letter written from Trent weighing the inconueniences that would follow if hee kept the Councell at anchor with the ill satisfaction of the Bishops that were there and the mischiefe that might arise if the reformation should begin In fine perceiuing that it was necessary to put something to the hazard and that it was wisdome to auoid the greater euill he resolued to write backe to Trent to begin the action as they had aduised admonishing them not to broach any new difficulties in matter of faith nor to determine any of the things controuersed amongst the Catholiques and to proceed slowly in the reformation The Legates who vntill then had in the Congregations entertained themselues in generall matters hauing receaued power to goe on proposed in the Congregation of the 22. of February that the first foundation of faith beeing established they ought in the next place to handle another more ample which is the holy Scripture wherein are points belonging to the doctrines controuerted with the Lutheranes and others for reformation of those abuses which are most principall and necessary to be amended and so many that perhaps the time vntill the next Session will not bee sufficient to finde a remedy for all They discoursed of the controuersies with the Lutherans in this subiect and of the abuses and much was spoken hereof by diuers Prelates The Diuines who were thirty in number and almost all Friars had vntill then serued in the Councell onely to make Sermons on Holy-dayes in exaltation of the Councell and the Pope and to make light skirmishes with the Lutheranes but now that controuerted doctrines were to bee decided and the abuses of learned men rather then of others to bee reformed their worth The Diuines begin to be esteemed beganne to appeare And order was taken that in the points of doctrine to be decided articles should be extracted out of the bookes of the Lutheranes contrary to the orthodox faith to bee studied and censured by the Diuines that euery one speaking his opinion of them the matter might bee prepared to frame the Decrees which being proposed in the Congregation and examined by the Fathers when euery mans voyce was knowen that might bee established which was to bee published in the Session And for the abuses euery one should call to mind what hee thought worthy of amendment together with the remedy fit for it The articles for matter of doctrine drawen out of the Lutheranes bookes were 1. That the necessary doctrine of Christian faith is wholy conteyned in the holy Scripture and that it is an humane inuention to adde vnto them vnwritten Traditions as left vnto the holy Church by Christ and his Apostles deriued vnto vs by meanes of the continuall succession of Bishops and that it is sacrilege to defend that they are of equall authority with the old and new Testament 2. That amongst the bookes of the old Testament none should bee reckoned but those that haue beene receiued by the Iewes and in the New the sixe Epistles that is that vnder the name of S. Paul to the Hebrews that of S. Iames the 2. of S. Peter the 2. and 3. of S. Iohn one of S. Iude and the Apocalyps 3. That to vnderstand the Scripture well or to alledge the proper words it is necessary to haue recourse to the texts of the originall tongue in which it is written and to reprooue the Latine translation as full of errors 4. That the diuine Scripture is most easie and perspicuous and that to vnderstand it neither glosse nor comment is necessary but onely to haue the spirit of a sheepe of Christs pasture 5. Whether Canons with Anathematismes adioyned should be framed against all these Articles Vpon the two first the Diuines discoursed in foure Congregations and in the first all agreed that the Christian faith is contayned partly in the Scripture and partly in Traditions and much time was spent in alledging for this places of Tertullian who often speakes of them and many were numbred out of Irenie Cyprian Basil Austin and others yea some said more that Tradition was the onely foundation of the Catholique doctrine For the Scripture it selfe is not beleeued but by tradition But there was some difference how this matter might fitly be handled Vicenzo Lunello a Franciscan Friar was of opinion that in regard the holy Scripture and traditions were to be established for ground of faith they ought first to treat of the Church which is a more principal foundation For the Scripture receiueth authority from it according to the famous saying of Saint Augustine I would not haue beleeued the Gospel if the authoritie of the Church had not compelled me and no vse can be made of traditions but by grounding them vpon the same authority For if a controuersie Discourses about the authoritie of traditions arise about a tradition it will bee necessary to decide it either by the testimony or by the determination of the Church But this foundation being laid that euery Christian is bound to beleeue the Church one may securely build thereon He added that they should take example from all those that haue substantially written against the Lutherans as Fryar Siluester and Ecchiâ—s who haue more alleadged the authoritie of the Church then any other argument neither is it possible to conuince the Lutherans otherwise That it is contrary to the end proposed that is to lay all the foundations of Christian doctrine to leaue out the principall and perhaps the onely ground but certainely that without the which the residue cannot subsist This opinion had no followers Some opposed against it that it was subiect to the same difficulties which it made to others For the Synagogues of the heretiques also would arrogate to bee the true Church vnto whom this authoritie was giuen Others holding it to be a thing most knowen and vndoubted that by the name of the Church the Cleargie ought to bee vnderstood and more properly the Councell and the Pope as head said they ought to maintaine that the authority of the Church is already decided and that to treat of it now were to shew there was difficultie or at the least that it was a thing newly cleered and not most ancient euer beleeued since Christianitie began But Anthonius Marinarus a Carmelite Fryar thought fit to refraine speaking of traditions and said that for decision of the first Article in this matter it was meete first to determine whether the question were facti or iuris that is if the Christian doctrine haue two parts one which was written by the will of God and the other which was forbidden to bee writ but onely taught by word of mouth or if in the whole body of doctrine it hath accidentally happened that all hauing beene taught some part hath not beene committed to writing Hee added that it was a cleere case that the Maiestie of God ordaining the law of the Old Testament appointed it should be necessary to haue it in writing and therefore
iustification and imputation of the iustice of CHRIST 24. All the iustified are receiued into equall grace and glory and all Christians are equally great with the mother of God and as much Saints as shee 25. The workes of the iustified deserue not blessednesse neither can any confidence be put in them but onely in the mercie of God When the Articles were published it was not so easie to set downe a course to handle them in the Congregations as when originall sinne was disputed on For in that matter they found the Articles already handled by the Schoole-men but the opinion of Luther concerning iustifying faith that it is a confidence and certaine perswasion of the promise of God with the consequences that follow of the distinction between the Law the Gospel and of the quality of workes depending on the one and the other was neuer thought of by any Schoole writer and therefore neuer confuted or discussed so that the Diuines had worke enough first to vnderstand the meaning of the Lutheran propositions and that difference from those that are determined in the Schooles and then the reasons by which to distinguish them It is certaine that in the beginning some of them and the Fathers for the most part did beleeue that the Protestants denying Free-will held opinion that man in externall actions is like a stone and when they attribute iustice to faith onely without the concurrence of workes thought him iust who beleeued only the Story of the Gospel though in other respects he were neuer so wicked and other such absurdities the which by how much the more they are aliene from common sense so much the harder they are to confute as is vsuall in all opinions contrary to manifest appearance and the generally receiued perswasion The maior part of the Diuines who then were ascended to the number of fiue and fourty was very tenacious of the opinions generally receiued in the Schooles impatient of contradiction where the Schoole men agreed but where they agreed not they did very much stand in defence of their owne opinion and the Dominicans more then the rest were wont to vaunt that for the space of three hundred yeeres the Church ouercame heresies by their paines Yet there wanted not some wise men who suspended their iudgement vntill the reasons were weighed In this number was Ambrosius Catarinus of Siena a Dominican Friar after created Bishop of Minori Andreus de Vega a Spaniard and Frauciseane and Antonius Marinarus a Carmelite The Heremites because they were of the order which Martin Luther quitted did affect to shew themselues more contrary to him then all others and especially Ierolamus Seripandus the Generall In examining the Articles the Theoloques that began to facilitate the vnderstanding of the three first laboured to set downe what that faith which iustifieth is and what workes it excludeth distinguishing them into three sorts preceding grace whereof the seuen following Articles vntill ten doe speake concurrent in the very moment with the infusion of it and subsequent after grace receiued of whicht he other eleuen doe speake That faith iustifieth must be presupposed as vndoubted for that it is sayd and repeated by Saint Paul To resolue what that faith is and how it maketh a man iust the opinions were different in the very beginning For the Scripture attributing many vertues to faith which some knew not how to apply to one onely they thought the word was equiuocall and did distinguish it into many significations saying that sometimes it is taken for an obligation to keepe promises in which sense Saint Paul sayd that the incredulity of the Iewes The significations of faith made not vaine the promise of God sometimes for the vertue to doe miracles as when it is said if I shall haue so much faith as to remooue mountaines somtimes for the conscience in which sense it is said that that worke which is not conformable to faith is 〈◊〉 sometimes for a trust and confidence in God that his Maiestie will keepe his promises so Saint Iames willeth vs to pray in faith without doubting Lastly for a perswasion and firme assent though not euident to the things reuealed by God Others added other significations some to the number of nine some to the number of fifteene But Frior Dominicus Soto opposing himselfe against all said that this Soto maintaineth a singular opinion is a renting of faith and a giuing of victory to the Lutherans and that there were but two significations one the trueth and reality of him that affirmeth or promiseth the other the assent in him that heareth that the first is in God the second is onely in vs and of this last all places of the Scripture which speake of our faith are vnderstood but to take faith for a trust and confidence is not onely an improper kinde of speaking but abusiue neuer receiued by Saint Paul that trust differeth little or nothing from hope and therefore the opinion of Luther ought to bee held for an vndoubted errour or rather heresie that iustifying faith is a trust and certainty in the minde of a Christian that his sinnes for CHRIST are remitted Soto added and was followed by the maior part that that trust could not iustifie because it was temeritie and a sinne for that no man without presumption could assure himselfe that hee was in grace but ought alwaies to doubt For the other part Catarinus held and had many followers The opinions of Catarinus and of Andreus Vega. that iustification proceeded not from that trust yet that the iust might and ought to beleeue by faith that hee is in grace Andreus Vega set a third opinion on foote that it was neither temerity nor certaine faith yet that one might haue a coniecturall perswasion without sinne And this controuersie could not be quitted because in it consisted the point of the censuring the second Article Therefore it was first lightly discussed then the parties beeing warmed it diuided and held long in dispute all the Councell for the reasons and causes which shall bee declared But all agreed that iustifying faith is an assent to whatsoeuer is reuealed by God or determined by the Church to be beleeued which sometimes being ioyned with charity sometimes remaining without it they did distinguish into two sortes one which is found in sinners which the Schooles call vnformed solitary idle or dead the other which is onely in the good working by charity and therefore called Formed efficacious and liuely And heere another controuersie arose For some thought that faith vnto which the Scriptures ascribe saluation iustice and sanctification was onely the liuely faith as also the Catholiques of Germany held in the Colloquies and included the knowledge of the things reuealed the preparation of the will and charity in which the fulfilling of the whole Law is contained And in this sense it cannot be said that onely faith iustifieth because it is not alone but formed with charity Among these Marinarus liked
some holding that the Pope onely is instituted iure diuino vntill it came to the Arch-bishop of Zara who said it was necessary to adde the words de iure Diuino to condemne that which the heretiques say to the contrarie in the Augustane Confession Varmiense said againe that in that Confession the heretikes did not dissent in this and Zara alleadging the place and the words the contention was so long that the Congregation did end with it In the Congregations following the opinions were diuers also In particular the Arch-bishop of Braga demaunded the same adiunct saying it could not be omitted He prooued at large the institution of Bishops De iure Diuino bringing reasons and arguments like to those of Granata and said that the Pope could not take from Bishops the authoritie giuen them in their consecration which doth containe in it the power not onely of Order but of iurisdiction also because in it the people is assigned to him to be fed and gouerned without which the Ordination is not of force whereof this is a manifest argument that to titular and porâ—atiue Bishops a Citie is allotted which would not be necessary if the Episcopall Order could subsist without iurisdiction Besides in giuing the Pastoâ—all this forme is vsed that it is a signe of the power which is giuen him to correctvices And which is of more importance when the Ring is giuen him it is said that with it he doth marry the Church and in giuing the booke of the Gospell by which the Episcopall Character is imprinted it is said that hee must goe to the people committed to him and in the end of the consecration that prayer is say'd Deus omnium fidelium Pastor Rector which since hath beene in the Missals appropriated to the Pope by turning himselfe to GOD and saying that his will is that the Bishop should gouerne the Church Moreouer Innocentius the third said that the spiritual mariage of the Bishop with the Church is a bond instituted by GOD not to bee loosed by the power of man and that the Pope cannot translate a Bishop but because hee hath speciall authoritie to doe it all which things would bee very absurd if the institution of Bishops were De iure Diuino The Arch bishop of Cyprus sayd that it ought to be declared that Bishops are superiors to Priests Iure Diuino but reseruing the authority in the Pope The bishop of Segouia adhearing wholly to the conclusions and reasons of Granata made a long repetition of the places of the heretiques where they denie the superiority of Bishops and their institution to be De iure diuino Hee said that as the Pope is successour of Peter so the Bishops are of the Apostles and that it was plaine by the Ecclesiasticall History and by the Epistles of the Fathers that all Bishops gaue an account one to another of all that happened in their Churches and receiued approbation thereof from others The Pope did the same for the occurrences of Rome Hee added that the Patriarches when they were created sent a circular Epistle to the others to giue them an account of their Ordination and faith which was as much performed by the Popes to others as by others to them that if the power of the Bishops be weakened that of the Pope is weakned also that the power of Order and iurisdiction is giuen to the Bishops by GOD and that the diuision of Diocesses and the application of them to the person proceedeth from the Pope He alleadged an authoritie of Anacletus that Episcopall authoritie is giuen in the Ordination with the vnction of the holy Chrisme that the degree of a Bishop is as well an Order instituted by CHRIST as the Priest-hood that all Popes vntill Siluester haue either professedly or incidently sayd it is an Order which commeth immediatly from God that the words spoken to the Apostles Whatsoeuer yee shall binde on earth c. giue power of iurisdiction which is necessarily conferred vpon the Successors that CHRIST did institute the Apostles with iurisdiction and since that time the Church hath euer instituted Bishops in the same sort Therefore this is an Apostolicall tradition and it beeing defined that points of faith are taken out of the Scripture and Traditions it cannot bee denied that this of the Episcopall institution is an Article of faith and the rather because S. Epiphanius and S. Austine doe put Aerius in the number of heretiques for saying that Priests are equall to Bishops which they would not haue done if Bishops had not beene De iure diuino Fifty nine Fathers were of this opinion and perhaps the number had been Simoneta vseth practises in the point of institution of Bishops greater if many had not been ill at case at that time of a defluction of rheume which then did generally raigne and some others had not fained the same impediment that they might bee out of the crowde and offend none in a matter handled with such passion especially those who for speaking what they thought in the matter of Residence found they had incurred the displeasure of their Patrons as also if Cardinall Simoneta when hee saw matters proceed so farre had not vsed diuers perswasions employing herein Iohannes Antonius Faâ—binetâ—us Bishop of Nicastrâ— and Sebastianus Vantiue Bishop of Oruieto who perswaded with much cunning that the enterprise of the Spaniards was to shake off their obedience to the Pope and that it would bee an apostacy from the Apostolike Sea to the great shame and damage of Italy which hath no other honour aboue the Nations beyond the Mountaines but that which it receiueth from the Papacy Fiue Churches said it was fit that it should bee declared quoiure all the Orders and degrees of the Church are instituted and from whom they receiue authoritie Some others adhered to him and in particular Pompeius Picholhomini Bishop of Tropeia who making the same instance added that when all the degrees of the Church were handled from the greatest to the least and declared quo iure they were he would deliuer his opinion also concerning the degree of Bishops if the Legats would giue leaue In this number some briefely adhered to the opinion of others who had spoken in this matter and some amplified the same reasons and turned them into diuers formes so that it would be too long to make a narration of all the suffrages which are come into my hands That of George Sincout a Franciscan Friar Bishop of Segna doth well deserue to be repeated who adhering to Granata said that hee would neuer haue beleeued that any could haue doubted whether Bishops are instituted and haue authority from Christ For it they haue it not from his diuine Maiestie neither can the Councell haue any from him which consisteth of BB. that it is necessarie that a Congregation though very populous haue their authoritie from whom the particular persons haue it that if Bishops are not instituted by CHRIST but by men the authoritie
Session that they might haue time so to dispose it as that it might please all least the publication of the things agreed on should be crossed in regard of this There was the same difficultie about the last of the Articles proposed in which a forme of confession of faith was prescribed to bee 〈◊〉 by those who were designed to Bishoprickes Abbies and other Benefices with cure before the examination which did so other with that of the election as that they could not be separated It was resolued to 〈◊〉 this Article also But because it was deferred and then resolued not to 〈◊〉 and afterwards in a tumultuous manner referred to the Pope as shall bee said in due place it is not alieue from our present purpose to recite heere the substance of it Which was that not onely it should bee required of them who were designed to Bishoprikes and other cures of soules but also an admonition and precept in vertue of obedience made to all Princes of what Maiestie or excellencie soeuer not to admit to any dignitie magistracie or office any person before they haue made inquisition of his Faith and religion and before hee hath voluntarily confessed and sworne the Articles contained in that forme which to that end it did command to bee translated into the vulgar tongue and publikely read euery Sunday in all the Churches that it might bee vnderstood by all The Articles were To receiue the Scriptures of both Testaments which the Church doth hold to bee canonicall as inspired by God To acknowledg the holy Catholike Apostolike Church vnder one Bishop of Rome Vicar of CHRIST holding constantly the faith and doctrine thereof in regard being directed by the holy Ghost it cannot erre To haue in veneration the authority of Councels as certaine and vndoubted and not to doubt of the things once determned by them To beleeue with a constant faith the Ecclesiasticall traditions receiued from one to another To follow the opinion and consent of the Orthodoxe Fathers To render absolute obedience to the constitutions and precepts of the holy mother the Church To beleeue and confesse the seuen Sacraments and their vse vertue and fruit as the Church hath taught vntill this time but aboue all that in the Sacrament of the Altar there is the true body and blood of CHRIST really and substantially vnder the Bread and Wine by the vertue and power of the word of God vttered by the Priest the onely minister ordained to this purpose by the institution of CHRIST confessing also that hee is offered in the Masse to God for the liuing and the dead for the remission of sinnes And finally to receiue and retaine most firmely all things which haue beene vntill this time piously and religiously obserued by their ancestours nor to bee remooued from them by any meanes but to auoide all nouity of doctrine as a most pernicious poyson flying all â—â—â—isme detesting all heresie and promising to assist the Church readily and faithfully against all heretikes It being as hath beene sayd resolued to omit this matter they laboured to rectifie the matter of Residence by taking away whatsoeuer might displease those who held it to bee de iure Diuino or those who thought it to bee de iure Positino Loraine vsed all effect all diligehee to make the parties agree resoluing that by all meanes the Session should be held at the time appointed For hauing receiued lately very louing letters from the Pope co 〈…〉 him to come to Rome and to speake with him and determining to giue his Holinesse all satisfaction his resolution was to giue him this as an earnest that is to end the discorde and comâ—ose the differences betweene the Prelates a thing much desired by him For his going to Rome he spake ambiguously meaning to expectan answere from France 〈…〉 Another matter though of no great importance did prolong the progresse that is the handling of the 〈◊〉 one of Orders of which a great long 〈◊〉 was proposed wherein all were expounded from the office of a Decon to the office of a doore-keeper This was composed in the beginning by the Deputies when the Decrees were made as necessarie to oppose against the Protestants who say those Orders were not instituted by CHRIST but by Ecclesiasticall introduction because there is vse of them as being offices of good and orderly gouernement but not Sacraments This Article of the Deeree was taken out of the Pontificall which would be too long and superfluous to repeat in regard it may be read in the booke it selfe And the Decree did The functions of the inferiour Orders declare besides that those functions cannot be excercised but by him who being promoted by the Bishop hath receiued grace from God and a Character imprinted to make him able to doe it But when it came to bee established they were troubled to resolue an olde common obiection what neede there could bee of a Character and spirituall grace to exercise corporall Actes as to reade light candles ring bels which may bee as well or better done by those who are not ordained especially since it hath beene disused that men ordained should exercise those functions It was considered that the Church was condemned hereby for omitting this vse so many yeeres And there was a difficultie how to restore the practise of them For they must ordaine not children but men of age to shut the Church doores to ring the bells to dispossesse the possessed with deuils which if they did they did crosse another Decree that the inferiour orders should be a necessarie degree to the greater Neither did they see how they could restore the three offices to the Deaconship to minister at the Altar to Baptize and to preach nor how the office of the Exorcists could bee exercised in regard of the vse brought in that the Priests onely did dispossesse the possessed Antonius Augustinus Bishop of Lerida would haue had that whole matter omitted saying that howsoeuer it was certaine that these were Orders and Sacraments yet it would bee hard to perswade that they were brought in in the Primitiue Church when there were but few Christians that it was not for the Synods dignitie to descend to so many particulars that it was sufficient to say there are foure inferiour Orders without descending to any further specialiâ—ie of doctrine or making any innouation in the practise Opposition was made that so the doctrine of the Protestants who call them idle Ceremonies would not be condemned But Loraine was Authour of a middle course that the Article should be omitted and in few words the execution referred to the Bishop who should cause them to bee obserued as much as was possible These things being setled they resolued to reade all in the consultation of those principall Prelates that all things might passe in the generall Congregation with absolute quiet Both parties were agreed but onely in the s 〈…〉 h Anathematisme that is that the Hiâ—â—archie is instituted by Diuine
willing to bend it selfe though neuer so little to doe good or rather to desist from euill but with promise onely They sayd his Holinesse had too quicke a sence if he would be offended by so The Dite resolueth to giue no other answer modest and so necessary a demand of a Councell And after long discussion it was resolued by common consent not to giue any other answere but to expect what the Pope would resolue vpon that which they had giuen already 64 Afterwards the secular Princes made a long complaint apart of that which they pretended against the Court of Rome and the whole Ecclesiasticall order reducing it to an hundred heads which therefore they called Centum grauamina These they sent vnto the Pope because the Nuncio vnto The huudred grieuances of the Princes of Germanie whom they were imparted went away before they were enlarged with protestation that they neither would nor could endure them any longer and that they were constrained by necessity and the iniquity of them to seeke with all industry to free themselues from them and by the most commodious wayes they could 65 It would be long to expresse the whole contents But in summe they complained of the payment for dispensations and absolutions of the money which was drawen from them by indulgences of the suits in Law which were drawne to Rome of the reseruation of Benefices and the abuses of Commendaes and Annates of the exemption of the Ecclesiastiques in offences of Excommunications and vnlawfull interdicts of Lay causes drawen before the Ecclesiasticall Iudge by diuers pretences of the great expences in consecrating Churches and Church-yards of pecuniarie penance of expences to haue the Sacraments and the buriall All which were reduced to three principall heads to enthrall the people to rob them of their money and to appropriate vnto themselues the iurisdiction of the secular Magistrate 66 The sixt of March the Recesse was made with the precepts contained The Recesse of the 〈◊〉 in the answer to the Nuncio and a little after euery thing was printed as well the Popes Briefe as also the instructions of the Nuncio the answers and replies with the hundred greiuances and they were diuulged through Germanie and passed from thence to other places and euen vnto Rome also Where the open confession of the Pope that all the mischeife proceeded from the Court of Rome and from the Ecclesiasticall order did not please and The Popes confession of the abuses of the Clergy was distastfull in Rome generally it was not gratefull to the Prelates For it seemed to be too ignominious and might make them more odious to the world and cause the people to despise them yea that it would make the Lutherans more bold and saucy And it grieued them most of all to see a gate opened where necessarily the moderation of their profits which they so much abhorred would bee brought in or themselues conuinced of incorrigibility And those that excused Reputation is the cheifest ground of the Pontificall greatnesse the Pope most did attribute it to his small knowledge of the Arts by which the pontificall greatnesse and the authority of the Court is maintained which are founded vpon reputation They commended the iudgement and wisedome of Pope Leo who knew how to attribute the bad opinion which Germany conceiued of the manners of the Court to the want of knowing it And therefore he said in the Bull against Martin Luther that if he after he was cited had come to Rome hee would not haue found so many abuses in the Court as was beleeued The Popes condition was 〈◊〉 expounded in German 67 But in Germany those that were ill affected to the Court of Rome expounded that ingenuous confession in the worier sence saying it was an vsuall Art to confesse the euill and to promise the amendment thereof without any thought to effect any thing to lull a sleepe those that are not wary to enioy the benefit of time and in the meane space by treating with Princes to iustifie themselues in such sort that they may the better make the people subiect 1524 CLEMENT 7. CHARLES 5 HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. vnto them and take from them all power to oppose themselues against their wills and to speake of their defects And because the Pope sayd that in giuing the remedy it was necessary not to striue to prouide against all at once for feare of causing great mischiefe but to doe things step by step they laughed at it adding that it was well sayd step by step but so that there were a whole age betweene one and another But in regard of Adrians good life before his assumption to the Papacie as well after hee was Bishop and Cardinall as before and the good intention which was shewed in all his actions holy men expounded all in good sense thinking verily that hee confessed the errours with ingenuity and that he would redresse them sooner then hee promised neither did the euent make them iudge the contrary For the Court being not worthy of such a Pope it pleased God to call him almost as soone as he had receiued the relation of his Nuncio from Noremberg For the 13. of September he ended the course of his yeeres 68 But when the decree of the Recesse of Noremberg was published in Germany Pope Adrian dieth The decree of the Recesse of Noremberg was expounded in contrary sences according to mens contrarie interests with the precepts concerning Sermons and Prints the greater part esteemed not thereof but those that were interested aswell followers of the Church of Rome as Lutherans expounded all in their owne fauour For it being sayd that the things which might stirre vp popular tumults should not be spoken of the Catholiques vnderstood it that the things brought in by Luthers doctrine and the reproofe of the abuses of the Ecclesiasticall order should not be spoken of and the Lutherans sayd that the meaning of the Diet was that the abuses which stirred vp the people against the Preachers when they heard as well bad things as good represented vnto them should not be defended And that part of the Decree which commanded to preach the Gospell according to the doctrine of writers approoued by the Church the Catholiques vnderstood according to the doctrine of the Schoole-men and the last postillers of the Scriptures But the Lutherans sayd it was to be vnderstood of the holy Fathers Hilary Ambrose Austin Ierom and the like expounding also that by vertue of the Edict of the Recesse it was lawfull for them to continue in teaching their doctrine vntill the Councell and the Catholiques vnderstood that the meaning of the Diet was that they should continue in the doctrine of the Church of Rome Whereby it appeared that the Edict in stead of quenching the fire of Controuersies enflamed it the more and in the mindes of godly men there remained a desire of a free Councell vnto which it seemed that both
he made the confutation of it to be read in which many of their opinions being taxed it was confessed in the end that in the Church of Rome there were some things fit to bee amended against which hee promised that prouision should be made 〈◊〉 therefore that the Protestants ought to referre themselues vnto him and returne to the Church assuring them to obtaine all their iust demands but in case they did otherwise he would not faile to shew himselfe protector and defender of it The Protestant Princes offered to performe whatsoeuer could bee done with a safe conscience and if out of the holy Scripture any errour in their doctrine were shewed to correct it or to make a further declaration in case it were necessarie And because some of the points proposed by them were granted in the confutation and some reiected if a copie of the confutations were giuen them they should be expounded more cleerely After many treaties seuen Catholikes and seuen Protestants were chosen A Colloquie between the Protestants Catholikes to conferre together to find out a meanes of composition who not being able to agree the number was restrained to three a piece And though some few small points of doctrine and other petty things belonging to some rites were agreed on yet in conclusion it was perceiued that the conference could produce no concord at all because neither partie was willing to grant to the other any thing of importance Many dayes being spent in this treatie the refutation of the Cities confession was read whereunto their Ambassadors answered that many Articles of their writing were repeated otherwise then The answer of the Protestant Ambassadors to the confutation they were written by them many other things proposed by them drawne to a bad sence to make them odious vnto all which obiections they would haue answered if a copie of the confutation had beene giuen them in the meane time they prayed them nor to beleeue any calumnie but to expect their defence They denyed to giue them a copie and sayde that the Emperour would not suffer that the points of Religion should bee put into disputation The Emperour assayed by way of canuase to perswade the Princes telling them that they were but few their doctrine new that it had been sufficiently confuted in this Diet that their boldnesse was great to condemne of errour heresie and false religion the Imperiall Maiestie and so many Princes and States of Germany with whom themselues beeing compared made not a number and which is worse to esteeme also for heretikes their owne fathers and ancestours and to demand a Councell and yet to goe on still in the errours These perswasions auayling nothing because they denied theirs to be new and the rites of the Romane Church olde the Emperour imploying other remedies vnto which he was aduised by the Legat Campeggio caused euery one to be treated with apart proposing vnto them some satisfaction in their proper interests and laying before them diuers oppositions and crosses which he would haue raised against their proceedings in case they persisted in their resolution not to reunite themselues to the Church But whither those thought to bring about their owne designes by perseuering or preferred the preseruation of their Religion before all other interest the perswasions though very potent produced none effect Neither could the Emperour obtaine of them to grant the exercise of the Romane religion within their territories vntill the time of the Councell which he promised should bee intimated within sixe moneths because the Protestants had discouered that this was the inuention of the Popes Legate who not being able to obtaine his purpose for the present thought it sufficient if by the establishing the Romane doctrin in euery place he put confusion among the people who were alienated already whereby away might be opened to those accidents which might giue occasion to roote out the new For concerning the promise to intimate a Councell within sixe moneths he well knew that many impediments might bee pretended in the very nicke and finally all expectation deluded It being impossible to conclude any thing the Protestants departed in the end of October and the Emperour made an Edict to establish the ancient rites of the Roman Catholike religion which contained in summe The Edict of A 〈…〉 that nothing should be changed in the Masse in the Sacrament of Confirmation and extreame vnction that the Images should not bee taken out of any place and those restored that were taken away already that it should not be lawfull to denie free-will nor to hold opinion that onely faith doeth iustifie that the Sacraments Ceremonies Rites Obsequies of the dead should be obserued in the same manner they were before that Benefices should bee giuen to fit persons and that the marryed Priests should forsake their wiues or be banished all sales of Church goods and other vsurpations made voyd that in preaching and teaching no man should passe these tearmes but the people should be exhorted to heare Masse to inuocate the Virgin Mary and the other Saints to obserue the feasts and fastings that the Monasteries and other sacred Edifices which haue beene destroyed should be rebuilt and the Pope should be requested to intimate a Councell within sixe moneths in a conuenient place and after to beginne it within a yeere at the most that all things remaine firme and constant and no appeale or exception to the contrary take place and that euery one ought to imploy all his forces possessions life and blood to preserue this Decree and that the Imperiall Chamber proceed against whosoeuer shall oppose it The Pope hauing receiued aduice from his Legat of what was done in the Diet was touched with an inward griefe of minde discouering that The Pope was displeased with the Emperour for meâ—ling in religion but especially for promising a Councell though Charles had receiued his counsell by vsing his authority and threatning violence yet he had not proceeded as aduocate of the Church of Rome vnto whom it belongeth not to take knowledge of the cause but to bee a meere executor of the Popes Decrees whereunto was quite contrary to haue receiued the confessions and caused them to bee read and to haue instituted a conference to accord the differences Hee complayned beyond measure that some points were agreed vnto and especially that he had consented to the abolition of some rites thinking that the Popes authoritie was violated when things of so great moment were treated of without his priuity at the least if his Legates authoritie had beene interposed it had beene tollerable After he considered that it was a great preiudice to him that the Prelates had consented to it But the promising of a Councell which hee so much abhorred pressed him aboue all in which though honourable mention were made of his authoritie yet to subscribe sixe moneths to call it and a yeere to beginne it was to meddle with that which was proper to
to the world because so much mischiefe proceeded from it Vergerius said that it was too great a selfe-loue and too great a conceipt of ones owne worth when a man would trouble the whole world to sowe his owne opinions If you haue innouated in the faith said Vergerius in which you were borne and bred vp 35. yeeres for your conscience and saluations sake it was sufficient to keepe it within your selfe If the loue of your neighbour mooued you why did you trouble the whole world vnnecessarily seeing that without it men did liue and God was serued in tranquillity Hee added that the confusion was gone on so farre that the remedie could not be deferred The Pope is resolute to applie it by calling a Councell where all the learned men of Europe meeting together the trueth shall bee cleered to the confusion of vnquiet spirits and for the place hath destinated the Citie of Mantua And although the chiefest hope consisteth in the goodnesse of God yet putting to that account the endeuours of men it was in Luthers power to make the remedie easie if hee will bee present treat with charitie and oblige to himselfe also the Pope a munificent Prince who taketh speciall notice of persons of merit Hee put him in minde of the example of Eneas Siluius And proposeth vnto him the example of Aentas Siluius who following his owne opinions with much slauery and labour could get no further preferment then to be Canon of Trent but beeing changed to the better became Bishop Cardinall and finally Pope Pius the second Hee called to his memorie Bessarion of Nice who of a poore Caloier of And of Bessarion Trapizonda became a great renowmed Cardinall and wanted not much of being Pope Luthers answers were according to his nature vehement and fierce Luthers answere saying that hee made no account of the esteeme which hee had with the Court of Rome whose hatred hee feared not nor regarded their good will that hee applied himselfe to the seruice of God as much as hee could though vvhen he had done all he vvas but an vnprofitable seruant that hee savv not hovv the seruices of God vvere ioyned vvith those of the Papacy but as darknesse vvith light that nothing in all his life vvas more profitable to him then the rigor of Leo the rigidity of Caietan vvhich he could not ascribe to them but to the prouidence of God For not being as yet in those times illuminated in all the trueth of Christian faith but hauing onely discouered the abuses of Indulgences hee was ready to haue kept silence in case his aduersaries had done the like But the writings of the master of the holy palace the insulting of Caietan and the rigor of Leo constrained him to studie and to descriemany other lesse tolerable abuses and errors of the Papacie which he could not dissemble nor refraine to declare them vnto the world with a good conscience That the Nuncio had ingenuously confessed that hee vnderstood not Diuinitie which appeared cleerely by the reasons which hee proposed because none could call his doctrine new but hee that beleeued that CHRIST the Apostles and the holy Fathers liued as now the Pope Cardinals and Bishops doe Neither can any argument be drawen against the doctrine from the seditions happened in Germanie but by him that hath not read the Scriptures and knoweth not that this is proper to the word of God and the Gospel that it stirreth vp troubles and tumults euen to the separation of the father from the sonne wheresoeuer it is preached That this was the vertue of it to giue life to them that hearken to it and to bring greater damnation to whosoeuer reiecteth it Hee added that it was a great fault of the Romanists to establish the Church with gouernements taken from humane reasons as if it were a temporall State That this is that kind of wisedome which S. Paul saith is accounted foolishnesse with God as not to esteeme those politique reasons by which Rome doth gouerne but to trust in Gods promises and to referre to his Maiestie the managing of the Church affaires is that humane folly which is wisedome with God That to make the Councell take good effect and to bee profitable for the Church was not in the power of Martin but of him that can make it free that the Spirit of God may rule there and guide it and the holy Scripture may bee the rule of the resolutions not bringing thither interests vsurpations and artifices of men which in case it should happen yet himselfe would there vse all sinceritie and Christian charitie not to binde the Pope or any other vnto him but for the seruice of Christ and peace and libertie of the Church But that hee could not hope to see so great a good so long as it appeared not that the wrath of God was appeased by a serious conuersion from hypocrisie That no sound argument could bee taken from the assembling of learned men seeing that so long as the anger of God is kindled there is no error so absurd and vnreasonable which Satan cannot perswade especially to those great wise men who thinke they know much whom the Maiestie of God will confound That nothing can be receiued from Rome compatible with the ministery of the Gospell That the examples of Eneas Siluius and Bessarion mooued him not For hee esteemeth not those cloudy glitterings and in case hee would exalt himselfe he might truely reply that which facetely was spoken by Erasmus that Luther beeing poore and base maketh rich and aduanceth many That it was well knowen to the Nuncio himselfe not to goe farre that the last May himselfe had a great part in the creation of the Bishop of Rochester and was the totall cause of the creation of Scomberg That if the life of the first was so soone taken away this was to bee ascribed to the prouidence of God Vergerius Vergerius could not moue Luther could not perswade Luther to remit any thing of his constancie who so stedfastly maintained his doctrine as if it had beene apparant to the eyes and said that the Nuncio yea and the Pope himselfe should sooner embrace his faith then he would abandon it Vergerius assaied also to perswade some other Preachers in Wittenberg and elsewhere in the iourney according to the Popes commission but found no inclination as hee thought hee should but rigiditie in all that were of account Not any of the other Lutherans except some few of small esteeme The answere of 15. Printes and 30 Cities assembled in Smalcalda Mantua is refused by the Germans and those that rendred themselues were of small worth and pretended much so that they were not for his purpose But the Protestants vnderstanding Vergerius his proposition there beeing fifteene Princes and thirtie Cities assembled in Smalcalda answered that they had declared their resolution concerning the Councell in many Diets and last of all to the Nuncio of Pope Clement and the
because that was the principall cause which induced the Pope not onely to consent as before but to vse all endeuours that the Councell might be celebrated and which assured the Protestants that neither in Councell nor in any other place where any Minister of the Pope was present they could hope to obtaine any thing The first action began the fifth of April and it was deliuered in the Emperours name that his Maiestie seeing the Turke entred into the bowels of Germany the cause whereof was the diuision of the States of the Empire for the difference in religion had alwayes sought a meanes of pacification and that of the Councel seeming vnto him most commodious he went purposely into Italy to treat thereof with Pope Clement and after not being able to bring it to effect he returned and went in person to Rome to make the same negotiation with Pope Paul in whom he found much readinesse But not being able to effect any thing by reason of diuers impediments of warre hee had finally called that Diet and besought the Pope to send a Legat thither The first action of the Diet in Ratisbon Now he desired nothing but that some composition might be made and that some small number of godly and learned men might bee chosen on either side to conferre vpon the controuersies in friendly maner without preiudice of either of the parties and propose to the Diet the means of concord that all being consulted with the Legate the wished conclusion might be attained Suddenly there arose a controuersie betweene the Catholiques and Protestants about the manner of choosing those that should treat Wherefore the Emperour beeing desirous that some good should bee done demanded and obtayned of either partie power to nominate the persons desiring them to beleeue he would do nothing but for the common good For the Catholiques he elected Iohn Ecchius Iulius Flugius The names of the disputants and Iohn Groperus and for the Protestants Philip Melancthon Martin Bucer and Iohn Pistoria whom he called to him and grauely admonished them to abandon all passion and to ayme onely at the glory of God He made Frederique the Prince Palatine and Granuel Presidents of the Colloquie adding vnto them some others that all might passe with the greater dignity When the assembly was made Granuel published a booke and said it was giuen to A booke giuen to the Emperour as a 〈◊〉 for the future concord the Emperor by some godly and learned men as a direction for the future concord and that his will was they should read and examine it that it might serue for an argument and subiect of what they ought to treat that that which pleased all might be confirmed that which displeased all might bee corrected and in that wherein they assented not meanes might be vsed to reduce them to an agreement The booke contained 22. Articles The creation of man the integrity of nature free will the cause of originall sinne Iustification the Church her signes the signes of the word of God penance after sinne the authoritie of the Church the interpretation of the Scripture the Sacraments Order Baptisme Confirmation the Eucharist Penance Matrimony extreame Vnction charitie the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie the articles determined by the Church the vse administration and ceremonies of the Sacraments Ecclesiasticall discipline and discipline of the people It was read and examined and some things were approoued some things amended by common consent and in others they could not agree And these were the ninth of the power of the Church the foureteenth of the Sacrament of Penance the eighteenth of the Hierarchie the 19. of the articles determined by the Church the 21. of single life In these they differed and either partie wrote his opinion This being done in the assembly of all the Princes the Emperour required the opinions of them all concerning the things agreed on and the different opinions of the Collocutors and withall proposed the amendement of the state of the Common-wealth as well ciuill as Ecclesiasticall The Bishops reiected absolutely the Booke of the concord and whatsoeuer was done in the Colloquie vnto whom the other Electors and Catholike Princes desirous of peace agreed not and it was concluded that the Emperour as aduocate of the Church together with the Apostolike Legat should examine the things agreed on and if any thing were obscure should cause it to bee expounded and should treat with the Protestants that concerning the things in controuersie they should consent to some Christian forme of concord Caesar imparted all to the Legat and vrged him that the Ecclesiasticall State ought to be reformed The Legat after he had considered of all the businesse answered in writing not more perspicuously then the ancient Oracles in this The Legate speaketh like 〈◊〉 Oracle manner That hauing seene the Booke presented to the Emperour and what was written by the deputies of the Colloquie as well the explications of either partie as the exceptions of the Protestants it seemed that the Protestants differing in-certaine articles from the common consent of the Church in which not withstanding he despaired not that with the helpe of God they might be induced to agree nothing should be ordered concerning the residue but referred to the Pope and the Apostolicall Sea who either in the generall Councell or some other way if there shall bee cause will define them according to the Catholique trueth with regard vnto the times and what shall bee expedient for the Christian Common-wealth and for Germanie But for reformation of the Cleargie hee promised all readinesse and to The exhortatation of the Legat Contarini made to the Prâ—â—â—s that end called into his house all the Bishops and made them a long exhortation First for their manner of liuing that they should abstaine from all scandall and appearance of luxurie auarice and ambition For their familie that they should vnderstand that from it the people made coniecture of the manners of the Bishop that the better to keepe their flocke they should remaine in the most inhabited places of the Diocesse haue diligent watchmen else-where that they should visite the Diocesses giue the Benefices to honest and fit men spend their reuenues vpon the necessitie of the poore flying not onely luxurie but all superfluous pompe make prouision of godly learned discreet and not contentious Preachers procure that the yonger sort be well brought vp because by this meanes the Protestants draw all the Nobilitie vnto them Hee committed this Oration to writing and gaue it to the Emperour to the Bishops and the Princes which gaue occasion to the Protestants to taxe the answere made to Caesar together with the exhortation made to the Prelats alledging for their motiue that the writing being published they should seeme to approoue it if they dissembled the knowledge of it His answere made to the Emperour pleased not the Catholiques because it appeared that he did approue the things agreed on in the Conference But
England did waxe greater for that the Emperour had neuer The Popes disdaine against the Emperour is increased assented to any of those maine and ample matches offered him by the Cardinall Farnese whom he sent Legate with him into Germany concerning the grant of the Dutchie of Milan to the Familie of the Farnesi and that being to assist in the Diet of Spira he would not suffer the Cardinall Legate to follow him thither for feare of offending the Protestants And finally considering the Decree made in the Diet so preiudiciall to him and the Apostolique sea he was more offended because hee saw his hopes lost and his authoritie and reputation much diminished and iudged it necessarie to shew he was sensible of it And though on the other side hee considered that his partie in Germany was weakened and was counselled by his most inward friends to dissemble yet finally beeing assured that by declaring himselfe openly against Caesar hee did more straitly binde the French King to maintaine his reputation hee resolued to begin from wordes to take occasion to passe to deeds as the coniunctures should comport And the fifth of August he wrote a great long letter to the Emperor the substance whereof was That hauing vnderstood what decrees were made The Pope writeth a long angry letter to the Emperour in Spira his duty and fatherly charitie did inforce him to tell him his opinion that he might not follow the example of Ely the Priest whom God seuerely punished for his too much indulgence towards his sonnes That the Decrees of Spira were dangerous for the Emperours soule and extreamly troubled the Church that hee should not violate the rules obserued by Christians which command that in the cause of religion all should bee referred to the Church of Rome and yet hee not esteeming the Pope who onely by the law of God and man hath power to call Councels And to decree in spirituall matters was willing to thinke of assembling a Generall of Nationall Councell and hath suffered Idiots and Heretiques to iudge of religion hath made decrees concerning sacred goods restored to honour the rebels of the Church whom he had condemned by his owne Edicts that he is willing to beleeue that hee hath not done these things by his owne inclination but by the pernicious counsell of those that beare ill will to the Church of Rome and that he complaineth of this that he hath yeelded vnto them that the Scripture is full of examples of the wrath of God against the vsurpers of the office of the High Priest of Vzza Dathan Abiron and Core of King Ozias and others That it is not a sufficient excuse to say the Decrees are but temporary vntill the Councel onely For though the thing done be holy yet in regard of the person that did it it not belonging to him it is wicked That God hath alwayes exalted those Princes that haue beene deuoted to the sea of Rome Head of all Churches Constantine the Theodosij and Charles the Great and contrarily hath punished those that haue not giuen due respect vnto it Examples hereof are Anastasius Mauritius Constan◠the 2. Pilip Leo and others and Henry the 4. was for this cause chastised by his owne sonne as also Fredericke the 2. by his And not Princes onely but whole Nations haue beene punished for it the Iewes for putting to death Christ the Sonne of God the Grecians for hauing many wayes contemned his Vicar which things he ought the more to feare because he is descended from those Emperours who haue receiued more honour from the Church of Rome then they haue giuen it That he commendeth him for desiring the amendment of the Church but withall doth aduise him to leaue the charge thereof to him to whom God hath giuen it That the Emperour is a Minister but not a Gouernour nor an Head He added that hee desired the reformation and hath declared it often by intimating the Councel whensoeuer any sparke of hope hath appeared that it might be assembled and though in vaine vntill then yet hee had not beene wanting to his duety desiring much a Councel which is the only remedy against all mischiefes as well for the generall good of Christendome as the particular of Germany which hath more neede thereof That it hath beene intimated already though deferred vntill a more commodious time by reason of the warres That it belongeth to the Emperour himselfe to giue way that it may bee celebrated by making peace or deferring the warre while matters of religion are handled in the Councel That hee should obey these fatherly commandes exclude from the Imperiall Diets all disputes about religion and referre them to the Pope ordaine nothing concerning Ecclesiasticall goods reuoke the grantes made to the rebels against the Sea of Rome otherwise to performe his owne duety that he shall be forced to vse greater seuerity against him then hee would THE HISTORIE OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT THE SECOND BOOKE THe Warre betweene the Emperour and the French The Emperor is wholly incliued to peace which was cōcluded the 24. of September King lasted not long For the Emperor saw plainely that while he was busied in that and his brother in the other against the Turke Germanie so much increased in libertie that the Imperiall name would not be esteemed within a short time and that so long as hee made Warre in France he imitated Esops dogge who following the shadow lost both it and the bodie Whereupon he hearkened to the propositions of peace made by the French men with designe not onely to be freed from that impediment but by the Kings meanes to accommodate the Turkish affaires and applie himselfe vnto Germanie The foure and twentieth of September the peace was concluded betweene them and amongst other things they both capitulated to defend the old Religion and to labour for the vnion of the Church and reformation of the Court of Rome from whence all the dissensions are deriued and that for this purpose the Pope should ioyntly be requested to call the Councell and the French King should send to the Diet of Germanie to perswade the Protestants to accept it The Pope was not afraide of the capitulation for the Councell and reformation of the Court being assured that whensoeuer they began that enterprise by reason of their diuers ends and interests they would not long agree neither did he doubt but that the designe being to be executed by a Councell he would so accommodate euery treatie that his authoritie should be amplified But he thought that in case he should call the Councell at their request the world would imagine he was constrained which would bring much dishonour to his reputation and incouragement to him that designed the moderation of the Papall power Therefore not expecting to be preuented by any of them and dissembling The Pope dissembleth his suspicions the suspicions conceiued against the Emperour euen those that were most important which the peace made
the Legates knowing how much it concerned the reputation of the Councell entertained them partly by saying they had not power to giue leaue and partly by giuing hope that the Councell should begin within few dayes Caesars Ambassadour returned to his Ambassage at Venice vpon pretence of indâ— position leauing the Legates doubtfull whether it were by the Emperours commission vpon some tricke or for being wearâ— to bee idle and incommodated Hee promised a speedie returne adding that in the meane while the Ambassadours of the King of the Romanes remained there to assist the seruice of God and yet hee desired the Councell should not bee opened vntill his returne But in the end of the next moneth the greater part of the Bishops moued some by pouertie and some by incommoditie made grieuous complaints and raised as it were a sedition among themselues threatning that they would depart and had recourse to Francis Castel-Alto gouernour of Trent whom Ferdinand had appointed to hold his place together with 〈◊〉 Gineâ—a This man came before the Legats and desired them in the name of his King that now at last they would begin it being plaine how much good would ensue by the celebration and how much euill by temperizing thâ—â— The Legats held themselues offended herewith because they thought it was to shew the world that which was contrary to the trueth and to attribute to them the delay which proceeded from the Emperour And though they among themselues resolued to dissemble and to answere in generall termes yet the Cardinall Monte could not bridle his libertie but in making answere concluded in the end with perswasion to expect Don Diego who had more particular commissions then hee It was hard to entertaine and comfort the Prelates who ill endured that idle delay and especially the poore ones who wanted money and not wordes Wherefore they resolued to giue at the Popes charge fortie Ducats a yeere to the Bishops of Nobili Bertinoro and Money is giuen to the poore Bishops Chioza who complained more then the rest and fearing that the munificence might giue pretence hereafter they declared themselues that it was for a subsidie and not for prouision They gaue the Pope an account by letter of what they had done shewing him the necessitie to assist them with some greater ayde but telling him withall that it was not good to giue it as a firme prouision that the Fathers might not seeme the stipendaries of his Holinesse which would cherish the Protestants excuse not to submit themselues to the Councel because it was composed only of those that depended on and were obliged to the Pope At the same time the Emperor in Wormes cited the Archbiship of Collen The Archbishop of Collen is cited by the Emperour in Wormes to appeare before him within thirtie dayes or to send a Proctor to answere to the accusations and imputations layd vpon him commanding him in the meane space not to make any innouation in Religion and Rites but to reduce the things innouated to their former state Hermannus Bishop of Collen desiring to reforme his Church in the yeere 1536. called a Councell of the Bishops his Suffragans where many Decrees were made and a booke printed composed by Iohn Groperus a Canonist who for seruice done to the Church of Rome was after created Cardinall by Pope Paul the fourth But whether the Archbishop and Groperus himselfe were not satisfied with the reformation or whether hee changed his opinion hee assembled the Clergie and Nobility and chiefe men of his state in the yeere 1543. and established another reformation This though it were approoued by many pleased not the whole Clergie yea the maior part opposed it and made Groperus their head who before had giuen counsell for it and promoted it They entreated the Archbishop to desist and expect a generall Councell or at the least an Imperiall Diet which not being able to obtaine in the yeere 1545 they appealed to the Pope and to the Emperour as supreme aduocate and protectour of the Church The Archbishop published by a writing that the appeale was friuolous and that hee could not desist from that which belonged to the glory of God and amendment of the Church that hee had not to doe either with the Lutherans or others but that hee obserued the doctrine agreeable to the holy Scripture The Archbishop going on in his reformation and the Clergie of Collen insisting vpon the contrary the Emperour receiued the Clergie into his protection and cited the Arch-bishop as hath beene said This newes comming to Trent gaue matter to passe the time at the least with discourses The Legates were much mooued and amongst the Prelates which were present those that were of any vnderstanding blamed the Emperour for making himselfe Iudge of faith and reformation the most gentle word they spake was that the Emperours proceeding was very scandalous They began to know they were not esteemed and that to bee idle was to be scorned by the world Therefore they did discourse that they were constrayned to declare themselues to be a Councel lawfully called and to be beginne The Emperor is blamed for the Citation by the Fathers of Trent the worke of God proceeding first against the foresayd Archbishop the Elector of Saxony the Landgraue of Hassia and likewise against the King of England They grew into so great spirits that they seemed not the same who a few dayes before thought themselues confined in prison The Ministers of the Archbishop of Mentz abated this heat putting them in minde of the greatnesse of those Princes and their adherents and the danger to make them vnite themselues with the King of England and so to make a greater fire in Germanie and the Cardinall of Trent spake in the same forme The Italian Bishops thinking it a great matter to meddle in such eminent subiects said it was true that all the world would be attentiue at such a processe yet that all the importance was to begin and ground it well They incited one another saying it was necessary to redeeme the slownesse past with celerity hereafter That they should demand of the Pope some man of worth to perorate against the accused as did Melehior Baldassino against the Pragmatique in the Laterane Councel beeing perswaded that to depriue Princes of their States had no other difficultie then to vse well the formes of Processes But the Legates as well for this as for other occurrences knew it to be necessarie to haue such a Doctor and wrote to Rome to be prouided of one The Pope vnderstanding the Emperors action was astonished and doubted The Pope was wonderfully distasted with the Citation whether to complaine or be silent To complaine when no effect would succeed he thought friuolous and a demonstration of his small power And this mooued him exceedingly But on the other side considering well how much it imported him not to passe ouer a matter of that moment hee resolued not to giue words
wrote the Decalogue in stone with his owne finger commaunding it should be laid vp in the Cabinet called the Arke of the Couenant That he often commaunded Moyses to write the precepts in a booke and that one copie should bee kept in the Arke and the King haue another to reade it continually This fell not out in the Gospell which the Sonne of God wrote in the hearts for which neither tables nor chest nor booke is necessary yea the Church was most perfect before any of the Apostles wrote and though they had writ nothing the Church would haue wanted nothing of its perfection But as Christ founded the doctrine of the New Testament in the hearts so hee forbad it not to bee written as in some false Religions where the mysteries were kept secret nor was lawfull to write them but onely to teach them by word of mouth And therefore that it is an vndoubted truth that whatsoeuer the Apostles haue written and whatsoeuer they haue taught by word of mouth is of equall authority because they wrote and spake by the instinct of the holy Ghost which notwithstanding as by assisting them it hath directed them to write and preach the trueth so it cannot bee said it hath forbidden them to write any thing to the end to hold it in mysterie wherefore the Articles of faith cannot bee distinguished into two kinds some published by writing others commaunded to bee communicated onely by voyce Hee said that whosoeuer thought otherwise must fight against two great difficulties the one to tell wherein the difference is the other how the Apostles successors haue beene able to write that which was forbidden by God adding that it was as hard to maintaine the third that is how it hath accidentally happened that some particulars haue not beene written because it would derogate from the prouidence of God in directing the holy Apostles to compose the Scriptures of the New Testament Therefore The Fathers neuer made traditions of equall authority with the Scripture hee concluded that to enter into this treatie was to saile betweene Scriptuâ—e and Caribdis and that it was better to imitate the fathers who serued themselues of this place onely in case of necessitie neuer thinking to make of it an Article of competition against the holy Scripture Hee added that it was not necessary to proceede now to any new determination because the Lutherans though they said they would be conuinced by the Scripture onely haue not made a controuersie in this article and that it is good to keep themselues onely to the controuersies which they haue promoted without setting new on foote exposing themselues to the danger of making a great diuision in Christendome The Fryars opinion pleased but few yea Cardinall Poole reprehended it The opinion of Marinarus was very distastefull and said it better beseemed a Colloquie in Germanie then a Councell of the vniuersall Church that in this they should ayme at the sincere veritie it selfe not as there where nothing is handled but the according of the parties though to the preiudice of the truth that to preserue the Church it was necessarie that the Lutherans should receiue all the Romane doctrine or that as many of their errors as was possible might be discouered the more to make manifest to the world that there was no agreement to be made with them Therefore if they haue framed no controuersie concerning traditions it was necessary to frame it now and to condemne their opinions and to shew that that doctrine not onely differeth from the true in that wherein it doeth purposely contradict it but in all other parts that they should endeauour to condemne as many absurdities as can be drawen out of their writings and that the feare was vaine to dash against Scilla or Caribdis for that captious reason whereunto whosoeuer gaue earâ— would conclude there was no tradition at all In the second Article they all agreed in this that a Catalogue should bee Concerning the canon cal bookes of the Scripture made as it was in former times of the Canonicall bookes in which all should be registred which are read in the Romane Church euen those of the Old Testament which were neuer receiued by the Hebrewes And for proofe of this they all alledged the Councell of Laodicea Pope Innocence the first the third Councell of Carthage and Pope Gelasius But there were foure opinions Some would haue two rankes made in the first onely those should be put which without contradiction haue beene receiued by all in the other those which sometime haue beene reiected or haue had doubt made of them and it was said though formerly this was neuer done by any Councell or Pope yet alwayes it was so vnderstood For Austin maketh such a distinction and his authority hath beene canonized in the Chapter In Canonicis And Saint Gregorie who was after Gelasius writing vpon Iob sayeth of the Maccabees that they are written for edification though they bee not Canonicall Aloisius of Catanea a Domican Fryar said that this distinction was made by Saint Hierome who was receiued by the Church as a rule and direction to appoint the Canon of the Scriptures and he alleadged Cardinal Caietan who had distinguished them following Saint Hierom as an infallible rule giuen vs by the Church and so hee wrote to Pope Clement the seuenth when hee sent him his exposition vpon the Historicall bookes of the Old Testament Some thought fit to establish three rankes The first of those which alwayes haue beene held for Diuine the second of those whereof sometimes doubt hath beene made but by vse haue obtained Canonicall authority in which number are the sixe Epistles and the Apocalyps of the New Testament and some small parts of the Euangelists The third of those whereof there hath neuer beene any assurance as are the seauen of the Old Testament and some Chapters of Daniel and Hester Some thought it better to make no distinction at all but to imitate the Councell of Carthage and others making the Catalogue and saying no more Another opinion was that all of them should bee declared to bee in all partes as they are in the Latine Bible of diuine and equall authoritie The Booke of Baruc troubled them most which is not put in the number neither by the Laodiceans nor by those of Carthage nor by the Pope and therefore should be left out as well for this reason as because the beginning of it cannot be found But because it was read in the Church the Congregation esteeming this a potent reason resolued that it was by the Ancients accounted a part of Ieremie and comprised with him In the Congregation on Friday the fifth of March aduise being come The Bishop of Bitonto assisting in Councell is in danger of excommunication in Rome for not paying his Pensionaries that the Pensionaries of the Bishop of Bitonto had demanded in Rome to be paide and for this cause had cited him before the Auditor
requiring hee should bee compelled by excommunications and other censures according to the stile of the Court to make payment hee lamented his case and said that his Pensioners were in the right and yet himselfe was not in the wrong For so long as hee was in the Councell hee could not spend lesse then sixe hundred crownes by the yeere and that his pensions being detracted hee had left but foure hundred wherefore it was necessarie that hee should bee disburthened or assisted with the other two hundred The poore Prelates laboured herein as in a common cause and some of them passed to high wordes and said it was an infamie to the Councell that an officer of the Court of Rome should bee suffered to vse censures against a Bishop assisting in the Councell that it was a thing monstrous and would make the world say that the Councell was not free that the honour of that assembly required that the Auditor should be cited to Trent or some reuenge taken against him that the dignity of the Synod might be preserued Some also proceeded so farre as to condemne the imposition of pensions saying that it was iust and anciently obserued that the rich Churches should assist the poore not by constraint but by charity without taking things necessary from themselues and that S. Paul taught so But that poore Prelates should be constrained to giue to the rich some of that which is necessary for their owne sustenance was a thing intolerable and that this was one of the points of reformation to be handled in the Councel reducing it to the ancient and truely Christian vse But the Legats cōsidering how iust the cōplaints were and whither they might tend appeased all promised they would write to Rome and cause the iudiciall processe to surcease and to endeuor that the Bishop should in some sort be prouided for that he might maintain himselfe in the Councel All the Diuines hauing made an end of speaking the eighth day a Congregation A Decree made on the day of Carnoual that Traditions are of equall authority with the Scriptures was intimated for the next though it was no ordinary day not so much to establish quickly a Decree vpon the disputed Articles as for a grace of the Councell that in that day dedicated to a profane feast of the Carnoual the Fathers should busie themselues in the affaires of the Councell And then it was approued by all that the Traditions should bee receiued as of equall authority with the Scriptures But they agreed not in the manner of making the Catalogue of the Diuine bookes and there were three opinions One not to descend to particular bookes another to distinguish the Catalogue into three parts a third to make onely one and to make all the bookes of equall authoritie And not beeing all well resolued three draughts were made and order giuen that they should exactly consider which of them should be receiued in the next Congregation which was not held the twelfth day by reason of the arriuall of Don Francis of Toledo sent Don Francis of Toledo arriueth in Trent Ambassadour to the Emperour Ambassadour by the Emperour to assist in the Councell as Colleague to Don Diego who was met on the way by the maior part of the Bishops and families of the Cardinals At this time Vergerius who often hath beene named before came to Vergerius flieth to the Councell for refuge but findeth none Trent not so much with desire to assist in the Councell as to flie the rage of his people raised against him as cause of the barrennesse of the land by the Inquisitor Friar Hannibal a Grison For he knew not where to remaine with more dignity nor to haue greater commoditie to iustifie himselfe against the imputations of the Frair who published him for a Lutheran not onely in Istria but before the Nuncio of Venice and the Pope Whereof the Legates of the Councell beeing aduertised suffered him not to bee present at the publique Actes as a Prelate if first hee were not iustified before the Pope to whom they effectually exhorted him to goe and if they had not feared to raise talke against the libertie of the Councell they would haue gone beyond exhortation This Bishop seeing hee was more disgraced in Trent departed a little after with purpose to returne to his Bishopricke hoping the popular sedition was appeased But when he came to Venice he was forbidden by the Nuncio to goe thither who had order from Rome to make his processe for disdaine whereof or for feare or for some other cause hee quitted Italie within a few moneths after Vergerius forsaketh Italie The fifteenth day the three draughts beeing proposed though euery one was maintayned by some yet the third was approoued by the maior part In the Congregations after the Diuines discoursed vpon the other Articles and in the third there was much difference about the Latine translation of the Scripture betweene some few who had good knowledge of the Latine and some taste of the Greeke and others who were ignorant in the Tongues Friar Aloisius of Catanea said that for resolution of this article nothing could Discourses about the Latin translation be brought more to the purpose or more fit for the present times and occasions then the indgement of Cardinall Caietane a man very well read in Diuinitie hauing studied it euen from a childe who for the happinesse of his wit and for his laborious diligence became the prime Diuine of that and many more ages vnto whom there was no Prelate or person in the Councel who would not yeelde in learning or thought himselfe too good to learne of him This Cardinall going Legate into Germanie in the yeere 1523. studying exactly how those that erred might be reduced to the Church and the Arch-heretiques conuinced found out the true remedy which was the litterall meaning of the text of the Scripture in the originall tongue in which it is written and all the residue of his life which was 11. yeeres hee gaue himselfe onely to the study of the Scripture expounding not the Latine translation but the Hebrew rootes of the old and the Greeke of the new Testament In which tongues hauing no knowledge himselfe he imployed men of vnderstanding who made construction of the text vnto him word by word as his workes vpon the holy bookes doe shew That good Cardinall was wont to say that to vnderstand the Latine text was not to vnderstand the infallible word of God but the word of the translatour subiect and obnoxious vnto errors That Hierome spake well that to prophesie and write holy bookes proceeded from the holy Ghost but to translate them into another tongue was a worke of humane skill And hee complayned and said Would to God the Doctors of the former age had done so and then the Lutherane heresie would neuer haue found place Hee added that no translation could bee approued without reiecting the Canon Vt veterum d. 9.
which commandeth to haue the Hebrew text to examine the relitie of the bookes of the old Testament and the Greeke for a direction in those of the new To approoue a translation as authenticall was to condemne S. Hierome and all those who haue translated If any be authenticall to what end serue the rest which are not it would bee a great vanitie to produce vncertaine copies when there are some infallible That they should bee of the opinion of 9. Hierome and Caietane that euery Interpreter may erre though he haue vsed all arte not to vary from the originall But sure it is that if the holy Councell should examine or correct an interpretation according to the true text the holy Ghost which assisteth Synods in matters of faith would keepe them from erring and such a translation so examined and approoued might bee called authenticall But that any could be approoued without such an examination with assurance of the assistance of the holy Ghost hee durst not say except the Synode did determine it seeing that in the Councel of the holy Apostles a great inquisition was made before But this beeing a worke of tenne yeeres and impossible to be vndertaken it seemed better to leaue things as they had remained 1500. yeeres that the Latine translations should be verified by the originall Texts On the contrary the maior part of the Diuines said that it was necessary to account that translation which formerly hath beene read in the Churches and vsed in the schooles to be diuine and authenticall otherwise they should yeeld the cause to the Lutherans and open a gate to innumerable heresies hereafter and continually trouble the peace of Christendome That the doctrine of the Church of Rome mother and mistresse of all the rest is in a great part founded by the Popes and by schoole Diuines vpon some passage of the Scripture which if euery one had liberty to examine whether it were well translated running to other translations or seeking how it was in the Greeke or Hebrew these new Grammarians would confound all and would be made Iudges and arbiters of faith and in stead of Diuines and Canonists Pedanties should be preferred to be Bishops and Cardinals The Inquisitors will not be able to proceede against the Lutherans in case they know not Hebrew and Greeke because they will suddenly answere the text is not so and that the translation is false and euery nouity or toy that shall come into the head of any Grammarian either for malice or want of knowledge in Diuinity so that he may but finde some grammaticall tricke in those tongues to confirme it will be sufficient to ground himselfe thereon and he will neuer make an end That it doth appeare since Luther began to translate the Scripture how many diuers and contrary translations haue seene the light which deserue to bee buried in perpetuall darkenesse and how often Martin himselfe hath changed his owne translation that neuer any hath beene reprinted without some notable change not of one or two passages but of an hundred in a breath that if this libertie bee giuen to all Christianitie will soone be brought to that passe that no man will know what to beleeue To these reasons which the maior part applauded others added also that if the prouidence of God hath giuen an authenticall Scripture to the Synagogue and an authenticall New Testament to the Grecians it cannot be said without derogation that the Church of Rome more beloued then the rest hath wanted this great benefit and therefore that the same holy Ghost who did dictate the holy bookes hath dictated also that translation which ought to be accepted by the Church of Rome Some thought it hard to make a Prophet or Apostle onely to translate a booke therefore they moderated the assertion and said that he had not a Prophericall or Apostolicall Spirit but one very neere And if any should make dainty to giue the spirit of God to the Interpreter yet he cannot deny it to the Councell and when the vulgar edition shall bee approued and an anathema thundered against whosoeuer will not receiue it this will be without error not by the spirit of him that wrote it but of the Synode that hath receiued it for such D. Isidorus Clarus a Brescian and a Benedictine Abbat a man well seene in this studie went about to remooue this opinion by an historicall narration and said in substance that in the Primitiue Church there were many Greeke translations of the Old Testament which Origen gathered into one volume confornting them in sixe columnes the chiefe of these is called of the Septuagint from whence diuers in Latine were taken and many were taken from the Greeke text of the new Testament one of which most followed and read in the Church and esteemed the best by Saint Austin is called Itala yet so as that the Greeke text ought vndoubtedly to bee preferred But Saint Hierom a man as all doe know skilfull in the knowledge of tongues seeing that of the olde Testament to swarue from the Hebrew trueth by the fault partly of the Greeke interpreter and partly of the Latin made one immediately out of the Hebrew and amended that of the new Testament according to the trueth of the Greeke text Hieroms credit made his translation to bee receiued by many but was reiected by some either because they loued more the errours of antiquitie then new trueths or as himselfe complaineth by reason of emulation But a few yeeres after when enuie was laid aside that of S. Hierom was receiued by all the Latins so they were both in vse one being called the olde and the other the new Saint Gregorie writing to Leander vpon Iob testifieth that the Apostolike Sea vseth them both and that himselfe in the exposition of that booke made choice to follow the new as conformable to the Hebrew text yet in the allegations he would vse sometimes one sometimes another as it best befitted his purpose The times following by the vse of them both composed one taking part of the new and part of the olde according as the accidents required and to this the name of the vulgar Edition was giuen The Psalmes were all of the olde because being dayly sung in the Churches they could not be changed The lesser Prophets are all of the new the greater mixt of both This is very true that all hath happened by the ordinance of God without which nothing can succeede But yet it cannot be said that there was in it greater knowledge then humane Saint Hierome saith plainely that no interpreter S. Ierom saith that no interpreter hath spoken by the holy Ghost hath spoken by the holy Ghost The Edition which wee haue is his for the most part it would bee strange to attribute the assistance of God to him that knoweth and affirmeth hee hath it not Wherefore no translation can bee compared to the text in the originall tongue Therefore his opinion was that the vulgar
edition should bee preferred before all and allowed yet so as that it should bee corrected by the originall and all men forbid to make any other only that should be amended and the others extinguished and so all inconueniences caused by new interpretations which haue iudiciously been noted and reprehended in the Congregations would cease Andrew de Vega a Franciscan Friar going as a Mediator betweene these two opinions approoued that of Saint Hierom that the qualities of an interpreter are not any Propheticall or other speciall diuine spirit which giueth them infallibilitie and the opinion of the same Saint and of Saint Austin to correct the translations by the texts of the originall tongue But added that it was not contrary to this to say withall that the Latin Church holdeth the vulgar edition for authenticall because it is thus to bee vnderstood that concerning faith and manners there is no errour in it though in some small matter or expression of wordes there may be a mistaking it being impossible that all the words of one language should bee transplanted into another but that there will bee some restriction or inlargement of significations or metaphore or other figure That the vulgar edition hath beene examined heeretofore by the whole Church during the space of 1000. yeeres and knowne that there is no errour in it in matter of faith or manners and in this account it hath beene held and vsed by the ancient Councels and so ought still to bee held and approoued and declared as authenticall that is that it may bee read without danger not hindering those that are more diligent to haue recourse vnto the Hebrew and Greeke originals but forbidding so great a number of whole translations which beget confusion About the Article of the sense of the holy Scripture the doctrine of Cardinall Caietan gaue occasion to speake diuersly who taught and practised the same himselfe that new conceits when they agree to the text and Discourses about the exposition of the Scripture are not aliene from other places of the Scripture and doctrine of faith are not to be reiected though the streame of the Doctors runne another way in regard the Maiestie of God hath not tied the sense of the Scripture to the old Doctors otherwise there would remaine no more power to those that liue now nor to posteritie then to transcribe the same things againe which some of the Diuines and Fathers approoued and some opposed To the first it seemed a spirituall tyrannie to forbid the faithfull to make vse of their proper ingenie according to the grace which God hath giuen them and that this was iust a prohibition to exercise the talent giuen vs by God That men ought to bee inticed with all allurements to the reading of the holy writ from which when that pleasure which nouitie bringeth shall bee remooued all men will euer abhorre it and such strictnesse will make men apply themselues to other studies and abandon this and by consequence all studie and care of pietie That this varietie of spirituall gifts belongeth to the perfection of the Church and is found amongst the Fathers in whose writings there is great diuersitie and oftentimes contrarietie yet ioyned with assured charitie Why should not that libertie bee graunted to this age which others haue inioyed with spirituall fruit The Schoole-men though in the doctrine of Theologie they haue no disputes about the meaning of the Scripture yet they haue as many differences in points of religion and no lesse dangerous That it is better to imitate antiquitie which hath not restrained the exposition of the Scripture but left it free Those of the contrarie opinion sayd that popular licence being worse then tyrannie it was then fit to curbe the vnbrideled wits otherwayes they could not hope to see an end of the present contentions That anciently it was allowed to write vpon the holy Bookes because there was neede in regard there were but few expositions And the men of those times were of an holy life and setled minde from whom no confusions could bee feared as now And therefore the Schoole-men seeing there was no more neede of other expositions in the Church and that the Scripture was not onely sufficiently but aboundantly declared they tooke another course to treate of holy mysteries and seeing that men were inclined to disputings they thought good to busie them rather in examining of the reasons sayings of Aristotle to keepe the holy Scripture in reuerence from which much is derogated when it is handled after a common fashion and is the subiect of the Studies and exercises of curious men And this opinion went on so farre that Richard of Mans a Franciscan Friar sayd that the doctrines of faith were now so cleered that wee ought no more to learne them out of Scripture which it is true was read heretofore in the Church for instruction of the people whereas now it is read in the Church onely to pray and ought to serue euery one for this end onely and not to studie And this should be the reuerence and worship due from euery one to the word of God But at the least the studying of it should bee prohibited to euery one that is not first confirmed in schoole Diuinitie neither doe the Lutherans gaine vpon any but those that studie the Scripture Which opinion wanted not adherents Betweene these opinions there went two others in the middle One that it was not good to restraine the vnderstanding of the Scripture to the Fathers onely in regard their expositions are allegoricall for the most part and seldome literall and those that follow the letter fit themselues to their owne time so that the exposition agreeth not to our age That Cardinall The opinion of Cusanus that the exposition of the Scripture must be fitteâ— to the time Cusanus a man excellently learned and honest said iudicially that the vnderstanding of the Scripture must bee fitted to the time and expounded according to the current Rites and that it is not to bee maruciled at if the Church in one time expoundeth in one fashion at another in another And this was the meaning of the Lateran Councell when it decreed that the Scripture should bee expounded according to the Doctors of the Church or as long vse hath approoued that new expositions should not bee forbidden but when they varie from the common sense But Dominicus Soto a Dominican Friar distinguished the matter of faith and manners from the others saying it was meete in that onely to keepe euery wit within limits but in others it was not inconuenient to let euery one so that pietie and charitie bee preserued to abound in his owne sence That the Fathers desired not to bee followed of necessitie but onely in things necessary to beleeue and to doe Neither did the Popes when in their Decretals they expounded some passage of the Scripture in one sense meane to canonize that so that it should not bee lawfull to vnderstand it
with all their might and the Prelates alledging that they belonged to them and were vsurped pretended restitution And because the contention was heere not of opinions but of profit they vsed on both sides not onely reasons but deedes also Which differences were set on foote that at the time of the Session nothing might be decided Therefore the Legates resolued to deferre these two points vntill another Session Two Decrees were framed as formerly was resolued and were read in the last Congregation and approoued yet with some exceptions in the point of the vulgar Edition In the ende heereof the Cardinall of Monte after hee had commended the learning and wisedome of them all admonished them of the seemely behauiour which was fit to vse in the publique Session shewing one heart and one minde in regard the points were sufficiently examined in the Congregations and the Congregation beeing ended the Cardinall Santa Croce assembled those that had opposed the vulgar Edition and shewed they could not complaine because it was not prohibited but left free to correct it and to haue recourse to No errors of faith in the vulgar Edition the originall but that onely it was forbid to say there were in it errors of faith for which it ought to be reiected The eight of April appoynted for the Session being come the Masse of the holy Ghost was said by Saluator Alepus Archbishop of Torre in Sardinia and the Sermon was made by Friar Austin of Aretium Generall of the Serui the Pontificall habiliments put on the accustomed letanies and prayers made and the Decrees read by the Archbishop that said Masse The first conteined in substance that the Synode ayming to preserue the purity of the Gospel promised by the Prophets published by Christ and preached by the Apostles Two Decrees read in the Session as the fountaine of all trueth and discipline of maners which trueth and discipline are contained in the bookes and vnwritten traditions receiued by The contents of the former the Apostles from the mouth of Christ and dictated to them by the holy Ghost and passed from one to another doeth according to the example of the Fathers receiue with equall reuerence all the bookes of the old and new Testament and the traditions belonging to faith and manners as proceeding from the mouth of Christ or dictated by the holy Ghost and preserued in the Catholique Church And setting downe the Catalogue of the bookes concludeth that if any will not receiue them all as Sacred and Canonicall in all parts as they are read in the Catholike Church and contained in the vulgar Edition or shall wittingly and purposely despise the traditions let him be Anathema that euery one may know what ground the Synode will vse in confirming the points of doctrine and reforming of maners in the Church The substance of the second Decree was that the vulgar Edition should be The substance of the second Decree held for authenticall in publike Lectures Disputations Sermons and expositions and that none should dare to refuse it That the holy Scripture cannot bee expounded against the sense held by the holy Mother the Church nor against the common consent of the Fathers though with purpose to conceale those expositions and that the offenders should be punished by the Ordinaries that the vulgar Edition should be most exactly printed That no bookes of religion bee printed sold or kept without the authors name and that the approbation appeare in the frontispice of the booke vpon paine of excommunication and pecuniary punishment constituted by the last Lateran Councell That none should dare to vse the words of the holy Scripture in scurrility fables vanity flatteries detractions superstitions inchantments diuinations castings of lots libels and that the transgressors should bee punished at the discretion of the Bishops And it was determined to hold the next The next Session is to be heâ—d the 17. of Iune Session the 17. of Iune Afterwards the Commission of Don Diego de Mendoza and Francis de Toledo the Emperours Ambassadors was read by the Secretarie of the Councel The Commission of the Emperours Ambassadors is read Don Diego was absent and the other hauing in the Emperours name saluted the Fathers in few words said in substance That all the world knew that the Emperour thought nothing to befit him more then not onely to defend the flocke of CHRIST from enemies but to free it from tumults and seditions therefore that he reioyced to see the day when the Councell published by the Pope was opened and that being willing to fauour that occasion with his power and authoritie he had sent thither Mendoza vnto whom in regard of his indisposition himselfe was ioyned So that nothing remained but to pray God vniformely that he would fauour the enterprise of the Councell and which is the Principall would preserue peace betweene the Pope and Emperour for the establishing of the trueth of the Gospel restoring the Church to her puritie weeding the cockle out of the Lords field Answere was made by the Councell that his Lordships comming was most acceptable both for the dutie they did owe the Emperour and for the fauour hee promised them hauing also much hope in the realtie religion of his Lordship That they imbraced him with all their heart and did admit as farre as they could with reason the mandates of Caesar That they were sorry for the indisposition of his Colleague and thanked God for the peace betweene the Pope and the Emperour praying him to fauour the desires of them both for the increase of Christian religion and peace of the Church These things being done with the vsuall ceremonies the Session ended the Decrees whereof were sent to Rome by the Legates and a little after printed But after they were seene especially in Germany they ministred great A few Prelats and not learned do decide the greatest points of religion matter of discourse Some thought it strange that fiue Cardinals and 48. bishops should so easily define the most principall and important points of Religion neuer decided before giuing Canonicall authoritie to Bookes held for vncertaine and apocryphall making authenticall a translation differing from the original prescribing and restraining the manner to vnderstand the word of God neither was there amongst these Prelates any one remarkable for learning some of them were Lawyers perhaps learned in that profession but of little vnderstanding in Religion few Diuines but of lesse then ordinary sufficiencie the greater number Gentlemen or Courtiers and for their dignities some were onely titular and the maior part Bishops of so small Cities that supposing euery one to represent his people it could not be said that one of a thousand in Christendome was represented But particularly of Germany there was not so much as one bishop or Diuine Was it possible that amongst so many no man should be sent Why did not the Emperour cause some of them to goe who assisted in the
the people to nothing but to giue money The onely remedie for these disorders is to take away all the priuiledges and to restore to the Bishops the charge to teach and preach and to elect those for their fellow labourers whom they shall know worthy of that ministery and disposed to exercise it with charity On the contrary side the Generals of the Regulars and others saide An Apologie of the regular orders that the Bishops and Curates hauing wholly abandoned the office of a Pastour so that for many hundreds of yeeres the people remained without Sermons in the Church and without the doctrine of Diuinitie in Schooles God had raised the begging orders to supplie these necessary ministeries into which notwithstanding they intruded not themselues but entred by the graunt of the Supreame Pastour vnto whom it principally appertaining to feede all the flocke of CHRIST it cannot bee saide that men deputed by him to supplie the defects of him that had the care of the flocke and did aband on it haue vsurped the office of another But it may bee say de that if they had not vsed that charitie there had now remained no signe of Christianitie Now that they haue applyed themselues more then three hundred yeeres to that holy worke with such fruit as appeareth they haue prescribed those functions and made them their owne by a lawfull title giuen by the chiefe Pastour the Bishop of Rome and that the Bishops haue no lawfull right vnto them nor can alleadge the vse of antiquity to regaine that office which so many hundred yeeres since they haue forsaken That they haue a desire of gayning for themselues or their Monasteries is a meere calumnie because the almes are gathered onely for their necessary foode and apparell and the residue being spent for the worship of God in masses buildings and ornaments of Churches turneth to the benefit and edification of the people and not to their owne profit that the seruices done by their orders to the holy Church and doctrine of Diuinitie which is no where to bee found but in their Cloisters deserue the continuance of that charge which others are not able to exercise The Legates importuned by both parties by the Councell of their most The Legats relate this difference to Rome and expect an answere inward friends resoluted to relate to Rome and expect an answere The Pope referred it to the Congregation where presently it was seene whither the pretence of the Bishops tended that is to make themselues so many Popes in their Diocesses For when the Popes priuiledge and exemption should bee remooued and euery one should depend on them and none on the Pope all cause of going to Rome would cease They considered that the Popes The Deputies in Rome take part with the Mendicants for reasons of Policie haue anciently had for a principall secret to preserue the Primacie giuen them by CHRIST to exempt the Bishops from the Arch-bishop the Abbats from the Bishops and so to oblige men to defend him That it is a cleere case that after the sixe hundredth yeere the Primacie of the Apostolike Sea hath beene vpheld by the Benedictine Monkes exempted and after by the Congregations of Clunie and Cistercium and other monasticall assemblies vntill God raised the Mendicant orders by which it hath beene maintained vntill now Wherefore to take away their priuiledges were directly to oppugne the Papacie and not those orders to remooue the exemptions were a manifest depression of the Court of Rome because they should want meanes to keepe a Bishop within compasse that hee exalt not himselfe too high Therefore that the Pope and Court were compelled by necessitie to maintaine the Friars cause But to doe these things smoothely they considered also that it was necessary to conceale this reason and they resolued to answere the Legates that by all meanes they should preserue the state of The Popes answere the Regulars and cause the Bishops to surcease setting before them the excessiue number of the friars and the credit which they haue with the people and aduise them to take a moderate course and not make a Schisme by desiring too much That it was iust they should receiue some satisfaction but they should also bee content to giue it and when they came to the point they should grant any thing concerning the Pardoners but should doe nothing concerning the Friars without communicating it to the Generalls and should giue the Bishops some satisfaction which might not take away the priuiledges That they should doe the like for the Vniuersities because it was necessary that both these and those should depend on the Pope and not on the Bishops After these letters came to Trent those of the Councell had three diuers endes For the other particulars proposed in these two matters by those who were not interested either to fauour or disfauour the exemptions were but little considered of For the Lectures some proposed the restitution of the ancient vse when Monasteries and Canons cloisters were but Colledges and Schooles Whereof some remainder appeareth in many Cathedral Churches where there is the dignitie of a Schooleman Head of the readers with a Prebend These men now doe not performe the duetie and indeede are vnable All thought it honest and profitable to restore the Diuinitie Lecture in Cathedral Churches and Monasteries For the former they thought it easie to make prouision by committing the care of the execution thereof to the Bishops but for the latter very difficult The Legates opposed the Superintendencie of Bishops euen in this also though it were ouer Monkes onely not Mendicants for feare of leauing a gate open to them to meddle with priuiledges granted by the Pope But Sebastianus Pighius Auditor of The inuention of the Auditor of the Rota the Rota found a temper for this that the superintendencie should be giuen to the Bishops as Delegates of the Apostolique Sea The inuention pleased because it was in fauour of the Bishops without derogation of the priuiledge for the Bishop was to superintend not as Bishop but as the Popes Delegate And this gaue a paterne to accommodate other difficulties one in giuing authoritie to the Metropolitans ouer Parishes vnited to Monasteries not subiect to any Diocesse another in giuing power to Bishops ouer exempted Preachers who faile and serued also very much in the Decrees of the Sessions that were after The Canonists proposed that the Schoole subtiltie was not fit in these Politique reasons to vphold the Popes authoritie times and that it beseemed rather naturall things and Philosophie that these new Lectures should bee introduced to handle the Sacraments and the authority of the Church as Turrecremata Augustinus Triumphus after them S. Antoninus and others haue done with great fruit But the Fryars contradicting and opposing that this doctrine was as necessary as that they found a temper and ordered that the Lecture should bee for exposition of the Scripture and that the matter
head inueighed seuerely against the Canons and wrote vnto them reprehending them for introducing a dangerous nouitie without reason or example of antiquitie that there want not places to praise the Virgin who cannot be pleased with a presumptuous nouitie mother of rashnesse sister of superstition daughter of lightnesse The next age had Schoole-Doctors of both the orders Franciscan and Dominican who in their writings refuted this opinion vntill about the yeere 1300. when Iohn Scot a Franciscan putting the matter into disputation and examining the reasons did flie to the omnipotencie saying that God had power to free her from sinne or to cause sinne to remaine in her onely for an instant or for a certaine time that God onely knoweth which of these three is true yet it is probable to attribute the first to Marie in case it bee not repugnant to the authoritie of the Church and of the Scripture The doctrine of this famous Diuine was followed by the Franciscan order But in the particular of the conception seeing the way layd open they affirmed absolutely for true that which hee had proposed as possible and probable vnder this doubtfull condition if it bee not repugnant to the Orthodoxe Faith The Dominicans did constantly resist and followed Saint Thomas one of their order famous for his learning S. Thomas is canonized by Pope Iohn the 22 to disgrace the Franciscans and for the approbation of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth who to depresse the Franciscans who did for the most part adhere to the Emperour Lewis of Bauaria excommunicated by him did canonize that Doctour and his doctrine The shew of pietie and deuotion made the Franciscan opinion generally more accepted and more tenaciously receiued by the Vniuersitie of Paris which was in credite for eminent learning and after long ventilation and discussion was afterwards approoued by the Councell of Basill which forbade to preach and teach the contrarie This tooke place in those Countreys which receiued the Councell Finally Pope Sixtus the fourth a Franciscan made two Bulles in this matter one in the yeere one thousand foure hundred seuentîe sixe approouing a new Office composed by Leonard Nogarola Protonotarie with Indulgences to him that did celebrate it or assist the other in the yeere one thousand foure hundred eightie three condemning the assertion as false and erronious that it is heresie to hold the conception or a sinne to celebrate it excommunicating the Preachers and others who noted that opinion of heresie or the contrarie because it was not as yet decided by the Church of Rome and the Apostolike Sea But this did not appease the contentions which betweene the two orders of Friars still waxed sharper and were renewed euery yeere in December so that Pope Leo the tenth thinking to giue a remedie by deferring the controuersie made letters bee written vnto diuers But afterwards he had more important cogitations by reason of the nouities of Germanie which in these contentions wrought that which happeneth in States that the Citie being beleaguered the factions doe cease and all ioyne against the common enemie The Dominicans grounded themselues vpon the Scripture the doctrine of the Fathers and the most ancient Schoole-men where not one iot was found in fauour of the others but they alleadged for themselues miracles and contentment of the people Iohn of Vdine a Dominican Friar sayd either you will that Saint Paul and the Fathers haue beleeued this exemption of the Virgine from the common condition or not If they haue beleeued it and yet haue spoken generally without euer making mention of this exception imitate them also now But if they haue beleeued the contrarie your opinion is a nouitie Ierolamus Lombardellus a Franciscan Friar sayd that the authoritie of the present Church was no lesse then that of the Primitiue if the consent of that in those times made men speake without exception the consent of this which appeareth in celebrating the Feast throughout ought to induce vs not to omit it The Legate wrote to Rome of the marueilous agreement of all against the Lutheran doctrine and the resólution taken to condemne it and sent a copie of the Anathematismes framed giuing aduise withall of the contention raised about the conception Whereunto it was answered from Rome that by no meanes they should meddle with a matter which may cause a schisme betweene Catholikes but should striue to reconcile the parties and giue The Pope commandeth that the contention about the conception should be omitted for feare of making a schisme them both satisfaction and aboue all to preserue in strength the briefe of Sistus 4. The Legates hauing receiued the order did by themselues and by the wiser sort of Prelates perswade both parties to lay aside the contentions and apply themselues ioyntly against the Lutherans They were on both sides contented to be silent so that their opinion were not preiudiced yet the Franciscans said that the Canon was against them if the Virgin were not excepted and the Dominicans that they were condemned if shee were It was necessary to finde a way how it might bee declared that shee was neither comprehended nor affirmatiuely excepted which was by saying they had no intention either to comprehend or except her Afterwards at the great instance of the Franciscans the others were content it should bee sayd onely they had no meaning to comprehend her And to obey the Pope it was added that the constitutions of Sistus 4. should be obserued While these things are handled in Trent the Diet being assembled in Ratisbon The Diet of Ratisbon the Emperour shewed great displeasure that the Colloquie was dissolued without fruit and required that euery one should propose what hee thought fit to appease Germanie The Protestants desired that the difference of Religion might bee composed according to the Recesse of Spira by a nationall Councell saying it was more fit then a generall because by reason of the great difference in opinions betweene Germanie and other Nations it is impossible to auoyde the raising of a greater contention and whosoeuer will enforce Germanie to change opinion must first slay many thousands of men which would be a dammage to the Emperour and a ioy to the Turkes The Emperors ministers answered that his Maiestie was not the cause why the Decree of Spira was not executed and that it was knowen vnto all that to make so necessarie a peace with the French King hee was constrained to yeeld to the Pope in matters of Religion that the Decree was fitted to the necessities of that time which being changed it was also necessarie to change opinion that in National Councels somtimes maners are amended but Faith and Religion neuer handled that in Colloquies one hath to doe with Theologues who for the most part are vntractable obstinate so that with them one cannot come to such moderate counsels as is necessary that none loued Religion more then the Emperor who would not swarue one iote from that which
is iust and honest to please the Pope but he knew wel that in a Nationall Councel he should neither be able to reconcile the parties nor find whom to make iudge The Ambassadour of Mentz and Triers diuided themselues from the other foure and being vnited with all the Catholikes approoued the Tridentine Councell and besought Caesar to protect it and to perswade the Protestants to goe thither and submit themselues vnto it They answered that the Councell in Trent was not free as was demanded and promised in the Imperiall Diets they desired againe that the Emperour would obserue the peace and ordaine that Religion might be established in a lawfull Councell of Germanie or an Imperiall Diet Job a Colloquie of learned men 〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉 In this Interim the Emperour had made secret prouision for warre which not being able longer to concedles 〈…〉 knowen to the Protestants in the Diet and because peace was concluded with the French King and The prouisions for warre against the 〈◊〉 Protest 〈…〉 〈◊〉 no longer be concealed truce with the T 〈…〉 euery one did easily perceiue the cause especially for that a fame was spread 〈…〉 the Pope also and Ferdinand did arme whereby all was in confusion And the Emperour seeing hee was discouered the ninth of Innosent the Cardinall of Trent Post to Rome to demand of the Pope the succours 〈◊〉 promised and sent Captaines with money into Italie and Flanders to leuie Souldiers and sollicited the Princes and Protestant German Captaines not combined with those of the league of Smalcalda to follow his colours affirming and promising bee would not make warre for Religion but suppresse the rebellion of some who vnder that pretence would not acknowledge the Lawes nor the Maiestie of the Prince By this promise he quieted many of the Cities who before had receiued the renouation in the Rites of the Church promising all beneuolence to the obedient and securitie for their Religion But in the Councell there being no more difference amongst the Fathers concerning the things discussed and the decrees of faith and reformation being framed the Emperours Ambassadour being not able any longer to resist the Legats resolution the seuenteenth of Iune being come the day appoynted for the Session Alexander Pichalhomini Bishop of Pianza sang Masse Marcus Laureus a Dominican Friar preached and when the vsual ceremonies were ended the decree of faith with fiue Anathematismes was read 1. Against him that confesseth not that Adam by transgressing hath The Decree of faith with 5. a 〈…〉 t 〈…〉 in the Session lost sanctitie and iustice incurred the wrath of God death and thraldome to the Deuill and is infected in soule and body 2. Against him that auerreth that Adam by sinning hath hurt himselfe onely or hath deriued into his posteritie the death onely of the body and not sinne the death of the soule 3. Against him that affirmeth that sinne which is one in the beginning and proper to euery one transmitted by generation not imitation can bee abolished by any other remedie then the death of CHRIST or denieth that the merit of CHRIST is applied as well to children as to those that bee of ripe yeeres by the Sacrament of Baptisme ministred in the forme and rite of the Church 4. Against him that de 〈…〉 eth that children which are newly borne ought to be baptized though the sonnes of Christians or saith they are baptized for remission of sinnes but not because they haue contracted any originall sinne from Adam 5. Against him that denyeth that by the grace of Baptisme the guilt of originall sinne is remitted or saith that all is not remooued which hath the true and proper nature of sinne but that it is razed and not imputed concupiscence still remaining in the baptized for an exercise which cannot hurt but him that consenteth to it the which beeing called sinne by the Apostle the Synod declareth that it is no true and proper sinne but is so termed because it ariseth from sinne and inclineth to it That the Synod meaneth not to comprehend in the decree the blessed Virgin but that the constitutions of Sistus 4. ought to be obserued which it doth renew The Decree of the reformation containeth two parts one in matter of the Lectures the other of the Sermons For the Lectures it was ordered that in the Churches where there is a stipend allotted for reading Diuinitie the Bishop should prouide that the holy Scripture should bee read by the Stipendary it he be fit and not being fit the Bishop should depute a substitute The Decree of reformation to performe the charge but for hereafter that the benefice should not bee conferred but vpon a sufficient person That in the Cathedrall Churches of populous Cities and collegiate Churches of great Castles where no such stipend is assigned the first Prebend that falleth void should bee applyed to that vse or some simple benefice or a contribution of all beneficed men to institute the Lecture That in poore Churches there should bee at the least a Master to teach Grammer who shall enioy the fruits of some simple benefice or haue a stipend from the Capitular or Episcopall table or the Bishop shall finde some other way to effect it That in the Cloysters of Monkes there should be a Diuinitie Lecture if it may bee wherein if the Abbats shall bee negligent they shall bee constrained to doe it by the Bishop as the Popes Delegate That in the Conuents of the Regulars there should bee deputed Masters of sufficiencie to performe this charge That in publique studies where a Diuinitie Lecture is not instituted it shall bee instituted by the charitie and pietie of Princes and Republiques and where it hath beene instituted and neglected it shall bee restored That none shall bee made a Lecturer either publike or priuate before hee bee approoued by the Bishop as fit for his life manners and knowledge except those that reade in the Cloysters of Monkes That the priuiledges granted by law to Publique Readers in Diuinitie and schollers for the enioying of the fruits of their benefices in their absence shall be preserued Concerning Sermons the Decree containeth that the Bishops and Prelates bee bound if they bee not hindered to preach the Gospel in person and if they bee to substitute men of sufficiencie That the inferiour Curates ought to teach things necessary to saluation either by themselues or others at the least on Sundayes and solemne Feasts whereunto they shall bee constrained by the Bishops any exemption notwithstanding And the Curates of the Parishes subiect to Monasteries which are in no diocesse shall be constrained to the same by the Metropolitanes as Delegates of the Pope in case the Regular Prelate shall be negligent That the Regulars shall not preach except they be approoued for their life maners and knowledge by their superiours and in the Churches of their Order they shall demand the benediction of the Bishop before the Sermon begin but in other Churches they
that the first beginning of saluation proceedes from the vocation of God He auoyded these straits by a distinction that they were preparatory a farre off but not neerely as though giuing a remote preparation to the force of nature the first beginning was not taken away from the grace A new distinction inuented by Soto of God The Franciscans thought that not onely this kinde of workes were good and did truely and properly prepare to iustification but also that they were truely meritorious in the sight of God Therefore Scotus the authour of their doctrine inuented a kinde of merit which hee attributed to workes done by the force of nature onely saying that in congruitie they deserue grace by a certaine law and infallibly and that a man by naturall power only may feele a sorrow for sinne which is a disposition and merit of Congruity to abolish it approouing a common saying of his times that God neuer The doctrine of the Franciscans concerning meritorious works faileth him that doth as much as hee is able And some of that Order passing those bounds did adde that if God giueth not grace to him that doth what he can hee would be vniust vnrighteous partiall and an accepter of persons They clamoured with much stomacke and indignation that it would bee a great absurdity if God made no difference betweene one that is naturally honest and another drowned in all vices and there would be no reason why hee should rather giue grace to one then another They also alledged that Saint Thomas was of this opinion and that otherwise a man is put into desperation and made negligent to doe well and wicked men may excuse their bad workes and attribute them to the want of the assistance of God But the Dominicans did confesse that Saint Thomas was of this opinion when hee was yong and after did retract it when he was old They did reprehend Is contradicted by the Dominicans it because in the Councell of Orange it is determined that no kinde of merit goeth before grace and that the beginning should bee attributed to God saying that the Lutherans hauing made such exclamations for this congruous merit it ought wholly to be abolished as indeede it was neuer heard of in the Church in ancient times in so many controuersies with the Pelagians That the holy Scripture doth attribute our conuersion to God and that it is not fit to leaue the forme of speach which it vseth For the preparations there was no difference in the substance of the doctrine All held that after God doth stirre vs vp feare and other considerations of the malignity which is in sinne doe arise They said that the opinion that these things are bad was hereticall because God exhorteth the sinner yea mooueth him to these considerations and it must not be sayd that God mooueth to sinne and which is more it is the office of a preacher to terrifie a sinner by these meanes and because by the same meanes all passe from the state of sinne to that of grace it seemed very strange that one cuuld no tpasse from sinne to iustice without the meanes of another sinne But for all this they could not free themselues from the difficultie on the contrary part because all good workes may stand with grace but that feare and other preparations cannot and therefore are sinnes Friar Antonius Marinarus thought the difference was verball and said that as passing from a great cold to a heat one must passe by a lesse degree of cold which is neither a heat nor a new cold but the same diminished so one goeth from sinne to iustice by terrors and attritions which are neither good workes nor new sinnes but old sinnes extenuated But he was compelled to retract because all were against him Of the workes done in grace there was no difficulty amongst them For they all sayd they were perfect and merited saluation and that Luthers opinion that they are all sinnes is wicked and sacrilegious and holding it to be blasphemie to say that the blessed Virgine hath committed the least veniall sinne they could not endure to heare that shee sinned in euery action and said that the earth and hell would open themselues against so great blasphemies For censure of the 22. and 23. Articles in the point of the essence of Diuine grace it was a common consideration that the word Grace in the first All agreed to condemne Luther concerning works after grace signification was vnderstood for a beneuolence or good will which when it is in him that hath power necessarily bringing foorth a good effect that is a gift or benefit which is also called Grace That the Protestants thought so meanly of the Maiesty of GOD that it could doe no more then make vs partakers of his good will but his omnipotencie required that we should haue the benefit thereof in effect And because some man might say that the diuine will onely which is GOD himselfe can haue no greater thing to bestow and that to haue giuen vs his Sonne was the greatest benefit and that Saint Iohn to shew the great loue of GOD towards the world alleadged nothing else but that he had giuen vs his Sonne they said that these benefits are common to all and that it was fit he should bestow a particular present to euery one Therefore the Diuines haue added an habituall grace giuen to euery iust man in particular which is a spirituall qualitie created by GOD infused into the soule whereby it is made gratefull and acceptable to the diuine Maiesty wherof though the Fathers speake not in expresse termes nor the Scripture yet it is cleerely deduced from the word Iustifie which being effectiue doth necessarily signifie to make iust by the impression of reall Iustice which reality because it is no substance can bee nothing else but a qualitie and habite And vpon this occasion there was much spoken against the Lutherans who will not haue the verbe Iustificare to be effectiue but iudiciall and declaratiue grounding themselues vpon the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tsadak and the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie to bee pronounced iust and vpon many places of the New and Old Testament and that it is vsed in that signification in the Latine translation alleadging for it places to the number of fifteene But Soto excluded all those of Saint Paul which spake of our iustification which he said must needes be vnderstood in an effectiue sense whereupon arose a great dispute betweene him and Marinarus who said one should not ground himselfe vpon so light a matter But he said the Article of habituall Grace could not be doubted of as being decided in the Councell of Vienna and by the common opinion of all Theologues that this was to make sure foundations which cannot be destroyed and not to say that Saint Paul to the Romanes when he saith that GOD iustifieth doth not meane declaratorily for it is manifestly against the Text
the conclusion of that point euery one might plainely see that the cause ought to haue beene giuen for that no man can certainely know that he hath obtained grace But to satisfie one part hee added certainety of faith and the Dominicans thinking this was not enough vrged him to adde Catholique But because the adherents of Catarinus were not contented in stead of those words Catholique faith it was said Faith which cannot be subiect to falshood This contented both sides For one party inferred then that certainty of faith which can be had herein may bee false and therefore is vncertaine the other inferred that this certainety could haue no doubt of falsehood while it remained but by changing from the state of of grace to the State of sinne it may become false as all contingent truthes by alteration of their subiects are made false But the Catholike faith is not onely certaine but vnchangeable because the subiect of it 〈…〉 things necessary or past which cannot be altered And truly concerning these particulars it is not fit to robbe the Cardinall of his due praise who knew how to satisfie men euen obstinate in contrary opinions And those that would be better informed therein may vnderstand that immediatly after the Session Friar Dominicus Soto principall of the Dominicans Dominicus Soto Principall 〈…〉 the Dominicans and Andreas Vega 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 publish books as commentaries of the Decree contraâ—â— one to an 〈…〉 wrote three bookes and did intitle them of Nature and Grace for commentary of this Doctrine and in his expositions all his opinions are found when this worke was published Fryar Andrew Vega the most esteemed of the Franciscans fet foorth fifteene great bookes for Commentaries vpon the 〈…〉 eene points of that decree and did expound it all according to his owne opinion These two opinions do not only differ almost in all the Articles but in many of them are expresly contrary Both which workes were printed in the yeere 1548. and hee that shall reade them obseruing that they doe giue very often interchangeable and doubtfull sences to the words of the Councell wil maruaile how these two persons the chiefe for learning and estimation who had greater part therein then others did not know the onely sence and true scope of the Synode of which also some few others of those which were interested hauing written diuersly I could neuer finde whether that assembly did agree in one sence or whether there was vnitie of words onely But to returne to the Cardinall when the Decree was approued The Decree is sent to Rome and approued there by all in Trent he sent it to the Pope and the Pope gaue it to the Fryars and learned men of Rome to be consulted of and it was approoued by them because euery one might vnderstand it in his owne sence I haue rehearsed altogether what was done in matter of faith that I mighâ— not diuide things that are connexed But in the meane time some dayes Reformation is handled were spent about the reformation and in those congregations it was proposed to set downe the qualities requisite in the promotion of the greater Prelats and Ministers of the Church And very graue sayings were deliuered with great ostentation but there was no way found how those things whereof they spoke might be obserued For where the Kings haue the presentation they saw not with what bonds to tie them where election hath place the chapter doth consist of great and mighty persons for the residue all dignities are conferred by the Pope and more then two thirds of the benefices The point concerning the qualities of the Prelats is omitted are reserued to the Apostolike Sea vnto which it is not fit to prescribe a law Whereupon after many and long discourses it was concluded that it was better to leaue the businesse The discourses in point of residency were neither fewer nor shorter The point of residence is handled which ended not in the resolution which was necessary desired by many and made some confusion then and prepared matter for other times For the vnderstanding whereof it is necessary to resume this matter from the beginning The Ecclesiasticall Degrees were not originally instituted as dignities preheminencies rewards or honours as now they are and haue beene many A discourse of the author concerning residency hundred yeeres but as ministeries and charges otherwise called by Saint Paul works and those that exercise them are called by CHRIST our LORD in the Gospel Worke-men and therefore no man could then enter into cogitation to absent himselfe from the execution thereof in his owne person and if any one which seldome happened retired from the worke it was not thought reasonable he should haue either title or profit And though the ministeries were of two sorts some anciently called as now they are with care of soules others of temporal things for the sustenance and seruice of the poore and sicke as were the Deaconries and other inferiour workes all held themselues equally bound to that seruice in person neither did any thinke of a substitute but for a short time and for great impediments much lesse to take another charge which might hinder that The Church being increased where there were many Christians and free from persecutions another sort of Ministers was instituted to serue in the Ecclesiasticall assemblies aswell in reading the diuine Scriptures as in other functions to stirre vp deuotion There were instituted also Colledges of Ministers which might in common apply themselues to some charge and others as Seminaries from whence to take Ministers instructed already These of the Colledges not hauing any personall charge seeing the Congregation did administer as well with one more as with one lesse sometimes by reason of studie or greater instruction or for some other cause were absent from the Church one for a short time another for along without hauing title charge or profit So Saint Ierom a Priest of Antioch but without any particular Cure and Ruffinus in the same manner of Aquileia and Saint Paulinus ordained Priest of Barcellona did reside but little But when the number of them increased they did degenerate and were called vagabond Clerkes because that manner of liuing made them odious who are often spoken of in the Lawes and nouell constitutions of Iustinian But neuer any thought to holde the title of an office or inioy the profit without doing seruice but onely after the yeere seuen hundred in the West Church when the Ecclesiastical ministeries were changed and made dignities and honours and rewards for seruices done And as before a person was chosen fit for the necessitie of the Church so afterward a degree dignitie or emolument was fitted to the qualitie of the person from whence arose the exercising of the ministery by a substitute This abuse hath drawen in another by consequence that is to thinke ones selfe disobliged not onely to minister but to bee present and assist him that
the artifice of that proposition which is in the fifth Chapter Neque homo ipse nihil omnino agat which they sayd was not intelligible and without example For if the Synode would signifie Etiam homo ipse aliquid agat it might say so plainely as is fit to doe in matter of faith where the more simple expression is the better and if they would vse an elegancie they might say Etiam homo ipse nihil agat But the word omnino beeing interposed that speech is incongruous and without sence as all are which haue two negatiues that cannot be resolued into an affirmatiue For to resolue that one must say Etiam homo ipse aliquid omnino agat which is incongruous and not to bee vnderstood what aliquid omnino may signifie heere For it would say that a man hath an action in a certaine kinde which in another kinde is no action The Fathers were defended by saying that to examine the forme of Speech so seuerely was nothing but to cauill Whereunto they replyed that a gentle interpretation was due vnto vsuall formes of speach but that it is a publique vtility to discouer the artifice of him that leauing the cleere and vsuall phrases inuenteth those that are incongruous and containe in them contradiction to cauill and to play on both sides Those that vnderstood Theologie said that the doctrine that a man may alwayes refuse diuine inspirations was contrary to the publike and ancient prayer of the Church Et ad te nostras etiam rebelles compelle propitius Uoluntates Which is not fit wee should say is a vaine desire but that it is made by faith as S. Iames saith and granted by God to his elected They added that one could no more say with S. Paul that it commeth not from man which doth separate the vessell of wrath from those of Gods mercie that which separateth being that humane Non nihil omnino Many did consider that place of the seuenth Chapter where it is sayd Iustice is giuen by measure according to the good pleasure of God and the disposition of the receiuer both which things cannot bee true For if it pleased God to giue more to him that were lesse disposed it would not bee by measure of the disposition and if it bee by the measure of that there is alwayes the motiue by which God worketh and doeth not vse his good pleasure They marueiled that those were condemned who sayd that the Precepts of God were impossible to bee kept seeing that the same Councell in the Decree of the second Session exhorteth the faithfull assembled in Trent that repenting confessing and communicating they should obserue the Commaundements of God Quantum quisquis poterit Which modification would bee impious if the iustified could keepe them absolutely and they noted that the same word Praecepta was there to take away all cauill Those that were read in the Ecclesiasticall Story sayd that in all the Councels held in the Church from the Apostles time vntill now there were neuer so many Articles decided as in this Session onely in which Aristotle had a great part by hauing exactly distinguished all the kindes of causes which if hee had not done wee had wanted many Articles of Faith The Polititians also though they ought not to examinematters of Religion but simply follow them yet found matter of discourse in this Decree For seeing in the tenth Chapter the Obligation of obeying the Commandements of GOD and the Church and the same replied in the twentieth Canon they were scandalized because there was no mention of Obligation to the commandements of Princes and Magistrates They said that obedience vnto these is more plainely set downe in the Scripture that the old Law is full of it that the doctrine is cleere in the new Testament expressed and handled at large by CHRIST himselfe by Saint Peter and Saint Paul That there is found an expresse Obligation to heare the Church but none expresse to obey it Hee is obeyed who commandeth of his owne power and hee is heard who doeth promulgate that which belongeth to another man Neither were these men satisfied with the excuse that the commandements of Princes are included in those of God and that obedience is due vnto them because God hath commanded they should bee obeyed But they replyed that by this reason the Church rather ought to bee omitted and said that the Church was expressed and the Princes passed ouer in silence to breede according to the ancient scope of the Ecclesiastiques that pernicious opinion that men are bound to obey them for conscience sake and Princes and Magistrates onely for feare of temporall punishments and that otherwise their commandements may be transgressed without respect and so to cause euery gouernment to be hated accounted tyrannicall and subuerted and by describing the subiection vnto Priests to be the only principall way to gaine heauen to draw all iurisdiction to themselues and by consequence all authority The Decree of reformation was said to bee a meere illusion For to trust in God and the Pope that prouision should bee made of persons worthy to gouerne the Churches belongeth rather to him that prayeth then to him that reformeth To renew the ancient Canons with one word onely and one so generall was more to confirme the disuse of them but if they would restore them in earnest they should remooue the causes which haue buried them in silence giue them strength by penalties and deputation of those that should put them in execution and should vse other meanes which doe reuiue and preserue Lawes In fine it was said to haue done nothing but establish that one might bee absent all the yeere by loosing halfe the reuenewes or rather one was taught how hee might not reside eleuen moneths and more without any punishment by interposing those thirty dayes or fewer in the midst of the other time of the yeere and that the Decree was wholly destroyed with the exception of iust and reasonable causes which no man is so simple as not to find being to haue Iudges for whom it will be profitable not to haue residencie practised This place requireth that mention should bee made of a particular accident which then begun though it ended not vntill after foure moneths belongeth wholly to the present Session maketh knowen what the Councell was and in what estimation it was had by those that assisted in it For the vnderstanding whereof I will repeat that Friar Dominicus Soto who had as hath been sayd a great part in the Synod in framing the Decrees of originall sinne and iustification hauing noted all the opinions and reasons vsed in Soto and Catarinus publish Bookes one againâ— another concerning the meaning of the Councell and the Fathers are much diuided those discussions thought to communicate them vnto the world and to draw the words of the Decree to his owne meaning printed a booke containing the whole together and did intitle it De natura gratia and did dedicate
held wherein the dilation made vntill the comming of the Protestant Diuines should be published and Fathers elected who together with the Nuncio of Sponto should make the Decree the Protestation and Safe Conduct The Emperours Ambassadours desired to haue the draught of the Safe Conduct before it was published to shew it the Protestants that if it did not giue them satisfaction it might be so amended that they might not haue occasion to refuse it as they did the other The dayes following were spent in the things aforesaid which beeing An exhortation of the Emperours Ambassadour Pictauius to the Protestants finished the Emperours Ambassadours called the Protestants to them and the Ambassadour Pictauius hauing made an eloquent encomiastique oration of the goodnesse and charitie of the Fathers and exhorted them to giue some little part of satisfaction to the Councell as they receiued much from it told them that it was concluded to receiue their Mandats and persons and to heare their propositions and to deferre the conclusion of the points of doctrine though already discussed and digested to expect the Diuines and heare them first That they should haue a very ample Safe Conduct as they desired whereof the draught was made And hee was copious in shewing that these were memorable fauours and graces saying it was necessary to yeeld something to the time and not to desire all at once that when they shall bee entred into the businesse occasion will make them obtaine many things which before seemed hard that the Fathers doe desire the comming of the Diuines that themselues the Emperours Ambassadours haue matters to propose of great moment and doe stand onely expecting that the Protestants should beginne that afterwards they may come foorth themselues also For this cause he prayed them to proceed slowly in their demand that the Pope should submit himselfe to the Councell For the Fathers doe know that there is some thing to bee amended in the Papall greatnesse but withall that they must goe on cunningly that themselues haue dayly experience what dexterity and Art must bee vsed in treating with the Popes Ministers Likewise the reexamination of the things already concluded was not to be proposed in the very beginning because it would bee too great an infamy and dishonour to the Councell Therefore let their Diuine come who should haue a conuenient audience in all things and when they shall see themselues wronged it shall euer be free for them to depart The Protestants retyring themselues and considering the draught of the safe Conduct were not content because it was not like to that of Basill in which foure things more were granted to the Bohemians 1. That they should haue a decisiue voyce 2. That the holy Scripture the practise of ancient Church the Councels and Interpreters conformable to the Scripture should bee Iudges 3. That they might exercise their religion in their houses 4. That nothing should be done in contempt and disdaine of their doctrine Of Who are not content with the forme of the Safe Conduct these foure the second was different from that which was graunted in this draught and the three others were totally left out They suspected also because the Councell did not promise them security in the name of the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals as did that of Basil Yet they resolued not to make mention of this but to demand the inserting of the other 4. clauses and told the Emperours Ambassadours plainly that they could not receiue it in this forme because they had this expresse commission in their instructions Toledo shewed some disdaine that they should not content themselues with that which he and his Colleagues had obtained with so much paines that the chiefe importance was in the security of comming and departing and that the residue appertained to the maner of their negotiation which might more easily be concluded by the presence of the Diuines that it was too much obstinacie to yeeld in nothing and to desire to giue lawes alone to the whole For which cause Toledo the Emperors Ambassadour is offended Church But it not being impossible to remoue them with these reasons from their resolution they said in the end that they would referre it to the Fathers to whom they restored the draught of the safe Conduct with the additions which were required The Legate and presidents vnderstanding the request and resolution of the Protestants shewed the Emperours Ambassadours how vniust and vnmeet their demands were For in the forme or that of Basil they neuer found that it was granted to haue a decisiue voyce in the Councell but that the Scripture practise of the Church Councels and Doctours who ground themselues on it should bee Iudges is sayd because the practise of the Church is called by the name of Apostolicall Tradition and when it is said the holy Fathers it is vnderstood that they ground themselues on the Scripture because they haue no other gounds The third to exercise their Religion in their owne houses is vnderstood with condition that it bee not knowen and done without scandall The prohibition that nothing shall bee done in contempt of them is expresse when it is promised that by no meanes they shall bee offended Therefore that it did appeare that they complayned without cause onely to cauill and in regard there is no hope to content them there doeth remaine nothing but to giue them the Safe Conduct as it is made and to leaue them to their liberty to make vse of it or not The Earle of Mountfort replied that nothing could bee more seruiceable to the publique cause then to take from them all pretences and cauils and to make them vnexcusable to the world therefore in regard there was no reall difference betweene the Safe Conduct of Basil and this to stoppe their mouthes that might bee copied out Verbatim changing onely the names of the persons places and times The Presidents mooued with that subtile and strict answere looked one vpon another and the Legat taking the matter vpon him answered that it should be referred to the Fathers in the Congregation and resolued according to their determination The Presidents did recommend the cause of GOD and the Church euery one to his familiar friends To the Italians and Spaniards they said that it was great iniury to bee compelled to follow a company of Schismatiques who haue spoken vnaduisedly and contrary to Christian doctrine and bound themselues to follow the Scripture onely But vnto all in generall they sayd it would be a great indignitie if the Councell should so speake as that an inextricable dispute should presently arise For in setting downe what Doctors doe ground themselues vpon the Scripture they should neuer agree that it was honourable for the Councell to speake plainely and that the expression made was iust the declaration of the Councel of Basil And such perswasions they vsed as that almost all were resolued not to change the draught hoping that though the Protestants
Euangelists fore seeing they would speake many iniurious things against God and that but for the respect they bare to the King they would haue risen and disturbed the Whereat Cardinall Tornon disdaineth assembly Therefore hee prayed his Maiestie not to beleeue what they had said because the Prelates would disprooue it so that hee should see the difference betweene the trueth and a lye and demanded a dayes time to answere requiring that all should bee remooued from thence that they might not heare those blasphemies Wherewith the Queene thinking her selfe to bee touched answered that nothing was done but by the aduice of the Princes of the Kings Counsell and Parliament of Paris not to change or innouate any thing in Religion but to compose the differences and to reduce those that wandered into the right way which the Bishops were bound in wisedome to procure by all good meanes The assembly being dissolued the Bishops and Diuines consulted amongst themselues what to doe Some of them would haue had a Confession of Faith written vnto which if the Protestants would not subscribe they should bee condemned for heretiques without any further disputation Which opinion seeming too hard after much discourse they resolued to answere two of the points proposed by Beza that is of the Church and of the Eucharist The Congregation being assembled againe the sixteenth of the moneth the The Card. of Loraine speaketh for the Catholiques Cardinall of Loraine in the presence of the King Queene and Princes made a long Oration and sayd That the King was a member not head of the Church that it belonged to his care to defend it and that for matter of doctrine hee was subiect to the Ecclesiasticall Ministers that the Church did not containe the elect onely any yet could not erre that when any particular Church is in an errour recourse must be had to the Church of Rome Decrees of the generall Councels consent of the ancient Fathers and aboue all to the Scripture expounded in the sense of the Church that the heretiques failing in this haue runne into inextricable errours as the modernes for example in the point of the Eucharist in which by an incurable itch of curious questions they haue vsed that which was instituted by Christ for a bond of vnion to make an irreconciliable rent in the Church And then he handled this matter and concluded that if the Protestants will not change their opinion herein there is no meanes of composition When he had made an end all the Bishops stood vp and said they would liue and die in that Faith they prayed the King to perseuere in it adding that if the Protestants will subscribe to this article they will not refuse to dispute the rest but if not they ought not to haue any more audience but to be chased out of the whole kingome Beza asked leaue to answere presently To whom Beza was willing to answer and was not suffered but it seeming not fit to equalize a priuate Minister to so great a Prince Cardinall the assembly was dissolued The Prelats were willing the Colloquie should haue beene thus ended but the Bishop of Valence told them it was dishonourable Therefore the foure and twentieth day it was assembled againe in presence of the Queene and the Princes Beza spake of the Church But speaketh another day and of the conditions and authority thereof of Councels shewing they may erre and the dignity of the Scripture Claudeus Espenseus answered that hee had alwayes desired a Colloquie in matter of Religion and abhorred the punishments which the poore vnfortunate people endured but he much marueiled by what authority and by whom the Protestants were called into the Ecclesiasticall ministery who had layd hands on them to make them And is answered by Claudius Espenseus ordinary Ministers and if they pretended an extraordinary vocation where were the miracles to demonstrate it Then hee treated of Traditions Hee shewed that there beeing a controuersie of the sense of the Scriptures recourse must be had to the Fathers and that many things are beleeued by Tradition onely as the Consubstantialitie of the Sonne the baptizing of infants and the virginity of the mother of Christ after his birth Hee added that no generall Councell was euer corrected by another in point of doctrine Diuers replies and disputations passed on both sides betweene the Diuines who were present And there being a great contention the Card of Loraine making a silence proposed the matter of the Eucharist and sayd that the Bishops were resolute not to proceede any further if that Article were not agreed on and then demaunded of the Ministers if they were prepared to subscribe the Augustan Confession in that Article Beza asked whether hee proposed that in the name of all and whether himselfe and the other Prelates would subscribe to the other points of that Confession and receiuing no answere either of the one or the other hee demanded that that which was proposed to bee subscribed vnto should bee put in writing that they might consult of it and so the Colloquie was put off till the next day In which Beza who began to speake did much prouoke the Bishops For hauing iustified his vocation to the Ministerie he discoursed of the vocation Beza speaketh againe and prouoketh the Bishops and ordination of Bishops shewing what Simonie was committed and demanding how it could be accounted lawfull The passing to the Article of the Eucharist and the point of the Augustan Confession proposed vnto him hee said it ought to bee first subscribed by those who did propose it The parties not being able to agree a Spanish Iesuite one of the traine of the Cardinall The sawâ—ines of a Spanish Iesuite of Ferrara who was at the Colloquie hauing reproched the Protestants did reprehend the Queene for meddling in matters which belonged not to her but to the Pope Cardinals and Bishops This arrogancie troubled the Queenes Patience but for the Popes sake and the Legates shee dissembled Finally not being able to conclude any thing by this manner of parlie it was A new course is taken ordered that two Bishops and three Diuines of the most moderate should conferre with fiue of the Protestants Ministers to see if they could finde out a way to make an agreement They assayed to frame an Article of the Eucharist Which doth as little good as the former in generall termes taken out of the Fathers which might giue satisfaction to both parties which because they could not doe they concluded the Colloquie This did minister much matter of discourse Some sayd it was a bad example to treate of errours once condemned and that they ought no so much as to heare those who denie the foundations of Religion which hath continued so long and beene so much confirmed especially in the presence of ignorant people and that although nothing was resolued against the true Religion it hath made the heretiques bolde and grieued the
the Communion of the Cup but much more because those Iesuites howsoeuer they were the first would bee excepted both from the generall orders with so much petulancie They called to minde the stirres raysed by them in the Session and Torre was particularly noted by Simoneta for hauing written against Catharinus in fauour of residence that it is de iure diuino with insolent termes as the Cardinall sayd Therefore the Congregation beeing ended hee told his Colleagues that it was fit to represse this boldnesse and giue example to others and they agreed so to doe vpon the first occasion In the discussions of the Diuines all were vniforme in condemning the The discussion of the Articles Protestant opinions of heresie in the Articles proposed and did quickly dispatch the others The discourse of euery one was long in prouing the Masse to be a sacrifice in which Christ is offered vnder the sacramentall elements Their principall reasons were That CHRIST is a Priest according to the order of Melchisedec but Melchisedec offered bread wine therefore the Priesthood of CHRIST doeth require the sacrifice of bread and wine Moreouer the Paschall Lambe was a true sacrifice and that is a figure of the Eucharist therefore the Eucharist also must bee a sacrifice Afterwards the prophecie of Malachie was alleadged by whose mouth God reiected the sacrifice of the Iewes saying his Name was holy great amongst the Gentiles and that in euery place a pure oblation is offered to him which cannot bee vnderstood of any thing else which is offered in euery place and by all Nations Diuers other congruities and figures of the old Testament were produced some grounding themselues vpon one and some vpon another In the new Testament the place of Saint Iohn was brought where CHRIST sayth to the woman of Samaria that the houre is come in which the Father shall bee worshipped in Spirit and in trueth and to worship in the holy Scripture doeth signifie to sacrifice as appeareth by many places And the woman of Samaria asked him of the sacrifice which could not be offered by the Iewes but in Ierusalem and by the Samaritans was offered in Garizim where CHRIST then was Therefore they sayd the place was necessarily to bee vnderstood of an externall publike and solemne adoration which could be no other but the Eucharist It was proued also by the words of CHRIST This is my body which is giuen for you which is broken for you This is my blood which is shed for you Therefore there is a breaking of the body and an effusion of blood in the Eucharist which are actions of a sacrifice Aboue all they grounded themselues vpon the words of Saint Paul who putteth the Eucharist in the same kind with the sacrifices of the Iewes and of the Gentiles saying that by it the body and blood of CHRIST are participated as in the Hebraisme he that eateth of the hoast is partaker of the altar and one cannot drinke the Cup of the LORD and eate of his Table and drinke of the cup of Deuils and bee partaker of their table But that the Apostles were ordayned Priests by CHRIST they prooued plainely by the words spoken to them by CHRIST our LORD Doe this in remembrance of me For better proofe many authorities of the Fathers were adduced who doe all name the Eucharist a sacrifice or in more generall termes doe testifie that a sacrifice is offered in the Church Some added afterwards that the Masse was a sacrifice because CHRIST offered himselfe in the supper And they brought this reason for the most principall and prooued the ground thereof because the Scripture saying plainely that Melchisedec offered bread and wine CHRIST could not haue beene a Priest after that order if hee had not done the like and because CHRIST sayd that his blood was a confirmation of the new Testament but the blood which doeth confirme the old was offered in this institution therefore it followeth by a necessary consequence that CHRIST himselfe also did offer it They argued also that CHRIST hauing sayd Doe this in remembrance of me if hee had not offered we could not doe it And they sayd the Lutherans haue no other argument to prooue the Masse to be no sacrifice but because Christ hath not offered and therefore that opinion was dangerous as fauouring the hereticall doctrine It was also more effectually prooued because the Church singeth in the office of the body of our LORD CHRIST a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec hath offered bread and wine And in the Canon of the Ambrosian Missal it is sayd that instituting a forme of perpetuall sacrifice hee hath first offered himselfe as an hoast and hath first taught how to offer it Afterwards many authorities of the Fathers were produced to prooue the same On the other part it was said with no lesse asseueration that CHRIST In which the Diuines are much diuided in the supper hath commanded the oblation to bee made for euer in the Church after his death but that hee hath not offered himselfe because the nature of that sacrifice did not comport it And for proofe heereof they sayd that the oblation of the Crosse would haue beene superfluous because mankinde would haue beene redeemed by that of the supper which went before That the sacrifice of the Altar was instituted by CHRIST for a memoriall of that which hee offered on the Crosse but there cannot bee any memoriall but of a thing past therefore the Eucharist could not be a sacrifice before the oblation of CHRIST on the Crosse They alleadged also that neither the Scripture nor the Canon of the Masse nor any Councell euer sayd that CHRIST offered himselfe in the supper and added that the places of the Fathers before alledged ought to be vnderstood of his oblation on the Crosse They concluded that hauing to define the Masse to bee a sacrifice as indeed it was it might most effectually bee done by proofes out of the Scriptures and Fathers without adding such weake reasons This difference was not betweene many and few but diuided aswell the Diuines as the Fathers into almost equall parts and occasioned some contention The former went so farre as to say that the other opinion was an errour and required that it should bee silenced by an Anathematisme condemning of heresie those that say that CHRIST hath not offered himselfe in the supper vnder the sacramentall elements The others said it was not a time to ground ones selfe vpon things vncertaine and vpon new opinions neither heard not thought of by antiquity but that one ought to insist vpon that which is plaine and certaine both by the Scripture and by the Fathers that is that CHRIST hath commanded the oblation All the moneth of Iuly was spent by the seuenteene who spake vpon the first Articles the latter they dispatched in a few dayes rather with iniurious tearmes against the Protestantes then with reasons It is not fitte to relate the particulars but onely
some fewe that are most notable In the Congregation of the â—4 of Iuly in the afternoone Georgius di Ataide a Diuine of the K. of Portugall sought to ouerthrow all the grounds The discourse of Georgius di Ataide of the other Diuines layd to prooue the sacrifice of the Masse by the holy Scripture and said first that it could not be doubted that the Masse was a sacrifice because all the Fathers haue said it in plaine words and replyed it vpon euery occasion and hee began with the Latins and Greekes of the ancient Church and with the Martyrs and came from time to time vntill the present age affirming that there is no Christian writer who hath not called it a sacrifice Therefore it must certainely bee concluded that it hath beene so taught by an Apostolicall tradition the force whereof is more then sufficient to make Articles of faith as this Councell hath maintained from the beginning But this true and solide foundation is weakened by those who would build in the ayre seeking to finde in the Scriptures that which is not there giuing occasion to the aduersaries to calumniate the trueth while they see it grounded vpon such an vnstablesand And hauing thus spoken hee proceeded to examine one after another the places of the old and new Testament alledged by the Diuines shewing that no expresse signification of the sacrifice could be drawen from them To the fact of Melchisedec he answered that CHRIST was a Priest of that order as hee was the onely begotten eternall without predecessor father mother or genealogie And this is prooued too plainely by the Epistle to the Hebrewes where Saint Paul discoursing at large of this place doeth handle the eternitie and singularity of the Priesthood and maketh no mention of the bread and wine He repeated the doctrine of Saint Austine that when there is a fit place for any thing to bee spoken and it is not spoken an argument may bee drawen from the authoritie negatiuely Of the Paschall Lambe he said that it could not be presupposed for a thing so euident that it was a sacrifice and perhaps to him that would take vpon him to prooue the contrary the victory would necessarily bee yeelded and also that it was too hard a metaphor to make it a Type of the Eucharist and not rather of the Crosse Hee commended those Theologues who hauing brought the place of Malachie added that of Saint Iohn To worship in Spirit and trueth because indeed the one and the other did formally speake of the samething and were to bee expounded alike that no difficultie might be made concerning the word Adorare which certainely doth signifie also a sacrifice and the woman of Samaria tooke it in the generall signification But when CHRIST added That God is a Spirit and will bee worshipped in Spirit no man that is not willing to expound all things in an vnproper sence will say that a Sacrament which consisteth of a thing visible and inuisible is purely spirituall but composed of this and the Elementary signe Therefore he that will expound both those places of internall adoration cannot be conuinced and shall haue probability on his side the application being plaine that this is offered in all places and by all Nations and is purely spirituall as God is a pure Spirit And he proceeded and said that the words This is my body which is giuen for you and the blood which is shed for you haue a more plaine meaning if they be referred to the body and blood in their naturall eslence then in their Sacramentall as when it is said CHRIST is the true Vine which bringeth foorth the wine it is not meant that the significatiue vine doth bring foorth Wine but the reall So this is my blood which is shedde doth not signifie that the Sacramentall and significatiue blood was shed but the blood naturall and signified And that which Saint Paul saith of taking part of the Sacrifice of the Iewes and of the table of Deuils is vnderstood of the Rites which GOD did institute by Moyses and of those which the Gentiles did vse in sacrificing so that it cannot hence bee prooued that the Eucharist is a sacrifice that it is plaine in Moyses that in the votiue sacrifices the oblation was all presented to GOD and a part burnt which was called the Sacrifice and that which remained belonged partly to the Priest and partly to him that offered which they did eate with whom they pleased neither was this called to sacrifice but to participate of the thing sacrificed The Gentiles did imitate the same yea that part which was not consumed vpon the Altar was sent by some to bee sold and this is the table which is not the Altar The plaine meaning of Saint Paul is that as the Iewes eating the part belonging to him that offereth which is a remainder of the sacrifice doe partake of the Altar and the Gentiles likewise so we eating the Eucharist are partakers of the sacrifice of the Crosse And this is it which CHRIST said Doe this in remembrance of mee and which Saint Paul said As often as ye shall eate of this bread and drinke of this Cup you shall professe that the Lord dyed for you But whereas it is said that the Apostles were by the words of the Lord ordained Priests to offer sacrifice when hee saith Doe this without doubt it is vnderstood of that which they had seene him to doe Therefore it must be manifest first that he hath offered which cannot be because the opinions of the Diuines are various and euery one confesseth that both the one and the other is Catholique and those who denie that CHRIST hath offered cannot conclude by those words that hee hath commanded the oblation Then hee brought the arguments of the Protestants by which they prooue that the Eucharist is not instituted for a sacrifice but for a Sacrament and concluded that it could not bee said that the Masse was a sacrifice but by the ground of Tradition exhorting them to rest vpon this and not to make the trueth vncertaine by desiring to prooue too much Then hee came to resolue the Protestant arguments and gaue his Auditors ill satisfaction therein for hee recited them with force and good appearance and answered weakely so that hee did rather confirme them This was ascribed by some to the shortnesse of time which remained vntill night and others thought he was not able to expresse himselfe better and Giueth bad satisfaction to the Prelates the most intelligent were of opinion that those answeres did not satisfie himselfe The Fathers murmuring hereat Iacobus Paiua another Portugall Diuine repeated in the next Congregation all his arguments and resolued them with satisfaction of his hearers saying in excuse of his Colleague that he was of the same minde and the testimonies of the Ambassadours and Prelates of Portugall of his honestie and soundnesse of doctrine caused the Legates not to be offended with him Notwithstanding hee
Councell was not intermitted for all The Articles of the Sacrament of Order this For the Articles concerning the Sacrâ—ment of Order were presently giuen foorth to be disputed by the Diuines the disputants elected and distinguished into foure rankes each of them being to di 〈…〉 two For they were eigh◠〈◊〉 Whether Order be truely and properly a Sacrament instituted by CHRIST or an humane inuentions or Rite to elect Ministers of the word of GOD and of the Saoâ—â—ments 〈◊〉 Whether Order bee one Saorament onely and all others bee meanes and degrees vnto Priesthood 3. Whether there be an Hierarchie in the Catholique Church consisting of Bishops Priests and other Orders or whether all Christians bee Priests or whether the vocation 〈◊〉 consent of the people or secular Magistrate bee necessary or whether a Priest may become a Laicke 〈◊〉 Whether there be a visible and externall Priesthood in the new Testament and a power to consecrate and offer the body and blood of CHRIST and to remit sinnes or onely the baâ—e Ministery to preach the Gospel so that those who preach not are not Priests 〈◊〉 Whether the holy Ghost is giuen and receiued in ordination and a Character imprinted 6. Whether Vnction and other ceremonies be necessary in consering Order or superfluous or pernicious 〈◊〉 Whether Bishops bee super 〈…〉 to Priests and haue peculiar power to confirme and ordaine and whether those who are brought in by any other meanes then Canonicall ordination are true Ministers of the Word and Sacraments◠〈◊〉 W 〈…〉 the Bishops called and ordained by the Pope be lawfull 〈◊〉 the those bee true Bishops who come in by any other way then Canonicall institution The 〈◊〉 of the moneth the Congregations of the Diuines 〈◊〉 gaâ— and were held twice la day and ended the second of October I will according 〈◊〉 vse â—â—late those opinions onely which are remarkeable 〈◊〉 ther for singularity o◠〈◊〉 among themselues In the first Congregation foure Dillines of the Pope spake who did all Are disputed in the Congregations 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 ning that Order was a 〈◊〉 by places of Scripture 〈◊〉 ally by that of S 〈◊〉 The thing â—hich 〈◊〉 from God are 〈◊〉 then by the â—â—adition of the Apoâ—â—le sâ—yings of the 〈◊〉 vâ—â—iso 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and aboue all by the Councell of Florence adding also this reason that the Church would bee a confusion if there were not gouernnment and obedience But Friar Peter Soto was copious in shewing that there were seuen Orders and each properly a Sacrament and all instituted by CHRIST saying it was necessary to make a declaration herein because some Canonists passing the limits of their profession haue added two more the first Tonsure and the Bishopricke which opinion may cause many other errors of greater importance He likewise shewed at large that CHRIST had when hee was on earth exercised all these Orders one after another all whose life as it was addressed to the last of these Sacraments so it is plaine that all the others serue onely as a ladder to climbe vp to the highest which is the Priesthood But Ierolamus Brauus a Dominican Friar hauing protested that hee constantly held that there were seuen Orders and each of them a Sacrament and that the vse of the Church ought to be obserued to proceed from the inferiour to the superiour and so to the Priesthood he added that hee was not of opinion that so particular a declaratioÌ„ ought to be made in regard of the difference betweene the Diuines amongst which one can hardly find two of the same minde For which cause Caietan in his old age wrote that he that collecteth the things taught by the Doctours and in the auncient and moderne Pontificals will see a great confusion in all other Orders but Priesthood The Master of the Sentences maintayned that Sub-deaconship and inferiour Orders were instituted by the Church and the Scripture seemed to haue instituted the Deaconship as a ministery of Tables and not as one of the Altar The difference concerning inferiour Orders in the old Pontificals where that which is in one is not in another doeth shew they are Sacramentall and not Sacraments And reason doth lead vs hereunto For the actions which one ordained doth may be done by one not ordained and are of the same validitie effect and perfection Saint Bonauenture also though hee thinketh that all seuen are Sacraments yet he holdeth two other opinions to be probable one that onely Priesthood is a Sacrament and the inferiours being imployed about corporall things as to open doores reade Lessons light Tapers and the like doe not seeme to expresse any celestiall matter and are therefore onely dispositions to Priesthood The second that the three holy Orders are Sacraments and concerning the common saying that the inferiour are degrees to the superiour Saint Thomas affirmeth that in the Primitiue Church many were ordained Priests immediatly without passing by the inferiour Orders and that the Church did ordaine that this passage should be made for humiliation onely It appeareth plainely in the Actes of the Apostles that Saint Matthias was immediatly ordayned an Apostle and the seuen Deacons did not passe by the Subdeaconship and the inferiour Orders Paulinus saith of himselfe that hauing a purpose to apply himselfe to the seruice of GOD in the Clergie he would for humiliation passe by all Ecclesiasticall degrees beginning from the Ostiarie but while hee was thinking to begin beeing yet a Laicke the multitude tooke him by force in Barcelona on Christmas day caried him before the Bishop and caused him to be ordained Priest at the first which would not haue beene done if it had not beene the vse in those times Therefore this Brauus concluded that the Synod ought not to passe beyond those things which are agreed on by the Catholiques and that it was better to begin with the Order of Priesthood which would make a connexion betweene this Session and the last which handled the Sacrifices and to passe from Priesthood to Order in generall not descending to any particularitie The Congregation being ended and most of the Prelates departed Fiue Churches with his Hungarians and some Polonians and Spaniards taried behinde to whom he made a speach and sayd that the Emperour being freed from all suspicion of warre by the truce concluded with the Turke tooke The Bishop of Fiue Churches maketh a speech concerning reformation nothing so much to the heart as the reformation of the Church which would surely be effected if some of the Prelates in the Councell would assist Therefore he exhorted and prayed them for Gods sake and for the charitie which euery Christian oweth to the Church that they would not abandon so honest iust and profitable a cause that euery one would put downe in writing what hee thought might be constituted for the seruice of God without any respect of man not reforming one part but the whole body of the Church both in the head and in the
needes bee a power of iurisdiction Concerning Order hee said a Bishop was of an higher degree then a Priest hauing all the power of him and two powers more yet notwithstanding cannot bee called his superiour as a Subdeacon is foure degrees higher then a doore-keeper yet not superiour vnto him Hee prooued this his opinion by the generall vse of the whole Church and all Christian Nations and alleadged diuers authorities out of the Fathers Finally hee came to the holy Scripture citing many places of the Prophets to shew that this authority is called the authority of a Pastor saying that the vniuersalitie of it was giuen to S. Peter when CHRIST said Feede my Lambes and some of it imparted by Peter to the Bishops when he bad them Feede the flocke which they haue in their custodie And this opinion had great applause But before those of this fourth ranke made an end of speaking the Spanish Prelates resoluing the point should bee handled whether Bishops are instituted by CHRIST after they had consulted together did conclude that it was better the first motion should begin in the Congregations of the Diuines that themselues might with more shew of reason resuming the things spoken before discourse vpon them and compell others to doe the like Therefore in the Congregation of the first of October Michael Oroncuspe a Diuine of the Bishop of Pampelona said to the seuenth that being to qualifie or condemne a proposition which hath many significations it was necessary to distinguish them and afterwards to examine them one by one and hee thought the proposition whether Bishops bee superior to Priests to be such For one must distinguish whether they be superiours de facto or de iure That they are superiours de facto it cannot be doubted because present experience and the Histories of many ages doe shew that Bishops haue exercised superiority and Priests obedience Therefore this Article being without question the other de iure remaineth to bee discussed Wherein there is another ambiguitie also whether Iure Pontificio or Diuine In the first sense the case is cleere that they are superiours there beeing so many Decretals which say it expressely which howsoeuer it bee true and certaine yet the Lutherans are not in this regard to be condemned for heretiques because that cannot bee an article of faith which is grounded only vpon the law of man and deserue to be condemned for denying the superiority of Bishops onely in case it bee dâ—iure Diuino He added that he thought this point very cleere and that he could euidently prooue it and resolue anything alleadged to the contrarie saying hee must not proceed further beeing prohibited to speake of it And here he shewed that the Ministery of Confirmation and Ordination is proper to Bishops And hauing spoken vpon the eighth Article in conformitie of the others he ended his discourse Iohannes Fonseca a Diuine of the Archbishop of Granata followed who The institution of Bishops is discussed entred brauely vpon the matter saying it neither was nor could be forbidden to speake of it For the Article being proposed to be discussed whether it be hereticall or no it is necessary to vnderstand whether it bee against fayth against which it cannot be if it doe not repugne to the Law of GOD. He sayd hee knew not whence the report came that one might not speake of it because by the very proposition of the Article it was commanded to be discussed And here hee proceeded to handle not the superiority alone but the institution also affirming that Bishops are instituted by CHRIST and by his diuine ordination superiours to Priests He said that if the Pope be instituted by CHRIST because hee hath said to Peter I will giue thee the keyes of the Kingdome and Feede my Lambes Bishops are likewise instituted by him because he hath said to all the Apostles That which you bind on earth shall be bound in heauen and whose sinnes you remit they are remitted saying to them afterwards Goe into the whole world and preach the Gospel And which is more he said vnto them As my father hath sent me so I send you And if the Pope be successour of S. Peter the Bishops are successors of the Apostles alleadging many authorities out of the Fathers that the Bishops are successours of the Apostles And in particular he recited a long discourse of S. Bernard in this point to Eugenius the Pope and a place of the Actes of the Apostles where S. Paul saith to the Ephesians that they were made Bishops by the holy Ghost to gouerne the Church of GOD. Hee added that to bee confirmed or created by the Pope did not conclude that they were not instituted by CHRIST or had not authority from him For the Pope himselfe is created by the Cardinals and yet hath his authoritie from CHRIST and Priestes are created by the Bishop who doeth ordaine them but receiue their authoritie from GOD So the Bishops receiue the Diocesse from the Pope and authoritie from CHRIST Their superiority ouer Priests he proued to be iure diuino by authoritie of many Fathers who say that Bishops doe succeed the Apostles and Priestes the seuenty two disciples Concerning other particles of this point he said the same things which others had spoken before Cardinall Simoneta was impatient and turned often to his Colleagues and was about Which vexeth Cardinall Simoneta to interrupt the discourse but being entred into vpon so good reason and heard by the Prelates with such attention hee knew not how to resolue After him followed Antonius Grossetus a Dominican Friar who hauing briefly passed ouer the other articles insisted vpon this Hee stood much vpon the wordes of Saint Paul spoken to the Ephesians in Miletum exhorting them to haue a care of the flocke ouer which the holy Ghost had made them ouerseers vpon which place hee made many obseruations He sayd it was first necessary to declare that Bishops haue not commission for their office from men for so they would be hirelings to whom the Lambes doe not belong because the man who had committed the care vnto them beeing satisfied they had no more to thinke on But Saint Paul sheweth that the commission to gouerne the people of GOD is diuine giuen by the holy Ghost to conclude that they could not be excused by any dispensation of man He alleadged the famous passage of Saint Cyprian that euery Bishop is bound to giue an account of CHRIST onely Then he added that the Bishops of Ephesus were not of those who were instituted by CHRIST our LORD while hee was in the flesh but by Saint Paul or some other Apostle or disciple yet no mention is made of the ordainer but all is attributed to the holy Ghost who hath not giuen authority to gouerne but diuided a part of the flocke and consigned it to be fed And here hee made an inuectiue against those who a few dayes before sayd that the Pope doeth disturbe the flocke
a businesse they had in hand in regard all subuersions doe arise and all heresies are spread by meanes of bookes he exhorted them to bee diligent and to let the Synod see the end of the work quickly he said he knew it required much paines and time but considered withal that all the Fathers would contribute their labours to the assistance of the deputies saying that the Congregations were spent in handling questions of no profite and a worke so necessary deferred Hee exhorted in the end that this particular of the Index might be concluded in the next Session The morning being come Laynez spake more then two houres very fitly The discourse of Laynez with great vehemence and master-like The argument of his discourse had two parts the first he spent in proouing that the power of iurisdiction was giuen wholly to the Bishop of Rome and that none in the Church besides hath any sparke of it but from him and the second in resoluing all the contrary arguments vsed in the former Congregations The substance was that there is great difference yea contrariety betweene the Church of CHRIST and ciuill societies For these haue first their beeing and then they frame their gouernement and therefore are free and all iurisdiction is originally in them which they doe communicate to Magistrates without depriuing themselues of it But the Church did not make it selfe nor its gouernment but CHRIST who is Prince and Monarch did first constitute Lawes by which it should be gouerned and then did assemble it and as the Scripture saith did build it so that it is was borne a seruant without any kinde of liberty power or iurisdiction and absolutely subiect For proofe hereof he alleadged places of the Scripture in which the Congregation of the Church is compared to a sowing to the draught of a net and to a building and where it is said that CHRIST came into the world to assemble his faithfull people to gather together his sheepe to instruct them by doctrine and example Then he added that the first and principall ground vpon which CHRIST built the Church was Peter and his succession according to the words which hee spake to him Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will build my Church Which rocke howsoeuer some of the Fathers haue vnderstood to be CHRIST himselfe and others the faith of Peter or the confession of his faith yet the more Catholique exposition is that Peter himselfe is vnderstood who in the Hebrew and Syriacke is called a stone And continuing his discourse hee sayd that while CHRIST liued in the mortall flesh hee gouerned the Church with an absolute Monarchicall gouernment and being to depart out of this world left the same forme appointing for his Vicar Saint Peter and his Successors to administer it as hee had done giuing him full and totall power and iurisdiction and subiecting the Church to him as it was to himselfe This he proued of Peter because the keyes of the Kingdome of heauen were giuen to him onely and by consequence power to bring in and shut out which is iurisdiction And to him alone it was sayd Feede that is gouerne my sheepe animals which haue no part or iudgement in gouerning themselues These things that is to bee a Key-keeper and a Pastour beeing perpetuall offices must bee conferred vpon a perpetuall person that is not vpō the first only but vpon all his succession So the Bishop of Rome from S. Peter to the end of the world is true and absolute Monarch with full and totall power and iurisdiction and the Church is subiect vnto him as it was to CHRIST And as when his diuine Maiestie did gouerne it it could not bee sayd that any of the faithfull had any the least power or iurisdiction but meere pure and totall subiection so it must bee said in all perpetuitie of time and so vnderstood that the Church is a sheepefold and a kingdome and that which Saint Cyprian saith that there is but one Bishopricke and a part of it held by euery Bishop is to bee expounded that the whole power is placed in one Pastor without diuision who doeth impart and communicate it to his fellow ministers as cause doth require And in this sense Saint Cyprian maketh the Apostolique Sea like vnto a roote an head a fountaine and the Sunne shewing by these comparisons that iurisdiction is essentiall in that alone and in others by deriuation or participation And this is the meaning of the words so much vsed by antiquitie that Peter and the Pope haue fulnesse of power and the others are of their charge And that he is the onely Pastor is plainely prooued by the words of CHRIST when hee sayd he hath other sheepe which hee will gather together and so one sheepefold should be made and one Shepheard The Shepheard meant in that place cannot bee CHRIST because hee would not speake in the future that there shall be one Shepheard himselfe then beeing a Shepheard and therefore it must bee vnderstood of another Shepheard which was to be constituted after him which can be no other but Peter and his Successors And here hee noted that the precept Feede the flocke is found but twice in the Scripture once giuen by CHRIST to Peter onely Feede my sheepe againe by Peter to others Feed the flocke allotted to you And if the Bishops had receiued any iurisdiction from CHRIST it would bee equall in all and no difference betweene Patriarches Arch-bishops and Bishops neither could the Pope meddle with that authoritie to diminish or take it all away as hee cannot in the power of Order which is from GOD. Therefore he aduised them to beware lest by making the institution of Bishops de iure Diuino they doe not take away the Hierarchie and bring in an Oligarchie or rather an Anarchie Hee added also that to the end Peter might gouerne the Church well so that the gates of hell might not preuaile against it CHRIST being neere vnto his death prayed effectually that his faith might not faile and gaue him order to confirme the brethren that is he gaue him a priuiledge of infallibilitie in iudgement of faith manners and religion binding all the Church to heare him and to stand firmely in that which should be determined by him Hee concluded that this was the ground of Christian doctrine and the rocke vpon which the Church was built Then hee censured those who held there is any power in Bishops receiued from CHRIST because it would take away the priuiledge of the Roman Church that the Pope is the Head of the Church and Vicar of CHRIST And it is very wel knowen what is constituted by the olde Canon Omnes fiue Patriarchae c. that is that hee who taketh away the rights of other Churches committeth iniustice and hee that taketh away the priuiledges of the Church of Rome is an heretike Hee said it was a meere contradiction to say the Pope is Head of the Church and the gouernement
howsoeuer Morone said it was superfluous and that nothing was to be done but to delay the answere without troubling his Holinesse In the negotiation of Princes especially those which doe not touch the substance of their State it happeneth that howsoeuer they do change opinion by the change of occurrences yet by the perswasions made before the change things contrary to their new will do fall out And so it was that the perswasions made by the Queene mother to the King of Spaine before she resolued to giue totall satisfaction to the Pope concerning the Councell did produce the effect of that Letter of the King Therefore Morone who did penetrate the bottome did not hold that esteeme of it as some thought The fifteenth of â—une Morone proposed in Congregation that the fifteenth of Iuly might bee appointed for the determinate day of the Session Segouia and some few others said they saw not how the difficulties which were vpon their hands could be resolued in so short a time of Hierarchie of Order of the institution of Bishops of the preheminence of the Pope and of Residence and that it was better to decide the difficulties first and afterwards to appoint a short terme for the day of the Session then to appoynt it now and afterwards to prolong it with indignitie But the contradictors being but few the proposition was established as it were without difficultie The next day Laynez Generall of the Iesuites in giuing his suffrage bent all his forces The suffrage of Laynez to answere whatsoeuer had beene said by others not conformable to the dectrine of the Court with so great affection as if his saluation had beene in question In the matter of dispensations he was exceeding copious saying it was spoken without reason that there is no other power of dispensing but interpretatiue and declaratiue for so the authoritie of a good Doctor would bee greater then of a great Prelate and that to lay the Pope cannot by dispensation disoblige him who is obliged before God is nothing but to teach men to preferre their owne conscience before the authority of the Church which conscience because it may bee erronious as it is for the most part to referre men to that is nothing but to cast euery Christian into a bottom lesse pit of dangers that as it cannot be denied that CHRIST had power to dispence in euery law nor that the Pope is his Vicar nor that there is the same tribunall and consistory of the Principall and the Vice-gerent so it must bee confessed that the Pope hath the same authority that this is the priuiledge of the Church of Rome and that euery one ought to take heede in regard it is heresie to take away the priuiledges of the Church because it is nothing but to denie the authority which CHRIST hath giuen it Then hee spake of reforming the Court and said that it is superiour to all particular Churches yea to many ioyned together and if it doeth belong to the Court of Rome to reforme each Church which doeth appertaine to euery Bishop in Councel and none of them can reforme the Roman because the scholar is not aboue his master nor the seruant aboue his Lord it followeth by necessary consequence that the Councell hath none authority to meddle in that businesse that many did call those things abuses which if they were examined and sounded to the bottome would be found to be either necessary or profitable that some would make the Sea of Rome as it was in the time of the Apostles and of the Primitiue Church without distingushing the times not knowing what doth belong to those and what to these that it is a plaine case that by the prouidence and goodnesse of GOD the Church is made rich and that nothing is more impertinent then to say that God hath giuen riches and not the vse For Annates hee sayd that it is de iure diuino that Tythes and first Fruites should bee payd to the Cleargie as the Iewes did to the Leuâ—â—es and as the Leuites payd the Tenthes to the high Priest so ought the Ecclesiasticall order to the Pope the rents of Benefices being the Tythes and the Annates the Tythes of the Tythes This discourse displeased many and particularly the French-men and there were Prelates who noted some things which they meant to answere if occasion serued when their turne was to speake The Spaniards and French-men thought that that Father spake thus by Fauours done vnto him order or by consent of the Legates alleadging for an Argument the many fauours which were done vnto him vpon all occasions and especially because whereas other Generals were wont to stand on their feete and in their place when they gaue their voyce Laynez was called into the middle and made to sit downe and many times a congregation was made for him onely to giue him commoditie to speake what hee would and howsoeuer none was euer halfe so prolike as hee yet he was praysed and those against whom hee spake could neuer bee so briefe but they were reprehended for being too long But Laynez knowing what offence the French-men did pretend His excuse to haue receiued sent his companions Torre and Cauillone to make an excuse to Loraine saying that his redargutions were not meant of his Excellencie or any of the French Prelates but of the Diuines of the Sarbone whose opinions are not conformeable to the Doctrine of the Church This beeing related to the Cardinall in a Congregation of Giueth distast to the French-men French-men held in his house the excuse did much distast the Prelates some saying it was petulant and others scornefull and those few Diuines which remained were sensible of it so that Hugonias himselfe whom they had bought did thinke it vnsufferable Verdun thought hee was touched in particular and obliged to reply and prayed the Cardinall to giue him leaue and occasion Hee promised to speake modestly and to shew that the doctrine of the Sorbone was orthodoxe and that of the Iesuite new and neuer heard of in the Church before that is that the key of authoritie is giuen by CHRIST without the key of knowledge that the holy Ghost giuen for the gouernement of the Church is called by the holy Scripture the spirit of trueth and the operation thereof in the gouernours of the Church and Ministers of CHRIST is to leade them into all trueth that for this cause CHRIST hath made his Ministers partakers of his authority because hee hath withall imparted to them the light of doctrine that Saint Paul to Timothie writing that hee is constituted an Apostle doeth expound it thus that is a Doctor of the Gentiles who in two places prescribing the conditions of a Bishop saith he must bee a Doctour that obseruing the vse of the primitiue Church it will appeare that the faithfull did goe to Bishops for dispensations and declarations because those onely were assumed to that charge who were most of all
there be not hope that hee may bee worthy of holy orders and from the last of the minor Orders vntill the Subdeaconship there shall be the interposition of a yeere if the Bishop shall not iudge otherwise for the good of the Church The twelfth None shall be ordained Subdeacon before the age of two and twenty yeeres Deacon before three and twenty Priest before sixe and twenty Neither shall the Regulars haue any exemption herein The thirteenth Subdeacons and Deacons shall bee first proued in the minor Orders shall haue hope to liue continently shall serue the Church to which they are ascribed and shall thinke it very conuenient to receiue the Communion on Sundayes and solemne Feasts when they serue at the Altar Subdeacons shall not passe to a higher degree vntill they bee exercised one yeere in their owne but two holy degrees shall not be giuen in one day by vertue of any priuiledge whatsoeuer The fourteenth None shall be ordained a Priest but a Deacon which hath been exercised in that ministery a whole yeere at the least and found sufficient to teach the people and administer the Sacraments and the Bishop shall take care that they celebrate the Masse euery Sunday and holy day 〈◊〉 in case they haue cure of soules they shall satisfie their charge and if any be ordained to the superior Orders before the inferior the Bishop may dispense if there be a lawfull cause The fifteenth Howsoeuer Priests receiue power in their ordination to absolue from sinnes yet none shall heare confessions who haue not a Parochiall Benefice or is not approued by the Bishop The sixteenth None shall be ordained before hee bee ascribed to some particular Church or pious place to exercise the ministery of that Order and if hoc abandon the place without consent of the Bishop the ministery shall be prohibited vnto him and no strange Clerke shall bee admitted to the exercise of the Ministery without the letters of his Ordinary The seuenteenth To bring againe into vse the functions of the Orders from a Deacon to an Ostiarie which being vsed from the time of the Apostles haue been intermitted in many places that they may not be derided by the heretikes as idle these Ministeries shall not be exercised but by those who haue receiued the Orders appertaining and the Prelates shall restore those functions and in case they haue not continent Clerkes for exercise of the minor Orders they may take married men so that they haue not been twice married and be in other respects apt for that exercise The last article was for the institution of Seminaries in which it was constituted that euery Episcopall Church should haue a certaine number of boyes brought vp in a Colledge neere the Church or in another conuenient place the boyes shall bee twelue yeeres olde at the least legitimate and distributed into formes by the Bishop according to their number age and progresse in Ecclesiasticall discipline They shall weare the habit and tonsure learne Grammer Musicke Ecclesiasticall computation the holy Scripture to reade the Homilies of the Fathers know the Rites and Ceremonies of the Sacrament and especially that which belongeth to hearing confessions And to defray the charge thereof where there is any reuenue deputed for education of children it shall bee applied to this Seminarie and to supply that which remaineth the Bishop with foure of the Clergie shall detract a portion from all the Benefices of the Diocesse and apply simple Benefices also to this vse and compell those who haue Schoole-houses or other charge to reade or teach in the Schooles of the Seminarie by themselues or by sufficient substitutes and Schoolemasters places shall not bee giuen hereafter but vnto Doctors or Masters in Diuinity or in the Canon law And if in any Prouince the Churches be so poore that a Seminary cannot bee erected in them one or more shall bee appointed in the Prouince and in the Churches of the great Diocesse the Bishop shall erect one or more if hee thinke fit besides that of the Citie which notwithstanding shall depend on that of the Citie In the end the Decree intimating the next Session for the sixteenth of September was read expressing that then the Sacrament of Matrimony was to bee handled and other things pertaining to the doctrine of Faith as also the prouisions of Bishoprickes Dignities and other Benefices and diuers other articles of reformation The Session continued from nine vntill sixteene a clocke with great content of the Legates and Popish Prelates that matters did passe so quietly and with such a generall consent And they commended the Cardinall of Loraine aboue all confessing that he had beene the most principall cause of this benefit No act of this Councell was seene with more desire then this of this Session The censure of the actes of this Session euery one being curious to know what that was which held in contention so many Prelats in Trent and all the Courts of Christian Princes in businesse ten moneths together But it prooued to be according to the prouerbe The trauaile of mountaines and the natiuity of a mouse No man could finde how it could deserue not onely so great and long paines of so many great persons but euen the least employment at all And those who vnderstood Theologie did desire that it should be once declared what the Councell did vnderstand by the power of retaining sins which was made one part of the Sacerdotall power because they had declared the sence of the other which was to remit sinnes And others wondered at the declaration that the inferiour Orders are onely degrees vnto the superiour and all vnto Priest-hood in regard it doth appeare in the ancient Ecclesiasticall Storie that those who were ordained to any ministery or charge were for the most part perpetually entertained in the same and the ascending to an higher degree happened very seldome and was vsed onely in case of necessitie or great vtilitie None of the seuen Deacons instituted by the Apostles ascended any higher and in the ancient Church of Rome it selfe it doth not appeare that the Deacons whose office was to heare the confessions of Martyrs did passe to the title of Priesthood The ordination of Saint Ambrose to bee a Bishop of Saint Hierome Saint Austin and Saint Paulinus to bee Priests and of Saint Gregorie the Great to be a Deacon is described without mention of any passage by other degrees They did not blame the vse begun in later times but they marueiled that they did alleadge it as a thing alwayes vsed whereas the contrary was manifest The Decree that the ministeries of the Orders from a Deacon to an Ostiary should not bee exercised but by persons promoted to those proper Orders made a faire shew but it seemed a thing hard to bee obserued that in no Church none might ring the bels or open and shut the doores but the ordinarie Ostiaries nor light the lamps and candles but the Accolites who were to exercise
Nouice two yeeres at the least at what age soeuer he entred The Generals opposed saying it was not iust to hinder any from entring into Religion who was capable to know what the Regular vowes did import which capacitie was iudged by the Church to bee at the age of sixteene yeeres in a time when the world was not so well awake and therefore that it was fit rather to make the age lesse then greater which reason they vsed also against the two yeeres of the Nouiceship In the end because they were willing to please all they resolued to satisfie the Generals also and to make no innouation herein Besides the twentie two Articles there was another in which power was giuen to the Prouincials Generals and Heads of the Orders to expell the incorrigible out of the Order and to depriue them of the habite Which Iohannes Antonius Fachinnettus Bishop of Nicastro opposed sharpely saying that the profession and Act of admission to it are a mutuall contract and as it were a marriage by which the professed is bound to the Monastery and the Monastery to him and as the one could not depart so the other could not put him away and that by meanes of this Decree all Cities would bee filled with expelled Friars to the great scandall of the world The Arch-bishop of Rosano said to the contrary that the relation was not as betweene man and wife but as betweene father and sonne and that the sonne could neuer lawfully refuse the father but the father might emancipate his sonne especially if hee were disobedient and that it was a lesse euill to see expelled Friars in the Cities then incorrigible in the Monasteries The Generals were not all of one opinion The perpetuall did approoue the expulsion but the temporary did not The maior part inclined according to the custome of a multitude when it consulteth to leaue things in the state they were and not to decree either for the one side or the other But in this consultation it was often repeated and by many that the people did receiue great scandal to see some weare a religious habit many yeeres and afterwards become seculars This brought the secret profession into question and made a consultation to begin whether they ought to declare it to bee of force as it had beene vntill that time or that no profession doth bind but that which is expresse But this had difficulties also for temper whereof this resolution was taken that the religious Prelat the yeere of probation being ended should be bound either to giue the Nouice leaue to depart or admit him to the profession And this was inserted in the sixteenth Article as in a place conuenient Generall Laynez commended the Decree very much as necessary but desired that his societie might bee excepted alleadging that the condition of it was different from that of other regular Orders that in those tacite profession hath place by ancient custome and approbation of the Apostolique Sea which in their society is prohibited that the cause of scandall which the people receiueth in seeing some in a secular habite who haue long worne the religious doth cease in them in regard the habit of the Iesuits doth not differ from the secular that their society hath also a confirmation from the Apostolique Sea that the Superiour may admit to the profession after a long time which hath neuer beene made to any Regular All inclined to fauour him with this exception for extention whereof hee contended that the Rules of speaking Latine did require that the expression should bee in the plurall saying that by these things the Synod doth not intend to alter the institution of the Iesuits c. And it was not considered that this manner of speech might bee referred both to the admitting or dismissing of Nouices in the end of the Laymez maketh vse of the negligence of the Fathers in Trent yeere of Probation and to the whole Contents of the sixteenth Article as also that it might be referred to all the things contained in the sixteen heads But the Father knew how to make vse of the negligence of others laying a foundation on which the succeeding Iesuites might build that singularitie which now appeareth in their Societie The Congregation of the two and twentieth treated of Indulgences the difficultie and length of which matter made the maior part to bee of opinion to speake of it no more in regard all were resolued before to auoide impediments But some desired to handle them saying that otherwise the Heretickes would say that they were omitted because there was no ground to maintaine them Others thought it sufficient to speake of their vse onely and to take away the abuses which the corruption of times hath brought in The Ambassadour of Portugall said hee was sorry that prouision was not made for the Crusadoes but would bee silent lest occasion might bee taken to prolong the Councell The Emperours Ambassadours though they did ioyntly sollicite the Expedition by commission from their Master were not of accord in this Prague would not haue them speake of the points of doctrine Fiue-Churches said that if they were omitted and the abuses of reliques Images and Purgatorie not taken away the Synode was quite shamed The Bishop of Modena tolde the Fathers that in case they would handle Indulgences as they had done Iustification considering all the causes and resoluing all the questions they would finde it difficult and to require a long time it being impossible to make that matter plaine but by determining first whether they bee absolutions or compensations onely and suffrages or whether they doe remit the penalties imposed by the Confessor onely The Councel dareth not handle the matter of Indulgences exactly or all that are due likewise whether the Treasure which is put for their foundation doeth onely consist of the merits of CHRIST or whether those of Saints bee required also whether they may be giuen though the receiuer performe nothing whether they extend to the dead also and other things of no lesse difficultie But to determine that the Church may graunt them and hath done so in all times and that they are profitable for the faithfull who doe worthily receiue them needeth no great disputation The authoritie to graunt them is prooued by the Scripture their continuall vse by Apostolicall tradition and authoritie of Councels and the perspicuitie of the whole matter by the vniforme doctrine of the Schoolemen Vpon this a Decree may be composed without difficultie The opinion had many followers and hee with other Friar Bishops was deputed to make a Decree in this sense adding a prouision against abuses In the Congregations following they handled the Index of bookes Catechisme Breuiarie Missals and Agends And all things determined in the particular congregations of the Prelates deputed for these matters since the beginning of the Synod were read Wherein they did not all agree Some thought that certaine Authours and Bookes were censured without reason
Some defended the words of the Decree that they were dispencers alleadging the place in the Gospell of the faithfull seruant and the Doctrine of all the holy Fathers But the precipitation to finish the Councell caused those words that is of which they are appointed faithfull dispencers for the poore to be omitted as also other difficulties to be passed ouer in silence In the Article of Patronages the Ambassadours of Sauoy and Florence made request that those of the Princes might bee accepted also or that all might be comprehended but those of the Emperour and Kings Satisfaction was giuen them by accepting besides the Emperour Kings or Possessors of Kingdomes other great and supreame Princes who haue soueraignety in A dispute whether the Decrees made vnder Paul Iulius should be read their dominions Afterwards a proposition was made for the reading in Session of all the Decrees made vnder Paul and Iulius to bee approoued which Modena opposed saying that it would bee a derogation to the authoritie of the Councell of those times if it should seeme that the things then done had need of a new confirmation of the Fathers and would shew that this and that was not all one because none can confirme his owne things Others sayd it was necessarie to doe it for that cause that authoritie might not bee taken from them saying that they were not of the same Councell And the same French-men who before did so earnestly desire that it might be declared that the Councell was new and not continuated with that vnder Paul and Iulius did now labour more then others that all cause of doubting might be taken away that all the acts from the yere 1545. vntill the ende were not of the same Synode Thus it happeneth as in humane affaires so in religion also that one credulity is changed with his interests Therefore now all aiming at one marke it was determined simply to read them and say no more For so the vnitie of the Councell was most plainely declared and all difficulty remooued which the word confirmation might bring leauing euery one to thinke what he listed whether the reading of them did cousequently import a confirmation or a declaration of their validity or an inference that it was one Synode which made them with that which read them Finally a proposition was made to anticipate the Session and to celebrate The Session is anticipated it the next day and if all the actions could not then be dispatched to continue it the day following and to dismisse the Fathers and subscribe all the acts of the Councell on Sunday The Spanish Bishops opposed this saying that there was no necessity to abbreuiate the time Notwithstanding Card. Morone sayd that the Session should bee held And Loraine and the Emperors Ambassadors renewed their perswasions to the Count of Luna that he would yeeld to that which is so vniformely resolued Who in the end after many things spoken and replyed was content vpon two conditions one that a decree might be made that the Pope should make prouision for all things that remaine another that in the handling of Indulgences it should not bee said that they ought to bee giuen graâ—ts nor any other thing that might preiudice the Crusadoes of paine That day therefore being come which was Friday the third of December they wentto the Church with the vsuall Ceremonies and the Masse was said in which Ierolamus Ragazzone Bishop of Nazianzo made the Sermon And held the 3. December Hee summoned all the world to admire that most happie day in which the The Sermon temple of God was restored and the ship brought into the hauen after so many tempests and stormes and that the ioy had beene greater if the Protestants would haue had their part in it which was not the Fathers fault He said they had chosen that citie for the councell scituated in the mouth of Germanie euen at the threshold of their houses without any gard not to giue suspition of want of libertie that the Protestants had beene inuited by a Safe-conduct expected and prayed that for the safetie of their soules the Catholike faith was expounded and the Ecclesiasticall discipline restored He shewed the abuses taken away in holy Rites He said that if there had beene no other cause to call a Councell it had beene necessary to doe it for the prohibition of Clandestine mariages And passing to the things constituted for reformation he shewed from step to step the publike seruice the Church would receiue by those decrees Hee added that the explication of faith with the reformation of manners had beene handled in former Councels but not more diligently in any that the arguments and reasons of the heretikes had been often handled and discussed and many times with great contention not because there was any discord amongst the Fathers which cannot bee amongst those who are of the same opinion but to proceed with sinceritie and so to cleere the trueth as that more could not haue beene done if the heretikes had beene present He exhorted all that being returned to their Diocesses they would put the Decrees in execution as also to thanke God first and then the Pope shewing what hee hath done to fauour the Councell sending Nuncij into the Protestant Countries Legates to Trent exciting Princes to send Ambassadours sparing no cost to maintaine the Councell in libertie He commended the Legates as being good guides and moderators and in particular Cardinall Morone and concluded with the commendation of the Fathers After the ceremonies were ended the Decrees were read In the doctrine The Decrees of Purgatorie it was said that the Catholike Church hath taught out Of Purgatory of the Scripture traditions and in this same Synode that there is Purgatorie and that the soules detained in it are assisted by the suffrages of the faithfull and the sacrifice of the Masse Therefore it doth command Bishops to teach sound doctrine in this matter and cause it to bee preached without handling subtile questions before the ignorant people not suffering vncertaine and vnlikely things to be published prohibiting curiosities superstition and vnhonest gaine procuring that those suffrages bee fully executed which are vsually made for the dead by the liuing as also that the things ordained in last wils or in any other manner be fully performed In matter of the Saints it doth command Bishops and all others who haue Of Saints the charge of teaching that they instruct the people concerning the intercession and inuocation of them honour of relikes lawfull vse of Images according to the ancient doctrine of the Church consent of Fathers and Decrees of Councels teaching that the Saints doe pray for men that it is profitable to inuocate them and to haue recourse to their prayers and assistance Afterwards all in one periode it doeth condemne seuen asseâ—tions in this matter That the Saints of Heauen ought not to bee inuocated That they doe not pray for men That it
matter of faith onely They said that to haue spoken one word incidently in handling the Masse that it doth assist the dead which The censure of the Councell in Germanie also may receiue diuers sences and in the decree of Purgatorie to alleadge it as a definition of the Article was a thing not to be vsed in Councels especially in this where the matters were minced and an Article of faith made of euery question which could be mooued in any matter And to commend Bishops to teach the sound doctrine of Purgatorie without declaring what it is did shew that the Fathers had great hast to depart from Trent But in the matter of Saints the hast was greater condemning in one breath and in one period eleuen Articles not declaring what condemnation it was or whether they were condemned of heresie or for any other cause and after a long discourse of Images anathematising those that speake against the Decrees without letting them know which it doth comprehend vnder the Anathema whether the immediatly precedent concerning Images or all the others aboue written But of Iudulgences they spake more then all the rest that these gaue occasion of the present diuision amongst Christians that the Councell was principally assembled for these that in that matter there is no part which is not controuersed and vncertaine euen amongst the Schoolemen themselues and yet the Synod hath passed them ouer without cleering any doubt or deciding any controuersie And concerning the remedy of abuses they spake in such ambiguous termes that it could not bee vnderstood what they did approue or disapproue saying they did desire a moderation according to the old custome approued in the Church For it is certaine and cannot bee concealed that in no Christian Nation of the Easterne Church either in ancient or moderne times there neuer was any vse of Indulgences of any kind whatsoeuer And in the west if by ancient custome they meane that which was obserued before Vrban the second in the yeere 1095. no proofe can bee brought of the vse of Indulgences If from that time vntill the yeare 1300. It will appeare that the vse of them hath beene very sparing and onely to free men from punishments imposed by the Confessor Afterwards from the Councell of Vienna the abuses began which did increase very much vntill the time of Leo the tenth so that the Councel desiring the restitution of the old custome approued in the Church it was necessary to declare in what Church and in what time But those words that the Eclesiasticall discipline is weakened by too much facilitie in graunting Indulgences are a plaine confession that they belong not to the conscience not doe free men from any thing in the fight of God but touch the externall onely that is the Ecclesiasticall discipline For the difference of meates and fasts they said that to command them was good but that was not decided of which the world complained that is that they did binde the conscience Therefore the Princes of Germany held none esteeme of this Councell Onely some few ministers of the Augustan confession published a protestation of which but little account was made The Catholikes did not thinke of the doctrine of Purgatorie and of Indulgences desiring onely to obtaine the Communion of the Cup mariage of Priests and relaxation in the multitude of precepts De iure positiuo concerning fasts feasts and such other things For whose satisfaction the Emperour and Duke of Bauaria made instance The Emperor writeth to the Pope about the communion of the Cup. to the Pope The Emperour wrote letters to him dated the foureteenth of February saying that during the Councell hee had laboured to obtaine the grant of the Cup not for any priuate interest or scruple of conscience which hee had but because hee did beleeue and doeth still that the graunt is necessary to bring backe to the Church those that wander that he did then tolerate the impediments interposed to treat there of with the principall Prelates and Princes of the Empire with whom hauing conferred whether it were expedient to renew the same request they thought fit hee should moue his Holinesse therein Therefore calling to mind what the Cardinals Morone and Loraine had caused to bee told him which was confirmed also by the Bishop of Liesina his Nuncio hee would no longer deferre to demand the grace of him without repeating any more the weighty causes that did constraine him desiring him to assist the Germane Nation to which all wise Catholikes doe thinke that the graunt will bee very beneficiall adding that to preserue the remainder of Religion in Germanie and extirpate heresies it will be of great moment to graunt that Priests who are separated because they are married may bee reconciled and retaine their wiues and that hereafter where there is not a sufficient number of Priests married men of good life and fame may be admitted to the Priesthood For this he prayed him in his owne name and in the name of the Duke of Bauaria his sonne in law assuring him that he should doe a thing worthy of his piety and most acceptable The letters of the Duke of Bauaria did containe that hauing sent often And so doth the Duke of Bauaria to his Holinesse to shew the miserable State of Germanie in matters of Religion he did hope hee should not long desire the medicine which seeing it was not applied vntill then he together with the Emperour and Ecclesiasticall Electors did pray him to grant power to the Arch bishop of Salzburg to giue leaue to Catholike Priests to administer the Cup to those who haue confessed and are penitent and do beleeue the other Articles of Religion which grant would giue satisfaction to his Subiects who remaine in his State to those also who goe forth of his Dominions to seeke those who will minister it vnto them that himselfe will alwayes be content with one kinde nor will force any to vse the Cup who as himselfe will be content with the bread onely that for these hee demandeth nothing but that it seemeth to him not inconuenient for the Vicar of CHRIST to haue pitie vpon the others also Likewise he prayed his Holinesse that hee would grant for some time at the least that married Priests may bee reconciled to the Church keeping their wiues and married men ordained also To these Letters was added a Remonstrance or consideration composed by the Diuines of Germanie in which it was said That it was plaine that the Scripture of the New and Old Testament doeth permit Priests to A Remonstrance concerning the same Grant haue wiues because the Apostles some few excepted were married neither is it found that CHRIST after their vocation did separate their wiues from them That in the Primitiue Church as well Orientall as Occidentall the marriages of Priests were free vntill the time of Calistus the Pope that the ciuill Lawes did not condemne the marriage of Clerkes that it is
which may be any way dammageable to him I will help to defend and maintaine against all the world the Papacie of the Church of Rome and the rules of the holy Fathers In old time when the Priests of Appollo Pytheus began to speake plainly in fauour of King Philip many would merrily say that Apollo began to Philippize When we see that nothing is decreed in the Councell but at the Popes pleasure why may wee not say that the oracles of the Councels doe Tapize that is say nothing but what the Pope will When Verres was charged with many crimes of which in probabilitie he was guiltie they say he was so wise as not to commit his triall to any but onely to some trusty persons of his owne traine The Popes haue dealt more wisely For they haue chosen such iudges whom they know neither will because it is their owne case in regard they refer all to voluptuousnesse and gluttonie nor can if they would because they are sworne decree any thing contrary to his will and pleasure They set the holy Bible in the midst as if they would doe nothing against it they looke vpon it afarre off and reade it not Indeede they bring a preiudicated opinion with them not regarding what Christ hath said but decreeing whatsoeuer they please 24 Therefore that libertie which ought to be in all consultations especially sacred and which is most proper to the Holy Ghost and the modestie of Christians is quite taken away Paul saith If any thing be reauealed to another that 1. Cor. 14 30. sitteth by let the first hold his peace But these men apprehend imprison and burne whosoeuer dareth but whisper against them Witnesse hereof the cruell death of two most holy and resolute men Iohn Husse and Hierom of Prague whom they put to death contrary to their safe conduct so brake their faith both with God and man So the wicked Prophet Zedekias when he had put on iron hornes strooke Micheas the Prophet of the Lord on the face saying how hath the spirit of God left me and is come to thee Therefore these men alone domineere in Councels all others being excluded They alone giue voices and make lawes like vnto the Ephesians in times past let no man say they liue here who is wiser then the rest except he haue a mind to be cast into banishment They will not heare any of our men speak In the last conuention of the Councel at Trent tenne yeres since the Ambassadors of the Princes and free Cities of Germanie came thither with a purpose to be heard but were absolutely refused For the Bishops and Abbots answered that they would not suffer their cause to haue a free hearing nor suffer controuersies to be discussed out of the word of God that our men were not to be heard at all except they would recant which if they refused to doe they should come into the Councell vpon none other condition but to heare the sentence of condemnation pronounced against them For Iulius the third in his Bull of indiction of the Councell declared plainely that either they should change their opinions or else should bee condemned for heretiques before they were heard Pius the fourth who hath now a purpose to reassemble the Councell hath alreadie preiudged for heretiques all those who haue left the Roman Church that is to say the greatest part of the Christian world before they were euer either seene or heard They say and they say it often that alreadie all is well with them and that they will not alter one iot of their doctrine and Religion Albertus Pighius saith that without the authoritie of the Roman Church one ought not to beleeue the cleerest and plainest Scripture Is this to restore the Church to her integritie Is this to seeke the trueth Is this the libertie and moderation of Councels 25 Though these things bee most vniust and most different from the fashion of ancient Councels and of modest men yet this is more vniust that whereas the world complaineth of the Papall pride and tyrannie and doth beleeue that nothing can be amended in the Church of God vntill he be reduced into order yet all things are referred vnto him as vnto a most consciencious pence maker and iudge And vnto what a kind of man good God are they referred I will not call him an enemie of the Trueth ambitious couetous proud intolerable euen to his owne followers But they would make iudge of all Religion him who commandeth that all his determinations shall bee of equall valew with those of Saint Peter himselfe and sayth that in case hee carrie a thousand soules with himselfe to Hell yet no man ought to reprehend him for it who auoucheth that he can make iniustice to bee iustice whom Camotensis affirmeth to haue corrupted the Scriptures that he might haue fulnesse of power and to conclude whom his owne familiars and followers Ioachimus Abbas Petrarch Marsilius Patauinus Laurentius Valla Hieronymus Sauanorola doe cleerely pronounce to bee The Antichrist All is referred to the iudgement and will of this man alone so that the same man is the partie arraigned and the Iudge the accusers are heard from an inferiour place and the partie accused sits in his Tribunall and pronounceth the sentence concerning himselfe These lawes forsooth so equall and so reasonable Pope Iulius hath giuen vs. No Councell sayth he is of any credit nor euer wil be vnlesse it be confirmed by the authority of the Church of Rome Bonifacius 8. sayth That no creature in the world can possibly be saued except he bee subiect to the Romane Church And Pope Pascal thus As though sayth hee any Councels haue made lawes for the Church of Rome when as all Councels doe subsist by it and receiue their strength from it and doe expresly except in all their Decrees the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome Another sayth That which the Pope approoueth or disprooueth wee ought to approoue or disprooue likewise And againe It is not lawfull for any man to disallow that which the Pope approoueth I know not what Parasite it is who most shamelesly sayth that though all the world should bee of one opinion against the Pope yet it seemeth to mee that the Popes opinion must bee maintained And another as impudently as hee It is a kinde of sacriledge but to dispute of the Pope's fact who though hee bee not alwayes a good man yet must hee alwayes bee presumed to bee Another yet more impudently sayth The Pope's will is heauenly therefore in those things which hee willeth his will standeth for reason neither ought any man to say to him why doe you so To leaue many the like sayings which are infinite and to make an end Pope Innocent the ninth speakes most impudently of all The Iudge will not bee iudged neither by the Emperour nor by Kings nor by the whole Clergie nor by all the people of the world O immortall God! how neere are they come to