in the way of perswasion to insinuate their desire and to worke their desein In considering wherof there commeth into my mind that diversitie which a wise Philosopher hath intimated in the witts of men that some are of so sharp deep and strong discourse that they yield not their firme assent to any thing till they haue found out either some proper demonstration for it or some other certein proof whereon to ground it assuredly other are by nature so shallow and weake in that facultie that they feare always errour in working with it and therefore doe more willingly accord to whatsoever some of account for wisdome do barely affirme than to any thing that reason alone which they suspect enforceth Now these later exceeding the other as farre in number as in worthinesse and honour of nature they are exceeded by them The Romanists taking a course so fitting to the seeble and fearfull humour of this sort do greatly sway with them wheras if they meet with one of the former more tough constitution that will not be caried away with these plausible declamations nor yield his assent in grosse without particular examination they bestow small cost on him as having small hope to prevaile Wherein I hold them wise in the rules of policie that having found by certeine and infallible experience that the ignorance of the Laietie was the chiefest and surest sinew of their greatnesse and glorie they now being not able to keepe them longer in that blind ignorance doe cunningly endeauour so to lead them out of the former as to enter them withall into a second kind of ignorance that being not content to see utterly nothing at least wise they may bee perswaded to resigne up their owne eysight and to looke through such spectacles as they temper for them This being the maine ground-worke of their policie and the generall meanes to build and establish it in the minds of all men the particular Ways they hold to Ravish all affections and to fit each humor which their jurisdiction and power being but perswasiue and voluntary they principally regard are well-nigh infinite there being not any thing either sacred or prophane no vertue nor vice almost no things of how contrary condition soever which they make not in some sort to serue that turne that each fancie may be satisfied and each appetite find what to feed on Whatsoever either wealth can sway with the lovers or voluntary povertie with the despisers of the World what honour with the ambitious what obedience with the humble what great imployment with stirring and mettald spirit what perpetuall quiet with heavie and restiue bodies what content the pleasane nature can take in pastimes and jolitie what contrariwise the austere mind in discipline and rigour what loue either chastitie can raise in the pure or voluptuousnesse in the dissolute what allurements are in knowledge to draw the contemplatiue or in actions of State to possesse the practick dispositions what with the hopefull praerogatiue of reward can worke what errours doubts and daungers with the fearefull what chaunge of vowes with the rash of estate with the inconstant what pardons with the faultie or supplies with the defectiue what miracles with the credulous what visions with the fantasticall what gorgeousnesse of shews with the vulgar and simple what multitude of Ceremonies with the superstitious and ignorant what prayer with the devout what with the charitable workes of pietie what rules of higher perfection with elevated affections what dispensing with breach of all rules with men of lawlesse conditions in summe what thing soever can prevail with any man eyther for himselfe to pursue or at least-wise to loue reverence or honor in another For even therein also mans nature receiveth great satisfaction the same is found with them not as in other places of the world by casualtie blended with out order and of necessitie but sorted in great part into severall professions countenanced with reputation honoured with prerogatiues facilitated with provisions and yeerly maintenance and eyther as the better things advanced with expectation of reward or borne with how bad soever with sweet and silent permission What pomp what ryot to that of their Cardinalls what severitie of life comparable to their Heremites and Capuchins who wealthier than their Praelats who poorer by vow and profession then their Mendicants On the one side of the street a Cloyster of Virgins on the other a stie of Courtizans with publike toleration This day all in Masks with all loosenesse and foolerie to morrow all in Processions whipping them selues till the bloud follow On one doore an Excommunication throwing to Hell all transgressours on an other a Iubilee or full discharge from all transgressions Who learneder in all kind of Sciences than their Iesuites What thing more ignorant than their ordinary Masse-Priests What Prince so able to preferre his servants and followers as the Pope in so great multitude Who able to take deeper or readier revenge on his enemies what pride equall unto his making Kings kisse his pantafle what humilitie greater than his Shriving him selfe dayly on his knees to an ordinarie Priest who difficulter in dispatch of causes to the Greatest who easier in giving audience to the meanest where greater rigour in the world in exacting the observation of the Church-Lawes Where lesse care or conscience of the Commandements og GOD To tast flesh on a Friday where suspition might fasten were a matter for the Inquisition whereas on the other side the Sonday is one of their greatest merketdayes To conclude never State never Government in the world so straungely compacted of infinite contrarieties all tending to entertein the severall humours of all men and to worke what kind of effects soever they shall desire where rigour and remisnesse crueltie and lenitie are so combined that with neglect of the Church to stirre ought is a sinne unpardonable whereas with duty towards the Church and by intercession for her allowance with respectiue attendance of her pleasure no Law almost of God or Nature so sacred which one way or other they find not meanes to dispence with or at least-wise permit the breach off by connivence and without disturbance But to proceed to the consideration of their more particular Proiects and more mysticall devises for the perpetuating of their greatnesse There was never yet State so well built in the world having his ground as theirs hath in the good-will of others and not standing by his owne maine strength and power that could longer uphold it selfe in flourishing reputation and in prosperitie than it could make it selfe necessarie to them by whom it subsisted all callings of men all degrees in common-wealths yea particular great personages then waning in their greatnesse when they decay in their necessarinesse to them from whom they haue it Which the Papacie nothing ignorant of nor neglecting hath by secret and rare cunning so deepely engaged and interessed from time to time the greatest Monarchs of Christendome in
reporting them Whereas if those lay-Catholikes should once open theyr eares to know the Protestants opinions from them selues that hold them which was the use of the old world in theyr ingenuous simplicitie and singlenesse of proceeding they would not be found eyther so absurd perhaps but that a reasonable or so wicked but that a religious mind might embrace them Then secondly by this meanes they do knit their owne faction more fast together and unite them more firmely to the head thereof the Pope sith no service of God but in his communion and with him no conjunction without utter separation and estranging from his enemies Wheras if his partie should but joyne with the Protestants in such services of God as are allowed by both this concurring with them in some actions might abate that utter dislike which they haue now of theyr whole way yea and haply taking a liking of them in some things they might be drawne still on by degrees to other and so finally slip away or grow cold in theyr first affections For factions as by disparitie of minds they are raized so by straungenesse they are continued and grow immortall whereas contrariwise they are asslaked and made calme by entercourse by parlie they are reconciled by familiaritie they are extinguished A memorable example of the vertue of this policie our owne Country in these latter times hath yielded where in the first Reformation under King EDVVARD the Praelates and Clergie having before under King HENRY discarded the Pope did easilie joyne with the Protestants though not in theyr opinions yet in the publike service of God in the Churches being indifferently composed and offensiue to neither part And but that the Pope soone after upon extraordinarie cause was restored to his former authoritie by Queene MARY that faction had in likelihood bene long since ended But after that the Pope was once againe admitted and had libertie to temper with his partie at pleasure in the second Reformation by her Majestie not a Bishop of his could be perswaded to come to our Churches but choosing rather losse of living and the greatest part also imprisonment they layd thereby the foundation of that faction of Recusants which hath since bene continued by theyr followers unto this day notwithstanding our service be lesse offensiue to them than in King EDVVARDS time and in no part opposite to any poinct of theyr beliefe But so hath it seemed good to theyr politike Governours by this utter breach and alienation to preserue and perpetuate the remaines of theyr partie and that in the midst of theyr much more potent adversaries though armed with Lawes quickened with suspicions yea and exasperated by theyr often dangerous practises against them Now in that they proceed also yet one step farther and not onely inhibite theyr partie the reading of Protestantbooks and repaire to theyr Churches but discounsell also all joyning with them in any service of God by whomsoever and how lawfull sort soever performed thereby doe they engender in them according to theyr desire an extreame hatred and bitter detestation of theyr opposites For if the Protestants by reason of theyr enmitie with the Pope and swarving from his way doe stand in tearmes of so deepe disfavour with God that theyr Prayer it selfe doth turne into sinne that theyr humble thanksgivings are abominable praesumptions that to joyne with them in praysing the Creatour of the world is no better than dis-service to his Majestie then surely woe worth the houre wherein they were borne and blessed bee that hand which shall worke their bane and ruine then no stay or doubt but what the Pope directeth that boldly to be executed against the enemies of God And this haue they set up as a Crowne and accomplishment to the rest of theyr practises against theyr adversaries For now is theyr faction not onely kept on foote and continually maintained without decay but inflamed also with such hatred of theyr enemies that they are ready to any violence that opportunitie can aduise For as diversities of judgements doth grow into dislikes and dislikes by opposition doe issue into factions so hatred in factions doth breake out into seditions and attendeth onely advantage to use force against those they hate Whereas on the contrary side the Protestant being not armed nor quickened up with such stings of hatred as his adversarie is more cold and carelesse in his opposite desires and exceedingly inferiour in all strong attempts and practises But certeinely howsoever in this craftie kind of policie which hath too much bewitched the witts of this age and doth too much tyrannize over that auncient true wisedome wherewith the world in fore-times was more happilie governed these courses may seeme very fine and effectuall for the atchieving of that end whereto they are framed yet I suppose it would proue very hard to be shewn how they can stand with the principles and rules of that Religion whose roote is Truth whose braunches are Charitie whose fruits are good deeds extending and even offering them selues with cheerefulnesse unto all men to the encouraging of friends and reclayming of enemies to the mending of the worse and accomplishing of the better For if a magnanimous noble mind in the high vertuousnesse thereof doe carrie it selfe in all actions with such moderation and measure as that it neyther hate his enemie so much in regard of his wickednesse but that it loue whatsoever in him hath resemblance of vertue neyther yet feare him so much for his mischieuous desirs as to rage and grow fierce upon him in his weakenesse but contenteth itselfe so far forth only to repress him as may disable him thence forward from doing hurt unto others how much more may it seeme reasonable that the heavenly affectiō of a Christian rejoyce for whatsoever goodnes appeares in any man as finding there some lineaments of his Creatours Image detest nothing but impietie and wickednesse the worlds dishonour and lastly in the true and serious worshipping of God do joyne when occasion offers with whatsoever of his Creatures with united affections to cheare up his service where scandall by shew of approuing that which is evill in them doth not hinder But this world in the basenesse of his mettal now the last and worst and in the weakenesse of his old and decayed yeares laying the ground of all his policie in Feare and Iealousie issuing from a certeine consciousnesse of his owne worthlesnesse and want of vertue holdeth those courses for the best which worke with the greatest and most secret advantage against such as eyther are or in time may become concurrents or enemies letting passe with some tearmes of formall commendation those auncient more noble wayes which being derived from the high Governor of both the Worlds having their ground on the unmovable principles of true wisedome and vertue must needs bee of greater force both for the upholding of those that hold them and for the effecting of all theyr worthy and honourable desires were there
alwayes at his devotion in all elections whereby having the Exclusiue as they terme it no Pope can be made but with his liking hee proceeds on by his Ambassadours to name also some fiue or six unto them whereof please they to choose any he shall rest wel satisfied Which course though it mightily distast the rest of the Cardinalls who are hereby for ever debarred from their chiefe desire yea and inwardly much afflict the great States of Italy who are loth to haue theyr Pope of a Spanish edition yet is there no remedy one of those in fine they needs must choose the discretion they can haue is onely this to choose such of them as is likely to proue least to his purpose A memorable example heereof in the election of the last GREGORIE where a greater part of the Cardinalls enflamed against the King and banding against him yet in conclusion after two Moneths imprisonment in the Conclaue were foreed to relent and to choose one of his nominates or otherwise a cleare case no election at all Which whether there were or no made no matter to Spaine who stood upon the surer ground in his exclusiue obstinatenesse The necessitie of the Church the State of the Papacie theyr owne present condition the disorders of the Citie of Rome and of all theyr Territorie which in want of a Pope and in this locking up of the Cardinalls as it were into a celler do swarme exceedingly did mainely cry out to haue some Pope or other which at last they yielded to by consenting upon a favourite yea and subject of Spaine also for such was that GREGORIE Howbeit the maine matter runnes not with him so clearely they being not the same men that are chosen and that are Popâ—s but chaunging with theyr estate both name and nature also Yea sometimes not easie to find two divers men of humour more different then is the same man in his Cardinalship and in his Papalitie Where of no man better witnesse than SIXTVS QVINTVS the most crouching humble Cardinall that was ever lodged in an Oven and the most stoute resolute Pope that ever ware Crowne in his Cardinalship a meere slaue and vassall of Spaine in his Papacie the daungeroust enemie Spaine had in the world in summe who in his Cardinalship was scorned as a base Frier in his Papacie was redoubted as a Prince of great worth and spirit Neyther is there any mervaile to bee made of this difference seeing the hope of obtaining and of maintaining the Papall honour are so cleane contrary seeing in the one state they fashion them selues to all other mens humours in the other they looke that all men should accomodate themselues to theyr honours and lastly seeing those Princes whose favour is the onely meanes to compasse the place theyr power is the onely terrour of quelling downe the estate For which cause as in generall the Cardinalls doe in theyr hearts favour Fraunce aboue Spaine both as beeing the weaker part and the farther neighbour and the onely hope to maintaine counterpoise against the others greatnesse so let the King of Spaine make what choyse among them of a Pope hee can hee shall find that as long as those reasons continue whosoever sits in the seat will respect more his owne saferie than the service of his preâ—errour even as doth this very Pope who for that cause is conceived to haue made some alteration of inward firme friendships though holdiâ—g in good tearmes of loue and loyaltie with both But this uncerteintie and mutabilitie of the new Popes affections doth cause both the Kiâ—g of Spaine and other Princes of Italy aboue all things to ayme at a man of a caâ—me nature and not stirâ—â—ng mettall that if they cannot make any great accompt of his friendship yet this naturall disposition and temper may assure them that hee will not be a raiser of new stirrs in Italy as divers of them to scamble somewhat for theyr owne haue beene as on the other side an especiall good inducement to the Cardinalls is his age and sicklinesse that the place may be soone voyde againe for the gaining whereof there is alwayes practising and plotting a new immediately vpon the Election And thus is the Pope made who hath his Counsell of Cardinalls to attend and advise him hee chosen by them and they created by him Whose number may amount they say to Seuentie two but many pâ—â—ces are kept voyd still to serue for desperate pushes and of those that are some twenty lightly are the younger sonnes of Dukes and Princes who in case theyr auncesters states should descend upon them with dispensation from the Pope would resigne uppe theyr Hatts Among the Cardinalls for theyr owne honour and for the gratifying of the world are sorted out and diuided all the orders of Religions and all the Nations of Christendome whereof they are appoincted the particular protectours in the Court of Rome as the Protectour of England now is Cardinal Gaetane a stout man of spanish faction who hath beene Legate into France and more lately into Poland but is now returned Among this Counsell also being compacted of many Personages of very eminent sufficiencie what for theyr learning what for theyr experience and weightie employments are parted is by way of severall Congregations according to the use of the severall Counsels in Spain all the important affaires as well standing as by dayly new occasions arising of the Church and Papacie by which means they both disburden the Pope of much lighter businesse and the greater causes by long and exact discussion are ripened and made fit for his decissiâ—n Such is the Congregation for propagation of Christian-Faith the Congregation of the Inquisition the Congregation for England the Congreation of Bishops for all Controversies which happen betweene them and theyr Subjects a Congregation for any diversitie of opinion in matter of Religion betweene Schoole men or Friers with sundry such other A course lately there begun but of good importance and well worthy to be imitated Now for This Pope who by race and name a Florentine but his Father having beene chased thence upon a Conspiracie against Duke COSIMO by byrth became a kind of Romane I haue little more to say than that which I haue before touched Hee is reputed to bee a man of a good calme disposition and not too craftie yet close and suspicious and thereby secured to hold his owne well enough kind to his friends and denout in his way and thinks without doubt that he is in the right He will weep very often some conceiue upon a weaknesse and tendernesse of mind habituated therin by custome others say upon pietie and godly compassion At his Masses in his Processions at the fixing uppe his Iubilees his Eys are still watering some times streaming with teares in so much that for weeping he seemes an other HERACLITVS to ballance with the last GREGORIR an other DEMOCRITVS for laughing Touching his secret life the Italians speake somewhat diversly
the English Protestants to haue an English Church there none understanding their Language neither in Service nor Sermons yea and purging their Liturgie of whatsoever may seeme to impugne or deface their Religion if there be any thing in it of that offensiue quality as for my part I know nothing but think rather with great judgement it was purposely so framed out of the grounds of Religion wherein both sides doe agree that their very Catholikes might resort to it without scruple or scandall if faction more then reason did not sway Then for repairing to their sermons they know by experience they will not be backward especially hauing the opinion of great Divines is some say that it is not unlawfull And lastly what reason why they should not be as hopefull to gâ—â—ne English mens soules as Iews yes theyr hope is greater else would they not bee at such cost upon the one abroad and bestow so little labour upon the other at home To this question they would answer first that there were more danger of flocking away theyr people if they should haue but a bare view of our Reformed Churches as being more infectious and therefore no policie and secondly to what purpose the making of any such motion what need unto us and to them what profit This answere deduced from policie and profit I take to be the right answere also to the first principall question and neither of the former drawne from Iustice or Charitie For there is no cause of any feare at all either of the oppressed Graecian or of the obstinate Iew bearing a marke of ignominie and reproach in all places Yea they remaine rather as examples spectacles among them of contempt and miâ—crie the one for his ungratefull refusall of CHRIST himselfe the other for his sedition against Christs Vicar as they inferre against him Whereas to giue the Protestants any foot among them were the next way to leaue them selues no foot to stand on On the other side by extending pitie towards the afflicted and dismayed Graecian whom the hand of God hath layd as low as the very dust wee tread on they sow some hope of ranging him selfe againe under theyr subjection which were to them a reputation and strength inaestimable and such as cunningly by â—alse bruits they cause the world dayly to feed on Then â—or the Iew the profit by him is exceeding great and greater in proportion of number than by the very Courtizans and that as well to the Pope as to other Princes of Italy to whom they pay a yearly rent for the very heads they weare besides other meanes to â—acke and wracke them in theyr purses at pleasure Which gaine as it is a piece of the cause why the beastly trade of the one so is it the entire reason why the trade of the other is permitted they beeing used as the Friers to sucke from the meaner and to bee sucked by the greater in so much that the Pope besides theyr certein tribute doth some times as is said impose on them a subsedie of ten thousand Crowns extraordinary for some service of State Now to consider a little what probabilitie of theyr conversion in those parts and by the way to touch somwhat of Theyr Religion and usage thus stands theyr case They haue a Religion though somwhat strange to our conceipts as being framed not onely out of the Law of the old Bible but also out of sundry the straunger opinions of the auncienter Philosophers together with certein capriccious fancies and fables of the Rabbins yet so handsomly pieced and glewed together that one part seemes to hang to the other not absurdly And that which they hold they are so perfit in that they will giue both a profitable accompt thereof out of a certein morall Philosophy and reason wherein they are well seen as also make some shew for it out of the Bible it selfe wherein they are the skilfullest men I belieue in the World and needs must be so setting theyr Children to the Hebrew language at three yeers old and following no other studie saue of the Bible and writings upon it all theyr life long except certeine few that betake themselues to Phisick Touching God and his nature their opinions are for the most very honourable and holy saue that they deny the Trinity touching Angells but weake and soyled with much poetrie touching the nature and condition of man very exquisite and for the most part drawing neere unto truth But for the three States of the soule of man they runne some more straunge courses holding the creation of them all together before the bodies with sundry of the auncient both Divines and Philosophers the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of PITHAGORAS though not to different species and PLATOâ—S Purgatorie Of vertue and Vice and mans course in both they think not much amissâ— saue that to the expiation of sinne they hold nothing necessarie but the repentance of the sinner and the mercie of the forgiver which in that case is always ready For reward it commeth wholly from the bounty of God without desert yet different in degree according to the works of each man That the generall Law of all men is the Law of Nature onely which who so keeps it shall lead him to blisse in what Religion soever though the Hebrew unto whom MOSES Law was peculiarly given by observing it shall haue a greater praerogatiue of glory They prefer the civill life before the solitarie and mariage before Virginitie as being to nature more agreeable to mankind more profitable and consequently to God more acceptable Their beliefe of the end of the world and of the finall judgement of the restoring of mens bodies and of their happinesse everlasting in the heighth of the Heavens is good in the generall But as they think it a bad opinion which some of great name haue seemed to hold that God in his everlasting and absolute pleasure should affect the extreame miserie of any of his Creatures for the shewing of his Iustice and severity in tormenting them or that the calamitie casting away and damnation of some should absolutely and necessarily redound more to his glorie than the felicitie of them all considering that his nature is meere goodnesse and happinesse and hath no affinitie with rigour or miâ—erie so contrariwise they thinke with ORIGEN that Hell in the end shall be utterly abolished and that the Divells them selues after a long course of bitter repentance and punishment shall find mercie at his hands that did create them that the world may entirely be restored to that puritie wherein God at the first did make it and to that perfection and happinesse whereto each part of it in his severall degree was dâ—stined by him from whom nothing but goodnâ—s and blisfulnesse could proceed Their Liturgie in the kind of it is not different from ours consisting of Psalmes and Prayers with sundry shorter Hymns and responds of lessons one out of the Law and read by some chiefe
EVROPAE SPECVLVM OR A VIEW OR SVRVEY OF THE STATE OF RELIGION in the Westerne parts of the World Wherein the Romane Religion and the pregnant policies of the Church of Rome to support the same are notably displayed with some other memorable discoueries and memorations Never before till now published according to the Authours Originall Copie Multùm diuque desideratum Hagae-Comitis 1629. THE VVELL-MEANING PVBLISHER HEREOF TO THE VNDERSTANDING READER of what ranke or degree soeuer WHereas not many yeares past there was published in print a Treatise entituled A Relation of Religion of the Westerne parts of the World printed for one Simon Waterson 1605. without name of Authour yet generally and currantly passing vnder the name of the learned and worthy Gentleman S r Edwin Sandys Knight Know all men by these presents that the same Booke was but a spurious stolne Copie in part epitomized in part amplified and throughout most shamefully falsified false printed froÌ„ the Authors Originall In so much that the asme Knight was infinitely wronged thereby and as soone as it came to his knowledge that such a thing was printed and passed vnder his name he caused it though somewhat late when it seemes two Impressions were for the most part vented to be prohibited by Authoritie and as I haue heard as many as could be recouered to be deseruedly burnt with power also to punish the Printers And yet neverthelesse since that time there hath beene another Impression of the same stolne into the world Now those so adulterate Copies being scattered abroad in the hands of some men I whoeuer I am though liuing here in these Transmarine Batavian Belgique parts yet studious of the truth and a louer of my Countrey and having obtayned by a direct meanes of a deere friend a perfect Copie verbatim transâ—ribed from the Authours Originall and legitimate one of his own hand-writing haue thought good to publish it vnto the world first for the good of the Church secondly the glory of our English Nation thirdly for the fame of the ingenuous ingenious and Acute Author a Gentle-man who as I haue beene most credibly informed hath heretofore deserued right well of his Countrey in seruice of the Prince of Orange the Lords the States generall his Maiestie of Englands faâ—t friends and Allies yet c. And lastly that the world may be no longer depriued of so rare a Iewell in its owne lustre nor abused by the other counterfeit-one before named It may bee I hereby shall incurre some dislike from the learned Author if He be yet liuing who haply in his modestie and for some other causes best knowne vnto him selfe for some writers loue not to haue their labours published in their life time hath so long obscured and suppressed his pregnanâ— view from the worlds publique view farther then now and than by communicating it vnto his friends such as importuned him to haue it copied out And certes though I professe to honour him with all my heart yet I thinke it better he be herein displeased than the world longer wronged and withall hoping howeuer that hee will candidly construe it to be but amoris error I cannot see how any else should be offended hereat but such as are sworne slaues to their Lord God the Pope whose Roman kingdome and Babylonian tottering tower hath such a blow giuen it hereby as I know but few of such force and not many such blowes more will make the same Kingdome and Tower fall downe to the ground with vtter desolation As for the Arminians when this Treatise was written that sect was either in the shell or the cradle and their mungrell and squint-eyed Diuinitie sâ—arce knowne or vâ—nted to the world yet they haply will be offended hereat because savouring of the Orthodox trueth and let that sect so bee But if there chance to bee any other moderate Christian offended hereat of such I humbly craue pardon Reade it therefore beloued Reader for thine owne solace and much good maist thou learne reape thereby giuing God the glory the Authour his deserued due praise and mee thankes if thou canst afford me any for my honest endeavour herein for thy benefit From the HAGH in HOLLAND Vale in Christo fruere THE CONTENTS OR THE seuerall Heads which may serue in steed of Chapters contained in this Treatise THe Preface containing the scope of all page 1 Of the Romane Religion p. 3 Of the Superstitions Ceremonies of the Church of Rome p. ibid. Of their Honour to Saints and Angels p. 4 Of their Liturgies p. 7 Of their Sermons p. ibid. Of their Penance and Confession p. 10 Of their Life and Conversation p. 17 Of their Lent p. 20 Of their Ecclesiasticall Government p. 23 Of their Head assertions p. 24 Of their Meanes to strengthen them p. 29 Of their Wayes to ravish all affections and to fit each humour p. 34 Of their particular Projects Monarchies and Princes Marriages p. 37 Of their Dispensing with Oathes p. 42 Of the Greatnes of the House of Austria p. 46 Of the Adulterous or rather Incestuous Marriages of Austria and Spaine p. 49 Of the Nobilitie and their Confession p. 50 Of the Choise of their Cardinals p. 51 Of their Variety of Preferments p. 53 Of the Clergie and their Prerogatiues p. 55 Of the Multitude of their Religious Orders p. 57 Of their Providing for Children p. 58 Of their Nunneries p. 59 Of their Multitude of Hearts and Hands Tongues and Pennes p. 63 Of their Readinesse to vndertake and Resolutenesse to execute p. 66 Of their Very Multitude of Friers ready to bee put in Armes p. 67 Of their Spirituall Fraternities p. 72 Of the Policies of the Papacy against their enemies and of their persecutions confiscations tortures massacres and hostility p. 73 Of the Reformers oâ— Protestants Preaching p. 77 Of their well Educating of Youth p. 80 Of their Offers of Disputation p. 85 Of their Discouery of Blotts p. 88 Of their Histories and Martyrologies p. 96 Of the Policie of Papall Newes p. 100 Of their vtter Breach p. 104 Of their excluding of all accesse of the Religion of their Inquisition p. 111 Of their locking vp the Scriptures p. 114 Of their concealing the Doctrines and Opinions of the Reformation p. 117 Of their notorious Lies of England and of Geneva p. 119 Of Papall Purging of Bookes and of their Indices Expurgatorij p. 126 Of the present state of the Papacie and their peculiar Dominions p. 132 Of the Popes sucking from Forraine Parts p. 137 Of the Clergie vnder the Papacie p. 144 Of the Pope himselfe and His Election p. 146 Of the Pope present his race name and life p. 149 Of the Nations which adhere vnto the Papacy especially Italy p. 156 Of the liues of the Italians p. ibid. Of Spaine p. 163 Of Germanie p. 169 Of the Low-Countries p. 176 Of France p. ibid. Of Loraine and Savoy p. 186 An Estimate of the strength of the Papacy
of that resort or Province and lastly not unpossible that his good fortune may so accompanie or his merits so commend him as to attaine to bee Generall of all his order The Generalls are as fit to be made Cardinals as any men and finally sundry of them within the memorie of man haue been advaunced from the eminence of Cardinall dignitie to the soveraigntie of Papall glorie Hope is a sweet and firme companion of man it is the last thing that leaveth him and the highest things it promiseth him it maketh all toyles supportable all difficulties conquerable Now the multitude of these Orders and good provision for them being so great an ease to all sorts of men in their private estates as they generally accompt it it must needs be a great bond of their affection to the Papacie under which they enjoy it as by whom alone those orders are protected and whom his Adversaries do seeke utterly to exterminate ruine That I speake little of the particular persons who enter those orders who draw thereby their whole race the more to favour that way which in so infinite a number of them must needs be of great moment And although against this might be objected with great reason the inestimable damage which the publike doth thereby receiue as in Italy for example perhaps halfe the Land in many places thereof and generally a full third besides their other availes being appropriated to this sort of people and other persons Ecclesiasticall yea and of the people themselues perhaps a quarter of a Million at least in that one Nation having withdrawne hereby from all service of Prince or people Common-wealth or Country and confined themselues to the Cloyster-life in Beads and Oraisons living wholy vpon the hony which the toyling Bee doth gather which perhaps with an other quarter million of an other sect I may erre in both numbers but I aime as neere the truth as by conjecture I can proportioning the places where I haue not beene with those where I haue who haue abandoned themselues to an other trade as idle but more wicked devouring with mens goods their bodyes and soules at once may be the cause that that Country though as populous as it can well beare yet comes manifold parts short of that strength which in former times it hath had either for defence of it selfe or offence of his neighbours yet notwithstanding these are theorems which few list to speculate the whole World running mainely to things sensible and perfect and to that which profits them in their owne particular though it bring with it a certeine hurt and finall ruine of the publike without the safetie whereof to them that judge things rightly neither any particular estate can prosper But the benefit which the Papacie doth draw from these Friers consisteth least in this poinct in the accommodating and yielding content to other it stands in the Multitude of Hearts and Handes of Tongues and Pennes dispersing in all Countries but united in his seruice of men of most fierie and furious zeale who with uncessant industrie and resolutenesse incredible giue over no travaile leaue no exploit so difficult and dangerous unattempted for the upholding of the Papacie and advancing of that Religion on which all their comfort and credit in this life all their hope of praerogatiue in the life to come dependeth being of the other side esteemed for the most lousie companions the most unprofitable drones the most devouring Locusts the most Reprobate Ignoble Ignominious and wicked race that ever the world was yet pestered with in summe more vile than the very mire that they treadon There was neuer yet state so well plotted in this World or furnished with such store of instruments to imploy in the service thereof as to be able to practise and perswade with the multitude otherwise than in their publike assemblings or other meetings the Papacie onely excepted who by reason of the infinity of these religious people all made out of other folkes stuffe and mainteined at other mens charge is able and doth deale in particular and private as occasion requireth with men women and children of how mean estate soever instructing exhorting confirming adjuring kindling them in such sort as makes fittest for their driâ—t and for the end they haue proposed The difference in force and effectualnesse of operation between which privat perswasions and those publike preachings where the hearers according to the use of mans nature neglect that in particular which is commended to their regard in common though easie to conceiue Yet they only can sufficiently perhaps esteeme who haue seene a Frier an abandoner of the world a man wholly wrapâ— with divine affections and extasies his apparail denouncing contempt of all earthly vanitie his countenance preaching severitie penance and discipline breathing nothing but sighes for the hatred of sinne his Eyes lifted upwards as fixed on his joyes his head bowed on the one side with tendernesse of loue and humilitie extending his ready hand to lay hold on mens soules to snatch them out of the fierie jawes of that gaping black Dragon and to place them in the path that conducts to Paradise when such a man I say shall addresse himselfe to a woman whose sex hath been famous ever for devotion and credulousnesse or to any other vulgar person of what sort soever perswading beseeching with all plausible motions of reason yea with sighes of feare and teares of loue instanting and importuning no other thing at their hands than only this to be content to suffer God to saue their soules and to crowne them with everlasting happinesse which they shall certeinly attaine by raunging them selues with the heavenly Armie of God that is by adjoyning them selues to the Church of CHRIST and his Vicar and this againe and againe at sundry times iterated and pursued with shew of incredible care of theyr good without seeking other meed or commoditie to himselfe saue only of being the instrument of a soules salvation is it to be mervailed though such a man be received as an Angell of God sent expresly for their salvation to whom hee comes though he prevaile and possesse them in such forcible sort that no accesse remaine for any contrary perswasion that nothing so violent which they will not attempt nothing so deare which they will not bestow for the advauncement of that Church by which them selues hope finally to be so highly exalted And although all Friers being of so divers mettall are not able to play their parts so naturally and with such perfection as some that I haue seene yet being trayned up in the same schoole they all hold one course and certeinly by theyr dealing thus with men at single hand in privat and particularly applied perswasions which though they use not continually yet neglect they not whensoever opportunitie doth require they prevaile as experience doth daily shew exceedingly What may I now say of theyr Readinesse to Undertake and their Resolutenesse to Execute what
growing as hitherto hee hath done leaue no hope for Christendome to subsist but in theyr inward Concord It is true that a forreigne enemie is a reconciler of brethren and that common danger holds them together so long as it lasteth who else would flee a sunder upon every light occasion But herein me thinks it commeth first to be considered whether the Turk be so fearefull a Monarch as is commonly conceived especially since his late so huge enlargement towards the East That which most men estoeme in him the grand cause of errour seemeth to mee a chiefe argument of the contrary at this present and that is the very hugenesse of the Empires For Empires are not then alwayes at theyr strongest when at theyr biggest there beeing a certeine due proportion in all things which they breaking that exceede as well as they that come short of may bee compted to bee huge and vast not great since that is great properly which is great in his actions which are as often impeached by unwildinesse in the big as by weakenesse in the little But if to this bee adjoyned as it sometimes falls out that there bee but a little soule to mone this vast body which maketh some of the biggest men to bee neyther the wisest nor valiantest and that is that the government which is the soule of a state bee scant and feeble not able to embrace nor to order so huge affairs then is there no other greater praesage of ruine than very massinesse it selfe which everie strong push or justle makes reele and totter for want of that inward strength which were requisite to hold it stedie And this take I to bee the State of the Turkish Empire at this day which beeing a meere tyrannie as ayming onely at the mightinesse and securitie of theyr great Lord the sole absolute commander without any respect to the benefit of the people under him saue only so farre forth as may serue to beare up his greatnesse and for that cause hee in his jealousie and distrust of his owne keeping his Territories halfe desolate wast and unhabited his subjects without heads of Nobilitie to lead them without hearts to encourage them to seeke deliverie abasing them by all kind of bestial education and oppressing them by all sorts of extortion and outrage giving the Lands where hee conquereth to his Souldiers and Timarri which scattered over all parts of his ample Empire are the onely contented people and onely strength in effect hee hath as beeing bound by theyr tenures to serue in his warre whethersoever hee calls them and without his charge this beeing his state it is cleare that the wildnesse and lying wast of his Country is to the great diminishing of his owne wealth and revenew which is lesse than some one of our Christian Princes at this day though his Empire much larger than all theyrs together the unpopulousnesse together with the basenesse and feeblenesse of such as are makes that no one Country is defence for it selfe but must haue the concurse of many of the rest to assist it and lastly the huge circuit of his soyle and confines embracing as is esteemed eight thousand mile of Land and of Sea as many is cause that his Timarri cannot assemble together but in very long time wherin opportunities are ofteÌ„ lost besides the tiring both of themselues and theyr horses ere they arriue And the truth heereof is assured by fresh experience hee having done no great matter in all this warre of Hungary though none to speake of but Germanie with some small helpe of Italy haue opposed against him But if wee farther consider the effiminatenesse of the education of theyr Great Lords in these times a thing which they are advised and constreined unto even contrary often-times to the manlinesse of theyr owne natures and all to keepe the Father from jealousie of his owne sonne whose brauenesse of mind and warlinesse is still suspected and use having soaked once into theyr bones in youth doth for ever after lose the sinnes of theyr manly dispositions and subject them to the softnesse and basenesse of pleasures considering also the avarice and corruption which raignes there all peaces and warres all friendships and enmities all fauours and wrongs all Counsells and informations being growne to bee saleable if these bee as they are the signes of a diseased and prognosticates of a dying Monarchy much more of a tyrannie then surely haue wee not now so great cause to dread him as to blame our selues and our wranglings and vilitie who choose thus in practising to exterminate each other to trace out an unhonourable and fruitlesse life at the end finding our selues in the very same or worse tearmes than when wee began rather then establishing first a firme accord at home to attempt with united loue zeale and forces so just so christian so honourable so rich a warre And verily if but our Princes confining upon him though agreeing among themselues for the most in Religion were not so strangely infected with emulations and home-ambitions as to condiscend to pay tribute to the Turke in severall for so doe they as a redemption each of theyr peace which yet hath no longer assurance than his pleasure which with double as much under-hand bribes and presents must be daily sweetned and which is yet worse when his list comes to invade any one of them as hee doth for his very exercise and avoyding tumults at home the rest to hold off from giving succour to theyr neighbours for feare of drawing a revenge upon themselues some other time which is the case of the Polonians and Venetians at this present who scarcely dare so much as pray against him in theyr devotions otherwise than in theyr hares which I ween they do duly were it not I say that theyr private ambitions feares and miscasts did driue them to make so abject and unchristian a choice rather than zealously and violently to joyne and pursue one certeine course for the rooting of him and his tyrannie out of this part of the world it were not to bee so much doubted but the feare now on this side would soone turne to the other seeing that one good blow to a body so ill built and full of distempers were able to put the whole in daunger of ruine and shivering These reasons induce mee not to thinke that the daunger from the Turke should bee so great as to enforce the Christians to runne mainly into an accord And though it should yet without other sounder working by perfect composing of all inward diâ—cention this would be but a civill accord and only for the time which the feare once past would dissolue of it selfe and the former contentions reviue as fresh as ever For the bond of common feare is the strongest indeed of all other but the shortest withall which nothing during the daunger is able to breake and the daunger once passed falls in sunder of his owne unsoundnesse Howbeit if the Turke should set foot
plain words of that Law which was written by the finger of God with their speculatiue playsters of distinguishing betweene the Images of the true God and the Idolls of false Gods of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of intention instrumentall and finall in worship All which are the unsavourest druggs to the Iew in the world who saith there was never Nation yet so blockish under the sunne as to worship a stock and stone as a finall object but onely as a representation of some absent divinitie and that the Heathen them selues call them every where the Effigies and Simulachra of other yet such Effigies as that the divine power by his vertue did somtime inhabite and worke miracles by even as our Lady doth in her Images in infinite places of Christendome whereby if the poore Idiot were deceived among the Pagans to think some-times that very Image some divine matter or person as cleere is it that the like befalls infinite simple Christians seeing theyr Images eyther to grow or to weepe and bleed as they do often and so infinite cures wrought by viewing or touching them And for theyr degrees of worship betweene Gods Images and the Saincts they cannot perceiue them they kneele to them alike they pray to them alike they vow to them alike they incense theÌ„ alike they burn candles to thm alike they cloth theÌ„ alike they offer gifts to theÌ„ alike the difference if it be any is in their mentall affections which whether the blunt undistinguishing witts of the vulgar do obserue they suppose a small measure of discretion may conjecture In like sort for theyr distinction betweene the Images of the true God and of false Gods they tell them that in other cases that might haue this use but none in this Law it being expounded in other places as prohibiting this base sensuall and seducing kind of worshipping even God himselfe by an Image if any Image of God were possible to bee made that thus the Law it selfe doth plainely deliver thus they which received the Law understood it thus all theyr holy Auncestours and learned Doctours haue still interpreted and thus hath their Nation in all ages believed And therefore they say for theyr comming to the Christian Sermons that as long as they shall see the Preacher direct his speech and prayer to that little wooden Crucifix which stands on the Pulpit by him to call it his Lord and Saviour to kneele downe to it to embrace and kisse it to weepe upon it as is the fashion of Italy this is preaching sufficient for them and perswades them more with the very sight of it to hate Christian Religion than any reason that the world can alleage to loue it And these bee the scandalls which as I haue heard them selues alleage they take on that side besides their Transubstantiation which they can at no hand disgest The particular scandall from the Protestants is their mutuall dissention which they hold to proceed from the want of the Vnitie of truth in theyr foundation otherwise saue for their generall exceptions against Christianitie they hold their Religion very conformable to the Law of Nature which they accompt the principall But were all the unneedfull scandals in those parts removed yet is there no good meanes there of the Iews conversion They complaine first that the New Testament being the ground of our Religion they cannot see it That Italian translation which they had is called-in and taken from them It is printed in Hebrew letters but not in Hebrew language at leastwise not such as they can understand With Greeke and Latine their Nation never medled Besides which the Inquisitours haue inhibited and taken from them all Bookes that were published in that theame on eyther side as well those that haue beene written in defence of Christian Religion as the contrarie against it alleaging they will haue no disputing in matter of Religion eyther way much like to an Edict set up at Dola in the Franch County where the Iesuites reside forbidding any talke of God eyther in good sort or bad Then lastly for those few Sermons they are bound to repaire-to seldome where I haue beene are they directed to the Iews or to the poincts they stick on but hold on their usuall tenour as respecting more the Christians The last encouragement to men especially of their mettall is that at their conversion to Christianitie they must quit theyr goods to the Christians And the reason is for that in Baptisme they renounce the devill and all his works part wherof are the Iews goods being gotten eyther by them selues or by their Auncestors with Vsurie Now this is such a cold comfort to a man set on the world as that Nation is wonderfully that for my part I haue not heard of any converted in those parts saue some few Physicians with some of theyr children who by friendship from the Pope haue obteined dispensation to reteine theyr goods still in as much as they were gotten by theyr honourable profession But if on the contrary side the Christians would againe in theyr Charitie giue somewhat for the competent enterteinment of such as for Gods sake did giue up theyr owne I could not but well commend that rigour of Iustice which the bountifulnesse of this Mercie did intigate and assweeten But being no such matter there remains nothing fof a Iew converted but to bee Friered a trade which of all other they least can fancie as being contrary as they alleage to nature it selfe which hath made man sociable and each helpefull unto other in all civill duties a trade never commanded or commended by God never practised or counselled by their renowmed Ancestors who received coÌ„tinual instruction inspiration from aboue which none of their Patriarchs or Prophets haue given example of only in three or foure thousand yeers ELIAS and some one other haue bene found upon very extraordinary cause to haue taken also an extraordinary course of life though of other nature and to other purpose than the Votaries of our times And these are the tearmes that the Iews stand in in those parts and so must I leaue them to the mercifull cure of God an unblessed and forsaken people obstinate with in and scandalized with-out indefatigable in theyr expectation untractable in perswasion worldly yet wreâ—ched received of theyr enemies but despised and hated scattered over all Countries but no where planted dayly multiplying in number but to the encrease of their servitude not of their power in summe a long continued and marked example of Gods just seueritie to abate theyr pride that glorie even as they in theyr Auncestours and Founders Gods Temple and Oracles many promises and praerogatiues long continuance in honourable estate and glorie which things were they sufficient to preserue any sea in the world even their seat had bene preserued by them to proclaim to the whole world that there is no assurance of the favour protection and assistance of God
the very same plagues which haue ruined the glory and grace of Christendome should now also infect the graund-Enemie thereof namely Effeminatnesse and Avarice whereof the one is the corruption of all sound deliberations and the other the quailer of all manly executions which prevailing in his state as they doe at this day giue hope that his tyrannie draweth towards his period and for this present provide so that a weake defendant may shift better having but a cowardly assailant the matter would haue growne to that extremitie by this time as would haue called the King of Spain with all his forces to some more honourable enterprises than hee hath hitherto undertaken And this is the bridle which holds in the Papacie with all his followers from any universall proceeding by force against the Protestants who herein are greatly advantaged aboue them in that eyther theyr opposites lye betweene them and the Turke or theyr Countries costing so much as they doe towards the North are out of his way and no part of his present ayme But these advantages and disadvantages of the Papacie aequally weighed I suppose this disadvantage more mischievous for the present as proceeding from outward force in the hands of an enemie and the other advantages more stable for continuance as springing from the inward strength of theyr owne wealth and order This then beeing so and that all things considered there falls out if not such an indifferencie and aequalitie yet at leastwise such a proportion of strength on both sides as bereaveth the other of hope ever by warre to subdue them seeing as the Proverbe is a dead woman will haue foure to cary her forth much lesse will able men bee beaten easily out of theyr homes and since there is no appearaunce of ever forcing an Vnitie unlesse Time which eates all things should bring in great alterations it remaineth to bee considered What other kinde of Unitie poore Christendome may hope for whether Vnitie of Veritie or Vnitie of Charitie or Vnitie of Perswasion or Vnitie of Authoritie or Vnitie of Necessitie there beeing so many other kinds and causes of concord A kind of men there is whom a man shall meet withall in all Countryes not many in number but sundry of them of singular learning and pietie whose godly longings to see Christendome reunited in the loue of the Author of theyr name aboue all things and next in brotherly correspondence and amitie as beseemeth those who under the chiefe service of one Lord in profession of one ground and foundation of faith doe expect the same finall reward of glorie which proceeding from the Father and Prince of peace rejecteth all spirits of contention from attaining it haue entred into a meditation whether it were not possible that by the travaile and mediation of some calmer minds than at this day doe usually write or deale on eyther side these flames of controversies might bee extinguished or asslaked and some godly or tollerable peace re-established in the Church againe The earnestnesse of theyr vertuous desires to see it so hath bred in them an opinion of possibilitie that it might bee wrought considering first that besides infinite other poincts not controversed there is an agreement in the generall foundation of Religion in those Articles which the twelue Apostles delivered unto the Church perhaps not as an abridgement onely of the Faith but as a touch-stone also of the faithfull for ever that whilest there was an entire consent in them no discent in other opinions onely should breake peace and communion and secondly considering also there are in great multitude on both sides for so are they undoubtedly men vertuous and learned fraught with the loue of God and of his truth aboue all things men of memorable integritie of hart and affections whose liues are not deare unto theÌ„ much lesse their labors to be spent for the good of Gods Church and people by whose joinct-endeavors and single and sincere proceedings in common conference for search of truth that honorable Vnity of Verity might be established But if the multitude of crooked side respects which are the only clouds that eclipse the truth from shining now brightly on the face of the world the only prickles that so enfroward mens affections as not to consider the best do cause that this chiefe Vnity find small acceptatioÌ„ as is to bee feared at least-wise that the endlesse and ill fruiâ—ts of these contentions which tend mainly to the encrease of Atheisme within of Mahometisme abroad which in obstinate the Iew shake the faith of the Christian taint the better minds with acerbitie and load the worse with poyson which breake so out into theyr actions which themselues thinke holiest namely the defence of Gods truth which each side challengeth that in thinking they offer up a pleasing sacrifice to Gods they giue cause of wicked joy unto his and theyr enemie that these wofull effects with very tediousnesse and wearinesse may draw both parts in fine to some tollerable reconciliation to some Unitie of Charitie at leastwise to some such as may be least to eythers praejudice Let the one giue over theyr worshipping of Images theyr adoring and offering supplications to Saincts theyr offensiue Ceremonies theyr arbitrary Indulgences theyr using of a language not understood in theyr devotions all which themselues will confesse not to bee necessary to bee orders of the Church and such â—s at pleasure shee may dispence with yea Pope CLEMENT the vij th gaue some hope to the French King that hee would not be stiffe in things of this qualitie and that respect of time might justifie the alteration and some of the latter Popes condiscend to them of Bavaria the Cup in the Sacrament hoping that would content them which since they or theyr successours haue againe inhibited on the other side let the Protestants such at leastwise as think so purge out that negatiue and contradictory humour of thinking they are then rightest when they are unlikest the Papacie then neerest to God when farthest from Rome let them looke with the Eye of Charitie upon them as well as of severitie and they shall find in them some excellent orders for governement some singular helpes for an encrease of godlinesse and devotion for the conquering of sinne for the perfecting of vertue and contrariwise in them selues looking with a more single and lesse indulgent Eye than they doe they shall find that there is no such absolute or unreproueable perfection in theyr doctrine and Reformation as some dreamers in the pleasing view of theyr owne actions doe fancie Neyther ought they to thinke it straunge they should bee amisse in any thing but rather a very miracle if they were not so in many For if those auncient Fathers and Sages of the Church with greater helpes beeing nearer the times of puritie with aequall industrie so spending theyr whole liues with lesse cause of unsinceritie having nothing to seduce them notwithstanding were not able in the weaknesse and blindnesse
of humane-nature in this world to sore up so high alwayes in the search of truth as to finde out her â—ight seat in the heighâ—h of the Heavens but some times tooke Errour dwelling neerer them in steed thereof howlesse likely that our age more entangled with the world farther remoued from the usage of those faultlesse institutions and so bitterly exasperated with mutuall controversies and conflicts should attaine to that excellencie and perfection of knowledge which it may be God hath removed from mans reach in this world to humble and encrease his longing desire towards another world And as the present time doth discover sundry errours in the former so no doubt will the future in that which is now present So that ignorance and errour which seldome goe severed being no other than unseparable companions of man so long as he continueth in this terrestriall Pilgrimage it can be no blemish in them to revise theyr doctrine and to abate the rigor of certein speculatiue opinions especially touching the aeternall decrees of God the qualitie of mans nature the use of his works wherein some of theyr chiefe Authours haue run to such an utter opposition to the Romish doctrine as to haue exceedingly scandalized all other Churches withall yea and many of their owne to rest very ill satisfied The seat of Truth is aloft of Vertue in the midst both places of Honour but neither truth nor vertue draw to an utter extremitie And as in some poincts of doctrine so much more in theyr practise in order of government and Ecclesiasticall degrees in solemnities and statelinesse in the service of God in some exercises of pietie devotion and humilitie especially in set fastings accompanied with due contrition of heart and prayer besides many other Ceremonies they might easily without any offence of conscience at all frame to draw somewhat neerer to theyr opposites than now they are Which yielded on both sides a generall and indifferent Confession and summe of Faith an uniforme Liturgie or not repugnant if divers a like or at least-wise not incorrespondent forme of Church-government to bee made out of the poincts which both agreed in and to bee established so universally in all Christian dominions that this all Christians should necessarily hold this onely theyr Divines in pulpit should teach and this theyr people in Churches should exercise which doing the Vnitie of Communion should remain unviolated For all other questions it should bee lawfull for each man so to belieue as hee found cause not condemning other with such peremptorinesse as in the guise of some men of over-weening conceipts and the handling of all Controversies for theyr finall compounding to be confined to the Schooles to Councells and to the learned languages which are the proper places to try them and fittest tongues to treat them in And all this to bee done by some generall Councell assembled and composed indifferently out of both the sides mens minds being before-hand prepared and directed to this issue and conclusion But now if eyther the obstinatnesse of the Popes ambition or the wilfulnesse or scrupulositie of any opinionatiue Ministers should oppose against and impeach this Vnitie of Charitie then the Unitie of Authoritie to bee interposed to assist it that is the Princes of Christendome to presse this agreement to constraine the Pope to content him selfe with that temporall state which the skill of his Antecessors hath got and left him and for his spirituall to bee such as the auncient Councells had limited and for all other gain-sayers to silence or punish them Now for the Princes with joinctly consent to do this how many how weightie motiues doe induce them the service of Christ the honour of Christian Religion and the peace of Christendome the strengthening of Christians and the repulsing and overthrow of all Turks and jnfidels And these in generall In particular the assuring of theyr owne liues and persons which so many under pretence of Religion dayly conspire against the quiet and secure enioying of theyr rich states and kingdomes the transmitting of them to theyr posteritie without question or opposition and lastly the delivery of theyr miserable subjects which should bee deare unto them as children from those extreame vexations of spirit and body and those in estimable calamities in theyr estates and conditions wherewith these dissentions in religion and effects thereof doe now afflict them And this is in generall the summe of the discourse of that kind of people which doth shew them as they are for the most part to bee Protestants though perhaps not running jump with theyr side in every thing although many of the other part are caried also with the same good zeale and affection to the like desire and invention but these are of the more moderate sort of the Catholikes and not of theyr Clergie and such lightly as haue but an indifferent conceipt of the Popes claime and proceedings of which sort among the wiser part of the Laitie there are very many But now in exacter consideration of this motion there appeare for the effecting of it sundry difficulties so great that they draw to bee next neighbours to so many impossibilities whereof I will mention onely two of the chiefe For as for the thing it selfe I must confesse for my owne part the greatest desire I haue in this world is to see Christendome reconciled in the badge of theyr profession seeing Vnitie is consecrated to Veritie and both to God and that without the ruine and subversion of eyther part which cannot bee done but to the unexpressable mischiefe and miserie of both sides and with the utter enhazarding of both Christendome and Christianitie and thinke any kind of peace were better than these strifes which did not prejudice that higher peace betweene God and mens consciences Then for the way they purpose it seemeth for the generalitie of it there is no other now left seeing the opposition of extreames is no way defeazable but by extinguishing the one or drawing both to some temper and mildnesse of state But in this case two things doe cleane disharten this hope The first is the untractablenesse of the Papacie to this course who in so many conferences as they haue had in this age haue alwayes ere they departed very plainly discovered that they came not with such intentas to yield any thing for peace much lesse for truths-sake but onely to assay eyther by manifold perswasion and entreatie to reduce or otherwise by wit to entrap and disgrace theyr adversaries and if some one of them haue shewed him selfe more flexible at any time it hath beene his utter discredit with his owne partie ever after Which sterne proceeding of theyrs admitting the fundamentall positions whereon the Papacie is built is good and necessary For if divine Authoritie doe concurre with them in all theyr ordinances Gods spirit assist them in all theyr decisions all possibilitie of erring be exempted from theyr Pope and Church what remaines there but onely that they teach