to all divine duties whatsoever though not Ecclesiasticall but performed by private persons and in severall as occasion serves neither to such onely as faith hath revealed to vs Christians but even those which the light of Nature hath taught all men in the world yea Pagans and Barbarians as yeelding glorie to God imploring his aide and favoure tendring him thankes for benefits in none of which actions may they ioyne with the Protestants being so commaunded by the soveraigne Lord of their Church If a Protestant begin to settle himselfe to pray with that prayer which the lippes of our Saviour hath sanctified and taught it is now so polluted by passing through his lippes that a Romane Catholick may not stay in the roome if hee vse that voice which all the creatures of God in their severall languages doe daily sound foorth and say God bee praised or Glorie bee to the Highest The Romanist alone is silent and may not ioyne his assent if at meate hee yeelde thankes vnto God for his blessings bee it but with Deo gratias which was ever in Augustines mouth though this chaseth not a Catholike from his dinner which were to his losse yet must hee forbeare his Amen vnto it On the contrarie side some Romane Catholicks will not saie grace though be at his owne Table when a Protestant is present thinking it better to leave GOD vnserved then that a Protestant ioyne in serving him though the Custome of giving GOD thanks at meales is generally amongst these Catholiques growne cleane out of vse both in Fraunce and Italy for ought I could see as not knowing that the Popes pardon is gained by the vse of grace in cuppes In summe they are more averse to ioyne with a Protestant in dooing honour to GOD then the very bruite beasts if beasts by proper speech could sound forth Gods praise as the legends of their Saints in their favour doe fancie wherein how religiously they have proceeded for the amplifying and advauncing of Gods service that GOD doth know how politiquely for the strengthening of their owne part amongst their enemies that the world may know by these few considerations First by this course that they keepe their lay followers in a perpetuall darke ignorance of the Protestants faith and religion having made it an high degree of deadly sinne either to read their bookes or to heare their Sermons or to be present at their Service or any way to communicate with them in religious duties whatsoever Whereby whatsoever their lay multitude coÌ„ceiveth of the reformed religion or of the points of doctrine which therein are taught is that only which the enemies thereof doe tell them who reports according to the disease of their owne stomackes and as I may represent it in most odious and hideous forme to the hearers So that now no more mervaile which experience doth teach that seldome or never a lay Catholique can bee found that conceiveth rightly of any almost of the Protestants propositions sith seldome or never was Romane Priest yet to be shewen that hath not falsified and depraued them vtterly in reporting them Whereas if those lay Catholiques should once open their cares to know the Protestants opinions from themselves that hold theÌ„ which was the vse of the old world in their ingeniovs simplicitie and singlenesse of proceeding they would not bee found either so absurd perhaps but that a reasonable or so wicked but that a religious minde might imbrace them Then secondly by this meanes they doe knit their own fact on more fast together and vnite them more soundly to the head thereof the Pope sith no service of God but in his communion and with him no coniunction without vtter separation and estranging from his enemies whereas if his party should but ioyne with the Protestants in such service of GOD as are allowed by both this concvrring with them in some actions might abate that vtter dislike which they have of their whole way yea and happily taking a liking of them in some things they might bee drawne still by degrees to other and finally steppe away or grow colde in their first affections For factions as by disparitie of minde they are raised so by strangenesse they are continued and growne mortall whereas on the other side they are slaked by intercourse by parley they are reconciled by familiarity extingushed A memorable example of the vertue of this pollicie our owne Country in these latter times hath yeelded wherein the first reformation vnder King Edwarde the Preâ—ates and Clergie having before discarded the Pope did easily ioyne with the Protestants though not in their opinions yet in the publike service of God in the Churches being indifferently composed and offensive to neither part And but that the Pope soone after vpon extraordinarie cause was restored to his former authority by Queene Mary that faction had in likelihoode bin long since ended But after that the Pope was once againe admitted and had liberty to temper with his partie at pleasure in the second reformation by her Maiesty not a Bishop of his could be perswaded to come to our Churches but choosing rather losse of living and the greatest part also of Recusants which have since beene continued by their followers to this day Notwithstanding our service be lesse offensive to them then in King Edwards and in no part opposite to any point of their beleefe But so it seemed good to their pollitique Governours by this vtter breach and alienation to preserve and perpetuate the remaines of their partie and that in the middest of their more potent adversaries though armed with Lawes quickened with suspitions yea exasperated by their often dangerous practises against them Now in that they proceede also a steppe further and inhibite their partie not onely the reading of the Protestants bookes and repaire to their Churches but also ioyning with them in any service of God in whomsoever or in how lawfull sort soever performed thereby doe they ingender in them an extreame hatred and bitter detestation of their opposites For if the Protestants by reason of their enmitie with the Pope and swarving from his way do stand in teâ—rmes of so deepe disfavour with God that the prayer it selfe doe turne into sinne that their humble thankes givings are abhominable presumptions that to ioyne with them in praysing the Creator of the world is no better then treason to his Maiestie then surely woe woorth the houre wherein they were borne and blessed bee that hand that shall worke their bane and ruine Then no stay or doubt but what the Pope directes that boldly to bee executed against these enemies of God And this have they set vpp as a Crowne and accomplishment to the rest of their practises against their adversaries for now is their faction not onely kept on foote and continually mainteined without decay but enflamed also with such hatred of their enemies that they are readie to any violence that opportunity shall devise For as diversities of iudgements doe
fiunt Pontifices Romanis There with all so soone as the Conclave was broken vp he retired to his country and neuer saw Rome againe But the matter of greatest marke herein at this day is the power of the K. of Spaine in swaying those Elections who by pensions by perferments by hopes of the highest hath assured a great third part of the Cardinalls to him And to be alwaies at his devotions in all Elections whereby having the exclusiue as they terme it no Pope can be made but with his liking He prodeeds on by his Ambassadors to name also some five or six vnto them whereof please they but to choose any he shall rest wel satisfied which course though it mightily distaste the rest of the Cardinalls who are hereby for ever debased from their chiefe desire yea and inwardly much afflict the great states of Italie who are loth to have their Pope of a Spanish Edition yet there is no remedie one of these in fine they must needs choose the discretion they can have is onely this to choose such of them as is like to prove least to his purpose A memorable example heereof in the election of the saide Gregorie where the greatest parte of the Cardinalles enflamed against the King and banding against him yet in conclusion after twoo moneths imprisonment in the Conclave were forced to relent and to choose one of his nomination or otherwise a cleere case no Election at all which whether there were or no made no mater to Spaine who stands vpon a sure ground in his exclusive obstinatenesse The nessesitie of the Church the state of the Papacie their owne present condition the disorders of the cittie of Rome and of all their territories which in want of a Pope and this locking vppe of the Cardinalles in a cellar doe swarve exceedingly did maynly cry out to have some Pope or other which at the last they yeelded to by consenting vpon a favorite yea a subiect of Spaine also for such was that Gregorie howbeit the maine matter runneth not with him so cleerely they being not the same men that are chosen and that are Popes But changing with their estates both name and nature also yea sometimes not easier to finde two divers men of humours more different than is the same man in his Cardinalship and in his Papalitie whereof no better witnesse than Sixtus Quintus the most crooching humble Cardinall that ever was lodged in an oven and the most stowt resolute Pope that ever ware Crowne in his Cardinalshipe a meere vassall and slave of Spaine in his Papasie the most dangerous enimie that Spaine ever had in the world in summe who in his Cardinalship was scorned as a base Friar in his Papacie was reverenced as a Prince of great worth and spirite neither is there any marvell to be made of this difference seeing the meanes of obtaining and maintaining the Papall honour are so cleane contrarie seeing in the one state they fashion themselves to all other mens humors in the other they looke all men should accommodate themselves to their honors And lastly seeing these Princes whose favors are the only hopes to compasse this place and their power quelling downe the estate For this cause as in general the Cardinals doe in their hearts favor France above Spaine both as being the weaker part and the further neighbours the only hope to maintaine counterpose against the others greatnes So let the king of Spaine make what choice among them of a Pope he can he shall finde that as long as these reasons continue whosoever sits in the seate will more respect his owne safetie than the service of his preferrors even as doth this very Pope who for that cause is conceived to have made some alteration of inward friendshippes though holding good termes of love and loyaltie with both But this vncertainty mutability of the newe Popes affections doth cause both the K. of Spaine other princes of Italy above all other things to aime at a man of calme nature not of stirring mettall that if they cannot make any great account of his friendship yet his naturall disposition and temper may assure them that he shall not be a raiser of new stirs in Italy and diverse of them to scamble somewhat for ther own have bin as on the other side a speciall good inducement to the Cardinalles in his age and sicknesse that the place may bee soone void again for the gaining whereof there is alwaies practising and plotting immediately vpon the Election 41 Thus is the Pope made who hath his councel of cardinals to attend and advise him he chosen by them they created by him whose nuÌ„ber may amount they say to 72 but many places are kept void still to serve for desperate pushes for these there are some 20. being lightly the yoÌ„ger sonnes of Dukes and Princes who in case their Ancestors states should descend vp on them with dispensation from the Pope may resigne vp their hats among the Cardinalls for their owne honor and for the gratifying of the world are sorted out and divided al the orders of religions all the nations of christendome wherof they are appointed the particular protectors in the Court of Rome As the Protectour of England now is Cardinall Caietane a verie stout man of Spanish faction who hath beene Legate into Fraunce and more lately into Poland but now returned 42 Now for this Pope who is by countrey birth a Florentine was chased from thence with his father vpon a conspiracie against Don Cosmito I have little more to say than what I have before touched hee is reputed to bee a man of a good calme disposition and not too crafty yet close and one that can hold his owne well enough kind to his friends devout in his waâ—es thinks without doubt that he is in the right he wil weepe very often some conceive vpon a weaknesse tendernes of minde habituated therin by custom others say vpon pietie and godly compassion At his mafles at his processions at the fixing vp of his iubilies his eyes are still watering sometimes streaming with teares insomuch that for weeping he seemeth an other Heraclitus to ballance with the last Gregorie another Democritus for laughing Touching his secret life the Italians speake somewhat diversly especially for his younger yeares But mens tongues are alwaies prone to taint their governours and the worse men speake worse in hope to lurke themselves vnder the blemish of their betters For my part hearing no extraordinarie badde matter against him but only by suspition I iudge the best and howsoever I had rather preserve the credit of a bad man than staine or impaire it in a good For his yeeres hee doth not much exceed three score but is troubled with the dropsie and that caused some say accompanied with a thirstie infirmitie for a Prelate he hath good comendations an enemie to the licentious lives of the Friars yea to the pompe also
great facility and without which there is no possibilitie of salvation 2 That divine prerogative is granted vnto them abve all the people in the world which doth preserve them everlastingly from erring in matters of faith and from falling from GOD. 3 That the Pope being Christes deputie hath the keyes of heaven in custodie to admit in by Indulgence shut out by excommunication as he shall see cause 4 That the charge of all soules being committed to him he is thereby made soveraigne prince of this world exceeding in power and maiestie all other princes as far as the soule in dignitie doth exceed the bodie eternall things surmount things temporall and seeing the end is the ruler and commander of whatsoever doe tend vnto it and all things in this world are to serve but as instruments and the world it self but as a passage to our everlasting habitation 5 That therfore he that hath the managing of this high honour to be the supream conductor vnto it hath also power to dispose of all things subordinate as may best serve to it to plant to roote out to establish to depose to bind to loose to alter to dispence as may serve most fitte for the advancement of the church and for the atcheving of the soules felicitie wherein whosoever oppose against him whether by Heresie or Schisme they are no other then verie Rebels or seditious persoÌ„s against whom he hath vnlimited endlesse power to proceede to the suppressing ruining and extinguishing of them by all meanes that the Common-welth of God may florish in prosperitie and the high way to heaven bee kept safe and open for all Gods loyall and obedient people In these poynts no doubtes or questions are tolerable And whoso with them ioyne in these shall find great connivence in what other defect or difference soever this being the very touchstone by which all men are to be tried whether they be in the Church or out of the Church whether with them or against them and by this plott have their wits erected in this worlde a Monarchie more potent then ever any that have bene before it A Monarchye which intitling them de iure to all the world layeth a strong foundation thereof in all mens conciences the onelie firme ground of obedience in the worlde and such a foundation as not onely holdeth fast vnto them whatsoever it feazeth on but worketh outwardly also by engines to weaken and vndermine the states of all other Princes howe great so ever and that in such sort as by possessing themselves of the principall places the hearts of their subiects as being those from whome they have their principall good even the happinesse of their soules to incite vppon everie conscience a gaynest their naturall Soveraigne at pleasure and by a writte of Excommunication to svbdue or at leastwise greatly to shake whom they list without fighting a blow without leavying a Souldier lastly a Monarchie which as it was founded by meere witte needeth not anie thing but meere witte to mainetaine it which enricheth it self without labouring warreth without endangering rewardeth without spending vsing Colledges to a great purpose as others can fortresses working greater matters partly by Schollers partly by swarmes of Friars than else they could ever doe by great garrisons armies And all these maintained at other mens charges for to that rare poynt have they also proceeded as not onely to have huge rents themselves out of other mens states but to maintaine also their instruments out of other mens devotions and to advance their favorites vnder the faire pretence of providing for Religion to the verie principall preferments in forraine Princes Dominions That no man need find it strange if finding the revenew of skill and cunning to be great and their force mightie especially what they worke vpon simplicitie and ignorance They inclosed in times past all learning within the wals of their Cleargie setting forth Ladie Ignorance for a great Saint to the Laitie and shewing her vnto them for the true mother of Devotion And assuredly but for one great defect in their pollicy which was hard in regard of their owne particular ambition but otherwise not impossible to be avoided That they choose their Pope lightly verie old and withall without any restraint of all Families and Nations whereby they are continually subiect to double change of government The Successor seldome prosecuting his Antecessors devices but eyther crossing them through envie or abandoning them vpon new humour it could not have been but they must have long since beene absolute Lords of all which defects notwithstanding so strong was their pollicy by reason of the force of their Cardinall fonndation That no Prince or Potentate ever opposed against them but in fine even by his owne Subiects they eyther maistered him or vtterly brought him to good conformitie by great losse and extreamitie tâ—ll such time as in his latter age the bottom of the foundation it selfe being stoutly discovered hath given them a sore blow hath changed in great part the state of the question and hath driven them to a re-inforcement of new inventions and practises 12 Howbeit those positions being the ground of their state and the hope of their owne glory in them they admit no shadow of alteration but indevour still per fas nefas euen by all the meanes in the world to strengthen them and amongst their manifold adversaries hate them most of all other who have laboured most in stopping of that foundation And seeing that by reason of this bookish age they have not that helpe of ignorance which in times past they had they cast about greatly to soake and settle them in mens perswasions and consciences by another way They tell men that the very gound whereon we build our perswasion of the truth of Christianity it self are no other then credible That the proofes of the Scripture to be the word of God can be no other at this day than probable onely being impossible for any wit in the world to produce exact necessary and infallible demonstrations Eyther that the holy Apostle Saint Paule had his calling from above or that those Epistles were of his writing so likewise in the rest and that the chiefe proofe that we have therof is the testimony of the church a thing which their very adversaries are forced to confesse Now that this probable perswasion of the truth of Christianity doth afterward grow to an assurednesse therof this issueth from an inward operation of Gods divine spirit the gift whereof is faith and that faith being a knowledge not of bare science but of beleefe which searcheth not the particular necessitie of the veritie of things delivered but relieth in generall vpon the approoved wisedome truth and vertue of him that doth deliver it Then surely whosoever will have necessarie proofe of the severall Articles of Religion doth but wittily deceive himselfe and by over-curious indevour to chaunge his faith into science doth loose that which