translation which they had is called in and taken from them it is printed in Hebrew letters but not in Hebrew language at leastwise not in such as they can vnderstand With Greeke and Latine their nations never medled besides which the Inquisitors have inhibited and taken from them all bookes that were ever published in that theame on either side as well those that have bin written in defence of christian religion as also the contrary against it alleadging they will have no disputing in matter of religion either way much like to an Edict set vp at Dola in the french County where the Iesuites reside forbidding any talke of God either in good sort or in bad Then lastly for those few sermons they are bound to repaire to seldome are they directed to the pointes they sticke on but holde on their vsuall tenour as respecting meerely the Christians The last discouragement to men especially of their mettall is that at their conuersion to Christianity they must quitte their goods to the Christians And the reason is for that in baptisme they re-renounce the divell and all his workes part whereof are the Iewes goods being gotten eyther of themselves or of their ancestors by vsury Now this is such a cold comfort to a man set on the world as that Nation is wonderfully that for my part I have not hard of any coÌ„verted in those parts save some Phisitians with some of their children who by friendship to the Pope have obtained dispensatioÌ„ to retaine their goods stil in as much as they were gotten by their honorable profession But if on the contrarie fide the Christians would againe in their charity give somewhat for the competent entertainment of such as for Gods sake did give vp their owne I could not but well commend that rigor of iustice which the bountifulnesse of this mercy did mitigate and asweeten But being no such matter there remains nothing for a Iew converted but to be friared a trade which of all other they lest can fancy as being contrary as they alledge to Nature it selfe which hath made man sociable and each helpfull to other in all civill duties a trade never commanded or commended by God never practised nor counselled by their renowmed ancestors who received continuall instruction and inspiration from above which none of their Patriaâ—kes or Prophets hath given example of Onely in three or foure thousand yeares Elias and some one other hath beene found vpon verie extraordinarie cause to haue taken also an extraordinarie course of life though of other nature and to other purpose then the votaries of our times And these are the termes that the Iewes stand on in those parts and so must I leave theÌ„ to the mercifull care of God an vnblessed and forsaken people obstinate within and scandalized without indefatigable in their expectations vntractable in perswasion worldly yet wretched received of their enemies but despised and hated scattered ouer all countries but no where planted daily multiplying in number but to the increase of their servitude and not to their power In summe a long continued and marked example of Gods iust severitie to abate their pride that glory even as they in their ancestors and founders Gods Temple and Oracles promises and many prerogatives long continuance in honourable estate and glorie which things if they were sufficient to preserve any seat in the world euen their seat had beene preserved by them and to proclaime to the whole world that there is no assurance of the fauour protection and assistance of God without which all falls to ruine but in beleeving in his Sonne and in keeping his commandements And this also may serve touching the Church of Rome sufficient The Greeke Church Next followeth the Greeke Church inthralled all in a manner save the Muscovites and Candians with some few other of no great name or number vnder the Turkish tyrannie of which Church as their farre distance from vs requireth not to speake much so their vniformitie in miserie yeeldeth not much to be spoken for their Religion except onely their ancient error touching the proceeding of the Holy Spirit from the Father alone wherein they have long dissented from all Latine or VVest Churches In other points they seeme to stand in some middle termes of opinion betweene the Romish and the Protestants in the more weightie or at the leastwise in the dominative With Rome they concurre in the opinion of Transubstantiation and generally in the service and whole bodie of the Masse in praying to Saints in auricular confession in offering of sacrifice and prayer for the dead and in these without any or with no materiall difference They hold Purgatory also and the worshipping of pictures but for images they will not so much as indure them in their Churches As well for the proclivitie they have to trayne away the ignorant into the crime of Pagan errors as also to avoid that similitude betweene their Churches and Heathenish Temples of Idols which imagery doth cause And for their pictures they kneele to two onely to Christ and our Ladie the rest they passe over with an ordinarie reverence For Purgatory they hold none in hell or in the skirts thereof or by any outward torment but that the soules of the faithfull are not received into glory till by an extreame compunction and anguish of mind they have worne out those staines with which the same and the pleasures therof in this life defile them In summe those opinions which grew into the Church before that separation betweene the Greeks the Latins and all those ceremonies which were common vnto both they still retaine as their crossings and tapers with certaine other But for these superstitioÌ„s which have crept in fresh memory or which were as antient yet not so currant and in generall all those Canons of the Romish faith which have beene thrust on the Church in those times by the vnaccountable power pride of the Papacy tending to the advancement of their owne Sea and to the exempting of their Church doctrine from triall by those Anabaptifticall fancies of the spirit that mans them and protecteth them from error in their consultations or resolution touching matter of faith extenuating the sufficiency and authority of the Scriptures in comparison of their spirit or Church guided by it all these things they abhorre no lesse then the Protestant they hold vnderstanding requisite to concurre with affection for the accomplishment of devotion in praying to God And although their Lyturgies be the same that in the old time namely Saint Basills Saint Chrysostomes and Saint Gregories translated without any bending of them to that change of language which their tongve hath suffered yet doe they say that alteration is not so great but that their people with small accustoming vnderstand the language well enough But by praying with Saint Dominickes round counters they esteeme of it no better then those heathenish repetitions and vnnaturall lip-labour which our Saviour censureth
other men whereas the other falling vpon a livelier metall Calvinists in France of the French especially who are alwaies stirring and practising vpon their neighbous And more vehement for the while in whatsoever they affect hath had a very huge increase in latter time notwithstanding those massacres which have beene vsed to extinguish them and still growing forwards in all places where once it taketh and overtoppeth them now from whose roote at first it sprung This therfore by all meanes they seeke to represse giving some blind hope to the Lutherane of quiet toleration so hee will ioyne against these a while the sretters out of both But of all places their desires attempts to recover England have beene alwaies still are the strongest which in their more sober moods so many of them wil acknowledge to have beene the onely nation that walke the right way of iustifiable reformation in comparison of other who have runne headlong rather to a tumultuous innovation so they conceive it wheras that alteration that hath beene in England was brought in with peaceable and orderly proceeding by generall consent of the Prince and whol realm represeÌ„tatively assembled in solemn ParliameÌ„t a great part of their owne Cleargie according and conforming themselves vnto it no Luther no Calvine the square of their faith what publique discussing long delberation did perswade them to be faulty that taken away The succession of Bishops and vocation of Ministers continued the dignity and state of the Cleargy preserved the honour and solemnitie of the word of God not abused the more ancient vsages not cancelled In summe no humor of affecting contrarietie but a charitable indevour rather of conformitie with the Church of Rome in whatsoever they thought not gaine saying to the expresse law of GOD which is the onely approoveable way in all new reformations yet notwithstanding in regard of the power and renowne of the Prince and of their exemplarie policy in government of the state in regard that they concurring entirely with neither side yet reverenced of both are the fitter and abler to worke vnity betweene them and to bee an vmpire also directer a swayer of al whensoever there should be an occasion of assembling of their councels or conioyning their forces for their common defence and especially for that it is the only Nation of the Protestant party able to encounter and affront their king Catholikes proceedings for the rooting out of heresie as their actions both by sea and land have manifested Of all places in the world they desire most to recover it making full account that the rest would then soone followe and apply to them of their owne accorde one after another But to as high a tide as they are risen in their desires thereof to as lowe an ebbe are they fallen in their hopes being lesse now for ought I perceive than ever having seene her Maiestie kept and almost myraculously preserved their treasons discovered their excommunications vanished their armies defeated their cartels and bookes answered their chiefe champions discouraged wasted deceased those that remaine though many yet few of ability insomuch were it not for some hope of reformation which time may bring their fouÌ„ders were likely to withdraw from them ere long their stipends which get them but a name of fruitlesse liberality And this is all I can say for any hope or meanes of this generall vnity and so much I leave and recommend it to God as being both our best and now onely remaining pollicie to addresse our vnited and generall supplications to his divine power maiestie That it may please him by that ever-springing fountaine of his goodnes gratious mercy even beyond all humane hope if it mayst and so with his blessed will and by such meanes as to his Divine wisdom are ever in readinesse to effect those things which to mans wit may seeme impossible to extend his compassionable and helping hand over his miserable defiled and disgraced Church persecuted abroad and persecuting it selfe at home confined by Tyrants into a corner of the worlde and therein raging and renting it selfe into fitters to purge out of mennes mindes that ambition vanitie which so bewitches them with the love of Pomps glories of this perishing and ending world which in the breathing of a breath they will loathe and despise as nothing and to graffe in them a pure and single eye to behold the eternall trueth which seene breedeth love and love conductes to happinesse To roote out all gall and acerbitie on both sides and to bend their hearts to charitie that being re-vnited in the pilgrimage of this life this countrie of our terrestriall bodies we may after our service course therein accomplished ascend vnder the conduct of our Saviour before ascended to our everlasting rest in the countrey of our celestiall Soules there in societie vnitie of Saintes and Angelles to enioy the happie vision of the all glorious deitie and to sing his praise for ever I should heere make an end concerning the Church of Rome but that a question incident to the mater which last was spoken of beeing mooved by many diversly aunswered dooth sommon me to deliver vppe my coniecture also and that is vpon what ground of equitie or pollicie the Pope should suffer both the Iewes and Graecians to have publike exercise of their religioÌ„ in Italie yea in Rome it selfe vnder his Holinesse nose and onely the poore Protestant must be persecuted and chased if it be possible out of the worlde no view of his religion to other no exercise of it to himselfe permitted For as for the Graecians they have a Church at Venice with an Archbishop of Philadelphia a Bishope of Oâ—igo and sundry other Priests to governe it And the Italians also doe often repaire vnto thiere Masse They have their Masse also in Greeke with leavened breade other schismaticall ceremoÌ„ies at Rome it selfe and in Naples they say their priests retaine their wives still by permissioÌ„ froÌ„ the Pope in regard that in these places they acknowledge the Pops preheminence and power which at Venice they doe not but a meere primacie of order which the auncient Councils thought good to give him No more do Grecians in Apuglia and Calabria about Otranto and at Cassana nor in Cortu other Ilands adioyning to that coast being the old remaines of the Occidentall Grecians and who have alwaies and doe still followe the Greeke Church in all things though these in Calabria and Apuglia be subiect to the King of Spaine and in his power to roote out when soeuer himselfe listeth And yet euen in Italy it selfe doth he suffer them and their Religion who never could be induced to tollerate the Protestants in any the remotest corner of his huge scattered Monarchie though the Grecians are condemned Heretiques even in matter of the Trinitie and perpetuall oppugners of the Papall right and authoritie Then for the Iewes they even swarme in the most of
verie apparant that by this Doctrine and policy the Popes opposices and enemies especially the states and Princes of the reformed Religion are inestimably preiudiced being reduced hereby to a continuall vncertaintie and confusion in all their weightiest actions counsels and resolutions there beeing a warrant for all men to breake league and oath with them and no neede of particular dispensation from his holines Their Church long since by her rules and some of great reckoning amongst them more lately by their writings have published preached to al the world that faith given to heretikes is not to be kept that leagues with them are more honourable in their breaking then in their making denying that right vnto Princes of Christian profession which Christians vnto Heathens Heathens one to another of how different religion soever yea al honorable princes vnto very traitors rebels have alwaies kept vnviolable And finally if father Parsons at his last coÌ„ming to Rome pretending to make peace betwixt the Eâ—glish scholers the Iesuits who were charged with too much indirect dealing large imblessing setâ—ing downe certaine indifferent Articles betweene them to that purpose whereby each part should be bound to desist impugning of the other did by handling the matter with such conveiance and cunning imitating therein a rule of fast on the one side loose on the other in the grouÌ„d of their order as first to sweare the Scholers to observe that which was their part after to leave the Iesuites vnsworne to theirs to effect his secret ambitious intent to the great grief of the Scholers made the Iesuites their governours what other account can be made of these leagues peaces betwixt those of the Romane of the reformed religion but that the one side being tyed by oath the other left free for so are they taught they shall so far-forth have performance continuance as shal be to the advancement and profit of that party which esteemeth it selfe at liberty the sacred the soveraigne instrumeÌ„t of all iustice amongst meÌ„ what is it what can it be in the world but an oath beeing the strongest bound of coÌ„science This is the end of strifes particular this is the sodder of publike peace the sole assurance of amity betweene divers nations which being made here below is inrolled in his high Court whose glorious name doth signe it who hath made no graunt of accesse to his celestial pallace but to such as have sworn true though it redound to their owne damage yet swarve not from it that nothing but mischiefe can be presaged to the world in this age most wretched wherin Peâ—iuty hath vndermined the tribunals of iudgement which hath chased out true iustice out of the world left no place for a iust man where to stand against the craftie But what may bee said when he that sitteth in the Temple of God shall so far advance himselfe above God as to dispence with oathes made sacred by the most holy high name of God when he that professeth himselfe sole vmpire peace-maker of the world shal cut in sunder those onely finewes that hold peace together when the father of Princes shall cary himself with so wicked partiality and cast by dissolving of oaths affliction on the partie he hateth and making the other perpetually obnoxious to him to worke his owne certaine advantage from both and lastly by making of that ancient bridle of the vniust to be now an onely snare to intrap the innocent and impose that blemish vpon Christianitie which the Pagans in their naturall morality have abhorred I will not here omit one other great helpe which casualty rather then cunning may seeme to have wrought it falling out often in the affairs of men that where wisdome hath furnished out sundry aids instruments there some also do frame themselves as it were by chance resulting out of the concurreÌ„ce of diverse accidents with the former as at this day the greatnesse of the house of Austia extending it selfe well nigh to all quarters of Europe and confining with many of the Popes principall adversaries who having long since vpon the rich purchase which they had of the Indies devoured in assured hope and conceit the Monarchy of our Westerne world and finding no fitter meanes to enlarge their temporall Dominions than by concurring with the Pope in restoring his spirituall have linked themselves most fast with his Sea and investing themselves voluntarily with an Office of their owne direction have taken vpon them to be the executioners of his Excommunications that having title from the Pope who giveth his enemies the foyle by distracting their owne Subiects from them vpon feare of his curse the rest they may supply out of their owne force and opportunities having erected for this purpose that superpolitique and irrefragable order as they count it of the Iesuites who couple in their perswasions as one God and one Faith so one Pope also and one King bearing the world in hand and there is no other meanes in the world for the Church to stand but by resting vpon this pillar and by vniting in this sort all the forces of the Christians this the onely meanes to vanquish the Arch-enemy of Christianitie that the Italians may not brag to have beene the onely men who have subdued the world vnto them by their wit the Spaniards having prooved so good Schollers in their Schooles that though they follow them in their grounds of pretending the advancement of Religion and in their instruments of religious Orders to practise mens minds with yet in this they out-goe them that they vse the Popes weapons lightnings and thunderings and terrors for instruments of their owne greatnes his hope of reestablishing his spirituall reputation by them to the immoderate increase of their secular power by him that the Pope also himselfe must in the end be constrained to cast himselfe into their armes and to remaine at their devotion acknowledging him henceforward for his good Lord Patron whoÌ„ he hath heretofore governed commanded as his Son a point which as some of the ministers of Spaine in the height of their pride have not beene able to hold in but have braved the assembly of Cardinals to their beards that they hope ere long to see the day that their master should tender halfe a dozen to the Pope to be made Cardinals at once wherof he should not dare to refuse to choose any one And the Cardinals themselves should as little daâ—e to choose any other Pope then whom he named so their too important pressing of the Pope in these latter times to serve all their ambitious and raging turnes in the long preiudicing the libertie of the Conclave in their elections have given them good assurance that they speak as they meane that their brags are hopes purposes and these threatnings being the naturall fruits of the Spanish hautines insolency who in the pride of their Monarchie are
above all other in revenge of the murder of Henry the 3. his predecessor or if he would or could do it now to them and to the Capuchins who at this day next to the Iesuits are of greatest renowne in punishmeÌ„t of their late practise so fortnately discovered so chastice the schools alwaies wheÌ„ he took their schollers in so enormeous falts there were great hope for the reformed religion in time to prevail which is now preiudiced persecuted by these Friars that hardly can it keepe foot on the ground it hath Thus much of the strength which these religious orders do yeeld the Papacie 25 To this may be added the like invention of spirituall Invention of spirituall fraternities fraternities companies perhaps equaling yea exceeding n nuÌ„ber the very orders of Friars in which vnder the protection in honor of some saint or of any other holy man or religious Minister oftentimes annexing theÌ„selves to some of the orders of friars the lay people of al sorts both men women both single and maried do inrole themselves into one or more of these societies approaching so much neerer to the state of the cleargy vnto which sundry of theÌ„ are no other then annexaries appurtenaÌ„ces wherby as they tie theÌ„selves to the orders of them cosisting in certain extraordinary devotions professioÌ„s bearing also certain times som badge of their company so are they made partakers of al such spiritual prerogatives either by partnership with other Churches merits or intrest in sundry Indulgences some halfe plenary some whole some for the time past some before hand for sundry years to come chiefly for the avoiding or speedy dispatch out of purgatory as the Pope or his predecessors for the incouragement comfort of the Christian people in their devotion charity have thought good to grant vnto them These fraternities are not yet growne into any great request in other â—ollicies of the pa â—acie against the opposites places howbeit in Italie they have so multiplied that few especially of that vulgar and middle sort of men who affect any reputation of devotion but have entred into some one of them and sundry into many the assuraÌ„ce of whom vnto Papacie must needs be doubled since love groweth according to the proportion of hope 26 Now come I to the last ranke of the Roman pollicies aranged against their professed feared enemies whereby they do seeke to re-enter where they have beene disrooted and practise as well for the wasting away of their opposits where they are as for shutting them their doctrine out where yet they have not beene I will not heere exemplifie vpon things manifest and ordinary being high waies so plaine that a guide were needlesse their persecutions confiscations tortures burnings secret murthers generall massacres exciting of inward seditions outward hostility against their adversaries their oppressing debasing of theÌ„ where themselves are the stronger are things whereof they were none of the inventors though perhaps the coÌ„meÌ„dation of the exact refining of them of straining theÌ„ to their highest note of sedulitie perseverance putting theÌ„ in execution may be more due proper to them then to any other neither yet will I meddle greatly with their Art of slandering their opposites oâ— disgracing their persons misreporting their actions falsifying their doctrine positioÌ„s things wherwith their pulpits do daily sound their writings swell againe But they are not the first neither that have run this blacke course no more then the former red others have done it before them ye the buying of meÌ„s coÌ„sciences by proposing reward to such as shall relinquish the protestant religion turne to theirs as in Ausbarie where they say there is a knowne price for it of ten florence a yeare In France where the Clergie have made coÌ„tributions for the maintenance of runnagate Ministers is a devise also â—â—esh of easie conceit I will rather insist vppon their inventions lesse trivial and more worthy to be regarded A wonderfull thing it is to consider the great diversitie of humours or tempers of minde which this age hath produced in this one point wee speake of touching the meanes of growing onward vpon the adversarie part Puritaines A sort of men there liveth in the world at this day whose leaders whether vpon extreamity of hatred toward the Church of Rome or vpon selfe-liking and singularitie to value their owne wittes and devises did cut out in such sort their reformation of religion as not onely in all outward religious services ceremonies in governement Church discipline they doe strive to be as vnlike the Papacie as is possible but even in very lawfull pollicies for the advancing of their part doe disdaine to seeme to bee imitators to them whom they so much abhorred much like stowt â—arted selfe-witted Captaine who scornes to imitate any stratageme before vsed by the enemie though the putting of it in exploit might give him assured victorie Neither doe these mens Protestants schollers as yet one whit degenerate yea perhaps that disease if I may so censure it hath tainted in some degree all the protestant party who never could finde the meanes in all this age to assemble a generall Counsell of all their side for the composing of their differences and setting order in their proceedings for want I must confesse of some oportunities but of a great deale of zeale also in their governors as to mee it seemeth neither yet have they in any one of all their Dominions erected any colledge of more contemplative persons to confront and oppose against the Iesuites but have left this weighty burthen of clering the controversies of perfecting the sciences of answering the adversaries writings of exceeding huge travel either vpon their ordinary Ministers to be performed at times of leisure from their office of preaching then is it done accordingly or vpon such as in Vniversities having some larger scope shall willingly and of their owne accord vndertake it for sometimes whereas on the contrarie side the Papacie seemeth to me very diligently and attentively to have considered and weyed by what means chiefly their adverse part hath growne so fast beyond either their owne expectation or the feare of their enemies as in lesse then an age to have won perhaps the moity of their Empire from them And those very means theÌ„selves have resolved hence-forwards to appy in strong practise on their side also that so as by a countermine they may either blow vp the mindes of their adversaries or at leastwise give them a stop from any further proceeding like a politike Generall who holdeth it the greatest wisdome to out-goe his enemies in their owne devices the greatest valour to beate him at his owne weapons I will not here presume to presse in with my determination vpon this great difference and question although it seeme to mee to be no other then a plaine quarrell betweene stomacke and discretion A
they doe them to the best purpose teaching the people somtime in pulpit much more in private conference and in their confession that the Lutherans and Calvinists are blasphemers of God and of all his Saints and above all other that they despise and vilifie our Lady saying plainly she was no better than one of their owne wives That they abolish the Church Sacraments the onely meanes of salvation that where ever they come they either raze or robbe Churches make stables of them that in England they have neither Churches nor any form of religion nor serve God any way that the English Nation since their falling away from their Church is growne so barbarous that their students are very Cannibals and eate young children and that there is no kind of villanie which is not currant amongest them And that above all other places Geneva is a very professed Sanctuary of Rogerie giving harbour to all the runnagates traitors rebels and wicked persons of all other Countries By which speach verie generally in Italie spred and beleeved some memorable accidents have at some times happened Sundry of their prigging and loose Friars hearing Geneva to be a place of good fellowship and thinking the worse prankes they plaied with their owne ere they came ther to finde the better welcome at their comming have robbed their Convents of their Church-plate repositorie and brought away the bootie in tryumph to Geneva Custome of Geneva vnder the colour of being reformed in their Religion where their advancement hath beene straight to the Gibbet for their labour a reward vnexpected and such as caused them to complaine pitifully of their wrong information For such is the extraordinary severity of that Citie as to punish crimes committed without their estate with no lesse rigor then as if they had beene done amongst them And not many yeers since it was the lot of a Spanish Gallant who stoode vpon his State and carryed a Mint about him to repaire thither to have stamps made him for the coyning of Pistolets His defence was that hee vnderstoode that their Citie was free gave receipt to all offēders but withal said they when they were come they punished their offences a distinction which the poore Gentleman never before studied the learning of it then cost him no lesse then his head-peece And as by those kinds of slanders so also to harden mens mindes against them they will tell of strange miracles have befallen them a point wherewith the Pulpits of France doe also ring dayly where in the siege of Paris they were growne to that audaciousnes as to perswade the people there who generally beleeved it that the thūder of the Popes excommunications had so blasted the Heretikes that their faces were growne al black vgly as Divels their eyes looks gastly their breaths noysome and pestilent much like to the Servide Madon Bollonia whom I heard in Pulpit among a multude of moderne miracles which had fallen out to their punishments who were excommunicated the continuing wherein a yeare without seeking absolution incurreth suspition of heresie tell this also of an hereticall gentleman of Polonia who talking at a solemne dinner against the Pope the bread of his trencher grewe black as inke vpon his repētance it returned to his former whitenes A thing happened but lately reported by the Popish Ambassadors to a Cardinall by the Cardinall to a Bishop by this Bishop to this Frier an imitation perhaps of that renowmed miracle of eating tables for hunger threatned by that winged Prophetesse with like deduction of credit Quae Phaebo pater omnipotens mihi Phoebus Apollo Praedixit vobis furiarum ego maxima pando And these things are in steed of refuting the Protestants religion which are not in vaine for the vulgar sort of people who beleeved as they say God and Pope thinke all Gospell that their Fryars tell them And I have heard some coniecture at others to bee Lutherans only by reason that they were so mōstrous blasphemers as they were but all are not of that stampe those Gentlemen and others that have travelled abroad those also at home that are not paisionately blind but discreet and inquisitive of the truth of all things howsoever dissenting from them yet have no such conceit of the Protestants opinions or actions But the most strange thing as to me it seemeth of all other is that those principall writers who have imployed themselues wholy in refuting from point to point the Protestants doctrine arguments are so rare in Italy as by ordinary inquiry I beleeve are not to be found The controversie of Cardinall Bellarmine I sought for in Venice in all places neither that nor Gregory of Valenza nor any of such quality could I ever in any shop in Italy set eye on but in stead of them an infinite of meere invectiues and declamations which made me intertain this suspicious coniecture that it might be their care that no part of the Protestants positions and allegations should be knowen they were so exact as to make discurrēt in some even those very bookes which were constrained to recite them that they might refute them in such wise as not to suffer them to be cōmonly saleable but only to such in such places as the superiors shal think meet but the truth of this coniecture I leave to further enquiry The conclusion is this no sound of the reformed religion either stirring in Italy or by any humane wit now possible to be raised for to bring in from forreine places any heriticall writing though it were without malice it were two years straight imprisonmēt as they say if he scaped so So far are they from their adversaries eyther simplicity if their cause be bad or honesty if good who not onely in the most of their Replies print both together to give means of indifferency in iudging to the Reader but even permit their adversaries yet vnanswered disputers to runne current among them so they be in the Latin and not purposely writtē as som are misdrawing the multitude It remained now to restraine the Italians from going abroad to forreine Countries where those contagious sounds and sights might infect them Heerein the nature of the Italian doth supply who wonders at vs Englishmen that come travelling so farre thither himselfe having no humor to stirre one foot abroad And indeed little neede considering how all nations in Christendome do flock to him but not so for marchants these fly abroad in exceeding abundance to all places and in wealth where ever they come overtop all other such is their skil their witt their industry their parsimo nie Behold then this late Popes exploit in that point he hath by his painted Bul vnder paine of excomunication forbidden them all repaire for traffique to hereticall countries wherevpon some as I heare are retired from Englād and other in other places are said to have importunated obtained some out chappell to have their Masse
fiunt Pontifices Romanis There with all so soone as the Conclave was broken vp he retired to his country and neuer saw Rome againe But the matter of greatest marke herein at this day is the power of the K. of Spaine in swaying those Elections who by pensions by perferments by hopes of the highest hath assured a great third part of the Cardinalls to him And to be alwaies at his devotions in all Elections whereby having the exclusiue as they terme it no Pope can be made but with his liking He prodeeds on by his Ambassadors to name also some five or six vnto them whereof please they but to choose any he shall rest wel satisfied which course though it mightily distaste the rest of the Cardinalls who are hereby for ever debased from their chiefe desire yea and inwardly much afflict the great states of Italie who are loth to have their Pope of a Spanish Edition yet there is no remedie one of these in fine they must needs choose the discretion they can have is onely this to choose such of them as is like to prove least to his purpose A memorable example heereof in the election of the saide Gregorie where the greatest parte of the Cardinalles enflamed against the King and banding against him yet in conclusion after twoo moneths imprisonment in the Conclave were forced to relent and to choose one of his nomination or otherwise a cleere case no Election at all which whether there were or no made no mater to Spaine who stands vpon a sure ground in his exclusive obstinatenesse The nessesitie of the Church the state of the Papacie their owne present condition the disorders of the cittie of Rome and of all their territories which in want of a Pope and this locking vppe of the Cardinalles in a cellar doe swarve exceedingly did maynly cry out to have some Pope or other which at the last they yeelded to by consenting vpon a favorite yea a subiect of Spaine also for such was that Gregorie howbeit the maine matter runneth not with him so cleerely they being not the same men that are chosen and that are Popes But changing with their estates both name and nature also yea sometimes not easier to finde two divers men of humours more different than is the same man in his Cardinalship and in his Papalitie whereof no better witnesse than Sixtus Quintus the most crooching humble Cardinall that ever was lodged in an oven and the most stowt resolute Pope that ever ware Crowne in his Cardinalshipe a meere vassall and slave of Spaine in his Papasie the most dangerous enimie that Spaine ever had in the world in summe who in his Cardinalship was scorned as a base Friar in his Papacie was reverenced as a Prince of great worth and spirite neither is there any marvell to be made of this difference seeing the meanes of obtaining and maintaining the Papall honour are so cleane contrarie seeing in the one state they fashion themselves to all other mens humors in the other they looke all men should accommodate themselves to their honors And lastly seeing these Princes whose favors are the only hopes to compasse this place and their power quelling downe the estate For this cause as in general the Cardinals doe in their hearts favor France above Spaine both as being the weaker part and the further neighbours the only hope to maintaine counterpose against the others greatnes So let the king of Spaine make what choice among them of a Pope he can he shall finde that as long as these reasons continue whosoever sits in the seate will more respect his owne safetie than the service of his preferrors even as doth this very Pope who for that cause is conceived to have made some alteration of inward friendshippes though holding good termes of love and loyaltie with both But this vncertainty mutability of the newe Popes affections doth cause both the K. of Spaine other princes of Italy above all other things to aime at a man of calme nature not of stirring mettall that if they cannot make any great account of his friendship yet his naturall disposition and temper may assure them that he shall not be a raiser of new stirs in Italy and diverse of them to scamble somewhat for ther own have bin as on the other side a speciall good inducement to the Cardinalles in his age and sicknesse that the place may bee soone void again for the gaining whereof there is alwaies practising and plotting immediately vpon the Election 41 Thus is the Pope made who hath his councel of cardinals to attend and advise him he chosen by them they created by him whose nuÌ„ber may amount they say to 72 but many places are kept void still to serve for desperate pushes for these there are some 20. being lightly the yoÌ„ger sonnes of Dukes and Princes who in case their Ancestors states should descend vp on them with dispensation from the Pope may resigne vp their hats among the Cardinalls for their owne honor and for the gratifying of the world are sorted out and divided al the orders of religions all the nations of christendome wherof they are appointed the particular protectors in the Court of Rome As the Protectour of England now is Cardinall Caietane a verie stout man of Spanish faction who hath beene Legate into Fraunce and more lately into Poland but now returned 42 Now for this Pope who is by countrey birth a Florentine was chased from thence with his father vpon a conspiracie against Don Cosmito I have little more to say than what I have before touched hee is reputed to bee a man of a good calme disposition and not too crafty yet close and one that can hold his owne well enough kind to his friends devout in his waâ—es thinks without doubt that he is in the right he wil weepe very often some conceive vpon a weaknesse tendernes of minde habituated therin by custom others say vpon pietie and godly compassion At his mafles at his processions at the fixing vp of his iubilies his eyes are still watering sometimes streaming with teares insomuch that for weeping he seemeth an other Heraclitus to ballance with the last Gregorie another Democritus for laughing Touching his secret life the Italians speake somewhat diversly especially for his younger yeares But mens tongues are alwaies prone to taint their governours and the worse men speake worse in hope to lurke themselves vnder the blemish of their betters For my part hearing no extraordinarie badde matter against him but only by suspition I iudge the best and howsoever I had rather preserve the credit of a bad man than staine or impaire it in a good For his yeeres hee doth not much exceed three score but is troubled with the dropsie and that caused some say accompanied with a thirstie infirmitie for a Prelate he hath good comendations an enemie to the licentious lives of the Friars yea to the pompe also
reward of glorie which proceeding from the Father and Prince of Peace reiecteth all spirits of contention from â—â—taining it hath entred into a meditation whether it were not possible that by the travel and meditation of some calmer mindes that at this day vsually write or deale on eyther side these flames of controuersie might be extinguished or asâ—aked and some tollerable peace re-established in the Church againe The iustnes of their vertuous desires to see it so hath bred in them an opinion of possibilitie that it might be wrought considering first that besides infinite other points not controuersed there is a full agreement in the foundation of religion in those same Articles which the twelve Apostles delivered vnto the Church perhappes not an abridgement onely of the faith but even as a touch-stone also of the faithfull for ever that whilst there was an entire consent in them no discent in other opinions shoulde breake peace and communion And secondly considering also there are in great multitude on both sides for so are there vndoubtedly men â—ertuous and learned fraught with the love of God and the truth above all things men of memorable integrity of heart and affections whose lives are not deere vnto them much lesse their labors to be spent for the good of Gods Church and people by whose ioint indevours and single and sincere dealings in common conference for the search of trueth that honorable vnitie of veritie might bee established But if the multitude of crooked and side respects which are the onely olouds that eclipse the trueth from shining more lightly on the face of the world and the only prickes which so enfroward mens affections as not to consider and follow what were for the best doe cause that this chiefe vnitie findeth small acceptation as it is to bee feared at leastwise that the endlesnesse ill fruites of these contentions which tend mainely to the encrease of Athenisme within of Mahomatisme abroad by which obstinacy the Iewes shake the faith of Christians taint the better mindes of acerbity load the words with poyson which breake so out in their actions which themselues thinke holiest namely the defence of Gods trueth which each side chalengeth that in thinking they offer vp a pleasing sacrifice to God they give cause of wicked ioy vnto his their enemies that those wofull effectes with very tedious wearinesse may draw both parts in fine to some tollerable reconciliation or to some vnity of charitie at leastwise to some such as may be least to eithers preiudice Let the one side give over their worshipping of Images and offfering supplication to Saints their offensive ceremonies their indulgences their vsing of strange language not vnderstoode in their devotions al which themselves confesse not to bee necessarie orders of the Church and such as at pleasure shee may dispence with yea Pope Clement the seaventh gave some hope to the French king that hee would not be stiffe in things of this quality and that the respect of time might iustifie the alteration and some of the later Popes condescended to them of Bauaria about the cup of the Sacrament hoping that would have contented them which since they or their successors have taken from them again On the other part let the Protestants such at leastwise as seeke to purge out that negative and contradictorie humour of thinking they are then rightest when they are vnlikest the Papacy then neerest to God 〈…〉 furthest from Rome Let them I say looke with the eye of charitie vpon them as well as of severitie and they shall finde some excellent order of government some singular â—elpes for increase of godlinesse and devotion for the conquering of sinne for the profiting of vertue and contrariwise in themselves looking with a more single and lesse indulgent eye then they doe they shall finde there is no such absolute perfection in their doctrine and reformation as some dreamers in the pleasing viewe of their owne actions doe fancie Neither ought they to thinke it strange they should bee amisse in any thing but rather a very miracle if they were not so in many For if those antient Fathers Sages of the Church who with greater helpes beeing neerer the time of puritie with equall industrie so spending their lives with lesse cause of vnsinceritie having nothing to seduce them notwithstanding were not able in their weakenesse and blindnesse of their humane nature in this world to soare vppe so high alwaies in the search of trueth as to finde out her right State in the height of the heavens but sometimes Errour to bee dwelling nearer them in steede thereof How lesse likely that our age more intangled with the worlde further remooved from those faultlesse institutions and so bitterly exasperated with mutuall controversies and conflictes should attaine to that excellencie and perfection of knowledge which it may bee God hath remooved from mans reach in this world to humble him and to increase his longing towards another world And as the present time doth discover sundry errors in the former so no doubt will the future in that which is now present so that ignorance and errour which seldome goe severed beeing no other then vnseperable companions of man so long as hee continueth in his terrestriall pilgrimage it can bee no blemish to them to revise their doctrine and to abate the rigor of certaine speculative opinions especially touching the eternall decrees of God the qualitie of mans nature the vse of workes wherein some of their chiefe Authors have come to such an vtter opposition to the Romist doctrine as to have exceedingly scandalized all othe Churches withall yea and many of their owne to rest very ill satisfied The state of truth is aloft that of vertve in the middest alwaies both places of honour but neither truth nor vertue draw to an vtter extreamitie And as in some points of doctrine so much more in their practise in order of government and ecclesiasticall degrees in solemnities and statelinesse in the service of God in some exercise of pietie devotion and humility especially in set fastings accompanied with due contrition of heart praier Besides in many other ceremonies they might easily with out offence of conscience at all frame to draw somewhat neerer to their opposites then now they are which yeelded on both sides a general and indifferent confession and summe of faith an vniforme Lyturgy a correspondent forme of Church-government to be made of the points both should agree in and to be established vniversally throughout all Christendome that this all Christians should necessarily hold and this their Divines in Pulpits should teach and this their people in Churches should exercise which done the vnitie of communion should remaine vnviolated for all other questions to be confined to the Schooles the Counsels and to the learned languages which are the proper places to trie them and it should bee lawfull for each man to beleeve as hee found cause not condemning others with
the chiefe parts of Italie at Rome specially where the least number I could ever heare them esteemed at is ten thousand and vpwards though others say twise as many They haue there at the least fower or fiue Synagogues both there else-where their Circumcision their Liturgies their Sermons in publique and all that â—iâ—t may resort vnto them yea in means of enriching themselves they are so much fauoured that in all places they are permitted to straine vp their vsurie to eighteene in the hundred vpon the Christian for among theÌ„selves they no where vse it whereas also that summe in a Christian is not tollerated which causeth many of the Christians to vse these Iewes vnder-hand in improoving their vnlawful rents to their vtmost proportion They have also in some places it may be in all a peculiar Magistrate to decide any controversie betweene Christians and them with particular direction to favor theÌ„ in their trades And lastly where France hath banished that race in Avingnon only the Popes citie are they harbored retained Some answere to this demand in defence of the Pope that the Church hath no authoritie to chastice the Iewes who never were within the Church but are as enemies in euen termes whereas the Protestants are either vnnaturall or rebellious children who haue flung out of the Church or the issue of such against whom her authoritie is endlesse vnrestrained to take all courses possible to reclaime them for ever This answere seemes faultie both as short of the question seeing it extendeth not to the Grecians who are in the very same role of Hereticks Schismaticks flingers out of the Church for that there is difference betweene exercising iurisdiction in punishing an enemie not harboring cherishing him and his vnlawfull and scandalous religion in our verie bosoms as is done in Italie who have called the Iewes in thither yea stil do entice them whom Fraunce England Spaine have banished from theÌ„ long since Others leaving these quirkes of iustice hold by the text of Charitie That it is a Christian act to harbor a harmelesse enemie especially that it is of al other most befitting the Church who hath hereby also better meanes to reduce them to the Faith And so in fine to save their soules which is the summe of their endevors And in fortifying this answere there is to bee alledged for the first point that the Iewes have their Service in Hebrewe and the Grecians in Greeke which Italie vnderstands not yea and that they haue purged the Hebrewe Liturgy from all points wherein they did impugne or scandalize Christianitie And for the second point that the Iewes are bound to repaire at some times to the Christian Sermons by which meanes some few of them have beene conuerted and more may be when God shall please so But neither seems this answer so perfect as were requisite for the Iews doe make their Sermons or expositions of the Lawe in the Italian language though the text of Scripture they cite in the originall And although they have purged their Liturgies as they say yet leaving them Circumcision they tollerate that which is now intollerable And as for their gayning of any soules among them if they gained not more Crownes that reason would not stand for if any credit may be given to the Hebrewes themselues as many Friars become Iewes as Iewes become Friars of both sorts some but few of eyther But of the good provision they have taken to convert them and of the fruites thereof I shall speake hereafter In the meane time this I aske would they suffer the English Protestants to have an English Church there none vnderstanding their language neyther in service nor Sermons yea and purging their Lyturgy of whatsoever may seeme to impugne or deface their religion if there be any thing in it of that offensive qualitie as for my part I know nothing but thinke rather with great iudgement it was purposely so framed out of the grounds of Religion wherein both sides agree that their verie Catholickes might resort to it without scruple or scandal if factioÌ„ more then reason did not sway Then for repayring to their Sermons they know by experience they will not be backward especially having the opinion of great men as some say that it is not vnlawfull And lastly what reason why they should not be as hopefull to gaine English mens soules as Iewes yes their hope is greater else would they not bee at such cost vpon the one abroad and bestow so little labour vpon the other at home To this question they would aunswere first that there were more daunger of flocking away their people if they should have but once a bare view of our Churches as being more infectious therefore no policie And secondly to what purpose the making of any such motion what need vnto vs and vnto them what profit This answer deduced from policy and profit I take to be the right answer Also to the first principall question and neyther of the former drawne from Iustice or Charitie For there is no cause of any feare at all eyther of the oppressed Grecian or of the obstinate Iewe bearing a marke of ignominie and reproach in all places yea they remaine the rather as examples and spectacles among them of contempt and miserie the one for the vngratefull refusall of Christ himselfe the other for his sedition against the Vicar of Christ as they inferre against him whereas to give the Protestant any foot amongst them were the next way to leave themselves no foote to stand on On the other side by extending pitie towards the afflicted and dismaid Graecian whom the verie hand of God hath laid as low as the verie dust they saw some hope of regaining him againe vnder their subiection which were to them a reputation and strength inestimable and such as they cunningly by false bruits cause the wicked daily to feede on Then for the Iew the profit by him is exceeding great and greater in proportion of number then by the verie Curtesans and that as well to the Pope as to other Princes of Italy to whom they pay a yearely rent for the very heads they weare besides other meanes to racke and wracke them in their purses at pleasure which gaine as it is a peece of a cause why the beastly trade of the one so it is the entire reason why the cruell trade of the other is permitted they being vsed as the Friars to sucke from the meanest and to be sucked by the greatest insomuch that the Pope besides their certaine tribute doth sometimes as is said impose on them a subsidy for ten thousand crownes extraordinarie for some seruice of state 52 Now to consider a little what probabilitie of their conuersion there is in these parts And by the way to touch somewhat of their religion and vsage Thus standeth their case they haue a religion though something strange to our conceits as being framed not only out
legittimating vnlawfull and accursed issue and thereby advancing into Thrones of regalitie oftentimes base sundrie times adulterous yea sometimes incestuous and perhaps vnnaturall of springs dooth not Reason foretell and hath not experience thought that both the parties in such mariages and much more their whole issue are bound in as strong a bond to the vp-holding of the Popes infinite authoritie and power as the honour of their birth and the title of their Crowne are worth It was a sâ—ely conceit in them which hoped that Queene Mary would not vphold the Popes authoritie in England by reason of her promise when a greater bond to her then her promise did presse her to it What man ever in the world stucke faster to his chosen friend then the late King of Spayne Philip did to the Papacie notwithstanding with the Popes themselves his often ielousies and quarrels who ordained moreover that all his heires and successours in the estate of the Low-countries by vertue of his late transport shall for ever vpon their entrie into those Seigniories take an oth for the maintaining of the Papacie and that Religion Is not the reason apparant that if the Papacy should quaile his only sonne whosoever descend of him is dishonured and made vncapable of those great Estates and Kingdomes which now he holdeth yea and a fire kindled in his owne house about the title to them neither is it to be admitted into any conceit of reason but that this young King will be as sure to the Papacy as his father being borne of a marriage prohibited by God abhorred happily by Nature disaproved by the world and onely by papall authority made alowable For for my part I hold not that opinion vnprobable that the marriage of Vncle and Neâ—ce as it was in this case was contrarie to the law of Nature and not to Gods positive lawonely seeing the Vncle hath a second right and place of a father But howsoever that point stand wherin I dare not affirme ought it is creerely contrary to such a positive lawe of God as the reason and cause thereof must needes continue vnto the dissolution of the world or overthrow of mankinde And therefore in reason and law no way agreeable or dispensable with but by the same or higher authority then that which first did make it that the Pope neede not thinke that they do him so apparant wrong who invest him with the title of that man of power who sitting in the temple of God exalteth himselfe above God For what may it seeme else bearing himselfe head of the Church to take vpon him to councell or authentically to alow of the breach of Gods law without having his expresse precise commission for so doing Though I am not ignoraÌ„t that they have distinctions for all this which were a merry matter if Sophistry were a proper scieÌ„ce of sal vatioÌ„ But by this some other mariages those strainge relations of aliance have growne that K. Philip were he alive might call the Archd. Albert both brother cosen nephew son for all this were he vnto him either by blood or affinitie being vnkle to himselfe cosen germain to his father husbaÌ„d to his sister father to his wife to come a step neerer home the same rule of Pollicy made me greatly feare til now that god by death hath prevented the mischeife howsoever hitherto what for feare of scaÌ„dalizing what for other respects the Pope made shew not to be forward to coÌ„seÌ„t to a intended mariage betweÌ„ a married K. his Mistris much lesse to legittimate the childre adulterously begotteÌ„ by finding nullities on both sides in the former mariages things made of purpose as he knoweth to cloke a falshoode that yet notwithstanding himselfe or his successours would yeelde to it in the end if any colour in the world could be laid vpp on the matter to salve the credite of his not erring Sea And hee might see good hope for that race to prevaile deriving the sucession also of his other greate Kingdome vppon issue whose tytle must holde vppon his legittimation hee might be better assured of it then he hath beene hitherto and have them ever firme and irreconcileable adversaries to all those whither subiects or neighbours or whosoever as should oppose against his Soveraigntie and vnstinted power So searching and penetrant is that Sea to strengthen it selfe more by the vnlawfull marriages of other men that ever Prince yet coulde doe by any lawfull marriage of his owne 15 The dispencing with oathes and discharging from them especially in matters of treatie betweene Princes and Estates is a thing so repugnant to all morall honestie Dispensation with oathes so iniurious to the quiet and peace of the world so odious in it selfe so scandalous to all men that it may be they adventure not to play vpon that string in this curious age so often as heretofore for feare of discording all the rest of their harmony Cleare it is that heretofore this made them a necessarie helpe for all such Princes as either vpon extreamity were driven to enter into hard conditions or vpon falshood and dishonesty desired to take their advantage against their neighbours when it was offered In which Princes having no meanes to salve their credite with the world but onely by iustifying the vnholinesse of the Art by the Popes holy authoritie interposed in it were afterwards tied firmely to adhere vnto them And this was the cause that Francis the first of France with whom immediately vpon his oath given to Charles the fift for performance of the articles accorded at his delivery Clement the 7. dispenced and by probable coniecture had promised to dispence with his oath before he had made it vpon hope whereof also he tooke it the effect was for the Popes behoofe that ever after there was strict love and amity betwen them testified finally to the world by that famous marriage betweene the sonne of the one and the kinswoman of the other And verily though I hold in generall too much suspitiousnesse as great a fault and as great an enimie to vvisedom as too much Incredulitie it doing oftentimes as great a vvrong to friends as the other doth receive vvrongfull hurt from dissemblers yet vievving the short continuance of svvorne leagues at this day the small reckoning that Princes make of oathes solemnly taken vvhether to neighbours or subiectes not faith but profit being the bond of aliance and amitie which altering once the other have no longer during it maketh me think it not possible that Popes vnlimited fingers may bee stirring even at this day more often in secret in vntying those knots of the bonds of conscience then the world is ware of at leastwise that by authority and imitation of his example Princes assume vnto themselves a like faculty of dispencing with their own oaths whensoever they can perswade themselves it is behooveful to their kingdome as he when to his Church But howsoever that standeth this is