History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 16 · Part 1 · Chapter 5 – Transition
CAP. V. Of COVNCELS.
1. When Pope Julius 2 was crowned, he promiſed by ſolemn oath to call a Generall Councell for Reformation of the Church: but afterward no thing was leſſe in his mind: and while he made war now againſt Venice, and then againſt France, nothing regarding the eſtate of the Church, nine Cardinals departed from him, and having the concurrence of the Emperour and the King of France with their clergy, a Councell was ſummoned on May 19 to conveen at Piſa Septemb. 1. An. 1511, becauſe the Pope had violated his oath concerning the calling of a Councell, and the condition of the Chriſtian Commonwealth admitted no longer delay; and they ſummoned the Pope to appear before them; and all Princes, Doctours and Prelats that had or might pretend any in tereſt, through Italy France and Germany. On Auguſt I. the Pope published his anſwer, that when he was a Cardinal, he was moſt deſirous of a councell; but now becauſe of the warrs a councell can not be aſſembled in Italy, and far leſſe in the waſted and defaced City of Piſa; nor had they authority to call a councell: and therefore he commanded all men not to obey that citation under pain of excommunication Jo. Sleidan. Comment. Lib. 1. Three Cardinals returned unto the Pope, and were accepted, ſaith Nic. Baſel. in Addit. but the others with the bb. of Lombardy and France did meet at Piſa: and becauſe they were not ſafe there, they removed to Millan, where Barnardin Card. S. Crucis was choſen preſident: and then fearing that Millain was not ſafe enough, they removed to Lions. Becauſe they continued in their purpoſe, the Pope in his Conſiſtory at Rome condemned them as hereticks, ſchiſmaticks and rebellious, and depriveed them of their titles, dignities; voice, bishopriks, monaſteries and whatſoever Benefices they had by Commenda or whatſoever other title; and declareth them uncapable for al times to come. Baſel. ib. In the mean time the Emperour was perſuaded by the Pope to forſake that councell: and therefore was noted for inconſtancy by ſome, and others called him an obedient ſon. But Lewes XII. was ready to compell the Pope to obey the Councell. On the other ſide the Pope levieth and directs an Army againſt him: and the King gave order to his General Gaſto Foxius in Millane to omit no opportunity of fighting againſt the Popes Army; and if he should prevaile, he would make haſt towards Rome without any reſpect of the Bishop. And leſt it be talked abroad, that the King did attempt this by his ſole authority, his army was levied in name of the Councell (which was ſtill called) of Piſa. and Cardinall Severino was ſent by the Councell with that Army. Whereupon followed a great victory at Ravenna, the Popes army was foiled, his Legate John Medices Generall thereof and many other remarkableperſons were taken. But the death of Gaſto ſtopped the courſe of the victory, and delivered the Pope from fear. Then the Swiſers under the pay of Julius made irruption into Burgundy, and Lewes Peliſſa Governour of his Army in Italy was ordered to come into France. In the mean time the Councell had eight Seſſions, and continued their proceſs againſt Julius, and did ſuſpend him from all Civill and Eccleſiaſticall authority Aprile 9. 1512. The report is (ſaith Sleidan) that it is the policy of the Popes, when they are afraid of a Councell, to appoint another ſerving their own purpoſe. So Pope Julius on July XVIII. ſummoneth a Councell to begin at Lateran Aprile. 19; and after that did adjourne it till May 1. certis cauſis eum ad id moventibus ſaith Baſelius. This was the work of Bishops and Councells in thoſe days. Budaeus de aſſefol. 176 edit. Aſcen. An. 1531 ſaith, Here were two Councells, the Romane and the Piſane, but both were called through envy and revenge, rather than out of love; and it may be added, or any purpoſe to doe good: but we ſee, Reformation of the Church was pretended. and the Pope was oppoſed.
2. At the foreſaid time began the Councell at Lateran which Bellarmin calleth the XVII. Generall councell. In the firſt Seſſion the Bible was laid at the Popes feet, and he was called Prince of all the world, the ſucceſſour of Peter, and not inferiour unto Peter; yea they ſay unto him, The reſpect of your divine Majeſtie. In Seſſ. 2 Julius is called, Prieſt and King, moſt like unto God, and who is to be adored by all people. In Seſſ. 3 the Kingdom of France is interdicted, and given to any for the winning: the markets and faires are tranſported from Lions unto Geneve. In Seſs. 4. the Pragmatica Sanctio of France is annulled, and the Pope is ſaid to have the place of the everlaſting King on earth, albeit with unequal! merites. After the 5 Seſs, Julius died: and in the next Seſs. Leo X. was declared Pope. Then Begnius Epiſc. Modruvienſis comforted the Church, ſaying, Weep not Daughter Sion: for behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda cometh, the root of David; behold the Lord hath raiſed up unto thee a Saviour and deliverer. And again turning his ſpeech unto the Pope he ſaith, O moſt bleſſed Leo, we have waited for thee our Saviour-we have hoped, that thou our Deliverer wert to come: take thy ſword and buckler, and ariſe to our defence. In Seſs. 8. the Cardinals whom Iulius had declared uncapable of any title, were reſtored: for when Iulius was gone, they had no more to worke upon, and ſo ſubmit themſelves, and were accepted. In Seſs. 8. Leo commanded that the decrees of this councell should be obſerved under the pain of excommunication. In Seſs. 9. the Emper. and all Kings and Princes, and all others, are commanded, that they hinder no man from coming unto the Synode, under the danger of God's wrath and ours, ſaith Leo. Item a lay man blaſpheming shall pay 25 Ducats, if he be a Noble man; and for the ſecond fault, 50 Ducats, to be applied unto the fabrick of the Church of the Prince of the Apoſtles. In this Seſſion, the Synode ſpake by Antotonius Puccius Clericus Camerae, unto the Pope, ſaying, In thee the only true and lawfull Vicar of Chriſt, that ſaying shall be fulfilled again, All Nations shall ſerve him: Nor are we ignorant, that All power in heaven and earth is given unto thee. Then he bringeth in the Church ſpeaking unto the Pope thus, Theſe things may I, moſt ſweet Spouſe, thy only beloved and faire one, ſay, Conſider mee not, that I am black, &c. Ex Caro. Molinaei Monarchia tempor. Pont. Roma. In Seſs. 10. they would provide that Books should not be printed againſt the Roman faith: therefore they ordained, that none should preſume to print or cauſe to be printed any book, or whatſoever writing either in our City (ſaith the Bull of Leo) or in any other city or diocy, untill firſt they be examined by our Vicar and Maſter of the holy palace; and in other cities by the Bishop or another man of judgement to be deputed by him to this effect, and by the Inquiſitour of the hereticall pravity within that city or diocy, and untill they be approved by ſuſcriptions, and theſe to be diſpatched without delay, and freely, under pain of excommunication, &c. Bulla Leon. added to the decrees of the Councell at Trent. In this councell it was talked of the Turkish warrs; of the Reformation of the Church; of the immortality of the ſoul, and how theſe of Bohem might be reduced. It was determined againſt Pope Leo, that the ſouls of men are immortall. Item that none shall ſpeak of the coming of the Antichriſt: for it was the common talking of men every where The Tope is the Antichriſt; and this was judged the fitteſt way to shunne ſuch ſpeeches. It was alſo ordained, that all Europe shall pay tiths for preparation of warrs againſt the Turk: But many prelates knew, that the Pope had no ſuch intention: and therefore the Bishops of Dirrachium, Salamantin, Tarviſin, Graſſen, Chien, Montis viridis, or Mount Maran, Cervien, Licien, Ferentin, Peruſin and others did ſubſcribe with this limitation, Placuit, quoad Turcas expeditione primum inchoata. In the year 1516 King. Lewes died, and his ſucceſſour Francis ſubmitted himſelf unto Pope Leo: from that time Leo ſought to diſſolve the councell: and becauſe nothing was concluded concerning the Reformation of the Church, he made shew to adjourne the Councell for five years, to the end, the Bishops being refreshed at home with ſome ſpirituall gifts, they might rerurne with the greater alacrity: and the Pope gave to them and their domeſticks remiſſion of all their ſins. Concil. Lateran. Seſs. 12.
A TRANSITION.
It was ſaid in antient times, Vltima caelicolum terras Aſtraea reliquit, that is, when all vertue had left the earth, laſt of all equity or righteouſneſs failed from among the children of men. But now we have heard the Church complaining, that firſt piety had departed, and in place thereof came formality accompanied with ſuperſtition and innumerable rites. Devotion moved people to make good men but too wealthy, and their ſucceſſours tooke more pleaſure in their wealth then in their induſtry and piety: and when wealth was ſevered from godlineſs, they became proud and ambitious: yet would not want the name of holineſs: and by the name of holineſs with too much wealth, they did climbe (I will not ſay, unto the higheſt pinacle of honour, but) unto Divine honour, and were exalted above all that is called God, and laid aſide even the word of God. So that then it might have been ſaid, Spernitur à Româ Scriptura noviſſima Dotum, that is, when the Romane Church had forſaken piety of converſation, purity of worship, order of diſcipline, equity of Civill things, and all graces or gifts of God, laſtly she deſpiſed the very written word of God. Nevertheleſs God left not men inexcuſable, nor ſuffered He them to paſſe without reproofe by ſome Witneſſes of his Truth even under the groſſeſt darkneſs. And ſo we have heard not only the Waldenſes and ſuch others, which made ſeparation from the Church of Rome, as the Greeks, but ſome Monks, ſome Abbots, ſome prieſts, ſome Bishops, ſome Univerſities, ſome Counſels of States, ſome Parliamens, ſome Councels, yea ſome Cardinals and Popes, which were, and did continue members of the Romane Church, now and then bewailing and declaring the corrupt eſtate of the Church, both in the pretented head, and in the body thereof, for the greateſt part, not only in manners, rites and diſcipline, but in doctrine alſo. We have heard ſome profeſſing a deſire, and attempting a Reformation: but were ever hindered by the Popes and court of Rome. How then can any man be ſo impudent (if he be not altogether ignorant) to ſay, that the Church of Rome hath never erred, nor can erre? We have heard alſo ſome foretelling, that a Reformation muſt bee, and shall be; yea and ſome pointing at the very time and year of Reformation. We have ſeen the world prepared for a Reformation by ſtore of antient books printed and ſpread through Europe; by reviving of Liberall Sciences and the prime tongues; and by multitude of learned men. It followes now to behold, how God Reformed his Church, not by the direct intention of men, but in ſpite of all his adverſaries, and as it pleaſed Him in wiſdom for the manifeſting of his glory and mercy toward ungratefull mankind.