tempests wherewithall we all thought wee should haue beene vtterly confounded A cursed doctrine which whether it bee written or spoken in publike or secret there is not any one touch thereof which hath not beene as the point of a dagger at our heart The King by his warres labors and victories had reestablished with France all Christendome had obliged all Princes and people the two third parts of the world had the Lilies grauen in their hearts and thought themselues interessed in his prosperity France being in flourishing estate neuer saw her selfe in better case to succour her friends her Prince was of immortall valour of an admirably strong complexion whose felicity did dazell the eies of all his enemies when the Princes of Germany most strictly allied vnto this crowne did instantly desire her helpe and protection against the oppression of the house of Austria to which the Iesuits are most deuoted our King had not omitted any exhortation or perswasion whatsoeuer to remoue the warre and to cause that the matter in question should be handled and decided in any other maner knowing better then any other that necessity alone can iustifie the armes of Christians against Christians and being not beleeued he prepared for the liberty of Germany such succours as his conscience his honour and his duty could not haue denied But willing before his departure to giue vnto France and vnto all the world the contentment of the coronation of the Queene a Princesse crowned and adorned with all vertues in the very height of our best estate of our greatest content Extrema gaudij luctus occupat ioy and sorrow lead one another by the hand the King passing through the middest of his most affectionate City amongst his most faithfull seruants glorious in maiestie was stroke in the side with a knife of the same temper that those of Clement Barriere and Chastell were of his heart was presently in a swound stifled in his blood what are there to be found any minds so vnnaturall so diabolicall as to conspire as to attempt the death of a Prince so behouefull so amiable vnto his subiects so equitable vnto his neighbors so necessarie for all Christendome There was not time enough to bring him backe to the Louure before his eies were setled in his head his lips pulled vp within his flesh his blood clotted like ice in his beard can we thinke on it a quarter of an houre without pulling out our heart he which filled all with his power this soule of the world this masterpeece wonder of nature this valiant warlike hand falleth and is taken from vs without any other warre then that of this doctrine by the hand of the most hideous most cruell and most fearefull monster that euer was vpon the earth by a more then hellish and infernall furie Let any man reade the confessions of Barriere and of Chastel let them bee confronted with the answeres of this execrable parricide there is not any difference at all betweene them the markes of this doctrine doe visibly appeare therein That the King was a tyrant and fauoured heretickes against the will of the Pope who was God vpon earth that the Preachers had sufficiently explained the cause which had moued him to doe it Stupide and blockish fellow it is true and why should it be dissembled in all other points concerning this subiect he had subtilties and euasions and was very cunning therein you haue heretofore vnderstood as much Master Iohn Fillesac a worthy Curate of the Parish of Saint Iohn Master Philip de Gamache the Kings Professor in diuinity another Israelite Coeffeteau heretofore Prior of the Iacobines all diuines of great merite can witnesse it and hee of their owne companie who confessed him better then any other who put him in minde of his conscience and bad him take heed of accusing those who were innocent Alas you were a thousand times more secure you Emperors and Kings enemies of Christians who amongst the greatest persecutions which the Church endured in the middest of the great and frequent martyrs which suffered by your authority and commandement haue seene no other weapon nor defence then that of praier of orisons of praise and thanksgiuing but that of teares as Gregory Nazianzene witnesseth without that any of those who truly adored Iesus Christ yea in the hottest of all their torments and persecutions once thought either in word or deed I doe not say to make any attempt vpon your persons but to be the cause of the least trouble or least commotion of your Estate O Gospell of peace doctrine of sweetnesse and charitie to what vse are you emploied what aduantage is giuen to Infidels and miscreants to continue their hate against the Church in stead of louing it what coales of Gods diuine vengeance do you pull vpon your heads O France how farre different was the censure of your innocent schoole the yeeres immediatelie precedent when your King Henry the 2 vpon the selfe same subiect and to deliuer Germany from the vsurpation which Charles the fift would haue made vnder colour of religion did leade sixtie thousand French men all Catholiques euen vnto the Rhene and so farre that he made him giue ouer his booty can we learne out of the history of any one Diuine in those daies or one subiect which thought himselfe lesse obliged vnto his Prince or which bare him lesse affection for that cause And yet 6. yeeres before our very doctors of Sorbonne had framed articles for the condemnation of the heresie of the Lutherances inserted into the body of our ordinances and vpon the which the Councell of Trent laid the principall foundation of the resolutions concerning that doctrine but the schoole of the Iesuits had not yet taught nor published that Kings might be deposed vpon any secret intention or presumption He whom God had most visibly exalted who did obscure the memory of the most fortunate and happy Monarchs the most pretious and sacred person of all Christendome to whom the holy Sea was beholding for the tranquillity it enioyeth the holy father for his quiet and repose he who had renounced the safetie of his owne to endeare you vnto him who made the clemency of his iustice to triumph in fauour of you receaued so ill a recompence for his bounty and goodnesse by your doctrine a doctor of the Church said that it was in the power of God to pardon a Virgin defiled but not to restore her to her virginity euen so fareth it with your fidelity and allegeance towards Princes after you haue once made your vowes vnto your Generall The inspirations and visions with which these vndertakers say the are possessed are they not the inuentions and subtilties of this doctrine for to corrupt and peruert the mindes of men and to transforme the dispositions of their vnderstanding and will to the end that the fantasie and apprehension which they haue taken may the more easily be so imprinted in their imagination that they may neuer
but there where they were then established by appointment of their letters without expresse permission of the King and particularly within the iurisdiction of this Parliament except onely in the Townes of Lyons and Fleche which they being not willing presently to thwarte nor openly to band themselues against the Vniuersity of Paris whom they knew to bee in the particular protection of this great parliament whose Iustice the brighter it shineth the lesse they dare behold it they haue circumuented the accustomed weakenesse and folly of the simple people vpon which foundation they build their most firme dessignes and by the establishment of one or two and forty Colledges which they haue in the Townes of this Realme in stead of twelue or foureteene which they had in former times haue imagined that cutting off and diuerting the streames which runne into this great riuer they would wholy dry it vp And there is no doubt but that the Vniuersity hath thereby felt a great impayring and that they had conceiued such an opinion of the successe that they already gaue out that men tooke notice of their worth and that they were esteemed necessary that the Vniuersity sought them and offered them the Colledges of Plessis du Mans and of Cholets to ioyne them to that of Clermont they reported vnder hand that the City of Paris should come to that passe at length that it should giue them the Colledge of Nauarre or that any other should be built them as large as that But God would that the smoke of these ostentations should doe no hurt but to the eyes of the Iesuites and that the fruit and contentment of their reuenge hath fallen out otherwise then they expected for they confesse that the Vniuersity remaining as it doth without admitting or receiuing them into it their other Colledges cannot long continue and that their designes for the instruction of youth wil be well nigh fruitlesse and to no purpose whereunto in as much as they are stirred vp with the desire of rule and by the consideration of that greatnesse to which they aspire not being able to be withheld by the force of the lawes of our Vniuersity by the authority of your decrees nor the conditions of their reestablishment we are constrained to discouer one of the mysteries of their ambition Although that the Iesuits greatly wronging learning doe mangle and diuersifie the ancient authors that they are altogether ignorant in the secret of the tongues yea that in the Colledges where they account themselues setled and established to continue as in Italy and in Sauoy they do altogether contemne them and reade no other books but such as are composed by those of their own society notwithstäding the reputatiō of learning is highly esteemd the which they can neuer vsurpe nor adde vnto their trophies as long as the Vniuersity continueth without Iesuites Ammianus Marcellinus writeth that it was sufficient for the Physitians of his time in recommendation of their knowledge to haue studied in Alexandria so it addeth vnto the merit of any man be he neuer so learned to haue studied in Paris the strangers euidently shew it in seeking the alliance of the Vniuersity of Paris to grace their schooles as that of Pauia called her selfe as Crantzius writeth her daughter that of Milan her sister as witnesseth Paulus Iouius in the life of one of the Galeaces Besides this reputation of great importance which can giue or take from them the choice of the best wits they cannot manage the instruction of youth according to their minde any where else as well as at Paris the seat of the Empire the place where the royalty resideth whereon the eyes of France are set the residence of the great soueraigne assemblies no where out of Paris is there such ciuilitie out of Paris little experience is to be learned in affaires elsewher the course of the world is not knowne To conclude it is the braine of the body of this estate if they cannot possesse this part their hope is halfe frustrated First because that imploying for the instruction of the youth of other Cities men of little vnderstanding which had more need to be taught then to teach and being constrained to keepe the most able and sufficient they haue to make shew and muster withall the children doe not onely not profit by them but neither are they able to discharge what they haue vndertaken so that the assurance which they giue out of their lectures failing the Vniuersity should be replenished as shee doth begin with schollers which they retaine with all their might Secondly instructing the youth out of Paris vsually and most often the best wits doe leaue them and escape their hand then when hauing gotten more knowledge their iudgement is augmented they are diuerted by a quite contrary instruction vnto theirs so that their haruest neuer commeth to perfection for to confirme and settle their doctrine and institution they must alwaies haue their eye vpon their scholler whom they themselues doe fashion and inure to affaires of the world so that he taketh nothing in hand but by their aduise direction and order and hee must yeeld them an account of what he doeth they neuer let loose the bridle after they haue ingaged him in some matter which concerneth his particular interest and they haue long time had experience that by meanes of the bringing vp of the children of those of Paris they know the secrets of houses they gouerne the hearts and wils of those who commit vnto their trust that which they hold most deare a great augmentation of their power Another reason yet more weighty and of greater force is this The Kingdome of France hath at all times had the Colledge of Sorbonne in singular reuerence and estimation founded by our good King Saint Lewes it honoreth her resolutions and the consciences of men doe willingly submit themselues to her decrees the French Church taketh great assistance from the authority thereof which is so much the more legitimate by how much the more it is very ancient deriued by tradition from our fathers vnto vs accompanied with all sufficiencie learning and piety the Iesuites would haue gotten an absolute victory if they could haue ruinated this fortresse of the French Church and of our beliefe they should be without feare of euer seeing either their doctrine or the bookes of their society condemned or controlled It is not then succour or ayde which the Iesuits seeme to offer the Vniuersitie but to speake properly they seeke her ouerthrow and with what face dare they maintaine that our doctors are defectiue and faulty Gamaches du Val le Clerke Ysambert Hennequin doe instruct so faithfully and plainely that by learned lectures the schoole of the Sorbonne hath her exercises continually replenished with fiue hundred daily Auditors For instruction in humane learning there are as sufficient as euer there were Marsille Morel Bourbon Granger Hardiuiliers and others the least of whom hath more knowledge and
de petit Pont a famous doctor of our Vniuersity Let vs adde consequently vnto this recommendation that of the Popes Honorius the third Innocent the fift Vrban the sixth who haue said that Paris was as the neuer dried source whence the riuer of science did flow which watered continually the Church of God and the instruction of all Christendome And it is fiue hundred yeeres agoe that the Vniuersitie of Paris might boast of this high stile of honor which aduanceth her aboue all the Schooles in the world Studium Parisiense fundamentum ecclesiae What more honorable testimony can there bee then that which is read in the Registers of the Vniuersity that in the yeere three hundred seuenty eight the Church being afflicted with a great Schisme the sacred Colledge of Cardinals Apostolica sede vacante did solemnlie inuite the Vniuersitie of Paris to contribute to the good of the Church for to defend her from intrusion In the yeere foure hundred and ten another Schisme hauing giuen occasion of assembling the Councell of Constance the Doctors of the Vniuersity of Paris and amongst others Mr Iohn Gerson which was Chancellor thereof named the thrice Christian doctor in honour of the thrice Christian King which had sent him by their learning made knowne that the Vniuersitie of Paris was the mother and Nurse of all good and holy institution that shee had conserued the puritie of Theologie mainteined the Episcopall dignitie had alwaies opposed her selfe against strange doctrines nouelties and superstitions Which hath made men to conceiue so reuerent an opinion of the Vniuersitie of Paris that from all the quarters of Europe yea from the Court of Rome it selfe her aduise and resolutions haue been sought for and preferred to that of other Schooles To conclude be it spoken to the praise of the Catholique Church the Vniuersity of Paris hath made the Church of France to florish aboue all particular Churches of the world in token whereof the Popes Clement the sixth and Pius the second would solemnly giue notice of their elections vnto the Vniuersity of Paris and the last of these two witnessed that at the pursuite and authority of the Vniuersitie of Paris he was moued to defend the Councell of Basil So may we say that the tree of this doctrine planted so long since hath produced so good fruit that there is not any one which hath frequented strange nations who will not say but that the deuotion of France and principallie of the City of Paris surpasseth that of all other people which it may bee is more in outward shew but as different from that of ours as the shadow from the substance As the Vniuersity of Paris hath been religiously deuoute so hath shee neuer wanted the respect and obedience towards our Kings her protectors and withall her power hath conserued the royall rights against all vsurpations Our histories doe iustifie that the Vniuersity hath alwaies couragiously opposed her selfe against all attempts vpon the power of Kings against the abuses which are committed contrary to the holy decrees and constitutions of Counsels hath held great authority in the assemblies of the Gallicane Church for to maintaine the liberties of the same witnesse the appeale brought by the Vniuersity of Paris and maintained in this Court against Pope Benedict the cleuenth who would haue leuyed tenths vpon the Clergy of France whence occasion was taken in a diffamatory libell which was then published against the King and the Clergy of his Realme to quarrell particularly with the Vniuersity which appeale the Vniuersity did reiterate in the time of Lewes the eleuenth from the buls decreed coÌ„cerning benefices electiue Vpon this subiect we see so many oppositions framed by the Vniuersity of Paris against the power and faculties of the Legats sent into France as against that of the Cardinall of S. Peter ad vincula and of Cardinall Ballue wherein the Vniuersity did summon Mr Sollicitor generall named then de saint Romain to assist her which made an ancient French author to write that the Vniuersity of Paris was the key of Christendome the most carefull promotresse of the rights of the Gallicane Church Also our Kings haue especially cherished her for it is read that shee accompanied the King returning in triumph from the battaile of Bouines and it is a thing remarkeable that King Philip the Long hauing assembled the estates of his Realme and the Vniuersity all others did sweare fidelity vnto the King as soueraigne onely the Vniuersity did not sweare at all as Mr Giuinner hath obserued in the preface to the Pragmaticke sanction because that by her instruction we learne to breath with the aire of France fidelity towards our Prince and loue to our Countrey and who knoweth not the praise which the Vniuersity of Paris bare away from the mouth of Pope Pius the second hauing vnderstood by the Cardinall Bessarion that shee had hindered her schollers from being inrolled in the troopes of those This was in the time of Char'es the 7. who made the publique weale a pretext of their rebellion Vpon this consideration Dumesnil the King his Atâ—urney generall whose memorie can neuer die said that the Vniuersity of Paris was receiued to pleade in this Court not only in her particular causes concerning her priuiledges but also in causes which concerne the publique estate of this Realme The Vniuersity of Paris is composed of foure facuities the first is of Diumity which beareth away the prize and hath the aduantage aboue all the rest this is that science which treateth of eternall things which lifteth a man vp in spirit vnto the heauens which teacheth the saluation of mankind the reunion of the creature to his Creator To the study of the faculty of Theologie of Paris is attributed the perfect and diuine inuention of the schoole diuinity held in the Romane Church to be the infallible rule whereby to iudge of the mysteries of faith and of religion the subiect for which the learning of this schoole is so much admired The second faculty is of those who handle the knowledge of the Lawes who are to teach that which Aristotle saith is the most diuine thing amongst men that is to giue good counsell in affaires and directions in pollicies The third is of Phisitians which haue care of the health of the body the last of the Arts which laieth open the treasures of humane learning of the tongues and of Philosophy If that our diuinity hath had the honor for puritie the knowledge of the law of not being equalled our Phisicke to surpasse all others the last which is as the seed and nursery of the former hath the testimonie of the most eloquent Italians of our age who confesse that they haue learned of the Masters of the Vniuersity of Paris the purity of the Latine and of the other tongues which yet at this day are not to be found any other where so perfect Now as the estate of the Church Vniuersall is secular so the Vniuersity of
Chapter of Deuterno that God did expresly forbid that a vineyard should be plāted of diuers kinds of plants to mixe woollen and linnen together to sow a fielde with diuerse seedes The nouelty of the institution of the Iesuites societie their doctrine different from that of the Church and from the Theologie of our schoole the which neuer swarued nor went out of the eclipticke line of truth yea diameter-wise and directlie opposite and contrary to the authority of free Monarchies hath beene the cause that our ancestors haue earnestly withstood the receiuing of the Iesuites and that the schoole of Sorbone then furnished with the greatest and most famous doctors of Christendome the greatest part whereof were assistant at the Councell of Trent made that famous decree of the yeere 1554. which conteineth a prophesie of the miseries which were felt sithence and endured presages God for our chastisment hath ratified so that the ineuitable necessity in which the enterprises and imprudent passions of the Iesuites doe ingage vs the extreme perill which they haue brought our Countrey vnto cannot but vntie our tongue although we should haue been mute and tongue tyed all our liues for to performe the same duty againe at this present guided by the light of those to whom we would take it for a speciall grace to be resembled either for sufficiency or honesty not being able to faile vpon this occasion to discharge our consciences for the honor and preseruation of the publique weale and for the aduancement of truth vnlesse we will bee thought more zealous to our owne ruine then affectionate to our safety Wherein as our intention is to take the same decree of our schoole for the rule and measure of this demonstration which the Iesuites could neuer procure to be censured at Rome where our deuotion is knowne and where it is not yet out of memory what opposition was made there as well as here at the establishment of the Iesuites which had preuailed had it not beene in regarde of their fourth vow so we will begin with the same protestation which the diuines of Paris then made in which we desire to liue die and for the good of the Catholike Church and of the holy Sea would confirme it with our blood that wee haue no desire to enterprise any thing either in thought word or deed against the authority of our holy fathers the Popes But contrariwise all of vs in generall and each of vs in particular like obedient children doe acknowledge the holie father to be the Vicar of our Lord Iesus Christ the vniuersall Pastour of the Church to whom God hath giuen fulnes of power therein his decrees and constitutions are to be obeyed and reuerenced kept and obserued and as the Vniuersity and schoole of Paris had neuer other beliefe so now doth shee openlie pronounce it with her heart and with all true affection Our Vniuersity together with all Christian people hath reason to take offence and scandall at the vsurpation which the Iesuites haue made vpon the holy name of Iesus in attributing particularly vnto themselues this speciall and incommunicable name which cannot bee giuen for a marke and distinction amongst Christians but is a name of effect and of office which apportaineth vnto none but to the Sauiour of the world neuerthelesse as if the Iesuites in a kinde of analogie or proportion could doe something in the Church like vnto that they would make men belieue that their society is essentially necessary for the Catholique religion that without them it cannot subsist they say that they were chosen by the diuine prouidence for a rule and reformation in these latter times Ad silentium tumidis magisterijs imponendum defectus aliorum corrigendos supplendos To suppresse and put to silence the haughty doctors and to supplie and correct the defects of other men As Ozorius hath written in his second sermon vpon the death of father Ignatius applying vnto their society the dreames and vaine fancies of the Abbot Ioachim condemned by the Church Whereuppon it followes that they submit all that which concerneth the honor of God or the good of the Catholike religion to the particular interest of their society and repute all those for heretikes which doe not follow their diuelish opinions and concurre with them in their subtilties and cunning practises This is the reason that Ribadenera writeth that Ignatius Loiola framed his religion by reason that all the rest were defectiue whence it proceedeth that by the Bulles of Pope Pius the fifth and sixth they haue gotten by way of preuention all the graces indulgences faculties and priuiledges which can be found euer to haue beene granted to any Antehac concessa concedenda A testimony that their ambition is not yet at the point where they will stay In their institution they haue wholy derogated from the discipline of the Church and from all the ancient Canonicall constitutions it may be truly saide as the decree of the Sorbonne hath already pronounced that they haue built and raised themselues vpon the ruine and decay of monasticall discipline All the religious men which since the time of our Sauiour Christ haue chosen a kinde of life speciall and different from that which is ordinary and common to all Christians haue made immutable vowes taken markes whereby to be discerned stedfast immoueable and perpetuall rules The law of God doth command that that which is dedicated and consecrated vnto God by the sanctification of a solemne vow should remaine for euer assured and setled in that estate which is the highest degree of perfection that can bee imagined whence it commeth to passe that in things inanimate and without life wee cannot make that which is sanctified perseuering in his integrity to be vnhallowed and loose the force of his consecration Farre greater reason then is it that a man vowed dedicated consecrated vnto God should not loose this essentiall quality and inseparable from the subiect Saint Thomas setting downe the difference betweene a simple Vow and a solemne vow as that of entring into religion is teacheth vs that the solemnity of a vow consisteth in the consecration of him which is vowed Quando per certaeregulae professionem relicto saeculo abdicata propria voluntate perfectionis statum assumit When by taking vpon him the profession of a certaine rule or Order forsaking the world and renouncing his owne will and affections he doeth assume the estate of perfection which all the Diuines hold cannot be abandoned nor forsaken without Apostasie The Iesuites at the entring into their order do make a solemn vow between the hands of their superior and a solemne profession to liue according to the rules of their society the which are of Obedience Pouerty Chastity notwithstanding by permitting as they doe those of their order to change their forme and manner of life to possesse goods and riches to succeed their ancestors as heires and at a need to marry as many of
of them then when father Claude Matthew shewed at Rome the memories and remembrances for the hastning and aduancing of our miseries and troubles and they hauing proceeded so cunningly that of 37. Bulles which they haue obteined they neuer shewed any but those which least seemed to fauour them because they would not discouer the great recompences which they receiue for endeuouring to bring the Papal dignity to this height that there should be nothing either in the spiritualty or temporalty which should not become subordinate vnto it excepting only their Generall for the better effecting whereof their Bulles containe in them absolution from all excommunications which they might incurre a iure vel ab homine to the end that no respect of duty or of any obligation whatsoeuer might retaine and withhold them in setting forward this businesse And as the Iesuites in excuse of themselues alleadge that they were not the first authors of this absolute power Otho Frisingensis hauing obserued that it began vnder Gregorie the 7. vpon occasion of the inuestitures and was continued vnder Gregorie the 9. so are we to admire the sage prouidence of the Almighty who preserued in the schoole of Sorbonne founded about the same time the treasure of the truth contrary vnto that which the Iesuites propose vnto vs as the first and chiefe article of our faith The schoole of Paris hath alwaies taught that the primacie of Saint Peter and his successours Popes of Rome is by the law diuine in honor and reuerence whereof the Church antiquity the Christian Princes haue granted and attributed vnto the holy Sea many great priuiledges prerogatiues which are by the law humane that Iesus Christ immediatly after him and proportionably sending forth his Disciples and Apostles gaue vnto them all equally and indiuidually the power of the keies and that this mission is a reall conferring of power and iurisdiction euen as all the members of a naturall body although they are inequall in dignity doe proceed immediatlie from nature by reason whereof the estate of the Church is Monarchicall tempered with an Aristocraticall gouernement of Bishops and Priests as it were a Senate the most free and perfect estate which that can be imagined Whence it ariseth that the certaine and infallible authority for the resolution of points of religion doth reside in the whole Church and not in the head alone that by reason hereof Councels are necessarie for the gouernment thereof the conclusion of whose decrees and Canons by reason of the plurality of voices the Pope himselfe is bound to obserue without being able to dispence therewithall but in case where the Church being assembled in councell would haue giuen dispensation namely where it concerneth the good of the vniuersall Church and not of particulars which is the solide foundation whereon the liberties of our Church of France are grounded Hence it ariseth likewise that the decrees Buls censures and excommunications of the Popes yea the Bull in coena Domint and the counsell of Trent as farre as they concerne the ciuill gouernment do no way binde nor may be executed before they haue beene first approued receiued and published by the Councell and Aristocraticall order of the Ordinaries of the places which ought to put them in execution and cause them to be obserued that the sacred elections which succeeded the mission and vocation immediatlie made by our Sauiour Christ do appertaine vnto the Church both by the law of God and nature as it appeareth in the 1. and 6. Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles by the counsels of Nise and Basil and by the ordinances of our King S. Lewes and Charles the seuenth That the Pope is the dispensator and Steward and not Lord of benefices that he cannot trouble the ordinaries in their functions nor depriue them of their benefices without lawfull cause and without the Counsell of the Church according vnto that which Saint Gregorie hath written and is inserted in the bodie of the Canon law can ecce dist 99. and S. Bernard lib. 3. de consideratione cap. 4. and Gersson in his booke of the Ecclesiastical power consid 12. and in the treatise which hee hath made concerning the Estates of the Church Contrartwise the Iesuites teach that it suffiseth not to beleeue that the primacie of Saint Peter is by the law of God but that for a more accomplished gouernment of the Church we must acknowledge a Monarchicall vniuersal absolute and infallible power ouer all Christians yea in that which concerneth the temporalty for to giue them lawes and directions yea in Ciuil matters no otherwise then doth the reasonable soule rule the body and affections of man this is the doctrine of Cardinall Bellarmin in his booke de Rom Pontifice of Salmeron in his fourth Tome and the third part the fourth treatise explaining that place of Saint Matthew Dabo tibi claues regni caelorum I will giue thee the keies of the Kingdome of heauen of his commentaries vpon the 13 chapter of the Romains and in the fourth disputation of Ludouicus Molina the 2. treatise de iustitia iure the 29. disputation of Azorius in the second part of his morall institutions the 4. book and 19. chapter and of his 21. booke the 3. and 5. chapter of Gregorius de Valentia in his commentaries of Magallianus in the beginning of his commentaries of the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie to which absolute power their principall and most secret vow the first foundation and motion of their institution and Order being tied we haue small reason to doubt but that this is the common and certaine receiued doctrine of all their society They adde moreouer that Iesus Christ hath giuen the keies with all Ecclesiasticall power to S. Peter alone and to his successors for to distribute the same amongst the Apostles Bishops and Priests according as they shal thinke it fit whence it followeth of necessity that the institution of Bishops and Curats is not by the law diuine and that the Church is a pure soueraignty which ought to depend on the will of the Pope alone whereupon the Iesuits found their great power to the preiudice of Bishops Curats and Prelates taking vpon them more authority ouer the flockes of other men then the Pastors themselues And indeed by the Bulles of Gregory the 13. of the yeere 76. and 84. besides that they are exempted from the iurisdiction of all Ordinaries as well secular as regular all command is attributed vnto them and they are constituted to be as it were superintendents in the Church whence it ariseth that they vsurpe vpon the charges of all Ecclesiasticall persons bee it either in administring the sacraments or in any other function whatsoeuer at this day the Penitentiary of my Lord the Bishop of Paris although it be furnished with three most sufficient doctors in diuinity renowned for their integrity yet is it in a manner forsaken abandoned in respect of the Oratory of the Iesuits and the Catholike
Church of England being destitute of Bishops by their monopoly is depriued of the holy sacrament of confirmation Where it is easie to be knowne whether those of the Sorbonne of Paris who haue alwaies mainteined hierarchical order and the dignity of Bishops haue from the yeer 1554. rightly coniectured of their design which is to withdraw from the ordinaries the obedience and subiection due vnto thē if the Iesuits may be sēt forth as Bishops and Curates and by this fulnesse of power haue more authority then the lawfull pastors the Bishops should be but as Vicars destituable at their pleasur S. Paul saith that the power was giuē him not to destroy but to edifie and made scruple to preach the Gospell where Christ should haue bin already preached ne superalienū fundamentū aedificaret Ro. 15. Rupertus interpreting the words of S. Iohn 4. chap Vt cognouit Christus c. saith that the great Mr. of Humility hath taught all the doctors of the Church of the houshold of faith not to intermeddle with nor pester the charges cures one of another although that he were the sun the light it selfe yet he would not manifest himselfe nor shine there where Saint Iohn had first begun to shewe his borrowed light can it be imagined that it is possible to substitute one in the place of the father of the familie with the same power and authority as hee hath to whom nature hath appointed it or as Gerson saith that the ordinarie Pastors which are accountable and answerable before God for their flocke should not haue the guiding and gouernment thereof to conclude that a stranger should haue more priuacie with the wife then the lawfull spouse This is against the aduise of Saint Gregory Non ego honorem esse puto saith he in quo fratres honorem suum perdere cognosco meus namque honor est honor vniuersalis Ecclesiae meus honor fratrum meorum solidus vigor tune ego vere honoratus sum cum singulus quibusque honor debitus non negatur I doe not thinke any honor to bee done vnto mee in that whereby I know that my brethren loose their honour for my honor is the honor of the vniuersall Church my honour is the soliderigour and courage of my brethren then am I truly honored when euery one in particular hath not his due honor and respect denied him Bern. 3. Consid cap. 5. And S. Bernard saith honorū ac dignitatū gradus ordines quibusque suos seruare positi estis nō inuidere You are apointed to preserue maintain the degrees orders of eueryone in his particular place dignity not to enuy them Moreouer the Iesuits doe teach propose and maintaine that the Pope only is infallible the celebration of Councels is but for decencie onely vt facilius canones recipiantur That the Canons may bee more willingly receiued that the Synodall resolutions doe depend not only of the will of the Pope but that hee may dispence with them change and abrogate them when hee thinketh good that the sacred elections are neither from the law of God or nature and appertaine only to the Pope Cardinall Bellarmine in the first booke De clericis chap. 8. and that hee may dispose of benefices yea to the preiudice of the Patrons and of those vpon whom they are conferred etiam sine causa yea without any cause the proper tearmes of Emmanuel Sa in verbo Papa That the Buls constitutions censures and excommunications yea the Bull in coena Domini and the Councell of Trent in that which concerneth the ciuill Policie doe oblige the French men in conscience although the French Church neuer gaue consent thereunto nor did euer receiue them Azorius in the 5. booke the 3. chap. of his morall institutions If that the councels doe depend entirely of the authority and approbation of the Pope as they mainteine and the author of the Catholike institution perswadeth when as in reckoning vp those which are legitimate hee omitteth those of Constance and of Basil which can bee vpon no other ground but for want of being approued and allowed by the Popes as Mariana his Colleague hath written it followeth and see the mischiefe they runne headlong into that all the liberties of the French Church founded vpon the authoritie of the Councels are schismaticall since there is an higher ascendent then that of the Councels that the appellations which are interposed vpon this foundation are grosse abuses and are abhominable it followeth moreouer that the sacred elections haue not their beginning from the law of God that the Primitiue Church the Church of France haue beene in an error vntill the concordate King Frances betweene the first and Leo the fift that you my Lords doe vsurpe vpon the greatest part of the iurisdiction which you haue and the iustice which you sincerely exercise which the Councell of Trent attributeth to Ecclesiasticall persons As the doctrine of the Iesuits peruerteth the Hierarchicall order of the Church so doth it annihilate the authority of Princes and of politique lawes and drowneth it in the spirituall power and is herein as opposite and contrary to that which our Theologie doth beleeue as white is vnto blacke nor the sensuall appetite to reason and if that calamities past haue not wholy bereft vs of our memorie we may thinke it to be at this time the miraculous hand of God which when wee least thought vpon it seemed to lay open this occasion not only to make vs see but also feele and touch the cause of our sorrowes The Vniuersitie of Paris teacheth that the spirituall power is no lesse separated from the temporall then heauen is from earth The raigne of the sonne of God and of his Vicar our holy father is not of this world the Church ought not to vse beside the Ecclesiasticall censure and that for lawfull causes and in such forme and manner as is prescribed any other meanes but persuasion and not constraint her proceedings which ought to draw vs to eternall beatitude are simply aduise and direction and not force and rigor that it can in no sort appertaine vnto Ecclesiasticall men to meddle in secular affaires all their intermedling ought to be tied vnto the soule and conscience and their iurisdiction vnto those actions which follow and depend on the administration of the sacraments That by the law of God and nature Kings holding amongst men the highest place next and immediately vnder God haue all politique and ciuil power and that they alone haue power ouer all that which concerneth the temporalty and amongst all Princes of the earth our thrice christian Kings to whom it seemeth that God hath communicated the most liuely markes and representation of his image who doe not auow nor acknowledge that they hold of any one but God alone their scepter and their crowne which he hath had in his speciall protection well nigh from the time that the crowne of the Sauiour of the world
feele his bounty neuer was there more affection in each one to performe his duty more deuotion toward his Prince more grace in particular more hope of future times it seemed that the soules of all Frenchmen loosed out of prison enioyed such a liberty as neuer could bee expected or hoped for There had beene more spent in seeking to dispoile our King of his rightfull inheritance then euer was in making warre against the Turke neuerthelesse all the iniuries which he had receiued from the time of Sixtus the 5. and his successours vntill Clement the 8. could not withold him from discharging the duty of a thrice Christian King from sacrificing al his passions and iust apprehension of the wrongs hee had receiued to the glory of God and the good of his people Thus our King whilest hee liued exalted aboue the most renowned Emperors richer then euer Prince was in the loue of his people had the good will of all his subiects equally and as he was all our hope so was he the terror of all our enemies And that which made the blessing of God entire was that neuer there were so good courses taken and greater successe in the conuersion of those which were out of the Church in priuate there were such mild communications such meetings and endeauors for the honor of God and of the Catholique Church and so visible an operation of the holy spirit that those who were not yet touched were more astonished then greeued or displeased thereat What was the successe of the conference at Fountaine-bleau where the King himselfe was moderator and did giue light vnto others by his example as the light in the middest of the Temple where that learned Prelate that most illustrious Cardinal that minde enriched with immortall graces by his Christian temper did more profit the Catholique religion then ten thousand Iesuits could euer doe by their preaching of fire sword O what victories were there in publike of the greatest wits from whom the holy Sea and all Christendome hath receiued most notable seruices what in priuate and particular of those who wanted rather oportunitie then will The perfection of a man consisteth in the contemplation of the truth there is nothing which so much tempereth the inconsiderate zeale of those who are in an error as to shew them that no other force shall bee vsed vpon their consciences but that of the truth and as the King did earnestly endeauour it hauing established the Catholique religion and made the masse to be celebrated in more then three hundred Townes of his Kingdome where it had not been said in fiue and thirty or fortie yeeres before so did he promise the accomplishmēt of this holy worke in the conuersion of the greatest of his Estate and of his neighbor Princes who suffered themselues to be perswaded both by the force of reason and by the miracle of his example The holy scripture teacheth vs that too curious and nice deuiding causeth schisme the Church hath felt the discommodity thereof too much vniting is the other extremity which threatneth the like inconuenience All the body is not the eie saith the Apostle for then what should become of the hearing and the body is not one member but many God hauing composed the body of such a temperature that he would haue the members to haue care perpetually one of another that which delaieth the conuersion of an infinite company of men separated from the Church although they are satisfied in all other points of the Catholike faith is this absolute power and authority which they cannot brooke this is that which augmenteth their distrust and suspitions and putteth off the reconciliation of many this is the meane whereby the Iesuits haue ouerthrowen the estate of Hungarie made the Turke master of the better part thereof and that the rest is held but at his pleasure this hath troubled Transiluania bred disorder and confusion in Polonia and Sweden without that anie part of the worlde can be free from this trouble These are the profitable seruices which the Iesuits doe vnto the Church who for the establishing of this power and for their particular ambition doe make as small conscience to hurt the best Catholikes as those whom they hold to be separated from the Church that they may verifie a part of the decree of the Sorbonne Multas in populo querelas multas lites aemulationes dissiaia contentiones variaque schismata inducit That it bringeth in many quarrels among the people much strife aemulation discord and contention and diuers schismes not to repeate the example of our last troubles when they would from the beginning abridge King Henry the third a Prince most Catholike of his seruants yea so farre forth as to deny them the holy Communion The schoole of Paris hath felt their calumnie the Cardinall Bellarmin hauing written in the 4. booke de Rom. Pont. chapter 1. 2. that the opinion of the schoole of Paris which doth not auow the absolute and infallible power erat erronea haeresi proxima Nay rather is it not heresie to doubt of the faith of the schoole of Paris It is true that for proofe of his proposition he alleageth a passage of Deuteronomy chap. 17. which I very much grieue that this occasion enforceth to speake it hee hath corrupted for whereas it is in all the editions of the Bibles yea in that which was receiued and imprinted by the commandement of Pope Sixtus the fifth according to the text of the tongues Veniesque ad Sacerdotes Leuitici generis ad iudicem qui fuerit illo tempore quaeresque ab eis qui indicabunt tibi iudicii veritatem And thou shalt come vnto the Priests of the Leuits and to the Iudge that shall be in those daies and shalt enquire of them and they shall shew thee the truth of the iudgement He hath written ad Sacerdotem against the expresse prohibition of the holy spirit which forbiddeth vs to change or diminish any thing from the booke of life The selfe same happened vnto the Author of the Catholike institution the second booke 8. chapter vpon the like subiect where citing the place of Saint Luke chapt 22. Ego autem rogaui pro te Petre vt non deficiat fides tua tu aliquando conuersus confirma fratres tuos But I haue praied for thee Peter that thy faith faile not and when thou art conuerted strengthen thy brethren he transposeth this word aliquando from one period vnto another and writeth Ego rogaui prote Petre vt non aliquando deficiat fides tua abusing this word aliquando for nunquam But they doe not this wrong to the schoole of Paris alone there is no Ecclesiasticall order nor Religion which they haue not gone about publikely to disgrace who knoweth not what their ambition hath cost the Catholique Church of England which they had welnigh vndone in stead of aiding it After the decease of Cardinall Alan the conducting of the English
deuotion toward your holinesse towards the holy Sea shee can neuer faile therein the profession of our schoole remaineth alwaies entire and inuiolable to the Christian saith and to the obedience due vnto the holie Sea and as his succession in the Popedome is not farre distant in time from that of Pope Clement the 8. so let it succeed it in representing his mildnesse and prudence that he will be pleased to cast his eie vpon this society which vnder the pretext of the good of the Church doth point at it one particular greatnes to the which in the end it will vnite that of the Church and they alreadie are not farre from it These are the reasons of the opposition which the Vniuersity proposeth against the letters obtained by the Iesuits founded vpon the soueraign authority engrauen from all antiquity in the brasse of the fundamentall lawes of the French monarchy vpon her particular policy vpon your decrees and vpon her holy and constant doctrine which fasteneth the crowne to the head of kings contrary vnto that of the Iesuits who attribute vnto the Pope a like superiority ouer our kings as ouer the least Priests or his most inferiour Officers vicars yea far greater maketh Kings to be but at wil subiect to be deposed killed foūnded moreouer vpon so many miserable examples which gall vs and make vs feele the smart so particularly that there is not any man who loueth the Estate or Religion which hath not had a feeling and apprehension thereof The instruction of youth is not a matter of small importance in ancient time men had a speciall care thereof next immediately after that of Religion children owe their sife vnto their parents but that they liue well they owe that vnto those who instruct them and he doth no lesse profit the Common-wealth who frameth and fashioneth men well affected to the Estate who nourisheth them vnder the hope of honors and dignities with reuerence vnto the lawes of the Country then he who serueth in greater place with duty and fidelity The Vniuersity of Paris hath hereof loyally and worthily acquited and discharged her selfe these 8. hundred yeeres neuer bound her selfe to any thing whatsoeuer but to the honor of God of her King and to the good of the Church Ill doctrine is easily perswaded and that which is false conformable vnto the darkenesse which enuironneth vs in our corruption there is saith the wise man store of gold and pearles but lips that preserue knowledge that is a rare moueable What father is there which had not rather loose his life honor goods and whatsoeuer hee hath else most deare in this world then to nourish one who shall bee a monster to his Country Haue we not had intelligence within these three weekes of the conference held at Toul in Lorraine amongst men impoisoned with this doctrine disclosed by an Hermite wherein after declaration of their euill minde towards all Catholike Princes it was agreed as granted amongst them that the Iesuits had by their doctrine so cleared these maximes that they ought to be held for ratified and confirmed in stead that they ought to be condemned and punished not only in the effects but in the very deepest and most profound thoughts They offer to submit themselues vnto the Orders of the Vniuersity and demand to be incorporated from the yeere 564. they haue done as much and they are yet to beginne they promised to renounce their vowes faculties Priuiledges yea themselues we haue seene our selues cleane frustrated of this expectation and to be the example of their power and attempts contrarie vnto publike Order in the yeere 1591. they promised not to meddle any more with affaires of Estate it was then that they were most busily emploied in them and embraced the world most greedily they know well how to boast of this science since that they haue written in French that their laie brethren could reade lectures therein to the Chancellour and greatest of Spaine God knoweth whether in Spaine if it be true that the sermons were made there they haue forgotten to enter into cōparison with our greatest magistrats there is not any one condition of their reestablishment which they haue not already transgressed and broken by breues and letters obtained by tricks and vpon aduantages it would be a strange follie in vs nay rather a great crime to bee the first alwaies who are surprised and the last to free our selues to be so often abused and mocked by those who beare two hearts in one breast who for to make their doctrine to be receiued are so audacious as to impose and lay imputations vpon the Apostles themselues and to impute vnto them that lewd vice of cosinage and dissimulation which they vse ordinarily for Bellarmine in his treatise concerning the exemption of Ecclesiasticall men chap. 30. saith that Saint Peter and the Apostles haue preached obedience to the politike magistrate that euery soule should bee subiect vnto the Prince only for to establish thēselues to giue the Gospell passage they will promise and sweare to all conditions since that by their owne proper constitutions they can be bound by nothing to the end that they may make those to be receiued which they would impose by reason of the Pope his absolute authority without the which their society cannot subsist France after the death of her King hath placed her hope in the Queene it is shee that giueth her life and nourishment a Princesse whom strangers admire and the subiect honoreth you haue found all the Princes furnished with great vertues tied with the same band of affection to the good and greatnesse of this Estate This magnificent Court of Peeres the Diall of France which hath alwaies shewed his Meridionall line and the Officers of the Crowne ready to doe their duty and to follow the high waie of honour the Nobility and gentry the Townes and people readie to sacrifice themselues for to perform your commands continue on by your bounty and iustice in making it appeare that these were the Counsels of our late King your husband which gouerned his Monarchy and to cause this liuely picture to be adored in his death that the lawes of the Estate of the King your sonne may remaine by your wisdome so ordered that euery one may therein find his goods his life his honor his conscience in safetie and repose so may the Counsell and prudence of the two great eies of this Estate alwaies watch ouer the affaires perseuere in this beliefe that diuision and ciuill warre is the onelie desolation of this great Empire there is nothing which can disturbe it but these extractors and Alchymists which haue found out the meanes to dissolue all piety the most strong naturall bands of affection they easily can doe it with their seedes and dewes of sermons and confessions and by the precepts of their learning by meanes whereof they can peruert the course of nature altering our essence and reaching