A Defense of the Catholic Faith, Book 1 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of Cardinals.
FOraſmuch as Bellarmine vnderunder the name of Tortus compareth the dignity of Cardinals to the Maieſtie of Kings, That is to ſay, the Cardinals Cappe with the Regall Crowne, the charge of a ſeruant of the ſeruant of ſeruants to the dignity of the ruler of Nations: The King of great Britaine ſpeaketh thus in his Apology: I was neuer the man, I confeſſe, that could thinke a Cardinall a meete match for a King, eſpecially hauing many hundreth thouſands of my ſubiects of as good birth as he. As for his Church-dignity, his Cardinalſhip I meane, I know not how to ranke or value it, eyther by the warrant of God his word, or by the Ordinance of Emperours or Kings, it being indeed onelyonly a new Papall erection tolerated by the ſleeping Conniuence of our predeceſſors (I meane ſtill by the plurall of Kings.)
To this Coeffeteau maketh a milde replie, intreating his Maieſty to iudge more fauourably of the intentions of ſo modeſt and learned a perſon as Bellarmine is,Fol. 8. beſeeching him to remember that Caluine acknowledged that the Cardinals flouriſhed in the time of S. Gregory, which is one thouſand yeares ſince; and that euen in the Councell of Rome, vnderunder Silueſter the firſt, there is mention made of the ſeuen Deacon Cardinals, as of no new Inſtitution then: And addeth, that their charge was to inſtruct the people, and to miniſter the Sacraments. And ſince, they hauing gotten vntounto themſelues the election of the Pope; and being alwayes neere about him, their glory is growne and increaſed, by which the Church hath receiued much eaſe and furtherance: the head of the Church hauing alwayes about his perſon, his Councell in affaires of greateſt importance. Hee likewiſe ſaith, that Kings reuerence them; but they are ſo farre from making themſelues equall with Kings, that Princes finde none that beare themſelues with more reſpect towards them, then theſe great ones doe. And ſo he endeth his amplification with the praiſe of the Cardinal of Perron.
Now to begin with theſe which he oppoſeth vntounto vsus:The anſwers. I doe acknowledge, that theſe two Cardinals, carried along with the current of the time and courſe of affaires, hauehave by their wils and abilities much helped the defence of errour, they hauehave imployed their veſſels of golde and ſiluer, which they brought out of Egypt, to the making of the golden Calfe: and Coeffeteau hath little in his writings that he hath not filtched from them. But I know that they diſagree in many things, and that the Cardinall of Perron loueth his King too well to aſſent with Bellarmine, that the Pope may either directly or indirectly depriue him of his Crowne, or diſpence to French-men the obedience they owe him.
As for the thing it ſelfe, that is, the antiquity, charge and modeſty of Cardinals, it requireth a longer diſcourſe. Men diſpute of the originall of Cardinals, as they doe of the head and ſourſe of the riuer Nilus. The greateſt antiquity that Coeffeteau is able to produce, is the teſtimony of the Romane Councell, held (if we may giuegive credite to the impreſſion) vnderunder Silueſter the firſt ſince the Counſell of Nice. But it is eaſie for vsus to conuince this of falſhood, being forged by ſome ſhallow braine that wanted learning to lie with skill and dexterity.The Cullen Edition. p. 357. This Counſell is found in the firſt Tome of the Counſels reduced into twenty Chapters, whereof the firſt ſaith, that in this Counſell there were 139. Biſhoppes, aſwell of the City of Rome, as of other places neare about it, which is well knowne to be impoſſible: In the laſt Chapter Silueſter prohibiteth the Emperour and Kings to be Iudges of the Biſhop of Rome. Now it is ſtrange how this ſhould be, ſince at that time, there were no Kings in all Chriſtendome; there he likewiſe ſaith that Constantine, and his mother Helena, ſubſcribed to this Counſel, but Constantine was neuer at Rome vnderunder Siluester, ſince the Counſell of Nice▪ and women neuer ſubſcribed to the Counſels at all. He further addeth, Actum in Traianas thermas, as though this Counſell had beene faine to hide it ſelfe in the Stoaues: In the ſame place Conſtantine is called Donnus Conſtantinus in ſtead of Dominus; but in thoſe times the Latine tongue was not become ſo ſtrangely corrupted, beſides, amongſt the Romanes this very word Dominus was then odious, as attributed to tyrants. And laſtly he ſaith, that this Counſell was held Conſtantino Auguſto tertio (hee meant to hauehave ſaid) tertiùm, & Priſco conſulibus: which is a moſt apparant vntruth; for we finde in the Chronicles of Caſsiodorus, and in the Faſti of Onuphrius and Annian Marcellinus all the Conſulſhips of Conſtantine, but it cannot be found that eyther Priſcus or any of the family of Auguſtus were companions with Conſtantine in Conſulſhippe; and further, in the page before this Counſell, Siluester writeth to the Counſell of Nice, and deteth his letters from the ſeuenth time of Conſtantines being Conſull. And yet ſee this goodly Counſell which was held ſince, and yet beareth date from his third Conſulſhippe. It is likewiſe to be proued that both Silueſter and Helena were long afore this deceaſed.
Theſe vntruths are very eaſie to be diſcerned, and any ordinary iudgement will diſcouer them, but to Coeffeteau, who hath no great skill in any good learning, any proofes will ſerue his turne; It had beene very fitting, that ſo royall a worke might hauehave had a learned aduerſary, was there not in Fraunce ſome more able and ſufficient man, that might hauehave ſeduced with a better grace? or could hauehave found better pretences and colours to hauehave oppoſed the truth? Certainly it is much to the diſgrace grace of our nation. But theſe are briefly his proofes of the antiquity of Cardinals.
Cóeffeteau doth further add, that Caluine acknowledgeth that Cardinals did flouriſh in the time of Gregory the firſt,In the fourth booke of his Inſtitution. Chap. 7. §. 30. which was ſixe hundred yeares after Chriſt: and this is likewiſe another vntruth; Caluine ſaith indeede that there was then the Title and name of Cardinal, but not the charge, and that in that age this word CARDINALL, ſignified nothing leſſe then what it doth now a dayes, and the ſubſtance being chaunged, the word hath ſtill continued; euen as we ſee in the Apothecaries box, though the oyntment be gone the inſcripion remayneth: Alſo Caluine ſpeaketh not of their flouriſhing but of their being: Gregory indeed in the eleauenth Epiſtle of his fift booke, ſpeaketh of a Cardinall Deacon: And likewiſe in the foure and twentieth Epiſtle of his eleuenth booke, he ſpeaketh of a Cardinall Prieſt, which is as much to ſay as principall: in the ſame ſenſe and nature as we ſay the Cardinall windes, or Cardinall vertues, which ſignifie onelyonly the cheefe and principall. But of any Cardinall Biſhops, neyther he nor any of his time, nor long after made any kinde of mention. A Cardinall Prieſt then had no other ſignification, then the Parſon or Vicar of a Pariſh hath now; neyther was this title onelyonly vſed in Rome,There continue ſtill Cardinals at Compoſtella. but in all other great Archiepiſcopall Citties, as namely in Millane, where Sigonius towards the end of his ſeuenth booke, ſaith, that there were then two and twenty Cardinals: but there being then in one Pariſh diuers Prieſts, he that was the firſt and chiefe was called principall or Cardinall, for they ſignified both one thing; as*Pandulphi de vitis Pontificum in Electione Gelaſij. ij. Pandulphus Piſanus, and after him*Lib. de Epiſco. titulis & Diaconijs Cardinalium. Onuphrius teacheth vsus. For Bellarmine in his firſt booke de Clericis Chap. 16 is miſtaken, where he ſaith, that in the fourth booke of Gregories Epiſtles Chap. 88. there are ſubſcriptions of diuers Cardinall Prieſts, bearing the ſame title, which is altogether vntrue; for there is no mention made of Cardinals, and by Prieſts of the ſame title is meant ſimply in that place, Prieſts of the ſame Church or Pariſh: He likewiſe there alleadgeth the Counſell of Rome falſe and counterfeited. And hee alſo ſpeaketh of Cardinall Biſhops, which were neyther in the time of Gregory, nor long after: ſo that in few lines he committeth three groſſe errours: This then ſtandeth thus; that the Cardinall Prieſts were no more but the principall Prieſts of eueryevery Pariſh: and of this there remayneth to this day ſome ſhewes and traces, for that eueryevery Cardinall Biſhop or Prieſt, beareth the title of ſome Church or Pariſh of the citie of Rome, which doth more plainly appeare by the forme of the reception of new Cardinals, as it is ſet down in the firſt book of the holy ceremonies. Section the 8. chap. 12. where the Pope after he hath put a ringe on the finger of the new Cardinall that kneeleth before him, ſayeth vntounto him, To the honour of God, and of the holy Apoſtles Peter and Paul, and of ſuch or ſuch a Saint; wee commit vntounto you the Church of S. Sabina, or of S. Chriſogonus, &c. that is, he committeth to him one of the Pariſhes of Rome, which is nothing but a bare formality, and wordes without ſubſtance; for after this ceremony, this new Cardinall returneth home (it may be) into Fraunce or Sapine, without euer ſetting his foote againe into the Church, of which he beares the title: And from thence it grew, that for a long time, there was in Rome but eight and twenty Cardinall Prieſts, according to the number of the auncient Pariſhes in Rome, which was ſeuen Churches vnderunder eueryevery one of the foure principall and Patriarchall Churches of Rome: as for the fift, that is the Church of Lateran, where the Pope made his reſidence, that was aboue the other foure.
This number of eight and twenty Cardinall Pariſhes (that is to ſay) Parſons of Pariſhes continued in Rome, vntill the time of Honorius the ſecond, father of the Cordeliers, in the yeare 1125. as Onuphrius ſheweth; ſince which time, the number hath encreaſed or leſſened, according to the pleaſures of the Popes, who were at that time in the height of their glory; And the dignity of the Biſhoppes of Millaine and Rauenna being decayed, (which before were held equall with the Biſhop of Rome:) Since that there hath beene little ſpeech, but onelyonly of the Cardinals of Rome. As touching Deacons, the cuſtome of the City of Rome was to hauehave onelyonly ſeuen; following the example of the ſixt Chapter of the Actes of the Apoſtles, whoſe charge was to keepe and diſtribute the almes, and to carry the Euchariſt in the Church to the faithfull, and to remoue the holy table, and to cauſe thoſe which were not yet fully inſtructed in the Chriſtian Religion,Catechumeni. to goe out of the Church before the communion, and to read the Goſpell, &c. S. Laurence that ſuffered Martyrdome vnderunder Decius in the yeare 252. was one of thoſe ſeuen Deacons, as Prudentius teſtifieth.
Hic vnus ex ſeptem viris,
Qui stant ad aram proximi,
Leuita ſublimis gradu, &c.
Likewiſe in the time of S. Cyprian there were but ſeuen, as appeareth by the Epiſtle hee wrote to Cornelius in the ſixt booke of Euſebius, chap. 42. which agreeth with the twelfth Canon of the Counſell of Neocaeſaria. Now when the Church was growne to be in peace and quiet, peace bringing plentie, and plenty pride: theſe Deacons became proude and inſolent; of which S. Auguſtine complaineth,Falcidius duce ſtultitia & Romanae ciuitatis iactantia, Leuitas Sacerdotib' equare contendit. Quanquam Romanae Eccleſiae Diaconi modico inuericundiores videntur. in his booke of queſtions of the olde and new Teſtament, ſaying, That one called Falcidius, lead by folly, and following the arrogancy and vaunting of the Citie of Rome, would equal the Romane Deacons with other Prieſts: and a little after ſaith, that The Deacons of the Church of Rome ſeeme to be a little too impudent. Pride was then in blooming, but it is now full eared, which ſheweth that Harueſt is at hand.
In the ſucceeding ages the number of Chriſtians being greatly increaſed, it is to be preſumed the number of Deacons increaſed likewiſe; amongſt whom thoſe which were the cheefeſt, were called by the name of Cardinall Deacons, which is as much to ſay, as principall.
Looke Euſebius in the Election of Fabian, Anno 240.It is not to be omitted, that the election of the Biſhoppes of Rome was long after this made by the voyces of the common people and Clergy: the firſt mention of any Pope that was elected by Cardinals, that I can finde in Platina, is in the life of Nicholas the ſecond in the yeare 1059. And yet a little after he ioyneth with them, both the layetie and Clergy. Onuphrius ſaith that Gregory the ſeuenth called Hildebrand, See likewiſe Sigonius, Ann. 1059. Nos Sanctae Romanae Eccleſiae Cardinales Clerici acolythi & preſentibus Epiſcopis, abbatibus, multiſ que tum Eccleſiaſtici, tum laici ordinis eligimus, &c.in the yeare 1072. and yet Platina affirmeth that he was elected, not onelyonly by the Cardinals, but alſo by the whole Clergie in the preſence of the people: So that the cuſtome which reſerueth to Cardinals onelyonly, the elections of the Popes, is of a new conſtitution: as likewiſe thoſe goodly vſes they now hauehave to ſhut the Cardinals into the conclaue, to put their meate in at a hole, to ſerue their drinke in cleare bottles, and their bread cut into little morſels, to make them dyne eueryevery one alone by themſelues prohibiting them to ſerue one another, diminiſhing eueryevery day their allowance: and when the name of a new elected Cardinall is declared out at the window to the people, to runne home to his houſe and robbe and ſpoyle it; as likewiſe that cuſtome by which the elected Pope giueth to whom he liſt his place and Cardinals hatte, as Pope Iulius the third did in the year 1505. who beſtowed his place vponupon a little boy called Innocentius, who kept him an Ape.Auguſti Thrani Hiſtor. lib. 6. But chiefely that corruption by which eueryevery Cardinall ſelleth his ſuffrage, receiuing from Princes great penſions to giuegive their voyces with one of their faction. Now after this bargaine and ſale, we muſt yet beleeue that ſuch a purchaſt Pope cannot erre in faith.
By what which is already faid, it appeareth that the Cardinals now a dayes hauehave no more reſemblance of thoſe of former times, then the Pope hath of S. Peter, or the Maſſe of the Lords ſupper: firſt, the auncient Cardinals were Paſtors or Deacons of the Pariſhes of Rome, to teach and to adminiſter the Sacraments; but the Cardinals now neyther teach nor hauehave any cure of ſoules: ſecondly, then the Cardinalſhip was a function, now it is a dignitie:Moſt ordinarily the creation of Cardinals is in vſe one of the ember weekes. thirdly, then a Cardinall was not made but vponupon the death of ſome other, becauſe that the Pariſh might not remaine without a Paſtor. But now the Pope createth when he pleaſeth, and as many as he pleaſeth; by which it hath happened, that the Pope being careleſſe thereof, the number hath beene ſo ſtrangely diminiſhed, that when Vrban the fourth was elected, there were only two Cardinals;Onuphrius. ſo contrary to this, Leo the tenth created eight and thirty in one day: fourthly, Then the Romane Cardinals were onelyonly in the City of Rome, whereas now they are eueryevery where elſe, and rule the Counſels of diuers Kings. It is likewiſe to be preſumed, that in auncient time election was made of Cardinall Prieſts of the Inhabitants of Rome, and ſuch as were of moſt ſufficiency; but now the Cardinalſhippe is beſtowed vponupon Infants, and Princes children that are altogether vnlearned, as likewiſe vponupon others, at the requeſt and intreaty of Kings, in recompence of their ſeruices. Then the title of Cardinall Prieſts did not lift him vp higher then his fellowes, but onelyonly in ſome kinde of precedency in order, as Onuphrius ſaith: Nihil dignitatis aut praeeminentiae illis dabat antiquitus eſſe Cardinales. But now the Cardinals looke downe from a greater height vponupon the reſt of the Clergy, who are very many degrees beneath their greatneſſe. There was in thoſe times no ſpeech of Cardinall Biſhops; and if any Cardinall Prieſt of one of the Pariſhes of Rome became a Biſhop of any City of Italy, he reteyned no longer the name of Cardinall, no more then a Parſon that is made Biſhop now, reteyneth the name of Parſon ſtill; but it were now to goe backewards, and to ſtoope very low, for a Cardinall to become a Biſhop, and leaue his Cardinalſhip. Then hee that was made Cardinall was tyed to one certaine Church or Pariſh, but now it is cleane otherwiſe, for by the contrary he that is now created Cardinall, is looſed and diſcharged from the Church that was his cure, as appeareth by the forme of the nomination of the new Cardinals, contayned in the the firſt booke of the holy Ceremonies; in which the Pope ſpeaketh thus:*Sect. 8. cap. 3. Authoritate dei patris omnipotentis, ſanctorum Apoſtolorum, Petri & Pauli & noſtra, N Epiſcopum Firmanum abſoluimus a vinculo quo tenebatur Eccleſiae ſuae Firmanae &c. By the authority of God the Father Almighty, and of the holy Apostle S. Paul and S. Peter, and likewiſe by our owne, wee diſcharge and free Iames Biſhop of ſuch a place, of the bond by which he was tyed to his Church or cure, and admit him Carainall Prieſt: *Sect. 9. cap. 14. Cen…ent…r omnia beneficia promo ti vacantia.Alſo by the promotion of a Cardinall, all his Benefices are held voyde, if he obtaine not a new graunt of them from his Holineſſe. In thoſe dayes likewiſe there was no ſuch thing knowne, as to receiue a ringe, and a red hat at the Popes handes after they had kiſſed his feete, nor the new tricke of opening and ſhutting their mouthes, nor of carrying of*Sacr. Cerem l. 1 Sect. 3. Quatuor nohiles pileos quatuor Cardinaliū ſuprà baculos deferentes. foure red hats at the end of a ſtaffe before the Pope in ſolemne proceſſion, as ſaying like to the Doctor, whereof it is ſpoken in Saint Luke, Chap. 4. ver. 6. All this power will I giuegive to thee eueryevery whit, and the glory of them, for that is deliuered vntounto me, and to whomſoeuer I will giuegive it. Aunciently the duety of the Cardinall Deacons was to carry the Table, on which they celebrated the Lords Supper: but ſince their office hath been to carry the Pope vponupon their ſhoulders. For which Innocent the third in the firſt booke of the myſteries of the Maſſe, giueth this reaſon: ſayth he, It belongeth to the Leuites to carry the Arke of the Couenant, which is often in the Scriptures called Euerlaſting.
All that then which was in the time of Gregorie being compared with that which now is, hath no manner of reſemblance of it, but euen as when wanton verſes are grauen in the barke of a young tree, the letters grow together with the tree:
Creſcent illae creſcetis amores.
Euen ſo, that which was amiſſe in theſe Cardinals during the weakeneſſe and minority of the Sea of Rome, ſince they were glewed and faſtened to this Sea, they hauehave growne vp together with it: And as it happeneth that in a body generally ſwolne, ſome parte is more troubled with the ſwelling then others. So this part of the body of the Romane Church is ſwolne more then the reſt, and a prodigious deflux is come vntounto it.
The which will be more apparant, when I ſhall hauehave examined the truth of that which Coeffeteau ſayth, affirming that Cardinals are moſt reſpectfull to Princes, and that they deſire not to goe vponupon euen termes with them: I ſpeake not to touch any that are liuing; but as it may well be, that a man may diſlike of his Cloake becauſe it is too gorgeous, ſo it is likewiſe poſſible that many of thoſe which hauehave beene aduanced to this degree, doe thinke that there is too great pompe and glittering in this habite: we will therfore ſpeake onelyonly of the rules and general cuſtomes of the Roman Church, which queſtionleſſe doe equall Cardinals with Kings; for marke the titles which Pope Pius the ſecond giueth them in the ſixt Chapter of the eight Section of the firſt booke of the holy Ceremonies:*Ad collegium Apoſtolicum vocati conſiliarij noſtri & coniudices orbis terrarum, Succeſſores Apoſtlorum circa thronum ſedebitis, vos Senatores vrbis & regum ſimiles, &c. Being called to the Apoſtolique Colledge you ſhall be our Counſellors, and with me ſhall iudge the world; you ſhall ſit about the Throne as the Succeſſors of the Apoſtles you ſhall be Senators of the Citie like vntounto Kings, being the true kings of the world, on which the doore of the militant Church muſt turne. But it is not much to equall them with Kings; for they are often preferred before them, they are not tyed to holde the bridle or the ſtirrope of the Pope when he getteth to horſe-backe, neyther are they bound when the Pope is carried by men, to giuegive the aſſiſtance of their ſhoulders as Kings and Emperours are. In the publique actions and ſolemnities at Rome, Kings are vnderunder the Cardinals: as for example,*Prior Epiſcoporum in capite ad dextram. Et ſi aderit Rex aliquis, erit in ſecundo loco. Si plures Reges mixti erunt cum Card. primis. …ilij vel fratres regum (ſi non ſeruiunt Papae) debent ſedere inter Diaconos Cardinales, vel poſt eos: Primogenitus autem Regis, quia Rex futurus putatur, poſt primum Presbyterum Cardinalem erit. In that Papall feaſt which is made after the Coronation of the Pope, deſcribed in the firſt booke of Ceremonies, Section the third, there is ſet downe the order that is to be held at the table: The firſt Cardinall Biſhop ſitteth higheſt on the right hand of the table. If there be any King there, he ſitteth beneath the Cardinall: And if there bee diuers Cardinals and diuers Kings there, then they intermingle them: placing a Cardinall, then a King, and then another Cardinall, and ſo another King; as for the ſonnes and brothers of Kings, they eyther ſerue the Pope at table, or elſe ſit amongſt the meaner ſort of Deacon Cardinals; but the eldeſt ſonne of a King hath place next after the firſt Cardinall Prieſt, ſo that all the Cardinall Biſhops and the firſt Cardinall Prieſt, are all before him.*Dum Papa lauat manus non Praelati ſed Laici omaes genu flectunt. And when the Pope waſheth his hands, al the laietie of what degree ſoeuer kneele downe, but all the Prelates ſtand: and not to ſeeke for examples further off, it is not vnknowne to the King of England that Cardinall Wolſey conteſted with HENRY the eight. And we ſhall hereafter heare what authority Pandulphus and Otho, Cardinals and Legates tooke to themſelues in England, ſo farre as to take place of the King himſelfe: and if any Cardinall now a dayes beareth himſelfe with fitting reſpect vntounto his King, this is to be attributed to his particular wiſedome and diſcretion, but not vntounto the orders and Conſtitution of the Church of Rome.
The Colledge of Cardinals ſucceeded the Senate of Rome, being made in imitation of it; and we hauehave ſeene thereupon that the Pope calleth them the Senators of the City. Alſo they hauehave their right of conſecration and Canonization, as aunciently the Senate of Rome had: the habite indeede is differing, for the Senators had ſomewhat a long Mantle, called Latus Clauus, which was a Mantle bordered with large flowers of purple and ſcarlet; but the Cardinals hauehave taken a habite all of ſcarlet, ſuch as the Romane Pontifices, and the Prieſts of Iupiter, Mars, and Quirinus were wont to weare; of whom Caecilius in the Dialogue of Minutius Foelix ſpeaketh, complayning that the Chriſtians Sacerdotum honor…s & purpuras deſpiciant ipſi ſeminudi, doe deſpiſe the dignity and purple of Prieſts, they being themſelues halfe naked, like to that which Ouid ſaith in his fourth booke de Fastis.
Illic purpurea canus cum veſte ſacerdos.
For which cauſe I cannot but much wonder, that the Popes, who hauehave ſo artificially, and with ſuch dexterity eſtabliſhed themſelues, hauehave not with the ſame aduiſe and prudency, taken a habite of ſome other colour, for feare leaſt it might bee thought, that in him and his Cardinals, the Propheſie of the Apocalips were accompliſhed, Chap. 17. ver. 3. So he carried me away in the ſpirite into the Wilderneſſe, and I ſaw a woman ſit vponupon a ſcarlet coloured beaſt, full of names of blaſpemy, hauing ſeuen heads and tenne hornes, and the woman was arayed in purple and ſcarlet, and decked with gold, &c. which propheſie had bin the obſcurer, were it not that it is ſayd in the ninth ver. The ſeuen heads are ſeuen Mountains on which the woman ſitteth: and in the laſt verſe, The woman which thou ſaweſt is that great Citie, which raigneth ouer the Kings of the earth. The*Platina. Pope Paul the ſecond, was the firſt that gaue ſcarlet to the Cardinals, as well for themſelues, as for their Mules, to the end that this propheſie which agreeeth in generall with the Sea of Rome, might likewiſe appertaine particularly to eueryevery one of the pillars of the ſaid Sea, which is, to be ſet vponupon a ſcarlet coloured beaſt.