BOOK II. a personal bias against any innovation, was visible at the moment. To the advantage and joy of the Holy See-strange matter of exultation-it made all reformation less popular in this holy synod. The legates were ordered to thank the pontiff for the opening of the council, and to write to all the Catholic sovereigns of Europe to preserve peace, and to send their ambassadors to the assembly." But altho they succeeded in warding off direct propositions for ecclesiastical amendments; yet, a few days afterwards, they announced to the Vatican, that they had been under the necessity of agreeing to proceed jointly on each subject; as both the great and middling prelates were stubborn, in thinking that they ought, in every way, not only to begin, but to hasten first the reforms, from the necessity of the existing circumstances; and because there were busy friends, who had suggested, that they ought to dread some wind coming from Germany, which might blow more impetuously than it had done all the summer, to make them attend to reform alone. If they betrayed a design to discuss dogmas without meddling with the abuses, the rest of Germany would be speedily lost.51 Thus forced to notice what they wished to forget, the legates proposed to divide this unpalatable subject of correction into two heads-the general church; and what they call the house or the papal perquisites and prerogatives. On the latter, 49The prelates will so much the more put the dogmas forward as the reform displeases them; from which will issue a day, happy for the honor and estimation of his holiness and of the apostolic see.' ib. 235. so Ib. They appointed on the following Monday to consider in what way they should treat. 51 Lett. 27 Jan. p. 236. 52 53 VI. they would not presume to go further than to remind CHAP. and advise ;" and on the other they felt that it would be a most difficult business, to make the bishops and the religious orders come to any agreement about confessing, communicating, preaching—of itself a mighty sea of contest-ordinations of clergy and priests, ceremonies, indecent paintings, rites, and the many other errors which were reckoned among the ecclesiastical abuses. Still greater loss might also result from altering that penitenziera,' the penitentiary court, which was scandalizing the world, and especially Spain. They purposed to turn their attention to these things, before the House' was meddled with, and to go on settling the dogmas commensurately with purging the abuses of the church.'54 But they desired the pope to consider well all the consequences of these things, and to apprise them of his pleasure upon them with a little more celerity, that they might know what to do; remembering that accidents were liable every hour to occur suddenly, on which there would not be time to refer to him to advise.55 Their settled plan would be, that every time they sought to establish or purify a dogma on faith, they would also debate on some practical abuse that was connected with it.56 This ingenious device obviously insured as little 52 Lett. 27 Jan. p. 236. 4 Lett. 27 Jan. 236. 53 Mare magno.' ib. 36 Lett. 30 Jan. 237. A disturbance at this juncture arose on princely etiquette. The French prelates insisted on always going side by side with the imperial ones, which these would not allow; and the legates desire the pontiff to send them an authoritative order how they should be seated in the chapel. ib. BOOK II. reform as possible, and with the slowest pace; and confined it to the fewest points. The mandate soon came from Rome, that they should begin with the dogmas, and postpone the reform." This was so palpably contrary to the opinion of the members, of what ought to be done, both from the reason of the thing, and from public expectation; that the legates, instead of acting officially upon it, thought it better to make an experiment of its practicability, by making a summary of the heads of the pope's letter, and by communicating it at once to the synod as his suggested plan; but they observed so many to twist their noses' at it;58 to look with a suspecting eye, and to be so intent to scrutinize what was really intended, that they found it was taken in the most evil sense; 59 and that, if pursued, it would not only not succeed, but would turn the council at once to the other side, and make it begin with the very reformation they desired to avert." They explained to the pope at full length this impending peril, and how anxiously they had been exerting themselves to evade it."1 61 They subjoined the reasons which made it impolitic 57 Lett. 2 Feb. 238. 58Storcevano il naso.' ib. 238. 59Era presa malissimo.' ib. 6 They stated to him, that on 6th January they had advertised him of this danger, and had desired light' from his mind: that they thought the dogmas should not be left behind; but when they found the Synod desirous to join the reform with them, they did not see any good way of prohibiting it. Having heard the opinions of all, they had to gain time for his answer, and therefore procured a postponement of the whole subject. The answer not coming, the danger every day increased; and, pressed by those who only wanted the reform, they were compelled to have a meeting on 22 January, but with manifest danger of grave sedizione' on a point so disadvantageous to them. Lett. 2d Feb. 239, 240. .VI. to omit all consideration of reform; 62 and saw CHAP. enough of adverse feeling excited, by what they had suggested, to be under considerable alarm and anxiety for the consequences that might result to the Romish church. They got the subject postponed until the next session, and this was fixed for a future day," which gave ample time for the most careful deliberation. But they did not hesitate to inform the pontiff, that it seemed to them to be impossible to retard the desired reformation a single hour; already the surmise had got abroad, that this subject was not pleasing to Rome." They had endeavored to remove this suspicion, and they wished a greater number of prelates from the Vatican." By reform, was not meant that of the court of Rome only, which could 66 62 First, to avoid the very contrary to what they wished; as they had been forced to fight at the bar a very strenuous combat with many great prelates, who wished to begin with the reform. Second, that they would not be able to prevent the synod from taking the most compendious and effectual order of proceeding to make the proposed reformation, as well as to extirpate heresy. Finally, if the council went on, they must come to the reformation at last; and if it did go on to it, they would only have shewn a mind more ready to retain every one in office; from which the discontented prelates on their departure would disperse worse reports than ever. Lett. 2d Feb. p. 240. 63 Hence on 4th Feb. they wrote, that they were in an agony of mind at the bad interpretation of their actions before they intended it; and to see that honor made turbid, which the santa chiesa, the holy church, had acquired with so much labor; and how to take away such great and eminent perils.' ib. p. 240. 64 To the fifth week after the Sunday Lætare.' p. 241. They had also obtained a decree on the confession of faith contained in the creed. ib. 65 Che a Roma la reformazione non piace.' ib. p. 241. 66 6 6 They had therefore assured the council della buona mente di sua Santita," and had read a letter to the Card. S. Croce del reformare la persona sua propria.' p. 241. Two 'dotti et valenti' prelates, Astorga and Bagrades, had made every resistance possible. ib. 67 Ib. 241. They regretted that he had not ratified their appointment of the 22d Jan. for treating of both dogmas and reform. ib. BOOK be effected by no other than this pontiff himself; but they intended that of all Christendom, which was too large a concern to be speedily accomplished; and in what concerned the sacred Court, they assured him, that they would not let the council do more than remind his Holiness of what they thought useful." They purposed, as to the dogmas, to begin with that of original sin; and as to the emendations, with the abuses of the sacrestia and of the church,' to give more satisfaction to the criticising world." A private letter to the Roman cabinet intimated that the emperor had made a league, offensive as well as defensive, with the English government; that this would throw the world into greater confusion than ever; and therefore to shut the mouth of the world, it was highly expedient that his Holiness should shew himself ready to reform.70 The canonical books of Scripture were to be the next topic discussed; and in order not to make the synod desperate before the answer came from Rome, and not to give occasion to confirm the opinion that reformation was not pleasing there, the legates two days afterwards mentioned that they meant to throw in a word or two on that topic, but very warily." The sacred books were determined on, and directions from the Vatican were again requested;" when the illness of the pope disabled him from all business till the latter part of February." As March began, 68 Lett. 2d Feb. 242. 69 They added, that his answer must come soon, as they should not be able to amuse the council if they had not something to do. ib. 70 Pronta alla Reforma.' Lett. 5th Feb. from C. S. Croce to C. Farnese, p. 243. 71 Lett. 7th Feb. 73 Lett. 24th, 27th Feb. 246, 7. 72 Lett. 11th Feb.244. |