Dr. Duval at the Head of his Party promis'd to answer in case the Parlement press't them to it that the Faculty could do nothing without the Bishops or without an express Order from the Queen that the Articles in question had not only a Reference to Religion but to State Affairs also In the mean time the Jesuits were at a stand they long'd to open their College of Clermont To obtain this Permission The Jesuits puzl'd how they could content the Court of Rome and the Parlement at the same time they were to follow the Advice which the President Seguier their good Friend and some others gave to the Society which was to content the Parlement by a Promise to conform to the Doctrine generally received in the University of Paris But this exposed them too to the Indignation of the Holy Father and Court of Rome The Cardinal Perron the Bishop of Paris and many other Prelates Counsell'd them not to content the Parlement so far Vbaldini entreated them from it being persuaded that the Honour of the Holy Chair was concern'd in this Affair After great Consults the Provincial accompanied by five other Jesuits goes without giving notice to the Nuncio or Cardinals to make a Declaration in Writing before the Register of Parlement like to that which the Provincial had made in Parlement vivâ voce The good Fathers believed they should easily Extricate themselves in this Affair with the Court of Rome when the thing was done and should escape with only a chiding from the Nuncio and their General who would not be sorry for it at the bottom of his Heart As soon as the Nuncio had understood what the Jesuits had done he was in a furious Passion Father Coton was order'd to wait on him to Appease him The oily Tongu'd Jesuit represented to him to little purpose that his Provincial did not think to do any Mischief in signing what he had already said viz. That the Rules of the Society required it should conform to the Sentiments of the Universities where it had Colleges that their good Friends counsell'd them to prevent the Troubles which the Parlement would not fail to give them if the Society should obstinately refuse to obey the Edict Lastly that they had believ'd the Pope to have Reasons why he did not give them expresly Permission to submit to a Law which the Parlement would impose upon them but that they hop'd the Pope would not take it ill from them likewise to have contented the Parlement without the knowledge of the Court of Rome The Nuncio was not paid with these Reasons Doth it belong to you said he to Coton to guess the Intentions of his Holiness You should have consulted his Minister who knows them better than any one else And since you ought to conform to the Sentiments of Vniversities why have you not tarried till the Sorbonne explain'd clearly what it believes In stead of consulting your President Seguier and the Lawyers it might have been more expedient to have taken mine and the Prelates their Advice who have good Intentions and have expected Orders from your Father General Coton had nothing to reply but the business was over The Nuncio likewise could not further complain to the Queen of the violence the Parlement had done the Jesuits for one might have answer'd him that the good Fathers went of their own accord without any new Summons to promise to conform to the Sentiments of the University and Intentions of the Parlement As Equivocations Silence keeping and Mental Reservation are always the Society's great help the Jesuits of Paris made wonderful use of them in the Letters they wrote to the Pope and Cardinal Borghese his Nephew Can any one forbear laughing and see Coton speaking down right to his Holiness that by the Liberties of the Gallican Church they understood nothing but the Concordate made betwixt Leo X. and Francis I. A Book of Doctor Richer Sindic of the Doctors of Paris occasions there a great stir Vbaldini bestirr'd himself yet farther with the Clergy and Sorbonne to ruine Richer Doctor and Syndic of the Faculty at Paris At the beginning of the year two Books were put out one of which brought great trouble to the Author tho' his Name was not put to it The first was but a Collection of some Decrees of the Faculty at Paris upon the Authority of the Pope T' was intended to prove herein that the ancient Doctrine of Sorbonne is That Jesus Christ hath instituted an Aristocratical Government in his Church And because the Court of Rome accuseth all those of Huguenotism who oppose it's Usurpations the Author of this Collection was willing to prevent this Reproach against the Faculty in joyning to his Collection the Sorbonne Decrees against Luther and du Plessis Mornai The second Book unfolds the Hypothesis of the Aristocratical Government of the Church The Title of the Book is Of Ecclesiastical and Politick Power The Author pretended that Spiritual Jurisdiction belongs properly to the Church and that the Pope and Bishops are but the Instruments and Ministers whom she makes use of to exercise this Jurisdiction that Jesus Christ is the Essential Head of the Church of which the Pope is only Head Ministerial as they term it and that the Authority of the Pope extends only to particular Churches where he is to see that the Decrees and Canons publish't in General Councils be observ'd that the Church ought not to be govern'd by one Absolute Monarch but by the Canons that Infallibility is given to the Church in general that is to say to the Body of the chief Pastors every particular Bishop and Pope likewise being subject to Error that the frequent calling of General Councils is necessary that the Decrees of the Pope oblige no further than they are Conformable to the Canons Lastly that the Pope cannot impose any Obligation upon the Church against her will and without her consent to it As to politick Power the Author maintains that Jesus Christ hath given no Temporal Jurisdiction to the Church and that she hath not any power to use the Sword or Constraint that Censures and Excommunications are the Spiritual Arms of the Church and that they could not heretofore be employ'd without the Counsel of the Assembly which they call'd Presbyters that the King is the Defender and Protector of the Natural Divine and Canonical Law and that in this Quality he hath right to make Laws and use the Sword to maintain what God and the Councils have ordain'd that Christian Emperors have by Right call'd the first General Council That Appeals as Appeals from Abuse or Error are lawful and that Sovereigns ought to receive them in quality of being Protectors of the Canons that the Church hath an indirect Power over Temporal Matters by way of Persuasion and Excommunication but not by way of Constraint and Deposition of Sovereigns that the Decrees of Popes wherein Sovereigns who don 't Exterminate Hereticks are Excommunicated have no
as you have already done to the Resentments of the Princes of the Blood The Duke of Epernon was yet more necessary to the Queen upon this occasion he was gone from Court much discontented but he was gently dealt with during his Absence as soon as he came back to Court they made him all imaginable Caresses The Prince of Conti the Duke de Guise and the House of Lorrain the Duke de Nevers all the Courtiers except the Creatures of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons paid him extraordinary Honours The Chancellor Villeroy and Conchini shewed him as much respect and deference as he could possibly wish from them T' was the surest way to engage this proud and haughty Man by letting him gain to himself a point of Honour of being Victorious over the Princes of the Blood and opposing them vigorously when ever they should undertake to break the Treaty of the double Match The Ambassador of England complain'd aloud of this Alliance but t' was hop'd they could appease his Master by sending to him the Mareschal de Bouillon Aersens Ambassador from the Vnited Provinces made a great Noise he moved Heaven and Earth to hinder this Affair the Consequences of which appeared to be dreadful to his Republick Refuge was order'd to go to the Hague to secure the Amity of Prince Maurice and the States-General Lastly Schomberg was sent to the Protestant Princes in Germany in order to dissipate the jealousies which this Alliance might give them The Double Marriage is in fine carryed in Council The Prince of Conde and the Count de Soissons being come back to Court about the beginning of the year 1612. all Persons were brought about to consent to the double Match whensoever it should be proposed in Council but the two Princes were not yet satisfied Siri Memorie recondite To. II. pag. 618. 619 ctc. The same day they were call'd to Council Conde first demanded that every one might declare his Opinion according to his degree Chancellor Sileri spoke much in praise of the Queen's Administration of Affairs and laid open the great benefit which would accrue to the State from this double Match The Duke de Guise set forth the Eloquence which was natural to his Family There 's no need said he of Deliberation upon so Advantageous a Proposition we ought only to thank God that her Majesty hath happily brought about the Noble design which Heaven had inspired into her The Constable Montmorency with the Dukes of Nevers and Epernon extreamly approved of what was said The Mareschal Bouillon and Lesdiguieres said only this that they ought to take care the New Treaty with the Spaniards might not be prejudicial to the ancient Alliances of the Crown with other Sovereigns At last came the Prince of Conde's turn to speak but he was so startled with the Duke of Guise's positive way of delivering himself as that he was quite dasht out of Countenance and after an indifferent manner said that since this was an Affair resolved upon it was needless to ask our Opinion It was believ'd that the two Princes came with a design to oppose the Treaty The words which the Count de Soissons let fall confirm'd Persons in this Opinion You see Sir said he turning himself to the Prince of Conde that we are dealt with here as Fools and Serving-men The Queen vext at this Reproach would have spoke but the Chancellor cunningly turn'd her by from it by proposing some other matter to discourse upon and so it was concluded that the double Match should be publisht the 25th day of March following and the New Duke of Mayenne was design'd for an extraordinary Embassy to Spain to demand the Infanta with the usual Ceremonies The Prince of Conde and Count Soissons shewed a great weakness upon this occasion their Consciences would not suffer them to approve the thing and either fear or hope hinder'd them from speaking as they ought to have done Sir then said the Constable to his Son-in-Law the Prince of Conde you neither know how to Fight with Courage or yield with Prudence The Popes Nuncio's Complaint of the Edict of Parliament given in favour of the Vniversity against the Jesuits The Queen Regent found her self otherwise troubled upon the occasion of an Edict which the Parliament had made upon the Contest of the University of Paris with the Jesuits for the opening of their College of Clermont The good Fathers flatter'd themselves that the chief President de Verdun would be as favourable to them as his Predecessor had been to the contrary but they were deceived in their Hopes whether it was that this Magistrate affected to appear Zealous for the Liberties of the Gallican Church or that the Remonstrances of Dr. Richer Syndick of the faculty of Paris Siri Memorie recondite To. II. pag. 624 625 c. or the pleadings of the Advocate General Servin had convinc'd the chief President that if once the Society should set footing in the University of Paris it would Establish there its pernicious Doctrine or Lastly whether it was that Verdun did not love so much the Jesuits at the bottom of his Heart as other Magistrates had done before he pronounc'd the Edict he put on so gay and content a Countenance as the good Fathers believ'd they had gain'd their Cause But what was their Mortification when they understood that t' was ordered them forthwith to Sign a Conformity to the Doctrine of the Sorbonne Schools and even in what concerned the preservation of the sacred Persons of Kings the maintaining their Royal Authority and the Liberties of the Gallican Church according as it was mentioned in the four Articles which had been proposed to them and were recited in express words in the Edict From hence was the Society brought to great Extremity They must Subscribe a Doctrine detested by the Court of Rome or must be exposed a second time to leave the Kingdom The Curates of Paris had now bound themselves to present joyntly a Petition to the Parliament that they should be hinder'd from hearing of Confession The University put up another Petition that the Jesuits might be enjoyn'd to shut up their Colleges in all the Towns of the Parlement of Paris's Jurisdiction where they have taught without allowing their Letters Patent which the late King had granted them to be made good in Parlement Now the good Fathers had no other Remedy but to make use of the Nuncio's Intercession and cause the Cardinals and Prelates devoted to the Court of Rome to act for them Vbaldini the Popes Nuncio was very forward to bestir himself in favour of them he was no less alarm'd than the Jesuits The chief President brag'd that he would make the four Articles proposed to the Jesuits be made Solemnly received in the faculty of Paris and whatever the Advocate-General maintain'd in his Pleading The Nuncio in his first Audience he had of the Queen greatly complain'd against the New Edict and Servin
the Pope's liking These Gentlemen are usually more stiff and have less complaisance for the Court of Rome than Ministers of State are But now see once again Vbaldini's Auditor bestiâ—◠〈◊〉 himself he goes to visit the chief Pâ—â—â—ident de Verdun His Master had ordered him to speak to this Magistrate as skillfuly and with as much Civility as he could The Auditor begins with the great praise of the chief President 's Zeal for the good of the Church his Devotion towards the Holy Chair his Affection to the Service of the Queen and his Inclination to do good to the Jesuits After long Complements after the Italian Fashion came his Complaints against the Edict of Parlement and Servin's pleading Lastly followed the Instances to this Magistrate not to lessen the good Opinion Men had of him but to confirm it by causing the Edict to be Limited Verdun excused himself saying he was not Master of what the Parlement had ordain'd by a plurality of Voices he told him that the Advocate General had not spoke of the Holy Father but in respectful Terms and promised that no more New Petitions against the Jesuits should be received and measures taken to stifle this Affair As for what concern'd the Limitation of the Edict Verdun answer'd that if the four Articles had not been there in express words one could not believe the Nuncio had any reason to complain Then proceeding We shall see saith he in the Interim what can be done for his Satisfaction The Auditor insisted that the Edict would be still reflecting upon the Jesuits and â—…hat might be therein suppos'd their â—â—â—â—ety taught a Doctrine contrary to the Security of the Person of Princes How going on the Auditor said can they promise with a secure Conscience to conform to the Sorbonne Doctrine touching the Liberties of the Gallican Church These words include all what the Advocate General had said in his Plea against the Authority of the Pope and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction In vain did the Auditor display all his Eloquence The chief President remain'd always inflexible to retrench from the Edict any thing which was there said concerning the Liberties of the Gallican Church The Chancellor and Villeroy having press'd Verdun to this by the Queen's Order Her Majesty replyed he Courageously would do better to Dissolve the Parlement than oblige it to alter its Acts for the pleasure of a Foreign Minister The Act of Parlement Limited All that could be got from the chief Presisident was that the four Articles should not be express'd in the Edict and that where there was mention of the Liberties of the Gallican Church there should be added these words At all times kept and observ'd within the Realm 'T was promised likewise that the Jesuits should not be constrain'd against their will The Queen confirm'd all this to the Nuncio declaiming very much against poor Servin I promise you said she that he shall not any longer thus escape we shall make him become more prudent for the future Vbaldini was farther Intriguing with the Clergy for to stir up and incense the Bishops The Cardinal Perron and Gonzaga who was then at Paris cry'd ev'ry where against the Advocate General A Heretick a Heretick Marquemont Archbishop of Lyons was stoutly busie on his part with the Ministers and Prelates Servin happening one day to be in the Queen's Closet with Cardinal Gonzaga and Perron this latter had the boldness to tell the Advocate General that he was an ignorant Fellow The Cardinal was become extreamly proud from the Applauses which his easie way of speaking and writing had procured him from the common People who are rather dazled by the false appearance of a brisk and lively fancy than convinc'd by any solid Reasonings which the greatest part of Men are not capable to discern The remains we have of Servin and the Cardinal sufficiently prove that the Advocate General knew near as much as Perron At least this Magistrate had greater Integrity of of Mind and Sincerity The Subtile Cardinal dar'd not to take up the Cudgels against Servin upon the Pope's Authority or Liberties of the Gallican Church He could not have got the better of him but he fell upon the Article touching the Seal of Confession and as the Cardinal was a great Pratler and Sophister he entangled the question after such a manner for to find Heresies in what the Advocate General had said as Servin being put to a Nonplus deny'd what the Cardinal had laid to his Charge Cardinal Gonzaga not content to have given a Memoir to the Queen against Servin had a mind to affront him in her Presence He call'd Servin Heretick the King 's Queen's and States Enemy The Advocate General reply'd without being mov'd that his Office obliged him to be careful of what concern'd the Interest of his Master and the good of the Realm I know Sir he added That you have the Honour to be Related to her Majesty The Quality of being the Queen's Nephew makes me have a Respect for you but I am not to give an account of my Behaviour to any besides the Queen Gonzaga answer'd that the best Service Servin could do the King was never to swerve from the Catholick Faith and not to divide France and the Holy Chair and that one could not be a good Servant to the King and an Enemy to the Pope at the same time Before you prescribe us Lessons said Servin being incen'st at the Cardinal's boldness who led a Scandalous Life at Paris you ought to consider Sir of shewing us good Examples The Queen presently interrupted the Advocate General and dismissing of him order'd him to give the Cardinal Satisfaction I don't require any reply'd Gonzaga this Man is not in a capacity to give me any Offence Poor evasion of a Grandee whom the Truth of a Reproach had touch't to the quick The Prelates who were at Paris Animated by the Archbishop of Lyons set themselves likewise a crying against the Edict of Parlement and the Advocate General They very much blamed the Bishops of Beauvais and Noyon who 〈◊〉 present at the Judgment as Ecclesiastical Peers for that they went not out of the Audience as soon as they had heard what Servin had said against the Authority of the Holy Chair and Immuâ—â—â—â—es of the Church Some were of Opinion to condemn for Heresie what the Advocate General had said touching Confession But this did not content the Nuncio To stop at this one Article was tacitly to approve all the other which concern'd the Council's Superiority over the Pope and the Liberties of the Gallican Church The Bishops too did not well agree amongst themselves upon the Article of Confession They believ'd that they had not Authority enough to declare in a private Assembly upon a question of this Importance neither had they the boldness to undertake it Vbaldini had better luck at the Sorbonne He form'd there a Cabal numerous enough to hinder the Paris faculty from declaring upon the Articles
more Authority than the Decrees of Boniface VIII and other Constitutions of Ambitious and Usurping Popes that the Examples of Emperors and Princes Excommunicated and Deposed by Popes are facts which can't prove a Right lawfully acquired And so this Work ended in submitting all these Propositions to the Judgment of the Church Richer's Testament at the end of the 2d Vol. of his Works Edmund Richer had composed this Book at the Entreaty of the chief President Verdun He put it into the Press after the Sentence made betwixt the University of Paris and the Jesuits As soon as this Book appear'd Duval and other Doctors of the Popes Faction excited by the Nuncio made a fearful noise they got at first too strong and numerous a Cabal for having the Work to be censur'd at Sorbonne Vbaldini's Auditor and Forgemont Mercure Francois 1612. went from Door to Door to Sollicite the Censure When the Parlement had cognisance of it they sent for Richer and Forgemont The first was Reprimanded for that he had publish't his Book without permission and any Precedent Examination according to the Statutes The other Doctor was much blam'd because he was in League with a Foreigner to procure by extraordinary ways an Assembly of the faculty at Paris which was to Deliberate upon a Work where the Author treated of many Important Questions touching the Rights and Liberties of the Gallican Church The Parlement put forth another Act to prohibit the Faculty from proceeding to the Examination of Richer's Book and to order that all the Copies should be carried to the Registry of Parlement The most Prudent and most Apprehensive Doctors declared themselves for Richer but Duval and some hot Spirited Men penn'd bloody Books against him The Cardinal Perron and the Bishops of the Province of Sens condemn Richer's Book in an Assembly The outcry was so furious as they threatned him with nothing less than Transportation to Rome and sending of him to the Inquisition to be burn't there afterwards The greatest and most dangerous Enemy of Richer was Cardinal Perron push't on by the Cardinal Gonzaga and the Nuncio Vbaldini Perron had the Malice to say in the Queen's Council that he had been a long time heretofore in the party of the League that he did not set the Council above the Pope but because he supposed that the States General are above Kings Lastly that he had it in his Eye to fling at the birth of the King and his State with the Children of Henry IV. and the Validity of the Marriage of the late King with the Queen Mother Richer ask't leave to defend himself against the Calumnies of the Cardinal but the Nuncio made so great a noise on his side as so just a Request could not be granted him Vbaldini even threatned to depart presently from Paris without taking his leave of the King The Cardinal de Bonzi declar'd one day to Richer from the Chancellor Sileri that he should be taken into Custody if he answer'd any of the Libels which his Adversaries publish't against him How said Bonzi The King and Queen his Mother know how to deal with the little Republick of Geneva And why will you say can't their Majesties as well keep the Pope in awe who is otherwise more powerful than the Seignory of Geneva Besides that his Spiritual Dominion extends over all the World he is Sovereign of many Provinces in Italy T' was thus that the Grandees imagined their Elevation gave them right to pay others with most extravagant Answers The Enemies of Richer seeing there was nothing to do in the Sorbonne by reason of the Parlement they sought some other Means to stain the Reputation of this good Man Cardinal du Perron was to hold an Assembly at Paris consisting of the Bishops of the Province of Sens of which he 's the Metropolitan for to depute at a General Assembly of the Clergy to be held in the Month of May and to Nominate an Agent of the Clergy An occasion was taken to present Richer's Book to this sort of Provincial Council The President fail'd not to have it condemn'd there as containing many false Propositions Erroneous Scandalous Schismatical and Heretical without touching however said they the Rights of the King and Crown of France or the Rights Immunities and Liberties of the Gallican Church Never was there a more Irregular Censure than this The Prelates had not power to Assemble but upon some certain Temporal Affairs of the Clergy of their Province The pretended Cardinal's Council was not therefore call'd according to the rightful Form Of eight Bishops who compos'd it five Signed the Condemnation without having been present at the Examination of the Book One might have been surpriz'd to find there the Name of Gabriel de l'Aubespine Bishop of Orleans well known by his Books wherein he endeavours to clear some curious Passages of Ecclesiastical Antiquity if one did not otherwise know that this Prelate was a Courtier who led a Disorderly Life The Bishop of Orleans they were won't to say in those days is writing for the Church when he hath no more Money to game withal The Parlement having taken in hand the Affair of Richer's Book the Bishops of the Province of Sens could not pronounce upon it without encroaching upon the King and Parlement's Authority They ought to send for the Author and hear his Defence At last the Cardinals condemn'd and absolv'd at the same time All the Propositions pretended to be erroneous and heretical in Richer's Book respected the Rights of the King and Liberties of the Gallican Church and this was the reason why the Fathers of the Council would not meddle 'T was expected from their Knowledge and Equity that they would have declared to the Publick Richer's Heresies which have no Relation to the Rights of the Crown and Privileges of the Gallican Church Gondi Bishop of Paris having caused to be publish't in all his Parishes the Decree of the Council where he was present Richer appealed as from an Abuse He presented a Relief of Appeal to be Sealed but they refused him the Letters he askt for without any regard to the good Reasons he alledg'd in offering to justifie himself The Cabal was so strong as the Parlement dared not receive the Petition which Richer had presented to demand from the Court that they would be pleased to order his Letters of Relief should be Sealed Perron was too subtile to suffer that the Decree of his Provincial Council should be examin'd in Parlement The Advocate General would not have fail'd to prove to the Cardinal that t' was himself who was downright ignorant or at least a Malicious Accuser and Cowardly Flatterer of the Pope Recher is devested of his Sindic or Headship of the Doctors of the faculty of Paris Injustice was push't to the utmost against poor Richer Some Months after Harlai de Chanvalon Abbot of St. Victor at Paris a Man who according to the Nature of his Family declared for
your most incontestable Right will be soon Vsurped He that attacks me to day will declare himself against you to morrow should a Wise Man stand with his Arms folded when his Neighbours House is on Fire The Advice was wholsom but his Majesty of Great Britain had the Dissatisfaction to hear several Catholick Princes did not dare to read his Apology for fear of giving offence to the Pope A strange Slavery Can Policy or Superstition reduce Princes to so mean a Complaisance to a Bishop who would have great Honour done him in leaving him the first Subject of the Empire Henry IV. of France was as weak as the rest Coeffeteau writes against K. James his Apology He forbid any Translation should be published of that Book which his good Ally had sent him His Care and Orders were ineffectual the Apology appeared in French in spite of him Coeffeteau a Religious Dominican after Bishop of Marseille an Author who successfully began first to give an Elegance and an Agreeable and Neat turn to the French Language Coeffeteau I say was desirous to Signalize himself on this occasion and so enter the List against a King This Man was obliged to speak after the manner used in France and to own the Independance of Sovereigns in regard of their Temporal Concerns But the poor Dominican Embarassed himself terribly Indeed says he to the King of Great Britain If the Catholick Church teacheth this Furious Zeal if she arms her own Children against Kings and puts them on making Attempts against their Lives she is not only unworthy of their Favours but deserves to be Exterminated and her Memory erased by a General Decree of Mankind but if on the contrary she condemns all these Attempts as Parricides if she desires Princes should securely enjoy their Dominions have their Armies Victorious an obedient People a Faithful Counsel and all Happiness that can be desired is not her Greatness Harmless notwithstanding the Rage of some private Persons whom Despair and not Religion has pushed on to Brutality She knows she cannot subsist without the State that she is born in it and the State is her Support The Catholick Church this is a word strangely Equivocal in France If it may be allowed to fignifie a certain Number of the most enlightned and sincere Persons in the Roman Communion the Author I have just now cited may speak Truth But if by the Catholick Church we must understand as is more reasonable its Supreme Pastor the great number of those which fill its chief Dignities its most Famous Writers I very much fear the good Coeffeteau has advanced a Notorious Falshood The Pope and Cardinals gave him the Lye in a very Remarkable manner the very same year he answered King James Barclay had wrote against Bellarmine about the Authority of the Pope and followed the Principles commonly received amongst the better Men of France His Book was Condemned at Rome as well as the Noble History of Mr. De Thou the Famous Argument of Antony Arnaud against the Jesuits and the Sentence it self of the Parlement of Paris against John Chastel who had made an Attempt on the Life of Henry IV. That poor Prince was not yet dead This strange Censure which he endur'd so patiently did it not serve to Animate the Rage of that Wretch who Assassinated him the year following If the pretended Head of the Church of Rome if the Cardinals and the greatest number of its Paftors did not teach this Furious Zeal If they condemned their Attempts as Parricides would they have destroyed so many good Books so Just and so Christian a Sentence Let us then conclude with the Opinion of the Eminent Coeffeteau The Pope and Cardinals deserve to be exterminated and their Memory erased by a publick Decree of Mankind As the Cardinals pretend they are not Inferior to Crown'd Heads Cardinal Pellarmine Addresses to the Emperor and Kings of the Popal Communion his Answer to the King of England's Apology Bellarmine in the same manner Addresses to the Emperor and the Kings who own God for their Father and the Catholick Church for their Mother the Answer which he had some time since made under a borrowed Name to the King of Great Britain's Apology It must not be thought strange says the Cardinal that I undertake to refute a King It is for the Defence of the Faith I have taken my Pen in hand after the Example of divers Prelates of Antiquity Hilary of Poitiers and Lucifer of Cagliari have writ against the Haeretical Emperor Constantius Gregory Narianzen and Cyrill of Alexandria have Encountred Julian the Apostate This did James the first draw on himself from a Priest for turning Controvertist without necessity If he had contented himself with publishing a Manifesto to prove the Justice of the Oath he required of his Popish Subjects he would have embarass'd the Court of Rome and its Advocates But he labour'd to shew the Pope was Antichrist and that Rome is the Seat of the Son of Perdition Was not this a way to please the Sovereigns of the Popes Communion by furnishing them with a pretence for not receiving kindly the Kings Apology and applauding the Cardinals Answer A Deeree of the Parlement of Paris against the Treatise of Bellarmine of the Authority of the Pope The Dispute stopt there Bellarmine set himself to reply to Barclay This Man had refuted what the Cardinal advanced concerning the Authority of the Pope in the first Volume of his Controversies The Magistrates opposed the printing them at Paris and the first Sheets which were work'd of were Suppressed by order of the Solicitor General As soon as they had notice of the New Book which Bellarmine had published of the Authority of the Pope in Temporal Matters Servin Advocate General moved the Parlement to provide against any Mischiefs which the Publication of so ill a Book might cause This Magistrate urged the Duty of his Place obliged him not to be less Diligent or Zealous for the Service of his Master than Peter de Cugnieres and John le Cooq his Predecessors had been the one in the Reign of Philip of Valois and the other in that of Charles the VI. Farther he alledged the late proceedings of the King of Spain and his Officers against that Volume of the Annals of Cardinal Baronius wherein the Monarchy of Sicily is attacked The Chambers meeting upon the occasion of this Remonstrance ordered Cardinal Bellarmines Work to be Supprest let us now see what was done this year in Spain against Baronius An Edict of the King of Spain against the XI Volume of the Ecclesiastical Annals of Cardinal Baronius The Kings of Sicily have for a long time been the only Popes of this little Kingdom By Virtue of a certain Bull which Pope Vrban the Second granted say they to Roger Count of Sicily and his Successors the Sovereign is Legatus Natus or Born Legat of the Holy See His Spiritual Power is so great that he
The primitive Christians did they pretend the Empire to be in the Church She ought to obey God and Sovereigns but Emperors and Kings have none but God above them Thus they thought in the primitive Ages All the World would think still the same if Sovereigns would be instructed in their true Interests and those of the Religion they profess By giving great Riches and Principalities to the Clergy they have given them wherewith they may degrade their Benefactors Matthias having wisht the Empress his Spouse was Crown'd the Ceremony was perform'd two days after Leonard Donato Doge of Venice died almost at the same time Antony Memmi chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato Antony Memmi was Elected in his place the 24th of July and Crown'd the next Morning The Dogate of Donato was famous for the Contest of the Republick with Pope Paul V. who interdicted all the Country of the Seigniory of Venice The Doge and Senate seem'd at first willing to defend courageously the lawful Authority of Sovereigns but when they were come to treat of this with the Pope the Venetians Degenerated from the Vigour and Stedfastness of their Ancestors upon the like occasions They yielded cowardly to almost all the Articles which the Court of Rome required from them except the Reestablishment of the Jesuits who had been gone after the Fulmination of the Interdiction The Society had done much more Mischief in France than at Venice In the mean time being extreamly content to see themselves deliver'd from the good Fathers these Wise Senators Resisted a longer time than France the Solicitations of the Court of Rome for the Reestablishment of their Society During this quarrel with the Pope the Seigniory had forbid the Subjects of the Republick under pain of perpetual Banishment to have any Commerce with the Jesuits or send their Children to studie in their Colleges The same Act was this year renew'd Mercure Francois 1612. upon the account of a Woman of Bresse who was gone to Castilione to live there under the direction of the good Fathers They had Establish't there I can't tell what College of Women and a great many Maids had put themselves into it The Brissan Lady sold the Estate she had in the States of the Republick to Augment this New Foundation but the Senate endeavour'd to stop the Money that arose from the Alienation and caused the Venetian Dames to be recall'd that might have put themselves under the conduct of the Society into the College of Castiglione The Mareschal d'Bouillon's Embassy to England The Mareschal Bouillon was gone extraordinary Ambassador into England and this was to impart to King James the double Marriage and so dissipate all Suspicions and Jealousies which this double Alliance might create in his Majesty Bouillon had a particular design in this Voyage Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 684 685 686. He was minded to Negotiate a Marriage of the young Elector Palatine Nephew of the Mareschal's Lady who was of the House of Orange with the Princess of England Mary of Medicis whom the Court of Rome always made use of for it's own ends had recommended to her Ambassador that he should complain to the King of great Britain for that he had enter'd into a League with the Protestant Princes of Germany against the Roman Religion and to desire his Britannick Majesty to moderate the Rigor of the Laws against the English who were of the Popish Communion The Mareschal had besides express Order to cause King James to Disapprove of the Demeanour of the Reform'd of France in their last Assembly at Saumur but especially to bid him beware of the Duke of Rohan who was the most Zealous of the Protestant Lords Bouillon had already done to Rohan such ill Offices with the Queen of France as he himself was enough dispos'd not to be more favourable to the Duke in the English Court. King James was easily made to believe that France thought of nothing but the General good of Christianity by making this double Allyance with Spain and that the Regent would not less preserve the Amity of Princes and the States Protestants Bouillon endeavour'd at last to make his Majesty understand that the Pope would not use violent means against the Protestants and that he intended only to Convert them by Preachments and the good Examples of the Clergy The Mareschal laid hold on this occasion to insinuate into the King the Regent's Complaints for that he had enter'd into the Protestant League of Germany and the entreaty that Mary of Medicis made him in favour of the English Papists I don't know whether this good Prince was enclin'd to believe what the Ambassador had told him concerning the good Intentions of the Pope Whatever the Matter was James answer'd that the Protestants lookt only to the Reciprocal Defence of the States of the Confederate Princes and that Religion was not concern'd in it As to the English who were of the Roman Communion his Majesty protested he willingly would let them be at Rest as soon as they could give certain Assurances of their Fidelity and Obedience Bouillon sent this into France and then Villeroy imparted it to the Nuncio as a great Secret The Regent press'd Vbaldini to make his Master acquainted of it Subjoyning that she would write of it to Breves her Ambassador to the end his Holiness might find some Expedient to content the King of Great Britain Memoires de la Regence de Mary de Medicis When they came to speak touching the Matters of the Reformed Churches in France James was not altogether so Tractable The Duke de Rohan held a great Correspondence with Henry the King 's Eldest Son This was a very hopeful Prince he shew'd a Zeal little common to Persons of his Age for the good of the Protestant Religion Never did the Roman People so much love Germanicus as the English lov'd this Prince of Wales and the Father perhaps was not much less jealous of the Applauses they gave his Son than Tiberius was of old jealous of the Reputation of him whom Augustus made him adopt Rohan had gain'd over a Gentleman of the Ambassador's Retinue This secret Friend of the Duke was to instruct his Britannique Majesty with the truth of all which pass't in France Insomuch as the King was well prepared whenever he was spoke to concerning the Assembly at Saumur If the Queen your Mistress reply'd he to Bouillon will break Acts agreed to the Protestants of her Realm I don't pretend that the Alliance I have made and confirm'd with France ought to hinder me from succouring and protecting them When my Neighbours are Attack't in a Quarrel that respects me Natural Law requires that I should prevent the Mischief which may arise from thence Believe me Monsieur Mareschal said the King you must be Reconciled to the Duke of Rohan I will let him know 't is my desire that you live friendly together Would to God King James
who fain'd to talk of the Count of Spain that his most Christian Majesty had so good Intentions for the House of Mantua as he would never fail to take it into his Protection and Oppose with the force of his Arms those who should undertake to offer violence to his near Relations Charles Emanuel well understood this Discourse concern'd him more than it regarded the Spaniards He then laying aside his ordinary Dissimulation answer'd frankly that he hop't from the Equity of the King and his Mother Queen their Majesties wou'd not take it â—…l if he maintain'd in case he was forc't â—…'t the Right of his Children to the Estates of the House of Mantua My Daughter is big with Child proceeded he â—…nd don't we know but that she may be â—…rought to bed of a Son Be it what it will â—…he Princess Mary is the undoubted Heiress â—…f Montferrat If the House of Gonzaga â—…ill do any Injustice to the Mother or Daughter am not I in a necessity to take their Inâ—…rests I can't be perswaded that his most â—…hristian Majesty whom I have always â—…erv'd the best t' was possible for me would â—…rotect upon this occasion Persons who would â—â—ke away Mine and my Childrens Rights Whatever comes on 't if Men fail to do Juâ—â—ice we shall have Recourse to the Soveâ—â—ign Judge of the World and we trust he â—…ill be favourable to us Such is the Lanâ—…uage of Princes when they are going â—â—on unjustifiable Actions Geffier Resiâ—…ent from France at the Court of Savoy â—â—d Orders to speak more positively to â—â—e Duke and declare to him that the â—â—areschal Lesdiguieres should have an â—…rmy ready to march forward into Italy as soon as there should be any Attempt against the House of Mantua which the Crown of France took under its Protection The French being gone to Mantua to make his Complements of Condolence in behalf of the King of France and the Queen his Mother to the Cardinal upon the Death of the late Duke gave the same Assurance by the Queen's Order This did not a little serve to secure Ferdinand whom these Affairs had put into great perplexity The Popes Conduct in the Affairs of Mantua He was to expect some Succours from the Pope whose chief Interest is to maintain peace in Italy but the fearful and interessed old Man acted but weakly in this matter However urgent Breves the French Ambassador at the Court of Rome was with Paul V. for to stir him up to prevent the Troubles which this Controversie might raise in Italy Siri Memorie recondite To. III. pag. 16 17 c. no other answer could be got from him than that the Queen of France ought to press thâ—… Catholick King to send a precise Order to the Governor of Milan not to bacâ—… the Pretensions of the Duke of Savoy The Pope secretly gain'd over by the Spaniards to whom he was wholly devoted and who at first flatter'd themselves oâ—… making an Advantage of the Ambition 〈◊〉 Charles Emanuel had Counsell'd the Cardinal of Mantua to send the Mother and Daughter to Milan And when it was propos'd to him to take them both to Boulogne under the Care and Protection of the Holy Chair he excus'd himself of this for that Charles Emanuel had no confidence in him At length Breves having told Paul that it was however expected from his love for the common good of Italy that he should oppose his Spiritual and Temporal Arms against the Duke of Savoy in case he attempted to attack with open Force the Cardinal of Mantua the Pope answer'd in General Terms that he would follow the Dictates of his own Conscience and do as God should inspire him an usual Evasion of these Gentlemen who hearken to their Interests and Passions more than to the Voice of the Holy Spirit Pope Paul spoke with more Sincerity when in Reference to this same Affair of Mantua he said that he would not meddle with the concern of Princes who had no regard for his Authority and such indeed are the Sentiments of the great Personages who are of the Popes Communion They all of 'em know that this is but Usurpation Deceit and Pageantry yet in the Interim I cannot understand by what politick Interest all these Princes who are under the Popes Obedience keep still in with him These imagine whether it be good or bad that his Authority is necessary to them upon certain occasions and the Court of Rome crafty to make an Advantage of their so beneficial prejudicate Opinions think that they are quit with 'em if from time to time they wipe off and connive at some disdainful Aspersions whilst they can preserve their Revenues and a Spiritual Power over the Ignorant and Superstitious People without which the Pontifical Chair could have no long continuance or Duration The States of Venice stand by the Cardinal of Mantua The Venetians upon this Occurrency were less Fearful and more Wise than the Pope for these able States-men foresaw too well the Consequences of the Affair of Mantua and easily discover'd where the Artifices of the Duke of Savoy drove at The Senate therefore took particular care to encourage Cardinal Ferdinand and gave him the best Advice for not to suffer himself to be surpris'd unawares Nani Hist Veneta Lib. I. 1613. The Republick did moreover Negotiate very effectually both at Vienna and at the Court of France to persuade those Princes to oppose the secret Designs of the Spaniards and the undertakings of Charles Emanuel Matthias the Emperor did as much instruct his Kinsman the King of Spain as any other Prince in Europe and the Cardinal de Clessel kept him in this Jealousie Being both perswaded that the Spaniards design'd rather to Ruine than to Support the Authority of the Emperor in Italy Upon this account Matthias did not make any difficulty to chuse the Cardinal of Mantua for the Guardian of the Children of the late Duke and to dispense with his Age he not being old enough according to the Common Laws to be their Guardian Ferdinand Cardinal of Gonzague takes upon him the Title of Duke of Mantua At length after Three months pretence the Dutchess Margarita declared she was not with Child and Ferdinand de Gonzague took the Quality of Duke of Mantua The Prince of Piedmont came to fetch his Sister and Conduct her to Turin Isabella of Savoy another Daughter of Charles Emanuel Married to Caesar d'Este Duke of Medena came also to Mantua that so she night have a meeting with the Prince of Piedmont her Brother and the Dutchess Margarita her Sister This was a new â—…ontrivance of Charles Emanuel The Marriage of the Cardinal Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I 1613. Siri Memorierecondite Tom. III. p. 52 53 54. c. Duke of Manâ—…ua was thought a proper expedient to â—…ompose all Differences 'T was proposed â—…nd Ferdinand did not seem very averse to 〈◊〉 Margarita thought by shedding a few Tears 't would be easie