discharge their hands of some of them especially of such as by disgrace or by defect of nature are eyther more backward or lesse lovely then other at an easie and small raâ—e and yet with honorable pretence namely by consecrating them wholy to the service of the Creator and providing higher place for them in his celestiall Kingdome For such is their opinions of these orders of religious and Angelical perfection as they vsually stile them The Friers also themselves having names given them by their governors each according to his merits importing no lesse and as they increase in their holinesse so proceeding in their titles from Padre benedicto to Padre Angelo then Archangelo Cherubino and lastly Cerephino which is the top of perfection but for their owne high conceit of their perfection and merits this example may serve I have heard one of their most renowmed Câ—puchines for zeale sanctitie and learning preaching in a principall place before the Bishop in sharpe reproofe of their forsaken crew of blasphemous gamesters pray solemnly to God though acknowledging himselfe first in humilitie a great sinner by his merits and discipline by the teares which his eyes had often shed by those many sharpe voyages which for the love of God he had made by that chasticement which he had often given himselfe because they did grieve animam pauperis which was himselfe that if there were any notwithstanding his admonitions which should still persist in that wicked gamestry he would strike them ere that day twelvemonth with some markeable punishment The same man at an other time in an extacie of charitie calling God all his Angels and Saints to witnesse it to strip himselfe of all his merits there before the little Crucifix embracing and kissing it and to pray it to reward them vpon his dearely beloved Auditorie for whose sakes hee was contented also to bee reputed the greatest sinner of all the assemblie Such being their perfection then in desiring it must needes issue of an honourable affection Now although Italy being a thirstie Manager doth in his heart greatly repine at a custome which their Nunneries have of late brought vp being indeed constrained to it by the excessive multitude which in the former respect are thrust vpon them which is not receive any gentleman or marchants daughter without the dowry of 200 crownes at least and fifteen or twentie crownes yeerly pension during her life and ten yeerly rent to their house for ever Neither admit they of any mans daughter without some crowns also in name of a dowrie at their spirituall mariage to God and those shal be but seruing Nunnes to the former Yet finding two charges this is farre the easier they are content to swallow downe that which by champing on the bit they can not remedy But the orders of religious men bring them an other ease also It disburtheneth their couÌ„try of an infinite number of discontented humors and dispairing passions whosoever in his deerest loves hath prooved vnfortunate whosoever cannot prosper in some other profession which he hath beene set to whomsoever some notable disgrace or other crosse in estate hath berâ—aved of all hope of ever rising in this world whosoever by his miscariage hath purchased so many enemies as that nothing but his bloud can yeeld satisfaction to their malice All these and many others reduced to like anguish of minde and distresse or otherwise howsoever out of taste with the world have this haven of content alwaies open to flie to when they can find no other place of repose to stand in then resolve they to go Friars as they phrase it yea whosoever by his monstrous blasphemy or other like villany hath deserved all the tortures and deaths in the world if before the hand of Iustice lay hold vpon him he voluntarily professe himselfe a Capâ—â—hine or Hermite or of such like strict order the Pope forbiddeth any further pursuit as thinking his voluntary perpetuall penance sufficient And in this maner is the greatest sort of their gentry Capuchins for so are the most of the order by birth Neither is this religious life save in some very few Orders so severed from the world and the commoditie thereof but that it enioyeth as many contentments as a moderate mind need wish moderate affections can find means also to satisfy them selves at pleasure In summe they are rather discharged of the toilâ—s and cares than debarred of the comforts and solace of this life Neither is there almost so meane a Friaâ— among them that hath not some hope to be Prior of his covent and then perhaps of that resort or province and lastly not impossible that his good fortune may so accompany his merits as to attaine to be the Generall of all his Order And the Generals are as likely to be made Cardinals as any men And finally sundrie of them within the memorie of man have beene advanced from the preheminences of the Cardinals dignitie to the soveraigntie of papall glorie Hope is a sweet and firme conpanion of man it is the last thing that leaveth him and the highest things it promiseth him it maketh all toiles supportable all difficulties conquerable Now the multitude of these Orders and good provision for them being so great an ease to all sorts of men in their private estates as they generally account it It must needs be a great bond of their affection vnto the Papacie vnder which they enioy it as by whom alone those Orders are protected and whom his adversaries do seeke vtterly to exterminate ruine I shall speake little of the particular persons that enter into those Orders who draw thereby their whole race the more to favour that way which in so infinite a number of them must needs be of great moment Against this might be obiected with great reason the inestimable damage which the publike do therby receive as in Italy for example perhaps halfe of the land in many places therof and generally a full third besides their other vailes being appropriated to this sort of people and other persons ecelesiasticall yea and of the people themselves perhaps a quarter of a million at least in that one Countrey having withdrawne themselves thereby from all service of Prince or people or Countrey and confined themselves to their Cloysters life living onely vpon the honie which the toyling Bee doth gather with perhappes an other quarter of a million of an other sect I may erre in both numbers but I ayme as neere the trueth as by coniecture I can proportioning the places where I have not beene with those where I have beene who have abandoned themselves to another trade as idle but more wicked devouring with mens goodes their bodies and soules at once which may be the cause that that countrey though as populous as it can well beare yet commeth manifold waies short of that strength which in former times it hath had either for defence of it selfe or offence of his neighbors yet notwithstanding these
to him not yet what himselfe sayeth 6 The best part of their exercises of Religion are their Sermons wherein much matter both of faith and piety is eloquently delivered by men surely of wonderfull zeale spirite if their interior fervor were correspondent to their outward â—ervencie how beit they are sometimes mingled with so palpable vanitie as besides their other poverties as forced allegories and vnnaturall interpretations wherin they are fervent they have legends of Saints and tales at which children with vs would smile solemnely historized in their Cathedrall Pulpits yet what religiousnesse soever is the peoples mindes may wholy bee attributed to their Sermons whither the better disposed people doe resort This one thing I cannot but highly commend in that sort and order they spare nothing which either coâ—t car performe in inriching or skill in adorning the Temple of God or to set out his service with the greatest pompe and magnificence that can be devised And although for the most part much basenesse and childishnesse is predominant in the maisters and contrivers of their ceremonies yet this outward state and glorie being well disposed doth ingender quicken increase and nourish the inward reverence respect and devotion which is due vnto soveraigne maiesty and power And therefore howsoever some will not be perswaded in it yet in the zeale of the common Lord of all I chuse rather to commend the vertue of an enemy then to flatter the vice and imbecility of a friend 7 But to returne to the Church of Rome and to come to the consideration of their penance and confession out of which so great good is promised to the world and the want thereof so much vpbraided to their opposites I must confesse I brought with mee this perswasion and expectation that surely in this must needes bee a very great restraint to wickednesse a great meanes to bring men to integrity and perfection when a man shal daily as it were survey his actions censure with griefe confesse with shame cure by councel expiate with punishment extinguish with firme intent never to returne to the like again whatsoever had defiled or stained the soule neither doubt I but it had this fruit in the first institution hath also with many at this day yea and might perhaps have bin restored better in reformed Churches to ther primative sincerity theÌ„ vtterly abolished as in most places it is Notwithstanding having diligently searched into the meaning thereof in those parts I finde that as all thinges whereof humane imbecillitie hath the custodie and government fall away decaying by insensible degrees from their first perfection and purity and gather much soile drosse in vsing so this as much as any thing For this point of their religion which in outward shewe carrieth a face of severitie and discipline is become of all others the most remisse and pleasant and of the greatest content to the desolutest mindes the matter being growne with the common sort to this open reckoning What neede wee refraine so fearefully from sinne God having provided so ready a meanes to be rid of it when we list yea and the worser sort will say When wee have sinned we must confesse and when wee have confessed we must sinne againe that we may also confesse againe and with all make work for new indulgences and iubiles making acount of confession as drunkards do of vomitting yea I have knowne of those that carried shew of very devoute persons who by their owne report to excuse their acquaintance in matters criminal have wittingly periured themselves in iudgement only presuming of this present and easie remedy of confession and others of more ordinarie note amongst them who when their time of confessing was at hand would then venture on those actions which before they trembled at as presuming to surfet by reason of the neighborhood of the Phisition which Phisition also himselfe is perhaps more apparantly infected with the noysome disease his patient discloseth then the patient who is not anie way bettered by the connsell which the Phisition giveth But this must be granted to be the fault of the people yet a generall fault is it and currant without controlement howbeit neyther are Priests nor the people to be more excused on their part The Priests will tell the penitent that God is mercifull that whatsoever sinnes the penitent committeth so long as hee continueth in the Church and is not a Lutheran there is good remedie for him And for Penance it consisteth ordinarily but in Ave-maries and Paternosters with Almes-deedes by those that are able and fastings by them that are willing yea I have knowne when the pennance for horrible and open blasphemie besides much other lewdnesse hath beene no other then saying of their Beades thrice over a matter of some houres muttering and which in Italy they dispatch also as they goe in the streetes or as they Pardone aud Indulgences ride or doe their buisinesse at home making no other of it then as it is two lips one fingers work But were the penance by the Priests enioyned never so hard and sharp the Popes plenary pardons sweepe all away at a blow Now of these they have granted and this man especially so huge a nuÌ„ber as that there are few Churches of note in Italy which have not purchased or procured a perpetuall Indulgence by vertue whereof whosoever shall at certaine set yearely daies being confessed and having communicated or as in some pardons having but only an intent to confesse and communicate in time convenient powreth out his devotions before som Altar in that Church and extendeth forth his hands in almes in behalfe therof which clause in al former grants was expressed but is now left out for avoiding of scandale but is still vnderstood and practised accordingly hath forthwith remission of all sinne and punishment yea if the worst fall out that a man be so negligent as to drop into Purgatory at the time of his decease which but by very supine negligence can hardly happen yet few Cities are there wherin there are not one or two Altars priviledged Prodefunctis where for everie Masse a soule is delivered and so a great multitude of Aâ—tisons must needes make their ware cheape I will not heere warble long vpon this vntuneable harsh string neyther will mention perhaps the fourth part of that I have seene much lesse rake old rustie stuffe out of the dead dust and darknesse wherein time and shame hath suffered it to rest onely for example sake and for verifying what I have said I will set downe some of that which is nowe in vse at this day which is printed on their Church doores and proclaymed in their Pulpits 8 In the Ermitanes of Padua their Preachers publish pardon of plenarie indulgence from Baptisme to the last confession with eight and twentie thousande yeares over for the time ensuing The pardon of Alexander the sixt for thirtie thousand yeares to whom soever before the Altar of our
are exceeded by them the Romanist taking a course so fitting to the feeble and fearefull humour of this sort do greatly sway with them wheras if they meet with one of the former of more tough constitution that wil not be carried away with those plausible declamations nor yeeld his consent in grosse without particular examinations they bestow smal cost on him as having small hope to prevaile wherein I holde them wise in the rules of pollicy that having found by certaine and vnfaileable experience that the ignorance of the Laity was the cheefest and surest finewe of their greatnesse and glorie they now beeing not able to keepe them longer in that blinde ignorance doe cunningly endevour so to leade them out of the briars as to enter them withall into a second kinde of ignorance that beeing not content to see vtterly nothing at leastwise they may bee perswaded to resigne vp their owne eye sight and to looke through such spectacles as they temper for them 13 This beeing the maine ground-worke of their pollicie and these the generall meanes to build and establish it in the mindes of all men the particular waies they hold to ravish all mens affections and to fit each humor their iurisdiction power being but perswasive voluntary are wel nie infinit there being not any thing either sacred or prophane no vertue or vice almost no things of how contrary conditions soever which they make not in some sort to serve their turne that each fancy may be satisfied and each appetite finde what to feede on whatsoever eyther wealth can sway with the lovers or voluntary poverty with the despisers of the world what honour with the ambitious what obedience with the humble what great imployment with the stirring mettald spirits what perpetuall quiet with heavy and restive bodies what content the pleasant natures can take in pastimes and iolâ—itywhat coÌ„trariwise the austere mindes in discipline rigor what love either chastity can raise in the pure or voluptuousnesse in the dissolute what alurements are in knowledge to draw the contemplative or in actions of state to possesse the practique dispositions what prerogative of reward can worke with the hopefull what terrors doubts and dangers with the fearefull what change of vowes with the rash of estate with the inconstant what pardons with the faulty or supplies with the defective what miracles with the credulous what visions with the fantasticall what gorgeousnesse of shewes with the vulgar simple what multitude of ceremonies with the superstitious what prayer with the devoute what workes of pietie with the charitable what rules of higher perfection with the elevated affections what dispeÌ„cing with the breach of all rules with men of lawlesse conditions In summe what thing soever can prevaile with any man either for himself to pursue or at leastwise to love reverence or honour in another for therein also mans nature receiveth great satisfaction the same is found with them not as in other places of the world by casualty blinded without order of necessitie but sorted into great partes into severall professions countenaÌ„ced with the reputatioÌ„n honoured with prerogatives facilitated with provisions yerely main tenance and either as the better things advanced with ex pectation of rewards or borne with how bad soever with silent tolleration what pompe what riot to that of the Cardinalls what severity of liâ—e comparable to the Heremits and Capâ—chiâ—s who wealthier then their Prelates who poorer by vow and profession then their Mendic ants on the one side of the streete a Cloister of Virgins on the other a stye of Curtezans with poblique permission to day all in maskes with all loosenesse and foollery to morrow all in processions whipping themselves till the blood follow vpon one doore an excommunication throwing downe to hell all transgressours on another a iubilie or full discharge from all transgressions Who more learned in all kinde of sciences then their Iesuites who more ignorant then their ordinary Masse priests what Prince so able to preferre his servants and followers as the Pope and in so great multitude who able to take deeper or readier revenge of his enemies what pride equall to his making Kings kisse his pantables what humility greater then his shriving himselfe daily on his knees to an ordinary Priest who more difficult in giving dispach to the greater who easier in giving audience to the meanest where greater rigor in the world in exacting the observation of the Church lawes where lesse care and conscience of the commandements of God To taste flesh on a Friday where suspition might fasten were a matter for the Inquisition whereas on the other side the Sunday is one of their greatest market dayes To conclude never government never state in the world so strongly compacted of infinite contrarieties all tending to entertaine the severall humours of all men and to worke what kind of effects soever they shall dâ—sire where rigor and remissenesse crueltie and lenitie are so combined that with neglect of the Church to stirre ought is a sinne vnpardonable whereas with dutie towards the Church by intercession for her allowance with respective attendance for her pleasure no Lawe almost of God or Nature so sacred which one way or other they finde not meanes to dispense with or at least wise permit the breach of by connivence and without disturbance But to proceed to their more particular proiectes and more mystical devises for the perpetuating of their greatnesse there was never yet state so well built in the world having his ground as theirs hath in the good wil of other and notwithstanding by his owne maine strength power that could longer vphold it selfe in flourishing reputation and prosperitie then it could make it selfe necessarie to them by whom it subsisted All callings of men all degrees in common-wealthes yea particular great personages are then wayning in their greatnesse when they decay in their necessarinesse to them from whom they have it which the Papacy nothing ignorant of hath by secrete cunning so deepely engaged and interessed from time to time the greatest Monarches in Christendome in the vpholding of his estate that without the Papacy sundrie of them have no hope and some no title to continue in their Dominion For to omit things more apparant and in the eyes of all men they have pretended authority to excommunicate and depose them to discharge subiects of all othes and bonds of obedience to oblige them vnder paine of damnation to rise against them to honour their murtherers with the title of Martyrs for to that degree of extremity hath some of their sect growne The effect of which proceeding some Princes have felt and most have Dispensing within degrees forbidden feared and few at this day list to put it to adventure the teÌ„pering with so vnlimited power of Princes mariâ—ges by dispensing with degrees by the law of God and the world forbidden by loosing and knitting mariage by devise at pleasure by
verie apparant that by this Doctrine and policy the Popes opposices and enemies especially the states and Princes of the reformed Religion are inestimably preiudiced being reduced hereby to a continuall vncertaintie and confusion in all their weightiest actions counsels and resolutions there beeing a warrant for all men to breake league and oath with them and no neede of particular dispensation from his holines Their Church long since by her rules and some of great reckoning amongst them more lately by their writings have published preached to al the world that faith given to heretikes is not to be kept that leagues with them are more honourable in their breaking then in their making denying that right vnto Princes of Christian profession which Christians vnto Heathens Heathens one to another of how different religion soever yea al honorable princes vnto very traitors rebels have alwaies kept vnviolable And finally if father Parsons at his last coÌ„ming to Rome pretending to make peace betwixt the Eâ—glish scholers the Iesuits who were charged with too much indirect dealing large imblessing setâ—ing downe certaine indifferent Articles betweene them to that purpose whereby each part should be bound to desist impugning of the other did by handling the matter with such conveiance and cunning imitating therein a rule of fast on the one side loose on the other in the grouÌ„d of their order as first to sweare the Scholers to observe that which was their part after to leave the Iesuites vnsworne to theirs to effect his secret ambitious intent to the great grief of the Scholers made the Iesuites their governours what other account can be made of these leagues peaces betwixt those of the Romane of the reformed religion but that the one side being tyed by oath the other left free for so are they taught they shall so far-forth have performance continuance as shal be to the advancement and profit of that party which esteemeth it selfe at liberty the sacred the soveraigne instrumeÌ„t of all iustice amongst meÌ„ what is it what can it be in the world but an oath beeing the strongest bound of coÌ„science This is the end of strifes particular this is the sodder of publike peace the sole assurance of amity betweene divers nations which being made here below is inrolled in his high Court whose glorious name doth signe it who hath made no graunt of accesse to his celestial pallace but to such as have sworn true though it redound to their owne damage yet swarve not from it that nothing but mischiefe can be presaged to the world in this age most wretched wherin Peâ—iuty hath vndermined the tribunals of iudgement which hath chased out true iustice out of the world left no place for a iust man where to stand against the craftie But what may bee said when he that sitteth in the Temple of God shall so far advance himselfe above God as to dispence with oathes made sacred by the most holy high name of God when he that professeth himselfe sole vmpire peace-maker of the world shal cut in sunder those onely finewes that hold peace together when the father of Princes shall cary himself with so wicked partiality and cast by dissolving of oaths affliction on the partie he hateth and making the other perpetually obnoxious to him to worke his owne certaine advantage from both and lastly by making of that ancient bridle of the vniust to be now an onely snare to intrap the innocent and impose that blemish vpon Christianitie which the Pagans in their naturall morality have abhorred I will not here omit one other great helpe which casualty rather then cunning may seeme to have wrought it falling out often in the affairs of men that where wisdome hath furnished out sundry aids instruments there some also do frame themselves as it were by chance resulting out of the concurreÌ„ce of diverse accidents with the former as at this day the greatnesse of the house of Austia extending it selfe well nigh to all quarters of Europe and confining with many of the Popes principall adversaries who having long since vpon the rich purchase which they had of the Indies devoured in assured hope and conceit the Monarchy of our Westerne world and finding no fitter meanes to enlarge their temporall Dominions than by concurring with the Pope in restoring his spirituall have linked themselves most fast with his Sea and investing themselves voluntarily with an Office of their owne direction have taken vpon them to be the executioners of his Excommunications that having title from the Pope who giveth his enemies the foyle by distracting their owne Subiects from them vpon feare of his curse the rest they may supply out of their owne force and opportunities having erected for this purpose that superpolitique and irrefragable order as they count it of the Iesuites who couple in their perswasions as one God and one Faith so one Pope also and one King bearing the world in hand and there is no other meanes in the world for the Church to stand but by resting vpon this pillar and by vniting in this sort all the forces of the Christians this the onely meanes to vanquish the Arch-enemy of Christianitie that the Italians may not brag to have beene the onely men who have subdued the world vnto them by their wit the Spaniards having prooved so good Schollers in their Schooles that though they follow them in their grounds of pretending the advancement of Religion and in their instruments of religious Orders to practise mens minds with yet in this they out-goe them that they vse the Popes weapons lightnings and thunderings and terrors for instruments of their owne greatnes his hope of reestablishing his spirituall reputation by them to the immoderate increase of their secular power by him that the Pope also himselfe must in the end be constrained to cast himselfe into their armes and to remaine at their devotion acknowledging him henceforward for his good Lord Patron whoÌ„ he hath heretofore governed commanded as his Son a point which as some of the ministers of Spaine in the height of their pride have not beene able to hold in but have braved the assembly of Cardinals to their beards that they hope ere long to see the day that their master should tender halfe a dozen to the Pope to be made Cardinals at once wherof he should not dare to refuse to choose any one And the Cardinals themselves should as little daâ—e to choose any other Pope then whom he named so their too important pressing of the Pope in these latter times to serve all their ambitious and raging turnes in the long preiudicing the libertie of the Conclave in their elections have given them good assurance that they speak as they meane that their brags are hopes purposes and these threatnings being the naturall fruits of the Spanish hautines insolency who in the pride of their Monarchie are
multitude it selfe seemeth to mee to be one not of the least confederation if the Papacy being reduced to any termes of extreamity should resolve to put them in armes for their finall refuge and succour The Franciscans alone in the time of Sixtus Quintus their fellowe and Father are said to have beene found by survey to bee thirtie thousand the Capuchins a late branch of them doe vaunt to be eight thousand at this present The Dominicans strive in competency with the Franciscans in all things The Iesuites being great statists are withall exceeding rich and many but for the greedinesse of wealth and rare practises to get it infamous in all places The Garmelitanes and Augustines have their hives in every garden and everywhere swarme The other orders of Friars and Monkes being exceeding many complaine not of paucity in their severall professions In some other Countries they are sowen but Italy is thicke strowed with this kind of people whose number perhaps in the whole may passe a million of men of the which one halfe at the least eyther are or would grow to be of lusty able bodies not vnfit to be soone imployed in any warlike service if the Pope having played away the rest of his pollicies were brought to his last hand to set vp his rest vpon those men what should hinder him from raising huge armies of them in all places their course of life perhaps their vowes and profession whereof himselfe hath the key to locke and open at pleasure may breed vnwillingnesse of minde or backwardnesse of such actions which canot be imagined to them that know their eagernesse of spirit and consider withall their standing with his estate and falling with his ruine Then for their vnaptnesse and vndisposition of bodie their fasting watching lving on the ground enduring cold exact keeping of orders and obedience to their commanders ought to make them fit to all military discipline Then for the difficultie of assembling them in such case together Heere needs must I speake of the exactnesse of their order and government being such as needeth not yeelde to any I know to that purpose each order hath his Generall residing at Rome for the most part to advise with the Pope and to receive his direction from him which being men of great reputation power are chosen though in shew indifferently by all the Maisters that is Doctors of their order whatsoever yet in election it is so finely and cunningly contrived that the voices of Italy are farre predominant even as in the election of the Pope the Italian Cardinals so in their moderne generall counsels the Italian Bishops doe farre exceed all the rest of Christendome that so the safetie of the papall sea the greatnesse of Rome may rest assured These Generals have vnder them their Provincials as Lieutenants in every province or state in Christendome The Provincials have vnder them the severall Priors of covents And those their companies A commandement dispatcht away from the Generall passeth roundly by the Provincials to the Priors with all speed being received by the inferiours they addresse themselves to the performance yea though it commaund them a voyage to China or Peru without dispute or delay they readily set forward To argue or debate on their superiors Mandates were presumption proud curiosity to search their reasons to detract or disobey them breach of vow equall to sacriledge So that as in a well disciplined army the Generall guiding the Souldiers follow he commaunding they obey without further delay or question So those have no other care than to performe with dexterity what Mandate soever their General in the plenitude of his authoritie shall addresse to them This order this diligence this secrecie this obedience in a people that may wander without suspicion in all places and find good reliefe aid in their passage wil answere the former obiection To add the good grace wherin they are generally with the vulgar the meanes which they have to provide all things necessarie with their repositories of Reliques and silver Images what with Church-place and treasure wherein some of them are exceedingly rich and daily increase vnlesse the world should with generall consent bend against them it may be if the times should inforce such imployment they should be able being associated with such friendes as they should find to make a very strong part in all places for the Pope especially considering that these forces should be then raised out of their enemies countries and so weaken them as bloud drawne out of their owne bodies And that no man may deceive himselfe with that errour That in these professors of peace there is no humor of warre that minds wholy possessed with sweet contemplations can imbrace no thought of bloody resolutions let him but a little dive into the late French troubles he shall finde that the militarie companions of the leaguers were oftentimes even stuffed with Priests and Friars tall men and resolute he shall find that of these people there have served what in field what in garrison at one time sufficient to have made a great army of themselves onely He shall find that at Orleance a Capuchin being expresly sent to that purpose by his Prior went vp and downe the streets with a woodden crosse crying come forth good Christian destroy the enemies of the Crosse of thy Saviour and therewithall put to the sword at sundrie times sixe score of the reformed religion vntill he left none remaining Lastly he may vnderstand that more lately in Paris some of them in their sermons have incited not obscurely to a new massacre complaining that the bodie of the Realme is sorely diseased being surcharged with corrupt humors as not having beene let bloud this five and twentie yeares as it ought To conclude I conceive this force of Friars to be so great what in regard of their very multitude what by reason of their deadly rage against their opposites that it would be hard for any state to bring in the reformed religion without discharging it first of this difficultie and burthen In Germany the first reformers of religion in this age were friars themselves who being men of great marke and reckoning amongst their owne drew their Covents and other troops of their Order with them and thereby set the rest in such amazements that the Pope grew into a generall great iealousie of them all doubting their vniversall revolt from his obedience In England they were with great policy and practise dissolved bofore any innovation in religion was mētioned wheras to have done both together had been perhaps impossible But first cleare preventing them of pretence of religion after finding their religion cleare stripped of that Patronage they were more quietly minded and this more quietly reformed In France this king vpon that outrage against his person smoked the Iesuits out of his nest in most parts of his kingdom If he had done the like to the Dominicās a most potent florishing order in Spaine
above all other in revenge of the murder of Henry the 3. his predecessor or if he would or could do it now to them and to the Capuchins who at this day next to the Iesuits are of greatest renowne in punishmeÌ„t of their late practise so fortnately discovered so chastice the schools alwaies wheÌ„ he took their schollers in so enormeous falts there were great hope for the reformed religion in time to prevail which is now preiudiced persecuted by these Friars that hardly can it keepe foot on the ground it hath Thus much of the strength which these religious orders do yeeld the Papacie 25 To this may be added the like invention of spirituall Invention of spirituall fraternities fraternities companies perhaps equaling yea exceeding n nuÌ„ber the very orders of Friars in which vnder the protection in honor of some saint or of any other holy man or religious Minister oftentimes annexing theÌ„selves to some of the orders of friars the lay people of al sorts both men women both single and maried do inrole themselves into one or more of these societies approaching so much neerer to the state of the cleargy vnto which sundry of theÌ„ are no other then annexaries appurtenaÌ„ces wherby as they tie theÌ„selves to the orders of them cosisting in certain extraordinary devotions professioÌ„s bearing also certain times som badge of their company so are they made partakers of al such spiritual prerogatives either by partnership with other Churches merits or intrest in sundry Indulgences some halfe plenary some whole some for the time past some before hand for sundry years to come chiefly for the avoiding or speedy dispatch out of purgatory as the Pope or his predecessors for the incouragement comfort of the Christian people in their devotion charity have thought good to grant vnto them These fraternities are not yet growne into any great request in other â—ollicies of the pa â—acie against the opposites places howbeit in Italie they have so multiplied that few especially of that vulgar and middle sort of men who affect any reputation of devotion but have entred into some one of them and sundry into many the assuraÌ„ce of whom vnto Papacie must needs be doubled since love groweth according to the proportion of hope 26 Now come I to the last ranke of the Roman pollicies aranged against their professed feared enemies whereby they do seeke to re-enter where they have beene disrooted and practise as well for the wasting away of their opposits where they are as for shutting them their doctrine out where yet they have not beene I will not heere exemplifie vpon things manifest and ordinary being high waies so plaine that a guide were needlesse their persecutions confiscations tortures burnings secret murthers generall massacres exciting of inward seditions outward hostility against their adversaries their oppressing debasing of theÌ„ where themselves are the stronger are things whereof they were none of the inventors though perhaps the coÌ„meÌ„dation of the exact refining of them of straining theÌ„ to their highest note of sedulitie perseverance putting theÌ„ in execution may be more due proper to them then to any other neither yet will I meddle greatly with their Art of slandering their opposites oâ— disgracing their persons misreporting their actions falsifying their doctrine positioÌ„s things wherwith their pulpits do daily sound their writings swell againe But they are not the first neither that have run this blacke course no more then the former red others have done it before them ye the buying of meÌ„s coÌ„sciences by proposing reward to such as shall relinquish the protestant religion turne to theirs as in Ausbarie where they say there is a knowne price for it of ten florence a yeare In France where the Clergie have made coÌ„tributions for the maintenance of runnagate Ministers is a devise also â—â—esh of easie conceit I will rather insist vppon their inventions lesse trivial and more worthy to be regarded A wonderfull thing it is to consider the great diversitie of humours or tempers of minde which this age hath produced in this one point wee speake of touching the meanes of growing onward vpon the adversarie part Puritaines A sort of men there liveth in the world at this day whose leaders whether vpon extreamity of hatred toward the Church of Rome or vpon selfe-liking and singularitie to value their owne wittes and devises did cut out in such sort their reformation of religion as not onely in all outward religious services ceremonies in governement Church discipline they doe strive to be as vnlike the Papacie as is possible but even in very lawfull pollicies for the advancing of their part doe disdaine to seeme to bee imitators to them whom they so much abhorred much like stowt â—arted selfe-witted Captaine who scornes to imitate any stratageme before vsed by the enemie though the putting of it in exploit might give him assured victorie Neither doe these mens Protestants schollers as yet one whit degenerate yea perhaps that disease if I may so censure it hath tainted in some degree all the protestant party who never could finde the meanes in all this age to assemble a generall Counsell of all their side for the composing of their differences and setting order in their proceedings for want I must confesse of some oportunities but of a great deale of zeale also in their governors as to mee it seemeth neither yet have they in any one of all their Dominions erected any colledge of more contemplative persons to confront and oppose against the Iesuites but have left this weighty burthen of clering the controversies of perfecting the sciences of answering the adversaries writings of exceeding huge travel either vpon their ordinary Ministers to be performed at times of leisure from their office of preaching then is it done accordingly or vpon such as in Vniversities having some larger scope shall willingly and of their owne accord vndertake it for sometimes whereas on the contrarie side the Papacie seemeth to me very diligently and attentively to have considered and weyed by what means chiefly their adverse part hath growne so fast beyond either their owne expectation or the feare of their enemies as in lesse then an age to have won perhaps the moity of their Empire from them And those very means theÌ„selves have resolved hence-forwards to appy in strong practise on their side also that so as by a countermine they may either blow vp the mindes of their adversaries or at leastwise give them a stop from any further proceeding like a politike Generall who holdeth it the greatest wisdome to out-goe his enemies in their owne devices the greatest valour to beate him at his owne weapons I will not here presume to presse in with my determination vpon this great difference and question although it seeme to mee to be no other then a plaine quarrell betweene stomacke and discretion A
in cutting out suppressing trueth suborning fained writinges as their turnes did require all which though being obiected in this sort to themselves they had eyther their allegations of good intent to defend or at leastwise the commiseration of humane infirmitie to excuse them yet were they not so washed away from the mindes of the people who could not conceive this house to have beene guided by the Spirit of God wherein they saw so many foule spirits of pride and hypocrisie of lying and deceiving to have borne so great office so long and without controlement These things being perceived by the favorites of the Papacy to have made so deepe impression in the minds of all men and to have greatly preiudiced them in their more plausible allegations mens hearts being alreadie taken vp and fraught with detesting them they cast about for revenge and redresse in the same kinde not as the plaine blunt Protestant who finding all the matters made readie to his hands bestowed no other cost but the collecting and setting it in some order together but like a supernaturall Artisan who in the sublimitie of his refined witt disdaines to bring onely meere Art to his worke vnlesse hee make also in some sort the verie mater it selfe So these men in blacking the lives and actions of the reformers have partly devised matter of so notorious vntruth that in the better sort of their owne Authors it happeneth to bee checked partly suborned other Post men to write their Legends that afterwards they might cite them as approoved Authours and Histories as is evident in the lives of Calvine and Beza written by their sworne enemie Botsacke the twise banished and thrice runnagate Friar and Phisition for those names his often chaunges and hard chaunces have given him This man being requested by their side to write thus is in all their writings alleaged as Canonicall But in this kind surely me-thinks the conditions of those parties are too vnequall for the Protestant whatsoever he hath eyther in impeaching his adversarie or clearing his owne actions vnlesse hee can directly proove out of the adversaries owne writings it is with them as nothing and no-better than as are testes domestici in the law whereas the Romanist whatsoever he slaunderously surmiseth vnlesse the other partie be able by direct proofe to disproove it which being to iustifie in the negative is alwaies verie difficult and for the most part impossible he triumphes as in a matter of truth not to be gainsaid And whosoever maketh this account that in these kinde of blowes even where the wound is cured the scarre lightly contieth At this present they give it out that they have a booke in hand of the lives of the Ministers of England wherein it were to be wished that some who by their dissolutenes and corruption have given occasion of offence against the order it selfe might by their exemplarie punishment with all expiate the reproach though at these mens hands who in disgrace of our Prelates have cited Marprelate in their late bookes for a great Author and witnes others of like and lesse indifferency honestie the innocent and culpable are to expect perhaps like measure Then for the measure and doctrine of the Protestants the bookes of some of our owne Countrimen besides many other are famous who have taken a toile how meritorious God knoweth surely very laborious out of infinite huge Volumes which that part hath written to picke out whatsoever especially severed from the rest may seeme to be eyther absurdlly or falsely or â—ondly or scandalously or dishonestly or passionately or â—luttishly conceived or written for even in that kinde having the advantage of the homely phrase of our countrey and namely in those times they haue not spared and these with their crossenesse and contradictions one of another sâ—t cunningly together they present to the view of the world demand whether it be likely that these men should have bin chosen extraordinarily by God to be the reformers of the church treasurers of his truth who besides their virious lives hatefull conditions in their more sober thoughts and very doctrine it selfe were possessed with so fantasticall so wild so contrarie so furious so maledicent and so slovenly spirits wherein as they do in some sort immitate their adversaries so yet with this difference that the one hath obiected that which either as being the approoved doctrine of their church was with such publike authority delivered to the people or else which was so vsuall amongst their Canonists and Cleargie as might plead vncontrolled custome to shew it lawfull whereas the other part finding very small store of that nature have runne for supply to every particular mans writings wherein so huge a multitude of authors and works as this age over-rancke therin and mens fingers ever itching have produced it had been surely a great miracle if they had not fouÌ„d matter enough either worthy to be blamed or easie to be depravâ—d in their enemies writings One of the most renowmed Sages and Fathers of the Antients having found so much to condemne and retract in his owne And if the Protestants should list to requite them in that kinde they might perhaps finde stuffe enough I will not say to lade an Argosy but to overlade any mans witt in the world to reply vnto But verily these courses are base and beggarly even when singlenesse of minde and truth doth concurre with them and farre vnworthy of an ingenious noble spirit which soareth vp to the highest and purest paths of verity disdaining to stand raking in these puddles of obscuritie vnworthy of that charitable and vertuous minde which striveth by doing good to all to attaine to the high honour of being an immitator of God who is sorie of those very faults which are in his enimies discloses them no further than is necessary eyther for defence of impugned truth or for warning to the world to avoid the contagion of the disease or seducements by the deceased But if to this basenes of discoveries other iniustice be also added if malice doe preferre them if sleight increase them if falshood and slaughter â—aint them then doe they not onely abuse men from the dignitie of their nature but even associate them with the foule enimy and calumniator therof whose name is the slaunderous accuser of his brethren I suppose there was never man so patient in the world that patterne of all perfection our Savior Christ excepted but if a man shuld heap together all the cholericke speeches all the wayward actions that ever scaped from him in his life and present them in one veiw all continuate together as is the fashion of some men it would represent him for a furious and raving bedlem whom displaying al his life in the same tenor it was led the whole world might wel count of his stayednesse admire him for his moderation magnanimitie They that observe nothing in wisemen of vertue but their fault and
antiquitie the opinion of possibility redoubling their desire brought forth in fine that Index expurgatorius whereof I suppose they are now not a little ashamed they having by misfortune lighted in their adversaries hands from whome they desired by all means to conceale them where they remaine as a Monument to the iudgement of the world of their everlasting reproach and ignomy These purging Indices are of divers sorts some worke not above 800. years vpward other venture much higher even to the prime of the Church the effect is that forasmuch as there were so many passages in the Fathers and other antient Ecclesiasticall writers which their adversaries producing in averment of their opinions they were not able but by trickes shiftes of wit to reply to ease themselves of that wit labour and qualitie perhappes indede more commendable in some other trade than in Diuinitie where Veritie shoulde sway where the love of the truth should assubiect or extinguish wholy all other passions and the the eie of the minde fixed attentively vpon that obiect should divert from the regarding of other motions whatsoever Some assemblies of their Divines with consent no doubt of their redoubted superiors and soveragnes have delivered expresse order that in the impressions of these Autors which hereafter should be made the scaÌ„dalous places there named should be cleane left out which perhaps though in this present age would have finally prevailed to the reclaiming of their adversaries it would have bin great assuraÌ„ce to the retayning of their owne to whome no other bookes should have bin granted yea perhaps Time Industrie which eate even thorrow marbles extinguishing or getting into their hands all former Editions and for any other new to be set â—u by their adversaries there is no great fear whose books being discurrant in all Catholiques countries their waÌ„t of meanes requisite to vtter an impression would disharten them from the charge the mouth also of Antiquity should be throughly shut vp from vttering any sillable or sound against them Lastly by adding wordes where oportunitie and pretence might serve and by drawing in the marginall notes glosses of their friars into the text of the fathers as in some of theÌ„ they have already very hansomely beguÌ„ for the mouth of antiquity should be allso opened for theÌ„ Their remained then only the rectifying of S Paule whose turne in all likeliehoode if ever should be the next and other places of Scripture whose authority beeing set beneath the Churches alreadie it were no greate matter to submit also to her censures especially for so good an inteÌ„t as the weeding out of heresies and the preserving of the Catholike saith in his purity glory But above all other the second Commandement as the Protestants Grecians and Iewes reckon it were like to abide it which already in their vulgar catechisme is discarded as words superfluous or at leastwise vnfit or vnnecessarie for these times and then without an Angel sent downe from heaven no means to controle or gain-say them in any thing But these are the dreames perhaps of some over-passionate desires at leastwise not likely to take place in our times But what is it which the opinions of the not possibility of erring of the necessary assistance of Gods spirite in their Consistories of authoritie vnlimited of power both to dispence of Gods lawes in this world to alter his arrests and iudgements in the other for therevnto doe their pardons to them in Purgatory extend What is it which these so high and fertile opinions are not able to engender and powerfully to inforce and to execute carrying men away headlong with this raging conceipt that whatsoever they doe by the Popes they doe by Gods owne commandement whose Lievtenant on the earth he is by a commission of his own penning that is to say with absolute and vnrestrained iurisdiction that whatsoever they do for the advancement of his See and Scepter they do it for the vpholding of the Church of Christ and for the salvation of mens soules which out of his obedience doe vndoubtedly perish And verily it seemes no causelesse doubt of feare that these humours so forward so ventrous to alter and chastice with palpable partiality the workes of former times in any age which hath so many iealous eyes on their fingers so many mouthâ—s open to publish their owne shame such store of coppies to restore and repaire whatsoever they should presume to maime or deprave that in former ages when there were few copies small difficulties no enemies as it is found by certaine irresragable arguments that bastard writings were forged in their favour and fathered on honest men who never begat them So also they might besides by their choppings and changings puttings in and pvttings out suppresse many good evidence which they perceived were not greatly to their purpose should be extant But of all others in reforming and purifying of Authors the care and diligence of this Pope doth farre exceede who not content with that which hath beene done in that kinde before him nor thinking things yet so bright as they should be causeth much to be perused and skowred over anew yea and it is thought will cassiere some worthy Authors who as yet though with cuts and gashes hold ranke amongst them And for a further terrour not to retaine bookes prohibited I have seen in their printed instructions for confession the hearing or reading of bookes forbidden set in ranke amongst the sinnes against the first Commandements And for further provision the Iewes who have no other trades to speake of then loane of money and old stuffe are inhibited in many places the medling any more with bookes for feare that through error or desire of lucre they might doe them preiudice Neither is it lawfull in Italy to carry bookes about from one place to another without allowance of them from the Inquisitor or search by their authorities wherein as I confesse they have neglected nothing which the wit of man in this kinde could possibly devise So yet it may be doubted that as too much wiping doth in the end draw blood with it soile more then before so these too rigorous cuting off of all Authors tongues leaving nothing which may favour any freedome of spirit or give any satisfaction for vnderstading times past may raise such a longing for the right Authors in the mindes of all men as may encourage the Protestants to reprint them in their first intirenesse having hope given to vent them although in secret These have I observed for the complots and practises of the Roman Church and Papacy not doubting but that they may have many more and much finer then I can dreame of yet in the surveying of these altogether me thinks they are such that it causeth mee in generality of good desire to wish that eyther the cause which they strive to maintain were better or their pollicies whereby they maintaine it were not so good 37 Now
any part capitall yet have they beene are and will be as long as they continue causes of dislikes of iealosies of quarrels and of danger In summe what vnitie soever is amongst them proceeds only from the meere force vertue of verity which all persons seeke for which though it bee incomparably the best and blessedest and which alone doth vnite the soule with God yet for order in the worlde for quiet in the church for avoyding of scandall for propagating and increase of what great power that other vnitie is which proceedes from authoritie the Papacie which standeth by it alone may teach vs. These then are the advantages on the parte of the Papacie But nowe one disadvantage such is the nature of all things impeacheth and diverteth all other their forces that is their vicinity with their grand enimie the Turke who by land and Sea presseth harde both vppon the Emperour Pope and the Monarchie of Spaine and driveth then oftentimes to such extasies of devises that Spaine hath no other shifts to cleere himselfe than by diverting him vpon his owne deere brethren of Austria and causing him to sall foule vppon his friend the Emperour wherein he is driven yet to a twofolde charge both in bribing the Bas shawes to draw their Lord into Germanie and in supporting their Emperour with money to withstand him The Emperor on the other side calleth the Protestants for his aide without whome the whole Empire were in danger to wreking The Pope who of all other is in deepest feare though not yet in the neerest knowing that the finall marke that the Turke shooteth at is Italie as thinking that to be the banner nowe onely remaining to be sett vp for the accomplishment and the perfection of his Empire And that the warres with the Emperour are but to open that land passage forasmuch as by Sea hee hath alwaies prooved the weaker bestirres himselfe on all sides in the best sorte he is able both in sending such ayde as his proportion wil bear and especially in soliciting of the Princes of his parte to enter into a common league and warre against him giving overture of like desire for the Protestants also but the Protestants would know what securitie and quiet they shall have from himselfe first their neere and sterne and vnplacable enemie before they waste out themselves in giving ayde vnto him against a common enemie indeede But one who is furthest off from them of all other who as now is desirous enough to entertaine friendship and who at the worst haÌ„d carrieth no more cruell hate against them and their profession neyther condemneth their religion more than the Pope their fellow christian Then for his Catholiques and Polakers they cleerely slip collar both for the naturall hatred they beare the Germaines for that they are in peace and amitie with the Turke paying a certaine tribute And although his neere neighbors yet not in his way which is not the North but to the sunne and to the South parts and mainely and plainely to the conquest of Italie The Venetians are contente also to live rather as free tributaries to the Turke as they now are than as slaves vnto Spaine who in ioyning with them heeretofore in league against the Turke Pope Pius Sixtus did coÌ„trary to his oath bond forsake them suffer them to be beaten being left alone to the Turks furie And all this to the end that having their state vtterly maymed and broken by the Turke they might be constrained wholy to cast themselves their soveraignetie cittie into the armes embracements of Spaine for safegarde With this vnchristian treacherie have they charged him heretofore though now all beeing quiet they are content to put an vnacceptable motion to silence by demaunding of impossible conditions of securitie Then for Fraunce it is farre off lookes that the neerer be as they ought more forward first and requireth also with reason some breathing time to revive himselfe after his wearinesse by his late pangs Lastly Spaine hath so much to doe with England and the revoulted Provinces that hee thinketh the time gained that the Turke forbeareth him So that in the end the whole burthen must rest on the Emperor with that small helpe that Italie and some others do yeeld him And were it not his good fortune or rather Gods good providence that the verie same plagues that have ruined the glory grace of Christendom should now infect also the grand enemy thereof namely Effeminatensse and Avarice whereof the one is the corrupter of all sound deliberations the other the quailer of all manly executions which prevailing in his estate as they do at this day give hope that his tyranny groweth toward his period for the present proved so that a weake defendant may shift better having no other than a cowardly assailant This matter would have growne to that extremitie by this time as could have called the King of Spaine with all his forces to some more honorable enterprises than he hath hitherto vndertaken And this is the bridle that holdes in the Papacy with all her followers from any vniversall proceeding by force against the Protestants who herein are greatly advantaged above them in that either their oposites lye betweene them and the Turks or in that their Countries coasting so much as they doe towards the North are out of his way no part of his present ayme But those aduantages disadvantages of the Papacie equally weighed I suppose this disadvantage more mischievous for the preseÌ„t as proceeÌ„ding from outward force in the hands of an enimie and the other advantages more stable as springing from the inwarde strength of their owne wealth and order 48 This then being so and that all things considered there falleth out if not such in differencie and equality yet at the leastwise such a proportion of strength vpon both sides as bereaveth the other of hope ever by waâ—re to subdue them seeing as the Proverbe is A deade woman will have foure to carry her foorth much lesse will able men be beaten out of their homes and seeing their is no apparance of ever forcing an vnity vnlesse Time which eateth vp all things shoulde bring in great alterations it remaineth to bee considered what other kinde of vnity poore Christendome may hope for whether vnitie of Veritie or vnitie of Charitie or vnitie of perswasion or vnitie of authoritie or vnitie of Necessitie there A proiect of vnion beeing so many other kinds and causes of concord A kind of men there are whom a man shall meet with in all countries not many in number but sundry of them of singular learning and pietie whose godly longings to see Christendome re-vnited in the love of the Authour of the name above all things and annexed in brotherly correspondencie and amitie as beseemeth those who vnder the chiefe service of one Lord in the possession of one ground and foundation of faith doe expect the same finall
them For though it were perhaps not vntruely saide of a great man of their owne that the Popes not erring was but an opinion of Pollicie not of Theologie to give stay to the Laâ—tie not stoppe to the Divines of whome in such infinite controversies and iarrings about interpretations of Texts and conclusions of Science wherein manie have spent a large part of their lives Never any yet went to bee resolved by the Popes as knowing it to bee true which their owne Law delivereth that in holinesse many an old woman in knowledge many a Friar might out-goe the Pope but in power and authoritie the whole world was vnder him yet at this day they doe so generally all cling vnto him and drawe by his line as having no hope eyther of standing against their opposites but onely by him or of vnity amongst themselves but onely in him that touch him and touch them yea they thinke some of them the name of Paptist to bee as good and a more necessarie name at this day then of Catholiques the one shewing only their vnity with their body the other with the head of the Church which is now more needefull It remaineth that Princes take the matter in hand and constraine the Pope and other to yeeld to such accord as they should thinke reasonable Indeed this were an only way to effect it for Reason is a good Orator when it hath force to back it But where are those Princes they dreame of an old world and of the heroicall times who imagine that Princes will breake their sleepes for such purposes If there were at this day a DAVID in Spaine a IOSIAS in France or Ezechias in Italie a Coustantine in Germanie the matter were ended in a very short time But take men as they are and as they are like to bee beeing brought vppe in the middest of their factions and flatterers where they seldome heare truth and if a good motion by chance bee set on foote by one part it is sure to bee straight crossed through the watchfull industrious envie of the other the world may hold it selfe reasonable happie and content if the civill State bee vphelde in any tollerable manner and not thinke that they should care greatly for reforming the Church and much lesse for the vniting of the State Ecclesiasticall the dissentions whereof have and daily serve so many mens turnes And though it is to bee acknowledged and thankefully commemorated that this age hath not beene so vtterly baâ—â—en of good Princes But some have deserved to have beene enrolled amongst these Worthies yet the ambition and incroaching humours of certaine and want of corespondencie requisite in others have stopped perhaps those honorable thoughts and designes which had else beene employed for the vniversall good of Christendome In summe there is small hope remaining in this part the world having extinguished the care of the publique good by an over-care of their private and each proiecting to passe their owne time smoothly over in pleasure and recommending posteritie to the Starres and Destinies these reasons together with the long continuance of this division whereby both parts are formalized and setled in their opinions insomuch that at this day there are but very fewe in comparison of former times that are gained either way doe make mee dispaire greatly of any successe by that course and so esteeme of that plot as an honest heartie desire but no probable designe and as a cabinet discourse of speculative consideration which practise in the world and experience doth neede to certifie The next point is whether necessitie which over-rules all frowardnesse and sturdinesse of humors and passions may not presse them to some vnitie if the Turke grow still great vpon them as hitherto he hath done hee shall leave no hope for Christendome to resist But in their inward concorde True it is that a forreine enemie is a reconciler of bretheren and that common daunger holdes them together as long as it lasteth which else should flie asunder vppon everie light occasion But herein me thinketh it commeth first to be considered whether the Turke be so fearfull a Monarch as is commonly conceived especially since his late so huge inlargement towards the East that which most men esteeme in him the grand cause ofterrour seemeth to mee a chiefe argument of the contrarie at this present and that is the hugenesse of his Empire For Empires are then at the strongest when they are at their biggest there being a certain due proportion in all things which they breaking the that exceed as wel as they that comeshort may be accoÌ„un ted huge add vaste but not great since that is great properly which is great in the actions which one as often impeacheth by vnwildinesse in the bigge as by weaknesse in the little But if to this be adioyned as it sometimes fall out that there be but a little soule to moove this vaste bodie which maketh some of the biggest men to be neither wisest nor valiantest and that the government which is the soule of the state is scant feeble not able to embrace nor order so huge affaires then is their no greater presage of ruine theÌ„ the verie massinesse it selfe which every stroÌ„g push or iustle maketh reele and totter for want of that inward strength which were requisite to hold it steddie And this take I to be the state of the Turkish Empire at this day which being a meere tyrannie as ayming only at the migh tinesse and securitie of their great Lord the sole absolute commander without any respect to the benesite of the people vnder him save only so far-forth as may serve vpoÌ„ his greatnesse and for that cause in his iealousie distrust of his owne keeping territories halfe desolate waste and vn-inhabited his subiectes without heades of Nobilitie to lead them without harts to encorage them to seek their liberty or deliverie abusing them by all kinde of bestiall education and oppressing them by all sortes of extortion and outrage giving the land where he conquereth to his Souldiers Timarri which scattered over all parts of his ample Empire are the onely contented people strength in effect he hath as being bouÌ„d by their tenures to serve whither soever hee cals them without his charge This beeing his state it is cleare that the wildnes lying waste of his Countrey is to the great diminishing of his owne wealth and revenue which is lesse than some one of our christian princes be at this day though his Empire be larger then all theirs togither The vnpopulousnesse togither with the basenesse feeblenesse of such as are weake that no one Country is a defence for himselfe but must have the concourse of very many of the rest to assist it And lastly the huge circuite of his soyle and confines embracing as is esteemed eight thousand miles of land and of sea as many is the cause that his Timarri cannot assemble togither but in very long time wherein
more devotion towards her in the drawer then acquaintance vnlesse her face were verie variable or their skill verie slender Somewhere as at Loretto she is painted like a Blackmore In summe they have so little knowledge of her countenance and favour that in some places they will assemble diverse of their fairest Curtesans to draw the most modest beauty of a Virgin out of the flagrancie of harlots But to returne to the Grecians and to come now to their government which is auncient by Patriarkes Archbishops and Bishops with other orders inferiour vnto whom the people carry exceeding respect as it were to the publike fathers and heads of their nation notwithstanding that calamitie wherein the tyranny of the Turke hath plunged them They have also a religious order amongst them of S. Basill the great founder of the East Monks and S. Benedict of the West These only have their vowes of chastitie austerity and may not marry which to the rest of their Cleargy is not prohibited they have also their proper habite but shaven they are not for ought I could discerne no more are their Priests being a ceremony so bald that some Priests in France are ashamed of the marke and few of them have it that can hansomly avoid it But as in the multitude of their religious orders they differ much from the West Church the Grecians having only this order of S. Basil the Latines having multiplyed therin to greater store varietie then are professions in a cōmon wealth or trades in a city so also in their vse course of life For the Roman monks by withdrawing them selves from the societie of other men and living and dying within their Cels do bereave the world of that benefit and of that dutie and service wherein each man is bound to the behoofe of other alledging in place thereof the blessings which by their assiduitie and fervor in praier not interrupted nor cooled by secular cōmercemēts nor drawne down vpon the world doe grow vnto the Church whereas the Grecians continue that more approved institutiō of them by spirituall meditations and exercises and by severitie to make themselves fitter to serue in the Church of God in ecclesiasticall calling with exemplarie holines And accordingly their Prelates and other principall priests are chose in many places out of one of their order in greatest part these guides of their Church have a wonderfull care and are continually pricked with the motion of much feare and griefe of heart lest their persecuted flock gasping in helpelesse and comfortlesse exreamitie of all miserie having famine of soule and great blindnes within for lacke of a Pastor meanes to maintaine them without seeing nothing but triumphes over Christ and scorners of his religion insolencies and violencies against their persons oppressions and extortions vpon their goods rapines and murderings vpon the verie soules of their children a case to be bewailed with teares of bloud by all Christian hearts that knew it hearing the onely anchor and stay of ther soules which is the expectation of the comming of Christ and of future salvation daily derided and blasphemed by the pride of the mightie And finally seeing no shadow of any hope of deliverie from this calamitie vnder the burden whereof they grone should in the end fall away and revolt to Turcisme inviting them therevnto with so many baites of pleasures of freedome and of worldly glorie In which fearefulnes of mind the onely remedy remaining is the vertuousnes of their owne example in constancie and patience and avoyding of all scandall to their people which is the cause that they vvill not heare of any reformation of any thing not I suppose for any presumption or obstinacie of minde as disdaining reformation but all trembling at alteration vvhich must needes accompany it least their people perceiving hovv they had bin amisse in something might suspect the possibility of like error in the vvhole fall mainly vvhither the force of povver vvorldly prosperity a chief argument to the vulgar mind should sway them on the other side their doubt of further exasperating the Turke in his crueltie against them considering that in Greece and in all those parts of Europe the Christians vnder the Turke doe verie manifoldly exceede in number the Mahometitians themselves may be a cause why in their generall they hold so small intelligence and correspondence with the West Church of one side or other and are like to continue so whilest their thraldom and cause of that feare shall last though in their particular they will declare a brotherly affection of both and desire of the vnity of all in one truth But for the Turke himselfe hee maketh full account that whensoeuer the West Christians should shortly invade him these Christians vnder him would runne to their aide if they sawe any likelihoode that they should prevaile And this hath beene seene alreadie more then once by example and hee provideth accordingly The Moscovites are a great Church a free and puissant not Schismaticks from the other Grecians as some in disgrace Moscovites of both deliver though perhaps not cōcurring fully in al points neither is it true which other of a contrary cōceipt have rumored that the Patriarch of Constantinople had removed his Seat to Mosco whither he went only to erect that See into an Archbishopricke which before it was not returned But the Turk to keep the Moscovits from stirring against him causeth the Tartarians to make oftē incur sions roads into their country that so being held alwaies in awe on one side they may have lesse stomack on the other to imbrace any thoughts or dessignes of interprising or combining with other Christians against him It were needlesse now to enter into any view of their lives neyther could it serve eyther way to their honor or reproch of their Religion and gouernment being maimed interrupted or stopt in his operations of what quality soever through his tyrany who strives to plant barbarousnes among them as knowing that neither civilitie founded his Empyre nor with civilitie could it long continue But the case is general and experience shews it in all places that the afflicted in all religions how contrary soeuer are for the most part men of conscience and honestie save only where hopes draw other humors to them For it cannot come from lesse than a vertuous affection to prefer the sinceritie of conscience before worldly glory howsoeuer it may be stained with erronious opinions as on the contrary side even the purest religion in prosperity draws it to an infinity of timeseruers who being trained vp in the exactions of cup discipline make their Randevous where the best cheere is stirring and follow Christ vpon a sharp devotion but to his bread not to his doctrine In which regard the fruits of life in divers religions and governments are not to be compared but where their prosperity and adversity are equall So fals it out in this particular we
growne now also to sweare by the life of their king have extreamely perplexed some of the later Popes and driven them to very extraordinary and desperate resolutioÌ„s which they have paid for deâ—rly in general have made it enacted for a rule in that sea not somuch to seeke the repairing of their forrein spiritual authoritie if it cannot be done but by meanes of so huge inconvenience as to strengthen and make themselves great in their temporall estate at home yet seeing Fraunce beyond all hope of Man re-vnited within it selfe and likely to flourish as in his former prosperitie whereby they shall be able to ballance these Monarchies as to make that part the heavier to which they shall propend an auntient rule and continuall practise of that Sea I should not greatly doubt but that they will be conteÌ„t againe henceforward so long as matters stand in the tearmes they doe to entertaine that good correspoÌ„dencie with the house of Austria as to serve them with their Excomunications that they may be served by them with their Executions The sweetenesse whereof as the Spaniard hath long since tasted in effect having seazed on a Manor by that onely pretence and of late times in high coÌ„ceit and hope trusting to have imbraced both Frannce England by the same meanes so I doubt not but that other braunch of the house of Austria in Germany which hath ingrossed and in a manner â—ntailed to their house so many elective states the Empires the kingdome of Bohemia with his dependaÌ„ces and of Hungarie and were likely also of late to have added the Princedome of Transilvania whensoever they should attâ—ine quiet and securitie from the Turke which hath no great vnlikelihood to be compassed in short time woulde take the same course against the Protestants of Germany having so many Prelates and oâ—bâ—rs there to assist them who by rooting the Protestants out of all their estates have prepared a good ground for such a future exploite howsoever the Pope himselfe doth yet forbeare his thunders having learned by his losse else-where that it argueth in these actions more courage than wâ—â—te to make noise before the blowe be ready Nowe as these are the hopes of the house of Austria for the enlarging of their estates and molesting of their neighbors so for the entertaining of perpetuall vnitie and love amongst themselves they vse the grand preservative and helpe of marriage the onely sure bond of amitie in the worlde Insomuch that by continuall inter-marrying amongest themselves they remaine still as brethren all of one Familie and as armes of the selfe same bodie These take I to be the meanes whereby the Papacie hath assured so many of the greatest vnto it 17 To descend from which to those that are next to them in degree as the nobilitie and other persons of worth and qualitie the Papacie is not vnprovided of his Instruments to worke vpon these also shee hath her baits to allure them her hookes to retaine them I will not staÌ„d much vppon the benefite their confession dooth heerein yeelde them whereby prying into the hearts and consciences of all men they attaine knowledge of the secretes they sound the dispositions they discover the humors of all the most respective and able persons of what countrey or calling place or qualitie soever A matter of singular consideration in the managing of affaires of principall importance for the well guiding of Councelles The ignorance whereof hath beene the cause of errour in the wisest deliberations and of vncertaine successe in the most grounded resolutioÌ„s to omit the great wealth which they heape thereby perswading their Penitents especially in that onely houre of agony and extremitie to raÌ„some their sins committed against God by consecrating their goods vnto the Church of God whereby they have prevailed in all places so farre the Iesuites above all other who are noted and envied by other orders of friars for ingrossing the commoditie of being rich mens Confessours when good is to be done with whome their prankes in that kind have beene so rare and memorable that most states at this day have beene forced by publique order to limite the proportion of that kinde of purchase for in that case they can easily extenuate those other helpes of Indulgence and of Requiems and their priviledged Altars And yet without touch of the Popes omnipotencie They count them but simple folks that cannot vse their severall devises without crossing one of the other how contrarie soever They can tell them that it may be for want of contrition in theÌ„selves those soveraigne pardons wanted a fitte Subiect to worke on and so for other after-helps the want of intention in the Priest may frustrate the Masse of the prerogative of vertue whereby their soules may perhaps frie in Purgatorie when their friends shall imagine they shine in Glory that the onely sure way of having good is doing good And what good to bee done at his death but by bestowing well of his goods And where better bestowing them than vppon him that gave them And to GOD they are given when they are given vnto his Ministers 18 And heere I will no other than mention onely the Cardinals helpe which the choice of their Cardinalles doth yeelde herein whom they choosing a great part of the most noble and potent families that either voluntarily desire it or otherwise can be induced to accept it they both give good satisfaction to all forraine Nations and especially holde Italie to them in speciall devotion and strengthen themselves with the favor and support of those mens kiâ—reds whom they have placed in the next steppe to the top of their glorie yea and oftentimes by meanes of these Car dinals their assured instruments they insinuate themselves into the swaying of the gouernmeÌ„t of those estates wherein either by their Nobility or other woorth they beare authority A pollicie of long vsagâ— and observed by many 19 But Iewels are rare and for few mens wearing the multitude and diversity of men of spirit requireth also store and varietie of competent living and preferments to entertaine them with good content and corespondencie a thing in all estates of very necessarie and chiefe regard wherein although the Papacie seeme at the first blush to haue no furniture extraordinarie above other Princes save only in one kinde for men of Ecclesiasticall calling by which he is able to advance men of learning incomparably above any other Prince in the world as having welnie all the Archbishopricks and Bishoprickes in Italie with other Church-livings almost halfe the benefices in Spaine very many Ecclesiasticall preferments of all sorts in other countries at his bestowing And if wee looke into the vse and practise of these times it will appeare that even by Ecclesiasticall livings he partly accommodateth and partly suffers to be accommodated all professions and ages though neither fitte nor verie capable of Ecclesiasticall order what by dispensations or tollerations to bee administrators to Abbeys Bishoprickes
and other benefices as is vsed in Fraunce What as in Italy and Spaine by assignations of yearely pensions out of their revenewes which beeing so great as they are they may easily and having hope of aspiring they may willingly beare and most of this out of the dominions and territories of other Princes and without any charging or impoverishing of his owne A choyce and refined peece of high Quintessence of wit which yet never State coulde distill out of their braines to aspire vnto besides the Papacie To let passe the infinite number of Honours and Lyvings what Ecclesiasticall what subordinate and ministeriall to them and what also in part temporall as belonging to the Knights of the holy Orders which are many All which although not directly in his owne donation yet in that they have their right either grounded or greatly favoured and continued by his religion And in decay of that as experience hath shewed were likelie to quaile are strong proppes to the vpholding of the Papacie arming so many tongues and hands in the defence therof as either are or have hope to be advanced by it each drawing his friends and followers with him A sweete enchanter and deceiver of men is the hope of honour and worldly profite which lulling oft even in the better sort the conscience asleepe doth awaken withall and sharpen the wit to find out arguments for the prooving of that coÌ„clusion which affection before hath framed and by custome continueth ingendreth in them a perswasion that they have done well in that which at the first their own knowledge could say otherwise how powerfully them may it sway with that other sort of men whose belly being their god make their appetite their sole Religion which if the experience of former times hath not sufficiently affirmed it were to bee wished perhaps that more fresh proofe might have beene given thereof once againe in this kingdome of France where some of the wisest and chiefe have thought that if the King hath accorded to the Cleargies late supplication to bestowe Church-livings vpon fit men and only of Ecclesiasticall calling Those Princes Peeres which nâ—w in regard of that particular commoditie which they reape from the Church in termes as it standeth would have vnsheathed their swords in defence thereof would soone have turned themselves another way to the vtter razing of it that they might satisfie their greedinesse with the spoile of that state whose pay they could no longer have 20 But for the Cleargie themselves who are in al places vnder the Papacie great in number and power they are most firmely assured to that Sea what by the multitude of exemptions and prerogatives above the temporalty which vnder the Popes protection they securely inioy vvhat vvith expecting no other then vtter sacking â—uine if the opposites of the Popes should happen to prevaile so discreet violent have bin their carâ—iage in most places vvhere they have bin able eitheir to bring or to pull in their reformation yea herein also it hath beâ—alne as in some other things that not only casual bâ—â— eveÌ„ more crosse accidents have redounded to the Popes great advantage benefit The part vvhich in this age hath â—â—â— raised against having wrought this affect to â—â—â—â— the rest more firme more serviceable more zealous towards him insomuch whereas in France he was smally regarded of any but stomaked at by the Princes impeached abridged appealed from by the Prelates and lastly either despised or neglected by the people the hatred and rancor conceived against his enemies with eagrenesse of oppositioÌ„ kindling and having long continuance therein hath strongly settled and produced effects of cleane contrarie nature the Princes have ioyned in holie league for the vpholding of him the people with all furie have raged have fought against have murdered and massacred his opposites in all places and the cleargie of Fraunce which heretofore withstoode him in many Councels doth now call maynly for his CouÌ„cell of Trent to bee admitted A Councell of all other most partiall vnto him carried by him with such infinit guile and craft without any sinceritie vpright dealing or truth as that theÌ„selves will even smile in the triumphes of their owne wittes when they heare it but mentioned as at a master Stratageme Yea so strongly hath this opposition fastened his Cleargie vnto him that the name of a Generall Councel is now the most plausible which in former time was the most fearefull thing to him in the world and wherevnto hee was never brought with any better good will then an olde bitten Beare is drawne to the stake to be bayted by his enemies who dare tugge him in company at whom in single they scarce durst barke so powerfull is the nature of all opposition to increase despight and hatred against the enemie and to make friends especially those that are interessed in the same cause to cleave more close together Yea rather so wise is the ever admirable Creator even in all his workes of what nature so ever as to temper the very accidents in the life of man with such proportion and counterpoise that no prosperity without his inconvenience no adversitie without his comfort to chase out of mans life security and dispaire the only enimies of all vertuous honest courses To each thing hath the goodnesse of that Architect imparted a peculiar badge of honour that nothing should be dispiseable in the eies of other the prince in maiesty soveraignty of power the nobility in wisdome dominative vertue togither with the instruments therof as riches reputation allies and followers the people in their multitude are respectable and honorable which multitude being of so great consequence in matter of state the policy of the papacy hath not neglected but provided both reasonable intertainment for them and fit means also to practise and work vpon them here commeth in those heaps of their religious orders and that multitude of Friars which abound in all places but wherwith Italy above all doth swarme A race of people in former times honorable in their holines now for the most part contemptible in their wickednes and misery alwaies praying but seldome with signe of devotion vowing obedience but stil contentious chastity yet most luxurious poverty yet every where scraping and covetous which I speak not of theÌ„ all there being many among them of singular piety devotion in their way but a very smal part as they generally reported where ever I have come But to returne to the aid which the Papacy do reape from them the onely contentfull care that the ordinary sort of men have in this world is for the providing for their childreÌ„ to leave them in good estate not inferior but rather above their ancestors which those that have many not being able to performe for all it is a great ease to them and such an ease as even Princes great Peeres themselves sometimes disdaine not but are rather glad of to