A Looking Glass for Princes and Peoples Delivered, Book 2 · Part 4 · Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX. The troubles of Germanie and France are from the Pope.
NOtwithstanding of all their Effronts they goe on in their former wickednesse, and hauehave stirred vp these late troubles in Germanie, which (though they bee amassedGermanies troubles frō diverse causes. of sundrie causes) yet the Popes hand is most in them.) Some looke no further than civill quarrels, others to the iealousie of France and Austria, which hold Europe in businesse, but vnequallie: For France content with her owne Dominions, vindicats other people from Austriaes tyrannie: And Austria sicke of the fansie of a sitfh Monarchie, vexeth it selfe to oppresse other. But the two maine causes of these broyles (vsurping over Princes, and rooting out of Protestants) flow from the Pope. As for vsurpation over Princes: Hee liketh a Monarchie for itsThe Pope an Incendiarie. forme, that hee may borrow a colour to his owne Monarchie: But hateth the power of it, because it is more vnite and strong against him, than Republicks, and because of his presage, knowing that his finall ruine shall be by Kings. Therefore hee maketh greater Princes depresse the lesser, and feedeth discords among the greater to weaken them mutuallie, and withall stirreth them vp to destroy the Protestants.
Some-times France was his first borne, when they cutWhy he prefe…s Austria to France. off the Longobards and enriched Rome: But now since the Austrian power is increased, by the continuance of the Impyre in that house, by the accesse of the Low-Countries, Portugall, America, &c. It seemeth fittest for his end: And though hee abuse the French King, in making him destroy his owne Subiects by warres and Massacres; yet(a) Rex Christianiss. dum distractus est in Subiectis—non potest aurēm praebere—ut crescenti Hispa norum potentiae in Germania se opponeret▪ Epist. C. Caraffa dat Vienn Octob. 1621. Hee feareth Austria more a speciall end of that businesse, was to bleare his eyes, that hee should not see the growth of Spaines greatnesse in Germanie. This is Apostolicke simplicitie forsooth, or rather a too great simplicitie in the Frensh to weaken themselves, and strengthen the enemie: And it is time for that King to open his eyes, and see how hee is abused, since God hath discovered their secret plots, though the Authour of that Letter commanded to burne it so soone as it was read.
But yet the Pope feareth Austria more than France: They hauehave him closed betwixt Naples and Milane, and within few dayes, may oppresse him in Rome. And Charles the fifth profaine policie is fresh in his minde, who held Clement the seventh captiue in Rome, and yet commanded the Cleargie of Spaine to pray for his deliverie. Hee serveth himselfe of the jealousies of these great houses, and assists or deserts either of them as hee seeth occasion; andThe Pope a Iuglar playeth fast or loose. in all see keth his owne securitie in their jarres: and when hee saw the Austrian to prevaile for a time in Germanie, hee inclineth now to France, not in louelove, but for his owne standing: This is his vsuall vsurpation to serue himselfe of Princes: Hee caused the Normanes expell the Greekes out of Naples: When hee wearied of the Normanes, hee assisted the Germaines against them: When hee wearied of the Germanes, hee brought in the Frensh: And last, stirred vp the Arragonians against the Frensh. When Nicolaus the second beganne that worke, Baronius called it, Divinum consilium, a divine counsell: So bee like these troubles of Germanie, are a divine counsell with them.
With this vsurpation over Princes, hee intendeth mainlie the rooting out of Protestant Religion, and for thatHee intends the rooting out of Protestants. end, stirred vp both France and Austria against the Protestants, which wee may perceiue in his Resolutions and practice: His Resolution is with Innocent the third, to destroy the rising trueth: This hath ever beene in following Popes, and fullie concluded in Trent. The Cardinall of Lorraine aCardin Loth practic. n. 1 Goldast. Polit. P. 1139reveales the Conclusion of Charles the ninth, Philip the second, and the Pope was ad exstirpandas Germaniae haereticos & novam toto Imperio formam instituendam ex prescripto Pontificis; and is confident that the Heretickes beeing assaulted both at home and abroad, shall be They contemnet he Germanes.killed as beastes by Dogges sent amongst them, and no wayes es…hew the snares: And againe, seeing there is so great a confederacie and power against Hereticks, both the Pope and Cardinals doe exspect shortlie so great a mischiefe on them, as shall double the ioy for the Massacre of Paris. As for the Germanes hee sayeth, that nothing is to bee feared from these improvident beasts, who know not their strength—but shall perish before they perceiue their danger. And againe, That they are so imprudent and senselesse, that they never minde to repell a common danger bAdeo imprudentes & stupidos esse. Ibid. n. 2.by common force, but everie one labours to defend their owne privatlie. And thereafter, There they are so stupide; that they know not their owne danger, till they bee overthrowne. This is the opinion of the Pope, and his Cleargie of the Germanes, which imboldneth them to abuse Germanie, as they doe.
To effectuat this end, they hauehave consederate the Emperour, Their policies. In confounding causes. Epist. Caraff Cancell Hisp p. 112. Negotium mulium concernens conservationem. &c. Epist. dat. Vien. 15. Octob. Ann. 1621.Pope, Spaine, Bavere, and the holy League (as they call it) even as the Pagan Priests stirred vp the Emperours to persecution, and contribute large money to their Armies: So now doeth the Pope and his Cleargie in the persecution of Protestants. Their wayes to worke this end are, Policie, periurie, and oppression. Their policie, first, they pretend civill causes, to hide the other plot of persecution, and yet the Emperour discoverth it in his Letter to the King of Spaine: That their businesse concerned the conservation of the holie Faith, and the standing of their House. And it is manifest, that long before the sturres of Boheme, they were persecuting the Protestants in Westphalie …614 in Silesia, 1614. and 161…. in some imperiall Cities, as Ulme, Aken, Wesell 1614. in Donawerda 1617. in the Volteline, Stiria, and Bohemia it selfe 1618. And the Bohemian wars were occasioned by these persecutions, whenGallobell. they were driven to that desperate state in Religion, as to seeke the protection of some foreraine Prince.
Their second policie: They divided the Protestants, In dividing Protestants.and drew a part of them on their side, as Charles the fifth did at the Smalcaldicke war, and they boast of it, that the Protestants are so loose, that many of them fight on the Papists side aCancell. Hisp p. 90.In all their meetings they pressed to draw the Lutherans from the Calvinists (as they call them) and vsed that speach, Sicut Catholicus, sic Lutheranus, promifing as great quetnesse to the Lutheran as to the Papist, that when they had broken vsus by the Lutherans, they might destroy them also. Some of them contemned the D. of Saxe, as a man of no Spirit, bCancell. Hisp. p. 116.but the most part feared him for his great power and therefore first …ngaged him by the offer of Lusatia: Next, they held him on to bee Executor banni Imperialis; And lastlie▪ they fed him with the title of Vicarius Imperij: All this was to gu…l him, as Charles the fifth did to Maurice his predecessor: So their secret correspondence reveales that they studied by all meanes to please him, that at least cVt saltem apparenter illi satisfiat. Cancell Hisp. p. 116. In pretending peace.i… s…ow hee might bee satisfied.
Thirdlie, in all meetings they ever treated of peace, to make the Protestants carelesse: And while they were busiest in warre, they protested dNos nihil nisi pacem publicam quaererere Cancell. Hisp p. …3. Octob. 1621.most they were seeking the publick peace: and when Armies were gathered on both sides they fained a Cessation of Armes, to make Protestants disband their forces; which beeing done, the Papists with their standing Armies seased on some Provinces, as the Palatinate. Lastlie, as they confounded Religion and policie, so in policie they confounded the quarrell of the house of Austria with the quarrell of the Impyre.
This was the rypenesse of a long plotted persecution, forProtestants at once everie where oppressed. the Papists learned of Severus Canals, the arte of Intelligence and myning: Hee found them about the walls of Bizantium, and brought their Copie in this Land, to his Dyke betwixt Forth & Clyde; They went so alongst the roote of it, that all Forts were advertised in an halfe houre, what the enemie was doing, and where hee assaulted. So the Iesuites turned their vniversall intelligence (whereof their rules giuegive a direction) to worke mines in all theRegulae Iesuitarum. reformed Churches beyond Sea: In France, Boheme, Silesia, Moravia, Uolteline Westphalie, &c. Princes were irritate; People were miscontent; the Papists fretted at the prosperitie of the Protestants; and Protestants abridged of their owne wonted liberties in Religion, and debarred from publicke imployments, and defrauded of the course of Law &c. Such a broyling disposition was like powder layed aboundantlie in mines, that lacked nothing but firing. In Boheme was their head-mine, because of the electiue Kingdome, and the exasperate minds of people for their crossing in Religion: Thervnto the Iesuits layed the match of a new oppression to force the fire of defence. They both sought and wrought this occasion Anno. 1619.of the Bohemianes, & the meeting of all their Provincials at Rome, was to devise how to vse their opportunitie, which they had long exspected. So soone as Boheme fired, their mines played in all places at once, so that none could either helpe another (as they were wont) nor saue themselues. Thus the Protestants were at one time everie where oppressed.
Secondlie, their periurie is manifest: For they comeThe papists periurie. directlie against their promise confirmed by oath. The Pacification of Passau was solemnelie ratified at Augsburg: And the Emperour Rudolph and Mathias confirmed the1552. 1555. liberties of Boheme by Letters reversall (which in electiue Kingdomes, are strong obligements of Princes, and hauehave the force of mutuall contracts. And Ferdinand the second by the like Letters, declarations and Edicts confirmed the same: But most solemnelie by his oath at his Coronation aCapitulatio iniur… rand… confirmata Franc… ▪ furt. August. Anno. 1619. Art. 2.did sweare to maintaine both the Sacred and civill peace of the Impyre. bIbid. Art. 3 Ibid. Art. 9. Ibid. Art. 25 Ibid. Art. 26. Ibid Art. 34 Ibid. 38. Tractat▪ Vlmensis …n. Aun. 1620.That hee would keepe the Electours Princes, &c. in their possessions, dignities, and rights. That hee would keepe friendship and good correspondence in the Impyre, and not bring strange forces in it: That he would iniure or offer violence to no Elector, nor Prince of the Impyre: That hee would not proscriue any vnheard or without a cause: That hee would not labour to turne the Im…yre hereditarie to his house: And finallie, that if hee did any thing beside or contraire to his Capitulation, it should bee null, and of no effect. In like manner, hee promised often to the Duke of Saxon, and by him, to other protestant Princes and Provinces, that hee would not crosse them in their Religon and liberties. Likewise, the Duke of Baveere, and Princes of the popish League, did sweare to disband their Armies; not to invade any Protestants Land, and to leaue the questions of Boheme to their owne hazard Let GOD and the world judge how they hauehave keeped these oaths: When they feared a revolt, they sent out declarations and Edicts for libertie of Religion; but when they prevaile, in warres, they turne to their oppression, No oath can ty them.When the Pope seeth his owne vantage, hee absolveth them from these oaths: They keepe their owne maxime, non est servanda sides Haereticis, that faith should not be keeped to Heretickes, which is as false in the These (because wee ought to keepe our promise to all) as in the hypothese, Gretzer▪ de fid H…r. Becā man lib. 5. c. 12.calling Protestants Heretickes. And though Gretzer and Becane would glose the matter, yet their exceptions are such as make their oaths but roapes of sand: For beside the case of feare or violence, whereby they proue the weaknesse of these oaths, they referre the tryail of the lawfulnesse or vnlawfulnesse to the Pope, which is in effect to make oaths, no oaths at all.
Thirdlie, their Oppression is manifolde: When theyTheir oppression. had taken in Boheme, and the Palatinate, they oppressed all other Countries, and Provinces which had none entresse in the quarrell of Boheme, as Pomer, Mekelburge, Brandeburge, &c. First, they vrged them to inquarier Souldiers; if they received them, they were subdued: If they refused, it was a quarrell to take them by force. Secondlie other Provinces and Cities which wanted Garisons, were exhaust with great contributions, as Hassen, Wirtenberge, Norinberge, &c. And these contributions were to maintaine Armies for oppressing the Impyre vnderunder colour of its defence. Thirdlie, when force and povertie had subdued all, they invented a new quarrell of the restitution of Ecclesiasticke goods, that they might finde a colour of plea against some Protestants, who assistedAugust. 1630 Epist. Anonym▪ de Comit Rati…bone…s. them. Fourthlie, when this had a course, they devised a new Commission at Regenspurg, to punish all these as traitors to the Impyre who assisted the King of Denmarke, Duke of Brunswicke or Count Mansfield: so there was no Protestant whither hee was their enemie or friend, or neutrall, but they devised a quarrell to oppresse him: A Lutheran and Calvenist was alike to them, and their owne distinction, sicut Catholicus sic Lutheranus was forgotten. And turned to sicut Calvinianus sic Lutheranus, for when they had first driven out the Calvinians, they banished the Lutherians also. Fifthlie, when all these quarrels wereGallobel. Septemb. 1631. fished, they lacked a specious colour against the Duke of Saxe whom they had long gulled: Therefore they tooke occasion of it for the meeting of Leipswicke, wherein the Protestants had conveened, to helpe their desperate case, and prevent their finall ruine. The Emperour made that a new quarrell, and Count Tillie commanded the Duke to renounce the conclusions of Leipswicke, otherwise they would handle him as an enemie: Of all protestant Princes, his Lands onelie lay in integritie, and they reserved them as the last fat mo…sell to their▪ Armies: Thus they fished quarrels against all Protestants, as the Wolfe drinking aboue the Lambe in that same strand, troubled the water, and Melanct…n.yet accused the Lambe, and ranne vponupon it. So the Papists troubled the Fountaine of the sacred and common peace, in cancelling Lawes and breaking oaths, and yet accused the Protestants of the breach of Peace. They made both their▪ innocencie, and blamelesse (though necessar defence)Austria an Vsher to Poperie. to bee treasonable.
When Austria had increased her Monarchie, than Poperie followed; The one was a Coach to carie the other and they oppressed men both in Soule and bodie: They denyed them any Church benefite, Baptisme Marriage▪ &c. except they went to Masse: And where pacifications had provided Protestants to some places of credit, Magistracie or Iudicatories, so soone as they died, their places were filled with Papists. They banished them with this clause, That it should never bee leasome for them to returne. And not content to persecute them in their life, they denyed them buriall after death, except in their sicknesse they had confessed, and taken extreme Unction.
They hauehave followed Machiavell in their matchlesse Their crueltie.crueltie: And let Palswach, Brandeburge▪ and Magdeburge stand to the posteritie as the proofe of it: They destroyed August. Civ. 3. 26. Euseb hist. Lib. 8 cap. 12young and old and Matrons with their Doughters cast themselues in the Rivers to eschew their villanies. Eusebius hath the like of a Matron in Antioch with her two Virgine daughters▪ in Diocletians persecution. And as S. Austine cōparing the crueltie of Sylla with the Goaths, said, That the Goths were more mercifull to Rome, than Sylla who was a Romane. So I may say, that the Turkes are more humane to Christians than Papists are. And though heerein they equalled Diocletian in crueltie, and exceed the Turkes, yet they glorie in it, and Tillie proponed it to Leipsich, that vnlesse speedilie they rendered the Towne he would doe to them as he had done to Magdeburge. But God within two dayes tooke order with him for that bloodie insulting.
Thus they wrought a pittifull deformation in all places:They vrge ab…u…ation. Preachers with the Gospel thrust out, and Priests with their Masse brought in: Men compelled either to goe to the Masse, or to sell their goods and leaue their Countrie: And if they remained, they were forced to take this following Oath.In a godlesse …o…e.
I poore sinner, doe confesse before God, and all Saints, before the Priests and Pastours of Soules standing in the place of God, that I hauehave all my life long gone astray in a cursed, execrable, and hereticall Religion. And in the Supper of that Religion, I receiue nothing but plaine Bakers bread, and plaine Wine in a Cup. I doe also beleeue, that all my Ancestors and all others that believed in that Religion and Faith are damned and perish for ever. VVherefore I promise before God and the Virgine Marie his Mother, and before the Priests and Pastours of Soules, beeing in the place of God, that I will never adhere nor cleaue to the cursed and hereticall Religon. So God mee saue. This is Antichristian crueltie vrging poore people to deny the trueth, damne themselues, and condemne their Predecessours.
The world never saw a more deepelie contrived Policie, People to deny the Trueth, damne themselues.or a more cruellie executed plot: And doubtlesse by this crueltie Austria will lose the hearts of Germanie: And when God sendeth the Germans a deliverer, hee shall find their hearts, as Luther confessed by his owne experience: That the people gladlie imbraced him, because they had beene oppressed with the Popes tyrannie. And Carolus Miltitius Legat to Leo the tenth, confessed that in trying the Germane disposition, hee found three inclining to Luther, for one adhering to the Pope So did Cardinall Polus.Austriaes crueltie, their overthrow▪ Their confidence.
They are confident for obtaining their end, and that both in respect of themselues and vsus. For themselues, they hauehave made a division as a thing ended. That the Pope shall hauehave his hierarchie established through all their conquest. That the Emperour shall hauehave for his partage the Easterne Provinces of Germanie. That the Spainiard shall hauehave the Lower Palatinat with the Westerne Provinces of Germanie. That the Duke of Baveere shall hauehave the over Palatinat with the Electorall dignitie. Moreover the evidenciesCanc. Hisp. p 117. Octo. An 1621 Prasi…, Scipion Scambat. lesuit. An. 1630 Com. Ratis. bon. 1630. of their confidence breake foorth, and they had not prudence conceale it: For Thefes were dispute at Vienne and dedicated to Ferdinand the third (prevento termino) with this frontispice.
Austriacum ad specimen si se componeret Orbis Irent obliqua sidera nu…a Via.
This is as much, as if Europe would bee happie, it must receiue the Austrian yoake: Herewith they …ought closelyCapitul Art. 34. Epist. ad Zunig… Ann. 1621. to convoy the Election of the Emperours Sonne to bee King of the Romanes, to establish an hereditarie tyrannie in Austria. This was contraire to his oath at his coronation. And notwithstanding of that promise his Letter vnderunder his own hand told. That if he had one catholik vote more, they would make the Impyre hereditarie to his House, and that Baveeres promoving to the Electorship were the fittest Epist. Anon.meanes so to doe. And how strong their hope was in this point, may bee seene by a Booke of congratulation for his Election to bee King of the Romans, as though the matter had beene done without controlement: And the IesuitTheir triumph. before the victorie. Scambato, is not content with Virgils words Magnae spes altera Romae, but to encourage him to attempt, Aggredere, biddes him enter in, as though the doore of the Impyre stood open to him.
Ingredere, O Magnos aderit iam tempus honores.
LAVREA AVSTRIACA. Impress. Ann. 162….Lastlie, they hauehave put out an hudge Volume with the title of the Austrian Lawrell, to tell the world of their semper victrices Aquilas; as though they had gotten a piece of that Lawrell which the Eagle let fall in Liviaes bosome. But let not him that putteth on his armour boast, as though hee put it off: to sing triumph before the victorie, is foolishnesse, for no man knoweth what the Evening or the next day may bring.
As for the Event concerning vsus, they prophecy our ruine:They prophecie our Ruine. Stella spake indefinitlie, Lutherani, qui nunc tam elatè & superbè vivunt tam citissimè erunt absumpti tanquam sal in aqua Ita vt nulla unquam sit reliqua recordatio eorum, sicut Stella. Luc. 9. 20. Practic. apud, Gold ubi supra.nec aliorum haereticorum qui praeterierunt. The Cardinall of Loraine sayth, That it was neare hand. Some Iesuits hauehave defined it within an hundreth yeares, as Iesuite Ogilvie in a Conference in the Castle of Glasgow, Affirming▪ that within an hundreth yeare …fter Luther skything, the Protestants Religion would bee abolished. And now since their Victories in Germanie, they triumph over vsus, as over a thing destroyed. So the Iesuite Cornelius aCornel. praefat Commēt, in Proph minor.calleth our Religiō Calvini haeresin penè evulsam, an heresie almost rooted out. And Urbane the eight in his Papall prescience doubteth not but that heresie will bee shortlie rooted out of France. But they may guesse at the end of their prophecies by the bRome pont & Card. incredidibili diligentia vaca… re rebus Gallic…s, &c. Practic n. 3. An. 1573.ardinals Alternatiue, for hee with the Pope was perswaded that this would bee done either by Charles the ninth and Philip the second, or else never: Now God hath made him proue a false prophet, for these two Kings are gone, and the trueth of the Gospel is yet shining into the world; and wee doubt not but Urbane and Cornelius shall finde contraire events of their predictions, and possiblie Laurea Austriaca shall succumbe vnderunder Arma Suecica.
This sort of prediction they hauehave learned of the olde But they should consider olde prophecies of themselues.Pagans who not beeing able to refute Christian Religion by reason, nor expell it by force, tooke them to predictions that it would not lest aboue 365. yeares. cAug Civ. 8. 53.But time hath made them lyars. If Papists would looke to prophecies, we desire them with Ierome to remember what is spoken of the purpoured coloured whoore, and the destruction of Babylon which maugre all their futile exceptions, is Now-Rome. Quid de purpurata meretrice, & Babylonis exit… c…ntetur intuere Hieron.And if wee would vse a propheticall libertie, wee might advertise the Iesuits, to take heede to the 1640. yeare, that makes the period and Centurie since their confirmation. The Templars alledged sinnes are yet secret, even after their cutting off, but the wickednesse of the Iesuits is manifest, and excites Princes to take order with these fire brands of Europe. Austria and Spaine are as two threshers, beating the Lords Church on the threshing floore; and the Iesuits are as Smyths, that prepare their Instruments; and God in his time will pay them all home. But wee leaue, these things to GOD, who shaketh the Counters of their hands, who would determine of times, and things to come, as sayeth S. Austine. When the slaues of Rome conspired,Vbi suprae. and some Masters were found killed in their houses: The Senate inacted a Law, that all the slaues of that house should bee killed where a Master was found dead. Senatusconsultum Silanianum. This Law would fitte Iesuits where a King is killed. But in place of Prophecies, let them take Count Tillies presage at Rodium, when hee considered his bad successe the former moneths, felices suos progressus iam claudicare, & placida fortunae aura se non amplius afflari armadvertere dixit, Hee said thatGallobel. Ian. 1632. hee perceived his prosperitie to halt, and that Fortune smyled no more on him. So mot it bee to Gods enemies.It is time for Protestants to awake.
Let Germanie awake, and see her oppression both in Religion and libertie: Except shee will bee as stupide as the Cardinall of Lorraine calleth her. And let all Protestants awake, except they resolue to bee snared by Popish policie, to bee blinded by their oaths, and destroyed by their oppression.God will deliver his Church in his time.
God for our sinnes hath suffered them to goe farre on, and they will proceede in all the wicked purposes of their heart except hee stay them: Hee hath begun in merciemercy to worke deliverances in some parts. It is our duetie to thanke him for that is done, and to pray for a continuance till his Church bee fullie delivered: That the Children of darknesse who hauehave conceived mischiefe, and travelled in Psal. 7. 14paine, may in end bring foorth a lie.