confirmed by those that heard them rather then by him that did not know them But others answered that there was no neede the Pope should then see them because nothing was done in Trent which was not first resolued by him In many consistories following the Pope spake for the obseruation of the Decrees of the Councell saying he would obserue them himselfe though hee was not bound and gaue his word that hee would neuer derogate from them but for euident and vrgent causes and with consent of the Cardinals He charged Morone and Simoneta to bee diligent in aduertising him if any contrary thing were proposed or handled in consistorie which was but a small remedie against the transgressions because not an hundreth part of the grants made in Rome are dispatched in consistorie He sent the Bishops to their residence and resolued to make vse of the Protonotaries and Referendaries in gouerning the citie of Rome and the Ecclesiasticall state But howsoeuer he was freed from great trouble by the conclusion of the Councell yet there were some remainders of it in all kingdomes which brought new difficulties vpon him Aduice came out of Spaine that the King was offended with the ending of And are executed in Spaine by the Kings authority onely the Councell and determined to call the Bishops and agents for the Clergie of Spaine before him to set downe in what manner it might bee executed And the aduice was not false For not only all that was done in Spaine for receiuing and executing the Decrees of the Councell that yeere partly in the Spring and partly in the Autumne was by order and resolution taken in the Kings Councell but the King sent also his Presidents to the Synods which were held causing to bee proposed that which pleased him and was fit for his seruice to the great distast of the Pope who was angry the King should take so much vpon him in matters Ecclesiasticall But hee made no demonstration Which maketh the Pope angry heereof to his Ministers purposing to make vse of it in another opportunitie designed by himselfe which shall bee related in due place The President de Ferrieres hauing while hee remained in Venice made obseruations vpon the Decrees of the two last Sessions held after his departure from Trent and sent them to the Court the Cardinall of Loraine at his The Card of Lorain is taxeâ— in France at his returne returne into France had many assaults and reprehensions for consenting to things preiudiciall to the Kingdome They said that by the words of the first Article of reformation in the last Session where it is said that the Pope hath charge of the vniuersall Church in Latin Sollicitudinem Ecclesiae Vniuersae hee had yeelded the point which himselfe and all the French Bishops had so long contended for and obtained that preiudice might not bee done to the opinion of France of the superioritie of the Councell aboue the Pope that hee might haue remedied this with one little word by making them say as S. Paul had done care of all the Churches because no man would haue denied that kind of speech which S. Paul did vse that preiudice was likewise done to the same opinion of the superioritie of the Councell in the one and twentieth Article of the last session sauing in all the Decrees the authoritie of the Apostolique Sea and in the last Decree for demanding the Popes confirmation It was opposed also that the King and French Church hauing contested that the Councell might bee declared to bee new and not the old continued the continuation was declared that it was one Councell with that of Paul and Iulius in the said one and twentieth Article and in the Decree for reading the things constituted vnder those Popes by which all was basely yeelded which had beene two yeeres maintained by the King They sayd moreouer that the approbation of the things done vnder Iulius was dishonourable and preiudiciall to the protestation then made by King Henry the second But they reprehended aboue all that honourable mention hauing beene alwayes made vnder Paul and Iulius of King Francis the first and King Henry the second together with Charles the fifth the Cardinall had not caused a memorie to bee made of them in the acclamations when it was made of Charles nor the present King to bee named when the liuing Emperour was The Cardinall excused other things saying that with sixe Prelates for hee had no more in his company hee was not able to resist the consent of more then two hundred But this last opposition hee knew not how to excuse though hee sayd it was to preserue the peace of the two Kingdomes For it was replied that he might haue suffered others to make the inâ—onation and not to haue been the authour himselfe of that preiudice And so it is seene that vaine men often times thinking to gaine reputation by retaile doe lose it in grosse But the Counsellers of the Parliament found many other things to oppose The censure of the Parliament of Paris vpon the last Session against the Articles of Reformation published in those two Sessions where the Ecclesiasticall authority they said was inlarged beyond its bounds with the wrong and diminution of the temporall by giuing power to Bishops to proceede to pecuniary mulcts and imprisonment against the Laitie whereas no authority was giuen by CHRIST to his Ministers but meere and pure Spirituall that when the Clergâ—e was made a member and part of the policie the Princes did by fauour allow the Bishops to punish inferiour Clergie-men with temporall punishments that discipline might bee obserued amongst them but to vse such kinde of punishments against the Laiques they had neither from the Law of God nor of man but by vsurpation onely that in the matter of Duell they pretend to proceede against the Emperour Kings and other Souâ—reignes who graunt it in their Kingdomes euen by excommunication whereas their opinion was that to permit Duell in some cases was not amiffe as the permitting of fornication and other offences howbeit they are sinnes was not ill in regard of publique vtilitie and to auoyd greater inconueniences They said that this power beeing naturall and giuen to the Princes by God could not bee taken away or restrained by any power of man They thought it also intolerable to excommunicate Kings and Princes holding it for a sure maxime in France that the King cannot bee excommunicated nor his officers for execution of their offices They added that to depriue Princes of their States Lords of their Fees and to confiscate the goods of priuate men were all vsurpations of the temporall authoritie because that which was giuen by CHRIST to the Church doeth not extend it selfe to things of this nature Concerning Patronages they said great wrong was done to the Seculars in disabling their proofes and that the whole Article was grounded vpon a false maxime that all benefices are free if the Patronage bee not
the infinite length in the dispatches the impediments in the diligent examination the difficulty to informe so many the seditions made by the factious it is to bee beleeued that they haue beene intermitted because they did notsucceed well and that the Courts and Officers haue beene brought in to remedy those disorders It cannot be denied that these haue some that deserue to be prouided against which is fit to doe without restoring that which was abolished because it was intollerable In Appeales the custome was to passe by the intermediate Superiours and not at the first to leap to the highest which was taken away because the Gouernours of Prouinces and Countries were become Tyrants ouer the Church and for a remedie all businesses were carried to Rome This hath its inconueniencies the great distance of place and charge but they are more tollerable then oppression He that would reduce the first custome should find that in stead of redressing one euill hee should cause many and euery one greater But aboue all it must be considered that the same publike thing must not alwayes bee ordered in one manner but as time hath mutations so it is fit to change the gouernment The ancient manner of gouerning will not be profitable except the ancient state of the Church doe returne Hee that seeing how children are gouerned and how the libertie of eating and drinking any thing at any time is cause of health and strength should thinke an old man might doe so would find himselfe much deceiued The Churches were little compassed with Pagans vnited amongst themselues as beeing neere the enemy now they are great without any opposite to keepe them in their duetie whereupon the common things are neglected and it is necessarie they should be cared for by one If the causes did continue in euery Prouince within a few yeeres there would bee such diuersitie that one would bee contrary to another and they would not seeme to be of the same faith and religion The Popes of Rome tooke not vpon them in ancient times many parts of gouernment when they saw it was good but reserued it to themselues when it was abused by others Many succeeding Popes were of holy life and good intension who would haue restored it but that they saw that in a corrupt matter it could not be well vsed His conclusion was that to preserue the vnity of the Church it was necessary to leaue things as they are Neither did this please the Italian Prelats who would haue the Popes authoritie preserued yet withall some thing restored to themselues especially being to reside therefore they came to moderate the businesse To restore Synodall iudicatures was reiected by almost all because it did diminish the Episcopall and was too popular To appeale by degrees though it was maintained by many yet it was excluded by pluralitie of voyces To appeale from the definitiues alone was accommodated with a limitation that it should be onely in criminall causes others beeing left in the same state though perhaps they had more neede to be reformed For proceeding against the persons of the Bishops no man desiring to facilitate the iudicature against himselfe the restoring of it to Parochiall Synods vnto which it did formerly belong was not spoken of but they desired to prouide that it remaining in the Popes hands it should passe with greater dignitie of that order moderating the commissions which came from Rome by which they were forced to appeare and submit themselues to persons of an inferior ranke And this was so earnestly desired by all that it was necessary for the Legat to yeeld vnto it though he was not pleased with any exaltation of the Bishops because all was taken from the Pope which was giuen to them The Dutch Prelates did propose that the lawes of the Degradations might be moderated as being intolerable and giuing much occasion of complaint in Germany For it being a pure ceremonie which hindereth Iustice and The Dutch Prelates complaine of the lawes of Degradation they hauing desired a moderation euer since the yeere 1522. in the one and thirtieth of the hundred grieuances to see that the abuse is continued giueth matter of scandall to some and of detraction to others The ancient vse of the Church was that if any Ecclesiasticall person would returne to the secular state to the end it might not appeare that those who were deputed to the A discourse about Degradation ministerie of the Church should serue the world the Bishops did vse to take from him the Ecclesiasticall degree as in warre to hold themselues in more reputation it was not graunted to a Souldier to returne to ciuill functions and be subiect to the ciuill Iudge if he were not first bereaued of his militarie degree which therefore was called Degradation taking from him his girdle and armes as with those he was created a Souldier Therefore when any Cleargie man either willingly or by the lawes was to returne to secular functions or for some faults was made subiect to that Court the Bishops did take from him the degree with the same ceremonies with the which he was inuested spoilng him of the habits and taking out of his hand the instruments by the assignation of which he was deputed to the ministerie Being apparelled iust as if hee were to minister in his charge hee was to be stripped first of that which was last in the ordination and with contrary words to those that were vsed in the promotion And this was very vsuall in those first times after Constantine for three hundred yeeres But about the yeere sixe hundred a custome was brought in not to permit Cleargie-men of holy Order to returne to the world and to others it was granted to doe it at their pleasure whereupon by little and little the Degradation of the lesser was wholy disused and that of the greater was restrained onely to this case when they were to be made subiect to the secular Court And Iustinian regulating the iudicature of the Cleargie after he had ordained that in Ecclesiasticall delicts they should be chastized by the Bishops and in secular delicts which hee called Ciuill by the publique Iudge added that the punishment should not bee executed before the partie guiltie were despoyled of 〈◊〉 Priesthood by the Bishop And after that criminall iudicature ouer the Clergie was granted to the Bishops the Degradation remained onely when the punishment was death which in regard of the dignity of their order the Ecclesiastiques would not haue inflicted vpon a Clergie man But in cases of exorbitant wickednesse it seemed that it could not be denied without scandall therefore they found a way to doe that indirectly which directly they could not saying it was iust that the offences of the Clergie should bee punished with deserued death but the Degradation was first necessary which they made so difficult by circumstances of solemnitie that very seldome it could bee done And this procured a greater reuerence of the Clericall
fauouring the Colonnesi and therefore spake very often disgracefully of them in the presence of all sorts of persons but most willingly when any Spanish Cardinall was present and at last commanded it should be written vnto them None of these proofes taking effect hee proceeded further and the three and twentieth day of Iuly made the Fiscal and Siluester Aldobrandinus the Consistoriall Aduocate appeare in the Consistory who declared that his Holinesse hauing excommunicated and depriued Marcus Antonius Colonna and prohibited vnder the same censures all sorts of persons to assist or fauour him and it being notorious that the Emperour and King Philip his The Pope maketh shew that he will proceed against the Emperor and his sonne sonne had furnished him with horse foote and money they were fallen into the punishments of the same sentence and had lost their Territories which they held in Fee Therefore they desired that his Holinesse would proceed to a declaratory sentence and giue order for execution The Pope answered that he would aduise of it by the counsell of the Cardinals and giuing them leaue to depart he proposed in Consistory what was fit to bee done in a case of so great importance The French Cardinals spake with much honour of the Emperour and King Philip but so that the Pope was more prouoked The Imperialists vsed words of an ambiguous sence fit to gaine time The Theatini the Popes owne Cardinals spake magnificently of the Papall authoritie and of the worth and wisedome of his Holinesse who onely knew how to finde a remedy for that maladie praising all that he had done and referring themselues vnto him for all the rest The Consistory being dismissed without a resolution the Pope knew that either hee must yeeld or come to a warre from which beeing not auerse in regard of his naturall disposition full of courage and hopes aduice came fitly to him from his Nephew of what was concluded in France So that the discourses of reformation and Councels were turned into parleys of money Souldiers and intelligences of which things as not pertaining to my purpose I will onely say as much as may shew what the Popes minde was and how much he was addicted to a true or at least to a colourable reformation of the Prouideth for warre Church The Pope armed the Citizens and inhabitants of Rome for the most part artisans and strangers to the number of 5000 distributing them vnder the Heads of the Rioni for so they were called hee caused many of his Cities to bee fortified and put garisons in them and the French King sent Wards or precincts him at his instance 3000. Gascons by sea that hee might subsist while the royall Army was prepared In these negotiations and preparations for warre the Pope imprisoned And imprisoneth many Cardinals Barons vpon suspicion and King Philip his Ambassadour many Cardinals Barons and others vpon suspicion as also Carsillasso di Vega Ambassadour of Philip King of England and Ioannes Antonius Tassis the Emperours Post-master And to the Duke of Alua who sent to protest against him for maintaining in Rome the fugitiues of the kingdome of Naples for laying hands on and keeping in prison publique persons without reason for hauing opened the Kings letters all which things hee had done adding that the King for preseruation of his honour and of the right of his people could not choose in case his Holinesse did perseuere in such offensiue actions but seeke reuenge for the iniurie he sent backe an answere that The Duke of Alua protesteth of the wrong done to his Master by the Pope and receueth a proud answere hee was a free Prince and superiour to all others not bound to giue any account but to demaund it of any whosoeuer that hee might entertaine any persons and open any letters which hee thought to bee written against the Church that if Carcillasso had done the office of an Ambassadour nothing should haue been done against him but hauing made treaties mooued seditions 1557 PAVL 4. CHARLES 5. MARY HENRY 2. plotted against the Prince to whom he was sent he had offended as a priuate man and as such should bee punished that no danger should make him bee wanting to the dignity of the Church and defence of that Sea referring all to GOD by whom hee was made shepheard of the flocke of CHRIST And the Pope still continuing to make prouision the Duke of Alua being resolued that it was better to assault then to bee assaulted sent another protestation against him that the King hauing endured so many iniuries knowing that the intention of his Holinesse was to dispossesse him of the kingdome of Naples and beeing assured that to this end hee had made a league with his enemies could not continue in those termes and therefore in regard his Holinesse did desire warre hee did denounce it against him and would begin it quickly protesting that the calamities thereof could not be imputed to him and laying the blame vpon the Pope But if he desired peace he did offer it likewise vnto him with all readinesse The Pope making a shew to desire peace but answering onely in generall termes to gaine time the Duke began to make warre the fourth of September and in the yeere 1556. possessed himselfe of almost all Campania holding it in the For which cause he moueth warre against him name of the next Pope and came so neere to Rome that he put all the Citie in feare and made them strengthen and fortifie it And the Pope to teach the Gouernours of strong places what they ought to doe in such cases compelled all the religious persons of what state or qualitie soeuer to carry earth with a dosser on their shoulders to raise the bulwarkes Amongst other places which had need of Rampards one was neere the gate of the people at the end of the way called Flaminia where there is a Church of our Ladie The Pope armeth the Regulars and purposeth to pull downe a Church of great deuotion of much deuotion which the Pope purposing to pull downe the Duke sent to pray him to let it stand giuing his word and oath that he would make no vse of the opportunitie of that place But the greatnesse of the Citie and other respects and dangers counselled him not assayling Rome to vndertake smaller enterprises It gaue much matter of discourse that this yeere Charles the Emperor The Emperor quitteth the world parted from Flanders and passed into Spaine to betake himselfe to a priuate life in a solitary place so that they made a comparison betweene a Prince trained vp from his infancie in the negotiations and affaires of the world who at the age of little more then fifty yeeres had resolued to quit the world and onely to serue God changed from a mighty Prince to a meane religious person and one who had formerly abandoned the Eiscopal charge to retire into a Monastery and now being at the age
Holinesse had depriued himselfe of doing the King any good office by giuing him so great a grieuance The Pope answered againe not for out cause but your owne and for the benefiâ—s 〈◊〉 by vs to the King these words were not worthy to bee put into the protestation made vnto 〈◊〉 The President Birague arriued in Trent at the same time whom as we said before the French King had sent to the Councel and the Emperour who 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trent was receiued in Congregation the second of 〈◊〉 where no Ambassadors inferior to the French were present that he might 〈◊〉 them place because Is receiued in congregation he had not the title of Ambassadour in the Kings 〈◊〉 He presented the letters of the King dated the fifteenth of April which saiel in substance That the troubles and 〈◊〉 raised in the kingdome for cause of religion were very well knoweâ—â— also his 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 and assistance of Princes and 〈◊〉 his friends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by armes that it pleased God in his incomprehensible Iudgements not to suffer those remedies of armes to produce any thing but 〈◊〉 slaughters sackings of cities ruines of Churches losse of Princes Lords Knights and other calamities and desolations so that it is easie to know that they were not fit to heale the infirmitie of Spirits which are ouercome onely by reason and perswasion that this hath caused him to make a Pacification according to the contents of his letters dispatched vpon that occasion not to permit the establishing of a new faith in the kingdome but that armes being layd aside he might with lesse contradiction make an vnion of all his Subiects in the same holy and Catholike religion a benefit which he did expect from the mercy of God and from a good and serious reformation which he did promise himselfe from the Synod And because hee had many things to represent to them and to desire of them he resolued to send Monsieur Renaut Birague who would informe them of all by word of mouth praying them to receiue and heare him with courtesie The letters being read the President spake relating very particularly the And maketh an oration discords warres and calamities of France the State and necessitie into which the King and kingdome were reduced the imprisonment of the Constable and death of the Duke of Guise which made them to bee as it were without armes Hee iustified the accord at large as being made for pure and meere necessitie and with more aduantage to the Catholike partie then to the contrary That the intention of the King and Councell was not to suffer an introduction or an establishment of a new religion but on the contrary armes and disobedience being remoued to reduce with lesse contradiction and by the wayes obserued by his ancestors to the obedience of the Church those that were out of their way and to reunite all in an holy Catholique profession knowing very well that the exercise of two religions cannot long subsist and continue in one kingdome Then he said that the King did hope to reunite quickly all his people in one opinion by the singular grace of GOD and by meanes of the Councell a remedy vsed alwayes by the ancients against such euils as those were which did then afflict Christendome Heprayed the Fathers to further the Kings good intention by a serious reformation by reducing manners to the 〈◊〉 and puritie of the ancient Church and by composing the differences in religion promising that the King would alwayes bee Catholike and deuoted to the Church of Rome according to the example of his ancestours Hee said in conclusion that the King did trust in the goodnesse and wisedome of the Fathers that they would compassionate the miseries of France and labour to cure them The President had commission to demaund that the Councel might be translated to a place where the Protestants might have free accesse For notwithstanding all the securitie giuen by the Pope and the Councell they held Trent suspected and desired a place where the Emperour might secure their But he touched not this point by the aduieâ— of Lordiuâ— and the French Ambassadours who â—â—ought it not fit to make 〈◊〉 and held it 〈…〉 of which 〈…〉 ker should answer Birague in the name of the Synod condoling the misfortunes and calamities of the kingdome of France and exhorting the King that hauing beene forced to make peace and to grant something to the Hugonots to restore religion intirely he would for the seruice of GOD when the kingdome was in peace labour without any delay that this good end might be obtained And they shewed this answer to Loraine after the Masse before they entred into the Congregation Who said hee did not like they should approue the Kings fact whereof they should rather complaine as preiudiciall to the faith and therefore that it was better to take time to answere as the vse is in matters of importance Whereupon they gaue order that Birague should be answered thus insubstance That in regard the things related and proposed by him were of great weight and had need of much consideration the Synod would take a fit time to answere him The French Ambassadours were much displeased with this fact of Loraine thinking that if the Legates had not beene disposed to commend the Kings actions hee ought to haue incited them yea to force them as much as hee could whereas on the contrary they iudging a commendation of the fact to bee iust and reasonable as indeed it was he had disswaded them But consulting amongst themselues they resolued not to write thereof into France for many respects and Lansac being to returne shortly might make that relation which should be thought necessary The moneth before there hapned a great tumult and popular commotion in Bauaria because the Cup was not allowed nor married men suffered A tumult in Bauaria for the Cup and mariage of Priests to preach which disorder proceeded so farre that to appease them the Duke promised in the Diet that if in all Iune a resolution were not made in Trent or by the Pope to giue them satisfaction himselfe would grant both the one and the other This newes comming to the Councel made the Legats dispatch in diligence Nicolaus Ormonetus to perswade that Prince not to make such a grant promising that the Councell would not bee wanting to his necessities To whom the Duke answered that to shew his obedience and deuotion to the Apostolike Sea hee would vse all meanes to entertaine his people as long as he could expecting and hoping that the Councell would resolue that which they saw to bee necessary notwithstanding the determination made before But the Congregations proceeding in handling the Conciliarie matters The Bishopof Nimes speaketh against Annates in one of them the Bishop of Nimes speaking of the abuses of Order discoursed of Annates He said that howsoeuer it could not bee denied that all Churches ought to contribute to
as few preiudiciall things as was possible all which hee did referre to their wisedome who were in the businesse so that the Councell might end with speede But the Legates hauing together with some of the Prelates considered the propositions of the Ambassadours concerning the reformation and And so doe the Legats at their instance omitted sixe of the Articles proposed and reduced them to the number of two and thirtie the one and twentieth of August gaue them to the Prelates to bee discussed Loraine made particular congregations of the French-men to examine them which did please the Legates not onely because they were assured hee had the same intention as they had but because they were desirous to accommodate them to the common satisfaction before they were spoken of in generall Congregation And they gaue order to the Archbishop of Otranto and Taranto and to the Bishop of Parma to assemble their adherents in their priuate houses to examine them and search what would giue a generall contentment This continuing some dayes the Spaniards and some Italians who were not called murmured very much resoluing to make a mutinie and to oppose The Archbishop of Otranto went to the Catholique Ambassadour who The Spanish Ambassadour is displeased with the priuâ—te congregations admonished him and sayd hee was not willing to write to the King those things that would not please him and told him that those particular congregations were so well vnderstood by all Prelates that he could not choose but giue his Maiestie an account of it Hee excused himselfe and sayd all was for a good end to facilitate the matter and to prouide against the difficulties before the generall Congregation And the Bishop of Ischia comming iust then to speake with the Count from the Cardinall Morone hee told him the same that those priuate Congregations did displease him and that his opinion was they could not bee for any other end then to cause difficulties and to omit part of the Articles that the Session might sooner bee celebrated Notwithstanding the Legates ayming more to satisfie the Prelates then the Ambassadour hauing considered on the things obserued in those particular congregations held them for good aduertisements and did alter and compose the Decrees according to them But as they were about to giue them foorth so corrected the Archbishop of Prague vpon an instruction newly brought vnto him by a Currier from the Emperour did instantly desire the Legats not to propose the Reformation of Secular Princes vntill they had answere from his Imperiall Maiestie and afterwards was seconded by the Count of Luna The Legates were much perplexed herewith considering that France first and now the Emperour and King of Spaine were not satisfied And on the other side the common desire of all the Fathers was that the reformation should bee made all together Whereupon being assembled in the house of Nauaggero who was sicke they proposed whether all the reformation should be put off The Reformation of Princes and some Articles of the other Reformation are differed or onely that part which concerneth Princes Loraine was of opinion that onely this should be deferred and the residue proposed which would haue pleased but that they doubted they should make the Prelates afraid that the secular reformation should bee wholly omitted whereby they might take occasion to exclaime both priuately and in the publique Congregations Whereupon they resolued to satisfie the Ambassadours deferring the reformation of Princes and that the Prelates might not take it ill to deferre halfe at the least of the other Articles and those the most important giuing foorth the rest as they had corrected them that the voyces might bee giuen and the Session celebrated though the difficultie about the Decree of clandestine marriages did make them doubt The sixt of September one and twenty Articles of reformation were giuen foorth with order to beginne the congregations on the morrow In the composition of these Cardinall Simoneta and his adherents vsed all their Arte and ingenie to proceede with such a temper that the Court of Rome might not bee preiudiced and the world which desired reformation and the Ambassadours who did solicite it satisfied and which was of most importance the Bishops contented For beeing desirous to finish the Councell it was necessary that they should willingly concurre The BB. had all one ayme to haue the gouernment more free which they thought they should obtaine if three prouisions were made One that Parish Priests should depend on them which would happen if the collation of Benefices with cure were giuen vnto them which point besides other difficulties did touch Reseruations and the rules of the Chancerie which was to discouer a great part of the secrets of the Court of Rome For it did plainely appeare that a gate would bee opened to take all collations from them which was as much as to take from them all power and life it selfe Therefore they came to a temper to hold the Reseruations firme but to make the Bishops Patrons to giue the Cure to whom they please vpon pretence of examination And to this end the 18. Article was framed with exquisite artifice as euery one may see which with a faire shew giueth power to the Bishop to bestow the Benefice on whom he pleaseth and yet taketh no profite from the Court Another point was of exemptions wherein they had formerly receiued many satisfactions and now the 11. Article was added for a totall complement The exemptions of the regular Orders remained and the Bishops were in hope either to take them quite away or at the least so to moderate them that they should be subiect vnto them in a great part Euer since the beginning of the yeere there was a congregation erected about the reformation of the regulars which by the assistance of the Generals and aduice of other religious persons in Councell had made a great progresse and established good decrees without contradiction for outwardly and in shew the Regulars did not onely not abhorre but desire them but secretly they made account to interpret and practise them as they listed yea they thought it good to haue a strict reformation in writing as indeede all The Reformation of the Regulars their rules are one thing as they are written and another as they are obserued But when they beganne to speake of moderating their exemptions and subiecting them at least in part to the Bishops the Generals and the Diuines of the Orders did mutiny all together and treating with the Ambassadours of Princes they shewed them what seruice they did to people Cities and publique Gouernements offering that if any abuse whatsoeuer were amongst them it should be amended that they would bee contented with any reformation and returning to their gouernements would execute it with more seuerity then it was ordayned but to subiect the Monasteries to the Ordinaries was absolutely to put them out of order For they not vnderstanding a regular life nor the seuerity
abuses whereof if they were not amended and the grieuances remoued and some Articles reformed it was impossible to make peace betweene the Ecclesiastiques and Seculars and to extirpate the present tumults And because Germany had consented to the paiment of Annates vpon condition they should be spent in the warre against the Turkes they being payd so many yeares and neuer conuerted to that vse they desired the Pope that from hencefoorth the Court of Rome might not be troubled to exact them but that they might be left to the Exchequer of the Empire for the expences of that warre And whereas his Holinesse demanded counsell of the meanes by the which he might oppose himselfe to so great inconuenience they answered that if the treaty were not of Luther onely but of rooting out altogether many errours and vices which by long custome and for diuers respects The Councel is demanded in the Diet to be held in some place of Germany haue taken deepe roote by some ignorantly by others maliciously defended they deemed no remedy more commodious effectuall and opportune then if his Holines by the Emperours consent would call a godly free and Christian Councell so soone as it were possible in some conuenient place in Germanie that is in Argentine in Mentz Collen or Metz not deferring the conuocation thereof aboue a yeere granting power to euery one as well Ecclesiastical as Secular to speake and giue counsell for the glory of God and saluation of soules any oath or obligation to the contrary notwithstanding Which they thinking that his Holinesse ought speedily to execute and being desirous to make for the interim the best prouision they were able they were resolued to treat with the Elector of Saxonie that the Lutherans should neither write not print any more that the preachers throughout all Germanie should be silent in those things that might cause popular tumult should preach the holy Gospel sincerely and purely according to the doctrine approued by the Church not mouing disputations but reseruing all controuersies to the determination of the Councell That the Bishops should depute godly and learned men to be superintendents ouer the preachers to informe correct them yet so as that no suspition might be giuen that it was done to hinder the truth of the Gospel that hereafter no new thing should be printed before it were seen allowed by honest learned men Hoping by this means to prouide against the tumults if his Holines will take order against the grieuances and ordaine a free and Christian Councell not doubting but that the tumults will so be quieted and the greater part reduced to tranquillity For vndoubtedly all honest men would expect the determination of the Councell when they saw that it was to bee celebrated quickly Concerning married Priests and religious men who returned to the world they thought it sufficient if the Ordinaries did impose vpon them Canonicall punishments because the Ciuill Lawes had made no prouision against them But in case they commit any wickednesse that the Prince or Magistrate in whose Territory they shall offend ought to giue them their due chastisement 62 The Nuncio was not satisfied with this answere and resolued to reply The replie of the Nuncio to the answer of the Di 〈…〉 And first for the cause why the Popes sentence and the Emperours Edict against Luther were not executed he sayd that the reason alleadged did not satisfie which was that they refrained to doe it to auoyd scandals For it was not conuenient to tolerate an euill that good may come thereby and that they ought to esteeme more the saluation of soules then worldly tranquillity He added that Luthers followers ought not to be excused by the scandals and grieuances of the Court of Rome For in case they were true yet ought they not to forsake the Catholique vnitie but rather support whatsoeuer was amisse with all patience Whereupon he entreated them to execute the sentence and Edict before the Diet ended And if Germany were any way burthened by the Court of Rome the Apostolicall Sea would bee ready to ease it And if there were any differences betweene the Ecclesiastiques and secular Princes the Pope was willing to compose and extinguish them Concerning the Annates then he said nothing for that his Holinesse would answere them in time conuenient But to their demand of a Councell he replied that his hope was that it would not displease his Holinesse if they had demanded it in more fitting termes and therefore besought them to take away all those words that might giue him any vmbrage As those that the Councell might be called by the Emperours consent and those other that the Councell might be Celebrated rather in one Citie then another For if they were not taken away it seemed they would binde his Holinesse hands a thing which could not produce any good effect For the Preachers he intreated them that the Popes decree might be obserued that thence forward none might preach before his doctrine were examined by the Bishop For the Printers and diuulgers of Books he replied that the answer no way pleased him that they ought to execute the sentence of the Pope and Emperour to burne the bookes and punish the diuulgers earnestly aduertising them that all consisted in this And concerning bookes to be printed hereafter that the late Lateran Councell ought to be obserued But for the married Priests the answere would not haue displeased him had it not had a sting in the taile while it was sayd that if they shall doe any wicked thing they shall be punished by the Princes or Magistrates For this would be against the liberty of the Church and the sickle would be put into another mans field and those men would be censured by the world who are reserued vnto CHRIST For Princes should not presume to beleeue that they were deuolued to their iurisdiction by their apostasie nor that they could be punished by them for their other offences in regard the character remaining in them and the order they are euer vnder the power of the Church neither can Princes doe more then delate them to their Bishops and superiours that may chastize them In the end he desired them to consider more maturely vpon the foresaid things and to giue a better answer more plaine more sound and better consulted of 63 The reply of the Nuncio was not well taken in the Diet and it was commonly spoken amongst those Princes that he had a measure of good and Was not well tâ—ken by the Princes euill only by relation vnto the profit of the Court and not to the necessities of Germany and that the conseruation of the Catholike amity ought rather to incite to doe the good that is easie to be executed then to support the euill which is hard to be indured And yet the Nuncio desired that Germany would support with all patience the oppressions layd vpon it by the Court of Rome which was not
them as because euery one would bow at that maiesticall and venerable name But the Pope who feared nothing more then a Councell especially if it were to bee celebrated beyond the mountaines free and in the presence of those who alreadie had openly shaken off the yoke of obedience saw very well what an easie thing it was for these to perswade the others also Hee considered further that although the cause was common to him with all other Bishops whom the new opinions sought to depriue of the wealth they possessed yet there remained some matter of distast betweene them and the Court of Rome For they pretended that collation of Benefices with the reseruations and preuentions was vsurped from them and a great part of their authoritie taken away and drawen to Rome by calling of causes thither by reseruations of dispensations absolutions and such like faculties which formerly being common to all Bishops the Popes of Rome had appropriated to themselues Whereupon it was represented vnto him that the celebration of a Councell would be a totall diminution of the Popes authoritie Therefore he turned all his thoughts to perswade the Emperor that a Councell And the Pope did infinitely disswade the Emperour from desiring a Councell vvas not good to pacifie the stirres of Germanie but pernicious for the Imperiall authoritie in those Prouinces He put him in mind of two sorts of persons the multitude and the Princes and Grandies that it vvas probable that the multitude vvas deceiued but to giue it satisfaction in the demand of a Councell vvas not to giue it more light but to bring in popular licence If it vvere granted vnto them to make question or seeke greater perspicuitie in religion they vvould immediately pretend also to giue lavves for gouernement and to restraine the authoritie of Princes by Decrees and vvhen they haue obtained to examine and discusse the Ecclesiasticall authority they vvill learne also to trouble the temporall He shevved him that it vvas more easie to oppose the first demaunds of a multitude then after they had beene gratified in part to prescribe them a measure For the Princes and Grandies hee might assure himselfe that their end was not pietie but the making themselues Lords of the Ecclesiasticall goods and being become absolute to acknowledge the Emperour nothing at all or very little and that many of them kept themselues vnspotted with that contagion because they haue not as yet discouered the secret which being made manifest they will all addresse themselues to the same scope That there was no doubt but that the Papacio would lose much in the losse of Germanie but the losse of the Emperour and of the house of Austria would bee farre greater Against which if hee would make prouision he had no other meanes then seuerely to imploy his authoritie and power while the greater part obeyed him wherein expedition was necessarie before the number increased and the profit were discouered by all which is reaped by following those opinions That vnto expedition so necessarie nothing is more contrarie then to treate of a Councell For though euery one incline himselfe to it and no impediment bee interposed yet it cannot bee assembled but in length of yeeres nor the causes handled without prolixitie which thing onely he would consider For it were infinite to speake of impediments which would bee raysed for diuers interests rests of persons who would oppose themselues with diuers pretences at the least putting in delayes that it may come to nothing That there was a same spread that the Popes will haue no Councell for feare their authoritie should be restrained a reason which maketh no impression at all in him hauing his authoritie immediately from Christ with promise that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it And the experience of former times hath shewed that the Papall authoritie hath neuer beene diminished in any Councell but according to the words of our Lord the Fathers haue euer confessed it to bee absolute and vnlimited as it is in deede And when the Popes in humilitie or for some other respect haue forborne to vse it intirely the Fathers haue made him to put it wholly in execution And this is cleerely to be seene by him that shall reade the things that are past For the Popes haue alwayes imployed this meanes against the new opinions of heretiques and in euery other necessitie with increase of their authoritie And setting aside the promise of CHRIST which is the true and onely foundation and considering the things but temporally the Councel consisteth of Bishops vnto Bishops the Papall greatnesse is profitable because they are by that protected against Prince and people Kings and other Souereignes also who haue vnderstood and will vnderstand well the rules of gouerning will alwayes fauour the Apostolicall authoritie hauing no other meanes to represse and keepe in order their Prelates when they haue the spirit to goe beyond their degree The Pope concluded that in his minde hee was so assured of the issue that hee could speake thereof as a Prophet and affirme that by calling a Councel greater disorders would ensue in Germany For those that desire it pretend to continue vntill then in what they haue begun when their opinions shall bee condemned and nothing else can succeede they will take another cloake to detract from the Councell and in conclusion the Emperours authoritie in Germany will come to nothing and in other places will be shaken the Popes power will bee diminished in that Countrey and in all the residue of the world will bee increased the more And therefore the Emperour should beleeue his opinion the rather because hee was not mooued by his proper interest but with a desire to see Germany reunited to the Church and himselfe obeyed That nothing The Pope perswadeth the Emperor to execute the sentence of Leo and the Edict of Wormes would take good effect if hee went not presently into Germany and immediately vsed his authoritie intimating that the sentence of Leo and the Edict of Wormes should bee executed without any replie not giuing eare to any thing the Protestants could say either demanding a Councell or more instruction or alleaging their appeale or protestation or any other excuse because they are all but pretences of impietie That hee should vse force against the first incounter of disobedience which would bee easie for him to doe against a few hauing all the Ecclesiasticall Princes and the greater part of the Seculars who to this end would take armes with him That this and no other thing is congruous to the office of the Emperour Aduocate of the Church of Rome and to the oath taken in Aquisgran and which hee ought to take in receiuing the Crowne from his hand Lastly that it was a cleere case that the holding of a Councell or any other treatie or negotiation in this occasion would necessarily end with warre Therefore it was better to make triall of composing these disorders by the
proceed ioyntly with the Ambassadors and Prelates and to communicate to them their most inward thoughts whereupon when letters came from Rome or Germanie they assembled all to reade them But perceiuing that Don Diego equalized himselfe to them and the Bishops presumed more then they were wont to doe at Rome and fearing some inconuenience would arise when their number did encrease they sent aduise to Rome that alwaies one letter should be written to bee shewed and the secret things apart because of the letters which they had receiued vntill then they had made no vse but by their wit They demanded also a cipher to communicate the matters of greater moment All which particularities with many more that shall bee spoken of hauing taken out of the Register of the letters of the Cardinall of Monte I haue not beene willing to conceale them because they serue to penetrate the depth of the treaties The moneth of March beeing past and the time prefixed in the Popes Bull to beginne the Councel expired many dayes the Legates consulted amongst themselues concerning the opening of it and resolued to expect aduise from Fabius Magnanellus Nuncio with Ferdinand of what was handled in Wormes and order from Rome after the Pope had heard of the arriuall and proposition of Don Diego and the rather because they were ashamed to make so great a beginning with three Bishops onely The Ambassadours of the King of the Romanes arriued the eight of April and a solemne congregation was made to receiue them In that Don Diego would haue preceded the Cardinall of Trent and sate next the Legates saying that in regard he represented the Emperour he ought to sit in the same place where his Maiestie D. Diego would haue preceded the Cardinall of Trent should But not to hinder the businesse they found out a way to place them so that it could not appeare who had the precedence The Kings Ambassadours presented onely their Prince his letter and declared by word of mouth his obseruance towards the Apostolique Sea and the Pope his readinesse to fauour the Councell and large offers and they The Ambassadours of the K. of the Romanes are receiued in congregation added that hee would send a commission in forme and persons better instructed After this the wished for aduise came to Rome and Trent of the proposition made in the Diet the 24. of March by King Ferdinand who was President there in the Emperours name and of the negotiation which followed thereupon The Kings proposition was that the Emperor had made peace with the French King that he might apply himselfe to coÌ„pose the differences of religion and prosecute the warre against the Turkes from whom he had The proposition of Ferdinand in the Diet. promise of assistance and an approbation of the Councel with a resolution to be there in person or by his Ambassadors That for this end it being before prorogued hee had dealt with the Pope to intimate it againe and solicited him to giue ayde against the Turkes That he had obtained the intimation of his Holinesse and that Ambassadors sent from the Emperor and himselfe were already in Trent That all the world knew what paines Caesar had taken to cause the Councel to bee celebrated first with Clement in Bolonia then with Paul in Rome Genua Nizza Lucca and Busseto That according to the Decree of Spira he had giuen order to men of learning and good conscience to compose a forme of reformation which was accordingly performed But it being a thing of great deliberation and the time short and the Turkish warre threatning them the Emperour was resolued not to speake of this any more but to expect how the Councel would proceed and what might bee hoped from it because it was suddenly to beginne and in case no fruit appeared hee might before the end of that Diet intimate another to handle all that businesse applying himselfe how to that which is of more importance that is the Turkish warre This proposition made the Protestants very suspitious For the peace of religion being to last vntill the Councell they were in doubt that when they were exhausted by contributions against the Turkes they should be assailed vpon pretence that the peace was ended by opening the Councel in Trent The suspition of the Protestants Yet they demanded that the treatie begun should bee continued alleadging that the time was long enough to him that feared God or at least that a new peace should be established vntill a lawfull Councel so often promised such as that of Trent was not for the reasons so many times rehearsed before And they declared that they could not contribute if they had not assurance of peace not â—â—ed to the Popes Councell which they had refused whensoeuer it was spoken of And though the Ecclesiastiques did consent absolutely that the cause of religion should be wholly remitted to the Councel yet it was resolued to expect the Emperours answere before the conclusion Three particulars in this action displeased the Pope and Legate which The Pope and the Legates were displeased with three particulars in the proposition were at Trent One that the Emperour arrogated to himselfe to haue induced the Pope to celebrate the Councell which argued small care of Religion in his Holinesse The second that he had induced the French King to consent vnto it which was no honour to his sanctitie to whom this belonged The third that hee would still keepe the bit in his mouth by a future Diet that in case the Councel went not forward hee should alwayes feare that things concerning Religion should be treated of in the Diet. The Pope was perpetually troubled not so much for the iniuries receiued from the Protestants as for the Emperours actions which as hee was wont to say though they seemed fauourable yet were more pernicious to religion and his authoritie which could not be separated Besides it seemed he was alwayes in danger that the Emperour would make some accord with the Dutch-men to his preiudice And thinking how to prouide a remedie hee could finde none but to set on foote a warre for Religion because the Protestants would bee curbed and the Emperour likewise intangled in a dangerous enterprise and all speech of reformation and the Councell would bee buried in silence He had great hope it would succeede by that which his Nuncio wrote vnto him that hee found in the Emperour great disdaine against the Protestants and that he hearkened to his propositions to subdue them by force For this respect beside that which was before related and to hinder that no preiudiciall thing might bee done in the Diet and to encourage and giue strength to his followers another cause was added more vrgent because it belonged to his priuate interest For being resolued to giue Parma and Piacenza to his son The Pope is resolued to giue Parma and Piacenza to his sonneâ—â— but feareth the Emperour hee thought he could not doe
Trent aduised the same Don Diego renewed his pretence to precede all but the Legates alleadging Don Diego reneweth his pretence for precedence that if when the Pope and Emperour met no man could sit betweene them the same ought to bee obserued in those that represented the one and the other and said hee had the aduice of learned men heerein The Legates answered in generall termes onely that they were ready to giue euery man his place expecting orders from Rome which pleased Don Diego hoping that decisions and examples thereof would bee found in the publike Records shewing hee was readie out of the Councell to giue place to euery pettie Priest but adding that in the Councell none after the Pope had more authoritie then his Prince Some that reade this relation may thinke it superfluous because it containeth matter of small weight but contrarily the writer of the Storie hath thought necessarie to make knowne from how small riuers so great a lake which possesseth all Europe hath been raised and he that shall see how many letters went to and fro before the opening was concluded would wonder at the esteeme was made of it and at the surmises that did flie abroad In Italie because they saw the Councell went on and hoped that now it would be celebrated the Bishops thought of their iourney The Vice-roy of Naples tooke care that all his should not goe His will was to send The Vice-roy of Naples would send but foure bishops to the Councell and those of his owne nomination and is much opposed foure of his owne nomination with commission from the rest of the Kingdome which are aboue an hundred Therefore the great Chaplaine of the kingdome assembled the Prelates in his house and intimated vnto them that they should make a proxie Many opposed and said they would goe in person because they were so bound by oath but in case they could not it was reasonable that euery one should name a Proctor according to his owne conscience and not one for all The Vice-roy was angrie and gaue order againe to the great Chaplaine to call them and command them to make the proxie and sent the like order to all the gouernours of the Kingdome This troubled the Pope and Legates very much because they knew not whether it came from the Viceroy his owne fantasie to shew himselfe a sufficient man or from want of wit or whether some other had made him doe it and proceeded from a deeper roote To discouer from whence this motiue came the Pope made a seuere Bull that none without exception should The Pope maketh a seuere Bull that none should appeare in Councell by Proctor appeare by Proctor This the Legates concealed as being too seuere because it contained all the Prelates of Christendome euen the most remote and those that had lawfull impediment who could not possibly obserue it and also because it was too rigid constituting that they incurred ipso facto the punishment of suspension from their Ministerie And they feared it would cause many irregularities nullities of actes and vndue receiuings of fruits and that by this meanes some discontented Nation might be stirred vp to appeale and contest for iurisdiction Wherefore they wrote that they ought not to publish it without new commission thinking the rumor that the Bull was made would suffice though it were not shewed What end this Bull had shall be declared in its fit place Another businesse remained though of smaller moment yet no lesse troublesome The Legats vntill then had receiued but small store of money The Legates require money for the expences of the Councell for their expences and were too poore to supplie out of their owne as was fit for them to doe in some particular in so much that if they so continued they should not be able to maintaine themselues Whereupon they did communicate it to Farnese and wrote to the Pope that it was not for his reputation to hold a Councell without necessarie and accustomed ornaments with that lustre that so great an assembly required for which it was necessarie to send some person to vndergoe this charge only and therefore it would be good to appoynt a Depositarie with a summe of money to discharge the occurring expences to assist some needie Prelate and to cherish some man of account a thing necessarie to procure a good end of the Councell The third of May ten Bishops being then arriued they made a congregation The first congregatiō spent in ceremonies to establish the things that should goe before in which they publikelie intimated the Popes commission to open the Councell adding that they would not determine of the day vntill they had imparted it to the Emperor This Congregation for the most part was spent in matters of ceremonie that the Legates though of diuers Orders one being a Bishop another a Priest and the third a Deacon should notwithstanding haue the same ornaments wearing Rochets all three alike as their office and authoritie was equall in one Legation and one Presidencie that the place for the Sessions should be beautified with hangings of Arras that it might not seeme an Assembly of mechanicall men They proposed whether it were fit to make seats for the Pope and Emperor which should be adorned and remaine emptie they treated whether it were fit to giue Don Diego a more honorable place then the other Ambassadours It was considered that the Bishops of Germanie who are Princes of the Empire doe pretend right of preceding all other Prelates euen Archbishops alle aging that it is not onely so obserued in the Diets but also that the Bishops which are not Princes stand bare before them It was remembred that the yeere before there was a difference in the same Citie where the Bishop of Heicstat and the Archbishops of Corsu and Ottranto met together at a Masse Some also alleaged that in the Popes chappell the Bishops that are Ambassadours for Dukes and other Princes doe precede the Archbishops and therefore that the Princes themselues should doe it much more And they concluded to resolue nothing herein vntill the Councell were more frequent that they might see how the French men and Spaniards did vnderstand it They thought fit to renew the Decree of Basil and of Iulius the second in the Laterane Councell that it should preiudice no man to sit out of his place The resolution to expect the aduice of Farnese to determine the day of opening the Councell gaue much satisfaction to Don Diego and those few Bishops shewed much deuotion and obedience to the Pope as did also the Bishop of Vercells who arriued the same day after the Congregation ended together with Cardinall Poole the third Legate While they met in Trent to conuince heresies by a Councell in France they did the same by force of armes against a small remainder of the Waldenses inhabitants of the Alpes of Prouence who as hath been said before maintained a separation from
Therefore the last of October hauing imparted all to the Cardinals by their counsell and aduise he ordained and wrote also to Trent that the Synode should be opened the next Sunday called Gaudete in Aduent which was to bee the 13. He giueth order to begin the Councell the 13. of December of December The Prelats shewed great ioy for the newes seeing themselues deliuered from the imminent danger to remaine long in Trent and doe nothing But a little after the ambiguities were on foot againe For letters came from The 3. Frenâ— Prelats are recalled but two of them are perswaded to remaine the French King to his Prelates which were three that they should depart This seemed to the Legates a thing of the greatest importance being as it were a declaration that France and the King approoued not the Councell They vsed all meanes to hinder their departure telling the Prelates that the King gaue that order when the case was otherwise and that they ought to expect another because his Maiestie was now informed of the present state putting them in minde of the scandall that would ensue in case they did otherwise and of the offence which other Nations would take The Cardinall of Trent and the Spanish and Italian Prelats protested against their departure Therefore in conclusion they tooke a middle course which the King commended when he knew it that the Lord of Renes should goe to giue the King account and the other two remaine The last of Nouember the time prefixed for the opening of the Councel approaching the Legates wrote to Rome that to preserue the authority of the Apostolique Sea it were fit in opening of it to read and register a Bull which might command it to bee done and they made a dispatch in all diligence that it might come in time The answere together with the Bull arriued the eleuenth of December Therefore the Legates commanded a fast and Procession the next day and made a Congregation of all the Prelates where first the bull was read and then all treated of which was to bee done the next day in the Session The Bishop of Estorga proposed after a pleasing manner that it was necessary to read in the Congregation the Briefe of the Legation and Presidencie that all might make profession of their obedience and subiection to the Apostolique Sea The request was approoued The Legates would not suffer the Bull of their Legation to bee read by almost all the Congregation and accompanied with the particular instance of euery one But the Legate Sancta Croce considering how farre the demand might reach and that to publish the authoritie of the Presidencie might breede danger to haue it limited thinking it better by keeping it secret to vse it as occasion serued answered readily that in the Councell all were but one bodie and that it was equally necessarie to reade the Buls of euery Bishop to shew hee was such a one instituted by the Apostolique Sea which would be tedious and by reason of those who dayly will come would spend the time of all the Congregations and so hee stopped the request and retained the dignitie of the Legation which consisted in beeing vnlimited The thirteenth of December came at last when in Rome the Pope published a Bull of Iubilie where hee declared that hee had intimated a Councel The Councel is opened in Trent and a Iubilie published in Rome to heale the wounds of the Church caused by impious heretikes Therefore hee exhorted euery one to assist the Fathers assembled therein with their prayers to God which to doe effectually and fruitfully they ought to confesse themselues and fast three dayes and during that time to goe in processions and then to receiue the most blessed Sacrament granting pardon of all his sinnes to whosoeuer did so The same day the Legates in Trent with all the Prelates in number 25. in pontifical habit accompanied With the Diuines Clergie and people of forreine parts and of the City made a solemne procession from Trinitie Church to the Cathedrall where Monte the The Ceremonies vsed prime Legate did sing the Masse of the holy Ghost in which the Bishop of Bitonto made a long copious eloquent Sermon That being ended the Legats caused a long written admonition to be read the summe whereof was that it was their charge during the whole course of the councel to admonish the Prelats in occurrences and that it was fit to begin in that Session vnderstanding The admonition of Card. Monte. that this admonition all the rest were as wel made to themselues as to others as being of the same condition with them that the Councel was assembled for three causes for the extirpation of heresie restitution of Ecclesiastical discipline and regaining of peace To execute which things it was fit to haue first a true inward sense what it was to be the cause of all those three calamities Of heresies not that they had raised them but that they had not performed their duetie in sowing good doctrine and rooting out the cockle Of manners corrupted that there was no neede to make mention it beeing manifest that the Clergie and Pastours onely were corruptors and corrupted For which things God had also sent the third plague which was the war forraine of the Turkes and ciuill of the Christians That without this inward and true acknowledgement their enterance into the Councell and calling vpon the holy Ghost were in vaine That the iudgement of God was iust to punish them so deepely though it were lesse then they deserued Therefore they exhorted euery one to know his owne faults to mitigate the wrath of God replying that the holy Ghost which they had inuocated would not come if they refused to heare of their owne sinnes and like Esdras Nehemiab and Daniel confesse them He added that it was a great blessing of God that there was such an occasion giuen to beginne a Councel for reformation on all hands And though contradictors will not bee wanting yet it was their duetie constantly to goe on and as Iudges to auoyde passion and aime onely at the glory of God in regard they are to performe this duety before him the Angels and the whole Church In fine they admonished the Bishops sent by the Princes to doe their Masters seruice with faith and diligence yet preferring the honour of God before all Afterwards the Bull of the intimation of the Councel in the yeere 1542. was read and a Briefe of the simple deputation of the Legates together with a Bull of the opening of the Councel and immediately Alfonso Zorilla Secretarie to Don Diego stepped forward and reproduced the Emperours Commission presented before to the Legates and shewed a letter of Don Diego in which he excused his absence by reason of his indisposition For his excuse the Legates sayd it was worthy to bee admitted For the Commission though they might insist vpon the answere giuen before yet they were pleased
that the first beginning of saluation proceedes from the vocation of God He auoyded these straits by a distinction that they were preparatory a farre off but not neerely as though giuing a remote preparation to the force of nature the first beginning was not taken away from the grace A new distinction inuented by Soto of God The Franciscans thought that not onely this kinde of workes were good and did truely and properly prepare to iustification but also that they were truely meritorious in the sight of God Therefore Scotus the authour of their doctrine inuented a kinde of merit which hee attributed to workes done by the force of nature onely saying that in congruitie they deserue grace by a certaine law and infallibly and that a man by naturall power only may feele a sorrow for sinne which is a disposition and merit of Congruity to abolish it approouing a common saying of his times that God neuer The doctrine of the Franciscans concerning meritorious works faileth him that doth as much as hee is able And some of that Order passing those bounds did adde that if God giueth not grace to him that doth what he can hee would be vniust vnrighteous partiall and an accepter of persons They clamoured with much stomacke and indignation that it would bee a great absurdity if God made no difference betweene one that is naturally honest and another drowned in all vices and there would be no reason why hee should rather giue grace to one then another They also alledged that Saint Thomas was of this opinion and that otherwise a man is put into desperation and made negligent to doe well and wicked men may excuse their bad workes and attribute them to the want of the assistance of God But the Dominicans did confesse that Saint Thomas was of this opinion when hee was yong and after did retract it when he was old They did reprehend Is contradicted by the Dominicans it because in the Councell of Orange it is determined that no kinde of merit goeth before grace and that the beginning should bee attributed to God saying that the Lutherans hauing made such exclamations for this congruous merit it ought wholly to be abolished as indeede it was neuer heard of in the Church in ancient times in so many controuersies with the Pelagians That the holy Scripture doth attribute our conuersion to God and that it is not fit to leaue the forme of speach which it vseth For the preparations there was no difference in the substance of the doctrine All held that after God doth stirre vs vp feare and other considerations of the malignity which is in sinne doe arise They said that the opinion that these things are bad was hereticall because God exhorteth the sinner yea mooueth him to these considerations and it must not be sayd that God mooueth to sinne and which is more it is the office of a preacher to terrifie a sinner by these meanes and because by the same meanes all passe from the state of sinne to that of grace it seemed very strange that one cuuld no tpasse from sinne to iustice without the meanes of another sinne But for all this they could not free themselues from the difficultie on the contrary part because all good workes may stand with grace but that feare and other preparations cannot and therefore are sinnes Friar Antonius Marinarus thought the difference was verball and said that as passing from a great cold to a heat one must passe by a lesse degree of cold which is neither a heat nor a new cold but the same diminished so one goeth from sinne to iustice by terrors and attritions which are neither good workes nor new sinnes but old sinnes extenuated But he was compelled to retract because all were against him Of the workes done in grace there was no difficulty amongst them For they all sayd they were perfect and merited saluation and that Luthers opinion that they are all sinnes is wicked and sacrilegious and holding it to be blasphemie to say that the blessed Virgine hath committed the least veniall sinne they could not endure to heare that shee sinned in euery action and said that the earth and hell would open themselues against so great blasphemies For censure of the 22. and 23. Articles in the point of the essence of Diuine grace it was a common consideration that the word Grace in the first All agreed to condemne Luther concerning works after grace signification was vnderstood for a beneuolence or good will which when it is in him that hath power necessarily bringing foorth a good effect that is a gift or benefit which is also called Grace That the Protestants thought so meanly of the Maiesty of GOD that it could doe no more then make vs partakers of his good will but his omnipotencie required that we should haue the benefit thereof in effect And because some man might say that the diuine will onely which is GOD himselfe can haue no greater thing to bestow and that to haue giuen vs his Sonne was the greatest benefit and that Saint Iohn to shew the great loue of GOD towards the world alleadged nothing else but that he had giuen vs his Sonne they said that these benefits are common to all and that it was fit he should bestow a particular present to euery one Therefore the Diuines haue added an habituall grace giuen to euery iust man in particular which is a spirituall qualitie created by GOD infused into the soule whereby it is made gratefull and acceptable to the diuine Maiesty wherof though the Fathers speake not in expresse termes nor the Scripture yet it is cleerely deduced from the word Iustifie which being effectiue doth necessarily signifie to make iust by the impression of reall Iustice which reality because it is no substance can bee nothing else but a qualitie and habite And vpon this occasion there was much spoken against the Lutherans who will not haue the verbe Iustificare to be effectiue but iudiciall and declaratiue grounding themselues vpon the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tsadak and the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie to bee pronounced iust and vpon many places of the New and Old Testament and that it is vsed in that signification in the Latine translation alleadging for it places to the number of fifteene But Soto excluded all those of Saint Paul which spake of our iustification which he said must needes be vnderstood in an effectiue sense whereupon arose a great dispute betweene him and Marinarus who said one should not ground himselfe vpon so light a matter But he said the Article of habituall Grace could not be doubted of as being decided in the Councell of Vienna and by the common opinion of all Theologues that this was to make sure foundations which cannot be destroyed and not to say that Saint Paul to the Romanes when he saith that GOD iustifieth doth not meane declaratorily for it is manifestly against the Text
but a little riuer betweene them And standing so Octauius Farnese sent by the Emperour The two Armies are neere together and Daueuert is taken by Octauius Farnese with the Italians and some Dutchmen tooke Daueuert in the sight of the enemie who hauing done nothing while he was in Sueuia but hindered the Emperour was constrained in Nouember to abandon the Countrey by reason of a great diuersion made by the Bohemians and others of the Imperiall High Germany is left to the Emperors discretion faction against Saxonie and Hassia places belonging to the two Protestants Heads who retired to defend their owne Countreys leauing High Germanie at the Emperours discretion and this was the cause why many Princes and Cities combined did incline to composition with him hauing honest caution to hold their religion But he would not make mention therof in writing lest the warre should seeme to bee made for that cause which would offend those that followed him make others more vnwilling to render themselues and giue suspicion to the Ecclesiastiques of Germanie who hoped to see the Romane Rites restored in euery place Yet his Ministers promised them all that they should not bee molested in the exercise of religion excusing their Master if for many respects he could not satisfie them to make a capitulation thereof and hee so caried himselfe that his resolution appeared to giue them content by conniuencie By these deditions the Emperour gained much artilery drew much money from the Cities to the value of many hundred thousands and which was of greatest importance was absolute Lord of all High Germanie This happinesse made the Popeiealous and thinke to prouide for himselfe The pope is iealous of the Emperor and recalleth his forces before all Germany were subdued His souldiers vnder the conduct of his grand-child Octauius were much diminished in number by reason of those who parted with the Cardinall Farnese and of others who did runne away by whole rankes for the incommodities they suffered The residue in the middest of December the Emperours Armie being lodged neere the Village of Sothen departed by order from the Pope from whom Octauius had commandement to returne into Italy and to tell his Vncle that the sixe moneths beeing ended the Pope could no longer beare so great a charge that the time of the obligation was ended and that effected for which the league was made that is Germany brought into obedience The Emperour complayned that Whereof the Emperour complaineth he was abandoned when he had most need of helpe For nothing was done so long as the Heads were not oppressed who could not bee said to be subdued but retired onely to defend their owne Territories and being deliuered from feare it was to bee doubted they would returne with greater forces and better order then before But the Pope iustified his not continuing in the The Pope iustifieth his action league and the departure of his men by saying that hee was not made partaker of the composition with the Cities and Princes which could not be established without him and especially because it was made with much preiudice of the Catholique faith tolerating heresie which might haue been rooted out That according to capitulation hee had not been partaker of the profits of the warre nor of the money the Countreys paid which did compound that the Emperour complained when himselfe was offended and disesteemed euen with dammage of religion Nor content with this hee forbade the Emperour to receiue money of the Churches of Spaine longer then the sixe moneths and though the Emperours Ministers made many effectuall treaties with him shewing that the cause continuing for which they were granted it required that the grant also should continue and that all would be in vaine and without fruit if the warre were not ended yet they The Fiesehi make a coÌ„spiracie against the Dâ—rij in Genua for which the Pope is blamed by the Emperiour could not remooue him from his resolution In Genua the family of the Fiesehi making a dangerous conspiracy which had almost taken effect against that of the Dorij which followed the Emperors side the Emperor was assured that the Popes son the Duke of Piacenza was author of it and beleeued that it came from the Pope and refrained not 1547 PAVL 3. CHARLES 5. HENRY 8. FRANCIS 1. to adde this complaint to the others The Pope beleeued the Emperour would be busied in Germanie a long time and not be able to offend him with temporall forces but feared he might trouble him by making the Protestants goe to the Councell To separate the Councell seemed too violent and scandalous a remedy especially hauing continued seuen moneths in a treatie whereof nothing was published He was of opinion to publish the things already digested seeing that by that declaration either the Protestants would The Popes resolution concerning the proceeding in Councell refuse to goe thither or if they went would be constrained to accept it wherein the principall point of all the controuersies consisting the victory would be his owne And if there were no other reason to doe it this was sufficient to prooue it was good for him because the Emperour would not haue any controuersies decided For the counsels of those that haue contrary ends ought to be contrary Hee saw well that the Emperour would not take it for an affront But the distastes betweene them were already so great that little could be added to them and the Pope when hee was pressed with reasons which did perswade and disswade was wont to vse the Florentine saying A thing done hath an head and so to execute that which was necessary Therefore he wrote to the Legates in Christmas that they should hold a Session and publish the decrees already framed This commandement being receiued they called a Congregation the third of Ianuary in 1547 which hauing determined by the vniforme consent of all to imitate a Session for the thirteenth in regard it was tedious to all to remaine there so long and resolue of nothing the Legates did propose the publication of the Decrees framed For those of faith the Emperours Prelates opposed and said that there was no opportunity as yet and that it sufficed to publish the reformation But the Papalins vrged the contrary alledging it was knowen to all the world that the point of grace and iustification had been discussed seuen moneths together and that the Decree was established and that it would be a derogation to the faith if the Councell should seeme to feare the publishing of the trueth which was decided And because these were more in number their opinion assisted by the Legates preuailed The two next Congregations were spent in reading againe the Decrees as well of faith as The Session is held the 13 of Ianuary and the Decrees of faith and reformation are published reformation the which some small matters beeing corrected by the aduice of those who were not present at the
perseuere without the speciall assistance of GOD or cannot with it 23. That the iust cannot sinne or can auoyde all veniall sinnes without a speciall priuiledge as the Church holdeth of the Virgin 24. That iustice is not preserued and increased by good workes but that they are fruits onely or signes 25. That the iust sinneth mortally or venially in euery worke 26. That the iust ought not to expect a reward for his good workes 27 That there is no mortall sinne but infidelity 28 That grace being lost faith is lost also or that the faith remayning is not true nor of a Christian 29 That man sinning after baptisme cannot be lifted vp by the grace of God or may recouer it by faith onely without the Sacrament of penanace 30. That euery fault and punishment is wholly remitted to euery penitent man there remaning no temporall punishment to bee indured in this life or in Purgatorie 31. That the iust sinneth if hee doe good onely in hope of an eternall reward 32. That the good workes of the iust are the gifts of God and are not withall the merits of the iustified 33. That this doctrine is derogatory to the glory of God and merits of CHRIST or that their glory is not made more illustrious by it When I had made this short narration of the Decree I began to thinke it superfluous seeing all the decrees of that Councel are printed in one volume The authors reason why he rehearseth the decrees though they be printed in a volume apart and in euery mans hands and that in the composition of the Actes that follow I might referre my selfe to that booke and I was about to teare this leafe But considering that some might desire to reade the whole continuation in one booke only and that if any thought it better to see the originall hee might omit this mine abbreuiation I resolued not to change but to obserue the same stile in the matters following and the rather because I am grieued when in Zenophon and Tacitus I see the narration of things most knowen to their times omitted which remaineth vnknowen to mee because there is no meanes to know it againe and I hold it for a maxime that one ought neuer to referre himselfe to another Therefore I come to the summe of the Decree of reformation Which did containe in substance 1. That the Synod being willing to The Decree of reformation amend the depraued manners of the Clergie and people thought fit to begin with the gouernours of the greater Churches Therefore trusting in God and his Vicar on earth that that charge shall be giuen to worthy men exercised from their youth in Ecclesiasticall discipline it doth admonish them to performe their duety which cannot bee executed without residing in the place where it is to bee done Yet many leauing the flocke and care of the lambes wander in Courts and apply themselues to secular businesse Therefore the Synod doth reuiue all the ancient Canons against non-residents and doth constitute besides that euery gouernour of a Cathedrall Church of what title or preeminencie soeuer who shall remaine sixe moneths together out of his Diocesse without a iust and reasonable cause shall lose the fourth part of the reuenues and if he perseuere sixe moneths more shall lose another fourth part and the contumacie increasing the Metropolitane vpon paine of not entring into the Church for three moneths shall delate him to the Pope who by his supreame authoritie may inflict greater punishment or prouide the Church of a more profitable Pastor And if the Metropolitan shall likewise offend the most ancient Suffragan shall bee bound to denounce him 2. But others inferiours to Bishops tyed to residence either by law or custome shall be compelled thereunto by the Bishops abrogating euery priuiledge which giueth a perpetuall exemption from residing But dispensations granted for a time for a reasonable cause true and prooued before the Ordinary shall remaine in force and the Bishop as Delegate of the Apostolike Sea shall take care that a sufficient Vicar bee prouided for the charge of soules with a conuenient portion of the reuenues notwithstanding any priuiledge or exemption 3. Beside that no Clerke by personall priuiledge or regular dwelling out of the Monasterie by priuiledge of his order shall bee exempt from beeing punished if hee offend or visited or corrected by his Ordinary 4. Likewise that Chapters of Cathedrall and other Collegiate Churches shall not by vertue of exemption customes oathes and agreements bee freed from the visitation of their Bishops and greater Prelates when there shall be neede 5. In fine it did ordaine that no Bishop might exercise Pontificall actes in the diocesse of another by pretence of priuiledge without his leaue and The next Session to bee held the third of March. onely ouer his subiects And the day of the next Session was appointed the third of March. In Rome the Decree of faith ministred no matter of discourse in regard it was not new as well because it had beene seene and examined publikely as hath beene sayd as because all men knew that the Germane opinions were to bee condemned But the Court Bishops who had beene afraid a long time of the Article of residencie which was handled did rest content assuring themselues that the Decree of the Councell could worke no greater effect then the Popes Decretals had done before But the inferiour The inferiour Courtiers are discontented with the reformation Courtiers were discontented seeing the Bishop had power to compell them They lamented their owne misery who were to serue all their life to gaine their liuing and after so much paines taken for a reward must be confined in a village or by a base Canonry subiected to a greater slauery in obeying the Bishops who will not onely keepe them as it were tied to a stake but with visitations and pretence of corrections will bring them to a miserable subiection or hold them in perpetuall vexations and charge But elsewhere and especially in Germanie when the Decrees were seene The Decrees are censured in Germany that of faith was more spoken of which must bee read ouer and againe with much attention and speculation because it could not bee vnderstood without a perfect knowledge of the inward motion of the mind and without knowing in whom it is actiue in whom passiue things most subtile and for the diuers appearance they make euer accounted disputable all the doctrine of the Councel turning vpon this hinge whether the first obiect of the will worke vpon the will or the will vpon the obiect or whether they bee both actiue and passiue Some pleasant wits said that if the Astrologers not knowing the true causes of the celestiall motions to salue the appearances haue inuented Eccentriques and Epicicles it was no wonder if the Councell desiring to salue the appearances of the super-celestiall motions did fall into excentricitie of opinions The Grammarians did not cease to admire and scoffe
fruit of this diligence it beeing as easie to finde a false witnesse in partibus as at Rome where because euery thing may be sufficiently examined it is superfluous to seeke further To the eleuenth that none bee ordayned but by his owne Bishop it seemeth that the Bull may suffice because it doeth prouide many wayes against the inconueniences pretended in this point The Pope did presently dispatch the answere to Trent leauing it to the discretion Is dispatchâ—d to Trent of the Legates to resolue by the counsell of their friends what they thought fit togâ—ant according to occasions either part or all so that they conteined themselues within the limits set downe by the Deputies in Rome or to denie all in case they found themselues able to doe it He aduised them of the request made to those in Venice and that they should hold the Session in the due time wholy omitting the doctrine of the Sacraments and publishing the Anuthematismes onely in which they are all agreed because the doctrine cannot be expounded without danger That they should leaue wholy the Decree of the abuses of the Sacraments of Baptisme and Confirmation it beeing impossible to touch that string without offending the whole order of poore Priests and Friars and giuing the Heretikes too great a conquest by confessing they had formerly approoued such notable absurdities Hee concluded that they should labour to make the Session as quiet as was possible but yet with the honour of the Apostolique Sea Afterwards the Pope considering with himselfe and with his inward The Pope is troubled with the aduises sent from the Councel and froÌ„â—us Nuncio in Germany friends the aduises sent vnto him from Trent and from his Nuncio in Germanie was full of suspicion that the Councell would produce some great monster to the preiudice of himselfe and the Papacio Hee considered the factions amongst the Diuines especially Dominicans and Franciscans ancient enemies and contrary in doctrine and feared that taking courage in the Councell they would goe beyond the bounds of those contentions which haue beene hardly composed by the wiser sort whose differences beeing no lesse then those with the Lutherans and themselues very bold in taxing one another except paines were alwayes taken to make them agree there would bee danger of some great inconuenience Hee was much troubled with the disputation of Residencie whether it bee required iure diuino and with the boldnesse of Friar Bartholomew Caranza who beeing encouraged by many dared to call the contrary opinion the doctrine of deuils Hee saw how easily such another mischiefe as that of Luther might arise and that if an article of faith were made of residencie the Papacy was reduced to nothing Hee considered that all the reformations aymed to restraine the Popes authority and to enlarge the power of the Bishops and how little himselfe was esteemed in that the Councel hauing giuen hope to referre the Reformation to him whereof hee had framed a Bull and recalled the whole matter to Rome they had after treated thereof more sharpely without any respect of his authority Hee had great suspicion of the spirit and courage of the Spaniards considering the qualities of that wise Nation that it doth not worke by chance that it maketh greater shew of reuerence then it beareth that it standeth vnited in itselfe steppeth not one foote forward without looking a great way before them It seemed to him a great matter that they met together and had made a common censure and thought it probable that this webbe was secretly spun by the Emperour in regard his Ambassadour did dayly treate with them Hee suspected the Emperour also for his present prosperitie which ordinarily doeth make men not able to set boundes to their designes Hee considered his conniuencie at religion and thought it was to gaine the Lutherans fauour Hee remembred the complaints vsed not onely by the Emperour but by his Ministers also when the Italian Souldiers departed that hee was abandoned in time of neede and hee knew that he attributed the sedition of Genna to his sonne the Duke of Piacenza But hee weighed aboue all his wordes vsed to the Nuneio that hee had no greater enemie then the Pope Hee feared that when he had established an absolute authoritie in Germanie hee would thinke to doe the like in Italie making vse of the Councell to suppresse the Papacle He saw that all was in his power in regard of the incurable indisposition of the French King and his approching death Of the Dolphin being young and not experienced hee knew not what to promise himselfe and was assured that the Prelates who did vntill then adhere to the Court of Rome whensoeuer the Emperor should vnmaske himselfe would professe to be on his side either for feare of greater power or for emulation at the Popes greatnesse which they would discouer when they should see a secure way laid open to moderate it These respects made him resolue to secure himselfe in some sort of the And after consul ation resolueth to translate â—â—be Synode to Bolonia Councell To end it did not seeme seasonable in regard there did remaine so many things to be handled The Suspensson did require some great cause and would be to litle purpose in regard hee should bee presently desired to take it away To translate it to a place where himselfe had absolute authoritie seemed the best counsell And seeing this was to be done heo would so do it as that all danger should be preuented which could not be if the councel were not celebrated within his owne territories He did not thinke Rome was fit because it would raise too much discourse in Germanie Bolonia seemed the best place because it was neore the Mountaines fertile and of great receipt For the manner he resolued to conceale his owne person and to cause it to be done by the Legates by the authoritie giuen them in the Bull dated the 22. of February and sent vnto them in August 1545. For doing so if the Translation were opposed the Legats would be blamed and himself as not interessed might the more easily vphold them and if by accident hee should change his opinion he might doe it without dishonour Being thus resolued he sent a priuate Gentleman of the family of the Cardinall of Monte with letters of credit to doe this ambassage to hoth the Legateâ— commaunâ—ding him not to ariue there before the Session and then to giue them authoritie to translate the Councell to Bolonia making some apparant cause to arise or making vse of some cause already in beeing putting it in execution so quickely that after the enterprise begun they should conclude before any impediment could be interposed But in Germanie a great part of those Cities about the Rhine hauing made The Emperor doth leaue to temporize with the Archbishop of Collen composition with the Emperour and the Elector Palatine caused hâ—â— ministers to deâ—â—t the Emperour seeing himselfe now able to
here against their will and because of the departure of many and protestations of others by whose departure the Councell would bee dissolued and for other causes alleadged by the Fathers notoriously true and lawfull Dothe it please you to declare that for the security of the Prelats liues and prosecution of the Councell it ought to be transferred to Bolonia and is now transferred and that the Session intimated for the 21. of April shall be celebrated and all things prosecuted there vntill the Pope and Councell shall thinke fit to reduce it into this or some other place by the aduise of the Emperour the French King and other Christian Kings and Princes The next day the Session being held and the Decree read 35. Bishops and A Session is held to reade the Decree of the Translation to Bolonia three Generals did assent But the Cardinall Pacceco and 17. other Bishops opposed Among those that consented there was not one of the Emperors Subiects but Michael Saracenus a Napolitan Archb. of Matera But amongst those that consented not there was Claudius della Guische Bishop of Mirpois and Martelli Bishop of Fiesole and Marcus Viguerius Bishop of Sintgaglia whom the Cardinall of Monte did vpbraid that his vncle beeing drawen from a base estate to the height of the Cardinality from whence the greatnesse of his house and his owne Bishopricke did proceed he did ill requite the Apostolike Sea For answere he vsed the words of S. Paul God is not mocked The Legates departed with the Crosse caried before them accompanied with the Bishops of their faction with ceremonies and prayers The Imperialists were commanded by the Emperours Ambassadour not to depart vntill his Maiestie were informed and gaue them order In Rome the Court was glad they were deliuered from danger For there was already great confusion and sale made by the possessors of many Benefices who sought to vnburthen themselues but so as that they would lose no commoditie The Pope said that hauing giuen his Legates power to translate the Councell and promised to ratifie what they should determine and cause it to be executed and they hauing iudged the infection of the ayre to bee a lawfull cause hee Which is approued by the Pope could not chuse but approoue it and the rather because the maior part of the Prelates did consent But none was so simple as not to beleeue that all was done by his commandement it being certaine that nothing how little soeuer was handled in the Councel without order first had from Rome For which purpose letters comming once euery weeke and some weeks twice it was not credible that a matter of that importance was hatched in the Legats braines Besides onely to bring so many persons into a Citie so iealous as Bolonia without consent of the Prince thereof seemed to be a thing which the Legats would neuer haue The date of the Bull is suspected by many attempted Many did beleeue that the Bull had not a true date but was newly made though the date were old and with the name of Cardinall Poole to giue greater reputation otherwise that clause in which authoritie is giuen vnto two of them the other being absent to translate the Councell would seeme a kinde of Prophecie that Poole should depart a yeere after and the libertie to transâ—erre it to what Citie they listed seemed too large and improbable considering the suspicion alwayes fixed in the minde of the Popes that the Councell should bee celebrated in an vnfaithfull Citie shewed more then euer by Pope Paul when hee did call it So that it was incredible that hee would vnnecessarily expose himselfe to the discretion of another in a matter of so great weight Yet following the notes which I haue seene as I haue said before I assure my selfe that it was made two yeeres and sent 18. moneths before this time But that which could not be concealed and which did scandalize It appeareth by the Bull that the Councell was not free euery one was that by that Bull it appeared that the Councel was in seruitude For if the two Legats could command all the Prelats at once to part from Trent and compell them by punishments and censures let any man say that can what liberty they had The Emperor hearing the newes was much The Emperour is offended with the Translation displeased because it seemed hee was despised and because hee saw a weapon taken out of his hand by managing whereof according to opportunity hee thought to set Religion at peace in Germanie and so to put it vnder his The French King dieth obedience The newes came not to the French King who the 21. of the same moneth changed this life for a better THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT I Am not ignorant of the lawes of Histories 1547 PAVL 3. CHARLES 5. EDWARD 6. HENRY 2. and how they differ from Annals and Diaries I The censure of the Author concerning this worke knowe likewise that the narration of vniforme accidents breedeth satiety in the Writer and tediousnesse in the Reader and that to recount small matters too particularly deserueth the name of a foolish knowledge Yet I obserue frequent replies and little narrations in Homer and that in the expedition of Cyrus the yonger Xenophon doth more rauish and instruct the minde by reciting the serious and merry discourses of the souldiers then by relating the actions and counsels of Princes I am of opinion that euery matter hath his proper forme and that this of mine cannot bee composed with ordinary rules I assure my selfe that this worke will bee read by few and is of a short life not so much for want of forme as for the nature of the Subiect And I am so perswaded by that which I see happen in the like things But not regarding perpetuity or continuance of time it shall suffice me that it will please some one to whome I will shew it because I know hee will make vse of it and I am assured that for hereafter that will happen to it which the coniunctures shall comport The Prelates remaining in Trent were in great suspence vntill letters The Emperors Prelats remaine in Trent came from the Emperour commending them for contradicting the Translation and abiding in Trent with expresse order not to part from the Citie They consulted among themselues whether they should doe any Conciliarie Writings passe betweene the Prelats of Trent and of Bolonia act and it was vniformely resolued that it would make a schisme and therefore was not to be attempted but that they ought to study the points and to expect what opportunity would bring There passed some writings betweene the Diuines of Trent and of Bolonia These did with affectation call it the Synode of Bolonia and those the holy Synode bee it wheresoeuer it will And some of them remaine still in Print in Bolonia The Legates and other Cardinals of Rome made
keeping from them any Faculty that the manner of liuing vntill the Councell began might be set downe by their aduice and the Clergie reformed that he would haue consideration and determine if the Sea were vacant during the time of the Councell whether the Fathers thereof or Cardinals should elect the Pope that in case it should happen no new stirres might arise This third The Pope is put in mind of his old age point was added to put the Pope in minde of his old age and approaching death and so to make him condescend more easily that his posterity might not inherite the displeasure which the Emperour tooke at 〈…〉 The Pope in answere of these propositions commended the Emperors good will and his paines for publique seruice of the Church concluding hee would haue such consideration of these propositions as they deserued and resolue as GOD would inspire him The Cardinall hauing in diuers priuate audiences assayed in vaine to haue some good resolution from the Pope leauing the instruction to Don Diego di Mendoza whom the Emperour had caused to The Card of Trent retureth leauing Don Diego in his roome goe for that purpose to Rome from Siena where he was to accommodate the differences of that Republique hee departed and returned to Ausburg Don Diego in publique Consistory assembled to giue the cap to the Cardinall of Guise where all sorts of men might be present presented himselfe before the Pope and expounded vnto him the same things which the Cardinall had done adding that he had commission in case his Holinesse did interpose any delay or excuse to protest that the Synode of Bolonia was not lawfull The Pope answered that he would first vnderstand the opinion and the reasons The popes answere concerning the returne of the Councell of the Fathers of the Councell of Bolonia and impart the proposition to the Kings and Princes of Christendome that he might resolue maturely for the seruice of God and satisfaction of all The Cardinall of Guise made a publique discourse in the same Consistory The discourse of the Cardinall of Guise in the consistory in the name of the French King and spake thus in substance That King Francis had neuer spared any cost or danger to maintaine the liberty of other Princes In conformity whereof Henry not degenerating from the vertue of his ancestors so soone as he left to mourne for his Fathers death was willing to declare his obseruance towards the Sea of Rome That the merits of the Kings of France towards the Pope were famous and exceeded all those of other Nations but this was aboue all which the King now doth promising all his forces to preserue the Papall dignity now when it is so contemned He prayed the Pope to receiue the King for his sonne and to promise to himselfe all assistance from him and to take care that the Church should receiue no dammage or shame in regard that from small beginnings great factions haue risen which haue brought the Popes into great calamities He exemplified in many Popes afflicted who were defended and raised by the Kings of France concluding that the present King will not yeeld to his ancestors in preseruing the dignity of the Apostolique Sea Many did thinke that the Pope made Guise speake so to encourage the Cardinals his dependants and to daunt the lofty spirits of the Imperialists and to make them see they could not enforce him And to execute what he had said to Don Diego he wrote to Bolonia to the Cardinall of Monte the proposition made vnto him and his owne determination giuing him order that so soone as might be inuocating the holy Ghost hee should deliuer all to the Fathers and when he had vnderstood their opinion should write backe what the Councell thought The Legate the Fathers being assembled declared The manner how the spirit did worke in this Councel the Commissions and gaue his owne voice first which all the others followed For the spirit which was wont to mooue the Legates to thinke as the Pope did and he Bishops to beleeue as the Legates did worke as formerly it had done The voices being collected the Cardinall by the consent and is the name of all answered that the Synode when the lawfull decree was made to translate it from Trent to Bolonia hauing admonished all to put themselues into the iourney and after that they were arriued in Bolonia vnderstanding that some remained in Trent hauing againe louingly exhorted them to part from thence and ioyne with the body of the Councell they made none account thereof continuing still in that Citie with contempt of the Councell and scandall of many as if they pretended to bee a lawfull Councell or were not bonnd to obey this and therefore that the Fathers The answere sent from Bolonia concerning the returne of the Councell did not know how the returne to Trent could bee treated of with the honour and reputation of the Synode if those who remaine there doe not first goe to Bolonia to vnite with the rest and acknowledge the power of the Councell When this is done the returne in contemplation of Germanie may bee handled if that Nation will giue sufficient securitie to obey the Decrees as well to be made as made already He added that there was a fame spread that when the Councell returned to Trent the proceeding should bee popular and licentious Therefore the Fathers thought it necessary to haue good securitie that the order continued in the celebration of Councels from the Apostles time vntill this age should be obserued desiring also caution to stand secure and to be able to depart and translate also the Councell when it shall seeme fit to the maior part and to end it when they shall iudge that they haue attained the end for which it was called desiring his Holinesse not to compell them to that which would bee against the honour of God and libertie of the Church The Pope hauing receiued these letters when the Masse was ended on Which the Pope doeth communicito to the Cardinals in Consistory to the Emperours Ambassador Saint Iohn the Euangelists day beeing returned to the Chamber of the robes with the Cardinals did communicate the Councels answere vnto them which beeing approoued by the maior part he caused Mendoza to bee called and related vnto him the opinion of the Synode approoued also by the Cardinals adding that there was nothing that he was not willing to doe for Germanies sake that the Emperour was a good witnesse hereof that he was sure that the demand which he the Ambassador had made in the name of Caesar Ferdinand and the Empire had a condition annexed that is if it may bee with the peace and profit of other Nations and liberty of the Church which being assembled in a generall Councell seeing it hath iudged otherwise and that the Colledge of Cardinals was of the same opinion he could not choose but repute it iuridicall and
Order with whose blood iustice had nothing to doe if so much solemnitie did not precede It was iustly ordered that the Bishops should not doe it but in publique apparelled with the holy vestments and which more imported with the assistance of twelue Bishops in the Degradation of a Bishop of sixe in the Degradation of a Priest of three in the Degradation of a Deacon who were to bee present in their Pontificall ornaments And it seeming strange that a Bishop who might giue a degree without companie could not take it away alone Pope Innocentius the third remooued the marueile with a maxime which hath not much probability saying that temporall buildings are hardly erected and easily pulled downe but spirituall contrarily are easily built and hardly destroyed The vulgar held the Degradation for a necessary thing and when it happened ranne to it with vnspeakeable frequencie But learned men doe know the bottome of it For hauing determined that in the collation of the Order a signe is imprinted in the soule called a Character which is impossible to blot out or remooue by Degradation this remaineth a pure Ceremony performed for reputation onely In Germanie there beeing but few Bishops it could not bee done without immense charge to bring so many into one place And those Dutch Prelates who were in the Councell for the most part Princes did know more then others how necessary it is for examples sake to punish with death the wickednesse of Priests wherefore they desired that prouision should be made therein This particular was much discussed and in the end it was resolued not to change the Ceremony by any meanes but to finde a temper that the difficulty and the cost might be moderated The Legat though euery weeke he had giuen an account to the Pope of all occurrences yet he was willing to establish in Congregation the draughts of the Decrees that he might send a copie of them and receiue an answere before the Session Wherefore the generall Congregation being assembled not making mention of what was written to him from Rome hee made a relation of that which the Earle of Mountfort had represented adding that the request for a Safe Conduct seemed reasonable and also the deferring of whatsoeuer could bee deferred with honour For hauing appointed already to speake of the Eucharist the first day of September they could not choose but doe it but to omit some point more important and more controuersed was a thing which might be granted And the voyces beeing collected all were of opinion that the Safe Conduct should bee giuen but concerning the matter to bee handled some thought that it was not for their honour to deferre it if the Protestants did not giue securitie that they would come to handle it and submit themselues to the determination of the Councell Others said that their honour was saued if it were done at their A dispute what points of doctrine are to be handled vntill the comming of the Protestants request and this was the more common opinion Then the Legate added that they might reserue the matter of ministring the Cup to the Laitie and to shew that they did not come for one Article onely they might ioyne also with it the Communion of Children And order was taken to compose the Decree in this particular Which beeing read some thought it was too little to reserue two Articles and therefore that it was better to diuide the first into three and so reserue foure and to adde the Sacrifice of the Masse the controuersies whereof are great For so it will appeare that many things are reserued and the most principall and in this opinion all did agree And when it was sayd that the Protestants desire to bee heard concerning these a Prelate of Germanie stoode vp and asked by whom and to whom this request was made because it did much import that this should appeare otherwise when they should say it was not true the honour of the Councell would bee much blemished But there beeing nothing but what Count Mountfort had sayd as of himselfe and that also not restrained to those foure heads nor to the matter of the Eucharist but in generall of all the Controuersies they were much troubled how to resolue To shew that this reseruation was made by their owne motion besides that it was an indignitie it did draw an obiection vpon them that they ought to reserue all This way was found to bee least ill not to say that the Protestants make request but that they desire to bee heard whereof there can bee no doubt made because they haue sayd it vpon diuers occasions and though they meant concerning all the controuersies yet it is no falsitie to speake that of a part which is spoken of the whole number not excluding the rest Some thought that this was to hide themselues behinde a thread but yet it did passe because they knew not how to doe better For this cause the matters reserued beeing to bee taken out of the Heads of doctrine and the Anathematismes these which remained were for more perspicuitie diuided and reduced to eleuen When they were to make the Decrees against the abuses they knew not where to put them Amongst those of faith they were not to bee placed beeing of Ceremonies and vses With those of Reformation they did not agree in regard of the diuersity of the matter To ranke them by themselues was a nouitie and did alter the order set downe After a long dispute it was concluded to omit them now and after to place them with the Decrees of the Masse The points of the Reformation were accepted without difficultie hauing beene already established by themselues There remained the forme of the Safe Conduct which was referred to the Presidents to compose by the helpe of those who had experience in such things which assisted the Legate to make that forme passe which was sent him from Rome The eleuenth of October beeing come they went to the Church as they were wont The Bishop of Maiorica sang Masse and the Archbishop of Torre made the Sermon which was all in the praise of the Sacrament of the Eucharist And other vsuall Ceremonies being performed the Decree of the doctrine was read by the Bishops that did celebrate the Masse The substance whereof was That the Synod assembled to declare the ancient faith A Session is held and to remedy the inconueniences caused by the Sectes did desire from the beginning to roote cut the cockle sowed in the field of the Eucharist Therefore The Decree of doctrine concerning the Eucharist teaching the Catholike doctrine euer beleeued by the Church it doth prohibite all the faithfull hereafter to beleeue teach or preach otherwise then is declared First it teacheth that in the Eucharist after the Consecration CHRIST is contained truely really and substantially vnder the appearances of the sensible things notwithstanding he is in heauen by a naturall existence because he is present in his substance in
Saint Iames did vnderstand the ancients for age and not the Priests ordained by the Bishop But if any maruaile why it is said in the first head of the doctrine that 14. Articles of reformation are handled in which the Presidents of the Synod the Bishops haue diuers ends this Sacrament is insinuated by CHRIST our Lord in Saint Marke and published in Saint Iames whereas the antecedence and consequence of the words did require that it should not bee sayd insinuated but instituted hee may know that it was first so written but a Diuine hauing obserued that the Apostles who anoynted the sicke of whom Saint Marke speaketh were not Priests because the Church of Rome holdeth that Priesthood was conferred vpon them onely in the last Supper it seemed a contradiction to affirme that the Vnction which they gaue was a Sacrament and that Priests onely are ministers of it Whereunto some who held it to bee a Sacrament and at that time instituted by CHRIST did answere that CHRIST commanding them to minister the Vnction made them Priests concerning that acte onely As if the Pope should command a simple Priest to giue the Sacrament of Chrisme he made him a Bishop for that acte Yet it was thought too dangerous to affirme it absolutely Therefore in stead of the word Institutum they put Insinuatum Which word what it may signifie in such a matter euery one may iudge who vnderstandeth what Insinuare is and doeth apply it to that which the Apostles then did and to that which was commanded by Saint Iames and to the determination made by this Councell But in matter of reformation as hath beene said fourteene Articles were proposed all belonging to Episcopall iurisdiction whereof when they had vnderstood the opinion of the Canonists in the particular Congregations and read all in the generall they came to frame the Decree Herein the ayme of the B B was to increase their authority to recouer that which the Pope had vsurped from them and of the Presidents to grant as little as they could But both parties did proceede cunningly and made shew to regard onely the seruice of God and the restitution of the ancient Ecclesiasticall discipline The Bishops thought they were hindered in executing their office For when they did suspend any from exercise of their orders or Ecclesiasticall degrees and dignities for causes knowen to themselues or did refuse to let them passe to higher degrees all was retracted by a Licence or Dispensation gotten at Rome which caused a disreputation of the Bishops damnation of soules and a totall ruine of discipline Concerning this the first head was made that such Licences and Restitutions should not bee offorce But the President for the honour of the Apostolique Sea would not haue the Pope named nor the chiefe Penitentiarie nor any ministers of the Court from whom such Licences were wont to bee obtained The titular Bishops did also hinder them who beeing depriued by a Decree published in the sixt Session of power to exercise the pontificall office in the Diocesses without leaue of the proper Bishop did retire themselues into a place exempt from all Bishopriques admitting those to holy orders who were before reiected as vnfit by their owne Bishops which they did by vertue of a priuiledge to ordaine any that offered himselfe vnto them This was prohibited in the second head but with this moderation that for reuerence of the Apostolike Sea mention should not bee made who granted the priuiledge And consequently in the third head power was giuen to the Bishops to suspend for what time they pleased any one ordained without their examination or with licence by facultie giuen by whomsoeuer These things the wiser sort of Bishops knew to bee of small weight because the Canonists doe hold that 344 Licences Priuiledges and Faculties granted by the Pope are neuer comprehended in generall words without speciall mention bee made of them But not beeing able to obtaine more they were content with this hoping that time might open them a way to proceede further It was also decreed in the same sixth Session that no secular Clerke by vertue of personall Priuiledge nor Regular dwelling out of the Monasterie by vigor of the Priuiledge of his order should bee exempt from the correction of the Bishoppe as Delegate of the Apostolike Sea Which some thinking not to containe the Canons of Cathedrall Churches and other Collegiate dignities who not by priuiledge but by ancient custome or by sentences put in execution or by Concordates with the Bishops established and sworne were in possession of not beeing subiect to Bishops and others also restraining it onely to visitation it was ordained in the fourth head that concerning secular Clerkes it should bee extended to all times and all sorts of excesses and declared that none of the things aforesayd should withstand Another disorder as great did arise because the Pope did grant a Iudge at the election of the supplicant to whosoeuer did seeke it by the ordinary meanes vsed in Court with authoritie to defend protect and maintaine him in possession of his rights and to remooue the molestation giuen him extending also this fauour to all his domestiques And this sort of Iudges were called Conseruators who did stretch their authoritie in place of defending the supplicant from molestations to withdraw him from iust corrections and also at their instance to molest and trouble the Bishops and other ordinary Ecclesiasticall superiours with censures The fifth point made prouision against this disorder ordaining that Conseruatorie graces should not helpe any body nor free him from inquisition accusation and conuention before the Ordinary in criminall and mixt causes and in ciuill also in which hee is plaintife and in other causes if the Conseruator bee suspected or difficultie arise betweene him and the Ordinary who is competent Iudge that arbitrators shall bee chosen according to the forme of the Law and that Conseruatory letters which comprehend domestiques shall bee extended but vnto two who doe liue at the charge of the Master of the familie and that these and the like graces shall not continue aboue fiue yeeres and that the Conseruators shall not haue Tribunals But the Synod did not meane to containe in this Decree Vniuersities Colledges of Doctours and Schollers places of Regulars and Hospitals Concerning which exception when this point was handled there was very great contention it seeming to the Bishops that against all right the exception was larger then the rule because the number of Doctors Schollers Regulars and Hospitalaries is greater then of all others who can haue Conseruatorie letters and that the prouision against any particular man was easie but the disorders of Vniuersities and Colledges were of the greatest importance The Legate gaue an account heereof to Rome where it beeing decided by that which was consulted vnder Paul the third that it was necessary for maintenance of the Apostolique Sea that the Friars and Vniuersities should totally depend on
Rome there was no neede of a new determination and immediatly answere was made that the Conseruatories of these should by no meanes bee touched Whereupon the Fathers of the Synode who were adherents of Rome beeing entred into this opinion the others who were fewer were forced to be content with the exception and there was some hope and some meanes vsed to pacifie them The sixth point was concerning the Priests apparell wherein it was easily concluded to ordaine that all the Ecclesiastiques of holy Order or Beneficed men should bee bound to weare an habite fit for their degree according to the appointment of the Bishop giuing him power to suspend the transgressours if after admonition they shall not obey and to depriue them of their Benefices if after correction they shall not amend renewing herein the constitution of the Councel of Vienna which notwithstanding was not much fitted to those times prohibiting vpper garments laced and of diuers colours and frockes shorter then the vestment and red and greene breeches chequered things disused which haue no neede of prohibition The vse of all Christian Nations was most ancient that to imitate the mildenesse of CHRIST our LORD all the Ministers of the Church should bee neat and cleane from mans blood neuer receiuing to any Ecclesiasticall order any person defiled with homicide whether voluntary or casuall and if any Clerke committed any such excesse either willingly or by chance all Ecclesiasticall function was immediatly taken from him This hath beene and is now inuiolably obserued by other Christian Nations vnto whom dispensations against the Canons are vnknowen but in the Latine where rich men may easily make vse of them it is obserued onely by the poorer sort It being proposed in the fourth and fifth Article to moderate the abuse it was ordained in the seuenth head that a voluntary homicide should for euer remaine depriued of all Order Benefice and Ecclesiasticall office and when there shall bee cause to dispence with the casuall homicide the commission of the dispensation shall bee directed to the Bishop onely or if there bee cause to the contrary to the Metropolitane or next Bishop They saw that this Decree did not serue to moderate the abuses but to make the dispensations dearer For the Popes hands were not tied concerning voluntary homicide and for casuall the decree was obserued in not committing the cause to any but the Bishop but to dispence directly without committing it to another was not taken away first making the proofes in Rome or dispatching the dispensations vnder the name of Motu proprio or with other clauses with which the Chancery doth abound when it hath cause to vse them A certaine sort of Prelates seemed to hinder much the authority of Bishops who for their reputation in the place where they dwelt obteined power of the Pope to punish the faults of the Ecclesiastiques of that place and some Bishops also pretending that their Priests receiued scandall and bad example from those of the next Diocesses obtained authority to chastise them Some desiring that this disorder should bee remedied by reuoking wholly such authorities and perceiuing that it would distaste many Cardinals and great Prelates who abused them they found a moderation that they should vse them yet without preiudice of the Bishop ordayning in the eighth poynt that they might not proceede but in presence of the Bishop or his deputie There was another way to subiect the Churches and people of one Diocesse to the Bishop of another by vniting the Churches of one to the Churches or Benefices of the other which though it were prohibited in generall termes in the seuenth Session yet it beeing not so plainely done as some desired an expresse declaration was demanded Whereupon it was resolued in the ninth point that all perpetuall vnions of the Churches of one Diocesâ—e to the Churches of another should be prohibited vnder what pretence soeuer The Regulars made great instance to keepe their Benefices and to regaine those which they had already lost by the inuention of perpetuall Commendaes and many Bishops for sundry respects were willing to assist them They were desirous to propose that these perpetuall Commendaes should bee quite taken away but fearing to bee contradicted they were content onely to desire they should bee moderated The Presidents on the other side seeing the hazard that this matter dangerous for the Court should bee set on foote themselues proposed a light remedie to hinder all treatie of a better And this was that Regular Benefices vsually giuen in title to religious men when they shall bee vacant hereafter shall not bee conferred but vpon men professed of that Order or to some person who is to receiue the habite and take vpon him the profession This was the tenth poynt which did not much import the Court of Rome in regard as many Commendaes were alreadie made as could bee and the Prelates had no great desire to obtaine more though it would haue beene an honour for the Churches if the regular Abbats had resided But in regard of the fauour extended to the Monkes not to take more from them then was taken already a counterpoize was added in the next point ordaining that they could not haue secular Benefices though with cure Which howsoeuer it speaketh onely of those who are translated from one order to another ordaining that none should bee receiued but with condition to remaine in the Cloyster yet by parity of the reason or by an argument of greater reason it hath beene vnderstood generally of all And because the patronage of Churches was graunted in Court by grace and to make the grace the greater power giuen to depute an Ecclesiasticall person with faculty to institute him that is presented this disorder was remedied in the twelfth head ordaining that none should haue right of Patronage but the founded of the Church or hee that hath competenly indowed with his patrimoniall goods one already founded And for remedie of the second disorder it was forbid in the 13. head that the Patrone though he had a priuiledge to doe it should not make the presentation to any but the Bishop While these things were handled Iohannes Theodoricus Pleniagorus and The Ambassadors of the Duke of Wittenberg arriue in Trent with commission to present the confession of their faith Iohannes Eclinus Ambassadours sent by the Duke of Wittenberg to the Councell arriued in Trent with order to present publiquely the confession of their doctrine whereof mention hath beene made and to say withall that Diuines would come to expound it more at large and defend it if securitie and safe conduct were giuen them according to the forme of the Councell of Basil They went to the Count Montfort the Emperours Ambassadour shewed him their Mandate and tolde him they had commission to propose some things in the Councell This being related by the Count to the Legate hee answered that as others Ambassadors did first present themselues to the Presidents in the name
desired often that the action should begin which not withstanding was deferred sometimes vnder pretence that the Legate was not well in health sometimes vnder diuers others The Emperours Ambassadours vsed all meanes to make them begin and perswaded the Protestants not to desire an answere to the demaunds presented by them and afterwards not to desire that the doctrine exhibited by them should bee examined But as one difficulty was remooued by the Protestants so another was still raised by the Presidents sometimes about the manner of treating sometimes about the matter with which to begin But in the end the Protestants perswaded by Pictauius were content to begin where the others would Yet for all this nothing was done For the Legate though very sicke of great passions of minde was thought to faine that hee might finde a pretence not to begin The Nuncij were irresolute and the Bishops did not agree among themselues For the adherents of Caesar Spaniards and others mooued by the Emperours Ambassadours desired to proceede but the Papalins suspecting that the end of the Imperialists was to come to the reformation of the Court of Rome embraced all occasions of delay And because the Dutch Bishops were already departed by reason of the rumours of warre they expected the like occasion also especially because the aduices of the Armes of the French King and confederates of Germanie against the Emperour did continue Protests and Manifests beeing published which alleadged for a cause the defence of Religion and libertie of Germany The first of April the Elector of Saxonie besieged Ausburg which did render it selfe the third day and the sixt newes there of came The Fathers of the Councell and the Protestants depart from Trent by reason of the rumors of warre to Trent and that all Tirol did arme and meant to goe to Ispruc there beeing an opinion that the armie of the confederates did purpose to possesse themselues of the passages of the Alpes to hinder strangers from comming into Germany Therefore in many of the Italian Bishops embarqued and went downe the Riuer Adice to goe to Verona and the Protestants determined to depart There remaining but few Prelates and the Legate often doting by reason The Legate doteth and the Nuncij send to Rome to knowe what to doe of his great infirmitie nor being able constantly to resolue the Nuncij fearing they should be alone in Trent if they expected the first of May according to the order wrote to Rome desiring to knowe what they should do in these great straits The Pope who already had concluded with France nor esteemed any more what the Emperour could doe hauing ouer come the difficulties by which he was compassed assembled the Cardinals and proposed to them the aduice of the Nuncy the maior part of whom did concurre without difficulty that the Councell should bee suspended The Bull was made and sent to Trent and letters addressed to the Nuncij giuing them authority for the suspension Therefore when they saw vrgent necessitie they were commanded to yeeld vnto it not putting the dignity of the Councell in danger which should be restored at another more peaceable time nor dissoluing it absolutely that they might keepe it in their power and vse it vpon occasions but suspending it for some yeeres The Nuncij concealed From whence they receiue order to suspend the Councel this answere and consulted with the Emperours Ambassadors and the principal prelates who desired that order should be expected from Caesar and extenuated the feare as much as they could Notwithstanding the Prelates though the maior part were Spaniards fearing their owne persons and hating the Protestants and not hoping that in so great straits the Emperour could haue time to thinke of the Councell gaue consent to a suspension Therefore the Nuncij did intimate the publique Session for the 28. of April so great was their feare that they could not expect two dayes the time appointed for it Those few that remained did assemble and after the Ecclesiasticall ceremonies were ended for the pompes were omitted for that time the Nuncio of Siponto caused the Decree so bee read by the Secretary The substance Which is executed in Session the 2. of April whereof was That the Synode the two Nuncij presiding in their owne name and in the name of Cardinall Crescentius the Legate grieuously sicke is assured that all Christians doe knowe that the Councell of Trent was first The Bull of the suspension for two yeres assembled by Paulus and after restored by Iulius at the request of Charles the Emperour to restore Religion especially in Germanie and to correct manners and that many Fathers of diuers Countreys did meete without sparing any paines or fearing any dangers and that the proceeding was prosperous with hope that the innouators of Germanie would come to the Councell and yeeld to the reasons of the Church but that by the subtilty of the enemie tumults are suddenly raised which haue interrupted the course taken away all hope of proceeding and giuen cause of feare that the Synode would rather irritate the mindes of many then pacifie them Therefore perceiuing that euery place Germanie especially is on fire with discords and that the Dutch Bishops especially the Electors were departed to make prouision for their Churches it hath determined not to contend with necessitie but to be silent vntill better times And therefore they doe suspend the Progresse for two yeeres with condition that if all be quiet before that time bee ended the Councell shall bee vnderstood to bee restored but if the impediments shall not cease at the end of two yeeres it shall bee vnderstood that the suspension is taken away so soone as the impediments are remooued without a new Conuocation of the Councell his Holinesse and the holy Apostolique Sea hauing giuen consent and authoritie to this Decree And in the meane time the Synode doth exhort all Christian Princes and Prelates as farre as concerneth euery one to cause all the Decrees of the Councell made vntill then to be obserued in their Dominions and Churches This Decree beeing read was approued by the Italians The Spaniards who were twelue sayd that the dangers were not so great as they were made That fiue yeeres Is opposed by the Spanish Prelates since Chiusa was taken by the Protestants when no commander but Castel-alto was in Tiral to defend it and yet the Councell did not disso 〈…〉 Now the Emperour was in 〈◊〉 by whose vertue those stirres would quickly ceast that the 〈…〉 should haue leaue to depart as then they had and those remaine that would vntill the Emperour were aduised 〈…〉 beeing but three dayes 〈…〉 might returness speedy answere But the others opposing popularly the Spaniards protested against so absolute suspension Who protest against the suspension notwithstanding the Nuncio of Siponto giuing his benediction to the Fathers gaue them leaue to begin their iourney The Nuncij and Italian Prelates beeing departed in
preserue the Church exhorting all to employ all their endeauours to establish it in Italy and wheresoeuer else they could The Pope being newly dead or rather still breathing there did arise by reason of the great hatred conceiued by the people against him and his whole house such tumults in Rome that the Cardinals were more troubled with these as being neere and vrgent then with those that were common to all Christendome The Citie was all in sedition the head of the Popes statua The people shew their detestation of him was beaten off and drawen through the streetes the prisons broken open and more then foure hundred prisoners set at libertie and going to Ripeta where the Inquisition was they did not onely take out the imprisoned but burnt the place and all the processes and writings kept there and they had almost burned the Conuent of Minerua where the Fryars imployed in that office doe dwell The Colledge of Cardinals had recalled Caraffa in the life time of the Pope and in the first congregation which they held after his death they deliuered the Cardinall Morone out of the Castle who was readie Card Morone was set at libertie who was ready to be sentenced for an heretique to bee censured for an Heretique A great question was made whether he could haue a voyce in the election being opposed by those who thought him their aduersary But at the last it was resolued on his side The Cardinals were forced to consent that all the moueable armes and monuments of the house of Caraffa should be torne in pieces and the immoueable demolished Being assembled in the Conclaue the fift of September eight dayes after the iust time because they were hindred by those inconueniences they made capitulations which according to custome were sworne to by all that they might giue some order for the gouernement which was wholly confused by the too great seueritie of Paul 4. Two of them did belong to the Capitulatiōs sworne vnto by the Cardinals in the Conclaue matter whereof we treat one that the difference with the Emperour which might hazard the losse of all the residue of Germanie should bee composed and hee acknowledged for Emperour the other that for the necessitie of France and Flanders the Councell as the onely remedie against heresies should be restored The Papacie was vacant longer then the necessitie of the time did comport not so much for the discords of the Cardinals as for the interests of Princes who did interpose more then they were wont While they were locked vp in the Conclaue King Philip going from the Low Countries into Spaine by sea with resolution neuer to remooue thence fell into a storme in which almost all the fleet was wracked his houshold stuffe of very 1559 PIVS 4. FERDINAND ELIZABETH FRANCIS 2. King Philip is in great perill at sea Who at his arriuall in Spaine vseth great seueritie against the Lutherans great valew lost and himselfe hardly escaped Hee said he was deliuered by the singular prouidence of GOD to root out Lutheranisme which hee presently began to doe For the 24. of September so soone as he was arriued in Seuil to giue an example in the beginning of his gouernment and to leaue no hope to any he caused Iohannes Pontius Count of Bayleno together with a preacher and many others of the Colledge of S. Isidore where the new religion was entred to be burned for Lutherans as also some Noble women to the number of thirteene and last of all the statue of Constantinus Pontius Confessor to Charles the fifth who serued him in his retyred life and held him in his armes when he dyed This man dyed in prison a few dayes before where he was put immediatly after the Emperours death for imputation of Heresie which execution though against an vnsensible statue increased the feare because euery one concluded that no conniuencie nor mercie could be hoped for from the King who bare no respect to him whose infamie did dishonour the memorie of the Emperour deceased Afterwards he went to Validolid where he caused twentie eight of the prime Nobilitie of the Countrey to be burned in his presence and kept Fryar Bartholomew Caranza in prison mentioned often in the first reduction of the Councell of Trent who was Arch-bishop of Toledo chiefe Prelate of Spaine taking from him all the reuenewes And it cannot be denied that these executions with others which daily succeeded though not so exemplarie kept those Countreys in quiet while all other places were full of sedition For although the new opiniōs were sowed in the minds of many especially of the Nobilitie yet they were concealed within their hearts in regard of the close nature of the Spaniards who abhorre dangers neuer aduenturing vpon hard enterprises but ayming to prooceed securely The Kings death in France which they reformed did ascribe to miracle increased their courage though they durst not shew themselues openly in Paris For his sonne Francis the new king after he was consecrated at Rhemes The young French King imirateth the seueritie of his father the twentieth of September gaue order to prosecute the processe of the Counsellors who were in prison and deputed the President of S. Andreas and the Inquisitor Antonius de Mocares to discouer the Lutherans The Iudges hauing gained some of the common sort formerly professors of that religion had notice of the places where they did secretly assemble Therfore many both men and women were imprisoned and many fled whose goods were confiscated after a citation by three Edicts And by the example of Paris the same was done in Poytou Tholouse and Aix of Prouence by the instigation of George Cardinall of Armignac who not to abandon that enterprise would not goe to Rome to the election of the pope vsing all diligence that those who were discouered might be apprehended The professors of that religion being stirred vp hereby and imboldened because they knew they were many sent about many writings against the King and Queene and those of Loraine by whom the King was gouerned authours of the persecution intermixing some points of doctrine which being willingly read by all as things composed by publique libertie did imprint the new religion in the minds of many In the end of the processe against the Counsellers after along contestation all were absolued except Anne du Burg who was burnt the eighteenth of December not so much by the inclination of the Iudges as by the resolution of the Queen prouoked against him because the Lutherans did diuulge in many writings libels spread abroad that the King had been wounded in the eye by the prouidence of God for a punishment of his words vsed against Anna Borges is burned du Bourg that he would see him burnt But the death and constancie of a man so conspicuous did make many curious to know what religion that was for which he had so couragiously indured punishment made the number increase which augmenting
by those which are de iure diuino no profit doth arise but that which is spirituall For these reasons it is wisedome to oppose the first demand not to be bound to grant the second and all the rest The Pope principally for these causes did resolue negatiuely and to The Poperesolueth not to grant the Cup to the French men make his resolution the lesse grieuous he caused the Ambassadour to be perswaded to desist of his owne accord who not consenting hee caused him to be intreated that at the least hee would prosecute it gently in regard it was impossible to yeeld vnto him for feare of aliening all the Catholiques The Ambassadour still proceeding the Pope first put him off with delay and in conclusion answered that howsoeuer he could yet he ought not to yeeld to his request because the Councell was at hand vnto which hee had referred the Emperours petition so hee would doe that of France and to gratifie the King would handle that article first of all and so dispatch it in as little time as would be requisite to grant the grace with maturiâ—iâ— The Ambassadour repeating this instance in euery audience the Pope added that hee was sure all the Prelates did not make that request because the maior part in the Congregation did resolue not to speake of it saying that the name of the Prelates of France was vsed whereas the motion proceeded but from a few and those incited by others meaning the Queene against whom hee bare a secret grudge for the letter she wrote vnto him the 4. of August At the same time when the Petition of the French Prelates was published The French Prelates are suspected in Trent and Rome in Rome newes came out of Germanie that the same men had sent to the Protestants there to perswade them to perseuere in their doctrine promising to fauour them in the Councell and to draw other Prelates to doe the like This was diuulged in Trent also and caused the French-men to haue but small reputation both there amongst the Italians and in the Court of Rome where they were esteemed to be men of an vnquiet spirit and desirous of innouation And it was said as suspicions doe alwayes adde something in regard of the disputes which that Nation hath euer had with the Court of Rome in very important Articles and of the present accidents that certainely they would goe to the Councell with no other aime but onely to The Popes expences in the Councel cause troubles and innouations The Ambassador that the popular rumor against his Nation might not make an impression in the Popes minde was willing to secure him who perswaded him ironically not to trouble himselfe because it was not likely nor could hee beleeue that so small a number as are the French-men could thinke of so great enterprises and if they did that they should finde many Italians who would oppose them But he said he was displeased that they had hindered the Councell which was assembled for their sakes onely which shewed but small care in them to cure that sicknesse whereof they complaine adding that hee was resolued to open the Councell either with them or without them and to prosecute and dispatch it and that his Legates and a great number of Bishops had been many moneths in Trent already to their great trouble and charge not able to doe any thing while the Prelats of France doe so deliciously prouide for their case at home In conformity hereof hee did recapitulate in Consistory the instances and causes for which hee had iust a yeere since intimated the Councell by aduice of them the Cardinals the difficulties which hee encountred and ouercame in perswading the Princes who were of contrary opinions to accept the Bull his diligence in sending presently the Legates and those Prelates with whom hee was able to preuaile either with perswasions or commaunds that all is already prepared by him onely seuen moneths since and is so chargeable to him that amongst officers and poore Prelates the Apostolique Sea doeth spend aboue three thousand crownes a moneth and that experience sheweth that delay doeth bring on more expence that the Dutch-men doe inuent some thing euery day to oppose against this holy and necessary worke that heresies doe increase in France and some Bishops are almost become reâ—ellious by making absurd petition for the Cup which they doe with such violence that the greater number who are good Catâ—oliques are forced to yeelde that all Princes haue appointed Abassadours that there are so many Prelates in Trent already that they are not onely sufficient to beginne the Synod but are more then were in any of the two former conuocations thereof and that nothing remained but to beginne without expecting any longer The Gardinals hauing consented hereunto and commended his resolution hee ioyned two Legates more to the three former Two presidents more are appointed for the Councell Ludouicus Simoneta a great Canonist who had passed through all the offices of the Court and Marcus di Altemps his sisters sonne Hee commanded the former to depart presently and not to tary any where in the iourney and so soone as hee came to Trent to cause the vsuall ceremonies to be made and the Masse of the holy Ghost to bee said for a beginning of the Councell Hee said afterwards that the Synode was to continue still not to terminate in suspensions or translations as formerly it did with notorious preiudice and danger but to haue an absolute end For effecting whereof there was no neede to spend many moneths in regard the most important points were already determined and the residue was so set in order by disputations and examinations vnder Iulius that scarce any thing remained but publication so that all would be dispatched in a shorttime Simoneta arriued in Trent the niuth of December and at his entrie sawa great fire rise out of the earth which passed ouer the Citie like vnto a falling starre but onely in bignesse whereof idle persons of which number there were many made diuers pronognostiques some presaging good and some hurt which would be a vanlty to recount The Cardinall found letters written after his departure that hee should expect a new commission to open the Councell The Pope compelled some Bishops who were at Court The number of the Prelats in â—â—ent at the time of his departure to goe with him so that the number of all beside the Cardinals was 92. The Nuncio resident in France returned to Rome in the beginning of December who hauing related the state of that Kingdome the Pope wrote The Pope writeth to his Legate in France to the Legate that he should represent to the Kings Counsell that the Councell was to be celebrated for France onely because neither Italy nor Spaine had neede of it and Germanie did refuse it and tell them that therefore it did concerne them to promote it a thing neglected by them but performed by him in
be ordained but vnto a particular charge and that the loose ordinations should beenullified and made voyd This was afterwards confirmed by the Canons so that this rule remained as a Maxime established in the Church that no man could bee ordained without a title and in the ancient and good times by a title was vnderstood a charge or ministery to be exercised But after that corruptions were entred a title was taken for a reuenue to liue vpon and that which was constituted to this end that amongst the Clergie no person might bee idle was thus transformed that no person might want and bee forced to worke for his liuing And the true sense of the Canons beeing couered by this interpretation Alexander the third did establish it in his Lateran Councell saying that none should be ordained without a title by which hee may receiue prouision necessary for his life with this exception if he had no inheritance of his owne or from his father which would bevery reasonable if a title were required onely to maintaine life For this cause many shewing they had a Patrimonie by false proofes were ordained others after they were ordained to a true patrimony did aliene it and others borrowing a sufficient patrimony vntill they were ordeined did afterwards restore it to him that had lent it so that there were many poore Priests and many inconueniences caused which required that prouision should be made for them This Article being proposed to the Synode there were diuers opinions In which point diuers opinions are deliuered in Councel Some sayd that it being established that residencie is de Iure diuino and euery one exercising his charge the Churches will bee perfectly serued and there will be no neede of Clergie men not beneficed or of ordinations to the title of patrimonie or any other and all inconueniences will bee remedied For there will bee no idle person in the Clergie from whom innumerable mischiefes and bad examples doe come there will bee no beggar nor any forced to vse base trades They sayd that no reformation was good but that which did reduce things to their beginning that the primitiue Church did continue many yeeres in perfection and that the integrity thereof could by this meanes only be restored There was another opinion that none should be denied to take holy orders who for honestie or sufficiencie did deserue them although they were poore alleadging that the poore were not excluded in the Primitiue Church which did not dislike that Clerkes and Priests should liue by their labour by the example of S. Paul the Apostle and of Apollo the Euangelist who liued by making Pauilions And after that Princes became Christians Constantius the sonne of Constantine gaue in his sixt Consulship a priuiledge to the Clergie that they should not pay any Subsidie for that which they did traffique in shops and worke-houses because they gaue some of their gaines to the poore The instruction of S. Paul to the faithfull was obserued that they should labour in honest workes that they might haue whereof to giue to the poore They said that an idle and wicked life was vnseemely in the Clergie because it gaue scandall but to liue of ones labour was honest and tended to edification and if any were forced to beg because of sicknesse it was no shame no more then to the Friars who holde it for a glory to bee accounted beggars that it was not a Christian proposition that to labour to liue by ones hands to begge in case of impotencie was vndecent to the Ministers of CHRIST and that nothing was vnseemely but vice And if any thought that want was cause of theft or other sinnes hee shall finde when he thinketh better on it that these bee sinnes of the rich rather then of the poore and that auarice is more impotent and vntamed then pouerty which beeing alwayes busie doth take away occasions of doing ill An honest man and a poore man are compatible but not an honest man and an idle man The great benefit which the Church militant in this worlde and that which is Purgatorie doeth receiue by Masses celebrated by poore Priests and not by rich is both written and preached of which number if none were the faithfull liuing and the soules of the dead would bee depriued of great suffrages that it were better that a strict order should bee made that persons of honesty and sufficiencie should be ordained without a title seeing that now the cause doeth cease for which Antiquitie forbade it which was for that those who had titles labouring in their Ecclesiasticall functions did edifie and the others beeing idle did giue scandall whereas now those that haue titles doe for the most part disdaine the Ecclesiasticall ministerie and liue in pleasure and the poore performe the functions and doe edifie This opinion was not followed by many But a middle opinion had great applause which was that the vse should bee still obserued not to ordaine without a title to an Ecclesiasticall benefice or a sufficient patrimonie that Priests might not dishonour their order by begging and that it should bee constituted to remooue all fraud that the Bishop should prouide that the patrimonie to which the Clerke is ordained might not bee alienated Gabriel de Veneur Bishop of Viuiers contradicted this and said that the patrimonie of Clerkes is a secular thing concerning which the Clergie cannot possibly make any law besides many occasions may arise for which the Law or the Magistrate may lawfully command it to bee alienated And it is generally true that the patrimoniall goods of Clerkes for prescriptions and all sorts of contracts are subiect to the ciuill lawes and therefore that they ought to consider well of the businesse before they assume authoritie to breake a ciuill contract The occasion of proposing the third Article was because the precept of Concerning Simonie CHRIST that all spirituall graces should bee freely conferred as they are freely receiued from him was many wayes transgressed in the collation of Orders which abuse was not new but greater in former times For in the beginning of Christianitie charitie abounding the people who receiued spirituall things from the Ministers of CHRIST did not onely according to the diuine precept expounded by S. Paul contribute to them as much as serued for their necessities but enough also to maintaine the poore neuer thinking that the temporall was a price of the Spirituall But after that the temporall which was held and inioyed in common was diuided and a reuenue applyed to the titles called a Benefice the ordination being not then distinct from the collation of the title and by consequence of the Benefice annexed to it but both being giuen and receiued together it seemed to the ordainers that beside the spirituall thing they gaue also a temporall for which they might receiue another temporall thing in recompence which hee that would obtaine was forced to accommodate himselfe to the will of him that could giue it
had beene formerly deliuered in great variety they desired that they would all speake distinctly one after one that their suffrages might be noted All hauing giuen their voyces â—8 sayd Placet absolutely 33. Nonplacet Andso doe the Prelates absolutely 13. sayd Placet consulto prius Sanctissimo Domino nostro and 17. answered Nonplacet nisi prius consulto Sanctissimo Domino nostro The 13. did differ from the 17. because they did absolutely approoue the declaration yet were ready to change their opinion if the Pope thought otherwise the 17. did absolutely not approoue yet were content to be of the Popes opinion if hee did like it This was a very subtile difference and vsed onely where euery one doeth thinke to doe his Master the best seruice The Cardinall Madruccio would not precisely answere to the interrogation but said he referred himselfe to his voyce deliuered in Congregation which was in fauour of Ius diuinum And the Bishop of Budua said that hee held the affirmatiue as already concluded and that he thought fit it should be published The voyces beeing collected and diuided and it appearing that the greater part by one halfe did approoue the declaration that a fourth part onely did dislike it and that others though conditionally were with the first they came to words of some bitternesse and the residue of the Congregation was spent in discoursing heereof not without much confusion Which the Cardinall of Mantua perceiuing made a silence and exhorting the Fathers to modesty gaue them leaue to depart The Legates consulted what was fit to bee done and agreed to giue the Whereof the Legates giue the Pope an account Pope an exact account of all and expect his answere and in the meane while to prosecute in the Congregations the Articles remayning Mantua would haue sent his Secretarie Camillus Oliuo by post with letters of credence and Simoneta would haue all expressed in the letters They concluded to temper these two opinions that is to write a very large letter and referre that which remained to the Secretary who the same day parted from Trent in the euening This though secretly caried came to the knowledge of the Spaniards To the great discontentment of the Spanish Prelates who much complayned that they saw a beginning made of an vnsupportable grieuance that euery treatie should not onely bee sent but consulted of and resolued also at Rome that the Councel assembled twise before in that City was dissolued without fruit yea with scandall also because nothing was resolued by the Fathers but all in Rome so that a blasphemous Prouerbe was generally vsed that the Synod of Trent was guided by the holy Ghost sent thither A blasphemous prouerb was vsed against the pâ—oceeding of the Councel from time to time in a cloake-bagge from Rome And that those Popes who absolutely refused the Councel gaue lesse scandall then those who haue assembled it and hold it in seruitude The world was in hope that if once a Councel might be obtayned all inconueniences would be redressed but hauing obserued how things were caried vnder two Popes before and how they are gouerned now all hope of any good is extinguished nor any more to be hoped for from the Councel if it must serue to bee a minister of the interests of the Court of Rome and mooue or stand still at their pleasure This gaue occasion beginning in the next Congregation to discusse the Articles proposed briefly to speake of the point of Residencie The Cardinall of Varmia sayd that that matter was sufficiently treated on that the Decree should bee framed to resolue it which beeing proposed euery one might say what hee thought fit but hee could not quiet the humors that were mooued Therefore the Arch-bishop of Prague the Emperours Ambassador made a continuate speach to exhort the Fathers to proceede peaceably and with lesse passion admonishing them to consider what did become their persons and that place But Iulius Superchius Bishop of Caurle answered cholerikely that nothing doth lesse beseeme the Councel then to lay a law vpon the Prelates especially when it is done by one who representeth a Secular authority and vsed some biting termes so that the Congregation was like to be diuided into parts Varmiense who was President in it seeking to moderate them diuerted the speech vpon other Articles appointed for that day and proposed that some meanes should bee vsed to set at liberty the English Bishops who were in prison in England that comming to the Councel it might be said that that noble Nation was present also and not wholly aliened from the Church This pleased all but the common opinion was that it might sooner bee desired then hoped for They concluded that A consultation in the Councel to set at liberty the English Bishops who were in prisoÌ„ the Queene hauing refused to receiue a Nuncio expressely sent from the Pope it could not be hoped that she would hearken to the Councel Therefore all they could doe was to perswade Catholique Princes to mediate for them The 25. beeing S. Markes day the Venetian Ambassadors were receiued The Venetian Ambassadors are receiued in Congregation in the generall Congregation whose Mandat being read dated the 11. of the same Moneth and an Oration made by Nicolas di Tonte one of them an answere was giuen in the vsuall forme In those few dayes the wisest amongst the Prelates considering what a disreputation it would be to the Councel and themselues if those stirs were not pacified endeuoured to pacifie mens minds by shewing that if the Conciliary actioÌ„s were not prosecuted without tumult besides the scandall the shame the dissolution of the Councell without doing any good would necessarily follow This remonstrance tooke effect and caused them to treat peaceably of the sixe Articles remaining of which there was not much to bee spoken For the fifth the prouision was thought necessary but there was a difficultie concerning the manner because the diuision of Parishes was first made by the people when a certaine number of inhabitants hauing receiued the true faith built a temple for exercise of their religion hired a Priest and did The diuision of Parishes constitute a Church which by the neighbours was called a Parish and when the number was encreased if one Church and Priest were not sufficient those who were most remote did build another and fit themselues better In progresse of time for good order and concord a custome began to haue the Bishops consent also But after that the Court of Rome assumed by reseruations the collation of Benefices those who were prouided of them from Rome when the diuision of great Parishes and by consequence a diminution of their gaine was in question opposed themselues by the fauour of the Pope so that nothing could bee done herein without going to Rome which when it hapned especially beyond the Mountaines in regard of the impediments of Appeales and other suites it was a thing of
obtaine the Communion of the Cup which would be a beginning to giue Germanie satisfaction It being resolued that the sixe Articles should bee handled and the Diuines speake first and then the Prelats it did appeare that all the time vntill the Session would be spent in this onely eighty eight Diuines being to speake and many Prelats to giue their voyces Therefore some said that there was no need of any great consideration to be had of these points because they were fully discussed in the former assembly vnder Iulius but that a briefe and sound examination might serue so that they may bee determined in a few dayes and all the other time may be spent in the reformation They sayd that Article of residencie had beene already proposed and examined in part and that it was meete that it should once be ended This opinion was openly followed by thirtie Fathers and it appeared that it was secretly approoued by many more who would haue shewed themselues in the conclusion But Cardinall Simoneta desiring to interpose a delay by saying that it was not meete to handle that matter vntill mens mindes were pacified which had beene mooued by the former difference which will not suffer them to discerne the trueth opened a gate to Iohn Baptista Castagna Archbishop of Rosano and to Pompeius Zambeccarus Bishop of Sulmona both which speaking hotly and sharpely raised such a tumult that they feared some inconuenience For remedy whereof the Cardinall of Mantua prayed those of the residence to be quiet promising that in another Session or when they handled the Sacrament of order this should bee discussed The tumult being thus appeased and it appearing that the resuming of the points handled vnder Iulius would spend more time and The Card. of Mantua promiseth that the point of Residence shal be discussed bee more difficult then to examine them againe as hapneth to a iudge who is to frame his sentence vpon a processe made before another a resolution was taken that the Diuines should speake of them and a congregation bee held twice a day in which two of the Legats should assist so diuiding their charges that they might make an end the sooner and of the Prelats as many as would and that they should haue two dayes to study and begin the third With this conclusion the Congregation ended But Simoneta was offended Wherewith Card Simoneta is much offended with the promise which Mantua made without consent or participation of his colleagues and made an open quarrell Mantua was blamed by the Prelates who fauoured the Court and calumniated to be ill affected but by the sincere was commended for his wisedome who in a dangerous necessitie tooke a course to withstand the diuisions and protestations which were prepared and blamed Simoneta for being offended because Mantua much more eminent then he trusting vpon the consent of Seripando and Varmiense whose opinion he knew might thinke that a resolution taken by necessity ought to haue beene ratified by him also The next day the Emp. Ambassadors hauing obtained as they desired the proposition of the Chalice for which vntill then they had proceeded with respect came to the Legats and presented to them according to the instruction of their Prince twenty points of reformation 1. That the Pope would The Emperors Ambassadors propose to the Legats twenty points of Reformation bee content to make a iust reformation of himselfe and the Court of Rome 2. That if the number of Cardinals cannot be reduced to twelue yet that it bee brought at the least to the double of it with two supernumerary so that they may not exceede sixe and twenty 3. That no scandalous dispensations may bee granted hereafter 4. That the executions against the common Lawes may be reuoked and all the monasteries subiected to the Bishops 5. That pluralitie of Benefices bee taken away and Schooles erected in Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches and that Ecclesiasticall offices may not bee bought and sold 6 That Bishops may bee compelled to reside and not exercise their office by Vicars and if they bee not sufficient that the charge may not bee committed to one Vicar but to many persons and that the Visitations and Dioecesan Synods may bee made euery yeere 7 That euery Ecclesiasticall Ministerie bee exercised freely and that rich Benefices without cure may bee incorporated to those that haue cure and small reuenues 8. That the Canons against Simonie may bee reuiued 9. That the Ecclesiasticall constitutions bee abridged the superfluitie cut off and not made equall to the obligations of the Law of GOD. 10 That excommunication bee not vsed but for mortall sinne or notorious irregularitie 11. That Diuine Seruice be so said as that it may bee vnderstood by him that faith it and by him that heareth 12. That the Breuiaries and Missals bee corrected and those things taken away which bee not found in the Scripture as also the prolixitie 13. That in celebrating the diuine offices in Latine prayers bee intermingled in the vulgar 14 That the Clergie and Monasticall order bee reformed according to the ancient institution and that so great riches may not bee administered so ill 15 That it be considered whether it be expedient to remit so great obligations of the positiue Law abating some of the rigour in the difference of meats and fasts and granting marriage of Priests to some nations 16. That to take away the diuersitie of opinions the diuers Postils be forbidden to be read and one made by publique authoritie and likewise a new Ritual which may bee followed by all 17. That a way bee found not to chase away bad Parish Priests because that is easie but to substitute better 18 That in great prouinces many Bishoprickes bee erected conuerting rich Monasteries to this vse 19. That for Ecclesiasticall goods vsurped perhaps it was better at that time to passe them ouer with dissimulation In the end to say something to please the Pope and to pacifie him if hee were angry for these propositions he added 20 That the Legats should endeauour that no vnprofitable questions which breed scandall as whether Residence bee de iure diuino and the like should bee proposed and that the Fathers should speake without choler and not make themselues a fable to the aduersaries Concerning the 17. they gaue some particular notes to reduce those who were lest obstinate amongst the Sectaries by sending them to some Vniuersitie where they may bee instructed in a short time and giuing order to the Bishops who haue no Vniuersitie to make a Colledge in the next for the youth of their Diocesses to make a Catalogue of the Doctours which are to be read in the Schooles prohibiting that any others be read The propositions being vnderstood the Legats retiring first and consulting Who answere that they cannot be proposed in the next Session together returned and made answere that it was not possible to propose them the next Session hauing at their instance that matter
Cup contradicted And are opposed by the Spaniards and said that the order of the Articles was to be followed which was essentiall it being impossible to decide the fourth and fifth vntill the second and third were decided Thomas Stella Bishop of Capo di Istria opposed and sayd that in the councell they ought not to vse Logicke and artifices to hinder good determinations Granata replyed that himselfe desired the same that is that propositions might be made to the Synod in order that they might not stumble by walking in confusion Granata was assisted by Matthias Callinus Archbishop of Zara and the other by Iohn Thomas of S. Felix Bishop of Caua but vsing ridiculous iests rather then any serious discourse which gaue some distast to the Spaniards and made a great whispering amongst the Prelats This caused the congregation to be dismissed and the Cardinall of Mantua exhorted the Archbishops to read and consider of the draughts made that the order of proceeding might bee resolued on in the next Congregation This place requireth that because the Congregations were often ended by reason of some distasts giuen to some great Prelate the ordinary cause thereof should be related It hath been shewed before that there were many Bishops in the Councel Pensioners of the Pope who did all depend on Simoneta because he was most interested for his Holinesse and had the most secret instructions Hee beeing a man of an acute iudgement made vse of them according to the capacitie of euery one Amongst these he had some that were bold and wittie whom he employed in the Congregations to crosse those who entred into matters contrary to his endes These were exercised in the Art of iesting soberly to prouoke others and make them ridiculous themselues retaining their grauitie and not being moued at all The seruice they did to the Pope and the Cardinal doth deserue particular mention These were the forenamed Bishops Caua and Capo di Istria Pompeius Zambeccarus of Bolonia Bishop of Sulmona and Bartholomeus Sirigus of Candia Card. Simoneta the Legat maketh vse of 4. iesting Bishops in the Councell Bishop of Castellanetta each of which to the common qualities of their Countrey had ioyned the perfections which are gained in the court of Rome These did exasperate also the distasts betweene Mantua and Simoneta before mentinoed by speaking ill and detracting from Mantua aswell in Trent by words as by letters to Rome which was attributed to Simoneta because euery one saw hee made much esteeme of them Whereof purging himselfe to the Secretarie of Mantua and to the Bishop of Nola he said that for the small respect they bare to such a Cardinal he would not haue had any more friendship with them but that he had need of them in the Congregation to oppose the impertinences of the Prelates Augustinus Pauugarner Ambassadour of Bauaria hauing beene in Trent The Ambasdour of Bauaria is receiued in Congregation and maketh a protestation about precedence two moneths as a priuate man by reason of his pretention to precede the Venetians had finally commission from his Prince to appeare in Publique and was receiued in the Congregation of the 27 of Iune sate after the Venetian Ambassadours and first made a protestation saying that as the right of his Prince was most strong so hee was ready to defend it in any other place but that in the Councell where Religion is handled hee would not stand vpon those points of honour and therefore was contented to yeelde but so as that it might be no preiudice to his Master or other German Princes of the Electorall blood of the Empire The Venetian Ambassadors answered To which the Venetian Ambassadours make answer the Protestation that their Republique had right of Precedence and that as the Duke of Bauaria did then yeeld so hee ought to doe in all places The Ambassadour made a very free and long oration in which hee shewed the state of religion in Bauaria saying it was compassed with heretiques who were also entred into it that there were whole Parishes of Lutherans Zuinglians The Bauariā maketh a long and free orātion Flacians Anabaptists and of other Sects which cockle the Prelats haue not been able to weede out because the contagion is not onely in the vulgar but in the Nobilitie also The cause hereof hath beene the bad life of the Clergie whose great wickednesse hee could not relate without offending the chaste eares of the auditorie But it sufficeth that his Prince doth tell them that the amendment of Doctrine would bee in vaine and vnprofitable if first an amendment were not made of manners Hee added that the Clergie is infamous for lust that the politique Magistrate doth not suffer a Concubinary Citizen which fault is so common in the Clergie that there are not aboue three or foure in an hundred who are not concubinaries or secretly married or openly that the Catholikes also in Germany doe preferre a chaste mariage before an vnchaste single life that many haue abādoned the Church for the prohibition of the Cup saying that the word of God practise of the Primitiue Church doth force them to vse it which vntil this present is obserued in the Oriental Churches and formerly hath beene vsed in the Church of Rome That Paul 3. did grant it to Germany and the Bauarians doe complaine of their Prince that he doeth enuie it to his subiects protesting that if the Synod doe not make prouision his Highnesse will not be able to gouerne his people and will be forced to giue them that which hee cannot withhold For a remedie of the scandals of the Clergie hee proposed a good reformation and that in euery Bishopricke Schooles and Academies should be erected to bring vp good Ministers he demanded the mariage of Priests without which it was impossible in that age to reforme the Clergie alledging that single life was not commanded by GOD. Hee demanded also the Communion vnder both kindes saying that if it had beene permitted many prouinces of Germanie had remained in the obedience of the Apostolike Sea whereas those who haue continued in it vntill now doe runne away from it like a torrent together with other nations that the Duke doth not desire the three remedies mentioned hoping to reduce to the Church the sectaries and those that are strayed but onely to retaine those who are not diuided as yet Hee said it was necessary to begin with reformation or else all the paines taken in the Councell would be in vaine that the Clergie being reformed his Prince if his opinion be asked in point of doctrine will bee able to say something worthy of consideration which is not fit to be spoken now because it is not conuenient to treat of making warre against the enemie before one hath mustered his owne forces at home In the course of his Oration hee often interposed that his Prince spake this not to giue a Law to the Councell but to intimate it with
and was not present at the discussion of the matter sayd that hee held that poynt to be very imperfect if they did not constitute withall that likewise nothing The Bishop of Veglia maketh a resolute speach concerning some corruptions in Rome should bee exacted at Rome for dispensations to receiue Orders out of due times before the iust age without licence and examination of the Ordinarie and for irregularities and other Canonicall impediments For in those things great expences were made whereas to the poore Bishops who haue not whereon to liue a small almes is giuen which hee would by all meanes haue taken away yet so as that they giue not a scandall to the world to tithe rue and steale gold and siluer Vpon this occasion hee enlarged himselfe and taxed the payments made in Rome for all sorts of dispensations and added that whensoeuer any dispensations haue beene presented to him either for Ordinations or ought else hee hath vsed to aske whether they haue payd for them and vnderstanding that they haue hee hath neuer executed nor admitted them which hee spake publiquely because it was the duety of euery Bishop so to doe And being answered that they had formerly treated of this in Congregation and resolued to referre the resolution thereof to the Pope who might with more honour reforme the Offices of Rome he replied that the last Lent hee had spoken of it in Rome but particularly in the house of the Cardinall di Perugia in presence of many Cardinals and Prelates of the Court and said the same things who answered they were matters to be proposed in the Councell but now vnderstanding the contrary hee will speake of it no more but leaue it to God To the second of the Ordinations to title the Bishop of Fiue Churches said it was more necessary to prouide according to the ancient constitutions that none should be ordained without a title and Office then without a reuenue because it is an excessiue scandall that many are seene to bee made Priests not to serue God and the Church but to enioy their ease ioyned with much luxurie and with a good reuenue that the Synod ought to thinke seriously hereof and to finde a meanes that there may not be an Ecclesiasticall person who shall not be dedicated to some ministery because hee hath obserued that in Rome in these later times Bishopriques haue been giuen to some onely to promore them who within a short time haue resigned them remaining titular Bishops onely for ambition of dignitie which inuention antiquitie would haue detested as pestiferous To the fourth point for diuision of great and frequent Parishes after he had commended the Decree hee added that it was more necessary to diuide great Bishopriques that they might bee better gouerned alleadging that in Hungary there are some which containe 200 miles in length which cannot be visited and directed by one man These things were not well expounded by the adherents of Rome who thought that all were bent to reuiue the treaty of residence The Bishop of Sidonia a man of the same Countrey gaue worse satisfaction The Bishop of Sidonia proposeth metaphorically a reformation of the Pope proposing vnder metaphors the reformation of the Pope himselfe saying that darkenesse could not bee taken from the starres except it were remooued from the Sunne nor the sicke body healed so long as bad dispositions did remaine in the head which doeth dispearse them to all the members And for the last point concerning Receiuers he sayd that it was not honourable for the Councell nor profitable for the Church to begin with the reformation of the smallest matters that the matters of importance are first to be handled the superiour orders to bee reformed first and the inferiour afterwards Which sayings seemed to please many of the Spanish Prelates and some of the Italians also But partly by saying that those Decrees were already composed and that there were but three dayes to the Session which short time did not comport the digestion of new matters partly by making such oppositions against the things spoken as they were able and by giuing assurance that the Pope would make a most strict reformation in the Court the remedies of the abuses wherof could be better discerned and applied at Rome where the infirmity is better knowen then in the Councell and by such like reasons the prouisions thought on these and other Prelates were deluded and all were made content for that present with the nine Articles But the Congregation being ended the Legates and other Papalins remaining The Lgats other Papalins doe consult how they may represse the licence of the Prelates in the place together to consider of what they heard discoursed that the boldnesse of the Prelates in broaching new seditious matters without respect did increase dayly which could not be called liberty but too much licence and that the Diuines with tedious discourses tooke vp too much time contending amongst themselues about nothing and often passing to impertinences which course if it did continue the Councell would neuer be concluded Besides there is danger that the disorder will increase In which consultatiō Crescentius is reprehended by the Cardinall of Varmia and produce some sinister effect Iohn Baptista Castedo the Speaker who had exercised the same office in the former reduction vnder Iulius tolde them that Cardinall Crescentius when they digressed from the matters proposed without respect was wont to interrupt them and to cut off also the file of their discourse to abreuiate those who were too profixe and sometimes to impose them silence which beeing now done once or twice the affaires of the Councell would bee shortned and occasions of impertinent discourses would bee taken away Varmiense was not pleased with this who said that if Crescentius did gouerne so it was no maruell that the Maiestie of God had not giuen a good progresse to that Councel that nothing is more necessary to a Christian Synode then liberty and that reading the Councels of the better times one shall finde contentions and discords in the beginnings of them euen in the presence of the Emperours most potent in those times which notwithstanding did in the end turne by the assistance of the holy Ghost into a maruellous concord and that was the miracle which did pacifie the world Hee said there were infinite contentions in the Nicene Councel and most exorbitant in the Ephesine and therefore no wonder if now there were some diuersitie of opinions ciuilly carried which hee that would resist by humane and violent meanes will let the world know that the Councell is not free and take from it all reputation that it is good to referre the cause vnto God who will gouerne Councels and moderate those who are assembled in his name The Cardinall of Mantua approoued the opinion of Varmiense and disliked the proceeding of Crescentius but said it was not contrary to the libertie of the Councell to moderate abuses with Decrees
who required that the matter should be deferred and examined againe To whom the Speaker answered in the name of the Legats that consideration should be had of it And finally the next Session was intimated for the twelfth of Nouember to determine concerning the Sacraments of Order and Matrimony The matter of the next Session And the Synod was dismissed after the vsuall manner great discourses betweene the Fathers about the Communion of the Cup continuing still Concerning which some perhaps will be curious to know for what cause the Decree last recited was not put after that of the Masse as the matter seemeth to require but in a place where it hath no connexion or likenesse with the Articles preceding He may know that there was a generall maxime in A Maxime in the Councell about the Maior part that Councell that to establish a decree of reformation a maior part of voyces was sufficient but that a Decree of faith could not be made if a considerable part did contradict Therefore the Legats knowing that hardly more then halfe would consent to this of the Chalice did resolue to make it an Article of reformation and to place it the last amongst those to shew plainely that they held it to be of that ranke There were also many discourses at that time and some dayes after about the point decided that CHRIST offered himselfe in the Supper some saying that in regard of the three and twenty contradictors it was not lawfully decided and others answering that an eight part could not bee called a considerable or notable part There were some also who maintained that the maxime had place onely in the Anathematismes and in the substance of the doctrine and not in euery clause which is put in for better expression as this which is not mentioned in the Canons The Emperours Ambassadours were very glad for the Decree of the Cup beeing assured that his Maiestie would more easily obtaine it of the Pope and vpon more fauourable conditions then it could haue beene obtained in the Councell where for the variety of opinions and interests it is hard to make many to bee of one minde though in a good and necessary matter The greater part ouercommeth the better and he that opposeth hath alwayes the aduantage of him that promoteth And their hope was the greater because the Pope seemed before to haue fauoured their Petition But the Emperour had not the same opinion aiming not to obtaine the communion of the Cup absolutely but to pacifie the people of his owne States and of Germanie who beeing distasted with the Popes authoritie for the things past could not relish any thing well that proceeded from him whereas if they had obtained this grant immediatly from the Councell it would haue giuen them good satisfaction and bred an opinion in them that they might haue obtained other requests which they esteemed so that this motion beeing stopped and the infected Ministers casseered he did hope he might haue held them in the Catholique Communion Hee saw by former experience that the grant of Paul was not well receiued and did more hurt then good and for this cause hee did prosecute the instance no further with the Pope and declared the cause of it Therefore when hee receiued newes of the Decree of the Councell turning to some Prelates who were with him hee said I haue done all I can to saue my people now looke you vnto it whom it doeth more concerne But those people which desired and expected the fauour or as they sayd The censure of the decrees the restitution of that which was due vnto them were all distasted that their iust request hauing been treated on sixe moneths presented by the intercessions of so many and so great Princes and after for better examination deferred and disputed and discussed againe with such contention should in the end be referred to the Pope which might haue been as well done at the very first without loosing so much time so many perswasions and so great paines They sayd the condition of Christians was according to the Prophecie of Isayas Hee sendeth and countermandeth expecteth and reexpecteth For the Pope who was moued first referred that to the Councel which now the Councell remitteth to him and both of them doe mocke both Prince and people Some discoursed more substantially that the Synod had reserued the definition of two Articles Whether the causes which did formerly moue to take away the Cup are such as that they ought to make them perseuere in the same prohibition and if not with what conditions it ought to be granted The former being vndoubtedly a matter not of fact but of faith the Councell did confesse by a necessary consequence that it knew the causes to bee vnsufficient and would not for worldly respects make the declaration For if they had thought them sufficient they must needes perseuere in the prohibition if any doubt had remained they should haue proceeded in the examination and ought not to remit it but for the insufficiencie of the causes But if they had made the declaration negatiue that is that the causes were not such as that they ought to perseuere and referred to the Pope to doe vpon information what remained to be done defacto they might haue beene excused Neither can it bee sayd that this is presupposed by the reference For in the Decree of this Session hauing repeated the two Articles they resolued to referre the whole businesse to the Pope and therefore not presupposing any thing I doe not finde in the memorials which I haue seene that the Decree of the sacrifice did rayse any matter of discourse And the cause perhaps was for that the words doe not so easily declare the sense as contayning many strained Metaphors which draw the mindes of the Readers vnto diuers considerations who when they are come to the end know not what they haue read Onely concerning the prohibition of the vulgar tongue in the Masse the Protestants sayd something For it seemed a contradiction to say that the Masse doeth containe much instruction for the faithfull people and to approoue that part should be vttered with a lowe voice and wholly to forbid the vulgar tongue onely commanding the Pastors to declare something to the people Whereunto some answered well that in the Masse were some secrets which ought to be concealed from the people which are vncapable for which cause they are spoken softly and in the Latine tongue but other things which be of good edification are commanded to be taught But this was opposed two wayes one that therefore this second sort ought to bee in the vulgar the other because they did not distinguish the two sorts For the Pastors being commanded to declare often something of that which is read and conceale the rest these two kindes being not distinguished some of them may mistake for want of knowledge and so abuse the people The Antiquaries did laugh at these discourses because it is
for the deferring of it Wherefore though the time was past they came to the Legates and told them they had a new commission from the King to make request that they would labour in the reformation and for points of doctrine expect the comming of his Prelates adding that if the matter of Order and Matrimonie were disputed by the Diuines and handled by the Prelates no more points of doctrine would remaine and the comming of the Frenchmen would bee to no purpose Wherefore then request was that they would be pleased to deferre them vntill the end of October imploying themselues in the meane space in the matter of reformation or one day in that and another in matter of doctrine not deferring as they had done all the matter of reformation vntill the last dayes immediatly before the Session so that there scarce remained time so much as to see the Articles much lesse to consult vpon them The Legates answered that their propositions did desire to be weighed well To which the Legates answered and that they would be carefull to giue them all possible satisfaction demanding a copie of their instructions that they might resolue the better The Ambassadours gaue them a writing of this tenour That the King hauing seene the Decrees of the sixteenth of Iuly concerning the Communion Sub vtraque and deferring two Articles in the same matter and those proposed in the Congregations concerning the sacrifice of the Masse howsoeuer hee commendeth that which is done yet he cannot conceale that which is generally spoken that is that the matter of discipline and manners is either quite omitted or slenderly handled and the controuersed points in Religion in which all the Fathers doe agree hastily determined Which although hee thinketh to bee false yet hee desireth that the propositions of his Ambassadours may bee expounded as necessary to prouide for the good of Christendome and the calamities of his Kingdome And hauing found by experence that neither seuerity nor moderation hath beene able to reduce those who are separated from the Church hee thought fit to haue recourse to the Generall Councell which hee hath obtained of the Pope that hee was sory that the tumults of France did hinder the comming of his Prelates that hee saw well that the constancie and rigour in continuing the forme begunne by the Legats and Bishops was not fit to reconcile peace and make an vnity in the Church that his desire was that nothing might bee done to aliene the mindes of the aduersaries now in the beginning of the Councell but that they may bee inuited and in case they come receiued as children with all humanitie hoping that by this meanes they will suffer themselues to be taught and brought backe to the bosome of the Church And because all that are in Trent doe professe the same Religion and neither can nor will make doubt of any part thereof hee thinketh the disputation and censure in poynts of religion to bee not onely superfluous but impertinent for the Catholiques and a cause to separate the aduersaries the more For hee that thinketh they will receiue the Decrees of the Councell in which they haue not assisted doeth not know them well neither will any thing bee done by this meanes but arguments ministred of writing more Bookes Therefore the King thinketh it better to omit the matter of Religion vntill the other of Reformation bee well set in order and that this is the scope at which euery one must ayme that the Councell which now is great and will bee greater by the comming of the Frenchmen may produce fruit Afterwards the King demandeth that in regard of the absence of his Bishops the next Session may bee put off vntill the end of October or the publication of the Decrees deferred or a new order expected from the Pope to whom hee hath written labouring in the meane while in the matter of Reformation And because he vnderstandeth that the ancient libertie of Councels is not obserued that Kings and Princes or their Ambassadours may declare the necessities of their States his Maiestie demandeth that their authoritie may bee preserued and all reuoked which hath been done to the contrary The same day the Emperours Ambassadours came to the Legats requiring The petition of the Emperors Ambassadors that the Articles sent by his Maiestie and presented by them might bee proposed and were very earnest that the points of doctrine might bee deferred vntill the comming of the Frenchmen and that the reformation may bee seruiceable not onely for the whole Church but for the Church of euery particular Kingdome their desire was that two of euery Nation might bee deputed to put them in minde of that which did deserue to bee proposed and discussed in Councell The Legats made a common answere to them both that they could not alter without great preiudice the order set downe which was to handle Doctrine and Reformation both together and if they should that other Princes would oppose but to content them they would ordaine that the Diuines and Prelates should examine the matter of Order onely and afterwards handle some poynts of Reformation obseruing still the former vse that euery one of what condition soeuer may put them the Legats in minde of what they thinke necessary profitable or conuenient which is a greater liberty then to haue two deputed for euery nation and afterwards they would treat of Matrimonie The Ambassadours being not one iote contented the Legats sent all their demands to the Pope The Frenchmen complained to all men of this austeritie and for that the Pope had lately commanded other Prelats to goe to the Councell that hee might exceed in number which the Papalins themselues did not like should bee done so openly and iust when the newes was spread of the comming of the French-men desiring to be secured by a maior part yet so as not to haue it knowne for what cause it was done But the Pope did of set purpose proceede 〈◊〉 openly that the Cardinall of Loraine might know that his attempts would be in vaine and so resolue not to come or that the Frenchmen might take some â—easion to make the Councell dissolue Neither was the Pope oâ—â—ly of 〈…〉 pinion but all the Court fearing some great preiudice by the Cardinals desseignes which howsoeuer they might not succeede a thing which they could scarce hope hope 〈…〉 yet his comming onely would hinder prolong and disturbe the Councell Ferraâ—â— told Loraine his kinseman 〈◊〉 his iourney would bee of no moment and of small reputation to himselfe in regard hee would arrâ—ue after all was determined and Biancheto a familiar friend of the Cardinall of Armignac who also had credit with Loraine 〈◊〉 as much to them both and the Secretary of Seripando who had 〈…〉 ritie 〈◊〉 the President Ferrier â—olde him the same all which was though too bee do 〈◊〉 by commission from the Pope or to please him at the least But tâ—â—ir care of the actions of the
Councell was not intermitted for all The Articles of the Sacrament of Order this For the Articles concerning the Sacrâ—ment of Order were presently giuen foorth to be disputed by the Diuines the disputants elected and distinguished into foure rankes each of them being to di 〈…〉 two For they were eigh◠〈◊〉 Whether Order be truely and properly a Sacrament instituted by CHRIST or an humane inuentions or Rite to elect Ministers of the word of GOD and of the Saoâ—â—ments 〈◊〉 Whether Order bee one Saorament onely and all others bee meanes and degrees vnto Priesthood 3. Whether there be an Hierarchie in the Catholique Church consisting of Bishops Priests and other Orders or whether all Christians bee Priests or whether the vocation 〈◊〉 consent of the people or secular Magistrate bee necessary or whether a Priest may become a Laicke 〈◊〉 Whether there be a visible and externall Priesthood in the new Testament and a power to consecrate and offer the body and blood of CHRIST and to remit sinnes or onely the baâ—e Ministery to preach the Gospel so that those who preach not are not Priests 〈◊〉 Whether the holy Ghost is giuen and receiued in ordination and a Character imprinted 6. Whether Vnction and other ceremonies be necessary in consering Order or superfluous or pernicious 〈◊〉 Whether Bishops bee super 〈…〉 to Priests and haue peculiar power to confirme and ordaine and whether those who are brought in by any other meanes then Canonicall ordination are true Ministers of the Word and Sacraments◠〈◊〉 W 〈…〉 the Bishops called and ordained by the Pope be lawfull 〈◊〉 the those bee true Bishops who come in by any other way then Canonicall institution The 〈◊〉 of the moneth the Congregations of the Diuines 〈◊〉 gaâ— and were held twice la day and ended the second of October I will according 〈◊〉 vse â—â—late those opinions onely which are remarkeable 〈◊〉 ther for singularity o◠〈◊〉 among themselues In the first Congregation foure Dillines of the Pope spake who did all Are disputed in the Congregations 〈◊〉 in 〈…〉 ning that Order was a 〈◊〉 by places of Scripture 〈◊〉 ally by that of S 〈◊〉 The thing â—hich 〈◊〉 from God are 〈◊〉 then by the â—â—adition of the Apoâ—â—le sâ—yings of the 〈◊〉 vâ—â—iso 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and aboue all by the Councell of Florence adding also this reason that the Church would bee a confusion if there were not gouernnment and obedience But Friar Peter Soto was copious in shewing that there were seuen Orders and each properly a Sacrament and all instituted by CHRIST saying it was necessary to make a declaration herein because some Canonists passing the limits of their profession haue added two more the first Tonsure and the Bishopricke which opinion may cause many other errors of greater importance He likewise shewed at large that CHRIST had when hee was on earth exercised all these Orders one after another all whose life as it was addressed to the last of these Sacraments so it is plaine that all the others serue onely as a ladder to climbe vp to the highest which is the Priesthood But Ierolamus Brauus a Dominican Friar hauing protested that hee constantly held that there were seuen Orders and each of them a Sacrament and that the vse of the Church ought to be obserued to proceed from the inferiour to the superiour and so to the Priesthood he added that hee was not of opinion that so particular a declaratioÌ„ ought to be made in regard of the difference betweene the Diuines amongst which one can hardly find two of the same minde For which cause Caietan in his old age wrote that he that collecteth the things taught by the Doctours and in the auncient and moderne Pontificals will see a great confusion in all other Orders but Priesthood The Master of the Sentences maintayned that Sub-deaconship and inferiour Orders were instituted by the Church and the Scripture seemed to haue instituted the Deaconship as a ministery of Tables and not as one of the Altar The difference concerning inferiour Orders in the old Pontificals where that which is in one is not in another doeth shew they are Sacramentall and not Sacraments And reason doth lead vs hereunto For the actions which one ordained doth may be done by one not ordained and are of the same validitie effect and perfection Saint Bonauenture also though hee thinketh that all seuen are Sacraments yet he holdeth two other opinions to be probable one that onely Priesthood is a Sacrament and the inferiours being imployed about corporall things as to open doores reade Lessons light Tapers and the like doe not seeme to expresse any celestiall matter and are therefore onely dispositions to Priesthood The second that the three holy Orders are Sacraments and concerning the common saying that the inferiour are degrees to the superiour Saint Thomas affirmeth that in the Primitiue Church many were ordained Priests immediatly without passing by the inferiour Orders and that the Church did ordaine that this passage should be made for humiliation onely It appeareth plainely in the Actes of the Apostles that Saint Matthias was immediatly ordayned an Apostle and the seuen Deacons did not passe by the Subdeaconship and the inferiour Orders Paulinus saith of himselfe that hauing a purpose to apply himselfe to the seruice of GOD in the Clergie he would for humiliation passe by all Ecclesiasticall degrees beginning from the Ostiarie but while hee was thinking to begin beeing yet a Laicke the multitude tooke him by force in Barcelona on Christmas day caried him before the Bishop and caused him to be ordained Priest at the first which would not haue beene done if it had not beene the vse in those times Therefore this Brauus concluded that the Synod ought not to passe beyond those things which are agreed on by the Catholiques and that it was better to begin with the Order of Priesthood which would make a connexion betweene this Session and the last which handled the Sacrifices and to passe from Priesthood to Order in generall not descending to any particularitie The Congregation being ended and most of the Prelates departed Fiue Churches with his Hungarians and some Polonians and Spaniards taried behinde to whom he made a speach and sayd that the Emperour being freed from all suspicion of warre by the truce concluded with the Turke tooke The Bishop of Fiue Churches maketh a speech concerning reformation nothing so much to the heart as the reformation of the Church which would surely be effected if some of the Prelates in the Councell would assist Therefore he exhorted and prayed them for Gods sake and for the charitie which euery Christian oweth to the Church that they would not abandon so honest iust and profitable a cause that euery one would put downe in writing what hee thought might be constituted for the seruice of God without any respect of man not reforming one part but the whole body of the Church both in the head and in the
was granted in those times because the common people and Grandies also were deuout and did by this meanes entertaine themselues in spiritual things and shewed more obedience and reuerence to the Clergie beeing more ready to inrich it with oblations and donations which hath made the holy Church to be in that state in which it now is But since deuotion did cease the seculars haue armed only at the vsurpation of the Church goods to place their adherents in the Clergie And now the new Heretikes haue made a deuilish inuentiō saying that was due to the people which was granted by fauor which is one of the most pestiferous heresies which hath euer bin set on foot because it doth destroy the Church without which faith cannot stand He alleadged many reasons and congruities to shew that the ordination ought to be in the power only of the Ordainer which he confirmed by the Popes Decretals and concluded in the end that not only the Article was to be condemned as hereticall but that the voice and consent of the people in ordinations being taken away for iust and necessary reasons the Pontifical also ought to be corrected and those places remoued which make mention thereof because so long as they continue there the heretikes wil make vse of them to proue that the assistance of the people is necessary He said the places were many but to recite one in the ordination of Priests the Bishop ordaining saith that it hath been constituted by the Fathers not without cause that the people should haue voice in the ordination of the Rectors of the altar that they may be obedient to him whom they haue ordained in regard of their consenting to his ordination If this and other Rites shall remaine the heretikes will alwayes detract from the Catholike Church saying the ordinations now are but shadowes and shewes as Luther did wickedly say Francis Forrier a Dominican of Portugal said the Hierarchie of the Catholike Church could not be doubted of it being proued by the Apostolicall tradition by testimony of all antiquity and by the continuall vse of the Church And howsoeuer the word bee not vsed by all yet the thing signified hath euer been in practise Dionysius Areopagita hath made a proper treatise of it and the Nicen Councell hath approoued it and called it an ancient custome and that which hath been called ancient in the beginning of the fourth age must needes haue its originall from the time of the Apostles Onely he thought it not fit to handle this poynt ioyntly with the Sacrament of Order howsoeuer many of the Schoole-men doe handle it in that place putting the Hierarchie in the superiour and inferiour Orders a thing which cannot subsist it being certaine that the Pope is the highest Hierarch and that the Cardinals do follow then the Patriarchs Primats Arch-Bishops Bishops Arch-Priests Arch-Deacons and other inferiour degrees vnder the Pope as Head And to omit the disputation whether the Bishopricke be an Order it is certaine that the Arch-bishoprike Patriarkship and Papacie are not Orders and doe signifie only superiority and iurisdiction ouer Bishops Therefore the Hierarchie consisteth in iurisdiction and the Councel of Nice placeth it in that when it speaketh of the Bishop of Rome Alexandria and Antioch Therefore the handling of Hierarchie must not be ioyned with that of Order for feare of giuing way to calumnie There was much varietie in the discussion of these Articles those of the second ranke returning to the former and some disputing that the degree of a Bishop was an Order and others that aboue Priesthood there was nothing but Iurisdiction some alleadging Saint Thomas and some Saint Bonauenture and some beeing of a middle opinion that is that it is an eminent dignitie or office in the Order The famous saying of Saint Hierom and the authority of Saint Austin were alleadged who say that the degree of a Bishop hath beene most ancient but yet an Ecclesiasticall Constitution Michael of Medina did oppose and say that the Catholique Church as Saint Epiphanius saith did condemne Aerius of heresie for saying that the Degree of a Bishop is no greater then that of a Priest into which heresie it is no wonder if Hierom Austin and some other of the Fathers did fall because the matter was not cleere in all poynts This boldnesse to say that Hierom and Austin did sauour of heresie gaue great scandall but hee insisted the more vpon it and maintained his position And the Doctors were equally diuided into two opinions in this poynt Others placed this Hierarchie in Orders onely alleadging Dyonisius who in naming the Hierarchs maketh mention of none but of Deacons Priests and Bishops Some followed Forrier that it did consist in Iurisdiction At the last a third opinion came foorth that it was a mixture of both which afterwards was more generally approoued For placing it in Order it did not appeare how Arch-bishops Patriarches and which is of more importance the Pope himselfe could enter all beeing of accord that these Degrees are not Orders aboue the Degree of a Bishop Yet some did alleadge the common saying to the contrary that the Episcopall Order is diuided into foure parts Bishops Archbishops Patriarches and the Pope and placing it in Iurisdiction none of the holy Orders did enter There was a great disputation amongst them about the forme of the The forme of the Hierarchy Hierarchie some saying it was Charitie some Faith informed and others according to Cardinall Turrecremata Vnitie To this last was opposed that vnitie is a genericall qualitie in all that is one and is an effect of the forme which doth produce it Those who were for charitie brought very many places of the Fathers which doe attribute the vnitie of the Church vnto it But others said that it was the heresie of Wigles For if it were so a Prelate loosing charity would bee out of the Hierarchie and lose authoritie Notwithstanding they did not auoyd the difficultie by making faith informed to bee the forme because a Prelate might externally counterfeit and bee secretly vnfaithfull who not being of the Hierarchie the Christian people could not know whom to obey because they might doubt of all and sometimes had cause to doe it And as the Diuines especially the Friars are free in exemplifications they alleadged the Pope saying that in case he should bee incredulous the whole Hierarchie would perish by his default whether one did make faith or charitie to bee the forme And therefore they sayd Baptisme was But the same difficulties did arise in regard of the vncertaintie thereof because the intention of the Minister according to the determination of the Councell is essentially required which is more secret then the other two for which cause it cannot bee certainly affirmed of any that hee is baptized The Articles whether there bee a visible Priesthood or whether all Christians bee Priests or whether a Priest may become a Layman or whether his office bee preaching were
not handled with any discussion but with declamations against the Lutherans who depriue the Ghurch of commerce with GOD and of the meanes to appease him making it a confusion without gouernement and bereauing her of all her beauty and comelinesse Friar Adamantius of Florence a Diuine of this ranke belonging to Cardinall Madruccio said that the greatest part of those who had spoken had alleadged onely probable reasons and conueniencies which when Articles of faith are discussed doe not onely not force the aduersaries but confirme them more in their opinions and for proofe hereof hee brought a direct place of Saint Austin Hee added that discussions in Councell should differ from disputations in Schooles For in those how much the more things are minced and curiously handled the better it is but it doth not become a Councell to examine any thing but that which may bee cleered and made plaine Notwithstanding many questions were disputed the knowledge whereof cannot in this life in which GOD doth not suffer all to bee discouered possibly bee attained For this Article it is abundantly sufficient that the Church hath an Hierarchie that the Hierarchie consisteth of Prelates and Ministers that these are ordained by Bishops that Order is a Sacrament and that Seculars haue no part herein Petrus Romirius a Franciscane Friar following the doctrine of Iohn Scot said that Order ought not to bee called a Sacrament because it is inuisible and permanent whereas all the Sacraments are necessarily visible and except the Eucharist consist in action Therefore to auoyde all difficulties one must not say that Order but that Ordination is a Sacrament But hee was much opposed because all the Diuines and which is of no lesse importance the Councell of Florence also doe call Order a Sacrament And it would bee a great boldnesse to taxe all the Doctours a generall Councell and the whole Church for speaking improperly In the third ranke there was no lesse varietie of opinions concerning the Of the holy Ghost giuen in Ordination fift Article For howsoeuer all agreed that the holy Ghost is giuen and receiued in Ordination yet some said hee was giuen in his proper person and others in the gift of grace onely They disputed much on both sides but those especially who affirmed grace Another question was whether grace of Iustification bee conferred or onely a gift to exercise the office For the former was alleadged that all the Sacraments giue grace of Iustification for the later that a man cannot without repentance receiue grace and yet may receiue Order For the Character as they all agreed that it is imprinted in Of the Character Priesthood so they dissented in all the rest For some said it was imprinted in the holy Orders onely and others in all the seuen both which opinions Saint Bonauenture doeth thinke to bee probable Some were better pleased with the distinction of Durandus that vnderstanding by Character a power to worke a Spirituall effect the Priesthood onely hath it which onely can consecrate and remit sinnes and the others haue it not in regard their actions are corporall which a Lay-man without any the least veniall sinne may doe as well as they But if by Character be vnderstood a deputation to a speciall office so all the Orders haue a proper Character Others opposed that it was a Lutherane opinion contained in the first Article and said that therefore it was necessary to affirme a proper and indeleble Character in all And some said it was in the first Tonsure also because it was not reiterated in those who are degraded as would be necessary if a Character were not imprinted and because by it one is inuested in the Clergie and made partaker of Eclesiastical exemptions and immunities Neither would it bee possible to maintaine that Clerkeship and the immunities thereof were de iure Diuino but by saying that the first Tonsure is a Diuine institution Concerning the degree of Bishops the controuersie was greater and the question was reuiued whether it bee one of the Orders For hauing two properactions so famous to confirme and ordaine a Spirituall power is necessary to it which is a Character without which ordination and confirmation would bee to no purpose The auditors were weary with hearing so many difficulties and did willingly giue eare to those who said they ought to omit them and speake onely in generall termes But the Friars grumbled and were angrie to see in them a disposition to define Articles and pronounce Anathemaes not vnderstanding the poynts and abhorring those who would informe them In the sixt Article they all condemned the Lutherans for detracting from vnctions and ceremonies vsed in conferring Orders Some desired that those which are necessarie and belong to the substance of the Sacrament as was done in the Councell of Florence might bee distinguished from the rest and him declared to bee an heretique who should say that Order might bee giuen or receiued without them and for the others that hee should bee condemned in generall termes who did call them pernicious Hereupon a great contention arose which were necessary and which were added for ornament or deuotion Melchior Cornelius a Portugall seemed to speake What ceremonies be necessary 〈…〉 ferring Orders much to the purpose who sayd the Apostles did vndoubtedly vse imposition of hands in Ordination so that none is mentioned in the holy Scripture without that ceremony which in succeeding ages was thought to be so essentiall that Ordination was called by that name Notwithstanding Gregorie the ninth saith it was a rite brought in and many Diuines doe not hold it to be necessary howsoeuer others be of the contrarie opinion It appeareth also by the Decretall of Innocentius the third in this point that vnction was not vsed in all Churches And the famous Canonists Hostiensis Iohannes Andreas Abbas and others doe affirme that the Pope may ordaine a Priest with these words onely Be thou a Priest and which is of more importance Innocentius Father of all the Canonists sayth that if the formes had not been inuented it had beene sufficient if the Ordainer had vsed these words onely Be thou a Priest or others equiualent because they were instituted by the Church afterwards to be obserued For these reasons Cornelius gaue counsell not to speake of necessary Ceremonies but onely to condemne those who hold them to be superfluous or pernicious Although the Congregations of the Diuines did take vp almost all the time yet the Prelates did more intend and discourse amongst themselues of reformation some promoting and some declining it then of the points of doctrine discussed by the Theologues so that the frequent and publique speeches which were heard throughout all Trent cherished by the Ambassadours of the Emperour and French King induced the Legates to thinke it necessary to make shew they were not auerse from it especially because they had promised to propose it so soone as the matter of Order was discussed and vnderstood that a
proposed and many practises were discouered though they were not able to penetrate the ground of them That they gaue order to Otranto and Ventimiglia to learne cunningly of what opinion the Prelates would bee in case they proposed to referre it to his Holinesse who hauing sounded them exactly found that 60 would bee rigidly opposite of whom there was but small hope that they could possibly bee perswaded For howsoeuer the Secretary of the Marquisse had at their instance dealt effectually with the Spaniards yet he brought from them no more then this that they would not oppose with bitternesse but deliuer their opinions quietly and without clamour That they knew the maior part were of the contrary opinion because they depend on Rome but they ought to disburden their conscience That they were assured that this was not contrary to his Holinesse of whose religious and godly disposition they could not doubt but vnto the Bishops onely who are about him They added that the Spaniards hauing discouered that there was a purpose to remit the businesse to his Holinesse sayd the same was done in the matter of the Chalice and that it was in vaine to hold a Councell to handle that which was of no importance and to referre that which deserueth prouision They aduised him of the promise made to the Ambassadours to propose the reformation and of the impossibility to deferre it any longer and being aduertised of the comming of Loraine and the French-men and vnderstanding that they were full of conceits and designes of nouitie they concluded that they would vndoubtedly ioyne with the mal-contents of Trent Therefore not knowing in these ambiguities what course to take they told him they had resolued to expect the commandements of his Holinesse The Pope being aduised at the same time from other places of the proiects With whose aduertisemēts and others his Holinesse is much troubled of Loraine and particularly that hee would reforme the election of the Popedome that the Vltramontans might also bee partakers of it it pierced deepely into his minde Therefore resoluing not to expect the blow but to preuent hee informed all the Italian Princes heereof shewing them what a dishonour it would bee to the Nation if it should succeede that hee spake not for himselfe whom it did not concerne but for publique respects and for the loue of his Countrey And knowing that a Spanish Pope could not bee acceptable to the King of Spaine in regard of the naturall propension that Clergie hath to free themselues from the exactions of the King and that a French man would haue pleased him lesse because of the enmity betweene the Nations and that the greatest part of his trustie friends were in Italy hee wrote vnto his Nuncio to communicate vnto him the designe of the French men to make a Pope of their Nation that by his meanes they may possesse Naples and Milan to which they pretend right And not to bee wanting on his part that hee might remoue some of the foundations on which the Cardinal might build which were the abuses of the times past lately reuiued he made a Bull in this matter which howsoeuer it contained only the prouisions formerly made by diuers Popes which were antiquated yet it might bee sayd there was no neede of more reformation in that behalfe because the Bull did remedie all the inconueniences which happened or at the least tooke all strength from them so that it could not bee pretended they were in force And to him that would prognosticate that it would not be obserued as others made before it might bee answered that hee who doth euil doth thinke ill and that it is the duety of Christian charity to expect good from euery on The Bull was dated the ninth of October 1562. Afterwards newes came that many Congregations were held in Spaine to make a generall reformation and to giue commission to the Ambassador who was to goe to Trent to make the Spanish Prelats ioyne and aime all at one marke The newes that the King would send another Ambassadour did please neither the Pope nor the Legats For the Marquis of Pescara did much conforme himselfe to the Popes will and the Ministers he vsed were of Milan much addicted to the person of his Holines and his kinred and to Card. Simoneta who imployed them in the Popes seruice vpon all occasions But the Count of Luna who was designed to be sent had remained with the Emperor and with the King of the Romans and was very deare vnto them and had their proiects imprinted in him And they feared him the more because there was a fame and it was indeed so resolued though not effected that he should beare the name of the Emperors Ambassador to auoid the difference of precedencie with France but really should be Ambassador of the K. And the Pope did suspect for many causes the coniunction of those Princes especially in regard of the K. of Bohemia who in diuers things had shewed he was auerse from him And the nomination of the Count of Luna was more displeasing to him because he could not come before the Diet of Francfort was ended which being likely to last vntil the end of the yeere he coniectured the King had a purpose to prolong the Councel But hauing receiued the last aduice from the Legats he was perplexed most of all seeing the Prelats euen his owne also were conspired to make it longer by meanes of vnseasonable perswasions howsoeuer their interests did require a quicke dispatch He caused the letters to be read in Congregation of the Cardinals and gaue order that euery one should thinke of the best meanes rather to oppose an infinitie of imminent difficulties then to take away the present grieuance in regard the Councell the longer it continued the harder it was to bee managed Neither could any order bee giuen from Rome but because of the great distance it was vnseasonable before it came to Trent a thing which in continuance of time would produce some great inconuenience Hee complained that the Vltramontans did consent to prolong it for their proper interests the Emperor to gratifie the Duch-men and to make his sonne King of the Romans France to make vse of it in case of composition with the Hugonots and Spaine to keepe the Low Countreys in hope He repeated all the difficulties which arose from the diuers interests of the Prelates in Councell the armes which were discouered in the Spaniards and what was suspected of the designes of the French-men whose comming was expected At this time the French King sent the Abbat of Mante expresly to Rome to giue the Pope an account of his resolution to accept the Decrees of the Councell and of the Cardinall of Loraine his going to Trent accompanied with many Bishops to propose the meanes to reunite Religion in his Kingdome because both himselfe and his Counsell were of opinion that none was more sufficient for that charge as well for learning as for
some holding that the Pope onely is instituted iure diuino vntill it came to the Arch-bishop of Zara who said it was necessary to adde the words de iure Diuino to condemne that which the heretiques say to the contrarie in the Augustane Confession Varmiense said againe that in that Confession the heretikes did not dissent in this and Zara alleadging the place and the words the contention was so long that the Congregation did end with it In the Congregations following the opinions were diuers also In particular the Arch-bishop of Braga demaunded the same adiunct saying it could not be omitted He prooued at large the institution of Bishops De iure Diuino bringing reasons and arguments like to those of Granata and said that the Pope could not take from Bishops the authoritie giuen them in their consecration which doth containe in it the power not onely of Order but of iurisdiction also because in it the people is assigned to him to be fed and gouerned without which the Ordination is not of force whereof this is a manifest argument that to titular and porâ—atiue Bishops a Citie is allotted which would not be necessary if the Episcopall Order could subsist without iurisdiction Besides in giuing the Pastoâ—all this forme is vsed that it is a signe of the power which is giuen him to correctvices And which is of more importance when the Ring is giuen him it is said that with it he doth marry the Church and in giuing the booke of the Gospell by which the Episcopall Character is imprinted it is said that hee must goe to the people committed to him and in the end of the consecration that prayer is say'd Deus omnium fidelium Pastor Rector which since hath beene in the Missals appropriated to the Pope by turning himselfe to GOD and saying that his will is that the Bishop should gouerne the Church Moreouer Innocentius the third said that the spiritual mariage of the Bishop with the Church is a bond instituted by GOD not to bee loosed by the power of man and that the Pope cannot translate a Bishop but because hee hath speciall authoritie to doe it all which things would bee very absurd if the institution of Bishops were De iure Diuino The Arch bishop of Cyprus sayd that it ought to be declared that Bishops are superiors to Priests Iure Diuino but reseruing the authority in the Pope The bishop of Segouia adhearing wholly to the conclusions and reasons of Granata made a long repetition of the places of the heretiques where they denie the superiority of Bishops and their institution to be De iure diuino Hee said that as the Pope is successour of Peter so the Bishops are of the Apostles and that it was plaine by the Ecclesiasticall History and by the Epistles of the Fathers that all Bishops gaue an account one to another of all that happened in their Churches and receiued approbation thereof from others The Pope did the same for the occurrences of Rome Hee added that the Patriarches when they were created sent a circular Epistle to the others to giue them an account of their Ordination and faith which was as much performed by the Popes to others as by others to them that if the power of the Bishops be weakened that of the Pope is weakned also that the power of Order and iurisdiction is giuen to the Bishops by GOD and that the diuision of Diocesses and the application of them to the person proceedeth from the Pope He alleadged an authoritie of Anacletus that Episcopall authoritie is giuen in the Ordination with the vnction of the holy Chrisme that the degree of a Bishop is as well an Order instituted by CHRIST as the Priest-hood that all Popes vntill Siluester haue either professedly or incidently sayd it is an Order which commeth immediatly from God that the words spoken to the Apostles Whatsoeuer yee shall binde on earth c. giue power of iurisdiction which is necessarily conferred vpon the Successors that CHRIST did institute the Apostles with iurisdiction and since that time the Church hath euer instituted Bishops in the same sort Therefore this is an Apostolicall tradition and it beeing defined that points of faith are taken out of the Scripture and Traditions it cannot bee denied that this of the Episcopall institution is an Article of faith and the rather because S. Epiphanius and S. Austine doe put Aerius in the number of heretiques for saying that Priests are equall to Bishops which they would not haue done if Bishops had not beene De iure diuino Fifty nine Fathers were of this opinion and perhaps the number had been Simoneta vseth practises in the point of institution of Bishops greater if many had not been ill at case at that time of a defluction of rheume which then did generally raigne and some others had not fained the same impediment that they might bee out of the crowde and offend none in a matter handled with such passion especially those who for speaking what they thought in the matter of Residence found they had incurred the displeasure of their Patrons as also if Cardinall Simoneta when hee saw matters proceed so farre had not vsed diuers perswasions employing herein Iohannes Antonius Faâ—binetâ—us Bishop of Nicastrâ— and Sebastianus Vantiue Bishop of Oruieto who perswaded with much cunning that the enterprise of the Spaniards was to shake off their obedience to the Pope and that it would bee an apostacy from the Apostolike Sea to the great shame and damage of Italy which hath no other honour aboue the Nations beyond the Mountaines but that which it receiueth from the Papacy Fiue Churches said it was fit that it should bee declared quoiure all the Orders and degrees of the Church are instituted and from whom they receiue authoritie Some others adhered to him and in particular Pompeius Picholhomini Bishop of Tropeia who making the same instance added that when all the degrees of the Church were handled from the greatest to the least and declared quo iure they were he would deliuer his opinion also concerning the degree of Bishops if the Legats would giue leaue In this number some briefely adhered to the opinion of others who had spoken in this matter and some amplified the same reasons and turned them into diuers formes so that it would be too long to make a narration of all the suffrages which are come into my hands That of George Sincout a Franciscan Friar Bishop of Segna doth well deserue to be repeated who adhering to Granata said that hee would neuer haue beleeued that any could haue doubted whether Bishops are instituted and haue authority from Christ For it they haue it not from his diuine Maiestie neither can the Councell haue any from him which consisteth of BB. that it is necessarie that a Congregation though very populous haue their authoritie from whom the particular persons haue it that if Bishops are not instituted by CHRIST but by men the authoritie
of the Church hauing absolute power to restraine and amplifie that which is giuen as seemeth good vnto him Then hee wrote that in the particular of Residence it being a cleere case that the Pope hath power to dispense they should by all good caution of words reserue his authoritie in the Decree in which the words de iure Diuino could by no meanes bee put as Catharinus had well prooued from whose opinion beeing Catholique they ought not to depart For holding the Session hee wrote confusedly that it should not bee deferred aboue fifteene dayes nor celebrated before the matter were in order that the enuious might not take occasion to calumniate A solemne Ambassage from the Duke of Bauaria passed by Trent to goe The Duke of Bauaria sondeth Ambassadours to Rome to Rome to obtaine of the Pope the communion of the Cup. They had audience with the Legate and secret conference with the Cardinall of Loraine This wakened the controuersie in that matter which was asleepe and the Spaniards and many Italians howsoeuer the matter was referred to the Pope by the maior part sayd it would bee a preiudice to the Councell if while that lasted that vse should bee permitted And all the Fathers were in a hurly burly because letters came from Rome to diuers Prelates that the Councell should be suspended which report was confirmed by Don Iohn Manriques who passed by Trent from Germany to Rome But the Legats hauing receiued the Popes letters thought it impossible to execute the orders he had sent and that it was necessary to giue him a more particular account of the occurrences then could be done by writing and make him vnderstand that the Councell cannot bee gouerned as at Rome they thinke it can that they might receiue a more plaine instruction from his Holinesse what they should doe And it being necessary to send a man of iudgement well informed and of credite with the Pope they found none better then the Bishop of Ventimiglia whom they resolued to dispatch with speed The Holy-daies The Legates send the B. of Ventimiglia to the Pope of Christmasse approaching gaue them fit occasion first to proceed slowly and afterwards to intermit the congregations and so to haue leasure to make that dispatch which was done the sixe and twentieth of December The eight and twentieth newes came to Trent of the battell in France which hapned the seuenteenth of the moneth in which the Prince of Conde The battell other troubles in France was taken prisoner That Kingdome was very turbulent all that yeere for the differences of religion which gaue a beginning first vnto a gentle and afterwards vnto a furious warre For the Hugonots encreasing in Paris to the great discontent of the Catholiques who are many in the Citie and adhering to the Prince of Conde the Constable with his sonnes and the house of Guise with some others to hinder the greatnesse vnto which that Prince did aspire made a league and desseigned to make themselues leaders of the people of Paris and to chase by their meanes from that Citie and the Court the Prince and his followers Each of them departing from his house to goe towards Paris and in the iourney slaying and dispersing the Hugonots whom they found assembled in diuers places they entred into Paris and hauing drawen the King of Nauarre to their side and caused the city to arme in their fauour the Queene was constrained to ioyne with them Heereupon the Prince going out of Paris and retiring with his adherents to Orlience manifests and writings passed on both sides each protesting they did nothing but for the libertie and seruice of the King But the Constable and Guise waxing euery day stronger in Aprill the Prince wrote to all the reformed Churches of France demanding souldiers and money and declaring warre against the defenders of the Catholike partie calling them perturbers of the publike quiet and violaters of the Kings Edict published in fauour of the Reformatists The Princes letters were accompanied with others of the ministers of Orleans and of some other cities which caused those of that Religion to arme And there fell out an accident which did incite them more For at the same time the Edict of Ianuary whereof wee haue already made mention was published againe in Paris with an addition that neither in the suburbs of the Citie nor within the space of a league any assembly of Religion should bee held or Sacraments administred but after the old Rite And in the end of May the King of Nauar made all the Reformatists goe out of Paris but proceeded with such moderation that none of them were offended Warre brake forth in all the Prouinces of France betweene these parties and that summer there were at the least â—â—urteene formall Armies all at one time in diuers parts of the Kingdome The sonnes fought against their fathers brothers against brothers and euen women tooke Armes on both sides for defence of their religion There was almost no part in Dolphinie Languedoc and Gascoigne which was not vexed oftentimes the Catholiques remaining conquerours in some places and the Reformatists in others with such variety of accidents that it would bee redious to repeat them and besides our purpose which requireth that nothing should bee related by vs but concerning Trent except those which haue a connexion with the Councel as the things following haue Where the Hugonots ouercame the images were beaten downe the altars destroyed the Churches spoiled and the ornaments of gold and siluer melted to make money for souldiers pay where the Catholiques were conquerors they burned the Bibles in the vulger tongue rebaptized children and remaried those who had beene maried according to the new ceremonies And the condition of the Clergie on both sides was most miserable who whensoeuer they were taken were cruelly murthered without all humanity In Iulie the Parlament of Paris made a Decree that it should bee lawfull to slay all the Hugonots which by publike order was read euery Sunday in euery Parish Afterwards they added another declaring them rebels publike enemies themselues infamous and all their posterity and the goods of those who tooke Armes in Orliens confiscated A bloody decree made by the Parliament of Paris except Conde vpon pretence that they held him by force And howsoeuer there were many treaties betweene the parties and a verball conference also betweene the Queene Mother and the Prince yet such was the ambition of the Grandies that it was impossible to find out any meanes of composition But the King of Nauar being dead who perhaps would not haue suffered them to proceed to an open warre the Queene resoluing to regaine obedience The Low Countries doe â—â—itate France with armes demanded aide of all the Princes And because the people of the Low Countreys did learne by this example to bee more contumacious and obstinate the Kings authority diminished euery day and could not be repaired by the Gouernours And the
proportion of the Diocesse should preach euery Sunday and Holyday in Lent on fasting dayes and in Aduent and as often as it shall bee fit 10. That the parish Priest should doe the same as often as hee hath auditors 11. That the Abbat and Conuentuall Prior shall reade the holy Scripture and institute an Hospitall so that the ancient Schooles and hospitality may bee restored to the Monasteries 12. That Bishops Parish Priests Abbats and other Ecclesiastiques vnable to performe their charge shall receiue Coadiutors or leaue their Benefices 13. That concerning the Catechisme and summarie instruction of Christian doctrine that should be ordayned which the Emperour hath proposed to the Councell 14. That no man should haue more then one benefice taking away the differences of the quality of persons and of Benefices compatible and incompatible a new diuision not heard of in the ancient Decrees and a cause of many troubles in the Catholique Church and that the regular Benefices should bee giue into regulars and secular to seculars 〈◊〉 That he who now hath two or more shall retaine that only which he shall choose within a short time or shall incurre the penalty of the ancient Canons 16. That to take away all note of auarice from the Clergie nothing bee taken vpon any pretence whatsoeuer for the administration of holy things but that prouision be made that the Curates with two Clerkes or more may haue whereon to liue and mainetaine hospitality which may bee done by the Bishops by vniting benefices or assigning tenths vnto them or where that cannot bee done the Prince may prouide for them by 〈◊〉 or collections imposed vpon the Parishes 17. That in parish Masses the Gospel be expounded cleerely according to the capacity of the people and that the prayers which the Parish-Priest maketh together with the people bee in the vulgar tongue and that the sacrifice being ended in Latine publike prayers bee made in the vulgar tongue likewise and that at the same time or in other houres spirituall hymnes or Psalmes of Dauid approoued by the Bishop may bee sung in the same language 18. That the ancient Decree of Leo and Gelasius for the Communion vnder both kinds bee renewed 19. That before the administration of euery Sacrament an exposition bee made in the vulgar so that the ignorant may vnderstand their vse and efficacie 20. That according to the ancient Canons benefices may not bee conferred by the Vicars but by the Bishops themselues within the terme of sixe moneths otherwise that the collation may bee deuolued to the next Superiour and by degrees to the Pope 21. That the Mandats of Prouision expectatiues regresses resignations in confidence and commendaes bee reuoked and banished out of the Church as contrary to the Decrees 22. That the resignations in fauour be wholly exterminated from the Court of Rome it being as it were an election of ones selfe or a demanding of a successour a thing prohibited by the Canons 23. That simple Priories from which the cure of soules is taken away contrary to the foundation and assigned to a perpetuall Vicar with a small portion of tithes or of other renenue bee restored to their former state at the first vacancie 24. That benefices vnto which no office of preaching administring the Sacraments nor any other Ecclesiasticall charge is annexed may haue some spirituall cure imposed vpon them by the Bishop with the councell of the chapter or bee vnited to the next parishes because no Benefice ought or can bee without an office 25. That pensions bee not imposed vpon benefices and those abolished which are imposed already that the Ecclesiasticall reuenues may bee spent in maintaining the Pastors and poore and in other workes of pietie 26. That Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction throughout the whole Diocesse be restored to the Bishops all exemptions being taken away but of the chiefe gouernors of the Orders and Monasteries subiect vnto them and those who make generall Chapters to whom exemptions are granted by a lawfull title but yet with prouision that they bee not exempted from correction 27. That the Bishop may not vse iurisdiction and handle matters of great weight concerning the Diocesse without the counsell of the Chapter and that the Canons may reside continually in the Churches bee of good conuersation learned and at the least 25. yeeres of age in regard the lawes not giuing them the free disposition of their goods before that time they ought not to bee made counsellours to Bishops 28 That the degrees of affinity consanguinity and spirituall kindred be obserued or reformed and that it may not bee lawfull to dispence therein but with Kings and Princes for the publique good 29. That in regard many troubles haue risen by meanes of images the Synode would make prouision that the people may be taught what they ought to beleeue concerning them and that the abuses and superstitions if any be vsed in the worship of them may be taken away and that the same be done concerning indulgences pilgrimages reliques of Saints and of companies or confraternities 30. That the publike and ancient penance in the Catholike Church forgrieuous publike offences be restored and brought into vse as also fastings and other exercises of sorrow and publique prayers to appease the wrath of God 31. That excommunication be not decreed for euery sort of offence or contumacie but onely for the greatest and in which the offender doth perseuere after admonition 32. That to abbreuiate or quite take away suits of law for benefices by which the whole Clergie is blemished the distinction of petitorie and possessorie newly inuented in those causes may bee taken away nominations of Vniuersities abolished and a commandement giuen to Bishops to giue benefices not to those that seeke them but to those that auoid them and are worthy of them and their merit will be knowen if after their degree receiued in the Vniuersitie they shall haue spent some time in preaching with the consent of the Bishop and approbation of the people 33. That there beeing a suit for a benefice an Economique may bee created and arbitrators elected by the litigants which in case they refuse to doe that the Bishop may nominate and that these may determine the controuersie within six moneths and that no appeale may lie from them 34 That the Episcopall Synods may bee held once a yeere at the least and the Prouinciall once in euery three yeeres and the Generall if th ere bee none impediment euery tenth yeere The first of Ianuarie Vintimiglia arriued in Rome hauing made the iourney The negotiation of the Bishop of Vintimiglia in Rome in seuen daies Hee presented the letters to the Pope and declared his credence relating the cogitations and diuers ends and humours which were in the Councell and in what sort the Legates and other good seruants of his Holinesse thought the difficulties ought to bee managed The Pope held a congregation the third day and gaue account of the relation of Vintimiglia
put them in discussion and controuersie and that in the meane while hee would giue order for that which he had resolued besides And this hee wrote to the Legates In the end of the moneth he deliuered in Consistory that the greatest Princes of Christendome did demand reformation which could not be denied them neither by true reasons nor by pretences and therefore that hee was resolued to giue a good example and not to faile of his duetie to begin with himselfe prouiding against the abuses of the Datary taking away the coadiutories regresses resignations in fauour and that the Cardinals ought not onely to consent vnto it but to publish it to all The good intention of his Holinesse was generally commended But some considered that those vses were brought in to take away greater abuses of manifest Simonie and vnlawfull bargaines and that they were to take care that remoouing those tolerable inconueniences which indeede are but against the law of man a gatebee not opened for the returne of those which are against the Law of GOD. The Cardinall of Trent said that it would bee a great preiudice to take away the Coadiutories in Germany because those Bishoprickes being annexed to principalities if Coadiutories could not bee had for both together they must be had for the principalitie alone and so the temporall would bee diuided from the spirituall which would bee the vtter ouerthrow of the Church The Cardinall Nauaggiero opposed the making of Germanie different saying that the Dutchmen being the first that demanded reformation they ought to bee comprehended at the last Afterwards the Pope related how many enterprises were vsed in Councell against the priuiledges of the Romane Church and spake of Annats Reseruations and preuentions He said they were necessarie Subsidies to maintaine the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals whereof as themselues were partakers so it was fit they should labour to defend them and that hee would send a number of them to Trent for this seruice In which place the next day after the arriuall of the currier who brought The Canons sent from Rome from Rome the canons of the institution which was the fifteenth of Ianuarie a day appointed to resolue on the certaine time of celebrating the Session a Congregation was helde and a resolution made to deferre the determination vntill the fourteenth of February And a copy was giuen of the decrees of the Institution with order that the Congregations should begin in which they should bee discussed And the care of reforming the decree of Residence was committed to Loraine and Madruccio together with those Fathers whom they pleased to take vnto them In the congregations following the formes which came from Rome were with facilitie approoued by the Patriarchs and the most ancient Archbishops but many difficulties were alleadged against them by the Spaniards and more by the Frenchmen This passage That Bishops doe holde the principall place depending of the Pope was questioned Doe not absolutely please the Fathers because the forme of speech was ambiguous which ought to haue beene plaine After long discussion they were content to admit that it should be said Chiefe vnder the Pope but not dependent Some also oppugned those words that Bishops were assumed by the Pope into part of the charge but would haue it said That they were appointed by CHRIST to take part of the cure alledging the place of Saint Cyprian There is but one Bishopricke of Which euery one holdeth a part in solidum And for the point of the authoritie to feed and to gouerne the Church vniuersall they said that the Church was the first tribunall vnder CHRIST to which euery one ought to bee subiect and that Peter was addressed to it as vnto a Iudge by the words of CHRIST Goe tell it to the Church and hee that will not heare the Church let him bee accounted an Heathen and a Publican And they were content it should be said that the Pope hath authoritie to feede and gouerne all the Churches but not the Church vniuersall wherein there was small difference in the Latin betweene Vniuersaâ—em Ecclesiam and Ecclesias vniuersas And Granata said I am Bishop of Granata and the Pope Arch-bishop of the same Citie inferring that the Pope hath the superintendencie of the particular Churches as the Archbishop hath of the Churches of his Suffragans And it beeing alleadged that this word Church Vniuersall was vsed in the Councell of Florence it was replyed that the Councell of Constance and Martin the fifth in condemning the Articles of Iohn Wiglef doth condemne the Article against the supremacy of the Apostolique Sea onely for saying that it is not set ouer all particular Churches And here a disputation began betweene the Frenchmen and the Italians these saying that the Councell of Florence was generall that of Constance partly approoued and partly not and that other of Basil schismaticall A difference between the Italians and the French-men about the Councels of Constance Basil and Florence and the others maintaining that those of Constance and Basil were generall Councels and that this name could not agree to that of Florence celebrated onely by some few Italians and foure Grecians Neither did they grant that the Pope had all the authoritie from CHRIST no not with the restrictions and limitations as he was a man and in the time of his mortalitie but they were content it should bee said that hee had authoritie equall to that of Saint Peter This manner of speech was suspected by the Papalins who saw they would make the life and actions of Saint Peter a paterne for the Pope which would as they said reduce the Apostolique Sea to nothing which they defended to haue an vnlimited power to be able to giue a rule for all emergents as the times doe require though contrary to the actions of all his predecessours and of Saint Peter himselfe And the contentions were like to proceed further But the Legats to giue some intermission to haue time to send the Pope the corrections of the Vltramontans and receiue his command how to gouerne themselues in the businesse that they might set another matter on foot which might make this to be forgotten returned to the point of Residence concerning which Loraine and Madruccio had composed a forme and presented it some dayes before to the Legats who without considering of it did approoue it vpon the first sight Afterward hauing consulted with the Canonists they disliked one parte in which it was said that Bishops are bound by the commandement of God to attend and watch ouer the flocke personally and doubting that those words would not please in Rome they changed them and so proposed the forme in congregation Loraine The Cardinals of Loraine Trent are offended with the Legats and Madruccio were much offended with this mutation and thought they were disparaged and Loraine said that hereafter he would take no more care in those things nor treat with the Prelats but
the world and laughter of those who had forsaken the obedience of the Church of Rome who would bee incited to retaine their opinions with greater obstinacie there had beene no Session held of a long time that while Princes did labour to vnite the aduersaries differing in opinions the Fathers came to contentions vnworthy of them that there was a fame that his Holinesse meant to dissolue or suspend the Councell perhaps mooued thereunto by the present state thereof but that his opinion was to the contrary For it had beene better it had neuer beene begun then left vnperfect with the scandall of the world contempt of his Holinesse and of the whole Clergie preiudice of this and other future generall Councels losse of that small remainder of Catholiques and opinion of the world that the end of the dissolution or suspension was onely to hinder the reformation that in the intimation of it his Holinesse did desire his consent and of other Kings and Princes which he did in imitation of his predecessors who alwayes haue thought it necessary for many respects that the same reason doth conclude that it cannot be dissolued or suspended without the same consent And he exborted him not to hearken to those who would haue him to dissolue it a thing shamefull and vnprofitable which vndoubtedly would be a cause of Nationall Councels so much abhorred by his Hol. as contrary to the vnity of the Church which as they haue been hindred by Princes to preserue the Popes authoritie so they cannot be denyed or deferred any more Hee perswaded him to maintaine the libertie of the Councell which was impeached principally by three causes One because euery thing was first consulted of at Rome another because the Legats had assumed to themselues onely the libertie of proposing which ought to be common to all the third because of the practises which some Prelats interested in the greatnesse of the Court of Rome did make He said that a reformation of the Church being necessary and the common opinion being that the abuses haue their beginning and growth in Rome it was fit for common satisfaction that the reformation should bee made in Councell and not in that Cittie And therefore desired his Holinesse to be content that the demands exhibited by his Ambassadours and by other Princes might be proposed In the conclusion he told him hee purposed to assist in Councell personally and exhorted his Holinesse to doe the like This letter was dispatched the third of March and it gaue much offence With which his Holinesse is offended to the Pope For hee thought that the Emperour did embrace much more then his authoritie did reach vnto and passed the termes of his Predecessors men more potent then himselfe But he was displeased more when hee was aduised by his Nuncio that hee had sent copies of the same Letter to other Princes and to the Cardinall of Loraine also which could bee done to no other end but to incite them against him and to iustifie his owne actions Besides Doctor Scheld great Chancellor to the Emperour perswaded Delphinus the Popes Nuncio in that Court that he would be a meanes that the words Vniuersalem Ecclesiam might bee taken away which did inferre the superioritie of the Pope aboue the Councell saying that these times did not comport they should be vsed and that the Emperour and himselfe also did know that Charles the fift of happy memory did hold the contrary opinion in this article and that they should take heed of giuing occasion to his Maiestie and other Princes to declare what they thinke 〈◊〉 The Pope considered that Loraine also had written that it was not 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the difficultie of the words Vniuersalem Ecclesiam c and the aduice which came from Trent that the Cardinall said that neither himselfe nor the French Prelats could endure them that they might not â—anâ—nize an opinion contrary to all 〈…〉 ance which when men came to speake plainly in the discussion of this point would haue more fauorers then was beleeued that they were deceiued who thought she contrary which shewed clearely that hee had treated hereof at the Emperours Court These things considered the Pope thought fit to make a good answere and to send about also to iustifie himselfe Therefore hee wrote to the Emperour that hee had called the Councell with the participation of him and of other Kings and Princes not because And answereth the letter thus the Apostolike Sea had need in gouerning the Church to expect the consent of any authority whatsoeuer because hee had pleniâ—ude of power from CHRIST that all the ancient Councels haue beene assembled by authority of the Bishop of Rome nor any Prince euer interposed but as a meere executor of his will hee had neuer had any purpose either to dissolue or to suspend the Councell but hath alwayes purposed to giue a compleat end for the seruice of GOD that by consulting Rome of the same matters which were disputed in Trent the libertie of the Councel was not only not hindred but promoted rather that no Councell was euer celebrated in absence of the Pope but that hee hath sent instructions which the Fathers haue also followed that the instructions doe still remaine which Pope Celestinus sent the Ephâ—sine Councell Pope Leo to that of Chalcedon Pope Agatho to than of Trullus Pope Adrian the first to the second of Nice Pope Adrian the second to the eighth generall Councell of Constantinople that for proposing in the Councell it hath alwayes belonged to the Pope whensoeuer he hath bin present yea he alone hath resolued and the Councell done nothing but approoue that in absence of the Pope the Legats haue euer proposed or others deputed by them in conformitie whereof the Councell of Trent hath determined that the Legates should propose that this is necessary for the keeping of order in regard there would be a great confusion if the Prelats 〈…〉 iltuously and one against another might set on foote matters seditious and in conuenient that the Legaes haue neuer refused to propose any thing that is profitable that the practises made by dideâ—s against the authoritie of the Apostolike Sea hath much displeased him that all the bookes of the Fathers and Councels are full that the Pope successour of Peter and Vicar of CHRIST is Rastor of the vniuersall Church that many conuenticles and 〈◊〉 haue beene made in Trent against this trueth how soeuer the Church hath alwayes vsed this forme of speech as his Maiestie might feel 〈◊〉 the place which he sent him cited in a paper inclosed 〈…〉 present A paper full of quotations 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 because his Legates vsing 〈…〉 bad 〈◊〉 〈…〉 g take occasion to speake against the libert of the Councell had 〈…〉 to bee contemned so that the Councell might be◠〈…〉 that for reformation hee de 〈…〉 it should 〈…〉 and absolute and hath continually solliâ—â—ted his Legates to resolue vpon 〈◊〉 concerning the Court the
who could determine of him selfe and was of a more gentle and sweete disposition farre from any cunning and not intangled with warre whereas in France the King being a child many that were partakers in the gouernment vsing many artifices and hauing diuers interests it would be very hard to doe any good Where-vpon he resolued that Cardinall Morone before he entred into the affayres of the Councell should goe to the Emperour for this end And remembring what Loraine The Pope resolueth to send Cardinal Morone to the Emperour said in Trent that the Emperour would goe to Bolonia to receiue the Crowne he resolued to try whether he could induce that Cardinall to bee a mediatour herein and so to translate the Councell to that Citie He gaue order to the Bishop of Vintimiglia to insinuate with him and to perswade And hath a plot vpon the Cardinall of Loraine him to it and to giue him a meanes of entrance he caused Boromeo to giue him commission to condole with him for the death of his brother the great Prior. But before this order came the Cardinall was gone for Padua The Bishop therefore conferring with Simoneta concluded that the importance of the matter did not admit any losse of time nor could bee negotiated but in presence Wherefore he resolued to follow him pretending to see a Nephew of his who was very sicke in Padua Being come thither hee visited the Cardinall presented the letters of Boromeo and condoled with him making no shew of any other businesse Talking together the Cardinall demaunded what newes there was in Trent since his departure and whether Cardinall Morone would goe to the Emperour as was reported After many discourses on both sides the Bishop began to put him in minde that his Excellencie had formerly told him in Trent that in case the Pope would go to Bolonia the Emperour would goe thither also and would make it an occasion to receiue the Crowne which would turne to the great aduantage of his Holinesse to maintaine the possession of coronation which Germanie did oppugne The Cardinall affirming this againe the B. added that hee had then sent aduise therof to Rome and now had receiued an answer by which he did conclude that a very faire occasion was presented to his Excellencie of doing much good to the Church of GOD by labouring to bring so profitable a disseigne to effect For in case he could perswade his Maiestie to go to Bolonia calling also the Councell thither he might assure himselfe that his Holinesse would resolue to be there likewise and that by the assistance of them both the affaires of the Synod would haue a quicke dispatch and a happy successe The Cardinall desired to see what was written to him and the Bishop making demonstration to proceede freely with him shewed him the letters of Cardinall Boromeo and a writing of Ptolemeus Gallus the Popes Secretarie The Cardinall hauing read all answered that at his returne to Trent bot should better vnderstand the Emperors mind and what answere the Pope had sent to his Maiestie whereby hee might resolue better and would not faile to bestow his paines if there were occasion The Bishop replying that he might plainely vnderstand the Popes mind by the letters which he shewed him and that there was no cause to expect better information the Cardinall entred into other discourses neither could the Bishop though he often returned to the same matter draw any other answere from him Hee sayd indeed that the Emperour had spoken of his going to Bolonia because the Pope had told him of his purpose to make the reformation but seeing that it is now plaine by long experience that howsoeuer his Holinesse promiseth many things yet nothing is executed in Councell his Maiestie and other Princes do beleeue that hee hath no true meaning of performance and that otherwise the Legates would not haue failed to haue executed his will Hee sayd the Emperour was not satisfied for that the Pope hauing in Ianuary shewed a purpose to go to Bolonia was cooled on the sudden and that when his Maiestie told him of of his desire to assist personally in Councel his Holinesse laboured much to diswade him vsing his wonted varietie of speeches He said also that the Emperour would not resolue to goe into Bolonia lest he should displease the Princes who might doubt that when he was there his Holinesse would gouerne all after his owne manner conclude the Synode as he listed without making any reformation He said he had receiued aduise of the instance made by Don Lewis d' Auila in the name of the Catholique King and was glad to heare it And speaking at large of the particulars hee added that it was necessarie it should bee performed euen from Alpha to Omega and that it was fit to remooue from the Councell fiftie Bishops at the least who doe alwayes oppose all good resolutions Hee sayd that formerly he thought there were more abuses in France then else where but now he knew that there were enough in Italy also For the Churches are in the hands of Cardinals who ayming at profit onely doe wholly abandon them and leaue the cure to a poore Priest by which meanes the Churches are ruined and Simonies and an infinitie of other disorders committed For remedie whereof the Princes and their ministers did proceed moderately hoping that at the last the desired reformation would be made That himselfe also had proceeded with respect but now seeing that it was time to labour in earnest for the seruice of GOD hee would burthen his conscience no more but in the first voyce hee should giue was resolued to speake hereof That his familie had suffered as euery one knoweth the losse of two brothers that himselfe would spend his blood in the same cause though not in Armes as they did that his Holinesse ought not to hearken to those who would diuert him from so pious an intention but to resolue to obtaine a reward at the hands of GOD by the merit of remouing the abuses of the Church Hee sayd also that when the new Legates came who no doubt would be well informed of the Popes minde it would hee knowne what his purpose was concerning the reformation in regard they could haue no cause to delay it if they meant to make it at all And howsoeuer the Bishop did often assay to bring him backe to speake of the iourney to Bolonia yet hee alwayes turned the discourse another way Vintimiglia sent aduice of all to Rome and gaue his censure I that howso euer the Car 〈…〉 had heere to fore made mention of this iourney his mind was contrarie and spake it only in cunning to discouer the intention of his holinesse and of the County and that he was glad he had found his purpose For if he had promised to labour herein he might haue prolonged the businesse and caused diuers preiudiciall inconueniences to arise Aduise came to Rome that the French King had
is neither honest nor profitable to fauour one with the disseruice of another that euery one would haue the glory to procure the reformation and yet perseuere in the abuses laying the burthen vpon the Pope onely The Cardinall discoursed also that for the reformation of the Pope himselfe he would not say what the minde of his holinesse was but for that which neither doth nor can touch him how can any one perswade himselfe that hee would not condescend but that hee knoweth that which is vnknowne to others because the respects of all are referred vnto him alone Hee saide moreouer that the experience of these fifteene moneths since the opening of the Councell hath shewed that the pretensions are multiplied and the diuersitie of opinions increased and doe still proceede forward to the height that in case it should continue long some notable scandall must necessarily happen Hee told him of the iealousie which did possesse the Princes of Germanie and the Hugonots of France and concluded that seeing it was plaine that the Councell could doe no good it was expedient to finish it in the best manner it was possible It was sayd that those Princes were perswaded that they could neuer obtaine any thing that was good by meanes of the Councell and therefore thought it better to bury it with honour and that they gaue their word to that Cardinall to vse conniuencie heereafter and not to take it ill if the Councell were ended And hee that shall obserue what ende the Who giueth his word to conniue hereafter Councell had and that those Princes had no satisfaction in any of their demands will easily beleeue that the fame was true but considering on the other side that the instances of the Emperours ministers did not cease after this negotiation hee will thinke it a vaine rumour But to auoyde both the absurdities one may beleeue that those Princes did then lay hope aside and resolue not to oppose the ending of the Councell yet so as that they helde it not honourable to make a sudden retreate but to remit their instances by degrees that they might not publish their want of iudgement for conceiuing hope of good by that meanes and for not beleeuing the obseruation of Saint Gregory Nazianzen who testifieth that contentions haue alwayes been increased by the Episcopall assemblies The trueth of this particular I put in the number of those things the knowledge whereof I cannot attaine vnto But it is certaine that the catastrophe of the Councell which it was thought could not possiblie haue a quiet conclusion had beginning in this time THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE COVNCELL OF TRENT THe seuenteenth of May Cardinall Morone returned to Trent from his Legation in Ispruc and the Legates presently beganne to treat amongst themselues about the certaine day of the Session because the twentieth was neere when it was to bee determined And because they knew not when the matters would bee in order in the Congregation of the nineteenth day a prorogation was made vntill the tenth of Iune to determine then the prefixed time In that Congregation two notable things did happen One was the contention whether it did belong to the Legates or to the Councell to determine A question about the authority of the Legats whether the Proctors of the Bishops ought to be admitted in Congregation begunne as we haue said by Lansac The French Prelates did maintaine that the Legates had no other prerogatiue but to be the first and had no authority as they were separated from the Fathers of the Councell alleadging the Councell of Basil and other monuments of antiquity On the other side it was said that the Councell could not bee lawfull except it were called by the Pope and that it belongeth to him onely to determine who may assist and haue voyce in it and that to giue this power to the Councell would be to giue it authority to generate it selfe After some contention the matter did remaine vndecided In giuing of voyces concerning the abuses of Order another question succeeded For the Bishop of Philodelphia made a great and a long exclamation that Cardinals haue Bishopriques without maintaining so much as a Suffragan which was much derided by many as if the Bishop being but titular had spoken for the interest of himselfe and of such as he was In the Congregation of the 21. of May the Count of Luna was receiued The Count of Luna is receiued in Congregation forty dayes after his arriuall in regard of the difficulties for precedence with the French Ambassadours In the meane while many consultations were held to compose them but the French would by no meanes yeeld that hee should haue any place but below and after them Whereupon he thought to stand on his feet in the midst of the place amongst the Emperors Ambassadours who had order from their Master to accompany him and to stand by them vntill hee had finished his oration and then to returne presently to his house But this seemed dishonourable for the King Therefore hee laboured to perswade the French not to enter in Congregation that day whereunto they not consenting He thought to force them to it by making some Spanish Prelat demaund that Secular Ambassadours might not assist in the Congregations because they were neuer admitted in the ancient Councels But thinking that this would offend all Princes hee purposed to vse meanes that some Prelats should propose the handling of some things at which it would not be reasonable that the French Ambassadours should bee present as might be the preiudices which might come to Christendome by the capitulations made with the Hugonots or some such thing This comming to the eares of the Cardinall of Loraine put another course in his head and consulting with the other French men they resolued not to contest any more if a place were giuen him a part out of the order of the Ambassadours Therefore the Count entring into the Congregation the day before mentioned and comming to the place assigned for him which was in the midst of His protestation about place the assembly ouer against the Legates he presented the Mandat of his King which being read by the Secretarie hee immediatly protested that howsoeuer in that and all other places he ought to be next after the Emperors Ambassadours yet because that place the cause which was handled and the time did not comport that the course of diuine matters and of the publique welfare should be hindred by humane contentions he did receiue the place giuen him but protesting that his modesty and the respect hee had not to hinder the progresse of the Councell ought not to be preiudiciall to the dignity and right of his Prince Philip the Catholike King nor of his posterity but that they remaine intire so that they may alwayes make vse of them as if his due place had now beene giuen vnto him requiring that his protestation might be written in the
other Kingdomes where they are Counsellers of Kings and haue the principall offices of which they might easily bee depriued if Princes should take example by his Holinesse and the Secular Nobility incite them to it for their owne interests Therefore if hee would execute this his determination hee should doe it in effects and not in writing lest he should damnifie the Clergy in other Kingdomes very much The Emperour found by experience either at this time or two moneths before when Morone was with him that his vicinity to the Councell did not onely no good as hee thought it would but the contrary rather For the popish Prelates suspecting his deseignes were against the authority of the Court were afraid of euery thing so that the difficulties and suspitions did turne into bitternesse and increase in number Therefore hauing other businesse wherein to employ himselfe with more profit he departed and wrot to the Cardinall of Loraine that the impossiblity of doing good in the Councel being palpable he thought it was the dutie of a Christian and wife Prince rather to support the present euill with patience then by curing it to cause a greater And to the Count of Luna who went vnto him by Post three dayes before he gaue order to write to the Catholike King concerning The Emperor parteth from Isorut the Decree Proponentibus Legatis exhorting his Maiestie in his name to bee content not to desire the reuocation or declaration and if hee did thinke that the not declaring of it might preiudice other Councels the declaration might if need were be made in the end of this And notice beeing giuen that they consulted at Rome and in Trent to proceed against the Queene of And dehorteth the Councell frō proceeding against the Q. of England England he wrote to the Pope and the Legates that if the Councell would not yeeld that fruit as was desired that they might see an vnion of all Catholiques to reforme the Church at the least they should not giue occasion to the heretickes to vnite themselues more which they would doe in case they proceeded against the Queene of England For vndoubtedly they would by that meanes make a generall league against the Catholikes which would bring forth great inconueniences And his admonition was so effectuall that the Pope desisted in Rome and reuoked the Commission giuen to the Legats in Trent After that the Pope had giuen distast to the Spaniards in not giuing place to the Ambassadours to appease them againe he gaue care to the instance of Vargas who had troubled him many dayes together desiring that as meanes was found that the Count of Luna the Ambassadour of his King might come into congregations so the time of celebrating the Session drawing neere his Holines would find a way that he might be there also Whereof hauing considered well and consulted with the Cardinals hee resolued finally that a place separated from the other Ambassadours should be giuen the Count in the Session also and to remedy the comperency which would be in giuing the Incense the pax he gaue order that 2. Censers should be vsed and Incense giuen to the French-men and the Spaniard both at once as also two Paxes to be kissed at the same instant And hee wrote to the Legats to doe so commanding that they should conceale all vntill the time of the execution for feare some inconueniences might bee prepared if it were knowen Morone according to the Popes command concealed the order neither A difference about precedence did the French-men know of it at all On Saint Peters day the 29. of Iune the Cardinals Ambassadours and Fathers being assembled in the Chappell of the Cathedrall Church and the Masse being begun which the Bishop of Asti the Duke of Sauoy his Ambassadour did celebrate on the sudden a murrey veluet chaire came out of the Vestry and was placed betweene the last Cardinall and the first Patriarke and by and by the Count of Luna the Spanish Ambassadour came in and sat vpon it whereat the Prelats kept a great murmuring Loraine complained to the Legats of this sudden act concealed from him The French Ambassadors sent the Master of the Ceremonies to make the same complaint telling the of them ceremonies of the Incense and the Pax. The Legats answered there would be two Censers and two Paxes wherewith the French were not satisfied and said plainely that they would be maintained not in paritie but in precedence and would protest against euery innouation and depart from the Councell These goings and commings continued vntill the end of the Gospel so that the Epistle and Gospel were not heard by reason of the great whisperings The Theologue being gone into the Pulpit to preach the Legats with the Cardinals Ambassadors of the Emperour and de Ferrieres one of the French retired into the Vestry where this matter was handled and the Sermon was ended before any thing was concluded In the midst of the Credo a silence was made and Madruccio with Fiue Churches and the Ambassadour of Polonia came out to speake with the Count of Luna and to pray him in the name of the Legats that for that time hee would bee content that neither Incense nor the Paxe should be giuen to any to hinder this sudden tumult which might cause some great euill promising that at any other time when hee requested they would execute the order of his holinesse of two Censors and two Paxes at once which being considered on before hand both hee and they and all might be able to resolue how to gouerne themselues with wisedome After long discourse they returned with this resolution that the Count was content So they all came out of the Vestry and went to their places and the Masse proceeded without Incense or Paxe And as scone as these words were said Ite missaest the Count of Luna who in the Congregations was wont to goe out last did goe then before the Crosse followed with a great part of the Spanish Prelats and Italians subiect to his King Afterwards the Legat Ambassadours and residue of the Prelats departed also after the vsuall manner The Legats to bee freed from the imputation layd vpon them for this secret and almost fraudulent proceeding n a matter of so great weight were faine to publish the expresse orders receiued from Rome to doe so in that time in that maner and without participation of any De Ferrieres said publiquely that but for the respect he bare to the worship of God hee would haue protested as he had in commission from his King which he would doe hereafter in case the vsuall ceremonies of Incense and paxe were not restored and giuen them in their due place The Cardinall of Loraine also wrote a sharpe letter to the Pope declaring the wrong that should haue beene done them and said modestly that his Holinesse had made him bee told that hee trusted so much in him that hee would that all the affaires of
the Councell should be communicated vnto him whereof though he saw no effect yet he did not complaine but he was troubled that he had commanded the Legats not to impart vnto him their owne proper affaires and especially that in which he might haue done more good then another adding that more mischiefe had insued but for his mediation Hee sayde moreouer that the blame of all was imputed to his Holinesse and prayed him that he would not be the authour and cause of so great an euill Hee sent Musottus vnto him also by post to informe him more particularly of the resolution of the French Ambassadours and of the imminent danger The Count of Luna complained of the stiffenesse of the French Ambassadours and magnified his owne great patience and modestie and desired the Legates that the next Sunday he might be admitted to equall place ceremonies according to the Popes order Some thought it was a stratagem of the Pope to dissolue the Councell and the Papalins called Amoreuoli said that if they must come to a dissolution they desired it should rather happen for the controuersie about the words of the Councell of Florence That the Pope is Rector of the Church vniuersall thinking it would be more easie to iustifie his Holinesse in that and to lay all the blame vpon the French-men The next morning the last of Iune the Count hauing assembled the Spanish Prelats and many Italians told them that the day before hee went into the Chappell not to giue occasion of any disturbance but to keep the right of his King and make vse of the Popes order that since he had vnderstood that in case he should returne to the Chappel againe the French-men would protest which if they should doe hee must not faile to answere them in the same maner and termes that they should vse as in regard of his Holinesse so also in the behalfe of the Maiestie of his King The Prelats answered that if it came to this they would be readie to doe his Holinesse seruice and not faile to hold esteeme of his Catholique Maiestie as farre as did concerne them The Count prayed them againe to consider well of all which might happen in such a case saying that himselfe would come prepared also And knowing that the French-men could take but three courses either against the Legats or against the King or against him the Ambassadour hee meant to be prouided for an answere for all All the Ambassadours of other Princes perswaded the Legats to find a temper that so great disorder might not happen who answering that they must needs execute the Popes command which was precise and without any reseruation and the rather because they had promised the Count to doe it whensoeuer he would request it the Cardinal of Loraine protested to them that in case they did so hee would goe into the pulpit and shew of what importance the matter was and what a ruine it would bring to all Christendome and with the crucifixe in hand would cry Misericordia perswading the Fathers and people to goe out of the Church that they might not see so fearefull a schisme and crying Hee that desires the welfare of Christendome let him follow me would depart out of the Church hoping he should be followed by euery one The Legats mooued heerewith perswaded the Count to be content that no Chappell should be helde the next Sunday nor any procession made according to the vse and sent the Pope aduise of all Continuall congregations were held in the house of the French and Spanish Ambassadours The Spaniard sometimes gaue hope he would bee content and sometimes made instance to goe to Church to execute the Popes order for the Incense and Pax. And the French Ambassadours were resolued to protest and depart and said openly that they would not protest against the Legates being but meere nor against the King of Spanic or the Count his Ambassadour in regard they did prosecute their cause nor against the Apostolike Sea which they would alwayes honour following the steps of their predecessours but against the person of the Pope from whom the preiudice and innouation came as making himselfe a partie and giuing cause of schisme and for another cause also appealing vnto the future Pope lawfully elected and to a true and lawfull councell threatning to depart and to celebrate a Nationall The Prelats and other Frenchmen apart did commonly say to euery one that the Ambassadors had protestations against the person of the Bishop who caryed himselfe for Pope being not lawfull because there was a nullitie in the election for Simonie intimating particularly the obligation which Cardinall Caraffa had from the Duke of Florence The Prenchmen make a question whether the Pope were lawfully elected with promise of a certaine summe of money which that Cardinall sent afterwards to the Catholike King pretending it could not be made but by consent of the Pope before his assumption as also another obligation made by the Popes owne hand then Cardinall in the Conclaue to the Cardinall of Naples wherof mention hath bin made before And the President de Ferrieres prepared a very sharpe Oration in Latine and a protestation which howsoeuer it was not made yet it was printed and was shewed by the Frenchmen and is still to be seene in print as if it had beene recited to relate the substance whereof is not besides our present purpose that it may be seene not what the French said only but what opinion they brought to the Councel He said in substance That that Councel hauing bin called by means of Francis The protestation and Charles brothers French Kings they the French Kings Ambassadors were sory they should be forced to depart or consent to the diminution of the Kings dignitie that the prerogatiue of the French King was knowen to whosoeuer hath reade the Popes Law and the Histories of the Romane Church as also those who haue read the volumes of the Councels must needs know what place themselues ought to holde that the Ambassadours of the Catholique King in former generall Councels haue followed the Ambassadours of the most Christian that now the mutation was made not by the Fathers who if they had beene in libertie would not haue depriued any Prince of his possession nor by the Catholique King so neerely allied in amitie and kinred with their King but by the Father of all Christians who in stead of bread hath giuen his eldest sonne a stone and for fish a serpent to wound with one sting the King and the French Church together that Pius 4. dooth sow seeds of discord to disturbe the peace of Kings who are in amitie changing by force and iniustice the order of sitting alwayes vsed by the Ambassadours and lastly in the Councels of Constance and Lateran to shew that he is aboue Councels that he can neither disturbe the amity of the Kings nor alter the doctrine of the Councels of Constance and Basil that the Councel is
Session that they might haue time so to dispose it as that it might please all least the publication of the things agreed on should be crossed in regard of this There was the same difficultie about the last of the Articles proposed in which a forme of confession of faith was prescribed to bee 〈◊〉 by those who were designed to Bishoprickes Abbies and other Benefices with cure before the examination which did so other with that of the election as that they could not be separated It was resolued to 〈◊〉 this Article also But because it was deferred and then resolued not to 〈◊〉 and afterwards in a tumultuous manner referred to the Pope as shall bee said in due place it is not alieue from our present purpose to recite heere the substance of it Which was that not onely it should bee required of them who were designed to Bishoprikes and other cures of soules but also an admonition and precept in vertue of obedience made to all Princes of what Maiestie or excellencie soeuer not to admit to any dignitie magistracie or office any person before they haue made inquisition of his Faith and religion and before hee hath voluntarily confessed and sworne the Articles contained in that forme which to that end it did command to bee translated into the vulgar tongue and publikely read euery Sunday in all the Churches that it might bee vnderstood by all The Articles were To receiue the Scriptures of both Testaments which the Church doth hold to bee canonicall as inspired by God To acknowledg the holy Catholike Apostolike Church vnder one Bishop of Rome Vicar of CHRIST holding constantly the faith and doctrine thereof in regard being directed by the holy Ghost it cannot erre To haue in veneration the authority of Councels as certaine and vndoubted and not to doubt of the things once determned by them To beleeue with a constant faith the Ecclesiasticall traditions receiued from one to another To follow the opinion and consent of the Orthodoxe Fathers To render absolute obedience to the constitutions and precepts of the holy mother the Church To beleeue and confesse the seuen Sacraments and their vse vertue and fruit as the Church hath taught vntill this time but aboue all that in the Sacrament of the Altar there is the true body and blood of CHRIST really and substantially vnder the Bread and Wine by the vertue and power of the word of God vttered by the Priest the onely minister ordained to this purpose by the institution of CHRIST confessing also that hee is offered in the Masse to God for the liuing and the dead for the remission of sinnes And finally to receiue and retaine most firmely all things which haue beene vntill this time piously and religiously obserued by their ancestours nor to bee remooued from them by any meanes but to auoide all nouity of doctrine as a most pernicious poyson flying all â—â—â—isme detesting all heresie and promising to assist the Church readily and faithfully against all heretikes It being as hath beene sayd resolued to omit this matter they laboured to rectifie the matter of Residence by taking away whatsoeuer might displease those who held it to bee de iure Diuino or those who thought it to bee de iure Positino Loraine vsed all effect all diligehee to make the parties agree resoluing that by all meanes the Session should be held at the time appointed For hauing receiued lately very louing letters from the Pope co 〈…〉 him to come to Rome and to speake with him and determining to giue his Holinesse all satisfaction his resolution was to giue him this as an earnest that is to end the discorde and comâ—ose the differences betweene the Prelates a thing much desired by him For his going to Rome he spake ambiguously meaning to expectan answere from France 〈…〉 Another matter though of no great importance did prolong the progresse that is the handling of the 〈◊〉 one of Orders of which a great long 〈◊〉 was proposed wherein all were expounded from the office of a Decon to the office of a doore-keeper This was composed in the beginning by the Deputies when the Decrees were made as necessarie to oppose against the Protestants who say those Orders were not instituted by CHRIST but by Ecclesiasticall introduction because there is vse of them as being offices of good and orderly gouernement but not Sacraments This Article of the Deeree was taken out of the Pontificall which would be too long and superfluous to repeat in regard it may be read in the booke it selfe And the Decree did The functions of the inferiour Orders declare besides that those functions cannot be excercised but by him who being promoted by the Bishop hath receiued grace from God and a Character imprinted to make him able to doe it But when it came to bee established they were troubled to resolue an olde common obiection what neede there could bee of a Character and spirituall grace to exercise corporall Actes as to reade light candles ring bels which may bee as well or better done by those who are not ordained especially since it hath beene disused that men ordained should exercise those functions It was considered that the Church was condemned hereby for omitting this vse so many yeeres And there was a difficultie how to restore the practise of them For they must ordaine not children but men of age to shut the Church doores to ring the bells to dispossesse the possessed with deuils which if they did they did crosse another Decree that the inferiour orders should be a necessarie degree to the greater Neither did they see how they could restore the three offices to the Deaconship to minister at the Altar to Baptize and to preach nor how the office of the Exorcists could bee exercised in regard of the vse brought in that the Priests onely did dispossesse the possessed Antonius Augustinus Bishop of Lerida would haue had that whole matter omitted saying that howsoeuer it was certaine that these were Orders and Sacraments yet it would bee hard to perswade that they were brought in in the Primitiue Church when there were but few Christians that it was not for the Synods dignitie to descend to so many particulars that it was sufficient to say there are foure inferiour Orders without descending to any further specialiâ—ie of doctrine or making any innouation in the practise Opposition was made that so the doctrine of the Protestants who call them idle Ceremonies would not be condemned But Loraine was Authour of a middle course that the Article should be omitted and in few words the execution referred to the Bishop who should cause them to bee obserued as much as was possible These things being setled they resolued to reade all in the consultation of those principall Prelates that all things might passe in the generall Congregation with absolute quiet Both parties were agreed but onely in the s 〈…〉 h Anathematisme that is that the Hiâ—â—archie is instituted by Diuine
for the residue with a small variation of words and those not belonging to the substance satisfaction was giuen to all the Fathers The Spaniards who could not obtaine in Congregation the declaration for the institution of Bishops as they desired did the thirteenth day at night assemble in the house of the Count of Luna where Granata and his adherents perswaâ—ed him to protest to the Legates in case the determination of that point should bee omitted but others disswaded it as a thing which might raise a great commotion The whole Congregation was spent in disputes and ended in contention deferring the resolution vntill the next morning When the Count hearing againe the diuersitie of opinions and considering that it would much displease the Pope all the Italian Bishops and all the French men who had reformed their opinions prayed Granata to thinke as others did in regard it was not a matter of conscience because the question was not in what manner it should bee refined but whether it should be refined or omitted Granata not changing but saying that hee thought in his conscience the determination was necessary hee desired him that hee would speake his opinion quietly and freely and content himselfe if it were not embraced by others and abstaine from contentions which both hee and the others promised to doe The next day which was the next before the Session a generall congregation was held in which Morone did propose whether the Fathers were pleased that in the Articles of Residence and of the age of those who are to bee ordained mention should bee made of Cardinals and particularly of the age Few did consent and most of them did discourse that there is no cause to make any Cardinals vnder age except Princes in whom age is not considerable because they doe honour the Clergy of what age soeuer they bee and that it was to no purpose to make a Decree where there was no abuse But in the particular of the residence the greater part was of opinion they should bee named But some contradicted because it would bee an approbation that Cardinals might haue Bishopriques and by consequence Commendaes which was not fit to doe but to leaue them to their conscience which must needes tell them that they are not exempt from the generall precept rather then by naming them to approoue two abuses at once plurality of Benefices and Commendaes Afterwards some other particulars of small weight beeing handled and concluded all which was to bee published in Session was read againe the Prelates giuing their opinions onely with the word placet Some Spaniards and Italians in number twenty eight answered negatiuely and the others being 192. did consent and in the end Morone concluded that the Session should be held He thanked the Fathers for accepting the Decrees and exhorted the others to ioine with them and prayed the Count of Luna to perswade his Prelats that seeing the vniuersall concourse of all the Councell in one opinion they would not dissent Whereof speaking with him more particularly after the congregation he promised that whensoeuer the Popes authority should bee declared according to the forme of the Councell of Florence the institution of Bishops should bee declared also to bee de iure diuino The Spanish Prelates beeing assembled that day at night in the house of the Count after many discourses grounding themselues vpon the Cardinals promise were content to accept all things The fifteenth of Iuly beeing come they went all to Church early in the The Session morning with the vsuall order where the accustomed ceremonies were vsed The Bishop of Paris sang Masse and the Bishop of Aliffe preached and did offend the French-men by naming the King of Spaine before their King as also the Polonians by naming Portugall before Polonia and the Venetians by mentioning the Duke of Sauoy before their Republique He seemed to say also that the celebration of the Councell was a continuation with the precedent of Paul and Iulius wherein the Imperialists and French-men had ill satisfaction He spake also of the faith and manners of the heretikes and catholikes and said that as the faith of the Catholiques was better so the heretiques did exceede them in good life which did giue much distaste especially The preacher ostendeth many Ambassadours to those who remembred the saying of our Sauiour and of Saint Iames that faith is not shewed but by workes At that instant nothing was sayd for feare of troubling the ceremonies But the next day the French Ambassadours the Polonian and the Venetians desired the Legats that the Sermon might not be printed nor put amongst the acts of the Councell The Masse and the other prayers being ended the Briefes of the Legation of the Cardinals Morone and Nauaggero were read as also the Mandats of the King of Polonia of the Duke of Sauoy the letter of the Queene of Scotland and the Mandate of the Catholique King Afterwards the Decrees of the doctrine of faith were read in which there was no contradiction but onely that the maior part of the Spaniards sayd they did consent vpon condition that the Lords the Legates should performe the promise made to the Ambassadour of their King The Decree of faith did containe in substance 1. The Sacrifice and the Priesthood are vnited in each law therefore there beeing a visible sacrifice The Decree of faith in the New Testament that is the Eucharist it must be confessed necessarily that there is a visible and externall Priesthood in which power is giuen by diuine institution to consecrate offer and minister the Eucharist and to remit and retaine sinnes 2. Which Priesthood beeing diuine must haue many Orders of Ministers to serue in it which must ascend from lower to higher ministeries because the Scripture maketh mention of the name of Deacons and from the beginning of the Church the ministeries of Subdeacons Accolythites Exorcists Readers Ostiaries were vsed placing the subdeaconship amongst the greater Orders 3. And because grace is conferred in the holy ordination Order is truly and properly one of thé seauen Sacraments of the Church 4 In which a Character beeing imprinted which cannot be blotted out the Synode doth condemne those who say that Priests haue sacerdotal power for a time so that they may returne to the world and not exercise the ministery of the word of God And doth condemne those who say all Christians are Priests or haue equall spirituall power which is nothing but to confound the Ecclesiasticall Hierarchie which is in an order as an armie of souldiers To which Hierarchicall order doe belong especially Bishops who are superiour to Priests to whom it appertaineth to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to ordaine Ministers and to performe other functions The Synode doth teach also that in the ordination of Bishops Priests and other degrees the consent vocation or authority of the Magistrate or of any other secular power is not necessary and that those who called onely or instituted
those manuall functions that they might ascend to Priest-hood And it seemed some contradiction to haue determined absolutely that those ministeries should not bee exercised but by persons ordained and afterward commanded the Prelats to restore them as much as conueniently they could For obseruing the absolute Decree it is very necessary that where persons ordained cannot be had for exercise of those functions they must not be exercised at all and if they may bee exercised without Orders in places where persons ordayned cannot bee found the absolute definition might haue better been omitted In the Decree of the ordination of Priests it was thought very conuenient to prescribe that condition that they should he able to teach the people but this did not seeme very coherent with that other doctrine and vse that cure of soules is not essentiall to Priesthood so that to bee able to teach the people is not necessary to those Priests who meane neuer to take that cure vpon them And to make to a necessary condition in the minor orders to vnderstand the Latine tongue was to shew that this was not a Generall Councell of all Christian Nations in regard this Decree could not be vniuersall and binde the Nations of Africa Asia and of a great part of Europe where the Latine tongue neuer had place The sixth Anathematisme was much noted in Germany in which an Article of faith was made of Hierarchie which word and signification thereof is aliene not to say contrary to the holy Scriptures and though it was somewhat anciently inuented yet the authour is not knowne and in case he were yet he is an Hyperbolicall writer not imitated in the vse of that word nor of others of his inuention by any of the ancients and following the stile of CHRIST our LORD and of the holy Apostles and Primitiue Church it ought to be named not Hierarchie but Hierodiaconia or Hierodoulia And Peter Paul Vergerius in Valtelina did make this and other obiections against the Vergerius maketh obiections against the Councel doctrine of the Councell the subiect of his Sermons relating the contentions betweene the Bishops and detracting as much as hee could not onely by words but by letters also to the other Protestant and Euangelicall Ministers which they read in their Churches to the people And howsoeuer the Bishop of Como by order from the Pope and the Cardinall Morone vsed all meanes and in a very extraordinary manner also to cause him to depart out of that Countrey yet they were not able to effect it Concerning the Decree of Residence of which euery one discoursed and expected some good resolution because there was so much spoken and writen of it tha nothing seemed to bee more in voice then that 〈◊〉 marueiled that in the ende that was pronounced for a decision of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was plaine to euery one that is that not to reside was 〈◊〉 except there were a lawfull cause as if it were not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all by the law of 〈◊〉 ture that whosoeuer doeth absent himselfe from his charge of what 〈◊〉 soeuer it be without a lawfull cause doeth s 〈…〉 The successe of this Session to 〈…〉 away the indelligence◠held vntill then◠The Spanish Prelats complaine of the Cardinall of Loraine betweene Loraine and the Spaniards For these complained that they w 〈…〉 abandoned in the matter of the Institution of Bishops and of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which hee had very often told them that hee was of their opinion and promised to labour effectually to cause that doctrine to bee decreed without making any condition They added that there was no hope he would bee constant in any other promise and that the Pope by making him beleeue hee should bee Legate of France had wonne him And other things they said which were little for his honour On the other side hee iustified himselfe saying that the offer was made vnto him to make his friends mistrust him and that his answere was that hee would not hearken vnto it before areformation were made in Councell Notwithstanding it was not beleeued that hee would perseuere in the same opinion no not so much as in this matter The Legates desirous to finish the Councell did so soone as the Session was done vse meanes to facilitate the residue which for matter of faith was Indulgences inuocation of Saints and Purgatorie And to this end they elected tenne Diuines two Generals of Friars and two for euery Prince that is for the Pope France of which there were but a few remaining Spaine and Portugall charging them to consider how the Protestants opinion in this matter might briefly bee confuted And themselues beeing resolued meant to propose their owne opinions in generall Congregation by which the Canons might be composed at the same time when Matrimonie should be handled that they might quickly dispatch those matters without hearing the disputes of the Diuines as formerly they had done In matter of reformation they treated with the Cardinall of Loraine the Emperours and Spanish Ambassadours to bee content that the reformation The reformation of Princes of Princes might bee proposed also who saying it was fit that abuses should be remooued wheresoeuer they were the Articles were collected and hope conceiued that all that remained might bee decided in one Session onely But the Spanish Ambassadour for many respects of his King did not like that haste and therefore did crosse it with many difficulties First hee proposed that it was necessary before the Councell ended to vse meanes to bring the Protestants thither alleadging that it would be labour in vaine if the Decrees were not accepted by them and that there was no hope they would accept them if they were not present in Councell The Legats answered that the Pope had done for his part whatsoeuer was fit wrote letters and sent expresse Nuncij to them all so that nothing could bee done to make their contumacie more manifest The Count answered that hee did not desire it should be done in the name of his Holinesse because that would not onely not cause them to come but make them more auerse but in the name of the Councell with conuenient promises and intercession of the Emperour Whereunto the Legats replying that they would consider on it they gaue an account thereof to the Pope that he might use meanes in Spaine to diuert such discourses and to perswade the ending of the Councell The Count desired also that the Diuines might speake publikely according to the vse concerning the particulars of Indulgences and of the other matters perswading the Prelats that the order might not be changed nor the reputation of the Councell diminished by omitting the examination of those things which had more neede of it then any other The Pope was much troubled with these aduises and the rather because Don Lewis d' Auila and Vargas the Ambassador resident with him had giuen their words that the King would be content that the Councell should end And calling
them vnto him he made a great complaint of the Counts proposition For the Protestants he said that none did more desire to reduce them to the Church then hee that the actions of his predecessors for fourtie yeeres and his owne by sending Nuncij expresly to them all not regarding the indignitie to which hee did subiect himselfe and the Apostolike Sea was a manifest argument thereof that he had vsed the Emperors mediation and the perswasion of all Catholike Princes that he is assured that the hardnesse of their heart is voluntarie resolute and obstinate and therefore that the reducing of them was no more to be thought of it beeing impossible but the preseruation of the obedient that so long as there was any hope to regaine them the time did require that all meanes should be vsed to please them but that beeing lost it was necessarie to keepe the good to make the diuision strong and the parties irreconciliable that the affaires of their King did require the same as he would perceiue too late in case he should temporize in Flanders and vse termes of mediocritie that the King should remember what good effects his seuere executions at his entrance into Spaine had produced whereas if hee had proceeded remisly and desired to gaine the fauour of the Protestants hee would haue felt those accidents which are seene in France He complained also that the Count would prescribe a manner of handling matters of Theologie and determine when they should be well digested And last of all hee tolde them of their promise that the King was content that the Councell should end which the Count did labour to hinder The Ambassadors hauing excused the Count and confessed what they had said concerning the Kings pleasure for the end of the Councell the Pope was satisfied so that they would be content he should say so much where he thought it necessarie Whereunto they consenting hee gaue order to his Nuncio in Spaine to complaine to the King and to tell him that he could not penetrate the cause why the Ambassadours of his Maiestie in Rome and Trent should speake diuersly and which imported more himselfe doing what he could to gratifie him for what cause he should be crossed by his Ministers in regard the Councel continuing he was hindered from doing his Maiestie many fauors and graces that if for his affaires in Flanders or for the interests of the Emperour in Germanie he did desire any thing of the Councel he might know by experience how hard it was to effect it in Trent that they might promise themselues any thing from him and that hee was resolute so soone as the Councel was ended to send into all Prouinces to prouide for the particular necessitie of euery one whereas in Trent generall prouisions onely can bee made which haue infinite difficulties to bee fitted to euery place But the perswasions of the Count in Trent made a diuision of the Prelates some desiring that those matters might bee exactly disputed and the rather because very little or nothing was spoken of them by the Schoolemen and whereas for other things handled in the Synode there were decisions either of other Councels or of Popes or an vniforme consent of Doctors these were wholly obscure and in case they were not cleered it would bee sayd that the Councel had failed in the most necessarie things Others said that if there were so many difficulties and contentions in the thing decided already how much more might they be feared that 〈◊〉 these which are full of obscuritie where there is no sufficient light shewed by the Doctours they might goe in infinitum because they had a large field in regard of many abuses which were crept into them for matter of gaine and of the difficultie which would arise about the interpretation of the Bulls especially of the words vsed in some of penaltie and guilt as also of the maner of taking Indulgences for the dead Therefore in these and the adoration of Saints the vse only might be handled and the residue omitted and for Purgatorie the opinion of the heretikes condemned only otherwise there would be no end of the Councel nor any resolution of this difficultie While these opinions went about concerning these matters reserued for the last the Legats resolued to dispatch that of Matrimonie and to abbreuiate the time of the Session and to holde it the 19 of August at the latest This pleased the Card of Loraine very much The Card. of Loraine resolueth to goe to Rome who hauing receiued answere out of France that hee should giue the Pope satisfaction in going to Rome did resolue so to do in the end of that moneth so that the Session were celebrated And he was forced to ioyne with the Pope and his adherents not onely in regard of the order receiued out of France but because the Imperialists and Spaniards did mistrust him for the successe of the last Session The 22. of Iuly the Anathematismes were giuen forth not much differing from the manner in which they were established afterwards The greatest varietie was that vntill then they had not sufficiently considered of the fift condemning diuorces allowed in the Code of Iustinian which Anathematisme was aded at the instance of the Cardinal of Loraine to oppose the opinion of the Caluinists And it was easily receiued because it was conformeable to the Schoole doctrine and the Popes Decrees But in that of diuorce for adulterie the composers of the Canons did forbeare to vse the word Anathema fearing to condemne that opinion which was of Saint Ambrose and of many Fathers of the Greeke Church Notwithstanding the others thinking that it was an Article of faith and almost all the Fathers consenting thereunto the Canon was reformed and the Anathema added condemning those that say that the bond is dissolued by adulterie and that either of the parties may contract another Matrimonie whilest the other liueth which Canon receiued afterwards another mutation as shall be saide in due place In the Congregations following the things proposed were easily dispatched but almost all the Prelates left those and spake of â—landâ—stine mariages though neither the time nor the place did comport it and the difference of opinions therein began to be discouered In the Congregation of the foure and twentieth day in the morning the Bishop of Cortona Ambassador of the Duke of Florence was receiued who made a short speech of the deuotion of his Prince towards the Apostolike Sea and fauour to the Synbd and thankes were giuen him In the congregation that night the French Ambassadors caused a request to be read in the name of their King that children which are in The Ambassador of Florence is receiued in congregation the power of their Parents might not without their consent either many or betroth themselues or if they did that it should be in the power of the parents to make void or ratifie the contract as they pleased And the same day the
Councell it was not iust to condemne them in absence hauing not been called to this Councell Therefore that the Fathers would bee pleased so to accommodate the Canons concerning this matter that they may not doe them any preiudice The Legates hauing receiued this demaund did cause it to bee proposed without making any particular examination of it which caused a whispering amongst the Fathers And in the next Congregation some of them touched that string repeating the same that it was not iust to condemne the Grecians not heard nor cited The Archbishop of Prague opposed and said that by the generall citation of all Christians they also were vnderstood to be cited by the Pope To which the Cardinall of Varmia added that his Holinesse had sent particularly to inuite the Duke of Muscouia and howsoeuer he knew not wel that hee had inuited other of the Greeke Church in speciall yet it ought to bee presupposed that the whole nation was called euen by speciall inuitation besides the generall intimation was sufficient as the Archbishop had said Whereupon the Legates gaue order to the Secretarie to take that particular out of the petition of those Ambassadours that is that the Grecians haue not beene called But as well in regard of their proposition as of the opinion of Saint Ambrose they would not vse the word Anathema but found a temper that is not to condemne those that say that Matrimony may bee dissolued for adulterie and another contracted as Saint Ambrose and some Greeke Fathers did say and as the Easterne Church doeth practise but to anathematize those who say the Church may erre teaching that the Matrimoniall bond is not broken by adultery and that it is not lawfull to contract another as the Lutherans doe maintaine This forme was generally approued many did praise it and say that the Councel was assembled only to condemne the opinions of the Protestants and not those of other Nations Yet some doubted how one could bee condemned for saying the Church did erre in teaching an article the contrary whereof was not condemned But seeing that it was fauoured by so many they contented themselues And because the proposition about the mariage of children did bring in a generall question whether the Church could make mariages void all beganne to speake of it howsoeuer it had beene spoken of before the voices collected and the Decree composed accordingly as hath been said Cardinall Madruccio maintained the negatiue and alleadged many reasons and arguments saying that he would oppose in Session also And Varmiense and Simoneta spake as much But Laynez Generall of the Iesuites hauing dispersed a writing against the irritation made a greater confusion and gaue occasion to many to be more constant and courageous in the other opinion And in the Congregations they beganne to answere one anothers reasons with such prolixity that the Legats were almost of opinion to omit that matter for feare it would hinder the Session and the rather because the Bishop of Sulmona did first make a question in publique Congregation whether that matter of irritation did belong to doctrine or reformation The Bishop of Segouia who spake after him made a long discourse to shew that it could not be reduced to doctrine and therefore the maior part hauing approoued the irritation the Decree was as good as established The Bishop of Modena followed the same opinion adding that to handle that matter by way of doctrine would take away all meanes of making any reformation whatsoeuer For in all Articles the same difficultie might be moued whether the Church hath authoritie in that particular which is handled which would bee as much as to put Armes into the hands of heretikes and to take all authoritie from the Church because it would not bee fit to meddle with that to which it might be doubted whether their authoritie did extend He complianed that that question was moued by him who ought to hold it as cleare and decided This opinion pleased many who sayd that it neuer ought to bee disputed whether the Church can doe any thing or not but to take it for granted that as all power in heauen and earth is giuen to CHRIST so the Bishop of Rome his Vicar hath as much which being communicated by him to the generall Councel it must be defended that it wanteth no power to doe whatsoeuer is profitable without disputing whether it concerne doctrine or not It pleased those also who desired the dispatch of the Councel perceiuing that the difficultie promoted might hinder the ending thereof and cause a scandall And the Legates and principall Italians vsed perswasions that it might not bee spoken of in regard there was no cause to treat of it with the French men or the Spaniards who did all agree in opinion that secret mariages ought to bee made voide And many assemblies of Prelates were made both amongst themselues and with the Legates to this end and it was resolued that the decree should not onely not bee placed with the doctrine that it might not seeme to be a part of it but also that it should not bee so much as in a Chapter apart lest it might bee doubted whether it was held to be such or not but that it should bee inferted amongst the articles of Reformation And to remooue all difficultie the more it was resolued also so to compose the decree that they might not seeme to handle that matter purposely but to mingle it with the first article of the abuses which was a prouision to restore the Banes ordained by Innocentius the third which had been intermitted and in decreeing as well this as all the other conditions appropriated for the publike forme of Matrimonie it should bee added in two wordes onely as it were incidently that all contracts made otherwise were void and so passe it ouer and say no more And the Decree was composed according to this sence and reformed often alwayes very intricately and the later had euer more difficulty then the former And amongst other alterations this point established before as hath been said was changed that the presence of three witnesses was sufficient for absolute validity and in stead of one witnesse it was substituted that euery Matrimonie should be void contracted without the presence of the Priest a thing which did much exalt the Clergie seeing that so principall an action in Politicall and Economicall administration which vntill then had beene onely in the hands of those to whom it belonged came to be in the power of the Ecclesiasticall order there remayning no meanes to contract Matrimonie if two Priests that is the Parish Priest and the Bishop interested for some respects shall refuse to afford their presence I haue not found in the memorials who was Author of this great aduantage as many other particulars of importance are hid from mee also whereof I would willingly make mention I ought not to defraud Francis Beaupere Bishop of Metz of his due honour who thinking it
ought to bee obserued vpon paine of Anathema 1. That Ecclesiasticall persons may not bee iudged in a secular Court howsoeuer there may bee doubt of the title of the Clerkeship or themselues consent or haue renounced the things obtained or for any cause whatsoeuer though vnder pretence of publike vtilitie or seruice of the King nor shall be proceeded against there in cause of murder if it bee not truly and properly a murder and notoriously knowne nor in other cases permitted by the law without the declaration of the law going before 2. That in causes spirituall of matrimonie heresie patronage beneficiall ciuill criminall and mixt belonging in what manner soeuer to the Ecclesiasticall Court as well ouer persons as ouer goodes tithes fourths and other portions appertaining to the Church or ouer beneficiall Patrimonies Ecclesiasticall Fees temporall iurisdiction of Churches the temporall Iudges shall not meddle neither in the Petitorie nor in the Possessorie taking away all appeale vpon pretence of iustice denied or as from an abuse or because the things obtained are renounced and those who shall haue recourse to the Secular magistrate in the causes aforesaid shall bee excommunicated and depriued of their rights belonging vnto them in these things And this shall be obserued also in causes depending in what instance soeuer 3. That the Seculars shall not appoint Iudges in causes Ecclesiasticall though they haue Apostolike authoritie or a custome time out of mind and the Clerkes who shall receiue such offices from the Lakes though by vertue of any priuiledge whatsoeuer shall bee suspended from their orders depriued of their Benefices and offices and made vncapeable of them 4. That the Secular shall not command the Ecclesiasticall Iudge not to excommunicate without licence or to reuoke or suspend the Excommunication denounced nor forbid him to examine cite and condemne or to haue Sergeants or Ministers for execution 5. That neither the Emperour Kings nor any Prince whatsoeuer shall make Edicts or Constitutions in what manner soeuer concerning Ecclesiasticall causes or persons nor meddle with their persons causes iurisdictions or tribunals no not in the Inquisition but shall bee bound to affoord the seculat Arme to Ecclesiasticall Iudges 6. That the temporall iurisdiction of the Ecclesiastikes though with meere and mixt power shall not bee disturbed nor their subiects drawne to the Secular tribunals in causes temporall 7. That no prince or magistrate shall promise by Briefe or other writing or giue hope to any to haue a Benefice within their dominions nor procure it from the Prelates or Chapters of Regulars and hee that shall obtaine it by that meanes shall bee depriued and yncapeable 8. That they shall not meddle with the fruites of Benefices Vacant vnder pretence of custodie or patronage or protection or of withstanding discords nor shall place there either Bayliefes or Vicars and the Seculars who shall accept such offices and custodies shall bee excommunicated and the Clerkes suspended from their Orders and depriued of their Benefices 9. That the Ecclesiastikes shall not bee forced to pay taxes gabels eithes passages subsidies though in the name of gift or loane either in respect of the Church goods and of their Patrimonial except in Prouinces where by ancient custome the Ecclesiastikes themselues doe assist in publike Parliaments to impose Subsidies both vpon the Laitie and the Clergie to make warre against the infidels or for other vrgent necessities 10. That they shall not meddle with Ecclesiasticall goods mooueable or immooueable vassallages tenths or other rights nor in the goods of communities or priuate men ouer which the Church hath any right nor shall rent out the depasturing or herbage which groweth in the lands and possessions of the Church 11 That the letters sentences and citations of Iudges Ecclesiasticall especially of the Court of Rome so soone as they bee exhibited shall bee intimated without exception published and executed neither shall it bee necessarie to require consent or licence which is called Exequatur or Placet or by any other name either for this or for taking possession of Benefices though vpon pretence of withstanding falshoods and violences except in fortresses and those Benefices in which Princes are acknowledged by reason of the temporalitie and in case there shall bee doubt of falsitie or of some great scandall or tumult the Bishop as the Popes delegate shall constitute what hee thinketh needefull 12. That Princes and Magistrates shall not lodge their officers seruants souldiers horses or dogs in the houses or Monasteries of the Ecclesiastikes nor take any thing from them for their foode or passage 13. And if any Kingdome Prouince or place shall pretend not to be bound to any of the things aforesaid by vertue of priuiledges from the Apostolike Sea which are in actuall vse the priuiledges shall bee exhibited to the Pope within a yeere after the end of the Councell which shall bee confirmed by him according to the merites of the Kingdomes or Prouinces and in case they be not exhibited before the end of the yeere they shall be vnderstood to bee of no force And for the Epilogue there was an ad 〈…〉 tion to all Prindes to haue in veneration the things which concerne the Clergie as peculiar to God and not to suffer them to bee offended by others renewing all the constitutions of Popes and holy Canons in fauour of Ecclesiasticall immunitie commanding vnder paine of Anathema that neither directly nor indirectly vnder any preâ—ence whatsoeuer any thing bee constituted or executed against the persons or goods of the Clergie or against their libertie any priuiledges or exemptions though immemoriall notwithstanding And this is it which was first imparted to the Ambassadours and by each of them sent to their Princes whereupon the French King gaue the order to his Ambassadors before mentioned And the Emperor hauing seene them wrot to the Cardinall Morone that hee could not possibly assent either as Emperor Are distastfull to the Emperour or as Arch-Duke that they should speake in Councell of reforming the iurisdiction of Princes nor to take from them authority to receiue assistance and contributions from the Clergie putting him in minde that all the former euils did arise from the oppressions attempted by the Ecclesiastikes against people and Princes That they should beware not to prouoke them more and cause greater inconueniences to arise After Loraine was departed the French Ambassadours put their protestation in order to make vse of it if need were In the Congregation of the two and twentieth of September one of the Fathers made a long speach to shew that the cause of all deformation proceeded from Princes that they had more neede of reformation that the Articles were already in order and was now time to propose them that they might not vanish to nothing by delaies After hee had spoken the Ambassadour de Ferrieres made a long querulous The speach of de Ferrieres Oration or as the Frenchmen say a complaint The contents whereof in the
principall points were That they might say to the Fathers as the Ambassadours of the Iewes did to the Priests Ought wee also to continue fasting lamenting That there are more then 150. yeres part since the most Christian Kings haue demanded of the Popes a reformation of the Ecclesiasticall discipline that for this end only they haue sent Ambassadors to the Synods of Constance Basil and the Lateran to the first of Trent finally to this second What their demands were Iohn Gerson Ambassadour in that of Constance the Orations of Petrus Danesius Ambassadour in the first of Trent of Guido Faber and of the Cardinall of Loraine in this second doe testifie in which nothing was demanded but the reformation of the manners of the ministers of the Church and notwithstanding this they must still fast and lament not seuentie yeeres but two hundred and GOD grant they be not three hundred and many more And if any should say that satisfaction hath beene giueth them by Decrees and Anathematismes they did not thinke that this was to satisfie to giue one thing in payment for another If it shall bee said that they ought to bee satisfied with a great bundle of reformations proposed the moneth before they had spoken their opinion concerning that and sent it to the King who had answered that he saw few things in it befitting the ancient discipline but many things contrary That that is not the plaster of Isaias to heale the wound but of Ezekiel to make it raw though healed before That these additions of excommunicating and anathematizing Princes was without example in the ancient Church and did make a way to rebellion and all the Articles concerning the reformation of Kings and Princes haue no ayme but to take away the libertie of the French Church and offend the Maiestie of the most Christian Kings who by the example of Constantine Iustinian and other Emperours haue made many Ecclesiasticall lawes which haue not onely not displeased the Popes but they haue inserted some of them in their Decrees and iudged Charles the Great and Lewis the ninth principall authors of them worthy of the name of Saints He added taht the Bishops had with them gouerned the Church of France not only since the times of the Pragmatique or Concordate but foure hundred yeeres and more before the booke of the Decretals and that these lawes haue beene defended and renewed by the later Kings since that the Decretals substituted in place of them haue derogated from them in the times following That the King beeing now of age would reduce those lawes and the libertie of the French Church into obseruation because there is nothing in them contrarie to the doctrine of the Catholique Church to the ancient Decrees of Popes nor to the Councels of the Church vniuersall Hee said moreouer that those lawes doe not prohibite Bishops to reside all the yeere and to preach euery day not onely nine moneths and in the feasts as was decreed in the last Session nor forbid them to liue in sobrietie and pietie and hauing the vse onely and not the benefit of the reuenues to distribute them or rather to render them to the poore who are owners of them And hee proceeded in naming other things of the Councel with the like ironicall manner that hee seemed to iest at them Hee added that the power giuen by GOD to the King the lawes of France and the libertie of the French Church haue alwayes forbid Pensions Resignations in fauour or with Regresse pluralitie of Benefices Annats Preuentions and to litigate for the Possessorie before any but the Kings Iudges or for the propriety or other cause ciuill or criminall out of France and forbid also the hindering of appeales as from abuse or to hinder that the King Founder and Patron of almost all the Churches of France may not make vse of the goods and reuenues though Ecclesiasticall of his Subiects for instant and vrgent necessitie of the Common-wealth Hee said afterwards that the King marueiled at two things One that they the Fathers adorned with so great Ecclesiasticall power in the ministerie of GOD assembled onely to restore Ecclesiasticall discipline not regarding this should binde themselues to reforme those whom they ought to obey though they were stiffenecked Another that they should think they can and ought without any admonition excommunicate and anathematise Kings and Princes which are giuen by GOD to men which ought not to bee done to any ordinary man though perseuering in a most grieuous offence He said that Michael the Archangel durst not curse the Deuill or Micheas or Daniel the most wicked Kings and yet they the Fathers were wholly conuersant in maledictions against Kings and Princes and against the most Christian if hee will defend the lawes of his ancestors and the liberty of the Gallicane Church His conclusion was that the King did desire them not to decree any thing against those 〈◊〉 or if they should that hee commanded his Ambassadors to oppose the Decrees as 〈…〉 they did oppose them But if 〈…〉 ting the Princes they would attend seriously to that which al the world expectch it would bee most 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ble to the King who did command them the Ambassador 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 hee spake in the Kings name Afterwards hee did 〈…〉 the heauen earth and the Fathers to consider whether the Kingâ— demand were iust whether it were honest for them to make orders for themselues throughout the whole world whether this were a â—â—me to take compassion not vpon the Church nor vpon France but vpon themselues the Fathers their dignity reputation and 〈…〉 s which cannot do preserued but by the Arts by which they were gained in the beginning that in so great confusions they must bee wary and not cry when CHRIST commeth sâ—nd Vs into the heard of 〈◊〉 that if they would restore the Church to the ancient reputation comp 〈…〉 the aduersaries to repentance and reforme Princes they should follow the example of Ezekias who did not imitate his father nor his first second third and fourth grand-father who were vnperfect but went higher to the imitation of his perfect ancestors so it was not fit at that time to respect the next predecessors though very learned but to ascend as farre as Ambrose Augustine and Chrysostome who ouercame the heretiques not by arming Princes to the warre themselues in the meane while picking their nailes at home but with prayers good life and sincere preaching For they hauing framed themselues first like Ambrose Austine and Chrysostome will make the Princes also to become Theodosii Honorij Arcadij Valentiniani and Gratiani which he said they hoped for and praied God it might bee so and here hee ended The Oration when it was pronounced did anger very much not onely the Papalins but the other Prelates more and French-men also Is censured and when it was ended there was such a whispering that it was necessary to finish the Congregation Some did taxe it
iudge yet there is no doubt but that in the declaration they would say they meant the Ecclesiasticall onely And they thought it an vsurpation of temporall authoritie to punish Seculars with infamie and incapacitie of dignities Neither did they approoue the constitution against conculinaries any a yeere in excommunication that they should be punished by the Ecclesiastique because excommunication is the extreme last and greatest of Ecclesiasticall punishments according to the doctrine of all the Fathers so that to passe that was to enter vpon the Temporall power and the rather because they giue themselues power to course concubines out of their countreys deriding the secular Magistrates by imploring their arme if there shall bee need which is as much as to affirme that ordinarily the execution of this banishment may be made by the Ecclesiastique himselfe The Decree of reformation in the first Article was noted either of defect or of presumption For if the Synode had authoritie to giue Law to the Pope especially in things so iust it was not fit to doe it by way of narration or by obloquitie of words But if it ought to receiue Law from the Pope it cannot bee excused for hauing passed its bounds because it doeth sharpely reprehend the former actions of this and other Popes though it doeth it obliquely Those that were seene in the Ecclesiasticall stories said that to draw all the causes of Bishops to Rome was a new policie to make the Court great whereas all the examples of antiquitie and Canons of the Counsels of those times doe shew that the causes of Bishops though of depositions were handled in the countries of each of them Those who expected a prouision against the abuse of pensions seeing what was decreed in the 13. Article did iudge that the matter would passe to a greater corruption as the euent also hath shewed The fourteenth Article was commended by euery one because it did seeme to take away the Annates and paying for Bulls dispatched at Rome for collation of Benefices But in progresse of time it appearing that those remained still and that there was not so much as any cogitation either to remooue or moderate them they remembred that onely the small abuses of other Churches being prouided against the saying was verified that onely moates were taken out of the eyes and beames neuer Euery wise man thought that this age was not worthy of that Decree for the vnitie or at the most dualtie of Benefices and that it would not be obserued but in the poorer sort onely Likewise for the examination in concurrence in the collation of Benefices euery one did prognosticate that it would bee deluded by some sinister interpretation And the prophecie was quickly verified For in Rome within a short time they began to declare that concurrence was not to bee obserued in case of resignation but that hee onely was to bee examined to whom the resignation was made which was as much as to abolish the Decree for the most part because the better sort were excluded by resignation and hee onely preferred who pleased the resignant and Benefices are not vacant for any other cause but casually The Decree of the cognition of causes in the first instance was quite destroyed by the exception added that is except those which the Pope will commit and call to himselfe For causes were neuer taken from the lawfull tribunals but by commissions and auocations of Popes and now the cause of the disease was preserued and the symptom onely cured And howsoeuer the adiunct for vrgent and reasonable causes did seeme to moderate the matter wel yet men of vnderstanding knew that it was as much as to say for any arbitrary cause But in the last poynt which was in expectation so many moneths touching the essentiall liberty of the Councell seeing it was declared that the meaning of the Synod was not to change the manner of proceeding nor to make any addition or diminution of the old constitutions wise men said that concerning this Councell it was a declaration contrary to the fact and published when it did no good neither was there any more vse of it then of a medicine applyed to a dead body And some mocked and said that it was as much as the consolation of an honest man whose wife had brought him children by other men and said she did it not to doe him wrong But by an example giuen to posteritie it did teach how all violence and exorbitancie might bee vsed in Councell from the beginning to the end and all inconuenience done excused by such a declaration yea iustified and maintained for lawfull At this time besides the aduice of the Session helde three other sorts of distastfull newes came into France The first was the Popes answere about the hundred thousand crownes The second the protestation made in Councell and the displeasure taken at it in Trent and Rome The last was the sentence against the French Bishops and the citation of the Queene of Nauarre The French-men hauing much considered on these things resolued The Alienation of Ecclesiasticall reuenues in France not to treate any more with the Pope for his fauour in the alienation but to execute the Kings Edict approued in Parliament without any consent of his Holinesse This being suddenly performed few buyers could bee found as well because men doe not easily resolue to lay downe their money as because they were disswaded by the Ecclesiastiques who told them that the sale wanting the Popes confirmation would not hereafter be esteemed to bee good This was a hinderance to the King and no fauour to the Clergie For the sale was made but it was done at a low rate neither was there raysed more then two millions and halfe of Francks small in regard of the things aliened seeing that it was made at twelue for an hundred whereas it had beene a small price if they had giuen an hundred for foure And it is worthy to bee repeated heere that amongst the things solde one was the iurisdiction which the Arch-bishop of Lions had held vntill that time ouer that citie which was sold at the outcry for thirty thousand Francks But the Bishop complained so much that in supplement of the price he had giuen vnto him 400. crownes yeerely Concerning the protestation made in Councell the King wrote to his Ambassadors the ninth of Nouember that hauing seene what the Cardinall of Loraine had written against their protestation and heard the relation made by the Bishop of Orlience of all things done in Trent he was pleased with it as also with their retire to Venice and commanded that de Ferrieres should not depart thence vntill he had new order which should bee when hee was aduised that the Articles were so reformed that the rights of the King and of the Gallican Church were not put in question And he wrote to the Cardinall of Loraine that himselfe and his Counsel knew that his Ambassadors had protested vpon great and iust
occasion For as hee would continue in the vnion and obedience of the Church so hee would preserue inuiolable the rights of his crowne without suffering them to be questioned or disputed or himselfe forced to shew them That they should not thinke to satisfie him with saying in the ende Sauing and reseruing the rights c. because vnder this colour they would binde him to shew a reason in euery opposition That if hee had seene the Articles as they were proposed hee would haue iudged that the Ambassadour could not haue done otherwise then make the opposition which his desire was they should first haue shewed to him but said they were to bee excused in regard of the occasion suddenly arising and of the circumstances which did produce it and of the suspitions which made them doubt of some Artifice to precipitate the decision And if the Pope had no intention as hee the Cardinall giueth him to vnderstand that the rights of the Emperour and Kings should bee touched and disputed his Holinesse must turne his anger vpon the Legats who proposed the Articles and named Kings Emperour Republikes and not vpon the Ambassadors That hee thinketh the protestation may be iustified before all Christendome when the Articles shal be seene That the Legats hauing proposed those Articles against the intention of his Holinesse he ought not to referre himselfe to their discretion hereafter nor to cause his Ambassadors to returne vntill he had ful assurance that those Articles should not be spoken of any more which being done he will command them to goe againe to the Councell Concerning the citation and sentence the King gaue order to Henry Clutia The French King taketh part with the Queene of Nauarre Lord d'Oysel to tell the Pope that his Maiestie had vnderstood to his great displeasure that which he did not beleeue by the fame which was spread vntill he had seene a copie of the monitories affixed in Rome that the Queene was so proceeded against as that hee was bound to defend her First in regard the cause and danger was common to all Kings who therefore were obliged to protect her and the rather because she was a widow and his obligation was the greater in respect of the neere kinred hee hath with her by both lines and by agnation with her husband who died but a little before in the warre against the Protestants leauing his sonnes Pupils Therefore hee could not abandon her cause following the examples of his ancesters and the rather because hee ought not to indure that any should make warre against his neighbours vnder colour of religon adding that it was not pious to put the Kingdomes of Spaine and France lately ioyned in friendship in danger of a bloody warre for this cause He said moreouer that the Queene hauing many Fees in France shee could not by the rights and priuiledges of that Kingdom be compelled to appeare either in person or by Proctor adding many examples of Princes and Popes who haue proceeded with due and lawfull moderation Hee touched the forme of the citation by Edict a thing not heard of in former times inuented by Boniface the eighth and as too hard and vniust moderated by Clement the fifth in the Councell of Vienna He said that such citations could by no meanes take place but against the inhabitants to whom the accesse is not secure and that the Queene remayning in France a great iniurie was done to him and the Kingdome by vsing that forme as also was done by exposing to prey and granting to the Vsurpers the Fees she holdeth in France the right whereof belongeth to him And euery one marueiled hee said that his Holinesse who did fauour so affectionately the cause of King Antonie while he liued in being his mediator with the King of Spaine would now oppresse his children and widow But he complained most of all that so many Kings Princes and cities hauing departed from the Church of Rome with in fourtie yeeres hee had not so proceeded with any other which shewed well that he did it not for the good of her soule but for other ends Hee wished his Hol. to consider that power was giuen to Popes for saluation of soules not to depriue Princes of their States nor to order any thing in earthly possessions which hauing beene formerly attempted by them in Germanie did much trouble the publike quiet Hee intreated the Pope to reuoke all his Actes against the Queene protesting that in case hee would not hee would proceede to those remedies which his predecessours haue vsed Hee complained also of the cause of the Bishops and commanded his Ambassador And with the Bishops that declaring vnto him the ancient examples the liberties and immunities of the French Church and the authoritie of the Kings in causes Ecclesiasticall he should pray the Pope not to make any innouation Monsieur d' Oisel performed this office with great vehemencie and after many treaties with the Pope obtained of him to speake no more either of the Queene or of the Bishops But in Trent the Session being ended and matters well agreed on betweene the Legates and Loraine and the businesse imparted to the principall Papalins Otranto Taranto and Parmaâ— as also to the Emperours Ambassadours The Card of Loraine publisheth y e desseigne to finish y e Councell Loraine began to publish their deseigne that the Councel might bee finished with one Session more Hee sayd hee could not bee in Trent at Christmas that himselfe and all the French Bishops must depart before that time that hee desired to see the Councel ended and was loath to leaue so honourable an assembly but that hee could not otherwise doe beeing commanded by the King The Imperialists also did publish in the Councell that the Emperour did desire the dispatch and that the King of the Romanes did write that his desire was it should bee finished by Saint Andrewes day or at the longest in the beginning of the next moneth by all meanes And indeede that King not to please the Pope but because it was his opinion did sollicite the conclusion For beeing to hold a Diet hee was not willing his Father should haue Ambassadours in the Councell and said that if that were shut vp the affaires of Religion in Germanie would bee in farre better case The greater part of the Fathers were glad to heare this and Morone making a Congregation in his house the fifteenth of Nouember of the Legates two Cardinals and fiue and twenty Bishops the principall of euery Nation hee proposed that the Councell hauing beene assembled for the necessities of Germanie and France and now the Emperour King of the Romanes Cardinall of Loraine and all Princes desiring that it should bee finished they would speake their opinion concerning the concluding of it and the manner Loraine sayd it was necessary to finish it not to hold Christendom in suspence any longer to shew the Catholikes what they ought to beleeue and to take away the
Interim of Germanie which could not be done by any other meanes because it was to continue vntill the end of the Councell and to continue it longer could not bee without great dammage of the Catholique Church And that it was needefull to finish the generall Councell in Trent to hinder a Nationall in France For the manner hee sayd it might bee ended with one Session handling in it the residue of the reformation and dispatching the Catechisme and the Index of the bookes prohibited which were in order already referring other matters to the Pope not disputing the Articles of Indulgences and Images nor anathematizing particular heretiques but proceeding with generall termes only They all agreed in some sort to finish the Councell except the Archbishop of Granata who referred himselfe to the Ambassadour of his King Some said it could not absolutely bee ended because so many matters did remaine to bee handled but that it might bee done by intimating another ten yeeres after which also would serue to hinder the calling of Nationall Councels and to deferre the determination of the things remayning and the Anathematismes The Bishop of Brescia proposed a middle course betweene an absolute ende and a suspension because the former would make the heretiques desperate and the latter not satisfie the Catholiques But these opinions had no followers all the others adhering to that which the Cardinall had sayd For the manner Otranto thought it necessary to anathematize the Heretiques because it hath been vsed in all Councels and is the principall thing which is required of Synods For many are not capable to vnderstand the trueth or falshood of opinions by their owne iudgment but doe follow or abhorre them according to the credit or discredite of the authours He sayd that the Councel of Chalcedon full of learned men to cleere themselues whether Theodoret Bishop of Ciros were a Catholique or not would not heare an account of his faith which hee desired to render but onely wished him to denounce a plaine anathema against Nestorius that if Luther and Zuinglius dead and their followers aliue were not anathematized it might bee sayd that the Councell had laboured in vaine The Cardinall replyed that diuers times did require diuers counsels that the differences in Religion were then betweene the Bishops and the Priests that the people were but as an accessory that the Grandees either did not meddle or if they did adhere to any heresie they did not make themselues Heads and leaders But now all was quite contrary because the heretique Ministers and Preachers could not bee sayd to bee heads of the Sectes but the Princes rather to whose interests their Ministers and Preachers doe accomodate themselues Hee that would name the true Heads of heretiques must name the Queene of England the Queene of Nauarre the Prince of Conde the Elector Palatine of the Rhene the Elector of Saxonie and many other Dukes and Princes of Germanie Hee sayd that this would make them vnite and shew they were sensible of it and that the condemnation of Luther and Zuinglius onely would so prouoke them that some great confusion would certainely arise Therefore to doe not what they would but what they could hee thought that the more vniuersall resolution was the better Morone sent to call the Ecclesiasticall Ambassadours to whom hauing imparted the proposition and opinion of that assembly they consented to the end and the manner according to the opinion of Loraine Which resolution being also communicated to the secular Ambassadors they did all assent except the Spaniard who sayd hee knew not the expresse will of his King and desired time that he might vnderstand it Notwithstanding this the Legates resolute to execute this determination gaue the matter concerning Princes omitting the Anathematismes and all the particular Articles onely renewing the old Canons of the Ecclesiasticall liberty and iurisdiction speaking of Princes with much reuerence onely exhorting them to cause their ministers not to violate them The same day at night a Congregation was made to beginne to speake of the reformation and an order was set downe that there should bee two Congregations a day vntill all the voyces were giuen Which were deliuered with great shortnesse resolution except by some A difficulty about subiecting the Chapters in Spaine to the Bishops few Spaniards who desired to hinder whereas all the others did endeauour to promote the expedition with breuity The greatest difficultie was concerning the sixth Article of the subiection of Chapters to Bishops in regard of the great interest which not onely the Bishops but the King also had in diminishing the Capitular authoritie that they might not oppose the subsidies which are often imposed in Spaine and on the other side for the fauours the Legates did the Chapters by whose meanes and for the reasons alleadged many Italians who first seemed to fauour the Bishops turned on the Chapters side The Count of Luna sent a Currier to Rome in diligence by whose aduice Vargas the Ambassadour entreated the Pope for his fauour to the Bishops Who according to his custome referring himselfe to the Councell the Ambassadour complained that the Italian Prelates had beene perswaded to change their opinion in that matter Whereunto the Pope readily answered that they changed because they were free but that the departure of the Agent for the Chapters from the Councell was not free hauing beene driuen from thence and vpon that occasion complained that the Count of Luna in Trent did disswade the finishing of the Councel Notwithstanding he wrote according to the Ambassadours request but in such termes as did not disfauour the pretensions of the Chapters And finally the Decree was made with some enlargement of the Episcopall authoritie in Spaine but not so much as they desired The Venetian Ambassadours made instance that in the Article of Patronages those of the Emperour and Kings being excepted those of their Republique might bee excepted also The Legates were willing to please them but could hardly tell how For to except all Republiques was too much and to name them particularly would breed matter of iealousie They found a temper to comprehend that in the number of Kings declaring that amongst those are contained the possessors of Kingdomes though they haue not the name In the Congregation of the twentieth day a proposition was made to The Popes confirmation is demanded demand the Popes confirmation of all the Decrees of the Councell as well vnder Paul and Iulius as vnder his Holinesse The Arch-bishop of Granata opposed saying that in the sixteenth and last Session vnder Iulius when the Councel was suspended it was ordained that all the Decrees made by the Synode vntill then should be obserued without saying that there was any neede of confirmation so that to demaund it now would bee to condemne those Fathers who then thought that the Decrees might bee executed without any confirmation at all Hee professed hee did not say this because he disliked the demand of a
a nullitie in the profession shall not bee heard after fiue yeeres from the first day thereof and shall alleadge the cause before the Superiour and Ordinarie before hee depose the habit and none shall goe to a more large religion nor haue leaue to weare the habit secretly 20. The Abbats and Heads of the Orders shall visit the Monasteries subiect vnto them though but by Commenda and the Commendataries shall be bound to execute the Ordinations and in those Priors and Superiours who haue spirituall gouernement shall bee created by the Chapters or visiters of the Orders 21. That the Synode doeth desire to restore discipline in all Monasteries but seeth it is impossible in regard of the stiffenecked and difficult age yet they will not omit to vse meanes that hereafter prouision may bee made therein and doe hope that his Holinesse as farre as hee shall see the times will comport will prouide that a Regular professed person shall bee made gouernour of Monasteries commended and those that shall bee vacant hereafter shall not bee conferred but vpon Regulars and those who haue Monasteries in Commenda and are Heads of Orders if prouision bee not made within sixe moneths of a Regular successor they shall make prouision or quit the place otherwise the Commendaes shall bee vacant And in the prouision of Monasteries the qualitie of euery one shall bee expressed by name otherwise the prouision shall bee accounted surreptitious 22. That it shall bee vnderstood that all Regulars are subiect to these Decrees notwithstanding any priuiledge though by foundation commanding Bishops and Abbats to execute them immediatly and praying and commanding Princes and Magistrates to assist them as often as they shall be required The reading of the generall reformation did presently follow which The generall reformation after an exhortation to Bishops for exemplary life modestie in apparell and food and frugality doth forbid 1. That they shall giue to their kinred or any of their family any part of the reuenues of the Church except they bee poore extending the same to all beneficed persons secular or regular and also vnto Cardinals 2. That the Bishops shall in the first Prouinciall Councell receiue the Decrees of this Synod of Trent promise obedience to the Pope Anathematize the heresies condemned and euery Bishop promoted hereafter shall doe the same in the first Synod and all beneficed men who are to assist in the Diocesan Synode shall doe the same therein Those who haue the care of Vniuersities and studies generab shall endeauour to make the Decrees to be receiued in them and the Doctours to teach the Catholique faith in conformitie of them and shall take a solemne oath herein euery yeere And for those which are immediatly subiect to the Pope his Holinesse will haue care that they be reformed in the same manner by his Delegats or as hee shall thinke fit 3. That howsoeuer the sword of excommunication is the sinew of Ecclesiasticall discipline profitable to keepe men in obedience it is to be vsed with sobriety and circumspection hauing found by experience that it is more contemned then feared when it is denounced rashly for a small cause Therefore it shall not be denounced by any but by the Bishop for things lost or stollen who shall not grant it at the perswasion of any secular authority whatsoeuer though a Magistrate And in iudiciall causes in which a reall or personall execution may bee made they shall abstaine from censures and in ciuill belonging in what manner soeuer to the Ecclesiasticall Court they may vse pecuniary punishments or proceed by distraining of goods or imprisonment of the parties themselues with their executors or others and in case they be not able to execute really or personally they may proceed to excommunication And the same shall be obserued in criminall causes The secular Magistrate shall not prohibite the Ecclesiasticall to excommunicate or reuoke excommunication vpon pretence that the Decree hath not beene obserued The person excommunicated shall not onely not be receiued to participate with the faithfull but if he perseuere in the censures he may be proceeded against as suspected of heresie 4. It doth giue power to the Bishops in the Diocesan Synods and to the Heads of the Orders in the generall Chapters to ordaine for their Churches that which shall bee for the honor of God and benefite of them when there shall be an obligation to celebrate so many Masses by testamentarie legacies that they cannot bee performed or that the almes is so small that none can bee found to performe the charge but with condition that memory be alwaies made of those parties deceased who haue left the legacies 5. That in the collation or any other disposition of Benefices no derogation bee made to the qualities conditions and charges required or imposed in the erection or foundation or by any other constitution otherwise the prouision shall bee accounted surreptitious 6. When the Bishop not in time of visitation doth proceed against the Canons the Chapter shall elect two in the beginning of euery yeere by whose councell and consent the Bishop shall proceed in all the acts and the voyces of both shall bee as one and in case they both dissent from the Bishop a third shall bee elected by them who shall determine the controuersie and if they cannot agree the third man shall bee elected by the next Bishop But in causes of concubinaries or other more hainous the Bishop may receiue information alone proceed to retention and for the residue shall obserue what is ordained The Bishop shall haue the first seate in the quire Chapter or other publique places and shall choose his place The Bishop shall preside in the Chapter except in cases belonging to him or his which authority shall not bee communicated to his vicar and those who are not of the Chapter shall in causes Ecclesiasticall be all subiect to the Bishop and where Bishops haue more iurisdiction then the aforesaid the Decree shall not haue place 7. Heereafter no regresse or accesse to any Ecclesiasticall benefice shall bee granted and those which be granted already shall neither bee extended nor transferred and herein the Cardinals shall be comprehended also Coadiutors with future succession shall not be made in any Ecclesiasticall benefices whatsoeuer and if in Cathedrall Churches or Monasteries it shall be necessary to doe it the cause shall first be knowen by the Pope and the due qualities shall concurre 8. All beneficed men shall vse as much hospitality as their reuenue will giue them leaue and it doth command those who haue the gouernement of Hospitals vnder what title soeuer to exercise it as they are bound by the reuenues deputed hereunto and if persons of that sort as the institution doth require be not found in the place the reuenues shall be conuerted to a pious vse as neere as can be to that as shall seeme good to the Bishop with two of the Chapter And those who will not giue
certaine that single life is better in the Clergie and more to be desired but that in respect of the fragilitie of nature and difficulty to bee continent there are but few who doe not feele the prickes of the flesh Therefore Eusebius relateth that Dionysius did admonish Quintus the Bishop that hee should consider of the weakenesse of the maior part and not lay the burthen of single life vpon the brethren And Paphnutius in the Councell of Nice saying that the vse of ones owne wife was chastitie perswaded the Councell not to impose the law of single life And the Synod of Constantinople did not for bid the vse of wiues but in the time when they were to offer sacrifice That if euer there were cause to permit matrimony vnto Clerkes it was in that age That amongst fiftie Catholike Priests hardly one can bee found that is not a notorious fornicator That not the Priests onely desire matrimonie but the Seculars also that they may not 〈◊〉 such beastly behauiour and the Patrons of Churches will not giue the benefices but to married men That there is great want of Ministers onely for the prohibition of Matrimonie That the Church hath formerly remitted the seueritie of the Canons for this cause alone That the Pope did confirme a Bishop in Saragosa who had a wife and children and a Deacon who had been twice married and committed the Sacrament of Confirmation to simple Priests in defect of a Bishop Therefore many Catholiques did then and doe now thinke better to dispence with the law of continencie then by retaining it to open a gate to vncleane single life leauing marriage free for all and the rather because Cardinall Panormitan doeth hold that it would bee good for the saluation of soules to grant Matrimonie and that there are examples of the old Church and in the Anciran Councell of Adam and Eupsychius Cesariensis Priests That it is certaine that the Pope may dispence with Secular Priests which some also extend vnto Regulars That it seemeth a great absurditie not to admit married Clerkes and to tolerate fornicators and to remooue both would bee as much as to remaine without Ministers and that if they ought to be bound to the vow of chastitie none should be ordained but old men That it is not a good reason to retaine single life with the teeth to preserue Ecclesiasticall goods it not being iust in respect of temporall things to make shipwracke of soules Besides prouision might bee made herein by some other meanes which being done concubinate would be banished out of the Church and the scandall which offendeth many taken away The Pope considering these remonstrances was of opinion to call to Rome pious and learned men of all Nations to handle this point with maturity and spake of it to the Ambassadours residing with him But Cardinall Simoneta did disswade saying it would bee a kinde of Councell and that if men should come out of France Spaine Germanie and elsewhere they would bring intelligences and instructions of Princes and would be gouerned and speake according to their interests and that when his Holinesse would be quit of them he could not doe it at his pleasure that if he did not follow their opinion it would distaste the Princes that he should remember what troubles the Councel put him to and not fall into the like dangers The Pope thought the counsell was sincere and profitable and therefore thinking no more of strangers he deputed nineteene Cardinals giuing them order to examine diligently the writing that came out of Germany The twelfth of March the Pope made a promotion of nineteene Cardinals A promotio◠of 19. Cardinals for reward of the great seruice they did him in Councell in which hee resolued not to comprehend any of those who held the Residence and Institution of Bishops to bee de iure diuino howsoeuer their qualities might otherwise deserue the degree and did not forbeare to discouer so much to all sorts of persons vpon euery occasion He created Marcus Antonius Colonna Archbishop of Taranto Aluise Pisano Bishop of Padua Marcus Antonius Bobo Bishop of Aosta Hugo Buon Compagno Bishop of Bestice Alexander Sforza Bishop of Parma Simon Pasqua Bishop of Serzana Carlo Visconte Bishop of Vintimiglia Franciscus Abondius Bishop of Bobio Guido Ferrier Bishop of Vercelli Iohannes Franciscus Commendone Bishop of Zante Gahriel Paleotto Auditor of the Rota all which had laboured faithfully in Councell for the seruice of his Holinesse To these hee added Zacharias Delphinus Bishop of Liesina who beeing resident with the Emperour tooke no lesse paines for concluding the Councell then the others had done in Trent TO THE READER Courteous Reader NOw that thou hast perused this History I intreat thee to reade ouer these small parcels following The first is an Epistle of S. Gregorie the great who was Bishop of Rome about sixe hundred yeeres after CHRIST and was as learned and as consciencious as any that preceded in that Sea or that followed after Thou canst not but perceiue that howsoeuer hee ascribeth to S Peter as much preheminence as any other ancient writer hath done if not more yet hee doth renounce in most ample tearmes or rather abominate that swelling Antichristian power which was then chalenged by Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople but long since hath been practised by the Bishops of Rome and neuer more nor more preiudicially to the Church Catholique then in this pretended Councell of Trent And that thou mayst not wonder how these Bishops could sore so high as to bee at last aboue Kings and Emperours to whom S. Gregorie and his predecessours professed and performed all duetifull obedience and seruice I haue tendred vnto thee in the next place three seuerall passages out of the Historie of Francis Guicciardine a famous Florentine who knew their practises as well as any and hath dared to relate them plainly The Papalins haue been so wise in their wicked generation as in all late Editions to cause them to bee left out thereby the better to conceale their vniust vsurpations against both Ecclesistiques and Laiques Now lest any might vncontrolably say that howsoeuer they might bee faulty at other times yet those were worthy who gouerned the Sea of Rome when this Councell was assembled to cleere the trueth concerning these looke ouer the passages following taken out of some Epistles written by men of great esteeme who resided in the Councell and gaue account to their Superiours of all that passed or by their Superiours to them backe againe By these it will appeare that the spirit of Antichrist and not the holy Ghost did gouerne in it They shew the practises of Rome to be so grosse and so abhominable that thou mayest easily beleeue that * Invita Pauli 3. Papirius Massonius a Popish writer had iust cause to say speaking of the Popes who liued in the time of this Councell In pontificibus nemo hodiè sanctitatem requirit optimi putantur si vel leuitêr mali
discourse of the Ambassadour Lansac was receiued with The Legates are much trobled with the speeches that pasted concerning Reformation great applause made in an assembly of many Ambassadours and Prelates in which hee concluded that if the reformation proposed and demanded by the Emperour was so feared and abhorred yet at the least a way ought to bee found out without making new constitutions to cause those things which haue beene established in ancient Councels to bee obserued by remoouing the impediments which doe nourish the abuses The Legats caused the propositions of the Imperialists and all the instances made vnto them in matter of reformation vntill that day and their owne answers to bee put together and an abstract to bee made of the Constitutions of the Assembly in France and of the demands of the Spanish Prelats all which they sent to the Pope and told him it was impossible to entertaine them any more with And send to 〈◊〉 the Pope words and that it was necessary to shew the world by some effect that they haue a purpose to handle this matter and to giue satisfaction in some sort to the Ambassdours of Princes especially in that which they desire for the interest of their Countreys yet with such circumspection as that they may not preiudice the Papall authoritie or prerogatiues of the Church of Rome The Pope seeing the instruction of the French King which did import the prolonging of the Councell was much displeased For he had conceiued hope that all which did remaine to be discussed might be defined in the next Session of the 12. of Nouember or if not yet that the Councell would bee concluded suspended or dissolued in the end of the yeere at the latest He therefore answered the French Ambassadour residing with him who desired the points of doctrine might bee deferred vntill the comming of their Prelats and the matter of reformation handled in the meane time that hee was informed that the Cardinall of Loraine meant to tarrie vntill the surprise of Burges to attend the King to Orlience so that his departure out of France would be very late and perhaps neuer and that it was not iust to entertaine so many Prelates in Trent vpon disseignes so remote that the demaunds for delay were not made because the French-men desired to goe to the Councell but to put himselfe and the Prelats to more charges protesting that if his money were consumed by this meanes he should not be able to continue in assisting the King He made it a greater matter that their Prelats had been expected eighteene moneths and himselfe lead along with diuers friuolous excuses He complained of his condition that if the Councell vseth any respect towards him which it doth but seldome the Ambassadours there present say it is not free and yet themselues to desire him to ordaine a dilation which is a thing more vniust and more abhorred by the Fathers then any other His conclusion was that when hee had assurance or likelyhood of their comming he would endeuour that they should be expected saying hee had giuen order to bee aduertised by an expresse Currier of the Cardinals departure that hee might presently employ himselfe in the businesse and in the meane while hee thought it not iust that the Fathers should be idle He sayd the matter of reformation was more fit to bee deferred then this of doctrine which doth not concerne him as being a good Catholique who will vndoubtedly not dissent from others But in matter of reformation it is fit to heare him because it doth concerne him as beeing a second Pope hauing many Benefices and a reuenue of three hundred thousand Crownes of Church liuings whereas himselfe hath but one Benefice wherewith hee is content that notwithstanding hee had reformed himselfe and all parts of the Court to the hinderance and losse of many of his officers and would do more but that he saw plainely that by diminishing his reuenues and by weakening the forces and the sinewes of his Stae hee encourageth the aduersaries and exposeth all Catholiques who are vnder his protection to the iniuries of his enemies And for the Countreys which are not subiect to him in temporall matters he said the ouerthrow of discipline did arise from themselues and from the Kings and Princes who with vnfit and importunate requests doe force him to make extraordinary prouisions and graunt vnusuall dispensations that his condition was miserable who if hee did denie vnfit requests made vnto him euery one complained of the iniury if he granted them all the inconuenience ensuing was ascribed vnto him and men began to speake of reformation as the Kings Ambassadours had done in Trent in such generall termes that it cannot bee vnderstood what they meane Hee said let them come to particulars and say what they would haue reformed in the Kingdome and they shall haue satisfaction in foure dayes that the Prelats in Poisi haue made many constitutions which he wil confirme when he shall be requested but to stand vpon vniuersalities only and to find fault with all that is done without proposing any thing sheweth they beare no good affection The fourth ranke of Theologues remained who were to handle the superiority The superiority of Bishops aboue Priests of Bishops aboue Priests Those who spake first followed the doctrine of Saint Thomas and Bonauenture who say a Priest hath two powers one to consecrate the Body and Blood of CHRIST and the other to remit sins in the former wherof a Priest is equal in regard a Bishop hath not greater authority then a simple Priest but inferior in the later because not the power onely of Order but of iurisdiction also is required Others added that it was a more excellent action to giue authoritie to consecrate then to consecrate and therefore that the Bishop was superior in this also who cannot only doe it himselfe but ordaine Priests and giue them authority But this beeing disputed sufficiently they returned to handle the Articles of the Hierarchie as being the same with this point of superiority and the question beeing whether it doth consist in Order iurisdiction or in both Antonius of Mont. Alcino a Franciscan said it ought not to be vnderstood of an imaginary superiority consisting in preeminence or perfection of action but in superioritie of gouernement so that it may make lawes giue commands and iudge causes as well in the Court of Conscience as in the externall which superiority is to bee discussed because it is denied by the Lutherans He said there must be an authority in the Church to gouerne it the vnitie whereof could not otherwise be preserued Hee prooued it by the example of Bees and Cranes saying that in enery particular Church a speciall authority was necessary to gouerne it which was in the Bishops who haue part of the charge the totality whereof is in the Pope as Head of the Church which containing authority to iudge and to make Processes and Lawes it must
but others did not thinke it probable First because by this meanes all hope was taken from â—onde whom he â—â—istâ—â—sted much more yea that hee did much desire that Borbon should returne to the secular state that himselfe might be the prime 〈…〉 France and that if a Patriarke were made as hee much desired hee might vndoubtedly be the man which could not bee if Borbon did still remaine in the Cleargie The Pope hauing receiued aduice of the death of Mantua and consulted with his inward friends thought it necessary to send other Legats who being new not intangled with promises and treaties might follow his instructions with more ease And therefore the seuenth of March the second Sunday in Lent not intimating a Congregation as hee was wont but the Two new Legates are created Cardinals being assembled in the Chamber where they put on their robes to goe to the Chappell according to the vse hee stayed and excluding the Courtiers caused the doores to bee shut and created Legats the Cardinals Iohn Morone and Bernardus Nauaggerus that by the perswasions of Princes or Cardinals he might not bee forced to name others that pleased him not The Pope thought to doe it secretly but it came to the eares of the French-men and the Cardinall of Bordissiera spake to the Pope before hee went out of the Chamber and told him many reasons that in case hee would create new Legats hee could not commit the charge to a more worthy person then the Cardinall of Loraine But the Pope being resolute and displeased that the matter was not so secretly carried answered freely that the Cardinall of Loraine came to the Councell as Head of one of the pretendent parties and that he would depute those who were Neutrals and without interests The Cardinall being about to reply the Pope made haste away and went downe out of the Chamber so fast that there was not time to make answere The Congregation being ended the Pope let the Cardinals goe to the Chappell and himselfe returned to the Chamber because hee would not bee in ceremonie when he was so much vexed with the words of that Cardinall The ninth of March newes came to Trent that the Duke of Guise brother The Duke of Guise is slains vnder Orlience to the Cardinal of Loraine as he returned from the trenches vnder Orlience was shot by Iohn Poltrot a priuat Gentleman of the reformed religion and sixe dayes after died to the great discontent of all the Court and that after he was wounded he exhorted the Queene to make peace and said openly that he was an enemie to the kingdome who was against it The Homicide being interrogated of his complices named Coligni the Admirall and Theodore Beza and afterwards excused Beza but perseuered in accusing the other Yet hee wauered so that one could not tell what to beleeue The Cardinall aduertised hereof prouided a greater guard then formerly hee had and being exceedingly grieued for the death of his brother who was so deare vnto him first of all hee wrote a consolatorie Letter to Antoniette de The Card. of Loraine writeth to his mother Borbon their common mother full of exquisite conceits to bee compared or rather as his friends said to bee preferred to those of Seneca in the end whereof hee said hee was resolued to goe to his Church of Reims and to spend the residue of his life in preaching the word of GOD instructing the people bringing vp his brothers children in Christian pietie and neuer to cease performing of these offices but when the Kingdome for some publike affaires had need of his paines The Letter was no sooner parted from Trent but the Citie was full of copies of it rather importunely offered by his friends then requested so hard it is for the affection of selfe loue to bee quiet though in the occasion of greatest sorrow After this the Cardinall thinking of the change of things by this variation altered all his desseignes And this caused a change also in the affaires of the Councell For hee being the man which the Emperour and Queene of France had vntill then wholly employed they were forced for want of so fit a minister to bee more remisse in their purposes and to proceed more slowly But it happeneth in humane affaires as it doeth in fortunes at Sea where the windes being ceased the waues doe tumultuate for some houres after So the great weight of the affaires of the Councell could not easily be appeased in regard of their former impetuous motion But it is certaine that the death of that Duke The death of the Duke caused a great alteration in the Councell was a great beginning of the quiet which succeeded some moneths after especially after the death of the other brother great Prior of France and the peace made with the Hugonots and the instances of the Queene to the Cardinall to make his peace with the Pope and returne into France of which things wee will speake in due place Hereby the Cardinall saw that the affaires as they stood would not bee profitable neither for himselfe nor his friends The death of Guise was lamented both in Trent and Rome because euery one thought hee was the onely maintainer of the Catholique partie in the kingdome of France neither did it appeare what other person could succeed in supporting that weight the rather because euery one was daunted by the example of his death The French Prelats in the Councell were troubled in minde because they vnderstood that an accord was treated with the Hugonots who pretended amongst other things that the third part of the Ecclesiasticall reuenues should bee employed for maintenance of the reformed Ministers In this varietie of businesses and perplexitie of mindes Fiue-Churches returned to Trent and with the other Ambassadours of the Emperour had audience with the Legats and presented to them the Emperours letter which The Emperours letters to the Legats and the Pope hee brought and the copy of another written by his Maiestie to the Pope They all made request for the reformation but in generall termes onely and very remissely The Emperours letter to the Legats did signifie his desire to see some fruitfull proceeding of the Councell for which it was necessary to remooue some impediments whereof hauing written to the Pope he prayed them to labour in Councell and to vse perswasions to his Holinesse that the future progresse might be for the seruice of GOD and benefite of Christendome In his letter to the Pope hee said that hauing dispatched great businesses with the Electors and other Princes and States of Germanie nothing was more precious vnto him being Aduocate of the Church then to promote the affaires of the Councell that hee was come to Ispruc for that cause where to his griefe he vnderstood that matters did not proceed as he hoped and as the publike tranquillitie did require that hee feared if better order wer not taken the Councell would end with scandall of