small deale of wisdom me thinke might decide it especially considering that all good things are froÌ„ God though they be found in his very enemy whatsoever is not vniust being vsed in a good cause is good 27 The first and chiefe meanes wherby the reformers of Religion prevaile in all places was their singular assiduitie Preaching dexteritie in preaching especially in great cities Palaces of Princes whereby the people beeing ravished with the love admiration of that light which so brightly shined vnto theÌ„ as meÌ„ with the Sun who are newly drawn Publishing treatises of piety froÌ„ dungeon readily followed those who caried so faire a lamp before them Hereto may be added their publishing of treatises of vertue of piety of spirituall exercises devotions which ingendred a firme perswasion in the minds of men that the soile must be sound good from whence so sweet wholesome and heavenly fruites proceed Now although the opinions of the Papacy and of a great part of the reformed religion be as opposite herein wel-nie as hot and cold as light and darknes the one approving no devotion severed from vnderstanding the other thinking the vnderstanding to be a means rather to divert dazle the devotion then to direct and cherish it And for preaching in like sort the French Protestants making it an essential chiefe part of the service of God whereas the Romanists make the Masse only a worke of duty the going to Sermons but a matter of conveniency such as is left free to mens leasures oportunities without imputation of sin yet in regard of the great sway which they have learned by their losse that those cary in drawing of mens minds affections they have indevoured in all places in both those kinds to equal yea to surmount their adversaries For although in multitud of preachers they greatly come short being an exercise wherein the secular priests list not to distemper their braines much but commend it in a maner wholy to their regulars friars these thinking the cuntrey capacities to blockish or otherwise not worth bestow ing so great cost on do imploy theÌ„selves wholy in cities other places of great resort all which they have great care to have coÌ„petently furnished yet in the choyce of them whom they send out to preach in the diligence paines which they take in their Sermons in the ornaments of eloquence grace of action in their shew of piety revereÌ„ce towards God of zeal towards the truth of love towardes his people which even with their tears they can often testifie they match their adversaries in the best in the rest far exceed them But herein the Iesuits cary the bel froÌ„ all other having attained the coÌ„mendations working the effect of perfect orators And of those besids certain drawn yearly by lot froÌ„ their general residing at Rome their choise preachers are sent abroad amongst Infidels heretiks at Lent in especial they are sent out one in each city in Italy with yearly charge and the custom of Italie is for the same maÌ„ to preach every day in the lent without intermission if their strength do serve them so as sixe daies in the weeke to preach on the Gospel of the dayes and on the Sâ—terday in honor praise of our Lady so in every yearely change there is the delight of variety in the daily continuing of the same the admiration of industry Some such like course it is to be thought that the Iesuites hold also in other CouÌ„tries their proiects being certaine and exactly pursued But wonderfull is the reputation which redounds thereby to their order exceeding the advantage which it giveth to their side for bookes of praier pietie all countries are full of them at this day in their own language to stopp in part the out-crie of their adversaries against them for imprisoning the people whollie in those darke devotions especially to win the love of the world vnto them by this more inward and lively shew of sanctitie godlines Yea herein they conceive to have so farre surpassed their opposites that they forbeare not to reproach vnto theÌ„ their povertie weaknes coldnes in that kind as being forced to take the catholikes books to supply theirs which as in this it cannot altogither be denied to be true so on the other side it had bin greatly to be wished that these bookes of Christian Resolution exercise had bin the fruits of conscience rather then of the wits of those that made them which in some of them as father ParsoÌ„s by name have bin otherwise besides the rest of his actions vnsutable to those resolutions Some of them also more zealous in their way have not forborne to coÌ„fesse that by performing so good works with a good mind to a good end conforming their own lives demeanors acordingly they might have prepared mens minds to an hope of a through recoÌ„cilatioÌ„ wheras now by vsing holines it self for a meere instrumeÌ„t of practise to win men to their party they cannot but drive the world into such a laborinth of perplexities ielousies as to suspect alwaies their policies dispaire of their honesties 28 A second thing whereby the Protestant part hath so greatly enlarged it selfe hath bene their well educating of youth specially in the principles of Christian Religion pietie wherein their care and continuance is even at this day in many places very worthily to be coÌ„mended of all and imitated by them who hitherto have bin more remisse in educatioÌ„ of youth sowing in those pure minds seede of vertue and truth before the weedes of the world do raÌ„cor and change the soile being by the consent of the most renowned wise men of the world a point of incoÌ„parable force and moment for the well ordering and governing of all kind of states and for the making of Common-weales ever happie and flourishing for all education confor ming to the lawes and customes in being doth vphold states in the termes wherein they are The first seasoning with opinions accustomaÌ„ces whatsoever being of double force to any second perswations and vsages not comprising herein those nimble quick-silvered braines which itch after change liking in their opinions as in their garments to be noted to be followers of outlandish fashions as being of a more refined sublimated temper then that their Country conceits can satisfie Here in then the Papacie were taken short by the protestants even as in the for mer and mightily overonne eâ—e they were aware thereof notwithwaÌ„ding as difficulties doe rather kindle then dauÌ„t the generous spirits adde that to their diligence which was waÌ„tting in their timelines so these men have bestirred themselves so well therein to follow the trace which their adversaries had led them that in fine they have in some sort out-gone them in it quoted them in all one onely excepted that they respect not much
that stay they are then anie way to restore it where it hath beene disposed For although the Turkish warres should cease which is not vnlikely considering the calme nature of both Emperours who take more delight in Chambers then fields yet shall our Christian Emperour be inforced still in fortifiing and mainteyning Garrison all along his Frontires and confines so to exhaust his owne treasure and employ his people so that he will not be able to doe else-where any extraordinarie matter without helpe extraordinarie which is never over-readie And time which may prodvce manie accidents in his favour may also produce in his disfavour as many And by so many the more as the ground out of which in those partes they may grow is manifoldly larger against him then for him Now for the low Contreys the Papacie hath two thirdes with it and of the Switzers and Grisons two thirds against it also The Protestants are lightly the wealthier the low Cuntries switzers and Grysons and the Papists more warre-like which may sufffice for those parts of France how much the better is it knowne vnto vs at home so much the lesse shall I need to speake much in this place Neyther is it verie easie to proportion the parties by reason they of the Religion are so scattered in all places yet in Poicton almost all in Gasconie an halfe in Languedocke Normandie and other West Maritine Provinces a reasonable strong part as likewise in sundrie mediterrane parts But whatsoever is the proportion of the number to their opposites which is manifoldly inferior not one to twentie their strength is such as the warres have witnessed And specially at this day notwithstanding such massacring them so generall arising of the whole realme against them by the vttermost extremitie of fire and sword to exterminate them they are esteemed to be stronger than at any time heretofore In summ so strong that neither have their adversaries any great hope to winne and themselves not in feare to be borne downe by warres that their practise of peace which hath sorely alreadie bitten and afflicte their states by depriving them of place of office honor in the realm confining the exercise of their religion into chambers and remote corners did not impoverish debase dis harten the partie and so withdraw those from them that otherwise would sticke to them That is it which they misdoubted and by the Edict now past and verified have sought to remedie But looking more attentively into this partie I find that as conscience in what religion soever dooth even in the mists of error breed an honestnesse of minde and integritie of life and actions in whome it settleth So divine and pure vertue as the love of the Creator which is the ground of all that merite the name of Religious so also that in them that affect the greatnesse singlenesse and in a manner a verie carelesse simplicitie in their Religion as contenting themselves with the possession of the rich treasure of truth and for the preserving of it or themselves recommending those cares to God onely yet tract of afflictions much miseries often over-reaching by subtiltie of adversaries doth finally purge out those grosse witted humors and doth ingender a verie curious and advantagious warines in all their proceedings having learned by experience the wisedome of the Aphorisine That a small error in the foundation and beginning of all things doth prove in the proceeding and end of them a great mischiefe as hath fallen out in their men who doe as farre heerein out go their opposites in all civill policies as in other places they of the Religion are lightly outgone by them which next vnto divine blessing which accompanieth good causes where wickednesse or wilfull witlesnesse doth not barre against it I account their chiefe reason of their present strength and assurance by their providence in their capitulations by their resolutions in their executions by their industrie and dexteritie in all occasions presented they have possessed themselves of an exceeding great number of strong townes or places there is scant any office or estate can fall void but that they lay in by all meanes to get into it They have Synods for their Church affaires their conventions and counsels for their civill their people is warlike for leaders a matter of maine importance they are aboue their adversaries having besides those three of principal and knowne name other in Gasconie of lesse place and degree but in skill and valour not inferiour to the best In fine they have learned the wisedome of Spes sibi quisque c. the contrarie whereof before brought them so neere to their ruine But now touching the weakenesse of them of the Romane Religion in comparison of that strength which their multitude should promise much more may bee said First one great part of them are in heart with the reformed Religion though for worldly respectes they hold in with the other also will begin to disclose themselves daily those things being not setled in reasonable sort which have hitherto beene but in motion Secondly they are not all Papists that hold with the Masse but the Catholickes are heere divided into as different opinions and in as principall matters as the Protestants in any place that ever I heard of although their discretion and moderation is such as not to interrupt the common concord with private opinions The ground of which disagreements in opinion as I do take it is the antient diversity between the Roman Church the Gallicane which in many ceremonies differs much from the Romane Church as to omit sundrie other in the priests Lotions at the Masse and in their walking hymmes at Vespers and in some of them rather runs with the vsage of the Greeke Church as in their holy bread on Sundayes for them that do not communicate so also in the verie head point of their ecclesiasticall government it holdeth the general Councel to be above the Pope which opinion is at this day very currant strong even among such Catholiques as favour the Papacie which I reckon for the first differēce touching the estate of the Church which calleth into question in whom the very Soveraigntie and Supremacie therof is placed An other sort are there which hold their Church to be the true Church although they acknowledge sundry errors of abuses of lesse importance both in doctrine and practise But for the the Pope they hold resolutely that he is that Antichrist which sitting in the Temple that is in the true Church of God for even by his verie being Antichrist some prove they are the true Church doth advance himselfe above God as they thinke apparant by his dispensing with the law of God by the marchandizing of soules in his purgatorie pardons releasing them in an other world whom divine sentence hath bound as also by his Indulgences for great summes of money in this world And not least of all by his arrogating the impossibility of erring being a
give footing to the Religion they so much Suppressing the holy Scriptures hate And first for the scriptures Forsomuch as the reformation seemeth grounded vpon them having striven to square it out wholy by that rule as farre forth as their vnderstanding and wits could wade And forasmuch as â—â— is a thing which the Romanistes denie not That a great part of their Religion hath other foundation which seemeth in many points to swarve much yea and plainely to crosse the scriptures as an ordinare Reader by his meere naturall witt not fashioned by their distinctions nor directed by their glosses would expound it For this cause though heretofore to stop their adversaries mouths alwaies yelping and crying with hatefull soundes That they would not suffer the poore people to heare GOD speake to them that they starued and murthered their soules in ignoraunce robbing them of the breade of life the voyce of Christ and cramming and choaking them with their emptie superstitions their poysoned Idolatries That their scriptures would shew them that their worshipping of Images was ever with threats prohibited in the law of God That their praying in vnknowne languages and by tale is plainely reprooved their invocating and praying to saints a matter there never heard of that their ceremonies were vanities their trafficke for soules very sacriledge their Miracles delusions their indulgences blasphemies that it would discover their Church to be the bodie strangely infected and polluted with foule and pestilent diseases And finally that their not erring and inconâ—oleable Lord of Rome was no other than that imperious bewitching Ladie of Babylon though I say as well to beat back these irkesome outeries of their adversaries as also to give some content satisfaction to their owne that they might not thinke them so terrible afraid of the Bible they were contented to let it be translated by some of their favourers into the vulgar as also some number of Copies thereof to be saleable for a while at the beginning Yet since having huisht that former clamour and taken better provision for the establishing of their affatres they have called all vulgar Bibles straightly in againe yea the verie Psalmes of David which their factious Preacher Bishop Paâ—gorola translated as doubting else the vnavaleablenesse of those former inconveniences To let passe these hard conceits which they breede in the multitude as touching the inextricable obscuritie of the scriptures the easinesse to mistake it the daungerousnesse to erre by it having raised in some places such base and blasphemous proverbes concerning it I would rather themselves would extinguish them than that I list to giue life by recording them in this place neyther yet in their verie sermons though they preach alwaies in a maner of the Gospell of the day doe they read or any waye recite the text but discourse onely on such pointes of it as they thinke fittest without more solemnitie that no sound of Scripture may possesse the people although the vse in France be otherwise for that matter yea some parts of Scripture as Saint Paules Epistles they are so iealous of and thinke so dangerous that as I have heard credible report for my selfe did not see it some of their Iesuites of late in Italie in solemne Sermons and other their favorites elsewhere in private communication commending betweene them Saint Peter for a worthy spirite have censured Saint Paule for a hote headed person who was so transported with his pangs of zeale and eagrenesse beyond all compasse in most of his disputes That there was no greate reckoning to be made of his Assertions yea he was dangerous to read as savouring of heresie in some places and better perhaps he had never written Agreeably to which I heard other of their Catholiques deliver that it hath beene heeretofore very seriously consulted among them to have censured by some meanes and reformed the Epistles of Saint Paul though for my owne part I must confesse I cannot beleeve this point as beeing an attempt too abhominable and blasphemous and for these times too desperate a scandall But howsoever he of all other is least beholding to them whom of mine owne knowledge and hearing some of them teach in the pulpit not to have beene secure of his preaching but by conference with Saint Peter nor that he durst publish his Epi stles till Saint Peter had allowed them these orders they have taken to avoide danger from the written worde advauncing in steede thereof the amplitude the sufficiencie and vnfallible certaintie of GODS Oracles and wordes not written but delivered by the custodie of his holy Church by speech onely which Church hath delivered her mind in the Councell of Trent whereto al those that are solemnly made Doctors in Italie must subscribe 35 And as in the foundation of the Reformation which is the Scriptures so much more in the edifice it selfe the doctrine and opinions they beate away all sound and eccho of them beeing not lawfull there to alleadge them no not to glaunce at them nor to argue dispute of them no not to refute them In ordinary matter of com munication to talke of matters of religion is odious and suspitious but to enter into any reasoning though for Argument sake without other scandall is prohibited and dangerous Yea it was once my fortune to be halfe thretned for no other fault than for debating with a Iew and vpholding the trueth of Christianitie against him so vnlawfull are all disputes of Religion whatsoever And the Friars even in Fraunce in their indevours to convert other will say it is lawfull to perswade them but not to dispute with them But in Italie this is much more exactly observed wherein their Divinitie disputations in their Vniversities or Colledges as some such disputations they have but very sleight and vnfrequent I coulde not perceive that ever they debated any question at this day controversed otherwise than as ever among themselves and betweene the Schoolemen And which was more straunge to me till I sounded the reason in no place of Italie where ever I came could I have anie of their Preachers treate of any point in question betweene them and the Protestants save onely at Padua where in respect there are alwaies diverse hundreth of strangers of the adverse part it is otherwise practised But in all other places for ought I could perceive either they mention now no adversaries or if they do which is very seldome yet doe they not vnfolde their opinions and arguments but either from other Chimeraes of their owne in steed of them so flourish about or two in canvasing their owne shadowes as is vsuall in France also or else dispatch them away with certaine generall reproches and then as I have heard some of them will formally conclude But what do I name Heretikes in an assemblie of Catholiques Howbeit they are not so forgetfull and carelesse of their crosse neighbours as this course might seeme at the first blush to import but those offices they doe
antiquitie the opinion of possibility redoubling their desire brought forth in fine that Index expurgatorius whereof I suppose they are now not a little ashamed they having by misfortune lighted in their adversaries hands from whome they desired by all means to conceale them where they remaine as a Monument to the iudgement of the world of their everlasting reproach and ignomy These purging Indices are of divers sorts some worke not above 800. years vpward other venture much higher even to the prime of the Church the effect is that forasmuch as there were so many passages in the Fathers and other antient Ecclesiasticall writers which their adversaries producing in averment of their opinions they were not able but by trickes shiftes of wit to reply to ease themselves of that wit labour and qualitie perhappes indede more commendable in some other trade than in Diuinitie where Veritie shoulde sway where the love of the truth should assubiect or extinguish wholy all other passions and the the eie of the minde fixed attentively vpon that obiect should divert from the regarding of other motions whatsoever Some assemblies of their Divines with consent no doubt of their redoubted superiors and soveragnes have delivered expresse order that in the impressions of these Autors which hereafter should be made the scaÌ„dalous places there named should be cleane left out which perhaps though in this present age would have finally prevailed to the reclaiming of their adversaries it would have bin great assuraÌ„ce to the retayning of their owne to whome no other bookes should have bin granted yea perhaps Time Industrie which eate even thorrow marbles extinguishing or getting into their hands all former Editions and for any other new to be set â—u by their adversaries there is no great fear whose books being discurrant in all Catholiques countries their waÌ„t of meanes requisite to vtter an impression would disharten them from the charge the mouth also of Antiquity should be throughly shut vp from vttering any sillable or sound against them Lastly by adding wordes where oportunitie and pretence might serve and by drawing in the marginall notes glosses of their friars into the text of the fathers as in some of theÌ„ they have already very hansomely beguÌ„ for the mouth of antiquity should be allso opened for theÌ„ Their remained then only the rectifying of S Paule whose turne in all likeliehoode if ever should be the next and other places of Scripture whose authority beeing set beneath the Churches alreadie it were no greate matter to submit also to her censures especially for so good an inteÌ„t as the weeding out of heresies and the preserving of the Catholike saith in his purity glory But above all other the second Commandement as the Protestants Grecians and Iewes reckon it were like to abide it which already in their vulgar catechisme is discarded as words superfluous or at leastwise vnfit or vnnecessarie for these times and then without an Angel sent downe from heaven no means to controle or gain-say them in any thing But these are the dreames perhaps of some over-passionate desires at leastwise not likely to take place in our times But what is it which the opinions of the not possibility of erring of the necessary assistance of Gods spirite in their Consistories of authoritie vnlimited of power both to dispence of Gods lawes in this world to alter his arrests and iudgements in the other for therevnto doe their pardons to them in Purgatory extend What is it which these so high and fertile opinions are not able to engender and powerfully to inforce and to execute carrying men away headlong with this raging conceipt that whatsoever they doe by the Popes they doe by Gods owne commandement whose Lievtenant on the earth he is by a commission of his own penning that is to say with absolute and vnrestrained iurisdiction that whatsoever they do for the advancement of his See and Scepter they do it for the vpholding of the Church of Christ and for the salvation of mens soules which out of his obedience doe vndoubtedly perish And verily it seemes no causelesse doubt of feare that these humours so forward so ventrous to alter and chastice with palpable partiality the workes of former times in any age which hath so many iealous eyes on their fingers so many mouthâ—s open to publish their owne shame such store of coppies to restore and repaire whatsoever they should presume to maime or deprave that in former ages when there were few copies small difficulties no enemies as it is found by certaine irresragable arguments that bastard writings were forged in their favour and fathered on honest men who never begat them So also they might besides by their choppings and changings puttings in and pvttings out suppresse many good evidence which they perceived were not greatly to their purpose should be extant But of all others in reforming and purifying of Authors the care and diligence of this Pope doth farre exceede who not content with that which hath beene done in that kinde before him nor thinking things yet so bright as they should be causeth much to be perused and skowred over anew yea and it is thought will cassiere some worthy Authors who as yet though with cuts and gashes hold ranke amongst them And for a further terrour not to retaine bookes prohibited I have seen in their printed instructions for confession the hearing or reading of bookes forbidden set in ranke amongst the sinnes against the first Commandements And for further provision the Iewes who have no other trades to speake of then loane of money and old stuffe are inhibited in many places the medling any more with bookes for feare that through error or desire of lucre they might doe them preiudice Neither is it lawfull in Italy to carry bookes about from one place to another without allowance of them from the Inquisitor or search by their authorities wherein as I confesse they have neglected nothing which the wit of man in this kinde could possibly devise So yet it may be doubted that as too much wiping doth in the end draw blood with it soile more then before so these too rigorous cuting off of all Authors tongues leaving nothing which may favour any freedome of spirit or give any satisfaction for vnderstading times past may raise such a longing for the right Authors in the mindes of all men as may encourage the Protestants to reprint them in their first intirenesse having hope given to vent them although in secret These have I observed for the complots and practises of the Roman Church and Papacy not doubting but that they may have many more and much finer then I can dreame of yet in the surveying of these altogether me thinks they are such that it causeth mee in generality of good desire to wish that eyther the cause which they strive to maintain were better or their pollicies whereby they maintaine it were not so good 37 Now
more devotion towards her in the drawer then acquaintance vnlesse her face were verie variable or their skill verie slender Somewhere as at Loretto she is painted like a Blackmore In summe they have so little knowledge of her countenance and favour that in some places they will assemble diverse of their fairest Curtesans to draw the most modest beauty of a Virgin out of the flagrancie of harlots But to returne to the Grecians and to come now to their government which is auncient by Patriarkes Archbishops and Bishops with other orders inferiour vnto whom the people carry exceeding respect as it were to the publike fathers and heads of their nation notwithstanding that calamitie wherein the tyranny of the Turke hath plunged them They have also a religious order amongst them of S. Basill the great founder of the East Monks and S. Benedict of the West These only have their vowes of chastitie austerity and may not marry which to the rest of their Cleargy is not prohibited they have also their proper habite but shaven they are not for ought I could discerne no more are their Priests being a ceremony so bald that some Priests in France are ashamed of the marke and few of them have it that can hansomly avoid it But as in the multitude of their religious orders they differ much from the West Church the Grecians having only this order of S. Basil the Latines having multiplyed therin to greater store varietie then are professions in a cōmon wealth or trades in a city so also in their vse course of life For the Roman monks by withdrawing them selves from the societie of other men and living and dying within their Cels do bereave the world of that benefit and of that dutie and service wherein each man is bound to the behoofe of other alledging in place thereof the blessings which by their assiduitie and fervor in praier not interrupted nor cooled by secular cōmercemēts nor drawne down vpon the world doe grow vnto the Church whereas the Grecians continue that more approved institutiō of them by spirituall meditations and exercises and by severitie to make themselves fitter to serue in the Church of God in ecclesiasticall calling with exemplarie holines And accordingly their Prelates and other principall priests are chose in many places out of one of their order in greatest part these guides of their Church have a wonderfull care and are continually pricked with the motion of much feare and griefe of heart lest their persecuted flock gasping in helpelesse and comfortlesse exreamitie of all miserie having famine of soule and great blindnes within for lacke of a Pastor meanes to maintaine them without seeing nothing but triumphes over Christ and scorners of his religion insolencies and violencies against their persons oppressions and extortions vpon their goods rapines and murderings vpon the verie soules of their children a case to be bewailed with teares of bloud by all Christian hearts that knew it hearing the onely anchor and stay of ther soules which is the expectation of the comming of Christ and of future salvation daily derided and blasphemed by the pride of the mightie And finally seeing no shadow of any hope of deliverie from this calamitie vnder the burden whereof they grone should in the end fall away and revolt to Turcisme inviting them therevnto with so many baites of pleasures of freedome and of worldly glorie In which fearefulnes of mind the onely remedy remaining is the vertuousnes of their owne example in constancie and patience and avoyding of all scandall to their people which is the cause that they vvill not heare of any reformation of any thing not I suppose for any presumption or obstinacie of minde as disdaining reformation but all trembling at alteration vvhich must needes accompany it least their people perceiving hovv they had bin amisse in something might suspect the possibility of like error in the vvhole fall mainly vvhither the force of povver vvorldly prosperity a chief argument to the vulgar mind should sway them on the other side their doubt of further exasperating the Turke in his crueltie against them considering that in Greece and in all those parts of Europe the Christians vnder the Turke doe verie manifoldly exceede in number the Mahometitians themselves may be a cause why in their generall they hold so small intelligence and correspondence with the West Church of one side or other and are like to continue so whilest their thraldom and cause of that feare shall last though in their particular they will declare a brotherly affection of both and desire of the vnity of all in one truth But for the Turke himselfe hee maketh full account that whensoeuer the West Christians should shortly invade him these Christians vnder him would runne to their aide if they sawe any likelihoode that they should prevaile And this hath beene seene alreadie more then once by example and hee provideth accordingly The Moscovites are a great Church a free and puissant not Schismaticks from the other Grecians as some in disgrace Moscovites of both deliver though perhaps not cōcurring fully in al points neither is it true which other of a contrary cōceipt have rumored that the Patriarch of Constantinople had removed his Seat to Mosco whither he went only to erect that See into an Archbishopricke which before it was not returned But the Turk to keep the Moscovits from stirring against him causeth the Tartarians to make oftē incur sions roads into their country that so being held alwaies in awe on one side they may have lesse stomack on the other to imbrace any thoughts or dessignes of interprising or combining with other Christians against him It were needlesse now to enter into any view of their lives neyther could it serve eyther way to their honor or reproch of their Religion and gouernment being maimed interrupted or stopt in his operations of what quality soever through his tyrany who strives to plant barbarousnes among them as knowing that neither civilitie founded his Empyre nor with civilitie could it long continue But the case is general and experience shews it in all places that the afflicted in all religions how contrary soeuer are for the most part men of conscience and honestie save only where hopes draw other humors to them For it cannot come from lesse than a vertuous affection to prefer the sinceritie of conscience before worldly glory howsoeuer it may be stained with erronious opinions as on the contrary side even the purest religion in prosperity draws it to an infinity of timeseruers who being trained vp in the exactions of cup discipline make their Randevous where the best cheere is stirring and follow Christ vpon a sharp devotion but to his bread not to his doctrine In which regard the fruits of life in divers religions and governments are not to be compared but where their prosperity and adversity are equall So fals it out in this particular we
above all other in revenge of the murder of Henry the 3. his predecessor or if he would or could do it now to them and to the Capuchins who at this day next to the Iesuits are of greatest renowne in punishmeÌ„t of their late practise so fortnately discovered so chastice the schools alwaies wheÌ„ he took their schollers in so enormeous falts there were great hope for the reformed religion in time to prevail which is now preiudiced persecuted by these Friars that hardly can it keepe foot on the ground it hath Thus much of the strength which these religious orders do yeeld the Papacie 25 To this may be added the like invention of spirituall Invention of spirituall fraternities fraternities companies perhaps equaling yea exceeding n nuÌ„ber the very orders of Friars in which vnder the protection in honor of some saint or of any other holy man or religious Minister oftentimes annexing theÌ„selves to some of the orders of friars the lay people of al sorts both men women both single and maried do inrole themselves into one or more of these societies approaching so much neerer to the state of the cleargy vnto which sundry of theÌ„ are no other then annexaries appurtenaÌ„ces wherby as they tie theÌ„selves to the orders of them cosisting in certain extraordinary devotions professioÌ„s bearing also certain times som badge of their company so are they made partakers of al such spiritual prerogatives either by partnership with other Churches merits or intrest in sundry Indulgences some halfe plenary some whole some for the time past some before hand for sundry years to come chiefly for the avoiding or speedy dispatch out of purgatory as the Pope or his predecessors for the incouragement comfort of the Christian people in their devotion charity have thought good to grant vnto them These fraternities are not yet growne into any great request in other â—ollicies of the pa â—acie against the opposites places howbeit in Italie they have so multiplied that few especially of that vulgar and middle sort of men who affect any reputation of devotion but have entred into some one of them and sundry into many the assuraÌ„ce of whom vnto Papacie must needs be doubled since love groweth according to the proportion of hope 26 Now come I to the last ranke of the Roman pollicies aranged against their professed feared enemies whereby they do seeke to re-enter where they have beene disrooted and practise as well for the wasting away of their opposits where they are as for shutting them their doctrine out where yet they have not beene I will not heere exemplifie vpon things manifest and ordinary being high waies so plaine that a guide were needlesse their persecutions confiscations tortures burnings secret murthers generall massacres exciting of inward seditions outward hostility against their adversaries their oppressing debasing of theÌ„ where themselves are the stronger are things whereof they were none of the inventors though perhaps the coÌ„meÌ„dation of the exact refining of them of straining theÌ„ to their highest note of sedulitie perseverance putting theÌ„ in execution may be more due proper to them then to any other neither yet will I meddle greatly with their Art of slandering their opposites oâ— disgracing their persons misreporting their actions falsifying their doctrine positioÌ„s things wherwith their pulpits do daily sound their writings swell againe But they are not the first neither that have run this blacke course no more then the former red others have done it before them ye the buying of meÌ„s coÌ„sciences by proposing reward to such as shall relinquish the protestant religion turne to theirs as in Ausbarie where they say there is a knowne price for it of ten florence a yeare In France where the Clergie have made coÌ„tributions for the maintenance of runnagate Ministers is a devise also â—â—esh of easie conceit I will rather insist vppon their inventions lesse trivial and more worthy to be regarded A wonderfull thing it is to consider the great diversitie of humours or tempers of minde which this age hath produced in this one point wee speake of touching the meanes of growing onward vpon the adversarie part Puritaines A sort of men there liveth in the world at this day whose leaders whether vpon extreamity of hatred toward the Church of Rome or vpon selfe-liking and singularitie to value their owne wittes and devises did cut out in such sort their reformation of religion as not onely in all outward religious services ceremonies in governement Church discipline they doe strive to be as vnlike the Papacie as is possible but even in very lawfull pollicies for the advancing of their part doe disdaine to seeme to bee imitators to them whom they so much abhorred much like stowt â—arted selfe-witted Captaine who scornes to imitate any stratageme before vsed by the enemie though the putting of it in exploit might give him assured victorie Neither doe these mens Protestants schollers as yet one whit degenerate yea perhaps that disease if I may so censure it hath tainted in some degree all the protestant party who never could finde the meanes in all this age to assemble a generall Counsell of all their side for the composing of their differences and setting order in their proceedings for want I must confesse of some oportunities but of a great deale of zeale also in their governors as to mee it seemeth neither yet have they in any one of all their Dominions erected any colledge of more contemplative persons to confront and oppose against the Iesuites but have left this weighty burthen of clering the controversies of perfecting the sciences of answering the adversaries writings of exceeding huge travel either vpon their ordinary Ministers to be performed at times of leisure from their office of preaching then is it done accordingly or vpon such as in Vniversities having some larger scope shall willingly and of their owne accord vndertake it for sometimes whereas on the contrarie side the Papacie seemeth to me very diligently and attentively to have considered and weyed by what means chiefly their adverse part hath growne so fast beyond either their owne expectation or the feare of their enemies as in lesse then an age to have won perhaps the moity of their Empire from them And those very means theÌ„selves have resolved hence-forwards to appy in strong practise on their side also that so as by a countermine they may either blow vp the mindes of their adversaries or at leastwise give them a stop from any further proceeding like a politike Generall who holdeth it the greatest wisdome to out-goe his enemies in their owne devices the greatest valour to beate him at his owne weapons I will not here presume to presse in with my determination vpon this great difference and question although it seeme to mee to be no other then a plaine quarrell betweene stomacke and discretion A