to persevere in his intentions.32 He did so; and his final briefs arriving," the introductory fast and processions were ordered; and on 13th December 1545, this celebrated council, the last that Christendom has witnessed, and which became a new foundation and bulwark for the papal hierarchy, and for that form and system of the Christian religion to which catholic Europe, in its old state and circumstances of politics and population, was made to bend, was solemnly opened.31 That this council would have this effect, the pope's legates foresaw; and that it was meant by them, and would be made instrumental by them to produce it, they confidentially assured him, for their language, on describing to him its opening, was: His beatitude may rejoice, and place this day above all others, however happy they may have been to him, for a way is now open to him of the accustomed remedy for maintaining the authority of the apostolical see, and of the universal church, such as many of his predecessors have not enjoyed.' They did not profess any intention of examining impartially the disputed questions of the papal power, of the alleged superstitions, of the controverted doctrines, or of the general reformation; they neither invited, nor desired, nor would have admitted any, of either clergy or laity, who impugned what Rome chose to maintain; it was to rivet, not to relax the chain; it was to consolidate, not to remove any of the links which most offended, that the pope permitted, that 35 33 Lett. 12 December. 225. CHAP. VI. II. BOOK the legates assisted, or that the ecclesiastical components carried on their deliberations. The legates therefore required special instructions from the pope on every form that was used, on every measure that was proposed, and on every decree that was adopted. Every thing was prepared beforehand at the Vatican. Nothing originated from the council; not even the wording of the determinations that were adopted. These ideas are not the speculations or inferences of the present writer. The confidential correspondence of the three missioned legates with their pontifical chief, repeatedly expresses what they exulted in having accomplished. Hence, on the very first day, they desire to be enlightened from the Capitol. They ask definite instructions on the manner of proceeding, and on the matters to be proposed. If the heresies were to be first discussed; and in this case, whether they were to be handled generally, or if particular doctrines were to be condemned as false, or the persons of the famous heretics and their followers, or both together? They inquire, if an article about reform were to be treated of with an article of religion, or to have a precedence; and in case any should propose to begin reform with that of the court of Rome, what they were to do? They remark, that every body was crying out for this blessed reformation; and, endeavoring to foresee the emergencies which might arise, they added many questions on other important points.36 The Frenchmen required that 36 Lett. 14 December. 227. They asked also for more bishops, and for money, Sollecitano la venuta de' Prelati e de danari.' ib. VI. nothing should be done till their ambassador, and the CHAP. bishops of their nation, should arrive. But the legates thought this an extravagant demand, and appointed a general meeting of the council," in which an answer was conveyed to the Gallic application, which gave a temporary satisfaction.38 39 In January 1546, the pope sent them his orders to begin with matters of faith; but they replied to him that they had found out that the intention of the greater part was to do the contrary. Reformation was the subject which the council meant to begin with, as heresy had sprung principally from the want of it. But to this his legates assure him that they would never consent; and they suggested, that it might be most expedient to treat of the three main topics altogether-heresy, reform, and the peace; but they promised firmly to maintain that the reform should not be confined to ecclesiastics; it should be made universal, and extended to all, and therefore to the princes themselves." 40 This ingenious idea was a happy invention to save the hierarchy from the dreaded innovation. An universal reformation at once, was the most likely plan to excite every endangered person to prevent any melioration. By the 9th January, they had got together fiftyeight members; but found in them great obstinacy 42 37 Lett. 19 December. 228. 38 Lett. 22 December. 228. 39 Per esser nata l'Eresia principalmente dalla deformazione.' Lett. 5 January 1546. p. 231. 40Ma a questo non esser per acconsentir mai.' ib. 41 Lett. 5 January. 231. 42 They are thus enumerated: 'Besides the cardinal of Trent, there were at the session, 29 archbishops and bishops, 3 abbots, 5 generals, and about 20 learned theologians, part Italians and part ultra-montani.' Lett. 9 January. p. 232. BOOK in requiring that the reforms should be first discussed; II. 43 and they intreated the pontiff's decision on this point.* Five days afterwards they informed him, that the emperor had directed seven of his Spanish bishops to hasten to Trent; and the legates, to secure a majority, or to prevent their being out-voted, urged the pope to select ten or twelve prelates whom he could trust, to send there also; because as the number of the 'oltramontani,' who were distinguished for learning and exemplary life, was increasing, they wanted some of the same character to confront, in some measure, against them. They sounded those who were there, and found that the smaller number wished to begin with the dogmas, and postpone the reform; that the majority wished the two topics to be simultaneous; while the French were chiefly anxious that the council should interfere to effectuate peace between their nation and the emperor." 44 45 The presiding legates made it a careful point, that every thing which was done in the council should originate with themselves, and therefore procured its meetings to be fixed for the Monday and Friday in every week. But they soon apprised their chief, 46 43 Lett. 9 January. p. 232. 44 Che sua santita elegga dieci o dodeci prelati, de' quali si possa fidare: e mandare a Trento: perche, crescendosi il numero degl' oltramontani, per dottrini et esemplarita de vita rari, si trovino da stare in confronto in qualche parte.' Lett. 14 January. p. 233. They also inform the pope, that Luther's books had been then forbidden, by public proclamation, to be read in England. 45 Lett. 19 January. 233. On this last point the cardinals reported, that the Lutherans had offered the emperor to help him against France, at their own expense, if he would separate himself from it and from the council. p. 232. 46 They thus expressed their own reasons for this appointment, to the pope : To keep the prelates in exercise, and not to give them occasions to make them of themselves.' p. 234. VI. that they had great difficulties to encounter, from CHAP. the opposition of those who wished to begin with reform, and to defer the dogmas. Much impression had been made by the emperor's communication to the diet at Worms, that he would stay a little to see what progress the council should make, both in the dogmas and in the reform, and if he saw nothing done, that he would hold another diet; and there have their religious differences harmonized, and all abuses corrected. Hence the legates inferred, that to avoid canonizing this future diet, which was to meet at Ratisbon, both topics should be taken up, but with an equal step, as they were alike desired by the whole world, and deemed indispensable. They apprised their master, that a great and rich prelate had, in a premeditated oration, made earnest exertion that the council should now treat only of the reform, in order to trample down all disorders; adding this far-reaching remark, that if they did not cleanse their vessels, the Holy Spirit would not inhabit them, and in that case they could not hope to have a right judgment on matters of faith. To a preacher so dangerous, the papal cardinals immediately answered with a watchful and close logic, that as this assembly only was to decide, the observation did not apply beyond the members who composed it: and each of these could put speedily into execution whatever reform was necessary to himself, which then might be afterwards extended to the rest of the world.48 The beneficial effect to Rome, of this political reply, in creating 47 |