the Interdict they should abandon their places and depart that it was the intention of Our Lord so they called the Pope and if they could not depart that they should in this cause suffer martyrdome But to the rented and endowed they gaue to vnderstand that the Pope though hee would haue the Interdict obserued yet hee would not therefore haue the Monasteries abandoned They sent also as Commissaries some of the Regulars of the same Order such as being the most abiect in their Congregations had offered themselues to goe into dangers to acquire to themselues some credit but some had not the boldnesse to enter within the State as also neither by their menaces nor promises were any seduced sauing some few timorous or ambitious who yeelded vpon hope of great recompences Further they suborned some hypocrites or Hermites to enter within the Countrey to excite some troubles among the people but being found vpon the confines loaden with papers and instructions they were sent backe vpon a commandement giuen by the Senate the 24. of May to all Gouernours to take heed that no Religious or Priests from forraine parts should enter with any writings for feare and for preuenting of sedition All these deuises of the spirituall armes and artifices couered with pretext of Religion and piety remained thus without effect within the State of the Republique But in the Courts of Princes these differences were receiued very diuersly In Polonia Lewis Foscarini being come Ambassador expresly to congratulate with that King for his mariage the Nuntio of the Pope in that Kingdome and the Iesuites did what they could to make him receiue some affront The Nuntio first desired the King that the Monitorie might be published wherein he was absolutely denied whereupon addressing himselfe vnto the Religious he gaue order to all of them that they should not admit within their Churches the Ambassador or any of his People And afterwards two of his Gentlemen being gone to heare Masse at the Cordeliers they were put out of the Church of which the Ambassador hauing made complaint to the Marshall of the Court he and the Cardinall of Cracouia commanded those Religious that the day following they should sing a solemne Masse to which they should inuite the Ambassador first demanding him pardon for the affront giuen vnto his Gentlemen The Masse was celebrated with great concourse of people and displeasure of the Nuntio The King approued of that which had beene done by his Officers and by Decree of Parliament was published an Edict prohibiting all men from doing any act that might displease the Republique and he writ vnto the Pope complaining of the attempt of his Nuntio where he added that his Holinesse had great occasion to make esteeme of the Republique to which all his Kingdome and he himselfe inclined being moued both by his owne interest and by that of his Kingdome He said moreouer that for light occasions and where no point of faith was questioned it was not good to make so great stirres and exhorted his Holinesse to be willing to appease these broiles making mention againe how much the enterprise of the Nuntio had displeased him and all his Councell and so much the more because it was a thing vnheard in his Kingdome that they should therin publish Censures against any Prince whatsoeuer seeing it was not done when the Monitories were published against the King Henry 3 and after that in the cause of Ferrara against the Duke Coesar de Este that it did not stand with reason to gouerne thēselues after another fashion toward the Republike of Venice whose cause was common with his Kingdome All these particularities the King imparted to the Ambassador yea himselfe deliuered him a Copie of Lawes of his Kingdome like to those of Venice In the Court of the Emperour by reason of the ordinary difficultie to haue Audience of his Maiestie the Ambassador treated with all the Imperiall Ministers who shewed themselues sensible of the wrongs of the Republique alledging that in all the States of Germany were obserued like constitutions and highly displeased they were for that which the Pope had done because the Protestants would take hence aduantage for to fortifie their reasons to the end to retaine Ecclesiasticall Benefices only the Great Chancellor and the Marshall Prainer inclined for the Pope In the end Francis Soranzo Ambassador had Audience of the Emperour who thanked him for communicating these matters with him and maruelled that the Nuntio had neuer spoken vnto him thereof and exhorted him to finde some temperament of composition But Corpus Christi day being come vpon which the Iesuites are wont to make a very solemne Procession whereat assist al the Ministers of Princes the Fathers did what they could with the Ambassador of the Republique that he would be absent who bitterly reprehending them resolued to be there as he was the Nuntio in the meane while faining himselfe to be indisposed to auoid it But two other being to be made the daies following the Nuntio considered what preiudice it would be to him if they were done as the first And therefore he employed the Ambassadour of Tuscany to deale with him of Venice that he should not be present threatning otherwise he would cause the Church doores to be shut vp and hinder the Procession in as much as he was not to he admitted into the Church being a person Excommunicate Wherefore he might doe well to preuent the scandall that would ensue since all the Protestants would vnite themselues to him and on the other side all Catholiques separate from him Hereupon the Ambassador referred himselfe to be directed by the Emperour but his Maiesty not willing to meddle in these Ecclefiasticall matters the Ambassador resolued to take Physicke and keepe in fearing to receiue some affront by the meanes of the Iesuites and of the Nuntio being herein aided by the Marshall Prainer ill affected to the Republique to whom no other Minister did oppose himselfe vpon hope to haue 100000. crowns frō the Pope for the war against the Turkes But afterwards the Pope hauing refused to giue that succour for want wherof they were constrained to make peace with the Mutiners of Hungary and to yeeld vnto them the places which they had seised with the exercise of their Religion and the Marshall Prainer being dead as also the Nuntio a little softened after that he saw the Nuntio's of France and Spaine had beene made Cardinals without any reckoning of himselfe things there receiued some change and the Ambassador of Venice was freely euery where admitted And there is no doubt that if he had shewed himselfe firme from the beginning he had surmounted all difficulty seeing that a Month after complaining in the name of the Republique to the Emperour and representing vnto him that besides the iniurie done to Him his Maiestie had therein beene wronged in that the Pope should intrude himselfe to command within his Court the Ministers of Princes which were there for to
of the Court of Rome which being by them interpreted a contempt is the cause that they cary all an especiall hatred and nourish in themselues an euill will against that State Hereupon being aduanced vnto the Papacie he proposed no other thing for his end but to enlarge the Ecclesiasticall authoritie or as he termed it to restore it vnto that condition from which it was fallen by the negligence of this Predecessors and particularly of Clement 8. Wherefore his first purpose was to establish a Congregation at Rome whose only charge and studie should be to consider oâ—… whereby this authoritie might 〈…〉 and augmented or at least by cramining all writings vpon these matters to raise new difficulties and to prepare occasions for his Successours to giue perfection vnto that which he could not finish and in the meane while to mortifie the presumption as he called it of Secular Estates Besides he imagined that to bring this his designe to perfection it was necessary to send into all Kingdomes and Courts of Catâ—… Princes such Nuntio's as were enclinâ—… the like thoughts That which straight wayes he began to execute by changing the 〈◊〉 formerly imployed and particularly 〈◊〉 to Venice Horatio Matthei Bishop of Giâ—… a man so passionate in this cause that he blâ—shed not to say vnto the Duke in full assembly that Alines and other workes of pietie the frequâ—â—â—ing of Sacraments and all other good and Christion actions ad nihilum valent vltra were nothing auaileable if men did not fauour the Ecclesiasticall libertie these were his words And in many familiar discourses which he had with diuers persons he was wont to say that he had heard the pietie of the City of Venice often 〈◊〉 amply commended by himselfe could perceiue but little considering that Christian perfection doth not consist in almes deeds and deuotions but in exalting the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction which is the true ciment of that perfection And many times he would intimate that he had beene sent by the Pope in that charge of his Nuntio for to receiue martyrdome if it were needfull in defence of the authoâ—â—tie of the See Apostolique But the vanitie of this man so desirous of Martyrdome was not without some mixture of ambition and desire of command For if any one did reply against him with reason or contradict his discourses vpon this subject his ordinary answer was as if it had beene a forme of speech or a lesson giuen him here I am Pope and I will be obeyed But the Pope did not crect this Congregation according to his first deseigne being aduertised that by this meanes hee should too manifestly discouer his intentions which might bring iealousie to all Princes and cause them to proiect some remedies and so it might produce effects quite contrary to his meaning as it fell out with Clement 8. who by founding a Congregation vpon the affaires of England excited the spirit of that King to obserue more narrowly the cariage of the Catholiques of his Kingdome which was the cause that their enterprises were afterward much more thwarted And againe the Pope would not put in execution during the first Monthes of his Papacy any one of those particulars which were alreadie designed because being first weakened by the vehemence of his hopes and ioyes hee â—as afterward assailed with a grieuous melancholy accompanied with a strong apprehension of death which he feared would seaze vpon him within a few dayes This feare was more encreased by a rumour dispersed thorow Rome that the Image of our Lady de Subiacco had sweated which vsually happens as the vulgar beleeue for to aduertise the Popes that their death is at hand And further a Flemmish Astrologer had foretold that in March Pope Clement 8. was to die and that after him should be elected one Leo and then one Paul who should liue but a short time Besides this Pope by nature was timorous and much inclined to giue credit vnto Diuinations which he entertained vpon all occurrences and accidents This perturbation of spirit held him fiue Months in such extremitie that all things affrighted him in so much that he dismissed his Cooke and his Caruer who had long time serued him and if any persons of base and meane condition and vnknowne did present him with any memoriall or petition as hee passed the streets very often hee let them fall to the ground fearing lest they might bee empoysoned Being thus vexed with suspitions his designe touching the enlargement of Ecclesiasticall Libertie was neglected But in the Month of September after his promotion to the Papacie his friends and kinsmen found a remedie for this feare hauing made a great assembly of all the Astrologers and other Fortune-tellers of Rome in the house of the Lord Iohn Francis brother to his Holinesse who concluded by their rules that the time of some perils threatned by the influences was past and that therefore he might now liue many yeares His feare being thus remoued he resumed againe his first and ordinary thoughts of augmenting the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction He began to moue the most Christian King that the Councell of Trent might be receiued in his Kingdome In Spaine he procured that the Iesuites might be exempted from paying any Tithes At Naples he wrought in such sort that Iohn Francis de Ponte Marquise of Morcone called the Regent de Ponte was sent to Rome as punishable in the Inquisition for hauing condemned to the Gallies a Bookeseller for a matter which the Inquisitor pretended to belong to his cognisance Hee tooke from the Religious of Malta the collation of certaine Commanderies conferring them vpon the Cardinall Borghese He raised many difficulties to the Duke of Parma as well for the imposts which he had put vpon his Subiects of Parma in the absence of the Bishop as for the fact of Count Albert Scotto and also for other things which the Pope pretended to haue beene enterprised against the Bull in caena Domini Moreouer he had some differences with the Duke of Sauoy not only because his Officers tooke knowledge and gaue iudgement in the temporalty of Benefices but also because Laiques assist at the Office of the Inquifition but especially by reason of an Abbey which the Duke had conserred on the Cardinall Pio. All things being put in deliberation the Duke changing the person named to the Abbey placed therein a Nephew of his Holinesse some what to appease him But none of these attempts succeeding to his minde in the beginning of October two occasions were offered not only of themselues very proper for the end which the Pope pretended but very commodious as being so many degrees and meanes to open him a passage to greater matters The one was that the Republique of Luca considering that many of their Citizens hauing changed their Religion had retired themselues into Protestant countries in this regard they had published an Edict by which all their subjects were forbidden to haue any commerce or to treat in any fashion
the State with the Pope a bout the end of October The Bishop told him that the Pope would not endure the emprisonment of a Canon and that hee was by him encouraged to doe the office of a Bishop that therefore it were good to giue satisfaction to his Holinesse by rendering the prisoner to the Iudge of the Church the crime being not so grieuous But the Pope was much more peremptory that he would not in any sort permit that Ecclesiastiques in any cause should be iudged by Seculars this being against the ordinance of the Councell The Embassadour aduertised the State of these passages and whilst he expected their answer the Pope againe complaines vnto him in another audience how that at Venice since the decease of Pope Clement 8. they had made a Decree forbidding Secular men to alienate their goods to Ecclesiastiques saying that howsoeuer that law were founded vpon another more ancient yet this latter was much more ample that both the one and the other were void and could not subsist as being against the Canons against the Councell and against the Lawes Imperiall that it was scandalous and made the condition of Ecclesiastiques worse then of infamous persons adioyning withall that they which made that law had incurred the Censures The he same cōmanded his Nuntio to propose in full Senate And the Embassadors of the Republique being come to Rome to congratulate with his Holinesse about the beginning of Nouember year 1605 hee repeated vnto them the same complaints chargint them at their returne to giue notice thereof vnto the Senate In the meane while they of Genoa for to satisfie the Pope had reuoked the Degree touching the reuiew of the accounts of their Fraternities but excused themselues for the other Decree touching the Congregation which for security of the State was necessarily to be executed Which did so much enrage the Pope that hee caused a Monitorie to be imprinted against that Republique meanacing the Cardinals of Genoa that if the Decree concerning the Oratories were not reuoked he would forthwith publish his Excommunication The Pope beleeued that by this example the State of Venice would bee induced toyeeld without vsing any reply to his desires strongly conceiuing that they would willingly abandon their liberty to auoid their trouble especially if they were taken before they had time to deliberate And therefore without expecting an answer to that which the Extraordinary Ambassadors had treated at their returne or that which the Ordinary had writ to Venice the Pope a new expostulated with the Ambassador both touching the imprisoned Canon and the Ordinance formerly mentioned the matter he exaggerated saying that the Law had beene made vpon Maundie Thursday and concluded his speech shewing the Monitory prepared against them of Genoa that he would be obeyed and that hee would send to Venice a Breue Exhortatory and after proceed yet further The Ambassador represented to his Holinesse that the 26. of March on which day the Law was made could not fall within the Holy weeke of that yeare considering that Easter day was then the tenth of April and praied him that since he had required him to write of these particularities to Venice and had giuen charge vnto the Ambassadors Extraordinary to treat thereof by word of mouth he would expect an answer before hee determined any thing in this businesse This stayed the Pope for a little time till that about the middle of Nouember the Ambassador hauing receiued answer to all that which he had written by order from his Holinesse although he had no intelligence of what the Extraordinary Ambassadors had treated he made remonstrance vnto him following the commandement which hee had from the Senate that the iust title and possession which the State hath to iudge Ecclesiasticall persons in causes criminall were founded on the naturall power of a Soueraigne Prince and on custome neuer interrupted by the space of a thousand yeares and approued by the Breues of Popes themselues yet extant in the publique Archiues shewing further that the Law against the alienation of Lay goods to the Clergie had not beene made only at Venice but was also receiued and established in the greater part of the cities of their Estate and for the rest which had it not it was their dutie to follow the ordinances of the Soueraigne and Capitall Citie He shewed likewise the equitie of that Law and how necessary it was in these times for the conseruation of the strength of their State by many reasons and examples of sundry Christian Kingdomes and euen of some Cities within the State Ecclesiasticall The Pope heard this discourse with impatience turning himselfe from one side to another and testifying by the outward gestures of his face and body how grieuously he did resent it within and then he answered that the reasons alledged were friuolous that for to iudge of an affaire it was to no purpose to ground it vpon custome which is often so much the worse as it is more ancient And for the Breues he said there was no other Archiue of the Breues of Popes but that at Rome that those which they pretended in fauour of their cause were but waste papers and that he would lay any wager they had not any authentique Breues in this matter For the Law he said that hauing passed his youth in the Schooles and after that practised in the Offices of Vice-Legat of Auditor of the Chamber and of Grand Viccar of the Pope he was become well versed and of good vnderstanding in these businesses so that he knew certainly that this Law was of itselfe inualid as was likewise the other of the yeare MD XXX VI that the power ouer his owne goods belongs to each man so that he may freely dispose of them neither can that freedome be restrained without tyrannie that the Senate it selfe esteemed it vniust forbidding to giue a copie thereof to any person that if else-where were any such like Lawes they had beene made by authoritie of Popes that it pertained not vnto the Venetians to gouerne the Ecclesiasticall State but to the Pope who might appoint and ordaine what himselfe pleased in that State and that hee would be obeyed In all this the Pope obserued not suffering himselfe to be transported by his vehement passion that whilst he desired to defend the Ecclesiasticall liberty he gaue vnto Secular men too great a licence to dispose of their goods at their pleasure without any restraint or respect of Lawes by calling that a tyrannie which was indeed a iust limitation he principally branded the Popes themselues guilty of the same excesse The Pope not content with these difficulties added yet another vnderstanding that the Count Brandolino Valdemarino Abbot of Neruese was imprisoned hee commanded that both this Abbot and the Canon should bee deliuered into the hands of his Nuntio Besides he heard of another Ordinance made in the yeare MDC III. whereby was prohibited the building of any new Church without the
nor any confusion brought into their State which might moue withall some perillous sedition The Senate all with one voice consented vpon this resolution whereof the Nuntio was aduertised Which was also reported at Rome to shew how well the State was vnited for defence of their libertie and to discharge the Pope of his vaine hope that the Senators would be diuided as the Iesuites had promised him The Pope hauing receiued this answer by the Letters of his Nuntio and by the mouth of the Ambassador did not for all this change his designe but remaining constant and resolued what to doe to wit to expedite a Breue hee was nothing moued with any thing which the Ambassador could say of the reasons and causes which had induced the Senate to make this deliberation of their courage and constancie to perseuere therein together with the pernicious inconueniences which might ensue if his Holinesse should vse any meanes of violence but he commanded that two Breues should be dispatched the one concerning the two Lawes and the other the two Prisoners At the same time there came aduise to Rome of an Edict made by the Repub. of Luca which to preuent great troubles occasioned in that State by letters of execution sent from the Auditor of the Apostolique Chamber ordained that thence forward no such letters should haue force vnlesse first they were viewed by the Magistrates Whereat the Pope chafed beyond measure saying that it was against the libertie Ecclesiasticall and his pleasure was that this Edict should be reuoked although the Agent of that Signiory answered that their State had herein followed the example of many Princes and would further follow it in their reuocation when others should be brought vnto it But for the Venetian businesse it fell out that on the ninth of December an ordinary day of audience for the Ambassador of the State the Pope treated very courteously with him in such manner as he neuer had so fauourable entertainment Which made him thinke that his vehemence being now setled he meant to proceed with maturity but it happened quite contrary For the Pope resoluing to come to action did not any more vse violent words as by the euent appeared The day following 10. of December he prepared sealed two Breues addressed Marino Grinani Duci Reipub. Venetorum which he sent the same day to his Nuntio with charge that he should present them And fearing lest if this newes of the Breues sent to Venice were discouered his Messenger might be stayed or hindered he dispatched another by the way of Ferrara with Copies of the two Breues vnto the same Nuntio but neither the one nor the other Currier found any lett for the Nuntio had the Expeditions in good time After the sending of these Breues the Pope called a Consistory the twelfth of the said Moneth wherein he declared how the State of Venice had violated the Ecclesiasticall Libertie by publishing two Lawes and detaining in hold two persons of the Church dilating a little vpon each one of the three heads yet he did not take the opinions of the Cardinals nor so much as permitted them to speake at which the Cardinals murmured esteeming it fit not only that such matters should be communicated to them but also that they should thereof deliberate giue their iudgements And whatoeuer were the substance of the affaire they then with one accord agreed that the resolution was rash and perillous But afterwards when they had considered the reasons of the Pope and of the State they differed in iudgement vpon the matter and diuersly answered the Ambassador of the Signiory who talked thereof with diuers of them Some said that the Pope ought rather to haue an eye vpon other more vrgent necessities of the Church and to omit these questions Cardinall Bellarmine said clearely that the Pope did not speake with him of these matters of Iurisdiction because they knew his iudgement herein to be sparing and that hee exhorted his Holinesse rather to thinke on the Residence of Prelates in their Churches Cardinall Baronius said they were not wont to treat with him of these matters because they knew what was his accustomed answer Cardinall Zapata that there were in Spaine Lawes semblable to these in question and Cardinall Monopoly that the Lawes might be allowed without any material alteration prouided that the Ecclesiastiques should not be therein mentioned There were some that approued the Lawes but not the Iudgements and some againe that approued the Iudgements but not the Lawes It is certaine that before the Expedition of the Breues out of a feare of the inconuenience the Cardinals Baronius and Du Perron did secretly in a priuate Audience effectually labour with the Pope that he would desist from an enterprise so difficult and perillous or at least by putting it in deliberation he would serue himselfe of time for to compasse his end and not put all in danger through precipitation But nothing could make his Holinesse desist from pursuing the execution of that which he had enterprised The Senate in the meane while to giue the Pope a manifest testimony of their respect lest they should seeme in any sort to contemne him and withall to gaine some time that the Pope might haue leasure to thinke seriously of what hee purposed to doe but especially to furnish themselues with a iust and euident pretext if they found him obstinate thought good to send vnto him an Ambassador expresly for this effect and to the end that by the qualitie of the person the Pope might see what reuerence they carried to the holy See they made choice of the Lord Leonardo Donato an ancient Senator and without comparison the most eminent in the State who was afterward elected Duke Besides they resolued to write vnto their Ambassadors in all Courts of Princes to informe them concerning their publike reasons the stiffenesse of the Pope and all that was passed But the Nuntio who receiued the Breues a day after that Donato was e lected to goe in Embassage stayed the presentation and gaue aduise by a Poste of that Election which highly moued the Pope against his Nuntio for that he had not executed his commandements and presumed to interpose his owne iudgement after his Ordinance And therefore he dispatched vnto him an expresse Currier with order to present the Breues immediatly after the receit of his Letter and that this might be concealed from the Ordinary Ambassador he caused the Currier to goe out in a Caroach without boots and so to take horse at the second stage The Nuntio hauing receiued this command on Christmas Eue that he might punctually obey his Holinesse on that solemne Festiuall day presented the Breues vnto the Counsellors assembled to assist at a solemne Masse in the absence of the Duke Grimani who was then in his last extremitie and died the day following which was the cause that the Breues were not opened but according to the order of the State they attended the creation
long his comming not because he hoped by his presence to finde or admit any composition being already resolued and fully in his minde determined to pursue against the Republique the iniuries which they had offered vnto the Church but because hauing said to many Ministers of Princes that he would giue audience to that Ambassador he could not well proceed till first he had heard him speake being extreamely vexed to see daies passing without comming to execution Likewise he writ a new to his Nuntio's which he had with all Princes commanding them in his Name to make complaints against the Republique which being knowne at Venice the Senate resolued to write vnto all Courts and to send ample instructions to all their Ambassadors to the end that on all occasions they might demonstrate the iustice of their cause with their vniust vexations by the Pope In the end of March Duodo the Extraordinarie Ambassador arriued at Rome who was not suffered to passe the first Audience in Complements according to the custome but the Pope without other discourse falling vpon the businesse heard him courteously yet would not answer to any particular although the Ambassador propounded to his consideration the seuerall reasons pertaining to each Controuersie But staying only on the generall he said that the exemption of the Ecclesiastiques was de iure diuino and therefore he would not now content himselfe with what he formerly had propounded the restoring only of the one Prisoner that he would not meddle with things Temporall but their three Lawes were vsurpations that he was not moued with any passion and that his cause was the cause of God that the Ordinary Ambassador had often repeated vnto him these same allegations but all were of no force and that he would heare him to doe him a pleasure but not to depart in any thing from his resolution that he would be obeyed and such other like discourses The Ambassador to stay a little this torrent and to giue him time to be thinke himselfe offered to write to Venice what was his resolution wherewith the Pope was content counting in what time the Currier might returne with an answer and threatning that hee would not waite one moment longer Which thing being knowne at Venice it was resolued that all should be communicated vnto the Ambassadours of the Emperour of France and of Spaine The Ambassador of the Emperour said that his Master desired Peace and that in such matters he would not foment the will of the Pope The Count of Cante-croix approued all the reasons which were represented to him by the example of Francke a County in his Countrey where the same things are obserued Monsieur de Fresne Ambassador of France answered that he knew not what to make of these Pontificall Lawes by which Princes are forbidden to Gouerne their Estates and that in all reason the Repub. ought to preferre their Libertie to all other respects for salus populi suprema lex esto the weale of the people ought to be the Soueraigne Law Duodo as the custome is visited the Cardinals and had speech with all of them touching the differences in question and although they answered differently yet it appeared they had no great hand in the affaire saue onely that they heard it propounded in the Consistory vpon the twelfth of December and the twentieth of February Duodo did not cease in other Audiences which the Pope gaue him to assay if he could any way asswage him hoping that the differences might be reduced to some termes of accord if he might finde meanes a little to hinder his Holinesse from his headlong courses But the Pope still shewing himselfe resolute saying that he had vsed a very great patience that the Senators were still more obstinate and his condition euery day worse for he vnderstood how it was openly spoken in Venice that they were not purposed herein to giue him any satisfaction that therefore he could not abandon his reputation that in the Senate there was not one that vnderstood these matters and that they were content to consult thereof with their Doctors but that hee had written to such Persons as were able to set their Doctors to Schoole and concluded that he would proceed with his Spirituall Armes but in other things he would account of the Venetians as of his children The Ambassadour hearing his resolution and knowing it would be to little effect for him to reply retired himselfe from the Audience with few words but full of prudence and grauitie The day following the Cardinals of Verona and Vicenza found meanes to insinuate themselues neere the Pope and to talke with him vpon this subiect where they did very good and effectuall offices exhorting his Holinesse to vse some delaies whereto he answered that he had deferred but too long that the offer by him proposed to the Ambassadour Nani had beene esteemed not worthy an answer that he had heard the Extraordinary although he spake big that he had fiue and twenty or thirty Letters from Venice whereby hee had notice that hee could not hope for any satisfaction Yet notwithstanding all this that he would yet giue terme of foure and twenty dayes which was enough time to giue them for their repentance The Cardinals represented vnto him with many and powerfull words what damage might follow if the Spirituall armes should be contemned To which the Pope answered that then he would employ the Temporall And so without communicating that which he had in minde to many persons he caused to draw vp and imprint a Monitory against the Republique which after reuiewing and finding it not to his liking hee changed it and at last composed and made to be imprinted another dated the 17. of Aprill purposing to publish it that day in Consistory But that morning he was found very much troubled in spirit and perplexed what he should do and the houre approching the Cardinals being already assembled he began profoundly to consider within himselfe whether to proceed as he had determined or to deferre the businesse till some other time But the Cardinall Arrigon who according to the custom of the Cardinals which haue part in the Gouernment was not descended into the Hall with the rest but was gone vp into the Chamber of his Holinesse with his Nephew for to accompany him downe exhorted him by no meanes to relent Whereupon againe resoluing vpon his former purpose he entred the Consistory where he made recitall of his pretensions against the Republique inlarging his speech particularly vpon that Law by him called of Farmes Emphyteuticke although he said he had written nothing thereof to Venice nor tretaed of it with the Ambassador saue only that he had told him he had obserued it He adioyned that he had first himselfe studyed these points then he had conferred thereof with the most famous Canonists who did conclude that the ordinances of the Republique were contrary to the Authority of the See Apostolique and to liberty Ecclesiasticall all edging further
safety of their consciences The Capuchines of Venice according to the intention of the Iesuites would haue gone out with solemnity thereby to moue a tumult but being therein hindered they celebrated that morning only one Masse and consumed all the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist which was preserued in their Church and concluded the Masse without giuing Benediction vnto the people They left also to their Deuotes diuers instructions for to obserue the Interdict as did likewise the Theatines But in such a confusion and in so great haste being not able to consult together they did not well accord with the Iesuites as also the Iesuites disagreed amongst themselues whence it came to passe that their adherents proceeded diuersly some being of opinion that all the Sacraments administred by the Priests that stayed were nullities and therefore that it was not lawfull to adore the holy Eucharist as before Others esteemed that to heare Masse was only a veniall sinne and others held it a sin most grieuous although the Sacrament were truely celebrated Of these instructions and of the different wayes of obseruing them are yet to bee seene the Writings published by their Fauourers The Iesuites being departed retired themselues to Ferrara Bologna and Mantua neighbouring places where they might receiue the consulations of their friends and readily send their answers as also employ themselues to excite more easily some sedition whether by their emissaries or by their frequent letters The other Religious likewise which were gone retired in like maner to Milan Ferrara Bologne Mantua where they were seene with an euill eye by the other Religious of the same Orders as those who were come to spend part of their commodities And the Superiours of Houses complained that though by this meanes the mouthes were doubled yet the Pope had not sent any other prouision but Indulgences and they said openly that if other succour did not come from Rome they could not continue to make such expence nor to furnish so many persons with Vestiments And it is certaine that the Capuchines which departed out of the State of Venice to the number of eight hundred could not finde at least all of them any conuenient retrait so as many of them died for want of sustenance At Venice they communicated to all Ambassadors and Agents of Princes all that had passed and also writ vnto the Ministers of the Republique in all Courts how that the Nuntio was recalled that their Ambassador had been dismissed that the Republique iudged all things done herein by the Pope meere nullities that they were resolued to liue Catholiques and to defend themselues At Rome men held for constant that the Monitorie would cause three notable effects The first that the Religious would all depart the Countrey and so the Interdict at least by necessitie should be obserued The second that the Cities and people seeing themselues depriued of Diuine Offices Exercises would seditiously be moued and send to the Prince to giue satisfaction to his Holinesse The third that vpon this occasion the Nobilitie might be disordered grieued and terrified so diuided amongst themselues Vpon these hopes and considerations they suffered to slip not onely the foure and twenty daies before determined but many more during which the Iesuites tho absent put in worke all their artifices But they saw at Rome that neither the Censures nor the sleights of the Iesuites did worke any great effect nor produced the commotions which they had figured so that except the Iesuites banished the Capuchines and Theatines dismissed no other Order was departed and the Diuine Seruice was celebrated after the custome yea oftentimes with more solemnitie the people comming to the Churches in greater multitudes and some of them now frequented the Seruice which at other times had not beene so diligent The Senate was greatly vnited in their deliberations the Citie of Venice and the inhabitants kept themselues in all quiet obedience and the Cities of the Estate which till then had not sent their Deputies to the new Duke for congratulation did now performe that duty without any regard or respect vnto the Monitorie already published further declaring openly that in things temporall they would not acknowledge or obey any other power whatsoeuer And this so great a tranquillitie did not onely proceed from the voluntarie obedience of the people but also from the prouidence of the Senate and the diligence of the Magistrates which prouided for all accidents and this great affaire was conducted with so much prudence and dexteritie that no bloud of any man was shed for contempt or rebellion euery man admiring that so great a Body and Gouernment should be kept vpright without any violence or execution For touching the commandements giuen vnto the Eeclesiastiques vnder paine of death they were giuen in that sort at the instance and request of those amongst them who being voluntarily disposed to execute them desired neuerthelesse some pretext to excuse themselues The Court of Rome blamed the actions of the Pope and those which spake least to his disaduantage said that though his cause had beene neuer so iust yet in his proceeding he had vsed too great celeritie and too too excessiue confidence On the other side they commended the prudence of the Venetians who hauing receiued so vehement a shocke had yet retained their state in repose and tranquillitie After this came to Rome the Father Antony Barison who had taken poste to goe tell the Pope what was said at Ferrara from whence he came and at other places confining vpon the State of Venice where the reasons of the Republique were approued and notwithstanding he incited the Pope to preserue the Pontificall dignity The Pope made great complaints in the Consistorie that the Interdict was not obserued by the Ecclesiastiques and he required the Cardinals that euery one of them would with great care thinke of some remedy and make vnto him report a part Neuerthelesse the Cardinals did not beleeue that as well the Ecclesiastiques as the people for the most part were perswaded that the Censures were nullities rather they conceiued that there was in them a disposition to obserue them but that they expected some occasion to come to that effect wherefore they esteemed it good to giue occasion by exciting the Religious to some new practises either by abstaining from Diuine Offices or by departing out of the State This was the reason why the Cardinals Protectors of the Regulars together with their Superiors which were in the Court of Rome and in other places of Italie did what they could with them with menaces of Censures paines and other euils corporall and spirituall as also with promises of graces honours dignities not only to the Chiefe but further to each particular if they would obserue the Interdict or retire themselues But they dealt one way with the Monks and other Regulars endowed another way with the Mendicants To these they said that being not able to remaine and obserue entirely
Estates for the Seruice of his Serenity Fresne added further that His Maiesty was so much displeased for that he could not draw from the Republique any particular Intension in this businesse that Hee was minded once to rest himselfe and to meddle no more but yet he had resolued to hazard one Triall more and to make one Reply praying the Senate for his sake to be confident in him as in their Friend and so farre as they might to yeeld and giue some satisfaction vnto the Pope assuring them that his Holinesse would rest content with a little if by any meanes he might saue his Reputation And thereupon the Ambassador proposed two things The one was that the Senate would suspend the Execution of the Lawes and the Protestation published against the Monitory of the Pope vpon condition that his Holinesse would doe as much with his Monitory and with the Censures for foure or six moneths during which time they might treat of the Merit of the Lawes that were questioned And here he she that the Suspension of the Laws was a thing that might be easily yeelded because the Lawes being Prohibitiue the Obseruation whereof consisted in not doing that which they forbad a Suspension of them could not bring any innouation But for the Suspension of the Protestation he did not desire that it might be done in such passages wherein the actions of the Republique were proued iust and consequently the Censures pronounced void and inualide but only in such clauses wherein they seemed to breake off friendship with Pope that if this manner did not intirely satisfie some other more conuenient might be deuised the thing in it selfe being honest the question only of words that if the terme of six moneths for the Suspension of the Monitory did not seeme sufficient the Pope might be easily induced to prolong it Another thing proposed was that the Prisoners might be rendered without preiudice to the Cause of the Republique that the Religious gone out of Venice by reason of the Interdict might returne and the Pope would Suspend the Monitory for some time But the Ambassador passed lightly ouer this Proposition saying That it was not the Intention of the King that any thing should be done against the Dignitie or to the disaduantage of the Repub. and that if either of these Propositions were to their preiudice he was content to let them passe in silence that he had proposed them not thinking them preiudicial but if they shewed the cōtrary he had done He desired them further to consider that it was necessary to giue some apparent Occasion vnto the Pope that he might retract because it was neuer heard that a Pope hath reuoked his Bulles excepting at Constance by Authority of the Councell that if it seemed indecent and against the Custome of the Republique to correct their Lawes at the instance of the Pope or to render Prisoners vpon his demand for these things might be found some temper so as the things aforesaid might be done at the request of the King and to gratifie Him without making any mention of the Pope In the Senate this Matter was put in Deliberation where after they had well examined all the Reasons and considered withall the Perils which followed vpon the continuation of these Differences they preferred with one ioynt consent before all other respects the preseruation of their Liberty which without doubt had beene violated if the Senate had beene constrained vnder any pretext to take away the Authority of their Lawes For the point of giuing vp the Prisoners in gratification to the King they thought this not to touch vpon their Liberty although they saw it was desired to giue satisfaction vnto the Pope in as much as it was a particular fact which drew not with it any consequence that the like ought to be done in times to come And here there were two opinions some proposed that onely One of the should be rendered others were of aduice that they should render Both. And this opinion preuailed because if the one were released the deliuerance of the other the case being like could not be well refused and besides if the Senate at first should not yeeld so farre as they might by this meanes a gate might be open to other preiudiciall demands but if they should consent so farre as was possible they should be freed from the importunitie of new Propositions and the King Obliged to turne himselfe vpon the Pope They also considered that by yeelding one Prisoner to the King of France they should inuite some other Prince to demand the other which if they refused he would rest ill satisfied and if they granted him the most Christian King would iudge the fauour done to him to be but small So then resoluing to yeeld the two Prisoners vnto the King the Senate answered to the Proposition of the Ambassador thanking his Maiesty for his mediation and adioyned that as the Republique tooke in good part all that was done by his Maiestie so they prayed him not to interpret amisse that they had not condescended to any Particularity in as much as they knew not what to say in such a difficulty offered against all reason and aboue beleefe contrary to the Libertie and Gouernment of their Estate which they were assured and it was certaine his Maiestie would not preiudice That it was easie to see whereat aimed the Designes of the Pope who seeing that the Iustice of the Repub. for the merit and ground of the Cause was knowne and confessed by all not only out of Italy but euen in Rome would therefore to take aduantage find disorder in the forme and maner of proceeding wherein the Iustice of the Republique was so cleare that it was manifest to all the Errours of the Pope so grosse that they could not be excused Wherefore that it was not iust to correct the Faults of another with their owne damage and dishonour and since others had caused these Disorders it was not for the Senate to remedie them they had done sufficiently in that hauing receiued insupportable Iniuries they had proceeded with exemplary moderation doing nothing herein but for their necessary defence That the Questions moued by the Pope in the beginning of these differences were very vnreasonable but that which was done after was intolerable the Republique being assaulted by Treacheries and practises of Sedition to moue the people Religion it selfe which is most of all being by these meanes endangerd that yet still they were disquieted by the Pope who vnder pretence of propositions and satisfactions of forme sought to iustifie his Cause That the Repub. notwithstanding all this was ready to doe what they might their Liberty remaining entire but they could not consent that it should be diminished in any fashion without the high offence of God That to suspend their Lawes was nothing else but to confesse a want of authority to ordaine them which in effect was to cut the sinewes of Gouernment considering that the question
declare themselues If the Senate did meane that these words should suffice to giue assurance that the Lawes should not be executed and if they did not vse these words in the use to any other end but that it might not appeare in writing that they began againe to execute them then it was fit at least to make this appeare by some signe so as the Cardinall might serue himselfe of this Exposition That it would suffice him if either by speech or action they gaue him a signe hereof such as he might comprehend Because before the King would giue his word in writing it behoued that he should be assured that the Republique would not disauow it and that he might not haue occasion to repent himselfe to haue giuen it and so to remaine disgusted it being very much that the King should make the Pope contented with this false money this word being to serue only as a pure ceremony Further the King said that the Lawes being prohibitiue and consisting in nonfaciendo they had their Execution whilst things rested in suspence hauing taken vpon him to worke in such sort that on the part of the Pope and the Ecclesiastiques nothing should be done to the contrary And the King might be well able to giue this word without saying any more as being certaine that if the Ecclesiastiques on their part should not make any enterprise in this regard the Ministers of the Republique should not be occasioned to come to the execution of their Lawes so that as on the one side they should not be executed so on the other they should not be violated And here the Ambassador repeated that although the King might giue this word without the consent of the Republique in as much as it sufficed him to be assured by the Pope that no Ecclesiastique should giue occasion to the execution of these Lawes against his Holinesse nor to the violation against the Republique notwithstanding it was necessary that the Senate should giue him some answer Fresne adioyned moreouer that vnderstanding how the Spaniards pressed to haue the same word but in a more open and explicite fashion the Cardinall had purposely thus tempered his Proposition beleeuing it not to be conuenient for the Republique that they should rest obliged by the word of two Kings specially since the Spaniards would not content themselues with that moderate sweetnesse with which his King would be satisfied And he made instance that at least they would resolue him by some intimation because he saw there remained nothing else For touching the reestablishment of the Iesuites he conceiued there would be no difficulty since the K. did not doubt of it being an ordinary thing in Agreements that they who haue fomented the one and the other party returne again into their places seeing especially that the Pope could not consent without wronging his Reputation that they who went out only to obey him should remaine excluded And he did not thinke that this difficulty could be surmounted considering that they had to doe with a Pope stiffe and heady and there being no particular cause why they should deny him this satisfaction That he was willing to speake of this point which had beene passed in silence by the Card through modesty to the end that herein might be no impediment when they came to the Conclusion of the Affaire The Senate answered the Cardinall that the banishment of the Iesuites had beene decreed for causes so important and with such formalities that by the Lawes of the Republique the Decree could not bee reuoked And that when vpon Agreements the adherents of the one part and the other come to be reestablished those are not wont to be comprehended who are otherwise guiltie of such offences as that they should be banished without the occasions in question And for that which concernes the Reputation of the Pope touching the restitution of those who were gone out vpon his occasion the returne of them would be granted who had not committed other particular faults For the rest the Senate said that they could not but commend the good will of the King and of the Cardinall and thanke them both for their good aduice But for the matter of giuing any word touching the execution of the Lawes the Senate could say nothing else than that which they had so often repeated that in the vse of them they would neuer depart from their ancient Piety and Religion which might suffice the King and the Cardinall in that point adding that they would communicate the same to Don Francis de Castro The Cardinall had a desire to haue obtained more and to haue receiued an answer more conformable to his proposition neuerthelesse being come with resolution from the Pope to accōmodate vpon any termes the Contention yet with the most aduantage that he might he said That although he wished to haue had answer more conformable to his demand and though he had no great reason to thanke them for that hee had receiued notwithstanding since that the King was willing to haue all ended to the contentment of the Republique hee would content himselfe requesting them not to publish to any whomsoeuer this their answer but to conceale it secret forasmuch as the Affaire might be disturbed by some Spirit enuying the common good and secrecy alone might much conduce to a Cōclusion The Duke hereupon said that of necessitie they must needs answer the pursuits of Don Francis who hauing made the like and equiualent propositions must also receiue the like answer especially seeing he testified a good intention That neuerthelesse they would doe it with such reseruednesse and caution that the secret should not be too much published That this ought not to moue the Ministers of the King of France because it was a thing well knowne to all that all had beene to gratifie him and all that followed vpon this Treaty must be ascribed to him The Cardinall confessed that Don Francis de Castro had a good intention affirming that he would euery where giue him this testimonie but he beleeued not that he had in this Affaire the like power from the Catholique King as had the Ministers of France from their King because the termes which they designed to vse with the Pope came from the sole inuention of his Maty wherwith if others were acquainted he would willingly vnite with them But knowing not whether others had the same instructions he iudged secrecy necessary requesting them to proceed with dexteritie and not to vtter all at once but so to carry the matter as might best serue to make a conclusion of this Businesse Notwithstanding these reasons the Senate remained firme in their purpose to communicate all to Don Francis de Castro as well because he had made the same proposition as because at the arriuall of the Cardinall he went to visit him and offered to vnite himselfe with him according to the intentions of the Pope and of the Catholique King and of the Republique so far