his late pangs Lastly Spaine hath so much to doe with England and the revoulted Provinces that hee thinketh the time gained that the Turke forbeareth him So that in the end the whole burthen must rest on the Emperor with that small helpe that Italie and some others do yeeld him And were it not his good fortune or rather Gods good providence that the verie same plagues that have ruined the glory grace of Christendom should now infect also the grand enemy thereof namely Effeminatensse and Avarice whereof the one is the corrupter of all sound deliberations the other the quailer of all manly executions which prevailing in his estate as they do at this day give hope that his tyranny groweth toward his period for the present proved so that a weake defendant may shift better having no other than a cowardly assailant This matter would have growne to that extremitie by this time as could have called the King of Spaine with all his forces to some more honorable enterprises than he hath hitherto vndertaken And this is the bridle that holdes in the Papacy with all her followers from any vniversall proceeding by force against the Protestants who herein are greatly advantaged above them in that either their oposites lye betweene them and the Turks or in that their Countries coasting so much as they doe towards the North are out of his way no part of his present ayme But those aduantages disadvantages of the Papacie equally weighed I suppose this disadvantage more mischievous for the preseÌ„t as proceeÌ„ding from outward force in the hands of an enimie and the other advantages more stable as springing from the inwarde strength of their owne wealth and order 48 This then being so and that all things considered there falleth out if not such in differencie and equality yet at the leastwise such a proportion of strength vpon both sides as bereaveth the other of hope ever by waâ—re to subdue them seeing as the Proverbe is A deade woman will have foure to carry her foorth much lesse will able men be beaten out of their homes and seeing their is no apparance of ever forcing an vnity vnlesse Time which eateth vp all things shoulde bring in great alterations it remaineth to bee considered what other kinde of vnity poore Christendome may hope for whether vnitie of Veritie or vnitie of Charitie or vnitie of perswasion or vnitie of authoritie or vnitie of Necessitie there A proiect of vnion beeing so many other kinds and causes of concord A kind of men there are whom a man shall meet with in all countries not many in number but sundry of them of singular learning and pietie whose godly longings to see Christendome re-vnited in the love of the Authour of the name above all things and annexed in brotherly correspondencie and amitie as beseemeth those who vnder the chiefe service of one Lord in the possession of one ground and foundation of faith doe expect the same finall