History of the Catholic Church from 600 to 1600, Ecclesiastical epoch 1300-1600 · Century 16 · Part 3 · Chapter 1
CHAP. J. Of POPES.
J. PIVS 5. Was not inferiour unto any Pope in diſſembling, in ſome outward things he made a shew of godlineſs. When he was crouned, he ſaid unto the Cardd. that they should ask nothing from him, that were contrary to equity, or to the Councel of Trent. He brought ſome of the Court, namely, the Penitentiaries and procurators of the Chancelery (but not the Cardd.) into ſome moderation: he moſt ſeverly diſcharged all ſelling of Benefices: he reſtrained the wickednes of prieſts ſome what: he would have all the Jewes dwell at Rome or Ancona: he would have expelled all the profeſſed whoores out of Rome, but when the Romanes shew him, what a part of his revenues he would want, he ſuffered them in a corner by themſelves, and appointed unto them their own preachers, and thereafter ſome bordellers were married. But in the articles of Religion and idolatrous worship, he made no Reformation. He gave licence unto Charles an archduke of Auſtria to mary his ſiſters-daughter: and when Joachim-Frederik ſon of the Electour of Brandeburg married the daughter of his uncle, the Pope rageth, partly becauſe he was (in the Popes judgement) an heretick, and partly becauſe he was choſen Primate of Germany and adminiſtrator of the epiſcopall Colledge of Magdeburg, without licence of the Pope and then had married his own couſine without diſpenſation: therefore he conſulted, how to dethrone him: but the puiſſance of his father and father in law ſeemed to with ſtand all the power, that the Pope could make againſt him. Oſian. cent. 16. Lib. 3. c. 62. 66. 67. ex Beuth. & Nigrin. In his Bull againſt Queen Eliſabet he ſaith, Chriſt hath made the Pope the only Prince over all Nations and kingdoms, and applieth unto himſelfe properly, what was ſaid figuratiuely to the prophet, Jere. 1. I have ſet the over nations, &c. In his bull before the Breviary he complaines of the multitude of Miſſales and Breviaries vſed in his time, and he commandeth that one for all, excep thoſe that had been in uſe above 200 years. So that as yet there is not an uniformity among them, as ſome would make the ſimple folk believe. He did confirm all the liberties that were granted by any of his predeceſſours unto all and every ſort of begging friers, and did diſcharge all Bishops from reſtraining them in any way. Before his time were ſome footſteps of antient truth to be ſeen in the Canon-law; but this Pope commanded Thomas Manrig. Maſter of the Apoſtolicall palace, to review both the decrees and the decretales, and blot out of them what was offenſive (as they ſpoke) and ſo in the year 1572. the Canon-law came forth with many defects, as I did touch before, when I ſpoke of Gratian: here I add one or two exemples. Diſt. 1. C. 1. the gloſſe ſaith, Apocrypha, that is, without a certain authour, as, the Wiſdom of Solomon, Eccleſiaſticus, Judith, Tobit and the book of Maccabees: theſe are called apocryphi, and yet are read, but perhaps not generally. De poenit. diſt. in princi. utrum, the gloſſe ſaith, Sines are forgiven neither by contrition of the heart, nor by confeſſion of the mouth, but only by the grace of God. Ibid diſt. 3. c. 25. the gloſſe ſaith, in baptiſme originall ſin is washed away, that it shall not hurt, but not, that it is not: He did the like with many others Writers, namely, with the work of Cardinal Cajetan, as appeares by comparing the lately printed Commentary on Tho. Aquin. with the edition at Venice An. 1523. This Impius was a moſt cruell enemy of them, who would not embrace the Canons at Trent: and therefore he cauſed burn many at Rome, as Julius Zoanetus, Pet. Carneſius, Bart. Bartoccius, Aonius Palearius, &c. He attempted many things againſt Eliſabeth Queen of England (whom he did excommunicate) and againſt the Neither-Landes: he ſtirred up the civill wars of France, and was the prime plotter of the maſſacre An. 1572, but ſawe it not, for he died in May preceeding. In the election of the Pope it was then an appointment of the Colledge, that none should be choſen without conſent of the two parts: the King of Spain knowing this appointment, hath by penſions and preferments aſſured a third part of them, to be at his devotion in the election: and ſo he hath excluſive power, that without him a Pope can not be choſen. He proceeds alſo by his Oratout, to propound and name four or five, of whom if they chuſe one, he is ſatiſfied. The colledge diſtaſtes this courſe: but there is no remedy: therefore next diſcretion is to chuſe one whom they do judge leaſt able or willing to follow him. At that time they were mightily enflammed, and banded themſelves againſt him: nevertheleſs in end the publick neceſſity and their own particulares made them yeeld unto one of his nomination. But becauſe the means of attaining and maintaining the Papall crown are clean contrary (in the one fashioning themſelves unto all mens humours, and in the other, looking that all men should accommodate themſelves unto the Papall honor) the King is often diſappointed of his aim. Sande's Relation.
II. GREGORY XIII. did uſe many meanes to reſtore Popery, and to confirm the power of the Pope every where: for this cauſe he erected two colledges of Jeſuits or Seminaries at Rome in favours of Germane▪ and Englishes, and gave unto them large revenues, but ſuch as had before appertained unto other Societies, as the English Jeſuites in their apologie ch. 2. ſect. 6. (which was anſwered by Tho. Bilſon) ſay, that the foundation of their colledge was inſtituted long before to an hoſpitall of their Nation. The Popes aim was, that ſo many Germanes and Englishes being Jeſuited there, might be employed to bring back Germany and England under the yoke of Rome: and the Jeſuites did vant, that this Pope had gifted them with large revenues. He alſo did …oment the wars in France and Low- Countries; and he preſſed the Emperour to expell all Proteſtants out of his own inheritance, if not out of the Empire. By his Bull An. 1572. he did annull all power given by other▪ Popes concerning the Index expurgatorius and forbidden books, as not being done ſufficiently, and gave another order with command to be only acknowledged. Where as Pope Pius V. had ordained many paſſages to be blotted out of the Canon-law, Gregory cauſed reſtore ſome of theſe paſſages, but added another gloſſe contrary unto the text. He keeped the Jubilee An▪ 1575, and on March 31. he cauſed publish his Bull, excommunicating all Huſſites, Wick…leveſts, Lutheranes, Zuinglians, Caluiniſts, Hugonots, Anabaptiſts, Trinitarianes, and all others diſſenting from the Church of Rome, and all their abettours, and all that have or print or ſell any of their books....and ordaining that this Bull shall be published by all Patriarches & Ordinaries in every place, at leaſt once every year in all Churches, After that year he ſent Indulgences unto the Bishops of Germany without money, but only for ſaying ſo many Paternoſters, and ſo many Ave Maryas and for ſo many almes. In the year 1577. he confirmed the Fratermity of the Virgine Mary, and by Bull he gave Indulgences for a year unto all who would ſay a Roſen crown unto the Virgine, that is, if they would ſay five Paternoſters, and fifty Ave Maryas. Under pretence of planting Chriſtian Religion, he planted the Jeſuits in Poland, Tranſſylvania, Livonia, Eaſt and Weſt Indies, &c. Whence it is, that the Jeſuites do write ſo much of their miracles in remote Countries, and that they have baptiſed ſo many thouſands, which were paganes: but they may the more boldly ſay ſo, becauſe few in Europe can controle them in the particulares. He made his baſe ſon Charles boncompagno Marques of Vineola, and then Duke of Sora; and he was ſo liberall of Peters revenues unto his friends, that Papirius Maſſon the writer of his life is fain to apologize him for it. He published a Bull dated Tuſculi An. 1581. 6. cal. Mart. wherein he writs thus; Seing the Fathers of the Councell at Trent were interrupted by time, that they could not finish the Breviary as they intended, and they had by decree referred all that matter unto the judgement and authority of the Romane Pope; and in the Breviary are two things principally, to wit, one containes prayers & hymnes, that should be ſaid on holy and unholy daies; and the other belongeth unto the yearly recourſes of Eaſter and other movable feaſts; and Pope Pius had perfected and published the former; and the other had been oft attempted by Pope Pius but could not be effectuat, untill Anton. Lilius a Doctor of Medecin brought now unto the Pope a book written by his brother Aloiſius, wherein is a new Calendary, which the Pope had cauſed to examin, and found it to be perfect; Therefore the Pope by his authority diſchargeth all men from uſing the old calendare any more, Under pain of Gods indignation, and of bl. Peter and Paul, &c. This Bull is prefixed unto that Calendare. Hence began the difference of Stylo vetere & novo or Gregoriano, which do differ in this age in ten daies; for exemple, the elleventh day of January in ſtylo novo, is the firſt day in the old ſtyle; and ſo forth of all other dayes; and ther is more uncertain difference in the movable feaſts. Hence many contentions aroſe, and different opinions: for ſome find faults in both: Some ſaid, The Pope had no warrant from God, to charge men to forſake the old, and accept the new, VnderUnder pain of Gods wrath: ſome ſaid, the change would make many confuſions in civill contracts and negotiatiōs. Eſpecially when the Emperour Rodulph at command of the Pope did commend this calendare unto the Princes and Eſtates of the Empire, they of the Reformed Church refuſed it, not that they would diſobey Caeſar, but becauſe of the Popes Bull, which they would not acknowledge. He died Anno 1585.
III. SIXTUS V, as if he had a purpoſe to reform the Romane Church, enjoynes reſidence to Bishops, and he ordaines that adulterers shall be beheaded, and gave hope in other particulares, to reduce the Church into antient purity. But he had been Generall of the Franciſcanes, and Head of the Inquiſition in Spain: and in the year 1587. he cauſed renue the Ligaſancta or ungodly and bloudy league, wherein he and his confoederates did engage themſelves to deſtroy all Proteſtants. VVhereupon the King of Spain by aid of the Pope made that attempt aga…nſt England & Scotland in the year 1588. The Pope did bleſſe that Navy, and God did curſe it. The Councell of Trent had declared the old Tranſlation of the Bible to be only authenticall; and albeit there were many different editions of it, yet it was not declared what edition they did approve. Before the Councell many had published the old Latine with ſeverall alterations: after the Councell the Vniverſity of Lovan corrected it, by adding many words on the margine, whereof ſome are noted by W. Whitaker, de Scriptura, controver, 1. qu. 2. c. 10, and he calleth that the lateſt edition of the Bible. Then Pope Sixtus taking into conſideration, that there were abroad above 60 ſundry editiones of it, each differing from other, therefore by advice of his Colledge he cauſeth compare ſeverall copies, and out of them publisheth one, which he ſtraitly commandeth to be received as the only true Vulgare Tranſlation, and by his bull abolishes all others, that did not exactly agree with that Edition ad literam, Under pain of his curſe. He died An. 1590. August 26.
IV. URBAN VII. was elected Septemb. 15, and died on …he 27 day of the ſame month.
V. GREGORIE XIV. was crowned Decemb. 5, and died October 15 in the year 1591.
VI. INNOCENTIUS IX. Sate two months, and died Decemb. 29. Theſe were ſo ſoon taken away not without ſuſpicion of poiſon: for many were ambitious of the triple mitre.
VIII. CLEMENS VIII. Obſerves many defects and faults in the Edition of the Bible, that was authorized by Sixtus V: therefore he publisheth another edition with a new declaration, whereby he authorizeth his own edition. So that now all Papiſts ly under the curſe of the one Pope or the other, and are involued into a pitifull neceſſity, either to uſe no Bible, or then to ly under one Popes curſe. I have ſeen an edition at Antwerp whereunto is added a catalogue of the differences betwixt theſe editions of the two Popes to the number of ſome hundreds: the author profeſſes to have collected them for the uſe of Printers; and to diſcern what books shall afterward be corrupt: but he clearly demonſtrats the oppoſition of the two Popes, and how they both condemned the canon of Trēt in eſtablishing the edition that was then in uſe. In clemens time Alfonſo Count d'Eſte died without Children, and left the Dutchy of Ferraria unto his brothers baſtard ſonne Caeſar a Cardinall: but clemens (as ſupreme Lord of the fue) would not conſent: wherefore theſe two took armes An. 1598: but the Cardinal was fain to yeeld and a peace was concluded, that the Pope shall have Ferraria, and give the other the lands of Mutina, Regium Lepidi, &c. With the tittle Duke of Mutina. About Marſiles great whales troubled the ſailers, that they durſt not go to the ſea: the Chanons of that City ſent unto Clemens, and craved, that all the whailes may be excommunicated. The Pope grants the petition, and ſendeth unto the Bishop of Marſiles a power to excommunicate the whales: but whither the fishes underſtood of this overture, it is not great matter: yet they were ſeen no more. In the beginning of the year 1660. Tibris did overflow, and did much harm unto the City: wherefore the Pope ſent Monſorius a prieſt, to ſay ſome prayers, and caſt a hoſtie into the river; but the inundation was not ſo obedient. He keeped the Jubilee the ſame year, and received into the hoſpitall of Rome 1400. men and women coming to buy indulgences: ſome Cardinals and others of good quality, and noble matrones ſerved the ſtrangers: but they excommunicate all which will not worship the Beaſt. Among others Pet. Mendoza Maſter of Malta come to kiſſe the Popes foot. When the year was ended, the Pope commanded to shut the golden porte, where he had given the Indulgences: he ſaid the laſt Maſſe of that yeare, and layd the firſt ſtone at the shutting of the porte; and die Concordiae he gave his bleſſing unto all who ſought the grace of the Jubilee: many came from that place creeping on their knees. Hee ſate 13 years.