sugo ond'ella quasi mystica vite mantien l'unità e'l vigore ne ' palmiti delle Chiese Christiane 'T is by means of these Riches that the Court of Rome keeping it self up in reputation and authority it gives Laws l. 16. c. 8. and even Being to all the Body of the Church whereof it is the Head corte Romana la quale è il capo che non solo da le leggi ma l'essere a questo corpo Reason XVII In every natural Body animate and liveing there must be two distinct sort of humours one courser as the blood flegm the two biles yellow and black now in the Body of the Church the Prelates be as these humours The other humours are subtile and are called Spirits which are most purified and the most active parts of the blood these be the Instruments which serve the Soul to give the Body all its motion The Monks and Religious Orders in the Church are as the Spirits They live purified from all love and esteem of things of the Earth l. 8. c. 17. dispreggiatrici d'ogni cosa terrena These two sorts of humours in the Body are so necessary the one to the other that he that should go about to separate the Spirits from the grosser humours and to keep nothing but pure Spirits upon pretence that they be the purest and contribute most to action would quickly see those Spirits to fail and evaporate for lack of matter to vegetate them and feed them gli spiriti soli nell'animale fanno le funzioni vitali adunque direbbe taluno l. 9. c. 9. e che servono tanti umori più grossi Servono à molto senza questi non formerebbono e non si conserverebbono gli spiriti cosà accade nel proposto nostro If you ask to what purpose then do Cardinals Arch-Bishops and Bishops and other Prelates full of felicity according to the flesh serve You will be answered they are very useful because without their carnal felicity the Priests which are bred up in the Seminaries or in the Religious Orders and which be in the state of perfection would not be maintained protected or directed as they be and upheld by the Prelates who govern the Church and who nevertheless cannot or will not bring themselves to live like them Ibid. un tal numero di sacerdoti perfeti si va formando nelle scuole ò degli ordini religiosi ò de' Seminarii chiericali e questi non durerebbono al mondò se non fossero alimentati da ' Prelati che governano la chiesa i quali non possono ò diciamo ancora non vogliono ridursi à quel rigore di vita Thus then as there would be no Priests perfect in the World if there were no Rich Prelates able to maintain them it is evident that the perfection of the Church who is the Body of Jesus Christ and his Holy and altogether pure Spouse is totally founded upon the vast Riches of the Roman Court and upon those sweet gentle and yet efficacious means which she is able to invent to heap them up After a Body hath well considered these two sort of Persons which make up the Church the Priests Spiritual who are animated with zeal altogether pure di purissimo zelo l. 9. c. 9. and the Rich Prelates who are carnal and who would not serve God if they were not very Rich because they have no mind to strain up themselves unto the Priests perfection One ought to conclude that these two parts of the Church have need one of the other In somma chi ben considera ogni parte di quella republica l'una è bisognosa dell'altra Ibid. And as it would be an Atheistical impiety seeing the Body even but of a fly to maintain that all the parts which compose it came together after that fashion casually or by chance neither can it be any less but impiety Ibid. to have such like thoughts of the Body of the Church s'è impietà d'ateista il tener che sia casuale il corpo naturale d'una mosca non sarà il creder tale il corpo civile della chiesa So that 't is clearly to be an Atheist to be perswaded that the carnal felicity of the Court of Rome is not conformable to the intention of God or that t' were better for the Church to convert the cheif and best part of its vast riches for relieving the poor and miserable rather than before all things to found the felicity according to the flesh of the Roman Court. Reason XVIII There is not seen in any part of the World where ever it be a Republick that keeps up the Nobility so flourishing and in such great number as the Christian Republick l. 1. c. 25. nessun ' altra republica come la Christiana conserva in tanto numero ed in tanto fiore la nobilità Nobility is the Nurse of civility Honourableness Vertue and Wit che vuol dire la nutrice della creanza dell'onorevolezza della virtù dell'ingegno How does the Church do to keep up her Noblemen thus fashion Why here 's the Secret 'T is by means of her Riches because that having great Dignities and great Revenues to set before all Noblemen who to have them will but keep themselves unmarried she wins them after this manner and they thereupon resolve to profess continence to possess what the Church proposes to them ciò auviene perche allettando nella Republica Christiana con le dignità e con l'entrate i nobili à professar Celibato Ibid. Hence it comes to pass that the younger Nobility have no need to share Estates with their elder Brothers Inheritances by this means are kept from being dismembred without which the Rent charges upon the elder Brothers Ibid. would be intollerable succede che gli patrimonii delle famigli si mantengono uniti là dove per altro gli usi della primogeniture rinscirebbono intolerablii Now would all these great goods come to pass if Church-means were bestowed on the poor Is it not plain that this policy is worthy of a God incarnate and of the blood which he shed to merit this carnal felicity for his Church il governo disegnato da Christo l. 1. c. 25. l. 1. c. 9. il thesore della Chiesa essersi acquistato da Christo If the Church were poor should one see the flower of the Nobility of litterature and of Virtue consecrate themselves to the service of the Altar if the Pope had not such ample rewards to bestow Would the Church be honoured with that soveraign splendour which Noblemen bring her by serving her l. 1. c. 25. di sì ampii guiderdoni che dispensa il Pontefice risulta alla Religione quel sommo splendore mentre il fiore della nobilità della dottrina della virtù si consecra agli altari di Christo All these Noblemen do not love God
l'anima che tiene in unità tanti regni e costituisce i paesi à lei ubbedienti un corpo politico il più Formidabile il più Virtuoso il più Litterato il più felice che fia in terra Such is then the Fidelity and Glory of the Court of Rome according to the Flesh and such is the Temporal Felicity of that Church for this same Felicity according to the Flesh is a means most gentle and at the same time most efficacious to form the Temporal Greatness of the Church as will be seen in the following Chapter CHAP. IV. Twenty Reasons that prove the necessity of the Riches Honours and Voluptuousness of the Church to make thereof a Gospel according to the Flesh the Vocation of all the World to Faith and a part of that World to the Ecclesiastick Life without which Riches Honours and Voluptuousness the Church having no Reputation among them who fancy those things would perish not being able to subsist happy according to the Flesh if her Ministers were poor as formerly and if they had not vast Riches as the Glorious Cardinals who are at this day the Pope's Courtiers Here also shall be shewn the unluckiness the shamefulness and even the Vice of Poverty whereof God in his Providence is no Author but Sin or only Fortune which on this score may be accused as the Enemy of Virtue ARTICLE I. Corrupt Nature loves Riches Honours and carnal Pleasures if the Church had not of them to propose and bestow there would be but few Christians The Church is composed of three sorts of Persons The Magnificence and Stateliness of Rome is able to work the Conversion of the Mahometan Princes The Popes must have somewhat else to be for them beside God THe Pope's power being without Armed Forces cannot make Infidels to believe or to list themselves in the Churches Communion but through fair and gentle means but still efficacious by accommodating it self to Natures corrupted inclinations as hath been said for man seeing he does Idolize himself would never be ruled if he were not ticed and wheadled on by promises and recompences l. 1. c. 25. l'huomo ch' è l'idolo di se stesso non si coudurrebbe mai senon allettato dal premio Therefore it is that the Romanists are at so much costs for Stages or Theatres and in Shows or Spectacles of Devotion because people do naturally love Voluptuousness and will do any thing for its sake after the inclinations of corrupt Nature this corruption is such that if the Church had not the greatest of all Voluptuousness according to the Flesh to set before and propose to those which She calls to Her Faith the greatest part of Christians would go seek their Fortune out of the Church the Church would lose her Reputation and all her esteem l. 5. c. 10. which is the Basis that holds up all the Engines of her Policy la stima ch' è la â—ase di questo machine The better to conceive this kind of Verity we must make a distinction of Three sorts of people which make Three kinds of vocation to this Faith the first are those who live in the Faith only out of pure zeal di purissimo zelo l. 9. c. 9. and which serve the Church out of pure spirit and courage servon la Chiesa per solo spirito Ibid. and these be those which are the purely spiritual that would love God though there were no Temporal Goods to be hoped for because they slight all temporal things l. 8. c. 17. dispreggiatrici d'ogni cosa terrena The second be those which are made up of Flesh and Spirit and which are willing to enjoy besides God as much of the goods of the world as Law will permit Ibid. composti di Carne di Spirito desiderano per quanto la legge di Dio permette anche i beni di questa vita so they must have a Felicity composed of Spirit and of Flesh and they would not be so in love as they are with Religion if they did not give them hopes of worldly Goods l. 9. c. 9. non si nutrirebbe così universalmente l'affetto alla Religione The Third sort be those who are stark carnal and which are taken up more with those things that are seen than with those which are not seen these be the greatest number of all Ibid. molti ancora maggiormente s'affezzionano à quel che si vede che à quel che sicrede Now though this be an ill Quality the wicked being wicked only because they prefer the Goods of the Body before those of the Soul and Spirit l. 6. c. 12. i malvaggi sono malvaggi per che antepongono i beni del corpo à quei dello spirito nevertheless this disposition of theirs is in some sort not so bad then if having such a mind as they have after worldly Goods they should spend them in the Service of Jupiter and Mars rather than in the Service of Jesus Christ and his Church so that the Church accommodating it self to their corrupt inclination calls them to its Faith and its Communion by setting before them and proposing to them greater worldly Goods and greater Voluptuousnesses even according to the Flesh than they could have if they abode in the Service of Jupiter and Mars Ibid. ma pur servono al culto di Christo dove prima servivasi à queldi Giove e di Marte Look ye there then what it is that keeps the Church up in esteem even amongst people stark carnal l. 23. c. 3 per conservarla in estimazione anche presso gl'imperfetti Now this Esteem brings forth Veneration and Veneration is the Basis of the Churches Empire Introd c. 6. quella venerazione ch' è la base del loro imperio for without this great Veneration that the Carnal Ones have for the Church it were not possible to keep the people in nor to tame them and make them keep on the Yoke l. 2. c. 3. richiedendosi grand aiuto di venerazione per ch' egli si contenti di ricevere in bocca il freno the Veneration that these Imperfect Ones have for the Church being founded upon the Carnal Felicity which she puts them in hope of there 's no body but may see how greatly this Felicity is needful to make a Catholick and Universal Vocation of all the World to the Churches Faith without this Felicity the Church having but a small concourse of these Faithful Ones l. 15. c. 5. would fall into contempt poverâ— di concorso vile d'autorità but on the contrary the alone Magnificence of the Buildings at Rome since Two Hundred Years agon is able to strike admiration into all Infidel and Mahometan Princes and to convert them to this Faith l. 8. c. 17. tanto che tali opere pie fatte in Roma in solo due secoli bastarebbono per render venerabile
Therefore Kings and People adore the Pope's hands l. 24. c. ult l. 14. c. 10. adorato sua mano they adore his Crown corona Pontificale and his Diadem l. 1. c. 25. si tratta di mantenir l'adorato diademate nel fronte al mio principe In fine they regard him as their Lord nostro Signore l. 21. c. 6. ARTICLE III. The Popes Monarchy over the World is necessary for the Church THe Church is a Body composed of all the Catholick Kingdoms and Republicks of the World which be the Members thereof And in every State or Republick all the Dioceses with their Bishops are also Members of that Body And as in compounded natural Bodies there be many particular Forms because every Member hath its own Form so every Diocese and every Kingdom and Republick hath its particular Form that is to say its Bishop its King or its Superior and Head in whom resides the particular superior power But as in the compounded Natural Body 't is impossible that diverse Forms which have no order nor relation among themselves can be able to govern because they would separate Unity So it is impossible that Church-Unity can subsist unless all the particular Forms of her Members have relative Order among themselves-and be subject to a Form Total and Superior to be as it were the Head and Soul of them from whence the Particulars may fetch all their direction and force l. 8. c. 17. non possono molte forme trà loro non ordinate dominare in un composto If the Church had not such a Soul viz. a Soveraign Power that gave her Form and whereby she might be directed she would not any longer deserve the name of Church non meriterebbe più la Chiesa nome di Chiesa l. 1. c. 25. cioè di congregazione mentre fosse disgregata per tante membre senza haver l'unità da un anima che le informasse e le reggesse It would be but a Crowd of men without Order not a Body Organick and Formed unless it received the Unity of a Form total proper to animate it and rule it Ibid. numero aggregato accidentale s'ella non riceve l'unità con una forma che la indirizzi e la governi Now then supposing that the Pope is the Head and Soul of that Body that stretcheth it self through the World whereof all States and Dioceses of the Universe are Members the union and submission of these Members to this their Head who is the Soul of them forms the perfect band of the Life Politick l. 3. c. 10. una congiunzione di vita perfettamente politica The Pope's Authority is the Basis the Band and the moving Intelligence of this Body's Government l. 1. c. 25. del qual governo la base il legame e l'intelligenza motrice è l'aurità del Pontifice So that what ought not a man to suffer rather than let himself be separated from this good Soul from which one draws all his Being his Unity his Direction his Motion and Intelligence per non separarsi da quest ' anima l. 3. c. 10. for what can the hands and feet in man's Body do if they do not receive all their direction and force from one sole Head che potrebbono li mani ed i piedi se non ricevessero tutta la direzione e tutta la forza d'un solo capo ARTICLE IV. The Power of the Pope is Independent from every Creature and without Limits The Riches of the World are his Revenue THe Popes Soveraignty being then so vast it extends through all Countries as the Soul does through all parts of the Body un principato vasto e di varie nazioni l. 23. c. 11. and like as the Soul in the most raised operations of her Intelligence depends not of her Members so the Pope's power is independent from every Creature and unlimited autorità illimitata ed independente l. 8. c. 17. 'T is a power more than humane and which as such ought to be adored l. 24. c. ult con debito d'adorarla che impone la sopra umana sua dignità 't is as it were a divine state l. 1. c. 2. stato quasi divino And as the Members obey the Soul without asking it a Reason so every one is bound to obey the Pope even when his Orders be unreasonable Indeed he doth sin when he ordains any thing against Reason but he that obeys him doth not sin ende peccaben in concederle l. 21. c. 60. non i famigli inferiori in usarle In this Quality of King and absolute Soveraign he has for Revenue and Inheritance the Goods of all his Subjects to wit of all the Kings of the World and of all their Subjects l. 1. c. 1. havendo per lor patrimonio le sustanze de' sudditi he hath power to dispose thereof even against their will l. 6. c. 3. con autorità à di commandare alle persone e di maneggiar le robbe per raggion propria ed eziandio con altrui repugnanza And by consequence Kings and their Kingdoms be Tributaries to him and that with Reason for every Parish finds its Parson and furnishes him with all that 's necessary for his Ministry l. 1. c. 25. ogni terra gli somministra à suo piovano Every Diocess does likewise so in respect of its Bishop proportionably and as 't is meet for the Rank that he holds in the Church above Parish-Priests Ibid. ogni Diocese al suo vescovo Every State does the same proportionably towards its Prince Ibid. ogni stato al suo Principe Thus 't is manifest That all the Prelates and Kings of the World do owe to their Monarch the same Contributions proportionably Ibid. molti stati e regni insieme al loro Monarca As the Pope is Monarch of the whole World it is clear That his Revenues be laid and set out for him upon the whole World Ibid. questi ritratti si cavan da tutti i regni del Christianesimo ARTICLE V. The Pope may compel Kingdoms to pay him Tribute To dispute this Power with him is Treason THat which is considerable herein is That as the Soul hath power to oblige the Body to render it the service it ought because all the service which the Body owes to the Soul has no other End but the common Good of the one and the other So the Pope who is Soul of the Universal Body of the Church having no End but the common Good of the Church hath power to constrain all the Communities which make Parts of his Body to pay him the Tributes due to him sutable to the Grandeur of his Administration l. 1. c. 25. quali richiedonsi alla grandezza di sua amministratione 'T is for their own Good that he may oblige them to it for one must do good to Communities as one does to Children even against their wills
l. 17. c. 10. qual più tritto proverbio che quello à fanciulli e à communi convien fare il bene contra lor voglia He that hath power to bring to the End hath power to levy the means as for example the Church hath power to constrain people to receive the Sacraments 't is necessary then that she should have power to compel those things which be necessary to that end l. 17. p. 10. se la chiesa può costringere i fedeli à pigliar i Sacramenti li può costringere à tutto il necessario per l'amministrazione di essi Now the prime thing that is necessary for the Administration of the Sacraments is a competent maintenance for the Ministers Ibid. com' è in primo luogo la sostentazione de' Ministri So the Pope being prime Minister of the Sacraments and of the Government Ecclesiastick there 's nothing more plain than the power he has to constrain the whole Catholick Christian World to pay him Tribute this Demonstration is most clear Ibid. questa chiarissima dimostratione This supposed who is it that can deny it to be Treason to say one ought not to pay to a Prince the Tributes which be due to him l. 23. c. 3. si come verrebbe accusato di lesa Maestà chi affirmasse doversi levare à Principi secolari i loro tributi In greater Reason then it must be a greater crime for him that would take away from the Prince of the Church and Vicar of Jesus Christ the Fruits that are due to him from particular Churches according to Reason Ibid. Equity and Custom così di molti più grave delitto è reo chi vuol'torre al principe della chiesa e Vicario di Christo li frutti che à lui son ' debiti dalle chiese particolari secondo la ragione l'equità e la consuetudine For the Revenues for example which come of Indulgences and other like Graces are as his Gables l. 9. c. 3. il medesimo in tutte le Gabelle Imposts being necessary in all sorts of Government l. 16. c. 8. in ogni principato essendo necessarie le imposizioni ARTICLE VI. The Pope's Authority is conformable to Nature according to Aristotle the Pope ought not to give reason for the using of his Power it hath no other Limit nor other Reason but Such is our Pleasure VVE have seen how the Union and Submission of the whole Body of the Church to its Head and its Soul which is forsooth the Pope makes the perfect Band of the Life Politick and that the end of this Life is the common Good of the whole Compound to which it is natural according to Aristotle that all the Members do contribute This Philosopher hath made no difficulty to say That as a Hand which doth not serve the Interest of the Body from whose good estate the good even of every particular Member derives it self could not be called a Hand unless in an equivocal sence so the man which serves not the common Good of the whole Body of the Commonwealth but hath his particular Interests for his Ends cannot be called a man unless in an equivocal sense l. 3. c. 10. la qual congiunzione è sì naturale che Aristotele hebbe à dire che si come la mano che non serve à l'intero corpo dal cuibuono stato ridonda il bene di ciascuno membro dicesi equivocamente mano cosi l'huomo che habbia per fine il privato suo prò e non il commune dal quale deriva ogni ben privato chiamarsi equivocamente huomo Now he that is but a man in an equivocal sense cannot be a faithful Christian Prince nor King but in an equivocal sense and no other this is the essential Reason that all Princes and People have to be the Pope's Subjects if they will remain true Princes or true Christians he is not obliged to give you the reason for his power having power in quality of Soveraign to dispose l. 6. c. 3. according to his liking of persons and of Goods as he thinks fit con autorità di commandare alle persone e di maneggiare le robe per raggion propria ed eziandio con altrui repugnanza If it were otherwise a man might upon every occasion contest all his Orders and Commands as null under pretence that they were not reasonable l. 19. c. 6. gli si potesse muover sempre questione di nullità con allegare difetto della sufficiente ragione and of Prince as the Pope is Ibid. he would be made subject to his Subjects Orders che sarebbe costituirlo di principe ch'egli è soggetto al giudicio de' suoi soggetti For avoiding then all these kinds of contradictions he may order it and every one is obliged to pay him all that he demands senza esprimer veruna ragione l. 23. c. 8. there 's no need for him to alledge any other cause unless Such is Our Pleasure 'T is Pleasure that is the Rule of all Natural Equity and all that is done against this good Pleasure is but Violence l. 3. c. 13. violento facendosi contra il gusto del Papa In fine the Pope himself is his own Law l. 20. c. 5. il Pontefice esser legge à se stesso for example suppose that the Pope had no other reason for granting his Pardons but the Money he gains thereby and the Income which rifes thereof this only Reason is sufficient to justifie all his Orders essere in verità gran ragione quella grossa multa l. 23. c. 8. Nevertheless this is said with respect to his boundless power and in it self independent illimitata ed independente taking it abstracted from honest Decorum and other Circumstances which do moderate the Pope in the usage of his Power and causes that one needs not to fear he will commit any abuses in the execution thereof for setting these aside he may do all through the plenitude of his Power l. 14. c. 14. è libero con la pienezza dell'autorità but honest decorum hinders him from doing sometimes things he could and might Ibid. l'onestà richiede che non facesse da se medesimo These were the Sentiments of Pope Pius IV. writing to the Emperor Ferdinand in which he was contrary to Pope Paul IV. Caraffa who was perswaded that his Wisdom had no other Rules for acting but those forsooth of his infinite power che tutta l'ampiezza del suo potere fosse anche la misura di saggiamente esercitarlo ARTICLE VII 'T is not to be feared that the Pope will abuse his Power and that for divers Reasons THere is no fear the Pope will abuse his All-puissancy 1 He is Elected by a Senate of Cardinals l. 1. c. 25. da un Senato di Cardinali whose lives for the most part Ibid. are very exemplary tanta esemplarità in
molti del Senato Apostolico 2. They Elect him ordinarily from among themselves Ibid. fra un senato di Cardinali They chuse him when he is old and a tried one l. 12. c. 15. huomo vecchio provato the most pious and the wisest which they think fit for the place pio e savio l. 19. c. 6. 3. The Pope hath Sentiments of humane Honour per senso d'onore umano l. 1. c. 25. 4. He hath Remorse of Conscience i rimorsi della coscienza l. 19. c. 6. 5. Being good judicious and experienc'd 't is morally impossible that he should not govern the Church either right well or at least in tolerable manner he is aided by able Ministers l. 1. c. 25. and with Motives of Honour and Policy si può sperar che si elegga quasi sempre tale che per giudicio per bontà per esperienza e quando tutte mancasse per aiuto di Ministri e per senso d'onore umano governi ò bene ò tolerabilmente la chiesa 6. 'T is his Policy to do so for his Empire not being able to stand without the peoples Veneration and Devotion 't is of utmost consequenee to him to do nothing that may cause him to lose that Devotion which maintains his Power Intr. p. 6. ed in risguardo eziandio d'interesse umano il dimostra sarebbe un tal modo troppo dannoso à quella venerazione ch' è la base l. 23. c. 5. del loro imperio .... questa podestà la quale non hà altri littori che la divozione de' sudditi ARTICLE VIII Difference betwixt the Pope's Policy and the Turk's Kings need not to fear the Pope's Power but in case of Rebellion against God or his Viceroy upon Earth THe Grand Seignor's ultimate End is his own Felicity and his means to arrive at it is to make his People miserable l. 5. c. 6. qual è la Politica del dominio Turchesco but the Pope's end is the Publick Felicity of the Church which is his Body and whereof he is the Soul the Head and the common Father The Grand Seignor is free and all his Subjects are Slaves e teene loro in miseria per ch'egli goda which is an execrable Policy as Slaves he commands them with Sword in hand being obeyed out of dread The Ecclesiastick Power of the Pope l. 12. c. 3. is a Power unarmed la podestà goduta dal summo Pontefice pure è disarmata Whence it is though of right the Pope has power to compell Peoples Obedience to his Authority yet having no force joyned to his Supreme Authority all its Power as to its execution depends on the inclination of the People on their Veneration and their Piety therefore it is that the Pope for to succeed in his Designs ought to accommodate himself to the Peoples inclinations l. 9. c. 9. though corrupt dovendo egli governare gli huomini quali Iddio e la natura producono al mondo The Great Turk never informs himself concerning the inclinations of his People he does all by force by Authority and through a Spirit of Domination so that there 's nothing more execrable than the Turk's Policy nothing more mild more natural than the Pope's there 's no Republick in the World more happy even according to the Flesh than that which lives under his Empire l. 3. c. 10. un corpo politico il più felice che sia in terra The Kings and Princes of the World have nothing to fear from the Pope's Power except in case of a declared Rebellion against God l. 12. c. 3 tal che non può temere ne de forze ne dalle volontà di si fatti huomini se non in caso d'un aperta sua ribellione contra Dio that they attack God through Heresie or else his prime Minister and Viceroy General upon Earth to suppress his power in these Cases the Secular Powers indeed have great reason to be apprehensive of the Ecclesiastick for that their People through veneration for the Pope and through Sentiments of Religion would rise in Rebellion if not always at least often enough against such their Princes being once declared Enemies by the Pope la secolare hà gran raggion di temerla perche se non sempre Ibid. almeno spesso la venerazione de' popoli e'l rispetto della Religione muove i sudditi à sollevarsi contra'l principe temporale quando egli vuol'supprimere la podestà spirituale Or else when Kings do publickly violate Justice as Henry VIII King of England By example of that King all others may observe how fast the Pope holds that when a humor takes Christian Princes to violate Justice and Religion without being by any means to be brought back to their Duty they are alwayes to apprehend the Arms of the Vatican l. 3. c. 15. Si è mantenuto il possesso che tutti i principi Christiani qualunque volta disegnino di violare incorrigibilmente la giustizia e la Religione Ibid. temano l'armi del Vaticano L'e sempio di lui non può dar ardimento à potentati Catolici d'esser ' impii senza terrore After this Example there is no Catholick Prince who ought not to tremble when he dares but think of becoming impious ARTICLE IX Of the Peoples Soveraign Power in the Church THe Cardinal assures us at last That it is the People have the Soveraign power in the Church if not of right and in reason l. 1. c. 9. yet at least in fact and by force il quale volgo finalemente hà la suprema potenza e però se non di raggione almeno di fattò è il supremo de' tribunali the people quoth he l. 2. c. 4. is more powerful than all the Laws essendo il popolo più potente d'ogni legge So there needs the utmost skill to hold them in and without the succors of great respect and of some Love 't is hard to make them to like the yoke of Obedience Ibid. e pero richiedonsi gran ' destrezza nel frenarlo e grand'aiuto di venerazione e d'amore perch'egli si contenti di ricevere in bocca il freno 'T is by the greatest number that at last things are decided and at bottom this is the greatest Potentate of the world l. 1. c. 24. imperciò che la moltitudine finalmente è il maggior potentato del mondo for the Multitude have more hands than the small number of their Superiors and when all those hands unite they make a power that renders its self Mistress of the World l. 9. c. 9. perche hanno più mani le quali quando s'accordano sono le padrone del mondo The Ecclesiastical Superiors ought above all to be perswaded of this Politick Maxim That all their power as to its effect and execution is upheld by the
quiete è la felicità mondana de' popoli l. 14. c. 8. Reason XI Quoth the Cardinal I willingly allow that those heaps of excessive Wealth in one sole Person is an offence against distributive justice l. 8. c. 17. aggiungo che i medesimi eccessi dell'entrate Ecclesiastiche i quali cadono quivi in una persona stessa con offessa della giustitia distributiva 'T is a sin 't is true but a sin which is turned into good for an infinite company of men convertonsi in beneficio d'innumerabili Because remorse of Conscience and desire of reputation put together spur on Rich Prelates to undertake Magnificent works of Piety which bring great honour to God great relief to the Poor setting them on work for the Ornament of the City and Royal Ecclesiastical Court in so much that such very buildings are enough to make Converts of Infidel and Mahometan Princes nel sollevamento delle povertà Ibid. l. 23. c. 11. nel fomento della virtù nel esecuzione di pie opere grandi All this would never be if Prelates were not rich and if the chief and best Portion of the Churches goods were distributed among the Poor and there would be a great evil in the Church whereof this pretended Charity for the Poor would be the ground Now that which is the ground of so great an evil is worse than a sin according to our Cardinal so that this pretended Charity for the Poor which would hinder the carnal felicity of Churchmen would be worse according to him than sin Reason XII The Prelates will not reduce themselves to as strict a life as Monks l. 9. c. 9. non vogliono ridursi à quel rigore di vita But yet through their Riches they be the props of those Holy Academies of Ecclesiastical perfection Ibid. sono il sostegno di queste santo palestre di perfezione Ecclesiastica So that this can be no less than the Churches great Zeal and great Wisdom gran zelo e gran saviezza nella chiesa that hath setled so many Millions of Rent throughout all the extent of Christendom to imploy only for rewarding of those which labour in the perfection of others which the Prelates themselves will not attend to l. 9. c. 9. il costituir tanti milioni di rendite ù mercede solo di questi Ministri Reason XIII Put case quoth our Cardinal that all Benefices were infructuous bringing in no Revenue to the incumbents siano ministerii infruttiferi what would come out One should see presently fall to ground the Ecclesiastical Order upon which depends the exercise the knowlege and the Port or stateliness of Religion tosto vedremo cader quell'ordine dal quale dipende l'esercitio la notitia e'l mantenimento della Religione For no body would undergo the Clergy's single life and other fatigues of their Order for pure love's sake towards God Reason XIV The Cardinals being deprived of these vast Riches could not live l 23. c. 11. l. 12. c. 13. non potrebbono vivere i Cardinali il Senato Romano rimanerebbe privo del vitto The Roman Senate would be deprived of lively-hood Reason XV. Without these excessive Riches the so glittering splendour of the Roman Court would be extinct therefore the instructions of the French Ambassadour at the Councel of Trent containing Articles which tended to impoverish the Court of Rome one sees cleerly that France by that its proposed Reformation went about to take away from the Court of Rome its splendour and soveraign Authority l. 16. c. 10. i quali tutti si riducevano à torre al Pontefice la collazione de' benefici la riserbazione delle pensioni la riscossione degli emolumenti ed in somma à levar lo splendore e l'imperio della Corte Romana Reason XVI If the Riches of the Romish Prelates were not excessive the Principality of the Apostolick See would fall to nought l. 8. c. 17. mancherebbe il principato Ecclesiastico che mantiene in unità in regola ed in decoro tutta la Chiesa And the Reason is that the Roman Court is the most excellent School wherein all men's Wits who may be fit to rule in the Church ought to be refined that they may be capeable thereof otherwise they would remain ignorants in Policy Ibid. senza affininarsi in dottrina ed in senno nell'excellente scuola della frequenza like to your petty Bishops or Prelates which are confined to scurvy little Places and are obliged to stick to the exercises of their Proper Functions of the Altar and the Quire l. 17. c. 10. confinarsi in piccioli luoghi all'esercizio privato dell'altare e del coro For unless the Courtiers of Rome had hopes of great rewards Ibid. Rome would have no Courtiers for God's sake non rimanesse in piede una Reggia universale della Chiesa i cui stanziali ed ufficiali potessero sperar gran ' premii Now if the Roman Court were no more in the bravery and splendour wherein now it is and big through the concourse of so many Barons and Princes which through their Birth or Dignity are the Columns of the Church and which are not come thus together to Court but only out of hopes of great and mighty Riches whereunto they aspire what would become of the Church The Court of such a Monarch is a most excellent Workhouse where every thing that is an Artifice in the World and the most cleaver shifts are woven and wrought dexterously and by consequence one learns there more perfectly to know them and toward them off with address l. 1. c. 23. Corte d'un Monarcha ciò e una di quelle officine dove i più fini artificii sà come perfettemente si lavorano così sottilmente si riconoscono There it is that one may say humane understanding is perfected and becomes refined to the supream Degree in all the subtilties of Religious Policy Intr. c. 3. raffinatissimo in tutte le sottilezze dell'umana politica If then the Church were deprived of her Universal Court where the sleights of all other Courts might be as it were refined what would become of her Unity her splendour and all the Rules of her Discipline wherein she is upheld by the Roman Court What would become of this Roman Court without vast Riches Which as t' were by way of circulation flow to her from all the parts of the Churches Body to be sent forth again from thence and to carry life up and down 'T is evident then that Riches are the blood of the Church and that her Soul and life are in this blood Wordly goods and pleasures are the best juice which the Roman Court as a mystick Vine sucks from all parts of the Universe and by means whereof she keeps life Unity l. 6. c. 7. and vigour in all branches of the Church that are planted and flourish all Christendom over il miglior
there were no other reason for exemption of Chapters but to show the Popes Royal Sovereignty which is the foundation of the Church for it appears that it is a most puissant means to establish the Popes power and the gallantry and riches of the Roman Court. The eleventh Means Privileging the Monastical Orders One of the Principal advantages which comes to the Church by the exemption of the Regulars is maintaining the authority of the Apostolick See according to the institution of Jesus Christ and the general good of the Church l. 12. c. 13. jo non nego che un de profitti che arreca l'Ezenzione de Regolari degli Ordinarii sia il mantener l'autorità della sede Apostolica secundo l'istituzione di Christo e'l ben della chiesa Because we see that all Monarchical Government for the keeping up it self without suffering diminution had need to have in every Province some powerful Body of Subjects independant from those who be the ordinary and perpetual Superiours or Magistrates there ibid. veggendo noi che ogni governo Monarchico per conservarsi illeso hà bisogno d'haver in qualunque provincia qualche nervo prevalente de sudditi independenti da chi è quivi superiore immediato e perpetuo Yet as mens opinions be divers these priviledges to the Monastical Orders which make the force of the Church and the principal sinew of the Pope's Power did not quite please St. Bernard questa raggione però come son ' varie le opinioni degli huomini non l. 8. c. 17. sodisfece pienamente à San ' Bernardo because he feared that the desire of exemption came from some hidden sentiment of Pride l. 8. c. 17. il quale dubito che il desideriò d'esenzione dal proprio Vescovo potesse nascere da occulto Spirito superbia But on the other side Nicholas Machiavel remains agreed of the profitableness of these Exemptions and that t' was in them that the Prophecy was fulfilled which said that the Monks should uphold the Church of St. John of Lateran ready to fall that is to say the whole Church non in altro modo i predetti ordini sarebbou valuti à sostenar la crollante basilica di Laterano cioè la Chiesa Catolica profezia auvera ta per confessione dello stesso Nicolo Machiavelli Here 's then the advantage of the Politick conduct of every well-govern'd Monarchy to have certain persons in places distant from the Sovereign which have power without limits as for example the Romans gave it to their Generals ibid. percio che ad impresse grandi e in regioni lontane dal supremo richiedesi autorità illimitata ed independente quale usarone di dare i Romani à lor condottori All the religious Orders are every man as it were so many Generals of the Popes Army throughout the Earth and as so many Roman Chieftains who living above an humane life would not uphold such a Monarchy as the Pope's if it were tyrannical which makes it appear that this same Monarchical all-puissantness of the Pope is of Jesus Christ's institution But that wherein the religious Orders serves yet further to advance the splendour of the Court of Rome is that making profession of single Life they quit their paternal Estates to their brethren and Kinsfolk una utilità delle grandi che riceve la Republica per la felicità civile dell'istituti Religiosi l. 4. c. 6. their kindred becoming rich by that means they become the Pillars of the Temple and the Columns of the Church l. 9. c. 9. l. 17. c. 9. che per altezza de sangue sono i Pilastri del tempio Il chiericato mantien la richezza e'l decoro delle stirpi e per conseguente la nobilità è gli spiriti d'onore One's piety makes t'other get a great Estate hence comes forth Abbeys which are afterwards put in Commendams and they become great Benefices whose revenues stream forth even to Rome to be digested in the stomach of St. Peter And thus it is that all the members of the Church serve to enrich the Court of Rome and to uphold its bravery thus it is that that Court is the Churches soul and its moving intelligence The twelfth Means The establishment of Colleges of Jesuits and of the Holy Inquisition It hath been seen that Policy is the prime and most excellent vertue of all the moral vertues because her Object is the happiness of the Common-wealth not onely according to the spirit but according to the flesh secondo la carne Now the corruption of the greatest Good produces the greatest Evil il pessimo esser suol una corruzione de l'ot timo l. 17. c. 2. l. 1. 13. It follows then that the greatest of all the Churches Evils is Ignorance of Policy It hath been seen that private Bishops doe not skill this excellent virtue because the excellent school where this Science is learned is the Roman Court where a man is refined in this virtue That 's the shop or workhouse where all the sleights of Policy are learnt and where cunning prudence may be gotten and subtlety of Wit sottile ingegno fina prudenza l 13. c. 10. The privy Counsellours of temporal Princes Courts are enough refined in temporal affaires but commonly they do not know what Religion is nor what is the onely Base which upholds it it and renders it immovable l. 16. c. 10. huomini di stato i quali spesso non ben intendono che cosa sia la Religione e qual sia l'unica Base che possa mantenerla non vacillante that is to say to speak fine and plain They do not know the mystery nor the Extent of the Pope's onely universal Monarchy whereof all Kings are subjects and all Catholick Kingdoms the demean lands with an all-puissantness to dispose of all things etiam sine causa as it hath been explained It was upon the principles of this Ignorance that the instructions of Monsr de Lansac the French Ambassadour at the Council of Trent were framed these instructions were composed of four and thirty Articles all opposite to that which makes for the Popes Royalty in the Church and his absolute Empire over the whole Universe and which in conclusion tended to throw down the Roman Court both splendour and Empire thereof l. 16. c. 10. tutte contrarie al Pontefice ò puì tosto al Pontificato e contenute nella sua istruzione i quali tutti si riducevano à levar lo splendore e l'imperio della Corte Romana What specifick remedy for such a disease doubtless there could not be a better then for all Bishops yea even for Parish Priests to be educated and refined in the excellent school of the Court of Rome But that is not done in default thereof it could be wished that at least all the Heads of Houses in Universities had studyed there but that 's against their
Statutes In fine what then is the last Expedient but that all not being able to goe to Rome to take in the Politick spirit there Means should be found out to make it come from Rome and disperse it over the world 'T was said 100 years agoe that the Holy Ghost was brought from Rome to the Council of Trent in a Clokebag l. 16. c. 10. la Spirito Sancto veniva portato nella valigia This proposition appeared injurious to the Holy Ghost to the Pope and to the Council yet our Cardinal Historian expounds it learnedly and makes it out how it is conformable even to the Doctrine of S. Augustin and that Pope Innocent X in effect to condemn Jansenius thought it not unfit to order the exteriour light of the Holy Ghost to be brought in a Clokebag to Rome from all Quarters of the Church which he consulted Leo X did the same when he condemned the heresy of Luther Ibid. non hanno s'degnato di procaciar l'esterna luce dello Spirito Sancto à se stessi per le vaglie de' corrieri avauci di condannar le opinioni è di Lutero e di Jansenio Now the exteriour light is alwaies accompanied with the interiour which is the Soul thereof and which is that wich is called sufficient Grace to know the Truth and to follow it which is not wanting to any one So that which is called sufficient grace to condemn Jansenius was brought in some sort in a Clokebag to Pope Innocent X as one may say that the Horse that carries the Body of a living man carries also his Soul otherwise sufficient grace might fail those which doe all their endeavour to know the Truth and condemn Heresy and they would condemn it blindfold Ibid. alla cieca as our Cardinal speaks There be none then but Ideots which will let themselves be scared with this Vizard of a Proverb that the Holy Ghost was carried in a Clokebag for there 's nothing more exactly true according to School Divinity and look you now the Vizard is for ever taking off which Scared Ideots l. 16. c. 10. Ecco dilegnate quelle vanissime larve discoucia apparenza che agli occhi degli Idioti potea recar una cal forma di proverbiare lo Spirito Sancto veniva portato nella valigia It being thus may not one say that the most puissant and yet the most sweet and gentle means to uphold the Universal Monarchy the Royalty and absolute Empire of the Pope over all the World which is the Fundamental Point of all the Christian Policy is to make come from Rome in a Cloak-bag the spirit of this Policy into all Quarters of the World There remains onely the nameing and chusing of the Couriers to goe along with the Males or Clokebags 1. The Religious whose Generals reside not at Rome are not fit for it 2. The Religious which doe not teach youth are unfit for it too for this Spirit must begin to be administred in tender years 3. There 's none but the Jesuites to whom this Employ can reasonably be given For 1. If to this end there need no more but to be Masters in this Policy by our Cardinal Historians Example who is of their Society it appears that they talk as if they were the Authors thereof 2. If for it there needs zeal for the Holy See there 's no body able to dispute with them that their advantage for all this Father Jesuite and Cardinal's book is full of protestations upon that Subject 3. If there onely needs testimonials of Nuncio's and Ambassadours see those of the Nuncio Commendon and of the Comte of Lune related by this our Cardinal l. 20. c. 4. 11. io per certo non hò ritrovato nelle chiese di Germania più fermo ne maggior prefidio della religione che ì Collegii dì costoro l. 15. c. 7. così piacesse à Dio che se ne fossero molti l. 20. c. 4. Onde non è dubio che quando si facessero molti collegii se ne caverebbe fructo incredibile But above all the Testimony of Pope Pius IV and that of S. Charles Borromeo are of extreme advantage for them They are related by this Cardinal in his XXIV Book chapter 6 where their Society is called Religion it self and their institution Pious Religione e l'istituto pio Now their institution is particularly destinated by their founder St. Ignatius to serve in the Missions l. 4. c. 11. istituita per sine speciale delle Missioni and 't is for this same subject that they have shunned giving to themselves any of the names which the other Monastick orders take as Father Guardians Correctours Wardens Discrets and even shunning the names of Covents Dortoirs Chapters yea and even the habits themselves though venerable elsewhere because those other sorts of habits were not very commodious to carry the Cloakbag in the Missions l. 4 c. 11. hebbesi risguardo d'astenersi dalle appellazioni e delle vesti di frate benche per altro venerabili e Sacrosante So that t is manifest that there 's nothing more important for the felicity of the Pope and the Roman Court according to the flesh secundo la carne then the establishment of Jesuites the World throughout giving them power to set up every where the Sacred Tribunal of the Inquisition for setting up whereof Pope Pius IV hath merited quoth our Cardinal l. 14. c. 9. a Praise which will be Eternal d'eterna lode lo fà degno il tribunal dell'inquisizione che dal zelo di lui riconosce il presente suo vigor nel l'Italia e dal quale l'Italia riconosce la conservata Integrità della sua fede Because it is to the Inquisition according to our Cardinal that Italy and Spain are indebted for retaining the Faith among them as to those Articles thereof which have no nearer nor immediater certainty then onely the Popes authority l. 3. c. 15. quella religione i cui articoli unitamente confiderati non hanno altra certezza prossima ed immediata che l'autorità del Pontefice CHAP. VI. Here be related the Interests and different sentiments of the Catholick Christian Crowns and Republicks according as they are more less favourable to this same Religious Policy according to the flesh And t is made appear that there 's none more opposite then those of the Crown and of the Church of France which proposed no less at the Council of Trent then to throw down the Churches Monarchy and Empire and to take away the Splendour of the Court of Rome ARTICLE I. The Estates whose Politick Maxims are favourable or opposite to this same Roman Policy OF all th Parts of Europe which have remained in the Popes Communion there appears none more considerable then Italy Germany Spain and France To know which are the States whose Politick maximes are more or less favourable to the Roman Policy