c. The fifth that unity and concord shall be kept in the Church because we have one common Father in Heaven one Mother viz. the Church on Earth one Faith one Baptism and one Celestial inheritance prepared for us c. The sixth and seventh Canons entreat of Orphanes and poor People whose weakness is to be supported The eighth Canon recommendeth unity to be kept betwixt men in spiritual Offices and Civil Judges The ninth and tenth Canons prescribe to the Clergy Precepts of a modest and sober life with abstinence from the delicate pleasures of the world from theatrical spectacles from pomps and unhonest banquets Usury Avarice and Ambition Deceit and Conjurations and many other sins were also restrained I pass by the Precepts concerning the behaviour of Monks and Nuns and the fabrick of their dwelling places In the 32 Canon the difference between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is set down In the 33th the great Litany or Rogations to be observed three dayes by all Christians with fasting sack-cloth ashes walking bare-footed and all kind of humble carriage In the 34 35 and 36 publick fastings and keeping of festival dayes is commanded In the 37 That the Sabbath-day be kept holy that in it no Merchants wares be sold and no criminal cause be judged In 38. and 39 That Tithes be precisely paid and men fleeing to Churches for safeguard are not to be violently drawn out from thence In the 40 In Churches and the porches thereof let no secular judgement be exercised In the 41 That no Ancient Church be spoiled of Tithes and Possessions for the building of new Oratories In the 42 concerning Church-rents bestowed for reparation and upholding of Churches In 44 That no Priest say Mass himself alone for if he have none but himself how can he say Dominus vobiscum or sursum corda or other such passages All frequent offering of the sacrifice of the Mass and presenting of the Paxe is recommended to Christian people In 45 That every person be acquainted with the Creed and the Lord's Prayer and that every one at least learn them in their own vulgar language In 46 That they who continue in drunkenness be excommunicated In 47 That Godfathers shall see that their spiritual Children be brought up in the true Faith In 48 That lascivious songs be not sung in Churches In 49 The cohabitation with Women is forbidden to all the Clergy In 50 That all Bishops Abbots and Church-men have such Agents in their affairs who are men that fear God and hate all unrighteous dealing In 51 That the dead bodies of the Saints be not transported from place to place without the advice of the Prince of the Countrey or the Bishop and Synod In 52 That no dead body shall be buried within the Church except the body of a Bishop or of an Abbot or of a worthy Presbyter or of a faithful Laick person In 53 That incestuous persons be separated from the fellowship of the Church except they be penitent In 54 55 and 56 Marriage in the fourth degree of consanguinity is forbidden and that no man shall marry his God-daughter nor spiritual Sister neither the Woman whose Son or Daughter he hath led to the Sacrament of confirmation And in case they be found to be married they shall be separated again And no man shall take in marriage his Wives Sister neither shall a woman marry her Husband's Brother Of the Council of Rhemes A Council was also Assembled at Rhemes by the Commandment of Charles the Great Anno 813. In this Council Wulfarius the Arch-Bishop was President forty four Canons are rehearsed in the second Tome of Councils made in this Council In the 1. Canon it was concluded That every man should diligently acquaint himself with the Articles of his Faith 2. That he learn the Lords Prayer and understand the meaning of it 3. That every man in holy Orders shall walk worthily according to his Calling 4. The Epistles of St. Paul were read to give instructions to Sub-Deacons how they should behave themselves 5. The Gospel was read to give instruction to Deacons to Minister worthily in their Office 6. Ignorant Priests are instructed to celebrate the Service with understanding 7. They are also instructed how to prepare the Catechumeni to the Sacrament of Baptism 8. The holy Canons were read out of the Decretal of Innocentius for ordering the lives of Chanons 9. The Rule of St. Benedict was read to reduce Abbots and their Convents to a remembrance of their Order 10. The Pastoral Book of Gregory was read to admonish Pastors of their Duty 11. Divers sentences of the Ancients were read to admonish both Prelates and People to a holy life 12. Then they set down a form of receiving confessions and prescribing of penance according to the Canonical institutions 13. They reasoned about the eight principal vices that every one might know what vices to eschew and teach others to beware of the same 14. That Bishops should take heed to the reading of the Books of Canonical Scripture and the Books of Fathers and should attend upon the preaching of the Word of God 15. That Bishops should preach the Sermons and Homilies of the Holy Fathers so as the People might understand them 16. The sixteenth Canon is coincident with the twelfth 17. That Bishops and Abbots permit no man to solace the company with filthy jesting in their presence but that the poor be refreshed at their Tables with Lectures of Divine Scripture and praising of God 18. In the 18th Gluttony and Drunkenness is forbidden to the Ministers of God 19. That no Bishop judge rashly in things secret which are to be referred to the judgement of God 20. Presbyters shall not transport themselves from a low place to a greater 21. Whosoever by giving money procureth a preferment in the Church shall be deposed 22. No Church-man shall cohabit with a Woman except it be with his Mother or Sister or such like person by whose company no suspicion of uncleanness can arise 35. That the Sabbath-day be kept holy and no servile work be done in it 36. That no man bestow upon the Church that thing which he hath fraudulently taken from others 37. Nor yet by lies and deceit withdraw any thing duly belonging to the Church 38. That Tithes be precisely paid 39. That no man receive rewards for his Decree and Sentence 40. That Prayers be made for the Emperour and his Noble Race 41. In the 41 Canon mention is made of a certain Rent left by King Pepin which they wish the Emperour Charles should not alter nor transfer into another summ lest many perjuries and false testimonies might ensue 42. That no man should be removed from his Mansion to whom the Emperour's Almes is distributed 43. That the Statute may be confirmed by his Highness's allowance whereby all contentions are Ordained to have an end 44. That the Statute made in Bononia concerning false witnesses may be ratified
wept replying All that you say Aeneas is true But I have past my word to make Rotomagensis Pope and if I do not I shall be held infamous and a Traytor To which Aeneas answered Things stand so that which way soever you turn you you cannot avoid the blemish of a Traytor It is in your power whether you will betray Italy and your Countrey or betray him and be faithful to your Countrey and Italy With these words Pavia was overcome and resolves to betray Rotogamensis Then meeting with Cardinal Pietro di Santa Maria nova and other Italian Cardinals in the Cardinal of Genoa's chamber they all resolved to prefer Aeneas before any body else Rotomagensis fearing things would not happen as he expected seeing Aeneas going toward the Schedule he said to him with an humble voice Aeneas I recommend my self to thee remember me I beseech thee and have compassion on me Aeneas answered him only thus Poor Worm thou mistakest in recommending thy self to me The Scrutiny being published it appeared that Aeneas had three voices more than Rotomagensis but they could not obtain their two thirds this astonished the French Cardinals The Cardinals Roderigo and Santa Anastasia declared Aeneas with a loud voice which Cardinal Prosper Colonna observing being ambitious to have the honour of making the Pope forasmuch as there wanted but one voice arose took his way toward Aeneas and though he was restrained by Cardinal Niceno and Rotomagensis he cryed aloud I joyn my self to Cardinal Aeneas and do make him Pope This being â—â—â—â—d by the rest of the Cardinals they all threw themselves down at Aeneas's Feet saluted him Pope and confirmed the election afterwards with the usual suffrages Then Cardinal Bessarion apologized for himself to the new Pope and for all the rest of the Cardinals who had favoured Rotomagensis To whom Aeneas I assure you you shall be all equally dear to me for I acknowledge my Election not from this person or from that but from God and the whole body of the Colledge inspir'd by the Holy Ghost from whence all perfection cometh The States assembled in the City of Tours in a bill which they presented to King Lewes XI among other things say That if the King do not undertake to defend them considering the quality of their persons the power and Authority of the Holy See Apostolick they shall not be able to resist the usurpations and impeachments which any Subject of the Realm and others ambitious of preferment will make against the Electors which have the right of Election or ordinary Donation by Apostolick censures And by this means all this Kingdom which is already at a low ebb and very poor shall be stripped and dispoiled of that little Money which remains of the former Exactions In one Ordinance of this King Lewes we find these words It is a strange thing saith he that the unjust exactions of the Court of Rome should be suffered such as their expectative Bulls and other like knacks their Money for vacancies which is levied contrary to the holy Canons and Decrees and contrary to the determination of the Catholick Church and sacred Councils that what is so gotten may be employed in purchasing of Earldoms and Lordships to bestow upon people of mean condition and to prefer them without any precedent merit without any service or use which they can do to the Church or for the defence of the Faith At this time lived Philip de Commines Knight he was born at Commines a Town in Flanders In his youth he served Charles Duke of Burgundy and afterwards Lewes XI King of France who employed him in his most secret and weightyest affairs He hath written the History of France under Lewes XI and Charles VIII his Son He wrote so plainly of the greatest affairs of State that Queen Katherine de Medices used to say that he had made as many Hereticks in State-policy as Luther had done in Religion Stephanus Paschasius hath this Epitaph of him Gallorum nostrae Laus una gloria gentis Hic Cominoee jaces si modò fortè jaces Historiae vitam potuisti reddere vivus Extincto vitam reddidit Historia Le recueil des â—â—â—iâ—â—nances de â—â—â—â—anâ—â— â—oâ—n 〈◊〉 â—iâ—â—e De l'â—â—â—â—lt We find certain proviso's made by King Lewes XI taken out of an Antient Register Lewes by the Grace of God King of France to our welbeloved and faithful Counsellour the Bishop of Limoges and to our Trusty and welbeloved the Dean and Chapter of Limoges aforesaid and to every one of you as well joyntly as severally sendeth greeting Whereas our Truly and beloved the Chancellours Presidents Masters of Ordinary Requests for our Houshold Counsellours Registers Notaries together with our Advocates and Attorney General for our Court of Parliament every Man in his place and Office are appointed and ordained to wait continually upon the employment and administration of our said Court and the administration of Juâ—â—â—â— Supream and Capital for our said Realm which is a very â—â—â—dable thâ—â— commendable and necessary for us our Subjects and the â—â—â—le Commâ—â—-wealth of this our Kingdom in which our Court the â—â—â—â—â—s and Liberties of the Church of France whereof we are the Guardian and Protector are preserved And for this reason our said Court doth consist in part of Counsellours and Officers which are Clergy-men and Ecclesiastical Persons And in consideration of the great and laudable services of the said Chancellour Presidents Masters of Requests Counsellors Registers Notaries Advocates and Attorney they or others by their nomination by means of the intercession of our Predecessors to the Prelates and other Patrons and eonferrers of Benefices have been preferred unto and generally provided of Church-Livings which the said Prelates or others the Patrons or bestowers of the same have freely conferred upon them or have presented them unto the said Patrons in favour and consideration of us and their own great and commendable services as aforesaid Which said Chancellour President Master of Requests c. since our coming to the Crown nor a long time before have not had any such preferment upon our entreaty and request to the said Prelates Patrons and Collatours as they were wont to have And for this Reason the said Court hath with our leave and Licence made a certain Roll wherein every one of them are presented and nominated or have presented and nominated others in their stead each one to some other preferment belonging to you or other the Collators and Patrons of the Benefices of our said Realm And whereas our Trusty and Welbeloved Counsellour Mr. German Chartelier hath nominated his Son unto one of your Collations and presentations We intreat and require you to give present and bestow upon the said Mr. German Chartelier the first Benefice that shall be void within your Disposal Collation or Presentation as our said Counsellour shall require or cause you to be required thereunto hoping that you will not make any denyal of
causes of that ruine Among the writings of John Guignard of Chartres were found certain scandalous libels against the King for which he was executed And one Francis Jacob a Scholar of the Jesuites of Bourges had lately said he would have killed the King but that he held him for dead and that another had done the deed Anno 1595. The Duke of Mayenne and Nemours yield unto the King and are received unto Grace The King of France is now admitted to a reconciliation with the Church of Rome upon these conditions and in these words He shall abjure all Heresies and profess the Catholick Faith in such form as shall be here done by his Ambassadours He shall introduce the Catholick Faith into the Principality of Bearn and shall nominate Catholick Magistrates in the said Province he shall procure within a year the Prince of Conde out of the hands of the Hereticks whom he shall cause to be instructed and brought up in the Catholick Religion The Decrees of the Council of Trent shall be published and received throughout the whole Kingdom of France He shall nominate to the vacant Churches and Monasteries such as are Catholicks and free from all suspicion of Heresie He shall do his best endeavour that the Churches and Clergy be invested anew in their Livings that have been seised upon without any judicial proceeding In bestowing of Magistracies and Dignities he shall take care that Catholicks only be preferred and that Heteticks as near as may be may be expelled The Concordates shall be observed and all abuses removed which have crept in contrary to the same The absolution in France granted by the Bishops shall be condemned He shall write letters to all the Princes of Christendom wherein he shall give notice of his Conversion and profession of the Catholick Faith The Pope granted his Absolution on September 16. by the Negotiation and pursuits of d'Ossat and du Perron his Procurers in the Court of Rome These were afterwards upon his recommendation honoured with Cardinals Caps After a War between the French and Spaniards a Peace was concluded between France and Spain Anno 1598. Then the French King who had hitherto flourished in Martial glory having now his thoughts wholly setled upon peace did so promote the welfare of France which had run headlong to ruine for many years through the storms of Civil War by maintaining and supporting Religion as well the Roman as the Reformed reviving the Laws cherishing Learning restoring Trade and Commerce and beautifying the Kingdom with splendid buildings that he far surpassed all the Kings that were before him In the year 1599. the King's Sister the Lady Katherine de Bourbon was married to the Duke of Bar Son to the Duke of Lorain The Reformed Religion in which she had been bred she would not change by reason as she said of her deceased Mother Queen Joane of Navarre whose life and actions were held worthy to be imitated as who had preferred safety of Conscience before assurance of honours and greatness yea than life it self Being accustomed to say to them on her part that Arms should not be laid down but with these three Conditions either an assured Peace an absolute Victory or an honest Death The Marriage was consummate in the King 's own Cabinet by the Archbishop of Roven at the King 's special Command to avoid greater inconvenencies She cordially affected that which did concert the Liberty of Conscience throughout all France often beseeching the King to let her see the assurances thereof whilst she was in France and not to suffer his Edicts to remain without execution being Proclaimed and without a durable observation being executed She used to be attended in her house by the Ministers of Paris who served her by turns every one a quarter of a year Being then to go into Lorain with her Husband the Church appointed Monsieur de Montigni an Antient Minister to attend her in that journey But M. Peter du-Moulin then coming to Paris the Old Gentleman desired to be excused and that the new Minister as fitter to travel by reason of his age might be chosen for that service To which motion the Princess presently enclined having a special liking to Du Moulin See the Life of Dr. Du Moulin wâ—itten by his worthy Son He took then that journey and because the Princess was entertained in Bishops Palaces and Abbeys he did officiate in the Palace of the Bishop of Meaux in that of the Bishop of Chalons and in the Abbey of Joverre The Harbingers of the Princess being come to Vitris le Francois a Town of Champagne addressed themselves to the chief Magistrate of the Town to prepare quarters for the Princess and her Court. Since Du-Moulin's establishment at Paris till the death of the King's Sister which was five years after he made a journey into Lorain every Spring either with her or to her and having served his quarter at her Court returned to Paris there the Princess was most part of the year Those of the Reformed Religion made many and great complaints that the King's Edicts were not kept nor observed that they were not provided of all things necessary for the exercise of their Religion the liberty of their Consciences and safety of their persons and fortunes That they were excluded from all charges and Offices in the State justice treasure and policie to the great prejudice of their Children c. The end of all their Assemblies was to obtain an Edict from the King so clear and plain as they should not be constrained to sue for any other Then the King made an Edict at Nantes and signed it after he had reduced that Province to his obedience containing a Declaration of the Edicts of Pacification and of the troubles grown in France for matter of Religion the which though granted in April 1598. was not allowed in the Court of Parliament of Paris until the 25. day of February following by reason of the many oppositions and difficulties that were made against it The Duchess of Bar would not go out of Paris before it was confirmed such was her zeal and affection in that matter as in all other affairs of that nature And for the better satisfaction of the Protestants in matters of justice it pleased King Henry IV. to erect a Chamber in the Court of Parliament of Paris purposely for them It consisted of one President and Sixteen 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 Parliament of Burdeaux and Grenoble and one at Chasters for the Parliament of Tholouse These Chambers were called les Chambres de l'Edict because they were established by a special Edict at Nantes in Britain The Duke of Joyeuse wallowing in sensual pleasures being
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
Penance Extream Unction Order and Matrimony and that they do confer grace and of these that Baptism Confirmation and Order cannot be reiterated without sacriledge And I receive and admit the received and approved rites of the Catholick Church in the solemn administration of all the foresaid Sacraments I embrace and receive all and every thing which have been defined and declared in the holy Council of Trent concerning Original sin and Justification Likewise I profess that there is offered up unto God in the Mass a true proper and propitiatory Sacrifice for quick and dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly really and substantially the body and blood together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ and that there is made a conversion of the whole substance of the Bread into the Body and of the whole substance of the Wine into the Blood Which conversion the Catholick Church calleth Transubstantiation I confess also that under one kind only whole Christ and the true Sacrament is received I constantly hold that there is a Purgatory and that the souls detained there are helped by the suffrages of the faithful Likewise that the Saints reigning together with Christ are to be Worshipped and called upon and that they do offer up prayers to God for us And I assert that their Relicks are to be Worshipped That the Images of Christ and the Mother of God alwayes a Virgin and also of other Saints are to be had and retained and that due honour and veneration is to be given to them And I affirm that the power of Indulgences was left by Christ in the Church and that the use of them is very comfortable to Christian people I acknowledge that the holy Catholick and Apostolick Roman Church is the Mother and Mistress of all Churches And I freely promise and swear true obedience to the Roman Bishop the Successour of the blessed Peter the Prince of the Apostles the Successour of Jesus Christ And I undoubtedly receive and profess all other things delivered by the Sacred Canonical and Oecumenical Councils and especially the holy Council of Trent Moreover I condemn reject and anathematize all contrary things and heresies whatsoever condemned rejected and anathematized by the Church And this Catholick faith without which no man can be saved which I freely profess and truly hold for the present the same I will retain and profess constantly unto the end of my life by the help of God c. And this I promise vow and swear so help me God and his holy Gospels 3. The third Decree was concerning Divine Worship in general 4. Concerning the Sacraments As for the Sacrament of Confirmation it was to be done frequently and Gratis by the Bishops through the Towns in their Diocesses 5. Concerning Bishops where diverse qualifications are pre-requisite before any one be admitted to the Office of a Bishop 6. Concerning the Offices of Bishops 7. Concerning the Offices of Curates and other Presbyters and Parish-Priests 8. Concerning Monasteries wherein divers Instructions and Rules are prescribed to the Abbots and Priors for the better governing themselves and their Monasteries 9. Concerning Ecclesiastical Jurisdicton There were also divers Statutes made in the same Provincial Synod concerning the foundation of Schools and Seminaries The Decrees of the Provincial Council of Rhemes Anno 1583. 1. COncerning the Catholick faith and the reason of professing the same 2. A Form of Confession is set down 3. Concerning Divine Worship 4. Concerning the Breviary Missal and Manual 5. Concerning Festival Dayes 6. Concerning Divination by lots and other things contrary to Christian piety 7. Concerning the Sacraments 1. Of Confirmation 2. Of Penance 3. Of the Eucharist 4. Of Order 5. Of Matrimony Whereunto is added the Decree of the Council of Trent concerning the reformation of Matrimony ex Sess 24. 6. Of Extream Unction 8. Concerning Seminaries 9. Of the Clergy in general 10. Of Regulars and their Monasteries 11. Of Curates 12. Of Chapters and Canons 13. Concerning Bishops 14. Concerning Simoniacks and Fiduciaries 15. Concerning Burials 16. Concerning Usury 17. Concerning Jurisdiction 18. Concerning a Visitation 19. Concerning a Diocesan Synod 20. Of a Provincial Synod The Decrees of the Provincial Council of Bourdeaux together with the Laws of the Seminaries Anno 1583. all approved by the Pope 1. COncerning a Confession of Faith 2. Of those things which have respect to Divine Worship and Religion 3. Of Ecclesiastical Prayers 4. Of the Breviary Missal and other Books pertaining to Divine Offices 5. Of those things which either are to be observed or to be taken heed of in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass as they call it and in Divine Offices 6. Of Festival-dayes 7. Of Magick Arts and other things contrary to Christian Religion 8. Of the Sacrament 9. Of Baptism 10. Of Confirmation 11. Of the Eucharist 12. Of Penance 13. Of Extream Unction 14. Of Order 15. Of Matrimony 16. Of Bishops 17. Of Chapters and the Canons of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches 18. Of Parish-Priests 19. Of the Residency of Pastors 20. Of preaching the Word of God 21. Of the life and manners of Clergy-men 22. Of the Examination of those that are to be promoted to benefices with cure 23. Of Simoniacks and Confidentiaries 24. Of Monasteries 25. Of Seminaries 26. Of the not alienating the things of the Church 27. Of Schools Printers and Book-sellers 28. Of Hospitals 29. Of Usuries and unlawful Contracts 30. Of Burials 31. Of Jurisdiction 32. Of a Visitation 33. Of a Diocesan Synod 34. Of a Provincial Council 35. Of Punishments Of the Institution and Laws of the Seminaries of the Province of Bourdeaux 1. OF the Houses of a Seminary That they be built in a large and spacious place near unto the Cathedral Church That there be a Chappel wherein the Clergy may meet at prayers That the dormitory be open and common in which every one may have his own bed c. That an Hospital be appointed in an open place for sick folks in which all things may be provided for the sick with singular piety and charity 2. Of the manner of admitting Clerks into Seminaries The election and admission of Clerks shall be in the power of the Bishop or of those to whom this care shall be committed by name That out of all youths very fit youths may be chosen the Bishop shall cause it to be proclaimed through all the Cities and Towns of the Diocess especially where there are Schools that if any be poor and born of lawful Matrimony who desire to be promoted to the Priesthood and who have attained to the age of twelve years and have not exceeded the twentieth and have made some progress in the Grammar that they appear to be examined at the time and place which he shall appoint them The Bishop shall not admit any to be examined whom he shall behold to be maimed or deformed Then shall he enquire diligently concerning the condition estate
battel But Charles Martel getting out of prison assisteth Plectrude gathereth Forces and overcometh the new King and Rainfroy Charles is now received and installed Major of France and having assured himself of the Children of King Dagobert he caused them to be gently brought up in a Monastery At Colen he seizeth on Plectrude and Thibauld and inflicts no other punishment upon them but enjoyns them to live quiet and to attempt nothing without his liking He pardons Rainfroy and gives him the Government of Anjou He degradeth Chilperic being advanced against Law and causeth the eldest Son of Dagobert to be chosen King named Chilperic the third Chilperic dies having reigned five years and in his place his Brother Thierri was crowned King He reigned ten years and dying left his Son Childerick the last King of this first race of the Merovingiens Charles Martel from Major of the Palace is chosen Duke or Prince of the French Eudo Prince of the Gascoigus to whom Rainfroy joyned himself called in the Saracens with their King Abdiram out of Spain Anno 725. whom Charles met and killed them with an universal slaughter there were slain in one day three hundred seventy and five thousand and of the French fifteen hundred among which were many of the Nobility and men of Note And having recovered Burgundy and Lions in the year following Eudo dying he invaded Aquitain and overthrew the Saracens in great numbers invading France in the year 731 and regained Avignon taken by them and forceth them to abandon Narbon and the whole Country to his mercy At that time divers devout Monks lived in France viz. Vandegrisil of Fontinel a builder of Monasteries of whom Sigebert makes mention Vrsmar of Lobia a Founder of a Monastery Bertine Abbot of Sithiena and holy Aegidius Childeric was King in shew nine years Anno 744. Pepin in the time of King Childeric called a Council at Soissons where he assisted in person together with the greatest Peers of the Land five under the Authority of Charles Martel and four under Pepin the Son of Charles who dispossessed him Charles Martel having governed the Kingdom five and twenty years dieth He had four Sons Carloman Pepin Giles and Grypho Giles was made Bishop of Rhotomagum and left his Government assigned him by his Father unto Carloman and Pepin and they two divide the Kingdom and Govern each one his own part under the Title of their Father as is apparent by the first words of the Council under Carloman In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ I Carloman Duke and Prince of the French in the year from the incarnation of Christ 742. on the 11th of the Kalends of March by the advice of the servants of God and of my Nobes I have Assembled the Bishops in my Kingdom c. Within seven years after this Synod he laid aside his Princely Authority saith Bellarmine and entred into a Cloyster becomes a Monk and so dieth at Vienna and then all the Authority was in Pepin alone Grypho had rebelled against Carloman but at last Pepin took him in Italy and caused him to be beheaded Anno 753. Pepin having the Government alone aimed at an higher Title Blondus and others who have written the Acts of the French Blond dec 14. Lib. 10. say that the Nobility and Commonalty of that Nation duly considering the worthiness of Pepin and sottishness of Childeric consulted with Zachary Bishop of Rome whether they should tolerate so foolish a King any longer and defraud Pepin of his deserved Princely honour And when the Pope answered That he was most worthy to be a King who could best discharge the Office of a King Petrie's Church-Hist Cent. 8. the French with the publick consent of the whole Nation did pronounce Pepin for their King and Childerick was shaven and made a Monk Then the Pope wrote unto Boniface Bishop of Mentz to Anoint Pepin King of France and declare all his Subjects free from their Oath of Allegiance unto their lazy Soveraign The Pope was chiefly moved hereunto with hope to draw help from Pepin against the Lumbards Concil apud Palat Vernes his mortal enemies Pepin Anno 755. called almost all the Gallican Bishops to meet at the Council of Vernes the Palace About this time Aponius a French man wrote several Books In the Council called by Carloman of which I hinted before he beginneth thus I Carloman c. have Assembled the Bishops which are in my Kingdom with the Priests into a Council and Synod These are Boniface Arch-Bishop of Mentz Burchard of Wirtzburg Reginfrid Guntharius with the rest of the Bishops and their Priests That they should give me Counsel how the Law of God and Religion of the Church may be restored which in the dayes of former Princes hath been shattered and fallen and how Christian People may attain the salvation of their souls and not perish being deceived by false Priests And by the advice of my Priests and Nobles We have Ordained Bishops through Cities and set over them the Arch-Bishop Boniface who is the Legate of St. Peter And we have Ordained that Synods should be called every year Concil Tom. 2. Edit Crab. that in our presence the Decrees of Canons Rites and Laws of the Church may be restored And we restore unto the Churches the Monies that have been taken from them We have also discharged all the Servants of God from hunting and wandring in woods with Dogs and that they have no Hawks nor Faulcons We have also Decreed according to the Holy Canons That each Presbyter dwelling in a Parish be subject unto the Bishop where he dwelleth and that alwayes in Lent he give an account of his Ministry whether of Baptism or Catholick Faith and prayers and order of Masses Then he forbiddeth sacrifice to the dead and other profane Rites of the Heathen He appointeth punishments against the Fornications and Adulteries of Monks It was also decreed that Monks and Nuns should live within their Abbies and Cloysters according to the Rule of their Father Benedict Pope Stephen confirmed Pepin and his Heirs for Kings of France and of him asked aid to withstand the Power of Aistulphus then King of Lombardy who then had exacted Tribute from certain Lands belonging to the Bishop of Rome and because it was refused took up Arms. The Pope wrote a Letter directed to the Kings of France and to all Bishops Abbots Priests and Monks and to the Glorious Dukes and Counts and unto the whole Army of the Kingdom of France Stephen Pope and all the Bishops Priests and Deacons Dukes Counts People and Army of the Romans all being in anguish with how doleful and bitter grief we are encompassed on every side with how great perplexity and doubtfulness we are distressed and how many tears our eyes do shed because of the continual troubles which are multiplyed upon us we think that the smallest part of all the elements do declare for who beholding our
then it was the custom of the French Kings not to eat alone and seeth twelve poor men ill-apparelled sitting by upon the ground near to the Table of the Noblemen He demanded what those poor miserable Creatures were that did feed apart One answered They were the Messengers and Servants of God He then said Their God was of small account seeing his Messengers and Servants were so miserable and contemptible and thereupon retired himself having by this Treaty qualified the Force of Charles viewed his Train and made shew of his Courage even without an Ambassadour Charles Resolved to avenge this affront of the Saracen He raiseth an Army of an hundred and thirty thousand men He returneth into Spain at the first encounter he defeated Agoiland's Army near to Pampelona and for a seal of his Victory carrieth away the Head of Agoiland slain by the hand of Arnold of Belange a Noble and Valiant Knight Charles wrote divers Books He began a Grammar of the German Language but ended it not He changed the names of the Winds and Months from the Heathenish manner In the Epistle to Alcuinus before his Books De Divinis Officiis he saith when Christ was at supper with his Disciples he brake the bread and gave the cup to them in figure of his body and blood and left a great Sacrament which is profitable unto us Lib. 1. cap. 15. He saith elsewhere The Miracles which they say have appeared in Images if they did not appear truly as no Authentick History sheweth were but lies If by some imaginary over-shadowing they did appear to deceive mens minds it is most dangerous lest that Old Enemy by his subtilty through shew of wonders perswade to do unlawfull things But if these things did verily appear we should understand that when many wondrous things are done at the pleasure of God by some Creatures Lib. 3. cap. 25. or in whatsoever Creatures they be done yet these things are not to be worshipped by which or in which these wonders are made because God who sheweth many signs unto men by visible and palpable things to mollifie the hardness of mens hearts by these visible things worketh not these signs to confirm the worship of any Creature for he hath commanded to worship himself alone Because God spake out of a bush to Moses should the bush therefore be worshipped Because a Woman was healed by touching the hem of Christ's garment should hems therefore be worshipped The Catholick Church professeth to serve God not by Images not by men nor ethereal powers but by Christ our Lord. Charles the Emperour made many Laws and Ecclesiastical Constitutions which Angisus Abbot of Lobien and then Arch-Bishop of Senon gathered together with the Constitutions of his Son Lewis and divided them into seven Books Sinderus testifieth that they were in the Abby of St. Gallus and were not long since printed at Paris Alcuin cont Elipant Alcuinus saith thus of him Charles was a King in Power a Catholick in Faith an High-Priest in Teaching a Judge in Equity a Philosopher in Liberal Studies famous in Manners and excellent in all Honesty He was never served at Table with more than four dishes at once his Recreations were hunting and reading of Histories He died in February Pedro Mexia Hist Anno 814 and was interred at Aix la Chapelle where he was born and his Memory honoured with a goodly Epitaph The greatness of his Monarchy is admirable for he quietly enjoyed all France Germany and the greatest part of Hungary all Italy and a part of Spain He left his Son Lewes sole Heir of his great Kingdoms who was the weakest of all his Sons The French Monarchy being come to the height of it's Greatness not long after the death of Charlemagne it began to decline The foolish lenity of Lewes was the beginning the which was continued by the disordered confusions of his Successors who in spite one to another hastened the ruine of their House making way thereunto by their Vices and Misfortunes Lewes more fit to be a Monk than a King was so given to Devotion and of so soft a spirit that he made his Authority contemptible both within and without the Realm This made divers Nations subject to the Crown to fall from their obedience Bernard King of Italy an ambitious young man was perswaded by the Bishops of Orleans and Milan to seize upon the Realm of France But being in field to go into France against his Unckle with an imaginary favour of the French to be proclaimed King both he and all his Counsellours were taken by Lewes his Subjects Lewes having both his Nephew and Counsellors in his Power despoils him of all his Realm of Italy confines him to perpetual prison and puts out his eyes the like he doth to all the Bishops and Noble Men he could get and after a few dayes causeth them to be beheaded This act from Lewes and committed against such persons began to breed a general dislike the which was aggravated by a domestical dissention After the death of Bernard Lewes gave Italy to his eldest Son Lotharius and associated him in the Empire To his Son Pepin he gave Aquitain to Lewes Bavaria and would have them all bear the name of Kings Lewes had a Son by Judith his second Wife an ambitious Woman called Charles This Woman play'd the Empress and Queen over all which caused Lewes to be hated and contemned His Sons Lotharius Pepin and Lewes by the Advice of the Bishops who were incensed against the Emperour by reason of the death of those Church-men resolve to seize upon their Father Mother and younger Brother to dispossess them of all Authority and then to govern the States after their own wills wherein they must use force and a publick consent Lotharius lieves a great Army and calleth a National Council of the French Church at Lions supposing sooner to suppress Lewes by this means than by a Parliament Lewes appeareth and yieldeth to the censure of the Prelates which was to retire himself into a Monastery there to attend his Devotion and to resign the Empire and the Realm to his Children So Lewes was conveyed to Soissons to the Monastery of St. Medard his Wife and her Son Charles were committed to other places and the whole Government committed to Lotharius and his Brethren And the greatest of the Church-men were guilty of this Out-rage seeking to maintain their Decrees Lewes continued in prison five years viz. from the year 829 unto the year 834. Then Lotharius being forced to yield to his Father goes to field takes him prisoner again and leads him back to the Convent at Soissons where he stayed not long for the French did bandy openly against Lotharius and his Brethren abandoned him so as he was forced to yield unto his Father and to crave pardon Then Lewes gives portions to his Children to Lotharius he leaves the Realm of Austrasia from the River of Mens unto Hungary with the Title
John King of England lost all his holds and possessions in Normandy through the force of the French King The Pope had Excommunicated King John not only for the paricide of his Nephew Arthur but also for the ill usage of his Clergy King John sends confiding men in all hast to Pope Innocent IV. beseeching him to protect him against the King of France promising thereupon to bind the Realm of England and Seigniory of Ireland to hold of him and his successours and in sign of obedience to pay him a yearly tribute of a thousand marks of silver Innocent sends his Legat presently to absolve him to pass the contract and receive the homages of Fealty as well of himself as of his Subjects John is absolved and having laid down his Crown Scepter Cloak Sword and Ring at the Legats feet he doth him homage for the Realm of England kissing his Feet as his Tributary and binds the English to the like duty by a solemn Oath He was willing also to discharge what he had taken from his Clergy This was done Anno 1215. Then the Legat returning into France requireth Philip in the Pope's name that he should suffer John to enjoy his Realm of England in peace and freely to possess the Lands which he held by homage of the Crown of France Moreover that he should satisfie the great complaints which the Clergy of his Realm had made against him restoring that which he had exacted from them during the Wars upon pain of Excommunication if he did not obey presently Philip promiseth to submit himself and before the Legat's departure he frees the Clergy of his Realm of the Tenths which he had exacted for the charge of the Wars according to the decree of a National Council held at Soissons King John being freed by the Pope and pressed by him to perform his command oppresseth his Subjects by extraordinary impositions and Tyrannical exactions The English Nobility therefore reject John and offer the Realm to King Philip who sendeth his Son Lewes giving him a train fit for his person in so great an exploit Lewes having taken Hostages of the English for assurance of their Faith passeth into England and so to London Math. Westm Il. 2. sub anno 1215. where he is joyfully received In the mean time complaints come to Philip from Pope Innocent who in a general Council held at Rome did Excommunicate Lewes the eldest Son of Philip Augustus with all his adherents King John dyeth and the English receive Henry the Son of John and dismiss Lewes of France King Philip instituted the Provost of Merchants and the Sheriffs at Paris for the politick Government thereof he caused the City to be paved being before very noisome by reason of the mire and dirt he built the Halls and the Louvre He Walled in Bois de Vincennes and replenished it with Dear and other Wild Beasts he finished that sumptuous building of our Ladies Church In his Testament he ordained many notable things he left towards the winning the City of Jerusalem III. C. M. pounds of Paris Money to the Hospital in Mountfort one C. M. pounds and to be distributed among the poor Commons of his Land he gave XX. M. pounds But a pound of Paris Money was then but two shillings six pence sterling King Philip dyed and was buried with great pomp in the Monastery of St. Dennis Anno 1223. and Lewes VIII his Son succeeded him who was crowned at Rhemes Pope Innocent III. having gathered together an Army of one hundred thousand pilgrims set forward for the final extirpation of the poor Albigenses The best Champions for the Pope herein were the Duke of Burgundy the Earls of Nevers St. Paul Auxerre Geneva Poictiers with Simon Earl of Montfort Of the Clergy Milo the Pope's Legat the Arch-Bishops of Sens and Rovan the Bishops of Clermont Nevers Lysieux Bayeux Chartres with divers others every Bishop with the Pilgrims of his jurisdiction to whom the Pope promised Paradice in Heaven but not one penny on Earth Their work was to destroy the Albigenses which were in great numbers in Daulphinè Tho. Fullers holy War li. 3. ca. 21. Provence Narbon Tholouse and other parts of France Their commission also extended to the rooting out of all their friends and favourers whether detected or only suspected such as were Reimund Earl of Tholouse Reymund Earl of Foix the Vice-Count of Besiers Gaston Lord of Bern the Earl of Bigorre the Lady of la Vaur with divers others The first piece of service these Souldiers performed was in sacking the City of Besiers and Burrough of Carcassone in which many of the Papists dwelt and promiscuously were slain with the Albigenses Yea Priests themselves were cut in pieces in their Priestly Ornaments and under the banner of the Cross As for the City of Carcassone which was not far from the Burrough whilst the City was besieged they escaped out by the benefit of a Vault under-ground and so shifted abroad for themselves Hitherto this War was managed by the Pope's Legat. Simon Earl of Montfort is now chosen Captain of this Army who swears to vex the Lord's enemies After he was seized of the Vice-County of Besiers he took many other Castles and Cities When the Quarantine or forty days service of this Army was expired the time the Pope set them to merit Paradice in they would not stay any longer but ran away And though the Bishops perswaded some few to stay yet could they little prevail which was no small advantage to the Albigenses The Earls of Tholouse Foix and Comminge and Prince of Bern sheltred themselves under Peter King of Arragon whose homagers they were receiving investiture from him though their Dominions lay on this side the Pyrenean Hills This King suspected the greatness of the Earl of Montfort therefore he fomented a faction in them against the Holy Army he charged Earl Simon for seizing on the Lands of good Catholicks for supposed Hereticks and complained that the Vice-Count of Besiers who lived and dyed firm in the Romish Faith was lately trained into the Legat's hand and against Oaths and promises of his safe return was kept Prisoner till his death and his Lands seized on by Earl Simon A pitcht Battle was fought near the Castle of Moret where the King of Arragon being wounded to death fell from his Horse and immediately his Army ran all away Simon pursued them to the Gates of Tholouse and killed many thousands The Fryars imputed this Victory to the Bishop's Benediction and adoring a piece of the Cross together with the fervency of the Clergyes prayers that remained behind in the Castle of Moret Yet within few years the face of this War began to alter for young Reimund Earl of Tholouse exceeding his Father in valour and success so bestirred himself that in few months he regained what Earl Simon was many years in getting And at last Earl Simon besieging Tholouse with a stone which a Woman let fly out of an
forth Anno 1551. At this time a War was denounced against King Henry the second by the Pope and the Emperour and that upon an unjust quarrel He gave some hopes saith Onuphrius of composing the differences in Religion Onuphr in Julio 3. when at the request of the Emperour he declared by his Bull in the first year of his Popedom that the Council should be continued at Trent at the beginning of the next May. And presently after he addeth he unwittingly put himself upon the War of Parma and thereby set all Italy nay all Europe on fire The first Session of the Council on May 1. 1551. and the second upon the first of September were only for Ladies for there was nothing done King Henry II. set forth an Edict at the same time dated the third day of September the same year containing a restraint of transporting Gold and Silver to Rome where he sets down at large the occasions of the War of Parma begun by the Pope And among other things he saith Which holy Father upon a sudden fit of Choler had caused a certain company of Men of War both Horse and Foot to be levied and set forth and also enticed and perswaded the Emperour with whom we were in good Terms of Peace and Amity to take Arms to aid his forces in the design of the recovery of Parma And after he had harassed and laid wast all things whatsoever he pleased in the Countrey of Parma Edict du Roy Henric. 2. imprime a Paris l'ann 1551. he caused his said Forces to march toward the Territories of Mirandula which hath for a long time even during the Life of our late most Honoured Lord and Father been in the known protection of the Crown of France which he beleagured using most incredible and inhumane cruelties towards the Inhabitants of the said Territory yea such as Barbarians and Infidels would not have used the like giving the World to know very stoutly that he meant them to us who have not deserved any such things at his hands or the Holy See There were six Sessions holden in the time of that War those two forementioned and four more in two whereof the most material points of Faith of Manners and Church Discipline were discussed and determined as those of the Sacrament of the Eucharist Transubstantiation Penance and extreme Unction as also about the Jurisdiction of Bishops where many blows were struck at the Liberties of the French Church and the rights of the Crown Another Edict of King Henry II. was made at the Camp near Weldenaggbes May 21. 1552. and Printed at Paris the same year From this time till the beginning of the year 1560. the Council of Trent did nothing What time Pope Pius IV. as soon as he got into the Chair sent forth a Declaration for the continuation of it against Easter-day the next year The French King makes preparation for a National Council and protesteth against the Council then assembled in Trent Jacobus Amiotus Hist Concil Trident. li. 4. Abbot of Bellosana appeared in the name of the French King with Letters of his Majesty which he presented to the Legate desiring they might be read and his credency heard The Legate receiving them gave them to the Secretary to be read The Superscription was Sanctissimis in Christo Patribus Conventûs Tridentini Much fault was found with the word Conventûs The Bishop of Mentz said if they would not receive a Letter from the King of France who called them Sanctissimus Conventus how would they hearken to the Protestants who called them Conventus Malignantium Then the King's Letter was opened and read The French King dismisseth the Pope's Nuncio but fearing that by his dissention with the Pope those that desired change of Religion would make some innovation or that himself might come into the bad opinion of his people as if his mind were averse from the Catholick Faith and perhaps to open a way for reconciliation with Rome he made a most severe Edict against the Protestants confirming all the other which he had published before adding greater punishments more ways to discover the guilty and greater rewards to the promoters Hereupon many were apprehended condemned and burnt as I have shewed before in the Table of French Martyrs concluding it at the year 1557. On the fifth of September 1557. in Paris at night about two hundred persons were assembled in an house to celebrate the Communion which being discovered by the common people the house was assaulted and some fled but the women and weaker sort were taken and seven were burnt and the greater part of the others reserved for the same punishment to be inflicted when the complices were found out The Suisses made intercession for these and the King gave order that the proceeding against them should be moderate but the Pope is angry with the French King for using any moderation But the number of the Protestants being now increased in France thâ—ir courage increased also And there being a custom among the people of Paris in the Summer Evenings to go out of the Subburbs of St. German in great multitudes to take the Fresco and to solace themselves with divers kinds of sports those of the new Religion instead of doing so began to sing the Psalms of David in French Verses 〈…〉 The multitude first laughed at the Novity then leaving the sports joyned themselves unto the singers And the number of those who came to that place began to increase more than usually The Pope's Nuncio told the King of this Novity as of a thing pernicious and dangerous because said he the Ministeries of Religion usually celebrated in the Church in the Latin Tongue by Religious men only were put into the mouth of the common people in the vulgar Language which was an invention said he of the Lutherans telling him that if he did not resist the beginnings all Paris would be Lutheran The King gave order that the principal Authours should be proceeded against wherein they went not very far having found Anthony King of Navar and his Wife in that number But for hereafter it was forbid upon pain of death The King now understanding that some of the Parliament were Protestants in a Mercurial so they call the Judicature instituted to examine and correct the actions of the Counsellours of Parliament and Judges of the King held in Paris June 15. 1558. where they were to treat of Religion after the congregation was assembled entred in person And having commanded them to prosecute the things begun Claude Viole one of them spake much against the manners of the Court of Rome and the bad customs grown to be pernicious errours which have caused the new Sects Therefore it was necessary to mitigate the severe punishments until the differences of Religion were removed and the Ecclesiastical Discipline amended by Authority of a General Council the only remedy for these evils as the Councils of Constance and Basil have judged
contained in the writing framed at Nancy with the privity of the Duke of Lorain which had been presented to the King in the beginning of the year That the King should again declare himself Head of the Catholick League he promiseth never to make a Peace nor Truce with the Hugonots nor any Edict in their favour He shall by a publick Edict oblige all Princes Peers of France Lords and Officers of the Crown Towns Colledges Corporations and the whole people to swear the same and bind themselves with a solemn Oath never to suffer any one to reign that was not of the Romish Religion and that for time to come none should be admitted to Offices Places and Dignities in any part of that Kingdom but such as were Catholicks and made profession of their Faith according to the Doctrine of Sorbon and the Belief of the Church of Rome That the Council of Trent should be received and observed through the whole Kingdom upon the conditions and exceptions formerly mentioned the priviledges of the Gallican Church being within three Months to be declared by a Congregation of Prelates and the King's Council with divers other Articles The Articles concluded and confirmed the King presently sent forth his Letters Patents into all Provinces and several Bailages to appoint the Assembly of the States in October following at Blois a place far from Paris where the people were at his devotion far from any commerce or intelligence with the League and near those Towns which were held by the Hugonots The Duke of Guise goeth with the Queen-Mother to Chartres unto the King and is received by him with great demonstrations of honour in appearance The King causeth the Edict of the union to be published in his Council and sworn to by every one and the War against the Hugonots to be openly Proclaimed for the prosecution whereof two several Armies were appointed one in Dauphiné under the Duke of Mayenne the other in Poictou under Ludovico Gonzaga Duke of Nevers The King gives the Duke of Guise the General Command over all the men at Arms of the Realm This though not the name and title yet in effect was the Office and charge of Constable He makes the Cardinal of Guise Legate of Avignon the which he promiseth to obtain for him of the Pope He determined to give the Seal unto Peter of Espinac Archbishop of Lions He declares the Cardinal of Bourbon first Prince of the blood And the King 's late Counsellours are dismissed the Court. But two things trouble the League one iâ— the news of the defeat of the Spanish Armado at Sea by the English the other is that the King will not return to Paris howsoever they importune him Pope Sixtus V. writes congratulatory Letters to the Duke of Guise full of praises comparing him to those holy Macchabees the Defenders of the People of Israel and exhorting him to continue successfully and gloriously to fight for the advancement of the Church and the total extirpation of the Hugonots Which Letters to encrease the Duke's Fame were by his dependants caused to be Printed and divulged in Paris with as much applause in the people as anger and trouble in the King who could not be pleased that another should have more Credit and Authority in his Kingdom than himself The Assembly of the States meet at Blois at the time prefixed viz. on October 16. After dinner all being met in the great Hall of the Castle the King sate down in a Throne raised by many steps from the Earth and covered with a rich cloth of State The Queens Princes Cardinals Peers and Officers of the Crown sate upon Seats fitted for that purpose in two long rowes on the right hand and on the left and between them in the inner part of the Theatre sate the Deputies according to the Ancient preheminence of their degrees and the Duke of Guise as Grand-Mastre with the Staff of Office in his hand sate down upon a Stool at the foot of the State on â—he right hand and on the left sate the Sieur de Monthelon who represented the Person of the High Chancellour of the Kingdom The King begins the Assembly with an elegant Oration wherein attesting the earnest desires of the good of his people and shewing the dangerous condition wherein intestine discords had involved the Crown he exhorted every one to lay aside their passions to forget their enmities to reunite themselves sincerely under his obedience forsaking all novelties condemning all Leagues c. which had disturbed both him their Lawful Sovereign and the peace of the Kingdom For as he pardoned all that was past so for the time to come he would not endure it but account it as an Act of absolute Treason That as he resolved to persecute and tread down Heresie to favour those that were good to restore the splendour and force of justice to advance Religion to uphold the Nobility and to disburden the Common people so he earnestly prayed and conjured every one of them to assist him with their good Counsels and sincere intentions This speech of the King 's stung the Duke of Guise to the quick and all those of his party He caused his Speech to be Printed which served much to excuse those things which followed afterward After the King's Speech followed the Oration of Monthelon who prosecutes and amplifies the King's Speech To which the Archbishop of Bourges answered for the Order of the Clergy the Baron de Seneschay for the Nobility and the Prevost des Merchands of Paris for the third Order of the Commons The Tuesday following the King and the States swear in solemn manner to perform the Edict made before of persevering in the Romish Religion The Archbishop of Bourges shewed the States the greatness and obligation of the Oath which they were to take Beaulieu the new Secretary of State inrolled an Act of that Oath in memory of so solemn an Action After it was done they gave thanks to God publickly in the Church of S. Saveur The Proposition of receiving the Council of Trent made in the Assembly of the States is generally rejected The King is requested to declare the King of Navarre incapable of the Crown and all others suspected to be Hugonots and after much opposition he coldly consents unto it and gives unto the Deputies a Protestation which had been presented unto him from the King of Navarre who having called a Congregation of those of his party at Rochel had caused a writing to be printed wherein he demanded the execution of those Edicts and Grants which had been so often made to those of his party the Convocation of a National or universal Council wherein he might lawfully be instructed in those things that were controverted in matter of Faith and finally he protested to count invalid whatsoever should be determined against him in that Assembly at Blois To which Propositions of the King of Navarre the French King added That if justice requires no man
the League between the French King the Duke of Savoy and the Venetians negotiates another between himself and the Princes of Italy The Spaniard spreads abroad defaming Libels against the League of France Venice and Savoy Those great losses which the Protestants had sustained for some preceding years in Bearn and Languedoc alwaies kept them waking especially after the Peace of Montpelier they well perceiving that those small â—outs which they had suffered did threaten their Party with an utter destruction The Spaniards therefore laboured very much to get the Sieur de Soubize and Rohan who were the only eminent persons to Command their Arms. Their design took effect These two Brothers being met at Castres resolved to raise those of their Party the one by Sea at Guienne and the other in Languedoc The attempt upon the Fort of Blavet otherwise Port S. Lewes of which we have spoken before was an effect of that resolution as also the endeavours of the Duke and Duchess of Rohan began at the same time in Languedoc to draw in more Towns in to their Party But the Marquess de Ragny was sent in all haste into Languedoc with certain Regiments to oppose the first Commotions and to employ many persons of discretion to assure himself of the Counsels of the chief Towns and by this means most of them kept within their duties Soubize publisht a Manifest which sounded an Alarm to all the Protestant Party making them to believe that their utter ruine was concluded on in the King's Council That the loss of their Religion was inevitable if they did not defend themselves by Arms and that the raising of Fort Saint Lewes built by Rochel was a sign of it He suggested to them that the Catholicks were of opinion in most of their Bcoks that they were not obliged to keep Faith with Hereticks Most were taken with these reasons because the Duke of Rohan clapt into some Towns certain Gentlemen and Captains of his own Religion to encourage them and to stir up the Popular Ministers who after this looked for nothing but when to rise not considering that the insurrections which they were carried to were contrived by the Spaniards who pretended not to make use of them but only to divert and draw off the King's Arms from Italy That fomentation which the Spaniard gave to the Hugonots whereby to force the King to draw off his Army from the Valtoline obliged the French King to do the like by the Spaniard in assaulting the Common-wealth of Genoa The Pope sends the Cardinal Barbarino in the quality of a Legate into France to negotiate the Peace between the French King and the King of Spain The Hugonots by the Spaniards instigation arm themselves very potently against the French King The Duke of Rohan took the Command upon himself of those Forces in Languedoc Soubize those in Poictou Although Soubize had been repulsed from before the Port of Blavet yet by that means he made himself master of six great Ships which were the King 's and the Duke 's of Nemours which gave him opportunity of doing very considerable damages He had formerly got together about eleven Ships of War and many Shallops and small Boats and with these roved up and down the Coasts of Poictou and Guienne as hath been before hinted at The Duke of Rohan got together about two thousand men near Castres He gave out that the Rochellers had taken Arms and sworn a League with the Churches of his Party that he might by this pretence get a like interest in some other Towns which he had an eye upon And accordingly he went to Puilaurens Ruel Soreze St. Pauls Leviate and Briteste and made the Consuls swear to the Confederacy afterwards he came to the Gates of Lavaur to surprâ—zâ— it but his design took no effect The Count of Carmain Governour of Foix got into Ruel and Soreze after the other had forsaken them and so dealt with the Consuls that they confessed their faults and protested not to take part with him any more A Process was made in the Parliament of Tholouse against him and all his Adherents The Marquess de Cragny and the Count of Carmain marched against the Duke and whilst those who made the first Encounter were at it the rest got into Vianes who were however so closely pursued by the Marshal's Forces that the Regiment of Normandy was hard at their heels entring into the Town with them Thus he remained Master of Peyresquade where there were about one hundred and fifty of the Rebels Souldiers killed and hurt all which the Duke of Rohan beheld from a Fort in Vianes where he then was from which time forwards he began to despair of doing any great matters for the future especially since he saw himself so closely followed and that the Cardinal had taken such a course in Languedoc that the King could have raised more men in twenty four hours than the Duke in a whole month Soubize finding little assurance on the main Land had fortified himself in the Isles of Reé and Olleron it was the more important to remove him thence because otherwise it would be impossible to reduce Rochel unto its obedience so easily and abundantly might he recruit them with necessaries from those fertile Islands but the Duke of Montmorency the King's Admiral made himself Master of the Isle of Reé after a three daies Combate with a great deal of obstinacy on both parts The Duke of Montmorency Landed at Olleron where he met with no resistance The Sieur de Soubize haying withdrawn himself into England lived at a House called Burgate in Hampshire near the New Forest for divers years after The whole Province was now setled in quiet both by Sea and Land of all which King Lewes was informed who received the news with much joy Cardinal Barbarini Legate from the Pope arrived in France and came to Marseilles where he was received with great honour 〈◊〉 also at Lions according to the Orders sent by the King He came to Paris on May 21. and entred in great pomp He is bound by the Laws of the Kingdom before he officiate the Function of a Legate to present the Brief which the Pope hath given him for the employment to the Parliament of Paris The Pope having omitted in this Brief to give the King the title of King of Navarre the Parliament refused to acknowledge it and obliged him not to proceed any further in the business till that were amended The Legate coming to Paris alighted at St. James de Haut-pas where the Clergy of the City the concourse of the Court and other Officers to the number of twelve thousand went to salute him and receive his Benediction After this the Prelates of Paris came to pay their respects to him There was a little dispute in what habit they should appear before him the Legate desiring they should be in their Rochets and Camall covered over with a Mantlet as a mark that they had no power in
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
the hand of the President who shall diligently read them c. None shall eat with any one without the Seminary unless with his Parents and Kindred and that very seldome and with leave neither shall he sleep out of the Seminary If any go forth and abide without the President being ignorant of it he may not be admitted without consulting the Bishop whose right it is to appoint whether he be to be received into the Seminary or not Let none touch another so much as in jest but every where and among all preserve modesty and gravity Let silence every where be kept religiously in the Temple in the Schools in the Chamber between going to and returning from the School and in all places let Ecclesiastical modesty appear They shall not discourse with those they meet except by decent and modest salutation which may be done in passing by As often as they shall go either to the Temple or the School they shall proceed modestly two by two their Governour following them to whom they are committed When they are at study let none speak with other neither in the morning before nor in the evening after prayer All shall go to bed at nine a clock and rise at four all shall lye single in their beds that they may preserve their health After Dinner and after Supper they shall spend one hour in honest recreation c. Let them keep their clothes chambers beds books clean let them make up their beds early in the morning 7. Of their Learning Let all first learn the Compendium of the Catholick Catechism so exactly that by mutual interrogations concerning it they may be able to render an account of the Catholick Faith to every one requiring it And to that end a repetition of it shall be made twice in a Week And when they shall be advanced herein let the reading of the Roman Catechism be diligently commended to them that from thence they may learn the higher Doctrine of the Sacraments Let them alwayes keep the Law of speaking Latin and let them be diligent in learning their lessons and getting them by heart in the time prefixed c. Let none be absent from School in the appointed time In the School let the Clerks who shall be of the same form sit together and endeavour to excel others with all modesty Let them neither buy nor have any Books but those whom the President shall judge to be profitable for them Books that are condemned by the holy Apostolical Chair and immodest Books let them not so much as know them by name much less let them dare ever to read them They shall be exercised in all kind of Disciplines which do especially help to the knowledge of Divinity and when they shall learn more humane Learning and Philosophy they are to be chiefly instructed in that part of Divinity which unfoldeth cases of conscience Let them also learn Ecclesiastical Books diligently and those which they call Ritual Let all be exercised in their order in making Orations and Exhortations concerning the commandments of God and of the Church concerning the Articles of faith Vertues to be followed and Vices to be shunned or some other sentence of Scripture c. 8. Of Correction If any be wayward and sawcy especially who infect and corrupt the manners of others all endeavours are to be used lest they bring any detriment to the Seminary if the Moderators are somewhat indulgent toward them neither are they who are of a crabbed nature long to be retained in the Seminary unless they shall reform them by words or correction As they are not to be born in a Seminary who are ignorant and slothful so much less they who neglect piety who violate the Statutes of the Seminary who enter into society with dissolute persons who are delighted in the discourses of those that are without who are wont to whisper and backbite c. who art wont to lye and excuse their own faults who impatiently bear punishments injoyned who speak or answer malapertly undecently or ironically These and the like Vices are first of all to be stopt by the whole Seminary and sharply to be corrected without excepting any 9. Of the reason of promoting Clerks and dismissing them from the Seminary As often as Orders shall be celebrated the President shall give to the Bishop a Catalogue of those who for their age piety and learning may be promoted to some Order In examinations which shall be had to vacant Benefices the Seminary-Clerks if they be fit let them be preferred before all others They shall be sent at the pleasure of the Bishop to Churches destitute of Pastors or to govern Schools or to undergo other Ecclesiastical Offices for the necessity of times and places Whosoever shall be sent away from the Seminary for what cause soever let him render an account of his Office to the President which he hath exercised at home and restore all things to its place which have been committed to him Those who have been educated in the Seminary and without the licence of the Bishop have delivered up themselves to any place or person or have fled out of the Diocess in which they ought to serve the Church shall be bound to make restitution of that maintenance which they have received in the Seminary They who depart if they come to better preferment yet are they to remember that they ought to be beneficial and grateful to the Seminary Departing let them take their leave of the Lord Bishop if he be in the City his Vicars the President the Priests and the rest of their companions and let them earnestly entreat them all to pray for their prosperity The Decrees of another Provincial Synod follow made partly at Tours in the month of May 1583. and partly at Anjou in the month of September I shall only set down an Index of the Titles 1. THe Prologue of the Synod 2. Supplications to the Pope and the Most Christian King 3. Of the care of defending the Profession of Faith 4. A Form of Confession of Faith is set down 5. Of the Extirpation of Simony 6. Of the Sacraments and their use 7. Of Baptism 8. Of Confirmation 9. Of the Eucharist and Sacrifice of the Mass 10. Of Matrimony 11. Of Order 12. Of the celebration of Festivals the Veneration of Reliques and of Images 13. Of Ecclesiastical Discipline the Reformation of the Clergy as well as the people 14. Of Chapters Dignities and Canons 15. Of Parish-Priests Presbyters and other Clerks 16. Of Christs faithful Laity This Synod requireth Women not to go abroad and especially not to come into the Church without their heads and breasts veiled Indignum est c. It is an unworthy thing say they that Christian women whom it becometh to be adorned with modesty and sobriety to profess piety by good works after a whorish manner to expose themselves to the people with curled hair and naked breasts They forbid all temporal businesses to be done
in the Church where Prayers and Divine Offices are to be performed They require all Christians not to eat without first consecrating their Table and not to depart from Table without pious and humble thanksgiving unto God If any one hath taken counterfeit money though ignorantly and he know not the person from whom he received it yet he shall not presume to put it away to another because it cannot be done without appearance of evil All Laicks are forbidden to walk in the Church especially during the time of Divine Offices under pain of Excommunication 17. Of Monks and Monasteries of the manner of the admission of Novices into Abbies Monasteries and Convents None is to be admitted to that profession before the year of probation and before the sixteenth year of his age Of the antient Ceremonies and Customs of the Monasteries the habits of the Monks and their shaving their beards and having a round ring of hair on their heads The Laity are forbidden to sit among the Monks whilst the Divine Mysteries are celebrated 18. Of Nuns and their Habits A Prohibition to men to enter into the Monasteries of the Women 19. Of Burials The bodies of Hereticks not to have Christian burial Those who deny the Oblations or Legacies of the dead or refuse to pay them or conceal their Wills and Testaments or deceitfully retain them are to be excommunicated 20. Of Jurisdiction and Visitation 21. Of preserving Church-goods and not alienating them 22. Of Seminaries Schools and Universities The Decrees of the Provincial Council of Aquitain celebrated at Bituriges in the month of September Anno 1584. IN the first place there is a Form of Confession of Faith by those who were present in this Provincial Council The Index of the Titles 1. Concerning the Adoring Worshipping and Calling upon God 2. Concerning Faith 3. Of the Preaching and Exposition of the Word of God 4. Of taking away the abuse of the Scriptures 5. Of avoiding Hereticks 6. Of Invocation of Saints and of Festival dayes 7. Of Pilgrimages to holy places No Clerk may presume to visit such places without having obtained a licence from his own Bishop or his Vicar in writing and before he begin his journey he is first to confess all his sins and to receive the holy Eucharist None is to visit holy places out of curiosity or out of pleasure or to view divers Towns and places but for the amendment of his life and the fulfilling of Vows 8. Of Vigils and Fastings 9. Of Churches and Temples 10. Of the Reliques of Saints The first Canon was that the Bishops take care that the honour of Reliques be preached to the people of God That Reliques are not to be shewed out of the Box except it be done out of a solemn manner and custom of some Church but they are to be kept with honour and reverence The Reliques of Saints may not be translated without the authority of the Pope or the Bishop or a Council They are to be carryed by Ecclesiastical persons in publick prayers not by Laicks unless perhaps it be granted them out of an antient and laudable custome of Churches and places 11. Of Images 12. Of the celebration of the Divine Office of Canonical hours and the Ecclesiastical Hymn 13. Of daily distributions 14. Of Boyes-Choristers of their age manners habit and learning 15. Of the Ornaments and Vessels of the Church 16. Of Coemeteries the care of the Dead and of Purgatory 17. Of Traditions 18. Of the Sacraments in general 19. Of Baptism 20. Of Confirmation 21. Of Penance and the parts of it 22. Of the Eucharist 23. Of the Mass 24. Of Order 25. Of the Clergy 26. Of Priests 27. Of Matrimony 28. Of Extream Unction 29. Of the greater and lesser Seminaries of Schools and Universities 30. Of Jurisdiction 31. Of Excommunication 32. Of Archbishops and Bishops 33. Of a Visitation Procuration and the persons to whom the power of Visiting is given 34. Of Canons and Chapters 35. Of the Rectors of Parish Churches 36. Of Benefices 37. Of Monasteries and Religious Houses 38. Of things pertaining to the Church 39. Of Blasphemies of an Oath and of Perjury 40. Of Divination by lots Enchantments Conjurations and such like Superstitions 41. Of Simoniacks and Fiduciaries 42. Of Concubinaries 43. Of Hospitals 44. Of Confraternities and Fellowships 45. Of Laicks 46. Of Councils This Council was concluded with acclamations to Pope Gregory XIII to King Henry III to the Patriarch of Bituriges and to all the Bishops that were present in that Council wishing them long life and an happy return to their Churches An Indulgence of fourty days was granted by the Patriarch to all who were present in this Synod and to all people which favoured so holy a work with their wishes and prayers An Index of the Titles of the Decrees of the Provincial Council of Aquens Anno 1585. 1. COncerning the Profession of the Catholick faith 2. A Form of confession of faith 3. Of the Rudiments of faith and the Schools of Christian doctrine 4. Of prohibited Books 5. Of the Sacraments 6. Of the Sacrament of Baptism 7. Of the holy Chrisme 8. Of Confirmation 9. Of those things which pertain to the Sacrament of the most holy Eucharist 10. Of the celebration of the Mass 11. Of the Missal and Breviary 12. Of those things which pertain to the Sacrament of Penance 13. Of Matrimony 14. Of those things which pertain to the Sacrament of Extream Unction 15. Of those things which belong to the Sacrament of Order 16. Of the Worship of Festival dayes 17. Of the life and honesty of Clerks 18. Of Bishops of those things in which the Bishop out of the Council of Trent as delegate of the Apostolical Chair may and ought to proceed 19. Of a Visitation 20. Of Sermons and Preaching the Word of God 21. Of Canonists 22. Of Chapters 23. Of Beneficed persons or Mansionaries 24. Of Parish-Priests and Curates 25. Of Residency 26. Of Churches and their Ordaining 27. Of the Quire 28. Of the Altar 29. Of the Sacrist 30. Of the Coemeteries Bell Obsequies and Funerals 31. Of Processions 32. Of Indulgences 33. Of Reliques 34. Of Excommunication 35. Of those things which pertain to the Collation of Benefices and the preservation of rights and goods 36. Of a Seminary 37. Of a Diocesan Synod 38. Of foraneous Vicars 39. Of Monasteries 40. Of Nuns and their Vows of Chastity 41. Of those things which generally belong to these Constitutions The Titles of the Decrees of the Provincial Council of Tholouse Anno 1590. Part 1. 1. COncerning a Profession of Faith 2. Concerning Bishops 3. Concerning Chapters 4. Concerning Parish-Priests 5. Of Presbyters and Clerks 6. Of Preachers 7. Of foraneous Vicars 8. Of Nuns Part 2. 1. Of Sacraments and things belonging to the Sacraments 2. Of Baptism 3. Of Confirmation 4. Of Penance and Confession 5. Of the Eucharist and the holy Communion 6. Of the celebration of Masses 7. Of the Sacrament of Order 8.
openly asked every mans opinion concerning those accusations all answered That no man ought to judge the Head of the Church which the King observing he asked no more questions The next day all being Re-assembled the Pope went up into the Pulpit and taking a Book of the Holy Evangelists in his hands said with a loud voice That he sware by God and those Holy Evangelists That all that which his Adversaries had laid to his charge was false and untrue and that he had neither committed nor thought any such matter as they objected but that they had of malice and envy slandered him and that he therefore publickly made this Protestation and confirmed it by his Oath seeing that to them all the manner of his Life and Government was well known His Oath was allowed and himself commended and the King commanded his Accusers Pascal and Capulus to be sought out and put to death But the Pope was content their lives should be spared so as they might be committed to prison and thence be condemned to perpetual exile Eight dayes after the Pope having considered first how much the Greek Emperours envied his Greatness together with the small affection they bare to the worshipping of Images and other points wherein they were opposite to the Church of Rome and then how requisite it was to have an Emperour which might maintain the Provinces of Italy in peace which were often disturbed but chiefly to shew himself grateful for the benefits which he and the Church of Rome had received from him and the House of France But above all for accepting his Protestation in his own defence for a proof of his Integrity he resolved to make Charles the Great Emperour and to Translate the Head of the Empire into the West And having ruminated hereupon against the day of the Nativity of Christ he commanded all the Priests Cardinals and all the other Prelates to come to a Mass whither Charles was also invited and came together with all the other Princes and so about the midst of the Mass the Pope then saying it he turned about from the Altar to the People and with a loud voice said That he did there Elect Create and publish Charles the Great the most Mighty and Victorious King of Italy of the Germans and of the Frenchmen Emperour and ever Augustus Which being done he set the Imperial Crown upon his head and all those which were present consented thereunto with acclamations and applauses saying To the most Godly ever Augustus Great and most Victorious Emperour Charles God grant long life and victory This acclamation being ended the Pope anointed him and then and there also anointed and entituled his Son Pepin with the good liking and consent of his Father King of Italy Which Coronations were performed with great Feastings and Solemnity upon Christmass day Anno 800. So Charles remained Emperour and the Empire was transported from the Greeks to the Germans Pope Adrian with his whole Synod which consisted of one hundred fifty three Bishops Abbots and Religious persons had given before the right and power of Electing the Pope unto Charles the Great and further Ordained That the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of all the Provinces should receive their investiture from him in such sort as no Bishop can be Consecrated by any man unless he be approved and invested by the King pronouncing an Anathema against such as shall do otherwise Century IX CHarles having left his Son Pepin in Italy visiteth Germany subdueth the Saxons and reduceth them to the Christian Faith He had Wars with them for the space of thirty years he oftentimes subdued them and gave them their Liberty upon condition they would embrace the Christian Religion but on every occasion their Duke Wedekind cast off both Loyalty and Christianity At several times when Charles had obtained a Victory he erected a new Bishoprick He founded seven Episcopal Cities in that Province Crantz in Saxon. Lib. 2. cap. 23. giving them Princely Power because he judged that those fierce people might be tamed by Religion rather than by Arms. These were Bremen Verda Minda Padeburn Osnaburg Hildeshein Halberstadt The Historian saith Although Charles gave unto the Bishops power of Governing yet the Nobles did not altogether lose their Power whence it came to pass that when the War was ended the Secular Power beyond the Veser was acknowledged by them all to belong unto him At last because the Saxons had so often revolted he removed ten thousand of them with their Wives and Children into Brabant and Flanders and sent and settled some French in that Province and left his Son Charles there with an Army to keep them in obedience Charles understood that the Latin Translation of the Bible was much corrupted through the negligence of Writers Baron Annal. Tom. 9. ad Ann. 908. and gave it in charge unto Alcuinus to amend the Translation who did Correct both the Old and New Testament as Baronius testifieth Alcuinus was Governour of the Monastery of St. Martin at Tours yet was he neither a Monk nor a Priest but contented himself with the Order of a Deacon He died on Whitsunday Anno 804. Pepin King of Italy and Charles two Sons of Charles the Great died before him When Charles the Emperour was now Aged and saw many abuses in the Church he endeavoured by all means possible to procure Reformation of the lewd manners of Churchmen therefore he appointed at one time Symson's Church-Hist Cent. 9. namely in the year 813. five National Councils to be Convened in divers places for the Reformation of the Clergy and People One was Convened at Mentz a second at Rhemes the third at Tours the fourth at Cabillon or Chalon and the fifth at Arles In all these Councils no opposition was made to the Council of Frankford neither was the adoration of Images avowed in any of the Councils So available is the Authority of a Prince for suppressing of false Doctrine and Heresie In the Council of Mentz were Assembled thirty Bishops twenty five Abbots with a great number of Priests Monks and Judges After three dayes abstinence and fasting joyned with Litanies publick prayers and imploring Gods assistance they divided themselves into three Companies In the first were the Bishops with some Scribes reading the History of the Gospel and the Epistles and Acts of the Apostles together with the Canons and Works of the Ancients and the Pastoral Book of Gregory to the end that by the Precepts contained in those Books the enormity of mens lives might be corrected In the second Company were Abbots and Monks reading the Rules of St. Benedict for the reformation of the lives of Monks In the third Company were Lords and Judges pondering the causes of all men who came to complain that wrong was done unto them The first second and third Canons of this Council entreat concerning Faith Hope and Charity The fourth concerning the Sacraments to be ministred chiefly at Easter and Whitsunday