against Luther and others defend him Luther proceedeth and writeth against other corruptions of the Church of Rome and many are enlightned by him Charles V. being Emperour calleth a Dyet at Wormes and thither is Luther summoned Anno 1521. who stoutly defendeth his Doctrine and many Priests began to preach and even in Wormes after they had seen the constancy of Luther they receive the preachers of the Gospel and because they could not have the liberty of the Churches they set up a portable pulpit and heard the preachers in many places of the Town until the year 1525. The Gospel was preached in Saxony and embraced there as also at Halberstat Hamburgh Pomerania Liveland and many other places Charles Duke of Savoy was desirous of truth and purity Luther understanding it by Annemund Coot a French Knight writes unto him a confession of Faith to confirm him in the zeal of piety In the closure he saith Well! Illustrious Prince stir up that spark which hath begun to kindle in thee and let fire come from the house of Savoy as from the house of Joseph and let all France be kindled by thee yea let that Holy fire burn and encrease that at last France may be truly called for the Gospel's sake the most Christian Kingdom In the year 1523. the Gospel began to be openly preached in France at Gratianople in the Daulphinatè by Peter Sebevilla Zuinglius by writing encouraged him to lift up his voice like a Trumpet and sound forth the Gospel in France At the same time in Melda about ten miles from Paris was Bishop William Brissonnet he was a Lover of Truth and Light he passeth by the Monks and sought learned Men to teach the Gospel So from Paris he calleth Jacobus Faber William Farel Arnold and Gâ—rard Red who did most fervently instruct the people in the truth But the Bishop's courage was soon abated by terrible menaces of the Sorbonnists nevertheless the word of God was planted in the hearts of many and by the wondrous counsel of God from the persecution of that one Church many Churches through France were planted for both the Teachers and hearers were spread abroad After Martin Luther had opened the way in Germany John Calvin born at Noyon in Piccardy a Man of a great wit marvellously eloquent and generally Learned departing from the Faith then generally held proposed in his Books which he published in Print and in his Sermons which he preached in divers places in France one hundred twenty eight axiomes so he called them disagreeing from the Roman Church The French Wits curious by Nature and desirous of Novelties began at first rather for pastime than through choice to read his writings and frequent his Sermons But as Davila a Papist observeth in his History of the civil Wars of France as in all business of the World it useth often to fall out that things beginning in jest end in earnest so these opinions sowed in God's Church Davila Hist of the Civil Wars of France lib. 1. so crept up saith he that they were greedily embraced and firmly believed by a great number of people and persons of all qualities insomuch that Calvin came to be reverenced of many in a short time and believed for a new miraculous Interpreter of Scripture and saith my Authour as it were a certain infallible Teacher of the true Faith The foundation of this Doctrine was in the City of Geneva scituate upon the Lake Antiently called Lacus Lemanus upon the confines of Savoy which having rejected the Government of the Duke and Bishop to whom formerly it paid obedience under the name of Terra Franca under pretext of liberty of conscience reduced it self into the form of a Common-wealth From thence books coming out daily in print and men furnished with Wit and eloquence insinuating themselves into the Neighbour Provinces who secretly sowed the seeds of this new Doctrine in progress of time all the Cities and Provinces of the Kingdom of France were filled with it though so covertly that there appeared openly only some few marks and conjectures of it This began in the time of King Francis the first who though sometimes he made severe resolutions against the preachers and professours of this Doctrine yet notwithstanding being continually busied in Forreign Wars took little notice thereof Peter Viret was an eloquent French Divine whom Calvin desired for his Colleague His French Books are mentioned by Antoine du Verdier in his Bibliotheque William Farel was also a learned Divine of Geneva He hath written De Vray Vsage de la Croix and other Books Upon Calvin Farel and Viret there is this Epigram of Beza Gallica mirata est Calvinum Ecclesia nuper Quo nemo docuit doctiùs Est quoque te nuper mirata Farelle tonantem Quo nemo tonuit fortiùs Et miratur adhuc fundentem mella Viretum Quo nemo fatur dulciùs Scilicet aut tribus his servabere testibus olim Aut interibis Gallia Stephen Pasquier a French Writer and a Papist doth much extol Calvin's piety wit and learning Recherch de la France li. 8. ca. 55. John Clerk was apprehended at Melden in France Anno 1523. for setting up upon the Church-door a certain Bill against the Pope's pardons lately sent thither from Rome in which Bill he named the Pope to be Antichrist For which he was three several days whipped and afterwards had a mark imprinted in his Forehead as a note of infamy His mother being a good Christian-woman though her Husband was an Adversary when she beheld her Son thus grievously scourged and ignominiously deformed in the face did boldly encourage her Son crying with a loud Voice Blessed be Christ and welcome be these prints and marks After this execution and punishment sustained the said John departed that Town and went to Rosie in Brie and from thence to Metz where he was taken for casting down Images and there his hand was first cut off from his right Arm then his Nose with sharp pincers was violently pulled from his Face after that both his Arms and his paps were likewise pluckt and drawn with the same Instrument He quietly endured these Torments in a manner singing the Verses of the 115 Psalm Their Idols be Silver and Gold the work only of Man's hand The rest of his body was committed to the fire and therewith consumed Anno 1525. Doctor John Castellan after he was called to the knowledge of God he bâ—came a true preacher of his word in France at Barleduc also at Vittery in Partoise at Chalon in Champagne and in the Town of Vike which is the Episcopal Seat of the Bishop of Metz in Lorrain After he had laid some foundation of the Doctrine of the Gospel in Metz in returning from thence he was taken prisoner by the Cardinal of Lorrain's servants and carried to the Castle of Nommenie from thence he was carried to the Town and Castle of Vike always constantly persevering in the same Doctrine He was degraded by
Galliae THe Heads of the Statutes of the Provincial Council of Rhemes Charles Archbishop of Rhemes Cardinal of Lorrain being President Statute 1. Of the Residence of Curates 2. Of the Office of a Curate in choosing and preaching sound Doctrine 3. Of the Office of Curates in the Administration of the Sacraments 4. For what ends spiritual alliance shall be thenceforth contracted by Baptism 5. Of the lawful times of Marriage 6. Of the life and honesty of the Curates 7. Of providing fit Clerks for the supply of Vacant Churches who are to be examined by six Doctors or Licentiates in Divinity or in the Canon-law or other Clerks either Secular or Regular 8. Of promotion to holy Orders 9. Of the first Tonsure No youths are to be admitted to the first Tonsure unless they have received the Sacrament of Confirmation and the rudiments of faith and shall learn to read and write 10. Of restoring the offices of Minor orders by the Churches from a Deacon to a door-keeper 11. Of the distinct collation of the things of the Orders and the qualities of those that are to be ordained 12. That all Clerks be appointed to some certain Church 13. Of the Age and quality of those that are to be promoted to the greater orders None to be admitted to the Order of a Sub-deacon till he be two and twenty years of age none to the Order of a Deacon till three and twenty years of age nor of a Priest till five and twenty years of age 14. Of the Examination of those to be promoted to the greater Orders concerning their persons age education manners faith and doctrine 15. Of the Office of a Sub-deacon and Deacon and Priest about the Church to which they are admitted 16. All Orders are to be conferred Gratis 17. Of the Visitation of Arch-deacons and the office of Rural Deans 18. Of the reparation of Churches and the use of Images These Acts of the Council were perfected after nineteen several Congregations I shall omit the names of those who were either present in this Provincial Council of Rhemes or sent their Procuratours Some Decrees of the Synod concerning Marriages and Ravishers of Women were approved but not published I shall also pass over the procurations of the Archbishop of Rhemes through the Cities Diocess and Province of Rhemes The Constitutions of the Synod of Melum Anno 1579. 1. COncerning the profession of the Catholick faith 2. Of the diligence to be used by Pastors against Hereticks 3. Of the punishing of rash swearers 4. Of Magical Arts in general and of divinations prohibited by Law 5. Of the Visitation of Churches 6. Of the Celebration of Festivals 7. Of the Sacraments in general 8. Of the Sacraments in special 9. Of Confirmation 10. Of the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist 11. Of the things pertaining to the Celebration of the Mass 12. Of Penance 13. Of fasting 14. Of Extream Unction 15. Of Matrimony 16. Of the Sacrament of Order And first of the life and honesty of the Clergy in general Of the causes of the reproaches cast upon the Clergy 17. Of promotion to Holy Orders 18. Rules given to Bishops to walk by 19. Of Canonists 20. Of Parish-priests 21. Of Residency 22. Of the reformation of Regulars The Laws of a Seminary Colledge which is to be instituted in every Diocess according to the Decree of the Council of Trent Sess 23. c. 23. Chap. 1. OF those that are to be admitted and those that are to be discharged 2. Of those things which respect piety 3. Of the things which pertain to obedience 4. Of the things which pertain to modesty 5. Of the things which respect studies 6. Of those who shall have the charge of the spiritual affairs of a Seminary and things pertaining to learning as also of temporal things 7. Of Hospitals for sick folks Of a Procurator appointed for pious causes whom some call a Procurator of Souls 8. Of the trimming and adorning of Churches 9. Of the funerals and burials of Catholicks 10. Of the preservation of Church-goods 11. Of the things that pertain to outward jurisdiction Now concerning the Correction of publick Crimes 1. Of Whores Bawds and Panders 2. Of Concubinaries 3. Of Usuries Here they pray and beseech all Princes and Magistrates that they would use their utmost endeavours to remedy these evils 12. Of the office of foraneous Vicars and Arch-presbyters 13. Of a Diocesan Synod and of Synodal witnesses 14. Of School-masters 15. Of the restraining of immoderate charges 16. Of the Sealings of Notaries The Canons and Decrees of the Provincial Council of Cambray Anno 1565. Chap. 1. OF the suspected and prohibited books of Hereticks 2. Of Divinity-lectures in Chapters and Monasteries 3. Of Schools and of the books to be taught in them and the manner of teaching youths 4. Of a Seminary and of the age of youths to be admitted into a Seminary 5. Of Doctrine and preaching the Word Of God 6. Of Worship Ceremonies and Divine Service 7. Of Ecclesiastical Ministeries 8. Of the life and honesty of the Clergy 9. Of the Examination of Bishops and of the Examination of Pastours 10. Of the Residency of Bishops and Curates 11. Of the residency of Pastors and their Office 12. Of a Visitation 13. Of Ecclesiastical power and jurisdiction 14. Of Matrimony 15. Of Purgatory and suffrages for the dead 16. Of the Monasteries of Men and Women 17. Of the Saints of their Veneration Worship and Invocation 18. Of Images of the Images of Christ and the Saints to be used in Temples none of which are to be admitted without the consent and judgement of the Bishop 19. Of Indulgences none are to be offered that are new and unknown and such only as are approved by the Ordinary The Decrees of the Provincial Synod of Roven Anno 1581. 1. THat profession might be made of the faith of the one holy Catholick and Apostolick Church we excommunicate and anathematize according to the Lateran Council said they all heresie exalting it self against the Orthodox and Catholick Church and all who do assert and believe otherwise than the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Church doth believe and teach 2. They set down a form of Profession of faith I N. do with firm faith believe and profess all and every thing which is contained in the symbol of faith which the holy Roman Church useth c. Concluding thus And I most firmly believe and embrace the Apostolick and Ecclesiastical Traditions and the rest of the observations and constitutions of the same Church Item I admit the holy Scripture according to that sence which our holy Mother the Church hath held and holdeth whose right it is to judge of the true sence and interpretation of the holy Scriptures neither will I ever receive and interpret it but according to the unanimous consent of the Fathers I also profess that there are seven sacraments of the new Law instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord viz. Baptism Confirmation the Eucharist
Learning and learned men Paul of Pisa instructed him in the Greek and Latin Tongues and Aimon in Philosophy and the Mathematickes He delighted in Poetry but especially in History in which he was well read The University of Paris built or enriched by him doth witness the love and honour he bare to learning A valiant man none commanded with more obedience nor performed any thing with greater fortune nor used his Victories with more mildness and judgement Never did King reign with more Authority nor was more reverently obeyed than Charlemagne About the Year 786 Charles King of France made a league with Archaius King of Scots Archaius sent unto him Albinus or Alcuinus John Melrose so named from the Abby Melrose Claudius Clemens and Anthony all very devout and learned men John Melrose became Abbot of the Augustinians at Ticino Bale in Cent. 14. and Claudius was Bishop of Auxerre They wrote several works as John Bale sheweth Alcuinus had good knowledge of the Latin and Greek Languages Biblioth de la Bigne Tom. 3. Charles calleth him his Master in an Epistle written unto him De Septuages Sexages He hath many excellent things in divers of his Books and Writings Desiderius began to make War first against the City of Ravenna and the Marches thereof and took the Cities of Ferrara Faventia and other Towns The Pope sent to Charles the Great for aid who came into Italy with great Forces Desiderius fled to Pavia and was there besieged Charles leaving an Unkle of his at the siege of Pavia went against Verona which he took without any great difficulty From thence he went to Rome to kiss the Pope's Foot and to hold the Feast of Easter where he was received with great Solemnity After this his coming thither he confirmed to the Church and Popes of Rome the Donation which his Father Pepin had made of Ravenna and other Lands and made another of many other places among which is reckoned the Isle of Corsica and all the Coast of Genoua with the Cities of Parma Ancona Vrbin and many other Towns besides Rome and the Territories thereof which the Popes had already in possession so as to the Emperours remained only that part of Italy which is part of Calabria and of Puglia and a great part of that which now is the Kingdom of Naples Charles having been only eight dayes in Rome returned against Desiderius who after six moneths besieging in Pavia yielded upon composition and Charles carried him with him and banished both him and his Sons into a certain Island and then took Milan and all the other Cities in Lombardy which is the Ancient Gallia Cisalpina where he placed French men for Dukes and Governours So Italy remained in his Obedience excepting those Lands and Provinces which were left to the Church of Rome so ended the Kingdom of the Lombards which had continued 204 years in Italy Rhegno Sub. Annum 787. In the Year 787 Charles being departed from Rome to come into France as soon as he was arrived at Wormes saith Rhegno he called a Synod and declared the Reasons of his journey to the Clergy and Princes of his Realm We find the French Synods in those dayes oftentimes to have consisted both of Lay-men and Clergy-men joyntly to determine of matters as well Ecclesiastical as Civil Charles the Great did the like in the Council of Franckford where he discoursed points of Faith and made them deliver their Opinions upon such as himself proposed The Canons and Decrees also run in his Name the Emperour saith he hath Ordained with the consent of the Synod c. Vide Acta Concil Francf in libello sacro Tom. 3. Concil pag. 635. In the Year 794 Charles Assembled this Council at Franckford partly in regard of the Heretick Foelix who called Christ The Adoptive Son of God in humane nature and was condemned in a Council Assembled at Ratisbon But he was returned to his vomit again and therefore was now again condemned as a notable Heretick in the Council of Franckford partly also in respect of the great contention which arose every where concerning the worshipping of Images disallowed in the Council of Constantinople and allowed in the second Council of Nice Not only the Bishops of France but also of Germany and Lombardy as Provinces subject to the King of France were present at this Council The Pope sent his Ambassadors Theophilact and Stephanus to the Council King Charles himself also was present thereat Alcuinus wrote against the Heresie of Foelix Alcuin contr Foelic Lib. 2. and Elipandrus Bishop of Toledo and in his second Book saith Shew us any Nation Town or Church either Roman or Constantinopolitan or of Jerusalem which was Dedicated by the presence of the Lord himself or of Antioch where first the Name of Christianity is read to have been or of Alexandria or of any other Church either in Italy or Germany or in France or in Aquitain or in Britain which agreeth with you in your assertion Here he acknowledgeth all these to be true Churches at that time and distinguisheth them one from another Foelix continued in his errour till Alcuinus wrote against him and then he became Zealous of the Truth and wrote a Recantation unto the Presbyters and Deacons of his Church That as he had been a scandal unto them so by his means they may be brought again from Errour unto the Truth as he himself writeth And this Recantation is printed among the Works of Alcuinus But Elipant Arch-Bishop of Toledo having read the seven Books of Alcuinus wrote very sharply for maintaining the same Errour R. Hoveden writeth R. Hoveden in continuat Bedae that Charles the Great sent over into England the Acts of a Synod sent him from Constantinople for the Adoration of Images Against this Adoration saith he Alcuinus wrote an Epistle well-grounded on Divine Scriptures and carried it with some Synodical Acts in the names of the English Princes and Bishops to the King of France All Italy being now in peace under the protection of King Charles two Cardinal Priests of great account called Pascal and Capulus conspired against Pope Leo who with their complices apprehended him on a day as he was going in Procession Some say they put out his eyes and cut out his tongue committing him prisoner to the Monastery of St. Erasmus publishing abroad that they did it for the crimes by him committed and the Errours by him maintained Some Authors affirm that he was miraculously restored to his sight and speech Hereupon King Charles cometh to Rome accompanied with many great Dukes and other Princes his Subjects To him came out of Italy and from many other parts many Bishops and Prelates After eight dayes abode there he commanded all the Princes and Prelates which then were in the City to be Assembled and the Pope himself and all the rest being together there were some that accused the Pope to the Emperour Then the Emperour
the confession but gave order that a confutation thereof should be read and no Copy given The Pope was displeased with the Emperour for meddling in Religion but especially for promising a Council He writes to all Princes that he would call a Council though he never meant it and his collusion is discovered by many The Protestants likewise do write to all Princes praying them not to believe the calumnies raised against them and to suspend their Judgements until those that are accused have place to acquit themselves publickly And therefore they will desire the Emperour that he will call a godly and free Council in Germany as soon as might be and not use force until the matter be disputed and lawfully denyed The French King answered with very courteous Letters in substance giving them thanks for communicating unto him a business of so great weight He shewed them that he was glad to understand of their innocency and did approve the instance they made that the vices might be amended wherein they shall find his will to concur with theirs that their requiring a Council was just and holy yea necessary not only for the affairs of Germany but of the whole Church that it was not necessary to use Arms where the controversies may be ended with Treaties The Emperour promiseth the calling of a Council within six months The Pope resolveth to make an Alliance with France to be able to withstand the Emperour After the Assembly of the Protestants at Smalcald the French King Treateth with the Landgrave of Hassia at the Pope's request about the Council The Pope is displeased for the proposal of Geneva for the place of the Council Anno 1534. Pope Clement VII dyeth and Cardinal Farnese is created Pope and named Paul III. He maketh a shew that he desireth a Council he perswadeth the Cardinals to reform themselves The custom is that in the first days the Cardinals obtain favours easily of the new pope Therefore the Cardinal of Lorrain and other French in the name of the King desired him to grant to the Duke of Lorrain the nomination of the Bishopricks and Abbacies of his Dominion The Pope's Answer was that in the Council which should be called shortly it was necessary to take away the faculty of nomination from those Princes that already had it which was some blemish to the Popes his predecessours who had granted them A Bull is made for the convocation of the Council at Mantua May 27. 1537. The Pope prayeth the French King and all other Kings and Princes to be there in person The Protestants approve not the Bull of convocation The Duke of Mantua makes a Grant of his City and afterwards recalleth it The King of England opposeth the Council by a publick manifest Then the Pope sent out a Bull for the convocation of the Council at Vicenza The Legates went to Vicenza at the time appointed and the Pope to Nizza in Provence at the same time to speak personally with the Emperour and the French King which he gave out was only to make peace between those great Princes though his principal end was to draw the Dukedom of Milan to his own house Anno 1538. The Council intimated is suspended during pleasure The Emperour gave order for a Dyet to be held in Germany where Ferdinand thought good inviting the Protestant Princes to be there in person and promising publick security unto all Cardinal Farnese hearing of this conclusion made without his knowledge went immediately away and passing by Paris obtained of the French King a severe Edict against the Lutherans which being published was executed in that City and after through all France with much rigour King Francis commanded that all should be appeached who had Books differing from the Church of Rome that made secret Conventicles that transgressed the commandments of the Church and especially that observed not the Doctrine of Meats or prayed in any Tongue but the Latin and commanded the Sorbonnists to be diligent Spies against them Afterwards understanding the Emperour 's cunning who assayed to incite the Pope against him he caused the Lutherans to be really proceeded against and commanded that a form to discover and accuse them should be instituted in Paris proposing punishments to the concealers of them and rewards to the Delators This was done Anno 1542. The Emperour gave divers orders to the Prelates of Spain and the Low-Countries and commanded that the Divines of Lovain should assemble together to consider of the Doctrines which were to be proposed which they reduced to XXII heads without confirming them by any place of Scripture but explicating Magisterially the conclusion only Thâ— French King also Assembled at Melun the Parisian Divines to consult of â—â—â— necessary positions of the Christian Faith to be proposed in thâ—â—â—uncil where there was much contention For some desired to propose the confirmation of whatsoever was constituted in Constance and Basil and the re-establishment of the Pragmatick Sanction And others doubting that the King would be offended by destroying the Concordat made between him and Leo which would necessarily follow gave counsel not to set that disputation on foot And afterwards because there were divers opinions in that School concerning the Sacraments unto which some gave effective Ministerial vertue and others not every one desiring that his opinion should be an Article of Faith nothing could be concluded but that they should keep themselves within compass of the XXV heads published two years before The Council is appointed to be in Trent and thither the Legates are sent While they meet in Trent to convince Heresies by a Council in France they did the same by force of Arms against a small remainder of the Waldenses Inhabitants of the Alpes of Provence who as hath hath been said before maintained a separation from the See of Rome with divers Rites and Doctrine These Men after the Reformation of Zuinglius enlarged their Doctrine by his and reduced their Rites unto some form at the same time when Geneva embraced the Reformation Sentence was pronounced against these many years before by the Parliament of Aix which had never been executed The King now commanded to execute the Sentence The President mustered together as many Souldiers as he could in the places bordering upon them and in the Pope's State of Avignon and went with an Army against these poor Creatures who had neither Weapon nor thought otherwise than by flight to defend themselves those that could They went not about to teach them or by threats to make them leave their Rites and opinions but first of all filling all the Countrey with Rapes slew as many as stood to their mercy because they could not fly without sparing young or old They rather razed the Countries of Cabriers in Provence and of Merindol in the County of Viinoisin belonging to the Pope and all other places in those Precincts More than 4000. persons were slain They that fled to the Woods and Mountains partly were famished
reconcile himself to her favour but all in vain she was still so implacably bent against him that the Peace of Italy being now concluded and the time come wherein the King had promised her to remove the Cardinal she was importunately instant with the King for the accomplishment of his Royal word At last the order was signed for the Cardinal's removal The Cardinal withdrawes himself a little time from the Court but by the advice of the Cardinal de la Valette restores himself again with the the King and so the Queen-Mother not only fell from her hopes but also from her credit with the King whereupon she departeth out of France and goeth to Bruxels Monsieur the King's Brother requesteth the Parliament to indict the Cardinal so doth the Queen-Mother But the King justifies Richlieu by his Letters and Declarations The Duke of Espernon stops the progress of a new Insurrection by dismantling several strong Cities of the Hugonot Party as Millant St. Afrique Pont de Camares Saint-Rome Tarn and several other places The King of Sweden having invaded Germany the French King makes an Alliance with him he establisheth a Chamber of justice in Paris who give judgement against several persons Then is the Cardinal Richlieu created Duke and Peer of France The French Protestants had obtained permission by the King 's Breviate about the beginning of this year to make a National Assembly of their Ministers of France for the maintaining of their Order and worship The Cardinal was of opinion that his Majesty should require them to meet at Charenton because being within his view they would have the less freedom to renew such Cabals as they had formerly made in their Assemblies of Guienne and Lauguedoc This Order was followed and the Sieur de Galland Counsellour to his Majesty was sent to be President in the King's behalf his Loyalty was not to be suspected and they were obliged to accept of him in regard of divers authentique testimonies which made appear that this Order was conformable to that of Councils assembled in the Primitive times which they professed to honour The King especially commanded him to be careful that no Proposition were made which did not concern their Faith or Discipline to silence them in his Majestie 's name in case they should discourse of any other affairs and to establish such Rules as the Cardinal had proposed to keep that Party in submission To this end he used his utmost Prudence and Loyalty he perswaded them to enact that there should not any more National Assemblies be made but in the presence of a Commissary from the King who might by testifying their obedience be a means of continuing them in quiet Besides he induced them to resolve upon the absolute excluding of all Stranger Ministers this being intended of all that were not natural French and to inhibite their Ministers from leaving the Kingdom without his Majestie 's Licence by this means to prevent all intelligences associations and correspondencies with the enemies of the State according to the Laws of the Kingdom and his Majestie 's particular prohibitions In fine he used so much prudence that they required their Ministers not to intermeddle in any affairs Politick or Military and condemned a Book of Berraut Minister of Montauban as erroneous because he maintained that Ministers had a particular call from God to bear Arms. Divers Ordinances were made there for the subsistence of their Party The Emperour of Germany sendeth Cardinal Pasman to Rome to endeavour to break the French King's Alliance with the King of Sweden The French King having lately been in Lorrain The Administ of Card. Ricâ—â—eu after his return the Cardinal undertook to compose a difference between the Bishops and Friers which had made a great noise for sundry ages together The Friers relying upon their priviledges obtained from Rome pretended to have power both to Preach and confess without permission from the Bishops And the Bishops unto whom all people within their Diocess are subject by common right did perpetually thwart that pretension They could not down with the Friers Priviledges alledging they ought to be declared void as being repugnant to the Primitive Constitutions of the Church This quarrel had been especially fomented during the last year by reason some Books had been published in the name of the English Catholicks which preferred the Monastical life before that of the Prelates and seemed to imply that Friers were more necessary at least more useful to the Church than the ordinary Pastors Was it probable that the whole Society of Friers would relinquish the Priviledges they had obtained from the See of Rome On the other side what reason was there that the Prelates should have so little Authority over them in Administration of Sacraments and the Word of God seeing of old Friers were only mixed among the Laity and addressed themselves unto the Bishops Congregations to receive the Sacraments from their hands or those who executed their charge The Cardinal took upon himself to end this difference though he was at that time employ'd in the most important affairs of Christendom He therefore caused the Superiours of the Orders to come before him one by one well knowing that to negotiate such a business in a publick Assembly would be a labour in vain He was a person well versed in all Antiquities and accordingly he represented to them how that in the first institution of Monks they were Consecrated unto God by the mediation of Bishops who received their Vows instructed them and directed their Consciences He laid before them the Original of the whole affair and shewed them how that the Son of God had subjected all those who sold their goods and followed him unto the Apostles whose Successours the Bishops are whereupon they making a strict profession of leading an Evangelical life were more particularly obliged to observe the Order established in and by the Gospel not that he would question the validity of those exemptions granted from the See of Rome unto which he owed much more respect and obedience than to debate the Ordinances thereof yet that he must needs inform them that they could not be dispensed with from following the Order established by Jesus Christ or his Apostles in Administring the Sacraments and Word of God That in fine themselves could not deny but they were obliged to relinquish some part of their pretensions for the avoiding of trouble to the Church which was likely to ensue upon this account and whereof the Hugonots discoursed with much freedom That this peace would be more acceptable to God than all the advantages it could otherwise procure unto particular persons That it would tend unto their honours by testifying unto the world the moderation of their minds and humility of their spirits and that the world would esteem the better of them That he should not willingly propose that the Bishops should have ordinary jurisdiction over their persons or power to visit their Monasteries but
had held it divers months the Grison Colonels and Captains laying claim to much money and others who were destined to have the Government claiming the restitution of the Valtoline according to promise they mutiny'd and betaking themselves to Arms throughout all Rhetia they secured the Duke of Rohan in the Fort of Maynfelt and enforced the French to forsake them and to return to their own King's dominions Then the Grisons entred into this Valley and recovered their liberty Rohan not being able to escape from Coira whither he was brought from Maynfelt as an Hostage remained there until such time as his men were gone out of Rhetia The dâ—ath of the Duke of Rohan Afterward Duke Rohan wounded in the Battel of Rinfield dieth He was a Duke and Peer of France being bred up in the Wars under King Henry IV. he attained to such experience as following the opinion and Party of the Protestants he was by them chosen to be their General in which charge he alwaies stoutly behaved himself till such time as he got his Pardon from King Lewes XIII Of a civil and courteous deportment to all persons of a sharp wit wary in his proceedings and in his Counsels well advised He was free from pride and ambition Noble in his expenses contemning an increase of wealth and riches He died to the great grief of Duke Weimar and all the other Commanders and of all the Protestants In the year 1637. Francis Cupif a Doctor of Sorbon was converted to the Reformed Religion whereupon the faculty of Theology pronounced this rigid decree against him Howel's Hist of Lewes XIII It is very properly and with great reason that the Apostle ranks Heresies among Crimes and carnal sins because we often perceive that by a secret judgement of God those use to fall and tumble into them who swelling with the vanity and confidence of their own sense or walking according to the flesh suffer not themselves to be led by the spirit of God nor believe that they are tyed to any rule but they taste nothing but what pleaseth man as he is a sensitive Animal Whereof Francis Cupif of Anger 's whom the sacred Faculty had nourished before in her bosom and at last unhappily received into the number of her Doctors to the great scandal of all good men and the applause of the enemies of the Cross of Christ hath lately given an horrid and most deplorable example For according to the honour that was conferred upon him in our School not minding the law he had received from so good a Mother which might have drawn down upon his head all graces from God and men and having quite forgot the Oath he had made so oft and whereunto according to ancient institution all new Graduates and all such who are promoted to the degree of Doctorships are solemnly obliged He is miserably fallen said they from the holy Catholick Church whereby he hath drawn upon himself the loss of his soul before God shame and infamy before men and malediction from all parts This imprudent Son is become the grief and sadness of his Mother then when by a perfidious prevarication abjuring the true Doctrine he hath most impudently turn'd Heretick giving up his name to impiety and falshood But whence can it proceed that he should so easily fall into so fearful a precipice but from the natural presumption of his own judgement and from the ardour of unbridled pleasure c Whence it comes to pass that being blinded and walking continually according to his own covetousness having shaken off the sweet and light Yoak of Jesus Christ he is become a voluntary slave to Heresie which is the height of all sins It being therefore true that as the Christian Emperours said Whatsoever is attempted against Divine Religion becomes injurious to all with greater reason the Sacred Faculty of Theology hath believ'd That the wrong which is done Jesus Christ and to the Catholick Faith by this degenerate Child did concern her so far as to pronounce a grave Censure according to the atrocity of the Crime against such a notorious infamy and to separate him totally from Her and her Nursery though it be nothing at all to be fear'd that such Bastard Plants will take any deep roots Cursed be thou degenerate Child which goest on after thine own Counsel not according to mine which warpest a web but not by my direction which dost add sin to sin which goest down to Egypt and to the Synagogue of Satan and consultest not with me nor remembrest my Precepts Thou hast rejected my Discipline hoping for succour in the help of Calvin and his followers and hast confidence in the shadow of Egypt that is to say in the Conventicle of Hereticks but this imaginary strength shall become thy confusion and the confidence of this shadow which thou followest in despising the Body of the Orthodoxal Church shall turn to thy shame So Anathema was pronounced and publickly fix'd up against him The Queen of France was brought to bed of a Prince on September 5. 1638. at St. German de lay he was born in the twenty third year after the Marriage of the King and Queen The King upon news thereof threw himself upon his knees before a Crucifix and returned humble thanks and acknowledgements to God for his so great goodness toward him All France was full of jollity as they expressed by their voices gestures and actions Yea this gladness dispersed it self up and down all places of Christendom that were Friends to France and struck a kind of wonderment into the world In Rome there were divers inventions and curiosities found out to express a congratulation Before the French Ambassadour's Palace who was then the Marshal d'Estre there was a triumphant Obelisk with the Arms of France and this Ostentous Inscription underneath Ludovico XIII Christianissimo Galliarum Navarrae Regi Qui Pullulantem per avita regna Haereticum Hydram Petulantem in orbe Christiano novum Geryonem Herculeâ clavâ compressit Aras per impietatem eversas Principes per Tyrannidem oppressos Armatâ pietate restituit Aequissimi Herois Justitiae debito Delphino Inter aurealilia nascenti Inter paternos lâ—uros vagienti Futuro futurorum monstrorum Alcidi In afflictorum subsidium In Tyrannorum excidium In liliorum aeternum germen In Ecclesiae invictum columen E coelo in terris stupenda ratione demisso Plausus acclamationes Trophaea Futurae gloriae argumenta Praesentis laetitiae monumenta Attollit adjungit erigit Franciscus Hannibal Estraeus c. For publick arguments of joy Prisoners and Galley-slaves were released Two were ennobled in every Generalty throughout the Kingdom And four Masters were created in every Trade throughout France with divers other priviledges afforded to them of Paris In the year 1640. a great combustion happened in Catalonia which grew so furious that the Viceroy with his Wife and some of his Family were murthered and his house burned to the ground This tumult by