these things but how by persecuting and perplexing of such as by their writings would remedy them nevertheless that remedy they apply which is neither Christian nor politick instead of doing good causes great hurt both to themselves and to the Church for the pens of the Censurists are like the head of Hercules his Hidra cut one off and there will succeed seven in its place and those much worse than the former To take away this unhappy effect the best way would be to remove the cause The Theologist should be forbidden to write such Rodomontads and not the Censurists to Censure It were strange if things should by this course succeed as they desire and design The Popes would suffer no body in Rome to write but only such as write of their Holiness their Majesty their Authority their Infallibility and their Impeccability Those on the other side that write in defence of the Jurisdiction and Supremacy of Princes must be banish'd persecuted and exterminated but 't is to small purpose in my judgement for whilst the Pope incourages his party to write in his praise the Princes will not want Assertors of their prerogatives and perhaps in greater numbers than his Holiness If the Roman Theologists should go on as they have began whether would things go For these thirty years they have added every day new Degrees new Titles new Authority new Soveraignty to the Pope now those that shall come after observing the writings of their Predecessors rewarded either with Abbeys Bishopricks Cardinalships or good Pensions will in all probability set their brains upon the tenters for an invention of enlarging his authority and not knowing any nearer way will attempt to take the Soveraignty away from the Temporal Princes and confer it on the Pope A certain Confessor I met lately by the City in a conference I had with him about the Authority of the Pope told me in these very terms Sir I believe it as an Article of my Faith that a Pope cannot possibly be damned I desir'd his reason with as much respect as I could but he gave me this answer only That many Divines now adayes in Rome did assert and write so and likewise many of the Faithfull began to believe it For my part I believ'd he said true and would to God the Jesuits were not in the way of maintaining this Opinion publiquely every where it being the highest complement they can use to him for if he be not lyable to damnation by consequence he is not subject to the sentence which God Almighty shall pass at the last day upon the Souls of Mankind Which Opinion being receiv'd the Pope is not only exempt from the Censures of Counsels and of the Church but from the Judgement of God himself and in times to come having gain'd this point they may perhaps perswade the people he is Eternal also But I am confident if Princes will gainsay his other pretences God Almighty will not grant him this of Eternity reserv'd as a peculiar attribute and prerogative to himself But I hope the prudence of the Popes will not suffer them to admit such Doctrine into the Church and then whilst they are good and just to the People the Princes and the Church I doubt not but they will be respected and reverenc'd by them all Too great a wind bruises or breaks a Vessel to pieces by a too hasty and violent concussion against the Shore though in the very Harbour it thought it self safe If the Popes had been contented to carry themselves with mediocrity they had never run that hazard of losing all and Christendom had been of larger extent than it is Whilst the Popes were satisfy'd within the limits of their Authority the Church increas'd to that wideness that the most barbarous Nations from the remotest parts of the Earth came to Rome to pay their Devotion to the Church Since they found things alter'd and all tending either to vanity or pride not only new accessions have ceas'd but those have withdrawn themselves who had been setled in the Church before The Divines are so insatiate to heap up honor upon honor upon the Pope that I fear they will one day make him lose all In short let the Theologists say what they please both Prince and people will always take the liberty 〈…〉 commend the good and find fault with the bad actions of the Popes But some will say perhaps since they cannot regulate the Pope it would be their best way to restrain the people because 't is more easie for a person to contain himself from upbraiding then from committing a Sin In former times the Popes serv'd for examples to draw people to works of piety and holiness and the Saints in their private Assemblies and Conversations took great pleasure to discourse of the charity of this Pope and the Martyrdom Zeal and Goodness of the other Now they talk indeed of their Popes but 't is to their reproach and disparagement not of their Sanctity but of their zeal to the preferment of their Nephews Formerly their discourse was only of their Virtues now it is only of their Errours God Almighty put it into the Hearts of the Cardinals to create holy Popes and into the hearts of the Popes to continue as the Cardinals create them Il CARDINALISMO di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF CARDINALS In III. Parts PART I. BOOK II. The Contents Wherein is discours'd of the place proportion'd to the Fabrick of Cardinalism Of some particularities about the Essence of the Greek the Roman and the Jewish Churches Of the obligations upon the Church of Rome to banish and persecute the Jewish Church with more severity than the Greek Of the name of Church and what it signifies Of the distinctions in Rome betwixt the Catholick Church and the Roman Of the infallibility of the Church Of the Liberty of Conscience in their Divines The reason why they are punish'd more strictly that offend against the Pope than the Church Of the coldness of the Popes in remunerating those that serve the Church and their liberality to those that are serviceable to them Of the true remedy to hinder the Divines from flattering the Popes Of the Ecclesiastical charges and by whom they are to be dispens'd An efficacious way to prevent murmuring against the Pope Of the way in which the Popes serv'd the Church in the primitive times and of the honor they receiv'd by being call'd heads of the Christian Commonwealth Of the great necessity of taking from the Popes il motu Proprio and of the way to effect it Of the Election of Cardinals in the primitive times Of the age of Poverty and of the age of Riches Of the submission wherewith the Popes now adayes are treated by the Cardinals Of the great Errours into which the Church of Israel fell Of a certain Father that preach'd up the infallibility of the Pope That the Church of Rome is subject to several Errors Of a discourse betwixt a Priest
their Memorials and Petitions not to say Bribes that his Holiness would graciously confer the Cassock of a Prelat upon them their humility being turn'd into pride and their meekness into magnificence Oh how many Families of them would beg their bread of those very people they despise had not this great wealth been brought into the Church and with suitable dignity been conferr'd upon the Clergy There is not in the whole Universe a Court more capable nor more likely to enable and enrich a mean family than Rome and all by its introducing so great a number of Prelats into the Church for every man being by natural instinct desirous of the advancement of his own family betakes himself to Rome with confidence he shall raise himself one day to some considerable dignity There are several qualities and degrees in Rome all of them together make up that Lather as it were by which the Cardinalship is to be ascended to there being none at present able to make one hope for a greater dignity To aspire to so great an honour is an argument of great ambition in the heart of that man nor can any man of the Gown desire greater advancement in this Age than to be made a Cardinal because with the dignity he receives an immediate preheminence over all those that were his Companions before is made a Brother of Gods Vicegerent upon the Earth and ally's himself with what Kings or Princes he pleases every one being ambitious to call a Cardinal his Couzen. Caesar for a long time had a desire to wear a perpetual Lawrell but his desire is nothing to that ardor and fury wherewith the Prelats of Italy and all Europe do aspire to so eminent a dignity How deep a place this desire has got in the hearts of the Prelats may be argued from hence that they oftentimes dye with joy that they have arriv'd at such honor that others dye for sorrow that they cannot attain it and others think their labour well bestow'd if by forty years fawning upon this Prelat and that they can but reach it last For prevention of contempt which usually accompanies common things they have with good reason annex'd both to their Secular and Ecclesiastical Dignities certain Titles of honour not only that they might be known to the people but to communicate and infuse into their hearts such an awe and respect as is due to their Majesty and Power But the Popes have of late years very much exceeded in aggrandizing the Cardinals but the smoak is more than the meat for the Popes incroaching hourly upon the real authority that belongs to the Cardinals they have heap'd great Titles of Majesty upon them that they might not at one time be cheated of both Some there are that believe the dignity of Cardinals had their beginning from the very foundation of the Church agreeable to what Eugenius quartus intimates in a Letter to Henry Arch-Bishop of Canterbury besides whom a great number of Canonical Authors have believ'd they were instituted by him that irrigated the foundation of the Church with his own blood that the Sacred Purple might flourish therein as I have read and heard preach'd in St. Peters in Rome But 't is manifest all that is but flattery for we know the Illustrious Title of Cardinal with which the Popes have invested the chief of the Church was not in use till the time of Pope Silvester who call'd them Cardinals as hinges upon which the Church Militant was to turn The design of Silvester was good intending thereby to put the Cardinals in mind that if they would render themselves worthy of the esteem they expected they ought as Senators both Spiritual and Temporal of that Commonwealth have the fear of God and a zeal for the Flock of Christ in their minds and by the piety and exemplariness of their Conversation provoke and excite other Christians to the reformation of theirs St. Peter 't is true had Linus Cletus Clement Anacletus Mark the Evangelist and others as his Assistants and most Religiously executing the Offices they were under bearing a great share in the Government and Superintendency over the whole Church but the name of Cardinals was not given them nor as then known There are furthermore divers antient Records that tell us that Pope Cletus did institute five and twenty Titular Priests and Anacletus seven Deacons in commemoration of those instituted by the Apostles in the Infancy of the Church which were without doubt the first Titles that were conferr'd and since conserv'd by the Cardinals Pope Evaristus who succeeded Anacletus confirm'd that holy institution and to render it the more compleat he limited and distinguish'd the several places and Parishes that were assigned to the Government of those first Ministers of State in the Church In the year 156. Saint Higinus being Pope and desirous to give a greater and more august form to his Clergy he divided them into orders and degrees placing one under the other in a just rule of Inferiority and Superiority The chief were call'd Cardinals as principals at the first foundation of orders in the Church the rest had only Priest and Deacon for their Titles Some there were that have believ'd and some there be that do think so still that in the Primitive times Bishops had the Title of Cardinals but they do not assure us whether that name was given them in the Papacy of Higinus or of some other Pope However that shows the super-intendency they had over the rest of the Priests and Deacons of the Church as they had over the rest that had the care of particular Parishes They add also that they were distinguish'd in that manner by reason of their Titles that the Cardinal Bishops had belonging to their Titles the principal Churches both without and within Rome to the number of eighteen but they were afterwards reduc'd to six that the Cardinals had assign'd to them the other Parochial Churches and Cimeteries in Rome where the Priests that were under them did execute their several charges with great Decorum their particular offices consisting in the care of Souls in the admistration of the Sacraments of the Church and in a charitable regard of the Burial of the Dead and of Martyrs The Cardinal Deacons had the Hospitals and other Religious houses assigned to them whilst the simple Deacons under them had the oversight of Orphans Widows and the Poor The Chapels that were ordinarily united to these Religious houses being called Deaconries and in the beginning exceeded not the number of seven according to the number of the Cardinal Deacons and the number of Parishes remaining in Rome after the dismal Conflagration caus'd by Nero the Tyrant But it must needs be confess'd that with the revolution of time this first order and manner of Government founded principally upon actions and exercises of Piety have been very much chang'd so as by degrees both Bishops Priests and Deacons who compos'd the Sacred Colledge of the Church of
on purpose to find a remedy in some measure for the disorders the Nepotismo occasion'd in the Church But their words were more than their deeds for though some were of opinion a definitive decree should be pass'd by which all succeeding Popes should be oblig'd from calling their Relations to Rome without the consent of the Sacred Colledge Nevertheless the major part thought it more convenient not to meddle in it at all lest they should give fresh occasion of scandal and derision to the Hereticks So that Pallavicino's Paper had no better success than the resolution of Cardinal Cena who had fancy'd to himself the extinguishment of the Nephews a â—â—diculâ—â—us fancy because in my iudgement the extinction of the Nephews would be a great prejudice to the common re 〈…〉 of Rome if the Pope was constrain'd to trust himself rather to the Councels of his Enemies than his friends and to introduce persons unknown to him into the Vatican The Duty of Cardinals as they are Senators of the Church should be to watch over the Nephews that of Governours they become not Princes of Keepers of the Patrimony of Saint Peter they prove not barbarous devourers of the very blood of Christ and indeed if the Cardinals pleas'd they might do wonders for the benefit of the Church Were they all unanimous for the destruction of all corruption they would give the Pope and his Nephews matter to think upon but they have no mind to it this for one consideration that for another this for this interest that for that so that faction and division ruines the Church and gives opportunity to the Popes in the mean time to prosecute the advancement of their own Families Some few years since the Cardinals amongst other Titles call'd themselves Princes of the Holy Church which gave sober men great occasion to wonder for my own part I look upon it as so strange and incongruous an usurpation I cannot tell which way to excuse it That they call themselves Senators of the Christian Commonwealth Counsellors of the Supreme Senate of Christ upon Earth Apostles of the Catholick Religion Assistants to Christs Vicar Supreme Ministers of the Gospel I can allow as what they may reasonably deserve but I know not how they can assume the Title of Princes of the Church Are they Princes that are many times used worse than Slaves by the Nephews Are they Princes that are forc'd to wait from morning to night not upon Christs Vicar but the Popes Nephews Are they Princes of the Church that know not so much as where her Treasure is Are they Princes of the Church that suffer her to be ransack'd and ravish'd before their own eyes Are they Princes that can see their Principalities destroy'd with so much patience Your true Princes from the rising to the setting of the Sun and from its setting to its rising again do study nothing more than the conservation of their proper Principalities they endeavour with all possible care the augmentation of the number of their Subjects they suffer not their people to be press'd or overlay'd with more grievances than the condition of his Principality does necessarily require If any go about to disturb the peace of their Neighbours they arm themselves immediately marching up and down their Dominions to hear the grievances and complaints of their Subjects and to comfort them with his presence and due execution of Justice and these are Princes indeed But what kind of Princes are your Cardinals Or what service do they do the Church to deserve that Title But their Soveraignty or to speak more properly their Dominion and Government is not in spiritual things forasmuch as the Pope is he that dispences indulgences gives dispensations sends out his Bulls and creates Bishops and Cardinals as he pleases so that the Pope only is Prince of the Church and not the Cardinals and although they may seem to have some share in the creation of Bishops because they are examin'd usually in a Congregation of Cardinals yet that is only form and outward appearance for in strictness the Pope can make whom he thinks good and without the consent or knowledge of the Cardinals send a Bishop into any City whether the whole Colledge of Cardinals dare not so much as send a Deacon to recite the Offices for the dead withcut the Popes permission And this is a thing that gives me no small discomposure as often as I think of it for indeed we all know and all History both Ecclesiastick and Prophane do confirm it that Saint Peter never did any thing but by the concurrence of the Apostolick Colledge but the Colledge often without Saint Peter nor can I tell how the face of things came to be chang'd for above twelve Centuries the Popes never insinuated or pretended to the creation of Bishops Cardinals or other Officers of the Church that belonging alwayes to the Synode and Colledge But now the Popes do all things as they list themselves and yet the Cardinals must needs have the Title of Princes of the Holy Church which the Popes do willingly allow them as not caring who have the smoak whilst they themselves run away with the roast But if the Popes have usurp'd upon the Cardinals Jurisdiction in Spiritual things much more have they robb'd them of it in Temporal One of them being taken away drew the other after it Whilst the Popes began at first by degrees to entrench upon that Authority in Spirituals that the Sacred Colledge was legally possess'd of and finding by little and little that they parted with patience with what they usurp'd with pride the good Popes took courage and seiz'd upon all driving them out both of their Spiritual and Temporal Authority too so that at this present the Cardinals have nothing left them but the benevolence of the Pope The worst is the Cardinals cannot yet tell in what manner they came to be robb'd of those Priviledges they in former times were possess'd of but for my part I believe it was from nothing else but their negligence and too little care they took of the conservation of that Authority that was given them by God by the Church by the Emperors and by the People for seeing their Authority very great they us'd not sufficient diligence to preserve it whereas the Popes being conscious of the weakness of their own they made it their business to enlarge it and they have done it so effectually they have left the other none at all Platina in his first impression of the Life of Paul the second gives an account that amongst others being accus'd of I know not what and brought Prisoner before the said Pope he petition'd his Holiness that he might be try'd before the Colledge of Cardinals in whose Judgement he would willingly acquiesce But the Pope enrag'd at the request told him What do you talk of Judgement know you not that I am infallible and carry all their Judgements and Reason in the Cabinet of my breast I consider
CLEMENS IX PONTIFEX MAXIMVS CREATVS DIE XX IVNII ANNO M. D. C. LX. VII Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF THE CARDINALS OF THE Roman Church From the time of their first Creation to the Election of the Present POPE Clement the Ninth With a full Account of his CONCLAVE In Three Parts Written in Italian by the Author of the Nipotismo di Roma and faithfully Englished by G. H. LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Myter betwixt the Middle-Temple-Gate and Temple Bar in Fleet-Street 1670. A SUMMARY Of the Matters contained in the Three Parts of this Book THE First treats of the Essence of the Church of the Controversies which arise betwixt the Religious Orders the Princes and the 〈…〉 ergy Of the Pontifical Authority how it is understood in Rome and how it ought to be by the Soveraign Princes Of the Original Augmentation and Essence of the Cardinalitial Dignity and of the manner of living of all the Cardinals in general The Second shews how careless and perfunctory the Cardinals are in defending the Church from the rapacity of the Nipotismo with the reasons and obligations they have thereunto As likewise the Promotions Titles Alliances Qualities Vices and Virtues of all the Cardinals now living The Third discourses of all the Treaties Negotiations Differences Disputes and Dissentions happen'd amongst the Cardinals in the Conclaves and betwixt the Cardinals the People and the Emperors in the Elections of all the Popes and Anti-Popes from the Incarnation of our Saviour to the Conclave in the Year 1667. in which Clement the 9th was elected Pope To which are added certain Politick Aphorisms written by Cardinal Azolini upon the Cardinals of the said Conclave THE AUTHOR TO THE READER Kind Reader I Present you here with the Cardinalismo I promis'd you in my Nipotismo Read it as your own not as mine for he who promises a thing obliges himself de jure to him that expects its performance Certain Criticks who vouchsafe to throw away some moments of their time in the perusal of the Nipotismo wonder'd exceedingly that I should publish that book first having declar'd the Cardinalismo to be my first born The first pangs and qualms which I endured were I must confess in the Conception of my Cardinalismo but I laid that aside and fell upon my Nipotismo You will ask me upon what grounds or inducements VVhat necessity was there for that I will tell you sincerely my design was to publish them together but upon second thoughts I made an Esau of Jacob and a Jacob of Esau that is I put forth my Nipotismo by way of Essay resolving if that had not had the approbation I expected to have stifled the other or confin'd it to my own Cabinet But things succeeded according to the predictions of my Friends and the Nipotismo relishing even amongst those Argus's and Criticks who read books only to correct them and upbraid the Authors I concluded forthwith to present this Cardinalismo likewise for the benefit of the Publick presuming its reception would be no worse than the other if the Readers judgement and the Authors do agree which nevertheless I cannot but apprehend when I consider how frequently they differ This I know that if any book ever gave occasion of Censure this will and that not only to the Catholicks but to the Protestants also for even amongst them there are such as will find fault where they do not sometimes understand Methinks I hear a Protestant at one of my ears crying out already You might have left out this you should have omitted that it would have been better thus and thus and thus and in the other a scandaliz'd Catholick complaining that I write several things superfluous to the very nature of History and pass by others which would be proper and adequate But he who should write a book and undertake to give universal satisfaction would but lose his time and have his labour for his pains Nor is it to be expected the general will submit to a particular The Apostles were holy men guided by the holy Spirit and according to that direction they writ the book of the holy Gospel yet how many Hereticks are there found who fear not to condemn what they ought in Conscience to adore How many prophane persons which despise the Apostolical instructions How many Divines that with a thousand niceties and distinctions do controvert and dispute against the writings of the Apostles Now if the nature of man be so dogged and perverse that it cannot accommodate with so sacred a book so necessary to our Salvation and so infallible in its Composition how is it possible they should receive one kindly that perhaps is contrary to their own sence and inclinations I am satisfy'd it is impossible this Cardinalismo should please both Catholick and Protestant because the one contemns what the other approves and the other embraces what the first has rejected Many things are inserted which are familiar amongst the Catholicks and for that reason those are contemptible to them Many others there are which are common amongst the Protestants and accordingly as inconsiderable to them but all things are to be regulated with order and the good intention of the Author is to be excused because his design is to give general satisfaction as near as he can Should he have writ only what had been palatable to the Catholicks the Protestants would have disgusted it and on the other side to have address'd himself only to the satisfaction of the Protestants would have been as ingratefull to the Catholicks Seeing therefore what is acceptable to the one is unacceptable to the other the Catholick may read what makes for his interest and the Protestant what the Catholick rejects and I am certain he will reject what is most worthy to be read For my part I advise the Protestant to read nothing but what the Catholick condemns and the Catholick only what the Protestant despises that both of them may suck what honey they can and throw away the sting which pricks them within Thus far kind Reader I have spoken in general I shall now apply my self particularly to thee and first I desire thee to take notice I am not the only person concern'd in the composition of this book For these two last years I have endeavour'd notwithstanding some trouble and expence to procure such Memoires as were necessary for my design from the hands of other persons so that if the book happens to be dislik'd let not the whole blame be laid at my door but let them have their share who cooperated in the work which I cannot call mine because my Memoires came from the hands of other people people I may say for I depended not upon the Relations of any one man Yet there is one thing I may properly call my own and that is the Stile and Contexture of the book in which also you may have occasion and perhaps in every leaf to condemn me as
extracted from their own books which are Printed by the Permission and Approbation of the Superiours of their Society Written in French by a Serbon Doctor and faithfully Englished in Folio Il CARDINALISMO di Santa Chiesa OR THE HISTORY OF CARDINALS In III. Parts PART I. BOOK I. The Contents In which is discoursed concerning the weakness of Humane Vnderstanding The manner of God's speaking to Men in old time and at present The Excellencies of the H. Scripture How R. Catholicks live in Protestant Countries and Protestants in those of R. Catholicks Of turning from one Religion to another Of those who relinquish the Church wherein they were born and know not for what reason The promiscuous admission of Doctors in the Vniversitie of Valenza applyed by a Protestant Preacher in discourse with a R. Catholick Of some Missionary Priests who receive licentious persons for Converts What answers the Priests and Friars of Italy make to their Superiors when these go about to punish their Miscarriages An Example of a certain Florentine who went to Geneva to change his Religion Another of a Neapolitane to the same purpose Of those Missionary Priests who buy their Faculty of Mission from some Courtier at Rome What remedy is requisite in these matters Of the Protestant Ministers who are contented to live in their Pastoral charge without thrusting themselves into matters of State Of Liberty of Conscience so much talk'd of amongst Christians What Authority the Emperors and Magistrates had over Church-men in the Primitive times In what particulars the several parties of Christian Professors lament their miseries in these dayes Of the zeal of Princes towards their Subjects What Effect the Magistrate's diligence in visiting the people's Actions produceth Of the neglect of Princes in observing the wayes and proceedings of Church-men How the respect given antiently by the people to Princes and Magistrates differs from what is given to them at this day Of Church-men who assume authority to pry into the actions of Soveraign Princes A Parallel between the Princes and people in reference to the Exercise of Religion Of the Policy of Church-men how exquisite to preserve their Grandeur Some Examples of Preachers as to the matter of Ecclesiastical Grandeur Of the disaffection of Ecclesiasticks to the Soveraignty of Princes Of some Differences wont to arise between R. Catholicks and Protestants in the Elections of Preachers The Example of Moses appointed a Preacher to Pharoah Of the Vigilance of France in maintaining the Gallicane Rites Of a Book printed at Rome in diminution of the Soveraignty of Princes The Jesuites question'd by the Parliament of Paris concerning the Impression of the said Book Their Answer to the Parliament The great Devotion of the Venetians to the service of God and the preservation of their Liberties and Privileges Of some pretendedly scrupulous whâ— blame the Venetians for being too jealous of their Soveraignty Of the danger wherein all Princes would be were it not for the resistance which France and Venice make to the ambition of Church-men Of some discourses concerning the Authority of the Pope Of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and Temporal compared together What effects the Excommunication of the Venetians by Paul V. produc'd to the Church Of the blame those Popes incurr who by their Excommunications forbid Subjects to obey their Natural Princes What Obedience both people and Magistrates owe to the Pope The Opinion of a Dominican Divine The heady Opinions of the Roman Divines concerning the Popes Authority The subjection of such Princes as are constrained by the Pope to obey the caprichio of those Divines who write accommodately to the Pope's humour How easily the Popes may Excommunicate Soveraign Princes and what mischief that easiness produceth How the Popes deal with Princes who have deserv'd well of the Church The chief causes which mov'd Paul V. and Urban VIII to thunder out Excommunications against the Venetians the Commonwealth of Lucca and the Duke of Parma In what manner the Pope ought to be honour'd by Princes and their people Of the difference betwixt being of the Church in the dayes of the Apostles and now Of the effects wrought in the persons of Popes by the H. Ghost Of the Offences arising daily between Popes and Princes by reason of the misdemeanours of Churchmen VVhat great fear Popes of the Primitive Church had of falling into any Error prejudicial to the publick good of Christendome How little now adayes they regard the Vniversal Good Of the great zeal wherewith of old they exercis'd their Pastoral charge VVhat Esteem all people had of Popes in consideration of their holy Lives VVhat kind of persons ascend the Papal Throne in these times VVhat persecutions they suffer who either by tongue or pen reprove the faults of Popes and Churchmen Of the praises attributed to the Popes by some writers Of the Flatteries which sound well in the Popes ears Of those who are look'd upon well or ill by the Pope Of those who write of the Pope's Impeccability Sâ—me Reasons and Instances proving the Pope fallible like other men Some Conclusions and Disputes maintain'd at Paris by the Jesuits in defence of the Popes power and Infallibility The cause why Popes are deficient in Miracles The corruption of the Age. Some deserving persons kept farr from the Court. Of the scandals committed by Churchmen in Rome Of a Bull of Boniface VIII Of an Opinion written by John XXII VVhat was the judgement of Paul II. concerning the Infallibility of the Pope Of a Book written by Pope Adrian VI. The Error Princes commit in suffering publick disputes touching the Popes Infallibility to be held in their Dominions Of some disgusts given by Alexander VII to the most Christian King A Bull put forth by the said Alexander against some Decrees of the Parliament of Paris which rejected the Popes Infallibility The censure of the Faculty of Sorbonne of writings which defended the Papal Infallibity Of Odoardo Farness Duke of Parma who of a friend became an Enemy to Urban VVhat the Author thinks the Pope conceives of him The Popes desire that no Pens were in the world but those which write in their favour Of the Rodomontadoes which the Roman Theologues write in magnification of the Pope The Opinion of a certain Theologue That a Pope cannot be damn'd though never so wicked The Impeccability of the Pope which the Jesuits begin to teach Of the Opinion of those who hold the Pope not subject to General Councils Of the Title of Eternity which some Flatterers would apply to the person of the Pope The Obligation of people to reverence and honour the Popes whilst they are good and to blame and avoid them when they are wicked Divers other particulars touching the Popes Grandeur THE dulness of Humane Understanding renders us uncapable of comprehending the mysterious conduct of Divine Providence whose Counsels and Designs are as to us involv'd in a most profound night of impenetrable Obscurity The Apostle St. Paul after a Transport even into
Roman Court not only Bishopricks and Masterships but even Cardinalships too But those Missionaries who have wit in their heads and zeal in their hearts go in another road and do things with more maturity of judgement For remedy of such disorders as these 't were fit some persons of authority had inspection into the promoting of Religion otherwise the ordinary Clergymen either through ignorance passion or humour spoil all break a sunder what ought to be joyn'd together and joyn what ought to be separated and bring things into confusion and ruine The Roman Church having resolv'd to assume to its self both a Spiritual and a Temporal Dominion and to make Cardinals precede Princes and Priests Magistrates hath thought fit for the more easie preservation of its Grandeur that not only the Cardinals but the Priests too should keep up a certain Majesty and eminent decorum which intention been so diligently pursu'd that they run even into excess without which excess I believe things would not proceed so agreeably to their humour On the other side the Protestants that is to say the Ministers and Ecclesiastical Pastors for the better preserving their Religion in its due decorum are contented to live with modesty suitable to their Pastoral Charge that is to administer the Sacraments to Preach to visit the Sick to instruct the people in the power of the H. Scripture referring Command Authority Temporal Dominion and even the Protection of Religion to the secular arm of Magistrates and Princes and teaching all to know by proofs both Holy and Political the Preheminence of the Majesty of Soveraigns above the Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical and the obligation incumbent upon Ecclesiasticks to obey the Temporal Power And indeed the Protestant Religion flourishes more and shines with more decency in those places where the Magistrates and Secular Governours have their eyes most open over the people taking cognisance of their actions not only so far as concerns the duty of a Subject towards his Prince but also in reference to Spiritual matters and this not only by the assistance of the Pastors but also by their own proper office which suffers not any to exercise their Spiritual Function but by derivative power from the Magistrate as he that is chosen by God to preside in the midst of his people to the end they may not run headlong without such a stay and guide into irremediable and dangerous errors The Magistrates and Princes study and endeavour as much as possibly to advance their Soveraignty more and more above the Jurisdiction of Churchmen but these aware of the design which might prejudice their independency are not asleep in the mean time but strive not only to preserve but likewise to promote their jurisdiction beyond what they have already if it be possible and they would effect it did not Princes and Magistrates make use of Policy whereby without prejudicing the Church's Interests they restrain the ambition which in these dayes seems natural to all the Churchmen of the world to say no more The Ecclesiasticks who take it in disdain when they see Magistrates intermeddle with their Assemblies the Elections to Spiritual Charges and the Orders of Spiritual Functions have no reason at all to complain of a thing so reasonable because to speak truth Churchmen are in these dayes so farr respected by the people as the Magistrates cause them to be respected by their secular power and the people are so farr inflam'd with zeal for their own Religion as they see the Magistrate zealous for it and the preservation of the Common Liberty For my part I firmly believe there can be no better course to destroy the Protestant Religion than to sow discord between the Clergy and the Magistrate and to bring it to pass that the Ecclesiasticks not contented with the degree and limits of their proper charge may rise against the Princes and Governours an instance whereof is to be seen in a certain Kingdom which perhaps bewails the effects of that Policy even to this day But the thing were impossible in these times inasmuch as the Magistrates well aware of the project have provided remedies against it in such sort that the Churchmen glory in their Loyalty and Obedience towards them if for no other reason yet at least to avoid the involving of Religion in some Schism or other and the bringing of themselves into a Labyrinth hard to get out of without first undergoing the consequences wont to arrive upon civil broils In short the Roman Religion continues such as it is that is good for the Church-men and bad for the Laity on this account that the Ecclesiasticks make use of an absolute and independent authority in Spirituals and very much likewise in Temporals and on the contrary the Protestant Religion is so far Protestant as the Magistrates have the supremacy both in Spirituals and Temporals If Liberty of Conscience which is so much talk'd of amongst the Protestants and the principal point of the Reformation should any wise come to be molested by the Supreme Authority upon the Ecclesiasticks ambition and invasion of the same there would no longer be a Liberty but a Slavery for People seeing themselves commanded by the Ecclesiasticks would think their Consciences enslav'd and not free it being proper to Churchmen to proceed with too much Zeal or too much Ambition and to be displeas'd when they see that they are not obey'd like Angels although in their commanding they remember not that themselves are but men And indeed the Protestants desire to serve God not according to the Orders and Precepts of men but according to the Divine Laws registred in the H. Scripture which they daily read in their Assemblies publick and private and therefore they reverence their Ministers as men who are contented to preach without commanding The Protestants doubt I conceive lest the Ecclesiasticks being addicted to study and speculation in case the Supreme Authority should be united in them they would reverse the old Model which is Christs and impose a new one upon them of their own and of a plain Ecclesiastical Ordinance make a new Divine Precept and therefore they are very well pleas'd to see the Magistrate use such great care and diligence for the preservation of that Religion which they pretend to be of Divine Institution without any additions of humane invention although the Catholicks accuse them of pinning their Faith upon Luther and Calvin which is false for neither Luther not Calvin instituted any new Religion The Catholick Religion or rather the Roman as we call it in the Primitive times when the piety of Pastors was as conspicuous to their Flock as the Sun went almost in the same order whilst the Emperors manag'd Ecclesiastical Elections and the Magistrates not only preceeded the Churchmen but besides in case of deficience oblig'd them to their duty and constrain'd them to be diligent in feeding the flock of Christ with Charity yea they permitted them not to exercise any publick Function but
contempt of their Soveraigns and inslav'd by a blind obedience of the Church For my part I think those kind of delinquencies no less than Treason and that though such expressions appear at first sight but trifles and rhetorical ornaments yet 't is not to be imagin'd what influence they have upon the people how much they inflame and enamour them with the service of the Church and how much they lessen their devotion to their Prince whilst they perswade them that their Princes are inferiour to themselves That Race of Incendiaries is fit for nothing but the fire or to be banish'd out of every Kingdom as unworthy to dispense the Oracles of God that their Pulpits may be supply'd by sober and learned men and such as will preach the Word of God and not the Policies of Man the Doctrine Christ hath left us in the Gospel and not such Insinuations and Inveglements as they make use of in their Pulpits that thereby the affection of the people may not be perverted from their Prince but that they may be inflam'd and excited to a more cheerfull Obedience Had the Priesthood no designs against the Authority of Princes their proceedings would be with more sincerity than they are and they would give unto Caesar the things that are Caesars I have known contention in more than three or four Cities in Italy betwixt the chief Magistrate and the Bishop and the occasion was that the Bishop pretended to the presentation of the Preacher and the Prince would allow none of them to preach without his License So as by reason of these controversies Lent has several times past without any News from the Preacher I call it News because their preaching is now adayes little else but Novelties or which is worse Trifles or Sacrilegious Speculations unworthy to be publish'd in any Christian Church Amongst the Protestants also there are the same differences The Clergy pretend to the Election of their Ministers and that they can do it at their pleasure which notwithstanding is not conceded by the Civil Magistrate who will not suffer any to preach in his presence but such as he chooses himself so as in a certain City I could name there have some Cures been void above two years together because they could not agree in the Election of their Preacher But from whence I would fain know does their pretension proceed If the Clergy be Subjects upon what grounds is it they would behave themselves like Princes The privilege of Licensing or Electing of Ministers is in my judgement absolutely politick and therefore pertaining to the Civil Magistrate and not to the Church to whom the power of Ordination belongs indeed but not the power to Present and in this case it is of very great importance that all Princes and Magistrates be vigilant For the end of the Clergy in preferring their Preachers in the Cities is nothing else but that seeing themselves excluded from all secular jurisdiction they would this way take their Liberty and publish what Doctrines they please It is convenient therefore that all Soveraigns should consider that the people are at their dispose and that such Ministers are to be put over them as are suitable with the Genius of the people Moses could not readily resolve to go and speak unto Pharaoh till it pleas'd God to constrain him by the force of his power Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say However in these times the Prelats presume to put what Preachers they please upon their Princes and such sometimes as are ignorant in the Fundamentals of Christianity and that fall upon discourse nautious and unpleasant to the Palats of their Princes But of all Nations France is the happiest for preserving intirely the privileges of that Church it will by no means admit of that Ecclesiastical Grandeur and Authority which the Clergy have usurp'd in other Countries and which with great arrogance they do still exercise as if they were Princes and not subordinate at all And for conservation of the privileges of the Gallican Church the King of France loses no opportunity in the year 1626. as soon as news arriv'd at Paris that there was a Scandalous Book printed at Rome the year before intituled Antonii Sancterelli Jesuitae de Heresi Schismati Apostasiâ— c. in which he spake to the disparagement of the Power of Princes but magnity'd and exalted the Authority of the Pope The Parliament was immediately call'd by his Majesties Order and every period of the book strictly examin'd and having deliberated as was fit in a business of that importance at last by an Arrest of the whole Parliament it was Decreed that these following Articles should be Seal'd Subscrib'd confirm'd and Sworn to by the Jesuits in the presence of the whole Court of Parliament to the no small disgust and dissatisfaction of that Order The Articles were these That the King of France holds not his Kingdom from any thing but from the bounty of God Almighty and the power of his Sword That the King in his own Dominions had no Superiour but God That the Pope cannot upon any occasion whatsoever Interdict or Excommunicate either the King or his Kingdom nor in any case dispence with the Allegiance and Fidelity his Subjects were oblig'd unto him These Articles were receiv'd with no small compunction by the Jesuits whose design being alwayes to aggrandise the Pontifical Authority by the diminution of the Regal they could not advance the one but by depression of the other The President of the Parliament having demanded of the said Fathers if they did approve of that book of Santerelli's they answered no they did not being ask'd again why then their General at Rome had approv'd it they made answer That those who were at Rome could do no less than comply with the Court of Rome The President to entrap them perchance as indeed it fell out demanded immediately If you had been at Rome what would you have done to which they reply'd We would have done as they have done that are there which being heard by a Grave Person of the long Robe he spake out these words aloud I believe our Father Jesuits have two Consciences at their Command one of them for Rome and the other for Paris Venice is a place as eminent for Devotion in Religion for Piety and Zeal in the Service of God and the Church not only as any Republique in Christendome but as Rome or the Pope himself Yet when any thing is in agitation about the Popes Authority or the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction they will by no means permit the Clergy of their Dominions to Intrench or Usurp upon their Supremacy which they acknowledg'd only from Heaven and the Conduct and Valour of their Ancestors In Venice the Churchmen are Subjects not Princes 't is the Senate that Governs all with an effectual and Independant Authority as well in Spiritual things as Temporal insomuch that the Introduction of any
Novelty is with great penalty forbidden as well to the Bishops as Friars they are not permitted to exercise any publique Function or to publish any Order whatsoever though from Rome its self without notice given to the Senate and their License obtain'd and from hence it is that the Service of God and the Majesty of the Church is carry'd on with that Order that they have made themselves Emulated at Rome as well as in other States and all by the Authority the Senate keeps over the Clergy looking on them as Subjects not Equals as other Princes do And without question had it not pleas'd God by opposing the powers of those two Countries France and Spain against their ambition and by their means to put a stop to that torrent that was overflowing all Christendome the present Princes of Italy had been either chased out of their Dominions or forc'd to have ow'd their Liberties to the Liberality of the Popes If the Princes of Italy would but yet take their natural Liberties into consideration and follow the Examples of France and Venice it would not be too late and doubtless of all Nations they are most worthy to be imitated though the Ecclesiasticks are not asham'd to asperse the former with Heresie and the other with Atheism But indeed the Priests and Pontificians esteem none other Christians but such as believe them to be as they would be believ'd themselves Some there are who making judgement of things from their outward appearances do imagine the Spaniard much more Zealous for the Catholick Religion than the French but they are certainly mistaken for that zeal the Spaniard pretends to the Apostolick Chair and the Service of the Church is but a Copy of his Countenance and rather the formal result of his Policy and Interest than an ingenuous effect of his piety and Devotion The Spaniards have indeed a great Reverence for the Pope but none at all for the Church The French have much for the Church but little for the Pope for which reason the Popes look upon the Spaniards as Saints for being on their side and on the French as Devils for being on Gods And this Influence and Authority of the Popes over the Consciences of the Spaniard besides a natural animosity that is betwixt them is a great impediment to their Union in Religion the Spaniards as it were in a Bridle are manag'd by the Pope but the French keep close to their Gallican Church Others there are that think the Conscience of the Venetian of the largest size but for what reason Because in their Dominions they will not suffer the Priesthood to Usurp that unlimited and irregular power they exercise with so much detriment to the Soveraignty of Princes in other States and indeed what mieseries what calamities do we see dayly spring up in Christendome by their â—â—ars what anxieties and perturbation in peoples minds and yet because the Venetian distinguishes betwixt Gods Service and the Popes betwixt the power of Princes and the power of the Church betwixt Spiritual things and Temporal they are aspers'd with largeness of Conscience But would to God that Zeal and Sincerity for Religion that raigns in the hearts of that Senate raign'd also in the Courts of all other Princes in Christendome and doubtless their affairs would have better success Some few years since it was my fortune to Travel upon the Road with two Roman Abbots one of them after several other discourses happen'd to fall upon the Authority of the Pope and to declare what great power God Almighty had given him over all people in the world I who Travell'd on purpose to make observation of the proceedings of the Ecclesiasticks and of the Jurisdiction every where but especially in some principalities of Italy to the prejudice of Princes was very glad of the occasion as hoping thereby to receive some matter for my pen. It is the custom of the Italians to constrain and reserve themselves as much as possibly and keep their opinions close from the rest of the world but it is my humour on the other side to speak freely what I think and to write all I know whether it be good or bad which though they look upon as imprudence I cannot dislike However with these Abbots I thought it best to conceal my own and attend an opportunity of discovering their Judgements At last one of the Abbots took occasion very seriously to bewayl the extravagant liberty which the French and the Venetian assumed concluding that were it not for the repugnancie of these two States the Pope would be absolute Monarch of the whole World or at least the greatest Prince would fear the censure of the smallest Priest whereas by observing how little the French and the Venetian regard the Authority of the Church all others in like manner despise the solemnest Excommunication though from the Pope himself Being always delighted to hear other men speak I made him no answer at all thereby in a manner inticing him to proceed in his discourse but when he came to complain heavily of the French and Venetian for suffering Stationers to Print and Vend books frequently in their Dominions so much to the prejudice of the Pontifical Authority I could not forbear giving him this answer Dear Sir shall it be lawfull for the Pope to cause to be printed so many thousand books at Rome in favour of his own Authority and in prejudice of the Supremacy and Majesty of Princes and shall it be unlawful for Princes to permit the reading of such books as are written in the defence of their falling Authority and in diminution of the Papal The Abbot reply'd with the passion and insolence of a Priest That Princes could not in Conscience challenge their Authority but from the Pope's blessing and benignity who as Christ's Vicar upon Earth has power to dispose of all things in this world which are bestow'd by Heaven whence Princes are styled Sons and the Pope Father because as a Father he gives them their patrimony But this by your leave is a mistake reply'd I. True it is Princes are Sons of the Church indeed but not of the Pope and they are oblig'd to defend that Church which is their Mother but not that Pope who is their Enemy The Goods of this world do indeed belong unto the Lord but not at all to the Pope who by pretending to a Vniversal Dominion is so far from being Christs Vicar that he goes contrary to the Doctrine of our Saviour who besides the command he has left us to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars has declared that his Kingdom is not of this world and how then could the Pope who is but his Vicar confer or take away any Kingdoms here That which netled the Abbot most was my calling the Pope an Enemy to Princes to which he answered And why an Enemy I pray you I reply'd may not he too properly be call'd my Enemy that seeks to rob me of my birth-right
When Christ came down from Heaven for the Redemption of man-kind he acknowledg'd with his own most holy Lipps that he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Now that Kings and Princes have been been alwayes acknowledg'd as Gods Ministers by the people there are a thousand places of Scripture that prove whereas the Popes can hardly produce one Text to confirm that Authority they challenge over Princes And to speak impartially and without interest what reason have the Romanists to withdraw themselves as they do from their obedience to their Soveraigns are they more holy than the Apostles are they more zealous than St. Peter or more politique than St. Paul Yet these who were the founders of Christianity as I may say and the propagators of our Faith paid tribute to Kings obey'd their Magistrates never enterpris'd any thing without leave of the Governours of places whether they went and in short have not only left us their Examples to walk by but this express praecept and command That we give Obedience to all powers for there is no power but from God The Abbot was touch'd to the quick he fix'd his eyes upon me repeated my words one after another and gave me so many tokens of his indignation that I was very well satisfy'd he could have wish'd me in the Inquisition however I took no notice and he thought fit to change the discourse and I in compliance with him took occasion to commend the Countrey through which we travell'd By this relation it is manifest what is the principal thing that the Churchmen drives at namely the ruine of the Authority of Princes and the exaltation of the Pope who is their Prince and Supreme Nor indeed can I see with what policy I had almost said Conscience Princes suffer books to be printed and sold in their Territories which speak with that liberty or rather insolence in behalf of the Majesty and Jurisdiction not only of the Pope but of all Ecclesiasticks against their own Soveraignty and such books as these are the great Volume of Sorbou Bellarmine Toletus Diana Candidus Palavicino and the aforesaid Santerelli with hundreds of other Ecclesiastical Writers whose preferrment depending upon the Church they are by their own interest prompted to such expressions whilst on the other side they prohibit books which directly offend not the Church they profess but only the Authority of the Pope and that too in nothing but what respects their incroachments upon the Civil power And in this manner the Jurisdiction of the Pope and the Ecclesiasticks and the Majesty and Soveraignty of Princes stand as it were in a ballance the Subjects of each party contending with might and main to gain upon the other and to make their own side preponderant the former endeavour daily to lighten the latter and 't were good that the Ministers of Princes would use the like diligence to diminish the Papal power lest in time it swallow up both Princes and Principalities too That the Pope should be Reverenc'd as first Minister in the Church That he should be acknowledg'd Superior to the rest of the Bishops That he should be esteem'd as Christs Vicar in Spirituals and respected as Successor to the Apostles I do hold very reasonable but that he should impugne the Soveraignty of Princes justifie Rebellion exempt four pittiful Ecclesiasticks from Obedience to their Soveraigns and excite others to the same height of disobedience is in my judgement intollerable St. Peter receiv'd the Keys of Ecclesiastical power from the hands of our Saviour and his office was acknowledg'd independant in Spiritual affairs Yet whilst he had the Government of the Church both at Rome and at Antioch he was imprison'd and several times persecuted by Temporal Princes and yet he never threatned any Temporal Minister with his Censures and Excommunications all which notwithstanding the Popes at present do not only make no scruple of menacing with their Bulls and Arms the lesser Princes that are near them but with their Armies and Excommunications they have the confidence to infest the greatest Monarchs in Europe and such as have deserved very well of the Church But the most Reverend Casuists of the Church of Rome will tell me the Pope may lawfully and with a good Conscience dispence with the Obedience a Subject owes to his Prince What has he Authority to invert the order of Nature I am certain he that fears God will not say so When Pope Vrban at the instance of his Nephews Excommunicated Odoardo Farnise Duke of Parma a Prince that had deserv'd very well of the Church he was not content to interdict him the Sacrament but he Excommunicated all such as paid him the ordinary obedience and respect that was due to him as a Duke decreeing expresly that he should be look'd upon as an Enemy and not as a Prince by this means subverting his Authority and to the universal scandal of Christendome making a Prince a Subject and his Subjects Princes Paul the fifth did no less to the Senate of Venice by the fulminations of his Interdict pronouncing all people Excommunicate that should any wayes obey them All the Historians and all the Orators in the world shall never perswade me that there can be any thing more barbarous and Tyrannical than to forbid a Subjects Obedience to his Prince to restrain the people from communicating their interests to their Prince to prohibit to a Magistrate the protection of his Subjects to chase the Judges from the Throne of Justice to shut up the doors of Churches and give Liberty to Vice to imprison Princes and put their Subjects in confusion Oh God what greater barbarity and injustice can be thought of amongst men than to bring a State to be without Justice a people without a Prince and a Prince without a people Nero Heliogabalus Tarquin Caligula and Dionisius who were in a manner the Founders and Contrivers of Tyranny never arriv'd at that perfection of wickedness as to divide betwixt the Subject and his Prince and yet this Cruelty which was too great to be practis'd amidst Barbarism is familiar now where Holiness reigns And perhaps the Divine providence has order'd that Christians should suffer more now in the time of Christianity than formerly under all the Tyranny and Iniquity of Heathenish Ages Whence it is that so many Kingdoms have been lost from the Christian Faith so many Nations have revolted from the Papal Obedience and so many Provinces have deserted the Roman Church but from these practises and actions of the Court of Rome The Protestants make no scruple to deny both the Spiritual Authority of the Pope and his Temporal too and for what reason but because they observe with what audacity and arrogance under pretence of his Spiritual power he Usurps upon the Temporal as if Christ had given him Spiritual Dominion for nothing else but the subversion of the Civil Though for my part I am far enough from thinking as they do It is one thing to
obey the Pope as he would be obey'd that is as head of the Church and 't is another thing to obey him as a Minister of Christs Flock as sober people account him I can allow him to be Christs Minister but not head of the Church as a Pastor like other Pastors I can own him as Superior to others I cannot as one of those that are chosen to guide and direct the Flock of Christ I allow him but as pretending to the principal Government of all I reject him And in this point it concerns all Christian Princes to be exceeding watchfull to prevent ill consequences that may follow for should the Christian Princes acknowledge him head of the Church he would inferr most logically that his Excommunications are Lawfull arguing that if the Princes be Members of the Church only and the Pope the Head the Members are naturally to receive their Nourishment Life Motion and Orders from the Pope as Head I desire to be inform'd by the Grave Assertors of that Doctrine if the Pope be Head what place Christ ha's in the Church If the Church consists only of Members and Head if the Faithfull be the one and the Pope the other there is no room at all left for our Saviour In my judgement it would be more modest in the Pope to give place or at least not to usurp and ravish as it were Christ's prerogative out of his hands but to content himself to be one of the principal Members of the Church and certainly his so doing would be a great means to multiply the number of his Flock many having left him for no other reason than lest they should be forc'd to give to him that is but Man the Adoration that is due only to God The greater part of the Roman Divines especially those that pretend to any preferment or Prelacy use but drolling and impertinence in their Arguments in this matter and maintain what is contrary to their own judgements for proof whereof I shall by the way insert one Example A few months since it was my fortune to meet a Dominican Frier of a very grave Aspect like a Divine as indeed he was we fell at first into discourse of general matters after which I had an opportunity as I desir'd to question with him a little about the Essence and Prerogative of the Pope The Frier fail'd not to defend the Papacy with the usual Arguments of Rome which are already common throughout the world denying my propositions and rayling with all the liberty that might be against the Authority of Princes But above all he insisted that the Pope was unquestionably the lawfull and confest Vicar of Christ and Head of the Church urging often that without this belief there could be no Salvation in the Christian Church I who by Natural Instinct am inclin'd to take part with the Interest of Princes as supported by the most rational Arguments desir'd with all reasonable respect however he was transported that he would please to inform me what part Kings represented in the Church seeing the Pope was the Head The Frier was ingenuous and told me that Secular Princes might lawfully pretend to be chief Members of the Church provided they submitted themselves to the Pope as Head from whence they were to receive their necessary Nourishment otherwise they were to be look'd upon as Members ampulated and divided from the Body and as such they might easily be excommunicated and rejected by the Head This the good Father most civilly did assert to which I as civilly reply'd that I desir'd to know If the Pope were Head and the Princes Members according to his opinion what place Christ was to have For if the Pope and Princes take up all there will remain nothing for our Saviour The truth is his whole discourse appearing but rayllery I made him this question in jest He reply'd with the greatest Sobriety he was able that Christ represented the whole Body of the Church whilst the Head and the Members stand in such Union with this Body that it was impossible to offend any of the parts without offending the whole body When he had thus given me his judgement I was oblig'd necessarily to reply to him thus Reverend Father I grant what you say but if Christ be the Body of the Church the Pope the Head and Princes the Members then Princes may with good reason be call'd Members of Christ but not Members of the Pope because if the Pope be Head he is then but a single Member of the Body and for that reason Princes are not Members of the Head which is a part of the Body but Members of that Body which nourishes without difference both the Head and the Members Now if the Pope who is Head receive his Being from the Body which is Christ so the Princes who are Members depend directly upon Christ who is the Body and not upon the Pope who is the Head Christ being the Body and not the Pope who pretends to be Head And if so what has the Pope to do to command or to dilacerate the Members of this Body to cut them off with his Excommunications or to dis-member them with their Interdicts The good Father sticking close to the Pope still made me a long discourse for an Answer alleging reasonless reasons the Story of Nebuchadnezzars Statue whose Head was of Gold the Body of Silver and the Feet of Clay He apply'd this Vision to the Antitype of the Christian Church or rather of the Church of Rome by declaring that the Trunck or Body of the Statue represented our Saviour the Head the Pope and the Princes the Feet without allowing any part to the people I was amaz'd at the Fathers Answer I began to suspect him a much greater fool than I thought him at first for urging so ridiculous a comparison so that smiling rather than in good earnest I subjoyn'd I do not wonder so much most Reverend Father that Princes should be the Feet of Clay to that Body of Silver but it astonishes me to think that Christ should be that Body of Silver and the Pope the Head of Gold lest because from hence may Arguments prejudicial to the Deity be drawn and I fear your Fatherhood may believe that as Gold is of greater value than Silver so the Pope typifi'd by Gold is more estimable than our Saviour whom you denote by Silver The good Father was somewhat surpriz'd and continu'd a while in a pause as deliberating whether to deny or grant this inference during which silence it came into my head to ask him how he would dispose of the people for seeing that in the Statue which figur'd the Church he would have the Pope the Head and the Princes the Members there was nothing left for them at all He reply'd hastily that the people were Members of the Church also as well as the Princes How reply'd I though I know that we are all Members of Christ with whom there is no respect of
Inheritance but he is unwilling to be declar'd Heir to those duties and obligations which the said St. Peter has left upon him to the Church he can be content to be own'd his Successor but 't is in what only relates to the Authority Majesty and Jurisdiction of the Church and to the power of opening and shutting the Gates of Paradice which St. Peter had but with this difference that the Apostle refus'd to admit those that offer'd mony for the power of working Miracles whereas the Pope does nothing without ready mony In short the Popes boast themselves Heirs of what is profitable and beneficial but as to debts obligations and incumbent charges they speak not a word these things are not comprehended in the Inheritance Do the Popes pay Tribute to Temporal Princes as St. Peter did Not a penny they receiv'd not the Inheritance forsooth upon such terms Do they pay that respect to Princes which St. Peter did No they are not his Heirs in this point Do they comport themselves with St. Peters zeal and humility No. Do they leave the Government of the people in Temporals to their Princes as St. Peter did No by no means these are too great burdens and incumbrances for Popes who would rather renounce the whole Sacred inheritance than charge themselves with any such obligations 'T is sufficient for them that they are called Christs Vicars and that they hold the Keys fast in their hand which they say our Saviour gave to St. Peter with power to dispose of them at his death as he pleas'd Many times have I been ruminating of the great difference betwixt the primitive and the present Church Nowadayes there is nothing but Threats Sword War Extortion Theft Luxury Blasphemy Scandal Malice and Enmities On the contrary in the primitive times nothing was seen but Martyrs and Saints whose blood shed in defence of their Faith made Rivulets in the Streets no discourse was heard then but of Miracles of the Cross and of Edification nothing was regarded but good examples nothing thought of but fasting and praying and holiness of life In those dayes great reverence was given to the Sacerdotal Function because their Priests were pious and of very good lives In these dayes it is undervalued and despis'd because the Priests are Devils I speak with exception of the good In those dayes when they saw the Cross of Christ wav'd gently over their heads by the hand of the Pope they prostrated themselves reverently in his presence but now they are forc'd to kneel because they see a menacing Sword in the Popes hands It was then the care of Christs Vicars to win the Secular Princes and work themselves into their affections by their good Deeds now their design is nothing but to be fear'd by Princes for their threats Then they affected and endeavour'd peace and friendship amongst Christian Princes but now they are grown Martial and think of nothing but War Then they were so devoted to the Service of the Altar that they took no care of their kindred whom they kept at distance from the Vatican but now are so wholly addicted to the advancement of their families that they never think of the Altar Then they were meek and humble now proud and imperious It was their glory then to administer the Sacrament with their own hands now they will scarce vouchsafe to have it taken in their presence Then they had golden Consciences and wooden Walls but now they have wooden Consciences and golden Walls Lastly Then their Arithmetick was imploy'd in reckoning up the Miracles and good Actions of the Saints and now 't is of no other use but to count out their Money to their Kindred A difference so great and deplorable 't is enough to force tears from the eyes of all the faithfull that consider it But why do not the Popes at this day work Miracles Why do not they practice that holy and severe way of living which they did formerly or why have they laid aside those rules that conduce so much to the edification of the Church It will be answer'd perhaps that in those dayes Miracles were necessary for the establishment of the Church but that being now establish'd there needs nothing but Faith for its conservation but this is meer equivocation and a gilding of Pills to disguise their bitterness If in the Infancy of the Church there was need of Holy men to establish it there is as great need now of Miracles to reform it and this opinion of mine is founded upon the opinion of certain of the H. Fathers who assert the Conversion of one Sinner to be a greater Miracle than the Creation of the whole World because there is more difficulty in the Conversion of an old Sinner than in the Creation of a new Man And from whence is it that this vast difference proceeds I know not unless that the Popes minds are so taken up in the enjoyment of their unmeasurable wealth they have no leisure to look over the sufferings of their Predecessors or to consider the benefit those holy men brought to Christianity by their Mortifications and the injury themselves bring to it by their Luxury and excess Can it possibly be believ'd that the Holy Spirit should not have that influence in the creation and guiding of the Modern Popes as it had formerly upon the Antient But Experience tells us that the nature of Popes being now changed they are contented to dye Martyrs of their own passions rather than to live triumphantly with Christ so frequently are interests of this world preferr'd by them before those of Heaven and the Church Some there are who believe that Miracles are not ceas'd but the Modern Popes thinking that which was the glory of their Predecessors their shame will not trouble themselves to perform them Others are of opinion that our Saviour has taken away that power from them lest they should fall into the temptation of Lucifer and Adam and the addition of Sanctity of life to the title of Gods Vicegerent should induce the people to pay them the adoration of a Deity And others believe that the Popes cannot do Miracles because their Nephews hinder them I am of opinion contrary to all these that the same Spirit that govern'd and directed Popes heretofore still guides and will guide them to the end of the world I am perswaded they are no sooner in the Vatican but they are prick'd forward and instimulated to good deeds by the Divine Spirit their hearts cleansed from bad thoughts and impregnated with an affection to the Church of Christ In short I hold it as an Article of my Faith that the Popes are not the primary Authors of those Scandals and Controversies that fall out daily betwixt the Temporal Princes and the Popes who are holy men nor yet of any of the Calamities of the Church but rather those Churchmen who are Devils it being most true that the Popes sin so farr as the good Ecclesiasticks make them sin by
putting thoughts into their heads which otherwise had never come there But who are those audacious Ecclesiasticks that dare to put ill thoughts into the heart of his Holiness What Devil possesses them with such wicked designs What Malignant Star is it that guides them what Land that bears what Heaven that nourishes them Let them be known let them be discover'd that the eyes of the Faithfull be blinded no longer And yet indeed in some respects they are to be excus'd 't is contrary to their intention if they do any hurt they sin by striving to do too well 't is their great zeal to the Church and the Pope that makes them ill servants to both They are like the Ape that hugs and imbraces what it loves so hard that it many times kills with its kindness and I am afraid one day they will bring an old house over their heads But you will ask who these are The Divines What Divines Those Divines who being Partisans of the Court of Rome employ a thousand Artifices for the depression of Secular Authority and elevation of the Papal Whence in hopes of a Cardinals Cap will with great impudence maintain that the Pope is not only infallible but also impeccable This is the Source of all the mischief and Heresie in the Church hence proceeds the sorrow of Christians the failing of Miracles and the Scandal of the See of Rome In the Primitive dayes when there were no such Doctors but such whose business was to correct not to flatter the Governours of the Church in their iniquities holiness flourish'd miracles were frequent zeal and sincerity was alwayes in the Hearts mortification in the Countenances and edification in the Mouths of the Saints Piety was showr'd as it were from Heaven and perfum'd the Altars in the Churches whilst the Priests by their good lives won over the people to Devotion Those Popes that were inwardly holy forbore not to confess themselves Sinners publickly and because those Divines that writ then as with pens from Heaven did not ascribe to them that outward appellation holiness they endeavour'd to attain inward holiness by Mortifications and Sackcloth and all imaginable subduing themselves lest as the Apostle admonishes his followers preaching to others they themselves should become cast away Those Primitive Popes were in such fear of erring that they undertook not any business of importance but after long fasting and severe pennance they willingly follow'd the advice of the most pious Prelats and submitted with humility to the judgements of such as had more zeal in their hearts than honey in their tongues They gave ear always with so great attention of mind that by-standers conceiv'd them rapp'd into an exstasie but not to such as flatter'd them with panegiricks or tickled them with stories of the peoples applause not to such as cry'd up the grandeur of their charge the holiness of their lives and happiness of the people in being under such holy Pastors not to such as strein'd their wits for far-fetch'd adulations to tickle their ears loosing themselves some times in magnifications of their virtues as false as tedious Such as these were not suffer'd in Rome were not receiv'd into the Vatican were not admitted into the presence of the Pope but were chased from the Court banish'd from the Church suspended from the Ministry and depriv'd of their Priesthood and why Because the Popes in those dayes being holy as David would not hearken to any of their Doctors but such as were like the Prophet who dar'd to rebuke iniquity even in David himself They would sit whole dayes together in the Chair of St. Peter hearing such Divines Ambassadors and Ministers as with tears in their eyes recounted the miseries of the people the afflictions of the Faithfull the necessities of the Church the ill administration of Officers the irreverence of Priests the scandals of Prelats and the little care which Churchmen took of the Service of God Oh! What effect did these complaints work in the hearts of the Popes in those times With what hast would they apply themselves to the finding a remedy How they would embrace those that gave them such informations and with what ardour and zeal would they implore the Divine assistance How blessed a sight was it to see Criminals reverently fall upon their knees in the presence of those Popes that reprehended them And what heart could be so stony as not to melt at their pious and humble admonitions They did not threaten but imbrace Offendors and if they threatned their threats awaken'd repentance as being affectionate and void of worldly design When those Popes admonish'd Sinners they did it not to revile them with reproachfull and injurious language but acknowledging that themselves also had their frailties and were subject to errors as other men said We are all Sinners not you are all Sinners Our flesh is lyable to Sin we are not Angels but Men with which meek and humble expressions they wrought themselves first into the hearts of Sinners and afterwards apply'd all fitting remedies to their condition Such was the holy Church in the Primitive times such were the Popes whose piety was a great cause of miracles being so frequent and of the universal holiness of that age But now let us see the difference of times and the reasons why no Popes do miracles now adayes nor holy men shine any longer in the Church God forgive those Divines that have been the chief occasion of that loss to the Church Before the Divines turn'd Parasites the Popes were holy but they became Devils after the Court of Rome was once fill'd with those Virmin who are become the very Plague of all Christendome Let us ask those Courtiers that from Sun rising to Sun setting walk up and down in the publick Chambers of the Pontifical Palace expecting when by the favour of the Nephews a Cardinals Cap should fall upon some of their alwayes uncover'd heads They can tell us if they please and give us a list of what persons are admitted now adays into Ecclesiastical charges and who have the most familiar and frequent access to the Pope's presence which if they would do I am confident the Faithfull would be no longer at a loss in seeking the cause of the cessation of miracles provided those persons would be exact in relating the truth Miracles From whence should they come if Sanctity be banish'd from Rome and the Popes follow not those excellent examples that were left them by their Predecessors In the Vatican there is now nobody to be seen but people crowding in with their offerings and full of hopes of obtaining those dignities by their mony which they could never have expected from their merits whilst out of the City Gates are to be seen melancholly and afflicted troops of the best deserving persons unprovided for the places which they had merited being given to the unworthy Simoniacks Miracles And how should that be if they who rebuke the iniquities of the scandalous are
persecuted to the death if it be not permitted to any body to put his hand to the Plough and discover the calamities of the people if the most able Preacher be not allowed to reprehend Sin either in the Pope or his Nephews if iniquity that runs like a Torrent through the Streets of Rome and the Chambers of the Vatican must be wink'd at and past by if the wicked must be adored and the holy man despised if those must be clapt in Prison that were worthier to be Judges if the ignorant be advanc'd and the learned be banish'd if the Thefts of the Priests be more numerous than their Masses and if there be no distinction betwixt good and evil Miracles How whilst they who come to complain of the hourly oppressions of the Popes Ministers cannot be admitted into the Gate of the Vatican if the Cardinals Horses be fed with more care than the poor of Jesus Christ if the walls of Churches be left naked to adorn the Palaces of the Nephews if the Inheritances left by Religious persons for pious uses be imploy'd to buy Principalities to satisfie the pomp and pride of the Popes kindred If the Clergy spend more time at Playes and Brothel-houses than they do at Church or at Prayers But how would he that should dare to give these informations to the Pope be welcom'd in Rome with Kindness and Love 'T is madness to imagine it Chains Manicles Prisons and Fagots would be the recompence of his Zeal and his entertainment sooner with the Hangman than with the Pope In Rome in the Vatican those Divines are well look'd upon that write great Volumes in defence of the infallibility and impeccability of the Pope that Canonize the actions of his Nephews that cry up the Glory of his Family to the Skyes pronouncing him one of the greatest Monarchs in the World that insinuate into his ear the satisfaction of the people with his Government and what necessity they had of such a Pastor that make comparisons in their writings and parallels between God and the Pope with a thousand other extravagant flatteries enough to â—urn the stomach of all Religious Men. Oh how sweet are these notes in the Ears of the Popes How harmoniously do they Eccho within the walls of the Vatican In this manner are things now carried at Rome he that doubts it had best go see for my part I am satisfy'd with what I have seen already I am no flatterer of that Court and therefore not like to be so welcome as to take a new Journey However I may perhaps do better service to the Church by blaming and pointing out the Corruptions of its Ministers than the false Priests do with all their Adulation and Oratory But whether do my thoughts wander He who makes the Pope equal with God may be a favourite of Pope but he that compares a Prince to the Pope shall be laid by the heels He which maintains the dignity of a Prince to be inferiour and subordinate to a Popes may be rewarded but he that says Princes are independent is sure to be persecuted He that asserts the Decrees of a Councel to be of more Authority than the Pope's may be Excommunicated for his pains but he that affirms all Councels subject to the Pope shall receive his Benediction he that affirms the Popes power to be Monarchical and depending of God alone may be a favourite but he that pronounces him inferiour to the Church shall be sure to be hated he that holds the Pope to be infallible shall have a Bishoprick whilst he that holds the other side is sent a Slave to the Galleys he that preaches up the Popes power of Excommunicating and deposing of Kings shall be sure to be protected from receiving punishment from his Prince but he that sayes that Doctrine is false shall be hang'd in spight of the intercession of Kings Thus you behold the present State of Rome the Corruptions of this Age the Iniquities in the Church and the pernicious degeneracy of the Popes Those very Divines that think to make the Popes holy by declaring them infallible render them guilty even to their own Consciences whilst the innocent Popes trusting to the flatteries and adulations of these Divines walk on careless and inconsiderate of what they do mistaking even evil for good Pope Sextus the fifth caus'd the Bible to be printed and by a very severe Bull requir'd not only that it should be read but that it should be used in perpetuum In a few years after Clement the seventh succeeds him and with another Bull as rigid as the former suppress'd Sextus's Edition and commanded all the Copyes that could be found to be burnt in the Inquisition John the two and twentieth with his own hands writ and publish'd That the Souls of the Saints injoyed not the Beatifical Vision till after the day of Judgement This opinion being contrary to the formulary of the Church and his Holiness being advis'd of his errour he disclaim'd it himself and publish'd a Bull which is at this day to be seen in the 15th Tome of the Ecclesiastical Annals against the erroniousness of that Opinion Boniface the eight in that wild and extravagant Bull which begins Vnam Sanctam pronounc'd it as one of the principal Articles of Faith that Kings in Temporals as well as Spirituals are absolutely dependant upon the Pope But his Successor Clement the fifth finding the ill effects it had upon the people revok'd that Bull some few years after as pernicious and publish'd another in favour of the Soveraignty of Princes And now let that Reverend Father Diana tell me that Diana who in hope to have been Worshipp'd like an Idol hath made himself ridiculous by his works I mean that great Diana that was Examiner of the Bishops and took more pains than all of them to defend the impeccability of the Pope let him tell me whereas he writes the Pope cannot err these Popes Sextus Quintus or Clement the seventh Boniface the eighth or Clement the fifth did err it cannot be deny'd but one of them did err and iâ— that be clear why must the people be deluded any longer with so false an opinion but that which is of most importance is that they deceive the Popes themselves whom they cry up for Infallible and of this Innocent the tenth in an instance who when the people complain'd to him of the Oppression and ill Government of his Ministers reply'd That his Officers must of necessity be just because he that was infallible â—ad chosen them whereupon the oppressed people return'd home cursing that opinion and those Divines that had perswaded them to 't Paul the fourth was not of that Judgement for being supplicated by a person of great quality in the year 1557. to dissolve a Contract that had been made by words de presenti he refus'd it absolutely and declar'd That his Predecessors had many times deceiv'd themselves in matters of that Nature but for his part he
or the Churchmen of Rome are accustom'd to call their Church sometimes the Roman and othertimes the Catholick Church the greatest part of them being unable to show any reason at all for this distinction Now the word Catholick importing universal and Roman on the other side particular it cannot be Catholick and Roman too for if 't is Roman then 't is particular and if so then not Catholick To take away this Confusion therefore and bring things to a consistence one of the two names is to be laid aside and the other retain'd and in my judgement that of Universal Church will be best to be kept and that of Roman left The Roman Divines are so troubled and perplex'd to find some new argument for proving the Popes Infallibility which I have sufficiently discours'd in my first book and have so twisted and intangled themselves in that opinion that they have no time to consider whether the Church it self be Infallible or not which would be a great ease to the scruples of the Faithfull If the Church were deriv'd from the Pope it might with great reason be question'd whether the Pope be Infallible but since the Pope hath his being and existence from the Church the question must be concerning the Infallibility of the Church There is a saying so common amongst Christians that it has past into a Proverb I know not upon what reason If a person at any time be of a lame Conscience and inclin'd to some false belief the common saying is that he has the Conscience of a Divine as if Divines had no Consciences at all which I fear is too true for they write as they think good and teach what they please but believe not themselves what they write or teach And if there were not this latitude amongst them 't is not probable they would assert the Pope to be the Churches Elder Brother and in respect of his primogeniture to be the more venerable A Prodigy I could not have believ'd had I not known it by experience for the irreverences committed against the Church being punish'd with some ordinary Correction and those against the Pope with death it is plain his Authority is the greater and he has been no ill husband of his Prerogative But this opinion is not only ridiculous as several other of their tenents are but so weak and unstable that it threatens the whole Fabrick with destruction true it is they do fortifie themselves very much with that expression which our Saviour us'd to Saint Peter Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church From whence they argue that the Church being built upon St. Peter St. Peter as its foundation supported the Church inferring and upon pain of sinning mortally injoyning the people to believe that Christ by that expression had pronounc'd the Pope chief Shepherd of his Flock and absolute Bishop of all Christian people that from that time he began to build up his Church upon the Shoulders of St. Peter and he might lawfully claim his prerogative as if the rest of the Apostles had been laid aside and had not unanimously cooperated to the common good That St. Peter was the foundation of the Church I can easily grant nor do I think there is any will deny it provided the same prerogative be allowed to the rest of the Apostles who were comprehended also in that expression and to those other Pastors and Rulers that succeeded and are still subservient in the Church And to this our Saviour alludes when he says if the Shepherd be smitten the Flock is dispers'd intimating that the care of the Church lyes upon the Ministers without which they would be but like a Flock without any body to look to them But that the Pope should usurp to himself the Primogeniture and instead of raising the Church upon himself abase it destroying the Apostolical manner of proceeding and making for himself a particular Apostleship and asserting the Church to be made for him not he for the Church is a subject worthy the consideration of all Christians because it gives occasion of so many Scruples and Schisms What should be the reason that the Roman Divines find it much easier to prove the Popes infallibility than the Churches I cannot imagine unless that observing the difficulty of finding arguments for either and yet being oblig'd to write something of Ecclesiastical matters they choose rather to indulge that vanity in the Pope who is able to reward them than to speak any thing of the Churches infallibility which would conduce so much to the ed 〈…〉 of the Faithfull who are ignorant of the matter Now every good office requiring a reward and every reward a publique acknowledgement the Divines therefore taking notice with what slowness and difficulty those that promote the interest of the Church though with never so much zeal are advanc'd and on the other side how free and prodigal the Popes are in their remunerations to such as drive on their designs hence they choose not the Churches side which is poor but the Popes who is rich and hath the disposing of all Bishopricks Abbeys and Cardinalships in his power I am of opinion and I think no body but some Sycophant Friar will deny it that if the Election into Ecclesiastical preferments depended upon the universal body of the Church or else upon each particular Member of it for example the dignity of a Cardinal upon the Consistory of Cardinals the Office of Bishops upon the Synod of Bishops and so thorough all Offices and that with the order of the same secret votes as is us'd in the Senate at Venice I am confident there would be few Divines found even of those that now with so much vehemence exalt him that would flatter the Pope but apply themselves intirely to the service of the Church And unless the antient zeal for Religion which at present is not to be found in the breast of a Cardinal do revive or Secular Princes do suddenly apply themselves to the finding out a remedy it is most certain things can never proceed but with great scandal to the Church not only amongst Hereticks who are alwayes prying and observing the actions of the Catholicks but of the Heathens also who as yet have but little knowledge of the Roman transactions Were the tongues of people restrain'd were all innovations exploded and things honestly restor'd to the Primitive way that fugitive Flock that is dispers'd at present in the Wilderness of Heresie would return to its Fold Schismatical controversies would cease the differences betwixt Christian Princes would be compos'd and their united forces be directed against the Turk In short were that absolute and despotical power in the Pope restrain'd or taken away or at least the right of Election which for five ages was observ'd constantly in the Church restor'd to the Congregations Synods and Consistories Christianity would be advanc'd Heresie depress'd and things reduc'd again to that Primitive Sanctity when every mans whole
business was the salvation of his Soul In the Primitive Church the Popes as may be seen in their lives did not intermeddle or pry into any bodies actions but for the advantage of the Church that the Bishops might be holy in their conversations as their function was holy and the Sacraments administred with decency In those dayes the Bishops made the Election to vacant Bishopricks and by degrees came in Cardinals who also had the creation of Cardinals There was no discourse then but of the miraculous Sanctity of the Popes No importunity of their Kindred pressing and soliciting them to turn out such a good man and advance a much wickeder to his place It was then the Glory of the Pope to be call'd the head of the Christian Common-wealth and indeed the Counsels Consistories and Synods having the Election of all Officers and the disposal of all Dignities it was no other but a Commonwealth but how the present Writers in their Volumes can call Christendom a Republick I cannot understand whilst it is enslay'd to his Holiness and under the Tyranny of his Arms Excommunications and Inquisitions and forc'd by the irrational opinions of Priests to an adoration of the Pope in Rome as if he were a God in Heaven It were much to be desir'd and would be much to the advantage of the Church if that motu proprio or Arbitrary power of the Pope were taken away Christendome reduc'd again to a Republique and the Church set once more at Liberty I mean if the Election of Cardinals were performed as secretly as possible in the Consistory by the Cardinals themselves and so that of Bishops by a Provincial Synod to be call'd upon the death or translation of any of them or if that should be too expensive by the Consistory of Cardinals and not left to the single disposition of the Pope who regards nothing but the interest and satisfaction of his Family When Judas his place amongst the Apostles became void St. Peter from whom the Popes derive the power of the Keys proceeded not to the nomination of another himself or declar'd his Successor without more adoe but he call'd the Colledge of Apostles together by whose Lots St. Mathew was chosen to succeed him without any mention of St. Peter or of any bodyes Preceedency there The Apostles were all first and all last without any difference of priority But this Chapter is left out of their Bibles they will read nothing but for their own advantage And this is manifest because when a Cardinal dyes the Pope calls not the Colledge of Cardinals together to create a Successor but in spight of the example of the Apostles in spight of all Justice and Equity he chooses one himself and declares him Cardinal usurping in this manner the right of the Cardinals who are Successors to the Apostles also and to whom that right of Election doth belong This inconvenience seems at first sight very hard to be remedyed but upon serious consideration it will be easie For in the vacancy of the Chair when they are Absolute and Supream when the Church is a kind of Republick and all the Jurisdiction is in their hands what should hinder them if they had any regard to their lawfull and just Privileges from resuming that power which they have been robb'd of and constraining his Holiness to confirm it Would the Cardinals but once undertake this those Princes that have any zeal for the liberty of the Church would not fail to undertake it too and second them with Arms upon occasion as the Emperours both of the East and West have formerly done then they might new model the Laws settle the preceedency of the Synods and Consistories before the Pope as it was in the Primitive dayes renounce the Popes Decrees and establish their own declare him as an Apostle indeed amongst the rest of the Apostles but not as a God and in short clip the wings of his Authority so as to leave him Head only of a Commonwealth Nor indeed were this well executed would the Popes have any reason to complain for what can they pretend but that they be allow'd as much Authority as St. Peter had and why should not the Cardinals have as much as the rest of the Apostles whose true Heirs they are if the Pope therefore be as St. Peter why should not they be as the rest of the Apostles I have said before that to fill up the vacancy that was made by the Treason of Judas St. Peter did not by his Papal Authority make Election of another but by the Prayers and Assembly of the rest of the Apostles who were as it were the Pilots and Steers-men in the Ship of the Church Moreover Christ being dead St. Peter could not hope for any greater Authority than he had left him in these words What thou bindest on Earth shall be bound in Heaven so as from that time he had power to exercise his authority which say they was to preside in Elections to command in their Assemblies and to exercise over the Apostles the same authority which the Popes do now over the Cardinals But in those dayes things were well manag'd however they go now Then the Church was truly Apostolical and obedient exactly to the Laws of the Apostles now it is Roman and conformable only to the Interest or Capriccio of the Pope St. Peter then had no money to distribute nor no offices to bestow and therefore there were no books nor no Authors to be found that flatter'd him or attributed more to him than Christ had given him now they are so rich and have so many preferments to bestow that they can debauch their Divines and make them write as they please In that age there was nothing but poverty and piety in this there is nothing but craftiness and wealth then there was nothing but Christ in the thoughts of St. Peter and the Apostles and now in the Popes minds there is nothing but their Nephews It is not to be found in any place of the Scripture that St. Peter commanded the rest of the Apostles or that they acknowledg'd him head of the Church or Superior to themselves Whereas on the contrary 't is to be seen in the Acts of the Apostles that Peter was sent by the rest of the Apostles in the company of St. John to preach the Gospel in Samaria and St. Paul not only writes that he was not esteem'd inferiour to the best of the Apostles but he went up and down ordering all things as he thought necessary for the advantage of the Church without communicating any thing with St. Peter of what he judg'd convenient to do Things being so upon what grounds is it that the Popes keep the Cardinals at that distance Christ recommended his Church to the Apostles in general without any exception as appears by those words in St. John As my Father sent me so have I also sent you and whose sins soever you pardon shall be pardon'd and again in
St. Mathew Be not in any case called Masters because there is one that is your Master but be as if you were all Brothers Can any thing be more clear can any thing be of greater proof When Christ spake these words to his Apostles St. Peter was present and therefore like but not Superiour to the rest So as what authority is that the present Divines give to St. Peter over the Apostles and by consequence to the Popes over the Cardinals In my judgement both sides are too blame the Popes to usurp and exalt themselves so much and the Cardinals to prostitute and debase themselves These are the errours that occasion if not the greatest part of our Heresies at least the most stubborn and perverse part of them it being most certain that a great part of their Passion and Acrimony against the Church would be taken away could they but see things honestly administred by an equal concurrence both in Cardinals and Pope But to return from this point from which also we have in some measure been forc'd to digress I will speak now of the infallibility of the Church Let us first examine if there be or ever was such a Church in the world to whom God had vouchsaf'd out of his profound Counsels to bestow any such privilege There is no need of studying or using any long and elaborate arguments to prove that all Churches whatsoever have been subject to Errour dayly experience presenting us with continnal examples that they have fallen into errour as great as can be imagin'd by man The Jewish Church that flourish'd so long under their Patriarchs and Prophets that before the coming of our Saviour had the honour to be call'd the only visible Church of God though it was govern'd by pious and experienc'd Pastors Err notwithstanding and was most miserably involv'd in the puddle of Idolatry so as we read in the Chrenicles That for many days together the Israelites had neither God nor Law nor Priest amongst them all to direct them And the Prophet Esau with Tears in his Eyes and Sorrow in his Heart complains That all their Governors were blind And the Prophet Ezechiel tells us that this Idolatry over-spread the Church as well in Egypt as in Israel But we need not trouble our brains for an instance of their erring the Golden Calf the people made to themselves and worshipp'd as a God in spight of Aaron and Moses who went up into the Mount to receive the Tables of the Law is too sad an evidence Jeremiah complains with great anguish of the miseries of Juda that was fallen into that profound and bottomless impiety it was a question whether there were more Cities or Idols in her Dominions And at the time of our Saviours coming into the world he found the Church infected with an infinite number of Heresies and Innovations introduc'd by the false Doctrines disseminated by those very Scribes and Pharisees that govern'd it Let the Scriptures be look'd over never so seriously let the Ecclesiastical Histories be examin'd never so strictly I am sure there is not any particular Church to be found since the time of the Apostles that retains its proper and Primitive Purity and has not deviated by some corruption or other from its first method and form So as St. Paul had very good reason in the beginning of his Epistle to the Romans to exhort them to have a care they did not wander from the truth The Church of Rome notwithstanding all this believes her self infallible or at least some Divines would perswade her so In Genoa there was a Priest called Father Zachary as I remember I am sure he was a Dominican that Preach'd upon that Subject he was a great Orator and had a vast memory he us'd all the arguments were possible to prove it and amongst the rest this one in St. Mathew And the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it which he urg'd with that vehemence that he declar'd that as often and every time the Church did err so often should Christ himself break his promise with the Church The Father being himself both Opponent and Respondent there was no answer given to that position yet it may be very well alleadg d that Christ in those words spake not of any particular Church but only of the Church of his Elect and therefore assures us also in other places that all the Machinations Persecutions and Conspiracres of the three implacable Enemies of mankind united shall not be able to extinguish and irradicate that Church because Gods Foundations are firm and unmoveable and he knows who are his own As it is in the Apostle to Timothy to which may be added those words of our Saviour The Heaven and the Earth shall pass away but my Word shall not fail intending thereby the Church where the word of God is preach'd And if it happens at any time that any particular Church deviates from the right way which is the way of truth the only foundation of the Church and upon which our Salvation is built God of his mercy will raise up another to convince that of the errour it is fallen into Amongst all the Churches since the beginning of the world there has not been found that unconstancy and confusion as in the Church of Rome so many Anti-Popes Schisms Heresies Controversies Confusions Suspensions Persecutions so many false Opinions Scandals Tyrannies and Intestine Quarrels as there Several times have they been known to adore two Popes in the same Province at once at another time three of several Nations the very Colledge of Cardinals being divided some of them favouring one side some another and some of them believing neither of them lawfull This I am sure that at the Election of one Pope there grew such Schism in the Church the people were in great perplexity and confusion and not knowing by reason of the difference amongst the Cardinals which was the true Christian Church they were to follow they remain'd not only months but years in that irresolution as if they had belong'd neither to God nor the Devil Is it not too true Their Ecclesiasticks themselves do not only dispute in their Councels but fall out and quarrel with that vehemence and passion they will sooner leave the Councel than their Opinions so pertinaciously proud are they of any thing that is their own though with the greatest scandal to the people who in that uncertainty of the truth forsake not only their fiery and unreasonable Opinions but their Religion it self But what shall I say Are there not Bishops that Preach false Doctrine in their Diocess chaulking out Rules of living to the people contrary to the meaning of the Gospel and what is taught in Rome And have there not been Popes that have been disclaimed by their Clergy From hence it may be easily concluded that their Opinion that hold the Church infallible is false and erroneous and if the Church be fallible much more the Pope who though Governour
of the Church founded by our Saviour and propagated by the Apostles thorough the whole world in great Sanctity and Holiness yet with a possibility of falling otherwise forasmuch as the Church consists of men only it would have been necessary to have Sanctify'd them all both Ecclesiastick and Secular In Rome they speak with great Reverence of the Councel of Trent the Divines and Preachers crying it up as a thing absolutely infallible Yet the Pope makes no bones to break and violate the Decrees establish'd by so many venerable men and the unanimous consent of all the Churches in Christendom dispensing with things at his own pleasure It is not many years since I obtain'd a dispensation for a friend of mine in a thing forbidden expresly in two Sessions of that Councel and all for the sum of ten Crowns and some little bribe by the bye to a Clark in the Registers Office a friend in Court being as necessary in Rome as a penny in a mans purse Those the Church of Rome call Hereticks cannot hear with patience that the Pope alone should have authority to defeat and invalidate in a moment what a General Assembly of the Church has been so many years about A certain Priest discoursing one day with a Protestant of France with design to draw him over to the Church of Rome he thought he had brought him into a very hopefull way when the Protestant had told him that all the Protestants in France would submit themselves to the Pope if the Pope would submit himself to the Councels to which the Priest reply'd it will be necessary then a Councel be call'd and such rules establish'd by common consent as shall be thought necessary for the Government of the Church to which the Protestant reply'd a little fiercely How a Devil will the Pope observe the Decrees of a Councel that cannot be kept from violating the Praecepts of the Gospel but if you will undertake to bring the Pope to a submission to them I do not question to convert all of my Religion to the Pope for to tell you the truth Sir I hold one as feasible as the other At first sight indeed it appears something probable that though a particular Church may err yet in respect that Christ has promised where two or three are met together in his name he will be in the midst of them and that in this case there are not only two or three but two or three hundred and those choice men and select for their Piety and Learning it seems not impossible I say but a Congregation Consistory or Councel compos'd of the chief Heads and Governours of all the Churches in general may be infallible Were there a Councel call'd in the name of Christ only and for the real interest of the Church and did it consist of such Members and no other as had their eyes fix'd wholly upon Heaven I could almost acknowledge that Councel infallible but we know very well and our constant experience confirms it that passion blood-thirstiness interest ambition desire of dignity capriciousness in the Prelats Bishops Cardinals and Popes are the principal things that sway in Councels so as it is manifest Christ is not in their hearts and where he is not to direct them there can be no infallibility The Church of Israel was reputed even to the death of our Saviour a good and a holy Church for which reason Christ himself convers'd often with the Scribes and Pharisees rebuking such as profan'd their Temples with their buying and selling not with words only but blows declaiming against them that they had made his Fathers house a Den of Thieves His heart not being able to endure that they should use that place as a Market where the Jews met dayly to sing praises to their God The Scribes and Pharisees of the Jewish Church when there was any tumult or division amongst the people about the works our Saviour had wrought some believing them miraculous and others not they met in Councel with the Principal Rulers and Governours and having debated upon all the works he had wrought in Judea after long argumentation and dispute they concluded and condemned him as a Seducer and a Blasphemer and that was the result of that Councel of the Jews Many Councels there have been in the Christian Church that have not only err'd but undone and revoak'd what another had Decreed so as several of them have been declar'd Null though the Church had made use of their Statutes many years as in the late Councel of Trent there were four others condemn'd so as the Councel of the Apostles was the only infallible Councel that ever was in the Church and that because it was manag'd and directed immediately by the Holy Ghost according to Christ's promise as is recorded in the Gospel of St. John But here is one question will arise the solution of which would be a great satisfaction to the Reader and that is whether Anabaptists and others that have their several Religions and Sects apart may in reason challenge the honourable Title of a Church some of them conforming themselves to the documents of the Scripture and drawing the rules of their conversations from thence others and the more wicked spinning out their own methods and ordinances out of their own fancies and yet not very dissimular to the direction of the Gospel it being as it were proper to mankind to guild and colour over evil with pretences of good Many there are that believe that our Saviour in those words In my Fathers House are many Mansions intended to comprehend all the Church Militant and that he did not mean it as a figure only of the Celestial Beatitude for which cause he drove the Buyers and Sellers as I have said before out of the Temple calling it his Fathers house because in that the Jews celebrated all their Holy and Divine Functions that were necessary to give the form to a true Church Militant If it be so it must needs be acknowledg'd there is but one true Church that can be call'd justly the house of God though there may be several Chambers and Mansions divided from one another that may pass under that name The Church of Rome refuses to give the Title of Church to any but it self as if there was no Church in being but that cousening and deluding its self in the very Title they assume for by calling themselves the Church of Rome they do tacitely suppose there is some other Church that is not of Rome It is certain and beyond all dispute that all the Councels and Assemblies of Hereticks may be call'd Churches but with the distinctions of corrupt and incorrupt of sound and unsound of polluted and pure for a man though afflicted with never so many diseases back and blew with never so many stripes eaten up as it were with worms and putrifaction ceases not notwithstanding to remain a man till the Soul be separated from his Body though otherwise he may
shed for us as if Christs blood were shed for any but the penitent and virtuous If a Catholick on the other side be ask'd the same question one that is a Fornicator a Murderer a violater of all Law a despiser of Ordinances and one that has not God before his eyes he will answer with the same security That God had brought him forth within the Pale of the Church on purpose to save him and that there is nothing more certain than that he shall be sav'd If one pursues his curiosity and inquires upon what grounds he believes it he will tell you by vertue of the many Indulgences his Holiness has granted him as if Christ had given the Keyes of Heaven to St. Peter to let in Malefactors only To what a sad and deplorable condition is the Church of God reduc'd All people would be saved all people believe themselves Saints but none of them will confess his iniquities unless it be before the Confessors face only and that more out of custome than contrition The Protestant confesses his with his Hat before his eyes lest any object unexpected should draw aside his thoughts The Catholick sayes his Confiteor Deo in Latin which he understands not one word of with his eyes fix'd upon a wooden Grate both of them perhaps thinking more of what they are looking on than what they are saying or to whom The Protestant will tell you with great reason of the purity of the Church and the exact Rules of living in Christianity but withall that to live proportionably to those Rules and according to the purity of the Church is impossible and beyond the efficacy of the most eloquent Preacher in the world The Catholick understands not his own Religion yet he is sure of his Salvation by the good Works he performs daily Yet he is more delighted to discourse of his Pilgrimages his Sack-cloth Fastings and such exterior Mortifications than of the Fundamentals of Christianity or of the Church There are a sort of blind and perverse Hereticks that place the whole substance and energy of Religion in fair words They will not speak but of the Scriptures of Christ and his most pretious blood that was shed for us of the Psalms Commandments mercies of God and light of the Gospel when indeed there is nothing of all this in their heart that is taken up with designs upon their Neighbours and machinations of revenge shutting up their breast against pity at the same time they discourse most earnestly of the mercies of God How many Catholicks are there that like Wolves in Sheeps clothing will speak of nothing but the Priviledges of the priviledg'd Altar of Saint Mary Maggiore of the plenary Indulgence of Madona del Popolo of the Disciplines of Good-Friday of the Communion at Easter of the abstinence of Saint Macario the humility of Saint Francis the Martyrdom of Saint Laurence the Miracles of Saint Anthony of Lisbon and in short that talk more of the Sanctity Authority and Impeccability of the Pope than of Christ himself So sad a condition is the Church of God in in our times I have been several times to see the Jews at their devotions in their Synagognes and the Turks in their Mosques and truly as to their exterior morality I found great occasion of satisfaction observing so great exactness and reverence in their Service as would draw tears from the eyes of a Christian And for my part by what I saw amongst them I think I may boldly pronounce them the Devils Saints and our selves Christs Devils for to speak truth they express more reverence to the Devil than we do to Christ himself A certain Turk that travelled for some time in Italy and perhaps to make observation of the wayes of the Christians being in the Church of St. Mark one day in Venice in the company of several and amongst the rest a Christian who observing him to look with great intention on that marvellous structure he had the curiosity to ask him what he thought of it To which the Turk return'd this answer Sir were I sure the Conscienoes of you Christians were as neat and as clean as the Walls and Altars of this Church I would turn Christian to morrow To which the Christian reply'd What need other peoples Consciences concern you so you accommodate your own to our Churches All the Christians of this age could be contented to be glorify'd with St. Paul but not a word of the afflictions or torments he endur'd for his love of Christ I cannot but be much pleas'd to hear the Divines now a-dayes both Papist and Protestant arguing with great cunning that in the infancy of the Church indeed outward Penitence was necessary to provoke those poor sinners that were stragled to return and to kindle such a flame in the heart of Christians as might excite them to travel the World round for the propagation of the Gospel in spight of the Persecution of Tyrants But that the Gospel being now planted it was sufficient if a Christian be holy in his heart and had an intention to goodness because in the Primitive time there was a necessity they should labour towards the planting of the Cross which being planted now we are only to enjoy Should it please God to throw down riches and afflictions together from Heaven the Christians would not so much as touch one of the afflictions in curiosity but fall a scrambling for wealth as if every one were desirous of the greatest share and if by chance one drachme of affliction happen'd to be gather'd up with the riches they would presently bestow that upon their Neighbours So noble are we in that kind at this day And this if we except with the Popes themselves is manifest in the Cardinals who live in Rome in all affluence imaginable they study nothing but erecting of Palaces that may contend with the Heavens in height and making such Gardens as may outvie if possible that of Paradice that was made by God himself and in the greatness and splendor of their Courts out-braving the greatest Monarch in Christendom Riches Felicity Plenty and Magnificence have in large showers been pour'd down upon the Church that Christians perhaps might be the more confounded at their wickedness but what follows Why the Popes the Cardinals and we may joyn their Nephews with them they with m 〈…〉 unreasonable avarice sweep up all ingrossing what God meant for the whole Church to their own particulars and if amongst this Treasure there falls out any affliction inconvenience or trouble to be found they lay that a side as a present for the poor Priests and Capucins But what are those incommodities the Ecclesiasticks do suffer in general The Cure of Souls rising at midnight to say Mass and administer the Sacrament to the Sick disputing with Infidels conversing with Hereticks serving in the Hospitals and celebrating Divine Functions in the Quire But to whom do these troubles belong to the Cardinals no to certain poor
with a horn The Cappuchins will needs have it that St. Francis wore a Cap with a horn upon his head the Coventuals on the other side will have it a Hood or Cappuce like theirs in short these Schismaticks are so Religious in these trifles they Preach and Inculcate them into their Disciples that they may be ready upon all occasion to rifle the Arguments of the other whilst the People either out of ignorance or partiality run up and down the Streets sometimes crying up the Hood and sometimes the Horn as their affection to either side leads them The Popes by several Decrees as their Conscience or Passion directed them endeavour'd to reconcile them but all to no purpose they rather exasperated than appeas'd them Vrban the eight in compliance with his Brother Cardinal Saint Onofrius his humour set forth several Bulls in favour of the Cappuchins upon which the Franciscans took occasion to defend themselves in Print And accordingly a certain Father call'd Catalanus writ a large Volume against the Cappuchins that put all Italy into a Convulsion so as it seem'd as if the dayes of the Guelphs and Ghebelliâ—s were return'd again the Cardinals as well as common People falling into Parties The Cappuchins also though the book was prohibited to be bought or read under penalty of Excommunication publish'd several Manifesto's against it though it was Dedicated to a Cardinal Now can there be a greater or vainer Schism in the Church Yet these Venerable Schismatical Fathers of the Church will perswade you that all this is no Schism but a Virtue a laudible and necessary Vindication of their Rights under which Title they comprehend all their Schisms and Heresies The Hereticks that are now in Europe in such great numbers or in any other part of the World have not separated themselves from the Church out of any Fundamental Exception as if the Foundation of that Building was not good Oh no! They will not say so themselves on the contrary they acknowledg'd them Excellent but observing Corruption and Scandal increasing dayly in the Church they conclude the Edifice cannot stand long but by a precipitate destruction must of necessity fall and bury its Foundation in its own Ruines thereby taking occasion to insinuate into the People that God Almighty will prosper the Reformers and make their Labour and Industry instrumental in re-clearing the Foundations and re-establishing the Church He that is so curious to trace out the Original of Heresie especially those which abound in these dayes he shall find that from idle and impertinent Fewds and Disputes amongst the Ecclesiasticks which nobody regarded or if they did they look'd upon them as inconsiderable came Schism and from Schism Heresie which has multiplyed like Corn. The least spark of fire meeting matter proper for combustion kindles immediately and if not timely extinguish'd will hazard the whole City The Scandal the Ecclesiasticks give is like such a spark it seems yet inconsiderable but if not seasonably quench'd for ought I know it may put the whole Church into a Flame One of the greatest miseries I have observ'd in the Church is that in spight of our own reason and judgement we are forc'd and compell'd to applaud the Impieties of the Clergy and if any persons Conscience be so tender and so true to the Religion he professes as to refuse it he is pronounc'd a Heretick immediately and accordingly condemn'd to the Flames The Popes think they do a great matter when they raise three hundred thousand Crowns upon the people under pretence of extirpating the Hereticks in Germany and yet send the Emperour but thirty thousand of them and in the mean time they entertain such multitudes of Schismaticks in Rome whose scandalous lives disturb the peace of all Christendome Would the Pope with his Authority and the Cardinals with their Advice instead of Persecuting the Hereticks reform not only the general Abuses in the Church which are numerous but the innumerable Scandals committed by the Prelats in their Pallaces and the Fryers in their Cloisters in the face and defiance as it were of all Christian people the Church would be not only in a better condition but the Hereticks that cannot now be reduc'd with force nor perswasion would humble themselves come into the Church and throw themselves into her Arms. Some Popes are zealous for the Persecution of Hereticks but Hereticks do but sport themselves at the Persecution of the Popes and indeed the Hereticks have more reason to jeast at it than the Popes have to Persecute for in the punishing of one they do but raise up a thousand if they burn one in some place that is remote from Rome there will twenty turn Hereticks for it in Rome in short if they chastise one a thousand will be awaken'd to inform themselves of the reason and turn Hereticks too This one thing I may say that perhaps there is not a man in Christendome better acquainted with the Juglings of the Roman Catholicks or the Impieties of the Hereticks than I am I have weigh'd and consider'd them both and will boldly averâ— there is not any way more ready for the Conversion of Hereticks than the good example of Catholicks and especially the Churchmen nor better means to restrain those that in Rome it self do write against the iniquities of Rome than to take away those iniquities once for all What I say I can speak with confidence my own experience having evinc'd it Let Rome but Persecute one Tongue and she shall raise up a hundred let her but put one good Heretick to death and she creates a hundred perverse Hereticks in his place But some may ask me the difference betwixt a perverse Heretick and a good one I will declare my self by a perverse Heretick I mean those the Catholicks calls good and by a good one him that he thinks perverse The perverse one praises and flatters the Clergy in Rome and Rome in the Clergy the good Hereticks on the contrary condemn the defects both in the one and the other not out of malice but zeal not to foment wickedness but to remove it When the Ecclesiasticks do meet with any Treatise that checks and rebukes the Exorbitancy of their Lives they think not of any Reformation of themselves but cry out presently 't is the invention of Hereticks but the good Catholick that with sorrow observes the Ecclesiasticks Conversations know too well it is otherwise The Hereticks abhor me to death and why Because with Gentleness and Charity I rebuke the Extravaganâ—es of the Churchmen of Rome for they making their advantage of the disorders there would be glad to have all things run to ruine and indeed had I any design to do Rome a prejudice I would let them go on in their own wayes without giving them any notice of the Precipice A Chyrurgeon that hates his Patient troubles not himself about his recovery but he which loves him will put his Probe to the Wound to remove the Corruption I
't is ignorance and indiscretion that causes all this and should the like case happen to me I could very well make the Father an answer The other was of a certain young Student that went to a Jesuite to Confession amongst other of his Confessions he told him that he had lay'n a whole night with his Fatherships Neice and began to faint almost under the shame and apprehension of his Sin so that he had no mind to proceed but the good Father to incourage him told him That it was no such great matter to lye a night with the Neice for he had ly'n ten years together with the Mother And with this good exhortation he sent the young man back to his house And this second Example I heard my self in a Sermon in a certain Town in the Territories of the Venetian Preach'd by an Augustine Fryer who by his face look'd as like to do such a business as the Jesuite And thousands of these instances may be heard dayly in their Pulpits the Church of Rome by reason of the licentiousness of its Ministers being the laughing-stock of the Catholicks and the obloquy of the Protestant And truly 't is sad that those Confessions that were at first requir'd as conducing to the Salvation of Souls should be turn'd now by the iniquity of the Confessors into the scandal of the Church The Bishops shut their eyes at every thing because the Cardinals connive at them The Cardinals commit all things to the Pope contenting themselves with the magnificence of their Station The Pope because they let him alone in a Pinnacle of Grandeur above all exhalation of scandal leaves them to themselves and retains his opinion of their Piety not regarding what Heresies the Ignorance Malice or Lasciviousness of his Confessors may create To this the Ecclesiastick answers that we ought not to look so severely to the faults of the scandalous because they are but frailties and so will be judged by the Divine Justice it self And for instance they alledge the example of Judas who was a Traytor even in the company of the Holy Apostles so as our eye they say ought not to be upon him but upon the rest To which I answer that if there were indeed but one ill Churchman in twelve all Hereticks both Jew and Gentile would be converted to the Faith but as the case stands there is scarce one good to be found in ten thousand bad and therefore how can they be converted that have so many scandals in their prospect But some will say perhaps how can these things be redress'd I answer with the greatest facility in the world if the Cardinals pleas'd I speak not of the Pope because let the Divines say what they will for His absoluteness to speak the truth the Church of God is not a Monarchy but a Republique the Cardinals and Bishops being Supreme and Soveraign Senators and the Pope as Christs Vicar President of the Senate for though Christ created St. Peter his Vicar he took not away the Authority from the rest of the Apostles they alwayes with Supreme Authority in their Colledge decreeing what ever they thought necessary for the benefit of the Church St. Peter being allow'd no more than his single voice So that the Care and Government of the Church belonging by legal succession to the Cardinals the right of appointing remedies against such scandals as do afflict us belongs likewise to them And indeed whilst the Church was under a kind of Aristocrasie Miracles and Holiness and Goodness were observ'd to flourish But since the Priests began to flatter the Popes conceiving preferment and advantages easilier obtain'd by the adulation of one person than a Senate they put all into the hands of the Pope and made him a Monarch so that Miracles were lost immediately Sanctity was banish'd and a thousand wickednesses introduc'd because that which was Monarchy in the hands of the Pope became Tyranny in those of the Nephews Insomuch that to reduce the Church to its Primitive Holiness it will be necessary to restore it to its antient Aristocrasie Since my being at Rome I heard of hundreds of Decrees put out by the Congregation of Regolars but I never heard of any of them put in Execution as they ought to have been the Popes for the most part having dash'd them motu proprio besides the application being superficial and only to the top branches of the Tree it was impossible it should reach the Corruption that was in the Root The wickedness of the Churchmen is like a Wart upon a mans hand the more you cut it unless you cut it to the bottom the greater it grows To put out fire it is necessary to remove that matter that sustains it and if the Cardinals would apply any remedy to the scandals that throng dayly out of the Cloysters to the detriment of the Church they ought not to consider the nature of the Fryers after they are made Fryers so much as the qualities of those who make themselves Fryers The Method of the Italians in this age I speak not of other Countreys is good indeed for the advancement of their Arms but not at all for the benefit of the Church For example an Italian that has three Sons picks out the wisest and most gentile and Marryes him to keep up his Family him that is most sprightly and vigorous he sends to the Wars and if any be more foolish or extravagant than other he is sent to the Covent In short those Fathers whose Sons are given to Theft to Drunkenness Lust Dissoluteness or Prodigality if they be Lyers Swearers Cheats Blasphemers c. do presently devote them to the Cloyster where putting on the Habit of a Fryer they put them out of their sight indeed but put them into a Religious house where they become Devils because wickedness or rather a heap of wickedness cannot be taken away by fifteen yards of Cloth Were these disorders but regulated a great part of the scandal that lyes at present upon the Church would be taken away 't is a shame the worst should be given to God and the best to the Devil 't were better to suppress Cloysters and Fryers than to suffer such Fryers to be made In the Church of Rome the quality of the persons that are to enter into Religious Habits is not so much consider'd as their quantity so their number be great no matter for the rest Cheats Back-biters the Hunch-back'd the Lame and the Blind are all admitted into the Cloysters as if the number not the qualities made the Religion O most diabolical policy and fit to be exploded Did it belong to me to supplicate the Pope and the Colledge of Cardinals I would do it upon my knees because I observe goodness and piety declining in the Church and all by reason of the multitudes of Priests whose qualities ought to be more regarded than their numbers One truly Religious man is worth a thousand wicked and edifies the Church more with
difference at the Election of Damascus and Ursinus Of the Persecutions of the Emperours overcome by the Church with the force of patience Of the preceedency of the Bishops and Cardinals and how the Cardinalship was a step to the degree of a Bishop Of the effects that the blending and confusion of Temporal things with Spiritual brought into the Church Of the Ecclesiastical Government and its policies Of the resemblance of the Church with the Galley of Salamin How the Supreme Government of the Church was taken from the Bishops and transferr'd to the Cardinals How ambition first flourish'd in the Church Of the Election of Cardinals and the quality of their Electors Of the great ardour with which the Italian Prelats negotiated the Cardinalitial Dignity Of the Honours and Dignities invented by the World and by fortune Of the Titles the Cardinals enjoy at present Of the number that forms the Colledge of Cardinals Of the great Prerogative that follow the Majesty of Cardinals Of the time the Popes create their Cardinals Of the manner of their creation formerly and of the way they are created at present Of a certain example of a Catholick and a Protestant about the manner of creating of Cardinals Of Maldochino's promotion to the Cardinalship Of the seven Offices in the persons of the Cardinals Of the Pension and Jurisdiction of the Popes Vicar Of the charge and antiquity of the Vice-chancellorship Of the number of Congregations the Cardinals hold Of the three Arch-Priestship in the persons of the Cardinals Of the order observ'd at the death of a Cardinal and of the ceremonies at their Funerals Of the diminution of the Cardinalitian authority by the Popes Of the manner in which they receive their Caps Of the ceremony of stopping the mouths of the Cardinals Of the Cardinalitial Habits Of their Cavalcades Of the usual Function when the Pope sends a Cap to a Cardinal out of Rome Of the visits the Cardinals receive and return Of the manner how the Prelats of the Church are receiv'd by the Cardinal Padron Of the scandal taken by the Protestants by the irregular lives of some of the Cardinals Of the manner of their stopping their Coaches Of the civility amongst the Ecclesiasticks Of the Cardinals courtesie to Strangers when they are Legats of Provinces Of the Presents the new Cardinals give to the Officers of the Popes Court and the Cardinal Nephews Court and to others Of the manner observ'd by the Cardinal Legats when they receive the relations of any Serene Prince The manner how the Cardinals receive the great Ladies as they pass by their houses Of the Popes Titles resemblance with the Titles of Christ. Of the great contempt the Popes in the Primitive times had of Honors and Titles Of the introduction of Titles amongst the Ecclesiasticks according as Riches were introduc'd Of the Titles the Popes us'd antiently Of the Title of Servant of the Servants of God introduc'd by Gregory That Schism and Heresie were begot in the Church by the introduction of so many several Titles Of the variation of many Titles in the persons of the Cardinals Of the Title of Eminence invented by Urban the eight and upon what occasion Of his first design to have conferr'd that Title upon his Nephews only Of the troubles brought into the Church by the assignation of the Title of Eminence to the Cardinals Of the Title of Highness assum'd by the Princes after the Cardinals had taken upon them the Title of Eminence How common the Title of Excellence became after that time Of a Princes Secretary that refus'd a Letter from a Cardinal to his Prince because it was not directed with the Title of Highness Of the Divines the Cardinals keep alwayes about them Of the office of a Theologist how honourable it is when exercis'd by a person of Learning and Worth Of a certain Divine and his impious Services to his Cardinal Of the honour good Servants bring to the persons of the Cardinals and of the dishonour if they be wicked and of other particularities THere are some Ages past already since all Europe not to restrain my self to Italy which has found the greatest sweetness of it had had experience how pleasant that Fortune is that receives its Original from the Church For from thence it is that that which before was despis'd by the most abject Citizens is now eagerly aspir'd to by the most considerable Families in Europe Some ten Ages past there was not a Mendicant or Artificer much more that could be perswaded to leave his Cabane or his Shop to take upon him the Authority of a Prince in the Territory of the Church The Pastors in those dayes choosing rather to sweat and toyl like a Husbandman at Plough than like a Prince to command the Monarchy of Christ At present or for these two last Ages rather the nature of things has been alter'd so much there seems no Room left in the Ministry of the Church but for the Richest and most Illustrious Families that are Princes themselves aspiring to those preferments changing willingly their Sword for a Gown and their Mantle Royal for a Fryers Cowle Amongst the Protestants also I observe no small alteration in former Ages one of the most able and eminent Ministers of the Gospel could not without great difficulty get a Wife even amongst the meanest people of the City Now a dayes the Tables are turn'd and the greatest Ladies are ambitious to marry themselves to the most abject and ignorant of that Ministry To the Catholick and Protestant both this matter appears wonderfull yet if it be consider'd narrowly the mystery is not impenetrable the truth is the Pay of the Church that before was bitter is now sweet and easie A Preacher of the Gospel has now no more to do than to furnish himself with a dozen Sermons afore-hand and according to the revolution of the year to beat them over and over again into the Ears of the People whereas formerly it was their custom to study early and late from morning to night and be alwayes ready not to expose only but spend their blood in the Service of the Church Formerly the Clergy thought of nothing but executing the duty of their Functions taking no care nor pleasure in the world and therefore the world despis'd them At present they are so farr inveighed and inamour'd with the world they show but little affection to the Church and the world respects them for it Antiently they serv'd the Church for no other end but to gain Souls to Heaven but now they served it only to gain applause and riches to themselves then they were 〈…〉 â—â—d despised now they are rich and adored In those dayes the Popes were constrain'd with tears in their eyes to beseech such and such that they would vouchsafe to take the Ecclesiastical Habit upon them because then their humility and meekness made them contemptible to the world Now the Scene is chang'd and people beg and intreat with
Priests and Deacons Insomuch that whereas heretofore the Priests and Deacons promiscuously and without any distinction were admitted into their Ecclesiastical Assemblies they were after this resolution excluded and the greater and principal of the Clergy only receiv'd to their no small dis-satisfaction which they were forc'd to put up leâ—t they should otherwise disturb that repose they were in pursuit of amongst the sorrows and calamities of the Church In those times the Bishops had the preceedence before the Priests and Cardinal Deacons the Cardinalship being only a scale and step towards Episcopacy conformable to what is mentioned in the life of St. Gregory where it is said several Cardinal Priests were preferr'd to be Bishops And because there was great difference betwixt their orders there was great difference in their corrections also For the conviction of a Bishop there was seventy two witnesses requir'd and if of that whole number there wanted but one the whole accusation was void whereas for the conviction of a Cardinal Priest forty was enough and for a Deacon twenty seven But the Ecclesiastical orders and degrees have chang'd dayly with the times and their dignities have been more considered for their Titles than any reality of advantage The Cardinals since found means to advance themselves before the Bishops and Episcopacy now is but a degree towards the Cardinalship whereas formerly for the space of eight hundred year they had as principal Ministers of the Church manag'd all her affairs The chief causes of these changes and revolutions was from the same mutations in the Monarchy of the Popes and from the medly and confusion of Temporal affairs with Spiritual and of the Ecclesiastick Government with the Civil For the Pope having â—â—larg'd his Dominions by the annection of several Provinces in the time of Pipin and Charles the Great his Successors found themselves forc'd upon another Model because so many Secular Principalities being added to the Church several important affairs did dayly arise that could not be deferr'd to the next Councel of Bishops which meâ— not but every two or three years The Church in its minority was like the Galley of Salamin that by the appointment of the Athenians was never to sayl but upon some Religious design it being sufficient now and then upon occasion to call their Councels to negotiate and regulate the most important affairs of Christendome but after the acquisition of so many States and Seignories they were forc'd upon new wayes for the conservation of their Temporals For this reason it was judged necessary to establish a Councel or Senate that should be alwayes near his Holiness and that it should be compos'd of Cardinal Priests and Deacons and Rectors of the principal Parishes of Rome as those that were more capable to consult and determine in matters of greatest importance both in Spirituals and Temporals which succeeded without much difficulty the Ministers of Rome to prevent any resentment in the Bishops that the administration of the affairs of the Church was taken out of their hands endeavouring to perswade them that what was done was for the benefit of Christendome that it was unfit the Bishops should leave their charges with so much inconvenience to the people and come so often to Rome to treat of affairs that more poperly belong'd to those who had no Cures to distract them and thus were the poor Bishops constrain'd to truckle to the Cardinals and become inferiour that had been superiour so long The Cardinals being advanc'd in this manner and the Bishops excluded from the Government of the Church they continu'd very dexterously to wrest the Election of their Popes out of the hands of the Emperours the People and the Bishops and not contented with that they presum'd to incroach also upon the Election of the Emperour so as the authority of Electing the two principal dignities of the world being in their power in spight of their former subordination they advanc'd themselves so far above the Bishops that the Bishops are now but Slaves as it were to the Cardinals and by some of them imploy'd with great arrogance in Mechanick affairs Antiently there was no greater esteem of a Cardinal than there is now of a Deacon or Arch-Deacon in comparison of a Prelate because they had no other authority in the Election of Bishops who were then the principal Ministers in the Church than the common Clergy and People of Rome without any difference or exception bearing an equal share with the rest of the Clergy in the Service of the Church But when the world began to take notice that they made and unmade Popes at their pleasure choosing them alwayes out of the Colledge of Cardinals they became so incens'd in a short time that the dignity of Cardinal grew the most envied yet the most covered and ambition'd dignity in the world And this ambition which was deriv'd from the exaltation of Cardinals in the Church hath been the Parent and Hidra of all the mischiefs and calamities in the Church And this ambition that was so detestable even among the Pagans that Lucian desir'd that all they that aspir'd to any thing above their sphear might perish before the year went about is indeed the source and nourishment of all the Wars Schisms and Heresies that have sprang up in the bosome of the Church At first the Cardinals were chosen out of such Priests and Ministers only as serv'd in the particular Churches in Rome and that custom lasted for about an Age and a half that is to say till the Bishops taking notice at last of the injury was done them and that they were excluded from any concurrence in the Election of the Pope they did very much insist that the Cardinals might not be chosen any longer out of the Romans only but out of the number of all the Bishops of Italy excluding Foreigners The Church increasing after this manner extraordinarily and the number of Bishops multiplying in all parts both of Europe and Asia it was resolv'd that the Cardinals should be chosen out of all the Provinces in Europe and Asia without exemption of any it being but reasonable as St. Bernard sayes That they who judge the whole world should be chosen out of all parts thereof In the same manner the Rules for Election of Popes were observ'd as we shall relate in the third part of this Work the Priest of Rome not permitting any stranger to be created Pope for the space of above nine hundred years electing only such persons as were benefic'd in some Church in Rome till that in the year 891 there happen'd a great contest betwixt the Romans and the Foreign Bishops these last pretending to a concurrence in the Election of Popes the other refusing as obstinately the infringement of so antient a custom but at last the Foreign Bishops prevail'd and chose Formosus Bishop of Porto For some years successively the Italians that had a great part in the Election of the Pope would by no means consent
there is a Consistory there is never any Congregation for upon any intimation from the Pope that he would have a Consistory they leave the Congregation and repair thither The three Arch-Priestships of the three Cathedrals in Rome that is of Saint John de Lateran of Saint Peter and of Santa Maria Maggiore are alwayes in the persons of the Cardinals And of the dignity of these three Offices we may judge if we consider that there is not any of them falls but the present Pope bestows it immediately upon one of his Cardinal Nephews and the Popes do seldome confer any thing upon them but the best and most profitable offices in the Church Each of these Arch-Priests has his Deputy and he assigns him what profit he pleases which for the most part is the Revenue of a Canon They have each of them power indulg'd them to dispose of what Benefices Clerkships Chaplainships and other things that fall within their several Churches Every Pope also does usually allow each of them a Canonship The Arch-Priest of Saint John de Lateran administers Justice both in cases Criminal and Civil to all such persons that live within a certain distance from his Cathedral according to his Jurisdiction In the year of Jubily the Arch-Priest goes in his Pontificalibus with a great train on horse-back to his own Church to open the Holy Gate The Cardinal Deacon observes the same order in the Church of Saint Paul and the same Ceremony is us'd when the Holy Gate is shut again This is to be understood of the two Arch-Priests of St. John de Lateran and of Santa Maria Maggiore for the Pope in St. Peters Church opens and shuts the Holy Gate himself and noâ—â—he Arch-Priest In all these great Churches there are Penitentiaries that is to say the Jesuits in the Church of St. Peter the Franciscans in the Church of S John de Lateran and the Dominicans in the Church di Santa Maria Maggiore The Penitentiaries have good Lodgings and accommodations in each of theâ—e places where they live comfortably at the charge of the Pope or rather of the Church being oblig'd to be constantly in the Church to receive the Confessions of all that come thither to confess themselves Amongst these Fathers there are some that confess people in divers Languages and one of them in each Church has the Title of Rector All these Offices and Dignities that belong to the Cardinals only besides honor they bring great advantages to them but the Congregations have nothing but trouble and if they have any profit at all it is accompany'd with so many inconveniences that many had rather be without it for those incommodities would be more tollerable were they not joyn'd with something that is incompatible by the communication of continual disgusts and peevishness into the Breasts of those Cardinals that are deputed thither by his Holiness there being some of them of two or three several Congregations as if it were on purpose to multiply the inconveniences that do follow that appearance of honour Let it not seem strange if I say the Cardinals are sometime transported with rage in their Congregations because the Popes give them but too much occasion in not suffering any thing but their profit and advantage to be consulted and which is worse the Popes Nephews do spoil all their Politicks and after they are tyr'd and lost in the business they turn it over upon the mature prudence as they call it of the Congregations and Consistory as if the Cardinals like Taylors were only to patch up what the Nephews had torn in the Church The business of Castro has been so sifted and bandied about in the Congregations and Consistories that some of the Cardinals as is writ to me from Rome have it ringing perpetually in their ears so as they cannot sleep in their beds for it Others there are whose minds and imaginations are so full of it they run from one thing to another in their discourse and talk of Castro when they would have talk'd of Constantinople But some will ask me from whence comes this delay perhaps from the irresolution of the Cardinals No Sir from the irregular authority of the Popes who will do things in spight of the advice of the Cardinals but of that we have said enough already and shall not by a superfluous repetition rub up those old Sores that afflict the Church as well as the hearts of the Cardinals It is sufficient if I say his Holiness erected so many Congregations to conceal the infinite Enormities committed by the Nephews in the Government of the Church And these are the Congregation at Rome The Popes pretend and indeed will do all things and if the Cardinals know how to comply with the Wills of the Popes all is well otherwise he turns and winds them till at last they come about to the humour of the Pope and his Nephews In short the Cardinals consult in Rome and the Pope decrees according as he is advis'd by his Councel But the Cardinals do not so much as consult about any thing that is propos'd by the Pope and which he is resolv'd to decree I was ask'd lately by a friend that was an outlandish man what share the Cardinals had in the Canonization of a Saint to which I reply'd that they had a great deal of trouble by reason of the many Consistories that were held of which it will not be amiss to speak something by the bye The Popes before they proceeded to Canonization are wont to have four Consistories of Cardinals the two first are in private the third publick and the fourth betwixt both in the first the Pope gives answer to such Petitions as they have receiv'd from some Prince Province or City and refers it to three Auditors di Rota to examine the Process diligently who having made their report that it was well his Holiness recommends it again to three Cardinals to be re-examin'd whether it be agreeable to the Auditors report In the second Consistory the Cardinals to whom it is referr'd do declare that they have seen and consider'd the Process and that they find the report of the Auditors to be true The third Consistory which is publick is in the Sala Reggia where the Cardinals render their obedience and where the Advocate of the Consistory makes an Harangue of the Life and Miracles of the Saint In the fourth Consistory that is but half publick and held in the Sala Ducale the Pope comes with his Miter upon his head and his single Rochet upon his shoulders and there are present not only the Cardinals but the Patriarchs Arch-Bishops Bishops Auditors di Rota and Protonotaries The Pope inquires after every mans opinion whether that Canonization be to be made or not and if the Major part say yes he degrees him esse Canonizandum and appoints the day for his Canonization on which there are many Ceremonies us'd The Pope and the Cardinals are all in their Surplices with every
the torments those Cardinals have suffer'd that would not consent to thr infamous desires of Alexander the sixth's Bastards Of the proud and imperious humor of Paul the fourth Of certain Congregations call'd by the Cardinals for the disposing of Urban the eight from the Papacy and of the course he took to evade that conspiracy Of the chastisement receiv'd by Alexander the sixth for having treated the Cardinals so ill Of the small zeal those Cardinals express'd that endeavour'd to depose Pope Urban Of the great commendations Cardinal Pallavicino before he receiv'd the purple Robe gave Pope Alexander because he kept his kindred so far from Rome and of his opinion after they were brought in Of the principal points the said Cardinal Pallavicino left in writing in the last period of his life Of the Title of Prince of the Holy Church which the Cardinals at present enjoy Of certain annotations upon that particular Of the Authority the Popes have wrested out of the hands of the Cardinals Of an example of Paul the second mention'd by Platina in the lives of the Popes Of the common opinion about the Government exercis'd by the Popes Nephews over the Church Of Saint Peter that would never commit the command of the Church to any of his Kindred or Relations Of the Cardinals true Successors of the Apostles Of the necessity of restraining the Nephews Of a Letter written by the most Christian King to the Cardinals about the accident that happen'd to his Ambassador in Rome Of the answer the Cardinals return'd to his most Christian Majesty and of certain other particulars beside AMong all the Cities of the Universe Rome alone can boast it self not only the Mother of Nations and the Head of the World but which is more a true Court of Kings for as many Cardinals as are promoted in the Church so many Kings are created in Rome The two Monarchies France and Spain that are as it were the two Poles of Christendome do labour and tyre themselves out with Arms in their hands to defend that Church of which they are Sons and Protectors and without whose protection it would have certainly been suck'd to the very Soul by the ravenous and unsatiable lips of those Ecclesiasticks who forbear not notwithstanding to engross great part of its nourishment in spight of all their Royal diligence But that which is most worthy of admiration is that these two Monarchs which pretend to the Protection of the Church and do indeed protect it do yet beg and implore as it were to have their interests protected by some Cardinal or other in the Court of Rome as if their own merits were not sufficient to defend the interests of those Monarchs who are the very founders of the Monarchy of Rome But that the Reader may be the better inform'd I shall acquaint him that at present it is the custom for every Crown to give the protection of its affairs to some of the Cardinals that are resident in Rome and this protection is with good reason aspir'd to by the Cardinals in the highest degree Insomuch as Alexander the seventh before he dy'd us'd his utmost endeavour to have Cardinal Chigi his Nephew declar'd Protector of Spain but he could not obtain his desire the Spaniard deluding him sometimes with fair promises and sometimes with excuses Of all the protections of Crowns which are five the Empire France Spain Poland and Portugal that of Spain is the most considerable and by consequence most ambition'd Not that Spain has merited more than the rest and particularly than France but in respect of the Territories they possess in Italy in which it seems the Protector has great authority disposing of many things at his pleasure if not by an absolute jurisdiction at least by his recommendations to the Governours of the Provinces who do seldome omit to gratifie his desires and to acknowledge him the Protector of their King besides which there are a thousand other considerations that make the said protection so much coveted and aspir'd to by the Cardinals And many are the reasons that induce those Crowns to declare their several Protectors in Rome but if my judgement may pass the greatest of all is to satisfie the ambition of those Cardinals that from morning to night study no other book than the augmentation of their own Grandeur and this is most certain there is no greater dignity that a Cardinal can attain to than to be made protector of some Crown And to speak truth there is something of magnificence in the Name of Protector implying that he which protects has some superiority over him that is protected however that rule does not hold in this case for those Kings bestow not those Protectorships upon the Cardinals to receive but to confer honour upon them the Cardinals ordinarily making great application for the protection of a Crown whereas in other protections they are sought to themselves It is not many years ago since these protections of Crowns were introduc'd into the Colledge of Cardinals in former times the Kings disdain'd them their swords being their sufficient protections the Pens of their Secretary doing that office upon any emergence gave immediate notice to the Court of Rome of their Masters pretensions But since the Popes began to advance themselves so high to confound the Church and the World Politicks and Morals Spiritual things with Temporal the Sword and the Cross and in short to transferr all the interest of Secular Princes to Rome those Crowns have been oblig'd to have not only their Ambassadors but their Protectors in Rome and that not so much for the defence of their Kingdoms defended by themselves nor of their persons defended by their Kingdoms but for the protection only of those interests that have been stoâ—â— as it were from the Princes and carryed to Rome This protection is no small advantage to the interest of the protected Crown but 't is much greater to the Cardinal that is its Protector because things are not manag'd with that order they ought to be the Cardinals for the most part having one hand upon the Rudder and the other upon the Sails The Crowns may do what they please oblige their Protectors with their Benefices and Abbyes yet they will never move out of their Sphear nor give those Crowns more than an outward appearance of protection reserving the substance for the benefit of the Pope And indeed many examples might be brought out of hundreds of Histories to confirm what I say I having for many years read much and made frequent observations upon this point The Princes are deceived if in the controversies that happen betwixt them and the Popes or the Nephews they believe to have their interests protected by those Cardinals that are their Protectors The protection a Cardinal gives to his Crown goes to a certain pitch and no farther if the Grandeur of the Pope be not diminish'd nor the Ecclesiastical priviledges intrench'd upon all things go well as much protection
what purpose is it to expose ones self to Martyrdom To what purpose to pass so many Seas to preach up the Name of Christ with so much peril in the most remote parts of the Earth amongst the greatest Infidels if it be depis'd even in Christendom in the very bowels of Religion and in the midst not only of Rome but the Vatican it self And now I would fain know what likelihood there is that the Cardinals should oppose their own breasts against that violence of the Barbarians that seem to threaten so nearly the destruction of Christendom if they be affraid to speak one word to the Pope against those Governours that by fleecing the people do bring the State into great misery and distress How shall they take the Sword into their hands to encounter those Hereticks that destroy our Images and violate our Holy Temples if they can patiently behold the plundering of our Altars and the robbing of the Almes that is given to the poor How shall they defend the Christian Faith that suffer the blood of Christ to be devour'd How shall they dare to preach to such as are in Rebellion and Enmity if they be affraid to speak to the Popes that are their Friends How shall they be faithfull keepers of the flock of Christ if they be fearfull as Lambs toward those Wolves that devour his flock In short how can they stop the mouths of those with a good conscience that do blame the defects of the Popes when they themselves are the causes of those defects This I am sure of the Purple they wear would be much more honourable did they take more care to preserve the Treasure of the Church and for my part I am of opinion the Popes would be more wary of introducing their Kinred into the Vatican if they observ'd the Cardinals more vigilant nor would the Nephews commit such notorious robberies if they did but see that their eyes were upon them The Cardinal Pallavicino the Jesuite who in plain terms was a person that could frame and accommodate himself to another mans humour thereby to work him over to his own he was one of those that cry'd up Alexander in the beginning of his Papacy above the Skies and all because he would not admit his Nephews into Rome Insomuch that in his History of the Councel of Trent that came out from the Press about that time he made a Parallel betwixt his Holiness and his Saviour and upon this ground because being ask'd by a certain publique Ambassador if he would not receive his Kindred his Holiness reply'd in the words of our Saviour Who are my Brothers but they that do the will of the Lord. It is not possible to imagine the great and extravagant praises he gave the Pope in all quarters of Rome for his aversion to the Nipotisme extolling him for the greatest Pope that ever sate in the Vatican he prophesied a golden Age again to the Church in a short time and supplyes of Inhabitants to the City he went up and down all the Courts of the Cardinals giving God thanks for his great mercy towards the Church in sending it a Pope so clearly disinterested and unaddicted to the advancement of his private Family In short he exhorted them all by the authority his reputation and intimacy with the Pope gave him that it was the duty of the Cardinals themselves to conserve that great benefit to the Church and in case Alexander should relapse that they should oblige his Successors to keep their Nephews out of the Vatican But the humour of the Pope being altered at length in this point and instead of his former aversion he become most partial to his Nephews Pallavicino also began to change his note and harp no more upon that string he found himself oblig'd to stop his mouth in all things and to sanctifie the defects of the Nephews as he was the Popes Confessor or else to ruine and precipitate his own fortunes and those of his Order This politick deportment was a great affliction to his Conscience for he was indeed a well meaning man and intirely devoted to the benefit of the Church He found out a hundred querks and pretences to excuse the commendations he had formerly given the Pope and being one day in discourse and ask'd by a Cardinal that was his Confident if he would magnifie no more his Holiness his impartiality to his Relation he couragiously reply'd That he then had spake of the Pope as Pope and did now speak of Alexander as Alexander He endeavour'd by all possible means to force his own nature and not to be concern'd at those evils which he was too sensible did hourly increase to the great detriment of the Church by the ill Government of the Nephews But notwithstanding all this the more he saw Don Mario advanc'd the more did indignation swell in his Bowels to think that there could be no remedy found to quench that fire that seem'd formerly extinct insomuch that he many times shut himself up alone in his Chamber and made as many Soliloquies as King Midas his Barber At last it pleas'd God as he himself declar'd to a friend of his upon his death bed by his special grace to take away his life in the vacancy of the Apostolick Chair He was much affected with the great affairs of the Church as he signified in a paper he left written with his own hand wherein he protested his intentions were alwayes so far from defending the errors of the Nephews that he would not so much as excuse them The writing contain'd five principal points The first was that the Church would never find any repose in her afflictions nor be free from the Calumnies of the Hereticks till the Nephews were banish'd from Rome The second was that whilst every Pope had liberty to inrich his own Kindred as they did the Treasure of the Church in a short time would be imbezled and dispers'd into Foreign Countreys The third was that there was no hopes of seeing the Charity and Benevolence of the faithful increas'd for they being scandaliz'd to see the Charitable Alms bestow'd and left by other people to the Church dissipated and consum'd did choose to squander away themselves what they had rather than by giving it to the Church to increase the number of Extravagants there The fourth that the Cardinals could not with a safe Conscience suffer the dissipation of the Treasure of the Church by the prodigality of the Nephews and that they were oblig'd therefore as his Holiness Assistants to endeavour to remedie it And in the last place by good arguments he shew'd which was the most proper time for the application of so necessary an expedient and he concluded the vacancy of the Chair would be the most convenient because if a new Pope was once Created and a new Nepotism set up it would be impossible to compass their ends This writing fell into the hands of the Cardinals who call'd a particular Congregation
no mans person I am Pope and 't is in my power to null or confirm their Acts as I think good my self Let not the Cardinals inquire now what means the Popes made use of to invade and usurp the authority they formerly injoy'd because they are sure to be answer'd with nothing but violence insolence and threats against which they having not courage enough to defend themselves do sit down contented only with the Title and appearance and it is certain at this day that the Cardinals have no more authority over the Church than the Duke of Savoy has over the Kingdom of Cyprus of which he will be call'd King notwithstanding so the Cardinals will be call'd Princes of the Church whilst the Pope runs away with the power doing and undoing as he pleases giving offices and preferments at his pleasure and imposing his own Laws without contradiction insomuch that the Consistories Congregations and Colledges are only for the service and assistance of the Pope who suffers not the Cardinals to transact any thing but by his direction and if they do he revoaks it so that it is too true they have nothing left but a bare outside authority All this would be past over nevertheless and their affliction would not be so great were it the Popes only that commanded the Cardinals but the misery is for more than an age past so many Nephews as have been in Rome so many Popes have there been to command them for the Popes communicating the authority they usurp'd with each of their Nephews they know very well which way to put in execution and have no need to be taught how to make their advantages Is it not a melancholly and most deplorable sight to see two sorry little-headed Nephews make so many Logger-headed Cardinals to tremble that one poor single Nephew should keep the whole Colledge in awe That two pittiful Relations of the Pope's born and brought up in obscurity should be more considerable in Rome than so many Princes of most noble Extraction That the Popes should give more ear to the advice of a Nephew newly taken from School and many times from the Shop than to the Councels of so many Cardinals us'd and accustom'd to publick affairs and zealous of the Service of God That they should command that know not how to command and they be forc'd to obey those they ought in all equity to command That the foreign and extraneous Nephews should have freer and more uninterrupted access to the Vatican than the Cardinals that are born in Rome Now if affairs be carry'd in this manner in the Court of Rome in respect of Spiritual and Temporal Things how can the Cardinals be properly call'd Princes that leave the Church in the hands of other people It is the Nephews that are the Princes that hold the Patrimony of Saint Peter in their possession that divide it from the Church without any resistance and appropriate it as a Patrimony for their particular Families Nor ought the Nephews on the other side to permit seeing they have the authority in them the Cardinals to bear the Title of Princes of the Church lest very ill consequences should follow They have no other right of Dominion over them than by Usurpation and Tyranny and Tyranny is sometimes rais'd above the Majesty of Princes Now if the Cardinals be Princes of the Church without any Soveraignty the Nephews that have got that Soveraignty without any title must be Tyrants and therefore to remove this inconvenience it is necessary either to leave the Dominion of the Church to the Cardinals that have the Title or to give the Nephews the Title that have the Power already and exercise it with great Authority There is not a Heretick a Gentile a Jew a Catholick nor a Protestant but knows the Government of the Church by the Nephews is Tyrannical because the Authority they have to govern it is deriv'd only from the Popes who have no Authority to dispose of that which belongs legally to the Cardinals Christ as if on purpose to prevent disputes said expresly when he gave the power of the Keyes to Saint Peter Tibi dabo claves Regni coelorum observe the word Tibi to Thee that is to Peter I give the Keyes of my Church and not to his Nephews It is my pleasure that you Command and give Laws not your Relations and Kindred Tibi dabo claves Regni coelorum And therefore Saint Peter who understood his duty very well would never admit any of his own Relations to the Government of the Church but only such as were call'd by the Divine mouth of our most blessed Saviour Now a dayes the Popes proceed quite contrary glossing as they please upon the Gospel robbing them as soon as they are entred into the Vatican of all their Authority and giving it to their Nephews and instead of governing the Church with the assistance of the Cardinals in whom the power is directly from our Saviour they govern with the assistance of their Nephews that cannot with any justice enter into the Vatican nor take possession of an Authority that belongs only to the Cardinals It is clear the Cardinals are the true successors of the Apostles so that if the Apostles receiv'd none of their Jurisdiction from Saint Peter but immediately from God and if Saint Peter did never command them neither can nor ought the Popes to command the Cardinals nor are they oblig'd to obey them in what relates to the Government of the Church seeing they have as much power in those affairs as the Popes For my part when I shall see the Popes hold the same correspondence with the Cardinals that Saint Peter did with the Apostles I shall believe them true Popes so on the other side I shall believe the Cardinals true Princes of the Holy Church when I shall see them replete with holy zeal and labouring for the recovery of that Jurisidiction which hath been so unjustly taken from them If they shall at any time be restor'd to the exercise of that Authority they formerly for several ages possess'd they will make the Popes the Church and themselves happy and fortunate and bless'd themselves bless'd because that respect which at present is given by the Faithfull to the Purple only will be kindled in the hearts of all Christendom and break out into a flame of devotion to behold them with such passion and solicitousness endeavouring the good of Christianity the Church fortunate because it shall be no more worryed nor tormented with the tongues and pens of Historians but see every day new Christians sprouting up in her bosom And lastly the Popes shall be happy in having Companions in the care of the Flock of Christ in discharging themselves of a part of that burthen that is not to be sustain'd by one but with great danger of sinking under it Let not the Cardinals therefore any longer delay the wresting again that Dominion out of the hands of the Nephews that by Divine
of it quickly and be at ease then to let him tyre us out and at last carry the victory It is not ten months since I met in a Journey with two Roman Gentlemen one a Priest and the other a Secular who were discoursing betwixt themselves about the business of Castro the Priest swearing that upon that single subject there had been more than two hundred Consistories held I who had already wrought my self into the discourse for to speak truth when any thing is spoken of the interest of Rome I open my ears as wide as is possible had the curiosity to desire the cause of it to whom he answer'd like a true Roman though not like a good Priest You must know the Pope does nothing in Rome but what is conformable to his own designs so that the Cardinals not all of them agreeing with his resolutions in the business of Castro the Pope to weary them out tumbles them up and down at that rate and I am perswaded there will never be an end of their Consistories till they comply with his Holiness his pleasure and you shall yet see this affair of Castro brought about again to the Congregations and Consistories which is as much as to say kept in a perpetual dependance in Rome True it is Alexander found out a good way to excuse his obstinacy and in that he out-did both Innocent and Vrban nor indeed was there ever any Pope knew better how to wynde himself out and throw the fault upon the backs of the Congregations and Consistories When that infamous affront was offer'd to the persons of the Duke and Dutchess of Crequy the King of France being himself injur'd in the person of his Ambassador writ many Letters full of resentment and amongst the rest one to the Queen of Sweden which is inserted at large in the Nepotismo complaining not so much of the Pope as Pope as of Alexander and Fabius that is to say of his Kindred A Cardinal of no small authority and zeal being inform'd of it forbore not upon a good occasion to speak to the Pope himself in these words Most Holy Father his most Christian Majesty does not complain of your person who is Christs Vicar and Head of the Church so much as of your Brother and Nephews who have too great injâ—unce upon you Alexander answer'd That he had not receiv'd his Kindred into Rome but upon the perswasions of the Sacred Colledge Which being told the Cardinal Albici when he was at his Table he reply'd in the absence of the Pope what the other Cardinal omitted in his presence That 't is true the Holy Colledge had entreated him to bring his Nephews to Rome but not to destroy both Rome and the Church too to advance them All this was told me by a Gentleman of credit that was then present in the Cardinal Albici's Chamber when the words were spoke and it is no hard matter to believe it to them that know the humour of his Eminence who freely discharges himself of whatever is in his mind and justifies reason in spight of the World It must needs be confess'd then having so many examples to corroborate and so many experiments to attest it that the Popes use the Cardinals in the Government of the Church for a pretence and no otherwise laying the fault upon those Cardinals rather that comply with the desires of the Pope than upon themselves that act according to the pleasures of their Nephews or for satisfaction of their own private passions Of this kind of proceeding I dare not for my part accuse the Popes who are forc'd to do what they can for the preservation of their Monarchy But the Cardinals I dare who can so easily suffer themselves to be robb'd of their Authority be contented to take Eggs as it were for their money and either out of meer pusillanimity or some other thing part with that which is legally their own and permit their private passions to over-rule the interest of the Publique The Church without doubt would be a hundred times better serv'd and the Court in greater esteem if the Cardinals would restrain the Nephews and not â—nffâ—r the Pope to operate as he pleases When the attempt was made upon the Duke of Crequy his most Christian Majesty supposing it able to oblige the Pope to give him a proportionable reparation apply'd himself to the Sacred Colledge for redress and his Letter was exactly as follows Cousin THe assault that was made the twentieth Currant upon the person of my Cousin the Duke of Crequy my Ambassador Extraordinary his Lady and all the French the Corsi of Rome could meet with in the Streets that day is an enormity so great in all its circumstances that perhaps in no time nor place even amongst the Barbarians themselves can an instance be found in which the jus Gentium hath been with so much inhumanity violated and abus'd And for as much as your Eminence is a Member of that Sacred Body that is the natural Councel of the Popes I have encharged Monsignor Burlemont Auditor of the Rota to wait upon you in this conjuncture and acquaint you with my resentment of so great an offence to the end that by your interposition which I doubt not but you will willingly undertake as far as you shall be able I may receive a satisfaction adequate to the quality and extravagance of the affront But if your Eminences good offices should happen to be ineffectual they shall not be imputed to me after this application whatever mischiefs or calamities shall happen assuring my self I shall be excusable both to God and to Man whatever the consequences be and thus referring the rest to what Mr. Burlemont will present to you by word of mouth I beseech God my good Cousin to preserve you in his holy favour LEWIS St. Germans en Ley 20 Aug. 1662. De Lominie This Letter was read and deliberated in the Sacred Colledge but only in the particulars relating to the satisfying of the King not in his Majesties Complement in these words Of the Sacred Colledge which is the Natural Councel of the Popes The Cardinals spent no long time in reflecting upon that which was the principal point and ought well to have been consider'd because when one of the greatest Monarchs in Christendom does Canonize the Sacred Colledge for the Natural Councel of the Popes what is it but to remember and excite them to maintain that Station God Almighty has plac'd them in that is to have a care the Popes usurp not an absolute authority over the Church and that they do not and undo not at their pleasure without any respect to the quality of the person they offend What is natural to the Church is by special favour from God if the Councel of Cardinals be the natural Councel of the Popes the Popes ought not to usurp any jurisdiction over the Cardinals so as not being at any time subordinate to the Popes when they are united and assembled
in the Sacred Colledge it must of necessity be granted that the Popes are inferiour to that Councel so that the Cardinals as Members of a Supreme Councel and depending only upon the power of God and the protection of Princes are oblig'd to constrain the Popes to an obedience of those Councels that proceed from that Councel that indeed is natural But the Cardinals will not understand this but turning the Natural Councel into a Bastard they advise nothing that in their Consciences they think necessary for the Service of God for the Honour of the Church or the Repose of the Faithfull but only sift out the Councels Advices Sentences and Opinions of their Popes and then making their Decrees as they desire them they take but little care of the rest not that they want good will but courage and audacity to put that good will in execution which is a thing so prejudicial to their Grandeur that it detracts and lessens their dignity This I am sure of that would they once take up a resolution of resuming that authority they formerly injoy'd and renounce the Tyranny of the Nephews the greatest Princes of Christendom would take their parts and provide them with all manner of assistance But let us see the Cardinals Answer to the Kings Letter which in my judgement will not improperly be inserted in this place Most Christian and most Royal Sir I Am very sensible of the transcendant favour your Majesty has done me in vouchsafing to impart to me your resentment for the unhappy accident betwixt the Corses and certain of the Duke of Crequy's train besides the honour you have done me by the benigne confidence express'd in your Letter and by the mouth of Mr. Burlemont your Majesty has also given me occasion with all reverence to represent the great displeasure conceived by our whole Court but more especially his Holiness in whose heart there is already so great an impression of esteem and so tender an affection for your Majesty produc'd and augmented by so many glorious actions so many perpetual testimonies of your Valour and Piety in demolishing the Garrisons of the Hereticks and shutting their Churches in places under their command so that his Holiness could not evidence with more paternal demonstration the disgust that action has given him which he has not only declar'â— publiquely in his Briefs upon that occasion but in the Consistory also and in his private discourse but much more in his actions bending all his thoughts to your Majesties satisfaction as he has alwayes designed I hope therefore your Majesty with your wonted generosity will reflect upon the just motives and remain satisfied even for the intire quiet and consolation of your Servants amongst which I being not inferiour to any in point of observance neither have nor will fail in my obedience to your Majesty nor in imploying my self to the utmost of my abilities in your Majesties Service On the other side likewise I shall rejoyce if in your Majesties resolutions your Majesties Royal Bounty and Prudence does more and more shew So that to make me perfectly happy there remains nothing but your Majesties fresh commands which I most obsequiously do beg of your Majesty and make my most humble Obeisance Rome the 24. of Sept. 1662. Had these Cardinals have been to write in Paris as they were in Rome the Letter would perhaps have been otherwise and not have flatter'd his Holiness as it did and indeed in any publique Conflagration people run with water and not with wood Yet it is no such wonder to me that the Cardinals sided with the Pope as that they rob themselves of their authority and make show of certain independency giving the world to understand that the composure and accommodation of the business belong'd wholly to the Pope There would not so many scandalous offences be committed in Rome there would not be so many Murthers in the State the Church would not be haâ—raâ—'d as it is nor thousands of Families run away from the Tyranny of the Popes the Court would not swarm so much with dissolute and ignorant persons nor the people be so deplorably miserable Virtue would not be banish'd the Vatican nor Flattery received into the Capital Miters would not be bestow'd upon Asses nor Monkeys introduc'd into the Colledge Caps would not be sold at that rate nor Offices conferr'd upon him that bids most in short all things would go well if the Cardinals would exercise the authority that God has given them and not depend upon the Humour and Capriccio of this Nephew or of that did the Popes see the Cardinals vigilant over their actions were they sure of their diligence and sincerity towards the well governing of the Church they would consider of it a hundred times before they would call their Kindred to Rome and put their whole Dominion into their hands they would make many a serious reflection before they would disoblige any Prince and not suffer themselves to be drawn by their Nephews into the displeasure of one or the other But in short if they meet no impediment if they see the Cardinals loytering and asleep why should they go about to satisfie their wills Whilst the Popes are sure to have the Cadinals Canonize their errours why should they forbear to commit them I shall tell one Story very lamentable for the Catholick Church though in this only that it makes sport for the ignorant and pragmatick Hereticks for those of better judgement are troubled at any misery that befalls the Catholicks and which is more do give God thanks when he delivers them from any extraordinary calamity but because what I am about to say is sufficient to break a mans heart I shall for this reason accompany it with such examples and arguments as I have been able to draw from the discourse of some persons it was my fortune to be amongst and particularly two Divines but both marry'd which is enough to prove they were no Catholicks These two reading of a Gazet one day do not wonder kind Reader if I say they were reading a Gazet for we live in an age in which the Ecclesiasticks spend more time about the affairs of the world than about their Sermons and of this sort I knew one my self that in publique was reserv'd and grave and in company a very honest man however he privately translated out of Italian into French a book so Prophane and Satyrical that even the worst of Christians are afraid to read it these two Preachers then being reading a Gazet in the time of the vacancy of the See they found in it That the Cardinals had concluded upon certain Ordinances and Rules to be observ'd by the Pope when he shall be created and that they had propounded in the Vestry of Saint Peter the abolishment of the Nipotismo One of the two which was he that was attending with a grave voice that seem'd to proceed from a heart full of zeal said God Almighty remove those good thoughts
Cardinal Paluzzi has serv'd the Church Of his goodness and decrepitage Of the qualities of Cardinal Rasponi Of the conclusion of his Nuntiature in France Of his clear and unbyass'd judgement of the Abbot Rasponi his Nephew Of Cardinal Conti and of the worthy persons that Family has afforded several times Of his qualities that are an ornament to the Ecclesiastical Habit. Of Cardinal Pietro Vidoni of Cremona Of Cardinal Barbarigo a Venetian Of Cardinal Pascale d'Aragona a Spaniard Of Cardinal Mancini a Roman Of Cardinal Buon Compagni a Bolonese Of Cardinal Nini of Siena Of Cardinal Roberti a Roman Of Cardinal Spinola of Genoa Of Cardinal Visconti of Milan Of Cardinal Caraccioli a Neapolitan Of Cardinal Delfini a Venetian Of Cardinal Baldo de Tun a German Of Cardinal Vendosme a Frenchman Of Cardinal Moncada a Sicilian Of the last Cardinals made by Clement the ninth and of some other particulars I Ought not to omit in this place to enter upon an Anotomy of the customs qualities effects and inclinations of the Cardinals created by Alexander the seventh for several respects but more particularly because the greatest part of them are but little known in the Court as having worn the Cardinalitial habit no long time in Rome as well as because they profess there to make their inclinations investigable however having hitherto taken great pains to procure Memoires from all parts that the work I exhibit might not be altogether imperfect I shall with that tast taken from the Memoires that were sent me by several persons actually in the service of Cardinals proceed in the relation following in this book but so that in the multiplicity of occurrences touching the Cardinals created by Alexander the seventh I shall endeavour to be short and that the impression may be the greater in the memory of the Reader I shall restrain my self only to the most substantial and material things I shall begin therefore according to the order of precedence with those that were first promoted to the Cardinalship FLAVIO CHIGI Nephew to Alexander the seventh born in the year 1631. in the City of Siena was the eldest Son of Don Mario Brother to Alexander and Donna Berenice a Lady of Siena of the Family of Ciaia who alwayes had a particular affection for Flavio her son Don Mario took what care he could to have him brought up to learning but his inclinations leading him another way he made small progress in that but contrary to the documents of his Father he apply'd himself to divert amongst other young men rather than to converse amongst books and that the more because he found himself to be the only male of the Family of the Chigi and therefore was sure he should be married to keep up the house Don Mario though he was inclin'd for several respects to marry him he endeavour'd nevertheless to ease himself of that charge by recommending him to his Brother Cardinal Chigi who was afterwards Alexander the seventh to the end that being near him he might be instructed in such politick Maximes as pass'd dayly thorough his hands as he was Secretary an office the said Cardinal Chigi had injoy'd for some time in Rome But he whose designs were wholly bent upon the Vatican most hypocritically pretended not only to shew himself impartial and disinterested to his own Family but their enemy rather refusing to admit any of them about him especially his Nephew Flavio who he knew wanted such parts as were worthy to be seen in the Court of Rome Don Mario perceiving which way things went resolv'd by all means possible to provide some advantagious match for his Son and had several of the most considerable Ladies of Siena in his eye though he was sure enough in respect of the smalness of his Estate he was not likely to carry them In short Flavio lived there making of love Courting of this Lady and of that and minding nothing but his amours without the least thought of ever being a Cardinal and indeed had any one told him he should one day be one of the principal Cardinals in the Colledge and provided with so many Benefices and preferments he would have thought without doubt he had but droll'd so small an opinion his Associates had of his person But fortune that goes far in Rome and is as it were Arbitrator of all the Families in Siena chang'd the face of affairs in such manner that by the help of some small merit that was found in the person of Cardinal Chigi he was assum'd to the Papacy under the name of Alexander the seventh This news was so welcome to Don Mario he almost ran mad at the hearing it and would have been marching immediately to Rome but the Pope keeping close to his Hypocrisie as he had promis'd long before he was exalted declar'd he would by no means admit any of his Relations into Rome And this whimsey continued for some months to the great displeasure of Don Mario who went fretting and distracted up and down to see his younger Brother the greatest Monarch in the world abounding in all manner of wealth and himself to live poorly in Siena without any command or authority Wherefore besides his own he desir'd the prayers of the Religious Mendicants that God Almighty would change that obstinate humour in his Brother and accordingly by the Prayers of the one or the other it was chang'd and all of them call'd to the Vatican No sooner did Don Mario appear triumphantly in Rome with the preheminence that was due to a person so nearly related to the Pope but he began by the impuâ—â—ion of his own ambitious Spirit to endeavour the advancement of his Son he pretended that himself as the most antient and his Son as the eldest of all the youth of the Family of the Chigi ought to take upon them the perpetuation of their name intending thereby to do his â—tmost that his Son might marry some Princess or other according to his own request who was much more inclin'd to a Wife than a Cap but the Pope would not hear of that ear but commanded Flavio to be contented with a Cap having resolv'd to find out a Wife for Don Agostino a Nephew of the Popes likewise but by another brother whose memory had more influence with his Holiness because he had receiv'd greater kindness from him than from Don Mario and would therefore renew his memory in the person of Don Agostino whom he declar'd head of the Chigi to the no small displeasure of Flavio that was made a Cardinal at the first Promotion and retain'd in his heart some sparks of envy towards his Cousin but his Holiness to extinguish them comported himself so that by showing them favour alternately he took away all occasion of Jealousie and emulation Flavio being declar'd Cardinal and which is more Cardinal Padrone with power to give audience to Ambassadors and with authority to negotiate the greatest affairs of the Church in case of any indisposition in the Pope
For a while with difficulty sometimes and sometimes without the Emperors conserv'd the faculty of Electing and Confirming the Pope till that in the year 884. the Clergy and the people having created Adrian the third a fierce and arrogant man he not only refus'd to expect Confirmation from the Emperor as some of his Predecessors had done but as soon as he was Crown'd by a particular Bull he decreed that the Election of the Pope was not by any means to be participated with the Emperor nor his Confirmation to be attended declaring that the people and the Clergy ought to Confirm those Popes which they elected Adrian would not have undertaken such an enterprize and injury to the Emperor had he not known him to be very low by reason of several Wars in which he was engag'd so that this news did but adde to the afflictions of the Emperor Otho being receiv'd to the Empire disdaining to endure the injuries which the Popes offer'd to the Emperours he deliberated revenge and contriv'd which way he should restore his affairs to their former condition and therefore in the year 957. with the consent likewise of the Clergy he depos'd and depriv'd John the 13. of the Papal dignity he being accus'd of not reciting the Canonical hours of ordaining Deacons in Stables of Swearing and Blaspheming at Dice of Ravishing of Virgins and several other delinquencies for which he being driven out of the Vatican there was substituted in his place by the sole order and authority as it were of the Emperour Leo the eight who was a Citizen of Rome and principal Treasurer of the Church of San Giovanni Laterano This Leo continued Pope while the Emperour continued at Rome but he departing the next year the Adherents to John by a popular tumult prevail'd to have John restor'd to the Papacy and Leo discarded but John lived but few months after his restoration When he was dead several instances were made in the behalf of the Emperour that Leo might be chosen and restor'd that thereby they might avert the dangers impending from the indignation his most Christian Majesty had conceiv'd for the affront done to Leo notwithstanding all which the People and the Clergy laid Leo aside and chose Benedict the fifth How much the Emperours mind was disturb'd with the news of these proceedings may be collected from the violent resolution he took for resenting the injury to Leo as done to himself he turn'd the whole power of his Arms against Rome which City after two months Seige was constrain'd to open her Gates at discretion and to deliver Pope Benedict into his hands who sent him presently in exile to Hambourg where he ended his dayes in a thousand sorrows and afflictions The next day after the Emperours entrance into Rome Leo was with the usual Solemnity restor'd to the Pontifical Chair to the no small dissatisfaction of his Adversaries But Leo understanding his obligation for the Papacy was wholly to the Emperour by whose affection and authority he was chosen in defiance both of Clergy and people he sought by all means in spight of them both to comply with the Emperour and therefore took away the power of Electing the Pope from the Clergy and people declaring the priviledges granted by Charles the Great void transferring the absolute authority in Elections upon the person of the Emperour and all as he pretended to prevent the tumults and scandals that happen'd dayly betwixt the People and the Clergy by virtue of which Concession Leo being dead the Emperour created John the 14. with the greatest tranquility imaginable The rancour of the Romans to see themselves depriv'd of the faculty of Electing the Pope which they had for so many ages injoy'd was so great that from morning to night they had their publick and private meetings to find out some way to recover the priviledges they had lost Peter who was Governour of the City of Rome with two Consuls and twelve Senators enter'd into a Conspiracy against the person of the New Pope as one that in favour to the Emperour did much prejudice to the priviledges of the people and being accompany'd with great number of the Nobility they enter'd one day with Arms in their hands into the Church of San Giovanni Laterano took his Holiness Prisoner and carry'd him to the Castle of Saint Angelo By this it may guess'd how great the insolence of the people was whilst they were unbridled and free and acting without either reason or judgement or consideration of the power of the Emperour who being at that time without wars was very potent and strong and indeed the Emperour no sooner receiv'd the alarm but he turn'd his Forces again the third time against Rome with resolution not to pardon any of the Principal in that Sedition and indeed he was as good as his word for having enter'd the City with more anger than difficulty he commanded the greatest part of the Criminals should be hang'd contenting himself with the Confiscation of the rest But Peter who was the principal Author of the Conspiracy was deliver'd into the hands of the Pope who was discharg'd of his Imprisonment and restor'd to the Papacy from whose hands he receiv'd incredible Cruelties before he was suffer'd to dye This Slaughter and Vengeance of the Emperour upon the Romans abated the pride of that people in some measure leaving the Emperour in free liberty of Electing whom he Pleas'd Pope which appear'd in the year 975. when he declar'd Boniface the seventh Pope who was a person so odious to the people they were almost ready to run mad at his creation forbearing the very Churches out of hatred to Boniface who understanding well enough the animosity of the people took a resolution to run away to Constantinople and that he might not be unprovided with moneys when he came there he made bold with the whole Treasure of Saint Peter carrying every thing along with him that was of any value or price The Romans were displeas'd both with his Robbery and Flight but made their advantage of what was happen'd making use of this as an occasion of repossessing themselves of what they desir'd so earnestly and accordingly without communicating any thing with the Emperour they created John the 15. Pope who dyed miserably in Prison by order of Boniface which said Boniface having sold his Jewels and Plate came back again to Rome and by virtue of the Sums he brought with him reconcil'd himself to many and repossess'd himself of the Papacy chasing away John from the Throne by force of Arms and clapping him up in Prison when he had done By this occasion the People of Rome reassumed their power and votes in the Election of the Pope which the Emperour likewise conceeded to them upon condition that his assent should be expected by which means all parties being pleas'd they created their Popes quietly for several years till that in the 995. John the 17. being dead and the Emperour in Italy with
depos'd and declar'd void of the Papacy no reckoning being made of those Nations which were absent and continued their obedience to him as the Scots and the Comte d'Armignac did About this time John Hus and Jerome of Pragne his Disciple were burnt and declar'd Hereticks because they asserted that the Clergy ought in imitation of Christ to be poor as he was seeing that from affluence and superfluity of riches sprung nothing but scandal to the people If this opinion be Heresie I would be a Heretick and dye a Martyr with all my heart for I have alwayes believ'd and alwayes shall that the opulence of the Clergy is the cause of their damnation All these things being ratifyed in the Council the Fathers began to consider of the Corruptions in the manners of the Clergy and many there were of opinion that certain Laws and Ordinances were to be establish'd for their reformation But the greatest part held it not fit to meddle with that in the vacancy of the See Whereupon they fell upon the principal point which was the Election of the Pope and that to give the Decrees of the Council the greater Authority And to the end the Election should be without the least scruple or jealousie they concluded to choose six persons of each Nation to go into the Conclave and give their Votes with the Cardinals On the 8th of November 1417. thirty two Cardinals enter'd the Conclave with thirty others for the several Nations which is six apiece and the Church having been four years with so many Popes and never a true one contrary to the judgement and desires of all people on the 11th of the same month which was the Feast of Saint Martin about three in the morning Cardinal di San Gregorio call'd Oddo Colonna before was created Pope with great joy and satisfaction to every body The Emperor Sigismond transported 〈…〉 e tydings without consideration of his Dignity went immediately into the Con 〈…〉 d having given thanks to the Electors who in the great necessity of the Church â—â—â— made so good an Election he threw himself at his Holiness's feet and kiss'd them The Pope embrac'd him and seem'd to treat him as his Brother he gave him thanks 〈…〉 I le that he by his industry had been the occasion that the Church after so many tâ—â—pests and wrecks was brought safe home into her harbour of repose Martin would 〈…〉 ds be 〈…〉 by that name because his Election happen'd upon that Saints day and 〈…〉 express'd himself another Martin in his zeal for the Government of the Flock of Christ giving place neither to rest nor to sleep but devoted to his business wholly â—e heard he approv'd he perswaded he disswaded he encourag'd and deterr'd such as had business with the Apostolical See according as he was convinc'd the desires of the Agents were honest or dishonest many times turning himself to such as had Governments in their hands he cry'd Diligite justitiam qui judicatis terram And certainly the Church of God at that time had great need of so skilfull a Pilot who with the Rudder in his hand should conduct the Ship of Saint Peter toss'd and tumultuating in so many Seas of Schism and Sedition and he did it with that zeal and affection which so eminent a dignity requires That which was the greatest affliction to the new Pope was to see that there was yet one head of the Schismatical Hydra remaining which was Benedict di Luna who with certain Cardinals and Prelates had shut up himself in Paniscola as in a Rock of Schism and so much the more because there were several of the people of Aragon who continued doubtfull whether they should incline to the Orders of the Council and acknowledge Martin to be Head of the Church or pursue their opinion of Benedict By the judgement of the Council therefore the new Pope sent a Legate to Aragon which was the Cardinal di Fiorenza a German and a learned man to the end that under pain of Ecclesiastical Censures he should in due form admonish Pietro di Luna that he should lay down the Papacy and not run himself into the displeasure of the Council and of so many Christian Princes The Cardinals which were with Peter understanding the ultimate resolution of the Pope and the Council and seeing their destruction at hand if they persisted in their pertinacity they went all together to supplicate Peter that he would put an end to the Schisms in the Church seeing that for the benefit of Christendom Gregory and John were already contented to lay down their pretensions Peter reply'd with his usual cunning with which he was abundantly provided that it was not a time to do it then but that he would come to an agreement with Martin if that which was reported of the goodness and integrity of his manners should be true and of that they should leave the thoughts to him and not trouble themselves at all These Cardinals that were speaking with Luna were four two of which observing his resolution to continue the Schism still longer left him and came in to Martin The other two followed the perversness of Peter But in short all Spain submitted to the authority of Martin by whose example the Scots and Armignacks were induc't to do the same and with them the whole Christian Commonwealth except only Paniscola which remain'd divided The affairs of the Church being thus made quiet and serene by the diligence of all the Christian Princes as well secular as Ecclesiastick and particularly by the Emperor Sigismond who took no small pains in the business They began to canvas and consider of the licentious manners of the Clergy and seculars both and to propose certain ways of Reforming them But because the Councel had been already of above four years duration Martin observing them all to be tyred and the Prelates to have suffered a thousand inconveniences he was contented by the unanimous consent of the Fathers to put it off till a more convenient time in which they might discourse of the said reformation more fully It being true as Jerome said that every Province having a peculiar inclination it was impossible easily to reconcile them Besides Martin knowing very well that that Schism proceeded from a small inconsiderable occasion and lasted with so much misery to Christendom so long and understanding moreover the news of the flight of John the 23. he was jealous least it should give a foundation to another Councel and therefore publish'd this Decree upon the calling of Councels viz. that the Councel of Constance being determin'd they should not hold another till the space of five years were run out upon any account whatsoever and that after that they should stay seven years more and after that ten more and so after every ten years they might be assembled in some convenient place to consider of things appertaining to faith and the Christian Commonwealth and to the end that this Decree might be invigorated and
in force Martin would have it confirm'd by a Bull and authenticated in the usual form and besides that every one might know how well he was inclin'd to the meeting of Councels and to take away those suspicions which some people would have conceiv'd of the rectitude of his mind he declar'd by the consent of the whole Councel of Constance Pavia to be a proper place and accordingly he sent out his Briefs every way and it follow'd in the month of April the next year At length being desirous to put an end to the Councel in the year 1418. he made a publique Assembly after which by common consent but especially of Sigismond Ibaldo Cardinal of San Vito by Order from his Holiness pronounc'd these words of dismission Domini ite in pace and therewithall all of them had liberty to depart to their houses In the mean time the Pope was intreated by the Emperour first of all to remain in Germany for a while and afterwards he was invited by the Princes of France to retire into those parts But Martin excus'd himself to them all demonstrating that he could not do it by reason that the Patrimony of Saint Peter which was in Italy did suffer much by the absence of the Pope and Rome the head of the Christian Religion was as being without a Pastor involv'd in such civil seditions as caus'd the Churches of the Saints to go utterly to ruine for which reason it was necessary for him to hasten his journey to Rome as indeed he did travelling by Milan as the nearest way He was Pope 14 years and died of an Apoplexy the 20. of Febr. 1421. The first of March the Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave with a general agreement to choose Gabriel Condulmera a Venetian Pope who in his Legation della Marca given him by Pope Martin gave great essays of his prudence in the correction of those who under pretence of ill Ministers had rebell'd against the Church Before their entrance into the Conclave things seem'd not a little imbroil'd one part of the Cardinals pretending to Elect Cardinal Cesarino another propos'd Anthonio Cassino both of them persons of greater parties than parts But those kind of projects remain'd without for as soon as they were enter'd the Conclave in the first scrutiny which follow'd the very next day after their entrance Condulmera was chosen Pope by the consent of all but 3 in 40. which was the number in the Conclave This was the most expeditious and peaceable Election that had ever happen'd before for it is certain there was never any Pope chosen in the first scrutiny but he Being demanded what name he would be call'd by he took a little time to resolve them and desiring to retire into a private place he staid there a considering above half an hour from whence some of the Cardinals took occasion to say That it was easier for them to choose a Pope than for him to choose a Name Some there were that believ'd that he would draw lots for his Name as if the goodness of the person consisted in his Name it is sufficient that about half an hour after he came forth and declar'd he would be call'd Eugenius the 4th The People receiv'd the Election with great applause but a while after taking disgust they took up Armes against him and he was forc'd out of Rome in the habit of a Monk to escape the fury of the people There were many accidents which happen'd in the Papacy of Eugenius in which he commonly remain'd Victor He chastis'd those Cardinals who under the name of the Council endeavour'd to depose him In the Wars he was alwayes neutral and unconcern'd and it was he who drew over the Jacobites to the Christian Faith But that which afflicted him most was to see that he had lost the obedience of the Germans which happen'd in this manner Philip de Florentini had taken a prejudice against Eugenius because it was he that had caus'd Sforza to be sent into the service of the Venetian to be reveng'd he fell in treaty with those who were assembled in the Council of Basi to cite Eugenius which they did three several times and because Eugenius refus'd to appear and his design did not take he made him be declar'd divested of the Papacy and got Amadeo Duke of Savoy his Father-in-Law to be created in his place who liv'd then in the company of some Gentlemen in Ripalta like a Hermit Amadeo having receiv'd the news of this new Election which was made by 26 Cardinals after he had caus'd himself to be shav'd stript of his Hermitical habit and taken upon him the name of Felix he went immediately for Basil accompanied with a multitude of the Gentry of his own Country where being arriv'd and consecrated he began to exercise the functions of a Pope ordaining confirming consecrating administring the Sacraments excommunicating creating Cardinals and Bishops granting pardons and indulgences and in short deporting himself as he had been Pope indeed By reason of this Schism great seditions were hatch'd in the Church the Christians dividing themselves into three factions one was for Felix another for Eugenius and a third being neuter was for neither of the two one side maintain'd that the Pope was to be inferiour to a Council another asserted the contrary and there wanted not others who deny'd the greatest part of the Popes Authority making a dispute whether he should be call'd the Head of the Church or not About this time Eugenius dyed on the 23. of February 1496. after whose death the King of Aragon dispatch'd Ambassadors to the Sacred Colledge to assure them that they need not have any apprehension of him he being resolv'd to give them assistance upon occasion in the Election of a Pope to which he did exhort the Cardinals At the same time Cardinal Capuano arriv'd at Rome a person of great worth and whom the people cry'd up as a fit person to be chosen Pope But the opinion of the people and of the Colledge did not agree in which there were very few for Capuano's Election It was order'd that the Conclave should be kept in the Church della Minerva though the Canons oppos'd it so that the obsequies of Eugenius being over the Cardinals enter'd into the Conclave the command of their Guards was given to the Ambassador of the Order of Saint John which is as much as to say of the Knights of Malta then of Rhodes but the Keys were kept by the three Archbishops of Ravenna Aquileia and Sermoneta besides the Bishop of Ancona When the Cardinals were entring into the Conclave many of the Roman Barons came to them and Gio. Battista Savelli amongst the rest pretending a right they had to be present at the Election But they were refus'd and made sensible that they had not now the same reason for that as in former times they had had There were but 18. Cardinals in the Conclave though there were 23. living so that the two thirds