on a Crucifix he said a short mental Prayer as was accustomary and then the Master of the Ceremonies asked him Whether he was pleased to accept of the Papal Office At which turning about with a Majestick and grave Countenance he replyed We are not now to receive that which we have already accepted but if you had another Popedom to confer we were capable also to receive that for by the Grace of God we are well assured that we have force and vigour sufficient to Rule and govern two Worlds with as much facility as we can do this one Popedom When the Masters of the Ceremonies vested him in his Pontifical Habit they observe d with what marvellous vigour he extended his Arms to cloth himself with his Robes which he performed with such haste and agility as if he feared to lose his Office and honour by appearing slow and unactive which Cardinal Rusticucci attentively observing said to him Most Holy Father the Papal Dignity is a most admirable Medicine for it turns old Cardinals into young Men and sickly and unfirm Persons it makes sound and robustious To which the Pope replyed That it was very true for he found it so by good experience But what was most remarkable in this Pope was that no sooner was the Scrutiny past than immediately the Scene was changed with him for he was now no longer the humble modest and infirm Cardinal Montalto but the haughty Majestick and grave Pope Sixtus he was now no longer familiar and jocular with the Cardinals but severe and morose disdaining to maintain an easie conversation with any nay even with those who had promoted him to the Papal Dignity Being thus habited in his Pontificalibus and conducted to St. Peter's Church where was a great concourse of People from all parts of the City to behold the new Pope and being come to the Portico he was met by the Canons of that Church singing that Antiphona Ecce Sacerdos Magnus qui in diebus suis placuit Deo inventus est Justus which is Behold the High Priest who in his days was pleasing unto God and was found just As he passed forward into the Church he went making Crosses and scattering his Benedictions on the People with such firmness of Hand and strength of Arm that they all wondered at the change and as if they could not give credit to their Eyes they cryed aloud which is the Pope which is the Pope Others also running to one and other said is this the Cardinal who the other day was so feeble and decrepit that he seemed ready to fall at every step is this he who walked always stooping with his Head hanging down and awry towards one shoulder but how is he now changed with what vigour and Majesty doth he now walk like another Aaron It is reported when his Physitians came to pay him their respects and adoration as he sat in his Throne in St. Peter's Church that one of them should say to him Your Holiness seems to have another garb and meen than when you were Cardinal to which the Pope replyed 'T is true indeed for when we were Cardinal we went always stooping and poring on the ground to find the Keys of Heaven gate but now having found them we need not to look so low but rather cast our Eyes aloft towards Heaven having need of no other matter now upon Earth The Ceremonies in S. Peter's being over he was conducted by the Cardinals to the usual Lodgings of the Pope where having left him alone he refreshed himself onely with a little Bisket passing the whole day with great abstinence and being alone his Servants observed him to walk in his Chamber quick and fast but in a thinking and pensive manner at which they much wondered because they never knew him before to move from his Chair to walk in that manner and being in this melancholly motion the Steward of his House came to him as usually to know what he was pleased to order for his Supper whereunto the Pope replyed with his Eyes fixed on him and with a stern countenance It is not accustomary to demand of great Princes what it is that they are pleased to eat but prepare us such a Supper as is Royal and then we shall choose that Dish which is most agreeable to our Palate Then he commanded that the Cardinals Alessandrino Medici Rusticucci Este San-Sisto and Altemps should be invited with him to Supper which being accepted by them they all appeared except onely Este who for some reasons excused himself and being sat down at the Table the Pope began a Discourse of the great honour which was due to the Papal Dignity and of the high favour which Christ had bestowed on the Pope in making him his supreme Vicar on Earth repeating often those words Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church And then with vehemence of Speech he proceeded O said he how profound are the Judgments of God Christ would not ordain on Earth more than one Peter one high Priest one Vicar one Head To one single Person onely he gave Authority to govern his Flock and to feed his Sheep Tu es Petrus Thou Thou onely art High Priest To thee will I give the Keys of Heaven To thee onely do I give the Keys to open and shut and to bind and loose To thee to Thee onely do I give Authority to sustain and govern my Flock to Thee only who art my Vicar and not to others who are Servants and simple Ministers of thine The Cardinals had all this while wit enough to understand that this whole Discourse was levelled onely at them and at the beginning to take them off of all expectation of governing or managing Affairs for him For he was willing to eradicate that Opinion out of their minds which they had conceived of him that being a weak and an infirm person he would easily have submitted to the management and direction of his Cardinals which was true enough and which doubtless was the chief motive at his Election And to evidence farther his resolution to rule alone he would scarce suffer any of them to interpose a word but he would take them short and still repeat that saying That in the Church there ought to be but one Commander With this satisfaction the Cardinals after Supper returned to their own Lodgings discoursing as they went of the Complement the Pope had passed on them and of the manner how he had unfolded his mind and thoughts but above all Cardinal Medici seemed to be most concerned having had the fairest game in all appearance at the Election and therefore could not contain himself from saying I see a great storm coming towards us but who is to be saved shall be saved The day following or some short time afterwards the Pope called before him the Governour of Rome and all the Judges of civil and criminal Causes to whom he recommended with great fervour and zeal of spirit an
in a different manner depend on the Court France hath no great Obligation or dependency upon Rome unless it be in some respects to the privileges of the Gallican Church But Spain is engaged in a kind of Partnership with Rome in Government and Jurisdiction and is beholden thereunto for a great part of its Revenue The Income of the Crusada granted by the Popes to the Kings of Spain is one of the chief branches of the Royal Revenue The Tribunals of the Inquisition are absolutely constituted by the Ecclesiastical Authority which gives such an unlimited power to the Nuntios Judges and Officers of the Pope within the Catholick Dominions as doth very much eclipse and diminish the greatness of that Monarch whereunto when we add the Tribute yearly paid by that King to the Pope for the Kingdom of Naples it seems as if they two held the reins of Government in partnership together onely with this difference that though the Pope hath intermixt his power with the Temporal yet the King dares not interpose in matters Ecclesiastical Hence we may see how dangerous it is for Kings to admit Partners with them in their Thrones Never was the Monarchy of Spain more abased and rendered inglorious than when the Inquisition was set up and an other power introduced to allay and attemper the Sovereign Authority wherefore France having no need of such dependencies hath always kept up and asserted the Right of Monarchy not suffering it to be debased by the Concessions of Regalia or other mean Compliances And indeed how much more happy now is the Crown of Great Britain than in the time of King John who was forced to yield that of England to the Pope and his Successours and how considerable and flourishing hath it been since it hath disowned all dependencies on forein power either in Church or State in defence of which may His Sacred Majesty King James the Second who is the Supreme Moderator and Governour thereof upon Earth live long and Reign happily and when it shall please the King of Kings to translate Him from a fading to an Immortal Crown there may never fail one of his Royal Line to sit upon His Throne and defend His Loyal People against all the Encroachments and Usurpations of forein Jurisdiction An Alphabetical TABLE OF THE POPES Whose Lives were written by B. Platina A ADeodatus Pag. 114 Adrian I. 145 II. 169 III. 172 IV. 240 V. 281 Agapetus I. 90 II. 183 Agatho 117 Alexander I. 15 II. 206 III. 242 IV. 269 V. 341 Anacletus 12 Anastasius I. 66 II. 83 III. 179 IV. 240 Anicetus 21 Anterus 33 B Benedict I. 97 II. 120 III. 166 IV. 177 V. 186 VI. 188 VII 189 VIII 196 IX 199 X. 204 XI 298 XII 310 Boniface I. 72 II. 89 III. 102 IV. 103 V. 105 VI. 174 VII 189 VIII 294 IX 330 C Caius 43 Calistus I. 28 II. 231 III. 383 Celestine I. 73 II. 236 III. 252 IV. 265 V. 293 Christopher 178 Clemens I. 11 II. 201 III. 251 IV. 275 V. 299 VI. 312 Cletus 9 Conon 122 Constans Constantine 128 Cornelius 35 D Damasus I. 61 II. 201 Deus-dedit 104 Dionysius 40 Donus I. 115 II. 188 E Eleutherius 24 Euaristus 14 Eugenius I. 112 II. 155 III. 238 IV. 357 Eusebius 48 Eutychianus 42 F Fabianus 34 Felix I. 41 II. 59 III. 80 Formosus 173 G Gelasius I. 81 II. 228 Gregory I. 99 II. 130 III. 134 IV. 157 V. 192 VI. 200 VII 207 VIII 250 IX 260 X. 278 XI 320 XII 339 H Hadrian V. Adrian  Hilarius 78 Honorius I. 196 II. 233 III. 258 IV. 288 Hormisda 85 Hyginus 19 I Innocent I. 68 II. 234 III. 254 IV. 265 V. 280 VI. 315 VII 336 John I. 86 II. 90 III. 95 IV. 109 V. 121 VI. 125 VII 127 VIII 165 IX 170 X. 176 XI 180 XII 182 XIII 184 XIV 187 XV. 190 XVI 191 XVII ibid. XVIII 193 XIX 195 XX. ibib XXI 198 XXII 282 XXIII 305 XXIV 343 Julius I. 56 L Landus 179 Leo I. 76 II. 119 III. 149 IV. 162 V. 177 VI. 181 VII 182 VIII 186 IX 202 Liberius 56 Linus 7 Lucius I. 37 II. 237 III. 247 M Marcellinus 44 Marcellus 47 Marcus 55 Martin I. 111 II. 171 III. 183 IV. 285 V. 347 Miltiades 49 N Nicolas I. 167 II. 205 III. 283 IV. 290 V. 373 P Paschal I. 154 II. 220 Paul I. 141 II. 401 Pelagius I. 94 II. 98 S. Peter 1 Pius I. 20 II. 389 Pontianus 31 R Romanus 175 S Sabinianus 101 Sergius I. 123 II. 160 III. 178 IV. 196 Severinus 108 Simplicius 79 Sisinnius 128 Sixtus I. 16 II. 39 III. 74 Soter 23 Stephen I. 38 II. 138 III. 142 IV. 153 V. 172 VI. 174 VII 181 VIII 183 IX 204 Sylverius 91 Sylvester I. 50 II. 194 III. 199 Symmachus 84 Syricius 64 T Telesphorus 18 Theodore I. 110 II. 175 U Valentine 157 Victor I. 25 II. 203 III. 215 Vigilius 92 Vitalianus 113 Vrban I. 30 II. 216 III. 248 IV. 273 V. 319 VI. 323 X Xistus V. Sixtus Z Zacharias 136 Zephyrinus 26 Zozimus 70 A TABLE Of those POPES Names whose Lives are written in the Continuation A A Drian VI. created Pope Jan. 9. 1522. Page 40 Alexander VI. created Pope August 11. 1492. p. 12. Alexander VII created Pope April 7. 1655. p. 320 C Clement VII created Pope November 19. 1523. p. 46 Clement VIII created Pope January 30. 1592. p. 211 Clement IX created Pope June 20. 1667. p. 344 Clement X. created Pope April 29 1670. p. 357 G Gregory XIII created Pope May 13. 1572. p. 163 Gregory XIV created Pope December 15. 1590. p. 207 Gregory XV. created Pope Feb. 21. 1621. p. 267 I Innocent VIII created Pope August 29. 1684. p. 8 Innocent IX created Pope October 29. 1591. p. 210 Innocent X. created Pope September 15. 1644. p. 293 Innocent XI created Pope September 21. 1676. p. 376 Julius II. created Pope November 1. 1503. p. 20 Julius III. created Pope Febr. 17. 1550. p. 88 L Leo X. created Pope March 11. 1513. p. 29 Leo XI created Pope April 1. 1605. p. 225 M Marcellus II. created Pope April 9. 1555. p. 107 P Paul III. created Pope October 12. 1534. p. 67 Paul IV. created Pope May 23. 1555. p. 109 Paul V. created Pope May 16. 1605. p. 227 Pius III. created Pope Septemb. 22. 1503. p. 19 Pius V. created Pope Decemb. 24. 1559. being Christmas Eve p. 119 Pius IV. created Pope January 7. 1566. p. 157 S Sixtus IV. created Pope August 9. 1471. p. 1. Sixtus V. created Pope April 24. 1585. p. 172 U Urban VII created Pope September 15. 1590. p. 205 Urban VIII created Pope August 6. 1623. p. 271 THE LIVES OF THE BISHOPS and POPES OF ROME S. PETER the Apostle AFTER the Death and Resurrection of Christ and the Completion of the days of Pentecost the Disciples received the Holy Ghost and being filled with the Spirit they published the wonderful works of God in divers Tongues though most of them
because I cry aloud and tell the people of their crimes and the Sons of the Church of their sins and have laid violent hands upon me even unto blood For the Kings of the Earth stood up and the Princes of the World with some Ecclesiasticks and others have conspired against the Lord and me his Anointed saying Let us break their bonds asunder and cast their yoke from us and this they did that they might either kill or banish me Of these one was King Henry as they call him Henry I say Son to Henry the Emperour who exalted his horns and lifted up his heel too proudly against the Church of God in a conspiracy with many Bishops of Italy Germany and France whose ambition your authority has yet opposed This same person came to me in Lombardy when he was rather forced by necessity than sober in his resolutions and begg'd to be absolv'd from his Anathema and accordingly I receiv'd him because I thought him a Penitent but only admitted him to the Communion of the Church not restored him to his Kingdom from which I had justly expelled him in the Council at Rome nor did I give the Subjects of the Kingdom leave to pay him their former Allegiance And this I did that if he delay'd his reconcilement with the neighbouring Nations whom he had always vexed and should refuse to restore as well Ecclesiastical as Secular Estates according to his word he might be forc'd to his duty by Anathema's and Arms. Some Bishops of Germany made use of this opportunity as also certain Princes who had been long tormented by this wild beast thought fit to chuse Rodolphus for their King and Governour since Henry had lost his Throne by his flagitious actions And truly Rodolphus like a modest and just King sent Embassadours to let me know he was forced to take the Government into his hand though he was not so desirous of Dominion but that he would rather obey us than those that had chosen him to the Kingdom That he would always be at Gods and our disposal and that we might believe him he offered his Sons for hostages for his performance Thereupon Henry began to rage and first to desire us that we would use our spiritual Sword to depose Rodolphus I answered him That I would see who had most right and would send Agents thither to examine the matter and then I my self would judg whose cause was the juster Henry would not suffer our Legates to determine the matter but kill'd a great many men both Ecclesiastical and Laick plunder'd and prophan'd Churches and by this means made himself obnoxious to an Anathema Wherefore I trusting in Gods mercy and judgment in the patronage of the blessed Virgin and relying upon your Authority do lay Henry and his accomplices under a Curse and once more deprive him of his regal Power interdicting all Christians whom I absolve from all Oaths of Allegiance to him from obeying Henry in any case whatever but command 'em to receive Rodolphus as their King whom many Princes of the Realm have chosen since Henry was deposed For it is fit that seeing Henry is deprived of his Power for his pride and contumacy Rodolphus who is beloved by all should be invested with the Kingly power and dignity for his Piety and Religion Go to then ye Princes of the holy Apostles and confirm what I have 〈◊〉 by your authority that all men at last may know that if you can bind and loose in Heaven that We also upon Earth can take away and give Kingdoms Principalities Empires and whatsoever is in the possession of Mortals For if you can judg of things divine what may we think of things prophane here below And if you may judg of Angels that govern proud Princes what may you not do to their Servants Let all Kings and Princes of the World take notice by his example what you can do in Heaven how God esteems you and then let 'em not contemn the Decrees of the Church And I 〈◊〉 you suddenly to execute judgment upon Henry that all may see that son of Iniquity did not lose his Kingdom by chance but by your permission and consent And this I have requested of you that he may repent and be saved in the day of Judgment by the help of your prayers Given at Rome the 5th of March Indiction III. After that he degraded Gilbert the Author of all this discord and Schism from the Church of Ravenna and commanded all Priests belonging to that Church to pay no obedience to him who was the cause of all their misfortunes and therefore Anathematized And that the people might not want a Governour he imitated Peter who used to send 〈◊〉 in his own room upon occasion and sent 'em another Arch bishop with full power to extirpate Gilbert's Faction and confirm mens minds in the faith But then Henry who was rather provoked than chastized by these Censures and had taken the Bishop of Ostia then Legate as he return'd home called a Council of the disaffected Bishops and chose Gilbert formerly Arch-bishop of Ravenna Pope and called him Clement But being teazed by the 〈◊〉 he left his new Pope for a time and went against them where he engaged and received a great overthrow Rodolphus though he was Conquerour yet was found dead at a little distance of a wound which he received They say Henry was so affrighted at that bloody ingagement that he could scarce be found in seventeen days and that the Germans in the mean time had put his Son Henry in his room by the name of Henry IV. Both these coming after with an united Body of Men into Italy to settle their Pope Clement in the Pontificate and to turn 〈◊〉 Gregory they easily subdu'd Maude who came to meet 'em with a small Army This same Maude when her first Husband died not long before that time was married to Azo Marquis d'Este her former Husbands near kinsman by blood and related to her in the third degree of Affinity But when the matter was known she was divorced from Azo at Gregory's persuasion Henry having conquer'd Maude at Parma march'd to Rome and her Husband Azo after an hostile manner and pitch'd his Camp in the Prati di Nerone and going into the Borgo di Sancto Pietro he and his Pope Clement prophaned St. Peter's Church and demolish'd the Portico and did the like by St. Pauls But seeing he could not get into the City he went to Tivoli from whence as from a Castle he made daily incursions upon the Romans till by wasting all that came near him he reduced them to such necessity that they desired Peace upon any terms of which notice being given to Henry by some deserters who got out of the Town he drew his men up and entred in whereupon the Pope who could not trust the People betook himself into the Castle St. Angelo where he was besieged for some time they within maintaining the place stoutly Gregory's Nephew
of Sicily in the absence of Count William had seiz'd upon Calabria and Puglia the charge of both which Countries William going to Constantinople to espouse the Daughter of Alexius the Emperour had committed to the care of the Pope Upon this therefore the Pope left Rome and went to Benevento from whence he sent Cardinal Hugo to Roger as he was besieging the Rocca di Niceforo to persuade him to lay down his Arms and quit the Siege but he little regarded the Pope's Order rather pursuing the War more vigorously fearing lest if his Cosen William should arrive before he had possest himself of those two Countries it might render his design unfeasible The Pope then began to raise an Army when on a sudden both himself and many of the Cardinals were taken ill of Fevers which forc'd him to return to Rome without performing any thing so that Roger not meeting any resistance easily made himself Master of Calabria and Puglia Thus was William 〈◊〉 of his Country and of the Wife he expected and being forc'd to betake himself to live in the Court of the Prince of Salerno he died a little while after without Heirs and Roger having lost so considerable an Enemy arrogates to himself the Title of King of Italy Calistus as soon as he recover'd his health held a Council in the Lateran of nine hundred Fathers where it was consulted how with the first opportunity they might send Recruits to the Christian Army in Asia then much weakned the news whereof gave such courage to Baldwin King of Jerusalem that he set upon Gazis a King of the Turks that inhabited Asia minor who was coming against him with a great Army vanquish'd him and took him Prisoner and with like success he encountred the King of Damascus who was marching against Jerusalem whom he defeated having kill'd two thousand of the Enemy and taken a thousand But Balahac King of the Persians coming on with numerous sorces and Baldwin not staying till the Auxiliaries could arrive he rashly adventur'd to fight him and was totally routed and himself and many of his Nobles made Captives This made Pope Calistus hasten their assistance lest the remainder of the Christians should be destroy'd having no King and by the mediation of Veramundus Patriarch of Jerusalem a learned and a good Mam he animated the Venetians with hopes of glory and reward to man out a stout Fleet upon the service in the year 1121. Dominico Michiele being Duke which arriving at Joppa then streightly besieged both by Sea and Land by the Saracens they overcame them with great slaughter and raised the Siege Hence they went to Tyre which after a long and bloody Siege they took having first made it their bargain that half Ascalon and Tyre should be theirs if by their means they happened to be taken But Emanuel Emperour of the Greeks Successour to Calo-Joannes enving these great successes to the Latines or those of the Roman Communion commanded the Venetians to recall their Admiral which they did and he obey'd but he was so inrag'd that in his return he sack'd Rhodes Chios from whence he translated to Venice the body of S. Theodore the Martyr Samos Mitilene and Andros Islands belonging to the Emperour He took Modone and 〈◊〉 it and subjected the Island Trau before in the hands of the Hungarians to the Venetian Commonwealth He brought also along with him to Venice the Stone upon which at Tyre Christ is said to have sate In the mean time Baldwin who we said was taken Prisoner being ransom'd return'd to Jerusalem and for a while kept up the Christian Cause so that Calistus having now a little leisure from forein troubles creates twelve Cardinals rebuilds several Churches that were ruin'd with age repairs the City Walls makes Conduits 〈◊〉 Castles belonging to the Church and distributes great Donaries of Silver and Gold to several Churches purchases several pieces of ground to augment S. Peter's Revenue and within the Court builds the Church of S. Nicolas But so great felicity cannot long be enjoy'd on Earth without interruption for Gregory the Anti-Pope before nam'd Bordino attempting to usurp the Papacy kept at Sutri where with the assistance of some Roytelets thereabout he did great damage to the Romans by his incursions and plunder'd all the Strangers he could meet with that travel'd to Rome either out of devotion or about business Calistus therefore gets together an Army on a sudden and sending before John de Crema Cardinal of S Chrysogon with the most expedite part of Soldiery himself follows and defeating the Enemy takes Sutri and sets Bordino upon a Camel leading him so in triumph to Rome and then forgave him his life but thrust him into the Monastery of Cave At last Calistus having deserv'd well both of God and Man died in the Lord after he had been Pope five years ten months and six days The Sea was then vacant eight days HONORIUS II. HONORIUS the Second at first named Lambert born in the Country of Imola was made Pope about the time that Baldwin being ransom'd from his imprisonment added the Principality of Antioch to the Kingdom of Jerusalem all the Heirs being dead to whom of right it belong'd But so great a Province not being to be govern'd without a Lieutenant he made Raymund Son to William Duke of Austria their Governour whose Wife was the Daughter of Boemund the elder and having thus setled matters he went against the King of Ascalon who being assisted with forces from Aegypt infested the 〈◊〉 of Jerusalem and him he utterly routed in one Battel Afterward Baldequan a petit King of Damascus attempting the same thing but with greater forces he overthrew him in three fierce Battels his men in their flight being kill'd up and down like sheep To return to Honorius though his Parentage was mean yet for his excellent Learning and conversation he was every way worthy of so high a Dignity not but that the methods by which he obtain'd it were not altogether commendable the Election having been procur'd rather by the ambition of some private Men than by unanimous consent For when upon the death of Calistus the Consultation was held about chusing a new Pope Leo Frangipane imposed upon the Conclave that the Election should be deferred for three days under pretence of more mature deliberation and a stricter search into the Ecclesiastical Canons though neither of these were part of his design but it was craftily and politickly done by him to gain time in which Votes might be procur'd for the choice of Lambert The People were extreamly desirous to have had the Cardinal of S. Stephen which Frangipane also pretended that so he might by this trick draw over the People and the unwary Fathers which some of the Cardinals observing because they would not have a Pope according to his mind they set aside the Cardinal of S. Stephen and chose Theobald Cardinal of S. Anastasio Pope by the name of Coelestine Leo now thought it
or at least withdraw from any Meetings where such matters were Debated or Acts Decreed But notwithstanding these positive refusals the Emperor's Ambassadours endeavoured to induce the Pope's Party to admit the Dissenters to audience in the Council for that their very entrance to it did imply a tacite owning of the Pope's Authority though the usual Ceremonies and Compliments which were but superficial Points were pretermitted by them the which would be an act most religious and Christian for perhaps such charitable condescension would be a means to prevent a War which might endanger the safety of the whole Church to which the Cardinal of Toledo one of the Emperor's Party farther added That he had often heard in Sermons how that the salvation of one Soul was so dear and precious to Jesus Christ that for the saving thereof he would descend on Earth and be again crucified and then said he let us consider if we imitate this example in case for the saving of all Germany we should deny to recede from the least punctilio of our honour and prerogative At length to be short after many Debates and consultations in despight of the Legat and his Adherents the Authority of the three Electours and the Cardinal Madrutio promoted by the mediation of the Imperial Ambassadors prevailed But then another difficulty arose concerning the treatment of these Ambassadours when introduced to the Council with what place and precedency was to be granted to them and how and where the Divines were to be seated who expected a rank and freedom of Voice and suffrage equal with others which seemed very dangerous to be yielded to known Hereticks who by Antient Canons and Papal Decretals were never admitted to a Communion or Society with other Christians unless having first renounced their Errors they desired with humility to be taught and directed this Point though at first disputed with the same difficulties as the former yet at length it was concluded That the necessity ought to excuse the transgression of such Canons which after mature deliberation had been dispensed within all the Diets of Germany and that the like might be safely practised at this Council in case that in the Preamble to this Admission it were declared that such Indulgence was yielded out of charity and compassion to the end that Men who were gone astray and fallen into error might be reclaimed and reduced to the true Faith and Orthodox Doctrine of the Church And though the Legat would not yield to any of these means of Accommodation yet it was concluded against him that on the 24th of this month of January a General Convocation should be held at which the Ambassadours of Saxony should be received and heard and that in the mean time the Divines who remained at some distance from Trent might repair thither and that the 25th should be the day of Session which being agreed a Committee was chosen to draw up this Decree together with the Preamble to the Admission and the safe Conduct The Imperial Ministers having made this report to the Protestants and signified in an eloquent Speech the tenderness the Council had for them and willingness to condescend to their weak Consciences the Protestants retired a while and having considered the minutes of the safe Conduct made their exceptions to it being in four particulars different to that of Basil formerly granted to the Bohemians and on which they were obliged by their Instructions to insist As first That in Council they might have a Vote and free suffrage Secondly That the holy Scripture and practice of the Primitive Church Antient Councils and Fathers who were Expositors of the Scriptures might be the Judges of all Controversies Thirdly That all Ambassadours during the continuance of the Council might have the free Exercise of their Religion in their own Lodgings Fourthly That nothing should be said or acted which might tend to the defamation of their Religion or render it ridiculous These particulars being offered to the Council were generally concluded to be unreasonable and such as might ensnare their wisdom in inextricable difficulties and therefore it was resolved not to change or alter any thing in the Minutes of the Safe Conduct in expectation that the Protestants observing their resolution and constancy might with time be induced to condescend to their terms Matters being thus protracted till the 24th of January the General Convocation was held at the House of the Legat where the Electors all the Fathers and the Emperor's Ambassadours were present who having taken their Places the Ambassadours of Saxony were called in who having made their Reverence and Salutes to the Assembly one of them began his Speech with this Compellation Reverendissimi Amplissimi Patres Domini My Lord and Master Maurice Elector of Saxony after his hearty Wishes and Prayers that God would inspire all your Counsels with his Holy Spirit hath commanded me to let you know that he hath a long time desired to see a General Christian and free Council held and celebrated wherein all Errors might be refuted and abuses in the Church corrected and reformed and that the Holy Scriptures might be made the Rule of our faith and practice in which good work that he might be assistant he hath sent his Divines to represent their Confession to this Council being commanded to abide at some Leagues distant until a safe Conduct could be procured for them for having understood that according to a constitution of the Council of Constance it was not necessary to keep faith with Hereticks or those who were so reputed and that the Bohemians being sensible of such Tenants had with due caution armed themselves with assurance of safe Conduct under the Seal of the Council of Basil so in like manner his Master the Elector did desire and expect the security of safe Conduct for his Divines Counsellors and their domestick Servants in a more ample and large form than what appeared in that Draught and Copy which had lately been presented to him Which request being granted and admission given to the Divines to take their place in Council his next Proposition was to have them heard upon those Points and Articles which were in Controversie between the Protestants and the Catholicks and though the same had already been determined by the Council yet that they might again be revised and examined and determined by the Word of God and according to the common belief of all Christian Nations After these Ambassadours had finished their Oration those of Wirtemberg were introduced who having delivered their Message almost to the same intent and purpose with the former they were caused to retire and after a Debate whether any addition or alteration should be made in the form of Safe Conduct it was generally concluded in the Negative lest by giving the liberty proposed the Council should be intrigued in most inextricable Disputes of which Volumes had been wrote already without hopes of arriving at any definitive Sentence or Determination
Imperial Faction Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alva then Vice-King of Naples being alarmed by these proceedings resolved not to attend the assaults of the Enemy but rather that he might be beforehand with them made Incursions into the State of the Church and without much resistance took Pontecorvo Frosolone Anagna Marino Valmontone Palestrina Tivoli Ostia Gave Genazzano Nettuno Albano Vicovaro Monte Fortino and in short made himself Master of all the Campania of Rome the Pope on the other side with the aid and assistance of the French and Switzers recovered several of those places again but the War being continued for the space of a whole year with great fury and resolution on both sides that Country became most miserably harassed and laid desolate by fire and sword By the vast expences of this War the Pope's Treasury being much exhausted many exorbitant ways were contrived to replenish it again as namely the Tithes upon all Benefices were doubled the Gabelles and Customs were raised to an intolerable degree half a years Revenue was exacted from all Offices and the Debts which particular Persons owed to their Creditors were required to be paid into the Treasury upon which the Debtors being discharged Debentures were given from the Pope to the Creditors and the same charged as a Debt upon the Church He farther seized on all the Horses in Rome to serve in the War and compelled all the Friers of what order soever to labour on the Works and carry Earth to the Fortifications many of the Churches he converted into Granaries and Store-houses wherein to lay Provisions besides many other Exactions and agrievances which he imposed on the People who were by this time possessed with a detestable hatred against his Person and his Actions Howsoever neither the Cries nor Exclamations of his Subjects nor the miseries of his Country were able to incline the fierce and resolute Spirit of the Pope to any terms of Peace whilst he found himself seconded by the French and Switzers Howsoever in the Month of August following the French having received a Defeat at the Battel of St. Quintin in which a great part of the Nobility of France were taken Prisoners and thereby also the expectation of the Pope being in some measure defeated his haughty Spirit began to abate and hearken to some terms and proposals of Accommodation for then the sad Spectacle of Italy laid wast with fire and sword appeared before him and the dreadful apprehension of Treason against his Person which was plotted to betray Rome into the hands of Mark Anthony Colonna and Ascanio della Corona who at the beginning of the War revolted to the Spanish Party did much affright him so that as I say the Pope's mind being become more flexible a Peace was concluded on the thirteenth of September 1557. by the mediation of the Venetians the Duke of Florence and Cardinal Sforza and signed by the Cardinal Caraffa in behalf of the Pope and by the Duke of Alva in the name of Philip King of Spain Which being concluded the Duke of Alva coming to Rome with Christian humility kissed the feet of the Pope and received absolution and being treated with high honour obtained the freedom of all those who had been imprisoned on account of the late War Matters being by these means reduced to some tolerable quiet the Pope dispatched his Legats both to Spain and France to labour a cementing of that Peace which he himself of late had been an Instrument to break recommending more particularly in their Instructions the confirmation of the Dukedom of Paliano on his Nephew So that now being wearied with War the fatigues and expence and unquietudes of which he had never before been acquainted with the Pope betook himself to his more agreeable trade of regulating the Manners of Men and the corruptions and abuses crept into the Church but in regard the particulars hereof were various and burthensom he committed the greatest part of that trouble to the Conduct of Cardinal Caraffa Attending himself with sedulity and attention to the Court of Inquisition as the sole Tribunal then capable to suppress Heresies and the present distempers of the Age and therefore to the cognisance of that Court he reduced several Crimes triable at other Bars of Judicature so that the Prisons of the Inquisition were filled with Malefactors and in this way of Judicial proceedings he was the more passionate because he had been the first that persuaded Paul III. to erect that Court and had contrived the Methods and Rules for the proceedings thereof and therefore coming now himself to the Popedom he put all those Orders into practice which he had formerly meditated constituting Cardinal Alessandrino Inquisitor General together with sixteen Cardinals who were made Judges of the Court whose first work was to publish an Index Expurgatorius of all Books in the least manner suspected or attainted of Heresie forbidding all Persons under pain of Excommunication to read them or have them in their possession He recalled Cardinal Poole from his Office of Legat in England on account as some believe of an old Pique that had been between them and having accused Cardinal Morone of Heresie by reason as some believe of his friendship to Poole he imprisoned him in the Castle together with the Bishop of Cava and had as was certainly believed deprived them of all their Revenue and Dignities had not his malice against them been interrupted by his Death acting in every thing with a bitterness agreeable to the virulency of his nature About this time the Emperor Charles V. being wearied with the turmoils and troubles of this World renounced his Imperial Crown to his Brother Ferdinand of Austria who was already elected King of the Romans and his Kingdom of Spain and other Dominions to his Son Philip II. But this Abdication the Pope would not understand not admitting on the score of old grudges which he owed to Charles that according to antient Canons an Emperor could make such a renunciation without consulting first and taking the advice and consent of the Pope and for that reason he would never acknowledg Ferdinand for Emperour nor under that Notion and Character receive Ambassadours from him In this manner with a froward severity acting all his Affairs he would admit of no excuses that any Man made for a failure in his Duty and particularly having commanded all Monks Friers Abbots and Priors to return to their Monasteries he would not admit an Excuse from any Non-Residentiary unless he had obtained a License on occasion of some publick Service for the Church and for discovery of such Trespassers he employed Officers or Visitors as severe as himself who upon strict enquiry having found any Non-Residentaries they immediately proceeded against them as Disobedient and Delinquents committing some of them to Chains and others to the Gallies This Severity howsoever was much applauded when after an unknown and unpractised manner of Justice he spared not the Crimes of his Nephews