of the Citadell there are also 300 which keep watch every night for the defence of the City The watchmen receive no pay of the King but discharge that duty amongst themselves and in turns every house finding one for that service twelve nights in the year The weapons which they use are pikes only and muskeâ—… there being not one piâ—…ce of Ordinance all about the Town or on the wals of it The Governor of this Town as it hath reference to the King is a Bâ—…illy who hath belonging to him all the auâ—…hority which belongeth to a siege 〈◊〉 Under him he hath a Lieutenant generall and particular seven Counsellors a publiâ—…k Notary and other infâ—…rior Officers and Magistrates As it is a Corporation the chief Governor of it is a Maior and next to him the Eschevins or Sheâ—…iffs as protectoâ—…s of the inhabitants and their liberties besides those of the Common-councell Another circumstance there is which ennobleth this Town of Amiens which is that it is a Visdamate or that it giveth honour to one of the Nobility who is called the Visdame of Amiens This title at this time belongeth to the Duke of Chaune Governor of the Citadell together with the Lordship of Piquigni both which he obtained by marrying the daughter and heir of the last Visdame of Amiens and Lord of Piquigni anno 1619. A marriage which much advanced his fortunes and which was compassed for him by the Constable Luynes his brother who also obtained for him of the King the title of Duke his highest attribute before being that of Mr. de Cadinet by which name he was known here in England at such time when he was sent extraordinary Embassador to King James This honour of Visdame is for ought I could ever see used only in France True it is that in some old 〈◊〉 Charters we meet 〈◊〉 this title of Vice-dominus As in the Charter of King Edred to the Abbey of Crowland in Lâ—…shire dated in the year 948. there iâ—… there subscribed Ego Ingulph Vice-dominus but with us and at those times this title was only used to denote a subordination to some superior Lord and not as an honorary attribute in which sense it is now used in France Besides that with us it was frequently though falsly used for Vice comes Between which two offices of a Vicount and a Visdame there are found no small resemblances For as they which did 〈◊〉 vicem Comitis were called Vicecomites or Vicounts so were they also called Vidames or Vicedomini qui domini episcopi vicem gerebant in temporalibus And as Viscounâ—…s from officers of the Earls became honorary so did the Vidames disclaim their relation to the Bishop and became Signieural or honorary also The Vidames then according to their first institution were the substitutes of the greater Bishops in matter of secular administration for which cause though they have altered their tenure they take â—…ll of them their denomination from the chieâ—…town of some Bishoprick Neither is there any of them who holdeth not of some Bishoprick or other Concerning the number of them that are thus dignified I cannot determine Mr. Glover otherwise alled Somerset Herald in his Discourse of Nobility published by Mr. Milles of Canterbury putteth it down for absolute that here are four only viz. of Amiens of Chaâ—…tres of Chalons and of Gerberâ—…y in Beauvais but in this he hath deceived both himself and his readers there being besides those divers others as of Rheimes Mans and the like But the particular and exact number of them together with the place denominating I leave to the French Heralds unto whose prosession it principally belongeth CHAP. III. The Church of Nostre Dâ—…me in Amiens The principal Churches in most Cities called by her name More honour performed to her then to her Saviour The surpassing beauty of this Church on the â—…utside The front of it King Henry the sevenths Chappel at Westminster The curiousnesse of this Church within By what means it became to be so The sumptuous masking closets in it The excellency of perspective works Indulgences by whom first founded The estate of the Bishoprick THere is yet one thing which addâ—…th more lustre to the City of Amiens then either the 〈◊〉 or the Citadel which is the Churâ—…h of Nostre Dame A name by which most of the principal Churches are known in France There have we the Nostre Dame in Roven a second in Paris a third in this City a fourth in Bouâ—…gne all Cathedrall so alsâ—… a Nostre Dame in Abbeville and another in Estampes the principal Church in those Towns also had I seen more oâ—… their Towns I had met with more of her Temples for of so many I have heard of that it there be more then two Churches in a Town one shall be sure to be dedicated unto her and that one of the fairest of any temples consecrated to the name and memory of our Saviour ne gry quidem there was not so much as a word stirring neither could I marvail at it considring the honours done to her and those to her son betwixt which there is so great a disproportion that you would have imâ—…gined that Mary and not Jesus had been our Saviour For one Pater noster the people are enjoyned ten Aâ—…e Maries and to recompense one 〈◊〉 to Christs Sepulchre at 〈◊〉 you shall hear 200 undertaken to our Lady of Loretto and whereas in their Kalendar they have dedicated only four â—…stivals to our Saviour which are those of his birth circumcision resurrection and ascension all which the Enâ—…ish Church also observeth for the Virgins sake they have more then doubled the number Thus do they solemnize the seasts of her purification and annuntiation at the times which we also do of her visitation of Elizabeth in July of her dedication and assumption in August of her nativity in September of her presentation in November and of her conception in the womb of her mother in December To her have they appropriated set formes of Prayers prescribed in the two books called one Officium and the other Rosarium bâ—…atae Mariae virginis whereas her son must be contented with those oraisons which are in the common Masse-book Her shrines and images are more glorious and magnificent then those of her son And in her Chappel are more vowes paid thâ—…n before the Crucifix But I cannot blame the vulgar when the great mastâ—…rs of their souls are thus also besoâ—…ed The Officium before mentioned published by the command of Pius 2. saith thus of her Gaude Maria virgo tu sola omnes haereses 〈◊〉 in universo mundo Catharinus in the Councel of Trent calleth her fidelissimam dei sociam and he was moâ—…st if compaâ—…ed with others In one of their Councels Christs name is quite forgotten and the name of our Lady 〈◊〉 in the place of it For thus it beginneth Autoritate Dei patâ—…is beatae virginis omnium sanctorum but most horrible is that of one of their
of those unordinate Governments were the Duke of Rohan his brother M. Soubise and the Marquesse of Lafforce the four others being the Duke of Tremoville the Earl of Chastillon the Duke of Lesdisgâ—…ier and the Duke of Bovillon who should have commanded in chief So that the French Protestants cannot say that he was first wanting for them but they to themselves If we demand what should move the French Protestants to this Rebellious contradiction of his Majeâ—…ies commandements We must answer that it was too much happinesse Causa hujus belli eadem quae omnium nimia foelicitas as Florus of the Civill wars between Caesar and Pompey Before the year 1620 when they fell first into the Kings disfavour they were possessed of almost 100 good Towns well â—…ortified for their safety besides beautifull houses and ample possessions in the Villages they slept every man under his own Vine and his own Fig-tree neiâ—…her fearing nor needing to fear the least disturbance with those of the Catholick party they were grown so intimate and entire by reason of their inter-marriages that a very few years would have them incorporated if not into one faith yet into one family For their better satisfaction in matters of Justice it pleased King Henry the fourth to erect a Chamber in the Court of the Parliament of Paris purposely for them It consisteth of one President and 16 Counsellours their office to take knowledge of all the Causes and Suits of them of the reformed Religion as well within the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Paris as also in Normandy and Britain till there should be a Chamber erected in either of them There were appointed also two Chambers in the Parliaments of Burdeaux and Grenâ—…ble and one at the Chastres for the Parliament of Tholoza These Chambers were called Les Chambre de l' Edict because they were established by especiall Edict at the Towns of Nantes in Britain Aprill the 8. anno 1598. In a word they lived so secure and happy that one would have thought their â—…elicities had been immortall O faciles dâ—…re summa deos eademque tueri Difficiles And yet they are not brought so low but that they may live happily if they can be content to live obediently that which is taken from them being matter of strength only and not priviledge Let us now look upon them in their Churches which we shall finde as empty of magnificence as ceremony To talke amongst them of Common-prayers were to â—…right them with the second coming of the Masse and to mention Prayers at the buriall of the dead were to perswade them of a Purgatory Painted glasse in a Church window is accounted for the flag and enâ—…gne of Antichrist and for Organs no question but they are deemed to be the Devils bagpipes Shew them a Surplice and they cry out a rag of the Whore of Babylon yet a sheet on a woman when she is in child bed is a greater abomination then the other A strange people that could never think the Masse book sufficiently reformed till they had taken away Prayers nor that their Churches could ever be handsome untill they were ragged This foolish opposition of their first Reformers hath drawn the Protestants of these parts into a world of dislike and envie and been no small disadvantage to the side Whereas the Church of England though it dissent as much from the Papists in point of Doctrine is yet not uncharitably thought on by the Modern Catholicks by reason it retained such an excellency of Discipline When the Liturgie of our Church was tâ—…anslated into Latine by Dr. Morket once Warden of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford it was with great approofe and applause received here in France by those whom they call the Catholicks royall as marvelling to sâ—…e such order and regular devotion in them whom they were taught to condemn for Hereticall An allowance which with some little help might have been raised higher from the practice of our Church to some points of our judgement and it is very worthy of our observation that which the Marquesse of Rhosny spake of Canterbury when he came as extraordinary Ambassadour from King Henry IV. to welcome King James into England For upon the view of our solemn Service and ceremonies he openly said unto his followers That if the reformed Churches in France had kept the same orders amongst them which we have he was assured that there would have been many thousands more of Protestants there then now are But the Marquesse of Rhosny was not the last that said so I have heard divers French Papists who were at the Queens coming over and ventured so far upon an excommunication as to be present at our Church solemn Services extoll them and us for their sakes even almost unto hyperboles So graciously is our temper entertained amongst them As are their Churches such is their Discipline naked of all Antiquity and almost as modern as the men which imbrace it The power and calling of Bishops they abrogated with the Masse upon no other cause then that Geneva had done it As if that excellent man Mr. Calvin had been the Pythagoras of our age and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his ipse dixit had stood for Oracles The Hierarchie of Bishops thus cast out they have brought in their places the Lay-Elders a kind of Monster never heard of in the Scriptures or first times of the Gospell These men leap from the stall to the bench and there â—…rtly sleeping and partly stâ—…oaking of their beards enaâ—… laws of Government for the Church so that we may justly take up the complaint of the Satyrist saying Surgunt nobis e sterquilinio Magistratus nec dum lotis manibus publica tractant negotia yet to these very men composed equally of ignorance and a trade are the most weighty matters of the Church committed In them is the power of ordaining Priests of coâ—…ferring places of charge and even of the severesâ—… censuâ—…e of the Church Excommunication When any businesse which concerneth the good of the Congregation is befallen they must be called to councell and you shall finde them there as soon as ever they can put off their Aprons having blurted out there a little Classicall non-sense and passed their consents rather by nodding of their heads then any other sensiblâ—… articulation they hasten to their shops as Quinctius the Dictator in Florus did to his plough Ut ad â—…pus relictum festinasse vidâ—…atur Such a plat-form though it be that needeth no further confutation then to know it yet had it been tolerable if the contrivers of it had not endevoured to impose it on all the Reformation By which means what great troubles have been raised by the great zelots here in England there is none so young but hath heard some Tragicall relations God be magnified and our late King praised by whom this weed hath been snatched up out of the garden of this our Israel As for their Ministery it is indeed very
upon its liberty and priviledges to which this order was imagined to be an hindrance it being lawfull for them to take any degree in their own houses without reference to any publick exercise or examination In the year 1554. at what time they first began to set foot in France the Colledge of the Sorbonists made a long decree against them in the end whereof are these words and they are worth the reading Uidetur haec societas in nâ—…gotio fidei periculosa pacis Ecclesiae perturbativa monasticae religionis eversiva magis ad destructionsm quam ad aedificationem a censure too full of vineger and bitternesse Afterwards in the year 1564. they preferred a Petition to the University that the Colledge which the Bishop of Clermont had built for them might be incorporated into the University and enjoy the immunities of it Upon the Universities deniall of their desire there arose a suit between them and the University in the high Court of Parliament Peter Versoris pleading for the Jesuits and Stephen Pasquier for the other party In the end they were admitted though upon terms of wondrous strictnesse Anno 1594. John Castell a novice of this order having wounded King Henry IV. in the mouth occasioned the banishment of this Society out of all France into which they were not again received till the year 1604. and then also upon limitations more strict then ever Into Paris they were not readmitted untill anno 1606. neither had the liberty of reading Lectures and instructing the youth confirmed unto them till anno 1611. which also was compassed not without great trouble and vexation Per varios casus tot discrimina rerum As Aenâ—…as and his companions came into Latium In this University they have at this instant three houses one of the Novices a second of Institutors which they call the Colledge and a third of professed Jesuites which they style their Monastery or the professed house of St. Lewis In their house of Novices they train up all those whom they have culled out of their Schooles to be of their order and therein initiate them in the arts of Jesuitism and their mysteries of iniquity They there teach them not Grammaticall constructions or composition but instruct them in the paths of virtue courage and obedience according to such examples as their Authors afford them This they say of themselves and their friends for them But he that made the funerall Oration for Henry IV. anno 1610. reporteth it otherwise Latini sermonis obtentu saith he impurissime Gallicae juventutis mores ingenuos foedant Bonarum litterarum praetextu pessimas edocent artes Dum ingenia excolunt animas perdunt c. In their Colledge they have the same method of teaching which the others of their company use in Orleans A Colledge first given unto them by Mr. William Pratt Bishop of Clermount whose house it was but much beautifyed by themselves after his decease For with the mony which he gave unto them by his will which amounted as it was thought to 60000 crowns they added to it the Court called De Langres in St. James street anno 1582. Their Monastery or house of profession is that unto which they retire themselves after they have discharged their duties in the Colledge by reading and studying publickly in their severall Classes When they are here their studies both for time and quality is ad 〈◊〉 though generally their only studie in it is Policy and the advantage of their cause And indeed out of this Trojan horse it is that those firebrands and incendiaries are let out to disturb and set in combustion the affaires of Christendom out of this forge come all those stratagems and tricks of Machiavillianism which tend to the ruine of the Protestants and the desolation of their Countries I speak not this of their house of Profession here in Paris either only or principally wheresoever they settle they have a house of this nature out of which they issue to overthrow the Gospell Being sent once by their Superiors a necessity is layed upon them of obâ—…dience be the imployment never so dangerous And certainly this Nation doth most strictly obey the rules of their order of any whatsoever not excepting the Capouchins nor the Carthusians This I am witnesse to that whereas the Divinity Lecture is to end at the tilling of a Bell one of the Society in the Colledge of Clermont reading about the fall of the Angels ended his Lecture with these words Denique in quibuscunque for then was the warning given and he durst not so far trespasse upon his rule as to speak out his sentence But it is not the fate of these Jesuits to have great persons only and Universities only to oppose their fortunes they have also the most accomplisht malice that either the secular Priests or Fryers amongst whom they live can fasten upon them Some envie them for the greatnesse of their possessions some because of the excellency of their learning some hate them for their power some for the shrewdnesse of their brains all together making good that saying of Paterculus that Semper eminentis fortunae comes est invidia True indeed it is that the Jesuits have in a manner deserved all this clamor and stomach by their own insolencies for they have not only drawn into their own hands all the principall affairs of Câ—…urt and state but upon occasions cast all the scorn and contempt they can upon those of the other Orders The Janizaries of the Turke never more neglectfully speak of the Asapi then those doe of the rest of the Clergy A great crime in those men who desire to be accounted such excellent Masters of their own affections Neither is the affection born to them abroad greater then that at home amongst those I mean of the opposite party who being so often troubled and crumped by them have little cause to afford them a liking and much lesse a welcome Upon this reason they were not sent into England with the Queen although at first they were destinate to that service It was well known how odious that name was amongst us and what little countenance the Court or Countrey would have afforded them They therefore who had the Governance of that businesse sent hither in their places the Oratorians or the Fratres congregationis Oratorii a race of men never as yet offensive to the English further then the generall defence of the Romish cause and so lesse subject to envie and exception They were first instituted by Philip Nerius not long after the Jesuits and advanced and dignified by Pope Sixtus V. principally to this end that by their incessant Sermons to the people of the lives of Saints and other Ecclesiasticall Antiquities they might get a new reputation and so divert a little the torrent of the peoples affections from the Jesuites Baronius that great and excellent Historian and Bozius that deadly enemie to the Soveraignity of Princeâ—… were of the first foundation of this
given unto it in the Towns of St. Peters and St. Hillaries the Governours having first got these 〈◊〉 to be dissevered from the Diocese of Constance permit it unto all the other Parishes The better to establish it the great supporters of the cause in England Snape and Cartwright are sent for to the Islands the one of them being made the tributary Pastor of the Castle of Cornet the other of that of Mont-orguel Thus qualified forsooth they conveene the Churches of each Island and in a Synod held in Guernzey anno 1576. the whole body of the Discipline is drawn into a forme Which forme of Discipline I here present unto your Lordship faithfully translated according to an authentick copy given unto me by Mr. Painsee Curate of our Ladies Church of Châ—…stell in the Isle of Guernzey CHAP. IV. The Discipline Ecclesiasticall according as it hath been in practise of the Church after the Reformation of the same by the Ministers Elders and Deacons of the Isles of Guernzey Jarsey Serke and Alderney confirmed by the authority and in the presence of the Governours of the same Isles in a Synod holden in Guernzey the 28 of June 1576. And afterwards revived by the said Ministers and Elders and confirmed by the said Governors in a Synod holden also in Guernzey the 11 12 13 14 15 and 17 dayes of October 1597. CHAP. I. Of the Church in Generall Article I. 1. THe Church is the whole company of the faithfull comprehending as well those that bear publick office in the same as the rest of the people II. 2. No one Church shall pretend any superiority or dominion over another all of them being equall in power and having one only head CHRIST JESUS III. 3. The Governours of the Christian Church where the Magistrates professe the Gospell are the Magistrates which proâ—…esse it as bearing chief stroke in the Civill Government and the Pastors and Overseers or Superintendents as principall in the Government Ecclesiasticall IV. 4. Both these jurisdictions are established by the law of God as necessary to the Government and welfare of his Church the one having principally the care and charge of mens bodies and of their goods to govern them according to the Laws and with the temporall Sword the other having cure of souls and consciences to discharge their duties according to the Canons of the Church and with the sword of Gods word Which jurisdiction ought so â—…o be united that there be no confusion and so to be divided that there be no contrariety but joyntly to sustain and defend each other as the armes of the same body CHAP. II. Of the Magistrate THe Magistrate ought so to watch over mens persons and their goods as above all things to provide that the honour and true worship of God may be preserved And as it is his duty to punish such as offend in Murder Theft and other sins against the second Table so ought he also to correct Blasphemers Atheists and Idolaters which offend against the first as also all those which contrary to good order and the common peace addict themselves to riot and unlawfull games and on the other side he ought to cherish those which â—…re well affected and to advance them both to wealth and honours CHAP. III. Of Ecclesiasticall functions in generall Article I. 1. OF Officers Ecclesiasticall some have the charge to teach or instruct which are the Pastors and Doctors others are as it were the eye to oversee the life and manners of Christs flock which are the Elders and to others there is committed the disposing of the treasures of the Church and of the poor mans Box which are the Deacons II. 2. The Church officers shall be elected by the Ministers and Elders without depriving the people of their right and by the same authority shall be discharged suspendâ—…d and deposed according as it is set down in the Chapter of Censures III. 3. None ought to take upon him any function in the Church without being lawfully called unto it IV. 4. No Church officer shall or ought to pretend any superiority or dominion over his companions viz. neiâ—…her a Minister over a Minister nor an Elder over an Elder nor a Deacon over a Deacon yet so that they give reverence and respect unto each other either according to their age or according to those gifts and graces which God hath vouchsaâ—…ed to one more then another V. 5. No man shall be admitted to any office in the Church unâ—…esse he be endowed with gifts fiâ—… for the discharge of that office unto which he is called nâ—…r unlesse there be good testimony of his liâ—…e and conversation of which diligent enquiry shall be made before his being called VI. 6. All these which shall enter upon any publick charge in the Church shall first subscribe to the confession of the faith used in the reâ—…ormed Churches and to the Discipline Ecclesiasticall VII 7. All thoâ—…e which are designed for the administration of any puâ—…lick office in the Church shall be first nominated by the Governours or their Lieutenants after whose approbation they shall be proposed unto the people and if they meet not any opposition they shall be admitted â—…o their charge within fiâ—…n dayes after VIII 8. Before the nomination and admission of such as are called unto employment in the Church they shall be first admonished of their duty as well that which concerneth them in particular as to be exemplary unto the people the better to induce them to live justly and religiously before God and man IX 9. Although it appertain to all in generall to provide that due honour and obedience be done unto the Queens most excellent Mâ—…jesty to the Governours to their Lieutenants and to all the officers of Justice yet notwithstanding they which bear office in the Church ought chiefly to beâ—…ir themselves in that behalf as an example unto others X. 10. Those that bear office in the Church shall not forsâ—…ke their charge without the privity and knowledge of the Consistory and that they shall not be dismissed but by the same order by which they were admitted XI 11. Those that bear office in the Church shall employ themselves in visiting the sick and such as are in prison to administer a word of comfort to them as also to all such as have need of consolation XII 12. They shall not publish that which hath been treated in the Consistory Colloquies or Synods either unto the parties whom it may concern or to any others unlesse they be commanded so to do XIII 13. They which beare office in the Church if they abstain from the Lords Supper and refuse to be reconciled having been admonished of it and persisting in their â—…rror shall be deposed and the causes of their deposition manifested to the people CHAP. IV. Of the Ministers Article I. 1. THose which aspire unto the Ministery shall not be admitted to propose the word of God unlesse they be indued with learning and have attained unto