great importance But the Consistory being dismissed without a resolution the Pope knew that either he must yield or come to a War from which being not averse advice came fitly to him from his Nephew of what was concluded in France So that the discourses of Reformation and Councils were turned into parlies of Money Souldiers and Intelligences The Pope armed the Citizens and Inhabitants of Rome to the number of 5000. caused many of his Cities to be fortified and put garrisons into them and the French King sent him at his instance 3000 Gascons by Sea that he might subsist while the Royal Army was prepared In these negotiations the Pope imprisoned many Cardinals Barons and others upon suspition as also the Ambassadors of Philip King of England and the Emperors Post-master And to the Duke of Alva who sent to protest against him for maintaining in Rome the fugitives of the Kingdom of Naples for laying hands on and keeping in Prison publick persons without reason and for having opened the Kings Letters he sent back this answer That he was a free Prince and Superior to all others not bound to give any account but to demand it of any whaâ—soever that he might entertain any persons and open any letters which he thought to be written against the Church that if Carallasso Philip's Ambassador had done the office of an Ambassador nothing should have been done against him but having made Treaties moved Seditions plotted against the Prince to whom he was sent he had offended as a private man and as such he should be punished that no danger should make him be wanting to the Dignity of the Church and defence of that See referring all to God by whom he was made Shepherd of the Flock of Christ And the Pope still continuing to make provision the Duke of Alva sent another protestation against him that the King having endured so many injuries knowing that the intention of his Holiness was to dispossess him of the Kingdom of Naples and being assured that to this end he had made a League with his enemies therefore in regard his Holiness did desire War he did denounce it against him protesting that the Calamities thereof could not be imputed to him and laying the blame upon the Pope The Pope makâ—ng shew to desire Peace but answering only in general terms to gain time the Duke began to make War the fourth of September and in the year 1556 possessed himself of all Campania holding it in the name of the next Pope and came so near to Rome that he put City in fear and made them strengthen and fortifie it But the greatness of the City and other respects and dangers counselled him not assailing Rome to undertake smaller enterprises It gave much matter of discourse that this year Charles the Emperor parted from Flanders and passed into Spain to betake himself to a private life in a solitary place so that they made a comparison between a Prince trained up from his infancy in the negotiations and affairs of the World who at the age of little more than fifty years resolved to quit the World and only to serve God changed from a mighty Prince to a mean religious person and one who had formerly abandoned the Episcopal Charge to retire into a Monastery and now being at the age of eighty years and made Pope did wholly addict himself to Pomp and Pride and endeavoured to set all Europe on fire with War In the beginning of the year 1557. the Duke of Guise passed into Iâ—aly with his Army in favour of the Pope who to observe the promise of his Nephew made to the French King made a promotion of ten Cardinals which not being according to the meaning and the end agreed on neither for the number nor quality of the persons his excuse was that he was so nearly conjoyned with his Majesty that his dependents would be as serviceable to the King as the French-men themselves and that he could not then make a greater promotion seeing the number already arrived to 70. which would quickly be diminished by removing some Rebels which he meant of those that were already in the Castle and others against whom he had a design as well for matter of State as of Religion for he was not so intent on the War as to abandon the business of the Inquisition which he said was the principal Secret and Mystery of the Papacy He had information against Cardinal Morone that he held intelligence in Germany and imprisoned him in the Castle and the Bishop of Modena as confederate with him He deprived also Cardinal Pool of his Legation of England and cited him to appear in the Inquisition at Rome and created Cardinal William Peto Bishop of Salisbury and made him Legate in Pool's place And although the King and Queen testifying what service he had done to the Catholick Faith made earnest intercession for him yet the Pope would never remit one jot of his â—igour Cardinal Pool obeâ—ed laying aside the administration and ornaments of a Legate but parted not out of England alledging the Queens commandment that he should not go In England many were scandalized at it and allienated from the Pope and many in Rome thought it a calumny invented to revenge himself for the Truce between the two Kings treated by him without imparting it to him The Duke of Guise being come into Italy made VVar in Pâ—â—mont with purpose to continue it in Lombardy and so to divert the Arms taken up against the Pope but the Pope's ardent desire to assail the Kingdom of Naples did not permit him The French-men knew the difficulties and the Duke of Guise with four principal Commanders went to Rome by Post to make the Pope understand what the reasons of War did perswade In whose presence all being consulted on and the Pope's resolution not giving place to any other deliberation it was necessary to yield unto him Yet they did nothing but assault Civitella a place situated at the entry into the Provinces of Abruzzo where the Army had a repulse In summ the Pope's Arms as well his own as Auxiliary were not much favoured by God But in the midst of August the Army of the Duke of Alva approaching Rome and the Pope understanding the surprize and sack of Signea the slaughter of many and the danger in which Pagliano was he related all in Consistory with many tears adding that he did undauntedly expect Martyrdom the Cardinals marvelling that he should paint out the Cause to them who understood the truth as if it had been of Christ whereas it was profane and proceeded from ambition and that he should say it was the principal Sinew and mystery of the Papacy VVhen the Pope's affairs were in greatest straits the French King's Army had such a great overthrow near S. Quintin that he was forced to recall the Duke of Guise and his Forces letting the Pope know his inevitable necessity the Pope refused to let Guise return whereupon
that See can do when it hath a Pope of Courage The 26th of May the Anniversary of his Coronation all the Cardinals and Ambassadors dining with him according to custom he began after dinner to discourse of the Council and that his resolution was to celebrate it by all means in Rome and that in Courtesie he gave notice thereof to the Princes and that the high-waies may be made secure for the Prelates But if no Prelates would come thither yet he would hold it with those only who are in Court because he well knew what Authority he had While the Pope was busy about the Reformation news came to Rome that a Truce was concluded the 5th of February between the Emperor and French King by the mediation of Cardinal Pool who did interpose in the name of the Queen of England which made the Pope amazed and Cardinal Caraffa much more it having been treated and concluded without them The Pope was displeased principally for the loss of reputation and for the danger which it brought if those two Princes were joyned at whose discretion he must needs stand Yet the Pope not losing courage made shew of joy for the Truce but said he was not fully satisfied with it because a Peace was necessary in regard of the Council which he purposed to celebrate which he was resolved to treat and for that end to send Legates to those Princes being assured to conclude it because he would employ his Authority for he would not be hindred in the government of the Church committed to him by Christ To the Emperor he sent Scipio Rebiba Cardinal of Pisa and to the French King Cardinal Caraffa his Nephew This went with all speed and to the other order was given to go slowly Rebiba had instruction to exhort the Emperor to amend Germany which was not done till then because none had proceeded aright in that enterprise He knew the defects of his Predecessors who to stop the Reformation of the Court did hinder the good progress of the Council But contrarily he was resolved to promote the Reformation and to celebrate a Council in his own presence and to begin with this point assuring himself that when they should see the abuses taken away for which they separated themselves from the Church and remain contumacious still they will desire and run to receive the Decrees and Constitutions which the Council will make where shall be reformed not verbally but really the Head Members Clergie Laity Princes and People To do so good a work a truce of five years is not sufficient because there are no less suspitions in Truces than in War and one must be ever providing against the time when they end That a perpetual Peace is necessary to remove all malice and suspitions that all may bend themselves joyntly without worldly respects to that which concerneth the union and reformation of the Church He gave the like instructions to Caraffa and was content it should be published by giving out some Copies of it He gave his Nephew a large instruction to try the Kings mind and if he saw him resolute to observe the Truce to thunder into his ears the same lesson of the Council and to Rebiba he gave order to govern himself as he he should receive advice from his Nephew Caraffa carried to the King the Sword and Hat which the Pope had blessed on Christmass-day at night according to the custom Of the Peace he made no mention but represented to the King that howsoever the League was not violated by the Truce of five years yet it was made of no force to the great danger of his Unckle and of his Family and that they had already some taste thâ—reof by tâ—at which the Spaniards had done He recommâ—nded to him in most effectual terms Religion and the Papacy to which his Predecessors gave singular protection and the Pope himself and his Family much devoted to his Majesty The King was not averse but remained doubtful considering the Pope's age who might die when he should have most need of him Caraffa perceived this and found a remedy promising that the Pope should create so many Cardinals partial for France and Enemies to Spain that he should ever have a Pope on his side The Cardinals perswasions and the promise of the Promotion and the Absolution from the Oath of the Truce which he gave in the Popes name together with the negotiation of thâ— Cardinal of Loraine and his Brother made the King resolve to move War though the Princes of the 〈◊〉 and all the Gâ—andies of the Court abhorred the infamy of breaking the Truce and receiving Absolution from the Oaâ—h The conclusion being made Caraffa recalled the Legate sent to the Emperor who was arrived at Maâ—â—riâ— and caused him to come into France though he was but two daies journey distant from Caesar which made thâ— Empâ—ror and the King his Son believe that in France something was concluded against them The Pope's distastes against the Emperor and his Son did daily encrease He made a most severe proâ—â—ss against Ascanius Colonna and Marcus Antonius his Soâ— for many offences which he pretended to be done 〈…〉 the Apostolick See excommunicated them and deprived them of all dignity and fee with censures agâ—â—â—st those that gave them assistance or favour and did confiâ—cate all their possessions within the state of the Church and gave them to the Count Montorius his Nephew with the title of Duke of Pagliano Marcus Antonius retiring into the Kingdom of Naples was received and sometimes made excursions upon his own lands which much provoked the Pope who thinking his nods were commandments unto all able to terrifie every one he could not endure to be so little esteemed at Naples his Country where he would have been thought to be Omnipotent He thought in the beginning by talking lavishly of the Emperor and of the King to make them desist from favouring the Colonnesi and therefore spake very often disgracefully of them in the presence of all sorts of persons but most willingly when any Spanish Cardinal was present and at last commanded it should be written unto them None of these proofs taking effect he proceeded farther and the three and twentieth of July made the Fiscal and Silvester Aldobrandinus the Consistorial Advocate appear in the Consistory who declared that his Holiness having excommunicated and deprived Marcus Antonius Colonna and prohibited under the same censures all sorts of persons to assist or favour him and it being notorious that the Emperor and King Philip his Son had furnished him with horse foot and money they were fallen into the punishments of the same sentence ☜ and had lost their Territories which they held in Fee Therefore they desired that his Holiness would proceed to a declaratory Sentence and give order for Execution The Pope answered that he would advise upon it by the counsel of the Cardinals and proposed in Consistory what was fit to be done in a case of so
be obeyed by all Afterwards he sent William Prince of Orange with two Colleagues to the Diet in Germany to transfer the Name Title Crown and Dignity upon Ferdinand as if himself had been dead which not seeming fit to the Electors was deferred until the year 1558. in which the 4th of Feb. the day of the Nativity Coronation and other felicities of Charles the Ceremonies of the resignation being made by his Ambasadors in presence of the Electors Ferdinand was installed with the usual rites The Pope hearing this fell into an excessive rage He pretended that as the Pope's Confirmation doth make the Emperor so the resignation cannot be put into the hands of any but himself in which case it belonged to him to make what Emperor he pleased alledging that the Electors have power granted them by the Popes's favour to Elect the Emperour in place of him that is dead but not in case of resignation in which it remaineth still in the power of the Apostolick See as also to the disposition thereof are annexed all dignities resigned unto it Therefore the resignation of Charles is void and the whole authority to chuse an Emperour is devolved to him and was resolved not to acknowledg the King of the Romans for Emperor Ferdinand sent Martin Gusman his Ambassador to the Pope to give him an account of his Brothers resignation and his own assumption to testifie unto him the reverence he bare him to promise him obedience and to signifie to him that he would send a solemn Ambassage to treat of his Coronation The Pope refused to hear him and referred the discussion of the matter to the Cardinals who related for the Pope's will was they should do so that the Ambassador could not be admitted before it did appear whether the resignation of Charles were lawful and the succession of Ferdinand just For he being Elected King of the Romans and the Election confirmed by Clement to succeed after the death of the Emperor it was necessary the Empire ☜ should be void by death Besides there was a nullity in all the Acts of Francfort as made by Heretick who have 〈◊〉 authority and power Wherefore it was necessary that Ferdinand should send a Proctor and renounce whatsoever was done in that Diet and beseech the Pope that he would graciously be pleased to make good the resignation of Charles and his Assumption to the Empire by virtue of his plenary power from whom he might expect all Paternal grace and favour The Pope resolved according to this counsel and so declared himself to Gusman giving him three moneths to put it in execution beyond which time he would hear no more speech of it but himself would create a new Emperour Neither was it possible to remove him though King Philip to favour his Unckle sent Francis Vargas expresly and after him John Figaroa to entreat him Ferdinand understanding this gave order to Gusman that if within three daies after the receipt thereof he were not admitted by the Pope he should depart and protest unto him that Ferdinand together with the Electors would resolve of that which should be for the honour of the Empire Gusman desired audience again which the Pope granted in private not as to an Ambassador of the Emperor and hearing him what he had in his instructions and that which was wrote unto him from the Emperor he answered that the things considered by the Cardinals were very important and that he could not resolve on them so soon that he would send a Nuncio to the Imperial Majesty of Charles the Fifth and in the mean while if he had commission from his Master to depart he might do it and protest what he thought fit Therefore the Ambassador having made his protestation departed And although Charles died the same year the 21th of September yet it was impossible to remove the Pope from this resolution The Religion of England was much changed this year The Queen died the 17th of November and Cardinal Pool the same day which stirred up many who were not satisfied with the former Government to restore the Reformation of Edward and to separate themselves wholly from the Spaniards which they did the rather because King Philip to hold a foot in England had treated to marry Elizabeth Sister and Successor of Mary to Charles his Son and when there was little hope of the life of Mary had also cast forth divers words that he would take her for his own wife But the new Queen being wise as she shewed herself to be in all her Government did first secure the Kingdom by Oath that she would not marry a stranger and was Crowned by the Bishop of Carlisle an adherent to the Church of Rome not making any open declaration what Doctrine she would follow designing so soon as she was setled in her Government to establish it by the Counsel of Parliament and of Learned and Godly men and to make a constant reformation of the State of Religion Therefore she exhorted the chief of the Nobility who desired a change to proceed without tumult assuring them that she would not inforce any She caused presently an account to be given to the Pope of her Assumption with Letters of Credence written to Edward Cerne who was Ambassador to her Sister and was not departed from Rome ☜ But the Pope proceeding according to his usual rigour answered that England was held in Fee of the Apostolick See that she could not succeed being illegitimate that he could not contradict the declarations of Clement the Seventh and Paul the Third that it was a great boldness to assume the Name and Government without him that for this she deserved not to be heard in any thing yet being desirous to shew a Fatherly affection if she would renounce her pretensions and refer her self wholly to his free disposition he will do whatsoever may be done with the honour of the Apostolick See But the new Queen understanding the Pope's answer and wondering at the mans hasty disposition thought it not profitable either for her or the Kingdom to treat any more with him So that the cause ceasing she gave the Nobility leave to consult what was fit to be done for the service of God and quiet of the Kingdom A Disputation was held in Westminster in presence of all the States between Learned men chosen on both sides which began the last of March and lasted until the thirtieth of April and a Parliament being assembled to this end all the Edicts of Religion made by Mary were abolished those of her Brother Edward restored obedience taken away from the Pope the title of the Head of the Church of England given to the Queen the revenues of the Monasteries confifcated and assigned some to the Nobility and some to the Crown the images taken out of the Churches by the people and the Roman Religion banished Another accident happened also For in the Diet of Ausburg it appearing by the Acts of the Colloquie the year before
dissolved without fruit that there was no hope to do any good by that means Ferdinand told them he would procure the General Council to be restored exhorting all to submit themselves to the Decrees thereof as being the way to remove differences The Protestants answered that they would consent to a Council called not by the Pope but by the Emperor to be held in Germany in which the Pope should not preside but should submit himself to the judgment thereof and release the Bishops and Divines of their Oath in which also the Protestants should have a deciding voice and all should be determined according to the holy Scriptures and whatsoever was concluded in Trent should be re-examined which if it cannot be obtained of the Pope yet the Peace of Religion should be confirmed according to the agreement of Passau having known by too manifest experience that no good can be drawn from any Popish Council The Emperor knowing the difficulty to obtain of the Pope a grant of the things proposed and that now he had no means to negotiate with him in regard of the Controversy about the Resignation of Charles and his Succession he confirmed the accord of Passau and the Recesses of the Diets following The Pope having cut off all means to treat with the Emperor and Germany knew not what to say to this Yet he was more displeased with their discourse concerning the Council than with the liberty granted by the Recess being resolute not to call any Council but in Rome whatsoever should happen In this respect another accident was as grievous as the former that is the Peace made at Cambray the third of April between the Kings of France and Spain which was well confirmed by the Marriages of the Daughter of Henry to the King of Spain and of his Sister to the Duke of Savoy In which Peace among other Capitulations it was agreed that both the Kings should make a faithful promise to labour joyntly that the Council should be Celebrated the Church Reformed and the differences of Religion Composed The Pope considered how goodly a shew the title of Reformation and the name of a Council did make that England was lost and all Germany also partly by the Protestants and partly by his difference with Ferdinand that these two united Kings were much offended by him the Spaniards by deeds and words the French by words at the least and there remained none to whom he might have refuge These cogitations did so afflict the Old Pope that he was unfit to rule He could not hold the Consistories so often as he was wont and when he did hold them he spent the most part of the time in speaking of the Inquisition and exhorting the Cardinals to favour it as being the only way to extinguish Heresies But the two Kings did not agree to procure the Council for any ill will or interests which either of them had against the Pope or Papacy but to provide against the new Doctrines which did exceedingly encrease being willingly heard and received by all men of Conscience and which was of more importance the male-contented put themselves on that side and did daily under pretence of Religion make some Enterprises as well in the Low-Countreys as in France in regard those people did love their liberty and had commerce with Germany as bordering upon it In the beginning of the troubles some seeds were sown which that they might not take root the Emperor Charles the Fifth in the Low-Countreys and the French King in his Kingdom made many Edicts and commanded divers Executions But after that the number of Protestants did encrease in Germany and the Evangelicks did multiply among the Suisses and the separation was made in England by reason of the often Wars between the Emperour and French King either Party was forced to call in Auxiliaries out of these three Nations who publickly professing and preaching the Reformed Religion in their quarters by their example and by other means divers of the people became of their Religion And although in the Low-Countreys from the first Edict of Charles until this time of the Peace there were hanged beheaded buried alive and burned to the number of fifty thousand and very many put to death in France yet both places were then in worse case than ever This made the Kings to think joyntly of finding a remedy The Pope as he was much discontented with the Progress of the new Doctrine in the States of both the Kings so he was pleased that those Princes did think of it and moved them by his N 〈…〉 ii to do so still But he would not have any other means than that of the Inquisition which he thought the only remedy as he said upon all occasions judging that the Council would do as formerly it had done that is reduce all into a worse state While he was possessed with these cogitations and weak of body the King of France died the second of July by a wound in the eye running at Tilt for which he seemed very sorrowful and was so indeed For although he suspected and with reason the intelligence between the two Kings yet he had still hopes to separate them But the one being dead he saw he was at the discretion of the other alone whom he more feared because he was more offended by him and was of a more close nature hard to be sounded He feared also that in France a gate would be set wide open to let in Sects which might be confirmed before the new King could get so much wisdom and reputation as was necessary to oppose so great difficulties He lived some few daies afflicted with these cogitations but now laying aside all hopes which had until then kept him alive he died the eighteenth of August recommending to the Cardinals nothing but the Officâ— of the Inquisition the only means as he said to prâ—serve the Church exhorting all to employ all their endeavours to establish it in Italy and wheresoever else they could FINIS