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
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
which may be any way dammageable to him I will help to defend and maintaine against all the world the Papacie of the Church of Rome and the rules of the holy Fathers In old time when the Priests of Appollo Pytheus began to speake plainly in fauour of King Philip many would merrily say that Apollo began to Philippize When we see that nothing is decreed in the Councell but at the Popes pleasure why may wee not say that the oracles of the Councels doe Tapize that is say nothing but what the Pope will When Verres was charged with many crimes of which in probabilitie he was guiltie they say he was so wise as not to commit his triall to any but onely to some trusty persons of his owne traine The Popes haue dealt more wisely For they haue chosen such iudges whom they know neither will because it is their owne case in regard they refer all to voluptuousnesse and gluttonie nor can if they would because they are sworne decree any thing contrary to his will and pleasure They set the holy Bible in the midst as if they would doe nothing against it they looke vpon it afarre off and reade it not Indeede they bring a preiudicated opinion with them not regarding what Christ hath said but decreeing whatsoeuer they please 24 Therefore that libertie which ought to be in all consultations especially sacred and which is most proper to the Holy Ghost and the modestie of Christians is quite taken away Paul saith If any thing be reauealed to another that 1. Cor. 14 30. sitteth by let the first hold his peace But these men apprehend imprison and burne whosoeuer dareth but whisper against them Witnesse hereof the cruell death of two most holy and resolute men Iohn Husse and Hierom of Prague whom they put to death contrary to their safe conduct so brake their faith both with God and man So the wicked Prophet Zedekias when he had put on iron hornes strooke Micheas the Prophet of the Lord on the face saying how hath the spirit of God left me and is come to thee Therefore these men alone domineere in Councels all others being excluded They alone giue voices and make lawes like vnto the Ephesians in times past let no man say they liue here who is wiser then the rest except he haue a mind to be cast into banishment They will not heare any of our men speak In the last conuention of the Councel at Trent tenne yeres since the Ambassadors of the Princes and free Cities of Germanie came thither with a purpose to be heard but were absolutely refused For the Bishops and Abbots answered that they would not suffer their cause to haue a free hearing nor suffer controuersies to be discussed out of the word of God that our men were not to be heard at all except they would recant which if they refused to doe they should come into the Councell vpon none other condition but to heare the sentence of condemnation pronounced against them For Iulius the third in his Bull of indiction of the Councell declared plainely that either they should change their opinions or else should bee condemned for heretiques before they were heard Pius the fourth who hath now a purpose to reassemble the Councell hath alreadie preiudged for heretiques all those who haue left the Roman Church that is to say the greatest part of the Christian world before they were euer either seene or heard They say and they say it often that alreadie all is well with them and that they will not alter one iot of their doctrine and Religion Albertus Pighius saith that without the authoritie of the Roman Church one ought not to beleeue the cleerest and plainest Scripture Is this to restore the Church to her integritie Is this to seeke the trueth Is this the libertie and moderation of Councels 25 Though these things bee most vniust and most different from the fashion of ancient Councels and of modest men yet this is more vniust that whereas the world complaineth of the Papall pride and tyrannie and doth beleeue that nothing can be amended in the Church of God vntill he be reduced into order yet all things are referred vnto him as vnto a most consciencious pence maker and iudge And vnto what a kind of man good God are they referred I will not call him an enemie of the Trueth ambitious couetous proud intolerable euen to his owne followers But they would make iudge of all Religion him who commandeth that all his determinations shall bee of equall valew with those of Saint Peter himselfe and sayth that in case hee carrie a thousand soules with himselfe to Hell yet no man ought to reprehend him for it who auoucheth that he can make iniustice to bee iustice whom Camotensis affirmeth to haue corrupted the Scriptures that he might haue fulnesse of power and to conclude whom his owne familiars and followers Ioachimus Abbas Petrarch Marsilius Patauinus Laurentius Valla Hieronymus Sauanorola doe cleerely pronounce to bee The Antichrist All is referred to the iudgement and will of this man alone so that the same man is the partie arraigned and the Iudge the accusers are heard from an inferiour place and the partie accused sits in his Tribunall and pronounceth the sentence concerning himselfe These lawes forsooth so equall and so reasonable Pope Iulius hath giuen vs. No Councell sayth he is of any credit nor euer wil be vnlesse it be confirmed by the authority of the Church of Rome Bonifacius 8. sayth That no creature in the world can possibly be saued except he bee subiect to the Romane Church And Pope Pascal thus As though sayth hee any Councels haue made lawes for the Church of Rome when as all Councels doe subsist by it and receiue their strength from it and doe expresly except in all their Decrees the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome Another sayth That which the Pope approoueth or disprooueth wee ought to approoue or disprooue likewise And againe It is not lawfull for any man to disallow that which the Pope approoueth I know not what Parasite it is who most shamelesly sayth that though all the world should bee of one opinion against the Pope yet it seemeth to mee that the Popes opinion must bee maintained And another as impudently as hee It is a kinde of sacriledge but to dispute of the Pope's fact who though hee bee not alwayes a good man yet must hee alwayes bee presumed to bee Another yet more impudently sayth The Pope's will is heauenly therefore in those things which hee willeth his will standeth for reason neither ought any man to say to him why doe you so To leaue many the like sayings which are infinite and to make an end Pope Innocent the ninth speakes most impudently of all The Iudge will not bee iudged neither by the Emperour nor by Kings nor by the whole Clergie nor by all the people of the world O immortall God! how neere are they come to
quite altered in diuers Kingdomes and Countreys of Christendome the Grandies sometimes diuided and armed one against another sometimes ioyned in confederations and leagues the Ecclesiastikes oppressed the Protestants persecuted the Bishops of Rome as it were acting their parts and most liuely deciphered in their naturall colours If learning will content thee marke the disputations of the Theologues and the deepe discourses of the Author himselfe If policie will please thee thou shalt finde it in the consultations and treaties of Princes managed with admirable dexterity by their Ambassadors and Ministers and generally no delight will bee wanting to thee which thy curiositie can desire or any other Historie affoord But consider aboue all in what a strange manner the Conciliarie Acts of this assembly in Trent were caried By reading of those few words of thy Countrey-man Edmond Campian below in this page thou maist perceiue in what repute the Papalins doe hold it and after when thou hast read the Booke thou wilt know how much it is ouer-valued Compare thy iudicious censure with his that is partiall and thou shalt finde them to agree as white with blackenesse darkenesse with light Farewell Verba Edmundi Campiani ratione quarta reddita Academicis TRidentina Synodus quo magis inueterascet eò magis indies ebque perennius efflorescet Bone Deus quae gentium varietas qui delectus Episcoporum totius orbis qui regum rerumpublicarum splendor quae medulla Theologorum quae sanctitas quae lachrymae quae ieiunia qui flores Academici quae linguae quanta subtilitas quantus labor quam infinita lectio quanta virtutum studiorum diuitiae augustum illud Sacrarium impleuerunt The words of Edmond Campian in his fourth reason giuen to the Vniuersities THe Synod of Trent the older it waxeth the more it will flourish Good God what varietie of Nations what choice of Bishops of the whole world what splendor of Kings and Common-wealths what marrow of Theologues what sanctitie what weepings what fasts what Academicall flowres what languages what subtilties what labour what infinite reading what riches of vertues and studies did fill vp that Maiesticall sacred place TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD MY SINGVLAR GOOD LORD THE LORD Archbishop of Canterburie his GRACE Primate of all ENGLAND and Metropolitane and one of His MAIESTIES most Honourable Priuie Councell MOst Reuerend in Christ It may seeme strange and I am sure it is without example that of one Councell onely so large an Historie should be written and so full of all varietie of matter For in those of former ages in which the Holy Ghost did really and effectually assist the Fathers howsoeuer more Prelates and Diuines were assembled from places more remote and the actions guided by the greatest Princes of all those times yet nothing was attempted to encrease or maintaine the Heresies and abuses that raigned then nor was any thing remarkeable but the very Doctrines and Decrees themselues But after that the Bishops of Rome scorning to be Ministers and Seruants made themselues Masters and Monarkes of the Church of God the practises and inuentions of worldly men chased away the heauenly inspirations of the blessed Spirit and greater confusions and troubles did arise in handling Diuine Mysteries then did happen at any other time in negotiating the affaires of Kingdomes and of Common-wealths This hath ministred a whole Ocean of occurrences and affoorded a most copious Subiect to this present Treatise And so irresistable is the force of Truth and the Diuine Prouidence so great that howsoeuer the Romanists haue vsed all possible diligence to hinder the finding out of their vnlawfull proceedings in this Councell by suppressing all publique writings and monuments by which their treacheries and abuses might bee discouered more plainely to the eyes of the world the writer of this Historie a man of admirable learning exquisite iudgement indefatigable industrie and integritie scarcely to be matched hath been raised vp by God who out of the Diaries Memorials Registers and other writings made and preserued by the Prelates and Diuines themselues and by the Ambassadours of Princes and Republiques who were assistants herein which are the most infallible grounds that any writer can haue hath reuealed an infinite of intolerable abuses and as the prouerbe saith Cornicum oculos confixit This Booke I haue translated out of Italian into our vulgar language presuming to commend it to the royall protection of his sacred Maiestie for whose sake as some reasons induce me to beleeue it was principally composed And because I vndertooke this worke at your Graces command who haue beene the chiefest cause why the originall crossed the Seas before the iust natiuitie of it and saw the first light within his Maiesties dominions as also in regard of the high place you most deseruedly beare in the Church of God I thought it my dutie to craue your fauour likewise that as the birth of it hath beene happie by your Graces meanes so the growth may accordingly proceed and the fruit of both which is to remooue an erronious opinion of the infallibilitie of this pretended Councell may constantly endure vntill the worlds end In publishing heereof if my Pen hath not merited such praise as others might yet my desire to benefit Gods Church hath not beene wanting and my zeale to serue your Grace in whatsoeuer I am able shall neuer yeeld to any Vnto whom I wish for the publike benefit of Church and Common-wealth and for your owne particular contentment a perfect accomplishment of all your pious and honorable designes Your Grace's most obliged to doe you seruice NATHANAEL BRENT THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT MY purpose 1500 Pope ALEXANDER 6 Emperour MAXIMLLIAN I. HENRY 7. King of England LEVVIS 12. French king is to write the History of the Councell The purpose of the Author of Trent For though many famous Historians of our age haue made mention in their writings of some particular accidents that happened therein and Iohn Sleidam a most diligent author hath related with exquisite industry the causes that went before notwithstanding all these things put together would not suffice for an entire narration For my selfe so soone as I had vnderstanding The meanes he vsed for collection of his matter of the affaires of the world I became exceeding curious to know the whole proceedings therof and after I had diligently read whatsoeuer I found written and the publique instructions whether printed or diuulged by pen I betooke my selfe without sparing either paines or care to search in the remainder of the writings of the Prelates and others who were present in the Councel the Records which they left behinde them and the Suffrages or opinions deliuered in publique preserued by the Authors themselues or by others and the letters of aduice written from that Citie whereby I haue had the fauour to see euen a whole register of Notes and Letters of those persons who had a great part
because that was the principall cause which induced the Pope not onely to consent as before but to vse all endeuours that the Councell might be celebrated and which assured the Protestants that neither in Councell nor in any other place where any Minister of the Pope was present they could hope to obtaine any thing The first action began the fifth of April and it was deliuered in the Emperours name that his Maiestie seeing the Turke entred into the bowels of Germany the cause whereof was the diuision of the States of the Empire for the difference in religion had alwayes sought a meanes of pacification and that of the Councel seeming vnto him most commodious he went purposely into Italy to treat thereof with Pope Clement and after not being able to bring it to effect he returned and went in person to Rome to make the same negotiation with Pope Paul in whom he found much readinesse But not being able to effect any thing by reason of diuers impediments of warre hee had finally called that Diet and besought the Pope to send a Legat thither The first action of the Diet in Ratisbon Now he desired nothing but that some composition might be made and that some small number of godly and learned men might bee chosen on either side to conferre vpon the controuersies in friendly maner without preiudice of either of the parties and propose to the Diet the means of concord that all being consulted with the Legate the wished conclusion might be attained Suddenly there arose a controuersie betweene the Catholiques and Protestants about the manner of choosing those that should treat Wherefore the Emperour beeing desirous that some good should bee done demanded and obtayned of either partie power to nominate the persons desiring them to beleeue he would do nothing but for the common good For the Catholiques he elected Iohn Ecchius Iulius Flugius The names of the disputants and Iohn Groperus and for the Protestants Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer and Iohn Pistoria whom he called to him and grauely admonished them to abandon all passion and to ayme onely at the glory of God He made Frederique the Prince Palatine and Granuel Presidents of the Colloquie adding vnto them some others that all might passe with the greater dignity When the assembly was made Granuel published a booke and said it was giuen to A booke giuen to the Emperour as a 〈◊〉 for the future concord the Emperor by some godly and learned men as a direction for the future concord and that his will was they should read and examine it that it might serue for an argument and subiect of what they ought to treat that that which pleased all might be confirmed that which displeased all might bee corrected and in that wherein they assented not meanes might be vsed to reduce them to an agreement The booke contained 22. Articles The creation of man the integrity of nature free will the cause of originall sinne Iustification the Church her signes the signes of the word of God penance after sinne the authoritie of the Church the interpretation of the Scripture the Sacraments Order Baptisme Confirmation the Eucharist Penance Matrimony extreame Vnction charitie the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie the articles determined by the Church the vse administration and ceremonies of the Sacraments Ecclesiasticall discipline and discipline of the people It was read and examined and some things were approoued some things amended by common consent and in others they could not agree And these were the ninth of the power of the Church the foureteenth of the Sacrament of Penance the eighteenth of the Hierarchie the 19. of the articles determined by the Church the 21. of single life In these they differed and either partie wrote his opinion This being done in the assembly of all the Princes the Emperour required the opinions of them all concerning the things agreed on and the different opinions of the Collocutors and withall proposed the amendement of the state of the Common-wealth as well ciuill as Ecclesiasticall The Bishops reiected absolutely the Booke of the concord and whatsoeuer was done in the Colloquie vnto whom the other Electors and Catholike Princes desirous of peace agreed not and it was concluded that the Emperour as aduocate of the Church together with the Apostolike Legat should examine the things agreed on and if any thing were obscure should cause it to bee expounded and should treat with the Protestants that concerning the things in controuersie they should consent to some Christian forme of concord Caesar imparted all to the Legat and vrged him that the Ecclesiasticall State ought to be reformed The Legat after he had considered of all the businesse answered in writing not more perspicuously then the ancient Oracles in this The Legate speaketh like 〈◊〉 Oracle manner That hauing seene the Booke presented to the Emperour and what was written by the deputies of the Colloquie as well the explications of either partie as the exceptions of the Protestants it seemed that the Protestants differing in-certaine articles from the common consent of the Church in which not withstanding he despaired not that with the helpe of God they might be induced to agree nothing should be ordered concerning the residue but referred to the Pope and the Apostolicall Sea who either in the generall Councell or some other way if there shall bee cause will define them according to the Catholique trueth with regard vnto the times and what shall bee expedient for the Christian Common-wealth and for Germanie But for reformation of the Cleargie hee promised all readinesse and to The exhortatation of the Legat Contarini made to the Prâ—â—â—s that end called into his house all the Bishops and made them a long exhortation First for their manner of liuing that they should abstaine from all scandall and appearance of luxurie auarice and ambition For their familie that they should vnderstand that from it the people made coniecture of the manners of the Bishop that the better to keepe their flocke they should remaine in the most inhabited places of the Diocesse haue diligent watchmen else-where that they should visite the Diocesses giue the Benefices to honest and fit men spend their reuenues vpon the necessitie of the poore flying not onely luxurie but all superfluous pompe make prouision of godly learned discreet and not contentious Preachers procure that the yonger sort be well brought vp because by this meanes the Protestants draw all the Nobilitie vnto them Hee committed this Oration to writing and gaue it to the Emperour to the Bishops and the Princes which gaue occasion to the Protestants to taxe the answere made to Caesar together with the exhortation made to the Prelats alledging for their motiue that the writing being published they should seeme to approoue it if they dissembled the knowledge of it His answere made to the Emperour pleased not the Catholiques because it appeared that he did approue the things agreed on in the Conference But
as they did in Trent but to proceed to facts and answere the Emperour afterwards if hee should speake of it Therefore hee The Archbishop is cited by the Pope made another citation against the Archbishop the eighteenth of Iuly that within sixtie dayes he should appeare before him Hee cited also the Deane of Collen and fiue of the principall Canons leauing the world to dispute how the Archbishop could appeare before two which cited him for the same cause in diuers places at the same time and how a dispute of the competencie of the place of iudicature belonged to the honour of Christ But how this succeeded and what ende the cause had shall bee said in its place To returne to that which more neerely concerneth the Councel the Emperour assayed in the Diet diuers wayes to make the Protestants grant him The Emperor demandeth assistance against the Turkes of the Protestants who giue a conditionall answere assistance against the Turkes not mentioning Religion Whereunto they still answered that they could not resolue without they were secured that the peace should be kept and that by the conuocation in Trent vnder the name of a Councell it was not vnderstood that the time of the peace was ended according to the Decree of the former Diet but declared that the peace cannot be interrupted nor themselues enforced by any Decrees made in Trent because they cannot submit themselues to that Councel where the Pope who hath condemned them already hath free power The Emperor sayd hee could not giue them peace which might exempt them from the Councel to whose authority all are subiect that he had no way to excuse himselfe to other Kings and Princes if it were granted to Germanie alone not to obey the Councell assembled especially for her sake But if as they sayd they pretended a cause why they would not submit let them goe to the Councel and alledge their reasons why they suspect it that they should be heard and if it appeared they had wrong they might then refuse that it was not pertinent to preuent and to suspect that which appeared not pretending grieuance of things to come and iudging of that which is not seene as yet They replyed they spake not of things to come but past their Religion being condemned already and persecuted by the Pope and all his adherents Therefore they were not to expect any future iudgement because it was past already That it was iust that the Pope and his adherents of Germany and of all other places should make one part in the Councell and themselues the other and for the difficulty about the manner and order of proceeding the Emperour Kings and Princes should bee Iudges but for the merits of the cause the Word of God onely They could not be remooued from this resolution though the Ambassadour of France there present did very much and with menacing termes entreat them to consent to the Councel which threats the Ministers of that K. the Popes fauourers did dictate to the Ambassadour when hee parted from France The Imperialists proposed the translation of the Councel into Germany vnder the Emperors promise to labour effectually that the Pope should condescend which the others accepted vpon condition the peace were established vntill the Councel were assembled there But Charles being sure that the Pope would neuer agree saw that this was to giue them a perpetual peace and therefore he thought it better to leaue things in suspence granting it only vntill another Diet seeing hee was constrayned hauing not concluded truce with the Turkes as yet and esteeming more that warre thinking that by occasion of a Colloquie other reasonable meanes would bee offered hereafter to make them consent anew to the Councel of Trent or in case of refusall to hold them contumacious and to make warre against them Therefore the fourth of August hee ended the Diet and ordained another in Ratubon Another Diet is ordained in Ratubon for Ianuary for Ianuary next whereat the Princes should be personally present and instituted a Colloquie in matter of Religion of foure Doctors and two Iudges for a side This was to begin at December that the matter might be digested before the Diet. Hee confirmed and renewed the former Edicts of peace and set downe a manner to pay the contributions for the war How the Colloquie did proceede shall be said in its place The Protestants being departed from Wormes set forth a booke where The Protestants do protest against the Tridentine councel they said in summe that they esteemed not the Tridentine for a Councell being not assembled in Germanie as Adrian and the Emperour promised whereunto to make shew of giuing satisfaction by making choice of Trent was to mocke the world because Trent cannot bee said to bee in Germanie but onely because the Bishop is a Prince of the Empire but for securitie that it was aswell in Italie and as much in the Popes power as Rome it selfe And the rather they esteemed it not lawfull because Pope Paul would bee president in it and propose by his Legats that the Iudges were tyed vnto him by oath that the plea being against the Pope himselfe ought not to be Iudge that it was necessarie to treat first of the forme of the Councell and of the authorities whereupon to ground But the Emperours resolution displeased The Emperor is taxed againe for medling in Religion alike in Trent and at Rome as well because a secular Prince medled in Religion as because it seemed the Councell was casseered in regard that approaching order was giuen to handle else-where the controuersies of doctrine The Prelats in Trent blamed the Decree as it were with one voyce saying it was worse then that of Spira and maruelling that the Pope who shewed himselfe so quicke against that had and did tolarate this after that the Councell was intimated and already assembled From this they drew a manifest Argument that their remaining in Trent was vaine and dishonourable The Legats tryed their wits to consolate and perswade them that all The Prelats in Trent are discontented and most of them doe depart had beene permitted by his Holinesse for a good end But they replyed that whatsoeuer the end was and what thing soeuer doth follow the blemish not onely of the Pope and Apostolique Sea but of the Councell and the whole Church will neuer be taken away Neither could the Legats resist their complaints which ended in demanding leaue to depart some alledging necessary and important affaires of their own and some to retire themselues into some of the next cities for infirmitie or indisposition And though the Legats gaue leaue to none yet some of them dayly tooke it so that before the end of the moneth there remained very few But in Rome though this successe was foreseene by the negotiation of Cardinall Farnese yet after it happened they began to thinke more exactly of it They considered that the Emperors ends were much different from
little more then one Age being past priuate interests caused a contention to arise amongst the Bishops of diuers Nations Whereupon those that were remote beeing few and not willing to bee ouercome by the borderers who were more in number to make the ballance equall it was necessary that euery Nation should assemble by it selfe and resolue according to the number of voices and that the generall decision should be established not by the suffrages of particular men but by the plurality of the voyces of the Nations So it was obserued in the Councels of Constance and Basil which vse as it was good where the gouernment was free as it was when the world had no Pope so it ill befitted Why the Romanists made so great a matter of the forme of proceeding Trent where they desired a Councell subiect vnto him And this was the reason why the Legates at Trent and the Court of Rome made so great a matter of the forme of proceeding and of the quality and authority of the Presidencie But the answere being come from Rome they called the Congregation the fifth of Ianuary 1546. where the Cardinall of Monte hauing saluted and blessed 1546 them all in the Popes name caused the said Briefe of exemption from payment of tenthes to be read The three Legates made as it were three encomiasticall Orations one after another declaring the Popes good affection towards the Fathers But some Spaniards saide that this fauour of the Pope brought greater dammage then benefit because the accepting of it implied a confession that the Pope might lay burthens vpon other Churches and that the Councell had not authority to hinder him nor to exempt those who by right were not to be included The Legates were not only displeased at this but returned also some biting termes Some of the Prelates demanded that the grace might bee extended to those of their families also and to as many as were present in the Councel The Generals of the religious Orders demanded likewise the same exemption alledging the charge of the Monasteries for the Friars which they brought to the Councel Catalanus Triultius Bishop of Piacenza who arriued two dayes before related publikely that hee was rifled as he passed neere to Mirandula and desired an order should be made in the Councel against those that hindered or molested the Prelates or others that went to the Councel The Legates ioyning this propose with the foresaid pretence of exemption considering of what importance it might bee if the Councel should meddle in such a businesse making Edicts for their owne exaltation and that this was to touch the secrets of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie put it aside with much dexteritie alledging it would seeme strange to the world and too great a desire of reuenge offering to labour with the Pope that hee would prouide for the security of their persons and haue consideration of the families of the Prelates and of the Friars And so they appeased all And going on to the Conciliary actions the Cardinall of Monte related what forme was obserued in the last Laterane Councel where himselfe was present as Archbishop of Siponto Hee said that treating then of the French Pragmatique of the schisme against Iulius 2. and of the warre betweene Christian Princes three deputations of Prelates were made for those matters that each Congregation beeing employed in one onely it might better digest it that the Decrees being framed a generall Congregation was called where euery one spake his opinion and that by those the resolutions were better reformed so that all things passed in the Session with great concord and comlinesse that the businesse to bee handled by them was more various the Lutheranes hauing moued euery stone to ouerthrow the building of Card. Monte prescribeth an order for discussing matters in Councel faith therefore that it will bee necessary to diuide the matters and for euery one to ordaine a particular Congregation to dispute it to cause the Deputies to frame the Decrees which are to bee proposed in the generall Congregation where euery one shall deliuer his opinion which that it might bee absolutely free themselues the Legates did resolue to be proposers onely and not to giue their suffrage but in the Session That all should bethinke themselues what was necessary to be handled that some beginning might be made in the Session which approached They proposed then whether they were pleased that a Decree already A great difference about the title of the Councel framed concerning Christian conuersation while the Councel lasted in Trent should bee published in the Session Which beeing read with the title The most holy as the commandement from Rome was the French men desired this addition Representing the Church Vniuersall which opinion many Bishops did follow with a ioynt consent But the Legates considering that that title was vsed onely in the Councel of Constance and Basil and that to imitate them was to renew their memorie and to giue them some authority and to open a gap to the difficulties which then troubled the Church of Rome and which imported more considering that after they had said Representing the Church Vniuersall some also might thinke to adde the words following that is which hath power immediatly from CHRIST whereunto euery one though of Papall dignitie is bound to obey they opposed strongly and as they wrote to Rome in plaine termes they whetted themselues against it without declaring to the fathers the true causes but onely saying they were froathy and inuidious words and that the heretikes would haue made a bad interpretation of them And they all so laboured without discouering the secret first by art then by saying plainely they would not permit it that they appeased the generall commotion though the French men and some few more remained firme in their proposition And Iohn de Salazzar Bishop of Lanciano a Spaniard by Nation assisted the Legats very much who hauing commended in ample termes the first Councels of the Church for antiquity and sanctitie of those that assisted he desired they should bee imitated in the title vsed by them which was very plaine without expressing representation or what or how great authoritie the Councell had But hee pleased them not when he said that by their example the name of Presidents ought to be laid aside because it was neuer vsed by any ancient Councell but begun onely by that of Constance which The name of Presidents was neuer vsed in Councell before the Councell of Constance by reason of schisme changed Presidents often adding that if that example were to be followed it would also be necessary to nominate the Emperours Ambassadour For then the King of the Romans was named and the Princes with him But this pride was farre remote from Christian humility and he repeated the discourse of the Cardinall Santa Croce which hee made the twelfth of December by which also hee concluded that they should desist to make mention of Presidencie This
the preparatories there is no necessitie to vse any of them at all The Bishop of Feltre put them in minde that the Protestants desired a Councell where themselues might haue a decisiue voice so that if this title be giuen to the Councell that it representeth the Church vniuersall they will draw an argument from hence that some of euery order of the vniuersall Church ought to be present These being two the Clergie and the Laitie it cannot be intirely represented if the Laitie be excluded But for the rest those also of the Councell who assented to the simple title were of opinion that it ought to bee supplied The Bishop of Saint Marke said that the Laikes are most improperly called the Church For the Canons determine that they haue no authority to command but necessitie to obey and that this is one of the things which the Councell ought to decree that the Seculars ought humbly to receiue that doctrine of faith which is giuen them by the Church without disputing or thinking further on it and therefore that it is very meete to vse the title that the Synode representeth the Church vniuersall to make them vnderstand that they are not the Church but ought to hearken to and obey the Church Many things were spoken and they went on without any firme conclusion but onely that the simple title should bee vsed in the next session as it was in the last When this was ended because certaine Prelates desired that at the last they might come to matters substantiall the Legats to giue them satisfaction proposed that they should consider of the three heads contained in the Popes Bulls that is the extirpation of heresies reformation of discipline and establishing of peace how they should beginne these treaties what course they should holde and how proceede that they should pray God to illuminate them all and euery one should speake his opinion in the first congregation In the ende some commissions from absent Bishops were presented and the Arch-bishop of Aix the Bishops of Feltre and Astorga were deputed to consider of their excuse and relate in the Congregation The next day the Legates wrote to Rome that it appeared that the amplification of the title with addition of Representing the Church Vniuersall was a thing so popular and so pleased all that it might easily be spoken of againe and therefore they desired to know his Holinesse pleasure if they should persist in denying it or yeeld vnto them especially vpon occasion of making some Decree of importance as to condemne heresies or the like They gaue aduice also that they had made the proposition for the next Congregation so generall that they might yeelde to the desire of the Prelates which was to enter into the substantiall points and yet enterpose time that they might receiue instruction from his Holinesse They added that the Cardinall Pacceco had aduice that the Emperor had giuen order to many Spanish Bishops men of exemplary liues and learning to goe to the Councel Therefore they thought it necessary that his Holinesse should send ten or twelue Prelates whom hee might trust men fit to appeare for their other qualities that the number of the Oltramontans increasing especially men rare of exemplaritie The Legates desire to make their partie strong and learning they might in some part bee incountred For amongst those that vntill then were in Trent those that had good mindes had little learning and lesse discretion and those that had vnderstanding were discouered to haue deseignes and hard to be gouerned In the next Congregation assembled the eighteenth to vnderstand the The Imperialists desire to beginne with reformation mindes of all concerning the Propositions made in the last the opinions were foure The Imperialists said that the points of doctrine could not bee touched with hope of any fruit because it was first necessary to remooue the transgressions from whence the heresies arose by a good reformation enlarging themselues very much in this field and concluding that so long as the scandall which the World receiueth by the deformation of the Clergie ceaseth not nothing that they can say or preach will euer bee beleeued all beeing perswaded that deedes ought to bee regarded and not words And that they ought not to take example by the ancient Councels because in them either there was not corruption of maners or that was not cause of heresie and in fine that to deferre the treatie of reformation was to shew themselues incorrigible Some few others thought fit to beginne with doctrine and then to passe to reformation alledging that faith is the ground and foundation of Christian life that no man begins to build from the roofe but from the foundations that it is a greater sinne to erre in faith then in other humane actions and that the point of rooting out heresies was put first in the Popes Buls A third opinion was that the points of reformation and faith might ill bee separated because there was no doctrine without abuse nor abuse which drawed not after it the bad interpretation and bad sense of some doctrine Therefore it was necessarie to handle them at the same time for that the world hauing their eyes fixed vpon this Councell and expecting a remedie as well in matters of faith as maners it would be satisfied better by handling them both together then one after another especially if according to the proposition of the Cardinall of Monte diuers deputations were made and one handled this matter and the other that which should be done quickely considering that the time present when Christendome had peace was precious and not to bee lost not knowing what impediments the time to come might bring And the rather because they should study to make the Councell as short as they could that the Churches the lesse while might remaine depriued of their Pastours and for many other respects intimating that which might arise in length of time to the distast of the Pope and Court of Rome Some others among whom were the French men demanded that that of the peace might be the first that they should write vnto the Emperour the most Christian King and other Princes giuing them thankes for the conuocation of the Councel for continuance whereof that they would establish peace and helpe the worke forward by sending their Ambassadours and Prelates and likewise should write friendly to the Lutheranes inuiting them charitably to come to the Councell and ioyne themselues with the rest of Christendome The Legates vnderstanding the opinions of them all and commending their wisedome said that because it was late and the consultation of weight and the opinions various they would thinke of what euery one had said and in the first Congregation propose the points to bee determined Order was taken that there should bee two Congregations euery weeke Two Congregations euery weeke without intimation on Munday and Friday without warning and in the end the Archbishop of Aix hauing receiued letters
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.
created Emperour and they made protestation of the iniurie But many of the Protestants kept themselues on his side because they could not beleeue that hee had any other respects then of State And the Arch-bishop of Collen of whom wee haue spoken The Arch-b 〈…〉 of Collen sentenced by the Pope is obeyed by his people and followeth the Emperour before who though hee were sentenced and depriued by the Pope continued in gouerment and was obeyed by his people followed the Emperour who also acknowledged him for Election and Arch-bishop and wrote vnto him that none of his subiects might beare armes against him wherein the Arch-bishop imployed his endeuours sincerely The Elector of Saxonie and the Landgraue seeing this they published a Manifest the eleuenth of Iuly declaring that the warre was vndertaken for Religion and that the Emperour couered his meaning with a cloake of taking reuenge against some few for rebellion to disioyne the confederates and oppresse them by degrees They alleadged that Ferdinand and Granuell and other ministers of his Maiestie had said that the cause of this warre was the The Elector of Saxonie and the Landgraue of Has 〈…〉 a publish a Manifest against the Emperour contempt of the Councell they called to minde the Popes sentence against the Elector of Collen they added that the Spanish Prelates would not haue contributed so much of their proper reuenewes for any other cause they shewed that in other things the Emperour could pretend nothing against them But while the Pope and Emperour prepared against the Lutherans some thing beside Anathematismes the day after the Session the eighteenth of Iune a Congregation was made where after the accustomed prayers and inuocation Iustification is to be handled in the next place of the holy Ghost the Secretary read in the Legates name a writing framed by the principal Theologues in which it was proposed that hauing by diuine inspiration condemned the heresies concerning originall sinne the order of the things to bee handled did require that the doctrine of the modernes in the point of diuinegrace which is the medicine of sinne should be examined and that the rather it was fit to follow the order because it was obserued by the Augustane Confession all which the Councell meaneth to condemne And the Fathers and Diuines were intreated to haue recourse by prayer vnto the diuine assistance and to be assiduous and exact in their studies because all the errours of Martin were resolued into that point For hauing vndertaken from the beginning to oppugne the Indulgences he saw hee could not obtaine his purpose except hee destroyed the workes of repentance in defect whereof Indulgences doe succeede And iustification by faith onely a thing neuer heard of before seemed to him a good meanes to effect this from whence he hath collected not onely that good workes are not necessary but also that a dissolute liberty in obseruing the Law of GOD and of the Church will serue the turne hath denyed efficiencie in the Sacraments authority of Priests Purgatorie sacrifice of the Masse and all other remedies for remission of sinnes Therefore by a contrary way he that will establish the body of the Catholike doctrine must ouerthrow this heresie of iustice by faith onely and condemne the blasphemies of that enemie of good workes When the writing was read the Emperours Prelates said that the more principall and important the point proposed was it should bee the more maturely and opportunely handled that the sending of the Cardinall Madruccio to the Pope shewed that some businesse was on foote the which it was not fit to disturbe but in the meane space to handle some thing of the reformation The Papalins did on the other side inculcate that it was no honour to interrupt the order begun to handle together in euery Session doctrine and reformation and that after originall sinne no other matter could be handled The Legates hauing heard all their opinions concluded that to discusse the points and prepare them was not to define them but that they could not bee determined without preparation before Which they said onely to gaine time and after to put themselues in order to execute what should bee resolued at Rome betweene the Pope and the Cardinall in the Emperours name That to digest that matter was not to hinder the reformation because in that the Diuines would bee imployed and in this the Fathers and Canonists With this resolution it was concluded that the Articles to bee discussed and censured should bee collected out of the bookes of Luther out of the Colloquies Apologies and out of the writings of the Lutherans and Fathers And three Fathers and as many Diuines were deputed to set downe what should bee discussed and to frame the Articles The next Congregation was held to order the matter of Reformation The discourse of the Card. Monte concerning residencie where the Cardinal of Monte sayd that the world hath complayned long since of the absence of Prelats and Pastoures dayly demanding residence that the absence of the Prelats and other Curats from their Churches is the cause of all the mischiefes of the Church For the Church may bee compared to a ship the sinking whereof is ascribed to the absent Pilot that should gouerne it if he were present He shewed to them that heresies ignorance and dissolution doe reigne in the people and bad manners and vices in the Clergie because the Pastours being absent from the flocke no man hath care to instruct those or correct these By the Prelates absence it is come to passe that ignorant and vnlearned Ministers haue beene promoted and persons assumed to bishoprickes that were more fit for any other charge for in regard they neede not execute their duety in person no fitnesse is necessary So he concluded that to establish the point of residencie was a generall remedy for all the maladies of the Church which also hath sometimes beene vsed by Councels and Popes but either for that the transgressions were then but few or for some other cause it was not applyed with such strong and strait bonds as is necessarie now that the disease is come to the height that is with a more seuere commandement with more greiuous and fearefull punishments and by meanes more easie to be executed This was approued by the first voyces of the Prelates But when Iacomo The Bishop of Vesone speaketh in fauour of nonresidency Cortesi a Florentin Bishop of Vesone was to speake commending what had beene sayd by others he added that as hee beleeued that the presence of the Prelats and Curats in times past was the cause of maintayning purity of faith in the people and discipline in the Clergie so hee could cleerely shew that their absence in these latter times hath not beene the cause of the contrary subuersion and that the custome of not residing hath beene brought in because residence hath beene wholy vnprofitable For the Bishops could not then preserue sound doctrine amongst
it is a cause for that the effect doeth follow not by any vertue of its owne but by the promise of God to giue grace at that time as the merite is cause of the reward without any actiuitie This they prooued not onely by the authoritie of Scotus and Saint Bonauenture their Diuines but by Saint Bernard also who saith that grace is receiued by the Sacraments as a Canon is inuested by the booke and a bishop by the ring The reasons were expounded on both sides with great prolixitie and sharpenesse And they censured one another The Dominicans said that the other opinion was neere to Lutheranisme and the others that theirs being impossible gaue occasion to the heretikes to calumniate the Church Some good Prelates desired though without effect to make peace saying that in regard they agreed in the conclusion that the Sacraments conteine and are cause of grace it did little import in what manner and that it was better not descending to particulars to stand in the generall But the Fryars replied that they spake not of words but of establishing or annihilating the Sacraments There would neuer haue been an end if the Legate Sancta Croce had not giuen order that they should passe to that which remained and that afterwards they should returne to examine whether it were necessary to decide the point or to leaue it The Legates called vnto them the generals of the orders and prayed The Legates vse meanes to represse the dangerous libertie of the Fryars them to cause the Fryars to treat with modestie and charitie without partialitie to their owne sect shewing they were called to speake against heresies and not to make new arise by disputes And they wrote thereof to Rome shewing how dangerous the libertie was which the Friars did assume and to what it might come And they told the Pope that a moderation was necessary For there being a fame spred of those dissensions and censures which one partie pronounced against the other it must needs raise scandall and small reputation of the Councell It was thought fit to omit the fifth Article as decided in the former Session But Friar Bartholmew Miranda called to minde that Luther by that paradox of his that the Sacraments doe not conferre grace but by exciting faith drew also a conclusion that those of the old and of the Euangelicall law are of equall vertue which opinion was to bee condemned as contrary to the doctrine of the Fathers and the Church all hauing said that the olde Sacraments were onely signes of grace but the new conteine it and cause it No man did contradict the conclusion but the Franciscans proposed that it should not bee sayd of the old Law but of Moses Law in regard that Circumcision it selfe did cause grace but it was not a Mosaicall Sacrament for CHRIST also said it was not of Moses but of the Fathers and also because other sacrifices before Abraham did conferre and cause grace The Dominicans replyed that Saint Paul sayd plainely that Abraham had receiued the Circumcision onely for a signe that hee being the first vnto whom it was giuen it is as much as to say it was instituted onely for a signe And the questions of the manner of conteining and causing grace returned into the field Friar Gregorie of Padua said hereupon that it was a cleere case in Logique that things in the same kinde haue identitie and difference among themselues If the old Sacraments and ours had onely difference they would not all bee Sacraments but equiuocally if onely identitie they would bee absolutely the same thing Therefore they must beware to put difficultie in plaine matters for some diuersitie of wordes and that Saint Augustine had sayd that these and those are diuers in the signe but equall in the thing signified And in another place that they were diuers in the visible species but the same in the intelligible signification and that else where he puts a difference that those were promissiue and these demonstratiue which another doth expresse in another terme that those were prenunciatiue and these contestatiue Whence it plainely appeareth that they agree and differ in many things which no sensible man can deny and therefore it was wisedome not to put that Article in the beginning neither was it to any purpose to touch it in the present Decree Another opinion came forth that the opinion of the Lutherans and Zuinglians was to bee condemned without descending to the particulars For they say there is no difference betweene the old and new Sacraments but in the Rites But it hath beene shewed that there are other differences and therefore they are to be condemned for this onely without descending to shew what those differences are But the sixt was censured by the Dominicans who said it was proper to the Euangelicall Sacraments to giue grace and that the old did not giue it but onely by the vertue of deuotion and that this was the opinion of Saint Thomas They alleadged for a principall ground the determination of the Florentine Councell that the Sacraments of the old Law did not cause grace but did figure that it must bee giuen by the passion of CHRIST But Because S. Bondaenture and Sootus did maintaine that the Circumcision did conferre grace Ex opere operato Scotus adding that immediatly after the sinne of Adam a Sacrament was instituted in which a grace was giuen to babes by vertue of it that is Ex opere operato the Franciscans said the Article was true and could not be censured and that if as Saint Thomas said children before CHRIST were saued by the fathers faith the state of Christians was worse For now the fathers faith doth not helpe the children without Baptisme and Saint Austine saith that the childe that is caried by the father to be baptized if hee die in the way is damned So that if faith onely did then suffice the condition of the sonnes of Christians is now worse In these difficulties many did propose that the Article as probable should bee omitted To leaue out the seuenth and eighth there was a great agreement But in Concerning the Character imprinted by the Sacrament the ninth of the Chalacter Friar Dominicus Soto endeauoured to declare that it hath foundation in the holy Scripture and hath euer bin held in the Church for an Apostolicull Tradition and though the name hath not been vsed by the Fathers yet the thing signified is most ancient Others did not grant him so great a scope because it did not appeare that Gratian or the Master of the Sentences had made any mention thereof Yea Iohn Scotius said that it was not necessary by the words of the Scripture or of the Fathers to affirme it but onely by the authority of the Church a thing vsuall with that Doctor to denie things with a kinde of courtesie It was worth the knowing what thing they meant it should be and where situated in such multiplicity of Schoole-opinions some
him vpon whom they were conferred by whose death the vnion was vnderstood to bee dissolued ipso facto and the benefices returned to their first state So they shewed the world their excellent inuentions conferring a benefice which was but one in shew but many in deed as one confessed hee had stollen a bridle concealing it was vpon a horse head which hee stole with it To remedy pluralitie it was necessary to remooue the abuse of these three pretences This the wiser sort of Prelates vnderstanding agreed vniformely at the first propose to inhibite all of what condition soeuer to haue more then three benefices And some added when two amount not to the vallew of foure hundred ducats of gold and that if one were worth so much no man whatsoeuer should haue any more nor more then three though they were not worth so much Of this there was much disputation and A dispute about the remedy of Pluvalitie much more when Aluise Lipomano Bishop of Verona proposed that this decree might touch them also who were now possessors of more who without exception of any should bee constrained to renounce those that were supernumerary within sixe moneths if they were in Italy and within nine if in other places which if they did not they should bee depriued without any further declaration notwithstanding the benefices were Vnited or commended or possessed by any othertitle To this opinion the Bishop of Feltre did adhere but did moderate it by distinguishing Dispensations Commendaes and Vnions saying that some were made for the good of the Churches and some in fauour of the possessor desiring that the former should remaine in force and the other should be regulated The Bishop of Lanciano did not admit this distinction saying that hee that would make a lasting law must not put exceptions into the body of it in regard the malice of man is apt to inuent them and to free themselues from the rule The Byshop of Albenga made a long oration to shew that good lawes doe regulate Lawes ought to looke forward onely and not backward the future onely and that hee who not containing himselfe within the bounds of reason will amend that which is past doth euer raise tumults and in stead of reforming make a greater deformation that it were strange to depriue men of their possessions and perswade them to be content Hee added that he foresaw that if such a Decree were made either it would not be receiued or if it were would cause colourable and simoniacall resignations and greater mischiefes then plurality could For hereafter the prouision seemed vnto him superfluous for no man beeing to haue more benefices but by the Popes dispensation it sufficed that he was resolued not to dispence In that Congregation amongst many tragicall exclamations made by diuers men Bernardus Dias Byshop of Calabora said that the Church of Vicenza was so disordered as all men knew that it required rather an Apostle then a Bishop taxing the Cardinall Ridolfi who possessed that Bishopricke besides many other benefices not gouerning it nor hauing the Episcopall order neuer seeing it nor knowing any thing but the rents And euery one spake against the inconuenience that famous Churches should neuer see their Bishops because they were imployed in other Bishoprickes or more beneficiall dignities Some said that the Pope onely might prouide against this and were of the opinion of Albenga that he alone might make the reformation This pleased the Legates as well for the Popes dignity as to free themselues from taking paines in this matter which in regard of the varietie of opinions and interests they thought would bee of an hard digestion hoping that when they had gone so farre as to leaue this reformation to the Pope they should easily leaue also vnto him the point of residencie which was as hard to be concocted for that it was popular and drew with it the regaining of the Episcopall authoritie and iurisdiction Therefore the Legates being in hope that it might bee obtained especially if it were proposed as a thing done not to bee done they presently sent the Pope word of it who was glad of the newes because both the Court and himselfe were doubtfull where the attempts and designes of the Prelates might end And thinking fit to strike the yron while it was hote hee made a greater stride then the Legates would haue had him and dispatched a Bull by which hee recalled vnto himselfe the whole businesse of the Reformation But in Trent whilst an answere was expected from Rome they proceeded in the treatie begun and made a draught of the Decree that no man should haue more then one Bishoprike and hee that had more should quit the rest that heereafter whosoeuer shall obtaine many inferiour incompatible Benefices shall bee depriued without further declaration and hee that formerly hath possessed more then one shall shew his dispensations to the Ordinarie who shall proceede according to the Decretall of Innocentius 4. Ordinarij In giuing their voyces vpon these points many desired to haue dispensations forbid The shewing of the dispensations Of dispensations for Pluralitie and the proceeding according to the Decree of Innocentius pleased but few because it was a kinde of approbation of them all and an increasing of the mischiefe For Innocentius saith that if the dispensations bee found good they shall bee admitted if there bee any doubt recourse shall bee had to Rome in which case no man doubted but that any of them might bee doubted of and receiue a declaration at Rome conformable to the grant Many feared that when they were examined and approued there remayning no doubt the abuse would bee confirmed and therefore would haue had them prohibited absolutely Others sayd they haue alwayes beene in the Church and were necessary and that all was in vsing them well Marcus Vigerius Bishop of Sinigaglia was of an opinion which if it had beene receiued and beleeued would easily haue reformed the whole Clergie Hee sayd the Synode might remooue all inconueniences by declaring that a lawfull cause was necessary for a dispensation and that whosoeuer doeth otherwise grant it doeth sinne and cannot bee absolued but by reuoking it and that hee who obtaineth it is not secure in his conscience notwithstanding the dispensation and continueth in sinne vntill hee quitteth the Benefices so gotten This opinion wanted not contradictors For some stood vp and said that hee who granteth licence of Pluralitie without a lawfull cause doth sinne yet the dispensation is good and the dispensed is secure in his conscience though hee knew the vnlawfulnesse of the cause And the difference continued many dayes these saying that it was to take all authoritie from the Pope and those that the Popes authoritie stretched not so farre as to make that euill should not bee euill From this they went to another doubt whether Pluralitie was forbid by the Law of A doubt moued by what law Plurality is forbid God or of man Those
exclude the Arch-bishop of Collen sent two Commissaries to assemble all the orders of his Sate and to cause them to abandon him and to receiue for their Arch bishop Prince Adolphus his coaiutour yeâ—lding obedience and swearing side litievnto him The Cleargie was readie to doe it for the causes before recited but the Nobilite and Ambassadours of the Cities refusing saying they could not abandon a Prince vnto whom they had sworhe The Duke of Cloues bordering vpon him sent to the Arch bishop and caused 〈◊〉 â—â—of the Nobilitie to go thither also to pray him to find a mea 〈…〉 that the whole State might not bee dissolued with the great dammage of the neighbour 1547 PAVL 3. CHARLES 5. EDVVARD 6. FRANCIS 1. Who doth generously renounce his state Countries The Arch-bishop mooued with compassion to free the State from warre and that the innocent people might not suffer did generously renounce the State and absolue his subiects from the oath and so Adolphus was receiued for his successor whom he had alwaies loued as his brother and communicated to him whatsoeuer hee had done for reformation of the Church who was now of another opinion either because hee was truely changed or for some other respect In February newes came to Trent of the death of the King of England Thanks giuen to God and great ioy in Trent for the deâ—th of the K. of England which happened the moneth before The Fathers gaue thankes to GOD and went almost all to the Bishop of Worcesten congratulating that himselfe and the kingdome were as they sayd deliuered from the tyrannie of a cruell persecutor saying it was a miracle that he had left a sonne of but nine yeeres of age that he might not be able to tread in his Fathers steps And it is true that hee did not tread in them all For Henry though he had wholy taken away the Popes authoritie and punished his adherents capitally yet hee did euer constantly retaine all the residue of the doctrine of the Church of Rome But Edward for so his sonnes name was gouerned by his Vncle on the mothers side the Duke of Somerset who was inclined to the doctrine of the Protestants changed religion as shall be said in its place The Popes letters being come the Cardinall Sancta Croce was of opinion that it was good to mollifie the Prelates combined by granting some of the petitions which were granted from Rome thinking they would easily bee pacified with that determination The Cardinall of Monte sayd that to condescend to an inferior especially to a multitude was to make them pretend a greater satisfaction that first he would try his friends when he found he was fortified with the greater number hee would not retire an inch but if he found it otherwise hee would vse art After many discourses as it hapneth betweene Colleagues Sancta Croce yeelded to Monte who was more passionate They receiued aduise that the absent Prelates would bee returned before the end of February whose minds were sounded and many of them were found to adhere to the Pope These being confirmed with hope and others ensnared with the same baite that the Pope would take notice of euery A decree containing 15. heads is proposed in Congregation ones merit they caused the decree to be made with fifteen heads and proposed it in Congregation By this greater difficulties were raised In the Proheme by this exception Sauing alwaies the Apostolicall authoritie in all things Euery foole saw at what it aymed and that it inferred a pertinacious obstinacie in the abuses which they ought to remedie by preseruing their causes Yet none durst oppose but the Bishop of Badacoz who said it had need of declaration because And is there opposed the Councell ought not nor could impeach the authoritie of any much lesse of the Apostolike Sea acknowledged for Head of all the Catholiques But it seemed that the words there placed did signifie that in Rome the proceeding should be in those things as before and that the moderation should not haue power ouer dispensations and other inuentions by which the authoritie of the old Canons hath beene alwayes weakened In defence of the exception it was said that the Lawes of Councels are not as the Lawes naturall where equitie and rigour are the same thing that they are subiect to the common defect of all Lawes which by reason of their vniuersalitie ought to be moderated by equitie in cases not foreseene when it would bee vniust to put them in execution But because there is not alwayesa Councell to which recourse may be had nor it being possible to attend this when there is one the Popes authoritie is necessarie It was replyed that though all Lawes haue the defect of vniuersalitie yet all were published without exceptions that so they should now doe or otherwise it were as much as to say that ordinarily and not onely in rare cases and not foreseene the Pope might dispence with the contrary This opinion was not openly approoued by all who in their conscience But the opposers are 〈…〉 ced thought it true whereupon the Legat Monte taking courage sayd it was a subtiltie not to attribute as much to the Apostolike Sea as they were bound and so he made them all silent The Bishop of Badacoz demaunded that mention should bee made in that Proheme that the Article of residencie was not quite left off but deferred onely The Legates answered that this was a distrust of their promises and a vaine Obligation to doe that which was alwayes in their power Yet to satisfie so great a desire hee sayd it should bee added in the Proheme that all was decreed in prosecuting the point of residencie which they had begun whereby it would appeare that it was not ended in the other Session and that part did remaine to be handled Concerning the Heads of the qualities of Bishops and other Curates the Discourses aboue the qualiues of Bishops and Curates Arch-bishop Torre saide that they did not onely remedie the corruptions brought in but did weaken the ancient remedies For with such generall termes of age manners knowledge abilitie and worth euery one might bee canonized for an able man and to alleadge the decrees of Alexander was to nullifie all other Canons which prescribe other conditions For when one is alwayes named and the others purposely concealed it seemeth that there is some derogation to these that it was necessarie to say plainely what this grauitie of manners and knowledge of letters is which if it Were done euery Courtier would bee excluded for euer That the manners requisite are well repeated by Saint Paul and yet not regarded The learning and Doctorship which Paul requireth is the knowledge of Christian Doctrine and of the holy Writ that Honoriâ—s the third is not to be imitated who depriued a Bishop of the lower Saxâ—â—e because hee had not learned Grammar nor euer read Donatuâ— For the glosse saith he could not teach
a great concourse of people to that deuotion euery one beleeued that this would mooue the Cardinals to proceed quickly to the election These were diuided into three factions Imperialists French and dependants on the dead Pope and by consequence on his nephewes The Imperialists would haue created Cardinall Card Poole was named to be Pope Poole and the French Saluiati But neither of these parties was able to make the election of it selfe nor to agree in regard of the contrary ends of their Princes The Dependants of the Farnesi were able to conclude the election to which part soeuer they adhered and they were contented to choose Cardinall Poole for the goodnesse of his disposition and his continuall obseruance of the Pope and the Cardinall Farnese But Cardinall Theatino opposing him and saying hee was blemished with Lutheranisme made But not elected for suspicion of Lutheranisme many retire Farnese did not adhere to Saluiati was resolued not to consent but vpon some creature of his vncle The interests of the factious were so great that the respect of the holy yeere and the expectation of so much people who were assembled all that day vntill night could not preualle At the last the partie of Farnese assisted by the French-men did ouercome Card Monte is created Pope and Iohn Maria di Monte Legate of the Councell in Trent and Bolonia was created vpon whom Farnese did concurre thinking him a faithfull seruant to him and his grandfather and the French-men thinking hee would fauour their King and crosse the Emperour in regard of the Translation of the Councell to Bolonia Neither were the Imperialists against him because Cosmo Duke of Florence made them beleeue that hee fauoured the French no more then his thankefulnesse to the Pope had constrained him whose interests he thought he was bound to maintaine so that this cause beeing remooued hee would carry himselfe vprightly Many did loue in him his 1550 IVLIV◠3. CHARLES 5. EDWARD 6. HENRY 2. naturall libertie free from hypoerisie and dissimulation and open to all Immediatly after the election in conformitie to that which was capitulated hee did sweare to prosecute the Councel Hee was elected the eight of February and crowned the 23. and the 25. he opened the holy gate The Emperour perceiuing that the affaires of religion in Germanie did not goe as he would haue them hoping to remooue the difficulty by his presence 1550 did intimate a Diet for that yeere in Ausburg and sent Lewis d Aulla The Emperor sendeth an Ambassadour to the Pope to congratulate and to desire a restitution of the Councel to congratulate with the Pope for his assumption and to desire him to set the Councell on foote againe The Pope answering with as much courtesie made great offers of his good will For the Councel his answere was in generall tearmes onely beeing not as yet resolued in himselfe and spake hereof with the same irresolution to the Cardinal of Guise who was to returne into France but affirmed that hee would not doe it before hee had communicated euery thing to the French King And to Cardinall Pacceco and other Imperialists who often spake thereof with him hee sayd he would easily accord with the Emperour in this particular so that the proceeding were sincere to confound heretiques to fauour the Emperors desseignes and not to disfauour the Apostolique Sea whereof hee had many considerations which in fit time hee would make knowen to his Maiestie Hee presently gaue a taste what his gouernment would bee spending whole dayes in gardens plotting out delicious buildings and shewing himselfe more inclined to pleasure then businesse especially when any difficultie was annexed The Emperours Ambassadour Don Diego hauing curiously obserued these things The new Pope is more Inclined to pleasure then businesse wrote to the Emperour that all the negotiations of his Maiestie with the Pope would easily succeede for that being carried away with delights one might make him doe what he would by making him afraid And the opinion was more confirmed that he would be more addicted to his priuate affection then to the publique good by the promotion of a Cardinall which he made the last of May to whom hee gaue the Cap according to the custome Iohn Maria di Monte when he was Bishop of Siponto beeing gouernour of He createth a strange Cardinall Bolonia receiued into his house a boy of Piacenza of vnknowen parents and loued him as if hee had been his owne sonne It is recorded that beeing sicke in Trent of a great and long sickenesse whereof the Physicians thought hee would die hee sent him by their counsell to Verona to change the Aire where hauing recouered his health and returning to Trent the day of his arriuall the Legate went out of the Citie for recreation accompanied with many Prelats and mette him neere the gate shewing many signes of ioy This gaue matter of discourse whether it were by chance or whether the Cardinall going forth vnder another colour had a secret purpose to meere him Hee was wont to say that hee loued and fauoured him as authour of his owne fortune because the Astrologers had foretold hee should haue great dignity and riches which hee could not haue if he did not ascend to the Papacie So soone as he was created Pope his will was that Innocen 〈…〉 s for so the yong man was called should be adopted the sonne of Bold win di Monte his brother by which adoption hee was called Innocenti 〈…〉 di Monte. Hauing giuen him many benefices on the day aforesaid hee created him Cardinall giuing subiect of discourse and Pasquins to the Courtiers who did striue to shew the true cause of such an vnusuall action by coniectures of diuers accidents past Charles before he parted out of the Low Countreys established the Inquisition there whereat the Dutch and English Merchants of whom there were many in those parts beeing much mooued had recourse to Queene The Emperor establisheth the Inquisition in the low Countreys Mary and the Magistrates desiring a mitigation of the Edict or otherwise protesting they would depart Those who were to execute the Edict and institute the Inquisition found difficulty euery where so that the Queene was enforced to goe to Caesar who was in Ausburg to celebrate the Diet to perswade him that the populous Countrey might not be made desolate and some notable sedition arise Caesar yeelded very hardly yet in the end hee was content to take away the name of Inquisition and to reuoke whatsoeuer And reuoketh it as faare as concerneth strangers in the Edict did concerne strangers all standing firme which belonged to the Naturals of the place The Emperour dealt with the Pope by his letters and Ambassadour to reassume the Councell of Trent desiring a precise answere The Emperor requireth frō the Pope a precise answer concerning the Councell not such as hee gaue to D' Auila nor with such ambiguity as he vsed
The letters The Abbat readeth a protestation being recited the Abbat read a Protestation containing a narration of a Protestation made by Termes in Rome saying That the King after hee had taken vpon him the defence of Parma seeing that those laudable things which hee had done were reprehended vsed great care that Paul Termes his Ambassador should giue an account of all to the Pope Colledge of Cardinals to take from them all sinister opinion shewing that the taking of the Duke into his protection was the effect of a pious humane and kingly minde wherein there was no cunning or priuate gaine but respect onely of the Church as appeared by the propositions of accord which aymed at nothing but that the Church might not be robbed and Italy preserued in peace and libertie And if the Pope thought this a cause to put all Europe into warre he was sorry but it could not be imputed to him hauing not onely accepted but offered also all honest and fit conditions Neither could the dissolution of the Councell assembled bee prescribed to him praying the Pope to consider what mischiefes would accompany the war and to preuent them with peace Which if his Holinesse will not regard but desire rather to set Europe on fire and hinder the Councell giuing suspicion that it was called not for the good of the Church but for priuate interests excluding from it a most Christian King hee could not choose but to protest to him and the Colledge that he could not send his Bishops to Trent where the accesse is not free and secure and that he could not esteeme that a generall Councell but priuate from which he was excluded neither could the people or Prelates of France be obliged to the decrees of it Afterwards he protested that he would come to the remedies vsed by his ancestors in like occurrences not to take away his due obseruance from the Apostolique Sea but to reserue it for better times when armes shall bee laid downe which are dishonestly taken vp against him desiring of his Holinesse that this Protestation might bee registred and giuing him a copie of it to peruse These things hauing beene already protested in Rome he desired should be likewise protested in Trent with the same instance that they might be registred in the actes of that assembly and that there being a publike instrument made of it he might vse it in time and place When the Protestation was read the Speaker hauing talked with the President answered in substance That the Kings modesty in his letters was gratefull to the Synode that it doth not accept the person of the Abbat but as it is lawfull that warneth him to bee in the same place the eleuenth of October to receiue the answere which shall bee made to the Kings letters and forbiddeth the Nuncij to make an instrument of the present action but ioyntly with the Secretary of the Councell And nothing else beeing to bee done the Session was ended Then the Abbat demaunded an instrument of the action but could not obtaine it When Termes had protested in Rome though many did not know of the The censure of this Protestation act yet it was beleeued that the Pope would deferre the Councell because it must needes bring forth new diuisions if such a principall Nation did resist But he deceiued the world not for any desire hee had to celebrate it but for that he would not seeme to be cause of the dissolution being resolued that if it were separated without him hee would answere with an open mouth to whosoeuer should desire it again that he had done his part and would do no more But the Protestation made in Trent a place so conspicuous was presently published euery where and gaue matter of discourse The Imperialists esteemed it a vainity saying That the act of the maior part of the vniuersality is euer esteemed lawfull when the lesser being called either cannot or wil not be present that all are called to the Councell and the Frenchmen also might haue come without passing by the Popes territories but in case they could not yet their absence doth not derogate from the Councell because they are not neglected but inuited It was said to the contrary that to call in words and to exclude in deeds was not to inuite and for the Popes territories one might goe from France to Trent without passing by them but not without passing by those of the Emperour and the maior part hath full authoritie when the lesser cannot appeare and is silent because it is presupposed to consent and when it will not appeare because it is accounted contumacious but when it doth protest it bath its place and especially if the impediment proceed from him that calleth the action in absence cannot be of force And the Counsellors of the Parliament of Paris said some thing more The Decrees of Councels do not binde the Churches absent That it is true that the authoritie of the whole vniuersalitie is transferred into the maior part when the cause is common to all and nothing belongeth to particular men but when the whole belongeth to all and euery one hath his part the assent of euery one is necessary Et prohibentis conditio potior and the absent not giuing their voyces are not bound Of this sort are Ecclesiasticall assemblies and bee the Councell as populous as it will the absent Churches are not bound if they thinke fit not to receiue it This hath alwayes beene vsed in ancient times that the Councels beeing ended the Decrees should be sent to be confirmed to the Churches that were absent in which otherwise they had no force which euery one that readeth Hilarius Athanasius Theodoretus and Victorinus who handle this particular may see plainely And iâ— happened sometimes that some part of the Canons were receiued by some Church and some left out as euery one thought fit for their necessities manners and vses And S. Gregorie himselfe doth witnesse that the Church of Rome did not receiue the Canons of the second Councell of Constantinople nor of the first of Ephesus Wisemen not considering the subtilties said that the King had giuen that Councell an vncurable wound For it hauing no other ground then Christian charity and the assistance of the holy Ghost it would neuer bee beleeued that these were present in an assembly against which a most Christian King persecutor of all Sects with the adherence of a kingdome not blemished in Religion did protest in that forme And they brought an experience for proofe For they said that the Presidents retyring to consult with the Emperours Ambassadours did shew who guided the Councell And which was of more importance when these fiue had consulted and imparted nothing to any body else the Speaker sayd The holy Synod doth receiue the letters And what was that holy Synode And likewise the Abbats exposition The Presidents take vpon them the authority of the Councell beeing read the answere resolued
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
Many are burned in England for Religion they had beene liuing and their bodies digged vp and burned an action commended by some as a reuenge of what Henrie the eight had done against S. Thomas by others compared to that which the Popes Stephanus the sixth and Sergius the third did against the Corps of Pope Formosus Many also were at the same time burned in France for Religion not And in France also without the indignation of honest men who knew that the diligence vsed against those poore people was not for pietie or Religion but to satiate Which was done to satiate the couetousnesse of Diana Valentina the couetousnesse of Diana Valentina the Kings Mistris to whom he had giuen all the confiscations of goods made in the Kingdome for cause of Heresie It was wondred also that those of the new reformation should meddle with blood for cause of Religion For Michael Seruetus of Tarragona made a Diuine of a Physician renewing the old opinion of Paulus Samosatenus and Marcellus Anciranus that the word of God was not a thing subsisting and therefore that Christ was a pure man was put to death for Michael Seruetus is burned in Geneua it in Geneua by Counsell of the Ministers of Zuric Berne and Schiaffusa and Iohn Caluin who was blamed for it by many wrote a Booke defending that the Magistrate may punish Heretickes with losse of life which Doctrine being drawen to diuers sences as it is vnderstood more strictly or more largely or as the name of Hereticke is taken diuersly may sometime doe hurt to him whom another time it hath helped At that time Ferdinand King of the Romanes published an Edict to all The King of the Romanes publisheth an Edict against all innouation in Religion the people subiect vnto him that in points of Religion and Rites they should not innouate but follow the ancient customes and particularly that in the holy Communion they should bee content to receiue the Sacrament of bread onely Wherein though many persons of note the Nobilitie and many of the Cities made Supplication vnto him that at the least the Cup might bee granted them saying that the institution was of Christ which might not bee altered by men and that it was the vse of the old Church as was confessed by the Councell of Constance promising all submission and obedience in all other things praying him not to burthen their consciences but to accommodate his commandement to the orders set downe by the Apostles and of the Primitiue Church yet Ferdinand perseuered in his resolution and answered them that his commandement was not new but an ancient institution vsed by his Ancestors Emperours Kings and Dukes of Austria and that the vse of the Cup was a nouitie brought in by curiositie or pride against the Law of the Church and consent of the Prince Yet hee moderated the rigour of the answere saying that the question being of a point that concerneth saluation hee would thinke of it more diligently and answere them in fit time but that in the meane while hee expected from them obedience and obseruation of the Edict Hee published also a Catechisme the fourteenth of And a Catechisme August made by his authoritie by some learned and pious Diuines 1555 PAVL 4. CHARLES 5. MARY 〈◊〉 HENRY 2. Which gaue distaste to the Court of Rome commaunding all the Magistrates of those Countries not to suffer any Schoolemasters to reade any but that either in publique or in priuate because by diuers Pamphlets which went about Religion was much corrupted in those Countryes This constitution distasted the Court of Rome because it was not sent to the Pope to bee approoued by his authoritie nor came foorth in the name of the Bishop of the Countrey the secular Prince assuming the office to cause to bee composed and to Authorize Bookes in matter of Religion especially by name of Catechisme to shew that it belonged to the secular power to determine what Religion the people should follow and what refuse The two yeeres of the suspension of the Councell being expired they treated in the Consistorie what was fit to bee done For although the condition in the Decree was that the Councell should be of force againe when the impediments were remooued which did still continue by reason of the warres of Siena Piemont and others betweene the Emperour and the French King yet it seemed that any man of an vnquiet Spirit might say that those impediments were not sufficient and that it was vnderstood that the Councell was on foote againe so that to free themselues from those dangers it might be good to make a new declaration But wiser men It is resolued in Rome not to speak of the Councell though the two yeeres of suspension were ended gaue counsell not to mooue the euill while it was quiet while the world was silent while neither Prince nor People demaunded the Councell lest by shewing they were afraid they might excite others to require it This aduice preuayled and made the Pope resolue neuer to speake more of it In the yeere 1555. there was a Diet in Ausburg which the Emperour 1555. A Diet. 〈◊〉 had in Ausburg to compose the differences in Religion had intimated principally to compose the controuersies of religion in regard this was the fountaine of all the troubles and calamities of Germanie with the losse not onely of the liues of many thousands of men but of their soules also Ferdinand began the Diet in the Emperours name the fifth of Februarie where hee shewed at large the lamentable spectacle of Germanie in which men of the same Baptisme Language In which Ferdinand maketh an Oration and Empire were distracted by so various a profession of Faith there arising new Sects euery day which did shew not onely small reuerence towards God and great perturbations of mens mindes but was cause also that the multitude knew not what to beleeue and that many of the principall Nobilitie and others were without all faith and honestie making no conscience of their actions which tooke away all commerce so that now it could not bee sayd that the Germanes were better then the Turkes and other barbarous people for which causes God hath afflicted it with so great calamities Therefore it was necessarie to take in hand the businesse of religion Hee sayd a generall free and pious Councell was formerly thought the onely remedie For the cause of Faith beeing common to all Christians it ought to bee handled by all and the Emperour imploying all his forces heerein did cause it to bee assembled more then once But there was no neede to say why no fruit came by it it beeing well knowen to all that were present Now if they desired to prooue the same remedie againe it was necessary to remooue the impediments which did 1555 MARCDILVS 〈◊〉 CHARLES 5. MARY HENRY 2. hinder them from attaining the wished end But if by reason of the accidents
some of those Prelates had a purpose The Pope is troubled with the designe of the Portugal Diuines that the superioritie of the Councell aboue the Pope should be defined in the Synode which point they had studied and caused many Diuines to doe the like The Pope was troubled with this aduice and considered what hee might looke for when the Prelates were assembled in the Councell and did treate altogether who had such high thoughts before they parted from home and feared that the King and his Counsell had a finger in it Yet as a wise Prince hee considered that when the Councell was held not that nouitie onely would be proposed but many more to the disaduantage of others as well as of himselfe saying that euery weight had his counterpoyse and that of the things that are attempted not one in a thousand doeth take effect Hee was more attentiue to the enterprises of the French-men as beeing more imminent and of persons who are not flegmaticall in resoluing as the Spaniards are Therefore hee imparted to the Ambassadour euery aduice that came vnto him and told him in diuers conferences that they were not to thinke of Nationall Councels assemblies or Colloquies in matter of Religion because hee could not but esteeme them all for schismaticall that hee prayed the King not to vse those remedies which would certainely reduce France not onely into a worse condition but into the worst of all that the difficulties of Spaine being remooued the Councell should certainly be celebrated because those which doe continue in Germanie are not considerable that the Catholique Princes and Bishops will consent and perhaps the Duke of Saxonie also as hee hath made shew by separating himselfe from the others assembled in Neumburg that hee hoped the Emperour would assist personally if there were neede as himselfe did promise to doe if hee thought it fit wherein hee would not subiect himselfe to the iudgement of any but himselfe Easter drawing neere which time was appointed to begin the Councell One of the Presidents falleth sicke and another is put in his place and Cardinall Puteus being very sicke hee put in his roome Friar Ierolamus Cardinal Seripando a Diuine of much fame and caused him to depart presently and to passe by Mantua taking with him the other Legate and to bee at Trent at the time appointed Notwithstanding which commandement they came not thither vntil the third feast of the resurrection and found there nine Bishops who were arriued before them The Pope was diligent to make the Italian Bishops put themselues in order and therefore wrote effect all errors to the Vice-roy of Naples and to his Nuncio there and caused his Ministers to perswade the Bishops of the State of Milan to bee ready for their iourney to the Councell as soone as might be Hee desired also the State of Venice to send the Bishops of their Territories in Italy of Candia Dalmatia and Cyprus with all possible expedition and to create Ambassadors to assist in the Councell in the name of that Republike The Italian Prelats were not easily moued because they knew the beginning could not be before the consent of the The Italian Prelates are not so hasty to goe to the Councel as y e Pope would haue had them Emperour did come which was still prolonged because the Spaniards and French-men were expected before whose arriuall in Italy they thought it superfluous to goe to Trent And many of them especially the Courtiers could not beleeue but that the Pope did counterfeit But the trueth was that being assured he could not auoide the Councell hee did desire to see it quickly Hee said he knew what incouenience the prolongation did cause but knew not what the celebration might doe and thought that the enemies of his owne person and of the Apostolique Sea might doe him more hurt in the time of the expectation then they could doe in the Councell it selfe And being of a resolute nature hee vsed the Prouerbe It is better to prooue the euill once then alwayes to feare it While these delayes were vsed the Duke of Sauoy made a composition The Duke of Sauoy maketh 〈◊〉 composition with the Waldenses of Montsenis with the Waldenses of the Valleys of Montsenis For hauing made more then a yeeres tryall to reduce them by punishments and after they stood vpon their guard as hath been sayd maintained Souldiers against them for which the Pope did assist him with money howsoeuer they proceeded rather with skirmishes then any set warre because of the craggednesse of the Countrey yet at the last they came to a formall battaile in which the Duke had a great ouerthrow lost seuen thousand men and slew but fourteene of the enemies and although hee did often repaire his Army yet he had alwayes the worse By reason of a great ouerthrow Therefore considering hee did nothing but make his Rebels more warlike consume his owne Countrey and spend his money hee resolued to receiue them into fauour and made an agreement with them the fifth of Iune in which hee pardoned all faults past gaue them libertie of conscience assigned them certaine places where they might make their Congregations in other places gaue them leaue to comfort the sicke and doe other dueties of religion but not to preach gaue leaue to those that were fled to returne againe and restitution of goods to those that were banished It was agreed also that the Duke might send away which of their Pastors he pleased and that they might prouide themselues of others that the Roman Religion might be exercised in all places but no man inforced to professe it The Pope was much distasted that an Italian Prince assisted by him and not so potent but that Which giueth distaste to the Pope hee might still haue neede of him should permit heretikes to liue freely in his state and the example did trouble him aboue all because it would be alleadged to him by greater Princes when they would permit another religion Hee made a bitter complaint hereof in the Consistorie comparing the ministers of the Catholique King with that Duke who hauing at the same time discouered three thousand Lutherans who went out of Cosenza and retired themselues to the mountaines to liue according to their doctrine did hang some burne others and put the rest into the Galleys and hee exhorted all the Cardinals to thinke of a remedie But there was great difference betweene oppressing a few disarmed persons farre from helpe and ouer comming a great number of armed men in a place aduantagious for them with potent succours at their shoulders The Duke sent to iustific his cause and the Pope not able to answere his reasons was pacified In France though the Queene and Prelates did desire to satisfie the Pope in referring the causes of religion to the Councell yet a congregation of the Who was pacified by the 〈◊〉 The Pope is offended with the Congregation of the Prelates
prudence and wisedome hath compassion and yeeldeth to euery one They said they saw no considerable reason adduced by the others but onely that the Lutherans would say that they had prooued that the Church hath erred and would make other demands But hee is deceiued who beleeueth that a Negatiue will make them hold their peace They haue sayd already that an error hath beene committed they will say hereafter that obstinacie is added to it and where humane ordinations onely are in question and alteration will not seeme strange nor misbeseeme the Church Who knoweth not that the same thing cannot agree to all times that there are innumerable Ecclesiasticall rites established and abolished and that it is not against the honor of the Councell to haue beleeued that a rite hath beenegood which experience hath shewed to be vnprofitable To perswade ones selfe that this demand will beget others argueth too much suspicion and desire of aduantage but S. Paul saith that simplicitie and christian charitie doth not thinke euill beleeueth euery thing supporteth all hopeth well It belonged to these onely to speake of the first Article because those of the absolute negatiue had nothing to say of it But these were diuided into two opinions One which was the more common that it should be graunted vpon such conditions as Paul the third did grant it of which wee haue spoken in their place The other of some few that if they would graunt the Cup to make them stand fast in the Church who now doe stumble it is meet so to temper it as that it may produce the effect desired which those conditions cannot doe yea would vndoubtedly make them fall headlong into Lutheranisme It is certaine that the penitent man ought rather to choose any temporall euill then to sinne yet Caietan gaue counsell not to come to any specificall comparison and say that it is better to bee put to death with pincers or vpon the wheele c. because by this meanes one should tempt himselfe without necessitie and fall from a good disposition presenting horrours to himselfe to no purpose So in the present occasion these ambiguous men when the Councels fauor shall bee brought vnto them will rest satified and thanke GOD and the Church and will thinke no more of it strengthening themselues by little and little It is the precise commandement of S. Paul to receiue the weake in faith not with disputations or prescribing them opinions rules but simply expecting opportunitie to giue a more ample instruction Hee that should now propose a condition in Germanie to beleeue this or that would trouble them much while their mindes doe wauer so that thinking whether they ought to beleeue it or not they will fall into some errour on which they world not otherwise haue thought To this reason they added that howsoeuer it is maintained that the Church hath for iust causes taken away the Cup if afterwards it doeth grant it vpon other conditions without prouiding against those inconueniences for which it was first remooued it is confessed that it was taken away without cause Therefore they concluded that it was fit to constitute for conditions all the remedies to the inconueniences which first caused the prohibition that is that the Cup should neuer be carried out of the Church and that the bread onely should be sufficient for the sicke that it should not bee kept to take away the danger of sowernesse that they should vselittle pipes to auoid effusion as formerly was done in the Romane Church This being done it will appeare that the prouision was first made vpon good reason reuerence will be stirred vp people and Princes will be satisfied and the weake will be tempted no more A Spaniard said that it was not so easily to be beleeued that the Catholiques did with such heat of deuotion desire the Cup and therefore that it were good to send into Germanie to be informed who they be that demand it what their faith is and what be their motiues that the Synod receiuing the relation may haue a foundation to proceed on and not ground an selfe vpon the words of other In the sixt Article they al expressed themselues in few words because there was not much to be said For the Eucharist not being a Sacrament necessarily and Saint Paul commanding that he who is to receiue it should examine himselfe whether he bee worthy it doeth plainely appeare that it cannot be administred to any that hath not the vse of reason and if the contrary hath beene practised in ancient times it hath beene where and when the trueth was not so well declared as now it is Therefore the Synod ought to determine that the present vse should bee maintained Some well obserued that they ought to speake of Antiquitie with more reuerence and not say that they wanted the knowledge of the Trueth Desiderius a Carmelite Friar of Palermo had an opinion by himselfe that the Article ought to be omitted saying that the difficultie being not mooued by the Protestants of these times it was not good by handling of it to set a nouitie on foot that the matter was probable on both sides and that when it should be knowen that it was handled in the Councel it would excite the curiositie of many to thinke on it giue them occasion to stumble For some might be persuaded to beleeue that the Eucharist is a Sacrament of necessitie as well as Baptisme because the ground of that are the words of CHRIST He that shall not be borne againe of water and the Spirit shall not enter into the Kingdom of heauen and of this If ye eate not my flesh and drinke my blood yee shall not haue life And the exception of children cannot plainely be grounded vpon the precept of S. Paul to examine our selues which children cannot doe because the Scripture doth likewise command that an instruction in the doctrine of Faith ought to precede Baptisme which if it be applyed to men of age without excluding children of baptisme who cannot learne the examination preceding the Eucharist may also be applyed to men of discretion without excluding children from it His conclusion was that hee did approoue the vse not to giue them the communion but would not haue the Councell to handle that which no man opposeth The congregations of the Diuines being ended the Legats did incline to The Legats doe incline to graunt the Cup to Germany grant the Cup to Germanie with the conditions of Paul the third and some more and consulting with their inward friends framed decrees concerning the first fourth and fifth points deferring the others vntill they had better considered how to auoid the difficulties concerning them related by the Diuines And calling a congregation of the Prelates they demaunded whether the three decrees should be proposed that they might speake their opinions of them in the first congregation Granata who had found the Legats intention and was most opposite to the grant of the
their desire to hold the Session taught them patience They sate downe againe with the distaste of many Prelates especially the Courtiers The Bishop causing the point of the distributions to bee read sayd that it seemed to him a hard thing that power should be giuen to the Bishop to take the third part of the Prebends and conuert them into distributions that formerly all was distributions and that Prebends crept in by abuse that Bishops had authoritie to infringe bad customes that it was not iust that the Councell by giuing the Bishop a third part of the authority which hee hath should take two thirds from him Therefore hee desired it should bee declared that the Bishops haue ample power to conuert into distributions as much as they thinke conuement The Archbishop of Prague confirmed this opinion with other reasons and the Spaniards seemed by their countenance to giue consent The Cardinall of Who maketh a speech vnto them concerning distributions Mantua hauing much commended the pietie of those Bishops affirmed that it was a point worthy to bee consulted on by the Synod and promised in the name of the Legates whose consent he first had that it should bee spoken of in the next Session The sixteenth day beeing come the Legats Ambassadours and Prelates went to the Church with the vsuall ceremonies The Sermon was made by A Session is held The Bish of Tiniana preacheth the matter of whose sermon was the Cōmunion of the Cup and Residence the Bishop of Tiniana who howsoeuer hee was resolued not to speake then of granting the Chalice did not forbeare to take that matter onely for his subiect and to discourse that the vse of the Chalice was common so long as the heare of charitie did endure but that decreasing and inconueniences succeeding by the negligence of some the vse thereof was not interdicted but onely it was taught that those who could hardly auoyd irreuerence should lesse offend if they did abstaine from it whose example in progresse of time others did follow that they might not tie themselues to diligence In the first he commended the memorable example of pietie and blamed the impietie of the moderne innouators who to haue it haue kindled so great a fire He exhorted the Pathers to charitie and to extinguish the flame and not to suffer all the world to burne by their default to condescend to the imbecillitie of their children who demand nothing but the blood of CHRIST He admonished them not to cast away so many Prouinces and Kingdomes to spare so small a matter that seeing that blessed blood is sought with so earnest a desire they would not feare the former negligence for which it was omitted but grant it that CHRIST would not haue them so obstinate in their owne opinion as to maintaine so pernicious a discord amongst Christians for that blood which himselfe shed to vnite them in a most strict bond of charity Hee passed dexterously from that matter to an exhortation to residence and concluded with the distaste of the others who desired to haue those matters buried in silence When the ceremonies were ended the Masse-Bishop read the doctrine The doctrine is read contained in four heads expressed in foure heads containing in substance That the Synod in regard of many errors which goe about concerning the Sacrament of the Eucharist hath determined to expound that which belongeth to the Communion SubVtraque and of children prohibiting all the faithfull to beleeue teach or preach otherwise Therefore according to the iudgement and custome of the Church it doth declare that the Laickes and Clerkes who doe not say Masse are not bound by any diuine precept to communicate Sub Vtraque and that it cannot be doubted without preiudice of faith that the Communion vnder one kinde is sufficient that howsoeuer CHRIST hath instituted and giuen the Sacrament vnder two kindes it cannot be inferred from hence that all are obliged to receiue it so nor from the speech of our LORD related in the sixt Chapter of Saint Iohn where although there be words which name both kinds yet there be also which name that onely of bread Besides it doth declare that the Church hath euer had power to make a mutation in the dispensation of the Sacraments so long as the substance remaineth Which may bee drawen in generall from the wordes of Saint Paul that the Ministers of Christ are dispensers of the Mysteries of God and particularly in the Eucharist concerning which power is reserued to it to giue order by word of mouth That the Church knowing this her authority howsoeuer the vse of both kindes was frequent from the beginning yet the custome beeing changed for iust causes hath approued that other to communicate with one onely which no man can change without the authoritie of the same Church it doeth declare besides that All CHRIST is receiued vnder either of the kindes and the true Sacrament and that hee who receiueth one onely is not defrauded of any Grace necessary to saluation as concerning the fruit thereof Finally it doeth teach that children before the vse of reason are not bound to Sacramentall Communion because Grace cannot bee lost in that age not condemning antiquity for the contrary custome obserued in some places because it is to be vndoubtedly beleeued that they haue done it not for necessitie of saluation but for other probable causes In conformitie of this doctrine foure Anathematismes were read 1. Against him that shall say Foure Anathematismes are read that all the faithfull are bound by diuine precept or necessitie of saluation to receiue both the kindes in the Eucharist 2 That the Church hath not had iust causes to communicate the Laickes and the Clerkes who doe not celebrate the Masse with the kinde of Bread onely or that it hath erred herein 3. Against him that shall denie that All CHRIST the Fountaine and Author of all graces is receiued vnder the bread onely 4. Against him that shall say that the Communion of the Eucharist is necessary for children before the vse of reason After this another Decree was read also saying that the Synode will examine with the first occasion and define two other Articles not discussed as yet that is Whether the reasons for which the Church hath communicated vnder one kinde are good still so that the Cup ought not to A Decree is read concerning two points to be handled hereafter be granted to any and in case it doeth appeare that it may be granted for honest causes with what conditions the grant is to be made During the time of the Masse Alfonsus Salmeron and Franciscus della Torre Iesuites discoursed the one with Varmiense and the other with Madruccio as they stood behinde their seats that in the first point of doctrine the matter of the institution of the Sacrament vnder both kindes is obscurely expressed and that it is necessary to speake plainly and say that CHRIST did institute it for his Apostles and
those that say Masse onely and not for all the faithfull that it was necessary to insert this clause to remooue all doubt from the Catholiques and all occasion of opposing and calumniating from the heretikes that they as Diuines sent from the Pope could not forbeare to giue their aduice in a matter of so great importance and were both so earnest especially Salmeron who talked with Varmiense that the reading of the Decree being ended Varmiense first and then Madruccio made the proposition which pleased many but was reiected by the greater part not for its owne sake but for the manner of proposing it on the sudden without allowing time to consider on it It did not please the other Legats for the same cause also yet in regard of the honour of the place they said without any adoe that it should be reserued to the next Session in the handling of the two next Articles Afterwards the nine points of reformation were read That for collation of Orders Dimisories Testimonials Seale or any thing else neither the Bishop Nine points of Reformation are read nor any of his Ministers shall receiue any thing though voluntarily offered That the Notaries where there is custome not to receiue and where they haue no salarie may receiue the tenth part of a crowne That no secular Clerke though sufficient may be promoted to holy Orders if hee haue not a Benefice patrimony or pension able to maintaine him and that the Benefice may not be renounced nor the pension extinct nor the patrimony aliened without licence of the Bishop That in the Cathedrall or collegiate Churches in which there are no distributions or very small the Bishop may conuert to that vse the third part of the profits of the Prebends That in Parish Churches where much people is the Bishops may compell the Rectors to take the assistance of other Priests and those that are large in compasse may bee diuided and furnished with new Rectors if there shall be neede and the people may be compelled to contribute That the Bishops may make a perpetuall Vnion of Benefices with cure or without because of pouertie or other iuridical causes That the Bishops may giue Coadiutors to Parish Priests that are vnlearned and punish those that are scandalous That the Bishops may ioyne the Benefices of old ruinous Churches to others and cause the Churches to bee built compelling the people to contribute to the fabrique That they may visite all Benefices held in Commenda That the name office and vse of Receiuer be taken away in all places In the end the Session was ordained for the seuenteenth of September and a declaration made that the Synod might abbreuiate or prorogue at pleasure as well that Terme as any other which shall be limited for the future Sessions The actions of this Councell were not in so great expectation in former times as at this present in regard all Princes had agreed in demanding it and sent Ambassadors and that a great number of Prelats were assembled foure times so many as before and had beene begunne now sixe moneths and The actions of the Councell are censured those spent in daily and continuall treaties and discussions with dispatches of many Curriers and Prelats from Rome to Trent and from Trent to Rome But when the Session came out in print the vsuall Latine prouerbe of The birth of the Mountaines was generally vsed by all And particularly the delaying of two Articles was noted it seeming strange that hauing made foure Articles of faith with foure Anathematismes they were not able to declare that of granting the Cup which is de iure Ecclesiastico Some were of opinion that it ought to haue beene handled first because if it had beene granted all the disputations had ceased The third point of doctrine was much considered on in the conclusion For it being said that the faithfull who receiueth the body of CHRIST onely is not defrauded of any necessary Grace it First in matter of doctrine seemed a confession that some grace not necessarie is lost And here a doubt was made whether there bee any authoritie of man which can hinder the superabundant and not necessarie grace of God and if it can whether these impediments bee charitably vsed Two things were much spoken of amongst the rest one the obligation imposed to beleeue that antiquitie did not hold the Communion of children to bee necessarie because where the trueth of a story is in question it is a matter of fact and past in which there is no authoritie that can alter the things done Yet hee that readeth Austin will know that in nine places not in a word but with a discourse hee doeth affirme the necessitie of the Eucharist for children and two of them doe make it equall to the necessitie of Baptisme yea hee saith more then once that the Church of Rome hath held and defined it to bee necessarie for the saluation of children and doeth alleadge for it Pope Innocentius whose Epistle doeth yet remaine in which hee saith it plainely And they marueiled why the Councell would without necessitie trouble it selfe here in to no end when it might bee said that either it or Innocention had erred The other was the second Anathematisme with the declaration that he is an heretike who saith the Church was not induced vpon iust causes to communicate without the Cup which was to ground an Article of faith vpon a fact of man And they held it a miraculous thing that they would say that one is bound to obserue the Decree onely iure humano but is bound iure Diuino to beleeue it is iust and to make Articles of faith in things which may bee changed daily Others added also that if the causes were so iust they should say what they were and not force men to beleeue by terrour but induce them by perswasion because that was to domineere ouer the faith which Saint Paul doth so much detest Concerning the points of reformation Secondly in point of Reformation it was generally said that more light points could not be handled nor more lightly and that they did imitate the Physician who in an Hecticall bodie laboured to kill the itch And to put their hands into mens purses to maintaine Curats or repaire Churches seemed a strange thing both for the matter and for the manner For the matter because the Cleargie was luperfluously rich and rather indebted to the Layne for diuers euident respects for the manner because neither CHRIST nor his Apostles did euer compell men to make contributions but onely gaue power to receiue those that were voluntarie And he that readeth Saint Paul to the Corinthians and to the Galathians shall see the masters treatment of the Oxe that treadeth the Corne and the dutie of the catechised towards him that doth teach yet so as that those labourers haue no action or right by rigour of Law nor any Chancerie to relieue them The Session being ended the Legats began
Supper and they had much adoe to make him desist Finally beeing almost out of hope to bee ready to hold the Session at the time appointed the Decree of the Sacrifice was established in the Congregation of the seuenth day by consent of the maior part howsoeuer Granata laboured to interpose impediments and delayes After this tenne Articles for reformation of the abuses occurring in the Masse were proposed and eleuen more in diuers other points of reformation which were purposely chosen of easie matters not subiect to contradiction and fauourable to the authoritie of Bishops that their proceeding might not bee hindered by the opposition of any which was well knowen to the Ambassadours and Prelates who complained of it These began to be handled the ninth of September and the Prelates deliuered their opinions briefly fourty in a Congregation There was no remarkable opposition onely Philadelphia sayd that Germany expected that matters of weight and importance should be handled in Councell Hee named diuers and amongst others the creation of Cardinals and pluralitie of Benefices Ioannes Zuares Bishop of Conimbria sayd that small matters were not to bee neglected but thought that the dignitie of the Synode did require that some speciall order should bee followed that it may appeare why these particulars The Councel is taxed by diuers Prelates for omitting the chiefe points of Reformation are proposed before others that the reformation ought to begin from the Head and passe to the Cardinals from the Cardinals to the Bishops and from them to other degrees otherwise he feared that the Catholikes would be offended and the protestants laugh Paris sayd that for these hundred and fiftie yeeres the world hath demanded a reformation in the Head and the members and hitherto hath beene deceiued that now it was time they should labour in earnest and not by dissimulation that he desired the French men should bee heard for the necessities of that Kingdome that in France a farre more profitable reformation was made then that which was proposed in Councell The Bishop of Segouia sayd they did imitate an vnskilfull Physician who gaue a lenitiue or anointed with oyle in mortall diseases The Bishop of Oreate sayd that the Pope ought not to grant so great faculty to the Crusado and the Fabrique of Saint Peter by vertue of which euery one in Spaine will haue Masses in his house which if it be not moderated the prouisions of the Councell will bee in vaine that it was necessary to declare that the Decrees of the generall Councell doe binde the Head also Whereat buzzing beeing raised hee made a signe they should bee silent and added that hee meant in respect of the direction and not of coaction He proceeded and sayd that it was necessary to finde a meanes to take away contentions and suits or at the least to make them fewer and shorter in causes of Benefices that this caused great expences hindered the worship of GOD and scandalized the people The Bishop of Fiue Churches spake concerning the point of conferring Bishopriques expounding the wordes hee had said that base and vnworthy persons were promoted and declaring that the abuse proceeded from Princes who did importunately recommend them to the Pope saying they would bee better bestowed vpon the horse-keepers of his Holinesse And he complained that his words had been ill expounded The Spanish Agent complained in the Kings name that in the eight Article too much authority was giuen to Bishops ouer Hospitals Mountaines of pietie and such places and particularly in Sicilia against the priuiledge which that Kingdome aunciently hath for whose satisfaction the Legates caused a clause to bee added for reseruation of the places which are immediately vnder the protection of the King These things beeing ended the Legates were in a strait because there were but three dayes to the Session and many things vnresolued especially that which was of greatest importance in which euery one was carried with ā strong affection that is the communion of the Cup. But one accident made them to prolong the time For the French Ambassadour in Rome hauing earnestly desired the Pope in the Kings name to cause a delay vntill the comming of his Prelates his Holinesse though nothing could more displease him then the prolonging of the Councell aswell in regard of his owne inclination as of the Cardinals and Court who were in hope and much desired to see it ended in December notwithstanding to conceale his feares did answere that it was all one to him and that it did depend on the Prelates who if they did abhorre euery delay it was no maruell in regard of their long and incommodious abiding there saying that they ought to be respected and that he neither could nor would compell them or impose a law vpon them contrary to the ancient vse that hee would write to the Legates concerning this instance and shew hee was contented with the dilation that this is all that can be required of him and enough to satisfie the King Thus he wrote adding that they should make vse of this permission as it should seeme most reasonable to the Fathers This letter and the backwardnesse in their businesse and that which was written by Delphinus Nuncio with the Emperour and the instance of the Emperours Ambassadours that the Decree of the Masse might not bee published made some of the Legates incline to deferre the Session But Simoneta who vnderstood the Popes minde rather as it was in his head then as it was expressed in the letter opposed so strongly that the contrary was resolued And he sent aduice to Rome how dangerous a thing it was to change the absolute commands formerly giuen to come quickly to the conclusion of the Councell onely to giue verball satisfaction to others encouraging those who had bad intentions to crosse good resolutions and laying burthens vpon them to make them odious to lose reputation and to make them vnfit to doe the seruice of his Holinesse Simoneta was fauoured by the euent For there beeing no opposition of moment the Article of the abuses of the Masse was established together with the eleuonth of reformation and the Decree of the Communion had lesse difficulty then was beleeued It did not passe at the first proposing because it said that the Pope by consent and approbation of the Councell should doe what he thought good This was impugned by those who held the negatiue and the remissiue part which made the Legats resolue to omit this matter wholly and excused themselues to the Imperialists because the fault did not proceed either from the Pope or from them The Ambassadours desired that it should bee proposed without the clause of consent and approbation which the Legates thinking would cause a delay of the Session did refuse The Ambassadours protested that seeing so small esteeme was held of the Emperour they would assist no more either in Congregation or Session vntill his Maiestie aduised hereof had giuen those orders that befitted the Imperiall
who required that the matter should be deferred and examined againe To whom the Speaker answered in the name of the Legats that consideration should be had of it And finally the next Session was intimated for the twelfth of Nouember to determine concerning the Sacraments of Order and Matrimony The matter of the next Session And the Synod was dismissed after the vsuall manner great discourses betweene the Fathers about the Communion of the Cup continuing still Concerning which some perhaps will be curious to know for what cause the Decree last recited was not put after that of the Masse as the matter seemeth to require but in a place where it hath no connexion or likenesse with the Articles preceding He may know that there was a generall maxime in A Maxime in the Councell about the Maior part that Councell that to establish a decree of reformation a maior part of voyces was sufficient but that a Decree of faith could not be made if a considerable part did contradict Therefore the Legats knowing that hardly more then halfe would consent to this of the Chalice did resolue to make it an Article of reformation and to place it the last amongst those to shew plainely that they held it to be of that ranke There were also many discourses at that time and some dayes after about the point decided that CHRIST offered himselfe in the Supper some saying that in regard of the three and twenty contradictors it was not lawfully decided and others answering that an eight part could not bee called a considerable or notable part There were some also who maintained that the maxime had place onely in the Anathematismes and in the substance of the doctrine and not in euery clause which is put in for better expression as this which is not mentioned in the Canons The Emperours Ambassadours were very glad for the Decree of the Cup beeing assured that his Maiestie would more easily obtaine it of the Pope and vpon more fauourable conditions then it could haue beene obtained in the Councell where for the variety of opinions and interests it is hard to make many to bee of one minde though in a good and necessary matter The greater part ouercommeth the better and he that opposeth hath alwayes the aduantage of him that promoteth And their hope was the greater because the Pope seemed before to haue fauoured their Petition But the Emperour had not the same opinion aiming not to obtaine the communion of the Cup absolutely but to pacifie the people of his owne States and of Germanie who beeing distasted with the Popes authoritie for the things past could not relish any thing well that proceeded from him whereas if they had obtained this grant immediatly from the Councell it would haue giuen them good satisfaction and bred an opinion in them that they might haue obtained other requests which they esteemed so that this motion beeing stopped and the infected Ministers casseered he did hope he might haue held them in the Catholique Communion Hee saw by former experience that the grant of Paul was not well receiued and did more hurt then good and for this cause hee did prosecute the instance no further with the Pope and declared the cause of it Therefore when hee receiued newes of the Decree of the Councell turning to some Prelates who were with him hee said I haue done all I can to saue my people now looke you vnto it whom it doeth more concerne But those people which desired and expected the fauour or as they sayd The censure of the decrees the restitution of that which was due vnto them were all distasted that their iust request hauing been treated on sixe moneths presented by the intercessions of so many and so great Princes and after for better examination deferred and disputed and discussed againe with such contention should in the end be referred to the Pope which might haue been as well done at the very first without loosing so much time so many perswasions and so great paines They sayd the condition of Christians was according to the Prophecie of Isayas Hee sendeth and countermandeth expecteth and reexpecteth For the Pope who was moued first referred that to the Councel which now the Councell remitteth to him and both of them doe mocke both Prince and people Some discoursed more substantially that the Synod had reserued the definition of two Articles Whether the causes which did formerly moue to take away the Cup are such as that they ought to make them perseuere in the same prohibition and if not with what conditions it ought to be granted The former being vndoubtedly a matter not of fact but of faith the Councell did confesse by a necessary consequence that it knew the causes to bee vnsufficient and would not for worldly respects make the declaration For if they had thought them sufficient they must needes perseuere in the prohibition if any doubt had remained they should haue proceeded in the examination and ought not to remit it but for the insufficiencie of the causes But if they had made the declaration negatiue that is that the causes were not such as that they ought to perseuere and referred to the Pope to doe vpon information what remained to be done defacto they might haue beene excused Neither can it bee sayd that this is presupposed by the reference For in the Decree of this Session hauing repeated the two Articles they resolued to referre the whole businesse to the Pope and therefore not presupposing any thing I doe not finde in the memorials which I haue seene that the Decree of the sacrifice did rayse any matter of discourse And the cause perhaps was for that the words doe not so easily declare the sense as contayning many strained Metaphors which draw the mindes of the Readers vnto diuers considerations who when they are come to the end know not what they haue read Onely concerning the prohibition of the vulgar tongue in the Masse the Protestants sayd something For it seemed a contradiction to say that the Masse doeth containe much instruction for the faithfull people and to approoue that part should be vttered with a lowe voice and wholly to forbid the vulgar tongue onely commanding the Pastors to declare something to the people Whereunto some answered well that in the Masse were some secrets which ought to be concealed from the people which are vncapable for which cause they are spoken softly and in the Latine tongue but other things which be of good edification are commanded to be taught But this was opposed two wayes one that therefore this second sort ought to bee in the vulgar the other because they did not distinguish the two sorts For the Pastors being commanded to declare often something of that which is read and conceale the rest these two kindes being not distinguished some of them may mistake for want of knowledge and so abuse the people The Antiquaries did laugh at these discourses because it is
a businesse they had in hand in regard all subuersions doe arise and all heresies are spread by meanes of bookes he exhorted them to bee diligent and to let the Synod see the end of the work quickly he said he knew it required much paines and time but considered withal that all the Fathers would contribute their labours to the assistance of the deputies saying that the Congregations were spent in handling questions of no profite and a worke so necessary deferred Hee exhorted in the end that this particular of the Index might be concluded in the next Session The morning being come Laynez spake more then two houres very fitly The discourse of Laynez with great vehemence and master-like The argument of his discourse had two parts the first he spent in proouing that the power of iurisdiction was giuen wholly to the Bishop of Rome and that none in the Church besides hath any sparke of it but from him and the second in resoluing all the contrary arguments vsed in the former Congregations The substance was that there is great difference yea contrariety betweene the Church of CHRIST and ciuill societies For these haue first their beeing and then they frame their gouernement and therefore are free and all iurisdiction is originally in them which they doe communicate to Magistrates without depriuing themselues of it But the Church did not make it selfe nor its gouernment but CHRIST who is Prince and Monarch did first constitute Lawes by which it should be gouerned and then did assemble it and as the Scripture saith did build it so that it is was borne a seruant without any kinde of liberty power or iurisdiction and absolutely subiect For proofe hereof he alleadged places of the Scripture in which the Congregation of the Church is compared to a sowing to the draught of a net and to a building and where it is said that CHRIST came into the world to assemble his faithfull people to gather together his sheepe to instruct them by doctrine and example Then he added that the first and principall ground vpon which CHRIST built the Church was Peter and his succession according to the words which hee spake to him Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will build my Church Which rocke howsoeuer some of the Fathers haue vnderstood to be CHRIST himselfe and others the faith of Peter or the confession of his faith yet the more Catholique exposition is that Peter himselfe is vnderstood who in the Hebrew and Syriacke is called a stone And continuing his discourse hee sayd that while CHRIST liued in the mortall flesh hee gouerned the Church with an absolute Monarchicall gouernment and being to depart out of this world left the same forme appointing for his Vicar Saint Peter and his Successors to administer it as hee had done giuing him full and totall power and iurisdiction and subiecting the Church to him as it was to himselfe This he proued of Peter because the keyes of the Kingdome of heauen were giuen to him onely and by consequence power to bring in and shut out which is iurisdiction And to him alone it was sayd Feede that is gouerne my sheepe animals which haue no part or iudgement in gouerning themselues These things that is to bee a Key-keeper and a Pastour beeing perpetuall offices must bee conferred vpon a perpetuall person that is not vpō the first only but vpon all his succession So the Bishop of Rome from S. Peter to the end of the world is true and absolute Monarch with full and totall power and iurisdiction and the Church is subiect vnto him as it was to CHRIST And as when his diuine Maiestie did gouerne it it could not bee sayd that any of the faithfull had any the least power or iurisdiction but meere pure and totall subiection so it must bee said in all perpetuitie of time and so vnderstood that the Church is a sheepefold and a kingdome and that which Saint Cyprian saith that there is but one Bishopricke and a part of it held by euery Bishop is to bee expounded that the whole power is placed in one Pastor without diuision who doeth impart and communicate it to his fellow ministers as cause doth require And in this sense Saint Cyprian maketh the Apostolique Sea like vnto a roote an head a fountaine and the Sunne shewing by these comparisons that iurisdiction is essentiall in that alone and in others by deriuation or participation And this is the meaning of the words so much vsed by antiquitie that Peter and the Pope haue fulnesse of power and the others are of their charge And that he is the onely Pastor is plainely prooued by the words of CHRIST when hee sayd he hath other sheepe which hee will gather together and so one sheepefold should be made and one Shepheard The Shepheard meant in that place cannot bee CHRIST because hee would not speake in the future that there shall be one Shepheard himselfe then beeing a Shepheard and therefore it must bee vnderstood of another Shepheard which was to be constituted after him which can be no other but Peter and his Successors And here hee noted that the precept Feede the flocke is found but twice in the Scripture once giuen by CHRIST to Peter onely Feede my sheepe againe by Peter to others Feed the flocke allotted to you And if the Bishops had receiued any iurisdiction from CHRIST it would bee equall in all and no difference betweene Patriarches Arch-bishops and Bishops neither could the Pope meddle with that authoritie to diminish or take it all away as hee cannot in the power of Order which is from GOD. Therefore he aduised them to beware lest by making the institution of Bishops de iure Diuino they doe not take away the Hierarchie and bring in an Oligarchie or rather an Anarchie Hee added also that to the end Peter might gouerne the Church well so that the gates of hell might not preuaile against it CHRIST being neere vnto his death prayed effectually that his faith might not faile and gaue him order to confirme the brethren that is he gaue him a priuiledge of infallibilitie in iudgement of faith manners and religion binding all the Church to heare him and to stand firmely in that which should be determined by him Hee concluded that this was the ground of Christian doctrine and the rocke vpon which the Church was built Then hee censured those who held there is any power in Bishops receiued from CHRIST because it would take away the priuiledge of the Roman Church that the Pope is the Head of the Church and Vicar of CHRIST And it is very wel knowen what is constituted by the olde Canon Omnes fiue Patriarchae c. that is that hee who taketh away the rights of other Churches committeth iniustice and hee that taketh away the priuiledges of the Church of Rome is an heretike Hee said it was a meere contradiction to say the Pope is Head of the Church and the gouernement
impertinently with superfluous questions which then were wisely buried in silence that it appeareth by the same reasons that there is no neede to handle any thing now but that which was proposed in the Decree And amongst other things hee sayd that they were confirmed by the speach of the Ambassadour Lansac who had often shewed by good reasons that nothing was to bee required but that residence should be executed and that it was to no purpose to shew whence the obligation came Amongst other particles there was in the Decree that the Bishops residing should not be bound to pay Tenths Subsides or any other Taxe imposed by what authoritie soeuer though at the instance of Kings and Princes This mooued all the Ambassadours very much but Lansac dissembling complained that the Cardinall of Mantua had named him without telling him of it before granting hee had spoken so much vnto him but as a particular friend not as an Ambassadour And to make his complaint the more grieuous hee found fault also that the Catholike King was named before the most Christian Of the Tenths hee sayd nothing hoping that by that which he had said and by some opposition which the fauourers of ius diuinum would make that forme of Decree would bee hindered Fiue Churches sayd onely that hee did not beleeue that the Emperours minde was as the Cardinall had proposed But the Secretary of the Marquis of Pescara demanded openly that the words might be amended so that they might not preiudice the grace granted by the Pope to his Catholike Maiestie for the Subsidie of the Gallies The Legates did beleeue they had by this meanes gained the Prelates but after they vnderstood the exception for Spaine they began to say amongst themselues that they were fauoured in that which could not bee granted For in Spaine and France and vnden euery other Prince they should bee forced to pay and in the state of the Church also with a Non obstantibus the grace would bee made of no force The next day they passed from residence to Episcopall Order And Segouia replied that the institution of Bishops de iure Diuino was handled and A difference betweene the Cardinall of Mantua and the Bishop of Segonia resolued in the same Councell vnder Iulius the third with a generall consent and that himselfe had deliuered his opinion therein and specified the day and hourâ— when it was The Cardinall of Mantua caused the actes of that time to be searched and that to be read by the Secretary which was then defined to be published expounding them so as that hee concluded that it was neither decided nor examined nor proposed in that manner as it was sayd by Segouia The Bishop answering though reuerently in appearance there passed so many replies that they were forced to breake vp the Congregation And because some will perhaps desire to knowe which of them spake with most reason it will bee fit to recite heere that which was then decided in the Congregations though not published in Session by reason of the sudden dissolution of that Councell before related Three heads of doctrine were then composed the third where of was inscribed of the Hierarchie and of the difference of Bishops and Priests and hauing spoken much of the Hierarchie it saith thus afterwards as it is translated verbatim out of the Latine Besides the holy Synod doth teach that those are not to be bearkened vnto who say that Bishops are not instituted Iure diuino it appearing manifestly by the words of the Gospel that CHRIST our Lord hath himselfe called the Apostles and promoted them to the degree of the Apostleship into whose place the Bishops are subrogated neither ought wee to thinke that this so eminent and necessary a degree hath beene brought into the Church by humane institution for so wee should detract from and disesteeme the diuine prouidence for failing in the most noble things These were the wordes vsed in that point of doctrine There were noted also eight Canons the last whereof said thus Hee that shall say that Bishops are not instituted iure Diuino or are not superiour to Priests or haue not authoritie to ordaine or that this doeth belong to Priests let him be anathema Euery one being prepossessed with an opinion doth finde it in all this that is read and it is not wonder if each of those two Prelates did finde his owne in the same words which the Papalins did interprete onely of the power of Order and the Spaniards of all which containeth order and iurisdiction Yet some of the Popish Prelates did beleeue that Mantua studiously faining to thinke as they did caused the old determination to bee read not to confirme his owne opinion but the Spanish which secretly hee defended The Cardinall of Loraine beeing entred into Italie the Pope could not denie the French-men to cause that he should be expected And hee wrote to Trent that they should prolong the Session yet not so as to passe Nouember The Legates receiuing aduice that the Cardinall was vpon the Lago di Garda in the Congregation of the ninth of Nouember Mantua proposed the deferring of the Session vntill the 26. of the same moneth which Loraine not knowing sent Carlo de Grassi Bishop of Monte Finscoue and wrote letters also to the Legates that if it would please them to tary for him he would be in Trent within a few dayes And they resolued to make no more Congregations vntill his comming to giue him the more satisfaction The Bishop related that the Cardinall did shew a good intention in all his discourses and that hee would send his opinions to his Holinesse that hee might see them that the Prelates in his company came for the seruice of God and with a good mind toward the Apostolique Sea and did hope that their comming would make a concord in the Councell and cause them to bee diligent in making a fruitfull reformation without any respect of their owne interest and many such things hee said which though they were testified by Grassi and confirmed by the Ambassador de Ferriores yet the Popish Prelates did beleeue them onely in complement and purposed to vse all the remedies desseigned both in Trent and Rome Loraine entred Trent and was met a mile on the way by Card. Madruccio The entrie of the Cardinall of Loraine into Trent and many Prelats and by all the Legates at the gate of the Citie from which place he was accompanied to the house where he was lodged Hee rode betweene the Cardinals Mantua and Seripando which honour they thought necessary to doe vnto him because the same was done vnto him by Monte and Sancta Croce Legates in Bolonia when the Councell was helde in that Citie at the time when he went to Rome for the Cap. In the euening he went to visit the Cardinall of Mantua and had audience the next day before the Legates He visiteth the Card. of Mantua had audience the next day
so it was most iust that the perturbers of it should be punished The Bishop of Caua would neither excuse himselfe for that which hee had said nor receiue the admonition with silence though it was in generall but said that the causes ought to bee remooued that the effects might cease that if the words of the Bishop of Guadice had offended his owne person he would haue endured it for Christian charitie which as it requireth patience in wrongs committed against ones selfe so it maketh men sensible of the iniuries done vnto CHRIST whose diuine Maiestie is offended when the authoritie of his Vicar is touched that hee had spoken well yea as well as might be and confirmed the same with other words of the same sence which were generally condemned of petulancie Iacobus Gilbertus of Nogueras Bishop of Aliffe in deliuering his voyce The suffrage of the Bishop of Aliffe concerning the institution of Bishops said that concerning the institution of Bishops one could not speake with better ground then considering well and vnderstanding the words of Saint Paul to the Ephesians For as it is most true that CHRIST did rule the Church with an absolute gouernment while hee liued in mortall flesh as others had iudiciously said so it was a great vntruth which was added that is that being in heauen he hath abandoned the same gouernment yea hee doeth exercise it rather more then before And this is it which he spake to his Apostles at his departure I am with you vntill the end of the world adding also the assistance of the holy Ghost so that now also not onely the inward influence of graces commeth from CHRIST as from the Head but an externall assistance also though inuisible to vs which doeth minister occasions of saluation to the faithfull and driueth away the temptations of the world Notwithstanding besides all these things hee hath instituted also some members of the Church for Apostles Pastours c. to defend the faithfull from errours and to direct them to the vnitie of faith and knowledge of GOD. And vpon these he hath best owed a gift necessary for the exercising of this holy office which is the power of iurisdiction which is not equall in all but so much as euery one hath is giuen him immediatly by CHRIST Nothing is â—ord contrary to Saint Paul then to say that it was giuen to one onely to impart it to whom he listed It is true that it is not equall in all but according to the diuine distribution which as Saint Cyprian saith that the vnitie of the Church might bee preserued did ordaine that the supreame should be in Peter and his successors not that it should bee absolute and according to the Prouerbe that the will may bee a law but as Saint Paul saith for edification of the Church onely not for destruction so that it cannot bee extended to abrogate lawes and Canons made by the Church for a foundation of gouernement And heere hee began to alleadge the Canons cited by Gratian in which the ancient Popes doe confesse themselues to be subiect to the Decrees of the Fathers and to the constitutions of their predecessors The Cardinall Varminese interrupted him and sayd that the subiect to speake on was the superioritie of Bishops so that this discourse was beside the matter The Bishop answered that the authority of Bishops being handled it was necessary to speake of that of the Pope And Granata stood vp and said that others had spoken of it superfluously not to say perniciously meaning Laynez and therefore that Aliffe might speake of it likewise The Bishop of Caua stood vp and sayd that others had spoken of it but not in that manner and whisperings beginning to arise amongst the Prelates Simoneta made a signe to Caua to hold his peace and admonishing Aliffe to speake to the point he quieted the noyse But he continuing to alleadge the Canons as hee had begun Varmiense interrupted him againe not speaking vnto him but making a formall discourse to the Fathers concerning that matter He said the heretikes pretend to proue that Bishops elected by the Pope are not true and lawfull and that this is the opinion which ought to be condemned but whether true Bishops are instituted iure Diuino or not there is no difference betweene the heretikes and the Catholikes and therefore the question doth not belong to the Synod which is congregated only to condemne the heresies He aduised the Fathers to abstaine from speaking things which might giue occasion of scaudall and exhort them to leaue these questions Aliffe desired to replie but Simoneta with the assistance of some other Prelates did pacifie him though with some difficulty And after him spake Autonius Maria Saluiaâ—â— Bishop of Saint Papulo who sayd that all were assembled for the seruice of GOD and proceeded with a good intention though some one way and some another And hauing sayd many things which serued partly to accord the opinions but principally to reconcile their mindes was a cause that the Congregation did quietly ende and that words of humanitie and reuerence did passe betweene the Cardinall and the Bishop The fourth of December the Cardinall of Loraine deliuered his opinion The suffrage of the Card of Loraine concerning the same matter and spake at large saying that iurisdiction was giuen by God immediatly to the Church Hee alleadged the place of Saint Austin that the keyes are giuen to Peter not vnto one person but vnto the vnitie and that Peter when CHRIST promised him the keyes did represent all the Church who if hee had not been a Sacrament that is representing the Church CHRIST would not haue giuen them vnto him And hee shewed a great memory in reciling the places word by word Then he said that that part of iurisdiction which is ioyned with Episcopall order the Bishops doe receiue immediatly from God and declaring in what it doeth consist amongst other things hee specified that power of excommunication is contained in it inlarging himselfe much in the exposition of that place of Saint Matthew in which CHRIST doeth prescribe the manner of brotherly correction and iudiciall of the Church with authority to separate the disobedient from the body thereof Then hee disputed against that opinion alleadging diuers reasons taken out of the wordes of CHRIST spoken to Saint Peter and from the exposition which S. Leo the Pope doeth giue vnto them in many places Hee exemplified in many Bishops who had acknowledged all their iurisdiction to come from the Apostolike Sea and spake with so much eloquence and in such sort that it could not clearely bee discouered what his opinion was Afterwards hee sayd that Councels had authoritie immediately from God alleadging the words of CHRIST Where two or three shall be assembled in my name I will be in the middest of them and the Councell of the Apostles which ascribeth the resolution to the holy Ghost and the stile of all Councels in saying they are congregated
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
onely giue his voice with modestie and serue the Legats out of his loue in any honest worke as farre as he was able And Madruccio did not forbeare to say that there was a secret Councell within the Councell which did arrogate more authoritie A Councell within the Councell The Legates perceiuing that euery thing turned against them caused the Congregations to be omitted Neither was this sufficient For the Prelats Practises to dissolue the Councell made priuate congregations amongst themselues and the Legats continuall consultations The Arch-bishop of Otranto and others who aimed at the Cardinalitie of which they thought themselues assured if the Councell were separated agreed together to oppose euery thing to make some tumult arise and went passionately about euen in the night also making practises and causing men to set their hand to papers Which though in effect it pleased the Legats yet for the manner it displeased the most of them as beeing of bad example which might giue scandall And on the contrary side there wanted not those who desired a dissolution But each partie expected an occasion that the cause of it might be attributed to the other so that the suspicions did encrease on both sides The Cardinall of Loraine complained to all that plots were laid to dissolue the Synod and especially to the Ambassadours of Princes desiring them to write to their Masters to perswade the Pope that the Councell may bee continued that the practises might bee moderated and the Fathers left to their libertie saying that otherwise a composition would bee made in France that Of which the Card of Loraine complaineth euery one might liue as hee would vntill a free Councell as this was not in which nothing could be resolued but as pleased the Legates nor by the Legates but as the Pope listed that he would be patient vntill the next Session And of the want of libertie in Councell and then if he sawe not things goe better hee would make his protestations and together with the Ambassadours and Prelates returne into France to make a Nationall Councel in which perhaps Germanie would concurre with them a thing which would be displeasing vnto himselfe in regerd of the danger that the Apostolique Sea would not bee acknowledged any more In those dayes many Curriers passed betweene Rome and Trent For the Legates As did also the French-men in Rome aduised the frequent contradictions and the Pope sollicited the proposing of the Canons which he sent And the French-men in Rome made the same complaint to the Pope which Loraine had done in Trent and vsed the same threats of a Nationall Councell and the assistance of Germanie But The Pope answereth resolutely the Pope who had been vsed to these things said hee was not daunted with words was not afraid of Nationall Synods did knowe that the French Bishops were Catholiques and that Germanie would not subiect it selfe to their Councels He said that the Councell was not onely free but might be called licentious that the practises of the Italians in Trent were not with his knowledge but did arise because the Vltramontans would tread the Popes authoritie vnder their feete that hee hath had three good occasions to dissolue the Councell but was willing it should continue hoping that GOD would not abandon his Church and that euery attempt against it would come vpon the head of the Innouators Fiue Churches departed and went to the Emperours Court in the time of these confusions to giue his Maiestie an account of the state of the Councel and of the combination of the Italian Prelates and it was discouered that Granata and his adherents had desired him to perswade the Emperour to write to the Catholique King concerning the Reformation and Residence that both in those and in other occasions they might speake freely according to their conscience all which the Legates did beleeue to proceede from Loraine And therefore for a counterpoise themselues also a few dayes after sent the Bishop Commendone to the Emperour vpon pretence to excuse and render the causes why the demands of his Maiesty could not as yet be proposed And they gaue him commission to exhort the Emperour to be content not to demand of the Councel bot of the Pope himselfe those points of his petition which concerne his authoritie as also other instructions such as seemed them good But Martinus Crame 〈…〉 Bishop of Vormis Ambassadour of the King of Polonia to the Emperour being come to Trent vpon pretence to visit the Cardinall of Varmia his ancient and in ward friend there was a great suspicion that he was sent by the Emperor to be an eye-witnes of the proceedings in Councell and to relate them to him All these things made the Legates doubt that the Councell would be dissolued in some manner dishonourable to the Pope and themselues obseruing that it was desired by many euen by some of the Papalins themselues and that disorders were purposely procured by others to iustifie themselues in case it should happen They sent vnto all the Ambassadours a writing which conteined the present difficulties and desired their counsell But the French Ambassadours answered vpon this occasion that which they desired to say many dayes before that as the Councell was assembled to remedie abuses so some were willing to make vse A free speech vsed by the French Ambassadours of it to encrease them that before any thing else were done it was fit to withstand such manifest practises that they were intolerable that if they were remoued and euery man had libertie to speake freely what hee thought a good accord would easily bee made that the Pope was Head of the Church but not aboue it that he was to gouerne and direct the other members but not to domineere ouer the body that to remedie the differences it was necessary to follow the Councell of Constance which hauing found the Church most disorderly by meanes of these opinions did reduce it into tolerable tearmes They sayd that one cause of discord was because the Secretary Seconded by the Imperialists did not set downe their voyces faithfully so that the greater part seemed in the acts to be the lesser and that could not be taken for a resolution which was concluded by the common opinion and therefore that it was fit to ioyne another with him The Imperialists said almost the same things and were more earnest for another Secretary The other Ambassadors stood vpon generall tearmes desiring a continuation of the Councell and an vnion of mindes Things standing thus Ventimiglia redispatched by the Pope returned The B of Ventimiglia returneth to Trent to Trent the nine and twentieth of Ianuary who made a relation of his credence to the Legates and by their aduice sought to remooue two opinions spread in the Councell one that the Pope could not liue long the other that hee desired a dissolution of the Councell Hee testified the desire of his Holinesse that laying aside
would inferre the word Publique for a necessary condition doeth inferre that the consent only is not sufficient and that the Councell of Florence hath failed in a necessary declaration That CHRIST sayd in generall of Matrimonie that man cannot separate that which GOD hath ioyned meaning both the publique and the secret coniunction That in the Sacraments nothing ought to be affirmed without authoritie of the Scriptures or tradition neither of which doe allow this authoritie to the Church yea by tradition wee finde the contrary because all Churches in all nations throughout the world are vniforme in not pretending any power herein On the contrary it was said to be a cleere case that the Church hath power to make any man vncapable of marriage because many degrees of consanguinitie and affinitie are made hinderances by the Ecclesiasticall law onely and likewise the impediment of a solemne vow was made by the Popes law and therefore secrecie may bee likewise made an impediment by the same authoritie The other part answered that the prohibition by reason of kinred is de iure diuino as Saint Gregory the Pope and many of his successors haue determined that matrimonie cannot be contracted betweene two vntill it bee knowen in what degree of kinred they are ioyned and if other Popes haue restrained this vniuersalitie to the seuenth degree afterwards to the fourth this was a generall dispensation as Diuorce was to the Iewes and that a solemne vow doeth hinder de iure diuino not by the Popes authoritie But Camillus Campeggius a Dominican Friar agreeing with the others that no humane power is extended to the Sacraments added that whosoeuer can destroy the essence of the matter can also make it vncapable of the Sacrament that no man can make water not to be the matter of Baptisme or some bread of wheat not to bee the matter of the Eucharist but hee that shall destroy the water turning it into ayre or shall burne the bread turning it into ashes shall make those matters not to bee capable of the forme of the Sacraments So in Matrimony the ciuill nuptiall contract is the matter of the matrimoniall Sacrament by Diuine institution which beeing destroyed and made of no force can no more bee the matter of it Therefore it cannot bee said that the Church can make a nullity in the secret marriage for so it would haue authority ouer the Sacraments but it is true that the Church can nullifie a secret nuptiall contract which as beeing voyd cannot receiue the forme of a Sacrament This doctrine did much please the generality of the Fathers because it was plaine easie and resolued all the difficulties But Antonius Solisius who spake after him did contradict saying the speculation was true but could not bee applied to this purpose For the reason as it is meant of Baptisme and the Eucharist that whosoeuer doeth destroy the water and the bread doeth make them vncapable of the formes of those Sacraments doeth not argue an Ecclesiasticall power but a naturall so that whosoeuer hath vertue to destroy the water may by this meanes hinder the Sacrament whereby it would follow that hee that can nullifie a ciuill nuptiall contract may hinder Matrimonie but the annullation of such contracts belongeth to the ciuill Lawes and to secular Magistrates therefore they must take heede lest while they would giue authoritie to the Church to make voyd secret marriages it bee not rather giuen to the secular power Amongst those who attributed this power to the Church it was disputed whether it were fit that the Church should vse it And there were two opinions One to make voyd all the secret in regard of the inconueniences which ensue The other that the publique made without consent of parents in whose power they are should be made voyd also And these alleadged two reasons one that as great inconueniences did follow by these in respect of the ruines which happen to families by mariages vnaduisedly contracted by yong men the other that the Law of GOD commanding obedience to parents doeth include this case as principall That the Law of GOD doeth giue this particular authoritie to the Father to giue his daughter in marriage as it plainely appeareth in Saint Paul and Exodus That there are examples of the Patriarches in the olde Testament all married by their fathers That the humane ciuill Lawes haue esteemed the marriages voide which haue beene contracted without the father That as then it was iudged expedient to nullifie secret marriages so now seeing that the Popes prohibition is not sufficient which hath forbidden them without addition of nullitie there is more reason in regard the malice of man will not obey the Law of GOD which forbiddeth to marry without consent of parents that the Synode should adde vnto it a nullity also not because the Fathers haue authoritie to make voyde the marriages of children which is heresie to affirme but because the Church hath authoritie to nullifie both these and other contracts prohibited by diuine or humane Lawes This opinion as honest pious and as well grounded as the other pleased many of the Fathers And so was the Decree framed howsoeuer the publication was omitted for causes which shall be related hereafter But the Prelates did not for beare to discusse the controuersies about the Popes authoritie and institution of Bishops And the Frenchmen did perseuere in their resolution not to admit the words Church-Vniuersall lest they should preiudice the opinion held in France of the superioritie of the Councell and if it had beene proposed would haue made protestation of the nullitie and departed The Pope wrote it should bee proposed whatsoeuer did The Legates dare not propose the Article of the institution of Bishops follow But the Legats fearing that euery little stirre would be much out of season now the Emperour was so neere wrote backe that it was better to deferre it vntill the Article of Matrimony was finished The seuenteenth of February Father Soto was the first that spake in the second ranke who vpon the Article of Diuorce did first distinguish the matrimoniall coniunction into three parts the bond the cohabitation and the carnall copulation inferring that there were as many separations also He shewed at large that the Ecclesiasticall Prelate had authoritie to separate the married or to giue them a diuorce in respect of cohabitation and carnall copulation for all causes which they shall iudge expedient and reasonable the matrimoniall bond still standing sure so that neither can marrie againe saying that this was it which was bound by GOD and could not bee loosed by any He was much troubled with the words of Saint Paul who granteth to the faithfull husband if the vnbeleeuing wife will not dwell with him to remaine separated Hee was not contented with the common exposition that the Matrimonie of the vnbeleeuers is not insoluble alleadging that the insolubilitie is by the law of Nature as also the words of Adam expounded by our
SAVIOVR and the vse of the Church that married vnbeleeuers after they haue beene Baptized are not married againe and that their matrimonie is not different from that of the faithfull And he refolued to approue the exposition of Caietan that the separation mentioned by Saint Paul of the faithfull from the vnbeleeuer is not vnderstood of the matrimoniall bond and that it was a thing worthy to be considered by the holy Synod For Fornication he sayd that it ought not to be a cause of separation from the bond but from copulation and cohabitation onely But he found himselfe much intangled because hee had said first that diuorce might bee granted in many respects and for many causes whereas the Gospel doth admit but one which is Fornication which must needes be vnderstood in respect of the bond because Diuorce in the other two respects may haue many causes Hee gaue many expositions of that place of the Gospel without approcuing or disproouing any of them and concluded that the Article ought to be condemned because the contrary is made an Article of faith by Apostolicall tradition howbeit the words of the Gospel are not so plaine as that they are sufficient to conuince the Lutherans Concerning the fourth Article of Polygamic hee sayd it was against the law of Nature nor could bee permitted so much as to infidels who are subiect to Christians Hee said the ancient Fathers had many wiues by dispensation and the others who were not dispensed with by GOD did liue in perpetuall sinne For the prohibition of marriages at certaine times he briefly alleadged the authoritie of the Church and the disconuenience of marriage with some times and tooke this occasion to say that no man had reason to be grieued because the Bishop might dispence Hee returned to the causes of Diuorce and concluded that the world would not complaine of any of these things if the Prelates did vse their authoritie with wisedome and charity But the cause of all the euils is because they doe not reside but giue the gouernement to a Vicar and oftentimes without conuenient maintenance so that Iustice is ill administred and graces not well bestowed And here hee spake at large of Residence saying that if it were not declared to bee de iure diuino it was impossible to remooue those and other abuses and to stoppe the mouthes of heretiques who not obseruing that the euill commeth from the bad execution lay the blame vpon the Popes constitutions and therefore the Popes authoritie will neuer be defended well but by Residence well established nor that well executed without the declaration de iure diuino and that they did notoriously erre who thought it preiudiciall to the authority of the Pope whereas it is the onely foundation to vphold and preserue it Hee concluded that the Councell was bound to determine the trueth and spake with such efficacie that he was willingly heard by the Vltramontans but did displease the Papalins who thought the time impertinent to touch that matter And it gaue occasion to both parties to renew their practises In the Congregation of the twentieth of February Iohn Ramirez a Franciscan Friar after hee had spoken vpon the same Articles according to the common opinion of Diuines of the insolubilitie of mariage sayd that the same reasons which are betweene man and wife are also betweene the Bishop and the Church and that as the man ought not to depart from his wife so ought not the Bishop to depart from his Church and that this Spirituall bond was of no lesse force then the other which was corporall Hee alleadged Innocence the third who decreed that a Bishop could not bee transferred but by the diuine authoritie because the matrimoniall bond which is lesse sayd the Pope cannot be dissolued by any power of man And he was copious in shewing that the Popes authoritie was rather increased then diminished hereby who as a generall Vicar might make vse of Bishops in an other place where there was more neede as the Prince may employ maried men for publique occasions sending them to other places without dissoluing the matrimoniall bond And hee laboured to resolue the cotrary reasons with much prolixity In the Congregation of that afternoone Doctor Cornisius said that both these Aricles the third and fourth were hereticall because they were condemned by many Decretals of Popes and oxalted the authority of the Apostolique Sea in many words saying that all ancient Councels in the determinations of faith did perpetually follow the authority and will of the Pope Hee exemplified in the Councell of Constantinople in Trullus which followed the instruction sent by Pope Agathone the Councell of Chalcedon which did not onely follow but worship the sentence of St. Leo the Pope calling him also Ecumenicall and Pastour of the Vniuersall Church And after hee had alleadged many authorities and reasons to show that the words of CHRIST spoken to Saint Poter Feede my sheepe doe signifie as much as if hee had sayd rule and gouerne the Church Vniuersall he amplified very much the Popes authoritie in dispensations and other things also Hee brought the authoritie of the Canonists that the Pope may dispence against the Canons against the Apostles and in all the law of GOD except the Articles of faith In the ende hee alleadged the Chapter Si Papa that euery one ought to acknowledge that his saluation doth depend after GOD vpon the holinesse of the Pope amplifying these words because they proceede from a Saint and a Martyr of whom no man can say that he did respect any thing but the trueth At this time Commendone returned from the Emperour whose negotiation had not that successe as the Legats desired For the Emperour hearing his propositions answered that hee must haue time to thinke on them because of their importance and that hee would consider of them and answere The relation of Commendone returned from the Emperour the Councell by his Ambassadour Hee presently gaue an account heere of by letters adding that hee found the Emperour was grieued and had an ill conceit of the actions of the Councell Beeing now returned hee sayd further that by the words of his Maiestie and by that which he had vnderstood by his counsellers and obserued by their proceedings hee thought hee knew that hee was so firme in that bad opinion that hee feared some disorder would ensue That as farre as hee could comprehend the cogitations of his Maiestie were wholly bent to obtaine a great reformation with such prouisions as that it might bee obserued and that hee could certainely affirme that he would not bee content that the Councell should be finished That hee had vnderstood that Delphinus the Nuncio resident hauing named suspension or translation the Emperour was offended Then hee related that there was an opinion in that Court that the Catholique King held intelligence with the Emperour concerning the affaires of the Councel which hee did beleeue because hee was assured that the Spanish
coÌ„uenient for Charles to stand vnited with the Pope that he might not subiect himselfe to the Dutch Princes whereas this Emperour is as it were subiect vnto them alreadie finally that this remedie might bee deferred because it would alwayes bee in season but by dissembling a while hee might obliquely make triall to hinder the resolution of the consultations which were made by sending the Cardinall of Mantua to his Maiestie The writing which went about against the petitions of the French-men did not one displease them who tooke it for an affront but the Emperour Displeaseth the French-men and the Emperour also very much And the Legates hauing receiued commission from Rome concerning them were but ill satisfied and thought that this was not to giue commission to Presidents of Councell but aduertisments rather to ministers to make vse of intreaties by way of negotiation They wrote backe onely to demand what they should doe in case the Imperialists should make instance to haue their petitions proposed and they caused Gabriel Paleotto Auditor of the Rota to write a full information of the difficulties which they sent But the Cardinall of Mantua in regard the Emperour had tolde Commendone that hee would giue answere to the Councell by his Ambassadour thought it not conuenient to goe vnto him before they receiued that resolution besides the Cardinall of Loraine being at the Emperors Court and the effect of his negotiation not knowne hee should be doubtfull in what manner to proceede Vpon these reasons hee excused himselfe to The Card. of mantua writeth freely to the Pope the Pope and besides wrote to him with his owne hand that hee had not a face to appeare any more in Congregation to giue wordes onely as hee had done two yeeres together that all the Ministers of Princes doe say that howsoeuer his Holinesse doth promise much for reformation yet seeing nothing to bee executed they doe not thinke hee hath any inclination to it who if hee had performed his promises the Legates could not haue beene Wanting to giue satisfaction to the instances of so many Princes Neither ought any to maruaile that this Cardinall a Prince conuersant so many long yeeres in many great affaires and of a most compleate conuersation should vse this passage with his Holinesse it beeing a thing naturall to men that are neere their graue for some intrinficall cause vnknowen euen vnto themselues to bee distasted with humane matters and to neglect pure ceremonies to which gaole hee was then very neere there remayning but sixe dayes of his life from the date hereof But in the Congregation the last that spake in the second ranke was Adrian a Dominican Friar who touching but lightly the matter in question discoursed at large of dispensations and with Theologicall tearmes and formes defended the things mentioned by Doctour Cornisius and speake of them not without scandall Hee sayd that authoritie to dispence in humane lawes was absolute and vnlimited in the Pope because hee was superiour to them all and therefore when hee did dispence though without any cause the dispensation was notwithstanding to bee held for good that in diuine lawes he had power to dispence but not without a cause Hee alleadged Saint Paul who saith that the Ministers of CHRIST are the dispencers of the mysteries of God and that to him the Apostle dispensation of the Gospel had beene committed Hee added that howsoeuer the Popes dispensation concerning the Diuine Law bee not of â—orce yet euery one ought to captiuate his vnderstanding and beleeue that hee hath granted it for a lawfull cause and that it is temeritie to call it into question Then hee discoursed of the cause of dispensations which hee reduced to publique vtilitie and charitie towards priuate men This discourse gaue occasion to the French men to speake of the matter with the ill satisfaction of the Papalins The secondranke hauing made an end of speaking for obseruation of the promise made to Loraine not to handle the mariage of Priests in his absence they changed the order and made the fourth ranke speake next Iohn Verdun handling the seuenth Article of the degrees of affinitie and consanguinitie passed immediatly from it and came to the matter of dispensations and seemed to haue none other aime then to contradict Frier Adrian labouring to weaken the Popes power First hee expounded the places of Saint Paul That the Ministers of CHRIST are the dispensers of the mysteries of God and of the Gospel and said the glosse was contrary to the text For the place doth not prooue a dispensation that is a disobligation from the Law but a publishing and declaring the diuine mysteries and the word of God which is perpetuall and remaineth inuiolable for euer Hee granted that in humane lawes a dispensation might lie in regard of the law-makers imperfection who could not foresee all cases and making generall lawes must needes reserue power to him that gouerneth the Common-wealth because of Sundrie occurrences which may bring acceptions in particular matters But where God is the Law-giuer from whom nothing is concealed and by whom no accident is not foreseene the law can haue no exception Therefore the law of God and Nature ought not to be called a written Law which in some cases ought to bee expounded and made more gentle but all that Law is euen equitie it selfe In humane lawes in which some cases by reason of particular accidents if they had been foreseene would not haue been comprehended a dispensation may well bee granted But the dispencer cannot in any case free him that is bound and if hee denie a dispensation to him that deserueth it the partie refused shall notwithstanding remaine without all obligation That the world hath conceiued a wrong opinion that to dispence is to bestow a fauour and that the dispensation is requisite to be giuen as any other part of distributiue iustice to bee exercised that the Prelate doth offend if hee giue it not to whom it is due And in summe he said that when a dispensation is desired either the case is such as if it had been foreseene it would haue been excepted and here there is an obligation to dispence or would haue been comprehended though it had been thought on by the Law-maker and to this the power of dispensing is not extended Hee added that flatterie ambition and auarice haue perswaded that to dispence is to bestowe a fauour as the master would doe to his seruants or one that giueth of his owne The Pope is not Lord and the Church a seruant but hee is seruant of him who is spouse of the Church and by him set ouer the Christian familie to giue as the Gospel saith to euery one his owne measure that is that which is due vnto him And in conclusion hee said that a dispensation was nothing but a declaration or interpretation of the Law and that the Pope could not by dispencing vnbinde any that was bound but declare onely to him that
Holinesse had depriued himselfe of doing the King any good office by giuing him so great a grieuance The Pope answered againe not for out cause but your owne and for the benefiâ—s 〈◊〉 by vs to the King these words were not worthy to bee put into the protestation made vnto 〈◊〉 The President Birague arriued in Trent at the same time whom as we said before the French King had sent to the Councel and the Emperour who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trent was receiued in Congregation the second of 〈◊〉 where no Ambassadors inferior to the French were present that he might 〈◊〉 them place because Is receiued in congregation he had not the title of Ambassadour in the Kings 〈◊〉 He presented the letters of the King dated the fifteenth of April which saiel in substance That the troubles and 〈◊〉 raised in the kingdome for cause of religion were very well knoweâ—â— also his 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 and assistance of Princes and 〈◊〉 his friends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by armes that it pleased God in his incomprehensible Iudgements not to suffer those remedies of armes to produce any thing but 〈◊〉 slaughters sackings of cities ruines of Churches losse of Princes Lords Knights and other calamities and desolations so that it is easie to know that they were not fit to heale the infirmitie of Spirits which are ouercome onely by reason and perswasion that this hath caused him to make a Pacification according to the contents of his letters dispatched vpon that occasion not to permit the establishing of a new faith in the kingdome but that armes being layd aside he might with lesse contradiction make an vnion of all his Subiects in the same holy and Catholike religion a benefit which he did expect from the mercy of God and from a good and serious reformation which he did promise himselfe from the Synod And because hee had many things to represent to them and to desire of them he resolued to send Monsieur Renaut Birague who would informe them of all by word of mouth praying them to receiue and heare him with courtesie The letters being read the President spake relating very particularly the And maketh an oration discords warres and calamities of France the State and necessitie into which the King and kingdome were reduced the imprisonment of the Constable and death of the Duke of Guise which made them to bee as it were without armes Hee iustified the accord at large as being made for pure and meere necessitie and with more aduantage to the Catholike partie then to the contrary That the intention of the King and Councell was not to suffer an introduction or an establishment of a new religion but on the contrary armes and disobedience being remoued to reduce with lesse contradiction and by the wayes obserued by his ancestors to the obedience of the Church those that were out of their way and to reunite all in an holy Catholique profession knowing very well that the exercise of two religions cannot long subsist and continue in one kingdome Then he said that the King did hope to reunite quickly all his people in one opinion by the singular grace of GOD and by meanes of the Councell a remedy vsed alwayes by the ancients against such euils as those were which did then afflict Christendome Heprayed the Fathers to further the Kings good intention by a serious reformation by reducing manners to the 〈◊〉 and puritie of the ancient Church and by composing the differences in religion promising that the King would alwayes bee Catholike and deuoted to the Church of Rome according to the example of his ancestours Hee said in conclusion that the King did trust in the goodnesse and wisedome of the Fathers that they would compassionate the miseries of France and labour to cure them The President had commission to demaund that the Councel might be translated to a place where the Protestants might have free accesse For notwithstanding all the securitie giuen by the Pope and the Councell they held Trent suspected and desired a place where the Emperour might secure their But he touched not this point by the aduieâ— of Lordiuâ— and the French Ambassadours who â—â—ought it not fit to make 〈◊〉 and held it 〈…〉 of which 〈…〉 ker should answer Birague in the name of the Synod condoling the misfortunes and calamities of the kingdome of France and exhorting the King that hauing beene forced to make peace and to grant something to the Hugonots to restore religion intirely he would for the seruice of GOD when the kingdome was in peace labour without any delay that this good end might be obtained And they shewed this answer to Loraine after the Masse before they entred into the Congregation Who said hee did not like they should approue the Kings fact whereof they should rather complaine as preiudiciall to the faith and therefore that it was better to take time to answere as the vse is in matters of importance Whereupon they gaue order that Birague should be answered thus insubstance That in regard the things related and proposed by him were of great weight and had need of much consideration the Synod would take a fit time to answere him The French Ambassadours were much displeased with this fact of Loraine thinking that if the Legates had not beene disposed to commend the Kings actions hee ought to haue incited them yea to force them as much as hee could whereas on the contrary they iudging a commendation of the fact to bee iust and reasonable as indeed it was he had disswaded them But consulting amongst themselues they resolued not to write thereof into France for many respects and Lansac being to returne shortly might make that relation which should be thought necessary The moneth before there hapned a great tumult and popular commotion in Bauaria because the Cup was not allowed nor married men suffered A tumult in Bauaria for the Cup and mariage of Priests to preach which disorder proceeded so farre that to appease them the Duke promised in the Diet that if in all Iune a resolution were not made in Trent or by the Pope to giue them satisfaction himselfe would grant both the one and the other This newes comming to the Councel made the Legats dispatch in diligence Nicolaus Ormonetus to perswade that Prince not to make such a grant promising that the Councell would not bee wanting to his necessities To whom the Duke answered that to shew his obedience and deuotion to the Apostolike Sea hee would vse all meanes to entertaine his people as long as he could expecting and hoping that the Councell would resolue that which they saw to bee necessary notwithstanding the determination made before But the Congregations proceeding in handling the Conciliarie matters The Bishopof Nimes speaketh against Annates in one of them the Bishop of Nimes speaking of the abuses of Order discoursed of Annates He said that howsoeuer it could not bee denied that all Churches ought to contribute to
instructed in Christian doctrine that to omit antiquitie the Schoole-men and greater part of the Canonists haue constantly said that the dispensations of Prelates are good Claue non errante and not otherwise Hugonius also did offer to prooue that assertion that there is the same tribunall of CHRIST and of the Pope to bee impious and scandalous making mortalitie equall to immortalitie and corruptible iudgement of man to the incorruptible iudgement of GOD and that it did proceede from ignorance that the Pope is that seruant which is set ouer the familie of CHRIST not to performe the office of the Master of the familie but onely to distribute to euery one not arbitrarily but that which is ordained by the Master that he was amazed that Christian cares could endure to heare that the whole power of CHRIST is imparted to any They all spake some censuring one some another of the Iesuites assertion But the Cardinall told them that it would be no small matter if they could obtaine that in the publike Decrees of the Councell way might not bee giuen to that doctrine at which it was conuenient that all should ayme to which end they should more easily come if the matter were passed ouer in silence and suffered to dye in obliuion which by contradiction might doe some preiudice to the trueth They were pacified yet not so but that in their priuate meetings they spake of it very much But the Legates did so accommodate the two Articles of the Institution of Bishops and of Residence with generall tearmes that they The Decrees of the Institution and of Residence gaue satisfaction to both parties and to Loraine also But hauing consulted on them with the Popish Diuines and some Canonists Prelates these sayd that they did admitte an interpretation preiudiciall to the authority of the Apostolique Sea and the vses of the Court The Bishop of Nicastro who had often contended in this matter in fauour of Rome sayd plainely that by that forme of speach it was inferred that all iurisdiction of Bishops did not proceede from the Pope but a part of it immediatly from CHRIST which was by no meanes to bee endured Other Papalins maintained the same and made a bad interpretation of all if it were not plainely sayd that Bishops haue all iurisdiction from the Pope Therefore the Legates sent the Articles thus reformed to the Pope not so much that they might bee examined in Rome as because in a matter of so great importance they would propose nothing without the Popes knowledge The Cardinals deputed for these affaires hauing seene and examined them did iudge that the forme was sufficient to make all Bishops in their Diocesses equall to the Popes And the Pope reprehended the Legates for sending them because hee knew that the maior part in the Councell were good Catholikes and deuoted to the Church of Rome and in confidence hereof was content that the propositions and resolutions should bee determined in Trent without his knowledge Notwithstanding hee thought he ought not to consent to any preiudiciall thing for feare of giuing bad example to them and beeing a cause that they also should assent vnto it against their conscience At this time they had another very hard negotiation also For the King A difficultie whether the King of the Romanes ought to promise obedience to the Pope of the Romanes being to send Ambassadours to giue him an account of his election would not doe as other Emperours and Kings had done who hauing no cause to make difficultie did promise and sweare whatsoeuer the Popes would haue them But hee hauing respect not to offend the Princes and Protestants of Germanie would first know what words must bee vsed The consultation hereof being committed in the Cardinals they resolued that hee must demaund confirmation of the election and sweare obedience according to the example of all other Emperours Whereunto he answered that they were deceiued and that hee would consent to nothing which might preiudice his successors as the actions of his predecessors were alleadged against himselfe and that it was to confesse he was Vassall And he proposed that his Ambassadour should vse these wordes that his Maiestie will performe all reuerence deuotion and duty to his Holinesse and the Apostolique Sea with promise not onely to preserue but to enlarge as much as hee can the holy Catholique faith This negotiation continued this whole yeere without agreement and finally in Rome they thought they had found a temper for it proposing that hee should sweare obedience not as Emperour but as King of Hungarie and Bohemia because it could not bee denyed they sayd that King Steuen did giue the kingdome to the Apostolique Sea in the yeere of our LORD 1000 acknowledging to receiue it from the sayd Sea and making himselfe vassall and that Vladâ—slaus Duke of Bohemia did receiue from Alexander the second power to weare a miter binding himselfe to pay an hundred markes of siluer euery yeere These things being considered of in Germanie because there was no proofe of them but the bare affirmation of Gregorie the seuenth were derided and answere was made that they desired more fresh examples and more certaine and more lawfull titles Messengers went to and fro with diuers propositions answeres and replyes of which we will now relate the issue that wee may returne no more to them Which was that twenty moneths after Count Elfestain Ambassadour of that King arriued in Rome with whom the same treaties were renewed to demaund confirmation and sweare obedience Hee answered that the Oration which he was to recite punctually was in writing and that hee had commission not to alter one iote The Pope therefore proposed the businesse to the Cardinals in a generall Congregation who after long consultation concluded that howsoeuer the confirmation were not demaunded nor obedience promised yet in the answere to the Ambassadour it should bee sayd that his Holinesse did confirme the election supplying all defects thereof de facto de iure and did receiue the Kings obedience without saying it was demanded or not demanded promised or not promised This ceremony gaue but small content to the Pope and lesse to the Colledge of Cardinals But to returne to the time whereof I write the Pope was to answere the frequent instances made vnto him by the Ambassadours resident in Rome and by the Count of Luna in Trent for abrogation of the Decree of Propouentibus Legatis And beeing satiated with this trouble hee wrote to the Legates that the suspension of it should bee proposed in Congregation But Morone answered the Ambassadours who vrged the Popes order that rather then hee would condescend vnto it hee desired that his Holinesse would remooue him This answere being giuen without participation of the other Legates and many other things resolued by him alone Morone is thought to take too much vpon 〈◊〉 by the other Legates put them in a iealousie that hee tooke too much vpon him saying that
and authoritie of Kings and Princes may bee deferred vntill the next and that nothing may be decreed therein before they the Ambassadours bee heard who haue giuen account to the King of those and other things which they had to propose But howsoeuer they proposed these difficult matters yet they said indifferently to all and with affectation that it might be published that they would not be earnest in any thing but that which concerneth the rights and Secular affaires of their Kingdome The Venetian Ambassadours proposed that the Article of Patronage might be so accommodated that it might not giue occasion of nouitie concerning those who belong to their Republique and Prince The Ambassadours also of Sauoy and Tuscane made the same instances At this time the Imperialists receiued commission from their Prince to mediate as they did with the Legats that in the reuiew of the Index of the bookes mention might not bee made of the Recesses of the Diets in Germanie formerly prohibited by Paul 4 and the Emperors order was somewhat sharpe that in stead of handling of Ecclesiasticall matters they would not giue a forme to the policie of Germanie and occasion to the people who are gouerned by such Lawes to aliene themselues from the Church of Rome against their wills Answere was made that the Bishop of Prague one of them who was chiefe of the Congregation might know whether any speech were made of it and if there was not his Maiestie might trust to his Ambassadour who in all causes concerning him should bee fauoured both by them and by the Pope The seuenth day the Spanish Ambassadour presented his writing in which hee said he was well satisfied with all the Articles and would not demand any thing but onely the change of some words which seemed vnto him to be superfluous or that they may be expounded better And hee touched almost all things which did enlarge the authoritie of Bishops so moderating the words that the alteration did not seeme to be substantiall but that indeed he did rather restraine then augment it Hee made request also that they would treat of the Conclaue saying that the King did much desire it as also that the part concerning fecular Princes might be deferred vntill another Session After he had exhibited his writing hee desired the Legates that so soone as voices were giuen concerning the things proposed they would depute Fathers of euery Nation to collect what they should thinke necessary for reformation of their Countreys that all might bee determined with a generall satisfaction Morone answered in the name of all that they could not consent to proceede otherwise then they had done hitherto in other matters Wherein many things being said by both parties by the Count to intimate the Councell was in seruitude and by the Cardinall to shew the libertie Morone added that no man could complaine that hee was hindered in his libertie of speaking The other replyed that he could not beleeue that any thing of worth had beene done by them and did not forbeare to tell him that there was a great murmuring in the Councell for the particular congregations assembled a few dayes since and that it was supposed that they were made to get voices The Legates said it was their duety in the diuersitie of opinions to vnderstand the trueth and to accommodate the differences that matters may bee determined with vnion The Count replyed that it was well if it were so but that Italians onely were called except two or three Spaniards and as many Frenchmen who differed from others of their Nations The Legats defended themselues that they were not called in proportion because there were an hundred and fiftie Italians in Councell and not aboue threescore of all other Nations The Count seemed to be satisfied and being parted said to his Prelats that the Legats hauing begun a discourse to shew that esteeme ought not to bee held of Nations had concluded it shewing that they had euer held esteeme of them The next day the Legats and two Cardinals consulted about the aduertisments of the Ambassadours and how to amend the Articles of reformation to be giuen to the Fathers and of the maner to bee held in speaking on them In which Loraine hauing receiued new letters from France and order that both himselfe and all the other French Prelats should fauour the Popes affaires wholly bent to satisfie the Legats perswaded them not to suffer so many points to be handled at once but to diuide them into parts according to the subiects and when one part was ended to propose another and to hasten the Session omitting all the things which had any difficultie and concluding those onely in which all or the greatest part would agree and particularly not to propose in the beginning those in which the Ambassadours did not consent The eleuenth day the Congregations began to be celebrated to establish the Anathematismes and decrees of Matrimonie The proposition of the French-men was handled to make mariages voide contracted by children without consent of parents in whose power they are And the first that gaue voice did differ in opinion The Cardinall of Loraine did approue it alleadging places of the Scripture which giue to the Fathers power to marry their children examples of mariages of the Patriarkes Isaac and Iacob adding the Imperiall lawes of the Institutions and the Code made by Christian Princes of famous memorie as also the Canon vnder the name of Euaristus and another of the Councell of Carthage produced by Gratian. And hee related the inconueniences arising herein The Arcbishop of Otranto was of the contrary opinion saying that this was to giue authority to Lay-men ouer the Sacraments and make them beleeue that the authoritie in making them voide doeth depend on the paternall not on the Ecclesiasticall Besides it would be a decree directly contrary to the holy Scripture which expressely faith that a man shall leaue father and mother and cleaue to his wife And for inconueniences it will cause more referring the sonnes to their fathers in matters of conscience And if a father would not consent to the mariage of a sonne who hath not the gift of continencie hee would be infinitely perplexed Nine and twentie spake in that Congregation and twentie were of opinion to omit that matter Of the others some approoued the decree so generally and some restrained it in sonnes to the age of twentie yeeres and of eighteene in daughters In the end of the Congregation the Venetian Ambassadours caused a The Venetian Ambassadours doe exhibite a petition cōcerning diuorces in the Greeke Church demaund of theirs to bee read concerning the Anathematismes of diuorces which did continue in substance That their Republique hauing the kingdomes of Cyprus Candie Corfue Zante and Cephalonia inhabited by Grecians who haue from all antiquitie vsed to put away their wiues for fornication take another for which Rite well knowen to the whole Church they were neuer condemned nor reprehended by any
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
certaine that single life is better in the Clergie and more to be desired but that in respect of the fragilitie of nature and difficulty to bee continent there are but few who doe not feele the prickes of the flesh Therefore Eusebius relateth that Dionysius did admonish Quintus the Bishop that hee should consider of the weakenesse of the maior part and not lay the burthen of single life vpon the brethren And Paphnutius in the Councell of Nice saying that the vse of ones owne wife was chastitie perswaded the Councell not to impose the law of single life And the Synod of Constantinople did not for bid the vse of wiues but in the time when they were to offer sacrifice That if euer there were cause to permit matrimony vnto Clerkes it was in that age That amongst fiftie Catholike Priests hardly one can bee found that is not a notorious fornicator That not the Priests onely desire matrimonie but the Seculars also that they may not 〈◊〉 such beastly behauiour and the Patrons of Churches will not giue the benefices but to married men That there is great want of Ministers onely for the prohibition of Matrimonie That the Church hath formerly remitted the seueritie of the Canons for this cause alone That the Pope did confirme a Bishop in Saragosa who had a wife and children and a Deacon who had been twice married and committed the Sacrament of Confirmation to simple Priests in defect of a Bishop Therefore many Catholiques did then and doe now thinke better to dispence with the law of continencie then by retaining it to open a gate to vncleane single life leauing marriage free for all and the rather because Cardinall Panormitan doeth hold that it would bee good for the saluation of soules to grant Matrimonie and that there are examples of the old Church and in the Anciran Councell of Adam and Eupsychius Cesariensis Priests That it is certaine that the Pope may dispence with Secular Priests which some also extend vnto Regulars That it seemeth a great absurditie not to admit married Clerkes and to tolerate fornicators and to remooue both would bee as much as to remaine without Ministers and that if they ought to be bound to the vow of chastitie none should be ordained but old men That it is not a good reason to retaine single life with the teeth to preserue Ecclesiasticall goods it not being iust in respect of temporall things to make shipwracke of soules Besides prouision might bee made herein by some other meanes which being done concubinate would be banished out of the Church and the scandall which offendeth many taken away The Pope considering these remonstrances was of opinion to call to Rome pious and learned men of all Nations to handle this point with maturity and spake of it to the Ambassadours residing with him But Cardinall Simoneta did disswade saying it would bee a kinde of Councell and that if men should come out of France Spaine Germanie and elsewhere they would bring intelligences and instructions of Princes and would be gouerned and speake according to their interests and that when his Holinesse would be quit of them he could not doe it at his pleasure that if he did not follow their opinion it would distaste the Princes that he should remember what troubles the Councel put him to and not fall into the like dangers The Pope thought the counsell was sincere and profitable and therefore thinking no more of strangers he deputed nineteene Cardinals giuing them order to examine diligently the writing that came out of Germany The twelfth of March the Pope made a promotion of nineteene Cardinals A promotio◠of 19. Cardinals for reward of the great seruice they did him in Councell in which hee resolued not to comprehend any of those who held the Residence and Institution of Bishops to bee de iure diuino howsoeuer their qualities might otherwise deserue the degree and did not forbeare to discouer so much to all sorts of persons vpon euery occasion He created Marcus Antonius Colonna Archbishop of Taranto Aluise Pisano Bishop of Padua Marcus Antonius Bobo Bishop of Aosta Hugo Buon Compagno Bishop of Bestice Alexander Sforza Bishop of Parma Simon Pasqua Bishop of Serzana Carlo Visconte Bishop of Vintimiglia Franciscus Abondius Bishop of Bobio Guido Ferrier Bishop of Vercelli Iohannes Franciscus Commendone Bishop of Zante Gahriel Paleotto Auditor of the Rota all which had laboured faithfully in Councell for the seruice of his Holinesse To these hee added Zacharias Delphinus Bishop of Liesina who beeing resident with the Emperour tooke no lesse paines for concluding the Councell then the others had done in Trent TO THE READER Courteous Reader NOw that thou hast perused this History I intreat thee to reade ouer these small parcels following The first is an Epistle of S. Gregorie the great who was Bishop of Rome about sixe hundred yeeres after CHRIST and was as learned and as consciencious as any that preceded in that Sea or that followed after Thou canst not but perceiue that howsoeuer hee ascribeth to S Peter as much preheminence as any other ancient writer hath done if not more yet hee doth renounce in most ample tearmes or rather abominate that swelling Antichristian power which was then chalenged by Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople but long since hath been practised by the Bishops of Rome and neuer more nor more preiudicially to the Church Catholique then in this pretended Councell of Trent And that thou mayst not wonder how these Bishops could sore so high as to bee at last aboue Kings and Emperours to whom S. Gregorie and his predecessours professed and performed all duetifull obedience and seruice I haue tendred vnto thee in the next place three seuerall passages out of the Historie of Francis Guicciardine a famous Florentine who knew their practises as well as any and hath dared to relate them plainly The Papalins haue been so wise in their wicked generation as in all late Editions to cause them to bee left out thereby the better to conceale their vniust vsurpations against both Ecclesistiques and Laiques Now lest any might vncontrolably say that howsoeuer they might bee faulty at other times yet those were worthy who gouerned the Sea of Rome when this Councell was assembled to cleere the trueth concerning these looke ouer the passages following taken out of some Epistles written by men of great esteeme who resided in the Councell and gaue account to their Superiours of all that passed or by their Superiours to them backe againe By these it will appeare that the spirit of Antichrist and not the holy Ghost did gouerne in it They shew the practises of Rome to be so grosse and so abhominable that thou mayest easily beleeue that * Invita Pauli 3. Papirius Massonius a Popish writer had iust cause to say speaking of the Popes who liued in the time of this Councell In pontificibus nemo hodiè sanctitatem requirit optimi putantur si vel leuitêr mali
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
Churches by a nationall Councell 31 For wee know that the spirit of God is tied neither to places nor to numbers of men Tel it to the Church saith Christ not to the whole Church spread ouer the world but to a particular which may easily meet in one place Wheresoeuer saith he two or three shall bee gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them When Paul would reforme the Churches of the Corinthians and of the Galatians he did not command them to expect a Generall Councell but onely wrot vnto them that what error soeuer or vice was amongst them themselues should presently cutt it off So in times past when Bishops did sleepe or intended by-matters or did defile and pollute the Lords Temple God did alwaies extraordinarily rayse vp some men of great spirit and courage who made all well and sound againe 32 For our selues wee haue done nothing but with very good reason nothing but what wee sawe to bee lawfull and to haue beene practised by the Fathers of the primitiue Church without any reprehension at all wherfore wee called a full Synod of Bishops and by common consent of all sorts purged our Church as it were Augeus his stable of those excrements which either the negligence or the malice of men had brought in wee haue restored all things as much as possibly wee could to the ancient puritie of the Apostolicall times and the similitude of the primitiue Church This was iustly in our power to doe and because wee could doe it wee did it boldly 33 Here I thinke it fit that you should heare what Pope Gregory the first hath written concerning this matter which pleaseth mee the more because hee wrote it to Augustine Bishop of the English about the institutiō of the Church of England Hee exhorteth him not to call a Councell but to ordaine that which he himselfe in his own wisdome did thinke would most promote pietie and religion Your brotherhood sayth hee knoweth the Custome of the Romane Church in which you haue been brought vp It pleaseth mee to heare that you haue beene carefull to make choyce of as many things as you can finde acceptable to GOD either in the Church of Rome France or of any other that you may bring them into the English Church which is as yet but new in faith and as it were but now to bee framed For things are not to bee valewed because of the place where they are found but places are to bee valewed for the things that are in them 34 So the Fathers in the Councell of Constantinople write to Damasus Bishop of Rome and to the other Westerne Bishops You know say they that the old Decree and definition of the Nicen fathers concerning the care of particular Churches hath alwayes been in force that the husbandmen of the Lord's vineyard in euery Prouince taking their next bordering neighbours vnto them if they please should bestowe Ecclesiasticall honours vpon those whom they thinke will vse them well The Bishops of Africa wrote thus to Celestinus Bishop of Rome Let your Holinesse as becommeth you take away all wicked euasions of Priests and inferiour Clergie-men because none of the Fathers haue denied this to the Church of Africa And the Decrees of the Nicen Councell doe most plainely referre not onely meane Clergie men but euen the Bishops themselues to their Metropolitans For businesses are best ended in the places where they are neither is the grace of the Holy Spirit wanting vnto any Prouince Let this equitie be wisely obserued and constantly maintained by the Ministers of CHRIST 35 Eleutherius Bishop of Rome writeth to Lucius King of Britannie much better and more appositely to our present purpose You haue saith he desired that wee should send you the lawes of the Romans and of the Emperours that you may make vse of them in the kingdome of Britannie These lawes wee may abrogate when we will but the lawes of God we cannot You haue receiued by God's mercie into your kingdome of Britannie the law and faith of CHRIST you haue there the Old and the New Testament from them take through the grace of God lawes by a Councel of your owne kingdome and God permitting you instruct your kingdome of Britannie by them For you are Gods Vicar in that kingdome according to that of the Psalmist The earth is the Lords 36 What should I say more Victor Bishop of Rome held a prouinciall Synod at Rome Iustinian the Emperor commandeth that Synods if there were occasion should be held in euery Prouince protesting to punish them if they did not doe it Euery prouince saith Hierom hath peculiar maners and rites and conceipts which cannot be altered without a great deale of trouble What should I repeat those old prouinciall Councels at Eliberis Gangra Laodicea Ancyra Antioch Tyrus Carthage Mileuitum Tholouse Burdeaux This is no new inuention The Church of God was so gouerned before the Fathers met in the Nicen Councel men did not presently run to a general Councel Trophilus held a prouinciall Councel in Palestina Palmas in Pontus Irenaeus in France Bacchylus in Achaia Origen against Berillus in Arabia I omit many other National Councels held in Africa Asia Graecia Egypt without any order from the Bishop of Rome which Councels were godly Orthodox and Christian For Bishops in those times vpon the sudden if any occasion had been offred did prouide for the necessity of their Churches by a domesticall Councell and somtimes craued ayd from their neighbor Bishops so that they mutually helped one the other Neither did Bishops onely beleeue that the cause of Religion belonged to them but euen Princes too For to passe ouer Nabuchadnezar who commanded vpon paine of death that the name of the God of Israel should not be blasphemed to omit Dauid Solomon Ezekias Iosias who partly built partly purged the Temple of the Lord Constantius the Emperour put downe Idolatrie without a Councell and made a most seuere edict that it should be capitall to sacrifice to Idols Theodosius the Emperour caused the Temples of the heathen Gods to bee pul'd to the very ground Iouinian so soone as he was created Emperour made his first law for the restoring of banished Christians Iustinian the Emperour was wont to say that hee had no lesse care of Christian Religion then of his owne life When Iosua was made ruler of the people he presently receiued command concerning religion and the worship of God For Princes are nursing Eathers of the Church and keepers of both tables Neither is any greater cause that hath mooued God to erect politique States then that alwaies there might bee some to maintaine and preserue Religion and pietie 37 Princes therefore now a dayes doe more greiuously offend who indeede are called Christians but sit idly follow their pleasures and patiently suffer impious worships and contempt of God leauing all vnto their Bishops whom they know to make but a mocke of Religion as if the care of the
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
being curiously The Decrees are censured in Germany read in Germany and else-where raised much speech in many things concerning the Eucharist First because treating of the manner of the existence it said that it could hardly be expressed in wordes and yet affirmeth after that it is properly called Transubstantiation and in another place that it is a most fit terme which beeing so one cannot doubt but that it may bee properly expressed It was further noted that hauing declared that CHRIST after the benediction of Bread and Wine said that that which hee gaue was his Body and Blood it came to determine against the opinion of all the Diuines and of the whole Church of Rome that the wordes of consecration were not those that is this is my body because it doth affirme that they were spoken after the consecration But to prooue that the body of our LORD is in the Eucharist before the vse because CHRIST in giuing of it said before it was receiued by his Disciples it was his Body did shew that they did presuppose that the giuing of it did not belong to the vse the contrary whereof was apparantly true The manner of speach vsed in the fifth point of doctrine saying that diuine worship was due to the Sacrament was noted also for improper seeing it is certaine that the thing signified or conteined is not meant by the Sacrament but the thing signifying and containing and therefore it was well corrected in the sixt Canon which said that the Sonne of GOD ought to bee worshipped in the Sacrament That also in the third Anathematisme was noted that all CHRIST was in euery part after the separation because it seemeth one may necessarily inferre from hence that it was not in euery part before the diuision The Priest complained of the reformation and sayd that the Bishops authority The Priests complaine of the reformation was made too great and the Clergie brought into seruitude But the Protestants seeing the point where it was said that they desired to bee heard in foure Articles onely did much wonder who should make that request in their name seeing they had said and repeated so often in publique Diets and by publique writings that they desired a discussion of all the controuersies nor would receiue any of those things which were already determined in The Protestants dislike the reseruation of y e points of doctrine And the form of the Safe Conduct Trent but would haue all to be reexamined They thought also that the forme of the Safe Conduct was very captious because as well in the Decree to grant it as in the tenour therof there was this clause of reseruation as farre as belogneth to the Synode for no man demaundeth of another but that which belongeth to him to graunt But this affected diligence to expresse and repeat it was a signe that they had inuented a meanes to goe against it and to excuse themselues vpon others And they doubted not but that the ayme of the Synode was to leaue a gate open for the Pope that he might doe with his owne and the Councels honour what hee thought seruiceable for them both Besides the treating to depute Iudges for things hereticall committed or to be committed seemed to them a kinde of net to catch those that were vnwary and euen the very Pedants did laugh at it that the principall verbe was more then an hundred and fifty wordes distant from the beginning The Protestants did vniformely agree not to bee content with it or trust vpon it but to desire another iust like that which was giuen by the Councell of Basill to the Bohemians which if it were granted they did obtaine one great point that is that the controuersies should be decided by the holy Scripture and if it were not granted they might excuse themselues with the Emperour The day following the Session there was a generall Congregation to set downe how to treate of Penance and extreame Vnction and to continue the reformation It was considered that the manner of discussion prescribed was exceeded by the Diuines whence contentions did arise for which they could not be vnited against the Lutherans and therefore it was thought necessary to renew the decree not â—uffer any to vse the reasons of the schools but to cause them to speake positiuely and also to obserue the order which they thought fit to establish againe as well because the not obseruing of it had bred confusion as because the Flemings did complaine that none account was made of them as did also the Diuines which came with the Prelates of Germanie To handle Penance and extreame Vnction was decided already and something was said in matter of reformation and Prelats were deputed who with the Nuncio of Verona were to make the Articles in matter of faith and with the Nuncio of Siponto in matter of reformation In matter of faith twelue Articles were framed vpon the Sacrament of Penance drawen Verbatim out of the booke of Martin and of his Schoolers to be disputed by the Diuines whether they were to bee held for hereticall and condemned for such which in framing the Anathematismes after the Diuines had giuen their voyces were so changed that no iot of them remaining it is superfluous to recite them To these Articles were added 4. more of extreame Vnction answereable in all points to the soure Anathematismes established In Three Decrees are made concerning the manner of proceeding in Councell the same page where the Articles were set downe three Decrees were added That the Diuines ought to giue their opinions out of the holy Scripture Traditions of the Apostles holy Councels Constitutions and authorities of Popes and holy Fathers and out of the consent of the Catholique Church That the order of speaking should be thus that first they should speake who were sent by the Pope secondly those who were sent by the Emperour thirdly those of Louaine sent by the Queene fourthly those Diuines who came with the Electors fiftly the Secular Clergie men according to their promotions sixtly the Regulars according to their orders That there should be two congregations euery day one in the morning from the foureteenth houre vntill the seuenteenth another in the afternoone from the twentieth houre vntill the three and twentieth The Articles of Reformation were in number fifteene all which answered the points which were after established except the last in which a propose was made to constitute that Benefices should not be giuen in Commenda but to persons of the same age which the law required in those who might haue them in title which Article when it was spoken of was easily buried in silence because it hindered many Prelates to renounce their Benefices to their Nephewes The Pope who as hath been said wrote letters to the Catholique Suisses inuiting them to the Councell did still make the same instance vnto them by his Nuncio Ieronymus Francus wherein also hee was assisted by the Emperour The French