togeither with a true and profound tranquillitie to deliuer such as are alreadie infected with the plague and preserue the rest and to succour the Church in the present necessities which she grones vnder THE II. OBSERVATION WHAT appeares yet but good and vertuous and well beseeming that common Father He neither speakes of selling or euen giueing out of any store of his owne but out of the common stocke of the Catholike Church Or by any other authoritie but that which was left by Iesus Christ to the Church and deriued vpon his person by lawfull succession euen from the Chaire of Peter erected by Christ Iesus Nor doth he make vse of this authoritie vpon a slight occasion but in a generall and crying calamitie Nor yet doth he imploye this common treasure for any sordide lucre or otherwise badd end or by such indulgence to make Christians lesse carefull to performe good workes c. But for a most laudable and Christian one to th end saith he that their fastes prayers and penitentiall practises to which he exhortes them may be done with more fruite feruour of Spirit Therfordoth he open communicate distribute the treasure of the same Church on the behalfe of Almigh tie God Father onne and H. G. Nor doth he take vpon him to begin a new thing neuer before heard of in the Church of God but proceedes according to the ancient custome of the Romane and Mother Church Which is deliuered in the Councell of Trent as followes Wheras the power of granting Indulgences was conferred vpon the Church by Christ and that she vsed this kind of power deliuered vnto her by the diuine prouidence in the most anceent tymes the holy Synode doth teach and commande that the vse of Indulgences which is verie profitable to all Christians and made good by the authoritie of holy Councells should be retayned in the Church and doth anathematise or curse all such as either affirme that they are vnprofitable or denye that the Church hath power to grant them Howbeit the Councell desires that moderation be vsed in granting them according to the ancient and approued custome of the Church least otherwise Ecclesisticall discipline might be shaken by too much facilitie And desiring that the abuses which were vpon haue creptin wherby the fomous name of indulgences is blaspheamed by the heretikes should be corrected and amended it orders in generall by this present Decree that all base lucre for the gayning of them which hath bene a great cause of many abuses among the Christian people should be vtterly abolished THE III. OBSERVATION HENCE you may see Madame that the Pope goes not along without Counsell authoritie nor did the Councell of Trent begin any neW thinge but continued an old runing still secure in the foote stepps of Ancesters and ancient Councells But wheras neither Pope proceede he neuer so fairely fatherly and Christianly nor ancient Fathers nor Councells will find any great credit with our Souueraigne Aduersaries who may seeme to say with those arrogant persons described in the 11. Psalme We will magnifie our tongue our lipps are our owne who is our Lord and vpon that proud accompt will be their owne and the worlds great iudges I will onely out of respect to your Honour and other louers of truth point at the authorities in the margent taking vp with one passage out of S. Paule which me thinkes should satisfie all men and giue them occasion to reflect that the Churches and Popes proceeding in point of Indulgences was drawen vpon that Originall This holy Apostle then Corinthians 1. and 5. planely exercises the power which Christ S. Matthe the 16. conferred vpon his Apostles and in them to his Church as to the first parte of it to witt to retayne sinne c. vpon the incestuous Corinthian I indeede absent in body saith he but present in Spirit haue alreadie iudged in Spirit him that hath so done in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ c. to deliuer such an one to Sathan for the destruction of the flesh that the Spirit may be saued in the day of our Lord Iesus-Christ Behold the offender excommunicated or cutt of from the Communion of his Christian brethren kept in pennance for his cryme But as to the seconde parte of remitting or loosing c. in the 2. to the Corinthians 2. being moued to compassiō by Tymothie Titus c. he grantes him an Indulgence or pardon and remits the rest of his pennance For my selfe also that which I pardoned if I pardoned any thinge for you in the person of Christ that we be not circumuented by Satan Nor is the Popes Indulgence any other thinge then a remitting or pardoning part of Penance or satisfaction inioyned for or otherwise due to sinne and that too in the name person or by the authoritie of Christ the guilt therof being alreadie pardoned The Bull againe Wherfor we confiding in the mercy of Almightie God and in the authoritie of his blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paule in vertue of that verie power which we haue receiued of our Lord Iesus Christ without any merite of ours to tye and vntie doe grant and giue by the tenure of the presentes most plenarie Indulgences and remission of all the sinns as it is wont to be granted in the Iubilie yeare c. to all faithfull Christians that are in our said holie citie who within the space of a month after the dare hereof shall faste one of the frydayes of the said month and hauing first confessed their sinnes shall reuerently receiue the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist And least by the great concurse of people should they visite Churches after the ordinarie manner the infection might be increased deuoutely say their the Rosarie of the Blessea Virgine Marie or the seauen Penitentiall I salmes with the Litanies and prayers following at home in their owne particular and prayed for the foresaid purposes and giuen almes to the poore as their owne charitie may suggest to each one in particular As also to all others in what places soeuer without our said citie who are in places where there is noe suspicion of the plague which we leaue to the iudgements of the ordinaries of the respectiue places shall visite the Churches appointed by the said Ordinaries their Vicaires Officialls or by their order or in want of them by such as haue charge of soules in those places presently after these presentes are come to their knowledge c. The rest of the Bull I omit as contayning onely the style of the Court togeither with the Priuiledges granted to all Preists approued by lawfull authoritie to absolue all reserued cases irregulariries Censures changing vowes c. and permission for all Penitents to make free choyce of any Preist so approued THE IV. OBSERVATION AND I beseech you good Madame hat can malice meete with in all this I doe not say iustly lyable to so blacke calumntes but euen not worthy of highest
gathered from some particular Authours within the large compasse of the Catholike Church whose single and loose practises are neither beleeued nor approued by the same Church and consequently are vnworthily imposed vpon her and her dutifull children THE IV. PARAGRAPHE NOR is this Madame as they falsely say to haue a countenance forsooth for couetousnesse But to haue a second and sure table after the shipwrake of sinne which is bought by noe other somme but the repentant teares of a contrite and an humbled hart which being stamped by Gods grace are by all Catholikes held to be current money in the sight of God without the addition of any other somme as is basely asserred and imposed vpon Catholikes without all ground of truth saying as it were in the person of a Catholike That the offendants must haue a true Contrition or their somme of Money will doe them noe good noe more then will a true Contrition without the somme Let those slaunderers produce at least one Catholike Authour who holds this abomnable opinion the Catholike Church will anathematise him to free their credit or it will be taken for granted that it is more then they can doe noe lesse indeede then an absolute Calumnie vnlesse it be a somme that ought to be restored to the right owner before the sinne can be absolued according to that ancient Maxime non absoluitâ—r peccarum nisi restituatur ablatum Such is the Iustice of Gods Church of hich there is noe practise among those that liue without as your Honour well knowes and noe protestante can deney Thus farre haue I deliuered what is not taught by but falsely imposed vpon the Catholike Church to remoue all such causelesse Calumnies Now Madame with your permission will I passe on to put downe what I haue bene alwayes taught in the same Church That you may clearely see from what sourse that power of Indulgences is deriued and how ancient they are And with what effects and fruites they are practised amongst vs And wherasnow while I writeth ese thinges it hath pleased God to send vs a Iubilie which all Paris is endeuouring to gayne I haue iudged it not out of the way of our present discourse to bring you acquainted with the forme and teneur of it word for word as it lyes in the Popes Bull which being in some passages attended with short obseruations may happily proue more satisfactorie then any other thinge could be said vpon that subiect The Vniuersall Iubilie granted by our holy Father Pope Alexander by the diuine prouidence the seauenth of that name to implore Gods grace and assistance in the present necessitie of the Church ALEXANDER Pope the seauenth to all faithfull Christians to whom these presentes shall come health and Apostolicall Benediction Casting the eyes of our soule from the most eminent Sea of the Church vpon all the partes of the world and attentiuely considering the continuall calamities which afflict the flocke wherwith we are intrusted from aboue we are not able to represse the frequent sobbs which burst out from the become of our harte nor the teares which flow from our eyes in abundance For what hart of iron would not be sensibly touched with the present miseries which ouerflow the Christian world Warre is sett on fooâ—e and growes euery day more and more obstinate among Catholike Princes and to appease it all the inuentions of humane prudence haue hitherto proued vnprofitalle In the East the countries which were subiect to the power of a most pious common wealth are infested by the turkish warrs of ten yeares continuance In the North a parte of the kingdome of a most Catholike kinge is inuaded by hereticall armes and the frontiers of the rest is not safe from their malice and power In the south partes a cruell plague is begun which depopula es the neighbouring nations and horribly th eatens this capitall Citie of the true Religion All is full of the terrour and iust apprebensions of the miseries which inuirone vs So that now more then euer we resent the hand of God to lye heauie vpon vs because our crymes prouoke his wroth to appease which though we cease not to imploye our owne sacryfices in particular and those of others togeither with the oblations of prayers it out intermission yet we iudge that we shall more promptly receiue the effects which we hope from Gods mercy if the Prayers of all faithfull Christians were ioyned with ours their soules being first purged of the sinns which defile them by the holsome remedic of sinceere Pennance for our good God is myld and mercifull and pardons all that inuoke him in sinceritie of harte THE I. OBSERVATION MADAME you will obserue that we meete with nothing yet that seemes any thinge to Sauour of that base trading which our enemyes would impose vpon vs nor will there any other appeare in all the Bull Marie this appeares and is made visible and intelligible to all that haue eyes to see and eares to heare That ehaue a good Pastour who sleepes not but is vigilant ouer all his vniuersall flocke That he wants not care to consider nor bowells of mercy to commiserate his childrens calamities which by compassion he makes his owne He knowes that his sheepe which he calls are spred all the world ouer and they heare his call to the furdest corners of the earth and know him and acknowledge him by their prompt obedience He calls them not to inrich himselfe with the fleese but to inrich them with the blessings of remission and pardon the fruites of Christs Passion intrusted in his hands He calls them to fasting praying pennance workes of mercy vse of Sacramentes c. and his order is hardly distinguished from the execution therof they all run the Emperour Kinge Prelate Prince Preist and people with vnanimous hartes and ioynt endeuours to make violence against heauen and force as it were necessarie blessings from the hands of Mercy The Pope goes on Now that all these thinges may be done with more fruite and profit and accompaigned with more feruour of Spirit we haue thought good following the ancient custome of the Romane Church the Mother and Mistresse of all the rest to open communicate and distribute the treasures of the same Church wherof we are made the Dispensers by the grace and authoritie of our Sauiour Iesus-Christ And to this effect on the behalfe of Almightie God Father Sonne and holy Ghost by Apostolicall authoritie withall fatherly affection we request admonish and exhorte in our Lord Iesus all faithfull Christians in generall of both sexes as well those of this our holy Citie as those that are out of it in what place soeuer that they would deuoutly sett vpon and accomplish the thinges following and that they would beseech God our Sauiour by the bowells of his mercy to vouchsafe to protect the Catholike faith and defend it against the attempes and ambushes of her enemyes to extirpate heresie to grant peace to Christian Princes
The same is frequently asserted by other holy Fathers as S. a Basile speaking of Monkes these saith he remayne the true and perfect followers of the Institutions of our Redeemour and of his life when he was conuersant amongst vs for as he haue'ng called his Apostle together into one societie made all thinges and euen himselfe common among them so these also who at this day rightly obserue the prescripts of his life obeying their Prelate imitate the Apostles and our Sauiours manner of liueing b S. Chrysostome Monkes liue after the same manner that all the Christians of the Frimitiue Churchliued at Hierusalem And againe in the 3. booke he writing against those that dispraysed Monkes affirmes that the Monkes in his dayes performed the same thinges which the Apostles had performed Possidonius affirmes in plane tearmes that S. Augustine begun to liue according to that Rule and forme which the Apostles themselues had instituted Madame did I not feare to proue too teadious to your Ladyshipe I could with a wett finger bring euen multitudes of like testimonies which are to be seene in the french abridgement of Baronius as also in Gualterius a French Iesuite And what is said of Monkes or religious men is also verified of religious women or Nuns according to the learned Pennottus saying that in the verie same manner that the Institution of the Canon Regulars proceeded from the Apostles so also the institution of the religious Canonesses sprung from the verie prime birth of the Church as well vnder S. Marke at Alexandria as vnder S. Iames at Hierusalem Where that most religious Emperesse our Countrie woman S. Hellen that greatest glorie of our Land and happie Mother of that greatest Emperour of the world Constantine the GREAT did not onely serue the nuns at table with her owne hands 1300. yeares a goe but euen consecrated herselfe to God among them dyed and was buried in their holy habit that is the verie same which the Canonesse all ouer the world vse till this day Pennottus prouinge that the Religious of the holy sepulcher both are now and euer were one and the same order as well with the other Canon Regulars as with those verie Canons which were restored by S. Augustine but instituted by the Apostles themselues THE III. REFLECTION Of the high encomions which Iesus Christ and the Ancient Fathers gaue to Monasticall life THE I. PARAGRAPHE WHENCE can we either more solidly or more fitly begin the commendations of Monasticall life then in his words from whose mouth and example as we haue alreadie seene it tooke its origine And to what end can emore iustly and fruitfully doe it then that the good giuer of it and all good giftes who is worthy of all prayse may be praysed by all thinges and in all thinges since it is not indeede by our owne witt worth or merite but by his gift that we are what soeuer we are laudably Iesus Christ then the wisdome of his heauenly Father who was the first counseller of this blessed life putt also the first most effectuall commēdations vpon it when he said Amen I say to you you who haue followed me in the regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the seate of his maiestie you also shall sit vpon twelue seates iudging the twelue tribes of I sraël and euery one that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or Mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake shall receiue an hundredfold and shall possesse like euerlasting If then we iudge of the greatnesse of the worke by the greatnesse of the reward and measure the profession by the promises what greater commendations could be putt vpon Monasticall life All the right of iudicature was giuen by the father to the sonne and yet the sonne will not exercise it alone but will haue those to share in it who shared with him in abandoning the world T is an absolutly iust retribution cryes out S. Bernard that they who here below contemned the glorie of humane greatnesse for Christs sake should there sit togeither with Christ being sin gularly glorified with the qualitie of iudge c. And we must know saith he that not onely the Apostles but euen all those that for Christs sake by the Apostles blessed example left all and followed him shall become iudges with him O singular familiaritie ô highth of honour ó priuiledge of confidence ó prerogatiue of perfect securitie O diuinely happie state which renders men so secure yea euen so glorious in that Wonderfull clashing of the elements in that dreadfull discussion of merites and that most doubtfull and daunting expectation of iudgement This securitie is the pecu liar rewarde of those Eunukes which geld themselues that is to speake with S. Augustine of those who vo e chastitie for the Kingdome of Heauen of those poore of Christ who follow poore Christ of those obedient sheepe who know and follow the voyce of their pastour and that too not in point of his commands onely but euen in his councells Finally saith S. Augustine let vs heare our Lord Christ Iesus pronouncing a most euident sentence in this behalfe for when he had spoken diuinely and terribly of not separating man wife saue onely f r fornication his Disciples said vnto him if the case of a man with his Wife be so it is not expedient to marie To whom he replyed not all take this word but they to whom it is giuen For there are Eunukes who were borne so from their Mothers wombe and there are Eunukes which were madeby men and there are Eunukes which haue gelded themselues for the kingdome of heauen He that can take let him take What could haue bene said fuller of truth and light It s Christ that sayes truth that sayes the power and wisdome of God that sayes that they who out of a pious resolution conteyne themselues from marriage geld themselues for the kingdome of heauen And on the contrarie side humane vanitie by an impious rashnesse contends that they who doe so doe onely eschew the present necessitie and troubles which accompanie a maried life but shall not haue any whitt more then others And yet I pray of what other Eunukes doth our Lord speake by Isaye the Prophete to whom he promiseth to giue a peculiar place locum nominatum in his house and in his walls farre better then that of Sonns and daughters but of those that geld themselues for the kingdome of heauen Christ goes he on prayses those that geld themselues not for this world but for the kingdome of heauen and shall a Christian contradict him affirming that to witt such gelding it is onely profitable in this life but not in the next Nor hath saith he the holy Ghost bene silent vpon this subiect but hath deliuered something both euident and stronge enough against those impudent and franticke wranglers and withall powerfull enough by impregnable Fortresses
Monasterie that thou mayst deserue to be a Priest learne a long tyme that thou mayst teach afterwards c. since according to S. Augustine a good Monke doth scarce at length proue a good clergie man So high a rate putts he vpon that state of life which ought not onely to endeuour each ones saluation in particular but that of others the gayning of soules being truly and properly an Apostolicall imployment which issued immediately from Christ as he himselfe issuing from his heauenly father was sent for noe other end As my liuing father sent me so I send you and therefore going out into the vniuersall world preach the Gospell to all creatures c. But our famous fruitfull and holy Monasticall seminaries had not onely well ordered troopes enough to people our Bishopes seas to fight against vice in our owne Land which Berinus perfected at home with huge successe and Egbertus in Scolland but afforded also plentifull reserues to make heade against paganisme to plant the faith of Christ in forraine Nations There are yet Wilfredes Willibrords Suibertes and Bonifaciuses with many holy companions left at home to be sent abrode in Apostolicall mission to conuert externe and adiacent neighbours To these doe a great part of Germanie Holland Zeland Saxonie friseland and others owe the happie beginings of their Christianitie In Germanie Boniface laboured for the space of 30. yeares so successefully that witnesse Gregorie the third he baptised one hundred thousand of them conuerting withall Franconia Noricum Bauaria Turingia Hassia some part of Saxonie Dacia Slauonia and Fresia And thece deseruedly had the title of the Apostle of Germanie S. Suibert preached the word of God to all the Couutrie round about Mastricke to Holland Loraine Denmarke Westphalia Saxonie and in a more peculiar manner purchaced the Apostle shippe therof And this not without huge labours and prodigious miracles which were crowned with admirable successe and a happie accomplishment Wilfride wonne the other Saxons from Idolatrie and instructed and baptised many thousands of them leauing the worke to be compleated by willebrord c. And finally by the labours of S. Willibrord Frise the neerer Saxonie Wesphalia Guelderland Cliuia Iuliers Holland Zelande were all conuerted to the faith of Christ By these christian and Apostolicall fruites let Monasticall life be knowen and liue in eternall memorie But while these great thinges were happily performed abrode by 4. holy Monkes of S. Benets order what was done at home Marrie while these were conuerting infidells to the faith the holy Bishops with their holy Monkes at home are labouring to improue the faithfull While these feede their tender Catecumens with mylke they the Bishops c. confirme the stronger sorte with more solide foode Finally while these reconcile sinners they make and Canonise Saintes as We shall see hereafter so that to speake with Venerable Bede In those dayes the whole solicitude that those Dotours had was to serue God not the world their onely care to nourrish the soule not the bellie Hence it was that the habite of religion was as had in great veneration at that tyme In so much that whersocuer any clergie man or Monke chanced to come he was receiued by all with much ioy as a seruant of God yea if they happened to meete him going abrode the people flocked to him and bowing downe their heads they were ouerioyed either to receiue the signe of the Crosse from his hand or a Benediction from his mouth Would you rather haue the assurance of their good imployment from a mouth lesse subiect to suspition Take it then frō Spelman who is as faithfull in relating antiquitie as litle studious of Catholike aduantages in it The Clergie saith he was pious and diligent in frequent fastes prayers and diuine worshippe according to their manner but in almes deedes and workes of charitie and in the aduancement of the Church of God it was in verie decde wonderfully illustrious Truly goes he on a litle after all the Clergie was in a igh esteeme of honour both with the common people the nobilitie and the English Saxon kinges themselues which too they inioyed not vpon a title at preasure but it was euen confirmed vpon them by the Lawes The Preist that celebrated at the Altar was equall to the Lord of the Village held in the same teneur with him and had the like honour done to him The Abbot or cheife Gouernour of the Monasterie was principall among the Barons as the Bishope was also amōgst the cheife Countes who inioyed a whole Countie and the committements therto belonging The Archbishope was aboue a Duke or Peere or Gouernour of a most ample Prouince which conteyned many counties c. To witt the kinges hartily loued and looked vpon the whole Clergie with a gracious countenance and alwayes chused out of it the first of his priuie Councell and the cheife Minister of state for in those Ages the keyes of learning and knowledge was onely in their hands and so it come to passe that the Preists mouth was the peoples oracle and the mouth of the Bishope the Oracle of the kinge and common wealth The Bishope therfor satt in the first place in all the assises sessions and Courts of the kingdome in the kinges Pallace with the Peeres of the Land in the Counties togeither with the Counte and iustice of peace of the Countie In the Vicountie with the Vicounte in the hundred with the Lord of the Hun dred in such sort that the one sword mutually helped the other in promoting instice and nothing was done without the Preists aduise who was as it were the balance to the shippe To these let vs adde the noble testimonie of the great Baronius saying with a kind of astonishment so great was the feruent zeale of the primitiue Church of England to holy religion that by the multitudes of Monkes who applyed themselues to the studie of diuine Phylosophie the whole Iland was replenished with Monasteries wherin the verie kinges who had shewen themselues Lions in warres became presently most mylde Lambes inclosed with in the walls of a sacred solitude whence we may gather from the iudgement of those kinges that what was auerred of old by most holy religious and prudent persons was most true to witt that Monasticall life ought to be preferred before the life of a kinge since many of them as is euident by our best historians being exceedingly renowned for their great prudence illustriously glorious in the world and flowing with riches did yet out of the esteeme they had that Monasticall life was a greater good vnderualuing all those in comparison of this they quite abandoned those and made choyce of this by preference Heare Spelman againe howeuer an aduersarie in this behalfe If we descend to kinges of following Ages who will not stand amaysed at the admirable pietie the incredible feruour the incomparable Almes-deedes the multitudes of their workes of mercy their excessiue bountie and liberalitie heaped vpon
beleeued the best till you had knowen the worst It s easie you know to mistake misreport and lie at a distance and trauellours are held subiect to that desease Had you limited this vaste word They to some one or a few persons or at least fastened it vpon some one or a few orders or countries you might haue gayned some credit with such as haue credulitie enough to take your bare word for good payment and perhapps we should not haue disputed a thing which might haue bene incidēt among so many but to strike at all at once without bringing the least euidence against any one at all is a thinge certainly which sober persons will take for such as it is a meere calumnie But to goe to the ground of things in all probabilitie this aspersion can haue but litle truth in it for this supposed couetousnesse must either be verified of Superiours or subiects If of subiects there is truly but litle appearence of it they hauing nothing that they can either dispose of at their owne pleasure or euen tearme their owne what better meanes could euen wisdome deuise to banish all couetousnesse And what reason is there then to induce them so earnestly to thirst after riches If of superiours me thinkes it might be more charitably tearmed a iust care to prouide for and conserue those great families of the poore of Christ who are intrusted in their hands then couetousnesse c. since according to S. Paule he that hath not care of his owne and especially of his domestikes he hath denyed the faith and is worse then an infidel Indeede had they had wife and children to prouide for and the free power to dispose of what by their couetousnesse they could procure as your Ministers haue one might haue had better grounds to haue suspected them according to the great Bacon in his Essaies But Monasticall persons who by solemne vowes haue abandoned all that they either haue or might hope for they that haue noe such clogges vpon them as haue your Ministers they that can haue nothing in proprietie without hauing at the same tyme the Churches excommunications curses vpon them as is euident in her ancient Canons That they I say should be so eager after riches is a paradoxe which such are onely capable of as haue least reason and most malice for their guides THE II. CALVMNIE They bring in ceremonie for gaine THE XIII REFLECTION THEY c. which they againe Doth this they referre to some one order or to all orders that ouer all the world vniuersally or in some part of the world onely Or els are all the professours of the Catholike faith meant by that short word they Againe they bring in ceremonie Which where when how not a word of all this To witt calumniatours loue to trade in generalities wherin lyes are not so easily discouered Should they point out any one order in particular which hath generall approbation in the Catholike Church they would find the youngest of them to be older then their Church and thence it is that they neither name the thinge the time nor the place That so they may be sure not to be caught but where the calumnie falls there it should lye without possible controle And putt case some ceremonies were anciently brought in nor doe we contend they were all from the begining might not a more modest interpretation haue bene putt vpon them by a Christian then an ayme of lucre Might they not haue bene esteemed vsefull to sett of Gods seruice with more decencie and Maiestie Thinges that are of homely common vulgar vse are also but of a vulgar esteeme and quickly run into contempt with the people Saint Augustine could make a better construction of the Ceremonies of his tyme to Wit that they were a certaine mute eloquence deliuering wholsome doctrine suted to moue the affections of the vnlearned conueying their hartes from thinges visible to inuisible from corporall to spirituall from temporall to eternal thinges And saith excellently in another place that those that pray fitt the partes of their body to a posture beseeming a suppliant as when they kneele vpon their knees spread out their armes or cast themselues prostrate vpon the ground ceremonies or pious practises which Monasticall persons the Catholike Church is well acquainted with or any action which they performe visibly howeuer their hart is otherwise knowen to God who needes not those externall actions to haue their myndes ly open to him but man rather needs them to excite himselfe therby to pray and grone with more humilitie and feruour And I know not how it comes to passe that wheras those corporall motions are noe otherwise caused then by the preceedant motion and order of the mynd yet they being visibly performed the interiour inuisible motion which caused them is reciprocally increased and therby the affectien of the hart which preceeded to cause those effects because they are performed is augmented Here you may obserue a better vse of ceremonies a spirituall gaine apparently aymed at And how I pray came they so well acquainted with the consciences of Monasticall persons as to know their harees intention I durst be sworne they were neuer at confession with any such profane Preists as take it for their taske to decrie their liues and ceremonies THE II. PARAGRAPHE MADAME I beleeue there is but too much said to people that speake in the ayre without any limitation at all neither particularising the ceremonies nor persons which vse them If they meane of the ceremonies of the Catholike Church in generall I shall owne that glorious cryme and as willingly grant they are vsed and that in great number as absolutly deney and reiect as a calumnie that they haue either bene brought in of late or vsed for gaine but contrariwise most decently and religioussy to serue that great Maiestie in the comliest way we are able and to keepe vp the memorie of the life and passion of our blessed Sauiour they being a continuall expression therof exposed to the eyes of the people we confesse we are louers of order as being the beautie of the vniuerse We know that what comes from God comes with order and decencie And therfor we professe that we hate that anarchie and confusion which old Tertullian sett out to the life saying I will not omitt to describe the manner of proceeding amongst heretikes how babling and vndecent how lowe and earthly and how sauering of flesh and bloud it is without grauitie without authoritie without order or discipline as being sutable in verie deede to their beleife In the first place it appeares not among them who is a Catecumene and who one of the faithfull they goe pell mel togeither and heare the same seruice and say the same prayers Nay should euen a pagan chance to come they will throw holy thinges to dogges and gemmes though otherwayes false ones to swine They tearme simplicitie an ouerthrow of discipline and our desire to
single to the melancholie horror of such a solitude as is onely accompaigned with a bad conscience a home bred punishment which a wise Poëte will haue to passe the huge torments of Busyris his burning brasen Bull Hauing much leasure to heare God speake to their harts many of them enter into themselues and change their abominable and euen painefull liues confessing with the Wiseman that they are worne out in the Wayes of iniquitie 4. They are prohibited to vse any allurement by words or signes that is either by calling in passingers or making any vnciuil or tempting signes with hand or head 5. In holy tymes as Lent c. they are forced to goe to sermons where greatest diligence is vsed to dehort and deterre them from that damnable course of life by thundering Preachers placing death iudgement heauen and Hell fire before their eyes with the greatest force and life that pious eloquence is able to set them out as being the most powerfull arguments to strike such rebellious hartes with feare the begining of wisdome and consequently the most effectuall meanes to reclaime them 6. They are not onely dehorted discountenanced c. but they are also punished both corporally and spiritually both in soule body and fortunes In their life they are forbidden all the Sacraments or excommunicated c. At their death vnlesse they be changed from their badd life they are not permitted to make their last will and Testament but all their goods are confiscated Stay not to the Popes coffers which our antipopes were gaping after but to the Hospitalls and their bodyes are refused Christian buriall being throwen into a place neere the walls of the Citie hard by the Porta del populo Where in detestation and punishment of their sinne they haue noe other then the Asses buriall And that the said restraintes might not be proiected onely but punctually executed there are publicke officers who haue continually a watchfull eye ouer them and other malefactours that they might not transgresse against the former prohibitions or otherwise And to performe their office more effectually they take a liste of all the whores names that they might know who they are and where and be able to force them to the Sermons appointed should they at any tyme be found negligent 4. The Pope doth not onely discountenance dehorte punish and put a strict watch ouer them to see all the premises obserued But yet further his Holinesse endeuours to hinder the increase of them by his owne great care and cost for first he causeth young girles not yet marrigable to be taken at ten yeare old or there about from their poore parēts least they might be tempted by pouertie quoe cogit ad turpia to prostitute those innocents and these girles he causes to be carefully brought vp in a cortaine hospital purpose y designed for that pious worke And when they come to be of riper yeares they are prouided with sufficient portions either to espouse God or man that is either to chuse Monasteries or Mariage For this purpose there is a most solemne and deuoute procession made euery yeare to the Dominicans Church by three or foure hundred of these young girles all clad in white and those that will be Nuns haue litle crownes vpon their heades and white waxe candles in their hands to the Dominicans Church where his Holynesse expects them in person and giues euery one of those poore girles a purse full of money to inable them either to become Nuns or Wiues Is this Madame as they basely obtrude vpon you and falsely impose vpon the Pope to permitt whores to line loosely without punishment Is this to allot them streetes and houses to increase sinne Is this to authorise sinne for a somme Is this to pay Tribute to the Church Or rather is it not one of the fowlest and falsest imputations that euer can be cast vpon a Souueraigne Prince and heade of the Church And one of the most base vnworthie and vnchristian actions imaginable to make vse of the ignorance of a fact at a great distance wherin few are able and fewer willinge to take the paynes to disabuse themselues to beget badd impressions in all those wherof the world is but too full who eatily lend open eares to such scandalous reports to the preiudice of their Christian brethren whom they are bound to loue Is this I say to permitt them to line loosely without punishment since in verie deede they are punished in the ciuile libertie which other women inioye in their reputation being marked out and knowen to all the world for such as they are in their consciences being depriued of the Sacraments In their purse not hauing power to dispose of that Mammon of iniquitie which by their infamous commerce or otherwise they might haue gayned Finally in their body or deade corps it being denyed Christian buriall Is this to allot streetes and houses to increase sinne to withdraw the young grouth the poore girles wherby they might haue probably bene recruted Is this to authorise sinne for a somme to imploy large sommes for the conuersion of those that are already vnfortunatly fallen into that abominable tradinge and to hinder others to follow their wicked example So farre is it from truth that the Church receiues any tribute by them that it imployes the vigour of good gouernment much care and cost to reclayme them So that we may iustly conclude that the whores at Rome are not permitted without punishment Which yet our enemies affirmed and we put it downe for the first CALVMNIE That they haue not streetes allotted to increase their sinne which our enemies auerred and it is their seconde CALVMNIE That sinne is not authorised for a somme which our enemies asserted and it is their third CALVMNIE That they pay not tribute to the Church as they falsely imposed and it is their fourth CALVMNIE Deale fairely with vs put downe all these in capitale letters for Calumnies and let them be fixed vpon the Calumniatours foreheades and we will more cheerefully goe on to the ensuinge charges THE V. CALVMNIE They authorise sinne for a somme c. and not onely sins past and present but to come Witnesse the yeares of Iubilie THE XVI REFLECTION THAT there is noe sinne at all authorised by the Pope or the Catholike Church either past present or to come as to the whores hath bene alreadie proued and the contrarie is marked downe for a calumnie if right be done vs But wheras that which they bring for a proofe of it to wit witnesses the yeares of Iubilie seemes not to relate to the whores alone but is euen extended though most vniustly to the whole body of the Catholikes it ought not to passe without giuing some better accompt of it selfe nor shall it THE I. PARAGRAPHE MADAME had the yeare of Iubilie indeed this strange vnheard of boundlesse power of not onely pardoning sins past and present but withall of authorising sinne to come for a somme I must needes