Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	pope_n	rome_n	5,434	5	6.6788	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11519	The history of the Inquisition: composed by the Reverend Father Paul Servita, who was also the compiler of the Councell of Trent. A pious, learned, and curious worke, necessary for councellors, casuists, and politicians. Translated out of the Italian copy by Robert Gentilis; Historia dell'origine, forma, leggi ed uso dell'ufficio dell'inquisizione nella città e dominio di Venetia. English	Sarpi, Paolo, 1552-1623.; Gentilis, Robert.	1639 (1639)	STC 21765; ESTC S116775	69,818	96

who are of Iewish or Moorish race are examined at the Inquisition for the suspition of Heresie and punished with branding for the offence If a Turke or Iew become a Christian be found to have two Wives hee may bee tried in the Inquisition for his suspected beliefe and for the offence in the ordinary Court of Iustice But when either for carnality or to steale the portion or for any such ends any one hath taken a second Wife they ought without any circumstance to proceed doing Iustice in the ordinary Secular Court punishing the offence as the quality of the particular circumstances shall require preferring the common opinion of Lawyers and the Universall custome of Courts to cavils onely invented to confound jurisdictions The Exposition of the three and twentieth Chapter IN cases of usury as it is said in this Chapter it is questionlesse that the Inquisition ought not to meddle in them So have many Popes of Rome answered Inquisitors who have purposed to draw cases and questions of Usury unto their Office and the Decree is also Registred in the Canon Law where to exclude absolutely all cases of usury out of the Inquisition and to provide that by no indirect way nor under any good colour it might be attempted to judge of any the Pope saith That though the Inquisition had enjoyned some converted Hereticke such pennance as if hee had beene an Usurer he should make restitution yet for all that not so much as against him can they meddle in such cases It is behoovefull both for Gods Service and the reputation of the Inquisition Office with all diligence to keepe many causes from them So this Chapter being cleare wee neede not say any more of it The Exposition of the foure and twenty Chapter IN this Chapter is set downe that Iewes nor other Infidels shall for no cause be subject to the Inquisition Office but onely to the Secular Court It was said by the Apostle St. Paul plainely that the Ecclesiasticall Power doth not extend to judge those that are not of the Church And so much hath bin held and observed also in these latter times Pope Innocent the third declared that they were not subject to the Pope neither to the Law nor yet to bee judged since that by vertue of the Law the Iudge doth exercise his Office Besides the Infidels of what kind soever they be are not capable of Spirituall punishments and therefore are not subject to the Church which punisheth with such In the Body of the Civill Law there be prohibitions and punishments against Iewes which blaspheme or injury Religion or draw Christians to Iudaisme or to offend Iewes which are become Christians And the Popes of Rome themselves have not used any other remedy against Iewes and other Infidels who have offended in wronging or slandering Religion but onely to excite Princes and Secular Magistrates to doe their duty in punishing them To this purpose there be many Decrees in the Canon Law Some Princes to discharge themselves of the trouble of judging such causes have delegated them to the Bishops which hath not pleased the Popes very well The King of Sicily having delegated power to some Bishops of his Kingdome to punish the Sarazens of his Kingdome in certain cases where they offend Religion Pope Alexander the third did write to them that they should onely punish such offences for which was sufficient a pecuniary Mulct or whipping without blood-shed But if the offence did deserve any greater punishment they should not meddle with it but should leave the judging of it to the temporall Power This authority established by the saying of St. Paul confirmed by the Canon and Civill Lawes and by Customes none should attempt to contrary it But the desire of enlarging authority doth so blinde some men that without regarding so much plainenesse they turne themselves to cavils of no moment saying That if God doth punish and hath punished Infidels the Pope and the Inquisitors his Delegates may and ought also punish them A reason which would prove that they might punish both Christians and Infidels and all manner of offenders for all manner of offences though never so concealed and also sinnes onely conceived in the minde for God doth punish all these The truth is that Christ hath not given his Vicars any power but onely over his Church and in spirituall things and therefore they can judge none but Christians nor punish them but onely with spirituall punishments The temporall punishments God hath committed to the Secular power for punishing all manner of offences and against all offendors be they of what Religion they will And certainly to make an argument from the Divine Omnipotencie to humane authority it agreeth not with the reverence due to the Divine Majesty But another thing must bee considered for they say that although Infidels be not subject to Ecclesiasticall power yet when they doe offend the Church reason will that she may defend her selfe by punishing them it being a terme of Law That he who is not subject to a Territory by reason of an offence committed in it becomes subject to it which things well understood are all most true yet doe they not conclude in this purpose For the Church must not be denyed the defence of her selfe if she be offended but she ought to doe it with all offenders by meanes of the Magistrate The Infidell who violates holy things and offends Religion must not remaine unpunished and the Church may defend it selfe but not with its owne forces but with the authority of the Magistrate to inflict punishment doth not belong to him that is offended but alwayes to the Iudge and when by an offence the Delinquent should have his Court of Iudgement allotted him hee becommeth not subject to him that is offended otherwise every private man might chastise him that doth offend him but he becommeth subject to the Iudge of the place where the offence is committed Wherefore these reasons prove nothing but that the offence done by the Infidels to the Church ought to bee punished by the ordinary Secular Court of judgement and so much the rather ought this to be observed because both Divine and Humane Lawes doe order it so when such sorts of offences deserve greater punishments as indeed such offences for the most part are so grievous that they will deserve greater punishment than the Inquisition would inflict upon them In the yeare 1581. Pope Gregory the thirteenth framed a Bull against Jewes in which he did subject both them and all other Infidels to the Inquisition in tenne cases so fully set downe that if it should be observed no Infidell might inhabite nor trade within Christian Dominion This Bull although it were imprinted yet was it published or received but in very few places and it were impossible to observe it Yea Pope Sixto the fifth and Clement the eight not regarding it did give Infidels safe conducts to come to the City of Ancona And that which is most

applauded in former Ages as Constantine Theodosius Charlemaine St. Lewis c. The chiefest praise they had was to have made it their chiefe travaile to protect and rule the affaires of the Church It is a great deceite to set forth this part as a thing of lesse moment and to bee left out for to looke to other things Since the neglect of this to provoake the Divine Wrath daily experience in these dayes sheweth us that a State cannot stand untroubled where change of Religion commeth And these which counsell Princes to not meddle with Church businesses say neverthelesse upon other occasions that true Religion is the foundation of States It were a great absurdity holding this to be true as it is most true to leave the totall care of it to others under pretence that they are spirituall where Temporall Authority will not reach or that a Prince hath any greater imployment than this It is manifest that as the Prince is not a Praetor nor a Prefect nor a Proveditore So likewise hee is no Priest nor no Inquisitor But it is also certaine that hee is to over-see with keeping in awe and causing to doe their duties both the one and the other And here lyeth the deceite that the particular care of Religion is proper to the Officers of the Church as the Government of Temporall things is proper to the Magistrate and the Prince himselfe ought to doe neither the one nor the other but is to direct all and to take heede that none doe faile in his Office and to amend the defects of Officers this being the Prince his charge as well in matters of Religion as in any other part of the Government And as in other matters for to manage well that part which is proper unto him hee is to bee informed of all occurrences So ought he particularly to bee advertised of all that happeneth in matter of Religion The Inquisitors of Italy doe particularly send word to Rome by every Post what is done within their Office much more ought an account bee given to the Prince whom it more concernes to know it It were very expedient that all things which are treated off within the State should remaine therein as it is observed in Spaine which give account to the King onely and send advice no where else But because that were a hard thing to obtaine let it for this time suffice that it bee knowne to the Prince when it is knowne to others who are not so much interested therein The Exposition of the seventh Chapter THe seventh Chapter was ordered by the most excellent Senate because that the Ambassadour of Rome might doe that good Office as that the charge of Inquisitors might bee given to the Natives of this Dominion because they are best instructed in the occurrences of the Customes and conditions of the Country and beare a greater affection to it whence it is presumed that with greater Iudgement and love they will employ themselves in that Office which above all others requireth Charity and discretion One cannot without wonder consider how that all the Inquisitors within this Dominion at this present are strangers and the Natives are not employed neither in this State nor in other States yet is not this Country so barren but that it brings forth men of understanding as well as any other part of Italy What should bee the reason then that these should be reputed all unable both for this Dominion and for all others if one will seeke for examples beyond the Hils there is no Inquisition there but onely in Spaine where they are all Spaniards In the State of Milan the Natives are not excluded and others to whom the Office is given are not lesse depending from that Prince then the Milanenses themselves In Tuscan Pius the fourth attempted to give the Office of the Inquisition to the Friers of St. Dominicke and Cosmo the great Duke would not consent because those of that Order tooke part with the enemies of the house of Medices when they were driven out of Florence in the yeare 1494. which reasons and examples shew that there ought accompt to bee made in Rome of those recommendations which shall bee made of the Fathers that are subjects to this State and that their Piety towards their Prince and Religion the Christian life of the people and the devotion of the Fathers themselves towards their Naturall Prince and Country may not bee prejudiciall to them The Exposition of the eight Chapter THe eight Chapter that none shall bee admitted to execute the charge of Inquisitor but with the Prince his Letters is very convenient The same directory commands that first of all the Inquisitor should present himselfe before him and should receive Letters directed to the publicke representants in that place where he is ordered to execute that charge and reason alloweth that no manner of jurisdiction be exercised without publicke knowledge yea at other times Popes did send Inquisitors with Apostolicke Letters directed to the Prince wherein they intreated him to favour and protect them and now they doe the like at the institution of every new Bishop Now the Congregation of Rome deputes Inquisitors with Patents and instructions as if they were sent into some of their owne jurisdictions and this cannot bee helped but it is necessary to keepe a foot the presenting of the Patents it beeing a due acknowledgement of the Prince his Superiority and because it will also serve for two things The first that one may marke whether the Patents be made in the wonted forme or if there bee any new clause added to it because that in case then were any prejudiciall novelty it might bee withstood with fitting meanes The other is that if there were any request made that there should bee an Inquisitor who were a Native and trusty and that just request should not be granted they might then by delaying the Patent reply and triplicate the same request with greater instance And although some accident might happen through which the publicke wisdome should finally Iudge it fitting to assent unto the will of Rome and receive the stranger it might worke at least so much as that the Court of Rome for the time to come would proceed with greater respect and the same forraigne Fathers would refuse to accept the charge seeing the difficulties which had happened to the others The Exposition of the ninth Chapter THe ninth Chapter that the assistants should assist to the Iudgment although the guilty were Ecclesiasticall is a legall position and necessary to be observed It is not credible that the Secular assistance in that Office was brought in in regard of the Persons of the questioned this in times past hath deceived many who were perswaded the Person of the questioned appointeth the place of Iudgement mis-understanding that Maxime Actor sequitur forum rei which is meant of private interest where tryall is to bee betweene two parties which their Persons be not both subject to one Iudge

they connot bee subject to others Therefore it is not bee suffered that the Inquisition should search out what the Greekes doe or beleeve in secret And if they chance to heare that any lives or speakes scandalously of the Latins then have they a ready and easie way to helpe it by giving the Magistrate notice of it by whom justice shall bee administred and especially in a matter of such importance as to provide against scandals and tumults The Exposition of the sixe and twentieth Chapter THe sixe and twentieth Chapter that no man be publickly cited who is gone beyond the mountaines upon the imputation of any offence committed in those Countries seemeth at first sight to be a thing which cannot happen and happening to be of very small moment yet if that way were once given it would bee very frequent and of great importance Pope Clement the eight in the yeare 1595. made a Bull concerning Italians onely commanding that none no not for matters of Merchandise should goe into a place where there were not a Parish Priest and a publicke Church which exercised the Romish Rites unlesse hee had leave from the Inquisitors adding that those who had leave should bee bound to send every yeare a certificate over that they were confessed and had communicated To bring in the observance of this Bull as soone as any Italian comes beyond the mountaines presently the Iesuits come upon him for comming over without Licence and if he doth not yeeld unto them and promise them obedience they presently examine some adherent of his against him and frame a secret Processe against him which they send to Rome from which there is a processe writ to Rome to the Inquisitor of the place where hee was bred up to call him by publicke Citation This Citation in former times was wont to be made from the Inquisition of Rome but now they are beware of doing so because the Cities beyond the Hills doe revenge themselves by proceeding against some adherents of the Court of Rome and to avoyd this danger they cite no more to Rome but have him cited to the place of his bringing up This invention though it bee coloured with Religion aimeth at the making of the Court of Rome Mistris in Italy of Merchandises which come from beyond the Mountaines as three hundred yeares agoe it brought under it with a lesse pretence the Merchandises of the East It will not bee from the purpose to relate here what was then done and what was the event of it especially within this City that we may the better sinke into that which is now done It was ordered and commanded by the Governors that Infidels should be forbidden to carry Armes or any other instrument where with they might make Warre with Christians the Derree as honest was received by all men This ready obedience of the World gave Pope Clement the fifth hope of stepping yet one step further wherefore in the yeare of our Lord 1307. hee published a Bull and commanded that none might carry any Merchandise of any kind into the the Easterne Countries nor that there should any bee suffered to goe out of the Harbors for such a voyage upon paine of excommunication and other grievous penalties as well spirituall as temporall and amongst other that none hath carried or suffered any to bee carried of what kind soever might bee absolved unlesse hee first precisely paid so much as the principall which was transported amounted unto The difficulty if not impossibility of observing so strict an order was a cause that there were many offendors in Venice who during their life did little thinke of it but at the poynt of death to receive their absolution they left according to the Popes command order to have the offence satisfied Neither wanted there Confessors to urge it instantly denying also absolution to such as did not pay or give order to be paid so much as the principall of that whcih hee had carried into the East came unto Many who have beene that voyage severall times found themselves to owe more than they were worth at their houre of death Wherefore for the discharge of their Consciences they would by Will leave all they had to the Popes disposing The Heires and the Commissaries did deferre the executing of the Wills seeing they tended to the destruction of Families and of the Common-wealth especially there being some who held such Wills to be voyd and extinguished By this meanes in fifteene yeares the mony due to the Pope came to a summe sufficient to have emptied the City of money to which Pope Iohn the two and twentieth who was his successor applying his mind and gathering the money on all sides in the yeare 1322. sent Ardenato Largo and Falcone Castario Nuncioes to Venice to receive that which by Will was left to the Popes disposall constraining notaries and others to produce the Wills excommunicating them which did not deliver them Besides hee gave these Nuntioes Commission also to see to and to excommunicate all those which were alive that had sayled thither to absolve them paying the principall of the Merchandise which was carried thether These Nuntioes being come to Venice having erected a judgement Seate committed divers disorders amongst the which one was that they Excommunicated St. Marke his Proctors and above two hundred other Persons men and women for the aforesaid cause Those who were then consultors of the Common-wealth amongst which was one Andrea Bishop of Chiozza did advise that these Nuntioes actions were not Lawfull resolved to withstand them with apeales other remedies which were put in practice to that these Nuntioes attempts did take no effect Onely as it hapneth in such cases many inconveniences remained which continuing with great danger for the space of two yeares the Pope was forced to apply a remedy which was worse than the soare He made a Bull in the yeare 1324. confessing that his Nuntioes actions had bin disorderly suspended the censures by them pronouced and gave the Arch Bishop of Ravenna Commission to execute it commanding him afterwards that he should set downe a convenient time for men and women who had beene censured by the Nuntioes to appeare for that cause at the Court of Rome which was then at Avignon either in Person or by their Proctors to treate of their businesse excepting none but onely the Duke and the Commonalty It was a brave increase for the Court of Rome to have some 200. Persons or more to come thither at once for money matters of so great weight But what happened and whither the Pope were obeyed by few or many I cannot justifie But it is certaine that then there did arise an opinion which said that it was no sin to carry Merchandises to Infidels so they were not things for the use of Warre and therefore that the Pope could not hinder it which moved him in the yeare 1326. to make a Bull declaring them to be Hereticks which said that it was

may observe them if not they may omit them or dispence with them and they doe wonderfully serve for their ends as well when they are observed as when they are disobeyed because they are not to bee ruled by the Lawes but they doe rule the Lawes Contrariwise in other States when they are once published or received they are no more in the Prince his power They must then runne to Rome to seeke a remedy when they are heard and either they doe get remedy or not they regarding not what is behoovefull to another State but to their owne And this is that which the court of Rome would have and every day attempted vid. to have in their hand under colour of Religion the administration of some certaine things without which States cannot be governed by which meanes it would become judge of all governments For this cause the Popes say daily when they would cause their Decrees to be admitted that if there be any inconvenience they should have recourse to them and they will helpe it but the remedy which commeth not from the same Prince but from them who have their proper interests is worser than the sore God whose workes are perfect and who is the Author of all Principalities gives to every one as much power as is necessary to governe well neither will he have it acknowledged from any other but from his Divine Majesty All that which a Prince acknowledgeth from others but from God is slavery and subjection So much is said generally of the consideration which ought to bee had in publishing or receiving Pontificiall Orders made of old in matters of Heresie But much greater care ought to bee had concerning those which shall be made hereafter Of them which are made already the number is certaine it is knowne whether they be received in other places or no how they are observed what construction they receive what is their aime what consequence of good or evill effects they bring with them But for the time to come if the Court might have her liberty the number would grow to be infinite When one newly appeares it is not knowne whether the World will admit of it or no the aime of him that made it is not yet discovered experience hath not shewne what effects it may bring forth and therefore all delay and maturity in receiving of it will bring forth aboundance of conveniency with it It is not said that new reasonable orders are not to bee accepted but that they ought not to be received as of duty or as subjects but by agreement and publicke treaty the institution of that Office requiring it as it is said and with much consideration because of the great dangers that novelties doe bring with them The Court of Rome in making new Buls taketh no great advice with ease they are made because with ease they are revoked or derogated from or dispensed with as it fals to be most commodious for their businesses wherein they regard their owne ends But that which is profitable for one State is not profitable for another The safety of this Dominion requireth that Religion should bee kept inviolate in all her parts withstanding all change and novelty whatsoever The respects of Rome require that no change shall be made through which Pontificiall power may be diminished nor the Court lose any of her profits which she draweth out of other Statues But those novelties whereby the profit of the Court may be increased or temporall authority may bee diminished with the exaltation of the Ecclesiasticall are not to bee abhorred but procured and that wee see daily This most renowned Common-wealth as well as other Catholicke Kingdomes finds it selfe betweene two contraries The Protestants who have no other aime but to diminish Ecclesiasticall authority and the Court of Rome which hath no other aime but to increase it and to make the temporall her servant Whence your Catholicke States and Kingdomes to preserve themselves doe withstand all novelties on the on the other side and doe keepe Religion without any change at all being knowne by experience that either of the novelties are pernicious That reverence which deservedly is given to Religion is the cause that those abuses have easie admittance which come covered with that sacred Mantle For the maintaining of Religion the office against Heresie is respected and for this cause when Rome will bring in some novelty it willingly makes use of that office supposing that the true end will not appeare And that hath beene wrought in the selfe same manner in times past but very slightly in regard of what was done at this present Neverthelesse the Senators of those times were alwayes carefull They would have the Office against Heresie to bee mixt they have opposed themselves against all novelties they have not suffered Ecclesiasticall Persons to doe any thing unknowne unseene or unexamined By these foot-steps must he walke that will have the Common-wealth preserved not suffering new Buls or Decrees to bee accepted within the State if first by mature deliberation it be not made knowne that they will bring in no inconveniences Which deliberation is proper to the Prince who alone comprehendeth the estate of publicke things The Exposition of the nine and twentieth Chapter THe nine and twentieth Chapter which treateth of publishing a prohibition of bookes since the agreement of the yeare 1596. stands in force there can no doubt be made of it But it will be necessary to consider that the agreement being made with so much consideration and maturity as well of the Apostolicall Seas side as of the most renowned Common-wealths side the matter ought to be held of weight This conference lasted foure Moneths on the Pontificiall side there was the Cardinall the Nuntio and the Inquisition and on the other side the chiefe Senators of the Common-wealth cleare arguments that the businesse on both sides was held to be of great weight and neverthelesse though it was determined by common consent yet did it not take away all hope from the Ecclesiasticall Persons to have it forgotten againe and out of use Wherefore then they treated that there should bee but three score coppies Printed of the agreement for nothing else but because there being an innumerable number of the coppies of the Indexes of the forbidden bookes which passe through all mens hands every one might see those documents which give the authority over the bookes to Ecclesiasticall Persons onely but the moderation of the agreement might not be knowne but by few and so finally it might bee lost And treading these steps in Rome there is not a yeare but there comes forth a Catalogue of new prohibition under the name of the Master of the sacred Palace with clauses that it shall take place in all Cities Townes and places of every Kingdome Nation or People and that it shall bind all men although there be no publication who shall come any way to have notice of the Edict This Index is sent to the

Inquisitors that by meanes of the Confessors they may get them to worke the best effect they can and by this meanes the agreement is deluded and groweth out of use And that which is worse when an Index is printed within this City they doe endeavour to have those new prohibitions inserted in them which they also attempted to doe this yeare And if diligent care be not alwaies had as it is at this present they will one day set up a Court of Iustice and open a way to the destruction of the agreement Their intents to make themselves absolute Masters of Bookes and the respects wherefore the Secular power hath neede to watch to the end that they may not obtaine it though they doe not appeare at first sight yet with an easie consideration they are made manifest The matter of Bookes seemes to be a thing of small moment because it treats of words but through these words comes opinions into the world which cause partialities seditions and finally warres They are words it is true but such as in consequence draw after them Hosts ofarmed men In this matter the Romans cannot hide two high pretences which they have The first that so they may prohibit bookes not onely for cause of Religion but also for any of her cause The second that the Prince shall not have power within his owne state to forbid any bookes for any cause whatsoever and if that any be by them approved the Prince cannot hinder although he judge it to be dangerous but that within his Dominions it may be had printed and publickly sold And these two pretences taking once effect they should doe the Temporall power wrong in three notable particulars The first in prohibiting or corrupting Bookes which are good and profitable for the maintenance of a good government The second in prohibiting of Bookes which doe not belong to them to prohibit The third in hindring the Secular Power from removing what shall finde hurtfull to a good government Of which three prejudices we ought to treate particulary for to consider of the remedies About the first concerning the prohibition of Bookes which at Rome are not liked of though they bee good and godly because they maintaine Temporall Power It is a cleare thing that a Prince especially one that ruleth with the Arts of Peace useth this as a chiefe instrument to cause the people to beleeve this to be a firme truth vid. that the Prince is ordained by God and ruleth with Divine authority and the Subject consequently in conscience is bound to obey him and not doing it offendeth God that the duty of undergoing publicke burthens either personall in bearing office or reall in Tributes Customes or such like doth tye the Conscience and bindeth under the paine of sinning to restitution he that refuseth to beare them or doth defraud them Because that the Prince by the Divine Law is above any person that is within his Dominion and may lay a burthen on any mans estate when publicke necessity according to his judgement shall require it Everyone of himselfe without any greater discourse may judge how easily a State may be governed where the aforesaid Maximes as they are most true shall be so beleeved to bee and the disorders which most necessarily happen where contrary opinions are held Ofthese truths written by the Prophets taught by Christ and preached by the Apostles ancient Fathers bookes are also sull and good Divines doe hold them as they are necessary to be beleeved But as there were alwayes in Gods Church those who made use of Religion for worldly ends so the number of them is now sull These under a spiritual pretence but with an ambitious end and desire of worldly wealth would free themselves from the obedience due unto the Prince and take away the love and reverence due by the people to draw it to themselves To bring these things to passe they have newly invented a Doctrine which talkes of nothing but of Ecclesiasticall greatnesse liberty immunity and of her jurisdiction This Doctrine was unheard of untill about the yeare of 1300. neither is there any booke found concerning it before that time then did they beginne to write of it scatteringly in some bookes but there were not above two bookes which treated of nothing else but this untill the yeare 1400. and three untill the yeare ●500 After this time the number increased a little but it was tollerable After the yeare 1560. this Doctrine beganne to increase in such manner that they gave over writing as they did before of the Mysteries of the most Holy Trinity of the Creation of the World of the incarnation of Christ and other Mysteries of the Beliefe and there is nothing printed in Italy but Bookes in Diminution of Secular Authority and exhaltation of the Ecclesiasticall and such Bookes are are not printed by small numbers but by thousands Those people which have any learning can reade nothing else the Confessors likewise know none other Doctrine nor to bee approved of neede they any other Learning Whence comes in a perverse opinion universally that Princes and Magistrates are humane inventions yea and Tyranicall that they ought onely by compulsion to be obeyed that the disobeying of Lawes and defrauding the publicke revenewes doth not binde one unto sinne but onely to punishment and he that doth not pay if he can but flye from it remaines not guilty before the Divine Majesty and contrarywise that every becke of Ecclesiasticall persons without any other thought ought to be taken for a Divine Precept and binds the Conscience And this Doctrine perchance is the cause of all inconveniences which are felt in this Age. There want not in Italy pious and learned persons which hold the truth but they are not suffered to write nor to print Something comes written from another place but presently it is prohibited And little thought is taken of Hereticall Books especially those that treate of the Articles of Faith but if any one comes that defends the Prince his Temporall Authority and saith that Ecclesiasticall persons are also subject to publicke functions and punishable if they violate the publicke tranquility these are condemned bookes and persecuted more than others They have gelded the bookes of ancient Authors by new printing of them and taken out all which might serve for Tempoporall authority In the yeare 1607. they printed in Rome with publicke authority a Booke intituled Index Expurgatorius where they did note the places which in divers Authors ought to be cancelled in which book every one may with eyes behold what things are taken away or changed in many good Authors which did defend the Authority given by God to the Prince So that at this present in reading of a Booke a man can no more finde what the Authors meaning was but onely what is the Court of Romes who hath altered every thing And that above all things would be thought incredible if it were not seene in Print Pope Clement the eight