dissolved without fruit that there was no hope to do any good by that means Ferdinand told them he would procure the General Council to be restored exhorting all to submit themselves to the Decrees thereof as being the way to remove differences The Protestants answered that they would consent to a Council called not by the Pope but by the Emperor to be held in Germany in which the Pope should not preside but should submit himself to the judgment thereof and release the Bishops and Divines of their Oath in which also the Protestants should have a deciding voice and all should be determined according to the holy Scriptures and whatsoever was concluded in Trent should be re-examined which if it cannot be obtained of the Pope yet the Peace of Religion should be confirmed according to the agreement of Passau having known by too manifest experience that no good can be drawn from any Popish Council The Emperor knowing the difficulty to obtain of the Pope a grant of the things proposed and that now he had no means to negotiate with him in regard of the Controversy about the Resignation of Charles and his Succession he confirmed the accord of Passau and the Recesses of the Diets following The Pope having cut off all means to treat with the Emperor and Germany knew not what to say to this Yet he was more displeased with their discourse concerning the Council than with the liberty granted by the Recess being resolute not to call any Council but in Rome whatsoever should happen In this respect another accident was as grievous as the former that is the Peace made at Cambray the third of April between the Kings of France and Spain which was well confirmed by the Marriages of the Daughter of Henry to the King of Spain and of his Sister to the Duke of Savoy In which Peace among other Capitulations it was agreed that both the Kings should make a faithful promise to labour joyntly that the Council should be Celebrated the Church Reformed and the differences of Religion Composed The Pope considered how goodly a shew the title of Reformation and the name of a Council did make that England was lost and all Germany also partly by the Protestants and partly by his difference with Ferdinand that these two united Kings were much offended by him the Spaniards by deeds and words the French by words at the least and there remained none to whom he might have refuge These cogitations did so afflict the Old Pope that he was unfit to rule He could not hold the Consistories so often as he was wont and when he did hold them he spent the most part of the time in speaking of the Inquisition and exhorting the Cardinals to favour it as being the only way to extinguish Heresies But the two Kings did not agree to procure the Council for any ill will or interests which either of them had against the Pope or Papacy but to provide against the new Doctrines which did exceedingly encrease being willingly heard and received by all men of Conscience and which was of more importance the male-contented put themselves on that side and did daily under pretence of Religion make some Enterprises as well in the Low-Countreys as in France in regard those people did love their liberty and had commerce with Germany as bordering upon it In the beginning of the troubles some seeds were sown which that they might not take root the Emperor Charles the Fifth in the Low-Countreys and the French King in his Kingdom made many Edicts and commanded divers Executions But after that the number of Protestants did encrease in Germany and the Evangelicks did multiply among the Suisses and the separation was made in England by reason of the often Wars between the Emperour and French King either Party was forced to call in Auxiliaries out of these three Nations who publickly professing and preaching the Reformed Religion in their quarters by their example and by other means divers of the people became of their Religion And although in the Low-Countreys from the first Edict of Charles until this time of the Peace there were hanged beheaded buried alive and burned to the number of fifty thousand and very many put to death in France yet both places were then in worse case than ever This made the Kings to think joyntly of finding a remedy The Pope as he was much discontented with the Progress of the new Doctrine in the States of both the Kings so he was pleased that those Princes did think of it and moved them by his N 〈…〉 ii to do so still But he would not have any other means than that of the Inquisition which he thought the only remedy as he said upon all occasions judging that the Council would do as formerly it had done that is reduce all into a worse state While he was possessed with these cogitations and weak of body the King of France died the second of July by a wound in the eye running at Tilt for which he seemed very sorrowful and was so indeed For although he suspected and with reason the intelligence between the two Kings yet he had still hopes to separate them But the one being dead he saw he was at the discretion of the other alone whom he more feared because he was more offended by him and was of a more close nature hard to be sounded He feared also that in France a gate would be set wide open to let in Sects which might be confirmed before the new King could get so much wisdom and reputation as was necessary to oppose so great difficulties He lived some few daies afflicted with these cogitations but now laying aside all hopes which had until then kept him alive he died the eighteenth of August recommending to the Cardinals nothing but the Officâ— of the Inquisition the only means as he said to prâ—serve the Church exhorting all to employ all their endeavours to establish it in Italy and wheresoever else they could FINIS
concerneth the Communion of the Cup yet with condition that they should change nothing in the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church until the Decree of the future Diet. And they desiring nothing else were content to contribute readily against the Enemy The Bavarians also desired of their Duke liberty of Religion demanding a free preaching of the Gospel marriage of Priests the Communion in both kinds and to eat flesh every day protesting that otherwise they would not pay the heavy Subsidies and Contributions against the Turks The Duke seeing that Ferdinand had granted his people the Communion of the Cup did likwise grant them that Communion and leave to eat flesh if there were necessity on Fasting daies until the causes of Religion were composed by Publick Authority But the Pope having laid the foundations before rehearsed applying himself to Spiritual matters thought it necessary to gain Credit with the World which could not be done if it did not appear by deeds not by words only that the Court of Rome was reformed Therefore being wholly bent to this in the end of January 1556. he erected a Congregation to which he committed the discussion of all the doubts in matter of Simony which he Printed and sent Copies of them to all Princes and said he had published them that they might come to the knowledg of the Vniversities of general Studies and of every Learned man that all might have occasion to make known their opinions which he would not openly desire because it was not honourable for that See which is Mistress of all to go about and beg them He said that for himself he had no need of the instruction of any because he knew what Christ did command but that he had erected the Congregation that in a matter wherein all are interested it might not be said that he had proceeded of his own head He added that having purged himself and his Court it could not be said to him Physitian cure thy self And that he would make Princes know that there is greater Simony in their Courts which he would take away being Superior to Princes as well as Prelates Some told him that it was necessary to handle such a thing in a General Council which he heard with great indignation and said he had no need of a Council himself being above all And Cardinal Bellai saying that a Council was necessary not to add authority to the Pope but to find a means for Execution which cannot be uniform in all places he concluded that if a Council were necessaâ—y it should be held in Rome and that it was not needful to go else-where and that he never consented that the Council should be held in T 〈…〉 because it was in the midd'st of the Lutherans that the Council is to consist of Bishops only that other persons might be admitted for Counsel yet only Catholicks ☜ otherwise the Turks also ought to be admitted That it was a great vanity to send into the Mountains sixty Bishops of the least able and fourty Doctors of the most insufficient as was twice done already and to believe that by those the World could be better regulated than by the Vicar of Christ with the Colledg of all the Cardinals who are the Pillars of all Christendom Elected for the most Excellent of all Christian Nations and by the Counsel of the Prelates and Doctors which are in Rome who are the most Learned persons in the World and more in number than by any diligence can be brought to Trent But when news came to Rome of the grant of the Cup made by the Duke of Bavaria to his Subjects he entred into a great rage against him and he put this among other things for which he designed to make provision at once being full of hope that every thing would be easy unto him if the Court were reformed and was not troubled though he saw the number of abuses to encrease For a few daies after the Ambassador of Polonia coming expresly to congratulate his Holiness for his assumption to the Popedom made five demands in the name of the King and Kingdom viz. To Celebrate the Mass in the Polonian Tongue To use the Communion in both kinds The Marriage of Priests That the payment of Annates might be taken away And that they might call a National Council to reform the proper abuses of the Kingdom and to reconcile the variety of opinions He heard these demands with unspeakable impatience and set himself to detest them most bitterly speaking against them one after another with infinite vehemence And for conclusion he said that a General Council in Rome would cause the heresies and bad opinions of many to be known alluding to what was done in Germany Austria and Bavaria And being for these reasons almost resolute in himself or at least willing to seem so that it was necessary to call a Council he told all the Ambassadors that they should signifie to their Princes his purpose to make a Lateran Council like unto that which is so famous And he sent Nuncii to the Emperor and the French King to exhort them to Peace though in France he had a more secret negotiation He gave commission also to treat with them of the Council and said in the Consistory that it was necessary to Celebrate it quickly seeing that besides Bohemia Prussia and Germany which were much infected Polonia also was in danger That in France and Spain they were well affected in Religion but the Clergy were badly used That which he principally reprehended in France was the exaction of the Tenths which the King made the Clergy ordinarily pay But he was more incited against Spain For Paul the Third and Jâ—lius having granted the Emperor Charles the halt and quarter Fruits for a Subsidy of the War of Germany and he having revoked the grant because he was not satisfied with the Recess of Ausburg yet they persevered in Spain and forced the Clergy to pay by Sequestrations and imprisonments He did not forbear to say that the Emperor was an Heretick that in the beginning he favoured the innovators of Germain to depress that holy See and to make himself Lord of Rome and of all Italy that he held Paul the Third in perpetual trouble and that he should not do the like to him He added that although he might remedy all these inconveniences by his own Authority yet not to lay so great a burden upon himself alone he would not do it without a Council that he had called it in Rome and named it the Lateran that he had given commission to signifie it to the Emperor and French King in courtesie but not to have their consent or Counsel because his will was they should obey That he was assured it would please neither of them because it is not for their purpose living as they do and that they will say many things against it to disturb it But he will call it whether they will or no and make known what
that See can do when it hath a Pope of Courage The 26th of May the Anniversary of his Coronation all the Cardinals and Ambassadors dining with him according to custom he began after dinner to discourse of the Council and that his resolution was to celebrate it by all means in Rome and that in Courtesie he gave notice thereof to the Princes and that the high-waies may be made secure for the Prelates But if no Prelates would come thither yet he would hold it with those only who are in Court because he well knew what Authority he had While the Pope was busy about the Reformation news came to Rome that a Truce was concluded the 5th of February between the Emperor and French King by the mediation of Cardinal Pool who did interpose in the name of the Queen of England which made the Pope amazed and Cardinal Caraffa much more it having been treated and concluded without them The Pope was displeased principally for the loss of reputation and for the danger which it brought if those two Princes were joyned at whose discretion he must needs stand Yet the Pope not losing courage made shew of joy for the Truce but said he was not fully satisfied with it because a Peace was necessary in regard of the Council which he purposed to celebrate which he was resolved to treat and for that end to send Legates to those Princes being assured to conclude it because he would employ his Authority for he would not be hindred in the government of the Church committed to him by Christ To the Emperor he sent Scipio Rebiba Cardinal of Pisa and to the French King Cardinal Caraffa his Nephew This went with all speed and to the other order was given to go slowly Rebiba had instruction to exhort the Emperor to amend Germany which was not done till then because none had proceeded aright in that enterprise He knew the defects of his Predecessors who to stop the Reformation of the Court did hinder the good progress of the Council But contrarily he was resolved to promote the Reformation and to celebrate a Council in his own presence and to begin with this point assuring himself that when they should see the abuses taken away for which they separated themselves from the Church and remain contumacious still they will desire and run to receive the Decrees and Constitutions which the Council will make where shall be reformed not verbally but really the Head Members Clergie Laity Princes and People To do so good a work a truce of five years is not sufficient because there are no less suspitions in Truces than in War and one must be ever providing against the time when they end That a perpetual Peace is necessary to remove all malice and suspitions that all may bend themselves joyntly without worldly respects to that which concerneth the union and reformation of the Church He gave the like instructions to Caraffa and was content it should be published by giving out some Copies of it He gave his Nephew a large instruction to try the Kings mind and if he saw him resolute to observe the Truce to thunder into his ears the same lesson of the Council and to Rebiba he gave order to govern himself as he he should receive advice from his Nephew Caraffa carried to the King the Sword and Hat which the Pope had blessed on Christmass-day at night according to the custom Of the Peace he made no mention but represented to the King that howsoever the League was not violated by the Truce of five years yet it was made of no force to the great danger of his Unckle and of his Family and that they had already some taste thâ—reof by tâ—at which the Spaniards had done He recommâ—nded to him in most effectual terms Religion and the Papacy to which his Predecessors gave singular protection and the Pope himself and his Family much devoted to his Majesty The King was not averse but remained doubtful considering the Pope's age who might die when he should have most need of him Caraffa perceived this and found a remedy promising that the Pope should create so many Cardinals partial for France and Enemies to Spain that he should ever have a Pope on his side The Cardinals perswasions and the promise of the Promotion and the Absolution from the Oath of the Truce which he gave in the Popes name together with the negotiation of thâ— Cardinal of Loraine and his Brother made the King resolve to move War though the Princes of the 〈◊〉 and all the Gâ—andies of the Court abhorred the infamy of breaking the Truce and receiving Absolution from the Oaâ—h The conclusion being made Caraffa recalled the Legate sent to the Emperor who was arrived at Maâ—â—riâ— and caused him to come into France though he was but two daies journey distant from Caesar which made thâ— Empâ—ror and the King his Son believe that in France something was concluded against them The Pope's distastes against the Emperor and his Son did daily encrease He made a most severe proâ—â—ss against Ascanius Colonna and Marcus Antonius his Soâ— for many offences which he pretended to be done 〈…〉 the Apostolick See excommunicated them and deprived them of all dignity and fee with censures agâ—â—â—st those that gave them assistance or favour and did confiâ—cate all their possessions within the state of the Church and gave them to the Count Montorius his Nephew with the title of Duke of Pagliano Marcus Antonius retiring into the Kingdom of Naples was received and sometimes made excursions upon his own lands which much provoked the Pope who thinking his nods were commandments unto all able to terrifie every one he could not endure to be so little esteemed at Naples his Country where he would have been thought to be Omnipotent He thought in the beginning by talking lavishly of the Emperor and of the King to make them desist from favouring the Colonnesi and therefore spake very often disgracefully of them in the presence of all sorts of persons but most willingly when any Spanish Cardinal was present and at last commanded it should be written unto them None of these proofs taking effect he proceeded farther and the three and twentieth of July made the Fiscal and Silvester Aldobrandinus the Consistorial Advocate appear in the Consistory who declared that his Holiness having excommunicated and deprived Marcus Antonius Colonna and prohibited under the same censures all sorts of persons to assist or favour him and it being notorious that the Emperor and King Philip his Son had furnished him with horse foot 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 Holiness would proceed to a declaratory Sentence and give order for Execution The Pope answered that he would advise upon it by the counsel of the Cardinals and proposed in Consistory what was fit to be done in a case of so
be obeyed by all Afterwards he sent William Prince of Orange with two Colleagues to the Diet in Germany to transfer the Name Title Crown and Dignity upon Ferdinand as if himself had been dead which not seeming fit to the Electors was deferred until the year 1558. in which the 4th of Feb. the day of the Nativity Coronation and other felicities of Charles the Ceremonies of the resignation being made by his Ambasadors in presence of the Electors Ferdinand was installed with the usual rites The Pope hearing this fell into an excessive rage He pretended that as the Pope's Confirmation doth make the Emperor so the resignation cannot be put into the hands of any but himself in which case it belonged to him to make what Emperor he pleased alledging that the Electors have power granted them by the Popes's favour to Elect the Emperour in place of him that is dead but not in case of resignation in which it remaineth still in the power of the Apostolick See as also to the disposition thereof are annexed all dignities resigned unto it Therefore the resignation of Charles is void and the whole authority to chuse an Emperour is devolved to him and was resolved not to acknowledg the King of the Romans for Emperor Ferdinand sent Martin Gusman his Ambassador to the Pope to give him an account of his Brothers resignation and his own assumption to testifie unto him the reverence he bare him to promise him obedience and to signifie to him that he would send a solemn Ambassage to treat of his Coronation The Pope refused to hear him and referred the discussion of the matter to the Cardinals who related for the Pope's will was they should do so that the Ambassador could not be admitted before it did appear whether the resignation of Charles were lawful and the succession of Ferdinand just For he being Elected King of the Romans and the Election confirmed by Clement to succeed after the death of the Emperor it was necessary the Empire ☜ should be void by death Besides there was a nullity in all the Acts of Francfort as made by Heretick who have 〈◊〉 authority and power Wherefore it was necessary that Ferdinand should send a Proctor and renounce whatsoever was done in that Diet and beseech the Pope that he would graciously be pleased to make good the resignation of Charles and his Assumption to the Empire by virtue of his plenary power from whom he might expect all Paternal grace and favour The Pope resolved according to this counsel and so declared himself to Gusman giving him three moneths to put it in execution beyond which time he would hear no more speech of it but himself would create a new Emperour Neither was it possible to remove him though King Philip to favour his Unckle sent Francis Vargas expresly and after him John Figaroa to entreat him Ferdinand understanding this gave order to Gusman that if within three daies after the receipt thereof he were not admitted by the Pope he should depart and protest unto him that Ferdinand together with the Electors would resolve of that which should be for the honour of the Empire Gusman desired audience again which the Pope granted in private not as to an Ambassador of the Emperor and hearing him what he had in his instructions and that which was wrote unto him from the Emperor he answered that the things considered by the Cardinals were very important and that he could not resolve on them so soon that he would send a Nuncio to the Imperial Majesty of Charles the Fifth and in the mean while if he had commission from his Master to depart he might do it and protest what he thought fit Therefore the Ambassador having made his protestation departed And although Charles died the same year the 21th of September yet it was impossible to remove the Pope from this resolution The Religion of England was much changed this year The Queen died the 17th of November and Cardinal Pool the same day which stirred up many who were not satisfied with the former Government to restore the Reformation of Edward and to separate themselves wholly from the Spaniards which they did the rather because King Philip to hold a foot in England had treated to marry Elizabeth Sister and Successor of Mary to Charles his Son and when there was little hope of the life of Mary had also cast forth divers words that he would take her for his own wife But the new Queen being wise as she shewed herself to be in all her Government did first secure the Kingdom by Oath that she would not marry a stranger and was Crowned by the Bishop of Carlisle an adherent to the Church of Rome not making any open declaration what Doctrine she would follow designing so soon as she was setled in her Government to establish it by the Counsel of Parliament and of Learned and Godly men and to make a constant reformation of the State of Religion Therefore she exhorted the chief of the Nobility who desired a change to proceed without tumult assuring them that she would not inforce any She caused presently an account to be given to the Pope of her Assumption with Letters of Credence written to Edward Cerne who was Ambassador to her Sister and was not departed from Rome ☜ But the Pope proceeding according to his usual rigour answered that England was held in Fee of the Apostolick See that she could not succeed being illegitimate that he could not contradict the declarations of Clement the Seventh and Paul the Third that it was a great boldness to assume the Name and Government without him that for this she deserved not to be heard in any thing yet being desirous to shew a Fatherly affection if she would renounce her pretensions and refer her self wholly to his free disposition he will do whatsoever may be done with the honour of the Apostolick See But the new Queen understanding the Pope's answer and wondering at the mans hasty disposition thought it not profitable either for her or the Kingdom to treat any more with him So that the cause ceasing she gave the Nobility leave to consult what was fit to be done for the service of God and quiet of the Kingdom A Disputation was held in Westminster in presence of all the States between Learned men chosen on both sides which began the last of March and lasted until the thirtieth of April and a Parliament being assembled to this end all the Edicts of Religion made by Mary were abolished those of her Brother Edward restored obedience taken away from the Pope the title of the Head of the Church of England given to the Queen the revenues of the Monasteries confifcated and assigned some to the Nobility and some to the Crown the images taken out of the Churches by the people and the Roman Religion banished Another accident happened also For in the Diet of Ausburg it appearing by the Acts of the Colloquie the year before
THE PAPACY OF Paul the Fourth OR THE RESTITUTION OF ABBY LANDS AND IMPROPRIATIONS An indispensable condition of Reconciliation to the Infallible SEE c. LONDON Printed for Richard Royston Bookseller to His most Sacred Majesty 1673. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY The Publisher to my Lord Viscount Mountague MY LORD I Once thought to have dedicated these papers sent me by a friend to some of the most eminent of our Protestant Clergy but I considered the Romane Church had carried their interest higher by much than any other and therefore it must be singular Piety an high Self-denial and a sincere love of God that must secure their opposition to the growing greatness of Rome amongst us I therefore quitted that thought and in the next place designed to address my self to some person of great Quality of the Protestant Religion but then I considered that great â—ffices Favour and Interest with some great Men might be preferred to their concerâ—s in Abby-lands and render them cooler than cur cause requires My last refuge then was to cast this small thing into your Lordships Arms and Protection a Noble man of a great and ancient Extraction and therefore I hope not willing to exalt more than needs the dominion of the Priests Besides though your Religion be of the Romish Faith yet your dependence is not on Offices and Preferments nor can they countervail so great an Estate in Land and you may be content to be saved in the private exercise of your own Religion though the Protestant be uppermost nay much better saved than if the Church of Rome returning triumphant reduce you from an Estate in Land of ten thousand pound per annum to a Lease from an Abby of two or three hundred pounds a year which however it may exalt your Faith must undoubtedly destroy your Charity What terms you are certainly to expect if England ever submit its self to the See of Rome the Author out of whom these papers are extracted a man of unquestioned Credit and of your own Religion will inform you which your Lordship of all other persons hath reason to believe because one of your Ancestors was employed to Rome in the very Ambassy here mentioned and you must needs have amongst the papers of your Family if they are extant authentick proofs to confirm it Your LORDSHIPS most Humble Servant I. S. THE EPISLE to the READER Reader I Am abundantly satisfied that the strenuous attempts a-against the Religion of Romane Catholicks made by the zealous Assertors of the Protestant Cause do amount to but little more than an Endeavour to fortify these two Objections First that it is in not a few instances manifestly different from and repugnant to the Doctrine of our Saviour and his Apostles delivered in the New Testament Secondly that it is highly prejudicial to the Secular interest violates the due Liberty and infringes the rights of Princes and their Subjects Now how well they have quitted themselves as to the former of these Charges I leave those to determine who with an unbiassed and impartial mind have oonverst with their Writings but as to the latter thou wilt be sufficiently enabled to pass a true judgment concerning it by putting thy self to the small pains of perusing this short Narrative From hence thou wilt as throughly understand what obligation lieth upon this Kingdom especially from the consideration of its Civil interest to return into the bosome of our Holy Mother as thou wilt from the Doughty defences of of her Sons against the Assaults of her troublesome Adversaries what necessity our Consciences and the concerns of our Souls do impose upon us to persevere in our Separation Thou wilt clearly perceive by these few leaves how much Princes consult the security of their Government and advancement of their Soveraignty and Subjects the preservation of their Estates and Fortunes by their filial obedience and entire subjection to the Apostolick See And that thou mayst not have the least suspition concerning the truth of the following Narrative I assure thee I have most faithfully taken it from Father Paul a person of unquestion'd integrity and that lived and died in the Communion of the Romane Church As thou mayst be satisfied by comparing it with his relation of the Government of Pope Paul the Fourth in his exact History of the Council of Trent For which as the Christian Church is highly obliged to him upon many other accounts so particularly for the Life of this Zealous Pope in which his extraordinary kindness for two things is more especially remarkable because they seem to stand in no small need of so Great an Authority to recommend them viz. Perjury and an Inquisition Besides that we may learn from this Pope how exceedingly convenient Infallibility is for the Catholick Church when we see that it may sometimes fall out that a Pope may be but little better than a mad-man In which case Infallibility must needs be a very great Security to the Catholick Faith E. A. THE PAPACY OF PAUL The FOURTH IN the Year of our Lord One thousand five hundred fifty and five Marcellus Cervinus was Created Pope and retained his Name but having sate no more than twenty two daies died The Cardinals being assembled again in the Conclave he of Ausburg assisted by Morone made great instance that among the Capitulations which the Cardinals were to swear to one should be that the future Pope should by Counsel of the Colledg call another Synod within two years to finish the Reformation begun to determine the Controversies of Religion that remained and to find a means to cause the Councel of Trent to be received in Germany And the Colledg of the Cardinals being full it was capitulated that the Pope should not Create more than four within two years The three and twentieth day of the next moneth John Peter Caraffa who called himself Paulus Quartus was Created He took it for a great glory that the three English Ambassadors dispatched in the time of Julius entred Rome the first day of his Papacy and the first Consistory after the Coronation was publick The Ambassadors were brought into it who prostrating themselves at the Popes feet did in the name of the Kingdom acknowledg the faults committed relating them all in particular for so the Pope would have it confessing they had been ungrateful for so many benefits received from the Church and humbly craving pardon for it The Pope did pardon them took them up from the ground and embraced them and to honour their Majesties who sent them gave the title of a Kingdom to Ireland granting them this Dignity by the Authority which the Pope hath from God being placed over ☜ all Kingdoms to supplant those that are Contumacious and to build new But it did not then seem a fit time to say he had power from God to build up and overthrow Kingdoms Henry the Eighth after his separation from the Pope made Ireland a Kingdom and called himself King of England France
there being a great contest between them the Pope not able to keep him bad him go seeing he had done little Service to the King less to the Church and none at all to his own honour In the end of the moneth the Duke of Alva approached Rome which he had taken but for want of courage Finally a composition was made the 14th of September between Alva and the Caraffi the VVar being continued a whole year In the Capitulation the Pope would not have Colonna nor any of his Subjects comprehended nor any word inserted to shew that he had offended in imprisoning the Emperors Ministers but maintained most constantly that Alva ought to come to Rome to ask pardon and receive Absolution saying plainly that before he would lose one jot of his due he would see the whole World ruined that the question was not of his own but of Christ's Honour VVith this condition and the restitution of the Cities taken the Controversy was ended It was esteemed a Prodigy that the very day that the Peace was concluded there was such a great inundation of the River Tiber that all the plain of Rome was drowned and a great part of the fortifications of the Castle S. Angelo was overthrown The Duke of Alva went personally to Rome to submit himself to the Pope and receive Absolution in the Kings name and his own So it happened that the Conqueror bare the indignity and he that was overcome triumphed more than if he had been victorious And it was no small favour that the Pope received him with humanity though he forbare not his usual haughty state The VVar was no sooner ended but new troubles came upon the Pope For advice was sent out of France that the fifth of September at night in Paris about two hundred persons were assembled in an house to celebrate the Communion which being discovered by the common people the house was assaulted and some fled but the women and weaker sort were taken of whom seven were burned and the greater part of the others reserved for the same punishment to be inflicted when the Complices were found out The S 〈…〉 es made intercession for these and the King in regard of his VVar with the King of Spain having need of their assistance gave order that the proceedings against them should be moderate The Pope was in s 〈…〉 tely angry and complained in Con 〈…〉 story and said it was no marvel if the affairs of that King did not succeed well because be more esteemed the asâ—iâ—tance of Hereticks than the favour of God The Pope had forgotten that in the time of his War the Cardinals of the Inâ—uiâ—â—tion complaining that the Protestant Gâ—â—sons which were brought to his pay for the defence of Rome used many scorns against the Churches and Images his Holines did reprehend them saying they were Angels sent by God for the Custody of the City and of his person and that he had a strong hope that God would convert them So men judge diversly of their own interests and of the facts of others The Pope took occasion hence to call to mind two Constitutions which the King had made the same year which he said were against the liberty of the Clergy and therefore was resolved they should be abrogated The one was published the first of March that Marriages made by Sons before the age of thirty years complete and of Daughters before twenty five without consent of the Father or of him in whose power they are should be void The other the first of May That all Bishops and Curates should reside upon pain of loss of the Revenues with an imposition of an extraordinary Subsidy besides the ordinary Tenths to pay five thousand foot Souldiers The Pope thought not of these things when the news came because he was then in War and had need of the King but this reason ceasing he complained that the King had medled even with the Sacraments and unsupportably burdened the Clergy He said it was necessary to provide against these disorders by a Council which were greater than could be objected against the Clergy that it was fit to begin the Reformation from hence that the French Prelates durst not speak so long as they were in France but being in a Council in Italy free from fear of the King their complaints would soon be heard Among these distastes the Pope received some joy that the Colloquie begun in Germany to compose the differences in Religion which troubled his Holiness and the Court as all Colloquies had done was resolved into nothing The Pope perceiving that by the War past he was deprived of the credit with which he thought to daunt the whole World thought to regain it by an heroical action and did the 26th of January in Consistory deprive Cardinal Caraffa of the Legation of Bolonia and of all government and confined him to Civita Lavinia and took from John Caraffa the Cardinal's Brother the command of the Army exiling him to Galessi He deprived the other Nephew of the government of Borgo and banished him to Monte-Bello commanding that their Wives Families and Children should depart from Rome He deprived also all those of their Offices to whom he had given them in contemplation of these He instituted a new government in Rome and in the State of the Church giving the Charge of all businesses to Camillus Orsinus unto whom he joyned the Cardinals of Trani and Spoleto affecting a fame of justice in these actions and laying the blame of all the grievances which the people suffered upon the Nephews Being thus disburdened of the Government he applied himself wholly to the office of the Inquisition saying it was the true Ram to beat down heresie and defend the Apostolick See And not regarding what did befit the time he published a new Constitution dated the 15th of February which he made all the Cardinals subscribe In this he renewed every censure and punishment pronounced by his Predecessors and every Statute of Canons Councils and Fathers in what time soever published against Hereticks ordaining that those that were disused should be brought in use again He declared that all Prelates and Princes even Kings and Emperors fallen into heresie should be and should be ☜ understood to be deprived of all their Benefices States Kingdoms and Empires without farther declaration and uncapable to be restored to them even by the Apostolick See the their Good States Kingdoms and Empire shall be understood to be common and to belong to those Catholicks that can get them This did minister much talk and if it had not been presently disesteemed by the World it would have kindled a fire in all Christendom Another accident made the World know that he had not moderated the haughtiness of his mind The Emperor Charles in the year 1556. by his Letters written to the Electors and Princes did absolutely give to Ferdinand all the administration of the Empire without reserving any thing to himself commanding that he should